Welcome to Madison County ILGenWeb
Madison County ILGenWeb Coordinator - Beverly Bauser
Welcome
to the Madison County ILGenWeb website! New material and
information is added almost daily, so be sure to visit often.
NEW PAGE - HISTORY OF
THE ALTON - UPPER ALTON HORSE RAILROAD!
BRIEF HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
Named after James Madison, the fourth President of the United
States and father of our Constitution, Madison County was
established in the Illinois Territory on September 14, 1812 from Randolph and St. Clair Counties. At the
time it was established, Madison included all of the modern
state of Illinois north of St. Louis, as well as all of
Wisconsin, part of Minnesota, and Michigan's Upper Peninsula. In
1814, the formation of Edwards County removed almost half of the
eastern part, and the final boundary change came in 1843, when a
small portion on the northeast corner of Madison County became
part of Bond County.
On September 19, 1812, Illinois Territory Governor Ninian Edwards appointed Isam Gilham as the first Sheriff of Madison County, with William Rabb, John G. Lofton, and Samuel Judy as judges; and Josiah Randall as Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas. Josiah Randall was named Recorder, and Robert Elliott, Thomas G. Davidson, William Gilham, and George Cadwell were appointed Justices of the Peace.
Edwardsville, the county seat, was laid out in 1815 on the site designated by Governor Edwards in his proclamation organizing the county. It was named in his honor, and later became his residence.
THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE ALTON & SANGAMON RAILROAD (later named the CHICAGO & ALTON RAILROAD)
The Alton & Sangamon Railroad was spearheaded by Captain Benjamin Godfrey and other Alton businessmen, including Cyrus Edwards, Simeon Ryder, S. Griggs, and Robert Ferguson. Planning stages began in December 1838, and the charter was issued February 27, 1847. Construction began in February 1850, and was completed from Alton to Springfield in 1852. Originally, the line into Alton ran down Piasa Street, and ended at the depot, between Third and Fourth Street. Tracks were not allowed south of the north side of Third Street. The first train pulled into Alton from Springfield on September 9, 1852. To read more on the history of the Alton & Sangamon Railroad, please click here.
HISTORY OF THE ALTON - UPPER ALTON HORSE RAILROAD
Planning
began on the Alton – Upper Alton Horse Railroad (streetcar) in
1865. The rail system, driven by horse-power, would mostly
benefit Upper Alton trade, and the citizens and leaders there
were highly motivated. W. T. Miller, Chairman of the Exchange
Committee, was appointed to explore the cost of the railroad. In
December 1866, a meeting was held to discuss the plans for the
railroad, and W. T. Miller reported the cost, excluding grading
which was already completed, would be from $10,000 to $18,000
per mile. In March 1867, the recently incorporated firm of the
Alton and Upper Alton Horse Railway Company met, and Cyrus
Edwards was elected President, with James N. Morgan, Secretary.
Charles E. Hall, H. N. Kendall, and W. T. Miller were appointed
to have the charter published in the Alton Telegraph. The
charter would be void if the road was not completed within two
years. By April 1867, $6,000 had been subscribed in Upper Alton
for the cost of the railroad. An office for the company was
opened in the Alton City Hall, and it was determined that the
starting point of the road was on Broadway, directly opposite
the city hall at Broadway and Market Streets.
The work
on the horse railroad began in August 1867. The rails were
ordered from a company in Pennsylvania, and the ties from St.
Louis. However, the rails were delayed, and didn’t arrive until
October 3, 1867. A force of between 75 and 100 hands were hired,
with Captain Hall superintending the construction. The railroad
was completed by December 1867, and the large festival and
supper was held at the Alton House, in honor of its completion.
The festival was attended by citizens from Alton and Upper
Alton, and was presided by Cyrus Edwards. Toasts were presented
in honor of Mr. Edwards and Mr. Clawson, who worked diligently
to complete the railroad. The editors of the Alton Telegraph
took their first trip to Upper Alton on the horse railroad on
December 13, 1867. The long hill on Washington Avenue was
ascended without difficulty, and at the Upper Alton station (at
Broadway and Washington), they encountered a side switch to
enable cars to pass each other. The car stopped at Hewit’s Store
in Upper Alton, but track was being laid further to the post
office, which was the terminus of the road. Returning to Alton,
there was standing room only in the car.
The horse
railroad system (also referred to as the horse-drawn streetcar)
continued to operate for about 25 years. The Alton Improvement
Association was then formed to furnish transportation to those
living in Middletown. They promoted a car line, first using
horse power, and then substituted a steam “dummy” – a locomotive
disguised as a streetcar, so it would not frighten nervous
horses. This line began at Broadway and Market, and crossed
Third Street, following a terrace the company constructed, since
a portion of Market Street was too narrow for a car line. The
line turned the corner at Sixth and Market, and went to Alby,
then to Twelfth Street, Henry, Fifteenth, Liberty, Grove, and
Central Avenue.
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