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Knox County ILGenWeb |
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"Altona was laid out in 1854, by heirs of John Thompson, and called La Pier. In the same year, an addition was laid out by Daniel Allen, and E. B. Main. In 1863, the name was changed to Altona. This Town is situated on a beautiful, high prairie, with a very rich Agricultural country surrounding it. It has many fine improvements both public and private. Its trade is good, and every years adds to its growth and wealth." From the 1886 Portrait and Biographical Album of Knox County, Biographical Publishing Company, Chicago. [Submitted by Pat Thomas.] This thriving little town is situated in about the center of Walnut Grove Township, on sections 15 and 16. It was laid out by John Platt for the heirs of John Thompson, in 1854, and was then called La Pier, the plat containing 80 acres. Daniel Allen and E. B. Main made an addition the same year of 28 acres, which lay north of the first plat. I n 1863, the name was changed to Altona. The advent of the C., B. & Q. R.R., which was completed through here in November, 1854, was the cause of the town being started. The site is a very pretty one, and is in the midst of a rich agricultural country. Silas Willard was the pioneer merchant, and he was soon followed by S. P. Whiting. Mr. Willard opened his store in 1852, on the corner of Main and Depot streets. Mr. Whiting opened in 1853 on the opposite corner. A district school was established here before the town was laid out. The first church organized was the Methodist Episcopal, the second Sabbath in August, 1853, by Rev. James Quimby. T he first train came in in November, 1854. Dr. Herman Hall was the first physician to locate in town, in 1856. The first postmaster was Amos Ward, and the office was called Walnut Grove, and located near the grove about a mile south of the present site. It was moved up after the town was laid out. Altona was incorporated under special act of the Legislature in 1856. This charter was subsequently thrown out and the town was re-incorporated under the general law in 1862, and re-incorporated again under the village law in 1874. Some of the records have been lost and the history is incomplete. This is the home of Dr. R. C. Edgerton, who was quite prominent in the old slavery days as one of the operators of the Underground Railroad. The Doctor relates that while living at Galesburg in the summer of 1844, the slaves who made their escape from Mississippi came to his house and asked for food. He gave them all a good meal and then took them out in a grove and gave them directions north. They had been gone but a few minutes when their owners, with a posse and bloodhounds, came on in hot pursuit. They threatened the Doctor, and finally ordered him out in the chase for the fugitives. This he refused to do. He went into town, rallied around him a lot of young men, and returned to the slave hunters and told them if they did not leave town forthwith they would make them wish they had never seen a slave. This order they obeyed forthwith. An election was held to elect officers for village organization in March 1873. The Trustees elected met at John W. Cline's office and completed organization by electing John W. Cline, President; A. C. Scott, Clerk; E. P. Lindwell, Treasurer. Jacob Terwillinger was appointed Police Constable. The records of the organization and elections prior to this time have been lost. Amos Ward held the office of Postmaster until 1856, and was succeeded by J. N. Rush, and Rush by Wm. Burneson, who held it until 1861. John Fowler was the incumbent during Lincoln's administration. He was followed by W. E. Ward, E. C. Russell, W. M. Whiting, W. E. Ward again, W. M. Whiting again, A.G. Love and L. K. Byers, the present Postmaster. Altona is a prosperous town, with substantial business houses and many fine dwellings. It has a commanding view of the country surrounding it; its streets are well laid off and ornamented with beautiful shade trees. The population is estimated now to be about 850. The present officers are L. D. Vansogk, J. C. Collinson, P. M. Cronland, Nelson Multer and A. G. Love, Trustees; with C. A. Hopkins, President of the Board; S. M. Whiting, Clerk, and P. M. Cromland, Treasurer. Altona has a good graded school. A full English course is taught here, and the elements of science. They have a high school course, with a term of two years. A very fair school building was erected some years ago. This graded school was organized as early as October 1858. S.R. Lemon is Principal, and Mrs. Lemon has charge of the Grammar Department; Mrs. Casey Howland, the Intermediate, and Mrs. Etta Tamblyn, the Primary. The enrollment shows the names of 200; the average attendance about 180. Press. The Journal was established July 1, 1877, by E. H. Waldo, who brought the press from Michigan, where he had published a paper. Nov. 1, 1877, S. P. Whiting purchased the paper, and has since that time been the editor and proprietor. It is a six column quarto, issued every Friday, independent in politics and religion; circulation about 300. Mr. Whiting came with the family to the county in 1850 , and embarked in the mercantile business at Victoria. In 1853, a move was made to Altona, where the mercantile business, in connection with shipping stock and produce, and carrying a farming business, was prosecuted until 1875. He has since 1877 continued as proprietor of the Journal, giving the news of the county to its patrons through its columns. Societies. Masonic Lodge, No. 330, A. F.&A. M., was chartered Oct. 3, 1860, with nine charter members. First officers were Hiram Hall, W. M.; A. P. Stephens, S. W.; G. D. Slanker, J. W. It was organized under dispensation March 20, 1860, with J. J. Friend, W. M.; Chas. Trobridge, S. W.; G. D. Slanker, J. .; J. S. Chambers, Treas.; J. B. McCalmont, Secy.; Hiram Hall, S. D.; Geo. McKowna, J. D.; H. Newman, Tiler. Present officers: H. L. Weaver, W. M.; E. D. Keyes, S. W.; Wm. Hall, J. W.; T. F. Templeton, Treas.; L. B. Young, Secy.; G. V. Sydan, S. D.; C. A. Hopkins, J. D.; Wm. Moore, Tiler. Present membership about 40. The Lodge owns the building, have a neat little hall, are in good working order and prosperous. Altona Lodge, No. 511, I. O. O. F., was chartered Oct. 14, 1873, with seven charter members. First officers, Mathew Wiley, N. G.; R .J. Burnerson, B. G; G. U. Hall, Rec. Secy.; John A. Stuckey, Treas.; J. H. Griffith, P. G. Present officers: O. M. Tiffany, N. G.; N. P. Akeyson, V. G.; G. S. Chalmers, Secy.; J. W. Andrews, Treas.; A. G. Little, W.; D. M. Simpson, C. Present membership 30. The Lodge is in good condition and has money loaned out. It has a nice little hall rented . Churches. The Congregational Church of Altona was organized Feb. 21, 1857 by Rev. A. Root. Members, M. B. Waldo and wife, Truman Eels and wife, Mrs. Caroline Jones, Stephen Eames and W. A. Jones. They held meetings in a school-house and the Methodist Episcopal church at first. They erected a church in the year 1866, which was dedicated November 9 of that year, and cost about $4,000. Rev A. Root was the first established pastor, remaining only a few months. Rev. A. R. Mitchell followed, serving till 1859, when he was succeeded by Rev. H. C. Abernathy as a supply. Then came Rev. L. H. Parker, who was supply for awhile in 1866. Then Rev. Harris was supply for a few months. He was succeeded by Rev. J. D. Wyckoff, in 1867, who remained until 1869. J. L. Granger served the church as a supply until 1871. Reverend H. C. Abernathy then served about six years, leaving in 1878. Rev. E. H. Baker came in 1879, serving as supply for two years. Since that time they have only occasional services, and this in union with the Presbyterians. Present membership is about 25. They have a Sunday School with good attendance. The Methodist Episcopal Church. This society was organized here in August, 1853, by Rev. James Quimby, with 13 members. In 1857, they erected their building at a cost of $3,000. It is a substantial frame building. From 1867 to the present time this church has been served by the following-named pastors: Revs. E. Ranson, B. Applebee, A. Bower, G. W. Martin, A. K. Tullis, W. Watson, J. Ferguson, M. V. B. White, J. E. Taylor, R. Barton, D. T. Wilson, and J. A. Riason, the present pastor in charge. T hey have a membership now of about 100, with a flourishing Sunday-school. Bands. Altona has a taste for music, which is evidenced by her having two local bands. Altona Cornet Band was organized Oct. 6, 1883, with15 members, and P. T. Anderson, leader. The present members are P. T. Anderson, Leader; John Taylor, Secy.; W. B. Tiffany; Treas.; Latimer Linderholm, John Ekstedt, E. Swanson, A. Scott, A. W. Anderson, W. H. Vanconk, O. Collinson, G. Perfect and G. Johnson. They practice regularly and play very well. The ladies have also interested themselves in this department of music and have also organized a band. The Ladies' Cornet Band of Altona was organized Aug. 20, 1884. J ohn Ekstadt is the leader. The members are Addie Shade, Ella Durand, Lydia Tapper, Etta Collinson, Nellie Edwards, Maude Templeton, Mettie Hopkins and Maude Bane. |