The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-11-01

! hOSJ apple trees which have
but frail footing al the ~
entertainments edge the last reminders Of &A
once thriving and populous place will <
have been swept away. ~
Almost seventy years aso the hamlet NJ
or ST John was founded by a man named NJ
hetinger and few of his followers N
The site chosen a commanding one
on the blum overlooking the lake and
one-hah mile of the point where the north
western depot at the Village of Highwood now
STANDS The great clay bank with the stretch u,
sahd oeach which shelves away to the waters edya
al us loot looks as if 1t were strong enough and
iar enough removed from the breakers to be safe
against the angrest northeaster that eyer bIew
The men who built their houses upon the Main
surrounding the embankment thought their foub
uauons were az sure though founded on the
traditional rock. They did take the precau,ion
however, to limit their building operations ON the
east by a line drawn fifty yards from the edge ne
'ne DUN. mat line has long since been buried in
the sand under the waves and with il are tho
houses and the shops OF the early settlers
In the year 1s45 the Village OF ST John u,s tho
rival OF Waukegan. which then called Little
rort. Both were prosperous and both were grow
ing Highwood tradition hath IL that peonle n,ss
ing through the two places from Chicago declared
lhat 81 John showed the marks of success and
that II was destined to be a big CITY Otber noel
beside the Chicagoans thought So too and thew
hocKed 10 the place and built substantial houses
anu enops. Inc TWO apple trees which alone re-
main OF all that pertained to the Village Of St
Jonn grew In the yard OF Sebastian Richards
whose mouse was farther removed from the
iake than any other In the village The annie
trees were back of the residence. Not long ago
me foundation Of bricks. which was all that
was left OF Richards dwelling slid down the
oiun INTO the lake during the height of win
Ter storm. The roots OF one of the annie treea
are even now extending into the air through the
slde OF the embankment. One good strong push
would send II hurting to the beach 100 feet
below "
Among the names OF the builders Of st. John
IN addition to those Of Hettinger and Sebastian
Richards, the only that the Oldest High
wood inhabitants can remember are Frank
Mltcn Peter Baker and George Shepard Mitch
was shoemaker and II is said that he is still
ioho"lne the trade In a town in the far north
AS iar as is known he is the only survivor Of
the men who founded the Village OF ST John
In the year lS47 there were several stores
blacksmith shop, a tavern and a postoffce in the
fhiage OF st. John, which then held a popula-
ton OF about 200 people. In that day there was
stage coach line between Chicago and MIL
~sukse' Inc tavern at st. John was a relay
station for the stage Henry Mowers who re.
members the village in it's latter davs saws
tnat the tavern was noted for it's table and its
LIQUOR ana that people frequently took the stage
Journey from Chicago for the sole purpose OF
getting good dinner and a good glass.
lutenOeO becoming
aent OF ST John that afterward founded the
village OF Half Day. He had looked over the
lakeside village, and then had declared that he
~ouid establish one that would last longer and
nad more people in 1t. The Automobiles who
every SUNDAY pass through Half Day on their
rans 10 Waukegan and return may look on the
halfdozen houses there assembled and know
mat the man who turned his back on at Jobn
has Kept his word
wnen the Chicago and Milwaukee railroad was
quit the surveyed line one-half mile west
Or the Village OF St John An adeouate ia.
d inc importance OF place Of which now bare.
y vestige remains may be had when n IN
Known tnat the railroad authorities built q spur
me running TO the south edge OF the town
,ome OF the practical residents OF the place had
tnat an excellent quality Of brick
'ouid De made from the clay which was found
u pit short distance south OF the black.ui,h
'hop' As matter Of fact, the presence Of this
was one Of the chief reasons that the
ranch line OF the railroad was built When
Dncle Sam accepted from the Commercial (,Inh
.',. eo the land to the north Of the city as
inihtary reservation the soldiers drew hup
lreos OF carloads Of both good brick and h,oken
'ric. from the site Of the old brickyard and
leeo tne material for temporary road-makinr
'nu Ior tne Milling In Of swamp spots The fore
vi the 81 John people in leaving be-
,ihu them specimens Of their handiwork saved
lollars e'"' Nn"hy
possible to trace today with no difficulty
y all the embankment upon which the branch
me OF the railroad ran to the brickyard and to
ne now lost Village of St John In .,,a "a
utiine II looks like a military redorht 80 :.
'ouid perfectly answer the purpose OF one Tho =
smoankment was leveled at its western end
men stores were erected in the Village OF High.
1ooo' IL starts now from a point almos. direct.
eaeh OF the little Methodist church, and runs
Jug through IT, A"'o 'eeh
~ was less than ten years after the found,,.
o.. 1onn that the people awakened to a po.,,.
,e aanger to their homes by the encroachmen,
the waves Of the lake 1t is true that thav