The village of Roseville made its first start in the world under a different banner . The name by which it first appeared to the public was Hat Grove, and it covered a piece of ground but a little way from its present site. Its commencement may be dated from the establishment of the post office, with Truman Eldridge as Postmaster. Not until after the completion of the Rockford, Rock Island, and St. Louis Railroad, however, was there much progress made toward a business town.
A stone with a plaque commemorartes the establishment of Hat Grove in Eldridge Park. The park is named after the founder of the village
The container is a bison located in the park. Please use stealth and put it back as you found it.
Truman Eldridge, who now occupies one of the most inviting farms and homes within the Corporation, came, in 1836, from Hancock, Mass., and took 240 acres, a part of which is embraced in the northwest portion of the village. Shortly after he returned to his home and spent two years, and in 1838 returned, and in 1839 he took up, at the government price, 80 acres more, directly north, and in 1850 bought 160 acres more, embracing the northeast portion of the Corporation. The southeast quarter section was bought thirty-four years ago by Solomon Sovereign, and thirty years ago the southwest by John Reeves. The Corporation, one mile square, laid out in streets at right angles, embraces equal portions of these four quarter sections.
The first township meeting was held in the old Union Church, on April 4, 1854. Truman Eldridge presided at the meeting, and at its close the first township officers were chosen.
Until the advent of the C. B. & Q. Railroad, almost all the produce was taken to Oquawka, there to be shipped to St. Louis by the Mississippi River. Whenthe railroad was completed trade was changed to Monmouth, and a local trade was started in Roseville.
Mr. Eldridge gave several lots to those who would erect shops or stores thereon, not a few of which liberal offers were accepted.
On May 8, 1874, the town had attained a population of 514 inhabitants, and was incorporated. Since then the population has increased to nearly east of the village. Here he commenced work as a blacksmith. Shortly after, he removed his shop to Roseville, where he added to his small shop a room about sixteen by twenty-four feet.
He soon purchased an engine to aid him in his rapidly growing trade, and increased the number of his employes. About a year ago the present firm was organized, and a still further increase in the buildings and machinery made. Their speciality is windmills, plws and tonqueless cultivators. Quite a number of shops are maintained, good stores, one bank and an excellent flouring mill.
The Schools
The earliest attempts to educate the youth of this community was made in a small log school house, about one mile south of the site of the village. The frame school house east of town was next built. At its location there was a shop and small store, and the residents entertained some hopes of securing a town here. School was maintained here until a few years ago, when it was removed to town and the present edifice constructed. In 1880 a two story building, capable of accommodating two hundred scholars was erected. It was considerd the best school building in the county at the time.
From: The Past and Present of Warren County, Illinois, containing a history of the county–its cities, towns &c., a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, portraits of early settlers and prominent men, general and local statistics, map of Warren County, history of Illinois, Constitution of the United States. Chicago. H. F. Kett & Co. 1877.
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