Milton Newspaper Articles

YOUNG LADY INJURED WHILE RIDING HORSE NEAR MILTON BRIDGE
Source: Alton Telegraph, May 30, 1862
A party of ladies, seven or eight in number, accompanied by a gentleman, were out riding on horseback on Saturday evening, and when in the vicinity of Milton bridge, Miss Sidway’s horse became unmanageable from some cause or other, and she was thrown from her saddle and severely bruised, besides having some of her ribs fractured. By the prompt assistance rendered by the young gentleman who was in company with them, she was placed in a carriage and brought home. We understand she is doing well and will soon recover.

OLD MILTON SABBATH SCHOOL
Source: Alton Telegraph, July 11, 1873
“Last week a Miss Catharine Rutherford, aged about twelve years, committed to memory and recited to me 1,050 verses in the New Testament, all of which she performed with the greatest ease. The following will show the proficiency that she has made since the commencement of the school, viz: The first week she recited 18 verses, the second 30, the third 70, the fourth 55, the fifth 83, the sixth 139, the seventh 300, and the eighth 1,059. Signed Enoch Long, Instructor, July 31, 1820.”

The Alton in the above item refers to Upper Alton, which at that time was known by that name, while there was no town at this place. Of Miss Catharine Rutherford, we know nothing. It is to be presumed, however, from her precocity and the overtaxing of her brain, that she has long since passed away.

The instructor, Mr. Enoch Long, will be remembered by all of the first settlers of Alton, is still alive and in the enjoyment of good health. He is at present residing in the vicinity of Galena. The school referred to was organized first at Milton, a small place at that time about a mile from Upper Alton, in 1818, and was afterwards removed to that place, and is generally believed to have been the first Sabbath School organized in Illinois. [Enoch Long died in July 1881.]

MILTON HEIGHTS ADDITION
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, March 25, 1904
As evidence of the rapid growth of the Altons, attention is called to the many additions, divisions and subdivisions being opened up in Alton, North Alton and Upper Alton, and the fact that the lots in these additions sell rapidly and sell to actual home builders should be conclusive proof that the Altons are "spreading themselves" greatly. Milton Heights addition to Upper Alton is the latest, and consists of 32 acres of land formerly owned by the late James Rixon, and which was purchased yesterday by W. W. Lowe, who has made several additions to Upper Alton already and has disposed of almost every lot in all of them. The tract is just southeast of Upper Alton and adjoins the Loehr & Lowe subdivision on the east. The location is high and healthful and commands a splendid view, river scenery, and of the surrounding country. Mr. Lowe set men to work Thursday clearing the land of all undergrowth, etc., and will have it surveyed and platted at once, and the lots will be ready for purchasers early in April.

NOTES:
James Rixon was born in England in 1822. He and his wife immigrated to America, and settled in the Upper Alton area in 1858. Mr. Rixon was highly respected in the Upper Alton area, and served as Alderman and president of the Village Board. He died in 1896, and is buried in the Upper Alton Oakwood Cemetery. Rixon Street, just west of Milton Road in the Milton area, is named after this family.

THE TOWN OF MILTON
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, August 9, 1904
There are very few Illinoisians now living who remember the booms enjoyed by certain points in this vicinity 75 years ago and longer. To look at those sites now no one would suspect that they had been the scenes of striving humanity to suddenly become rich. But such is the fact. Go to the former site of the little town of Milton, a few miles east of Alton, and no one could imagine that spot the place where the busy hum of industry, manufacturing and merchandising had its home. An epidemic of fever put an end to the prospects of that town, and the hopes of its projectors to be a great city. The inhabitants, or most of them, were laid away on the top of the hill now known as the Milton Cemetery, and the balance fled to other places, and Milton with its deserted houses became a memory only.

MILTON HEIGHTS ADDITION
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, March 6, 1905
There are now thirteen dwellings in course of construction in Milton Heights, which lies just east of Upper Alton. Mr. E. A. Burris is building 7, Charles Huskinson 2, William Draper 1, John Wickenhauser 1, and W. H. Gibbs 1.

WAGON ROAD OVER THE WOOD RIVER TO BE TORN UP
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, July 5, 1905
Highway Commissioner George T. Henry was in Alton Wednesday and stated that the board of highway commissions of Wood River Township have found it necessary to tear up the wagon bridge across Wood River on the Milton road, and that for three days, July 17, 18 and 19, no vehicles will be able or allowed to cross. Mr. Henry says the wooden joists placed in the structure when the steel bridge was built there have rotted, and that bridge, while not absolutely dangerous, is liable to become so at any time, and the substitution of steel joists for the wooden ones makes it necessary to tear up the entire bridge.

MILTON HEIGHTS - TO BE INCORPORATED
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, February 24, 1912
The residents of Milton Heights, adjoining Upper Alton, are arranging to have their territory incorporated in the spring election. Milton Heights is located southeast of Upper Alton and northeast of Yaeger Park. Several years ago, attempts were made to incorporate Yaeger Park and Milton Heights and Federal, but the incorporation fell through because too much territory was taken in the proposed corporation. The name of the village was to be South Alton. It will now be Milton Heights. Yaeger Park will not join Milton Heights this time, and the mistake of too much territory being taken in will not be repeated.

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