One of the earliest steamboats in the Illinois-River trade was the steamer “Exchange,” which plied between St. Louis and Peoria. She was familiarly known as “The Shingle Weaver”; so called from the fact of her carrying upon her hurricane deck a machine for cutting shingles, which was operated by the machinery of the boat, cutting whenever the boat was in motion.
Shingle timber would be obtained at the wood-yards along the river, and market found for the manufactured goods either at St. Louis or Peoria. This boat was an especial favorite with the people of Canton, many of whom would, when desiring to take a trip by river, wait for her coming, and most of the early stocks of goods were shipped on her; she also carried most of the Canton “beeswax ” and other products to their market.
The first frame house erected on grounds now within the present city limits was built for Deacon Nathan Jones, in the spring of 1830. Isaac Swan was the “boss carpenter,” and was aided by the deacon. This building is still standing, on the south side of Jones street, between Wood and Lewistown streets, and is now occupied by Mrs. Dean. It is a two-story frame house. The frame, of the “old-fashioned” variety, was built without any sawed stuff; the joists and studding being split out of heavy timber, the sills and plates hewed, and the weather-boarding split boards, shaved. The weather-boarding was not jointed, but the ends of the clapboards were shaved thin, and lapped. The roof was laid with split and shaved oak shingles. The floor, door frames, corner-boards and stairs, were alone of sawed lumber.
When the carpenters had finished their work, Mrs. Jones took the job of painting, and did quite a respectable job, too, painting it Venetian red. This house was considered to be the most stylish in the country. As Deacon Jones was Postmaster and kept the Post-Ofiice at his house, it became the place of resort for the most intelligent of the pioneers, who would congregate here and discuss educational and religious topics. This building was not on the original town plat, however, being then considered out of town. The first frame erected on the original town site was built in 1831, and was the property of Joel Wright. This building was, in fact, but an addition to an already existing cabin. Isaac Swan was also the builder of this. It was occupied by Mr. Wright as a store-room, and was situated on the southeast corner of Wood and Illinois streets. This building is still standing, but has been removed from its original site, and is now standing on First street, between Illinois and Cole streets. It was occupied until recently by David Will, as a wagon-maker’s shop.