The
early inhabitants of Central City, like those of the entire
county,
came
from a variety of geographic locations and reflected a cross
section
of religious, political and cultural backgrounds. There is
little
wonder
then, that when it became necessary to make a choice of one
side
or the other, the decision did not come easily for many.
Politically,
most Central City citizens were members of the Democratic
party
influenced by their local leader, Judge H.K.S. Mulveney, a
dedicated
follower of Senator Stephen Douglas.
While
the Democrats usually did not actively oppose the war, they
were
often less than enthusiastic in its support. On the other
hand, the newly arrived immigrants, largely
from Germany, were fervent in their support of the Union and
made many sacrifices throughout the conflict. Many had suffered
injustices in their homelands and were ready to support the rights of
all men to be free.
What
was considered a treasonable group, known as the Knights of
the Golden Circle, grew up in the Central City area. It
discouraged enlistments,
resisted the draft, and assisted deserters. When the
Illinois
Central
bridge over Crooked Creek north of Central City was destroyed
in November of 1864, it was thought to be the work of the
Knights
attempting to prevent the transportation of troops and
supplies to the front. Early in the war, Judge Melveney
called a public meeting at which he presented a resolution
asserting the right of secession which
was adopted. He advocated a Northwestern Confederacy
separate from the Union. It is said that the judge did all
he could to aid
the
Knights. A Copperhead rally held at Central City drew 2,400
Southern
sympathizers who toasted Jefferson Davis. According to the
Sentinel, many
rode into Centralia to taunt the Union supporters there. It
should be pointed out that Central
City
provided
only a small number
of this group, for they came
from all over the area.
Following
the firing on Fort Sumter and President Lincoln's call for
volunteers
to suppress the rebellion, Central City’s best and
strongest
quickly
responded. Some, no doubt, enlisted simply for the adventure
but
most were firmly convinced of the righteousness of the
cause. The
Turner
Society made up of young German gymnasts and musicians,
sent
18 of their 30 active members in the first calls, and most
of the remainder
followed. Four were killed and nearly all the rest wounded.
The
lodge was forced to disband.
In his
research, Clark Seibel, discovered while writing his
authoritative book on
Central City history, the following names of Central City residents who took part in the
bloody struggle: John Hutchcraft (killed), Elijah
Rector, William Richardson, Thomas Adams (died in Service), George Chorgel, James Fike (died in
service), Richard Farthing, John McBride, William
Tate, John Sands, George Seibel, Daniel Wilson, John Hewett, James
Butler (died in service), Elzy Davenport, James Estes, Charles Short,
Michael Crow, Henry Zeis, Andreas Bourgdorff, John Horn
(killed), Jan Bpulcher, Carsten Schmidt (died in service) Paulinius Agnew, James Courtney (died
while prisoner of war),
James Gilmore, T.D. Sanderson, Peter Goad, Andrew Zimmerman, William Cramer, Jack
Warner, P. Shomberg, Joseph Feidler, Charles Stienmann and Charles Sickel.
During
the war, the old Fair Grounds, west of Central
City
and
north of Green Street, were used as a military camp. It was
a temporary location
for troops awaiting shipment on the Illinois Central to and
from
the
front. It was also used occasionally for men on furlough.
Two interesting Civil War personalities made Central City their home in the years following war. Jackson Warner was a Confederate guard at the dreaded Libbey Prison, who received the unanimous praise of Union soldiers for his kindness to them.
William
Cramer, who had served with the 21st Ohio Regiment, the unit
which participated in the famed Andrew Raid in which 21 of
their men slipped past the Rebel lines to Marietta, Ga.,
where they stole the locomotive known as the
"General" and headed back north. They were pursued
by Confederate troops in the "Texan" and were
captured. Both Warner and Cramer told tales of their
experiences of which the locals never tired of hearing.
While the overwhelming majority
of Central City residents gave their complete support to the
Union, a few sympathized with the Confederacy. Central
City always had a Douglas Street but never one named for
Lincoln.
Last Modified:
December 01, 2010 04:55:48 PM