Clifton (Terrace), Illinois, Newspaper Clippings
Madison County ILGenWeb Coordinator - Beverly Bauser
EARLY HISTORY OF CLIFTON (TERRACE)
CLIFTON STEAM MILL
Source: Alton Telegraph, May 25, 1836
The owner of the Clifton Steam Flour and Saw Mill, being
desirous of engaging in other pursuits, would dispose of the
same on liberal terms. The above mill is situated on the
Mississippi, 4 miles above Alton at a good landing where logs
can be received as convenient as of any other mill on the river.
The quantity of land attached may be from 10 to 50 acres to suit
the purchaser. Refer to William Martin, Esq., Attorney at Law,
Alton, or to the subscriber on the premises. D. Tolman.
CLIFTON
Source: Alton Telegraph, March 8, 1837
The town
of Clifton is situated on the East bank of the Mississippi
river, four miles above Alton, in Madison county, Illinois. The
surface of ground upon which the town is located is much more
regular and better adapted for improvement than Alton. The lots
were surveyed and plated in the Fall of 1836, previous to which
time the property, on account of some difficulties, was beyond
the reach of speculators. Clifton, at all stages of water, has a
good natural steamboat landing, and it can be improved and
extended at a very small expense. Its means of communication
with the back country are unsurpassed, scarcely equaled by any
other point between the American Bottom and the mouth of the
Illinois river. Its advantages for building are not common to
new towns. A steam saw mill has been in successful operation of
the premises for three years. The neighboring country affords a
supply of excellent timber, limestone of the best quality is at
hand, and an extensive bed of free stone, a quarry of which has
been for some time nocued(?), and large quantities exported to
St. Louis, is on the premises. This stone is of a superior kind
and is in demand at 37 1/2 cents per cubic feet. Beds of stone
coal, of an excellent quality, with a strain of from five to
eight feet, are in the vicinity and owned by the proprietors. An
extensive steam flouring mill is erected on the premises and in
full operation. The situation of Clifton is healthy, and having
an abundant supply of excellent spring water, it is believed it
will continue to be so. The proprietors know not a point on the
river that can compete with Clifton in the quantity and
excellence of the spring water. An aqueduct for the conveyance
of the water through the town has been contracted for and is now
in progress towards completion - its elevation is eighty feet
above the high water mark of the river. These are a portion of
the advantages possessed by Clifton. It may not be improper,
however, to say that the route of the Cumberland road, as
surveyed in 1820, passed but half a mile North of this place.
But should the National road strike the river at Alton, we
submit to the judgment of all to say whether there is not a
strong probability of its taking the northern bank of the
Mississippi on its way to a point opposite to Portage de Sioux,
which it must make in preference to the Missouri bottom. The
distance is shorter and would be greatly less expensive in
construction. Although Clifton was laid off but last fall, it
already comprises, besides the improvements named, one store, a
school house, ten dwelling houses, a blacksmith's shop, and a
population of 67 persons. The proprietors will be liberal to
these who may locate at Alton - to such persons lots will be
given gratuitously on condition of making permanent improvements
upon the property, and they pledge themselves to give a large
portion of the proceeds of actual sales to the improvement of
the streets and of the landing. To emigrants who find lots at
St. Louis and Alton too high for their means, we beg to remember
that lots can be had at Clifton, only 4 miles above Alton, for
nothing but an obligation to improve them. A plat of the town
can be seen at the Piasa House, Alton. For further particulars,
apply to the undersigned. Hail Mason, Monticello, and D. Tolman,
Clifton; Proprietors.
ALTON LUMBER COMPANY BUYS TOLMAN'S CLIFTON MILLS
Source:
Alton Telegraph, April 12, 1837
The Alton Lumber Company,
having purchased the above establishment, give notice to the
farmers and other citizens of the vicinity that they have set
apart Wednesday and Friday nights for the purpose of grinding
grain for the accommodation of the neighborhood, at which times
they intend running the mill whenever there shall be 20 bushels
in the mill to commence with. They also give notice to the
citizens of Alton and its vicinity that they intend carrying on
the lumber sawing business. To the utmost extent that the mill
is capable of, and as they intend pursuing a regular system in
their business, and will not enter into contracts beyond what
they can reasonable calculate on accomplishing, they hope to be
able punctually to comply with their engagements. Orders left at
the Mill or with William P. Jones, carpenter, Lower Alton, will
be promptly attended to.
CLIFTON - MONARCH OF THE MISSISSIPPI GONE –
GIANT
COTTONWOOD TREE OF SCOTCH JIMMY'S ISLAND FELLED
Source: Alton
Evening Telegraph, May 17, 1906
Louis Young, who resides upon
"Scotch Jimmie's Island" across from Clifton, has felled the
great, tall cottonwood tree on the north side of the island,
which has stood as a sentinel of direction to river men as long
as the oldest can remember. The Chicago Chronicle several years
ago printed a story of this tree, with measurements taken by a
government official from one of the government boats, and
showing it to be the largest tree in both height and girth in
the Mississippi Valley. The tree was struck by lightning three
years ago and had gradually died. One log was taken out of the
base of the tree, measuring seven feet, eight inches in diameter
on the large end. The stump of the great forest giant is large
enough to sit a dining table on comfortably. The tree was
undoubtedly many hundreds of years old, and towered no less than
seventy-five feet higher than the other trees on the island. For
many years when the crossing on the steamboats up and down the
river was on the Illinois river side of the island in the narrow
channel, the big tree was a valuable landmark to the steamboat
pilots. Before being injured by the stroke of lightning, the
tree had an abundance of foliage, and was visible for many miles
from up and down the river. It has for many years been one of
the sites of interest pointed out to passengers on the bluff
line trains. The bark on the tree was nearly three inches thick
in places, and was roughed and creased by the several hundred
years of time it had stood. The great giant stood on high
ground, and was seldom caught by the floods which washed out and
undermined so many of the trees on the island. For the past few
years the great limbs of the tree whitened by the burning sun,
rose above the forest on the big island, a scarred but silent
master of the great forest up and down this big valley. It was a
pity to have removed this tree, even though it was dead.