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1831 . MASCOUTAH » 1937 
 
 "As Time Goes On 
 
 5 ? 
 
 WRITTEN • DESIGNED • DIRECTED 
 BY W ILLARD FR-IEDERICH 
 
 Mascoutah Public School Grounds 
 August 8th and 9th, 1937 
 
 REV. A. W. HOELSCHER J. D. MOLLMAN 
 
 Pageant Chairman Chm. Centennial Committee 
 
IHANK YOU 
 
 The Centennial Commission wishes to extend its warmest apprecia- 
 tion to all those loyal citizens who in any way contributed to the staging 
 of this production, whether through the donation of time and service, 
 talent, costumes, properties, or general support. The finished product 
 stands as a symbol of their efforts; without them it could not have- 
 been done. 
 
 Mascoutdh ""HH^ Publishing Co. 
 

 PREFACE 
 
 
 
 History is the recounting- of the major events in the lives of human beings. 
 It tells when and where a thing- happened, and it tells how a thing- happened. 
 But usually, it does rot tell why a thing happened. The reason for this is per- 
 fectly obvious. In the first place, the how, when, and wherefore of an event 
 is well known. Tiiis information is all grouped under that accurate but often- 
 times dull heading, 'Facts". On the other hand, to know why the action ocurred 
 is not so much to inquire into fact but rather to inquire into the inner motives 
 of the men who figured in the action. It is not factual but spiritual. Therefore, 
 of necessity, it lends itself to personal interpretation, and accordingly is not 
 accurate enough for history. 
 
 In collecting material for the writing of this drama covering the 100 years 
 of Mascoutah's existence, I have found it to fall into two categories: (1) that 
 which lends itself to dramatic reproduction on the stage, and (2) that which 
 does noi. Material of the latter type was, of course, discarded at once as im- 
 practicable. Upon careful consideration, the first type of material, or that which 
 could be produced, was found usually to lack the conflict and vigor which is so 
 necessary to dramatic production. There was that acute lack of the human 
 quality which made it sound so very true but so very unmoving. The further 
 impossibility of authentically representing real characters did not help the 
 problem any. It was, therefore, the most advisable procedure to discard this 
 material also. 
 
 The following plan was then adopted: — To present the history of a purely 
 fictitious family and show how the history of Mascoutah and the United States 
 might have affected it. Consequently, the characters are all imaginary, and no 
 resemblance between them and real people was intended. The situations which 
 they themselves create are also unreal. The time and actual historical events 
 used, are, however, as perfectly true and authentic as the information I was 
 able to obtain. 
 
 It has been my endeavor to show how this city might have influenced — and 
 probably did — the lives or" people living in it. I have been concerned not so 
 much with what happened, but rather why I think it happened. This production 
 is therefore dedicated to that spirit of romance and adventure which mad^ men 
 and women pioneers — and shall always make men and women pioneers, no mat 
 ter what age they live in. If your imagination is stimulated a trifle to think a 
 bit about what may have gone on behind the scenes of history in this e'ty, 
 tins production will have done all it was intended to do. 
 
 — The Author 
 
SYNOPSIS - "AS TIME GOES ON" 
 
 "As Time Goes On" has its beginning one June afternoon in 1837 in the 
 camp of the Maseoutans on the Great River. The chief is bargaining with 
 White Star, Chief of the Tamaroans of Turkey Hill, for the marriage of his 
 daughter, Tahasee, to White Star. Before an agreement can be reached the 
 news of the arrival of the white traders from Fort St. Louis down the river, 
 puts the camp into instant pandemonium. The traders find an eager group 
 awaiting them. 
 
 Among the traders is a young man who automatically becomes the leader 
 of the group — Jack Barrows. He suddenly sees the Princess Tahasee for the 
 first time and engages her in conversation. She very naively discloses that 
 she does not wish to marry White Star, because she has fallen in love with 
 Jack himself en one of his earlier visits there. Making a spur-of-the-moment 
 decision, Jack decides he will marry her in spite of the mixture of races and 
 the opposition from old Chief Mascoutah. After successfully repelling an 
 attack by White Star, Jack and Tahasee leave the camp for Mechanicsburg. 
 The old Chief calls the curse of the Great Spirit down upon his disobedient 
 daughter and disowns her forever, as the entire tribe joins in the Death 
 Lament for the death of their Princess. 
 
 Nineteen years later finds the tiny settlement of Mechanicsburg grown 
 into a fair sized town. The townspeople, under the guidance of Barrows, have 
 called a meeting for the following day, July 1, 1856, to see about incorporating 
 it as a town. The interest shown is very favorable until a sharp agitator, Jasper 
 Johnson, comes from Belleville and stirs up trouble. Faced by the crowd, he 
 and Jack have a show-down and Johnson is cleverly defeated. He is taken 
 over by the townspeople, who plan to run him, out. But due to sympathy from 
 a few, he escapes them and comes back to Jack. He begins a voluntary quarrel. 
 In the fight that ensues, Tahasee endeavors to shield Barrows and is accident- 
 ally shot herself. 
 
 By the time the Civil War breaks in 1862, Jack Barrows is a man of about 
 45. He has been married again and his two daughters by Tahasee — Jane and 
 Meredith, are 12 and 15 years of age. Jane, the younger, is greatly thrilled over 
 her father's appointment to Gen. Grant's staff, but Meredith dreads the thought 
 of losing her father. His commission finally arrives through Commodore Foote 
 in St. Louis, and he prepares to leave at once. It is the first of a series of pain- 
 ful goodbyes to Meredith Barrows. 
 
 In 1898, we find her a woman of 51 with a son, Gordon, of about 25. TIk- war 
 with Spain has been carried from Cuba to Manilla, and need for enlistments are 
 getting more urgent all the time. Jane Barrow's son, Pdchard, arrives from New 
 York enroute to California and the Philippines, and adroitly talks the level- 
 headed Gordon into leaving his mother and sweetheart, Janice Lawn, and going 
 with him. 
 
 Upon Gordon's return, he and Janice patch up the break his going caused, 
 and are married. In October, 1918, we find them a middle aged couple, who have 
 a son themselves of about 19 years of age. Harley thinks he should join the 
 army, but his mother dreads the separation. She calls in his grandmother, old 
 Meredith Barrows Haymer, but even she cannot change his mind. The final 
 stroke comes when a Liberty Loan Team comes to Mascoutah and gives a pro- 
 gram on the street corner. Harley makes the break oil family ties and leaves 
 with the Team for the War Office. 
 
 The present finds the fifth in the line of Chief Mascoutah's descendents, 
 young Meredith Haymer, celebrating her engagement to Brian Webber of New 
 York. To them comes old Meredith Haymer, now over 90, to wish them well. At 
 first her rather dreary views of the future, based on her past experiences, damp- 
 en the youthful ardors of young Meredith. But eventually, youth's optimism 
 comes to the fore, and Meredith and Brian voice their steadfast belief in the 
 future — the visicn of a perfect city in a wiser and kinder world. 
 
ACT I - IKE BEGINNING 
 SCENE I - INDIAN PERIOD 
 
 Time — June, 1837 
 Place — The camp of Chief Mascoutah near the Great River 
 
 CASE - <AS YOU MEET THEM) 
 
 CHIEF MASCOUTAH, chief of the Mascoutans 
 
 TAHASEE, his daughter 
 
 HANAWATEE, an Indian Squaw 
 
 WHITE STAR, chief of the Tamaroans 
 
 MANUTAH, an Indian Runner 
 
 JACK BARROWS, a fur trader 
 
 CY LAWTON, his partner 
 
 RUFE KING, silent partner of the firm 
 
 Elmer Doebert 
 
 Cathrine Helen Pfeifer 
 
 Helen Harding 
 
 Robert Jackson 
 
 Eugene Weaver 
 
 Roland Heyde 
 
 John Heinlein 
 
 August Joellenbeck 
 
 Marcella Heyde 
 Marcella Rist 
 Luanne Pfeifer 
 Patty Lill 
 Dorothy Lill 
 Opal Siebe 
 
 INDIAN CHORUS 
 
 Mona Hassebrock 
 Maxine Siebe 
 Ellen Plesetz 
 Hazel Beimfohr 
 Marie Fett 
 Miriam Scheel 
 
 Marcella Moll 
 Josephine Moll 
 Rita Diekemper 
 Lucille Hommel 
 Marie Welker 
 Mildred Muehlhauser 
 
 SOLO DANCER — Helen Waggoner 
 
 MUSICAL NUMBERS 
 
 "Indian Dawn" 
 "Indian Spring Song" 
 "Indian Love Call" 
 "Farewell, My People" 
 "Indian Death Lament" 
 
 Choir and Chorus 
 
 Tahasee 
 
 Jack Barrows 
 
 Tahasee 
 
 Choir and Chorus 
 
ACT I - SCENE II 
 INCORPORATION PERIOD 
 
 Time — June 30, 1856 
 A Street in Mascoutah 
 
 CAST - (AS YOU MEET THEM) 
 
 MRS. KURT, a resident of Mascoutah 
 
 MRS. HILFMEISTER, her friend 
 
 JAKE ROTHBAUM, the town's bachelor 
 
 MRS. GRAILLEY, the town's gossip 
 
 JACK BARROWS, - 
 
 TAHASEE BARROWS - 
 
 CY LAWTON, _____ 
 
 RUFE KING, ----- 
 
 JASPER JOHNSON, land owner from Belleville 
 
 Clara Hertz 
 
 Marcella Pfiefer 
 
 Peter Lischer 
 
 Marietta Reed 
 
 Roland Heyde 
 
 Catherine Pfeifer 
 
 John Heinlein 
 
 August Joellenbeck 
 
 Otto Scharth 
 
 Karl Freivogel 
 Oliver Etling 
 Frederic Hoerdt 
 Delbert Hoercher 
 
 TOWNSPEOPLE 
 
 Byron Wente 
 Harlan Mueller 
 Robert Jackson 
 Elmer Doebert 
 Stanley Schubkegel 
 
 Allan Liebig 
 Richard Reinhardt 
 Tom Walthes 
 Eugene Weaver 
 
 MUSICAL NUMBERS 
 
 Harmony numbers _ _ _ 
 
 "In the Evening by the Moonlight" 
 "I've Been Workin' on the Railroad" 
 "Oh! Susanna" 
 "Cornfield Medley" 
 "The Old Gray Mare" 
 "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot 
 
 "Im Wald und auf der Heide" 
 
 Townspeople 
 
 Guitar players 
 "Indian Spring Song" 
 
 jJake Rothbaum 
 /Mrs. Hilfmeister 
 John Brower and son 
 Jack Barrows 
 
ACT II - PERIOD OF THE WARS 
 SCENE I - THE CIVIL WAR 
 
 Place 
 
 Time — Early Spring, 1862 
 The porch of Jack Barrows' home in Mascoutah 
 
 CAST • (AS YOU MEET THEM) 
 
 JANE BARROWS, Jack's youngest daughter 
 
 MEREDITH, her sister - 
 
 AUNT SARAH, Ruth Barrow's sister 
 
 BILLIE AMES, boy next door 
 
 JACK BARROWS, 
 
 A UNION SOLDIER, from Com. Foote in St. Louis 
 
 Jane Frazier 
 
 Betty Mae Phillips 
 
 Marcella I^eyde 
 
 Delbert Hoercher 
 
 Roland Heyde 
 
 Oliver Etling 
 
 Charlotte Boiler 
 Jeanette Benz 
 Lucy Jane Cluck 
 Dorothy Schilling 
 
 BELLES OF THE 60s 
 
 Virginia Frazier 
 Frances Brower 
 Alys Boman 
 Joyce Stahlheber 
 
 June Imol Heinlein 
 Eileen Clements 
 Fay Schragg 
 Marguerite Leibrock 
 
 SOLOIST — Pearl Dick 
 SOLO DANCER — Helen Waggoner 
 
 MUSICAL NUMBERS 
 
 "A Heart That's Free" 
 "Battle Hymn of Republic" 
 "Tenting Tonight" 
 "John Brown's Body" 
 
 Pearl Dick 
 
 Jane 
 
 Jane and Billie 
 
 Jane and Billie 
 
 "I'll be With You When the Roses Bloom Again" - Jane 
 "Sweet Genevieve" - Jane, Billie and Meredith 
 
 "How Can I Leave Thee" - - Jack Barrows 
 
ACT II - SCENE II 
 SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR 
 
 Time — Summer, 1898 
 Place — Same as Scene I, Act II 
 
 CAST - (AS YOU MEET THEM) 
 
 MEREDITH BARROWS HAYMER, - - Betty Mae Phillips 
 
 GORDON HAYMER, her son Tom Walthes 
 
 GREGORY HAYMER, her husband - - Stanley Schubkegel 
 
 JANICE LAWN, a neighbor girl - - - Lucille Ayres 
 
 RICHARD AMES, Jane Barrow's son from the East - Allan Liebig 
 
 'GAY NINETIES" CHORUS 
 
 Augusta Schubkegel Beatrice Etling Leona Kebel 
 
 Mildred Grauel Luanne Pfeifer Mary Swain 
 
 Violet Hund Dorothy Lill Aretta Sanders 
 
 Patty Lill 
 
 SOLOIST — Willard Friederich 
 
 MUSICAL NUMBERS 
 
 "Lazy Moon" - - - Willard Friederich 
 
 "You Are the Rose of My Heart" - - Gordon 
 
 "Elegie" -..__. Janice 
 
 "In the Time of Roses" - Choir 
 
ACT II -SCENE III 
 THE WORLD WAR 
 
 Time — October, 1918 
 Place — Same as Scene I, Act II 
 
 CASE -(AS YOU MEET THEM) 
 
 GORDON HAYMER, 
 
 JANICE LAWN HAYMER, his wife 
 
 MEREDITH HAYMER, 
 
 HARLEY HAYMER, Meredith's grandson 
 
 CLAIRE ST. JOHN, Harley's fiancee 
 
 Tom Walthes 
 
 Lucille Ayres 
 
 Betty Mae Phillips 
 
 Fredric Hoerdt 
 
 Virginia Cluck 
 
 RECRUITING COMMITTEE 
 
 SPEAKER, 
 
 JOE COLLINS, song leader 
 MARIE PARKER, entertainer 
 CHARLIE APIN, comedy song man 
 
 Richard Reinhardt 
 
 Wallace Karstens 
 
 Louise Harding 
 
 George Whitecotton 
 
 Roland Heyde 
 Stanley Schubkegel 
 Delbert Hoercher 
 Oliver Etling 
 Robert Jackson 
 Elmer Doebert 
 
 TOWNSPEOPLE 
 
 Allan Liebig 
 Peter Lischer 
 August Joellenbeck 
 John Heinlein 
 Eugene Weaver 
 Harlan Mueller 
 
 Byron Wente 
 Marcella Heyde 
 Marcella Pfeifer 
 Clara Hertz 
 Elvira Bopp 
 Jane Frazier 
 
 MUSICAL NUMBERS 
 
 "Goodbye Broadway, Hello France 
 
 "My Buddy" 
 
 "Darktown Strutter's Ball" 
 
 "K-K-K-Katie" - 
 
 "'Til We Meet Again" 
 
 "I Love Thee" - 
 
 "Over There" - 
 
 Townspeople 
 
 Joe Collins 
 
 Marie Parker 
 
 Charlie Apin 
 
 Harley 
 
 Claire 
 
 Choir 
 
ACT III 
 
 NEW BEGINNING 
 
 Time — The Present 
 Place — Same as Scene I, Act II 
 
 CASI - (AS YOU MEET THEM) 
 
 TRIO, 
 
 Jeanette Benz, Marguerite Leibrock, Charlotte Boiler 
 
 HARLEY HAYMER, ...... 
 
 SOLO DANCER, 
 
 CLAIRE ST. JOHN HAYMER, Harley's wife 
 
 MEREDITH HAYMER, their daughter 
 
 BRIAN WEBBER, her fiance 
 
 OLD MEREDITH HAYMER, 
 
 Fredric Hoerdt 
 
 Helen Waggoner 
 
 Virginia Cluck 
 
 Marietta Reed 
 
 Karl Freivogel 
 
 Betty Mae Phillips 
 
 1937 CHORUS 
 
 Louise Monken 
 Marie Stoffel 
 Ophelia Mueth 
 Kathryn Kilian 
 
 Elvira Stein 
 Cathrine Pfeifer 
 Mary Dolenc 
 Ruth Bramstedt 
 
 Elma Cleland 
 Patricia Faul 
 Eileen Clements 
 Wilma Wendler 
 
 PARTY GUESTS 
 
 Harlan Mueller 
 George Whitecotton 
 Byron Wente 
 Eugene Weaver 
 
 Boyce Garvin. 
 Roland Heyde 
 Stanley Schubkegel 
 Oliver Etling 
 
 Elmer Doebert 
 Allan Liebig 
 Richard Reinhardt 
 Tom Walthes 
 
 MUSICAL NUMBERS 
 
 "Stardust" 
 "At Dawning' 
 Finale 
 
 Trio 
 
 Brian 
 
 Entire Company 
 
ORCHESTRA 
 
 Directed by Arthur Benz 
 
 Piano — Anna L. Montag 
 
 Violins — Grenard Mueller, Julius Stoffel, Cathrine Pfeifer 
 Twyla Schmitz 
 
 Trumpets — Adolph Bieser, Robert Stoffel 
 Cello — Virginia Frazier 
 Clarinet — Roland Dagit 
 Bass Violin — Edgar Dagit 
 Trombone — L. C. Cannon 
 Drums — Arthur Jacobs 
 
 CHOIR OF FIFTY VOICES 
 
 Directed by Miss Pearl Dick 
 
 Including all women in the cast plus the following 
 
 Celestine Jung Mrs. L. W. Groennert 
 
 Mary Louise Bene Mrs. Albert Stein 
 
 Alma F. Wombacher Mrs. Wm. Stahl 
 
 Marguerite Laquet Mrs. Alma Menzi 
 
 Miss Louisa Liebig Miss Pauline Lischer 
 
 Mrs. R. F. Lischer Miss Bertha C. Stein 
 
 Mrs. Hy. Mueller Mrs. Oscar Weaver 
 
 PIANIST — Ada Weil 
 VIOLINIST — Twyla Schmitz 
 
ITTEES 
 
 CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE 
 
 City of Mascoutah 
 
 Raymond Pfeifer 
 Herman Rieger 
 Louis Reinhardt 
 William Weber 
 Albert Meyer 
 Louis Grcennert 
 E. H. Kilian 
 
 Mascoutah Commercial Club 
 
 W. C. Freivogel 
 J. D. Mollman 
 Rev. A. W. Hoelscher 
 Erwin Mann 
 A. L. A. Moll 
 Earl Wente 
 Homer Stahl 
 Henry Bene 
 
 LIGHTS 
 
 Casper Leibrock, Chr. 
 
 AMPLIFYING 
 
 Wallace Harpstrite, Chr. 
 
 TICKETS 
 
 Curt Dauber 
 
 PARADE 
 
 Erwin Mann 
 
 STAGE CONSTRUCTION 
 August Joellenbeck, Chr. 
 
 ADVERTISING 
 
 Philip Kammann, Chr. 
 
 SEATING 
 A. L. A. 
 
 Moll, Chr. 
 
 HISTORY ARRANGEMENT 
 
 Anna L. Montag 
 
 STAGE DECORATION 
 Mrs. Roland Heyde, Chr. 
 
 COM. FOR SCENE I, ACT I 
 Miss Pauline Lischer, Chr. 
 Mrs. Harold Stout 
 Mrs. L. C. Cannon 
 Miss Louise Liebig 
 Mrs. H. Lill 
 Mrs. E. A. Karstens 
 
 COM. FOR SCENE II, ACT I 
 Mrs. Wm. Kolar, Chr. 
 Miss Alma Wombacher 
 Miss Anne Biskar 
 Mrs. Fred Bergheger 
 Mrs. John Klopmeyer 
 
 COM. FOR SCENE I, ACT II 
 Miss Edna Richter, Chr. 
 Mrs. Frank Boman 
 Mrs. Hermine Kolar 
 Mrs. O. H. Harding 
 Mrs. John Malacarne 
 Miss Adelia Moll 
 
 COM. FOR SCENE II, ACT II 
 Mrs. Alma Menzi, Chr. 
 Mrs. Hy. Mueller 
 Miss Irene Ohl 
 Mrs. Elma Brookman 
 
 COM. FOR SCENE III, ACT 1L 
 
 Mrs. Oscar Weaver, Chr. 
 Mrs. Chas. Klingel 
 Mrs. Irwin Lembke 
 Mrs. Guy Morgan 
 Mrs. Christina Krausz 
 
 COM. FOR ACT III 
 
 Mrs. Earl Wente, Chr. 
 Mrs. Abby Klees 
 Mrs. Chester Pitt 
 Mrs. Leroy Perrottet 
 Mrs. Stewart Legendre 
 Mrs. Jewel Singleton 
 
 COSTUMES 
 
 Mrs. Alvin Kolb, Chr. 
 Miss Helen Kilian 
 Mrs. John Beatty 
 Mrs. E. Friederich 
 Miss Celestine Legendre 
 Mrs. Wm. Stahl 
 Mrs. Martin Moeller 
 Mrs. J. W. Donner 
 Mrs. Aug. Joellenbeck 
 Miss Cathrine Pfeifer 
 Miss Florence Moeller 
 
 SECRETARY — Miss Cathrine Helen Pfeifer 
 
 Chorus costumes made by W.P.A. Sewing Project No. 7171 of St. Clair 
 Co. Miss Ora Smith, cutter 
 
 Advertising Float supervised by Robert Jackson 
 
PARADE LINE-UP 
 
 FATHER TIME 
 
 INDIANS ON HORSEBACK 
 
 LIFE IN THE INDIAN CAMP — Bethel M. E. Church 
 
 WAR COUNCIL OF THE INDIAN CHI EFS — Masons and Eastern Star 
 
 THE COMING OF THE WHITE MAN — Woodland Grange 
 
 PIONEERS ON HORSEBACK 
 
 THE COVERED WAGON 
 
 PIONEER LIFE — Parent-Teachers Ass'n. 
 
 PETER CARTWRIGHT, THE CIRCUIT RIDER 
 
 MECHANICSBURG SAWMILL AND POSTOFFICE, 1837 — Holy 
 Childhood Church 
 
 MECHANICSBURG BECOMES MASCOUTAH, 1839 — Moose Lodge 
 
 PONY RIDDEN MAIL 
 
 THE FIRST CHURCH, 1842 — Rotary Club 
 
 DUETCHES SCHULE VEREIN, 1842 — School Districts 17 and 18 
 
 INCORPORATION OF MASCOUTAH, 1856 — City of Mascoutah 
 
 CIVIL WAR PERIOD, 1862 — Rebekahs and Odd Fellows 
 
 SOCIETY OF THE 60's — Senior Woman's Club 
 
 COUNTRY DOCTOR 
 
 FIRST RAILROAD, 1870 — Teamster's Union 
 
 CYCLONE OF 1896 — Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church 
 
 WAR WITH SPAIN, 1898 — M.C.H.S. Alumni Association 
 
 SOCIETY OF THE NINETIES — St. John Ev. Church 
 
 FIRST AUTOMOBILE — Commercial Club 
 
 WORLD WAR, 1917 — American Legion and Auxiliary 
 
 WOMAN'S SUFFRAGE, 1920 — Junior Woman's Club 
 
 "AS TIME GOES ON" — Commercial Club 
 
100 YEARS AGO 
 
 OR . .HOW MASGOUTAH HAD IIS STAR! 
 
 (Condensed From the "Early History of Mascoutah' 
 By Attorney Peter W. Lill) 
 
 BEGINNING 
 
 In the survey of the plat of 1814, the Township had about one- 
 third timber, the balance shown as prairie. The prairie was about one- 
 half overgrown with thickets of young trees and shrubbery, the re- 
 mainder open prairie. There were ponds scattered throughout the 
 prairie, the last of these being drained and cultivated on the Kuehn 
 farm in Section 26 and 36, in 1872. 
 
 In 1830 a revolution was begun in southern Germany, agitated by 
 the students of Heidelberg University, its graduates and friends. When 
 about to meet with success, they were quieted on the arrival of Prus- 
 sian soldiers. As the local governments became stronger, the persecu- 
 tion became more oppressive and a large number of followers fled. In 
 1831 Theodore Hilgard, Jr., was sent by his family and friends to 
 America on a trip of inspection to find a suitable location. He finally 
 arrived at Belleville, and found conditions satisfactory, and 
 bought an improved farm located north of the present Highway No. 15, 
 midway between Belleville and Mascoutah. He returned to Germany 
 and in 1832 came back to this country with his family, his brothers 
 Frederick and Edward, who were both bachelors, and a number of 
 highly educated "Lateiners", friends of the family. Among them were 
 Dr. Berkelmann, George Bunsen, Theodore J. Krafft, Gustavus Heim- 
 berger and August Conradi, the latter a Swiss. They were all young 
 men and kept "bachelors roost" on the farm for a number of years. 
 Prior to 1837, Berkelmann and Krafft went to Belleville and Bunsen 
 to the north part of Shiloh Valley, later to Belleville. In 1833-34, they 
 were followed by others, some locating in Shiloh Valley, in Belleville 
 and St. Louis. A reliable report states that in 1837 Shiloh Valley had 
 400 souls, and of these 160 were German. 
 
 In 1831 came John Knobeloch from Hesse Darmstadt on a trip of 
 inspection. He bought a well-improved farm about two miles west of 
 Mascoutah, north of State Highway No. 15. He returned to Germany and 
 in 1832 came back with his brothers Balthaser, Thomas and George, 
 and other friends. With them came George Reinhardt, his wife and 
 son George, who located north of the City Cemetery. They were the first 
 German settlers east of Silver Creek. In 1833-34 came a number of 
 friends of Knobeloch, who located on Turkey Hill. 
 
 At the beginning of 1836, the town plats filed were Belleville 
 (1814), Illinoistown, now East St. Louis, (1817), and Lebanon (1825). 
 Town plats not filed were Cahokia and Prairie du Pond, a hamlet hear 
 Cahokia. 
 
 In 1836-37 there was a craze in laying out towns, those platted in 
 1836 being Urbana, now Freeburg, Athens, now New Athens, Tamarawa 
 on the west bank of the Okaw river, south of New Athens, now vacated, 
 and Jefferson on the west bank of the Okaw River, where the present 
 Jefferson road in Engelmann township if travelled east will cross the 
 river, the town also now vacated. In 1837, the towns platted were 
 
HOW MASCOUTAH HAD ITS START 
 
 Centerville, now Millstadt, Fayetteville and Mechanicsburg, now 
 Mascoutah. 
 
 MECHANICSBURG 
 
 The town of Mechanicsburg, now Mascoutah, was laid out on a 
 te.i-acre tract of land in the southwest corner of the Northwest quarter 
 of Section No. 32, Town One, North Range 6 West, St. Clair County, 
 Illinois. This northwest quarter (160 acres) was entered by Hugh Gil- 
 breath on December 18th, 1816, and entered in the land book May 26th, 
 
 1817. Hugh, James and John Gilbreath, sons of Hugh Gilbreath, and 
 their wive? sold this quarter section and more land September 6th, 
 
 1818, to Edward Mitchell for $8,000.00. February 10th, 1836, Edward 
 Mitchell conveyed this quarter section to his son Samuel Mitchell, Jr., 
 for $100.00 and love and affection. Samuel Mitchell, Jr., sold this 
 ten-acre tract of land, the town site of the intended town of Enterprise, 
 to John Flanagan and Theodore J. Crafft. This was an error in spelling, 
 the name should have been Krafft. The deed was dated June 2nd, 1836 
 and recorded May 16th, 1837. It was recorded in Book I, at page 174. 
 The deed had been held in escrow. The town plat of the Town of Me- 
 chanicsburg, dated April 6th, 1837, was filed for record May 6th, 1837. 
 At that time, the date of filing and recording the town plat was the 
 lawful date establishing the town. 
 
 The ten-acre tract of land is more fully described as commencing 
 the .survey thereof at a stone in the northwest corner of Lot No. 18, 
 Block 3, Eisenmayer's first addition to the Town of Mascoutah, it being 
 the southeast corner of Railway avenue and South street, thence run- 
 ning north along the section line between Sections 31 and 32, the east 
 side of Railway avenue, a distance of 660 feet, bringing it two feet in 
 the alley north of Main street, thence east 660 feet to Lebanon street, 
 thence south 660 feet along the south side of South street, thence west, 
 to the place of beginning. The streets from east to west were South 
 street (40 feet wide), Main, now State street (54 feet wide), and Mill, 
 now Main street (40 feet wide). This left two feet north of blocks 1 and 
 2, now part of the alley, through the center, north and south Market 
 street (60 feet wide), leaving nothing for Schmahl street, now Railway 
 avenue, on the west, nor for Lebanon street on the east. 
 
 Samuel Mitchell, Jr., laid out and platted the town of Enterprise, 
 plat not filed, the site being the ten-acre tract, the site of the original 
 town of Mechanicsburg, now Mascoutah. The St. Louis and Shawnee- 
 town Mail Route passed on its south end. Mitchell erected a 14x16 foot 
 log cabin one block south of Main street, between Railway avenue and 
 Market street. It was the first building in Mascoutah. 
 
 The ever increasing number of Germans arriving in the county 
 caused Frederick Hilgard, Gustavus Heimberger and Augustus Conradi, 
 the latter a Swiss, and their friends to project a town to attract them 
 and Mechanicsburg was the result. They induced John Flanagan and 
 Theodore J. Krafft, the latter a former bachelor mate, to buy from 
 Samuel Mitchell, Jr., the Enterprise town site together with his saw 
 mill. 
 
 The foregoing may be taken as the time, June 2nd, 1836, when the 
 first steps were taken to establish the Town of Mechanicsburg, also the 
 time when the contract was made with Samuel Mitchell, Jr., for the 
 removal of his saw mill, located south of State Highway No. 15, on the 
 
100 YEARS AGO 
 
 OR 
 
 southeast quarter of Section No. 29, Shiloh Valley, now the Moser 
 farm, to the town site. 
 
 There was some progress made in 1836. The building of the 14x16 
 foot leg cabin and other improvements on the mill lot, the erection of 
 a one-room, one-story frame building on lot No. 37, also the establishing 
 of the Mechanicsburg post office September 28th, 1836, with Robert 
 D. Brewington as its postmaster. 
 
 None of the land adjoining the town site was improved or occu- 
 pied. Flanagan and Krafft did not own any land adjoining the town. 
 North, east and west was owned by Samuel Mitchell, Jr., and south by 
 John H. Gay. Neither of them seemed to have faith in the growth of 
 the town, made no additions nor ever owned any lot in town. They 
 also did not improve nor cultivate their land. In 1836, there was no land 
 in cultivation nor a building within one and one-half mile of the town 
 site, except a hut, the present location of the home premises of Ph. 
 H. Postel, on south Railway avenue, occupied by Dixon, a hunter and 
 trapper, who soon removed to the Silver Creek Bottom, later left 
 and nothing farther is known of him. 
 
 The promoters knew that the competition for trade would be keen. 
 The thriving village of Lebanon on the north, had two daily mails, 
 Jefferson about five and a half miles south and Fayetteville would soon 
 have a ferry across the Okaw river, saw mill and merchants, and 
 
 Urbana, now Freeburg, drew the trade 
 from Turkey Hill. Added to this was the 
 prejudice of the American settlers, the old 
 Hession hatred. The Americans in the 
 northern part of the township and around 
 Lebanon did not tolerate Germans amongst 
 them, this being shown as late as 1850. It 
 would be a hard task for the enterprise 
 to be a success, so their only interest was 
 to dispose of their town lots. 
 
 Early conveyances by Flanagan and 
 Kraft included the following: March 20th, 
 1837, to Conradi & Co., five lots, later sev- 
 en more. Augustus Conradi, Frederick Hil- 
 gard and Gustavus Heimberger formed a 
 partnership under the firm name of Con- 
 radi & Co. Lots were also conveyed to Theodoer Hilgard, Jr., Edward 
 Hilgard, Fred L. Engelmann, Gustave Koerner and Fred Kempff, who 
 did not improve them. The second conveyance and the first of record 
 was made April 28th, 1837, being Lot No. 37, the southwest corner of 
 State and Lebanon street to F. B. Marshall, who in 1836 had taken 
 possesion of said lot, and erected a one-story frame building thereon 
 for a store and the post office. May 18th, 1837, they conveyed to Con- 
 radi & Co., the mill site, Lot 13, all of Block No. 3, with the appurten- 
 ances thereto belonging. 
 
 Conradi & Co., as soon as they held the title to the mill plant, be- 
 gan operating the mills. In 1839 they added a corn grist mill. The mem- 
 bers of the firm could not do the necessary work, so had to hire help. 
 The small trade did not cover expenses. This and the lack of harmony 
 among the partners caused the dissolution of the firm and on Septem- 
 ber 7th, 1839, Conradi and Heimberger sold their interest to Hilgard. 
 
 In 1838, there were few buildings in the town, erected on Main 
 now State street. As mentioned before, the first building on the town 
 
HOW MASCOUTAH HAD ITS START 
 
 site was the 14x16 foot log cabin erected on the mill lot, which was 
 soon followed by a one-story frame, erected for a store and the post 
 office. Conradi & Co., built a one-story frame mercantile building on 
 Lot No. 20, the northwest corner of Main, now State, and Lebanon 
 street. In September, 1840, Ausby Fike, a merchant at Jefferson, re- 
 moved his building and store from Jefferson to Mascoutah and erected 
 the building on Lot No. 1, the northwest corner of Mill, now Main, and 
 Lebanon street. In 1854, Julius Scheve, the then owner, cut the build- 
 ing into two parts, removing one to the west side of the lots, the other, 
 16x18 feet, being removed to East Patterson street, now the west part 
 of the Oscar Frlederich residence, 415 East Patterson street. 
 
 Robert Dashiell Brewington, the first postmaster of Mechanicsburg, 
 now Mascoutah, was born in 1808, in Maryland. In 1836 he came west 
 to St. Louis, where he met F. B. Marshall, a merchant at Jefferson, who 
 employed him. Marshall wanted a post office closer than Belleville, 15 
 mile:; away. The location of Jefferson did not justify one. The closest 
 point was in Mechanicsburg on the St. Louis and Shawneetown Mail 
 Route. He was the prime mover in establishing the Mechanicsburg 
 post office and the appointing of Robert D. Brewington its first post- 
 master. During the time of getting the postoffice, Marshall erected a 
 one-story frame building on Lot No. 37, Original Town, at the south- 
 west corner of State and Lebanon street, stocked it with merchandise 
 z.nd had. Brewington its manager and the post office located there. Aug- 
 ust A. Conradi, his successor, was appointed postmaster July 26th, 1837. 
 Brewington returned to Maryland, where he married and with his bride 
 came west, locating at or near Bowling Green, Pike county, Missouri, 
 iater moving to Hannibal, Mo. 
 
 CHANGE OF NAME FROM MECHANICSBURG TO MASCOUTAH 
 
 The post office department decreed that there be not more thai' 
 one post office of the same name in any one state. Illinois having two 
 named Mechanicsburg, one in Sangamon county and one in St. Clair 
 county. The one in Sangamon county established in 1832, being the first, 
 retained its name. The postmaster at Mechanicsburg, now Mascoutah, 
 was notified of the decree and directed to change its name. John Hay, the 
 then Circuit Clerk, was the first to suggest the name of Mascoutah and 
 on August 6th, 1838, Mechanicsburg post office was changed to Mascou- 
 tah. August F. Conradi was reappointed August 6th, 1838. John Hay 
 took the name Mascoutah from an Indian tribe, whose name was Mas- 
 cou-tah. 
 
 A peculiar fact is that when the name of the town was changed by 
 an Act of the General Assembly, dated December 1st, 1838, the Act 
 
 read, " shall be and is hereby changed to that of Muscautah, by 
 
 which latter name it shall be known and called in all public records 
 
 and all legal transactions ". This Act was passed on February 
 
 16th, 1839, and approved on Februray 19th, 1839. The inhabitants of 
 the town did not follow the name of "Muscautah," but used the name 
 of its post office, Mascoutah. February 4th, 1857, the town was incor- 
 porated and in its charter it is named Mascoutah. 
 
 On July 13th, 1840, Frederick Hilgard sold the mill lot and more 
 to Conrad Eisenmayer and Philip H. Eisenmayer. Before adjusting all 
 his affairs, he became disgusted with the conditions in America and 
 left for Germany, where he died, leaving the settlement of his affairs 
 to his friends. 
 
100 YEARS AGO 
 
 OR 
 
 fe«a#fe 
 
 Augustus Conradi, naturalized in. 1839, having left Mascoutah, we 
 learned that he lost his life in the Mexican War. His widow, Louisa 
 Conradi, in 1854, erected, a two-story brick mercantile building at the 
 northeast corner of Main and Jefferson street, occupying it with her 
 brother, Zeno Buerki, as a bakery and confectionery. In 1863, she sold 
 it and acquired the one-story brick building now 217 East Main street 
 where she died in 1870. 
 
 Gustavus Heimberger, naturalized in 1838, was of a roving nature. 
 He left Mascoutah for Cuba, later turning up in Central America. Dur- 
 ing the Mexican War, he was interpreter for General Shields. He lost 
 his left arm in battle. In 1856 he returned to Belleville, where he died 
 in 1858. He left his wife, nee Lafontaine, and son, Rudolph W. Heim- 
 berger, late of Fayetteville. The latter was born December 29th, 1838, 
 known as the first child born in Mascoutah. 
 Others claim that Louis Hauck, a prominent 
 lawyer and railroad builder, late of Cape 
 Giraradeau, Mo., was the first. I find Hauck 
 was born in Mascoutah April 1st, 1840, and 
 died at Elm Wood, Cape Girardeau county, 
 Mo., February 17th, 1925. 
 
 The saw and grist mills, the nucleus 
 around which the town grew, is important 
 in its history. Conrad and Philip H. Eisen- 
 mayer took charge of the mills. With them 
 came Conrad Eisenmayer's wife and sister, 
 the late Mrs. Philip H. Postel, and friends 
 from Horse Prairie, near Red Bud, Monroe 
 county, 111. The women lived and slept in the 
 14x16 foot log cabin, without a floor, attic, 
 kitchen or cellar. They did their cooking 
 without a stove and with few utensils 
 outside the building. The men slept in the mill. They had plenty of food, 
 principally corn meal, pork and game. All were young people and were 
 contented. 
 
 In 1840 the town of Jefferson lost its saw mill by fire, with no 
 hope:; of having it rebuilt. The merchants disposed of their stock of 
 merchandise and the buildings were either removed or wrecked. The 
 town site was vacated. The loss of this competition, and gaining the 
 «ood will of the Americans, soon brought trade and kept the Eisenmay- 
 ers busy. In November, 1841, Philip H. Postel entered the firm. In 
 1842 the grist mill was improved by adding machinery to grind wheat 
 for flour. This increased their trade and kept them busy sawing lumber 
 during the day and grinding grain at night. The firm bought a water 
 mill near Red Bud, Conrad Eisenmayer operating the same. Lack of 
 water proved its failure and it was sold at a loss. During this decade 
 1840-50, Conrad and Philip H. Eisenmayer retired from the firm and 
 Andrew Eisenmayer entered, the firm now being Postel & Eisenmayer. 
 At the end of the decade, this firm began the erection of a flour mill 
 at the southwest corner of Schmahl, now Railway avenue, and Main 
 street, the present Postel Mills. 
 
 American farmers and landowners sold their land, some moving 
 west, others either sold or rented their farms and located in town, 
 building and occupying dwellings. Of these there were 17 on Jefferson 
 street in four blocks north of Main street, and seven on Independence 
 street, all erected by Americans. 
 
 In 1856, when they became owners of the flour mill, they were 
 
 and did their washing 
 
HOW MASCOUTAH HAD ITS START 
 
 at their highest control and led in financial, political, official and busi- 
 ness affairs. After this, they gradually lost out, the Germans by their 
 thrift and economy, accumulated wealth and bought their interests and 
 they began to leave the town. Philip H. Postel got back into the mill 
 firm in 1867, became sole owner in 1877 and turned it over to the Ph. 
 H. Postel Milling Co. in 1886. 
 
 The first brick building in Mascoutah was erected in 1845, at the 
 northeast corner of Main and Market street, by Charles Coester and 
 Julius Scheve. It had thirty feet front on Main street and extending 
 about fifty feet on Market street, with twenty feet for store and ten 
 feet for storage room. This was rebuilt with a two-story mansard roof, 
 making it three stories. The store remained as originally built, later 
 being wrecked to make room for the Hagist Department Store. The 
 next brick building was a one-story dwelling, 105 E. Main, which was 
 also wrecked later to make an addition to the Hagist store. 
 
 Mill, now Main street, between Schmahl street, now Railway ave- 
 nue, and Lebanon street, became its business section. Most of the early 
 merchants were Americans, the first Ausby Fike. Others soon followed, 
 of these a few Germans holding small stock. The demand being small, 
 a wagon load would stock the store. Goods were bought in St. Louis and 
 hauled by ox team, taking two days for a round trip. 
 
 Oi the American farmers who sold their farms, many moved near 
 to Warrensburg, Marshall and Clinton, Missouri. They wanted to get 
 away from the malaria-infected country and get rid of the fever, also 
 to get cheaper land. Others made their home in town. The younger 
 generation began to locate in town. 
 
 In 1814, Lorenz Leibrock, father of the late Dr. George Leibrock, 
 came with his family to Mascoutah. He bought an improved farm, pay- 
 ing for the farm and personal property, $2,800. The same year the 
 Richter and Friederich families and others came to Mascoutah, crossing 
 the river at St. Louis on the ferry boat from Third street and landing 
 on the bluffs. 
 
 In 1849-50, the cholera epidemic, which spread over this country, 
 was dreadful in this community. Some say four, others as high as seven 
 deaths occurred in a day. Four is the reliable number given. There was 
 no public cemetery at or near the town, the closest being the Fike ceme- 
 tery in the northwest part of Section No. 27, where most of the burials 
 were made. This cemetery was used by the community until 1853, when 
 burials were first made in the public cemetery on South Dietz, now 
 2nd. street. 
 
 1850-60. During this decade the town had a building and business 
 boom. The Crimean War took place during this time. A great part of 
 the foodstuff required by the English, French and Turkish armies in 
 their preparations and during the war, was shipped from New Orleans. 
 With a plank road, built in 1853, to Belleville and a railroad, 1854, and 
 macadam road from there to St. Louis, gave the mill and farmers a 
 good road to trade in St. Louis market. This brought prosperity to the 
 town and farmers. The mill plant was enlarged and improved its cap- 
 acity. The flour was packed in barrels and shipped to St. Louis. This 
 made a demand for coopers and teamsters. Buildings were erected all 
 over town, most of them two and three-room dwellings. Three three- 
 fct»ry buildings were built on East Main street, Nos. 5, 11-13 and 8-10, 
 and twenty-two two-story brick, six of them wrecked, the remainder 
 now in 1937, standing. 
 
 The Town of Mascoutah was incorporated February 4th, 1857, date 
 
100 YEARS AGO 
 
 given by the Illinois State Library. February 19th, 1857, was the date 
 when the act was approved by the Governor. A meeting of the citizens 
 was called to be held at the Fike school house, now 205 N. Jefferson 
 street, on July 1st, 1856, the object being to incorporate the town. Re- 
 sult, for incorporation 36 votes, against 12 votes. Pursuant to the elec- 
 tion of said meeting, an election was held July 8th, 1856, at the Union 
 Hall, public building west of the present city hall, to elect five trustees. 
 Alex Ross, Max Scheel, Christian Scheurer, John Peter Fries and A. J. 
 McNail, were duly elected. On July 25th, 1856, the board organized by 
 electing Alex Ross, president and H. C. Fike, clerk. A number of elec- 
 tions were held from September, 1866, to April, 1883, to organize a city. 
 The town was divided into two wards, Railway avenue being the divid- 
 ing line. 
 
 For nineteen years, 1838 to 1857, the inhabitants of the town, in 
 their transactions where the name of the town was required, followed 
 the name of the post office, Mascoutah, and not the lawful name of 
 Muscautah. 
 
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