Gillespie Township

Gillespie Township

Union and Gazette, November, 1860, established by A. W. Edwards, who edited it until 1863. Alonzo James conducted it for a time after Edwards left. It was extremely democratic. Edwards revived the paper in Bunker Hill in 1866.

Gillespie News. This paper was established November 22, 1905, by the Gillespie News Publishing Company, the members of which are S. P. Preston and Clinton Bliss, of the Hillsboro News. The first few issues of the paper were of a five column quarto, all home print. That was the size of the paper until 1908, when it was enlarged to a six column quarto, all home print. In 1911 a linotype was installed. The plant has a splendid two-story brick building, recently erected and the outfit consists of modern machinery, new body and display type and everything that goes to make the up-to-date newspaper and job printing establishment. The patronage is very gratifying. S. P. Preston is the resident managing editor.

The town of Gillespie is located on section 24. The original proprietor was Philander C. Huggins and it was surveyed by J. B. Meads in the spring of 1853. In 1855 an addition known as Huggins' first addition was made on the north side and in the following year, 1856, S. H. Burton made an addition on the south side.

The first building in the town was erected in 1853 by B. F. Clark, the lower floor being used as a store room, while the upper story was used as a dwelling.

The first mill was built by Settlemire, Rankin & Holmes in 1859. O° January 14, 1864, William Robinson, engineer, and Lewis Zinzer, miller, were killed by the explosion of the engine.

The schoolhouse also served as a place of worship until 1863, when the Episcopalians built a church and Rev. Dresser served as pastor for a time. He was succeeded by Rev. Mitchell.

The same year the Methodist denomination built a house of worship and Rev. Morrison served as their first pastor. The German Lutheran church was erected in the fall of 1869. The first Sunday school was organized in the schoolhouse in 1856. This church now has a beautiful pressed brick house of worship and a comfortable parsonage. The present pastor is Rev. L. Krekler.

The records of the Methodist church, now at hand, would show that the church was organized about 1850. Abram Isaacs and wife Mary, D. K. Campbell and a number of others were charter members. At the time mentioned it was a mission in the Alton district, with an appropriation of $100 of missionary money. Rev. R. Randall was the first pastor. Five years later the church numbered about ninety members, and its property was valued at about $500. In 1857 J. D. Gilham was pastor and the church numbered one hundred and ten members. Rev. Gilham was succeeded by T. M. Boyle in 1858. He had increased the membership to one hundred and ninety. That same year the church was transferred to the Litchfield district and T. W. Jones was the pastor. Among the early pastors of this church may be mentioned Asa Snell, J. S. Morrison, W. F. Davis, George T. Weaver, C. J. Tolle, A. Bliss, S. Walker, N. D. Shackelford, T. A. Eaton, S. T. English, S. P. Grove and R. H. Massey. In 1864 a new church was built on the corner of Macoupin and Spruce streets, which was used until 1910. The building, which was a frame, was then moved off its foundation to its present location, a block east on the corner of Spruce and Madison, and now forms a part of a new building of frame, constructed in the year last above mentioned, at a cost of about $8,000.

The membership of this church now numbers about 125. The attendance at the Sabbath school is 275. The present pastor, C. H. Spragg, succeeded Rev. Samuel Thero, in 1911.

St. Catherine's and Gude's Catholic church has long been established at this place. In 1879 a commodious frame building was erected to accommodate its members, which at that time numbered about one hundred. The church was enlarged and improved in 1902 and in 1910 a rectory was built for the pastor. The value of the entire property amounts to about $16,000. Rev. Thomas Crosson is the pastor.

There are a Christian and Baptist organization in Gillespie, both long established, but now weak in numbers. Services are held at the Baptist church every other Sunday by J. M. Gwinn, -of Staunton. The Christians have no regular minister.

The City Destroyed By Fire

January 29, 1905, Gillespie was visited by a destructive fire, which entirely wiped out the business section. Nothing daunted, the citizens at once began to rebuild and today the main street of this pretty little city has on each side of it modern and tastefully built brick structures that would be an adornment to any place. This main thoroughfare, named Macoupin, is 100 feet wide. In the center is the track of the Illinois Traction System, one of the greatest interurban railroads in the world. Early in the summer seasons for the past three years the main street has been sprinkled with oil. The citizens have found this method to be preferable to sprinkling with water and much less expensive.

Population Increases

In 1904 the population of Gillespie was 1,716. The federal census of 1910 gave it 3,075. Shortly after this census was made public, a school census was taken, which increased the number to 3,160.

Largest Mines In The World

The chief industry of Gillespie and the section surrounding it is the mining of coal, and it is said that three of the largest mines in the world are located at this point. They are owned and operated by the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company which places none of its product on the market. It is therefore presumed that this great railroad system uses the coal in the operation of its own rolling stock.

Proposed City Hall

In the spring of 1911 the citizens of Gillespie voted on the proposition of issuing bonds to the extent of $8,000. for the purpose of building a city hall. The proposition carried and bids were made on the structure, but rejected. New plans for the improvement are now being made. The hall will be constructed of brick and two stories in height. Provisions will be made for a council chamber, jail, fire department, and other public conveniences. The city has a volunteer fire department. The paraphernalia consists of a chemical engine and hose carts. Of the police force, there is a marshal and two night patrolmen.

Electric Light Plant

The city is well lighted by an electric plant, built in 1890, by private parties. Frank Edwards of Benld is president of the concern and C. W. Smith, of Gillespie, manager. The city has a continuous service.

Other Features

Gillespie is without a water works, or sewerage system but the city is so prosperous and its people are so energetic and enterprising that it is only a question of a short' time before these necessary utilities will be installed. However, the citizens here take great pride in their sidewalks. Within the last three years there have been laid twenty miles of granitoid walks. Five years ago there were but two blocks of them. In 1897 a commodious and tastefully built two-story frame opera house was erected, with a seating capacity of 350, by H. F. Meinecke and others.

Miners Homes

Gillespie can well pride herself on the appearance and construction of the company homes for miners. One does not see here long, forbidding looking rows of shacks, without any shade trees or other comforts surrounding them. On the contrary, there is a diversity in the appearance of the buildings. Each take on the cottage design, are painted, and really look home like, as they should. In 1910 the Northwestern established repair yards at Gillespie for its coal cars. Here 2,000 cars are used each day in handling coal. That means that many need repairs and seventy-five men are employed in the shops on that work.

Like all other progressive little cities, Gillespie has her societies, chief among which may be mentioned the Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Woodmen, Red Men, Owls, Hibernians, and Foresters. There is a post here of the Grand Army of the Republic, which was once quite strong in its membership, but at this time only five of them answer to the roll call at its meetings.

Financial Institutions

The city of Gillespie has two strong financial concerns in the Gillespie National Bank and the Bank of Gillespie. The first was organized October i, 1905, by H. H. Behrens, H. W. Rice, J. K. McDavid, Marvel Thomas, J. M. Rodiner, G. W. Smith, Sr., P. H. Dorsey, Sr., Thomas Elliman, Edward Lane and others.

H.'H. Behrens was the first president; M. Thomas, vice president; and W. J. Joyce, cashier. The bank was capitalized at $50,000. The present officials are : President, J. M. Rodiner; vice president, Thomas E. Elliman; cashier, H. W. Rice ; assistant cashier, W. E. Cavanaugh. Directors, J. E. Barringer, Joe Querbach, J. P. Querbach, P. H. Dorsey, H. F. Bycroft, Sr., H. W. Rice, J. M. Rodiner, Thomas Elliman, J. K. McDavid.

The Bank of Gillespie was established in 1894 by S. M. Grubbs and E. R. Davis, of Litchfield, under the firm name of Grubbs, Davis & Company. About 1900 Mr. Davis retired and E. I. Miller of the First National Bank of Litchfield assumed his interest in the concern, which then took the title of the Bank of Gillespie. It took the firm name of Grubbs, Miller & Isaacs, the latter gentleman having entered the firm in 1897. In 1906 this company erected its bank building, which was the first new structure put up after the coal industry was established.