Alton Museum of History and Art, Inc. Winter 2012 News & Views Our Town Alton incorporated as a city on July 21, 1837. The city is commemorating its 175th anniversary!!!! Alton Museum is working on a new exhibit to celebrate the 175th anniversary of Elijah Lovejoy's martyrdom!!!! College Ave. Presbyterian Church is celebrating their 175th anniversary!!!! Union Baptist Church celebrates 175 years!!!! The great jazz musician, Miles Davis has received the official stamp of approval from the U. S. Post office!!!! THANK YOU Alton Community Service League The Board of Directors of Alton Museum of History & Art is grateful to this wonderful organization for sharing our hopes and dreams. We thank Alton Community Service League for 40 years of support. Lovejoy Printing Press In 1829 the Washington Press of Samuel Rust was introduced. Lovejoy used his press in Alton, Illinois to work to abolish slavery. He said: But, Gentlemen, as long as I am an American citizen, and as long as American blood runs in these veins, I shall hold myself at liberty to speak, to write, to publish whatever I please on any subject being amenable to the laws of my country for the same. If the laws of my country fail to protect me I appeal to God, and with him I cheerfully rest my cause. I can die at my post, but I cannot desert my cause. I have sworn eternal opposition to slavery, and by the blessing of God, I will never go back. Elijah P. Lovejoy Nov. 9, 1802 Nov. 7, 1837 In a very real sense, the Civil War s first casualty fell in Alton, Illinois, on November 7, 1837. It was on that day that the first volley from a pro-slavery mob ended the life of Elijah Parish Lovejoy, a courageous idealist who paid with his life for his defense of free speech and a free press and his opposition to slavery. Lovejoy was born on his grandfather s farm near Albion, Maine, the first of nine children born to Daniel Lovejoy and Elizabeth Pattee. His father was a minister and farmer; his mother a devout Christian. Elijah was named for Daniel s close friend and mentor, the Reverend Elijah Parish. He was ordained by the Second Presbytery of Philadelphia as a Presbyterian minister in April, 1833. On March 4, 1835, he married 21-year old Celia Ann French.
History of Women s Rights Movement The history of the Women's Rights Movement began with a group of people questioning why human lives were being unfairly constricted. Being allowed to live life in an atmosphere of religious freedom, having a voice in the government you support with your taxes, living free of lifelong enslavement by another person. These beliefs about how life should be lived were once considered outlandish. Over the past seven generations, dramatic social and legal changes have been accomplished that are now so accepted that they go unnoticed by people whose lives they have changed. The changes for women that have come about over those seven generations in family life, religion, government, employment and education did not just happen. Women themselves made these changes happen. They worked to create a better world, and they succeeded. Elizabeth Cady Stanton used the Declaration of Independence as the framework for writing what she titled a "Declaration of Sentiments." The same familiar words framed her arguments: "We hold these truths to be selfevident; that all men and women are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Elizabeth Cady Stanton's enumerated areas of usurpations NEWS & VIEWS on the part of man toward woman as follows: 1) Married women were legally dead in the eyes of the law 2) Women were not allowed to vote 3) Women had to submit to laws when they had no voice in their formation 4) Married women had no property rights 5) Husbands had legal power over and responsibility for their wives to the extent that they could imprison or beat them with impunity 6) Divorce and child custody laws favored men, giving no rights to women 7) Women had to pay property taxes although they had no representation in the levying of these taxes 8) Most occupations were closed to women and when women did work they were paid only a fraction of what men earned 9) Women were not allowed to enter professions such as medicine or law 10) Women had no means to gain an education since no college or university would accept female students 11) With only a few exceptions, women were not allowed to participate in the affairs of the church 12) Women were robbed of their self-confidence and self-respect, and were made totally dependent on men THE CANIDATE Charlene Gill 100 Women of Substance Mary Swopes, Mahogany Scholarship Heritage Foundation is currently working on a special document profiling and saluting 100 Women of Substance. Her goal is to present 100 scholarships named in honor of the 100 women. 2
News & Views ARBUCKLE FAMILY In the year 1844, twenty-two members of the Arbuckle Family were freed by the will of Samuel Arbuckle. In his will, of August 31, 1843, he states that all women and children would be freed at his death, but he states that Sam, Robert and Bob the younger, would be hired out for 18 months, so they could earn the means for when they moved on. They came to Alton because they had older members of their family living here. When Samuel Arbuckle moved from Kentucky to Missouri he freed some of his older people; In that group Washington and Mariah Arbuckle. They bought land in Foster Township in 1844. Following Samuel Arbuckle s will the emancipated people traveled to Alton in three boats. The citizens of Alton would not permit them to land at Little Piasa Creek. The boats were taken up to Piasa Creek. They follow the creek to the northern end. They came ashore near the vicinity of the village of Piasa, Illinois. Having earned the means, they were able to purchase land, build cabins and form their own community. The cabins might have been crude log huts built on the edge of the timber. The only light in the hut may have been from the open fire place and the sunlight through the door. The cabins might have been built near the timber to protect them against the wind and storms. They lived upon the products of their small farms and the wild game which was plentiful. They were soon able to improve their living conditions and other families joined the community. Washington Arbuckle told his told his pastor at Salem Baptist Church in Foster Township about his relatives at Piasa and their desire for a church. The pastor, Elder James Henry Johnson was also a missionary for the Christ Churches for Humanity and the Wood River Baptist Colored Association. Elder Johnson then travel to Piasa and founded Little Flock Baptist Church and soon had 38 members. Services were held by others until the 1940 s. Before and after the Civil War some of the people left. There were two families left. One was the family of John Arbuckle who was a patriarch among the community. He was also the father of Presley Arbuckle who was the last to be buried in the Arbuckle Cemetery in 1970. Charlene Johnson / Charlotte E. Johnson Genealogy Floyd Arbuckle married Margaret Hunter Cross. Margaret s mother was a Hunter who married George Cross. Margaret s mother had two brothers Charles and George Hunter. Floyd s mother had two sets of children. Douglas Monroe was from the first set of children. Floyd Arbuckle was from the second set of children. Presley Arbuckle and Floyd Buckle were cousins. XXXX 3
Arbuckle s in the Civil War Seven related men, all named Arbuckle, enlisted in the regiment (29 th ) five of them in Company E. The Arbuckle s were born into slavery near Lexington, Ray County, Missouri. The patriarch appears to be Cpl. Conrad J. Arbuckle, age 43, (1821) who enlisted in Alton, Illinois in February 1864. His son Robert S. Arbuckle, 23, (1841) enlisted the same day. Joseph C. Arbuckle, 21, (1843) his son, ½ brother to Robert, enlisted as a sergeant in the Company. He was known as Big Joe to distinguish him from another Joseph Arbuckle, 23, Little Joe, also born in Ray County, Missouri. Also Pvt. William Arbuckle, 28,(1836) joined in Alton. John P. or C. and Samuel A. Arbuckle, A year later, were the last two to enlist. One was born in Ray County, Missouri and the other in Alton. They are thought to be sons of Conrad, and brothers or ½ brothers of Big Joe and Little Joe. Samuel Arbuckle Sr., born about 1854 in Illinois, died about 1899 in Lancaster, Nebraska (father listed as Cunard Arbuckle). Joseph Arbuckle, born about 1855, lived in St. Louis, Mo. in 1880. Museum Commemorates Life of Presley Arbuckle Presley Arbuckle Presley Arbuckle 1873 1970 Presley Arbuckle was born in the Piasa area of Illinois the son of Josephine and John Elias Arbuckle. Presley was a classy gentleman and a successful farmer near Piasa in Shipman Township. Arbuckle moved to Chicago in 1910. He married Miss Cora Scott in Chicago, Illinois in 1913. She was a graduate of Fisk College in Nashville, Tennessee. She died in child birth. Presley never married again. He said he would never have a wife to suffer like she did. To allow his five sisters free run of the house, Presley built a bunk house for himself and his brothers. In front of the bunkhouse was a long bench. It was not uncommon to find 8 to 10 men sitting there swapping stories. Presley himself was a great storyteller. 4
Alton Museum celebrates our city s 175 th with an exhibit at Alton Square 5
Shurtleff College Class 2011 Alumni Well Shurtleff College Cornerstone 1827 Architect Memorial Stone Shurtleff College Class 1911 John Mason Peck 1789 1858 Shurtleff College 1827-1957 Carpe Diem Loomis Hall in background SHURTLEFF COLLEGE ICONS AMHA Photographer Brian Combs 6
Shurtleff College Day Information The 41 st and Final Official Shurtleff Day was held last year on Sunday, May 1 st, 2011 at the Alton Museum of History and Art in Historic Loomis Hall. The decision was made, due to our dwindling Shurtleff population (age, illness and death.) However, all are welcome to visit the campus and Shurtleff Displays at any time in Loomis Hall which houses the Alton Museum of History and Art. Dr. Norman Showers, class of 1950, who has been organizing The Shurtleff Day for several years, welcomes any to come and visit. Donations are most welcome to help continue the preservation of Loomis Hall which was built in 1832, under the founder, Dr. John Mason Peck. MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION ALTON MUSEUM OF HISTORY & ART, INC 2809 College Avenue, Alton, IL 62002 (618) 462-2763 NAME ADDRESS PHONE E-MAIL [ ] Youth... $5 [ ] Senior....$20 [ ] Active (Single)... $25 [ ] Family...$30 [ ] History Lover.$40 [ ] Patron of the Arts...$50 [ ] Business....$100 [ ] Life...$1,000 [ ] Benefactor. $5,000 Call in Advance for Appointment 618 462-2763 Admission Adults $5.00 Children $1.00 Senior Day Wednesday $2.50 Groups of 15 or more please make a reservation for a guided tour. [ ] Donation [ ] Willing to work as a volunteer 7
Alton Museum of History & Art, Inc. 2809 College Avenue Alton, Illinois 62002 Visit our website: www.altonmuseum.com President Norman Showers Vice President Brian Combs Past President Charlene Johnson Secretary John Langley Treasurer Lois Mitchell President Emeritus Charlene Gill Board of Directors Nancy Alexander Cathy Bagby Lee Barham Patti Culp Karen Gunter Bo Jackson Lois Lobbig Tarrie Marshall Bill McKenzie Douglas Miller Charles Yancey Volunteers Cathy Bagby Brian Combs Charlene Gill Charlene Johnson John Langley Norman Showers Jazman Walker EVENTS Friday Night at the Museum 2 nd Friday each Month 6:30 8:30 p.m. Miles Davis Jazz Festival Saturday, May 19, 2012 4:30 p.m. Lewis & Clark College Trimpe Hall Tickets $25.00 The Jazz Festival Lineup HOSTESS Vickie Newton Lovejoy 175 th Anniversary November 7, 2012 BANDS Jim Manley Danita Mumphard Soulard Blues Band History outlives those who would destroy it. anonymous 8