History of Washington, Illinois, Sesquicentennial, 1825-1975
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H 62 9 2 K&) /' ^%t \\' PM •>»'»! rffe -3a^>tS UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGK ILLINOIS HISTORICAL SURVEY The pe- ' spn'i fflSTORY OF WASHINGTON, ILLINOIS SESQUICENTENNIAL 1825—1975 CHAMPAIGN UBRARY U. OF I. URBANA- FOREWORD On the following pages are recorded the most important happenings in the history of Washington, Illinois. The Story of Washington is dedicated to V those who first settled the region and to the people who huilt this tin during the past one hundred-fifty years. This story begins with a small group ofpeople who had foresight; the story is of how an unsettled area one hundredfift}' years ago has been developed into one of the most prosperous small cities in Illinois. The pages that follow contain moments of drama, episodes of mirth, and certainly a veritable flood ofglowing memoriesfor Washington s sons and daughters. The citizens of Washington have always been proud of its many physical assests: e.g. schools, churches, businesses, and homes, but the most prized possession is the friendliness and neighborliness of the people. In acknow- ledging these many assets we must always keep in mind that they are ours because of the Grace of God, and that we are only stewards of our talents and our wealth. Today. Washington is thrusting forward into its dynamic future at an accelerated rate. No longer a little town, it is now a tit}' with unlimited opportunities. The future, in which we have great expectations, will be deter- mined by the foresight, initiative, and combined efforts of all its people. E. Habecker jr.. Mayor ^ o the T early families who settled in the Washington area we dedicate this book siders the small amount of money possessed by those pioneers. The mill consisted of one large wheel, the hub of which was a log of wood eight or ten feet long, hewed eight inches square, set in a perpendicular position, and supported with numerous arms or spokes. The lower end was secured by a pivot, on which it turned, to another timber fastened in the ground, the upper end being secured in like manner to a timber above. The arms or spokes were each supplied with several movable pins and constituted of an adjustable rim upon which the band, made of untanned cow hides cut into strips one and one HISTORY half to two inches wide and rolled into a rope, was stret- ched. The band was attached directly to the trundle-head OF by being wound three times around it — this latter precaution was taken to prevent loss of power by the slip- WASHINGTON ping of the band. The numerous pins in the arms were ILLINOIS used to take up the slack caused by the stretching quality of the band. The horse or horses used were attached to levers framed into the hub. They worked under the arms, which were several feet from the ground. The wheel, when ready for use, resembled an enormous clothes reel first settlement in the Town of Washing- about forty feet in diameter. The belting was done by ton was made in 1825 by William Holland, The flour by this process was a cross be- hand. The produced Sr., who came here from Peoria, then Fort tween the Extra Quadruple X flour of today and ordinary Clark. Prior to his move here, he had built graham flour and, no doubt, was healthy and nutritious. a log house near the present site of the The owner of the mill did not supply the power — the Habecker Funeral Home. He was born in 1780 in North person using it had to furnish the horses. Many persons Carolina and was employed in Peoria by the United came fifty miles to this mill and sometimes had to wait States Government as a blacksmith for the Indians, who two weeks for their grinding. then inhabited this part of Illinois. For several years after settling here, he continued to work for the Indians. In 1834 William Holland, Sr., laid out the original His closest neighbor lived ten miles west. He was a good town of Washington, being the part of the present town neighbor, and they spent many pleasant hours together lying east of Main Street. The first parties to buy these exchanging spicy stories and thrilling incidents of their lots were Joseph Kelso, Sr., and Mr. Wagner, who personal adventures. During William Holland's long and bought three lots each at $1.50 apiece upon a year's eventful life, he was married three times and was the credit. This part of town was heavily timbered, and a father of twenty-one children, fourteen by his first wife great deal of the timber was used in the construction of and seven by his second. He had eighty-two grand- Kelso and Wagner's houses, which they built in 1834. children and fifty great-great grandchildren when he This same year Styles and Titus Hungerford built the old died. Several of his descendants are known to be living in Sherman house on the site of the old City Building. It was this area at the present time. They are: Mrs. Frances later moved to Washington Street. Fish Book, who had three daughters; Mrs. Sylvia In 1826, William Thompson came from Ohio, and Reynolds of Peoria, who had one son; Mrs. Arta Diebel William Weeks and John Redman from Indiana. Ira of Flanagan, who had one son; and Mrs. Phyllis Essig Crosby of New York came and settled on the farm of of Washington, who had one son and one daughter. James R. Crane. George Burrow of Tennessee located on William Holland was also our first mechanic. As such, the Peter Scott farm. William Birkett of Lancaster, he carried on a blacksmith shop for several years and England, came in 1827; James Harvey, Peter Scott, and also repaired guns not only for the white inhabitants but William Heath from Ohio in 1829 and 30; and from this also for the Indians, who were then numerous in this time on. the town grew rapidly. part of the state. One cannot name all of these first settlers, but they The first grist mill was built by William Holland in could foresee the wealth of the land and the timber to 1827. It was on the Holland homestead, west of his build their log cabins. dwelling. It was run by horse-power and was called a William Holland built the first house and improved "band mill". It was the only one in the neighborhood, its the first farm in the vicinity of Washington. The second nearest competitor being located at Elkart Grove, 60 house was built by William Weeks in the Highland Park miles distant. It consisted of one run of burrs which were addition. (This is to the west of Lincoln St.) Both of these in procured Peoria for $60, and it is thought they were were log cabins. The first frame house was built by John manufactured there. These band mills were an in- Lindley and used by him as a store room, his having stitution in those days. They were a cheap, simple con- bought the stock of goods brought to town by Dorsey trivance in fact, but still quite expensive when one con- from St. Louis. — Dorsey was one of the active businessmen connected The first election was held April 16, 1878 and Peter with the growth of Washington. One finds his name Fifer was elected the first mayor. figuring in all its earlier enterprises and connected with The first paper printed in Washington was in 1853 by one of its largest additions. All of these buildings were A. A. Couch and Albert Parker from Peoria and it was erected prior to 1835. called THE WASHINGTON INVESTIGATOR. Traveling was done on foot or horseback, and hauling Excerpts from this newspaper in 1858 taken from our principally on sleds. Some of the more ingenious citizens Washington Library read: constructed a home-made substitute for a wagon by saw- ing wheels out of a log of wood and adjusting them to a New Drug Store rude gearing made with an ordinary chopping ax. Dr. E. Wenger and Co. The manufacture of tinware was first commenced here Have just opened a well selected stock of fresh and pure in 1848 by Charles S. N. Anthony. Before that time tin- Drugs and Medicines stoves, ware, and stove pipes were brought here and sold Chemicals, paints, oils, dye stuffs, fancy toilet articles, by the merchants. window glass, tobacco, snuff and cigars. We have erected a new soda fountain, where the thirsty One of our early banks in Washington was established may call to drink freely, all of which we will sell cheap, — for cash in 1858 under the name of A. G. Danforth and Co., and is the oldest bank in Tazewell County run continuously The first funeral was that of a child of Hansen under the same firm name. On July 1, 1969, this bank Thomas. It was buried in the graveyard on the old became the First National Bank; and on November 11, "Squire Baker" farm (which is thought to be about a 1969, the bank moved from its old location, where the mile northwest of town). Washington Loan now stands, to its new building on South Main Street. The city of Washington celebrated our nation's 100th birthday on July 4, 1876. John W. Dougherty, attorney at law, compiled and read the early history of Washington. The first physician. Dr. R. F. Goodwin of Vermont, located here in 1832. Washington knew Abraham Lincoln as a young lawyer stumping the state as a Senatorial candidate.