Truman Eldridge, who now
occupies one of the most inviting farms
and homes within the Corporation, came, in 1836, from
Hancock, Mass., and
took 240 acres, a part of which is embraced in the northwest
portion of
the village. Shortly after he returned to his home and
spent two years, and
in 1838 returned, and in 1839 built a home and commenced the
improvement of his land. In 1848 he took up, at the
government price, 80 acres
more, directly north, and in 1850 bought 160 acres more,
embracing the
northeast portion of the Corporation. The southeast
quarter section was
bought thirty-four years ago by Solomon Sovereign,
and thirty years ago
the southwest by John Beeves. The
Corporation, one mile square, laid out
in streets at right angles, embraces equal portions of these
four quarter
sections.
The first store was opened on a small scale by John
Adams, in 1856, a
little south of where it now stands, on the southwest corner
of Penn avenue and Main street. The brick building
owned by E. Pierce occupies its
original site. Soon N. W. Baker succeeded John
Adams, and not long after, Dally and Arter, and these were succeeded by
E. P. Emans, who now owns
and occupies a two story frame on the northwest corner.
The first township meeting was held in the old Union
Church, on April 4, 1854. Truman Eldridge
presided at the meeting, and at its close the first township
officers were chosen.
Until the advent of the C. B. & Q. Railroad, almost all
the produce was taken to Oquawka there to be shipped to St.
Louis by the Mississippi River. When the railroad was
completed trade was changed to Monmouth, and a local trade
was started in Roseville.
New Lancaster and Elliston, a few miles west, were
enjoying quite a
local trade, which continued until 1870. During the summer
of this year,
the Rockford, Rock Island & St. Louis Railroad was completed
through the
county. This was the beginning of the prosperity of
Roseville. It was
now properly platted and the plat recorded by John A.
Gordon, in the
name of Mr. Eldridge and others of the most active
residents, and an active
trade at once opened.
The stores and shops at New Lancaster were moved here, and
the town
from being a "corners," as it was commonly called, rapidly
arose to a
"town," with its attendant privileges. Mr. John A. Gordon
opened the
depot and held the position several years.
Mr. Eldridge gave several lots to those who would erect
shops or stores
thereon, not a few of which liberal offers were accepted.
On May 8, 1874, the town had attained a population of 514
inhabitants,
and was incorporated. Since then the population has
increased to nearly
900. In 1856, Mr. James G. Reed located at the school house,
about a mile
east of the village. Here he commenced work as a blacksmith. Shortly
after, he removed his shop to Roseville, where he added to
his small shop a
room about sixteen by twenty-four feet.
He soon purchased an engine to aid him in his rapidly
growing trade,
and increased the number of his employes. About a year ago
the present
firm was organized, and a still further increase in the
buildings and machinery made. Their speciality is windmills, plows and
tongueless cultivators.
Quite a number of shop3 are maintained, good stores, one
bank and an
excellent flouring mill.[Pg. 162]
THE SCHOOLS.
The earliest
attempts to educate the youth of this community was made in
a small log school house, about one mile south of the site
of the village. The frame school house east of town
was next built. At its location there was a shop and
small store, and the residents entertained some hopes of
securing a town here. School was maintained here until
a few years ago, when it was removed to town and the present
edifice constructed. It is a two story building,
capable of accommodating two hundred scholars; 156 are now
in attendance. Three teachers are employed.
THE CHURCHES.
The
Congregationalist Church was organized Nov. 15, 1851, by
President Blanchard, then of Galesburg. and
consisted of eleven members, whose names were Stephen
and Phoebe Delley, William and Mary
Delley, David and Elizabeth Tuttle,
Mrs. Elizabeth Axtell, and Miss
Eunice Robinson. Four years after the
organization they erected the present church building, at an
expense of $3,000 dollars. The lumber was brought from
Oquawka. Some time after, they erected the parsonage,
worth $2,000. Rev. Asa Martin commenced
his labors here, at a salary of $120 per year, in 1851, and
remained one year. He was succeeded by Rev. J. A.
Rodgers, the first installed pastor, who remained until
1858. He is now president of Berean College, Kentucky.
Rev. A. R. Mitchell was called to succeed him, and
occupied the pulpit until 1861. He was followed by
Rev. Alfred Morse, who remained three
years and was succeeded by Rev. Cyrus H. Eaton, from
1864 to 1867. Then Rev. Arthur E. Arnold filled
the pulpit until 1868. From that date until the early
part of 1877 the pulpit was occupied by Rev. J. D. Wykoff.
The present pastor, Rev. R. A. Wood, has just lately
been installed.
The membership is now 100, the attendance at
Sunday-school 75.
The Baptist Church was organized in 1852 by Rev. S.
G. Miner. It now numbers 175 members and 100
Sunday-school scholars. The organization was perfected
in a school house, about one mile east of the present site
of the town, with about 25 members. When the school
house was erected in town, they used it for divine worship
until they erected their present church. It cost about
$2,000 dollars.
The following have been some of the pastors of this
church: Elders Joseph Elliott, _____ Morse
and J. D. Kent. The present pastor is E. C.
Cady.
The Methodist Episcopal Church is the outgrowth of a
class of some half dozen members organized in 1839, who were
Solomon Sovereign and
wife, John Jared, Sr. and wife, Mrs.
Sisson, Mrs. Welty, Mrs.
Kirkpatrick. They held their first meetings in
Jared's school house, about three miles southeast of
Roseville. In the fall of 1841, and until the spring
of 1842, the meetings were held in Josiah
Kirkpatrick's house, about two and a half miles south of
Roseville. They were then held at Solomon
Sovereign's house, now used for a hotel by Eli
Gilbert, opposite the depot. The meetings were
held in this house until the first school house was built.
This served as a sanctuary until the present church and
parsonage were built in 1867, at a cost of $5,500.
This class, in its infancy, formed one of the appointments
on the Aquawka circuit, which included all of what is now
[Pg. 163]
Henderson and Warren counties. Monmouth, Kirkwood and
other places of importance now were appointed on the
circuit. Among the first ministers who broke the bread
of lite were the venerable Henry Sumners,
W. M. Clark, Richard Haney, William Haney and
Benjamin Applebee. These men are all yet living
and are members of the Central Illinois Conference.
Though all are on the superannuated list except R. Haney
and B. Applebee. J. Kern was
appointed pastor in 1856, W. J. Beck in 1857, A.
C. Higgins in 1858, W. B. Morse in 1859, R.
Morey in 1860 and '1, B. C. Swarts in 1862 and
'3, J. A. Windsor in 1864, G. C. Woodruff in
1865, W. B. Carithers in 1866, Thomas Watson
in 1867 and '8, J. W. Coe in 1869 and '70, R.
Beeler in 1871, C. B. Conch in 1872 and '73,
J. W. Coe in 1874 and '5. J. S. Cummings is the
present very efficient presiding elder on the district, and
N. T. Allen the present energetic pastor under whose
labors the past winter seventy-five members have been added
to the church, making the present membership one hundred and
seventy-seven, with a Sabbath school of one hundred
scholars.
The Christian Church was organized in 1859, or 1860,
with about 25 members. There are now more than double
that number, and a Sunday-school of nearly 50 scholars.
In 1871 they erected a comfortable church, costing about
$1,500. Their parsonage is worth about $800. The
Rev. George L. Brackan is the present pastor.
The Lutheran Church, composed mostly of Swedes,
comprises a membership of 35. They were organized into
a body ecclesiastic Feb. 26, 1876, with 26 members, and on
October 29, following, dedicated their present house of
worship. Rev. G. Wiberg occupies the pulpit,
ministering part of his time in other places. The
Sunday-school numbers about 25 scholars.
The Union Baptist Church was organized in 1844 or '5 in
an old school house. It was used for some time for both
purposes, and in it the first township meetings were held.
The members had belonged to the Berwick Church and
organized here, this being a more central location.
They have now a very comfortable church and sustain a
regular meeting.
Talbott's Creek Christian Church was organized about
1838-9, and for some time included the Cameron and Alexis
members. Joseph Murphy and L. S.
Wallace were among the first elders. John E.
Murphy, Thos. Wallace, Wm.
Wallace, Wm. Murphy and Wm. Hopper,
with their families, were among the constituent members. John
E. Murphy was the pioneer preacher among them.
Thos. Griffith and Henry
Bruner, father of the present pastor of Monmouth
Church, were also early members. Their present church
was erected near David Warren, an
old member, and one who helped the church in its early
trials. They occupied this building until 1855 or '6,
when a house of worship was erected at
an expense of $2,000, which they still occupy. They
have a membership of about one hundred, and sustain a Sunday
school of about the same number. Rev. D. D. Miller,
pastor at Cameron, preaches here. This congregation
has sent out several colonies, which are now large and
growing
churches.
THE PRESS.— Two weekly papers are sustained here.
Wilson's Weekly, the younger, was started about eight
months since by the Wilson brothers, two quite
young men, and is already enjoying a good circulation.
It is a good local paper, and a very creditable enterprise.
[Pg. 164]
The Roseville Gazette, an independent family newspaper, by
G. G. McCosh. Terms, $1.50 per annum in advance.
It is published every Wednesday, and each issue contains
twenty-eight columns of matter. It has a large and
rapidly increasing circulation, chiefly in Warren and
Henderson counties. Advertisements inserted at
reasonable rates. Terms made known on application.
A branch office is located at Monmouth, Ill., cor. Main
street and Public Square, fitted up with the most modern and
improved styles of type and machinery, is capable of turning
out first-class job printing at lowest living rates.
All orders for printing and all communications, to receive
prompt attention, should be addressed to the publisher at
Monmouth, Ill.
R08EVILLE VILLAGE.
The Board of
Trustees for the ensuing year will be as follows: James
G. Reed, George W. Cochler, Thomas Bell, Frank W. Meacham,
David S. Carnahan and John Huggett.
Austin Fuller, Village Clerk. I. A. Gordon,
Policeman.
Roseville Lodge,
No. 284 1. 0. of Q. T.—Officers : W. H. Buckley,
W. G; Miss Mattie Noakes, V. C; J. L. Woodmansee,
R. Secy.; George Davenport, P. Secy.; Miss
Jennie Hielman, Treas. Meets at Roseville
every Monday evening.
Roseville Lodge, No. 537, I. O. O. F.—Officers :
G. W. Cockier. N. G.; J. Hartley, V. G.; C.
L. Rose, Secy.; J. W. Coulee, Treas.; J. W.
Conlee, P. Deputy. Meets at Roseville every
Wednesday evening.
Roseville Lodge, No. 519, A. F. and A.
M.—Officers : J. W. Conlee, W. M.; J. C. V. Kelley,
S. W.; Eli Dixon, J. W.; D. M. Taliferro,
Treas.; G. W. Cockier, Secy. Meets at Rossville
first and Third Fridays of each month.
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