Crawford County IL Archives History - Books .....Chapter XI Robinson Village 1883
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Book Title: HISTORY OF CRAWFORD AND CLARK COUNTIES, ILLINOIS

CHAPTER  XI.*
*By J.H. Battle.

ROBINSON VILLAGE—THE STAR OF EMPIRE—A NEW TOWN LAID OUT—FIRST PLAT AND
SUBSEQUENT ADDITIONS—EARLY DEVELOPMENT—GROWTH OF BUSINESS INTERESTS—THE RAILROAD
IMPETUS—SCHOOLS, CHURCHES AND BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES—CEMETERIES, ETC., ETC.

THE geographical location of Palestine made the eventual removal of the county
seat td a more central site a foregone conclusion from the very first. But,
while this fact was recognized by all, the influence of Palestine interests was
bent to delay the inevitable change to the last possible moment. The rapid
development of York and Hutsonville soon made them active rivals for the
metropolitan honors of the county and foolishly jealous of the prestige of the
favored town. As the settlement of the county advanced and communities grew up
in the northern and western parts, the long, tedious journeys required to
transact public business created an increasing demand that the change should be
made as early as possible. There was no reasonable ground on which either of the
other prominent towns could hope to succeed to official honors, but the removal,
it was thought, would seriously cripple the commercial importance of their
rival. This agitation was not expressed in any combined action until 1843. At
this time Hebron had become quite an important inland center, and acting as a
cats-paw for Hutsonville, the initiatory steps for the removal were started in
these villages, and the matter brought before the people for decision. The first
vote was on the question of removal, which was decided affirmatively. An
election was then called to choose the site. The act authorizing the removal
required a donation of forty acres which should be platted, the sale of which
should provide the means for the erection of public buildings. Offers of the
requisite land were made on the site of the present village, at Hebron and at a
site five miles southwest of the present village of Robinson. In the election
which followed, beside these localities, the site on the farm of W. S. Emmons,
the geographical center of the county, Hutsonville and Palestine received votes,
but without a sufficient preponderance to make a choice. A second election was
then called to decide between the Robinson site and P. C. Barlow's site, in
which the former proved successful.

   The site thus chosen was the judicious selection of the whole people
uninfluenced by partisan considerations. It was situated at the central point of
the dividing line between sections 33 and 34 in town 7 north, range 12 west. The
east "eighty" was owned by William Willson, the southwest "forty" by Finley
Paull and Robt. C. Wilson, and the northwest "forty" by John W. Wilson, ten
acres from the converging corners of each section forming the donation for the
village. The forty acres thus constituted were prairie land partially covered
with a heavy undergrowth of brush with here and there a large tree, and skirted
with considerable heavy timber. It was an eligible site in every way, and for
the purposes of a county seat was probably the best site in the county, though
there were but two cabins in the vicinity of the proposed town at that time.
William B. Baker, the official surveyor, under the instructions of the
commissioners at once set about platting the new village, and on December 25,
1843, presented the result of his labors for record, with the following concise
description: "The size of the lots in the town of Robinson is sixty-five feet
front, east and west, and 130 feet long. The public square is 260 feet north and
south and 240 feet, east and west. The streets each side of the square (east and
west sides) are fifty feet broad. The main streets through the center of the
town each way, are eighty feet, and all the rest are sixty feet, save the border
streets on the outside of the lots which are forty feet." The lines are run by
the cardinal points of the compass, the plat fronting the north. The streets
running east and west, beginning at the south side are Chestnut, Locust, Main,
Walnut and Cherry; at right angles with these, beginning on the east, are
Howard, Franklin, Court street, Marshall, Cheapside, Jefferson and Lincoln.
Court street and Cheapside are short thoroughfares which define the public
square and connect Main and Locust streets. Marshall street ends at the central
entrance on the north side of the square, its projection on the south side being
called Broadway. The plat was thus divided into fourteen regular and three
irregular sized blocks aggregating 120 blocks. Robinson, thus evoked out of the
wilderness, was simply a "fiat" town. It represented no commercial advantages,
served no speculative purpose, and awakened no animated interest in its success.
It is believed by some that lots were offered at public sale early in 1844, but
this is probably a mistake, or the result was deemed unworthy of record. The
property was not the kind which would find ready purchasers at fair figures, as
few whose profession or official duties did not require their presence would
care to leave more important business centers for any inducements this site
could offer. The earliest record of the purchase of lots is dated December 3,
1844, when Francis Waldrop bought lots No. 77 and 78, for $45.75. The second
purchase was made by Wm. B. Baker and consisted of lots No. 101 to 108, both
inclusive, lots 69, 70, 71, 72 and 80, paying $300 for them. There is no further
record until December, 1846, when W. H. Starrett bought lot 74 for $22.50;
Waldrop bought lot 56, for $30, and Leonard D. Cullom bought lots 79, 81 and 82,
for $41. In 1847, in September and December, lots 22, 23 and 24 were purchased
by Wm. and Thomas Barbee for $33; lot 98 by D. A. Bailey for $25; lot 75 by Wm.
Brown for $25; lot 54 by Mary Johns for $20; lot 99 by Anna Longnecker for $15;
lot 67 by Wm. Young for $12.12; and lots 41 and 42 by George C. Fitch for $30.
In the following year about a dozen lots were disposed of at prices ranging from
$11 to $25. Robert and Henry Weaver, David Lillie and J. M. Grimes appearing
among the names of purchasers. These names indicate the early accessions to the
community though there were others here who seem to have bought land at
second-hand or occupied a building site some time before purchasing.

   The first building erected was a small frame structure on the site of
Collin's exchange store. This was put up by James Weaver and was subsequently
moved to the northeast corner of Marshall and Main streets, where it served as
kitchen to a large two-story log hotel built on that corner. This building still
serves as a dwelling in the northwest part of the town. The vacant frame
building now standing on the northwest corner of Locust street and Cheapside is
the second structure erected in the village. This was built by Francis Waldrop
in the spring of 1844, and united store and dwelling under one roof. The kitchen
part afforded quarters for one of the earliest sessions of the Commissioners'
Court. Some time during this year Mr. Waldrop put in a small stock of goods
which was bought privately at Hutsonville. A third building was the residence of
W. B. Baker. This was a building constructed of peeled hickory logs and situated
in the grove just southeast of the plat, where the residence of Mr. Hill now
stands. The grove substantially as it now stands, was secured by purchase of the
lots above mentioned and the balance from Wilson, the original owner of that
section. Baker soon closed up that part of the streets that passed through his
property, a summary proceeding which has since received the doubtful sanction of
a legislative act. The brick residence occupies the point where the south and
east border streets met. About this time the contractor on the court house put
up a log building and moved his family here for a temporary residence. This
comprised the village community of Robinson in the fall of 1845, when it
received its first professional accession in Judge Kobb, who was then practicing
medicine. He built a log building about eighteen feet square on the site of
Charles Hill's present residence, which placed him just outside the precincts of
the rising city. It will hardly be surprising that forty acres should prove
sufficient to contain the village, at this rate of increase for some fifteen
years. It is questionable whether the crowded condition of things even then
demanded an addition, but it is evidence of growth that in 1858 Asa Ayers did
plat twelve lots between Marshall and Franklin streets, adjoining the northern
line of the original plat. In 1865 an estimate of the population in the village
placed it at less than four hundred, but there was evidence of slow but steady
growth, and in 1867 William C. Dickson's addition of twenty lots, and Robb's
first addition of twenty-four lots, were made.

In 1870 Robert Morrison added sixteen lots, and four years later Watts' addition
of twenty lots was made. In 1875 a new element was added to the situation. The
agitation of the question of railroads materialized and gave such an impetus to
the development of the new town that property holders on the eastern side of the
village, catching the infection, vied with each other in platting their lands.
In this year ninety-three lots were added in seven "additions." In the following
year seven more additions, aggregating 193 lots, were made, and in 1877, seventy
more were added in three parcels. In 1878, two additions aggregating
twenty-seven lots, were made, and a final one, in 1881, of thirty-six lots.

   Until 1866, the destiny of the village was guided by the justice of the
peace, the constable and road supervisor. Some few attempts at internal
improvements had been made but nothing approaching a systematic effort. Early in
this year a meeting of the voters of the village was called at the court house,
at which it was decided by a nearly unanimous voice to take the legal steps to
incorporate the village under the general law. On the 2d day of March, E.
Callahan, Thos. Barbee, Thos. Sims, D. D. Fowler and A. P. Woodworth were
elected trustees, who met on the following day and organized by electing Thos.
Barbee, president, J. C. Olwin, clerk, Joseph Kent, constable, and Thos. Sims,
treasurer. At an adjourned meeting the usual list of ordinances were adopted,
the first of which defines the limits of the corporation as follows: "Commencing
at the southeast corner of the west half of section thirty-four, in town 7
north, of range 12 west, and running thence north one mile, thence west one
mile, thence south one mile, thence east one mile to the place of beginning."
The limits thus established have proven sufficient, without subsequent
extension, to include the growth of the village to this time. By this original
code of municipal laws, litter and obstructions upon the sidewalks were
forbidden, and the sale of liquor as a beverage, public business on the Sabbath,
gambling, etc., tabooed. The more immediate effect of the new order of things
was seen in the building of sidewalks. In 1868 property holders about the public
square were required to lay brick or plank walks, and in other parts of town
where there was most demand. In 1875, when the railroad infused new life into
every department of society, the town board rose to the importance of the
occasion and appropriated a thousand dollars for this purpose. In the following
year 50,000 feet of lumber was bought and another thousand dollars appropriated,
and this spirit of enterprise has been maintained until there are few villages
of the size of Robinson that are so well pro-vided with broad, well made walks.
The streets have been under the direction of a road master, and upon them have
been expended each year the "poll-tax labor" of the village with some tangible
result. Road making material is scarce in thfs vicinity, and but little more has
been done than to carefully turnpike the streets. Some gravel has been used on
the streets about the square but only with the effect to modify the depthless
mud that mars the streets of this village during the spring time. Recently some
effort looking toward the lighting of the streets has been made, though so far
no definite action has been taken.

   Another subject which is the perennial source of agitation in the villages of
Illinois, and which devolves especial responsibility upon the authorities that
be, is the regulation of the sale of liquor. The attitude of the first board of
trustees undoubtedly expressed the prevalent sentiment of the community in
restricting the sale of "ardent spirits" to simply the demands for mechanical,
medicinal or sacramental purposes. But the minority upon this subject, by
constant pressure of specious arguments, soon effected a change in the public
policy. In 1870 license was granted for the sale of liquor in unlimited
quantities, the vendor, with exception of druggists, to pay three hundred
dollars and give an indemnifying bond. In the following year the whole liquor
traffic was taken out of the hands of regular dealers and the somewhat novel
plan of appointing agents to sell only for "mechanical, medicinal and
sacramental purposes." This plan seems hardly to have been well considered
before initiated, and the board soon found itself involved in the most
perplexing maze of evasions and technicalities, and in very despair the whole
scheme was abolished in 1874, and the regular "no license" plan again adopted.
Since then the subject has alternated from one extreme to the other, the license
fee reaching as high as $1,200 on the statute book, but without occasion of
enforcing it. It stands now at eight hundred dollars and a substantial bond to
insure the liquor seller's compliance with the terms of his contract. Even at
this figure the traffic is such that three saloons find inducement to carry on
the business here.

   A late outgrowth of enterprise rather than demand of the village, is the fire
department. In the early part of 1881, the propriety of securing a hook and
ladder apparatus was brought up and carried forward with commendable spirit to a
successful issue. Rubber-pails were added to the outfit, a company organized and
a suitable building erected at a total cost of some five hundred dollars. Early
in the following year a hand engine for which the city of Vincennes had no
further use was purchased and added to the department. There has been no
occasion yet to demonstrate the efficacy of the fire department, nor is its
complete organization strongly vouched for, but it has had a formal institution
and will doubtless develop with the occasion for its service.

   There was but little to attract business to the newly laid out town of
Robinson, and Waldrop for a time monopolized the trade. In the course of a year
or two, however, Maginley set up an opposition store, and Felix Hacket opened a
saloon, or grocery where whisky was the principal stock in trade, in a log
building on the east side of the square. Barbee and Brown were also among the
first log store merchants, doing business near the center of the east side of
the square. In 1853 brick business houses began to appear. In this year John
Dixon, who began trade in Robinson about 1849, put up the first brick store
building in the village on the corner of Main and Marshall streets, which is now
used by Griffith as a shoe store. In the following year Thomas Barbee, who had
"kept hotel" on Marshall street, a block or two north of Main, built the
Robinson House, which is now the principal hostelry of the town. In the same
fall Woodworth and Lagow began the erection of the brick building occupying the
southeast corner of Main and Court streets, finishing it in the following
spring. These buildings were a little later followed by the erection of the
Masonic Building, and just before the completion of the railroad, what is known
as the Southside Block was erected. This block consists of six two-storied brick
buildings seventy feet deep and twenty in width outside of three stairways and
halls on the second floor of four feet each. The construction of this block was
first conceived by Judge W. C. Jones, who erected two of the buildings, A. H.
Jones the third, Jones and Maxwell a fourth, A. O. Maxwell the fifth, and Mrs.
Callahan the sixth. The influence of the new railroad was at its height, and
although its old-time competitors proclaimed Robinson "finished," A. H. Waldrop,
then owner of the Robinson House, commenced the erection of a large two-story
brick addition in the rear of the hotel at once. In the same season the Robinson
Bank and the storehouse of E. E. Murray & Co., both two-story bricks of 20x70
feet, were erected, followed in the succeeding season by two more buildings of
the same size, erected by J. H. Wood, which closed up the vacant ground on the
east side of the square from the Masonic building to the Woodworth buildings.
The same season John Hill & Son erected a two-story building on the corner east
of the square, extending from Douglas to Jefferson street. In the meantime,
beside these structures for business purposes, several fine and substantial
residences were erected at a cost of from six to ten thousand dollars. In 1878
the block of brick buildings north of the square was erected, and in the
following year J. U. Grace erected an addition on the west side of the Robinson
House, 18 by 110 feet, the lower story for a place of business and the upper to
furnish additional rooms for the hotel.

   About the same time with Dixon, the Lagows started a branch of their
Palestine store in Robinson, which in 1853 was conducted by the firm of
Woodworth and Lagow. Barbee and Jolly began business here about 1855, but
continued for only a year or two when they closed up with an assignment, their
liabilities being principally to eastern merchants and reaching a very
considerable amount. On the death of Dixon about 1855, the Preston Brothers, a
heavy business firm of Hutsonville with stores in a half dozen places in Clark
and Crawford Counties and elsewhere, established a branch house in Robinson,
occupying the Dixon building. This firm with that of Woodworth and Lagow were
the largest business houses here at that time and until the coming of the
railroad attracted a large and peculiar trade. There was but little money in the
country until 1861 or 2 and business was conducted almost entirely without it.
Goods were sold on a year's credit and in the fall the merchants bought all the
grain, hogs or cattle for sale. Each firm had warehouses and packing houses on
the Wabash, beside a farm fitted for the purpose of feeding stock. In the
spring, grain, pork and cattle were shipped by the river to New Orleans.
Considerable quantities of grain were taken in and stored at Robinson until the
hard road of the winter afforded an opportunity of hauling it to the river. One
of these firms made a practice of buying horses in the fall, securing the most
of them on accounts due them for goods. These were assorted, the inferior stock
traded off, and the better ones got in good condition and sent down the river in
the spring to market. Thus to insure success in business here, the merchant
found it necessary to combine the qualities of a good stock speculator as well
as those of a storekeeper, a failure in either branch proving disastrous to the
business. The operations of these business houses took a remarkable range, the
Preston Brothers maintaining one partner whose whole time and attention was
occupied with these outside affairs.

   The coming of railroad facilities wrought a speedy revolution in business
circles. The abundance of currency set afloat by the Government during the war
had nearly done away with the prevailing system of barter and thus curtailed the
profits with the extent of the operations of the old time trade. The old firms
gradually passed away with the old customs, giving place to others of a younger
generation. But there has been no permanent contraction of business on account
of this change. The large operations of the few have been divided among the
number who have succeeded and the business of the village has largely expanded.
The coming of the Paris and Danville road, gave Robinson a decided advantage
over its competitors for the trade of the county, but the subsequent
construction of the "narrow gauge railroad," rather restored the equilibrium,
and the " county seat," while still far in the lead, finds the competition in
the grain trade, at least, one of considerable importance.

   A number of mills—saw, grist and planing mills—constitute most of the
manufacturing industries of the town. The large brick flouring mill was built by
Brown, Sims & Waldrop, and is now used by John Newton and Dyer's estate. The
Junction mills, owned by Collins & Kirk, was built by William C. Shafer. The
saw-mill near the Junction mills was built by Brigham and Wilson, and is now
owned by Reinoehl & Co. Near it is the Robinson machine shop and foundry, put up
about a year ago, by Ogden & Martin. It is not running at present. The planing
mill of Wiseman & Brubaker is located near the Wabash depot. It was originally
built by Wesley Fields. A planing mill stands near the narrow guage depot, owned
by Otey & Sons. School furniture is manufactured at this mill. A few other
manufacturing enterprises are in contemplation, but have not yet resulted in
anything definite.

   The educational facilities of Robinson are confined to the public schools.
The early history of education in the village is not dissimilar to that of other
early settlements. The first school is supposed to have been taught in a log
building about 1848, by Wm. Grimes. The court house was used several years for
school purposes. The town has now a very good, comfortable school house— a
two-story frame building, but not adequate to accommodate the growing wants of
the "young ideas," and a large building must soon take the place of the one now
in use.

   The regular attendance of the Robinson public school is over three hundred
pupils. Prof. S. G. Murray, an excellent teacher, is principal; D. G. Murray,
teacher of grammar department; other teachers, W. G. Hale, Miss Mary Firman and
Mrs. Flora B. Lane.

   The Methodist Episcopal Church organization is the oldest church in Robinson,
and dates back into the "forties." Of its earliest history we obtained no
reliable data, and can .give but a brief sketch of it. The elegant and tasteful
brick church edifice was built in 1866, at a cost of more than $5,000. The
membership is large and flourishing, and is under the pastorate of Rev. Mr.
Massey. A good Sunday school, of which John Maxwell is superintendent, is
maintained during the entire year.

   The Presbyterian Church, the sketch of which is taken from the Argus, was
organized originally, October 28, 1848, with sixteen members, chiefly from the
Palestine church. Under this organization it had a brief existence, and the
members dissolved and returned to the old church. On the 8th of November, 1872,
Rev. Thomas Spencer and Elder Finley Paull renewed the organization as the
"First Presbyterian Church of Robinson." The first elders were Wm. C. Wilson,
John H. Wilkin and Rufus R. Lull; the first minister, Rev. Aaron Thompson. He
was succeeded by Rev. Thomas Spencer and he by Rev. John E. Carson, all of whom
have been stated supply. No church building has been erected by the society, but
they used the Methodist church. They own a parsonage which cost $1,000, but are
at present without a pastor.

   The Christian Church was organized in Robinson in the spring of 1876, and
among the original members were N. S. Brown and wife, M. C. Shepherd, Mrs. Mary
Callahan, Hickman Henderson, and Jas. M. Gardner and wife. The organization of
the church resulted from a meeting of several days' duration held in the court
house by Elder A. D. Daily, of Terre Haute. Some fifteen or twenty additions
were made to the membership during the meeting. Elder Daily visited the church
once a month for a year or more. The next minister was Elder I. G. Tomlinson, of
Indianapolis, who preached here once a month. The church was built about a year
after the society was organized, N. S. Brown, Mrs. Callahan, H. Henderson and M.
C. Shepherd being the principal movers toward the building of it. It was
completed and dedicated in the summer of 1882 by Prof. R. T. Brown, of
Indianapolis. There are at present about one hundred members, and they are
without a pastor. A Sunday school is maintained.

   Robinson Mission Catholic Church was established in 1882 by Father Kuhlmann,
of Marshall, with a strength of about fifteen families. The church building was
erected the same year, at a cost of $700, and was dedicated by Rev. Father
Kuhlmann, who has been the only rector, administering to the congregation once a
month.

   The secret and benevolent institutions of Robinson come in regular course
next to the Christian churches. They do as much good in their way as the
churches themselves. And the best men in the country do not deem it beneath
their dignity to lend their assistance and countenance to these institutions.
The Masonic fraternity has been represented here by a lodge and a chapter.

   Robinson Lodge, No. 250, A., F. & A. M., was organized in 1856, and the
charter signed by J. H. Hibbard, grand master, and H. G. Reynolds, grand
secretary. The charter members were John T. Cox, Daniel Perrine, Joseph H. Huls,
Irvine Heustis, J. M. Alexander, J. C. Ruddell, John D. Smith and Charles
Meilley. John T. Cox was the first master; Daniel Perrine, senior warden; J. H.
Huls, junior warden; D. M. Mail, treasurer, and Irvine Heustis, secretary. The
present officers are: T. S. Price, master; H. B. Lutes senior warden; W. P.
Stiles, junior warden; J. C. Evans, treasurer, and M. C. Mills, sec'y.

   Robinson R. A. Chapter No. 149 was organized December 1, 1871, and among its
charter members were J. M. Jarrett, John Newton, A. J. Haskett, C. M. Patton,
Wm. C. Wilson, Wm. Dyer, Geo. W. Harper, Wm. C. Jones, E. Callahan, S. Midkiff,
S. Taylor, J. L. Cox, I. D. Mail, W. F. Fleck, J. O. Steel, etc. The first
officers were J. M. Jarrett, H. P.; John Newton, K.; A. J. Haskett, S.; C. M.
Patton, C. of H.; Wm. C. Wilson, P. J.; Wm. Dyer, R. A. C; Wm. C. Jones, S.
Midkiff and W. H. Fleck, G. M. of V.; Samson Taylor, treasurer; E. Callahan,
secretary, and G. W. Harper, tiler. To the shame of the fraternity be it said,
they have let the chapter die out, and the charter has been surrendered to the
grand chapter.

   Crawford Lodge, No. 124, I. O. O. F., was instituted in 1855, with the»
following charter members: Wm. C. Wilson, Wm. Barbee, A. W. Gordon, S. H. Decius
and James S. Barbee. The first officers were W. C. Wilson, N. G.; Wm. Barbee, V.
G., and James S. Barbee, secretary. It died out, but was resuscitated again in a
few years. The present officers are T. S. Price, N. G.; A. B. Houston, V. G.;
George Kessler, treasurer, and G. W. Henderson, secretary.

   Robinson Lodge, No. 1744, Knights of Honor, was organized in August, 1880,
and among its charter members are Peter Walker, C. H. Grube, J. P. Murphy, M. C.
Mills, T. S. Price, A. H. Waldrop, J. C. Olwin, A. B. Houston, Zalmon Ruddell,
I. L. Firebaugh, Geo. N. Parker and others. The present officers are George W.
Harper, P. D.; W. N. Willis, D.; P. Walker, reporter; Sol Moers, financial
reporter, and J. C. Olwin, treasurer.


Additional Comments:
Extracted From:

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD AND CLARK COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
EDITED BY WILLIAM HENRY PERRIN.

ILLUSTRATED

CHICAGO: O. L. BASKIN & CO., HISTORICAL PUBLISHERS,
LAKESIDE BUILDING.
1883.

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