PICKED UP ON THE ROAD
George P. Long, of Atlas, Illinois, has in his possession a block of walnut wood 14x14 inches and 18 inches long, which was a part of the first jail in Pike County. The old jail was built of hew walnut logs on the farm which is now owned by the Longs. When this jail was built Atlas was the county seat of Pike County. It was then a flourishing town - in fact it was the most important point in this section of the country. People came to Atlas from as far north as Quincy to have their blacksmith work done. People said that Quincy would never amount to much for it was too near to Atlas. Bye and bye the county seat was taken from Atlas and moved to Pittsfield. Then railroad building was commenced and as Atlas was not on the railroad map, it was compelled to take a back seat as it were. At the present time there are three good stores in Atlas and one good blacksmith shop, and while the population is not large there are some mighty fine people living in and around the town.
The house which is occupied by the Longs is an old timer, having been built in 1822 when split oak laths were in use. George Long is a collector of Indian relics, of which he has some very fine specimens. He also has some old specimens of paper money and some very rare shells. The Longs threshed over twelve hundred bushels of wheat, which is the largest quantity threshed from any one farm in that vicinity this year.
(The Quincy Daily Journal - Wednesday, July 29, 1903, Page 2)