The Early History of Highland, Sepastopol, and St. Morgan
Madison County ILGenWeb Coordinator - Beverly Bauser
The settlement of this part of the county
by white people began as early as 1804, but these were very few
and far between. In 1831, immigrants from Switzerland began to
arrive, followed in increasing numbers by other Swiss and
Germans. Joseph Suppiger built the first frame house, which
later became about the center of town. When the first larger
number of Swiss immigrants, who followed the original Swiss
settlers (the Koepflis and Suppigers), arrived in 1833, they
bought the existing pioneer farms – usually a log cabin and
several acres of cultivated land. The squatter who had built the
log cabin would then pack his few belonging on a horse, with his
wife and children on another, and away they would go – armed
with a shotgun. The first home of the Koepflis became the
headquarters for the district, being besieged by people from all
directions who came to see father Koepfli – the only doctor
within miles – or for information regarding the purchase and
sale of lands. For immigrants, it was the first place of refuge.
In
1837, General James Semple, then a member of the House of
Representatives in Illinois, selected section 5 of Helvetia
Township in Madison County for the site of a future town. A
railroad development was in planning stages, and an
appropriation of $1,600,000 was made for the construction of
this and the Alton–Shawneetown Railroad. One day, quite
unexpectedly, two strangers appeared on horseback. One of these
was General Semple, and the other Joseph Suppiger. General
Semple stated that he wanted Suppiger, Dr. Koepfli, and James
Reynolds to join as founders of the new town. An agreement was
made, deciding that 100 acres were to be platted into forty-five
blocks, each 300 feet square, with the usual streets and alleys,
with the central block being reserved for public or school
purposes. The survey was made by the then county surveyor,
Benaiah Robinson. In naming the town, Suppiger and Koepfli
proposed either Helvetia or New Switzerland, but General Semple,
being of Scotch descent and his new associates also hailing from
mountain regions, proposed Highland, which was adopted. The
original plat of the town, as recorded, shows not only the
projected railroad, but also the depot grounds and an additional
railroad named “Die Belleville and St. Louis.” Zschokke Street
was made considerably wider than others for the purpose of the
prospective railroad right-of-way, but that railroad was not
completed. The plans were presumably abandoned during the panic
of 1837.
The next step taken was a public sale of town
lots on September 16, 1837. Constable Nic Kile was the
auctioneer. The attendance was not large, due to the sparsely
settled area, and only a small number of lots were sold. Wesley
Dugger, from the neighborhood of the present town of St. Jacob,
was the only one present from a distance. He bought a corner lot
on which he built a frame house and started a small country
store.
Immediately after the sale of lots, Joseph
Suppiger began building a steam mill, thus affording welcome
employment to others. Because of the steam mill, a log cabin of
20 feet square was constructed, in which on New Year’s Day,
1838, the first public dance occurred. In the mill, Sylvan
Utiger installed a turnery, for the making of bedposts, and
naves for wagons. Settlers soon began building frame houses and
improving their log cabins. For heating, cooking and baking,
they all had large fireplaces, as cast-iron stoves were too
expensive. The meals at that time consisted usually of
cornbread, bacon or venison. Deer were so numerous that the meat
could be bought for less than one cent per pound. The Methodist
Hill at that time was the meeting place of deer, rabbits and
wolves – the latter being especially severe on young pigs. All
the animals were allowed to run at large before the stock law
was enacted, which required all occupied or improved buildings
in town to be fenced in to keep animals out.
The post
office was established in 1839 with David Thorp as postmaster.
Soon after the town of Highland was laid out, Swiss
colonists were reinforced by immigrants from Baden. In 1840, the
families of Bender, Meyer, Hammer, and Bader arrived. In 1841,
seventy-two immigrants arrived, included the families of Hotz,
Federer, Rall, Trautner, Fellhauer, Essenpreis, Weber,
Kustermann, Holizinger, Voegele, Schwarz, Frey, Schaefer, Bellm,
Barth, Koch, Winter, Woll, Ehrhardt, Hirsch, Weidner, Knopf,
Metzger, Hoffmann, and Zopf. Most of these families settled east
or northeast of Highland, in a semi-circle, and were devout
Catholics. In 1844, they erected their first church edifice.
Rev. Father P. Limacher served as their first priest.
In 1865, Highland was incorporated and the first town
election was held. Jacob Eggen was elected president, with
Joseph Speckart, Henry Weinheimer, Xavier Suppiger, and Frank
Appel as trustees. Berthold E. Hoffmann was clerk, and John
Menz, treasurer.
Highland had no railroad at this time,
and when in 1867 the builders of the Vandalia line proposed to
run a road through the town if money was contributed, the
citizens agreed to $10,000. A road was completed in 1868.
In 1884, discussion was held to organized Highland as a
city. The proposition was hotly contested for fear the town
might be run heavily in debt. The proposition carried by a large
vote, however. Election of city officers was held May 6, 1884,
with Fred B. Suppiger as Mayor, Alexander Beck, city clerk;
Adolph Mueller, treasurer; and aldermen J. George Dumbeck, Jacob
Grossenbacher, John Guggenbuehler, John Wildi, Adolph Ruegger,
and John H. Hermann. A suitable two-story city hall was
constructed in 1884, with the upper floor for meetings and
offices, and the lower floor for fire engines and the jail.
Highland was one of the first towns in Madison County to
install electric lights. The plant was first owned by private
parties, but after a few years, it was purchased by the city.
Highland Industries and Businesses
The founding of the
town was succeeded by the terrible commercial crisis of 1837. No
debts could be paid except in cattle or produce. Despite this,
the population and business activity began to grow. A steam
mill, as previously mentioned, was erected as early as 1837 by
Joseph Suppiger & Co. (Joseph Suppiger, Dr. F. Ryhiner, and
Caspar Meyer). The capacity of the mill was about 30 barrels of
flour in 24 hours. A saw mill was attached. From 1840 to 1850,
the firm was composed of Joseph, Melchior, and Bernard Suppiger,
James Reynolds, and David Thorp. A fourth brother, David, bought
Bernard’s share in 1850. In 1854, James Reynolds sold out to
Bernard Suppiger, who then became again a partner of the firm.
In 1866, the mill passed into the hands of David Suppiger,
Robert Suppiger (oldest son of Bernard), Hale M. Thorp, and
Henry Weinheimer. The latter sold his share to Otto Suppiger
(youngest son of Bernard), and Edwin J. Raith in 1880. The first
building was erected by Joseph Suppiger, and the machinery for
both grist and corn mill by an eastern millwright named Gale. In
1857, the whole mill was remodeled, the saw mill removed, and a
new engine constructed under the supervision of Captain Julius
Raith.
The first mechanic of Highland was a wagon maker
named Krucker, from St. Gall, Switzerland. Krucker, along with a
blacksmith from Germany by the name of Lang, were put to work in
1839 by Jacob Eggen making the first wagon, which they completed
to perfection and established a reputation that brought them
abundant work.
Charles Kinne started a harness shop in
Highland. The first store in Highland was opened by Elijah
Ellison, on the site of the Highland House. David Thorp opened a
store in 1838 or 1839 (which later became the site of a bank)
and became the first postmaster of Highland.
Jacob
Eggen, who arrived in Highland in 1833, started a brickyard, and
connected a pottery with it. The first vessels for the St. Louis
White Lead Works were made in this pottery. Mr. Eggen was also
the founder of a distillery and later a bakery.
In the
summer of 1843, Joseph and Salomon Koepfli, upon their return
from Switzerland, built their fine, large residence on the hill
just north of town, and converted the grove on the north side
into a neat park. The same year, a number of buildings were
erected and several stores opened. Peter Tuffli and his
stepfather, John Laubinger, bought the house in which Elijah
Ellison operated a store, and opened the first regular meat
shop. About the same time, J. R. Blattner began building the
noted New Switzerland House, which existed about fifty years
until John Wildi bought it and erected in place of it his fine
mansion.
The first hotel of Highland was opened by
Anthony Buchmann. In 1843, Highland became a station on the
stage route between Vandalia and St. Louis. Other hotels include
the Eagle Hotel, and the Republic House.
A wool-carding
machine was erected by N. Smiley in 1843, and in later years it
was owned by Mr. Stahl, who converted it into a yarn factory.
The business was continued successively by Bosshard, Feickert &
Co., Bosshard, Pfenninger & Co., and by Charles Bosshard, up to
September 1874.
John Guggenbuehler founded the Jefferson Brewery in 1843. It
later passed into the hands of Daniel Wild. In 1865, it was
consolidated with the Highland Brewery, which was founded in
1854 by Charles L. Bernays. In 1856, Bernays took Gerhard Schott
and M. F. Schott as partners. Bernays sold his interest in the
brewery to the Schotts in 1857. Soon after, Gerhard Schott sold
his interest, and Martin F. and Christian Schott remained sole
proprietors until 1870, when Christian Schott withdrew from the
business.
Jacob Eggen, together with Ludwig Gruetli,
opened a distillery in 1844, with Henry Hermann and George
Ruegger as partners. In 1849, the business passed into the hands
of Anthony Miller, Henry Hermann, and J. J. Spindler, and was
successfully operated until 1865, when the partnership was
dissolved.
In 1850, Henry Hermann, John Leder, and C. H.
Seyht, with a capital stock of $100,000, founded the Highland
City Mills.
In 1859, the Highland library was organized,
with A. E. Bandelier as President. In 1866, the Highland Turn
Verein was organized. A public hall was erected, large enough to
comfortably seat 700 persons. In the hall were musical
performances and political meetings.
After the Civil
War, Highland had a population of nearly 2,000 people. The log
cabins and light frame buildings were disappearing, being
replaced with substantial brick buildings. Other businesses were
founded such as the Highland Foundry, N. Rohr’s planing mills
and door and sash factory, Grossenbacher’s Custom Mills, and the
Highland Mineral Water Factory. Grain elevators were erected
near the depot, to facilitate shipment of agricultural products.
In 1885 the Helvetia Milk Condensory was founded, which
manufactured evaporated milk. The well-known “Pet” and
“Highland” brands were popular, with Pet being sold to the
domestic trade, and the latter exported and sold to the army and
navy. Through perseverance, the company prospered. Their eight
plants (Highland, Greenville, Ohio, Wellsboro, Pennsylvania,
Michigan, Kansas, Wisconsin, and Westfield, Pennsylvania) turned
out from eight to ten carloads of finished product daily.
Although the company was not the inventor of the manufacture of
evaporated milk, they were the first to put the product into
successful practice on a commercial scale. The first board of
directors were Dr. Knoebel, John Wildi, George Roth, Fred
Kaeser, and Louis Latzer. Dr. Knoebel served as president, and
John Wildi as secretary and treasurer.
Highland
Embroidery Works was founded in 1881 by John Rush of
Switzerland, but established in 1883 by J. J. Spindler Jr.
Numerous machines were imported from Switzerland and Germany,
and about twenty-five men and seventy-five to one hundred girls
were employed.
The Stocker Artificial Stone and Gravel
Company was established in 1903. The company manufactured plain
and ornamental building blocks and other concrete articles. They
constructed concrete sidewalks, bridges, foundation for houses,
etc. Fred Stocker served as president, with Ferd Krenzer as
secretary and treasurer.
Highland Banks
The First
National Bank was evolved from the bank of Kinne & Pabst and the
Highland Bank. Kinne & Pabst founded their bank in 1890, and in
1891 the Highland Bank was incorporated. On March 5, 1903, the
name was changed to the First National Bank of Highland.
The State & Trust Bank was organized May 3, 1903. John Wildi
served as president, L. J. Ruhr, vice-president, and Louis
Blattner, cashier.
The East End Bank was organized
October 28, 1908. Edward Feutz served as president, and Louis
Miller, vice-president; Frank Zolk, secretary, and L. A.
Schreiber, cashier.
Early Highland Schools
Although
there was no schoolhouse, Miss Slater was retained as teacher.
She taught in the homes of various families of the students.
Joseph Suppiger, in about 1839 or 1840, raised funds to erect a
schoolhouse. It was built by Joseph Mueller on what is now
called Methodist Hill, at the expense of $300. The schoolhouse
on Methodist Hill was open to all, and was also used for
religious services. This schoolhouse soon proved to small, and
on October 27, 1843, it was decided to erect a stone building,
40x24 feet. This building was completed in 1844. This
schoolhouse burned down in the S pring of 1850. Joseph Suppiger
called a public meeting, and it was decided to raise money for
the erection of a two-story brick building of four rooms, upon
the public or school square. This building was soon erected,
with one room used for the regular English public school, and
the other three rooms by private teachers. Records show that
Miss Emily S. Thorp was the first teacher of this public school.
Due to rapid increase of population, this schoolhouse soon
became insufficient. In 1867, another two-story brick building
of four rooms was erected. Again, in 1893, the two buildings
proved inadequate. In 1894, a modern building of ten spacious
rooms, at a cost of $24,000 was constructed. The two old
schoolhouses were torn down.
Early Highland Churches
The German Catholic Church - On December 26, 1843, the Catholics
of Highland decided to build a church. Solomon Koepfli, John
Schwartz, Conrad Bader, William Lang, Dr. Caspar Koepfli, John
Frey, Theodore Mueller, Nic Voegele and Jacob Durer were
appointed to take the necessary steps. The cornerstone was laid
May 1, 1844 by Father J. Catting. Eventually the small church
was found inadequate, so in October 1853, a new brick church,
110x45 feet, was completed in 1856. The first frame church was
used as a parochial school until the convent building was
completed in 1866. The rectory was erected in 1857.
The
German Methodist Church was organized in 1846. The church was
built in 1847, and the parsonage was built in 1876 or 1877. Rev.
William Fiegenbaum was the first resident pastor.
The
French and English Congregational Church – The Congregational
Church of Highland was evolved out of the French Church, which
had its beginning with the coming of Rev. Francis Vulliet from
Switzerland in 1848. He was an ordained minister for more than
twenty-two years, but refused to obey the mandates of the
political party in power. He immigrated to American with his
family, arriving in Highland in 1848. He immediately began
religious services in his and other homes of French-speaking
families until in 1859 a brick church was built on Methodist
Hill, named the French Evangelical Church. In 1874, Rev. Francis
Vulliet died, and his son, Rev. Louis Vulliet, was elected
pastor. The congregation joined the Southern Association of
Congregational Churches in 1876, with Louis Vulliet as minister
until 1886. A new church building was erected in 1887.
The Highland Militia
In 1844, when was with Mexico was
expected, 3 militia companies were organized – an artillery
company with Jacob Eggen as Captain, an infantry company with
Captain John Guggenbuehler, and a cavalry company under Captain
Richardson. The members of the first two companies were all
Germans or Swiss-Germans, while in the cavalry company, only
three Swiss were enlisted. The three Highland companies formed
their battalion and elected Jacob Eggen as Major. In 1848, the
population had increased, and the number of men was brought up
to 250. The state furnished a cannon for the artillery company,
which Major Eggen selected and brought over from Alton. He was
met by the company at Silver Creek, north of Highland, where the
men formed in position for parade to Highland, after firing
three salutes. This event was witnessed by the entire
population. 1848 was the last year of the existence of this
militia. The cannon was later used for “thunder” on the fourth
of July and other festivals. It was later mounted in Lindendale
Park as an ornament. During the Civil War, Highland furnished
more than its quota of men for the preservation of the Union.
THE EARLY HISTORY OF SEPASTOPOL AND ST. MORGAN
Sebastopol
in Helvetia Township, Madison County was a French settlement
started by colonists from the French cantons of Switzerland in
about 1848. The settlement was promoted in 1856 by L. Trembley,
a native of France, who lived on the border of Clinton County
for years prior to the foundation of the settlement.
Sebastopol was a rich, agricultural section inhabited by
industrious people. Timothy Gruaz laid out the little town of
Sebastopol in 1860, after opening a store in 1858 on the north
side near the Ramsay farm. Eventually the village had about a
dozen houses, with a general store, two blacksmiths (J. C.
Luchsinger and Elisha Demoulin), a cartwright (Rud Kaufmann),
and a shoemaker (Aug Kkeiser). Gruaz’s store came into the hands
of William Hagnauer Sr., and then years later to J. C. Steiner,
and lastly to Elisha Demoulin, who closed the store in about
1900. The blacksmith, cartwright, and shoemaker went out of
business about the same time, so that only homes remained.
During the best years of this village, Anthony Hoefli conducted
a small tavern.
St. Morgan was a small crossroads town at the
southwestern corner of Helvetia Township, on Trenton Road. E. M.
Morgan, a pioneer of Clinton County, settled there in 1844. He
was associate justice of Madison County from 1857 to 1861. He
opened a store and had a post office established there, and
served as its postmaster. Zicholas Zopf opened a tavern, and
Fred Hanselmann opened a blacksmith shop. After the death of the
original owners, the store and tavern had other proprietors, but
have closed years ago.