Effingham County, Illinois - Chapter 15, 1883

"From the weather-worn liouse on the brow of the hill We are dwelling afar, in our manhood to-day; But we see the old gables and hollyhocks still.

As they looked when we left them to wander away. But the dear ones we loved in the sweet long ago, In the old village churehyard sleep under the snow."

THE past, with all,its momentous changes, has ever been regarded as important and richly deserving of record. Long before letters were invented, legendary tales and traditions were employed to perpetuate important events and transmit the same to succeeding generations. Hieroglyphics were afterward used for the same purpose. But all these forms of memorial have long since given place to the pen and the type among civilized nations. The introduction of modern alphabets made writing less difficult, and the invention of the art of printing aiforded facilities for publishing books before unknown. The thirst for knowledge produced by the press and Reformation, and, the growing taste for history created by the latter brought out a host of historians, rendered their works voluminous, and scattered them broadcast over the world. Many of them, read in the light of civilization, have all the fascinations of a romance,which increases in interest as time rolls on. The papyrus roll of ancient Egypt, containing mysterious records of the Dark Ages, and the ponderous folios of Confucius, that antedate tradition itself, were not more valuable to the sages and philosophers of old than the printed page of the nineteenth century is to the scholarly and enlightened individual of the present. And of all historical records there are none more interesting and valuable than local annals. Ux^on the pages of this volume we shall endeavor to preserve some of the reminiscences of early days in this section, and in this chapter record the history of this division of the county. Mound Township lies in the western part of Effingham County, and is perhaps one of the richest and best in it. The surface is generally level, or rolling, with slight iuclination to hills along the water-courses. It is mostly prairie and is a very line farming region. Big Creek flows through the township east and west, a little south of Altamont, having its source in the west part, passing into Jackson Township through Sec- tion 25. Coon Creek rises a little north of Altamont, and flows southeast, uniting with Big Creek in Jackson ; Second Creek rises in Section 4, near the north line of the township, and flows southeast, passing out of the township and emptying into the Little Wabash. There are a few other small and nameless streams, which, witli those mentioned, aiford ample means of drainage. The timber, which lies mostly along the water -courses, is similar to that described in other chapters. Mound is bounded north by Moccasin Township, east by Jackson, south by West and west by Fayette County; it is Township 7 north, in Range 4 east. The Vandalia line, the Springfield Division of the Ohio & Mississippi and the Wabash Railroads intersect it, thus affording transporation to all points of importance.

The settlement of Mound Township is compratively modern, owing to the fact that most of the land is prairie, which was uninhabitable until the cultivation of adjacent portions of the country led to its drainage. While the settlements were not so far back as those made on the Wabash, yet it is somewhat difficult to get the first settlers' names with certainty. They are mostly gone, and later importations know little concerning them. One of the first families probably was that of Moore, who settled in the east part of the township. The name of the elder Moore is not remembered. He had two sons, viz., Delevan and Delancy, who were quite prominent citizens, though of a rough character. They were great politicians and took an active interest in all questions requiring a settlement by the ballot, their zeal sometimes rendering them aggressive. At the commencement of the war, they took ground against its prosecution in their usual vigorous style, which led them into ditfioulties. One of them finally enlisted and went to the front, and came back a stronger Republican, if possible, than he was a Democrat before. The old man has been dead many years, and the sons moved to Missouri some fifteen years ago. This family of Moores, however, were not related to the Moores that settled about Blue Mound. Of the latter there were five brothers, viz., Albert S., Levi R., Charles S., W. H. and Samuel, three of whom, Albert, W. H. and Samuel, are now among the business men of Effingham.

Johu C. Deffenbaugh was also a very early settler. He entered land in the east part of the township, where he lived a few years, and then removed to Freeman ton and engaged in business. He was a prominent and highly respected citizen, and at one time sold more goods than any merchant in the county. He is still living. William Ashton was here among the first. He was an Englishman, but came here from Ohio, settling in the northeastern portion of the township. He is still living, and is one of the wealthy men of the county. James Grant came from Ohio and settled in the western part of the township, and is still one of the prosperous farmers. Peter Coleman and Daniel Conner were also from Ohio. Coleman settled in the eastern part of the township, and is long dead. Conner settled in the southeastern part, and is still living on the place vrhere he settled.

From Pennsylvania came John Armstrong. He settled here about 1S37-3S, and is still living on the place of his original settlement. Alfred Newman settled in the southeast part of the township, and is living. James Woodruff settled in the east part - the place now owned by the Smith family. He was a public-spirited man, and now lives near Shumway. Nelson Wallace settled in the east part. He has a fine orchard, and is one of the largest fi-uit-growers in the county. Peter Poorman came from Ohio, where Buck-

One of the most brilliant men ever in the township was James Stevenson. He came from Virginia, aud was a man of tine intellect and a finished education. A good conversationalist, he was at home upon any subject, and was able to entertain the most highly educated and select company. But he was as shiftless as brilliant, moving about from place to place, and accomplishing nothing more than a mere living. He died some five years ago. A character wholly opposite to Stevenson was George Ingraham. He settled near Altamont, where he lived until recently, when he moved into Jackson Township. He was rather ignorant, but was elected Justice of the Peace, an office he was unable to fill on account of being unable to read or vnrite. He enjoyed the honor, however, and was as highly elated at his success and popularity as the modern statesman is of his election to Congress. This completes the list of the early settlement of Mound Township so far as we could obtain facts.

The modern data of the settlement in this township gave its pioneers a much better opportunity of starting in their now homes than was enjoyed by those who came twenty years earlier, when the entire country was an unbroken wilderness. The fii-st settlers encountered all the dangers and hardships known to the frontier. Those who settled in Mound found many improvements that were unknown to the first settlers of the county. Civilization had advanced, the ease of living had improved, and the facilities for cultivating the soil had kept pace with both. It was no longer a struggle with hardship and danger to eke out a precarious existence, but the rich lands brought forth the most bountiful forests. The trackless forests, the unbridged streams, the pangs of hunger, and the days and nights of struggle and fear, were rajndly becoming things of the past, and a better day dawning. Their paths, however, were not strewn with roses, nor their lives made up of sunshine, but many trials and troubles met them on every hand. These they met with strong hearts and brave right arms, and the land " where nothing dwelt but boasts of prey" soon became, under their might and perseverance, a region but little surpassed by " the rose gardens of the gods. "

The township of Mound contains little history outside of its settlement, and outside of the town of Altamont. Two Lutheran Churches are situated in the township. The Hilleman Church stands one mile southwest of the town. The first church was a log building, erected about 18G2, which served until the present frame building was put up, in 1875, at a cost of -$2,500. It is a large church, and in a good, healthy condition.

Bethlehem Lutheran Church is located in the southern part of the township, in a large German settlement. The church was organized prior to 18G0. as soon as there were enough families to support it. A building was erected in 1860, which served the congi-egation until 1868, when the present elegant chm-ch was built. It is said to be the finest and best country church in Effingham County, and cost some $8,000. The numerical strength of the church is between 500 aud 600 communicants. A town plat was made around the church in 1868, and the ground sui'voyed into lots. A store was ojaened and a post office established, but these have both been discontinued, and there are at present no buildings here except the chiu-ch.

The schools of the township are of as high a character as those in any part of the county. Every neighborhood has a comfortable schoolhouse, and in every schoolhouse good

The uame of Mound Township was bestowed upon it in consequence of what is known as the neighborhood of Blue Mound, a slight elevation of Section S, which is nearly all a kind of mound, the apex being in the center of the section, and having an altitude of seventy-eight feet above the bed of the Vandalia Railroad, which passes near it. Recently, the Government has erected a signal observatory upon it, some seventy-five to one bun di-ed feet in height, from the top of which one may look across the States of Missouri and Arkansas and see the cow-boys watching their herds on the prairies of Texas.

Altatnont. - The village of Altamont was laid out by J. W. Conologue, the original plat embracing the southeast part of the southeast quarter of Section 9 of Mound Township. Mr. Conologue was the first Superintentent of the Vandalia Railroad, and, owning a tract of land here, he conceived the idea that this spot was an eligible and desirable location for a town, and thus had it surveyed and platted bj' C. A. Van Allen, an engineer of the road, and the plat recorded July 19, 1870. The first lot sold was bought by Abner Dutton, who erected a storehouse and opened a store,, the first in the place. R. S. Cutter bought the next lot, and built a storehouse and opened a store the very next day after Dutton. These two pioneer merchants are gone from the town - Dutton is dead, and Cutter moved West. The next lots were bought by Daniel Boyer, Dr. J. N. Groves, H. H. Brown, J. C. Russell, Broom and others. The sale continued until some four hundred were sold - lots, not the men who bought them, for it jjroved a good investment to the buyers. The lots were all sold at private sale, and not at public auction.

Altamont is beautifully situated on a rolling prairie, at the crossing of the Vandalia Ac Springfield Division of the Ohio & Mississippi Railroads, and at the southern terminus of a division of the Wabash system. Since it was laid out, the following additions have been made to the original plat: An addition by William Buckholtz, April 11, 1871, of a part of the west half of the soiith west quarter of Section 10; an addition by J. W. Conologue of a part of the southeast part of Section 9, October 26, 1871; an addition by Elizabeth Ellis of a part of the west half of the southwest quarter of Section 10, January 8, 1872; an addition by Anna E. Hilleman of a part of the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 15, April 4, 1872; an addition by J. W. Conologue, May 22, 1874. of the west part of he southeast quarter of Section 9; an addition by S. B. Chittinden of a part of the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 16, and platted August 15, 1881. These additions give the town a broad foundation and plenty of room fo)' improvement.

The name Altamont is derived from the same source the township received its name - the peculiar mound on the adjacent section of land already mentioned; the first part of the word meaning altitude, the latter part mount or mound, and was given by Mr. Conologue. He was a widower at the time, and supposed to have an eye and an ear for the beautiful, and hence gave this romantic name to his new town - a name that all must acknowledge is tipprojariate.

The first residence in Altamont was the upper part of Cutter's store, which he used as a dwelling. Daniel Boyer put up the first regular dwelling house; Russell followed with the next. Brown built a store and residence combined. Dutton also put up a residence soon after erecting his store- house. Boyer, in 1871, built the first hotel, which is still owned by him, and is known as the Boyer House, but is operated as a hotel by E. L. Brown. The Boyer House has been greatly enlarged and improved sinco it was built, and is now au excellent hostelry. It and the Altamont House are the only two regular hotels in the town. Of the latter house, Henry Davis is proprietor. Ben Brazil was the first blacksmith, and had there been a " spreading chestnut tree" in the village, the " smithy " no doubt would have been built under it. Brazil is gone from the place, but has a number of successors iu his line of business.

A post office had been established at a little place called Montville, a mile or so south of Altamont, on the National road, but never amounted to anything as a town, and whou Altamont was laid out (in 1870), the post office was moved to the new place, and in 1871 the name was changed to Altamont. G. H. Melville was Postmaster at the time of removal, and his salary was $36 a year. Mr. P. K. Johnson is now Postmaster, and receives $900 per annum for handling the mail bags. This fact is indicative of the growth of the town for the first dozen years of its existence.

Altamont is becoming quite a manufacturing town, and, with its railroad facilities, is admirably situated for manufacturing industries. Two excellent steam flouring-mills rank among its best enterprises. The first w;is built by Erdman Wurl in 1872. It is a substantial frame building, with three run of buhrs, and originally cost about $3,000. Mr. Wurl is dead, and the mill is now owned by George Goeting, who paid $8,000 for it, and has greatly improved the property. The second mill was built in 1873, by Weber & Co., and is now owned by Louis Vauclair, of St. Louis. It is a two-story frame building, and cost about $4,500. It was built on a much more improved system than the other, but smaller in all respects, except that it contained the same number of buhrs - three run. The present owner paid something over $5, - 000 for it. Both of these mills are A 1, and do an excellent business.

In 1879, a furniture factory was started by Jacob Stair & Son. A year or so afterward, they associated Arthur M. Dawson with them, whi/ still remains a member of the firm. The factory building is 60x100 feet and two stories high. It is operated by steam. All kinds of furniture are manufactured, and twenty hands are employed.

A baby wagon factory was established during the past summer (1882), by Speuce Brothers & Howor. Their building is a frame, about 40x50 feet, two stories high, with shed for boiler and engine. Eight hands are employed, and a full line of baby wagons, buggies, and carriages are manufactured.

Ortman & Co. commenced the manufacture of wagons in 1876 on a small scale. Their business is rapidly increasing and they are enlarging and improving their works all the time, and are now putting up from forty to fifty wagons each year.

The grain business is no small part of the town's enterprise. There is probably more grain shipped from Altamont than from any other po.nt in the county C. A. Van Allen CQmmenced buying grain here for Miner & Jeniungs on Monday, August 1, 1870, and Boyer commenced buying on Tuesday following. Van Allen piled up a parcel of railroad ties, covered them over with boards, and this constituted his warehouse. He bought from wagons, put it on the scales and weighed it, and then loaded it into the cars from his rude platform. Miner & Jennings are wellknown grain-buyers still, not only in the county, but in all the siuTounding coimtry.

There are now four firms handling grain here, viz., Miner & Jennings, Snook & Shoemaker, Cooper & Rhodes and Ensign & Co. They all do a larce business and have good wf\rehouses. The first year, the two firms then in the business shipped 176 car-loads of grain. Each of the four firms perhaps now ship that much annually.

The Altamont Bank was established in July, 1874, by George Mittendorf, and, in March, 1876, C. M. Wright & Co. also established a bank. Mittendorf sold out to them, and since then the business has been conducted by Wright & Co. It is one of the substantial banks of the country.

The railroad station was opened September 4, 1870. C. A. Van Allen was the first agent, and for a time served both roads. The Springfield & Illinois South-Eastern (now a division of the Ohio & Mississippi) ran the first train to Altamont October 1, 1871; and the first train on the Wabash came in on schedule time June 29, 1874. Van Allen was their agent for three years. The roads have a kind of union depot, but different agents. An immense amount of freight is annually shipped from this place, mostly grain and stock.

The Altamont News is a sprightly newspaper, edited by C. F. Coleman. The Courier was the first newspaper started in Altamont, and was run by Q. W. Grove. As the press, however, receives an extended notice in a preceding chapter, we omit further mention here.

The first school was taught in Altamont by George Poorman, and the first schoolhouse, a frame building, wan erected in 1870. It soon became too small for the growing town, and in 1874 the present school building was erected. It is a two-story brick, with two rooms, and furnished in the latest approved style. The school is large enough to

Altamont is well supplied with church facilities. The first religious society organized was by the Evangelical Alliance. But it has become extinct, and the members have moved away, died and joined other denominations.

The German Reformed Church was organized in 1872. It had been established some time previously, in the country, about two miles from the village. The first pastor was Rev. L. M. Kischner, followed by Rev. S. P. Myers, and he by Rev. Mr. Hassler. The present pastor is Rev. J. H. Schuford. The building is a frame, and was erected in 1872, at a cost of $1,800. The original members were fifteen. The membership now is about thirty-two, with services every two weeks. A Sunday school is kept up, with an attendance of about forty children, under the superintendence of G. W. Poorman.

Emanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized in 1873, by Rev. G. Waiigrin, with nine members. The first services were held in private residences, when Mr. William Krull bought the old public school building and fitted it up for a church. Rev. Waugrin was the first pastor, and served from the organization of the church until 1879, when he was succeeded by Rev. George Goeswein. There are now some thirty odd members. A school was established in 1879, which is taught by the pastor in the church building.

The United Brethren Church was organized in 1874, and the first preachers were Revs. .J. A. Smith and Alex Helton. The original members were Jacob Yates, Mary Yates, John Cole, Sabie Cole, Samuel Kyner, Rebecca Kyner, Delilah Kyner, Kate Kyner, Mollie Kyner and Laura Ordner. The church was erected in 1874, at a cost of about §3,300. The present pastor is Rev. S. C. Stewart.

The Methodist Episcopal Church society was organized m 1872, and the first preacher was Rev. Mr. Crum. Altamont Circuit was formed, and originally comprised Altamont, Dexter and Gillmore, and at one time Moccasin and Crum's Chapel. The Altamont society is now a station, organized as such in 1882. and Kev. G. W. Butler appointed pastor. The church was built in 1879, costing $3,000, and is a handsome frame building. The membership is eighty. A Sunday school is carried on, with a regular attendance of 125 children, superintended by G. W. Given. The society is now engaged in building an $800 parsonage.

St. Clare's Roman Catholic Church was organized in. 1874, and the church building finished in 1875. The church was organized by the Franciscan Fathers from Teutopolis. The building is a frame, .33x68 feet, and cost $3,000. The society has been administered to by Rev. Fathers Francis. Michael, Herman, Clementine and Jerome. The last has been with them three years. The present membership is fifty families. A school was established in 1882, in a frame building, two stories high and two rooms each, with an attendance of about fifty children.

Altamont has one of the most beautiful little cemeteries in the country. Mr. Couologue donated four acres for that purpose when he laid out the town. It has been handsomely improved by the people, and is kept in the most perfect order. The Board of Town Trustees has the supervision. The first interments in it were bodies taken up and brought from other graveyards and reinterred in this. Beautiful white stones and monuments stand here and there in it, like lonely sentinels, and symbolize the affection

Hale Johnson was the first man who poddied law in Altamont. He came here in 1873, and remained until 1875, and is now Prosecuting Attorney in Jasper County. Messrs. W. S. Holmes and P. K. Johnson are young disciples of Blackstone, and attend to " law business " for the citizens of Altamont.

The Masonic Lodge now held here was originally organized in Freemanton, October 1, 1807. After this town was laid out, the lodge was moved here (in 1872), and is now known as Altamont Lodge, No. 533, A., F. & A. M. The charter members were Jacob Baker, James C. Walker, H. S. Hook, I. P. Carpenter, B. W. Eakin, W. F. Ingraham, J. F. Hipsher, J. H. Said, J. C. Russell, J. Harrison, John Armstrong, W. A. Broom, J. H. C. Smith, 8. Cochoran and A. Tipsword. The first officers were: J. C. Russell, Master; Jesse H. Said, Senior Warden; Jacob Bakei', Junior Warden; H. S. Hook, Treasurer; and James C. Walker, Secretary. Ihe lodge first met in a small hall for two years, and since that time have been meeting in a hall belonging to J. C. Russell. It is in a flourishing condition; has fifty-seven members, and is officered as follows: George W. Gwinn, Master; J. H. Johnson, Senior Warden; David Piper, Junior Warden; J. C. Russell, Treasurer; and S. S. Rice, Secretary.

The lodge met in Cockenower's Hall until 1876, when they moved into Ensign's Hall, which they still occupy. It has thirty-two members, and $750 in the treasury. The present officers are: Jacob Zimmerman, N. G. ; H. N. Drewry, V. G. ; T. L. Elliott, Eecording Secretary; P. K. Johnson, Permanent Secretary; and S. N. Young, Treasurer.

Altamont was first organized as a town in 1871, and as a village in 1872, by a vote of the people, at which time there were twentytwo votes cast for village organization. The first Board of Trustees were: Dan Boyer, J. M. Huffman, J. Hotz, A. H. Dutton ana "W. L. Snook. The board organized for work

The foregoing pages comprise a pretty correct and complete history of this growing and flourishing little city of the plain. From the center of a broad, rolling prairie, the church steeples point to heaven, and point out to the " wayfaring man, " while yet " afar off," the way to shelter and repose. Altamont has a prosperous future, if her citizens so will it, and continue, as they always have, to exert thefr wonted energy.