Logan County IL Archives History - Books .....Reminiscences 1953 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 31, 2007, 12:43 am Book Title: A History Of Atlanta REMINISCENCES ATLANTA'S DRY-POINT ETCHER Otto Schneider, one of Atlanta's early residents, studied and "drew pictures" in Atlanta's school; and later rose to the top in his chosen profession as a dry-point etcher. After studying abroad, he settled in Chicago, where he established his own portrait studio and did work for the Chicago newspapers and the "Roycrofters" of East Aurora, N. Y. An appreciation of his work, by Booth Tarkington, appears in the October, 1905 issue of the "Metropolitan Magazine," now on file at the Public Library; and a signed sample of his etchings may be seen at the home of Harry Tuttle. A PIONEER IN BUSINESS One of Atlanta's pioneer business men was A. E. Church who established a furniture store in 1857. Being a cabinet maker it fell to his lot, as was customary in those days, to make "coffins" upon request. These were of walnut lumber and varnished, or of pine and covered with black velvet. As none were "carried in stock," each one was "made to measure" and he often worked all night, with someone holding a lamp for him. No other service was rendered by him then—not even a hearse. Neighbors would bathe and dress the body; if a minister was available he would give the funeral sermon and the coffin would be taken to the cemetery in a "lumber wagon" and lowered by lines taken from one of the sets of harness into a grave opened by friends. The cemeteries were not far away, many of them being started as private burial plots by families in the vicinity. After a hearse was bought for local use it visited more than twenty-two cemeteries. When partial embalming came into use the necessary instruments were carried into the home in a small wooden box with a hinged cover. The embalming fluid was carried in a demijohn. (Long after arterial embalmment came into practice, all the necessary equipment was taken into the home, where the preparation of the body was done, almost with out exception, until the first Funeral Home was established in Atlanta in 1928.) Of the 170 "coffins" he furnished in 1865, ninety-nine were for children and babies! In 1850 a child, at birth, had a life expectancy of only thirty-nine years. Today the life expectancy is sixty-seven years. A FARMER IN 1840 The Tuttle family came from Xenia, Ohio to Logan County, Illinois in 1840, and engaged in farming, brick making and sawing hardwood lumber before the Chicago and Alton Railroad was built or Atlanta existed. "Uncle Jimmy" Tuttle used to drive hogs to Pekin, Illinois. On one such occasion he had some of the silver dollars he received in payment for the pigs melted and cast into spoons. Some of these spoons are still in the possession of his descendants. The first school attended by his son "D" was at Roach's Chapel near the Roach Cemetery. The Chapel served as the community building and was the scene of many entertainments and spelling bees, which were probably enjoyed as much as our present day Movies, and at a very small fraction of the cost. Roach's Chapel is no longer standing. MEMOIRS OF JOHN STRONG According to the memoirs of the late John Strong, the friendship of his father, Sylvester Strong, with Abraham Lincoln was one of the most significant of his memories. He mentioned especially the presentation of the cane to Lincoln at the Fourth of July celebration in 1859. John Strong's first earnings were for plowing corn for his uncles with a yoke of oxen and a home-made plow at a "bit" (12 1/2 cents) a day! At that time letter postage was 25c—paid at the post-office upon receipt of the letter, as there were no postage stamps until 1846 and letters were often sent by friends who happened to be travelling to their destination. Wool from their own sheep was taken to Bloomington for carding, and then made into thread on the hand spinning-wheels then in universal use, after which it was knitted into mittens, stockings, etc., or woven into cloth on their own hand looms for making into clothing. In those days it took the combined efforts of the whole family to provide food, fuel, clothing, candles, soap and all the other necessities of living. "CHURCH'S BAND" Church's Band, of Atlanta, was organized about 1903 by George L. Church, popular Undertaker and Furniture Dealer of Atlanta. The members were boys of High School age and several of the older musicians who had former band experience with some of the earlier bands of Atlanta. They held regular rehearsals and were soon playing engagements for the community. Each summer they played a series of concerts on the "Square" in Atlanta, which were partly supported by free-will contributions of the local merchants. They also played for picnics, political rallies, church suppers and many other community affairs. For many years the band secured money for expenses from the proceeds of the annual "Church's Minstrel Show," which always filled "Murphy's Hall" to overflowing. The Atlanta Fair was one of the main attractions for which the band always played. They were usually "reinforced" by two or three "outside" players; and also, for a number of years, by members of the Calahan Dramatic Company band. This troupe played annual "Fair Week" engagements at "Murphy's Hall" and always had a good band with them. Church's Band was not only an integral part of this community, but was well known in surrounding towns; and played many engagements in Armington, Emden, Hartsburg, Lincoln, McLean and Waynesville. The Band carried on for many years, until "Churchie's" sudden death in 1924, after which the band library of music and some of the instruments, which the band owned were given to the Atlanta School Band. [photo of band] Church's Band About 1915 Left to Right: Mark Ellis, Harry Merry, Joe Ash, Glenn Towne, Clifford Hawes, Joe King, Wilbur Hawes, ____ Henshaw, Harry Coons, Murrel Miller, Charlie Lake, Cecil Goose, Clarence Wilmert, Charlie Gipson, Barrett Rogers, Merlin Dowdy, Dean Judy, Albert Dreher, Rolla Williams, Wendell Watt, Louie Thompson, George Church, _____ Corbin, Grant Kinsey, Harry Dreher, Paul Schmidt, ______ Scott, Gus Adams, Harry Watt, Harold Kearney. THE FIRE WHISTLE Many who still remember the shrill fire alarm of the steam whistle at the waterworks plant will read with interest the following description published in the Atlanta Argus in the issue of April 10, 1896: "The City Council has placed a fire alarm on the waterworks that is a holy terror. It carries calamity in its voice, which is a combination of the war whoop of a Comanche Indian and the dying wail of a stuck pig. It is to be hoped that there will be little necessity for its use." THE COAL MINE Atlanta had visions of a major industry, when in 1867 a company was formed for the purpose of sinking a coal shaft. The boring for coal began Nov. 26 of that year and a good vein of coal was reached at a depth of 245 feet. Owing, however, to the great difficulty experienced in keeping out the water of the underground lake, the project, after repeated efforts, was abandoned. THE FOURTH OF JULY RIOT The Fourth of July riot of 1889 is one of the unpleasant affairs in Atlanta's history. A baseball game, near the Atlanta Fair grounds, broke up in a heated argument and later, when the crowds returned to town, rioting began on the city square. The adherents of Atlanta and Lincoln fought an all sides of the square, and tragedy was averted only when the revolver of policeman Henry Dillon failed to function when he pulled the trigger while he had it pointed at one of the rioters. The disturbance subsided when the evening train came in and Lincoln people boarded it to return home. Additional Comments: Extracted from: A HISTORY OF ATLANTA 1853-1953 Prepared by Citizens of Atlanta As a Part of the Observance of the Centennial, June 11,12 and 13,1953 THE PUBLICATION IS SPONSORED BY THE ATLANTA WOMAN'S CLUB Atlanta, Illinois 1953 Published By The Stewart - Pinks Publishing Co. 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