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HISTORY

OF

McDonough County

ILLINOIS

ITS CITIES, TOWNS AND VILLAGES,

WITH

EARLY REMINISCENCES. PERSONAL INCIDENTS AND ANECDOTES.

AND A COMPLETE

BUSINESS DIRECTORY OF THE COUNTY.

By S. J. CLARKE.

^

SPRINGFIELD, ILL.:

D. W. LUSK, STATE PRINTER AND BINDER.

1878.

,7V\I3C<5"

TO THE PIONEERS

OF

McDOXOUGH COUNTY,

THIS VOLUME IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED

BY

THE AUTHOR.

'S41

/VJ)3

PREFACE.

It is now two years since I conceived the idea of publishing a sketch of McDonough
county, for that was all really intended. The first to whom I submitted my plan was
Hon. Benjamin R. Hampton, who approved the same as far as it went, but suggested its
enlargement, and referred me to Hon. James M. Campbell, Hon. Alexander McLean,
Joseph E. Wyne, and others for their opinion. Each one encouraged the enterprise, but
with the suggestion that I should publish not only a short sketch, but a full and complete
history of the county. Prospectuses of the proposed publication were at once issued
and the work began. In order to te3t the enterprise a partial canvass of the city of
Macomb was made, and in three or four days' time two hundred subscribers were
secured, and I was thus encouraged to continue the work and solicit subscriptions from
those living in other towns and in the country.

Of the magnitude of the work I then had no conception. I was of the opinion there
were yet living man3 T of the old pioneers from whom information could be obtained
without difficulty; but in this I was greatly mistaken. Few indeed are the number
dating their residence in the county previous to the year 1830 ; and even of those of
from one to five years later, the number is fast becoming perceptibly lass. Since th^
projection of this work, quite a number have been called to their long homes, of whom
we now recall the names of Hon. James Clarke, Hon. Cyrus Walker, Vandever Banks.
T. J. Pennington, John Clark, David Seybold, John Lane, and Larkin C. Bacon, the last
mentioned passing away while the work was in the hands of the printer. From some
of these we expected to obtain much valuable information, and had single interviews
with one or two. with the promise of others; but " Man proposes and God disposes."
The interviews were never had, and now their lips are hushed in death, and no more will
their stories of pioneer life be listened to with interest and pleasure by those gathering
around their hospitable firesides.

The author has labored under many adverse circumstances in the prosecution of the
work. Without a dollar in his pocket or to his credit, without material assistance of any
kind from any source, he began the compilation of a work that has required two fall
yaars to complete.

4 PREFACE.

Ab previously remarked, the difficulty in securing information was far greater than ho
anticipated ; especially has this been the case with respect to dates. In order to learn
the dates of the settlements made by William Carter and "William Job, several weeks
were spent in visiting and interviewing old settlers, besides writing many letters to those
who had formerly lived in the county and were supposed to be cognizant of the facts in
the case. The conclusions arrived at are satisfactory to his mind, and will be to the
mind of any who will take the same trouble to obtain the knowledge. The same care
taken to learn the exact time in which the settlements mentioned were made, has been
taken to verify every fact given. That errors may creep in, however guarded one may
be, cannot bo doubted ; but I believe they will be few and far between.

Although in the compilation of the work much time has been spent, and therefore it
has been quite tedious, yet it has not been unmixed with pleasure. Many days and
nights have I spent in listening to the stories of the old pioneers ; ever hearing some-
thing new ; now laughing and then crying, as the ludicrous or the pathetic was narrated ;
and then in the study of the character of our fathers and those of the present genera-
tion, time with me has slipped quickly away.

And now, at the close of my labors, I cannot lay down my pen without returning
thanks to the many kind friends who have assisted me in obtaining information, and
have encouraged me from time to time with words of cheer ; especially would I remem-
ber Hon. James M. Campbell, Hon. Alexander McLean, I. N. Pearson, Circuit Clerk ;
Joseph E. Wyne, Deputy Circuit Clerk ; A. L. Sparks, County Clerk ; Hampton & Hain-
line, publishers Macomb Journal ; Thomas Fulkerson and Charles It. Hume, all of whom
have placed me under special obligations. I would also not forget liev. B. N. Wiles, of
Macomb, who, by his advice and counsel has greatly assisted me, nor Charles C. Chapman,
who has been a co-laborer with me in the work. The printing is from the office of D. W.
Lusk, State Printer, Springfield, Illinois, and great credit is due him for the handsome
typographical appearance of the book. The binding is from the same establishment,
and superintended by George E. Boos, the excellent foreman of the bindery department,
who is entitled to thanks for the faithful manner in which he has performed his part of
the work.

My work is now done, and it is presented to you with the hope that it may please ;

that its errors you will kindly overlook, and that you will be well repaid in its perusal.

Yours truly,

S. J. CLARKE.

SIaoomii, III., December 1, 1877.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

EARLY SETTLEMENTS.

First Settlements— Home of the Red Men— Beautiful Country— A Prairie Fire— A Changed
Scene — Boundaries of County Denned by Act of the Legislature— Timber and Prairie-
First Settlers— Sketch of the Life of John Baker— Macomb Settlement— Flogging In-
dians—A Great. Hunt— Death by a Deer— Organization of County— Meeting of County
Commissioners— Various Orders— Election of Magistrates— Names of Jurors for First
Term of Circuit Court— First Treasurer— Eight Hundred Dollars Bond— First Term of
Circuit Court— Taxes— Big Snow— Description of same by James Clarke, Esq.— John
Rogers— Hominy as a Daily Food— Dreary Winter— Settlers Generally Cheerful— Only
One Marriage 17—26

CHAPTER II.

1831.

James M. Campbell— Appointment to Various Offices— Taken for a Yankee— Prejudice
Against this Class— Economy in County Affairs— Survey of Macomb— Would Not Work
for the Two Best Lots in Town— Court House — Tavern License— Rates Allowed Land-
lords — First Applicant a Preacher — Sale of Town Lots in Macomb — Resignation of John
Baker— Appointment of J. M. Campbell— Oath of Office— Mercantile License Required-
Appointment of Commissioner of School Lands— Second Term of Court— Trial of David
Morgan for Murder— Convicted— Verdict Set Aside by the Judge, and Prisoner Dis-
charged—Indictment Against Thomas Morgan for Murder— Continuance Granted —
Escape from Schuyler County Jail— J. W. Brattle— County Treasurer— Twelve Marriages
Carrying Postoffice in His Hat— First Postmaster 27 — 32

CHAPTER III.

1832-34.

Hard Life and Poverty of Early Settlers— "Millions In It"— Erection of a Jail— A Hard
Kick— Strange Order— Tax on Slaves— Is McDonough County in a Free State ?— New
Court House— Awarding the Contracts— Completion and Occupancy— Years of Service —
An Incident— Expenses of County— Strange Accounts— Black Hawk War— Company
Formed at Macomb— Eighty-six days in Service— Partial List of Volunteers— Cold
Weather— Frozen to Death 33— SS

6 CONTENTS.

CHAPTER IV.

THE LOST CHILD.

Where [sWillieT— Anxiety of the Mother— Search for the Wanderer— First Night— Not Yet
Found— Help Arriving— Second Day's Search— Discouragement of the Searchers— An-
other Night of Suspense— The Mother's Agony— Dangerous Condition— Third Night-
No Nearer a Solution of the Question— Fourth Day of the Search— Searchers Going
Home— Determination of Others to Bolve the Mystery — Hope — Disappointment — Foot
Prints Again Discovered— Trail Lost — Again Discovered— Found— Capture— Nearly
\\i Id— Father Notified— The Joyful News Broken to the Mother— Restoration of the Lost
Child to His Mother's Arms— Reflections 39—45

CHAPTER V.

MUEDEB OF JOHN WILSON.

The McFaddens'— John Wilson— Threats made hy McFaddens' against Wilson— Shooting of

Wilson — Coolness of the Murderers — Their Arrest— Excitement of the People — Prelim-
inary Examination— Committed to Jail without Bail— Trial and Execution at Rush-
ville 46—4*

CHAPTER VI.

PEBSONAL INCIDENTS AND ANECDOTKs.

Hospitality of Early Settlers— Even Book Agents Welcomed— Prejudice Against Yankees-
Charles R. Hume — Visit from a Neighbor— Ordered to Leave— Didn't Go— Invitation to
Dine— Accepted at the Point of a Pistol— Talk Over Matters— Uncle Billy McKamy —
How He Treated a Yankee— Neighborly Act— Grimm and the Lewistown Lawyers —
Possession Nine Points in the Law— Neighbors that were not Neighborly— Determina-
tion of a Young Couple to Marry— Objection by Parents— The Runaways— First Night
in the Woods— Arrival at Nauvoo — Embarassment of the Bridegroom—" Have You Got
Any Nails ? "—The Knot Tied— A Marriage That Didn't Occur —Couldn't Marry an Abo-
litionist — The Supper Eaten and Guests Dismissed—" Not Guilty"— " But I Admonish
You Never to do it Again"— Guilty, Yet Not Guilty— Swearing In Court— Killing a
Witch— Conviction and Death Sentence by a Justice of the Peace— " Bring on Your
Rails "— " The whole d— d thing's busted up." 49— ">7

CHAPTER VII.

1834—38.

Little Required For Actual Necessities— Fashionable Society Not Introduced— Opening New
Roads— Why Timber Land Was First Settled— Aid Asked of Stateto Pay Expenses of the
McFaddens' Trial — Not Granted — Thomas Hayden Allowed $1.50 for Hanging McFad-
dens— Paupers— Freeing a Slave— Hard Times Following Panic of 1837— Not Felt Until
1838— Continued For Several Years— Substitutes For Money— Sample of Prices— Richard
Pennington's Story— Nearest Market— Selection From Ford's History— Laws of Trade —
How a modern farmer lost his money f>8— 65

CHAPTER VIII.

KAIU.V si 11 I.KMKNTS.

Carter's— Job's— Pennington's Point— Camp Creek— Macomb— Hillsgrove—Middletown 06— ~~>

CHAPTER I X.

TICK MOBMONK.

Population of County— Mormons— Sympathy Enlisted— Description of the Mormons— Their
Religion— Conversion of George Miller— A Wonderful cure by "Laying on of Hands"—

Baptism ol Miller— Removal to Nauvoo— Election of 1843— Cyrus Walker— Mormons

CONTENTS. 7

Hold the Balance of Power— Peculiar Ordinances of Nauvoo— Mormon Justice— Deter-
mination of the People to Effect a Change— The Militia Assemble at Carthage— Arri-
val of Gov. Ford— A Conference— Committee sent to Nauvoo— Surrender of Joe Smith
and Others— Joe Smith shown to the Troops— Discharge of the Volunteers — McDonough
Troops Return— The Governor Goes to Nauvoo— Killing of the Prophet— Graphic De-
scription—End of the Murderers not Gained — Horse Stealing— Mormons Charged with
All Kinds of Theft— Flogging Mormons— Volunteers for Nauvoo— A Battle— One Killed,
Several Wounded— The Mormons Are Sent Over the River— List of Volunteers From
McDonough in 1S44 TG— 98

CHAPTER X.

A NEWSPAPEB AND A BATLBOAD.

Re-organization of the County — Last Meeting of the County Commissioners— County Court
—Railroad Agitation — A Newspaper in Macomb — George W. Smith— His Melancholy
End— The "Independent" on Railroads— Railroad Meetings— County Court Petitioned
to Order a Vote on the County Taking Stock in the Proposed Road— Order Granted—
Canvass of the County— Opposition to Railroads— "What a Terrible Thing it would be"
— Statement that One Train of Cars would Carry all the Surplus Grain and Stock Raised
in the County in One Year — How is it Now— Railroads and Yankee Thrift— Postpone-
ment of the Vote— Further Efforts— Vote Taken— Carried — Prediction of the Independ-
ent More than Fulfilled— Another Election Called— Additional Stock Subscribed— First
Appearance of the Iron Horse— Effect on Values 99—107

CHAPTER XI.

HOME LIFE AND AMUSEMENTS.

Dwellings of Our Fathers— Exterior Description— People Industrious— Children Compelled
to Labor— Clothing Worn — Home Manufacture — Drudgery of- Women— Influence of the
Bible— Cultivation of Flax, Cotton and Wool— The Big and Little Spinning Wheels-
Seasons of Fun— Quilting Bees— Corn Huskings— Apple Parings — The Little Brown Jug-
Drinking Universal— Hunting— House Raising — Election Days— Kind Hearts— Neigh-
borly Acts and Universal Love 108—112

CHAPTER XII.

VABIOUS MATTEBS.

Murder of Jams Dye— Coroner's Inquest— Verdict of Jury— Arrest of Mrs. Dye, David Bur-
ress, and S. P. Ray— Commitment to Jail— Indictment by the Grand Jury— Ray Dis-
charged by the Court— Change of Venue Taken by the Other Parties— Trial of Mrs.
Dye at Lewiston— Able Counsel Employed— Con victed— Four Years in the Penitentiary—
Pardoned Before Expiration of Term— Belief in her Innocence — Death— Other Rail-
roads Projected— 550,000 Subscibed in Aid of R. I. & A. Railroad— Order Made by Court
to Take the Vote on the Adoption or Rejection of Township Organization Law— Propo-
sition Carried— Commissioners Appointed to Divide the County Into Townships— New
Jail— Poorly Constructed— Ad Expense to the County— Sale of the Old Jail to the City
of Macomb— Last Meeting of the Court— Escape of Burress— Never Secured 113—119

CHAPTER XIII.

DIVISION OF THE COUNTY.

County Divided Into Sixteen Townships— Names— First Election— Changes Since Made-
Historical Sketches of the Townships— Kldnrado— Industry— New Salem— Mound— Scot-
land— Macomb— Walnut Grove— Blandinsville— Chalmers— Prairie City and Bushnell—
Hire— Tennessee — Lamoine— Emmet— Bethel 120—139

8 CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XIV.

GEOLOGICAL.

Geological Information— Statistics— St. Louis Limestone— Keokuk Limestone— Coal— Fire
Clay— Iron Ore— Building Stone— Limestone for Lime— Sand and Clay for Brick— Soil
and Agriculture 140— 157

CHAPTER XV.

TEMPEBANCE.

Views of Early Settlers on the Temperance Question— Pure Whisky Would Make the Drunk
Come— Washingtonian Tidal Wave— First Temperance Lecture in the County— Diffi-
culty in Securing a Chairman— Effect of the Addresses— Sons of Temperance— Good
Templars— Temple of Honor— Daughters of Temperance— Cadets of Temperance— Cold
Water Templars— Election of a Temperance Candidate for the Legislature— Decrease of
Intemperance— Remarks 158 — 160

CHAPTER XVI.

1857-1860.

First Meeting of the Board of Supervisors— Names of Members— Resume of the Preced-
ing Ten Years— Speculative Fever— High Prices of Real Estate— 1856— Nemaha Valley
Bank— Crash of 1857— Failure of William H. Randolph <fc Co.— Public and Private Im-
provements Suspended — Depreciation of Values — The License Question — Saloon
Keepers Imitate Example of the Importunate Women in the Scriptures — Reduction of
License— Poor Farm Ordered Sold— Trouble between City of Macomb and County on
the Pauper Question — N. C. R. R. Bonds— Refusal by the Board to pay the Coupons in
New York— Suit Brought Against the County— County's Counsel Advises the Payment
According to Contract— Resolutions Asking Relief to Taxpayers— Low Prices— Scarcity
of Gold— Various Resolutions Looking to Relief 161—166

CHAPTER XVII.

THE WAB AT HOME.

'Days that Tried Men's Souls."— McDonough County Politically— Natural Sympathy of
many with the South— Patriotism Prevails— Love for the Old Flag— Bombardment of
Fort Sumpter— How the News was Received in McDonough— The County Aroused —
Quick Response to the- Call of the President— Meetings held Throughout the County-
Specimen Resolutions— Organization of Three Companies for the Sixteenth Regiment
— Their Departure — "May God Bless You."— Old and Young Desire to Enlist— Battle
Fields— Many Vacant Chairs now to be Seen— Sleeveless Coats now Among Us — Aid
Societies Formed— The Women Determined to do their Duty— The Twenty-eighth Regi-
ment at Shiloh— Flag Presented by the County to Company "D."— One Hundred Dollars
Appropriated by the Board of Supervisors for Sanitary Purposes — Bad News from the
Field —Organization of the Sons of Liberty— Party Strife Again Running High— Recruit-
ing almost Suspended— Hampton's Resolutions — Voted Down — Reid's Resolutions
Adopted— Resolutions to Encourage and Aid Enlistments— Board Refused to Adopt—
Call from the Government for More Volunteers— Draft Ordered— Appointment of Wm.
H. Randolph Deputy United States Marshal— Resolutions Favorable to a Bounty Adopt-
ed—Three Hundred Dollars Bounty— L. H. Waters and others Oppose It— Amount Ex-
pended— Killing of Wm. II. Randolph, Deputy United States Marshall— Escape of the
Murderers— Capture of Miles Bond by Frank E. Fowler, United States Detective— Trial
at Rushvillc— Acquittal — Arrest ol James [and John Bond— Trial at Macomb— Verdict
Rendered "Not Guilty. "—Great Excitement— Fall of Richmond— Joy of the People-
Joy Turned into Sorrow— Assassination of President Lincoln — Close of the Rebellion—
Return of the Boys in Blue— Thanks be to the Father of All 167—181

CONTENTS. b»

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE WAB IN THE FIELD.

Soldiers Brave and Modest— Sixteenth Regiment— Irish Lovers— Ancestry— " Architect of
the Natural Bridge "—Dutch Solomon and General Pope— Stealing their Ammunition —
"Close Up"— "Is That High Enough Massa "--Model Business Letter— More Compa-
nies Raised— Company H, Second Illinois Cavalry— Twenty-Eighth Regiment— Company
L, Seventh Illinois Cavalry— Swearing Soldier— Fifty-Fifth Regiment— Company C, Fifty-
Ninth Regiment— Sixty-Fourth Regiment— John Jacobs, a Prisoner— Claims to be a Con-
federate Spy— Borrows a Mule and Gun from Rebels— Captured by Union Soldiers— Abou t
to be Hung as a Rebel Spy— Taken to Headquarters— Identified— Recovery of Mule and
Gun— Discipline— Give the Countersign—" I'm General Gordon Granger "—"You Can-
not Pass Here "—Capture of a Rebel Flag— Seventy-Eighth Regiment— One Hundred
and Nineteenth Regiment— One Hundred and Twenty- Fourth Regiment— One Hundred
and Thirty-Seventh Regiment— One Hundred and Fifty-First Regiment— Company H,
Second Artillery— Company B, Tenth Missouri— General Summary— List of McDonough
Soldiers— Residence— Date of Enlistment— Final Disposition— Miscellaneous List 182—241

CHAPTER XIX.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS MARKING STOCK.

What Various Individuals Thought of McDonough County— Stock Marks 242—246

CHAPTER XX.

NEW COURT HOUSE AND JAIL.

1868— Resolutions in Favor of Building— Condemnation of the Old Structure— Committee
Appointed to Confer with the City Council of Macomb— Legislature Petitioned— Taylor's
Resolution— White's Resolution— Refusal to Build Unless Macomb Should Donate §20,000
Additional to Their Tax— City Council Refuses to Comply— N. P. Tinsley Steps in the
Breach— Agreement Between Macomb and the County— Plans Adopted— Contract
Awarded— Cost— Description -List of All County Officers 247—256

CHAPTER XXI.

OTHER RAILROADS.

Rock Island and Alton Railroad— Aid Granted— Southern Outlet— Sale of the Franchises of
the Road— Tricks of the New Company— New Lines Adopted— Large Subscriptions Ob-
tained—Demand for County's Subscription— Sold Under Mortgage— New Company
Formed— Again Sold— Petition to the County Board to Vote Subscription to H., M. C..L.
&E. Railroad_ 257—259

CHAPTER XXII.

NEWSPAPER ENTERPRISES.

"McDonough Independent."— "Macomb Journal."— "Prairie City Chronicle."— "Prairie
Chief."— "Prairie Chicken. "—"Macomb Ledger."— "Prairie City Herald."— "Bushnell
Record."— "Western Light."— "The Macomb Independent."— "The Gleaner." 260-266

CHAPTER XXIII.

UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.

Question of Slavery— Organization of the U. G. Railroad— Its Mode of Operation— Route
Through the County— Incidents— "What am I?"— Charley's Thoughts— His Escape —
Arrival at Blazer's Station— Leaving— His Return— In Search of Wife and Children-
Failure — Second and Third Trip— Escape with Wife— Recapture of his Wife— Charley's
Escape— At last Successful in Getting his Wife and Children— A Lively Load and Lively
Time — Six Negroes— Start for Macomb— On the Wrong Road— Charley Recognized— Old
Fashioned Plantation "Hoe Down."- Betrayal of the Negro Preacher— Virginia Home

10 CONTENTS.

— Dcnth of His faster Removal— Promise of Freedom— Sending Caesar South— Warned
by a Stranger— His Escape — Given a Horse — On the Line of the tl. G. K. R. — Failure to
Find his Wife— Train Captured— David Chrisman— Agent's House Watched— Feint-
Attack— One Captured— A White Negro— "G'wine to JInede Yankee Church"— Negro
Tom— Escape— Fight with Bloodhounds— Arrival ait Blazer's— Views on Religion— Pre-
sence of Mind— Dobbins' Son— Negro Saved by a Small Boy— Going to Market— Lost—
Directions Given— Negroes taken from the Train of the C, B. and Q. R. R.— Taken to
the Hotel by City Marshal— Remain until Made Free by Proclamation of Abraham
Lincoln 267-279

CHAPTER XXIV.

STONE COAL CLAY.

Coal— Extent— Average Yield— Quality— Stone— Quality and Extent— McLean's Statement

Rowley's Bank— Grindstones > 280—282

CHAPTER XXV.

M*DONOUGH COUNT! AGKICULTUBAL SOCIETY.

Organization— First Fair— A Success— Second Exhibition— Lease of Grounds— Contrast
Between First and Present Exhibition— Chandler's White Bull— Blooded Stock— Time
Required for Fair — Fortunate in Officers— Purchase of New Grounds— First and only
Failure, which was no Failure— Present Officers— Stock Association— Appeal 283—286

CHAPTER XXVI.

BLACK LAWS.

Barly Prejudice— Specimen of the Black Laws— Negroes in McDonough— Negro Barber
and J. M. Campbell— Nut so Bad After All— What he would do with Bob- Indictment
against Geo. W. Reid for Violation of the Black Laws 287—289

CHAPTER XXVII.

RESOURCES OK THE COUNTY.

Extent of Territory— Improved Lands— Unimproved Lands- Ileal an. 1 Personal Property—
Wheat— Corn— Oats— Other Products— Rye and Parley— Buckwheat— Potatoes— Meadow
Land— Pasture— Wood Land— Horses— Cattle— Mules and Asses— Sheep— Swine— Orch-
ards— Apples— Peaches— Pears and Plums— Cherries— Grapes— Small Fruit — Carriages
and Wagons— Tables 290—300

CHAPTER XXVI II.

THE BAlt OF M'DONOUOH COUNTY.

Judges of the Circuit Court— Richard M. Young, James II. Ralston, Petei Lott, Stephen A.
Douglas, Jesse B. Thomas, Norman H. Purple Wm. A. Minshall, Pinkney H. Walker,
JohnS. Bailey, C. L. Higbee, S. P. Shope -state's Attorneys— Thomas Ford. Wm. Rich-
ardson, Henry L. Bryant, Wm. Elliot, Roberts. Black well, Calvin A. Warren, John S.
Bailey, Louis II. Waters, Thomas E. Morgan, L. W. James, Crosby F. Wheat— Other
Members of the Bar— Cyrus Walker— The Present Bar 301—312

CHAPTEB XXIX.

KAILBOAD BUSINESS.

The C, B. A Q. R. R.— What it Has Done for the County— T , P. & W.-Its Business— Tables

of Shipments and Receipts 313—316

CONTENTS. 11

CHAPTER XXX.

BIOGKAPHICAL.

Larkin C. Bacon— Major Thomas A. Brooking— A. V. Brooking— Edgar Bolles— Alonzo Barnes
— James M. Campbell — Hon. Thompson Chandler— James Clarke— David Clarke — Charles
Chandler— John M. Crabb— Daniel M. Crabb— J. B. Cummings— B. A. Duncan, M. D.—
Captain S. A. Epperson— John L. Epperson— Thomas Fuikerson— John D. Hainline— \V.
H. Hainline— William Hamilton— Hon. B. R. Hampton— Richard D. Hammond. M. D.—
Dr. John Hardesty— William C. Hainline— Wesley Harlan— George Taylor Harlan—
Hon. Humphrey Ilorrabin— Hon . John Huston— Charles R. Hume— James Irwin— Rev.
Joseph L. Kirk patrick 316 — 38$

CHAPTER XXXI.

POLITICAL.

A Doubtful County— Party Lines were not Drawn During First Ten Years— No Caucuses
in That Time— 1840— Democratic and Whig Parties Held Nominating Conventions— Party
Lines Closely Drawn— Hard Cider— Whig Celebration at Macomb on the Fourth of July—
What Democrats Said of It— Whigs Victorious— 1811-42— Democrats Triumphant First
Year and Whigs the Second— 1843— Cyrus Walker and James P. Hoge— Endeavor to Se-
ttle Mormon Vote— Trickery of Smith, the Mormon Prophet— Walker Defeated— 1844—
Whigs Again Triumphant in August, but Beaten in November— 1845-51— Various Changes
Occurred— 1852— Last Campaign of the Whigs as a National Party— Triumphant in this
County— 1853— Democracy Victorious— 1854— Waters Carried the County by One Vote-
Democrats Carrying the Rest of the Ticket— Waters' Election Contested— His Resigna-
tion—Another Election Held, and Waters Again Triumphant— 1855 — No Opposition to
the Democracy — Republicans, Americans and Democrats in Campaign of 1856 — Democ-
racy Ahead— The American Party Gives up the Ghost— (Jains in the Republican Party
in 1858— Light Vote in 1859— Campaign of 186C— Republicans Victorious— 1861-64— De-
mocracy Victorious— 1865— Republicans to the Front— Ditto in 1866— Democrats Elect
County Ticket in 1867— U. S. Grant carries the County in 1868— Democracy Ahead the
Following Year— Ditto in 1870— Considerable Scratching— Grant Ahead in 1872— New
Party Ahead in 1873—1874-76, Republicans Ahead— General Remarks— Official Vote from
1830 to 1876 inclusive 390 4H

CHAPTER XXXII.

EDUCATIONAL.

Progressive Education— Early Teaching— The Three R's— Few Sphools in the Early Time—
The Great Number at Present— The Old Log School House— Its Furniture— Woodside's
Agreement— School Lands— Items From School Statistics— M'Donough College— Prairie
City Acadamy— M'Donough Normal and Scientific College— Macomb Female Seminary-
Sketches of the Various District Schools of Each Township— School Statistics 412—434

CHAPTER XXXIII.

BIOGKAPHICAL SKETCHES CONTINUED.

Eider John Logan— William F. McCandles— Captain J. C. McClellan— Hon. Alexander Mc-
Lean— William C. McLeod— John Mustain— William D. Mustain— A. H. McGahan— Rev.
Josiah Moore— Richard Musson— Thomas A. Mustain— Hon. William II. Neece— Abra-
ham Newland, Jr. -Asa K. Owen— Isaac N. Pearson— Joseph E. Porter— Hon. William
H. Randolph— James Roberts 435—481

CHAPTER XXXIV.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES CONTINUED.

Captain James \V. Fee— Harvey L. Ross— Joseph Shannon— John William Biders— Benjamin
P. Thompson— Elder J. L. Towner— Roswell Tyrrell— Captain J. B. Venard— Captain D.
P. Wells— John G. Woodside— John Wiley— Isaac Weaver— Dr. Beverly R. Westfall—
Hon. E. K. Westfall— Charles Wilson— Hon. ('. F. Wheat Major Stephen Yocum 482—526

12 CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XXXV.

HELIGIOUS.

Influence of Christianity— The Improvements That Follow the Teachings of the Bible —
First Preaching in the County— Elder Logan— His Labors as a Preacher— Sketches.—
Regular Baptists — Antioeh. — Christian — Blandinsville — Macomb — Bedford — New Salem —
Bushnell— Colchester— Sciota— New Bedford.— Methodist Episcopal— Macomb— Tennes-
see — Friendship— Pilnuington's Point — Bardolph-. Stickles— Blandinsville— Rock Creek-
Maple Grove— Mound Chapel— Pleasant Grove— Liberty— Prairie City— Industry— Col-
chester — Mound — Linn Grove — Willow Grove— New H<>i>e — Centennial — Greenwood —
Adair— Second Church, Macomb 527 — 550

CHAPTER XXXVI.

HELIGIOUS CONTINUED.

Presbyterian— Macomb — Camp Creek— Shiloh— Prairie City— Docidsville— Bushnell— Good
Hope — Ebenezer — Cumberland Presbyterian — Bersheba— Sugar Creek— Good Hope— In-
dustry— West Prairie — Congregational— Prairie City— Macomb — BaptUt— Hillsborough —
Macomb — Prairie City— Independent — Cedar Creek — Tennessee — Bushnell— Sciota —
Blandinsville— Second Church, Macomb— Universalis— Macomb— Reformed— Bushnell—
Free Will Baptist— Prairie City — Maple Hill— Catholic— Tennessee— Macomb— Christian—
Industry— German Baptist— Bushnell Arm of the Church— United Brethren in Christ —
Elm Grove— Willow Grove— New Philadelphia— Jerusalem Chapel— Blandinsville —
Pleasant Gale— Center Chapel— Evangelical Lutheran-- Macomb— Salem— Statistics 551 — 583

CHAPTER XXXVII.

BEMINISCENCES.

Recollections of John Wilson — Salem Woods' Reminiscences— Silas J. Creel's— Robert Dark's
—Martha Russell's— James Jarvis'— J. W. Brattle's— Martitia F. Harris'— Sailing on the
Prairie _ 584—593

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

PIONEEBS.

Old Settlers' Association— Constitution — List of Pioneers 591—001

CHAPTER XXXIX.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Streams of the County— Crooked Creek— Camp Creek— Grindstone Creek— Troublesome Creek
Spring Creek — Other Streams — Matrimonial Statistics — Remarks— Table of Distances —
Pauper ism— Number Admitted to the Alms House— Nativity— Other Facts C02— 005

CHAPTER XL.

MACOMB.

Retrospective — Organization of the County— Selection of Site for County Seat— Washington-
Act Locating County Seat — McComb vs. Macomb — County Seat to be Permanent — Sale
of Lots — Increase in Population — First Store— The Tavern — First Plat of the Town — Un-
satisfactory—New One— Keaton's Survey— Brattle's Survey— Court Week— Effect of the
Ardent— Circus Shows— Town Organization— First School House— First Brick Store-
First Church— Cholera Epidemic— Incorporated as a City— First Board of Aldermen-
City's Credit— City's Indebtedness— Improvements— Few Fires— No Tramps Allowed—
Improvements Needed— Sanitary Condition— Thirty Miles of Streets — Expenses of the
City— Assessments — Railroad— Public Buildings— Opera House— School Houses— Mercan-
tile Trade— Manufactures— Public Schools— Graded System— Churches— Value— Mem-
bership — Description of School Buildings— List of Town Officers— List of City Officers —
" A Side Glance at Macomb "—City Made a Supervisor's District— List of Supervisors—
Items from City Directory— Business Notices— Classified Business Directory 606— 6T>6

CONTENTS. 13

CHAPTER XLI.

BLANDINSVIXLE.

Location— Name— " Job's Settlement"— Additions— First Dwelling— First Store Building-
Mercantile Trade— Merchants — Schools— Growth— Securing the T., P. & W. R. R.— Its
Effects— Amount of Trade— Churches— Summary of Business Firms— Business Direc-
tory 637—641

CHAPTER XLII.

INDUSTRY DODD3VILLE — MIDDLETOWN.

Proposition to J. M. Price— Shop Erected— First Post Office— Price's Recollection— First
Store— First Physician— First Survey— Name and Nickname— Growth— Organization as a
Town— First Town Board— Organization as a Village — Its Character— Schools— Churches-
Man ufactories— Distance from Railroad — Trustees — Summary of Business Firms— Busi-
ness Directory— Doddsville— Town Laid Out— Location— Director}'— Middle town 642 — 646

CHAPTER XLIII.

PBAIBXE CITY.

Situation— When Laid Out— First Store— First Building— First Preacher— Size of the Original
Town— Distance from Macomb and Chicago— First School Building— Barnes' and Par-
ker's Addition— Incorporated as a Town— Officers Elected— Newspaper— Growth of the
Town— Prairie City Academy— Schools— Churches— Petition to the Town Board— Ceme-
teries— Village Organization— First Board— First Resolution— List of Town Officers— Prai-
rie City Chronicle — Amount of Business Transacted— Business Notices — Business Direc-
tory 647—655

CHAPTER XLIV.

BUSHNELL.

Location— Survey— First Sale of Lots— Town Named— Wolf Pole— Trackless Prairie— Hen-
drickson Lost— Found— First Store Building— First Stock oi Goods— First Dwellings-
First Hotel — Prosperity of the Town — Liberality of the Original Proprietors — Failures-
New Railroad — Manufactories— Improvements— New School Building— Summary of
Business Firms — Amount of Business— Public Library— Organization as a City— Election,
Oilicers Elected— List of Officers — Classified Business Directory 656—667

CHAPTER XLV.

BABDOLPH.

Town Laid Out — Location— Name— First Dwelling — First Store — Growth of the place— Price
of Lots — First School House — Incorporated as a Town — Trustees — Incorporatea as a Vil-
lage — Cause for the Change— Trustees — Temperance Town— School — Cemetery— Ship-
ments to and from the Town— Business Notices — Business Directory 60S — 676

CHAPTER XLVI.

COLCIEESTEB — TENNESSEE HTLL's GBOVE AND COLMAB.

Colchester— Land Surveyed— Name — First House— First Stock of Groceries — Hotel — First
Stock of Dry Goods — Additions — Prosperity of the Place — Incorporated as a Town—
The Natural Advantages of Colchester — Coal Interests — Roberts' Mines— Quiiicy Coal
Company— Colchester Coal Company— Their Immense Business — Shipments and Re-
ceipts—Schools — Churches— License Question — List of Town Officers— Mercantile Trade
— Business Notices— Business Directory— Tennessee — Town Laid Out— Location— Size of
Lots — Value — Incorporated as a Town — Names of Members of the Various Boards of
Trustees — Clerks— Churches— Schools— Calaboose— Shipments and Receipts by Rail-
Business Directory— Hill's Grove — Laid Out— Location — Surrounding Country — Business
Directory— Colmar— Location— Size of Plat— Growth of the Place— Shipment and Re-
ceipts by Railroad— Business Directory 877 — 68<i

14 CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XLVII.

SCIOTA — GOOD HOPS ADATB — NEW PHILADKLl'HIA WALNUT GROVE AND SCOTTSBUKG.

Sciota— First Name- Location— Surrounding Country- Additions— First Stone Building —
FirstStore— Incorporated— Trustees— First Sermon— First School— Churches — Prosperity
of the Town— (i rent Grain Market— Mercantile Trade— Business Notices — Shipments
by Railroad -Business Directory— Good .Hope— Rivalry Between Towns— Town of Sher-
idan— Town of Milan— Post Oliice of Good Hope— Town named Good Hope — Firs!
Store— First Dwelling— Old Post Office— Incorporated as a Town— Incorporated as a Vil-
lage—Trustees—Prosperity—General Character of the Town— First Sermon— Schools-
Churches — Amount Shipped by Railroad— Business Notices— Business Directory— Adair
— Laid Out— Location— Amount of Stock and Grain Shipped First Business House-
Population Business Directory — New Philadelphia— \*c><'.&i\<m Old Plal New Survey-
Name — Directory— Walnut drove— Location — Business Directory— Scottsburg— Location—
shipment of Fire Clay CSV—ftnj

CHAPTER I.

EARLY SETTLEMENT ORGANIZATION.

The first settlement of McDonough county of which we have
record was in the spring of 1826. Previous to this time the county
was in a state of unbroken wildness, the home of red men, who
roamed at will over its broad prairies, engaged in occupations
peculiar to their race. No one, save the old settler, or one who
has visited the far West, can fully realize the beauty of the coun-
try at that time. Dividing the county centrally north and south,
we had upon the east a broad prairie extending as far as the eye
could reach, the tall grass gently undulating like the waves of the
sea, while upon the west the giant oak, the stately elm, and the
useful hickory seemingly pierced the very heavens, and stood as
faithful sentinels over their entire surroundings. No fallen tim-
ber or uudergrowth of any kind obstructed the passage, the annual
prairie fire making a clean path for all. A prairie on lire ! Have
you ever witnessed one? The sight is a magnificent one indeed.
A correspondent of the Philadelphia Enquirer, on a visit to this
State in 1837, while traveling up the Mississippi, described in glow-
ing terms the scenery on that grand old stream, and thus graphic-
ally sketched a prairie on fire :

" Whilst enjoying the sublimity of the scene, night threw her
mantle o'er the earth, and the sentinel stars set their watch in the
skies, when suddenly the scene was lighted by a blaze of light
illuminating every object around. It was the prairie on. fire. Lan-
guage cannot convey, words cannot express to you the faintest idea
of the grandeur and splendor of that mighty conflagration. Me-
thought that the pale Queen of Night, disclaiming to take her ac-
customed place in the heavens, had dispatched ten thousand
messengers to light their torches at the altar of the setting sun, and
that now they were speeding on the wings of the wind to their
h— 2

18 HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.

appointed stations. As I gazed on that mighty conflagration my
thoughts recurred to you, immured in the walls of a city, and I
exclaimed in the fullness of my heart :

' O fly to the prairie in wonder, and gaze,
As o'er the grass sweeps the magnificent blaze :
The world cannot boast so romantic a sight,
A continent flaming, 'mid oceans of light.' "

How changed the scene now ! The timber, in many places, has
been cleared away, and beautiful farms appear in its stead. The
broad prairies have been shorn of their native beauty, and the
hand of man has endeavored to excel in their'decoratiou. The
iron horse now courses over the prairie and through the timber
where once only the trail of the red man was known. Villages,
towns and cities appear where the wigwam was once seen. All
this change has taken place in fifty years. What will the next
fifty years bring forth ? Who can tell ?

On the admission of the State into the Union, whatis now known
as McDouough county was a part of Madison. Afterward, by an
act of the Legislature, approved June 30, 1821, it was placed with-
in the boundaries of Pike, and by a subsequent act, approved Feb-
ruary 10, 1826, its present boundaries were determined, and it was
attached to Schuyler county for judicial and recording purposes.
As before remarked, the county is about equally divided between
timber and prairie, the eastern tier of townships being mainly
prairie, while the western is chiefly timber. When we shall come to
the descriptions of townships, we shall notice this matter more at
length, giving the exact proportions of each. The county is
bounded on the north by Henderson and "Warren, on the south by
Schuyler, on the east by Fulton, and on the west by Hancock.

To William Carter and*Riggs Pennington belong the honor of
the first settlement, about one mile southeast of the present town
of Industry, in the south part of the county. The settlement was
named in honor of Mr. Carter, who resided in the neighborhood
for several years, when he removed to the State of Missouri. Mr.
Pennington, shortly afterward, removed also. He w T as the first
Justice of the Peace residing in the county.

It is not known if any others settled in the county that year, but
in the followingyear (1827) William Job and brother, John A r ance,
and others, settled near where the town of Blandinsville is now lo
cated, the neighborhood taking the name, and being known for many

,:, Riggs Pennington left the countv at a very earlv day, removing to Knox county, in this State,
from which place he emigrated to Texas in the spring of 1837, and where he died some years since.

HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY. 19

years afterwards as "Job's settlement." William Pennington, in
1828, located in the neighborhood now known as "Pennington's
Point," in the southwest corner of New Salem township, where he
remained about three years, removing to Spring Creek, in the
north part of the county. Elias McFadden, also, at this time set-
tled near the present city of Macomb, living on the farm now
owned by William Hunter, about one mile south of the city. John
Baker came out in the fall of this year, or in the spring of '29, and
built the first house on the site of the present city of Macomb.
Mr. Baker was a minister of the Regular Baptist Church, but gave
little time to his calling, engaging almost exclusively in secular
pursuits. He was appointed the first Clerk pro tern, of the County
Commissioners' Court on the organization of the county, which
position he retained only a few months. He held membership in
the New Hope Baptist Church, in Job's settlement, from which he
was expelled for unchristian conduct. He left the county about
the year 1835, going to Missouri, and from thence to Texas. In
the latter place he again felt a longing desire to become useful in
the cause of Christ, and friends there, knowing his talents, desired
him to resume the work of the ministry. This he was too con-
scientious to do until first restored by the church from which he
had been excluded ; so, in the year 1840, he returned to the county,
riding eight hundred miles of the distance on horseback, that he
might again meet with the New Hope Church, make confession, and
be restored to its fellowship. The church joyfully received him,
and he was again commissioned to go forth bearing "glad tidings."
Returning to Texas, he was occasionally heard from for several
years later, and always with good report. Whether now living
or dead, we know not.

In 1830, James Clarke, David Clarke, William Pringle, Resin Nay -
lor, and a few others, settled in the neighborhood of Macomb. At
this time Indians were still frequent visitors to the cabins of the
white man. It was in the fall of 1830 that a large number of the
tribe of Fox or Sac Indians encamped on the creek just west of
Macomb for the purpose of engaging in their annual fall hunt,
when a few of the brave settlers went out and ordered them away,
and in order to hasten their departure, caught a few of them, and
while some of their number kept guard, Resin Naylor, with a
hickory withe, gave them thirty and nine lashes upon their bare
backs. In doing this the settlers ran a great risk, for the In-
dians were well armed, while the whites had only a few old flint-

20 HISTORY OF m'dONOUGH COUNTY.

lock muskets, the most of which were too rusty to be of any
service. Luckily no resistance was made, and the Indians hastily
left.

As showing how destructive of game the Indians were, it is re-
lated that in the fall of 1829 one solitary Indian killed one hundred
and sixty-nine deer in the region known as Wilson's Mill, about
four miles southwest of Macomb; and, strange to relate, the last
one he shot was the means of his own death. After shooting the
deer, and seeing it lie motionless upon the ground, he went for-
ward for the purpose of securing his prize, when it arose and ran
him through the breast with its antlers. He was afterward dis-
covered by others of his tribe, who gave him burial on the spot
where he fell, placing within his grave his gun, tomahawk, knife,
and other implements. The mound erected over his grave was
still visible a lew years ago, but about the year 1832 some vandal
opened the grave and stole therefrom the buried arms.

In this same year (1830) Roswell Tyrrell, David Fees, John (Jib-
son, and others, settled in the western part of the county, in what
is now known as Lamoine, Tennessee, and Bethel townships.
They were followed shortly afterward by the Marks, Edmondsons,
Dunsworths, Archers, and others, all the various settlements re-
ceiving reinforcements. It was now thought there was a sufficient
number of inhabitants to justify an organization of the county ; ac-
cordingly, on the fourteenth day of June, 1830, a petition was pre-
sented to the Hon. Richard M. Young, .Judge of the Fifth Judicial
District, then holding court at Iiushville, Schuyler county, signed
by a majority of the legal voters ot the county, setting forth thai
McDonough county had the number of inhabitants required by an
act of the Legislature for the organization of counties, and upon
the said day his honor issued the following order:

State of Illinois. ) ^ ,
McDonouqh County, \

To the People of the State of Tllinois,to all who shall see tin si presents, greeting :

Wiikkeas, By the said ninth and eleventh sections of the act entitled " An act forming
new counties out of the counties of Pike and Fulton, anil the attached parts thereof," ap-
proved January 13, 1825, it is made the duty of the Presiding Judge of the Fifth Judi"
cial Circuit of the State of Illinois, whenever it shall be made to appear to his satisfaction
that either of the counties of Hancock, Warren. Mercer, Henry, Putnam or Knox con-
tains three hundred and fifty inhabitants, to proceed to organize the same, and to grant
an order for the election of county officers preparatory thereto ; and

Whebeas, By virtue of an act entitled " An act supplementary to an act entitled ' An
act forming new counties out of the counties of Pike and Fulton, and the attached parts
thereof ,' " approved January 25, 1826, a new county was created, to be called the county

HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY. 21

of McDonough. with the express provision therein contained that the inhabitants of the
said county of McDonough should enjoy and possess all the rights and privileges granted
to the inhabitants of the several counties created by the first recited act. and to which-
the said last mentioned act is a supplement : and

Whekeas, It has been made to appear to my satisfaction that the said county of Mc-
Donough contains three hundred and fifty inhabitants and upwards, and inasmuch as
the greater part of qualified voters of said county have requested, by petition, that the
same should be organized with as little delay as possible, I do therefore, in pursuance of
the power invested in me by virtue of the provisions contained in the above recited acts,
order and direct that an election in and for the said county of McDonough, at the house
of Elias McFadden. in said county, on Saturday, the third day of July next, for the election
of three County Commissioners, one Sheriff, and one Coroner, to serve, when elected and
qualified, in and for the said county of McDonough, respectively, until they shall be
superseded by the persons who may be elected at the general election, to be held on the
first Monday in August next ensuing the date hereof ; and for the purpose of having this
order carried into execution, I do hereby appoint Ephraim Perkins, William McDonald
and John Rogers, Esquires, of said county, judges of said election, whose duty it shall be
to set up written or printed advertisements or notices of said election in at least six of
the most public places in said county, inclusive of the place at which the said election is
hereby directed to be held, having due regard to the situation and population of the dif-
fent settlements, at least ten days immediately preceding the said election, to the end that
all persons concerned may have timely notice thereof, the election to be viva voce, be-
tween the hours of 10 o'clock in the morning and 7 o'clock in the afternoon of said day,
and conducted in all respects, as near as may be practicable, in conformity with the act
entitled ". An act regulating elections," approved January 10, 1829 ; and, lastly, the said
judges are to certify the result of the said election to the office of the Secretary of State
as soon thereafter as may be convenient, in order that the persons who may be elected
and entitled to commissions may be commissioned and qualify with as little delay as
possible, and after the said election of the said county officers shall have taken place in
pursuance of this order, I do hereby declare the said county of McDonough to be organ-
ized and entitled to the same rights and privileges as the other counties in this State.

Given under my hand and seal, at Rushville, this fourteenth day of June, A. D. 1830,
and of the independence of the United States the fifty-fourth.

RICHARD M. YOUNG,
Circuit Judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit of the State of Illinois.

Pursuant to this order, the election was held, and James Vance,
James Clarke, and John Hardesty were elected County Commis-
sioners, and William Southward, Sheriff, and Peter Hale, Coroner.
On the same day the election was held the County Commissioners
met and began the official business of the county. Their first
order affirmed that the order ot Judge Young had been fully
carried out, and that the County Commissioners were duly elected.
Their second order appointed Michael Stinson, Clerk pro tern., and
their third order located the seat of justice at the house of John Ba-
ker, on the southwest quarter of section 31, in township 6 north, and
2 west, which is now known as Macomb township, and that " the
same be known as the town of Washington for the present." The
Commissioners then appointed Ephraim Perkins, William McDon-

22 HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.

aid, and George Dowell, judges of election, to be held at Wash-
ington on the first Monday in August. Their fifth order adjourned
the court until the fifth of Julv, at the residence of James Clarke.
On the fifth of .1 illy the Commissioners met pursuant to adjourn-
ment at the residence of James Clarke, and proceeded to divide
the county into three Magistrate's Districts, and provide for the
election of Justices of the Peace and Constables in each. The
districts were made eight miles wide, running east and west the
entire length of the county, and were called First, Second and
Third Magistrate's Districts, the first being on the south, the sec-
ond the middle, and the third the northern portion of the county.
An election was called for the First District at the house of James
Vance on the first Saturday in August following (1830) for two
Justices of the Peace and two Constables. George Dowell, Wil-
liam S.Moore, and William Garrett were appointed judges of elec-
tion. In the Second District, at the same time, an election was held
at the house of John Baker for four Justices of the Peace and four
Constables. Elias McFadden, Peter Hale, and David Troxwell
were appointed judges of election. In the Third District, at the
same time, at the residence of John Vance, two Justices of the
Peace and two Constables were elected. William Deakins, John
Wyatt, and Isaac Bartlett were appointed judges of election.

At this general election James Vance, John Hardesty, and
James Clarke were re-elected County Commissioners; William
Southward, Sheriff; Peter Hale, Coroner, and Jesse Bartlett, Sur-
veyor. The house of John Baker, at which the election was held,
was simply a hut built of poles, scarcely large enough to deserve
the name of logs. This house was used as a tavern, the Clerk's
office, and Court House, until the erection of the old log Court
House, in 1831.

At the special election, held August 7, in the several Magistrate's
Districts, James Vance, Sr., and John Billew were elected Justices
of the Peace, and James Lee and James B. Tomberlin, Constables
in and for the First District. In the Second District were elected
James Clarke, William McDonald, Robert Cook and Samuel Bogart,
Justices of the Peace, and John Wilson, Oliver C. Rice, Thomas
J. Pennington, and John Harris, Constables. In the Third Dis-
trict Ephraim Perkins and Caswell Russell were elected Justices
of the Peace, and Francis Reading and Jacob Coffman. Constables.

The third meeting of the first regular term of the County Com-
miseioners' Court was held on the first Monday in September,

HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY. 23

1830, when the Commissioners proceeded to the selection of a grand
and petit jury for the October ternj of the Circuit Court, being the
first term. For grand jurymen the following names were selected :
William Osborne, Joseph Osborne, William Garrett, Roland Lee,
George Grace, William Hendry, William Stephens, Elias McFad-
den, John Barber, David Troxwell, Peter Hale, Nathan A. Mc-
Fadden, John Carmack, John Wyatt, Sr., John Woodsides, William
Deakins, Wright Riggins, Elijah Bristow, Caswell Russell, Abra-
ham Gassett, and John Vance. For petit jurymen were selected
Charles Shannon, William Shannon, John Wilson, James Vance,
Jr., John Bridges, Thomas Bridges, Thomas Phillips, Nimrod
Smith, Eli Osborne, Nicholas Campbell, JohnMassingill, Ephraim
Mitchell, Enoch Cyrus, Nathan Bartlett, Russell Duncan, Reuben
Harris, Jr., Ephraim Perkins, George Shell, William Job, Nathan
Hume, Noble Owsly, and Larkin Osborne.

It required about two-thirds of all the legal voters in the county
to constitute this grand and petit jury.

At this meeting John Baker was appointed Clerk pro tern., in
place of M, L. Stinson, resigned ; James Vance, Sr., was appointed
Commissioner of School Lands; Isaac Bartlett, County Surveyor,
and John Huston, County Treasurer. The bond of the latter was
fixed at $800, showing that it was not expected he would ever be
entrusted with a large amount of money.

On the seventeenth day of October, 1830, the first term of the
Circuit Court was held. There were present, in attendance on the
Court, Hon. Richard M. Young, Circuit Judge; John Baker, Clerk,
pro tern.; William Southward, Sheriff. In the absence of Thomas
Ford, State's Attorney, James M. Strode was appointed pro tern.
This term lasted but one day, and was held at the house of John
Baker, in the town of Washington, the temporary county seat of
McDonough county. But little business was transacted, the grand
and petit juries both being dismissed without performing any
duties. The order of Judge Young calling an election for the or-
ganization of the county was ordered spread upon the records of
the court, as well as an order in relation to the time of holding
court. The bonds of Isaac Bartlett, Coroner, and William South-
ward, Sheriff, were approved.

Previous to the organization of the county the taxes were as-
sessed and collected by Schuyler county, and among the first acts
of our County Commissioners was a request that the authorities of

24 HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.

that count} 7 furnish them a list of taxes assessed for the coming
year, which request was at once complied with.

In December, 1830, .James Clarke, Esq., went to Springfield,
and, in behalf of the county, entered the quarter section of land
upon which the old town of Macomb was subsequently laid out.
For this service he was allowed the munificent sum of $3, which
was certainly well earned, tor, while returning, he was overtaken
by the big snow storm so well remembered b} 7 all the old settlers,
and it was with great difficulty that he arrived safely at home.
The snow began to fall when he was between Springfield and
Beardstown, and in a few hours time all traces of the road were
obliterated, and the only way by which he could with certainty
know he was pursuing the right course was by observing the
trees and large weeds that he had noticed in previously passing
over the road. The recollection of this " big snow ' is vividly
impressed upon the mind of more than one old settler, and the
remembrance of the horrors of that long winter will never be oblit-
erated while their lives shall last. The snow began to fall the night
of the twenty-ninth, of December, and continued falling for three
days and nights, until it reached an average depth of about four
feel, drifting in places as high as eighteen or twenty feet. Great
Buttering was experienced in consequence. The settlers relied for
their daily food upon the Indian corn which they were enabled to
raise, together with the wild game, which was abundant at that
time. Plenty of the former was raised to supply the wants of all
untii the next season's crop ; but when the snow fell, but little had
been gathered. Game could not be had. The great depth of the
snow was a barrier to all travel, and it may well be imagined the
sufferings of the people were great indeed. In a letter, published
in the March (1876) number of Clarke's Monthly, Hon. James
Clarke thus graphically described the situation :

" The snow fell an average depth of about four feet, and re-
mained on the ground for about three months. All kinds of wild
game literally starved to death. Before the snow fell the deer
were as fat as could be, and before it passed away they were so
poor they were not fit to eat. Wild turkeys would fall from the
limbs of trees. The morning after the snow fell mv wife was
about three hours shoveling it from our cabin. We then
lived about one hundred yards from the house lately occupied by
Isaac Haines, a little southwest of Macomb. 1 did not have my
corn gathered, and had a good sized family to feed, and had five

HISTORY OF m'dONOUGH COUNTY. 25

horses and some cattle. As soon as possible I sent John Wilson,
the young man afterward murdered by McFadden, with the horses
to Morgan county to have them kept through the winter. Each
day we would have to go out to the field, and where we could see
a stalk of corn standing above the snow reach down until we came
to the ear, pull it off, gathering enough for the day. There were
no mills in the country, and each family would, with a mortar and
pestle, pound their corn so as to make bread. A few were fortu-
nate enough to have large graters with which they would grate
up the corn. The first thing doue each morning would be to build
the fire and put on a big pot of water in which the corn would be
thrown and boiled awhile, then taken out and grated and made
into good, wholesome bread. This, with whatgamewe could get,
was what we had to live on during the long winter.

"Several families came to the county that fall, and, of course, had
no corn. All things were then held more in common. Those
that had none were welcome to help themselves trom their more
fortunate neighbors, all that was required of them being that they
should gather it themselves. Resin jSTaylor, better known as
"Boss " Nay lor, was one of that class, and it was a little amusing
to see him go out to the fields, walking for a time on top of the
snow, on which a crust was formed, but. now and then going
through, getting his corn, and come in blowing like a porpoise
and sweating dreadfully. But we all managed to live, and had
good cause to be thankful it was no worse. The young men and
women of this day have little knowledge of what a pioneer life
consisted. Away out upon an almost boundless prairie, far from
home and kindred, with an opportunity of hearing from them only
every few months, it was dreary indeed, but how different itis now!
However far the distance, they^can be communicated with in a
few moments time."

During the previous summer Mr. John Kogers erected himself
a log house on the prairie, in Industry township, but the winter
coming on, ho concluded it would be better for him to move to
the timber, which he accordingly did, taking his cabin with him ;
but the snow beginning to fall before he had finished rebuilding,
he enclosed the cabin in a tent, and managed to live in it during
the long winter tiiat followed, his only food being hominy, with-
out salt. This so disgusted him that the next spring he left the
county, never to return.

26 HISTORY OF m'dONOUGH COUNTY.

We have little doubt that many a weary one during that long
winter sighed for the comforts of the "old home ;" but, notwith-
standing its dreariness and the suffering of the people, none be-
came disheartened save the one above mentioned. We find them
in the spring of 1831 as determined as ever to carve out for them-
selves a home in this truly beautiful country.

During this first year of the organization of the county but one-
couple was brave enough to try " the sweets of wedded bliss," for
but one marriage license was granted — John Wyatt and Betsy
Massingill.

HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY. 27

CHAPTER II.

1831.

The snow lay upon the ground until about the first of April ;
meantime the few inhabitants of the county lived as best they could,
trusting the good time would yet come.

In the spring of this year James M. Campbell, Esq., came to the
county, and was cordially received. He had, in December pre-
vious, received the appointment of Clerk of the Circuit Court from
the Hon. Richard M. Young, Circuit Judge, and came to enter
upon the duties of his office. Like most of the settlers living in
the county at that time, Mr. Campbell was from the State of Ken-
tucky. This tact was not discovered at first, and Mr. Campbell
was regarded as a Yankee, and, consequently, looked upon with
suspicion. John Baker resigned the office of Clerk of the County
Commissioners' Court ; a new man was to be appointed, and who
it should be was a question. Mr. Campbell was suggested. One
of the Commissioners replied most emphaticall} 7 that no Yankee
should ever be Clerk of that Court. Mr. Campbell was asked if
he was really and truly a Yankee. " Well, gentlemen," replied
Mr. C, " if to be born in the city of Frankfort, State of Kentucky,
living there until six years of age, coming to the State of Illinois
and remaining for six years, then returning to Kentucky and living
there for twelve years, and again returning to Illinois, constitutes
a Yankee, then I am one." It is unnecessary to add that the ex-
planation was satisfactory, and the appointment made. Being of
an energetic turn of mind, and something of an enthusiast, he at
once took a leading part in the affairs of t^e county, and has ever
since been in active life, having many times been honored by the
citizens of the county with the highest offices within their gift.

2& EtISTORY OF M'bONOUGH COUNTY.

Strict economy governed the Commissioners in all the affairs
pertaining to the welfare of the county. Every bill presented was
carefully scrutinized, and value received was invariably required
before payment. We may here remark that such has always been
the action of every Board of County Commissioners, or Super-
visors, since the organization of the county, which will ac-
count for the good credit always enjoyed. Very few bills of
doubtful propriety have ever been smuggled through.

At the March term of the County Commissioners' Court .lames
Clarke was allowed the sum of three dollars for going to Spring-
field and entering the land upon which the original town of Ma-
comb was located. As remarked in a preceding chapter, the
money was well earned, for while returning home he was over-
taken by the big snow storm, and was several days in making the
trip. We have heard him remark that often times while on the
journey he thought he would be compelled to give up and lie
down and die. The snow in many places had drifted so much
that his horse could not get through, and he would be compelled
to effect a passage bv raking it away with his hands.

In payment for the use of his house for court purposes John
Baker was granted the fee simple right to two lota in the town of
Macomb, which was then to be laid out. John J. Keaton was em-
ployed to make the survey, for which he was allowed the sum of
thirty-five dollars. David Clarke and John Baker were employed
to carry the chain, for which they each received fifty cents a day.
William McDonald received sixty-two and a half cents per day for
driving the stakes, the work being more arduous than that of
carrying the chain. It appears from bills allowed by the County
Commissioners' Court the wages paid laborers at this time were
from fifty cents to one dollar per day.

Many laughable anecdotes are related of this survey. Mr.
Keaton was not a regular surveyor, and is said to have known
less about surveying than those who carried the chain. lie had
great difficulty in making the corners — in fact never did make
them, and they havenever been straightened to this day. Another
man being wanted to assist in the work, several were approached
for this purpose, but all had an excuse to make, one man replying
that he would not give the pleasure of his day's drunk for.thetwo best
lots in the town. It should be remembered there were tew teeto-
talers in the county at that time. The first plat of the town not

HISTORY OF m'dONOUGH COUNTY. 29

proving satisfactory, the citizens petitioned the County Commis-
sioners to change it, which was done, although one of the members
of the board, Hon. James Vance, entered upon the records of the
court his protest against the action.

At a meeting of the Board of County Commissioners, held April
12, 18-31, the question of building a Court House was discussed,
and the following order made :

Ordered, That the building of a house, to be used as a Court House, be let to the lowest
bidder, of the following description, to-wit : To be built of logs, hewed on both sides,
to face from nine to twelve inches ; to be built eighteen feet by twenty, with a white oak
plank floor above and below, laid loose ; nine feet between the joist and sleepers, the sleep-
ers laid two feet apart, laid on the sills ; joists not more than two feet apart, of good white
oak, hewed, or sawed four inches thick by nine inches wide ; to be chinked and daubed
on the outside ; one door six and one-half feet high and three feet wide, well faced and
cased : a good batten door, hung on good iron hinges; one window, to have twelve panes
of glass, and one window of six panes of glass ; to be placed in said building by the in-
struction of James M. Campbell ; each window to have a good strong batten shutter, hung
with butt hinges, covered with boards four feet long, of good width, and what is called
double covered, with good gutters and eaves. The said building when completed and
finished to be done in workmanlike manner. The said building to be on a lot in the town
of Macomb, (on a lot) to be in due time, that is within two weeks, made known to the
undertaker. The undertaker will be required to give bonds, with sufficient security, for
the faithful performance of his undertaking in the penal sum of double the amount of
his bid, made payable to the County Commissioners, or their successors in office, for the
use of the county, that the said house shall be finished on or before the first day of Sep-
tember inst.

It is further ordered, That the weight poles are to be of sufficient weight to be of ser-
vice ; that the undertaker furnish everything necessary for the above building, except the
glass for the windows.

On the same day the above propositions were made the contract
was let to William Southward for the sum of sixty-nine dollars
and fifty cents. As will be observed, there is a considerable dif-
ference between the first and last buildings erected for court pur-
poses.

At this same meeting John Baker applied for a license to keep
a tavern, which request was ordered on his paying into the Coun-
ty Treasury the sum of six dollars and fifty cents, together with the
Clerk's fees for issuing the license. The board then adopted the
following scale of prices to govern inn-keepers in the county :

For each meal of victuals $0 25

For each night's lodgings 12^

For each horse feed per night 25

For each horse feed 12 1 .<

For each half pint of whisky V2 l i

For each half pint French brandy 25

For each half pint Holland gin or wine 25

For each half pint peach brandy - 18%

30 HISTORY OP M'DONOUGH COUNTY.

It will doubtless seem strange to our young readers to know
that this John Baker, to whom a license was granted to keep a
tavern, which was but another name for a grocery and whisky
shop, was a Baptist preacher, but such was the fact. He figured
for several years in the county as a minister of the gospel and a
retailer of the ardent. He, a few days after obtaining his license,
took as a partner Samuel Bogart, a Methodist preacher, and, under
the name of Bogart, Baker & Co., the firm engaged in the sale of
dry goods, groceries, whisky, tobacco, etc. That no preacher is
now allowed to drink, much less sell ardent spirits, is certainly
proof sufficient to show that the temperance cause is advancing.

By an examination of the records of the Board of County Com-
missioners, we find that four licenses were granted during this
year (1831) to keep tavern in Macomb, from which it may be sup-
posed that liquor was in demand. We can scarcely imagine who
their customers were, and can only solve the problem by suppos-
ing that they carried on business after the manner of the old man
and his wife, who, owning a barrel of cider between them, and only
a sixpence to spend, tapped the barrel at both ends, and sold to
each other.

On the twenty-sixth day of April the first public sale of lots was
made in the town of Macomb, William Edmondston acting as
auctioneer, he having previously been appointed by the board as
commissioner for the sale of all lots. But few were sold, and the
amount realized was quite small.

On the sixth day of June John Baker resigned the position of
Clerk of the County Commissioners' Court, and James M. Camp-
bell was appointed in his stead " during good behavior." We
conclude his behavior must have been good, for he held the posi-
tion for many years. He was required to give bond in the sum of
$1,000 to " faithfully, fairly and impartially do and perform the
duties of Clerk of the County Commissioners' Court to the best of
his understanding and abilities."

License was required at this time for the sale of all kinds of mer-
chandise, and we find applications made by James M. Campbell,
Henton & Robinson, and Bogart, Baker & Co. to keep a "dry
goods and retail store," which were granted on the payment of
the sum of five dollars per year, together with the Clerk's fees.
These firms all transacted business in Macomb.

HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY. 31

At this meeting of the board the various magistrate districts
were made election precincts for the Congressional election, to be
held the first Monday in August. For this election the clerks
were each allowed one dollar and twelve and a halt cents, and the
judges one dollar per day. We suppose the clerk's duties w T ere
more laborious, hence the difference in price.

By an act of Congress the sixteenth section of land in every
township was set apart, and the proceeds otits sale used, for com-
mon school purposes. Commissioners were appointed in each
county to superintend its sale and take charge of the proceeds.
In September of this year James Vance received the appointment
as Commissioner of School Lands, and was instructed by the board
to loan all money received therefor for not less than twelve per
cent, per annum. Trustees for each township were also appointed
for the school lands.

The assessment of taxes then and now will bear no comparison,
as we learn from the records that Resin Nay lor was only allowed
fifteen dollars for assessing the taxes of the whole county.

The Court House was finished according to contract, and Cir-
cuit Court convened therein for its second term on the twenty -first
day of October. There were present the Hon. Richard M.Young,
Circuit Judge; Hon. Thomas Ford, State's Attorney; William
Southward, Sheriff, and James M. Campbell, Clerk. At this ses-
sion considerable business was transacted, the most important be-
ing the trial of David Morgan for murder. This was a case from
Schuyler county. After a patient hearing, the jury rendered its
verdict, finding him guilty, as charged in the indictment. For
some cause the verdict was set aside, the indictment quashed, and
the prisoner discharged.

An indictment was found by the grand jury against Thomas
Morgan, a brother of David, for murder, after which he was ar-
rested, and obtained a continuance of his case until the next term
of court. There being no jail in the count} 7 , he was remanded by
the Judge to the Schuyler county jail. At the next session of the
court he obtained a farther continuance, and ere another term he
broke jail, and was never afterward heard from.

Quite a number settled in the county this year, among whom
was J. W. Brattle, for many years surveyor for the county, and a
man well and universally esteemed. Mr. Brattle has probably
done more surveying in McDonough county than all others com-
bined since the organization of the county.

32 HISTORY OK M'DONOUGH COUNTY.

John Huston resigned the office of County Treasurer on the
seventeenth day of March, 1831. Resin Naylor was appointed to
succeed him, and was placed under bonds to the amount of $800.
Quite a difference between his bond and that of the present Treas-
urer of the county, who is held in the sum of §530,000. Mr. Nay-
lor continued to hold the office a number of years, receiving his
appointment each year from the Board of County Commissioners.

Twelve couples were unitedin the holy bonds of matrimony this
year.

At the time Mr. Campbell came to the county there was no
postoffice within its limits, citizens obtaining their mail from Rush-
ville, the nearest, office. He at once made arrangements with the
Postmaster at that place to send him the mail belonging to citi-
zens of this county, he becoming personally responsible for the
payment of the postage, which at that time was scarcely ever pre-
paid, the price being twenty-five cents per letter. It is said of
Mr. Campbell that on receiving the Utters lie placed them in his
hat in order that he might accommodate the people as lie met
them on the streets or elsewhere. A. petition was sent to the
Postmaster General for the establishment of an office at Macomb,
and for the appointment of Mr. Campbell as Postmaster, which
was granted, and his commission was received December 1, 1831.
He held the office for some fifteen years, save for a period ot three
months, in 1841, when George W. Damron was appointed in his
stead.

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HISTORY OF m'dONOUGH COUNTY. 33

CHAPTER III.

1832-34.

During the years 1832 and 1833 but few matters of importance
transpired in the county. The seasons came and went — a few
families moved into the county, a few others moved out of it, be-
coming dissatisfied with the hard life of the pioneer. And it was
indeed hard. Very few of the immigrants were possessed of any
considerable property; there was no market for what was raised ;
money was held at a high rate of interest, and the securities offered
were poor. Those who remained in the county were of two
classes, those who were too poor to get away, and those who be-
lieved there was " millions in it."

Up to this time no place had been provided for the confinement
of prisoners, there being but little necessity for any. The want
now began to be felt; accordingly, at the March (1833) term of
the Board of County Commissioners, the subject was fully can-
vassed, and it was agreed that a jail should be built. The order
was made in the following terms :

Ordered, That the building of a jail for said county be let to the lowest bidder on the
second Monday of April next, and that the Clerk advertise the same, to-wit : Twenty feet
square, with three rooms at least nine feet between the floor and ceiling ; the walls built of
hewed logs, twelve inches square, laid close, dovetailed together and pinned, each log at
the corner, so as not to admit of anything passing through the inside of said rooms; to be
lined with plank two inches thick, of white oak, spiked on across the logs, laid close ;
with the floor of said sized timber of two thicknesses, crossing at right angles, with a ceil-
ing ; and as a floor, of the same said plank, and spiked over, as on the walls, of the
following description : The walls planked are to be spiked in diamond form, four inches
square on all the walls, ceilings and floors, with a clapboard roof nailed on, the boards to
be three feet long, and of good width ; all of which to be done in workmanlike manner
&c; with three doors covered with sheet iron, with a place left so as to open on hinges : a
small grate in the center of the two inner doors, and to be so fixed as to be as strong
when done as though they were solid ; with three grates, two large enough to admit a pane
of glass ten by twelve, with a sash swinging on hinges on the inside of each room, and
one window large enough to contain six panes of glass : in each window to be placed two
H— 3

34 HISTORY OF M'dONOUGH COUNTY.

grates of iron bars only four inches square from center to center of the bars : and two
outside doors to the criminal rooms, hanging on the outside, opening into the debtor's
room, and that the bar to be of iron three inches breadth bar, and crossing through the
center with bars one inch square ; the house to be placed on a stone foundation, built at
Least six inches above the highest point of the ground, and to set into and under the sur-
face at least two feet, two feet thick, and the space tilled with stone to the lower part of
the floor : and the whole to be completed in a workmanlike manner, &c.

The contract was let to James Edmondson, who, in due time,
completed the work to the satisfaction of the Commissioners. The
building yet stands, and has been used for over twenty years by
the city of Macomb as a city prison, going by the name of the
" old calaboose."

This building has always been considered a pretty strong one,
but Ave are informed "by one who knows " that, when first built,
a man by the name of John Seward was incarcerated in it for as-
sault on one Devonshire. Xot liking his quarters, he kicked a log
out, and was soon a free man. He was evidently good on the
kick.

The following rather strange order was spread upon the records
at this term of the court :

Ordered, That the Treasurer assess a tax at the rate of one-half per cent, on town lots,
provided that Congress has repealed the law exempting public lands sold from taxes for
five years, and that he govern himself according to law ; and on slaves, registt red or in-
dentured negro or mulatto servants ; on pleasure carriages, on distilleries, on all horses,
mares, mules, asses and neat cattle above the age of three years, and also on all horses,
mules, asses and neat cattle under three years of age; on watches and clocks, and their
appendages, on wagons and carts, on hogs and sheep.

But one slave was known to have been held in the county, and
it seemed to be the determination that none should be allowed
unless duly taxed.

The Court House erected in 1831 becoming too small, it was de-
termined to erect one of brick, " two stories high, and not more
than forty-six feet square." An advertisement was inserted in
the Jacksonville Patriot in March or April, 1833, for plans and
specifications for such a building, and in answer plans were fur-
nished at the May term of the Board, and one adopted, as follows :

Ordi /"A That the following be the plans of a Court House in and for the county of
McDonough. viz : The foundation walls of stone, forty-six feet four inches square, and
two feet thick and three feet high ; one foot above the surface of the earth : which founda-
tion shall be made of stone, range work above the ground, and to show a smooth face o r
front, nicely hewed, and laid in lime and sand mortar: also two division stone walls (of
the same as above) twelve by twenty feet in the west end, that being the northwest and
sout Invest corners of said building, which walls are to be eighteen inches thick, three feet
high, one foot above the surface of the earth : there will be a wall extending from the cor-
ners of each of the jury or small rooms to the east end of the building, at parallel lines

HISTORY OF m'dONOUGH COUNTY. 35

•with the outside foundation wall, same depth in the ground, and only to come to the sur-
face of the earth, eighteen inches thick, laid in lime and sand mortar ; walls made of first
rate brick and other suitable materials, forty feet square, lower story eighteen inches thick
and fourteen feet high, upper story to be thirteen inch walls and twelve feet high ; the
small rooms, inside walls, to be thirteen inch walls ; on the outside an oval and round
cornice of brick ; one circular top door frame four feet by eight and a half feet
in the clear, with pannel work, and glass on each side and above, placed in the north,
south and west centers of the walls of the house ; a window placed six feet above the
Judge's seat, and thirty-six window frames, sixteen of which in the lower story and
twenty in the upper, each to contain twelve panes of glass twelve by eighteen inches, at
equal distances, to be proportionate, and to have above each a double arch (thirteen inches)
finished off smooth. The frame of the cupola to be run up through the center of the
house-top ; in the corners of the house, on the lower floor, will be a fire place of conven-
ient size, and above, in the jury rooms, in the northwest and southwest corners, a small
fire place, and in the northeast corner, above the gallery, will be left a space and flue for
a stove pipe ; chimneys to be run out five feet above each corner of said building ; the
short joist will be three by ten inches ; the long joist four by ten inches ; making a round
foundation for a circular cupola ten feet in diameter, three feet above the roof, and closed
in so as to make a roof to keep out the rain : a square roof, with an eave all around, sheet-
ing jointed, and laid close, and with good and sufficient and suitable jointed shingles
eighteen inches long, and to show six inches ; all of which work shall be done in work-
like manner ; and the timber of said building shall be of the most suitable kind ; the
sills of the windows and doors are to be of black walnut, three inches thick, and of suffi-
cient width ; the walls to be jointed and penciled ; which shall be advertised by the Clerk
in the Jacksonville paper (Patriot) three insertions ; to be let to the lowest bidder on the
first Monday of June next; which building is to be completed according to the contract
on or before the first day of November, 1834.

An advance of one-fourth of the bid will be made to the undertaker so soon as com-
menced, in order to carry on the building, one-fourth to be paid when the contract is half
done, one-fourth when the contract is completed and received, and one-fourth at the ex-
piration of nine months from the time the contract and work is received by the County
Commissioners' Court. Bond, with approved security or securities, will be required to be
given in a penalty of double the amount of the undertaker's bid, which penalty will be
required as a forfeiture in case the contract is not complied with in every respect.

James Clarke, Moses Henton and Benjamin T. ISTaylor were ap-
pointed by the court as a committee to superintend the erection of
the building. George Miller and John T. Bishop were awarded
the contract for the stone and brick work for the sum of two thou-
sand four hundred and ninety-eight dollars. They immediately
entered upon the work, and in due time completed their under-
taking to the satisfaction of the court.

In the month of September, 1835, a further contract was made
by the county with Morris Roberts and David F. Martin to com-
plete the inclosure of the building for the sum ot one thousand
three hundred and thirty-four dollars. This part of the work was
finished and accepted in the spring of 1836. A further contract
was made with Benjamin T. Xaylor and Robert A. Brazleton for

36 HISTORY OF M'DdNOUGH COUNTY.

the completion of the wcod work, painting, etc., for one thousand
dollars. Their part of the work gave satisfaction, was accepted
by the court, and McDonough county had a Court House in which
her citizens felt a just pride. It was built at a total cost of four
thousand eight hundred and thirty-two dollars.

By permission of the contractors, Circuit Court was held in the
building in the fall of 1836, and all other courts immediately
thereafter. It was used for all county purposes thenceforward
until the year 1869, a period of thirty-three years, save during
the years between 1860 and 1866. In the former year, while Hon.
C. L. Higbeewas making apolitical speech in the courtroom, the
walls of the building began to crack, aud there was a general
stampede of the crowd. In a moment's time the .Judge had
naught but empty benches to address. Campbell's Hall was then
secured for court purposes, and was so used until the spring of
1866, when the walls of the Court House were patched up, and the
building again used. It was never regarded safe, however, and
the crowds assembled there were always in fear the Avails would
give way and destruction would be their doom. In consequence
of this state of affairs the Sheriff and his bailiffs could never keep
order, and the patience of the Judge was sorely tried. On the
least noise being heard, the timid would precipitately retire from
the room. The Judge could stand it no longer, so, in 1868, he
publicly declared that McDonough county must have a new and
better Court House. The Board of Supervisors immediately
acted upon the suggestion of the court, and, as a result, we have
the present magnificent building.

The expenses of the county up to this time were very small in-
deed, nearly all being incidental to its organization. The county
was organized .Inly 3, 1830, and for the six months remaining in
that year, paid out 878 25; for the year 1831, the sum of $436 42.1:
and in 1832 was paid $510 Oil. From this it appears that our
public officers were as economical as are those of thepreeenl day.
A little seeming extravagance may be manifest (at least it would
so seem to the present generation) in this account allowed James
M. Campbell for clothing, opium and tobacco furnished certain
paupers. The two latter articles are now hardly considered among
the necessaries of life, however they may have been regarded then.
Other equally strange matters are upon record, as for instance, in
1831, the rate for tavern license was $6 50 per year, and for mer-

HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY. 37

cantile license $5. In 1833 tavern license was reduced to $3, and
mercantile raised to $15, which was again, in 1835, raised to $25,
while tavern license remained about the same. "Would not saloon
keepers of the present day be happy if they could obtain license
for the small sum of $3 per year, and by it enjoy the protection of
the law?

At the April term (1834) of the County Commissioners' Court,
William Willis was appointed County Treasurer, his bond being
fixed at $2,500. He only retained the office one month, when
Resin Naylor was again reappointed.

In June, 1832, a battalion of men was raised in this and Warren
counties, under call of the Governor, for service in the Black
Hawk war. The organization was effected at Macomb, the War-
ren county men coming to this place for that purpose. Samuel
Bogart, of McDonough, was chosen Major; Peter Butler, of War-
ren, Captain ; McAllen, of Warren, First Lieutenant ; John

Wilson, of McDonough, Second Lieutenant. They marched to
the town of Oquawka, and they were there stationed for the pur-
pose of guarding the frontier. They were out eighty-six days,
but performed no special service. They drew their rations regu-
larly, ate heartily, played euchre, and visited the friendly Indian
camps on the opposite side of the river. At the expiration of their
term, they all returned to Macomb, and received their discharge.

The following -were among the number serving in this war :
Major Samuel Bogart, Lieutenant John Wilson, David Clarke,
James M. Campbell, Abraham Dover, J. L. Bussell, Larkin Osborne,
Jefferson Pennington, Mr. Shannon, William Tetherow, Asa Cook,
Mr. Langley, Solomon Osborne, Orsamus Farrington, David
Tetherow, Iraby Job, Andrew Calhoun, Berry Jones, Uriah Cook,
Daniel Campbell, Shadrack Goens, John McFadden, George Teth-
erow, William Southward, Lacy Jones, Samuel P. Lewis, James
Tetherow, Lewis F. Temple, James C. Head, Isaac Morris, Nicholas
•Campbell.

This battalion was mounted, each man furnishing his own
horse, and, as remarked, were out eighty-six days, and received
therefor the remunerative sum of eighty-six cents per day for self
and horse. Afterward the general government was kind enough
to give to each participant a bounty of eighty acres of land.

A number of instances are related of the sudden change in the
temperature of the weather from comparative warmth to extreme

38 HISTORY OF M'DONOUGII COUNTY.

cold. On the sixteenth day of March, 1832, David Clarke and
William Carter were returning from Frederick to Macomb, each
with a wagon load of goods. On the morning of this day they
left the residence of a man living near Doddsville, and proceeded
about one mile when it became so cold they could go no further.
Unhitching their oxen from the wagons, they broke for the near-
est house, barely reaching it alive. On this same day two men
left Blandinsville for Fort Madison, the weather at starting being
comparatively pleasant. They had gone but a short distance
when they discovered they were freezing. One of the party hur-
ried off for help, which was obtained, and, on going back, the
other party was found but a short distance from where he was left
frozen to death. Again on the morning of the same day, a man left
Macomb for his home near Blandinsville, or Job's settlement, and
had reached the prairie on the north when the change in the
weather occurred. Unhitching his oxen, he started them toward
the timber, at the same time catching hold and holding on to their
tails. The oxen brought up at a house not very far distant, and
the man endeavored tc loosen his hands, but was unable to do so,
and the inmates of the cabin were compelled to pull him loose, the
entire skin of his hands coming off in doing so.

HISTORY OF m'dONOUGH COUNTY. 39

CHAPTER IV.

THE LOST CHILD.

The incidents related in the following story will readily be re-
called to mind by every old settler of the county. This story
was first published in the Macomb Journal, January, 1874,
and was written by Miss Imogene Updegraff, daughter of Joseph
P. Updegraff, of Macomb, the facts being furnished by the latter.
The article was read with the greatest interest, and a demand made
that we give it permanent form in this history :

One Sunday afternoon, in August, 1834, two of the older sons of
Ephraim Palmer, living near the line separating Walnut Grove
from Macomb township, with several of the younger children,
went out to obtain some melons, growing a short distance from the
house. After obtaining all they desired, they returned, and as
they neared the house, the mother came out to meet them, and
anxiously inquired :

" Jonathan, where is Willie ? Didn't he go with you ?"

" Couldn't sa} T , mother ; there's always so many of the small fry
at my heels that I don't stop to count them."

"Jonathan, my son, you shouldn't speak so. What if Willie
should be lost ?"

"No danger, mother; he'll turn up soon enough."

But the heart of the mother was not to be comforted in such a
way. She was in constant dread of some of her little ones wander-
ing away and being lost, and possibly being devoured by wolves,
which infested the country at the time.

After looking around for some time, Mrs. Palmer again ex-
pressed her anxiety by saying :

" Jonathan, I am sure Willie did go to the patch with you. I
have looked everywhere, and cannot find him."

The father, just aroused from :i nap, said :

40 HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.

" Come, boys, let's return to the patch. I have no fears the lit-
tle one is lost, but it will relieve the anxiety of your mother."

Back to the patch they went, but no traces of the child could
be found, and they returned to the house, trusting to find him
there. But not so. The family were now fully aroused and feared
the worst. They searched in the corn, on the prairie near the
field, and through the timber, but still no trace of the lost one.

Night coming on, the mother's anxiety knew no bounds, and
as the hours passed, she would cry out again and again :

"0 my child! My precious Willie! Where is he? Have the
wolves torn him to pieces? Has my little boy been drowned?
Go look tor him again ! My God, I shall go wild !"

Palmer and his sons continued looking for the child until
morning, but becoming convinced it was useless to pursue the
search alone, the boys started with all speed to the nearest settle-
ment for help. Levi Hamilton was the nearest neighbor, and he
lived three miles away. Quite a number volunteered in the search
from Macomb, among whom were Col. William Bailey, J. M.
Campbell, James Clarke, David Clarke, J. L. Russell, J. W.
Westfall, Thompson Chandler, Charles Chandler, J. L. Anderson,
J. P. Updegraff, and it may be others. Some went from Job's
settlement, Carter's settlement, and other points. Col. William
Bailey was selected as leader, and search was begun in a very
thorough and systematic manner. A critical survey of the field
was made ; not a corn row or fence corner escaped unnoticed. Not
even a track was found to keep alive the fast fading hope that had
been so bright a little while before. The prairie south of the field
was next traversed, and then the timber, and at night the party
returned with no tidings of the lost child.

Tuesday morning dawned bright and beautiful. Ere this the
tidings of a "lost child" hud reached the most distant settlements,
and many came to assist in the search, even from Schuyler and
Fulton counties. The sad tidings were carried from cabin to
cabin, until the whole community was aroused.

On the second day, there being a greater number of men, longer
lines were formed, and they were thus enabled to traverse a larger
scope of country than on the day previous.

The interest taken in the search was unparalleled. The dis-
appearance of the child was so mysterious, and apparently beyond
solution, that great interest was awakened. On this day the prai-

HISTORY OF M'UONOUGH COUNTY. 41

rie waa scoured as far south as Wolf Grove, and also a large bocVy
of timber following the course of Crooked Creek.

As the day wore ou, many became discouraged and gave up the
search, and when darkness surrounded them the entire party was
nearlj' hopeless. Again they were compelled to report no tidings
of the loved and lost.

Only one section of the country now remained to be searched,
and those who still cherished a taint hope determined to come
again on the morrow and spend one more day in quest ot the
child.

Another long night of suspense, and then — who could tell what
the day would bring forth?

Wednesday morning found the disappearance of the child still
an unsolved mystery. Three nights of ceaseless restlessness, and
days of suspense and hopeless agony, left the mother in a danger-
ous condition. Completely exhausted, both in mind and body,
she lay unconscious of everything, save the loss of her child.
Hours of weeping and prayer had prostrated the over-taxed nerv-
ous system, and the only sign of consciousness was her frequent
moanings. The other members of the family were worn out.
Their aching limbs refused to longer carry their tired bodies, and
they were denied even the poor relief of action.

All day Wednesday the search was renewed. Xight came on,
and yet the mystery of the little one seemed no nearer a solution
than when the day's work began. The faithful friends now de-
spaired of finding the child alive. A few men agreed to come the
next day and help those who were still sanguine of success to ex-
plore the country farther down the creek.

Thursday, the fourth and last day of the search, was a beautiful
one indeed. With the morning came the friends who were to
make one last desperate effort to obtain some clue to the child's
fate.

Palmer and his sons had taken some rest, and early in the morn-
ing were on their feet ready to resume the search.

The company organized in two parties, one going south to
strike Crooked Creek at Wolf Grove and work up stream, the
other commenced among the head waters, where darkness had
compelled them to stop the night before.

Before night they hoped to search the entire length of the
stream, searching all the branches and country on either side, un.

42 HISTORY OF m'dONOUGII COUNTY.

less it be rendered unnecessary by rinding some traces of the lost
one. In this way they worked all forenoon without finding any-
thing to reward their labor, and some were ready to give up; but
when word was brought to them that the mother's life seemed to
depend entirely on the return of her child, they were touched with
her utter helplessness, and feared to abandon the search lest de-
spair should snap the frail link that held her soul to earth. So
they worked on, some still eager to be the lncky one to discover
the boy.

About the middle of the afternoon, when the two parties had
advanced to within a mile of each other, Crosby Bowman, one of
the men, working down stream, espied something in the mud that
looked like the print of a little bare foot; but it was so nearly ob-
literated by the washing of the water that he could not be at all
certain. He looked farther up the bank in hope of finding tracks
that the water had not reached, but not the slightest impression
was to be seen.

Passing the word along the line — "look closely along the
banks, a track has been seen" — they advanced in the direction in-
dicated by the foot mark. Some yards from the first impression
another was seen, and presently another, until the men were half
wild with joy and excitement. They followed the trail backward
until convinced that there could be no mistake ; then turned back
to where it led directly into the stream. The water was waded
out to the middle of the creek and measured. The depth turned
their joy to sadness, for it would reach the boy's chin ; and now
they felt sure that he had been drowned in attempting to cross. A
runner was sent to the other party, and all began the sad task
of dragging the creek for the body of the brave boy.

The poor father and sons could work no longer. Now that
hope was dead, their strength forsook them and they could only
wait for their friends to recover the body.

"Hold !" cried one. As they worked near the opposite bank
other foot-prints were seen. Could it be that the child crossed the
deep water in safety? Yes, it was a trail. Filled with joy and
surprise, they le'ft the water and turned to the land. Father and
brothers were strong once more and led the way. The trail fol-
lowed the creek for some distance, then struck out into the bushes.
North of the creek, some two or three miles from Walnut Grove,
was a blackberry region, and the trail led through the thickest
places. It was wonderful to think a little child could make his

HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY. 43

way th rough the dense thickets without being sadly torn by the
briers. The path of the little bare feet was very crooked, going-
this way and that, in and out, back and forth, after every ripe
berry the hungry little tellow had espied. The berries were all
gone along the trail, and it was very evident the venturesome
rogue had been having a blackberry excursion on his own hook.
But as they left the bushes the trail grew indistinct and then
stopped. They pressed forward with all possible speed, at the same
time proceeding cautiously for fear of frightening the child.
Some who had been through all the four days were still eager to
be first in catching a glimpse of the boy. They worked on until
about a half mile from the creek, when Henry Russell, one of the
party, peering through the bushes, spied something in the dis-
tance dodging about from bush to bush. He looked again and
this time got a full view of the long-sough t-for child, standing up
by a bush eating berries. Word went along the line:

" Silence, the bov has been seen."

They crept up noiselessly, but when quite near, the boy saw
them and started to run.

George Miller advanced toward the child and held out a biscuit.
He evidently regarded them at first sight as something frightful,
and showed signs of having forgotten his past life, and of having-
become a child of the woods. Miller advanced slowly, saying:

"Willie, don't you want a biscuit? Don't Willie want to go
home and see mamma?"

The child eyed him curiously as if trying to tell what he meant,
but seeing the biscuit, came slowly forward, as if afraid, and when
near enough snatched the bread, ran back a little way, stopped
and ate it as if half starved. They let him finish the biscuit, then
coaxed him nearer, and finally one of them lifted him up to Mil-
ler, who had mounted his horse. The little fellow did not like
that, however. As he had got to be quite a pedestrian he seemed
to prefer walking. He kicked and screamed, and seemed for the
first time to remember that he could talk a little. They had
hard work to pacify him, but finally he gave up, and they started
homeward.

The father and boys were not in the line when the boy was-
found, but had gone back to the creek to follow up the trail once
more.

44 HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

Word was sent to them, and when they came up with the re-
turning party, the child knew them, and they were so overjoyed
that they laughed and cried by turns.

As they returned home, they all concluded that when the
other children left the watermelon patch, Willie had either lagged
behind, or went back after another melon, and, missing his way,
started out in the direction of the prairie instead of the cabin,
wandered out across the prairie toward the northeast, crossed the
creek, and tarried among the blackberries.

They found where lie had slept in an old stump, with sprouts
grown up all around it, forming a kind of shelter.

From the way the grass Avas tramped, they were led to believe
that he had slept there several times and used it for a place of re-
treat.

He did not seem to have worried about being away from home,
but apparently had been having a general good time, eating berries
and sleeping in an old tree.

Several had gone on ahead to prepare the mother for the com-
ing of her child. Among them was the Iiev. William J. Frazier,
and to him fell the delicate task of breaking the news to the al-
most lifeless woman. He entered the cabin and approached the
bed on which the poor woman lay. He spoke to her, asking if
she felt better. A moan was her only answer. .

" My good woman," said the minister, " you ought not to grieve
in this way. Wouldn't you feel better to sit up a little?"

"No, no," came feebly from her lips.

"My dear friend," said he, "God is good — "

At that she started up with glaring eyes, and cried :

"What do you mean, man, by telling me that God is good,
when he has taken my Willie away."

" My good woman calm yourself; God is good to those — "

" Hush," she cried, springing from the bed, " I don't believe it,

or he would have answered my prayers and brought my darling

back."

" What if he should bring Willie back, would your prayers be
answered then ?" said the good man.

She said-: back on the bed sobbing.

" Then they have found him dead. My Willie dead ?"

HISTORY OF m'dONOUGH COUNTY. 45

" Dear friend, what if the good Lord should bring him back
alive ?"

She started to her feet, seized hold of the minister, and said
hoarsely :

" Speak out, man. What do you mean ? Don't torture me
longer. Tell me, tell me! have they found him?"

" Yes," said the minister, " they have found him safe and well."
She sank at the man's feet in a swoon. They soon restored her
to consciousness, and the party came in with the child. She caught
him in her arms, sobbing :

" Oh, Willie, my darling boy ! Safe, safe at last ! Don't Willie
know mamma?" smiling through her tears.

"Yes, I know mamma," lisped the child. And the poor woman
exhausted herself with joy as she had done with grief. Father,
brothers and friends stood around laughing and crying for jo} r . It
was almost night, and the rescuers returned to their homes with a
thousand thanks from the happy family, and what was still better
— with the consciousness of having done their whole duty.

The young men who then took part in the search, are now old
or have passed from earth. Forty years rolls around and scarcely
any of those so full of life and the love of adventure are left to tell
the tale. Then they were full of hope and promise ; now only
one here and there is left to tell us of pioneer life in times long
gone by.

46 HISTORY OF M'DOXOUGH COUNTY,

CHAPTER A'

MURDER OF JOHN WILSON.

Previous to November, 1834, there was no event in the history
of McDonough county calculated to arouse any particular excite-
ment among her citizens, save the incident of the lost child, an ac-
count of which we publish in a previous chapter. The settlers of
that day pursued the even tenor of their way, endeavoring to make
for themselves and families a home in this unbroken wildness.
Their little troubles were settled by a fair tight, and a friendly
drink afterward, and no hard feelings were entertained.

A year or two previous to the time of which we write, Elias Mc-
Fadden, his son, David, and son-in-law, Wylie McFadden, with
their families, came to this count} 7- and settled on the farm now
owned and occupied by William Hunter, about one mile south of
Macomb. If reports are correct, all were of an over-bearing and
quarrelsome nature, and from the first trouble ensued between
them and their neighbors.

John "Wilson, the murdered man, came to the county about the
same time, and settled on what is known as the " Kuthv" Wilson
farm, adjoining McFadden's, now Hunter's place. Wilson was
generally respected by all ; a good-natured, yet bold and fearless
man.

The McFaddens and Wilson had not long been neighbors be-
fore there was trouble between them in reference to some timber
land lying near. Threats were made by the former against the
latter, and at the time of the murder, as it afterward was shown,
Wylie McFadden was in Rushville consulting Judge Minshall as
to whether they had the right to kill Wilson should he appear on
their place.

In the early part of the month of November, 1834, an execution
was placed in the hands of Nelsou Montgomery, Constable and

HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY. 47

Deputy Sheriff: of the county, against Wylie McFadden, directing
him to levy on the property of said "Wylie McFadden to satisfy a
judgment against him in favor of Hen ton & Robinson, merchants
in Macomb. Mr. Montgomery took the execution and called upon
Wilson to accompany him, and take his team, that he might haul
away a certain amount of corn he proposed to seize to satisfy the
claim. Apprehending no danger, Mr. Wilson agreed to accom-
pany him. Arriving at the place, they were met by Elias McFad-
den, who engaged them in conversation, decoying them around to
the north side of the house, and when in proper range, through
the window, David McFadden committed the foul deed, shooting
Wilson down, without a word of warning. Mr. Montgomery
caught him as he fell, and dragged him within a woodshed and
hurried off to town and gave the alarm. A crowd of excited peo-
ple at once proceeded out to the scene of the murder, and found
Elias McFadden coolly repairing a fence, while near by lay Wilson
in a supposed dying condition. McFadden was at once arrested,
and search was made for the then unknown murderer. Search-
ing the house, a rifle was found in the corner near the. north win-
dow unloaded ; a pane of glass was found broken out of the
window; a book laying upon the sill, and the sash and book both
powder-marked. The question now arose who committed the
deed. Wylie McFadden was supposed to be away, and David was
not known to be near. Searching, footsteps were found leading
from the house in the direction of the residence of David McFad-
den, who lived just across the hollow on the west side. Follow-
ing the tracks, they were led to the door of David McFadden's
house; and going in they found him at work on a shoemaker's
bench, as entirely unconcerned as his father, and acting as inno-
cently as though no cold-blooded murder had taken place. He
was at once arrested, and, in company with his father, brought to
town and placed under guard, to await the result of the wound in-
flicted upon Mr. Wilson. Wylie McFadden, coming home the
same evening, was likewise arrested.

Mr. Wilson lived some days. On his death a preliminary ex-
amination was had before James Clarke, Esq., Justice of the
Peace, the evidence being as already narrated, aud the three men,
Elias, David and Wylie McFadden were committed to the county
jail, without bail, to await the meeting of the Circuit Court.

On the fifteenth day of November, 1834, the grand jury found a
true bill of indictment against the three, and a few days afterward

48 HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.

they were brought before the court; a change of venue was asked
and granted, and two of the party, Elias and David, were taken
the following spring (1835) to Rushville, Schuyler county, tor trial.
Wylie McFadden was discharged by the Judge, there being no
evidence against him.

George Wison, Alfred Evans, Nelson Montgomery, Joseph Up-
degraff, J. W. Brattle, Moses Kenton, William J. Frazier, William
Bovven, Daniel Dowen, Perry Keys, and .lames Anderson were
each placed under bonds of $300 to appear as witnesses in the
case.

In May, 1835, the case was called in the Circuit Court at Rush-
ville, and Elias and David McFadden, father and son, were placed
upon trial for their lives. Judge Young presided, and Cyrus
Walker appeared for the people as Prosecuting Attorney, while
Judge Minshall assumed the hopeless task of defending the mur-
derers.

The trial lasted for several days, Mr. Walker, well known as the
best criminal lawyer in the West, exerted all his powers to weave
around the murderers a chain of unimpeachable, testimony. Judge
Minshall defended in a most admirable manner, doing all for his
clients that it was possible for man to do, but without avail. In
his speech, he charged the Judge, the attorney for the people, and
the jury also, of not prosecuting, but persecuting his clients.

As was expected, the jury brought in a verdict of murder in the
iirst degree, and upon .Judge Young devolved the duty of pro-
nouncing the sentence of death. This was done, and in due time,
upon a scaffold, erected in a hollow near the city of Rushville,
Elias and David McFadden paid the penalty for the crime com-
mitted. Thomas Hayden, as Sheriff of the county, erected the
scaffold, and his son, acting as Deputy Sheriff, pulled the drop that
launched the souls of the guilty men into eternity. His bill of
$1 50 for hanging the guilty wretches is now on file in the County
< llerk's office at Macomb.

>uch, in brief, is the record of the second murder that ever oc-
curred in McDonough county. For the facts in the case we are
indebted to James Clarke, David Clarke, John O. C. Wilson, .1.
M. Campbell, and others. We believe the story is as exact as it is
possible to get it at this late day, and only in minor details can
exceptions be taken.

HISTOEY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY. 49

CHAPTER VI.

PERSONAL INCIDENTS AND ANECDOTES.

The first settlers of this couuty were principally from Kentucky
and Tennessee, and brought with them the peculiarities, as well
as the prejudices of the people of those States. All were kind-
hearted and given to hospitality ; no poor wayfarer was turned
hungry from their doors ; even the despised book agent, or light-
ning-rod peddler would have met with a cordial welcome, though
luckily they were never bored with these specimens ot the genus
homo. But there was one peculiar trait about these early settlers
of the county — they had a strong prejudice against the Yankees,
and hated them with a "righteous hatred". All persons born in
the Eastern and New England States were Yankees in their estima-
tion. Capt. Charles R. Hume, of Blandinsville, a York state man
by birth, relates the following personal experience in illustration
of this early prejudice:

" I came to this State and county in 1837; purchased east half of
section 19, 5 north, 4 west, and then went, to pass time, to visit my
parents, then living in LaGrange county, Indiana.

" In the meantime I learned that on my land, so purchased, there
were two families living, then called 'squatters.' As soon as I
ascertained this fact I returned and called on these persons and
informed them that I, a stranger, had bought the land on which
they were settled, but with no knowledge that there was any set-
tler on said land. I at once informed them that I had bought
said half section for $1000, cash, and it they would refund to me
the money I had paid, all would be right ; that I did not buy with
the knowledge that the land was occupied. Occupants at once
informed me that they had no thousand dollars to pay for the
land, nor did they ever expect to have so much money. I then
h— 4

50 HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.

informed them that if they wished to give me possession of the
land, that they might pick two men, and I, a stranger, would pick
one, the three to fix the amount I should pay for the improve-
ments that had been made. To this they at once agreed. The
men went out and fixed the amount I was to pay. I paid in
cash on the day agreed, and so we separated. They went; I re-
mained.

"A few days after said leaving, being an old 'bach,' and while
preparing my morning meal, a man on a mule rode up and shouted :

" 'Who keeps house?'

"Being entirely unacquainted with this manner of salutation, I
went to the door and inquired of the stranger what he wanted,
lie says,

"■'Come down here and I will tell you what I want.'

"I walked down to see my newly-made friend. lie inquired,

'"Is your name Hume ?'

'"Yes, sir; I never had occasion to deny my name.'

" 'Do you know that you are in a dangerous place?'

" 'Will you be so good as to tell me as to m} r danger? A re there
any wild beasts or venomous serpents that I should dread? I can
hardly suppose my neighbors are worse than wild beasts or ven-
omous serpents.'

"I then said to my visitor,

"'Come down off" your mule and we will talk this over.'

"lie replied,

"'I shall not get down. I have told you all I was sent to tell.'

"I then informed him that no friend of mine could come and go
without partaking of my good cheer.

" 'Dismount,' I said.

" 'I will not, 5 he replied.

"I then drew several shooters, and told my friend to come and
see my arrangements, for if he did not so come I would shoot him
dead if my fire-arms proved true, lie went in with me, and in-
stead of cooking for one I cooked for two, and we ate as brothers.

"From that day to this I have suffered no reproach by being
called a Yankee, and my best friends are those from the south."

But there were some of the "favored ones" who did not have it
in their hearts to condemn this unfortunate class, and were ever

HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY. 51

ready to extend a helping hand to them as well ae others, feeling it
both a privilege and a duty to do a kind act for all such. It is
related of Kev. William McKamy, familiarly known as "Uncle
Billy McKamy," that at an early day a "Yankee" settled in his
neighborhood, and, upon oue occasion, being in need of some
kind of an agricultural implement, borrowed it of rim. On re-
turning it, he thanked Uncle Billy for the favor, and enquired of
him how much he should pay for its use. "Pay !" says Uncle
Billy, "look here, my friend, you don't know me, do you? Xow,
sir, I want you to understand that whenever I have anvthins: that
you wish, all you have to do is to come after it ; and, when
through with it, if it suits your convenience to return it do so;
if not, I will come after it when I need it. I want you to under-
stand farther, sir, that whenever you have anything I want, 1
shall come and get it, and if it suits my convenience to return it,
I shall do so; if not, you can come' and get it.'' The point was
very plain to Mr. Yankee.

As illustration of a neighborlv turn the old settlers were always
ready to show, we will state that some years ago in the eastern
part of the county, an unoccupied quarter of laud was entered at
the same time, by Messrs Judd k Gowdy, a ptominent firm of
lawyers in Lewistown, 111., and a Mr. Grimm, of this county.
The former gentlemen desired it for speculative purposes, while
the latter gentleman desired it for a place of residence. The
party first occupying the land, would, of course be entitled to it.
Both parties hurried their preparations, but Judd & Gowdy were
a little too fast for Mr. Grimm. The neighbors, (those living
anywhere within ten miles) all sympathized with Mr. Grimm,
and desired that he should occupv the land rather than any one
Judd & Gowdy would send there. After Judd & Gowdy had
erected their building and placed a man in possession, those
sympathizing with Grimm met to consider the matter. Various
suggestions were made as to how they should get rid of this
obnoxious neighbor; finally, one suggested that if fifty or one
hundred voke of oxen should gather around that house some
night, and that house should follow them off in the direction of
the creek no one would be to blame ; there was no law against
cattle running at large. Xothing more was said, Grimm was
advised to build a house as close to the line as possible and await
developments. This was done. A short time after, Judd &
Gowdy's man went to Lewistown. That night a large number of

52 HISTORY OF m'dONOUGH COUNTY.

oxen strayed in the direction of the house, and the next mornino-
it was no where to he seen ! Grimm's house Avas found over the
line on the quarter in question !

On the return of the man employed by Judd & Gowdy, he
discovered the situation in a moment, and returned post-haste to
Lewistown, and the would-be-owners came over, and with the aid
of a search warrant found the house down on the creek! The aid
of the grand jury was invoked at their next sitting, but no one
could be found who knew how it came there. Grimm got the
land. We would not recommend the practice of such neighborly
turns being practiced at this time. Trouble might ensue — our
officers being quite vigilant.

About 1832 a young couple living in the neighborhood of In-
dustry concluded to marry, which proceeding was opposed b} r the
parents of both parties. But whoever knew such opposition to
avail anything ? " Love laughs at locksmiths," and no impediment
placed in the way of a loving couple is too great to be removed.
This young couple had determined to marry, and marry they
would ; so one morning, bright and early, they left their homes on
foot for this purpose. Their destination was Nauvoo, then the
county scat of Hancock. When a little way beyond Macomb,
they were overtaken by brothers of both parties, who urged them
to return and be married at home, telling them their parents had
consented thatthe ceremony might proceed. Having their "dan-
der up," in consequence of the opposition previously made, they
refused to return. The brothers went back to report, and the fair
couple proceeded on their way to Nauvoo. They arrived at the
creek west of Macomb about dark, and could find no way to cross r
the water being high, and no bridges built. They would not turn
back to seek shelter for the night, but lying down beside of a large
log, slept sweetly, dreaming, doubtless, of the joy in store for them
in the future. When the morning came they searched up and
down the stream until they discovered a log thrown across, on
which they passed over in safety. Arriving in Kauvoo, the young
man called upon the County Clerk for the papers. Being a little
nervous, as one is apt to be under such circumstances, he could
not make his wishes known. The Clerk, witnessing his embar-
rassment, kindly inquired as to his desires. Coloring up, he
blurted out, '• Have you got any nails ?" " Nails,'' said the Clerk,
" why, no ; this is not a store, it is the office of the County Clerk."
" We-1-1, then, wh-what do you ask for a pair of license?" The

HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY. 53

sum was named, the amount paid, the papers made out, and the
Clerk, being also a Justice of the Peace, kindly offered to " tie the
knot." The blushing bride was brought in, the ceremony per-
tormed, and the twain went on their way rejoicing.

It sometimes happens that when the arrangement are duly made,
with the consent of both parties, and, seemingly, the truth of the
old proverb that " true love never runs smooth " is proven false,
that circumstances will arise by which all arrangements will be
frustrated. One evening in September, 1844, a large party assem-
bled for the purpose of witnessing the marriage ceremony of Mr.
Zachariah A. Gatton and Miss Elizabeth Alison, at the residence
of the latter, a few miles southwest of Macomb. Great prepara-
tions had been made for the event, and invitations sent out to
friends throughout the country. Just before the hour'arrived for
the performance of the ceremony it was made known to tbe bride-
groom that the bride was an Abolitionist. Seeking her out, he
inquired if this was so. She responded by saying it was, when he
urged her to renounce her principles, stating he could never wed
an Abolitionist. " Very well," said she, " I will not renounce my
principles for the best man living." After further parley, it was
agreed, and the announcement made that no wedding would oc-
cur. The guests were invited to partake of the supper, after which
the would-be bridegroom returned to his home minus a " better
half."

Some rich scenes have occurred in our Justices' Courts, among
which we relate the following:

A gentleman having failed in business was thought to have
disposed of his property in such a way as to defraud his creditors,
some of it being placed in the hands of a Mr. P., who was arrested
on a charge of concealing the goods. In the trial before the
justice the case was ably argued pro and con, when the justice
delivered his opinion as follows : "It is the opinion of the court
that Mr. P. is not guilty ; but, look here, Mr. P., let me admonish
you never to do the like again."

The same justice, who, by the way, was an Irishman, of course,
was trying another case, in which a man was charged with steal-
ing a log-chain. The taking of the chain was clearly proven,
and not denied by the defense, who set up the plea that there was
no felonious intent, it being customary in this country when one
desired to use some article owned by a neighbor, to take it with-
out asking. When the justice arose to give his opinion, he said :

54 HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.

" It is the opinion of the court that Mr. A. is guilty." "What,"'
said the counsel for the defense, jumping to his feet, " do you
mean to say that my client is guilty ot felonious intentions in
taking the chain?" " (), no, no;" replied the justice, " it is the
opinion of the court that Mr. A. is not guilty" And so it was
recorded on the docket.

Another justice, who, at that time, was in the habit of partak-
ing a little too much of the "ardent," but who for nearly forty
years has been a staunch teetotaler, was engaged in trying a case
in a room used by himself as a saloon, when a half-drunken man
who was sitting on an old-fashioned spinning wheel, fell over and
broke it, which called forth an oath. The justice exclaimed:

" By , I line you live dollars for swearing in court." "Why,

your honor swore, too," said the man. "Did I? Well, I fine
myself five dollars, also."

Some forty years ago there lived in this county a man who
imagined himself bewitched by a woman living in this neighbor-
hood. Ele was told that he could dispossess himself of the evil
influence by making a drawing of the woman, placing it upon a
tree and shooting it with a silver bullet. This he did. The
woman died the same night, and the man was told he would be
haunted no more, as the woman was dead. " I know it." he
replied, " I killed her." The same confession he made to many
others, and at length it was proposed by some to arrest him for
the crime. lie acknowledged his guilt, and no murderer should
go unpunished, lie was promptly arrested, tried, and convicted
on his own testimony and acknowledged guilt. The justice ex-
amining the case, immediately sentenced him to be hung, but
in consideration of the fact that he was an unconverted man,
remanded him to the jail at Macomb for spiritual consolation,,
and to make due preparation for eternity.

It is needless to say the man was not hung.

In the early settlement of this county, when newspapers, circus
shows and minstrel troupes were a thing unknown, the people had
to devise other means of amusement wherewith to while away
the weary hours. We tind them occasionally indulging in a lit-
tle "wee bit of row," "just for the fun of the thing," alter which
they would shake hands and take a drink 'round. But in prac-
tical jokes they took especial delight. Hon. .lames Mr. Campbell
was frequently the subject of them. Being the peoples' servant,

HISTORY OF m'dONOUGH COUNTY. 55

they considered the} r had a better right to make him the butt of
their jokes than an ordinary man, but none were exempt.

On a certain occasion, Mr. Campbell had advertised, in the
manner common at that time, for some men to split rails for him.
J. P. Updegraff, well known to all our readers, and Joseph Hemp-
stead, a brother-in-law of Mr. Campbell, concluded they would
have a little fun at his expense. Hempstead was a slim-built
man, but Updegraff held his own then as now. Hempstead dis-
guised himself by obtaining the largest pair of pants, vest and
coat he could find, and encased himself in them, filling up with
pillows, making himself very heavy, fleshy-looking. Mr. Upde-
graff put on the roughest suit he could find, topping off with a
slouchy hat that came down over his ears. Each taking an old
maul, wedge and axe upon his shoulders, and giving the cue to a
lot of their friends, who preceded them, they went over to the old
court house, where Mr. Campbell held forth as circuit clerk,
county clerk, &c. Passing into the office, they enquired for Mr.
Campbell. Mr. Campbell who was engaged in writing at the
time, replied, "I am the man."

" We understand you desire some rails split," says Mr. Updegraff,
who acted as spokesman.

" I do."

"What will you give?"

" Sixty-two and a half cents per hundred."

"Is it good, sound timber?"

" Yes."

" How do you pay?"

"Cash."

"Eve ry S a t u rd ay nigh t ': ' "

" Yes."

" You won't ask us to take trade?"

"No."

" "Well, then," said Mr. U., who, during the interview, had been
standing with maul and axe across his shoulder, throAving them
down on the floor, "if you want your rails split, bring on your

timber."

" By Jiminie, you get out of here," said Mr. Campbell, as the
crowd began to roar, and he perceived the joke played upon him.

56 HISTORY OP M'DONOUGH COUNTY.

A correspondent of Clarke's Monthly furnished the following
"good one " on Mr. Campbell, for the March (1876) number of
that paper :

When the Quincy House, Quincy, Illinois, was first built, it was
considered a "big thing on ice," and the pride of the citizens
of the " Gem city." Our honorable Senator, in company with
Judge Henry L. Bryant, of Lewistown, visited the city about the
time of the formal opening of the house, and, of course, registered
there. They were assigned rooms in the third story of the
building, and were there but a few hours when they were honored
with calls from General John Tilson and other dignitaries of the
city.

At this time total abstinence did not prevail, and our friend,
with his visitors, had wine, brandy, old bourbon, etc., brought up
to the room, and a good time was enjoyed by all. After having
imbibed a few times, General Tilson invited our Senator to go
through the house with him. Showing him through from cellar
to garret, the last place visited was the kitchen, in it was placed a
new steam cooking apparatus. Eyeing the thing suspiciously for
a moment or two, Mr. Senator remarked to General Tilson,

"By , I should consider this a dangerous thing. Suppose

the whole thing should bust up, what would become of us?"

"0, there is no danger," replied the General, "they have an ex-
perienced cook employed ; one who