Cairo evening times. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1865-1866, 1865-10-01
THE CAIRO THAT WAS.
Dips into Old cairo Life.
THE PLACE, THE PEOPLE, OC-
RRENCES AND PA oTIMES.
BY NOSE HARRELL.
NUMBER Ky.


history of Alexander county. I shall not go
lack to the period when Alexander formed
portion Of st. CLAIR county, but start from a
period within the memory of many persons yet
living among US.
As early as the year 1918, this section of
Southern Illinois claimed attention as point
destined to become the seat Of great COM
mercal city. The lowncss Of the extreme
delta, or its liability to frequent foundations,
was at that period considered an objection not
dinary means, and as a consequence the actual
commencement of the great city, was made
at the locality yet known as America. In the
year 1920 this settlement was Incorporated by
th5 Legislature, Henry Bechtle, James Riddle,
Henry Rector Nicholas Bertrand, William NJ.
Alexander and others, being the incorporators.
So great was the confidence Of these gentle
men that the region near the confluence of
these rivers was destined to be peopled by
vast mulltudes, that they included within the
limits of their corporation, four square miles
Of territory, and patterned their town, IN very
many respects. after the, even then, great city
of Philadelphia.
The first sale Of lots at this new town Of
America took place when the river was bank
full Of water, and when, as a consequence,
that site presented the first dry land above the
junction. Over one hundred thousand dollars
worth of lots were sold. Improvements COM
menced Immediately, and in year or two the
town actually contained population Of over
one thousand persons. DR.. VIM. NJ. Alexan-
der after whom this county was named, Henry
l.. Webb Gather Of our fellow toWnsman II.
Watson Webb. and James Berry engaged in
the mercantile business, q small brick court
house and jail were erected aud every thing
meved on most tencouragingly for the county as
we'll as the incorporators until the year 1880,
when, in consequence Of the great bar in the
river i'll front OF the town, and other causes of
minor kind the place commenced decline
which was never arrested.
About the year 1885 tile county seat was re-
moved from America to Unity, alexander
county at that time and up to the year lS45
embracing the present county Of Pulaski.) At
vded. In the year 1887 these were burned,
during the session Of the Circuit Court, by two
men named Hawes, who were under arrest for
larceny. By this fire a portion OF the public
records were destroyed. which it was found
impossible to restore.
Unity at that time contained but few fami-
lies and has held It's own remarkably we'll ever
since. Henry L. Webb, Clerk Of the Circuit
Court, William Wilson, Sr., and David Hail
! man kept small taverns. John Hodges, Sr.,
opened out as a halter, but finding the country
unripe for such branch Of manufactures, af-
terwards engaged in the mercantile business.
After the public buildings were destroyed, and
up TO about the year 1910, the Court convened
in one Of the taverns. During that year Spal-
hawks Landing now Thebes, became the
county seat and continued as such until the
year 1859, when by a vote Of the people the
county seat distinction was conferred upon the
! city of Cairo.
| Unity, in early days, although q very small
! village, was q great place Of resort for the set
! tiers. They would meet there, at stated pc
| flOQ3 run morse ;tll lOOt races. uFIuh WllSh }
and eat ginger bread, and nearly always KNOCK
| up a fight that would involve nearly every mar
present On election days q hourly fights :
were looked for, and were generally furnished
with a promptness and regularity which, il
some other line, would have been considered
very commendabe.
| When the town of America was first settled
Unity, Trinity and Caledonia were ''howlins
wilderness. >: Trinity was settled by Berry anC
Webb about the year 1924. The site wa
owned by Bertrand, Briggs & Co. A gooC
two story frame tavern and store house, and ;
large log warehouse were erected, and soor
| afterwards the place commenced commanding
q considerable trade, During the summer 0
| 1928 fifteen steamboats, laid up there, art
among them the steamer CaJed0nia, of whicl
our fellow citizen George D. Gordon was the
mate. Gordon being young and of attractiv
appearance, they LAID siege to the affections O
| Berry's oldest daughter, and in the year 1873
was united with her in Tie holy ties of mat
rimony.n Since his marriage he has been
resident Of this county leading such busi
ness and social life as will insure him furthe
notice in some advanced number Of these rel
able smanations.
In the wear 1892, the village of Trinity wa
destroyed 5y fire, except only the billiar
rooms. Most of the buildings were prompt
re erected by Gordon & Berry, and traces c
them remained there up to a very recent perloC
At this time, however, scarcely anything ca
be seen there to Indicate that the spot ha
ever been peopled.
Between the years 1917 and 1925 the follow
ing persons settled in this county-most
them taking an active part in public affair
and many of them filling from time to tin
county and district offices with honor to then
selves and satisfaction to the people: Villa
Wilson, Martin Atherton, John C. Atherto
Rye Sans, Thomas Sans, William Bggersta
Enoch Smith, David II. Moore, Jesse Echol
George Cloud, Wilson Able, A. S. Grant,
: NJ Phillips, Nesbt Allen, S. II. Award, l
L. Webb, James Berry, John F. Smyt
, Alanson Powell, James S. Smith, Henry job
son. Thomas Parker Framllel Parker r. Hoo
paw, and Sol Parker. This list embraces, pc
) haps, nearly al the prominent citizens of Il
g county forty years ago.
No settlement was made at the mouth of t
Ohio until about the year 1926. About th
time John and Thompson Bird threw up