THE CITY OF SULLIVAN.
At a meeting of the county commissioners, R. B. Ewing, A. H. Kellar and Andrew Scott, held in March, 1845, at the residence of Dr. William Kellar, it was agreed that the capital of the county of Moultrie should be called Sullivan, thereby connecting the t
wo names which bear historical relations to each other.*
* Fort Moultrie was a fortification constructed by Col. William Moultrie, (afterwards a major-general) on Sullivan's Island, at the mouth of Charleston harbor, where a victory was gained, June 28th, 1776, by the South Carolina troops under
Col. Moultrie over a British fleet commanded by Sir Peter Parker. The city was named from this Island.
At the same time they selected the N. E. 1/4 of the S. E. 1/4 of section 2, T. 13, R. 5, as the site for the new county seat. These forty acres were purchased of Philo Hale, for the sum of $100, by Dr. William Kellar and other prominent citizens, and don
ated by them to the county. This tract was immediately laid off into lots and blocks surveyed and platted by Parnell Hamilton, county surveyor, for which the commissioners ordered that $48 be paid him for his services. The first lots were disposed of at
public auction March 7, 1845. Those around the court-house square brought from twenty to thirty dollars each.
The first house was erected by John Perryman. It was a small one story frame structure, about eighteen feet square, and was located on the corner of Harrison and Van Buren streets, on the now lot occupied by the Maple House. After the completion of this
house, he moved his family into it, in May, 1845, and became the
first resident. Mr. Perryman was circuit clerk, and moved here to attend to his official duties. The next settler was John A. Freeland, then county clerk and recorder. Uncle Johnny, as he is familiarly called, moved a "second-hand log cabin," from Glas
gow, and placed it on the southeast corner of block 17, into which he moved his family July 11, 1845. Joseph Thomason became the third
resident. He erected a frame house on the south-east corner of block 5, and moved his family here in August of the same year. Owen Searny, R. T. Hampton, Thomas Randall and Andrew Scott erected dwellings and settled here late in the summer and fall of 18
45. Isaac Funderburk built a blacksmith shop on the corner of Washington and Water streets, and did the first smithing. Owen Searny, who was a blacksmith, also built a shop late in 1845.
The first business of any kind in the city was a saloon, kept by Joel Earp. The building in which it was conducted stood on the corner opposite the north-east corner of the court house square, now occupied by the brick building owned by Dr. T. Y. Lewis.
Soon after the establishment of this business, W. W. Oglesby
moved a small frame store-house from Glasgow on the lot opposite the south-east corner of the court-house square, where William Elder's brick house now stands. He brought from Decatur a remnant of William Cantrell's store -- general stock, such as is usu
ally found in country stores, and opened it for sale. In the spring of 1846 Amos Prentice opened the second store, with a small stock of
general goods, in an old building that had been moved on a lot just east of Oglesby's store. That summer W. W. Oglesby was succeeded by J. Wilson Ross, who moved the old building away and replaced it with a larger and better one, which he opened with a l
arger and more complete stock. James Elder came from Nelson, and erected a two-story frame residence, with a store-room on the first floor. This was situated on the corner northwest of the courthouse square. He moved his family into the residence part
of the building, and placed a stock of goods in the storeroom. Mr. Elder also kept permanent and transient guests. Late in the fall of 1845, Geo. W. Gwilliams built a small residence and tan-yard, and ran the tanning business for two or three years, an
d then moved away. J. J. and W. L. Haydon erected a business house and residence about 1848. It is a frame building, and is now occupied by C L. Roane. James Elder built a store at an early date, which is on the same lot, and now forms a part of Brockwa
y's store. Homer Gibbs, James W. Vaughan, Dr. Will. Kellar, and others that might be mentioned had we space, built early residences and business houses. The first hotel was erected by Beverly Taylor, on the Titus Opera House lot, in 1847. It was fram
e, two stories high, containing several rooms, neatly furnished. The house was called after its proprietor--the Taylor House. About the same time, John Reese came here, from Shelbyville, and in connection with Jones Hampton, erected a carding machine, w
hich they operated for several years. The first brick business house was erected in the summer and fall of 1860, and is now known as the centennial building.
It was in this city that the Hon. Richard J. Oglesby first hung out his shingle as an attorney-at-law. This was in the year 1845, and he officed with uncle Johnny Freeland. James D. Perryman, son of John and Ann Perryman, was the first child born in th
e city, and John, a young son of the same parents, was the first death that occurred. Drs. William Kellar, L. S. Spore, William B. Duffield, J. Y. Hitt and B. B. Everett, were the early physicians. The post-office was established in 1845, and John Perrym
an was appointed first post-master. The mails were received once in two weeks from Shelbyville, carried by Peter Fleming on horse-back. Those who
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have held the office since, are W. C. Loyd, J. E. Eden, James Elder, W. W. Stanley, and A. Miley, the present incumbent.
Churches.--The first church was erected by the Methodist denomination about 1847 or '48, and the building is now used by D. L. Pifer for a wagon shop. They have since built a new church. The Cumberland Presbyterian, and Christian Churches were bu
ilt about the same time in 1853. They cost about $2,000 each, and are both about the same size, well furnished, neat and comfortable edifices.
Cemetery.--The Sullivan cemetery was originally the private burying-ground of James Elder, and the first person interred there was his daughter Rebecca, wife of Louis J. Berry, in March, 1847. The present grounds
were donated for cemetery purposes by James Elder, Dr. William Kellar, and William Patterson. It contains about four acres, and is situated in the southeast part of the city.
Schools.--The first schoolhouse erected in the city was in the spring of 1846, on lot 2, block 11, at a cost of $85, made up by private subscription. It was a small frame building, 17 x 20 feet in size. John W. Wheat, an attorney who came from Ch
ristian county, taught the first school in the summer of 1846. Schools were conducted in this house until the erection of the brick academy by James S. Freeland, in 1851. Mr. Freeland had organized a class for an academic course, and held his first sessi
on in one of the rooms of the old court-house.
This school flourished until the death of Mr. Freeland, which occurred in 1856, when it ceased to exist. Some years afterward the property was purchased by Elder N. S. Bastion, and had a successful season for about six years, when again its walls relapsed
into silence. In the meantime a two-story brick [building] was erected in the eastern part of the town near the cemetery, through the individual efforts of the members of the Christian church. It was subsequently bought by the district, and used for so
me years, or until the building of the new house, when it was sold and the proceeds placed in the public school treasury. It should be observed that prior to the erection of the new building, the old public school-house was insufficient for the pupils of
the district, hence a portion of the scholars attend a department in the academy provided for by the district. The present building was commenced in 1873, and completed in the fall of 1874. It is three stories besides the basement, and is one hundred a
nd sixty feet from foundation to belfry. It contains six rooms, furnished with the latest and best school furniture, and will accommodate 350 pupils. Its facilities for ventilation are excellent, and it is heated by hot air furnished by a furnace situat
ed in the basement.
Incorporation.--Sullivan was first incorporated under the general law as a village, in the winter of 1850. The records were burned with the courthouse, and we were unable to collect all of the desired information. John A. Freeland, John Perryman
and J. W. Ross were three of the first trustees elected. Charles White was the first constable. The last trustees were T. M. Bushfield, President; W. B. Kilner, Peter Cofer, Milton Tichenor, J. H. Waggoner and J. H. Shockey; E. Hall, clerk.
In the winter of 1872 the place was incorporated as a city, having a mayor and council. Those first elected were -- Victor Thompson, Mayor; James R. Duncan, S. Brightman, A. A. Frederick, W. Kirkwood, B. S. Jennings, William Thuneman, alderman; Edwin Hall
, clerk; A. B. Lee, city attorney; C. L. Roane, treasurer; Washington Linder, city marshal, and T. M. Bushfield, street commissioner. Present officers are -- William Kirkwood, Mayor; J. H. Waggoner, W. P. Corbin, Dr. T. Y. Lewis, James R. Duncan, C. N. Sn
yder, B. S. Jennings, alderman; S. M. Smyser, city attorney; E. Hall, clerk; Dock Patterson, city marshal; C. L. Roane, treasurer. From the beginning Sullivan has had a steady and healthy growth, and with present prospects of new enterprises it is destin
ed to become a city of no mean pretensions, not far in the distant future. The blocks and streets are laid out square with the compass. The streets are wide, well shaded, and have good sidewalks. Situated in the centre of the original plat is the courth
ouse and square, around which cluster the principal business houses of the city. Sullivan, located as it is in the heart of a rich and populous country, with good stores and excellent railroad facilities, commands the trade for many miles around. As a sh
ipping point there are but few places of its size in central Illniois that surpass it.
Press.--The papers now published here are the Sullivan Progress and The Sullivan Journal, both examples of typographical neatness.
Sullivan Woolen Mill.--This factory was erected by Patterson, Jennings & Co. in the fall of 1867, and began operations the following year. It is a brick structure three stories high, with engine-room and dye-house attached. The machinery is what
is technically known as a "one set mill"--40 inch cards--with spinning jack, looms, etc., and has the capacity of manufacturing into fabric 100 pounds of wool per day. It is now owned by Patterson & Jennings, and is under the personal supervision of B. S
. Jennings.
Steam Flouring Mills.--The city boasts of two good flouring mills, one owned and operated by S. H. Morrell, the other by D. S. Lowe. The former is a frame structure, and was built by Garland & Patterson in 1852, and purchased by Mr. Morrell in the
spring of 1859. It has two run of burrs, one for wheat and one for corn. The latter mill is a three-story brick, and was built by Patterson, Snyder & McClelland in 1866. It has three run of burrs, two wheat and one corn, and does considerable business
in the way of foreign shipments.
Elevator.--This building is situated in the western part of the city, near the intersection of the railroads. It was built in 1873 under the auspices of the Sullivan Grain Co. It is a two-story frame building, with a capacity of
storing 10,000 bushels of grain, and can shell and load five cars of corn per day. It is owned and operated by D. F. Bristow.
Plow Manufactory.--This was estabhshed by F. P. Hoke in 1877. It is run by steam and manufactures from three to four hundred plows a year.
Titus Opera House.--Was constructed by J. B. Titus in 1871, at a cost of upwards of $30,000, and is fashioned after Heley's, of Chicago, as it was before the fire. It has a parquet and gallery, nicely frescoed ceiling, a full set of scenery, side
boxes, etc., The whole building is lighted with gas, and has all the conveniences usually found in cities. The house is far ahead of the town, and speaks in tones of unmistakable language of the public spirit of its author, J. B. Titus.
Maple House.--This is a neat, cozy, two-story frame building, owned and conducted by E. L. Shepherd.
Bank.--The first banking business done in Sullivan was by James Elder, in 1868, which he continued until his death, 1870. Other firms came into existence, but passed out of sight. The only banking house in town at this writing is the Merchants' and
Farmers' Bank, conducted by Wm. Elder, son of James Elder.
Physicians.--T. Y. Lewis; A. L. Kellar; S. W. Lucas; A. W. Williams; E. L. Hardin; B. B. Everitt; B. H. Porter; J. A. Dunlap; A. T. Marshal; J. W. Cokenowner; A. W. Leffingwell.
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