St. Clair County, Illinois - Chapter 14 (2 of 2 so headed), 1928

Chapter 14

SOME of the earliest settlers of St. Clair County had their homes within a short distance of the present town of O'Fallon, as the Ogles, the Lemens, the Scotts, and others. But the town itself had its origin with the building of the Ohio and Mississippi Railway, which is now known as the Baltimore and Ohio. This enterprise was completed in 1854. Colonel John O'Fallon, of St. Louis, was an officer in the railroad company and also was an extensive land holder in St. Clair County. So when the railroad authorities decided to establish a water tank there, a station was planned and it was named O'Fallon, in honor of the gentleman named above. Town lots were platted and an auction sale was held in i8'i4, though not many lots were disposed of in this manner. Anderson Umbarger erected the first dwelling in 1855. The post' office was established the same year and Mr. Umbarger was the first postmaster. He was also the agent for the railroad. Among the early residents are such names as Simmons, Peach, Daily, Salter, Farr, Distler, Powell, Stocker, Schildknecht, Orcutt, Mace, and Rawson. The first school was established in 1861. The Baptist Church was organized in 1865 and a house of worship built the same year. The Methodist Church was built in 1866, the Catholic in 1867 and another to replace it in more recent years, the Evangelical in 1879. Today O'Fallon has a population of about two thousand five hundred people, a splendid township high school and a well-equipped grade school. It is well supplied with stores, markets, garages, and shops of various kinds. It has the Willard Range Factory, which employs several scores of men. There are numerous coal mines in the vicinity which furnish employment to sev, eral hundred men. For connection with the city of St. Louis, it has besides the B 6? O Railroad, the trolley line and route

The officials of the city of O'Fallon, Illinois, who were elected and appointed for the coming year, are: Mayor Ralph K.\mpmeyer Aldermen Other Officials

First National Bank Of O'Fallon

It IS quite true that a bank is as efficient as its officials. As the president of the First National Bank, Ernest H. Smiley is recognized as one of the important factors in the financial circles of O'Fallon. After attending the township schools, Smith Academy, and St. Louis College of Pharmacy, from which he was graduated, he conducted O'Fallon's only drug store for a number of years before becoming a banker. In addition to the presidency of the bank, his business integrity and honesty have won for him other extensive interests. He IS a director and treasurer of the O'Fallon Building and Loan Association, and manager and part owner of the Smiley Brothers Telephone Exchange. Mr. Smiley, who is keenly interested in the welfare of his city, is a member of the Methodist Church. Fraternally, he holds membership in the A. F. and A. M.; O. E. S. Chapter, Knight Templars, Consistory, and the Shrine.

Another officer ot the bank, who has contributed considarable energy for its development, IS William R. Dorris, the cashier. He was graduated from McKendree College m 1894, then studied m the University of Illinois, came to O'Fallon in 1889, and served as the superintendent of his schools until 1903, when he became cashier of the bank, of which he IS also a director Mr Dorris IS a member of the A F. and A. M., O. E. S., The Chapter, Knight Tempi ir-. Shrine, Consistory, I.O. O F and the K. of P. He is an ic tive member of the Methodist Church and has always been interested in the civic affairs of his city. Mr. Dorris has served as chairman of Group Nine, and on important committees in the Illinois Bankers' Association. At present he is serving as vice-president for the state of Illinois in the American Bankers' Association.

A vice-president of the bank, and one of its directors, is George W. Tiedemann. He was born in O'Fallon on December I, 1873. Mr. Tiedemann received an education m the O'Fallon schools and Smith Academy, of St. Louis, from which he was graduated m 1895. He is president of the Tiedemann Milling Company, of O'Fallon, and a member of the Evangelical Church.

Another important member of this bank is Dr. Herman T. Bechtold, a vice-president, whose complete biographical sketch appears m another section of this volume.

But let us dwell on some of the interesting facts regarding the bank itself. It was organized in 190}, with a capital stock of $25,000. Its first quarters were in a small room in the building now occupied by Nold's Drug Store. The first board of directors were: A. B. Smiley, Dr. H. T. Bechtold, Chas. T. Smiley, George W. Tiedemann, E. H. Smiley, Joseph Taylor, and S. C. Smiley. The first officers, who are still active, are: E. H. Smiley, George W. Tiedemann, Dr. H. T. Bechtold, and W. R. Dorris. This force has been increased by two assistant cashiers - G. B. Gieser, elected in 1918, and A. E. Tiedemann in 1919; and Elsie M. Schaefer and Irma S. Schachner, as bookkeepers.

This institution enjoys a reputation of being one of the soundest banks in Southern Illinois. The conservatism in its management and the high financial standing of its directors and stockholders establish a fine foundation that spells safety for those who are connected with the institution.

Some of the most prominent farmers and business men in this section are numbered among the stockholders. The resources show an amount in excess of $i,')00,ooo, and includes, besides the $100,000 capital, a surplus fund of $100,000, and substantial individual profits in addition, with deposits in excess of $1,100,000.

The management of the bank has endeavored to keep pace with the growth and requirements of the community, and Its equipment and facilities are equal to those offered by banks in much larger cities. The safe deposit vault is protected by a steel door ten inches in thickness and weighing nine and one-half tons, and reinforced concrete walls eighteen inches in thickness, all protected by an electric burglar alarm system. The large banking room equipped with modern bookkeeping machines and labor-saving devices enables them to conduct their business with promptness and efficiency.

Besides conducting a general banking business, the bank operates a Trust Department, which acts as executor, administrator, guardian, conservator, and in all other fiduciary capacities authorized by the Federal Reserve Act. The management has always endeavored to serve the people of O'Fallon in every vs/ay possible. As its success proves, it has done this, not only with profit to the institution, but what is more, to the people.

Tiedemann Milling Company

One of the most important business enterprises in O'Fallon is the Tiedemann Milling Company, a firm that has done more for this city than any other industry. The two men who have control of the organization, and have done so much to make it successful, are Charles E. Tiedemann, secretary and treasurer, and George W. Tiedemann, president. Both of them thoroughly understand their business because of a life-time experience that has made them capable and efficient.

Charles E. Tiedemann is one of the best-known men in O'Fallon. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Tiedemann, and was born in the same city where his interests are today. After attending the public schools of this city he entered Smith Academy, in St. Louis, and was graduated from that institution in 1892, after he had studied in Washington University. Immediately after graduation he was employed by his father in the Tiedemann Milling Company, where he began at the bottom, worked his way up, and was soon elected vice-president and treasurer. Since he loves outdoor hfe he is an enthusiastic sportsman and motorist, and finds his pleasure and recreation in such pursuits. As a traveller he has journeyed extensively, both in America and Europe.

The president of this huge milling concern, George W. Tiedemann, the brother of Charles E., was born on December I, 1873, in O'Fallon. He attended the school here, continued his education in Smith Academy, and later oecured a practical business education in a business college. As his father was engaged in the miUing business, it was quite natural that his son should follow this vocation. Therefore, after leaving school, he was employed in the Richland Mills, became well acquainted with every defciil, and in 1891, when the business was incorporated, he became a stockholder. In 1901 he succeeded L'. F. Fischer as treasurer and general manager, and has since been elected president of the corporation. He has rendered valuable service to O'Fallon by serving on school boards. He holds membership in several social organizations and is a member of the Evangelical Church.

The company over which the above gentlemen hold such importiint offices was founded by two progressive and enterprising men, Col. Charles A. Raith and Charles A.

Tiedemann, in i86o. The former was killed m the Battle of Shiloh, but the latter successfully carried on. The company has grown to such an extent that its products are shipped not only to many parts of the United States, but also to foreign countries. The mills are modern in every respect, and have all forms of time and labor-saving devices. Efficiency and economy have been attained through the skill and ability of the two subjects of this sketch - George W. and Charles E. Tiedemann.

Shiloh

SHILOH Shiloh as a town does not seem to be much older than 1845, but the immediate vicinity was the site of some of the very early settlements of St. Clair County. Among the first people to locate in this region were several families of Scotts, some of whom settled in Shiloh Valley about the beginning of the nineteenth century. These were sons of WiUiam Scott, who came from Virginia to this state and settled at Turkey Hill in 1797. He had six sons, and three of them made homes for themselves near Shiloh. James Scott married Sarah Teter soon after coming to Illinois and they made their home just south of Shiloh as early as 1802. William Scott, Jr., son of the Turkey Hill pioneer, married Mississippi Biggs, a daughter of Judge William Biggs, of pioneer fame, settled half a mile west of the present village of Shiloh, and reared a large family. Joseph Scott, another son of the same family, married Nancy Harrison, a niece of General Harrison, of Ohio. She came to Illinois with her parents, who located at New Design about 1800. This family located about two miles south of the pres' ent village of Shiloh in 1805. In 1809 Mr. Scott erected a small grist mill on a branch of Silver Creek, which ran through his land. It was a log building and the motive power was an undershot water wheel. This mill was also a powder mill, which was the first in Illinois. For a number of years he manufactured a fine grade of powder for the local market. He procured nitre for his powder from the caves of the Gasconade River, in Missouri, making expeditions for this purpose in the winter months with only a single companion, Joseph Dixon, when the country was more or less infested with hostile Indians. Mr. Scott supplied the rangers and hunters of Illinois and St. Louis with powder, but never sold it to the Indians. In 1825 he erected a wool carding machine m Belleville, the first in that town, which he successfully operated tor some years. He moved to Belleville in i8j8 and became a justice of the peace. Some of his descendants still live in St. Clair County .

Joseph Dixon settled near Shiloh as early as 1806. He was a great hunter and often made long trips for that purpose in Illinois and Missouri, and usually came home loaded with peltries. Later he moved to Sangamon County. Hugh and William Alexander settled a Uttle south'west of Shiloh in 1 8 1 1 .

The village of Shiloh did not have its origin until 184^, when the first house was built by Edwin Pierce. A store and the post office were estabhshed the same year. A little later other houses were built, a blacksmith shop was established, and in 1847 a steam sawmill was erected by Edwin Pierce, Philip Scott, and Charles Alexander. The village was laid out by Martin Stites and James Atkins. Most of the village still lies on a single street which has several stores and shops to supply the need of the inhabitants.

But the most important thing in Shiloh is its ancient church . The site was selected for a camp meeting ground, because of the three abundant springs at the foot of the hill, and a good water supply was important for a camp meeting in summer time. The place was then called "Three Springs." But geological changes that have taken place since then have eliminated two of the springs and the other is no longer a gusher. The Rev. Jesse Walker and Rev. William McKendree, who was presiding elder at the time, held a camp meeting there m the summer of 1807, which lasted eleven days and resulted in many conversions. At the close of the meeting, Mr. McKendree organized a church composed of the nineteen members of the class that existed already, and as many of the new converts as chose to become members of the Methodist Church. That was the beginning of the Shiloh church which has had a continuous existence of a hundred and twenty-one years and IS without question the oldest Methodist church in the state of Illinois. A log church was built there in the summer of 1807 which served as their house of worship until 1819. An annual conference was held there in 1816, under the presidency of Bishop McKendree, who had been raised to the episcopacy the year after he organized the church at Shiloh. Several houses of worship have been built on this consecrated spot. The one which stands there now is a substantial brick with a dignified steeple pointing heavenward, after the manner ot the churches of the nineteenth century. It was dedi . cated by Bishop Thomas Bowman m 1875. Since that time foreigners have come m largely and taken the place ot the early Methodists ot this region, but a taithtul tew have maintained the church in Shiloh through all the years, in the face of many ditficulties. The fires have never died on the altars of Methodism in Shiloh. We cannot mention all who deserve credit for this sacrificial devotion to a sacred cause, but perhaps none deserves it more than Mrs. Henry Rentchler, who has proven herself to be one of the elect ladies mentioned by the apostle. The old cemetery across the street is also a spot of historic interest. It contains memorials of many Illinois pioneers from Risdon Moore, a soldier in the Revolutionary War, to the more modern heroes of the present century. Shiloh also has a Catholic Church which cares for the spiritual interests ot many of the immigrants who have more recently come into the community.

SUMMERFIELD There is much important history clustering about this village located in the extreme northeast part of the county. The earliest settlements were made prior to 1810, about a mile south of the present site of the village, at a place called Union Grove. The Summerfield we know now is located there because the railroad ran through. The earliest settler was Nathan Chambers, who was there as early as 1806, located on section thirty-three. In 1811-12 he built a fort on his place which was known as Chambers' Fort, where neighboring families gathered when they needed protection from Indian depredations. We cannot more than mention by name some of the early settlers at Union Grove, some of whom are well known in Methodist circles. There were Robert and James Moore, John Broom, William Padfield, Robert Farrar, Samuel and Alfred Ryle, Henry Hutton, Rev. John Dew, Rev. Thornton Peeples, Dr. Anthony W. Casad, Edmond Randle, Malcom Johnson, Peter Wright, William Lunceford, and Rev. Samuel H. Thompson. The last named was prominent in the early history of Methodism in this section and was for years president of the Board of Trustees of McKendree College. Rev. John Dew was once president of McKendree, and Dr. A. W. Casad was prominently connected with its founding and early history. He was also the grandfather of Dr. E. J. James, formerly president of the University of Illinois. Mr . Padfield mentioned above had a camp meeting ground on his farm and frequently opened his house as a preaching place for the Methodist itinerants when the camp ground was not suitable. In fact, the Illinois Conference was organized at his house in 1824. It was a historic meeting, with Bishops Mc- Kendree, Soule, and Roberts, all present at the conference .

William Padfield built a mill in 1826. It was the largest of its kind in that day. It was both a saw and grist mill and was propelled by ten oxen. Padfield's mill was known and patronized by the settlers for thirty miles around. In later years, Philip Eisenmayer conducted a more modern mill there which was destroyed by fire many years ago. Colonel Fred Hecker, the well-known German patriot, settled in the very midst of the Union Grove neighborhood in 1849 and spent the rest of his life there. His home was known for its hospitality far and wide, and many from farther than state boundaries came to converse with this philosopher patriot. The railroad determined the location of the present village. It was laid out in 1854. At that time there was not a house within its Umits. The first one was built by Samuel Casad, who was the first merchant in the place. He soon erected a second house and in the following fall John Wakefield, Rev. Thornton Peeples, and Dr. Walker each erected residences. Dr. Walker was the first resident physician. A quarter of a century later Dr. J. H. Hewitt settled there and practiced many years, but later moved to Lebanon. The first school was taught by Miss Lucy Dew. It was a subscription school. The first public school building was erected in i860 and the present one in 1874. The Methodists built the first church in the place in 1857. The Mennonites built one in 1858, the German Methodists in 1864 and the Evangelicals in 1865. The Methodists of both kinds have long since disappeared from the community. The Mennonite is the only real active church in the village at the present time.

Summerfield was incorporated as a village under the general law in 1866. There is a grain elevator which is in operation a part of the year. Several stores and shops supply the commercial needs of the people though the automobile has been hard on the small town, and probably there is not as much business done there as there was many years ago. Route twelve runs just north of the village. Summerfield is included in the Lebanon Community High School District and it is well represented in the school. Summerfield has also furnished many students to McKendree College. CASEYVILLE

This town was named in honor of Zadock Casey, who has held many high offices in the state. He served several terms in the State Legislature and in 1830 was elected Lieutenant-Governor of Illinois. He also served several terms in Congress. Before the laying out of the village, Charles Harbour, a wealthy Frenchman, erected a large brick residence and a steam saw mill which he operated for several years near where the town is now located. The mill was erected in 184^.

It was laid out as a village in 1849, by the Ilhnois Coal Company, consisting of the following named persons : Hon. Zadock Casey, Judge Walter B. Scates, Charles Harbour, Malcomb Robinson, Dr. Charles Barrett, and John Roy. The company began the operation of coal mining on a rather extensive scale about this time. Until 185 1 the coal was hauled to St. Louis by ox and mule teams, across the bottoms. In February, 185 1 the company completed a railroad from Casey ville to Brooklyn on which they immediately placed a locomotive and rolling stock, and by this means large quantities of coal were daily transported to St. Louis. The first house erected in the village after it was laid out was built by Jameson Robinson in the spring of 1849. Soon after that a number of houses were built and the village grew. By the end of the year forty persons were living there and the year that the railroad was com. pleted brought about one hundred and fifty more. In 1854 the Ohio and Mississippi railroad was built through Caseyville and that gave the place another impulse to growth. In 1856 a post-office was established and Major E. M. Mallory was the first postmaster, and also the first Justice of the Peace. Its first church was "Union Chapel" erected in 1879 by popular subscription and intended for the use of any denomination who desired to hold exercises of worship in it . For the last quarter of a century or thereabout the Methodists have had a regularly organized church there and use the chapel as their house of worship. In 1928, almost a half century after the building was erected two of the original trustees are still Hving. These are Charles Thilman and Emanuel Webb. The village was incorporated in i86g and the first president was C. L. Muilberger. The present brick school house was erected in 1872. At present there is a population of about eight hundred. These people are served by four general stores. There is also a bakery and a meat market. An artificial leather factory gives employment to a number of men, while many of the Caseyville men find employment in the coal mines that are in easy reach of the place. Besides the railroad to St. Louis it is on a line of the Interurban trolley road, and a state paved road. Besides the Union Chapel there are two other churches. Catholic and Evangelical, tho neither has had a regular pastor for some time. There are also several lodges maintained in the village. FREEBURG This town was formerly in Fayetteville Precinct, but since the adoption of township organization it is in Freeburg Township. It is a few miles south of Belleville on the Illinois Central railroad. An important fact in its early history is that it was first platted by John T. Lemen in t8j6. Its name at first was Urbana, but in 1859 '' was changed to Freeburg in honor of a European city which had been the early home of many of the immigrants who settled in this growing city. The original plat consisted of one hundred and twenty-eight lots, but more than a score of additions have been pl.itted since and now the town covers an area of more than half a square mile. A post-office was first established m 185 1 with George W. Smith as postmaster. It is on route 13 Illinois highways, and is surrounded by a rich agricultural region which supports numerous business enterprises in the town, such as general stores, hardware, furniture, dry goods, drug store, lumber yard, bank, garages, and other shops such as the needs of the people require. Perhaps the biggest business enterprise of the place is that of the manufacture of fine flour. Years ago there were two large mills with a capacity of near a thousand barrels a day. Also the coal mining industry has been a means of livelihood to many of the citizens. The progressive character of the town is shown by the fact that it had an excellent water and light system before some of the larger towns had provided themselves with these modern conveniences. There are four churches represented in Freeburg. The Catholic, Evangelical, Baptist, and Methodist. Much attention had been given to education as well as religion. Besides an efficient grade school there is a four year recognized community high school, housed in one of the best high school buildings in the county. Freeburg high school is nearly always represented among the students in McKendree College.

MASCOUTAH Samuel Dixon built the first house withm the limits of the present town of Mascoutah. Dixon was a hunter and lived just south of where the Postel Mills now stand. The town was laid out on the sixth of April, i8j7 by T. J. Krafft and John Flanagan. It contained six blocks of different sizes and was called Mechanicsburg. After the town was laid out Samuel Mitchell built a log cabin and established a saw mill . In 1839 an addition was made containing seventy-two lots, by Hilgard, Krafft, and Benjamin West. At this time the name was changed to Mascoutah. Many other additions have been laid out since then. Dr. Smith, a son-in-law of Major Brown, was the first physician in the place. The first school house was erected just north of the Postel mill. Nathan Fike was the first postmaster. Conrad and Philip Eisenmayer purchased the mill property in 1839. They soon took in as a partner Philip H. Postel. They enlarged the mill and became exporters of flour. The second mill, erected near the old site was built by Andrew Eisenmayer and Philip Postel in 1848 and now known as the Postel Mills. It has been enlarged and improved until now it is one of the largest mills in this section of the country, having a capacity of three hundred and fifty barrels of flour a day. The growth was slow until the German immigrants began to come about 1840 and later. Since then the growth of the town has been steady and now Mascoutah is one of the fine towns of the county. It has six churches, a fine public school system, including a community high school, a hat factory, a rubber goods factory, a municipal water works and lighting system. Good hotels, some fine stores and business houses of various kinds. Illinois State highway No. 1 5 runs right through the principal street and there is bus service to St. Louis.

New Athens

This Httle city is situated on the Kaskaskia River and once had hopes of being an important river town. Several times small steamboats ascended the Kaskaskia as far as New Athens, and in fact the "Wild Duck" once went as far as Carlyle. But it often happened that the waters navigable in early spring were not in late summer or in frozen winter. And before water transportation was well established m the smaller rivers it was supplanted by the railroads.

New Athens was first laid out by Narcisse Pensoneau m 1836. The plat consisted of forty -eight blocks comprising four hundred and sixty-one lots and a public square. The streets are of uniform width, sixty-six feet, except Water street which is ninety-nine. The Illinois Central railroad formerly known as the "Cairo Short Line" crosses the river at this point. The first train crossed the bridge there on New Year's day 1870. It is also on route thirteen of the Illinois State highway system. The first business house was Pensoneau's general store. A school was taught there in 1836 by John Irwin, and a brick kiln was burned in 1838 by William Brock. The town has had several booms and subsequent reverses. Twice the place was almost deserted and at other times it has had as many as 1,500 inhabitants. Its first postofEce was established in 1852. In 1866 the town was incorporated and the first Board of Trustees elected and in 1868 a newspaper called the "Era" was started. The first church was the Methodist, which was built in 1869. This was followed by the Catholic in 1870, the Lutheran in 1878 and the Evangelical in 187Q. These churches are still functioning, and the sentiment for education as well as religion has increased to the extent that there has been established a recognized four year high school.

The original town of Marissa was laid out by James Stewart in December, 1867. It soon became a village with a few dwellings, a general store, a blacksmith shop, and a mill which could turn out a hundred barrels of flour a day. In 1870 when the railroad, known as the "Cairo Short Line" ran through, it left the village a little to one side. Of course since the railroad would not come to the town, the town had to go to the railroad. Accordingly a site was chosen for a station and a new town was laid out by M. E. and J. C. Hamilton.

The old and the new towns were not too far apart to grow together, and now they are connected by a continuous street and together have a population probably about two thousand. The name was selected by James Wilson, the first postmaster, who showed his love for classic lore by choosing a name preserved only in Latin records. It was the name of a city destroyed, and afterwards rebuilt, by Gabinius, and our St. Clair County city is now believed to be the only place in the world by that name. One of the founders, John Hamilton, came to this county from South Carolina in 1834. M. E. Hamilton erected the first business house; the mill was built and operated for many years by A. J. Meek; and the Wyllie brothers ran a store. The town was not incorporated until 1882 but it has easily outgrown some of its older neighbors. It has the usual type of business houses, stores, banks, garages, and electric light plant, and the coal mining interests are a strong rival to the agricultural in that community. The public school employs twelve teachers, and the excellent Township high school has eight. There are churches of sev- eral denominations. The leading one is the United Presbyterian. There are also Methodists, Baptists, and Evangehcals. Marissa had the distinction of being a prohibition town long before the days of the eighteenth amendment.

In 1906 when the Missouri Pacific railroad company located its shops at a point seven miles south of East St. Louis in the American Bottom, it laid the foundation of a thriving town called Dupo. The name is probably an abridgement of the name Prairie Du Pont which was anciently given to a settlement a short distance north of where Dupo now stands. The site selected is said to be the highest in the river valley for many miles. In all the high waters for the last half century It has not been overflowed and it is therefore considered free from all danger of flood. The railroad yards brought many employees and it was necessary for them to have homes and hence a town soon sprang up. In 1907 it was incorporated as a village with Louis J. Dyroff as president of the Board. Mr. Dyroff held the office for some years and then for a time lived elsewhere, but a few years ago he returned to Dupo and was again placed in a position of leadership as president of the Board. During his recent administration concrete walks were built on all the principal streets of the town. He then took up the matter of municipal waterworks, and has that enterprise so well under way that the contract has alre.idy been let tor the installation of a modern municipal water plant. The first plat of the town covered one hundred acres subdivided into city lots and additions made since then bring the total area to one hundred and twenty acres. There is a thrifty population of about two thousand people and the town IS well supplied with schools and churches. There are two excellent school buildings. The grade school employs ten teachers and a superintendent. The upper grades are conducted on the departmental plan. The Community high school IS housed in a magnificient brick building which cost more than $140,000 including equipment. This was completed in 1926. In that year the taxable property in the community district was valued at more than six million dollars. The enrollment is more than a hundred and still growing. There are four churches in Dupo - the Baptist, Catholic, Congregationalist and Evangelical. The Missouri Pacific railroad maintains a vast plant, employing switchmen, trackmen, round house workmen, engineers, firemen, and clerks to the number of six hundred as an approximate total. These men do not all live in Dupo at present but they probably will as soon as the new water works plant is installed and in full operation.