The Early Years to 1859

                          1835 – Illinois Governor, Joseph Duncan, and the State Legislature began financing the building of railroads across the state.  One line was to run from north to south, another from east to west.  These lines were to cross in Coles County.  Corruption and economic hardship forced the project some $14,000,000 in debt and it was abandoned soon after construction began at the extremities of the lines.

 

                         1836 – “Old State Road” (one of the original roads or trails) laid out south of what will become Mattoon.  Another trail is the Kaskaskia Pass that travels past the “Lone Elm Tree” at 32nd and Western.

 

                         1850 – Work on the railroads resume. The Terre Haute and Alton Railroad was built by a Massachusetts firm, “Phelps, Mattoon, and Barnes”. William B. Mattoon, partner of this firm would become the namesake for the town.

 

                         1850 – Land Grant Act passes, enabling the construction of the first land grant railroad; the Illinois Central Railroad.

 

                         1851 – Asiatic Cholera epidemic.

 

                         1852 – With the location of the railroad crossing almost certain, the persons later known as the founders of the city began buying land in Section 12 and concluded to plat a town.  Among these owners were Elisha Linder, Ebenezer Noyes, James T. Cunningham, Stephen D. Dole, John L. Allison and John Cunningham.  Land was purchased for $2.50 per acre.

 

Elisha Linder, Ebenezer Noyes, James Cunningham, and Stephen Dole

                         1853 – Zion Hill Church organized.

 

                    1853-54 – Terre Haute & Alton and Illinois Central prepare roads for laying train tracks.

 

          Dec. 12, 1854 – Town is laid out by County Surveyor, John Meadows with lots being built upon before they were offered for sale.

 

                 Feb. 1855 – Benjamin Turney (right) brings the first house to what becomes Mattoon.  The house came from his farm and was drawn on hickory poles by 16 yoke of oxen for three miles over the snow.

 

       March 28, 1855 – R. H. McFadden builds first house on the south side of First St. just East of the IC Railraod. (now Prairie)

 

          May 14, 1855 – The proprietors of the town traveled to Charleston, acknowledged the plat to Justice Eli Wiley, and had it recorded.        

 

          May 15, 1855 – People came from all over the country to buy lots at auction in the town nicknamed “Pegtown” for all the survey stakes in the ground.   

 

             July 4, 1855 – The Pennsylvania House opens.  The first Mattoon hotel was erected four days earlier, June 30, constructed from timber that had been framed and readied in Terre Haute.  (now middle 1600 block Broadway)

 

           July 14, 1855 – First Mattoon Post Office established with James M. True as postmaster.

 

          Sept. 18,1855 – First wedding –  Sarah Norvell and R. H. McFadden were married by Rev. Isaac Hart.

 

            June 7, 1856 – First newspaper published – The weekly Independent Gazette with 4 page–7 column edition.

 

                  Fall 1856 – Union House constructed.  (now 16th & Broadway,)  Broadway or Charleston

 

                   1855–56 – First public school conducted in the winter by James A. McCullam in the upper room of True, Cunningham & Co. store. (now 1212 Richmond)

 

                 Jan. 1856 – First passenger train travels on Illinois Central Railroad through Mattoon on its Chicago to Cairo run.

 

                         1856 – Carthell Hall (entertainment) built. (now 1606 Broadway).

 

                         1856 – First public school erected at 1307 Champaign.

 

                         1856 – First two babies born in Mattoon, Charles Cartmell in July and Mollie Puff in September.

 

                         1856 – First Church built by  Predestinarian Baptists. (now 1421 Wabash)

 

                         1856 – Immaculate Conception Church organized.

 

                         1856 – Methodist Episcopal church organized.

 

                         1857 – Christian Church organized.

 

                         1857 – The Cumberland Presbyterian Church organized.

 

                         1857 – Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church dedicated frame building on land donated by E. Noyes in the 2100 block of Richmond.

 

                         1857 – Ground broken for Essex House.

 

       March 23, 1857 – Anna Riddle born in Mattoon.  One of the earliest births.

 

                May 1857 – Residents vote to incorporate the town, 65 votes for 25 votes against.  Officers are – President: Michael Tobey, Trustees: Dr. John Dora, Peter J. Drake, Rufus Houghton, N. W. Chapman; Attorney: F. A. Allison, Justice of Peace: R. H. McFadden, Treasurer: John Dora.

 

          June 20, 1857 – Ebenezer Noyes plats his addition to the west end of town.
[An attorney reports Noyes laid streets with a jog, to maximize the number of lots in his addition, and the streets on the West had different names than the ones on the East side of town.  Such as:  Broadway & Western, Richmond & North First, Champaign & North Second, etc.  Another story that circulates says Mr. Noyes could not agree with the proprietors of the east side of the city, so he created a “jog” in the streets where his land met the original town.]

 

                circa 1857 – Ebenezer Noyes builds his house & carriage house.  (Still standing at 2206 Western Ave.)

 

          June 23, 1857 – Road tax passed requiring all men to work on the street four days a year or pay $4 in lieu of labor.

 

             July 1, 1857 – Liquor license ordinance established requiring a $75 fee for the sale of liquor, renewable every six months.

 

             July 6, 1857 – Ordinances passed forbidding drunkenness, working on Sunday, disturbing public or religious meetings, gaming, leaving carcasses on the streets, littering, obstructing sidewalks, and driving fast horses.

 

                         1858 – North Park, also known as 7th Ward Park established on 12th St.  Land deeded by John Allison, James & John Cunningham for the first public park.  The park had a fountain and beautiful walks.  Now called Allison–Cunningham Park.

 

                         1858 – First bank opened in Mattoon and is the second in Coles County.  James T. Cunningham & John Cunningham of Mattoon, and Thomas A. Marshall & O. B. Ficklin of Charleston opened the private bank.

 

                         1858 – New-School Presbyterian church organized and church constructed.  (now 1520 Charleston)

 

                 July 1858 – International Order of Odd Fellow organized.

 

         Sept. 18, 1858 – Lincoln–Douglas debate in Charleston.  Both candidates spend the previous night in Mattoon.

 

                 Oct. 1858 – The Mason’s organized in Mattoon, meeting on the third floor of the Avey Building on 16th St.

 

                         1859 – Essex House, the third brick building, opens on the southwest corner of the railroad intersection with Union Station located on the lower story.   [The Essex House served as hotel, restaurant, and ticket office for both railroads.  Abraham Lincoln, Stephen Douglas, and Ulysses S. Grant all stopped at the Essex.]   

 

                          1859 – Methodist Episcopal Church erects brick building at 1320 Champaign.