Mr. Speaker, today I'd like my colleagues to join me in honoring one of the oldest and most historical communities in southwestern Illinois. The City of Chester is one hundred and seventy- five years old. The town of Chester, also the…
Mr. Speaker, today I'd like my colleagues to join me in honoring one of the oldest and most historical communities in southwestern Illinois. The City of Chester is one hundred and seventy- five years old.
The town of Chester, also the county seat of Randolph County, traces its origins to its location as a river community along the bluffs of the Mississippi River. The river serves as the community's western boundary and has long been a critical part of Chester's history, development and growth.
The founding of Chester is traced to an early settler named Samuel Smith. Smith became associated with a small settlement otherwise known as Smith's landing, due to its proximity to a river ferry crossing and supporting business. In the summer of 1829 however, Smith erected a dwelling, established a ferry and began construction of a mill. His wife, a native of Chester, England, was named Jane Thomas. Thomas originally came to Illinois with the Swanwick family and bestowed the name of her home town on this new and growing settlement. Smith kept a hotel and ferried passengers across the river on a flatboat.
Chester's chief commodity back then was castor oil which was used as a lubricant; however Castor oil lost its importance as the petroleum industry developed. In production of this oil, Chester had the advantage over other surrounding communities in the region such as Pinckneyville and Frankfort, who also had castor oil presses, because of its close proximity to river transportation. Castor oil shipments from Chester were made to St. Louis, Philadelphia, New Orleans, and as far away as England. In 1830, Chester increased in size and an iron foundry, machine shop and several large stores were constructed on the riverfront. Steamboats did a brisk business at Chester.
In 1837, Nathan Cole began operating a small sawmill with a corn- grinding attachment. A few years later he converted this enterprise into a flourmill which became the Cole Milling Company, otherwise known as present day Con Agra. Cole Milling made use of one of the first electric generators, allowing its surplus power to be utilized for power to operate Chester's street lights. Chester actually became one of the first communities in the state to have electric street lights, even prior to their use in Chicago.
Samuel Clemens, otherwise known as Mark Twain, was a pilot on the Mississippi from 1857 to the Civil War and on several occasions stopped at Chester at the Cliff House, which was a river hotel.
In 1832-33, a cholera epidemic swept through the community which took many lives. South of the present site of the Con Agra Mill, a few stones on a hillside mark the burying place of those who died of the epidemic.
The Illinois State Penitentiary at Menard had its beginning during the Civil War when it was a repository for Confederate prisoners being transported to the Federal Prison on the Alton, Illinois riverfront. The original brick building is still standing inside the prison's yards.
After the capitol moved from Kaskaskia to Vandalia and later Springfield, Illinois the region had a disastrous flood in 1844. When the Randolph county seat was moved from Kaskaskia to Chester, records were stored in a schoolhouse which was the temporary courthouse until a new one was completed in 1848. The stone annex, now the Archives Building, was built in 1863 and serves today as a museum for Randolph County history. The new
Randolph County Courthouse, built in 1975, stands today on the bluff overlooking the river.
The buildings along the river that were part of the original town of Chester have been razed. However, a number of the old homes which stood on the bluffs above the town overlooking the river still give evidence of the wealth and the architectural style of that period. Many riverboat captains and other patrons of the river settled to this riverboat row of homes with an impressive overlook of the river.
Chester has had a rich and varied history in the development of the state of Illinois and of the nation. Illinois' first Governor, Shadrach Bond, has his resting place in Chester. Bond, who had lived in nearby Kaskaskia, was elected Governor without opposition in 1814, when Illinois was founded. Chester is also home to the Gilster Mary Lee mills and operations, producing high quality baking products for use throughout the world.
Chester also counts several historic homes as part of its heritage and culture. The Pierre Menard home is the finest example of Southern French Colonial architecture in the central part of the Mississippi river valley. Menard was a busy trader, storekeeper and politician of his period. He served as Lt. Governor under Governor Bond.
Chester is also home to one of America's most beloved cartoon characters, Popeye. Popeye's creator, Elzie Segar, was born in Chester and spent much of his youth there. When Elzie was 12 years old, he worked at the Chester Opera House and during that time he did odd jobs, played the drums with the orchestra and became the theatre's projectionist.
While films were re-wound, Popeye and many other characters were born as Elzie drew and showed them on glass slides before the local townspeople. Elize Segar and Popeye still have a place in Chester.
Chester today is a community of over 8500 people and boasts many hotels, restaurants and businesses. It continues to serve as a historic focal point for the development of southwestern and southern Illinois.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the community and people of Chester, Illinois and to recognize its role in the development of southwestern and southern Illinois.