Madison County, Illinois - Chapter 60: Godfrey Township, 1912

Resources and Industries - Churches and Schools - Public Hen and Prominent Citi¬ zens - Reminiscences of G. F. Long - Recollections of Rev. Dr. Scarritt Some Notes of the Scarritt Family - Transportation - Changes in Popl lation A Great

The northwestern township of Madison county is Godfrey, so named for Captain Ben¬ jamin Godfrey, one of its early settlers and its largest land owner, of whom more is said in other chapters and in the sketch of Monticello Seminary, of which he was the founder. Godfrey township is bounded on the north by Jersey county and by a corner of Macou¬ pin; east by Foster township; south by Alton and the Mississippi river and west by Jersey.

It is rich in agricultural resources, its land being second to none in fertility. It has abun¬ dance of fine timber. In its southwestern sections and along Piasa creek it has limitless deposits of limestone, sandstone and cement rock. It is also rich in coal of fine quality, but the veins are only from twenty-four to twenty-eight inches in thickness and hence not now as generally worked as fifty years ago be¬ fore the thicker veins were opened in other parts of the county. The cement which was used in building the Eads bridge at St. Louis was quarried and burned at Clifton (now Clif¬ ton terrace) in the southwest corner of the township. This settlement on the river was platted by D. Tolman and Hail Mason in the thirties and plat recorded October io, 1840. Its leading citizen, for many years, was Louis

Stiritz, who planted a vineyard there, over fifty years ago, and engaged in wine making. He died in the fall of 1909. Clifton, at one time, promised to become a flourishing town. It boasted a flour mill and saw mill, also other industries but the bright anticipations of its future were never realized through adverse fortune. It is now a favorite summer resort and many St. Louisans have cottages on its picturesque bluffs.

A fruit distillery was established in the northern part of the township by John Castagnetta, in 1872. It turned out large quanti¬ ties of fruit brandy and champagne cider, some years as much as one thousand barrels of cider.

Godfrey has five churches. As early as 1828 a Methodist class was established at the home of Nathan Scarritt but it was not until 1842 that a church organization was effected of which more anon. There are two Congrega¬ tional churches, the "Church of Christ," op¬ posite the Seminary, and another at Melville. The first was organized in 1839, Rev. Theron Baldwin, the first principal of Monticello, was the first pastor. The first Bethany church was built by the exertions of the widow of Nathan Scarritt and her son. the Rev. Tothani A. Scarritt. In 1907 a fine new church was built for the congregation at Godfrey station to which Rev. Dr. Scarritt contributed $3,500. The neat parsonage adjoining was erected on a lot given for the purpose by Mrs. William Squire.

An interesting congregation is that at Rocky Fork composed of colored people of the Meth¬ odist persuasion. Rocky Fork was originally a colony of negro slaves, freed by the Civil war. who settled there and made their homes. They were industrious and prospered. But few. if any. of the original settlers are living and the most of their descendants have scat¬ tered. but enough remain to maintain a church.

Godfrey has a nourishing system of public schools. The one at Bethany, used as a chapel and school house, was established in 1832. al¬ though schools were taught for three years previous in private houses by Laura and Abagail Scarritt and Elizabeth Peter. It might here be noted that the present Governor of Illinois. Hon. Charles S. Deneen, taught school at Bethany while pursuing his law studies. His certificate was signed by Tames S..uire. county superintendent of schools, now a physician in Carrollton. The school house at Godfrey village, after standing for seventyfive years, was destroyed by fire in 1911. and a new edifice, to cost ten thousand dollars is now in process of erection. The school house in Summerfield district has been standing since 1846. This school is noted as having been taught for a time by Lucy Larcom. the poet¬ ess. prior to her graduation from Monticello in 1852. Clifton Hill school house, at Mel¬ ville. is also an old timer. Summerfield school has never missed a school term since its estab¬ lishment sixty-six years ago. It is built on land donated by that scholarly gentleman and old soldier. Mai. George \Y. Long. It stands in a beautiful grove of native forest trees. The building is battered and worn by time but is soon to be replaced by a new edifice. Among its teachers have been four soldiers, viz: Capt. John Pettigill, Capt. Cook, Capt. Samuel Qark and Geo. F. Long. Other teachers, at different epochs, were James Walker, later an attorney of Hannibal, Mo.; B. F. Webster, later State Senator of Mis¬ souri; also Lucy Larcom, Emeline Young, Sarah Colby, Lucy Foote, Mrs. Brittain, Z. Hobbs and A. L. Daniels, the last two of Shurtleff College. In addition to those named thirty of its pupils are known to have served in the Civil war.

Among the distinguished public men who have resided in Godfrey township may be men¬ tioned William F. DeWolf, William Martin, A. P. Mason and John M. Pearson, who all served in the state legislature. Two sons of Mr. DeW olf served in the L'nion army during the war and the elder a brilliant voung officer, died of wounds received at the battle of Wil¬ liamsburg. Another distinguished man was Judge Tames Webb, who settled in Godfrey in 1833. One of his daughters married Geo. T. M. Davis, of Alton, of Mexican war fame, and another became the wife of Judge William Martin of Alton. Descendants of Judge Webb still occupy the old homestead.

The old homestead of Captain Godfrey was originally built by Calvin Riley, who came from New York with Judge Webb. It was purchased later by Captain Godfrey, who added to it and converted it into a spacious country mansion. It was his residence until his death in 1862. It is now the property' of the Waters family.

Another fine old country seat, still standing, is the old home built by Benjamin Ives Gil¬ man. brother of Winthrop S. Gilman, of Alton. It is now owned by and included in the beauti¬ ful campus of Monticello seminar}'.

the noted civil engineer, who came to Illinois in 1817; Dr. B. F. Long, Major G. W. Long and Preble Long, brothers of the celebrated explorer, Col. S. H. Long and of Capt. Enoch Long of Alton. The homes of the four first named are still standing, though only that of Mr. Spaulding is occupied by descendants. Dr. B. F. Long and Dr. E. S. Hull were fa¬ mous pioneer horticulturists, and their or¬ chards were not only noted for the fine fruits produced but as the first scientific experi¬ mental farms in the county.

In reference to many early settlers of the township Mr. George Frank Long, a veteran soldier of the Civil war, son of Dr. B. F. Long, furnishes the editor with the following data and comments : "My information of the earli¬ est settlement of Godfrey township is, per¬ haps, a little vague. There were undoubtedly 'squatters' in the township, who if they re¬ mained, were compelled afterward to pay for their lands, but as real settlers the Scarritts were preeminent and all the territory east of the Alton and Jersey ville road and north to the county line was known as Scarritts prairie. There were Meldrums (wagoners), Rundles, Delaplains and Hamiltons, I think. My first remembrance was the year before the Chicago & Alton railroad was finished to Alton. The first engine and cars I ever saw were running through the woods in front of John M. Pear¬ son's late residence; the cars (coaches) had only four wheels and I should think were about the size of an ordinary herdic. At that time my home was with Squire Harry Spaulding's family on the Grafton road and we were on our way to quarterly meeting, which was being held in one of the big Scarritt barns, just across the road from their resi¬ dence. Bethany church was built soon after¬ ward and I remember attending the dedica¬ tion but do not recall the year. My remarks will more particularly include families of the township south and west of the Scarritt farm who formed and became members of the Con¬ gregational church. About 1854 the residents who were not members of the Methodist church attended services in the Seminary chapel, then the south end of the basement, old building; high box pews with doors that fastened with buttons - a high, big pulpit, where the minister's head almost touched the ceiling. The minister was a Rev. Mr. Temple. Next came the new church - the membership was large and rich, or in easy circumstances. The new building was handsomely furnished, the seminary contributing its share and occu^ pying one half the seats. The ministers re¬ ceived much larger salaries then. The Sunday school was most flourishing and the church services regularly and largely attended and of course with such a membership, hereinafter named, it could hardly be otherwise.

"In winters the socials and young people's parties were frequent. Such genial hospital¬ ity; nothing stiff nor freezing about it! It was always a pleasure to listen or take part, all felt the spirit of the occasion. The semin¬ ary teachers and pupils were generally in evi¬ dence and assisted greatly in the pleasant pro¬ grams rendered. Those were halcyon occa¬ sions for Godfrey. Some of those were truly hospitable mansions, where the halls were wide and the rooms large and always full, but not uncomfortably so. Such were the homes of Captain and Mrs. Godfrey, in whom the deep¬ est interest always centered. Next were Uncle John Mason and wife, whose reputation for entertaining was foremost of all ; then Mr. and Mrs. Leander Maclean, most charming hosts; B. I. Gilman and wife, always genial, with the warmest kind of welcome and so on through the entire list: Dr. B. F. Long and wife, James G. Brown and wife, Isaac Brown and wife, James Garland and wife, Timothy Turner and family, A. W. Covey and wife, Benj. Webster and wife, J. R. Isett and wife, Jas. Godfrey and family, Mrs. Judge Martin, Benj. Delaplain and family, the Chamberlain and Ball families (half way to Upper Alton) and last, but not least Hon. John M. Pearson's family. And there were others, in the plainer walks of life, just as good, generous and kind, but less used to entertaining. Here are some of Godfrey's men whose homes were part of its history and these were supplemented by various others worthy of mention since 1870: Thomas Dunford, Coal Br., 1832; John Mason, Sr., 1837; Hail Mason, 1837; Prebble Long, about 1835; Jas. Strong, Buck Inn, 1837; D. A. Spaulding, 1:835; Timothy Turner, 1839; G. W. Long, 1839 ; Wm. Squire, 1838; A. W. Corey, about 1841; D. B. Long, 1849 or 1850; Benj. Delaplain, Benj. Webster, J. R. Isett, J. Y. Saw¬ yer, J110. Pattison, Aaron Mason, Jno. Mason, Jr., Wm. Charles, Zeb. Brown, Robt. Craw¬ ford, and John M. Pearson."

Rev. Jotham A. Scarritt, D. D., an eminent divine of the M. E. church, was born June 23, 1827, on Scarritt's prairie, and was the third child born in Godfrey township, and is now the oldest person living who was a native thereof. During his long ministerial life he has filled many important pastorates in South¬ ern Illinois and was for twelve years presiding elder of Alton district. He has been a trustee of McKendree College for fifty years and re¬ ceived the degree of Doctor of Divinity from that institution. He now resides in Alton in the superannuated relation in a revered and honored old age, with physical strength but little impaired and with mental powers un¬ abated. He kindly submits the following rem¬ iniscences at the request of the editor.

"In response to an inquiry for a sample of the early settlers in Madison county it is sug¬ gested that a fair specimen may be shown by a brief outline sketch of some emigrants, who came from New England to Illinois about the time the state was admitted into the Union.

his family of four children, came from the state of New Hampshire to Illinois and being a Methodist minister, took work in the confer¬ ence as pastor of circuit societies thinly scat¬ tered, but growing. A few years later he was appointed to a mission among the Indians and for a time labored with them on, and near the site of the city of Chicago. Two of his daughters married Methodists ministers and gave their lives to the work. One of these raised three sons who heard, and heeded the call, 'Go ye' - and all spent their lives in active service. One of these raised a son who also entered the ministry early, prepared for mis¬ sion work, and is now (1912) an efficient su¬ perintendent of a large mission district in Africa. Thus it is shown that three genera¬ tions of Madison county early settlers con¬ tributed largely to the promotion of Christian civilization in enlightened Illinois and dark Africa.

"A counterpart of this sketch of Rev. Isaac Scarritt is found in the life and family of his younger brother, Nathan Scarritt, who came from the same old home town in New Hamp¬ shire, two years later - 1820 - with family of parents and four children in two wagons, mak¬ ing the journey to Edwardsville in just ten weeks, when they were congratulated upon their safe and 'speedy' arrival.

"Nathan was a Methodist, but not a minis¬ ter. He did his part in furnishing a congre¬ gation and sustaining the ministry by supply¬ ing material for it, and for its support, and as his household eventually consisted of ten sons and two daughters it was wise and well that he sought to make a permanent farm home. With this purpose in view, and with govern¬ ment land galore at uniform price, he made his purchase four miles north of Alton, and became the first permanent settler in that part of the country. The new settlement was for a long time known as Scarritt's Prairie. There; is a current tradition that the eighth son, Jo¬ tham, was the first white child born in that

"Immediately upon his decision where he would locate his life-time home, Nathan Scarritt became active and discreetly earnest in making acquaintance with representatives of prospective emigrants, many of whom were passing to and from the government land office in Edwardsville and by kindness, with judi¬ cious influence, induced the desirable classes to become neighbors with him and with each other, so that in a few years there was planted a valuable citizenship, prosperous and progres¬ sive in civic, social and moral character. This policy became quite common and effective in Madison and the adjacent counties, and for many years there was no section of the state more influential in promoting exalted ideals in all lines of excellence.

"The fruitage from this wise planting of noble aspirations soon appeared in substantial monumental form, by the establishment of three chartered institutions of learning - Shurtleff, McKendree and Monticello - within twenty-five miles of Edwardsville, built and promoted respectively by three denominations of Christians ; and for three quarters of a century have sent annual classes of certified experts, to enter the various professions and build other similar institutions in the rapidly growing west.

"In 1849 Nathan Scarritt closed his quiet, but very busy life, falling asleep in the pioneer home, where he had reared and carefully trained his family for self-reliant activities, for noble achievements in the world's work. Three of his sons that lived to reach maturity were business men, and like their father were imbued with a Christian and patriotic spirit which identified them actively and officially with civil and religious agencies, which 'make good' for righteousness and the highest type of civilization. The two other sons that lived to reach manhood were early enlisted, under vows, for entire devotion to work in the min¬ istry. The elder one of this couple - Nathan, junior, spent his whole life in strenuous official work, with church agencies, in establishing and maintaining churches, missions, mission schools, and a 'bible training school' for train¬ ing missionaries. This school bears his name as its founder. His base of operation was in Kansas City; his 'field,' for nearly fifty years, was in the states of Kansas and Missouri.

"The other one of this couple of ministers - and the only one of the family now living - began his official connection with ministerial work in 1851. He was first appointed to a cir¬ cuit charge - Bunker Hill circuit. His itiner¬ ancy has been mostly in the western part of the conference territory, between Alton and Cairo, and in these two cities repeatedly, in Cairo twelve years, and in Alton, including time on district work, twelve years. And now this only survivor of that large family, the oldest minister and member in his conference, at the age of four score and five, is resting in comfort and peace in the 'superannuated' re¬ lation near his birthplace and the graves of parents, brothers, sisters and children, with their mother, in full sympathy with God's work, and the active workers, feeding, some¬ times feasting, on precious memories, inspired by steadfast hope and waiting for His com¬ ing."

One of Nathan Scarritt's daughters married Rev. W. T. Luckey, Methodist preacher, and removed with him to California. It is re¬ lated of Mr. Luckey that he was very absent minded. At one time he was chaplain of the State Penitentiary and one Sunday when he opened service, with all prisoners present, he prefaced his discourses with the remark: "My friends, I am glad to see so many of you pres¬ ent to-day," oblivious of the fact that the poor fellows were there because they couldn't help themselves. Another story regarding him is that the chaplain of the legislature, in session at Sacramento, was absent one day and Mr. Luckey was sent for to offer the invocation. Forgetting his environment he offered the usual petition he used at the penitentiary, and prayed fervently for "those who had been sent up here from different sections of the state, in punishment for their crimes." That prayer made a sensation.

Another daughter of Nathan Scarritt mar¬ ried John S. Ellet, a member of the famous family of engineers and soldiers of that name. Two of her sons served in the Union army as did several other gra*ndsons of Nathan Scar¬ ritt.

Rev. Nathan Scarritt, Jr., was a preacher and teacher all his life, but became a million¬ aire through judicious real estate investments in Kansas City and elsewhere. His large fam¬ ily now occupy contiguous blocks in the finest residence section of Kansas City. Isaac Scar¬ ritt, was for many years a leading merchant, banker and public official of Alton. Russell Scarritt, a fourth son, became one of the mer¬ chant princes of St. Louis. Certainly a re¬ markable family of zealous Christian work¬ ers sent out from one township to bless the world both in secular and ministerial relations.

Godfrey has ample means of rail transporta¬ tion. The township is traversed by the main line, the Kansas City branch and the "Cut Off" of the Chicago & Alton, while the Chicago, Pittsburg & St. Louis passes through the southwest corner. The Alton, Joliet & Pe¬ oria electric road passes through the township from southeast to northwest. The country roads, however, are no better than they were three-fourths of a century ago, with the ex¬ ception of a mile of rock roadway built by the enterprise of the farmers of the Grafton road section.

The population of Godfrey as to nationality has greatly changed in the last fifty years. All the old American pioneers are dead and their descendants have almost all moved away. Their places have been taken largely by Ger¬ man farmers who are active and industrious in developing the agricultural interests of the community.

Capt. Jabez Turner, a soldier of the Revolu¬ tion and an early settler of Godfrey, is buried in the village cemetery. The descendants of Captain Turner still reside in Godfrey, in the old homestead.

In addition to the old families whose sons have made Godfrey famous, Monticello Ladies Seminary has made the township well known in educational circles throughout the land.

Another institution, of both a philanthropic and educational character, is known as "Bev¬ erly Larin." It is conducted by Dr. W. IT. C. Smith, an eminent specialist in his profes¬ sion. The aim of the institution is the instruc¬ tion and development of deficient children, in which noble endeavor it has been remarkably and gratifyingly successful.

The largest and most important industry in Godfrey township is the immense plant of the Alton Brick Company, with a capacity of 185,- 000 brick per day. It employs a large force of workers in its several departments. It manufactures building brick, paving brick, fire brick and other specialties. It is located above and adjacent to vast deposits of shale from which the finest quality of brick is made. The plant is equipped with the most modern and complete labor-saving machinery. Edward Rodgers is president of the company and Eben Rodgers, secretary.