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BRINKERHOFFS HISTORY
OF
MARION COUNTY
ILLINOIS
By PROF. J. H. 0. BRINKERHOFF
ILLUSTRATED
F. BOWEN & COMPANY, PUBLISHERS
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA
19O9
AUTHOR'S PREFACE.
In writing a history of Marion county it is necessary that the author pre-
sent a brief outline of the history of the state of which the county forms a
part, in order that the reader may refresh his memory of the conditions and
difficulties to be met and overcome by the men and women of an age which de-
manded the best and bravest and called for, not only an indomitable spirit, but a
body as well, inured to privations and hardships, inseparable from a pioneer life.
The youth of today can hardly realize, surrounded as they are by every conve-
nience and many of the luxuries of modern life, the utter lack of conveniences
and comforts that faced the pioneer of a century ago in the then wilderness of
Illinois; and brave, indeed, was the man who with his family traversed the
woodland and the plain to literally hew out with the axe the home which he
must defend with the rifle; upon which he also must largely depend for
sustenance.
Yet it is of these we must write, if we are to preserve the records of our
people and trace the character of the men of today back to its foundation in the
lives of those who have gone before, and instill into the life of coming gener-
ations that love of liberty and independence which characterized the fathers and
made the hardy American pioneer the noblest work of the Creator, unsung he-
roes and heroines whose bones rest peacefully in the soil their energy con-
quered, and left a rich heritage to succeeding generations.
J. H. G. BRINKERHOFF.
INDEX.
Carrigan
County &
Population
H>7 Jollitrt. Clievaiif-r IH Railroads
, : . . . : : ! Kit.e 30
1 . ,
Early Sports ri Public L
: Klnniiincly, . -. - Salem Township
ruindy. Towns! - of Prescii
Kighty-eishth Regiment ml, City <n
'ohm- Mt, Doctor i : ;i Towiisl:
teer iui ^n
Elec.tioua, First :
Expcution. Firsr. LVJW.\ . "i'-'st Regime
ling
Young, Samuel
Abcrua
Andrev
Andert
Adam H . ,
Balriridgn, George P.
Gfeorva R.
Frank A.
Brigham,
HrinkeT'hc
Tlronson.
James, O. A
260
Miles, Celia M
802
Robb, Mary A
. 381
Jennings Family
600
Miller, Charles
! 739
Robinson, Klbridge
. 583
603
Miller Franklin P
691
359
Jennings', Z. C
464
Moehlmann, Henry W
, 372
Rodgers, Benjamin F
,'. 528
Johnson, William T
581
Morris, Ira C
. 599
Rogers, Frank A
, . 252
Jolliff, Samuel A
750
Morris, William
. 377
Rogers, Tilman J ,
. 609
Jones Eli W
585
Morris, Samuel
, 399
Rogier, William B
575
Jones, James R
530
Morrison, Col. Napoleon B.
, 676
Rohl, Robert
, . 698
Jones, J. T
258
Morton, James S
. 58G
Rchrbough, Calendar .
, . 621
Jones, Samuel W
409
Mundwiler, George
, 511
Root, Joseph P
. 649
Jones, William A
542
McBride, H. S
733
Rosborough, J. F
, . 754
Jourdan, Joseph
819
McClelland, Andrew J
, 774
Rose, Wiley
, . 555
Joy, Thomas L
633
McCollum, Metta
. 509
Ross, J. W
, . 791
Joy, Verne E
685
McKee, Robert M
. 798
Ryman, Herbert D
.. 589
Kagy, Shannon
Kagy, Levi Monroe
Kelchner, Henry F
Kell, Charles T
366
421
607
368
McLaughlin, Joseph K. . . .
McMillan, Henry
McNicol, James
McQuinn, Robert T
, 463
. 789
. 618
221
Sanders, Charles C
Sanders, Samuel O
Saxer, Arnold
, . 512
. . 724
. 783
Kell, William R
Kilpatrick, John A
Kimberlin, James Henry . . .
Kline Calvin B
304
810
293
532
Neeper, Andrew
Neal, Thomas B
Netherton, Clark B
558
479
. 775
Schmelzer, John
Schultz, John M
Secor, F. D
See, Charles M
. 667
. . 493
. 643
Knight, George R
Knight, J. F
Kugler, Daniel
Lacey Winfleld S
762
635
758
519
Newman, William D
Nichols, David F
Noleman, Frank F
Norfleet, Benjamin F
Norris, G. E
. 715
396
. 759
477
. 580
See, Henry William, Sr. !i
See, Orcelas
See, Michael
Seley, A. "
Schaffei. J.isi-ph H
". 523
, . 388
,. 404
. 690
606
Lambert, Robert L
Lamblin, Frank P
Lane, Thomas M
392
721)
705
Orr, Hiram
Owens, Sallie
. 332
349
Shanafe)
Schanafe:i. Sa.uuel A
Shirwood. George
'. 498
. 354
. 850
Larimer. John W
Lear, I. D
Leckrone, William
Lederman, Emile R
Legreid, Severt
Leonard, Walter
Leseman, William H
Lewis, James B
442
77H
510
771
795
779
553
246
Pace. H. T
Parkinson, Joseph C
Parkinson, William K
Pan-ill, A. J
Patton, Thomas A
Peddicord, A. M
Peddicord, Andrew M
236
. 484
. 566
. 480
. 432
. 596
768
Shook. Samuel
Simcox, George B
Simer, William J
Singer, Oscar
Sisscn, George W
Skipworth, J. W
Smith, Alex. C
Smith, Benajmin M
. 653
. 313
. . 526
. . 468
. 699
. 544
. 799
. 268
Library, Centralia Public..
Livesay, Alfred
802
f,4l
i 'etrie.. T). S
Perrine. George H
'. 807
Smith, John
Smith, June C
. 525
. 766
Livesay, Harvey R
Livesay, Jackson L
Loomis, Frank
Lovell, Samuel \V.
Lucas, Aml
Luttrell, Thomas .O :
March, John t..,,
Martin, Benjamiii E., Sr. . . .
746
719
459
538
59Y
843
400
234
Pigg. James B
Phillips, Samuel F
Pittenger, Col. George L. . .
Porter, Albert G
Prusz, Frank
Prather, Joseph A
Puffer, Samuel
Pullen, Burden
Purcell, Francis M
. 490
. 686
, 619
. 736
, 452
. 521
. 707
. 364
Snodgrass, John A
Soger, John
Songer, A. W. . . . ,
Stevenson, Noah R
Stonecipher, John S
Stonecipher, Jesse
Stonecipher, Thomas
Storer, B. W
Storment, S. A
.. 711
. 838
. 285
. 346
. 324
. MI;
816
.. 697
. 315
Martin, Gen. Jaraes S
433
Purdue, James F
. o<0
Storment, William T
. 384
Martin, John C
Martin, John E
Martin, Robert
276
429
317
Quayle, J. R
Quick, Albert E
266
. 731
Stratton, George W
Spiese, Wilfred
Swalley, M. V. B
, . 557
. . 387
, . 360
Martin, William j
363
Schwartz Brothers
. 418
Mattinly, Rola.nd W
362
Raines, William F
. 790
Matthews, Leander C
307
Rainey, George S
. 318
May, Harvey D
371
Randall, Alfred J
. 717
Tate, J. W
. . 786
Meartor. Sim. n W
569
Reed, Lewis H
. 659
Telfcrd, Erastuu D
. . 311
Mragher, Tbonms F
711'
Reese, Francis M
. 376
Telford, J D
. . 445
ilank, Cen-
778
Reese, George E
Reichenbach, Jacob J
. 383
. 747
Touve, Jacob
. . 784
Meredith, Theodore F
730
Reinhardt, Julius
. 660
Trenary, G. H
. . 278
Merritt, Thomas E
489
Rennie, J. A
. 389
Tubbs, Harriet/
. . 551
Merritt, Charles D
264
Rhodes, Henry L
. 658
Tufts, C. D. . . i
. . 632
Merz, Wilfred W
Michaels, M. W
290
447
Richardson, James R
Robb, Francis M
. .469
. 617
Utterback, Jeter
.. 218
Van Patten, Martin
Vasel, Harry A
Vawter, John H . . .
Walker, Joseph H . .
Wallis, Matthew S.
Walton, Orville T. .
Warfield, Bowie C.
Warner, Harry M . .
Warner, Perry W . .
Warren, Henry . . .
Watts, Edwin L
Wells, George C . . .
788
723
443
(1 1 r,
7M
768
867
878
729
518
Well, Matthew B
Welton. Edwin L
West, Charles H
Wham, Henderson B. .
Wham, William
Wilkinson, William T.
Wild, Samuel R
Williams, John P
Williams, A. R
Williams, T. W
Wilson, George C
Wilson, Lucian O
Wilson, William G...
845
654
297
474
431
554
744
516
262
243
556
Wright, Newton
Wright, Thomas J. . . .
Wilson, Richard
Woodward, H. N
Woodard, W. R
Woods, Johns
Wooldridge, William C
Wooldridge, James R.
Wyatt, John H
582
494
515
713
836
840
487
336 Young, William J.
RELATED ILLINOIS HISTORY.
Illini, "the river of men," a title of the
confederacy of Indian tribes, occupying the
territory now included within the limits of
the state, which is known by the slightly
changed name, Illinois. Many evidences of
an earlier occupation than that of the red
men are to be found within the borders of
the state, especially along the watercourses,
in the form of earthworks or mounds, many
of which were built with the exactness of
modern science, and give undisputable evi-
dence of a civilization, crude though it may
have been, that evidenced constructive abil-
ity of no mean order, since its traces remain
although the people who wrought are lost
in the darkness of the receding centuries.
The mound builders were, but are not, and
the works of their hands are eloquent with
the silence of the ages, and the red child of
the forest and plain who occupied the land
when the white man first viewed the inland
empire, void of all save savage life, were
as ignorant of who their predecessors were
as we are today, and conjecture is useless,
as it must prove to be only conjecture still.
The reliable history of Illinois begins with
the discovery of the Indian occupants of the
soil by the white men in the year 1673. All
before is myth and mystery, the traditions of
the tribes or the imaginary events of their
people as told by their sages and medicine
men.
Shortly after Columbus had made known
the practicability of a westward passage to
what was thought to be. the Indies, but was
soon discovered to be a hitherto unknown
land, the powers of Europe planned to lay
claim to all they might be able to grasp and
hold, with an exquisite disregard of the
rights of the occupants and of each other.
In 1498 Henry Cabot, sailing under a
commission from Henry VII of England,
laid the foundations upon which was builded
the English claim to Illinois, although no
thought of the vastness of the territory
claimed had occurred to the discoverer or
his sovereign.
France based her claim to what is now
Illinois on the discoveries and explorations
of Verrazanni, who in 1525 explored the
coast from Florida to New Foundland,
claiming all territory included within those
points westward indefinitely.
In 1513 Ponce de Leon discovered Flor-
ida, and as he was an adventurer acting un-
der a grant from the government of Spain,
he, in the spirit of the times, laid claim to all
territory north, south and west, that Spain
might be able to seize and hold, and thus
setting up a right to all North America from
the lakes to the gulf, which shadowy claim
overlapped the claims of both England and
France, which in turn overlapped each oth-
er. No very serious attempt was made, how-
rS
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
ever, by Spain to contest the rights of Eng-
land and France to any part of what is now
Illinois.
The grant, by patent, in 1606, and by
charter, in 1609, by James I of England, to
a company for the purpose of colonizing
Virginia, reinforced England's claim and
as the grant extended from the forty-
fifth degree of latitude on the north
to the thirty-fourth degree on the south
and extended westward to the Pacific
Ocean, it included the territory of
the Illini, although the same territory was
claimed by the French as a part of their new
France.
In 1671, France made a treaty with the
Indian tribes of the West, by which the ter-
ritory west of the Alleghany mountains was
to become French territory, thus reinforc-
ing the claim of France to that which Eng-
land also claimed, but as the English made
no attempt to explore or occupy the North-
west, France took possession without the use
of the sword; although the English never
admitted the French title to be good.
To the spirit of the enthusiasm which filled
the soul of the French missionary priests, and
chevaliers, is due the first exploration of Il-
linois, a passion for the conversion of the
Indians was the motive which induced the
heroic spirits of Marquette, Jolliet and their
co-laborers in the labors, perils, and hard-
ships of a life, devoid of all, that to the most
of mankind is regarded necessary to exis-
tence, regardless of summer's heat, or win-
ter's cold, facing the icy blast that swept
over almost boundless prairies, or the heat-
burdened winds, dangers by flood, dangers
from a lurking, savage host, with their lives
in their hands, these heroes of the Cross
blazed the way to the present greatness of
Illinois.
INDIAN CONFEDERACY.
When the first white men visited Illinois
it was inhabited by five tribes of Indians,
which formed the confederacy of the Illini,
viz: the Mitchiganis, a tribe that had been
admitted to the confederacy from the west
side of the Mississippi river and have left
their impress on the nation in the name of
a great state Michigan.
The Kaskaskias, a powerful tribe, occu-
pied the northern portion of Illinois and
roamed as far south, perhaps, as the present
city of Shelbyville. Their name is perpetu-
ated in the largest river of the state, namely,
the Kaskaskia, or Okaw, and also in the first
capital of the state, now only a memory to be
spoken of more fully with the organization
of the state. The Peorias have their name
perpetuated in the city of Peoria, about
which site the tribe held sway. The Ameri-
can bottoms and eastward were the hunting-
grounds of the Cahokias, and for them is
named the village and creek of Cahokia and
also Cahokia mound. Southeast of the Ca-
hokias roamed the Tammarois, probably
holding what is now Marion county, as their
territory. They are remembered in the name
of the flourishing little city of Tamaroa, in
Perry county. Our state perpetuates the
name of the confederacy, and one of our
principal rivers also is called from it the
Illinois.
The confederacy, if ever strong, had lost
BRINKERHOFF S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
its power, to a great extent, at the time the
white men invaded their territory. Having
been a prey to the more warlike, and fiercer
tribes, to the eastward, ten or twelve thou-
sand is perhaps a just estimate of the num-
ber of Indians within the boundary of Illi-
nois, at the time the French explorers first
set foot on the soil; about 1679. Membre
estimates about seven or eight thousand
souls at the principal villages; this number
dwindled until only a remnant remained and
they confined in the southern portion of the
state. The Kaskaskias drifted to the junc-
ture of the Kaskaskia and Mississippi, under
the leadership of their Mission priest, who
had gained considerable influence over them.
This migration took place about the year
170x5, and within forty years the remnants
of the other tribes had been absorbed by
them. A numbering of the tribes in 1736
shows only about six hundred warriors, and
because of the murder of the great chief,
Pontiac, at Cahokia, by an Indian of the
Illini, this number was almost extinguished.
In 1778, Hutchins gives the total number of
the fighting men of all the original tribes of
the Illini at three hundred. In the year 1800,
according to Governor Reynolds, only about
one-half that number remained with Du
Quoin, a French half-breed, as chief. The
name of Du Quoin is perpetuated by the
prosperous city of that name in Perry
county ; after Illinois became a state and the
government of the United States took the
Indian lands by treaty, the miserable rem-
-nant of the Illini was removed to the Indian
Territory, and the new state of Oklahoma
may yet furnish even a president from the
blood of the Illini.
FIRST EXPLORERS.
Father Marquette, the chevalier, Jolliet,
and five other white men, were the first to
explore any part of Illinois, as far as au-
thentic history gives us proof. Marquette
was a Jesuit priest, and while yet a young
man, joined the colony of new France in
what is now Canada. He was filled with a
zeal for the conversion of the Indians that
amounted to a passion such a passion as
makes heroes of men, even though the re-
ward be suffering and death and an unknown
grave. Jolliet was American-born, of the
city of Quebec, and was also educated as a
priest, but became a trader, then an explorer,
and while still a young man, cast his life
with Father Marquette. Together they dis-
covered the "Father of Waters," and for a
considerable distance followed its winding.
On their return they followed the Illinois
river and thus traversed a considerable
portion of Illinois. Marquette died in
the summer of 1675, and other hands
took up his work. In the spring of
the same year a mission was estab-
lished and has had a continued existence
A mission was also founded in 1693 at
Starved Rock and the records of the church
are still preserved. But the field of research
is too rich to be further explored in a work
of this character. Suffice it to say, that the
French, in an early day, left the impress of
their lives and character of the history of II-
2O
RRIXKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
linois, and it is doubtless due to their treat-
ment of the Indian that the soil of Illinois
was not reddened by the white men's blood
until after it had passed out of their control.
Illinois was claimed by the French, and
also by the English. Under the name of
Louisiana, the French claimed the Missis-
sippi country and all lands watered by its
tributaries, in the name of Louis XIV, bas-
ing their claim on the explorations of the
Chevalier, La Salle, who in 1682, set up a
cross and under the flag of France, took pos-
session of the country in the name of his
sovereign, and added this vast but indefinite
territory to new France, thus surrounding
the English from Nova Scotia on the north,
in a great arc, to the mouth of the Missis-
sippi, and these conflicting claims later in-
volved the colonies in three wars, and were
only definitely settled by the expulsion of
the French from Canada. Under the name
of Virginia, after the "Good Queen Bess,"
Illinois was claimed by the English and
made their claim good with the victory of
the English over the French in the last of
the French and Indian wars, in which the
colony of Virginia bore a considerable part,
both in men and money, and in the last of
which a Virginian learned the art of war
against the French, and who afterward, with
French aid, was to defeat the aggressions of
the British crown and give to the world a
new nation, bom of a new idea of human
liberty and human responsibility in a repub-
lican form of government.
THE OLD FORTS.
'When war broke out between France and
Spain, Boisbriant was sent to the Illinois
country to aid in its protection from the
Spaniards who might attack from the south-
west, where they had flourishing missions
and considerable settlements, and the inter-
vening so-called Great Desert was not reck-
oned a barrier awful enough to deter an at-
tack from that quarter by men to whom the
spirit of adventure was the very life. Bois-
briant began the erection of Fort Char-
tres, which for many years was the
strongest fortress in America. Fort Char-
tres was built on the east side of the
Mississippi, seventeen miles northwest from
Kaskaskia. The company of the west,
which had succeeded to the commer-
cial rights of the Louisiana territory,
built their warehouses near the fort also.
Fort Chartres, as described in 1770, con-
sisted of an irregular quadrangle, the sides
of the exterior quadrangle was built of
stone, two feet two inches thick, and four
hundred and ninety feet long and, being
built only for defence against Indian at-
tack, was more than strong enough to re-
sist any assault, except by artillery. There
were two portholes in the faces and two in
each bastion, around the inside, three feet
high, ran a banquette, upon which the men
could stand and fire at the foe through the
loopholes, with which the walls were pierced.
Within the walls, occupying the square, was
the commandant's house, ninety-six feet long
by thirty feet wide and was divided into a
kitchen, a dining room, a bed chamber,
one small room and five closets for the serv-
ants, and beneath a cellar, and here all the
pomp and stilted etiquette of the French
BRIXKERHOKF S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
court of that day were strictly enforced, as
far as the circumstances would permit. Also
within the walls was the commissary's house,
an exact copy of the commandant's ; also a
storehouse and guardhouse, each ninety feet
long by twenty-four feet wide. The store-
house was divided into two large rooms and
was built over a large vaulted cellar, a large
room, a bed-room and a closet for the store-
keeper. The guardhouse consisted of a
guard-room for officers and soldiers, a
chapel, a bed-room and closet for the chap-
lain, and an artillery storeroom. Within
the bastion was a prison, a bakehouse and
a powder magazine. The soldiers' barracks
consisted of two rooms each, twenty-five
feet square, with a narrow hall or passage
between. About forty families lived in the
village nearby at the time of the transfer of
Illinois to the English; also the parish
church of St. Anne, under the care of a
Franciscan friar. These, with the excep-
tion of three or four families, removed across
the Mississippi river to live under the flag
of France, rather than remain under the
rule of the English, whom they hated with
an hereditary hatred.
Fort Chartres. in 1756, was nearly one-
half mile from the bank of the Mississippi.
By 1760, the river had washed away the
bank and was now within eighty yards of the
fort. A sand bar had formed and was now
an island, covered with a growth of young
cottonwoods, and the main channel, forty
feet deep, was between it and the fort. In
1772 the American bottom was covered
many feet by a great freshet, and the west
wall of the fort and two of the bastions were
carried away by the flood, and Fort Char-
tres was abandoned by the British garrison,
and the seat of government was removed to
Fort Gage, which occupied a bluff opposite
Kaskaskia on the east bank of the Kaskas-
kia. The remains of Fort Chartres are
but faintly to be traced, and now stand
about one mile from the Mississippi,
that fickle stream having again sought
a passage to the west of the then
sandbar island. A heavy growth of
timber now stands where in 1772 rolled the
turbid waters of the mighty river, and where
once the pioneer, the soldier, and the savage
mingled their joys, their sorrows, and their
fears, peaceful fields lay smiling in a sunny
silence or wrapped in the ever-changing robe
of nature's handiwork.
From 1763 until the War of the Revolu-
tion, the history of Illinois contains nothing
of grave importance, but continued much in
the same condition as before the treaty of
Paris. The Indians, under the guidance of
the priests, were partially tamed and thor-
ougly over-awed and were a sneaking, thiev-
ing set of vagabonds, but too cowardly and
too lazy to be of any serious moment and
as north, east, south and west of the Illini
tribes were fierce, powerful tribes, the Illini
sought the protecting nearness of the white
man.
The scene of the white man's activity had
shifted from the Peoria region, to the mouth
of the Kaskaskia and a church had been
erected on the point of land between the Mis-
sissippi and Kaskaskia rivers and the French
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
town of Kaskaskia became the seat of gov-
ernment, and the center of all social life as
well, while along the river to the . north,
French settlements were established at
Prairie Du Pont and Cahokia, near which it
is thought the first grist and sawmill was
built crude affairs, no doubt, but sufficient
to grind corn and cut plank to supply the
few wants of the settlers.
In 1775 active hostilities broke out be-
tween the English colonies and the mother
country, and the county of Illinois of the
colony of Virginia, was to be involved before
the conflict was brought to a close, although
a bloodless campaign, yet one filled with
hardship, privation and suffering, an account
of which reads like a romance of the heroic
age.
THE CONQUEST OF ILLINOIS.
Old Fort Gage was built on the top of a
bluff, some two hundred feet above the Mis-
sissippi and on the east side of the Kaskas-
kia, about one-half mile from and over-look-
ing the town of Kaskaskia. The town was
built on a tongue of land east of the Missis-
sippi river and west of the Kaskaskia, and
a short distance above the juncture of the
two rivers, and the town was under the di-
rect command of the fort. The fort was
built of huge logs of native wood, squared
and built upon an earthwork. It was two
hundred and eighty feet by two hundred and
fifty-one feet, oblong in form and of sufficient
strength to withstand any attack likely to be
brought against it. In 1772 only one officer
and twenty men composed the garrison. To
such a state of fear had the Indians of the
Illini been reduced that they rather re-
garded the white man as a protector
from the fierce tribes of the north and
east, than as an enemy, and thus
the savage of America, the peasant
of France, the trader and the chevalier
dwelt together, and over all the tolerant rule
of the priest, which was more the rule of a
father than of a master. It is true that a
foreign flag the English waved over
them, but the English rule was not felt so
far from English power, and English domin-
ion was but an empty name, so far as the
people were concerned. From Kaskaskia
two trails led, one to Detroit in the far
north and distant hundreds of miles, with a
wilderness of forest and prairie land between,
over which only the god of silence reigned.
The other led from Kaskaskia to Fort Vin-
cennes on the Wabash, distance about one
hundred and fifty miles direct, but by the
trail considerably farther. Both trails
crossed what is now Marion county, but
slight indications of either trail now re-
main. The French in Kaskaskia had two
well-trained companies of militia in 1772,
which, with the twenty men in Fort Gage,
was the total military strength of the Illi-
nois country. But the Treaty of Paris, in
1763, had forever extinguished the French
claim to the territory, for the possession of
which so much French energy, toil, suffer-
ing and privation had been freely bestowed ;
and never again were the Kaskaskians to see
the Lillies of France wave its protecting
folds over them as the symbol of their coun-
BRINKERIIOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
try. They had accepted British dominion in
good faith, and were, outwardly at least, con-
tent. Rumors of a struggle between the
English colonies, nearly a thousand miles to
the east of them, and the mother country
reached them, but they were secure, for a
wilderness lay between and not even an echo
of the war was likely to reach them to alarm
their fears or disturb their calm. In 1778 a
Frenchman, M. de Rochblave, was in com-
mand at Fort Gage and not a British soldier
was on duty, and the military was French-
men and Breeds, but under the English flag,
acting under the hair buyer of the English
army, General Hamilton's orders, when such
orders reached them, which was at infre-
quent intervals, and this was the situation
when General George Rogers Clark began
the march for the conquest of Illinois.
GENERAL CLARK.
General Clark was born in Albemarle
county, Virginia, November 19, 1752, and
enjoyed only such opportunities to acquire
an education, as the country afforded in that
part of Virginia. He studied surveying and
practiced his profession as opportunity of-
fered until the breaking out of the Dun-
more's war, when he enlisted as a staff offi-
cer, and served in that capacity until the
close of that war, taking part in the cam-
paign on the Scioto river during which un-
fortunate campaign he conducted himself so
gallantly as to attract attention, and for
which conduct he was offered a commission
in the British army, but the spirit of revo-
lution was in the land and the war cloud
threatened, the storm that was to burst into
action at Lexington and to rage over the
colonies through long, weary years, until
the sun of liberty rose resplendent over the
field of Yorktown, and young Clark refused
the offered commission, that his native land
might benefit by his patriotism should she
ever need his brain or brawn. The spirit
of military adventure led him to the fron-
tier, as Kentucky was then, with the expecta-
tion of finding that adventure in the struggle
of that dark and bloody ground, with the
hostile tribes then conducting a merciless
warfare with the settlers. He found the
Kentuckians greatly excited over the ques-
tion as to whether they belonged to Virginia
or as a body of land sharks maintained, be-
longed to North Carolina. Clark was instru-
mental in calling a conference of the settlers,
and a paper was prepared setting forth the
grievances of the pioneers, and Clark and
Gabriel Jones were appointed to lay the
same before the Virginia legislature, and
they started on their perilous journey, but
before reaching the capital they learned the
legislature had adjourned and Jones returned
home, but Clark continued the journey and
visited the Governor, Patrick Henry, who
was sick in Hanover county, Virginia. Gov-
ernor Henry approved of the action of the
Kentuckians and gave Clark a letter to the
council. When the legislature met in the
fall of 1776, Clark and Jones presented their
petition, and in spite of violent opposition by
the land speculators, succeeded in having the
county of Kentucky formed, with boun-
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
daries coinciding with those of the present
state, Virginia also presented the new county
with five hundred pounds of powder (noth-
ing- now, but then a pearl of great price), to
the pioneers, as not only their living, but
their life depended upon the use of powder
and ball. Clark was placed at the head of
the Kentucky militia and believing the Brit-
ish at Detroit and Vincennes, as well as Kas-
kaskia, were inciting the Indians to rav-
ish and murder, sent two men More and
Dunn as spies to ascertain the truth of the
reports. They reported great activity among
the militia and Indians. Clark also believed
that the fear of the "Long Knives," as the
Americans were called, and which fear had
been instilled into the French and Indian
mind by the British emissaries, who related
tales of the fierce atrocity of the American
soldiery could be easily overcome by actual
contact and just treatment, began to plan for
the conquest of the Illinois country and to
wrest it from the grasp of the English, and
making it a part of the commonwealth of
Virginia, in fact, as it had been in theory,
since the close of the last French and Indian
war.
General Clark again visited Governor
Henry and captivated that brilliant man with
the plans he had formed and also secured the
powerful aid of Thomas Jefferson, and
Messrs. Wyth and Mason, who pledged
their aid in securing a grant of three hun-
dred acres of land as a bounty to each man
who should take part in the projected cam-
paign. And as the success of the expedi-
tion depended upon all knowledge of its ob-
ject being kept from the British, all pro-
ceedings were taken with the avowed object
of protecting the Kentucky frontiers. Gov-
ernor Henry gave Clark one thousand two
hundred pounds depreciated currency, and
an order on the commandant of Fort Pitt for
ammunition, boats and other necessary
equipments to forward the enterprise, and
also gave him two sets of instructions, one
open and public, the other secret and known
only to Clark and those close to him. The
first set of instructions authorized Clark to
raise seven companies of militia of fifty
men each, for the defense of Kentucky. The
secret intsructions were as follows:
"Lieutenant Colonel George Roger Clark:
"You are to proceed with all convenient
speed to raise seven companies of soldiers, to
consist of 50 men each, officered in the usual
manner, and armed most properly for the
enterprise ; and with this force attack the
British force at Kaskaskia. It is conjec-
tured that there are many pieces of cannon
and military stores to a considerable amount,
at that place, the taking and preservation of
which would be a valuable acquisition to the
state. If you are so fortunate, therefore, as
to succeed in your expedition, you will take
every possible measure to secure the artillery
and stores, and whatever may advantage the
state. For the transportation of the troops,
provisions, etc., down the Ohio, you are to
apply to the commanding officer at Fort Pitt
for boats, and during the whole transaction
you are to take especial care to keep the true
destination of your force secret; its success
depends upon this. Orders are therefore
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
given to Captain Smith to secure the two
men from Kaskaskia. (Evidently More and
Dunn above refered to. Editor.)
"It is earnestly desired that you show hu-
manity to such British subjects, and other
persons as fall into your hands. If the white
inhabitants of that post and neighborhood
will give undoubted evidence of their at-
tachment to this state, for it is certain they
live within its limits, by taking the test pre-
scribed by law, and by every other way and
means in their power, let them be treated as
fellow-citizens, and their persons and prop-
erty be duly respected. Assistance and pro-
tection against all enemies, whatever shall
be afforded them, and the commonwealth of
Virginia is pledged to accomplish it. But
if these people will not accede to these rea-
sonable demands, they must feel the conse-
quences of war, under that direction of hu-
manity that has hitherto distinguished Amer-
icans, and which it is expected you will ever
consider the rule of your conduct, and from
which you are in no instance to depart. The
corps you are to command are to receive the
pay and allowances of militia and to act un-
der the laws and regulations of this state
now in force as to militia. The inhabitants
of this post will be informed by you that in
case they accede to the offers of becoming
citizens of this commonwealth, a proper gar-
rison will be maintained among them, and
every attention bestowed to render their
commerce beneficial ; the fairest prospects be-
ing opened to the dominions of France and
Spain. It is in contemplation to establish a
post near the mouth of the Ohio. Cannon
will be wanted to fortify it. Part of those at
Kaskaskia will be easily brought thither or
otherwise secured as circumstances make nec-
essary. You are to apply to General Hand,
at Pittsburg, for powder and lead necessary
for this expedition. If he can not supply it,
the person who has that which Captain Sims
brought from New Orleans can. Lead is
sent to Hampshire by my orders, and that
may be delivered to you. Wishing you
success, I am your humble servant,
P. HENRY."
It will be seen from the above that the
campaign was to be of such a character
that the men themselves were not to know
more than that the service was to be on the
frontier and against the Indians and British,
as they well knew the British were secretly
in league with the Indians and furnishing
them with the munitions of their cruel and
treacherous warfare.
THE LAST FRENCH FORT.
Clark succeeded in raising three com-
panies, whose rendezvous was Corn Island,
nearly opposite the present city of Louis-
ville, then a wilderness. A part of one
company deserted, but many of them were
induced to return, and with some additional
recruits were formed into a fourth company.
Some seven or eight families with the troops
afterward founded Louisville in 1780. The
four companies totaled one hundred and
fifty-three men and were captained by Jo-
seph Bowman, John Montgomery, Leonard
Helm and Howard Harrod. On the 24th
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
day of June, 1778, as the little army which
was to wrest the empire of Illinois from the
Britton's hand were descending the Falls
of the Ohio, a total eclipse of the sun oc-
curred, and the little band took it as an
omen of success, and that they were to
forever dim the lustre of the British arms
in the Illinois. The voyage down the Ohio
was in keel boats, with a double row of
oars. Working day and night, they ar-
rived at an island near the mouth of the
Tennessee river, where they landed and had
the good fortune to meet with a party of
eight American hunters, who had been at
Kaskaskia a few days before ; Clark induced
them to join the expedition and one of them,
named John Saunders, undertook to guide
the force to Kaskaskia. On the evening of
the same day they ran their boats into a
creek about a mile above Fort Massac, which
at that time was not garrisoned but was
abandoned and falling into decay.
Fort Massac was the last of the French
forts built in the chain of forts extending
from Quebec to New Orleans like a great
bow around the English colonies. It was
built by Lieutenant Massac, in October,
1758, after the taking of Fort Duquesne
by the English, but relinquished when the
Illinois country was ceded to Great Britain
after the fall of Quebec. There is no proba-
bility that the English ever garrisoned it,
and at this time it stood a silent monument
over the dead dream of a French empire in
the new world. On the next morning the
little army took up the line of march for its
objective point, the seat of empire in the Il-
linois. The men were without uniform,
each clad in his own, in the style of the back-
woods of that day, and armed with the
rifle or musket, as circumstances had de-
creed. With ax and hunting knife at their
belt, an undisciplined force, yet all domi-
nated by a master mind and a master pres-
ence in the person of Clark. Kaskaskia was
distant about one hundred and twenty miles,
with an unbroken wilderness between. There
was no trail from Massac to Fort Gage and
each man carrying four days' supply of food,
they set their faces to the northwest and
plunged into the forest that had never
echoed to the tread of the white man's foot.
Through forest dark, dense and tangled,
across glades of intervening prairie lands
which were often covered with reed-like
grasses higher than the head of the tallest
among them, over hill and through valley,
often without water for hours, save only
that which each man carried, under the blaz-
ing of a southern Illinois summer sun, with-
out transportation of any kind, no horses,
no wagons, no tents, no baggage, no artil-
lery; this band of heroes led by a hero,
pressed on. When in the confines of what is
now Williamson county the guide, Saun-
ders, became confused and lost his bear-
ings and the troops believing he was be-
traying them, were on the point of wreaking
summary punishment on him for his sus-
picioned treachery, when he recognized a
point of timber which he said marked the
way to Kaskaskia.
The little band pressed on with clothes
ragged and soiled with the wear of the
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
march and faces scratched and bruised by
brambles and briar, footsore and weary with
the labor of forced marching and want of
proper rest, with only the sod for a bed, and
the canopy of heaven for a covering- when at
night they lay down for a few hours' sleep
in strict silence, not a shot being fired for
fear its echoes might be heard by some
prowler and the news of their approach car-
ried to the enemy, they arrived in the evening
of July 4th at the Kaskaskia river, about
three miles above the village. So secretly
had the expedition been planned and so well
had the secret been guarded that not a whis-
per had reached the ears of Rochblave, who
was in command at Kaskaskia, and who
never dreamed of any attack from the
Americans of Virginia, by way of the Ohio,
as no trail led that way, and one hundred
and twenty miles of wilderness, unbroken,
was thought to be a barrier sufficient to deter
any foe. As soon as the night grew dark
enough to cover the movement of the
troops, Clark divided his command into three
divisions of about fifty men each, and
marched silently to the ferry, about a mile
above the village, where boats sufficient to
carry two divisions across the river were
secured, while the other division was to at-
tack Fort Gage, on the bluff.
The division whose duty was to take the
fort silently crept up to the works and were
admitted, by ruse, and found the command-
ant in bed by the side of his wife, and the
first intimation he had of a foe within a hun-
dred miles was the demand for his surren-
der, which demand was instanly complied
with. The two divisions which crossed the
river surrounded the town and arrested the
authorities. Within fifteen minutes every
street was secured and runners were sent
through the town, warning the inhabitants
to keep within their houses, none being al-
lowed to appear on the streets under penalty
of death. Thus, without the firing of a gun,
without the shedding of one drop of blood,
an empire was added to Virginia, which
was destined to become one of the brightest
stars in the galaxy of states.
By daylight the next morning every in-
habitant had been disarmed and all were in
deadly fear of the terrible Long Knives,
which the British emissaries had taught
them to believe were devils in human
form, and which the harsh orders of
the night, to keep within doors on
pain of death, seemed to confirm.
Captain Helm commanded the division
that captured the town, and the after-
ward celebrated Simon Kenton, that division
which took the fort. As the morning ad-
vanced, the people requested permission to
go to the church for prayer, General Clark
granting them this permission, and when
the whole town had assembled, he took the
opportunity to address them and allay their
fears of personal violence. He assured them
that they came not in a spirit of vengeance,
but as friends, to relieve them from the
thralldom of the British yoke, and assured
them that the rumors that had reached them
of the alliance between France and the colo-
nies were true, and told them if they would
accept the American rule, they should be
28
BRIXKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
treated as brothers, and have all the rights
of Americans. Gladly were the terms ac-
cepted, and beyond doubt faithfully ob-
served, as the dominion of England was
most cordially hated, and today, Illinois has
no more loyal citizens or truer men and
women than the descendants of those who
covenanted fealty to the American cause
with their captor, George Rogers Clark.
THE GARRISON AT FORT GAGE.
From July 4, 1778, until February 7,
1779, Clark, with a portion, at least, of his
followers, remained as the garrison of Fort
Gage, cultivating the most friendly rela-
tions with the inhabitants of Kaskaskia.
The Americans freely mixed with the peo-
ple, and friendship sprung up that later had
an influence in procuring enlistments from
the ranks of the Kaskaskians into the ranks
of the army, which Clark was in contem-
plation of raising, with a view of capturing
Fort Sackville, on the Wabash, about one
hundred and thirty miles to the east, and
north from Kaskaskia.
Clark found a few Americans at Kaskas-
kia, and they, too, aided in cementing the
friendship of the French to the American
cause. He learned that at Cahokia was an-
other party of Americans dwelling in amity
with their French neighbors. On the 5th of
July he sent a detachment of thirty men, un-
der Captain Bowman, to that settlement, and
there the American party was strong enough
to persuade all the villagers to take the oath
of allegiance. The position of Vincennes.
on the road to Detroit, made it important
that that post be held by the Americans.
Clark was assured of the friendly spirit of
the French inhabitants of that village. The
British, with singular lack of judgment, had
withdrawn most of their troops from the
west, and Vincennes was held by only the
local militia, and that was favorably inclined
toward the Americans, and would not make
a very strenuous resistance. Pierre Gibault
was the priest of the parish at Kaskaskia ; he
was much beloved by the inhabitants of the
French settlements, over which he was the
cure, and was to them, indeed, Father Gib-
ault. He was favorably disposed toward the
Americans, and the just treatment of the
French by .Clark made this broad-minded
man a partisan of the Americans. He as-
sured Clark that, as there was no British
force at Fort Sackville, that he could per-
suade the French at Vincennes to cast their
lot with the Americans, and, accompanied by
Dr. Jean Baptiste Lafont, who was to act as
civil magistrate or agent, he journeyed to
distant Vincennes, with a small company of
followers, one of whom was a spy in Clark's
employ. A proclamation was prepared to
the people of Vincennes, reciting the fact
that Governor Hamilton had issued orders
to various officers to assemble savages and
conduct them, and to furnish them with sup-
plies, and incite them to assassinate the in-
habitants of the frontiers, and that these or-
ders were being carried out, and that the
murder of women and children called for
vengeance. It seems to be a fact that Gov-
ernor Hamilton offered a bounty and paid
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
bounties for the scalps, not only of men
killed in battle, but of women and children
as well.
THE PROCLAMATION.
The proclamation, in full, was as follows :
"George Rogers Clark, colonel commanding
the troops of Virginia at the Falls of Ohio
and at the Illinois, etc., addresses the inhabi-
tants of the Post of Vincennes. The inhabi-
tants of the different British posts, from De-
troit to this post, having, on account of their
commerce and position, great influence over
the various savage nations, have been con-
sidered as persons fitted to support the tyr-
annies which have been practiced by the
British ministry from the commencement of
the present contest, the Secretary of State
for America has ordered Governor Hamil-
ton, at Detroit, to intermingle all the young
men with the different nations of savages,
to commission officers to conduct them, to
furnish them all necessary supplies, and to
do everything which depends on him to ex-
cite them to assassinate the inhabitants of
the frontiers of the United States of Ameri-
ca which orders have been put in execution
at a council held with the different savage
nations at Detroit, the I7th to the 24th day
of the month, June, 1777. The murders and
assassinations of women and children, and
the depredations and ravages which have
been committed, cry for vengeance with a
loud voice.
"Since the United States has now gained
the advantage over their British enemies,
and their plenipotentiaries have now made
and concluded treaties of commerce and al-
liance with the Kingdom of France and
other powerful nations of Europe, His Ex-
cellency, the Governor of Virginia, has or-
dered me to reduce the different posts to the
west of the Miami with a part of the troops
under my command, in order to prevent
longer responsibility for innocent blood.
According to these orders, I have taken pos-
session of this fort and the ministrations of
this country and I have caused to be pub-
lished a proclamation offering assistance and
protection to all the inhabitants against all
their enemies and promising to treat them
as the citizens of the Republic of Virginia
( in the limits of which they are, and to pro-
tect their persons and property, if it is neces-
sary, for the surety of which the faith of the
government is pledged provided the people
give certain proofs of their attachment to the
states by taking the oath of fidelity in such
case required, as prescribed by law, and by
all other means which shall be possible for
them, to which offer they have voluntarily
acceded.
"I have been charmed to learn from a let-
ter written by Governor Abbott to M. Roche-
blave that you are in general attached to the
cause of America. In consequence of which,
I invite you all to accept offers hereafter
mentioned, and to enjoy all their privileges.
If you accede to this offer, you will proceed
to the nomination of a commandant, by
choice or election, who shall raise a com-
pany and take possession of the fort and of
all the munitions of the King, in the name of
the United States of America, for the Re-
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
public of Virginia, and continue to defend
the same until further orders. The person
thus nominated shall have the rank of cap-
tain, and shall have the commission as soon
as possible, and he shall draw for rations
and pay for himself and company from the
time they shall take the fort, etc., into pos-
session. If it is necessary, fortifications shall
be made, which will be also paid for by the
state.
"I have the honor of being, with much
obedient servant.
"G. R. CLARK."
THE CAPTURE OF VINCENNES.
Father Gibault and Doctor Lafont, with
this proclamation and several letters from
French Kaskaskians, proceeded to Vin-
cennes to make what was to prove a blood-
less capture of Vincennes, which was ef-
fected in a few days by their explaining the
advantage to them and by persuading them,
as Frenchmen, to join with their brothers
on the Mississippi. The entire population,
with a few exceptions, and they British
emissaries, took the oath, the few adherents
of the British immediately leaving the vicini-
ty. The oath subscribed to by one hundred
and eighty-two inhabitants was as follows :
'"You make oath on the Holy Evangel of Al-
mighty God to renounce all fidelity to George
the Third, King of Britain, and to his suc-
cessors, and to be faithful and true subjects
of the Republic of Virginia as a free and in-
dependent state and I swear that I will not
do or cause anything or matter to be done
which can be prejudicial to the liberty or in-
dependence of the said people, as prescribed
by Congress, and that I will inform some
one of the judges of the country of the said
state, of all treasons and conspiracies which
shall come to my knowledge against the said
state or some other of the United States of
America in faith of which we have signed,
at Post Vincennes, July 20, 1778."
Father Gibault and party, with a few of
the inhabitants of Vincennes, returned to
Kaskaskia early in August and brought the
oath of Vincennes and soon the French vil-
lagers were rejoicing over the news that the
Wabash country was with them in the sup-
port of the Americans against the British
This condition was of but short duration.
Lieutenant-Governor Hamilton, late in the
fall, retook Vincennes, and again became a
menace to American interests in the Illinois
country, but owing to the lateness of the sea-
son deferred operations until the next spring
and dispersed the Indians and many of his
troops, but the victory of the soldier of the
Cross, Father Gibault, was not empty, but
bore fruit in the reception of Clark by the
French in his taking of Vincennes.
Clark now saw that he must act before
the British could gather an overwhelming
force in the spring and attack him at Kas-
kaskia, and sent word to the French of Vin-
cennes to expect him, with what troops he
could raise. They kept the expected attack
from the British, and welcomed Clark when
his worn and exhausted soldiers arrived.
When Clark marched his little army from
Massac to Kaskaskia, across the glades and
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
timberlands of Southern Illinois, it was sum-
mer time. Soft winds wafted the perfume of
flower-sprinkled prairies, and the fragrance
of the woodlands about the marching troops,
the water of the streams was comparatively
low and the swamp lands were firmer to the
tread of their moccasin-clad feet. The can-
opy of sky and cloud was covering enough
by night, and while the blazing of a June
sun was far from soothing to spirits or
temper, it was not to be compared to the
hardships to which the troops on the march
to the capture of Vincennes were to en-
counter.
On the morning of February 7, 1779.
General Clark, with his little army partly
made up of re-enlistments from the men who
marched from Massac to Kaskaskia, and
partly of recruits from among the French of
the settlements, set out upon the march to
retake Fort Sackville and Vincennes. They
crossed the River Kaskaskia, or Okaw, as it
is more frequently called, in Marion county,
and followed the old trail, as most writers
affirm (and we see no good reason to think
they are mistaken) ; passing through what is
now Washington county and through the
southern part of Marion county eastward,
crossing many creeks and flatlands, at this
time submerged under the water from one to
four or five feet ; during a February, in this
most changeable climate, carrying their ac-
coutrements in packs on their backs, except-
ing the ever-ready and often necessary rifle,
which was is hand all day and at hand all
night, wet oftimes to the neck, by the icy
waters of a February thaw in southern Illi-
nois, the water-soaked ground, with mayhap
a water-soaked blanket for bed and bedding,
they crossed the Little Wabash in a canoe
they made for that purpose, on the I3th of
February, having built a scaffold on which
to put their baggage to keep it out of the
water. They proceeded as rapidly as the ex-
hausted condition of the troops would admit,
many of whom seemed to be unfit to march
a step farther. At the crossing of the Little
Wabash, Clark cheered them on, and called
to his aid an Irish drummer, celebrated for
his fund of droll and comic songs, the sing-
ing of which, at a time when the men were
chilled almost to freezing by the icy waters
through which they had been wading, some-
times for an hour, up to their armpits, would
put new life into the men, and again they
would struggle on. What a picture ! What
melody can equal the living picture of this
band of heroes or the song of this wild Irish-
man's singing? The painters of the picture
have passed away. The song of the singer is
stilled forever, but truly their works live
after them.
The party, on the i8th, heard the morning
gun of Fort Sackville, at Vincennes, and
when they reached the Wabash, below the
mouth of the Embarrass river, they were ex-
hausted, destitute, and starving literally
starving, with no means of crossing the
river, which was overflowed and was several
miles wide. On the 2oth of February, a par-
ty of French, in a boat, was hailed and came
to the little army. From them Clark learned
that the French of Vincennes were true to
the oath of Vincennes, which thev had taken
INKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
the previous summer, and that the British
garrison had no knowledge of the approach
of the expedition, indeed, had no knowledge
that an expedition had even been planned,
much less had they thought it possible that
men would undertake so hazardous an expe-
dition, and one which, if undertaken, must,
as they thought, result in the death of every
soldier from the hardships of the march.
And now, with the facts before us it seems
to us they accomplished the impossible. By
wading and rafting, they managed to cross
to the highlands, below Vincennes. Clark
immediately sent the following notice to citi-
zens of Vincennes: "To the inhabitants of
Post Vincennes: Gentlemen: Being now
within two miles of your village, with my
army, determined to take your fort tonight,
and not being willing to surprise you, I take
this method to request such of you as are
true citizens, and would enjoy the liberty I
bring you, to remain, still, in your houses.
Those, if any there be, that are friends to the
King, will instantly repair to the fort and
join the hair-buyer general, and fight like
men and such as do not go to the fort, and
shall be discovered afterwards, they may de-
pend on severe punishment. On the contra-
ry, those that are true friends to liberty shall
be treated as friends deserve. And once
more I request them to keep out of the
streets, for everyone I find in arms on my
arrival I shall treat as an enemy.
"G. R. CLARK."
Clark's army, consisting of one company
from Cahokia, commanded by Captain Mc-
Carty, and one company from Kaskaskia.
commanded by Captain Charleville, and
were composed of French, and the rest,
about seventy men, were Americans of his
old command, in all not over one hundred
and seventy men, were made to appear to the
villagers' minds as much greater by this pe-
culiar note, and to still further deceive them
and to make the garrison believe a large
force was about to attack them, Clark
marched his men back and forth among some
mounds in the prairie, changing the flags,
so that the British believed many times the
true number of fierce Kentuckians were
about to assail them, as the British only
knew them as Kentucky bordermen, and
had no thought that more than half were
Illinois French. At about sunset on Febru-
ary 23d, Lieutenant Baylay was sent with
fourteen men to make an attack on the fort.
He led his men to about thirty yards of the
fort, where they lay concealed behind a bank
of earth, protected from the guns of the fort.
Every one of the Americans was an expert
rifleman, and whenever a porthole was
opened a storm of bullets whistled in, killing
or wounding the men at the guns, so that
none would work the cannon. At nine in
the morning of the 24th, while his men were
eating the first breakfast they had had for
several days, Clark sent the following note
to the British commandant:
"Sir: In order to save yourself from the
impending storm which now threatens you,
I order you immediately to surrender your-
self, with all your garrison, stores, etc. If
I am obliged to storm, you may depend upon
JRIXKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
33
such treatment alone, as is justly due a
murderer. Beware of destroying stores of
any kind, or any papers or letters that are in
your possession, or hurting one house in
town, for, by heaven, if you do, there shall
be no mercy shown you.
"G. R. CLARK"
This note may seem brutal to modern
minds, but when it is remembered that it was
addressed to a man who was paying a boun-
ty to the merciless savage as a reward for
the murder, not only of the American men,
but of helpless women and innocent chil-
dren, it is not too harsh. Governor Ham-
ilton was deeply impressed by this note, it
is certain, by the meek reply returned by
him, which is as follows:
"Governor Hamilton begs leave to ac-
quaint Colonel Clark that he and his garri-
son are not to i>e awed into any action un-
worthy of British subjects."
About midnight, of the 23d, Clark had cut
a ditch near the fort, and in it, secure from
the guns of the fort, the riflemen lay, with
watchful eye and unerring aim. They
poured in a steady fire, and in fifteen min-
utes had silenced two pieces of artillery and
killed every gunner approaching them or had
driven them away from their guns, horror-
stricken, at the certainty of death or of
wounds, if but the smallest portion of their
person was exposed but for an instant. This
terrible fire was kept up for eighteen hours.
This incessant fire convinced the garrison
that they would be destroyed, and Governor
Hamilton sent Clark the following note :
3
"Governor Hamilton proposes to Colonel
Clark a truce of three days, during which
time, he promises, that there shall be no de-
fensive work carried on in the garrison, on
condition that Colonel Clark will observe,
on his part, a like cessation of offensive
works, that is, he wishes to confer with
Colonel Clark, as soon as can be, and prom-
ises that whatever may pass between them
two and another person, mutually agreed on
to be present, shall remain secret until mat-
ters be finished, as he wishes whatever the
result of the conference may be, it may tend
to the honor and credit of each party. If
Colonel Clark makes a difficulty of coming
into the fort, Lieutenant-Governor Hamil-
ton will speak to him by the gate.
"HENRY HAMILTON."
February 24, 1779.
Clark replied :
"Colonel Clark's compliments to Governor
Hamilton, and begs to say that he will not
agree to any terms other than Mr. Hamilton
surrendering himself and garrison at dis-
cretion. If Mr. Hamilton wants to talk
with Colonel Clark, he will meet him at the
church, with Captain Helm."
A conference was held and Clark de-
manded a surrender, otherwise he threatened
to put the leaders to the sword for the gold
paid for American scalps. He was in earn-
est and the garrison so understood. In an
hour Clark dictated the following terms of
surrender, which Hamilton accepted:
34
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
"First Lieutenant-Governor Hamilton
agrees to deliver up to Colonel Clark, Fort
Sackville and all the stores, etc.
"Second The garrison to deliver them-
selves as prisoners of war, and to march out
with their arms and accoutrements.
"Third The garrison to be delivered up
by tomorrow, at ten o'clock.
"Four Three days are allowed the gar-
rison to settle their accounts with the inhabi-
tants and traders.
"Fifth The officers of the garrison are to
be allowed their necessary baggage.
"Signed at Post Vincennes, this 24th day
of February, 1779.
"Agreed to for the following reasons :
First, remoteness from succor; second, state
and quantity of provisions; third, the unan-
imity of the officers and men in its expedi-
ency: fourth, the honorable terms allowed,
and lastly, the confidence in a generous ene-
my.
"HENRY HAMILTON.
"Lieutenant-Governor and Superintendent.''
On the 25th, this surrender took place.
Fifty thousand dollars' worth of arms and
stores were turned over to Clark. Governor
Hamilton, Major Hay and some other offi-
cers were sent under guard to the capital of
Virginia, seventy-nine prisoners were pa-
roled and sent to Detroit. Thus ended the
conquest of Illinois, for Vincennes in the
hands of the enemy, could control, and the
conquest was completed by Illinois troops
for liberty, honor and glory of Illinois. The
heroes of that day sleep in the soil of the
land they loved and their descendants loving
it as well as they, stand ready to protect it
under all circumstances, with a devotion as
heroic as animated their fathers.
ILLINOIS COUNTY.
In 1878, all the country embraced in the
triangle formed by the great lakes on the
north, the Ohio on the east or southeast, and
the Mississippi on the west, was known as
the Illinois county, and John Todd was ap-
pointed by the Virginia legislature as
"County Commandant." By act of con-
gress, September 6, 1780, all states holding
waste or unappropriated lands, in the west-
ern country, were requested to relinquish all
claims to the same to the United States. On
January 2, 1781, Virginia made a cession of
her claims to the Illinois territory, under cer-
tain stipulations, which were accepted, and
the Northwest Territory was formed. By the
Ordinance of 1787, provisions were made
that not less than three, nor more than five,
states should be formed from this territory :
"The eastern state shall be bounded by the
Mississippi, the Ohio, and the Wabash riv-
ers, and a direct line drawn from Post Vin-
cennes north to the boundary line between
the United States and Canada." This includ-
ed Illinois and Wisconsin of today. The ordi-
nance provided for a governor, a secretary
and a court composed of three judges. The
governor and the judges, or a majority of
them, had power to make laws, subject to
approval by Congress, until a General As-
sembly should be organized. The Governor
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
35
was also commander-in-chief of the militia,
with the customary powers of such com-
mander.
On February ist. General St. Clair was
appointed Governor of the Northwest Ter-
ritory, after the revision of the Ordinance
of 1787, and its acceptance by Virginia,
St. Clair was re-appointed, and the seat of
government was established at Marietta,
Ohio. In the spring the Governor visited
Illinois and established a county, named
after himself, and was the first county estab-
lished in what is now Illinois. It covered
about one-fourth of the present state, and
embraced the present county of Marion. The
St. Clair county boundary was as follows:
"Beginning at the mouth of the Little Mich-
ilnakinack river, thence running southerly
in a direct line to the mouth of the little
river above Fort Massac, upon the Ohio
river; thence with the said river to its junc-
tion with the Mississippi, thence up the Mis-
sissippi to the mouth of the Illinois river,
to the place of beginning, with all the adja-
cest islands of said rivers Illinois and Mis-
sissippi." At this time the entire population
of Illinois was estimated at two thousand.
The same year that St. Clair county was or-
ganized, a belief in witchcraft was prevalent
among the French inhabitants of the Bot-
toms, as the flatland between the Mississippi
river and the bluffs is called, led to the
hanging of one negro and the shooting of
another for being witches. Singularly
enough, the belief confined the evil power to
African negroes, and not even the negro of
American birth was capable of becoming a
witch. This delusion never made much
headway, as the good sense of the better edu-
cated French and of the Americans put a
stop to such utter foolishness. In 1795, St.
Clair county was divided, and the southern
part was called Randolph county.
Marion was still a part of St. Clair Coun-
ty. These two counties were the only organ -
ized counties in Illinois. In 1800, what is
now the State of Ohio was cut off from the
Northwest Territory, and the rest of the
Northwest was erected into the Indiana Ter-
ritory, and Gen. W. H. Harrison, afterward
President, was appointed Governor, with
Vincennes as seat of government, and Illi-
nois sent delegates to the territorial assembly
at Vincennes. In 1809, Indiana Territory
was divided, and Illinois Territory was cre-
ated, its eastern boundary, as now, but ex-
tending north to the Canadian line. Ninian
Edwards was appointed Governor. At this
time Illinois contained about twelve thou-
sand people. In 1812, Illinois was made a
territory of the second-class and three new
counties formed from the original St. Clair.
viz: Gallatin, Johnson and Madison. New
counties were rapidly formed: Edwards, in
1814; White, in 1815; Jackson and Pope, in
1816; Crawford, in 1816; Bond, in 1817;
Franklin, Union and Washington, in 1818,
all carved out of the original St. Clair.
WHEN ILLINOIS WAS ADMITTED TO THE
UNION.
In 1818, Illinois was admitted into the sis-
terhood of states, but from the time of the
close of the Revolution to the admission of
BRINKERHOFF S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
the state, much interest to the citizens of Ma-
rion county took place. The settlements
were growing away from the Missisippi,
farther and farther toward the interior, and
a tide of immigration had set in, mostly
from Virginia and the South. Indian depre-
dations continued until the victory of "Mad
Anthony" Wayne broke their spirit, after
which only widely scattered murders were
committed, but some of these were most
cruel and were generally swiftly and ter-
ribly punished.
The first lawyer in the country was John
Rice Jones; the second, Isaac Darnelle, and
the first regular minister of the Protestant
faith was James Smith, a Baptist preacher,
from Kentucky, who came in 1787, to New
Design. Before his advent, in fact, in 1781,
the families of J. Moore, Shadrack Bond,
Robert Kidd, James Garrison, Larkin Ruth-
erford and J. Piggott arrived and settled
near the New Design. In 1785 they were
joined by the families of Captain Joseph
Ogle, Joseph Worley aend James Andrews.
In 1786 they were joined by James Lemon.
Sr., James McRobirth, George Atcheson,
and David Waddle, and they, or descendants
from nearly every family, had much to do
with the development of Marion county, and
many of their descendants now reside within
its borders. None of the above were mem-
bers of any church, but had been trained up
by moral and religious parents, and had been
taught to regard with reverence the day set
apart to the Lord's service. They met on
Sundays at the various houses alternately,
and services were conducted by Shadrack
Bond, Junes Piggott, and James Lemon.
who read the Scriptures, especially the
Psalms, read sermons from books, and sung
hymns. No prayers were offered at these
meetings, but order and morality were pro-
moted. When Smith came, in 1787, he
preached much to the people and was very
successful in his labors ; many of the leading
pioneers were converted, among whom were
James Ogle and James Lemon. Elder Smith
went back to Kentucky, but returned again
in 1790, and many more became deeply in-
terested in the Gospel.
On May iQth, Mr. Smith, with a Mrs.
Huff and a Frenchman, on going to the lit-
tle village, were fired on by a party of Kick-
apoo Indians. Mrs. Huff was wounded,
Smith's and the Frenchman's horses were
wounded. Smith threw his saddlebags in
the brush and crawled to the edge of the
bluff, where he prayed while the Indians
were murdering Mrs. Huff. The French-
man made his escape. Smith, who was a
large, portly man, was captured, and loaded
with spoils, was forced to rapid inarching,
and soon grew fatigued. The Indians held
a consultation and some proposed to kill
him. He opened his coat and dared them
to shoot, pointing upward. The supersti-
tions of the Indians were aroused, and as
they had found him praying, they thought
he must be a great medicine man that held
converse with the Great Spirit. They took
him to their town on the Wabash (probably
Prophets' Town), where some French
traders, from Vincennes, interceded and pro-
cured his release, the people of New Design
paying one hundred and seventy dollars-
ransom. The second minister was Rev.
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
37
Joseph Lillard, who came to Illinois in 1793.
He formed a class and appointed Capt. Jo-
sephus Ogle class leader. Several of the de-
scendants of Mr. Ogle now reside in Marion
county. The next preacher who visited Illi-
nois was. Rev. Josiah Dodge, who was on a
visit to his brother, Dr. Israel Dodge, who
was the father of Governor Dodge. Mr.
Dodge preached frequently for the people,
who were without a minister (Smith and
Lillard both being in Kentucky), and in
February, he baptized James Lemon and his
wife, Catharine, John Gibbons and Isaac
Enoch, the ice in Fountain creek being cut
that the ceremony might be performed.
Governor Reynolds says these were the first
persons ever baptized in Illinois (See
Pioneer History).
For the next two years there was no min-
ister in Illinois. The Methodists and Bap-
tists were not organized, but united to hold
prayer meetings from house to house. At
these meetings sermons were read, the Scrip-
ture was also read, prayers offered, and
hymns of praise sung to the God whom they
worshiped in their sincere, though primi-
tive way and in whom they implicitly
trusted. In 1796 the first Protestant churcli
in Illinois was established by Elder David
Badgley and Lay Elder Joseph Chance, with
twenty-eight members. The church was
also called New Design church. Mr. Chance
left numerous descendants, many of whom
reside in Marion county; some have lived
here more than sixty years and are among
those who helped make the country what it
is. This family will be more fully treated
in the chapters devoted to the county after its
organization. William Riggs came in 1803,
and was long a local preacher in the Metho-
dist church. Benjamin Young came to Illinois
in 1804 as a missionary and was the first
Methodist circuit rider under the direction
of the conference, and from this time on
there were supplied by immigration, minis-
ters enough to meet the growing demand
for religious teaching.
DEPREDATIONS OF INDIANS.
The War of 1812, so-called, was ushered
in as early as 1807 by Indian depredations
in the northwest, and in consequence, the
settlements of Illinois were in constant alarm
and required constant vigilance on the part
of the settlers. Soon after the establish-
ment of the Illinois Territory, Ninian Ed-
wards, of Maryland, was appointed Gov-
ernor. He was a lawyer, and had been for
some years living in Kentucky, where he
had become Chief Justice of the Court of
Appeals, and upon the recommendation of
Henry Clay, President Madison appointed
him Governor of the new territory. He was
reappointed in 1812 and served until the
state was admitted in 1818. He was then
elected one of the first Senators from the
state, Jesse B. Thomas being the other.
In 1811 the Indians became more trouble-
some and Governor Edwards used his
utmost power to protect the settlers, but
their safety was largely dependent upon
themselves. Companies of rangers were
formed and captains chosen and self-pro-
JRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
tection was the entire object of all military
organizations, which were indeed of the
very loosest sort, and no man was a soldier
or ranger save from choice. But by con-
stant watchfulness and prompt action, the
Indian murders were kept to an increditably
small number, under the circumstances.
Until 1799 the public lands could not be
sold in tracts of less than four thousand
acres. In 1799 General Harrison, after-
ward elected President, was elected delegate
to Congress, and succeeded in having a bill
passed permitting tracts of four hundred
and twenty acres to be sold, and afterward
this amount was reduced to forty acres as
the minimum amount of public land that
could be sold. The reduction of the amount
of land that could be bought from the pub-
lic domain was an important factor in the
growth of the territory, and immigration
was greatly stimulated.
In 1810 the census returned 12,282 inhab-
itants in Illinois, and this number increased
so rapidly that in 1818 the population had in-
creased to such an extent that the territory
was admitted into the Union as a sovereign
state. In 1820 the censusgave Illinois 55, 211.
The act admitting the state was passed
April 1 8, 1818. A convention was held in
Kaskaskia, and a state constitution was
framed, which was adopted August 26,
1818, and ratified by Congress on the 3d of
December following.
An election for state officers had been held
in the meantime and Shadrack Bond was
chosen Governor, and Pierre Menard, Lieu-
tenant-Governor. Governor Bond was in-
augurated on the 6th of October, 1818.
Kaskaskia was chosen capital of the new
state, and a new era was thus entered upon
by the people of what was soon to be one
of the great states of the American Union.
The counties of Alexander, Clark, Jeffer-
son and Wayne were formed in 1819, and
the county of Marion was a part of Jeffer-
son as then formed. The first Legislature
also selected Vandalia as the capital of the
state and the government was moved to that
place in 1820. In 1821 the counties of Law-
rence, Greene, Sangamon, Pike, Hamilton,
Montgomery and Fayette were formed.
The state now had twenty-six counties all
east and south of the Illinois river, and con-
fined to the southern half of the state, except
Pike, which embraced all of the state west
and north of the Illinois. Pike county was
more than one-third of the state in extent,
had a population in 1823 estimated at seven
or eight hundred, and Chicago, then a vil-
lage of Pike county, had about twelve
houses and about seventy inhabitants, and
now, only eighty-eight years after, that
same village of Pike numbers its people by
millions, and its commercial transactions af-
fect the markets of the world.
The first legal execution in the new state
took place at Belleville on the 3d day of
August, 1821. The circumstances leading
to the hanging were as follows : On March
8, 1819, on an occasion of a gathering of a
large number of people at Belleville, a scheme
was proposed to have a sham duel between
Alonzo C. Stuart and Timothy Bennett.
Everybody, save Bennett, understood it to
BRIXKERHOFF S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
39
be a hoax, for the purpose of getting a
laugh at Bennett's expense. The second?,
Jacob Short and Nathan Fike, pretended to
load the rifles, but did not put bullets in
t'lem, but Bennett, suspicious of foul play,
slipped a bullet in his gun. The principals
were placed forty yards apart, and at the
word "fire," Stuart was shot in the breast
and killed. Bennett broke out of the Belle-
ville jail and escaped, but was afterwards
captured and excuted after due trial. Thus
a foolish practical joke caused the death of
two good citizens, as citizens go, and the
remorse and regret of many others. At the
court convicting Bennett, John Reynolds
was Judge, W. A. Beard, Sheriff, and John
Hay, Clerk.
Edward Coles was elected Governor in
1822; there were three other candidates,
and the votes were so nearly equally divided
that out of 8,606 votes cast, Coles received
only 2,854 votes, yet he was elected by a
plurality. This campaign was on the
slavery issue, and although the Ordinance
of 1787 prohibited slavery, yet it kept agi-
tating the politics of the state from time to
time. Coles was anti-slavery, as was one
of the other candidates. The administration
of Governor Cole was a good one, although
somewhat troublous on account of vigorous
opposition to his plans for public improve-
ments. In 1825, General LaFayette visited
the state, being entertained at Kaskaskia.
and later at Shawneetown. During the year
1823, Edgar county was formed, January
3d; Marion county, January 24th; Fulton,
January 28th, and Morgan, January 3ist.
MARION COUNTY IN 1823.
Marion county was erected from the
north half of Jefferson county, of which it
formed a part. The bill creating Marion
county was introduced by Zadoc Casey, Rep-
resentative from Jefferson, who was instru-
mental in having it named after his father's
revered and beloved commander of the Rev-
olution, under whom he had served in the
Carolinas. The full text of the act creating
the county is as follows :
AN ACT ESTABLISHING MARION COUNTY.
"SECTION i. Be it enacted by the people
of the State of Illinois represented in the
General Assembly, That all that tract of
country lying within the following boun-
daries, to-wit : Beginning where- the base
line intersects the third principal meridian;
thence north along said third principal meri-
dian twenty-four miles; thence east along
the lines dividing townships four and five
twenty-four miles to the range line dividing
ranges four and five east ; thence south with
the said range line twenty-four miles to the
base line; thence west to the place of begin-
ning, shall constitute a separate county, to
be called Marion.
"SEC. 2. Be it further enacted, That
for the purpose of fixing the permanent seat
of justice for said county, the following per-
sons are appointed commissioners, viz: An-
drew Bankson, William Hicks and John G.
Fitch, which said commissioners or a major-
ity of them, being first duly sworn before
BRINKERHOFF S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
some judge or justice of the peace, in this
state, faithfully to take into view the con-
venience of the people, the situation of the
settlement, with an eye to the future popu-
lation, and the eligibility of the place, shall
meet on the second Monday in May next,
at the house of James Roberts, in said coun-
ty, and proceed to examine and determine
on the place for the permanent seat of jus-
tice, and designate the same; provided the
proprietor or proprietors of the land shall
give to the said county, for the purpose of
erecting public buildings, a quantity of land
not less than twenty acres, to be laid out in
lots and sold by the county commissioners
for that purpose; but should the proprietor
or proprietors of the land refuse or neglect
to make the donation aforesaid, then, and
in that case, it shall be the duty of the com-
missioners to fix on some other place for the
seat of justice of said county, as convenient
as may be to the inhabitants of said county,
which place being fixed and determined
upon, the commissioners shall certify under
their hands and seals, and return the same to
the next county court, in the county afore-
said, which court shall cause an entry thereof
to be made in their books of record.
"SEC. 3. Be it further enacted. That
until public buildings shall be erected for the
purpose, the courts shall be held at the
house of James Young, in said county.
"SEC. 4. Be it further enacted, That
the said county shall constitute a part of the
second judicial circuit, and circuit courts
shall be holden therein at such times as may
hereafter be fixed bv law.
"SEC. 5. Be it further enacted, That
an election shall be held at the house of
James Young on the second Monday of
April next, for one sheriff, one coroner, and
three county commissioners for said county,
who shall hold their offices until the next
general election, and until their successors
be qualified, and that James Roberts, Joseph
Hensley and Joshua Piles be judges of said
election; provided, that said judges may ap-
point their own clerk and that said election
shall in all respects be conducted according
to the provisions of an act regulating elec-
tions, passed at the last session of the Gen-
eral Assembly.
"SEC. 6. Be it further enacted, That
the citizens of Marion county shall vote for
senators and representatives to the General
Assembly in conjunction with the citizens
of Jefferson and Hamilton, at such precincts
as may be laid off by their county commis-
sioners agreeable to law.
"SEC. 7. Be it further enacted, That
each of the commissioners appointed to fix
the county seat of Marion county shall re-
ceive a compensation of two dollars per day
for each and every day they may be neces-
sarily employed in performing that duty.
"Approved January 24, 1823.
"EDWARD COLES, Governor."
THE COUNTY'S POPULATION.
There were only about five hundred inhab-
itants in the county when it was established,
as the record of a census of the county, taken
in 1825, by R. C. Chance, and filed with the
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
county clerk November 26, 1825, shows the
total population to be five hundred and fifty-
seven, of which two hundred and seventy-
three were white males, two hundred and
eighty-two white females, and one negro
man and one negro woman slaves.
There were one hundred and four heads of
families, including five widows. The heads
of families in the county were as follows :
Samuel Huff, Isaac McClelland, Eli Mc-
Kinney, James Martin, Samuel Martin,
James Young, Mathew Young (son of
Samuel), Aaron Hicks, Ebenezer Daggett,
Henry Lee, Dorcas Tully, Christiania Tul-
ly, Malachi Ware, Michael Radcliffe, Wil-
liam Carrigan, D. R. Chance, Henry
Walker, William Taylor, Simon Albert,
Richard Piles, William Albert, Hardy Fos-
ter, Thos. Neal, John S. Davis, Thos. Ful-
ton, William King, Darrington Baldridge,
William Pursley, John Davidson, Samuel
Davidson, Green Depriest, John Warren,
Robert Nichols, James Piles, Henry Mc-
Donald, Jesse Griffin, William Gunnerson,
John W. Nichols, William Marshall, Joseph
Hensley, Isam Watson, Robert Snodgrass,
John Wilson, John Phillips, John Edington.
Montgomery Ingram, Nathan Huff, Jesse
Nichols, Zadock Phelps, Henry C. Nichols,
Rufus Ricker. Leonard P. Piles, Mark Tul-
ly. John Tully, William Nichols. Thomas
Ash, Robert Nichols, George Kell, William
Gaston, Henry Rodes, Jacob Fulfer, Mary
Caleton, William Ingram, Cowles Dunham,
Isaac Fulfer, William Baldwin, Patrick
Cowen, David Fulton, Abram Romine,
James Goudy, Rosana Fulton, John Boucher,
Chatsworth P. Black, Samuel Eblen,
John Eblen, Israel Jennings, Caswell Wan-
teres, Robert Bandy, Dorcas Bandy, J. P.
Gaines, Jacob Albert, Samuel Shook, Lethe
Dunkin, Nathaniel Litterell, Alfred Ray,
Henry Ware, William Tully, Pegg Brack,
Thomas How, Solomon Allen, Benjamin
Vermillion, Frederick Phelps, John Little.
Thomas Parkinson, Daniel Phelps, Wiley
Burton, G. Burton, Lodrick Phelps, John
Coles, Robert Man, Polly McKinney,
Charles Radcliffe, Josiah Fykes and
Rogers.
At this time there were but one hundred
and seventeen voters in the county. Money
was scarce and stock low in price, a good
cow not being worth more than from six to
ten dollars, and horses from twenty to forty
dollars; hogs at two cents per pound were
considered well sold, and grain in propor-
tion. Of the entire population, only one was
a mechanic G. Burton, who was a black-
smith all the rest were farmers and more
or less hunters, both as a pastime and as a
means of adding to the family larder.
IS SQUARE IN SHAPE.
Marion county is a square of twenty-four
miles on each side and has for its west line
the third principal meridian of the United
States survey, from which the ranges, every
six miles east and west, are numbered. Its
south line is the base line of the government
survey from which the towns are numbered
every six miles north and south, and con-
tains sixteen townships, six miles square, of
WNKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
thirty-six sections each, each section being
one mile square and contains six hundred
and forty acres, so the township contains
twenty-three thousand and forty acres and
the county, three hundred and sixty eight
thousand six hundred and forty acres, near-
ly every acre of which is susceptible of culti-
vation, and would support a population of
many times that now dwelling within its
borders. The towns are in all government
surveys and are numbered north and south
from the base line and the ranges east
and west from the principal meridian,
so that the southwest township is town
one, north, and range one, east. The town
north of this is town two, north, range one,
east; the next north is town three, north,
and range one, east, and the next town still
furher north is town four, north, and range
one, east, which is the northern town in
range one, in Marion county. Then again,
beginning at the base line with town one
north, and range two, east, until we reach
town four, range two, east, when again the
numbers begin on the base line with town
one, north, and range three, east, and so on
until town four, north, and range four, east,
is reached, which is the town lying in the
northeast corner of the county. The county
is, therefore, one of the few in the state that
is a perfect square. The sixteen school, or
government survey townships, are the same
in boundary and extent as the civil towns, ex-
cept townships 2 north, i east, which is di-
vided north and south through the center
into the towns of Odin and Sandoval, each,
three miles wide from east to west, and six
miles long from south to north.
The county is about two-thirds timber
land and one-third prairie, and the soil is
well adapted to all the productions of the
central temperate zone. Corn is grown in
considerable quantities, and wheat was, until
within a few years, extensively raised, but
for some reason a comparatively small acre-
age is now sown. The timber land was
thickly covered with a magnificent growth
of oaks, white, black, red ; of hickory ; wal-
nut, and maple, with numerous other woods
in lesser quantities, but these forests have
now largely disappeared and the timber of
today in this county consists mostly of elm,
sycamore and such other wood which the
pioneer regarded of no value, but which the
present owners hold as an item of consider-
able value. Small fruits thrive and produce
abundantly, so much so that the Illinois Cen-
tral and the Chicago & Eastern Illinois rail-
ways run fruit cars, and even trains, during
the season, to carry these products of the
garden and field to the markets of Chicago.
In some parts of the county vegetables:
beans, peas, beets, cabbage, etc., are raised
for shipment and usually bring fair returns
to their producers, while strawberries flour-
ish to such an extent that Centralia, in the
southwestern part of the county, is known
far and near as the "Queen of the Straw-
berry Belt." While several canning fac-
tories consume the product of many hun-
dreds of acres planted to tomatoes, beans,
corn, etc., all of which industries will be more
particularly described under the head of the
several townships. The county government
was at first under the system of County
Commissioners or, as they were called, coun-
BRINKERHOFF S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
43
ty judges. It will be remembered that An-
drew Bankson, William Hicks and John G.
Fitch were appointed commissioners to se-
lect a county seat and that an election was
held on the second Monday in May, 1823,
and that all the voters of the county cast
their votes at one polling place, viz : the
house of James Young, at which election,
John Edington, Benjamin Vermillion and
John Walling were elected and constituted
the first Board of Commissioners. They re-
ceived this certificate of election: "We do
hereby certify that John Edington, Benja-
min Vermillion and John Walling were
duly elected County Commissioners for the
county of Marion, at an election held at the
house of James Young, on Monday, the I4th
of April, 1823. Given under our hands
this day, above written.
"JAMES ROBERTS,
"JOSEPH HENSLEY,
"JOSHUA PILES,
"Judges."
"WILLIAM MARSHALL,
"AARON HICKS,
"Clerks."
The three commissioners took the oath of
office, which was administered by Rufus
Ricker, whom they in turn appointed Clerk
of the Commissioners' Court, or in other
words, the County Clerk. Ricker-filed his of-
ficial bond with Jesse Roberts as bondsman.
William Marshall was appointed County
Treasurer, his bondsmen were Jesse Roberts
and John Edington, and the bond was in the
penal sum of two thousand dollars, which
was quite enough when we consider that the
total value of all the property in the county
was less than fourteen thousand dollars at
this time. The same parties also went on the
bond of Jesse Wade, who was appointed
constable for East Fork. William Marshall
was recommended to the Governor as a fit-
ting citizen to be appointed justice of the
peace for the east fork of the county, and
John Walling for the Middle settlement.
The county was divided into two districts,
known as the North and South districts.
The dividing line was as follows : beginning
where Crooked creek crossed the third prin-
cipal meridian on the west line of the county,
thence up the said Crooked creek to the
range line between towns two and three,
thence east to the east line of the county.
In that day there was always present at
the humble fireside of the settler a spectre of
dread, and although no Indian troubles were
at that time existing near the county, yet
well they knew that some thieving band
might at any time commit some overt act,
hoping to escape to their towns in northern
Indiana, Wisconsin or Canada unless over-
awed by a show of military preparation for
pursuit and punishment. The County Com-
missioners ordered that all citizens subject
to military duty be organized and divided
into two companies, one in the North district
and one in the South district; also than an
election of officers be held on the 28th day
of June, in the South district at the house
of Joseph Hensley, and that Dornton Bald-
ridge, Samuel Huff and Samuel Martin act
as judges ; and on the same day, in the North
district, at James Roberts' with Alark Tully,
44
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Aaron Hicks and William Nichols as
judges. Unfortunately no record of the re-
sult of these elections is obtainable at the
present day. Samuel Huff and John Wilson
were appointed overseers of the poor for
the South district and William Nichols and
William Davidson, in the North district.
The first order for making an assessment for
a tax levy was also made on the second day
of June, 1823, and the assessor was ordered
to list for taxation. horses, cattle, sheep, hogs,
distilleries, pleasure carriages, indentured
servants and slaves, and that he extend the
tax at one-half of one per cent, at this
first meeting of the Commissioners, viz : on
June 2, 1823. The commissioners to select
a county seat, made their report. It was in
ful as follows:
"Marion Co., 111., May 13, 1823.
"We, the commissioners who were ap-
pointed by the legislature of the state of Il-
linois, to fix the seat of justice for the coun-
ty of Marion, after being duly sworn, ac-
cording to law, have proceeded to view the
situation of the county, and after examin-
ing the donations offered, have decided that
the permanent seat of justice shall be fixed
on the east half of Section n, in Town-
ship 2 north. Range 2 east, the land of
James Roberts, who donated thirty acres, to
the county for that purpose. Signed by
JOHN FITCH
WILLIAM HICKS."
DONATION FOR COUNTY SEAT.
The deed conveying the thirty acres of
land to the county was not made until June,
1826, the title to the land in the meantime
having passed to Rufus Ricker and Mark
Tully, who completed the gift by making
the following deed : "This indenture made
this 6th day of June, A. D. 1826, between
Rufus Ricker and Lydia, his wife, and Mark
Tully and Suky, his wife, all of the county
of Marion, and state of Illinois, of the first
part; and John S. Davis, Leonard P. Piles
and Benjamin Vermillion, County Commis-
sioners for the county aforesaid, witnesseth :
that in conformity with an act of the legis-
lature of the state of Illinois, passed at the
Third General Assembly of the state, en-
titled 'An Act Establishing Marion County,'
approved January 24, 1823, that the parties
of the first part have given, granted, bar-
gained and confirmed and by these presents
do give, grant, barga'T and confirm unto the
said parties of the second part, County Com-
missioners for the county of Marion, and to
their successors in office, for the use and
benefit of said county of Marion, in con-
formity with the laws of this state making
donations for county seats, all that tract or
parcel of land situate and being as follows,
to-wit: commencing at a stake standing at
the northeast quarter of section 1 1 , in
range 2 east, town two north, thence
south seventeen chains and thirty-two links
to a stake standing on the southeast quarter
of said section n, thence west seven-
teen chains and thirty-two links, thence
north seventeen chains and thirty-two
links, thence east seventeen chains and
thirty-two links, to the place of be-
ginning, containing thirty acres of
RRINKERHOFFS HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
45
land, together with all and singular the
hereditaments and appurtances thereunto be-
longing or in anywise appertaining, and the
reversion and reversions, remainder and re-
mainders, rents, issues, and profits thereof,
and all the estate, right, title, interest, claim
and demand whatsoever of the parties of the
first part, either in law or equity, of, in and
to the above bargained premises, with the
said hereditaments and appurtenances, to
have and to hold the said piece of land to the
said parties of the second part, for the use
and benefit of the said county of Marion,
and to the sole and proper use and benefit
of the said county forever and the said
parties of the first part, for themselves, their
heirs, executors and administrators, do cove-
nant, grant, bargain, promise and agree to
and with the said party of the second part,
and their successors, the above bargained
premises in the quiet and peaceable posses-
sion of the party of the second part and
their successors in office against all and
every person or persons lawfully claiming or
to claim the whole or any part of the above
mentioned premises, will forever warrant
and defend.
"In witness whereof the said parties of the
first part have hereunto set our hands and
seals the day and year above written.
RUFUS RICKER (Seal),
LYDIA RICKER (Seal),
MARK TULLY (Seal),
Her
L. S. SUKY X TULLY. (Seal).
Mark.
"Signed, sealed and delivered in the pres-
ence of John Davidson and William Omel-
vany. This deed was acknowledged before
Leonard P. Piles, justice of the peace. This
deed is recorded in Book A, pages 14, 15
and 1 6, by Rufus Ricker, the first clerk and
recorder of the county."
When the report of the commissioners
was received on the I3th of June, 1823,
there was no delay on the part of the county
board, but they immediately accepted the
offer of James Roberts, and ordered that
the seat of justice for the county be known
and designated by the name of Salem. It is
generally said that the name Salem was
given to the county seat by Mark Tully, but
from the records it appears that the name
was chosen by the county court. Mr. Tully
may, however, have suggested the name to
them, and as he was a man of influence in
his clay, may have impressed the name upon
the minds of the commissioners. The clerk
was instructed to advertise the sale of thirty
lots, a part of the thirty acres promised. The
advertisement was to be in the Illinois In-
telligencer, and the sale was held on the
2d of March, 1824, and brought the county
nine hundred and eighty-six dollars and fifty
cents, in state scrip, worth three hundred
and twenty-eight dollars and eighty-three
cents in money, the state paper having at
that time depreciated to that extent.
WHEN LICENCES WERE CHEAP.
At this meeting the following business
was transacted : Jesse Roberts received a li-
cense to keep a tavern for one year, for
4 6
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
which license he paid the sum of four dol-
lars, and the board fixed the following rates :
each meal, twenty-five cents; keeping horse
all night, fifty cents ; single feed, twenty-five
cents; lodging, twelve and a half cents;
whiskey, half pint, twelve and a half cents;
rum, twenty-five cents. T. Baldridge also
got license for one year for two dollars per
year. Rufus Rick was also allowed eighteen
dollars, state paper, worth about six dollars
in specie, for books, stationery, etc., supplied
the county. This seems to be the extent of
the business done at this first meeting of the
County Commissioners of the new county of
Marion. The court, as the sessions of the
commissioners was in name and in fact, then
adjourned to July 7, 1823.
At the second, or July term, of the
county court, which met pursuant to ad-
journment, the question of a courthouse re-
ceived the attention of the court, and a con-
tract was entered into with Aaron Hicks to
build the same at a cost to the county of four
hundred and ninety-nine dollars. The speci-
fications called for a log building, without
windows, twenty by thirty feet, one and one-
half stories high, with a log partition, seven
inches thick, of hewed logs, and extending
to the roof, with good hewed or sawed joists
enough for two loose plank floors, with two
good doors, one through the partition, and
the other through the wall, with good iron
hinges and lock and key for the outside
<loor ; to be covered with boards and weight
poles (spelled polls), the cracks to be well
chinked and daubed all to be completed by
the first day of June, 1824. The contract
was let to the lowest bidder and Hicks won.
The courthouse was completed according to
plans and specifications, and received by the
commissioners on the tenth day of April,
1824, and was used as a courthouse until
August i, 1837.
The first public road laid out by the com-
missioners was petitioned for by Dornton
Baldridge. It began at the county line near
William Carrigan's and led past Samuel Eb-
len's, Israel Jennings' and Benjamin Ver-
million's, in a direct line to Crooked creek
bridge, near Gillmore's, and had been
viewed by John Bandy, Samuel Huff and
William Taylor. Dornton Baldridge was ap-
pointed supervisor of said road and William
Pursley supervisor of the northern part of
the Vandalia and Golconda road as far south
as William Marshall's, and Samuel Martin
of the south part to the county line. L. P.
Piles was made supervisor of the Vincennes
road from the east county line to the ford of
the creek, and Aaron Hicks from the ford
of the creek to the west line of the county
and also of the road from William Mar-
shall's to Crooked creek. As treasurer of
the county, William Marshall made the first
assessment of the county in 1823, for which
work he received the sum of three dollars.
The amount of taxes levied was seventy-
three dollars and forty-four cents. The
collector's commission was four dollars and
sixty-nine cents, leaving a balance to be
turned into the treasury of sixty-eight dol-
lars and seventy-five cents, which, with
twelve dollars from licenses and fines, made
up a total revenue for the county
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
47
of eighty dollars and seventy-five cents.
William Marshall resigned as Treasurer
and Assessor December i, 1823, prob-
ably because the duties and responsi-
bilities of the office far exceeded the
very scanty pay received for the same. The
first board did not fill out their full term.
John Walling was succeeded by Aaron
Hicks in October, 1823, and when John Ed-
ington resigned in January, 1824, Leonard
P. Piles was elected to fill the vacancy, the
election being held February 2, 1824. When
William Marshall resigned as assessor and
treasurer, John S. Davis was appointed to
fill his place, and for his service in making
tax lists, he received ten dollars, and for
his service as treasurer he received ten dol-
lars and twenty-four and one-half cents.
Truly a scanty recompense, but when it is re-
membered that that salary, small as it was,
was equal in value to about fifteen acres of
land, it does not appear so small.
The second board of commissioners was
composed of Benjamin Vermillion, Leonard
P. Piles and Aaron Hicks, and they were
elected to serve from 1824 to 1826, or two
years, but a vacancy was caused by the death
of Hicks, in 1825, and John L. Davis was
elected to fill out the remainder of the
term. The taxable property for the year
1825 was sixteen thousand four hundred
and sixteen dollars, and the estimated tax
for county purposes was eighty-two dollars
and eight cents, just think of it eighty-two
dollars and eight cents to run the county of
Marion for one year, only eighty years ago.
The third board was elected to serve from
1826 to 1828, and was composed of the fol-
lowing gentlemen : John Edington, William
King and C. P. Black. Edington seems to
have been quite popular, and to have re-
ceived the suffrages of his fellow-citizens
whenever he would consent to run for office.
There seems to have been a necessity
at this time for a jail and the board
contracted with William Davidson and
Henry Ware to build one at a cost of two
hundred and seventy dollars. The county
was also divided into two election precincts
by the board at this meeting, the precincts to
be the same as those before provided for the
justices of the peace, and were called the
North precinct and the South precinct, and
the South precinct was again divided in
1827 into Walnut Hill and Romine pre-
cinct. The tax list for 1826 providing coun-
ty revenues for 1827, showed a total value
of all property in the county of twenty-two
thousand two hundred and sixty dollars,
and produced a revenue of one hundred and
eleven dollars and thirty cents. The tax
was collected in full. It may be wondered
at that, with so small a revenue, a court-
house and jail had been erected, costing
many times the entire tax, but we must not
forget that all the lots in the county seat be-
longed to the county, and the public build-
ings were paid for from the proceeds from
the sale of lots from time to time.
The fourth Board of Commissioners
served for the years 1828 and 1830, the term
being two years. It was composed of
Hardy Foster, William King and L. P.
Piles. They ordered ten more lots sold,
BRINKERHOFF S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
which was done, and the money turned into
the county treasury.
A NEW JAIL.
The fifth Board was elected in 1830 to
serve two years and was composed of Hardy
Foster, H. W. Higgins and Abraham Ro-
mine. During this term a new jail became
a necessity and the board entered into a con-
tract with W. Tully to build one for five
hundred dollars. This jail, as described by
several old citizens, who remember it well,
was constructed of logs, laid closely togeth-
er and about twelve feet from floor to ceil-
ing. It was of one room and was covered
with great, hewed logs for a ceiling, there
were no doors or windows cut in the walls,
but a trap door in the ceiling, which was
reached from the outside by a ladder or
stair. A ladder was let down through the
trap door for the descent of prisoners, and
then the ladder withdrawn, and the prisoner
was secure, no breaking out by anyone likely
to be placed therein. The building was then
covered in the usual way, with clapboards
and poles. During the term of this board
the North Fork precinct, in the northwest
part of the county, was established June 4,
1832, and the poling place fived at the house
of Eli Jones. During this administration,
the first bridge of any size was built and
paid for partly by the state, which gave one
hundred dollars, and partly by a loan sub-
scription of seventy-nine dollars advanced
by twenty-two citizens, ranging from one
dollar, given by James Beaver, the smallest
subscriber, to thirteen dollars, by A. L.
Miles, the largest. The sixth board was
composed of Hardy Foster, Abram Romine
and James J. Richardson, who served in
1832 to 1834, and there is no record of any
action by them out of the routine business
of the county. The same may be said of the
seventh board, composed of Hardy Foster,
Abram Romine and James Gray. The
latter resigned November 28, 1835, and
Mark Tully was chosen to fill the vacancy,
to the close of that term, ending in 1836.
The eighth board, 1836 to 1838, was com-
posed of Mark Tully, Isaac McClelland and
Benjamin Vermillion. A new courthouse
was ordered by this board to be built, and
Mark Tully took the contract for six hun-
dred and fifty-five dollars, and was, by the
contract, to have it finished by August first,
1837, but for some reason, now unknown,
failed in the performance, and in March of
the following year (1838) surrendered his
contract and was excused from paying any
penalty for the non-performance of the
same, so it may be assumed that the reason
was a good one. Nathaniel Adams then
completed the building. The total cost of
the building was seven hundred and ninety-
nine dollars and forty-three cents. This
building is still standing and is in a good
state of preservation, being occupied by Mr.
Clarence Mills as a residence. It is about
thirty-eight by forty feet, two stories high,
with a "hip" roof, it is of frame construc-
tion and if built now would cost at least
three thousand dollars. It was moved from
the public square to where it now stands, to
BRINKERHOFFS HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
4')
make room for the present courthouse in
1849 or 1850. The old courthouse was
bought by Mr. Scott, who moved it to its
present location.
The sale of city or town lots, and the
money realized from the sale of the court-
house, kept the county treasury well sup-
plied with funds, despite the small tax levy,
and in 1838 the county board ordered that
three hundred dollars of the county money
be loaned out at twelve per cent on well se-
cured notes on four months' time. Up to the
year 1838, there had been no delinquent
taxes, but in that year the following list was
returned as not collected : Samuel Forkman,
fifty cents; John Simpson, sixty-two and a
half cents ; Abner Farthing, sixty-five cents ;
\V. Woods, sixty-seven and a half cents ; L.
Farthing, thirty-seven and a half cents;
Asa Ballard, twenty-five cents ; W. Gault-
ney, fifty cents; Isaac Barr, twelve and a
half cents; M. C. Wells, two dollars and
eighty cents; H. G. Burrow, thirty-five
cents; John Saunders, one dollar and thirty
cents; John Carter, thirty-seven and a half
cents; James Homes, twenty cents, and
Leven Wootener, one dollar and twenty
cents, making a total of nine dollars and
ninety-two and one-half cents, not collected.
The probability is that owing to the small
amounts and the remoteness of the delin-
quents from the collector's office, they were
never called upon by the collector, as the ex-
penses would be as great as the returns.
The legislature in 1837, changed the
terms of the County Commissioners from
two to three years and provided that
4
there should be one elected every
year, and that the commissioners elected
in 1838 should be one for one year,
one for two years, and one for three
years. W. H. Haynie was elected for
three years, Abram Romine for two years,
and Mark Tully for one year. From this
time until about 1849, the various boards
seem to have attended to only the ordinary
business of the county, which certainly was
well conducted, as the county was kept out
of debt by them and all bills were promptly
paid ; during all this time there had been but
a small increase in the population of the
county, as there were millions of acres of
what was called government land in Illinois
and much in Indiana, and there were no
special inducemaits for emigration.
COUNTY COURT CREATED.
The constitution, which was adopted in
1848, abolished the County Commissioners
as a court and created the county court, con-
sisting of one judge and two associate
judges. The first election under the new
constitution was held in November, 1849,
and Samuel Hull was elected the first county
judge of Marion county, with R. M. Elliot
and Alfred Ray as associates, to serve for
four years. In 1852 Elliot resigned and
Hardy Foster was elected in November of
that year to fill out the unexpired term. The
precinct of Raccoon was organized in 1851,
with a polling place at the house of James
Guilford. The second county court, pre-
sided over by Durham Tracey as judge, and
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
with Hardy Foster and L. A. Spittler as as-
sociates, was elected in 1853 ^ or f ur years.
This court, during its term, let the contract
for a new jail to D. W. Norris, of Carlyle.
This jail was built of brick, two stories high,
and had cells for prisoners, and living
rooms for the jailer and family, and was
one of the best and finest in the state,
and was used until 1884, when the present
jail was built at a cost of sixteen thousand
dollars. It cost the county three thousand
nine hundred and thirty-seven dollars and
was completed in 1854 and received on the
first clay of December of that year. This
court also, during their term of office,
caused a detailed statement of the financial
condition of the county to be prepared, in
which it appeared that up to this time the
monetary affairs had been conducted in the
same careful manner, as were those of any
county in the state.
In July, T 857, the court contracted with
Joseph A. Miller for the building of a new
courthouse at a cost to the county of thirty-
five thousand dollars. Miller fell down on
his contract and used inferior material. The
court then annuled their contract with him
and employed Messrs. Moore & Morrow,
of Salem, to complete the work for twenty-
six thousand, one hundred and fifty dollars.
The court took charge of all the material on
the ground, but in the meantime a new court
had been elected and the third county court,
composed of B. F. Marshall, judge, with J.
P. Rogers and Isaac McClelland as asso-
ciates, made the contract with Moore &
Morrow. A part of the work already done
was torn down and the house built in such
an honest way that it stands today as a mon-
ument to the skill and honesty of the con-
tractors. It is still the courthouse for Mar-
ion county, and though out of style, is yet
a substantial building, and but that modern
conveniences and comforts are lacking,
would stand a century. The building was
turned over to the county in April, 1860.
The total cost was thirty-five thousand, one
hundred and four dollars and seventy-five
cents, only one hundred and four dollars and
seventy-five cents more than the original
contract, notwithstanding the failure of
Miller to fulfill his contract. Twenty-five
thousand dollars, in ten per cent, bonds, was
issued by the authority of this court at the
December term, and then an additional five
thousand, two hundred and fifty dollars was
ordered borrowed at a special term of the
court in 1860.
The county brough suit against the or-
iginal contractor, Miller, for non-fulfillment
of contract, and recovered judgment for
eight thousand one hundred and twenty-five
dollars and fifty cents, but it was only a
paper recovery, as the money could not be
collected for the good and sufficient reason
that Miller was not worth anything finan-
cially. During this term of the county
judges the first case of capital punishment
took place, a full account of which will be
given in its appropriate chapter. The fourth
county court, 1861-1865, was composed of
John M. Oglesby, judge, with Daniel J.
BRINKERHOFF S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Doolin and J. P. Rogers as associates. J.
P. Rogers died on March 24, 1864, and J.
P. Huff was selected to fill out the term.
PAY FOR THE SOLDIERS.
In 1865, in February, the county court
ordered that thirty-seven thousand two
hundred dollars be issued in ten per cent,
county bonds to pay a bounty of three hun-
dred dollars to one hundred and twenty-
four volunteers who enlisted under the call
of the government of the United States to
suppress the rebellion. Under this bounty
the quota for the county was filled. Dissat-
isfaction with the couny court system of
county government had developed and had
'been steadily growing and petitions were
circulated early in 1865 and presented to
the court, asking that the question for or
against township organization be submitted
to the voters. The proposition was ordered
submitted in September, and at the ensuing
election in November was lost. A heavy
debt now burdened the county, bearing in-
terest at the high rate of ten per cent., which
at that time was not unusual.
The first foreigners, so far as the records
show, to be naturalized in the county,
took out their papers during this four years'
term of the county court. They were three
Irishmen, viz : Dennis Rooney, John Cleney
and William Steward, and one German,
Jacob Heyduck. They all made useful and
exemplary citizens. At the election in 1868,
James S. Martin was elected judge and D.
P. Snelling and J. \Y. Primmer associate
justices. Judge Martin was appointed
United States pension agent, and in May,
1869, resigned. Judge W. W. Willard filled
out the unexpired term of General Martin.
In 1868 the County Treasurer was author-
ized to borrow five thousand dollars for
bridge construction in the county. This was
the fifth county court. The precinct of
Alma was organized by this board at the
March term, 1867. Marion county was now
divided into sixteen ejection precincts as
follows: Centralia, Sandoval, Odin, Patoka,
Alma, Central City, Walnut Hill, Raccoon,
Haines, luka, Romine, Omega, Meacham.
Kimmimdy, Foster and Salem. Tilman
Raser was elected judge and with John H.
Gray and J. W. Jennings constituted the
sixth county board and only routine business
was transacted by them. The proposition to
adopt township organization was again sub-
mitted and this time carried.
The state constitutional convention, held
in 1870 reinstated the old system of coun-
ty boards, which were discontinued in 1849,
and at the expiration of the term of the
sixth board, James W. McClure, Robert
McM. Wham and J. McClelland were
elected at the general election in November,
1873, but did not take office until after the
meeting of the legislature, because of the
very defective law, which defects required
legislative action. They served only three
months when their offices were made vacant
by the election of the first Board of Super-
visors, which election was held April 22,
1874. The board, at their last regular meet-
ing, appointed Hon. T. E. Merritt, \Yilliam
BKINKKKIIOKK S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Walker and S. L. Dwight to divide the
county into townships. Of these commis-
sioners, Walker is dead, Dwight is at pres-
ent serving his second term as circuit judge,
and Merritt, after serving the people of his
county for twenty-one years in the legisla-
ture of the state as representative and sena-
tor, is still living in Salem, enjoying the love
and respect of his fellow-citizens.
The commissioners reported that they had
divided the county into sixteen townships,
to be called, respectively, as follows:
Township i North, Range i East, Cen-
tralia.
Township 2 North, Range i East, Odin.
Township 3 North, Range I East,
Carrigan.
Township 4 North, Range i East,
Patoka.
Township i North, Range 2 East,
Raccoon.
Township 2 North, Range 2 East, Salem.
Township 3 North, Range 2 East,
Fredonia.
Township 4 North, Range 2 East, Foster.
Township i North, Range 3 East,
Haines.
Township 2 North, Range 3 East,
Stevenson.
Township 3 North, Range 3 East,
Pleasant.
Township 4 North, Range 3 East,
Kimmundy.
Township i North, Range 4 East, Ro-
mine.
Township 2 North, Rage 4 East, luka.
Township 3 North, Range 4, East,
Omega.
Township 4 North, Range 4 East,
Meacham.
These names remain to the present time
with the exception of Fredonia, which is
now Tonti ; Pleasant, which is now Alma,
and Odin, which was divided into two town-
ships, the east half of which is still called
Odin and the west half is called Sandoval.
This division took place about ten years ago.
The first Board of Supervisors, from
1874 to 1875, organized by electing Eras-
mus Hull chairman, was composed of
the following members, viz: Salem, E.
Hull; Centralia, E. S. Condit and J. Mc-
Clelland; Odin, John Robinson; Carrigan,
A Steel; Patoka, J. Hudspeth; Raccoon,
James Snow ; Fredonia L. M. Bisel ; Foster,
J. W. Arnold; Haines, Robert McM.
Wham. Centralia, owing to its population,
was entitled to two members at that time,
and at the present has three members of the
Board of Supervisors, and Salem is entitled
to two, who will probably be elected in
April, 1909.
The county debt was now about seventy
thousand dollars and a feeling that the af-
fairs of the county could, and would be
more economically administered by a Board
of Supervisors than by three commissioners,
was the motive actuating the voters in mak-
ing a change, although experience has not
proven the truth of the notion. The court-
house debt, i. e., debt for building and debt
for bounty during the last year of the Civil
war, the first incurred under the administra-
tion of Judge Marsall, and the second under
the adminstration of Judge Oglesby, were
both necessary measures and reflect credit
BRINKERHOFF S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
53
on the gentlemen who were responsible, yet
they grew burdensome in the minds of the
people and the authorties made strenuous
efforts to pay off the indebtedness, and that
object was accomplished by heavy taxation
and for a short period. The debt was paid,
but much complaint was made of the bur-
densome tax, but the credit of the county
was maintained. The county out of debt,
and the affairs were well managed generally
but with the change in the per cent, of val-
uation, made in the revenue law of 1900.
the county did not receive revenue enough to
meet running expenses which had largely in-
creased and the county again began to ac-
cumulate a debt, which was put by the offi-
cers at about forty-five thousand dollars,
but as it was no officer's special duty to go
over the books to ascertain the amount, it
was only an estimate. In 1907, the new
County Treasurer and J. H. G. Brinkerhoff
went over the books and found the
debt to have been above eighty thou-
sand dollars, but in 1903 the Board
of Supervisors had submitted a propo-
sition to the voters for a special tax
of forty-two cents on the hundred dollars
of valuation to pay the debt and this tax has
so rapidly reduced the debt that it is certain
that the spring of 1909 will see the last dol-
lar paid and the county out of debt, besides
for the last four years the county revenues
have been ample to meet all necessary ex-
pense, thus the county again is out of debt
and that without any hardship having been
worked to the taxpayers.
A resume of the revenues of the
earlier years of the county will prove
interesting. The first revenue was from
the lots in the city of Salem, which,
as will be remembered, was a part of
the thirty acre donation made the county
by James Roberts, but conveyed to the
county in 1826 by Rufus Ricker and Mark
Tully. The first sale of lots took place
March 2, 1824, and was as follows:
Leonard B. Farr $15.50
William Maxwell 48.25
John G. Fitch 34-OO
Aaron Hicks IO -75
Chance Lee 33- 2 5
Leonard P. Piles '. . . . 7.75
D. R. Chance 2.50
William Baldwin 8.50
Benjamin Allen 8.25
The following were paid for as shown :
James Piles, March 9 $ 9.00
Joseph Hensley, March 12 10.50
John Wilson, March 20 18.25
John Phillips, April 20 13.75
William Maxwell, April 24 48.25
Aaron Hicks, May 27 3 2 -5
Chance Lee, May 27 99-75
William Davidson, June 2 2 9-3&
John Harrington, June 2 6.62
There was a total of four hundred thirty-
six dollars and seventy-five cents. The taxes
collected for the year 1823, the first year of
the county's existence, were sixty-eight dol-
lars and seventy-five cents; received for
licenses, twelve dollars, making a grand
total of five hundred seventeen dollars
and twenty-five cents. From March 2d to
June 7th, the Treasurer, paid out five hun-
54
liKIXKKRHOFF S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
dred fourteen dollars and forty-one and a
half cents, leaving two dollars and eighty
three and a half cents in the treasury. It
might be well here to state that in that day
in Illinois a coin worth twelve and a half
cents was in circulation. Its proper name
was a shilling, but it was known by the pio-
neers as a "bit," and it is quite common,
even to this day, to hear the expression "two
bits," meaning twenty-five cents, or "six
bits," meaning seventy-five cents, hence the
half cents in the reports of that day.
A SMALL BALANCE.
For the first ten years the County Treas-
urer's report shows a small balance in the
treasury, except the report for December i,
1828, which shows the county in debt nine-
ty-one and one-half cents, which he had
overpaid. When the books were examined in
1833 a balance of twelve dollars and nine
and one-half cents was reported in the hands
of the Treasurer. The total receipts for the
first ten years of Marion county's existence
were as follows :
Sale of lots in Salem $1,273.77^
Taxes 1,063.44
Licenses and fines 403.70
Estrays sold 120.08
Balance on hand, December i,
1833
Total revenue, from all sources $2,860.97^
During the same time the expenditures
were as follows:
Erection of Public Buildings . .$ 769.00
Running Expenses of County . . 2,079.90
Total $2,860.97^
From this report it will be seen that the
expense of the county administration aver-
aged two hundred seven dollars and
ninety-nine cents per year, truly a modest
beginning, but perhaps ample for the day,
and the people of that frugal time.
The population of the county increased as
shown by the census report as follows :
Assessed Wealth
Year Population Value Per Capita
1823 550 $ 14,690 $ 26.50
1830 2,125 75^50 35.60
1840 4,742 238,080 50.20
1850 6,720 482,790 71.80
1862 12,789 1,654,140 129.85
1870 20,622 3,453,098 167.45
1880 23,691 4,452,424 187.93
1890 24,341 10,707,057 444-43
1900 30,446 13-353485 438.57
1908 18,919,430
Of the population of the county in 1900,
fourteen thousand one hundred and sixteen
were residents of the nine incorporated cities
and villages, and the rest country residents,
nearly one-half therefore dwelt in the cities
and villages. It will be noticed that from
1880 to 1890 only a increase of six hun-
dred and fifty inhabitants for the ten years,
this may be accounted for by the heavy im-
igration from the county to newer fields,
farther west, during that decade. The above
table shows a steady increase in values and
per capita. In 1900 is shown a slight fall-
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
55
ing off of the per capita tax, but owing to
a change in the system of assessment, it is
more apparent than real. The true value is
many millions more than shown by the
assessors' books.
PHYSICAL AND STATISTICAL FACTS OF THE
COUNTY.
The original field notes of the survey of
the county give only about three thousand
acres of swamp land in the county, and that
is not really swamp, but low lands which
could be and indeed, most of it has been,
drained and forms the most fertile farm
lands. These same notes give a total
of three hundred and sixty-four thou-
sand nine hundred and sixty-five acres
in the county. In accord with the act
of Congress, of March 4, 1854, the
county has sold of the swamp lands at
from one dollar and fifty cents to two dol-
lars and fifty cents per acre. In 1824 the
records show ownership of only one thou-
sand and forty acres, the rest all being public
domain, on which the settlers "squatted," i.
e., settled without title. The law of 1852,
granting to the Illinois Central Railroad
Company, all unsold lands in the even num-
bered sections on each side of the said road,
six sections deep, or in width east of said
road, and the same amount west of the
same, it was found that not over one hun-
dred and sixty-five thousand acres, in round
numbers, had become the property of indi-
viduals, but by the close of 1865, all the
lands in the county had been entered. The
last was eighty acres entered by John W.
Clark, April 28, 1865, it being the east half
of the northwest quarter of section 25, in
township i north, range 4 east, or in Ro-
maine township. The first sale of land after
the county was formed was by Rufus Ricker
and Lydia, his wife, who conveyed by deed,
to D. Baldridge, eighty acres, being the
east half of the northeast quarter of section
33, township i north, range i east (Cen-
tralia). The price was four hundred dollars
and the deed is dated March 18, 1823. This
land is near the city of Centralia, and is
worth in the neighborhood of one hundred
dollars per acre. In the same year the west
half of the northwest quarter of section 15,
town i north, range 2 east, was sold for
one hundred and ten dollars. This land was
farther from settlements and not much
improved.
There is no record of any land sales in
1824 and only two in 1825; one eighty-acre
piece, which sold for one hundred dollars,
and another which brought three hundred
dollars. Only one piece was sold in 1826,
it being twenty-four acres, now a part of the
city of Salem, which sold for one hundred
dollars. There were six sales in 1827, three
of these being in section n, town 2, range 2,
two of these were eighty-acre pieces
and sold for one dollar and twenty-
five cents per acre, the third was twenty
acres and brought five 'dollars per acre.
Two sales of land in what is now
Centralia township, one eighty, at two
dollars and fifty cents per acre, and another
eighty brought three dollars and seventy-five
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
cents per acre. And one eighty in Meacham
brought one dollar, eighty-seven and one-
half cents per acre. In 1828 only one sale is
recorded. It was the same eighty acres in
section 29, town i, range i, which had been
sold in 1825 for one hundred dollars, now it
brought two hundred dollars. Only one sale
is on record for 1829, it being eighty acres
in section 28, town i, range i, and brought
four dollars, thirty-seven and one-half cents
per acre. In 1830 there were three sales:
ninety-six acres near Salem for five hundred
dollars and seventy acres also near Salem,
sold for two hundred dollars, and an eighty-
acre piece in section 27, town i, range i,
was bought for two hundred dollars. In
1831 but three sales are of record, the same
eighty in section 29, town I, range I, which
already had been sold twice was sold again
at three dollars and seventy-five cents per
acre. Eighty acres in section 17, town i,
range 2, brought one dollar eighty-seven
and one-half cents per acre and eighty acres
in section 9, town 2, range 4 (luka). This
was the first land sale in this township and
the land brought five dollars per acre. There
was only one sale of land in 1832, eighty
acres in section n, town 2, range 2, which
sold for two hundred dollars.
In the first ten years of the county's ex-
istence there were only twenty sales of land,
and only fifteen hundred and sixty acres had
been transferred ; the lowest price paid was
one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre and
the highest, five dollars per acre. Land sales
were of rare occurrence until after the build-
ing of the Illinois Central Railroad and the
Ohio & Mississippi Railroad, which were
projected about the same time and which not
only opened a way for the emigrant to come
into the county easily and speedily but by
furnishing transportation for products of
the farm, added an impetus to sales of land.
In 1850 there were only four hundred and
forty acres of land that changed ownership
at an average price of four dollars and ten
cents. Other property was low also, as the
report of a few sales will show. Some ar-
tcles sold high because- of the scarcity of
manufactured articles. At an administra-
tor's sale, held by Hardy Foster, administra-
tor of Henry Whatley's estate, the following
articles were sold at the price named: one
bay mare, fifty-two dollars ; one colt, twenty-
nine dollars; one bed, seventeen dollars and
twelve and one-half cents; one saddle and
bridle, ten dollars and twelve and one-half
cents ; one beadstead, two dollars and twelve
and one-half cents ; one skillet, two dollars ;
one pair of saddlebags, one dollar and
eighty-seven and one-half cents; one razor,
fifty cents; one bottle castor oil, fifty cents;
one butcher knife, twenty-five cents. This
sale was held on the 2Oth day of January,
1828, and is the first of record in the coun-
ty, of administrator's sale. At another sale,
held in March, 1828, hogs were sold at one
dollar and twenty-five cents each; one sow
for three dollars and twenty-five cents; a
plow for four dollars ; an ax, one dollar and
fifty cents; hoe. seventy-five cents; spinning
wheel, one dollar: loom, eleven dollars; a
counteqjane, two dollars ; quilt, ninety cents ;
well rope, seventy-five cents ; yoke of steers,
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
57
eighteen dollars ; a cow, five dollars and sev-
enty-five cents; a heifer, two dollars and
fifty cents; a cart, five dollars, thirty-seven
and one-half cents; three chairs, one dollar
and fifty cents; smoothing iron, fifty cents.
It will be noticed that no guns or other
weapons were sold. Yet every household
was well supplied in that day with imple-
ments for hunting and defense, and though
this list of articles is small, it comprises the
articles found among the wealthiest citizens.
On Monday, August 2, 1824, was held the
first election for county officers, of which
any record can be found. There seems to be
only a partial return made, as the vote for
commissioner is about twice that for cor-
oner. Mark Tully, for Sheriff received fifty-
five votes ; H. C. Nichols, for the same office,
received thirty-eight votes; Samuel David-
son received thirty-four votes for coroner,
while for commissioner, three to be elected,
Benjamin Vermillion received fifty-three
votes; Israel Jennings, forty-three votes;
Aaron Hicks, fifty-one votes; Leonard P.
Piles, fifty-five votes; J. W. Nichols, thirty-
nine votes; James Piles, forty-three votes.
The following abstract of the vote was
made out :
"I, Rufus Ricker, Clerk of the County
Commissioner's court, and Joseph Hensley,
Justice of the Peace for said county, state of
Illinois, do hereby certify that the above is
a correct abstract of the votes for the officers
above mentioned, as returned of the poll
book. Given under our hands this /th day
of August, 1824. RUFUS RICKER."
Justice of the Peace Hensley failed to
sign this crude instrument and it as a record
is thus incomplete and might have led to
questioning the legality of the officers' ten-
ure of office, but it seems that in that day
the office was not worth contesting for, and
the lack of Hensley's signature was unno-
ticed. The first circuit court was held in
the house of James Young. John Reynolds,
one of the associate judges of the supreme
court of Illinois, presided as Judge, Rufus
Ricker was Clerk and Jesse Roberts was
Sheriff. Court was opened April 29, 1823,
and the following were impannelled as a
grand jury: Benjamin Vermillion, foreman,
Leonard Piles, William Nichols, William
Davidson, James Young, Mark Tully,
William Pursley, William Marshall, James
Martin, Thomas Welch, Gidion Burton,
John Wilson, John Bundy, Dornton Bald-
ridge, Thomas Neal, D. R. Chance, Mala-
chi Ware, William Albert, John Phelps,
Samuel Davidson, John Edington, Nimrod
Phelps and John Walling. The grand
jurors were sworn in and retired, but
soon returned into court with the fol-
lowing report: No business. Whereupon
the grand jury was discharged. Doubtless
the shortest session of any grand jury in the
state.
NOT SO MANY TRIALS IN THOSE DAYS.
There seems to have been no trials at this
term of court and it therefore adjourned.
The second term opened October 30. 1823,
and was presided over by Thomas Reynolds,
Chief Justice of the supreme court. Mark
Tully served as Sheriff. The grand jury at
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY. ILLINOIS.
this term returned six indictments for as-
sault and battery. Fighting seems to have
been a favorite pastime \vith the settlers, and
in the early days no weapons were used save
those furnished by nature, but all that na-
ture furnished were used, fist and feet, bit-
ing, gouging, kicking, hair-pulling and any
other method of getting the best of an ad-
versary were permissible, and not often did
the vanquished resort to the law, although
forty-nine indictments for assault and bat-
tery were returned in the first seven terms
of court, but this is but a small proportion of
the fights that took place in the same time.
The first divorce was granted to Henry
Whatley from Elizabeth Whatley, Septem-
ber 27, 1827. The charge was the Scriptural
one, and the decree prohibited the defendant
from re-marrying for two years. The trial
was by jury. On the 27th of September,
1831, John G. Edmonson and William Fos-
ter were tried on an indictment for forgery,
and the following jury found both guilty:
Benjamin Vermillion, Joseph Hallowell,
William Tully, James Davis, Andrew Tay-
lor, Marcum Lovell, Wilkins Tatum, Jona-
than Williams, Jr., Illis Branson. Isaac
Anderick, Thomas Taylor and W. S.
Booth. They were sentenced to receive
twenty lashes, i. e., to be whipped, and to
be confined in jail twenty- four hours, and
to pay a fine of one dollar each. They
were whipped in public on the 28th day of
September. A special term of circuit
court was called for December, 1835,
and during this term the first mur-
der trial was held, William Burton be-
ing tried for the murder of James Gray.
The jury evidently thought the killing jus-
tifiable and acquitted Burton. Justice of the
Peace W. D. Haney was tried for palpable
omission of duty and was fined five
dollars at the March term of the court. John
Dillingham was indicted for larceny and
was tried in March, 1837. He was con-
victed, was sentenced to three years in the
penitentiary, one month in solitary confine-
ment and two years and eleven months at
hard labor. This was the first penitentiary
sentence from the county. In 1839 the
following citizens were fined for gambling:
James Bowman, Martin Crouch, John Purs-
ley and Henry C. Nichols. They were fined
ten dollars each in September of 1839. G.
W. Pace was also indicted for selling liquor
on Sunday, and was fined fifteen dollars.
Joseph Brasell was murdered in September,
1841. William Fatharll was indicted for
the crime, but escaped and fled from the
state, whereupon the Governor published
the following proclamation in the State
Journal, March 4, 1842:
"PROCLAMATION BY THE GOVERNOR.
"TVo Hundred Dollars Reward.
"State of Illinois, ss.
"WHEREAS, It has been represented to me
that William Fatharll is charged with the
murder of Joseph Brasell, of Marion county,
in this state. Now, therefore, I, Thomas
Carlin, Governor of said state, by virtue of
the powers vested in me by law, do offer a
HRINKKRMOFF S HISTORY OF MARION* COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
59
reward of two hundred dollars to any per-
son or persons who will apprehend the said
William Fatharll and deliver him to the
sheriff of said Marion county, provided the
said Fatharll shall be apprehended after the
date of this proclamation.
"In testimony whereof I have set my
hand and caused the seal of the state to be
annexed, at .Springfield, this 2d day of
March, 1842. By the Governor.
"(SEAL) THOMAS CARLIN.
"LYMAN TRUMBULL, Secretary of State."
"Said William Fatharll is represented to
be about five feet seven inches high, thirty-
five years of age, and to have dark hair, in-
clined to be rather thin on the crown
of his head, dark yellow eyes (just
what this means is beyond us. Ed.),
sandy beard and whiskers, a scar some-
where about his nose, also one on his
throat not easily seen unless his head
is raised, to be rather dark complex-
ioned, with heavy downcast countenance,
and not much inclined to talk when sober.
He had on when last seen a white fur hat, a
blue frock coat with brownish hunting shirt
over it, and had a rifle gun with percussion
lock, and tame catskin shot bag, spotted
black and white. The Illinois Sentinel,
Vandalia; The Reporter, St. Lows; The
Democrat, Chicago, will please publish two
weeks and send their bills to office of Sec-
retary of State.
"March 4, 1842."
He was never caught, and the case was
removed from the court docket in March,
1844, with leave to reinstate.
James White was tried for the murder of
Andrew J. Applegate at a saloon about half
a mile south of Salem, on the i6th of April,
1 86 1. An inquest was held by the coroner,
W. H. Fraser. Only two witnesses, \V. H.
Smith and Henry C. Thompson, were heard,
and a verdict to the effect that the deceased
came to his death by a stab from a knife in
the hands of James White on the morning
of April 16, 1861, in the grocery owned by
Benjamin Crane, one mile south of Salem,
111. White was arrested the same day by a
citizen and turned over to the sheriff.
White had a preliminary hearing before B.
F. Marshall, and John W. Merritt, two jus-
tices of the peace, and was by them re-
manded to jail without bond, to await the
action of the grand jury. White made a
very short statement, in which he said : "My
name is James White, I am nineteen years
old, I have no family, and have lived in this
county six months."
The testimony of Smith was most full, he
said : "I am twenty-seven years old, I live in
Clinton, DeWitt county, Illinois, and came
here last Monday. I never saw the prisoner
until yesterday, the i6th of April, when I
met him at the grocery south of town. (In
an early day saloons were always called gro-
ceries by the people. Ed.) Myself, the de-
ceased, the prisoner, Mr. Thompson and one
Willis Albert, were in the grocery, about
sunup. Albert Thompson and myself were
sitting on one bench, the prisoner was sit-
ting on another by himself, the deceased
was lying on a third bench, all in the same
room. Albert tried, to wake the deceased
6o
BRINKERHOFFS HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
up. Deceased did not like it much. Albert
left him and sat down on the bench. The
prisoner then told the deceased to get up,
but he did not get up, then the prisoner took
an iron poker and punched the deceased
gently and told him to get up. Deceased
now arose and had some conversation with
us of no importance. Deceased was angry
because he had been waked up. Deceased
and the prisoner had some words, half
angry, half in good humor. I thought it
was their way of talking together. They
talked some time when Thompson told them
to shut up and sit down. They sat down on
the same bench. Deceased said the prisoner
had been trying to impose on him. The
prisoner denied this, but said from this on
he would. They both rose up, and deceased
said he would as leave die as not, and began
pulling off his coat, but whether it was all
off or not I don't know. Deceased stepped
up towards the stove and stood there ; the
prisoner stood near, facing him, and told the
deceased not to hit him. The next thing I
saw was the prisoner drawing a knife from
the left breast of deceased. There was
blood on the knife and on the deceased's
clothes. The prisoner then jumped over
the counter and took a double-barreled shot
gun, pointing it towards the deceased. After
the deceased was struck he stood up a few
seconds and then fell forward on the floor;
he was dead from the wound. The prisoner
took a cloth and wiped the blood from his
knife and put it in its sheath, and told
Thompson to take the key of the grocery.
The prisoner then said : 'Let us all go out,'
and we all went out, and he locked the door
after us, leaving the deceased on the floor.
The prisoner left the key on a pan in the
blacksmith shop, then went away. The
knife with which the killing was done was
a bowie-knife, silver mounted; the blade
was six and one-half to eight inches long.
All this took place in Marion county."
Thompson's testimony was about the
same, the only difference is that he says that
he saw the prisoner stab the deceased twice,
and closed his testimony by saying: "I know
this man killed the deceased."
White broke out of jail but was soon re-
captured and a special grand jury was called
at a special July term of the circuit court
and found a true bill against White for
murder, signed Amos Watts, State's Attor-
ney.
Amos Watts was afterward elected cir-
cuit judge. Watts lived at Nashville, but
was State's Attorney for the whole judicial
circuit, as the law then did not provide a
prosecuting attorney for each county. Hon.
Silas L. Bryan was Circuit Judge, J. O.
Chance was Circuit Clerk, T. J. Black was
Sheriff. Judge Bryan was the father of
W. J. Bryan, late candidate for the presi-
dency. J. O. Chance was for many years
clerk of the Appellate Court at Mt. Vernon,
Illinois. The petit jury that tried White
was composed of some of the best citizens
of the county, and some of them are still
living, honored citizens of the county.
It is not strange that murder was the out-
come of the conditions. It is evident that
the night before the murder had been spent
BRIXKERHOFFS HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
6l
by the party in the bar room. As they were
some of them, asleep at sunrise, doubt-
less a night of debauchery was followed by
a morning' of half sober bravado. White,
though so young, must have been a har-
dened criminal, or else have been rendered
reckless by drink. The proprietor, it will
be observed, was not present, which points
to a crowd of debauchees too drunk to go
home, the night before. The whole tragedy
points to a moral for young men, which it
would be wise to heed. White was the first
man tried in the new court house for a se-
rious crime, and was defended by Hon. T.
E. Merritt, of Salem, still active in his pro-
fession, and Governor Henry Warmoth, of
Louisiana, then a young attorney of Salem.
There have been many killings in the eighty
years of Marion county's history, most
of them in self-defense or justifiable
homicide, and about some of them hangs
much mystery. In 1863 Willis Black,
who was a Deputy Sheriff and keeper
of the jail, in company with two Deputy
United States marshals, was killed near
the south line of Salem township. It
is said that he, in company of the marshals,
went to arrest a deserter from the army,
when near the farm of John Cunningham
they met the deserter, who fired, striking
Black in the forehead, killing him instantly.
The deserter fled but the marshals were so
badly frightened they whipped their horses,
and with the dead body of Black lying in
the carriage drove as fast as they could to
Centralia, and thence to Salem. If any
steps were ever taken to capture the un-
known deserter they came to naught, and
even the name of the murderer is unknown.
Crime is always on the frontier, for to the
obscurity of the frontier the criminals of
older communities go to elude capture. Yet
in all Marion county not more than a half-
dozen criminals could be found in the first
thirty years of her history, and today the
proud record is that in proportion to popu-
lation she ranks with the best as a law abid-
ing, peace-loving community, whose people
believe in the supremacy of the law and the
protection of the state.
MARION COUNTY IN THE BLACK HAWK WAR.
The Black Hawk war was the first war
that called forth the militia of Marion
county. Although there was no time from
its first settlement until the close of the
Black Hawk war that the settlers were safe
from Indian attack, although from the small
number of Indians in the vicinity the danger
was not so great as in other parts of the
West, but being on the Kaskaskia and Vin-
cennes trail, was likely to be visited by rov-
ing bands, who were only kept from murder-
ing the inhabitants by a wholesome fear of
a swift and sure revenge by the whites.
Black Hawk was born in 1767 in the
Sauk village and ranked equal to such In-
dian leaders as King Philip, Brandt, Logan
and Tecumseh in his desire to obliterate the
whites, but while beyond doubt he was a
great man, his military talents fell below the
high powers of those great chieftains, and
ranked with those of the lesser leaders of
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
the red men. He was eloquent in the coun-
cils of the warriors. Like all Indians he was
grave and solemn in manner. He was ambi-
tious to be known as a great war chief. The
only road to fame in the Indian mind is the
path of war, and not until he has proven
his prowess by killing an enemy may he sit
among the warriors of his nation in the
.council room. This rank may be shown by
painting a bloody hand on his blanket,
which entitles him to the esteem of the
whole tribe. In 1810 and 1811 there was a
general uneasiness among the Indians of
the Northwest Territory, fostered by the
British agents acting under orders from
Quebec. The Sacs were invited to visit the
Prophet (Tecumseh's brother) at Prophets-
town, and were there filled with the resent-
ment against the Americans. A body of
Winnebagoes had murdered a few whites,
and a knowledge of this act excited the
Sacs under the leadership of Black Hawk,
to do likewise. A part of his band joined
a band of Winnebagoes and attacked Fort
Madison in 1811. The Indians failed in the
attack, and Black Hawk, who had led the
Sacs, thirsted for white blood to efface the
shame of failure. In 1813 British emmissa-
ries arrived at Rock Island with a large
quantity of goods and persuaded Black
Hawk and five hundred warriors to go with
Colonel Dixon to Canada. At Green Bay
they joined the assembled bands of Ottawas,
Pottawatomies. Winnebagoes and Kicka-
poos, under the leadership of Colonel
Dickson, as it can hardly be said
that he commanded them. Black Hawk
and this band took part in the bat-
tles of the Raisin River, Lower San-
dusky and other places, but he was not
content with the small amount of plunder
received, thinking the fighting out of pro-
portion with it. He, with a small band of
warriors, withdrew and returned to Sauk
Village at Rock Island, where he remained
in apparent peace until 1831, with the ex-
ception of a fight on Quiver river settlement,
Missouri, in which one white man and one
Indian were killed. It is not certain that
Black Hawk was present at this skirmish.
Early in the twenties the government had se-
cured, by various treaties, title to the
village and whole country of the Sacs and
Fox tribes. Black Hawk and his band re-
fused to remove, but determined to remain
in possession of their ancient village at or
near the junction of the Rock river with the
Father of Waters. In 1828 some of the land
had been surveyed and sold, a part of which
was in the village itself. The Indians re-
sisted the settlers' taking possession, which
led to some disturbances.
The Governor, understanding the Indian
character and knowing that they would soon
be on the warpath, made no delay, but is-
sued a call for seven hundred men from
the militia of the state. The call was issued
on May 26, 1831, and Beardstown on the
Illinois river, was the appointed place of ren-
dezvous. The call was promptly answered
and men who were familiar with Indian
warfare, and whose proficiency with the rifle
had been acquired by long practice, promptly
volunteered to protect the northern settlers.
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
These were men who knew but little of
military tactics, but were accustomed to care
for themselves in all circumstances. They
were mounted on their own horses and
equipped with their own arms. After eight
days' marching they arrived within a few-
miles of the Sacs Village, where they united
with the United States troops under General
Gaines and encamped for the night. The
next morning he marched against the In-
dian village, but found it deserted. Black
Hawk having crossed the Mississippi during
the night. General Gaines sent orders to
Black Hawk to come to Rock Island at once
and make a treaty of peace, or as an alter-
nate he would cross the river and attack him
at once. In a few days Black Hawk, with
twenty-eight of his chief men, appeared, and
on the thirtieth of June, 1831, signed a
treaty of peace, after a full council with Gov-
ernor John Reynolds and General Gaines.
This closed the Black Hawk war of 1831.
But in a few. months new troubles with
Black Hawk began. During the winter of
1831 and 1832 it became evident that the
treaty signed in June was not regarded by
the Indians. Black Hawk and his band
were restless and were evidently preparing
for a raid. A chief of the Winnebagoes,
whose village was about thirty miles up
Rock river, crossed the Mississippi, and
joined Black Hawk and his band. He made
them believe that all the Indians on the Rock
river would join them, and that they, thus
united, could defy the whites. Black
Hawk was deceived and decided to recross
the Mississippi, and early in 1832 appeared
on the east side with his warriors. Many of
the Sacs and Foxes joined him and
formed a determined and somewhat formid-
able band. He first assembled them at Fort
Madison on the Mississippi, and afterwards
marched up the river to the Banks and en-
camped April 6, 1832. The settlers were
greatly alarmed, a general panic ensued, the
whole frontier from the river to Lake Michi-
gan was in a ferment of excitement and fear.
Many settlers abandoned their homes and
fled. The Governor called out a large num-
ber of volunteers on the i6th of April, who
were to operate in conjunction with the
United States troops under General Atkin-
son, who was in command of the forces at
Rock Island. The volunteers were com-
manded to rendezvous at Beardstown, on
April 22d.
This sketch of the Black Hawk trouble
has been given because of Marion county's
part in the settlement of the difficulty. A
company was organized in this county and
was ready to march June i, 1832. The of-
ficers were: William M. Dobbins, captain;
Dr. Frazier, first lieutenant; Stephen Yo-
kum, second lieutenant ; Jesse M. Wade, or-
derly sergeant; Judge Samuel Hull, ser-
geant. Each man furnished his own horse
and arms, which consisted of a rifle, some of
which were flint-lock, hatchet or ax. where
one was owned, and the hunting-knife. There
was not a sword or pistol in the company.
Officers were expected to fight the same as
the men. Eacli man carried a sack of pro-
visions of his own or neighbor's providing.
On the day of their departure they assem-
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
bled in the court-house square in Salem and
were addressed by Rev. Simeon Walker
upon the awful solemnity of the oc-
casion and admonished them to acquit
themselves like American soldiers. Upon
their arrival near Beardstown they were
placed in a battalion under Major John
Dement and placed in a brigade un-
der General Posey and were known as
Posey's brigade. They were ordered to
Rock Island and on the third night reached
Rock river and camped. The next morning
while making an early march they were met
by a courier who informed them that the
Indians were near. Thirty men were sent
before breakfast to reconnoiter and ascertain
the enemy's strength. They soon observed
three Indians running away from them and
apparently dropping something from time to
time on the ground. Two or three of the
soldiers followed the running Indians, when
a large body of savages rose up and disclosed
an ambush, cutting off the detachment. A
fight took place in which five men from the
Jefferson county company were killed. The
Indians then attacked the camp, but were re-
pulsed with considerable loss. The Indians
destroyed many of the horses belonging to
the troops. That evening the whites were
reinforced and took the offensive, pursuing
the Indians. A part of Posey's brigade
fought the battle of Bad Ax where the In-
dians were badly defeated. Cholera now
broke out among the troops and General
Scott, who had arrived, scattered the troops
to save them from the scourge. All the sol-
diers from Marion county lived to return,
but have long since passed away, the last
survivor, Judge Samuel Hull, having died
October 27, 1890. He lived honored and
respected by every citizen of the county,
who for many years kept him in office as
one who was thoroughly trusted and who
never betrayed that trust. He was the father
of E. Hull, late of Salem, deceased, of John
Hull, formerly president of the Illinois
Southern Normal School, and Dr. Darwin
Hull, of Bloomingotn, and grandfather of
Senator C. E. Hull, of Salem.
The following is the roster of the men
from Marion county in this war : Dudley
Mayberry, William McGee, Joseph Fyke,
Samuel Hays, Isaac Copple, David R.
Chance, John McGuire, Edward Young,
William Gaston, Bird M. Simpson, Stephen
Yokum, Benjamin Allen, Daniel Myers,
William Hadden, John F. Jones, Thomas
Chapman, Samuel H. Craig, Willis Smith,
James Richardson, King brothers, John
B. Ules, John Eagan, John Phelps, Cal-
vin Piles, Tod Phelps, Hamilton Fathing,
John F. Drapar, William M. Dobbins,
Jesse M. Wade, Dr. Frazier, William
Hill, Samuel Hull, N. B. Nelms, Leven
Wright, Asa Warren, James Davenport,
Green Duncan, Young P. Barbee, William
Craig and David W. Allman, almost all of
whom have descendants now living in the
county.
The Winnebagoes made a treaty in
September, 1832, by which they sold to
the government all their lands south of the
Wisconsin river and west of Green Bay.
The price paid by the United States was
BRINKERHOFFS HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
$70,000, in seven equal installments, schools
for the children for twenty years, besides a
liberal gift of oxen, tools, etc. A few days
later ( September 2ist) the S.acs and Fox
tribes sold to the government what is now
the state of Iowa, for which they received
twenty thousand dollars a year for twenty
years, forty kegs of tobacco, forty barrels
of salt, gunsmith and blacksmith shops ;
also six thousand bushels of corn, mostly
for the Black Hawk band. These treaties
settled the Indian troubles forever in Illinois
and only now and then was life in danger
from the Indians and then only as by any
other criminal.
The last Indian murder in this county was
of an Indian by an Indian near where the
Shanafelt school house now stands and no
proof being had as to who did the killing,
the guilty party escaped punishment, yet the
thought lingers that if the victim had been
a white man they could have found the mur-
derer.
MARION COUNTY IN THE MEXICAN WAR.
Marion county furnished men for Com-
pany C, Sixth Regiment, Illinois, for the
Mexican war. The requisition for raising a
company of infantry was received at Salem
on May 2, 1847, which in four days' time
was organized and reported for duty. On
May 1 7th, the company marched from
Salem, and on the igth arrived at Alton,
and were mustered into the service of the
United States May 2ist. On June I7th,
they left Alton and arrived at Fort Leaven-
5
worth June 29th, were equipped with arms
the next day, and were inspected by Col.
E. W. Newby. On Independence Day the
troops had a general parade, listened to the
reading of the Declaration of Independence
and were addressed by the chaplain of the
fort. The first division of the Illinois
Sixth Regiment was composed of com-
panies B, C and E, under command of
Lieutenant Colonel Boyakin. The regi-
mental officers, as far as Marion county is
interested, were Henderson P. Boyakin, who
enlisted as a private in Company C, but was
elected from the ranks to be lieutenant
colonel at Alton, in June, 1847; Daniel
Turney, surgeon by appointment of the
President; Assistant Surgeon Thomas B.
Lester, of Salem ; Drummer Thomas W.
Pace, of Salem. The company officers were
Vantramp Turner, captain; Isham N.
Haynie, Salem, first lieutenant; Leven
Wright and Benjamin F. Marshall, Salem,
second lieutenants and first sergeants was
Jesse M. Wade and the sergenats were:
Lougin J. Wnorouski, James S. Martin and
Joseph \Vham ; the corporals were : James
N. Barr, James Nelson, Dwyer Tracey and
James M. B. Gaston, while Cornelius N.
Breese and William N. Haynie were musi-
cians. The privates mustered out were:
James G. Anglin, Nathan Adams, James S.
Anderson, Richard S. Allman, George W.
Ashton, Peter Burkhout, Augustus W.
Beasley, William Beasley, Joseph A. Bar-
bee, Alexander Bundy, W. Bundy, Isaac
Bundy, Barney L. Blackburn, H. P. Cox,
Milton Cucthin, James M. Chasteen, James
66
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
W. Denton, Andrew Elliott, William Els-
ton, Marshall French, James McD. Hills,
Dennis G. Jones, Jasper N. Jones, William
Jackson, Edward King, Thomas B. Lester,
John J. Lester, William J. Lester, Lewis
Lature, James A. Marshall, Hamilton Mc-
Colgan, Jacob C. Mefford, William C. Mor-
gan, Joseph F. McGuire, George W. Mid-
dleton, Ira A. Millison, Pleasant Middle-
ton, John McGregor, Thomas Neel, Wil-
liam C. Neel, John R. Nelson, James Par-
ker, James L. Ferryman, Thomas G. Pet-
tus, William C. Roach, Samuel Rainey,
William E. Rolan, George D. Richie, Wil-
liam F. Songer, Solomon Smith, William
Smith, John Tully. John S. Torrence,
Charles Thomas, Joseph R. Tyler, John P.
Vaughn, John McM. Wham, Robert McM.
Wham, Benjamin M. Wham, Daniel A.
Winn, Joshua B. Walsh, Elijah Wallis,
John W. White and John Winn.
Companies B, C and E left Fort Leaven-
worth July 9th, with a wagon train of
thirty-three wagons, thirty others having
been sent on before. The destination was
Santa Fe. The route led across what was
then known as The Great American Desert.
Following generally the Santa Fe trail,
their way led to Shawnee Camp, thence to
Lone Elm, Bull Creek, Rock Creek, Coun-
cil Grove, Diamond Springs, Cottonwood
Creek, Turkey Creek, Plumb Point, Big
Bend on the Arkansas, Pawnee Rock, Man's
Ford, Seminole Springs, San Miguel, to
Santa Fe, where they arrived on Sunday,
the 1 2th day of September. There they
went into camp and remained until Febru-
ary 9, 1848, when, by order of General
Price, they started on the march to Albu-
querque, then a town of Mexico, eighty
miles from Santa Fe, where they arrived on
the 1 4th of February. On this march they
passed San Philipi on the Rio Grande. Al-
buquerque was a town of about one thou-
sand inhabitants and was the headquarters of
the Mexican general. Armego, whose rep-
utation as a bandit, desperado and guerrilla
was well established. They remained here
until the close of the war.
On the loth of July they received orders
from Washington that peace had been de-
clared between the United States and Mex-
ico, and on July 2Oth, they received march-
ing orders to return home, and started on
the homeward march, July 25th, and ar-
rived at Fort Leavenworth on the loth of
September, 1848. They had marched more
than two thousand miles through a barren
country, infested by a savage, treacherous
foe, had been often without water, and had
to depend largely for subsistance upon the
skill of their hunters. The only fire possible
was that made from dried "buffalo chips."
and were two months and three days mak-
ing the march from Santa Fe to Fort Leav-
enworth. Now, only sixty years later, the
journey may be made in two days with all
the comforts of a modern parlor. The death
list, during the term of service, was as fol-
lows: James Baxter died at Fort Leaven-
worth. July 14, 1847; J. W. Collins died
on march to Santa Fe, July 14, 1847; J.
Wadkins died at Fort Leavenworth, July
15, 1847; Robert Easley died on march,
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
67
August 5, 1847; William Brasel died at
Fort Leavenworth, August 19, 1847; Wil-
liam W. Jones died at Santa Fe, Septem-
ber 29, 1847; F- L. Cheeley died at Santa
Fe, November 22, 1847;. James Cooper
died at Santa Fe, February 4, 1848;
William H. Bass died at Santa Fe,
January n, 1848; J. H. White, died
at Santa Fe, January 22, 1848; U. Vaughn
died at Albuquerque, April 25, 1848.
The following were discharged before
the final muster out of the company, on
October 13, 1848: Jesse Ray, at Las Vegas,
January 9, 1848; Zachariah Young, at San-
ta Fe, January n, 1848; James M. Cox, at
Albuquerque, April n, 1848; Lorenzo Mi-
nard, Albuquerque, April n, 1848; An-
drew Ray, Las Vegas, June 8, 1848; John
Bethard, Las Vegas, June 8, 1848; John M.
Whitlock, Santa Fe, August 14, 1848;
Hart well G. Wilson, Las Vegas, August 18,
1848. Thomas W. Pace was appointed
drum major on March 6, 1847. John T.
Damon, second lieutenant of Company E,
died at Santa Fe, December 28, 1847.
James Reed was transferred to Company
B, June 27, 1847. The following were mus-
tered out October 14, 1848, at Alton, they
being Marion county men enlisted in Com-
pany E: Corporals Randolph C. Goddard
and Augustus K. Askey, and Privates John
"W. Bullock, Elijah Bums. Walter M. C.
Damon, Richard Epperson, William E.
Goddard, Samuel Springs and Joseph
Springs. The folowing died : A. J. Camp-
bell, at Fish Creek, July 20, 1847. and
Franklin J. Brown, at Santa Fe, Septem-
ber 27, 1847. Those discharged were:
Jackson Lyman, at Fort Leavenworth,
July 27, 1847; W. O. Buckner, at
Las Vegas, April 26, 1848; W. Stephen-
son, at Las Vegas, April 26, 1848.
Of those who enlisted from Marion county,
all but a very few have responded to the
roll call from the other side. The only one
known to be living in 1908 in Marion coun-
ty is William Bundy, an honored citizen,
enjoying the respect of his fellow citizens
and the well earned fruits of a good life.
Of the soldiers of the Mexican war, many
rose to distinction in after life. Isham N.
Haynie was adjutant general during the
Civil war; B. F. Marshall was elected to
county office and was for many years cash-
ier of the Salem National Bank; James S.
Martin was colonel of the One Hundred
and Eleventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry in
the Civil war; D. Tracy was Circuit Clerk
of the county for several years, and others
filled important places in life, as will more
fully appear in other chapters. Lieut-
Col. Henderson F. Boyakin was a law-
yer in Salem, and died January n, 1849,
and sleeps in the cemetery at Salem. In
life he was very popular with his fellow cit-
izens and has several namesakes among the
sons of those who inarched to Mexico,
across the plains, and the given name of
Boyakin is a monument to his worth and a
token of the esteem in which he was held by
the soldiers of the Mexican war.
MARION COUNTY IN THE CIVIL WAR.
Marion county furnished her full quota
during the Civil war, no less than fifteen
hundred and sixteen having enlisted in the
68
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
several regiments called out in defense of
the Union of states. One out of every eight
of the entire population being in the field.
The first enlistments from the county were
in the Eleventh Regiment of Illinois Volun-
teers. This regiment was called into service
under the proclamation of President Lin-
coln, April 1 6, 1861, and was mustered in
at Springfield, April 30, 1861, for three
months, by Captain Pope. The regiment
re-enlisted July 30, 1861, for three years and
was mustered out at Baton Rouge, Louisi-
ana. July 14, 1865, having served four
years, two months and fourteen days.
This regiment served in Missouri and
Kentucky until early in 1862. On
the jth and 8th of January it had
its first "brush" w'ith the enemy under
the celebrated Jeff Thompson. It was in
the campaign against Forts Henry and Don-
elson and at the latter fort during the
siege and final capture lost three hundred
and twenty-nine men, in killed, wounded
and missing, out of five hundred men en-
gaged, seventy-two being kilkd and one
hundred and eighty-two being wounded.
On April 6th and 7th, at the battle of Shiloh
the regiment lost twenty-seven men in killed
and wounded, out of one hundred and
fifty engaged. It was in the skirmishes at
Jackson, Tennessee. The regiment was re-
turned to Cairo to recruit in August, 1862,
and returned to the field in Northern Mis-
sissippi, April 23, 1863. The One Hundred
and Ninth regiment was transferred to the
Eleventh, increasing the number of men by
five hundred and eighty-nine and was sent
to Vicksburg, arriving May i8th and partic-
ipated in that campaign until the surrender,
July 4, 1863. On February ist, it started
on an expedition on the Yazoo river and
engaged in two skirmishes, losing four killed
and nine wounded at Liverpool Heights,
February 5th, and on March 5th, lost one
officer and eight men killed and twenty-four
wounded, twelve missing, in the skirmish
at Yazoo City. The roster is as follows:
George C. McKee, major, term expired July
30, 1864; Benjamin H. Pearson, chaplain,
resigned January 18, 1863; First Lieuten-
and Robert Jehue, killed March 5, 1864;
Second Lieutenant John Parkinson, com-
missioned, returned ; Sergeants : Charles
A. Roper, died November 18, 1861 ;
William Parkinson, promoted to first
sergeant, discharged June 7, 1863 ; John
Parkinson, promoted to first sergeant, dis-
charged September 16, 1864, term expired;
Corporals : John S. McWilliams, mustered
out July 29, 1864; Martin A. Smith, mus-
tered out July 29, 1864; Byron Parkhurst,
wounded six times, died May 10, 1862;
George Crabtree, wounded, discharged No-
vember 26, 1862 ; George Copple, promoted
to sergeant, term expired September 16,
1864; Privates: Charles Beal. discharged
August 16, 1864, term expired; John Baggs,
wounded, discharged August 18, 1862; Si-
las Baltzell, discharged June 7, 1863 ; David
L. Browder, veteran, died March 5,
1864; W. H. Carpenter, wounded, dis-
charged August i, 1862; William Copple,
wounded, discharged July 20, 1862; David
Copple, term expired August 16, 1864:
BRINKERHOFFS HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Simpson Copple. promoted to sergeant, term
expired August 16, 1864; John R. Copple,
killed at Clinton, Mississippi, July 7, 1864;
A. J. Crabtree, promoted to corporal, term
expired August 17, 1864; James Cain,
killed at Vicksburg, July 2, 1863: George
W. Elfretz, veteranized, transferred; Elijah
Hayes, killed at Shiloh, April 6, 1862;
James Huston, died October 22. 1861 ;
William A. Hartley, wounded, discharged
November 26, 1862; Green Hodges, mus-
tered out October i, 1864; James A. Frea-
zier, mustered out September 16, 1864:
Elijah Jolliff, veteranized, promoted to
corporal, transferred; John R. Kell, wound-
ed, discharged November 26, 1862; James
H. Kerry, killed at Shiloh April 6, 1862;
John O. Kittsapper, mustered out Septem-
ber 16, 1864; William C. Myers, disability,
discharged, January 5, 1862; John E. Mc-
Neil, discharged August 16, 1864; Charles
Xeeham, killed at Fort Donelson, February
15, 1862; Henry Nichols, veteranized, pro-
moted to corporal, transferred : John M.
Posted, died November i, 1861 ; Joel Pitts,
transferred October 27, 1863 ; Allen Roper,
veteranized, transferred; Jesse W. Roper,
discharged August 16, 1864; Enoch Rush,
killed at Fort Donelson February 15, 1862;
Isaac Rush, died October 17, 1861 ; Henry
Smith, veteranized, transferred; Jacob
Smith, discharged August 16, 1864; Benja-
min J. Sweeknerd. promoted to sergeant and
first sergeant, veteranized, transferred;
John Shaw, veteranized, promoted to
sergeant, transferred; Henry Taylor, mus-
tered out September 16, 1864; David Tay-
lor, mustered out September 16, 1864; Fred-
erick Thurston, killed at Shiloh, April 6,
1862; Joseph Wooley, no record; Zadock C.
Williams, discharged February 14, 1862 ;
Christopher Whitlow, died September 6,
1861 ; Henry H. Waymen, veteranized, pro-
moted to corporal, transferred. The follow-
ing were recruited into the regiment ; James
Camron, mustered out July 14, 1865;
George W. Garber, promoted to corporal
and transferred to the Third Colored Cav-
alry, regular army; William R. Watkins,
promoted to corporal, mustered out July
14. 1865. In Company M was George
Rowell, who deserted May 10, 1862.
In Company I was William Butler,
term expired with regiment. In Com-
pany K was recruit James Smith, who
deserted May 18, 1862. Out of the few
men from Marion county in this regiment,
eight were killed in battle; six were wound-
ed and six died, making a heavy total for
the small number of men enlisted. One
man, Jackson Budd, was in the Twelfth
Regiment and died of wounds, March 12.
1862.
In the Eighteenth Illinois Volunteer In-
fantry there were a few men. The regi-
ment was organized at Anna, Illinois, first
for thirty days in state service, by then
Capt. U. S. Grant, and was mustered into
the United States service by Capt. T. G.
Pitcher, of the regular army, May 28, 1861,
was in Missouri and Cairo, Illinois, was at
the taking of Fort Henry, February 6, 1862,
and, as a part of the First brigade, com-
manded by Col. Richard J. Oglesby,
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
marched to Fort Donelson, February 1 1 ,
1862; was in the three days' fight
at the taking of that fort, losing
many men in killed and wounded; was
in the battle of Shiloh, April 6th
and jth; was in the advance on Corinth.
The regiment was recruited and re-organ-
ized at this time and ordered into the depart-
ment of Arkansas, where they served until
the close of the war, and was mustered out
at Little Rock, Arkansas, December 16,
1865. The Marion county men were : Capt.
Joseph T. McCormick, resigned November
1 6, 1861; First Lieutenant Bedford Wi-
mer, resigned November 17, 1861 ; Privates
Jonathan Davis, no record; George Davis,
wounded, discharged, August 25, 1862;
Jacob J. Gaissman, veteranized, corporal,
mustered out December 16, 1865 ; Michael
McDermont, killed at Fort Donelson Febru-
ary 1 6, 1862; Milo Wager was a recruit
in this regiment, no record. After the
regiment was re-organized, the follow-
ing privates were in Company B: Peter
Bell, mustered out December 16, 1865;
Samuel L. Wisher, mustered out December
16, 1865; and in Company D: E. L. Stan-
berry, deserted July 4, 1865 ; John P. Whit-
low, mustered out December 16, 1865, as
corporal.
The Twenty-second Illinois Volunteer In-
fantry was organized at Belleville, Illinois,
May n, 1 86 1, and mustered into the service
of the United States for three years at
Caseyville, by Capt. T. G. Pitcher, United
States Army, June 25, 1861. Company
G, of this regiment, was raised in
Marion county and a few men also
were in other companies. The regi-
ment was at Bird's Point, Missouri, and
a part of it took part in the disastrous bat-
tle of Belmont; were under General Grant
in Missouri, in the early part of 1862; were
at Tiptonville, under General Payne, where
they intercepted and captured four thou-
sand prisoners after the fall of Island No.
10, among whom were two general officers;
were in the skirmishes at Farmington, May
3d, 5th and Qth; were at the siege of Cor-
inth, and afterward guarded the Memphis &
Charleston Railroad until August 26th,
when they fell back to Nashville by forced
marches, where they arrived September n,
1862; was in the severe, two days' battle of
Stone River, losing many men. Out of three
hundred and forty-two men going into bat-
tle, only one hundred and forty-three were
able to answer roll call, the rest, one hun-
dred and ninety-nine, being killed or wound-
ed. It was in the battle of Chickamauga,
September iQth and 2Oth, under General
Sheridan, losing one hundred and thirty-
five officers and men, out of less than three
hundred engaged. The regiment took part
in the storming of Missionary Ridge, with
a heavy loss. On March 6, 1864, full ra-
tions were issued the regiment for the first
. time in six months. They had been on the
march or in isolated places and kept out of
touch with the commissary, so that it was
impossible to keep them supplied, the
mountains of East Tennessee being the
scene of their operations during that period
(winter of 1863 and 1864); was with Sher-
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
7>
man in the Atlanta campaign and in the bat-
tle of Resaca, where it had twenty men
killed and wounded. On June 10, 1864 the
regiment was ordered to Springfield, Illi-
nois, to be mustered out. The recruits and
veterans left were consolidated with the
Forty-second Illinois Volunteers. The men
from Marion county in this regiment were:
Major Probst Enadies, resigned January 16,
1862; private, Company A, Thomas J. Bor-
ing, discharged to enter the regular army;
captain, Company C, William A. Greary,
discharged July 7, 1864, term expired;
first lieutenant, Andrew J. Walsh, dis-
charged July 7, 1864, term expired; sec-
ond lieutenant, James Stansifer, honorably
discharged February 27, 1864; sergeants:
Stewart R. Smith, mustered out July
7, 1864; Charles W. Davis, died of
wounds November 8, 1861 ; Corporals
Thomas D. Stevenson, mustered out July
7, 1864; Jacob R. Cozart, discharged,
disability, January 8, 1863; Reuben J.
Hoffman, wounded at Chickamauga, mus-
tered out July 7, 1864; John W. Young,
promoted to sergeant, died from wounds
received at Chickamauga, January 10,
1864; Wagoner James Ryan, deserted De-
cember 2, 1 86 1 ; Privates John Albert, mus-
tered out July 7, 1864; Marshall Butcher,
died at Annapolis, March 17, 1863; Philip
Benedict, wounded at Belmont, transferred
to Vetem Relief Corps; Frank C. Burdick,
promoted to first sergeant, discharged for
promotion; A. H. Denny, deserted Decem-
ber 7, 1862; Frank Dosh, mustered out July
7, 1864; Thomas Foley, mustered out
July 7, 1864; Benjamin Galloup, deserted
April 24, 1862; Elder X. Hoffman, mus-
tered out July 7, 1864; Robert H. Johnson,
died at Corinth, October 20, 1862; James
Jackson, disability, discharged February 20,
1862; Moses Lampay, mustered out July
7, 1864; Fred Meinher, transferred to
Veteran Relief Corps, September 20,
1863; Edward McKinney, mustered out
July 7, 1864; Paul Nerderkam, deserted
October 13, 1862; James Morrow, de-
serted December 2, 1861 ; John Rapp,
disability, discharged March 7, 1862;
Abraham Sinerly, disability, discharged
April 4, 1863; John Taylor, died at St.
Louis, October 9, 1862; Frederick Voght,
transferred, veteranized; Edward Ward,
mustered out July 7, 1864; Michael
Wholon, mustered out July 7, 1864.
was wounded at Stone River; Bern-
hard Winkler, disability, discharged De-
cember 17, 1861 ; William Wilkins, mus-
tered out July 7, 1864; James C. Young,
mustered out July 7, 1864; Recruits George
W. Davis, left sick on field; William H.
Killen, disability, discharged June 15, 1862;
Michael O'Shaughnessy, mustered out July
7, 1864; Gotleib Voght, killed at Stone
River December 31, 1862; Henry White,
disability, discharged May 14, 1862; Com-
pany G, Captain James S. Jackson,
honorably discharged May 12, 1863; First
Lieutenant Solomon Smith, resigned April
17, 1863; Second Lieutenant Edward J.
Jackson, resigned November 27, 1861 ;
Joseph C. Murphy, resigned July 15,
1862; John G. Beasley, term expired
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY. ILLINOIS.
July 7, 1864; First Sergeant Arch A.
Hamilton, reduced, dismissed June 13,
1862, for disability; John C. Morgan, killed
at Belmont November 7, 1861 ; Corporals
George W. Russell, died of wounds July 9,
1864; Robert H. Mallory, died of wounds
January i, 1863; Clinton B. Hall, died of
wounds, April 8, 1863; Isaiah Lear, wound-
ed, discharged September 26, 1862; Charles
McElwane, deserted December 2, 1861 ;
Musician Barton W. Barnes, reduced, mus-
tered out July 7, 1864; Privates Jonas
Brim, discharged October 28, 1862, for dis-
ability; James R. Britt, corporal, killed at
Chickamaugua September 19, 1863; John
Beley, veteranized, disability, discharged
June 22, 1865; Charles Blessing, trans-
ferred to gunboat; James Burge, killed
at Chickamauga September 19, 1863;
George W. Blankenship, taken prisoner,
mustered out January 6, 1863; Benja-
min F. Crossnan, veteranized, mustered
out December 16, 1865; Samuel W.
Cunningham, died of wounds February
15, 1863; Mathew R. Cunningham, muster-
ed out July 7, 1864; Michael Dawson, de-
serted April 25. 1862; John W. Day,
veteranized, transferred to First U. S.
Engineers; William \V. Elliott, discharged
to be made assistant surgeon of Fifty-
first Illinois; Oscar B. Fuller, mus-
tered out July 7, 1864; Leonard A. Fuller,
mustered out July 7, 1864; Charles
Fincham, deserted April 25, 1862; William
Gray, mustered out July 7, 1864; Michael
Hogan, mustered out July 7, 1864; John
Hensley, died of wounds March 16, 1864;
James A. Honeycutt, veteranized, de-
serted December 15, 1864; Francis M.
Hensley, mustered out July 7, 1 864 ;
William Houchen, mustered out July 7,
1864, was a wagoner; Lafayette L.
Jones, mustered out July 7, 1864; Thomas
N. Jones, wounded, discharged Decem-
ber 31, 1861 ; John R. Kell, sergeant,
wounded, discharged July 12, 1862; John J.
Kennison, discharged to enlist in the Fourth
regular cavalry; John Cline, disability, dis-
charged February 18, 1862; Charles Kook,
wounded, discharged August 29, 1861 ;
Commodore P. Lackey, transferred to
Veteran Relief Corps, September 6, 1863;
Joseph Myers, mustered out July 7, 1864;
Jonas Myers, mustered out July 7,
1864; John Morrissey, killed at Bel-
mont, November 7. 1861 ; Hugh Mc-
Elwee, disability, discharged, April 19,
1862: Francis M. McCarthy, died at
Bird's Point, November 7, 1861 ; Rob-
ert P. H. Pitcher, dishonorably discharged;
Uriah Phelps, mustered out July 7,
1864; Milton Phillips, disability, discharged
November i, 1861 ; Daniel Quinn, mustered
out July 7, 1864; James M. D. Russell, mus-
tered out July 7, 1864; Dennis Ryan, trans-
ferred to Veteran Relief Corps May 3,
1864; Frank Strickland, disability, dis-
charged February 16, 1863 ; Charles Tat-
ham, disability, discharged April 28,
1863 ; Samuel G. Tate, discharged, en-
listed in Fourth U. S. Cavalry; Ja-
cob M. Thumb, deserted September i,
1862 ; Jacob Van Patten, died of wounds
February 28, 1863; John E. White, mus-
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
tered out July 7, 1864; John M. Wilson,
mustered out July 7, 1864; Adam Wim-
berly, disability, discharged November i,
1 86 1 ; Joseph Wilkinson, mustered out July
7, 1864; Samuel Young, disability, dis-
charged January 31, 1862. The following
recruits were added to the muster roll : John
Adams, killed at Belmont, November 7,
1861 ; George Anderson, deserted May 24,
1862; Denis Bloomer, deserted May 24,
1862; George Cunningham, wounded, dis-
charged August 13, 1863; Isham E.
Hodges, mustered out July 7, 1864; Thomas
Huggins, wounded, discharged May 29,
1863; Abram Kessle, deserted April 25.
1862 ; Hezekiah Lassaler, under age, dis-
charged September 30, 1861 ; Hiram Lype,
discharged, enlisted in Fourth regular
cavalry; Alvin S. Raney, disability, dis-
charged October 2, 1863 ; John M. Raney,
detached; Mathew Raney, killed at Bel-
mont November 7, 1861 ; William D.
Russell, discharged June 5, 1862; Wil-
liam Spouts, veteranized, mustered out
June 27, 1865 ; Patrick Whalen, no record.
Two privates were in Company H, viz. :
Mathew M. Gaston, and David A. Goree,
both mustered out July 7, 1864.
The Twenty-first Regiment Illinois Vol-
unteers, Grant's old regiment as it is known
among the "boys of "61," was organized at
Mattoon, Illinois, May 9, 1861. Warren E.
McMackin was the lieutenant-colonel : he
was taken prisoner at the battle of
Chickamauga, was exchanged and served
until mustered out, December 8, 1864;
Alonzo L. Mills was a commissary ser-
geant in this regiment; Joseph Wham,
afterward paymaster in the regular army,
was first lieutenant in Company G, and was
mustered out of the regiment December 16,
1865. Major Wham is now on the retired
list with rank of major; Fritz W. Brown
was second lieutenant in the same company,
mustered out December 16, 1865; George
A. Trinor was sergeant, mustered out July
5, 1864; Corporal John Myers, veteranized;
Charles S. Burrough, mustered out July 5,
1864; Samuel Lonnon, died at Baltimore,
Maryland, March 20, 1865; John Barmes,
musician, mustered out July 5, 1864: Henry
H. Davenport, disability, discharged Sep-
tember 16, 1861 ; Lucius C. Gardner, missing
since the battle of Chickamauga ; George W.
Hamilton, disability, discharged May 30,
1863 ; James R. Richardson, mustered out
July 5, 1864; T. A. M. Richardson, disa-
bility, discharged September 16, 1861 ;
George W. Richardson, mustered out July
5, 1864; Robert and John Shugart, both
mustered out July 5, 1864; Samuel W.
Shultz, veteranized ; David L. Shultz,
wounded, mustered out July 5, 1865;
John F. Watson, missing since bat-
tle of Chickamauga; Joseph W. Wham,
veteranized; Garrett J. Gilman, mustered
out December 16, 1865 ; John W. Myers,
mustered out June 14. 1865; Daniel \Y.
Harley, discharged September 27, 1864;
John F. Newson, died September 20, 1863;
Francis L. Wham, died in Andersonville
prison, July 24, 1864, grave No. 3910.
There were a number of men from
Marion county in Company K, of the Thir-
74
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
ty-first Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infan-
try. The regiment was organized at Cairo,
Illinois, September 8, 1861, by Col. John
A. Logan. Captain Pitcher, U. S. A., mus-
tered it into service. It was brigaded with
the brigade of Gen. John A. McClernand,
and took part in the battle of Belmont, No-
vember 7, 1 86 1, served in Kentucky, and
February 6th occupied Fort Henry in Ten-
nessee; was in the three days' fight at Fort
Donelson, February I3th, i/ith and I5th;
was at Pittsburg Landing and the siege of
Corinth, after which it was at Jackson a
short time, reinforced General Rosecrans at
Corinth in October, but arrived too late for
the battle; went after the enemy to Ripley;
spent the rest of the year 1862 in camp in
Mississippi. On January i, 1863, the regi-
ment was in the First Brigade, Third Di-
vision, Seventeenth Army Corps. Gen. J.
E. Smith commanded the brigade, Brig.-
Gen. John A. Logan, commanding with
Maj.-Gen. J. B. McPherson command-
ing the corps. On the I5th it started on a
tour through Tennessee and Mississippi,
and May ist went to the assistance of Gen-
eral McClernand at Thompson's Hill. The
soldiers had nothing to eat the night before
and were without rations. Notwithstand-
ing this lack of food, they marched twelve
miles in three hours and saved the day by
repulsing the enemy's right flank. On the
next day they crossed Bayou Pierre and on
the third day caught up with the enemy and
again defeated them ; continued the pursuit
of the enemy, skirmishing every day, until
the 1 2th, when they made a stand at Ray-
mond, but were driven to Jackson, where
they were defeated on the I2th, after a se-
vere fight. Again at Champion Hills they
defeated the enemy and arrived before
Vicksburg on the igth. They were in the
charge on Fort Hill and lost two officers
and eight men killed and forty wounded.
The flag of the regiment was shot to pieces,
not less than one hundred and fifty-three
shots striking it. On the 5th of January,
1864, the regiment veteranized, and on Feb-
ruary 3d started on the Meridian campaign ;
were sent home March 19, 1864, on veteran
furlough, but returned to the front in May
and joined Sherman at Actworth; was in
the Hood campaign and took part in the
March to the Sea. The regiment took part
in thirty-one battles and skirmishes, several
of which lasted two or three days. The
Marion county men in the Thirty-first were
as follows, all in Company K: Captain A.
S. Somerville, dismissed May 28, 1862;
First Lieutenant Henry T. Snider, resigned
April 24, 1862 ; Henry C. Lewis, mustered
out July 19, 1865; Second Lieutenant Pink-
ney K. Watts, resigned August 8, 1863;
Sergeants John A. Vanhiming, killed at Bel-
mont, November 7, 1861 ; Robert L. Car-
penter, veteranized, mustered out July
19, 1865; Benjamin F. Brookes, trans-
ferred to Veteran Relief Corps, Oc-
tober 27, 1863; Musician John M. Bemiss,
deserted January n, 1863; Privates Wil-
liam P. Barnet and Charles R. Barnet, no
record; John W. Boswell, transferred; Ja-
cob R. Bell, veteranized, mustered out
J-uly 19, 1865; \Vesley Blalock, no record;
BRINKERHOFF S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Samuel D. Billings, promoted to chief mu-
sician ; James Brofield, mustered out May
31, 1865; Patrick Cooney, veteranized,
wounded and was not at muster out on that
account; George \Y. Campbell, died March
n, 1862; Larkin Donoho, discharged Janu-
ary 8, 1864; William Denney, term expired,
mustered out January 28, 1864; Jacob
Gurick, killed at Fort Donelson February
15, 1862; John Hutchcraft, killed at Kene-
saw Mountain June 27, 1864; David Kisner,
veteranized, promoted to sergeant, mustered
out July 19, 1865; William H. Lewis, no
record; Henry C. Lewis, veteranized, pro-
moted to first lieutenant ; Aaron Mosby,
veteranized, mustered out July 19, 1865;
Andrew M. Peddicord, veteranized, mus-
tere out July 19, 1865; Benjamin F. Patter-
son, veteranized, mustered out July 19,
1865; Elijah Rector, discharged June 30,
1862; Samuel E. Sanders, veteranized, mus-
tered out July 19, 1865 ; Walter Simon; Ed-
ward Teets; Thomas Waterhouse, missing
in action July 22, 1864. The recruits of
Company K were : James H. Branch, mus-
tered out July 19, 1865; James Kelley, de-
serted June 13, 1862; John Laflin, disability,
discharged April 17, 1862; James N. Mills,
mustered out July 19, 1865 ; Martin V. Mil-
ham, mustered out July 19, 1865; John
Phelps, died June 30, 1865 ; Leander Skeen,
transferred; William Weaver; Pinkney K.
Watts, promoted to second lieutenant. Six
men from Marion county were in the Thir-
ty-third Regiment, viz. : Quartermaster
Simeon Wright, resigned August 22, 1864;
First Assistant Surgeon Nathan W. Abbott,
was mustered out for promotion ; Quarter-
master Sergeant Elmer Washburn ; Commis-
sary Sergeants Samuel Tilden, mustered out
November 24, 1864; Luther H. Prosser,
mustered out November 24, 1864; Musician
J. B. Sanders, mustered out August 12,
1862. There were also fifteen men from
Marion county in the Thirty-fourth Regi-
ment, Company I : Musician Henry Lego,
veteranized, mustered out July 12, 1865;
Privates Chris Backman, veteranized, mus-
tered out as corporal July 12, 1865;
George Fleming; William H. French, vet-
eranized, mustered out July 12, 1865: Ja-
cob Heglem, veteranized, mustered out July
12, 1865 ; John F. Heglin, veteranized, mus-
tered out July 12, 1864; Henry Houghtail-
ing, mustered out September 12, 1864;
Adam Kuhler, veteranized, transferred to
Veteran Reserve Corps December 21, 1864;
Levi Lower, mustered out September 12,
1864; George Robbins; Peter Saur, veteran-
ized, mustered out as corporal July 12,
1865; Nels Yonson, veteranized, mustered
out as corporal July 12, 1865; Recruits
Nelson W. Manning, mustered out July
12, 1865; Samuel Scott, mustered out
July 12, 1865; George W. Wells, mus-
tered out July 12, 1865. A few men
from Marion, county were in the Thir-
ty-ninth Infantry, known as the Yates
Phalanx. They were: Quartermaster
Sergeant Stewart W. Hoffman, pro-
moted to quartermaster; Captain Adol-
phus B. Hoffman, term expired December
30, 1864; First Lieutenant William Lamb,
killed in battle April 2, 1865; Sergeants
7 6
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
William Abbott, disability, discharged Au-
gust 27, 1862; Barney Mulvaney, disability,
discharged July 27, 1862; Corporals George
Babbit, term expired, discharged October
ii, 1864; George Brown, disability, dis-
charged (no date) ; John Bras, veteranized,
mustered out as sergeant December 6,
1865; Christopher Comson, veteranized,
promoted to quartermaster sergeant ; P.
Dwight, veteranized, disability, discharged
as first sergeant June 7, 1865 ; John
Harrison, died of wounds at Point Look-
out (no date) ; Dennis Kane, died at Pitts-
burg, Pennsylvania, November i, 1861 ;
William H. Lamb, veteranized, promoted to
first sergeant ; Owen Loughram, veteran-
ized, promoted to sergeant, killed October
13, 1864; Ebenezer Morse, sergeant, mus-
tered out December 6, 1865; James Nelson,
term expired, discharged October n, 1864;
James Stout, veteranized; wounded, dis-
charged October 18, 1864, Albert Stanton,
veteranized, mustered out December 6,
1865.
The Fortieth Illinois Infantry was com-
manded by Stephen G. Hicks, a Salem law-
yer, who responded to the call of the Union
early in 1861. The regiment was accepted
July 25th and went into camp at Sandoval,
Illinois, August 5th; was mustered in Au-
gust 10, 1 86 1, seven hundred strong; was
ordered to Illinois Town (now East St.
Louis) by the Ohio and Mississippi
Railroad and crossed to Jefferson Barracks.
Here they were armed with the old rifled
muskets from the arsenal at Harper's Ferry
and sent to Paducah, Kentucky. It was bri-
gaded with the Ninth Illinois, Eighth Mis-
souri and Twenty-third Indiana and was
under the command of Colonel, after Gen-
eral, W. H. L. (Lew) Wallace. The
Fortieth was at Paducah, Ky., almost all
the time until after the taking of
Fortieth was at Paducah almost all
gaded with the Forty-eighth Indiana
and Forty-sixth Ohio, and the brigade
placed under the command of Colonel Hicks,
Lieut.-Col. Boothe commanding the regi-
ment; was ordered to Savanah, Tennessee,
March 6, 1862, and soon established a per-
manent camp at Pittsburg Landing; took
part in the terrible battle at that place on
April 6th. Nearly half of the regiment was
killed or disabled; Colonel Hicks was
wounded through the left lung and shoul-
der; Captain Hooper was killed. On the
2d of June the regiment went to Corinth;
on the 7th moved to Chaville, then to La-
grange; during the month of July scouted
and took Holly Springs; reached Memphis
on the 2 ist of July and went into camp at
Fort Pickering. Here Colonel Hicks was
discharged on account of his wounds with
honorable mention. He was afterward rein-
stated at his own request. At the end of
four months he was ordered to Holly
Springs, thence to Salem and Springhill,
Lagrange and Grand Junction ; Janu-
ary 9th relieved the garrison at Davis
Mills and spent the rest of the win-
ter there. Lieut.-Col. Boothe resigned
January I3th and Adjutant Ray on
January 26th. Major Barnhill succeeded
to the lieutenant colonelcv and returned to
BRIXKERHOFF S HISTORY OF .MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
77
the regiment from detached service January
15, 1864: took part in the battle of Mis-
sionary Ridge and went into winter quar-
ters at Scottsville, Alabama.
The regiment re-enlisted January i, 1864,
345 men strong. During the two years and
five months the regiment had been out there
were 261 deaths, seventeen discharged, six
transferred, missing in action and desertions,
seventeen. The regiment was with Sherman
on his March to the Sea. Took part in the
Grand Review at Washington and was mus-
tered out July 24, 1865. Colonel Hicks, at
the close of the war, returned to Salem,
where he died on December 14, 1869, never
having regained his health after being-
wounded, but suffered continually until his
release by death. He sleeps in East Lawn
cemetery at Salem, and the "Boys" he com-
manded are fast being called to sleep at his
side, and soon the last will be gone and only
the unfeeling type will tell their story. The
roll of Marion county men is: Stephen G.
Hicks, colonel, detached when regiment was
mustered out; James W. Boothe, lieutenant
colonel, resigned January 13, 1863; Surgeon
Samuel W. Thompson, resigned June 3,
1862; William M. Elliott, resigned Febru-
ary 22, 1864; Sergeants, Major Samuel J.
Winans, killed at Missionary Ridge, No-
vember 25, 1863; Samuel B. Stokely; Mu-
sicians John Chapman, discharged August
26 (term expired), 1864; Isaac Young,
killed at Griswoldville, Georgia, November
22, 1864. Company B: Captain William
T. Sprouse, resigned August 4, 1863; John
Perkins, mustered out July 24, 1865; First
Lieutenants, Joshua Goodwin, resigned May
31, 1863; Benjamin E. Baldwin, mustered
out July 24, 1865; Second Lieutenant Wil-
liam R. Lynch, mustered out as sergeant
July 24, 1865; First Sergeant Benjamin F.
Davidson; Sergeants Robert Perkins,
George W. Mitchell, Ellis Neal, disability,
discharged at Memphis; Corporals John T.
Lyons, given sick furlough November i,
1863, never returned; Henry H. Wolf, term
expired, discharged August 9, 1864; Wil-
liam Lynch, veteranized, promoted ; James
M. Keaton, veteranized, promoted sergeant,
sergeant-major; Thomas F. Rogers; James
J. Brown; Charles M. See, veteranized,
mustered out July 24, 1864; Privates John
Arnold, veteranized, discharged June 23,
1865 ; George Arnold, veteranized, died at
Marietta, Georgia, of wounds; Thomas S.
Anderson ; Lorenzo D. Almon, discharged,
term expired August 9, 1864; William Bar-
nett, veteranized, mustered out July 24,
1865; John A. Clayton; McCager Clayton;
William Craig, veteranized, mustered out
July 24, 1865 ; John W. Climer, veteran-
ized, mustered out as corporal July 24,
1865; Fred Dietz, discharged December n,
1861 ; Samuel Ellison; William F. Eagan,
veteranized, mustered out July 24, 1865 ;
Wesley French, transferred; Wilson Gard-
ner, veteranized, mustered out July 24,
1865; Naum W. Gibbs, disability, dis-
charged; John C. Gill, term expired, dis-
charged Aug. 9, 1864; Calvin Garner, vet-
eranized, mustered out July 24, 1865 ; Ellis
S. Gibson, transferred; William T. Hamil-
ton, transferred ; Henry D. King, disability,
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
discharged March 23, 1863; John R. Hicka-
son, veteranized, mustered out July 24,
1865 ; Bruce H. Hatton, veteranized, mus-
tered out July 24, 1865; Francis M. Haley;
John F. Jarrott; John L. Jones, veteran-
ized, mustered out July 24, 1865 ; Albert C.
Johnson; David Jones, veteranized, mus-
tered out July 24, 1865; George W. Love-
less; Silas" Lock, died September 16, 1861 ;
William C. Lock, disability, discharged No-
vember 2, 1863; Henry W. Lape; Robert
P. Manion, term expired, discharged Au-
gust 9, 1864; Richard Markle, veteranized,
mustered out July 24, 1865 ; James Mc-
Daniel, veteranized, mustered out July
24, 1865; Henry D. Mahon, veteranized,
mustered out July 24, 1865 ; Calvin A. Mor-
ris, veteranized, mustered out July 24,
1865; James A. Nebins, discharged Decem-
ber 3, 1 86 1 ; Robert G. Nance, promoted;
Solomon Osborne, term expired, discharged
August 9, 1864; John Perkins, veteranized,
promoted first lieutenant; Amos Parks, vet-
eranized, died in hospital of wounds; David
K. Prewett, veteranized, absent on sick list
from May 28, 1865 ; Joseph W. Powell, vet-
eranized ; Charles Pearson, mustered out
July 24, 1865; Jacob Parks; Riley Pies-
grove; George W. Rogers; Samuel Reed;
Amos Rees; Joseph H. Schafer, veteran-
ized, mustered out July 24, 1865;
Samuel B. Stokeley, veteranized, pro-
moted ; Conrad S. Whitman, died Sep-
tember 1 8. 1863; Rilew Walsh, term
expired, discharged August 9, 1864;
Clinton Wolf, term expired, discharged
August 9, 1864; Isaac Young, pro-
moted. Recruits: James J. Ball, term ex-
pired, discharged December 25, 1864; Miles
Chapman, died of wounds August 12, 1864;
John W. Doolin, mustered out July 24,
1865 ; Thomas Evans, mustered out July 24,
1865 ; Joseph J. Gardiner, mustered out July
24, 1865; Charles Gardiner, mustered out
July 24, 1865; Bodkin D. Henly, mustered
out July 24, 1865; Calvin Marvon, mus-
tered out July 24, 1865 ; Asahel O. Trum-
ble, mustered out July 24, 1865; Silas Wil-
liamson, mustered out July 24, 1865; Cul-
breth Webb, mustered out July 24, 1865.
In Company H were : Captains Samuel D.
Stewart, honorably discharged November i,
1862; Thomas G. Kelly, mustered out as
first lieutenant April 5, 1865; First Lieuten-
ant Henry Blessing, mustered out July 24,
1865 ; Second Lieutenant Luther Scott, mus-
tered out July 24, 1865; Corporals John A.
Parkson, term expired, discharged August
9, 1864; William R. Green, veteranized,
mustered out July 24, 1865; George H.
Straight, disability, discharged August 9,
1864; Thomas G. Martin, veteranized, mus-
tered out July 24, 1865; Musician Obediah
F. Evans, wounded; Privates John L.
Birge, veteranized, killed by accident while
on furlough ; Chancy Boughton ; Henry C.
Caseloth, term expired, discharged August
9, 1864; Amos Conklin; J. B. Caseloth,
veteranized, mustered out July -24, 1865;
William T. Evans; Edmond Fouche, vet-
eranized, killed at Griswoldville, Georgia,
November 22, 1864; John M. Green; Hugh
M. Parkinson, term expired, discharged Au-
gust 9, 1864; Harden C. Rines, veteranized,
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
79
transferred to Veteran Relief Corps; Milton
G. Rudd; Theodore Sexton, veteranized,
mustered out July 24, 1865 ; James J. Wat-
son, veteranized, mustered out July 24,
1865; Recruits: John G. Burrow; John
Ekleman, veteranized, deserted May 12,
1864; John Evert, veteranized, mustered
out July 24, 1865; William M. French, vet-
eranized; Silas S. Gibson, veteranized,
transferred; John Hamilton, veteranized;
Thomas G. Johnson; William C. Jarrott;
John McCabe deserted ; M. B. Phillips, vet-
eranized, died at Lookout Mountain Octo-
ber n, 1864; A. M. Smith; transferred
from One Hundred and Third Illinois
Volunteer Infantry and all mustered
out July 24, 1865; Thomas J. Cor-
der, Ora Chapin, Charles C. Mendenhall,
William A. Ralston, James C. Ralston,
John C. Whitaker. In Company I : Second
Lieutenant J. W. Blackburn, mustered out
July 24, 1865; Privates: William Beard,
veteranized, mustered out July 24, 1865 ;
Alfred Beard, disability, discharged Febru-
ary 1 6, 1863; W. T. Perry, veteranized,
deserted March 15, 1865; F. H. Perry, vet-
eranized, mustered out July 24, 1865; B.
C. Tate, term expired, discharged August
9, 1864; S. Shadden, term expired, dis-
charged August 9, 1864; Recruits: Elijah
Beard, veteranized, mustered out July 24,
1865; John W. Blackburn, veteranized, pro-
moted; James F. Pickett, disability, dis-
charged February 17, 1863; George Shock-
man, veteranized, mustered out July 24,
1865 ; Adolphus H. Tate, veteranized, mus-
tered aut July 24, 1865. In Company K:
Second Lieutenant George A. Miller, mus-
tered out July 24, 1865 ; Sergeant Felix G.
Ross ; Musician Benjamin Martin ; Privates :
P. Mannon, veteranized, killed at Kenesaw
Mountain June 27, 1864; Miles Allen, vet-
eranized, mustered out July 24, 1865 ;
Thomas Chapman, discharged January 13,
1862; John Chapman, promoted; Daniel W.
Chapman, term expired, discharged August
27, 1864; John W. Cain; W. L. Dillon, vet-
eranized, mustered out July 24, 1865;
Henry Fisher, disability, discharged Janu-
ary 27, 1864; Josiah Gibson, veteranized,
died of wounds August 14, 1864; William
R. Meeks, veteranized, disability, discharged
July 2, 1864; George A. Miller, promoted.
The following recruits were unassigned:
William H. Ashley, James Davis, Thomas
L. Knight, J. K. P. Stanford, Charles Scott,
Joseph H. Slook, James B. Wood.
One company of the Forty-eighth Infan-
try was made up almost entirely of Marion
county men. The regiment was organized
at Camp Butler, September, 1861, by Isham
N. Haynie, a Marion county man, and num-
bered nine hundred men; arrived at Cairo
November nth, and was soon at the front;
was in the following battles, twenty-four in
number, and several of them lasting two or
three days; Fort Henry, Fort Donelson,
three days ; Shiloh, two days : before Corinth
eight or ten days ; Black River ; Jackson, six
days; Missionary Ridge, two days: at the
siege of Knoxville several days; Resaca.
three days ; at Dallas four days ; New Hope
Church, six days; before Kenesaw Moun-
tain twenty-three days ; Sandtown, seven
8o
I5RINKKRI10FF S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY. ILLINOIS.
days ; Decatur, one day ; Atlanta, three days,
and at the siege of that place twenty-nine
days; Jonesboro, one day; Lovejoy, two
days; Fort McAllister, one day; at the siege
of Savanah and Duck River about twenty
days; South Edisto, one day; Columbia,
two days, and Bentonville, one day, and
every day of this number were more or less
exposed to the enemy's fire. The regiment
soon became seasoned, and proved their
fighting grit in every emergency. These
Marion county men were in Company F:
Surgeon William Hill, resigned April 27,
1862; Isaac Bundy, chaplain, resigned Au-
gust 24, 1864; Commissary Sergeant Wil-
liam A. Bookins, mustered out August 15,
1865; Hospital Steward Thomas Williams,
promoted to surgeon Sixth Tennessee
Cavalry, October 4, 1862; Captain Mil-
ton H. Lydick, resigned October 12,
1864; First Lieutenants: Alexander L.
Wellman, term expired ; John A. Barr, mus-
tered out August 15, 1865; Second Lieu-
tenants: John R. Daily, dismissed by court
martial October 16, 1862; Benjamin F.
Keeler, mustered out August 15, 1865; Ser-
geants: William Precise, died at Centralia,
Illinois, November 24, 1863; Robert F. Mc-
Neill, died at Centralia, Illinois, April 13,
1862; Richard Breeze, disability, discharged
May 8, 1862; Corporals: George Terry,
mustered out November 9, 1864; Archibald
B. Scott, disabilty, discharged May 6, 1862;
William Richardson, disability, discharged
June 23, 1864; Frederick F. Benson, vet-
teranized, wounded, discharged; William G.
\Vhite, died at Chattanooga July 28, 1864;
Nathaniel A. Winks, mustered out Novem-
ber 9, 1864; William A. Hervey, mustered
out November 9, 1864; Musicians: Allin G.
Ball, died at Centralia, Illinois, December
15, 1864; August Walters, mustered out
November 9, 1864; Privates: William
Adams, mustered out August 15, 1865; Na-
than Adams, disability, discharged January
31, 1862; Thomas J. Adams, died at Sa-
vannah, Tennessee, April n, 1862; T.
Burke, veteranized, .died at Indianapolis, In-
diana, January 24, 1864; Gideon Bolton,
disability, discharged February 21, 1862;
William A. Brookins, veteranized, pro-
moted sergeant; William Breeze, disa-
bility, discharged January n, 1862; John
F. Butler, veteranized, killed at Atlanta
July 28, 1864; George H. Chorgel, vet-
eranized, disability, discharged June 25,
1865; Peter Dougherty, mustered out No-
vember 9, 1864; Phillip Davidson, died at
Cairo, Illinois, December 14, 1861 ; William
Evans, discharged September 2, 1862;
James M. Fyke, died at Centralia, Illinois,
October 19, 1861 ; Richard C. Farthing,
veteranized, mustered out August 15, 1864;
Thomas R. Falkner, veteranized, mustered
out August 15, 1864; Conadus Gray, died at
Camp Butler, Illinois, November 25, 1861 ;
Jacob E. R. Garish, died at Camp Butler,
Illinois, December 16, 1861 ; John Henshil-
wood, veteranized, mustered out August 15,
1865; Henry L. Heart, veteranized, mus-
tered out August 15, 1865; Allen H. Hays,
disability, discharged February 21, 1862;
Henry Hothen, mustered out November 9,
1864; Benjamin F. Keeler, veteranized,
BRINKERHOFFS HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
81
mustered out August 15, 1865; John
\Y. Lonnon, veteranized, mustered out
August 15, 1865; John McBride, mustered
out November 9, 1864; Samuel B. McNeill,
discharged May 8, 1862; John C.
Meredith, veteranized, mustered out Au-
gust 15, 1865; Pembroke Mercer, pro-
moted; William E. Purcell, promoted;
Robert W. Prosise, deserted Decem-
ber 7, 1863; Thomas Phillips, disability, dis-
charged July 22, 1862; Mathew Pender-
grass, mustered out November 9, 1864;
Charles Ruff, mustered out October 5, 1864;
Dougald Rose, mustered out November 9,
1864; James Sloss, disability, discharged
September 26, 1862; James Shaw, mustered
out November 9, 1864; William Tate, dis-
charged May 8, 1862; Thomas Tucker, vet-
eranized, mustered out August 15, 1865;
Henry Vischman, deserted April 4, 1862;
George Williamson, veteranized, died at
Rome, Georgia, October 4, 1864; Wil-
liam H. Winks, died at Savannah,
Tennessee, March 31, 1862; Preston
Willey, disability, discharged October
14, 1862; Recruits: Nathan A. Adams,
mustered out August 15, 1865 ; Willis Alex-
ander, mustered out August 15, 1865; Wil-
liam H. Burge, mustered out August 15,
1865 ; Christ M. Chrise, killed at Jonesboro,
Georgia, September i, 1864; William D.
Farthing, mustered out August 15, 1865;
Adolphus Grote, mustered out August 15,
1865 : Frederick Grote, mustered out Au-
gust 15, 1865; James Huckleberry, died at
Rome, Georgia, October 11, 1864; Charles
Kirkpatrick, discharged May 18, 1862;
6
Nicholas Lewer, mustered out August 15,
1865; James W. L. Monds, veteranized;
John Rimmer, mustered out August 15,
1865; John Reno, died at Camp Butler,
April 12, 1864; Samuel Shook, wounded,
discharged May 17, 1865; John C. Sands,
mustered out August 15, 1865; William H.
Sabin, mustered out August 15, 1865;
George Seibel, mustered out August 15,
1865; William Schroeder, died at Scotts-
boro, Alabama, April 2, 1864; Thomas Tay-
lor, mustered out August 15, 1865; Preston
Willey, mustered out August 15, 1865;
Peter E. Warren, mustered out August 15,
1865 ; James K. Warren, died before At-
lanta, Georgia, August 12, 1864; John B.
Welch, deserted June 22, 1865; Daniel
J. Wilson, mustered out August 15, 1865;
John Crutchfield was in Company K and
mustered out June 27, 1865.
The Forty-ninth had men in seven of its
companies from Marion county. The regi-
ment was organized at Camp Butler by
Colonel William R. Morrison December 31,
1 86 1 ; was ordered to Cairo in February,
1 862; was in McClernand's Division at the
capture of Fort Henry; lost fourteen men
killed and thirty-seven wounded at Fort
Donelson on February I3th. Colonel Mor-
rison, who was in command of the brigade,
was severely wounded; was present at Shi-
loh, losing seventeen killed and ninety-nine
wounded. Lieutenant-Colonel Pease, after-
ward colonel, was wounded at this battle;
was at the siege of Corinth; was moved to
Bethel, June i4th, and placed in John A.
Logan's First Division; was afterward
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
placed in the Fourth Brigade, First Division,
Sixteenth Army Corps, under Maj.-Gen.
S. A. Hurlbut; was in General Steele's
expedition to Little Rock, joining the army
at Brownsville, Arkansas ; was at the capture
of Little Rock, November 10, 1863. Three-
fourths of the regiment veteranized January
15, 1864, and on January 2/th moved to
Vicksburg; was with General Sherman in
the Meridian campaign; was sent on the
Red River expedition and took part in the
capture of Fort DeRussey, March I4th, and
the battle of Pleasant Hill, April 9th. Re-
turned to Illinois June 24th, for veteran fur-
lough. Those not veteranized remained in
the field commanded by Cap. J. A. Lo-
gan, and took part in the battle of Tupelo,
July 14 and 15, 1864. The veterans re-
joined the regiment at Holly Springs; were
in the pursuit of Price through Missouri ;
Arrived at Nashville, Tennessee, in time to
take part in the battle at that place on De-
cember 1 5th and i6th; was ordered to Pa-
ducah to muster out non-veterans, and did
garrison duty until mustered out Septem-
ber 9, 1865. The muster roll contains the
names of the following Marion county men :
Phineas Pease, colonel, term expired Janu-
ary 9, 1865; Frank J. Burrows, adjutant,
was on detached service when regiment was
mustered out; Surgeon Stephen F. Mercer,
mustered out September 9, 1865; First As-
sistant Surgeon James A. Black, mustered
out September 9, 1865; Commissary Ser-
geant William Branson, reduced to ranks;
William E. Farrow, veteranized, second as-
sistant surgeon, mustered out January 9,
1865; Corporals: Fred Sternberg, mustered
out January 9, 1865; Zeh. John, mustered
out January 9. 1865; Recruits: Alexander
Ross, deserted December 6, 1864; William
Stork, mustered out September 9, 1865;
John W. Brokaw, killed at Fort Donelson
February 13, 1862; Emery B. Harlin, pro-
moted to assistant adjutant general on staff
of General Palmer; Sergeants: Thomas O.
Hess, discharged August 26, 1863 ; Albert
Marsh, transferred to gunboat February 21,
1862; Oscar W. Brokaw, veteranized; Cor-
porals : John Wilson, died at Cincinnati of
wounds March 14, 1862; Charles O'Neill,
disability, discharged June i, 1862; Wil-
liam S. McKinney, died of wounds August
n, 1862; Mathew R. Kell, died a prisoner
in Andersonville March 7, 1865; grave No.
18; Musicians: Ephraim Williams, died a
prisoner at Andersonville July 13, 1865,
grave No. 3254 ; Marion Richardson,
veteranized, mustered out September 9,
1865; Wagoner Timothy Baldwin, killed
at Shiloh April 6, 1862; Privates:
James Bradshaw, transferred to gun-
boat, February 21, 1862; Isaac Y.
Barten, veteranized, mustered out September
9, 1865 ; John G. Burggraf, veteranized,
mustered out September 9, 1865; Edward
Cuming, transferred to gunboat February
26, 1865; William Clemens, veteran-
ized, mustered out September 9, 1865;
Fred B. Eavin, mustered out Janu-
ary 9, 1865; William E. Farrow, pro-
moted; Reuben A. Grunendike, trans-
ferred to Veteran Relief Corps November
29, 1864; William Holmes, disability, dis-
BRINKERHOFF S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
charged November 28, 1862; Henry A.
Higgins, disability, discharged February 10,
1863 ; Carlin L. Mitchell, died at Camp But-
ler January 16, 1862; William Peters, mus-
tered out January 27, 1865 ; Thomas M.
Smith, disability, discharged July 22, 1862;
Wesley Simmonds, disability, discharged
September 27, 1863; Eben Taylor, dis-
ability, discharged September 28, 1862;
Jonathan J. Thomas, died at St. Louis May
16, 1862; Ira C. Wiggins, deserted April 14,
1863; Recruits: Samuel D. Alexander,
mustered out September 9, 1865; James W.
Alexander, died at Memphis, July 10, 1864;
James M. Butler, died at St. Louis Novem-
ber 29, 1864; Henry Elefritz, mustered out
September 9, 1865; James Ellis, mustered
out September 9, 1865; James Finley, died
at Salem September 3, 1864; John M.
Hewet, mustered out September 9, 1865;
Andrew Langdall, mustered out September
9, 1865; James H. McBride, mustered out
September 9, 1865; Charles P. Oyler, dis-
charged to be captain in One Hundred and
Twenty-fourth Colored Regiment. United
States Regulars ; James Pullen, mustered out
September 9, 1865 ; Edward Washburn, died
at home October 8, 1865; Charles J. Wei-
don, disability, discharged September 13,
1863; James Winks, mustered out Septem-
ber 9, 1865; Vincent P. Williamson, mus-
tered out September 9, 1865; Clement M.
Williams, wounded, mustered out Septem-
ber 9, 1865. Company F, recruits : George
W. Crabtree, mustered out September 9,
1865; Thomas C. Drake, died at Memphis
March 29, 1865 ; John C. Holt, mustered out
September 9, 1865 ; Arthur C. Leonard, died
January 9, 1863 ; Samuel Meyers, mustered
out September 9, 1865 ; John W. Shelton,
mustered out September 9, 1865; William
V. Shelton, mustered out September 9,
1865; Jesse West, mustered out September
9, 1865 ; Andrew Wadkins, died at Memphis
July 2, 1864. In Company G, Jonathan
Mills, mustered out September 9, 1 865 ; Re-
cruits : George W. Smith, died at Paducah,
Kentucky, April 24, 1865. In Company H,
recruits: Jacob Branch, mustered out Sep-
tember 9, 1865; Julius Jahr, mustered out
September 9, 1865 ; George Krebs, died at
Paducah, Kentucky, June 27, 1865; John
Margolf, mustered out September 9, 1865;
Daniel Morganstarr, mustered out Septem-
ber 9, 1865. In Company I, recruits: Ja-
ques Chancy, died at Memphis May 6, 1864;
James O'Donnell, mustered out July 18,
1865 ; Hiram M. Miller, mustered out Sep-
tember 9, 1865. In Company K, privates:
Jesse Hughes, veteranized, mustered out
September 9, 1865 ; Garrick McCart, died at
Camp Butler February 13, 1862; recruits:
Clark Anderson, mustered out July i , 1 865 ;
Burrell J. Blanton, mustered out September
9, 1865; Jerome Brookmann. died at Pa-
ducah, Kentucky, April 8, 1865; Henry H.
Coil, mustered out September 9, 1865 ; Ed-
mund N. Creekmur, mustered out Septem-
ber 9, 1865 ; Elzy D. Davenport, mustered
out September 9, 1865; James P. Estes,
mustered out September 9, 1865 ; William E.
Ellis, mustered out September 9, 1865 ; Eli
L. Foster, mustered out September 9, 1865;
James Garrison, mustered out September 9,
BRINKERHOFF S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
1865; Stephen Gossett, mustered out Sep-
tember 9, 1865; Albert Green, died at Pa-
ducah, Kentucky, March 20, 1865; Gillam
Harris, mustered out September 9, 1865 ;
William T. Keen, died at Memphis June 17,
1864; Elvis Keen, deserted September 4,
1863; Marshall McLain, deserted Septem-
ber 4, 1863; Alfred H. Meador, mustered
out September 9, 1865; Daniel W. Morris,
mustered out September 9, 1865 ; Larry L.
Nichols, mustered out September 9, 1865 ;
Benjamin B. Nichols, mustered out Sep-
tember 9, 1865; Rufus Place, mus-
tered out September 9, 1865; William
J. Phillips, mustered out September
9, 1865; Charles E. Short, mustered
out September 9, 1865; Benjamin F.
Scott, mustered out September 9, 1865;
Bartholomew Wood, mustered out Septem-
ber 9, 1865; William J. Wiggins, mustered
out September 9, 1865 ; Lafayette Wiggin-
ton, mustered out September 9, 1865 ; Isaac
W. Waters, mustered out September 9,
1865; James Widger, mustered out Septem-
ber 9, 1 865 ; unassigned recruits with the
regiment: German O. Ball, rejected; John
Conners; Frederick Just, deserted February
28, 1864; James Pearse.
Company A of the Fifty-first Regiment
enlisted in Marion county. The regiment
was organized at Chicago, Illinois, the day
before Christmas, 1861, and on the I4th of
February was ordered to Cairo, and from
there went to Missouri; was at Island No.
10, April 7th, and pursued the enemy the
next day, thus forcing the surrender of four
thousand prisoners with their commander,
General Mackall ; was in the battle of Stone
River on the 3ist day of December, 1862,
and suffered severely, losing in killed,
wounded and missing, fifty-seven men ;
lost ninety men out of two hundred and
nine at the battle of Chickamauga, Septem-
ber 19, 1863; was at Missionary Ridge,
November 24th, and lost one-fifth of the
men engaged, or thirty out of one hundred
and fifty ; was mustered in as veterans Feb-
ruary 10, 1864; was in a skirmish at Rocky-
face Ridge May gth, and at the battle of
Resaca on the i4th, losing twenty-three men
in the two fights. One officer and twenty-
three men were lost in almost continual
skirmishing up to July 1st; lost two offi-
cers and fifty-four men killed and wounded
at Kenesaw Mountain between July ist and
November 30, 1864. The regiment was
active in skirmishing with the enemy, losing
in killed and wounded ten men. At Chatta-
nooga the regiment received one hundred
and ninety-two drafted men. On Novem-
ber 30, 1864, in the fight at Franklin, it lost
fifty-three killed and wounded, and ninety-
eight missing; lost one killed and five
wounded at Nashville, December I5th and
1 6th. The regiment was in no more battles
but was marching and doing garrison duty
until mustered out, September 25, 1865,
and was paid off and discharged at Camp
Butler, Illinois, October 15, 1865. Com-
pany A: Corporal H. York, veteran-
ized, absent, sick, mustered out Sep-
tember 25, 1865; Privates: John H. Long,
Richard Bates, Richard Baursfield, William
Cornwall, veteranized, mustered out Sep-
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
tember 25, 1865; William Douglas, vet-
eranized, mustered out September 25, 1865;
Daniel Gulley, veteranized, mustered out
September 25, 1865; Charles Miller,
killed at Franklin, Tennessee, November 30,
1864; George Reappel ; Frank Reitter;
Samuel Wickersham, disability, discharged
April -6, 1862; Thomas Wickersham; T.
York, veteranized, killed at Franklin, Ten-
nessee, November 30, 1864; recruits: John
Briley, discharged November 27, 1861 ; T.
Green, transferred to Thirteenth Illinois
Cavalry, November 24, 1861 ; Moses Oak-
ley, transferred to Thirteenth Illinois Cav-
alry November 24, 1861 ; Peter Walven,
mustered out September 25, 1865. Two
men, either drafted or substitutes, were
unassigned in the Fifty-third Regiment,
Company K, Daniel Brown and George
Rush, both mustered out May 8, 1865;
and Michael Craw, a veteran, was a
private in the Fifty-fourth Regiment,
Company E. A few men were in the
Sixtieth Regiment. They were: Shad-
rack Kelley, Company D, disability, dis-
charged February 23, 1865; James L. Kel-
ley died July 28, 1864, member of the same
company. Three were in Company E:
Lawrence Burke, killed at Atlanta, Georgia,
August 6, 1864; Richard Hangle, missing in
action March 19, 1865; Levi Reese, died at
Chattanooga May 27, 1864. Two were in
Company F, both veterans and both mus-
tered out July 31, 1865. They were: James
George and James Willard. Five were in
Company G, all recruits ; John H. Gains was
discharged for disability November 3, 1862.
The other four were all mustered out July
31, 1865, and were: Davis Fitzgerald, Mah-
lon C. Parker, Elijah Rector, and Jesse Ran-
kin. In Company I was George W. Smith,
veteran, who died at Wilmington, North
Carolina, March 25, 1865; and two recruits,
William Bolen and William H. Graham,
both of whom were mustered out July 31,
1865. Six men were in Company F: Henry
Ginnett, who was discharged (because he
was under size) September 26, 1862; Daniel
Hitour, William Phipps, George White,
mustered out July 31, 1865; Henry Walton,
transferred to engineer battalion, veteran-
ized July 29, 1864; Martin R. Wood, pro-
moted to captain in Fifth Tennessee
Mounted Infantry, January 31, 1865; John
Ungles, recruit, mustered out July 31, 1865.
Six men from Marion county were in the
Sixty-first regiment. In Company H were:
Robert M. Followell, veteranized, mustered
out September 8, 1864, and Edward Galla-
gher, who deserted August 18, 1862. In
Company K were James Craig, mustered out
September 8, 1864; Charles Avery (no rec-
ord), and Alfred M. Summers one recruit,
David L. Canfield, unassigned, mustered out
May n, 1865. The Sixty-second Regi-
ment had men in Companies E, F and G.
The regiment was organized at Anna, April
10, 1862, and reported at Cairo on the 22d,
at Paducah May 7th, and at Columbus
June 7th; moved into Tennessee with Ditz-
ler's Brigade, guarding the Mobile and
Ohio Railroad, with headquarters at
Kenton; were sent to Jackson, thence to
Grand Junction and Holly Springs ; skir-
86
BRINKERHOFF S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
mished more or less daily to the 2Oth; fol-
lowed Forest twenty miles that day and re-
turned to Jackson next day, December 2Oth.
Van Dorn captured one hundred and seventy
men of this regiment and paroled them at
Holly Springs. The regiment was placed
in Lawler's Brigade and pursued Forest
from December 3ith to February 3d, when
they overtook him too well posted at Clif-
ton to attack; returned to Jackson; were
transferred to Arkansas, and by a successful
skirmish September 10, 1863, forced the
enemy to retire, evacuating Little Rock ;
were sent to Illinois on veteran furlough,
and returned to the field November 25,
1864. Those who did not veteranize were
discharged at end of term. The regiment
was then consolidated into seven companies
and were stationed at Pine Bluff until July
28, 1865, then sent to Fort Gibson, in Indian
Territory, where it remained serving on the
frontier until mustered out at Little Rock,
Arkansas, March 6, 1866. This regiment,
although active all the term of its service,
took part in no great battle of the war. The
Marion county men were : First Lieutenant
L. L. Humphries, promoted to captain, mus-
tered out March 6, 1864; Sergeants: Jones
5. Hoover, discharged April 29, 1863;
Adolphus Mertins, promoted ; Corporals :
William Moore, mustered out March 6,
1866; Gersham Perkins, died July 4, 1862;
James M. Randall, veteranized, mustered
out March 6, 1866; Privates: Thomas All-
mon, discharged March 7, 1864; William
H. Dobbs, veteranized, mustered out March
6, 1866; Dudley Halsey, mustered out
March 6, 1866; James Kinder, mustered
out March 6, 1866; J. Kitts, veteranized,
died at Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Aug. 18,
1864; Charles Miller, discharged December
3, 1863; Alexander Massy, veteranized,
mustered out March 6, 1866; A. J. Thomas,
veteranized, promoted; J. H. Tucker, died
at Pine Bluff, Arkansas, August 30, 1864;
Silas M. Wallace, mustered out March 6,
1866; R. G. Wilburn, mustered out March
6, 1866; J. M. Smith, veteranized, mustered
out March 6, 1866; Recruits Errol Allmon,
died at Little Rock, April 19, 1864; John
Garren, mustered out March 6, 1866; Eli
Garren, mustered out March 6, 1866; Wil-
liam Garren, mustered out March 6, 1866;
Charles Griffith, mustered out March 6,
1866; William Kinder, mustered out March
6, 1866; Oliver Leclair, mustered out March
6, 1866; William Marsland, mustered out
March 6, 1866; James McKinney, mustered
out March 6, 1866; John L. Sanders, dis-
ability, discharged January 31, 1866; John
W. Sanders, mustered out March 6, 1866;
Francis M. Turbiville, mustered out March
6, 1866; Philip Wolf, died at Pine Bluff, Ar-
kansas, March 5, 1865. The above were all
in Company E, and the following in Com-
pany F : Robert S.Bundy, Columbus J. Cray-
croft; David Hobbson, who died at Pine
Bluff, Arkansas, July 18, 1864; Company
G, Capt. Jas. L. Garetson, resigned April 20,
1864; Sergeant James H. Lerry, reduced,
sent to St. Louis Military Prison; Privates
Edward W. Booth, disability, discharged
September 8, 1862 ; John Rice died at Pine
Bluff, Arkansas, September 15, 1864.
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
The Eightieth Regiment Illinois Volun-
teers was organized at Centralia, Illinois,
and mustered in August 25, 1862, and im-
mediately went to the front. It partici-
pated in the battle of Perryville, Octo-
ber 8. 1862, losing fourteen killed and
fifty-eight wounded; March 20, 1863,
in a brigade fifteen hundred strong,
with two guns, while on a scouting expedi-
tion, was attacked by the celebrated John
Morgan, five thousand strong, but repulsed
them. They were attacked at Dug's Gap,
and at Sand Mountain, but in both engage-
ments repulsed the enemy, at the latter
place capturing two guns, with a loss of
only two killed and sixteen wounded from
the Eightieth ; at Blunt's Farm again re-
pulsed the enemy, .but on May 3, 1863, the
regiment surrendered to General Forest,
who with a vastly superior force cut them
off. The personal effects of officers and men
were taken from them, including blankets,
money, watches, etc. The officers were sent
to Libby Prison, the men to Richmond, Vir-
ginia, where they were exchanged June 23,
1863, and sent to St. Louis; from St.
Louis they were sent to Nashville, Ten-
nessee, and on November 24th and 25th,
took part in the battle of Mission-
ary Ridge. The regiment went through the .
Atlanta campaign and participated in most
of the fighting. They lost twenty-five men
killed, and sixty wounded, and captured
one hundred and fifty prisoners during the
campaign; were engaged in the battle of
Nashville, December 15 and 16, and took
three guns and one hundred prisoners. Only
four of the officers captured by Forest ever
returned to the regiment. The regiment
was mustered out June 10, 1865. The mus-
ter roll had on it the names of the follow-
ing Marion county men : Colonel Erastus
N. Bates, mustered out June 10, 1865 ; Major
James Cunningham, mustered out June
10, 1865; Quarter-master Sergeant H.
C. Gray, mustered out June 10, 1865;
Musician Milo Wager, mustered out
June 10, 1865; Privates, Company A.
Samuel B. Keeler, died at Chattanoo-
ga of wounds, July 8, 1864; Casey
Redburn, died at Mumfordsville, Ken-
tucky, November 22, 1862;. Company
C, Captain Henry Zeis, promoted ; Wagoner
Andreas Burgclorf, captured by enemy Jan-
uary 21, 1864, and mustered out June 10,
1865 ; Privates, James Bailey transferred to
Veteran Relief Corps, September i, trans-
ferred back; Henry Booth, mustered
out June 10, 1865; Mathias Bostwick, de-
serted June 9, 1863; Jan. B. Pulcher,
wounded, mustered out June 10, 1865;
David Eggberry, mustered out June 10,
1865; William Evans, mustered out June
10, 1865; James Franks, mustered out June
10, 1865 ; Louis Hirschberger, transferred
to Veteran Relief Corps, May i, 1864; J onn
Horn, killed at Dug's Gap, April 30, 1863;
John Isherwood, deserted June 9, 1863;
Joseph Jones, deserted June 9, 1863 ;
Joseph Gollatching, deserted September 4,
1862; Fred Muehlheims, disability, dis-
charged October 14, 1863; Frantz Osburg,
disability, discharged August 21, 1863;
William Rothemeier, disability, discharged
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
March 29, 1865; Thomas Schaefer, Cor-
poral, deserted June 9, 1863; Carsten
Schmidt, died at Mumfordsville, Kentucky,
November 26, 1862; Ferdinand Volk, de-
serted October 3, 1862; Company F, Ser-
geant, Robert Christy, disability, discharged
May 17, 1864; Corporal John W. Michaels,
mustered out June 10, 1865 ; Privates Israel
Ballinger, died November 15, 1862; Mat-
thew Cox, disability, discharged November
14, 1863; Daniel H. Moyer, mustered out
June 10, 1865; Charles McVey, disability,
discharged February 16, 1865; Robert
Pugh, deserted October 8, 1862; William
R. Shelton, mustered out June 10, 1865;
Company H, First Lieutenant James A. Mc-
Farland, mustered out June 10, 1865; Ser-
geant Thomas A. Patton, transferred to
Veteran Relief Corps, May 2, 1864; Corpor-
als James L. Patton, mustered out June 10,
1865 ; James C. Boggs, died April 18, 1863 ;
Musician William McFarland ; Privates Asa
J. Buffington, disability, discharged March
27, 1863; Thomas P. Davis, mustered out
June 10, 1865; El wood Sanders, died Janu-
ary 31, 1863; Lemon Fouts, died May 10,
1865; Josiah Harris, disability, discharged
February 27, 1863; John T. Kell, disability,
discharged April 17, 1864; John W.
McPherson, disability, discharged July
22, 1863; Joseph Patton, mustered
out June 10, 1865; Albert Richard-
son, died November 18, 1862; Hen-
ry Sanders, disability, discharged No-
vember 7, 1862; W. H. H. Smith, died
April 19, 1863 ; Isaac Smith, disability, dis-
charged February 5, 1863; Edmon H.
Short, mustered out June 10, 1865 ; Com-
pany I, Corporal David Forbes, disability,
discharged February 8, 1863; Privates John
W. Adkins, deserted October i, 1862; Lem-
uel A. Adkins, deserted October i, 1862;
George W. Bridenbecker, disability, dis-
charged March i, 1864; Richard Briden-
becker, disability, discharged January 12,
1863; Henry C. Gray, promoted Quarter
Master Sergeant ; Charles Hubbard, de-
serted November 13, 1862; John Lee, dis-
ability, discharged January 12, 1863; John
Logan, died at Chattanooga April 20, 1865 ;
Joseph Shook, transferred Veteran Relief
Corps, March i, 1863; Peter Shell, mus-
tered out June 10, 1865.
A few men also in the Eighty-eighth
Regiment were from Marion county. Com-
panies B, C and H, each had a few men
from Marion county. The regiment was
organized in Chicago and mustered in Sep-
tember 4, 1862. Its first battle was Perry-
ville, October 8, 1862, was at Stone River
to 25th of November, at Missionary Ridge,
in the Atlanta Campaign of 1864, during
which time he took part in two bat-
tles, Rocky Fall Ridge and Resaca
December 31 to January 3, 1863 ; September
19 and 20, 1863, at Chickamauga; 23d
Adairsville, New Hope Church, Pine Moun-
tain, Mud Creek, Kenesaw Mountain, Smyr-
na Camp Ground, Atlanta, Jonesboro,
Lovejoy Station, also Franklin and Nash-
ville; mustered out June 9, 1865. Company
B, Corporal Owen Brown, died at Nash-
ville, Tennessee, February 2, 1863 ; Privates
Justin Colbum, mustered out June 9, 1865;
JRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
John B. King, mustered out June 9, 1865;
Horace B. Kunne, disability, discharged
April 29, 1863; Frank P. Roe, mustered out
June 9, 1865 ; Company C, Privates Thomas
Carigan, disability, discharged January 29,
1863; Andrew Lander, disability, dis-
charged September 4, 1863; Charles Reib-
ner, deserted July i, 1863; Company H,
Sergeant Charles W. Graham, reduced, de-
serted February 3, 1863; Corporal Webster
Braman, mustered out June 9, 1865; Pri-
vates Albert Arrowsmith, wounded, dis-
charged March 10, 1865; Newell Burr,
transferred to engineer corps July 27, 1864;
Lewellyn Cunningham, wounded and taken
prisoner at Stone River, died at Annapolis,
Maryland, February i, 1863; James M.
Elrod, mustered out June 9, 1865; Samuel
McCoy, captured at Chickamauga; David
Partlow, mustered out June 9, 1865 ; Sam-
uel Robertson, wounded at Danville, Vir-
ginia, died January 5, 1864, while a prisoner
of war; Jackson Prout, mustered out June
9, 1863.
In the Ninety-eighth Infantry, six Marion
county men were enrolled, as follows : Com-
pany C, Recruit James Kent, transferred;
Company F, Recruit Thomas W. Lanbert,
transferred; Company H, Private J. A. C.
Reid, killed at Chickamauga, September 20,
1863; Company K, Recruits Levi L. Ren-
frew, discharged May 29, 1865; George W.
Renfrew, transferred; George \\ T . Melrose,
unasisgned.
Corporal Chris C. Estes was in the One
Hundred and Tenth Infantry, mustered out
June 8, 1865.
The One Hundred and Eleventh Regi-
ment was composed mostly of Marion
county men, and was mustered into the
service of the United States at Salem, Illi-
nois, September 18, 1862. At the time
of muster the regiment was eight hun-
dred and eighty-six strong, officers and
men. The regiment went into camp in the
fair grounds, called Camp Marshall, and
remained there until October 31, 1862,
when it numbered nine hundred and
thirty, officers and men; marched to
Tonti, on the Illinois Central Railroad, and
took train to Cairo, Illinois; reported to Gen-
eral Tuttle, and was ordered to Columbus,
Kentucky, next day; reported to the Post
Commandant, General Davis, and went into
camp. The winter of 1862 and '63 was
passed here, and learned the art of forag-
ing at the suggestion of their colonel, James
S. Martin. On January 12, 1863, Colonel
Martin was made post commander, and
Lieu. Col. Black commanded the regiment.
While at this post the measles broke out in
the regiment, and thirty-eight men died
from that disease. It was moved to Fort
Herman, Tennessee, arriving there March
13. May 28, Major Mabry commanding
the regiment (Colonel Black being on duty
at Columbus), was ordered to report with
the regiment to Colonel Martin, who was
then in command of the post at Paducah,
arriving at Paducah May 29th, they went
into camp and remained until October 31,
1863, when Colonel Martin was relieved of
the command of the post by General Sher-
man, and ordered to report with the
BRINKERHOFFS HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
regiment to him at Florence, Alabama.
While in camp at Paducah, sixteen
men died from disease. The regiment got
to Gravel Springs, where they were ordered
to go into camp instead of proceeding to
Florence. During this march two men
were wounded and four missing in skir-
mishes with the enemy. On November 7,
1 863, the One Hundred and Eleventh was as-
signed to the Second Brigade, Second Divi-
sion, Sixteenth Army Corps, and immedi-
ately set out for Chattanooga ; went into
camp at Pulaski, Tennessee, November
1 2th, and remained there until February 25,
1864, when it was ordered to Decatur Junc-
tion, Alabama; arrived opposite the town
and found a strong force of the enemy in
possession; on May 7th, moved up the
river to the mouth of Limestone creek, six
miles. The enemy evacuated Decatur, and
the regiment took possession. Captain
Clark, who had been absent on detached
duty, rejoined his command March Qth, and
was killed the same day by the accidental
discharge of a pistol. The regiment was
ordered on March i6th to report to General
Logan at Huntsville, Alabama, and on
March i8th arrived and went into camp;
moved to Larkinsville, Alabama, March
1 9th, and was placed in the First Brigade,
under Gen. Giles A. Smith. Second Division
Gen. M. L. Smith, and Fifteenth Army
Corps, Gen. John A. Logan commanding.
The regiment remained at Larkinsville until
May I, 1864, when it started on the At-
lanta campaign, and lost seven men killed
and eight wounded in skirmishes on
May loth, I2th and 13th. On the I4th
the One Hundred and Eleventh charged
the enemy at Camp Creek; the charge was
a hazardous one and the situation of
the regiment seemed so desperate
that General Logan expressed great concern
for its safety, but the enemy was driven
from their position and the works were
held until reinforcements arrived. The
commanding general highly commended
the regiment for its action during the
engagement. Until May 25th, were maneu-
vering against the .enemy under General
Johnston, who had begun falling back; on
the 25th, 26th and 27th were in stubborn
skirmishes, losing five killed and fifteen
wounded. Among the latter was Lieut.
Col. Black. On June ist they withdrew to
Dallas; skirmished June loth at Big Shanty,
and 24th near Kenesaw Mountain June
27th. In this charge Captain Andrews was
killed, Captain Walker was severely
wounded. The other losses were six-
teen wounded and one missing. They moved
by easy marches toward Atlanta, when on^
July nth, they were within nine miles of
that place engaged in cutting the railroad
and destroying the enemy's source of sup-
plies. On July 2Oth the One Hundred and
Elevetnh led in the advance against Atlanta,
being under fire all day. Colonel Martin
was placed in command of the brigade, and
Major Mabry in command of the regi-
ment. In the battle on the 22d, against
Atlanta, the loss of the regiment was
eighteen killed and forty wounded,
eighty-five men were also missing. Among
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
the killed were Captain McGuire, Lieutenant
Larimer, and Lieutenant Shull. Major
Mabry was wounded, and Captains Foster
and Gray and Lieutenants Davis and
Young were among the captured. The
regiment was now under the command of
Captain Jolliff, and on the 28th of July,
1864, engaged the enemy with a loss of ten
wounded, one missing. From the 8th of
September to the 4th of October the One
Hundred and Eleventh remanied in camp at
East Point. From the 4th of October to
the 29th were in pursuit of General Hood,
and camped November 5th on line of Chat-
tanooga & Atlanta Railroad, and remained
there until November I3th, and on the I5th
started with Sherman to the sea; was in
the assault on Fort McAllister, and the
colors of the One Hundred and Eleventh
were the first planted on the works. Two
were killed, one of whom was Lieut. G. W.
Smith, and fourteen wounded, among
whom were Lieutenant Lewis (mortally)
and Captain Foster (severely). Went
Jhrough the campaign in the Carolinas with
the loss of one man, thence to Washington,
where they participated in the Grand Re-
view. The regiment was in seven battles
and nine skirmishes, losing forty-two men
killed, one hundred and forty-eight
wounded, eighty-seven missing and one hun-
dred and ninety-one died of disease. James
S. Martin, colonel, brevet brigadier general,
mustered out June 7, 1865 ; Joseph F. Black,
lieutenant-colonel, mustered out June 7,
1865 ! William C. Stiles, adjutant, mustered
out June 7, 1865; quartermasters : Benja-
min F. Marshall, resigned April 27, 1864;
Henry Simpson, mustered out June 7, 1865 ;
First Assistant Surgeon J. K. Rainey, mus-
tered out June 7, 1865; Second Assistant
Surgeon Thomas S. Hawley, resigned June
24, 1863; Chaplain James B. Woolard, re-
signed April 14, 1865; Sergeant Major
Richard Atkin, promoted first lieutenant,
Second Alabama; quartermaster sergeants:
Peter A. Simmons, promoted to first lieuten-
ant, United States Colored Troops; H. M.
Cantine, reduced to ranks; Charles A. Neff,
mustered out June 7, 1865; hospital stew-
ards: \Villiam E. Middleton, disability,
discharged August 27, 1863; Thomas M.
Kelly, mustered out June 7, 1865; musi-
cians : Harris P. \Veir, sick, absent at mus-
ter out; Abraham Earnhart, mustered out
June 7, 1865. Company A, captains:
Amos A. Clark, killed March 9, 1864; Jacob
V. Andrews, killed in action June 27, 1864;
Robert Martin, mustered out June 6, 1865;
first lieutenants : John K. Morton, died Oc-
tober 3, 1862; Ezekiel Williams, mustered
out June 6, 1865; Second Lieutenant Wil-
liam Woods, mustered out June 6, 1865;
sergeants : Thomas Ray, mustered out
June 6, 1865; John T. Oden, mustered out
June 6, 1865; A. C. Smith, mustered out
June 22, 1865; W. H. H. Adams, promoted
to first lieutenant, United States Colored
Heavy Artillery to date from June 8, 1863 ;
corporals: Isaac Washburn, mustered out
June 6, 1865; Allen Straight, mustered out
July i, 1865, was captured; William Rush,
killed at Atlanta, Georgia, July 22, 1864;
C. R. Newman, died in prison, a prisoner of
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
war; John W. Ray, mustered out May 24,
1865; William Walker, mustered out June
6, 1865; Edwin F. Loomis, mustered out
June 6, 1865; H. H. Davenport, mustered
out June 6, 1865 ; musicians: Hugh Moore,
mustered out June 6, 1865 ; John W. Coll,
died at Mound City, Illinois, January 25,
1863; privates: E. R. Allen, disability, dis-
charged March 23, 1865; M. G. Boils, mus-
tered out June 6, 1865; J. Bundy, died at
Fort Heirman, Kentucky, April 22, 1863 ;
William Burgess, mustered out June 15,
1865; Patrick Ball, died of wounds at Pa-
ducah, Kentucky, July 5, 1865 ; Abraham
Concklin, mustered out January 13, 1865;
J. E. Cooper, mustered out June 6, 1865 ;
M. H. Carr, mustered out June 6, 1865;
Henry Clay, transferred; J. W. Doughty,
mustered out July i, 1865; A. Dodson, mus-
tered out June 6, 1865; Josiah Duncan, dis-
charged March 18, 1863; William Devlin,
sick, absent at muster out ; William A. Daw-
son, was prisoner, mustered out June 6,
1865 ; John R. Duncan, mustered out June
6, 1865; George Evans, mustered out June
6, 1865; Jesse J. Fouts, mustered out June
6, 1865 ; Andrew C. Finn, mustered out June
6, 1865; Henry Fraka, mustered out June
6, 1865 ; G. W. Forbes, deserted October 31,
1862; A. W. French, mustered out June 6,
1865 ; James Gibson, died at Paducah, Ken-
tucky, June 26, 1863; Levi Gibson, mus-
tered out June 6, 1865; John H. Goodrich,
mustered out June 6, 1865 ; John A. Gil-
more, mustered out June 6, 1865 ; Amasa
Hamlin, mustered out June 6, 1865 : J. H.
Hamilton, mustered out June 6, 1865; John
Hicklin, transferred to Veteran Relief Corps
March 24, 1865; Jacob Heaver, mustered
out June 6, 1865 ; Erastus Hull, mustered
out June 6, 1865; Urustus Hill, died at
Fort Heimen, Kentucky, April 29, 1863 ;
Thomas J. Holt, mustered out June 6, 1865 :
William L. Holmes, mustered out June 6,
1865; W. S. Johnson, killed at Kenesaw
Mountain, Georgia, June 23, 1864; John
Kline, mustered out June 6, 1865; John
King, disability, discharged January 9,
1864; Thomas M. Kell, promoted to hos-
pital steward; S. W. Kell, killed in battle
February 12, 1865; Hugh Morton, mus-
tered out June 6, 1865 ; A. M. Morton, mus-
tered out June 6, 1865; Thomas B. Morton,
died at Rome, Georgia, July 10, 1864; B.
M. Morton, died in Marion county, Illinois,
November 23, 1862; W. M. Morton, mus-
tered out June 6, 1865 ; J. W. Morton, mus-
tered out June 6, 1865 ; J. B. Myers, died at
Paducah, Kentucky, July 22, 1863; John
Morrison, mustered out June 6, 1865; J. A.
McConnaga, mustered out June 6, 1865; J.
Manchester, disability, discharged June 16,
1863; S. A. Newman, mustered out June
6, 1865; O. J. Nave, mustered out June 6,
1865 : J. B. Parvis, mustered out June 6,
1865; T. B. Parkinson, mustered out June
6, 1865; B. M. Parkinson, mustered out
June 6, 1865 ; J. R. Parkinson, disability,
discharged March 28, 1865 ; W. E. Porter,
mustered out June 6, 1865 ; Edward Riley,
mustered out June 6, 1865; J. W. Smith,
transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps De-
cember 28, 1864; H. Sims, died at home
February 5, 1863; W. C. Smith, mustered
BRINKERHOFF S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
93
out June 6, 1865; \V. B. Smith, died at
Camp Butler, Illinois, April n, 1865; W.
K. Stirment. mustered out June 6, 1865;
G. W. Snodgrass, killed at Resaca, Georgia,
May 14, 1864; H. T. Walker, mustered out
June 6, 1865; ,W. H. Ward, died at Rome,
Georgia, July 31, 1864; J. P. Wooters, dis-
charged March 18, 1863; John Whitman,
mustered out June 6, 1865 ; J. H. Wyatt,
mustered out June 6, 1865; James Wilson,
discharged for promotion, killed at Fort
Pillow; W. Wood, mustered out June 6,
1865, commissioned second lieutenant ; D.
L. Ward, died at home March 31, 1864;
George Watson, discharged March 5, 1863 ;
recruits: Robert Church, transferred;
Thomas J. Green, transferred, was prisoner ;
Richard Lewis, mustered out June 6, 1865 ;
Scott G. Muzzy, discharged for promotion.
( ompany D, captains : John Foster, honor-
ably discharged May 4, 1865; Robert W.
Elder, mustered out June 6, 1865; First
Lieutenant W. H. Ballance, mustered out
June 6, 1865; Second Lieutenant G. C.
Sheppard, mustered out June 6, 1865; ser-
geants: Anderson Anglin, deserted Janu-
ary 25, 1863; A. W. O'Bryant, was pris-
oner, mustered out July i, 1865; Henry B.
Jones, was prisoner, mustered out June 12,
1865; corporals: J. A. Arnold, absent
(wounded) at muster out of regiment; Da-
vid Headley, mustered out June 6, 1865;
Francis M. Jones, died at Moscow, Tennes-
see, November 6, 1862 ; Eli W. Jones, mus-
tered out June 6, 1865; Jeptha Headley,
died at Atlanta, Georgia, October 18, 1864;
James A. Arnold, discharged August 20,
1863; Robert M. Lambert, died in Confed-
erate prison November 4, 1864; James T.
Jones, mustered out June 6, 1865; Wagoner
Christopher Jones, mustered out June 6,
1865; privates: Henry L. Allmon, dis-
charged August 20, 1863; John M. Arnold,
absent (sick) at muster out; Joseph D. Bor-
ing, mustered out June 6, 1865; John L.
Cole, mustered out June 6, 1865 ; William
L. Chance, mustered out June 6, 1865; Hil-
lery D. Chance, mustered out June 6, 1865;
Joseph A. Cole, died at Fort Heiman, Ken-
tucky, April 20, 1863 ; Noah Cruse, mus-
tered out June 6, 1865; James N. Christie,
mustered out June 6, 1865; Benjamin
Doolen, mustered out June 6, 1865; Peter
M. Dents, mustered out June 6, 1865; John
Elliott, absent (wounded) at muster out;
Stephen French, mustered out June 6,
1865; Thomas J. Foster, mustered out June
6, 1865; Newton Finch, died at Columbia,
Kentucky, April 25, 1863 ; Isaac Graves,
died at Chattanooga June 15, 1864; William
C. Goldsborough, mustered out June 6,
1865; James M. Green, mustered out June
6, 1865; Eli Headley, mustered out June 6,
1865; William Holt, mustered out June 6,
1865; Hardy F. Holt, died at Fort Heiman,
Kentucky, May n, 1863; Isaac Himes,
mustered out June 6, 1865; James M. Hen-
sley, was prisoner of war, mustered out June
12, 1865; Alexander M. Hensley, trans-
ferred to Veteran Relief Corps March 18,
1865; William M. Hensley, mustered out
June 6, 1865; Thomas J. Hensley, died at
Atlanta, Georgia, October 16, 1864; Wil-
liam E. Houston, mustered out June 6,
94
BRIXKERHOFF S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
1865; Hiram Hamilton, mustered out June
6, 1865 ; Andrew J. Howington, mustered
out June 6, 1865 ; Joseph G. Knight, sick at
muster out of regiment; James Knight,
mustered out June 6, 1865 ; Wesley C. Law-
rence, mustered out June 6, 1865 ; David
Lee, sick, absent at muster out of regiment ;
Simon V. Meador, mustered out June 6,
1865; Richard R. Morse, mustered out
June 6, 1865 ; Lewis Myers, mustered out
June 6, 1865 ; James W. Morse, died at Fort
Heinman, Kentucky, May 10, 1863;
Stephen Neavill, died of wounds at Mos-
cow, Tennessee, November 24, 1862;
George Orgon, mustered out June 6, 1865;
Vernal F. Prewett, mustered out (was pris-
oner) June 6, 1865; John O. Parsons, was
prisoner, died November 23, 1864; Abra-
ham Pool, mustered out June 6, 1865; Wil-
liam H. Pool, mustered out June 6, 1865;
William Purdue, missing in action July 22,
1864; Abram C. Parker, mustered out June
6, 1865; Dennis N. Ray, mustered out June
6, 1865; John V. Settle, discharged March
n, 1865; Ebenezer Sackett, died at Fort
Heiman, Kentucky, April 24, 1863; John
A. Smith, died at Marietta, Georgia, Octo-
ber 7, 1864; Abraham Stine, transferred;
David M. Shipley, transferred; James M.
Thomas, mustered out June 6, 1865; Joel
L. Walton, mustered out June 6, 1865; re-
cruits: Edward H. Lee, died at Annapolis,
Maryland, December 24, 1864; Salem Neff,
died of wounds at Dallas, Georgia, May 28,
1864; George W. Ray, transferred to Vet-
eran Relief Corps, March 18, 1865. Com-
pany E, captains: Joseph McGuire, killed
in action July 22, 1864; Lewellen W. Cas-
tellow, mustered out June 6, 1865 ; First
Lieutenant John R. Smith, mustered out
June 6, 1865; second lieutenants: William
J. Young, honorably discharged May 15,
1865 ; James J. Craig, mustered out June
6, 1865; First Sergeant Jesse Delton, re-
duced to ranks, transferred to Company G;
sergeants : John R. Smith, mustered out
June 6, 1865 ; Elijah D. Rawlings, died at
Jeffersonville, Indiana, July 25, 1864;
James B. Eddings, mustered out June 6,
1865; corporals: Francis M. Smith, mus-
tered out June 6, 1865; James F. Breeze,
killed at Atlanta, Georgia, July 22, 1864;
Elvin C. Clock, died at Paducah, Kentucky,
May 10, 1863; Jacob W. Fyke, mustered
out June 6, 1865; B. N. Bosswell, died of
wounds at Resaca, Georgia, May 22, 1864;
John R. Smith, mustered out June 6, 1865;
Francis M. Burns, mustered out May 26,
1865 ; Edward J. Young, mustered out June
6, 1865; musicians: Isaac A. Beaver, died
at Columbus, Kentucky, January 16, 1863:
Fanning L. Beasley, mustered out June 6,
1865; privates: James M. Alderson, mus-
tered out June 6, 1865 ; John A. Alderson,
mustered out June 6, 1865; Bluford M. Al-
derson, died of wounds August 4, 1864:
John Barry, died at Atlanta, Georgia, Oc-
tober 20, 1864; William F. Buford, absent
(sick) at muster out of regiment; George
Beard, mustered out June 6, 1865 ; Empson
Brownfield, mustered out June 6, 1865;
William H. Beard, paroled prisoner, mus-
tered out July i, 1865; George H. Beard,
mustered out June 22, 1865 ; James M.
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Beard, mustered out June 22, 1865; Hiram
Blair, mustered out June 22, 1865; Joseph
Bostwick, mustered out June 22, 1865;
Arthur Babbs, killed at Atlanta, Georgia,
July 22, 1864; Jacob Beard, disability, dis-
charged January 29, 1863 ; Wesley Cock-
rell, disability, discharged November 7,
1863; James Cockrell, mustered out June 6,
1865; William T. Coleman, mustered out
June 6, 1865 ; Larkin T. Craid, mustered
out June 6, 1865 ; James H. Clock, died at
Paducah, Kentucky, May 13, 1863; James
Craig, mustered out June 6, 1865 ; -James
P. Chapman, mustered out June 6, 1865;
Oran H. Daggett, killed at Atlanta,
Georgia, July 22, 1864; William Donoho,
died at Columbus, Kentucky, January 26,
1863; William P. Furguson, died at Colum-
bus, Kentucky, January 10, 1863; Powell
H. Furguson, died at home February i,
1863 ; Charles Foster, mustered out June 6,
1865; James Granger, mustered out June
6, 1865; John B. Holliday, killed at. At-
lanta, Georgia, July 22, 1864; Henry J.
Hardin, mustered out June 6, 1865; John
B. Harris, mustered out June 6, 1865;
George W. Haynie, mustered out June 6,
1865 ; Henry C. Harris, mustered out June
6, 1865; William C. Henson, mustered out
June 6, 1865; William B. Henson, died of
wounds at Resaca, Georgia, May 16, 1864-,
Jesse C. Henson, transferred; William D.
Isbell, disability, discharged January 26,
1863 ; John H. Jones, mustered out June 6,
1865 ; James G. Johnson, mustered out June
<5, 1865; Horatio S. Jeeter, mustered out
June 6, 1865 5 Leonard B. Jones, mustered
out June 6, 1865; John W. Knight, mus-
tered out June 6, 1865 ; Thomas Keel, mus-
treed out June 6, 1865; Urich Knight,
killed at Dallas, Georgia, May 29, 1864;
John W. Kilts, mustered out June 6, 1865;
James W. Luse, died at Columbus, Ken-
tucky, January 26, 1863; William Loch,
died at Mound City, Illinois, January 19,
1863; Andrew H. Metts, died at Columbus,
Kentucky, January 21, 1863; Josiah Martin,
mustered out June 6, 1865 ; John J. Martin,
died of wounds July 23, 1864; Elihu Myers,
mustered out June 6, 1865; David L. May-
berry, mustered out June 6, 1865; John B.
Middleton, mustered out June 6, 1865; A.
J. Morgan, died at Columbus, Kentucky,
January 28, 1863; Charles A. Neff, pro-
moted to quartermaster; James A. Prewett,
mustered out June 6, 1865; Francis M.
Room, mustered out June 6, 1865 ; Tillmand
Rogers, mustered out June 6, 1865 ; Thomas
H. B. Ray, mustered out June 6, 1865; N.
V. D. Rawlings, mustered out June 6,
1865; Robert M. Smith, mustered out June
6, 1865; Isham Simmons, discharged Janu-
ary 29, 1863 ; John H. Smith, deserted Feb-
ruary 21, 1863; William Torrence, mustered
out June 6, 1865; Marion D. Vickroy, ab-
sent (sick) at muster out of regiment; Wil-
liam Vaughn, discharged February 25.
1863; Cyrus VanDusen, died at Mound
City, Illinois, February 3, 1863; John W.
Wheeler, killed at Jonesboro, Georgia, Au-
gust 31, 1864; George W. Weaver, mus-
tered out June 6, 1865; recruits: James
H. Isbell, July 24, 1865, to date from
May 30, 1865; Daniel W. Myers,
96
I'.RIXKERHOFF S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
mustered out June 6, 1865 ; Aaron Mc-
Endree, mustered out June 6, 1865; John
W. Middleton, mustered out June 6, 1865;
James T. Smith, died at Columbus, Ken-
tucky, November. 30, 1862. Company F,
captains :Abner S. Gray, discharged January
13, 1865; William H. Carpenter, mustered
out June 6, 1865 ; First Lieutenant William
C. Darvis, honorably discharged May 15,
1865; Second Lieutenant George C. Ed-
wards, mustered out June 7, 1865; ser-
geants : James D. Gray, mustered out June
7, 1865 ; Andrew C. Mitchell, died at Anna-
polis, Maryland, December 22, 1864; Benja-
min Fanner, killed at Atlanta, July 22,
1864; Jefferson Belcher, mustered out June
7, 1865; corporals: Benjamin Harrison,
died at Columbus, Kentucky, January 16,
1863; George W. Griffin, mustered out June
22, 1865; Henry Betcher, mustered out
June 22, 1865; John N. Hawkins, mus-
tered out June 22, 1865 ; Harvey B. Nichols,
mustered out June 22, 1865 ; David Moore,
died at Columbus, Kentucky, January 26,
1863; William C. Williamson, sick, absent
at muster out of regiment; Wiley Carter,
mustered out June 7, 1865 ; musicians: Har-
lin P. Beach, mustered out June 7, 1865;
John M. Johnson, died at Columbus, Ken-
tucky, June 17, 1863; Wagoner John Car-
ter, Jr. ; privates : Fenwick S. Alexander,
transferred; Jesse Altom, was prisoner,
mustered out June 7, 1865 ; Richard Atkins,
promoted to sergeant-major; William L.
Becher, mustered out June 7, 1865; Levi
Belcher, was prisoner, mustered out June 7,
1865; Daniel Britt, died at East Point,
Georgia, September 30, 1864; George W.
Bratcher, died at Paducah, Kentucky, June
8, 1863; John Bush, died at Kenesaw
Mountain, July i, 1865; Benjamin E. Car-
ver, disability, discharged October 29, 1864;
William Carter, mustered out June 7, 1865 ;
John S. Chandler, died of wounds at Resaca,
Georgia, May 16, 1864; Chakes C. Chan-
dler, mustered out June 7, 1865; William
Dexter, mustered out June 7, 1865; George
P. Edwards, mustered out June 7, 1865;
John Gaultney, mustered out June 7, 1865 ;
Alfred G. Gaultney, mustered out June 7,
1865; William A. Green, mustered out June
7, 1865; Thomas B. Gray, died at home
March I, 1865; Cyrenus M. Howell, mus-
tered out June 7, 1865; Charles G. Hurt,
killed at Atlanta, Georgia, July 22, 1864;
William Jackson, mustered out June 7,
1865; Edward Kinney, mustered out June
7, 1865; William Kissner, mustered out
June 7, 1865; Irven Laswell, killed at Re-
saca, Georgia, May 14, 1864; George W.
Lewis, died at Chattaooga, November 22,
1 864 ; Noah Linton, died at Mound City, II-
linois,February 13, 1864; Augustus McCon-
nic, mustered out June 7, 1865 ; John T. Mc-
Donald, transferred; Absalom Moore, mus-
tered out June 6, 1865 ; John Mulcahi, dis-
charged on account of wounds February 15,
1864; Lorenzo L. Newman, was prisoner,
mustered out June 7, 1865; Robert Neil,
mustered out June 7, 1865 ; Henry H.
Nichols, discharged July, ; John
R. Nelson, died at Columbus, Kentucky,
January i, 1863; Abel E. Peddicord, mus-
tered out June 7, 1865; Isaac F. Ptomy,
BRIXKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
97
killed at Atlanta, Georgia, July 22, 1864;
James J. Sinclair, mustered out June 7,
1865; James R. .Slaton, died at Paducah,
Kentucky, January 9, 1864; Robert Strong,
absent (sick) at muster out of regiment;
Thomas J. Tabor, mustered out July 6,
1865 ; Charles W. Tabor, mustered out July
6, 1865 ; Edward Tune, mustered out July 6,
1865; Samuel Tune, mustered out July 6,
1865 ; Traverse M. Waldron, died May 29,
1863; Peter White, died at Pulaski, Tennes-
see, January 10, 1864; Abraham J. Wil-
liams, mustered out June 7, 1865 ; William
R. Wickersham, died at Paducah, Kentucky,
April 20, 1864; Benjamin M. Wilson, died
at Columbus, Kentucky, April 12, 1863;
James Williamson, died at Morehead City,
North Carolina, February i, 1865; Recruit,
John H. Adams, absent (sick) at muster out
of regiment. Company G, Captain Ruben
W. Joliff, mustered out June 6, 1865; Sec-
ond Lieutenant John W. Stover, killed in
yction, May 14, 1864; First Sergeant Jo-
seph M. Post, died of wounds received at
Resaca, Georgia, May 31, 1864; Sergeant
Henry M. Gaylord, died at Paducah, Ken-
tucky, May 16, 1863; corporals: William
Collinsworth, mustered out June 6, 1865;
Andrew T. Stover, wounded, mustered out
June 6, 1865 ; John A. Snider, died at Fort
Heiman, Kentucky, May 10, 1863; William
Williams, absent (sick) at muster out of
regiment; William R. Snider, mustered out
June 6, 1865; privates: Abner J. Alexan-
der, mustered out June 6, 1865 ; Samuel C.
Alexander, died at Columbus, February 7,
1863; Louis Ahlborn, discharged; Paulinus
7
F. Agnew, mustered out June 6, 1865 ; Gib-
son Burton, died at Big Shanty, Georgia, of
wounds, June 24, 1864; George W. Burnett,
died at Columbus, Kentucky, January 28,
1863; Samuel W. Billingsley, deserted Oc-
tober 19, 1862; Joseph Brown, killed at
Kenesaw Mountain, June 24, 1864; Jasper
N. Castleberry, disability, discharged Janu-
ary 4, 1865 ; James H. Courtney, died while
prisoner of war at Lawton, Georgia, Octo-
ber 25, 1864; John R. Finn, mustered out
June 6, 1865 ; Washington I. Haskins, mus-
tered out June 6, 1865; William Hawkins,
mustered out June 6, 1865 ; James H. Isbell,
transferred; Daniel W. Myers, transferred;
Aaron McEndree, transferred; David Me-
Endree, transferred ; John W. Middleton,
transferred; John R. Nelson, transferred;
John Schade, mustered out June 6, 1865 ;
John C. Shook, died at Columbus, Ken-
tucky, January 24, 1863; Joseph Tapping,
mustered out June 6, 1865; James G. Tap-
ping, mustered out June 6, 1865 ; James H.
Taylor, died at Mound City, Illinois, Ja'nu-
ary 18, 1863; John J. Wallace, died of
wounds at Atlanta, Georgia, November u,
1864; Granville Wilburn, died at Resaca,
of wounds, May 24, 1864; John A. Yandel,
mustered out June 19, 1865 ; recruits : Jesse
Dayton, discharged December n, 1864; M.
P. Glassford, transferred. Company H,
Captain George E. Castle, mustered out
June 6, 1865; first lieutenants: Andrew J.
Lariner, killed in battle, July 22, 1864; Rob-
ert M. Lovell, mustered out June 6, 1865 ;
Second Lieutenant James L. Gibson, mus-
tered out June 6, 1865 ; sergeants : George
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY .OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
A. Jennings, mustered out June 6, 1865;
William H. Harrison, discharged February
7, 1864, for promotion in One Hundred and
Tenth United States Colored Troops; John
H. Craig, discharged April 4, for promotion
in One Hundred and Eleventh United States
Colored Troops; corporals: James L.
Rogers, mustered out June 6, 1865 ; Henry
C. Farson, mustered out June 6, 1865;
David F. Kell, discharged on account of
wounds, January 28, 1865 ; James E. Castle,
mustered out June 6, 1865; Wilson S. Lari-
mer, mustered out June 6, 1865; William
Southward, mustered out June 6, 1865;
John Lewes, disability, discharged January
10, 1863; musicians: John J. Piles, mus-
tered out July 13, 1865; Richard Thatcher,
mustered out June 6, 1865; Wagoner,
Samuel S. Clater, mustered out June 6,
1865; privates: J. H. Adams, died at
Huntsville, Alabama, June 12, 1864; H. F.
Bosworth, killed at Resaca, Georgia, May
14, 1864; D. C. Bryant, died at Fort Hei-
man; Kentucky, April 19, 1863; John J.
Bloys, mustered out June 6, 1865; George
W. Blackburn, mustered out June 6, 1865;
Benjamin Brown, deserted December 30,
1862 ; Alfred R. Bryan, prisoner, mustered
out July i, 1865; John T. Bibb, mustered
out June 6, 1865; Charles E. Baker, dis-
charged May 25, 1864, commissioned sec-
ond lieutenant United States Heavy Ar-
tillery, Colored Troops ; James J. Brown,
mustered out June 6, 1865; James S.
Chandler, mustered out June 6. 1865:
Henry K. Cantine, discharged April 19,
1865; James B. Clater, mustered out June
6, 1865; Lewis Daggett, died at Paducah,
Kentucky, October 13, 1863; William T.
Day, died in Andersonville prison of
wounds, August 27, 1864; grave No. 7013;
Lyman Daggett, died in Confederate prison,
October 7, 1864; James Evans, mus-
tered out June 6, 1865 ; Jonas Erwin, killed
at Atlanta, Georgia, July 22, 1864; James
Foster, mustered out June 6, 1865; Robert
Foster, transferred; Albert Getty, died at
Columbus, Kentucky, February i, 1863;
William J. Hays, mustered out June 6,
1865; Quintilton H. Hays, mustered out
June 6, 1865; Mansel W. Hays, mustered
out June 6, 1865; George W. Hoskins, died
at Paducah, Kentucky, June 5, 1863;
Thomas M. Ingram, mustered out June 5.
1865; J. Jordan, wounded, absent at mus-
ter out of regiment; Isaac Johnson, mus-
tered out June 6, 1865; Joseph W. Jimeson,
mustered out June 6, 1865 ; J. G. Knight,
died at Fort Heiman, Kentucky, April 13,
1863; Hugh M. Kell, died at Chattanooga,
November 15, 1864; James Knight, mus-
tered out June 6, 1865 ; Washington J. Lut-
trell, mustered out June 6, 1865 ; Thomas
G. Luttrell, mustered out June 6, 1865 :
Daniel R. Lovell, mustered out June 6,
1865 ; Samuel W. Lovell, mustered out June
6, 1865; Thomas E. Lewis, mustered out
June 6, 1865; Willis S. Leewright, mus-
tered out June 6, 1865; Henry Moore, pro-
moted to second lieutenant, Second Alabama
Volunteers, June 23. 1864; John McMur-
ray, was prisoner, mustered out July i,
1865; John Myers, was prisoner, mustered
out July i, 1865; Samuel Puleston, mus-
BRINKERHOFF S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
99
tered out (was prisoner) July i, 1865; Jo-
siah Piles, mustered out June 6, 1865; W.
W. Porter, died at Resaca, Georgia, of
wounds, May 20, 1864; John B. Patterson,
disability, discharged ; Absalom Parrell,
mustered out June 6, 1865; McDonald
Phillips, mustered out June 6, 1865;
Samuel Rush, died at home, November 6,
1864; John Rush, mustered out June 6,
1865 ; Isaac Southward, mustered out June
6, 1865; Thomas Southward, mustered out
June 6, 1865; Peter A. Simonson, pro-
moted to quartermaster-sergeant ; John R.
Taylor, disability, discharged February 17,
1863; William B. K. Toland, died at Rome,
Georgia, September 15, 1864; Ira VanDu-
sen, died in Andersonville prison, Novem-
ber 27, 1864; John Wise, died at Fort
Heiman, Kentucky, May, 1863; J. H. Wat-
son, wounded, absent at muster out of regi-
ment; F. F. Watson, disabilty, discharged
February 17, 1863; W. Watson, mustered
out June 6, 1865 ; H. M. Wilson, mustered
out June 6, 1865; John Webb, mustered out
June 6, 1865 ; L. Wilson, mustered out June
6, 1865; S. E. White, mustered out June 6,
1865; C. S. Wilson, mustered out June 6,
1865; recruits: A. E. Blackburn, trans-
ferred ; John A. Clayton, transferred ; Isaiah
T. Dillon, transferred; David L. Tucker,
transferred. Company I : Second Lieuten-
ant David Nichols, mustered out June 7,
1865; corporals: Jacob R. Phillips, mus-
tered out June 7, 1865; Joseph C. Wilton,
mustered out July 27, 1865; privates: H.
A. Allen, died at Fort Heiman, Kentucky,
May 1 8, 1863; Harvey F. Bassett, mustered
out June 7, 1865; I. T. Boatwright, died at
Columbus, Kentucky, February 12, 1863;
T. M. Corzine, died at Columbus, Kentucky,
January 20, 1863; J. Clemens, died at Mari-
etta, Georgia, of wounds, August 18, 1864;
Squire Ga*ultney, absent (sick) at muster
out of regiment; Newton Hensley, died at
Columbus, Kentucky, March 29, 1863;
James W. Moon, mustered out June 7,
1865 ; John G. Quick, mustered out June
7, 1865; George Sloat, mustered out June
7, 1865; Nathan Smith, mustered out May
30, 1865 ; J. Wickenhouser, mustered out
June 7, 1865; recruits: Fenwick J. Alex-
ander, mustered out June 7, 1865 ; John Mc-
donald. Company K: Joseph Schultz,
captain, mustered out June 7, 1865; First
Lieutenant I. H. Berry, mustered out June
7, 1865; Second Lieutenant Frederick Siple,
mustered out June 7, 1865; First Sergeant
M. C. Rogers, died at Fort Heiman, Ken-
tucky, May 5, 1863; sergeants: John B.
Brasel, deserted December 6, 1865 ; John M.
Chitwood, mustered out May 5, 1865 ; E. O.
Warner, died of wounds August 13, 1864;
corporals: H. H. Spitler, died at Colum-
bus, Kentucky, February 17, 1863; W. S.
Wilkins, died at Columbus, Kentucky, Janu-
ary 21, 1863; Richard S. Hultz, disability,
discharged January 26, 1863; Charles S.
Wilkins, mustered out June 7, 1865; John
W. Alexander, mustered out June 7, 1865 :
John Guilkey, mustered out June 7, 1865;
John F. Michaels, mustered out June 7,
1865 ; Musician J. W. Spain, mustered out
June 7, 1865; privates: W. S. Alexander,
mustered out June 7, 1865; W. H. Allen,
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
mustered out June 7, 1865 ; Henry Albert,
mustered out June 7, 1865; Reuben Albert,
mustered out June 7, 1865; Marion Almon,
mustered out June 7, 1865; John H. Bur-
rows, discharged for promotion July 8,
1864; Z. Beasley, mustered out' June 7,
1865; Josiah Bryant, absent (sick) at mus-
ter out; H. M. Chitwood, deserted January
27, 1863; Joseph Craig, died at Paducah,
Kentucky, July 9, 1863; J. R. Davenport,
mustered out June 7, 1865; George E.
Daniels, mustered out June 7, 1865; A.
Earnheart, promoted to principal musician;
J. T. Eraser, deserted February 6, 1863 ;
Temple Gilman, mustered out June 7, 1865 ;
A. Hults, died at Larkinsville, Alabama,
April n, 1865; Abner C. Harney, mustered
out June 7, 1865 ; C. Harratt, killed at At-
lanta, Georgia, July 22, 1864; Andrew Hite,
deserted January 27, 1863; Charles Hadden.
mustered out June 7, 1865 ; Joseph M. Jus-
tice, died a prisoner at Annapolis, Mary-
land, December 18, 1864; Michael Kalcher,
mustered out June 7, 1865; W. S. Kagy,
mustered out June 7, 1865; H. J. Luttrell,
killed at Atlanta, Georgia, July 22, 1864;
W. McCartan, killed at Fort McAllister,
Georgia, December 13, 1864; Isaac P. Mar-
tin, mustered out June 7, 1865 ; John Mar-
tin, mustered out June 7, 1865 ; A. G. Mc-
Cartney, died while prisoner of war, about
February 17, 1865; J. D. Meek, mustered
out June 7, 1865; D. O. Malcolm, died at
Cleveland, Tennessee, February 2, 1865;
J. A. Morgan, died at Columbus, Kentucky,
January 28, 1863 ; J. McCollom, died at Co-
lumbus, Kentucky, March 22, 1863 ; A. G.
Morris, mustered out June 7, 1865 ; Jere-
miah Parks, mustered out June 7, 1865; A.
L. Riley, mustered out June 7, 1865; E.
Stonecipher, deserted December 5, 1862;
W. D. Singleton, mustered out June 7,
1865; W. H. Schanafelt, prisoner of war,
died at Lawton, Georgia, October 24, 1864;
B. S. Stribling, mustered out June 7, 1865 ;
Wilburn Stonecipher, deserted December 5,
1862; John R. Schultz, died of wounds,
June 3, 1864; David Schultz, mustered out
June 7, 1865; H. C. B. Wilkins, mustered
out June 7, 1865 ; J. H. Wilkins, died at Co-
lumbus, Kentucky, June 12, 1863; J. N.
White, discharged for promotion, April 18,
1864; recruits: J. H. Coffman, died of
wounds August 28, 1864; Christopher Mul-
vaney, transferred; Byron E. Webster,
transferred; Alexander Wilkins, trans-
ferred.
The One Hundred and Sixth Regiment
was for one hundred days, and enrolled the
following, who were mustered out October
22, 1864. The regiment saw no service in
the field and the names are here given as a
tribute to their willingness to serve: Frank-
lin Darling, James M. Lewis, John Avant.
William R. Avant, William H. Beal, David
C. Bruce, George W. Eller, Benjamin Jus-
tice, John F. Maxey, Alexander Vanfausten,
Z. C. Williams, Robert Barron, Henry But-
ler, James W. Sullivan, John W. Deets.
Eclmond Davis, Gustavus DeLand, Joseph
B. Martin, Captain John C. Scott, First
Lieutenant W. H. Wyatt, Second Lieuten-
ant John S. Hawkins, First Sergeant S. G.
Telford, J. Fowler Telford, W. F. Dodson,
BRIXKERHOFF S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Richard C. Wyatt, Frank Darling, P. J.
Knight, J. M. Kell, Albert Johnson, Thomas
N. Kell, J. T. Cunningham, Theodore F.
Harley, Isaac N. Charleton, S. J. Shaw,
Thomas H. Anderson, J. H. Adkins, James
W. Blair, George A. Bell, Russell B. Balt-
zell, David Blair, Fred Brisco, John R.
Cisne, M. McCastle, John R. Claybourne, C.
S. Cornwell, R. J. Cain, George W. Denny,
Alexander Dodson, D. W. Denham, John
Eastman, Henry Ellis, Irwin Foster, J. O.
Farrell, James B. Gaston, T. Glen, George
Guyetta, James Gaff, D. R. Hamilton, A.
S. Howard, W. J. Haines, W. S. Harley,
N. H. Heaton, A. Harley, B. E. Hobart,
Samuel Hays, G. W. Holmes, J. J. John-
son, A. J. Jones, C. C. McCard, A. Lance.
C. Lynch, S. D. Lester, J. Muckelroy, J. W.
Miller, S. I. Mattimore, W. A. Noleman,
J. S. Patterson, George L. Postern, L. J.
Patten, H. Rush, O. T. Richard, R. L.
Rosebrough, Albert Tong, R. M. Scott,
George M. Smith, Robert Tate, J. H.
Thomas, H. Warren, H. W. Wells, E.
Whitehead, T. A. Wilton, M. M. Walker,
A. N. Williams, Alexander Wilson, J. B.
Williamson, A. J. Williamson, James F.
Creighton, J. Hugg. Jeremiah Woods was
in the One Hundred and Forty-second Regi-
ment of the same service. In the One Hun-
dred and Forty-ninth Regiment, one year's
service, were: Adjutant Winfield S. Nor-
rcoss, Surgeon Samuel D. Mercer ; privates :
Jacob Gross, mustered out January 27,
1866; Joseph Keifter, mustered out January
27, 1866; Lawrence Schibel.
Four men from Marion countv were in
the One Hundred and Fiftieth Regiment,
one year service. All were mustered out
June 16, 1866. They were: Jacob Miller,
first lieutenant; William N. Smith, cor-
poral; and S. B. Gibson and W. Nichols,
privates. The regiment did guard duty and
garrison duty. They fought in no battles,
and lost no men from Marion county. J.
R. Hartley was in the One Hundred and
Fifty-fourth Regiment, and was mustered
out September 18, 1866.
The Sixth Cavalry had a number of
Marion county men on its rolls. It was a
service regiment, and was engaged in many
battles and skirmishes. It was a part of
the famous Grierson raid. The Marion
county men were scattered through the regi-
ment. In Company B, Noah Knight de-
serted. The muster out was November 5,
1865, and where no dates appear after the
name it will be understood the soldier was
mustered out at that time : James K. Clark,
Christen C. Dike, Jacob Newberry, W. W.
Ragan were in Company A; J. B. Cain, B.
W. Hicks, John Hough, David Shelby and
Jasper Shelby were in Company B; J. C.
McWhirter, H. Mulvaney, Thomas Renfro
and Samuel Russell were in Company C. :
William H. Grain, Henry W. Brodeck, Wil-
liam T. Steen and Frantz Swartz were
in Company D ; Lewis Cole, James K. Can-
nen, John Moore, in Company E ; Maryland
Malladay, in Company F; William Agnie,
William Estes, George W. Lesley (died at
Nashville), Benjamin F. Ragsdall, John A.
Reason, in Company -G; recruits: Francis
M. Allen. Sr., A. J. Burgaman, Reuben H.
BRINKERHOFF S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Burgaman, James -Evans (killed at Shelby-
ville, Tennessee, November 20, 1864), Wil-
liam H. Govee, William P. Gaston, Arthur
J. Hays, Dodson C. Hays, S. M. Hudson,
William H. Telford and James B. Watson
were in Company H ; John R. Knight, Wil-
son H. Patterson, Mathew W. Weldon
(drowned at Eastport, Mississippi, April 12,
1865), were in Company I; J. Allison, J.
Dyer, J. Henry, W. H. Herrington, W.
Jackson, W. R. Martin, Asa Mann (mus-
tered out May 23, 1865), Jesse Morrison,
Charles Neville, William H. Parker, James
Ragan, Eli Rainey, P. Slang, J. J. Short,
of Company M. The following were desert-
ers from the regiment : Noah Knight, L. S.
Fisher, F. M. Burge, T. J. Crane. W. A.
Glenn, W. F. Glenn and A. C. Harris.
The Seventh Cavalry had a few men from
Marion county in its ranks as follows:
James Anglin, Doc Carson, John Buck,
Jacob Pearl, Wiliam N. Smith, Robert
Wilkinson, A. J. Foster, H. C. Foster, Con-
rad Habbwacks, John Jacoby, Elda Jones,
John Knight, William Knight, B. B. Milton,
Jesse Tilly, Thomas Upton, Allen Clow,
John W. Wall, M. L. Jones, W. B. Morahl,
J. M. McConnell, G. Meador, Job Cruse,
Nimrod Christian, James Hulett (deserted),
Henry Myers (deserted), Simon Neff, L. P.
Nichols, D. E. Peddicord, Fred Trible, S.
R. Cathem, T. A. Wilton, James Crawford,
William R. Arant, Martin Binnion, Mathias
Gurton, James Hathaway, Nathan Moon,
Josiah H. Skilling were in the Tenth
Cavalry, mustered out August 25, 1865.
Charles S. Awl was dishonorably dis-
charged from the Eleventh Cavalry, and the
following mustered out September 3Oth
from the same regiment : John E. Bevins, Ira
A. Bishop, George Bevins, Elijah Cruse, C.
C. Carroll, A. H. Jones, Samuel McKeighan,
Mathew Orton, Erwin Reamy. In the Thir-
teenth Cavalry list appears the names of the
following Marion county men: H. Christian
(discharged under age), Thomas Green,
Moses Oakley, John I. Caudle, John Don-
houser (mustered out August 31, 1865).
John B. Adams died at Camp Butler Janu-
ary 26, 1864, and William Brown deserted
April 22, 1864. In the Sixteenth Cavalry
were: James Shaw, a prisoner, mustered
out July 1 8, 1865; James Williams, mus-
tered out May 18, 1865; John Fisher, de-
serted July n, 1863; George L. Hart, died
in Andersonville prison, June 28, 1864,
grave No. 2267; John P. Kreobs, died in
Andersonville prison, April 19, 1864, grave
No. 625 ; Aaron Wright, deserted February
19, 1863. In the First Artillery: First
Lieutenant Emmett F. Hill, honorably dis-
charged September 19, 1863. Battery M:
Alfred S. Wilson, mustered out July 24,
1865 ; Alexander D. Chancey and Mulford
VanDyke were unassigned. In the Second
Artillery, David H. Harmon, disability,
discharged. The following were mustered
out July 27, 1865 : Samuel H. Craig, John
F. Craig, Albert S. Edwards. The follow-
ing enlisted in the regular army: William
Shaw, L. Vanausdale, Peter Wigle, Henry
Willet, Henry Clay, John B. Foster, John
Stater, and in the United States Twenty-
ninth. Colored Troops: Marmaduke Stew-
BRIXKERHOFFS HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
103
art, James George, Oliver Mahue, Samuel
Pendegrass, Hardy School, A. Brandy-
more; and in Second Regular United States
Veteran Volunteers: Charles Behler, Wil-
liam Grouse, J. B. Godel, John Ockerman,
Julius Schultz. In the Fourth United
States Veteran Volunteers, Thomas War-
man. George Cassidy and David Terpin
enlisted in the regular army in June, 1865.
Truly, Marion county sent of her best to
do battle for the Union. Her best blood was
freely offered, and the sacrifice was made
complete by the life-giving patriotism on
many a southern field. They played their
part in the great tragedy of the nation, and
when the curtain of peace fell on war's grim
stage they laid down the sword to take up
the pruning hook, exchanged the rifle for
the plow, and from the thunder and shock
of battle to the nobler avocation of home-
building, setting again the example to all
nations of armies of war turning into armies
of peace. More than forty years have
passed away since the last charge was made
since the last cannon's lips grew cold
and only a remnant is left of the men of
'61-65.
The majority, having answered "tapps"
in the camp of eternity, face the setting sun,
and with whitened brow and step feeble and
slow, but with courage as high as that which
inspired the charge up Lookout's rugged
mount, they march toward the silent river
to cross in God's own time, to be mustered
into the white-robed army of the Prince of
Peace. Nor will their life's lesson be lost,
but a patriotism by their sacrifices has been
engendered that assures the departing hero
that these sires' sons will too, in time of
need, be found not wanting but ready when
duty calls to obey her behest.
THE EARLY SETTLERS.
The early settlers of a hundred years ago
were of a class that has now passed away
forever. The only means of travel was by
wagon, on horseback, or on foot, and many
of the best families of today, who are liv-
ing in comfort, if not in luxury, are sprung
from men and women who emigrated to this
new country carrying in a "prairie
schooner," as the old-fashioned wagons
were called, all their earthly possessions,
and many, indeed, arrived without any but
the barest necessaries, of a day when even
necessaries were very few, and when the
total value of an average household furnish-
ings could be told in cents instead of dol-
lars, and the settler was considered well pro-
vided if he could call his own, besides the
ever-present and ever-necessary rifle, an ax,
a skillet, a pot, and usually an iron oven, or
a flat-bottomed iron vessel, about five inches
deep, with an iron lid fitting over the top
with a half ring or loop, by which the lid
104
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
might be lifted. This vessel set on three
legs, about two inches long, the vessel it-
self having a bail or handle by which it
might be lifted. A spinning wheel, both for
wool and flax, and sometimes for cotton,
were among the "plunder," as they univer-
sally called their household goods, if the
settler was more than average prosperous.
And these few and simple implements and
utensils met their few and simple wants.
They had known nothing of other conveni-
ences, and did not feel the need of them.
The forest furnished meat, and Indian
corn was the staff of pioneer life. "White"
bread, as bread made from wheat was
called, was almost unknown. Sugar made
from the sap of sugar trees, or wild honey,
of which there was an abundance, furnished
sweetening. As there were no rich there
could be no poor, but all were upon one com-
mon level socially, so far as this world's
goods were concerned, and the only mark
of respectability was truthfulness, helpful-
ness and bravery in times of trouble. To
have the reputation that one might be de-
pended on, was to stand high in the esti-
mation of all. As few communities were
within less than a mile of each other, a
neighborhood meant a township and friends
often miles apart, and but very few families
were reckoned by counties. Mills were at
first unknown and corn was pounded to
meal in a mortar made of a huge block off a
log, about three feet long, set on end, and
the top hollowed out cup-shaped. A sapling,
rounded at the large end and hanging above,
suspended to another sapling, so as to form
a spring, was the pestle. Near the lower
end of this pestle a hole was bored, through
which a pin was driven, forming a hand
hold on either side, so that two could work
and add force to the downward blow, soon
reducing the kernel to a course meal, which
was then poured from an elevation in the
open air to blow out the husks of the grain.
The meal was then sifted in a sieve by hand,
if the pioneer was so fortunate as to own a
sieve, if not one was soon made by tightly
stretching a piece of wet buckskin over a
hoop, which when dry was burned full of
tiny holes with a small piece of wire, thus
forming a sieve, which however crude, per-
formed its part in providing the daily bread
to the full satisfaction of the family. A
new family was welcomed with open-
hearted hospitality, and when a location was
selected the men for miles around lent a
helping hand in raising the house, which
was to be the future home, and men thought
nothing of riding many miles to assist in a
house-raising.
Almost all the genuine settlers were
deeply religious, although knowing nothing
of religious forms, as is generally true of
those who live isolated lives amid the vast-
ness of nature's unbroken domain. All had
heard in the old home the Word preached,
and many in their simple faith had "jined"
church and brought with them to the wil-
derness of Illinois the faith of their fathers.
But here distinctions were lost, and in an
age when religious intolerance ran high in
older communities, all differences, save in
name, were lost. The fervent Methodist,
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
the sedate Presbyterian, the argumentative
Baptist, met, when opportunity offered, to
listen to the preacher of whatever sect, and
forgot their differences of dogma in the joy
of worship. Nor did this spirit die until
communities grew strong enough to support
churches of the denominations, and then not
entirely, as the Union church in many com-
munities testify. Live stock increased
rapidly and had a very low money value.
As the pasturage cost nothing, stock was
permitted to run at large from spring to late
fall, when it was hunted far and near and
brought home. Each family had a mark
which was recorded and which no other
might use. It was usually a cut, or cuts.
in the ear or both ears. An under bit in
the right ear and a split in the left, or a
crop off one ear and a slit in the other, or a
hole in one and a swallow tail in the other,
and so on, and stock which had not been
seen for months was readily identified, and
as every one knew every other one's mark,
neighbors told neighbors where they had
seen their stock and thus aided the other in
the finding. My father's mark was an un-
der bit in the right ear and a crop off the
left, and the stock could be identified at
some distance without dismounting. A few
also branded, where they owned branding
irons, and as an extra precaution used a
large mark or letter on the hip and a smaller
one on the horn.
The writer well remembers an incident of
his childhood that is as fresh today as
though it happened but yesterday. An
Englishman and wife had settled in the
neighborhood, and being thrifty and having
brought some money with them, soon had a
number of steers, which they branded with
a small H on the horn and a large L on the
hip. One morning in the late fall Mrs.
rode up to my father's house, and when he
appeared in answer to her "hello," she said,
"Good morning, I'm looking up our steers.
Have you seen a big, red steer with a hoe
on his orn and a hell on his ipp?" Father
had not seen that steer. The favorite pas-
time among the boys and young men were
running, jumping, wrestling and shooting,
which last sport was often curtailed by
a scarcity of ammunition, a supply of which
must at all times be kept on hand as a pro-
tection for the family from Indian strag-
glers, and for the stock from the wild ani-
mals, and of the poultry from the "varmints,"
all of which abounded and against which
both the good man and good wife had sworn
eternal enmity; and the cabin sides were at
all times ornamented with the out-stretched
skins of the fox, the "coon," the "possum,"
the wildcat, or "bobcat," as they choose to
call it, the mink, weasel and other of the
smaller "varmints," with an occasional
wolf or "painter" hide to keep company,
tacked to the walls to dry. These pelts had
a value as furs and were often used instead
of money as a standard of value and a
medium of exchange.
\\restling was of three kinds and no rules
governed either except a general fairness.
The favorite was "side holts," in which,
after it had been agreed as to who should
have the "under holt," the champions stood
io6
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
side by side with one's right arm and the
other's left around the waist of the oppo-
nent. The other hands were clasped in front
and the struggle began, often lasting several
minutes before one or the other measured
his length on the ground. A contest of
skill of this character was sometimes, when
the contestants were well matched, an event
talked about for many a day. The second
kind was ''back holt," in which the
wrestlers stood face to face, each with his
left arm under his opponent's right, and
right over his opponent's left, with hands
clasped behind his back. Both strength and
skill were needed in this kind of a contest,
and often the struggle was long and violent,
and -not infrequently ended in one or both
receiving reminders in strained limbs or
back. The third was catch-as-catch-can,
and the result often depended on the quick-
ness and judgment, not to say luck, of the
wrestler. In this match the wrestlers stood
several feet apart and at the word ran to
each other, catching such hold of each other
as they could, and the struggle began, to be
ended only when one or the other went
down. Fighting was frequent among the
more reckless element, and bouts were ar-
ranged between the bully of one settlement
and the bully of another settlement to de-
cide which was the best man. There was
no animosity between the contestants, and
often they had never seen each other until
the day of battle. To have the name of
being the "best man" in one settlement was
sure to bring a challenge from the "best
man" in some other to decide the question
of brute supremacy. The terms being
agreed upon, at it they went with fist and
nail, foot and hand, hitting, scratching, bit-
ing, kicking and gouging. Nothing was
barred that could be done with nature's
weapons of offense or defense. No arms
or clubs were ever used, and an offer to use
anything but hands, feet or teeth would re-
sult in such a system of ostracism as would
compel the offender to leave the community
in disgrace. No blow was ever struck after
one or the other cried "nuff," which was
an acknowledgment of the other's suprem-
acy, and the victor and vanquished, with
the friends of both, would celebrate the
event with liberal potations of "black strop,"
and not infrequently the principals de-
veloped, out of so strange and strenuous an
acquaintance, a devoted friendship that
death alone could dissolve.
In the fall of the year shooting matches
were often indulged in open to all, in which
the best shot took one hind quarter of a
beef, the second best shot took the other,
while the third and fourth best took the
forequarters, respectively, while the fifth
best shot received the "fifth quarter," as the
hide and tallow were called. Cattle being so
cheap, the prize was not of so much value
as the reputation of being" the best shot.
The writer has known hunters who would
deem themselves disgraced if they shot a
squirrel anywhere but in the eye.
The'"hoss" race was another form of
amusement among the younger men. Each,
of course, would "brag" about the good
qualities of his horse until a race was ar-
HKI.XKEKIIOFF S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
ranged. There were no rules but a place
and time to start and a point at which the
course was to end. Rarely was there any
stake other than the glory of beating the
other horse. Quarter horses were in the
highest repute, that is a horse that ran his
best race in a quarter of a mile and did not
last much beyond that distance. The horses
of that day were untrained and of no par-
ticular stock, yet some of them developed
considerable speed and good staying quali-
ties, but on a modern race course the best
of them would be sadly out of place. The
swine of that day were of the hazel-splitting,
razor-backed kind, usually, and were per-
mitted to run wild in the woods almost from
birth, with only an occasional feeding of
corn, and were frequently "mast" fattened,
as a hog fattened on nuts and acorns was
called, and a good mast year produced an
abundance of rich, juicy, well-flavored pork,
somewhat too oily, to be sure, but tooth-
some nevertheless. The hams, shoulders
and sides were salted and smoked with the
smoke from hickory wood, and had a flavor
that modern methods cannot give.
The dress of both men and women was
home made, both as to material and tailor-
ing, and was of the plainest linen for sum-
mer and linsey woolsey for the women in
winter, and jeans for the men. All were
made by hand, from the stalk of flax or the
back of the sheep, and the housewife was
kept busy from early morn to late at night
with card, or spinning wheel or loom, and
when resting the knitting needle was ever
flying in skillful fingers, fashioning the mit-
tens or socks or comforters for the men-
folks, who, in her mind, always must first be
provided for. The covering for the head was
often a cap made from the skin of a "coon"
or other animal, with the fur still on and the
tail hanging down behind as an ornament,
while the women wore a quilted hood or a
small shawl, or the eternal sunbonnet. The
footwear was homemade also. either
moccasins of deer hide, or shoes or boots
of leather, tanned at home or by some
neighbor, and made up by the head of the
family or by one more skilled, if such there
were in the neighborhood. But in summer
both men and women frequently, and chil-
dren always, went barefooted, and many a
blushing damsel would walk miles on Sun-
day morning to meeting barefooted, carrying
her shoes and stockings in her hand, and
just before coming in sight of the meeting
sit down on a log or stump and put them
on, doing this to save shoe leather, and
there be today a few grand old dames in
Marion county who had such experience as
this. Courtships were generally brief, and
usually ended in happy marriages. Divorce,
that curse of modern times, that hellish
threat against the home, was almost un-
known, and the divorcee was looked upon
with suspicion and contempt by all. The
pioneer was content with his lot, but con-
tent only because he saw in the future his
lands increase in value, his stock grow more
and more of worth, and his comforts in-
crease with the years, an honest reward for
honest toil. He saw the little clearing grow
into fertile fields, the cabin of his early
io8
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
years replaced by a larger and better home,
and the evening of life, surrounded by chil-
dren in homes of their own, cast a glow of
satisfaction over his toil that is unknown
to this more mercenary generation.
The home of the settler was at first
usually a one-room, log cabin, to which
were added a room or two as necessity and
opportunity required or permitted. Logs
were cut in the immediate vicinity of the
cabin site to the required length, and if
time was not too pressing they were hewn
to a flat surface on two opposite sides.
making a timber about six or eight inches
thick. These were "snaked" to the cabin
site, and on the set day the entire neighbor-
hood of men and boys gathered to the
"raising." The party was divided into two
squads, each under a captain, and four ex-
pert axmen, chosen as "cornermen." Pil-
lars had been placed in the ground to sup-
port the building. The first logs were
placed on opposite sides and parallel to each
other, the parts resting on the pillars being
flattened by the axmen so as to lie steadily
on the supports. On these were then
placed logs, hewn flat on one side,
at right angles to the two foundation logs,
and at spaces of about two feet apart, form-
ing the sleepers to support the floor. The
axmen now each took position at his cor-
ner, and logs were brought and rolled up
"skids" at the sides and ends alternately.
The axmen notched the ends so that the
bottom of one log fitted over the end of the
log beneath, thus binding the building to-
gether. Thus the process was repeated until
the required height was reached, when the
gables were made by making each end log
shorter than the preceding one by the length
of the clapboard, with which the roof was
to be made, the side logs being drawn in,
forming a slant for the roof. Clapboards,
which had been riven from a straight-
grained oak, were then laid from one log-
to the next above until the roof was com-
plete. Weight poles, i. e., poles laid on the
clapboards to hold them down, were placed
and pinned fast by wooden pins, holding
them securely. An opening was then cut in
one end, usually about six feet square, in
which was built a fireplace of logs, the in-
side of which was thickly coated with clay,
and a "chimbly" was built of small split
sticks, laid in clay and also coated on the
inside with clay. This clay when submitted
to the action of the fire, burned almost to the
hardness of brick, and protected the wooden
framework of the fireplace and chimney.
Xext a place for a door was cut, and a
rough door made of slats split from a log
and pinned to a crosspiece at top and bot-
tom with wooden pins. The crosspieces ex-
tended a few inches past the door on one
side and a hole was bored in the end to serve
as a hinge. The ends of the logs cut to
form the threshold were held in place by up-
rights. Pinned to the logs on these up-
rights, were fastened pieces of wood, so
shaped as to form the bottom part of the
hinge, and the door placed in position and
swinging on the pivots thus formed, a
wooden latch with a leather thong thrust
through a hole so as to hang outside, so
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
109
that by pulling it the latch was raised and
the door free to be opened. The door was
locked by pulling the string inside, so that
no one from the outside could raise the latch.
This method of fastening is handed down
to us in the hospitable phrase "that the latch
string is always out to you." A floor of
puncheons, or slabs split from logs, was
then laid and roughly hewn, and the house
was done.
A day of toil and a day of jollity was
often ended with a dance or a party for the
young people, either in the new house or
the home of some neighbor, where true
frontier hospitality was dispensed with a
lavish, if uncouth, hand. Often when the
men set a day for the "raising," the women
set the same day for a quilting at some near
home, and spent the day quilting and cook-
ing, the later often out of doors, if the
weather was warm, and improvised tables
and often wooden platters for dishes were
filled with such viands as only the frontier
can provide. Corn bread, bear meat, veni-
son, pork, beef, one or all, the succulent
succotash, i. e., green corn and string
beans cooked together, Irish and sweet po-
tatoes, pumpkin and squash as a "sass," or
in pies, with milk or tea from the root of
the sassafras, wild honey or maple molasses
furnished a meal that fitted the needs of the
hardy backwoodsman, and one to which he
did ample justice. Such a meal for twenty
hungry men could be furnished without
the outlay of a single penny, as everything
was the product of the farm or forest and
represented labor but not money, as no mar-
ket for these was within reach. Corn bread
was made in various ways. The most gen-
eral was the hoe cake and Johnny cake, and
these only differed in the method of baking.
Corn bread was baked before the fire in a
"Dutch" oven with live coals under it and a
shovelful of live coals placed on the lid.
The hoe cake was originally baked by be-
ing placed on the blade of a hoe or shovel
and placed on the live coals, the bread being
uncovered. The Johnny cake, like the hoe
cake, was molded by the hands into a
small oblong loaf and then baked before the
fire on a board, much as the planked fish of
today is cooked. The ingredients were
water, salt, meal and perhaps a little grease,
and to the veteran of pioneer days no sponge
or other cake can equal the hoe cake or the
Johnny cake of his childhood days.
Whiskey made from corn was found in
every house, and everyone drank more or
less, although it was usually confined to the
morning dram. Drunkenness was almost
unknown, and it was the custom to show
the hospitality of the home by producing
the bottle. No thought of discourtesy
entered the mind of either when the minister
was offered the contents of "Black Bettie"
after his journey through the wilderness or
the exertion of a two hours' discourse.
Whiskey was only worth about twenty cents
a gallon, and as it was made from corn that
was still cheaper, it was pure and not so
harmful as the vile chemical compound now
sold as whiskey. But with the springing up
of villages with their "doggeries," a change
of sentiment took place, and ere long the
BRINKERHOFFS HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
habit of whiskey drinking began to be
looked upon with disfavor, and so far as
home drinking is concerned has passed
away, we trust, forever.
An early marriage in the early day
was encouraged among folks, and it was
not uncommon for a youth of seventeen or
eighteen to marry a girl of fourteen or
fifteen. The responsibilities of life thus as-
sumed early developed a spirit of independ-
ence and self-help on the part of the young
couple, and a wedding of that day was an
event in which the whole settlement took
interest, and as everybody who heard of the
wedding was considered invited, it often as-
sumed large if not elaborate proportions.
The following description of one told by a
participant is vividly remembered and may
be taken as a standard by which to guage the
wedding festivities of an early day in the
then great West, of which Marion county
was a part. The groom's family lived in
what is now Salem township, and the bride's
home was six or seven miles distant to the
west, in what is now the McClelland or
Deadman settlement. On the morning of
the wedding day the groom, in company
with all the young people of both sex who
resided in the settlement, twenty or twenty-
five, on horseback, started to the home of
the bride's parents. Arriving in sight of
the house, the cavalcade was halted by the
master of ceremonies and two of the young
men told off to race for "Black Bettie." Off
they went, as fast as their horses could go
and yelling like wild Indians. They were
met at the door, up to which they rode, by
the man of the house who handed a squat,
black bottle to the one who first arrived.
He then rode back to the waiting party in
triumph, followed by his unsuccessful,
though by no means cast-down rival. The
bottle was presented to the groom and then
passed from hand to hand until all had
tasted, when the line of march was resumed.
When the house was reached the girls were
helped off their horses and went into the
house, where soon everyone was busy help-
ing to get dinner, while the young men at-
tended to the horses. After they had
finished this task they passed the time in
wrestling, boxing, running, jumping and
other athletic sports. At about two o'clock
dinner was "called," when the men, with
faces shining from a vigorous scrubbing in
cold water with soft soap and hair plastered
down with bear oil, seated themselves on
puncheon benches on either side of a long
table, to be waited on by the girls, who
waited until the men had eaten, when, at a
signal from the master of ceremonies, a
"grace" was said, and all turned their at-
tention to the repast that, though common
enough then, could not be duplicated now
for love or money.
The afternoon was spent in games of
various sorts, the bride-to-be keeping out of
the way to avoid the rough, though kindly,
jokes that would be "cracked" at her expense.
At about six o'clock in the evening the
preacher arrived, and with a whoop and
hurrah, the guests assembled in the largest
room in the house and a profound silence
fell upon the crowd. The groom stood be-
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
in
fore the preacher and the bridesmaids led
the blushing bride to his side, and amid a
solemn stillness, the minister's voice only be-
ing heard, they were made one of twain.
Hardly were the words spoken, when with
eager steps the friends pressed forward to
offer congratulations, fervent and sincere.
Supper was then eaten, after which the
room was cleared, and to the old backwood's
tunes of "Arkansas Traveler," "Hell up the
Wabash" and the "Devil's Dream," accom-
panied by the constant pat-pat of the
fiddler's foot, the frolic began. At about
eleven o'clock a halt was called, when a bevy
of girls, who had slipped the bride away and
put her to bed in the loft, as the upper room
was called, entered. This was the signal to
the "boys," and they seized the groom and
hustled him upstairs and acted as grooms
until he too was disrobed and was tucked in,
when they returned below. The dance be-
gan again and was kept up until daylight,
or if the fiddler grew weary, they sat out the
night. Next morning, after a hearty break-
fast, the cavalcade formed with gaily decked
horses with such finery as the times afforded
and took up the line of march to the home of
the groom's parents to partake of the "in-
fare" dinner, where much the same proceed-
ings were had. On the third day the guests
went home, after appointing a time to come
and help the young people build a house,
if one had not already been built, and do
such other things as might help start the
newly married couple well on the road
toward home-building.
Births in that early day were in the hands
of the older women of the settlements and
were rarely attended with unpleasant or dan-
gerous consequences. Large families was
the rule, and it was a matter of pride to be
the parents of a dozen or more hearty girls
and boys. Sickness was rare, except chills
and fever in the fall, or, as it was generally
called, the ague, in which, in the first stage,
a coldness that no fire could warm took hold
of the victim, and he shook and shivered so
severely that the bed would shake and even
the dishes in the cupboard rattle. After an
hour or two of this paroxysm the patient
began to get warm and was soon in the
agony of a raging fever. In an hour or two
more this would pass and the patient, ap-
parently none the worse for his shake, went
about his business until the second day,
when the attack invariably returned. Qui-
nine was the remedy invariably used in this
disease, which was considered the only help-
ful remedy, and is so regarded by many to-
day. Calomel was generally taken to get
rid of the malaria. Billions fever some-
times developed, but generally yielded to the
calomel and quinine treatment, which, if
somewhat heroic, was generally successful
after the disease had run its course. Some
years the ague was much worse than others,
and at times there were not enough well to
wait on the sick. Often the entire family
would be down at once and no one to give
them even a drop of water. In winter the
most common disease was winter fever, now
known under its proper name of pneumonia.
BRINKERHOFF S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
It was the most fatal frontier disease, prob-
ably because of a lack of proper treatment.
Doctors at first were unknown in the set-
tlements, but soon one would locate some-
where within a day's ride of every settle-
ment, and it was a common thing for the
doctor's practice to extend over a radius of
twenty or even thirty miles. With more
cultivation of land the ague has almost dis-
appeared, and this generation cannot be-
lieve the tales told of the ague in the past
as they know of nothing like it in the pres-
ent, yet they are true as the testimony of
many witnesses will prove. Deaths oc-
curred then as now, and sickness was the
one thing that brought forth kindly sym-
pathy and help of the whole settlement.
Neighbors took time about sitting up with
the sick, acting as nurses and doing the work
of the stricken one. No thought of recom-
pense, save in kind, ever entered the mind of
any. One case is known where the men of
a neighborhood divided the time, three tak-
ing every night until the nine men had each
served, then the first three again, and so on
every third night and kept this up for more
than a year until the sufferer died, having
been bedridden the entire time.
Funerals were conducted by the settlers
themselves, no undertakers being in the lo-
cality. The coffin was generally a plain,
wooden box that some settler, handy with
tools, made, and the men of the neighbor-
hood, acted as sextons and dug the grave.
The coffin was hauled to the bury-
ing place on a sled or in a farm wagon, if
any distance, and after a prayer by some
older man of the community was deposited
in the grave, which was then filled up by
relays of the neighbors, all staying until the
little mound was shaped and smoothly
patted down by the spades of the workers.
If, as was often the case, the burial was or.
the land of the family, the body was carried
to the grave. In any case the announcement
was made that the funeral would be
preached by Brother So-and-so, at his next
visit to the settlement, often six or more
months in the future. The writer remem-
bers, that when a child he heard a funeral
preached of a woman who had been dead
more than a year. Times have changed;
the pioneer is no more in Illinois, but his
handiwork remains. They had their joys,
different from the joys of their grand-
children, but no less joys, and no less ap-
preciated. His sorrows, like our sorrows,
were no less poignant ; his hopes as high and
his desires as strong; his love as true; his
hates as bitter; his heart as brave and true
and patriotic as any that beats today. With
the ax he hewed out the pathway of empire,
and with the rifle he defended what he
gained. Honest himself, he trusted others;
hospitable, he shared his little all with who-
ever came, and no more thought of receiv-
ing pay than he would have thought of of-
fering pay. But they are gone. They sleep
on the hilltop or in the valley where loving
hands laid them, and the world moves on,
and they who labored and loved and suffered
and departed in the early days of Marion,
are only a fast disappearing vision of the
past.
BRIXKKRHOR- S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
LOCATION OF MARION COUNTY.
Marion county is in the center of what
is called "Egypt," the west line sixty-one
miles east from St. Louis, and the east line
about the same distance west from Vin-
cennes. It is as has been already stated, a
square county. Through the county from
east to west, passes the B. & O. S.-W. Rail-
way, formerly the Ohio & Mississippi Rail-
way, about two miles south of the center
and nearly parallel with an east and west
line drawn through the center. The Illinois
Central Railway passes near the west line of
the county and nearly parallel with it from
north to south, while the Chicago branch of
the Central leaves the main line at the north-
ern line of Centralia township and runs
diagonally northeast to the north line of the
county, about six miles west of the north-
east corner of the county. The Chicago
& Eastern Illinois, or the Chicago, Padu-
cah & Memphis, as it was originally called,
enters the county on the north about two
miles west of the Chicago branch of the
Central, passes south, crossing the branch
at Kinmundy, passing exactly over the cern
ter of the county to Salem, where it crosses
the B. & O. S.-W., thence southeast, leaving
the county on the south about ten miles west
of the southeast corner of the county. The
Illinois Southern Railway begins at Salem,
near the center of the county, and runs south-
west, intersecting the branch and Central at
the "Junction," i. e., at the point where the
branch leaves the main line of the Central
and passes over the Central tracks through
the city of Centralia, then on tracks of its
own leaves the county on the west near the
southwest comer of the county, making in
all exclusive of side tracks, about one hun-
dred and ten miles of railroad in the county
limits. The Illinois Central branch is double
tracked, and it, as also the C. & E. I., are
constantly being pounded by the wheels of
monster engines. At no time is one out of
sight until the smoke of another may be seen
coming or going to or from that which was
less than eighty years ago, placed on the
maps as a village of Pike county, the mar-
velous city of Chicago.
There are no navigable streams in or bor-
dering Marion county, but it is well watered
by "creeks," some of which are of consider-
able size. The largest are East Fork in the
northwest, Skillet Fork in the southeast,
and Raccoon and Crooked Creeks the south
and southwest. These with their dozens of
branches permeating every part of the
county, give an abundant water supply and
afford a splendid system of drainage. The
county occupies the water shed between the
Wabash on the east and the Okaw, or Kas-
kaskia on the west, East Fork and Crooked
Creek flowing into the Kaskaskia, and Skil-
let Fork and its branches into the Wabash.
BRINKERHOFF S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
MINERAL RESOURCES.
The mineral resources of the county, so
far as lias been ascertained, consist of an
abundance of bituminous coal, underlying
all parts of the country. Mines have
been developed in Centralia, Sandoval,
Odin, Kinmundy and Salem town-
ships, of which more will be said
in the description of the several townships.
It may be said here, however, that the mines
are in some parts among the deepest in the
state and produce coal of a very superior
quality. Sandstone is found in several parts
of the county, but no quarries have been
opened for commercial purposes. It is of a
very soft character when first quarried, but
hardens on exposure to the air, and will
some day be of value for building purposes.
Mineral oil, so-called petroleum, of com-
merce, has been found in various parts of the
county, notably at Alma, where a well was
bored about 1805, and about three miles
north of Centralia, where oil was struck in
October, 1908. The Alma well was a pros-
pect hole, and was never "shot," but as
soon as it was ascertained oil was present
the prospectors plugged the well and re-
moved the machinery, so it is unknown to
the public whether it is in sufficient quanti-
ties to pay or not. The well north of Cen-
tralia was "shot" and oil of a superior qual-
ity was found in good quantity. The com-
pany, which is composed of citizens of Sa-
lem, as soon as they discovered they had
struck it rich, closed the well temporarily,
and immediately began preparations to bore
another well in the near neighborhood of
the first, which second well is nearing com-
pletion. Several other wells are under con-
tract, one, a mile south of Salem, is awaiting
the completion of a well elsewhere, so that
the drilling outfit may be moved to the pro-
posed location. What the "find" will be, or
what results may be obtained from the Mar-
ion county oil field cannot be now safely
predicted, and must be left to the historian
of the future to describe. We can only say
that the oil experts say that the oil .sand
extends across the county in a northeast to
southwest direction, and is about twelve
miles wide, with Salem in the exact center
of the strip. But as the locating of oil in the
earth is not an exact science, it can only be
known what is below the surface by boring
through the stratas until oil is reached or the
work abandoned. The surface of the county
is level, slightly undulating in parts, only
breaking into hills of no great altitude near
the larger streams.
Originally about two-thirds of the county
was covered with a magnificent growth of
timber, about one-third being prairie. The
timber has been cut and sold or burned in the
logheaps of the pioneer until now, in 1908,
there is no timber worth mentioning in Mar-
ion county. The timber consisted of rock,
and black sugar maple and soft maple, four
varieties of hickory, four of ash, white and
black walnut, sycamore, aspen, cottonwood,
burr, post, white, swamp, laurel, black,
yellowbark, red, scarlet and pin oaks, sev-
BRINKERHOFF S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
eral species of the willows, red, white,
cork and hickory elms, with a few buck-
eye, hackberry, beach, the alders, service
berry, indigo and lead bushes, birch and
beach in localities, red bud, bitter-sweet,
button bush, dogwood, wild cherry of
three varieties, Kinnickinnick willow, the
osiers, hazelnut, haws, red and black
leatherwood, wahoo, honey locust, witch
hazel, coffeenut, a few cedars, mulberries,
woodbine, moonseed, ironwood, wild plum,
crab apple, sumach, poison ivy, wild goose-
berry, black currant, wild roses, elderberry,
sassafras, buffalo-berry, coralberry, trumpet
creeper, bass-wood, summer and win-
ter grape, prickly ash, spicebush, the
black and red raspberries and black
locust. The above list comprises all
the woody plants found native to
the county, many of which were plentifully
distributed in the timbered part of the
county. Of these many are of great
value in building and in manufacturing;
others are of great value in medicine, and
others have yet no value known to man, but
doubtless in the future a value now unknown
will be discovered.
Among the native grasses is the red
top, nimble will, bluejoint (now almost
obliterated), orchard grass, the blue
grasses, reeds, cane, raggrass, vernal
grass, canary grass, crabgrass, witch-
grass, barnyard grass, foxtail, bottle grass,
wild millet, wild oats, broonbeard grass,
of these the most common was the redtop
and blue grass of the timber land, and the
two varieties of prairie grass, one of which
grows on the higher land, the other in the
low wet lands or sloughs. The first grows
from eighteen inches to two feet high, and
has almost no stem, and is excellent for
stock food, both as pasture or when cut and
dried into "prairie hay." The other called
"bluejoint," has a jointed stem nearly as
large as a lead pencil with joints eight or
ten inches long, and often grew to the height
of eight or ten feet, and so thick that a man
on horseback could not be seen any distance.
This grass was ornamented with a feathery,
tasseled top, and waving in the sunlight was
not unlike the gentle billows of an inland
lake in its wave-like motion. It was this
grass burning that rendered the prairie fire
of an early day so feared by the settlers, and
no way was ever devised to protect the set-
tler or camper against destruction but to
fight fire with fire, that is to fire the grass
on the side from which the fire threatened,
and letting it burn toward the advancing
wall of flame, and stamping out while under
control the grass on the side which was to
be protected.
-SUCKER STAT
IGIN OF NAMES.
All southern Illinois has been called by the
nickname of "Egypt." The origin is not
far to look for. In the settlement of the
prairie portion of the state, when emigration
was pouring into its borders so fast that
famine often threatened not only the stock
of the emigrant but of the emigrant himself,
they journeyed with great wagon trains into
u6
BRINKERIJOFF S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
the older settled portions of the state, i. e.,
southern Illionis, often a dozen neighbors
with their wagons going together to get
com enough to tide them over until the
first crop could be grown, and they likened
their journey to that of old, when the breth-
ren of Joseph went down into Egypt to buy
corn. Hence "going down into Egypt"
became a common expression, and like many
other expressions, it took root in the lan-
guage of the people and the name remains
long after the necessity which gave rise to
it has passed away. Illinois is also called
the "Sucker State," and this name, like all
others that emanate from the people, ex-
presses an idea and conveyed a meaning,
which is almost lost with the passing
of the necessity for its original use.
It is well known that in the late
summer and early fall, southern and
middle Illinois is subject to extreme
drought, often so long continued that water
is not to be found for long distances across
the prairies, except as obtained by the arts
of man. Yet while the surface water is dried
up along the sloughs, the crayfish, with un-
erring instinct, bore their tiny wells, which
they indicate by the "chimneys" which they
rear above the surface, often many inches.
These crayfish wells vary from three feet
to fourteen feet in depth, and invariably
reach an abundance of clear, sparkling
water. The early travelers, especially the
surveyors of the government land, knowing
this fact, provided themselves with long,
jointed sections of cane, such as is used for
fishing poles, and by thrusting them down
crayfish wells could suck up an ample drink
of pure, cool water, and thus be able to con-
tinue the work at a time when otherwise
they would be forced to wait for rain. This
habit or practice soon gave the name
"Sucker" to the surveying parties which
gradually became general in its application
to the whole people of the state, and thus
to the inventive genius of some unknown
chain-carrier is the great state of Illinois in-
debted for her familiar cognomen of
"Sucker State." In regard to Marion
county being in Egypt, all citizens are proud
of the appellation. The following letter will
throw some light on the subject and give
the above as the correct version of the origin
of -the name Egypt. The writer is a grand-
son of Gov. Zadock Casey, who was not
only a pioneer, but a man of great ability
and of good education and who loved all
southern Illinois, and especially Marion
county, which he always regarded as his
political child, and of which he was very
proud, and in return the name of Gov. Za-
dock Casey is held in loving memory by
those remaining of the citizens of the early
days of the county. The writer is one of
the Circuit Judges from this circuit, now on
the bench filling his second term, and a law-
yer of fine ability and great learning, and
one who has had exceptional advantages in
acquiring knowledge of the matters whereof
he speaks. The letter is as follows :
"Centralia, 111., Aug. 22nd, 1908.
"Dear Professor :
"I have often heard Gov. Zadock Casey,
my grandfather, who came to Jefferson
BRINKERHOFFS HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
117
county in 1817, say that southern Illinois
was called Egypt from the fact that in an
early day, the exact year I can't now recall,
but in the twenties I think, there was
throughout the central and northern part of
the state an almost total failure of the corn
crop, while in southern Illinois there was
an abundant and overflowing crop, that
people, by every then known conveyance,
came down from the central and northern
parts of the state into southern Illinois after
corn, hence the name Egypt.
"Twenty-five or more years ago Web-
ster's Unabridged Dictionary said, under the
head of Names of Fiction : Southern Illinois
sometimes called 'Egypt' on account of the
supposed ignorance of the inhabitants
thereof. I wrote the publishers that they
did great injustice to southern Illinois, and
gave them the origin of the name 'Egypt'
as it had come to me. Subsequent editions
of the dictionary eliminated the objection-
able features.
"Very truly yours,
"S. L. DWIGHT."
FIRST SETTLEMENT.
The first white man who selected Marion
county as a spot on which to build a home
was Samuel Young. The story of his life at
this time reads like a romance. He was born
and reared in Virginia, but migrated with
his family to Tennessee, where he was
blessed with a large family consisting of four
girls and two boys. The eldest, Jane Young,
married Robert Snodgrass, who was one of
the company whea the Young family moved
to Marion county. Samuel Young with his
wife and youngest child, Mathew, came to
Illinois and stopped at Shawneetown about
the year 1803, and remained there about six
years. The rest of the family, some of whom
were married, remained in Tennessee until
the father should find a suitable location,
when they were to come. About 1810 Mrs.
Young died near Shawneetown and Mr.
Young, who had not been satisfied to bring
his family there, took his son Mathew, then
a boy of eleven years, and with no other
companion traversed across southern Illi-
nois to New Madrid, Missouri, occupying
some months in the journey, stopping as
fancy dictated, and arriving at New Madrid
in the fall, where they proceeded to build
themselves a cabin, and were living there
when the New Madrid earthquake occurred
on the night of November 16, 1811. The
following description of the earthquake is
taken from the scientific writings of Russell
Hinman, an authority on earthquake phe-
nomena :
"In 1811 an earthquake shook the entire
territory between western Texas and Wash-
ington City, and the Gulf of Mexico and the
Great Lakes, an area of more than a million
n8
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
square miles. It was caused by subterra-
nean movements which occasioned the set-
tling to a depth of fifteen or twenty feet of
a large district about New Madrid, Mis-
souri, below the juncture of the Ohio and
Mississippi rivers. Portions of the sunken
district twenty miles or more in length were
afterward flooded by the river, and became
Reelfoot Lake in northwestern Tennessee,
and Big Lake between Missouri and Arkan-
sas."
The inhabitants thought the end of the
earth had come, and fled in all directions.
I have often listened to the son, Mathew,
tell of the event, as I knew him quite well,
and had the honor of preaching his funeral-
as well as that of his wife, who lived some
years longer. His recollections of that
startling event were as follows:
"My father and I heard the rumbling and
felt the earth shake the cabin. We were
frightened and gathered together what
clothes we could and ran out just in time to
escape the logs falling on us, as our cabin
fell down. People were running in all di-
rections, frightened out of their senses; we
did not know what to do nor where to go,
but when we realized that it was an earth-
quake we became less frightened and de-
termined to await the outcome, and for
about two weeks we stayed at the place. On
the morning of November I7th, when day-
light came, a strange sight met our eyes.
The ground was opened in wide cracks into
which one might have fallen; trees were
twisted like ropes and broken and splin-
tered ; great trees were split from top to bot-
tom, so that one half would be one one side
and the other half on the other side of the
crack in the earth ; every chimney was down
and nearly every house, none escaped ; some
were turned around and what few stood at
all were so badly wrecked as to be worth-
less and dangerous. The quaking continued
at intervals all winter, even as far as here,
but only light shakes. While the quake was
severest the ground rose and fell like waves
and for a time the water of the river ran up
stream."
Samuel Young and the boy, Mathew,
then eleven years old, determined to return
to Shawneetown, as they had had quite
enough of New Madrid, but concluded to
explore more of the Illinois country on the
way back. They came up the river to Kas-
kaskia, and started with the few belongings
they had saved at the time of the destruc-
tion of their New Madrid home. With a
rifle each, a little meal, a skillet or two and
a few such necessary articles as they might
carry, started on foot and alone on the old
Vincennes trace across the wilderness. They
arrived in Marion county late in December,
1811, and as there was heavy snow falling
they resolved to camp for the winter near a
band of friendly Indians. The spot selected
was on the bank of the creek southwest from
the city of Salem about six miles, not far
from where the iron bridge spans the creek
at the present time. Here they constructed
a rude camp, first selecting a huge log for
the north wall ; with poles and brush and
bark they formed the sides and top, leaving
most of the south side open, before which
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
119
they kept a fire burning, and thus in what to
them was comfort they passed the winter of
1811 and 1812. With the spring they re-
sumed their journey, and as the old man had
found a land to suit him he resolved to re-
turn to Tennessee and bring the whole fam-
ily to Illinois. This he accomplished in
1813, accompanied by his son, James Young,
his son-in-law, Robert Snodgrass, as well as
the other children, and bringing with them
such conveniences and necessaries as the
times afforded or demanded. They brought
some stock also with them, having driven
them all the way on foot. They brought
also horses, wagons and a few farm imple-
ments, the inevitable spinning wheel, as well
as seeds and provisions of meal, and that
article so necessary in all communities, salt.
They arrived in Marion county in the month
of August, 1813.
When Captain Young came to the county
in 1813 there were no white settlers on the
west nearer than Carlyle, then little more
than a fort or blockhouse, about sixteen
feet square and palisaded, and was built in
1811 as a post for the Illinois Rangers, for
the protection of outlying settlements. This
fort stood on the west bank of the Kaskas-
kia, directly east from what is now the court
house square. It was on the trail to St.
Louis, then but a small village, and this fort
soon became the center of a small settle-
ment known as Old Carlyle, so that in 1813
the nearest neighbors on the west were at
least a good twenty-five miles away, while
no fort or settlement was on Illinois soil be-
tween what is now Salem and the Wabash
river on the east. The only paths of travel
or trails as then called, crossing the county
were the Vincennes trail, the Vincennes and
St. Louis trail, which branched off from the
Vincennes and Kaskaskia trail and passed
west through the present site of Salem to
the fort at Carlyle, thence west to the settle-
ment on Silver Creek, now known as Leb-
anon, thence to St. Louis, and the trail
known as the "Goshen Road" which passed
by the fort at Carlyle and bore a southeast
direction, through Walnut Hill to the Ohio
Saltworks.
Marion county was literally overrun by
wild beasts, they having withdrawn from a
nearer proximity to the settlements. Wild
cats, bears and an occasional panther or
"painter" as the pioneers called them,
wolves, with the smaller and less dangerous
animals rendered stock raising a task that
required all the care and watchfulness of the
settler and his family. Elk, deer, buffalo,
with many other less prominent species of
wild food animals provided meats, and often
attracted large bands of Indians to the
bounteous hunting grounds of Marion
county, as many as five hundred at times
camping on some stream overran the adja-
cent county and while generally peaceable,
kept so by fear of the whites and of the
dreaded Rangers of St. Clair county, yet
they were a thieving crew and would com-
mit murder if vigilance relaxed.
The last and indeed what is believed to
be the only battle fought between the whites
and Indians here, was fought in 1813, in
Salem township, near the Stevenson town-
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
ship line, between a party of Rangers from
St. Clair county, under Captain Whiteside.
A band of Indians had massacred a family
of whites near Kaskaskia. Captain White-
side in command of twenty Rangers, pur-
sued them, overtaking . them in the heavy
timber bordering the small creek about one
mile south of the present home of John M.
Green, Esq. In the fight among the trees
one white man and five Indians were slain
when night put an end to the battle. During
the night the few remaining Indians fled,
and the Rangers gave up the pursuit. It
has been sometimes erroneously stated that
it was in this battle that Captain Harvey lost
his life, but Captain Harvey was killed some
years before, at what is now known as Har-
vey's Point, and his grave may be faintly
traced a few yards west and north of the
spot where the old Harvey's Point church
stood. The circumstances of Captain Har-
vey's death are as follows: About the year
1810 horsestealing became so common in
the settlements along the Wabash from Vin-
cennes to Shawneetown and also in the
settlements along the Mississippi and Kas-
kaskia, that the pioneers decided to break
up the business at all hazards, and with this
end in view mercilessly pursued the thieves
whenever a horse was stolen. The thieves
stealing in the Wabash county would lose
themselves in the Illinois wilderness and
eventually make their way to the settlements
on the west side of the state, and the horses
stolen in the west settlement were disposed
of in the Wabash settlements, thus lessening
the chance of detection. Captain Harvey
with one companion was in chase of one of
these thieves and succeeded in capturing
him somewhere west of Marion county, and
with his companion was taking him to Vin-
cennes. They were on horseback and when
they reached the hill known since as Har-
vey's Point it was near sundown and they
concluded to camp for the night. They dis-
mounted and laid the thief, whose hands and
feet were tied, on the ground ; they then
built a fire and having placed their rifles
against a tree near at hand, while making
camp, they carelessly went to the little
"branch" a few yards away to wash and get
water. The thief had in the meantime man-
aged to get his hands out of the rope bonds,
quickly untied his feet, siezed the guns with-
out attracting the attention of his captors.
As Harvey and his companion returned
they were confronted by the outlaw who
commanded them to halt, but Harvey did
not heed the command and the outlaw fired
and killed him instantly. Thus paying with
his life the violation of the pioneer's first
law, never to leave your gun out of reach at
any time. Harvey's companion was forced
to permit the thief to mount one of the
horses and ride away. Harvey's companion
managed to get the body of his chief up into
the branches of a tree and tied it there out
of the reach of wild animals and rode to
Vincennes, collected a small force and re-
turned to the place of the murder, buried
the body and endeavored to trail the thief,
but were unsuccessful ; as he was never ap-
prehended it is supposed he hid himself in
the French or Spanish settlements west of
the Mississippi.
Another version of the death of Captain
JRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Harvey, differing only in details, is that the
thief was caught at Vincennes and they were
returning to Kaskaskia, when the tragedy
occurred, and that the companion of Harvey
buried him as best he could and returned to
Kaskaskia for a burying party, who on ar-
riving at the scene of the murder found that
the wolves had dug up the body and partly
devoured it, they gathered up the scattered
remains and buried them in a grave which
may be seen at the present time.
Shortly after Captain Young, his son
James and his son-in-law, Robert Snod-
grass, settled on Vermillion creek, just west
of Salem, or the next year, 1814, James
Pyles, another son-in-law of Samuel Young,
came to Marion county. He was a native of
Kentucky and resided near and in Salem
until 1840. when he removed to Missouri.
About the same time two brothers, Jacob
and William Albert, followed the Youngs
from the same neighborhood in Tennessee.
Jacob was married to Patsey Young in 1816
by Abia Lee, acting Justice of the Peace,
and who had come to the county about two
years before. Rufus Ricker came from
Indiana and settled at Walnut Hill in 1819,
and in 1823 moved to what is now Salem,
where he and Mark Tully settled. The lat-
ter came from Indiana in 1821, having mi-
grated from Tennessee when quite a young
man. He settled with his family about three
miles west of Salem, bought out James Rob-
erts who had donated thirty acres of land in
section 1 1 to the county. Roberts returned
to Indiana and Ricker and Tully carried out
the contract with the county that Roberts
had made, giving a deed dated June 6, 1826.
Both Ricker and Tully were very prominent
men in the early history of the county.
About this time what is known as the Roach
farm about three miles from Salem, was
settled by William Boyle and his sister An-
nis, who ran away from their home in Ken-
tucky and came to Marion county on foot.
Boyle often told of having plowed the
ground and cultivated corn where the city
of Salem now stands. Annis died in 1877,
and William passed away some years later.
Joseph Hensley was born in Virginia in
1784 and removed to Kentucky, and from
there to Illinois, and settled at Walnut Hill
in 1818. He had six children, and there are
many of his descendants still living in this
county, and are among our best people. It
is claimed that Marion Hensley was the first
child of white parentage born in the county
after its organization, and for that reason
was named Marion. Israel Jennings, Sr.,
came from Kentucky in 1819, and settled
two miles west of Walnut Hill. He was the
great-grandfather of William Jennings
Bryan. He was well-to-do for that day, and
improved a large tract of land. His family
consisted of four sons and four daughters.
He was a man of strong mind and noble
character. He represented the county in the
legislature one term and lived to be nearly-
one hundred years old, dying in 1870, leav-
ing a large landed estate to his children, a
part at least of which is still held by the
family. He kept his coffin in his house
more than forty years. This was not the
result of crankiness as it might seem, but of
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
thoughtfulness, and the event that brought
about the purchase of the coffin occurred in
a very early day, 1819 or 1820. When he
moved to the Hill in 1819 the traveling was
so bad that a part of his goods had to be left
at Shawneetown, and as soon as the family
were located and the necessary work done,
Mr. Jennings went to Shawneetown after
the things, a journey of many days through
an unsettled wilderness. Upon his return he
found that one of his daughters had died,
and that no coffin could be obtained to bury
her in, as there were as yet no saw mills and
no lumber from which to make a coffin, and
so some of the neighbors had felled a tree
and split it in two and by hollowing out the
halves, trough-like, had placed the body
therein, and thus buried it. This made such
an impression on his mind that at the first
opportunity he bought in St. Louis a metal-
lic coffin, so that in case of his death the
family might be spared the worry of procur-
ing a coffin for him, well knowing that in
the event of the death of any other member
of the family he would be able to provide.
Malachi Ware came to Marion county
from Kentucky in 1818. He had seven chil-
dren, one of whom married Mathew Young,
the boy who, in 1811, camped with the In-
dians on Crooked creek. They were married
when Mathew was not quite nineteen and
Miss Ware fourteen. This was doubtless
the first wedding in the county, but long be-
fore the county was formed. Their son,
John Young, who died in 1905, was beyond
doubt the first white child born on what is
now Marion county soil. The writer was
well acquainted with all the parties, and as
minister officiated at the funeral of all three.
James Roberts came to the county in 1818
and settled on section n, where Salem now
stands, and gave the county thirty acres of
land as a county seat, bvit as told already,
sold to Rufus Ricker and Mark Tully, who
made the deed of gift to the county. James
Roberts went back to Indiana but his son
Jesse remained and became Marion county's
first Sheriff. "Black Bear," or Benjamin
Vermillion first settled at Walnut Hill about
1818, afterward moved to Salem township
and improved a farm. He was an eccentric
character. Very dark complexioned and
famous as a bear hunter, hence the nickname
of "Black Bear." He left Marion county
and went to Missouri in the thirties, where
he died. His life was a busy one, and not-
withstanding his eccentricities was a useful
one. He was regarded as a just man and
fearless in the discharge of duty. He was
a member of the Illinois Rangers who did so
much to prevent lawlessness and to protect
the settlements from the Indians in the set-
tlement period of the state. One of the
characters of this period was William
Taylor. He was a bully of the neighbor-
hood and delighted in the rough and tumble
fights of the period, and carried many scars
as a result of his frequent battles, but like
almost all the bullies of his day was a peace-
able neighbor and not at all quarrelsome,
and only showed his fighting proclivities
when meeting fighting men or overwrought
by some injustice to himself or some weaker
party. The advent of Samuel Shook
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
123
marked an era in the annals of the county.
He came in 1820 and located in the Walnut
Hill settlement. He was a Baptist preacher,
and so far as can be ascertained was the
first regular minister to locate in Marion
county. He died shortly afterward, leaving
no family. He was said to be a good man
with ideas of a more liberal character than
many preachers of that day entertained.
The founder of the Foster family in
Marion county was "Uncle Hardy" Foster,
as everyone called him. He was a unique
character, "good as gold." He originally
came from Georgia in 1821, stopped a few
years in St. Clair county, and when Marion
county began to be settled came to the then
wilderness to hunt bears and bees, which
was his favorite occupation. With one
companion, James Jones, he struck up a
camp on the Mt. Vernon and Vandalia
road which was but a track through the
county, and hunted bears and bees most
vigorously. He afterward settled on a farm
which he "hewed from the forest," and be-
came one of the leading citizens of the
county, filling many offices and left a monu-
ment to his memory in the name of Foster
township. His companion, Jones, also set-
tled in the county, and both have a large
number of descendants in the northern part
of the county who are "good citizens and
true." Another of the original characters
among the early settlers was "Nickname"
John Boucher, so called because he never
called anybody by the right name, but nick-
named all his acquaintances. He had a
small mill run by water and ground both
wheat and corn for his neighbors, some of
whom lived fifteen or twenty miles away.
This was not the first mill in the county
but was perhaps the best equipped at that
time. It is told of him that, wishing to
catch his horse one day, he wore himself out
chasing the animal but without avail, so he
concluded to "crease" the horse and so be
able to catch him. To crease an animal is to
fire a rifle ball so as to just touch the top of
the head and "stun" them, so that they may
be caught before they recover. When
Boucher fired the horse fell as was expected,
but when Boucher got to him the horse was
dead. He had "creased" the animal too
well. Boucher left no representatives in this
county, or at least none are known now. It
is thought he moved away at an early day.
During the years 1819 and 1820 several
families settled in different parts of the
county. In the first mentioned year one
Welch settled in Walnut Hill and lived there
on a farm several years. His family con-
sisted of eight children. He went to Fulton
county in the early thirties and died there
some time after. John Wilson was one of
the first settlers in what is now Raccoon
township, and Abraham Romine in what
is now Romine township. A more extended
notice will be given these families under the
head of their respective townships. Isaac
McClelland, the founder of the large and
influential McClelland family, was born in
Pennsylvania but came to Illinois by way
of Ohio and stopped a short time at Kaskas-
kia. But in 1820 he came to Marion county
and stopped at the home of Israel Jennings.
BRINKERHOFF S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
He came on foot and brought all his posses-
sions with him. He remained at Walnut
Hill until he married Sallie \Yelch New
Year's day, 1824, when he went to town-
ship 2 north, i east, where he and his
wife settled on section 32. The place
is now known as the Martin farm. He af-
terward returned to Walnut Hill and then
to Central City, where he died March 19,
1881.
Frederick Phelps settled in Carrigan
township -in 1820. He died in 1845.
Major Samuel Davidson settled in the same
township in 1821. Mary Tully, of whom
mention has been made before, was born in
Tennessee in 1791. He emigrated to Indi-
ana, then to Illinois, and settled near Salem
in 1821. He had a family consisting of a
wife and four children of his own and two
stepchildren, having married a widow with
two children. Nine more children were
born to them after coming to this county,
one of whom. Uncle Ander Tully, still lives
in Salem. All the others have passed be-
yond. Thomas Fulton also came to the
county very early, about 1822. In 1821
Samuel Gaston, a native of South Carolina,
settled in Marion, twelve miles southwest
from Salem. He had eight children. In
the year of 1826 he went to help raise a
cabin for a neighbor, ten miles away, and
took cold and fell ill with winter fever
(pneumonia) and died. His children were
prominent in Marion county and left
numerous descendants who are among the
best citizens of the county. A Mr. Jamison
came from Tennessee in 1821 and settled in
luka township, on what is called from him
Jamison creek. He commenced making im-
provements but was killed by the Indians
in 1823. In 1822 Samuel Huff came from
Logan county, Tennessee, and settled in the
Walnut Hill neighborhood. He had eight
children, several living to a very old age
and leaving a numerous progeny behind, all
of whom are highly respected by their fel-
low citizens.
James Chance came from Tennessee at an
early day and settled in Salem. He was the
first blacksmith in the town. William Purs-
ley settled in what is now Tonti township
in 1822 and died shortly after, leaving a
widow whose life was full of incidents, some
of which will be given under the head of
Tonti. Cornelius Dunham, of New York,
William Tully, of Virginia ; David Fulton,
of Tennessee; and Letitia Duncan all came
to the county before 1824, as did also John
W. Nichols and Robert Nichols. William
Marshall taught school in 1825 in this
county. He lived northeast of Salem for a
time, then bought the William Nichols im-
provements. He -was a man of some edu-
cation and a splendid fiddler, or violinist as
we now call them, and he was in demand
at all gatherings for miles around. He was
a Justice of the Peace, County Surveyor and
served one term in the Legislature. He died
in Carrigan township, leaving a large
family. John Eddington and James Chance
settled on a farm in Carrigan township in
1823. Chance served two terms as Sheriff
and bore a stainless reputation. He left
a large family at his death, January 5, 1866.
tNKERHOFF's HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
125
Jeremiah Gilmore came in 1824 and died a
citizen of the county. He seems to have
left no representatives in the county.
Mathew Cunningham came from Ken-
tucky in 1824 and settled on a farm near
Walnut Hill. The county line divided the
farm, most of which was in Marion county,
but the house was just over the line in Jef-
ferson county. There were nine children,
one of whom was prominent in the develop-
ment of the county. We refer to Hon.
John Cunningham, who was a merchant in
Salem and a dealer in stock for many years.
He was a member of the Legislature and
lived to an old age. Mathew moved from
Walnut Hill to Romine township, but died
in Salem at the residence of his daughter
in May, 1878.
His wife, the mother of John Cun-
ningham, died of cholera in 1834. John
Bundy, founder of the Bundy family in
Marion county, was a North Carolinian,
having first settled in Jefferson county,
but moved to Marion county shortly after.
Three of his sons were in the Mexican war,
one, Isaac Bundy, afterward was a Metho-
dist minister for many years. One son,
William Bundy, is still a resident of this
county and is honored by all as an upright
citizen and a Christian gentleman. John
Bundy left several descendants, among
whom are his grandsons, W. F. Bundy
and John Bundy, both distinguished mem-
bers of the bar of the county.
Reuben Chance, who at the age of twenty
years came to this county in 1825, was an
influential citizen and his life was worthy
of emulation. He died in 1880 at his home
near Old Bethel camp ground. His wife,
Catherine, died in 1877. There were ten
children in this family; one son, J. Oj
Chance, was twice elected Clerk of the Su-
preme Court; another, S. S. Chance, after
serving the county in the Clerk's office for
nearly fifty years, is now living in Salem,
retired from active cares of life, a citizen
known to all and by all beloved. After the
year 1825 immigration increased rapidly
and many families settled in the county and
as far as possible they will be traced in the
sketch of their respective townships in
which they settled.
Marion county, while to a considerable
extent is a mining county so far as the
southwest portion of the county is concerned
yet on the whole it is to the farm that we
must look for the real value of the country's
products.
JUDICIARY AND ATTORNEYS.
As has been stated the first court was
held in the house of James Young May 29,
1823, Judge John Reynolds presiding. He
was of Irish parentage, born in Pennsyl-
vania, February 26, 1788. His father moved
to Tennessee when John was six years old,
and in 1800 emigrated to the Illinois coun-
try. At the age of twenty John Reynolds
126
BRINKERHOFF S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS-
went back to Tennessee to attend college,
and stayed in college two years. He
studied law two years with John
Campbell, at Knoxville, Tennessee, and
was admitted to practice in 1812 at
Kaskaskia. The examination was con-
ducted by Judges Thomas and Sprigg, of
the United States Territorial Court. In
1814 he opened an office in the county seat
of St. Clair county at that time Cahokia.
The first General Assembly of Illinois as
a state met at Kaskaskia and John Reynold?
was chosen by them as one of the Associate
Justices of the Supreme Court of the
state. Judge Reynolds was elected
Governor in 1830, and went to Con-
gress in 1834; he served in that body
seven years. In 1846 he was elected to the
General Assembly and chosen speaker in the
house. The writer remembers the vener-
able Governor as he appeared in the last
year of his life. A picture from the past
thrown by the camera of the years on the
then present. He was always a Democrat of
the Jackson stripe and died in that faith
at Belleville, Illinois, in May, 1865, in his
seventy-eighth year. The next Judge to hold
court was Thomas Reynolds, Chief Justice
of the Supreme Court, who was also
presiding justice of the circuit courts under
the then constitution. James Hall, a
scholarly man and a graceful writer,
presided at the April term, 1825.
Judge Walters presided at the October
term, and Hall again at the April term,
1826. The judges who have presided since
1 826 were as follows, given in order as they
served: Thomas C. Brown. Judge Brown
held all the courts in Marion county until
1834, except the September and October
terms, which were held by Theophilus W.
Smith, on account of the sickness of Judge
Brown. In 1835 Judge Alexander F. Grant
presided. He was succeeded by Jeptha Har-
din. From 1837 to 1847 Walter B. Scales
presided over the Marion county circuit
court. He was succeeded by William A.
Denning and he in 1850 by Samuel S.
Marshall, one of the great judicial lu-
minaries of Illinois. He resigned in 1854
and was succeeded by Downing Baugh, who
in 1856 was succeeded by Edwin Beech er.
Beecher served only a short term and in
1857 Sidney Breese, the Webster of Illinois,
occupied the bench. Judge H. R. S. O'Mel-
veney was Circuit Judge from 1858 to
1861. In 1861 Silas L. Bryan was elected
Circuit Judge. He served twelve years. For
a sketch of Judge Bryan, see special
biography. The circuit court was presided
over from 1873 by Judge Amos Watts or
William W. Snyder, or George W. Wall,
who composed the three judges of the third
judicial circuit under the law creating the
appellate court. Since which time Judge
Benjamin Burroughs, William H. Farmer.
now on the supreme bench; Judge S. L.
Dwight, Judge Rose and Judge Ames
have served. The state's attorneys for
this county number many able men
among them. The first was Henry
Eddy, who served from 1825 to
1827; again in 1832 and 1834; William
Gatewood, 1827 to 1832; Walter B. Scates
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS-
127
and Eddy 1833; John Dougherty 1835 and
1836; Samuel S. Marshall 1836-1838; Wil-
liam H. Stickney 1838-1842; Willis Allen
1842; Richard Nelson 1843; Willis Allen
1844; Henry W. Moore (pro tern) 1845;
Benjamin Bond, ,1846 (pro tern); Samuel
B. Marshall (pro tern), 1847-1848; Henry
Rawlings, 1849; Robert Wingate one term,
1850; W. R. Parish (pro tem) one term;
1850; Lee Turney, 1851 ; James C. Robin-
son, 1852-1857; P. P. Hamilton (pro tem),
1857 ; Amos Watts. 1858-1864 ; P. P. John-
son, 1865-1868; John Michan 1869-1872;
James S. Jackson 1873-1877; W. W. Far-
thing, 1877-1880. W. D. Farthing was
succeeded by Eugene Stoker, he by C.
E. Jennings for several terms and he by
June C. Smith, whose term is just expired
and W. D. Farthing is again taking the
office for a term of four years.
During the first half century of the coun-
ty's existence the Prosecuting Attorney was
elected or appointed for. the entire circuit
and traveled over the circuit with the Judge
and during that time may men who after-
ward became famous in state and national
affairs filled the office and no county in the
state has had abler men as public prosecu- 1
tors than Marion. Among the lawyers who
were of the Marion county bar, none were
more profound than Sidney Breese, after-
ward a Supreme Judge and perhaps the
greatest the state ever had. He attended
the first court held in the county and for
several years after was a regular attendant.
Lyman Trumbull afterward a United States
Senator from Illinois, was also a practition-
er at the bar of this county. Finney D. Pres-
ton also belonged to the Marion county
bar. W. H. Underwood afterward, Judge,
a writer on law, and ranking with Breese
and Marshall, practiced here. W. B. Henry
Edward S. Wilson and John A. McCler-
nand and afterward eminent as Judge and
as a general officer in the Civil war. Judge
Joseph Gillespie, an intimate associate of
Lincoln; Robert Wingate, of Missouri;
Richard S. Bond, Daniel W r hite, W. H.
Gray, W. AJ. Sparks, Gustave Van Hoor-
beke, Fred A. Lietze, Darius Kingsbury,
Alexander White and Harvey P. Buxton,
W. N. Parrish and Aaron Shaw, lawyers of
note, but foreign to the county, all practised
here, riding the circuit in the early day.
Of the Marion county lawyers. Gen. I.
N. Haynie was one of the most noted. He
was born in Tennessee November 18, 1824,
He came with his parents to this county in
1830, began the study of law in 1844 and
was admitted in 1846. He was a lieutenant
of Company C, Sixth Regiment of Illinois,
in the Mexican war. In 1850 he was elect-
ed to the Legislature. He took a law course
in the Louisville L'niversity and took the
highest rank in his class in 1853. In 1856
Mr. Haynie was appointed Judge of the
court of Cairo, Illinois, and removed to that
city. When the War of the Rebellion broke
out. he organized the Forty-eighth Infantry
and was given a colonel's commission by
Governor Yates. He was wounded at the
battle of Shiloh. In 1862 he was made a
brigadier general by President Lincoln, and
afterward adjutant general of Illinois which
BRINKERHOFF S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS-
office he held at the time of his death which
occurred at Springfield, March 20, 1865.
Stephen G. Hicks, a Georgian by birth,
was a lawyer of ability. He served as a
private in the Black Hawk war; was a
captain in the Third Regiment Illinois Vol-
unteers, during the war with Mexico, and
was practicing law in Salem when the war
between the states broke out. He organized
the Fortieth Regiment and was made its
colonel. He was severely wounded at the
battle of Shiloh and was brought home to
Salem, where he remained until July, 1862,
when being partially recovered, he returned
to his regiment and remained in the field
until the close of the war. He was born in
1807. and died in Salem from the effect of
his wounds, December 14, 1869. He was
buried in East Lawn cemetery, wrapped in
Hie old flag of the Fortieth Regiment as he
requested.
Basil B. Smith was born in Ohio, June
27, 1829; studied law with General Haynie
and was admitted in 1856. He was a fine
lawyer and ranked high in his profession,
the last years of his life being clouded by a
mental break-down. Dewit C. Jones prac-
ticed a short time here, but removed to
Chicago in 1875.
Thomas F. Houts came to this county ir
1840 with his parents and studied law with
Col. H. P. Boyakin in 1842. His education
was mostly obtained in the schools of Il-
linois and as a student of Rev. W. F. Boya-
kin in Salem. He formed a partnership
with General Haynie, who was then enter-
ing the practice of his profession at Salem
In 1856 Mr. Houts was licensed as a Meth-
odist preacher and for some time served in
that connection, but later united with the
Church of God, and preached for that people
until his death about 1907. His body was
brought to Salem for interment. He was
said to be at his prime the most eloquent
speaker in the Southern Illinois circuit.
W. B. Adams located at Centralia in
1858. He was a good lawyer, but his ac-
cidental death in 1863 cut short his career.
Richard S. Nelson, born in the Isle of
Wight, was a lawyer at Centralia from 1859
to his death in 1865. His forte was chan-
cery law, in which branch he was thorough-
ly equipped. E. S. Bates and George A.
Sanders were law partners at Centralia for
some years when the firm was dissolved.
Bates going to Chicago and Sanders to
Springfield. Bates was State Treasurer
two terms. W. R. Hubbarcl, J. O. Chance,
J. A. Norman, T. E. Huddle, M. T. Peters,
W. W. Willard, P. P. Hamilton, W. H.
Brazier, J. G. Lemon, A. B. Goddon and
H. P. Boyakin were all lawyers and were for
a short time resident attorneys of Salem.
Gen. James S. Martin and Benjamin F.
Marshall both practiced a short time in Sa-
lem, but retired to enter the business field
in which they were eminently successful.
Both are dead, but their memory is green
in the minds of their many friends. Til-
man Raser practiced law in this county also
from 1857 to his death in 1881.
William Stoker opened a law office in
Salem in 1845, but was compelled by an af-
fection of the eyes to cease practice for a
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS-
129
time, but in 1854 he opened an office in Cen-
tralia and until his death a few years ago
was ranked as the dean of the Marion
county bar. He was a Mexican war veteran
and for a few years practiced at Louisville
(from 1848 to 1854), Illinois. His son, Eu-
gene L. Stoker, was Prosecuting Attorney
of the county, and afterward removed to
Chicago, where he died. Michael Schaffer,
born in Pennsylvania in 1821, graduated at
Pennsylvania College at Gettysburg in 1846.
He studied law, taught school and followed
a commercial pursuit until 1853, when he
was admitted to the bar. In 1857 he was
associated with Silas L. Bryan and contin-
ued to practice -until 1876, when he was ap-
pointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
of Utah Territory, which office he filled
with distinguished ability. In 1879 he re-
turned to Salem and resided here until his
death.
Henry C. Goodnow practiced law in Sa-
lem from 1859 until his death. Mr. Good-
now was a fine lawyer and took great pains
to prepare his cases.
John B. Kagy came to Salem in 1860,
and was admitted to the bar in 1861. He
was contemporary with H. C. Goodnow,
and often on opposite sides, these two, at
one time, leaders of the bar, fought battles
at law that crowded the court-houses with
citizens to witness the giants in combat.
Mr. Kagy died a few years ago full of
honors.
H. C. Feltman came when a child with
his parents from St. Louis and studied law
with John B. Kagy, but did not long prac-
9
tice, but turned his attention to business
pursuits. He was for years grand scribe
of the Grand Encampment, Independent
Order of Odd Fellows, of Illinois. He died
in 1908, at Salem, Illinois.
James S. Jackson, of luka, was born in
Kentucky in 1831, and learned the black-
smith's trade, and from his coming to the
county in 1850, to the breaking out of the
Civil war, worked at the forge. In 1861 he
was chosen captain of Company G, Twenty-
second Illinois Volunteers, and served until
March 12, 1865, when he was mustered out.
The following November he was elected
County Clerk, and while Clerk studied law
and was admitted to the bar in June, 1866.
He was State's Attorney one term and
served one term in the state Legislature. For
many years prior to his death he was par-
alyzed, and passed his time in a wheel
chair, always cheerful and always ready to
converse with friends. He was of a poetic
temperament and loved to quote Shakes-
peare, his favorite author.
Col. L. F. Casey was a native of Jefferson
county, Illinois, and was educated in Illinois
schools. He studied law with Judge Scates
in 1842, and was admitted in 1848. He
practiced his profession in Mt. Vernon un-
til 1852, when he went to Texas and opened
an office in Shelbyville. From 1854 to
1860 he was Prosecuting Attorney for seven
Texas counties. In 1866 he removed to
Centralia, Illinois, and formed a partnership
with S. L. Dwight. Colonel Casey was a
member of the Illinois Legislature in 1846-
1847. He was a brilliant man and a first
1 3 o
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS-
rate attorney. While in Texas he was
elected to the State Senate and served as
senator four years. He died about fifteen
years ago, after some years of poor health.
Capt. S. L. Dwight, now Circuit Judge,
was a private and rose from the ranks to the
captaincy of Company I, Sixtieth Illinois
Volunteers. His biography appears else-
where. Suffice it to say here that he is now
serving his second term as Circuit Judge,
which speaks more for his ability than pen
of mine can utter.
S. A. Frazier, of Centralia, was born in
Indiana in 1845, but came to this county in
1850. He attended the public schools of
this county, and in 1864 entered Northwest-
ern Christian University at Indianapolis,
Indiana, and took a three years' course. In
1868 he entered the office of W. L. Stoker
as a student, and was admitted to practice in
1869, and for two years he practiced with
his teacher, and in 1871 opened an office for
himself. He has confined himself mostly
to chancery and probate law, in which he has
attained an enviable reputation. He still
keeps an office in Centralia.
J. J. Schoolfield, now of luka, is a native
of Maryland, but studied law in Kentucky
with John Tierbur. He was admitted in
1866, and practiced at Brookville,Illinois. In
1872 he moved to luka where he still re-
sides in the full possession of his faculties,
and still in active practice. Captain School-
field served throughout the war between the
states on the losing side. He was a good
soldier, and like all good soldiers, surren-
dered in good faith, which faith he has kept,
and none in Marion county will more
quickly resent an insult to his country's
honor than J. J. Schoolfield.
John F. Donovan, who was brought from
New York City in childhood to Sparta, Illi-
nois, where he grew to manhood. He was
admitted to the bar in 1874, and at once
opened an office in Kinmundy, where he still
continues to practice his profession. He has
served as Mayor of Kinmundy, and several
times been appointed postmaster.
W. E. C. Lyons was a student of law in
the office of Gen. I. B. Jones, of Sparta, and
was admitted in 1874. He served as City
Attorney of Centralia for a short time, but
gave up the practice of law to enter the
commercial world, in which he has been
successful.
C. E. Jennings was born at Walnut Hill,
January 7, 1855, graduated at the old State
College at Irvington, Illinois, and graduated
in 1878 from the Union Law School of Chi-
cago. The same year he formed a partner-
ship with his uncle, Silas L. Bryan, which
continued until the death of Judge Bryan in
1880. Mr. Jennings has been several times
elected State's Attorney of the county, and is
regarded as one of the deepest students of
law at the bar. He is still in active practice.
John E. Bryan was born in Salem, July
4, 1851. He received his education at the
Salem high school and studied law under
the Hon. T. E. Merritt and S. L. Bryan. He
was admitted by the Supreme Court at Mt.
Vernon after passing the required examina-
tion. He served several terms as Master in
Chancery, and at present conducts an ab-
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS-
stract office in connection with his law busi-
ness.
John J. Raser, Meigs R. Myer, William
R. Burton and G. Pierce Duncan each prac-
ticed law in this county for a short time, but
removal or death made their connection with
the Marion county bar too brief to require
more than passing notice. They were all
gentlemen of good attainments, and had
their connection with the bar at Salem been
of any length, would doubtless have attained
a high place among the lawyers of Marion
Bounty.
Henry C. Moore began the practice of
law at Central City in 1863, but in 1864 was
elected Circuit Clerk, and re-elected in 1868;
was appointed Master in Chancery in 1879,
and has not since engaged in the practice of
his profession. He still resides in Salem.
Dwyer Tracy, W. H. Mason, Ural Mills
and Jackson C. Doughty all were licensed
attorneys but never practiced at the bar as
such as a profession, but were in business in
other lines.
The present bar in active practice is led
by the venerable lawyer and statesman, Hon.
Thomas Emmit Merritt, the oldest, both in
years and length of practice at the Marion
county bar. Mr. Merritt was born in New
York City, but emigrated with his father's
family to Belleville, Illinois, in 1841, where
he received his first schooling. In 1844 he
went to St. Louis, Missouri, where he
worked seven years as a painter in a carriage
factory. In 1851 he came to Salem and
studied law with P. P. Hamilton, but did
not pass his examination until 1863, when
he was admitted. He was elected to the
House of Representatives in 1868, and from
that time for twenty-two years he served
the district as a legislator two terms of four
years each in the Senate. Mr. Merritt by
his energy, talents and fluency of speech,
has won for himself a reputation that is not
confined to his own state, and still in the
active practice of his profession is an effect-
ive force and a foeman to be feared.
The lawyers composing the present bar
are a "high toned", scholarly set of Ameri-
can gentlemen, and beside those already
named, are W. F. Bundy, F. F. Noleman
and J. J. Bundy, of Centralia, and all rank
with the best in the state. These gentlemen
are all in the prime of life, and are citizens
any city would be proud to claim. W. F.
Bundy served one term in the Legislature,
but the duties of his profession were more
alluring than political preferment, and he
declined further office. The other two,
while active in their party, have never as-
pired to office. June C. Smith and C. F.
Dew, both of a younger set, and Mr. Mur-
phy and Mr. Jonas, still younger, are rapidly
making reputations for themselves, as is
also Mr. Garrison. Mr. Smith is just retir-
ing from the office of State's Attorney, and
Mr. Dew from that of City Councillor of
Centralia, in which offices both so conducted
affairs as to reflect credit upon themselves.
Mr. Garrison is rapidly working up a fine
practice, and stands high in his profession.
Mr. Rodenberg, a scholarly young lawyer,
is United States Commissioner, with his of-
fice at Centralia. Ex-County Judge Patter-
132
BRINKERIIOFF S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS-
son, of Sandoval, is another good lawyer,
who is quietly and effectively building both
a good practice and reputation.
The members of the bar residing at Salem
other than T. E. Merritt, C. E. Jennings and
J. E. Bryan, who have already been men-
tioned, are all of a later admission to the
bar. Of these the first in point of admission
is D. D. Haynie, a brother of Gen. I. N.
Haynie. He is just retiring from the office
of Circuit Clerk, and has associated with
him a young attorney, Mr. Lloyd Haley,
and from this union of talent and energy a
strong legal reputation will doubtless be
erected.
L. M. Kagy, a farmer boy of Marion
county, studied law and graduated in the
same class at the Chicago law school with
W. J. Bryan, with whom he was a room-
mate. Mr. Kagy is a hard-working, con-
scientious lawyer, who has attained the top
of the ladder in his profession; he is attor-
ney for all the railroads passing through the
city of Salem, and as a lawyer versed in
corporation law ranks high. Two years ago,
finding his practice too great, he formed a
partnership with Edward Vandevert, who
is, though young, a good lawyer.
George W. Smith, also a member of the
bar, has superior qualities of mind, and as
a lawyer ranks high. He was for many
years attorney for the city of Salem, and as
a criminal lawyer has succeeded in saving
his clients in several notable cases.
John S. Stonecipher, present County
Judge, has been also very successful in the
practice of his profession. He, like Mr.
Frazier, of Centralia, delights in chancery
and probate law. Both Smith and Stone-
cipher have good practices and bid fair to
build still better in the future.
Still younger ' in the profession is ex-
County Judge Charles H. Holt, still a young
man. He received his education in the Sa-
lem high school and studied law at Chicago.
When yet almost a boy he was elected
County Judge and served two terms, since
which time he has advanced so rapidly in his
profession as to be ranked among the best.
E. D. Telford, another Salem boy, grad-
uated in the Salem high school, then took a
classical course in McKendree College, after
which he spent some years in the depart-
ments at Washington, and while working
as a clerk studied law at the law school at
Georgetown University and graduated with
the honors of his class. He returned to Sa-
lem in 1905 and begun the practice of law.
He was elected City Attorney in 1907, and
still holds that office. He is a hard worker, a
good student and is fast growing into a good
practice.
Earl Huggins, of Kinmundy, is also a
young lawyer with a good knowledge of
law, and is fast growing into a good prac-
tice.
Such is the personnel of the bar of Marion
county, and no county in the state can boast
of a brainier, cleaner or more gentlemanly
set of lawyers.
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS-
GEOLOGY OF MARION COUNTY.
133
The rock formation of Marion county so
far as are indicated by out cropping^ are
of the upper coal measures, known as the
upper sand stone formation and overlies the
Shoal Creek limestone. A strongly cement-
ed calcareous sandstone appears in some
places, very compact. At other points the
form is of mud stone, or calcareous state,
generally full of fossils, and in some points
appearing as areno-calcareous pudding
stone or as higher class of limestone. Only
at few places does this lime stone appear of
any considerable thickness and within a
short distance varies to only an accumula-
tion of calcareous matter. There is no strata
proper, but it seems to be very irregular, at
one point it is found as a solid formation,
but within a few feet it appears as floating
blocks or thin slabs or slate of calcareous
formation. One coal bed at least underlies
the whole of the county; in many places,
three have been found by boring or mine
sinking and there is but little doubt that
other beds are still lower. We quote from
the state geological reports, the following
formation in the northwest part of the
county as developed by well sinking to the
depth of ninety-two feet : Soil and clay fif-
teen feet; hardpan, fifteen feet; blue clay,
mixed with sandstone pebbles, pieces of coal
and wood, thirty feet; pieces of limestone,
containing fossils, two feet; shales, thirty
feet.
North of East Fork there are no out-
cropping rocks in this county, but on East
Fork and on Crooked creek, further south
both on the west side of the county, we find
the same general formation of argillaceous
and arrenaceous shales with sandstone inter
calations a slate formation of at least one
foot in thickness. These slates are calcareous
and strongly fossilliferous. Below this for-
mation there is a third coal formation. Near
the mouth of Jim creek there is a deposit
of about three feet of argillaceous slaty
shales, with concretions of kidney ore, then
about one and one-half feet of coal, capped
by a layer of argillaceous rock. It resembles
the concretionary limestone found farther up
the East Fork. Along Jim creek in many
places of its lower course, the same slaty
formation is found just above the coal,
cropping out and large pieces have tumbled
from the bank. The coal is only about
eighteen inches thick. Wells dug in the
prairie lands are too shallow to reach the
rock, yet beyond doubt the same formation
exists under the whole western part of the
county. Coal has been dug up in section
27 in Foster township, the vein being about
eighteen inches thick; the same vein, doubt-
less, is found in section 26, also in
section 25, near the old mill. Here
it has been found in the bed of
the creek, the vein being about eighteen
inches thick. These coal out-croppings are
found in most of the west and north parts
of the county, but are of little commercial
value, but at a depth of from five hundred
to one thousand two hundred feet there is
134
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS-
beyond doubt valuable deposits which time
and necessity will alone develop. We are
assured that coal exists by mines being de-
veloped on every side in this region, as well
as within its limits. Along Crooked creek
there is the sandstone formation and slate
on both sides of the creek. The upper coal
vein has been found and from Salem, where
the mine is eight hundred and eighty-nine
feet deep to Junction City, where it is some-
thing over five hundred and fifty feet deep
on the north of the creek with about the
same as the latter depth, south of the creek.
A second or third vein has been discovered
and is the vein which is being mined.
Sandstone crops out in Salem township,
along Crooked creek, and several quarries
have been opened but none are of any great
commercial value as yet. Sandstone also
crops out along Raccoon creek, in the south-
west part of the county, and on Horse creek
and on Skillet Fork, the same general
formation as in the west part of the county
on Skillet Fork. The rock does not crop out
in the north half of Town 2, or in Town 3,
north, but from the middle of Town 2, to
the county line the out-cropping grows
bolder as the surface becomes more and
more broken and rough ; the outcrop of sand
stone at places is ten or more feet thick.
No where in the eastern two tiers of town-
ships has any effort been made to sink a
shaft for coal except in Kinmundy, where
a commercially valuable vein has been
opened. In other places we have mentioned
the recently discovered oil sand strata and
the opening of at least one well producing
oil, but as the discovery has just been made
nothing is known only that a vein of oil
sand is in at least the southern part of Town
2, north, range i, east. In one section in the
north tier of sections in Town 4, range 3,
natural gas has been discovered and has
been used in one farm house both for fuel
and light for at least ten years. This, as
well as mining, will be spoken of under the
head of the townships in which the mines
are located.
CHANGING THE GAUGE OF A RAILROAD.
When the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad,
now the Baltimore & Ohio, Southwestern,
was built, its gauge was established at six
feet, or fifteen inches wider than the stand-
ard gauge, on which other roads were
built. This proved to be a serious handi-
cap to the road, as all transfers from and to
other roads were impossible, except with
the Atlantic & Great \Vestern, which en-
tered Cincinnati over the C. H. & D., which
had four rails to accommodate the wide
trucks of the A. & G. W. and the O. & M.
At terminals cars had to be unloaded and
contents transferred by hand necessitating
great delay and expense. It was concluded
by the company that the gauge must be
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS-
135
changed to the standard. J. L. Gris-
wold was general superintendent and
Thomas D. Lovett chief engineer and to
them all the credit for the successful ac-
complishment of the change of gauge of the
entire road from St. Louis to Cincinnati in
one day is due. The change was made,
commencing at midnight Saturday July 21,
1871. Although the fine calculations and
provisions of every detail had been planned,
occupying months, one of the first orders
given was that the entire rolling stock
should be concentrated at three points, i. e.,
East St. Louis, Vincennes and Cochran, In-
diana, on or before midnight of the 2ist.
This was absolutely necessary, otherwise
equipment left on the line could not be
moved to the various repair shops on its
own wheels. This was not difficult with
passenger equipment and empty freight cars
but to get loaded freight cars to the termi-
nals, unload them and get them to the near-
est concentration point required prompt
handling and careful calculation.
The next important point was to evenly
distribute experienced track layers over the
entire line. Twenty men trained to this
work were placed on every five mile section.
Every workman was stationed at his post
so that promptly on the stroke of twelve,
midnight, the track was cut in seventy
places, between St. Louis and 1 Cincinnati.
Previous to this the inside spikes for the
narrower gauge had been driven partly in
and the inner spikes at the joints, centers
and quarters of the track had been drawn.
Certain of the track gang finished loosening
the rails, others threw the rail into the new
position, where a single blow on the partly
driven spikes held it fast while others fol-
lowed driving in the outside spikes. It must
be remembered that both rails had to be
moved, as the shifting of the track fifteen
inches to one side would have put out of
service nearly every platform, station, wa-
ter tank and other accessory on the entire
line. Where the track was straight, the re-
laying was comparatively simple, but the O.
& M. was an exceedingly crooked road and
as compared to the present Baltimore &
Ohio, Southwestern, like the letter "S" is to
"I." This complicated the relaying as it
necessitated the shortening of every rail in
every curve on the line, which was nearly
half the rails in use, either by cutting the
rails or replacing them with new ones of the
right length and in addition to this relaying
of the main track every frog, switch and
crossing had to be changed. While upward
of one thousand five hundred men toiled in
the pale light of a July night changing the
gauge. At the three concentration points,
East St. Louis, Vincennes and Cochran,
where the equipment was being changed to
fit the new gauge, were busy centers. Three
master mechanics, Harry Elliott (since pro-
prietor of the Elliott Frog & Switch Works
of East St. Louis. Mr. Elliott died in
1908.) was in charge at East St. Louis;
Archibald Thompson at Vincennes and J.
D. W. Potts at Cochran had charge of this
work at their several stations. Enough four
foot eight and one-half inch trucks were
in readiness for one-half the equipment and
i 3 6
BRINKERHOFF S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS-
forty new Baldwin locomotives stood in the would tax the capacity of the engineers of
round houses ready for their initial trip over today. Note the O. & M. now the B. & O.
the 5 relaid track. And the entire work of S. W., passes east and west through the
relaying was finished at about 8 o'clock a, county near its middle line. To Prof. J. E.
m., July 22d. This was considered one of Whitchurch we are indebted for facts relat-
the great engineering feats of that day and ing to the change of gauge of the O. & M.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF MARION COUNTY.
Until the year 1854 there was no really
free public school system in Illinois. That
year the Legislature inaugurated a system
providing by state and local taxation for
sufficient revenue for the support of free
schools. The Federal government had pro-
vided that one section in each township be
set apart to be sold for the use of common
schools, but as most of this land was sold
at an early day at the then low price, the
money obtained when at interest brought
but little revenue, so until 1855 when the
new law began to operate, the custom was
to eke out the term by subscription, each
patron paying so much, usually five cents
per scholar per day, and as the pupils were
few and money scarce, the inducement for a
qualified teacher was not strong. When
the new law went into effect the supply of
competent teachers was limited and at first
the requirements for a certificate were very
low and often made lower by the commis-
sioner as the chief school officer of the coun-
ty was then called in order to get teachers
enough to supply the districts, besides at
this time owing to the completion of the
Illinois Central and Ohio and Mississippi
railroads, and the building of other roads,
an unprecedented influx of emigrants to the
state was constantly increasing the demand
for more and better teachers. Marion coun-
ty took the lead in this demand and at a
meeting of the Southern Illinois teachers,
held in Centralia in 1868, a resolution was
passed stating the needs of the Southern Il-
linois counties and praying the Legislature
to provide for them by establishing a
southern normal school. The southern nor-
mal was chartered the next year and county
normal schools were also provided for, for
the fitting of teachers for the common
schools. Many changes were made in the
laws pertaining to schools at this session of
the Legislature and the laws as amended
took effect July i. 1879, in accord with the
constitution, as no emergency clause was at-
tached. It provided for the safe keeping of
all school money; made the Commissioner
County Superintendent and required him to
examine all books and accounts of the Town-
ship Treasurer yearly, to visit schools, and
advise with teachers and school officers. It
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS-
137
made the school month a calendar month,
and required teachers to have a certificate
before making' a contract to teach and for-
bade school directors making contracts with
the district or to do any business except at
a regular or special meeting. Graded
schools in cities were placed under boards
of education of not less than six members
and a president, all of which was a great
improvement over the law of 1854.
The Marion county teachers and school
boards gladly accepted the chance thus af-
forded to improve the schools, and a rapid
advance was begun, and the people remem-
bering the early struggle for education they
themselves had had, resolved better things
for their children. They had been forced
to be content with a few months of school,
kept in an old abandoned log cabin by an
untrained and often unlearned teacher, be-
ing often forced to walk three or four miles
each way to and from school, with rude
slab seats, few books and no accessories.
They resolved that their children should
have better teachers, better books, tetter
houses, better equipped and at least the
necessary helps to make school life not only
successful, but comfortable. The old school
building of logs chinked and daubed, some-
times with oiled paper for windows,
warmed, if we may call it warmed at all,
by a fireplace at one end, floor of puncheon,
i. e., logs split and hewn, where the earth
was not used as a floor, clapboard door,
hung on hinges made of wood and ill-fitted
in place, benches of split logs supported by
pins driven in augur holes at the ends for
legs and desks of hewn logs, supported by
pins driven into augur holes of the logs
forming the side of the house, roof of clap-
boards held in place by logs placed thereon,
through which the sky might be seen and
through which the rain beat or the snow
sifted as there was no ceiling to intervene.
The teacher could by dint of hard study
keep ahead of the pupils and if he could
read, write and "cipher" or "do sums" to
the single rule of three (now known as sim-
ple proportion) he was fully competent if he
had the further and more important quali-
fication of being able to thrash the boys and
girls. The teacher at Christmas times was
expected to treat the school by giving them
cheap candy and not to do so was to lower
himself in the estimation not only of the pu-
pil, but of the patron as well. And this
worse than silly custom is, we are sorry to
say, kept up yet in some districts of our
county, and is a pretty good evidence of lack
of proper school progress in that district.
If the teacher refused to "treat" the larger
boys would scheme to lock him out of the
school-house and often a fight ensued to the
utter destruction of the term's usefulness,
and the elders always sided with the pupils.
In my early life I passed through such
scenes in Illinois both as pupil and after-
ward as teacher. Under such conditions as
these, the fathers and mothers of Marion
county received their schooling, and being
clear-headed the majority of them hailed
the better day with rejoicing and resolved
to give far better than they had received.
In order that the present generation may
1 3 8
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS-
appreciate their advantages, let us draw a
picture. Let us visit a school of seventy-five
or even sixty years ago. The house has al-
ready been described. Let us enter the school
on a winter morning, the slab benches ar-
ranged on either side of the middle aisle,
filled with boys of all sizes, from little tots
of six years, to stalwart young men of
twenty on one side and girls of like ages
on the other; a huge fire in the open fire
place at one end burns one side of the body
while the other freezes. The struggle to
keep warm, to learn the lesson and to com-
mit some sort of mischief occupies the pupil.
The teacher's desk is in the middle of the
room and the teacher sits by it in calm dig-
nity, "monarch of all he surveys," as we
enter, and every pupil cranes his neck to see
who it is. and satisfied in that respect, re-
turns to his former occupation. No attempt
at quiet is made, but everyone studies in a
loud droning whisper and the hum of thirty
or forty pupils studying fills the room, but
teacher or pupil is not disturbed; they are
used to it. Suddenly up goes a hand and a
voice cries aloud, "May I go out?" The
teacher nods and the pupil goes out, slam-
ming the creaking door. Soon another
comes to the teacher with a dirty finger on
the page, pointing out a word to be pro-
nounced, the teacher giving the pronuncia-
tion. "May Bill Jones and me git a bucket
of water?" Permission being given, out goes
the boys with shout and clatter. The fire
by this time needs replenishing and the
teacher sends a couple of boys out for wood.
The little tots one by one are called to the
teacher's knee and the alphabet from A to Z
is conned, and then the class in reading
is called and ranges in a line on the floor.
The text-book is anything from the old first
reader to the Bible, and perhaps only two
or three books to a dozen pupils, but the
book is passed from one to the other until
all have read and then they pass back to the
seats and the lesson is done. "Sums" are
clone on slates and copied in blank books.
Spelling is next and the class stands up in
a long row and spells from head to foot,
turning each other down when a word is
missed which is not often, for whatever the
old system failed to do it did make spellers
and every school boasted of one or more
that could spell every word in Webster's
old blue-back speller.
Geography was taught by singing the
facts to be learned in a dreary singsong
monotone, having the facts arranged in a
rude rhyme, the effect was ludicrous in the
extreme, but neither pupil nor teacher saw
anything out of the way or funny in it. But
reader, if you are too young to have visited
a "loud" school, as they were called, you
have missed the best representation of pan-
demonium that the ingenuity of man ever
devised. A "loud" school was nothing more
or less than a school in which every pupil
was permitted to study his lessons out loud.
Imagine, if you can, thirty or forty boys
and girls of all ages, each studying his les-
son and perhaps each a different lesson in a
loud tone of voice with perhaps a
class trying to recite to the teacher,
all at the same time. Yet incredible
BRINKERHOFF S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS-
139
as it may appear, this kind of school
was not infrequent, but a change is at hand
and the boys of the old log school-house,
with its rude and inadequate equipment and
incompetent teacher demands something
better for their children even though at
more cost to themselves. So with the bet-
ter laws, the old regime passes. Neat
school buildings replace the cabins, trained
teachers take the place of the incompetents,
new furniture, adequate equipment, new
and more scientific methods, gentler and
better discipline, no more loud schools, no
more singing geography, no more haphaz-
ard recitations, but a mind-training process
has superseded and the school of today,
while not perfect, is in Marion county as
good as the best.
The first school in the county was taught
in 1819 in Walnut Hill prairie, by Jeffer-
son Dow, who was followed by Arby An-
drews from 1823 to about 1830. In 1823
Isaac Barr taught in Tennessee prairie. The
first school taught in Haines township was
in 1827 near where W. D. Hill now lives,
with Thomas Cohorn as teacher. Alexan-
der Kell taught the first school in Salem
in 1828. Stevenson township had no school
until 1833, when Otho Davenport opened
one in a log house on the Vincennes road.
William Haddon taught the first school in
Omega township in 1838. Schools in-
creased with increasing population until the
year 1846, when the first report of school
statistics were made to the Secretary of
State. This report was as follows:
Whole number of school-houses in coun-
ty, thirty-seven; whole number of schools,
thirty-two; whole number of children un-
der twenty-one, one thousand eight hundred
and thirty; whole number of scholars en-
rolled, nine hundred and sixty-six ; total
amount paid teachers, seven hundred and
sixty dollars; average monthly wages paid
teachers, twelve dollars.
The average monthly wages paid teach-
ers today is for males, fifty-four dollars and
eighty-five cents, and for females forty-
three dollars and seventy-three cents, and
as will be seen from the contribution of
Supt. J. S. Kniseley, an effort is being made
to raise both wages and the standard of ex-
cellence of Marion county schools. Marion
county has sent more students to the South-
ern Illinois Normal than any county outside
of the one in which the school is located,
and has more teachers of normal training
than any county in Southern Illinois. With
a well equipped township high school and a
city high school in Centralia; with a four-
year course accredited high school in Salem,
a good high school in Sandoval, Odin and
Kinmundy, and fine rural schools, Marion
need not go outside her own borders for
any save technical education and her sons
and daughters have only to use the means
at hand to be well rounded American
citizens.
140 BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS-
MARION COUNTY SCHOOLS OF THE PRESENT DAY.
By Supt. J. S. Kinseley.
The year 1909 has begun to unfold her
pages and reveal each succeeding day that
which she has in store for us, and we find
that Marion county comprises one hundred
and twenty-four schools districts, one hun-
dred and twelve one-room country schools,
three two-room schools, two three-room
schools and six with five or more rooms.
Two new districts have been formed in the
last year, one in Stevenson and the other in
luka township. The highest enrollment in
any one room is eighty-seven, the lowest is
nine. The highest wage paid to any male
teacher is one hundred and sixty-six and
two-thirds dollars per month, the lowest is
thirty-three and one-third dollars. The
highest wage paid to any female teacher is
seventy-seven dollars and fifty cents and
the lowest thirty dollars per month. The
total number of boys and girls between the
ages of six and twenty-one years is ten
thousand three hundred and sixty-nine. The
total number enrolled in school is eight
thousand one hundred and three. The to-
tal number between twelve and twenty-one
years who are unable to read and write is
thirteen. The amount of tax levy for the
support of schools for the past year is one
hundred and eleven thousand one hundred
and twenty dollars. The amount of bonded
school debt is sixty-two thousand nine hun-
dred. The amount of interest received on
township fund by the various township
treasurers is nine hundred and seventy-sev-
en dollars and twenty-three cents. Amount
paid teachers the last year is sixty-nine
thousand five hundred and seventy-four
dollars and fifty-five cents. Total expendi-
ture of the year ending June 30, 1908, is
one hundred and one thousand seven hun-
dred and six dollars and ninety-two cents.
The average monthly wages for males is
fifty- four dollars and eighty-five cents; for
females forty-three dollars and seventy-three
cents. Beyond any doubt our schools are
above the average of those of Southern Il-
linois and our teachers the most loyal to
the profession of any county in the state.
The counties of Central and Northern Il-
linois, in which land is assessed at one hun-
dred and fifty dollars to two hundred dol-
lars per acre, higher salaries with a much
lower rate of levy are maintained, which of
course tends to draw from us some of our
best teachers. The salaries paid to our
teachers at present have not kept pace with
our material growth and the advance in the
cost of living. In Centralia many of the
grade teachers are receiving forty dollars
per month, but are compelled to pay twenty
dollars per month for board. After laun-
dry bills, clothing, school journals, reading
circle books and the expense of attending
the annual institute and teachers' meetings
deducted, nothing is left for the remaining
months, when the pay ceases. How can
I5RINKERUOFF S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS-
141
the country teacher who receives but forty
dollars per month and pays ten dollars of it
for board for six months of the year lay up
any money and support a family on one dol-
lar per day ? Can he afford to attend a nor-
mal school in order to advance and become
more useful as a teacher to the district un-
der these conditions ? "Chill penury freezes
the genial currents of the soul," and we are
compelled to bear with poorly prepared
teachers because of a condition established
by a custom. Why should our country
schools be the last part of our educational
system to receive attention ? Now our state
normals supported by public taxation are
supposed to furnish practical training for
our country school teachers and high school
graduates, who expect to teach school in the
country in order that the country home life
may become more vigorous and more at-
tractive for the boys and girls who are to
receive the impress of the teachers' life and
work fresh from these institutions. Better
schools cost more to be sure, but farms have
increased in value,, and farmers have been
receiving good prices for their products, im-
proving their farms, improving their stock,
improving their bank account, not satisfied
with the seed corn or seed oats or other
seed save only the best, let us not be satis-
fied with anything less than the best schools
for our boys and girls. "The best product
of the farm" good as our schools are, they
can be made better, and with a devoted
corps of teachers Marion county must come
to the front.
THE DEVELOPMEN T OF CENTRALIA.
Dating from March 13, 1852, when the
Illinois Central Railroad received its mu-
nificent grant from the state of Illinois,
events and conditions were conspiring to the
location and history of Centralia and yet
Centralia and its present location were not
in this formulative period considered, and
the final site, platting and formation of the
city of Centralia by the Illinois Central
Railroad Company was the direct result of
inability of the said company to satisfactor-
ily deal with individuals owning the sec-
tion of land north of Centralia and which
is now partially occupied by the village of
Central City, through which Crooked creek
passes. The Illinois Central intended to
put their shops and build their city on this
location owing to its favorable geographi-
cal situation, but when the owners were
approached their ideas of value failed to co-
incide with those of the railroad company
officials, therefore, they laid out the city of
Centralia, placed its shops and proceeded to
build the town.
Centralia has since that time, until quite
recently, been pre-eminently a railroad town
these interests being first represented by the
Illinois Central for division points of both
the branch and main line, later the J. S.
& E. purchased by the Chicago, Burlington
142
BRINKERHOFF S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS-
and Quincy Railroad, then the Southern
Railway, then the Illinois Southern.
The growth of Centralia since its fifty-
five years of existence has been of the con-
servative order, the city itself being largely
settled by German immigrants, necessarily
poor, partook of the necessarily slow Ger-
man character, while the surrounding coun-
try, to a very large extent, has been settled
with the easy-going Tennesseeans and Ken-
tucky people, largely satisfied with existing
conditions.
With the gradual development of the lo-
cal resources, principally coal, and the adap-
tation of farming to the soils, possibilities
have added a more American and aggres-
sive feature to the population and quick-
ened the pulse of the business life of Cen-
tralia, doubling the city's population in the
last five years, with the reasonable pos-
sibility of a like increase within the next
period of time.
Naturally the growth and development
of the city involves the intimate association
of characters who have bv their efforts and
brains to the extent of their talents, been
more or less instrumental in this result.
The natural growth and development,
seemingly slow at times, has reflected the
character of those depending upon the trade
for their sustenance and fortune, and with
the admixture of a per cent, of personal and
civic pride, has evolved a city from out the
prairie over which the Indians camped and
the wild animals roamed.
The result of any municipal improvement
can scarcely be attributed to any business
or commercial organizations, but rather to
the necessity as demanded and to the nat-
ural unanimity of action on the part of the
citizens on all public questions. This spirit
is manifested in the many beautiful reli-
gious and educational structures which in
many instances have cost much money and
would do credit to a city of much larger
size. The value of these institutions can
scarcely be measured in dollars and cents;
they will forever remain as monuments to
the Christianity and education and higher
civilization of the community.
CHURCHES OF MARION COUNTY.
Mount Moriah church is the oldest con-
gregation in the county. It was organized
as a Free Will Baptist church in 1829. For
eight years it was in name a Free Will Bap-
tist, but in 1837 it renounced the name and
leadership of such consecrated men as El-
ders William Chaffin, David R. Chance,
Samuel Shook and Charles Drennen. These
men, like many other preachers of pioneer
times, underwent hardships and dangers un-
joined in the reform movement, now known complainingly, for the truth's sake. Here the
as the Christian church, or Church of Christ, late J. A. Williams united with the church in
For many years this church was under the which he was so long to labor, and whose
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS-
doctrines he was to so faithfully exemplify
during a life of ninety years. Among the
preachers who have labored with this church
regularly in the earlier years of its history
were Reverends White, Brinkerhoff, Phil-
lips, Nance, Simer, Boles and others have
been preachers in charge in later years, with
others who are not. recalled. The first house
was log; since its decay three other frame
buildings have been occupied. The second
frame was a very large building and was
partly wrecked by a wind storm, but was
repaired and used until about five years ago,
when it was torn down and the present neat
chapel built. This congregation maintains
a good Sunday school and is in a healthy
condition.
THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF SALEM.
The Christian church at Salem was or-
ganized by Elder John A. Williams in the
parlor of his home December 18. 1866. The
organization was very small, but immediate-
ly bought a small frame building that had
been used by the Cumberland Presbyterians
as a house of worship. They paid two hun-
dred and fifty dollars for it and repaired it at
a cost of one hundred and fifty dollars. This
house was used until the summer of 1879,
when it was sold for one hundred dollars.
The congregation immediately began the
building of a new house of worship. It was
of brick, thirty-four by fifty feet, with a
tower ten feet square in front. This building
cost two thousand five hundred dollars. It
was completed and dedicated in February,
1880, Elder H. R. Trickett preaching the
dedicatory sermon. Elder John A. Williams
preached for this church regularly once a
month for many years. Besides Elder Wil-
liams, John W. Manehan, John Bradley,
Elder Kite, Elder Henry, J. H. G. Brinker-
hoff and others preached for this church
until Brother Mosely was employed
as resident pastor. He was followed
by J. F. Rosborough, and he by Elder Black
ad Clark Braden, and for the last four years
F. O. Fannon has been preacher to this peo-
ple. In 1906 the congregation resolved to
build a new church and sold the old build-
ing for four hundred dollars and accepted
plans for a new building, which, complete,
cost twenty-two thousand dollars, including
a fine pipe organ ; one-half of the cost of the
organ was donated by Andrew Carnegie.
The new church is one of the most beautiful
structures in Southern Illinois. It is of buff
pressed brick, with basement under the en-
tire building, an auditorium and assembly
and class rooms, minister's study and choir
room on first floor, with kitchen, dining
room and parlors above. The congregation
now numbers two hundred and thirty nine
communicants.
THE CENTRALIA CHURCH.
The Christian church at Centralia was or-
ganized at Central City December 31. 1856.
by Elder John A. Williams, with only eight
members. They were Jacob, Harriet and
Simpson Frazier; Daniel Myers; James and
Jane McCartney; Margaret Whitton, and
144
JRIXKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS-
Louisa Hawkins. But when it became ap-
parent that the center of business would be
moved to Centralia, it was advisable to move
the location of the church, and a commo-
dious frame house was built in the new city,
into which the church moved its church or-
ganization. During the Civil war the church
sustained serious injury by the bitter polit-
ical feeling that existed at that time, and did
not fully recover for many years. At this
time the membership was seventy-five males
and eighty-five females, a total of one hun-
dred and sixty. In 1866 their building was
burned and for several years they met in a
rented hall, with the inevitable consequence
of growing weaker and weaker, but in 1872
a new house of worship was built on the
same lot on which stood the old church.
This building is also of wood and cost two
thousand four hundred dollars. It is still
used, but plans have been accepted for the
building of a new church at a cost of thir-
ty thousand dollars, which will be begun in
1909. The church was reorganized February
19, 1870, from which time the church has
steadily grown, until today, under the lead-
ership of James F. Rosborough, it is one of
the strongest as well as the most united
churches in the county. Besides J. A. Wil-
liams, many of the strong preachers of the
past generation labored with this church.
Alma Christian church was organized
April 28, 1867, by Elder John Ross, with
fifteen members. This church grew stead-
ily for a time, but in 1872 a bitterness de-
veloped over opinions that for many years
retarded the growth in numbers as well as
in spirituality. In 1875 Elders Hawley and
Johnson held a meeting, adding thirty-five
members to the congregation and doing
away with much of the ill feeling, which
happily has now entirely passed away, and
the church, having passed through trouble,
is now growing strong.
Little Grove church stands just south of
the county line in Jefferson county, but most
of its membership is in Marion county. This
church was organized about 1841 and has
constantly and consistently maintained the
cause of the Master and has preaching once
every month, after the mistaken idea of most
country churches.
Level's Grove church was organized by
William Chaffen sixty years ago. It was
first known as Bee Branch, and built a small
log house, which was set on fire by a forest
fire and destroyed. The church then held
meetings for a time in the Omega school
house, and later built the present neat frame
on the Omega road about a mile east of the
original site. This church has grown in num-
bers and is one of the best country churches,
quietly doing good. It maintains regular
preaching.
Harvey's Point church, on the Salem and
old Foxville road, was established about
forty-five years ago by Elders Mulkey,
James Snow and William C. Hill. This con-
gregation built a large frame church on the
spot where Captain Harvey was killed many
years ago, hence the name, Harvey's Point.
This congregation is now weak in point of
numbers by reason of withdrawals of mem-
bership to unite with other congregations of
BRINKERHOFFS HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS-
disciples. The old house was torn down some
years ago and a small, neat church built in
its stead. Preaching is had part time.
The Christian church at Patoka was or-
ganized on the fourth Lord's day in May,
1875. by Elder Samuel Hawley, of Odin. Il-
linois. This church for five years after its
organization dragged along seemingly with-
out making much progress. On the fourth
Lord's day in May, 1880, it was reorganized
by Elder J. D. Morgan, of Odin. At this
time the total membership was twenty-nine
males and eleven females. From this time
they began to grow. A Sunday school was
organized, and in about 1882 a church build-
ing was erected, and in 1905 an addition was
built, making it one of the neatest of the
smaller churches in the county. The pres-
ent membership is one hundred and ten. and
regular preaching is maintained. A fine
Sunday school is kept up. equipped with all
necessary helps. Several of the members
are acceptable speakers and every Sunday is
meeting day with this church.
ODIN CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
On the first Sunday in March, 1878,
James M. Hawley organized the Odin Chris-
tian church, with sixteen members, in
Smith's Hall. In the fall of 1879 they built
a neat frame church, thirty-two by forty-
four feet, at a cost of two thousand dollars,
and on the first Lord's day in January the
congregation occupied their new home.
Many noted ministers have preached for this
church, and during the last fifteen years
10
regular preaching has been kept up. The
last year the pulpit has been acceptably filled
by Shorland Fannon, eldest son of Rev. F.
O. Fannon, who, though young in the work,
successfully led them to a better work. The
church now numbers about one hundred and
seventy members and is in good working
condition, with an active Sunday school and
a live Endeavor Society.
The Turkey Creek Christian church was
organized in 1867, but has not progressed
much, either in point of work or of mem-
bership. It is a country church and has
preaching only occasionally.
Sandoval Christian church was first or-
ganized by Elder A. Martin, with a mem-
bership of forty, but for several years lan-
guished and almost died, but a faithful few
held together, and about twenty years ago
employed Elder Boyer to hold a meeting in
which one hundred and seventeen additions
to the church were received. The congre-
gation immediately began to build and have
/since been housed in a beautiful modern
frame church home. They now number over
two hundred and keep a resident minister.
iN CIIURCHKS.
Within the last twenty years churches
have been organized and houses built at sev-
eral points in the county. Twenty-one years
ago a few brethren living in what is known
as the Young neighborhood resolved to or-
ganize and build. Preaching had been held
in the schoolhouse near for more than forty
years, but no regularly organized body ex-
1 4 6
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS-
isted. In August, 1883, Elder Brinkerhoff
laid the cornerstone, with appropriate re-
marks, and the present neat chapel, known
as Young's Chapel, was built. Between
Christmas and New Year, 1883, Elder ]. A.
Williams held a short meeting and organ-
ized, with about twenty members. Elder
Brinkerhoff was engaged to preach for them
once each month, and held this relationship
for six years. Elder Morgan, of Ashley,
preached a while also for them, and they
have steadily grown to number about eighty
members. This church has been a great
blessing to the community and is still active
in the work.
About 1886 N. G. Huff, an elder of Old
Mt. Moriah, but who lived about six or eight
miles from his church home, prevailed on
Elder Brinkerhoff to visit the Huff school-
house once a month and preach for the peo-
ple. After a year of this work they resolved
to organize and build a church. They were
organized in the school-house in the spring
and numbered forty-two members, mostly
from Mt. Moriah and Harvey's Point
churches. They immediately selected a site
and built the Gaston Grove church. The last
of August of the same year Elder Brinker-
hoff held a ten days' meeting and added
forty-two more, all by immersion, thus
doubling the membership. This church has
always prospered and is alive in all good
works, and although it has lost at least fifty
members by removals to Salem and else-
where, it is still a strong country church,
with one of the best Bible schools in the
county.
Within the last few years churches have
been built in Kell, in Donoho Prairie, at
New Union and at Scutchfield Prairie, also
at luka. Each is young and has but a small
membership.
THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH AT KINMUNDY.
In 1900 the congregations at Centralia
and , Salem loaned their pastors. Rev-
erend Smart, and Reverend Rowe, to
the little band of disciples at Kin-
mundy, to hold a meeting and or-
ganize a church. The result was so en-
couraging that a church was organized and
the present beautiful brick church was built.
From that time the church has been har-
monious and constantly growing. Elder F.
O. Fannon has for the last five years served
them half time and has made it the leading
factor in church work in Kinmundy, num-
bering about two hundred members.
This paper ought not close without a brief
sketch of the one man whose labors for more
than sixty years were largely the factors
that made this grand result possible. We
refer to that grand old soldier of the Cross,
John A. Williams, who was born in Shelby
county, Indiana, July 31, 1818, and came to
Marion county, Illinois, at the age of six-
teen. They settled near Walnut Hill and
made a farm out of the timber land one-
half mile east of the village. Mr. Williams
was converted at Mt. Moriah church and be-
gan to preach occasionally as early as 1846.
He was ordained as a minister in 1850 and
began immediately to preach the word regu-
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS-
147
larly, often going on horseback from fifty to
one hundred miles to all parts of Illinois,
from Shelbyville to Cairo and from the
Mississippi to the Wabash, planting the good
seed everywhere. For more than sixty years
he preached constantly. Mr. Williams was
gifted with superb physical powers, being
over six feet tall and of fine physique. His
mental powers were far above the average
and his sermons were clear, logical and con-
vincing. His manner was winning and his
knowledge of the Bible profound. He died
at the home of his daughter at Sailors
Springs, Illinois, November 4, 1907, and
was buried at Salem after the body lying in
state in the beautiful new church one day.
The funeral sermon was by Elder Brinker-
hoff. assisted by Elder Roseborough. After
the sermon an opportunity was given any to
speak, when from the immense congrega-
tion, gathered from many congregations of
Southern Illinois, about twenty pronounced
eulogies on the life of one they had loved
so well. His funeral was one of the largest
and most impressive ever held in Salem.
Truly "his works live after him."
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH SOUTH.
The Methodist Episcopal church South in
Marion county was the outgrowth of politi-
cal animosities engendered before and dur-
ing the Civil war. Political intolerance split
churches and even families into warring
fragments. Many of the Methodist faith
felt themselves aggrieved at the attitude of
the church, among whom was Rev. J. W.
Wescott, a minister of the Methodist Epis-
copal church. He withdrew from the Meth-
odist Episcopal church and called a conven-
tion to meet at the court-house in Salem
June 22, 1864. The following ministers
were present at the meeting : J. W. Wescott,
Thomas L. Middleton, William Findley,
James B. Gray, Thomas Deeds and William
Layson, and lay brethren, Thomas Borring,
Arthur Foster, Thomas Smith, Charles
Smith, James M. Charleton, John J. Holt,
J. C. McConnell, Elijah Wernberly, Isaac
Misenhammer, Mordecai Smith and a few
others. This convention organized under
the name of the Evangelical church. The
first class was organized in Romine Prairie
at the house of John J. Holt. Rev-
erend Wescott was present and led
the exercises. The second class was
organized at Old Union. The third
at Mount Zion church on North Fork,
and the fourth at Harmony. The first coun-
cil was held at Mt. Zion church in Septem-
ber, 1864. The council divided into districts.
The Salem district embraced all the county
except the Romine church, which was in-
cluded in the Xenia district. As most of the
members of Evangelical church had come
out of the Methodist Episcopal church, they,
in 1867, changed the name to Methodist and
were received into the connection of the
Methodist Eiscopal church, South, with all
the privileges of the conferences, by Bishop
David S. Daggett. Eighteen societies were
organized in the county and for a time kept
pace with other churches, but as the pas-
sions of men subside the necessity for sep-
i 4 8
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS-
aration of forces seems to be less apparent
and the church today seems not to have the
vigor of earlier times.
No mention of any Methodist Episcopal
church can be found of record before the
year 1830, although it is probable that
preachers of that denomination had now
and then preached to the people in passing
through, but in that year the Grand Prairie
Mission was formed, taking all the territory
between the Wabash and the Kaskaskia
rivers, and all Illinois south of Vandalia to
Maysville, except that part embraced in the
Mt. Vernon circuit, which covered a small
portion of the south part of Marion county.
In 1830 Simeon Walker was sent to this
mission field and preached the first sermon
by a Methodist minister ever preached in
Salem. In 1831 he organized the first
Methodist church in the county at the home
of a Mrs. Jones. At this time S. H. Thomp-
son was the presiding elder. In 1832 Phillip
T. Corder took the work at this point and
the next year James Graham was sent and
the name changed to Salem mission. These
men not only preached at Salem, but at
Sandy Branch, Walnut Hill and Fosterburg,
then flourishing, but now decayed and gone.
James Harsha was the next circuit rider and
as there was no church-house he preached
like his predecessors in private houses. Phil-
lip Moore succeeded Harsha in 1835, and in
time was succeeded by Justice R. Ryman,
with James H. Dickens as his colleague. Sa-
lem was then a village of about fifteen fami-
lies and the Methodist Episcopal church at
this place was at a low ebb, but the old log
court-house was bought and for many years
this was the only church on the circuit. This
year witnessed an increase of about two
hundred in the entire circuit, about twenty
of whom were to the Salem body. The old
court-house was used until 1850, when Isaac
Groves was sent to the circuit and the first
Methodist Episcopal church house was built.
It was a frame and stood where the new
Episcopal church now stands on West Main
street. It was dedicated by James Leaton,
and was used until 1865, when it was re-
moved to make room for the new church,
which was commenced that year. The first
Methodist Episcopal Sunday school was or-
ganized in 1850 in the new frame church.
In 1851 the Walnut Hill circuit was formed,
embracing the south part of the county. In
1856 conference was held in Salem and Sa-
lem was made a station, with Rev. Thomas
A. Eaton in charge. During this year a
protracted meeting was held, at which one
hundred conversions were reported. In 1858
T. F. Houts, who had left the law for the
ministry, was in charge. In 1865 Rev. Jo-
seph Harris was pastor, and to his zeal and
energy is largely due the removal of the
old frame church and the building of a large
new brick church, which was used until 1906,
when it was torn down, the lot sold and
the erection of the splendid new stone-faced
church, on land purchased just north of and
facing the court-house square. During the
two years of the building the Rev. J. G.
Tucker, in charge, was the head and fount
of the enterprise. It stands a monument of
beauty and will last for generations. It cost
about thirty thousand dollars.
As near as we can ascertain, Centralia had
BRINKERHOFF S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS-
I 49
no Methodist preaching until after the for-
mation of Walnut Hill Circuit, and probab-
ly not earlier than 1854, when the church at
Centralia was organized, and was a part of
the Walnut Hill circuit. The first house of
worship was in what is now called South
Town and was a small frame building. It
was afterward moved to South Poplar street
and used until 1865, when it was sold and a
good brick house erected on the corner of
Broadway and Elm streets. This building
cost about six thousand dollars, and at that
time was the best church house in the coun-
ty. In 1901 the quarterly conference 1 ap-
pointed a committee to build a new church
and were empowered to sell the old one.
The old church was sold in 1903 and on
July 28, 1903, a contract was entered into
with S. Legried, a Centralia contractor, for
the erection of a new building at a cost 01
about thirty thousand dollars. It is a beau-
tiful structure of mottled brick trimmed with
Bedford stone, and handsomely finished in-
side, with Sunday school rooms and all con-
veniences. The congregation is large and
composed of many influential people. The
building was dedicated in 1904.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL AT KIXMUNDY.
In the summer of 1858 a local minister
of Salem preached a few sermons at Kin-
mundy. James Woollard was the first reg-
ular pastor, and he was followed by G. W.
Waggoner, and he by John Thatcher, all
acceptable preachers. The first class was
formed during the pastorate of Woollard
and consisted of nine members, four males
and five females. It may be of interest to
know who they were, so we give their
names: Waller Hensley and wife, Samuel
Lawrence and wife, George Marsland and
wife, Malinda Sprouse and William Blur-
ton. The Kinmundy circuit was formed in
1863 and P. P. Hamilton was the preacher,
and by his efforts the frame meeting-house
was built, which was torn down about four
years ago to make room for the present
beautiful structure. The first church was
dedicated by T. F. Houts. Elias Neil was
the first superintendent of the Sunday school,
which was organized in 1862. From that
time until the present the church has had a
steady growth and now numbers about two
hundred communicants. The new church
cost about ten thousand dollars, and is an
ornament to the city as well as a monument
to the zeal and liberality of the members.
Odin and Sandoval were for many years
one charge, and in each place is a neat
church building, and at each place there is
at present a congregation of over one hun-
dred members, but no important informa-
tion that is reliable is obtainable.
Patoka circuit, formerly called Foster-
burg circuit, was cut off from the Salem cir-
cuit. Originally five neat chapels were on
this circuit and all still exist. In some places,
however, preaching is had only occasionally
and the buildings are not all properly kept
up, but in all Sunday schools are maintained.
In the village of Patoka there is a good
church building and regular services held.
The circuit is in fairly prosperous condition.
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS-
There is a good parsonage at Patoka and in
former years this circuit maintained one of
the best camp meeting grounds in the coun-
ty, but of late years the camp meeting has
disappeared as the necessity has disappeared
for their use. Fosterburg is no more, but
the Patoka circuit is active and doing a great
work in its particular field.
The luka circuit is the remainder of the
original Salem circuit. It has four appoint-
ments and they are all supplied from luka.
They maintain four church houses and four
Sunday schools. The membership of this
circuit is about three hundred and fifty.
There is at present in the county about
twenty-two church buildings, valued at
about two hundred thousand dollars, and a
membership of about twenty-two hundred
(estimated). The circuit rider, who in an
earlier day braved all danger that he might
carry his message of peace and love, is only
now a name. No more in this county is he
to be seen with saddlebag and Bible journey-
ing from appointment to appointment, heed-
ing not the summer's heat, nor the winter's
cold, but now the preacher comes to his ap-
pointment with horse and buggy, preaches
and drives home again. The old way has
given place to the new; may the new prove
as effective as the old.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The Presbyerian church never was strong
in this county, only a few congregations ex-
isting until the union a few years ago. One
at Kinmundy, one at Salem that was dis-
solved twenty years ago, one at Centralia
and later one near or at Foxville are all, so
far as we have been able to find, and no
data is at hand as to their history.
EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
There are a few Episcopal churches in
Marion county. One at Centralia, St.
John's Parish, was organized October 31,
1858. Bishop Seymour, of the Springfield
diocese, visited the parish as early as 1878
and confirmed a class of nine. This church,
never large, has, however, continued to ex-
ercise all its duties and functions to the
present time.
Salem church was organized about five
years ago and is known as St. Thomas mis-
sion. It is supplied by a rector from Car-
lyle. This mission has just completed a
beautiful though small stone church on
Main street on the lot where the Methodist
Episcopal church stood.
CATHOLIC CHURCH.
There are but five Catholic churches in
the county and only two of these have resi-
dent priests.
The Centralia church is quite strong and
has a large, beautiful church building and
school and parsonage. A priest is located
here and the church is in a flourishing con-
dition.
Sandoval also has a fairly strong congre-
gation, a good church and parsonage and a
resident priest.
BRINKERHOFF S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS-
Kinmundy, Patoka and Salem have but
small buildings and only a few adherents.
They have services by priests from other
charges once a month.
CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Marion county belonged to the Illinois
Presbytery and the first preaching was done
by Jonathan Brittain. It was preached in
the house of Abner Stewart about 1830.
David Campbell followed in 1833 and
preached in the barroom of Ricker's Ho-
tel in Salem. These two men preached for
several years in the county, but the man
who organized nearly all the Cumberland
Presbyterian churches was Rev. William
Finley. The first church organized was at
the house of James Eagan, September 7,
1840, by Wlliam Finley. It was called Mt.
Carmel, afterward Kinmundy. In 1842 they
established a camp meeting grounds near
Kinmundy known as Mt. Carmel camp
ground, and out of the meetings held there
grew most of the congregations of the coun-
ty-
Good Hope church at Omega was organ-
ized by William Finley November 9, 1844,
and the same year Bethel was organized and
the Metcalf or Old Bethel camp ground was
long a noted point in church history.
The Salem church was also organized by
William Finley in 1846. This congregation,
largely through the efforts of Mr. Finley,
built the first house of worship of the church
in the county. This church grew rapidly and
was the strongest congregation of Cumber-
land Presbyterians in the county, and in
1901 built a beautiful brick church, the first
of the beautiful churches in Salem to be
erected. A congregation was organized at
Patoka and one at Vernon. Neither was
ever strong.
In 1905 the congregation at Salem, and as
far as we know, all in the county, voted to
unite with the Presbyterian church and drop
the name Cumberland. The Old Bethel
church built a beautiful new church two or
three miles north of the old one and virtual-
ly now has two houses, although they are
two congregations.
BAPTIST CHURCH IN MARION COUNTY.
To the Baptists belong the honor of hav-
ing the first preaching in the county and
they were also the first to organize and build
a house of worship (Mt. Moriah, now
Christian, in Raccoon township). The va-
rious kinds or classes of Baptists somewhat
confuse, as the earlier records often do not
say just what branch of the church ; s
meant. Of the eighteen Baptist churches
that have been organized in this county,
Bethel, Union, Marshall Creek. First Sa-
lem, Zion Hill and Patoka are connected
with what was known as the Vandalia, and
sometimes Centralia. Association, while
Harmony, First Centralia and Odin were in
the Louisville Association. Pleasant Grove,
Bethel and Zion were in the Salem As-
sociation, while the Second Centralia and
Second Salem were in the Mt. Olive Asso-
ciation. The last two are colored churches
and the Salem church has disappeared.
152
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS-
Bethel Baptist church is the oldest Mis-
sionary Baptist church in the county. Rev.
J. M. Peck and James and Moses Lemen
organized this church at the house of Col-
onel Jolliff in May- 1832, with fourteen
members. Rev. Samuel Shook was the first
preacher in charge. I. Anderick was the
clerk and James Joliff, who had organized
the Sunday school two or three years be-
fore, was made deacon. After some years
the congregation moved the house from
Central City to the country, about half way
from Odin to Centralia, where the organ-
ization is still kept up, although the mem-
bership is not large. This church . has
preaching still and has sent out to other
fields many workers in the harvest.
The Union church was organized about
1834. This church never built a church
home, but held services in a school-house
north of Sandoval in Carrigan township.
No reliable information of the formation of
this church can be obtained and the organ-
ization is virtually abandoned.
Marshall Creek Baptist church, located
seven or eight miles northwest from Salem,
was organized about 1835. John Wright,
who was visiting here, obtained the consent
of Revs. Arnot and Boyakin to hold a meet-
ing here, and Morgan Nichols and wife, al-
though not church members, opened their
little log house to hold the services in. A
meeting lasting about sixteen days was held
and an organization formed by Rev. Na-
than Arnot. This church continued to grow
and is now in good condition, both as to
numbers and spiritually. They have a very
good house and are active in Sunday school
work.
First Baptist church in Salem was or-
ganized in the old log court-house by Revs.
Arnot and Boyakin. After years in the
old court-house they moved to a new brick
church, the first brick building in the coun-
ty. The lot was owned by Mr. Lester, who
had bought the Ricker property: He offered
a lot to the first Baptist minister who would
settle in Salem, and Rev. Boyakin received
it. Mr. Boyakin was one of a committee to
locate a female seminary. Miss Rand of-
fered five hundred. dollars for this purpose,
and it was located at Salem. The church
property was deeded to the seminary trus-
tees in 1841. Elder Boyakin held a meet-
ing in this building about this time and nine
of the seminary young ladies Were added to
the church. The church continued to wor-
ship in this building until it was destroyed
by a storm in 1844. From this time until
1858 the Baptists worshiped mostly in the
Cumberland Presbyterian church, until
1858, when they built a frame church on
the old church lot. (This lot is in the east
part of town two blocks south of Main
street and two east of Broadway.) This
frame was burned on the night of January
28, 1865, from an over-heated stove. The
Christian church, the hall of the Southern
Female College and the Circuit Court room
were tendered the congregation as a place
of worship. On the 26th of March, 1870,
the congregation resolved to build again,
and on October 21, 1871. services were held
in the new building, but the church was not
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS-
153
dedicated until the fourth Sunday in Sep-
tember following-. G. J. Johnson, D. D., of
St. Louis, delivering the sermon. Judge Si-
las L. Bryan was long a member of this
church and by his death in 1880 the church
suffered a great loss, both from a financial
and spiritual' point of view, as he was a
most devout man and truly a God-fearing
Christian. To this church belongs the honor
of instituting the first Sunday school in
1832. Reverend Peck organized the school
and donated a number of books from the
Baptist Publication Society as a nucleus for
a library. From 1843 to 1858, while without
a church of their own, the Baptists united
with the Methodists and Presbyterians in a
union school, but from the time the new
church was built to the present they have
maintained a school of their own. This
church has suffered loss by wind and fire
and the loss of many members, who moved
farther west, yet it has kept the faith and
bravely struggled on, and now, with greater
Salem, have come new members, bringing
new cheer and the promise of a brighter day.
Pleasant Grove church, situated about a
mile east of where Foxville was, is one of
the old churches of the county, and one of
the stronger ones among the country
churches. It was established in 1840 and
has built two log and two frame houses,
each an improvement on its predecessor. It
is an active, zealous church and is keeping
pace with the growth of the community in
which it is located.
The Centralia Baptist church was organ-
ized in 1859 by J. P. Hungate in the Chris-
tian church building. During the Civil war
it virtually was out of existence, but was
reorganized in 1864 by I. S. Mahan, who
was appointed by the Baptist Home Mis-
sionary Society for that purpose. A three
thousand dollar house was built and the
church soon became the strongest in Cen-
tralia, but in 1873 the pastor resigned and
for fifteen months the church had no preach-
er and the church scattered until it was the
weakest. In March. 1874. a minister was
again employed, and from that time to this
the church has not ceased to grow. The old
church building has been replaced by a
handsome modern brick and is today one
of the strongest and best Baptist churches in
Southern Illinois.
Zion Hill church was organized in 1860
and is today an active country church, not
large, but full of good works.
The Bethlehem church, generally known
as the "Nation," was organized in 1867.
It, too, like Zion Hill, is a country church
that has kept up its organization and wor-
ship, and while not large in point of num-
bers, the congregation is faithful and zeal-
ous.
A Baptist church was organized in Pa-
toka in 1867 and struggled along until in
the eighties without a house of worship,
which greatly retarded their growth. After
the building of their church they began to
grow, and now have a good congregation.
Bethel church, five miles east of Foxville,
like Zion Hill and Bethlehem, is a country
church and keeps up its services. Its mem-
bership is quite large and they have preach-
ing regularly.
154
DRINKER 1 1 Ob' I-' S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
The Second church of Salem was a col-
ored church, but has gone out of existence,
as there is but one family of negroes in the
city.
The Second church of Centralia is also a
colored church, and since its organization in
April, 1867, has been varied in its experi-
ences. It is still in existence and doing a
good work among the colored people of the
city.
The Old School, or Primitive, Baptists
have five congregations in the county. Lib-
erty, five miles northwest from Kinmundy,
is probably the oldest. Summit Prairie, five
miles north of Salem ; Turkey Creek, two
miles south of Odin; North Fork, three
miles west of Patoka, and Pleasant Grove,
five miles south of Salem. None of these
churches are strong in numbers and some of
them have only occasional preaching, while
others have regular preaching once a month,
and all are connected with the little Wabash
Association.
NOTE The Reverend Boyakin mentioned
in these notes died in the early fall
of 1908, at the age of one hundred
years and a few months. During the
summer of 1908 he journeyed from Kan-
sas, where he had lived many years, to Illi-
nois, where he delivered an address before
a meeting of Baptists in the central part of
the state. On July 4th he delivered an ora-
tion at his home in Kansas. This remarkable
man was one of the gifted Boyakins of this
county, who are remembered by the older
citizens.
HAINES TOWNSHIP.
Haines township, the southern township
of the third tier from the west and num-
bered town i, range 3 east of the third
principal meridian, was named for Edmond
Haines, who was one of its earliest set-
tlers. Originally it was mostly timber, but
much of it has been cleared up and is cul-
tivated farm land. The extreme western
part is the watershed between the Wabash
and Kaskaskia rivers. It is a high prairie
ridge extending in the general directions
north and south. This prairie is called Ro-
mine Prairie, after the first settler, Abram
Romine. This township was a favorite
game country. John Boucher settled in the
township as early as 1815, and built a mill.
This is the same Boucher who creased the
horse as told in the county section. James
McDaniel and Jeptha Mount settled in the
south part of the township and Green De
Priest in the north part from 1818 to 1820.
In 1824 David Fulton came from Tennes-
see and settled on section 2. He was ninety-
four years old when he died in 1877. Wil-
liam Hill, with a company of about thirty,
moved from South Carolina in 1808 and
settled in Randolph county, and in 1825
came to Marion county and settled in
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
155
Haines township. He was a soldier in the
War of 1812 and in the Black Hawk war.
He was married to Jane Hill, his second
cousin, in 1819, and they lived together
over sixty years. His children, James, Sam-
uel, William and Robert, all now dead, were
all honored citizens of this township. His
son, James McD. Hill, was born on section
2 in 1827, and lived and died within a half
mile of the same spot. He died about ten
or twelve years ago and his son, W. D.
"Pete" Hill, lives on the same farm.
Mary Wilkins and her husband settled in
this township in 1829. She lived to be
about one hundred and two years old, and
died never having seen a railroad or a train
of cars. She left numerous descendants,
many of whom still live in this township.
She died in 1882 or 1883.
Ruber Chance was an early settler, but
the exact date of his locating here is
not known, but it was in the twen-
ties. Jeremiah Fields came about 1830
and Millington 'Easley and Thomas Wil-
liams settled in 1827, and about the same
year Durham Tracy came to the township.
He was a very prominent man in the af-
fairs of the county, and was County Judge
several terms. He was a very intelligent
man, fairly educated and well liked by his
neighbors. In 1829 Isaac Charlton came
by wagon and settled in the north side of
the township. He died in 1875. Joseph
Stonecipher and wife with ten children came
from Tennessee in 1834. He settled on
section 22 and was the founder of the nu-
merous Stonecipher family in this county.
The next year Joseph Wham came from
Tennessee in a wagon he himself had made,
and drawn by a couple of yoke of oxen, and
settled in section 5. He and three of his
sons served in the Mexican war and all lived
to return. Robert McM. Wham was the
last surviving son. He died about four
years ago. Benjamin died soon after his
return from Mexico from disease contracted
in the service. John Blackburn came to
Marion county in 1833. He had a family
of eleven children and his descendants are
about two hundred in this and neighboring
counties. John Storment came in 1836 and
Jarett Purdue in 1838. He was born in
Tennessee in 1799 and died in 1874, and
his family consisted of himself, wife and
eight children. They came in two ox-carts.
The family is now numerous and stand high
in their township. James Telford settled in
1836 on section 19 and William Beasley on
section 23 in 1839.
The first sermon preached in the township
was by John Benson. The early preachers
were David R. Chance and William Chaf-
fin, Christian; Reverend Pritchet, Baptist;
W. F. Boyakin, Missionary Baptist. There
are now several churches in the township.
Doctor Middleton was the first practicing
physician. David Fulton, the first wheel-
right, Thomas Cahorn the first school teach-
er. He was from Philadelphia and taught
in log school-houses in 1827. The first
grave yard was in section 2 and is known
as the Fulton graveyard. The Wham grave-
yard was laid out in 1841 by Joseph Wham
and Mrs. Wham was the first buried there.
BRINKERHOFF S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Old Foxville was for many years the only
"town" in Haines. Fox (S. M.) Haines
laid it out and hence called it Foxtown. The
first house was built in 1867 and the first
store was opened in 1868 by John Palmer.
It was a post-office and it is said the name
selected was Romine City. James Martin
was in Congress and when the name was to
be given Martin had forgotten, but he knew
"Fox" Haines well and called the office
after him, Foxville. Since building the C. &
E. I. Railroad a dozen years ago, Cartter,
near the north side of the township, and
Kell, near the south line, have grown on
the line of the road and Foxville is a mem-
ory only. Cartter is but a small village of
two stores and a shop or two and a dozen
houses. Kell is a thriving little town of three
or four hundred people and is a good busi-
ness point. It has several stores, a bank,
shops and three churches, and is growing
steadily.
FOSTER TOWNSHIP.
Foster township is the northernmost of
the second tier of townships, east of the west
line of the county. Its survey numbers are
town 4, range 2. This township is drained
by both the north fork and the east fork of
the Kaskaskia and many tributary creeks.
The first settler in the township was Hardy
Foster, after whom the township was
named. He was born in Georgia, but had
moved to St. Clair county, Illinois, in 1814.
and in 1823 came to this county and settled
on section 17. In 1831 he moved to the
northwest corner of the township and made
improvements en section 8. He built a stage
stand about halfway between Salem and
Vandalia on the road connecting the two
places and kept the stand many years. In
1833 a post-office was established and he
was made postmaster and held the office at
the time of his death in 1863, or thirtv
years. He was prominent in the early af-
fairs of the county; was a Justice of the
Peace many terms and a member of the
Legislature one term. He put up the first
horse mill in the township in 1833. This
mill was operated until 1850.
The next settler in the township was a
widow Jones, who with her family of four
children, all about grown, came to the town-
ship in 1826. Her sons were Eli W., Jo-
seph A., and Samuel B. Her daughter soon
after they settled here married J. F. Holt,
son of Harmon Holt, the first settler of Pa-
toka township. This was the first marriage
in the two townships. The Jones family
was very numerous in this township many
years, but is now somewhat scattered, al-
though a good representation still remain.
Andrew Foster located on section 21, in
1833, and lived in this township until his
death.
Moses Garrett. a Georgian, settled on sec-
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY,
157
tion 10 in 1831, and Isaac Nichols in 1830
settled on what is now known as the Cald-
well place.
The first teacher, Thomas Moon, came
from New York and settled on section 16.
The school-house stood near his cabin on
the same section. He died about thirty-five
years ago, in Missouri.
In 1836 Mark Cole, Jonathan Green and
the Doolens, Jesse and Daniel, settled near
the north fork. They each improved farms
and raised families and their descendants
are still residents of this and adjoining
townships. Ross Jones came from Salem
to this township about 1836. M. Smith
settled in this township in 1831, and died on
the farm he settled, near the north fork,
some years ago. John Arnold, the founder
of the numerous Arnold family, came from
Georgia in 1844, and settled near the town-
ship line, between Foster and Kinmundy.
He put up a horse mill and run it many
years. He lived to be very old and died
about twenty years ago.
The first death in the township was that
of Elizabeth Morris, daughter of Thomas
and Elizabeth Morris. She was buried in a
box made of puncheons, split out of logs
and dressed, and made into a rude coffin by
the neighbors. She was buried on the old
Hardy Foster place in 1827.
The first child born in the township was
Sallie. daughter of Hardy Foster. She mar-
ried William Doolen.
On March 6, 1854, Fosterburg was laid
out by Hardy Foster. William Doolen built
a house and put in a stock of general mer-
chandise the same year. The year before,
Samuel B. Jones, William Eagan and A. H.
Foster had put up a saw-mill, which they
run many years. William Ritter and James
Arnold afterward built another mill, near
the same place. Daniel McConnel, S. B.
Jones, Thomas S. Jones and J. W. Arnold
were the store keepers. At one time Fos-
terburg was one of the most promising
towns in the county. It had three stores, a
blacksmith and wagon shop, a mill, Metho-
dist Episcopal church, physician, Dr. Wil-
liam While, and was a post town. Now
nothing remains of this village. The town
house since built is all that exists of Foster-
burg.
The following letter from our esteemed
friend. Edward J. Doolen, gives an inter-
esting sketch of Foster township :
"Foster township was named for Hardy
Foster, who was a member of the Legisla-
ture, County Judge, and a prominent man
in general. Old Fosterburg was laid out
and named for him. This old village is now
but a memory, but it was once the center of
a great tract of country. Here was the
"manse" of the Methodist circuit rider;
here dwelt the Justice; here was the sing-
ing school, the spelling school, prayer meet-
ing, preaching and all things social. On
the common, now covered by an orchard,
men as raw volunteers were marched and
counter-marched by Captains Waddell and
John Foster, and by William Crowder, once
a colonel of Tennessee militia. The site of
Hardy Foster's house which was a log one
of a story and a half and which after being
158
BRINKERHOFF S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
torn down and rebuilt is now doing duty as
a bam, is occupied by the residence of his
son, Harmon Foster. I have seen many
men who when young hauled grain and
drove turkeys to St. Louis and Belleville
from this place.
"On North Fork creek about eighty yards
from the bank and a half mile of Patoka
and Foster town line can be found the faint
outlines of an old well, dug about the year
1818. Where the house stood can yet be
seen. In plowing over the spot last spring
I found many pieces of dishes of the blue
flowered style. This was the residence of
Mrs. Mary Jones, grandmother of Foun-
tain, M. L. and E. W. Jones, and from
whom all of the name of Jones in our town-
ship descended. She was born March i,
1771. and died Christmas day of 1847. I
have seen two of her sons, and in tracing
lines of descent of different families I find
that she is the ancestor of nearly all in Fos-
ter township. She is buried at Sandy Branch
I have seen her grave; it is well kept and
well marked. Within a few rods of this
old house site an Indian trail crossed the
creek. It is yet very distinct in as many
as three different places in the course of a
mile. It lies in a southwest direction and
passed very near the Doojen school-house.
Northeast of the school-house about three-
fourths of a mile is a stone of considerable
size, hollowed out basin-like, where the In-
dians made meal. I have seen many per-
sons who played around this old Indian
mill. I myself have searched for it. It is in a
small tract of woodland; it is supposed the
creek (Bear creek) changed its course and
buried it. It is more than likely the trail
led by this spot. The early settlers of this
township were southerners; Foster, Holt,
Mrs. Jones, Arnold, all originally from
Georgia. Foster and Holt both married
daughters of Mrs. Jones. At the present
time no less than nineteen grandchildren
of this woman are living. Later came
others from Kentucky and Tennessee.
"EDWARD J. DOOLEN.
"Vernon, Illinois, August 25, 1908."
We wish to thank Mr. Doolen for his let-
ter and say if others had done likewise,
every township might have had a better rep-
resentation.
TONTI TOWNSHIP.
Tonti township was najned from the
Chevalier De Tonti, a contemporary of Jol-
borders and is crossed in the southeast cor-
ner by the Chicago branch of the Illinois
iet, and was one of the early French ex- Central Railroad, having one station, Tonti,
plorers of Illinois. It is north of Salem a hamlet of four or five houses, a store, a
and its survey numbers are town 3 north,
range 2 east. It has no towns within its
saw-mill and a fruit warehouse.
The first settler of Tonti township was
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
159
William Pursley, who settled on section 14
in 1820, but did not enter any land until
1823, in which year he entered the west
half of the northwest quarter of section 14.
He deeded the land to his wife, who was
Miss Lydia Little. She was the heroine of
the rescue of Thomas Higgins in his des-
perate encounter with the Indians. The fol-
lowing is an account of the fight as given by
Governor Reynolds in his pioneer history
of Illinois:
"Thomas Higgins was born in Barren
county, Kentucky, in 1790. He came to
Illinois with his relatives in 1807, and lo-
cated on Silver creek, near the Bradsley's.
He received a very limited education, as
his parents were in humble circumstances,
and he himself was not much in love with
a school-house. He possessed a good mind,
but would, in defiance of danger or any-
thing else, employ himself in harmless mis-
chief, yet he was as brave a man as ever
existed. He was in his manhood, very
strong, muscular and active. He was not
so very tall, but compactly formed for great
strength and activity. During the whole
War of 1812 he was actively engaged on
the frontiers in defending the settlements. I
personally knew him to be a member of the
company commanded by Capt. William B.
Whitesides, in most of the war. In 1814
he joined another company and was one of
the party under command of Lieut. John
Journey at Hillsfort, situated six or eight
miles southwest of the present town of
Greenville in Bond county. Journey had
eleven men in his corps, and on the 2Oth of
August, 1814, Indian signs were discovered
near the fort, and next morning at day-
break, Journey and party mounted and went
out to reconnoitre the country. They had
not marched far before they entered an am-
buscade of a large party of Indians. The
warriors fired on them and Journey and
three of his men were killed instantly, Wil-
liam Burges and John Boucher wounded,
Boucher slightly. The horse of Higgins
was shot in the neck and fell to the ground,
but soon rose again. Higgins remained a
moment "to get a pull at them," as he said.
He took deliberate aim at an Indian and
shot him dead. He then mounted his horse
and was about to return to the fort, when a
familiar voice hailed him from the grass,
and said, "Tom, you won't leave me?" Hig-
gins hollowed out to him to "come on."
"I can't, my leg is smashed to pieces," an-
swered Burges. Higgins dismounted in-
stantly and was getting the wounded man
on his horse, but the horse scared and ran
off. Higgins told Burges to limp off on
three legs and he would protect him. Bur-
ges crawled off through the grass and saved
himself, while Higgins was left behind to
fight the most bloody and terrible battle that
ever the same number of men three In-
dians and one white man were engaged in.
Higgins had loaded his gun, as soon as he
had killed the Indian, and was ready for the
enemy again, but all at once three Indians
made their appearance near him. He saw a
small ravine close to him and ran for it, so
he could defend himself against so many
Indians. While he was running, he dis-
i6o
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
covered for the first time that his leg failed
him; he was wounded at the first fire but
did not know it at the time. One of the In-
dians was a very large and stout man as
large as Higgins. The others were small
and not so courageous as the large one.
Higgins was satisfied he must receive the
fire of the large Indian, and attempted to
dodge it, but the bullet lodged in his thigh,
and he fell, but rose instantly. By this
time the other two had also fired at him, and
both balls hit him. He fell, badly wounded,
but soon again was on his feet, with his
loaded gun in his hand. The Indians threw
down their guns as they had not time to
load them again and rushed, whooping and
yelling on Higgins, with their spears, toma-
hawks and knives. When they advanced
near him, he presented his gun at them and
that kept them off a while. Higgins often
told me that the large Indian was as brave
as a lion, he could not daunt him or intim-
idate him in the least, but when the two
small ones came near him they quailed under
his furious looks. They could not look him
in the face, "but the large Indian could look
the devil in the face," as Higgins expressed
it. The bold Indian was rushing on him,
and he shot him dead. It is supposed that
the large Indian did not believe Higgins's
gun loaded, or he would not have rushed on
certain death. The Indian had a great sol-
dier (Higgins) to contend with. When the
other Indians saw their main man killed, it
made them more fierce. They raised the
war whoop louder and rushed with greater
vigor on poor wounded Higgins, who had
in his body four Indian balls, and had lost
much blood, was weak and almost exhaust-
ed, had an empty gun and no other weapon.
He was near many Indian warriors besides
the two pressing on him, who were armed
with spears, tomahawks and knives, and
were strong, having lost no blood, nor were
they wounded as Higgins was. They gave
Higgins many flesh wounds, as his shirt
and body were literally cut to pieces. One
of the Indians threw a tomahawk at him,
cutting his ear nearly off, and laid the bone
of his head and side of his neck entirely
bare. This blow knocked him down, and
when they rushed on him with their spears,
he kicked them off. When one of the In-
dians presented his spear at the breast of
Higgins, while he was stretched on the
ground, he caught the spear and the Indian
pulling it, raise Higgins up by it. Then it
was that he took his gun and literally
knocked the brains, out of one of the In-
dians. This blow broke the skull of the In-
dian and likewise Higgins's gun. It was
shattered to pieces, and the barrel was bent.
Then he had 'but one Indian to fight, but
he was nearly exhausted. During most of
this fight, it was in sight of the fort, and a
woman a Mrs. Pursley, became excited,
and said she could not stand to see so brave
a man as Higgins murdered by the Indians.
She mounted her husband's horse, and start-
ed to his rescue. The men in the fort could
not see a woman go alone and followed
her. As soon as the Indian fighting Hig-
gins saw the rangers coming, he fled. They
found Higgins prostrated on the ground,
I'.RINKKRIIOFK S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
161
nearly dead, cut and mangled, and almost
torn to pieces.
Governor Reynolds states that Higgins
never fully recovered and that he received
a pension to the full amount of the law.
Such a woman was the first white woman
to live in Tonti township. Some of her de-
scendants still live in this county. In 1823
William Marshall settled in the east part of
Tonti township. He was a farmer, teacher,
Justice of the Peace and a fiddler. It is
told of him that he would walk to the home
of a bride-to-be, perform the marriage cere-
mony, and then take his fiddle, play all night
for the wedding dance and often the fee was
not more than "two bits." Marshall was the
first County Surveyor. In 1838 he moved
to near what is now Fairman in Carrigan
township, where he died. John Eddington
also came to Tonti in 1823. William Nich-
ols also settled in the northwest part of the
township in 1823. He owned one slave and
moved to Missouri in 1826. William Mar-
shall bought his place, which afterward was
owned by John S. Martin, who was -an en-
terprising, intelligent man of considerable
means and who owned at his death about
two thousand acres of land in the neighbor-
hood of this farm. The Nichols land is
still in the Martin family. John S. Martin
was the father of Gen. James S. Martin,
who commanded the One Hundred and
Eleventh Illinois Infantry in the Civil war.
John S. Martin died at Alma in 1865.
Thomas Allmon came from Tennessee in
1827. He was the founder of the Allmon
family in this county and from him is de-
n
rived the name of the Allmon peach, noted
in this county, as one of the most perfect
of cling peaches. John Davidson was a set-
tler in 1828 and lived in this and Carrigan
township many years. Robert Nichols im-
proved a farm in this township in 1823 and
lived on it until he died in 1836. He was
the eldest of eighteen children, several of
whom lived in this county.
Britton Smith came to Tonti in 1827.
When he came to the township, there were
only seven families in the township, he mak-
ing the eighth. They were the Widow
Pursley, a sketch of whom is given above,
William Marshall, Thomas Allmon. John
Eddingten, Ross Jones, John Davidson and
Robert Nichols. Mordecai and Britton
Smith came to Salem in 1829 and their fa-
ther, Abraham Smith, followed them to Ma-
rion county in 1831 and settled in Tonti
township, where he died in 1854. Britton
was a stage driver on the Vincennes and St.
Louis route a long time. He afterward
married and settled on section 5. where
he died. Israel Jennings moved from Wal-
nut Hill and settled on section 31 about
1831.
James Black, of whom mention is made
in the county section, settled on section 17,
in 1831. He raised a family of ten chil-
dern and the Blacks and their descendants
are allied to many of the best families in the
county. Charles Purcell came from Tennes-
see in 1832 and settled on land in section 2.
He died here in 1846. He raised a family
of eight children, five sons and three
daughters, one of the sons, Thomas, still
162
UNKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS-
living on the old home, enjoying in old age
the fruits of a well spent life.
J. D. Gray, a Methodist minister located
on section 17 in 1840 and was the first min-
ister settled in the township. Lemuel Bal-
lance came in 1836 and was the founder of
the Ballance family of this township of
whom there are but few left. Gen. Josiah
Woodward came from Ohio in 1840 and
settled in Tonti, but afterward went back to
Ohio. His son, Charles, who died a couple
of years ago, lived on the place until about
1902 or 1903. William Woodward, of Sa-
lem, and Jay Woodward, of Tonti, are the
grandsons of General Woodward.
The first school-house was a log, structure
built in the heavy timber on section 10. Wil-
liam Marshall was the first teacher. The
Baptists built the first church near the school
house quite early in the forties. It was of
logs and was long since replaced by a neat
frame church known as Fredonia. Cubbage
Chapel, a neat frame church, was built aft-
erward on the Fredonia road by the Metho-
dist people. Both have good membership
and have exercised a wholesome influence.
Moriah church is also in this township and
has exerted a good influence in its neigh-
borhood. It also is a Methodist church, but
when not in use like the others is open to
any respectable minister.
The Borden farm in this township is one
of the notable things of the county. Mr.
W T . L. Borden, son of Gail Borden of con-
densed milk fame and a successor to his
father in the business, purchased a tract of
about one thousand acres of land and im-
proved it with fine buildings as a sort of
summer home. Here he built dwellings for
himself and for his help;,built barns, mills,
poultry houses, carriage houses, etc., so that
approaching one thinks he is surely coming
to a village. Mr. Borden spent over one
hundred thousand dollars beautifying the
Borden farm and as he once said to the
writer, "just for the satisfaction of having
a place where he could retire for a few
months each year and rest and be free from
business cares. The place is .still kept up
by his heir.
During the building of the Illinois Cen-
tral Railroad through this township, a sen-
sation was caused by finding, the dead body
of a man hid in a shock of fodder, by a
farmer. The circumstances were these :
During the winter the farmer had oc-
casion to haul out fodder to feed his stock.
Approaching a shock of fodder he observed
a pair of boots sticking out from under the
shock and thought some one had hidden
them there and was congratulating himself
upon finding a good pair of boots. Imagine
his horror upon pulling them out of the fod-
der to find the dead body of a laborer. The
dead man was supposed to have been killed
by other laborers on the railroad and hid-
den in the fodder. The mystery was never
cleared up.
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 163
SALEM TOWNSHIP.
The first settler in Salem township was
also the first settler in the county, as has
been related in the sketch of the county.
His name was Capt. Samuel Young, and
from him is derived the numerous families
of Youngs in this part of the county. He
was a widower when he came to the county
and had a large family. James Young was
his eldest son, and was a married man, and
soon the old man turned over to him the
cares of the farm, while Captain Samuel put
in his time hunting and fishing, and in other
backwoods occupations. He was an original
character and like all backwoods men, he
had a strong aversion to anything that
smacked of style, which in his later years,
was sometimes seen in the travelers on the
highway from Vincennes to St. Louis. It is
related of him that being in Salem one day
he saw a couple of young men who offended
his sense of taste by their slighting remarks.
They were easterners who were going to St.
Louis. Young hastened home and getting
his gun watched for the youths and as they
arrived about where Ike Shanafelt's house
now stands, confronted them with his gun
and made them dismount and dance a horn-
pipe for the amusement of the backwoods
man, which he made them keep up until
well-nigh exhausted, when he permitted
them to proceed on their way, while the old
man went chuckling home, but he who
laughs last laughs best, and the old man was
not done with dancing. The youths on arriv-
ing at Carlyle related the circumstance and
learning of the intention of a couple of trav-
elers to journey to Vincennes, prevailed on
them to pay the old man in his own coin,
which they did by watching for him, and at
the muzzle of a pistol made the old man
give a half-hour exhibition dance in the
middle of the road and then rode away
leaving the old man in doubt as to who had
the best of it.
The history of Salem is largely the his-
tory of the county for the first few years, so
far as civil history goes. The township was
about half timber and half prairie, but now
is largely cleared and in cultivation. The
main watercourse is Crooked creek, which
flows southwest across the township from
section 24 to 31. The Baltimore & Ohio
Southwestern Railroad runs about two
miles south of the north line of the town-
ship, and nearly parallel to it, while the old
Vincennes road parallels the railroad, about
a half mile north. The C. & E. I. Rail-
road enters the township at the northeast
corner, bends to the west about one mile to
the city of Salem, and then bends to the east,
passing out of the township near the south-
east corner of section 24.
The Illinois Southern enters the township
on the west near the southwest corner and
runs to the city of Salem, its northern ter-
minus. The Chicago branch of the Illinois
Central crosses the northwest corner of the
township, but has no station in Salem town-
ship, but Tonti in Tonti township is only
three miles from the city of Salem, and
[64
BRINKERHOFF S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
gives good shipping facilities, by that road.
It is said that a narrow policy held to by the
citizens of Salem when the road was being
built prevented the Central coming to Sa-
lem. If such was the policy of the fathers
it is certainly not of the sons for when the
C. P. & M. was projected, Salem citi-
zens gave eleven thousand dollars cash and.
the right of way through the township as
an inducement to deflect from a straight
line, so as to touch Salem, and they also
gave the right of way to the Illinois South-
ern, when it was extended from Centralia.
The next comers after Young and his
sons-in-law Snodgrass and Piles, did not
settle in this township for some years.
James Roberts was the first; he came from
Indiana in 1819. He brought his wife and
four children, two sons, Jesse and William,
and two daughters, both married, one Mrs.
John Walker, the other Mrs. William Frost.
This family made the second settlement and
Roberts having selected section n, began
improvements, where the city of Salem now
stands, thus increasing the population by
eight adults. Roberts sold his holdings to
Rufus Ricker and Mark Tulley in 1824 and
moved back to Indiana with his entire fam-
ily. Mark Tully, who came to the township
in 1821, was the second son of an Irish emi-
grant and wife and was born near Harpers
Ferry, Virginia, then went to Tennessee,
thence to Indiana and from there to Illinois
in 1821. He first settled about three miles
west of Salem, in the neighborhood of the
Youngs. He brought his wife and four
children of his own and two step-children,
having married ,a widow. Nine more chil-
dren were born to them after coming to this
county, one of whom is still living in Sa-
lem, and is well known to almost every citi-
zen of the county, who has been here any-
time. \Ve refer to Mr. Ander Tully, Esq.,
and from him we get most of the facts per-
taining to the family. Mr. Tully soon after
his settlement moved to a place north of
Salem and in 1824 in partnership with Ru-
fus Ricker bought out James Roberts and
confirmed the deed of gift of thirty acres of
land made by Roberts to the county in
1823, in consideration of the county seat
being located on his land. Ricker and Tul-
ly and their wives signed the deed in 1826,
Mrs. Tully signing by mark as Suckey Tul-
ly-
The Tully family by their number unites
in strains of blood more or less closely most
of the old families of Salem, among whom
are the Hulls, the Bryans and the Ogles,
and through their children, many others.
Mr. Tully was a man of fine character and
was endowed with the clear brain and kind
heart of his Irish forefathers. He was the
first Sheriff of the county and for many
years was one of the guiding spirits of the
destinies of the new county. He was left
the second of five children when quite young
to the care of his mother, made a widow by
the unprovoked murder of his father. The
story as I have it from Mr. Ander Tully is
as follows :
Shortly after the War of the Revolution
the elder Tully and his wife emigrated from
Ireland to Virginia and settled a few miles
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
165
west of what is now Harper's Ferry. They
possessed but little of this world's goods,
but with cheerful bravery proceeded to wrest
fortune from the hand of destiny. Mr. Tul-
ly was employed as a teamster for the pro-
prietor of a store, a day's journey from
the ferry, and was accustomed to take trips
lasting three or four weeks with a five horse
team and an immense freight wagon, there
being no other way to transport produce
from or goods to the country store of his
employer. On these trips Mr. Tully would
camp by the wayside to feed and cook meals
or pass the night, often not seeing a person
for days unless chancing to meet a traveler
like himself. On one occasion he was re-
turning with a load of salt, driving his five
horse team (two teams and a "spike" leader,
driven by a single line, the driver riding one
wheel horse) when noon overtook him
about six miles from his journey's end and
he stopped to feed and rest his team. While
so resting a settler passed going to the store
and spoke to Mr. Tully and passed on. Ar-
riving at the store he told the proprietor his
team would be in soon as he had passed it
some miles back. The settler did not return
that way, but went home by another route.
The storekeeper looked for the team's com-
ing, but it had not appeared at sundown. He
waited until nine o'clock, then thinking Tul-
ly must have broken down, got another
man, and taking lanterns with them started
to look for the team and driver. When
they arrived at the place where the friend
had seen Tully taking the noon hour rest,
they found the wagon and team with the
best horse missing and a worn-out horse in
its stead. A search of the ground showed
evidence of a struggle and blood stains.
They followed the track marked by blood
drippings to the ferry, which was of the flat-
boat kind, held in place by a rope across the
river and a running pulley propelled by pol-
ing. The ferryman had been absent during
the day, but his wife on being asked said a
man and woman in a one-horse wagon ac-
companied by a man on horseback, were
ferried over by her that afternoon, and be-
ing asked if she noticed anything about the
buggy, she said there was blood dripping
from the rear end, but as it was a daily oc-
currence for hunters to have a deer or bear
just killed, she thought nothing of it. She in-
dicated the way the trio went. A posse was
obtained and pursuit made the next day ami
on the morning after a pole with a man's
head stuck on it was standing on the river
bank. The murderers were the notorious
Harpe brothers known throughout the West
as Big Harpe and Little Harpe. The head
was that of Big Harpe. Little Harpe and the
woman escaped. Little Harpe was killed in
New Orleans years after and confessed be-
fore he died that he and his brother killed
Tully, and thus concluded Uncle Ander.
My father has told me many times of the
death of my grandfather and from that time
the ferry was called Harper's Ferry. Mrs.
Mark Tully died in Salem in 1857. Mr. Tul-
ly retired to his farm in Tonti township and
lived a retired life until his summons came
in 1869, October ijth, when he slept the last
sleep.
1 66
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Rufus Ricker came in 1819 from Indiana
most probably with Mark Tully, as they
were friends and associates in business, he
and Tully buying out Roberts, as has been
mentioned before. He was popular and took
prominent part in the affairs of the new
county. He was the first postmaster, being
appointed in 1825. After several years he
went to Iowa. The first marriage in the
township was Samuel Young's daughter.
Patsy, to Jacob Albert, a soldier of the sec-
ond war with Great Britain. Abia Lee, a
Justice of the Peace, performed the cere-
mony. This wedding was in 1816. The
first child born was a daughter of this cou-
ple, and the first male child was John, a son
of Matthew Young, who at the age of nine-
teen married Miss Sarah Ware. John,
or Farmer John Young, as he was
called, lived and died within a few hun-
dred yards of where his father and mother
began life together. John lived to a ripe
old age, and died in 1906. Several sons and
daughters of Matthew and Sarah Young
are still living in the county, and many
grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Matthew's wife survived him three or four
years, but died about eighteen years ago.
The writer knew them "well in life, and in
death, as minister, laid them to rest as
well as their eldest son, John Young. The
first death in the township was William, son
of Robert Snodgrass, and Jane Snodgrass,
his wife, which occurred in 1816. The de-
ceased was buried at Young's graveyard in
section 16. This was the first grave-
yard in the county. A rude log hut
was built in 1824 near James Young's
on section 16 as a school-house, and
as it was only used in summer it was
not even chinked and daubed. The first
teacher was William Hadden, who taught
the three "R's" "Readin', Ritin' and Rith-
metic." Preaching was at private houses as
often as possible and by 1825 the passing
preacher became a regular preacher, leaving
his appointments sometimes months ahead,
and today there is one preacher who had
preached every year on the same Sunday in
the year for forty-four years. We refer to
Elder J. D. Morgan, of Odin, and the place
is at Young's this township. The celebrated
Lorenzo Dow, Thomas Cole, Leonard Mad-
dux and Elder Patterson were among the
first preachers and often the funeral sermon
of a deceased friend was preached a year or
more after interment. Those of today can-
not know the toil and hardships these early
soldiers of the Cross had to bear that the
message might be brought to those hunger-
ing after the bread of life. The preaching
day was "norated" abroad and when it ar-
rived the neighborhood met at the house
where the preaching was to be, coming for
miles on foot, in oxcarts, wagons and on
horseback. The preacher at the hour of
service arose and lined the opening hymn,
sometimes reading the entire hymn first and
then lining it. This was necessary, as per-
haps the only hymn book in the audience
was that carried by the preacher. The man-
ner of lining was as follows : The preacher
would read, say,
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
167
"From Greenland's icy mountains
To India's coral strands,"
and then call the meter, long, common, or
short, and start the hymn. After these two
lines were sung, he would read the next
two:
"Where Afric's sunny fountains
Roll down the golden sands."
All immediately sang these lines and thus
alternately reading and singing, the hymn
was finished, nor was the effect so grotesque
as one might think, as practice rendered the
singers adept at beginning at the right time
with right tone and pitch. Often in my
young days in Illinois I have listened to this
kind of singing and thought it excellent.
James Roberts built the first mill. It
stood on Main street near the place where
Mat Marshall's house now stands. It was
a horse mill, but passed into the hands of
Mark Tully in 1823 and after running it
some years he made it into a steam mill. No
trace of it now remains. The township is
now fairly dotted with fine farms, good
houses and barns, large orchards, and all
that goes to make rural life worth living.
Schools are plentiful, with good school
houses and the best equipments and a fine
corps of teachers. What a change a few
short years have brought about. Where the
wild Indian whoop was heard a few years
ago is now heard only the hum of quiet in-
dustry and the silent arches by nature built
has given place to the homes of men. May
they be happy homes of virtue, love and
peace.
THE CITY OF SALEM.
The city of Salem, county seat of Marion
county, is within a mile or less from the ge-
ographic center of the county, that is, the
northeast corner of the city is within less
than a mile of the northeast corner of the
township, which is at the exact center of the
county. The original town was an exact
square around which was an alley, twenty-
feet wide. The city inside of this alley was
divided into four squares by two principal
streets at right angles to each other and
crossing each other at what is known as the
bank corner. Each square was again divid-
ed into four equal square blocks by streets
fifty feet wide, the two principal streets,
Broadway, running north and south and
Main street, running east and west, being
one hundred feet wide. The blocks in turn
were divided into eight lots each fifty-six
by one hundred and twelve feet. Block
three in square one was reserved as a coun-
ty square and is still, and forever must be
by the terms of the gift, the court-house
square. The land within the twenty foot
bordering alley, was donated to the county
in accordance with the act of the Legislature
1 68
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
creating the county, by James Roberts, who
was the owner by right of squatter sov-
ereignty and entry in 1819. Although he
did not deed the land, but left that to his
successors in title, Rufus Ricker and Mark
Tully, who confirmed the gift by deed dated
June 6, 1826. The Commissioners acting
for the county were John S. Davis, Leonard
P. Pyles and Benjamin (Blackbear) Ver-
million.
The first house in Salem was a log house
built by James Roberts ; it stood on the south
side of Main street, east of the square, but
was not in the original town. It is still
standing, having been repaired and weather-
boarded and now has the appearance of an
old frame house. The second house was
built by Mark Tully as a stopping place for
the Vincennes stage, which route was in
use as early as 1820. This house was built
about the time that Ricker and Tully bought
Roberts out and stood as the homestead
of A. R. Bryan until his death, with, how-
ever, many improvements and additions it
has sheltered three generations and still
stands a commodious and substantial build-
ing.
The first store was kept by Martin Hill.
It was in a small frame building about the
middle of the block west from the court-
house, and north of Main street ; it has dis-
appeared. Hill kept a few groceries and no-
tions, perhaps the entire stock was brought
from St. Louis by one wagon. The next
store stood where the National Bank now
stands. Thomas Higgins was the propri-
etor, and was the first to sell dry goods in
Salem.
The first church was built by the Presby-
terians. It stood northeast from the court-
house, near the old creamer) site. It was
sold to the Colored Baptists, and is now
gone. It was built in 1846.
The first school-house was built in 1840,
and stood in the same part of the town as
the Presbyterian church. It was built in
1840. It was a small frame building and
stood many years, and has only disappeared
with the last decade. It must not be in-
ferred that the children received no educa-
tion from 1823 to 1840, but during those
seventeen years school had been kept at such
times and places as teachers and patrons
could make convenient. The city did not
graw rapidly. Indeed, it was only the county
seat and a stopping place for stage coaches
for many years and consisted of some half
a dozen houses. By 1837 the hamlet had
grown so that the subject of incorporating
was agitated and a meeting was called for
July i, 1837, to consider the advisability of
incorporating Salem as a town. The meet-
ing was held in the store of Col. W. N.
Dobbins, and Uriah Mills was elected as
chairman and Thomas Ray as clerk. They
were both sworn to do the duties of their
offices to the best of their abilities. The
minutes of the meeting as preserved among
the county records are unique, and are here
copied verbatim :
"On motion of Col. W. N. Dobbins, W.
D. Haynie explained the object of the meet-
ing and on motion of N. B. Nelems, the
house proceeded to ascertain by vote the
sense of the meeting. Whareuppon William
D. Haynie, Jas. Marshal, N. B. Nelems,
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
169
William X. Dobbins, Uriah Mills, W. H. H.
Barens, John Harner, George W. Pace and
Thomas Ray, voting in favor of incorpor-
ating the said town. No opposition voats.
We certify that thare ware nine voats in
favor of incorporating the town, as above,
and none against."
"URIAH MILLS, Pres.
"THOMAS RAY, Clerk."
We have preserved this unique document
in wording and spelling that modern meth-
ods may be compared therewith. Just what
was accomplished by the meeting it is diffi-
cult to see, as no further action seems to
have been taken and there is no evidence
that the town was legally incorporated at
that time, nor was any further action taken
until 1 the spring of 1854, when a proposition
to organize as a village was submitted to
the voters. The proposition was carried by
a vote of seventy-six to thirteen against.
An election was called and the following
five trustees was elected: Thomas Day, B.
F. Marshall, S. W. Cuningham, T. O. Lef-
fingwell an Samuel Hull. W. W. Jennings
was chosen constable. Salem remained un-
der the village charter until 1865, when it
was made a city by special act of the
Legislature. W. E. McMackin (afterward
lieutenant colonel of General Grant's regi-
ment) was elected first Mayor.
In 1829 Salem contained five families,
viz., those of Rufus Ricker, Mark Tully,
James Chance, James Pyles and Martin
Hill. Ricker was Clerk of the Court and
postmaster ; Tully was Sheriff, Chance
was a blacksmith; Hill a storekeeper, and
Pyles a farmer. Today Salem has three
thousand five hundred people, three rail-
roads, three miles of brick paved streets,
about ten miles of granitoid sidewalk, a
large three-story school building, two bank
buildings, the finest in Southern Illinois;
four hotels, two steam flouring 'mills, steam
brick-making plant ; two large and six me-
dium dry goods houses, the larger carrying
a thirty thousand dollar stock, the others
from six thousand to ten thousand dollar
stocks ; three millinery stores ; one china
store: two clothing stores, each with large
stock : one machine shop, four butcher
shops, two furniture stores, one of which is
the largest establishment of its kind south
of Springfield ; ten grocery stores, one poul-
try house, two jewelry stores and two drug
stores. The city is lighted by electricity,
the city owning its own plant. Until 1905
the city's growth was very slow, the census
of 1900 giving it but one thousand six hun-
dred and forty-two inhabitants, but in 1905
the C. & E. I. Railroad removed their re-
pair shops from St. Elmo to Salem, a com-
pany of citizens buying and giving to the
company a strip of land one thousand feet
wide and two miles long for yards. The
company also made Salem a division head-
quarters with offices of superintendent, en-
gineer, freight and dispatcher's headquar-
ters of the division, thus doubling the pop-
ulation in less than a year. Salem still needs
two things to make it an ideal city: water-
works and good country roads leading to
the city limits. Both are being agitated and
both will come and that, too, in the near fu-
ture.
170
BRIXKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Salem also boasts of the largest seed-
cleaning establishment in the state if not
in the world that makes an exclusive busi-
ness of handling Red Top seed. Thousands
and thousands of bushels are handled every
year. The seed is said to be shipped to Eu-
rope and there used in making an excellent
dye for fabric coloring.
The Salem mine, now being rebuilt after
the fire of last December is, as has been
stated, one of the deepest in the state, nine
hundred and one feet to the bottom of the
sump. The vein is four feet and six inches
thick, but of an excellent quality, burning
without clinkers and giving an intense heat,
and is equal to one and one-half times the
unit of other coal.
The city cemetery, known as East Lawn,
is situated in the eastern part of the city
and contains about twenty acres. It is
beautifully located and well cared for and
speaks well for the people's remembering
their dead. A small soldiers' monument oc-
cupies the circle in the center of the ceme-
tery. It was erected by the Woman's Re-
lief Corps to the memory of the deceased
soldiers of the Civil war. The cemetery
as a burial place dates back to 1830, and a
man by the name of Hammers is supposed
to have been the first interment.
The oldest newspaper in the county is
published in Salem. It is the Weekly Her-
ald-Advocate, owned and published by
Senator C. E. Hull.
As Centralia had her mystery of hidden
skeletons so Salem also had her mystery,
but in the case of Salem the mystery was-
speedily cleared away.
About twenty-four years ago, when the
excavation for the basement of the present
Cutler & Hays building was being dug,
the workmen dug out of an old abandoned
well the skeleton of a woman, which was
covered by .the debris that had accumulated
in the old well. As an old house had been
standing many years on the spot the report
started that someone had been murdered and
thrown into the well years before. Great
excitement prevailed and the wiseacres be-
gan to tell of this one and that one who
might have been murdered, drawing largely
upon their imaginations, and dark hints as
to who the murderers were, filled the minds
of the ever-increasing crowds. People from
the country around flocked to town day
after day until the excitement grew so great
it was thought best to clear up the mystery,
as some of the best citizens were coming
under the suspicion of the unreasoning
throng. It was quietly let leak out that the
whole thing was a grewsome joke and the
perpetrators confessed to having hid the
skeleton in the well the night before its dis-
covery. The jokers were Dr. G. S. Rainey,
now chief surgeon for the C. & E. I. 'Rail-
road; W. S. Slack, now proprietor of the
Salem Marble Works, and Dr. Will Mc-
Mackin, since dead. The crowd of excited
citizens vanished and everybody said, "I
knew it was some joke of Doctor Rainey's."
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
RACCOON TOWNSHIP.
171
Raccoon township is the southernmost of
the second tier of townships, east of the
third principal meridian. Its survey num-
bers are town i north, range 2 east. The
name is taken from one of the denizens of
the forest with which one-half of this town-
ship was once covered. Its principal stream
also bears the same name. Small glades of
prairie land project into this township
among which Walnut Hill, Romine and
Tennessee prairies form most of the open
land. Little prairie is wholly in this town-
ship and was little more than an open glade
amid the forest. Much of the timber land
has been cleared and nothing remains in
many places to show that a forest ever oc-
cupied the soil, but instead of the forest, or-
chards of apple, peach and pear trees greet
the traveler's eye. Tennessee prairie, so
called because settled by Tennesseeans, is in
the northwest and extends to Little prairie,
to which it is connected by a narrow strip.
Like all settlements of Illinois, the 'first set-
tlers chose the timber land; first, because
they found it more convenient to build and
for fuel; second, because they were used to
timber and loved its 'protection from the
summer sun and the blasts of winter ; third,
the flies with which the prairie was infested,
especially the green-heads, rendered it al-
most impossible for horses to work during
the heat of the day.
The first man to settle on Tennessee
prairie was Alfred Ray. He was a good
citizen and left several representatives, who
are good citizens of the county. Two fam-
ilies of North Carolina settled in this town-
ship near Walnut Hill. Their names were
Sherwood and McKinney. John Adams
came from Kentucky in 1828 and
settled in Raccoon township. He, his wife
and six children came in one wagon. The
children all are dead, but several grand-
children still live in various parts of the
county. John Wilson settled on section 32
in 1819. He also had six children; all are
dead, but a few grandchildren represent the
family. He was from North Carolina. Jb-
siah Fyke, a veteran of the War of 1812,
one of General Jackson's Tennesseeans, at
the battle of New Orleans, settled in section
17, in 1830. He was the first Justice of
the Peace in the township and served in the
Black Hawk war. Several of his descend-
ants still reside in this township and a few
in other townships of the county.
Samuel Hays was the founder of the large
and influential Hays family, and in 1828 he
settled on section 32, near what is now the
Bundyville school. He was from Alabama
and had a large family of seven boys and
two girls, all of whom are now dead. Elijah,
the fifth son, was a man of an exceptionally
large mind and lived until a few years ago.
His widow, of whom mention is made in
the sketch of Odin township and the Dead-
mond family, still lives on the old home farm
at the age of ninety-one. Elijah Hays was
an original Free Soil man and was one of
the two men living south of Springfield,
172
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
who voted for John G. Birney for Presi-
dent in 1852. The descendants of Samuel
Hays are numerous in the southern part of
the county and rank with our best people.
John Bundy, from North Carolina, set-
tled in Jefferson county in 1819, but moved
to Raccoon township soon after and made a
home in section 6. He had eight children.
Three of the boys were in the Mexican war
and one. Rev. Isaac Bundy, was a well
known Methodist preacher for many years.
The children are all dead but one, William
Bundy. who still 'lives, a sturdy representa-
tive of a stock that made the wilderness
blossom as a rose.
In 1822 Samuel Huff settled on section
31. He came from Tennessee and was a
noted character in the early days. He was
one of the celebrated Illinois Rangers, who
did so much to protect the frontier settle-
ments from cutthroats, who nocked to the
new settlements to hide from justice, as well
as from the Indian depredations. His home
was always the home of the traveling
preacher, who at that time was to be found
ever on the road doing his Master's work
and preaching the \Yord as opportunity of-
fered. One of these itinerant preachers who
stopped at the Huffs was the celebrated Lo-
renzo Dow, who preached from a wagon on
the text "The End of All Things Is at
Hand ; be ye, therefore, sober and watchful
unto prayer." This trait of keeping the
preacher seems to run in the family and
was kept up by the sons and daughters,
more especially by his daughter, Cynthia,
and her husband. Mr. Mercer, whose home
was the preachers' home, where an old-
fashioned welcome awaited every one who
came in the name of the Lord.
The Copple family came from Indiana in
1835, and the founder, Andrew Copple, has
numerous representatives in this and other
townships. The Telford family came in
1831. The father, Joseph Telford, brought
his family from South Carolina in a four-
horse wagon. He made his home in section
33. where he cleared a farm. This family
is also represented by numerous descendants
who are active citizens and public-spirited
men.
The Radcliffs, Boggs and Morrison fam-
ilies next came and settled in this township.
The settlers of this township were from the
first a church-loving and a church-going
people and the first thought after the home
was built was a meeting-house. The first
meeting place was either at Mt. Moriah or
Antioch, but both places claim the distinc-
tion. Certain it is they are the oldest
churches in the county and were built at the
same or about the same time: Antioch by the
Methodists and Mt. Moriah by the Baptists.
The Moriah site was a camp-meeting ground,
and was used before the church was built,
and is beyond doubt the first land set apart
for religious purposes in the county. It was
first a Baptist congregation, but at an early
day decided to call themselves Christians,
by which name it is now known. The first
church built here was a small log cabin,
eighteen by twenty-two feet, unchinked.
Other and larger houses were built from
time to time until now this historic ground
BRINKERIIOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
is occupied by a neat frame chapel, about
thirty by forty-five feet. It stands on the
original site and is surrounded by ten acres
of church land, a part of which is used as a
burial ground. This is the oldest graveyard
in the township and perhaps the second in
the county. The first grave dug was for an
Indian child who was drowned, and was
buried by the white settlers. This spot had
been used for burial purposes by the Indians
and a few graves were scattered about when
the whites came. Both of these churches
still flourish and are regarded with venera-
tion in their neighborhoods.
A coal shaft was opened in 1846, in sec-
tion 4. It did not amount to much and was
abandoned. A stone quarry was opened on
section 21 in 1834 by B: J. Crane. The
stone is a soft sandstone, which hardens by
exposure to air, but is of inferior quality,
and was only used for neighborhood pur-
poses. It has not so far developed any com-
mercial value. The old Vincennes trail
passe through this township. And across its
glades and through its forests, Clark and
his men marched on their famous expedi-
tion to conquer Vincennes. The first school
was taught by one Jeff Dow, near the pres-
ent site of the Bundy school. It was taught
in an old log cabin. The first school-house
was erected in section 18, in 1832. It had a
chimney and fire place and no floor, but
mother earth. The first teacher in this prim-
itive school-house was Robert Mayberry.
Samuel R. Martin built the first mill. It
was a horse mill and answered the needs of
the settlers for a time. This was very early,
but the date cannot now be ascertained. It
was in section 15. I^ater, in 1832, John My-
ers built a horse mill on the same section.
It was a twenty-bushel mill. Next Joseph
Baldriclge built a tread mill, run by oxen,
with a capacity of forty bushels per day.
This mill was on section 20. In 1848 a post-
office was established at Raccoon, at the
home of John Parkinson. It was afterward
moved a short distance southwest, where it
continued with a short intermission until it
was superseded by the Rural Free Delivery
system.
Raccoon township has always been a
township of religious people. The Covenant-
ers were at one time strong, while Christian,
Baptist, Methodist, each has several strong
organizations, and perhaps no township in
the county has so many places of public
worship nor so many appointed preachers.
PATOKA TOWNSHIP.
The name Patoka is of Indian origin, west tier of townships and borders on Fay-
evidently, but its significance is, so far as ette county on the north. Its survey numbers
the writer is concerned, lost. It is the fourth are town 4 north, range I east of the third
township north from the base line in the principal meridian. The Illinois Central
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Railroad passes from north to south across
the township, about two miles from the west
line, and has two stations in the township,
Patoka, toward the south side, and Vernon
on the north.
Harmon Holt was the first man to settle
in this township and he settled on section
14, in the winter of 1826. At that time the
township was an unbroken wilderness, part
timber and part prairie. Harmon Holt re-
mained on this tract until his death a few
years later. He left a widow and six chil-
dren, four of whom were daughters and
two sons, one of whom owned the old
homestead until his death less than twenty
years ago. Henry was sixteen years old
when his father came to the township.
The next spring John Cole and family
settled near the Holt cabin, but did not stay
long, and went to Arkansas and until 1829
these two families, the Holts and Coles, were
the only inhabitants of the township. In the
latter year Jeptha Meador came from Ten-
nessee and settled near Holts, on section 14.
He raised a family of eight children and his
son, Stephen, lived on the original farm
many years. There are quite a number of
his descendants living in the vicinity. The
next accession to the little colony was
Stephen Hopkins, who settled on section 13,
but he was a "mover" and did not stay long
in any place, but was continually changing
places. At last he went to Fayette county,
where he died.
Ignatius Anderson came from Clinton
county about 1833, and settled in the edge
of the timber, near Flat Creek, close to the
Fayette county line on the west, but after-
ward sold his improvements to William
Brown, who on the 3d of February entered
the forty-acre tract that he had bought of
Anderson. It was the southeast quarter of
the northeast quarter of section 6, and was
the first piece of land entered in the town-
ship. The second piece was the forty that
his father had improved and had lived on
seven years before its entry. '
Henry Holt married a daughter of Jesse
Nichols in 1832 and had a family of ten
children, all of whom but one we believe is
dead. Henry Holt and wife lived to a good
old age upon the same place where they be-
gan life together in 1832.
The farm generally known as the old
Walton place was first settled by Joseph
Meador in 1830, but in 1832 he sold it to a
man named Epperson, who lived there sev-
eral years and improved a farm on Flat
creek. He afterward went to Missouri.
Labon Gallion also settled forty acres in
section 4 in 1832. He did not enter the land
until 1836. Gallion afterward moved to
Fayette county. Ayers Conant settled on
section n in 1830. He was a man of some
education and was the first Justice of the
Peace in the township. He also was af-
flicted with the moving worm and moved
to Missouri and back in a few years and
finally died in Foster township.
Young Edwards located in the township
in 1831 and Levi Stiles in the same year,
Stiles improving the old Peter Smith place,
but after living here many years, moved
back to Tennessee. He afterward returned
BRIXKERHOFFS HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
175
to Carrigan township. Then he moved to
Missouri, then to Texas, then back to Ma-
rion county, where he died.
Solomon Cross settled in this township on
section 23. His wife died soon after, and her
death was the first in the township. Martha
Holt was the first child born in Carrigan.
She was the daughter of J. F. and Elizabeth
Holt, and afterwards married William Ea-
gan.
The Altom family was founded by John
Altom, who came from Tennessee with his
father to Clinton county in 1842. He moved
to this county and settled in Patoka town-
ship. He died in the village of Patoka in
1877, leaving a large number of descend-
ants.
The first school-house in the township,
like those in other townships, was built of
logs. It stood on section 14. Isom Finch was
probably the first teacher. From then to
now what a change! The little log school-
house of that day is replaced by neat frame
buildings, the old slab benches have been re-
placed with patent folding desks: the old
blue-back speller and McGuffey's reader by
a dozen books if no better, at least more at-
tractive; the untrained teacher, half farmer,
half backwoods man, by more or less trained
teachers and with sanitary surroundings.
Verily, the change is great and surely for
the better.
Patoka as a village, like all the cities,
towns and villages in the west tier of town-
ships, owes its existence to the Illinois Cen-
tral Railroad. The village was laid out on
Independence Day, 1854, by Clark and
Brigham. C. F. Jones laid out an addition
May ii, 1855, and the railroad another the
same day. The beginning of the village was
the building of a station house by the Il-
linois Central Railroad, which was used as
a boarding house by them for their work-
men, while the road was building. A man
by the name of Crawford was the boarding
boss.
Cyrus Walker built the first house in Pa-
toka in 1854 and kept a small general store
in it. It afterward was a part of the Walk-
er brothers' house. Mr. Walker succeeded
Crawford as boarding boss and when the
road was built became the first agent at Pa-
toka. He was instrumental in getting a
post-office established, even before the road
was completed and the mail was for a while
carried from Fosterburg. As Walker wanted
the post-office established that he might get
his own mail regularly, he submitted the
proposition to the Government that he
would carry the mail for the proceeds of the
office. Walker could not, under the law, be
both postmaster and mail contractor, so he
obviated this difficulty by securing the ap-
pointment of a farmer by the name of Alex-
ander Rodman to be postmaster, who kept
the office in Walker's store, Walker doing
all the work of the office as well as carry-
ing the mail, but the completion of the road
soon stopped this inconvenient way of get-
ting mail. Walker also built the first pure-
ly business house in 1856 and to this build-
ing moved his stock of goods. This build-
ing was afterwards occupied by and known
as Dr. E. M. Beach's building. Walker was
176
BRINKERIIOFF S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
a public spirited man and built many build-
ings and was prominent in building up Pa-
toka, keeping his interest in Patoka active
until his death which occurred in 1872. In
1855 Richardson and Gray opened a
produce store in Patoka. It was the second
business venture. They sold feed, flour,
meal, etc., and as the crops of 1854 in this
section were almost a total failure, they sup-
plied the farmers with feed.
Later in the same year, Williams & Kess-
ner built the third business house. All these
business houses were on the west side of the
track, Walker's residence alone being on
the east side. Patoka grew rapidly the first
few years, but then for many years ceased
to advance, but in the last three or four
years seems to be imbued with new life. In
1857 Snider and Harrison opened the first
blacksmith shop. Snider also repaired guns.
They put in a steam engine and manufac-
tured many kinds of farm implements. Cy-
rus Walker built a grist mill in 1861. It was
only a two burr mill, but the next year he
enlarged it, but sold the machinery in 1865,
and moved the building to the site of the
Patoka Milling Company. It was remodeled
and was then one of the most complete mill
properties in the county, and under the firm
name of Walker & Sons, was operated until
1873, when they were succeeded by the Pa-
toka Milling Company. The first saw-mill
began operations in 1863. Its owner was
Alexander Wickersham. Later Squire Fan-
ner and Jesse Altom opened a saw-mill, the
first of which has long since ceased opera-
tions, and the other is still working.
Patoka has six churches: the Methodist
Episcopal, the Methodist, South, the Chris-
tian, Baptist, Presbyterian and Catholic, the
latter two congregations being small. They
all have good church houses, the Christian
church building having been recently en-
larged and improved and is perhaps the
best equipped. The Ancient, Free and Ac-
cepted Masons, Independent Order of Odd
Fellows, and other lodges flourish, the Odd
Fellows having just completed a fine two-
story building with an elegant lodge room
in the upper story. Patoka has as intimated
in the preceding lines begun to take on new
life. A fine two-story brick school-house
was completed in 1907. A cannery of large
capacity went into operation in 1908. A
brick and tile works also was started a year
or two ago and in 1908, the Patoka Register
was started by Mr. Huntoon, who is making
it one of the most readable papers of the
county. There are stores and shops as well
as a bank, so that all things necessary may
be supplied at home.
VILLAGE OF VERNON.
Vernon is the most northern village in
the county, being less than a mile from the
Fayette county line. It is a station on the
Illinois Central Railroad, and was laid out
[.\KKKI I OFF S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
177
by I). \V. Murfin in 1872. The first build-
ing was a large hay barn, built by T. K.
Dickey in 1872. The next year Murry &
Harris opened a general store. Later three
or four other stores were opened and all
are still doing business. A good school-
house has been erected and also a Methodist
church. A neat station-house was erected in
1880, before that time an old box car served
as station. Vernon long enjoyed the dis-
tinction of being the home of the oldest man
in the county, Uncle Frank Binion, who died
in 1907, aged one hundred and seven years.
Vernon is the home of more veterans of the
Civil war than any community of like size,
known to us, and its quiet companionship
of comrades who are only awaiting the call
to come up higher is blessed with old ties
and remembrances of the long ago, but the
waiting will soon be over, for the Grand
Army is passing with the vanishing years.
CARRIGAN TOWNSHIP.
Carrigan township, named after the pio-
neer founder of the Carrigan family, is the
third township north of the base line in the
west tier of townships of the county. The
main line of the Illinois Central Railroad
traverses the west side of the township north
and south. It is drained by the East Fork
of the Okaw or Kaskaskia river, which
flows in a southwesterly direction across the
township, near the middle. East Fork is one
of the largest streams in the county and en-
ters the township near the northeast corner
and passes out at section 18. Davidson
creek, in the southeast part of the township,
drains the waters from that part into the
East Fork. Along these creeks was original-
ly a heavy growth of fine timber, but it has
been largely cleared, although much of the
land is covered with a "second growth,"
which will be of great benefit to the people.
The first man to locate in the township
was a man by the name of Jones, who in
12
1819 squatted in section 21, but who sold
out his partly finished cabin to Frederick
Phelps in 1820, and left the country. Sam-
uel Davidson came to this township with
Phelps. Phelps was a native of Tennessee,
who had moved to St. Clair in 1817. The
next year he moved to Clinton county,
where he married and moved to Carrigan
townshp in March, 1820, where, as above
stated he bought Jones's claim and settled
in section 21. In March, 1822, he entered
the first tract entered in this township, viz. :
west half of the northwest quarter of sec-
tion 21, town 3 north, range i east. Mr.
Phelps was a very conscientious man, a de-
vout member of the Baptist church and a
good manager and very industrious, and
amassed considerable property. He reared
a family of ten children to manhood and
womanhood. He died September 2, 1845, re-
spected by the entire community. His wife
survived him several vears. One son. Sam-
i 7 8
BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
uel Phelps, will be remembered by the older
citizens of the county, as the genial host of
the Phelps House in Salem, many years ago.
Samuel Davidson was a native of Virginia,
but his father moved to Lincoln county,
Kentucky, when Samuel was a small child,
and there he was raised and lived until 1820
when he moved to Clinton county, where
he stayed one summer and then moved to
Carrigan township and built a cabin on sec-
tion 36. He broke and planted twenty acres
in corn the first year. This was considered a
very large crop at that day and as there
were no domestic animals within miles of
him and fences were no bar to "varmints"
which abounded all around him, he raised
this crop without fencing it. When he start-
ed from his Kentucky home he had a family
of ten children. His daughter Betsy was
married to Louis Weathers; she sickened
and died on the road, when her bereaved
husband went back to his old home in
Kentucky. All the other nine lived to be
married and make homes for themselves in
this county. The sons were William, John,
George and Samuel, Jr., three of whom were
grown when the family left Kentucky. Wil-
liam was the eldest and lived on the original
farm. He was a prominent man, having
been twice elected Sheriff of the county and
once a member of the Legislature. He was
married three times, but left only two chil-
dren, a son and a daughter. He died in
1847 from the effects of a fall from a wag-
on. The daughters of Samuel Davidson,
Sr., married as follows: Maria married
Charles Jennings and was the grandmother
of that great American, William Jennings
Bryan; Ann married Israel Jennings; Sallie
married Robert Carrigan and Nancy, James
M. Carrigan; Susan was the wife of Stew-
art W. Faridee.
Samuel Davidson, Sr., was a man who
ranked high in his old home in Kentucky.
He was a major in the regiment of Col.
Dick Johnson, during the War of 1812, and
saw much service on the frontier, with that
fearless commander and was doubtless, with
Johnson's command at the battle of the
Thames, where Tecumseh was killed by
Colonel Johnson. He died on the farm he
had improved in 1848, full of years and
honors. His wife died about 1838.
Joel Davis, the third man who settled in
Carrigan township, was a Tennessean and
remained a Tennessean about half the time,
as he moved back and forth to Tennessee
and Marion county several times. It seems
that when he had been in Illinois a year or
two he "hankered" after Tennessee and
when he had been in Tennessee a while he
longed for Carrigan township and would
pull up stakes and move, when the desire
seized him. He died, however, in Illinois,
in what is now known as Fredonia Prairie,
leaving a widow and family.
Zadock Phelps was another eccentric
character and seemed never to be content
long in any place. He came with Davis and
built a cabin on the J. M. Carrigan farm,
cleared a "truck patch" and then sold it and
started another home, built a cabin, cleared
a "truck patch" and again sold, and this he
did no less than eight times, starting eight
BRIXKKKIIOKK S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
179
farms in Carrigan township. Of course with
this restless disposition, he did not accumu-
late much property, but evidently enjoyed
moving. He was married twice and had a
large family of children with each wife and
even in old age his roving disposition did
not leave him, so he moved to Washington
county, Illinois, where he died and at last
remained in one place.
James Chance, supposed to have been an
emigrant from St. Clair county, settled in
this township about 1822 or 1823 and lo-
cated near the center of the township, and
made improvements. He was a first class
citizen and lived in this township until 1866,
when he died. He was twice elected Sheriff
of the county. He was married to a
daughter of Robert Nichols, and raised a
large family. His widow survived him many
years.
Robert Carrigan, a Georgian, settled in
1830, on section 26. The father of Robert
Carrigan settled in Clinton county in 1817,
and Robert was the man who as a lad led
the St. Clair Rangers across the country to
the home of the older Jennings, when they
rendezvoused at the Jennings homestead to
drive out the Goings gang. He died in
1834, leaving a widow and three children,
John S., Samuel R., and Nancy J. His
widow afterward married a Mr. Huff.
In December following the death of Rob-
ert, his brother, James M. Carrigan. settled
in this township. James M. raised a family
of ten children, but all are now passed away,
excepting one, William, who still resides in
the township. John M. Carrigan married one
of the Davidson family and a few years ago
his wife and Mr. Huff were the three last
representatives of pioneer days, but they
now rest from their labors and their works
do follow them, and may be seen in the
happy homes of Carrigan. Mr. Huff, who
married the widow of Robert Carrigan, was
an over-religious man and so austere and
stern that he was disliked by his step-chil-
dren, but nevertheless they treated him with
due respect and grew to manhood and
womanhood with more liberal views than
their step-father possessed. One son, Sam-
uel R., was Sheriff of the county at the
time of the death of Frank Leonard, an ac-
count of which will be given in the sketch
of Salem township, and made heroic efforts
to save the life of the unfortunate man.
Samuel R. Carrigan is still living in Car-
rigan township amidst his broad acres, be-
ing the largest land owner in the township,
having more than fifteen hundred acres and
is still a hale, active business man, taking
great interest in all the public affairs of his
township, and of the county.
Zadock Phelps. Sr., an uncle of Squatter
Zadock and father of John, built a cabin
near the spring in section 17. He died some
years later while on a visit to Lawrence
county, leaving a widow and seven children,
all of whom are long since dead. Daniel
Phelps also settled in this township in 1824.
He was something like his cousin, Zadock,
Jr., and never seemed satisfied to stay in one
place. He died in this township many years
ago. A large family, consisting of a
