Cass County, Illinois - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 6 of those read), 1882

The broad foundation On wliicli our superstructure stands ; Your strong right arms and willing hands, Your earnest efforts still command Our veneration."

pHANDLEKVILLE Precinct lies on the y^ sotitheni side of Sangamon river, where a broad strip of bottom land, varying from one to two miles in width, forms the entire northern boundary of the precinct. This bottom land is, no doubt, the richest soil in the county, for the Sangamon river may be called the Nile of America, for it annually overflows, adding new deposits to the present richness of the soil.

Where the bottom lands terminate inland, a series of very high hills tower in natural majesty above the surrounding country, appearing at a distance like a range of mountains. These hills are now mostly overgrown with scrubby timber and dense underbrush, but in the memory of some of the old settlers, not a twig or tree could be seen over the broad surface of this elevated height. The Indians annually burning off the prairies, the fire would sweep over the hills, destroyinothe young timber that had started during the year. The oldest settlers say that at the present time there is five times as much timber in this part of the county as there was when they first settled in the country.

fill groves clustering at the foot of these hills, where many fine residences and beautiful gardens peep out amid their inviting foliage. There is considerable good timber on the banks of the Sangamon, along the bottoms of Big and Little Panther creeks, and along the valleys whiding among the hills. The kinds of wood that grow native, are oak, maple, elm, sycamore, walnut, hickory, pecan, persimmon, and paw-paw. On the low grounds in early days the grass grew very tall, reaching to a man's waist on horseback, and the' grass on the hills grew much higher and thicker than it does at the present day. Game at that time was very plenty. Wild turkeys and prairie chickens were witliout nutnber; deer, wolves and raccoons were very nuinerous, and an occasional panther and lynx wandered through. All the game that is left now that in any way can interest the sportsman, are wild ducks, which yet continue to visit the Sangamon Bottoms when overflowed, in great numbers, hunters of ordinary skill killing from 80 to 100 ducks per day, 50 being considered a very poor day's work during the duck season.

The Pottawatomie Indians lived here till the year 1835, but they were of a very friendly character, and never molested in any way the peace and prosperity of the settlers. The precinct back from the hills is considerably rough and broken, and a large portion of that land was sold for 25c. per acre; the United States giving it to the State, and \he State in turn gave it to the county, and the county sold it to the settlers at the above rate; much oTthat land, however, at the [iresent time is worth from 8-5 o $40 per acre. There was governmeat land in this precinct as late as 1856. The precinct at first was mostly settled by Sjuthern people, and very few other 'a:iiilies cime till about 1832, except a few Yankee peddlers, who occasionally visited the settlement.

Who the first settlers were the writer finds some difficulty in ascertaining. Robert Leeper, James and Elijah Garner, William Myres, Tnomas Plasters, Ma k Cooper and Dr. Chandler, were probably among the first.

The settlers here, as in other new countries, came very poor. They lived in log cabins, many of them without floors or windows, using greased paper for the latter, and what little grain they raised had to be hauled to Beardstown and sold at a nominal price, and, there being no bridges at the time, it was often a difficult and dangerous journey.

The first bridge that was built was across Panther Creek, in 1838, just south of the village. A bridge was built by a Mr. Stindy across the Sangamon, but being so poorly framed and constructed, it gradually sunk, broke and separated by its own weight. It was re-built by Samuel Cook, of Chandlerville, in 1874, and is a permanent structure that will stand till its timbers decay. It braved the torrent of 1882 without yielding a timber, or the fragment of one. This bridge is a great benefit to the village of Chandlerville, as it brings a large proportion of trade from Mason County.

The first school taught within the present limits of the precinct, was the one taught by Mrs. Ingalls, given in the village history below ; the second that the pioneer families patronized, was located about two and a half miles northeast of Chandlerville, on the land now owned by Moses Harlinson. Mr. Martin Morgan taught the first school, and the following wore some of his scholars: John Hash, James Dick, and his sister Sallie, and the children of the Myres family. The school-house was built by the charity and energy of Robert Leeper, and as a pioneer he deserves the highest encomium. There are now five district schools in the precinct ; they are respectively known as the Levi Spring School, Brick School, John Way School, German School, and the Wilson School. The schools are well attended, and teachers are paid a salary, varying from $25 to $50 per month, according to the qualification and experience of the teacher.

The first saw and grist mill was built in 1828, on Panther creek, by A. S. West and William Morgan, Mr. Z. Hash getting out most of the timber for the mill. Robert Leeper subsequently bought the mill and run it for several years, when it was carried down stream by extraordinary high water. The second mill was built by Richard McDonald, one-half mile above Mr. Leeper's mill, on the same stream, and shortly after the building of the McDonald mill, Henry L. Ingalls built a mill about one-half mile below Mr. Leeper's mill. There were then three mills within one and a half miles of each other. Their principal business was sawing, but they also cracked corn. These two latter mills were also swept down stream, leaving scarcely a trace of their former existence. Panther creek was subject to a very sudden rise of water, and it came in such torrents as to sweep every thing before it. There are no mills on that stream at the present day. It does not run more than six months of the year in ordinary seasons, and could not in any way be considered a stream that would support the power for a mill of the smallest character, except in these extraordinary torrents that spare neither roads, bridges, or railroads.

most elevated portions of the bottom, as the low places were often marshy and very difficult to cross. On the ridge formed in the middle ot this road by the horses and oxen wearing out foot-paths, as is often seen now on our prairie roads, there used to grow and flourish some of the finest wild strawberries that were produced on the bottoms. They looked like a row of cultivated fruit, and in their season were truly an inviting curiosity. Travelers that came during that time can never forget the richness and beauty of those almost endless rows of native berries. Wild fruit was very common here in an early day. Plums, persimmons, raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries were very plentiful and much more numerous than at the present day. It was all the change the early settlers had from coarse bread and pork, as but very little sugar or dried fruits could be afforded or indulged in, in those days of pioneer economy. The wild land has all been subdued or turned into fine pastures. Beautiful homes and cultivated fields smile all over the precinct. The farmers have improved their stock) and some of the finest horses, hogs, and cattle that the State produces are raised in this part of the county.

Early in the spring of 1832, a colony from Rhode Island were about to leave their native hills and seek homes in the distant wilderness of the West. But the members of the colony hearing of so many Indian massacres in the Western States, there was but one of the party that dare venture and carry out the original design; that man was Dr. Chas. Chandler. While coming up the Illinois river with his wife and little daughter Jane, now Mrs.

*The writer, having found some matters particularly appropriate to Chandlorville, in the oration delivered in lS7fi, liy Hon. J. H. Shaw, he has taken the liberty of incorporating them in this article.

Shaw, and hearing of the Indian troubles at Ft. Clark, since called Peoria, the place of destination, they concluded to go no further, and consequently landed at Beardstown. While there Dr. Chandler took a ride up the Sangamon bottom with Thomas Beard, and was so charmed by the lay of the land and richness of the soil, and the thrift of vegetation, that he determined at once to make a settlement, and immediately entered 160 acres of land where Chandlerville now stands, and before the summer of his first arrival had passed he had built a comfortable log cabin and found a crop of buckwheat blossoming at his door. His cabin was erected on the spot now occupied by the Congregational Church, and his plow was the first that stirred the native soil within the limits of the village. He was a man of untiring industry, and began at once the practice of his profession, performing wonders in the healing art, and prodigies of toil, often riding seventy or eighty miles, and not unfrequontly one hundred per day. His practice extended over what is now known as Cass, Morgan, Brown, Schuyler, Sangamon, Menard, Mason, and Fulton Counties. In December, 18313, the humble cabin received a brother of the Doctor, Marcus Chandler, wife and only son Knowlton, with Mr. and Mrs. Henry Ingalls. In 1831, Squire Bonney and family, with a nephew, Geo. Bonney, also Mr. Hicks and family, were added to ihe colony.

A Sabbath school was early in 1835 organized through the united efforts of Mrs. Marcus Chandler, Mrs. H. S. Ingalls, and Mr. Robert Leper, which was well attended and did much good.

The Sabbath school was held at the residence of Mrs. Ingalls, and may be said to be the first religious assembly ever held in the community.

(^In ISoi or '35 Dr. Chandler built a li'acksraith-shop. and the year following built the first storejwhere now Mr. Pilcher's place of business stands. Dr. Chandler did not do this so much as a business speculation and to make money, as he did to benefit and acoommoilate the settlers, many of them having nothing but ox-teams, and a journey to Beardstown was not at all a desirable trip, or one that many of our farmers desire to-day with all our modern improvements.

Dr. Chandler continued in business about two years, when he closed out his stock to C J. Newberry, who was shortly after succeeded by Mr. Chase, and he, alter continuingbusiness for several years, was bought out bylDr. Chandler and his brother Marcus.) They V did a very flourishing and extensive business, and in connection with their general ; they bought and packed pork, putting up about three thousand hogs annually for many years in succession."^ In 1849, the two prosperous brothers met with the misfortune of having their store burned down, and their stock liadly damaged, but the store was quickly rebuilt, and their former business re-established. (At one time they had about four hundred uushels of pecan nuts, for which they paid one dollar and fifty cents per bushel, and shipped the same to St. Louis, and sold them for three dollars per bushel.') In 1850, Dr. Chandler and his brother sold their entire business to William Way, who has been in business, and witnessed the prosperity of the vdlage from that time to the present.

The early growth of the village was not rapid, for in 1848 there were but the following families within its limits: Dr. Chandler, Rev. S. Smith, O. Hicks, .1. B. Shaw, Elisba Olcutt, D. Marcy, Levi McKee, H. L. lugalls. Widow Harbeson and Mr. Chase.

The mail at this time was brought from Beardstown by the little sons of Dr. Chandler, and distributed at his place of business, he being the regular appointed postmaster, and assisted by Mr. Shaw, then a clerk in the store. The post office was known as Panther Creek till 1851, when Gen. C. E. Lippincott wrote to Col. E. D. Baker,* then member of Congress, and had the name of the office changed to Chandlerville.

A cooper shop was started about this time, also a wagon shop. The latter business was one of the most successful enterprises of the settlement, Levi McKee being the proprietor. And the McKee wagons were known all over the country as the most durable and best made wagons of the county. Dwight Marcy in 1849, kept the first hotel just north of Panther creek, on the land now owned by Gen. Lippincott, where he continued business till the present hotel was converted from a into a hotel, being built by Dr. Chandler, and used for a general house of storage, etc., while he continued in business.

In 1850, Mr. Olcutt, who had for several years been a clerk for Dr. Chandler, built a store and warehouse in company with Mr. Sanders, where a thriving business for several years was carried on. The firm dealt largely in wheat, hogs, tallow, &c. In 1854, Dr. Reed and T. N. Canfield built the first regular drug store, drugs having been kept and sold by the other stores many years previous, but no separate store had been built before for thatspecial purpose. The building was erected in the western part of Dr. Reed's present lot, and long since has been removed. This store was a very attractive place of business for many years. Dr. Reed had an extensive practice, and like Dr. Chandler, not unfrequently traveling 100 miles a day to visit a patient. ( There was an unusual custom among the settlers that every man should be entitled to eighty acres of land on each side of his first entry as soon as he could pay for it at government price, $1.25 per acre. And it was considered as mean as stealing for another man to violate this established custom of the settlers. Shortly after Dr. Chandler settled here, a man by the name of English came to the settlement and was much pleased with the country. The Doctor assisted and befriended him all he could, and offered to give up a a claim to one eighty to induce him to stay, but English, hog-like, told him that he was going to Springfield and enter the whole tract adjoining ; that he did not care for the customs of the country, and that he was going to have it right or wrong, and started at once for Springfield. The Doctor went to his cabin, counted his money, and found only fifty dollars. The deficit was made up through the kindness of his neighbor, McAuly. Thus provided, he started at once for the State capital with the determination of beating English if possible. He took a different route through the woods and prairies from that chosen by his greedy friend. When about ten miles from the land office, he overtook two young men on horseback, and his horse foaming in perspiration was about tired out ; and -while riding along with these young men, he related to them the cause ot his haste, when one of them, the tallest of the two, was so indignant that he offered the Doctor his own horse, which comparatively fresh, so that he might defeat the plans of English; but the Doctor declined the courtesy, got there on his own horse, and entered his land before his rival got to the city of Springfield. Sometime after Dr. Chandler wanted his land surveyed, and sent for a young surveyer who lived at Salem, Sangamon county, and when he arrived he proved to be the same young man that the Doctor had overtaken on his way to Springfield, and that had so kindly offered his horse. That man was Ahrah im Lincoln, and the land, where Chandlerville stands, and some considerable country adjacent, was surveyed by him.

Dr. Chandler was a man of stirring energy. He built the first frame house, 10 by 12, one story, ever built in Cass County, and he built the present large residence on the Chandler estate in 1836, which is yet among the finest residences in the village. He was one of the first physicians in Central Illinois who adopted quinine in his practice as a remedy, and the first who opposed bleeding as a remedy for disease. When he first came to the Sangamon bottom he was called into practice before he could build a stable for his horse, and when at home, for weeks his wife cut grass with the shears to feed it, as there were no scythes in the vicinity to be had for love or money.

The Doctor was also a man of charity as well as enterprise. He gave all the lots on which all the churches are built, except the Christian church, and that he sold to the society for half its real value; he also gave the lots for the three public parks, and donated the land for the cemetery. He was always a liberal contributor to the church, and all benevolent institutions. He was the founder of the town, and a father to it while he lived.

Since 1856, many valuable accessions to the social and business power of the community have been made; good mechanics, active business houses, sustained by a large intelligent farming population, energized by the iron aid of a new railway, passing directly through their midst, and all tolerably permeated by Christian character and influence, Chandlerville hopes a future of useful thrift.

The present village was laid out in 1818, when the first lots were sold. The town was first incorporated in 1858, under the General Act, and under a more special act in 18G1. The incorporate area is exactly one mile square. ,

The first members of the first village council were Dr. Chas. Chandler, J. W. Gladding, W. S. Way, Elisha Olcutt, Levi McKee, with Gen. C. E. Lippincott, as clerk. The present members of the board are: A. G. Colson, W. K. Mertz, Roljert Clark, August Zorn, C. C. Brown, W. H. Pilcher, with A. G. Colson, as president, E. H. Henkel, clerk, and S. C. Fielden, treasurer.

At present there are twenty-nine business places in the town; many of the buildings are of brick, and the village, in general, has very a promising business outlook.

The first Masonic Lodge was chartered October 7th, 1S74, with the following charter members: Linus C. Chandler, C. C. Brown, John Chandler, J. A. Paddock, L. M. Dick, Robert Clark, N. H. Boon, H. T. Chandler, N. S. Reed, Isaac Buther, John Kershaw, John Mullen, Thos. Mullen, J. M. Telles, Wm. Swartwood, T. A. Skaggs, Henry C. Neff, Commodore Silvernail, and John C. Morse. L. C. Chandler was elected the first Worshipful Master, and John Morse, secretary. The present officers: Levi M. Dick,,W. M.; Robert CUrk, S. W.; Thomas Skaggs, J. W.; T. P. Renshaw, Treasurer; Arthur Pendleton, Secretary; L. C. Chandler, S. D.; J. B. Morgan, J. U.; August Zorn and M. D. Skaggs, Stewards; T. R. Say, Tyler. The Lodge was first organized through the efforts of L. C. Chandler. At first a dispensation was refused, but Mr. Chandler went to Dixon, interviewed the grand master, and by urgent appeal, he set aside his former decision and granted a dispensation and charter. The first meeting was held in June, 1874.

In the spring of 1883, Chandlerville suffered considerably from high water; many of the houses were surrounded with water up to the windows, and the water reaching up Main street as far as the Chandlerville mill. The water was higher than it ever was known before.

The Sangamon Valley Mill was built in 1873, by Messrs. Paddock & Slink. It is a handsome brick structure, costing $10,000 to complete it. The above parties did a successful milling business for two years, when they sold two-thirds of their interest to James Abbott and William Howarth, Mr. Paddock holding a third interest till his death, which occurred two years after. Messrs. Abbott & Howarth then purchased the remaining third from the heirs of Mr. Paddock. In 1871, the boiler exploded, damaging the mill to the extent of |i3,000, and killing the engineer, Joseph Davis. Mr. Davis had been a successful engineer all his life, and the cause of the explosion will no doubt always remain a mystery; whether it occurred by neglect, or through some defect of the machinery can not be ascertained.

Smith & Carr's grist mill was raised in 1875, at a cost of $5,000, by G. B. Skaggs & Bro. They continued in the mill sixteen months, when they sold it to James Tantrum, who, in turn, sold it to W. W. Baker, and shortly afterward it was sold to the present owners, Messrs. Smith & Carr, who have been doing a very flourishing business for the past two years, grinding about 50,000 bushels of grain annually. The engine is in charge of Mr. A. Garrett, who is an old R. R. engineer, and thoroughly understands the business. The millers are also men of tried experience, and Chandlerville can boast of as good flour as is made in the State.

In 1874, the first newspaper of the village, called the New Era, was edited by J. J. Bunce (S Son. After running the paper with very moderate success about one year, they closed out their interest, for the people did not seem to appreciate the depth of their editorials, or the newsy merits of their local columns; or in other words, were not as hungry for " Era " news as the proprietors of the paper had at first anticipated.

The next paper that broke the monotony of village gossip, was the Cass County Journal., which was established by Chas. A. Pratt, August 5, 1876. This paper was fairly patronized, and prospered with a good home reputation. It continued under the name and management to the middle of February, 1878, when the office was purchased by G. B. Skaggs, who was assisted by his brother, J. W. They brought out their first issue, March 16th of the same year, under the firm name of J. W. & G. B. Skaggs. As the paper of different parentage from the Journal, it was no more than right that they should give it a name of their own choice. They called it the Chandlerville Independent, a name well chosen, and adapted to the position the paper politically assumed. It was successfully conducted by the two brothers till Nov. 11, 1878, when J. W. Skaggs retired from the publishing business. The paper was then under the sole management of G. B. Skaggs up to Dec. 5, 1879, when the name of the firm was changed to Skaggs & Spink, Mr. E. Spink, of Havana, having assumed one-half interest. The Indej)endent was then very satisfactorily managed till September, 1881, when Mr. Spink, by mutual consent, withdrew from the firm, leaving the paper under its present manager. The paper is now on solid basis, nearing its 7th year of unabated prosperity, and having a fine run of advertising, a growing subscription list, and a man widely known and highly respected for its editor and manager. Its future truly looks promising.

Schools. - One of the most popular and interesting features in the history of Chandlerville, is the growth and prosperity of her schools. The village spares neither labor nor money to make the public school one of the most progressive of the county. The civilized world is fast realizing that one school master with his primer is worth a legion of soldiers. The sword with its blood and cai-nage has done its cruel work. We now have more need of teachers than of soldiers; reason and common sense are fast taking the place of the musket and the cannon, and books have becotne the arsenals of great nations. After a few families had clustered beneath the shadows of the great hills that overlook the site of the present village, they began to look after educational interest of their growing families. About the year 1835, Mrs. Henry Ingails opened a select school at her own residence, and among some of her first scholars were: Mary J. Chandler, now Mrs. Shaw, Sarah Perrin, who became the wife of Marcus Chandler, Nancy Leeper, afterward the wife of Mr. S. Paddock, Nolton H. Chandler, Louis Bonney, Mary Wing, and J. Piasters. Mrs. Ingails, after teaching several terms, discontinued the work, owing to the increasing cares of her family, and was succeeded by Emily Chandler Allen, who taught one year in the residence of Dr. Chandler. Mr. John Rickert then opened his private residence for the education of the youth, three-fourths of a mile south of the present village, on what is known as the Hash farm, and taught one of the best pioneer schools of the country. He was a Quaker by profession and practice, and ruled not with the ferule and rod, but with love and Christian kindness.

In 1838, Dr. Chandler built a small frame building about 12 by 12, in the eastern part of the village, and fitted it up with necessary seats, etc., for a school-room, and gave the use of it free of all charge to the community for three years. Mrs. Ingails, meantime, had resumed the work of teaching, and taught till the spring of 1841, when the building put up by Dr. Chandler became too small for school purposes. It was concluded to remove the school to the Congregational Church, which was built that same year, and completed before the winter term of school was to be opened. The school was then successively taught by Miss Dunham, who afterward became the wife of Amos Bonney, Miss E. Pease and Miss Hosford; the latter was sent from Vermont by Gov. Slade, .Dr. Chandler guaranteeing a certain salary, but the people failing to patronize the school as much as he anticipated, he was compelled to makeup the deficit by paying it out of his own pocket. Mr. D. Craig, Peter Rickert, and Emily Chandler, were among the successful teachers that followed.

Miss Helen Cotton and a Miss Harris, in 1851, came West, to follow the profession of teaching; one was to land at Beardstown, and the other at Chandlerville, and they concluded to decide by lot where each was to settle in the chosen work. It fell to Miss Cotton's lot to come to this embryo village and assume ihe work of teaching. No better fortune could have favored the citizens of this place. She was a woman of brilliant talents, and made use of every opportunity to do. good and enno.'ale the minds of those under her care and supervision. She afterward became Mrs. Goodell, but losing none of her energy and influence by assuming the duties of the family. Mrs. Ingalls, Mr. Rickert and Miss Cotton, were the pioneer teachers of Chandlerville, who have yet among modern teachers to find a rival. The schools up to this time were all selec", each scholar paying iji^.oO per quarter tuition. The teachers were usually boarded by the patrons or friends of the school, free of charge.

Previous to 1841, a log cabin was used for a time as a school house, where the boys with baited fish-hooks and lines, used to fish for rats through the open cracks in the floor, that being their only pastime, while the vigilant eyes of the teacher were not upon them. In 1S56, a common frame building was erected on one of the same lots now enclosed within the limits of the present school yard. Mr. N. S. Canfield was among the first teachers who taught in the new building. The school now began to assume some proportions of size, and much more attention began to be paid to educational matters.

In the autumn of IStj <, a part of the present brick building was designed and built by the following committee: Dr. Chandler, P. Neif, and P. T. Norton. In 1878 the school building seemed insufficient to comfortably seat all the pupils attending school, and an addition of two rooms was added by the directors, L. C. Chandler, Robert Clark, and R. R. Cromlich. The whole building now contains five rooms, and cost the village 16,000. The first principal in the new building was Maria Elam, and her first ass'stant Ella Duneway. The present board of directors are: Robert Clark, B. Bowman, and Albert Smith. The building now is used exclusively for school purposes, but the wooden building, previous to the present structure, was built with the understanding that its doors should be open to all public speakers, lecturers, Church services, shows and elections, or any thing by way of public instruction or entertainment of a moral eh iracter.

The public school of Chandlerville is very popular. It is patronized by citizens of all classes and of all denominations; sectarian and political biases have been sedulously avoided in its management, and it is the single aim of those in charge of the school, and of the citizens alike, to give the youth of the town the best possible training, both in intellect and morals. The course of study is so arranged that pupils leaving school at the a"-e of twelve or fourteen, are able to write and read well, have a good understanding ol the fundinental principles of arithmetic, and a general knowledge of geography, and a good preparation for business in general.

Congregational Church. - In the fall of 1836, October 16th, a Presbyterian church was organized by Revs. Albert Hale and Slierron Baldwin, holding their services for the time being in the house of Dr. Chandler.

The church at first was composed of five members only, Mr. and Mrs. Sewall, Mr. Marcus Hicks, Mrs. Marcus Chandler, and Mrs. Lavinia Ingalls, all being Presbyterians in their religious proclivities, except the two latter, who bringing letters from Congregational churches, were united with the society.

About 181:1 or 1843, a church building was erected at cost of $700. It was then decided by a vote of the members (the number having been increased to nearly twice the original number), that the building should be known as a Congregational church; but there remains no formal record of any formal change in the ecclesiastical relation of the church organization till October, 18i7, when it became Congregational, according to the reports made to the Southern Association of Illinois, with which it is at present connected. In the early beginning, the little band of Christ's disciples were indebted to the members of the Illinois College Faculty for nearly all their spiritual food - President Sturtevant and Professer Turner preaching to them, and administering the Sacrament. Revs. Hale and Baldwin also visited them at stated times, to aid the society in their Christian work.

The first pastor was Prof. J. B. Turner, from Jacksonville, who in 1841 was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Pond, and Mr. Pond was succeeded by Rev. Socrates Smith, who came under the auspices of the American Home Missionary Society, and he was followed by the following ministers: Thomas Lippincott, the father of General Lippincott, Allyn S. Kollogg, Wm. Barnes, O. C. Dickinson, J. R. Kimnedy, George Paddock. P. A. Beane, S. B. Gtx>d«nough, Hemy Perkins, aud J. M. Bowers.

The present officers of /he Church are Dr. N. S. Read, Thomas Ainsworth and J. H. Goodell, and this Church has a membership of 51, who are all liberal and enthusiastic in their Christian work.

The Sabbath school is a very prominent feature of the Church, largely attended, and far superior to most of the Sibbath schools found in similar villages. Dr. N. S. Read has been its Superintendent for the past twentyseven years, beginning with but 25 scholars and now numbering over 200. Dr. Rjad has been a zealous worker, and the prosperity and progress of the Sabbath school is largely due to his untiring energy. He is the right man in the right place.

31ethodist Church. - A few Methodist families held their first meetings at the residence of Squire Bonney, whenever they were able to secure the services of a minister from the neighboring settlements. Revs. Springer, Cartwright, Ridgeley, Garner and Wyatt, were among the first clergymen that administered to the spiritual wants of their brethren at Chandlerville. The Society was first placed in circumstances to employ a regular minister by Messrs. Bonney, Richard, McDaniel, Proctor and Hicks. These were men of energy, and labored not only for themselves, but for the benefit of the community and the moral elevation of their fellow-raen. They hired the Congregational church for their Sabbath services, and continued there for about three years, when they found themselves eufficiently strong to build an edifice of worship for themselves. This latter enterprise was larg^y brought about by the labors of Elisha Olcutt. They built their present church about the year 1851, at a cost of $1,200, the lot being donated by Dr. Chandler.

tilled to suffer greatly from emigration, many of its leading members going West, or settling in different parts of the State, among whom were: Mr. Olcutt, John Boycourt, N. Canfield and T. Way. The church, however, though somewhat embarrassed, did not lose courage, but kept its armor bright, and is still " marching along" with moderate prosperity. Rev. Charles Forree is the present pastor.

Catholic Church. - The members of the Catholic Society held their first meetings at the residence of Mr. P. Neff for about three years, when they formally organized in 1874, and thereafter continued their Sabbath worship in the hall, over the store of Mr. Neft'. Father Ryan has officiated as pastor for the past four years.

Mr. Neff was the leading spirit in originating and pushing the society organization; he organized a Sablsath school about one year before the church society was organized, paying twenty-five dollars rent out of his own pocket. He has kept up the Sabbath school ever since, and no doubt will continue to figure as one of the most prominent men of the society till a church is built, furnished and supplied.

Christian Church. - Elder D. W. Shurtleff came from Beardstown in the winter of 1862, and preached to a few Christian families in the vicinity of Chandlerville, and February 15th, of the same winter, at Pleasant Ridge school-house, the church was first organized with the fellowiiig members: Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Wilson, W. D. Leeper, S. B. Jones, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Bradshaw, Smith Wilson, Nancy Smith, Lucy Curtis, .Tulia Curtis, Clarissa Briggs and Barbara Lucus. W. D. Leeper, assisted by S. B. Jones, were the prime movers in getting Elder D. W. Shurtleff into the settlement. They were the men that formed the first nucleus of the church, and around which clustered the developing interest of the Christian work. The church was greatly stimulated and strengthened by some stirring revivals. Prof. McCaukle, of Eureka College, and Elder A. G. Kane, oi Springfield, were among the most prominent that awoke the community to a Christian sense of duty. Their words of warning and entreaty sank deep and reverently into many hearts, and great numbers were converted and added to the fold of the Master. The members were united, and as one, in their social and religious relations, brotherly and sisterly love ruled every motive, and ere three years had scarcely passed I'rom the date of their first organization, they found themselves sufficiently strong to build a church of their own; the present handsome, convenient frame building was erected at a cost of $3,700. The building committee that designed and constructed, and supervised the work in general, consisted of the following persons: Robert Cole, .LA. Raines, S. B. .Tones, and James Armstrong. Elders John Raines and Albert Rice preached on alternate Sabbaths, the first year after the church was completed. The church, under the leadership of J. W. Monser and M. R. Elder and the two pastors, just mentioned, saw its brightest days ; its membership was swelled to one hundred or more members ; peace and prosperity smiled upon the church.

A Sabbath school, numbering some seventy or eighty scholars, was among one of the most interesting and progressive features of the society. Dr. N. H. Boon and Douglass McGee were among the most earnest workers in the Sabbath school, one or the other being superintendent most of the time for many years.

It was wonderful to see how rapidly the church grew, but more wonderful to see how quickly it crumbled and its members divided and scattered. " A house divided against itself can not stand."

Lutheran Church. - The German Evangelical Lutheran church was built in the year 1870. The society was organized about six months previous and held their meetings in the Congregational and Christian churches.

The original members of the church were: J. Eichenaur, H. Schneider, J. Craft, J. Mush, G. Zorn, F. Brauer, H. During, C. Boensel and H. Joeckel. Eichenaur, Schneider, Brauer and Boensel being: all that are left of the oria-- iiial little band of worshipers. The church has been very progressive under the following pastoi^: Mr. Weisinger, Mr. Baumann, A. Willner and A. D. Greif; the latter being the present pastor, and of an earnest, industrious turn of mind. He has organized a day school, and teaches four days of the week. The church building is an ordinary wooden frame, not large but pleasantly situated. The membership is thirty, which is considered large for the number of German families residing in the vicinity.

Professional. - The legal or forensic interest of the village is exclusively in the hands of Hon. L. C. Chandler, a son of Dr. Chandler. He has been prosecuting attorney one term of four years, and a member of the legislature. He is a man widely known, and does all the business in his line that originates in the town.'

Dr. Reed and Dr. N. H. Boon lead the medical profession of the village, being men of large experience, and widely known. People do not hesitate to employ them. They have a large practice and are among the oldest and most respected citizens of the village.

the memory of its founder. Dr. Chandler. The early community of Cbandlerville was patriarchal in its characteristics. It originated in the self-sacrificing devotion of its founder; its first steps were directed and carefully guarded by his judgment, and in its maturor years bears his name and the impress of his character.

It is difficult to imagine the early prosperity of this settlement vrithout the material and moral support of Dr. Chandler. He w.is the central figure in its early history, and lost none of his prominence while he lived. Coming as a benefactor, he allowed no desire for private ends to swerve him from his chosen course. He sought to establish a center of civilizing influence; his was a mission of good, and the records of his time bear ample testimony of his faithfulness to such a cause; the sick, the unfortunate, found in him a helpful friend; public enterprises were placed beyond the danger of failure by his efi'orts; strugglin::;- merit never failed for lack of material aid when solicited of him, while his old accountbooks, bearing the names of every member of the settlement in those early days, tell matiy a tale of his devotion to his people. His support of the Church and school was liberal, frequent and voluntary. He labored for the common good and the elevation of mankind. Some three years ago, to the regret and sorrow of all who knew him, "God's finger ouched him, and he slept."

All honor be, then, to these gray old men, When at last they are bowed with toil; Their warfare then o'er, they battle no more, For they've conquered the stubborn soil. And the chiwplet each wears, is the silver hairs, And ne'er shall the victor's brow With a laurel crown to the grave go down, Like the pioneer sons - of fame, renown.