Days Gone By In Staunton

Thursday, March 13, 1975 -- DIPPING INTO OLD MAN MOSES' BUCKET --It may be quite possible a large number of the present residents of Staunton and vicinity are not aware of how this area was settled. It was back in the early 1800's that the first part of the present Macoupin County attracted some hardy pioneers. Although it seems that the history of this particular area is rather meagre, when Illinois was admitted as a state in 1818, Macoupin County was a part of Madison County. However, later that year the state legislature, meeting in the state capital, then located in Vandalia, passed an ace creating Macoupin County, named after the Indian name of the wild artichoke or "white potato" which grew along the creeks in the county, the principal one being named Macoupin Creek. At first Staunton township was full size, six miles square, but later the north half, three by six miles, was designated as Mt. Olive township.

From the meagre bits of history, it seems that the first settler to come into what is NOW Staunton Twp, was one John Wood, a Virginian, who was a blacksmith and millwright He came in 1817, and settled probably at Silver Creek, in the southeast part of the present township. In the same year two men from Pennsylvania, Richard Wilhelm and Cennith Seymore, settled two miles north of Wood's place. In 1819, Telemachus Camp, a Georgian, settled on land in the western part of the present township. In the same year John and Richard Chapman came from Tennessee, and the following year Jesse Chapman of North Carolina, James Cowell, Lewis and William Cormak, came and settled in the vicinity of what is now Staunton. In 1821 Roger Snell came from Tennessee to locate southwest of the present city of Staunton. After 1821, many families came to locate in this vicinity, and by 1830 quite a number of settlers had established homes within the present township. It is possible that there may be descendants of these pioneers in this area, especially in the Snell family, who had built their home near the southwest city Limits of Staunton, later owned by the Whalen family, now the property of "Bud" Neuhaus.

Early church services were held in the homes of the pioneers. In 1825 a log structure, built in one day by the settlers, served as both a church and school. In 1828 a more pretentious place was built of hewn logs, shingle roof and plank floor, to serve as a church, school and meeting place. This was built where the present City Cemetery is located.

I will try to relate more of the early history of Staunton in future columns, hoping they will be of interest to the present residents of the township.

Thursday, March 27, 1975 EXPECT ARRESTS IN BURGLARY CASES -- Macoupin County Sheriff Richard Zarr and Gillespie Police expect to arrest one juvenile and one 17-year-old male who were allegedly implicated with several burglaries in the Gillespie area according to Zarr.

The arrests will follow an extensive investigation in the Gillespie area which has uncovered a cache of what are believed to be stolen goods that were hidden at a Gillespie residence. Zarr said officials are now checking with recent theft victims to identify the goods.

The two persons sought are believed to have been involved with 19-year-old James Donald Allen, Gillespie, who was arrested Monday afternoon and charged with burglary and theft. Allen was charged after an informant took Gillespie police to a boat stolen Feb 27 from Richard Keck, Gillespie, and later linked the theft to Allen. Allen is also charged with the Feb. 12 burglary of the Carl Schiesneke residence, Gillespie, in which a tape player, tapes, speakers and assorted tools were taken.

Through the use of informants and independent investigation, officers located the cache of stolen goods Wednesday. Recovered were tape recording equipment, tapes, a portable television set, silverware and tools, Zarr said.

Zarr said the investigation is continuing and additional arrests beyond the two persons now sought may be expected, Additional charges may also be filed as the group is tied to other burglaries. Zarr believes evidence now exists to associate the three with at least four or five burglaries at Gillespie area residences.

CANDIDATES FOR UNIT 6 BOARD -- Three members to the Staunton Board of Education are to be elected at the election to be held on April 12, 1975. Term of office is three years. The three members whose term expire are Stanley A. Cisler, Jack A. Gockel, and Adolf Hebenstreit, Jr. The last date that petitions of candidates could be filed was Friday, March 21,

Those who filed petitions as candidates for the election are J. William Katich, Patricia E. Spencer and Don K. Goldacker.

At least one member to be elected must live in the rural area, but all those elected may live in the rural area of the district.

Stolen Car reported -- The Staunton Police are searching for a dark blue Ford automobile that was reported stolen from James Buse residence. The theft took place sometime between 7:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Monday, March 24, according to police.

Firemen Answered call -- The Staunton Firemen responded to a fire at 3 p m. Saturday, March 22, at the Nita Ficcaro residence, 345 E. Mill Street. Firemen were able to bring the fire under control before the home was severely burned. Damage was estimated at $300.