Cass County, Illinois - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 8 of those read), 1882

ARENZVILLE PRECINCT - ITS EARLY HISTORY - THE THREE MILE TERRITORY - EARLS" RESIDENCE OF THE SETTLERS - EMIGRANTS FROM GERMANY - SCHOOL-HOUSES AND CHURCHES IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS - THE VILLAGE OF ARENZVILLE - FIRST LOTS SURVEYED - BUSINESS OF THE TOWN - CHURCHES AND SCHOOL-HOUSES IN THE VILLAGES - SOME OF THE PROMINENT MEN OF THE TIME - FRANCIS ARENZ, JOHN L. CIRE, DR. GE0H6K ENGELBACH, AND OTHERSMISCELLANEOUS, ETC., ETC.

IN order to prepare a complete history of the orecinc-t of Arenzville, it will be necessary to refer to some events which preceded its organization.

By an act of the legislature, passed in 1837, it was declared that the County of Cass should be one of the counties of this State, that the county seat should be located at Boardstown on the public square, that the citizens or corporation should raise ten thousand dollars to defray the expenses of erecting public buildings, payable in one, two and three 3'ears from the passage of the law aforesaid; that an election for county officers should be held on the first Monday of August, 1837; that Thomas Pogue and Dr. O. M. Long, notaries public in Beardstown, should open and examine the poll books in presence of one or more justices of the peace, etc.

Cass County having been formed from the northern part of Morgan, this last mentioned county had retained the south halves of the townships north of the line, dividing townships Sixteen and Seventeen. This caused considerable dissatisfaction among the inhabitants of what was generally called "the three-mile territory," because the geographical situation of the country and the then existing settlements, were of such nature as to incline the people to prefer to belong to the County of Cass.

Arguments were futile, and it was useless to expect to obtain relief by means of a new election when it was known by everyone that the county of Morgan could outvote Cass ten to one upon any question upon which both might be interested.

Finally John W. Pratt, the member in the legislature from Cass, with the assistance of Francis Arenz, who at that time was one of the six members from Morgan and a resident within this three-mile territory, succeeded in obtaining the passage of an act of the General Assembly on Feb. 26, 1845, allowing the people within said three miles to decide by their votes, at an election to be held on the first Monday of May, 1845, to which county they would prefer to belong. This act further provided that all justices and constables in Morgan, who may reside in this territory, should hold their offices in the county of Cass, and for judges of election at the designated places of voting; the following persons were appointed: David Epler, John A. Arenz and Edward W. Turner, at Arenzville; Jacob Yaples, George Petefish and Peter Conover, at the house of Henry Price; Jonathan

John A. Arenz and Charles Coffin, having been elected justices of the peace in Morgan County, continued to hold their offices in the new precinct of Arenzville, with the following boundary: commencing on the line between Morgan and Cass Counties, at the southeast corner of section 33, town 17.11, thence running west to the Illinois river, thence along said river to the dividing line between sections 2 and 11, in township 17.13, thence running east on said section line to the northeast corner of section 9, township 17.11, thence south to the place of beginning.

The persons voting at Arenzville, for or against attaching the three-mile territory to Cass County, are as follows: Joseph Thompson, Thomas Thompson, Jacob Lawrence, John Altman, Frederick Lang, G. H. Richards, David Epler, William Taj'lor, E. Hardy, H. B. Dun, Shad. Dun, Henry Meyer, William Kimball, L. B. Kimbal, Thomas Cook, Peter Light, Julius Philippi, Jacob Heinz, Jno. Orchard, James Jackson, J. L. Cire, Omar Bowyer, David Griffin, James C. Robertson,

There were also inhabitants of the Arenzville Precinct, who voted at the house of Henry Price, which was their nearest voting place; among that number were: Oswell Thompson, Christ. Crum, James Crum, who came from Indiana in 1830, and who is the only living person among the first settlers in that neighborhood, and nearly 76 years old. There also voted Thomas Fozzart, John Wood, Charles Jockisch, William Reside, Ernest Fletcher, David Wilson, John Dobson, John Clark, William Nesbit, Anthony Boston, William C. Miller, L. C. Pitner, Thomas Nesbit, David Hamacker, J. H. Melone, Samuel McClure and others.

The residences of the people at an early day were log houses, having generally one or two doors, one little window, or none at all, a big fire-place, and the furniture therein was generally a table or big chest, a bed and a a few split-bottom chairs, which so completely covered the floor, that only a few visitors at a time could ffet inside the house. The door had on such occasions to be 'eft open, so that one could at least see who his next neighbor was. These cabins were so open and airj-, that in winter the snow would blow through the cracks, and in summer swarms of mosquitoes would surround the sleeper, and if ^he party could not afford the luxury of a bar, he must either have the hide of an elephant or be entirely insensible to pain. To scare off mosquitoes, some people made a big fire of weeds before their cabins in the evening, or in the fire-place, and under cover of the tremendous smoke arising, under coughing and sneezing, the evenings were passed, and thus the nights. Very early rising was the order of the day, for as soon as daylight faintly approached, every one hurried to leave his bed. There was no necessity of calling any one to get up; the flies would relieve the mosquitoes from duty and perform this work effectually. In almost every house, or in the shed part of the cabin, was found a spinningwheel and loom, to manufacture the yarn and weave the clothing and bedding for family use. The women were exclusively the manufacturers of these useful things, and on days of gatherings, or on Sundays, when people assembled for church purposes, before the service commenced, it was spoken of, how many yards of jeans, linsey-woolsey, socks, etc., had been manufactured by Mrs. So and So. The surplus of these articles not used for family purposes, were brought to the stores for sale, and jeans, socks, knit gloves and mittens, came in such abundance, that the storekeeper could not dispose of the same here, and had to ship them to St. Louis, then the New York of the western country.

Among the early emigrants from Germany, were many who had been accustomed to good society, and had enjoyed the advantages of superior education. Some held diplomas from colleges and universities. As most Germans, they were lovers of music, and some could play on one or more musical instruments. The pioneer lives in a new country, where hard labor, coupled with innumerable privations, without amusements of any kind, necessarily drew that class together, who could not bring themselves to the belief that the only aim and object in life should henceforth be devoted to hard work only, for which they at best could only get l)oard and clothing. They were generally called the "Latin farmers."

A club, or society circle was formed, and social gatherings were had, sometimes at the house of one member, sometimes at another. Little concerts were gotten up, the instruments being piano, violin, flute, and violoncello. Dancing parties were occasionally arranged, and large hunting parties. A musical band was afterwards organized under the leadership of a Mr. Holtzermann. Tliis social circle continued for many years, until finally, when the number had increased to such proportion that no room was large enough to liold them, and some of the original members had by death, or removal to other parts of the country, made their places vacant, this very pleasant and useful club came to an end.

Whenever an opportunity offered to play some practical joke upon a new comer, it was eagerly seized. One of these, which caused considerable merriment, is herewith narrated: Several new emigrants having arrived, some of the older settlers went with them into the prairie, to select a piece of land for farming purposes. A skunk, or pole-cat, was seen in the grass, and it was given out that these animals were highly prized for their beauty and valuable fur, and it ought to be secured by all means. To shoot it would d image the fur, as it was alleged. One of these new ones was told to approach very cautiously and cover it with his hat, which ho adroitly accomplislietl; but the animal at that moment squirted its perfume at him, some of which reached his face and bosom. The man ran and jumped about, gesticulating wildly witii arms and body, vomiting and hallowing, " Oh Lord! Oh Lord!" He was asked what was the matter, whether he was sick; to which ho replied, " Don't you smell that infernal stink, or are your noses lined with cast iron? " Although it was at first pretended that no bad smell was noticeable, the hearty laughter of some of the party brought him to realize that a joke had been practiced upon him. Nothing could induce him to take the skunk, which had then been shot, home with him. He picked up his hat, which was a new one, carrying it at arms length from his body, marcliing sulkily in the rear of the party, and when Arenzville was reached, the hat was gone too - he had lost it willfully.

The hunting parties also furnished a great many amusing incidents. Game of all description, was found in abundance. The ponds along Indian Creek were, in the spring and fall at times so covered with ducks that no water could be seen.

In the summer of 1844, when the river had been the highest ever known, the deer had to leave the low land and retreat with their young: to the sand-ridges, which were also surrounded with water. Mr. William Carter, then livingnearest to the Illinois river, caught a great many fawns, which he penned up, and when fully grown, shipped them to St. Louis.

The eastern portion of the Arenzville Precinct is upland and hilly, and from Arenzville to the river, fine bottom land, interspersed occasionally with sand-ridges. Indian Creek is the main water course, into which the Prairie Creek empties. The bottom lands about Arenzville were covered with the finest body of timber that could be found anywhere. Od,k, maple, sycamore, backberry and walnut trees, were of such gigantic growth, that many

*The precinct of Indian Creek was set off from Arenzville, in 1S67, but the history of the two precincts (Arenzville and Indian Creek), are so closely interwoven, that the one can hardly be written without the other, and all the history pertaining to Indian Creek, wlH be lound in this chapter. -Ed.]

he also made a survey of the town, to be called Arenzviile, in 1852, which plot was filed and recorded, Auafust 3, 1852. In 1857, the executors of F. Arenz, made an addition to said town, and finally Thomas V. Finney prepared a plot of Arenzviile and additions, which was recorded October 20, 1870, in Vol. 31, page 364:, and adopted by the town trustees as to the limits of said town, on Mav 22, 1878, and organizing the town under the State laws. The first organization of the town of Arenzviile occurred July 9, 1853, when the first election for town trustees was held. Of the board elected, Francis Arenz was the President; Dr. Julius Philippi, Clerk; Herman Engelbach, Treasurer; John Goebel, Supervisor; Charles Heinz, Town Constable.

The present officers of the town of Arenzviile, are: William L. McCarty, President; L. J. Wallich, Clerk; R. J. Cire, Treasurer. Town Trustees: Joseph Amtzen, Christopher French, Daniel F. Fischer, Frederick Bode, and J. W. Swope; W. B. Smith, Supervisor; Henry Schaefer and James Wood, Justices of the Peace in the Arenzviile Precinct; and Christopher French and Joseph Richards, Constables.

Estate of Herman Engelbach - General store of merchandise, lumber yard and flouring mill, with five runs of stones and a capacity of eighty bbls. of flour per day; also an elevator.

The public school at Arenzville is visited by about one hundred scholars: T. W. Dyer, Principal, with one assistant. There is also a private school. The first school-house v^as built in 1839, and the present public schoolhouse was erected in 18G6. The old schoolhouse was also used for church purposes for all denominations.

Churches. - In Arenzville are now three churches, belonging to the following denominations: The Cumberland Presbyterians, the Lutherans, and Catholics. The Presbyterians have at present no regular minister. The pastor of the German Lutheran is J. Drogemiller, and the Catholics are supplied from Beardstown.

After the new church had been built, in 1860, by the citizens of Arenzville, there was a deficiency of funds to pay the contractor, George Gunther, and the building was used by all denominations, until finally in 1870, the Cumberland Presbyterians became the owners by paying the debt.

The first building used for religious services was erected in 1839. It was open to all denominations on Sundays, but at all other times was devoted to school purposes. In the year 1844, a German Lutheran church was in the Howell neighborhood, an 1 soon afterward a German Methodist church, and in 1870 a very handsome new Lutheran church was erected, and the old one used for a school house. R. G. Linker is the pastor of the Lutheran church, and Mr. Barth of the Methodist church. About the year 1875, a Methodist church was built in the neighborhood of L. D. Graham's; also, five or six years ago, two German Lutheran churches were erected in the neighborhood of the farm of G. H. Jost, of which Revs. Bosin and Merschroth are the pastors.

School Hotises. - Among the first school houses outside of Arenzville was one near Pitner's farm, one on the land of George Eng-elbach, and one in the Skinner neighborhood. There were also schools established for teaching in the winter in several neighborhoods. Some person who was able to read or write was engaged as teacher, and when the season for farm work commenced again, these teachers hired themselves to farmers.

An Odd Fellows' Lodge was organized in 1874, and the Order of the United Workingmen in 187G. Both were organized by L. J. Wallich, who moved to Arenzville in 1869. He is a native of Pennsylvania, and is 54 years old; was also the Superintendent of the Union Sabbath School from 1869 to the present time, and for many years a Justice of the Peace of the precinct, which office he filled worthily and with ability.

At the northern edge of the town of Arenzville was a nice locust grove, wherein generally the political meetings were held. Men, who afterwards became distinguished in the State and national councils, have made speeches in this grove. Among the names are mentioned: Stephen A. Douglas, Jas. A,

Morgan County then had two Senators and four members in the House. In 1836 it was customary that the candidates for office of both political parties, at an appointed day and place came together to address the people, speaking alternately, the bank and tariff questions furnishing the main subjects, the speaker's stand being a large box or a table.

At such a meeting, in 183G, Mr. McDougal, who was somewhat of a dandy, alwaj'S neatly dressed, in his speech anathematized tiieWhig party, calling the Whigs bankworshipers, monopolists, aristocrats, silk stocking gentry, etc. Mr. Hardin, who was slovenly in dress, and cared nothing whether his shoes had any strings to them or not, and who had taken his seat on a corner of the speaker's table, seized one leg of Mr. McDougal, held it up, pointing out to the crowd the fine prunella shoes and silk stockings which he wore, saying that the silk stocking gentry strutted upon Democratic legs, which raised a tremendous laughter.

The first funeral at Arenzville was that of John Fuschka. He was an old bachelor without any living relatives, had drifted about in the world from place to place, never receiving kind words or treatment, as he told it, until he came to Arenzville, and found employment with Francis Arenz. By industrv and frugal habits he had saved his wages and acquired possession of eighty acres of good land near the town. His last will and testament was writen by J. A. Arenz, to whom he offered to bequeath one half of his land, and the other half to his brother Francis. It was pointed out to him, that neither of them needed any such gift, and that he would perform a generous act of benevolence, and perpetuate his memory, by bequeathing his farm to the school at Arenzville, to which he cheerfully assented. Mr. Fuschka was not captivating in appearance, small in size, but he possessed a large soul, full of honesty and trustworihiness. The citizens of Arenzville should honor his grave and remember his generosity. The farm is now cultivated by Casper Becker, and the annual rent goes to the school fund.

John L. Cire came with Henry Kircher, Frederick Diekel, Charles Coupor, Dr. Engelbach,H.Lij)pert, and others, in the latter part of 1834, having finished his education in the seminary at Fulda. He built the first frame house in Arenzville, where he kept a little store, increasing his business from time to time, as circumstances would permit. He was Postmaster, Justice of the Peace, Town and School officer, for many years. At the time of his death, in 18S1, he held the office of County Assessor and Treasurer, to which he had been elected for the second time. He left seven cliildrpn.

Dr. George Engelbach came here in 1831, and bought the farm of Peter Taylor, where he resided till his death, in 1811. By profession he was a doctor of medicine, but gave up his practice and devoted his energies to fanning. Having lost his wife by death, he brought with him to this country his only child, a boy about four years of age, named Herman, and his aunt Link. Although unused to farming, by his iron will and industry he became in time a pretty good farmer.

In 1810, he was elected to the office of County Commissioner of Morgan County, which place he filled with honor to himself, and the approval of the people. He was the only person of the so called " Latin farmers" who held out, all the others having arrived at the knowledge that farming was not profitable or pleasant, in the long run, and had chosen other employments.

was this trust performed. Young Encrelbach received a very good education, and when he had become of age, he made a trip to Europe, visiting his relatives there. Upon his return, in 1853, he associated himself with Peter Arenz, and they bought the mill, store, and a tract of land of Francis Arenz, and did a very successful business until 1859, when that firm was dissolved, and H. Engelbach carried on the business thereafter in his own name, until his deatli, on December 16, 1880, caused by being caught in the machinery of his elevator.

He was a very honorable man, of exceedingly industrious habits, never idle forone moment from morning till night. He left a widow with s X children, and a considerable estate.

Francis Arenz was born in Blankenbr!rg, Province of the Rhein, Prussia, Oct. 31, 1800. While yet very young he engaged in mercantile business, and in 1827 emigrated to the United States, making his home for two years in the State of Kentucky, following the business of merchandising. In the vear 1829, he went to Galena, Illinois, and was for a short tims engaged in the lead trade, and then came to Beardstown, where he again followed the business of merchandizing and dealing in real estate. He very soon foresaw that Beardstown, on account of its favorable situation and surroundings, was destined to have a prosperous future, and used ever}' means in his power to draw attention to this place and invite emigration. Ho expected t\\i best mode to accomplish this purpose to be the establishment of a newspapor, and he accordingly, in 1834, commenced the publication of The £eardsioien Chronicle and Illinois J3onnty Land Advertiser^ of which he became the editor and proprietor, with John B. Fulks, as publisher. This paper was then the only newspaper west of Jacksonville and Springfield. It could not be expected that at this early day such an undertaking would prove profitable, and having been published for nearly two years at considerable loss, its publication was abandoned, after having accompliahed, however, its object. Beardstown, a very good landing point on the Illinois River, had become the port of entry for all the goods designed for Springfield, Petersburg, Rushville, McComb, and other places, and from here were also shipped the pioduce and pork of the surrounding towns and country. Heavy loaded teams with merchandise and produce, could daily be seen on the roads leading to and from Beardstown, and there was no point in the ^Yest where more hogs were slaughtered than here.

Durino- the Black Hawk war, Beardstown was the general rendezvous for the State troops, and Mr. Arenz furnished supplies for the army at the request of Gov. Reynolds, and also a portion of the arras, which had been purchased by Arenz, and originally destined for the South America service.

New roads were surveyed and opened, and the plan was conceived by Mr. Arenz, that the construction of a canal from Beardstown to the Sangamon River, to a place called Miller's Ferry, and then by slackwater navigation to continue to the neighborhood of Springfield, whereby also the bottom lands of the Sangamon valley would become drained and useful for agricultural purposes, would be of great benefit to Beardstown.

An act of the Legislature was obtained in 1836, for the incorporation of the BearJstown and Sangamon Canal Company, of which company Mr. Arenz was elected President, and Dr. O. M. Long, Secretary and Treasurer; William Pollock, as Engineer, and John A. Arenz, as Assistant Engineer, commenced the survey on September 1, 1836, and in December following a very favorable report was niade ;

The citizens of Beardstown and the northern portion of Morgan County had become aware that their interest would be better promoted by a separation from Morgan, because every public improvement, and particularly the contemplated railroad, running from Springfield, by Jacksonville to Quincy, which in their opinion, ought to have been located by the way of Beardstown, being the nearest and best route between Sprinarfield and Quincy.

Morgan had at that time six and Sangamon nine members in the Legislature, and the two counties combined, could carry most any measure, and Jacksonville and not Beardstown, would be the recipient of its benefits, for all the members from Morgan were either citizens of Jacksonville or vicinity. For these and other reasons, a division of the county was agitated, and continued until 1837, when the county of Cass was formed. In all these matters Mr. Arenz was the leader and main worker. In the year 1835, he gave up his mercantile business in Beardstown, and took up his residence on his farm, about six miles southeast of Beardstown, which he named " Recluze." Here he had a house built, which had a good sized room in the center, surrounded by shed rooms and a porch. It was covered by shingle roof, weather-boarded and painted, and was built on the brow of a high hill, near the edge of the timber, commanding a very fine view. It was certainly the hottest jilace in the summer and the coldest in winter, and the house appeared from a distance very much like a good sized tent. Here he resided until 1S39, when he made his permanent home at Arenzville.

Indian Creek forms here a considerable bend, and to increase the volume of water, a large ditch was cut between said bend, and at the upper end a dam was constructed. A new saw mill was built on said ditch, Mr. John Savage, afterward Sheriff of Cass County, being the builder. It was a diflicult matter to keep up the dam, which was constructed of timber and earth, no stone being at hand. The soil being rich and alluvial, the lainks, musk-rats and crawfish would in some way undermine or work around the edges of the dam, so that at times of high water it would be damaged or carried away entirely, which required the time of low water for making repairs.

"When the timber yielding saw-logs had been consumed, the saw-mill was turned into a flouring mill and rebuilt ; but the dam still proved a failure, until finally steam power was applied. These drawbacks would have discouraged most men, but not him, although he had several times either sold or leased the property, but it always came back to his hands, like counterfeit money.

Mr. Arenz wa,s pretty successful in his many enterprises, but in the milling business he proved to be a complete failure, and by it sunk a great deal of money.

In 1838 he engaged also in the mercantile business, and took in partnership his brother, J. A. Arenz, and the name of the firm was F. Arenz & Co. This partnership continued for about six years, when his brother withdrew from the firm. Finally in 1853 ho solil the mill and store with a tract of land, to Herman Eiigelbach and Peter Arenz, in whose hands the concern proved very profitable.

very often absent from home, attending meetings of all sorts, having an object for the improvement of the country. He was very fond of politics and a member of the Whig party. He liked company, was of a very generous and social disposition, and his house was scarcely ever without visitors. There was no session of the legislature, when he failed to go to the capita] of the State, to be on hand whenever anything could be accomplished for the benefit of Cass County. He was acquainted with the leading men of the State, and many of them were his warm friends.

In 1852 he was the bearer of dispatches from the Secretary of the United States, to the embassadors at Berlin and Vienna. He was one of the organizers of the State Agricultural Society at Sjiringfield, on .lanuary 5, 1853, and was elected one of its vice-presidents, which position he continued to hold to time of his death.

Men of the stamp and character of Francis Arenz, gifted with power to look ahead, and shaping matters for paving the way to accomplish praiseworthy results, have to encounter and overcome a great many obstacles; such men necessarily have and gain many friends, but they will also have envious, bitter enemies. This was also the case with him.

Tiie executive committee of the State Agricultural Society, then in session at Springfield, adopted April 3, 1850, the following resolutions :

Jiesolved, That in the death of Francis Arenz, late member of this board, it lost a co-worker, kind, courteous and able, and always in his place; the society, one of its most talented, energetic and ardent friends; the State and community at large, one of its most honorable, respected, and revered citizens; and that while we bow in humble humility and awe before Almighty God, we tender our most sincere and heartfelt sj^mpathies to the family and friends of the deceased, hoping that their loss and our loss is his gain.

liesolved. That a copy of these proceedings be sent to the family and friends of the deceased, to the Prairie Farmer, and to the papers in Beardstown, Jacksonville and Springfield, with the request that the same be inserted in the papers indicated.

Mr. Jos. Kircher came in 1834. He had received a collegiate education, and settled on a farm near Arenzville. When some years afterwards Mr. Henry Goedeking arrived, he took up his residence on the same farm. Mr. Goedeking was a native of Berlin, Prussia, where his father was an officer of the royal mint.

After farming a few years, they arrived at the conclusion that such employment was neither suitable nor profitable for them, and they moved to Arenzville and- engaged in mercantile business. About five or six years afterward they took up their permanent residence at Belleville, Ills., where they established a hardware business. Mr. Goedeking ' became Mayor of Belleville, and died some years ago, never having been married. Mr. Kircher is still living and is the father of five children, honored and loved by all who are acquainted with him.