Jefferson County, Illinois - Chapter 30: Mount Vernon of Today, 1909

Chapter 30: Mount Vernon of Today

Written for the Delection of Young and Old, and for the Benefit of the Next Jefferson County Historian, Who is Authorized to Help Himself to Whatever He May Find in This Volume Free of Charge.

Then And Now

The literary department of the News is indebted to John A. Wall for a glance at a copy of volume 1 , No. 26, of the "Mount Vernon Sentinel," of January 16, 1857, a weekly paper published in what was destined to be the King City of Southern Illinois even at that early date, by John A. Wall and Joe V. Baugh, the latter being the present editor of the News, while Mr. Wall is at least temporarily connected with the same plant and engaged in collaborating a history of Jefferson county soon to be published. Both youngsters were hovering around their teens when they launched the Sentinel and it is no disparagement to them to say that the publication looks it, though there are several more verdant looking exchanges sent to the News after the lapse of more than half a century than the Sentinel, typographically speaking and otherwise. The word "launched" in connection with Wall & Baugh's identity with the Sentinel, is a misnomer, as the Sentinel was established by the late T. B. Tanner and Thomas S. Casey to further a project in the interest of transferring the swamp lands in the county to railroad purposes. That accomplished. Tanner and Casey, both of whom afterward became judges of the Appellate Court of Illinois, turned the plant over to Wall & Baugh, who were "subs" in the office. It was an all-at-home print, as that was prior to the introduction of the "patent insides" adjunct to the country printing office. The Sentinel betrays some of the results of Mount Vernon being at that time and for years subsequent the seat of the southern grand division of the Supreme Court of the state, as several columns of the publication are devoted to the cards of attorneys in every section of Egypt, most of the patrons in that line having passed to the court of final resort.

Mount Vernon is the home beautiful, the place of beautiful homes. None knows her but to love. Beautiful not only for situation and environment, but lovely in her make-up, her everyday life, and her citizenship, especially the female part of it. Although up in the seventies, age has not dimmed the writer's vision, for seeing the beauty by which we are surrounded. But, having been left behind by one of the fairest of fair maidens of lovely Mount Vernon, after a joint pilgrimage of forty-six years, we can only look upon the fair maidens of this "city beautiful" as "forbidden fruit, and hence we have inclined our mind and heart to this (we think) beautiful history of our town and county as the bride and pride of our closing years. If we can bring gladness to the hearts of pilgrims here by this labor of love, and finally reach the "city beautiful" on the other shore, where joyfully awaits the beautiful ones gone before, that will be glory for us through all eternity.

Since the cyclone the growth of the town has been phenomenal. New additions have been platted, and added to our incorporate limits until now we have a territory of two miles north and south and two miles east and west, and where, ninety years ago, a dozen families resided in rudely constructed cabins, today greater Mount Vernon, with dimensions enough for a full day's travel, with ten thousand prosperous and happy people most of whom are housed in comfortable houses and mansions.

No city of its size excels Mount Vernon in religious and educational advantages and there is none where better order is maintained by the municipal authorities.

Mount Vernon's healthfulness is one of the inducements offered to home-seekers that is steadily receiving increased recognition. It IS of all Southern Illmois the favorite location for commercial travelers, numbers of whom have permanent homes here. Many wealthy people of St. Louis have purchased property for summer residences in and near the city and their number may be expected to be. largely increased after the completion of the electric line has afforded them easy and rapid transfer to and from that city.

The remark of the gentleman quoted at the opening of this article in reference to the moral sentiment pervading this community is easily accessible.

The pioneer settlers were induced to settle here because of the natural loveliness of the country. What art can do to enhance and embellish the beauty of nature is exemplified on every hand. Mount Vernon has been famous for years because of the excellence and extent of her macadamized street system. In the past two pr three years the laying of brick sidewalks has been pushed, and today there is not a street in the city the entire extent of which has not been laid with walks of this character or such work is in progress. Shade trees line all thorough fares, in many cases of such size that their branches lap over the center of the streets. Grassy lawns between the streets and walks and surrounding the handsome modern built residences are kept green during the heated days of the good old summer time, by a liberal use of water for sprinkling purposes supplied by an excellent water works system, and there are few more inviting spots on God's footstool than Mount Vernon during the heated term.

The reader will naturally inquire what has produced all these important and desirable changes in Mount Vernon in so short a period of time? Why has the coal oil lamp given way to the electric light? Why have the well and cistern of our forefathers been superseded by the magnificent water works plant? Why have the muddy streets been covered with brick and macadam? Why have the dangerous wooden walks been transformed into permanent and durable granite and brick? Why have these farms and commons been destroyed to make room for hundreds of new homes? Why have over three thousand five hundred new people found homes and profitable employment in Mount Vernon? These and a score of similar inquiries can all be answered by stating that Mount Vernon's three thousand souls of 1 890 were chock full of enterprise - the kind of enterprise required to build cities. They went down into their pockets and gave as a bonus twenty-five thousand dollars in cash to induce the location of a mammoth car-works plant in their midst, and having secured it, subscribed and paid for fifty thousand dollars of its capital stock. The same year they again went down into their pockets and drew therefrom fifteen thousand dollars in cash to induce the extension and completion of a second railway line into St. Louis, and all because they are continually adding additions to building up the city. Paul has planted, Appolis has watered, and the fruits of their labors, under the providence of God, are falling into our hands. It was always so ; one plants and another reaps. Let us plant for the benefit and enjoyment of others, for instance we are realizing but little for our labor in searching out things old and new for this book, but, while we can not expect to reap the advantage of it, we may and do hope that when we have gone up higher, the coming generations may at least feel gratified in reading it.

As a starting point for the next historian we will give a list of men now doing business around and adjacent to the public square m Mount Vernon today.

Merchants - Boston Store, A. W. B. Johnson & Company, G. F. M. Ward & Company, Culli Brothers & McAtee, W. A. Stollar & Company, Hobbs and Pavey, O. Wallace.

We shall not attempt to give a list of the grocerymen and others doing business in the outlying districts, as our space and time are too limited. We have three express offices, with J. W. Baugh, Homer Hobbs, and R. L. Webb as agents.

Musical and Sewing Machines - John McPherson, an old timer who has composed and had published more Sunday school music than any man in Illinois. John is a hummer, as well as a pioneer.

Then we have three good banks, the Ham National, the Third National and the Jefferson State Bank, and a Light, Water, Gas & Heat office, with H. R. Kingman in charge.

Among the big fires in Mount Vernon were the Phoenix block, in 1 868, the could court-house in 1871, the Stratton and Westbrooks mill in 1884, near the same place where the large Johnson brick burned down last fall. The Pollock lumber yard, the Mount Vernon Mill near the Wabash depot, and afterwards the Howard Casey wholesale and storage house on the same spot, and the Wat- son Brothers fire of 1898. The Jefferson mill near the Louisville & Nashville depot and other smaller fires. Of course all of these bore no comparison to the destruction wrought by the cyclone.

A company of farmers in the south part of the county are arranging to incorporate a game preserve park of something less than a thousand acres of timber land, which is to be placed under the control of the State Game warden. It will serve the double purpose of being a timber preserve ranch also - a desirable consideration.

Among the Mount Vernon industries is Miller's Steam Laundry, established by a Mount Vernon boy of foresight, and industry. From a small beginning he has built up the plant until it takes high rank among our industries. In addition to the business already named we have many other stores and shops in different parts of the city, all of which have their patrons, and are doing well. Many of them will be in shape for an extended notice before the next historian takes up the pencil.

John W. Summers, son of the old miller Summers, "over the creek" has a nice little saw mill, corn and cider mill, at the northern edge of town, and it is doing a nice business.

The ice plant up at the reservoir is filling a long-felt want in supplying the city with ice, besides shipping some. We might occupy a chapter or two giving account of the various additions that have been added to the original twenty acres comprising the town of Mount Vernon, away back in the twenties, but it would be of no value or interest to any one, so we will let the additions, almost without number, take care of themselves. Suffice it to say that ever since James Gray and Storms (they were both White county men) to survey his big addition to the town away back in 1840, somebody with land they were too busy to work - have been lying off and adding the same to the corporate limits of Mount Vernon - some, more for the price than the good of the town - until the town has spread itself almost into the adjoining townships, and expansion has been the order of the day. When Mount Vernon wants more territory it can be had, but more likely it will come before it is asked for. Everybody wants to see the city grow and prosper, but it will be well if we "citify" as we grow, rather than have a big lot of territory without city privileges and utilities. The work of building sidewalks, and having the streets made is progressing all right, but the work already "cut out" should be finished up before we make other additions. Let the good work of bricking the streets and making the granitoid walks continue. Every brick laid, every foot of granitoid walk laid is the praise of the (at the time much abused) administration of Mayor S. H. Watson and the council acting with him in 1892, who bricked the public square and laid the first granitoid sidewalks and fully inaugurated the system in our city. The progress now being made along this line shows that somebody had to be bold enough to take the responsibility of inaugurating every reform, and everybody now is ready to praise Watson's administration for going ahead, regardless of opposition. Let the good work go on. Of churches and schools our city is amply supplied to suit the tastes and dispositions of all. Any city the size of Mount Vernon that gives as much money as we do for church and school purposes can not fail to be up-to-date along these lines. It is enough to know that Mount Vernon has twenty churches and five extensive school-houses - and no saloons.

Mount Vernon has a fine Chautauqua association, composed of some of the best citizens of the place which holds its annual assemblies in the Casey grove near Oakwood cemetery, each year. These assemblies are growing in popularity and are looked forward to with anxiety. So far the meetings have been held in a large tent, but the association is contemplating securing more ground and .

putting up buildings suitable for the meetings and the campers. It is the general wish that they may succeed. These chautauquas are popular, educational and elevating, and should be made a permanent part of our civilization.

In looking through the Illinois Blue Book, we find that most of the counties have soldiers' monuments erected, paid for bv popular subscriptions. This is very commendable, and we trust the next Jefferson county historian will be permitted to refer to a monument of this character in the public square of Mount Vernon, and thus show that the descendants of our brave soldiers are not unmindful of their patriotic services in behalf of the country and its flag. By all means, give the next writer a better chance than we have had to sound the praises of Jefferson county along this line. Let Jefferson county be up-to-date. At this point we wish to respectively submit this suggestion:

In our search for facts for our new Jefferson County History, which was far and wide, and in briefly sketching the life and services of the late Gov. Zadok Casey, the thought impressed itself on our mind that the Zadok Casey monument (a creditable one) now standing in Old Union graveyard, should be given a prominent position in our city cemetery - Oakwood - where it could be looked after and looked upon by a grateful community, and where visitors may see that we have not forgotten our "illustrious departed" - we will not say "dead," for such men as Zadok Casey - "There is no death; these stars go down to rise upon some fairer shore; and bright in heaven's jeweled crown they'll shine forever more."

We think this change eminently appropriate because Oakwood occupies part of the Zadok Casey homestead, and because Old Union, with all its sacred memories, has become a back-number, and is no longer regarded as a city cemetery. In view of these facts, we respectively suggest to our fellow citizen, Mr. Sam Casey, and

Capt. Samuel L. Dwight, of Centralia - the surviving grand-sons of Governor Casey, the beauty of the change. They certainly would have the endorsement of the people of Mount Vernon. Besides, such removal, would probably be followed by the establishing of other monuments of "old-timers" like Governor Anderson, Major Johnston, Harvey T. Pace, Joel Pace, and other prominent "old settlers" - in Oakwood cemetery, which is the proper place for the monuments of Mount Vernon's early citizens.

A Word To The Boys Of Today

If there is one thought more than another it is that we might be able to impress upon the minds of the boys of today the great importance of making good men of themselves. Men whom Jefferson county will be proud of as their names are recorded in the next Jefferson county history. It is not wealth that makes the man, it is intrinsic worth - seek then to be great in true moral value, in exemplary unselfishness and sterling honesty and you will have cause to thank God, and yourself for the result. Millionaries are today under the ban. Their attitude is apologetic and exculpating. They are on the defensive. Even the fact of a man's great wealth renders him ineligible to the presidency of our Republic. The people are opposed to elevating the immensely rich and now is the time above all others for the good young man to come to the front. When we read the story of Lincoln and his early struggles we feel instinctively that destiny was unnecessarily cruel and harsh. His great spirit bore the deep scars of those early struggles, even to the grave. No man had a past more depressing, nor a future more hopeless and gloomy. The same may be said of General Grant at the outbreak of the Civil war, and Henry Wilson, Senator and Vice- President, was born in the vagrant community of tinkers, of un- known paternity. Morton, the war Governor, and the Senator from Indiana, said the happiest moment of his life was when as a boy he marched into his native village at the head of a band, playing a key bugle, while he was a hatter's apprentice. Garfield and Sheridan, the barefooted boys on the tow-path of canals; Andy Johnson, the tailor; Blaine, the country school teacher; McKinley and hundreds of others put to naught the modern idea that ambitious youth must have big money before entering public life. Honor, courage, independent thought, true manhood and truth are the things needed.

Living Too Fast

Of course we are not expected to discuss even county finances, let alone national finances in the county history, and yet as Jefferson county is part and parcel of this great country, it is not out of the way to say that there is a feeling among the people that our national expense bill is much too large, and its continued increase is viewed with alarm. There is danger always of being too fast when the spirit of expansion seizes the minds of law-makers. Of legitimate expenses none need complain, but when it comes to making the biggest canal in the world outside of our own territory, making extensive deep water ways within our borders, improving all our rivers, enlarging our already world renowned naval fleets, extending rural mail routes, into sparsely settled regions, building public buildings in towns throughout the country, etc., while at the same time we are paying the hundreds of thousand persons in the employment of the government - and especially the "spend thrifts," that compose the national Congress - all at the same time - prudence, economy and honesty seem to cry out and call - a halt. With a deficit of over one hundred and fifty million dollars per annum staring the people in the face, no wonder they fear and tremble at the prospect, but unless the law-makers slow up, there is danger ahead. The people, however, are glad to think their new President fully comprehends the situation and that with his power as President, he will greatly obstruct the dangerous work of Congress. The new President shows signs of true statesmanship, far above the average of our former executives, and the people are looking to his administration with a longing desire for better things.

The same condition of things above indicated apply to Illinois and Jefferson county, and there are multiplying evidences that not only as individuals but as municipalities, states and government we are living too fast, and incurring too many responsibilities.

Irrigation

Arrangements are being made to test the virtue of irrigation in Jefferson county, under the direction of the water company, and it is believed that it will work wonders in the way of increasing the productiveness of our uplands - -especially in the line of tomato raising, for the use of our tomato preserving factory. The Snider Preserve Company has leased the factory for the ensuing year and are contracting to use the product of a thousand acres of cultivated tomatoes. Anything that will increase the output of our production and meets the increasing demand for grain and vegetables is desirable, and it is a good sign of future prosperity for our farmers to see them reaching out for all improvements that come along. As we have already said the whole fabric of our industrial life depends upon what the farmer is doing and what the soil is producing. Use every means to make it bring forth abundantly.

be established at Mount Vernon under the direction of Samuel Fortier, chief of irrigation investigations of the Agricultural Department at Washington.

No attempt to overcome the effects of the drouth by irrigation has been made generally in Southern Illinois, though there has been some use of irrigation in the raising of garden produce.

We speak of these things here for a history that simply refers to the primative methods of the past and does not commend the advancements of the present and suggest and urge improvements in the future is but little worth to the present or future generations. We plead for a wide-awake, progressive, "citizenship, up-to-date not only in moral, education and religious life, but in all matters pertaining to the improvement of the race, of our stock, and the soil from whence everything springs, at the behest of nature and the command of God. Let us all agree to a forward movement - onward and upward, toward the light of the natural sun and the son of God. Then will our mission be fulfilled and we, too, become the sons of God.

Our Identity Or Personality

Humanity is a queer compound, and yet under the same circumstances, the same environment, it is much the same the world over. It is a queer compound in this, that the times change and mankind changes with them. Back in the times of which we write, people who had colds, soaked their feet in hot water and got well. Now they have the grip, take modern medicines and feel "poorly" all summer. Then they had sore-throats, wrapped an old sock around it and went to work next morning, but didn't have any tonwall's history of JEFFERSON CO., ILL. 327 silitis with surgical operations and two weeks in bed. Then they had the stomach ache, took castor oil and was all right next day, now they have appendicitis and four weeks in the hospital. Then they worked, now they labor. Then they wore underclothes - if they had them - now they wear lingerie. Then they took their meals at the home kitchen, now they go to the cafe. Then people went crazy, now they have brain-storms. Then they had love in a cabin, now we have divorce and alimony. Yes the times and terms have changed, and people change with them, and yet, after all it is the same kind of flesh and blood, with the same streaks of love and its opposite - selfishness - that they had in the olden times - except perhaps - selfishness has outgrown love - a condition that certainly ought never to exist in a land of personal liberty like this. For this is a realm of individuality - a land of personal identity. There is an individuality, a personality about every person we meet that distinguishes him or her from every other person in the world. And this fact emphasizes our responsibility for every act we perform during our brief existence here, irrevocably fixes our status in the future life. For if we are individually and personally known in this land of shadows where we only "see through a glass darkly," how surely shall we be known in the land of clear vision and eternal brightness - that home of the individual soul and beautiful personality, where there are prepared mansions and eternal joy for all who will accept them? What a glorious thing is our individuality our human and divine personality?

Bigotry Vs. Fanaticism

In one of our western cities recently, was brought to the front another phase of Americanism that needs to be more carefully studied. It was an unfortunate collision between bigotry and fanati- cism, in which a pohceman and three others, including of course, the innocent by-stander, were killed or hurt. The leader of the fanatic band was attempted to be arrested on complaint of the people who did not endorse the manner in which they were conducting worship, and who did not have faith in their plan of salvation. Feeling that they were protected by the laws of our Constitution, they even went to the limit of resisting arrest and this brought violence from both sides, with the result above. The moral appears to be this;except in cases of fanatical lawlessness and cussedness, reaching the point where forbearance ceases to be a virtue, it would be better to stick fast to the doctrines handed down to us from our fathers, and let all men worship God according to the dictates of their own conscience rather than attempt to prescribe how they shall worship. We are glad to say that Jefferson county allows all men to worship God according to the dictates of their conscience.

And now we close this brief history. In doing so, we can but hope that greater material prosperity and greater moral excellence may come to this old town or city of Mount Vernon and to its individual citizenship in the coming years until it shall excel in all things, both moral and commercial. As we close the narrative of the doings of so many gone before, we can not but feel, that

"Sure the last end Of a good man is peace ! How calm his exit! ^ Night dews fall not more gently to the ground. Nor weary worn-out winds expire so soft.

High in his hopes and faith, look how he reaches After the prize in view, and Hke a bird That's hampered, struggles hard to get away; While the glad gates of sight are wide expanded To let new glories in, the first fair fruits Of the last coming harvest. Then, oh then! Each earth-born joy grows vile or disappears. Shrunk to a thmg of naught. Oh, how he longs To have his passport signed, and be dismissed. 'Tis done, and now he is happy ! The glad soul Has not a wish uncrowned ; e'en the sad soul Rests, too, in hopes of meeting once again Its better-half never to sunder more. Nor shall it hope in vain ; the time draws on When not a single spot of burial earth Whether on land or in the spacious sea. Must give back its long-committed dust."

Mount Vernon and Jefferson county, not unlike other communities inhabited by genus homo, have had all kinds of people, especially two kinds, good and bad - the people on the one hand who

Optimistic

We have certainly said enough to convince the most pessimistic that we are not looking for the hole in the doughnut, not yet a hole in the ground, nor in the bottom of the sea, but have joyful anticipations of a palace in the skies. We agree that this is not so bad a world as some would like to make it, though whether good or bad depends on how we take it. But we all know it is not our permanent abiding place, however many blessings it may bring us, we still have the assurance within the "best is always yet to be." The joy we may have here is but a transient shadow of the bright home beyond. It is not "death" so called that woos our spirits to that fair land but the "more abundant life" that beckons us to scenes on the further side of the grave. That that is called "death" is simply transition - a getting out of the swaddling clothes of earth and being dressed in the beautiful "garments of praise" a foresaking of the flesh-pots of earth for the bountiful menu of heavenly manna - the bread of life. A bidding farewell to all that would molest or make afraid for a "fullness of joys and pleasures forever more."

And now we commit the future history of Jefferson county to the next historian, expressing the hope that he (or she) may be able to do much better than we have been able to do. We found the county in 1819 with less than five hundred inhabitants - ninety years later we leave it with a guaranteed population of thirty-five thousand. We found it without schools, churches, courts, or functions of any kind - without improvements of any kind - without telegraphs, railroads, telephones, or even wagon roads - without towns, villages or even comfortable dwellings - with everythmg in a chaotic state, and apparently with a very misty prospect of anythmg better in the future. But now we turn it over to this wide-awake generation, with all these wonderful developments in full bloom, and fresh buds still coming on every stalk, and shall expect the next half century to far outrival the ninety years of which he have feebly written. And finally: where are the birds of gay plumage that sang so sweetly in these vast forests a hundred years ago? Where are the forests? Where are the good people who cleared away the forests and converted the whole into a scene of beauty and usefulness? Are they not in the far-away climate of pure delight? Do they not beckon to us from the beautiful "mansions not made with hands eternal in the heavens," to come and enjoy with them that "far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" that await all who would bask in the marvelous light of the Son of Righteousness, that far outshines the natural sun, forever more ?