i i I m mSgaSSSBfflar? X, K.'«?*- \: ■ ' <*F*tr,i nnanwKU H ill ' ; •■"' tf*i; ■ ■ v".' I ■ -, • '..''■■■/■■' ■B St rafe m flMrjfcj i ■•■'''■' IBs mm ■w MjffiMffi '■'.'■■'■■'■'* 1837 MA SCO UTAH WsmmW •■."'■'".■'■■■ ■ ■ ■ "■ vmmBBR ■fc »■■'.-'• "".v.- ".■ ■ - - ; - ■■ I -j " • ■ >■.-'■■ . v ' '.■"■■'■■■•.'• "■■ , ■."■•■■'• •'-''■. mm. ■■■■■-'• '. '«'''' '■'■■••.. ' . ■■•■•■■■■'--■. HB BH •.■■■•.•:■■ • B - 1 .:+■ I 1^ :*•■'■■-. dRw£ m ■HHMKi£ ■ '■■■-.■ ■I 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. */ -."''■•."'■'-'' ■ I r^t-A' ^.«^..L^ vl^.'^l. ^HH S'-lfev ^' : ■■'•■-■:•• HI aB^s^ ■■'"•' ■*' vSEm i$i Bp • ■SKUBtwVT 2Mp£ 'V" ■. 1 : ■ ^'3Q, ;;•',-.. . 1 1 ;■■';'' ; T*^ifc%£t$ »5HsK*$»2s8» j*uT r^tftHtr' WVf/fta^KlS-n Ml B :< .v ■'■■■ ■■ H^^^^^l IH1 ■■'■ * «£o«V ' ' ■ M • ' ' ' ' ^ ■■'•>■■■'■ ■■■ V •■••■-.- I ■'■■.•.,-■-■: " ■ ■ •■■■,•> ■R1 i^l m vi: - : c' s • « mm MdSH ■ ■■'■ r. ■ ■ ■ Hi 1111 HH ¥mmm 119 •cv ■ HHP , i w>&." BHL