Coles County, Illinois - The whole text, 1879 (part 9 of 21)

Paradise Township. School was kept here, or in the cabins, until about 1844 or 1845, when the first schoolhouse, built expressly for such purposes, was erected in Mattoon Township. That was about the dawn of the present schoolsystem of Illinois. It had been agitated as early as 1827, renewed in 1835- 86. and a few subsequent Legislatures, but so distasteful was the idea of taxation to the southern portion of the State, that not until 1844-45 did the first permanent school law come into force.

This schoolhouse was used until the present one, erected during the war on its site, superseded it. It was not alone possessor of the field long. Other parts of the township began to fill rapidly witli settlers, especially when the railroads were opened, and, as necessity required, houses were built. The open, ing of high schools in Mattoon gave additional facilities for instruction, which have, in a measure, been well improved.

Early Mills, Milling, Etc

We have incidentally noticed the grater and mortar, and described their modes of use. Following these primitive mills, we will notice those that succeeded, viz., the hand and horse mills. The hand-mill was quite an improvement on the hominy-block. It consisted of two small circular stones, 14 or 16 inches acros the face, and made something like the millstones of to-day. The lower stone was made fast to some timbers, with a hoop bent around it and projecting some three or four inches above, forming a receptacle for the upper stone. This had a hole in the center, through Avhich the corn was dropped by the hand, and was made to fit the under stone as well as the tools of the day could dress it. Near the outer rim, a hole was drilled into it about 1 J inches across, and of the same depth. Into this an upright was fastened, its upper end secured in the ceiling, or to some immovable piece of timber. The lower stone had a |- inch hole, drilled from 2 to 3 inches in depth, in the center, and a round piece of iron driven firmly in. Its top projected about the same distance above. The top formed a pivot, and by the aid of a flat piece of iron, was cut to a half circle, with flanges on each end, so as to fit the notches cut in each side of the " runner." This iron was placed in the " eye " of the upper stone, generally called the "runner," with the concave side down. Its under side was so notched as to fit the pivot and balance, so that when forced around it kept its place. These simple arrangements completed the outfit. When meal was wanted, a measure of shelled corn was placed near, from which the corn was dropped in by the left hand, while the stone was turned by the right. It was given a rapid motion, and, if heavy, both hands were used, and an attendant dropped the corn into the center hole. At one place, the under stone was sometimes made slightly sloping, and a spout inserted in the iron rim surrounding the stone, through which the meal was forced as it was ground.

It will be observed by the reader, that this kind of mill is spoken of in the Bible, only that the handle was commonly a foot or more in height. It is as old as the world, almost, and, in ancient times, was almost always operated by women. The Savior referred to the custom of women grinding at the mill, when He said, " The one shall be taken and the other left."

The horse-mill was simply the hand-mill made too large and heavy for one person to turn, and was rigged something after the manner a common circular sweep is now made. To this a horse or mule was hitched and driven in a circle. It was often rigged with a pulley made of a leather band, and thereby given an increased motion. The hand-mill was also rigged with cogs and bands, and arranged so two or four men could turn it with a crank. It was tolerably hard work, but it was often the case that, when properly rigged in this way, a bushel of grain could be ground in forty minutes.

After the horse-mills came into use, the hand-mills were largely abandoned. They were too slow when a better way was known, and gradually came to be a a thing of the past.

It is not stated that any horse-mills were built in Mattoon Township. The older parts of the county had them first, and to them the settlers were accustomed to go. Many of the old settlers now living, well remember getting up at 3 or 4 o'clock in the morning, preparatory to getting early to the mill, hopinoto get there in advance of any one else, only to find, perchance, a whole " string of wagons ahead of them," as they express it, and being obliged to remain a day or two awaiting their turn. No water or steam mills were built in Mattoon Township till after the city was started, when they were erected there. As their history properly belongs to the history of the city, the reader is refer-red to that, where the subject, as concerns this township, is concluded.

Early Mails And The Old Stages

The first mail facilities enjoyed in this part of the country were indeed quite meager. Letters were few and far between, while newspapers were a rarity. The postage, was, in the early days of post-routes, governed by the distance the letter was sent, ranging from five to twenty-five cents. After the express companies started and began to carry them at a cheaper rate, the Government lowered the cost from time to time until the present rate was established. The first post office, says Mr. Hiram Tremble, for the Little Wabash Point settlement was established at George M. Hanson's, who drew up a petition for one, obtained the necessary signatures and sent it on to Washington. Capt. Adams states also, that this was the first post office in the county, and that it was established by George M. Hanson, who was the Postmaster. The office was named Paradise, in memory of Paradise Post Office iuVirginia, in the county where Mr. Hanson was born. These two were the only post offices of that name in the United States. The office was located here in 1829, and remained with Mr. Hanson about two years, when it was removed to the State Line Road, just then being opened. There it was kept by Mr. William Langstou, who had what was known as the " Relay House," i. e., where the stage-horses were changed. This stage-road, or, more properly. State Road, had formerly been a trace or trail, simply a bridle-path, and led from Charleston to Shelbyville and on to Vandalia, the old State capital. At first the mail was carried on horse-back, and made a weekly trip. The road passed through Mattoon Township, a little north of the present village of Paradise : hence, when the post office was removed to Mr. Langston's, it was still in Mattoon Township. It remained at the " Relay House " about two years, when it was taken to a little embryo town located on the Houtchin Farm, called Richmond, where G. W. Nabb had quite a store, in which the office was kept ; Mr. Nabb, Postmaster. The office remaiiicd there till the Alton & Terre Haute Railroad was completed and Mattoon founded. There is considerable dispute among the old settlers concerning this post office and its frequent removals. We have given Mr. Tremble's recollections, which some pronounce correct, while others think a little differently. It seems impossible to reconcile all the statements regarding it. The subject is further treated in Paradise Township.

After the stages began running, the mail was changed to a bi-weekly, then to a tri-weekly, and when the railroad came, to a daily mail. The old stagecoach was as much an improvement on the modes of travel preceding it, as the railway of to-day is an improvement on the coach. It was generally quite gorgeously painted, were made secure, and would carry just as many passengers as could get inside and on its top. This propensity to crowd stages has given rise in this day to the trite proverb, " There is always room for one more in a stage." They were drawn by four horses commonly, but in times of bad roads six or eight would be hitched to it. The driver was perched on top in a comfortable seat at the front, and nearly always had a passenger with him. In times of good roads and fine weather, the driver's seat was often sought, as it gave such commanding views of the country. When the fierce prairie storms abounded, and winter set his icy hand on everything, it required a brave man to face the contest. Not unfrequently drivers perished at their post in unusually severe weather. The most interesting time was probably in the spring, when the ground was thawing out. The. soil of the prairies would sometimes freeze two or three feet deep, especially in low, wet places, consequently the thawing-out process reached down that depth, where it commonly met the perpetually wet undersoil, producing what was termed, in the common parlance of the day, a road with "no bottom." Then it was, indeed, interesting to the passengers. First one side of the coach was down, then the other, alternately pitching the passengers right and left. About as soon as they got used to this mode of travel, the fore wheels would go suddenly down to the axle, and a forward lurch of the passengers followed. As they came up, the hind wheels went down, and a retrograde movement on the part of the passengers was the result. Relief from this alternate pitching arose only when an eminence was reached, or when the passengers walked.

Sometimes exciting drives occurred, especially when the driver wanted to give a team " all the running they wanted." He would ply them with the whip, and keep them at a full gallop until completely broken of their desire to run away. If the road was a few inches deep in mud, the condition of the passengers, unless securely inclosed, can be well imagined. They came out of the race considerably sprinkled with the prairie soil. These days of the stage continued till the opening of the railroads in 1855, when they it farther west, only in time to be obliged to give way to the fleet iron horse, destined in time to entirely supersede it.

From the first settlement until society became established, the settlers were generally a law unto themselves. They were too remote from the county seat before Coles County was erected, and settled disputes among themselves. They were exceeding honorable in their dealings with each other, and rarely did occasion require of them recourse to law. When it did, the punishment was sure and swift. They abhorred the petty vices, stealing, lying, etc., and would completely ostracize any one found guilty. As all were poor and mutually dependent on each other, they were strict in their observance of the right, and would aid one another to the farthest extent of their ability, did he show any disposition to try to do for himself. At every house-raising all did their part ; all wanted to, and should any one evince a disposition to shirk, he was made to feel his dependence whenever he wanted any help from his neighbors. Mr. Tremble says he does not remember of but one theft occurring in the neighborhood from the date of its first settlement in 1827, till after the first election in 1831. The theft and its punishment were characteristic of the times, and will suffice as a good illustration for the " court proceeding " of the day.

One of the settlers had killed a beef, and, to secure the hide, bent down a small sapling, attached the hide to the top branch, and allowed the tree to spring back to its place, bearing the hide aloft, far out of the reach of wolves or any other species of thieves. He never once thought of any person stealingit, and hence allowed it to remain in the tree-top over night. The next morning it was gone. By what means, he coiild not determine, but he felt sure nothing but a human being could have secured it. He sent word to a few of the neighbors, and soon word was all over the settlement that a theft had occurred; something so unusual, that all left their work and gathered at the settler's cabin, determined to find the off"ender and give him his merits. By some means, the hide was tracked to its place of concealment. The guilty man was now to be apprehended, in case they c6uld find him. He had been suspected, it seems, from- the start, for, in a scattered community like this, every one was pretty well known, and two citizens were deputed to search his premises. They returned in an hour or so, with the information that they could not find him, though they had given the cabin and its contents a thorough examination. The settlers were not satisfied, and a second search was instituted, in which all took a part. Under the bed, a puncheon was found displaced, and a lot of rags and old quilts substituted. Removing these, tlie thief was discovered between the floor and the sill of the cabin. He was at once brought forth, and a trial held. The tears of his wife and children could not avail now : the pioneers were determined to punish theft whenever found. One among their number was appointed Judge, another Sherift", another Prosecutor, and a fourth, counsel for the defense. The trial was held under a large elm-tree in the east side of Dry Grove. Everything was conducted decorously, and, at its close, the prisoner was sentenced to receive thirty lashes on his naked back, at the hands of the Sherift' - and that at the close of the next two hours. Court was held about a mile from the prisoner's cabin, and, before the execution of the sentence was carried into eft'ect, he begged to be allowed to see his family. This was granted, and the Sherift' ordered to see him safely home and back. On the way to his cabin, he was informed by the officer that if he would leave the country that night, hook and line." with the promise never to be seen in those parts again, he would let him escape. The Sherift' informed him that he must, however, run for life, for as soon as he started he (the Sherift") would shout at the top of his voice, " Stop thief! Stop thief!" By this time, they were out of sight of the Court, and the Sherift", pointing one way, remarked, '' That's your course," and away he went at the top of his speed. The Sheriff" appeared to be after him, yelling with all his might. "" Stop thief ! " The Court, of course, heard, and, immediately forgetting its dignity, started, pell-mell, in pursuit. The prisoner, however, had the start, and made good his escape. He was joined by his family afterward, and was never seen again in these parts. He had, doubtless, learned a lesson he never forgot, and. it is hoped, one he heeded. It was, undoubtedly, part of the plan to allow him to escape, but to so thoroughly intimidate him that others would heed the lesson.

Whether the trial was just in its conclusions or nut, and its mode of action commendable, can hardly be doubted, in the condition society then existed. Even were such methods adopted now, so thoroughly prompt and decisive, it is hardly an open question but that it would sometimes be better. After the county was organized, the processes of civil law were carried out, and, from that date down, we are not informed of any impromptu courts and court proceedings.

We have thus fiir narrated the leading events in the history of Mattoon Township. The history of its organization is given in the general county history, and, as it did not occur until four years after Mattoon village was established, we will proceed directly to the history of the city, and, in like manner, note its important events.

The town is the outgrowth of the crossing of the two railroads, and dates its beu"inning from tiiat occurrence. When the original surveys for the railroads were made, it was predicted that a town would grow up at their crossing; but until the exact location of the routes was determined, no one ventured to purchase the ground and prepare for the expected village. It was at one time thought that the crossino; would be made about two miles north of the site of Mattoon, and a town, to be called Arno, was laid out there by David A. Neal, of Massachusetts, owner of the land. The survey was made by John Meadows, March 14, 1855.

The routes of the roads were pretty certainly established by 1852, and in that year a company of persons, prominent among whom were Elisha Linder, Ebenezer Noyes, James T. Cunningham, Stephen D. Dole, John L. Allison and John Cunningham, purchased Section 13, in Township 12, and concluded to plat thereon a town. Two years elapsed before this was done, during which interval, Davis Carpenter, Usher F. Lrnder, H. Q. Sanderson, Harrison Messer, Samuel B. Richardson, W. B. Puell, Josiah Hunt and Charles Nabb obtained an interest, and, by direction of all these persons, a town was laid out on December 12, 1854, by John Meadows, then County Surveyor. It must be borne in mind that the grant of land given by the Government in aid of the Illinois Central Bailroad (a full history of which appears elsewhere), included only alternate sections in the belt, and that, to equalize the I'evenue from the remaining sections, the price was doubled. These men, then, paid for Section 12 $2.50 per acre, which, considering the location, was certainly cheap enough.

No sooner was the survey made than preparations for building began. Men did not wait for a sale of lots, but went to the proprietors and selected such lots as they desired, began building on them, with the understanding that they be allowed them as their choice on the day of sale ; that then they really be confirmed in their purchase. The first building brought on the town site w^as an old structure moved here from La Fayette Township by Blueford Sexton, and used as a kind of lodging-house, boarding-house and toolhouse. Anything that would in any way shelter a person w\as acceptable, and Avas, as they termed it, "better than nothing." On the 28th day of March, 1855, the next spring after the survey. Mr. R. H. McFadden raised the first house erected on the site of Mattoon. It stands on its original site, on the south side of First street, just east of the Illinois Central Railroad track, and is now occupied by Mrs. Cartmell. The house, when built, contained two front rooms, one of which was intended for a store, and in it Flemming & Sexton opened the first stock of goods offered for sale in the town. This was done early in April, and by that time several other buildings were in course of erection. Afterward, Cartmell and Dr. Camp had a small drug store in the room, and when Mr. Noyes built a small brick store west of the railroad, the stock was moved there. Dr. Camp was deaf and dumb, and lived awhile in one half of Mr. Cunningham's warehouse, built on the north side of the Terre Haute & Alton Railroad, before the sale of lots,occurred. The pioneer drug store was closed out in the little brick.

Two days after Mr. McFadden raised his house, an enterprising individual set up a little board shanty a short distance south of him, and began selling whisky and other compounds.

James M. True opened a store soon after. John Allison built a small land office ; Ebenezer Noyes a small brick building on the ground now occupied by Mr. Tremble's house, on West Charleston street ; John Cunningham, a wareliouse, in the eastern part of town, near where the car-shops are now situated. Michael Toby and others erected dwellings, and the lively times of frontier Western towns Avere indicated on all hands. Mr. Toby says he had been here in the fall before, looking over the ground, and decided to locate. In the winter, probably in January, he and a number of others met in a little shanty made of sod and plank, and placed near the crossing, then only located, where they examined the map of the new town and selected lots. They were all known as "Improvement lots." paid for by putting so much improvement on each lot, for which, as yet, the plat not being acknowledged and recorded, no deeds could be made. He went back to the Kickapoo timber, where he was living, and, before spring, had erected two barns for some of the residents there, and had the timbers for his house ready. He came again to Mattoon when the building began, and, that summer, assisted in erecting a good many structures, as well as building his own house.

The sale of lots was extensively advertised by means of hand-bills sent all over the country. The 15th day of May was the day set, and on the 14th, the proprietors went to Charleston, where they acknowledged the plat before Eli Wiley, a Justice, and had it recorded.

On the next morning, a construction-train came over from Terre Haute, that railroad being completed this far, bringing a great number of buyers. All the people from the surrounding country came on horse-back to see the cars they ha<l heard so much about, and which so many had never seen.

The auctioneer was Samuel Adams, of Terre Haute. During the sale, various races occurred between fleet horses and the locomotive and between one anotiier. Foot-racing, wrestling, leaping and other things of such hilarious nature were indulged among the attendants who came to see, while not a few, especially among the ladies, were compelled to stand and hold their horses, there being no places to hitch, and no places, except in the unfinished houses, to find seats. The sale passed off very satisfactorily, a large part of the lots finding purchasers. Great expectations existed on the part of the majority of the purchasers: a large town, predicted they, would some day grace the high hill on which the city is built. All Western towns partook of the same spirit, but all were not successful in reaching their anticipations. The embryo village was by this time named. In casting about for a suitable synonym whereby it should be known to the world, the proprietors took into consideration the advantages accruing from the railroads, which had, indeed, been the cause of the town, and determined in some way to perpetuate their construction. The contracting firm for the Terre Haute & Alton road was Phelps, Mattoon ^: Barnes, of Springfield, Mass. They had been extensive contractors, having built, in the previous decade, the Rome & Watertown, the Buffalo cS: Corning and the Watertown

Potsdam Railroads. The second partner, Mr. William Mattoon, was very actively engaged here when they were building the Terre Haute &; Alton Road, and became quite well known along the line. In honor of him, the city of which we are writing received its name. He and Messrs. Dawsen and Messer were, in 1857-58, engaged on the towers of the suspension bridge ar Cincinnati, and for a few years after, Mr. Mattoon was actively engaged in such pursuits. About 1859, he began to spend the most of his time at home, on his fine farm near Westfield, where he lived the remainder of his life, devoting himself to the raising fine stock. His herds of fine Devon cattle are said to have taken more premiums that any other herd in the United States. Mr. Mattoon died a few months ago. He will always be remembered by the old citizens here, whose city, as well as a street in Springfield, Mass., will perpetuate his memory.

After the sale of lots on May 15, the greatest activity prevailed here in the erection of houses. Lodging and boarding were very hard to get. Every one was "full," and accommodations of every kind were brought into use. Labor was high, as it always is such times, and laborers flocked to Mattoon to share in the prosperity. Work on both railroads was carried on, and numbers of men found temporary homes here. The inevitable results followed. Whisky was brought on by unlawful persons, and a saloon started. To the credit of one or two of the contractors, it is to be said, they gave some of the saloon-keepers so long a time to leave - they left. But the temptation was strong and whisky, in one way and another, would come. It seems to be the inevitable follower of all frontier towns, and Mattoon was no exception to the rule.

Though the town had now a few stores, several houses, and a great many in the course of construction, it lacked that commodity of all towns, a hotel. Messrs. Sanderson and Carpenter, two of the original proprietors, were, however, preparing to supply the deficiency. As labor was high here, they had the timber all framed and put in readiness at Terre Haute, and on Sunday, June 30, 1855, erected the first hotel - the Pennsylvania House - in the town. It stood on the south side of Broadway, just west of the present Mattoon National Bank, occupying part of the ground now used by that building. It was already to put together when it arrived, and before night the frame was up. It had, however, been constructed like man}' another building, a little weak, and after the third floor and the rafters were finished, the structure gave way, letting that floor and the rafters down upon the second. Props and braces were immediately applied, and the disaster remedied. Not a few of the people expressed their disapprobation at the erection of the building on the Sabbath day, while some afiirmed the falling of its upper storv was a judgment sent on the builders for desecrating the day. The building probably fell because it was poorly constructed. Many persons stoutly affirm that this hotel was raised on the Fourth of July. All were agreed that it was raised on Sunday. The writer of these pages, with several others, made a calculation, based on an invariable rule in mathematics, and found that the Fourth of July in 1855 came on Wednesday.

It was also found correct by several tests. The fact was then developed that it was raised on the Sunday previous, and opened with a big dinner on the Fourth. Tlie hotel opened with a good run of custom, and for many years did a good business. Old people well remember it, and in its day it did an important work in the growth of the town. It gave way, finally, to the demands of trade, and the erection of better buildings, and was removed to give place to the present biick houses occupying its site.

The same summer the Pennsylvania House was built, another hotel, known as the Union House, was constructed on the ground now occupied by the Operahouse. It was erected by a man named Bain, and was used for the stage office until the connection between each railroad was finished. This hotel was not completed till fall. It was known as the Kentucky House, and was kept by Mr. W. H. K. Pile, and after him by John Davis. Like the Pennsylvania House, it became a favorite stopping-place and enjoyed a good reputation, and it. too, like its predecessor, gave way before the march of improvement and is among the things of the past.

In the spring of 1857. Mr. Morgan Griffin came to Mattoon to superintend for a Mr. Radcliff, of New York, the building of the Essex House. Mr. Ebenezer Noyes, owned the most of the original plat of the town lying west of the Illinois Central Railroad, and gave Mr. R. the lot on which to erect the house. He was also to build brick business houses on the reiiiainder of the block to the west end of the street. Mr. Noyes had about this time purchased Section 14 from the Railroad Company, intending to lay it out in lots. He had purchased for his brother. Dr. Frank Noyes, Section 15, in 1852, and had platted that in large lots. Between him and the proprietors of Section 13, the original plat of the city, arose an estrangement, resulting in his purchasing Sections 14 and 15, and platting them. The residents have always noticed the "jog," or set-oif in the streets running west frcm the end of Broadway. This was done when Mr. Noyes had the plat made. In the extreme efforts made between the East and West Towns to secure the center of town, considerable " Avire-pulling " was indulged, resulting in not the best of feeling. This, however, existed more between the proprietors, in their endeavors to further their own interests, than between the people, who cared more for a suitable location than anything else, leaving the ascendency of either side to regulate itself. In the erection of the Essex House, Mr. Radcliff failed to carry out the plan, and, after the walls were built, it came into the possession of Mr. Noyes, who completed it, built the rear addition, opened it to the public in 1859, and managed it several years. Mr. Daniel Messer, the present landlord, assumed charge in 1869. The house has always been a prominent stopping-place, situated as it is at the junction, and being occupied by the depot and ticketoffice;

The hotels of after years may be briefly noticed. When the Essex House was built, it was the third brick building in town, others, however, began to appear, when the war of the rebellion came, stopping almost all operations until after its close. The other hotels erected are the City Hotel, the Everett House, now unoccupied, and the present Dole House. This latter is situated on the southeast corner of Broadway and First street, and was begun in 1868, by a stock company. Not long after, the Dole Brothers obtained control, and completed it in 1871. ft was opened as the Mattoon House, under the management of John W. Ha.wley, now of the Everett House, St. Louis. As the Dole Brothers were the principal builders of the hotel, and, as it was opened by them, the name was changed in honor of them. On the 15th of March, 1877, Stubbins Brothers took charge of it, and, on the 18th of December, lfe78, purchased the building. They have remodeled and improved it, and have secured a large part of the traveling public. A few other small hotels and boarding-houses complete the list. None, however, but the Dole, Essex and City Hotels are run upon the regular hotel plans, and these three may be said to transact the principal business in their line.

Going again to the early history of the time, we find the summer of 1855 one of great activity. Conley and Hitchcock opened a store among those that we have mentioned ; the post office was established, and Mr. True made Postmaster, with Mr. Thomas E. Woods as Deputy ; a small schoolhouse was erected on East Broadway, and the life of Mattoon, in its various phases, was fully begun. Mr. McFadden and others yet living in town, state that, before the building season had closed, upward of one hundred buildings were to be seen, all of which were occupied that winter.

Through the winter, school was maintained in the small frame house alluded to. Religious services were conducted, principally by the Baptists, in each other's houses, or in the schoolhouse, while a few ministers of other denominations came to see what could bo done for their churches, and occasionally held meetings in some of the houses, or in the schoolhouse. The railroads were woi'king to complete connections between the two incomplete ends, and the continued, active life of the town hardly abated any for the cold weather experienced. Before the holidays, the Terre Haute & Alton completed the remainder of their line, and, by January 1, 1856, trains were running from Chicago to Cairo, over the Illinois Central.

Some of the business houses were built in the northeast part of town, tiot far from where Mr. John Cunningham had his warehouse, and where a strenuous effort was made to secure the center of the business portion. Here Mr. Cartmell opened a small drug store, with Dr. Camp, the first disciple of Esculapius in the town, as partner. The inexorable law of business could not be broken here, and the center of town insisted on remaining near the railroad crossing. The holders of property in the eastern part of the village saw this» finally, and gave way to the stern demands of trade.

The next spring, building began anew ; business houses, dwellings and shops began to appear. The first permanent brick store in town was erected for True and Cunningham, by Mr. Michael Toby, then a builder, and, before winter, it was ready for furnishing. It is yet standing on the southeast corner of Broadway and Second street, and is now occupied by the meat-shop of Mr. John Hunt. It was the only brick built that season. Several stores were, liowever, erected, and more dwellings commenced, all of which were not completed before winter came ; a few other shops were built, and Mattoon was coming to the front among Western towns. Another most important addition iippeared in June, an adjunct that all Western towns demand, and that all get nearly as soon as they are started. We refer to the newspaper. In June, of that year, the Grazette appeared, setting forth the merits of the town and advertising its advantages. This was started by Mr. R. W. Houghton, on the Tth day of June, and, from its columns, considerable is gleaned respecting the joung city, which is given in extracts from the paper published in the sketch of the press, further on in the narrative. The editor thinks the population of Mattoon can safely be put down at oOO persons, and is certain of that number in an issue a year after.

That summer, the Baptists erected a small frame house of worship, and, during the winter, held regular services therein. They allowed other denominations to use the little church when they had no minister. The small frame schoolhouse had become entirely too small now for the increased juvenile population, and a larger and more comfortable brick structure took its place. It, however, was not erected till 1857 (some assert, one year later), and in the interim, the winter of 1856-57, school was taught in a room over Mr. True's store and in parts of some unfinished buildings.

In the spring of 1857, ground was broken for the Essex House, which, when completed, was the largest and finest house in town. It was not, however, finished for two years. Its history has already been given, and neeil nut be repeated here.

This summer, the Methodists and Cumberland Presbyterians organized congregations, and began to hold meetings in each other's houses, in empty storerooms, or in a small hall that had been completed. A year or so after, they erected their houses of worship, and were joined by other denominations, the history of whose operations is given in connection with that of their churches.

In May of this year. 65 votes were cast for tlie incorporation of the town and 25 votes against the measure, making a total of 00 voters in the town limits. Assuming the usual ratio of voters to the population, this would give Mattoon fully as many inhabitants as the editor of the G-azette predicted, a year before, in his first issue of his paper.

In June, of this year, the limits of the town were greatly extended by the addition made by Mr. Ebenezer Noyes. He, as has been noticed, purchased

Section 15 for his brother, in 1852, at the land-sale when the original plat of Mattoon was purchased, and had this laid out in acre tracts. Some of these had now been sold, as "great expectations" were fully indulged in b}'- the inhabitants of the embryo city. He purchased Section 14 from the Central Railroad, at a good price per acre, as the officers of that corporation were fully alive to the prospects of Mattoon and the nearness of their section of land. As has been intimated, Mr. Noyes and the proprietors of the east side of town could not agree ; and, when he platted Section 14, he made a "jog" in all the streets, and gave new names to those running west. Hence, when Broadway reaches the western limits of the old plat, it suddenly turns northward and sioes on west under the name of Western avenue. All streets in this addition conform to this rule, and cause no little wonderment on the part of strangers who do not understand the cause of the difference.

The life of Mattoon from this date on down to the war bears with it but little history. Several churches were erected ; a good schoolhouse built in each ward, an account of which appears in the history of. education and religion further on in these pages ; a few brick stores were built ; one or two mills and an elevator or two appeared ; a bank opened : dwellings were erected in all parts of town, and its life varied but little from the regular growth of all Western towns.

We learn that a fire company was organized in March, 1861, and that the Council appropriated flOO for buying three dozen buckets and other appliances. The following were the officers of this company : Ebenezer Noyes, President ; H. F. Kelley, First Director ; P. J. Drake, Second Director ; Carson Knight, Secretary ; Edw. A. Thielens, Treasurer ; B. N. Skelton, G. F. Bateman and John Nabb, Standing Committee: Rufus Noyes, Messenger.

Whatever service this or any succeeding fire company performed is not recorded by the papers. It is a fair inference, however, that this, or whatever companies succeeded it, did their share in putting out fires. The city has never been well supplied in this respect, and to-day no organization exists, nor is there any provision made to support one. A fire starts, and is simply allowed to burn out. An expensive fire department might not be advisable ; but an organization could be supported by volunteers, a hook, ladder and bucket brigade be easily kept up, and much valuable property saved. It is argued that it is cheaper to let the buildings burn, and get the insurance. That will be practically demonstrated, some time in a dry season, if a fire starts in the west end of town, and, fed by a strong west wind, burns out the entire business part of Mattoon. It has been done in other towns, and may occur here.

In tht' sketches following these pages, some account of the destruction by fire of mills, elevators and such structures is given. Here we will notice what pertained to the residence and uusiness portion. The papers chronicle the destruction, on Sunday morning, January 1, 1866, of a house owned by Mr. E. Regan, whose loss was nearly $5,000 ; his insurance a little over $3,000. The same fire destroyed the stock of Mr. Fitzgerald, a baker and confectioner, whose loss was $2,300, but whose insurance was $4,300. Everharty & Co. lost $500, less the insurance of $300 ; while others lost, in the aggregate, $5,000.

The Journal of September 4, 1867, records the loss of Hart & Co.'s liverystable, on August 26, with all its contents, including seventeen horses, eight carriages and buggies, and a mow full of hay. The loss was fully $6,000. on which only a small insurance was carried. Many of the horses belonged to citizens of the city. The fire spread from the stable to Col. H. L. Hart's residence, immediately south, which was also burned. Fortunately, the wind blew from the north, keeping the flames away from Broadway, else the loss might have been dreadful.

The same issue of the Journal records the destruction, on the Wednesday night before, of the residence of Mr. Ephraim Orr, in the northeast part of the citv. The Journal states that the buihling was known as the " Cartmell House," built by Mr. Edward Cartmell in 1855 ; also, that in it Gen. True kept a stock of goods and the first post office in Mattoon. Gen. True was Postmaster, while the editor, Capt. T. E. Woods, was Clerk, and Deputy. The loss on this building was about $1,500.

Under date of November 9, 1867. the Journal chronicles another destructive conflagration - this time, the large agricultural warehouse owned by Ebenezer Noyes. It was probably set on fire by sparks from a locomotive passing at night, and it was some time before it was discovered. Two of Mr. Noyes' sons narrowly escaped burning, as they were asleep in the building at the time, and* did not awaken until near too late to save themselves. One of them, Eben, was badly burned before he was rescued. The building was a huge three-story frame, and made a great light. The loss on the building was $6,000, and on the stock was $3,000. The insurance was about $5,000. leaving a large loss.

Other prominent fires were the destruction of John Cunningham's elevator, the elevator just north of the Essex House, a mill or two, nearly all of which are mentioned in a chapter devoted to that subject.

Last winter, during the excessive cold weather, five serious fires occurred, almost one after the other. As no organized effort toward the extinguishment of fires exists, they were allowed to burn out. The same occurred in the month of February, wlien Mr. Walsh lost his dwelling.

Aside from the calamity of fire suffered in Mattoon, the place has, once or twice, been visited by severe storms, one of which deserves mention. In September, 1864, a great storm occurred, occasioning a very serious loss of prop -

" This place was visited, on last Friday evening, by one of the most terrific storms ever known in this part of the State. Dense, reddish-black clouds made their appearance, a little north of west, about 3 o'clock, and in less than ten minutes the storm burst upon us in its wildest fury, tearing down awnings, blowing down and unroofing buildings, and scattering about everything movable. The flying dust was so thick and the darkness so great, that one might -well imagine that the very clouds had descended to the earth and lifted every particle of loose earth. The damage in town was great,,yet we do not suppose it more than equals that in the country, where houses were unroofed and fences and corn leveled to the ground in great number. The following is the list of the principal injuries, as far as we have been able to learn, within the corporation limits :

'- Shed, formerly warehouse to Monroe's store-building, blown down. The new brick of Dole Brothers was much damaged, the window-facings of the east and south sides and several feet of the wall being blown down.

-' The wooden awnings in front of Wilson, Bro. & Co., P. J. Drake and two or three other establishments on the east side of the Illinois Central Railroad, torn from their fastenings and hurled into the street.

" In the west part of town, Mr. Cullom's house was twisted oft" the foundation, nearly all the furniture broken, and William Waggoner's house was wrested from its foundation and badly smashed up.

" The smoke-stacks of Muchmore & Co.'s planing-mill and Jones' flouringmill were blown down, and it was with great diflUculty the planing-mill could be prevented from burning.

" The Essex House was badly damaged, all the chimneys and two-thirds of the iron roof of the north side .^tripped off", and the whole upper story exposed to the furious rain which followed. Sheets of iron ten feet long were carried more

" The stairway leading to the second story of Francis & Drake's store, which was on the west side of the building, with a high board fence on the north and a two-story brick on the west, was lifted from its place and hurled back nearly twenty feet, the wind having sucked down and lifted it out.

'' Chimneys, out-houses, stables and fences were blown down by the score all over town, and a number of windows broken by flying fragments. Thirty or forty feet square of the roof of the M. E. Church was carried, rafters and all, completely over the residence of Mr. Ellis, just east of the church, and fell a little south of the church, mashing down over seventy-five feet of fencing, knocking off" a chimney and breaking twenty-four panes of glass out of his windows. About twenty feet of the roof was taken nearly one hundred yards almost due south of the church.

'- In the countrv nine miles west, the two-storv residence of James Munson was moved from its foundation and badly racked, and that of Jesse Armentrout entirely demolished, as were several other buildings in the same neighborhood. Corn fields and fences were all leveled, and in many fields scarcely a blade is left, and even the corn is blown off" the stalks.

" The track of the storm seems to have been almost directly west to east, and about nine miles wide, having left its terrible marks all the way from Hillsboro to Paris, over one hundred miles. We understand that the M. E. Church and several other buildings were unroofed at the former place, and from the Paris Beacon and Blade we learn that a part of the steeple of the M. E. Church was blown off", falling through the roof and damaging the building about $1,500. The Presbyterian Church was also severely injured, many other houses blown down, and much other damage done at that place.

'' We have not learned of much damage being done at Charleston and other towns along the line, but have no doubt it has seriously injured all towns lying in its pathway. "

A few other storms have sv/ept over the prairies of Coles County in the years since it was settled, but none so fierce as the one recorded are mentioned in its annals.

We must not omit a mention of the part the city took in the last war. Mattoon and its surrounding populace were largely in fixvor of a subjugation of that part of the Union favoring its dismemberment, and many of her bravest citizens left home and dear ones to protect a nation's honor, and save the flag all loved so well. The war of the rebellion opened in 1861. The first company to respond to the call for troops from this part of Coles County left Mattoon on April 15, 1861, for Springfield, where they were to be mustered into service and to be attached to their regiment. Before their departure, they were served with a sumptuous dinner at the Pennsylvania House by Mr. McKee, the pniprietor, and were presented with a flag by the ladies of Mattoon, and each officer Avith a bible and each private with a testament by the Masonic orders in town. The committee of ladies who presented the flag was composed of the following persons : Misses Kate McMunn, Mollie Tobey, Helen Messer, Sarah Aldrich and Mrs. Maggie Duncan and Mrs. McKee. Mrs. L. Villie Malone made the presentation speech to the boys, who responded through Lieut. Edward True, as Capt. James Monroe was then in Springfield.

" On Tuesday, May 14," says the Journal of that year, " a regiment was organized and sworn in by Col. Grant, a camp established and named Camp Grant." No allusion to the famous man who afterward led the armies of the Union is made. His prowess had not yet developed.

The regiment remained here, drilling for some time, but as soon as it was fully ready it was sent to Springfield and from there to the service.

While the regiment was encamped near Mattoon, the town was generally rather lively. Soldiers, out on a short pass, not uncommonly got rather too> much whisky in them, and, in that condition, were not always what they should be. Civilians known to be favorable to the Southern States were not unfrequently compelled to subscribe to oaths or other declarations, not at all in conformity with their sentiments. No riots occurred in Mattoon, as in Charleston, or, at least, none worthy of record, and, as the veil of peace is now drawn over all these scenes, we do not care to lift it, but think that they, as well as several tragedies occurring in Coles County, are better forgotten.

We will now retrace our steps somewhat, and, in a measure, note something of the municipal life of Mattoon. The city was incorporated under the general law of the State, in June, 1857, when 65 votes were cast in its favor, and 25 against. It continued under that organization, states our authority - an advertising sheet issued by Jerry Toles, an insurance and real estate agent. May 1, 1866 - until 1859, when a city charter was obtained from the Legislature, which, as amended, was in force when the aforesaid sheet was published.

From an examination of the newspapers of 1860 and 1861, we learn that an election was held in Mattoon on Monday, April 1, 1861, under the provisions granted in the new charter during the winter previous. From the provisions of the charter, we learn that the word " Town " shall be changed to " City," and " Trustees " to " Councilmen." Evidently the advertising sheet of Mr. Toles is a little premature in its statements. As he issued his sheet for advertising purposes, it is natural to suppose he desired to clothe Mattoon with the title of a city as early as possible. The town charter was liberally amended in 1859, but no city created, as is shown in the charter quoted. This charter, in its second article, provided that " members of the City Council shall have had six months' residence, be a hona-jide freeholder at the time of his election, and shall have paid a corporation tax in said city during the preceding year. Whenever he ceases to be a freeholder in said city, his oflfice becomes vacant.

The election was ordered to be held annually thereafter, on the first Monday in April, when a President, six members of a City Council, City Clerk, Treasurer and Street Supervisor should be elected.

All persons were entitled, by the charter, to vote for State officers who " have paid a corporation tax to the city during the year immediately preceding the election, and have resided in the corporation ninety days previous to the election, were entitled to vote for city officers.'"

The tax and labor collected from persons on the west side of the Illinois Central Railroad was to be distributed there, while that on the east side was to be distributed there. The Gazette, in its first issue after the election, gives the following account of it : " Below we give the result of the municipal election on last Monday. We did have some conscientious scruples as to publishing the particulars of the bungling affair, but, since we heard of the double election which our Paris neighbors held on the same day, Ave have concluded that the Parisians can't ' poke fun at us ' over our blunders, and, consequently, we may as well publish."

The new city charter as amended - declaring who were and who were not legal voters, which clause did put a flea in somebody's ear - very mysteriously got lost while in the President's keeping, just at the time when the first election under it was to be held, and as it was the only legally attested copy of the charter in the possession of the Board, as a matter of course the opponents of the new franchise took the opportunity to annul the election. After sweating and quarreling on the morning of the election till nearly 11 o'clock, the Board having declared the election postponed, the '' sovereign " people concluded to have an election of their own. An election was therefore immediately called, clerks and judges of election duly appointed, and the voting began. The voting was, of course, done indiscriminately as far as having paid taxes was concerned. The following is the result :

For Police Justice, James T. Smith ; Police Constable, James L. Taylor ; President, James Monroe. City Council - T. C. Patrick, Samuel Smith, D. M. Turney, L. Chapin, D. C. Higginson and C. A. Powell. Clerk, B. N. Skelton ; Treasurer, A. Hasbrouck ; vStreet Supervisor, B. F. Keely.

Mattoon remained Under this form of government, with various alterations made as the city grew, until the last week of February, 1879, when at an election the charter was so changed that the city passed under the general incorporation law of the State, and under that law is now governed. The principal changes relate to the election of officers, many of which are now ap- pointed, and to the redivision of the city into wards. This latter move is now agitated, but it is not likely to be adopted for some time. The governing power still rests in the Council, and in place of the people electing several subordinate officers, that body appoints them.

Thus far in this narrative, we have omitted any mention, save incidents, of mills, manufactories or the general business of the city, as well as its churches, schools, newspapers and societies, leaving them for separate articles. In this way more complete, and, at the same time, more condensed, descriptions can be given, and also in a better and more explicit manner. They show much of the history of the city, but are not given with that view being intended for the objects they treat.

Elevators, Mills, Manufactories, Etc

John Cunningham's elevator, built in the spring of 1855, before the sale of lots, was the pioneer of such enterprises in Mattoon. It was, as time eventually proved, too far from the natural center of town, the railroad crossing, and was finally abandoned. Four or five years after, Mr. Cunningham built a substantial brick warehouse north of the railroad crossing, on the west side of the Central track, and just south of where Moneypenny's mill now stands. This was quite a firm building, and was one of the best to follow in chronological order the Essex House. It stood till Sunday 'night, March 19, 1865, when it was destroyed by fire. It appears to have been the principal elevator in town until it was destroyed.

The elevator of Jennings & Co., still standing, comes next in the annals of the town. It was built about the close of the war by the present proprietors, who are the oldest grain merchants in Mattoon. One of them and Mr. H. M. Tremble, built a small warehouse where the express office now stands - the second enterprise of the kind in town. It was a small building, and was used as such for a few years and then removed. South of it stood the old porkhouse of O'Connell & Co., brought from near Cincinnati, the pioneer enterprise of that kind in the city. It was burned after a few years of service. !N^ear it was the large well over which the city and Central Railroad had such a vexatious lawsuit. The controversy over the well was finally settled, and it is not at present regularly used.

Just before Mr. Cunningham built his brick elevator, Luther Miller moved an old porkhouse from Terre Haute, Ind., and set it up north of the proposed site of Mr. Cunningham's elevator. About 1861, the porkhouse came into the hands of Hudnot & Co., who remodeled it, and opened a hominy-mill in the building. This they operated with varying success until 1864, when the building came into the control of Cox & Miller, who again changed its interior and opened a plow-factory in it. This was conducted for two or three years, when Capt. Hinkle obtained possession of the building, and opened a cornmeal mill in it. This enterprise ho continued two years, when he I'etired, and the present parties obtained control. Mr. Moneypenny now operates the meal- mill and has a very fair trade.

The Pacific Mill, noted in the papers as the pioneer mill of Mattoon, is in the southwest part of town, on the St. Louis Railroad. It was built in 1862, by Charles Jones, who operated it four years. It remained idle then for more than a year, when it was purchased by Ira and D. D. James, who re-opened it and operated it until the summer of 1878, when, the business not proving profitable, they discontinued it. The mill is now idle, but yet in the hands of the Messrs. James.

Cox's Mill, a little west of Money penny's mill, is at present unoccupied. It was built by Steadman & Demuth, in 1869 or 1870, who operated it two or three years, when it came into the possession of Hiram Cox, the present owner.

James' Elevator was built in 1868, by Ira and D. D. James, who have been more or less connected in the grain trade in Mattoon many years. They have controlled their own elevator until their failure in 1874, when it and the Pacific- Mill, operated by them since 1866, went into possession of Greer & Co., for whom they now operate the elevator.

The City Mill - sometimes called Union Mill - was built in 1862 and 1863. by T. C. Alexander & Co., at an expense of $12,000. They operated it until 1864, when Col. J. Richmond purchased one-half interest in it, which he sold, in 1867, to Mr. Curtis." Under his control, it was run till February. 1875, when Col. Richmond and J. H. Clark bought the mill. In the fall. Col. Richmond purchased the entire concern and has been operating it since. It is the principal flouring-mill in the ,city, and does the majority of grinding for the country about Mattoon.

It might be well before leaving this subject to notice a few of the elevators and mills that have been destroyed by fire. Mr. Cunningham's elevator has already been noticed. A large elevator was' built just north of the Essex House by Richai'ds & Co., about 1860. It stood only a few years, when it was entirely consumed by the relentless element. It was at once rebuilt by the same firm, who sold it to Day, Sprague & Co., who did business there till about 1873, when the same calamity befell it. No attempt was made to rebuild the third time.

About the same year it burned, the Watkins Mill was erected, just west of the foundry, b^i^ James Watkins. After running it about two years, the mill caught fire, and, in spite of its unusual facilities for extinguishing fives, it suffered the fate of some of its fellows.

These mills are the principal ones erected in the city. A few others have been built, but, proving unprofitable, were in a few years converted to other uses.

The first machine-shop or foundry was built by James Wolfe, in 1863 or 1864. He kept it about three years, and sold to Charles Pomeroy, who con- tinued it till the Lenox Foundry was built, in 1872, when he moved it away. This latter foundry was built by William Lenox, the present proprietor, the year referred to. It is the only enterprise of the kind in town, and has a very fair custom.

The largest machine-shops in Mattoon are those operated by the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railway. They were built here in 1870, and were brought to Mattoon on a guarantee of that city of a bonus of $60,000 in bonds. The vote on this question was held on April 4, 1870, and was decided by 517 votes in favor of the appropriation to 10 against it. The bonds are payable in three equal installments, one-third in ten years from the date of issue ; one-third in fifteen years, and one-third in twenty years. The shops were removed from Litchfield soon after the bonds were guaranteed, and have since been operating. They are in the northeast part of the city, on ground donated them, occupying several acres.

The machine-shops are 110x204 feet, with eight repair-pits. The jjowerroom, 40x50 feet, adjoins this building. The store-room is also adjoining, and is 40x60 feet in size. The car-shops are 85x204 feet in size, with six repairtracks, and, with the machine-shop, get their power from an 80-horse power engine. The blacksmith-shop is 50x150 feet, has sixteen fires and is furnished with one 1,500-pound steam hammer. The boiler-shop is 50x80 feet, and has three repair-tracks. The paint-shop is 44x228 feet, and has two repair-tracks. There are twenty-one stalls in the roundhouse. It is furnished with one of Greenleaf's Machine Works turn-tables. The transfer-table is 27x180 feet, and connects with the tracks leading into the different shops. The tank and oil room is 40x40 feet, has four water-tubs, with a capacity of 60,000 gallons eacli, filled from a reservoir one-half mile south of the works. The buildings are all of brick, with slate roofs, save the paint-shop, which is of frame.

All are heated by steam save the paint and blacksmith shops. The shops in their arrangement are unsurpassed in the West, and turn out nothing but the best of work. Over two hundred men are employed here, in addition to nearly one-half that number employed in the repair-shops at Terre Haute and East St. Louis. The monthly pay-roll at Mattoon is about $23,000, the material used each month costing about one-half that sum. The money distributed at these shops is in a measure nearly all spent in the city. Could other factories be induced to come here, and by their work aid in affording employment and business, Mattoon would be greatly benefited by it.

A few other factories have been in existence here. We refer more particularly to the woolen-factory, operated from the close of the war until 1868 or 1869, and which, for awhile, had a good trade. The brick building is now idle. It certainly ought not to be so. If not wanted for the purpose for which it was built, other use might be made of it and the property made to pay some revenue. When people learn that small things, closely attended, are profitable, the large farms about Mattoon will disappear, more attention will be given to details, and tlie remedy for hard times will come of its own accord.

The other and remaining industries of Mattoon are various shops of all kinds found in all towns. To describe them is unnecessary here. They came with the first house in the place and will remain while it lasts.

The Banks

The first bank in Mattoon was established in 1858 or 1859 by James T. Cunningham, John Cunningham and Thomas A. Marshall, and 0. B. Ficklin, of Charleston. It was founded, under the existing laws of that day, as a private bank, did not issue notes, and confined its business mainlv to loaning money- It occupied a room in a frame building, where Kahn's clothing store is now situated. It continued until the financial depression occasioned by the failure of so many State banks a year or two after it was started, and, owing to this suspension, was obliged to close its business. In the fall of 1862, Pilkington & Green opened a bank in the building vacated by the former bank, using their safe and fixtures. This they continued until January 1, 1864, when the firm was changed to Pilkington & Co., the members of the firm being Mr. Pilkington. C. G. Townsend and W. B. Dunlap. The bank was removed two or three doors west of its former location, and under the new management continued till May 1, 1865. The national banking system had now been devised, and it was decided to organize a national bank. A number of wealthy gentlemen met, subscribed the necessary funds, purchased the business, fixtures, etc., of Pilkington & Co., and as soon as the arrangements were perfected, opened the First National Bank. It was opened on the above date - May 1 - with a capital of $60,000, with the privilege of increasing to $200,000. That fall, their present building was completed, vaults were put in and a time-lock placed on the safe. The Directors were C. M. Dole, William Miller, Samuel Smith, J. C. Dole, I. R. Herkimer, Hiram Cox, Alcaizo Eaton, L. Chapin and S. W. True. Mr. C. M. Dole was chosen President ; Mr. True, Cashier, and Mr. Dunlap, Teller. Mr. True resigned the cashiership early in January, 1879, and Mr. Dunlap was elected to the vacancy. He remained in this position until January 1, 1874. When the Mattoon National Bank was organized in July, he was elected President. He resigned the Cashier's place to engage in the real estate and loan business, as he desired a more active, outdoor business. He was only nominally Pi-esident of the Mattoon National Bank, drawing no salai'v, and after a few years' work in the position, he sold his stock in this bank, and went entirely out of the business. When he left the First National Bank, Mr. C. G. Weymouth was elected to the Cashier's office, having been promoted to that position from the Teller's place. No change was made in the bank's otficials until the spring of 1878, when Mr. Dunlap was again elected to the Cashier's place, which he still holds. Mr. J. E. Steele is

Teller. Mr. Dunlap was elected President of the bank, but declined, and Mark Kahn was chosen. He held the place until January, 1879, when he resigned, and William B. Warren, of Terre Haute, was elected.

The capital stock was reduced to $50,000 not long since, that amount being abundant for all purposes; all doubtful paper was thrown out and properly charged, and now the bank is in an excellent condition, with a large surplus.

The next bank established in town was by Hinkle & Champion and Mr. M. B. Abell. It began business May 1, 1866, under the name of the Merchants' and Farmers' Bank, in a room now occupied by Craig & Craig as a law office. It continued business till a few years ago, when it failed, and closed. Mr. Dunlap, as Receiver, wound up its aflFairs.

The last bank, the Mattoon National, was organized July 1, 1874, with the following officers : W. B. Dunlap, President, and James H. Clark, Cashier. The Directors were E. B. McClure, J. Richmond, John Rapp, Moses Kahn, G. T. Kilner, M. Walsh, T. C. Patrick, Joseph H. Clark and W. B. Dunlap. Two of the Directors afterward sold their stock - W. B. Dunlap and M. Walsh, and two, Moses Kahn and John Rapp, died. The stockholders met and elected S. B. Gray, J. F. Drish, S. Isaac and A. J. Sanborn in their places. W. B. Dunlap sold his stock in November, 1877, and retired from the Presidency. The Directors elected Joseph H. Clark to the vacancy, elected E. B. McClure Vice President, and chose W. A. Steele as Cashier and George Robinson, Teller. These officers are yet in the bank. It has' an abundant capital, a large surplus, and is doing a good business. When the Merchants' and Farmers' Bank suspended, this bank lost some money through the failure of some of its borrowers, who were obliged to suspend owing to the failure of that bank. These losses and all doubtful paper have been charged up, and now only the best of paper is held. This bank and the First National are the only two in town, and are all its trade will justify. Both are well backed, and are careful to conduct only a legitimate banking business.

An examination of the amount of business performed at the various railway offices in Mattoon shows a good average with all towns in Central Illinois. Up to the war, the business of the town was all the time on the increase. For the first years of that conflict it fell off, owing to many men being taken from various pursuits of life to enter the array. As the war progressed, business again .revived, and building, which had in a measure ceased, was renewed with great vigor. When the war closed, business of every kind experienced a forward move seldom equaled. It was in a measure unhealthy and too rapid for permanent benefit. For awhile after the war closed, buildings went up in Mattoon - this time of a substantial character - with something like the days of its earliest existence. When the re-action came, Mattoon experienced it keenly. From the books of the two railways of Mattoon, the trade of the town, we take the following table of the shipments from October 1, 1866, to October 1, 1867, as compiled

The editor states that much building is going on ; that the hotel - Dole House - is contemplated ; also, two churches, and that the prospects are favorable for a large city - something every hamlet in the West confidently expects, and cannot understand why outsiders do not see such a result is inevitable. The element of hope enters largely into American character, and is nowhere more strikingly exhibited than in the average editor's opinion of his own town.

The Journal, further on in this article, gives a valuable table of heights of towns in Central Illinois. It is worth reproducing, and we give it entire :

'- Mattoon is 740 feet above the level of the sea, 158 feet above Chicago and the lake, and 458 feet above the rivers at Cairo. We are just one foot above Champaign, 66 feet above Pana, 176 above Decatur, 19 above Bloomington and 142 above ^Galena. There is only one point between Chicago and Cairo higher than Mattoon, viz., Monee, about thirty-five miles south of Chicago, which is 54 feet higher than our city, being 794 feet above tide water. There is

From the foregoing statement, it will be observed that Mattoon is, in a measure, a '-city set on a hill." If she follows the injunction of Holy Writ, she will doubtless let her light shine. This can be done in more ways than one, not only in a Scriptural sense, but in a material one, by showing an activity in business and solidity of purpose that will count in the future.

The second Postmaster was H. L. Taylor, the next Joseph Brady, whowas followed by R. W. Houghton, M. W. Wilcox and J. H. Clark, the present occupant. He was appointed May 5, 1869, and is now serving his third term. When Mr. True was Postmaster, there were four daily mails, now there are ten. There are about 700 letters daily received, in addition to the papers, periodicals and miscellaneous packages.

The sale of stamps for the year 1878 amounted to $5,726.91. The amount of money-orders issued for the week ending February 8, 1879, was $546.08. Those paid amounted to |2,034.28. As many more orders are paid than issued, Mr. Clark holds a balance of $2,000 in the New York office to draw against to make up the deficiencies. Some idea of the business of the office can be obtained by computing, from the amounts given, the business for a year. When we remember the few mistakes occurring, we can truly marvel at the excellency of the post office management. There are 1,100 open boxes and 211 lock-boxes. ' The income from the boxes is about $800 per year.

Churches And Schools

It has been already noticed in these pages that a church was built in Mattoon the second summer of its existence. That pioneer church is yet standing, and is still used for the purpose for which it was erected.

It was built by the Baptists - "- Old Line," as they are commonly termed here - in the summer of 1856. After their disbanding it was sold to the United Brethren, when they organized a congregation in town (having been in the country previously), and was used by them until their disorganization. Then it went into the hand^ of Michael Tobey and J. S. Mitchell, as Trustees, by whom it is yet held. The Calvary Baptists had made, during this time, several unsuccessful effijrts to organize a congregation, but not until January, 1876, were they able to effect a permanent union. Early in that year, they met in Mr. U. T. S. Rice's office, and by him were organized as a congregation. There were but seven members. These were Mr. and Mrs. Rice, Jonathan A. Tuffts, wife and daughter, S. K. Sanders and George Clark and wife. Soon after, they were joined by Mrs. Joseph and Mrs. Sinsebaugh.

For three years, they met for divine services in a hall over Hasbrouck's hardware store, Mr. Rice being leader a good part of the time. Not long since, they leased the old church built in 1856, which they now occupy. Their membership has nearly quadrupled since the organization. Their present Pastor is Rev. W. S. Dodge.

The First Missionary Baptist Church, the oldest congregation of this denomination in the city, was organized December 25, 1863, with twenty-eight members, prominent among whom were Mr. and Mrs. Roach, Mr. and Mrs. Baker, Mr. and Mrs. Hays, Mr. and Mrs. Davis, Mr. and Mrs. Newcomb, H. J. Streator and wife, and Mr. and Mrs. Frazer.

The organization was eflFected in .the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, where they continued to meet for nearly a year. They then leased the old church, and used it one year ; then Cartmell's Hall ; then to a hall over South's store ; then to Union Hall, in which place the first steps were taken for the formation of the present Calvary Baptist Church by several of the members withdrawing for that purpose.

In 1870, the congregation built their present house of worship, and have been holding regular services therein since. From the date of the establishment of this church to the present time, more than three hundred members have been connected with it. It is the nucleus around which have grown the churches at Willow Creek, ^tna, Kickapoo, and one other congregation.

Rev. J. W. Riley, who was present at the Recognition Council, January 30, 1864, has been the Pastor, with the exception of six years, when he was at other places. During this interval, the pulpit was filled with supplies nearly every Sabbath, and services regularly sustained.

The Cumberland Presbyterian Chureh was organized in the summer of 1857. In the spring of that year, Rev. Joel Knight, a minister in this denomination, began preaching in Mattoon, one Sabbath in each month, in the Baptist Church. On the 23d of August, twenty-seven persons, professing adherence to the doctrines of this Church, met and organized themselves into a congregation, and signed articles of confederation. The following is the original roll of membership:

Alexander Montgomery, H. Clay Warthon, James S. Cunningham, Ed^v. W. Cartmell, Sarah A. Mount, M. Craig, R. D. Montgomery,* J. W. Rankin, Washington Engle, Mrs. Lucinda Montgomery, Mrs. Sarah Montgomery, Mrs. Eliza Craig, Edw. Hall, W. H. K. Pile,- Mrs. N. I. Pile,* Mrs. Scintha Mount, John J. Walkup, Mrs. Margaret A. Montgomery, Mrs. Mary E. Montgomery, Jefferson M. Hall,* Mrs. Amanda J. Hall,* James Kelley,* Mrs. Mercy Kelley, Rev. Peter Duncan, Mrs. Manning Duncan and Mrs. Nancy E. Morrison. Of these, but six are now connected with the congregation. Thirteen have removed, and eight have died.

At the fall session of this Presbytery, the congregation was taken under its care, and Rev. Joel Knight employed to preach one-fourth of his time, and, for two years,' services were held, most of the time, in Cartmell Hall.

On February 27, 1858, James T. Cunningham, H. Clay Warthon and W. H. K. Pile, were chosen Trustees, and during the following spring. Rev. George 0. Bannon, from Kentucky, preached for the congregation. Rev. Peter Duncan was also employed, and while here, in 1860, his death occurred.

On November 1, 1859, Rev. J. W. Wood began his work in this church, preaching each alternate Sabbath. He remained one year, and was succeeded by Rev. James Ashmore, who filled the pulpit until the fall of 1861.

In the spring of that year, preparations were made to build a house of worship, and in June, the corner-stone was laid. The address on this occasion was delivered by Rev. J. W. Wood, assisted in the ceremony by the two ministers who had succeeded him here. The church was not completed, owing to the breaking-out of the war, and other matters, until 1865. It was dedicated in 1867, by J. B. Logan, D. D.

In the summer of 1862, Rev. S. R. Roseboro was called, remaining eight months. The records of the congregation do not show any progress from this time until the close of the war (1865), nor the names of the ministers. In March of this latter year. Rev. Mr. Wood was again called, and remained until March, 1866. In June, 1857, Rev. T. K. Hodges began preaching, remaining one year. In December, 1868, Rev. W. S. Langdon came. On the 12th day of October, 1869, he died, in his room in the basement of the church. He was taken to St. Louis, Mo., for interment. Rev. E. J. Gillespie was called to the vacancy, and remained two years. He was followed by R. W. Hooker, who stayed nine months. In April, 1875, Rev. A. B. McDaniel came. He remained one year. In June, 1876, Rev. R. J. Beard was called. He remained two years and three months. In November, 1878, the present Pastor, Rev. E. M. Johnson, began his ministry.

From the time the congregation was organized until February 17, 1879, there have been 348 members received. Of these, -35 have died, 168 have been dismissed and gone, and 145 remain.

The Christian Church was organized in March, 1859, with seventeen members, of whom one only, Mr. Zack Robertson, is now connected here. The organization was effected by Elder John Mathes, of Bedford, Ind. Services were held in halls and the members' houses, until 1860, when they erected their present church. The growth of the congregation continued uninterrupted until 1870, when between thirty and forty members, living principally on the West Side, withdrew from the church and established a congregation there. They erected a small frame church, and continued as a separate body until 1878, when they re-united with the old church, from which time there has been one organization.

Since the establishment of the Christian Church in Mattoon, fully five hundred members have belonged to it. Many of them are now, however, removed to other places, some are dead, and some fallen away. There are now nearly two hundred members.

The principal Pastors have been Revs. Black, Frazier, Adams, Streater, Lucas, Stewart, Roberts and Mason. The present minister is Rev. E. J. Hart.

The German Evangelical Association was organized in 1868, with seven members, by Rev. Matthew Keiber. For the first three years, they met in a hall in the west part of town, and were supplied by ministers from other parts <^f the circuit. In 1870, they began the erection of their present house of worship, which was completed and occupied the next year. It is a small frame structure in the southwest part of Mattoon, convenient for the members.

The congregation has increased but little in its membership, the removals and deaths equalizing the accessions. They are yet unable to support a regular ministry, and are supplied every other week by Rev. M. Kahl, the minister in charge of this circuit.

The Unitarian Church was organized December 22, 1867. After holding meeting in the members' houses and in halls, for a few years, the church disbanded and services were discontinued. In 1872, another efibrt was made and a new organization effected, mainly through the eiforts of Rev. J. L. Douthit, of Shelbyville, and a few of the old members who still adhered to the principles of this denomination. They began the erection of a very neat brick church on Western avenue, which structure they completed the next year. Their first regular minister was Rev. George A. Dennison, who came in the spring of 1873, and remained two years. Since his departure, they have been supplied occasionally only, and have not maintained regular services. They are at present without a pastor, but an effort is being made to revive the work here and build up the church.

The colored residents of Mattoon sustain two churches, the oldest of which is the Methodist. This was organized in the spring of 1866, with about a dozen members, by Rev. Smith Nichols, the present Pastor. That summer, a frame building was purchased, remodeled, and made into a comfortable church, and is yet used. The membership has more than doubled, and the prospects of this congregation are good. Rev. Nichols remained with the church from 1866 to 1868. He was succeeded by Revs. Alexander, Knight, De Pugh, Hand and J. T. Neace. He is now serving his second pastorate.

The Colored Baptist Church was organized in 1871 or 1872. It, not long after, obtained a small frame building, which it has since used as a church. It is in the western part of town, where most of the people dwell. Regular services are now held, both colored churches supporting good Sunday schools.

The Church of the ImmaculateConception - the Catholic - stands in the northwest part of Mattoon, and is the only one of that denomination in the. city. It was organized soon after the building of the railroad began, and has since been sustained. The membership is quite large, as it includes all baptized persons in the Church, of whatever age. Following the policy of the Catholic Church at large, this congregation established a parochial school soon after it was organized. Their present school-building, contiguous to the church, was erected in 1865. The school is under the charge of the Ursuline Sisters, and draws many children from the public schools. This is clearly evidenced in the reports of tlie Superintendent of the West Side schools.

The Presbi/terian Clmrch was organized on May 27, 1860, with twenty members. They were Mrs. Mary E. Bridges, Mrs. Martha M. Bridges, Mrs. Betty Johnson, AV. E. Smith, John A. Forline, David Forline, Mrs. Betty Dora, Rae M. Bridges, Mrs. Rebecca Boyd, Miss Frances A. Boyd, Miss Orphio E. Boyd, James Boyd, D. T. Mclntyre, Miss Cyntha Vanzant, ilobert Campbell, Mrs. Robert Campbell, Mrs. Margaret Keely, Mrs. Martha A. Smith, Mrs. Martha J. Vanzant and Mrs. Mary E. Boyd. The meeting to organize was held in the old Methodist Church, in the northeast part of town. Rev. J.

here, both of whom, with Rev. Samuel Newell, of Paris, and Rev. R. Mitchell, of Charleston, assisted at the organization of the congregation. Afterward, Dr. A. Hamilton was elected Pastor, and the erection of a church determined. Prior to the organization of this Church, the New-School Presbyterians had effected an organization, and were using halls, or churches of other denominations in which to hold their meetings. The Old-School Presbyterians completed their house of worship in 1864, dedicating it Sabbath, July 31. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Dr. Hamilton, the Pastor. In the afternoon. Rev. Venable preached, and in the evening, Rev. Hendricks.

The congregation grew well during Dr. A. Hamilton's pastorate, extending till January, 1866, when, owing to failing health, he resigned. The pulpit was filled by supplies till September, 1870, when Rev. W. B. Noble was called as Pastor. He remained till April, 1872, when he resigned, and was succeeded, the following January, by Rev. Henry W. Woods, who was installed May 6, 1873. He occupied the pulpit till the spring of 1875, when he was succeeded by the present Pastor, Rev. James L. McNair. A short time after the erection of the church, in 1864, the New-School Presbyterians built a house of worship on the East Side - the Old-School being in the West - and continued worshiping there. In the autumn of 1871, these two branches of the church were united - having been separate over forty years - and one congregation in Mattoon was the result. At first, both houses of worship were used, but, a vote being taken, it was decided to use only the West Side house, and, soon after, the East Side church was sold to the Congregationalists, who now use it. The West Side house of worship was used without any alteration until two or three years ago, when owing to the increased growth of the congregation, an addition was built to the east end, and the seating capacity very much enlarged.

The Co7igregationalist Church is the outgrowth of the union of the Old and New-School Presbyterians, in 1871. Many members in the New-School branch favoring the Congregational mode of woi'ship and discipline, organized a church of that body, and raised some $800 to aid in the attempt. The building erected by the New School Presbyterians was soon after purchased, and has since been used. The Council of the Congregational Church met on March 10, 1872, and regularly constituted the Church. On the 1st of the following January, Rev. N. J. Morrison, then just released from the Presidency of Olivet College, Michigan, was called to the pastorate of the Church. He remained only six months, resigning to accept the Presidency of Drury College, Springfield, Mo. In October, 1873, Rev. A. L. Loomis was called to the pulpit. He remained until May, 1876. During his residence, a revival occurred, greatly increasing the membership. The next Pastor was Rev. P. P. Warner, who came in January, 1877, and remained until August 15, 1878, when he resigned. He is now publishing a paper in Aledo, 111. He was succeeded by the present Pastor, Rev. A. M. Thorne, in October.

The Methodist Epucopal Church was organized in 1857 with about twelve members. Thev met at first in dwellino;s and halls until about 1800, when they erected a very substantial house of worship in the northeast part of the city. It was then expected the center of the town would be here ; but future revelations dispelled this idea, and in 1870, it was determined to erect a larger liouse of worship and in a more convenient place. The present church was the result. It cost about $12,000, and is a very neat building. The congregation is now quite large, and sustains an excellent Sunday school.

In addition to the churches enumerated, others, now abandoned, have existed. Some few societies exist, but of so passive a nature, they are omitted.

The Schools

The schools of Mattoon form a chapter in its history equal in its importance to any part or parcel of the city. Cotemporary with the start of the town, a school was provided, and, before the cold of winter came in l^he year 185'), a small frame schoolhouse was built in the eastern part of town on Broadway. The efforts of the principal proprietors of the infantile village were strenuous, indeed, to secure the center of town there, and built the schoolhouse where the greatest part of the population was expected to be. A school was taught in this small frame, hardly as large as an ordinary country schoolhouse of to-day, during the winter of 1855-56, and so great was the influx of population that the little room was crowded to its utmost. School was taught here but one term, as far as we have been able to find out. The room was too small, and was hardly used longer. The school was, of course, a subscription school. If any public money was obtained it was only a small amount, for the idea of supporting schools in this part of Illinois entirely by taxation, was not yet well entertained. The next year, another similar school was "kept," as we are told in an unoccupied room, and, the following winter, over True's store and in some unfurnished house. The recollection of old persons is not very good on this point ; they were more interested in '' corner lots," than to notice very closely just where the schools were (for one room could not contain the pupils, and any one could teach who could get a room and some pupils). The next year - summer of 1857 - a very comfortable brick structure was built in the northeast part of town, not far from where the first Methodist Church stood. This second schoolhouse was a decided improvement. It would seat many more pupils than its predecessor, and though " private " schools began to flourish, it held its way. It began to receive considerable aid, enough at least to conduct it through the winter term, from taxation, steadily growing in favor. The private schools, as they were termed, came rapidly into use in the early history of Mattoon, and continued with more or less force until a few years ago. The most noticeable of any of these was started on quite an extensive plan, even going so far as to obtain a charter. We refer to the Male and Female Academy. It was in truth two institutions, known more extensively as Mattoon Female Academy and Mattoon College. The former was intended for young ladies, the latter for young gentlemen. Referring to the papers for the period of their commencement, we find they were chartered February 21, 1863. On March 24, 1864, the Trustees met and organized, elected a President and chose teachers. The Mattoon College does not seem to have been put in very extensive working order, and in a short time appears to drop out of notice. The great obstacle in the way of both these institutions was a lack o*f means. Neither had any money to work on, and the town was too young and too poor to endow them. They began in 1858 or 1859, and worked some time before receiving their charters. In December, 1861, Prof. W. W. Gill resigned the care of the seminary, which had at all times the largest patronage, and was succeeded by Rev. D. F. McFarland, who leased the Harris Building and opened school on the second day of the month his predecessor left. He conducted it some time with reasonable success, but, failing to make it profitable, left. It was afterward uiider the care of Mrs. C. E. Gill, who continued it some time. Owing to an inability to support the school, and the erection of new and better ward schools, with their increased facilities for education, their free tuition and freedom to all, the academy and all private schools were gradually abandoned, and now none are sustained.

The public school continued along in the brick building referred to, with little change, save the gradually improved methods of education, and the division of the school into two or more grades, as circumstances allowed, until a new house was erected on the West Side, about 1861 or 1862. This divided the schools and assisted greatly in properly classifying them. The building on the West Side was erected by that ward and put under an entirely separate control. The two schools were made independent of each other, and have continued so to this day. The building on the West Side was an improvement on its prede- cesser of the East Side. It was a ver;y commodious brick building, contained four rooms, was supplied with a bell, improved seats, blackboards and all the machinery of the modern schoolroom of the day. It occupied the entire block, affording the children plenty of room in which to play. It was used without alteration until the spring of 1871. By that time, it had become too small for the increased demands of the growing city, and a new one was decided upon. The membei-s of the Board of School Trustees that spring were B. C. Hinkle, J. M. Riddle and J. M. Hall. Under direction of this Board, the present house was erected. The old one was simply remodeled and enlarged, and fitted with still more advanced furniture. It contains five rooms, and a commodious hall in the third story. Here the high school receives instruction, and here are many of the entertainments. When this building was erected, a small one-roomed building was constructed a little west of it, for the use of the colored children ; but finding it impracticable to educate them thus, and failing to provide them equal advantages with the others, they were admitted to the graded school, and the building erected for them moved to the school-yard and used for primary scholars.

The school is divided into four departments, viz, primary, intermediate, grammar and high school. The primary department has three grades. In. each of the other departments, the pupils are divided into three classes, designated as Class A, Class B and Class C. The teachers are : P. H. Deardoff, Ph. M., Principal ; Miss Maggie Ewing, Assistant in the high school ; Miss Nannie Myrick, intermediate ; Miss Jennie D. Riddle, third primary ; Miss Minnie Jennings, second primary, and Miss Annie Riddle, first primary.

The brick building on the East Side continued in use until the erection of the present one, in 1865. It became apparent, however, before that date that better accommodations would have to be provided, as the house used was by far too small, even when aided by one or two rented rooms. It was decided to borrow 110,000 on city bonds, and an election was ordered to be held October 26, 1864. At that time, there were 421 children in the district of lawful school age. The bonds were voted for by a majority of 80 votes, and soon after the site was selected and work on the new building begun. It was completed in November, 1865, and opened for school on Monday morning, February 5, following. It contains five rooms, and a large hall in the third story, similar to the one on the West Side, and used for similar purposes.

The town continuing to grow, this building was found inadequate to supply school room for the increasing school population of the East Side, and another building was erected in the southeast part of town in 1877 and 1878. It contains four rooms, and is under the care of the Superintendent at the other building. From his last report, we gather the following statements :