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| The Cheney Mansion |
| Jersey County Historical Society 601 North State Street Jerseyville, IL 62052 |
| Webmaster ~ Bob French email: bobjchs@gmail.com |
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| The first house built in the area of plank wood siding and not contructed with logs. The original structure being know as the "Red House" because of the red painted exterior. The "Red House" stood majestically for years to serve as a home, tavern, and a place for travelers to rest their weary bodies after miles of travel in a wagon, cart, stage coach, horseback or by foot. Construction of the "Red House' began about 1826 and was completed by 1827. In the year of 1834 local settlers decided to split away from Greene County and form a new smaller county. Many large counties were undergoing change a that time to cut down the hardship of travel to register and record legal documents at the County Seat. By forming smaller county areas new settlers wouldn't have such a hard time registering legal papers and would be more apt to do so. This would help eliminate a new person infringing on an established persons' property and land rights. The "Red House" was built by James Faulkner, and two carpenters named Hamilton and Sweeney. A coupleof years later it was sold to A. L. Carpenter, then to the D'Arcy family and through inheritance was owned by the Cheney family. The D'Arcy family had obtain large tracts of land and were of considerable wealth. During their ownership many changes and additions were added to the establishment and was carried on by the Cheney family. Today this stately structure shows little resemblance to the 2 story 4 room "Red House". Edward A. D'Arcy Edward A. D'Arcy Edward A. D'Arcy had obtained large tracts of land from his father, who was the personal Surgeon for George Washington's family and from this service had accumulated land and considerable wealth. During their ownership many changes and additions were added to the establishment and was carried on by the Cheney family. Today this stately structure shows little resemblance to the 2 story 4 room "Red House". Not only did this establishment serve the above causes, it was a stop for the "Underground Railroad". In June of 1950 an article in our local newspaper states "while workmen were engaged in repairing the foundation at the Prentiss D. Cheney residence on North State steet this week, their tools suddenly broke through into a large underground vault or cave which the owner of the place did not know existed. Exploration of the vault and adjoining corridors had not been undertaken by Cheney up to Wednesday morning. The vault has however, been identified with the existence of the first frame dwelling, stage coach station and tavern of the locality which stood at the same spot in 1827. In 1834 there were only three families and one single gentelman who lived in Jerseyville. Along with other early settlers located in the nearby area, they met at the "Red House" for the purpose of forming a new county. They were required to set up a form of government (including Militia or Rangers), elect a Postmaster, and choose a name for the new county and county seat. Many of the early pioneers came from the state of New Jersey, so they decided to call the county "Jersey" and the town "Jerseyville". Up until this time the little settlement was call "Hickory Grove". The Cheney house was sold at auction in the summer of 1997. Through the generousity of two retired gentlemen from Florida, one being Clayton Brown, who was born and raised in Jerseyville, the other being Richard McCauley. The Cheney house became the property of the Jersey County Historical Society. The Cheney mansion is now completly restored and the Porte Cochure has been replaced in fine fashion. |
| The Red House |
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