McDonough County, Illinois - Chapter 41: Blandinsville, 1878

Chapter 41: Blandinsville

Ill 1842 Joseph L. Blaudin, the owner of the southeast quarter of section thirty-two, concluded to locate thereon a new town, and for that purpose secured the service of Samuel Hunt, Esq., County Surveyor, who proceeded to survey and lay it off. To the place was given the name of Blandinsville, in honorof its founder.

The neighborhood in which the town is located had long been known as "Job's Settlement," and was the second one in the county, William and Iraby Job having located here as early as 1827. Even for ten years after the town was located the people in various parts of the county would still familiarly call it by its old name.

The town is very pleasantly situated, and various additions have been made to its territory, the first being by Thomas J. Davis, who had laid off the southwest quarter of section thirtythree ; after which we find additions recorded by William H. Grigsby and Thomas I. Sorter on section thirty-three, Joshua Dunham on section thirty-two, and Mr. Foster, northeast quarter section five. Hire township.

The first dwelling house erected after the laying off of the town was by Charles R. Hume, who, together with Joseph C. Blandin, a' son of the founder of the place, erected the first store building, the latter of which still stands, and is yet a good, substantial building. It is in size eighteen by thirty-four feet, and is now used as a paint shop.

effort has ever been made to establish manufactories, and therefore the mercantile and laboring classes are dependent upon the trade of the farming community. The mercantile trade of the place has always been good, its business seemingly never to have been overdone. Among the many who have engaged in business here during the past thirty-live years,we recall the name of S. J. Hopper, who came here about the year 1846, and for some sixteen or eighteen years enjoyed a very large trade. Mr. Hopper continued in business until elected sherilFof the county in 1860, when he removed to Macomb, remaining there until his death, which occurred a few years afterwards. A. P. Hopper came about the same time, and for many years has been engaged in the milling business. Ed. R. Jones has been in the mercantile trade for a great many years. Others somewhat prominent were Harrison and Adonijah Hungate, R. D. Hammond, J. F. Durant, Dr. Huston, Joseph L.Blandin, George W. Blandin, and many others.

In the cause of education Blandinsville has kept pace with the rest of the county, her public schools usually being among the best. At an early date the United Brethren in Christ established in the place an institution of learning, to which was given the name of Blandinsville Seminary. During the short period of its existence it accomplished much good. !Not being financially a successs, the building and grounds were sold to the village, and is yet used for school purposes.

Until the completion of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, the town in its growth compared favorably with others in the county, after which its progress was not so great. The tacilities gained by the others from the introduction of the railroad enabled them to gain greatly over her in population and wealth. Her leading citizens at once saw the danger to which she was exposed, and when the subject of constructing the Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw Railroad was agitated, they began at once to take steps to secure its location through their town. Del. Martin, C. R. Hume, S. J. Hopper and others worked hard to this end. Although it was a number of years from the .commencement of its agitation until finalh' completed, its friends never ceased their labors or seemed to w^eary ; they entered upon the work with a determination to succeed in their efforts, and succeed they did. The town itself raised forty-iive thousand dollars for the purpose.

The buildiug of the road was the salvation of Blandinsville. A new life and spirit seemed to animate her citizens, and improvements began to be made upon every hand. Fine stone buildings were erected, new dwelling houses sprang up, old ones were repaired and otherwise improved. The slow-going manner of doing business gave way to the Young America mode, all of which has redounded to the advantage of the place. A comparison of the little, one-horse stores of the early day with the mammoth establishment of Dines Brothers, will show the great improvements made. The trade of the place to-day, exclusive of grain and stock, will amount to $500,000 per year.

With respect to religious privileges, the town has as many advantages as any in the county, there being large congregations of Baptists, Christians, Methodist Episcopal, and United Brethren in Christ, each of whom have fair church buildings. A historical sketch of each of these churches is given in the religious department of this work. Attention is called thereto.

In the transaction of the busmess of the place we find represented two agricultural implement dealers, one baker and confectioner, one bank, three barbers, four blacksmith shops, two book and stationery, three boots and shoes, two hats and caps, one clothing, one jeweler, two dentists, three druggists, five dry goods, two furniture, two grain dealers, eight groceries, three hardware, two hotels, one justice of the peace, four lawyers, two livery and feed stables, one lumber yard, two meat markets, two mills, two millinery stores, one police magistrate, six physicians, three restaurants, three harness shops, one tailor, three wagon shops, four churches, three secret societies.

Wagon, Carriage And Blacks.Miths

rhristlan Church, Harrison Street, west of Main Street; T. H. Goodrich, pastor. M. E. Church, Jackson Street, west of Main ; G. B. Snedaker an 1 W. B. Alexander, pastors. United Brethren in Christ Church, Harrison Street, one block east of Main; Isaac Valentine, pastor.