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Full text of "Combined history of Randolph, Monroe and Perry counties, Illinois . With illustrations descriptive of their scenery and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers"

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UNIVERSITY  OF 
ILLINOIS  LIBRARY 
AT  URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 
IS 


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COMBINED  HISTORY 


RANDOLPH,  MONROE® PERRY 


COUNTIES,  ILLINOIS. 


DESCRIPTIVE  OF  THEIR  SCENERY 


^iojrapl^ital  ^IvbIi^bb  ofj  soma  t\  {\m  |}romm$nl  Men  anit  mon^grs. 


PUBLISHED  BY 

J.  L.  Mcdonough  &  co., 

PHILAOEI.PHIA. 


CORRESPONDING  OFFICE,  EDWARDSVILLE,  ILL. 


1883.  m^- 


C'753 


PREFACE 


"T^HE  publishers  desire  to  return  their  sincere  thanks 
to  those  who  have  aided  in  making  this  ivork 
thorough  and  complete.  For  the  incidents  relative  to 
the  early  settlement  of  these  counties,  we  are  indebted 
to  a  feiv  early  pioneers,  who  have  seen  a  wild  fron- 
tier country  develop  into  a  'wealthy  and  populous  com- 
munity. For  other  facts  zoe  are  under  obligations  to 
a  class  of  intelligent  men,  'who,  amid  the  ordinary 
pursuits  of  life,  have  taken  pains  to  thoroughly  in- 
form themselves  on  the  resources  of  their  county. 
Among  those  'who  have  specially  contributed  to  the 
eoinplctencss  of  this  history,  are  Samuel  Jlfansker, 
Hugh  Mathews,  John  .Sivawwick,  Antoine  Blais,  Ed- 
inond  Menard,  the  sei'cral  jnenihers  of  the  O'Hara 
family,  E  H.  Lciuen,  W.  S.  D  Smith,  the  Holmes 
family,  W.  K.  Murphy,  John  Chestniit'wood,  J.  H.  Wilson, 
Joseph  ]\\  Drury,  William  and  John  F.  Schuchcrt. 
We  also  acknoivledge  our  obligations  to  the  'writings  of 
Governor  Reynohh,  Rev.  John  M.  Peck,  Captain  Pit. 
man,  of  the  English  army,  also  the  American  State 
papers  and  the  'writings  of  the  Jesuit  Fathers.  Many 
old  and  valuable  manuscripts,  both  in  the  French 
and  English  languages,  ha'ce  been  examined.  These 
rare  papers  ha've  made  plain  and  intelligible  some 
of  the  earliest  incidents  and  anecdotes  pertaining  to 
this    region   of  the  state. 

The  articles  on  the  common  schools  have  been  pre- 
pared by  gentlemen  thoroughly  acquainted  with  their 
subject,  'wliose  names  appear  at  the  head  of  the  sketches 
in    the    body    of  the  'work.     Among   the  chapters   most 


fruitful  in  interest  to  a  great  number  of  our  readers, 
'will  be  found   those   'which  treat   of  the   early   history 

of  the  churches.  Many  persons  arc  now  living  'whose 
fathers  and  grandfathers,  in  the  humble  log  cabin, 
'which  'was  then  the  only  house  of  'worship,  assisted 
in  founding  organizations  'which  ha-ce  been  of  the 
greatest  good  to  subsequent  generations.  To  the  clergy- 
men of  the  different  denominations,  and  to  many  of 
the  older  members  of  these  societies,  'we  arc  indebted 
for  much  'valuable  information.  The  editors  of  the 
several  newspapers  ha've  also  rendered  assistance  in 
that  prompt  and  eheeiful  manner  so  characteristic  of 
the  journalistic  profession. 

We  have  endea'oored,  'with  all  diligence  and  care- 
fulness, to  make  the  best  of  the  material  at  our 
command.  The  facts  'were  gathered  from  a  hundred 
different  sources,  and  depend  largely,  not  on  exact 
written  records,  but  on  the  uncertain  and  conflicting 
recollections  of  different  indi'oiduals !  We  lia've  tried 
to  preser'oe  the  incidents  of  pioneer  history,  to  aecuratc- 
Iv  present  the  natural  features  and  material  resources 
of  this  portion  of  the  state,  and  to  gather  the  facts 
likely  to  be  of  most  interest  to  our  present  readers, 
and  of  greatest  importance  to  coining  generations. 
If  our  readers  iiill  take  into  consideration  the  diffi- 
culties of  the  task,  'we  feel  assured  of  a  favorable 
'verdict  on    our    undertaking. 

The  Publishers. 


TABLE    OF    CONTENTS 


COUNTY  HISTORY. 


CHAPTER    I. 
A  Brief  Sketch    of   the    North- Vv est 
Territory. 
Geographical  Position,  9 ;  Early  Explora- 
tions, 9 ;  Discovery  of   the  Ohio,  15 ; 
English     Explorations    and     Settle- 
ments. 16 ;  American  Settlements,  22  ; 
Division  of  the  North- West  Territory, 
23 ;  Present  Cnndition  of  the  North- 
West,  24 9-25 


CHAPTER  II. 
Brief  Histokicil  Sketch  of  Illisois. 
French  Possessions,  25 ;  The  first  Settle- 
ments in  Illinois,  26;  Founding  of 
Kaskaskia,  27 ;  As  a  part  of  Louisi- 
ana, 27 ;  Fort  Chartres,  28 ;  Under 
French  rule,  29;  Character  of  the  Early 
French  Settlers,  30;  A  Po.ssession  of 
Great  Britain,  30  ;  Conquest  by  Clark, 
32 ;  The  "  Compact  of  1787,"  32 ;  Land 
Tenures,  34  ;  Physical  Features  of  the 
State,  35  ;  Progress  and  Development, 
35;  Material  Resources  of  the  State, 
36  ;  Annual  Products,  36 ;  The  War 
Record,  36 ;  Civil  Government,  39 ; 
Territorial  and  State  Officers,  40  ;  Mis- 
cellaneous Information 25—43 


CHAPTER  III. 

GEOQRAPHy,   .\griculti;r.4.l   Resources   and 
Railroad  Facilities. 

Randolph  Coustt,-46  ;  Monroe  Countv, 
47  ;  Perry  Cousty,  48  ;  Transpor- 
tation facilities,  49;  St  Louis  and 
Cairo  Short  Line  Railroad,  50 ;  St. 
Louis  and  Cairo.  51 ;  Wabash,  Chester 
and  Western,  51 ;  St.  Louis  Coal 
Road,  51  ;  Illinois  Central,  52;  Rail- 
road Lands.'53 10-53 


CHAPTER  IV. 
Geology. 
General  Stialum.  53;  Randolph  County, 
54 ;  Coal  Measures,  54  ;  Chester  Lime- 
stone, 55  ;  Economical  Geology,  55 ; 
Monroe  County,  56;  Perry  County. 
57 53-58 


CHAPTER  V. 
Flora. 
List  of    Native   Woody    Plants,   Grasses, 

etc.,  etc 58-59 


CHAPTER  VI. 
Fauna. 
Treating  of  the  Various  Families  of  Ani- 
mals and   Birds  that  have  existed  in 
these  counties 59-62 


CHAPTER  VII. 
Pioneer  Sbttleme.n'ts. 
Randolph  County,  62;  The  French  Set- 
tlers, 62;  Character  of  the  Early 
French  Settlers,  63  ;  American  Immi- 
gration, 64;  American  Population  in 
1800,  67 ;  Subsequent  Settlements, 
67;  E.irly  Mills,  75  ;  Overflows  of  the 
Mississippi,  75;  Monroe  County,  75; 
Indian  Hostilities,  78;  Early  Mills, 
82;  Destructive  Hurricane,  82 ;  Perry 
County,  83;  Manners  and  Customs 
of  the  American  Pioneers,  86.  .    .  62--89 

CHAPTER  VIII, 
Civil  History. 
Randolph  County  from  1778  to  1818, 
89  ;  License  for  trade,  92 ;  Letters  to 
the  Court  of  Kaska.skia,  92  ;  Kahokia 
Fund  (No.  1.)  93;  Warrant  for  Exe- 
cution. 94 ;  Todd's  Embargo,  95 ; 
James  Moore's  Naturalization,  96; 
Land  Tenure,  97;  Extract  from  assess- 


page 
ment  of  1808,  98;  Government  of 
County  in  Territorial  Times,  100 ; 
Scraps  from  Records  of  the  Period 
1795  to  1809,  101 ;  1809  to  1819,  102  ; 
List  of  Township  Officers  1809,  103  ; 
Proceedings  in  Courts  of  Justice,  Ter- 
ritorial Laws.  104  ;  Shadrach  Bond 
and  Rice  Jones'  Duel,  105 ;  Dunlap — 
Jones  Murder,  105 ;  Another  Murder 
Case,  105;  Probate  Court  1809,  106; 
Estates  under  Administration  from 
1809  to  1818,  106 ;  Slavery  in  Ran- 
dolph County,  107;  Manumission  in 
1760,  108 ;  A  Negro  Child  set  Free, 
109;  Public  Buildings,  111;  Early 
Marriages.  112;  Randolph  represented 
in  Territorial  Legislature,  1795  to 
1818,  112;  Territorial  Officers,  113; 
Randolph  County,  1818  to  1883,  113; 

Census  1825. ;  Heads  of  Families, 

115;  County  Finances,  1819  to  1844, 
lis  ;  Change  of  County  Seat  to  Ches- 
ter, 119;  Financial  Condition  of  the 
County,  September  Ist,  1882,  122 ; 
List  of  county  Officers,  121-127.  .  89-127 

Mo.N-ROE County  (from  1816  to  1882),  127; 
County  Government,  129 ;  List  of 
Tax-payers  in  1816,  132  ;  Emancipa- 
tion Papers,  133 ;  Tenure  of  Lands, 
134;  Lands  Entered,  135;  Early 
Transfers  of  Real  Estate,  136;  First 
Road  Petitions  and  names  of  Monroe 
county  Pioneers,  137 ;  Early  Mar- 
riages, 139  ;  Towns  and  Villages  prior 
to  1820,  140  ;  Contracts  for  first  Public 
Buildings,  141  ;  Prairie  Du  Long,  144 ; 
Circuit  Courts,  1817  to  1848,  146; 
Challenge  to  Fight  a  Duel,  148;  Mur- 
ders, 148 ;  Naturalization,  148  ;  In 
General  Assembly  from  1818  to  1848 — 
1883,  149  ;  Precincts,  March,  1875, 
155  ;  Statistics.  1881-'82.  1.56;  Mur- 
der and   Execution.  1.56  ,  In  General 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


Assembly  1848  to  '84,  State  Offices 
and  Congress,  Officers  of  county,  159. 
Perry  Cockty,  161 ;  First  License,  164  ; 
First  session  of  Circuit  Court,  1 64 ; 
First  Road  Districts  and  Road  Offi- 
cers, 1G5  ;  Proceedings  in  Relation  to 
Establishing  the  County  Seat,  165; 
First  Officers,  166 ;  First  Fiscal  State- 
ment, 167 ;  First  Probate  Court,  167  ; 
Petition  for  Redress,  168 ;  First  Gen- 
eral Election,  168  ;  First  Bridge,  169; 
First  Court  House,  169  ;  Second  Court 
House-Remonstrance  against  build- 
ing it,  170;  Third  Court  House,  170; 
Present  Court  House,  171 ;  First  and 
Present  Jail,  171 ;  Almshouse,  173  ; 
Circuit  Court,  173;  First  Murder 
Trial — Execution  of  Vaughn,  174  ; 
Statistics,  175  ;  Subscription  to  Rail- 
roads, 177  ;  Saline  and  Swamp  Lands, 
177  ;    Officers,  17S 89-180 


CHAPTER  IX. 
The  Bench  and  B.vr. 
B.^NTOLPH  CoL-XTV,  ISO;  Former  mem- 
bers of  the  Bar,  182  ;  Present  Mem- 
bers, 185;  Monroe  County,  For- 
mer Members  of  the  Bar,  186 ; 
Present  Members,  187;  Perky  County, 
18S ;  Non-Resident  Lawyers,  190 ; 
Former  and  Present  Members,  191.180-193 

CHAPTER  X. 
The  Press. 
R.ixnoLrn  County. — First  Newspaper  in 
Illinois,    193.      Subsequent   Newspa- 
pers—Monroe  COUNTY,  198,     Perry 
County,  199 193-201 

CHAPTER  XL 
Patriotism. 
Early  French,  Conquest  by  Clark,  201  ; 
War  of  1812,  203  ;  Soldiers  in  Black 
Hawk  and  Mexican  Wars,  204  ;  Re- 
bellion, 207 ;  Muster  Roll  of  all  the 
Soldiers  who  enlisted  from  Randolph, 
Monroe  and  Perry  counties  .    .    .  201-231 

CHAPTER   XII. 
Common  Schools. 
Randolph  county,   231  ;  Monroe   county, 

237  ,  Perry  county,  238 231-242 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

EeCLE.SIASTICAL. 

Randolph  County.— Reformed  Presbyte- 
rian, 243  ;  Evangelical  Lutheran,  249  ; 
Catholic,  254 ;  Presbyterian,  257 ; 
Christian,  258;  St.  Mark's  Parish, 
259';  Freewill  Baptist,  259  (Randolph 
and  Perry  counties) ;  German  M.  E., 
260.  Monkoe  County. — Concord 
Presbyterian,  261  ;  Methodist,  261 ; 
German  Evangelical,  262 ;  Baptist, 
263  ;  Catholic,  263.  Perry  County. 
—Christian,  265  ;  Presbyterian,  266  ; 
Baptist,  267  ;  Methodist,  278  ;  Ger- 
man Evangelical,  279  ;  Holy  Catho- 
lic, 280  ;  United  Presbyterian  (Ran- 
dolph and  Perry),  281 243-281 


BIOGRAPHIES. 

Adair,  Captain  William 431 

Anderson,  J.  B 392 

Anderson,  R.  B 351 

Angerer,  Hon.    John  T 453 

Ashwood  and   Marlow 372 

Beem,   John    T 445 

Bickelhaupt,  Peter 327 

Blais,  Antoine 379 

Blakeslee,  A.  J 442 

Boldt,  Dr.  H.   M 312 

Boyd,  Hon.  John 346 

Boyd,  Thomas 350 

Breese,  William    M 364 

Brey,  Paul  C 321 

Burch,  J.  G 311 

Burbank,   Hiram  L 441 

Campbell  Bros 393 

Campbell,   William  A 302 

Canniff,  James  F 325 

Crozier,    Dr.  William  J 419 

Curlee,  Charles  W.  and  Albert  N 441 

Curlee,  Joseph    B 366 

Davis,   Richard    M 358 

Derousae,  Louis 297 

Derouase,  Louis  J.   Jr 309 

Detrich,  J.  E 390 

Dudenbostel,  Louis 427 

Devine,  John 296 

Dyer,   Dr.    L 443 

Edwards,  Captain  M.   C 357 

Elliott,  James  C 430 

Eld,  William 327 

Fairchild,  W.  S 402 

Frank,  John  B 461 

Gerlach,  Daniel 391 


P.\GE 

Gerlach,    John  D.  .    •    • 295 

Gladson,  William  E 343 

Gordon,  Abram  G 302 

Goddard,  Reuben  J 394 

Goodman,  J.  William 398 

Gordon,  Rev.  George    A 426 

Gordon,  Rev.  H.  S 426 

Grant  William  H 419 

Guker,  Frederick,  (deceased.) 405 

Hamilton,  P.  P 433 

Hammack,   Lewis 352 

Hartmann,  Christian    F 320 

Hawthorne,  J.   C 394 

Heape,  Hon.  Lysias 363 

Hilyard,  W.   H 326 

Holbrook,  J.  C 298 

Hoener,  Hon.  Ambrose 329 

Holmes,   Joseph  B 290 

Holmes,  William  M 302 

Holt,  Nelson      364 

Horner,  H.  C 302 

Janson,  Hon.   John 320 

Jahn,  George  E 329 

Kane,  Louis  M, 349 

Koenigsmark,  Thomas 455 

Laurence,  M.  B 441 

Lee,  A.  H 3S0 

Lemen    Edwin    H 340 

Malone,  James  M 284 

Mansker,  Samuel 469 

Matlack  and  Wassell 301 

Mathews,  Hugh 411 

McBride,  John  T 300 

McCandless,  W.  L 359 

McFie,  John  R 373 

McKenzie,  William  R 294 

Menard,   Edmond 310 

Metzger,    Charles 327 

Michan,  John 394 

Murphy,  William  K 344 

Murphy,  William  P 393 

O'Hara,  Henry 462 

Pautler,  Joseph 418 

Payne,  Thomas  J 323 

Penny,  James  J.    .    •        343 

Penwarden,  Thomas  F 360 

Pickett,  James 428 

Pollock,  J.  T 299 

Pyatt,  Hon.  John  W 356 

Ragland,  J.  K.  P 343 

Richards,  Charles  P 439 

Rickert,    J.    W 322 

Riess,  George  L 404 

Roe,  Charles  H 355 

Rose,  William,    M.  D 4.55 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

Rothstein,  Dr.  Hugo 327 

Bushing,  Evan  B 353 

Sauer,  Nicholas 419 

SchlierhoU,  Charles  A.  M 328 

Schuchert,  John  F 293 

Schuchert,  William 292 

Scott,  Henry  P ^-14 

Swanwick,  John *ll 

Smith,  W.  S.  D 348 

Thiea,  John  H 428 

Thompson,  Captain  R.  Q 354 

Thum,  Jacob 458 

Ward,  John  B 440 

Watt,   James 41U 

Wheatley,  B.  W.  S 445 

Wheeler,  Charles  M 312 

Wiesenborn,  John 324 

Williams,  Frederick 3fi6 

Williams,  John  S,  M.  D 305 

Wilson,  J.  H 454 

Wilson,  Warren    N 301 

Winthrop,  Hon.  Charles  E     R 3H4 

Wisely  Brotliers 372 


PRECINCT  HISTORIES. 

PAGE. 

Baldwin 405 

Beaucoup  472 

Blair 463 

Bluff 421 

Breemen 465 

Brcwerville 374 

Central 420 

Chester 284 

Columbia 449 

Coulterville 369 

Cutler 446 

Du  Quoin 433 

Evansville 415 

Florence 312 

Grand  Cote 429 

Harrisouville 412 

Kaskaskia 303 

Mitchie 395 

Moredock 333 

New  Design 330 

New  Hanover 447 

Paradise  ....  3(i7 

Pinckneyville 335 

Prairie   du   Long 456 

Prairie  du  Rocher 375 

Red  Bud 398 

Renault 382 


I'AliE 

Rockwocii 467 

Ruma 459 

South  Western 432 

Sparta 384 

Steele's  Mills 423 

Tamaroa 3()0 

Tilden 407 

Waterloo 314 

Wine   HiU 470 


PORTRAITS. 

Anderson,  J.  B 392 

Anderson,  Marj' 392 

.'Anderson,  R.  B 3.")1 

Blai.s,  Antoine 379 

Blakeslee,  A.  J 442 

Brey,  Paul  C 321 

Burch,  J.  G :!11 

Canniff,  James  F 32:i 

Derousse,  Louis 297 

Detrich,  J.  E 390 

Devine,  John 296 

Dudenbostel,  Louis 427 

Gerlach,  Daniel 391 

Gerlach,  John  D 295 

Hamilton,  P.  P 438 

Hilyard,  W.   11 326 

Holbrook,  J.  C 298 

Holmes,  Joseph  B 290 

Lee,  A.  H 380 

Lemen,  Edwin  H.  and  Wife 340 

Mansker,  Samuel 469 

Mathews,  Hugh 411 

Mathews,  Jane  M 411 

McBride,  John  T 300 

McCandless,   W.   L 359 

McFie,  John  B 373 

McKenzie,  William  B 294 

Menard,  Edmund 310 

Murphy,  William  K 344 

O'Hara,  Henry 402 

Payne,  Thomas  J 323 

Pautler,  Joseph 118 

Pollock,  J.  T 299 

Bickert,  J.  W 322 

Rieas,  George  L 404 

Roe,  Charles  H 355 

Rushing,  Evan  B 353 

Schlierholz,  Charles  A.  M 328 

Schuchert,  John  F 293 

Schuchert,  William 292 

Scott,  Henry  P 444 


Smith,  W.  S.  D 348 

Sprigg,  James    D 403 

Swanwick,  John 291 

Watt,  James 410 

Ward,  John    B 440 

Wiesenborn,  John 324 

Wilson.  J.  II 454 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 

-Anchor  Flouring  Mills Facing  446 

Been,  E.  M Facing  406 

Boekholf,  S Facing  400 

Brickey  and  Aubuihon,    .    .  Between  396--397 

Brown,  Charles Facing  406 

Cape  Hotel Facing  424 

Catholic  Church Facing  .308 

Creagau,  Thomas Facing  460 

Crisler,  J.  M Facing  308 

Deroiisse,   Mrs.  M     K Facing  296 

Eberman,  Isaac Facing  332 

Evang.  St.  Pauls  Church, Waterloo,  Facing  320 

Evansville   Catholic  Cliurch 460 

Fults,  Christopher Facing  393 

Gardner  Roller  Mills Facing  448 

Goodman,  J.  W Facing  41ii 

Grann^-niann,  Louis Facing  446 

Gant,  Thomas Facing  304 

Knapp,  P.  C Facing  360 

Lemen,  E.  H F-acing  342 

Livingstone,  Dr.  G.  P Facing  416 

McKenzie,  Dr.  Williiuii  R Facing  :'j01 

Maus,  Philipp  A Facing  384 

Map Facing      9 

Milligan,  William  H Facing  336 

Meredith,  Isaac  store  and  residence,  Facing  284 
Oldendoriih  Wagon  Factory,  .  .  .  Facing  436 
Old     Log     School-house     and      Puncheon 

Bench Facing  232 

Payne,  Thomas  J Facing  448 

Penitentiary Facing  124 

Public  BuiIdings,(Randolph  County,)  Fac.  120 
Public  Buildings, (Monroe  County,)  Facing  152 
Public  Buildings,  (Perry  County,)  .  Facing  172 

Pyatt,  1.  J Facing  356 

Roussel,   F.    L Facing  296 

Schuchert,  William Facing  284 

Schuchert,    John  F Facing  288 

Soukup,  W Facing  350 

"  The  Boots  Place," Facing  360 

Winklemann,   Henry Facing  284 

Wilson,  J.  H •    •    .    .  Facing  455 

White,  John Facing  432 

Amendments  to   Constitution  of  U.  S  ,  .    .  509 

Constitution  of   Illinois 493 

Constitution  of  United  States ,506 

Declaration  of  Independence 505 

Partial  List  of  Patrons 475 


HISTORY 


RANDOLPH,  MONROE  AND  PERRY  COUNTIES,  ILLINOIS. 


CHAPTER    I. 


A  BRIEF  SKETCH  OF  THE  SOr/TILWEST  TEREITOUY. 

GKOGRAPHIL'AL    POSITION. 

iN  1784  the  North  Western  Territory  was 
ceded  to  the  United  States  by  Virginia. 
It  embraced  only  tlic  territory  lying  be- 
tween the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  rivers; 
and  north,  to  the  northern  limits  of  the 
United  States.  It  coincided  with  the  area 
now  embraced  in  the  states  of"  Wisconsin, 
Illinois,  Michigan,  Indiana,  O'aio,  and 
that  portion  of  Minnesota  lyir.g  en  the 
east  side  of  the  Mississippi  river.  On  the  first  day  of  March, 
1784,  Thomas  Jefferson,  Samuel  Hardy,  Arthur  Lee,  and 
James  Monroe,  delegates  in  Congress  on  the  part  of  Vir- 
ginia, executed  a  deed  of  cession,  by  which  they  transferred 
to  the  United  States,  on  certain  conditions,  all  right,  title 
and  claim  of  Virginia  to  the  country  known  as  the  Korth- 
western  Territory.  But  by  the  purchase  of  Louisiana  in 
180.3,  the  western  boundary  of  the  United  States  was  ex- 
tended to  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  the  Northern  Pacific 
Ocean.  It  includes  an  area  of  1,887,850  square  miles, 
being  greater  than  the  united  areas  of  the  Middle  and 
Southern  states,  including  Texas.  Out  of  this  magnificent 
territory  have  been  erected  eleven  sovereign  states  and  eight 
territories,  with  an  aggregate  population  at  the  present  time 
of  13,000,000  inhabitants,  or  nearly  one-third  of  the  entire 
population  of  the  United  States. 

Its  rivers  are  the  largest  on  the  continent,  flowing  thous- 
ands of  miles  through  its  rich  alluvial  valleys  and  broad, 
fertile  prairies. 

Its  lakes  are  fresh-water  seas,  upon  whose  bosom  floats 
the  commerce  of  many  states.  Its  far-stretching  prairies 
have  more  acres  that  are  arable  and  productive  than  any 
other  area  of  like  extent  on  the  globe. 

For  the  last  quarter  of  a  century  the  increase  of  popula- 


tion and  wcakh  in  the  north-west  has  been  about  as  three  to 
one  in  any  other  portion  of  the  United  States. 

EARLY    EXI'LORATIOSS. 

In  the  year  1512,  on  Easter  Sunday,  the  Spanish  name 
for  which  is  Pa.scua  Florida,*  Juan  Ponce  de  Leon,  an  old 
comrade  of  Columbus,  discovered  the  coast  of  the  American 
continent,  near  St.  Augustine,  and  in  honor  of  the  day  and 
of  the  blossoms  which  covered  the  trees  along  the  shore, 
named  the  new-found  country  Florida.  Juan  had  been  led 
to  undertake  the  discovery  of  strange  lands  partly  by  the 
hope  of  finding  endless  stores  of  gold,  and  partly  by  the 
wish  to  reach  a  fountain  that  was  said  to  exist  deep  within 
the  forests  of  North  America,  which  possessed  the  power  of 
renovating  the  life  of  those  wlio  drank  of  or  bathed  in  its 
waters.  He  was  made  governor  of  the  region  he  had  visited 
but  circumstances  prevented  his  return  tliither  until  1-521 ; 
and  then  he  went  only  to  meet  death  at  the  hands  of  the 
Indians. 

In  the  meantime,  in  1.51G,  a  Spanish  sea-captain,  Diego 
Miruelo,  had  visited  the  coast  first  reached  by  Ponce  de 
Leon,  and  in  his  barters  with  the  natives  had  received  con- 
siderable quantities  of  gold,  with  which  he  returned  home 
and  spread  abroad  new  stories  vf  the  wealth  hidden  in  the 
interior. 

Ten  years,  however,  passed  before  Pamph'do  de  Narvaez 
undertook  to  prosecute  the  examination  of  the  lands  north 
of  the  Gulf  of  ]\Iexico.  Narvaez  was  excited  to  action  by 
the  late  astoni.'^hing  success  of  the  conqueror  of  Montezuma, 
but  he  found  the  gold  for  which  he  sought  constantly  flying 
before  him;  each  tribe  of  Indians  referred  him  to  those 
living  farther  in  the  interior.  And  from  tribe  to  tribe  he 
and  his  companions  wandered.  They  suffered  untold  priva- 
tions in  the  swamps  and  forests  ;  and  out  of  three  hundred 
followers  only  four  or  five  at  length  reached  Mexico.  And 
still  these  disappointed  wanderers  persisted  in  their  original 
fancy,  that  Florida  was  as  wealthy  as  Mexico  or  Peru. 

*Pascutn,  the  old  English  "Fash"  or  Passover;  "  Pascua  Florida" 
is  the  "  Holvdav  of  Flowers." 


10 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE    AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


Among  those  ^vho  had  faith  in  that  report  was  Ferdinand 
de  Soto,  who  had  been  with  Pizarro  in  the  conquests  of  Peru. 
He  asked  and  obtained  leave  of  the  King  of  Spain  to  con- 
quer Florida  at  his  own  cost.  It  was  given  in  the  year  1538. 
With  a  brilliant  and  noble  baud  of  followers  he  left  Europe 
and  in  May,  1538,  after  a  stay  in  Cuba,  anchored  his  vessels 
near  the  coast  of  the  Peninsula  of  Florida,  in  the  bay  of 
S])iritu  Santa,  or  Tampa  bay. 

De  Soto  entered  upon  his  march  into  the  interior  with  a 
determination   to  succeed.      From  June  till  November  of 

1539,  the  Spaniards  toiled  along  until  they  reached  the 
neighborhood  of  Appalachee  bay.     During  the  next  season, 

1540,  they  followed  the  course  suggested  by  the  Florida 
Indians,  who  wished  them  out  of  their  country,  and  going 
to  the  north-east,  crossed  the  rivers  and  climbed  the  moun- 
tains of  Georgia.  De  Soto  was  a  stern,  severe  man,  and 
none  dared  to  murmur.  De  Soto  passed  the  winter  with  his 
little  baud  near  the  Yazoo.  In  April,  1541,  the  resolute 
Spaniard  set  forward,  and  upon  the  first  of  May  reached 
the  banks  of  the  great  river  of  the  West,  not  far  from  the 
35th  parallel  of  latitude.* 

A  month  was  spent  in  preparing  barges  to  convey  the 
horses,  many  of  which  still  lived,  across  the  rapid  stream. 
Having  successfully  passed  it,  the  explorers  pursued  their 
way  northward,  into  the  neighborhood  of  New  Madrid  ; 
then  turning  westward  again,  marched  more  than  two  hun- 
dred miles  from  the  Mississippi  to  the  highlands  of  White 
river;  and  still  no  gold,  no  gems,  no  cities — only  bare  prai- 
ries, and  tangled  forests,  and  deep  morasses  To  the  south 
again  they  toiled  on,  and  passed  their  third  winter  of  wander- 
ing upon  the  Washita.  In  the  following  spring  (1542),  De 
Soto,  weary  with  hope  long  deferred,  descended  the  Washita 
to  its  junction  with  the  Mississippi.  He  heard,  when  he 
reached  the  mighty  stream  of  the  west,  that  its  lower  portion 
flowed  through  endless  and  uninhabitable  swamps. 

The  news  sank  deep  into  the  stout  heart  of  the  disap- 
puinted  warrior.  His  health  yielded  to  the  contests  of  his 
mind  and  the  influence  of  the  climate.  He  appointed  a 
successor,  and  on  the  21st  of  May  died.  His  body  was  sunk 
in  the  stream  of  the  Mississippi.  Deprived  of  their  ener- 
getic leader,  the  Spaniards  determined  to  try  to  reach  Mexico 
by  land.  After  some  time  spent  in  wandering  through  the 
forests,  despairing  of  success  in  the  attempt  to  rescue  them- 
selves by  land,  they  proceeded  to  prepare  such  vessels  aa 
they  could  to  take  them  to  sea.  From  January  to  July 
1543,  the  weak,  sickly  band  of  gold-seekers  labored  at  the 
doleful  task,  and  in  July  reached,  in  the  vessels  thus  built, 
the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  by  September  entered  tiie  river 
Pauuco.  Oue-half  of  the  six  huudred  f  who  had  disem- 
barked with  De  Soto,  so  gay  in  steel  and  silk,  left  their  bones 
among  the  mountains  and  in  the  morasses  of  the  South,  from 
Georgia  to  Arkansas. 

De  Soto  founded  no  settlements,  produced  no  results,  and 
left  no  traces,  unless  it  were  that  he  awakened  the  hostility 
of  the  red  man  against  the  white  man,  aud  disheartened 

•  Dl'  i^nto  probably  was  at  tbe  lower  Chickasaw  bluffs.     Tlie  .Spaniards 
calli'il  tlie  Mississippi   Rio  Grande,  Great    Rivei>  wLicb  is   tlie  literal 
meaning  of  tlie  aboriginal  name. 
1  t  fe  liiedna  says  there  lauded  020  men. 


such  as  might  desire  to  follow  up  the  career  of  discov(  ry  for 
better  purposes.  The  French  nation  were  eager  and  reatly 
to  seize  upon  any  news  from  this  extensive  domain,  and 
were  the  first  to  profit  by  De  Soto's  defeat.  As  it  was,  fir 
more  than  a  century  after  the  expedition,  the  west  reuiaiuLd 
utterly  unknown  to  the  whites. 

The  French  were  the  first  Europeans  to  make  .settlements 
on  the  St.  Lawrence  river  aud  along  the  great  lakes.  Qutbec 
was  founded  by  Sir  Samuel  Champlain  in  1608,*  and  in  IGOD 
when  Sir  Henry  Hud.son  was  exploring  the  noble  rivi  r 
which  bears  his  name,  Champlain  ascended  the  Sorrelle 
river,  and  discovered,  embosomed  between  the  Green  moun- 
tains, or  "  Verdmont,"  as  the  chivalrous  aud  poetic  French- 
man called  them,  and  the  Adirondacks,  the  beautiful  sheet 
of  water  to  which  his  name  is  iudissolubly  attached.  In 
1613  he  founded  Montreal. 

During  the  period  elapsing  between  the  years  1607  and 
1664,  the  English,  Dutch,  and  Swedes  alternately  held  pos- 
session of  portions  of  the  Atlantic  coast,  jealously  watching 
one  another,  and  often  involved  in  bitter  controversy,  and 
not  seldom  in  open  battle,  until,  in  the  latter  year,  the 
English  became  the  sole  rulers,  aud  maintained  their  right3 
until  the  era  of  the  Revolution,  when  they  in  turn  were 
compelled  to  yield  to  the  growing  power  of  their  colonies, 
and  retire  from  the  field. 

The  French  movements,  from  the  first  settlement  at 
Quebec,  and  thence  westward,  were  led  by  the  Catholic 
missionaries.  Le  Caron,  a  Franciscan  friar,  who  had  been 
the  companion  and  friend  of  Champlain,  was  the  first  to 
penetrate  the  western  wilds,  which  he  did  in  1616*  in  a 
birch  canoe,  exploring  lake  Huron  and  its  tiibutaries. 
This  was  four  years  before  the  Pilgrims 

"Moored  their  bark  on  the  wild  New  England  shore." 

Under  the  patronage  of  Louis  XIII,  the  Jesuits  took  the 
advance,  and  began  vigorously  the  work  of  Christianizing 
the  savages  in  1632. 

In  1631,  three  Jesuit  missionaries,  Brebeuf,  Daniel,  and 
Lallemand,  planted  a  mission  on  the  shores  of  the  lake  of 
the  Iroquois,  (probably  the  modern  Lake  Simcoe),  and  also 
established  others  along  the  eastern  border  of  Lake  Huron. 

From  a  map  published  in  1600,  it  would  appear  that  the 
French  had  at  that  date,  become  quite  familiar  with  the 
region  from  Niagara  to  the  head  of  Lake  Superior,  includ- 
ing considerable  portions  of  Lake  Michigan. 

In  1641,  Fathers  Jogues  and  Raymbault  embarked  on 
the  Penetanguishine  Bay  for  the  Sault  St.  Marie,  where 
they  arrived  after  a  passage  of  seventeen  days.  A  crowil 
of  two  thousand  natives  met  them,  and  a  great  council  was 
held.  At  this  meeting  the  French  first  heard  of  many 
nations  dwelling  beyond  the    great  lakes. 

Father  Raymbault  ditd  in  the  wilderness  in  1642,  while 
enthusiastically  pursuing  his  discoveries.  The  same  year, 
Jogues  and  Bressani  were  captured  by  the  Indians  aud 
tortured,  and  in  1648  the  mission  which  had  been  founded 
at  St.  Joseph  was  taken  and  destroyed,  and  Father  Daniel 
slain.     In   1641),  the  missions  St    Louis   and    St.  Ignatius 

*  Western  Auuals. 


HISTORY    OF  RAXDOLPH,    MOXROE   AXD    PERRY    COVXTIES,    II.LIXOIS. 


11 


were  also  destroyed,  and  Fathers  Brebeuf  and  Lallemand 
barbarously  tortured  by  the  same  terrible  and  unrelenting 
enemy.  Literally  did  those  zealous  missionaries  of  the 
Eomish  Church  "take  their  lives  in  their  hands,"  and  lay 
them  a  willing  sacrifice  on  the  altar  of  their  faith. 

It  is  stated  by  some  -writer  that,  in  1G.54,  two  fur  traders 
accompanied  a  band  of  Otfatias  on  a  journey  of  five  hun- 
dred leagues  to  the  west.  They  were  absent  two  years,  and 
on  their  return  brought  with  thom  fifty  canoes  and  two 
hundred  and  fifty  Indians  to  the  French  trading  posts. 

They  related  wonderful  tales  of  the  countries  they  had 
seen,  and  the  various  red  nations  they  had  visited,  and 
described  the  lofty  mountains  and  mighty  rivers  in  glowing 
terms-  A  new  impulse  was  given  to  the  spirit  of  adventure, 
and  scouts  and  traders  swarmed  the  frontiers  and  explored 
the  great  lakes  and  adjacent  country,  and  a  party  wintered 
in  IGJO-fiO  on  the  south  shore  of  Lake  Superior. 

In  IGCO  Father  Mcsnard  was  sent  out  by  the  Bishop  of 
Quebec,  and  visited  Lake  Superior  in  October  of  that  year. 
While  crossing  the  Keeweenaw  Point  he  was  lost  in  the  wilder- 
ness and  never  afterwards  heard  from,  though  his  ca&sock 
and  breviary  were  found  long  afterwards  among  the  S'toiu:. 

A  change  w.as  made  in  the  government  of  Xcw  France  in 
IGGj.  The  Company  of  the  Hundred  Associates,  who  had 
ruled  it  since  1G32,  resigned  its  charter.  Tracy  was  made 
Viceroy,  Courcelles  Governor,  and  Talon  Intendent*  This 
was  called  the  Government  of  the  West  Indies. 

The  Jesuit  missions  were  taken  under  the  care  of  the  new 
govcnmcnt,  and  thenceforward  became  the  leaders  in  the 
movement  to  Christianize  the  savages. 

In  the  same  year  (1GG.5)  Pierre  Claude  Alloiiez  was  sent 
out  bv  way  of  the  Ottawa  river  to  the  far  west,  via  the  Sault 
St.  Marie  and  the  south  shore  of  Lake  Superior,  where  he 
landed  at  the  bay  of  Chegoimegon.  Here  he  found  the 
chief  village  of  the  Chippewas,  and  established  a  mission. 
lie  also  made  an  alliance  with  them  and  the  >S(te<,  Foxes  and 
IlUnoi.<,y  against  the  formidable  Iroqiioi<.  Alloiiez,  the  nest 
vcar  (1GG6)  visited  the  western  end  of  the  great  lake,  where 
he  met  the  Sioux,  and  from  them  first  learned  of  the  Missis- 
.sippi  river  which  they  called  "Messipi."  From  thence  he 
returned  to  Quebec. 

In  1GG3  Claude  Dablon  and  Jacques  JIarquette  estab- 
lished the  mission  at  the  Sault  called  St.  Marie,  and  during 
the  next  five  years  Alloiiez,  Dablon  and  Marquette  explored 
the  region  of  Lake  Superior  on  the  south  shore,  and  ex- 
tending to  Lake  Michigan.  They  also  established  the  mis- 
sions of  Chegoimegon,  St.  Marie,  Mackinaw  and  Green  Bay. 

The  plan  of  exploring  the  Mississippi  probably  originated 
with  Marquette.  It  was  at  once  sanctioned  by  the  Inten- 
dent, Talon,  who  was  ambitious  to  extend  the  dominion  of 
France  over  the  whole  West. 

In  1G70  Nicholas  Perot  was  sent  to  the  West  to  propose  a 
congress  of  all  the  nations  and  tribes  living  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  lakes ;  and,  in  1G71,  a  great  council  was  held  at  Sault 
St.  Marie,  at  which  the  Cross  was  set  up,  and  the  nations  of 

»  The  duties  of  Intendent  included  a  super\-ision  of  the  policy,  justice, 
and  finance  of  the  province. 

t  The  meaning  of  this  word  is  said  to  be  "  Men." 


the  great  Xorth-west  wtre  taken  into  an  alliance,  with  much 
pomp  and  ceremony. 

On  the  13th  of  May,  1673,  Marquette,  Joliet,  and  five 
voiinrjeurs,  embarked  in  two  birch  canoes  at  Mackinaw  and 
entered  Lake  Michigan.  The  first  nation  they  visited  was 
the  "  FoUei-Avoincn,"  or  nation  of  Wild  Oats,  since  known 
as  the  Menomonies,  living  around  the  "  Bale  des  Puans,"  or 
Green  Bay.  These  people,  with  whom  Marquette  was  some- 
what acquainted,  endeavored  to  persuade  the  adventurers 
from  visiting  the  Mississippi.  They  represented  the  Indians 
on  the  great  river  as  being  blood-thirsty  and  savage  in  the 
extreme,  and  the  river  itself  as  being  inhabited  by  monsters 
which  would  devour  them  and  their  canoes  together.* 

Marquette  thanked  them  for  their  advice,  but  declined  to 
be  guided  by  it.  Passing  through  Green  Bay,  they  ascended 
the  Fox  River,  dragging  their  canoes  over  the  strong  rapids 
and  visited  the  village,  where  they  found  living  in  harmony 
together  tribes  o{  t\\Q  Mlamis,  Ma.iCOutcns'\  aud  KiLabeaux 
or  Kickiipoos.  Leaving  this  point  on  the  10th  of  June,  they 
made  the  portage  to  the  "  Ou!.iconsi:i,"  and  descended  that 
stream  to  the  Mississippi,  which  they  entered  on  the  17th 
with  a  joy,  as  Marquette  says,  which  he  could  not  express."]; 
Sailing  down  the  Jlississippi,  the  party  reached  the  Des 
Moines  River,  and,  according  to  some,  visited  an  Indian 
village  some  two  leagues  up  the  stream.  Here  the  people 
again  tried  to  persuade  them  from  prosecuting  their  voyage 
down  the  river.  After  a  great  feast  and  a  dance,  and  a 
night  passed  with  this  hospitable  people,  they  proceeded  on 
their  way,  escorted  by  sis  hundred  persons  to  their  canoes. 
These  people  called  themselves  lUtnois,  or  lUini.  The  name 
of  their  tribe  was  Peruaca,  and  their  language  a  dialect  of 
the  Algonquin. 

Leaving  these  savages,  they  proceeded  down  the  river. 
Passing  the  wonderful  rocks,  which  still  excite  the  admira- 
tion of  the  traveller,  they  arrived  at  the  mouth  of  another 
great  river,  the  Pthiiantni,  or  Missouri  of  the  present  day. 
They  noticed  the  condition  of  its  waters,  which  they  described 
as  "  muddy,  rushing  and  noisy." 

Passing  a  great  rock,  §  they  came  to  the  Ouaboushtgnn,  or 
Ohio.  Marquette  shows  this  river  very  small,  even  as  com- 
pared with  the  lUinois.  From  the  Ohio  they  passed  as  far 
down  as  the  Akamsca,  or  Arkansas,  where  they  came  very 
near  being  destroyed  by  the  natives;  but  they  finally  paci- 
fied them,  and,  on  the  17th  of  July,  they  commenced  their 
return  voyage. 

The  party  reached  Green  Bay  in  September  without  loss 
or  injury,  and  reported  their  discoveries,  which  were  among 
the  most  important  of  that  age.  Marquette  afterwards 
returned  to  Illinois,  and  preached  to  the  natives  until  li"i75. 
On  the  18th  of  Jlay  of  that  year,  while  cruising  up  the 
eastern  coast  of  Lake  Michigan  with  a  partv  of  boatmen, 
he  landed  at  the  mouth  of  a  stream  putting  into  the  lake 
from  the  east,  since  known  as  the  river  Marquette.  He 
performed  mai=s,  and  went  a  little  apart  to  pray,  and  being 

•See  Icj^end  of  the  erent  hird.  the  terrible  "  Piasn,^*  tlialdcvonred  men 
and  was  only  overcome  by  the  sacrifice  of  a  brave  young  chief.  Th<' 
rocks  above  Alton,  Illinois,  have  some  rude  representations  of  this 
monster. 

t  Prairie  Indians.  ;  Marquette's  journal.         I  The  grand  t  >wer. 


12 


HISTORY    OF   h'AynOLPIf,    MONROE   AXD    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


gone  longer  than  his  companions  deemed  iiecessar)',  they 
went  in  search  of  him,  and  found  him  dead  where  he  had 
knelt.     They  buried  him  in  the  sand. 

While  this  distinguished  adventurer  was  pursuing  his 
labors,  two  other  men  were  preparing  to  follow  in  his  foot- 
step, and  make  still  further  explorations,  and,  if  possible, 
more  important  discoveries.  These  were  the  Chevalier 
Robert  de  la  Salle  and  Louis  Hennepin. 

La  Salle  was  a  native  of  Rouen,  in  Normandy.  He  was 
educated  at  a  seminary  of  the  Jesuits,  and  designed  for  the 
ministry,  but,  for  reasons  unknown,  he  left  the  seminary  and 
came  to  Canada,  in  1G67,  where  he  engaged  in  the  fur  trade. 

Like  nearly  every  intelligent  man,  he  became  intensely 
interested  in  the  new  discoveries  of  the  West,  and  conceived 
the  idea  of  exploring  the  passage  to  the  great  South  Sea, 
which  by  many  was  believed  to  exist.  He  made  known  his 
ideas  to  the  Governor-General,  Count  Frontenac,  and  de- 
sired his  co-operation.  The  Governor  at  once  fell  in  with 
his  views,  which  were  strengthened  by  the  reports  brought 
back  by  Jlarquette  and  Joliet,  and  advised  La  Salle  to 
apply  to  the  King  of  France  in  person,  and  gave  him  letters 
of  introduction  to  the  great  Colbert,  then  Minister  of 
Finance  and  Marine.  Accordingly,  in  1675,  he  returned 
to  France,  where  he  was  warmly  received  by  the  King  and 
nobility,  and  his  ideas  were  at  once  listened  to,  and  every 
possible  favor  shown  to  him. 

He  was  made  a  Chevalier,  and  invested  with  the  seigniory 
of  Fort  Catarocouy,  or  Frontenac  (now  known  as  Kingston) 
upon  condition  that  he  would  rebuild  it,  as  he  proposed,  of 
stone. 

Returning  to  Canada,  he  wrought  diligently  upon  the  fort 
until  1677,  when  he  again  visited  France  to  report  progress. 
He  was  received,  as  before,  with  favor,  and,  at  the  instance 
of  Colbert  and  his  son,  the  King  granted  him  new  letters 
patent  and  new  privileges.  Oa  the  14th  of  July,  1678,  he 
sailed  from  Rochelle,  accompanied  by  thirty  men,  and  with 
Tonti,  an  Italian,  for  his  lieutenant.  They  arrived  at 
Quebec  on  the  13th  of  September,  and  after  a  few  days' 
delay,  proceeded  to  Frontenac.  Father  Lewis  Hennepin,  a 
Franciscan  friar,  of  the  Recollet  sect,  was  quietly  working 
in  Canada  on  La  Salle's  arrival.  He  was  a  man  of  great 
ambition,  and  much  interested  in  the  discoveries  of  the  day. 
He  was  appointed  by  his  religious  superiors  to  accompany 
the  expedition  fitting  out  for  La  Salle. 

Sending  agents  forward  to  prepare  the  Indians  for  his 
coming,  and  to  open  trade  with  them,  La  Salle  himself  em- 
barked, on  the  18th  of  November,  in  a  little  brigantine  of 
ten  tons,  to  cross  Lake  Ontario.  This  was  the  first  ship  of 
European  build  that  ever  sailed  upon  this  fresh-water  sea. 
Contrary  winds  made  the  voyage  long  and  troublesome,  and 
a  month  was  consumed  in  beating  up  the  lake  to  the  Niagara 
River.  Near  the  mouth  of  this  river  the  Iroquois  had  a 
village,  and  here  La  Salle  constructed  the  first  fortification, 
which  afterwards  grew  into  the  famous  Fort  Niagara.  On 
the  26th  of  January,  1679,  the  keel  of  the  first  vessel  built 
on  Lake  Erie  was  laid  at  the  mouth  of  the  Cayuga  Creek, 
on  the  American  side,  aiwut  six  miles  above  the  falls. 
In  the  meantime  La  Salle  had  returned  to  Fort  Frontenac 


to  forward  supplies  for  his  firthcoming  vessel.  The  little 
barque  on  Lake  Ontario  was  wrecked  by  carelessness,  and  a 
large  amount  of  the  supplies  slie  carried  was  lost.  On  the 
7th  of  August,  the  new  vessel  was  launched,  and  made  ready 
to  sail.     She  was  about  seven  tons'  burden. 

La  Salle  christened  his  vessel  the  "  Griffin,"  in  honor  of 
the  arms  of  Count  Frontenac.  Passing  across  Lake  Erie, 
and  into  the  small  lake,  which  they  named  St.  Clair,  they 
entered  the  broad  waters  of  Lake  Huron.  Here  they  en- 
countered heavy  storms,  as  dreadful  as  those  upon  the  ocean 
and  after  a  most  tempestuous  passage  they  took  refuge  in 
the  roadstead  of  MicldlllmacJcinac  (Mackinaw),  on  the  27th 
of  August  La  Salle  remained  at  this  point  until  the  middle 
of  September,  busy  in  founding  a  fort  and  constructing  a 
trading-house,  when  he  went  forward  upon  the  deep  waters 
of  Lake  Michigan,  and  soon  after  cast  anchor  in  Green  Bay. 
Finding  here  a  large  quantity  of  furs  and  peltries,  he  deter- 
mined to  load  his  vessel  and  send  her  back  to  Niagara.  On 
the  18th  of  September,  she  was  sent  under  charge  of  a  pilot 
while  La  Salle  himself,  with  fourteen  men,*  proceeded  up 
Lake  Michigan,  leisurely  examining  its  shores  and  noting 
everything  of  interest.  Tonti,  who  had  been  sent  to  look 
after  stragglers,  was  to  join  him  at  the  head  of  the  lake. 
From  the  19lh  of  Septem'ber  to  the  l?t  of  November,  the 
time  was  occupied  in  the  voyage  up  this  inland  sea.  On  the 
last-named  day,  La  Salle  arrived  at  the  mouth  of  the  river 
3Iiami.s,  now  St.  Joseph.  Here  he  constructed  a  fort,  and 
remained  nearly  a  month  waiting  for  tidings  of  his  vessel; 
but,  hearing  nothing,  he  determined  to  push  on  before  the 
wintershould  preventhira.  On  the  3d  of  December,  leaving 
ten  men  to  garrison  the  fort,  he  started  overland  towards  the 
head-waters  of  the  Illinois,  accompanied  by  three  monks 
and  twenty  men.  Ascending  the  St.  Joseph  River,  he 
crossed  a  short  portage  and  reached  the  The-a-hi-ki ,  since 
corrupted  into  Kanhahce.  Embarking  on  this  sluggish 
stream,  they  came  shortly  to  the  Illinois,  and  soon  after 
found  a  village  of  the  Illinois  Indians,  probably  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  rocky  blufls,  a  few  miles  above  the  present 
city  of  La  Salle,  Illinois.  They  found  it  deserted,  but  the 
Indians  had  quite  a  quantity  of  maize  .stored  here,  and  La 
Salle,  being  short  of  provisions,  helped  himself  to  what  he 
required.  Passing  down  the  stream,  the  party,  on  the  4th  of 
January,  came  to  a  lake,  probably  the  Lake  Peoria,  as  there 
is  no  other  upon  this  stream.  Here  they  found  a  great 
number  of  natives,  who  were  gentle  and  kind,  and  La  Salle 
determined  to  construct  a  fort.  It  stood  on  a  rise  of  ground 
near  the  river,  and  was  named  Creve- Cceur  f  (broken-heart ), 
most  probably  on  account  of  the  low  spirits  of  the  com- 
mander, from  anxiety  for  his  vessel  and  the  uncertainty  of 
the  future.  Possibly  he  had  heard  of  the  loss  of  the  "  Griffin," 
which  occurred  on  her  downward  trip  from  Green  Bay  ; 
most  probably  on  Lake  Huron.  He  remained  at  the  Lake 
Peoria  through  the  winter,  but  no  good  tidings  came,  and 
no  supplies.  His  men  were  discontented,  but  the  brave 
adventurer  never  gave  up  hope.  He  resolved  to  send  a 
party  on  a  voyage  of  exploration  up  the  Mississippi,  under 

'  Annals  of  the  West. 
t  The  site  of  the  work  is  at  present  un'.;nowa. 


HISIORY    OF   BAXDOLPH,    MOXROE   AXD    I'KHUY    COUXTIES,     ILLIXOIS. 


13 


the  lead  of  Father  Hennepin,  and  he  himself  would  proceed 
on  foot  to  Kiagara  and  Frontenac,  to  raise  more  means  and 
enlist  new  men;  while  Tonti,  his  lieutenant,  should  stay  at 
the  fort,  which  they  were  to  strengthen  in  the  meantime,  and 
extend  their  intercourse  with  the  Indians. 

Hennepin  started  on  his  voyage  on  the  last  da}'  of  Febru- 
ary, 16S0,  and  La  Salle  soon  after,  with  a  few  attendants, 
i-tarted  on  his  perilous  journey  of  twelve  hundred  miles  by 
the  way  of  the  Illinois  Kiver,  the  Miami,  and  Lakes  Erie 
!  nd  Ontario,  to  Frontenac,  which  he  finally  reached  in 
safety.  He  found  his  worst  fears  realized.  The  "Griffin" 
was  lost,  his  agents  had  taken  advantage  of  his  absence,  and 
his  creditors  had  seized  his  goods.  But  he  knew  no  such 
word  as  Jail,  and  by  the  middle  of  summer  he  was  again  on 
his  way  with  men  and  supplies  for  his  band  in  Illinois.  A 
sad  disappointment  awaited  him.  He  found  his  fort  deserted 
and  no  tidings  of  Tonti  and  his  men.  During  La  Salle's 
absence  the  Indians  had  become  jealous  of  the  French,  and 
they  had  been  attacked  and  harassed  even  by  the  Iroquois, 
who  came  the  long  distance  between  the  shores  of  Lake 
Ontario  and  the  Illinois  River  to  make  war  upon  the  more 
peaceable  tribes  dwelling  on  the  prairies.  L'ncertain  of  any 
Bi^sistance  from  La  Salle,  and  apprehensive  of  a  general 
war  with  the  savages,  Tonti,  in  September,  1G80,  abandoned 
his  position  and  returned  to  the  shores  of  the  lakes.  La 
Salle  reached  the  post  on  the  Illinois  in  December,  1G80,  or 
January,  168L  Again  bitterly  disappointed.  La  Salle  did 
not  succumb,  but  resolved  to  return  to  Canada  and  start 
anew.  This  he  did,  and  in  June  met  his  lieutenant,  Tonti, 
at  Mackinaw. 

Hennepin  in  the  meanwhile  had  met  with  .strange  adven- 
tures. After  leaving  Creve-Coeur,  he  reached  the  Missis- 
sippi in  seven  days  ;  but  his  way  was  so  obstructed  by  ice 
that  he  was  until  the  11th  of  April  reaching  the  AVisconsin 
line.  Here  he  was  taken  prisoner  by  some  northern  Indians, 
who,  however,  treated  him  kindly  and  took  him  and  his 
companions  to  the  falls  of  St.  Anthony,  which  they  reached 
on  the  first  of  May.  These  falls  Hennepin  named  in  honor 
of  his  patron  saint.  Hennepin  and  his  companions  remained 
here  for  three  months,  treated  very  kindly  by  their  captors. 
At  the  end  of  this  time  they  met  with  a  band  of  French, 
led  by  one  Sieur  de  Lulh,*  who,  in  pursuit  of  game  and 
trade,  had  penetrated  to  this  country  by  way  of  Lake  Su- 
perior. With  his  band  Hennepin  and  his  companions  re- 
turned to  the  borders  of  civilized  life  in  November,  1G80, 
just  after  La  Salle  had  gone  back  to  the  wilderness.  Hen- 
nepin returned  to  France,  where,  ia  1684,  he  published  a 
narrative  of  his  wonderful  adventures. 

Robert  De  La  Salle,  whose  name  is  more  closely  connected 
with  the  explorations  of  the  Mississippi  than  that  of  any 
other,  was  the  next  to  descend  the  river  in  the  year  1G82. 
Formal  possession  was  taken  of  the  great  river  and  all  the 
countries  bordering  upon  it  or  its  tributaries  in  the  name  of 
the  King. 

La  Salle  and  his  party  now  retraced  their  steps  towards 
the  north.  They  met  with  no  serious  trouble  until  they 
reached  the  Chickasaw  Bluffs,  where  ihcy  had  erected  a  fort 

"  From  this  man  uadoubtedlj-  ccmc3  I'.ie  name  of  Dulutli. 


on  their  downward  voyage,  and  named  it  Prudhomme. 
Here  La  Salle  was  taken  violently  sick.  Unable  to  proceed, 
he  sent  forward  Tonti  to  communicate  with  Count  Fronte- 
nac. La  Salle  himself  reached  the  mouth  of  the  St.  Joseph 
the  latter  part  of  September.  From  that  point  he  sent 
Father  Zenobe  with  his  dispatches  to  represent  him  at  court, 
while  he  turned  his  attention  to  the  fur  trade  and  to  the 
project  of  completing  a  fort,  which  he  named  St.  Louis, 
upon  the  Illinois  River,  The  precise  location  of  this  work 
is  not  known.  It  was  said  to  be  upon  a  rocky  bluff  two 
hundred  and  fifty  feet  high,  and  only  accesiible  upon  one 
side.  There  are  no  bluffs  of  such  a  height  on  the  Illinois 
River  answering  the  description.  It  may  have  been  on 
the  rocky  bluff  above  La  Salle,  where  the  rocks  are  perhaps 
one  hundred  feet  in  height. 

L^pon  the  completion  of  this  work  La  Salle  again  sailed 
for  France,  which  he  reached  on  the  13th  of  December, 
1G83.  A  new  man.  La  Barre,  had  now  succeeded  Fronte- 
nac as  Governor  of  Canada.  This  man  was  unfriendly 
towards  La  Salle,  and  this,  with  other  untoward  circum- 
stances, no  doubt  led  hira  to  attempt  the  colonization  of  the 
^Mississippi  country  by  w  ay  of  the  mouth  of  the  river.  Kot- 
withstanding  many  obstacles  were  in  his  path,  he  succeeded 
in  obtaining  the  grant  of  a  fleet  from  the  King,  and  on  the 
24th  of  July,  1G84,  a  fleet  of  twenty-four  vessels  sailed  from 
Rochelle  to  America,  four  of  which  were  destined  for  Lou- 
isiana, ar.d  carried  a  body  of  two  hundred  and  eighty 
people,  including  the  crews.  There  were  soldiers,  artificers, 
and  volunteers,  and  also  "  some  young  women."  Discord 
soon  broke  out  between  M.  de  Beanjeu  and  La  Salle,  and 
grew  from  bad  to  worse.  On  the  iOth  of  December  they 
reached  the  island  of  St.  Domingo. 

Joutel*  was  sent  out  with  this  party,  which  left  on  the 
5lh  of  February,  and  traveled  eastward  three  days,  when 
they  came  to  a  great  stream  which  they  could  not  cross. 
Here  they  made  signals  by  building  great  fires,  and  on  the 
loth  two  of  the  vessels  came  in  sight.  The  stream  was 
sounded  and  the  vessels  were  anchored  under  shelter.  But 
again  misfortume  overtook  La  Salle,  and  the  vessel  was 
wrecked,  and  the  bulk  of  supplies  was  lost.  At  this  junc- 
ture M.  de  Bcaujeu,  his  second  in  command,  set  sail  and 
returned  to  France.  La  Salle  now  constructed  a  rude 
shelter  from  the  timbers  of  his  wrecked  vessel,  placed  bis 
peojile  inside  of  it,  and  set  out  to  explore  the  surrounding 
country  in  hope  of  finding  the  Mississippi.  He  was,  of 
course,  disappointed  :  but  found  on  a  stream,  which  is 
named  the  Yaches,  a  good  site  for  a  fort.  He  at  once  re- 
moved his  camp,  and,  after  incredible  exertions,  constructed 
a  fortification  sufficient  to  protect  them  from  the  Indians. 
This  fort  was  situated  on  Matagorda  Bay,  within  the  present 
liniiU  of  Texas,  and  was  called  by  La  Salle  Fort  St.  Louis. 

Leaving  Joutel  to  complete  the  work  with  one  hundred 
men,  La  Salle  took  the  remainder  of  the  company  and  em- 
barked on  the  river,  with  the  intention  of  proceeding  as  far 
up  as  he  could.     The  savages  soon  became  troublesome,  and 

•Joutel,  historian  of  tlic  voyage,  accompanied  La  Salle,  am!  snlxic- 
quently  wrote  his  "  Journal  Historiquc,"  which  was  published  in  Paris, 
1713. 


14 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    FERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


on  the  14th  of  July  La  Salle  ordered  Joutel  to  join  him 
with  his  whole  I'.rce.  They  had  already  lost  several  of  their 
best  men,  and  dangers  threatened  them  on  every  side.  It 
would  seem  from  ihe  historian's  account  of  the  expedition 
that  La  Salle  began  to  erect  another  fort,  and  also  that  he 
becartc  morose  and  severe  in  his  discipline,  so  much  so  as  to 
get  the  ill  will  of  many  of  his  people.  He  finally  resolved 
to  advance  into  the  country,  but  whether  with  the  view  of 
returning  to  Canada  by  way  of  Illinois,  or  only  for  the  pur- 
pose of  making  further  discoveries,  Joutel  leaves  in  doubt. 
Giving  his  last  instructions,  he  left  the  fort  on  the  12th  day 
of  January,  1687,  with  a  company  of  about  a  dozen  men, 
including  his  brother,  two  nephews.  Father  Anastasius,  a 
Franciscan  friar,  Joutel,  and  others,  and  moved  north-east- 
ward, as  is  supposed,  until  the  17th  of  March,  when  some 
of  his  men,  who  had  been  cherishing  revengeful  feelings  for 
some  time,  waylaid  the  Chevalier  and  shot  him  dead. 
They  also  slew  one  of  his  nephews  and  two  of  his  servants. 
Tins  deed  occurred  on  the  20th  of  March,  ou  a  stream 
called  Ccnis. 

In  1687,  France  was  involved  in  a  long  and  bloody  war. 
The  League  of  Augsburg  was  formed  by  the  Princes  of  tlic 
Empire  against  Louis  XIV.,  and  England,  Sf>aiu,  Holland, 
Denmark,  Sweden,  and  Savoy  took  up  arras,  and  Louis 
found  himself  battling  with  nearly  the  whole  of  Europe,  and 
only  Turkey  for  an  ally.  This  war  ended  with  the  peace  of 
Kyswick  in  1697. 

No  material  change  took  place  in  America,  but  the  colo- 
nists were  harassed  and  many  of  their  people  killed  or  car- 
ried c-ptives  to  the  Canadas.  In  1688,  the  French  posses- 
sions ill  North  America  included  nearly  the  whole  of  the 
continent  north  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  the  entire  valley 
of  the  Mississippi ;  and  they  had  begun  to  establish  a  line 
of  fortifications  extending  from  Quebec  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Mississippi,  between  which  points  they  had  three  great  lines 
of  communication,  to  wit :  by  way  of  Mackinaw,  Green 
Bay,  and  the  Wisconsin  Eiver ;  by  way  of  Lake  Michigan, 
the  Kankakee  and  Illinois  Rivers ;  and  by  way  of  Lake 
Erie,  the  Maumee  and  Wabash  Rivers,  and  were  preparing 
to  explore  the  Ohio  as  a  fourth  route. 

In  1699,  D'Iberville,  under  the  authority  of  the  crown, 
discovered,  on  the  second  f  f  March,  by  way  of  the  sea,  the 
mouth  of  the  "  Hidden  River."  This  majestic  stream  was 
called  by  the  natives  "  Malbouchia,"  and  by  the  Spaniards, 
'  La  Pulissade,"  from  the  great  number  of  trees  about  its 
mouth.  After  traversing  the  several  outlets,  and  satisfying 
himself  as  to  its  certainty,  he  erected  a  fort  near  its  western 
outlet,  and  returned  to  France.  An  avenue  of  trade  was 
now  opened  out,  which  was  fully  improved. 

At  this  time  a  census  of  New  France  showed  a  total 
population  of  eleven  thou.sand  two  hundred  and  forty-nine 
Europeans.  War  again  broke  out  in  1701,  and  extended 
over  a  period  of  twelve  years,  ending  with  the  treaty  of 
L'trecht,  in  1713.  This  also  extended  to  the  American  Colo- 
nies, and  its  close  left  everything  as  before,  with  the  excep- 
tion that  Nova  Scotia  was  captured  in  1710. 

In  1718,  New  Orleans  was  laid  out  and  settled  by  some 
European  colonists.     In  1762,  the  colony  was  made  over  to 


Spain,  to   be  regained  by   France,  under   the   consulate   of 
Napoleon. 

In  1803,  it  was  purchased  by  the  United  States,  for  the 
sum  of  fifteen  million  dollars,  and  the  territory  of  Louisiana 
and  the  commerce  of  the  Mississippi  river,  came  under  the 
charge  of  the  United  States.  Although  La  Salle's  labors 
ended  in  defeat  and  death,  he  had  not  worked  and  suffered 
in  vain.  He  had  thrown  open  to  France  and  the  world  an 
immense  and  most  valuable  country.  Had  established 
several  ports,  and  laid  the  foundation  of  more  than  one 
.settlement  there.  "  Peoria,  Kaskaskia  and  Cahokia  are  to 
this  day  monuments  of  La  Salle's  labors ;  for,  th  ugh  he 
had  founded  neither  of  them  (unless  Peoria,  which  was  built 
nearly  upon  the  site  of  Fort  Crevecrour),  it  was  by  those  he 
led  into  the  we.st  that  these  places  were  peopled  and  civil- 
ized. He  was,  if  not  the  discoverer,  the  first  settler  of  the 
Mississippi  Valley,  and  as  such  deserves  to  be  known  and 
honored."* 

The  French  early  improved  the  opening  made  for  them, 
and  before  1693,  the  Reverend  Father  Gravier  began  a 
mission  among  the  Illinois,  and  became  the  founder  of  Kas- 
kaskia. For  some  time  it  was  merely  a  missionary  station, 
and  the  inhabitants  of  the  village  consisted  entirely  of 
natives ;  it  being  one  of  three  such  villages,  the  other  two 
being  Cahokia  and  Peoria.  This  we  learn  from  a  letter 
written  by  Father  Gabriel  Marest,  dated  "  Aux  Cascaskias, 
Autrement  dit  de  I'lmmaculee  concepcion  de  la  Sainte 
Vierge,  le  9  Novembrc,  1712."  In  this  letter,  the  writer 
tells  us  that  Gravier  must  be  regarded  as  the  founder  of  the 
Illinois  mi  sions.  Soon  after  the  founding  of  Kaskaskia,  the 
missionary,  Pinet,  gathered  a  flock  at  Cahokia,t  while 
Peoria  arose  near  the  remains  of  Fort  Crevecocur  X 

An  unsuccessful  attempt  was  also  made  to  found  a  colony 
on  the  Ohio.     It  failed  in  consequence  of  sickness.^ 

In  the  north,  De  La  Motte  Cadillac,  in  June,  1701,  laid 
the  foundation  of  Fort  Poutchartrain,  on  the  strait,  (le  De. 
troit'),||  while  in  the  southwest  efforts  were  making  to  realize 
the  dreams  of  La  Salle.  The  leader  in  the  last  named  en- 
terprise was  Lemoine  D'Iberville,  a  Canadian  officer,  who 
from  1694  to  1097  distinguished  himself  not  a  little  by 
battles  and  conquests  among  the  icebergs  of  the  "  Baye 
D'Udson  or  Hudson  Bay." 

The  post  at  Vincennes,  on  theOubache  river,  (pronounced 
Wa-ba,  meaning  summer  cloud  moving  swiftly),  was  estab- 
lished in  1702.  It  is  quite  probable  that  on  La  Salle's  last 
trip  he  established  the  stations  at  Kaskaskia  and  Cahokia. 
Until  the  year  1750,  but  little  is  known  of  the  settlements 
in  the  northwest,  as  it  was  not  until  this  time  that  the  atten- 

■■'  The  authorities  in  relation  to  La  Salle  are  Hennepin :  a  narrative  pub- 
lished in  the  name  of  Tonti,  in  1697,  but  disclaimed  by  liim  (Cliarlevoix 
III,  3tl5.     Lettres  Edifiantes. 

t  Bancroft,  iii.    tflti. 

I  There  was  an  Old  Peoria  on  the  northwest  shore  of  the  lake  of  that 

name,  amile  and  a  half  above  the  outlet.     From  1778  to  17%  the  iiiliaiii- 

tants  left  this  for  New  Peoria,  (Fort  Clark)  at  the  outlet.     Anuri.an 

State  Papers,  xviii.    476. 

^  Western  An  mils, 

f  Charlevoix,  ii.  2S4.  Le  Detroit  wa.s  the  whole  strait  from  Erie  to 
Huron.  The  first  grants  of  land  at  Detroit,  t.  e.,  Fort  Pontchartrain, 
were  made  in  1707. 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


15 


tion  of  the  English  was  called  to  the  occupation  of  this  por- 
tion of  the  new  world,  which  they  then  supposed  they 
owned.  Vivier,  a  missionary  among  the  Illinois,  writing 
"  Aux  Illinois,"  six  leagues  from  Fort  Chartres,  June  8th, 
1750,  says:  "  We  have  here  whites,  negroes,  and  Indians,  to 
say  nothing  of  the  cross-breeds.  There  are  five  French 
villages,  and  three  villages  of  the  natives  within  a  space  of 
twentv-one  leagues,  situated  between  the  Mississippi  and 
another  river,  called  the  Karkadiad,  (Kaskaskia ).  In  the 
five  French  villages  are,  perhaps,  eleven  hundred  whites, 
three  hundred  blacks,  and  some  sixty  red  slaves  or  savages. 
The  three  Illinois  towns  do  not  contain  more  than  eight 
hundred  souls  all  told.*  Most  of  the  French  till  the  soil. 
They  raise  wheat,  cattle,  pigs  and  horses,  and  live  like 
princes.  Three  times  as  much  is  produced  as  can  be  con- 
sumed, and  great  quantities  of  grain  and  flour  are  sent  to 
Kew  Orleans." 

Again,  in  an  epistle  dated  November  17th,  17."iO,  Yivicr 
says  :  "  For  fifteen  leagues  above  the  mouth  of  the  Jlissis- 
sippi,  one  sees  no  dwellings  *  *  *  *  New  Orleans  contains 
black,  white  and  red,  not  more,  I  think,  than  twelve  hun- 
dred persons.  To  this  point  come  all  kinds  of  lumber, 
bricks,  salt-beef,  tallow,  tar,  skins,  and  bear's  grease;  and 
above  all  pork  and  flour  from  the  Illinois.  These  things 
create  some  commerce,  as  forty  vessels  and  more  have  come 
hither  this  year.  Above  New  Orleans  plantations  are  again 
met  with  ;  the  most  considerable  is  a  colony  of  Germans, 
some  ten  leagues  up  the  river.  At  point  Coupee,  thirty-five 
leagues  above  the  German  settlement,  is  a  fort.  Along  here, 
witliin  five  or  six  leagues,  are  not  less  than  sixty  habitations. 
Fifty  leagues  farther  up  is  the  Natchez  post,  where  we  have 
a  garrison." 

Father  Marest,  witing  from  the  post  at  Vincennes,  makes 
the  same  observation.  Vivier  also  says,  "  Some  individuals 
dig  lead  near  the  surface,  and  supply  the  Indians  and  Can- 
ada. Two  Spaniards,  now  here,  who  claim  to  be  adepts, 
say  that  our  mines  are  like  those  of  Mexico,  and  that  if  we 
would  dig  deeper  we  would  find  silver  under  the  lead  ;  at 
any  rate  the  lead  is  excellent.  There  are  also  in  this  coun- 
try, beyond  doubt,  copper  mines,  as  from  time  to  time,  large 
pieces  have  been  found  in  the  streams."  I' 

At  the  close  of  the  year  17.50,  the  French  occupied  in  ad- 
dition to  the  lower  ilississippi  posts  and  those  iu  Illinois, 
one  at  Du  Quesue,  one  at  the  ^laumec,  in  the  country  of  the 
^•lamis,  and  one  at  Sandusky,  in  what  may  be  termed  the 
Ohio  Valley.  In  the  northern  part  of  the  north-west,  they 
had  stations  at  St.  Joseph's  on  the  St.  Joseph's  of  Lake 
Michigau,  at  Fort  Pontchartraiu  (^Detroit),  at  Micliilli- 
uiackinac  or  Massillimacinac,  Fox  Kiver  of  Green  Bay,  and 
at  Sault  Ste.  Marie.  The  fondest  dreams  of  La  Salle  were 
now  fully  realized.  The  French  alone  were  possessors  of 
this  vast  realm,  basing  their  claim  on  discovery  and  settle- 
ment. Another  nation,  however,  was  now  turning  its 
attention  to  this  extensive  country,  and  learning  of  its 
wealth  began  to  lay  plans  for  occupying  it  and  for  securing 
the  great  profits  arising  therefrom. 

-  Lottrc-j  Eiliffant,-:  i  I'm.-,  ITolj,  vii.  97-IOi;. 
t  Western  .Vnnali. 


The  French,  however,  had  another  claim  to  this  country, 
namely,  the 

DISCOVERY    OF    TOE    OHIO. 

The  largest  branch  of  the  Mississippi  river  from  the  east, 
known  to  the  early  French  settlers  as  la  belle  riviere,  called 
"  beautiful "  river,  was  discovered  by  Robert  Cavalier  de 
La  .Salle,  in  1669.  While  La  Salle  was  at  his  trading-post 
on  the  St.  Lawrence,  he  found  leisure  to  study  nine  Indian 
dialects,  the  chief  of  which  was  the  Iroquois.  While  con- 
versing with  some  Senecas,  he  learned  of  a  river  called  the 
Ohio,  which  rose  in  their  country  and  flowed  to  the  sea. 

In  this  statement  the  Mississii)pi  and  its  tributaries  were 
considered  as  one  stream.  La  Salle,  believing  as  most  of 
the  French  at  that  period  did,  that  the  great  rivers  flowing 
west  emptied  into  the  Sea  of  California,  was  anxious  to  em- 
bark in  the  enterprise  of  discovering  a  route  across  the 
continent.  He  repaired  at  once  to  Quebec  to  obtain  the 
approval  of  the  Governor  and  the  Intendent,  Talon.  They 
issued  letters  patent,  authorizing  the  enterprise,  but  made 
no  provisions  to  defray  the  expenses. 

At  this  juncture  the  seminary  St.  Sulpicc  decided  to  send 
out  missionaries  in  connection  with  the  expedition,  and  La 
Salle  offering  to  sell  his  improvements  at  La  Chive  to  raise 
the  money,  the  offer  was  accepted  by  the  Superior,  and  two 
thousand  eight  hundred  dollars  were  raised,  with  which  La 
Salle  purchased  four  canoes  and,  the  necessary  supplies  for 
the  outfit. 

On  the  6th  of  July,  1669,  the  party,  numbering  twenty- 
four  persons,  embarked  iu  seven  canoes  on  the  St.  Lawrence. 
Two  additional  canoes  carried  the  Indian  guides. 

In  three  days  they  were  gliding  over  the  bosom  of  Lake 
Ontario.  Their  guides  conducted  them  directly  to  the 
Seneca  village  on  the  bank  of  the  Genesee,  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  present  city  of  Rochester,  New  York.  Here  they 
expected  to  procure  guides  to  conduct  them  to  the  Ohio,  but 
ill  this  they  were  disappointed.  After  waiting  a  month  in 
the  hope  of  gaining  their  object,  they  met  an  Indian  from  the 
Iroquois  colony,  at  the  head  of  Lake  Ontario,  who  assured 
them  they  could  find  guides,  and  offered  to  conduct  them 
thence.  On  their  way  they  passed  the  mouth  of  Niagara 
river,  when  they  heard  for  the  first  time  the  di.stant  thunder 
of  the  cataract.  Arriving  among  the  Iroquois  they  met 
with  a  friendly  reception,  and  learned  from  a  Shawnee 
prisoner  that  they  could  reach  the  Ohio  in  six  weeks.  De- 
lighted with  the  unexpected  good  fortune,  they  made  i-eady 
to  resume  their  journey,  and  as  they  were  about  to  start  they 
heard  of  the  arrival  of  two  Frenchmen  in  a  neighboring 
village.  One  of  them  proved  to  be  Louis  Joliet,  afterwards 
famous  as  an  explorer  in  the  west.  He  had  been  sent  by 
the  Canadian  government  to  explore  the  copper  mines  on 
Lake  Superior,  but  had  failed  and  was  on  his  way  back  to 
Quebec. 

On  arriving  at  Lake  Superior,  they  found,  as  La  Salle 
had  predicted,  the  Jesuit  fathers,  Marquette  and  Dablon, 
occupying  the  field.  After  parting  with  the  priests,  La 
Salle  went  to  the  chief  Iroquois  village  at  Onondago,  where 
he  obtained  guides  and  passing  thence  to  a  tributary  of  the 
Ohio  south  of  Lake  Erie,  he  descended  the  latter  as  far  as 


16 


nisTOHY    OF   L'ANDOLPII.    MOXROE   AND    PERRY    COUXTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


the  falls  of  Louisville.  Tlius  was  the  Ohio  discovered  by 
La  Salle,  the  persevering  and  successful  French  explorer  of 
the  west  in  16(39. 

When  "Washington  was  sent  out  by  the  colony  of  Virginia 
in  1753,  to  demand  of  Gordeur  de  St.  Pierre  why  the  French 
had  built  a  fort  on  the  Monongahela,  the  haughty  com- 
mandant at  Quebec  replied  :  "  We  claim  the  country  on  the 
Ohio  by  virtue  of  the  discoveries  of  La  Salle,  and  'will  not 
give  it  up  to  the  Engli.«h.  Our  orders  are  to  make  prisoners 
of  every  Englishman  found  trading  in  the  Ohio  valley." 

ENGLISH    EXPLORATIONS    AND    SETTLEMENTS. 

"We  have  sketched  the  progress  of  French  discovery  in 
the  valley  of  the  Mississippi.  The  first  travelers  reached 
tha*  river  in  1073,  and  when  the  year  17.50  broke  in  upon 
the  father  of  waters  and  the  great  north-we-st,  all  was  still 
except  those  little  spots  upon  the  prairies  of  Illinois  and 
among  the  marshes  of  Louisiana. 

Volney,  by  conjecture,  fixes  the  settlement  of  Yiucennes 
about  1735.*  Bishop  Brute,  of  Indiana,  speaks  of  a  mis- 
sionary station  there  in  1700,  and  adds:  "The  friendly 
tribes  and  traders  called  to  Canada  for  protection,  and  then 
M.  De  Yincennes  came  with  a  detachment,  I  think,  of 
Carignan,  and  was  killed  in  1735. "f  Bancroft  says  a  mili- 
tary e.stablishment  was  formed  there  in  1716,  and  in  1742  a 
settlement  of  herdsmen  took  place. J  In  a  petition  of  the 
old  inhabitants  at  Viucennes,  dated  in  November,  1793,  we 
find  the  settlement  spoken  of  as  having  been  made  before 
1742.§  And  such  is  the  general  voice  of  tradition.  On  the 
other  hand,  Charlevoix,  who  records  the  death  of  "Vincennes, 
which  took  place  among  the  Chickasaws,  in  1736,  makes  no 
mention  of  any  post  on  the  Wabash,  or  any  missionary 
station  there.  Neither  does  he  mark  any  upon  his  map, 
although  he  gives  even  the  British  forts  upon  the  Tennessee 
and  elsewhere.  Such  is  the  character  of  the  proof  relative 
to  the  settlement  of  Vincennes. 

Hennepin,  in  166-3-4,  had  heard  of  the  "  Hohio."  The 
route  from  the  lakes  to  the  Mississippi,  by  the  Wabash,  was 
explored  1676, 1|  and  in  Hennepin's  volume  of  1698,  is  a 
journal,  said  to  be  that  sent  by  La  Salle  to  Count  Frontenac 
in  1682  or  '83,  which  mentions  the  route  by  the  Maumeel" 
and  Wabash  as  the  most  direct  to  the  great  western  river. 

In  1749,  when  the  English  first  began  to  think  seriously 
of  sending  men  into  the  west,  the  greater  portions  of  the 
states  of  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Michigan,  Wisconsin,  and 
Minnesota  were  yet  under  the  dominion  of  the  red  men. 
The  English  knew,  however,  of  the  nature  of  the  vast 
wealth  of  these  wilds. 

In  the  year  1710,  Governor  Spotswood,  of  Virginia,  had 
matured  a  plan  and  commenced  movements,  the  object  of 
which  was  to  secure  the  country  beyond  the  Allegheni.s  to 
the  English  crown.  In  Pennsylvania,  also.  Governor  Keith 
and  James  Logan,  Secretary  of  the  Province  from  1719  to 

»  Volney's  View,  p.  336. 

t  Butler's  Kentucky. 

t  History  U.  S.  iii.  346. 

J  American  State  Papers,  .xvi.  32. 

II  Histoire  General  Des  Voyages  xiv.,  758. 

^Now  called  Miami. 


1731,  represented  to  the  powers  of  England  the  necessity  of 
taking  steps  to  secure  the  western  lands  Nothing,  however, 
was  done  by  the  mother  country,  except  to  take  certain 
diplomatic  steps  to  secure  the  claim  of  Britain  to  this  unex- 
ploreil  wilderncs?.  England  nad  from  the  outset  cl.aimed 
from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific,  on  the  ground  that  the  dis- 
covery and  possession  of  the  sea  coast  was  a  discovery  and 
possession  of  the  country  ;  and  as  is  well  known,  her  grants 
to  Virginia,  Connecticut,  and  other  colonies,  were  through 
from  "  sea  to  sea."  This  was  not  all  her  claims ;  she  had 
purchased  from  the  Indian  tribes  large  tracts  of  land.  This 
was  also  a  strong  argument. 

In  the  year  1684,  Lord  Howard,  Governor  of  Virginia, 
held  a  treaty  with  the  five  nations  at  Albany.  These  were 
the  great  Northern  Confederacy,  and  comprised  at  first  the 
Mohawks,  Oneidas,  Ououdagas,  Cayugas,  and  Seuecas. 
Afterward  the  Tuscaroras  were  taken  into  the  confederacy, 
and  it  became  known  as  the  six  nations.  They  came  under 
the  protection  of  the  mother  country,  and  again  in  1701  they 
repeated  the  agreement.  Another  formal  deed  was  drawa 
up  and  signed  by  the  chiefs  of  the  National  Confederacy  in 
1726,  by  which  their  lands  were  conveyed  in  trust  to  Eng- 
land, "  to  be  protected  and  defended  by  his  majesty,  to  and 
for  the  use  of  the  grantors  and  their  heirs."  The  validity 
of  this  claim  has  often  been  disputed,  but  never  successfull}'. 
In  1774,  a  purchase  was  made  at  Lancaster  of  certain  lands 
within  the  "  colony  of  Virginia,"  for  which  the  Indians 
received  £200  in  gold  and  a  like  sum  in  goods,  with  a 
promise  that  as  settlements  increased,  more  should  be  paid. 
The  commissioners  from  Virginia  at  the  treaty  were  Col. 
Thomas  Lee  and  Col.  William  Beverly. 

As  settlements  extended,  and  the  Indians  .^egan  to  com- 
plain, the  promise  of  further  pay  was  called  to  mind,  and 
Mr.  Conrad  Weiser  was  sent  across  the  Alleghenies  to  Logs- 
town.  In  1784,  *  Col.  Lee  and  some  Virginians  accom- 
panied him,  with  the  intention  of  ascertaining  the  feelings 
of  the  Indians  with  regard  to  further  settlements  in  the  west, 
which  Col.  Lee  and  others  were  contemplating.  The  object 
of  these  proposed  settlements  was  not  the  cultivation  of  the 
soil,  but  the  monopoly  of  the  Indian  trade.  Accordingly 
after  Weiser's  conference  with  the  Indians  at  Logstown, 
which  was  favorable  to  their  views,  Thomas  Lee,  with 
twelve  other  Virginians,  among  whom  were  Lawrence  and 
Augustine,  brothers  of  George  Washington,  and  also  Mr. 
Hanbury,  of  London,  formed  an  association  whi  h  they 
called  the  "Ohio  Company,"  and  in  1748  petitioned  the 
king  for  a  grant  beyond  the  mountains.  This  petition  was 
approved  by  the  English  government,  and  the  government 
of  Virginia  was  ordered  to  grant  to  the  petitioners  half  a 
million  of  acres  within  the  bounds  of  that  colony  beyond 
the  Alleghenies,  two  hundred  thousand  of  ^^hich  were  to  be 
located  at  once.  This  portion  was  to  be  held  for  ten  years 
free  of  quit-rent,  provided  the  company  would  put  there  one 
hundred  families  within  seven  years,  and  build  a  fort  suffi- 
cient to  protect  the  settlement.  The  company  accepted  the 
proposition,  and  sent  to  London  for  a  cargo  suited  to  the 
Indian    trade,   which   should    arrive   ij    November,    1749. 

»Pljia  Facts,  pp.40,  120. 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH     MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


Other  companies  wore  also  formed  about  this  time  in  Vir- 
ginia to  cohinize  tiie  west.  On  the  12th  of  June,  1749,  a 
grant  of  800,1100  acres  from  the  line  of  Canada,  on  the 
north  and  west,  was  made  to  the  Loyal  t'onipany,  and  on 
the  29th  of  October,  1751,  another  of  lOO.UOO  acres  to  the 
Grtenbriar  Company.  * 

The  French  were  not  blind  all  this  time.  They  saw  that 
if  the  British  once  obtained  a  stronghold  upon  the  Ohio, 
they  might  not  only  prevent  their  settlements  upon  it,  but 
in  time  would  come  to  the  lower  posts,  and  so  gain  posses- 
sion of  the  whole  country.  Upon  the  lOth  of  May,  1744, 
Vaudreuil,  the  French  governor,  well  knowing  the  conse- 
quences that  must  arise  from  allowing  the  English  to  build 
trading  posts  in  the  north-.vest,  seized  some  of  their  frontier 
posts,  to  further  secure  the  claims  of  the  French  to  the 
west.  Having  these  fears,  and  seeing  the  danger  of  the 
late  movements  of  the  British,  Gallisoniere,  then  Governor 
of  Canada,  determined  to  place  along  the  Ohio  evidences  of 
the  French  claim  to,  and  possession  of,  the  country.  For 
that  purpose  he  sent,  in  the  summer  of  1749,  Louis  Celeron, 
with  a  party  of  soldiers,  to  place  plates  of  lead,  on  which 
were  written  out  the  claims  of  the  French,  in  the  mounds 
and  at  the  mouths  of  the  rivers.  These  were  heard  of  by 
Willliam  Trent,  au  Indian  commissioner,  sent  out  by  Vir- 
ginia in  17">2,  to  treat  with  and  conciliate  the  Indians, 
while  upon  the  Ohio,  and  mentioned  in  his  journal.  One  of 
these  plates  was  found  with  the  inscription  partly  defaced. 
It  bears  date  August  ICth,  1749,  and  a  cojn  of  the  inscrip- 
tion, with  particular  account,  was  sent  by  De  Witt  Clinton 
to  the  American  Autiiiuariau  Society,  among  whose  journals 
it  may  now  be  found.  These  measures  did  not,  however, 
deter  the  English  fnmi  going  on  with  their  explorations. 

In  Februarv,  H-)!,  Christoph-T  Gist  was  scut  by  the 
Ohio  Company  to  examine  its  lands.  He  went  to  a  village 
of  the  Twigtwecs,  on  the  Miami,  about  1")0  miles  above  its 
mouth.  From  there  he  went  down  the  Ohio  Paver  nearly 
to  the  falls,  at  the  jiresent  city  of  Louisville,  and  in  Novem- 
ber ha  commenced  a  survey  of  the  company's  lands.  In 
1751,  General  Andrew  l/cwis  commenced  some  surveys  in 
the  Greenbrier  country,  on  behalf  of  the  company  already 
mentioned.  Meanwhile  the  French  were  busy  iu  preparing 
their  forts  for  defence,  and  in  opening  roads.  In  1752 
having  heard  of  the  trading  houses  on  the  Miami  River, 
thev,  assisted  by  tlie  Oltawas  and  Cliippewas,  attacked  it, 
and,  after  a  severe  battle,  in  which  fourteen  of  the  natives 
were  killed  and  others  wounded,  captured  the  garrison. 
The  traders  were  carried  away  to  Canada,  and  one  account 
says  several  were  b\irned.  This  fort,  or  trading  house  was 
called  by  the  Engli.-h  writers  rickawillany.  A  memorial 
of  the  king's  ministers  refers  to  it  as  "  Pickawellanes,  in  the 
centre  of  the  territory  between  Ohio  ami  the  Wabash." 
This  was  the  first  blood  shed  between  the  French  and 
English,  and  occurred  near  the  present  city  of  Piqua,  Ohio. 
The  English  were  determined  ou  their  part  to  purchase  a 
title  from  the  Indians  of  lands  whi'-h  they  wished  to  occupy, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1752,  Messrs.  Fry,t  Lomax  and  Pat. on 


^^Rcvlsiil  Pinmipi  of  Vir.'iiii.i. 
+  .\ftirnar.l-i  C'lHiinnii  l.i-in-cliicf  t 
meut  of  lUc  I'rcnch  Vi'-.'.r  of  177j. 


Wasliiiii'tou,  at  Cio  commencc- 


were  sent   from    Virginia    to    hold    a  conference    with  the 
natives  at  L  igstown,  to  learn  what  they  objected  to  in  the 
treaty  at  Lancaster,  and  to  settle  all  difficulties.     On  the 
9th  of  June  the  commissioners  met  the  red  men  at  Logs- 
town.     This  was  a  village  seventeen  miles  below  Pittsburgh, 
upon  the  north  side  of  the  Ohio.     Hero  had  been  a  trading 
post  for  many  years,  but  it  was  abandoned  by  the  Indians 
in  1750.     At  first   the  Indians    declined   to  recognize  the 
treaty  of  Lancaster,  but  the   commissioners   taking   aside 
Jlontour,    the    interpreter,  who   was  a   son  of  the  famous 
Catherine    Montour,  and   a  chief  among   the   six   nations, 
being  three-fourths  of  Indian  blood,  through  his  influence 
an  agreement  was  eflbcted,  and  upon  the  13th  of  June  they 
all  united  in  signing  a  deed,  confiruiing  the  Lancaster  treaty 
in  its  fullest  extent.     Meanwhile  the  powers  beyond  the  seas 
were  trving  to  out-manieuver  each  other,  and  were  professing 
to  be  at  peace.    The  English  generally  outwitted  the  Indians, 
and  secured    themselves,  as  they  thought,  by  their   polite 
conduct.     But  the  French, in  this  as  in  all  cases,  proved  that 
they  knew  best  how  to  manage  the  natives.     While  these 
measures  were  taken,  another  treaty  with  the  wild  men  of 
the  debatable  land  was  also  iu  contemplation.     And  iu  Sep- 
tember, 1753,  William  Fairfax  met  their  deputies  at  Win- 
chester, Virginia,  where  he   concluded   a  treaty.     In  the 
month  following,  however,  a  more  satisfactc  ry  interview  took 
place  at  Carlisle,  between  the  representatives  of  the  Iroquois, 
Delawares,  Shawneos,  Twigtwees,  and  Wyandots,  and  the 
commissioners  of  Pennsylvania,  Richard  Peters,  Isaac  Xorris, 
and   Bonjamin  Franklin.     Soon  after  this,  no  satisfaction 
being  obtained  from  the  Ohi,),  either  as  to  the  force,  position, 
or  purposes  of  the  French,  Robert  Dinwiddie,  then  Governor 
of  Virginia,  determined  to  send  to  them  another  messenger, 
and  learn  if  possible  their  intentions.     For  this  purpose  he 
selected  a  young  surveyor,  who,  at  the  age  of  nineteen  had 
attained  the  rank  of  major,  and  whose  previous  life  had 
inured   him    to  hardships  and   woodland   ways ;  while  his 
courage,  cool  judgment,  and  firm  will,  all  fitted  him  fir  such 
a  mission.     This  personage  was  no  other  than  the  illustrious 
George  Washington,  who  then  held  considerable  interest  iu 
western  lands.     He  was  twenty-one  years  old  at  the  time  of 
the  appointment.*     Taking  Gist  as  a  guide,  the  two,  accom- 
panied by  four  servitors,  set  out  on  their  perilous  march. 
They  lefi  Will's  Creek,  where  Cumberland  now  is,  on  the 
15lh  of  Xoveraber,  and  on  the  22d  reached  the  Monongahel;;, 
about  ten  miles  above  the  f 'rk.      From  there  they  went  t . 
L ogstown,  where  Washington  had  a  long  conference  wil'.i 
the  chiefs  of  the  six  nations.     Here  he  learned  the  position 
of  the  French,  and  also  that  they  had  determined  not  to  come 
down  the  river  until  the  following  spring.     The  Indians  were 
non-committal,  they  deeming  a  neutral  position  the  safest. 
Washington,  finding  nothing  could  be  done,  went  on  to  Ve- 
nango, au  old  Indian  town  at  the  mouth  of  the  Frencli 
Creek.     Here  the  French  had  a  fort  called  Fort  Machault. 
Ou  the  11th  of  D -c  Muber  he  reached  l!ie  fort  at  the  head  of 
French  Creek.      Here  he  delivered  Governor  Dinwiddle's 
letter,  received  his  answer,  and  upon  the  l<)th  set  out  upun 
his  return  journey  with  no  one  l>ut  Gist,  hii  guidi-.  and  a  few 

-'SiKirks'  Wa,liiu-:on,  Vol.  ii.,  ri>-  iZi-n:. 


18 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE    AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,   ILLINOIS. 


Indians,  who  still  remained  true  to  liim.  They  reached  home 
iu  safety  on  the  6th  of  January,  1754.  From  the  letter  of 
St.  Pierre,  Commander  of  the  French  fort,  sent  by  Washing- 
ton to  Governor  Dinwiddle,  it  was  perfectly  clear  that  the 
French  would  not  yield  the  West  without  a  struggle.  Active 
preparations  were  at  once  made  ia  all  the  English  colonies 
for  the  coming  conflict,  while  the  French  finished  their  fort 
at  Venango  and  strengthened  their  lines  of  fortifications  to 
be  in  readiness.  The  Old  Dominion  was  alive.  Virginia 
was  the  center  of  great  activities.  Volunteers  were  called 
for,  and  from  neighboring  colonies  men  rallied  to  the  conflict, 
and  everywhere  along  the  Potomac  men  were  enlisting  under 
Governor's  proclamation, — which  promised  two  hundred 
thousand  acres  on  tlie  Ohio.  Along  this  river  they  were 
gathering  as  far  as  Will's  Creek,  and  far  beyond  this  point, 
whither  Trent  had  come  for  assistance,  for  his  little  band  of 
fjrty-one  men,  who  were  working  away  in  hunger  and  want, 
to  fortify  that  point  at  the  fork  of  the  Ohio,  to  which  both 
parties  were  looking  with  deep  interest.  The  first  birds  of 
spring  filled  the  firest  with  their  songs.  The  swift  river 
rolled  by  th^  Alh-glieny  hillsides,  swollen  by  the  melting 
snows  of  spring  and  April  showers.  The  leaves  were  appear- 
ing, a  few  Indian  Scouts  were  seen,  but  no  enemy  seemed 
near  at  hand,  and  all  was  so  quiet  that  Frazier,  an  old  In- 
dian trader,  who  had  been  left  by  Trent  in  command  of  the 
new  fort,  ventured  to  his  home  at  the  mouth  of  Turtle  Creek, 
ten  miles  up  the  M  jnougahela.  But  though  all  was  so  quiet 
iu  that  wilderness,  keen  eyes  had  seen  the  low  entrenchment 
that  was  rising  at  the  fork,  and  swift  feet  had  borne  the  news 
of  it  up  the  valley,,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  17th  of  April, 
Ensign  Ward,  who  then  had  charge  of  it,  saw  upon  the 
Allegheny  a  sight  that  made  his  heart  sink; — sixty  batteaux 
and  three  hundred  canoes,  filled  with  men,  and  laden  deep 
with  cannon  and  stores.  The  fort  was  called  on  to  surren- 
der: by  the  advice  of  the  Half-King,  AVard  tried  to  evade 
the  act,  but  it  would  not  do.  Contreca;ur,  with  a  thousand 
men  about  him,  said 'Evacuate,' and  the  eusign  dared  not 
refuse.  That  evening  he  supped  with  his  captor,  and  the 
next  day  was  bowed  off"  by  the  Frenchman,  and,  with  his 
men  and  tools,  marched  up  the  Mouongahela."  The  French 
and  Indian  war  had  begun.  The  treaty  of  Aix  la  Chapelle, 
in  1748,  had  left  the  boundaries  between  the  French  and 
English  possessions  unsettled,  and  the  events  already  narra- 
ted show  that  the  French  were  determined  to  hold  the  coun- 
try watered  by  the  Mississippi  and  its  tributaries:  while  the 
English  laid  claim  to  the  country  by  virtue  of  the  discoveries 
by  the  Cabots,  and  claimed  all  the  country  from  New  Found- 
land  to  Florida,  and  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific.  The 
first  decisive  blow  had  been  struck,  and  the  first  attempt  of 
the  English,  through  the  Ohio  Company,  to  occupy  these 
lands  had  resulted  disastrously  to  them.  The  French  and 
Indians  immediately  completed  the  fortifications  begun  at 
the  fork,  which  they  had  so  easily  captured,  and  when  com- 
pleted gave  to  the  fort  the  name  of  Du  Quesne.  Washing- 
ton was  at  Will's  Creek,  when  the  news  of  the  capture  of  the 
fort  arrived.  He  at  once  departed  to  recapture  it.  On  his 
way  he  entrenched  himself  at  a  place  called  the  "  Meadows," 
where  he  erected  a  fort  called  by  him  Fort  Necessity.    From 


there  he  surprised  and  captured  a  force  of  French  and  Indi- 
ana marching  against  him,  but  was  soon  after  attacked  by  a 
much  superior  force,  and  was  obliged  to  yield  on  the  morn- 
ing of  July  4th.     He  was  allowed  to  return  to  Virginia. 

The  English  Government  immediately  planned  for  cam- 
paigns, one  against  Fort  Du  Quesne,  one  against  Nova  Sco- 
tia, one  against  Fort  Niagara,  and  one  against  Crown  Point. 
These  occurred  during  1755-6,  and  were  not  successful  in 
driving  the  French  from  their  possessions..  The  expedition 
against  Fort  Du  Quesne  was  led  by  the  famous  Braddock, 
who,  refusing  to  listen  to  the  advice  of  Washington  and  those 
acquainted  with  Indian  warfare,  suffered  an  inglorious  de- 
feat. This  occurred  on  the  morning  of  July  9th,  and  is  gen- 
erally known  as  the  battle  of  Monougahela  or  "  Braddock's 
defeat."  The  war  continued  through  various  vicissitudes 
through  the  years  1756-7,  when,  at  the  commencement  of 
1758,  in  accordance  with  the  plans  of  William  Pitt,  then 
secretary  of  state,  afterwards  Lord  Chatham,  active  prepa- 
rations were  made  to  carry  on  the  war.  Three  expeditions 
were  planned  for  this  year :  one  under  General  Amherst, 
against  Louisburg;  another  under  Abcrcrombie,  against 
Fort  Ticonderoga ;  and  a  third  under  General  Forbes,  against 
Fort  Du  Quesne.  On  the  26th  of  July,  Louisburg  surren- 
dered after  a  desperate  resistance  of  more  than  forty  days, 
and  the  eastern  partof  the  Canadian  possessions  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  British.  Abercrombie  captu  red  Fort  Fronte- 
nac,  and  when  the  expedition  against  Fort  Du  Quesne,  of 
which  Washington  had  the  active  command,  arrived  there, 
it  was  found  in  flames  anl  deserted.  The  English  at  once 
took  possession,  rebuilt  the  fort,  and  in  honor  of  their  illus- 
trious statesman,  changed  the  name  to  Fort  Pitt. 

The  great  object  of  the  campaign  of  1759,  was  the  redac- 
tion of  Canada.  General  Wolfe  was  to  lay  siege  to  Quebec  ; 
Araherst  was  to  reduce  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point;  and 
General  Prideaux  was  to  capture  Niagara.  This  latter  place 
was  taken  in  July,  but  the  gallant  Prideaux  lost  his  life. 
Amherst  captured  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  without  a 
blow ;  and  Wolfe,  af.cr  making  the  memorable  ascent  to  the 
plains  o£  Abraham,  on  September  13th,  dufeated  Montcalm, 
and  on  the  l«lh  the  city  capitulated.  In  this  engagement, 
Montcalm  and  Wolfe  both  lost  their  lives.  De  Levi,  Jlont- 
calm's  successor,  marched  to  Sillery,  three  miles  above  the 
city,  with  th3  purpose  of  defeating  the  English,  and  there, 
on  the  28th  of  the  following  April,  was  fought  one  of  the 
bloodiest  battles  of  the  French  and  Indian  war.  It  resulted 
iu  the  defeat  of  the  French,  and  the  fall  of  the  city  of  JMon- 
treal.  The  Governor  signed  a  capitulation  by  which  the 
whole  of  C.mada  was  surrendered  to  the  English.  This 
practically  concluded  the  war,  but  it  was  not  until  1763 
that  the  treaties  of  peace  between  France  and  England 
were  signed.  This  was  done  on  the  10th  of  February  of  that 
year,  and  under  its  provisions  all  the  country  east  of  the 
Mississippi  and  north  of  the  Ibervill  river  in  Louisiana,  were 
ceded  to  England.  At  the  same  time,  Spain  ceded  Florida 
to  Great  Britain. 

On  the  13th  September,  1760,  Major  Robert  Rogers  was 
sent  from  Montreal  to  take  charge  of  Detroit,  the  only  re- 
maining French  post  in  the  territory.     He  arrived  tliere  on 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE    AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


19 


the  9th  of  November,  and  suramoaed  the  place  to  surrender. 
At  first  the  commander  of  the  post,  Beletre,  refused,  but  on 
the  29rh,  hearing  of  the  continued  defeat  of  the  French  array, 
surrendered.  The  North-west  Territory  was  now  entirely 
under  the  English  rule.  In  17G2,  France,  by  a  secret  treaty, 
ceded  Louisiana  to  Spain,  to  prevent  it  fulling  into  the  hands 
of  the  English,  who  were  becoming  masters  of  the  entire 
West.  The  next  year  the  treaty  of  Paris,  signed  at  Fou- 
tainbleau,  gave  to  the  English  the  dominion  in  question. 
Twent)'  years  after,  by  the  treaty  of  peace  between  the  United 
States  and  England,  that  part  of  Canada  lying  south  and 
west  of  the  great  lakes,  comprising  a  large  territory,  was 
acknowledged  to  be  a  portion  of  the  United  States.  In 
1803  Louisiana  was  ceded  by  Spain  back  to  France,  and  by 
France  sold  to  the  United  States.  By  the  treaty  of  Paris, 
the  regions  east  of  the  Mississippi,  including  all  these  and 
other  towns  of  the  north-west,  were  given  over  to  England ; 
but  they  do  not  appear  to  have  been  taken  possession  of  until 
17G5,  when  Captain  Stirling,  in  the  name  of  the  Majesty  in 
England,  establisheil  himself  at  Fort  Chai-tres,  bearing  with 
him  the  proclamation  of  General  Gage,  dated  December 
30th,  1764,  which  promised  religious  freedom  to  all  Catho- 
lics who  worshiped  here  and  the  right  to  leave  the  country 
with  their  effects  if  they  wished,  or  to  remain  with  the  priv- 
ileges of  Englishmen.  During  the  years  1775  i.nd  177(5,  by 
the  operations  of  land  companies  and  the  perseverance  of 
individuals,  several  settlements  were  firmly  established  be- 
tween the  AUeghenies  aud  the  Ohio  river,  and  western  land 
speculators  were  busy  in  Illinois  and  on  the  Wabash.  At  a 
council  held  in  Kaskaskia,  on  July  .Sth,  1773,  an  association 
of  English  traders,  calling  themselves  the  "  Illinois  Land 
Company,"  obtained  from  the  chiefs  of  the  Kaskaskia,  Ca- 
hokia,  aud  Peoria  tribes  two  large  tracts  of  land  lying  on  the 
east  side  of  the  Mississippi  river  south  of  the  Illinois.  In 
177o  a  merchant  from  the  Illinois  country,  named  Viviat, 
came  to  Post  Viucennes  as  the  agent  of  the  association  called 
the  "Wabash  Land  Company."  On  the  8th  of  October  he 
obtained  from  eleven  Piauke.-haw  chiefs  a  deed  for  37,497, 
GOO  acres  of  land.  This  dccil  was  signed  bv  the  grantors, 
attested  by  a  number  of  the  inhabitants  of  Yincennes,  and 
afterward  recorded  in  the  office  of  a  Notary  Public  at  Kas- 
kaskia. This  and  other  land  companies  had  extensive 
schemes  for  the  colonization  of  the  West ;  but  all  were  frus- 
trated by  the  breaking  out  of  the  Revolutionary  war.  On 
the  20th  of  April,  1780,  the  two  comixinies  named  consoli- 
dated under  the  name  of  the  "  United  Illinois  and  Wabash 
Land  Company ; "  they  afterwards  made  strenuous  efforts  to 
have  these  grants  sanctioned  by  Congress,  but  all  signally 
failed.  When  the  war  of  the  Revolution  commenced,  Ken- 
tucky was  an  unorganized  country,  though  there  were  several 
settlements  within  her  borders. 

In  Ilutehins'  Topography  of  Virginia,  it  is  stated  th.".t  at 
that  time  Kaskaskia  contained  80  houses,  and  nearly  1,000 
white  and  black  inhabitants,  the  whites  being  a  little  the 
more  numerous.  Cahokia  contained  fifty  houses,  300  white 
inhabitants,  and  80  negroes.  There  were  east  of  the  !Missis- 
sippi  river,  about  the  year  1771 — when  these  observations 
were  made — "  300  white  men  capable  of  bearing  arms,  and 


238  negroes."  From  1775  until  the  expedition  of  Clark, 
nothing  is  recorded  and  nothing  known  of  these  settlements, 
save  what  is  contained  in  a  report  made  by  a  committee  to 
Congress  in  June,  1778.  From  it  the  following  extract  is 
made:  "  Near  the  mouth  of  the  river  Kaskaskia,  there  is  a 
village  which  appears  to  have  contained  nearly  eighty  fam- 
ilies from  the  beginning  of  the  late  Revolution  ;  there  are 
twelve  families  at  a  small  village  at  La  Prairie  Du  Rochers, 
and  nearly  fifty  families  at  the  Cahokia  village.  There  are 
also  four  or  five  families  at  Fort  Chartres  and  St.  Philip's, 
which  is  five  miles  further  up  the  river."  St.  Louis  had  been 
settled  in  February,  1764,  and  at  this  time  contained,  inclu- 
ding its  neighboring  towns,  over  six  hundred  white  aud  one 
hundred  and  fifty  negroes.  It  must  be  remembered  that  all 
the  country  west  of  the  Mississippi  was  under  French  rule, 
and  remained  so  until  ceded  back  to  Spain,  its  original  owner, 
who  afterwards  sold  it  and  the  country  including  New  Or- 
leans to  the  United  States.  At  Detroit,  there  were,  accord- 
ing to  Caj)tain  Carver,  who  was  in  the  north-west  from  17G8 
to  1776,  more  than  one  hundred  houses,  and  the  river  was 
settled  for  more  than  twenty  miles,  although  poorly  cultiva- 
ted, the  people  being  engaged  in  the  Indian  trade. 

On  the  breaking  out  of  the  Revolution,  the  British  held 
every  post  of  importance  in  the  West.  Kentucky  was 
formed  as  a  component  part  of  Virginia,  and  the  sturdy 
pioneers  of  the  West,  alive  to  their  interests,  and  recog- 
nizing the  great  benefits  of  obtaining  the  control  of  the 
trade  in  this  part  of  the  New  World,  held  steadily  to  their 
purposes,  and  those  w'ithin  the  commonivealth  of  Ken- 
tucky proceeded  to  exercise  their  civil  privileges  of  tlecting 
John  Todd  aud  Richard  Gallaway  burgesses,  to  represent 
theni  in  the  assembly  of  the  present  state.  The  chief  spirit 
in  this  far-out  colony,  who  had  represented  her  the  year 
previous  east  of  the  mountains,  was  now  meditating  a  move 
of  unequalled  boldness.  He  had  been  watching  the  move- 
ments of  the  British  throughout  the  north-west,  aud  under- 
stood their  whole  plan.  He  saw  it  was  through  their 
possession  of  the  post  at  Detroit,  Vincennes,  Kaskaskia,  and 
other  places,  which  would  give  them  easy  access  to  the  vari- 
ous Indian  tribes  in  the  north-west,  that  the  British  intended 
to  penetrate  the  country  from  the  north  aud  south,  and 
annihilate  the  frontier  fortresses.  Tliis  moving,  energetic 
mau  was  Colonel,  afterwards  General  George  Rodgers  Clark. 
He  knew  that  the  Indians  were  not  unanimously  in  accord 
with  the  English,  and  he  was  convinced  that,  could  the 
British  be  defeated  and  expelled  from  the  north-west,  the 
natives  might  be  easily  awed  iuto  neutrality ;  by  spies  sent  for 
the  purpose,  he  satisfied  himself  that  the  enterprise  against 
the  Illinois  settlements  might  easily  succeed.  Patrick  Henry 
was  Governor  of  Virginia,  and  at  once  entered  heartily  iuto 
Clark's  plans.  The  same  plan  had  before  been  agitated  in 
the  Colonial  Assemblies ;  but  there  was  no  one  until  Clark 
came  who  was  sufHciently  acquainted  with  the  condition  of 
affairs  at  the  scene  of  action  to  be  able  to  guide  them. 

Clark,  havingsatisfied  the  Virginia  leaders  of  the  feasibility 
of  his  plan,  received  on  the  second  of  January  two  sets  of 
instructions:  one  secret,  the  other  open.  The  latter  authoriz- 
ed him  to  proceed  to  enlist  seven   companies  to  go  to    Ken- 


20 


HISTORY    OF   IIANDOLPH,    MONBOE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


tucky,  subject  to  his  orders,  and  to  serve  three  months  from 
their  arrival  in  the  west.  The  secret  order  authorized  him 
to  arm  tlie  troops,  to  procure  his  powder  and  lead  of  General 
Hand,  at  Pittsburg,  and  to  proceed  at  once  to  subjugate  the 
country. 

"With  these  instructions  Clark  repaired  to  Pittsburg,  choos- 
in"-  rather  to  raise  his  men  west  of  the  mountains.  Here  he 
raised  three  companies  and  several  private  volunteers. 
Clark  at  length  commenced  his  descent  of  the  Ohio,  which 
he  navigated  as  far  as  tlie  falls,  where  he  took  possession  of 
and  fortified  Corn  Island,  between  the  present  sites  of  Louis- 
ville, Kentucky,  and  Ivew  Albany,  Indiana.  Remains  of 
this  fortification  may  yet  be  found.  At  this  place  he  ap- 
pointed Col.  Bowman  to  meet  him  with  such  recruits  as  had 
reached  Kentucky  by  the  southern  route.  Here  he  an- 
nounced to  the  men  their  real  destination.  On  the  24th  of 
June  he  embarked  on  the  river,  his  destination  being  Fort 
Massac  or  Massacre,  and  then  marched  direct  to  Kaskaskia. 
The  march  was  accomplished  and  the  town  reached  on  the 
evening  of  July  4.  He  captured  the  fort  near  the  village, 
and  soon  after  the  village  itself,  by  surprise,  without  the 
loss  of  a  single  man  or  killing  any  of  the  enemy.  Clark 
told  the  natives  that  they  were  at  perfect  liberty  to  worship 
as  they  pleased,  and  to  take  whichever  side  of  the  conflict 
thev  would,  and  he  would  protect  them  from  any  barbarity 
from  Biitish  or  Indian  foes.  This  had  the  desired  'effect, 
and  the  inhabitants  at  once  swore  allegiance  to  the  Ameri- 
can arms,  and  when  Clark  desired  to  go  to  Cahokia  on  the 
Gth  of  July,  they  accompanied  him,  and  through  their  in- 
fluence the  inhabitants  of  the  place  surrendered.  Thus  two 
iiniwrtaut  posts  in  Illinois  passed  from  the  hands  of  the  Eng- 
lish into  the  possession  of  Virginia.  During  the  year 
(1779)  the  famous  "  Land  Laws  "  of  Virginia  were  passed- 
Tlie  passage  of  these  laws  was  of  more  consequence  to  the 
pioneers  of  Kentucky  and  the  north-west  than  the  gaining 
of  a  few  Indian  conflicts.  These  grants  confirmed  in  the 
main  all  grants  made,  and  guaranteed  to  actual  settlers  their 
rights  and  privileges. 

After  providing  for  the  settlers,  the  laws  provided  for  sell- 
ing the  balance  of  the  public  lands  at  forty  cents  per  acre. 
To  carry  the  Land  Laws  into  effect,  the  Legislature  sent 
four  Virginians  westward  to  attend  to  the  various  claims 
over  many  of  which  great  confusion  prevailed  concerning 
their  validity  vote.*  These  gentlemen  opened  their  court  on 
October,  13,  1779,  at  St.  Asaphs,  and  continued  until  April 
26,  1780,  when  they  adjourned,  having  decided  three  thou- 
sand claims.  They  were  succeeded  by  the  surveyor, — George 
May,  who  assumed  the  duties  on  the  10th  day  of  the  month 
whose  name  he  bore.  With  the  opening  of  the  next  year 
(1781)  the  troubles  concerning  the  navigation  of  the  Missis- 
sippi commenced.  The  Government  of  Spain  exacted  such 
measures  in  relation  to  its  trade  as  to  cause  the  overtures 
made  to  the  United  States  to  be  rejected.  The  American 
Government  considered  they  had  a  right  to  navigate  its 
channel.  To  enforce  their  claims,  a  fort  was  erected  below 
the  mouth  of  the  Ohio  on  the  Kentucky  side  of  the  river. f 

»  Butlur's  Kentucky. 

t  American  State  Papera. 


The  settlements  in  Kentucky  were  being  rapidly  filled  by 
emigrants.  It  was  during  this  year  that  the  first  seminary 
of  learning  was  established  in  the  West  in  this  young  and 
enterprising  commonwealth. 

The  settlers  did  not  look  upon  the  building  of  the  fort  in 
a  friendly  manner  as  it  aroused  the  hostility  of  the  Indians. 
Spain  hael  been  friendly  to  the  colonies  during  their  struggle 
for  independence,  and  though  for  a  while  this  friendship  ap- 
peared in  danger  from  the  refusal  of  the  free  navigation  of 
the  river,  yet  it  was  finally  settled  to  the  satisfaction  of  both 
nations.  The  winter  of  1779-80  was  one  of  the  most  unusu- 
.  ally  severe  ones  ever  experienced  in  the  West.  The  Indians 
always  refered  to  it  as  the  "  Great  Cold."  Numbers  of  wild 
animals  perished,  and  not  a  few  pioneers  lost  their  lives. 
The  following  summer  a  parly  of  Canadians  and  Indians, 
attacked  St.  Louis,  and  attempted  to  take  possesion  of  it  in 
consecjuence  of  the  friendly  disposition  of  Spain  to  the  revolt- 
ing colonies.  They  met  with  such  a  determined  resistance 
on  the  part  of  the  inhabitants,  even  the  women  taking  part 
in  the  battle,  that  they  were  compelled  to  abandon  the  con- 
test. They  also  made  an  attack  on  the  settlements  in  Ken- 
tucky, but,  becoming  alarmed  in  some  unaccountable  man- 
ner, they  fled  the  country  in  great  haste.  About  this  time 
arose  the  cjuestion  in  the  Colonial  Congress  concerning  the 
western  lauds  claimed  by  Virginia,  New  York,  Jlassachu- 
setts  and  Connecticut.  The  agitation  concerning  this  sub- 
ject finally  led  New  York,  on  the  19th  of  February,  17S0,  to 
pass  a  law  giving  to  the  delegates  of  that  State  in  Congress 
the  power  to  cede  her  western  lands  for  the  benefit  of  the 
United  States.  This  law  was  laid  before  Congress  during 
the  next  month,  but  no  steps  were  taken  concerning  it  until 
September  Oth,  when  a  resolution  passed  that  boely  calling 
upon  the  states  claiming  western  lands  to  release  their  claims 
in  favor  of  the  whole  body.  This  basis  formed  the  Union, 
and  was  the  first  after  all  of  those  legislative  measures, 
which  resulted  in  the  creation  of  the  States  of  Ohio,  Indiana, 
Illinois,Michigan, Wisconsin  and  ^Minnesota.  In  Decemberof 
the  same  year,  the  plan  of  coneiuering  Detroit  again  arose.  The 
conquest  might  easiiy  have  been  effected  by  Clark,  had  the 
necessary  aid  been  furnished  him.  Nothing  decisive  was 
done,  yet  the  heads  of  the  Government  knew  that  the  safety 
of  the  North- West  from  British  invasion  lay  iji  ihe  capture 
and  retention  of  that  important  post,  the  only  unconquered 
one  in  the  territory. 

Before  the  close  of  the  year,  Kentucky  was  divided  into 
the  counties  of  Lincoln,  Fayette,  and  Jeilerson,  and  the  act 
establishirg  the  town  of  Louisville  was  passed.  Virginia  in 
accordance  with  the  resolution  of  Congress,  on  the  2d  day 
of  January,  1781,  agreed  to  yield  her  western  lands  to  the 
United  States  upon  certain  conditions,  which  Congress  would 
not  accede  to,*  and  the  Act  of  Cession,  on  the  part  of  the  Old 
Dominion,  failed,  nor  was  anything  farther  done  until  1783. 
During  all  that  time  the  colonies  were  busily  engaged  in  the 
struggle  with  the  mother  country,  and  in  consequence  thereof 
but  little  heed  was  given  to  the  western  settlements.  Upon 
the  16th  of  April,  1781,  the  first  birth  north  of  the  Ohio 
Eiver  of  American  parentage  occurred,  being  that  of  Mary 
9  American  State  Papers. 


HJSlOm     OF   EAyDOLPH,    MOXIiOE   AXD    FERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


21 


Hcckewelder,  daughter  of  the  widely  known  Moravian  Mis- 
sionary, whose  band  of  Christian  Indians  suffered  in  after 
years  a  horrible  massacre  by  the  hands  of  the  frontier  settlers, 
who  had  been  exasperated  by  the  murder  of  several  of  their 
neighbors,  and  in  their  rage  committed,  without  regard  to 
humanity,  a  deed  which  forever  afterwards  cast  a  shade  of 
shame  upon  their  lives.  For  this  and  kindred  outrages  on 
the  part  of  the  whites,  the  Indians  committed  many  deeds  of 
cruelty  which  darken  the  years  of  1781  and  17S2  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  Xorth-west.  During  the  year  1782  a  number  of 
battles  among  the  Indians  and  frontiersmen  occurred,  and 
between  the  ^loraviau  Indians  and  the  Wyandota.  In  these, 
horrible  acts  of  cruelty  were  practiced  on  the  captives,  many 
of  such  dark  deeds  transpiring  under  the  leadership  of  fron- 
tier outlaws.  These  occurred  diiefiy  in  the  Ohio  Valleys. 
Contemporary  with  them  were  several  engagements  in  Ken- 
tucky, in  which  the  famous  Daniel  Boone  engaged,  and  who, 
often  by  his  skill  and  knowledge  of  Indian  warfore,  saved 
the  outposts  from  cruel  destruction.  By  the  close  of  the 
vear  victory  had  perched  upon  the  American  banner, 
and  on  the  30th  of  November,  provisional  articles  of 
peace  had  been  arranged  between  the  Commissioners  of 
England  and  her  unconquerable  colonies ;  C'ornwallis  had 
been  defeated  on  the  19th  of  October  preceding,  and  the  lib- 
erty of  America  was  assured.  On  the  19.h  of  April  follow- 
ing, the  anniversary  of  the  battle  of  Lexington,  peace  was 
proclaimed  to  the  Army  of  the  United  States,  and  on  the  3d 
of  the  next  September,  the  definite  treaty  which  ended  our 
revolutionary  struggle  was  concluded.  By  the  terms  of  that 
treaty,  the  boundaries  of  the  "West  were  as  follows  :  On  the 
north  the  line  was  to  extend  along  the  centre  of  the  Great 
Lakes ;  from  the  western  point  of  Lake  Superior  to  Long 
I.,ake,  thence  to  the  Lake  of  the  Woods ;  thence  to  the  head  of 
the  ^Mississippi  Paver ;  down  its  center  to  the  31st  parallel  of 
latitude,  then  on  that  line  east  to  the  head  of  the  Appalach- 
icola  Bivcr;  down  its  center  to  its  junction  wiih  the  Flint  ; 
thence  straight  to  the  head  of  St.  JIary's  Kiwr,  and  theucj 
down  along  its  center  to  the  Atlantic  Ocean. 

Following  the  cessationof  hostilities  with  England,  several 
posts  were  still  occupied  by  the  British  in  the  Xorth  and 
West.  Among  these  was  Detroit,  still  in  the  hands  of  the 
enemy.  Numerous  engagements  with  the  Indians  through- 
out Ohio  and  Indiana  occurred,  upon  whose  lands  adventur- 
ous whites  would  settle  ere  the  title  had  been  acquired  by  the 
proper  trcatv.  To  remedy  this  evil,  Congress  appointed 
Commissioners  to  treat  with  the  natives  and  purchase  their 
lands,  and  prohibited  the  settlement  of  the  territory  until 
this  could  be  done.  Before  the  close  of  the  year  another 
attempt  was  made  to  capture  Detroit,  which  was,  however, 
not  pushed,  and  Virginia,  no  longer  feeling  the  interest  in 
the  North-west  she  had  formerly  done,  withdrew  her  troops, 
having  on  the  20th  of  December  preceding,  authorized  the 
whole  of  her  possessions  to  be  deeded  to  the  United  States. 
This  was  done  on  the  1st  of  March  following,  and  the  North- 
west Territory  passed  from  the  control  of  the  Old  Dominion. 
To  General  Clark  and  his  soldiers,  however,  she  gave  a  tract 
of  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  acres  of  land,  to  be  situ- 
ated anywhere  north  of  the  Ohio  wherever  they  cly^se  to 


locate  them.  They  selected  the  region  opposite  the  falls  of 
the  Ohio,  where  is  now  the  village  of  Clarksville,  about  mid- 
way between  the  cities  of  New  Albany  and  Jeffersonville, 
Indiana. 

While  the  frontier  remained  thus,  and  General  Ilaldi- 
mand  at  Detroit  refused  to  evacuate,  alleging  that  he  had  no 
orders  from  his  king  to  do  so,  settlers  were  rapidly  gather- 
ing about  the  inland  forts.  In  the  spring  of  17S4,  Pittsburg 
was  regularly  laid  out,  and  from  the  journal  of  Arthur  Lee, 
who  passed  through  the  town  soon  after  on  his  way  to  the 
Indian  council  at  Fort  Mcintosh,  we  suppose  it  was  not  very 
prepossessing  in  appearance.  He  say.s,  "  Pittsburg  is  in- 
habited almost  entirely  by  Scots  and  Irish,  who  live  in  paltry 
log  houses,  and  are  as  dirty  as  if  in  the  North  of  Ireland,  or 
even  Scotland.  There  is  a  great  deal  of  trade  carried  on, 
the  goods  being  brought  at  the  vast  expense  of  forty-five 
shillings  per  hundred  lbs.  from  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore. 
They  take  in  the  shops  flour,  wheat,  skins  and  money.  There 
are  in  the  town,  four  attorneys,  two  doctors,  and  not  a  priest 
of  any  persuasion,  nor  church  nor  chapel." 

Kentucky  at  this  time  contained  thirty  thousand  inhabi- 
tants, and  was  beginning  to  discuss  measures  for  a  separation 
from  Virginia.  A  land  office  was  opened  at  Louisville,  and 
measures  were  adopted  to  take  defensive  precaution  against 
the  Indians,  who  were  yet,  in  some  instances,  incited  to  deeds 
of  violence  by  the  British.  Before  the  close  of  this  year, 
1784,  the  military  claimants  of  land  began  to  occupy  them, 
although  no  entries  were  recorded  until  1787.  The  Indian 
title  to  the  Northwest  was  not  yet  extinguished,  they  held 
large  tracts  of  lands,  and  in  order  to  prevent  bloodshed  Con- 
gress adopted  means  for  treaties  with  the  original  owners 
and  provided  for  the  surveys  of  the  lands  gained  thereby,  as 
well  as  for  those  north  of  the  Ohio,  now  in  its  possession. 
On  January  31,  1786,  a  treaty  was  made  with  the  Wabash 
Indians.  The  treaty  of  Fort  Stanwix  had  been  made  in 
1781,  that  at  Fort  Mcintosh  in  178.5,  and  through  theso 
vast  tracts  of  land  were  gained.  The  Wabash  Indians,  how- 
ever, afterwards  refused  to  compi)'  with  the  provisions  of 
the  treaty  made  with  them,  and  in  order  to  compel  their 
adherence  to  its  provisions,  force  was  used. 

During  the  year  1786,  the  free  navigation  of  the  !Mis 
sissippi  came  up  in  Congress,  and  caused  various  discussions, 
which  resulted  in  no  defiait^p  anion,  only  serving  to  excite 
speculation  in  regard  to  the  Western  lands.  Congress  had 
promised  bounties  of  land  to  the  soldiers  of  the  Revolution, 
but  owing  to  the  unsettled  condition  of  affairs  along  the 
Mississippi  respecting  its  navigation,  and  the  trade  of  the 
Northwest,  that  body,  had  in  1783  declared  its  inability  to 
fulfill  those  promises  until  a  treaty  could  be  coucluded  be- 
tween the  two  governments.  Before  the  close  of  the  year, 
17SG,  however,  it  was  able,  through  the  treaties  with  the 
Indians,  to  allow  some  grants  and  settlements  thereon,  and 
on  the  14th  of  September  Connecticut  ceded  to  the  general 
government  the  tract  of  land  known  as  the  ''  Connecticut 
Reserve,"  and  before  the  close  of  the  year  a_  large  tract  of 
land  was  sold  to  a  company,  who  at  once  took  measures  to 
settle  it.  Bv  the  provisions  of  this  grant,  the  company  were  to 
pay  the  United  States  one  dollar  per  acre,  subject  to  a  de- 


22 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


ductiiui  of  one-third  fur  bad  lands  and  other  contingencies, 
they  received   750,000  acres  bounded  on  the  south  by  the 
Ohio,  on  the  east  by  the  Seventh  range  of  townships,  on  the 
west  by  the  Sixteenth  range,  and   on  the  north  by  a  line  so 
drawn  as  to  make  the  grant  complete  without  the  reservation. 
lu  addition  to  this  Congress  afterward  granted  100,000  acres 
to  actual  settlers,  and  214,285  acres  as  army  bounties  under 
the  resolutions  of  17.S9  and  1790.     While  Dr.  Cutler,  one  of 
the  agents  of  the  company,  was  pressing  its  claims  before 
Congress,  that  body  \va3  bringing  into  form  an  ordinance 
for  the  political  and  social  organization  of  this  Territory. 
"When  the  cession  was  made  by  Virginia,  1784,  a   plan  was 
offered,  but  rejected.    A  motion  had  been  made  to  strike  from 
the  proposed  plan  the  prohibition  of  slavery,  which  prevail- 
ed.    The  plan  was  then   discussed  and   altered,  and  finally 
passed  unanimously,  with  the  exception  of  South  Carolina. 
By  this  proposition  tlie  Territory  was  to  have   been  divided 
into  ten  States  by  parallels  and  meridian  lines.    There  were, 
however,  serious  objections  to  this  plan  ;  the  root  of  the  diffi- 
culty was  in  'the  resolution  of  Congress  passed  in   October, 
17S0,  which  fixed  the   boundaries  of  the  ceded  lands  to  be. 
from  one  hundred  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  square. 
These  resolutions  being  presented  to  the  Legislatures  of  Vir- 
ginia and   Massachusetts  they  desired  a  change,  and  in  July 
1786,  the  subjeat  was  taken  up  in  Congress  and  changed  to 
favor  a  division  into  not  more  than  five  S.'ates,  and  not  less 
than  three;  this  was  approved  by  the  Legislature  of  Virginia. 
The  subject  was   again  taken  up  by  Congress  in  17S6,  and 
discussed  throughout  that  year,  and  until  July  1787    when 
the  famous  "  compact  of  1787  "  was  passed,  and  the  founda- 
tion of  the  government  of  the  Northwest  laid.     This  compact 
is  fully  discussed  and  explained  in  the  sketch  on  Illinois  in 
this  book,  and  to  it  the  reader  is  referred.    The  passage  of  this 
act  and  the  grant  to  the  New  England  Company  was  soon 
followed  by  an  application  to  the  Government  by  John  Cleves 
Symmes,  of  New  Jersey,  for  a  grant  of  land   between  the 
Miamis.     This  gentleman  had  visited  these  lands  soon  after 
the  treaty   of  1786,   and  being  greatly  pleased  with   them, 
offered    similar  terms  to  those  given  to  the  New   England 
Company.     The  petition  was  referred  to  the  Treasury  Board 
with  power  to  act,  and  a  contract  was  concluded  the  follow- 
ing year.     During  the   autumn  the  directors  of  the   New 
England  Company  were  preparing  to  occupy  their   grant 
the  following  spring,  and  upon  the  23d  of  November  made 
arrangements   for   a  party  of  forty-seven  men,  under   the 
superintendency  of  General  Rufus  Putnam,  to  set  forward. 
Six  boat-builders  were  to  leave  at  once,  and  on  the  first  of 
January  the  surveyors  and  their  assistant?,  twenty-six  in 
number,  were    to  meet  at  Hartford  and  proceed    on  their 
journey  westward,  the  remainder  to  follow  as  soon  as  possi- 
ble.    Congress  in    the   meantime,  upon   the  3d  of  October, 
had  ordered  seven  hundred  troops  for  defense  of  the  western 
settlers,  and   to  prevent  unauthorized   intrusions,  and  two 
days  later  appointed  Arthur  St.  Clair  Governor  of  the  Ter- 
ritory of  the  Northwest. 

AMERICAN     SETTLEMENTS. 

The   civil   organization   of  tlie  Northwest  Territory  was 
now  complete,  and   notwithstanding  the  uncertainty  of  In- 


dian affairs,  settlers  from  the  east  began  to  come  into  the 
country  rapidly.  The  New  England  Company  sent  their 
men  during  the  winter  of  1787-8,  pressing  on  over  the  Alle- 
ghenies  by  the  old  Indian  path  which  had  been  opened  into 
Braddock's  road,  and  which  has  since  been  made  a  national 
turnpike  from  Cumberland,  westward.  Through  the  weary 
winter  days  they  toiled  on,  and  by  April  were  all  gathered 
on  the  Youghiogheny,  where  boats  had  been  built,  and  a 
once  started  for  the  Muskingum.  Here  they  arrived  on  the 
7th  of  that  mouth,  and  unless  the  ^Moravian  missionaries  be 
regarded  as  the  pioneers  of  Ohio,  this  little  band  can  justly 
claim  that  honor. 

General  St.  Clair,  the  appointed  Governor  of  the  North 
west  not  having  yet  arrived,  a  set  of  laws  were  passed,  writ- 
ten out,  and  published  by  being  nailed  to  a  tree  in  the 
embryo  town,  and  Jonathan  Meigs  appointed  to  administer 
them.  Washington  in  writing  of  this,  the  first  American 
settlement  in  the  Northwest  said :  "  No  colony  in  America 
was  ever  settled  under  such  favorable  auspices  as  that  which 
has  just  commenced  at  Muskingum.  I  know  many  of  its  set- 
tlers personally,  and  there  were  never  men  better  calculated 
to  promote  the  welfare  of  such  a  community."  On  the  2d 
of  July  a  meeting  of  the  directors  and  agents  was  held  on 
the  banks  of  the  Muskingum,  "  for  the  purpo  e  of  naming 
the  new  born  city  and  its  squares."  As  yet  the  settlement 
was  known  as  the  "  ]\Iuskingum,"  but  was  afterwards  changed 
to  the  name.  Marietta,  in  honor  of  Mario  Antoinette. 
Two  days  after,  an  oration  was  delivered  by  James  M.  Var- 
uum,  who  with  S.  II.  Parsons  and  John  Armstrong  had  been 
appointed  to  the  judicial  bench  of  the  territory  on  the  IGth 
of  October  1787.  On  July  9,  Governor  St.  Clair  arrived, 
and  the  colony  began  to  assume  form.  The  act  of  1787  pro- 
vided two  distinct  grades  of  government  for  the  Northwest, 
under  the  first  of  which  the  whole  power  was  invested  in  the 
hands  of  a  governor  and  three  district  judges.  This  was 
immediately  formed  on  the  governor's  arrival,  and  the  first, 
laws  of  the  colony  passed  on  the  25th  of  July:  these  provid- 
ed for  the  organization  of  the  militia,  and  on  the  next  day 
appeared  the  Governor's  proclamation,  erecting  all  that 
country  that  had  been  ceded  by  the  Indians  east  of  the 
Scioto  River  into  the  county  of  Washington.  From  that 
time  forward,  notwithstanding  the  doubts  yet  existing  as  to 
the  Indians,  all  Marietta  prospered,  and  on  the  second  of 
September  the  first  court  was  held  with  imposing  ceremonies. 
The  emigration  westward  at  this  time  was  very  great. 
The  commander  at  Fort  Ilarmer,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Musk- 
ingum reported  four  thousand  five  hundred  persons  as  having 
passed  that  post  between  February  and  June  17S8,  many  of 
whom  would  have  purchased  of  the  "  Associates,"  as  the 
New  England  Company  was  called,  had  they  been  ready  to 
receive  them.  On  the  2Gth  of  November  1787  Symmes 
issued  a  pamphlet  stating  the  terms  of  his  contract  and  the 
plan  of  sale  he  intended  to  adopt.  In  January  1788,  Mat- 
thias Denman,  of  New  Jersey,  took  an  active  interest  in 
Svmmes'  purchase,  and  located  among  other  tracts  the  sec- 
tions upon  which  Cincinnati  has  been  built.  Retaining  one- 
third  of  this  locality,  he  sold  the  other  two-thirds  to  Robert 
Patterson   and  John  Filson,  and  the  three  about  August 


EiticLY  OF  BAynoLnr,  MoynoE  axd  PEnnr  counties,  Illinois. 


23 


commenced  to   lay  out  a  town  on  the  spot,  which  was  desig- 
nated as  being  Licking  River,  to  the  mouth  of  whicli  thcy 
proposed   to  have  a  road  cut  from  Lexington  ;   these  settle- 
ments prospered  but  suffered  greatly  from  the  flood  of  1780. 
On  the  4th  of  March  1789,  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States    went    into    operation,  and   on   April    30th,  George 
AVashington  was  inaugurated  President,  and  during  the  next 
summer  an  Indian  war  was  commenced  by  the  tribes  north 
of  the  Ohio.     The  President  at  first  used  pacific  means  but 
these   failing,  he  sent  General  Ilarmer  against  the   hostile 
tribes.     He  destroyed  several  villages,  but  was  defeated  in 
two  battles,  near  the  present  city  of  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana 
From  this  time  till   the  close  of  1795,  the  principal  events 
were   the  wars  with  the  various  Indian   tribes.     In    179(5, 
General  St.  Clair  was  appointed  in  command,  and  marched 
against  the  Indians  ;  but  while  he  was  encamped  on  a  stream, 
the  8t  Mary,  a  branch  of  the  Maumee,  he  was  attacked  and 
defeated  with  a  loss  of  six  hundred  men.     General  "Wayne 
was  then  sent  against  the  savages.     In  August,  1794,  he  met 
them  near  the  rapids  of  the  JIaumee,  and  gained  a  cumpkte 
victorv.     This  success,  followed  by  vigorous  measures,  com- 
pelled the  Indians  to  sue  for  peace,  and  on  the  30th  of  July, 
the  following  year,  the  treaty  cf  Greenville  was  signed  by 
the  principal  chiefs,  by  which  a  large  tract  of  country  was 
ceded  to  the  United  States.     Before  proceeding  in  our  nar- 
rative, we  will  pause  to  notice  Fort  "Washington,  erected  in 
the  early  part  of  this  war  on  the  site  of  Cincinnati.     Nearly 
all  the  great  cities  of  the  North-west,  and  indeed  of  the  whole 
countrv,  have  had  their  nuclei  in  those  rude  pioneer  struc- 
tures, k:iown  as  forts  or  stockades.     Thus  Forts  Dearborn, 
Washington,  Ponchartrain,  mark   the   original  sites  of  the 
now  proud  cities  of  Chicago,  Cincinnati  and  Detroit.     So  of 
most  of  the  flourishing  cities  ea^t  and  wcstof  the  Mississippi. 
Fort  Washington,  erected  by  Doughty  in  1790,  was  a  rude 
but  highly  interesting  structure.     It  was  composed  of  a  num- 
ber of  strong' y-built  hewed  log  cabins.     Those  designed  for 
soldiers'  barracks  were  a  story  and  a  half  high,  while  those 
composing  the  officers'  quarters  were  more  imposing  and  more 
conveniently  arranged  and  furnished.     The  whole  was  so 
placed  as  to  form  a  hollow  .square,  enclosing  about  an  acre 
of  grirtin<l,  with  a  block  house  at  each  of  the  four  angles. 
Fort  Washington  was  for  some  time  the  headquarters  of  both 
the  Civil  ancl  Military  governments  of  the  North-western 
Territory.     Following  the  consummation  of  the  treaty  vari- 
ous giLrantic  land  speculations  were  entered  into  by  different 
persons,  who  hoped  to  obtain  from  the  Indians  in  ^Michigan 
and  northern  Indiana,  large  tracts  of  lands.     These  were 
•'cncrally  discovered  in  time  to  prevent  the  schemes  from 
beincr  carried  out,  and   from  involving  the  settlers  in  war. 
On  October  '27,  179.5,  the  treaty  between  the  United  States 
and  Spain  was  signed,  whereby  the  free  navigation  of  the 
^lississippi  was  secured.     No  sooner  had  the  treaty  of  179.5 
been  ratified  than  settlers  began  to  pour  rapidly  into   the 
west.     The  great  event  of  the  year  1790,  was  the  occupa'ion 
of  that  part  of  the  North-west  including  Jlichigan,  which 
was  this  v?:ir,  under  the  provisions  of  the  treaty,  evacuated 
bv  the  I3riti^h  forces.     The  United  States  owing  to  certain 
conditions,  did  not  feel  justified  in  addressing  the  authorities 


in  Canada  in  relation  to  Detroit  and  otlier  tVontier  posts. 
When  at  last  the  British  authorities  were  called  upon  to  give 
them  up,  they  at  once  complied,  and  General  Wayne  who 
had  done  so  much  to  preserve  the  frontier  settlements,  and 
who  before  the  year's  close,  sickened  and  died  near  Erie, 
transferred  his  headcjuarters  to  the  neighborhood  of  the  lakes, 
where  a  county  named  after  him  was  formed,  which  included 
the  north-west  of  Ohio,  all  of  Jlichigan,  and  the  north-cast 
of  Indiana.  During  this  same  year  settlements  were  formed 
at  the  present  city  of  Chillicothe,  along  the  Miami  from 
Middletown  to  Pi(iua,  while  in  the  more  distant  West,  settlers 
and  speculators  began  to  appear  in  great  numbers.  In  Sep- 
tember the  city  of  Cleveland  was  laid  out,  and  during  the 
summer  and  autumn,  Samuel  Jackson  and  Jonathan  Sharj)- 
less,  erected  the  first  nianufiictory  of  p;iper — the  "  Iledttone 
Paper  Mills" — in  the  West.  St-  Louis  contained  some 
seventy  houses,  and  Detroit  over  three  hundred,  and  along 
the  river,  contiguous  to  it,  were  more  than  three  thousand 
inhabitants,  mostly  French  Canadians,  Indians  and  half- 
breeds,  scarcely  any  Americans  venturing  yet  into  that  part 
of  the  North-west.  The  election  of  representatives  for  the 
territory  had  taken  place,  and  on  the  4th  of  February,  1799, 
they  convened  at  Losantiville— now  known  as  Cincinnati, 
having  been  named  so  by  Gov.  St.  Clair,  and  considered  the 
capital  of  the  territory, — to  nominate  persons  from  whom  the 
members  of  the  Legislature  were  to  be  chosen  in  accordance 
with  a  previous  ordinance.  This  nomination  being  made, 
the  Assembly  adjourned  until  the  IGh  of  the  following  Sep- 
tember. From  those  named  the  President  selected  as  mem- 
bers of  the  council,  Henry  ■\'andenburg,  of  Vinceunes,  Eobcrt 
Oliver,  of  Marietta,  James  Findley,  and  Jacob  Burnett,  of 
Cincinnati,  and  David  Vance,  of  Vanceville.  Ou  the  IGth 
of  September,  the  Territorial  Legislature  met,  and  on  the 
24th,  the  two  houses  were  duly  organized,  Henry  Vanden- 
burg  being  elected  President  of  the  Council.  The  mes.-age 
of  Gov.  St.  Clair,  was  addressed  to  the  Legislature  Septem- 
ber 20th,  and  on  October  13th,  that  body  elected  as  a  dele- 
gate to  Congress,  General  Wm.  Henry  Harrison,  who  re- 
ceived eleven  of  the  votes  cast,  being  a  majority  of  one  over 
his  opponent,  Arthur  St.  Clair,  son  of  General  St.  Clair. 
The  whole  number  of  acts  passed  at  this  session  and  approved 
by  the  Governor,  were  thirty-seven — eleven  others  were 
passed  but  received  his  veto.  The  most  important  of  those 
p-issed  related  to  the  militia,  to  the  administration,  and  to 
taxation.  On  the  19th  of  December  this  protracted  session 
of  the  first  Legislature  in  the  West  closed,  and  on  the  SOtli 
of  December  the  President  nominated  Charles  Willing  Byid, 
to  the  office  of  secretary  of  the  Territory,  vice  Wm.  Henry 
Harrison,  elected  to  Congress.  The  Senate  confirmed  his 
nomination  the  next  day. 

DIVISION"    OF    THE    NOKTH-WEST    TEr.KITOKV. 

The  increased  emigration  to  the  north-west,  and  extent  of 
the  domain,  made  it  very  difficult  to  conduct  the  ordinary 
operations  of  government,  and  rendered  the  efficient  action 
of  courts  almost  impossible  ;  to  i-emedy  this  it  was  deemed 
advisable  to  divide  the   territory  for  civil   purposes.     Con- 


24 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


gress,  in  1800,  appointed  a  committee  to  examine  the  ques- 
tion and  report  some  means  for  its  solution. 

This  committee  on  the  3d  of  March  reported  :  "  In  the 
■western  countries  there  had  been  but  one  court  having  cog- 
nizance of  crimes,  in  five  years,  and  the  immunity  which 
offenders  experience  attracts,  as  to  an  asylum,  the  most  vile 
and  abandoned  criminals,  and  at  the  same  time  deters  useful 
citizens  from  making  settlements  in  such  society.  The 
extreme  necessity  of  judiciary  attention  and  assistance  is 
experienced  in  civil  as  well  as  in  criminal  cases.  *  *  *  * 
To  remedy  this  evil  it  is  expedient  to  the  committee  that  a 
division  of  said  territory  into  two  distinct  and  separate 
governments  should  be  made,  and  that  such  division  be 
made  by  beginning  at  the  mouth  of  the  Great  Miami  river, 
running  directly  north  until  it  intersects  the  boundary 
between  the  United  States  and  Canada." 

The  report  was  accepted  by  Congress,  and,  in  accordance 
■with  its  suggestions,  that  body  passed  an  act  extinguishing 
the  north-west  territory,  which  act  was  approved  May  7th. 
Among  its  pro-visions  were  these  : 

"That  from  and  after  July  4  next  all  that  part  of  the 
territory  of  the  United  States  north-west  of  the  Ohio  river, 
■which  lies  to  the  westward  of  a  line  beginning  at  a  point 
opposite  the  mouth  of  the  Kentucky  river,  and  running 
thence  to  Fort  Kecovery,  and  thence  North  until  it  shall 
intersect  the  territorial  line  Ijetween  the  United  States  and 
Canada,  shall  for  the  purpose  of  temporary  government, 
constitute  a  separate  territory  and  be  called  the  Indian 
Territory." 

Gen.  Harrison  (afterwards  President),  was  appointed 
governor  of  the  Indiana  Territory,  and  during  his  residence 
at  Vincennes,  he  made  several  important  treaties  with  the 
Indians,  thereby  gaining  large  tracts  of  land.  The  next 
year  is  memorable  in  the  history  of  the  west  for  the  purchase 
of  Louisiana  from  France  by  the  United  States  for  8 1 5,000,- 
000.  Thus  by  a  peaceful  manner  the  domain  of  the  United 
States  was  extended  over  a  large  tract  of  country  west  of 
the  Mississippi,  and  was  for  a  time  under  the  jurisdiction  of 
the  north-western  government.  The  next  year  Gen.  Harri- 
son obtained  additional  grants  of  land  from  the  various 
Indian  nations  in  Indiana  and  the  present  limits  of  Illinois, 
and  on  the  18th  of  August,  1804,  completed  a  treaty  at  St. 
Louis,  whereby  over  51,000,000  acres  of  land  were  obtained. 
1  During  this  year,  Congress  granted  a  township  of  land 
for  the  support  of  a  college  and  began  to  offer  inducements 
for  settlers  in  these  wilds,  and  the  country  now  comprising 
the  state  of  Jlichigan  began  to  fill  rapidly  ■^vith  settlers 
along  its  southern  borders.  This  same  year  a  law  was 
passed  organizing  the  south-west  territory,  dividing  it  into 
two  portions, — the  territory  of  New  Orleans,  which  city  was 
made  the  seat  of  government,  and  the  district  of  Louisiana, 
which  was  annexed  to  the  domain  by  General  Harrison. 

On  the  11th  of  January,  1805,  the  territory  of  Michigan 
was  formed,  and  Wm.  Hull  appointed  governor,  with  head- 
quarters at  Detroit,  the  change  to  take  effect  June  30th. 
On  the  lllh  of  that  month,  a  fire  occurred  at  Detroit,  which 
destroyed  most  every  building  in  the  place.  When  the 
officers  of  the  new  territory  reached  the  post,  they  found  it 


in  ruins,  and  the  inhabitants  scattered  throughout  the  coun- 
try.    Rebuilding,  however,  was  commenced  at  once.     While 
this  was  being  done,  Indiana  passed  to  the  second  grade  of 
government.     In   1809,  Indiana  territory  was  divided,  and 
the  territory  of  Illinois  was  formed,  the  seat  of  government 
being  fixed  at  Kaskaskia,  and  through   her  General  Assem- 
bly had  obtained  large  tracts  of  laud  from  the  Indian  tribes. 
To  all   this  the  celebrated  Indian  Tecumthe,  or  Tecumseh, 
vigorously  protested,*  and  it  was  the   main   cause   of  his 
attempts  to  unite  the  various  Indian  tribes  in  a  conflict  with 
the  settlers.     He  visited  the  principal  tribes,  and  succeeded 
in  forming  an  alliance  with  most  of  the  tribes,  and  then 
joined  the  cause  of  the  British  in  the  memorable  war  of  1812. 
Tecumseh  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  the  Thames.     Tecum- 
seh was,  in  many  respects,  a  noble   character, — frank  and 
honest  in  his  intercour.se  with  General   Harrison  and  the 
settlers ;  in  war,  brave  and  chivalrous.     His  treatment  of 
prisoners  was  humane.     In  the  summer  of  1812,  Perry's  vic- 
tory on  Lake  Erie  occurred,  and  shortly  after,  active  pre- 
parations were  made  to  capture  Fort  Jlalden.     On  the  27th 
of    September,    the   American    army    under    command    of 
General  Harrison,  set  sail  for  the  shores  of  Canada,  and,  in 
a  few  hours,  stood  around  the  ruins  of  Maiden,  from  which 
the  British  army  under  Proctor  had  retreated  to  Sandwich, 
intending  to  make  its  way  to  the  heart  of   Canada  by  the 
valley  of  the  Thames.     On  the  29th,  General  Harrison  was 
at   Sandwich,  and   General  McArtliur    took   possession   of 
Detroit  and  the  territory  of  Michigan.     On  the  2d  of  Octo- 
ber following,  the  American  army  began  their  pursuit  of 
Proctor,  whom  they  overtook  on  the  5th,  and  the  battle  of 
the  Thames  followed.     The  victory  was  decisive,  and  practi- 
cally closed  the  war  in  the  north-west.     In   1806,  occurred 
Burr's  insurrection.     He  took  possession  of  an  island  in  the 
Ohio,  and  was  charged  with  treasonable  intentions  against 
the   Federal   government.      His    capture   was   eifected   by 
General  Wilkinson,  acting  under  instruction  of  President 
JeffL-rson.     Burr  was  brought  to  trial  on  a  charge  of  treason, 
and,  after  a  prolonged  tri.al,  during  which  he  defended  him- 
self with  great  ability,  he  was  acquittcd.of  the  charge  of 
treason.     His  subsequent  career  was  obscure,  and  he  died 
in  1836.     Had  his  scheme  succeeded,  it  would  be  interesting 
to  know  what  effect  it  would  have  had  on  the  north-we  tern 
territory.     The  battle   of  tlie  Thames  was  fought  October 
6th,  1813.     It  effectually  closed  hostilities  in  the  north-west, 
although  peace  was  not  restored  until  July  22d,  1814,  when 
a  treaty  was  made  at  Greenville,  by  General  Harrison,  be- 
tween the  United  States  and  the  Indian  tribes.    On  the  24th 
of  December,  the  treaty  of  Ghent  was  signed  by  the  repre- 
sentatives of  England  and  the  United  States.     This  treaty 
was  followed  the  next  year  by  treaties  with  various  Indian 
tribes   throughout   the     north-west,   and  quiet   was    again 
restored. 

PKE.SENT    CONDITION    OF    THE    NOKTII-WEST. 

In  former  chapters  we  have  traced  briefly  the  discoveries, 
settlements,  wars,  and  most  important  events  which  have 
occurred   in  the  large    area   of  country    denominated    the 

*  A;iurican  State  Papers 


niSTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUSTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


25 


north-west,  and  we  now  turn  to  the  contemplation  of  its 
growth  and  prosperity.  Its  people  are  among  the  most 
intelligent  and  cnterpiising  in  the  Union.  Tlie  population 
is  steadily  increasing,  the  arts  and  sciences  are  gaining  a 
stronger  foothold,  the  trade  area  of  the  region  is  becoming 
daily  more  extended,  and  we  have  been  largely  exempt  from 
the  financial  calamities  which  have  nearly  wrecked  com- 
muniries  on  the  seaboard,  dependent  wholly  on  foreign  com- 
merce or  domestic  manufacture.  Agriculture  is  the  leading 
feature  in  our  industries.  This  vast  domain  has  a  sort  of 
natural  geographical  border,  save  where  it  melts  away  to 
the  southward  in  the  cattle- raising  districts  of  the  south- 
west. The  leading  interests  will  be  the  growth  of  the  food 
of  the  world,  in  which  branch  it  has  already  outstripped  all 
competitors,  and  our  great  rival  will  be  the  fertile  fields  of 
Kansas,  Kobra^ka,  Colorado,  Texas  and  Now  Mexico. 

To  attempt  to  give  statistics  of  grain  productions  for  1880 
would  require  more  .space  than  our  work  would  permit  of. 
Manufacturing  has  now  attained  in  the  chief  cities  a  foot- 
hold that  bids  fair  to  render  the  north-west  independent  of 
the  outside  world.  Nearly  our  whole  region  has  a  distribu- 
tion of  coal  measure  which  will  in  time  support  the  manu- 
factures necessary  to  our  comfort  and  prosperity.  As  to 
transportation,  the  chief  factor  in  the  production  of  all  articles 
except  food,  no  section  is  so  magnificently  endowed,  and 
our  fac'.litics  are  yearly  increasing  beyond  those  of  any 
other  region. 

The  principal  tradeand  manufacturing  centres  of  the  great 
north-west  are  Chicago,  St.  Louis,  Cincinnati,  Indianapolis, 
Detroit,  Clev-^land  and  Toledo,  with  any  number  of  minor 
cities  and  towns  doing  a  large  and  growing  business.  The 
intelligence  and  enterprise  of  its  people  ;  the  great  wealth  of 
its  soil  and  minerals;  its  vast  inland  seas  and  navigable 
rivers  ;  its  magnificent  railroad  .system  ;  its  patriotism  and 
love  of  country  will  render  it  ever  loyal  in  the  future  as  in 
the  past.  The  people  of  the  Mississippi  Valley  are  the  key- 
stone of  the  national  union  and  national  prosperity. 


CHAPTER    [I 


BRIEF  msroniCAL  sketch  of  ILLINOIS. 

^  EGINNING  the  history  of  this  great  State 
wo  direct  attention  briefly  to  the  discovery 
nnd  exploration  of  the  MUilnnippi.  Hernando 
Ue  Soto,  cutting  his  way  through  the  wilder- 
ness from  Florida,  had  discovered  the  Missis- 
sippi in  the  year  1.542.  Wasted  with  disease 
and  privation,  he  only  reached  the  stream 
to  die  upon  its  banks,  and  the  remains  of 
the  ambitious  and  iron-willed  Spaniard  found 
a  fitting  resting-place  beneath  the  waters  of  the  great  river. 
The  chief  incitement  to  Spanish  discoveries  in  America  was 
a  thirst  for  gold  and  treasure.  The  discovery  and  settle- 
ment of  the  Mississippi  Valley  on  the  part  of  the  French 


must,  on  the  other  hand,  be  ascribed  to  religious  zeal. 
Jesuit  missionaries,  from  the  French  settlements  on  the  St. 
Lawrence,  early  penetrated  to  the  region  of  Lake  Huron. 
It  was  from  the  tribes  of  Indians  living  iu  the  West,  that 
intelligence  came  of  a  noble  river  flowing  south.  Marquette, 
who  had  visited  the  Chippewas  in  16G8,  and  established 
the  mission  of  Sault  Ste.  Marie,  now  the  oldest  settlement 
within  the  present  commonwealth  of  Michigan,  formed  the 
purpose  of  its  exploration. 

The  following  year  he  moved  to  La  Poiute,  in  Lake 
Superior,  where  he  instructed  a  branch  of  the  Hurons  till 
1G70,  when  he  removed  south  and  founded  the  mission  at 
St.  Ignace,  on  the  Straits  of  Mackinaw.  In  company  with 
Joliet,  a  fur-trader  of  Quebec,  who  had  been  designated  by 
M.  Talon,  Intendcnt  of  Canada,  as  chieftain  of  the  explor- 
ing party,  and  five  French  voyageurs,  Marquette,  on  the 
10th  of  June,  1073,  set  out  on  the  expedition.  Crossing 
the  water-shed  dividing  the  Fox  from  the  Wisconsin  rivers, 
their  two  canoes  were  soon  launched  on  the  waters  of  the 
latter.  Seven  days  after,  ou  the  17th  of  June,  they  joy- 
fully entered  the  broad  current  of  the  Mississippi.  Stopping 
six  days  on  the  western  bank,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Des 
Moines  River,  to  enjoy  the  hospitalities  of  the  Illinois 
Indians,  the  voyage  was  resumed,  and  after  passing  the 
perpendicular  rocks  above  Alton,  on  whose  lofty  limestone 
front  were  painted  frightful  representations  of  monsters, 
they  suddenly  come  upon  the  mouth  of  the  Missouri,  known 
by  its  Algonquin  name  of  Pekitanoni,  whose  swift  and 
turbid  current  threatened  to  engulf  their  frail  canoes.  The 
site  of  St.  Louis  was  an  unbroken  forest,  and  further  down 
the  fertile  plain  bordering  the  river  reposed  in  peaceful 
solitude,  as,  early  in  July,  the  adventurers  glided  past  it. 
They  continued  their  voyage  to  a  point  some  distance  below 
the  mouth  of  the  Arkansas,  and  then  retraced  their  course 
up  the  river,  arriving  at  their  Jesuit  Mission  at  the  head  of 
Green  Bay,  late  in  September. 

Robert  Cavalier  de  La  Salle,  whose  illustrious  name  is 
more  intimately  connected  with  the  exploration  of  the 
Mississippi  than  that  of  any  other,  was  the  next  to  descend 
the  river,  in  the  early  part  of  the  year  1082.  La  Salle  was  a 
man  of  remarkable  genius,  possessing  the  power  of  originating 
the  vastest  schemes,  and  endowed  with  a  will  and  a  judgment 
capable  of  carrying  them  to  successful  results.  Had  ample 
facilities  been  placed  by  the  king  of  France  at  his  disposal, 
the  result  of  the  colonization  of  this  continent  might  have 
been  far  different  from  what  we  now  behold.  He  was  born 
in  Rouen,  France,  in  1043,  of  wealthy  parentage,  but  he 
renounced  his  patrimony  on  entering  a  college  of  the  Jesuits 
from  which  he  separated  and  came  to  Canada  a  poor  man 
in  1G6G.  The  priests  of  St.  Sulpice,  among  whom  he  had  a 
brother,  were  then  the  proprietors  of  Montreal,  the  nucleuii 
of  which  was  a  seminary  or  convent  founded  by  tiiat  order. 
The  Superior  granted  to  La  Salle  a  large  tract  of  laud  at 
La  Chine,  where  he  established  himself  in  the  fur  trade. 
He  was  a  man  of  daring  genius,  and  outstripped  all  his 
competitors  in  exploits  of  travel  and  commerce  with  the 
Indians.  In  1009  he  visited  the  headquarters  of  the  great 
Iroquois  Confederacy,  at  Onondaga,  in  the  heart  of  New 


26 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH,    MONROE    AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


York,  anil  obtaining  guides,  explored  tlic  Ohio  River  to  the 
falls  at  Louisville. 

In  order  to  understand  the  intrepid  genius  of  La  Salle, 
it  must  be  remembered  that  for  many  years  prior  to  his 
time  the  missionaries  and  traders  were  obliged  to  make  their 
■way  to  the  North  west  by  the  Ottaway  River  (of  Canada), 
on  account  of  tho  fierce  hostility  of  the  Iroquois  along  the 
lower  lakes  and  Niagara  River,  which  entirely  closed  this 
latter  route  to  the  Upper  Lakes.  They  carried  on  their 
commerce  chiefly  by  canvas,  paddling  them  through  the 
Ottaway  to  Lake  Nipissiug,  carrying  them  across  the  port- 
age to  French  River,  and  descending  that  to  Luke  Huron. 
Tills  being  the  route  by  which  they  reached  the  North-west, 
accounts  for  the  foct  that  all  the  earliest  Jesuit  missions 
were  established  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Upper  Lakes. 
La  Salle  conceived  the  grand  idea  of  opening  the  route  by 
Niagara  River  and  the  Lower  Lakes  to  Canadian  commerce 
by  sail  vessels,  connecting  it  with  the  navigation  of  the 
Mississippi,  and  thus  opening  a  magnificent  water  coramuni- 
catiou  from  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 
This  truly  grand  and  comprehensive  purpose  seems  to 
have  auiniated  him  iu  all  his  wonderful  achievements  and 
the  matchless  difficulties  and  hardships  he  surmounted. 

As  the  fir^t  step  in  the  accomplishment  of  this  object  he 
established  himself  on   Lake   Ontario,  and  built  and  gar- 
risoned  Fort   Frontenac,    the   site   of  the   present   city  of 
Kingston,  Canada.     Here  he  obtained  a  grant  of  land  from 
tho  French  crown  and  a  body  of  troops  by  which  he  beat 
back  the   invading   Iroquois   and   cleared   the    passage   to 
Niagara  Falls.     Having   by  this  masterly  stroke  made  it 
safe  to  attempt  a  hitherto  untried  expedition,  his  next  step 
as  we  have  seen,  was  to  advance  to  the  falls  with  all  his 
outfit  for  building  a  ship  with  which  to  sail  the  lakes.     He 
was  successful  iu  this  undertaking,  though  his  ultimate  pur- 
prise  was  defeated  by  a  strange  combination  of  untoward 
circumstances.     The  Jesuits  evidently  hated  La  Salle  and 
plotted  against  him,  because  he  had  abandoned  them  and 
co-operatcJ  with  a  rival  order.     The  fur  traders  were  also 
jealous  of  his  superior  success  iu  opening  new  channels  of 
commerce.     At  La  Chine  ho  had  taken  the  trade  of  Lake 
Ontario,  which  but  for  his  presence  there  would  have  gone 
to  Quebec     While   they  were   plodding   with   their  bark 
canoes  through  tho  Ottaway  he  was  constructing  vessels  to 
command  the  trade  of  the  lakes  and  the  Mississippi.    These 
great    plans   excited   the  jealousy  and   envy  of  the  small 
traders,  introduced  treason  and  revolt  into  the  ranks  of  his 
own  companions,  and  finally  led  to  the  foul  assassination  by 
which  his  great  achievements  were  prematurely  ended.     In 
1G82,   La  Sallo,   having    completed    his   vessel    at   Peoria, 
descended  the  Mississippi  to  its  confluence  with  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico.     At  its  mouth  he  erected  a  column,  and  decorating 
it  with  the  arms  of  France,  placed  upon  it  the  following 
inscription  : 

LOUIS  LE  GRAND,  ROI  DE  FRANCE   ET   DE  NAVARRE  REGNE  ; 
LE  NEUVIEME  AVRIL,  1682. 

Thus    France,  by   right  of  discovery,  lay   claim    to  the 
Mississippi   Valley,  the  fairest  portion   of  the   globe,   an 


empire  iu  extent,  stretching  from  the  Gulf  to  the  Lakes, 
and  from  the  farthest  sources  of  the  Ohio  to  where  the  head 
waters  of  the  Missouri  are  lost  iu  the  wild  solitudes  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains.  La  Salle  bestowed  upon  the  territory 
the  name  of  Louisiana,  in  honor  of  the  King  of  France, 
Louis  XIV. 

The  assertion  has  been  made  that  on  La  Salle's  return  up 
the  river,  in  tlie  summer  of  1682,  a  portion  of  the  party 
were  left  behind,  who  founded  the  village  of  Kaskaskia  aud 
Cahokia,  but  the  statement  rests  ou  no  substantial  foun- 
dation. 

THE    FIRST    SETTLEMENTS    IN    ILLINOIS. 

The  gentle  and  pious  Marquette,  devoted  to  his  purpose 
of  carrying  the  gospel  to  the  Indians,  had  established  a 
mission  among  the  Illinois,  in  1675,  at  their  principal  town 
on  the  river  which  still  bear  stheir  name.  This  was  at  the 
present  town  of  Utica,  in  La  Salle  County.  In  the  presence 
of  the  whole  tribe,  by  whom,  it  is  recorded,  he  was  received 
as  a  celestial  visitor,  he  displayed  the  sacred  pictures  of  the 
Virgin  Mary,  raised  an  altar,  and  said  mass.  Oa  Easter 
Sunday,  after  celebrating  the  mystery  of  the  Eucharist,  he 
took  possession  of  the  land  in  the  name  of  the  Saviour  of 
the  world,  and  founded  the  "Mission  of  the  Immaculate 
Conception."  The  town  was  called  Kaskaskia,  a  name 
afterwards  transferred  to  another  locality.  The  founding 
of  this  mission  was  the  last  act  of  Marquette's  life.  He 
died  in  Michigan,  on  his  way  back  to  Green  Bay,  May  18, 
lOT.'i. 

La  Salle,  while  making  preparations  to  descend  tho 
Mississippi,  built  a  fort,  on  the  Illinois  River,  below  the 
Lake  of  Peoria,  iu  February,  1680,  aud  iu  commemoration 
of  his  misfortunes,  bestowed  upon  it  the  name  of  Crevecocio; 
"  broken-hearted."  Traces  of  its  embankments  are  yet  dis- 
cernible. This  was  the  first  military  occupation  of  Illinois. 
There  is  no  evidence,  however,  that  settlement  was  begun 
there  at  that  early  date. 

On  La  Salle's  return  from  this  exploration  of  the  ]Missis- 
sippi,  in  1682,  he  fortified  "  Starved  Rock,"  whose  military 
advantages  had  previously  attracted  his- attention.  From 
its  summit,  which  rises  125  feet  above  the  waters  of  the 
river,  tho  valley  of  the  Illinois  speeds  out  before  the  eye  in 
landscape  of  rarest  beauty.  From  three  sides  it  is  inacces- 
sible. This  stronghold  received  the  name  of  the  Fort  of 
St.  Louis.  Twenty  thousand  allied  Indians  gathered  round 
it  on  the  fertile  plains.  The  fort  seems  to  have  been  aban- 
doned soon  after  the  year  1700. 

Marquette's  mission  (1675),  Crevecoeur  (_\68Q),  and  the 
Fort  of  St.  Louij  (1682),  embrace,  so  far,  all  the  attempts 
made  towards  eflecting  anything  like  a  permanent  settle- 
ment in  the  Illinois  country.  Of  the  second  few  traces 
remain.  A  line  of  fortifications  may  be  faintly  traced,  and 
that  is  all.  The  seed  of  civilization  planted  by  the  Jesuit, 
Marquette,  among  the  Illinois  Indians,  was  destined  to  pro- 
duce more  enduring  fruit.  It  was  the  germ  of  Kaskaskia, 
during  the  succeeding  years  of  the  French  occupation— the 
metropolis  of  the  Mississippi  Valley.  The  southern  Kas- 
kaskia is  merely  the  northern  one  transplanted.  The 
Mbbion  of  the  Immaculate  Conception  is  the  fame. 


HISTORY    OF    RAXDOLPII,     MOXROE    AND    FERRY    COIWTIES,    ILLIXOIS. 


27 


FOUSDIXG    OF    KASKASKI.V. 

On  the  doatli  of  Marquette,  he  was  succeeded  by  Alloiicz, 
aud  he  by  Father  Gravicr,  who  respectively  had  charge  of 
the  Jliition  on  the  Illinois  River  Gravicr  is  said  to  have 
been  the  first  to  reduce  the  principles  of  the  Illinois  lan- 
guage to  rules.  It  was  also  he  who  succeeded  in  trans- 
ferring Marquette's  Jlission  from  the  banks  of  the  Illinois 
south  to  the  spot  where  stands  the  modern  town  of  Kas- 
kaskia,  and  where  it  was  destined  to  endure.  The  exact 
date  is  not  known,  but  the  removal  was  accomplished  some 
time  prior  to  the  year  1G85,  though  probably  not  earlier 
than  li;S2. 

Father  Gravier  was  subsequently  recalled  to  JIackinaw, 
and  his  place  was  supplied  by  Binetcau  aud  Pinet.  Pinet 
proved  an  eloquent  aud  successful  minister,  and  his  chapel 
was  often  insufficient  to  hold  the  crowds  of  savages  who 
L^^thcrod  to  hear  his  words.  Binetcau  met  with  a  fate 
similar  to  that  which  befell  many  another  devoted  priest  iu 
his  heroic  labors  for  the  conversion  of  the  savages.  He 
accompanied  the  Kaskaskias  on  one  of  their  annual  hunts 
to  the  upper  jMississi]ipi,  that  his  pastoral  relations  might 
not  suifir  intermission.  His  frame  was  poarly  fitttd  to 
stand  the  exposure.  Parched  by  day  on  the  burning 
prairie,  chilled  by  heavy  dews  at  night,  now  panting  with 
thirst  and  agiin  aching  with  cold,  he  at  length  fell  a 
victim  to  a  violent  fever,  and  "  left  his  bones  on  the  wilder- 
ness range  of  the  buffaloes."  Pinet  .shortly  after  followed 
his  comrade. 

Father  Gabriel  Jlorrcst  had  previously  arrived  at  Kus- 
kaskia.  He  was  a  Jesuit.  He  had  carried  the  emblem  of 
bis  faith  to  the  frozen  regions  of  Hudson's  Bay,  and  had 
been  taken  prisoner  by  the  English,  and  upon  his  liberation 
returned  to  America,  and  joined  the  Kaskaskia  Mission. 
After  the  deaths  of  Bincteau  and  Piaet,  he  had  sole  charge 
until  joined  by  Father  Mermet  shortly  after  the  opening  of 
the  eighteenth  century. 

The  devotion  an<l  piety  of  Mermet  fully  equalled  those  of 
his  companion.  lie  had  assisted  in  collecting  a  village  of 
Indians  and  Canadians,  and  had  thus  founded  the  first 
French  port  on  the  Ohio,  or,  as  the  lower  pare  of  the  river 
was  then  called,  the  Waba.sh.  At  the  Kaskaskia  Mission 
his  gentle  virtues  and  fervid  eloquence  seem  not  to  have  been 
without  their  influence.  "  At  early  dawn  his  pupils  came 
to  church  dressed  neatly  and  modestly,  each  in  a  large  deer- 
skin, or  in  a  robe  stitched  together  from  several  skins. 
After  receiving  lessons  they  chanted  canticles;  mass  was 
then  said  in  presence  of  all  the  Christians  in  the  place,  the 
French  and  the  converts — the  women  on  one  side  and  the 
men  on  the  other.  From  prayer  and  instruction  the  mis- 
sionaries proceeded  to  visit  the  sick  aud  administer  medicine, 
and  their  skill  as  physicians  did  more  than  all  the  rest  to 
win  confidence.  In  the  afternoon  the  catechism  was  taught 
iu  the  presence  of  the  young  and  the  old,  when  every  one, 
without  distinction  of  rank  or  age,  answered  the  questions  of 
the  missionary.  At  evening  all  would  assemble  at  the 
chapel  for  instruction,  for  prayer,  and  to  chant  the  hymns 
of  the  church.  On  Sundays  and  festivals,  even  after  vespers 
a  homily  was  pronounced  ;  at  the  close  of  the  day  parties 


would  meet  in  houses  to  recite  the  chaplct  in  alternate 
choirs,  and  sing  psalms  until  late  at  night.  These  psalms 
were  often  homilies  with  words  set  to  familiar  tunes.  Satur- 
day and  Sunday  were  days  appointed  for  confession  and 
communion,  and  evcrj'  convert  confessed  once  in  a  fortnight- 
The  success  of  the  mission  was  such  that  marriages  of 
French  immigrants  were  sometimes  solemnized  with  the 
daughters  of  the  Illinois  according  to  the  rites  of  the 
Catholic  Church.  The  occupation  of  the  country  was  a 
cantonment  of  Europeans  among  the  native  proprietors  of 
the  forests  and  the  prairies.*  A  court  of  law  was  unknown 
for  nearly  a  century,  aud  up  to  the  time  of  B jisbriant  there 
was  no  local  government.  The  priests  possessed  the  entire 
confidence  of  the  community,  and  their  authority  happily 
settled,  without  the  tardy  delays  and  vexations  of  the  courts, 
the  minor  difficulties  which  threatened  the  peace  of  the 
settlement.  Of  the  families  which  formed  part  of  the 
French  population  iu  the  early  history  of  Kaskaskia,  there 
is  some  uncertainty.  There  is,  however,  authority  for 
believing  that  the  following  were  among  the  principal 
settlers:  Bazyl  La  Chapelle,  ]\Iichael  Derousc,  (called  St. 
Pierre),  Jeau  Baptiste  St.  Gemme  Beauvais,  Bapti.stc  Jlon- 
treal,  Boucher  do  Montbrun,  Charles  Danie,  Francois 
Charlesville,  Antoinc  Bienvenu,  Louis  Bruyat,  Alexis  Doza, 
Joseph  Paget,  Prix  Pagi,  Michael  Autoyen,  Lauglois  Do 
Lisle,  La  Derrou.to  aud  XovaL 

AS    FAI'.T    OF    I.OriSIAXA. 

The  settlements  of  Illinois  had  been  a  separate  depend- 
ency of  Canada.  In  1711,  together  with  the  settlements  on 
the  Lower  Mississippi,  which  had  been  f.)unded  by  D' Iber- 
ville and  Bienville,  they  becanij  united  in  a  single  province 
under  the  name  of  Louisiana,  with  the  capital  at  Mobile. 

The  exclusive  control  of  the  commerce  of  this  region, 
whose  boundless  resources,  it  was  believed,  were  to  enrich 
France,  was  granted  to  Anthony  Crozat,  a  merchant  of 
great  wealth.  "We  permit  him,"  says  the  king  in  his 
letters  patent,  "  to  search,  open,  and  dig  all  mines,  veins, 
minerals,  precious  stones  and  pearls,  and  to  transport  the 
proceeds  thereof  into  any  i)art  of  France  for  fif^.'cn  years." 
La  Motte  Cadillac,  who  had  now  become  royal  Governor  of 
Louisiana,  was  his  partner.  Hopes  of  obtaining  great 
quantities  of  gold  and  silver  animated  the  proprietors,  as 
well  as  agitated  France.  Two  pieces  of  silver  ore,  left  at 
Kaskaskia  by  a  traveler  from  Mexico,  were  exliibiied  to 
Cadillac  as  the  pro.luce  of  a  mine  in  Illinois.  Elated  by 
this  prospect  of  wealth,  the  Governor  hurried  up  the  river 
to  find  his  anticipations  fade  away  iu  disappointment.  Iron 
ore  and  the  purest  lead  were  discovered  iu  large  quantiti.'s 
in  Missouri,  but  of  gold,  and  silver,  and  precious  stones  not 
a  trace  was  found.  After  Crozat  had  expended  42-J,000 
livrcs,  and  realized  only  330,000,  he,  in  1717,  petitioueil  the 
king  for  the  revocation  of  his  charter.  Tiio  white  popula- 
tion had  slowly  increased  ;  and  at  the  time  of  his  departure 
it  was  estimated  that  the  families  comprising  the  lilin.ns 
settlements,  now  including  those  on  the  Vv'abash,  numbered 
three  hundred  and  twenty  souls. 

*  Eancroft. 


28 


lllSTOUy    OF   HANDOLFH,    MONROE    A  XL)    FERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


The  commerce  of  Louisiana  was  next  transferred  to  the 
Mississippi  Company,  iustitutod  under  the  auspices  of  the 
notorious  John  Law.  The  wild  excitement  and  visionary 
schemes  which  agitated  France  during  Law's  connection 
with  the  Company  of  the  West,  and  while  at  the  head  of 
the  Bank  of  France,  form  the  most  curious  chapter  in  the 
annals  of  commercial  speculations.  These  delusive  dreams 
of  wealth  were  based  mainly  upon  the  reports  of  the  fabu- 
lous riches  of  the  Mississippi  Valley.  Attempts  to  colonize 
the  couatry  were  conducted  with  careless  prodigality. 
Three  ships  landed  eight  hundred  emigrants  in  August, 
1718,  near  Mobile,  whence  they  were  to  make  their  way 
overland  to  the  Mississippi.  Bienville,  on  the  banks  of  that 
river,  had  already  selected  the  spot  for  the  Capital  of  the 
new  Empire,  which,  after  the  Regent  of  France,  was  named 
New  Orleans.  From  among  the  emigrants,  eighty  convicts 
from  the  prisons  of  France  were  sent  to  clear  away  the 
coppices  which  thickly  studded  the  site.  Three  years  after 
in  1721,  the  place  was  yet  a  wilderness,  overgrown  with 
canebrakes,  among  which  two  hundred  persons  had  en- 
camped. 

Phillip  Renault  was  created  Director-General  of  the 
mines  of  the  new  country,  and  an  expedition  was  organized 
to  work  them.  Renault  left  France,  in  1719,  with  two 
hundred  mechanics  and  laborers.  Touching  at  San  Domingo 
he  bought  five  hundred  negro  slaves  for  working  the  mines. 
On  reaching  the  Mississippi,  he  sailed  to  Illinois,  the  region 
in  which  gold  and  silver  were  supposed  to  abound.  A  few 
miles  from  Kaskaskia,  in  \fhat  is  now  the  south-west  corner 
of  Monroe  County,  was  the  seat  of  his  colony.  The  village 
which  he  founded  received  the  name  of  St.  Phillip's.  From 
this  point  various  expeditions  were  sent  out  in  search  of  the 
precious  metals.  Drewry's  Creek,  in  Jackson  County,  was 
explored ;  St.  Mary's,  in  Randolph ;  Silver  Creek,  in 
Monroe;  and  various  parts  of  St.  Clair  County,  and  other 
districts  of  Illinois.  On  Silver  Creek,  tradition  has  it  that 
considerable  quantities  of  silver  were  discovered  and  sent  to 
France,  and  from  this  the  stream  has  its  name.  By  the 
retrocession  of  the  territory  to  the  crown,  Renault  was  left 
to  prosecute  the  business  of  mining  without  means.  His 
operations  proved  a  disastrous  failure. 

FORT    CHARTRES. 

Meanwhile  war  had  sprung  up  between  France  and  Spain 
and  to  protect  the  Illinois  settlements  from  incursions  of 
Spanish  cavalry  across  the  Great  Desert,  it  was  thought 
advisable  to  establish  a  fort  in  the  neighborhood  of  Kas- 
kaskia.  A  Spanish  expedition  had,  indeed,  been  fitted  out 
at  Santa  Fe,  but  their  guides,  leading  it  by  mistake  to  the 
Missouri  Indians,  instead  of  the  O^ages,  enemies  instead  of 
friends,  the  whole  party  was  massacred,  with  the  exception 
of  a  priest  who  escaped  to  relate  the  fate  of  his  unfortunate 
comrades.  Previous  to  this  La  Salle,  on  the  occasion  of  his 
visit  to  Paris,  had  shown  the  necessity  of  building  a  chain 
of  forts  from  Canada  to  the  Gulf,  in  order  to  secure  the 
territory  to  the  crown  of  France.  In  1718,  Boisbriant  was 
despatched  to  Illinois.  He  began  the  building  of  Fort 
Chartres,  long  the  strongest  fortress  on  the  Western  Conti- 


nent, and  of  wide  celebrity  in   the  subsequent  history    of 
Illinois. 

Fort  Chartres  stood  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Mississippi, 
seventeen  miles  north-west  of  Kaskaskia,  and  between  three 
and  four  miles  from  the  location  of  the  present  village  of 
Prairie  du  Rocher.  The  Company  of  the  West  finally  built 
their  warehouses  here.  In  1721,  on  the  division  of  Louisi- 
ana into  seven  districts,  it  became  the  headquarters  of  Bois- 
briant, the  first  local  Governor  of  Illinois.  Fort  Chartres 
was  the  seat  of  the  Government  of  Illinois,  not  only  while 
the  French  retained  possession  of  the  country,  but  after  it 
passed  under  English  control.  When  the  fort  was  built,  it 
stood  about  one  mile  distant  from  the  river.  In  the  year  1724 
an  inundation  of  the  Mississippi  washed  away  a  portion  of 
bank  in  front  of  the  fort. 

Captain  Philip  Pitman  visited  Illinois  in  1766.  He  was 
an  engineer  in  the  British  army,  and  was  sent  to  Illinois  to 
make  a  survey  of  the  forts,  and  report  the  condition  of  the 
country,  which  had  recently  passed  under  British  control. 
He  published  in  London,  in  1770,  a  work  entitled,  "  The 
present  State  of  the  European  Settlements  on  the  Missis- 
sippi," in  which  he  gives  an  accurate  description  of  Fort 
Chartres : 

"  Fort  Chartres,  when  it  belonged  to  France,  was  the  seat 
of  the  government  of  the  Illinois.  The  headquarters  of  the 
English  commanding  officer  is  now  here,  who,  in  fact,  is  the 
arbitrary  governor  of  the  country.  The  fort  is  an  irregular 
quadrangle.  The  sides  of  the  exterior  polygon  are  four  hun- 
dred and  ninety  feet.  It  is  built  of  stone,  and  plastered  over, 
and  is  only  designed  for  defence  against  the  Indians.  The 
walls  are  two  feet  two  inches  thick,  and  are  pierced  with 
loopholes  at  regular  distances,  and  with  two  port  holes  for 
cannon  in  the  facies,  and  two  in  the  flanks  of  each  bastion. 
The  ditch  has  never  been  finished.  The  entrance  to  the  fort 
is  through  a  very  handsome  rustic  gate.  Within  the  walls 
is  a  banquette  raised  three  feet,  for  the  men  to  stand  on  when 
they  fire  through  the  loopholes.  The  buildings  within  the 
fort  are,  a  commandant's  and  a  commissary's  house,  the 
magazine  of  stores,  corps  de  garde,  and  two  barracks.,  ,These 
occupy  the  square.  Within  the  gorges  of  the  bastion  are  a 
powder-magazine,  a  bake-house,  and  a  prison,  in  the  floor  of 
which  are  four  dungeons,  and  in  the  upper,  two  rooms  and 
an  out-house  belonging  to  the  commandant.  The  command- 
ant's house  is  thirty-two  yards  long  and  ten  broad,  and  con- 
tains a  kitchen,  a  dining-room,  a  bed-chamber,  one  small 
room,  five  closets  for  servants,  and  a  cellar.  The  commis- 
sary's house  is  built  on  the  same  line  as  this,  and  its  propor- 
tion and  the  distribution  of  its  apartments  are  the  same. 
Opposite  these  are  the  store-house,  and  the  guard- house,  each 
thirty  yards  long  and  eight  broad.  The  former  consists  of 
two  large  store  rooms,  (under  which  is  a  large  vaulted  cellar), 
a  large  room,  a  bed-chamber,  and  a  closet  for  the  storekeeper. 
The  latter  of  a  soldiers'  and  officers'  guard-room,  a  chapel, 
a  bed-chamber,  a  closet  for  the  chaplain,  and  an  artillery 
store-room.  The  lines  of  barracks  have  never  been  finished. 
They  at  present  consist  of  two  rooms  each  for  oflicers,  and 
three  for  soldiers.  They  are  each  twenty-five  feet  square, 
and  have  betwixt  a  small  passage." 


HISTORY    OF   RAynOLPH,    MONROE    AXD    PERRY    COL'XriES,    ILLJXOIS. 


29 


Such  was  Fort  Chartres,  believed  at  the  lime  to  be  tlie 
most  convenient  and  best  built  stronghold  in  North  America ! 
Just  before  the  French  surrender,  forty  families  lived  in  the 
neighboring  village,  in  which  stood  a  parish  church,  under 
the  care  of  a  Franciscan  friar,  and  dedicated  to  St.  Anne. 
At  the  time  of  the  surrender  to  the  English,  all,  with  the 
exception  of  three  or  four  families,  abandoned  their  homes, 
and  removed  to  the  west  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  preferring 
the  government  of  La  Belle  France  to  the  hated  English 
rule,  ignorant  that  by  secret  treaty  the  territory  west 
of  the  Mississippi  had  been  ceded  to  Spiin,  even  before 
the  transfer  of  the  region  eastward  was  made  to  the 
English. 

But  the  glnry  of  the  old  fortress  soon  departed!  In  17.56 
nearly  lialf  a  mile  intervened  between  Fort  Chartres  and  the 
bank  of  the  Mississippi.  A  sand  bar,  however,  was  forming 
opposite,  to  which  the  river  was  fordable.  Ten  years  later 
the  current  had  cut  the  bank  away  to  within  eighty  yards  of 
the  fort.  The  sand-bar  had  become  an  island,  covered  with 
a  thick  growth  of  cottonwoods.  The  channel  between  it 
and  the  eastern  bank  was  forty  feet  in  depih.  In  the  great 
freshet  .'■ix  years  af.er,  in  1772,  in  which  the  American  B(it- 
tora  was  inundated,  the  west  walls  and  two  of  the  bastions 
were  swept  away  in  the  ilood.  It  was  abandoned  by  the 
British  garrison,  which  took  up  its  quarters  in  Fort  Gage, 
on  the  bluff  opposite  Kaskaskia,  which  then  became  the  seat 
of  government.  From  this  date  its  demolition  proceeded 
rapidly.  In  1820  the  south-east  angle  was  still  remaining. 
Only  vestiges  of  the  old  Fortress  can  now  ba  traced.  Much 
of  the  stone  was  carried  away,  and  used  for  building  pur- 
po?es  elsewhere.  Trees  of  stately  growth  cover  the  founda- 
tions. The  river  has  retreated  to  its  original  channel,  and 
is  now  a  mile  distant  from  the  ruins.  A  growth  of  timber 
covers  the  intervening  land,  where  less  than  a  century  ago 
swept  the  mighty  current  of  the  Father  of  Waters. 

UXDER    FREXCn    RULE. 

During  the  few  years  immediately  succeeding  the  comple- 
tion of  Fort  Chartres,  prosperity  preyailed  in  the  settlements 
between  the  Kaskaskia  and  the  Miss'ssippi  rivers.  Prairie 
du  Rocher,  founded  about  the  year  1722,  received  consider- 
able accessions  to  its  population.  Among  the  earliest  French 
settlers  to  make  their  homes  here  were  Etienne  Langlois, 
Jean  Baptiste  Blais,  Jean  Baptiste  Barbeaux,  Antoine 
Louvier,  acd  the  La  Ccmipte  and  other  families,  whose  de- 
scendants are  still  found  in  that  locality.  New  settlements 
sprang  up,  and  the  ohler  ones  increased  in  population.  At 
Kaskaskia,  the  Jesuits  established  a  monastery,  and  founded 
a  college.  lu  1723  the  village  became  an  incorporated  town, 
and  the  king,  Louis  XV.,  granted  the  inhabitants  a  com- 
mons. The  Bottom  land,  extending  upward  along  the  !Mis- 
sissippi,  unsurpassed  for  the  richness  of  its  soil,  was  in  the 
process  of  being  rapidly  settled  by  the  larger  number  of  new 
arrivals  in  the  colony.  Fort  Chartres,  the  seat  of  govern- 
ment and  the  headquarters  of  the  commandment  of  L^pper 
Louisiana,  attracted  a  wealthy,  and  for  Illinois,  a  fashionable 
population. 

After  having  been  fourteen  years  under  the  government 


of  the  Western  Company,  in  April,  17^2,  the  king  issued  a 
proclamation  by  which  Louisiana  was  declared  free  to  all  his 
subjects,  and  all  restrictions  on  commerce  were  removed. 
At  this  time  many  flourishing  settlements  had  sprung  up  in 
Illinois,  centering  about  Kaskaskia,and  the  inhabitants  were 
said  to  be  more  exclusively  devoted  to  agriculture  than  in 
any  other  of  the  French  settlements  in  the  West. 

M.  D'Artaguette,  in  17o2,  became  commandant  of  Fort 
Chartres,  and  Governor  of  Upper  Louisiana.  Between  New 
Orleans  and  Kaskaskia  the  country  was  yet  a  wilderness. 
Communication  by  way  of  the  Mississippi  was  interrupted 
by  tlie  Chickasaws,  allies  of  the  English  and  enemies  of 
France,  whose  cedar  barks  shooting  boldly  out  into  the  cur- 
rent of  the  Mississippi,  cut  off  the  connection  between  the 
two  colonies.  It  was  in  an  attempt  to  subdue  these  that 
JI.  D'Artaguette,  the  commandant,  lost  h's  life.  An  officer 
arrived  at  Fort  Chartres  from  M.  Prcrricr,  GovornorGencral 
at  New  Orleans,  in  the  year  1736,  .summoning  IM.  D'Arta- 
guette, '.vith  his  French  soldiei's,  and  all  the  Indians  whom 
he  could  induce  to  join  him,  to  xznite  in  an  expedition  against 
the  enemy.  With  an  army  of  fifty  Fronchmrn,  and  more 
than  one  thojsand  Indians  accompanied  by  Father  Senat 
and  the  gallant  Vincennes,  commandant  of  the  post  on  the 
Wabash,  where  now  stands  the  city  bearing  his  name, 
D'Artaguette  stole  cautiously  in  the  Chickasaw  country. 
His  Indian  allies  were  impatient,  and  the  commander  con- 
sented, against  his  better  judgment,  to  an  immediate  attack. 
One  fort  was  carried — another — and  then  in  making  the  as- 
sault on  the  third,  the  young  and  intrepid  D'Artaguette  fell 
at  the  head  of  his  forces,  pierced  with  wounds.  The  Indian 
allies  made  this  reverse  the  signal  for  their  flight.  The 
Jesuit  Senat  might  have  fled,  Vincennes  might  have  saved 
his  life,  but  both  preferred  to  share  the  fate  of  their  leader. 
The  captives  afterward  met  death  at  the  stake  under  the  shnv 
torments  of  fire. 

La  Buissoniere  succeeded  as  commau<iant  at  Fort  Chartres. 
In  1739  a  second  expedition  was  undertakcu  against  the 
("  lickasaw  country.  L:i  Buissoniere  joined  Bienville,  then 
Governor-General  of  Louijiana,  with  a  force  of  two  hun<lred 
Frenchmen  and  three  hundred  Indians.  The  whole  force 
under  Bienville  was  twelve  hundred  French  and  five  hun- 
dred Indians  and  negroes.  His  men  suffered  greatly  from 
malarial  fevers  and  famine,  and  returned  the  following 
spring  without  conquering  the  Chickasaws,  with  whom  after- 
ward, however,  amicable  relations  were  established. 

The  period  from  1740  to  1750  was  one  of  great  prosperity 
fir  the  colonies.  Cotton  was  introduced  and  cuhivated. 
Regular  cargoes  of  pirk,  fljur,  bacon,  tallow,  hides  and 
leather,  were  fl  )ated  d  )wu  the  Mississippi,  and  exported 
thence  to  France.  French  emigrants  p)urad  rapidly  into 
the  settlements.  Canadians  exchanged  the  cold  rigors  of 
their  climate  for  the  sunny  atmosphere  and  rich  .soil  of  the 
new  country.     Peace  and  plenty  blessed  the  settlements. 

La  Buissoniere  was  followed,  in  1750,  by  Chevalier  Ma- 
carty  as  Governor  of  Upper  Louisiana,  and  Commandant  of 
Fort  Chartres.  Peace  wis  soon  to  be  broken.  The  French 
and  English  war,  which  terminated  in  1759  with  the  defeat 
of  Montcalm  on   the  plains  of  Abraham,  and  the  capture  of 


30 


BJSTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MOXROE   AYD    PERRY   COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


Quebec,  began  with  a  struggle  for  the  territory  on  the  Upper 
Ohio.  Fort  Chartres  was  the  clegot  of  supplies  and  the  place 
of  rendezvous  for  the  united  forces  of  Louisiana,  and  several 
expeditions  were  fitted  out  and  dispatched  to  the  scene  of  con- 
flict on  the  b;irJer  between  the  French  and  English  settle- 
ments. But  France  was  vanquished  in  the  struggle,  and  its 
result  deprived  her  of  her  princely  possessions  east  of  the 
Mississippi. 

CHARACTER  OF  THE  E\RLY  FRENCH  SETTLERS. 

Til'!  early  French  inhabitants  were  well  adapted  by  their 
peculiar  traits  of  character  for  intercourse  with  their  savage 
neighbors  of  the  f )rest,  with  whom  th:!y  lived  on  terms  of 
peace  and  friendship.  For  this  reason,  the  French  colonists 
almost  entirely  escaped  the  Indian  hostilities  by  which  the 
English  settlements  were  repressed  and  weakened.  The 
freest  communication  existed  between  the  two  races.  They 
stood  on  a  footing  of  equality.  The  Indian  was  cordially 
received  in  the  French  village,  and  the  Frenchman  found  a 
safe  resting-place  in  the  lodg 3  of  the  savaga.  In  see  les  of 
social  pleasure,  in  expeditions  to  remote  rivers  and  distant 
forests,  in  the  ceremonies  and  exercises  of  the  church,  the 
red  men  were  treated  as  brothers,  and  the  accident  of  race 
and  color  was  made  as  little  a  mark  of  distinction  as  possi- 
ble. Frequent  intermarriages  of  the  French  with  the  In- 
dians strongly  cemented  this  union.  For  nearly  a  hundred 
years  the  French  colonists  enjoyed  continual  peace,  while  the 
English  settlements  on  the  Atlantic  coast  were  in  a  state  of 
almost  constant  danger  from  savage  depredations. 

It  was  doubtless  greatly  owing  to  the  peculiar  facility  with 
which  the  French  temperament  adapted  itself  to  surround- 
ings, and  the  natur.il  address  with  which  Frenchmen  ingra- 
tiated themselves  in  the  favor  of  the  savages,  that  this  happy 
condition  of  affairs  exi.-ted.  But  something  must  be  ascribed 
to  the  differences  of  character  between  the  French  and  Eng- 
lish in  regard  to  their  aggressiveness.  The  English  colonists 
excited  the  jealousy  and  fear  of  the  Indians  by  their  rapid 
occupation  of  the  country.  New  settlements  were  constantly 
being  projected,  and  the  white  population  pushed  farther 
and  farther  into  the  wilderness.  When  the  Indians  saw 
their  favorite  haunts  broken  up,  and  their  hunting  grounds 
invaded,  a  natural  feeling  of  distrust  and  jealousy  led  them 
to  warfare  against  the  English.  With  the  French  it  was 
diffijrent.  There  w.as  but  little  disposition  to  found  new 
settlements,  or  occupy  the  wilderness.  They  were  essentially 
a  social  people,  and  the  solitary  life  of  a  pioneer  in  the  forest 
was  repugnant  to  their  disposition.  They  lived  in  compact 
villages.  Their  houses  were  in  close  proximity.  With 
abundant  room  for  spacious  streets,  they  yet  made  them  so 
narrow  that  the  merry  villagers  could  converse  with  ease 
across  the  street,  each  from  his  own  cottage.  Hunting  was 
a  favorite  pursuit,  and  the  chief  means  of  support.  With 
this  mode  of  life  the  French  were  content.  Ambition  failed 
to  incite  them  to  conquer  the  wilderness,  and  push  their  set- 
tlements to  unknown  regions,  and  avarice  was  wanting  to 
lead  them  to  grasp  after  great  possessions.  The  development 
of  the  "territorial  paradise,"  as  La  Salle  had  called  the  re- 
gion through  which  he  passed  on  his  first  voyage  down  the 
Mississippi,  was  to  be  accomplished  by  another  race. 


A    POSSESSION    OF    GREAT    BRITAIN. 

By  the  treaty  of  Fountainbleau,  1702,  the  vast  possessions 
of  Franco,  east  of  the  ^Mississippi,  with  the  exception  of  the 
island  of  New  Orleans,  passed  under  British  control.  Fort 
Chartres  and  the  other  Illinois  posts  were  surrounded  by  an 
impenetrable  barrier  of  hostile  savages,  friends  to  the  French 
and  enemies  to  the  English,  and  the  French  officers  were 
authorized  to  retain  command  until  it  was  found  possible  for 
the  Englisli  to  take  possession.  M.  Neyon  de  Villiers  was 
commandant  of  Fort  Chartres,  and  upon  his  retiring  iu  17G4, 
St.  Ange  d'Bsllerive  took  upon  himself  the  duties  of  that 
position.  It  was  the  time  of  Pontiac's  conspiracy,  when  the 
Indian  tribes,  inflamed  by  the  savage  spirit  of  that  warrior, 
were  precipitating  themselves  on  the  English  settlements 
from  Canada  to  Carolina.  Tlie  French  commandant  of  Fort 
Chartres  was  besieged  for  arras  and  ammunition  to  be  used 
against  the  English.  The  French  flag  was  st'll  flying  over 
the  Fort,  and  the  fact  of  the  territory  having  been  ceded  to 
Great  Britain  was  not  generally  known  except  to  those  iu 
authority.  The  commandant  was  visited  by  embassies  from 
the  Illinois,  the  Delawares,  Shawnees  and  Miarais,  and 
finally  Poutiac  himself,  at  tlie  head  of  fmr  hundred  warriors, 
entered  the  council  hall.  St.  Ang3  d  Bellcrive,  unable  to 
furnish  arm?,  offered  instead  his  good  will.  The  reply  was 
received  with  dissatisfaction.  The  Indians  pitched  their 
lodges  about  the  Fort,  and  for  a  time  an  attack  was  seriously 
apprehended.  Finally  Poutiao  dispatched  a  chosen  band  of 
warriors  to  New  Orleans  to  obtain  from  the  Governor  there 
the  assistance  St.  Ange  refused  to  grant. 

Poutiac  was  killed  a  few  years  after.  Disappointed  by 
the  failure  of  his  plans  against  the  English,  he  retired  to  the 
solitude  of  the  forests.  In  the  year  1763,  he  suddenly  made 
his  appearance  in  the  neigiiborhood  of  St.  Louis.  Arrayed 
in  the  French  uniform  given  him  by  the  JIarquis  Jlontcalm 
a  short  time  previous  to  the  latter's  death  on  the  Plains  of 
Abraham,  he  visited  St.  Ange  d'Bellerive,  who  at  that  time 
had  removed  from  Fort  Chartres  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  had 
become  one  of  the  principal  inhabitants  and  commandant  of 
the  Spanish  garrison.  While  at  St.  Louis,  he  cro.=sed  the 
Mississippi  to  attend  a  social  gathering  of  Indians  at  Cahokia. 
Becoming  intoxicated  he  started  to  the  neighboring  woods, 
when  an  Indian  of  the  Ivaskaskia  tribe,  bribed  by  an  Eng- 
lish trader  with  a  barrel  of  whiskey,  stole  up  behind  hira  and 
buried  a  tomahawk  in  the  brain  of  the  renowned  warrior. 
St.  Ange  procured  the  body,  and  buried  it  with  all  the  honors 
of  war  near  the  fort  under  his  command  in  St.  Louis.  The 
tramp  of  a  great  city  now  sweeps  over  his  grave. 

Two  attempts,  on  the  part  of  the  English,  to  take  posses- 
sion of  Illinois  and  Fort  Chartres,  had  been  made  by  way  of 
the  Jlississippi,  but  hostile  Indians  on  the  banks  of  the  river 
had  driven  back  the  expeditions.  Meantime  a  hundred 
Highlanders  of  the  Forty-second  Regiment,  those  veterans 
"  whose  battle  cry  had  echoed  over  the  bloodiest  fields  of 
America,"  had  left  Fort  Pitt,  now  Pittsburg,  and  descending 
the  Ohio,  appeared  before  Fort  Chartres  while  the  forests 
were  yet  rich  with  the  varied  hues  of  autumn.  St.  Ange 
yielded  up  the  citadel.  It  was  on  the  tenth  day  of  October, 
1765,  that  the  ensign  of  France  on  the  ramparts  of  the  Fort 


HISTORY    OF    RAXDOLFII,    MONROE    AXD    PERRY    COl'XTIES,    ILLIXOIS. 


31 


gave  place  to  the  flag  of  Great  Britain.  Kaskaskia  had  now 
been  founded  ra  re  than  three-fourths  of  a  century. 

On  the  surrender  of  Fort  Chartres,  St.  Ange  with  his  gar- 
rison of  twenty-one  soldiers  retired  from  the  country,  and 
became  commandant  at  St.  Louis,  an  infant  settlement  just 
founded.  A  large  number  of  the  French  residents  of  Kas- 
kaskia and  other  settlements  refused  to  live  under  English 
rule.  Many  of  the  wealthiest  families  left  the  country  ;  some 
removed  across  the  Mississippi,  to  the  small  village  of  Ste. 
Genevieve,  under  the  impression  ihatou  the  west  bank  of  the 
Jlississippi  they  would  still  find  a  home  under  the  govern- 
ment of  France,  while  in  truth  that  territory  had  been  ceJed 
to  Spain  by  a  secret  treaty  in  1762.  Others  joined  in  found- 
ing the  city  of  St.  Louis.  The  French  settlements  in  Illinois, 
at  a  period  immediately  preceding  this  date,  were  at  the 
z-^nith  of  their  prosperity.  From  that  ilay  the  French  in- 
habitants have  declined  in  numbers  and  influence.  lu  1765, 
the  population  of  the  Illinois  settlements  was  computed  as 
follows:  White  men  able  to  bear  arms,  seven  hundred;  white 
women,  five  hundred  ;  white  children,  eight  hundred  and 
fifty;  negroes,  nine  hundred;  total,  two  thousand  nine  hun- 
dred and  fifty.  One-third  of  the  whites,  and  a  still  larger 
proportion  of  the  blacks,  removed  on  the  British  taking  pos- 
session. A  population  of  less  than  two  thousand  remained. 
Few  English,  or  Americans,  with  the  exception  of  the  British 
troops,  were  in  the  country. 

Captain  Stirling,  who  now  had  command  of  the  Fort,  issued 
a  proelamalicin  guaranteeing  the  inhabitants  the  liberty  of 
the  Catholic  faith,  permission  to  retire  from  the  country,  and 
enjoyment  of  their  full  rights  and  privileges,  only  requiring 
an  oath  of  fidelity  and  obedience  to  His  JIajesty,  the  English 
King.  Captain  Stirling  died  some  three  months  after  his 
arrival.  In  the  period  that  elapsed  before  the  coming  of  his 
successor,  St.  Ange  d'Bollerive  returned  from  St.  Louis,  and 
discharged  the  duties  of  commandant.  JIajor  Frazier,  from 
Fort  Pitt,  exercised  fir  a  time  an  arbitrary  power,  and  his 
successor.  Col.  Reed,  proved  still  worse.  lie  held  the  office 
eighteen  months,  and  during  that  time  aroused  the  hatred  of 
the  settlements  by  his  oppressive  measures.  Lieutenant  Colo- 
nel Wilkins  assumed  command  in  17G8. 

Captain  Pitman,  to  whose  book  on  "  The  Present  State  of 
the  European  Settlements  on  the  Mississippi"  reference  has 
already  been  made,  gives  the  following  description  of  Kas- 
kaskia, as  it  appeared  in  1766. 

The  vi'lage  of  Notre  Dame  dc  Cascasquias  is  bv  far  the 
most  considerable  settlement  in  the  country  of  the  I  linois, 
as  well  from  its  number  of  inhabitants  as  i"rom  its  advan- 
tageous situation. 

"  Slons.  Paget  was  the  first  who  introduced  wat/^r  mills  in 
this  country,  and  he  constructed  a  very  fine  one  on  the  river 
Cascasquias,  which  was  both  for  grinding  corn  and  sawing 
boards.  It  lies  about  one  mile  from  the  village.  The  mill 
proved  fatal  to  him,  being  killed  as  he  was  working 
it,  with  two  negroes,  by  a  party  of  Chcrokccs,  in  the 
year  1764. 

"  The  principal  buildings  arj  the  church  and  the  Jesuits' 
house,  which  has  a  small  chapel  adjoining  it;  these,  as  well 
as  £omo  of  the  other  houses  in  the  village,  arc  built  of  stone. 


and,  considering  this  part  of  the  world,  make  a  very  g  )od 
appearance.  The  Jesuits'  plantation  consisted  of  240  arpcnts 
(an  arpent  is  83-100  of  an  acre)  of  cultivated  land,  a  very 
good  stock  of  cattle,  and  a  brewery  which  was  sold  by  the 
French  commandant,  after  the  country  was  ceded  to  the 
Engli.-h,  for  the  crown,  in  consequence  of  the  supprcsiion  of 
the  order. 

"  Muns.  Beauvais  wa-  t'lr'  purchaser,  who  is  the  richest  of 
the  English  subjects  in  this  country;  he  keeps  eighty  slaves; 
he  furnishes  86,000  weight  of  flour  to  the  King's  magazine, 
which  was  only  part  of  the  harvest  he  reaped  in  one  year. 
Sixty-five  families  reside  in  this  village,  besides  merchants, 
other  casual  people,  and  slaves.  The  fort  which  was  burnt 
down  in  October,  1766,  stood  on  the  summit  of  a  high  rock 
opposite  the  village  and  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river. 
It  was  an  oblong  quadrangle,  of  which  the  extreme  polygon 
measured  290  by  2')\  feet.  It  was  built  of  very  thick  square 
timber,  and  dove-tailed  at  the  angles.  An  officer  and  twenty 
soldiers  are  quartered  in  the  village.  The  ofliecr  governs 
the  inhabitants  under  the  direction  of  the  commandant  at 
Fort  Chartres.     Here  are  also  two  companies  of  mililia." 

Of  Prairie  du  Ilocher,  Pi:raan  writes  that  "  it  is  a  small 
village,  consisting  of  twenty-two  dwelling-houses,  all  of  which 
are  inhabited  by  as  many  families.  Hire  is  a  little  chapel, 
formerly  a  chapel  of  ease  to  the  church  at  Fort  Chartres. 
The  inhabitants  are  very  industrious,  and  raise  a  great  deal 
of  corn  and  ever)'  kind  of  stock.  The  village  is  two  miles 
from  Fort  Chartres.  It  takes  its  name  from  its  situation, 
being  built  under  a  rock  that  runs  par.allel  with  the  Miisi-s- 
sijjpi  river  at  a  league  distance,  fjr  forty  miles  up.  Here  \i 
a  company  of  militia,  the  captain  of  which  regulates  the 
police  of  the  village." 

In  describing  the  distance  from  Fort  Cliaitres,  the  author, 
doubtless,  rcfjrs  to  Little  Village,  which  was  a  mile,  or  mora 
nearer  than  Prairie  du  Rocher.  The  writer  goes  on  to  do- 
scribe  "Saint  Philippe"  as  a  "small  village  about  five  miles 
from  Fort  Chartres  on  the  road  to  Kaoquias.  There  are 
about  si.^teen  houses  and  a  small  church  standing ;  all  of  the 
inhabitants,  except  the  captain  of  the  militia,  deserted  in 
176.3,  and  went  to  the  French  side  (Missouri  )  The  captain 
of  the  militia  has  about  twenty  slaves,  a  good  stock  of  cattle, 
and  a  water  mill  for  corn  and  planks.  The  village  stands 
on  a  very  fine  raeadow  about  one  mile  from  the  Mis- 
sissippi. 

From  the  same  authority  we  leara  that  the  soil  of  tha 
country  is  in  general  rich  and  luxuriant.  It  was  favorably 
adapted  to  the  production  of  all  kin  Is  of  European  grains 
which  grew  side  by  side  wit'a  hops,  hemp,  fl.ix,  cotton  and 
tobacco.  European  fruits  arrived  to  great  perfection.  Of 
the  wild  grapes  a  wine  was  made,  vcrj'  inebriating,  and  in 
color  and  taste  much  like  the  red  wine  of  Provence.  In  the 
late  wars,  Xew  Orleans  and  the  lower  parts  of  Louisiana 
were  supplied  with  flour,  bsef,  wines,  hams,  and  other  pro- 
visions, from  this  country.  At  present,  its  commerce  is 
mostly  confined  to  the  peltry  and  furs  which  are  got  in  traf- 
fic from  the  Indiana ;  for  which  are  received  in  turn  such 
European  commodities  as  are  necessary  to  carry  on  that  com- 
merce and  the  support  of  its  inhabitants." 


32 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


CONQUEST    BY    CLARKE. 

On  tlie  breaking  out  of  the  AVar  of  the  Revolution,  it  is 
pfobiiblo  tiiat  the  British  garrison  f removed  iu  1'7'2  from 
Fort  Chartrcs  to  Fort  Gage,  opposite  Kaskaskia,)  liad  been 
withdrawn.  Illinois  was  remote  from  the  theatre  of  action, 
and  the  colonists  were  little  disturbed  by  the  rumors  of  war 
which  came  from  the  Atlantic  coast.  Tlie  French  inhabitants 
were  rather  in  sympathy  with  the  Americans  than  the  Eiig- 
liirli,  but  probably  understood  little  of  the  nature  of  the 
struggle.  Illinois  belonged  to  the  jurisdiction  of  Virginia. 
George  Rogers  Clarke,  who  visited  Kentucky  in  1775,  seems 
to  have  been  the  first  to  comprehend  the  advantages  which 
would  result  from  the  occupation  of  Illinois  by  the  Ameri- 
cans. He  visited  Virginia,  where  he  laid  his  plans  before 
Patrick  Henry,  the  Governor  of  the  State.  Clarke  received 
his  instructions,  January,  177S,  and  the  following  mouth  set 
out  for  Pittsburg  His  instructions  were  to  raise  seven  com- 
panies of  men,  but  he  could  only  succeed  in  enlisting  four 
commanded  by  Captains  Montgomery,  Bowman,  Helm,  and 
Harrod.  On  Corn  Island,  opposite  Louisville,  on  the  Ohio, 
Clarke  announced  his  destination  to  the  men.  At  the  mouth 
of  the  Tennessee,  a  man  named  John  Duff  was  encountered, 
with  a  party  of  hunters,  who  had  recently  visited  Kaskaskia, 
and  also  brought  the  intelligence  that  one  Rocheblave,  a 
French  Canadian,  was  in  command  at  that  point,  that  he 
kept  the  militia  well  drilled,  and  that  sentinels  were  posted 
to  watch  for  the  "  Long  Knives,"  as  the  Virginians  wei'e 
called,  of  whom  the  inhabitants  were  in  terror.  Securing  his 
boats  near  Fort  Massacre  (or  Massac,)  Clarke  undertook  the 
journey  across  the  country,  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles, 
to  Kaskaskia.  It  was  accomplished  with  difficulty.  On  the 
afternoon  of  the  fourth  of  July,  1778,  the  exhausted  band  of 
invaders  came  to  the  vicinity  of  Kaskaskia,  and  concealed 
themselves  in  the  hills  to  the  east  of  the  town.  After  dark 
Clarke  proceeded  to  the  old  ferry-house,  three-fourths  of  a 
mile  above  the  village,  and  at  midnight  addressed  his  troops 
on  the  banks  of  the  river.  He  divided  his  force  into  three 
parties.  Two  were  to  cro.ss  to  the  west  side  of  the  river,  and 
enter  the  town  from  different  quarters.  The  third,  under  the 
direction  of  Clarke  himself,  was  to  capture  the  fort  on  the 
east  side.  Kaskaskia  at  that  time  was  a  village  of  about  two 
hundred  and  fifty  houses.  The  British  commander  last  in 
charge  had  instilled  in  the  raindi  of  the  people  the  impres- 
sion that  the  Virginians,  otherwise  the  "  Long  Knives,"  were 
a  ferocious  band  of  murderers,  plundering  houses,  slaughter- 
ing women  and  children,  and  committing  acts  of  great  atro- 
city. Clarke  determined  to  take  advantage  of  this,  and  so 
surprise  the  inhabitants  by  fear  as  to  induce  them  to  submit 
without  resistance.  Clarke  effected  an  entrance  to  the  fort 
without  difficulty.  The  other  parties  at  a  given  signal  en- 
tered Kaskaskia  at  tiie  opposite  extremities,  and  with  terri- 
ble outcries  and  hideous  noises,  aroused  the  terrified  inhabi- 
tants, who  shrieked  in  their  alarm,  "The  Long  Knives!' 
"The  Long  Knives  are  here!"  Tlie  panic  stricken  towns- 
men delivered  up  their  arms,  and  the  victory  was  accom- 
plished without  the  shedding  of  a  drop  of  blood.  M.  Roche- 
blave, the  British  commandant,  was  unconscious  of  the  pres- 
ence of  the  enemy,  till  an  officer  of  the  detachment  entered 


his  bed-chamber,  and  claimed  him  as  a  prisoner  In  accord- 
ance with  his  original  plan  of  conquering  the  inhabitants  by 
terror,  and  then  afterward  winning  their  regard  and  grati- 
tude by  his  clemency,  Clarke,  the  next  day,  withdrew  his 
forces  from  the  town,  and  sternly  forbade  all  communication 
between  it  and  his  soldiers.  Some  of  the  principal  militia 
officers,  citizens  of  the  town,  were  next  put  in  irons-  The 
terror  now  reached  its  height.  The  priest,  and  a  deputation 
of  five  or  six  elderly  men  of  the  village,  called  on  Clarke, 
and  humbly  requested  permission  to  assemble  in  t!  e  church, 
to  take  leave  of  each  other  and  commend  their  future  lives 
to  the  protection  of  a  msrciful  God,  since  they  expected  to 
be  separated,  perhaps  never  to  meet  again.  Clarke  gruffly 
granted  the  privilege.  The  whole  population  convened  at 
the  church,  and  after  remaining  together  a  long  time,  the 
priest  and  a  few  others  again  waited  upon  the  commander  of 
the  American  forces,  presenting  thanks  for  the  privilege  they 
had  enjoyed,  and  desiring  to  know  what  fate  awaited 
them. 

Clarke  now  determined  to  lift  them  from  their  despair,  and 
win  their  gratitude  by  a  show  of  mercy.  "  What!"  said  he; 
"  do  you  take  us  for  savages  ?  Do  you  think  Americans  will 
strip  women  and  children,  and  take  bread  from  their  mouths? 
My  countrymen  disdain  to  make  war  on  helpless  innocents." 
He  further  reminded  them  that  the  King  of  France,  their 
former  ruler,  was  an  ally  of  the  Americans,  and  now  fighting 
their  cause.  He  told  them  to  embrace  the  side  they  deemed 
best,  and  they  should  be  respected  in  the  enjoyment  of  their 
liberty  and  the  rights  of  property. 

The  revulsi  m  of  feeling  was  complete.  The  good  news 
spread  throughout  the  village.  The  church-bell  rang  a 
merry  peal,  and  the  delighted  inhabitants  gathered  at  the 
chapel,  where  thanks  were  offered  to  God  for  their  happy 
and  unexpected  deliverance.  The  loyalty  of  the  inhabitants 
was  assured,  and  ever  after  they  remained  fiiithful  to  the 
American  cause.  The  French  inhabitants  of  Kaskaskia 
were  readily  reconciled  to  a  change  of  government.  In 
October,  1778,  the  Virginia  Assembly  erected  the  conquered 
territory  into  the  County  of  Illinois.  ■  This  County  embraced 
all  the  region  north-west  of  Ohio,  and  five  large  states  have 
since  been  formed  from  it.  Colonel  Clarke  was  appointed 
military  commander  of  all  the  western  territory  north  and 
south  of  the  Ohio,  and  Colonel  John  Todd,  one  of  Clarke's 
soldiers,  who  next  to  Clarke  had  been  tiie  first  man  to  enter 
Fort  Gage,  was  appointed  lieutenant-commander  of  Illinois. 
In  the  spring  of  1779,  Colonel  Todd  visited  Kaskaskia,  and 
made  arrangements  for  the  orga^nization  of  a  temporary 
government.  Many  of  the  French  inhabitants  of  Kaskaskia, 
Prairie  du  Rocher,  and  the  other  settlements,  readily  took 
the  oath  of  allegiance  to  Virginia.  Colonel  Todd  was  killed 
at  the  famous  battle  of  Blue  Licks,  in  Kentucky,  August, 
1782,  and  Timothy  deMontbrun,  a  Frenchman,  succeeded 
him  as  commandant  of  Illinois  County.  Of  his  administra- 
tion but  little  is  known. 

THE  "compact  of  1787." 

In  1682  Illinois  became  a  possession  of  the  French  crown, 
a  dependency  of  Canada,  and  a  part  of  Louisiana.  In  17G5 
the  English  flag  was  run  up  on  old   Fort   Chartres,   and 


HISTORY    OF    RAXDOLril     MOXROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES.    ILLINOIS. 


33 


Illinois  was  counted  among  the  treasures  of  Great  Britain. 
In  1779  it  was  taken  from  tlie  English  by  Col.  George 
Rogers  Clark :  this  man  was  resolute  in  nature,  wise  in  coun- 
cil, prudent  in  policy,  bold  in  action,  and  heroic  in  danger. 
Few  men  who  have  figured  in  the  early  history  of  America 
are  more  deserving  than  he.  Nothing  short  of  first-class 
ability  could  have  rescued  "  Vincins"and  all  Illinois  from 
the  English,  and  it  is  not  possible  to  over-estimate  the  in- 
fluence of  this  achievement  upon  the  republic.  In  1779, 
Illinois  became  a  part  of  Virginia.  It  was  soon  known  as 
Illinois  county.  In  1784  Virginia  ceded  all  this  territory 
to  the  general  government  to  be  cut  into  states,  to  be  republi- 
can in  form,  with  "  the  same  right  of  sovereignty,  freedom 
and  independence  as  the  other  states." 

In  1787  it  was  tiie  object  of  the  wisest  and  ablest  legisla- 
tion found  in  any  merely  human  records.  No  man  can 
study  the  secret  history  of  The  Compact  of  1787  and  not 
fool  that  Providence  was  guiding  with  sleepless  eyes  tho.-e 
unborn  states.  The  ordinance  that  on  July  13,  1787,  finally 
became  the  incorporating  act,  has  a  most  marvelous  histury. 
Jefferson  had  vainly  tried  to  secure  a  system  of  government 
for  the  north-western  territory.  He  was  an  emancipationist 
of  tliat  day,  and  favored  the  exclusion  of  slavery  from  the 
territory  Virginia  had  ceded  to  the  general  governnuiit, 
but  the  south  voted  him  down  as  often  as  it  came  up.  In 
1787,  as  late  as  July  10,  an  orgauizing  act  without  the 
anti-slavery  clause  was  pending.  This  concession  to  the  south 
was  expected  to  carry  it  Congress  was  in  session  in  New- 
York  city.  0 1  July  '),  Rev.  Dr.  Manassch  Cutler,  of 
Massachusetts,  came  into  New  York  to  lobby  on  the  north- 
western territory.  Everything  seemed  to  fiiU  into  his  hands. 
Events  were  ripe :  the  state  of  the  public  credit,  the  growing  of 
southern  prejudice,  the  basis  of  his  mission,  his  personal 
character,  all  combined  to  complete  oncoftliosc  sudden  and 
marvelous  revolutions  of  public  sentiment  that  once  in  five 
or  ten  centuries  are  seen  to  sweep  over  a  country  like  the 
breath  of  the  Almighty.  Cutler  was  a  remarkable  man  ;  a 
graduate  of  Ynh,  he  had  studied  and  taken  degrees  in  the 
three  learned  professions,  law,  clivinity  ;iiid  medicine,  ILir- 
vnrd  had  given  him  his  A.  M.,  and  Y<ilr  li;iil  honored  herself 
by  adding  his  D.  D.  He  harl  thus  America's  best  literary 
indorsement.  He  had  published  a  scientific  examination  of 
the  plants  of  New  England.  His  name  stood  second  only  to 
that  of  Franklin  as  a  scientist  in  America.  He  was  a  courtly 
gentleman  of  tlie  old  style,  a  man  of  coramauding  presence, 
and  of  inviting  face.  Thesouthern  members  were  captivated 
by  his  genial  manners,  rare  and  profound  abilities.  He 
came  representing  a  company  that  desired  to  purchase  a 
tract  of  land  now  included  in  Ohio,  for  the  purpose  of  plant- 
ing a  colony.  Government  money  was  worth  eighteen  cents 
on  the  dollar.  This  Massachusetts  company  had  collected 
enough  to  purchase  1,500,000  acres  of  land.  Other  specu- 
lators in  New  York  made  Dr.  Cutler  their  agent;  on  the 
12th  he  represented  a  demand  for  5,500,000  acres.  This 
would  reduce  the  national  debt.  Jefferson  and  Virginia 
were  regarded  as  authority  concerning  the  land  Virginia 
had  just  ceded.  Jefferson's  policy  wanted  to  provide  for  the 
public  credit,  and  this  was  a  good  opportunity  to   do  some- 


thing. Massachusetts  then  owned  the  tfrritory  of  JIaine, 
which  she  was  crowding  on  the  market.  She  was  opposed 
to  opening  the  north-western  region.  This  fired  the  zeal  of 
Virginia.  The  South  caught  the  inspiration,  and  all  exalted 
Dr.  Cutler.  The  English  Mini.ster  invited  him  to  dine  with 
some  of  the  Southern  gentlemen.  He  was  the  centre  of  in- 
terest; the  entire  South  rallied  around  him.  Ma.ssachusetts 
could  not  vote  against  him,  becau.se  many  of  the  constituents' 
of  her  members  were  interested  personally  in  the  western 
speculation  ;  thus  Cutler,  making  friends  with  the  south,  and 
(hmbtless  using  all  the  arts  of  the  lobby,  was  enabled  to 
command  the  situation.  True  to  deeper  conviction,  he 
dictated  one  of  the  most  compact  and  finished  documents  of 
wise  statesmanship  that  ever  adorned  any  human  law  book  ; 
he  borrowed  from  Jelf'erson  the  term  "  Articles  of  Compact," 
which  preceding  the  federal  constitution,  rose  into  the  most 
saered  character.  He  then  followed  very  closely  the  constitu- 
tion of  Massachusetts,  adopted  three  years  before, — its  most 
marked  points  were  : 

l.~t.  The  exclusion  of  slavery  from  the    territory  forever. 

lid.  Provision  for  public  schools,  giving  one  townsliip  for 
a  seminary,  and  every  section  numbered  16  in  each  town- 
sliip ;  that  is,  one  thirty -sixth  of  all  the  land  for  public 
schools. 

3d.  A  provision  prohibiting  tlie  adoption  of  any  consti- 
tution, or  the  enactment  of  any  law  that  should  nullify 
jire-existing  contracts. 

]>e  it  fir(  ver  remembered  that  this  compact  declared 
that  "  Itcligiou,  morality,  and  knowledge  being  necessary 
to  good  governmont  and  the  happiness  of  mankind,  schools 
and  means  of  education  shall  always  be  encouraged."  Dr. 
Cutler  planted  himself  on  this  platfirm  and  would  not  yield. 
Giving  his  unqualified  declaration  that  it  was  that  or  nothing 
— that  unless  they  cimid  make  the  land  desirable  they  did 
not  want  it — ho  took  his  horse  and  gig  and  started  for  the 
Constitutional  Convention  in  Philadelphia.  On  July  13, 
1787,  the  bill  was  put  upon  its  pas.sage,  and  was  unanimously 
adopted,  every  Southern  member  voting  fnr  it,  and  only  one 
man,  ^Ir.  Yates  of  New  York,  voting  against  it,  but  as  the 
States  voted  as  States,  Yates  lost  his  vote,  and  the  conijiact 
was  put  beyond  repeal.  Then  the  great  States  of  Ohio,  In- 
diana, Illinois,  Michigan,  and  'Wisconsin — a  vast  empire, 
the  heart  of  the  great  valley — were  consecrated  to  freedom, 
intelligence,  and  honesty.  In  the  light  of  these  ninety-five 
years,  it  is  evident  to  all  that  this  act  was  the  salvation  of 
the  republic  and  the  destruction  of  slavery.  Soon  the  south 
saw  their  great  blunder,  and  tried  to  repeal  the  compact. 
In  1803  (Congress  referred  it  to  a  committee,  of  which  John 
Randolph  was  chairnum.  He  reported  that  this  ordinance 
was  a  compact,  and  opposed  repeal.  Thus  it  stood  a  rock 
in  the  way  of  the  on-rushing  sea  of  slavery.  With  all  this 
timely  aid  it  was,  after  all,  a  most  desperate  and  protracted 
struggle  to  keep  the  soil  of  Illinois  sacred  to  freedom.  It 
was  the  natural  battle  field  for  tlie  irrepressible  conflict.  In 
the  southern  cud  of  the  State  slavery  preceded  the  compact. 
It  existed  among  the  old  French  settlers,  and  was  hard  to 
eradicate.  The  southern  part  of  the  State  was  settled  from 
the  slave  States;   and  this  population  brought   their  laws, 


34 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    FERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


customs,  and  institutions  with  them.  A  stream  of  popula- 
tion from  the  Nortli  poured  into  the  northern  part  of  the 
State  , These  sections  misunderstood  and  hated  each  other 
perfectly-  The  Southerners  regarded  the  Yankees  as  a  skin- 
ning, tricky,  penurious  race  of  peddlers,  filling  the  country 
with  tinware,  brass  clocks,  and  wooden  nutmegs.  The 
Northerner  thought  of  the  Southerner  as  a  lean,  lank,  lazy 
creature,  burrowing  in  a  hut,  and  rioting  in  whisky,  dirt 
and  ignorance.  These  causes  aided  in  making  the  struggle 
long  and  bitter.  So  strong  was  the  sympathy  with  slavery 
that  in  spite  of  the  ordinance  of  1787,  and  iu  spite  of  the 
deed  of  cession,  it  was  determined  to  allow  the  old  French 
settlers  to  retain  their  sl.avos.  Planters  from  the  slave 
States  might  bring  their  slaves,  if  they  would  give  them  a 
chance  to  choose  freedom,  or  years  of  service  and  bondage 
for  their  children  till  they  should  become  thirty  years  of  age. 
If  they  chose  freedom  they  must  leave  the  State  iu  sixty 
days  or  be  sold  as  fugitives.  Servants  were  whipped  for 
offences  for  which  white  men  are  fined  ;  each  lash  jsaid  forty 
cents  of  the  fine.  A  negro  ten  miles  from  home  without  a 
pass  was  whipped.  These  famous  laws  were  imjiorted  from 
the  slave  States,  just  as  they  imported  laws  for  the  inspec- 
tion of  flax  and  wool  when  there  was  neither  in  the  State. 
These  black  laws  are  now  wiped  out.  A  vigorous  effort  was 
made  to  protect  .slavery  iu  the  State  Constitution  of  1818  ;  it 
barely  failed.  It  was  renewed  in  1826,  when  a  convention 
was  asked  to  make  a  new  constitution.  After  a  hard  fight  the 
convention  was  defeated  ;  but  slaves  did  not  disappear  from 
the  census  of  the  State  until  18.50.  There  were  mobs  and 
murders  in  the  interest  of  slavery.  Lovcjoy  was  added  to 
the  list  of  martyrs — a  sort  of  first  fruits  of  that  long  line  of 
immortal  heroes  who  saw  freedom  aa  tiie  one  supreme  desire 
of  their  souls,  and  were  so  enamored  of  her  that  they  pre- 
ferred to  dis  rather  than  survive  her. 

LAND    TENURES. 

The  early  French  settlers  held  the  possession  of  their  land 
in  common.  A  tract  of  land  was  fixed  upon  for  a  Common 
Field,  in  which  all  the  inhabitants  were  interested. 

Besides  the  Common  Field,  another  tract  of  land  was  laid 
off  on  the  Commons.  All  the  villagers  had  free  access  to 
this  as  a  place  of  pasturage  for  their  stock.  From  this  they 
also  drew  their  supply  of  fuel. 

Individual  grants  were  likewise  made.  Under  the  French 
system,  the  lands  were  granted  without  any  equivalent  con- 
sideration in  the  way  of  money,  the  individuals  satisfying 
the  authorities  that  the  lands  were  wanted  for  actual  settle- 
ment, or  for  a  purpose  likely  to  benefit  the  community.  The 
first  grant  of  land,  which  is  preserved,  is  that  made  to  Charles 
Danie,  May  lOlli,  1722.  The  French  grants  at  Kaskaskia 
extended  from  river  to  river,  and  at  other  places  in  the  Bot- 
tom they  commonly  extended  from  river  to  bluff.  Grants  of 
land  were  made  for  almost  all  the  American  Bottom,  from 
the  upper  limits  of  the  Common  Field  of  St.  Phillip's  to 
the  lower  line  of  the  Kaskaskia  Common  Field,  a  distance 
of  nearly  thirty  miles. 

The  British  commandants,  who  assumed  the  government 
on  the  cession  of  the  territory  by  France,  exercised  the  pri- 


vilege of  making  grants,  subject  to  the  approval  of  his  Ma- 
jesty, the  King.  Colonel  Wilkins  granted  to  some  merchants 
of  Philadelphia  a  magnificent  domain  of  thirty  thousand 
acres  lying  between  the  village  of  Kaskaskia  and  Prairie  du 
Rocher,  much  of  it  already  covered  by  French  grants  pre- 
viously made.  For  the  better  carrying  out  their  plans,  the 
British  officers,  and  perhaps  their  grantees,  destroyed,  to 
some  extent,  the  records  of  the  ancient  French  grants  at 
Kaskaskia,  by  which  the  regular  claim  of  titles  and  convey- 
ances was  partly  broken.  This  British  grant  of  thirty 
thousand  acres,  which  had  been  assigned  to  John  Edgar, 
was  afterward  patented  by  Governor  St.  Clair  to  Edgar  and 
John  Murray  St.  Clair,  the  Governor's  son,  to  whom  Edgar 
had  previously  conveyed  a  moiety  by  deed.  Although  much 
fault  was  found  with  the  transaction,  a  confirmation  of  the 
grant  was  secured  from  the  United  States  government. 

When  Virginia  ceded  Illinois,  it  was  stipulated  that  the 
French  and  Canadian  inhabitants,  and  other  settlers,  who 
had  professed  allegiance  to  Virginia,  should  have  their 
titles  confirmed  to  them.  Congress  afterwards  authorized 
the  Governor  to  confirm  the  possessions  and  titles  of  the 
French  to  their  lands.  In  accordance  with  this  agreement. 
Governor  St.  Clair,  in  1790,  issued  a  proclamation  directing 
the  inhabitants  to  exhibit  their  titles  and  claims  of  the  lands 
which  they  held,  in  order  to  be  confirmed  in  their  possession. 
Where  the  instruments  were  found  to  be  authentic,  orders  of 
survey  were  issued,  the  expense  of  which  was  borne  by  the 
parties  who  claimed  ownership.  The  French  inhabitants 
were  in  such  poverty  at  this  time  that  they  were  really  una- 
ble to  pay  the  exjicnses  of  the  surveys,  and  a  memorial 
signed  by  P.  Gibault,  the  priest  at  Kaskaskia,  and  eighty- 
seven  others,  was  presented  to  Governor  St.  Clair,  praying 
him  to  petition  Congress  for  relief  in  the  matter.  In  1791, 
Congress  directed  that  four  hundred  acres  of  land  should  be 
granted  to  the  head  of  every  family  which  had  made  improve- 
ments in  Illinois  prior  to  the  year  1788.  Congress  had  also 
directed  that  a  donation  be  given  to  each  of  the  families  then 
living  at  either  of  the  villages  of  Kaskaskia,  Prairie  du 
Rocher,  Cahukia,  Fort  Chartres,  or  St.  Phillips.  These  were 
known  as  the  "  bead-right "  claims. 

At  an  early  date,  speculation  became  active  in  the  land 
claims  of  different  kinds;  bead -rights,  improvement  rights, 
militia  right',  and  fraudulent  claims  were  produced  in  greU 
numbers.  The  French  claims  were  partly  unconfirmed, 
owing  to  the  poverty  of  that  people,  and  these  were  forced 
on  the  market  with  the  others.  Tfie  official  report  of  the 
commissioners  at  Kaskaskia,  made  in  1810,  shows  that  eight 
hundred  and  ninety  land  claims  were  rejected  as  being  ille- 
gal or  fraudulent.  Three  hundred  and  seventy  were 
reported  as  being  supported  by  perjury,  and  a  considerable 
number  were  forged.  There  are  fourteen  names  given  of 
persons,  both  English  and  French,  who  made  it  a  regular 
business  to  furnish  sworu  certificates,  professing  an  intimate 
knowledge,  in  every  case,  of  the  settlers  who  had  made  cer- 
tain improvements  upon  which  claims  were  predicated  and 
when  and  where  they  were  located.  A  Frenchman,  clerk 
of  the  parish  of  Prairie  du  Rocher,  "  without  property  and 
fond  of  liquor,"  after  having  given  .some  two  hundred  depo- 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MOXROL    AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


35 


sitions  ia  favor  of  three  land  claimant  speculators,  "  was 
induced,'  in  the  bnguage  of  the  report,  "  either  by  compen- 
sation, fear,  or  the  impossibility  of  obtaining  absolution  on 
any  O'ther  terms,  to  declare  on  oath  that  the  said  depositions 
were  false,  and  that  in  giving  them  he  had  a  regard  for 
something  beyond  tlie  truth." 

The  report  of  the  commissioners  raised  many  doubts  in 
regard  to  the  validity  and  propriety  of  a  number  of  confir- 
mations by  the  Governors,  and  much  dissatisfaction  among 
the  claimants;  and  in  consequence.  Congress  in  1812,  passed 
an  act  for  the  revision  of  these  land  claims  ia  the  Kaskaskia 
district.  The  commissioners  under  this  law  were  Michael 
Jones,  John  Caldwell,  and  Thomas  Sloo.  Facts  damaging 
to  persons  who  occupied  positions  of  high  respectability  in 
the  community,  were  disclosed.  They  reported  that  tlie 
English  claim  of  thirty  thousand  acres  confirmed  by  Gover- 
nor St.  Clair  to  John  Edgar  and  the  Governor's  son,  John 
Murray  St.  Clair,  was  founded  in  neither  law  or  equity ;  that 
the  patent  was  issued  after  the  Governor's  power  ceased  to 
exist,  and  the  claim  ought  not  to  be  confirmed.  Congress, 
however,  confirmed  it. 

For  a  period  of  .several  years,  emigration  was  considerably 
retarded  by  the  delay  in  adjusting  land  titles.  The  act  of 
Congress  passed  in  1813,  granting  the  right  of  pre-emption 
to  settlers,  was  influential  in  bringing  the  public  lands  into 
market.  Emigrants  poured  into  the  country,  and  improve- 
ments were  rapid'y  made. 

rilYSICAI,    FK.VTURES    OF    TIIF.   .STATE. 

Ia  area  the  State  has  55,410  square  miles  of  territ  iry.  It 
is  about  150  miles  wide  and  400  miles  long,  stretching  in 
latitude  from  JIaine  to  North  Carolina.  It  embraces  wide 
variety  of  climate.  It  is  tempered  on  the  north  by  the  great 
inland,  saltless,  tidelcss  sea,  which  helps  the  thermometer 
from  either  extreme.  Being  a  table-land,  from  690  to  1,G00 
feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea,  one  is  prepared  to  find  on  the 
health  maps,  prepared  by  the  general  government,  an  almost 
clean  and  perfect  record.  In  freedom  from  fever  and  mala- 
rial diseases  and  consumptions,  the  three  deadly  enemies  of 
the  American  Saxon,  Illinois,  as  a  State,  stands  without  a 
superior.  She  furnishes  one  of  the  essential  con<litions  of  a 
great  people — sound  bodies;  we  suspect  that  this  fact  lies 
back  of  that  old  Delaware  word,  Illini,  superior  men.  The 
great  battles  of  history  havebeen  determinative;  dynasties  and 
destinies  have  been  strategical  battles,  chielly  the  question  of 
position  ;  Thermopyho  has  been  the  war-cry  of  freemen  f  )r 
twenty-four  centuries.  It  only  tells  how  much  there  may  be 
in  position.  All  this  advantage  belong  to  Illinois.  It  is  in 
the  heart  of  the  greatest  valley  in  the  world,  the  vast  region 
between  the  mountains — a  valley  that  could  feed  mankind 
for  a  thousand  years.  It  is  well  on  toward  the  centre  of  the 
continent.  It  is  in  the  great  temperate  belt,  in  which  have 
beenf)und  nearly  all  the  aggressive  civilizations  of  history. 
It  has  sixty-five  miles  of  frontage  on  the  head  of  Lake  Michi- 
gan. With  the  Jlississippi  forming  the  western  and  south- 
ern boundary,  with  the  Ohio  running  along  the  south-eastern 
line,  with  the  Illinois  river  and  Canal  dividing  the  State 
diagonally  from  the  lake  to  the  Lower  IMississippi,  and  with 
the  Rock  and  Wabash  rivers  furnishing  altogether  2,000 


miles  of  water-front,  connecting  with,  and  running  through, 
in  all  about  12,000  miles  of  navigable  water.  But  this  is 
not  all.  These  waters  are  made  most  available  by  the  fact 
that  the  lake  and  the  State  lie  on  the  ridge  running  into  the 
great  valley  from  the  east.  Within  cannon-shot  of  the  lake 
the  water  runs  away  from  the  lake  to  the  gulf  The  lake 
now  empties  at  both  ends,  one  into  the  Atlantic  and  one  into 
the  Gulf  of  ^lexieo.  The  lake  thus  seems  to  hang  over  the 
land.  This  makes  the  dockage  most  .serviceable;  there  arc 
no  steep  banks  to  damage  it.  Both  lake  and  river  are  made 
for  use.  The  climate  varies  from  Portland  to  Richmond. 
It  favors  every  product  of  the  continent  including  the  tropics, 
with  less  than  half  a  dozen  exceptions.  It  produces  every 
great  nutriment  of  the  world  except  bananas  and  rice.  It 
is  hardly  too  much  to  .say  that  it  is  the  most  productive  spot 
known  to  civilization.  With  the  soil  full  of  bread  and  the 
earth  full  of  minerals;  with  au  upper  surfiiceof  food  and  an 
under  layer  of  fuel;  with  perfect  natural  drainage,  and 
abundant  springs  and  streams  and  navigable  rivers;  half 
way  between  the  forests  of  the  North  and  the  fruits  of  the 
South;  withiu  a  day's  ride  of  the  great  deposits  of  iron,  coal, 
copper,  lead  and  zinc:  containing  and  controlling  the  great 
grain,  cattle,  pork,  and  lumber  markets  of  the  world,  it  is 
not  strange  that  Illinois  has  the  advantage  of  position.  This 
advantage  has  been  supplemented  by  the  character  of  the 
population.  In  the  early  days  when  Illinois  was  first  admit- 
ted to  the  union,  her  population  were  chiefly  from  Kentucky 
and  Virginia.  But,  in  the  conflict  of  ideas  concerning  sla- 
very, a  strong  tide  of  immigration  came  in  frori  tlie  East,  ami 
soon  changed  this  composition.  In  1880,  her  now  native 
poj)ulation  were  from  colder  soils.  New  York  had  furnislied 
143,290:  Ohio  gave  172,023:  Pennsylvania  108,352:  the 
entire  South  gave  us  only  210,734.  In  all  her  cities,  and  in 
all  her  German  and  Scandinavian  and  other  foreign  colonics, 
Illiiiiiis  has  only  about  one-filth  of  her  people  of  fureigu 
birth. 

]'R()c:r.Ess  OF  r)i:vi:i.<iFMi:NT. 

Que  of  the  grcat:ist  d::velopments  in  the  early  history 
of  Illinois,  is  the  Illinois  and  Michigan  c.uial,  connecting  tin; 
Illinois  a:id  ;\Iississippi  rivers  with  the  lakes.  It  was  of  the 
utmost  importance  to  the  State.  It  was  recommended  by 
Governor  Bund,  the  first  governor,  in  his  first  message.  Two 
bright  young  engineers  surveyed  it,  and  estimated  the  cost 
at  8000,000  or  8700,000.  It  finally  cost  88,000,000.  In 
1825,  a  law  was  passed  to  incorporate  the  canal  company, 
hut  no  stock  was  s  Id.  In  1826,  upon  the  soli^'itation  of 
Daniel  P.  Cook,  congress  gave  800,000  acres  of  land  on  the 
line  of  the  work.  In  1828,  another  law-commissioner  was 
appointed,  and  work  commenced  with  new  survey  and  new 
estimates.  In  1831-35,  George  Farquar  nuide  an  able 
report  on  the  whole  matter.  This  was,  doubtless,  the 
ablest  rejiort  ever  made  to  a  western  legislature,  and  it  be- 
came the  model  for  subsequent  reports  and  action.  From 
this  the  work  went  on  until  it  was  finished  in  1848.  It  co.-t 
tlie  State  a  large  amount  of  money  ;  but  it  gave  to  the  indus- 
tries of  tlio  State  an  impetus  that  pushed  it  up  into  the  fir-t 
rank  of  greatness.  It  was  not  built  as  a  sprruhuinu.  But 
it  has  paid  into  the  Treasury  of  the  State  an  average  annual 


36 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


nett  sum  of  over  111,000.  Pending  the  construction  of  the 
canal,  the  land  and  town-lot  fever  broke  out  in  the  state,  in 
1834-35.  It  took  on  the  malignant  type  in  Chicago,  lifting 
the  town  up  into  a  city.  The  disease  spread  over  the  entire 
State  and  adjoining  States.  It  was  epidemic.  It  cut  up 
men's  farms  without  regard  to  locality,  and  cut  up  the  purses 
of  the  purchasers  without  regard  to  consequences.  There 
was  no  lack  of  buyei-s  ;  speculators  and  money  swarmed  into 
the  country.  This  distemper  seized  upon  the  Legislature  in 
1836-37,  and  left  not  one  to  tell  the  tale.  They  enacted  a 
system  of  internal  improvement  without  a  parallel  in  the 
gjandeur  of  its  conception.  Tliey  ordered  the  construction 
of  1,300  miles  of  railroad,  crossing  the  State  in  all  directions. 
This  was  surpassed  by  the  river  and  canal  improvements. 
There  were  a  few  counties  not  touched  by  either  railroad  or 
river  or  canal,  and  those  were  to  be  comforted  and  compen- 
sated by  the  free  distribution  of  S'200,000  among  them.  To 
inflate  this  balloon  beyond  credence  it  was  ordered  that  work 
should  be  commenced  on  both  ends  of  each  of  these  railroads 
and  rivers,  and  at  each  river-crossing,  all  at  the  same  time. 
The  appropriations  for  the  vast  improvements  were  over 
$12,000,000,  and  commissioners  were  appointed  to  borrow 
money  on  the  credit  of  the  State.  Remember  that  all  this  was 
in  the  early  days  of  railroading,  when  railroads  were  luxu- 
ries ;  that  the  State  had  whole  counties  with  scarcely  a 
cabin,  and  that  the  population  of  the  State  was  less  than 
400,000,  and  you  can  form  some  idea  of  the  vigor  with 
which  these  brave  men  undertook  the  work  of  making  a 
great  State.  In  the  light  of  history  it  appears  that  this  was 
only  a  premature  throb  of  the  power  that  actually  slumbered 
in  the  soil  of  the  State.  It  was  Hercules  in  the  cradle.  At 
this  juncture  the  State  bank  loaned  its  funds  largely  to 
Godfrey  Oilman  &  Co.,  and  other  leading  houses  for  the 
purpose  of  drawing  trade  from  St.  Louis  to  Alton.  Soon 
they  failed,  and  took  down  the  bank  with  them.  In  1840, 
all  hope  seemed  gone.  A  population  of  480,000  were  load- 
ed with  a  debt  of  814,000,000.  It  had  only  six  small  cities, 
really  only  towns,  namely:  Chicago,  Alton,  Springfield, 
Qiiincy,  Galena  and  Nauvoo.  This  debt  was  to  be  cared 
for  when  there  was  not  a  dollar  in  the  treasury,  and  when 
the  State  had  borrowed  itself  out  of  all  credit,  and  when 
there  was  not  good  money  enough  in  the  hands  of  all  the 
people  to  pay  the  interest  of  the  debt  for  a  single  year.  Yet 
in  the  presence  of  all  these  difficulties  the  young  State 
steadily  refused  to  repudiate.  Gov.  Ford  took  hold  of  the 
problem  and  solved  it,  bringing  the  State  through  in  trium])h. 
Having  touched  lightly  upon  some  of  the  most  distinctive 
points  in  the  history  of  Illinois,  let  us  next  briefly  consider 
the 

MATERIAL    RESOURCES    OF    THE    STATE. 

It  is  substantially  a  garden  four  hundred  miles  long  and 
one  hundred  and  fifty  wide.  Its  soil  is  chiefly  a  black  sandy 
loam,  varying  from  six  inches  to  six  feet  thick.  On  the 
American  Bottoms  it  has  been  cultivated  for  over  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  years  without  renewal.  About  the  old  French 
towns  it,  has  yielded  corn  for  a  century  and  a  half  without 
rest  or  help.  It  produces  nearly  everything  green  in  the  tem- 
perate and  tropical  zones ;  she  leads  any  of  the  other  Statf  s 


in  the  number  of  acres  actually  under  plow.  Her  products 
from  2.5,000,000  acresare  incalculable.  Her  mineral  wealth 
is  scarcely  second  to  her  agricultural  power.  She  has  coal, 
iron,  lead,  copper,  zinc,  many  varieties  of  building  stone, 
fire  clay,  cuma  clay,  common  brick  and  tile  clay,  sands  of 
all  kinds,  gravel,  mineral  paint,  everything  needed  for  a 
high  civilization.  Left  to  herself,  she  has  the  elements  of 
all  greatness.  The  single  item  of  coal  is  too  vast  for  an 
appreciative  handling  in  figures.  We  can  handle  itin  gene- 
ral terms,  like  algebraical  signs  but  long  before  we  get  up 
into  the  millions  and  billions,  the  human  mind  drops  down 
from  comprehension  to  mere  symbolic  apprehension.  Nearly 
four-fifths  of  the  entire  State  is  underlaid  with  a  deposit  of 
coal  more  than  forty  feet  thick  on  the  average,  including  all 
strata  (now  estimated  by  recent  surveys,  at  seventy  feet 
thick).  You  can  get  some  idea  of  its  amount,  as  you  do  of  the 
amount  of  the  national  debt.  There  it  is,  41,000  square 
miles,  one  vast  mine  into  which  you  could  bury  scores  of 
European  and  ancient  empires,  and  have  room  enough 
all  round  to  work  without  knowing  that  they  had  been 
sepulchered  there.  Put  this  vast  coal-bed  down  by  the 
ather  great  coal  deposits  of  the  world,  and  its  importance 
becomes  manifest.  Great  Britain,  has  12,000  square  miles 
of  coal;  Spain  3,000;  France  1,71'J;  Belgium  .578;  Illi- 
nois about  twice  as  many  square  miles  as  all  combined. 
Virginia  has  20,000  square  miles;  Pennsylvania,  10,000; 
Ohio,  12,000  ;  Illinois  has  31,000  square  miles  ;  one-seventh 
of  all  the  known  coal  on  this  continent  is  in  Illinois. 

Could  we  sell  the  coal  in  this  single  State  for  one-seventh 
of  one  cent  a  ton  it  would  pay  the  national  debt.  Great 
Britain  uses  enough  mechanical  power  to-day  to  give  each 
man,  woman  and  child  in  the  kingdom  the  help  and  service 
of  nineteen  untiring  servants.  Ko  wonder  she  has  leisure 
and  luxuries.  No  wonder  the  home  of  the  common  artisan 
has  in  it  more  luxuries  than  could  be  found  in  the  palace  of 
good  old  King  Arthur.  Think,  if  you  can  conceive  of  it,  of 
the  vastarmy  of  servants  that  slumber  in  Illinois,  impatient- 
ly awaiting  the  call  of  genius  to  come  forth  to  minister  to 
our  comfort.  At  the  present  rate  of  consumption  England's 
coal  supply  will  be  exhausted  in  2o0  years.  At  the  same 
rate  of  consumption  (which  far  exceeds  our  own)  tho  deposit 
of  coal  in  Illinois  will  last  120,000  years.  L?t  us  now  turn 
from  this  reserve  power  to  tlio 

ANNUAL   PRODLTCTS 

of  the  State.  We  shall  not  bo  humiliated  in  this  field.  Here 
we  strike  the  secret  of  our  national  credit.  Nature  provides 
a  market  in  the  ^Constant  appetite  of  the  race.  For  several 
years  past  the  annu.al  production  of  wheat  in  Illinois  has 
exceeded  30,000,000.  That  is  more  wheat  than  was  raised 
by  any  other  State  in  the  Union  ;  with  corn,  she  comes  for- 
ward with  140,000,000  bushels,  twice  as  much  as  any  other 
State,  and  one-sixth  of  all  the  corn  raised  in  the  Uuited 
States.  She  harvested  2,707,000  tons  of  hay,  nearly  one- 
tenth  of  all  the  hay  in  the  Republic.  It  is  not  generally 
appreciated,  but  it  is  true,  that  the  hay  crop  of  the  country 
is  worth  more  than  the  cotton  crop  ;  the  hay  of  Illinois  equals 
the  cotton  of  Louisiana. 


HISlOEi     OF  EASDOLPH,    ilOXEOE   A XI)    PEEEY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


37 


The  valuation  of  her  farm  implements  is  8230,000,000, 
and  the  value  of  her  livestock,  is  only  second  to  the  great 
State  of  New  York.  She  raises  from  25,000,000  to  30,000,- 
000  hogs  annually,  and  according  to  the  last  census  packed 
about  one  half  of  all  that  were  packed  in  the  United  States. 
This  Ls  no  insiiruifieant  item.  Pork  is  a  growing  demand  of 
the  old  world.  Illinois  marked  St>4,000,000  worth  of 
slaughtered  animals  ;  more  than  any  other  State,  and  one- 
seventh  of  all  the  States. 

Illinois  is  a  grand  and  wonderful  State,  peerless  in  the  fer- 
tility of  her  soil,  and  inexhaustible  resources.  She  is  fast 
marching  on  towards  her  predestined  place  asjirst  among  the 
sisterhood. 

We  subjoin  a  list  of  the  things  in  which  Illinois  excels  all 
other  States. 

Depth  and  richness  of  soil ;  per  cent,  of  good  ground  ; 
acres  of  improved  land  ;  large  farms — number  of  farmers  ; 
amount  of  wheat,  corn  oats,  and  honey  produced  ;  value  of 
animals  for  slaughter;  number  of  hogs;  amount  of  pork; 
and  number  of  horses. 

Illinois  excels  all  other  States  in  miles  of  railroads  and  in 
miles  of  postal  service,  and  in  money  orders  sold  per  annum, 
and  in  the  amount  of  lumber  sold  in  her  markets.  She  pays 
a  larger  amount  of  internal  revenue  to  the  general  govern- 
ment than  any  other  state. 

Illinois  is  only  second  in  manv  important  matters.  Tliis 
sample  list  comprises  a  few  of  the  more  important: 

Permanent  school  fund  (good  for  a  young  State)  ;  total 
income  for  educational  purposes;  number  of  publishers  of 
books,  maps,  papers,  etc. ;  value  of  farm  products  and  im- 
plements, and  of  live  stock  ;  in  tons  of  coal  mined. 

The  shipping  of  Illinois  is  only  second  to  Xew  York.  Out 
of  one  port  during  the  business  hours  of  the  season  of  navi- 
gation she  sends  forth  a  vessel  every  ten  minutes.  This  does 
not  include  canal  boats,  which  go  one  every  five  minutes. 
No  wonder  she  is  only  second  in  number  of  bankers  and 
brokers  or  in  physicians  and  surgeons. 

She  is  third  in  colleges,  teachers  and  schools ;  cattle,  lead, 
hay,  flax,  sorghum,  and  beeswax. 

She  is  fourth  in  population  ;  in  children  enrolled  in  public 
schools,  in  law  schools,  in  butter,  potatoes,  and  carriages. 

She  is  fifth  iu  value  of  real  and  personal  propert)',  in  theo- 
logical seminaries  and  colleges  exclusively  for  women,  in 
milk  sold,  and  in  boots  and  shoes  manufactured,  and  iu  book- 
binding. 

She  is  only  seventh  in  the  production  of  wood,  while  she  is 
the  twelfth  in  area.  She  now  has  much  more  wood  and 
growing  timber  than  she  had  thirty  years  ago. 

A  few  leading  industries  will  justify  emphasis.  She  man- 
ufactures 8210,000,000  worth  of  goods,  which  place  her 
nearly  equal  to  New  York  and  Pennsylvania. 

In  the  number  of  copies  of  commercial  and  financial  news- 
papers issued,  she  is  only  second  to  New  York,  and  in  her 
miles  of  railroads  she  leads  all  other  States.  Jlore  than  two- 
thirds  of  her  land  is  within  five  miles  of  a  railroad  and  less 
than  two  per  cent,  is  more  than  fifteen  miles  away. 

The  Eeligion  and  Morals  of  the  State  keep  step  ivith  her 
productions  and  growth.     She  was  born  of  the  missionary 


spirit.  It  was  a  minister  who  secured  her  the  ordinance  of 
1787,  by  which  she  has  been  saved  from  slavery,  ignorance, 
and  dishonesty.  Rev.  Mr.  Wiley,  pastor  of  a  Scotch  congre- 
gation in  Eandojph  County,  petitioned  the  Constitutional 
Convention  of  1818  to  recognize  Jesus  Christ  as  King,  aud 
the  Scriptures  as  the  only  necessary  guide  and  book  of  law. 
The  Convention  did  not  act  in  the  case,  and  the  old  cove- 
nanters refused  to  accept  citiztii.*hip.  They  never  voted 
until  1824,  when  the  slavery  question  was  submitted  to  the 
people.  But  little  mob  violence  has  ever  been  felt  in  the 
State.  In  1817  the  regulators  disposed  of  a  band  of  horse 
thieves  that  infested  the  territory.  The  Mormon  indignities 
finally  awoke  the  same  spirit.  Alton  was  also  the  scene  of  a 
pro-slaver)'  mob,  in  which  Lovejoy  was  added  to  the  list  of 
martyrs.  The  moral  sense  of  the  people  makes  the  law 
supreme,  and  gives  the  State  unruffled  peace.  With  about 
823,000,000  in  church  property,  and  4,321  church  organiza- 
tions, the  State  has  that  divine  police,  the  sleepless  patrol  of 
moral  ideas,  that  alone  is  able  to  secure  perfect  safety.  Con- 
science takes  the  knife  from  the  assassin's  hand  aud  the  blud- 
geon from  the  grasp  of  the  highwayman.  We  sleep  in  safety 
not  because  we  are  behind  bolts  and  bars — these  only  de- 
fend the  innocent ;  not  because  a  lone  ofiicer  sleeps  on  a 
distant  corner  of  the  street;  not  because  a  sheriff  may  call 
his  posse  from  a  remote  part  of  the  county  ;  but  because  con- 
science guards  the  very  portals  of  the  air  and  stirs  iu  the 
deepest  recesses  of  the  public  mind.  This  spirit  issues  within 
the  State  9,-500,000  copies  of  religious  papers  annually,  and 
receives  still  more  from  without.  Thus  the  crime  of  the 
State  is  only  one-fourth  that  of  New  York  and  one-half  that 
of  Pennsylvania. 

Illinois  never  had  but  one  duel  between  her  own  citizens. 
In  Belleville,  in  1820,  Alphonso  Stewart  and  William  Ben- 
nett arranged  to  vindicate  injured  honor.  The  seconds 
agreed  to  make  it  a  sham,  and  make  them  shoot  blanks. 
Stewart  was  in  the  secret.  Bennett  mistrusted  something, 
and,  unob.servcd,  slipped  a  bullet  into  his  gun  and  killed 
Stewart.  He  then  fled  the  State.  After  two  years  he  was 
caught,  tried,  convicted,  and,  in  spite  of  friends  and  political 
aid,  was  hung.  This  fixed  the  code  of  honor  on  a  Christian 
basis,  and  terminated  its  use  in  Illinois.  The  early  preachers 
were  generally  ignorant  men,  who  were  accounted  eloquent 
according  to  the  strength  of  their  voices.  Gov.  Ford  .saj's, 
"Nevertheless  these  first  preachers  were  of  incalculable  ben- 
efit to  the  country.  They  inculcated  justice  and  morality. 
To  them  are  we  indebted  for  the  first  Christian  character  of 
the  Protestant  portion  of  the  people." 

Jn£(fuca</on,  Illinois  surpasses  her  material  resources.  The 
ordinance  of  1787  consecrated  one  thirty-sixth  of  her  soil  to 
common  schools,  and  the  law  of  1318,  the  first  law  that  went 
upon  her  statutes,  gave  three  per  cent,  of  all  the  rest  to  Educa- 
tion. The  old  compact  secures  this  interest  forever,  and  by  its 
yoking  together  morality  and  intelligence  it  precludes  the 
legal  interference  with  the  Bible  in  the  public  schools.  With 
such  a  start  it  is  natural  that  we  should  have  about  11,500 
schools,  aud  that  our  ilitcracy  should  be  less  than  New  York 
or  Pennsylvania,  and  about  one-half  of  Massachusetts.  What 
a  grand  showing  for  so  young  a  State.     These  public  schools 


38 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


snon  made  culleges  inevitable.  The  first  college,  still  flour- 
i^liing,  was  started  in  Lebanon  in  lS-8,  hv  he  M.  E.  Church, 
ai.d  named  after  Bishop  ilcKcudree.  Illinois  college  at 
Jacksonville  followed  in  1830,  snjiported  by  the  Presbyterians. 
In  1832  the  Baptists  built  Shurtleff  college  at  Alton,  and 
Knox  college  at  Galesburg  fullowed  in  1833,  and  Jubilee 
college  at  Peoria  in  1847,  and  the  good  Catholic  missionaries 
long  prior  to  this  had  e  tablished  in  various  parts  of  the  State, 
colleges,  seminaries  and  parochial  schools.  After  these  earl  v 
years  colleges  have  rained  down.  A  settler  could  hardly 
encamp  on  the  prairie  but  a  college  would  spring  up  by  liis 
wagoa.  The  State  now  has  one  very  well  endowed  and 
eijuipped  university,  namely  the  North-western  University, 
at  Evanston,  with  six  colleges,  ninety  instructors,  over  one 
thousand  students,  and  Sl,.")00,000  endowment.  Eev.  J.  M. 
Peck  was  the  first  educated  Protestant  minister  in  the  State. 
lie  settled  at  Rock  Spring,  St.  Clair  County,  about  1820,  and 
has  left  his  impress  on  the  State.  He  was  a  large  contribu- 
tor to  the  literature  of  that  day  in  this  State  ;  about  1837  he 
published  a  GartWeer  of  Illinois.  Soon  after  John  Russell, 
of  BlulTdale,  published  essays  and  tales  showing  genius. 
Judge  James  Hall  published  the  Illinois  Monthhj  Magazine 
with  great  ability,  and  an  annual  called  Tlie  Western  Sou- 
venir, which  gave  him  an  enviable  fame  all  over  the  United 
States.  From  these  beginnings,  Illinois  has  gone  on  till  she 
has  more  volumes  in  public  libraries  even  than  Massachu- 
setts, and  of  the  44.500,000  volumes  in  all  the  public  libra- 
ries of  the  United  Siates,  she  has  one-thirteenth. 

In  18G0  she  had  eighteen  colleges  and  seminaries ;  in  1870 
she  had  eighty. 

That  is  a  grand  advance  for  the  war  decade.  Her  growth 
in  the  last  ten  years  has  been  equally  marvellous. 

This  brings  us  to  a  record  unsurpassed  in  any  age. 

THK    WAR    RECORD    OF    ILLINOIS. 

We  hardly  know  where  to  begin,  or  how  to  advance,  or 
what. to  say,  as  we  can  at  best  give  only  a  broken  synopsis 
of  her  gallant  deeds.  Her  sons  have  always  been  foremost 
on  fields  of  danger.  In  the  war  of  1812  she  aided  in  main- 
taining national  sovereignty.  In  1831-32,  at  the  call  of 
Grov.  Reynolds,  her  sons  drove  Blackhawk  over  the  Missis- 
sippi. 

When  the  Mexican  war  came,  in  May,  1846,  8,370  men 
ofiered  themselves  when  only  3,720  could  be  accepted.  The 
fields  of  Buena  Vista,  Chapultepec  and  Vera  Cruz,  and  the 
storming  of  Cerro  Gordo,  will  perpetuate  the  bravery  and 
the  glory  of  the  Illinois  soldier.  But  it  was  reserved  till 
our  day  for  her  sons  to  find  a  field  and  a  cause  and  a  foe- 
man  that  could  fitly  illustrate  their  spirit  and  heroism. 
Illinois  put  into  her  own  regiments  for  the  United  States 
government  256,000  men,  and  into  the  army  through  other 
states  enough  to  swell  the  number  to  290,000.  This  far  ex- 
ceeds all  the  soldiers  of  the  federal  government  in  all  the 
■war  of  the  revolution.  Her  total  years  of  service  were 
600,000.  She  enrolled  men  from  eighteen  to  forty-five 
years  of  age  when  the  law  of  Congress  in  1864 — the  test 
time — only  asked  for  those  from  twenty  to  fortv-five.  Her 
enrollment  was  otherwise  excessive.     Her  people  wanted  to 


go  and  did  not  take  the  pains  to  correct  the  enrollment. 
Thus  the  basis  of  fixing  the  quota  was  too  great,  and  then 
the  quota  itself,  at  least  in  the  trying  time,  was  far  above 
any  other  State.  Thus  the  demand  on  some  counties,  as 
Monroe,  for  example,  took  every  able-bodied  man  in  the 
county,  and  then  did  not  have  enough  to  fill  the  quota. 
Moreover,  Illinois  sent  20,844  men  for  ninety  or  one  hundred 
days,  for  whom  no  credit  was  asked.  When  Mr.  Lincoln's 
attention  was  called  to  the  inequality  of  the  quota  compared 
with  other  states,  he  replied,  "  The  country  needs  the  sacri- 
fice. We  must  put  the  whip  on  the  free  horse."  In  spite 
of  these  disadvantages  Illinois  gave  to  the  country  73,000 
years  of  service  above  all  calls.  With  one-thirteenlh  of 
the  population  of  the  loyal  States,  she  sent  regularly  one- 
tenth  of  all  the  soldiers,  and  in  the  peril  of  the  closing 
calls,  when  patriots  were  few  and  weary,  she  then  sent  one- 
eighth  of  all  that  were  called  for  by  her  loved  and  honored 
son  in  the  White  House.  Her  mothers  and  daughters  went 
into  the  fields  to  raise  the  grain  and  keep  the  children  to- 
gether, while  the  fathers  and  older  sons  went  to  the  harvest 
fields  of  the  world.  What  a  glorious  record  there  is  treas- 
ured up  in  the  hi,story  of  this  great  country  for  the  patriotic 
Illinois  soldier.  Her  military  record  during  the  Rebellion 
stands  peerless  among  the  other  States.  Ask  any  soldier 
with  a  good  record  of  his  own,  who  is  thus  able  to  judge, 
and  he  will  tell  you  that  the  Illinois  men  went  in  to  win. 
It  is  common  history  that  the  greater  victories  were  won  in 
the  West.  When  everything  else  was  dark,  Illinois  was  gain- 
ing victories  all  down  the  river,  and  dividing  tiie  confederacy, 
Sherman  took  with  him  on  his  great  march  forty-five  regi, 
ments  of  Illinois  infantry,  throe  companies  of  arliller}',  and 
one  company  of  calvary.  He  could  not  avoid  goinej  to  the 
sea.  Lincoln  answered  all  rumors  of  Sherman's  defeat  with 
"  It  is  impossible;  there  is  a  mighty  sight  of  fight  in  100,- 
OOO  Western  men."  Illinois  soldiers  brought  home  300 
battle-flags.  The  first  United  States  fl.ig  that  floated  over 
Richmond  was  an  Illinois  flag.  She  sent  messengers  and 
nurses  to  every  field  and  hospital,  to  care  for  her  sick  and 
wounded  sons.  When  individuals  had  given  all,  then  cities 
and  towns  came  forward  with  their  credit  to  the  extent  of 
many  millions,  to  aid  these  men  and  their  families.  Illinois 
gave  the  country  the  great  general  of  the  war — Ulysses  S. 
Grant — since  honored  with  two  terms  of  the  Presidency  of 
the  United  States. 

One  other  name  from  Illinois  comes  up  in  all  minds, 
embalmed  in  all  hearts,  that  must  have  the  supreme  place 
in  this  story  of  our  glory  and  of  our  nation's  honor :  that 
name  is  Abiaham  Lincoln,  of  Illinois.  The  anal3'sis  of  Mr. 
Lincoln's  character  is  difficult  on  account  of  its  symmetry. 
In  this  age  we  look  with  admiration  at  his  uncompromising 
honesty,  ."^.nd  well  we  may,  for  this  saved  us  thousands 
throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  our  country  who  knew 
him  only  as  "Honest  Old  Abe,"  and  voted  for  him  on  that 
account ;  and  wisely  did  they  choose,  for  no  other  man  could 
have  carried  us  through  the  fearful  night  of  the  war. 
When  his  plans  were  too  vast  for  our  comprehension  and 
his  faith  in  the  cause  too  sublime  for  our  participation, 
when   it  was  all  night  about  us,  and  all  dread   before  us, 


HISTORY    OF   RAXnOLPH,    MONROE   AXD    PERRY    CO UX TIES,    ILLIXOIS. 


39 


and  all  sad  and  desolate  behind  us  :  when  not  one  ray  shone 
upon  our  cause ;  when  traitors  were  haughty  and  exultant 
at  the  south,  and  fierce  and  blasphemous  at  the  North  ; 
when  the  loyal  men  here  seemed  almost  in  the  minority  ; 
when  the  stoutest  heart  quailed,  when  generals  were  defeat- 
ing each  other  for  place,  and  contractors  were  leeching  out 
the  very  heart's  blood  of  the  prostrate  republic :  when 
everything  else  had  failed  us,  we  looked  at  this  calm,  patient. 
man  standing  like  a  rock  in  the  storm  and  said,  "  Mr.  Lin- 
coln is  honest,  and  we  will  trust  him  sail."  Holding  to  this 
single  point  with  the  energy  of  faith  and  despair  we  held 
together,  and,  under  God,  he  brought  us  through  to  victory. 
His  practical  wisdom  made  him  the  wonder  of  all  laada. 
With  such  certainty  did  Mr.  Lincoln  follow  causes  to  their 
ultimate  eflects,  that  his  foresight  of  contingencies  seemed 
almost  prophetic.  He  is  radiant  with  all  the  great  virtues, 
and  his  memory  shall  shed  a  glory  upon  this  age  that  shall 
fill  the  eyes  of  nicu  as  they  look  into  history.  Other  men 
have  excelled  him  in  some  points,  but  taken  at  all  points,  all 
in  all,  he  stands  head  and  shoulders  above  every  other  man 
of  six  thousand  years.  An  administrator,  ha  served  the 
nation  in  the  perils  of  unparalleled  civil  war.  A  statesman, 
he  ju^tified  his  measures  by  their  success.  A  philanthropist, 
he  gave  liberty  to  one  race  and  salvation  to  another.  A 
moralist,  he  bowed  from  the  summit  of  human  power  to  the 
foot  of  the  Cross,  and  became  a  Christian.  A  mediator,  he 
exercised  mercy  under  the  most  absolute  obedieace  to  law. 
A  leader,  he  was  no  partizan.  A  commander,  he  was  un- 
tainted with  blood.  A  ruler  in  desperate  times,  he  wns 
unsullied  with  crime.  A  man,  he  has  left  no  word  of  pas- 
sion, no  thought  of  malice,  no  trick  of  craft,  no  act  of 
jealousy,  no  purpose  of  selfish  ambition.  Tiius  perfected, 
without  a  model  and  without  a  peer,  he  was  dropped  into 
these  troubled  years  to  adorn  and  embellish  a!l  tluit  is  good 
and  all  that  is  great  in  our  humanity,  and  to  present  to  all 
coming  time  the  divine  idea  of  free  government.  It  is  not 
too  much  to  say  that  away  down  in  the  future,  when  the 
Ilepublic  has  fallen  from  its  niche  in  the  wall  of  time;  when 
the  great  war  itself  shall  have  faded  out  in  the  distance  like 
a  mist  on  the  horizon  ;  and  when  the  Anglo-Sax  ju  language 
shall  be  spoken  only  by  the  tongue  of  the  stranger,  then  the 
generation  locking  this  way  shall  see  the  great  President  as 
the  supreme  figure  in  this  vortox  of  hi.^t  ry. 

CIVIL     OUGAXIZATIO:^. 

The  history  of  Illinois  has  been  traced  while  a  possession 
of  France,  and  when  under  the  British  government ;  and 
the  formation  of  Illinois  as  a  County  of  Virginia  has  boon 
noted.  The  several  States  afterwards  agreed  on  the  adop- 
tion of  Articles  of  the  Confederation,  to  cede  their  claims  to 
the  western  land  to  the  General  government.  Virginia 
executed  her  deed  of  cession  JIarch  1st,  1784.  For  several 
years  after,  there  was  an  imperfect  admistration  of  the  law 
in  Illinois.  The  French  customs  partly  held  force,  and 
affairs  were  partly  governed  by  the  promulgations  of  the 
British  commandants  issued  from  Fort  Chartros,  and  bv  the 
regulations  which  had  subsei|ueutly  been  i  isued  bv  the  Vir- 
gicia  authorities. 


By  the  ordinance  of  1787,  all  the  territory  north-west  of 
the  Ohio  was  constituted  into  one  district,  the  laws  to  be 
administered  by  a  governor  and  secretary  ;  a  court  was  insti- 
tuted of  three  judges.  A  general  assembly  was  provided 
for,  the  members  to  be  chosen  by  the  people.  General 
Arthur  St.  Clair  was  selected  by  Congress,  as  Governor  of 
the  north-western  territory.  The  seat  of  government  was  at 
Marietta,  Ohio. 

In  the  year  1795,  Governor  St.  Clair  divided  St.  Clair 
County.  All  south  of  a  line  running  through  the  New 
Design  settlement  (in  the  present  County  of  Monroe)  was 
erected  into  the  County  of  Randolph.  In  honor  of  Edmund 
Randolph  of  Virginia,  the  new  county  received  its  name. 

Shadrach  Bond,  afterwards  the  first  Governor,  was  elected 
from  Illinois,  a  member  of  the  Territorial  Legislature  which 
convened  at  Ciucinnati,  ia  January,  1799.  In  1800  the 
Territory  of  Indiana  was  formed,  of  which  Illinois  consti- 
tuted a  part,  with  the  seat  of  government  at  Vincennes. 
About  1803,  among  otlier  places  in  the  West,  Aaron  Burr 
visited  Kaskaskia  in  an  endeavor  to  enlist  men  for  his 
treasonable  scheme  ag.iinst  the  government.  In  1.S0.5, 
George  Fisher  was  elected  from  Randolph  County  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Territorial  Legislature,  and  Pierre  Menard  was 
chosen  member  of  the  Legislative  Council. 

By  act  of  Congress,  1809,  the  Territory  of  Illinois  wu< 
constituted.  Xinian  Edwards  was  appointed  Governor  of 
the  newly  organized  Tcrritorv,  and  the  seat  of  government 
established  at  Kaskaskia.  N.ithaniel  Pope,  a  relative  of 
Edwards,  received  the  appointment  of  Secretary. 

For  nearly  four  years  afcc-r  the  organization  of  the  Terri- 
torial Government  no  legislature  existed  in  Illinois.  An 
election  for  representatives  was  held  on  th.e  eighth,  ninth, 
and  tenth  of  October,  1812.  Shadrach  B  md,  then  a  resi- 
dent of  St.  Clair  County,  was  elected  the  first  Delegate  to 
Congress  from  Illinois.  Pierre  Slenard  was  chosen  from 
Randolph  County  member  of  the  Legislative  Council,  and 
George  Fisher  of  the  House  of  Representatives.  The  Legis- 
lature convened  at  Kaskaskia  ou  the  twenty-fifth  of  Xovem- 
ber,  1812. 

In  April,  1818,  a  bill  providing  fur  the  ad.ni.;sion  of  Illi- 
nois into  the  Union  as  a  sovereign  Siato  was  j)assei  liy  Con- 
gress. A  Convention  to  fiame  a  Constitution  a-.somble  1  at 
Kaskaskia  in  the  following  July.  The  first  election  under 
the  Constitution  was  held  in  September,  1818,  and  .'^iiadrach 
Bond  was  elected  Governor,  and  Pierre  Menard,  Lieutenant 
Governor  Illinois  was  now  declared  by  Congress  admitted 
to  the  Union  as  on  an  equal  footing  in  all  respects  with  the 
original  States.  The  Legislature  again  met  at  Ka-kaskia  in 
January,  1S19.  Tiiis  was  the  last  session  ever  held  at  Kas- 
ka^kia.  Vaudalia,  the  same  year,  was  selected  as  the  Capital 
of  the  State.  It  was  stipulated  that  Vandalia  was  to  be  the 
Capital  for  twenty  years.  At  the  end  of  that  period  it  was 
changed  to  Springfield.  Below  we  give  list  of  g  )vernora 
and  staff  officers  of  Illinois. 

Illinois  was  constituted  a  separate  Territory  by  act  of  Con- 
gress February  3d,  1S09.  The  boundaries  w-jre  described 
as  follows : 


HISTORY    OF   BANDOLPK,    MONROE   AND    rERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


ILLINOIS  TERUirORY. 


FROM  1809, 


TO  1882. 


*  "  That  from  ami  after  the  first  day  of  March  next,  all 
that  part  of  the  IiKUana  Territory  which  lies  west  of  the 
Wabash  river  and  a  direct  liuedrawn  from  the  said  Wabash 
river  and  Post  Yincennes  due  north  to  the  territorial  line 
between  the  United  States  and  Canada,  shall  for  the  purpose 
of  temporary  government,  constitute  a  separate  territory,  and 
be  called  '  Illinois.'  " 

The  seat  of  government  was  fixed  at  Kaskaskia. 

The  territorial  government  was  continued  under  the  first 
grade  from  1809  until  1812,  when  by  a  vote  of  the  people 
the  second  grade  was  adopted. 

Under  the  first  grade,  the  Governor  and  Judges,  who 
received  their  appointment  from  the  President,  constituted 
the  Legislative  Council,  and  enacted  laws  for  the  govern- 
ment of  the  people.  The  Governor  possessed  almost  un- 
limited power  in  the  appointment  of  officers  ;  the  Secretary 
of  the  Territory  being  the  only  officer,  not  appointed  by  the 
Governor. 

Lender  the  second  grade,  the  people  elected  the  Legisla- 
ture, which  was  composed  of  a  Legislative  Council  and  a 
House  of  Representatives.  The  Legislative  Council  was 
composed  of  five  members,  and  the  House  of  Kepreseutatives 
of  seven  members. 

The  Legislature  enacted  the  laws  for  the  government  of 
the  people,  but  the  Governor  was  possessed  of  the  absolute 
veto  power,  and  was  therefore  in  position  to  dictate  the  laws, 
if  he  chose  to  exercise  the  power. 

The  people  also  elected  the  Delegate  to  Congress  by  popu- 
lar vote. 

Ttrrltoilnl     Officers. 

The  following  is  a  complete  roster  of  territorial  officers 
from  1S09  until  the  organization  of  the  State  government 
in  1818: 

GOVERXOnS. 

•Toli.i  R.vl.^  :M;ir.'li7,lsnti,    Poi-liiicl. 

>iiium  EUivanls \Iiril:;l,  Isiio,  to  DecijmburC,  ISIS. 

Tlio  term  oftho  Governor's  h,:.  im  n  i,r  a.k  two  yc.->rs.  Governor  Ertwarrls 
was  rc-appoiutoil  from  timo  ti.  tiiii.,  :i^  Ins  I,  rm  expired,  and  served  through 
the  entire  territorial  government. 

SEcr.ETAr.IES. 

K.-ilhanicl  Pope IVI.ireh  7,  ISnn,  to  DeeemV.rr  IT,  ISH',. 

J.istph  Phillips December  17,  1S16,  to  Oelober  c,  1S18. 

AUDITORS    OF    rUBLIC    ACCOUNTS. 

IT.  II.  Maxwell 1S12  to  I.SIG. 

Daniel  P.  Cook January  V.\,  181G,  to  April,  l.sn. 

B.-ihert  Blaelcwell April  .^i,  1S17,  to  August,  1317. 

Elijah  C.  Berry August 28, 1317, toOctober 9, ISIS. 

ATTOr.NrVS  riFNERAL 

Benjamin  11.  Dovle i  "  ■  .'l,  1  ■  ",  to  December,  1809. 

•lohn  J.  Crittenden I'-  i"'"  r  ■'•",  1809,  to  April,  lalo. 

Th.jmas  T.  ('rittenden iiril  7.  |s|ii,  to  Oetoher,  Isln. 

Benjamin  M.  Piatt I  i,.t,,l,.r  •-'9,  isin,  to  June,  1S13. 

William  Mears Iune23, 1813,  to  February  17,  ISIS. 

•  From  Le.jislativc  Directory,  published  1881. 


TREASURERS, 
1S1-2  10  1818. 


DELEGATES    TO    COKGRESS. 

Sb.adraeh  Bond Iir,  rnibrr,  1S12,  to  1S14. 

lleniamin  Slepheuson September  -l-J,  ISH,  to  1817. 

Naliianiel  Pope 1»17  to  Isls. 

JUDGES. 

March  7,  1809. 

Jbu-eh  7,  1SH9.     Resigned. 


Obadiah  Jones, 


\Vi 


1  M<- 


Jeptlia  Hardm.     (Eastern  elrcuil.).. 

ADJUTASTS-GEXERAL. 
Elias  I),.ot,M- Mnv  :;    |s 


l!o 

Elias  l:.  .  I..;  ..  . 
l\enjanunS|„|,| 
Wui.  Akxande 


,  1M4 


First  Territorial  Legislature— 1813. 

Convened  at  KaslcasUia  on  the  2.5th  dav  of  November,  A.  D.  1812.  Adjourned 
the  -'etli  dav  of  December,  1S12.  .Second  session  convened  and  adjourned 
November  s'  A.  D.  1S13. 

LEGISL.VTIVE  COUNCIL. 
OFFICERS. 

President Pierre  Menard. 

Si-crclnrii lohn  Thomas. 

Duorkeeper Thomas  Van   Swcaringen. 

MEMBERS. 

Pierre  Menard Randolph.        Ramnel   Jud.v Madison. 

lienjamui  Talbott (iallatin.        Tlionias  Ferguson Julinsou. 

William  Biggs St.  Clair. 

HOUSE  OF  REPRE.?ENTATIYES. 


n  li  FRs. 


F:peal;er... 

Clerk 

Duurkecpt 


.George  Fisher, 
-.William  C,  GrCi 


Reorse  Fisher 

Alexand'T    WiN..u 
Phillip    Trallirnel  , 


MEMBERS. 

..Randolpli.        .Toshua  Oclesbv St.  Clair, 

....(iallatni.        Jaeob   Short SI.  I'l.iir, 

...  (inllatin.        William   Jones Madison 

....John.son. 


Second  Territorial  I.e*f;islatu 

FIRST    .SESSION. 


LEtJlSLATIVE  COUNCIL. 
OFFICERS. 

r-i-Meni Pierre  Menard. 

Srcrr.lnTv John  Thomas. 

Luurkceper Phomas  Stuart. 

MEMBERS. 

Pierre  Menard Randolph.        S:imuel  ,Iudy Madison. 

William  Biggs st.  riair.        Thomas  Ferguson Johnson. 

Benjamin  Talbott (iallatin. 

HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES. 
OFFICERS. 

Snrakcr Ri.sdon  Moore. 

Clerk William  Mears. 

Duurileper Tliomas  Stuart 

MEMBERS. 

Fisdnn   iT.inr.-  St.  Clair.        Phillip  Trammel Gallatin. 

\V;lh,un  l.oi  Madison.        Thomas  C.  Browne (iallatin. 

Jam..-  I'M,  St,  Clair.       Owen  Evans Johnson. 

Jaiiu- <  .i:i  .     'II.        Randolph. 

Seeond  Territorial  I^eglslature— 1815. 

SECOND    SESSION 
Convened   pursuant  to  adjournment,  the  4th  day  of  December,  A.  D.    ISl.i. 
Adjourned  January  11,  A,  D,  1810. 

LEGISLATIVE  COUNCIL. 
OFFICERS. 

President Pierre  Menard. 

,Verretarii .Jolin  Ihomas. 

Enrolnnn  and  Eagromng  Clerk Wm.  C.  Greenup. 

jjoorkecper Ezra  Ctwen. 

MEMBERS. 

Pierre  Menard       R.andolph.        William  Biggs St.  Clair. 

Samuel  Judy Madison.       Thomas  Ferguson Johnson. 

Benjamin  Talbott Gallatin. 

»  Expelled. 


mSTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY  COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


41 


.  C.Greenup. 


nOl'PE  OF  EKPRF.SF.NT.VTIVES. 
oi'Fici:i;-- 

Speaker 

Oerk 

Doorkeeper 

Enrolting  and  Engrossing  Ciirk 

MEMEEK.S. 

Ri«don  Moore St  Clnir.       .Ii'liti  n.  Lodon Mndh 

Phillip  Trammel Gallatin.        William  l!alil>. 

Tlioma.«  C.   Browne liallatin.        James   Lemon 

Jarvis  Hazelton Kaadoliili. 

Third  TerHtorlal  I/eglslatiire— 1816-IT. 
FIRST    SliS-SlCPX. 
Convened  at  Ka=kaskia  the  2d  da.v  of  December.  A.  D.  ISIG.    Adjourned 
January  14,  \.  D.  ISIT. 

^     '  LEGISL.-VTIVE  COl'N'CIL. 

OFFICERS, 

President Pierre  Menard. 

Hrrrelar,, ;',"',?P,r '^"""'K'- 

Enntllimi  and  Enqro.siuj  Clerk H.  K.MoLaughlm. 

DoorkecJHr ! Ezra  Owen. 

membet;?. 

"icrre  Menard  Randolph.       .Mm  Grammar Johnson. 

,Iohn  G.  Lofton Madison.        TliomM  C.  Browne Oall.ilin. 

Abraham  .\mos St.  Clair. 

HOUSE  OF    KEPRESEXTATIVES. 
OFFICEIIS. 

Speaker "T"'-?';  J'^^*"",' 

0frk  Daniel  P.  Cook. 

Enroi}ni!i''and'Bn'qrt>5Sinn  Ocrk R.  K.  McLaUKhlin. 

Doorkeeper '. Ezra  Owen. 

MEMBERS. 

Georce  Fi.«her R.andolph.       Joseph  Palmer Johnson. 

C.  R.  M.alhenv ^^t.  Clair.       S.'th  Card Edwards. 

\Vm.  H.  Brad'sby S^t.  Clair.       Samuel  Omelveny Pope. 

^'athan  Davis Jackson. 

Third  Territorial  ieglslatnre— 1S17-18. 
SECOND   SE5SlnN-. 
Convened  .\t  Ka.skaskia  the  Ist  day  of  Docember,  A.   D.  1817.    Adjourned 
Januarv  li  A.  D.  1818. 

LEGISL.VTIVE  COUNCIL. 

OFFICERS. 

President Pierre  Menard. 

Seerctnr,! !,°''fP''.F'',""''-^L-,- 

Enre^inganAEagroaing  CUrk R.  KJ»IcLaughIir 

Doorkeeper 

MEMBERS. 

Pierre  Menard Randolph. 

Abraham  .\mo9 Monroe. 

John  Grimmar Johnson. 

HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES. 
OFFICERS. 

Speeika- g^ilS?  F'sh". 

(jlffrk  Daniel  P.  Cook. 

Enrouimaiui'iiii^nTsing'cierk. R-  K.  McLaughlii 

Doorkeeper '.... - Ezra  Owen. 


..Ezra  Owen. 


George  Fisher Randolph 

Cha«.  R.  Matheny St.  Clair. 

Willis  Hargiaves White. 


Wm.  H.  Bradsby St.  Clair 

Joseph  Palmy J,.hnson 

M.  S.  Davenport Gallatin 


First  Constitutional  Convention. 

COXVEXTION  I  IF  ISls. 
As.'serabled  at  Kaska-skia,  July  — ,  1818.  Adjourned  August  26, 
1818.  Thirtv-three  delegate,^.  One  member  from  Wa-shington  county 
died  during  the  .sitting  of  tlie  convention  ;  name  unknown.  Constitu- 
tion adopted  in  convention  without  being  submitted  to  a  vote  of  the 
people.  Approved  by  Congress,  December  3,  1818. 
OFFICERS. 

President -Tes-se  B.Thomas. 

Secretary William  C.  Greenup. 

I)ELEGATF,S. 

St.  Cfctr— Jesse  B.  Thomas,  John  Messinger,  James  Lemen,  Jr. 
Bandolph— George  Fisher,  Elias  Kent  Kane. 

Jl/adtscm— Benjamin  Stephenson,  Joseph  Borough,  .Abraham   Pric- 
kett. 

GaZZo/iTv— Michael  Jones,  Leonard  White,  Adolphus  F.  Hubbard. 

Johnson — Hezekiah  West,  Wm.  McFatridge. 

Edward.i   Seth  Gard,  Levi  Compton. 

irAt<<:— Willis  Ilargrave,  Wm    McHenry. 

.AToTiroe— Caldwell  Cams,  Enoch  Moore, 

Pope — Samuel  Omelveny,  Hamlet  Ferguson. 

Jncfoon— Conrad  Will, .lames  Hall,  Jr. 

Oau/orrf -Joseph  Kitchell,  Edward  X.  CiiUom. 

Bai!<i— Thoma-sKirkpatrick,  Samuel  G.  Morse. 

ITnion—Vf iWi&m  Echols,  John  Whiteaker. 

Washington — .\ndrew  Bankaon. 

Franklin— Ishum  Harrison,  Thomas  Roberts. 


EXECUTIVE  DEPARTMENT. 

Under  the  constitution  of  1818  the  elective  ofBcers  were  the  Gover- 
nor and  Lieutenant-Governor,  who  held  office  for  four  years.  The 
election  returns  were  transmitted  by  the  returning  otficers,  directed  to 
the  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  whose  duty  it  was  to 
open  and  publish  them  in  the  presence  of  a  majority  of  each  house  of 
the  General  .\ssembly.  In  case  of  a  tie,  the  choice  was  made  by  a 
joint  ballot  of  both  houses.  The  first  election  for  Governor  and 
Lieutenant-Governor  was  lield  on  the  third  Thursday  of  September, 
A.  D.  1S18.  Thereader  the  elections  were  held  every  four  years 
on   the  first  Monday  of  August. 

The  Secretary  of  State  was  appointed  hy  the  Governor,  with  the 
advice  and  consent  of  the  Senate. 

The  .Vudilor  of  Public  Accounts,  Treasurer  and  Attorney-General 
were  elected  by  the  General  Assembly,  and  held  office  for  two  years 
respectively. 

By  the  constitution  of  1S4S,  all  these  officers  were  made  elective  by 
the  people,  except  the  Attorney-General,  which  office  was  abolished. 
The  term  of  office  for  each  was  four  years,  except  the  Treasn  n  r, 
which  was  two  years. 

The  office  of  .Attorney-General  was  again  created  by  law,  in  1867, 
and  the  term  fixed  at  two  years.  The  office  was  first  filled  by 
appointment  by  the  Governor,  and  at  the  expiration  of  the  term  by 
election  by  the  people. 

The  constitution  of  1870  provides  that  the  Executive  Department 
shall  consist  of-a  Governor,  Lieutenanl-Ciovernor,  Secretary  of  State, 
Auditor  of  Public  Accounts,  Treasurer,  Superintendent  of  Public  In- 
struction, and  Attorney-General,  who  shall  eacli,  with  the  exception 
of  the  Treasurer,  hold  office  for  four  years  from  the  second  Monday  in 
January  next  after  election.  The  Treasurer  holds  office  for  two  years, 
and  is  ineligible  for  re-election  until  the  expiration  of  two  years  next 
after  the  end  of  his  term.  The  first  election  under  the  constitution  of 
1870  was  held  Novembers,  A.  D.  1872. 

By  a  law  passed  in  1849  the  Secretary  of  State  was  made  ez-officia 
State  Superintendent  of  Public  Schools.  In  18.54  the  law  establish- 
ing a  system  of  free  schools  created  the  office  of  State  Superintendent, 
and  provided  for  the  appointment  by  the  Governor,  upon  the  taking 
effect  of  the  law,  of  some  person  to  hold  office  until  the  election  in 
1855,  when  a  State  Superintendent  should  be  elected,  and  every  two 
years  thereafter. 

The  offices  of  Adjutant-General,  State  Geologist,  and  Entomolo- 
gist, are  created  by  law,  and  filled  by  appointment  of  the  Governor. 

STATE  OF  ILLINOIS. 


Shailraeh  Bond 'Oct. 

Ktiw..>rd  Coles IDeC. 

Nmian   Kd wards Dec. 

Jotm  Reynolds Dec. 

Wm.  L.  D.  Ewing INov. 

Joseph  Duncan Dec. 

Thomas  Carlin '  Dec. 

Thomas  Ford Dec. 

Augustus  C.  French Dec, 

Augustus  C.  French |Jan. 


6,  1818.... 
6,  1822... 
6,  182C.. 
9,  1830... 

17,  1834. 

3,  1834 

7, 1838.... 

8, 1842 

!1, 1846 

8,  1849... 


.St.  Clair 

.'Madison..., 
.  Madison.... 
.'St.  Clair 

.Fayette 

.:Morgan 

.'Greene 


Joel  A.  Mfttteson Jan., 

Wm.  U.  Bissell Jan. 

John  Wood Mar. 


.Ian.  14,18f.l. 
Jan.  16, 1865.., 
Jan.  11,  1869., 
Jan.  13,  1873., 


John  L.  Beveridge Jan  23,  1873 


Richard  Yates 

Richard  J.OKlesby.. 

John  M.  Palmer 

Richard  J.  Oglesby-. 


1853.... 
12,18.57.., 
21,  I860.. 


Resigned  Nov.  17,   1834. 

Elected  Ren.  to  Congress. 
Vice  Reynolds.    * 


Shelby  M.  Cullom Jan.   8,1877.. 

Shelby  M.  Cullom 'Jan.  10, 1881.. 


Monroe Died  March  15. 1860. 

Adams jSueceededto  the  office  vic« 

Bissell. 

Morgan 

Macon 

Macoupin  . 
Macon 


Resigned  Jan.   23,   187S. 

Elected  U.S. Sen*or. 
Succeeded    to  office,  t1c« 

Oglesby  resigned. 


4-2. 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


Ijieutenan£-Goi 


Pierre  Menard Oct.    6,  1818.. 

Adolphus  F.  Hubbard..' Dec.    5,1822., 
William  Kinney.,  "'         " 


Stinson  H.  .^nrter: 

John  M'viri- 

Joseph  n.  Wolls... 
Wm.  McM.irtry... 
Gustavua  KcErner, 
John  Wood 


3  A.  Marshall.. 
I  \.  Hoffman.. 


Dec.  7,  1838., 
Dec.  8.  1S42., 
Dec.  9,  1846. 
Jan.  8,  1849. 
1853. 
12,    1857. 


St.  Claii 
Jefferso 
Fayette 


Jeffer.son, 
McLean,. 
Rock  Isia 


Jan.  14,  1861., 

Jan.  li;,  1805., 

„ Jan.  11,  1869., 

John  L.  Beveridge 'Jan.  13,  1873., 

John  Early Jan.  23,  1873., 

Archibald  A.  Glenn Jan.    8,  1875. 


Union 

Coolt 

Winnebago. 

Brown 


Resienc-d  March  1.  18.33 
Pre.sident  of  Senate  and  Act- 
ing Lieut-Governor. 
Resigned 

Presidentof  Senate  and  Act- 
g  Ijieut-Governor 


Succeeded  to  office 
vice  Bissell   dec'd  ^ 

1860. 
President  of  Senate  a 

ing  Lieut-Gnvernc 


Succeeded  to  office  of  Gov. 

vice  Oglesby  elec'd  U.  S  Sen 

Presidentof  Senate  and  Act- 
ing Lieut-Governor. 

President  of  Senate  and  Act- 
ing Lieut-Gc 


Secretaries  of  State. 


Elias  Kent  Kane 1 1,  t      r.    l-l- 

Samucl  n,  L.,ckwood      1  in  ■    I -,   ■ - 
David  Bl-vkn-r-ll  \]'ril    J.    ' 

Morri"  P.pklu-.'k  M,,t     1,1-    I 

Georrr      l,',,-|r   ,r  ,1   ,:,       I,,     I      ' 

Alex^ui  i,  ,  ]■    I  I,  !,i  I'  ,     ,1,  I    - 

Stepli.-n    \     h  ,i|,-i,i.  \,,>     ,,.■,    I-  h 

Lyman  '1  i '-ill        ..     I-I'   -T,   IMI 

Thompson   r.inipbcll, ,  -Mar.    4,  1,<4:!„ 

Horaces.  Cooley [Dec.  23,  ls4r...| 

Horaces.  Cooley 'Jan.    8,1849..' 

David  L.  Greggs \i.nn".  !,■<." 

Alexander -Starne '  m    l  ■,  i    ,, 

Ozins  M.  Hatcli 1  n    I  .,  1     : 

OziasM.  Hatch ,l:.n,   II,  l 

Sharon  Tyndale ,,ian,  P  ,  I 

Edward  Rummel 'Jan.  11.  i 

George  H.    Harrow Jan.  1:1,  1 

George  H.  Harrow Jan.    ,'-.  1    ,, 

Henry  C.  Dement Ijan.  10,  l,.^l,. 


lAppointed  hy  Gov.  French. 
Elected  under  Constitution 
I     of  1848.  Died  April  2, 1850. 


Auditors  of  Public  Accounts. 


,  27,  ls:n. 


Fayette 


James  T.  B.  Stapp 

Levi  Davis 

James  Shields 

Wm.  D.  L.  EwinK_. 
Thomas  H.  Campbel 
Thomas  H.  Campbel 

Jesse  K.  Dubois 

Jesse  K.  Dubois 

Orlin  H.  Miner Deo.  li,  1864..  Sang; 

rhailcs   E.  Lippincott..]Jan.  11,  18C9..  Cass 

Charles  E.  Lippincott..  J.an.  l.i,  187,3,,      "      

Thomas  B.  Needles .fan.    8,  1877..  Washington 

Charles  P.  Swigert Wan.  10,  1881..  Kankakee... 


?  Ewing,  deceased. 


Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction. 


Ninian  W.  Edwards Mch.  24,  1854. 

Wm.  H.   Powell Jan'y  12, 1857. 

Newton  Bateman |Jan'y    1,1859. 

Newton  B.iteniaii iJan'y   4,  W61. 

John  P.  Brooks Jan'y  12, 1863. 

Newton  Bateman Jan'y  lu,  1805. 

Newton  Bateman IJan'y  — ,  1867. 

Newton  Bateman 'Jan'y-,  1871. 

Sam'l  K.  Etter iJan'y  11,  1876. 

Jattes  P.  Slade Ijan'y  13, 1879. 


Sangamo 
Peoria.... 
Morgan.. 


Appointed  by  the  Governor 


State  Treasurers. 


John  Tho 
R.  K.  Jlc  I 


Jamc 
Willi; 
Willi; 


Resigned  Dee,  3,  1,V10. 


Ale 


HBeveridg 
George  W.  Smith... 
Erastus  N.  Bates... 
Erastus  N.  Bates... 

Edward  Ruiz 

Thos.  S.  Ridgeway.. 

Edward  Rutz 

John  C.  Smith 

Edward  Rutz 


,l;m.  12,  1,S63„ 

.Ian.  9,  1865. 

Jan.  10,  1807. 

Jan.  11,  1869., 

Nov.  8,  1870. 

Jan.  13,  1873. 

Jan.  11,  1875. 

Jan.  8,  1877. 

Jan.  13,  1879. 

Jan.  10,  1881. 


Dekalb.. 

Oook 

Marion.. 


St.  Clair 

Gallatin 

St.  Clair 

JoDaviess . 
.Cook 


,l|ipn,„t 

Kleeted. 

Resigned  Sept.  3, 1859. 

Appointed, 


Carpenter. 

,1859 
Mille 


Attomeys-CJeneral. 


Daniel  Pope  Cook 

WHliam   Mcars 

Sam'l  D.  Lockvvood..,. 

James  Turncy 

James  Turney 

George  Forquer 

James  Semple 

Ninian  W.  Edw.ards.. 
Ninian  W.  Edwards... 
.Jesse  li.  Thomas,  Jr. 

Walter  B.  Scates 

Usher  F.  binder 

I  W.  Olney 


.'Mch.    6,  1819..  Randolph  ...  Resigned  March  5, 1819. 

.'Dec.   14,  1819..  St   Clair I 

Feb.   20,  1821,.!Madison Resigned  Deo.  28, 1822. 

.  laii'yll,  1^2:1    Washington  Resigned  Jan'y  7,  IS'25. 


1,  l.>,.4„ 
ly  111,  1811, 


James  A.  Meli, 
David  H,  CiiLi] 
Kobeiti.,  Ill--  ■ 


iFeb."  12,  183.5. .'Madison.  I,'  I         :   -, 

.Llan'ylS,  1830.,'JefTerson  I,,      .i  ,    1  ,■        -   , 

IFeti,      4.  isn    C,-.|p.i.,.  1:,     ;-ii,  ,l  ,l;ii,'  II,  I   ,;■<. 

.1,1, ix;-     M-,,!,^,,,,,  R,  .,L',i.-,|  Feti-y  1,  1,h:.19. 

;  Jl,  h        ,,!-,,     (  ■  i,u,,|,|  1;,  .|,_'iie,l  Kov.19,  1S40. 

I-!',     J.;    I-'-      !■,'',  ','■",,  .\pi...inledby(..ov. I 'Klc.by. 
I  ,:,  X     I  I.  !■;  ,      I    ,-  il,,  - 

.  Janv.  ,11  1S77„,     "  : 

.^Jan'y.lO,  I881..lWayne 1 - - 

State  Geolo^Bts. 


When  I  From    what 

appointed,     i     county. 


Joseph  Norwood 

H.  A.  rlffers 

Amos  H.  Worthen.... 

L.-op.jld  Riiditer 

Henrv    Engolraann.. 
William  Billington.. 


!.luly  21,  1R,51  ,'s,3neamon.-..  Act  of  Feb.  17, 1S51. 

■\],  1,      ■'    1-         11    ■(,    ,    1:  \  !',,•  >or%vood. 

1,,,        1,1    ,,     "  i         -,M. 
,  .\|„,1  r.,   I-., I     -'     '   I,..: 
,:Apnli:o,  l.,„l„-.;n;4.m.,...-.. 

State  Entomologists. 


When         |From    what 
appointed.    ]     county. 


D.B.Walsh 

Wm.  LeBarron. 
Cyrus  Thomas.. 


.June- 11,  lsn7..!Rock  IslandlDicd. 

.April    2,  1870..lK.ane iDied. 

.lApril  13,  1876..iJackson I 


Adjutants-General. 


Wm.  Alexander 

Elijah  C.  Berry 

James  W.  Berry.... 
Moses  K.  Anderso 
Simon  B.  Buckner 
Wm.  C.  Kcnney.... 
I'homas  S.  Mather 

Allen  C.  Fuller 

Isham  N.  Haynie.. 
Edward  P.  Nlles.... 

Hubert  Dilger 

Edwin  L.  Higgins 
Edwin  L.  Higgins 

Hiram  Hilliard 

Hiram  Hilliard 


When  From    what 

appointed.  county. 


April  ! 
June  1 
Dec.  1 
Dec.  1 
April 
Deo. 
Oct.  2 
Nov.  1 
Jan'y  1 

MohVii 
Jan'y  2 
July 
July 
July 


,  1839. 
1857. 
,  1857. 
,  1858. 
,  1801. 
,  1866. 

,'1809. 
,  1873. 
,  1874. 
,  1875. 
,  1877. 


Sangamon... 

Cook 

St.  Clair 

Sangamon.. 

Boone 

Alexander.. 

Cook 

Sangamon.. 


Resigned  Nov.  11, 


Resigned  Nov.  7, 1857. 

Died. 

Vice  Kinney,  deceased. 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


43 


POPrLATIOX  OF  ILLINOIS. 


i  by  Counties,  ujordiag  t>  the  United  States  census,  from  the  year  ISCk)  to  the  year  1380,  and  dale 


1800.  i  1810. ;  1820. 1   ia.io. 


I'^Ml.    I      ISfiO. 


Adams 

Alexander. 

Hond 

Boone 

Brown 

Bureau 

Calhoun 

Carroll 


Champaign ... 

Christian 

Clark 

Clay 

Clinton 

Coles 

Cook 

Crawford 

Cumberland.. 

DeKalh 

IifWiti 

llH!lL'l;l* 

l>iira.-.- 


Iroqtv 
.T.vks 

•l.lSpc 


..|  4,822 


2,1811 

i,:ao 

2,031 


3,0411 

7.1,-: 

2,.'i30 


],878l      3, 20:!! 
7, 4V1       9,  ."■32 


111,2111 1    43,3S.V 


41,323 
4, 707 
0,815 
11,  078 
9,938 
25,  420 
.1,  141 
11,733 
ll,32r, 
14,  029 
10, 492 
11,987 
9,  .^3^, 
10.911 
14, 203 
144, 9."i4 
11,.V,I 
R.31I 
10,086 
10,  .S2n 
7,140 
14,7"l! 
lc.,9i->| 
.■i.lSJl 
7  8IC1 
11,189 
l,079l 
0,303' 
33,  .l;).'?! 

10,093! 
10,379: 

a.nwl 

29, 001  i 
3,7.59; 


2,2041 

1     1  1' 

■-,  1-1; 

3,921 

I  ■.■• 

-•lllj 

11,079 
4,012 

1_  ...,l 

11. Till! 

r.,  9.37 
-.,  5SS 
19, 22s 
in,  .-.73 

..■;72| 

r,ii.-,o. 

l,-.73 

7,914 
7,807 
3,710 

13,  rcii 

20. ISO 

2,8'Hi 

ll.ixr. 

♦,7lfi| 

7. i21 1 

12,0-,2 

3,239: 

r.,.v24i 

7,  01.-. 

9,no3i 

11,492 

2,7Io| 

4,210 

4,  090 

308' 

0,739| 

8,170 

l,n7.'>i 

4,S10| 

n,9.-.3 

2,r..W| 

S,  133i 

0,  S2."i 

0,0911 

7,9I9j 
2. -.14 

8  92.'. 

s.  3111 

1871 


,301 
20, 000! 


..;     4,.^r.: 

7,  3.54i 

12, 0.51 : 

1            0,  liSM 

18,001 

27,3-25 

i;|     3,  c-.io, 

4,114 

9, 342; 

..       0, 5111 

10,  703, 

30. 0fi2i 
1.5. 4121 

■ 

7  73  ; 

I3.074I 

4;     7,010 

1:1.  279i 

2.<,  0031 

,-       7,0,-,4! 

11,220 

18,2571 

..'      9, 3  IS 

17.  SI.5I 

48.3321 

.•*       7,0921 

0.I2I1 

9,214' 

2,  03-.: 

r.,  292: 

17.0.511 

.1          7.59  ■ 

1,5.52, 

11,037: 

22, 112' 
0,385' 

22,  SSsi 

30,  001 1 
9,,5.52| 
0, 127 

27.2491 
0,712 
3,943 
.5,  .587 

17.205 
9,711 

21,00.5 
9, 331 

32, 274 

14,  CS4 
9, 0(i9l 

14.0131 
9,004: 
•37,094 
25,1121 
21,  470, 
ll.lSli 
lo.rtiol 
7, 3131 

l8,.^3fi! 

13.731] 
12, 2131 
12, 403 

15,  71)71 
29,3211 
12,2a5 


SO,  302 
10,  .564 
13  152 
12, 942 
1-2,205 
34,41 

lr,'-u 


18,719 
15,875 
10,285 


When  organized. 


12,  0521 
S-'S,  2911 
11,1341 
20, -277 
14..93,s 
1.3,Ot4| 
35,9351 


19.0.34 
11,2.3s 
17,8114, 
1.5,0.54' 
27,  820 
ll,24.'i' 
39,1191 
24,  .352] 
1-2,  .399 


27, 171 : 
31 ,  471 
2!,  0.531 
20, 181 ; 


10,  .5nO 
2.5.4711, 
10,  751 
f  1,01a, 
30,00s 
27. 903 I 
10,.51R| 
30..3SS; 
8, .« 11 
23.  174 
17,  .599 
19,7.5.<l 

m.-sio 
£7.  .503; 

43,0131 
17,. 3-29 
29,  .3011 
IS,  95G' 


59, 148  .Tanuary  13,  18-25.. 

14,  809>Ittrt-h  4,  1S19 

14,873  J;inii:ir-.-  1.  I«1T.. 
11,527  Mi:  ■':  I,  1-  ,^  .- 
13,014  !■■■  I  1  .  I  i-  .' 
33.  ISO  F-  ',-   ■  ,    V     J.  1  ■  :T 


N-. 


KM 


18,924  r,-lMiiiuyl5,  lb:ii 
23,213  Fohmarv  14,  1821 
15  105  Februarv.l7,  1.S.59 
111,  l.-Llnnuiu-V-'.  isl.'^... 


: .  J  1    ■  ■ 

•.-S,    ISJl.. 
-.-11.    1825.. 

■:.  IS39 

i'V  211,  1S41... 

r,n1  .l:ini 
457  Feb 
.50S  .lam 

5;  5  F.-b, 

u-vl  :.  K2.5... 
uary  -20, 18.33 

ary  10,  isio... 
n;n-vl5,  1S31 

27; 491  1-  ■','-.•  ■--,  i-  :i 
3s.,|5'i  F,'  1  :;  11  V  --7.  1^1: 
2.5,041  Fel.|ll:u-\'  1  .,  1S:|9..., 

30,071  .laiiiia'-y  I'l,  Isii 

37,705.1aniiarvl7,  1820 

.50.141  S-ptc-nibor  14,  1SI2.. 


1,,.   11^   1'.  :.i;;  ,:;.-s,    lvl:l.  ... 

iliflU  .lannary  10,'  ls3il 

00,115  Dci-embfr  2.5,  1S30.. 
13. 02s  Febrnarvl5,  1.S.39.... 

19,  ,5111  .l:innnr%'  1:1.  \---5 

13,6.12   I::-  ■    1,  I-' 

2S,  (iSii  1 

31,51:.  I 

13,^111  |-  1    .  ' 


.33,701  .biiiuiuv  111.  l.^Jl.. 
13,2.5c:Al.iil    I,  Isio 

9,  .507  51;>rch.3,  1843 

S.555  .Taniinrv  13.  !S-25.. 


16,  2l'i  la 


1  -,  1125 


745  February  10,  1839.... 

.3o;2S2  .lanuarv  23, 1S27 

11,209  March   2,1839 

Cl,SjO  April  28. 1809 

31,970  March  4,1837 

29, 079  .January  .31, 18-27 

18, 1(«t  .lannary  2.  1818 , 

41, 000  .lannai-v  18, 1320 

9,  91.5  Dcnen)ber27, 1824.. 

22,940  .lannary  13, 1325 

21,117  January  2, 1818 

21, -297  Mareh20.  1819 

23,  II.S9  nceembcr  9,  I815... 

30, SM  January  10, 1S:10 , 

53, 424  January  1-2, 1830 , 

19.320  Fcbruarv  23,  1839... 

30, 518  January  16.  18.36 

21, 630  February  27, 1841... 


County  Seats. 

iQuincy 

Cairo 

Greenville 

Hclvifiere   

Ml.  Sterling 

I'l  in. --("M... 

ll-,r.lni      

M.-ir.sliall .'.'.'.'.'.'..'..'. 

ILouisville 

Carlyle 

Charleston 

,  Chicago 

Robinson 

.:Majority  Point 

'.  lilliogliaMKiim..!.! 

.  Van.lali.a 

Paxton 

.  Benton 

.  Lewistown 

.  Shawneetown 

.  Carrollton 

.  Morris 

.  Mel.eansboro 

.  Carthage 

.  Elizabethtown 

.  Oquawka 

.  C.mbridge 

.  Watseka 

.  Murphvsboro. 

.  Xewtoii 

.  Mt.  Vernon 

.  Jerseyville 

.  Galena 

.  Vienna 

.  Kankakee  City 

.'Yorkville 

.  Galesbnrg 

.  Wn.lkfgan 

I  .V, :.  ..-viiiel'Z! 

'  l.ine,!in..!3!"!".l 

-  Deratni- 

.  Carlinville 

.  F.hvardsville 


.  Slu-lhyvill. 

.  Touion 

.  nellcville. 
.  Freeport. 


Marion.. 

B.>..klord... 
Metamora.. 


.  851,4701  1,711.951     2,.5.39.89ll  3,1 


:,  030 


as  organized  April  27th,  1790,  by  Arthur  Pt.  Clair,  then  Gnve 
'  rc^organized  after  lUinoiei  had  been  established  as  a  Terril 


or  and  Commnnde 
y,  April  23tli,18iiO. 


ritory  of  the  United  Slate 


44 


MISCELLANEOUS   INFORMATION. 


Presidents. 


No.  NAME.  QUALIFIED. 

1  George  Washington April  30,  ITS'i 

.•^             ''          Mar.  4,  nm 

2  John  Adams Mar.  4,  IT.i? 

S  Thomas  .Icrtersou Mar  4,  isin 

"                "          Mar.  4,  18llj 

4  James  Madison Mar.  4,1800 

•«              "        Ma**,  4,  181-i 

5  James  Monroe Mar.  4,  1M7 

C  John  Qiiiiicy  .K'\Muf  ....  .M^r.  4,  1»25 

7  .Andrew  Jaclcso,, Mar.  4,  ip 

M.ir.  4,  1833 

8  Martin  Van  Bnron Mar.  4,  1837 

0  Wm.  Honrv  Harrison.... Mar.  4,  1841 

10  John  Tvler April  n,  1841 

11  James  K.  l'..lk Mar.  4,  184,5 

in  Zacharvr.vl.ir    M.ir.  f<,  1S4') 

13  Millard  FiHni"r^ Inly  1",  LS^" 

14  FranUliii   I'l    ivr    Mir.  4,  IsVt 

Ir,  James  Bu.'i,.„,:,n M:ir  4,  1H.-.7 

16  Abraham  Li.icohi  Mir.  4,  1.%1 

"        .Mar.  4,  180.5 

17  Andrew  Johnson April  15,  18b5 

18  Ulvsses  S.  Grant Mar.  4,  1809 

Mar.  4,  1873 

10  Rutherford  B.  Hayes Mar.  6,  1877 

ao  James  A.  Garfield Mar.  4,  1881 

21  Chester  A.  Arthur Sept.  20, 1881 


Vice-Presidents. 


Secretaries  of  State. 


2  Thomai  .leffi- 

3  Aaron  Burr 

4  George  Clinft 


4,  1707 
4,  1801 
4,  1805 
4,  1809 


6  Eldlidu-e  Gerrv 

..Mar.    4,  1813 

..Nov.  2.5,  1814 

G  Daniel  D.  Tompkins... 

..Mar.    4,  1817 

..Mar.    6,  18^1 

7  John  C.Calhoun 

..Mar.    4,  18i5 

8  Martin  Van  Hiin-n 

..Mar.    4,  1833 

9   Ricli:i!    1   M    .1-  :hi-.ii  .. 

..Mar.    4,  1837 

...Mar.    4,  1841 

•Saiir..      1      -      .     .  .;.l 

.Anril  1-.,  1841 

..May  31,  1842 

11    lifMru-   M     PaMi.  

..Mar.    4,  1845 

Vi  Miliar.;  I'llli. 1,11.1  

..Mar.    .5,  1840 

•William  li    KiiiK  

...July  11,  1850 

13   William  K.  Kiiii;    

..M.ar.    4,  1853 

•Iiavrl   R,  Atrhison.... 

..April  18,  18.53 

•Jesse  D.  Brieht    

..Dee.    6,  1854 

..Mar.    4,  18.57 

1.5  Hannibal  Hamlin 

.Mar.    4,  ISfil 

16  Andrew  Ji.hn-. 
»I,.afaveite  ^    1 
•Benjamin   1'    v 

17  Schuyler  ('nil  iv 

18  Henry  WiN,.n 
♦Thomas  W.  Fe 


il  15,  1 

2,  18G7 
I  4,  1800 
r.    4,  1873 


No.  NAiaB.  APPOISTEn. 

17  John  C.Calhoun Mar.  6,  1814 

18  James  Buchanan Mar.  li,  ls4o 

19  John  M.  Clayton Mar.  8,  18i0 

Daniel  Webster July  22,  1850 

20  Edward  Everelt Nov.  B,  18.52 

21  William  L.  Marcy Mar.  7,  1853 

"lewisCass Mar.  6,  1857 

2:j  Jeremiah  8.  Black Dec.  17,  I8C0 

24  William  H.  Seward Mar.    6,  1861 

Mar.    4,  1865 

April  15,  1865 

25  E.  B.  Washburne Mar.    .5,  1809 

26  Hamilton  Fish Mar.  11,  1860 

"    Mar.    4,  1873 

27  William  M.Evarts Mar.  12,  1877 

28  James  G.  Blaine Mar.    4,  18S1 

29  Frelinghuysen,  F.  T Dec,  1881 


Secretaries  of  tlie  Treasury. 


1  Alex.  Hamilton Sept.  II,  17S0 

Mar.    4,  1703 

2  Oliver  Wolcott Feb.    2,  1705 

Mar.    4,  1797 

3  Samual  Dexter Jan.    1,  ISol 

4  Albert  Gallatin May  14,  1801 

"  "       Mar.    4,  1800 

Mar.    4,  1813 

5  Geo.  W.  Campbell Feb.    9,  1814 

6  Alexander  J.  Dallas Oct.     0,  1814 

7  Wm.  H.  Crawford Oct.  22,  1816 

Mar.    5,  1817 

"  "         Mar.     5,  1821 

8  Richard  Rush Mar.    7,  1825 

9  Samuel  D.  Ingham Mar.    6,  1820 

10  Louis  McLane Aug.    2,  1831 

11  William  J.  Duano May  20,  1833 

12  Roger  B.  Taney Sept.  23,  1833 

13  Levi  Woodbury June  27,  1834 

Mar.    4,  1S37 

14  Thomas  Ewiug Mar.    5,  1841 

"      April    6,  1841 

..Sept.  13,  1841 
..Mar.  3,  1843 
.June  1,5,  1844 
...Mar.  0,  1845 
8,  1849 


Secretaries  of   AVar. 


No. 


i  William  L.  Marcy Mar.  6,  1845 

23  George  vv.  Crawford..  .  Mar.  8,1849 

24  Charles  M.  Conrad Aug.  15, 1850 

25  Jerter.ion  Davis Mar.  ,5, 1853 

20  John  B.  Floyd Mar.  6.  18.7 

27  Joseph  Holt Jan.  18,  1801 

28  Simon  Cameron Mar.  5,1861 

29  Edwin  M.  Stanton Ian.  1.5, 1862 

Mar.  4,  1865 

"                     "        April  16,  1805 

U.  S.  Grant,  ad  in(erim...Aug.  12,  1867 

L  Thomas,     "       "       ...Feb.  21,1808 

30  John  M.  Schofield May  28, 1868 

31  John  A.  Rawlin,! Mar.  11,  1809 

32  Wm.  W.  Belknap Out.  25, 1869 

Mar.  4,  1873 

33  AlphonsoTaft Mar.  8,  1876 

34  James  D.  Cameron May  22, 1.876 

35  Geo.  W.  McCrary Mar.  12,  1877 

36  Alexander  Ramsey Dec.  In,  1879 

37  Robert  T.  Uncoln Mar.  4, 1881 


Secretaries  of  tHe  Navy. 


1  Benjamin  Stoddert May     21, 1708 

Mar.      4,  1801 

2.  RobertSmilh July    15,  1801 


3.  J.  Crowninshield M 

4  Paul  Hamilton M 

5  WiiliamJou 


15  Walter  Forward.. 

16  John  C.  Spencer.. 

17  George  M.  Bibb  . 

18  Robert  J.  Walk 
M.  M 


I  Th. 


iith. 


21  James  Onlhrie 

■>i  Howell  Cohb 

23  Philip  F.  Thomas  ., 

24  John  A.  Dix 

25  S.almon  P.Cha,se 

20  Wm.  Pilt  Fesscnde 
27  Hugh  McCulloch... 


.Sla 


23,  IS, 

7,  ls-,3 

.     6,   18,57 

,  12,   1861 1 

11,   1SI,1 


186.= 


29  George  S.  Boutwell 

29  Wm.  A  Richardson M 

30  Benj.  H.  Bristow 
^1  Lot  M.  Morrill... 

32  John  Sherman... 


.April  15,  IS 
.M        ■■    " 


11,  1: 

17,  1 

4,  1874 

luly    7,  1876 

Mar.    8,  1877 


..Mar.    4,  IRSl 


..Dec 


1881 


20  Chester  A   Arthur Mar.    4,  1881 

21  David  Davis Oct.    13,  1881 


*Aeting  Viee-Presidcnt  £ 
pro  tern  of  the  Senate. 


Secretaries  of  State. 


Secretaries  of  \Vi 


4  Samuel  Den 

5  Roger  Grisv 
G  Henry  Dea 


8  John  Quincy  Adams Mar. 


0  Henry  Clfiy 

1  1  Martin  Van  Bur 
U  Edward  Divines 

12  Louis  McLane  . 

13  John  Forsyth 

14  Daniel  Web=tei 


..Sept.  26,  1789 
..Mar.  4,  1793 
...Ian.  2,  1794 
..Dec.  10,  1795 
.Mar.  4,  1707 
..  May  13,  1800 
...Mar.  5,  1801 
...Mar.  4,  1805 
..Mar.  6,  1809 
.April  2,  1811  11  George  Graham 
'  12  John  C.  Cal'ioun 

13  James  Barbour.. 

14  Peter  B.  P,)rter. 

15  John  H.  Eaton... 
10  Lewis  Cass 


.Sept.  12, 17S0 
..Mar.  4,  1793 
.Jan.  2,  1705 
..Jan,  27, 1796 
..Mar.  4, 1797 
..May  13,  1800 
.  K. b.  n,  1801 
...Mar.  6, 1801 
..Mar.  4,  1805 
...Mar.  7, 1809 
...Jan.  13, 1813 
4, 1813 
27,  1814 
1,  1815 
,.ad  interim 


Mar. 

6  B.  W.  Crowninshield Dec. 

Mar. 

7  Smith  Thompson Nov. 


8  Samuel  L.  Southard Sept 

Mar, 

9  John  Branch... 
10  Levi  Woodbury, 


11  Mahlon  Dicke 


14  Abel  P.  Upshur.... 

15  David  Henshaw  ... 
10  Thomas  W.  Gi.mei 

17  John  Y.  Mason 

18  Geo'gelianeroft,... 
John  Y.  Mason 

19  William   B.  Piesto 
ill  William   A.  Graliar 

21  John  P.  Kennedy. 

22  James  C.  Dobbin  . 

23  l.saac  Toucey 

24  Gideon  Welles 


3,  1805 
7,  1809 

12,  1813 

4,  1813 
19,  1814 

4,1817 
9, 1S18 

5,  1821 
16,  1823 

4,  182.1 
9,  ISill 

May  23, 1831 
Mar.  4,  1833 
June  30,  1834 
.Mar.  4,  1837 
June  25,  1838 
Mar.  5,  1841 
0,  1841 

13,  1841 
July    24,  1843 

15,  1844 

14,  1844 
111,  1845 

9,  1846 

5,  1849 

July  22',  1852 

Mar.  7, 1853 

Mar.  C,  1857 

Mar.  5,1801 

Mar.  4,  1865 

April  15,  1865 

5,  1869 


April 


..F.b. 


.Sept. 

.  Mar. 

Illy 


Postmasters-Creneral 


No. 


26  Geo.  M.  Robeson June 

Mar. 

27  Rich.  W.Thompson Mar. 

28  Nathan  Goff,  Jr Jan. 

29  W.  H.  Hunt Mar. 

30  W.  E.  Chandler April, 


25, 1869 
4  1673 

12,  1877 
6,1881 
4,  1881 


Secretaries  of  tile  Interior. 


..Sept. 


,.Ma 


-,Mar.  7,  1825 
.Mar.  6,  1S29 
..May  24,  1831 


...Mai'.    .5,  1841 
..  April    6,  1841 

Hugh  S.  Leeare May    21,  184;) 

Abel  P.  Upshur July  24,  1843 


..Oct. 
..Ma 


April 

19  John  C.  Spencer Oct. 

20  James  M.  Po-ter Mar. 

21  William  ftilkina Feb. 


,181- 

5,  1821 
7,  1825 

20,  1823 
9,  1829 
1,1831 
4,  1833 
7,  1837 
,5,  1841 

6,  1841 
12,  1841 


iEwing Mar, 


1  Thi 

2  Alex,  H.  Stu; 

3  Robert  McClelland .Mar. 

4  JacobTh'impson Mar. 

5  Caleb  B.  Smith Mar. 

0  John  P.  Usher Jan. 

" Mar. 


8, 1849 

Sept.    12, 1850 

7, 1853 


4  Gideon  Gi-auger Nov.  28, 1801 

Mar.  4,180,5 

"          Mar.  4,1809 

5  Reluru  J.  Meigs,  Jr Wai-.  17, 1814 

"            Mar.  4.  1817 

"            Mar.  5,1821 

6  John  McLean June  20,1823 

"      Mar.  4,1825 

7  William  T.  Barry Mar.  9, 1829 

•■      Mar.  4,1833 

8  Amos  Kendall May  1,18:15 

Mar.  4,  1837 

9  John  M.  Niles May  25,  18Jl> 

10  Francis  Granger iMar  6. 1841 

Apiil  6,1841 

11  Chas.  A.  Wickliflo Sept.  13,  1S41 

12  Cave  Johnson .Mar.  6,  181,5 

13  Jacob  Collamer Mar.  8  1K49 

14  Nathan  K.  Hall  July  23,  18.50 

15  Sam'l  D.  Hubbard Aug.  31, 18.52 

16  James  Campbell Mar  5,  lR5:i 

17  Aaron    V.  Brown Msr.  6,  18.57 

18  Joseph  Holt .Mar.  14,1659 

19  Horalio  King Feb.  12,  1861 

20  Mnnteoniery  Blair Mar.  5,  iROl 

21  William  Dennison Sept.  24,  1864 

Mar.  4, 186.5 

"                "         Apiil  15,  1K65 

22  Alex.  W.  Randall    July  2.5,  1866 

23  John  A.  J.  Cresswell Mai'.  5, 1869 

Mar.  4. 1S73 

24  Marshall  Jewell Aug.  24,  1874 

25  James  N.  Tyner July  12,  1n70 

2C  David  McK  Key Mar.  12,  1877 

27  Horace  Maynard June  2,  18'!) 

28  Thomas  L  James Mar.  4,  issl 

29  Timothy  O.Howe Dec,  1881 


Attorneys-General . 


7  James  Hailan  

8  O.  H.  Browning 

9  Jacob  I'.  Cox 

10  Columbus  Delano  . 


11  Zachariah  Chandh 

UCarl  Schurz Mar. 

13  Samuel  J.  Kirkwood Mar. 

14  Henry  M.Teller April, 


6,  1867 
5,  1801 
8,  1863 
4,  I8O0 
April  16,  1865 
May  15,  1865 
July  27,  1806 
Mar.  5,  1809 
Nov.  1,  1870 
.Mar.  4,  1S73 
19.  1875 
12,  1877 
4,  1881 
1682 


.  Oct. 


Postmasters-General. 


3  Joseph  Habersham F  b. 


26,  1789 
12.  1791 
4,  1793 
25,  1795 


I  Edmund  Randolph... 

Sept. 
.Mar 

26,  1789 
4,  1703 

2  William  Bradford 

.Jan. 

27,  1704 

3  Charles  Lee 

.Dec. 

10,  1795 

.Mar. 

4,  1797 

4  Theophilus  Parsons... 

.Feb. 

211,  1801 

5  Levi  Lincoln 

..Mar. 

6,  1801 

6  Robert  Smith 

..Mar. 

3,  180.5 

7  John  Breckiniidge.... 

Aug. 

7, 1805 

SCicsar  A.  Rodney 

28,  1807 

..Mar. 

4,  1809 

9  William  Plnkney 

..Dec. 

11,1811 

..Mar. 

4,  1813 

10  Richard  Rush 

..Feb. 

10,  1814 

"              •'    

..Mar. 

4,  1817 

11  William  Wirt 

..Nov. 

1.3,  1817 

..Mar. 

5  1821 

..Mar. 

4,  1825 

12  John  M.  Berrien 

..  Mar 

9,  1820 

13  Roger  B.  Taney 

..July 

1.0,  1831 

4,  1833 

14  Benjamin  F.  Butler... 

..Nov. 

1.5.  1833 

.  Mar. 

4,  1837 

15  Felix  Grundy 

...July, 

5,  1838 

10  Henry  D.  Gilpin 

11,  184(1 

17  John  J.  Cnllenden.... 

6,  1841 

..April 

6,  1841 

18  Hugh  S.  Legate 

...f^ept. 
...JuV 

13,  1841 

19  John  Nelson 

1,  1843 

20  John  Y.  Mason 

...Mar. 

0,  1845 

21  Nathan  Clifford 

..Oct. 

17,  1840 

22  Isaac  Toucey  

...June 

21,  1848 

23  Reverdy  Jonnson  .... 

.  .Mar. 

8,  1849 

John  J   Crittenden... 

luly 

22,  1850 

24  Caleb  Cn>hing 

...Mar. 

7,  1853 

...Mar. 

6,  1857 

26  Edwin  M.  Slanton.... 

..  .Dec. 

20,  1860 

27  Kdward  Bates 

...Mar. 

5,  1861 

..June 

28  James  Speed 

...Dee. 

2,  1864 

....Mar. 

4,  1865 

a               .1        

..  Apri 

15.  1865 

29  Henry  Stanbery 

...July 

23.  1866 

30  William  M   Evarts... 

...July 

16,  1868 

31  E.  Rockwo'^d  Hoa-... 

..  Mar. 

6,  1809 

32  Amos  T.  Akerman  .. 

lune 

23,  1870 

33  George  H.  Williams. 

....Dec 

14,  1871 

"                    ' 

...  Mar. 

4.  1873 

34  Edward  Pi-rrepont. 

...Apri 

26,  1875 

35  Alphonso  Tnft 

....May 

22,  1870 

36  Charles  Devena 

....Mar. 

12, 1877 

37  Wayne  MacVeagh.... 

....Mar. 

4  1881 

38  Benj.  Harris  Brewster...Dec. 

I88I 

45 


SPEAKERS  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES. 


Joseph  B.  Varnii 
Henry  Clay 


John  W.  Taylor.... 
Philip  P.  Barbour 

Henry  Clay 

John  W.  Taylor... 
Andrew  Stevenson. 


Pennsylvania 
Connectieut.. 
Pennsylvania 
New  Jersey... 


MQBr^aclmaetts.- 
Kentweky 


New  York,  2d  Session.. 

Virginia 

Kentucky 


Robert  M.  T.  Hunlcr 

John  White 

John  W.  Jones 

John  W.  Davis 

Robert  C.  Winthrop. 

Howell  Cohb 

Linn  Boyd 


Joyd 


Tennessee,  2d  Sesp 


Virginia 

Kenlucky 

Virginia 

Indiana 

Massachusetts.. 

Georgia 

Kentucky 


Naths 


niel  P.  Banks 

.Unies  L.  Orr 

Wm.  Pennington 

lialu.iha  A.  Orow , 

Schuyler  Colfar 


.  Ma.«sachusel 
jriouth  Carol 
.iNew  Jer.oey. 
tPennsylvani 
.Indiana 


i  G.  Blaine Maine.. 


CpMSr 


Ter 


IstC'ngress April  I,  IT.y',  t.i  Miir.li  4, 

2d  Congress 'ii.;tober  lit.  IT'l.  t'.  Mm  I 

3d  Congress Decerntxr  j,  17'.';.  lu  M:in 

«h  Congress iL-i-emli.  r  :,  IT'i:.,  <■■  -Mm. 

5th  Congress. M  iv  r..  r;  '7,  i    M  .i    'i  ■', 

6th  Congress. i ''    .mt-i    .17', 'iMit 

1th  Con.nrei.8 l  •.    .  mi.,  r  7,  l     i ,  !'•  M  .i 

.*tth  Congress -i,  <  .i„  ,17    l         :  .  Mu    I 

nth  Congress ••■>'■>      '-■'     i.M.n 

lOth  Cot.gress >•  '<'    1         1     7,    .     Mu 

Uth  Congress M  .-  ^-  11  .      ■■  ' 

12th  Congress ^     ■      '  ^11    1     '"•  '' 

lath  Congress. "^I  'v  71,  11  ;.  1      1  u..i,u\ 

lUth  Congl-ess hinumy  Id,  IMI,  t..  .Man- 

llthCongies.s Uerember  4,  Isl.->,  to  Mar 

15th  Congress li,ecember  1, 1S17,  to  Mar 

lilth  Congress Iiecember  G,  l^l'.i,  to  Miij 

llith  Congress \,,i, mb.  r  1,7.  l-j",  i..  M:l 

17th  Congress Ii.  ..,nl..r  1,  l-jl,  1.    11, ,t 

l.slhCongress I <••''•  1  1    i-:     '•■  M:u 

I'Jth  Congress I'"" 1   •   1-7,1..  Mm 

20th  Congress 1 1.  .  .'liil...!    .,  I-J7,  i.i  iM;ii 

21st  Congress I ">'-  '  ~.  '^'-•.  <"  Mm 

2'.'d  Congl-ess 1'.  ..nil-  r  7,  IMI,  to  M«v 

■2nd  Congress ' mi.- r  7,  1^.1 1,  In  .1.11,1 

■2;Jd  Congress i.:...  7,  1-  .1,  t..  "M;,..  i.  1, 

24th  Congrtss i.     .  ...     .  ;,i-       .     \i 

2.'tth  (!ontireps >.  .  ■.  1         ■     7i 

26th  Congress 1         :, 

*27th  Congress ^'   .^     ii    n         7i 

z«th  Congress Iiec.n.i-     11     •  ■  71 

2ath  Congress pecenil.  ;     ,1  '.    1 

llnth  Congress iDeceiril.  1    .1    ;:  i  . 

:11st  Congress .Dt-.-einl.  1     7,  :    |.   '      ^l.. 

.32d  Congress |i,..i,.i     1   1      -   1    -.7],, 

H3d  Congress I '  '  ■  iM  .: 

34th  Congress 1      ;...      71     .    .    ,7L,i. 

:J5th  Congress I '■    .  1    '  1         .     71  . 

36th  Congress I     '■■■  -'-'•   '  '''• 

37th  Cf ngress '  .      1.  '  7;  1 

38th  Congress I      ■:    t  :  1. 

39th  Congress I"    .  i  'i- 


1609 
1805 
1SII5 


.;Pennsylvauia,2dSe 


44lh  Cngrt-ss lle.-emb.T  1,  I.s7.:,  1..  Miir.b  4,  157: 

.'4.ith  Consress jOotober  15, 1K77,  to  March  4, 1879... 

.i4illh  Congress JMarch  18,  1S7.J,  to 


1821 

1652 

i'sivi 


1845 
1848 
185U 


POPULATION  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  AT  EACH  CENSUS,  FROM  1790  TO  1880,  FROM  THE  OFFICIAL  CENSUS. 
States  aud  Territories.  1790.        I     ISOO.    I     1810.         1820.         1830.    I     1840.    I     18S0.    !    1860.         1870.         1880. 


The  United  State 


771023 
209897 
02,i97 


25243.3  I      341)985 
12282  651 02 

24520  I      147178 


711748 
347.30 
511.823 
l')7445 
313031 


oppi 


Missi 
M  .ss< 

Nebraska 

Nevada 

New  Hampshire- 
New  Jersey 

>'ew  York 

North  Carolina.... 

Ohio    

Oregon , 

Penn.sylvania 

Rhode  Island 

South  Carolina 

Tennessee 

Texas  


The  States 
Arizona 


141885 
184139 
3411120 
393751 


4.34373 
G882S 

249073 
35G91 


151719 
341548 
422845 


0112.305 
09122 
345591 
105602 


4<l(u'ill 
705.50 
2;870S 
3811.5411 
472040 
4702 


604135 
152923 
298269 
407350 
623159 
8705 


637917 
215739 
:!994."i5 
447040 
C1(14<1S 


309976 
78085 
64477 
09139 i 
470183 
68.1806 
43112 


370792 
91532 
87445 
6011185 
851470 
988410 
192214 


779828 
352111 
.501793 
47I10I9 
737099 
2U-2I.7 


982405 
517762 
583169 
.•.83034 
994514 
397054 
6077 
Cnn.V20 
68'2M4 


214460  ' 
215502  I 
959049 
6.55.50O 
2.30760  1 

siiKioi 

76931 
415115 
261727 


244022 
2774211 
1372! 11 
o;)88  9 
581295 

"i'tiii™ 
aijoio 

502741 
42-2771 


1348233  I 
97199 
681185 
681904 


1724033 
108830 
6'l4398 
8-^9210 


317970 
489555 

30973M 
8C9039 

1980329 
13204 

2311786 
147545 
668.507 

1002717 
212.592 
314120 

1421661 


305391 


904201 
4354.50 
379994 
34277 
400147 
112216 
140424 

1057280 

1711951 

1360428 
674913 
107-206 
115068 
708002 
6-28279 
(187019 

1231050 
749113 
172023 
791305 

1182012 

28841 

6857 

326073 

672035 

3880735 
992022 

23J9511 
6241.5 

2900215 
174020 
7113708 

1109S0I 
1104215 
315098 

1590318 


991.992 
484471 
660247 
39804 
637454 
1-25015  1 
18774S 
H84109 
25391-91 
1080637 
11940-20 
304.399 
l.-.50.'^+ 


14.57351 
1184059 
439700 
827922 
1721295 
122993 
42491 
3I83CIO 
90G090 
4382759 
loTllli.l 


■^n. '■■■■'. 

1268521)  I 
K1S579  I 
330551  i 

1220163 
442014 

1054070 


1202794 
802564 
804680 
194049 
0-22083 
140064 
267351 
1639048 
307871.9 


995900 
1048708 

940103 

048945 

934032 
1783012 
1030331 

7S..R00 
1331592 
21I1.-604 

452433 
62265 

341984 


1130^ 


83M1I 


1542463 
1,592574 

332286 
1612806 

618443 
1315480 


9600783      1-28»)86S     nol!i641  '  2.3067262  I  31183744  :  .38115041     49369.i95 


Dakota., 

Disti-ict  of  Columbia.. 

Idaho 

Montana 

New  Mexico 

Utah 

Wnshington 

Wyoming 


The  Territories 

Total  Population.. 


.5308483        72398SI        9033,^22      12.8. 00-20 


43712 
17069453 


124614  I 
2319l,«76 


9658 
I4I8I 
1317.5" 
14999 
;tl59,i 
9187-1 
86780 
231155 

9118 

44-2730 
38558371 


40441 
135180 
177638 
32011 
39157 
118430 
14391.0 
75120 
2(17S8 

783271 


20.60 
65  05 
64.34 

368.28 
15.85 
17..30 
42.39 
29.97 
21.22 
17.70 
.16.06 

173.14 
24.60 
29.32 
3.15 
19.68 
22.34 
.38.19 
77  67 
30.67 
25.99 

207.83 
40.63 
9.01 
24.>0 
15.09 
30.67 
19,99 


23.42 
39.91 
24.72 


34.88 
117.42 
90.12 
«S.90 


NJSTOHY    OF    IIAKDOIA'II,    MONROE   AND    I'KUHY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


CHAPTER    III. 


OKOaUArilY,  AinUrri.TVllAL  llKSOUncnS  AXD  nAlL- 

ROAD    FACILITIKS   uF  RAXlJOLlUI.    .VOMiOB 

AXD  PEJIRY  COUXTIE^. 


RANDOLPH  COUNTY. 


i/^J^ 


HIS  county  is  situaud  on  the 
.'uiitlivctt  borders  of  tlie 
slate,  and  bisected  at  riglit 
angles  by  the  38th  degree  oi' 
north  latitude,  and  the  90th 
degree  of  longitude  west  from 
Gr(en\\icli.  It  is  an  irregular 
district  of  country,  triangular 
ill  outline,  and  bounded  on 
the  north  by  Monroe,  St. 
(.'lair  and  Wabliingtuii  coun- 
ties, on  the  ea.it  by  Perry  and  Jackson  counties,  and  on  the 
south  and  wejt  by  the  Mississippi  river  and  Monroe  county.- 
It  embraces  an  area  of  about  si.Kteen  congressional  townships, 
or  upwards  of  five  hundred  square  miles.  The  Kaskaskia 
enters  the  county  from  the  north  in  Baldwin  precinct,  flows 
ill  a  soutiierly  course,  and  discharges  its  waters  into  the 
Mis.-issippi  river  about  ten  miles  above  the  south  line  of  the 
eiiuutv.  The  ea.-^t  is  traversed  in  the  same  direction  by 
Mary's  river,  which  enters  the  Mi-s^issippi  about  four  miles 
below  the  mouth  of  the  Kaskaskia.  lu  addition  to  these. 
Horse  creek,  and  Nine  Mile  creek,  tributaries  of  the  Kas- 
kaskia, flow  through  the  northern  portion  of  the  county; 
and  the  Little  Mary,  a  tributary  of  Mary's  river.  The>e, 
taken  together,  furnish  an  excellent  waterway  i'ov  all  sections 
of  the  county.  Besides  the  a'oove,  there  are  streams  of  lesser 
note,  which  form  auxiliaries  to  complete  almost  a  perfect 
surface  drainage. 

Toporjrapluj. — The  features  of  the  county  topographically 
are  somewhat  varied.  About  one-third  of  its  surface,  com- 
prising the  northeastern  portion,  is  comparatively  of  a  level 
or  rolling  surface,  sufficient  for  good  natural  drainage.  The 
prairie  tracts  are  very  small  and  limited,  and  possess  a  loamy 
Soil  of  lightish  color,  with  a  yellow  clay  sub-soil.  These 
prairie  lands,  although  not  possessing  the  deep  bl.ick  soil 
peculiar  to  the  central  and  northern  part  of  the  state,  are 
nevertheless,  very  productive  yielding  abundant  crops  of 
corn,  wheat,  oats,  and  grasses,  and  this  without  very  much 
effort' on  the  part  of  the  husbandman.  The  jirairie  region 
is  restricted,  maiuly,  to  that  portion  of  the  county  underlaid 
by  the  coal  fields. 

Soil  and  At/iiciilture. — Between  this  prairie  region  and 
the  bottom  lands  on  the  Kaskaskia  and  Mississippi  rivers, 
there  is  a  bjlt  of  country  underlaid  by  sandstone  and  lime- 
stone, which  is  ipiite  broken  and  hilly,  rising  at  some  points 
to  quite  prominent  bluffs.  Originally  this  portion  of  the 
country  was  covered  with  heavy  timber,  and  a  considerable 
portion  of  its  surface  is  still  occupied  by  the  natural  forests. 


The  soil  upon  these  broken  lands  is  somewhat  shallower  than 
that  of  the  prairie.",  yet  its  productive  qualities  seem  to  be 
about  equal  to  the  adjacent  lands,  and  where  the  surface  is 
sufficiently  level  for  agricultural  purposes,  good  crops  are 
usually  realized.  The  yellow  clay  sub-soil  of  this  region 
appears  to  possess  all  the  essential  elements  of  a  good  soil, 
and  when  brought  to  the  surface  and  subjected  to  atmos- 
pheric agencies,  it  becomes  most  productive.  Hence,  sub- 
soiling  will  be  found  largely  advantageous  to  those  soils 
that,  from  long  and  injudicious  cultivation,  have  been  par- 
tially exhausted.  These  broken  lands  are  especially  adapted 
to  the  growth  of  every  kind  of  fruit  peculiar  to  the  temperate 
zones,  and  the  smaller  fruits  may  be  successfully  cultivated 
even  where  the  lands  are  too  undulating  for  the  raising  of 
cereals.  Some  of  the  enterprising  German  farmers  have 
already  commenced  the  culture  of  the  grape,  and  the  manu- 
facture of  native  wine  by  them  has  proven  quite  a  success. 
It  is  a  matter  of  experiment  as  yet,  whether  the  Catawba 
will  succeed  as  well  here  as  in  a  more  northern  climate.  Yet 
there  are  other  varieties,  if  it  should  fail  to  be  valuable,  that 
can  be  successfully  cultivated.  The  Delaware  and  Concord 
varieties  have  proven  valuable  and  productive  in  all  por- 
tions of  the  temperate  zone,  rather  than  in  a  comparatively 
mild  one  ;  hen'-e  its  cultivation  in  Southern  Illinois  has  gen- 
erally proved  a  partial  failure,  while  in  localities  further 
north  it  has  been  comparatively  successful.  The  Catawba 
seems  to  be  less  liable  to  be  affected  by  mildew  or  rut  in  a 
climate  as  cold  as  it  can  stand  without  protection.  It  is  no 
longer  a  doubtful  problem  that  the  broken  and  liilly  lauds 
along  the  principal  streams,  e.^peciall)'  the  bluffs  of  the  Mis- 
si^sijipi,  where  tlie  marly  deposit  known  as  ''loess  "  has  been 
<lep(i-iied,  and  is  more  or  less  intermingled  with  the  soil,  are 
admirably  ailapted  to  the  growth  of  the  vine.  The  labors  of 
the  intelligent  agric  ilturist  have  already  (Lnionstrated  the 
fact  that  Illinois  is  cajiable  of  jiroducing,  not  "uly  all  the 
native  wines  re<iuiied  for  home  consunipiinii,  but  a  surplus 
for  the  supply  ot  less  favored  regions. 

The  most  important  and  productive  pai-t  of  the  county  is 
probably  found  in  the  American  Bottom,  It  forms  a  belt  of 
rich  alluvial  soil  about  twenty  miles  in  length,  and  an 
avirage  width  of  four  miles.  It  is  exceedingly  productive, 
and  were  it  not  for  ihe  periodical  overflows  to  which  it  is 
subjected  from  the  high  waters  of  the  Mississippi,  it  would 
be  esteemed  as  the  most  valuable  land  in  the  county.  The 
soil  is  quite  sandy,  but  is  intermingled  with  vegetable  mould 
and  clay  from  the  sediment  of  the  river,  forming  a  rich, 
warm  soil,  which  is  unsurpassed  by  any  in  the  state  for  the 
production  of  maize  and  the  cereals  generally.  Tlie  upianils 
comprise  a  series  of  brown  and  yellow  clays,  intermingled 
locally  with  gravel  and  small  pebbles,  and  specially  adapted 
to  the  culture  of  wheat.  There  have  really  been  three  eras 
in  the  county  of  what  might  be  considered  the  staple  pro- 
ducts that  have  engaged  the  attention  of  the  agriculturist. 
In  an  early  day,  Indian  corn  was  the  principal  product. 
Later,  the  castor  bean  was  largely  cultivated,  and  was  con- 
sidered a  most  profitable  crop.  About  twenty-five  or  thirty 
years  ago,  wheat  became  largely  planted,  and  to  this  time  is 
the  grand  staple  of  the  county. 


HISTORY    OF   RAXTiOLPH,    MOXIIOE    AXD    PERRY    roi'XTIES,    ILLIXOIS. 


47 


The  general  elevation  of  the  uplands  above  the  Missiwippi 
is  from  three  to  four  hundred  feet.  Tlie  principal  varieties  of 
timber  upon  the  land  are  black  oak,  white  oak,  shell-bark 
and  pig-nut  hickory,  sugar  maple,  linden,  black  gum,  pir- 
sinimou,  red,  slippery  and  white  elm,  black  ash,  rcd-l)ud, 
dogwood  and  sassafras.  On  the  bottom  lands  are  found  the 
Cottonwood,  svcamore,  honey-locust,  hackberry,  box-elder, 
sweet  gum,  white  ash,  swamp  oak,  burr  oak,  white  and  black 
walnut,  pecan  and  white  maple.  Plenty  of  good  timber  is 
yet  left  for  all  the  wants  of  the  people  ibr  fuel  and  building 
purposes. 

Chester. — The  capital  of  the  county  is  situated  in  the 
southwestern  part,  located  on  the  bluff  overlooking  the 
Mississippi,  about  seventy-five  miles  below  St.  Louis,  and 
contains  a  population  of  nearly  three  thousand  inhabitants. 
The  southern  penitentiary  is  located  here,  and  there  are 
many  fine  business  houses  in  the  city,  and  it  is  at  this  writ- 
ing in  a  prosperous  and  growing  condition. 

I'opu/iition. — The  population  is  composed  mainly  of  Eng- 
lish, German,  French  and  Irish  nationalities,  and,  according 
to  the  census  of  1880,  was  as  follows  : 


KusUnski 
HHldnin 
rhesUr 


4,2GU 
J, MO 


Central  and  BInir 


Bic 


en 


Hocl<wooil   .... 
Slcols  .Mills  ;in.nVi 

ypavtn 

Tilden  iiiul  Coullei- 


MONROE   COUNTY. 

This  county  comprises  an  irregular-shaped  triangular  area 
on  the  southwestern  borders  of  the  state,  embracing  about 
three  hundred  and  eighty  square  miles,  and  is  bounded  on 
the  north  and  east  by  St.  Clair  and  Randolph  counties  and 
the  Kaska-skia  river,  and  on  the  south  and  west  by  Ran- 
dolph county  and  the  Mississippi  river. 

Waterloo,  the  capital  of  the  county,  is  situated  on  the 
St.  Louis  and  Cairo  railway,  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the 
county,  and  is  one  of  the  substantial  inland  towns  of  the 
state,  and  contains  a  population  of  about  two  thousand  in- 
habitants. It  is  located  on  a  high,  rolling  site  of  ground 
that  overlooks  a  large  scope  of  beautifully  cultivated  larming 
lands. 

Popnhtiiiii. — The  population  of  the  county  is  mainly  com- 
posed of  a  thrifty  German  nationality,  which  constitutes 
about  three-fourths  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  county.  The 
other  fourth  is  a  mixture  of  various  nationalities,  principally 
of  English,  Irish  and  French  descent.  The  Irish  settle- 
ments are  in  the  center  and  south.  According  to  the  census 
of  1880  the  population  by  precincts  was  as  follows  : 


Walcvloo  Pieoinrl  lim-lndinK  eit.v) :t,l(r) 

(•olunil)i;>,inaNen   Hanover l'.sIO 

.Moredork 061 

Mitchic.  Blufl;  and  llairisonville 2,:i77 

Konault 1,(188 

New  Design l,47ii 

Prairie  dn  Long 1.480 


The  census  of  1860  was  Li  8.".?;  of  1870,  12,982.  The 
population  of  the  town  of  Waterloo  in  1870  was  1,537;  in 
.880,  1,822. 

Topor/iiij/lii/. — The  surface  is  considerably  diversified,  the 
region  adjacent  to  the  river  bluHs  being  quite  hilly  and 
broken,  while  the  eastern  portion  of  the  county  is  compara- 
tively level,  and  affords  an  area  of  excellent  farming  lands. 
In  that  portion  of  the  county  underlaid  by  the  St.  Louis 
limestone,  in  the  central  and  southwestern  uplands,  there 
are  numerous  "  sink-holes,"  which  render  the  land  nearly 
valueless  for  agricultural  purposes.  These  depressions  are 
funnel-shaped,  and  lead  down  to  crevices  or  caverns  below, 
through  which  the  water  that  falls  upon  the  surface  finds  an 
outlet  into  the  adjacent  streams.  Occasionalh'  the  crevice 
at  the  bottom  becomes  filled  up  with  the  sediment  that 
washes  into  it,  and  small  ponds  of  water  arc  found,  some  of 
which,  in  the  vicinity  of  Waterloo,  cover  an  area  of  several 
acres,  and  are  bountifully  supplied  with  fish. 

ILjiIrof/riiphii. — The  natural  drainage  of  the  county  is 
almost  complete,  the  Mississippi  extending  ali;ng  the  entire 
western  boundary,  and  the  Kaskaskia  partially  on  the  east. 
The  principal  interior  streams  are  Fountain  creek,  Horse 
creek,  and  Prairie  du  Long  creek.  The  former  rises  in  the 
highlands  south  of  Waterloo,  and  extends  in  a  north- 
westerly course  until  it  enters  the  American  Bottom,  and 
from  thence  southwesterly,  emptying  into  the  Mississippi 
near  Harrisonville.  Horse  creek,  which  intersects  the 
southern  portion  of  the  county,  and  Prairie  du  Long  creek, 
which  waters  the  eastern  portion,  both  discharge  their  waters 
into  the  Kaskaskia.  In  the  western  part  of  the  county  there 
are  several  fine  lakes,  among  which  are  Jloredock,  Kidd, 
and  the  Grand  Coule  lakes,  with  some  others  of  lesser  note. 
Some  of  these  are  fed  mainly  by  subterranean  stream.?,  which 
find  their  way  through  the  fissures  and  caverns  of  the  lime- 
stones underlying  the  adjacent  highlauds.  These  lakes  are 
well  supplied  with  fish,  and  are  favorite  resorts  for  the 
sportsman,  both  for  hunting  and  fishing. 

Resources,  Soil  and  Ayricidttirc. — As  a  budy,  Monroe 
county  was  originally  heavily  timbered,  there  being  but 
three  or  four  small  prairies  in  the  eastern  portion,  the  larger 
of  which  arc  Xew  Design  jjrairie,  Prairie  du  Long,  and 
Prairie  du  Rond,  none  of  which  exceed  an  area  of  more  than 
three  or  four  square  miles  in  extent.  The  timber  of  the 
uplands  consists  mainly  of  the  usual  varieties  of  oak  and 
hickory  on  the  broken  lands,  while  on  the  more  level  tracts 
in  the  east,  elm,  black  walnut,  hackberry,  wild  cherry, 
linden  and  honey-locust  are  found  in  abundance.  The 
bottom  lands  are  for  the  most  part  heavily  timbered  with 
Cottonwood,  sycamore,  black  and  white  walnut,  ash,  elm, 
pecan,  soft  maple,  persimmon,  and  several  other  varieties. 
The  surface  of  the  highlands  is  composed  of  a  buft-colored 
sandy  loam,  often  filled  with  bleached  fresh-water  and  land 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


shells,  and  is  underlaid  with  a  variable  thickness  of  drift, 
clays  and  "  loess,'  usually  ranging  from  ten  to  sixty  feet, 
and  at  a  few  points  near  thejiver  blufls  it  attains  a  maxi- 
mum thickness  of  seventy-five  to  one  hundred  feet.  The 
western  portion  of  the  county,  embracing  nearly  one-fourth 
of  its  entire  area,  is  included  in  the  American  Bottom.  The 
average  width  of  this  alluvial  belt  is  about  four  miles,  and 
its  extent  north  and  south  is  over  thirty  miles.  These 
bottom  lands  are  exceedingly  fertile,  and  really  possess- three 
classes  of  soil.  Probably  the  richest  and  most  inexhaustible 
is  that  portion  known  as  the  blue-black  deposit,  and  can  be 
cultivated  only  when  it  is  of  a  proper  consistency  between 
wet  and  dry.  The  other  soils  are  composed  of  either  black 
or  light  sandy  loams.  This  land  is  peculiarly  adapted  to 
the  growing  of  coru,  but  wheat,  grasses  and  oats  are  culti- 
vated with  success.  On  the  uplands,  wheat  has  been  the 
grand  staple  for  twenty-five  or  thirty  years,  and  the  yield 
and  quality  is  unsurpassed  by  any  lands  in  the  state. 

rcrciinial  Spriiir/s  abound  iu  various  parts  of  the  county 
after  rising  the  bluff.  They  are  of  pure  cold  water,  and  are 
auxiliary  to  the  comfort  of  both  man  and  beast.  Many  of 
these  gush  forth  in  sufficient  quantities  to  form  brooks  of 
ever-running  water. 

PERRY  COUNTY 

lies  immediately  north  of  Jackson  county,  which  forms  its 
southern  boundary,  and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Wash- 
ington, on  the  west  by  Randolph,  and  on  the  east  by  Frank- 
lin and  Jefferson  counties.  It  embraces  a  superficial  area  of 
twelve  congressional  townships,  or  about  276,480  acres  of 
land,  three-fourths  of  which  was  originally  covered  with 
timber.  It  is  divided  into  eight  political  divisions  or  pre- 
cincts as  follows  :  Grand  Cote,  Beaucoup,  Taraaroa,  Cutler, 
Pinckneyville,  South  Western,  Du  Quoin  and  Paradise. 

Pliickiift/rille,  the  seat  of  justice,  is  situated  on  the  west 
side  of  Big  Beaucoup  creek,  and  near  the  geographical 
center  of  the  count}-  in  section  twenty-four,  five  south,  three 
west,  at  the  head  of  Four-JIile  prairie.  At  this  writing  it 
contains  a  population  of  about  1.500  inhabitants.  In  1837, 
according  to  Peck,  it  contained  four  stores,  one  tavern, 
one  grocery,  and  fifteen  or  twenty  families,  and  was  sur- 
rounded with  a  .settlement  of  industrious  farmers. 

Popiilation. — The  first  settlers  were  principally  American 
born,  and  emigrants  from  the  south.  The  present  popula. 
tion  is  composed  of  various  nationalities,  English,  German, 
Irish,  Negroes  and  Poles  ;  the  former  probably  being  in  the 
ascendancy.  According  to  the  official  census  of  1880,  the 
county  contained  16,008  inhabitants. 

Hydrography. — The  county  is  well  supplied  with  water- 
courses suitable  for  natural  drainage.  The  principal  streams 
within  its  limits  are  Little  Muddy,  Beaucoup,  and  Colombo 
creeks,  all  of  them  being  northwestern  affluents  of  the  Big 
Muddy  river.  The  former  constitutes  the  principal  portion 
of  the  eastern  boundary  of  the  county,  and,  with  its  tribu- 
taries, furnishes  excellent  drainage  for  that  part  of  the 
county.  Beaucoup  creek  flows  through  the  entire  county 
from  north  to  south,  and  nearly  equally  divides  the  territory 


in  acreage  on  the  east  and  west,  while  the  Colombo  practi- 
cally drains  the  west  and  southwest. 

Topography  and  Soil. — The  surface  of  the  country  is  gene- 
rally rolling,  and  on  some  of  the  streams  becomes  consider- 
ably broken  by  low  ridges,  but  not  sufficiently  abrupt  to 
render  the  land  unfit  for  cultivation  ;  while  some  portions 
are  quite  level,  including  a  few  flat  prairies  and  a  portion  of 
the  timbered  land  known  as  "  Post-Oak  F'ats."  As  stated 
above,  Beaucoup  creek  trends  through  the  center  of  the 
county,  and  the  prairies  occupy  mainly  the  highlands  be- 
tween this  stream  and  the  Little  Muddy  on  the  east,  and  the 
Colombo  on  the  west,  except  the  Grand  Cote  prairie,  which 
occupies  an  elevated  ridge  in  the  northwest.  The  prairies 
here,  as  is  usually  the  case  in  other  parts  of  the  state,  form 
the  highest  part  of  the  ground,  yet  their  relative  elevation 
is  quite  variable,  even  iu  a  single  county.  In  Perry,  they 
are  mostly  surrounded  by  timbered  flats,  which  gradually 
pass  into  more  broken  timbered  lauds  as  you  approach  the 
streams.  Their  surface  is  usually  flat,  or  gently  undulating, 
passing  in  places  into  the  broken  grassy  upland  known  as 
"barrens."  This  land  consists  of  low  hills  and  ridges, 
covered  with  a  dense  growth  of  tall  grasses,  and  quite  desti- 
tute of  timber.  The  sub-soil  of  the  "  barrens  "  consists  of  a 
white  sandy  loam,  but  the  surface  configuration  afl!brds  a 
complete  drainage,  and  therefore  sustains  a  good  growth  of 
vegetation,  which  in  time  has  formed  a  rich  soil,  highly 
charged  with  humus.  These  lands  become  dry  early  in  the 
spring,  and  from  their  excellent  surface  drainage,  resist  the 
drouth  better  than  the  "flats"  on  account  of  the  soil  being 
more  porous,  and  readily  absorb  the  atmospheric  moisture. 
The  absence  of  timber  is  undoubtedly  due  to  the  annual 
fires  that  sweep  over  them,  fed  by  the  tall  grasses  that  cover 
the  surface.  Thes.-)  "barrens"  merge  into  the  oak  hills, 
which  are  similar  ridges  covered  with  a  heavy  growth  of 
timber,  consisting  of  post-oak,  black  oak,  hickory,  black- 
jack, etc. 

The  creek  bottoms  within  the  barren  region  have  a  soil 
similar  to  that  of  the  flats,  but  a  little  coarser,  and  contain- 
ing a  greater  per  cent,  of  vegetable  mould,  rendering  them 
as  dark  in  color  as  the  prairie  soils.  The  timber  is  tall  and 
heavy,  and  consists  principally  of  the  varieties  of  oak,  ash, 
shell-bark  hickory,  walnut,  hazel,  and  some  other  classes  of 
timber. 

The  "  Post-Oak  Flats"  are  comparatively  level  stretches 
of  theuplaud,  sparsely  timbered  with  patches  of  post-oak,  and 
interspersed  with  black-jack  and  a  young  growth  of  post- 
oak.  They  thus  form  an  open  forest,  and  the  light,  bleached 
appearing  soil  is  but  scantily  covered  with  vegetation.  The 
sub-soil  comprises  a  white  sandy  loam,  and  reaches  to  the 
depth  of  several  feet.  The  surface  soil  is  quite  shallow,  and 
seems  to  differ  from  the  sub-soil  only  by  a  slight  mixture  of 
vegetable  mould.  This  soil,  like  that  of  the  prairies,  is  so 
finely  comminuted  as  to  render  it  almost  impenetrable  to 
water,  which  remains  in  depression  upon  the  surface  until  it 
slowly  disappears  by  evaporation.  A  potent  remedy  for 
this  would  be  by  clovering  frequently,  or  top  dressing  with 
a  copious  supply  of  well-rotted  compost.  These  flats  extend 
around  the  prairies,  forming  a  narrow  belt  between  them 


HISTORY    OF   BAXDOLPH,    MONROE   AXD    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


49 


and  the  more  broken  timbered  lands  adjacent,  and  also  from 
the  highes:  portions  of  the  broad  flat  ridges  between  the 
streams  where  no  pr.iiries  occur.  The  prairie  soil  differs 
from  the  flau  only  in  being  more  fully  charged  with  vege- 
table humus,  and  a  somewhat  deeper  productive  surface.  Of 
all  these  varieties  of  soil,  the  "  Aals  "  are  the  most  unpro- 
ductive, and  require  the  greatest  amount  of  skill  and  labor 
to  bring  them  up  to  a  standard  that  is  most  valuable  to  the 
husbandman.  This  can  be  effectually  and  cheaply  done  by 
deep  and  frequent  plowing,  which  loosens  the  soil  and  aids 
the  surface  drainage  and  by  topdrissing  and  plowing  under 
green  crops  to  give  the  required  amount  of  vegetable  mould, 
which  treatment  would  undoubtedly  insure  a  steady  increase 
in  the  productive  capacities  of  the  soil,  until  it  will  equal 
the  fertility  of  the  adjacent  prairies. 

Agriculture  and  Horticulture. — This  is  emphatically  a 
wheat  county,  although  large  quantities  of  corn,  oats,  rye, 
potatoes,  etc  ,  are  raised.  The  wheat  raised  upon  the 
timbered  land  rates  among   the   best  in  the  state. 

The  growth  and  prosperity  of  a  country  depends  upon  its 
agricultural  resources;  indeed  the  world  could  not  move  if 
it  were  not  for  this  industry.  HoiV  true  the  aphorism,  "  The 
success  of  the  huabandmau  is  the  salvation  of  a  country  I  " 
He  is  the  bone  and  strength  of  the  land,  the  engine,  as  it 
were,  that  drives  the  whole  machinery  of  mankind — that 
which  fosters  life,  distributes  wealth,  and  creates  happiness 
in  every  Breside  in  the  land.  When  this  industry  fails 
famine,  misery  and  tears  prevail.  Ireland,  and  other  coun- 
tries of  Europe,  have  in  times  past  been  striking  examples 
of  the  famine  tiend  ;  but  thanks  to  a  kind  Providence,  in  our 
own  country,  and  especially  within  the  fertile  fields  of  the 
grand  old  prairie  slate,  never  have  the  people  been  obliged  to 
realize  the  sufferings  of  those  who  were  not  blessed  with  the 
necessaries  of  life. 

The  means  and  facilities  for  tilling  the  soil  have  kept 
pace  with  other  improvements  of  the  age.  The  old  wooden 
muuld-board  has  given  place  to  the  elegant  sulky  plow,  the 
reaping-hook  is  tran.-forined  into  the  wonderful  niechani,-im 
known  as  the  self-binder,  and  the  tramping  of  the  cattle  and 
the  thud  of  the  flail  have  yielded  to  the  steam  engine 
and  the  hum  of  the  gigantic  thresher.  The  farmers  of  this 
county  are  up  with  the  times,  and  to  a  large  extent  are  using 
all  the  modern  farm  machinery.  Horticulture  is  given 
considerable  attention,  but  not  that  notice  the  soil  and  cli. 
mate  would  warrant.  Good  orchards  prevail  in  most  parts 
of  the  county,  and  the  small  fruits  and  berries  are  cultivated 
quite  largely,  but  with  the  natural  resources  of  climate  and 
soil  of  Perry  county,  with  proper  attention  given  to  the 
culture  of  the  vine  and  other  fruits,  a  few  acres  of  land 
might  be  made  to  yield  as  much  profit  as  some  of  the  larger 
farms.  This  may  be  a  thought  worthy  the  attention  of  those 
who  own  but  small  farms  on  the  lands  composed  of  the 
thinner  class  of  soil. 

Trmisportaiion    Facilities. — The   early    markets   and    the 

facilities  for  transportation  were  as  inconvenient  as  the  pro. 

duce  to  be  moved  was  meager  ;  all  things  were   in  keeping 

and  consistent  with   the   times.     These  counties,   especially 

7 


Randolph  and  Monroe,  have  enjoyed  special  early  privileges 
in  the  way  of  transportation.  Long  before  steam  power  was 
invented  or  thought  of,  the  Mississippi  and  Kaska-^kia  rivers 
furnished  an  outlet  for  all  the  products  to  be  moved  by  the 
people.  The  early  medium  was  by  the  means  of  the  old- 
time  flat  boat,  propelled  bj-  poles  or  sweeps.  Then  came 
the  steam  age,  and  a  new  area  opened  up  to  the  people  along 
the  Mississippi  ;  and  a  little  later  still,  the  iron  horse  became 
an  important  auxiliary  to  carry  the  products  to  all  points  of 
the  country  where  the  markets  might  be  most  conducive  to 
the  interests  of  the  husbandman.  Only  about  a  half  century 
ago,  a  boat  propelled  by  steam  on  the  Mississippi  was  a 
sight  to  behold,  nhile  at  this  time,  the  long  line  of  smoke 
from  their  volcanic  furnaces  is  scarcely  lost  sight  of,  and  the 
whistles  from  their  hoarse  throats  are  continually  resounding 
throughout  the  American  Buttom.  Steamboats  have  navi- 
gated the  Kaskaskia  as  far  as  Carlyle.  The  first  boat  that 
made  the  trip  was  the  "  Bellevue,"  in  the  spring  of  1S37, 
Capt.  Nelson  commander  and  owner.  In  the  same  year,  the 
steamer  "  Wild  Duck  "  made  a  passage  up  the  river  to  the 
same  point,  thus  opening  up  a  new  era  to  the  people  along 
the  banks  of  the  Kaskaskia.  At  this  writing,  boats  do  not 
pass  beyond  Evansville  on  account  of  the  St.  Louis  and 
Cairo  Railroad  bridge  spanning  the  river  a  little  above  the 
aforesaid  town.  As  already  stated,  the  first  navigation  of 
the  Mississippi  was  by  rafts  or  flat  boats.  It  was  for  some 
time  a  mooted  question  whether  it  could,  with  its  swift  cur- 
rent, be  navigated  by  steamboats.  This  doubt  was  dispelled 
by  the  landing  at  St.  Louis  of  the  "General  Pike,"  com- 
manded by  Capt.  James  Reed,  August  2d,  1817.  About 
two  years  thereafter,  a  second  boat  ascended  the  river.  This 
was  the  "  Harriet,"  from  New  Orleans,  June  'Id,  1819,  and 
was  commanded  by  Capt.  Arniitage.  The  trip  was  made  in 
twenty-seven  days.  This  was  the  beginning  of  river  com- 
munication proper  between  the  marts  of  New  Orleans  and 
St.  Louis. 

The  first  locomotive  engine  was  invented  by  George 
Stephenson,  of  England,  and  was  first  successfully  operated 
September  27th,  1825,  on  a  short  road  from  Stockton  to 
Darlington,  England  In  1830,  there  were  but  twenty-three 
miles  of  railroad  this  side  of  the  Atlantic.  The  first  road 
operated  in  the  States  extended  from  Baltimore  to  Ellicott's 
Mills,  Maryland,  a  distance  of  eleven  and  a-half  miles  ;  this 
was  in  July  of  the  above  year.  The  cars  were  drawn  by 
horses,  the  locomotive  not  then  having  been  introduced  on 
this  side  of  the  water.  The  coaches  were  open  vehicles, 
somewhat  resembling  the  carriages  of  that  date.  In  the 
Baltimore  American  of  July,  1830,  an  advertisement  ap- 
peared of  this  road,  stating  that  a  sufficient  number  of  cars 
had  been  provided  to  accommodate  the  traveling  public, 
and  that  a  brigade  (train  of  cars)  would  leave  the  depot  on 
Pratt  Street  at  G  and  10  o'clock  a.  m.,  and  at  3  and  4  o'clock 
p.  M.  ;  returning,  would  leave  the  depot  at  Ellicott's  Mills  at 
6  and  8.30  o'clock  a.  m.,  and  12.30  and  6  v.  m. 

The  first  road  constructed  in  the  Mississippi  Valley  was 
built  from  Illinoistown — now  East  St  Louis — to  the  bluff,  a 
distance  of  about  six  miles  across  the  American  Bottom. 
It  was  constructed  in  1837,  under  the  personal  supervision 


50 


JIISTORV    OF   RAXUOLl'H,    MONROE   AND    I'ERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


of  Governor  Reynolds,  Vital  Jarrot,  aud  a  few  others.  It 
was  expressly  built  for  tiie  purpose  of  transporting  coal  from 
where  it  cropped  out  at  the  bluff  to  the  St.  Louis  market- 
It  had  a  wooden  rail,  and  the  cars  were  driven  by  horse- 
power. 

The  first  line  of  railroad  built  in  the  state  in  which  the 
locomotive  was  utilized  was  the  North  Cross  Railway,  ex- 
tending from  (J.uincy  to  Danville.  This  was  chartered  in 
1837,  and  the  first  engine  placed  upon  it  was  in  the  winter 
of  1838-9,  its  run  being  from  Meredosia  to  Jacksonville. 
The  track  was  the  primitive  ttraprail  style.  The  engine,  as 
well  as  the  road,  soon  became  so  inipaired  that  the  former 
was  abandoned,  and  the  horsepower  substituted  in  its  stead. 
To-day,  Illinois  leads  the  van,  has  outstripped  all  other 
states  in  this  gigantic  enterprise,  and  now  modestly  bears  the 
honors  of  a  well-earned  success  in  its  magnitude  of  internal 
improvements. 

According  to  official  reports  of  1880,  Illinois  had  9,29i 
miles  of  track,  constructed  and  equipped  at  a  cost  of 
8408,745,915,  thus  surpassing  every  other  s-tate  iu  the 
Union  in  miles  of  railroad.  Many  miles  of  track  have  been 
laid  since  the  above  report  was  made,  the  Prairie  State,  as 
usual,  taking  the  lead  of  all  other  states.  If  within  less  than 
half  a  century  such  strides  have  beeu  made  in  the  facilities 
of  transportation,  what  mind  can  conceive  the  progress  that 
will  be  reached  in  the  fifty  years  to  come  ? 

RAILROAD   SYSTEM   OF    RANDOLPH,    MONROE 
AND  PERRY  COUNTIES. 

ST.    I.OUIS    AND    CAIRO    SUORT    LINE    l;AII,EOAD. 

St.  Louis,  Alton  and  Terre  Haute  Raihouy  Co. — This  is 
one  of  the  most  important  roads  traversing  Southern  Illinois, 
and  through  its  proprietary  and  leased  lines  does  a  very 
large  business,  having  terminal  facilities  at  East  St.  Louis 
and  Eldorado,  and  an  operating  contract  with  the  Illinois 
Central  R  R.,  by  which  through  trains  run  to  Cairo.  The 
most  important  stations  on  the  line  of  the  road  are  East  St. 
Louis,  Belleville,  Pinckneyville,  Du  Quoin,  Benton,  Gala- 
tia  and  Eldorado.  At  East  St.  Louis  and  St.  Louis  it  has 
connections  with  all  the  roads  centering  in  those  important 
commercial  marts.  At  Pinckneyville,  connections  are  made 
with  the  Wabash,  Chester  and  Western  R.  R  ,and  St.  Louis 
Coal  R.  R. ;  at  Du  Quoin  with  the  Illinois  Central ;  and  at 
Eldorado  with  the  Cairo  and  Vincennes  (now  a  part  of  the 
Wabash  system)  and  the  Louisville  and  Nashville  Rail, 
road. 

This  company  was  incorporated  June  24th,  1862,  under 
an  act  approved  February  28th,  1861,  by  the  purchase  of 
the  franchises  and  property  of  the  Terre  Haute,  Alton,  and 
St.  Louis  R.  R.  Co.,  and  the  Belleville  and  lUiuoistown 
R.  R.  Co.,  Oct.  30th,  1856,  under  act  of  the  Illinois  Legisla- 
ture approved  February  28th,  1854. 

The  Belleville  and  Illinoistowu  R.  R.  Co.  w  as  incorporated 
June  21st,  1862. 

The  Belleville  and  Southern  Illinois  R.  R.,  from  Belleville 


to  Du  Quoin,  56  miles,  was  leased  to  this  company  Oct.  1st, 
1806,  for  999  years,  and  operated  from  January  1st,  1870. 

By  subsequent  arrangement  of  lease,  the  Belleville  and 
Eldorado  R.  R  ,  another  leased  line,  and  an  extension  of  the 
former,  from  Du  Quoin  to  Eldorado,  50  miles,  was  leased  to 
this  Co.  July  1st,  1880,  for  985  years.  The  officers  of  the 
road  are  : — President,  W.  Byard  Cutting,  New  York  ;  Vice- 
President  and  General  Manager,  Geo.  W.  Parker,  St.  Louis; 
Secretary,  Edward  F.  Leonard,  Springfield  ;  Treasurer,  Geo. 
W.  Parker,  St.  Louis;  Superintendent,  J.  L.  Hinckley, 
Belleville  ;  Auditor,  H.  T.  Nash,  St.  Louis ;  General  Freight 
and  Passenger  Agent,  H.  S.  De  Pew,  St.  Louis  ;  General 
Offices,  104  North  4th  St.,  St.  Louis. 

When  the  main  line  of  the  St.  Louis,  Alton,  ami  Terre 
Haute  R.  R.  was  leased  in  1867  to  the  Indianapolis  and  St. 
Louis  R.  R.  Co.,  the  lessors  retained  under  their  own  man- 
agement the  Belleville  brauch,  aud  stipulated  that  a  certain 
portion  of  the  equipment  should  be  allotted  to  the  branch 
from  the  general  equipment  of  the  road  ;  also  that  the  lessors 
should  erect  a  new  depot  at  East  St.  Luuis,  and  withiu  a 
certain  specified  time  turn  over  the  old  depot  grounds  to  the 
"  Belleville  Branch."  The  coal  traffic  along  the  line  be- 
tween East  St.  Louis  aud  Belleville  had  always  been  au  im- 
portant factor  in  the  general  butiuess  of  the  road,  while  the 
trade  iu  other  traffic  is  also  remunerative.  The  charter  of 
the  St.  Louis,  Alton  and  Terre  Haute  R.  R.  Co.  authorized 
an  extension  of  the  road  from  Belleville  to  Paducah,  and 
the  question  of  building  the  line  via  Alhtns  and  Marissa,  to 
some  point  on  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  in  the  direction 
of  Cairo  had  been  seriously  agitated  by  the  management 
during  1866-67.  but  it  was  finally  deemed  advisable  to  en- 
trust the  construction  to  some  other  corporation,  and  lease 
the  road  upon  its  completion.  The  road,  therefore,  from 
Belleville  south  to  Du  Q,uoin,  a  distance  of  fifty-six  miles, 
was  built  under  the  auspices  of  the  Belleville  and  Southern 
Illinois  R.  R.  Co.,  and  opened  for  through  traffic  in  1870, 
under  lease  to  the  St.  Louis,  Alton  and  Terre  Haute  R.  R. 
Co.  as  aforesaid.  As  will  be  observed,  this  road  forms  a 
connection  with  the  Illinois  Central  R.  R.  The  short  line 
between  St.  Louis  and  Cairo,  also  all  poiiits  south  reached 
via  Cairo,  has  c  intributed  materially  towards  maintaining 
intimate  business  relations  between  St.  Louis  and  the  Gulf 
States.  The  management, -ever  since  the  opening  of  the 
Short  Line  for  through  traffic,  has  been  a  commercial  aud 
financial  success  ;  and  if  the  owners  of  the  St.  Louis,  Alton 
and  Terre  Haute  R.  R.  were  wise,  under  the  then  existing 
circumstances,  in  leasing  their  main  line  on  terms  which 
guaranteed  in  perpetuity  the  interest  on  nearly  all  their 
bonded  debt,  they  displayed  more  wisdom  in  obtaining  a 
southern  outlet  for  the  branch  which  enhances  its  material 
value,  and  contributes  largely  to  the  amicable  net  revenue. 
When  the  Belleville  and  Southern  Illinois  R.  R.  was  com- 
pleted and  opened  for  business  in  1870,  and  leased  to  the  St. 
Louis,  Alton  and  Terre  Haute  R.  R.  Co.  the  latter  com- 
pany, and  the  Illinois  Central  R.  R.  Co.,  made  an  agree- 
ment by  the  terms  of  which  the  road  from  East  St.  Louis  to 
Du  Quoin,  aud  from  Du  Quoin  to  Cairo,  should  be  united 
under  a  business  management,  and  practically  operated  as  a 


HISTORY    OF   RAXnOLPH,    MOXROE   AXI)    PERRY    ('OrXTIK<,    ILLIXOIS. 


single  line.  It  was  then  christened,  and  has  since  been  known 
as  the  "  St.  Louis  and  Cairo  Short  Line,"  but  popuhirly 
known  as  the  "  Cairo  Short  Line." 

The  character  and  resources  of  the  country  between  East 
St.  Louis,  Du  Quoin  and  Eldorado,  traversed  by  the  "  Cairo 
Short  Line,"  are  well  known  to  residents  of  Southern  Illinois 
and  St.  Louis.  The  whole  country,  from  East  St.  Louis  to 
Eldorado,  is  underlaid  with  coal  of  a  superior  quality,  from 
which  large  supplies  are  annually  drawn  for  public  works 
and  manufacturing  industries  It  is,  also,  the  finest  wheat 
producing  section  of  Southern  Illinois,  and  Belleville  and 
other  points  on  the  line  of  road  have  extensive  flouring  mills, 
whose  brands  have  acquired  deserved  reputations  both  in 
domestic  and  foreign  markets.  A  few  miles  southeast  of 
Belleville  the  road  enters  on  the  Grand  Prairie,  which  ex- 
tends for  twenty-two  miles,  and  is  proverbial  for  its  superior 
grain  crops.  Here,  also,  a  vein  of  very  superior  coal  is 
found,  especially  near  Coulterville,  thirty-two  miles  from 
Belleville.  The  quality  of  the  coal  seems  to  improve  with 
the  increased  distance  from  St.  Louis.  The  celebrated 
"  Bryden,"  or  Williamson  County  coal,  finds  its  way  to  St. 
Louis  over  this  line  of  road  ;  also  the  Big  Muddy  coal  from 
Jackson  County.  The  present  eastern  terminus  of  the 
"Cairo  Short  Line"  is  at  Eldorado,  in  Saline  County,  one 
hundred  and  twenty  one  miles  from  St.  Louis.  Number  of 
miles  of  road,  121  ;  aggregate  length  of  sidings,  19— total 
track  mileage,  140  miles;  in  addition  to  the  branch  from 
Belleville  to  East  Carondelet,  16  miles,  which  will  .*oon  be 
opened  and  operated  fur  the  delivery  of  coal  to  the  manu- 
facturing e.^tablishmentsin  Carondelet. 

TJii'  St.  Loiiix  and  Cairn  R.  A'.,  was  chartered  February 
l(jth.  186.5,  and  the  entire  line  completed  and  put  in  opera- 
tion J[arch  1st,  187.5.  It  connects  the  cities  of  East  St. 
Louis  and  Cairo,  and  has  an  entire  line  of  track  of  151  I'V 
miles.  It  was  originally  chartered  under  the  name  of  the 
Cairo  and  St.  Louis  Railroad  Comj)any,  but  within  the  last 
year  it  was  reorganized  and  adopted  the  above  corporate 
name.  At  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  company  it 
was  decided  to  build  a  narrow  gauge— three  feet — road,  and 
it  was  believed  that  the  enterprise  would  prove  a  success  on 
account  of  the  cheapness  of  construction  and  the  economy 
of  obtainiug  the  rolling  stock.  In  accordance  with  these 
views  contracts  were  let,  and  the  management  was  encour- 
aged by  the  promises  of  liberal  local  aid  to  push  the  enter- 
prise to  completion  ;  but  the  financial  panic  of  187.3,  over- 
took it  before  it  was  thoroughly  completed.  The  promised 
local  aid  failed  to  be  forthcoming,  and  the  company  after 
struggling  against  many  difficulties,  was  compelled  at  last 
to  place  the  property  under  the  orders  of  the  court,  and  a 
receiver  appointed,  under  whose  management  it  was  operated 
until  February  1st,  188'i,  when  it  was  transfered  to  the  pre- 
sent company,  and  is  now  conducted  by  them  under  the 
above  name,  with  its  General  Office  at  411,  Olive  street,  St. 
Louis,  Missouri.  The  following  is  a  list  of  the  officers  of 
the  road  :  President.  W.  F.  Whitehouse ;  Vice  President, 
L.  M.  Johnson  ;  General  Solicitor,  S  Corning  Judd  ;  Secre- 
tary, C.  Ritchie  ;  General  Superintendent,  Chas.  Hamilton; 
Auditor,  Lewis  Enos  ;  General  Freight  and  Passenger  Agt., 


Geo.  H.  Smith.  It  utilizes  seven  miles  of  the  East  St. 
Louis  and  Carondelet  RaiUvay,  with  a  third  rail  from  Ea.st 
St.  Louis  to  East  (.'arondelet  The  road  enters  Monroe 
county  in  the  extreme  northern  part  in  Columbia  precinct; 
extends  in  a  south  and  easterly  direction  through  New  Han- 
over, Waterloo,  and  New  Design  precincts— clipping  the 
southwest  corner  of  Prairie  du  Long — and  crosses  the 
boundary  line  into  Randolph  county  in  the  extreme  north- 
west, in  Red  Bud  precinct ;  and  extends  thence  ea.st  and 
south  through  Randolph  into  Perry  county,  crossing  the  line 
of  the  latter  in  town  6,  range  5  ;  and  thus  includes  more 
than  one-third  the  length  of  the  entire  line  of  road. 

Witl)a.'ih,  Cheder  ami  Wc-^trrii  Railroad  Compan;/. — This 
road  was  chartered  March  4th,  1869,  and  entitled  the  "  Ches- 
ter and  Tamaroa  Coal  and  Railroad  Company."  It  was 
put  in  operation  from  Tamaroa,  in  Perry  county,  to  Ches- 
ter, Randol|)h  county,  in  JIarcli  1872.  The  company 
secured  subscriptions  to  its  capital  stock  from  Perry  and 
Randolph  counties  for  which  stock  interest  bearing  bonds 
were  issued.  Those  of  the  former  county  are  yet  outstand- 
ing and  will  mature  in  1892 ;  the  interest — seven  per  cent. — 
is  regularly  and  promptly  paid  July  24th,  1873,  the  com- 
pany was  consolidated  with  the  Chester  and  Iron  Mountain 
Railway  Company  of  Missouri,  under  the  Iron  Mountain, 
Chester  and  Eastern  Rail  Road  Company.  The  road  passed 
into  the  hands  of  a  Receiver,  and  was  for  some  years  the  sub- 
ject of  lively  litigation.  A  sale  of  the  road  took  place, 
February  28th,  1878.  under  foreclosure  in  the  United  States 
Court,  and  H.  C  Cole  became  the  purchaser. 

A  company  was  organized  Fel)ruary  20th,  1878,  a-  the 
"  Wabash,  Chester  and  Western  Rvilroad  Company,"  and 
began  operating  the  road  April  1st,  187S  W.  G.  Barnard 
of  Bellaire,  Ohio,  was  President,  and  Charles  B.  Cole  of 
Chester,  Illinois,  Treasurer  and  General  Jlanager.  This 
management  leased  the  road  to  the  St.  Louis  Coal  Railroad 
Company,  March  25th,  1882,  for  forty-five  years.  The 
main  line — from  Tamaroa  to  Chester  is  40  iV.j  miles  ;  branch 
— from  Chester  to  the  Penitentiary,  1  I'u'j  miles  ;  sidings  on 
the  main  line,  2  iVu  miles;  aggregate  length  of  all  tracks, 
45  J  Jj  miles. 

St.  Loui.'f  Olid  R  R.  Co.  was  organized  October  15th, 
1879,  by  what  was  styled  the  "  St.  Louis  Central  Railroad 
Company."  The  road  was  completed  August,  188ti,  from 
Carbondale  to  Harrison  Junction,  on  the  Cairo  and  St. 
Lonis  Railroad,  and  was  constructed  from  Murphysboro, 
Jackson  county,  to  Pinckneyville,  in  the  spring  of  1882, 
connecting  with  the  "  Wabash,  ("hester  and  Western  "  and 
the  "  St.  Louis  and  Cairo  Short  Line."  It  was  subsequently 
leased  to  the  St.  Louis  Coal  Railroad  Company,  which  was 
oro-anized  as  stated  above.  It  also  operates  under  lea.se,  the  R. 
R.  of  the  Carbondale  and  Shawncetown  R.  R.  Co.— between 
Carbondale  and  Marion,  a  distance  of  171  miles.  Total 
length  of  main  and  leased  lines  29  miles.  This  road  has  an 
extensive  traffic  in  coal,  and  reaches  the  St-  Louis  market 
over  the  line  of  the  St.  Louis  and  Cairo  Short  Line  R.  R. 
Offiirrs. — Pre.sident  and  General  Manager,  Andrew  C.  Bry- 
den, St.  Louis  ;  Vice-President,  Edwin  Harrison,  St.  Louis  ; 
General  Superintendent  and  Secretary,  James  C.  Bryden, 


H]sT(inY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


Carbondale  ;  Auditor,  Edftiu   Brown,  St.   Louis;  Assistant 
Superintendent,  James  Prentice,  Carbondale. 

ILLINOIS   CENTRAL   RAILROAD. 

The  main  line  of  this  road  enters  Perry  County  from  the 
uoith  near  the  center  of  Taiuaroa  precinct  in  section  4,  and 
extends  southward  through  the  entire  county,  having  about 
18  miles  of  road  in  the  county,  besides  the  sidings.  The  most 
iin|xirtaut  stations  are  Du  Quoin  and  Tamaroa. 

In  September,  1850,  Congress  passed  an  act,  and  it  was  ap- 
proved by  President  Fillmore,  granting  an  aggregate  of 
2,595,051?  acres,  to  aid  in  building  this  road.  The  act 
grantad  the  right  of  way,  and  gave  alternate  sections  of  land 
for  sis  miles  on  either  side  of  the  road.  The  grant  of  land 
was  made  directly  to  the  State.  On  the  10th  of  February, 
1851,  the  legislature  of  Illinois  granted  a  charter  to  an  east- 
ern company,  represented  by  llnniotd  and  others,  to  build  it, 
with  a  cajiital  stock  of  $1,000,000.  The  road  was  completed 
in  1854.  The  legislature,  in  granting  the  charter,  and  trans- 
fci-iiiig  to  the  corjioration  the  lands, stipulated  that  .sfccjijucr 
(I  ///.  of  the  gross  earnings  of  the  road  should  be  paid  semi- 
annually into  the  treasury  of  the  State  forever.  This  wise 
l)rovision,  in  lieu  of  the  liberal  land-grant,  yields  a  handsome 
annual  revenue  to  the  State ;  also  that  in  the  event  of  war 
government  transportation  should  be  furnished  at  a  certain 
reduction  from  the  prices  regularly  paid  by  the  general 
government  for  such  services.  The  proceeds  of  land  sales 
have  been  regularly  applied  to  the  redemption  of  construc- 
tion bunds,  and  it  is  significant  that  while  the  original  issue 
of  mortgage  bonds  amounted  to  §22,000,000,  that  amount 
has  been  so  reduced  that  in  1890  the  whole  issue  will  be  re- 
tired, and  the  stockholders  will  own  a  road  more  than  700 
miles  in  length,  fully  equipped,  with  no  outstanding  liability 
other  than  the  share  of  capital.  It  may  be  noted  here,  that 
when  the  general  government  donated  lands  to  the  States  of 
Illinois,  Mississippi  and  Alabama,  it  was  intended  that 
through  the  aid  derived  from  these  lands  a  through  artery 
of  travel  should  be  established  between  the  Lakes  and  the 
Gulf  ports.  Had  the  war  not  supervened,  the  project  would 
then  have  been  carried  out  in  its  entirely,  and  the  North  and 
South  movement  of  traffic  would  have  beoi  fully  developed, 
but  the  enforced  delay  in  carrying  out  the  original  pro- 
gramme was  utilized  in  building  up  the  State  of  Illinois,  and 
in  perfecting  the  track  of  this  road.  The  resources  of  the 
com))any  were  taxed  to  their  utmost  capacity  during  the 
war,  in  furnishing  transportation  for  the  general  government; 
but  the  interests  of  communities  along  the  line  were  carefully 
watched,  and  a  local  business  was  built  up,  which  in  volume 
and  value  far  exceeded  the  most  sanguine  expectation  of  the 
proprietary.  Strict  attention  to  local  business  has  always 
been  a  marked  characteristic  of  Illinois  Central  Railroad 
management,  hence  their  lands  have  been  eagerly  sought 
after;  and  they  have  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  the 
value  of  the  road  is  not  dependent  entirely  upon  its  identifi- 
cation with  the  through  business  of  the  country,  but  on  the 
contribution  of  local  traffic,  which  shows  a  permanent  and 
certain  increase.  Two  years  after  the  close  of  the  war,  in 
1867,  the  Illinoi.^  Central  Railroad  Company  leased  three 


railways  in  Iowa,  "The  Dubuque  and  Sioux  City,"  "Cedar 
Falls  and  Minnesota,"  and  "Iowa  Falls  and  Sioux  City' 
Railroads.  The  last  named  road  was  not,  however,  com- 
pleted to  Sioux  City  until  1871.  These  leased  lines  have 
been  extensive  feeders  to  the  Central ;  and  also  have  added 
immensely  to  the  commerce  of  Chicago,  and  have  been  great 
auxiliaries  in  the  development  of  Iowa  and  southern  Min- 
nesota. 

On  the  opening  of  the  Vandalla  line,  the  Illinois  Central 
made  its  first  direct  advance  toward  securing  a  representation 
in  the  traffic  between  Chicago  and  St.  Louis.  Two  through 
trains  were  run  daily,  via  Effiiu/liam.  In  1870,  on  comple- 
tion of  the  Belleville  and  Illinois  Southern  Railroad  to  Du 
Quoin,  the  southern  business  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad, 
originating  in  St  Louis,  was  transferable  from  Odin  and 
Ashley,  the  former  connections  with  the  Cairo  Short  Line. 
Though  the  Illinois  Ceutral  Railroad  put  in  a  car-hoist  at 
Cairo,  to  obviate  the  difficulties  incidental  to  the  diiferent 
gauge  of  the  southern  roads,  the  tedious  transfer  between 
Cairo  and  Columbus  militated  against  a  satisfactory  develop- 
ment of  through  business,  and  it  was  not  until  1873,  by  com- 
pletion of  the  ]Mississippi  Central  Extension,  from  Jackson 
to  a  point  opposite  Cairo,  that  the  Illinois  Central  was  en- 
abled to  compete  on  equal  terms  with  rival  routes  to  the 
South  for  the  business  of  the  Gulf  States.  This  extension 
could  not  have  been  built  without  the  aid  of  the  Illinois 
Central  Railroad  Company,  which  was  given  by  exchanging 
one  million  of  Illinois  Central,  five  per  cent,  sterling  bonds, 
which  were  easily  negotiable  in  foreign  markets,  for  five 
millions  of  the  southeru  bonds,  bearing  sere}/  per  cent,  an- 
nual interest,  with  the  understanding  that  the  difi'erence  be- 
tween the  interest  of  the  sterling  and  the  so\Uhern  bonds 
should  constitute  a  sinking  fund  for  the  redemption  of  the 
bonds  at  maturity.  The  financial  panic  of  1873,  combined 
with  other  local  causes,  prevented  the  line  between  New  Or- 
leans and  Cairo  from  earning  sufficient  to  meet  the  annual 
interest  charges,  and  the  property  was  placed  in  the  hands 
of  a  receiver,  where  it  remained  until  1S77,  when  a  reorgan- 
ization of  the  companies  resulted  in  placing  the  direct  con- 
trol in  the  hands  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  Comi)any. 
No  expense  has  been  spared  to  put  the  road-bed  and  equip- 
ments in  first-class  condition.  About  the  same  time  the  Illi- 
nois Central  Managers  acquired,  on  favoiable  terms,  pos- 
session of  the  Oilman,  Clinton  and  Springfield  Railroad, 
and  thereby  secured  in  perpetuity  the  traffic  of  a  valuable 
section  of  country  formerly  tributary  to  competing  roads. 
At  Durant,  309  miles  from  Cairo,  connection  is  made  with 
a  branch,  21  miles  in  length,  to  Kosciusko,  also  at  Jackson 
(Mississippi);  the  Vicksburg  and  Meridian  Railroad  fur- 
nishes a  line  to  Vicksburg,  and  thence  via  the  Vicksburg^ 
Shreveport  and  Texas  Railroad  for  Monroe,  La.,  Shreve- 
port  and  all  points  on  the  Texas  and  Pacific  Railway.  The 
Morgan's,  Louisiana  and  Texas  Railroad,  in  connection  with 
steamers  from  Brashcar,  furnish  an  alternate  route  to  Gal- 
veston and  other  points  in  Texas 

The  following  statistics  in  reference  to  the  physical  con- 
dition and  equipment  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad,  will 
not  be  devoid  of  interest :  — 


HISTORY    OF   RAXDOLPH,    MONROE    AXJ>    PERRY    COIXTIES,    II.LIXOIS. 


53 


MII.I-S. 

Msia  line,  Cairo  lo  I.a  Salli-,  opened  for  bnsine.'?,  Jnn.  Sth,  ISM aw  09 

Galena  Branch,  La  Salle,  to  Dunkirk,  opened  Jure  I21I1,  ISM MC.-3 

Chiiago  Branch,  Chicago  to  Centralia  Junction,  opened  Sept  2i'.lh,  1856,    °4!i.7S 
Springfield  Division,  Oilman  to  Springfield,  i>pentd  in  Sept.,  Is;i 111.47 

Tot.'il  length  of  Main  Line  and  Branches, M'.OT 

Aggregate  length  computed  as  single  track, 831.CA 

Length  of  Sidings, l.''.2.G8 

Total  length  of  track  owned  in  Illinoi.", 9W>.30 

Iowa  Pivi.-ion,  from  I<ubiiquc  to  Sioux  City, , 327.(iO 

Southern  tiiviaion,  from  Cairo  to  Sew  Orleans, 548.00 

Minnesota  Branch,  from  Waterloo  to  Mono, 8<>.00 


Slaking  the  total-number  of  miles, 


i',]-ii.: 


The  line  between  Chicago  and  Cairo  is  operated  as  the 
Chicago  Division  ;  tliat  between  Centralia  and  Dubuque  as 
the  Northern  Divifion,  and  the  Road  between  Oilman  and 
Springfield  as  the  Springtield  Division.  The  tracks  of  the 
various  lines  are  mostly  steel-rails,  the  road  beds,  especially 
iu  this  state,  are  ballasted  with  rock,  the  rolling  stock  is  ex- 
cellent, and  the  road  throughout  is,  in  all  parts,  first  class. 
The  :Main  Line  passe.s  through  the  richest  portion  of  the 
state — and  is  the  greatest  thoroughfare  of  travel  and  traffic 
between  the  North  and  the  South. 

RAILROAD   LINES. 

Believing  that  there  are  many  farmers  in  these  ccunties 
who  desire  a  profitable  investment,  we  would  therefore  call 
the  attention  of  all  who  are  desirous  of  procuring  more  land, 
or  larger  farms  to  the  large  quantity  of  good  faiming  land, 
the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  company  still  tfl'er  for  sale, 
along  their  line  in  Marion,  Fayette.  CIrnton,  Washington, 
Jeflersou,  Jackson,  Perry,  Franklin.  Union,  AVilliamson, 
Alexander,  and  Pulaski  counties  in  this  state. 

TITLE. 

The  title  to  these  lands  ofTereti  for  sale  is  as  perfect  as 
huniau  agency  can  make  it.  It  was  originally  donated  bj' 
act  of  Congress  to  the  State  of  Illinois,  and  by  an  act  of  the 
State  Legislature  transferred  to  this  company  and  its  trus- 
tees. No  incumbrance  of  any  kind  whatever.  To  all  who 
desire  in  good  faith  to  examine  any  of  these  lauds,  the  rail- 
road company  issues  half-rate  tickets  on  any  of  their  own 
lines  to  and  from  the  nearest  points  to  the  land,  and  if  such 
ticket-bolder  buys  even  a  forty-acre  tract,  they  will  allow 
what  he  paid  for  such  ticket  as  part  payment  on  the  pur- 
chase. These  lands  are  productive,  the  climate  healthy,  and 
prices  very  low — usually  from  S-l  to  S':!  per  acre,  on  easy 
terras,  and  a  low  rate  of  interest.  These  lands  can  be  pur- 
chased on  the  following  terms  : 

One  quarter  cash,  with  five  per  cent,  interest  for  one  year 
in  advance  on  the  residue  ;  the  balance  payable  in  one,  two 
and  three  years,  with  five  per  cent,  interest  in  advance  each 
year  on  the  part  remaining  unpaid.  For  example,  for 
forty  acres  of  land  at  S5.00  per  acre,  the  payments  would  be 
as  follows : 

Cash  payment S."i0.00  principal,  and  57. .*0  interest. 

In  one  year SO.liO         "  "      6.00 

In  t«o  years 50.00         "  "      2.50 

In  three  years 50.00         " 

(-200.00  (15.10 


Or  the  same  land  may  be  bought  for  S180.00,  all  cash,  as  ten 
per  cent,  is  deducted  when  all  cash  is  paid.  Full  informa- 
tion on  all  points  relating  to  any  particular  locality  or  tract, 
will  be  furnished  on  application,  either  in  person  or  by 
letter,  to 

p.  Daggy,  Land  Commissioner, 
Room  36,  No.  78  Michigan  Ave.,  Chicago,  Illinois. 


*'V<~^ 


(^uarternary.  Tertiary, Carboniferous, 
Devonian  and  ."^ilurian  systems.  Be- 
neath them  may,  and,  if  generally 
accepted  theoiies  be  true,  must  be 
formations  of  other  sj-stems  anteda- 
ting these.  The  Empire  State  of  the 
Valley  has  mainly  escaped  from  up- 
heaval by  earthquakes  and  volcanic 
eruptions,  so  that  her  prairies  spread 
out  in  beautiful  repose  uninterrupted 
by  unsightly  masses  of  matter  from 
long  past  ages.  In  the  counties  of  Riindolph,  Monroe  and 
Perry,  the  various  systems  penetrated  thus  far  by  man  iu 
his  inquiries  after  geological  truth  have  rewarded  his  re- 
search quite  as  well  as  any  throughout  the  state.  The 
Jlississippi  with  her  deep  grooved  channel  upon  the  West  ■' 
her  line  of  bluffs  following  up  her  general  course;  a  break 
traversing  the  counties  all  contribute  t.»  nuike  clear  the 
strategraphical  chart.  The  Quarternary,  Tertiary  and 
Carboniferous  .systems  present  outcroppings  here  and  there 
throughout  their  extent. 

The  Quarternary,  or  uppermost  stratum,  is  possessed  of 
greater  economical  value  than  all  other  formations  com- 
bined. It  comprises  the  drift  and  all  deposits  above  it  of 
whatever  may  be  the  quality  of  the  soil.  In  scientific  terms, 
it  includes  the  alluvium,  buttora  prairie,  blufli'  and  drift  of 
various  thicknesses,  which  crop  out  here  and  there  upon  the 
surface.  All  those  deposits  which  have  been  formed  since 
the  inauguration  of  the  present  order  of  thiugs,  might  be 
appropriately  classified  under  the  head  of  Alluvium  as  it 
embraces  soils,  pebbles,  sand,  elay.s,  and  vegetable  mold,  all 
of  which  are  here  found. 

Soils  are  a  well-kuown  mixture  of  various  comminuted 
and  decomposed  mineral  substances,  combined  and  mingled 
with  decayed  vegetable  and  animal  remains,  and  composing 
those  ingredients  so  well  adapted  to  the  nourishment  of  the 
vegetable  kingdom.  They  are  formed  by  the  action  of 
water  in  form  of  rain  or  dew  ;  by  atmospheric  changes  of 
heat  and  cold  ;  by  decay  of  vegetable  and  animal  matter. 
The  soils  of  these  counties  are  very  deep  and  exceedingly  pro- 
ductive. The  vegetable  kingdom  has  contributed  largely  to 
their  formation.     The    luxuriant  growth  of  prairie   grass, 


54 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


high  as  a  man's  head  riding  horseback  (as  the  old  settlers 
are  wont  to  say),  dying  with  the  touch  of  frost  each  autumn 
to  form  a  thin  layer  of  vegetable  mold,  or.  being  burned  by 
the  raging  fires  of  the  hazy  Indian  summer-time  to  add 
their  mite  of  alkali,  has  contributed  untold  wealth  to  the 
fertility  of  the  soil.  Here  and  there,  are  clay  formations 
cropping  out  upon  the  surface,  kindly  inviting  the  hand 
of  industry  to  transform  their  barrenness  into  tile  and  brick, 
and  thus  contribute  to  the  general  good.  Immediately  un- 
derneath are  evidences  of  the  aqueous  agencies  in  pebble  and 
formative  sand  rock  measures,  only  waiting  to  become  useful 
in  various  ways  that  man's  inventive  genius  has  devised. 
Upon  the  surface  here  and  there,  are  the  monuments  to  the 
existence  of  a  glacial  period,  in  form  of  great  boulders,  com- 
posed of  quartz,  feldspar,  mica,  and  hornblend.  We  look 
upon  these  massive  rocks,  and  note  nothing  in  common  with 
the  formations  surrounding  them.  Bedded  in  the  virgin 
prairie  soil,  poised  upon  its  surface,  their  composition 
declares  them  of  different  origin  from  other  rock,  and  the 
abrasions  upon  their  surface,  sometimes  in  deep  longitudinal 
grooves,  oftentimes  well  rounded  in  general  outline,  declare 
in  plain  words  a  long  journey  thitherward.  Scientists  have 
critically  examined  them.  Evidently  the  storm  of  centuries 
have  beaten  upon  them  where  they  stand,  and  the  hand  of 
time  has  broken  many  a  fragment  and  piled  them  at  their 
bases,  as  if  to  number  the  years  of  their  being  Speculations 
have  been  indulged  as  to  their  mighty  journeyings  from  the 
far-off  North  land  during  an  age  when  Manitoba  waves 
would  have  been  hailed  as  the  breath  of  spring-time;  an  age 
when  animal  and  vegetable  existence  were  alike  impossible. 
Borne  on  before  the  resistless  power  of  slowly-movin'g 
glaciers  or  icebergs,  they  were  dropped  here  and  there  on 
far-stretching  prairies,  or  carried  on  the  very  tops  of 
mountains,  like  those  of  Missouri,  where  their  piled  up  con- 
fusion leads  to  the  idea  of  a  battle-field  with  the  gods. 
Who  can  number  the  ages  that  have  rolled  away  since  it 
paused  in  its  course,  or  measure  the  time  of  its  journey  ?  or 
who  assay  to  count  the  time  it  occupied  its  place  in  the 
parent  ledge  before  the  glacier  or  iceberg  wrenched  it  from 
its  place  and  bore  it  away  ? 

The  prairies  themselves,  stretching  out  in  their  beauty, — 
nay,  in  silent  grandeur, — have  invited  man's  genius  to  assign 
to  natural  cause  their  origin,  and  declare  the  years  of  their 
formation.  Much  scientific  discussion  has  been  indulged 
respecting  thera.  Prof  Leo  Lesquereux,  in  report  of  the 
State  Geologist  of  Illinois,  asserts  that  they,  with  their  pecu- 
liar surface  soil,  owe  their  origin  to  the  same  causes  that  are 
at  present  operating  to  form  prairies,  though  on  a  less  exten- 
sive scale-  The  black,  rich  soil  is  doubtless,  he  says,  due  to 
the  growth  and  decay  of  successive  crops  of  vegetation, 
which,  in  the  geological  ages  of  the  past,  under  a  far  higher 
temperature  and  more  favorable  atmospheric  conditions  than 
now  exist,  grew  to  an  extent  unknown  since  the  appearance 
of  man  upon  the  earth.  These  prodigious  crops  of  plants 
and  grasses  were  from  year  to  year  submerged,  and  becom- 
ing decomposed,  contributed  their  annual  accumulations  to 
the  surface  of  the  country.  By  the  continuation  of  this  pro- 
cess for  untold  centuries,  and  by  the  subsequent  recession  of 


the  waters  that  once  covered  the  entire  Mississippi  Valley, 
a  black,  mucky  soil  was  formed,  and  the  whole  region 
emerged  as  vast  swamps  or  swales  interspersed  with  hills  and 
valleys,  mountains  and  table-lands.  These,  by  gradual 
growth,  became  outlined  in  prairies. 

In  each  of  the  three  counties  here  treated  of,  great  deposits 
of  coal  have  been  found.  The  age  of  these  formations  would 
prove  a  study  of  interest.  That  of  coal  can  be  computed 
more  accurately  than  any  other  encountered  beneath  us.  It 
has  been  calculated  that  thirty  feet  of  vegetable  matter 
would  be  required  to  form  one  foot  of  coal.  What  must 
then  have  been  the  plant  growth  which  gave  us  such  vast 
deposits. 

RANDOLPH  COUNTY.* 

The  surface  deposits  of  this  county  comprise  the  three 
usual  sub-divisions  of  the  Quarternary  system,  designated  as 
alluvium,  marly  deposit  known  as  "  loess"  and  drift.  The 
most  important  alluvial  deposit  in  the  county  is  that  known 
as  the  American  Bottom,  which  follows  the  great  river  from 
the  northwest  corner  of  the  county  southward  to  the  mouth 
of  the  Kaskaskia,  having  a  width  varying  from  four  to  fif- 
teen miles.  This  belt  is  exceedingly  productive,  and  but 
for  the  overflows  to  which  it  is  subjected,  would  be  by  far 
the  most  valuable  land  of  the  county.  The  soil  is  quite 
sandy,  but  is  intermingled  with  humus  or  vegetable  mold 
or  clay  from  the  sediments  of  the  river,  forming  a  rich  warm 
soil  of  unsurpassed  fertility. 

The  loess  is  a  deposit  of  light  brown  or  buff  siliceous  marl, 
sometimes  also  quite  calcareous  It  caps  the  blufis  of  the 
Mississippi  and  other  streams  of  the  county,  and  is  of  a 
thickness  varying  from  ten  to  sixty  feet,  or  even  m^ire.  It 
generally  contains  great  numbers  of  bleached  shells.  It 
gives  origin  to  the  bald  knobs,  that  are  often  a  conspicuous 
feature  in  the  river  bluffs.  Ttie  drift  deposits  of  this  county 
comprise  a  series  of  brown  and  yellow  clays,  intermingled 
locally  with  gravel  and  small  pebbles,  spread  over  the  en- 
tire surface  of  the  uplands,  and  underlying  the  loess  where 
both  are  present.  Boulders  of  igneous' character  are  occa- 
sionally seen  in  the  valleys.  Specimens  of  galena,  analogous 
to  the  ores  of  Potosi  in  southeast  Missouri,  are  frequently 
found  beneath  the  soil  in  this  county.  Whether  native,  or 
transported  by  human  agency,  or  yet  b}'  easterly  currents, 
carrying  them  from  their  resting  places  across  the  river,  is  a 
subject  for  speculation.  The  stratified  rocks  exposed  at  the 
surface  include  a  portion  of  the  lower  coal  measures,  from 
the  micaceous  sandstone  above  coal  No.  6  in  the  general 
section  to  the  base  of  the  measures,  together  with  the  Chester 
group  and  the  St.  Louis  group  of  the  lower  carboniferous 
limestone  series. 

Coal  Measures. — The  beds  exposed  in  the  county  that  be- 
long to  the  coal  measures  comprise  a  series  of  micaceous 
sandstones,  limestones,  and  shales,  with  two  seams  of  bitu- 
minous coal.  The  thickness  of  the  whole,  including  the 
conglomerate  at  the  base,  probably  does  not  exceed  two  hun- 

»  We  nre  indebted  to  the  State  Geological  Reports  for  much  data  bearing  on 
the  Geology  of  these  counties. 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTJES,    ILLINOIS. 


55 


dred  and  fifty  feet.     The  followiug  vertical   section  shows 
the  succession  and  comparative  thickness  of  these  beds : 

Micaceous  sandstone  and  shale ao  to  40  feet. 

Band  of  limestone 3  " 

Shale 1-.!  " 

Limestone  and  bituminous  shale 4  *■  0  " 

Coal  (Bellevillel 0  ••  8  " 

Fire-clay  and  nodular  limestone 3  "  G  " 

Shale  or  shaly  sandstone .'iij  "  40  " 

Limestone 3  '*  4  " 

Bituminousshale 3  "  &  '* 

Coal  No.  j  (7) 2  "  4  " 

Fire  clay 2  '■  4  - 

Shii'e  and  .sandst4jne  ( ■unglotneralf) ,M>  "  lao  ■' 

The  coal  measures  underlie  about  one-third  of  the  county, 
being  that  part  known  as  the  prairie  district.  The  sand- 
stone and  shales  that  form  the  base  of  this  group  of  strata 
give  origin  to  a  more  broken  surface.  Of  the  coal  mea- 
sures, two  are  developed  in  this  county,  the  Belleville  coal 
(No.  6)  and  a  lower  seam,  probably  No.  .5  The  Belleville 
coal  seam  is  very  regular,  with  an  average  thickness  of  about 
six  feet.  It  almost  invariably  has  a  good  roof,  composed 
either  of  limestone  or  hard  bituminous  shale,  either  of  which 
makes  a  subtantial  roofing,  both  safe  and  economical.  In 
a  few  places,  packets  of  a  conglomerate  have  been  found  in 
this  roofing,  notably  in  a  shaft  sunk  near  Coulterville,  the 
giving  way  of  which  is  attended  with  disastrous  results. 
The  coal  from  this  seara  is  compact,  of  a  bright  color,  and 
comparatively  free  from  pyrites.  Sometimes  it  rests  upon  a 
bed  of  fire-clay,  but  more  frequently  on  one  of  argillaceous 
limestone.  The  over-cropping  limestones  are  fossiliferous. 
The  out-cropping  of  the  coal  measures,  which  underlie  the 
northwestern  part  cf  the  county,  is  along  Mary's  river.  At 
Pope's  bank  the  coal  is  deposited  in  five  distinct  layers, 
measuring  respectively  sixteen,  twelve,  fifteen,  sixteen,  and 
one  and  a  half  feet- 

At  Boyd's  coal  mines,  one  mile  west  of  Spaita,  the  coal  is 
obtained  by  a  shaft  sunk  to  the  depth  of  about  fifty  feet 
through  the  following  beds  : 

Cluy  ,um1  grnvel 20  feet. 

Limestone     2    " 

Shale 15    " 

Limestone     5    "  ' 

<'oal 0    •' 

The  dip  is  slightly  easterly,  and  does  not  exceed  5°.  A 
mile  and  a  half  northeast  is  Wood's  coal  mine,  where  the 
coal  is  reached  at  a  depth  of  forty  feet.  It  is  overlaid  with 
bituminous  shale  and  limestone.  In  the  vicinity  of  Steels- 
ville,  the  coal  is  of  an  average  thickness  of  six  feet,  and  is 
found  from  twenty-five  to  thirty  feet  below  the  surface. 
Four  miles  to  the  south  it  out-crops  in  the  bluffs  along  Cos's 
creek. 

Chester  Group. — The  following  vertical  section  gives  an 
idea  of  comparative  thickness  and  relative  position  of  the 
different  members  of  this  group: 

Grey  silioious  limestone  No.  1 2.5  to  30  feet. 

Shalesaudshaly  sandstones,  with  fossil  plants  .  80  "  OO  " 

Shaly  liinest  ,ne  No.  2 15  "  18  '• 

Massive  brown  sandstone 40  ** 

Limestone  No.  3,  upper  bed  at  Chester 40  "  45  " 

tireen  and  blue  argillaceous  shales,  with  plates 

of  limestone 45  '*  70  " 


Arenaceous  and  ar^illaccovis  limestone  No  4  .   .  20    to    30  feet. 

Massive  and  shaly  saiid.-^tonc  . 15    "    20    " 

Compact  and  granular  grey  limestone  No.  .0  .  .  150    " 

Passive  quartzose  brown  sandstone 120    '' 

This  group  attains  its  greatest  thickness  in  the  southern 
part  of  the  county.  At  Chester  the  middle  portion  of  this 
group  forms  the  greater  portion  of  the  river  bluff,  and  the 
beds  afford  the  following  section  at  this  point  : 

Green  and  purple  scales 8  feet. 

Compact  grey  limestone 10    '* 

Limestone,  irregular,  partly  ujdular  and  partly  argil- 
laceous         32    " 

Green  and  argillaceous  shales,  with  thin  plates  of  lime- 

stone  and  ferruginous  hands 70    " 

Compost  grey  limestone,  with  intercalated  beds  of  blue 

aiKl  green  clay  shales «2    " 

Total     202    " 

Adjacent  to  the  city,  and  partly  exposed  on  the  hill-tops, 
is  a  bed  of  i]uartzose  sandstone  This  sandstone  is  overlaid 
with  another  limestone  which  m.iy  be  found  as  you  journey 
farther  from  the  river,  so  that  like  step-stones  these  forma- 
tions rise  one  above  another,  exposed  as  the  aqueous  abra- 
sions have  by  lapse  of  time  laid  them  bare.  Near  the  Peni- 
tentiary buildings  the  top  of  the  limestone  is  eighty  feet 
above  low  water  level  of  the  river,  and  is  overlaid  by  a  mas- 
sive sandstone  about  fifteen  feet  in  thickness.  Below  Ches- 
ter, limestone  almost  wholly  made  up  of  crinoidea  and  fish 
teeth  abounds — a  limestone  susceptible  of  a  high  polish. 
At  Prairie  du  Rocher,  the  bluff  is  composed  of  the  massive 
grey  limestone  of  the  St.  Louis  group,  but  before  reaching 
tlie  general  level  of  the  adjacent  country  we  pass  over  the 
lower  sandstone  of  the  Chester  group,  and  the  limestones 
and  shales  of  the  higher  beds  are  found  expo.std  on  all 
the  small  streams  between  the  bUifis  and  Red  Bud. 
At  Red  Bud,  the  sinking  of  a  shaft  presented  the  following 
record  of  strata  : 

Surface  clay 18  feet. 

Grey  limestone,  conUiiuing  fossils  found  in  the  Chester 

group 13    " 

Clay  shale 46    " 

Economical  Geology, — Elsewhere  in  this  work  soils  are 
treated  of,  and  in  presenting  a  brief  view  of  what  is  appro- 
priately termed  economical  geology,  we  shall  only  call  atten- 
tion to  the  minerals  that  furnish  the  basis  of  future  wealth 
and  importance  to  this  county. 

Vodl — By  far  the  most  valuable  and  important  mineral 
deposit  underlies  fully  one  third  of  the  county.  It  has  been 
calculated  that  the  yield  of  a  coal  seam  is  one  million  tons  to 
the  square  mile  for  every  foot  of  thickness  of  the  seam,  and 
consequently  the  yield  of  the  upper  seam  as  here  found 
would  aggregate  six  million  tons.  Then  if  three  hundred 
square  miles  of  the  county  are  thus  underlaid  the  enormous 
amount  of  eighteen  hundred  million  tons  of  coal  awaits  the 
application  of  human  genius  in  its  exhumation.  Then,  too, 
yet  beneath  this  partially  developed  seam  is  another  with 
probably  one-third  as  much  more  coal.  Mining  coal,  a 
comparatively  new  industry,  is  being  rapidly  pro.seculed,  and 
with  constantly  increasing  facilities  for  its  transportation, 
and  not  only  this,  but  for  transfer  of  rude  ores  from  the 
mountains  of  Missouri,  to  be  changed  as  if  by  a  magician's 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


wand  into  various  forms  of  utility  and  beauty  through  its 
agency.  It  is  destined  to  grow  and  demand  enlarged  facili- 
ties for  exhumation  and  carriage.  Manufacturing  interests 
are  taking  hold,  and  will  be  within  the  next  decade  more 
than  double  in  number  and  capacity. 

Bnildinf/  Stone.  —  Enough  stone,  and  that  too,  of  superior 
quality — abounds  here  to  supply  the  state  f  jr  centuries.  Its 
presence  was  one  of  the  great  inducements  offered  in  behalf 
of  the  location  of  the  State  Penitentiary  at  Chester.  To 
particularize,  the  St.  Louis  limestone,  abundant  in  the  north- 
western part  of  the  county,  rising  full  two  hundred  feet  in 
height,  could  be  made  available  for  the  heaviest  masonry,  as 
well  as  for  foundation-walls  for  dwellings,  for  flag-stones,  etc. 
The  lower  sandstone  of  the  Chester  group,  an  excellent  free- 
stone, which  can  be  sawed  or  cut  easily  when  freshly  quar- 
ried, hardening  on  exposure,  will  furnish,  practically,  inex- 
haustib'e  supplies  for  various  purposes  of  art.  Then  the 
lower  limestone  of  the  same  group,  for  all  manner  of  archi- 
tectural display,  is  most  excellent  ;  for  caps,  for  cornices, 
for  columns,  and  for  shafts  it  is  well  adapted.  Much  of  it 
is  susceptible  of  a  high  polish,  and  will  be  availed  of  by  way 
of  ornamentation. 

Lime. — Stone  employed  in  its  manufacture  abounds.  The 
best  is  found  in  the  vicinity  of  Prairie  da  Rucher.  It  is 
not  surpassed  by  any  calcareous  deposit  in  the  Mississippi 
valley  for  the  production   of  a  superior  quality  of  lime. 

Clays. — The  fire  clay  which  underlies  each  of  the  coal 
seams  nny  be  useil  advantageously.  Clay  for  the  mauufxc- 
ture  of  brick  of  fair  quality  everywhere  abounds,  underly- 
ing the  surface  soil. 


MONROE    COUNTY. 

As  iu  Randolph  we  find  along  the  great  river,  following 
its  course, a  widespread  bottom  presenting  its  inexhaustible 
alluvial  deposits.  Soil  sandy,  intermingled  with  humus  or 
vegetable  mold  and  clay  from  the  sediments  of  the  river. 
Hemming  in  the  great  water  way,  as  if  to  check  its  overflow, 
are  great  bluffs  of  varied  character.  The  disturbances  in 
the  regular  stratification  of  rocks  are  very  marked,  there 
being  two  decided  axes.  The  nucleus  of  the  more  northern 
one  is  the  Keokuk  limestone,  which  is  well  exposed  near 
Columbia  on  a  small  creek.  Above  the  exposure  is  a  brown- 
ish-gray and  cherty  limestone,  forming  about  forty  feet  of 
its  bulk,  while  the  remaining  ten  feet  consists  of  blue  calcareo- 
argillaceous  shales  with  small  geodes  of  quartz.  Immediate- 
ly west,  the  overlying  St.  Louis  limeston  ■  dips  full  20  degs. 
south,  while  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  axis  the  dip  in  the 
opposite  direction  varies  from  8  to  12  degs.,  thus  forming  a 
trough  or  valley,  and  indicating,  at  some  time  away  back 
in  the  sleeping  ages,  mighty  convulsions  of  nature  which 
have  pushed  upwards  out  of  their  natural  beds  great  mas.ses 
of  rock,  different  from  their  fellows,  upon  either  hand. 
These  convulsions  speak  of  an  age  antedating  the  carboni- 
ferous period,  since  coal  measures  in  regular  lines  cross  the 
valley,  intervening  the  exposures  of  the  Keokuk  limestone. 
The  other  axis  is  to  the  south  and  shows  the  elevation  of  the 
Saccharoidal  sandstone.     Its  extent  is  limited,  as  it  rapidly 


sinks  to  the  eastward  beneath  shales  and  limestones  of  the 
Lower  Carboni.'erous  series. 

The  relative  position  and  comparative  thickness  of  the 
stratified  rocks  in  this  county  are  shown  iu  the  following 
section  : 

No.  1.  Cial  lupa^nre.si 40  to  .W  foet. 

Xo.  2.  Chester  Kionp Km  to  :i'.il  feet. 

N.i.  ;;.  rppc-r  St  Louis  limestone 140  to  l.'Jl  feet. 

No.  4.  Lowel- St.  Louis  or  W:U'.s:uv VJO  to  l:'.0  IVt't, 

No..-..  Keolcok  liojestone loll  fcet. 

No.  0.  Iturlinu'ton  limestone 7o  to  lull  feet. 

No.  7.  Kiudiuhook  (jroup so  to  IIKJ  feet- 
No.  8.  Trenton  limestone 12(1  feet. 

The  a^^regate  thickness  of  these  rocks  may  be  estimated 
at  about  oue  thousand  feet,  and  they  represent  a  very  large 
portion  of  the  whole  Paleozoic  series  below  the  coal  meas- 
ures, as  that  series  is  developed  in  Southern  Illinois.  No 
part  of  the  State  presents  more  interesting  phases  of  geo- 
logical research  than  here.  Coal  is  found  throughout  the 
basin  formed  by  the  break  in  the  formations  already  referred 
to,  and  is  necessarily  confined  to  a  narrow  strip.  Breaks  in 
coal  measures,  being  quite  as  uneven  as  the  basis  on  which 
they  rest,  make  successful  mining  hazardous.  At  a  number 
of  points  within  the  isolated  synical  basin,  coal  was  found, 
and  in  some  places  successfully  rained.  Gall's  coal  mines, 
on  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  3,  township  2  south, 
range  4  west,  have  been  quite  extensively  worked  and 
abandoned.     The  beds  exposed  give  the  following  section  : 

fuloareons  shales C  (o  s  feet. 

I  oui  part  ar(;illiieeou-s  limestone 3  to  4  feet. 

P.ilmninons  shale I  to  3  feet. 

Cal.     liellevillescam :Uo  4  feet. 

Ciiloareoils  shnlesauil  no  lul.ir  limestone .T  to  4  feet. 

Sliule  tiiul  shiily  .siinilstone Ij  feet 

No.  2.  Chester  Group. — As  developed  in  this  county  is 
the  upper  group  of  the  lower  carboniferous  system,  consists 
of  a  heavy  bed  of  sandstone  forming  its  lower  division,  aljove 
which  are  two  or  three  beds  of  limestone  alternating  with 
sandy  and  argillaceous  shales  and  sandstones.  In  thickness 
they  are  less  than  in  Randolph  county,  and  as  we  travel 
north  grow  more  and  more  so.  In  places  the  rock  of  this 
group  is  massive  and  concretionary  in  structure,  then  again, 
fossiliferous,  consisting  of  coarse,  granular  and  partly  crinoi- 
dal  limestone. 

Nos.  3  and  4  St  LouL?  Limestone.  Upper  and  Loiver. 
Occurs  in  extensive  outcrops  in  the  county,  and  in  two  well- 
marked  divisions.  The  upper  consists  mainly  of  light-gray 
compact,  regularly  bedded  limestones,  with  some  thin  shaly 
partings,  and  the  lower  of  buff  or  brown  marly  and  partly 
maguesian  beds,  and  with  some  very  massive  layers  of  a  serai- 
oolitic,  nearly  white  limestone.  Exposures  of  these  groups 
are  met  with  to  the  east  and  north  of  the  Chester  group. 
'Ihe  sink  holes  met  with  are  a  sure  guide  to  the  extent  of 
these  formations,  they  being  only  formed  where  the  upper 
division  of  this  group  forms  the  bed-rock. 

No.  5.  Keokuk  Group. — Exposures  of  this  group  are  rare 
in  this  county,  forming  as  it  does  the  nucleus  of  the  anticlinal 
axis  passing  near  Columbia.  It  has  been  found  to  be  com- 
posed of  coarse-grained  gray  limestone,  yellow  calcareous 
shale,  blue  shale,  cherty  gray  limestone  and  bedded  chert. 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


No.  6.  Burliiiyton  LlmrstDin'  — May  include  the  bedded 
chert  attributed  above  to  the  Kenkuk  group.  It  is  couliiicd 
to  the  viciuity  of  Salt  Lick  Point  where  it  forms  the  upper 
escarpment  of  tiie  bluH'.  It  consists  of  alternations  of  light- 
gray  crinoidal  limestone  and  chert.  Tiie  bluff  where  found 
is  the  highest  between  St.  Louis  and  Chester,  presenting 
from  its  summit  a  grand  panorama  of  river  and  valley. 

Nu.  7.  K'lHih'fhQok  Group. — Seemingly  out  of  its  place, 
having  by  some  agency  been  pushe<I  entirely  out  of  its  rela- 
tive position,  usurping  that  of  the  Devonian  and  upper  Silu- 
rian groups,  is  found  only  in  the  vicinity  of  the  foregoing 
group,  and  consists  of  ashen  gray  shales,  which  pass  upward 
into  chocolate-colored  shales  and  limestones. 

No.  8.  Tretitoii  Limestone. — The  oldest  formation  found 
in  Southern  Illinois.  Its  presence  is  attributable  to  like 
causes  with  the  three  preceding  groups.  It  forms  a  low  ledge 
of  massive  gray  limestone  at  the  base  of  a  blufl'  about  two 
miles  below  Eagle  elitf.  Wherever  it  outcrops  it  consists  of 
heavy  bedded  yellowish  gray  crystalline  limestones,  inter- 
sected with  vertical  fissures  or  joints.  These  vertical  fissures 
are,  in  places  most  marked,  separating  great  columns  so  that 
thev  stand  apart  like  silent  sentinels.  Some  of  them  are 
from  forty  to  fifty  feet  in  height.  They  have  locally  received 
the  a|)peIlation  of  the  "  stoue  chimneys  " 

Ei-oiiomien/  Geolofjy. — In  his  report  the  State  Geologist 
savs  there  is  no  county  in  Southern  Illinois  more  abundantly 
supplied  with  buikling  stone  of  various  qualities  than  this, 
and  it  is  so  generally  distributed  over  all  portions  of  the 
county  as  to  be  easily  accessible  to  every  neighborhood. 
The  stratified  rocks  arc  here  something  more  than  a  thousand 
feet  in  thickness,  and  fully  one-half  may  be  considered  of 
economical  value.  The  sandstone  that  forms  the  basis  of 
the  Chester  group  will  furnish  an  unlimited  supply  of  excel- 
lent building  stone.  It  generally  is  compact,  free  from 
foreign  substances,  but  sometimes  shows  a  concretionary 
structure ;  where  this  is  the  case  it  can  be  readily  quarried 
as  it  splits  evenly  in  blocks  of  required  sizes.  It  works 
easilv  under  the  chisel,  and  hardens  on  exposure.  The  lime- 
stones of  the  same  group  furnish  some  good  material  suitable 
for  rough  walls.  The  rock  most  generally  used,  however, 
comes  from  the  St.  Louis  group  which  furnishes  the  bed  rock 
of  a  much  larger  area  of  territory  than  iloes  any  other.  It 
is  mostly  a  compact,  fine  grained,  bluish-gray  limestone, 
weathering  to  a  nearly  white  color,  and  generally  lies  in 
regular  beds  of  fair  workable  thickness  from  size  suitable  for 
flagging,  curb-stones,  &c.,  to  blocks  of  two  feet  thickness. 
Most  of  the  macadamizing  material  used  in  the  county  is 
obtained  from  the  hard,  bluish-gray  limestones  of  this  group. 
Dimension  stone  of  any  required  thickness  and  form  is 
obtainable  from  the  lower  division  of  this  group.  It  is  one 
of  the  best  building  stones  in  the  county.  In  the  next  or 
Burlington  group  the  rock  is  too  cherty  for  use. 

Marbl''. — The  Trenton  limestone  aflibrds  some  beds  of  light- 
gray  crystalline  thick-bedded  rock  that  receives  a  fine  polish, 
and  the  thickly  imbedded  organic  forms  give  to  the  polished 
surface  a  slightly  mottled  appearance,  pleasing  to  the'eye.  It 
mav  be  obtained  at  Salt  Lick  Point  in  inexhaustible 
quantities. 
8 


tb((/. —As  already  indicated  the  only  c  lal  found  in  this 
county  is  that  obtained  in  the  valley  or  basin  formed  by  the 
upheavals  on  either  side.  Tlie  valley  is  narrow  and  coal 
seams  irregular  throughout  its  e.xtent,  being  found  in  pack- 
ets. The  veins  where  found  are  of  uneven  thickne.<s,  rang- 
ing from  thin  leaves  to  four  feet. 

Iron  Ore  may  be  found  thick  enough  to  prove  of  some 
economical  value  at  the  junction  of  the  Chester  and  St. 
Louis  groups.  Its  presence  is  indicated,  ami  a  band,  appar- 
ently of  good  quality,  is  here  exposed. 

Hi/draulic  LimciifoKc—Tha  manufacture  of  cement  is  of 
sufficient  importance  to  cause  thorough  examination  to  de- 
termine the  existence  of  Hydraulic  limestone  in  workable 
quantities.  That  it  exists  here  is  well  known,  whether  in 
quantity  and  of  quality  to  re-pay  investment  in  its  mining 
and  reduction  is  problematic. 

LimcKtonfi  for  Lime. — This  county  could  afiord  sufficient 
lime,  that  too,  of  most  excellent  quality,  to  supply  all  the 
demands  that  could  possibly  be  made  upon  it  for  centuries. 
Lime  kilns  are  here  and  there  operated  successfully,  and  at  a 
hundred  other  points  might  be  constructed  to  the  advantage 
of  proprietors. 

Brick  Materliih. — Clay  suitable  for  the  manufacture  of 
brick  everywhere  abounds,  and  sand  may  be  readily  sup- 
plied from  the  banks  of  adjacent  streams. 

PERRY    COUNTY. 

The  geological  formations  of  this  county  are  restricted 
to  the  coal  measures  and  tha  superficial  deposits  known  as 
drift.  The  coal  measure  strata  that  formed  the  original  sur- 
face in  this  region,  consist  mainly  of  arenaceous,  argillaceous 
and  bituminou-i  shales,  fine-grained  sand  stones,  and  thin 
bjds  of  silicious  and  argillaceous  limestone.  The  drift  de. 
posits  above  the  coal  measures  are  comparatively  thin. 
Perhaps  a  medium  would  be  represented  by  the  following 
section  : 


Soil   and  .«ub-soil 
Keddish  Clay  .   .   . 
.Sand  ADd  gravel  . 
Yellow  tough  cla.v 


Beneath  this  clay  last  named,  is  encountered  a  blue  mud, 
which  is  rich  in  vegetable  remains,  or  in  places  where  the 
stratified  rocks  belonging  to  the  coal  measures  are  reached, 
the  blue  mud  being  absent.  The  coal  measures  embrace  a 
depth  of  about  three  hundred  feet.  At  Tamaroathe  follow- 
ing section  was  obtained  : 


Soft  micaceous  sandstones 1^  f' 

Sandy  Shale 20 

Massive  hard  ferruginous  sandstone 10 

lilue  clay  shale 2o 

Impure  Iron  ore,  with  fossil  shelU - 

Bituminous  Sliale 3 

Coal   So.   8 0  9 

Fireclay  .             3 

Sandstone ^^ 

Sandy   Shale 102 

Hard  calcareous  sandstone 3 

Black  carbonaceous  slate 1 

Clay  Shale  .    ■ 3 

Hard,  arenaceous,  slaty  rock 16 

Clay  Shale ' 

Light-grey,  sub-crystalline  limestone 8 


58 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


Bituminous  Shale 2  ft. 

Coal,  i-oinetimes  wanting  No.  6  ? 2    " 

Fire  clay  or  clny  nhale 3    " 

Limestone,  light-colored,  nrcnaceous 7    " 

Gray  S  ale 6    " 

Jjimestone *"•    " 

Shales,  with  fossil  rlants i5    " 

Coal  No.  5  ? .li  to  7  ft. 

Clay  shale,  witli  nodules  of  limestone 15    " 

At  other  points  throughout  the  county  workable  veins  of 
coal  were  found  at  much  lets  depths.  The  Black  Diamond 
mine  exhibits  the  following  section  : 

Clay,  (-urface  material) 24  f^et. 

Limestone 9  " 

Clay  Shale 1  '• 

Bituminous  Sliale 1  " 

Coal 1  " 

Fire-clay 4  " 

Limestone f'  " 

Clay  Shale ■'"'  " 

Limestone      7 

Blue  clay  shale li  " 

Hard,  dark-colored  limestone 3  " 

Bituminous  Shale 2  " 

Coal  ...••• _5  " 

93  " 

At  Pinckneyville  the  depth  is  only  some  forty  to  fifty /eet 
to  coal,  which  out-crops  on  a  ravine  southeast  of  the  town 
in  section  30,  T.  5  S.  R.  2  W. 

Eeonoviiml  Geolof/y. — Perhaps  no  county  in  Southern 
Illinois  offers  superior  inducements  to  the  mining  of  coal 
than  this.  The  accessibility  and  quality  of  the  coal  are 
both  in  its  favor.  Mr.  Pratten's  analysis  of  the  Du  Quoin 
coal  gave  the  following  result : 

Specific  gravity 1.24C 

Loss  in  coking 48  5 

Total  weight  of  coke 51.1-ltio 

Moisture 8.') 

Volatile  matters 40.4 

Carbon  in  coke 48.1 

Ashes  (light  gray) 3  (1-1(10 

Carbon  in  coal .'JO.C 

The  analysis  when  compared  with  that  of  other  bituminous 
coal  found  throughout  the  state  is  favorable  to  the  Du  Quoin. 
In  reference  to  the  accesi-ibility,  not  alone  is  the  coal  found 
throughout  this  county  at  comparatively  little  depth,  but  the 
roofing  is  superior,  being  in  places  a  hard,  blue  limestone. 
Where  it  is  a  bituminous  shale  it  is  not  so  good. 

The  amount  of  accessible  coal  in  this  county  is  enormous. 
The  State  Geologist  in  his  report  estimates  it  at  two  billion, 
four  hundred  million  tons,  which  at  Si. 50  per  ton  would 
yield  13,600,000,  and  adds  that  this  estimate  is  undoubtedly 
below  rather  than  above  the  actual  amount  of  coal  to  be  ob- 
tained from  the  beds  underlying  the  surface  of  this  county 
alone.  Here  then,  would  we  look  for  the  future  manufactur- 
ing establishments  of  Southern  Illinois,  for  the  erection  of 
smelters,  furnaces,  iron  industries,  foundries,  &c.  An  era 
of  prosperity  awaits  the  hand  of  industry,  and  the  mining  of 
her  black  diamonds  will  expedite  its  advent. 

Building  Slone. — In  this,  Perry  county  is  deficient. 
Material  suitable  for  foundation  walls  is  found  and  .some 
adapted  to  such  masonry  as  enters  into  making  of  bridges 
and   culverts  is  accessible.     Some   of  the   limestone   out- 


cropping is  adapted  to  the  manufacture  of  quick-lime, 
and  has  been  thus  used.  The  sand-stones,  are  too  soft  for 
general  uses,  but  are  used  for  flagging,  light  walls,  &c. 

Sand  and  Clay  for  the  manufiicture  of  brick  may  be 
found  almost  in  any  place  where  it  may  be  desirable  to 
manufacture  them  :  and  from  the  abundance  of  coal,  and 
the  economy  with  which  they"  can  be  burned,  brick  will 
always  be  one  of  the  cheapest  and  most  easily  obtained 
materials  for  building  purposes  in  this  county. 


CHAPTER  V. 


N  treating  of  the  flora  of  these  coun- 
ties, it  is  not  our  purpose  to  treat 
exhaustively  on  all  the  plants  of 
the  respective  counties,  but  rather 
to  give  a  list  of  the  native  trees 
and  grasses  found  within  their 
limits.  The  intelligent  and  prac- 
tical husbandman  first  looks  to 
the  native  vegetation  as  a  dial  to 
be  governed  by  in  determining  the  value  of  new  lands.  The 
growth,  size,  and  kinds  of  timber  will,  to  a  great  extent, 
decide  and  determine  the  qualities  of  the  soil  for  agricultural 
purposes. 

The  botanist,  in  making  a  survey  of  the  State,  classes  it 
under  three  heads  :  the  heavily  timbered  regions  of  the 
South,  the  flora  of  which  is  remarkable  for  its  variety  and 
beauty  ;  the  central  portion,  consisting  mainly  of  prairie 
region  ;  and  the  North,  which  is  a  combination  of  both 
timber  and  prairie.  These  counties  represent  the  charac- 
teristics of  the  latter,  having  a  fair  proportion  of  each,  also 
including  the  American  Bottom  varieties.  Many  of  the 
early  species  of  the  vegetable  kingdom  have  changed  and 
passed  out  of  sight  since  the  coming  of  the  Anglo-Saxon. 
The  "  buffalo  grass,"  which  formerly  grew  only  upon  the 
prairies,  and  the  high  pampas  gra.ss,  have  become  extinct 
and  given  place  to  blue  grass  and  other  varieties  sown  and 
cultivated  by  the  present  tillers  of  the  soil.  The  plants  are 
many  and  rare,  peculiar  to  this  climate  and  latitude.  Among 
the  most  important  for  medical  purposes  we  find  the  bone- 
set,  ginseng,  Colombo,  pennyroyal,  pink-root,  Indian  turnip, 
sarsaparilla,  and  other  varieties  too  numerous  to  mention. 
The  native  plants  of  beauty  are  the  lily,  phlox,  golden  rod, 
eye-bright  gerardia,  asclepias,  and  hundreds  more  which 
adorn  the  meadows  and  flower-gardens  of  this  section  of  the 
Prairie  State.  Beside  these,  there  are  the  climbing  vines, 
which  fill  the  forest  with  beautiful  festoons  of  artistic  form, 
such  as  the  woodbine,  grape,  clematis,  bitter-sweet,  etc.  The 
trees  and  grasses,  however,  engage  the  special  attention  of 
the  traveler.  The  many  varieties  of  oak,  hickory,  and  elm, 
are  in  abundance, — the  giant  cottonwoods,  sycamore,  walnut. 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


59 


and  hundreds  more  that  wave  in  the  breeze,  attest  the 
virtue  of  the  soil  and  the  excellence  of  climate  to  produce 
what  Dame  Nature  has  so  bountifully  brought  forth. 

The  following  are  the  indigenous  floral  and  vegetable 
products  of  these  counties :  Foa  pratensis—spenr-gmss  ; 
Poa  compremin — blue-grass  ;  Armeimi  triphijUnm—lndiaa 
turnip;  Thijplatifolia—csit-ta\l;  Sagittarla  i'«ri')4(/is— arrow- 
head ;  Cypripedium  piiheseens  —  yellow  lady's  slipper; 
Cypripedium  candidum— white  lady's  slipper,  common  ; 
Cannabis  saticd — hemp;  Humidici  lupulus  —  hop,  com- 
mon ;  Datura  stramonium — Jamestown  weed  ;  Axclepinx  cor- 
fiiiti — milk  weed ;  Fraxinus  Americana — white  ash ;  Fraxinug 
sambunfoUa—h]&ck  ash  ;  Phijtolaef.a  decandra — poke  weed  ; 
Amyrantua  hybridiis—])ig  weed  ;  Riimex  crispus— sour  dock  ; 
Sassafras  officinale — sassafras  ;  Batjitin  odoriferus  —  fever 
bush;  Marntbiuin  rnhjare — hoarhound  ;  So/anum  nigrum^ 
night-shade  ;  Pliysalis  iv'.sroxa — ground  cherry  ;  Monanla  di- 
dym-i — horsemint;  Nepeta  cataria — catnip;  Hedcuma  pulc- 
yioides  —  pennyroyal;  Diospyrox  mrginiana — persimmon  ; 
Plantago  major — plantain  ;  Verbascum  thap.-<ii.-< — mullein,  com- 
mon ;  Cissium  lancfolatam — common  thistle  ;  Lappa  major — 
burdock  ;  Taraxacum  dcas-leonis — dandelion,  common,  been 
introduced  during  the  last  forty  years ;  Erecth  ites  hieracifolia — 
fire-weed ;  Ambrosia  artemisvfulia — rag  weed;  Xaidhiuin 
stramarium — cockle  burr;  Bidens  bipinnata — Spanish  needle ; 
Bideiischrysanthemoides — beggar  ticks  ;  Mantn  cutula — May- 
weed ;  Leucaiitlwmum  rulyare — ox-eye  daisy.  Another  plant 
which  has  become  quite  common  in  Randolph  county,  along 
the  bluff  near  Kaskaskia,  is  a  species  of  the  flag.  It  was 
brought  from  France  by  one  of  the  old  French  families,  on 
account  of  its  floral  beauty.  The  berries  that  it  bears  are  a 
special  delight  of  the  birds,  and  the  result  is  that  the  whole 
section  of  country  is  likely  to  be  inoculated  with  its  presence. 

Eupatorium  perfoliatum — thoroughwort,  not  common  ; 
Cornus  Florida,  dogwood  ;  Sambueus  Canadensis — elder,  very 
common  ;  Ribes  cynosbidi — wild  gooseberry  ;  Tynw  eoronaiia 
— wild  crab,  abundant. 

Crateyus,  several  species ;  Rosa  setiyera — climbing  rose  ; 
Rubus  liicida — dwarf  wild  rose  ;  Rnbus  ivYAysKS— blackberry, 
abundant. 

Asimina  triloba — papaw,  quite  abundant  along  the  creek 
bottoms;  Nelunbium  luteum  —  May  apple,  abundant  in 
shady  places. 

Saiiyuinaria  Canadensis,  or  hloodroot ;  Lepidium  Viryini- 
rum  —wild  pepper  grass ;  Poriulaca  Oleracea,  or  purslane ; 
Titia  Americana,  or  linden;  Xanthoxyhun  Americanina  — 
prickly  ash  ;  Rlius  typhina — sumach;  Rhus  toxicodendron  — 
poison  oak;  Vitis  oestiralis — summer  grape,  common  ;  Viti^ 
cordifotia—trost  grape;  Ampelopsis  quinquefolia — Virginia 
creeper  ;  ^Eaculus  pavia — buckeye  ;  Acer  saccharinum — sugar 
maple  ;  Acer  dasycarpum — white  maple ;  Neyundo  aceroides 
— box  elder;  Baptisia  tincforia — indigo  weed,  not  abundant; 
Cereis  Canadensis — red-bud  ;  Gymnoclad ns  Canadensi<< — 
Kentucky  coffee- tree  ;  Gleditsehia  tracanthos — honey  locust; 
Prunus  Americana — red  plum;  Piunus  ehieasa — Chickasaw 
plum;  Prunus  errotina—wUd  cherry;  Fragarin  Viryiniana 
— wild  strawberry  ;  Rubus  occidentalis^h\a.c]!i  cap  raspberry  ; 
Rubiis  Canadoisis — dewberry,  common. 


Popuhis  nngu/atd — cotton-wood,  abundant. 

iSalix — willow,  several  varieties. 

Alnus  serrulafn — alder. 

Betula — birch  ;  Carpinus  Ainericann — horu-beau,  not  com- 
mon. 

Corylus  Americana — hazel  nut;  Cutanea  pumili — chin- 
quapin. 

Quereuj<  rubra — red  oak;  Qnerrns  tinctnria — black  oak; 
Quercu-s  nigra  —  black  jack;  (^wreu'<  inibriciria — laurel 
oak ;  Quercus prinua — chestnut  white  oak  ;  Q uerc us  casta nea — 
yellow  oak,  not  common  ;  Quereus  alba  — white  oak,  common  ; 
Qnereus  obstiloba — post  oak,  abundant. 

Carya  glabra  —pig-nut  hickory  ;  C^iirreas  macrocarpa — 
overcup  oak  ;  Carya  tomentosa — white  heart  hickory  ;  Carya 
alba — shell  bark  hickory;  Cirya  ulieiej'ornus — pecan,  com- 
mon. 

Jnylans  nigra — black  walnut,  abundant  ;  Juglans  cinerea, 
— butter-nut,  not  common. 

Platan  us  occldentalis — sycamore. 

Ulmus  fuh-i, — red  elm  ;  Moras  rubra — red  mulberry  ; 
Urtica  dloica — stinging  nettle;  Ulmus  AniTicma — white 
elm,  abundant. 

In  the  above  list  we  have  given  the  scientific  as  well  as 
the  English  names,  believing  such  a  course  to  pursue  in  the 
study  of  plants  more  beneficial  to  the  student  or  general 
reader.  There  may  b3  some  plants  omitted,  yet  we  think  the 
list  quite  complete. 


CHAPTER   VI 


HE  study  of  Natural  History  is  always 
interesting  to  all  ages  and  classes  of  so- 
ciety, and  more  especially  the  animal 
kingdom  of  our  own  inhabitation,  both 
the  fauna  of  the  past  and  present.  It 
is  ditticult  for  those  of  the  present  day  to 
believe  that  the  wild  buffalo  of  the  West- 
ern plains  once  roamed  over  the  prairies 
east  of  the  Mi3sissi|)pi ;  or  that  the 
Elk  and  Black  Bear  were  on  their  native  heath  in  this  part 
of  the  country  only  a  little  more  than  half  a  century  ago. 
Many  other  varieties  of  animals,  which  found  their  homes 
ill  the  forests  and  on  the  prairies  of  this  part  of  the  state, 
have  fled  before  civilization,  and  are  now  seen  by  our  chil- 
dren only  in  the  cages  of  the  menagerie.  In  order  to  more 
fully  interest  and  inform  the  reader,  pertaining  to  this 
science,  we  here  append  in  a  classified  form  the  most  im- 
portant animals  indigenous  to  this  region. 

l'.VGUL.\TA,   OR    HOOFED. 

Of  the  hoofed  animals,  one  of  the  most  prominent  is  the 
American  Bison  {Biton,  or  Bos  Americanas,)  which  disap- 
peared from  the  prairies  of  Illinois  before  the  arrival  of  the 
white  man,  leaving,  as  the  only  evidence  of  its  former  pres- 


60 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


ence,  a  few  "  buffalo  wallows  "  in  certain  parts  of  the  state. 
The  bison  is  a  large  animal,  with  thick,  heavy  body,  short, 
stout  legs,  short,  black  horns,  and  black,  or  brown  shaggy 
hair.  Large  herds  of  these  animals  at  present  roam  over 
the  plains  at  the  eastern  base  of  the  Eocky  Mountains. 
Like  the  mastodon  and  other  ancient  animals,  the  bison  is 
destined  at  no  distant  day  to  become  extinct.  The  American 
Elk  {Cerms  Americaniis,')  next  to  the  moo.se,  is  the  largest 
deer  of  America.  It  is  remarkable  for  the  size  of  its 
antlers,  which  sometimes  grow  to  the  height  of  six  feet,  and 
weigh  from  forty  to  eighty  pounds.  The  animal  itself  is  about 
as  tall  as  an  ordinary  horse,  is  very  fleet,  and  has  wonderful 
lowers  of  endurance.  It  long  ago  left  the  prairies  of  Illinois, 
and  is  now  found  in  the  northern  parts  of  the  United  States 
and  in  British  America.  The  deer  family  (Ccrvidce)  has 
had,  so  far  as  is  known,  only  one  representative  in  this 
region,  viz. :  the  common  American  deer,  (Ccrvus  Yhyini- 
aniis,)  which  disappeared  from  its  prairie  haunts  several 
years  ago,  and  is  found  in  the  mountainous  regions  of  Mis- 
souii  and  the  unsettled  parts  of  other  states.  Its  flesh  is 
very  sweet  and  palatable,  and  it  is  highly  prized  in  the 
finest  markets,  where  it  commands  a  ready  sale  at  the  high- 
est price. 

C'.\RSIVORI,    OR    FLESH-EATERS. 

The  most  ferocious  animal  of  the  carnivorous  order,  com- 
mon to  this  country,  is  the  wolf,  which  belongs  to  the  dog 
family  {Canida).  There  were  formerly  two  species  of  this 
animal  in  these  counties,viz.:  the  prairie  wolf  (  C'k/ii'js  lalrnns), 
and  the  common  American,  or  gray  wolf  (0(;(/«f)CT'/rfe)i;o/('.>;). 
The  former  is  tmall,  with  long  body,  elongated,  sharp  muz- 
zle, smooth  tongue,  and  like  all  the  dog  family,  has  five- 
toed  fore-feet  and  four-toed  hind  ones.  It  formerly  inhabited, 
in  large  numbers,  the  wild  prairie  regions,  but  latterly  has 
disappearwl  from  this  part  of  the  state.  The  latter  is  large, 
with  long,  sJim  body,  long,  sharp  muzzle,  smooth  tongue,  and 
straight,  bushy  tail.  In  years  gone  by  the  howling  of  these 
wolves  was  the  evening  serenade  of  the  pioneer  settlers,  and 
foreboded  havoc  among  the  flocks  of  those  times.  A  few  of 
this  species  are  still  found  in  dense  woodlands  and  unfre- 
quented thickets  on  the  prairies.  Two  species  of  fox  (  Vulpes) 
are  found  here,  the  common  or  Gray  Fox  {Vulpes  mdgaris), 
and  the  Red  Fox  ( Vvlpcs  fidrvs).  The  former  are  still 
numerous  in  this  region  ;  the  latter,  rare.  Both  species  are 
noted  for  their  extreme  cunning,  and  their  predatory  habits. 
Foxes  are  readily  distinguished  by  their  slender,  pointed 
muzzle,  long,bushy  tail,  aod  the  elliptical  pupil  of  the  eye. 
Of  the  Cat  family  (Fr/ida),  the  only  two  indigenous  repre- 
sentatives are  the  American  wild-cat  {Lijiix  rvfus),  and  the 
Canadian  lynx  (Lynx  eaiiiidfrisin).  The  former  was  very 
common  during  the  early  history  of  this  country.  It  was 
about  thirty  inches  long,  of  a  pale  rufous  color,  dappled 
with  gray,  ears  black  ou  the  outside,  tail  short,  with  black 
patch  above  the  end.  It  was  very  destructive  to  lambs,  kids, 
poultry,  etc.  It  has,  within  the  last  few  years,  almost  dis- 
appeared. The  lynx  was  never  common  in  Illinois,  though 
it  was  occasionally  seen  thirty  years  ago,  and  even  later.  It  is 
about  forty  inches  long,  of  a  grayish  color,  streaktd  with  black ; 
ears  tipped  with  a  bunch  of  black  hairs,  and  tail  very  short. 


It  is  further  distinguished  by  having  one  molar  less  than  the 
true  cat,  in  each  side  of  the  upper  jaw.  The  panther  {Felia 
]}(irdii!^)  was  also  an  early  inhabitant  of  this  region,  although 
not  numerous.  The  common  Raccoon  (Procyon  lofor)  is 
one  of  the  most  familiar  wild  animals  in  these  parts.  It  in- 
habits the  timbered  regions,  generally  near  some  stream  or 
body  of  water,  to  which  it  resorts  for  food,  in  the  shape  of 
craw-fish,  frogs,  mussels,  etc.  It  also  feeds  upon  roots,  ber- 
ries, young  corn,  "  roasting-ears,"  birds,  and  other  small 
animals.  This  animal,  from  the  end  of  its  nose  to  the  tip 
of  its  tail,  i.s  about  two  feet  long,  and  has  a  pointed  muzzle, 
five  toes  on  each  foot,  and  a  ringed  tail.  It  is  nocturnal  in 
its  habits,  and  in  cold  climates  passes  the  winter  in  a  par- 
tially torpid  state.  Its  fur  is  valuable.  The  raccoon  be- 
longs to  the  family  of  Procyonid(v,  of  which  it  is  probably 
the  only  representative  in  this  region. 

The  weasel  family  {3Iuslclida-),  belong  to  the  well-known 
animals,  minks,  skunks,  otters,  common  weasels,  etc  ,  most  of 
which  have  long,  slender  bodies,  five-toed  feet,  and  glands 
which  secrete  a  liquid  of  very  disagreeable  odor.  Otters  and 
minks  are  hunted  for  their  furs,  which  are  very  valuable. 
The  former  are  amphibious,  and  are  at  present  rarely  seen. 
The  costly  fur  called  ermine  is  obtained  from  a  weasel  which 
inhabits  the  northern  parts  of  Europe  and  Asia. 

Weasels  are  brown  in  summer  and  white  iji  winter,  the  tip 
of  the  tail  being  black.  The  color  of  minks  is  dark-brown, 
or  black,  throughout  the  year.  The  otter  {Lutra  canadeims) 
is  black,  and  is  noted  for  its  size  and  strength.  Its  toes  are 
webbed;  head  large  and  flat;  ears  short;  tail  slightly  flat- 
tened, and  nails  crooked.  It  is  aquatic,  and  subsists  on  fish. 
Minks  and  weasels  prey  on  birds,  poultry  and  small  animals 
of  various  kinds.  The  skunk  {Mephitis  Aniericauio  has  a 
pointed  nose,  bushy  tail,  and  is  nocturnal.  It  feeds  upon  beetles 
and  other  small  animals.  It  is  also  fond  of  eggs.  It  was 
very  common  a  few  years  ago,  but  like  most  of  the  wild 
animals,  is  gradually  disappearing.  Of  the  opos.sum  family 
{Didelphidida:),  the  only  species  here  is  the  common  opossum 
{Didelphys  Virginiana).  Opossums  are  small  animals,  about 
twenty  inches  long  to  the  tail,whicli  is  from  twelve  to  fifteen 
inches  in  length,  nearly  bare,  and  prehensile.  Its  hair  is 
whitish  with  dark-brown  tips.  When  captured  and  wounded, 
it  feigns  itself  dead.  It  is  a  marsupial,  or  pouched  animal, 
and  carries  its  young,  which  at  birth  weigh  only  a  few 
grains,  in  a  ventral  pouch  situated  near  its  hind-legs.  On 
emerging  from  this  pouch,  which  occurs  four  or  five  weeks 
from  birth,  the  young  twine  their  tails  around  that  of  their 
mother,  and  thus  supported  ride  on  her  back.  The  opossum 
lives  on  birds,  eggs,  insects  and  other  small  animals.  This 
animal,  like  the  raccoon,  is  found  in  all  parts  of  the  United 
States  and  throughout  most  of  North  America. 

E0DENTI.4,   OR    GNAWER.'*. 

The  animals  of  this  order  are  easily  distinguished  by  their 
teeth.  In  the  front  part  of  each  jaw  they  have  two  chisel- 
shaped  incisors,  between  which  and  the  molars  is  a  consider- 
able space  without  teeth,  these  animals  having  no  canines. 
The  largest  representative  of  the  rodents  ever  known  in  this 
country  is  the  American  beaver  (C'osto?'  canadensis).     The 


HISTORY    OF   RAXDOLPH,    MOXHOE    AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


61 


rats  and  mice  Qlurida)  constitute  the  most  numerous  family 
of  the  rodents.  They  number,  in  all,  about  three  hundred 
species  in  the  world. 

Their  appearance  and  habits  are  too  well  known  to  require 
description  here.  The  black  rat  {Mus  rrittu-^)  was  formerly 
very  common,  but  of  late  years  it  has  been  almost  extirpated 
by  the  brown,  or  Norway  rat  {Mus  deeumaiuts),  which  is 
much  larger  and  stronger. 

Of  the  mice  we  note,  as  found  here,  the  common  house- 
mouse  I  Mii,i  miL-'culm),  the  field-mouse,  the  meadow-mouse, 
the  jumping-mouse  (Janihis  liudsonius  of  the  family  Jacu- 
lidce), — which  has  a  body  about  three  inches  long  and  a  tail 
six  inches, — and  the  tree-mouse.  The  musk-rat  (  Ondatra 
zibethitiis),  allied  to  the  beaver,  has  but  one  species.  This 
animal  is  about  the  size  of  a  cat,  and  has  a  strong,  musky 
smell.  It  is  amphibious,  building  its  mud  houses  in  ponds 
and  shallow  lakes.  It  is  a  native  of  North  America,  and  is 
still  quite  common.  Its  fur,  like  that  of  the  beaver,  is  valu- 
able. The  fur  of  the  latter  i.s  used  for  making  the  finest 
hats. 

The  squirrel  family  (Sciui-ida)  is  represented  here  by  the 
red  (fox)  squirrel  (Schirus  hitdm>iiti-<},  the  gray  squirrel 
{Sciurua  Cni-olliiciifi.''},  the  flying-squirrel  {Pt/romy.i  vfilu- 
cellri),  the  ground-stjuirrel  {Tamla-f  !'lri(diis),  the  gopher 
(Spermnphihis),  the  prairie  squirrel  and  the  woodchuck  or 
ground-hog  ( ArHoiin/n  monax),  all  of  which  are  so  common 
that  they  need  not  be  described. 

Of  the  hare  family  ( Lrporidtr  i,  the  common  gray  rabbit 
{Lep-^ns  cuniculus)  is  the  only  representative  now  inhabiting 
this  region.  It  is  very  prolific,  and  is  destined  to  propagate 
its  species  long  after  some  of  the  animals  mentioned  shall 
have  become  extinct. 

Bats  and  moles — the  former  belonging  to  the  order  of 
animals  (r/ii'/-()^//^-i/ 1,  the  latter  tu  {he  order  i,Iiiiiictirori)  — 
are  still  very  numerous.  Both  are  carnivorous  (iiiisccticn- 
roK.v),  and  during  hibernation  are  semi-torpid. 

CLASS   OF   AVES,   OR    CIHDS. 

In  the  following  list  of  birds  indigenous  to  these  countries 
the  old  system  of  groups,  or  orders,  is  used  rather  than  the 
new  classification  of  birds  adopted  provisionally  by  the 
Smithsonian  Institute  at  Washington.  The  former,  as  it 
contains  fewer  and  less  difficult  technical  terms,  will,  it  is 
believed,  be  more  readily  understood  by  the  general  reader. 
The  chief  characteristics  of  all  the  birds  belonging  to  each 
order  are  given  first,  and  appended  thereto  are  the  names  of 
such  birds  of  the  order  as  are  indigenous  to  this  region. 

R,\PTORES,    OR    BIRDS    OF    PREY. 

These  are  generally  of  large  size  and  stout  form;  bills 
hooked  and  very  strong;  claws  sharp  and  curved;  wings 
extensive  and  muscles  powerful ;  females  larger  than  males ; 
li%'e  in  pairs  and  choose  their  mates  for  life  (?).  Under  this 
order  and  belonging  to  the  hawk  family  (Falconidce),  are 
the  sparrow-hawk  {Tinuuneulus  alamlarius);  swallow-tailed 
hawk  {Nnur/cru-t  furcatiu);  hen-harrier  (Circus  cyaiteui); 
go8-hawk  {Falro  palamhariu^) ;  sharp  skinned  hawk,  red- 
tailed  hawk  {Buieo  borealis);  red-shouldered  hawk,  pigeon- 
hawk    {Falco  columbarum) ;    white-headed    ("bald")    eagle 


(_Haliehis  leucocephalui) ;  ring-tailed,  or  golden  eagle  (Aquila 
chryceeios). 

To  the  owl  family  (Strigidoc)  belong  the  great  horned-owl 
(Bubo  Virffininnus);  snowy  owl  (Strtx  nisa);  barred  owl 
(Syniium  nebidomm,  or  "hoot  owl");  American  barn  or 
screech-owl  (Stn'x  flumiiKe);  spotted  owl,  marsh  owl,  Kenni- 
cott's  (?)  owl. 

Of  the  Vulture  family  (^Vtdturidw),  the  only  representa- 
tive is  the  turkey-buzzard  (Cathartes  aura). 

BASORES,    OR   .SCRATCHING    BIRDS. 

Binls  of  this  order  are  characterized  by  their  stout  bodies, 
strong  legs  and  feet,  and  their  general  adaptation  to  living 
on  the  ground.  It  includes  the  wild-turkey  (Mclengris 
gallopavo),  prairie  hen  (  Tetrao  citpldo),  ruffled  grouse,  or 
" partridge"  (Buiiasa  umbd/u-i),  quail  (Ortyx  Virylnianus), 
turtle-dove  (Turlur  aurilus),  wild  or  passenger  pigeon  (Edo- 
pides  mit/raloria). 

ORAI.I.ATORS,    OR    \VAlJr.V(i    BIRDS. 

They  have  long  necks,  long  billi,  very  long  and  slender 
legs,  and  slender  bodies.  Their  general  form  is  well  adai)ted 
to  wading.  This  order  includes  the  plover  {  Cliaradrlu><'^, 
common  snipe  {Sruhpax  (/allina'ju),  American  woodcock 
(Philohela  minor),  Wilson's  snipe  (Gallinaf/o  Wihoiiii), 
mud-hen  (Fulira  Atncrii'dna),  kill-dee  (Aer/laliirs  voriferiis), 
red-breasted  snipe  (Gambeita  mdanoleuca),  tell-tale  snipe 
(Gamhdta  fliivipes),  water-rail  (Rallus  aqiiaticus),  aand-hill 
crane  t  Grus  Caitad/n.ti.f),  blue  crane  (  Gru.i  Aiueriraiiun), 
yellow-legged  and  upland  plover,  white  crane  (Grus  albug), 
and  heron  (Ardea  cinerca). 

NATATORES,  OR    SWIMMINll    BIRDS. 

They  are  broad  and  flat;  feathers  compact  and  well  oiled  ; 
legs  wide  apart,  femur  short,  and  feet  webbed.  Under  this 
order  are  found  the  common  viWdgooie  i  Anser  Ameriraini-<), 
summer  or  wood  duck  (Aix  sponsa),  Canada  goose  (Bermi- 
cala  Canadeims),  American  swan  (Cyynus  Ainericanus), 
brand  goose,  or  "brant"  (An.ser  Bernida),  butter-ball  (Bn- 
cephala  albeoki),  mallard  (Anas  Bosdia.^),  blue-winged  teal 
(Boschas  crerca),  American  widgeon  (Mareca  Amerirana), 
red-head  duck  (Aylhaya  Americ(tna),  canvass-back  duck  it) 
(Aythaya  vallisneria),  green-winged  teal  (Nellion  Carolinen- 
sii),  pin-tail  duck  (Dafiln  anifa),  trumpeter  swan  (  Cyr/nim 
buccinator). 

lNSEssor.i-:s,  or  rERciiiNt;  birds. 

The  perchers  dift'er  greatly  among  themselves;  all  have 
three  front-toes  and  a  single  hind  one;  feet  well  adapted  to 
perching.  To  this  order  belong  the  majoritv  of  birds,  of 
which  we  note,  as  belonging  here,  the  wood-thruth  (  Timlus 
mudelinus),  mocking-bird  iMitims  po/yghttu-s),  blue-bird 
(Slnlis  Wilsonii),  cat-bird  (Mimiis  Carolinem^i'i,  robin 
(Turdiis  migralorlus),  brown  thrush,  or  "thrasher"  (Turdu.-< 
rufas),  titmouse,  or  chickadee  (Pnrui  alrlrapit/u«)  brown 
creeper  (Certhia  familiaris.  nuthatch  iSiltn  Caroliiicnii.'<), 
winter  wren  (Troglodytes  Ityemalis),  cedar  bird  (Aiiipjdi^ 
cedrorum),  rose-breasted  gosbeak  (Guiraca  /udnviclwia), 
chewink  (Pipilo  erytliroplifhalmw<),  meadow-lark  (Sturnd/a 
magna),  blue  jay  (cyanura  rridata),  wren  (Troglodytes  do- 


62 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS 


me«<fca),  warblers  barn-swallow  {HiruwJo  hordeorum),  bank- 
swallow  (Cotyle  riparla),  blue  martin  {Progne  purpurea), 
cardinal  red  bird  {Cardinolls  Virginianua) ,  field  sparrow 
{Spizella  pusUla),  indigo  bird  (Cyanospiza  cyanea),  great 
northern  shrike,  or  butcher  bird,  (Collurio  borealis),  yellow, 
or  thistle  bird  (Sylvitica  ccstiva),  swamp,  or  red-winged  black- 
bird {Sturntis  predatorius),  cow  blackbird  ("cow- bird") 
common  blackbird  {Merula  miisiea),  king  bird,  or  bee  martin 
{Tyrannw  CarolinensU),  rnven  (Corviis  corax^,  common  crow 
{Corvua  Americanus),  summer  red-bird  {Pyravga  cestiva), 
scarlet  tauager,  Baltimore  oriole  {Icterus  Baltimore),  peewee, 
or  Ph(jebe  bird  iSatjorius  fuscus),  kingfisher  {Ceryle  alcyon), 
ruby-throated  humming-bird  {TrocUlus  colubris),  yellow- 
billed  cuckoo  {C'ucu/iis  caiwrus),  ruby-crowned  kinglet, 
golden  crowned  kinglet,  whippoorwill,  (Antrostomus  vorif- 
erus),  g-ass  sparrow,  or  black-throated  bunting,  lark,  spar- 
row, finch,  snowbird  (Juiwo  hyemalls),  chipping  sparrow 
(Spizella  socialis),  night  hawk  (  Chordeiles  popetue). 

SCANS0RE9,   OR   CLIMBING    BIRDS. 

Birds  of  this  order  have  their  toes  in  pairs,  two  in  front 
and  two  behind.  Under  this  order  and  indigenous  to  this 
county  are  the  swift,  or  chimney-swallow  {Cypseliis  pe.las- 
rjius),  red-headed  woodpecker  (Melanerpes  erythrocephalm), 
golden-winged  woodpecker  (  Calaptes  awatus),  Carolina  par- 
oquet {Coiiunis  Ciirolinensli),  sap-sucker  {Picus  pubescens). 

(class)     reptilia,  or  reptiles. 

Under  this  class  we  find  represented  here  the  order  Tes- 
tndinata,  or  turtles,  and  including  such  individuals  as  the 
box-turtle  (Cistudo  virginea),  suapping-turtle  (  Chelyara 
serpeidina),  wood  tortoise  {Glyptemy.f  iiisctdpta),  and  soft 
shelled  turtles,  including  niud-turtles.  Of  the  order  La- 
certia  (lizards),  the  common  striped  lizard  {Ameira  sexli- 
neata)  is  the  only  representative  we  have  found  here.  Un- 
der the  order  (Ophidia),  or  serpents,  we  note  the  common 
black-snake  {Baseanion  constrictor),  water-snake  {Serpens 
aquaticus),  rattle-snake  {Crotalus  horridus),  moccasin  {Toxi- 
cajjhis  atrapiscus),  copperhead  {Trigonocephalus  eontoririx), 
garter-snake  {Eutania  sirtalk),  house-snake,  joint-snake, 
blue  racer,  and  green  snake.  Of  these  the  rattlesnake,  cop- 
per-head and  moccasin  are  very  poisonous,  and  therefore 
most  to  be  dreaded.  The  blowing,  or  hissing  adder,  a  veno- 
mous serpent,  is  rarely  seen  here. 

The  class  Batrachia,  or  frogs,  has  as  representatives,  the 
leopard  frog  (Rana  halecina),  bull-frog  {Raim  pipiens)^ 
wood-frog,  tree-frog  ("  tree  toad,")  (Rana  %/'<),  marsh-frog 
{Rana  palmtris),  common  toad  (Bufo  vulgaris),  tadpole, 
salamander  (Amblystoma  punctatum),  tritou,  or  water-newt 
{Diemiciylus  viridescens),  and  mud  puppy  {Menobranchus 
lateralis). 

The  class  o{  Pisces,  or  fishe-s,  is  represented,  in  the  streams 
of  these  counties,  by  the  white,  the  black  and  the  striped 
bass,  cat  fish,  pike,  sturgeon,  gar,  goggle-eyed  perch,  sun-fish, 
chub,  white  perch  ("croppie"?),  white  and  black  suckers, 
buffalo  and  a  few  others  of  minor  importance. 


CHAPTER  Vri. 


PIONEER   SETTLEMENTS, 


.  RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

I  HE  history  of  no  part  of  the  West  ex- 
'  ceeds  in  interest  that  of  the  early  settle- 
ments in  Randolph  county.  Civiliza- 
tion in  the  Mississippi  valley  here  first 
found  a  permanent  foothold.  At  a 
time  when  the  feeble  settlements  of 
New  England,  fearful  of  the  midnight 
war-whoop  of  the  savage,  clung  to  the 
valleys  of  the  Connecticut  and  the  Merriraac  ;  when  a  few 
Dutch  burghers  at  the  mouth  of  the  Hudson  represented  the 
wealth  and  population  of  the  state  of  New  York,  when 
Penn's  colony  on  the  banks  of  the  Delaware  was  but  an  ex- 
periment ;  at  a  time  when  no  Virginian  had  yet  threaded  the 
passes  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  and  all  beyond  was  an  undiscov- 
ered country,  unpenetrated  by  a  single  English  pioneer,  a 
few  Jesuit  priests  and  French  traders  in  fur,  a  thousand 
miles  within  the  interior  of  the  continent,  a  trackless  wilder- 
"hess  stretching  north,  south,  east  and  wttt,  founded  the  old 
town  of  Kaskaskia.  Other  French  settlements  sprang  up 
between  Detroit  and  New  Orleans  ;  and  France,  to  cement 
her  growing  power  in  the  New  World,  within  twenty  miles 
of  Kaskaskia  and  still  on  the  soil  of  Randolph  county,  began 
the  construction  of  a  fort  which  at  ote  time  was  considered 
the  strongest  on  the  continent. 

From  this  citadel  Illinois  was  ruled.  Soldiers  marched 
from  it  to  fight  the  English  in  Pennsylvania  and  in  Canada. 
Its  gates,  which  might  have  withstood  long  continued  assaults, 
were  opened  peacefully  by  the  stroke  of  a  pen  in  the  Old 
World,  one  day  in  the  ytar  1763,  and  the  French  flag  was 
lowered  before  the  standard  of  Great  Britain.  But  a  few 
years  passed  before  another  invading  army  trod  the  soil  of 
the  county.  This  time  a  band  of  Virginia  riflemen  suddenly 
appeared  at  Kaskaskia,  and  wrested  Fort  Gage  from  the 
Briti-sh  commandant.  On  the  capture  of  this  post  was 
based  the  claim  of  the  colonies  to  the  Mississippi  as  their 
western  boundary.  After  the  Revolution,  a  flood  of  immi- 
grants poured  in  from  the  country  east  of  the  Alleghenies. 
Kaskaskia  became  the  capital  of  the  territory,  and  then 
of  the  state.  The  most  distinguished  men  of  the  West  here 
began  their  public  career.  Her  merchants  controlled  trade 
far  and  near,  and  sold  goods  to  the  shop  keepers  of  St.  Louis. 
The  town,  now  in  a  state  of  ruin  and  decay,  is  the  oldest 
settlement  in  the  Mississippi  valley. 

THE    FRENCH  SETTLEMENTS. 

The  date  of  the  founding  of  Kaskaskia  was  probably  the 
year  1700.  For  a  few  years  it  was  little  more  than  a 
mission  station.  The  Indian  trade  gradually  attracted  set- 
tlers from  Canada  and  France,  and  the  village  began  to 
wear  the  appearance  of  business  as  well  as  of  religion.  A 
grant  of  land  for  Commons  was  made  on  the  fourteenth  of 
August,  1743,  by  M.  Vandrieul,  governor,  and  M.  Salmon, 
commissary  ordonnateur   of   the   province   of    Louisiana. 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNIIES,    ILLINOIS. 


03 


Grants  in  the  Common  Field  were  made  to  the  inhabitants 
in  severalty.  Among  the  French  names  which  appear  on 
the  records  as  belonging  to  the  owners  of  land  in  the  village 
and  Common  Field  of  Kaskaskia  in  the  last  century,  are 
those  of  Archambeau,  Aubuchon,  Allary,  Autire,  Bienve- 
nue,  Blouin,  Beauvais,  Buchet,  Bougie,  Buquett,  Buyatt, 
Brazeau,  Barrutelle,  Beauvet,  Chaniberlaud,  Charleville, 
Cottineau,  Chinie,  Curvois,  Cerre,  Danie,  Doza,  Delisle, 
Derousse,  Duprain,  Dubord,  Duplace,  Devigne,  Dugay, 
Danis,  Degagne,  Faggot,  Godebert,  Gendron,  Gomes,  Gau- 
delert,  Janis,  Joyouse,  Lamall,  Leplant,  Laderoute,  La- 
source,  Lafatigue,  Lafout,  Lavassieur,  Lachapelle,  Lachance, 
Lasond,  Louval,  Lachange,  Langlois,  Menard,  Morin,  Moreau, 
Mieure,  Montrieul,  Philip,  Peltier,  Page,  Picard,  Provost, 
Prieur,  Place,  Rochblave,  Ravel,  Racine,  Richard,  Seguin, 
St.  Pierre,  Tiirpiu,  Turojurt,  Torrengeau,  and  Valle. 

Kaskaskia  is  said  to  have  become  an  incorporated  town 
in  1725.  By  that  time  a  considerable  immigration  had  set 
in  from  France.  Fifteen  or  twenty  years  later  considerable 
attention  was  j)aid  to  agriculture  and  commerce,  and  cargoes 
of  pork,  flour,  bacon,  tallow,  hides,  and  leather  were  floated 
down  the  Mississippi  to  New  Orleans,  and  thence  to  France. 
On  the  cession  of  Illinois  to  England  many  of  the  French 
families  removed  to  the  west  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  some 
to  St.  Louis,  and  some  to  Ste.  Genevieve,  thinking  that 
they  there  could  still  find  a  home  under  the  French  govern- 
ment. In  1766,  the  year  after  this  exodus,  Kaskaskia  is 
described  as  containing  sixt3--five  families,  "  besides  mer- 
chants, other  casual  people,  and  slaves."  The  richest  in- 
habitant at  that  time,  Jean  Baptiste  St  Gerome  Beauvais, 
kept  eighty  slaves,  and  furnished  "  to  the  king's  magazine" 
eighty-six  thousand  pounds  of  flour,,  which  was  only  part  of 
his  harvest  for  one  year. 

The  year  1722  is  given  as  the  date  of  the  fuuiuling  of 
Prairie  du  Rocher.  The  grant  of  Commons  was  made  on 
the  seventh  of  May,  1743,  the  same  year  as  that  of  Kaskas- 
kia. The  village  never  grew  to  any  great  size,  and  no  event 
of  importance  seems  to  have  marked  its  history.  A  mill 
was  built  by  the  Jesuits.  In  1766  it  was  a  settlement  of 
twenty-two  families,  and  the  inhabitants  were  said  to  be 
very  industrious,  laising  a  great  deal  of  corn  and  every  kind 
of  stock.  Like  Kaskaskia,  it  suffered  by  the  removal  of 
some  of  the  Fi-enL-h  families  to  the  west  of  the  Mi.'jsissippi 
on  the  British  occupation  of  the  country. 

The  village  of  Fort  Chartres  had  an  existence  correspond- 
ing with  the  occupation  of  the  fort  of  that  name  by  the 
French  garrison.  It  sprang  up,  outside  the  gates,  on  the 
building  of  the  fort,  and  when  the  garrison  marched  to  St. 
Louis,  and  the  British  took  possession,  the  French  families 
abandoned  their  houses,  and  transported  themselves  to  (as 
they  supposed)  the  French  side  of  the  river.  The  church 
here  was  the  mother  of  the  churches  at  Prairie  du  Rocher 
and  St.  Phillips,  the  latter  on  their  establishment  being  mere- 
ly chapels  conne'bted  with  the  church  of  St.  Anne  at  Fort 
Chartres. 

The  French  settlers  were  gregarious  in  their  habits,  fond 
of  social  intercourse  and  dwelling  together,  and  averse  to 
pushing  their  improvements  to   any  considerable  distance 


from  the  outskirts  of  their  villages.  The  "improvement 
rights,"  granted  under  the  law  of  1791,  show  the  limits 
within  which  tract-s  of  land  were  placed  under  cultivation 
On  the  west  side  of  the  Kaskaskia  river,  six  or  eight  miles 
above  the  village  of  Ka^ikaskia,  improvements  were  made 
and  crops  raised,  at  an  early  day,  by  .Jean  Baptiste  Gendron 
(claim  1007),  Antoine  Beauvais  (claim  283),  Louis  Long- 
valle  (claim  2007),  and  Antoine  Buyatt  (claim  2'Jo). 
Claim  999,  farther  up  the  Kaskaskia,  containing  three 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  eighty  arpents,  was  granted 
to  Nicholas  Cailotte  Lachance,  and  his  rival  sons,  Nicholas, 
Baptiste,  Antoine,  Gabriel,  Fran(;ois,  Joseph,  Miclwul, 
Charles,  and  Benjamin,  on  account  of  improvements  which 
they  had  here  made.  This  seems  to  have  been  the  farthest 
up  the  Kaskaskia  river  that  the  old  French  settlers  ven- 
tured. Where  Diamond  Cross  now  is,  'on  the  hills,  about 
three  miles  east  of  Kaskaskia  river,  on  Gravel  run,"  as  it  is 
described,  the  four  hundred  acres  contained  in  claim  241 
were  granted  to  Jean  Baptiste  Beauvais,  covering  land 
which  he  there  had  in  cultivation.  Claim  292,  a  couple  of 
miles  from  Chester  on  the  hill  road  to  Kaskaskia,  com- 
prised the  improvement  right  of  Antoine  Bienvenue.  On 
Mary's  river,  at  the  mouth  of  Gravd  creek,  where  claim 
291  has  been  surveyed,  Joseph  Colchout  settled  and  made 
some  attempt  toward  bringing  a  farm  under  cultivation. 

The  statement  has  been  made  that  Kaskaskia,  in  the  year 
1763,  contained  two  or  three  thousand  inhabitants.  If  this 
b3  true,  its  subsequent  decline  must  have  been  very  rapid. 
The  French  settlements  in  Illinois  doubtless  reached  the 
period  of  their  greatest  prosperity  about  1763.  The  news 
of  the  cession  of  the  ountry  to  England  drove  the  wealthy 
and  influential  families  across  the  Mississippi,  and  the 
French  colonies  on  the  west  of  the  river  were  thenceforth 
larger  and  more  prosper  ^us  than  those  in  Illinois.  In  the 
year  1800  there  were  seven  hundred  French  within  the 
present  boundaries  of  Randolph  county.  Of  these  the 
village  of  Kaskaskia  had  five  hundred  and  Prairie  du 
Rocher  two  hundred.  In  all  the  rest  of  Illinois  there  were 
about  six  hundred  French  inhabitants,  of  whom  the  greater 
number,  four  hundred,  lived  at  Cahokia.  There  were  besides 
a  number  of  French  slaves  in  Prairie  du  Rocher,  the  de- 
scendants of  the  five  hundred  brought  from  the  island  of  San 
D.jmingo  by  Philip  Francois  Renault  in  1719. 

CHARACTER   OF   THE   EARLY    FRENCH    SETTLERS. 

The  early  French  settlers  were  ambitious  for  neither 
wealth  nor  knowledge  They  were  content  to  take  the  world 
as  it  came,  and  endeavored  to  extract  all  the  enjoyment 
possible  out  of  life,  and  to  avoid  its  cares.  All  were  devout 
Catholics  and  punctual  in  the  discharge  of  their  religious 
duties.  They  were  eminently  a  social  people.  Instead  of 
settling  on  separate  farms,  like  the  American  pioneers,  they 
clustered  together  in  villages,  so  that  they  might  have  the 
greatest  opportunity  for  social  intercourse.  Their  physical 
wants  were  easily  supi)lied,  and  the  great  part  of  their  lives 
they  gave  to  pleasure.  The  young  people  delighted  in  the 
dance,  and  this  cheerful  and  innocent  diversion  was  actually 
carried    on    under    the   eye   of   the    priest   and    the     aged 


64 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


patriarchs  of  the  village,  who  freely  sympathized  with  the 
spirit  of  the  gay  assemblage.  The  excitement  and  anima- 
tion of  a  French  ball  room  were  surprising.  Old  and 
young,  rich  and  poor,  met  together  in  good  feeling  and  with 
hearts  overflowing  with  merriment.  It  was  the  usual  cus- 
tom to  dance  the  old  year  out  and  the  new  year  in.  The 
numerous  festivals  of  the  Catholic  church  strongly  tended 
to  awaken  and  develop  the  social  and  friendly  intercourse 
of  the  people.  On  the  morning  of  the  Sabbath  they  were 
always  found  at  church,  but  the  rest  of  the  day  was  devoted 
to  social  intercourse  and  diverting  pastimes.  Husbands  and 
wives  were  kind  and  affectionate,  and  the  children  obedient. 
Hospitaliiy  and  generosity  were  common  virtues. 

Their  costume  was  peculiar.  Blue  was  their  favorite 
color,  and  handkerchiefs  of  that  hue  usually  adorned  the 
heads  of  both  men  and  women.  No  genuine  Frenchman  in 
early  times  ever  wore  a  hat,  cap,  or  coat.  The  capot,  made 
of  white  blanket,  was  the  universal  dress  for  the  laboring 
class  of  people.  In  summer  the  men  wore  a  coarse  blue 
stuff,  and  in  the  winter,  cloth  or  buckskin.  The  women 
wore  deer-skin  moccasins,  and  the  men  a  coarser  and 
stronger  article,  made  of  thicker  leather.  With  that  natural 
aptitude  for  dress,  which  seems  to  belong  peculiarly  to  their 
nation,  the  women  caught  up  the  fa.?hions  of  New  Orleans 
and  Paris  with  great  avidity,  and  adopted  them,  as  far  as 
they  were  able.  Notwithstanding  their  long  separation  by 
an  immense  wilderness  from  civilized  society,  they  still  re- 
tained all  the  suavity  and  politeness  of  their  race.  It  is 
said  that  the  roughest  hunter,  or  boatman,  among  them 
could  at  any  time  appear  in  a  ball-room,  or  other  polite,  or 
gay  assembly,  with  the  courage  and  behaviour  of  a  well-bred 
gentleman.  The  women  were  remarkable  for  the  spright- 
liness  of  their  conversation,  and  the  ease  and  elegance  of 
their  manners. 

They  seldom  violated  the  penal  law.  Reynolds  remarks 
that  very  few,  or  none,  of  the  Creoles  were  ever  indicted  for 
the  crimes  the  law  books  style  malum  in  se,  and  that  the 
records  of  the  courts  in  Illinois  do  not  exhibit  an  indictment 
against  a  Creole  Frenchman  for  any  crime  higher  than  keep- 
ing his  grocery  open  on  a  prohibited  day  of  the  week.  Edu- 
cation, however,  was  neglected.  The  priests  and  old  ladies 
taught  the  children,  but  there  was  no  regular  system  of 
schools.  While  not  superstitious,  the  ancient  French  in 
Illinois  believed  that  some  of  the  negroes  of  the  West  India 
islands  possessed  supernatural  power  to  do  any  one  harm, 
and  that  they  could  also  look  into  futurity.  In  Cahokia, 
about  the  year  1790,  this  superstition  got  the  upper  hand  of 
reason,  and  several  poor  African  slaves  suffered  for  this 
offence.  One,  called  Moreau,  was  hung  on  a  tree  not  far 
from  the  village,  and  another,  named  Emanuel,  was  shot. 

They  were  on  friendly  terms  with  the  Indians.  The  ease 
with  which  the  French  could  adapt  themselves  to  circum- 
stances, made  them  at  home  by  the  camp  fires  of  the  savage. 
When  with  the  Indians  they  adopted  their  modes  of  life, 
dressed  like  them,  and  frequently  took  as  wives  the  dusky 
squaws.  In  the  wars  between  hostile  tribes  the  French  suf- 
fered as  did  their  Indian  allies.  In  the  parish  register  of 
Kaskaskia  are  recorded  solema  services  for  the  dead — "  Slain 


upon  the  Mississippi  by  the  Chickasaws ;  "  "Killed  by  the 
savages  on  the  Wabash  ;  "  and  for  others  who  fell  victims 
to  Indian  atrocities  within  a  few  miles  of  the  village. 

The  horses  and  cattle  of  the  French,  for  want  of  proper 
care  and  food  fur  many  generations,  had  degenerated  in  size, 
but  had  acquired  additional  vigor  and  toughness,  so  that  a 
French  pony  was  a  proverb  for  endurance.  These  ponies 
were  sometimes  attached  to  the  cart  or  plow  singly,  and 
sometimes  two  were  hitched  together,  one  before  the  other. 
The  carts  were  made  entirely  of  wood,  and  held  about  double 
the  contents  of  a  common  large  wheelbarrow.  Oxen  were 
yoked  by  the  horns  instead  of  the  neck,  anil  in  this  way  were 
made  to  draw  the  plow  and  cart.  No  reins  were  used  in 
driving.  The  driver's  whip,  which  had  a  handle  about  two 
feet  long,  and  a  lash  two  yards  in  length,  controlled  the  horse 
eflectually. 

AMERICAN   IMMIGR.\TION. 

The  favorable  report  of  the  Illinois  country,  carried  back 
by  the  soldiers  of  Col.  Clark,  occasioned  the  first  American 
immigration  in  1780.  Descending  the  Ohio,  and  stemming 
the  ctlrrent  of  the  Mississippi,  a  colony  of  pioneer  settlers 
reached  Kaskaskia,  among  the  members  of  which  were  John 
Montgomery,  John  Doyle,  David  Pagon,  Joseph  Anderson, 
John  Dodge,  Minard  Asturgus,  James  Curry,  and  Levi  Teel. 
The  most  of  these  had  been  soldiers  under  Black  Shortly 
after  their  arrival,  they  made  settlements  east  of  the  Kas- 
kaskia river. 

John  Blontgomery  improved  a  tract  of  land  four  or  five 
miles  northeast  of  Kaskaskia.  The  old  Vincennes  road 
afterward  ran  past  his  place.  Montgomery  built  a  small 
water-mill  here,  which  was  in  use  for  some  years.  The 
place  in  which  he  settled  is  included  in  claim  1993,  contain- 
ing four  hundred  acres,  granted  to  him  on  account  of  his 
improvement.  This  place  was  one  of  the  best  known  in  the 
early  history  of  the  county,  and  after  Montgomery,  Stacy 
McDonough  resided  here  for  lialf  a  century. 

John  Doyle  was  one  of  Clark's  soldiers.  He  resided  in 
and  near  Kaskaskia.  He  was  a  man  of  some  education, 
and  taught  one  of  the  earliest  English. schools  in  the  country. 
He  was  acquainted  with  both  the  French  and  English  lan- 
guages, and  was  often  employed  as  an  interpreter.  He  was 
unambitious,  made  no  endeavor  to  obtain  either  wealth  or 
position,  but  was  respected  as  an  honest  man. 

David  Pagon,  had  served  in  Clark's  expedition  to  Illinois, 
as  had  also  James  Curry  and  Levi  Teel.  Claim  2008,  on 
Nine  Mile  creek,  two  miles  north  of  Ellis  Grove  and  five 
miles  from  Kaskaskia,  includes  the  place  on  which  Pagon 
settled.  Teel  improved  a  farm  east  of  the  Kaskaskia  river, 
a  little  more  than  a  mile  above  the  mouth  of  Nine  Mile 
creek.  Pagon  built  a  house  in  a  strong  and  substantial  manner 
so  as  to  withstand  an  Indian  attack.  While  the  house  was 
yet  unoccupied,  Teel  and  Curry,  having  been  hunting  in  the 
neighborhood,  took  possession  of  it  to  spend  the  night  there. 
The  door  had  three  bars  across  it,  and  a  hole  cut  in  at  the 
bottom  for  the  cat  to  go  in  and  out.  Toward  evening  the 
house  was  besieged  by  sixteen  Piankashaw  Indians  Curry 
first  discovered  their  presence,  and  told  Teel  to  get  ready 
his  gun  for  defence.     Teel  was  inclined  to  open  the  door  and 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


65 


surrender,  but  Curry  would  not  listen  to  this  proposal.  As 
Teel  stood  bj'  the  door,  with  his  foot  near  the  cat  hole,  an 
Indian  from  the  outside  thrust  a  spear  through  his  fo  >t,  and 
fastened  him  to  the  floor.  He  instinctively  seized  the  spear 
to  pull  it  out,  when  the  Indians  pierced  his  hand  with  other 
spears,  thus  nailing  him  to  the  floor,  and  reuderiiig  him  use- 
less. Curry  was  a  man  of  extraordinary  bravery,  and  cool 
and  prepared  in  any  emergency.  Fearful  that  Teel  would 
open  the  door  and  let  in  the  enem}-,  he  sprang  up  into  the 
loft,  and  through  a  small  hole  in  the  roof  thrust  out  his  gun 
and  fired  at  the  Indians.  Three  shots,  fired  in  rapid  succes- 
sion, killed  as  many  warriors.  Descending  to  the  lower 
floor  he  found  Teel  transfixed  by  his  hands  and  feet  in  the 
manner  described.  Going  back  again  to  the  loft,  he  tum- 
bled the  whole  roof,  weight  poles  and  all,  down  on  the  In- 
dians, who  had  huddled  clo^e  to  the  side  of  the  house  to 
avoid  his  shots.  The  roofs  in  those  days  were  put  en  with- 
out nails,  but  had  weight  poles  to  hold  them  fast.  Sometimes 
large  round  timbers  were  laid  on  the  tups  of  the  houses  on 
purpose  to  roll  off'  on  assailants  below.  The  roof  falling, 
killed  the  chief,  and  disabled  some  others  of  the  Indians, 
and  as  day  was  breaking,  the  rest  of  the  band  ran  off,  leav- 
ing Curry  the  victor  He  took  both  guns,  and  walked  along 
by  the  side  of  Teel,  who  was  almost  exhausted  by  loss  of 
blood,  toward  Kaskaskia.  Teel  gave  out  before  reaching 
the  village,  when  Curry  hastened  on  for  help,  and  at  last 
succeeded  in  getting  him  to  the  town  where  he  recovered 
from  his  wounds. 

Curry  was  a  large,  strong  and  active  man,  fearless  of 
danger,  at  the  same  time  bold  and  discreet,  and  while  serv- 
ing under  Clark  was  cliosen  among  the  first  to  accomplish 
any  especially  desperate  and  hazardous  service.  While  out 
hunting  with  Joseph  Anderson,  it  is  supposed  that  he  was 
killed  by  the  Indians.  He  left  their  camp  one  morning, 
and  did  not  return,  nor  was  ever  heard  of  afterward  Jo- 
seph Anderson  settled  on  Nine  Mile  creek,  and  lived  tbere 
till  his  death.  His  improvement  right  of  four  hundred 
acres,  (claim  308)  lies  on  both  sides  of  the  creek,  just  above 
Little  Nine  Mile,  and  connects  with  that  of  Pag.in. 

John  Dodge  and  Jlinard  Asturgus  improved  land  on  the 
hills  opposite  Kaskaskia  The  donations  of  land  which 
they  received,  four  hundred  acres  each,  claims  996  and 
1001,  extend  within  a  mile  of  the  village,  and  within  half  a 
mile  of  Fort  Gage.     Djdge  had  been  one  of  Clark's  soldiers. 

Settlements  were  also  made  in  the  year  1780  by  John 
Hilterbrand,  Henry  and  Elijah  Smith,  David  Hix,  and 
Haydon  Wells,  on  the  east  side  of  the  Ka.skaskia  river,  above 
the  mouth  of  Nine  Mile  creek.  Some  of  these  had  served 
with  Clark.  Elijah  Smith  settled  on  the  Kaskaskia,  where 
Cox's  ferry  now  is  Claim  1044,  c  ivering  the  customary 
four  hundred  acres  of  land,  was  given  to  his  heirs  in  right 
of  his  having  made  this  improvement  This  is  the  farthest 
grant  of  land  that  was  mr.ie  up  the  Kaskaskia,  and  for  a 
long  while  Smith's  little  farm  was  the  limit  of  the  settlement. 
Hix's  improvement  was  on  claim  1992,  immediately  south 
of  Smith.  Thomas  Hughs  came  from  the  western  part  of 
Pennsylvania  in  the  year  1783.  During  that  year  he  built 
a  cabin,  and  placed  some  land  under  cultivation,  on  Nine 


Mile  creek.     Claim  319,  comprising  four  hundred  acres  of 

land,  granted  to  his  heirs,  covers  this  improvement.  The 
next  year  he  went  back  to  Pennsylvania  for  his  family. 
Coming  down  the  Ohio  river  near  Fort  M  issacre,  the  boat 
was  attacked  by  the  Indians,  and  Hughs  and  an  iufant  child 
in  the  arms  of  its  mother  were  killed.  The  child  was  shot 
through  the  head,  and  its  brains  were  spattered  over  the 
mother's  breast.  The  mother  was  wounded  severely  in  the 
shoulder.  Some  friends  were  accompanying  the  family  to 
Illinois,  and  of  these  two  were  killed.  The  rest  of  the  party 
escaped  and  returned  without  attempting  to  continue  their 
journey. 

Indian  hostilities  broke  up  the  settlements  east  of  Kaskas- 
kia, and  interfered  with  the  immigration  to  Illinois.  The 
American  pioneers  found  refuge  in  Kaskaskia.  Israel 
Dodge,  Ichabod  and  George  Camp,  John  C  )ok,  Jacob  Judy, 
William  Musick,  James  Piggott,  and  Robert  Seybold  had 
all  become  residents  of  the  village  before  1783.  Israel  Dodge 
was  the  father  of  Henry  Dodge,  afterward  United  States 
Senator  from  Wisconsin.  In  1790  ho  removed  across  the 
river  to  Upper  Louisiana.  James  Piggott  settled  at  Pig- 
gott's  fort  in  the  present  county  of  Monroe.  He  had  served 
in  the  war  under  Clark,  as  had  also  Seybold.  Jacob  Judy 
built  Judy's  mill  in  Monroe  county. 

The  Indiau  troubles  lasted  till  about  the  year  179.5.  Ic 
1796  and  1797  several  families  re- established  themselves 
east  of  Kaskaskia  river,  and  remained  there  permanently  . 
Ichabod  and  George  Camp  made  improvements  west  of  the 
Kaskaskia  river,  and  Camp  creek  bears  their  name.  They 
afterward  removed  to  St.  Louis,  and  lived  at  Camp  Spring, 
then  west  of  the  city,  now  include!  within  its  limits.  Mrs. 
Hughs,  whose  husband,  Thomas  Hughs,  was  killed  by  the 
Indians  on  the  Ohio,  as  has  been  narrated,  afterward 
married  James  Pillars.  In  the  year  1795  the  family,  con- 
sisting of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pillars,  two  sons,  John  and  Richard 
Pillars,  and  James  Hughs,  the  surviving  son  of  Thomas 
Hughs,  came  to  Illinois.  They  settled  on  the  farm  east  of 
the  Kaskaskia,  long  known  as  the  "old  Hughs  place."  Pil- 
lars lived  here  several  years,  and  was  a  quiet  and  industrious 
citizen.  James  Hughs  returned  to  Kentucky,  there  married , 
and  came  again  to  Illinois  in  the  year  1800.  He  was  a  man 
of  great  energy  and  sound  judgment.  He  was  in  the  United 
States  ranging  service  during  the  war  of  1812-14.  John 
Reynolds,  then  a  boy.  afterward  Governor  of  the  State,  re- 
sided in  the  same  neighborhood  from  1800  to  1807.  He 
says:  "Before  any  common  school  was  established  in  the 
neighborhood  where  my  father  resided,  I  mounted  a  horse 
nearly  every  evening  during  a  winter,  and  rode  about  a  mile 
and  a  half  to  the  residence  of  James  Hughs,  to  study  under 
his  guidance  the  arithmetic.  Mr.  Hughs,  although  he  was 
raised  in  the  backwoods,  and  was  filled  with  fun  and  frolic, 
was  a  man  of  strong  mind  and  benevolent  heart.  He  took 
great  pleasure  in  teaching  me  the  arithmetic,  and  during 
this  winter  I  studied  the  most  important  principles  contained 
in  the  treatise." 

Stace  McDonough,  in  the  year  1797,  settled  on  the  old 
place  which  John  Montgomery  first  improved,  in  claim 
1993,  a  couple  of  miles  northeast  of  Ellis's  Grove.     He  had 


66 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND    PERRY   COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


experienced  many  adventures  in  his  campaigns  against  the 
Indians,  and  became  a  leader  in  the  frontier  community. 
He  was  born,  of  Scotch  ancestry,  in  New  Jersey,  in  the  year 
1770.  His  parents  dying  when  he  was  an  infant,  he  was 
bound  out,  but  he  and  his  master  not  getting  along  well 
together,  he  ran  away,  and  coming  West,  found  his  way  to 
Kentucky.  He  took  part  with  the  Kentucky  troops  in  their 
expeditions  against  the  Indians  north  of  the  Ohio,  and  in 
Col.  Clark's  campaign  in  the  year  1786,  though  then  only 
sixteen  years  of  age,  distinguished  himself  by  his  brilliant 
services  He  was  strong,  athletic,  and  courageous,  and  a 
faithful  and  ardent  soldier.  He  was  an  excellent  marksman, 
and  frequently  acted  as  a  spy.  He  entered  into  the  service 
of  the  United  States  government  in  1790,  and  in  Gen.  Har- 
mer's  campaign  of  that  year  was  given  the  command  of  a 
train  of  pack  horses.  The  next  year  he  served  under  Gen- 
eral St.  Clair,  and  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  convoys  of 
provisions  for  the  army.  He  was  in  the  disastrous  defeat  of 
St.  Clair  on  the  fourth  of  November,  1791,  escaping  on  foot 
from  the  field  of  battle,  and  saving  the  life  of  an  officer  whom 
he  found  wounded  and  exhausted  on  the  ground,  and  whom 
he  assisted  into  camp.  He  commanded  one  of  the  govern- 
ment boats  on  the  Ohio  in  1793.  He  was  an  excellent  pilot, 
and  thoroughly  understood  the  navigation  of  the  river. 
Near  the  mouth  of  the  Kentucky  river,  an  Indian  standing 
on  the  shore  shot  him  in  the  shoulder.  A  white  man  with 
the  Indians,  called  out  in  English,  "to  throw  that  man  over- 
board, he  will  die  in  a  short  time."  He  never  recovered 
fully  from  the  wound,  but  was  well  enough  to  take  part  in 
Wayne's  campaign  against  the  Indians  a  year  or  two  later. 
He  left  the  service  at  the  close  of  the  war  in  179.5,  and 
married  in  Louisville,  Kentucky.  After  coming  to  Illinois 
he  improved  a  fine  farm.  He  was  extremely  fond  of  the 
rifle,  and  spent  a  good  deal  of  his  time  in  hunting.  In  the 
war  of  1812-14  he  was  captain  of  a  ranging  company,  and 
did  good  service  in  protecting  the  frontiers  from  Indian 
depredations. '  He  was  also,  during  this  war,  contractor  for 
carrying  the  mails  from  St.  Louis  to  Shawneetown.  This 
mail  route  was  then  very  important,  on  account  of  its  being 
the  only  one  by  which  correspondence  was  kept  up  between 
Illinois  and  Washington.  The  country  between  the  Kaskas- 
kia  and  the  Ohio  rivers  was  a  wilderness,  and  the  Indians 
hostile,  but  he  carried  the  mails  with  punctuality.  Like 
many  of  the  early  pioneers  he  had  strong  natural  abilities, 
but  no  education.  He  was  honorable  and  upright  in  his  re- 
lations with  his  neighbors.  He  died  on  the  farm  on  which 
he  settled  on  coming  to  the  county,  after  having  lived  on  it 
nearly  fifty  years. 

Toward  the  close  of  the  Indian  wars  the  fettleraents  in 
Illinois  began  to  extend.  The  New  Design  settlement,  in 
the  present  county  of  Monroe,  was  at  that  period  by  far  the 
largest  American  colony  in  Illinois,  and  soon  after  1795,  it 
began  to  extend  southward  into  Randolph  county.  In  the 
year  last  mentioned  the  town  of  Washington  was  laid  off  on 
the  west  bank  of  the  Kaskaskia  river,  not  far  south  of  the 
northern  boundary  of  the  county.  Its  site  was  the  high 
bluff  of  the  river,  overlooking  to  the  west  the  Horse  prairie. 
Johnson    J.   Whiteside   was   one  of   its    projectors.     The 


Whitesides  had  emigrated  from  Kentucky  to  the  New 
Design  settlement  in  1793.  Washington  came  to  be  known 
as  Horse  Prairie  town.  Its  inhabitants  cultivated  large 
fields  of  grain,  and  raised  stock.  Among  the  residents, 
of  this  place  were  William  Going  and  his  son,  who 
bore  the  same  name.  They  had  come  from  Kentucky 
in  1794,  and  erected  a  station  a  short  distance  south- 
west of  the  present  town  of  Waterloo.  Both  were 
blacksmiths.  The  old  gentleman  was  a  quiet  and  orderly 
citizen,  except  when  excited  with  taffia.  At  courts  and  other 
gatherings  he  had  bells  to  sell,  and  often  put  a  cord  through 
the  staples  of  a  dozen  bells  of  all  sizes  and  then  tied  them 
around  his  waist.  His  head  was  adorned  with  a  fox-skin 
cap,  the  tail  suspended  behind,  and  his  other  dress  was  of  the 
same  backwoods  character.  Thus  equipped,  he  danced  in  the 
crowd,  making  of  course,  a  terrific  noise.  He  was  not  a 
large  man,  but  strong  and  active.  He  compelled  Judge 
Simms,  one  of  the  United  States  judges  for  the  North- 
western territory,  while  he  was  holding  court  at  Cahokia,  to 
undergo  this  bell-dance  at  which  his  honor  grew  very  im- 
patient. He  was  noted  for  performing  other  wild  freaks. 
He  died  at  the  Horse  Prairie  town,  and  was  buried  in  the 
old  graveyard  north  of  the  town. 

William  Going,  the  son,  was  a  man  of  different  qualities- 
He  had  received  but  a  limited  education  and  could  hardly 
read  and  write,  but  possessed  strong  natural  abilities  which, 
had  he  made  use  of  them,  might  have  fitted  him  for  almost 
any  position.  He  was  brave  and  courageous,  and  impressed 
his  associates  as  a  man  of  decision  and  firmness.  His  im- 
pulses were  naturally  on  the  side  of  honesty  and  integrity, 
but  bad  associations,  and  evil  habits,  gradually  grew  on  him, 
and  often  the  public  was  forced  to  think  strange  of  his  con- 
duct. At  horse  races,  shooting  matches,  and  at  the  card 
table,  bis  was  the  governing  spirit.  Besides  being  a  black- 
smith, he  was  a  good  gunsmith.  He  had  no  taste  for  steady 
and  hard  labor.  He  worked  in  his  shop  when  it  pleased 
him,  and  with  the  object  of  only  earning  enough  to  support 
himself  and  family.  For  wealth  he  cared  nothing.  He  had 
steady  nerves  and  excellent  eyesight,  and  none  excelled  him 
in  repairing,  or  shooting,  a  gun.  Reynolds  relates  that  he 
at  one  time,  at  ninety  yards,  with  a  rest,  put  four  rifie  balls 
into  the  same  hole,  near  the  centre  of  the  target.  The  fifth 
ball  also  touched  the  hole.  From  the  Horse  Prairie  town 
he  moved  to  a  place  on  the  Kaskaskia  river,  in  St.  Clair 
county,  below  the  present  town  of  Fayette,  and  from  there 
to  Arkansas,  where  he  died  in  1830. 

John  Pulliam,  from  1799  to  1802,  was  a  resident  of  the 
Horse  Prairie  town.  He  was  born  in  Botetourt  county, 
Virginia ;  after  the  Revolutionary  war  he  removed  to  Ken- 
tucky, and  in  1796  came  to  the  New  Design  settlement. 
In  1797  he  removed  to  the  neighborhood  of  Florissant,  west 
of  St.  Louis,  and  returned  to  Illinois  two  years  later  to  settle 
in  Horse  Prairie  town,  near  which  he  cultivated  a  farm.  In 
1802  he  began  improving  a  farm  on  Prairie  du  Long  creek, 
near  the  mouth  of  Richland  creek,  in  what  is  now  Monroe 
county.  He  died  on  the  Kaskaskia  river,  near  the  present 
town  of  Fayette,  in  1813.  He  was  a  man  of  sound  mind, 
and  considerable  energy  and  activity.     From  him  sprang 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


67 


oue  of  the  most  numerous  piimeer  faniiliea  in  Illinois. 
Johu  Grosvenor,  a  stuue  masou  and  farmer,  and  a  native  of 
Connecticut,  lived  iu  the  Hjr^e  Prairie  town  for  some 
years  after  1793.  He  had  a  large  farm  adjoining  the  town 
which  he  cultivated  with  more  industry  than  wa^  usually 
displayed  in  those  days,  raising  considerable  amouuts  of 
produce  As  the  country  in  the  Horse  Prairie  improved,  the 
village  declined,  and  soon  became  extinct. 

Among  the  pioneer  settlers  on  I£orse  creek  was  Henry 
Levens.  He  emigrated  from  the  western  part  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. He  was  a  large,  stout  mau,  a  stranger  to  fear,  and 
well  calculated  to  brave  the  dangers  and  difficultiesof  a  new 
settlement.  He  was  without  much  education,  but  possessed 
decisive  and  energetic  qualities  of  mind  which  made  him  a 
conspicuous  personage  among  the  early  pioneers.  He  came 
to  Illinois  iu  1797.  Coming  down  the  Ohio  river,  he  landed 
at  Fort  Massacre  with  two  wagons  and  teams,  one  of  which 
was  an  ox  team.  In  one  of  the  wagons  he  placed  a  large 
skiff  to  be  used  as  a  wagon  body  on  land  and  a  ferry  boat 
in  crossing  the  large  creeks  encount-red  on  the  journey. 
The  party  was  twenty  five  days  in  coming  from  the  Ohio  to 
Kaskaskia.  He  settled  on  Horse  creek,  about  two  miles 
above  its  mouth,  and  three  miles  north  of  the  present  town 
of  Evansville.  He  here  obtained  a  donation  of  four  hun- 
dred acres  of  land  (claim  2607)  by  reason  of  his  improve- 
ment. In  the  year  1800  he  built  a  saw  and  grist  mill 
on  Horse  creek,  near  his  residence,  which  he  carried  on  with 
much  energy  and  industry,  and  with  great  advantage  to  the 
other  settlers.  At  the  time  this  was  built  it  was  the  only 
saw  mill  in  the  country.  The  lumber  for  nearly  all  the  flat 
boats  built  in  early  times  in  Illinois,  was  .sawed  at  this  mill. 
Levens  was  a  man  of  great  hospitality,  and  his  house  was 
the  usual  place  at  which  dancing  and  convivial  parties  as- 
sembled. He  raised  a  large  family,  and  both  his  sons  and 
daughters  were  inclined  to  gayety  and  sociability,  and 
indulged  freely  in  the  pleasures  of  the  ball-room,  and  other 
amusements  of  a  similar  character.  The  most  of  his  sons^ 
and  some  of  the  daughters,  played  on  the  violin.  The 
family  was  the  centre  of  attraction,  and  many  happy  days, 
and  particularly  nights,  of  innocent  amusement  and  recrea- 
tion were  enjoyed  in  pioneer  times  at  Levens'  hospitable 
dwelling  on  Horse  creek.  The  sons  were  active,  resolute 
men,  excellent  hunte^s  and  marksmen,  and  frequently 
carried  off  the  prizes  at  the  shooting  matches  which  formed 
a  common  amusement  for  the  neighborhood.  They  also 
delighted  in  foot  racing,  wrestling,  and  jumping,  and  an 
early  chronicler  remarks  that  they  "  were  not  bashful  in  a 
fight,  in  which  they  indulged  at  times  to  the  great  discom- 
fiture of  their  adversaries."  The  gun,  race-horse,  and  violin 
were  articles  of  greatest  admiration  in  the  family.  Although 
fond  of  amusement,  the  Levens'  family  became  more  wealthy 
than  the  most  of  their  neighbors.  Their  stock  was  raised, 
winter  and  summer,  without  much  labor,  and  the  mill  and 
farm  yielded  considerable  income.  The  peltries,  resulting 
from  the  hunting  expeditious  of  the  sons,  added  something. 
At  one  time  the  family  consisted  of  four,  or  five  grown 
unmarried  sons  and  two  daughters.  The  progress  of  the 
settlements  at  last  crowded  the  old  man  too  much,  and  in 


1818  he  sold  out  his  possessions  on  Horse  creek,  and  moved 

to  the  frontiers  of  Missouri  where  he  died  at  an  advanced 
age. 

The  Horse  prairie,  lying  between  the  K;nkaskia  river 
and  Horse  creek,  obtained  its  name,  as  did  also  the  creek, 
from  the  fact  that  herds  of  wild  horses  were  f  lund  in  the 
prairie,  aud  along  the  creek,  iu  early  times.  These  horses 
had  escaped  from  the  French  villages.  In  the  upper  end  of 
the  prairie,  at  the  close  of  the  list  century,  a  settlement, 
composed  of  Samuel  aud  Winder  Kinney,  Chance  Ratcliff, 
Robert  McMalian,  Jarrot  Brickey,  the  Gibbons,  Teter,  and 
some  other  families,  was  formed  in  the  upper  end  of  the 
prairie.  In  a  few  years  the  most  of  the  families  moved 
away.  McMahan  was  born  in  Virginia,  removed  to  Ken- 
tucky, and  in  1793  came  to  the  New  Design  settlement.  In 
1795,  in  the  present  Monroe  county,  three  miles  northeast 
of  New  Design  station,  his  wife  and  four  children  were 
killed  by  the  Indians.  Oa  coming  to  the  Horse  prairie,  he 
settled  on  Ralls'  ridge  where  now  runs  the  road  from  Red 
Bud  to  the  Kaskaskia.  He  was  justice  of  the  peace,  and 
oue  of  the  judges  of  the  old  court  of  common  pleas.  He 
removed  to  St.  Clair  county  near  Lsbanon,  and  then  to  the 
neighborhood  of  Troy,  in  Madison  county,  where  he  died  in 
the  year  1822.  Jarrot  Brickey  was  a  native  of  Virginia^ 
and  came  to  Illinois  from  Kentucky.  He  lived  in  the  Horse 
prairie  for  nearly  half  a  century.  He  was  iu  the  ranging 
service  during  ths  war  of  1612-14,  as  was  also  his  son, 
Preston  B.  Brickey,  whose  farm  was  half  a  mile  north  of 
the  present  town  of  Red  Bud. 

Kaskaskia  by  this  time  had  become  the  residence  of  seve- 
ral  Americans.  John  E  Igar,  who  came  to  the  village  iu 
1784,  had  assumed  a  prominent  position  iu  the  community. 
William  Morrison  reached  the  place  in  1790,  and  began  an 
extensive  mercantile  business.  The  earliest  practicing  law- 
yer in  Illinois,  John  Rice  Jones,  had  settled  in  the  town  the 
last  named  year,  and  in  1798  Dr.  George  Fisher  began  the 
practice  of  medicine. 

THE   AMERICAN    POPULATION    IN    1800. 

According  to  the  estimate  of  Reynolds,  the  American 
population  in  Illinois  in  the  year  1800  amounted  to  eight 
hundred  souls.  The  New  Design  and  American  Bottom 
settlements,  in  the  present  county  of  Monroe,  contained  six 
hundred  inhabitants,  and  there  were  other  scattering  settle- 
ments in  that  county.  Only  about  one  hundred  Americans 
lived  in  Randolph  county.  Of  these,  six  or  eight  families 
lived  in  Kaskaskia.  The  settlement  east  of  the  Kaskaskia 
River  contained  seven  families,  and  the  Horse  Prairie  colony 
was  still  less  in  number. 

SUBSEQUENT   SETTLEMENTS. 

On  the  openingof  the  present  century  the  arrivals  became 
more  numerous,  and  the  number  of  American  inhabitants  of 
the  county  rapidly  increased.  The  immigrants  were  mostly 
from  the  western  and  southern  states,  and  the  Ohio  river  was 
the  main  channel  by  which  the  pioneers  reached  the  country. 
Fort  Massacre  was  a  usual  point  for  leaving  the  Ohio  and 
beginning  the  journey  overland.  In  very  early  times  the 
I  French  had  opened  a  road  from  Fort  Massacre  to  Kaskai>- 


6** 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


kia,  marking  the  miles  on  the  trees.  The  figures  were  cut 
in  with  an  iron  instrument  and  painted  red.  This  road 
made  a  great  curve  to  the  north  to  avoid  the  swamps  and 
rough  country  on  the  sources -of  Cache  river,  and  to 
take  advantage  of  the  prairie  as  much  as  possible.  A  road 
also  ran  from  Fort  Massacre  to  Cape  Girardeau,  then  in  the 
Spanish  country.  There  were  two  celebrated  crossing  places 
on  the  Ohio,  Lusk's  Ferry  and  Miles'  Ferry.  The  former 
was  opposite  the  present  town  of  Golconda,  and  the  latter 
six  or  seven  miles  farther  up  the  river.  From  Lusk's  and 
Miles'  ferries  a  road  had  been  established  to  Kaskatkia. 
This  road  was  first  opened  by  Nathaniel  Hull,  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  Monroe  county.  Roads  were  afterwards  cut 
leading  from  Shawneetown  to  Vincennes  and  Kaskaskia. 

The  scanty  American  population  of  the  county  received  a 
notable  addition  in  1800  in  the  family  of  Robert  Reynolds. 
His  son,  John  Reynolds,  then  a  boy  of  twelve,  afterward 
became  governor  of  the  state.  Robert  Reynolds  was  born 
in  Ireland,  and  emigrated  to  the  United  States  in  1785.  In 
Montgomery  county,  Pennsylvania,  John  Reynolds  was 
born  in  1788.  The  family  in  the  fall  of  that  year  removed 
to  East  Tennessee.  In  February,  1800,  with  eight  horses 
and  two  wagons,  the  family  left  Tennes-ee  for  the  Spanish 
country  west  of  the  Mississippi.  Upper  Louisiana,  now 
Missouri,  was  then  popularly  known  as  the  Spanish  country. 
The  Spanish  authorities  encouraged  by  liberal  land  grants 
the  immigration  of  Americans.  Several  members  of  the 
Murphy  family  had  gone  from  the  Reynolds  neighborhood 
in  East  Tennessee,  and  had  settled  on  the  St.  Francois  river, 
southwest  of  St.  Geuevievs,  and  Robert  Reynolds  had  de- 
cided to  settle  there.  The  Ohio  was  crossed  at  Lusk's  ferry, 
and  they  first  set  foot  on  Illinois  soil  where  now  stands  the 
town  of  Golconda,  in  Pope  county.  The  west  side  of  the 
Ohio  was  then  called  the  Inilian  country.  Governor  Rey- 
nolds relates  that  he  asked  Mr.  Lusk  how  far  it  was  to  the 
ne.\t  town,  and  that  the  proprietor  of  the  ferry  laughed  and 
said,  "One  hundred  and  ten  miles  to  Kaskaskia,  the  first 
settlement  on  the  route."  Big  Muddy  river  was  found  to 
be  full  and  swimming,  and  after  wailing  on  the  banks  two 
weeks  for  the  stream  to  fall,  a  raft  was  constructed,  with 
two  days'  labor,  and  the  family  and  their  efi'ects  were  ferried 
over.  Four  creeks  were  rafted  between  the  Ohio  and  Kas- 
kaskia, and  the  journey  required  four  weeks.  Governor 
Reynolds  has  recorded  his  impressions  as  he  reached  the 
bluff's  east  of  Kaskaskia,  and  surveyed  the  prospect.  It  was 
spring,  and  the  landscape  was  clothed  in  beauty.  The 
prairie  between  the  Kaskaskia  and  Mississippi  rivers  was 
covered  with  grazing  horses  and  cattle.  The  Mississippi 
itself  could  be  seen  through  the  forest  of  cottonwood  trees 
skirting  its  shores,  and  the  ancient  village  of  Kaskaskia 
presented  its  singular  and  antique  construction  to  his  sight 
The  ancient  cathedral  stood  a  venerable  edifice  in  the  heart 
of  the  village,  with  its  lofty  steeple  and  large  bell — the  first 
church  bell  he  had  ever  seen.  Around  the  village  were 
numerous  camps  and  lodges  of  the  Kaskaskia  Indians, 
who  still  retained  much  of  their  original  savage  inde- 
pendence. 

Many    of  the  young  warriors  decorated    themselves   with 


paints,  and  tied  feathers  in  their   hair,  and  sometimes  at- 
tached to  their  heads  the  horns  of  animals. 

After  securing  some  provisions,  and  provender  for  the 
horses  from  General  Edgar's  mill,  near  which  they  had  en- 
camped, preparations  were  made  to  cross  the  Mississippi, 
when  R  )bert  Morrison,  John  Rice  Jones,  Pierre  Menard 
and  John  Edgar  came  up,  and  proposed  that,  instead  of 
going  to  the  Spanish  country,  the  Jleynolds  family  should 
remain  for  a  time  at  Kaskaskia,  and  look  around  for  a  per- 
manent residence  in  the  vicinity.  After  spending  some  time 
in  the  exploration  of  the  eastern  side  of  the  Mississippi, 
Robert  Reynolds  re-affirmed  his  decision  to  settle  west  of  the 
river,  and  applied  to  the  Spanish  commandant  at  St.  Gene- 
vieve for  a  permit,  but  found  that  a  pledge  was  required 
that  he  should  raise  his  children  in  the  faith  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  church.  To  this  he  refused  to  agree,  and  he  re- 
mained in  Illinois.  The  family  lived  in  Kaskaskia  some 
months,  raised  a  crop  of  corn  in  the  common  field,  and  then 
settled  east  of  Kaskaskia.  Governor  Reynolds  says:  "Our 
residence  was  within  about  two  miles  and  a  half  of  Kaskas- 
kia, and  we  made  mathematically  the  seventh  family  of  the 
colony.  We  made  our  habitation  east  of  the  Kaskaskia 
river,  in  the  forest  amongst  the  high  grass,  and  the  wolves 
and  wild  animals  were  howling  and  prowling  about  us  all 
night.  About  the  year  1805,  a  small  school  was  formed  in 
the  settlement  where  my  father  resided  I  was  a  scholar  at  this 
humble  institution  during  part  of  the  winters  and  the  wet 
days  we  could  not  work  on  the  farm,  for  one  or  two  years, 
while  we  remained  in  the  settlement.  There  were  some  books 
scattered  about  the  country,  but  they  were  not  plenty.  Al- 
though my  father  was  a  reading  man,  and  possessed  a  s-trong 
mind,  yet,  as  far  as  I  recollect,  he  brought  to  the  country 
with  him  no  books  i  xcept  the  Bible.  John  Fulton,  who 
.settled  in  the  vicinity,  brought  with  him  Rollin's  Ancient 
History.  My  father  borrowed  it,  and  I  read  it  day  and 
night  at  the  times  I  spared  from  labor."  In  1803,  Robert 
Reynolds,  with  Pierre  Menard  and  Robert  Morrison,  repre- 
sented Randolph  county  in  the  Legislature  of  the  Indiana 
territory.  In  1807,  he  moved  to  the  Goshen  settlement,  four 
miles  southwest  of  Edwardsville. 

In  1801  John  Braird  and  family  settled  four  miles  north- 
east of  Kaskaskia  He  was  born  in  Virginia  and  raised  in 
the  country  adjoining  the  New  river.  He  emigrated  from 
Virginia  to  Tennessee  in  the  year  1787,  and  there  married  a 
relative  of  Robert  Reynolds.  He  is  described  as  a  brave, 
energetic,  decisive  man,  and  while  living  in  Knox  county, 
Tennessee,  was  always  elected  captain  of  the  companies 
raised  to  pursue  the  Indians  when  any  depredation  was  com- 
mitted, which  was  not  unfrequent.  In  April,  1793,  he  led 
one  hundred  and  twenty  five  men  from  Knoxville  to  Nash- 
ville, and  killed  a  few  Creek  Indians.  The  next  mouth,  in 
command  of  fifty  men,  he  pursued  a  band  of  Indians  who 
had  killed  two  citizens  near  Clinch  river.  In  defiance  of 
the  orders  of  the  United  States  government  he  crossed  the 
Tennessee  into  the  Cherokee  country,  and  there  killed  several 
of  the  savages  The  government  ordered  him  to  be  tried  by 
court  martial,  but  the  people  of  Tennessee  sustained  him  in 
his  course.     On  the  formation  of  the  state  government  of 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


69 


Tennessee  he  was  elected  to  the  legislature  from  Knox 
county.  He  died  in  Illinois  in  1>*09.  One  of  his  sons, 
Joseph  A.  Beaird,  became  a  prominent  citizen  of  Monroe 
county,  which  he  represented  in  the  state  senate  for  several 
terms.  Another,  William  A  Beaird,  was  sheriff  of  St.  Clair 
county  from  1818  to  1830. 

Among  the  additions  to  the  settlement  cast  of  Kaska-skia 
in  1801  WHS  Jo^pph  Heard,  who  first  settled  on  Garrison 
hill,  and  theu  improved  a  farm  on  Gravel  creek,  two  miles 
and  a  half  north  of  Chester,  in  later  years  the  property  '>f 
Joseph  B.  Holmes.  His  son,  Hugh  Heard,  settled  two 
miles  north  of  his  fatiier,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Diamond 
Cross,  and  the  farm  on  which  he  lived  was  long  known  as 
the  "  Old  Heard  farm."  After  living  on  this  farm  many 
years  Hugh  Heard  removed  to  Wisconsin.  James  Heard,  a 
brother  to  Hugh,  located  still  farther  north,  and  made  a 
farm  on  which  he  lived  to  old  age.  Joseph,  William  and 
James,  were  sons  of  the  latter.  With  Joseph  Heard  came 
George  Franklin  who  improved  a  farm  in  section  twenty- 
two,  of  township  six,  range  seven,  and  afterward  removed  to 
the  neighborhood  of  the  present  town  of  Pinckneyville  in 
Perry  county. 

In  the  year  180i  the  arrivals  became  more  frequent  and 
the  settlements  began  to  expand  over  wider  territory.  John 
Fulton,  the  same  who  as  Governor  Reynolds  relates,  brought 
with  him  to  Illinois  RoUin's  Ancient  History,  came  from 
Tennessee,  and  settled  east  of  Kaskaskia,  in  the  vicinity  of 
Robert  Reynolds.  He  made  a  valuable  addition  to  the  com- 
munity, and  was  active  and  foremost  in  promoting  the  pub 
lie  welfare.  His  sons,  Thomas,  David  and  Cyrus,  lived 
afterward  in  the  same  neighborhood.  The  two  former  died 
these,  and  the  last  removed  to  Marion  county-  William 
Roberts  came  from  Lexington,  Kentucky,  also  in  18'i2,  and 
settled  east  of  the  Kaskaskia  river,  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Ellis  Grove,  where  he  improved  a  farm.  He  was  a  man  of 
enterprise  and  shrewdness,  and  traded  down  the  river,  be- 
coming well  known  al'>ng  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi  between 
Kaskaskia  and  New  Orleans.  He  died  in  1822.  His  son, 
Thomas  Roberts,  was  nearly  of  age  at  the  time  of  the  settle- 
ment of  the  family  in  the  county.  He  settled  on  a  farm 
near  his  father.  For  many  years  he  acted  as  justice  of  the 
peace.  He  was  a  member  of  the  c<mnty  commissioners' 
court  from  1828  to, 1834.  His  death  occurred  in  1858. 
One  of  his  nine  sons,  Daniel  Preston  Roberts,  was  the  last 
register  of  the  land  office  at  Kaskaskia,  receiving  his  appoint 
ment  in  ls53,  and  coutinuing  in  the  office  till  its  removal  to 
Springfield.  John  and  Ephraim  Bilderback  came  in  1802 
Ephraim  settled  eaH  of  the  Kaskaskia.  He  was  a  man  of 
great  industry,  aud  paid  close  attention  to  his  farm.  His 
sons  were  William,  Stuart,  James,  Charles,  Franklin,  Henry, 
Ephraim,  Thomas  and  John.  William  removed  to  the  ex- 
treme southern  part  of  the  county,  where  he  entered  laud  as 
early  as  1814.  Charles  also  settled  in  that  part  of  the 
county.  John  Bilderback,  the  brother  of  Ephraim,  was  in 
the  ranging  service  during  the  war  of  1812-14.  He  died 
without  children. 

Robert  Tindall,  of  the  Chester  district.  South  Carolina,  in 
1802  began  improving  a  farm  five  miles  northeast  of  Chester 


in  section  ihirty-two,  of  township  six,  range  six.  This  was 
the  first  settlement  in  that  vicinity.  He  undertook  the  erec- 
tion of  a  water  mill  on  a  small  stream  flowing  through  his 
farm,  but  before  its  completion  it  was  washed  away  by  the 
floods.  He  then  built  a  horse  mill  near  his  residence  which 
was  in  operation  for  some  years  and  proved  a  great  advan- 
tage to  the  neighborhood.  On  M.iry's  river,  about  fiur 
miles  above  its  mouth,  Binjainin  Crane,  with  a  family  of 
seven  sons,  whose  names  were  Benjamin,  Squire,  William, 
.lames,  Joel,  Lswis,  and  John,  settled  probably  in  1802, 
though  by  some  the  date  is  placed  earlier-  The  Cranes  were 
men  of  decided  character,  and  were  the  leading  citizens  in 
the  country  adjacent  to  the  mouth  of  Mary's  river.  On  the 
west  side  of  the  Kaskaskia  river,  near  the  mouth  of  Camp 
creek,  Paul  Harelston  made  a  settlement  in  1802.  He  was 
a  man  of  considerable  influence  and  prominence  in  early 
times. 

The  vigorous  and  influential  Irish  settlement,  east  of  the 
Kaskaskia,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Plum  creek,  from  which 
have  sprung  many  of  the  leading  citizens  of  the  county,  was 
founded  in  18 J2.  These  colonists  were  of  Irish  blood, 
Presbyterians  in  religious  faith,  and  came  to  Illinois  chiefly 
from  the  Abbeville  district  in  South  Carolina.  They  were 
known  in  Randolph  county  as  "  South  Carolina  Irish." 
They  had  the  same  energetic  traits  which  have  marked  the 
Scotch-Irish  stock  in  all  parts  of  the  United  States,  and  left 
a  lasting  impression  on  the  county.  James  Patterson  was 
the  pioneer  of  this  settlement.  He  was  born  in  South  Caro- 
lina. His  father  had  come  to  America  from  Ireland,  and 
had  taken  part  as  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution. 
He  arrived  in  the  year  1802,  and  settled  on  the  site  of  the 
present  town  of  Preston.  He  was  a  man  of  great  energy  and 
activity,  and  always  maintained  a  high  standing  iu  the  com- 
munity. He  filled  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  for  several 
years,  and  in  1819  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  county  com- 
rai.ssioner's  court.  He  was  a  ranger  in  the  war  of  1812-14. 
About  the  year  1819  he  moved  to  the  neighborhood  cf 
Sparta,  and  there  died  in  1829.  His  four  sons,  John,  Samuel, 
Reuben,  and  .James  Harvey,  became  well-known  citizens  of 
the  county.  Robert  Huggins  came  from  South  Carolina  iu 
1803,  and  lived  for  some  years  in  the  Irish  settlement,  and 
then  removed  to  the  Opossumdeu  prairie.  His  sou,  James 
Huggins,  settled  in  Flat  prairie,  about  the  year  1817,  and 
improved  the  first  farm  in  that  prairie.  The  descendants  of 
Huggins  lived  afterwanl  in  Perry  county. 

In  June,  1803,  Abijah  Leavitt,  came  to  Fort  Gage  as  a 
sergeant  in  Col.  Pike's  division  of  the  regular  army  sent 
to  garrison  the  fort.  He  was  from  Bangor,  Maine  He 
obtained  a  discharge  from  the  array,  and  settled  a  mile  back 
from  Garrison  hill,  on  section  twenty-nine,  of  township  six, 
range  seven,  where  he  improved  a  farm,  on  which  he  lived 
for  manv  years.  In  early  life  he  had  been  a  sailor.  He 
was  a  quiet,  industrious  citizen,  and  was  held  in  esteem  by 
his  neighbors.  Edward,  John,  George,  and  Abijah  Leavitt 
were  his  sons.  Edward,  the  oldest,  was  born  on  the  Ohio 
river,  on  the  way  to  Illinois.  Two  of  the  sons  are  yet  living, 
and  Abijah  lives  on  the  old  farm  on  which  his  father  settled. 
Numerous  and  valuable  additions  were  made  to  the  Irish 


vo 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


settlement  iu  the  year  1804.  John  McClinton,  David 
Anderson,  James  Anderson,  and  Adam  Hill,  with  their 
families,  numbering  in  all  thirty-one  person-i,  reached  the 
settlement  on  Christmas  day  of  that  year.  This  was  the 
largest  single  colony  which  up  to  that  time  had  settled  in 
the  county,  and  gave  a  great  impetus  to  the  growth  of  the 
Irish  settlement.  A  few  weeks  after  their  arrival  McClin- 
ton's  wife  died,  and  he  himself  died  within  a  year  afterward. 
His  three  sons,  John,  William,  and  Samuel  McClinton,  were 
placed  under  the  guardianship  of  the  Hills  and  Andersons, 
Ddvid  Anderson,  or  as  he  subsequently  came  to  be  called, 
Colonel  Anderson,  was  a  man  of  much  popularity.  He  was 
strong  and  athletic,  benevolent  and  kind  in  his  disposition, 
and  a  warm  friend  of  religious  institutions.  He  was  elected 
colonel  of  the  militia.  For  several  years,  under  the  territo- 
rial government,  he  was  one  of  the  judges  of  the  court  of 
couraon  pleas,  and  afterwards  in  1819  and  1820  one  of  the 
members  of  the  county  commissioner's  court.  His  sons  all 
died  in  early  life.  His  oldest  daughter  became  the  wife  of 
Robert  G.  Shannon.  James  Anderson  died  a  few  years  after 
coming  ti  Illinois.  He  left  five  sons  James,  John,  William, 
Th  >mas  and  David.  The  Andersons  settled  in  section  five, 
of  township  live  south,  range  seven.  They  came  from  the 
Abbeville  district,  South  Carolina,  where  their  ancestors  had 
settled  previous  to  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  Adam  Hill 
settled  northeast  of  Evansville.  John,  William,  Adam, 
Robert  and  Samuel  Hill  were  his  sons. 

At  the  close  of  the  year  1804  another  important  colony 
r  ached  the  Irish  settlement,  among  which  were  Absalom 
Cox,  Archibald  Thompson,  James  Thompson,  Robert  Mc- 
Donald, and  William  McBride.  This  colony  also  came  from 
the  Abbeville  district  in  Sjuth  Carolina.  Absalom  Cox 
settled  on  the  Kaskaskia  on  the  old  claim  granted  to  Elijah 
Smith  for  his  improvement  there  made.  He  established 
Cox's  ferry  across  the  river  at  that  point  within  a  few  years 
after  his  arrival.  When  he  located  here  it  was  the  highest 
settlement  of  the  Kaskaskia  He  was  elected  captain  of  a 
militia  company,  and  was  in  the  ranging  service  during  the 
war  of  1812-14.  He  died  on  his  farm  in  the  year  1844. 
John,  William,  Thomas,  and  Absalom  "were  his  sons.  Archi- 
bald Thompson  was  a  man  of  excellent  character.  In  1812 
he  moved  to  a  farm  two  miles  south  of  the  present  town  of 
Evansville  where  he  died  at  an  advanced  age  in  18.33  He 
was  one  of  the  judges  of  the  common  pleas  c  >urt  which  ex- 
isted in  territorial  days.  Robert,  William,  Moses,  Archi- 
bald, John  and  James  Thompson  were  his  sons.  He  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  State  legislature  in  1834,  and  died 
while  filling  that  position.  James  Thompson  settled  on  a 
farm  on  coming  to  Illinois  in  1804.  He  served  as  a  ranger 
during  the  Indian  troubles.  Robert  and  Archibald  were  his 
sons.  William  McBride  proved  a  valuable  member  of  the 
community.  He  was  born  in  the  north  of  Ireland,  and  was 
advanced  in  years  when  he  came  from  South  Carolina  to 
Illinois.  He  died  in  1818.  He  had  three  sons,  Thomas, 
John  and  William.  William,  the  youngest,  was  captain  of 
a  militia  company  in  1813,  and  county  commissioner  in  1844. 
He  was  the  father  of  John  T.  McBride.  Robert  McDonald 
settled  near  the  Kaskaskia,  a  short  distance  below  Cox,  and 


there  died.  None  of  his  descendants  now  remain  in  the 
county 

John  Lacy,  in  the  year  1804,  reached  the  county  from 
South  Carolina,  and  improved  a  farm  about  seven  miles 
northeast  of  Chester.  He  lived  here  some  years,  and  died. 
His  widow  married  Major  Adair,  and  the  farm  on  which 
Lacy  settled  became  afterward  known  as  the  "  Major  Adair 
place."  Samuel  Cochran,  in  1804,  settled'three  miles  north 
of  Chester,  and  improved  what  was  afterward  known  as  the 
Haskin  farm.  His  location  was  at  some  distance  from  the 
other  settlenienis,  and,  though  sociable  and  fond  of  com- 
panionship, he  was  here  obliged  to  lead  a  secluded  life.  He 
was  influential  and  popular,  and  among  the  public  positions 
which  he  held  was  that  of  judge  of  the  common  pleas  court. 
He  held  this  office  previous  to  1809,  while  Illinois  was  yet  a 
part  of  the  Indian  territory.  He  died  in  Jackson  county, 
in  1824.  His  sons  were  John,  William.  George,  Alexander 
and  Elisha,  and  all  were  noted  for  their  skill  as  hunters. 
William  lived  and  died  on  the  farm  one  mile  northwest  of 
Chester  included  in  claim  292.  George,  Alexander  and 
Elisha  became  citizens  of  Jackson  county.  Near  the  present 
town  of  Rockwood,  a  man  by  the  name  of  Emsley  Jones, 
settled  about  the  year  1804.  In  a  quarrel  with  a  man 
named  Reed,  living  in  the  same  neighborhood  in  the  Miss- 
issippi bottom,  he  killed  Reed.  For  this  murder  he  was 
hung  iu  the  commons,  south  of  Kaskaskia.  His  execution 
was  witnessed  by  a  great  concourse  of  people.  This  was  the 
.second  hanging  to  take  place  iu  the  county  In  the  year 
1802,  about  fifteen  miles  east  of  Kaskaskia,  near  Mary's 
river,  a  young  man  going  back  from  Kaskaskia  to  the  east, 
was  shot  by  an  Indian.  The  murderer  was  a  straggling 
Delaware  from  west  of  the  Mississippi.  With  the  murdered 
man's  saddle  and  some  other  articles  he  escaped  towards  the 
mouth  of  the  Big  Muddy  river.  The  Kaskaskia  Indians 
were  employed  to  search  for  the  murderer  whom  they  found 
and  brought  to  Kaskaskia.  Certain  articles  belonging  to  the 
murdered  man,  found  in  the  possession  of  the  Indian, 
formed  the  evi  lence  on  which  he  was  convicted.  He  was  hung 
late  in  the  fall  of  1802,  by  Dr.  George  Fisher,  then  sheriff, 
on  a  honey  locust  tree,  on  the  bank  of  the  Kaskaskia  river, 
a  mile  or  so  above  the  village  of  Kaskaskia.  These  two 
executions  were  the  only  ones  in  Illinois  till  1821,  when  one 
took  place  at  Belleville. 

In  the  year  1805,  Alexander  Barber  reached  the  county 
from  Ohio.  He  settled  east  of  the  Kaskas'ua  river  and 
west  of  Ellis  Grove,  where  he  lived  twenty  years,  and  then 
moved  to  a  farm  two  miles  north  of  Rockwood.  He  was  a 
man  of  strong  natural  mental  abilities,  clear  judgment  and 
robust  constitution.  The«e  qualifications  gave  him  a  lead- 
ing place  among  pioneers,  and  his  opinion  and  judgment 
were  much  relied  on.  He  had  mechanical  genius,  and  as 
the  settlement  increased  engaged  in  building  mills,  and  thus 
was  of  much  use  to  the  people  of  the  county.  The  name  of 
Barber,  to  the  early  residents  of  the  county,  always  sug- 
gested a  mill.  He  filled  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace 
without  interruption  for  more  than  forty  years,  and  his 
official  acts  in  this  position  are  unusually  equitable  and  sat- 
isfactory.    Alexander   Clark   iu    1805   settled   three  miles 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    VOVNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


71 


south  of  the  present  town  of  Evansville.  The  Abbeville 
district,  South  Carolina,  made  another  contribution  to  the 
settlement  of  the  county  this  year  in  the  Lively  family. 
Joseph  Lively  settled  the  Seymour  farm  iu  section  twenty- 
eight,  of  township  six,  range  seven,  three  miles  northeast  of 
Kaskaskia.  In  1823  he  removed  to  the  lower  end  of  the 
Opossumden  prairie.  He  died  in  1823,  leaving  six  fons, 
Amos,  Shadrach,  Enoch,  Kichard,  James  and  Reuben. 
John  Lively  settled  on  the  prairie  northwest  of  the  Irish 
settlement,  which  thenceforth  was  known  by  the  name  of 
Lively  prairie.  He  died  in  the  year  1.H26.  Reuben,  James, 
Turner,  William  and  Hugh  were  his  sons.  Another  branch 
of  the  Lively  family  settled  in  what  is  now  Washington 
county,  where  in  1813,  the  wife  and  all  the  children,  but 
two,  of  William  Lively  were  killed  by  the  Indians. 

Among  the  arrivals  in  1806  were  George  Wilson  and 
Samuel  Crozier  from  the  Abbeville  district,  South  Carolina. 
The  former  settled  near  the  fork  of  Plum  creek,  and  from 
there  removed  to  the  mouth  of  Doza  creek.  When  the  war 
of  1812-14  began,  he,  with  his  neighbors,  built  a  fort  which 
stood  about  a  mile  from  the  <  ast  bank  of  the  Kaskaskia,  not 
far  from  the  line  between  townships  4  and  5.  He  took  an 
active  part  as  a  ranger  in  that  war,  and  after  its  conclusion 
settled  in  the  old  fort,  improving  a  farm  in  the  neighborhood. 
In  1828  he  moved  to  the  Heacock  prairie,  where  he  died  in 
18.57.  His  sons  were  John,  George,  William,  James  and 
Andrew.  Samuel  Crozier  improved  a  farm  on  Nine  Mile 
creek,  three  miles  so\ith  of  the  present  town  of  Evansville. 
He  was  affable  and  benevolent,  and  possessed  unusually 
strong  mental  qualities.  He  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
.state  senate  in  1.^22,  and  served  till  1824.  John,  James, 
Andrew,  Archibald,  and  Samuel,  were  his  sons.  John  set- 
tled on  the  site  of  Red  Bud  in  1824,  and  his  son,  Samuel 
Crozier,  was  one  of  the  founders  of  that  town. 

The  year  1807  witnessed  the  arrival  of  John  Campbell, 
who  settled  near  the  mouth  of  Xine  Mile  Creek  ;  of  the  Tag- 
garts  who  settled  in  the  part  of  the  county  north  of  Chester 
where  their  descendants  still  live;  of  John  Steele,  the  pio- 
neer of  the  Steeleville  neighborhood,  and  of  John  Mausker, 
who  moved  across  the  river  from  Missouri  and  located  on 
the  island  in  the  Mississippi  opposite  Rockwood.  John 
Campbell  was  from  the  Abbeville  district.  South  Carolina. 
From  his  first  location  near  the  mouth  of  Nine  Mile  creek, 
he  removed  to  a  place  four  miles  east  of  where  Evansville 
now  is,  where  he  ditd  in  1827.  He  was  unassuming,  quiet 
and  respecttd.  John,  Samuel,  Archibald  and  James  Camp- 
bell, his  sons,  settled  near  their  father.  John  and  Daniel 
Taggart  were  also  South  Carolinians.  The  former  for  some 
years  remained  in  the  neighborhood  of  Kaskaskia.  He  was 
in  the  ranging  service,  and  after  the  conclusion  of  the  war 
settled  on  the  farm,  nine  miles  north  of  Chester,  on  which 
he  afterward  lived  many  years.  Amos  Taggart  was  his  son. 
Daniel  Taggart  also  performed  service  as  a  ranger,  and 
settled  on  a  farm  near  his  brother.  His  sons  were  John, 
William,  Amos  and  Daniel.  John  Steele  was  a  captain  in 
the  Virginia  force  during  the  Revolutionary  war.  After 
the  colonies  had  gained  their  independence  he  became  one 
of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Tennessee,  living  for   a  time  near 


Knoxville,  and  then  in  the  neighborhood  of  Nashville.  He 
had  the  qualities  requisite  for  a  pioneer  hfe^self-reliance 
and  courage — and  selecting  a  location  beyond  the  limits  of 
the  settlements,  made  the  first  improvement  iu  the  neighbor- 
hood of  the  present  town  of  Steeleville.  His  sons  were  George, 
Archibald,  James,  John  and  Thomas.  George  Steele  was 
the  founder  of  Georgetown,  or  Steeleville,  as  the  place  came 
to  be  called.  He  settled  on  the  site  of  the  town  in  1810, 
and  iu  1812  a  fort  was  erected  here  for  protection  against 
the  Indians.  All  the  five  brothers  were  in  the  ranging 
service  during  the  war.  John  Mausker  was  one  of  the  pio- 
neers of  Kentucky  and  Tennessee.  At  St.  Clair's  defeat  by 
the  Indians  he  received  seven  different  wounds,  but  eflected 
a  miraculous  escape  from  the  field  of  carnage.  In  1804  he 
settled  in  Ste.  Genevieve  county,  Mi.s.souri,  three  years  later 
located  on  the  island  opposite  Rockwood,  and  in  1812  on 
the  river  above  Rockwood.  His  .son,  Samuel  Mausker,  has 
since  lived  in  the  .same  vicinity,  and  is  now  one  of  the  oldest 
citizens  of  the  county. 

The  number  of  new  settlers  in  1808  were  quite  numerous. 
Jacob  Bowerman,  a  man  of  great  decision  of  character,  set- 
tled three  miles  south  of  Steeleville,  and  afterward  west  of 
that  town.  He  was  remarkably  ingenious,  and  could  work 
at  almost  any  trade,  even  making  good  guns,  without  pre- 
vious instruction.  As  a  marksman  with  the  rifle  he  had  uo 
superior.  He  had  lour  sons,  Jonathan,  Jesse,  Michael  and 
Wdliam.  Robert  Foster  and  John  Anderson  this  year 
made  the  journey  from  the  Abbeville  district,  South  Caro- 
lina, on  horseback.  Anderson  was  a  brother  of  Colonel 
David  Anderson,  near  whom  he  ^ettled.  For  many  years 
he  was  a  justice  of  the  peace.  Foster  first  settled  near  the 
Kaskaskia,  to  the  west  of  Ellis  Grove,  and  then  on  Plum 
creek,  where  he  erected  a  horse  mill  and  steam  distillery. 
These  conveniences  caused  the  influx  of  other  settlers  to  the 
neighborhood,  ami  Foster's  mill  became  a  place  of  frequent 
resort.  Musters  and  other  public  gatherings  were  held 
here.  He  died  in  1831.  Samuel,  John,  James,  William  and 
David  were  his  sons.  James  was  one  of  the  founders  of 
Sparta.  A  man  named  Henderson  also  arrived  from  South 
Carolina  in  1808,  and  settled  on  the  Kaskaskia  river,  oppo- 
site Evansville.  The  immediate  neighborhood  of  the  present 
city  of  Chester  received  its  first  settler  this  year  in  the  per- 
son of  John  Clendinen  who  came  from  (ireen  county,  Ken- 
tucky. He  improved  the  farm,  afterward  known  as  the 
Porter  place.  He  had  been  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary 
war,  and  the  story  is  told  that  once,  while  guarding  some 
prisoners,  a  lady  came  and  besought  permission  to  see  her 
brother,  one  of  the  captured  men.  His  gallantry  did  not 
permit  hira  to  refuse,  and  confiding  in  her  integrity,  he 
loaned  her  his  uniform  in  order  that  she  might  eflt-ct  her 
object.  The  lady  made  the  visit  in  safety,  and  was  grateful 
for  his  kiudness.  He  was  an  honorable,  industrious  citizen. 
His  descendants  reside  in  the  southern  jiart  of  the  county. 
His  sons  were  James,  Henry,  John  and  Harvey.  James 
Clendinen  setthd  about  half  a  mile  west  of  Diamond  Cross 
in  1808,  from  which  place  in  1837  he  removed  to  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Rockwood.  Harvey  Clendinen  was  county 
commissioner  from  1838  to  1844.     Andrew  Mct'ormack  and 


72 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


John  Miller  located  in  the  Bilderback  settlement,  north  of 
Kaskaskia  and  east  of  the  Kaskaskia  river,  in  1808.  Richard 
Robbison  came  to  this  part  of  the  county  the  same  year,  and 
afterward  removed  to  the  vicinity  of  the  present  town  of 
Steeleville.  He  had  a  large  family  of  sons  from  whom 
sprang  a  numerous  posterity.  Augustus  Davis,  who  came 
to  Kaskaskia  in  1808,  became  subsequently  a  member  of  the 
Steele  settlement.  James  White,  a  South  Carolinian,  settled 
in  1808  on  the  hills  west  of  Steeleville,  half  a  mile  north  of 
where  the  road  leading  from  Steeleville  to  Chester  crosses 
Mary's  river.  This  year  William  Barnet  came  from  Ken- 
tucky and  joined  the  Irish  settlement.  He  died  in  1818. 
John,  his  oldest  son,  lived  for  many  years  on  the  place  his 
father  settled,  William,  the  second  son,  while  returning 
home  from  a  campaign  against  the  Indians  in  1813  was 
drowned  while  crossing  Plum  creek,  within  a  distance  of  two 
miles  from  his  father's  house. 

Kaskaskia  in  the  first  decade  of  the  present  century 
received  a  large  increase  of  American  population.  Michael 
Jones  came  to  the  town  in  1804  as  register  of  the  land  office. 
His  address  was  plea.sing  and  plausible,  hia  education  good, 
and  he  was  well  qualified  for  business,  though  his  tempera- 
ment was  said  to  be  excitable  and  irritable  With  E. 
Backus,  receiver  at  the  land  office,  he  acted  as  commissioner 
to  adjust  land  claims  in  the  Kaskaskia  district.  The  Rector 
family  came  to  Kaskaskia  in  1806,  and  were  connected  with 
the  surveys  of  the  public  lands.  There  were  nine  brothers 
and  four  sisters,  all  born  in  Fauquier  county,  Virginia. 
Reynolds  speaks  of  them  as  singular  and  peculiar  in  their 
traits  of  character;  ardent,  excitable  and  enthusiastic  in 
disposition ;  possessing  integrity  and  honesty  of  purpose  in 
the  highest  degree ;  impulsive  and  ungovernable  when  their 
passions  were  aroused;  true  and  devoted  friendi,  but  impul- 
sive and  energetic  enemies;  and  the  most  fearless  and  un- 
daunted people  he  ever  knew,  dangers,  perils  and  death 
appearing  to  them,  when  excited,  as  only  amusements. 
William  Rector,  the  oldest  brother,  was  colonel  of  a  regiment 
in  the  campaign  against  the  Indians  in  1812.  In  1816  he 
was  appointed  surveyor-general  for  Illinois,  Missouri  and 
Arkansas.  Stephen  Rector  was  a  lieutenant  in  the  ranging 
service  in  the  war  of  1812-14.  Nelson  Rector  was  captain 
of  an  expedition  up  the  Mississippi  in  1814,  and  had  an 
engagement  with  the  British  and  Indians  at  Rock  Island. 
Dressed  richly  in  a  splendid  military  uniform,  with  a  large 
red  feather  in  his  hat,  he  led  his  company  from  the  boat, 
disregarding  the  fire  of  the  Indians,  especially  directed  to 
him,  as  though  their  rifles  were  but  pop  guns  Thomas 
Rector  fought  a  duel  with  Joshua  Barton,  a  prominent  citi- 
zen of  Missouri,  on  Bloody  Island,  opposite  St.  Louis.  The 
establishment  of  the  territorial  goverument  in  1809  brought 
to  Kaskaskia  many  distinguished  residents,  among  whom 
were  Gov.  Ninian  Edwards,  Nathaniel  Pope,  Benjamin 
Stephenson,  Judge  Jesse  B.  Thomas,  Judge  Alexandet  Stu- 
art, John  J.  Crittenden,  and  his  brother,  Thomas  P.  Crit- 
tenden, William  C.  Greenup  and  Matthew  Duncan,  who 
established,  in  the  fall  of  1809,  the  first  newspaper  in  Illinois. 
The  winter  of  1809-10  witnessed  more  gayely,  carousal  and 
amusement   at   Kaskaskia   than   the   town   has   ever  since 


known.  Governor  Edwards  and  other  territorial  officers, 
soon  after  their  arrival,  organized  a  colony  of  their  own,  and 
located  in  the  prairie  in  the  bottom  below  Prairie  du  Rocher. 
Edwards,  Thomas,  Stuart,  Stephenson  and  some  of  the  Rec- 
tors resided  here. 

In  1809  John  Beattie  came  to  the  Irish  settlement.     He 
was  a  native  of  the  Abbeville  district.  South  Carolina.     He 
was  quiet  and  retired  in  disposition,  but  with  much  force  and 
decision  of  character.     John,  Andrew  and  Charles  Beattie 
were  his  sons.     The  settlement  in  the  Horse  prairie  began  to 
increase  in  1809.   That  year  witnessed  the  arrival  of  Chesley 
Allen,  Rawleigh  Ralls  and  Edward  Faherty.     Allen  was  a 
Virginian.     His  sons,  James,   John,   Albert,  William  and 
Miner  Allen  became  respected  citizens  of  that  part  of  the 
county.    Rawleigh  Ralls  was  born  in  Virginia,  and  served  as 
a  soldier  in  the  latter  part  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  though 
at  that  time  he  was  not  yet  grown  to  manhood.     From  Vir- 
ginia he  removed  to  Tennessee,  and  in  1809  came  to  Illinois. 
He  first  settled  near  Prairie  du   Long  creek,  about  three- 
fourths  of  a  mile  north  of  the  line  between  Randolph  and 
Monroe  counties,  and   from   there   moved   to  the  beautiful 
ridge  running  parallel  with  the  Kaskaskia,  and  still  known 
as  Rail's  ridge.     Edward  Ralls,  his  son,  settled  on  the  farm 
on  the  ridge  that  had  been  originally  improved  by  Robert 
McMahan.    He  died  in  1851.    John  Ralls,  another  son,  was 
one  of  the  pioneer  preachers  of  the  county,  and  died  in  1857. 
Edward  Faherty  settled  on  the  southern  b  irder  of  the  Horse 
prairie.     His  sons,  Patrick  and  John  Faherty,  were  after- 
ward residents  of  that  part  of  the  county.     Ezra  Owen  and 
his  son,  Thomas  J.  V.  Owen,  located  in  the  "Dr.  Fisher 
settlement,"  as  it  was  called,  also  in  the  year  1809    Ezra 
Owen  was  made  major  of  the  militia,  and  served  creditably 
in  that  position.     The  son  was  sherifl"  of  the  county  from 
1823  to  1828,  and  in  1830  was  elected  a  member  of  the  state 
legislature.     Dr.  George  Fisher  was  born  in   Hardy  county, 
Virginia,  and  settled  in   Kaskaskia  in  the  year  1789.     In 
1806  he  removed  from  the  village  to  a  farm  at  the  foot  of 
the   bluff,  six    miles   above    Kaskaskia  on   the  Prairie  du 
Rocher  road.     This  vicinity  was  afterwards  known  as  Dr. 
Fisher's  settlement.     He  was  appointed  sheriff  of  Randolph 
county  soon  after  the  organization  of  Indiana  territory,  and 
filled  the  office  for  several  years.     He  was  a  member  of  the 
first  legislature  of  the  territory   of  Illinois,  which   met  at 
Kaskaskia  at  the  close  of  the  year  1812,  and  was  chosen 
speaker  of  the  house.     He  also  served  as  speaker  of  the 
house   in   the  third   territorial    legislature  which   convened 
during  the   winters  of  1816-17  and    1817-18.     He  was  a 
delegate  to  the  convention  of  1818  which  framed  the  first 
constitution  of  the  state  of  Illinois.     A  short  time  after  his 
removal  to  his  farm  above  Kaskaskia  the  small-pox  reached 
the  vicinity  of  Kaskaskia.     Dr.  Fisher  erected  a  hospital  on 
his  farm,  and  here  the  great  part  of  the  French  population 
of  the  surrounding   bottom   passed   through  the  dangerous 
malady  under  his  skillful  treatment.     The  citizens  of  Kas- 
kaskia all  that  summer  kept  guard  at  the  outskirts  of  their 
village  to   prevent  the  contagion  from   reaching  the  town. 
The  American  settlements  were  undisturbed  by  the  disease. 
Dr.  Fisher  was  an  able  physician,  though  an  early  authority 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND   PERRY  COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


states  that  his  education  was  but  ordinarj',  and  that  he 
depended  more  on  his  natural  abilities  than  on  books  and 
scientific  knowledge.     lie  died  in  18'20. 

For  a  kv!  years  previous  to  1809  considerable  immigra- 
tion had  come  to  Illinois,  and  the  counties  bordering  on 
the  Wabash,  the  Ohio,  and  the  Mississippi,  from  Vincennes 
around  to  Alton,  had  begun  to  improve.  The  Indian  troubles 
commenced  in  1810,  and  thence  till  the  conclusion  of  the 
war  of  1812-H  few  new  families  came  to  Illinois.  The 
settlements  in  Kan<lolph  countj'  happily  escaped  the  Indian 
depredations.  The  greater  part  of  the  able-bodied  male 
population  of  the  country  served  as  rangers  during  the  war, 
scouring  the  frontier,  and  taking  part  in  expeditions  against 
the  savages. 

Several  forts,  or  block  houses,  were  erected  during  the 
year  1812.  One  was  in  the  Irish  settlement,  about  a  mile 
east  from  the  Kaskaskia ;  another  was  in  Dr.  Fisher's  settle- 
ment ;  another  on  the  site  of  the  present  town  of  Steeleville  ; 
and  a  fourth  at  Jacob  Bowermau's.  The  .settlement  east  of 
the  Kaskaskia  river  used  Fort  Gage  as  a  place  of  refuge. 
In  mo.«t  cases  the  people  abandoned  their  own  houses,  and 
lived  together  in  these  forts  till  the  war  was  over.  The 
men  kej)t  up  their  farms,  but  always  carried  with  them 
Iheir  rifles.  Several  attacks  were  made  on  men  at  work  in 
the  field  by  the  Indians,  but  no  serious  injury  was  done. 

The  only  new  settler  who  camu  to  the  county  in  1811 
was  Michael  Harmon.  lie  came  from  Tennessee,  and  after 
exploring  the  country  around  Kaskaskia,  decided  to  locate 
about  seven  miles  north  of  the  present  town  of  Chester  and 
the  same  di.stance  from  Kaskaskia.  This  locality  subse- 
quently came  to  be  known  as  the  Harmon  settlement. 
Returning  to  Tennessee  he  brought  b.ick  his  family,  but 
the  next  fall  died.  His  seven  sons  settled  in  the  vicinity. 
With  Harmon's  family  came  John  Young  who  settled  near 
Ellis  Grove.  William  Nelson,  a  native  of  Ireland,  and  a 
former  resident  of  the  Abbeville  district,  South  Carolina, 
made  a  settlement  on  Horse  Creek,  some  three  miles  sonth 
of  the  present  town  of  Red  Bud,  in  1812.  He  built  a  dis- 
tillery, became  a  leading  man  in  that  part  of  the  county, 
and  served  for  a  long  term  of  years  as  justice  of  the  peace. 
He  had  five  son.s,  John  G.,  Isaac,  William,  Robert,  and 
Wilson,  some  of  whom  filled  public  offices.  Hugh  Leslie 
accompanied  Nelson  from  South  Carolina,  and  became  a 
citizen  of  the  count)'. 

In  1814  James  and  Samuel  Thompson  reached  Kaskaskia 
from  the  Abbeville  district,  South  Carolina.  James  taught 
school  in  Kaskaskia  three  years,  and  settled  on  a  farm  in 
township  five,  range  seven.  He  commanded  a  company  of 
militia  iu  the  Black  Hawk  war.  He  was  a  skilful  surveyor. 
For  twenty  years  he  surveyed  public  lands  for  the  United 
States  government,  and  was  county  surveyor  for  several 
terms.  In  pursuit  of  his  favorite  occupation  his  foot  prob- 
ably left  its  impress  on  every  section  of  land  in  Randol|)h 
county.  He  was  judge  of  the  probate  court  from  1831  till 
the  office  was  abolished  by  the  constitution  of  1848.  He 
was  county  commissioner  in  1820.  Samuel  Thompson  was 
also  a  surveyor,  and  was  employed  in  surveying  the  public 
land  for  several  years.  William  and  John  Allen,  originallv 
10 


residents  of  Georgia,  whence  they  removed  to  Ohio,  in  1841 
came  to  Illinois,  and  settled  in  township  five,  range  seven. 
In  1815  Alexander  Gaston  settled  in  the  ea-!teru  part  of  the 
count}',  not  far  from  the  present  town  of  Stcclcvillo. 

Andrew  Borders,  a  native  of  South  Carolina,  then  a  young 
man  of  twenty-three,  came  to  the  county  in  1810,  and  began 
an  unusually  successful  business  career.  He  settled  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Sparta,  where  he  died  in  1804.  He 
brought  with  him  to  the  county  four  slaves,  whom  he 
treated  with  great  humanity  and  kindness.  Samuel  Craw- 
ford reached  the  county  from  Tennessee  in  181G.  Three 
years  later  he  made  a  settlement  in  the  lower  end  of  the 
Opossumden  prairie.  He  was  popular  with  the  people  and 
held  several  public  positions.  He  was  a  justice  of  the  peace 
for  a  time,  and  receiver  of  public  money  at  the  Kaskaskia 
land  office.  He  was  elected  a  member  of  the  state  senate 
in  18-8,  and  served  till  18:j2.  William  Fowler,  a  soldier  of 
the  war  of  the  Revolution,  came  from  South  Carolina  in 
1816,  and  made  his  home  in  the  Ilarraou  settlement  John 
Layne,  the  same  year,  settled  near  the  present  town  of  Steele- 
ville ;  James  Slater,  in  the  vicinity  of  Ellis  Grove;  Cor- 
nelius Adkins,  in  the  lower  end  of  Short's  prairie;  and 
Emanuel  Canaday,  in  the  Steele  neighborhood. 

In  the  year  1817,  among  the  settlers  were  several  who 
became  conspicuous  and  infiuential  in  the  early  historj'  of  the 
cjunty.  Among  these  was  Robert  M.  Mann.  He  was  born 
iu  ths  Abbevilh  district  of  S)uth  Cirolina  aid  left  that 
stit3  fjr  Illiniis  in  ISOT.  Oa  re.ic'iing  Kuitucky  news  of 
Indian  depredations  deterred  him  from  proceeding  farther, 
and  he  remained  in  Logan  county,  Kentucky,  till  1817, 
when  he  came  to  Randolph  county,  and  entered  land  near 
the  present  village  of  Preston,  on  which  he  lived  until  his 
death  iu  1855.  John  Mann,  his  oldest  son,  came  to  the 
county  some  years  after  his  father.  He  served  as  county 
comrais  ioner  for  several  years  subsequent  to  1842.  Another 
son,  Robert  Mann,  was  an  oflicer  in  the  Black  Hawk  war; 
in  1820  was  elected  a  member  of  the  state  legislature,  and 
also  served  as  school  commissioner.  The  other  two  sons 
were  William  and  Samuel  Alexander  Mann.  Col.  Gibriel 
Jones  in  1817  settled  near  Steeleville.  He  was  born  in 
Loudon  county,  Virginia.  In  1810  he  removed  with  his 
father  to  Barren  county,  Kentucky.  He  enlisted  in  the 
Kentucky  troops  during  the  war  of  1812-14,  and  was  at  the 
battle  of  the  Thames  in  Canada.  On  coming  to  Steeleville 
he  taught  school.  He  was  active,  energetic,  and  talented, 
and  was  appointed  colonel  of  the  militia  and  served  in  that 
position  several  years.  From  1825  to  1828  he  lived  near 
Kaskaskia,  and  subsequently  was  in  the  mercantile  business 
at  Steeleville  and  Chester.  He  was  the  captain  of  a  com- 
pany raised  in  the  county  for  service  in  the  Black  Hawk 
war,  and  was  made  colonel  of  the  regiment,  distinguishing 
himself  as  an  able  and  gallant  soldier.  He  represented 
Randolph  county  in  the  state  legislature  from  1824  to  1826, 
and  from  1S38  to  1840.  He  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
county  commissioner's  court  in  1822  and  1836.  He  was 
also  mayor  of  the  city  of  Chester.  He  lost  his  wife  in  the 
great  storm  which  visited  Chester  iu  November,  1864,  his 
house  being  swept  away  in  the  tornado. 


74 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


Ignatius  Spregg,  in  1817,  came  from  Maryland  and  settled 
iu  the  American  Bottom.  He  was  elected  treasurer  of  the 
county,  from  1828  to  1838,  served  as  sheriff  and  became  a 
citizen  of  Arkansas.  In  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1817, 
James  and  Henry  O'Harra  came  to  Illinois  and  shortly 
afterward  settled  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  present  village  of 
Ruma.  They  were  of  Irish  descent,  and  their  ancestors  had 
settled  at  an  early  period  in  Frederick  county,  Maryland. 
In  the  year  1811  the  family  removed  from  Maryland  to  Nelson 
county,  Kentucky,  and  thence  came  to  Illinois.  Curtis 
Conn,  a  native  of  Boston,  Massachusetts,  came  to  the  county 
in  1S17.  He  had  lived  several  years  in  the  West  India 
islands,  where  he  had  been  actively  engaged  in  trade.  After 
residing  for  a  year  in  Kaskaskia  he  settled  on  the  firm,  a 
couple  of  miles  northwest  of  Chester,  which  Samuel  Cochran 
had  begun  to  improve  in  1804.  He  was  judge  of  the  probate 
court  ten  years.  Daniel  Alexander  reached  the  county  iu 
1817  from  Maine.  He  settled  on  a  farm  in  the  Hughs 
settlement,  and  after  living  there  many  years  went  to  Texas, 
where  he  was  murdered.  James  McFarlaud,  a  South 
Carolinian,  settled  on  the  we^t  fork  of  Mary's  river,  near 
where  that  stream  is  cros.sed  by  the  Kaskaskia  road,  iu  1817. 
Samuel  Nisbet,  also  a  native  of  Sjutli  Carolina,  settled  the 
same  year  o:ie  mile  east  of  where  the  village  of  Eden  was 
nfterward  built  William  Morris  became  a  resident  of  the 
Opossumden  prairie,  and  William  Givin  and  the  Barrows 
and  Houseman  families  located  in  the  vicinity  of  Shiloh. 
At  the  point  of  the  bluff,  five  miles  above  Kaskaskia,  Henry 
Will  began  the  improvement  of  a  farm  in  18-7,  and  an  im- 
portant settlement  sprang  up  in  his  vicinity. 

In  the  year  1818  the  neighborhood  south  of  Ruma  re- 
ceived important  additions  in  the  families  of  Joseph  and 
Thomas  Orr,  Benedict  Horrel,  John  Brewer  and  Norton, 
Samuel,  L?wis  and  Thomas  Hull.  Amos  Paxton  was  also  one 
of  the  pioneers  in  this  part  of  the  county.  The  Orrs  were 
from  Virginia.  Joseph  was  a  major  in  the  militia.  The 
Brewers  and  the  Hulls  came  from  Kentucky.  One  of  the 
most  useful  and  respected  of  the  early  residents  of  the  county, 
the  Rev.  Silas  Crisler,  arrived  from  Boone  couuty,  Kentucky, 
in  1818,  and  began  the  improvement  of  a  farm,  on  the  old 
Shawneetown  road,  near  the  Harmon  settlement  seven  miles 
north  of  Chester.  Much  of  his  time  was  devoted  to  the  work 
of  the  ministry,  and  he  was  the  founder  and  pastor  of  the 
Gravel  creek  church,  one  of  the  early  Baptist  churches  in 
Illinois.  He  died  in  1851.  Amasa  Aldrich  a  native  of 
Massachusetts,  became  a  citizen  of  Kaskaskia  in  1818.  A 
few  years  afterward  he  settled  on  a  farm  north  of  Chester. 
In  1819,  a  Tennessean,  Alexander  Campbell,  came  to  the 
Irish  settlement.  He  afterward  removed  to  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Steeleville.  One  of  his  sons,  Edward  Campbell,  was 
elected  county  commissioner  in  1844.  Another,  John  Camp- 
bell, was  sheriff  from  1838  to  1848  and  from  1854  to  1856, 
and  county  judge  from  1849  to  185S  and  from  1856  to  1861. 
Eli  Short,  a  soldier  in  the  Kentucky  troops  during  the  war 
of  1812-14.  who  had  received  a  wound  at  the  battle  of  Tip- 
pecanoe, which  troubled  him  during  the  rest  of  his  life  in 
1819  settled  in  the  prairie  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  county 
which  still  bears  his  name.     For  many  years  he  preached  the 


Gospel.  One  of  his  sons,  Jefferson  Short,  was  killed  in  the 
Black  Hawk  war.  David  Hathorn  in  1819  settled  near  the 
site  of  EvansviUe,  and  afterward  in  the  Opossumden  prairie. 
James  Baird  came  from  Ohio  the  same  year,  and  began  the 
improvement  of  a  farm  three  miles  south  of  Sparta.  Arthur 
Parks  settled  in  the  eastern  edge  of  the  Lively  prairie.  He 
was  county  commissioner  from  1824  to  1826.  Adonijah  Ball 
made  a  settlement  on  Rock  Castle  creek  iu  a  region  which 
no  one  had  previously  penetrated.  George  W  Stratton  came 
to  the  county  in  IS  19  He  first  settled  in  the  American 
Bottom,  and  shortly  afterward  purchased  the  laud  on  which 
that  part  of  Chester  known  as  Buena  Vista  is  now  built,  on 
which  he  lived  till  his  death  in  1845.  Isaac  Rust,  a  native 
of  Maine,  first  cane  to  Kaskaskia  in  1819.  In  early  life  he 
had  been  a  sailor,  and  after  a  few  years  tried  the  sea  again 
for  a  year,  and  then  returned  to  become  a  permanent  citizen 
of  the  county.  He  was  a  wagon-maker,  and  introduced  an 
improved  style  of  wagons  among  the  Kaskaskia  people. 
He  also  repaired  boats,  and  rigged  sailing  vessels  with  masts, 
thus  bringing  his  nautical  knowledge  into  use.  In  1836  he 
removed  to  a  farm  two  miles  east  of  Chester.  Sheltou  Evans 
and  Lewis  Simmons  settled  in  the  point  below  Kaskaskia 
about  the  year  1819,  and  in  1825  removed  to  the  Horse 
prairie,  where  the  penitentiary  is  now  built,  above  Chester. 
Benjamin  A.  Porter  settled  in  1819.  He  built  a  brick  house 
and  a  mill.  The  mill  burned  down,  but  the  house  stood  for 
many  years  afterward. 

In  1820,  numerous  additions  were  made  to  the  population 
of  the  county.  Robert  Bratuey,  who  had  been  a  soldier  in 
the  war  of  the  revolution,  and  an  early  settler  in  Tennessee 
settled  near  the  mouth  of  Little  Plum  creek.  With  him 
came  his  son,  Josepli  Bratney,  who  had  served  under  Jack- 
son in  the  war  of  1812-14.  Martin  Smith  arrived  from  the 
state  of  New  York.  John  Thomison  began  the  improve- 
ment of  a  farm  four  miles  west  of  Sparta.  Alexander  Alex- 
ander came  from  the  Chester  district.  South  Carolina,  and 
settled  one  mile  south  of  where  the  village  of  Eden  now  is. 
Thomas,  William  and  John  McDill  located  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  the  present  town  of  Sparta.  John  Adams,  a  native 
of  North  Carolina,  and  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Ken- 
tucky, came  to  the  neighborhood  of  EvansviUe,  and  in  1822 
settled  in  the  Horse  prairie.  John  and  Samuel  Cochran 
settled  in  the  vicinity  of  Chester,  the  former  first  living  near 
the  mouth  of  Mary's  river,  and  afterward  on  the  farm  sub- 
sequently occupied  by  Isaac  Rust,  and  the  latter  improving 
the  Douglas  place,  two  miles  and  a  half  east  of  Chester. 

The  settlement  in  the  lower  end  of  Flat  prairie  was 
strengthened  by  the  arrival,  in  1820,  of  David  Cathcart, 
John  Dickey,  and  John  McMillen,  and  the  next  year  of 
Ebenezer  Alexander  and  James  Anderson.  Heacock  prai- 
rie was  settled  in  1822  by  Samuel  Douglass,  James  Bean, 
Thomas  McBride,  James  Redpath,  and  Elisha,  George, 
Charles  and  Fortiss  Heacock.  The  same  year,  the  Grand 
Cote  prairie,  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  county,  received  as 
its  pioneer  settlers,  James  Coulter,  John  McKelvey,  and 
Alexander  McKelvey. 

In  the  precinct  histories  will  be  found  more  minute  men. 
tion  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  the  county.     Of  all  of  them  it 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


75 


may  be  said  that  they  were  simple-hearted,  brave,  and 
generous,  and  their  memories  should  be  cherished  as  those 
who,  on  the  soil  of  Randolph  county,  laid  the  first  founda- 
tions of  the  great  commonwealth  of  Illinois. 

EAKLY    MILLS. 

The  first  water-mill  ever  built  in  Illinois  was  near  Kas- 
kaskia,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Kaskaskia  river,  where 
now  stands  Reiley's  mill.  Prix  Paget  (the  name  is  spelled 
"  Pagi  "  in  the  deeds  of  conveyance)  was  the  earliest  pro- 
prietor of  a  mill  at  that  place  of  whom  there  is  any  record. 
He  erecteil  a  stone  mill,  and  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
flour  for  the  New  Orleans  and  Mobile  markets.  He -met 
his  death  at  the  hands  of  the  Indians.  The  mill  was 
attackeii  by  a  band  of  Kickapoos,  and  Paget,  with  some 
negrots  employed  in  the  mill,  was  killed.  One  negro  made 
his  escape,  and  gave  the  alarm  to  the  people  of  Kas- 
kaskia. Paget's  body  was  found  cut  in  pieces,  the  head 
severed  from  the  body,  and  thrown  into  the  hopper.  The 
old  mill  was  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  below  the 
site  cjf  the  present  one.  After  Paget's  death  the  mill  was 
abandoned  for  many  years.  The  structure  crumbled  to 
pieces,  so  that  only  the  walls  remained.  About  the  year 
1795  the  mill  tract  came  into  the  possession  of  General  John 
Edgar,  who  rebuilt  the  mill  with  enlarged  capacity.  From 
the  mill-pond,  about  three  hundred  yards  distant,  the  water 
was  conveyed  by  an  arched  culvert.  General  E<lgar  carried 
on  the  mill  for  many  years,  and  it  was  of  great  service,  both 
to  the  people  of  Kaskaskia  and  the  pioneer  American  fami- 
lies who  settled  in  the  various  parts  of  the  county.  It  was 
resorted  to  from  a  distance  of  many  miles.  The  mill  ceaseit 
to  run  while  still  owned  by  General  Edgar.  After  his 
death,  it  passed  into  the  possession  of  a  company  composed 
of  Jacob  Feaman,  Anthony  Lessieur,  James  51.  Wheeler, 
and  Samuel  Jones,  who  put  it  in  running  order.  Daniel 
Reiley  purchased  it  in  1842,  and  made  important  improve- 
ments. In  18-5.5  he  began  the  erection  of  a  steam  mill. 
He  was  aclivelv  engaged  in  running  the  mill  till  his  death 
in  1867,  and  made  Reiley's  mill  the  center  of  considerable 
business  activity. 

A  mill  was  built  in  early  times  at  Prairie  du  Rocher. 
Henry  Levins'  mill  on  Horse  creek  was  a  great  convenience 
to  the  residents  of  that  part  of  the  county. 

OVERFLOWS   OF   THE   MISSI3SIPPL 

An  inundation  of  the  Mississippi  bottom  in  Randolph  and 
Monroe  counties  occurred  in  the  year  172.5.  Another,  which 
made  necessary  the  abandonment  of  Fort  Ghartres,  took 
place  in  1772.  The  flood  of  1785  was  the  greatest  of  the 
last  century.  The  French  villiges  were  reached  by  the 
water.  The  inhabitants  of  Kaskaskia  and  Cahokia  were 
compelled  to  seek  refuge  on  the  bluffs.  The  next  great 
flood  was  that  of  1844,  still  remembered  and  referred  to,  not 
only  by  the  residents  of  the  .Vmerican  Bottom,  but  by  people 
then  living  abng  the  whole  course  of  the  Mississippi  and 
Missouri  rivers.  Water  many  feet  deep  covered  the  bottom. 
Large  steamboats  sailed  from  bluft'to  bluti'.  The  village  of 
Kaskaskia  was  almost  destroyed.  The  water  stood  five  feet 
deep  in  the  old  hotel  building,  while  the  high  water  of  1785 


had  just  reached  the  fli),)r.  Sub^equeut  overflows  have 
occurred  in  later  years,  but  none  so  great  or  destructive. 
The  annual  rise  usually  washes  away  ([uantities  of  land  at 
different  points  in  the  bottom,  and  the  river  from  lime  to 
time  has  shifted  its  channel.  The  Mississippi  each  year  has 
approached  nearer  and  nearer  to  Kaskaskia.  On  the  20th 
of  April,  1881,  the  neck  of  land  separating  the  Mississippi 
and  the  Kaskaskia,  above  the  village  of  Kaskaskia,  was 
washed  away,  and  about  one-fourth  of  the  water  of  the 
Mississippi  now  passes  down  the  Kii<kaskia.  Three  or  four 
da)'s  after  this  cut  off  was  nia  le.  steamboats  efl'ecled  a  pas- 
sage by  the  new  channel. 

MONROE  COUNTY. 

While  the  ncighl)oring  counties  of  Randolph  and  St.  Chiir 
contained  the  great  bulk  of  the  early  French  population  of 
Illinois,  M  )nroe  was  the  chief  seat  of  the  pioneer  American 
settlements.  The  American  inhabitants  of  Illinois  at  the 
beginning  of  the  century  were  about  eight  hundred  in  num- 
ber. Of  these  not  many  mon-  than  a  hundred  resided  in 
what  is  now  Randolph  county,  and  less  thin  thirty  in  .St. 
Clair.  Monroe  county  contained  the  balance.  The  settle- 
ments at  New  Design,  at  Bellefontaine,  in  the  American 
Bottom  and  arouml  Whiteside's  station  and  Pigu'ott's  ancient 
fort,  w.'re  thrifty  an.!  vigorous.  Purtions  of  the  Am-jrican 
bottom  wer^  as  densely  populated  tlu'u  as  now.  From  this 
it  may  well  be  judged  that  an  important  part  of  tiie  early 
historv  of  Illinois  is  inscribed  in  the  annals  of  the  pioneer 
settlements  of  Monroe  county.  These  settlements  bore  the 
brunt  of  savage  depreilations  during  the  Indian  war  which 
raged  from  1786  t.)  IT'.l'i.  Many  ol' the  piuneers  fell  victims 
to  the  tomahawk  anil  xalping  knife  of  the  savage,  and 
many  families  were  massacred.  The  Jlorelocksand  White- 
sides  became  the  most  noted  Indian  fighters  iu  ll,"  West. 
Afterward,  when  these  daigers  were  over,  populaiicjn  had 
increased,  and  a  state  government  was  organized,  the  county, 
in  the  person  of  one  of  her  early  citizens,  furnished  Illinois 
her  first  governor.  The  gubernatorial  chair  was  twice  sub- 
sequently filled  by  men  who  began  their  distinguished 
careers  iu  this  part  of  the  state,  and  the  first  nativcboru 
citizen  of  Illinois  to  represent  the  state  iu  the  United  .States 
senate  first  saw  the  light  of  day  in  an  old  house  HJiich  is  still 
standing  on  the  soil  of  Monroe  ci'unly. 

The  first  American  colony  to  settle  within  the  territory 
now  comprised  in  the  county,  arrived  in  the  year  1782,  and 
was  compo.sed  of  James  Moore,  Shadrach  Bond,  Robert 
Kidd,  Larken  Rutherford  and  James  Garretson.  Their 
wives  and  children  accompanied  them,  and  they  came  to 
make  a  permanent  settlement.  Crossing  the  Allegheny 
mountains,  they  floated  down  the  Ohio  to  its  mouth,  and 
then  propelled  their  craft  against  the  strong  current  of  the 
Mississippi  till  they  reached  Kaskaskia  some  time  in  the 
autumn  of  the  year  1781.  From  this  place  the  country  was 
explored  in  difl'erent  directions,  and  all  of  tlu  party  fixed 
on  locations  now  in  Monroe  county,  as  the  most  eligible 
place  for  settlement.  The  French  inhabitants  had  clung 
close  to  two  or  three  villages,  and  had  made  little  progress 
toward  clearing  the  wilderness,  or  extending  their  settlements 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


over  any  considerable  territory.  These  Marylanders  and 
Virginians  adopted  a  different  policy.  With  the  true  Saxon 
instinct  of  ownership  of  his  own  homestead  and  lordship 
over  his  own  acres,  ejch  immigrant  selected  a  location  where 
he  would  be  likely  to  experience  little  trouble  from  neigh- 
bors and  remain  master  of  his  own  domain.  The  hill  trac-^ 
between  the  French  villages  of  Kaskaskia  and  Cahokia  and 
St.  Louis  passed  near  a  beautiful  spring,  a  high,  healthy 
ground,  to  which  the  French  had  applied  the  name  of  Belle- 
fonlaine.  Here  Moore,  Garretson  and  Rutherford  deter- 
mined to  make  their  settlement.  The  rich  soil  of  the  Miss- 
issippi bottom  attracted  the  attention  of  other  members  of 
the  colony,  and  there  Kidd  and  Bond  made  their  homes. 
Kidil  clung  closest  to  the  French  villages,  and  settled  at  a 
distance  of  but  a  few  miles  from  Prairie  du  Rocher.  Bond 
chose  a  location  farther  north.  These  settlements  were  made 
in  the  spring  of  the  year  1782. 

James  Moore,  the  leader  of  this  colony,  was  a  native  of 
Maryland.  He  was  a  man  of  vigorous  traits  of  mind,  ready 
resources,  and  was  accustomed  to  the  exigencies  of  pioneer 
life.  Not  long  after  his  arrival  he  was  employed  by  Gabriel 
Cerre,  a  wealthy  merchant  of  St.  Louis,  to  take  goods  and 
trade  with  the  Indians  in  the  western  part  of  Tennessee. 
He  was  thus  engaged  for  a  number  of  3'ears,  during  which 
time  he  made  his  headquarters  at  the  French  Licks,  as  the 
place  was  then  called,  where  now  is  built  the  capital  of  the 
state  of  Tennessee.  His  place  of  settlement  was  a  short 
distance  south  of. the  site  of  the  town  of  Waterloo  where 
the  spring,  which  attracted  liim  to  this  locality,  may  still  be 
observed. 

James  Garretson  first  made  an  improvement  near  the 
Bellefoutaine.  Claim  510,  survey  720,  a  mile  northeast  of 
Waterloo,  was  granted  to  him  as  an  improvement  right. 
He  afterward  removed  to  the  American  Bottom,  and  for 
many  years  his  home  was  in  the  present  iloredock  precinct. 
He  was  an  honest,  upright  citizen,  unambitious  and  unas- 
suming, and  always  refused  to  hold  public  position.  He 
was  a  brave  man  and  an  excellent  soldier,  and  did  his  part 
toward  protecting  the  settlements  from  the  attacks  of  the 
Indians.  His  brother,  Samuel  Garretson,  was  kilkd  by  the 
Indians  during  the  winter  of  1788-89. 

Robert  Kidd  had  been  one  of  the  soldiers  in  George 
Roger  Clark's  expedition  to  Illinois  in  1778,  and  had  taken 
part  in  the  capture  of  Fort  Gage.  He  made  a  quiet  and 
unpretentious  citizen  of  the  great  commonwealth  of  which 
ho  was  one  of  the  founders,  and  died  at  his  home  in  the 
American  Bottom  in  the  southern  part  of  the  county  in  1849. 
Kidd  lake, near  the  head  of  which  he  settled,  bears  his  name. 

Larken  Rutherford  had  also  been  a  soldier  under  Colonel 
Clark.  He  was  a  large  and  athletic  man,  and  was  bold  and 
fearless  in  his  disposition.  At  the  storming  of  Fort  Sackville 
in  1779  he  exhibited  much  bravery.  Soon  after  the  year 
1800  he  removed  to  the  present  St.  Clair  county,  and  settled 
north  of  Belleville.  During  the  latter  years  of  his  life  he 
was  a  zealous  member  of  the  Baptist  church.  In  the  organ- 
ization and  government  of  the  church  he  took  an  active  part. 
He  was  honest  in  his  views,  and  while  vigorously  observing 
his  own  duties,  was  rigid  and  exact  in  expecting  the  same 


from  others.  A  difference  of  opinion  he  would  not  tolerate. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Richland  Baptist  church  in  St. 
Clair  county,  and  in  1809  took  offence  .it  some  views  ex- 
pressed in  a  sermon  by  James  Lemen  on  slavery,  of  which 
Lemen  was  a  strong  opponent.  Rutherford  brought  the 
matter  before  the  church  authorities,  and  the  result  was  a 
division  not  only  of  the  Richland  church,  but  of  the  Baptist 
association,  which  was  continued  for  many  years. 

Shadrach  Bond  was  born  and  raised  near  Baltimore, 
Maryland.  He  lived  on  his  farm  in  the  American  Bottom 
for  many  years  till  his  death  at  an  advanced  age.  He  was 
the  uncle  of  Shadrach  Bond,  the  first  governor  of  the  State 
of  Illinois.  He  was  several  times  elected  to  the  legislature 
of  both  the  Indiana  and  northwestern  territories.  He  was  a 
representative  in  the  territorial  legislature  which  convened 
at  Cincinnati  in  September,  1790.  For  several  years  he  was 
one  of  the  judges  of  the  St.  Clair  county  common  pleas  court. 
In  these  public  positions  he  discharged  his  duties  in  a  con- 
scientious manner,  and  was  held  in  high  estimation  by  the 
people.  His  education  was  limited,  but  he  possessed  a  strong 
mind  and  an  excellent  heart.  He  was  not  ambitious  for 
wealth.  In  his  younger  days,  as  was  the  case  with  most  of 
the  early  pioneers,  he  spent  a  considerable  part  of  his  time 
in  hunting,  and  was  considered  an  excellent  woodsman.  He 
was  one  of  that  cla.ss  of  men  who  improve  with  age,  and  the 
longer  he  lived  and  the  better  he  became  known,  the  more 
his  character  wfs  esteemed. 

All  the  members  of  this  band  of  pioneers  left  descendants 
who  have  since  been  identified  with  the  State  of  Illinois,  and 
of  whom  some  have  reached  positions  of  influence  and  dis- 
tinction. The  families  of  Bond,  Garretson,  Moore,  and  Kidd, 
are  all  represented  by  some  member  living  either  in  Monroe, 
or  an  adjoining  county,  and  the  land  on  which  Moore  settled 
at  the  Bellefoutaine  has  never  left  the  family,  and  is  now 
owned  by  heirs  of  the  original  pioneer. 

Soon  after  these  hardy  adventurers  from  Maryland  and 
Virginia  had  prepared  the  way,  a  New  England  man  fol- 
lowed. This  was  Captain  Nathaniel  Hull,  born  in  Massa- 
chusetts. He  was  one  of  the  first;  to  make  his  way  overland 
from  the  Ohio  river  to  Kaskaskia,  and  his  track  was  the  one 
usually  taken  by  subsequent  bands  of  immigrants.  He  set- 
tled under  the  bluff  below  ChalHn  Bridge,  and  bscame  a 
prominent  citizen  of  the  new  community.  His  store,  and 
the  post-office  there  established,  were  in  all  probability,  the 
first  in  the  county.  He  served  as  magistrate  and  county 
judge.  With  all  his  good  qualities  he  was  a  man  of  eccen- 
tric notions,  and  asked  to  be  buried  in  an  upright  position, 
standing  as  in  life,  overlooking  from  his  grove  in  the  bluff 
above  his  house,  the  fertile  expanse  of  the  American  Bottom. 

Another  of  the  early  pioneers,  William  Biggs,  became  the 
first  sheriff  of  St.  Clair  county,  which  then  included  Monroe, 
and  filled  other  important  public  positions.  He  was  born  in 
Maryland,  served  under  Colonel  Clark  in  the  war  of  the 
Revolution,  and  coming  to  Illinois  settled  at  the  Bdlefon- 
taine.  He  was  taken  prisoner  by  the  Indians,  who  killed 
his  companion,  Vallis,  in  1788,  and  effected  his  escape  by 
paying  a  ransom.  He  was  accompanied  to  Illinois  by  his 
two  brothers.     George  Biggs  settled  southwest  of  Waterloo 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


77 


where  he  received  a  grant  of  land  included  in  claim  777. 
The  Huff  and  Moredock  family  came  in  the  year  1786,  and 
first  settled  near  the  Bellcfontaine,  but  afterward  removed 
to  the  American  Bottom.  The  murder  of  Mrs.  Ilufl'by  the 
Indians,  on  the  route  to  Illinois,  instilled  such  deadly  hatred 
of  the  savage  race  into  the  breast  of  her  son,  John  Moredock, 
that  he  never  lost  an  opportunity  of  avenging  his  wrongs. 

Piggott's  fort,  or  the  fort  of  the  "  grand  ruisseau,"  as  it  was 
called  by  the  French  in  the  American  Bottom,  not  far  from 
the  bhiH",  west  of  Columbia,  was  established  about  the  year 
1783.  James  Piggott  wa.s  a  native  of  Connecticut,  and  early 
in  the  war  of  the  Revolution  engaged  in  the  privateering 
service.  He  removed  to  Pennsylvania,  and  commanded  a 
company  of  Pennsylvania  troops  at  Brandywine,  Saratoga, 
and  other  battles.  His  health  becoming  impaired  by  severe 
marches  and  hard  service,  he  was  obliged  to  resign  his  cap- 
taincy, and  with  his  family  followed  Colonel  George  Rogers 
("lark  to  the  west,  and  was  placed  in  command  of  Fort  Jeffer- 
son which  had  been  established  five  miles  below  the  mouth 
of  the  Ohio,  and  on  which  the  Indians  made  a  desperate 
assault.  In  1790  there  were  seventeen  families,  and  forty- 
six  inhabitants,  at  Piggott's  fort.  They  addressed  a  petition 
to  Governor  St.  Clair,  praying  for  grants  of  land  to  the  set- 
tlers. It  was  likely  on  this  petition  that  CoDgre.ss,  in  1791, 
passed  the  act  granting  to  every  settler  on  the  public  lands 
in  Illinois  four  luindred  acres,  and  to  each  enrolled  militia- 
man one  hundred  acres.  Governor  St  Clair,  under  whom 
Piggott  had  served  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  :ippointed 
him  the  presiding  judge  of  the  St.  Clair  county  court.  In 
1795  he  established  the  first  ferry  acro.ss  the  Mississippi  at 
St.  Louis.  This  has  been  continued  ever  since,  and  is  now 
known  as  Wiggins'  ferry.  The  licen.sc  was  issued  by  Zenon 
Trudean,  lieutenant  governor  of  the  province  of  Upper 
Louisiana.     He  died  at  this  ferry,  opposite  St.  Louis,  in  1799. 

The  New  Design  settlement  was  founded  about  the  year 
178G.  James  Lemen,  a  native  of  Berkeley  county,  Virgi- 
nia, settled  here  that  year.  He  became  the  bead  of  a  nu- 
merous and  iiitluential  family  which  has  been  held  in  re- 
spect in  Illinois  for  now  nearly  a  century.  The  dwelling 
which  he  constructed  is  still  standing.  It  was  the  first  brick 
house  in  the  county,  and  is  now  one  of  the  oldest  in  the  state. 
The  New  Design  .settlement,  toward  the  close  of  the  last 
century,  was  the  most  flourishing  of  all  the  American  colo- 
nies in  Illinois.  In  179.3  it  received  a  large  acc;  ssion  in  the 
Griffin,  Gibbons,  Enochs,  Chance,  Musick  and  Going  fami- 
lies. Four  years  later  a  still  more  numerous  colony  arrived. 
It  was  composed  of  no  less  than  one  hundred  and  fifty-four 
persons,  and  was  made  of  immigrants  from  Hardy  county, 
Virginia  on  the  south  branch  of  the  Potomac,  and  included 
the  Carr,  Stookey,  Eyeman,  Shook,  Mitchell,  Kinkead, 
Clark,  Badgeley,  Teter  and  Miller  families.  The  first  season 
in  Illinois  was  sad  and  disheartening.  The  summer  was 
wet,  the  journey  from  the  Ohio  to  Kaskaskia  was  accom- 
plished in  mud  and  water,  and  though  the  settlers  extended 
an  open-handed  welcome  and  hospitality,  disease  desolated 
nearly  every  household,  and  swept  away  one-half  of  the  new 
arrivals.  In  New  Design  the  earliest  church  (Protestant) 
organization  in  Illinois  was  formed. 


The  Whitcsides,  the  family  of  noted  Indian  fighters,  came 
to  New  Design  in  1793,  and  shortly  afterward  settled  at  the 
Belle fontaine  and  Whiteside's  station.  They  were  from  the 
frontiers  of  North  Carolina,  and  from  there  had  made  their 
way  into  Kentucky.  The  fort  which  William  Whiteside 
erected  southeast  of  Columbia  wa-s  a  noted  military  post  in 
the  Indian  wars.  John  Whiteside  lived  for  many  years  at 
Bellefontaine,  and  died  there.  Jo.«eph  Kinney  settled  at 
New  Design  in  1793,  and  shortly  afterward  built  one  of  the 
first  mills  in  Illinois  on  Rock  House  creek.  One  of  his  sons, 
William  Kinney,  became  lieutenant-governor  of  the  state, 
and  another,  Andrew  Kinney,  where  Monroe  city  now  stands, 
built  a  water-mill  from  which,  early  in  the  present  century, 
flour  was  shipped  to  the  St.  Louis,  New  Orleans,  and  even 
more  distant  markets. 

By  the  act  of  Congress  of  1791,  a  grant  of  four  hundred 
acres  of  land  was  made  to  all  who  had  cultivated  or  im- 
proved land  in  Illinois,  except  in  villages,  prior  to  the  year 
1788.  Under  this  act  the  public  records  show  that  forty- 
five  improvement  grants  "were  made  to  Americans.  The 
heads  of  American  families  were  seventy -five  in  number,  and 
all  the  Americans  who  were  capable  of  bearing  arms  as 
militia  men  on  or  before  the  year  1791  were  only  sixty-five. 
Under  the  law  which  granted  four  hundred  acres  to  each 
head  of  a  family  in  1788,  two  hundred  and  forty-four  dona- 
tions were  made.  From  this  it  is  estimated,  supposing  each 
family  to  have  averaged  five  members,  that  the  whole  popu- 
lation of  Illinois  in  the  year  1788  was  twelve  hundred  and 
twenty. 

Where  the  road  from  the  Bellefontaine  to  Cahokia  de- 
scended the  bluff' settlements  were  made  by  the  Ogles  and 
Biggs  in  the  year  1790.  The  Ogle  family  brought  a  con- 
siderable tract  of  land  under  cultivation  in  the  bottom  ad- 
joining the  bluff".  The  same  year  families  of  the  name  of 
Short,  Griffin,  Gibbons,  Roberts  and  Valentine  settled  be- 
tween Bellefontaine  anil  the  bluff' in  the  present  Bluff' pre- 
cinct. After  a  few  years  this  settlement  was  abandoned  en- 
tirely. A  large  grave-yard  showed  that  the  inhabitants  of 
this  neighborhood  must  have  been  at  one  time  quite  numer- 
ous. The  first  settlement  northeast  of  Whiteside's  station, 
in  the  present  limits  of  St.  Clair  county,  was  made  by 
William  Scott,  a  native  of  Botetourt  county,  Virginia,  who 
selected  a  location  on  Turkey  Ilill,  near  Belleville,  in  De- 
cember, 1797.  The  Jlurdick  family  settled  in  the  American 
Bottom  in  1796,  and  John  Murdick  grew  up  to  be  the  wag 
of  the  day.  George  and  William  Blair  came  the 
same  year.  George  lived  for  a  time  on  the  Eberman 
place,  north  of  Waterloo,  and  on  a  ranch  west  of  hi? 
residence  erected  a  distillery  in  early  times.  In  iMt^ 
he  removed  to  the  site  of  the  present  city  of  Belleville,  and 
the  public  buildings  were  located  on  part  of  his  farm  at  the 
time  the  county  seat  was  removed  to  that  place  from  Caho- 
kia. James  McRoberts,  in  1797,  settled  north  of  the  present 
Maysville.  He  lived  here  many  years,  and  was  honored 
and  respected.  One  of  his  sons  became  L  nited  States  sena- 
tor. Dr.  Caldwell  Cairnes,  at  the  beginning  of  the  century, 
settled  north  of  the  present  town  of  Harrisonville.  For 
years  he  practiced  his  profession  in  the  American  Bottom. 


7S 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


He  was  a  member  of  the  convention  which  framed  the  ori- 
ginal constitution  of  the  state,  and  was  one  of  the  judges  of 
the  St.  Cliir  county  court. 

Among  the  new  settlers  who  reached  the  county  in  1804 
are  the  Ford  and  Forguer  family.  The  eldest  of  the  chil- 
dren was  George  Forguer.  His  half-brother  was  Thomas 
Ford,  who  became  governor  of  the  state.  The  father  of 
George  Forguer  served  as  an  officer  in  the  revolutionary 
war,  and  toolc  part  in  Arnold's  disastrous  campaign  in 
Canada  He  was  subsequently  appointed  collector  of  reve- 
nue of  Bucks  county,  Penosylvania,  and  while  in  the 
possession  of  a  large  amount  of  the  public  money,  was 
robbed  by  Tories.  The  restoration  of  this  amount  entailed 
the  loss  of  his  private  fortune,  and  he  removed  to  the 
western  borders  of  Pennsylvania,  there  to  begin  life  anew. 
He  settled  near  what  was  known  as  the  Eed  Stone  Old  Fort, 
afterward  called  Brownsville,  and  was  killed  there  by  the 
falling  ia  of  a  coal  bank.  Some  two  or  three  years  afterward, 
his  widow  married  Robert  Ford,  who  rn  1802  was  killed,  as 
it  was  supposed,  by  robbers  in  the  mountains.  This  left  her 
with  a  large  family  and  scanty  means  of  support.  The 
Spanish  government  west  of  the  Mississippi  was  liberal  in 
its  offers  of  land  to  actual  settleis,  and  with  the  object  of 
taking  advantage  of  this  she  embarked  from  Red  Stone  Old 
Fort  for  St.  Louis,  in  the  Spanish  country,  in  the  year  1804. 
She  reached  St.  L  )uis  only  to  find  that  the  country  west  of 
the  Mississippi  had  been  ceded  to  the  United  States,  and  she 
could  obtain  no  laud  except  by  purchase.  She  remained  in 
St.  Louis  some  time,  and  then  she  and  some  of  her  children 
were  taken  sick.  After  their  recovery,  in  the  fall  of  the 
year  1804,  the  family  came  to  the  east  side  of  the  river, 
finding  a  home  about  three  miles  south  of  the  present  town 
of  Waterloo.  The  next  year,  1805,  the  family  moved  nearer 
the  bluff,  not  far  from  the  residence  of  James  McRoberts. 
Here  George  Forguer  and  Thomas  Ford  attended  the  school 
kept  by  Edward  Humphrey  in  the  neighborhood  of  Chalfin 
Bridge.  Samuel  McRoberts  also  attended  this  school,  so 
that  Mr.  Humphrey,  in  his  primitive  school-house  in  the 
bottom,  had  under  his  tuition  at  one  time  a  future  attorney- 
general  of  the  state,  a  United  States  senator,  and  a  governor 
of  Illinois.  Mrs.  Forguer  was  a  woman  of  much  talent  and 
ability,  and  she  bent  all  her  energies  toward  the  education 
of  her  children.  She  observed  system  and  economy  in  her 
family,  and  used  every  endeavor  to  get  along.  She  herself 
taught  school  for  a  time  near  the  McRoberts  residence.  She 
afterward  moved  to  a  place  under  the  bluff.  Those  yet  liv- 
ing who  remember  Thomas  Ford  at  that  period,  when  he 
was  about  fourteen  years  old,  speak  of  him  as  a  boy  of  un- 
usually polite  manners  and  pleasing  address.  Mrs.  Ford 
bestowed  much  care  on  the  rearing  of  her  children,  and  en- 
deavored to  instill  into  them  sound  moral  principles.  For- 
guer, being  the  oldest  of  the  children,  was  obliged  to  work 
out,  and  help  gain  a  support  for  the  family.  He  began  this 
when  he  was  nine  years  old.  Altogether  he  attended  school 
not  much  more  than  a  year.  He  learned  the  trade  of  a  car- 
penter in  St.  Louis,  and  worked  at  it  for  several  years  in 
that  city.  He  came  back  to  Monroe  county,  and  purchased 
the  tract  of  laud  on  which  Waterloo  is  built,  and  in  company 


with  Daniel  P.  Cook  laid  out  the  town.  He  purchased  a 
stock  of  goods  and  opened  a  store  at  this  point.  He  also 
projected  the  town  of  Bridgewater  on  the  Mississippi,  a  mile 
above  Harrisonville.  His  mercantile  operations  proved  a 
failure,  and  he  began  the  study  of  law.  His  education  was 
defective,  but  he  possessed  a  naturally  strong  and  vigorous 
intellect,  which  supplied  many  deficiencies  in  the  way  of 
intellectual  training.  He  had  a  good  voice,  and  the  debat- 
ing societies  of  the  county  furnished  him  the  training  for  an 
accomplished  and  pleasing  orator.  He  was  elected  a  repre- 
sentative from  Monroe  county  in  the  State  Legislature  in 
1826,  and  at  the  end  of  the  session  was  appointed  Secretary 
of  State.  He  was  afterward  elected  Attorney-General.  He 
removed  to  Sangamon  county,  which  he  represented  in  the 
State  Senate.  He  was  also  register  of  the  land  office  at 
Springfield.  He  died  of  a  pulmonary  disease,  at  Cincin- 
nati, in  the  year  1837,  at  the  age  of  forty-three.  Although 
he  began  the  world  poor,  and  for  some  years  was  embarrassed 
with  the  debts  he  incurred  in  his  unsuccessful  mercantile 
operations  in  this  county,  he  afterward  accumulated  con- 
siderable wealth. 

Thomas  Ford  had  better  opportunities  for  acquiring  an 
education.  He  was  studious  in  his  youth,  aud  at  school 
ardently  atta  bed  to  the  science  of  mathematics.  He 
awakened  the  interest  of  Daniel  P.  Cook,  who  made  ar- 
rangements for  him  to  study  law,  and  sent  him  to  Lexing- 
ton, Kentucky,  to  improve  his  education.  The  misfortunes 
of  his  brother  Forguer  obliged  him  to  return  home,  and 
while  reading  law  he  taught  school,  at  intervals,  at  Water- 
loo, to  gain  the  means  of  a  support.  He  began  practice  in 
1823;  in  1829  was  appointed  prosecuting  attorney;  in  1835 
was  elected  circuit  judge  ;  in  1840  an  associate  justice  of  the 
supreme  court;  and  in  1842  governor  of  the  state.  He  died 
at  Peoria  in  1849,  which  place  he  made  his  home  after  the 
close  of  his  term  as  governor. 

INDI.^N    HOSTILITIES. 

In  the  Indian  hostilities  from  1786  to  1795  the  inhabit- 
ants of  the  present  Monroe  county  suffered  greatly.  The 
pioneer  settlers  realized  their  exposed  condition,  aud  as  soon 
as  they  reached  the  county  erected  forts  for  their  protection. 
One  of  these  block  houses  was  at  Bellefontaine.  Another 
was  in  the  American  Bottom  near  the  residence  of  Shadrach 
Bond.  Another  was  built  by  Daniel  and  James  Flannary 
on  the  main  road  from  Kaskaskia  to  Cahokia.  This  was 
about  three  miles  southeast  of  the  present  town  of  Columbia, 
and  was  afterward  widely  known  as  Whiteside's  station.  A 
fourth  was  erected  by  James  Piggot  at  the  foot  of  the  bluff, 
a  mile  and  a  half  west  of  Columbia,  where  a  small  creek, 
called  by  the  French  the  Grand  Ruisseau,  emerges  from  the 
bluff.  This  was  also  a  celebrated  place  in  early  times,  and 
was  known  as  Piggot's  fort.  A  fifth  block  house  was  built 
by  Nathaniel  Hull  at  his  residence  at  the  foot  of  the  bluff 
just  below  the  present  Chalfin  bridge.  Brashear's  station 
stood  near  the  present  town  of  Harrisonville,  and  Golden's 
block  house  not  far  from  where  Monroe  city  is  now  built. 
Sometimes  these  forts,  or  stations,  consisted  of  a  single  block 
house,  the  second  story  projecting  over  the  first,  with  holes 


HISIORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,     ILLINOIS. 


79 


in  the  floor  through  which  to  shoot  at  Indians  attempting  to 
enter  the  lower  story.  The  lower  story  was  provided  with 
port  holes,  and  with  strong  p'uncheou  doors,  three  or  four 
inches  thick,  stoutly  barred.  Another  and  better  style  of 
pioneer  fortification  was  made  by  building  a  large,  strong 
block  house  on  each  of  the  four  corners  of  a  square  lot  of 
ground.  Large  timbers,  placed  deep  in  the  ground  and 
extending  twelve  or  fifteen  feet  above  the  surface,  filled  in 
the  interval  between  the  buildings.  Within  these  stockades 
caSins  were  built,  and  if  a  spring  was  not  to  be  found  a  well 
was  dug.  When  danger  was  suspected  horses  were  kept 
inside  during  the  night.  There  were  usually  two  strong 
gates.  In  the  line  of  the  stockade,  near  the  top,  port  holes 
were  cut  here  and  there,  and  platforms  were  constructed 
inside  on  which  to  stand  and  shoot.  The  timber  was  care- 
fully cleared  away  in  the  vicinity  so  that  no  place  of  ambush 
might  be  aflorded  the  enemy.  Sometimes  sentinels  were 
k?pt  on  watch  during  the  night.  In  the  morning  the 
inmates  emerged  from  the  fort  with  great  caution,  for  the 
Indians  at  that  hour  often  lurked  in  the  neighborhood.  In 
these  stations  the  inhabitants  found  refuge  in  times  of 
anticipated  danger,  and  from  them  issued  the  expeditions 
that  set  out  from  time  to  time  to  punish  the  Indians  for  .some 
atrocity. 

In  the  year  1780  while  Mr  Hulf,  who  had  married  the 
widow  Moredock,  was  coming  to  Illinois  from  Western 
Pennsylvania  with  the  Moredock  family,  the  party  was 
attacked  by  the  Indians  on  the  Missi.ssippi  near  Grand 
Tower,  and  Mrs.  Huff,  one  of  her  sons,  and  some  others  were 
killed.  The  re-t  mauaged  to  cscap"?  in  the  boat.  The  body 
of  Mrs.  Huff  was  mangled  in  a  shocking  manner  before  the 
eyes  of  her  husband  and  family.  One  of  her  sons,  John 
Moredock,  swore  vengeance  against  the  Indian  race,  and  was 
afterward  one  of  the  foremost  leaders  in  inflicting  punish- 
ment on  the  savages  A  few  years  afterward  Mr.  Huff, 
himself,  was  killed  by  the  Indians  on  the  road  between 
Prairie  du  Rocher  and  Kaskaskia.  Many  years  afterward 
his  watch  and  some  other  articles  were  found  on  the  spot 
where  he  had  been  killed. 

Before  thi.s,  in  the  year  1783,  James  Flaunary  had  been 
killed,  but  the  settlers  were  not  much  apprehensive 
of  danger  till  a  general  war  commenced  in  1786.  That 
year  James  Andrews,  who  lived  two  miles  north  of  where 
Waterloo  now  stands,  was  attacked  by  the  Indians,  he  and 
his  wife  massacred,  and  his  child  taken  captive.  Andrews 
was  an  adventurous  yung  Virginian,  who  had  come  to 
Illinois  with  the  American  immigration,  and  had  settled  at 
Bellefontaine  in  1782.  Shortly  afterward  he  married  the 
daughter  of  Captain  Joseph  Ogle,  and  settled  at  the  head 
of  Andrews'  run  at  a  spot  now  included  in  claim  507, 
survey  721.  The  window  of  his  cabin  was  a  S()uare  hole 
cut  into  the  side  of  the  building,  which  could  be  .securely 
clcsed  in  times  of  danger.  Andrews  had  neglected  to  close 
this  opening  on  retiring  fjr  the  night,  and  just  before  dawn 
while  reposing  peacefully  by  the  side  of  his  wife  and  child 
there  came  the  sharp,  clear  report  of  an  Indian's  rifle,  anil 
a  bullet  penetrated  his  body.  He  instantly  leaped  from  the 
bed,  and  sprang  out  through  the  opposite  door,  believing 


that  the  savages  would  be  satisfied  with  plundering  the 
house,  and  would  not  injure  his  wife  and  child.  After  ran- 
sacking the  house,  and  loading  themselves  with  such  articles 
as  they  could  carry,  they  prepared  to  depart,  taking  Mrs. 
Andrews  with  them,  when  the  little  girl,  at  that  time  three 
years  old,  who  had  before  remained  perfectly  quiet  and  un- 
ob-erved,  called  out,  "  Don't  take  my  mamma."  Upon 
hearing  the  cry,  they  returned  and  seized  the  child,  and 
carried  her  with  them  After  traveling  about  a  quarter  of 
a  mile  Mrs.  Andrews,  who  was  in  a  delicate  state  of  health, 
expecting  soon  to  become  the  mother  of  another  child, 
became  uuable  to  proceed  farther,  when  her  inhuman  cap- 
tors took  the  unhappy  woman  behind  a  tree  and  murdered 
her,  leaving  the  body  on  the  scene  of  the  outrage.  The 
body  of  poor  Andrews  was  discovered  some  days  later,  far 
down  the  creek,  where  in  weakness  and  delirium  he  had 
sunk  down  and  died.  Captain  Ogle,  the  father  of  Mrs. 
Andrews,  went  to  St.  Louis,  then  a  French  trading  port, 
and  offered  a  liberal  reward  for  the  recovery  of  the  child 
through  the  French  traders  and  trappers.  The  little  girl 
had  been  carried  by  the  Indians  as  far  north  as  Prairie  du 
Chien,  but  after  a  short  captivity  she  was  brought  back  to 
St.  Louis  by  the  French  trappers.  She  was  raised  in  the 
family  of  James  Lemen,  at  New  Design.  Her  name  was 
Drusilla,  and  on  arriving  at  womanhood  she  became  the  wife 
of  Henry  Mace.  Soon  after  her  marriage  she  and  her  hus- 
band settled  on  the  Andrews'  tract,  but  a  short  distance 
from  where  the  old  house  had  stood.  On  one  occasion,  while 
sitting  with  her  infant  in  her  arms,  an  aged  Pottawatamie 
Indian  entered  the  house,  and  addressod  her  in  broken  Eng- 
lish :  "  House  no  here  long  time  ago,"  and  then  taking  her 
by  the  arm  led  her  to  where  her  father's  house  had  stood, 
and  said,  ''  Long  time  ago  you  papoose,  heep  Indian  came 
and  kill  you  mother."  Mrs  Mace  was  much  agitated.  The 
Indian,  without  doubt,  was  one  of  the  band  that  massacred 
her  father  and  mother.  She  became  the  mother  of  a  large 
family  of  children. 

On  the  10th  of  December,  1788,  while  Benjamin  Ogle 
and  James  Garretson  were  hauling  hay  from  the  bottom, 
they  were  fired  upon  by  two  Indians.  A  ball  lodged  in 
Ogle's  shoulder  and  remained  there.  Garretson  escaped  in 
the  woods.  While  engaged  in  stacking  this  same  hay  Samuel 
Garretson  and  a  man  named  Keddick  were  killed  and 
scalpi'd.  On  account  of  his  wound  Mr  Ogle  was  granted  a 
pension  by  the  government.  On  the  28th  of  March,  1788, 
William  Biggs,  who  then  resided  at  Bellefontaine,  in  com- 
pany with  John  Vallis,  set  out  for  Cahokia,  to  sell  some 
beaver  fur.  When  within  six  miles  of  Piggot's  fort  they 
heard  the  report  of  two  guns  which  they  thought  had  been 
fired  by  hunters.  Soon  afterward  sixteen  Indians  made 
their  appearance  and  presented  their  guns  in  readiness  to 
fire.  Biggs  and  Vallis  whipped  their  horses  and  attempted 
to  escape.  The  bullets  of  the  Indians  killed  Biggs'  horse 
and  pierced  his  overcoat  with  four  holes,  though  his  per.son 
escaped  injury.  With  his  furs  and  saddle  he  fell  from  his 
horse,  and  after  running  sume  distance,  was  made  prisoner. 
Vallis  was  shot  in  the  thigh,  but  clung  to  his  horse,  which 
carried  him  to  the  fort.     He  died  six  weeks  afterward  from 


80 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE    AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


his  wound.  As  soou  as  Vallis  reached  the  fort  a  swivel  gun 
was  fired  to  alarm  the  neighborhood.  When  the  Indians 
heard  this  gun  they  ran  with  Biggs  for  si.K  miles.  They 
were  without  horses,  but  traveled  forty  miles  the  first  day. 
One  of  the  Indians  attempted  to  kill  Biggs,  but  this  his 
comrades  would  not  permit,  and  killed  the  Indian  himself. 
The  Indians  were  Kickapoos,  and  traveled  with  Biggs  to 
their  town  on  the  Wabash.  After  some  time  he  effected  his 
release  by  agreeing  to  pay  a  Spaniard,  named  Bazedone, 
two  hundred  and  sixty  dollars  ransom  money,  and  thirty- 
seven  more  for  necessaries  to  enable  him  to  make  his  journey 
home.  He  reached  Kaskaskia  by  way  of  the  AVabash, 
Ohio  and  Jlississippi  rivers,  and  from  there  came  to  Belle- 
fontaine.  lie  was  a  large  and  fine-looking  man,  and  was 
greatly  admired  by  the  Indian  maidens,  who  were  his  warm 
friends  during  his  captivity.  He  wrote  and  published  a 
narrative  of  his  adventures  in  1820. 

During  the  years  1789  and  1790  the  Indians  grew  more 
bold  and  troublesome,  and  numerous  murders  were  com- 
mitted. No  family  or  individual  was  safe,  night  or  day, 
from  their  attacks.  It  is  estimated  that  in  these  two  years 
one-tenth  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  county  were  massacred. 
The  Kickapoos  were  mostly  the  aggressors.  They  were 
better  armed  and  more  vigorous  than  the  other  Indian 
tribes,  and  prosecuted  their  war  against  the  Americans  with 
great  ferocity.  The  French  settlers  of  Illinois  almost  en- 
tirely escaped.  The  enmity  of  the  savages  was  directed 
altogether  against  the  American  population.  In  the  xVmer- 
ican  Bottom,  not  far  from  where  Fountain  creek  flows  from 
the  bluff,  three  boys  were  attacked  by  six  Indians  in  1789. 
One,  David  Waddle,  was  struck  with  a  tomahawk  in  three 
places  and  scalped,  but  still  made  his  escape  and  recovered 
from  his  wounds.  His  companions  ran  to  the  neighboring 
fort  and  were  uninjured.  James  Turner  and  John  Ferrel 
were  killed  the  same  year.  James  Dempsey  was  scalped 
and  left  for  dead,  but  recovered.  In  the  winter  of  1789-90, 
a  party  of  Osage  Indians  crossed  the  Mississippi  and  stole 
some  horses  from  the  settlers  in  the  American  Bottom.  A 
party  was  hastily  organized  to  pursue  them  toward  the  river 
James  Worley,  being  in  advance  of  the  others,  was  turned 
upon,  and  killed  and  scalped  by  the  Indians,  before  his 
companions  could  come  to  his  rescue.  It  is  said  that  the 
Indians  cut  off  the  head  of  Worley,  and  threw  it  toward  the 
whites  as  they  advanced.  It  was  seldom  that  the  Osages, 
who  lived  west  of  the  Missiisippi,  crossed  the  river  to  commit 
depredations  in  Illinois. 

A  Baptist  preacher  from  Kentucky,  James  Smith,  while 
journeying  to  the  village  of  St.  Phillips,  in  company  with  a 
Frenchman  and  a  Mrs.  Huft"  on  the  19th  of  May,  1790,  the 
party  was  fired  en  by  a  band  of  Kickapoo  Indians  who  were 
concealed  in  a  thicket  near  Bellefontaine.  The  horses  of 
the  preacher  and  Frenchman  were  shot,  and  the  woman  was 
wounded.  Mrs.  Huff  was  at  once  killed  on  falling  into  the 
hands  of  the  Indians;  the  Frenchman  made  his  escape,  and 
Smith  was  taken  prisoner.  His  saddle  bags  were  found  the 
next  day  in  a  tlncket  where  he  had  thrown  them  at  the  time 
of  the  attack.  He  was  a  large,  heavy  man,  and  the  Indians 
loaded  him  with  a  pack  of  plunder  they  had  secured  from 


the  settlements,  and  set  out  toward  their  town  on  the  Wa- 
bash. His  march  through  the  prairies,  with  a  heavy  load, 
and  under  a  hot  sun,  was  excessively  fatiguing  Some  of 
the  Indians  propo.sed  to  kill  him,  and  pointed  their  guns  at 
his  breast.  Having  observed  him  praying  and  singing 
hymns,  they  concluded  that  he  was  a  good  medicine  man, 
and  held  intercourse  with  the  Great  Spirit,  and  must  not 
therefore  be  killed.  Through  the  agency  of  the  French 
traders  at  Yincennes,  he  was  released,  the  people  of  the  New 
Design  settlement  paying  one  hundred  and  seventy  dollars 
for  his  ransom.  He  came  back  to  Illinois,  obtained  his 
saddle  bags  which  contained  valuable  papers  relating  to  the 
titles  of  land  belonging  to  his  friends,  and  then  returned  to 
Kentucky. 

In  May,  1791,  John  Demp.sey,  who  two  years  before  had 
been  scalped  by  the  Indians  and  left  for  dead,  was  again 
attacked,  and  this  time  succeeded  also  in  eftecting  his  escape. 
A  party  of  eight  men  hastened  in  pursuit  of  the  Indians, 
who  were  double  the  number  of  the  whites.  Captain  Na- 
thaniel Hull  led  the  party,  of  whom  the  other  members 
were  James  Lemen,  Joseph  Ogle,  Benjamin  Ogle,  Josiah 
Kyan,  William  Bryson,  John  Porter  and  Daniel  Raper. 
The  Indians  were  overtaken  and  a  hot  battle  fought  in  the 
timber  at  the  Big  Spring,  about  five  miles  north  of  the 
present  town  of  Waterloo,  and  a  short  distance  east  of  the 
St.  Louis  road.  The  fight  was  kept  up  from  tree  to  tree,  the 
Indians  endeavoring  to  escape  and  the  whites  pursuing. 
Five  of  the  Indians  were  killed,  and  not  one  of  the  whites 
was  injured. 

In  the  year  179:.)  a  band  of  Kickapoo  Indians  stole  some 
horses  from  the  Araericiin  bottom  near  Eagle  Clifi's,  and  an 
expedition  was  organized  to  pursue  the  Indians.  William 
Whiteside  was  captain,  and  he  was  accompanied  by  Samuel 
Judy,  John  Whiteside,  Samuel  Whiteside,  William  Harring- 
ton, William  L.  Whiteside,  John  Porter,  and  John  Dempsey. 
They  followed  the  Indian  trail,  passing  near  the  site  of  the 
present  city  of  Belleville,  towards  the  Indian  camp  on  Shoal 
creek.  One  of  the  party  generally  went  before  on  the  trail 
to  prevent  the  others  from  rushing  int-i  an  ambuscade.  It 
was  considered  better  that  one  should  be  killed  than  all  the 
party.  They  came  up  with  the  Indians  on  Shoal  creek,  and 
found  three  of  the  horses  grazing  in  the  prairie.  These 
horses  were  secured,  and  then  arrangements  were  made  to 
attack  the  Indian  camp.  Captain  Whiteside  divided  his 
force  into  two  parties  of  four  men  each.  These  parties 
attacked  the  camp  from  oj)posite  sides  at  the  same  time,  the 
firing  of  the  captain's  gun  being  the  sigual  for  the  commence- 
ment of  the  battle.  One  Indian,  the  son  of  the  chief,  was 
killed,  and  several  woundtd.  The  Indians  ran  off,  leaving 
their  guns  and  everything  else  behind.  The  old  chief,  Pecon 
by  name,  surrendered,  and  gave  up  his  gun  ti  Whiteside. 
He  supposed  from  the  bold  attack  that  the  whites  were 
numerous,  but  when  he  found  their  entire  number  consisted 
of  only  eight  men,  he  called  in  a  loud  voice  for  his  men  to 
return,  and  at  the  same  time  attempted  to  wrench  his  gun 
from  Whiteside's  hands.  Whiteside  was  a  large  man  of  ex- 
traordinary strength  and  easily  retained  the  gun.  While 
the  struggle  was  going  on  the  whites  were  afraid  to  shoot  at 


HISTORY    OF   RAXDOLl'H,    MONROE   AXD    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


81 


the  Indian  lest  they  might  kill  their  captain.  Whiteside 
would  not  permit  his  men  to  injure  an  unarmed  foe,  and  the 
chief  was  suffered  to  escape.  Captain  Whiteside  was  famous 
for  his  prudence,  as  well  as  iiis  courage,  and  witli  the  horses 
they  had  caught,  started  back,  and  neither  ate  nor  slept  till 
they  reached  Wliiteside's  station.  Hia  wisdom  was  verified, 
for  the  very  niglit  of  his  arrival  at  the  station  Pecon  and 
seventy  warriors,  in  pursuit,  camped  near  Cahokia.  The 
next  year,  1794,  Pecon  and  his  band  shot  Thomas  Whiteside 
near  the  station,  and  tomahawked  a  son  of  ('aptaiu  White- 
side^who  had  wandered  some  distance  from  the  fort  to  play. 

Captain  Whiteside,  however,  had  his  revenge  ne.xt  year. 
A  Frenchman  of  Cahokia  informed  him  tliat  a  considerable 
number  of  Indians  had  camped  under  the  bluff  in  St.  Clair 
county,  near  where  the  road  from  Belleville  to  St.  Louis  now 
pasies.  Captain  Whiteside  gathered  a  company  of  fourteen, 
among  which  were  Samuel  Whiteside,  William  L.  White- 
side, John.son  J.  White.-ide,  Samuel  Judy,  and  Isaac  Euochs, 
and  attacked  the  cam[)  ju-st  before  the  break  of  day,  killing 
all  the  Indians  except  one  who  ran  off,  and  was  killed,  it  is 
said,  by  the  other  Indians  for  his  cowardice.  For  man)' 
years  afterward  the  boues  of  these  Indians  could  be  seen 
whitening  the  ground.  In  this  battle  Captain  Whiteside 
was  wounded,  and  he  su|)posed  mortally.  He  fell  to  the 
ground,  but  still  continued  to  exhort  his  men  to  stand  their 
ground  and  never  permit  an  Indian  to  touch  his  body  when 
he  was  dead,  as  he  supposed  he  would  be  in  a  short  time. 
His  son,  Uel,  was  also  wounded  in  his  arm  so  that  he  could 
not  use  his  gun.  He  examined  his  father's  wound,  and 
found  that  the  ball  had  not  i)assed  through  the  body,  but 
had  struck  a  rib  and  glanced  off  toward  the  spiue.  The  bul- 
let could  be  felt  uuder  the  skin.  Every  pioneer  in  those 
davs  was  a  surgeon,  and  with  his  butcher-knife  he  cut  it  out, 
remarking,  '  Father,  you  arc  not  dead  yet.'  Tlie  old  man 
jumped  to  his  feet,  and  continued  his  fight  with  the  Indians. 
On  their  return  to  Wliiteside's  station  the  party  halted  in 
Cahokia,  at  the  house  of  Mrs.  Rains,  to  care  for  the  wounded 
This  lady  had  two  beautiful  aud  intelligent  daughters,  and 
this  accidental  meeting  finally  led  to  their  marriage  to  Uel 
and  William  15.  Whiteside. 

The  most  serious  and  dreadful  tragedy  that  ever  occurred 
in  the  county,  or,  indeed,  in  the  State,  wa.3  the  murder  of 
the  wife  and  four  children  of  Robert  McMahan,  in  January, 
1795,  three  miles  southeast  of  the  New  Design  station.  Mc- 
Mahan was  a  native  of  Virginia,  from  which  he  emigrated 
to  Kentucky  where,  at  Crab  Orchard,  he  married  Margaret 
Cline.  In  the  year  1703  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  settled  at 
New  Design.  In  1794  he  lived  in  a  house  near  the  station 
belonging  to  James  Lsmeii ;  he  had  selected  a  location 
in  the  prairie,  and  desiring  to  improve  a  farm  had  moved  on 
the  land  which  was  part  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section 
nineteen,  township  three  south,  range  nine  west.  No  other 
house  was  in  sight.  He  made  prepirations  to  defend  him.self 
and  family  from  an  attack  by  the  Indians.  He  ha<l  a  rifle, 
and  only  a  week  before  the  tragedy,  had  run  two  hundred 
rifle  balls.  He  also  kept  at  the  house  a  blunderbuss  loaded 
with  six  charges  of  powder  aud  nine  balls.  "  When  you 
hear  the  report  of  mv  blunderbuss,"  said  he  to  his  friends  at 
11 


the  station,  "you  may  be  certain  that  I  am  attacked."  The 
door  of  his  house  was  so  constructed  that  it  might  be  strongly 
barred,  and  port  holes  were  made  in  the  walls  through  which 
he  might  shoot  any  oue  who  should  attcm|)t  to  ascend  to  the 
roof  The  murders  took  place  ou  the  twenty-sixth  of  Jan- 
uary, 179-3.  On  the  morniug  of  that  day  McMahan  went 
out  to  hunt  for  his  oxen,  when  he  perceived  that  his  horse, 
which  was  confined  in  a  pen,  appeared  to  be  frightened.  He 
cast  his  eye  over  the  prairie  in  every  direction,  but  saw  no 
enemy.  A  lone  hickory  tree,  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards 
from  the  house,  had  been  blown  down  the  previous  fall  while 
in  full  leaf,  and  thus  furnished  a  convenient  hiding  place  for 
an  attacking  party.  Unfortunately  he  did  not  think  that  a 
deadly  enemy  might  be  hid  behind' this  convenient  covert. 

lie  entered  his  house  but  had  not  been  indoors  more  than 
two  or  three  minutes,  when  four  Indians,  frightfully  painted 
black  and  red,  entered  the  house,  two  by  two,  saying  "  Bon 
jour  I  B  )U  jour  !"  (good  day  I  g  )od  day  I )  a  salutation  which 
they  had  eviJently  learned  from  thair  intercourse  with  the 
French.  They  stood  motionless  a  few  seconds,  when  one  of 
them  attempted  to  take  down  McMalun's  rifle  from  the 
hooks,  and  McMahan  took  iloivii  his  blunderbuss;  but  his 
wife  took  hold  of  it  and  begged  him  not  to  resist  as  she 
hoped  their  lives  might  be  sjiared  if  they  submitted  peace- 
ably, but  otherwise  they  would  be  killed.  The  Indians  then 
seized  the  blunderbuss,  and  wrenched  it  from  liis  hands. 
Every  oue  then  made  for  the  door.  Mrs.  JIcMahau  ran 
half  way  around  the  house,  when  she  wa--  shot  in  the  left 
breast  aud  scalped.  McMahan  was  then  pulled  back  into 
the  house,  thrown  on  the  floor,  and  his  hands  pinioned  close 
behind  him,  wiitli  deer  siue*s.  .Sally  McMillan,  the  oldest 
daughter,  then  les-s  than  throeycars  ol<l.  remained  in  the  house, 
and  saw  one  of  the  Indians  knock  her  brother  and  two  of  her 
sisters  on  the  head  with  the  |)ole  of  his  tomahawk.  It  was 
a  light  blow,  only  sufiicieut  to  stun  them.  This  Indiin  was 
proceeding  to  open  the  cradle  where  lay  a  female  infant, 
only  one  month  old,  when  Sally  ran  out  of  the  house,  and 
once  around  it,  when  she  was  also  seized  b_v  him.  Three  of 
the  children  were  scalped.  The  infant  likewise  was  mur- 
dered. 

The  Indians  took  from  the  house  such  articles  as  they 
wanted,  packed  a  part  of  them  upon  Jlcilahan,  untying  one 
of  his  hands  so  that  he  might  hold  the  load  on  his  back. 
Thev  were  in  a  great  hurry  to  got  off.  Sally  ilcMahan  was 
also  taken  along  as  a  prisoner.  They  set  out  for  the  Indian 
town  iu  the  northeast  part  of  Illinois.  They  crossed  Prairie 
du  Long  creek,  not  far  from  its  mouth,  and  camped  the 
first  night  on  Richland  creek,  about  half  a  mile  below  the 
present  town  of  Belleville.  ^IcMahan  meditated  an  escape, 
but  did  not  make  known  his  intention  to  his  daughter.  The 
first  night  the  Indians  tied  hira  securely,  and  took  away  his 
shoes  aud  hat  and  part  of  his  clothes,  so  that  he  had  no  op- 
portunity. They  also  tied  ou  him  a  belt,  partly  wrought  with 
porcupine  (juills  and  small  bells,  so  that  if  he  stirre<l,  the 
bells  would  rattle  and  give  the  alarm.  After  the  journey 
was  commenced  the  Indians  were  kind  and  friendly,  fixing  the 
shoes  of  Sally  McMahan,  and  making  her  as  comfortable  as 
possible.     The  second  night  Mc.Nlalian  quietly  slipped   the 


82 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


cords  from  his  limbs  and  body,  and  was  about  to  rise,  when 
one  of  the  Indians  raised  up  his  head,  and  looked  around, 
but  laid  down  again  without  noticing  him.  When  the 
Indian  had  again  gone  to  sleep,  McMahan  made  his  escape, 
without  his  shoes,  bat,  and  with  but  little  of  his  clothing. 
He  covered  some  of  his  clothing  over  the  belt  of  bells,  so 
that  they  made  no  noise.  He  slipped  back  to  the  camp,  and 
tried  to  get  his  shoes,  or  a  pair  of  moccasins  from  the  Indians, 
but  could  get  neither.  He  starced  for  the  New  Design,  as 
well  as  he  could  judge  of  the  course.  He  was  nearly  fam- 
ished. While  with  the  Indians  a  small  pittance  of  dried 
meat  had  been  his  only  food.  The  Indians,  themselves,  were 
without  provisions,  and  in  an  almost  starving  condition.  He 
lay  out  one  night,  making  his  bed  of  leaves  under  a  large 
fallen  tree,  which  was  held  up  from  the  ground  by  its 
branches.  His  feet  and  elbows  were  partially  frozen,  but 
with  the  daylight  he  resumed  his  journey  He  visited  the 
New  Design  settlement,  but  near  Prairie  du  Rocher  saw 
Samuel  Judy.  When  he  reached  New  Design  his  condition 
was  deplorable.  His  clothing  was  torn  and  tattered,  his 
feet  bruised  and  bleeding,  and  his  limbs  partially  frozen. 

His  wife  and  children  lay  dead  for  several  days  before  the 
murder  was  discovered  by  the  neighbors.  A  small  dog, 
which  had  been  much  admired  and  petted  by  McMahan's 
family,  came  frequently  to  the  house  of  James  Lemen,  whin- 
ing, and  running  backyvard  and  forward  in  an  unusual 
manner.  No  one  took  any  hint  from  the  actions  of  the  dog, 
though  the  cause  of  its  distress  was  plainly  enough  afterward 
made  manifest.  Old  Mr.  Judy  was  the  first  to  discover  the 
dead  bodies,  and  shed  tears  when  he  told  the  sad  story  of  the 
murder.  The  neighbors  went  out  and  buried  the  dead  all  in 
one  grave,  and  on  the  night  of  the  same  day  funeral  services 
were  held  at  the  house  of  James  Lemen.  At  nine  or  ten 
o'clock,  just  as  the  meeting  closed  MeMahan  entered  the 
house  from  Prairie  du  Rocher.  The  little  dog  at  first  did 
not  know  his  master,  so  changed  was  he  by  his  hardships  and 
sufferings,  but  the  moment  he  looked  into  his  face  he  leaped 
into  his  lap  with  extravagant  demonstrations  of  joy.  The 
whole  assembly  was  profoundly  aflected,  and  McMahan  burst 
into  loud  lamentations  over  the  fate  of  his  family. 

After  McMahan's  escape  the  Indians  traveled  with  their 
remaining  captive,  Sally  McMahan,  to  the  home  of  tha 
Putawahs,  southwest  of  Lake  Michigan.  Here  she  was 
transferred  to  an  Ottawa  Indian  named  Sukkonok,  who  had 
become  a  chief  in  the  Putawah  tribe  and  whose  wife  was 
the  sister  of  the  three  who  had  been  concerned  in  the 
massacre.  By  the  treaty  of  Greenville,  following  Wayne's 
victory  over  the  Indians  in  1795,  the  Indians  engaged  to 
bring  to  the  white  settlements  all  the  captives  in  their  pos- 
session. In  accordance  with  this  agreement  Sukkonok,  in 
April,  1796,  brought  Sally  McMahan  in  a  canoe,,  down  the 
Illinois  and  Mississippi  rivers  to  Cahokia  where  she  was  de- 
livered to  the  white  people.  It  was  during  the  session  of  the 
court,  and  a  great  many  people  were  present.  The  Indian 
chief  made  a  speech  in  which  he  said  that  he  had  no  hand  in 
the  massacre  and  had  paid  a  considerable  sum  for  the  captive, 
and  had  brought  her  from  a  great  distance  to  the  white 
settlements.     He  therefore  appealed  to  the  liberality  qf  the 


white  people  to  make  him  a  just  compensation.  A  subscrip- 
tion paper  was  drawn  up,  and  one  hundred  and  sixty-four 
dollars  raised,  which  amount,  in  goods,  was  advanced  to  Suk- 
konok by  Mr.  Arundel,  a  merchant  of  Cahokia.  Robert 
McMahan  married  a  second  wife,  and  raised  a  large  family. 
He  lived  for  some  years  on  Ralls'  ridge,  near  Red  Bud,  in 
Randolph  county,  and  was  justice  of  the  peace  and  judge  of 
the  Randolph  county  court.  He  afterward  removed  to  the 
vicinity  of  Troy,  in  Ridge  prairie,  in  Madison  county,  where 
he  died  in  the  year  1822  at  the  age  of  sixty-three.  Sally, 
his  daughter,  who  was  born  in  March,  1785,  married  David 
Gaskill,  in  Ridge  prairie,  Madison  county,  where  the  greater 
part  of  her  life  was  spent.  She  died  in  the  city  of  Alton,  ou 
the  tweuty-lhird  of  January,  1850.* 

EARLY   MILLS. 

The  first  water  mill  in  the  county  seems  to  have  been 
Judy's  mill,  built  a  short  distance  east  of  Whiteside's 
station  by  Jacob  Judy  in  1794.  It  was  of  great 
service  to  the  pioneer  settlers.  A  few  years  afterward  a 
number  of  mills  were  built  in  the  same  neighborhood.  Some 
were  propelled  by  water,  and  some  were  the  old  band  mills. 
George  Valentine  was  the  builder  of  a  mill  on  a  stream  nearly 
west  of  Judy's  mill.  On  Fountain  creek,  west  of  Waterloo,  an 
Irishman,  named  Halfpenny,  one  of  the  early  school  teachers 
in  Illinois,  built  a  water  mill  about  the  year  1795.  On 
Ryan's  creek,  between  Monroe  City  and  the  bottom,  a  mill 
was  built  by  Josiah  Ryan  in  the  year  1798.  All  traces  of 
this  mill,  and  that  on  Fountain  creek,  have  long  since  dis- 
appeared. Andrew  Kinney  was  the  first  builder  of  a  mill 
on  the  site  of  Monroe  City.  It  did  a  prosperous  business  in 
early  days,  and  made  considerable  quantities  of  flour  for  the 
St.  Louis  and  other  markets.  Soon  after  the  opening  of  the 
present  century  more  mills  were  built.  Two  men  named 
Tate  and  Singleton  built  a  good  stone  mill  on  Fountain 
creek,  a  few  miles  southwest  of  Waterloo,  in  the  year  1802. 

DESTRUCTIVE   HURRICANE. 

The  most  terrific  hurricane  that  ever  swept  over  the  county 
occurred  on  the  fifth  of  June,  1805  It  moved  from  the 
northwest  to  the  southeast,  and  crossed  the  Mississippi  about 
a  mile  below  the  mouth  of  the  Merrimac,  passing  through 
the  present  Moredock  precinct.  Its  track  was  about  three- 
quarters  of  a  mile  in  width.  It  prostrated  trees,  and  even 
swept  the  water  out  of  the  river  and  the  lakes  in  the  Ameri- 
can Bottom.  W^illiam  Blair,  who  had  a  boat  moored  in  the 
river,  near  the  place  where  the  storm  crossed  it,  asserted  that 
for  three-quarters  of  a  mile  the  water  was  raised  out  of  the 
river  by  the  violence  of  the  tempest.  Fish  from  the  river 
and  lakes  were  scattered  all  over  the  prairie  in  its  course. 
It  occurred  about  one  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  The  sun 
previously  had  been  shining,  and  the  atmosphere  had  been 
clear.  Col.  James  A.  James,  resided  with  his  father  nearly 
in  its  course,  and  was  an  eye-witness  to  the  terrible  storm. 


Reynolds'  Pioneer  History  of  the  McMahan  ma9s»cre 
lorrect.  He  states  that  two  daughters  were  taken 
IS  only  one.  The  facts,  as  above  narrated,  .-igree  with 
the  statements  made  by  the  daughter,  Mrs.  Gaskill,  to  George  Churchill,  a 
careful  and  aocurate  writer  of  Madison  county,  who  prepared  an  account  of 
the  affair  in  18&5. 


*  The  account  given  : 
is,  in  some  instances,  i 
prisoners,  when  there  i 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


83 


The  family  fled  from  its  track.  Dr.  Cairnes  and  his  family 
were  directly  iu  its  course  and  saw  it  approaching,  and  suc- 
ceeded in  saving  their  lives  A.s  the  Doctor  and  his  family 
were  running  for  safety  the  storm  overtook  them.  His  wife 
was  behind,  and  she  lay  flat  on  the  earth  and  held  to  a  bush. 
Kails,  tree-tops  and  almost  every  movable  thing  were  dashed 
around  her  with  great  force,  and  she  was  wounded  in  the 
head,  but  not  fatally.  The  rest  of  the  family  escaped  unhurt. 
Dr.  Cairnes'  cattle  came  running  home  before  the  hurricane 
reached  the  house  and  barn,  bellowing  and  much  terrified. 
They  all  peri.^hed.  A  hors3  iu  a  lot  near  the  house  was 
killed  by  a  fence  rail  running  through  him.  Every  log  in 
the  house  and  the  last  rock  in  the  foundation  of  the  chimney 
were  swept  away.  Everything  movable  was  destroyed  and 
torn  to  pieces.  A  large  bull  was  raised  high  in  the  air,  and 
after  being  carried  a  considerable  distance,  was  dashed  to  the 
ground  with  every  bone  in  his  carcass  broken.  By  the  time 
the  storm  reached  the  Mississippi  bluffs,  its  force  was  nearly 
spent,  and  no  injury  was  done  on  the  hills.  The  clothes  and 
all  the  household  furniture  of  Dr.  Cairnes  were  destroyed, 
and  scattered  far  and  near.  One  of  his  waistcoats  was  found 
in  the  Little  prairie,  where  his  father  resided,  si.'i  or  eight 
miles  distant.  Tops  of  pine  trees  from  Missouri,  which  did 
not  grow  nearer  than  fifty  or  sixty  miles  from  the  American 
Bottom,  could  be  seen.  In  the  midst  of  the  storm  it  was 
very  dark. 


PERRY  COUNTY. 
The  eaily  settlers  chose  the  timbered  sections  of  the  place 
where  they  chanced  to  locate  in  preference  to  the  open 
l)rairie.  ]\Iany  ascribe  as  a  reason  for  such  choice,  that 
they  believed  the  prairies  were  so  poor  that  they  would 
not  produce  timber,  and  hepce  were  too  barren  to  yield 
crops  for  the  sustenance  of  themselves  and  families.  This, 
however,  is  an  error.  The  true  reason  for  the  selection  of 
homes  iu  the  timber  may  be  thus  enumerated  :  First,  the 
pioneers  put  U|)  their  cabins  where  wood  was  plentiful  for 
building  and  fuel,  and  where  the  timber  afforded  shelter 
from  wintry  blasts  and  the  scorching  sun  of  summer ; 
secondly,  in  the  early  days  the  prairies  were  covered  with  a 
dense  growth  of  grass,  and  during  the  greater  portion  of  the 
year  the  surface  was  covered  with  water,  thus  preventing  a 
supply  of  that  article  in  a  wholesome  state,  which  could  be 
readily  obtained  in  the  timber  ;  thirdly,  the  prairie  sod  was 
so  strong  that  they  were  unable  to  break  it  up  for  cultiva- 
tion, owing  to  the  primitive  nature  of  their  agricultural 
implements. 

The  first  white  man  to  h)cate  permanently  iu  Perry 
county,  of  which  we  have  any  reliable  data,  was  John  Flack, 
who  settled  in  Four  Mile  prairie,  with  his  family,  in  1799. 
He  built  his  rude  log  cabin  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  .sec- 
tion eleven,  iu  township  six,  south  of  range  three,  in  what  is 
now  a  part  of  Pinckneyville  precinct.  When  John  Flack 
came  to  his  new  home,  he  found  but  one  white  man  in  the 
county.  This  man's  name  was  Cox,  and  with  his  family,  he 
had  taken  up  his  temporary  abode  on  claim  No.  1,410,  sur- 
vey No.  459— the  only  survey  or  claim  within  the  limits  of 


the  county.  The  claim  was  located  in  sections  seventeen 
and  eighteen,  iu  towushipsix,  range  two,  on  Bjaucoup  creek  ; 
and  also  in  Pinckneyville  precinct.  The  abode  of  Cox, 
prior  to  his  advent  to  this  county,  or  whence  he  removed,  is 
no  longer  known.  The  old  pi'ineer,  John  Flack,  left  a  son, 
John  Flack,  whom  the  later  settlers  found  living  in  the  Four 
Mile  prairie. 

B  A  Brown  and  family  were  among  the  early  settlers 
and  neighbors  of  John  Flack.  They  lived  in  the  Six  Mile 
prairie;  bat  all  traces  of  the  family  have  long  since  been 
lost.  We  find  an  entry  of  the  west  half  of  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  nineteen,  in  township  six  south,  of  range 
three  west,  in  the  name  of  Benjamin  Brown,  as  early  as 
Mf>rch  16,  1819.  The  next  to  locate  permanently  in  the 
county  was  the  Hutchings  family.  In  May,  181G,  John  afld 
William  Hutchings.  brothers,  with  their  families,  camped 
upon  the  banks  of  Beaucoup  creek,  in  what  is  now  Beau- 
coup  precinct.  They  were  on  their  way  from  Tennessee  to 
Missouri,  and  had  no  intention  of  remaining  psrmauently. 
After  a  few  days  rest  they  pushed  onward,  and  on  reaching 
Katcliff's  or  Sawyer's  point,  in  Washington  county,  fifteen 
miles  distant,  they  abandoned  their  journey,  and  returned  to 
their  old  former  camping  place,  where  they  had  found  game 
and  honey  in  abundance,  and  where  the  productive  appear- 
ance of  the  surrounding  country  had  favorably  impressed 
them  during  their  transient  sojourn.  John  Hutchings' 
family  consisted  of  a  wife,  four  children,  and  three  slaves, 
Landon  Parks  and  Agis,  his  wife,  and  a  colored  woman 
named  Dinah.  William  Hutchings'  family  was  composed  of 
a  wife,  six  children,  and  a  young  woman  named  Dv.dilah 
Jones,  who  afterward  became  the  wife  of  John  R.  Hutch. 
ings,  his  eldest  son.  This  party  of  emigrants  had  made  the 
journey  in  old-fashioned  wagons,  drawn  by  horses,  and  com- 
prisec"  eighteen  persons  iu  all.  The  Hutchings  were  natives 
of  North  Carolina,  where  they  married.  John  Hutchings 
built  his  first  cabin  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  uiue- 
teen,  in  township  four  south,  of  range  two,  which  he  entered 
July  2-5,  1817.  He  sub.sequently  built  a  two  story  frame 
house  near  his  cabin.  This  was  known  for  many  years  as 
the  "  Travelers'  Inn."  William  Hutchings  built  his  first 
house  in  the  south  edge  of  the  prairie,  which  took  his  name. 
Here  he  resided  until  1819,  on  what  is  now  known  as  the 
Watson  place,  and  died  in  1820.  The  Hutchings  family 
were  prominent  and  useful  citizens,  and  the  eldest  son  of 
William,  John  K.  Hutchings,  was  one  of  the  earliest 
teachers  and  Baptist  ministers.  He  was  also  one  of  the 
commissioners  chosen  to  se'ect  the  site  of  Piuckneyville,  and 
held  many  of  the  county  offices,  among  the  number  that  of 
judge.  Wesley  W.  Hutchings,  born  at  the  pioneer  home,  on 
the  4th  of  October,  1822,  is  the  only  survivor  of  William 
Hutchings'  family,  and  now  resides  in  the  Three  Mile  prai- 
rie, Washington  county,  this  state.  Mrs.  Mary  Ivice,  widow 
of  Hiram  Kicp,  and  daughter  of  John  Hu'chings,  is  the  only 
survivor  of  the  eighteen  pioneers,  and  was  but  five  years  old 
when  brought  to  the  territory  by  her  father  iu  May,  1816. 
The  nearest  trading  points  at  the  time  of  the  settlement  by 
the  Hutchings,  were  Kaskaskia  and  St.  Louis,  and  the  only 
articles  of  trade  were  deerskins,  honey  and  beeswax,  which 


84 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS 


were  exchanged  for  such  necessaries  as  were  required.  John 
Huggius,  who  was  au  early  settler  of  Cutler,  came  to  Illinois 
in  1802.  He  yet  lives  in  section  tweuty-one,  and  is  a  native 
of  South  Carolina. 

The  first  to  seek  a  home  within  the  limits  of  what  is  now 
Du  Quoin  precinct,  was  Jarrold  Jackson,  who  exacted  a  toll 
from  travelers  for  crossing  a  bridge  over  Little  Muddy,  in 
1803,  on  the  road  leading  from  Shawneetown  to  Kaskaskia. 
Thomas  Taylor,  a  native  of  South  Carolina,  came  into  this 
precinct  =n  1812,  from  Jackson  county,  to  which  place  he 
had  emigiated  in  1803.  Lewis  Wells,  also  a  native  of  South 
Carolina,  an  old  neighbor  of  Taylor,  and  one  of  the  early 
county  commissioners,  moved  to  Jackson  county  in  1804 ; 
and  fjom  there  came  with  Taylor,  to  what  is  now  Perry 
counly,  in  1812.  Mr.  Wells  resided  in  Du  Quoin  precinct 
until  1846,  the  yeflr  of  his  death.  He  had  reached  the  ripe 
age  of  ninety-six  years.  John  Campbell,  who,  at  his  death, 
left  his  children,  John,  Washington,  Isaac,  Alexander  and 
Charles  living  in  the  precinct,  came  from  Tennessee  in  18]  2, 
and  gettlrd  in  the  neighborhood  of  Wells  and  Taylor.  In 
1815,  Tamaroa  precinct  received  its  first  permanent  resident 
in  the  person  of  the  parents  of  Edward  T.  Rees.  They 
settled  near  a  water  course,  now  known  as  Rees'  creek. 
Edwaid  T.  Rees  has  been  honored  with  the  responsible 
position  of  County  Judge,  by  his  fellow  gitizens. 

Du  Quoin  precin"t  received  within  its  borders  as  perma- 
nent citizens,  in  1816,  Hiram  Root  and  Ephraim  Skinner 
and  their  families.  They  were  natives  of  New  York.  Mr. 
Skinner  lived  but  four  years  after  their  arrival. 

Simon  Wiiliard  and  family  settled  in  the  southwest  in  1817. 
He  located  on  section  two,  township  six  south,  range  four; 
and  when  the  land  came  into  market,  he  entered  it  January 
19,  1819.  There  were  504.60  acres  in  the  tract.  His 
neighbor,  James  Craine,  improved  and  made  his  hoae 
on  the  nrrthcast  quarter  of  section  thirteen,  township 
six  ran  we  four.  Mr.  Craine  entered  this  tract  in  the 
land  office  in  Kaskaskia,  May  14,  1818.  Benjamin  Brown 
was  also  a  neighbor  in  1817.  His  home  was  on  the  west 
half  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  eleven  of  the  same 
township.  Richard  Green,  Robert  Crow  and  Robert  John- 
son with  their  families,  were  living  in  the  neighborhood. 
William  H.  Threlkel,  Jacob  Short  and  John  Stuart  were 
also  residents  of  this  section,  and  their  names  are  intimately 
interwoven  in  the  earlier  civil  history  of  the  county  as 
men  of  unqucsliontd  honesty  and  ability.  They  were 
natives  of  New  York,  Tennessee,  and  Kentucky.  Stephen 
Kelly  was  also  a  pioneer  of  this  neighborhood.  The  Pyle 
family,  whose  names  appear  prominently  in  the  civil  history 
of  the  county,  in  pioneer  days,  and  many  of  whose  descend- 
ants are  now  respected  citizens  of  the  county,  came  to  what 
is  now  Du  Quoin  precinct,  from  Tennessee,  in  1819.  There 
were  three  brothers,  John,  William  and  Abner,  all  men  with 
families  of  well-grown  children.  Grand  Cote  received  its 
first  settler  in  1819.  Thomas  Swanwick,  a  native  of 
Chester,  England,  entered  the  northwest  quarter,  and  the 
east  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  eleven  in  town- 
ship four  south  of  r  nge  four,  on  the  thirteenth  day  of 
February,  1818.     The  land  entered  by  this  old  pioneer  is 


now  occupied  by  his  son,  Joel  J.  Swanwick,  now  past  the 
meridian  of  life.  James  McMurdo  came  with  Mr.  Swan- 
wick, and  now  resides  in  Randolph  county.  The  next  ac- 
cession to  the  settlement  of  Grand  Cote,  was  Wil'iam  P. 
Elliott,  who  came  from  Georgia  in  1820.  He  located  on 
the  twentieth  section,  built  his  cabin,  and  in  the  spring  of 
1821,  brought  his  family  to  his  new  home.  He  was  an  en- 
terprising citizen,  and  was  the  first  to  operate  a  mill  in  this 
section  of  the  county.  He  built  a  tug  or  band  mill  as  early 
as  1822.  The  burrs  were  made  from  boulders  picked  up  on 
the  prairie. 

In  1822,  Shadrach  Lively  made  an  improvement  in  the 
southwest  corner  of  Holt's  Prairie.  Between  the  years 
1820  and  1830,  Du  Quoin  precinct  received  a  large  number 
of  settlers,  among  whom  were  Robrrt  McElvain,  Rodney 
Bolin  and  others.  The  widow  of  Rodney  Bjlin  died  a  few 
years  since,  being  past  ninety  years  of  age.  In  this  decade, 
Daniel  Dry,  the  first  county  treasurer,  after  the  organization 
of  the  county,  arrived  iu  Du  Quoin  precinct.  It  is  said 
that  Mr.  Dry,  in  company  with  his  wife,  made  the  entire 
journey  from  Pennsylvania,  on  foot,  bringing  his  entire 
worldly  wealth  in  an  old  barrel,  mounted  on  two  wheels. 
This  improvised  cart  he  propelled  before  him  as  he  trudged 
on  his  wearisome  way  in  search  of  a  home  in  the  western 
wilds.  He  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days  in  the  county, 
leaving  behind  him  an  unsullied  reputation,  and  a  large 
number  of  descendants,  who  have  kept  the  family  name  un- 
tarnished. David  H.  Mead  was  also  a  pioneer  of  the  same 
neighborhood.  His  name  appears  prominently  in  the  civil 
history  of  ihe  county.  In  the  year  1824,  Du  Quoin  re- 
ceived other  permanent  and  enterprising  settlers  in  the  per- 
sons of  Zachariah  Clinton,  Green  Durriugton  and  Micajah 
Phelps,  all  with  familifs,  who  came  direct  from  their 
homes  in  Kentucky.  Also,  Dr.  Joseph  Brayshaw,  an  En- 
glishman ;  Avery  Chapman  and  Joshua  Davis,  who  settled 
upon  what  is  now  the  site  of  Old  Du  Quoin.  Cutler  pre- 
cinct was  colonized  in  1825,  by  a  band  of  sturdy  pioneers, 
who  made  permanent  settlements.  They  were  natives  of 
Smith  county,  Tennessee.  Enoch  Eaton,  who  still  lives  upon 
his  old  homestead,  the  northeast  quarter  of  section-  twenty- 
four,  in  township  five  south,  range  four,  was  the  first  of  the 
company  to  arrive  with  his  wife  and  two  children.  Oneofhis 
sons,  R  H.  Eaton,  is  now  a  resident  of  Pinckneyville.  He 
made  the  journey  with  the  old-fashioned  wagon,  drawn  by 
horses.  He  was  soon  followed  by  his  father,  who  brought  his 
family  in  a  cart  drawn  by  a  bull.  With  Eaton,  Sr  ,  came 
John  Murphy,  father  of  Robert,  James,  Richard  G.,  and 
William  C,  all  of  whom  came  with  their  iiUher  and  were 
prominent  in  the  early  histoty  of  the  county.  Hon.  Wil- 
liam K.  Murphy,  of  Pinckneyville  is  a  grandson  of  this 
pioneer,  Richard  Green  and  family  of  New  York ;  Hugh 
Brown  from  South  Carolina;  Matthew  Vann  of  Tennessee; 
Andrew  Cooper  of  South  Carolina  were  among  Enoch 
Eaton's  first  and  early  neighbors.  James  Brown,  also  a 
native  of  South  Carolina,  settled  near  Galum  as  early  as 
1825.  The  next  accession  to  Grand  Cote  was  Jonathan 
Petit,  who  came  from  the  "  Irish  settlement  "  in  Randolph 
County,  in  the  spring  of  1825.     He  settled  on  section  thirty 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


85 


of  township  four  south,  of  rauge  four.  In  the  same  fall,  he 
disposed  of  his  improvement  to  Absalom  Wilson  of  Wash 
ington  County,  Virginia.  Sir.  Wilson  did  not  occup)'  his 
new  house,  however,  until  1840.  George  Cherry  from  the 
Chester  District,  South  Carolina,  also  came  into  Grand 
Cote  the  same  year,  and  settled  on  section  five,  where  he 
continued  to  reside  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
March,  1857. 

The  year  1826  brought  so  many  permanent  settlers  into 
the  territory  now  comprising  the  county,  that  toward  the  close 
of  the  year  the  necessary  steps  were  taken  to  secure  the  organi- 
zation of  the  county.  Among  the  number  who  took  up  their 
abode  within  its  limits  were :  David  Deal,  a  native  of  Ten- 
nessee. He  brought  a  wife  and  family  of  six  children,  two 
sons  and  four  daughters  ;  two  of  the  latter  are  now  residents 
of  Franklin  county,  this  .state,  the  rest  being  dead.  He 
built  his  humble  cabin  on  section  twenty-eight.  He  subse- 
quently purchased  the  improvement  of  David  Rees,  who  had 
made  his  appearance  about  the  same  time  as  Mr.  Deal,  and 
had  built  his  cabin  on  section  twenty-one.  After  purchas- 
ing Jlr.  Rees'  improvement,  Mr.  Deal  entered  the  land. 
Abraham  Jlorgan  and  family  made  themselves  houses  in 
what  is  now  Taniaroa  precinct,  as  early  as  182G.  They 
lived  upon,  and  were  the  first  occupants  of  what  is  now 
known  as  the  Samuel  Benson  place;  and  there  entered  the 
southwest  quarter  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section 
eighteen  of  township  four  south,  range  one  west. 

Fiyckneyville  precinct  received  numerous  accessions  in 

1826.  Among  the  number  were  Ephraim  Bilderback  and 
Charles  Garner,  who  came  from  Randolph  county  and 
settled  in  the  southwestern  portion  of  the  Four-mile  prairie, 
in  the  spring  of  that  year.  Matthew  Jones  settled  on  the 
west  side  of  Holt's  Prairie  in  1826.  John  Hazzard  and 
John  Berry  came  with  Jones  and  made  themselves  houses 
in  the  same  prairie.  All  were  natives  of  Tennessee.  Abner 
Flack,  a  native  of  South  Carolina,  took  up  his  abode  in  the 
Four-mile  prairie  the  same  year;  and  George  Franklin 
made  his  house,  one-half  mile  south  of  the  present  site  of 
Piuckneyville  at  the  tame  time.  The  year  1827,  brought 
with  it  some  of  the  pioneers,  whose  names  are  interwoven 
inseparably  with  the  early  political  history  of  the  county. 
Chief  among  the  number  was  Humphrey  B.  Jones.  Mr. 
Jones  was  a  native  of  Kentucky  and  first  came  to  Jackson 
county,  Illinois,  ia  1821.  There  he  continued  to  reside 
until  the  twenty-first  daj'  of  April,  li-27,  when  he  changed 
his  residence  to  the  new  county  of  Perry.  His  first  house 
was  in  Pinckueyville,  near  the  site  of  the  "old  spring." 
Among  his  surviving  children  is  the  wife  of  Charles  H.  Roe, 
the  efficient  Circuit  Clerk  of  the  county.  Mr.  Jones  held 
many  of  the  official  positions  in  the  county,  as  will  be  seen 
by  a  reference  to  the  civil  chapter.  He  was  a  scholarly 
gentleman,  an  able  lawyer  and  successful  physician.  He 
died  at  his  home  in  Piuckneyville,  his  aged  wife  following 
but  a  few  years  since.  Fergus  Milligan,  another  of  the 
more  prominent  early  settlers,  first  came  to  the  county  in 

1827.  He  was  a  native  of  Iredell  county.  North  Carolina, 
and  arrived  in  the  .spring,  first  settling  the  land  now  known 
as  the  Harmony  place,  three  miks  northwest  of  Pinckney" 


ville.  When  he  came  to  the  county,  his  family  cons'sted  of 
a  wife  and  nine  children.  Not  being  satisfied  with  the 
selection  first  made,  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  he  removed 
to  Four-mile  prairie,  and  seltctid  a  house  on  the  southwest 
quarter  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  eleven,  township 
six  south,  of  range  three,  and  there  died  some  years  since. 
Afton  Crawford  settled  in  the  south  end  of  the  Four-mile 
prairie,  in  1827,  and  improved  what  is  now  known  as  the 
''  old  Bill  Murphy  "  place.  Jonathan  Petit,  from  Randolph 
county,  improved  what  is  now  the  county  poor  farm,  as 
early  as  1827. 

The  population  of  Tamaroa  precinct  was  largely  increased 
in  1828.  Nathan  G.  Curlee,  one  of  the  pioneer  local 
preachers,  found  a  home  on  section  seventeen  of  township 
four,  rauge  one.  The  first  neighbor  of  Mr.  Curlee  was 
Benjamin  Hammack,  who  brought  his  family,  and  selected 
a  portion  of  section  seventeen,  township  four,  range  one,  as 
hid  home.  Mr.  Hammack  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  but 
came  to  Perry  from  Jackson  county.  His  family  consisted 
of  a  wife  and  four  children.  Lewis  Hammack,  a  prominent 
lawyer  of  Pinckueyville,  is  a  son.  Immediately  following 
Mr.  Hammack  came  Stephen  Brown,  who  settled  on  the 
same  section. 

Paradise  precinct  received  as  pioneers  in  1828,  Edward, 
Minyard  i\nd  Robert  Gilliam,  brothers,  with  their  families 
from  Bradford  county,  Tennessee.  The  prairie  in  which 
they  settled  now  bears  their  name.  The  two  first  named 
died  in  the  precinct  and  Robert  in  Te.xas.  James  Jones,  a 
brother  of  William  Jones  who  first  came  into  the  township 
in  1827,  and  bought  the  claim  of  a  settler  nan)ed  Alexander 
Clark,  arrived  from  Tenne.ssee  with  a  wife  and  family  of 
several  children  in  1828.  With  James  Jones  came  an  old 
Tennessee  neighbor,  by  the  name  of  John  M.  Haggard,  who 
came  along  to  see  the  country.  Being  well  pleased  he 
immediately  returned  to  his  old  home  and  brought  out  his 
fomily — a  wife  and  child.  To  the  little  settlement  of  Grand 
Cote  was  added  in  1828,  James  Kirkpatrick  and  family  of 
South  Carolina,  » ho  made  their  home  on  section  nine. 
Among  the  number  of  pioneers  of  1^28,  settling  in  Pinck- 
ueyville, \vere  James  Steele,  who  settled  in  the  Four-mile 
prairie;  and  William  Craig  who  found  a  home  in  the 
immediate  vicinity.  Joshua  M  Rice,  a  native  of  Tennessee 
arrived  in  1829.  and  settled  in  Hutchings'  prairie,  where  he 
raised  one  crop ;  and  changed  his  home  to  township  four 
the  following  year.  Peyfam  Brown  was  also  a  settler  in  the 
immediate  neighborhood  the  same  year.  Among  the 
numerous  accessions  to  the  county  from  the  years  1829  to 
1838  inclusive,  were  Reuben  Kelly  and  Isaac  McCollum,  of 
Paradise;  the  Blands  of  Taniaroa;  John  White,  Robert  H. 
Allen,  William  M.  .\dair,  Hugh  Cooper,  Alexander  Crsig, 
William  Jvainey,  Benjamin  Ragland,  Solomon  Maxwell, 
John  jNIcMillen,  John  Hughey,  Newton  FiankKn  ib\ 
Joel  Rushing,  all  in  Grand  Cote.  The  last  named,  Joel 
Rushing,  was  a  native  of  Anson  County,  North  Carolina, 
and  while  a  mere  boy  was  taken  to  Bedford  County,  Ten- 
nessee. Here  he  grew  to  manhood,  found  a  wife  in  the 
person  of  Miss  Susannah  Hale,  and  came  to  Pcriy  County 
in  December,  18.38;  and   bought  one  hundred   and  twenty 


86 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


acres  of  land  from  James  McMillan's  father.  Evan  B. 
Rushing,  one  of  the  leading  lawyers  of  the  Perry  county 
bar,  is  a  son  of  this  pioneer.  Jeremiah  Dennis,  Jacob 
Walker;  Campbell  Stuart,  James  Meadows  and  Edmund 
Hodges  sought  homes  in  Beaucoup  precinct  during  this 
period.  Among  the  earliest  pioneers  who  attained  deserved 
political  prominence  was  Hawkins  S.  O^burn,  who  ably 
represented  his  people  in  the  General  Assembly  of  the 
state,  both  in  the  House  and  Senate.  He  was  a  lover  of 
fine  horses,  accumulated  a  handsome  property  and  died  a 
few  years  ago  at  a  ripe  old  age.  His  sou,  Thomas  Osburn, 
now  lives  upon  the  old  homestead,  and  is  said  to  be  a 
counterpart  of  his  honored  father. 

We  have  thus  briefly  sketched  the  early  pioneer  history 
of  the  county ;  and  the  reader  desirous  of  obtaining  a  more 
extended  history  of  those  named  in  this  chapter,  or  whose 
names  do  not  appear,  will  find  what  they  seek  in  the 
several  precinct  histories. 

MANNERS   AND   CUSTOMS   OF   THE   AMERICAN   PIONEERS. 

The  early  American  settlers  were  principally  from  the 
Southern  States  of  Virginia,  Kentucky  and  Tennessee. 
Some  came  from  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland.  A  New 
England  emigrant  was  rare.  Their  sense  of  independence 
was  one  of  the  marked  traits  of  their  character.  By  the 
necessities  of  their  situation  they  were  forced  into  singular 
and  different  employments.  They  were  compelled  to  act  as 
mechanics,  to  make  their  plows,  harness  and  other  farming 
implements,  to  tan  their  leather,  to  hunt  game,  while  at  the 
signal  of  danger  they  unhitched  their  horses  from  the  plow, 
and  were  ready  to  march  to  any  part  of  the  territory  in 
defence  of  their  homes. 

While  the  majority  of  settlers  were  without  means,  pov- 
erty carried  with  it  no  crushing  sense  of  degradation  like 
that  felt  by  the  very  poor  of  our  day.  They  lived,  it  is 
true,  in  a  cabin,  but  it  was  their  own,  and  had  been  reared 
by  their  own  hands.  Their  house,  too,  while  inconvenient 
and  far  from  water-proof,  was  built  in  the  prevailing  style 
of  architecture,  and  would  compare  favorably  with  the 
homes  of  their  neighbors.  They  were  destitute  of  many  of 
the  conveniences  of  life,  and  of  some  things  that  are  now 
considered  necessaries  ;  but  they  patiently  endured  their  lot 
and  hopefully  looked  forward  to  better.  They  had  plenty 
to  wear  as  protection  against  the  weather,  and  an  abundance 
of  ivholesome  food.  They  sat  down  to  a  rude  table  to  eat 
from  tin  or  pewter  dishes ;  but  the  meat  thereon  spread — 
the  flesh  of  the  deer  or  bear ;  of  the  wild  duck  or  turkey ; 
of  the  quail  or  squirrel — was  superior  to  that  we  eat,  and 
had  been  won  by  the  skill  of  the  head  o*'  the  house  or  of 
that  of  his  vigorous  sous.  The  bread  they  ate  was  made 
from  corn  or  wheat  of  their  own  raising.  They  walked  the 
green  carpet  of  the  grand  prairie  or  forest  that  surrounded 
them,  not  with  the  air  of  a  beggar,  but  with  the  elastic  step 
of  a  self-respected  freeman. 

The  settler  brought  with  him  the  keen  axe,  which  was 
indispensable,  and  the  equally  necessary  rifle ;  the  first  his 
weapon  of  offence  against  the  forests  that  skiited  the  water- 
courses, and  near  which  he  made  his  home ;  the  second  that 


of  defence  from  the  attacks  of  his  foe,  the  cunning  child  of 
the  forest  and  prairie. 

The  manner  of  building  was  as  follows  :  First,  large  logs 
were  laid  in  position  as  sills ;  on  these  were  placed  strong 
sleepers,  and  on  the  sleepers  were  laid  the  rough-hewed 
puncheons,  which  were  to  serve  as  floors.  The  logs  were 
then  built  up  till  the  proper  height  for  the  eaves  was 
reached  ;  then  on  the  ends  of  the  building  were  placed  poles, 
longer  than  the  other  end-logs,  which  projected  some 
eighteen  or  more  inches  over  the  sides,  and  were  called 
"  butting-pole  sleepers ;"  on  the  projecting  ends  of  these 
was  placed  the  "  butting-pole,"  which  served  to  give  the 
line  to  the  first  row  of  clap-boards.  These  were,  as  a 
matter  of  course,  split,  and  as  the  gables  of  the  cabin  were 
built  up,  were  so  laid  on  as  to  lap  a  third  of  their  length. 
They  were  often  kept  in  place  by  the  weight  of  a  heavy 
pole,  which  was  laid  across  the  roof  parallel  to  the  ridge- 
pole. The  house  was  then  chinked,  and  daubed  with  a 
coarse  mortar. 

A  huge  fire-place  was  built  at  one  end  of  the  house,  in 
which  fire  was  kindled  for  cooking  purposes,  for  the  settlers 
were  generally  without  stoves,  with  which  to  furnish  the 
needed  warmth  in  winter.  The  ceiling  above  was  some- 
times covered  with  the  pelts  of  the  raccoon,  opossum,  and 
of  the  wolf,  to  add  to  the  warmth  of  the  dwelling.  Some- 
times the  soft  inner  bark  of  the  bags  wood  was  used  for  the 
same  purpose.  The  cabin  was  lighted  by  means  of  greased 
paper-windows.  A  log  would  be  left  out  along  one  side,  and 
sheets  of  strong  paper,  well  greased  with  coon-grecse  or 
bear  oil,  would  be  carefully  tacked  in. 

The  above  description  only  applies  to  the  very  earliest 
times,  before  the  rattle  of  the  saw-mill  was  heard  within  our 
borders. 

The  furniture  comported  admirably  with  the  house  itself, 
and  hence,  if  not  elegant,  was  in  most  perfect  taste.  The 
tables  had  four  legs,  and  were  rudely  made  from  a  puncheon. 
Their  seats  were  stools  having  three  or  four  legs.  The  bed- 
stead was  in  keeping  with  the  rest,  and  was  often  so 
contrived  as  to  permit  it  to  be  drawn  up  and  fastened  to  the 
wall  during  the  day,  thus  attbrding  more  room  to  the 
family.  The  entire  furniture  was  simple,  and  was  framed 
with  no  other  tools  than  an  axe  and  auger.  Each  was  his 
own  carpenter;  and  some  displayed  considerable  ingenuity 
in  the  construction  of  implements  of  agriculture,  and 
utensils,  and  furniture  for  the  kitchen  and  house.  Knives 
and  forks  they  sometimes  had,  and  sometimes  had  not  The 
common  table  knife  was  the  pack  knife  or  butcher-knife. 
Horse  collars  were  sometimes  made  of  the  plaited  husk  of 
the  maize  sewed  together.  They  were  easy  on  the  neck  of 
the  horse,  and  if  tug-traces  were  used,  would  last  a  long 
while. 

The  common  dress  of  the  American  pioneer  was  very 
similar.  Home-made  wool  hats  were  usually  worn.  The 
covering  of  the  feet  were,  in  winter,  mostly  moccasins  made 
of  deer  skin  and  shoe-packs  of  tanned  leather.  In  the 
summer,  the  greater  portion  of  the  young  people,  male  and 
female,  and  many  of  the  old,  went  bare-footed.  The  sub- 
stantial and  universal  wear  was  the  blue  linsey  hunting- 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY'    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


87 


shirt.  Gov.  Reynolds  says  that  this  was  a  most  excellent 
garment,  and  that  he  never  felt  so  healthy  and  happy  after 
layicig  it  off.  Many  pioneers  wore  the  white  blanket  coat 
(the  French  rupot)  in  the  winter.  These  were  made  loose 
with  a  cap  or  cape  to  turn  over  the  head  in  extreme  cold 
weather.  The  vest  was  mostly  made  of  striped  linsey.  The 
coliirs  were  made  with  alum,  copperas  and  madder,  boiled 
with  the  bark  of  trees  in  such  manner  and  proportions  as 
the  old  ladies  prescribed.  The  shirts  worn  by  the  Americans 
were  generally  horn?  made,  of  flax  and  cotton  material. 
Some  voyagtrs  and  hunters  among  the  Americans  wore 
calico  and  checked  shirts,  but  these  were  not  in  common 
use.  The  pantaloons  of  the  masses  were  generally  deer- 
skins and  linsey,  and  sometimes  a  coarse  blue  cloth  was 
used.  In  early  times  factory  made  goods  did  not  exi.st. 
These  goods,  from  New  England  and  Kentucky,  reached 
Illinois  about  the  year  1818,  and  then  looms  and  spinning 
ceased.  Every  pioneer  had  a  rifle  and  carried  it  almo.'it 
wherever  he  went.  On  the  Sabbath  a  stack  of  rifles  might 
be  seen  outside  the  house  of  worship  while  within  the 
congregation  were  attending  service.  Almost  everybody 
was  a  hunter,  and  a  deer  was  as  likely  to  be  seen  on  Sunday 
as  on  any  other  day  of  the  week.  Neat  and  fine  linsey, 
manufactured  at  home  and  colored  and  woven  to  suit  the 
fancy,  composed  the  outside  garments  of  the  females.  A 
bonnet  of  calico  or  some  gayly-checked  goods,  was  worn  on 
the  head,  in  the  open  air.  Jewelry  was  unusual.  A  gold 
ring  was  an  ornament  not  often  seen. 

The  style  of  dress  began  to  change  about  the  year  1820. 
The  blue  linsey  hunting-shirt  with  red  or  whit^  fringe  gave 
place  to  the  cloth  coat.  Boots  and  shoes  supplanted  the 
deer  skin  moccasin.  By  the  year  1830  a  man  dressed  in 
the  costume  of  the  territory,  raccoon-skin  cap,  hunting- 
shirt,  buckskin  breeches  and  moccasins,  with  a  belt  around 
the  waist  to  which  a  knife  and  tomahawk  were  appended, 
was  rarely  to  be  seen.  The  female  sex  made  still  more 
rajjid  progress  in  adopting  modern  costumes. 

The  pioneers  were  exceedingly  friendly  and  sociable.  A 
new  comer  was  heartily  welcomed.  When  a  log  cabin  was 
to  be  raised,  whether  invited  or  not,  they  gathered  together 
and  enjoyed  a  backwoods  frolic  in  putting  it  up.  At  these 
house-raisings  much  sport  and  amusement  were  indulged  in. 
The  young  men  and  boys  tried  their  strength  and  skill  at 
jumping,  wresiling,  and  running  foot-races.  Old  and  young 
took  part  in  the  game  of  leap  frog.  Shooting  at  marks  was 
practiced  among  those  most  skilled  in  the  use  of  the  rifle. 
Among  a  group  of  older  men  would  figure  a  Kentuckian 
relating  his  adventures  on  flat-boats,  "  the  old  Broad  Horn," 
to  New  Orleans.  At  times,  a  bottle,  called  "  Black  Betty," 
filled  with  Monongahela  whiskey,  made  its  appearance,  and 
then  was  told  the  "hair-breadth  escapes"  and  thrilling 
adventures  of  the  pioneers.  A  log-rolling,  corn  husking,  or 
bee  (  f  any  kind,  called  the  settlers  together  for  miles  around. 
The  whole  neighborhood  assembled  and  split  rails,  cleartd 
land,  plowed  up  whole  fields,  and  the  like.  Pioneer  amuse- 
ment generally  clo.sed  the  day.  With  the  invitation  to  the  men 
commonly  came  one  to  the  women,  to  come  to  a  quilting. 
The  good  woman  of  the  house  where  the  festivities  were  to 


take  place,  would  be  busily  engaged  for  a  day  or  more  in 
preparation  for  the  coming  guests.  Great  quantities  of 
provisions  were  to  be  prepared,  for  dyspepsia  was  unknown 
to  the  pioneer,  and  good  appetites  were  the  rule  and  not  the 
exception. 

"The  bread  used  at  these  frolics  was  baked  generally  on 
Jonny  or  Jouniiij  cake-boards,  and  is  the  best  corn-bread 
ever  made.  A  board  is  made  smooth,  about  two  feet  long, 
and  eight  inches  wide — the  ends  are  generally  rounded. 
The  dough  is  spread  out  on  this  board,  and  placed  haning 
before  the  fire.  One  side  is  baked,  and  then  the  dough  is 
changed  on  the  board,  so  the  other  side  is  prcfeented,  in  its 
turn,  to  the  fire.  This  is  Joiiiii/-cake,  and  is  good,  if  the 
proper  materials  are  put  in  the  dough,  an<l  it  is  properly 
baked." — ReynnUlf'  Pioneer  Hidury. 

At  all  logrollings  and  house  raisings  it  was  customary  to 
provide  liquor.  Excesses  were  not  indulged  in,  however. 
The  fiddler  was  never  forgotten.  After  the  day's  work  had 
been  accomplished,  out  doors  and  in,  by  men  and  women, 
the  floor  was  cleared  and  the  merry  dance  began.  The 
handsome,  stalwart  young  men,  whose  fine  forms  were  the 
result  of  their  manly  out  door  life,  clad  in  fringed  buckskin 
breeches  and  gaudily  colored  hunting-shirts,  led  forth  the 
bright-eyed,  buxom  damsels,  attired  in  neatly-fitling- linsey- 
woolsey  garments,  to  the  dance,  their  cheeks  glowing  with 
health  and  eyes  speaking  of  enjoyment,  and  perhaps  a 
tenderer  emotion. 

The  following  description  of  a  "Shucking  "  of  the  oldea 
time  is  taken  from  Reynolds'  Pioneer  History  of  Illinois: 

"  In  pure  pioneer  times  the  crops  of  corn  were  never 
husked  on  the  stalk,  as  is  done  at  this  day;  but  were  hauled 
home  in  the  hu.'-k  and  thrown  in  a  heap,  generally  by  the 
side  of  the  crib,  so  that  the  ears,  when  husked,  could  be 
thrown  direct  into  the  crib.  The  whole  neighborhood,  male 
and  female,  were  invited  to  the  slmelrimj,  as  it  was  called. 
The  girls,  and  many  of  the  married  ladies,  generally 
engaged  in  this  amusing  work. 

'•  In  the  first  place  two  leading  expert  buskers  were 
chosen  as  captains,  and  the  heap  of  corn  divided  as  nearly 
equal  as  possible.  Rails  were  laid  across  the  pile  so  as  to 
designate  the  division  ;  and  then  each  captain  chose,  alter- 
nately, his  corps  of  buskers,  male  and  female.  The  whole 
number  of  working  hands  present  were  selected,  on  one  side 
or  the  other,  and  then  each  party  commenced  a  contest  to 
beat  the  other,  which  was  in  many  cases  truly  exciting. 
One  other  rule  was,  that  whenever  a  male  husked  a  red  ear 
of  corn,  he  was  entitled  to  a  ki.s  from  the  girls  This 
frequently  excited  much  fuss  and  scuffling,  which  was 
intended  by  both  parties  to  end  in  a  kiss.  It  was  a 
universal  practice  that  iaffia  or  Jlonongahela  whiskey  was 
used  at  these  husking  frolics,  which  they  drank  out  of  a 
bottle,  each  one,  male  and  female,  taking  the  bottle  and 
drinking  out  of  it,  and  then  handing  it  to  his  next  neighbor, 
without  using  any  glass  or  cup  whatever.  This  custom  was 
common,  and  not  considered  rude.  Almost  always  these 
corn-shucks  ended  in  a  dance.  To  prepare  for  this  amuse- 
nunt  fiddles  and  fidillers  were  in  great  demand;  and  it 
often  required  much  fast  riding  to  obtain  them.     One  violin 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND   PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


and  a  performer  were  all  that  was  conteraplated  at  these 
innocent  rural  games. 

"  Towards  dark,  and  the  supper  ladf  over,  then  it  was  that 
a  bustle  and  confusion  commenced.  The  confusion  of  tongues 
at  Babel  would  have  been  ashamed  at  the  corn-huskings. 
The  young  ones  hurrying  off  the  table,  and  the  old  ones 
contending  for  time  and  order.  It  was  the  case,  nine 
times  out  of  ten,  that  but  one  dwelling-house  was  on  the 
premises,  and  that  was  used  for  eating  as  well  as  dancing. 

"  But  wlien  the  fiddler  commenced  tuning  his  instrument, 
the  music  always  gained  the  victory  for  the  young  side. 
Then  the  dislies,  victuals,  table  and  all,  disappeared  in  a 
few  minutes,  and  the  room  was  cleared,  the  dogs  driven  out, 
and  the  floor  swept  off  ready  for  action.  The  floors  of  these 
houses  were  sometimes  the  natural  earth,  beat  solid,  some- 
times the  earth,  with  puncheons  in  the  middle  over  the  po- 
tato-hole, and  at  times  the  whole  floor  was  made  of  pun- 
cheons. 

"  The  music  at  these  country  dances  made  the  young  folks 
almost  frantic,  and  sometimes  much  excitement  was  dis- 
played to  get  on  the  floor  first.  Generally  the  fiddler  on 
these  occasions  assumed  an  important  bearing,  and  ordered, 
in  true  professional  style,  so  and  so  to  be  done ;  as  that  was 
the  way  in  North  Carolina,  where  he  was  raised.  The  de- 
cision ended  the  contest  for  the  floor.  In  those  days  they 
danced  jigs  and  four-handed  reels,  as  they  were  called. 
Sometimes  three-handed  reels  were  also  danced. 

"  In  these  dances  there  was  no  standing  still  ;  all  were 
moving  at  a  rapid  pjce  from  the  beginning  to  the  end.  In 
the  jigs  the  by-standers  cut  one  another  out,  as  it  was  called, 
so  that  this  dance  would  last  fur  hours.  Sometimes  the  par- 
ties in  a  jig  tried  to  tire  one  another  down  in  the  dance,  and 
then  it  would  also  last  a  long  time  before  one  or  the  other 
gave  up. 

"The  cotillion  or  stand-dill  dances  were  not  then  known. 

"The  bottle  went  around  at  these  parties  as  it  did  at  the 
shuckings,  and  male  and  female  took  a  dram  out  of  it  as  it 
passed  round  No  sitting  was  indulged  in,  and  the  folks 
either  stood  or  danced  all  night,  as  generally  daylight  ended 
the  frolic.  The  dress  of  these  hardy  pioneers  was  generally 
in  plain  homespun.  The  hunting-shirt  was  much  worn  at 
that  time,  which  is  a  convenient  working  or  dancing  dress. 
Sometimes  drassed  deer-skin  pantaloons  were  used  on  these 
occasions,  and  mawkaAsins — rarely  shoes — and  at  times 
bare  feet  were  indulged  in. 

"In  the  morning  all  go  home  on  horseback  or  on  foot. 
No  carriages,  wagons  or  other  vehicles  were  used  on  these 
occasions,  for  the  best  of  reasons — because  they  had  none." 

Reynolds  states  it  as  his  sincere  conviction  that  the  early 
pioneers  of  Illinois  were  more  moral  and  free  from  crime 
than  the  people  of  a  later  day.  Thefts  were  of  rare  occur- 
rence, and  forgery,  perjury,  and  similar  crimes  were  seldom 
perpetrated.  A  white  man  was  hung  for  murder  in  Kas- 
kaskia  in  the  year  1802,  and  an  Indian  in  lb04  ;  no  further 
instance  of  capital  puni-hment  in  Illinois  occurs  till  1821, 
when  Bennett  was  hung  at  Belleville  for  the  murder  of  Stu- 
art. In  the  early  history  of  the  county,  the  courts  were  in 
session  four  times  each  year  at  Cahokia,  but  the  grand  ju- 


ries frequently  adjourned  without  finding  a  single  indict- 
ment. While  the  higher  crimes  were  of  rare  occurrence, 
the  lesser  violations  of  law  were  not  unfrequent. 

The  use  of  into.xicating  li(]Uors  was  indulged  in  then  more 
than  now.  Drinking  was  fashionable  and  polite,  and  liquor 
was  considered  an  elemeut  in  the  conviviality  of  all  circles. 
The  French  seldom  carried  the  use  of  liquor  to  excess,  In- 
temperance, on  the  part  of  the  Americans,  was  greatest  in 
the  village  of  Cahokia  and  there,  as  also  at  Kaskaskia, 
many  good  citizens  were  injured  by  the  excessive  use  of 
ardent  spirits. 

The  Sabbath,  among  the  American  pioneers,  was  often 
employed  in  hunting,  fishing,  getting  up  stock,  hunting  bees, 
breaking  young  horses,  shooting  at  marks,  and  horse  and 
foot-racing  It  was,  however,  a  custom  to  cease  from  ordinary 
labor,  except  from  necessity,  on  that  day,  and  when  a  far- 
mer cut  his  harvest  on  Sunday,  public  opinion  condemned  it 
more  severely  than  at  present.  There  was  no  dancing,  and 
but  little  drinking.  In  many  localities  there  were  no  reli- 
gious meetings.  The  aged  people  generally  remained  at 
home  and  read  the  Bible  and  other  books.  The  French  ob- 
served Sunday  in  a  different  manner.  After  the  conclusion 
of  their  religious  service?,  the  rest  of  the  day  was  passed  in 
amusements,  merriment  and  recreation.  Dancing  was  com- 
mon on  the  Sabbath,  and  frequently  houses  were  raised  and 
the  militia  trained.  Public  sales  of  land  and  Other  property 
were  held,  in  early  times,  by  the  French  at  the  church  door 
on  Sundays,  after  the  close  of  the  service.  The  French 
rarely  engaged  in  common  broils  and  disturbances.  They 
detested  a  quarrelsome,  fighting  man.  With  the  Ameri- 
cans personal  combats  were  frequent.  A  slight  dispute  led 
to  a  fight ;  but  the  combatants  often  good-humoredly  made 
it  up  before  parting.  These  combats  scarcely  ever  occurred 
unLss  the  parties  had  been  drinking.  No  rules  were  ob- 
served. At  times  eyes  and  ears  were  much  injured,  and  were 
sometimes  destroyed. 

All  species  of  gaming  were  commim.  Card-playing  was 
sustained  by  the  best  classes.  A  person  who  could  not, 
or  would  not,  play  cards,  was  considered  destitute  of  one  of 
the  accomplishments  of  genteel  society.  The  French  delighted 
much  in  this  amusement,  and  thus  assisted  in  giving  card- 
parties  more  standing  and  popularity  among  the  Americans. 
During  the  hot  summer  months,  in  early  times,  the  French 
played  cards  incessantly  in  the  shade  of  the  galleries  of  their 
houses.  They  frequently  played  without  betting,  but  at 
times  wagered  heavily.  The  most  common  game  of  cards 
was  called  "loo."  The  voyageurs  indulged  in  this  sport 
more  than  any  other  class  of  citizens.  The  ladies  often 
amused  themselves  at  the  game. 

Horse  racing  was  one  of  the  most  popular  amusements. 
The  quarter  races  were  the  most  common,  and  at  these  the 
most  chicanery  and  juggling  was  practiced.  The  most 
celebrated  and  famous  horse-race  in  Illinois,  in  early  times, 
was  run  in  the  upper  end  of  the  Horse  prairie,  in  Kandolph 
county,  in  the  spring  of  the  year  1803.  The  two  horses 
which  made  the  race  were  of  the  same  size.  They  ran  three 
miles  and  repeat,  for  a  wager  of  five  hundred  dollars.  The 
bye-bets  and  all  must  have  amounted  to  a  thousand  dollars. 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY  COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


89 


or  more,  which  in  those  days  was  considered  a  very  large 
sum.  In  1806  Robert  Pulliam,  of  Illinois,  and  a  Mr.  Mu- 
sick,  of  Missouri,  made  a  bet  of  two  hundred  dollars  on  a 
race  between  two  horses,  of  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  to  be  run  on 
the  ice  in  the  Mississippi  river,  a  short  distance  above  St. 
Louis.  The  race  came  off,  and  was  ran  without  injury  to 
either  the  horses  or  riders.  Foot-racing,  jumj)iug  and 
wrestling  were  much  practiced  by  the  Americans.  Bets  of 
some  magnitude  were  made  on  foot-races  as  well  as  horse- 
races. Governor  Reynolds,  in  his  youth,  was  one  of  the  best 
in  a  foot-race,  and  won  many  wagers  in  Randolph  county, 
then  his  residence. 

With  the  Americans  shooting-matches  occurred  frequently. 
These  were  generally  held  on  (Saturdays,  and  as  often  as 
every  week,  in  summer.  A  beef  was  usually  the  prize.  A 
keg  of  wiiiskey  was  generally  carried  to  these  shooting- 
matches,  on  horseback,  and  sometimes  a  violin  made  its 
appearance,  and  the  crowd  d.iuced  for  hours.  Aged  matrons 
frequently  attended,  with  a  neat,  clean  keg  of  metheglin, 
which  they  dirpensed  to  the  thirsty.  This  drink  was  made 
of  honey  and  water,  properly  fermented,  was  pleasant  to  the 
taste,  and  had  no  power  to  intoxicate.  The  old  lady  some- 
times brought  her  knitting  and  sewing  with  her,  and  would 
frequently  relate  tales  of  the  tories  ''  back  iu  North  Caro- 
lina," during  the  Revolution. 

Agriculturf  was  at  first,  of  course,  carried  on  only  to  a 
limited  extent.  The  inhabitants  of  the  New  Design  settle- 
ment were  the  first  to  begin,  about  the  year  1800,  the  culti- 
vation of  fall  wheat  to  an)'  considerable  extent.  In  cutting 
the  wheat,  sickles,  or  reap-hooks,  were  the  only  implements 
used.  There  were  no  cradles.  Reaping  with  a  sickle  was  a 
severe  labor.  Wheat  at  that  day  sold  for  one  dollar  a  bushel. 
A  short  distance  from  the  farms,  on  the  prairies,  or  in  places 
in  the  timber,  patches  of  grass  were  selected  and  mowed, 
and  this,  as  well  as  reaping  wheat,  was  hot,  hard  work. 
The  Americans  at  that  day,  generally  stacked  their  hay  and 
wheat  out,  but  the  French  had  barns  which  they  Ured  for 
this  purpose.  The  French  barns  were  made  of  large  cedar 
posts,  put  in  the  ground  some  two  feet,  and  set  apart  four 
or  five  feet — the  space  between  filled  up  with  puncheons  put 
in  grooves  on  the  posts,  and  the  whole  covered  with  a 
thatched  rotf.  Threshing  and  cleaning  the  wheat  wsis  in 
olden  times  a  great  trouble.  The  process  of  winnowing  with 
a  sheet  was  slow  and  hard  work. 

Considerable  quantities  of  corn  were  shipped  from  Illinois 
in  flat-boats  to  New  Orleans  before  the  purchase  of 
Louisiana.  It  was  an  uncertain  market,  and  the  navigation 
of  the  river  was  more  uncertain  still.  Stock,  cattle  and  hogs 
were  raised  for  the  New  Orleans  market  The  commerce 
on  the  river  and  the  Indian  trade  consumed  the  small 
surplus  product  of  the  farms.  Irish  potatoes  were  raised 
in  abundance,  and  the  crops  scarcely  ever  failed.  Only 
small  quantities  of  cheese  and  butter  were  made,  scarcely 
enough  for  home  consumption.  The  French  scarcely  ever 
troubled  themselves  with  milking  cows,  but  turned  the 
calves  out  with  the  other  cattle,  and  made  little  or  no 
butter.  That  portion  of  the  population  .scarcely  ever  used 
a  ohurn,  a  loom,  or  a  wheel.  The  apple  orchards  in  propor- 
12 


tion  to  the  population  were  numerous.  The  French  also 
cultivated  orchards  of  pears,  but  the  peach-tree  was  entirely 
neglected.  The  greater  portion  of  the  merchants  made  the 
Indian  trade  their  main  object.  The  furs  and  peltries  were 
articles  in  great  demand,  and  were  generally  shipped  to 
Mackinaw,  i'hiladelphia,  and  New  Orleans.  The  French 
horses,  known  as  "  French  ponies,"  were  sold  in  great  num- 
bers to  the  Indians.  Guns,  powder,  lead,  and  all  Indian 
goods,  blankets,  blue  strouding  and  made-up  calico  shirts, 
formed  large  items  in  the  commerce  of  the  day — as  the 
Indians  were  much  more  numerous  than  the  whites. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


CIVIL  IIISTOI}Y  FROM  177S   TO  lsl«. 


SJ^' 


RANDOLPH  COUNTY. 
OON  after  the  capture  of  the  British  mili- 
tary posts  north  of  the  Ohio  river  by 
George  Rogers  Clark  in  1778,  the  au- 
thorities of  Virginia,  in  whose  name 
Clark  had  made  his  conquests,  effected 
arrangements  for  the  organization  [of 
a  civil  government  of  the  newly  acquired 
territory.  The  General  Assembly  of 
Virginia,  in  October,  1778,  passed  "an 
Act  for  establishing  the  County  uf  Illitwis  and  for  the  more 
eflTectual  protection  and  defense  thereof."  That  County  of 
Illinois  "embraced  all  that  territory  out  of  which  in  subse- 
quent years  were  formed  the  States  of  Ohio  Indiana,  Illinois, 
Michigan  and  Wisconsin.  The  State  of  Virginia,  then  in 
its  infancy,  and  with  the  twelve  sister  States  engaged  in  the 
terrible  struggle  for  independence,  hastened  to  provide  a  gov- 
ernment for  this  immense  territory,  and  selected  the  ancient 
French  village  of  Kaskaskia  as  the  seat  for  such  govern- 
ment. The  Act  mentioned  above  authorized  the  governor 
to  appoint  a  County-Lieutenant  or  commandant,  who  could 
appoint  and  commission  deputy  commandants,  militia  offi- 
cers and  commissaries.  The  religion  and  customs  of  the 
inhabitants  were  to  be  respected  and  all  civil  officers  were 
to  be  chosen  by  the  people  of  the  respective  districts.  The 
County  Lieutenant  had  power  to  pardon  all  offenders,  ex- 
cept murderers  and  traitors.  The  governor  was  authorized 
to  levy  500  men  to  garrison  and  protect  the  county,  and 
keep  up  communication  with  Virginia  and  with  the  settle- 
ments on  the  Spanish  (West)  side  and  to  take  measures  to 
supply  goods  to  the  inhabitants  and  friendly  Indians. 
Patrick  Henry,  the  honortd  patriot,  was  then  governor  of 
Virginia:  he  selected  his  friend,  John  Todd,  for  the  diffi- 
cult and  responsible  position  of  County-Lieutenant  on  the 
12th  of  December,  1778.  The  letter  of  appointment  was 
dated  at  Williamsburg,  then  the  cai)itol  of  Old  Virginia. 
It  is  spread  in  full  on  the  first  five  pages  of  Todd's  Record 
Book,  signed  by  Patrick  Henry  himself  This  Record- 
Book  was  found  among  a  number  of  documents  removed  from 
Kaskaskia  to  Chester  in  1847,  aud   is  now  in  possession  of 


90 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


the  Historical  Society  of  Chicago.  Robert  G.  Detrick, 
Esq.,  of  Chester,  tooii  the  precaution  of  making  a  complete 
copy  of  the  contents  of  said  record-book,  before  placing  it 
in  the  custody  of  said  Society,  and  to  him  the  writer  is 
indebted  for  ihe  following  complete  abstract,  to  wit: 

"  P.iTEicK  Henry's  Letter  to  John  Todd,  Esq. 

Williamsburg,  December  12,  1778. 
To  John  Todd,  Esq  : 

By  virtue  of  the  act  of  the  General  Assembly  which 
established  the  county  of  Illinois  you  are  appointed  County- 
Lieutenant  or  commandant  there,  and  for  the  general  ten- 
nour  of  your  conduct  I  refer  you  to  the  law. 

The  grand  objects  which  are  disclosed  to  the  view  of  your 
countrymen  will  prove  beneficial  or  otherwise  according  to 
the  value  and  abilities  of  those  who  are  caljed  to  direct  the 
affairs  of  that  remote  country.  The  present  crisis  rendered 
80  favorable  by  the  good  disposition  of  tlie  French  and 
Indians  may  be  improved  to  great  purposes,  but  if  unhap- 
pily it  should  be  lost,  a  return  of  the  .same  attachment  to  us 
may  never  happen  ;  considering  therefore  that  early  preju- 
dices are  so  hard  to  wear  out  you  will  take  care  to  cultivate 
the  affections  of  the  French  and  Indians. 

Although  great  reliance  is  placed  on  your  prudence  in 
managing  the  people  you  are  to  reside  among,  yet  consider- 
ing you  as  unacquainted  in  some  degree  with  their  genius, 
usages  and  manners  as  well  as  the  geography  of  the  country, 
I  commend  it  to  you  to  consult  and  advise  with  the  most 
intelligent  and  upright  persons  who  may  fall  in  your  way. 

You  are  to  give  particular  attention  to  Colonel  Clark 
and  his  corps,  to  whom  the  State  has  great  obligations.  You 
are  to  cooperate  with  him  on  any  military  undertaking  when 
necessary,  and  to  give  the  military  every  aid  which  the  cir- 
cumstance of  the  people  will  admit  of.  The  inhabitants  of 
the  Illinois  must  not  expect  settled  peace  and  safety  while 
their  and  our  enemies  have  footing  at  Detroit  and  can  inter- 
cept or  stop  the  trade  of  the  Mississippi.  If  the  English 
have  not  the  strength  or  courage  to  come  to  war  against  us 
themselves,  their  practice  has  been  and  will  be  to  hire  the 
savages  to  commit  murders  and  depredations.  Illinois  must 
expect  to  pay  in  these  a  large  price  for  her  freedom,  unless 
the  English  can  be  expelled  from  Detroit.  The  means  of 
effecting  this  will  not  perhaps  be  found  in  your  or  Colonel 
Clark's  power,  but  the  French  inhabiting  the  neighborhood 
of  that  place,  it  is  presumed,  may  be  brought  to  see  it  done 
with  indifference  or  perhaps  join  in  the  enterprise  with 
pleasure.  This  is  but  conjecture.  When  you  are  on  the 
spot  you  and  Col.  Clark  may  discover  its  fallacy  or  reality,  if 
the  former  appears.  Defense  only  is  to  be  the  object  of  the 
latter  or  a  good  prospect  of  it.  I  hope  the  Frenchmen  and 
Indians  at  your  disposal  will  show  a  zeal  for  the  affairs 
equal  to  the  benefits  to  be  derived  from  establishing  liberty 
and  permanent  peace. 

One  great  good  expected  from  holding  the  Illinois  is  to 
overawe  the  Indians  from  warring  on  our  settlers  on  this 
side  of  the  Ohio;  a  close  attention  to  the  disposition,  char- 
acter and  movements  of  the  hostile  tribes  is  therefore  neces- 
sary for  you.     The  forces  and  militia  at  Illinois,  by  being 


placed  on  the  back  of  them,  may  inflict  timely  chastisement 
on  these  enemies,  whose  towns  are  an  easy  prey  in  absence 
of  their  warriors. 

You  perceive  by  these  hints  that  something  in  the  military 
line  from  you,  so  far  as  the  occasion  calls  for  assistance  of 
the  people  composing  the  militia,  it  will  be  necessary  to 
cooperate  with  the  troops  sent  from  here,  and  I  know  of  no 
better  general  direction  to  give  than  this,  that  you  consider 
yourself  at  the  head  of  the  civil  department,  and  as  such 
having  the  command  of  the  militia,  who  are  not  to  be  under 
the  command  of  the  military  until  ordered  out  by  the  civil 
authority  and  to  act  in  conjunction  with  them. 

You  are  on  all  occasions  to  inculcate  on  the  people  the 
value  of  liberty,  and  the  difference  between  the  state  of  free 
citizens  of  this  commonwealth  and  that  slavery  to  which  the 
Illinois  was  destined.  A  free  and  equal  representation  may 
be  expected  by  them  in  a  little  time,  together  with  all  the 
improvements  in  jurisprudence  and  police  which  the  other 
parts  of  the  State  enjoy. 

It  is  necessary  for  the  happiness,  increase  and  prosperity 
of  that  country  that  the  grievances  that  obstruct  these 
blessings  be  known  in  order  to  their  removal ;  let  it,  there- 
fore, be  your  care  to  obtain  information  on  that  subject  that 
proper  plans  may  be  formed  for  the  general  utility.  Let  it 
be  your  constant  attention  to  see  that  the  inhabiiants  have 
justice  administered  to  them  for  any  injury  rec'd  from  the 
troops  ;  the  omission  of  this  may  be  fatal.  Col.  Clark  has 
instructions  on  this  head  and  will,  I  doubt  not,  exert  himself 
to  curb  all  licentious  practices  of  the  soldiery,  which,  if  un- 
restrained, will  produce  the  most  baneful  effects. 

You  will  also  discountenance  and  punish  every  attempt 
to  violate  the  property  of  the  Indians,  particularly  in  their 
land.  Our  enemies  have  alarmed  them  much  on  that 
score,  but  I  hope  from  your  prudence  and  justice  that  no 
grounds  of  complaint  will  be  administered  on  this  subject. 
You  will  embrace  every  opportunity  to  manifest  the  high 
regard  and  friendly  sentiments  of  this  commonwealth 
toward  all  the  subjects  of  his  Catholic  Majesty  for  whose 
safety,  prosperity  and  advantage  you  will  give  every  possi- 
ble advantage.  You  will  make  a  tender  of  the  friendship 
and  services  of  your  people  to  the  Spanish  commandant 
near  Kaskaskia  and  cultivate  the  strictest  connection  with 
him  and  his  people.  I  deliver  you  a  letter  which  you  will 
hand  to  him  in  person.  The  details  of  your  duty  in  the 
civil  department  I  need  not  give  you,  its  best  direction  will 
be  found  in  your  innate  love  of  justice  and  zeal  to  be  in- 
tensely useful  to  your  fellow-men.  A  general  direction  to 
act  according  to  the  best  of  your  judgment  in  cases  where 
these  instructions  are  silent  and  the  laws  have  not  other- 
wise directed  is  given  to  you  from  the  necessity  of  the  cases 
for  your  great  distance  from  government  will  not  permit 
you  to  wait  for  orders  in  many  cases  of  great  importance. 

In  your  negotiations  with  the  Indians  confine  the  stipula' 
as  much  as  possible  to  the  single  object  of  obtaining  from 
them  touch  not  the  subject  of  land  or  boundaries  till  par- 
ticular orders  are  received  ;  where  necessity  requires  it 
presents  may  be  made,  but  be  as  frugal  in  that  matter  as 
possible,  and  Jet  them  know  that  Goods  at  present  is  scarce 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


91 


with  us,  but  we  expect  soon  to  trade  freely  with  all  the 
world  and  they  shall  not  want  when  we  can  get  them.  The 
matters  given  you  in  charge  are  singular  in  their  nature 
and  weighty  in  their  consequences  to  the  people  imme- 
diately concerned,  and  the  whole  state  they  require  the 
fullest  exertion  of  your  ability  and  unwearied  diligence. 
From  matters  of  general  concern  you  must  turn  occasionally 
to  others  of  less  consequence.  Mr.  Iluseblave's  wife  and 
family  mus;  not  suffer  for  want  of  that  property  of  which 
they  were  bereft  by  our  troops,  it  is  to  be  restored  to  them 
if  possible,  if  this  cannot  be  done  the  public  must  supijort 
them. 

I  think  it  proper  for  you  to  send  me  an  express  once  in 
three  months  with  a  general  account  of  affairs  with  you  and 
any  particulars  you  wish  to  communicate  It  is  in  con- 
templation to  appoint  an  agent  to  manage  trade  on  public 
accounts  to  supply  Illinois  and  Indians  with  goods.  If  such 
an  appointment  takes  place  you  will  give  it  every  possible 
aid.  The  people  with  you  should  not  intermit  their  en- 
deavors to  procure  su[)plies  on  the  expectation  of  this,  and 
you  may  act  accordingly. 

P.  Henry." 

Hon.  Edward  G.  Mason,  in  his  "  Illinois  in  the  18th 
Century  "  comments  on  the  contents  of  said  letter  as  follows; 
"  This  letter  is  notsu  h  a  one  as  territorial  governors  would 
be  likely  to  receive  in  our  days.  It  deals  with  higher  things 
than  those  which  occupy  the  modern  politician.  The  Lieu- 
tenant's care  must  be  to  remove  the  grievances  that  obstruct 
the  happiness  and  prosperity  of  that  country,  and  his  con- 
stant attention  to  see  that  the  inhabitants  have  justice  ad- 
ministered. He  is  to  discountenance  and  punish  every 
attempt  to  violate  the  property  of  ihe  Indians  To  the 
Spanish  Commandant  near  Kaskaskia  be  is  to  tender  friend- 
ship and  services,  and  he  is  warned  that  the  matters  given 
in  his  charge  are  '  singular  in  their  nature  and  weighty  in 
their  consequences  to  the  people  immediately  concerned,  and 
to  the  whole  state.'  Then  with  that  high  .sense  of  justice 
and  humanity  which  distinguished  the  man,  Henry  turns 
from  state  affairs  to  right  the  wrongs  of  the  helpless  wife 
and  children  of  his  country's  enemy.  The  family  of  Mr. 
Koseblave,  the  late  British  commandant  at  Kaskaskia,  had 
been  left  among  the  hostile  people  there,  while  the  husband 
and  father  was  a  prisoner  in  Virginia  and  their  possessions 
had  been  confiscated. 

Conciliatiiin  of  the  newly  enfranchised  inhabitants,  selec- 
tion of  competent  advisers,  defense  against  foreign  and 
native  enemies,  subordination  of  the  military  to  the  civil 
arm  of  the  government,  establishment  of  Republican  insti- 
tutions, administration  of  equal  justice  to  all,  an  alliance 
with  friendly  neighbors,  encouragement  of  trade,  and  the 
exertion  of  the  commandant  of  unwearied  diligence,  zeal 
and  ability  in  behalf  of  his  people  ;  such  are  the  principal 
heads  of  this  able  and,  for  its  time,  extraordinary  State 
paper.  It  shows  ua  that  the  man,  who  had  taken  the  grave 
responsibility  of  the  secret  instructions  which  led  to  the  cap- 
tureof  the  Illinois  country,  was  competent  to  direct  the  next 
step  in  its  career.     He  could  wisely  govern  what  had  been 


bravely  won.  With  all  the  cares  of  a  new  state  engaged  in 
a  war  for  its  independence  resting  upon  his  shoulders,  pro- 
scribed as  a  traitor  to  the  mother  country,  and  writing 
almost  within  sound  of  the  guns  of  the  British  fleet  upon 
the  James,  he  looked  with  calm  vision  into  the  future  and 
laid  well  the  foundations  of  another  commonwealth  beyond 
the  Ohio." 

John  Todd  arrived  at  Kaskaskia  on  the  first  day  of  May, 
1779,  as  stated  in  the  journal  of  Col.  Clark  who  says :  "  The 
civil  department  in  the  Illinois  had  heretofore  robbed  me  of 
too  much  of  my  time  that  ought  to  be  spent  in  military 
reflection.  I  was  now  likely  to  be  relieved  by  Col.  John 
Todd,  appointed  by  government  for  that  purpose.  I  was 
anxious  for  his  arrival  and  happy  in  his  appointment,  as 
the  greatest  intimacy  and  friendship  subsisted  between  us ; 

and   on  the day  of    May,  1779,  had    the  pleasure  of 

seeing  him  safely  landed  at  Kaskaskia  to  the  joy  of  every 
person.  I  now  saw  myself  happily  rid  of  a  piece  of  trouble 
that  I  had  no  delight  in." 

Col.  Todd  was  not  slow  to  assume  his  labors,  as  will  be 
seen  from  his  record  book,  page  6,  containing  his  first  entry 
in  reference  to  appointing  and  commissioning  deputy-com- 
mandants and  otticers  of  the  militia,  dated  May  14,  1779,  to 
wit :     (copied  verbatim.) 

Made  out  the  military  commissions  for  the  district  of 
Kaskaskia,  dated  May  14th,  1779:  Richard  Winston, 
Commandant,  as  Capt.  ;  Nicholas  Janis,  First  company, 
captain  ;  Baptiste  Charleville,  1st  Lieutenant ;  Charles 
Charleville,  2nd  Lieutenant;  ]\Iichael  Godis,  Ensign. 

Second  company :  Joseph  Du  Plassy,  ca|)tain  ;  Nicholas 
Le  Chance,  1st  Lieutenant;  Charles  Danee,  '2d  Lieutenant; 
Baptiste  Janis,  Ensign. 

"  17th  May,  sent  a  commission  of  commandant  of  Prairie 
du  Rucher  and  captain  of  the  militia  to  Jean  B.  Barbeau. 

The  District  of  Kohokia. — Francois  Trotter  (should  be 
Trotier),  commandant ;  Tourangeau,  captain  l?t  com- 
pany ;  Girardin,  lieutenant;  C.  Marthen,  lieutenant; 

Sausfaron,  ensign.     Commission  dated  14th  May,  1779, 

"'Myear  of  th-.  Conimonweixlth."  (This  latter  clause  is  not 
without  significance.  How  firmly  must  the  patriots  of  those 
days  have  been  convinced  of  their  success,  to  commence  their 
reckoning  of  time  from  the  date  of  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence, years  before  it  was  established  !) 

The  attention  of  Todd  was  next  directed  towards  estab- 
lishing the  courts.  The  statutory  provision  to  have  all  civil 
oflicers  elected  by  a  majority  of  the  people,  was  carried  out, 
as  appears  from  the  entries  made  on  pages  7  and  8,  to  which 
the  reader  is  referred.  This  election  was  held  in  the  month 
of  May,  1779,  and  was  the  first  election  ever  held  in  Illinois. 
We  have  spent  days  in  search  of  those  election  returns, 
which  would  have  furnished  a  list  of  names  of  the  voting 
population  of  the  territory  and  been  almost  equivalent  to  a 
census.  The  search  was  in  vain.  The  documents  had  been 
lost  ordestroycd.  An  cft'ort  to  save  them,  made  by  Hon.  W. 
C.  Flagg,  while  senator  of  Ma<lison  county,  in  18G9,  proved 
abortive,  for  the  oflicer  in  custody  of  those  documents  per- 
emptorily reined  to  let  Mr.  Flagg  have  them.  The  latter, 
fully  aware  of  the  hi^torical  value  of  many  of  those  docu- 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


nients,  pledged  himself  to  return  them,  arranged  in  throno- 
logical  order,  and  substantially  bound  at  his  own  expense, 
as  soon  as  he  had  copied  the  most  interesting  documents. 
All  was  in  vain.  S.  St.  Vrain  would  listen  to  no  proposals 
of  the  kind,  although  the  county  authorities  had  made  an 
order  to  transmit  those  documeuts  to  Mr.  Flagg.  Was  it 
a  sense  of  duty  that  prompted  St.  Vrain  to  disobey?  Who 
knows  ?  The  result  of  his  refusal  is  in  any  event  very  much 
to  be  deplored. 

The  entry  above  referred  to  is  as  follows  :  "  List  of  the 
Court  of  Kaskaskia,  as  elected  by  the  people:  1.  Gabriel 
Cerre ;  2.  Joseph  Du  PlaFsy  ;  3.  Jaques  Lesource ;  4.  Ni- 
cholas Janis  ;  5.  J.  B  Barbeau  ;  6.  Nicholas  Le  Chance  ; 
7.  Charles  Charleville  ;  8.  Antoin  Duchafours  de  Louvirres, 

and  9.  Girradot  (probably  Girardin).      Carbo- 

neau,  clerk  ;  Richard  Winston,  sheriff.     Court  of  Kohokias : 

1.  Touranjeau  (Godin)  ;  2.  Frangois  Trottier ;    3.  Charles 

Gratiot ;   4.  Gieradin  ;    5.   B.  Saucier ;    6.  M.  Beau 

lieu  ;  7.  C.  Martheu.  Fran9ois  Saucier,  clerk  ;  J.  B.  Le 
Croix,  sheriff.     The  Court  of  St.  Vincennes  :   1.  P.  Lfgras; 

2.  Francois  Bosserau  ;    3.  Perrot ;   4.  Cardinal 

(refused  to  serve)  ;  5.  Guerry  La  Tulippe ;  6    P.  Gamelin  ; 

7. Edeline;  8. Degeuest ;   9.  Barron.     

Legrand,  clerk  ;  ,  sheriff. 

Militia  officers  of  St.  Vincennes  :  P.  Legras,  lieut-  col. ;  F. 
Bosserou,  major ;  La  Tulippe,  1st  captain  ;  Ede- 
line, 2d  ;   M.   Brouilet,   3d  (rank  not  settled)    [capt.]  ;    P. 

Garmliu,  4th;    1. ;    2.  Godin,  lieut.  ;  o. 

Godin,  lieut. ;    4. .       1. ;   2. 

Joseph  Rougas  ;    3. Richerville  ;   4. Richerville. 

The  reader  will  observe  that  by  far  the  greater  number 
of  those  ofhcials  elected  as  well  of  militia  officers  appointed 
are  French.  Anglo-American  names  are  but  few.  The 
fact  that  many  of  the  nnlitia  officers  are  also  members  of  the 
courts,  leadj  us  to  infer,  that  the  material  for  "officers"  was 
not  as  plentiful  as  in  our  days,  and  strange  to  say,  one  of 
the  judges  of  Vincennes,  Monsieur  Cardinal,  refused  to 
serve.  The  reason  for  his  refusil  is  not  stated,  but  what 
"  Cardinal"  would  be  satisfied  with  the  fourth  place  on  the 
bench  ? 

The  attention  of  Todd  is  next  given  to  the  encouragement 
of  trade  and  business,  for  page  eleven  contains  a  copy  of  a 
license  of  trade  issued  to  Richard  McCarty.  (The  reader 
will  find  this  name  again  in  the  subsequent  chapter  on 
Monroe  county). 

The  document  introduced  here  is  the  first  of  its  kind 
issued  in  Illinois,  from  it  the  reader  will  learn,  that  to 
become  a  trader,  a  man  had  to  be  a  patriot  first,  and  also  to 
prove  his  integrity,  etc.  We  further  learn,  that  the  loyal 
citizens  of  those  days  were  '■  liege  subjects."  Here  follows 
the  license : 

LICENSE     FOR    TRADE. 

To  all  to  whom  these  presents  shall  come.  Greeting: 
Know  ye,  that  whereas  Richard  McCarty,  gentleman,  hath 
produced  a  recommendation  from  the  Court  of  District  of 
Kohokia,  certifying  his  patriotism,  integrity  and  knowledge 
in  trade  and  merchandizing.  These  are,  therefore,  to 
licBDEe  and  permit  the  said   R.  McCarty  to   traffic  and 


merchandize  with  all  the  liege  subjects  and  friends  of  the 
United  States  of  America,  of  what  nation  soever  they  be, 
and  to  erect  factories  and  stores  at  any  convenient  place  or 
places  he  shall  think  proper  within  the  commonwealth 
aforesaid.  Provided,  that  by  virtue  hereof,  no  pretence 
shall  be  made  to  trespass  upon  the  effects  or  property  of 
individuals. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  seal  at  Kaskaskia,  the  5th  of 
June,  1779,  in  the  third  year  of  the  commonwealth. 

The  financial  question  of  the  day  now  claimed  the  atten- 
tion of  the  indefatigable  lieutenant.  The  paper  money  of 
the  young  commonwealth  of  Virginia,  as  well  as  that  of  the 
United  States,  was  "  cried  down "  in  the  streets  of  the 
villages.  The  rapid  depreciation  of  this  curreiicy  was 
severely  felt  in  the  county  of  Illinois,  and  attracted  Todd's 
attention.  His  letter  to  the  court  of  Kaskaskia  on  the 
subject  is  worth  preserving,  to  wit: 

LETTER    TO    THE    COURT    OF     KASKASKIA. 

"Gentlemen:  The  only  methcd  America  has  to  support 
the  present  just  war  is  by  her  credit.  That  credit  at  present 
is  her  bills  emitted  from  the  different  treasuries,  by  which 
she  engages  to  pay  the  bearer  at  a  certain  time  gold  and 
silver  in  exchange.  There  is  no  friend  to  American  Inde- 
pendence who  has  any  judgment  but  soon  expects  to  see  it 
equal  to  gold  and  silver.  Some  disaffect-d  persons  and 
designing  speculators,  discredit  it  through  enmity  or 
interest;  the  ignorant  multitude  have  not  sagacity  enough 
to  examine  into  this  matter,  and  merely  from  its  uncommon 
quantity  and  in  proportion  to  it  arises  the  complaint  of  its 
want  of  credit.  This  has  for  some  years  been  the  case  near 
the  seat  of  war,  the  disorder  has  spread  at  last  as  far  as  the 
Illinois,  and  calls  loudly  for  a  remedy.  In  the  interior 
counties  this  remedy  is  a  heavy  tax  now  operating,  from 
which  an  indulgent  government  has  exempted  us.  One 
only  remedy  remains  which  is  lodged  within  my  power,  that 
is  by  receiving  on  behalf  of  government  such  sums  as  the 
people  shall  be  induced  to  lend  upon  a  sure  fund,  and 
thereby  decreasing  the  (|uantity  ;  the  mode  of  doing  this  is 
alread}'  ])lanned  and  shall  be  always  openlo  your  inspection 
and  examinatiou  with  the  proceedings,  and  I  must  request 
your  concurrence  and  assistance,  I  am  gentlemen,  your  most 
obedient  servant.  John  Todd." 

The  record  book  next  contains  a  plan  or  mode  of  relief, 
as  follows : 

Plan  for  borrowing  33,333i  dollars  of  Treasury  Notes 
both  belonging  to  this  State  and  the  United  States.  Where- 
as, owing  to  no  other  reason  than  the  prodigious  quantity 
of  Treasury  Notes  now  in  circulation  the  value  of  almost 
every  commodity  has  risen  to  most  enormous  prices ;  the 
preserving  of  the  credit  of  the  said  bills  by  reducing  the 
quantity  requires  some  immediate  remedy  it  is  therefore  de- 
clared : 

1.  That  21,000  acres  of  land  belonging  to  this  common- 
wealth shall  be  laid  off  as  soon  as  may  be  boundeel  thus: 
Beginning  on  the  bank  of  the  Missii-sippi  in  the  district  of 
Kohokia  at  Richard  McCarty 's  corner,  thence  running  up 
the  said  river  3,500  poles,  when  reduced  to  a  straight  line 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


93 


from  the  extrcmeties  of  wliich  at  right  angles  with  the 
former  on  the  Virginia  side,  two  lines  of  equal  length  shall 
run  so  far,  that  with  another  line  parallel  with  the  course 
of  the  river  plat  shall  contain  the  quantity  aforesaid. 

2.  That  the  said  21,000  (except  one  thousand  to  be  here- 
after laid  off  by  the  government  for  a  town  in  the  most 
convenient  part  thereof  within  and  out  lot.s)  shall  be  a  fund 
for  the  purpose  aforesaid.  Provided  that  every  adventurer 
be  subject  to  all  laws  and  regulations  in  cultivating  and 
settling,  to  which  settlers  in  the  county  of  Illinois  shall 
hereafter  be  subjected. 

3.  That  the  lender  of  money  take  a  certificate  from  the 
commissioner  for  the  purpose  appointed,  for  the  sum  but  not 
being  less  than  100  dollars,  for  which,  he,  his  heirs,  execu- 
tors, administrators,  or  assigns  shall  be  entitled  to  demand 
within  two  years,  a  title  to  his  proportion  of  the  laud  in  the 
said  fund  or  the  sum  originally  advanced  in  gold  or  silver 
with  5  per  cent,  interest  per  annum  at  the  option  of  the 
State.  Provided  first  that  no  assignment  of  such  certificate 
shall  be  made  but  in  open  court  by  deed  to  be  recorded. 
2  That  a  deduction  shall  be  made  for  all  money  hereafter 
discovered  to  be  counterfeited. 

4.  That  all  persons  may  have  reasonable  inducements  to 
lend,  the  lender  shall  have  assurance  that  no  greater  sum 
shall  be  received  than  33  333*  dollars  on  said  fund.  That 
government  shall  comply  with  the  above  enjoyment,  and 
this  Plan  be  recorded  in  the  Recorder's  office  of  Kaskaskia. 

Joiix  Todd. 
Todd's  plan  must   have   found  favor  with   court,   he  ap- 
pointed Henry  Crutchcr  commissioner  and   his  record   book 
contains  the  following : 

COPY    OI'   THE  INSTRICTIOS  ASD  OX  THE  BOin'.OWING  PrXD. 

'■  Sir  :  You  are  hereby  appointed  a  commissioner  for  borrow- 
ing money  upon  the  Kohokia  Fund.  Inclosed  is  a  copy  of 
the  Plan  ;  the  design  you'll  observe  is  to  abridge  the  quantity 
in  circulation.  The  money  paid  in  you  will  preserve  until 
you  shall  be  called  upon  for  it.  Let  every  man's  money  be 
kept  apart  with  his  name  and  quantity  endorsed  thereon. 
Keep  a  book  to  register  the  number,  the  person's  name,  the 
quantity  of  money,  the  dates  your  receipt  thus  : 

KOnOKIA   FUND  (XO.  1). 

I   do   certify  that  I   have  received  of the 

sum  of Dollars  which  entitles  the  said 

to  a  proportionable  quantity  of  land  in  the  Kohokia  Fund, 
or  gold  and  silver,  according  to  the  Plan  recorded  in  the 
Recorder's  office  of  Kaskaskia.     Witness   my  hand   this  — 

day  of ,1779. 

Henry  Critcher,  Commissioner." 

Mr.  Crutchcr's  bond,  in  words  and  figures  as  follows  is 
also  recorded  in  said  book,  to  wit: 

"  Know  all  men  by  these  presence  that  we,  Henry  Crutcher, 
George  Slaughter  and  John  Boberts,  are  held  and  firmly 
bound  unto  Jno.  Todd,  Esq  ,  Commander-in-Chief  of  the 
County  of  Illinois  in  the  sura  of  thirty-three  thousand  three 
hundred  and  thirty-three  dollars  and  one-third  to  be  paid  to 
the  said  John   Todd   or   his  successors,  to  which  payment 


will  truly  be  made,  we  do  bind  ourselves  and  each  of  our 
heirs,  executors  firmly  by  these  presence.  Sealed  and  dated 
this  14th  day  of  June  in  the  year  1779. 

The  condition  of  the  above  obligation  is  such  if  the  above 
named  Henry  Crutcher,  Commissioner  of  Funds,  for  bor- 
rowing certain  sums  of  Continental  and  State  currency 
shall  at  all  times  when  required  pay  and  account  for  all 
sums  so  received,  and  in  all  things  comport  himself  agree- 
able to  such  rules  and  regulations  as  shall  be  adopted  for 
prosecuting  the  same  then  the  above  obligations  to  be  void 
otherwise  in  full  force. 


Test 


Rich'd  Harrison. 


Rhii'd  Winston. 


Henry  Crvtchek. 


Geo.  Slaughter. 


John  Roberts. 


From  a  proclamation  issued  by  the  county-lieutenant  on 
the  same  day,  it  would  appear,  that  a  number  of  adventurers 
had  made  their  appearance  in  his  county  for  the  purpose  of 
laying  claims  to  its  most  desirable  lands,  which  Col.  Todd 
would  rather  have  reserved  for  actual  settlers.  The  fertil- 
ity of  his  brain,  backed  by  an  unceasing  activity,  is  truly 
admirable.     The  proclamation  read  as  follows  : 

proclamation. 
"  lUinoh  to  wit : 

Whereas,  from  the  fertility  and  beautiful  situation  of  the 
lands  bordering  upon  the  Mississippi,  Ohio,  Illinois,  and 
Wabash  rivers,  the  taking  up  the  usual  quantity  heretofore 
allowed  for  a  settlement  by  the  Governors  of  Virginia  would 
injure  both  the  strength  and  commerce  of  this  country  in 
future  : 

I  do,  therefore,  issue  this  proclamation,  strictly  enjoining 
all  persons  whatsover  from  making  any  new  settlements 
upon  the  flat  lauds  of  the  saiil  rivers,  or  within  one  league 
of  said  lands,  in  manner  and  form  of  settlement  as  heretofore 
made  by  the  French  inhabitants,  until  further  ordtrs  given 
herein. 

And,  in  order  that  all  the  claims  to  lands  williiii  the  said 
country  mav  be  fully  known,  and  some  method  provided  for 
perpetuating  by  records  the  just  claims — eveiy  inhabitant 
is  required,  as  soon  as  conveniently  may  be,  to  lay  before  the 
persons  in  each  district  ajipointul  for  that  jiurpose  a  aemo- 
randum  of  his  or  her  land,  with  copies  of  all  their  vouchers 
and  where  vouchers  have  never  been  given  or  are  lost,  such 
deposition  and  certificate  as  will  best  tend  to  support  their 
claims.  Such  memorandum  to  mention  the  quantity  of 
land,  to  whom  originally  granted,  or  by  whom  stttkd,  and 
where;  reducing  the  title  through  the  various  occupants  to 
the  present  proprietor.  The  number  of  adventurers  who 
will  soon  overrun  this  country  renders  the  above  method 
necessary,  as  well  as  to  ascertain  the  vacant  land  as  to 
guard  against  trespasses  which  will  proliably  be  committed 
on  land  not  of  record. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  seal  at  Kaskaskia,  the  I4th 
day  of  June,  1779. 

John  Todd." 


94 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND   PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


Meanwhile,  the  newly-elected  judges  of  the  court  at  Kas- 
kaskia  and  Cahokia  had  held  sessions.  The  records  of  their 
proceedings  are  not  in  existence,  but  our  commandant's 
record-book  sheds  some  light  on  what  the  judges  had  done. 
The  first  entry  on  page  18  contains  the  following : 

WARRANT  FOR    EXECUTION. 

Illinois  to  wit : 

To  Richard  Winston,  Esq.,  Sheriff  in-Chief  of  the  District 
of  Kaskaskia. 

Negro  Mannel,  a  slave  in  your  custody,  is  condemned  by 
the  court  of  Kaskaskia,  afier  having  made  honorable  fine  at 
the  door  of  the  church,  to  be  chained  to  a  post  at  the  water- 
side, and  there  to  be  burnt  alive  and  his  ashes  scattered,  as 
appears  to  me  by  record.  This  sentence  you  are  hereby 
required  to  put  into  execution  on  Tuesday  next  at  9  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  and  this  shall  be  your  warrant.  Given 
under  ray  hand  and  seal  at  Kaskaskia,  the  13th  day  of  June, 
in  the  3d  year  of  the  Commonwealth. 

There  is  no  record  of  the  crime  which  was  to  be  atoned 
for  by  the  wretch  Mannel,  nor  can  it  be  told  if  this  awful 
sentence  was  put  in  execution.  Some  person  having  access 
to  the  record-book,  has  drawn  heavy  lines  across  the  lieu- 
tenant's order,  so  as  to  efface  it  forever.  There  is  no  doubt, 
however,  that  the  court  had  fixed  the  inhuman  penalty,  for 
the  order  to  execute  it  is  certainly  in  Todd's  handwriting, 
who,  under  the  law  of  Virginia,  mentioned  above,  was  de- 
prived of  the  power  to  pardon  in  such  cases.  It  is  therefore 
very  probable  that  ihe  sentence  was  duly  executed. 

The  following  order  bears  witness  that  the  court  at  Caho- 
kia had  also  been  at  work  : 

"  To  Capt.  Nicholas  Janis : 

You  are  hereby  required  to  call  upon  a  party  of  your 
militia  to  guard  '•  Moreau,"  a  slave  condemned  to  execution 
up  to  the  town  of  Kokas — put  them  under  an  officer.  They 
shall  be  entitled  to  pay,  rations  and  refreshments  during 
the  time  they  shall  be  upon  duty  to  be  certified  hereafter 

by  you. 

I  am,  sir,  yr  Hble  servant, 

Jno.  Todd  " 

15th  June,  1779.  I  recommend  4  or  5  from  your 
compy,  and  as  many  from  Capt.  Placey's,  and  consult  Mr. 
Lacroix  about  the  time  necessary.  J.  T. 

It  is  not  unlikely  that  both  of  these  negroes  had  been 
tried  on  a  charge  of  Voudouism,  or  Witchcraft,  and  found 
or  even  pleaded  guilty  of  an  imagined  crime.  Reynolds, 
in  his  Pioneer  History  says  :  "  In  Cahokia  about  the  year 
1790,  this  superstition  got  the  upper  hand  of  reason,  and 
several  poor  African  slaves  were  immolated  at  the  shrine  of 
ignorance  for  this  imaginary  offense.  An  African  slave,  called 
Moreau,  was  hung  for  this  crime  on  a  tree  not  far  south  east 
of  Cahokia.  It  is  stated  that  he  had  said  he  poisoned  his 
master,  but  his  mistress  was  loo  strong  for  his  necromancy." 

There  cannot  be  any  doubt  that  the  "  Moreau  "  of  Todd 
is -identical  with  Gov.  Reynolds'  man  "Moreau."  Rey- 
nolds, who  writes  from  tradition,  is  not  correct  in  his  dates. 

It  would  seem  that  "  Moreau  "  had  been  kept  confined  at 
Kaskaskia,  as  there  was  not  any  prison  at  Cahokia  (Kahos) 


prior  to  1791,  and  m  Captain  Janis  was  instructed  to  confer 
with  Mr.  Le  Croix  (sheriff  of  the  district  of  Cahokia  as 
stalel  abjve)  we  miy  infer,  thit  Croix  hung  said  negro. 

The  county-lieutenant,  after  his  labars  of  4  or  5  weeks 
at  the  settlements  on  the  Mississippi,  now  prepared  to  enter 
upon  his  duties  in  other  parts  of  his  "empire  county."  Be- 
fore leaving,  he  addressed  the  following  letter  to  his  sheriff, 
to  wit : 

"  Sir:  Djring  my  absence  the  command  will  devolve  upon 
you  as  commander  of  Kaskaskia — if  Col.  Clark  should  want 
anything  more  for  his  expedition,  consult  the  members  of 
the  Court  upon  the  best  mode  of  proceeding.  If  the  people 
will  not  spare  willingly,  if  in  their  power,  you  must  press 
it,  valuing  the  property  by  two  men  upon  oath — let  the  mil- 
itary have  no  pretext  for  forcing  property.  When  you  order 
it  and  the  people  will  not  find  it,  then  it  will  be  time  for 
them  to  interfere.  By  all  means  keep  up  a  good  under- 
standing with  Col.  Clark  and  the  officers.  If  this  is  not  the 
case  you  will  be  unhappy.  I  am,  sir, 

Yr.  hble.  servt, 

John  Todd." 


To  Rich'd  Winston,  Esqk. 


June  13,  1779. 


The  expedition  of  Col.  Clark  referred  to  in  this  letter, 
was  the  one  planned  against  the  English  at  Detroit,  but  was 
never  carried  out.  Todd  was  back  at  Kaskaskia  on  the 
27th  of  July,  1779,  on  which  day  the  following  proclama- 
tion in  reference  to  the  continental  currency  was  inserted 
into  his  record  book. 

"  IlliuoLS  to  wit : 

Whereas  the  emissions  of  continental  money,  dated  the 
20th  May,  1777,  and  April  11th,  1778,  were  required  to  be 
paid  into  some  continental  treasury  by  the  first  of  June, 
which  was  a  day  impossible  to  the  people  of  Illinois  : 

I  do  therefore  notify  all  persons  who  have  money  of  the 
said  emission,  that  unless  they  shall  as  soon  as  possible  com- 
ply with  the  said  resolution  of  Congress  and  produce  vouch- 
ers of  such,  their  impossibility,  the  money  must  sink  in  their 
hands.  The  vouchers  must  be  certifyed  'by  myself  or  some 
deputy  commandant  of  this  county,  and  have  reference  to 
the  bundle  of  money  numbered  and  sealed. 

Signed  by  order  of  the  commandant-in-chief  at  Kaskaskia 
July  27th,  1779. 

(  Copy. )  John  Todd." 

Hy.  Crutcher. 

Soon  after  his  return,  the  county-lieutenant  issued  a  per- 
emptory order  to  the  judges  of  the  Kaskaskia  district  to 
hold  court,  any  adjournment  to  the  contrary  notwithstand- 
ing. The  easy  going  of  his  French  judges  seems  to  have 
irritated  the  restless  and  ever  working  spirit  of  Todd,  who 
"  slightly  interfered  with  the  court's  prerogative"  by  issuing 
this  order : 

"  To  Gabriel  Cerre  ,i  Co.,  Esqs.,  Judges  of  the  Court  for  the 
District  of  Kaskaskia. 
You  are  hereby  authorized  and  required  to  hold  and  con- 
stitute a  court  on  Saturday,  the  21st  of  July,  at  the  usual 


HISTORY    OF   BAXDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


95 


place  of  holding  court  within  your  district,  any  adjournment 
to  the  contrary  notwithstanding. 

Provided  that  no  suitor  or  party  be  compelled  to  answer 
any  process  upon  said  day  unless  properly  summoned  by  the 
clerk  and  sheriff. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  feal  at   Kaskatkia,  1779. 

Jdhs  Todd." 

It  is  to  be  presumed  that  Monsieur  Gabriel  and  his  "con- 
freres" took  the  hint  and  held  court  on  the  '2]st  of  July 
(Atigust  is  meant),  no  matter  how  much  they  disliked  to  sit 
in  court  during  the  reign  of  the  dog-star ;  but  it  would  be  a 
treat  to  be  allowed  to  read  the  minutes  of  that  court.  Old 
Gabriel  and  his  clerk  Carboneau  have  certainly  given  the 
lieutenant  a  model  cudgeling  in  grand  French  eloquence. 

In  the  month  of  August,  1779,  the  commandant  addressed 
himself,  in  obedience  to  Patrick  Henry's  wise  suggestions,  to 
Monsieur  Cartabonne,  commanding  at  St.  Genevieve,  and 
also  to  Monsieur  Leyba  at  St.  Louis.  These  letters,  originally 
in  French,  were  cojied  by  parlies  not  conversant  with  that 
language,  and  are  therefore  not  very  intelligible.  It  will  be 
remembered  that  all  the  region  west  of  the  Mississippi  then 
belonged  to  Spain,  at  that  time  at  war  with  England.  In 
these  letters  Todd  proposes  an  arrangement  concerning  the 
commerce  of  the  Illinois  country,  for  the  mutual  advantage 
of  their  respective  governments, — his  Catholic  majesty  on 
the  one  hand  and  the  State  of  Virginia  on  the  other,  and  for 
the  disadvantage  of  the  British,  their  common  enemy,  promis- 
ing at  the  same  time  to  aid  his  neighbors  by  sending  troops 
at  his  (Todd's)  disposition,  if  the  Spaniards  were  attacked 
and  needed  help. 

Tcese  troops  were  then  on  tluir  march  to  Illinois.  Todd 
had  to  overcome  many  difficulties  in  procuring  the  necessary 
supplies  for  those  troops,  even  in  this  most  fertile  region  of 
the  continent,  but  less  on  account  of  scarcity  of  the  neces- 
saries of  life,  than  on  account  of  the  sluggishness  of  the 
newly-made  "  freemen  "  of  French  descent,  who  still  pre- 
ferred the  Royal  Louis  d'or  to  the  Republican  "  promise  to 
pay." 

The  record-book  is  again  reftrred  to  for  explanation  (see 
page  2- ),  to  wit  : 

The  inhabitants  of  Kaskaskia  are  for  the  last  time  invited 
to  contract  with  the  persons  appointed,  for  provisions  espe- 
cially "fou'tr,"  for  the  troops  who  will  shortly  be  here.  I 
hope  they'll  use  properly  the  indulgence  of  a  mild  govern- 
ment. If  I  shall  be  obliged  to  give  the  military  permission 
to  press  it  will  be  a  disadvantage  and  what  ought  more  to 
influence  free  men,  it  will  be  a  dishonor  to  the  people. 

Published  by  order  of  the  Commander  in  Chief  at  Kas- 
kaskia, 11th  Aug.  1779. 

In  order  to  facilitate  matters  the  contracting  officers  were 
instructed  to  file  vouchers  with  the  county  lieutenant  and 
obtain  orders  on  th»  governor  of  Virginia  in  payment  of 
supplies  thus  furnished.  The  record  book  contains  only  one 
such  order,  to  wit : 

To  his  excellency  the  Governor  of  Virginia  please  to  pay 
to  J.  B.  La  Croix  or  order  the  sum   of  78  dollars  which  is 


due  to  him  from  the  state  of  Virginia  for  sundries  furnished 
the  militia  and  Indiansas  appears  by  vouchers  to  me  rendered. 

Given  under  mv  hand  at  Kaskaskia,  the  11th  of  August, 
1779. 

Being  convinced  that  this  appeal  met  with  but  indiflVrent 
responses,  a  harsher  measure  was  tried. 

todd's  emh.vroo. 

Illinois  to  wit :  Whereas  the  demands  of  the  State  require 
that  a  stock  of  Provisions  be  immediately  laid  for  the  use 
of  the  troops  of  the  C'ommonwealth  and  that  an  embargo 
be  laid  upou  such  provisions  for  a  limited  time.  I  do  there- 
fore issue  this  Proclamation  strictly  enjoining  all  inhabitants 
and  others  in  the  county  of  Illinois  from  exporting  either  by 
land  or  water  any  provisions  wh.itsoever  for  the  space  of 
sixty  davs  unless  I  shall  have  assurance  before  that  time 
that  a  sufficient  stock  is  laid  up  for  the  troops  or  sufficient 
security  is  given  to  the  contractors  for  its  delivery  whenever 
required.  The  offender  herein  shall  besubjected  to  imprison- 
ment for  one  month  and  mcrever  forfeit  the  value  of  such 
exported  provi.-ion. 

Given  under  my  hand  ami  seal  at  Kaskaskia  .\ugust  "iL'nd, 
1779. 

This  order  is  also  recorded  in  French,  apparently  becau.se 
the  French  were  so  very  reluctant  in  aiding  the  struggling 
state,  and  becoming  weary  at  the  delay  of  the  people  as  to 
the  voluntary  surrender  of  continental  money  he  gave  the 
following  notice,  in  both  languages. 

Illinois  to  wit :  The  Public  are  notified  that  after  to  mor- 
row no  more  certificates  will  be  granted  at  Kaskaskia  to  per- 
sons producing  the  called  in  emms<ions. 

Published  by  order  August  22nd  1779. 

It  is  verv  questionable,  whether  the  French  in  the  settle- 
ments in  Illinois  had  large  amounts  of  continental  money. 
They  were  a  careful  race,  and  from  the  numerous  sale  bills 
on  file  it  would  appear  that  they  did  not  sell  anything  for 
any  other  currency  than  coined  money,  except  on  compul- 
sion. Now  they  were  called  on  to  deposit  their  money  in 
the  public  treasury,  for  no  other  purpose  than  to  drive  it  out 
of  circulation.  They  could  not  understand  the  benefit  to  be 
derived  from  such  an  arrangement,  and  consequently  pre- 
ferred to  keep  in  their  own  cash  box  the  little  stock  of  con- 
tinental scrip  they  had  hoarded  up. 

How  slow  the  residents  were  to  furnish  the  authorities 
with  the  so  much  needed  supplies  is  made  apparent  from  the 
fact,  that  the  following  or  record  order  on  the  governor 
to  wit : 

"October  7.  1779.  Order  given  Pat  McCrosky  on  the 
Governor  for  140  dollars  dated  at  Kaskaskia  October  7., 
17i9,  [No.  2.  140]  by  certificate  from  M.  Helm,"  was  i.ssucd 
nearlv  two  months  since  Croix  had  drawn  his  order  for 
87800. 

A  short  and  simple  method  of  forfeiting  realty  is  illus- 
trated in  the  proceedings  set  forth  on  pages  25  and  26  to  wit : 

"Advertised  by  notifying  at  the  door  of  the  church  of 
Kaskaskia  the  half  a  lot  above  the  church,  joining  Picard 
on  the  east,  and  Langlois  on  the  west,  that  unless  some  per- 
son should  appear  and  support  their  claifu  to  the  said  lot 
within  three  days  it  should   be  condemned  to  the  use  of  the 


96 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


commonwoalth.     Said   notification   was  dated   Octuber  4tli, 
1779." 

This  advertisement  is  succeeded  ten  days  later  b}'  the 
following,  to  wit : 

"  7///»o/V,  to  ivil :  Whereas,  after  publicly  calling  upon  any 
person  or  persons  to  show  and  make  appear  any  claim 
which  they  might  have  to  a  certain  lot  of  laud  containing 
one  half  acre,  be  the  same  more  or  less,  lying  in  the  town  of 
Kaskaskia,  near  the  church  adjoining  Mons'  Pickard  on 
the  east,  and  Mons'  Langlois  on  the  west,  and  after  delaying 
and  waiting  the  appointed  time,  and  no  person  yet  appear- 
ing to  claim  the  same  against  the  commonwealth  of  Vir- 
ginia, I  do  declare  and  adjudge  the  said  lot  to  the  said 
commonwealth,  and  that  all  persons  whatever  be  thence- 
forth debarred  and  precluded  forever  from  any  claim  thereto. 
Given  under  my  hand  at  Kaskaskia,  the  13th  of  October, 
in  the  fourth  year  of  this  Commonwealth,  a.  d.  1779. 

John  Todd. 

And  thus  the  commonwealth  of  Virginia  became  the 
owner  of  said  tract. 

The  last  entry  in  Todd's  handwriting  has  reference  to  a 
land  grant  to  Col.  Montgomery,  but  the  pages  are  torn  out 
of  the  book  and  nothing  is  left  but  the  words  :  "  Copy  of  a 
grant  of  land  to  Col.  Montgomery." 

Some  other  entries  were  made  by  others  in  Col.  Todd's 
record  liook  during  his  term  of  office  1778  to  1782.  (Todd 
fell  in  the  celebrated  battle  with  the  Indians  at  the  Blue 
Licks,  Kentucky,  August  18,  1782;.  On  two  pages,  near  the 
end  of  the  book,  is  kept  his  "peltry  account,"  which  is  charged 
with  his  drafts  on  the  governor  of  Virginia,  in  favor  of 
Mons'  Beauregarde,  to  the  amount  of  $30,000,  dated  at  St. 
Louis,  September  14,  1779,  the  value  thereof  having  been 
received,  one-third  in  paper  currency  and  two-thirds  in 
peltries.  The  account  is  credited  with  payments  made 
for  supplies  for  the  garrison  at  Kaskaskia,  purchased  by 
Col.  John  Montgomery,  and  for  the  garrison  at  Cahokia, 
purchased  by  Capt.  McCarthy.  Taffia  *  seems  to  have  been 
the  most  desired  article  of  supplies  bought,  for  it  was  laid  in 
by  the  hogshead. 

On  page  26  is  an  oath  of  allegiance  taken  by  James 
Moore  at  Kaskaskia,  to  the  United  States  of  America. 

James  Moore's  Naturalization. 

I  do  swear  on  the  Holy  Evangelists  of  Almighty  God  that 
I  renounce  all  fidelity  to  George  the  Third,  King  of  Great 
Britain,  his  heirs  and  successors,  and  that  I  will  bear  true 
allegiance  to  the  United  States  of  America,  as  free  and  inde- 
pendent, as  declared  by  Congress,  and  that  I  will  not  do  or 
cause  to  be  done  any  matter  or  thing  that  may  be  injurious 
or  prejudicial  to  the  independence  of  said  States,  and  that  I 
will  make  known  to  some  one  justice  of  the  peace  for  the 
United  States  all  treasonous,  all   treacherous  conspiracies 


*Taffia  is  mentioned  as  late  as  1800,  when  the  court  regulated  the  priees  to 
be  charged  by  innkeepers  for  commodities  furnished  to  guests— taifia  or  rum 
25  cents  per  one  lialf-pint.  Webster  allowed  the  word  a  space  in  his  unabridged, 
but  casts  out  one  f,  and  defines  the  word  "  A  variety  of  rum,  so  called  by  the 
Frencli." 


which  may  come  to  my  knowledge,  to  be  formed  against  said 
United  States  or  any  one  of  them.     So  help  me  God. 
Sworn  at  Kaskaskia,  July  10th,  1782. 

James  Moot:e  * 

During  the  frequent  absences  from  his  "  county,"  Todd 
seems  to  have  been  represented  by  Monsieur  De  Montbrun, 
his  deputy  and  acting  commandant,  who^  a  little  vain  per- 
haps, took  pains  to  have  posterity  learn  his  temporary 
dignity,  for  he  wrote  on  the  inside  of  the  covers  of  this  book 
the  following  words :  "  Nota  bene,  Mons.  Thiraothe  De  Mont 
Brun  Lt.  Comd't  par  interim."  This  mixture  of  Latin  and 
French  (Take  notice.  We,  De  Mont  Brun,  Lt.  Corad't  for  the 
time  being)  is  written  in  a  bold  beautiful  hand. 

On  the  last  page  are  two  memoranda  iu  the  same  hand- 
writing.    They  read  : 

February,  1782.  Arrived,  a  small  tribe  of«the  Wabash 
Indians,  imploring  the  paternal  succor  of  their  father,  the 
Bostouians  having  their  patent  from  Major  Linctot.  In 
consequence,  I  did,  on  behalf  of  the  Commonwealth,  give 
them  six  bushels  Indian  corn,  fifty  pounds  of  bread,  four 
pounds  of  gunpowder,  ten  pounds  of  ball,  and  one  gallon  of 
taffia  from  Carbonneaux. 

The  circumstance  that  these  lodians  called  the  whites 
"  Bostouians"  would  indicate  that  said  small  tribe  was  made 
up  of  fragments  of  tribes  of  New  England  Indians.  The 
second  Indian  visit  is  reported  on  the  next  page,  to  wit : 

March  22d.  Came  here  deputies  from  the  Delawares, 
Shawnes  and  Cherokee  nations  of  Indians,  begging  that  the 
Americans  would  grant  them  peace,  as  likewise  the  French 
and  Spanish  ;  and  after  hearing  their  talk,  smoking  the  pipe 
of  peace  and  friendship  with  th°m,  and  from  their  conduct 
while  here,  as  well  as  many  marks  they  gave  us  of  their 
sincerity,  I  could  not  avoid  giving  them,  on  behalf  of  the 
Americans,  the  following  articles,  viz. :  10  bushels  Indian 
corn,  lOO  pounds  flour  and  100  pounds  biscuit,  6  pounds 
tobacco,  1  gallon  taffia,  5  pounds  wampoun,  and  canoe  which 
cost  me  S2U. 

An  entry  on  the  fly-leaf  of  the  record-book  recalls  to  us 
Todd's  former  deputy,  Richard  Winston,  the  sherift";  and  the 
contents  of  this  entry  explain  why  Timothy  had  taken  Dick's 
place.  Winston  must  have  forgotten  the  warning  of  Todd 
to  keep  on  terms  with  the  military  chief,  and  thus  was  found 
in  bondage.  While  imprisoned  he  must  have  found  the 
Record  Book  in  his  prison,  and  iu  order  to  let  future  gener- 
ations know  why  he  was  not  longer  dtputy  and  acting  com- 
mandant, he  wrote  out  the  following  statement : 

'Kaskaskies  in  the  Illinois,  the  29th  April,  1782. 
This  day  ten  o'clock,  A.  M.,  I  was  taken  out  of  my 
house  by  Israel  Dodge  on  an  order  given  by  Jno.  Dodge, 
in  despite  of  the  civil  authority,  disregardless  the  laws  and 
on  the  malicious  accusation  of  Jas.  Williams  and  Michael 

*  1782.  Among  the  immigrants  to  Illinois  we  note  the  names  of  Jamea  Moore, 
Shadrach  Bond,  James  Garrison,  Robert  Kidd  and  Larlcen  Rutherford,  the 
two  latter  having  been  with  Claris;  they  were  from  Virginia  and  Maryland. 
Jama  Moore,  the  leader,  and  a  portion  of  his  party,  located  afterwards  on  the 
hills  near  "Bellcfontaine,"  while  Bond  and  the  rest  settled  in  the  American 
Bottom  (from  which  circumstance  the  name  is  derived),  near  Carthage  or  Har- 
risonville,  subsequ-ntly  known  bs  the  "Block-House  Fort."— (Davidson  * 
Stuvo's  History  of  Illinois,  chapter  18.) 


nisronv  of  haxixili'II,   Masum:  .wn   ri:i:i;y  cnr.Mii-s,   ii.i.ixois. 


IV'raiile  a.-;  may  u]>i)oai'  by  tlieir  ilepcisitioiis.  I  was  rniiliiuil 
by  Tyi-aiiiiick  iijilitary  force  without  making  any  ic^'ai 
application  to  the  civil  magistrate.  .'inth  tlio  alt^'iiuy 
for  the  state,  La  Jiui<uiere,  preieiited  a  petition  to  the  cuirt 
against  Richard  Winston,  state  prisoner  in  llnir  cnslndy. 
the  contents  of  which  he  (the  attorney  foi-  the  staid  ''iighl 
to  have  conimunicateil  to  me  or  my  attorney  if  any  I  had. 

(The  entry  here  ends  abruptly). 

The  remaining  pages  of  this  book  arc  occupieil  uiiji  a 
brief  record  (French)  of  the  proceedings  of  the  court.  Ii  ini 
JuneSth,  17^7  to  i''eliruai-y  l"'tli,  17-''^.  I)uiingtliis  piii.Hl 
the  court  seems  to  have  Ineii  pi-'iiy  nnnh  in  the  hands  nt 
one  family,  as  thn'C  of  tin'  li\e  jiistiees  are  named  l;i_iuiv;d~ 
The  proceedings  are  void  ot' interest. 

The  county  "Illinois"  remaineil  a  part  ol'  N'irjinia  until 
March  1st,  1784.  when  Virginia  ■' deeded  "'  ih'  \;i-i  domain 
to  the  United  States.  From  17'S4  to  17'S7.  Illinois  was 
practically  without  a  civil  government.  The  celebrated 
ordinance  of  1787  (passed  July  loth),  (jrganized  the  north- 
west territory,  and  General  Arthur  .St  Clair  was,  by  (Con- 
gress elected  governor  of  the  territory,  October  5tli,  1787. 
(iov.  St.  Clair  arriveil  at  Kaskaskia,  in  February,  17U0, 
and  on  tlie  14lh  of  April  of  that  yrar,  issued  his  proclama- 
tion, organizing  the  county  of  St.  Clair:  "Beginning  at  the 
mouth  of  tiie  little  Jlichilliakinack  (now  Mackinaw  creek) 
running  thence  southerly  in  a  direct  line  to  the  mouth  of  the 
little  river  above  Fort  Massac  upon  the  Ohio,  thence  with 
the  .said  river  to  its  junction  «ith  the  Mississippi,  thence  up 
the  Mississippi  to  tlie  mouth  of  the  Illinois  river  and  up 
Illinois  river  to  the  place  of  beginning,  etc. 

A  court  of  Common  I'leas  was  establisheil,  and  .Tnhn 
Edgar  of  Kaskaskia,  John  Baptiste  Barbeau  of  Prairie  du 
Ilocher,  and  John  Dumoulin  of  Cahokia  appointed  judges, 
each  of  whom  held  court  in  the  district  where  he  resided. 
William  St.  Clair  was  appointed  clerk  and  recorder  of 
deeds,  and  William  Biggs,  Sheriff.  Thus  the  interregnum 
of  sixteen  years  gave  way  to  a  better  order  of  things. 
Immigration  had  however  continued  uninterruptedly,  as 
will  be  seen  in  our  chapter  on  pioneers  and  early  settlers. 
In  1795  the  governor  saw  fit  to  form  a  second  county.  It 
was  done  by  drawing  a  line  from  the  Jlississijipi  due  east 
through  New  Design  settlement  to  the  Wabash.  All  the 
territory  south  of  this  line  to  the  Ohio  River  was,  in  honor 
of  Edmund  Randolph,  the  Virginian  statesman  and 
philanthropist,  named 

li.VXIXILI'II    COUNTY.* 

At  the  time  of  its  organization,  the  vast  area  of  the 
country  cjutained,  in  its  western  part,  the  following  distinct 
settlements,  to  wit:  The  ancient  French  villages  of  Kas- 
kaskia, Prairie  du  Rocher  and  St.  Philij)  with  FortChartres 
and  the  purely  American  settlement  at  New  Design.  The 
"  French  "  villages  and  adjacent  districts  were  inhabited  by 
the  descendants  of  the  colonists  arrived  in  the  beginning  of 
the  18th  century,  and  by  a  number  of  English  and  American 
emigrants,  who,  in  a  spirit  of  adventure  or  speculation  had 

•  E.  J.  Moiitii^'uu  ill  hi.s  liistoiicnl  sliutdiM  of  Kiimlolpli  County,  ;i.ssoils  thiit 
when  Col.  Claik  tuoli  possession  of  tlie  emintry  in  1778,  tic  immoit  llic  ilistrict 
iwonml  Kiiskaskia  "  Riiiul<ilpli  County"  in  complinii-nt  to  F,.linniia  R;in.|olpli, 
ell-. 

13 


I'ounil  their  wav  to  those  ilis'ant  regiiins  since  17G3.  The 
cession  of  the  eiuntry  to  Kngland  had  induced  many  of 
the  wialtliier  French  eol''ii'-|s  lo  aliandoii  their  homesteads 
on  the  ea-t  sideot'  tli.'  .^l:~>i-sippi,  seeking  refuge  in  the  ter- 
ritory -.vest  of  the-  river,  then  in  possession  of  his  Catholic 
Maje-ty,  the  King  of  Spain.  This  exodus  of  the  French 
alarnud  the  lOnglisli  Authorities  to  some  extent,  and  induced 
tlieiu  to  pronnse  to  the  inhabitants  the  liberty  of  the 
■  (  aili  .lie  Ueligi.in,"  etc,  bv  proclamation,  at  the  same 
time  granting  those  wishing  to  emigrate,  the  right  to  .sell 
their  propertv,  provided  tlie  purch;isers  were  loyal  to  the 
!\ing  of  I'lngland.  The  e>:odus,  however,  continued;  and  it 
i--  'inesiioiiublc  whetlur  the  arrival  of  r'nglishmeu  and  later 
of  .\MMrieans  was  sniiii'ien!  to  till  the  gaps.  The  popula- 
li'in  ■■:'  tiie  new  eonn.ty  in  17'.'i  was  in  ;tll  probability  less 
than  in  17i!-;.  The  inh;sl)ilants  of  the  county  at  that  period 
il7'.'o  were  for  the  njev-t  pait  farmers  and  hunters.  The 
nnndji.r  of  traders  was  limited,  and  the  trades  were  repre- 
sented by  a  few  blacksmiths  and  here  and  there  a  tanner; 
the  fact  was,  that  the  American  jiioneers  were,  almost  with- 
out exception,  skilled  mechanics  and  artisans. 

TEN'UKf;    OI'    I..VXD.S. 

The  French  colonists  held  the  land  granted  to  them  pretty 
much  in  the  same  style  in  which  the  rural  population  of 
their  mother  land  hold  it  to  this  day.  Each  villager  had  a 
strip  assigned  to  him,  some  more,  some  less,  according,  pro- 
bably to  the  number  of  his  family  or  to  the  favor  in  which 
he  stood  with  the  dispensers  of  the  grants  These  strips 
were  surrounded  by  a  ftnee  owned  and  constructed  in  com- 
mon by  all  the  villagers,  each  of  whom  had  to  render  a 
certain  amount  of  labor  for  the  commuiuty  or  forfeit  tl.e 
right  to  his  strip.  At  Kask.askia  these  strips  extended  from 
river  to  river,  while  at  St.  Philip  and  other  colonies  they 
extended  from  the  river  to  the  hills.  Besides  the.se  fields 
held  in  common,  the  villagers  possessed  large  tracts  of  lands 
as  commons,  where  to  procure  fuel,  hunt,  fish  and  pasture 
their  stock.  A  large  part  of  these  commons  have  in  our 
days  been  leased  in  smaller  parcels  to  settlers,  and  for  the 
benefit  of  the  vUlwjcrs,  while  some  por.ions  still  remain 
"  commons  "  as  of  yore.  Individual  grants  were  also  made 
by  French  missionaries.  The  French  ( ioverunient  made 
first  mention  of  their  pos.sessions  in  "  Louisiana  "  in  1712, 
on  the  14th  of  September,  when  Antoine  Croziit  was  granted 
letters  patent  to  the  whole  commerce  of  the  country.  In 
1723,  on  the  14th  of  June,  a  grant  of  land  was  made  to 
Francois  Philip  Renault  (Renaud)  in  fee  simple  in  order  to 
enable  him  to  support  his  establishment  at  the  mines  in 
Upper  Louisiana.  This  grant  was  made  by  Boisbriaiit,  the 
King's  lieutenant,  and  governor  of  the  province  of  Louisiana, 
and  by  Des  Ursins,  principal  secretary  of  the  Royal  India 
Company.  The  grant  was  located  near  Fort  Chartres, 
bounded  on  the  south  by  lands  of  the  Illinois  Indian.^,  one 
league  in  front  of  the  Mississippi,  and  extending  back  into 
the  country  two  leagues. 

Other  individual  grants  exteudeil  throughout  the  Ameri- 
can bottom  for  a  distance  of  many  miles.  The  English, 
wheu  in  possession  of  the  territory,  17(53  to  1778,  exercised 
the  privilege  of  making  grants  to  a  great  extent,  and  in  some 


98 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND   PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


instances  conveyed  lands  which  had  for  years  been  the  pro- 
perty of  individuals.*  Virginia,  when  in  possession  of  the 
territory  granted  the  so-called  improvement  rights,  400 
acres  each  ;  all  these  grants  properly  authenticated,  were 
recognized  by  the  United  States  when  succeeding  Virginia 
in  the  possession  of  the  territory.  In  their  turn  the  United 
States  granted  the  so  called  family  head  rights  of  400  acres 
each,  to  heads  of  families  having  held  permanent  residence 
in  the  territory  in  1783,  and  militia  rights  of  100  acres 
each  to  all  who  had  actually  served  in  the  militia  in  1790 
and  prior  years. 

When  the  country  was  organized  in  1795  these  land  grants 
called  for  mauy  hundred  thousand  acres  of  land,  as  will 
be  seen  below,  but  the  thousand  and  odd  individuals  to 
whom  these  grants  had  been  made,  had  divested  themselves 
of  them  prior  to  the  first  assessment  of  taxable  property  of 
the  county,  probably  in  1808,  when  these  broad  acres  were 
owned  by  less  than  three  hundred  individuals. 

Among  the  numerous  assessments  of  the  property  of  Ran- 
dolph county,  filed  away  in  the  court-house  at  Chester,  we 
have  selected  one  from  which  to  quote,  as  it  appears  to  be 
the  oldest  on  file.  It  has  no  date  ;  the  lands  assessed  were 
described  by  metes  and  bounds  only  ;  not  an  acre  seemed  to 
have  been  properly  managed.  This  assessment  was  in  all 
probability  made  by  David  Robinson,  Sr.,  who  was  ap- 
pointed county  assessor  March  12th,  1808. 

LANDS   IN   RANDOLPH  COUNTY. 

Extrnci  from  the  Assessment  of  probably  1808  — This  ap- 
parently oldest  assessment  of  Randolph  county  kept  on  file 
is  not  dated,  nor  signed,  yet  it  is  very  carefully  made  up, 
and  shows  that  435,800  acres  of  land  were  in  the  possession  of 
individuals.  None  of  the  tracts  owned  had  been  surveyed, 
and  they  are  described  in  the  following  way  as  for  instance : 
Situated  "on  the  Kaskaskia,  seven  or  eight  miles  above  the 
village,"  or  "on  the  Okaw,  si.\  miles  below  Horse  Prairie," 
or  "adjoining  the  Jesuits'  land,"  or  "  on  the  road  to  fort 
Charters,  opposite  the  village  of  Kaskia,"  or  ''situation  un- 
known," or  "  ten  leagues  up  the  Ohio  River,"  or  "  on  the 

Confiscation  of  Umds  by  the  authorities  of  His  Majesty,  the  King  of  Great 

The  Britisli  authorities,  in  malving  tlic  land  grants  and  donations,  would 
occasionallydispo-sess  the  original  owners  of  their  homesteads  and  donate  the 
same  to  loyal  siittjects  of  His  Majesty. 

The  first  document  of  this  kind  was  made  out  at  Fort  Chartres,  November 
]2th,  1767,  by  Gordon  Forbts,  Captain  34th  Regimei.l,  in  manner  and  form  as 
follows: 

By  virtue  of  the  power  and  authority  in  me  invested,  Ido  herelty  grant  unto  Mr- 
James  Ruinsey,  late  lieutenant  of  His  Majesty's  34th  Regiment,  a  certain  tract 
of  land  containing acree  in  front  from  the  river  Kaskaskia  to  tlie  Missis- 
sippi, once  the  j  roperty  of  one  La  Bauhon,  whereon  formerly  did  stand  a  water 
mill,  the  remains  of  which  are  now  to  be  seen.  The  whole  being  agreeable  to 
His  Majesty's  Proclamation,  confiscated  to  the  King  and  is  hereby  given  lo  James 
Rumsey  in  consideration  of  His  Excellency.  General  Gage's  Recommendation, 
and  for  the  good  exampleo{  a  speedy  seltlement  of  His  Majesty's  colony,  as  like- 
wise the  frame  of  a  house  with  a  lot  of  land  thereunto  appeitaining  opposite 
the  Jesuit  college  in  the  village  of  Kask.i.«kias. 

In  many  instances  the  original  owners  were  allowed  to  sell  their  property,  as 
will  appear  from  the  following: 

Fort  Chartres.  ss.  (no  date.) 

Permission  is  hereby  granted  to  Alexis  La  Plante,  inhabitant  of  Kaskaskias 
in  the  Illinois  country,  to  sell,  or  dispose  of,  the  house,  and  granted  him  from 
Colonel  John  Reed,  latecommandant  of  the  said  country  of  the  Illinois.  ,\nd  I 
do  hereby  declare  that  whomsoever  of  His  Majesty's  iifjj  Subjects  may  pur- 
chase the  same  that  he  or  they,  etc.  shall  be  and  are  hereby  declared  to  be 
legally  possessed  of  the  same  without  any  hindrance,  let,  incumbrance  or  tax 
whatsoever. 


Mississippi  some  thirty  miles  above  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio," 
or  "  right  below  Tower  Rock,"  or  "on  Clark's  trail  to  Vin- 
cennes,"  etc.,  etc.  This  land  was  owned  by  less  than  300 
individuals,  and  in  parcels  ranging  from  two  or  three  to  over 
100,000  acres.  The  largest  land-holders  were  Gen.  John 
Edgar,  who  paid  tax  on  130,400  acres;  Robert  Morri- 
son had  34,000,  William  Morrison  24,800,  James  O'Hara 
15,200,  John  Rice  Jones  1(3,400,  Pierre  Menard  12,000, 
Richard  Lord  11,200  acres,  etc.  Linds  in  cultivation  were 
assessed  at  12.00,  lands  "  improved  "  at  81  50,  "  wild  "  lands 
located  at  $1.00,  and  wild  lands  not  located  at  75  cents  per 
acre.  The  assessed  value  of  all  those  lands  amounted  to 
§418,072,  and  the  tax  levied,  at  75  cents  per  100  dollars 
value,  to  $3,135.54. 

26,262  acres  are  mentioned  as  fields  and  are  assessed  at 
$2.00  per.acre,  and  one  three  acre  tract,  owned  by  William 
Murray,  is  assessed  at  $2  00  per  acre.* 

The  present  limits  of  the  county  did  not  contain  much 
more  than  one-fifth  of  those  435,800  acres,  as  will  appear 
from  the  following  lengthy  statement  of  lands  of  Randolph 
county  owned  by  individuals  in  1820.  The  26,262  acres  in 
fields  were  principally  located  in  and  around  Katkas^kia 
and  Prairie  du  Rocher,  with  the  exception  of  about  one-fifth 
located  in  the  south  part  of  Monroe. 

List  of  lands  entered  and  occupied  by  individuals  in 
Randolph  county  in  1820. 

TOWN.SHIP  4   S.   3   W. 


Mar,  (i,l«1')  \:ilV,:in  T'lvi.,  K  JS.W.S,  m  .Sept.  Id,  l«l« 
A^g.,^,l-I^  I  r,;,,.  rl,\\v  17,  160  ;  Aug.  :■.,  1  •  1  -  - 
NdV.lT.  1-1-  I  ,i:  ■  -  '  :  ' 'i-  1  :NB.l8,  80  ;  Oct.l.  1-1-  r 
Nov.l7,l-l->  -inl.l.  1.  1.1,  N  JS  13.1!),  8U  i  Oct.  1,  1-1-  I 
Sept.  lO.ISls  John  M,  liill,  N,E.  21,  ICO  !  Oct.  I,  Islx  F 
Apr.  .30,  lsl«  John  McDill,  S.E.  21, 
Sept.  V.I,  1818  John  McPill,  .N'.W.  22. 
Sept.  I'.i,  ISIS  Hugh  McKchy,  W.  2 


-Kolvy,  N,E,  27,  KiO 

lili,  Ji-  s  w.  :i",    IM 

iti>-,  E,2  N  E,3ll,S0 

ii.ny.  W.  2:.3,       320 

patty,  E.  2S,E,  33,  80 

160    Apr.  30,1810  Joseph  Cathcart,  N.W.35,  Ico 

ICO  j  

:r.,  320  I  Total, 2oo4 

TOWNSHIP  5  S.  5  W. 

Acres.  Acres. 

Dec. .31, 1819  John  Dickev.  Jr.  .S.W.3,  Ico  '  June  30, 1817  N.  Pope  A  W.Harrison, 
Dec.  3, 1818  James  Munford,  S  E.  3,     ir.)  j  N.E.  20,  160 

Oct,  1.  1818  VVm.  Marshall.  W.2  N.W.4,  70  ,  June  30, 1817  N.  Pope  *  W.  Harri.«ori, 
Oct.  l,i,1818  J.  McMillan,  W.2S.W.  5,      so  S,K,  2(i.  1(X) 

Dec.  17, 1818  J.  McClurken,  S.W.  C, 
Dec.  17,  1818  J,  McCUlrken.S.W,  7, 
Feb.  25, 1819  A  I.- \-   AIi-mi^.I  ■> .  \  K 

Dee.  27, 1819  ■^■■'■'  '- '  .  .  :,  ■  -  r.T,  b,"  \u'-  JI,  l-l-  An-- 
Apr.  7,1818  ]::■"  V  ,  ■,,  u  :  \  r  -,  -II  ,lnlK  J",  1,-1-  K  Ih 
Mar.3,1818  .Iiuiu  -  Ami,  :-,,n,  ~  W  s,  b,(i  Mil-.  ,-,  IMS  ,1.  Mi 
July29,1818  J.i  J.  lluggiii",  \V.2S.ES,80  Aug,  8.  Isls  J.  Mii 
Nov.2«,181SSamuel  Xeviit.S.W.lO,  ICO  ,  May  27,  1818  Mi.;i. 
May  2C,  1819  Wm.  Vann,  W,  2  X.E.  17,  80  June2.'i,isi7  A.  L:ui.k-iall,  W,  2  N-\V.32,  so 
Aug.  20, 1818  Wm.  Vann,  W.  2  N.W.  17,  ICO    Feb,  24, 1819  J,  Uo«  .rman,  W,  2  S,  W,  :l;t,  80 

Mar.  3, 1818  James  Anderson,  N.E.  18,  ICO  I  ■ 

Apr.  10, 1815  Wm.  Morrison, 19,   Oil '  Tot.al, 3835 

TOWNSHIP  6  S.   5   AV. 


151    June  311,  1817  N.  Pope  .t  \V. 

ept,  2?,  1«IS   M.   B..W.-ITI1II 


,  K,  21,   160 


,  111,  irn 


Acre 


Feb.  21,  IM'i  .1    I'.r.bi 


Apr 

1-1  ,,1, 

n  r  II-. 

r,S 

.W.A.' 

.E.7 

Apr 

2'.i 

i-r>  ,1. 

11  IvIl' 

ir. 

W.2, 

Jul\ 

31 

ISlC  J. 

Bowerr 

lU 

,  S.W 

9, 

Oct. 

12 

1818  E 

i  Short 

.N 

E,  11, 

Feb 

.-, 

1818  S. 

Baker 

N. 

2S,E, 

11. 

Oct. 

12 

1818  E 

i  Short 

W 

2  N.W.  12 

Dec 

31 

181C  J. 

Bowerr 

nal 

,N.  2 

1*, 

n,  N.E.  j,  160  I  Oct.  12,  1816  George  Steel,  N.  E.  ir.,  ici) 
,  E,  2  N.W.  5,  88  I  July  31, 1816  J.  Ilowerman,  N.W.  16,  icil 
N.2N.W.C,  94  Oct,  12,  1816  George  .Steele,  S.  2,  16,  320 
320  I  Sept.  30, 1814  James  White,  AV.  2,  17,  320 
320  j  Apr.  11,  1818  John. Steele,  E.  2  S.W.  21,  80 
160  I  Sept  30, 1814  John  Steele,  S.W.  28,  160 
160  I  Apr.  14,  1818  John  Layne,  W.  2  N.E.  29,  80 


Total,..*... 


.,3062 


«  Murray  bought  this  three-acre  tract  as  the  agent  of  the  firms  of  Moses  and 
Jacob  Frank.s  of  London,  and  David  and  Moses  Franks,  of  Philadelphia,  on 
the  8th  of  August,  1771,  of  Charles  Cadron,  dit.  St.  Pierre  of  St.  Philip,  village 
in  the  Illinois  country,  yeoman  and  M:rrie  Jeanne  Merrier,  his  wife,  for  300 
poumls.  On  it  was  a  water-mill  and  a  large  stone  dwelling-house,  on  the  road 
from  Fort  Chartres  to  St.  Philip. 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


99 


TOWNSHll"    ,    ! 

Oct.  3,  1818  Adam  Storm,  E.  2,  S.W.  3    SO 
Nor.  18. 1817  .John  CrPnslmw.  N.  2,  U.  3-2i)  |  j^,^ 
Jan.  1,  islli  .lolin  .1.  Honry,  S.E.  14,       100  |  ' 
Aug.  3M,  Isls  TI10.S.  li..l.i-its,  S.E.  31,      IGO 

TOWX.SH11-   S  S 


Claims  and  Surveys — not  tlatetl. 
B.  Thelwo,  O.  l.Vio,  S.  732 


Aug. 
Jan. 

Apr.  . 


Aug. 
Aug. 
Aug. 


Acres. 
,  IKU  \V  rtuil.lprlmck,S.W.17,  121 
isu  W.  A    c.   nuildoiliafk, 

l.art  N.K.  18,  106 
l.si:,  Win.  M.-In(..sli,  N.  2,  N. 

K. 20,    80 


Total :«1 


TOWNSHIP  4  S.    6   W. 

Acres.  1  ; 
,,  ISIS  .lolin  Miiiifonl,  S.  W.IO,  145  '  Aug.  1.'.,  Lsls  .In...  M.-Millan.  N.  V. -.^ 
I.  1.S1S  H.  L.'Sli.-.  K.  2.  S.W.  20,  sol  Oct.  7,1818  Jumes  c  .ui'll,  S.W.  31, 
,  181S  H.  l.c^li...  W.  2,  S.E.  20,  80  ,  A.  HudKe,  A  J.  Murd.ic 
,,  ISIS  W.f.  Mallard,  E.2,S.K.  2.1,  So]  E.2.S.|.:.:i 
,,  1818  \V.  C.  Ballard,  N.  2,  24,  320  Aug.  18,  1S18  A  Hodge  i  A.  B.ir.k  i 
.,  1818  W. C.  Ballard,  N. W.  2>,  100  W.  2,  S.  W.  :! 
:7, 1818  W.  E.l^ar,  \V.  2.  S.W.  25,  80  Aug.  18,  1818  .1  McMillan,  S.  E.  3.'., 
17, 1818  Samuel  Little,  N.W.  20,  ICO 
17,  1518  Patrick  Hanus,  W.  2,  X.  I  Total 


W. 


80 


July  12. 
Feb.  10. 
Aug,  V,. 
Oct.  1, 
Aug.  20. 
Aug.  ir., 
Apr.  2.1. 
July  2, 
July  2, 
July  2, 


TOWNSHIP  5  S.   C   W. 

Acres.  [ 
Ihivi.l  Mi-MillanS.  E.  3,  100  |  Oct.  13,  ISI7  .li.lin  Wiley.  S.  E.  1 
Andrew  H.irdera  N.E.  4,  135  ;  Sept.Al.  1.^17  J..lin  Heaty,  S.  W. 
lohn  Lively  S.W.  4,  100  Sept.  20,  1817  Jas.  .Mcfhirken.S.] 
vVm.  Elli.itt,  E.  2,  S  E  4,  80  \  Sept.  22, 1813  W.  Morris,  E.  2,  N.V 
lohn  Lively,  N.  E.  0,  100  !  Apr.  Z\  ISl.'i  Wm.  Melntosli,  Ser 
Francis  Beatly,  S.  W.  9,  100  Oct.  2tl,  1817  WillianiMorris.S.V 
John  Lively,  S.  E.  0,  100  Dec.  12,  1S18  John  Miller,  N.  W. 
Joseph  Weir,  N.  W.  10,  160  IJec.  12,  1818  Jolin  Wiley,  N.  E.  :> 
Wm.  Mcintosh,  sec.  12,  040  |  Dee.  12,  1818  John  Miller,  N.  W. 
Jas.  Patterson,  N.  W.13,  100  Sept. 20, 1817  S.Crawford,  E.'2,S.\ 
John  Mc Dill,  S.  E.  13,  100 
Jas.  P.atter.son,  N.  2,  14,  320  1         Total 


TOWNSHIP  6  s.  G  w. 


Jan.  10, 1818  D.  Looney.  E.  2,  N.  W.  3,  71  Apr.  10,  isi.i  Wm.  Morrison,  S.  2, 
Apr.  10, 1810  Wm.  Morrison,  S.  2.3,  320  :  Sept.  24, 1814  KeuI.en  Lacev.  X.W 
Oct.  3, 1818  C.  Glover,  W.  2,  S.  W.  4,  80  ;  Sept.  24, 1814  John  La.-ey,  X.  W.  1 
Apr.  21,  1815  .Tohn  Pillars,  S.  E.  4,  100  j  Xov.  8,  1817  Cath.  Coddle.  S.W.  1, 
June2C,  1819  John  Taggart.S.W.  7,  151  [  Apr.  10,  1815  Wni.  Morrison,  X.  2, 
i  John  Pillars,  N.  E.  !!,         100  „,   - 

■"- --■  ^-  2' W.  32"    Pierre  Menard' 


Apr.  21,  1 
Apr.  21,1 
Apr.  IS.  1 
Apr.  18,  1 


and  Suirei/s. 


I  J.Mcnonough,X.E.ll, 

iJ.McD. ngh,X.W.I2,    100!  Total.. 


Claims  and  Snrveyt. 


?  Mcnanl 

,ar.l,  hrs 


TOWNSHIP  7    S.    6   W. 

I  Acres. 

Acres.    Aug.  19,1818  A.  Smith,  E.  2,  X.  E.  20,    no 

Sepl.2l,lsH  HenjaminCrain,S.W..22,  lOo 

Dee.  10,  ISl'J  Pierre  Menaid,  X.W.  27,  loo 


McRoberts 300 


Total 2IUO 


June  12, 1818  S.amuel  Man.s: 
Jan.  '23, 1819  Henry  Kcil,  fra 


TOWNSHIP  S  S.  6  W. 


TOWNSHIP  4  S.  7  W. 


Elija 


.Smith,  hrs.  clain 


Mar.  4,  181s  Gc 


JulyC,  1818 

Jan.  12, 1819 
July  e,  1818 
Ocl.lo,  1817 
Sep.  9, 1810 
July  6,  1818 
Jan.  4,  1815 
Jan.  21, 1818 
Jan.  7.  1SI9 
Nov.  3.1817 
Apr.  20, 1818 


William  lliggs 

Elisha  C.Hickox,X2,of  2, 
Same.        W2,  N.W. 
A.  W.  Snider,  X.E.  4, 
Jas.  Morrison,  W.  2,  of  4, 
Wm.  Morrison,  S.E.  4, 
Jas.  Morrison,  N.  2,  5, 
David  Kulton,  N.  2,  0, 
Robt,  Morrison, E.2,X.  E.7, 
Jas.  Morri.son,  X.W.  9, 
Thomas  Fulton.  S.E.  9, 

Jns.|ill  (Mlllni,   N   W.19, 
TI...IU  1-  r.illl.  ,  -  W.  19, 
J..hM    \.|.iin..  1:  :,\,W.  20. 
W.   .M.    L.    Le   Ll.apelle, 
N.W.  21, 


Apr.  20, 
July  18, 
(Sep.  1, 
!  Apr.  25, 


1819  .' 

1818  1 
1817  ' 

1819  .: 


>rge  Wilson.N.E.  23,  lUO 
Thompson,  jr.  E.  2, 

S.W.23 80 

.Sam.  Douglass,  W.2,S.E.23,  so 
Wm.  McBride,  S.W.  24.  1.50 
Thomas  McBride.  N.E.2C,  100 
John    Anderson,   E.   2, 

N.W.  20 80 

100  '  Mar.2.->,1815  Otha  Levens,  S.W.  29,  144 
Paul  Harlson,  N.W.  30,  129 
Otha  Levens,  S.E.  30,  loo 
Thomas  Levens,  N.W. 31,  12!l 
David  Anderson,  jr. S.W.32, 44 
A. St.  Francisco,  hrs.  N.E. 

N.W.  .33 11 

Andrew  Beatty,  S.E.  30,    100 

Total.    5218 


270  I  Apr.  24, 1815 
I  Mar.  25, 181.: 
Apr.  28, 1815 
Apr.2i,18l5 
Sep.  30,  1816 


TOWNSHIP  5  S.  7  W. 


'.  400    Sep.30,1816  A.  St.  Francisco,  hoirs. 

John  Edgar,        "        "      300  |  S-W.  17 160 

John  Pettit,  "  "  100  Sep. 28, 1816  Robt.  Morrison.  S.E.  IS,  100 
Dec.  .30,1818  .loseph  Pratton.S.E.of  3,  100  Aug.21. 1818  Henry  Conner,  N.E.  21,  100 
Apr.22, 1815  DavidAnderson,W.2,of5,  320  I  May  1,  1S15  Jas.  Thompson, S.E. of 22,  160 
Dcc..30,1819  Joseph  Pratton.N.E.of  10, 1,56  Jan.2G,  1819  Thos.  Sirahan,  N.W.of  27,  100 
I>ec..30,lsn  Wash'g'nSt..rrets.S.W.10,107  I      •'        "        John   Irvin,  S.W.  27.  160 

•Sep.  23.  1814  Jas.  Patterson.  S.E.  10,      li;o  1  Aug.  3.  1819  Wm.  Th.jmpson.S.E.  28,    160 
.Same,  S.W.  11,    liai  ;  Jan.  0,  1815  A.  .McCormack,  W.  2  33,    320 

Jan.  6,  IslS  Robert  McMann.N.E.  14.  100    Jan.  0.  1S15  Wm.  Tumbrell,  .S.E.  33,     99 

Dec.l..i,lsl8  John  Rankin,  N.2,N.W.l.-.,  so  |  

Tolal 3,642 

TOWNSHIP  G  s.  7  w. 

Acres.  1  Arces. 

Heirs  of  J.  Anderson,  I  May  1,  1810  Thos.  Slatter.fr.S.W.  18,      79 

claim  and  survey 400  j  Jun.10,1810  John  Fult.in.  sr.,  S.E.ia.    143 

Urather    and  Similey,  [  Ap.  20,  1816  John  Edgar,  fr.  sec.  19,    168 

400    Ap.  29,  1815  Staecy       McDonough, 


Stacy   McDonough, 

claim  and  survey 

John  Pettil,  claim  anil 

survey 100  ,  Fl. 

Heirs  of  Henry  Si 


N.E.  20  . 


160 


Legal  representatives 
of    .1.     Montgomery, 


John  Rii 
and  sui 


Jon 


John  Edgar 

Pierre  Menard I,; 

Heirs  of  C.  4  R.  Dniry 
Village  tract  of  Kas- 

P.  11.  Roberts 

Robert  Reynolds 

Diego  Kodreique 

May  15, 1817  Jacob     Harnian,     fr., 

S.W.  7 

.Mr.  24, 1S19  Stacey      McDonough, 

X.E.  8 

Jan.  14,1818  Amos  Anderson.  S.E.  12, 
Oct.  10,1818  William  Coddle,  X.E.  1:1 
Ag.  31.1S10  llb.a.liah  ri.-l.ls,  S.E.  l:i, 


400  :  Ap.  10,  1817  John  Edgar,  bal.  sec.  W,  459 

Ag.  31,  181S  Henry  Conner,  X.E.  21,  160 
1,1817  Stacey       McDonough, 

N.W.  21 100 

400    Mr.  1.5, 1817  C.iIvinLawrence,S.W.2I,  160 

Ag.  10,  1817  Edward  Coles,  fr.  S.E.21,  93 

A  p.  4,   1818  Joseph  Jay,  E.  2,  N.E.  23.  80 
4110    Jan.20,lslS  Silas     Crisler,     W.     2, 

N.E.  24 80 

200    No.  17,  1810  Aaran  (Juick,  X.W.  24,  li»l 

.I11I.  4,  1817  Joseph  Harman,S.W.24,  100 

1,415    Ai-.  30, 1817  Jonathan  Petii',  S.E.  24,  160 
2.22..1    Oct.  17, 1818  John   Hannard.    E.   2, 

S.E.  26 80 

.250    Jul. 30, 1819  John   Richardson,  sr., 

W.  2,  S.W. '27 80 

232    Xo.  21,1817  William  Morrison,    fr. 

BOO                              E.  2,  28  108 

:i,50    Ag.  10, 1817  Edward  Coles,  fr.N.W. 


KX). 


28.. 


46 


'  Sep. .30.1810  P.  Menard  4  A.  Perry, 

X.E.  29 147 

Ap.  22.  1817  Abijali  Levett.  W.  2,  29,  203 
Sep. :iii,  1810  Pierre  Menard  and  A. 

I'erry,  fr.  S.E.  29 30 

Sep.3n.lsl.i  John  Edg.ar.  fr.  W. 2,  30.  59 

Fb.  11),  1,^17  .lano    Rippey,   S.E.  30,  145 


Jun 

2. ISl- 

James  Hughes.  W.  2.  17.    310 

A  p. 

JUD 

.>7.  1.<1. 
10,1811 

J..lni     K.lgar.    S.K.     17.     Ifio 
.lohn  Kullon.sr..  X.E.IK,     120 
TOWNSHIP 
Acres. 
John  R.  Jones,  cl.  ,t  sur.,  2098 
John  Rappico.cl.isur.,      39 
Wm.  Morrison,  cl.  and 

sur.  in  7-7  A  7-.8 277 

John  Edgar.el.  and  sur. 

in  7-7  .1-  7-8 12'JO 

Joseph  McPherson,  cl. 
andsur.  in7-7.t7.a...    134 

T..lal  . 


and  sur.  in  7-7  i  7-8 

Widow  Godin.  .alias  Go 

angeau,  cl.  and  sur. ; 


.  13,35: 


Bii 


278 


7  7  ,1  : 


76 


Michael  Danie,  cl.  and  Ale.iis  Blaurais,  cl.  and 

sur.  in  7-7  *  7-8 31                                sur.  in  7-7  A  7-8  45 

Antoinc  Bienvenue,  .1.  James  Morrison,  cl.  aud 

and  sur.  in  7-7  ,1  7-8...    HI                                sur.  in  7-7  i  7-8 94 

James  llaggins,  cl,  aii.l  J.  li.  Laderout.  el.  and 

sur.  in  7-7  and  7-s li«i                               sur.  in  7-7  ,(:  7-9 36 

JamesGilbrealh.el.au.l  n.l  II,  1S17  .I..hn  Clendenin.  N.W.2,  160 

sur.  in  7-7  and  7-8 lai    Inc.  2.  Isl7  Henry  Pettit,  X.E.  3,  100 

Pierre    Menard,  cl.  and  July  7,  1818  Wm.  Morrison,  X.E.  4,  100 

sur.  in  7-7  and  7-8 941    X...  27, 1817  Rachel    Green,     W.    2, 

L.iuis  Ladcr..iil,  cl.  and                                   S.E.  4, 80 

sur.  ill  7-7  and  7-8 127     M.ar.  0,1818  Elijah  C.  Berry,  fr.  s.  5,  272 

Louis  rhaml.erlanl,  cl.  Jan.  7, 1818  Jolin    McFerron,    W.  2, 

and -iir.  :u  7-7.1-  ,V  7-8    13.5                              S.W.  4 80 

Joseph  Archambeau.  el.  Apl.  0,  1818  W.  T.  Williams.  S.W.  13,  100 

and  sur.in  7-7  .V  7-8....  90    Jan.  .5. 1817  Wm.  Oliver.   W.  part.  14.  154 

Joseph  Devignc's  heirs,  Ap.  18, 1815  John  .VcFerron,  pt.  S.W. 

cl.  A  sur.  in  7-7*  7-8...      67                                U liU 

L.  G.  Chamberlant,  cl.  Fb.  16,1818  William  Oliver,  S.E.  14,  loo 

and  sur.  in  7-7  A  7-8...  114    Sep.28,1814  Saml.  Cochran,  X.E.  15,  100 

J..hnRice  Jones, cl.  and  

sur.  in  7-7  .t  7-8 105                   T.ilal 8317 

TOWNSHIP  4  s.   .S  W. 

.\i'r.'8.  Acres. 

Henry  Levens,  cl.  ami  Ap,  11,  1815  W.  Rector  A  E.  Barcrofl. 

siir.4A5S.  8 3i«)                               S  E.  1 ICO 

John  Edg.ar,  cl.  and  sur.  Jul  24, 1819  Wm.  Peach,  W.  2,  S.E.  2,  80 

4-8 loO    Jul.  24,  1819  Saml. Abbolt,E.2,X.W..5,  80 

My.20,1817  BinlardA  Nove,  N.pt.l,  280    Oct.  30. 1818  G.  Taylor,  Jr.,S.E.-N.E.O,     38 


100 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


TOWNSHIP  4  S.  8  W. 
Acres. 


Mnr.e,  181«  Samuel  Crozier,  N.E.  8,  160 

Jan.  2.1S18  Jb.  B.  Bull,  E.  2,  N.  W.8,  80 
Ap.  21,  1817  Naney     Garner.    W.    2, 

S.W.  9 SO 

Ap.  29, 1815  Cliecqueur  and    others, 

S.E.  12 100 

De.  24,1817  Isaac  Husband,  S.E.  24,  100 
De.  12, 1817  Paul  Haralson,  \V.2,  N.E, 

of  25 8(1 

Ap.  24. 1815  Paul   Haralson,   S.E.  25  160 


Jnn.10,18'0  Robert  Foster,  S.W.  29,    100 
Jan.11,1819  James  Kinney,W.2,S.W. 


:13... 


80 


TOWNSHIP 

Acres 
Robert  Reynolds,  cl.  A 

survey, 40( 

Pierre  Menard,  cl 


No.22,1817  Abner  Koek.N.E.  3.'i IGO 

Ap.  28, 1815  Thomas  Levens,  N.E.31,  100 

De.  23, 1817  Isaac  Husband,  N.W.  30,  100 

Ap.  28,1815  Thos.  Levens,  fr.  S.W.  30,  02 

Mr.  30, 1810  Caldwell  Games,  S.E.  36,  100 

Total 3-240 

8  w. 


Apr.  28, 1815  Thos.  Levens,  S  E  2.., 
Dec.  22, 1818  Henry  0'Hara,fl  ac.S( 


rvey .. 


400 


John  Bl.iird   (probably 

Dralrd),cl.  and  survey   400 
Levin  Cropper,  cl.  and 

Jno.  Rice  Jones,  cl.  and 
survey 400 

Peler  Menard,  cl.  &  snr., 
in  5-8  4  6-8 340 

P.  D.  Roberts,  el.  S  sur., 
in  5-8  A  C-8 

PiatlieriSmily,  cl. 


.  3300 


i  .t  I 


400 


llay.l" 


du  Rocher,  cl.  A  sur., 

in  5-8  ,t  5-0 0102 

L.  &  B.  Laderoute,  cl.  & 

sur.,  in  5-8  A  5-9 337 

John  Edgar,  part  in  5  A 

C  S.— S  A  9  W 002 

Wm.  Morrison,  part  in 

6  A  OS.— 8  A  9  W 040 

Apr.  28,1815  Caldwell    Carne.=,   frac. 

W2of  1 1S7 

Dec.  24, 1817  Isaac  Husband,  S  E  of 


Apr.  28, 1815  Thos.  Levens,  N  E  2.... 
Jan.  2,  1819  David  Lanson,  E  2S  W  2 


Sep.  18, 1819  Peter  Smith,  N  E  of  9... 
Aug.  7, 1819  Jas.  Whelan,  E  2  N  W  9 
Sep.  30,  1814  Thos.  Levens,  N  2  12.... 
Aug.  Ill,  1814  David  Fulton,  fr.  S.2  of 

13 195 

Aug.29,1815  John  Edgar,  N.  2  of  14..  320 

Jan.  5,  1818  Jos.  H.  Orr,  S.W  15 160 

Oct.  19, 1818  Wm.  Steel,  pts.  of  sec- 
tions IS  and  19 302 

Oct.  0,  1818  J.  4J.  Dunlop,N.E,of  19    160 
Dec.l2, 1818  Henry  Kinnel,  W.  2  N. 

W.  SO 80 

Apr.  17,  1815  Amos  Paxton,  E  2  S.W. 


TOWNSHIP  5  S.  9  w. —  Continued. 


Monsieur  Denegro  he 
Widow  Dennyer  heirin 
Widow  Hebert  heirs  . 
Anloine  Riviere,  clain 


5-9  and  5-10 237 

J.  B.  Boquette  heir.s  claim  and  sur. 

part  5-0  and  5.10 03 

Henry  Carpenter  heirs  claim  and 

sur.  part  5-8  and  .5-10 35 

Joseph  Hortiz  heirs  claim  and  sur. 

part  5-9  and  5-10..: 42 

John  Edgar  heirs  claim  and  sur. 

part  5-9  and  5-10 85 

Deb.  10,  1818.  Samuel  LeardS.W.  of  1  160 


20. 


80 


June  8, 1818  Edwd.  Mudd,  W.  2  S  W. 

of  20 80 

June  1,1818  Norton  Hull,  E.2S.W.21  80 

May  22, 1818  Thos.  Orr,  S.E.  21 160 

May  1,1815   J.  Dodge,  S.W.  22 160 

Aug.10,1818  James  Wilson,  N.2of24  294 
Sep.  14,1819  John  Hathorn,fr.  N.-2  of 


ISli 


Jan.  9, 1815  Archibald  Thompson, fr. 
S.2  of  2.-, 

Apr.  29, 1815  Wm.Reclor,parts  of  sec- 
tions 34  and  35 

Jan.  19, 1815  A.  Thompson,  parts  of 
sections  'Ad  and  30 


Joseph  Belle 
part  in  5-! 

Joseph  Lamii 
part  i 


Tola 


heii 


Total.. 


Pierre  R.  Gidin  heirs  claim  and  sur.  79 
August  Allard  heirs  claim  and  sur.  90 
lias  Jarret  heirs  claim  and  sur.  88 
George  Wiimer  heirs  claim  and  sur.  89 
Joseph  Bellcour  heirs  claim  and  sur.  93 
Antoine  Riviere  Heirs  claim  and  sur.  Gli9 
Jacques  Routillet  heirs  claim  and  sur.  50 
Pierre  Le  Compte  heirs  cl.  and  sur.  280 
Andree  Barbeau  heirs  claim  and  sur.  51 
Louis  Peareau  heirs  claim  and  sur.  60 
John  Edgar  heirs  claim  and  sur.  431 
Ambrose  A  Vasseur  hs.  cl.  and  sur.  136 
Du  Boiher  vill»ge  sq.  hs.  cl.  and  sur  397 
R.  Robinson  and  R.  Morrison 

heirs  claim  and  survey 147 

Jean  B.  Boquette  heirs  claim  and  sur.  85 
Ignace  Laroche  tieirs  claim  and  sur.  213 

TOWNSHIP  6  S.  9  W 
Acres. 
John  Edgar  and  J.  Murray  cl.  and 

Jr.  part  in  6-9  and  0-9 1677 

John  Edgar  heirs  cl.  and  sur.  part 

in  .6-9  and  0-9 : 1589 

B.  Barbeau  heirs  claim  and  sur. 

part  in  6-9  and  6-9 260 

P.  G.  dit  Peaureau  heirs  claim  and 

ar.  part  in  69  and  0-9 58 

August  Allard  heirs  claim  and  sur. 

part  in  .5-9  and  C-9 116 

A.  A  L.  Lapeur  heirs  claim  and  sur. 

pact  in  .6-9  and  0-9 309 

Louis  Pettit  heirs  claim  and  sur. 

part  in  5-9  and  6-9 117 

Clement  Dniry  heirs  claim  and  sur. 

part  iu  5-0  and  6-9 241 

Saurier  Louvier  heirs  claim  and  sur. 

part  in  5-9  and  6-9W 481 

TOWNSHIP  5  S.   10  W 
Acres. 
John  Edgar  claim  and  .sur.  Island 

opposite  Fort  Chartres 1047 

Widow  Hebert  part  in  Monroe  Co...    370 

John  Edgar  part  in  Monroe  Co 260 

M.  Philebot  part  iu  Monroe  Co 142 

KECAPITULATION. 
jands  in  Randolph  county  owneil  by  individuals  prior  to  lli 


ands 


83 


.  and  £ 


.  part 


5568 


Acres. 


151 


d  6-9... 
heirs  cl.  and  sur. 

6-9and6-9 192 

claim  and  sur. 

part  in  ,6-9  and  0-9 131 

A.  Roy   neirs  claim    and    sur.  part 

in  6.9  and  6-9 373 

Jacques  Boutillet  heirs  claim  and 

sur.  part  in  6-9  and  0-9 117 


he 

sur.  part  in  5-9  and  ( 

.iutoine  de  Louvier    h* 


s  claim  and 


258 


part  in  5-9  and  0-9.. 


Unappropriated    heirs   claim  and 

sur.  part  iu  5-9  and  6-9 105 


.  1205 


John  Edgar,  cl.  A 
Timotliy  Demonbro 

claim  and  survey 
Not  located  els.  &  si 
Pierre  Menard,  cl. A 
Kaskaskia  Indians,  cl. 

and  survey 443 

Jt)s.  Person  and  others, 

claim  and  survey  .  ...    160 
Widow  La  Chapelle,  cl. 


TOWNSHIP  6  S.  8  W. 


.  7l>84 


J  as.  Mo 


,  cl.  A  ! 


Wm.  Mcintosh,  cl.  A  sur 
Heirs   Etienne  Pevard, 


clain 
M.adan 


nd  survey.. 


Robt.  Reynolds.cl.  Asl 
Jas,  Kinltaid,  cl,  A  si 
AntoineBuyat,  nl.  A  si 
Heirs  of  B.  Richard, 


vey.. 


Sr., 


Antoine  Bien 

cl.  and  survey 

Jacob  Judy,  cl.  A  sui 
Jo-.  Morrison, cl.  Asm 
Hens  of  Michael  Dan 

claim  and  survey 

Wul■l^^  ToiTongeau,  c 

and  survey 

Wm.  Morrison,  cl.Asu 


Antoine  La  Chapelle,  cl. 

an  1  survey 22 

Genevieve  Buyat,  claim 

and  survey 49 


1   Lafaruqtie,   cl. 

and  survey,  G-S  A  C-9...    : 

Jos.  Tullieur  A  others, 

cl.  A  survey,  li-8  A  G-9., 

Nov.  13, 1816  Geo,  Fislier,  fr,  S,W  of 

Nov.  13,1810  Geo,  Fisher,  fr,  N,W.  of 


Nov,  13,1816  Gei 
June  10, 1816  Jas 


ction  9 

.,  Fisher,  fr,  S,  pt,  of 


Sla 


fr,  8,E,  of 


J,  B.  Boquette  part  in  Mo 
Ignaoe  Le  Grass  part  in  I 
Joseph  Bellccour  part  iu 

Total 


Acre 


2004     T" 


«l,ip 


■  W. 

I  7  -    7  W 


18119 


W. 


,.  13,347 
..  8317 
..  3240 
..  18,824 
..  13,008 


TmiHsh-l 

Township  1.  S.  8  W, 

Township  7  S.  8  W 240 

Township  5  S.  9  W 5568 

Township  G  S.  9  W 0448 

Township  6  S.  10  W.,  pt.  in  Monroe  2911 


Total.. 


.  102,8! 


o,  heir 


Sept. 30, 1816  A.St.  Francis 

fraction  S.E.  of  14 101 

Sept. 30, 1810  A.St.  Franciac  ,  heirs, 

fraction  N.E,  of  23 40 

Sept.  30, 1816  Jno,Edgar,parts  of  23  A 


171 


Sept,  30,1810  Jas.  Slatter,  fr.  N.E.  of 


24.. 


Sept.  30, 1816  Shadrach  Bond,  fr.  pts. 

of  25 

Sept.  30, 1810  Shadrach  Bond,  fr.  pts. 

of  36 


73 


IchabetCamp,  he 
Antoine  Bienvei] 


Total 13,000 

TOWNSHIP  7  S.  8  W. 

Menard,  claim  and  survey 240 

Total ■■■ 2« 

TOWNSHIP  5  S.  9  W. 

Acres. 

)  and  survey 800 

1  and  survey 715 


Town«hip4  S.  5  W 

Townships  S.  5  W 

Township  G  S.  6  W 

Township  7  S.  5  W 

Township  8  S,  5  W 

Dship  4  S,  6  W 

nship  5  S,  6  W 4076 

Township  G  S,  6  W 3087 

nship  7  S,  GW 2100 

nship  8  S,  0  W 304 

Township  4  S,  7  W 3218 

Township  5  S,  7  W 3042 

GOVERNMENT   OF   THE   COUNTY    IN    TERRITORIAL  TIMES. 

The  administration  of  the  county  in  its  infancy,  from  1795 
to  1803,  was  entrusted  to  a  court  of  common  pleas,  organized 
in  1795,  and  composed  of  John  Edgar,  William  Morrison, 
Pierre  Menard,  Robert  McMahan,  George  Fisher,  John 
Beaird,  Robert  Reynolds,  Nathaniel  Hull,  Antoine  Louvier, 
John  Grosvenor,  James  Finney  and  Samuel  Cochran.  These 
gentlemen  were  territorial  or  United  States  justices  of  the 
peace,  and  as  such  members  of  the  court  of  common  pleas. 

The  minutes  of  this  court  could  not  be  found,  and  so  it  is 
impossible  to  give  an  account  of  the  earlier  transactions, 
1795  to  1803.  From  subsequent  minutes  it  may  be  inferred, 
however,  that  the  first  "  court-house,"  probably  built  by 
Todd  in  1779,  was  not  longer  inhabitable;  that  it,  together 
with  the  lot  on  which  it  had  been  erected,  had  been  sold  to 
William  Morrison  and  Dr.  George  Fisher,  who,  in  1803, 
were  dunned  by  the  county  officials  for  balances  due  by  them 
to  the  county  on  account  of  said  purchase.     Morrison  owed 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


101 


a  balance  of  $25  for  the  lot,  aud  the  Doctor  owed  $60  for 
the  stone  of  the  court-house. 

James  Dunu,  sheritl"  prior  to  1803,  built  the  first  county 
jail  at  Kasfeaskia,  and  received  $j70  35  for  it  July  12,1803. 

C'onrity  Commmionrr.%  1803  to  1809.  The  first  meeting 
of  these  oflicers  was  held  July  4, 1803,  at  the  dwelling-house 
of  Robert  Morrison,  where  he  and  his  colleagues,  Paul  Ha- 
ralson and  James  Gilbreath,  took  the  oath  of  office  before 
John  Edgar,  Esq.,  ami  then  adjourned.  Their  next  meeting 
was  held  at  the  house  of  Mrs.  Turcott.  on  the  12lh  of  July, 
1803,  when  William  Wilson,  county  surveyor  since  1795, 
was  appointed  secretary  of  the  commissioners,  in  place  of 
Paul  Haralson,  who  had  declined  to  act  any  longer.  (Paul 
had  acted  as  secretary  at  the  4th  of  July  meeting,  and  writ- 
ten twenty-one  words  as  secretary  )  From  the  minutes  of 
the  I'Jth  of  July,  it  would  appear  that  William  Kelly  was 
the  first  coroner  of  the  county,  for  he  was  then  allowed  a 
claim  of  8-9.89,  for  holding  an  inquest  over  the  body  of  a 
man  found  dead  on  the  Massac  road  in  1796. 

The  court  held  their  subsequent  meetings  in  the  house  of 
Louis  Laderout,  and  paid  him  811.50  rent  October  18,  1803. 
The  county  had  been  divided  into  five  townships  by  the  court 
of  common  pleas,  and  the  county  commissioners  retained 
this  subdivision.  The  townships  were  named  Kaskaskia, 
Prairie  du  Rocher,  Williamsburg,  Mitchie  and  Springfield. 

An  assessment  of  personal  property  was  ordered  on  the 
13lh  of  January,  1894,  and  the  following  forces  put  to  work  : 
For  Kaskaskia — John  Grosvenor  and  Joseph  Pago ;  for 
Mitchie — James  McRoberts  and  William  Cliafhu ;  for 
Springfield — William  Kelly;  for  Prairie  du  Rocher — Nico- 
las Mya  (Meyer),  John  Evert,  Sr.,  and  Prince  IJryan. 

This  seems  to  have  been  the  last  term  of  the  county  com- 
missioners' court,  as  it  adjourned  "  without  a  day,"  after 
allowing  wolf-scalp  premiums — to  John  Griffin  for  14,  Otho 
Levens  and  Jonathan  Petit  for  4  each,  John  Hornbeck  for  2 
and  Parker  Grosvenor,  Robert  McMahan  and  Robert  Hug- 
gins  for  1  each. 

The  administrative  functions  of  the  county  were  next 
performed  by  a  court,  styled  orphans'  court,  compo.sed  of 
the  following  justices  :  Pierre  Menard,  John  Bcaird,  George 
Fisher,  Robert  Reynolds,  Robert  McMahan  and  John  Gros- 
venor, from  1804  to  1808.  From  minutes  kept  by  this  court 
it  would  appear  that  it  devoted  its  atteution  to  probate  busi- 
ness almost  exclusively.  Once  only,  on  March  7,  180b,  some 
political  measures  are  mentioned.  Same  territory  of  the 
county,  heretofore  a  wilderness,  had  gradually  been  settled 
and  become  the  home  of  a  few  families  possessed  of  "  taxable  " 
property,  whereu|)on  the  court  deemed  it  proper  to  organize 
tliese  parts  as  townships.  The  five  original  townships  were 
retained  and  the  following  new  ones  added  : 

Rocking  Cave. — To  commence  at  range  Hue  7  east  of  the 
3d  principal  meridian,  running  north  with  said  line  until  it 
intersec  s  the  county  line  between  Randnlph  and  St.  Clair. 
Tliis  description  ij  vague.  The  new  township  must  have 
comprised  the  present  counties  of  White,  Gallatin,  and  Har- 
din, and  eastern  parts  of  Hamilton,  Saline,  and  Pope. 

Massac. — To  commence  at  range  line  2  east  of  the  3d 
principal  meridian;   running  due  north  till    it  strikes   Big 


Muddy  river.  This  township  comprised  the  present  coun- 
ties of  Massac,  Johnson,  and  Williamson,  also  west  parts  of 
Hamilton,  Saline,  and  Pope. 

Mississippi. — To  commence  on  the  Mississippi,  below  Big 
Muddy,  and  bounding  on  Massac  township,  running  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Ohio.  This  township  contained  the  present 
counties  of  Pulaski,  Alexander  and  Union,  and  southeast 
part  of  Jackson.  The  order  for  formation  of  these  townships 
is  immediately  followed  by  another,  appointing  assessors,  to 

wit :    Samuel   Omelveny  for  Rocking  Cave,  Hughes 

for  Mississippi,  and  f  homas  Ferguson  for  Massac. 

Marie,  or  Marij. — Springfield  township  was  divided  by  a 
line  beginning  at  Colonel  Edgar's  Ferry,  on  the  Kaskaskia, 
along  the  road  leading  to  Harralson's  ferry,  on  the  same 
river,  until  oppo.  ite  the  house  of  Thomas  Fulton  ;  thence 
east  to  the  Vincennes  road  with  the  same  until  it  strikes  the 
boundary  line  of  Knox  county. 

Scraps  from  the  records  of  the  period,  1795  to  1809. — 
The  first  official  mentioning  of  the  name  of  Randolph  county 
is  found  in  a  record  of  deeds,  when,  November  7,  1795, 
Lewis  Germain  and  Mary  his  wife,  of  Kaskaskia,  Randolph 
coi.nty,  in  the  Territory  of  the  United  States  west  of  the 
River  Ohio,  sold  to  William  Mclutosh  a  one-sixth  interest 
in  a  tract  of  land  at  a  place  called  the  Big  Spring,  near  the 
road  from  Kaskaskia  to  Prairie  du  Rocher,  about  six  miles 
from  Kaskaskia,  containing  in  front  12  acres,  and  90  acres 
deep,  between  Pierre  Lauglois  and  John  Edgar,  for  twenty 
dollars. 

The  prices  at  which  lands  sold  in  those  times  are  very 
irregular.  400-acre  head  rights  were  sold  at  from  thirty  to 
two  hundred  dollars,  and  were  frequently  paid  for  in  goods 
at  enormous  prices.  Militia  rights,  100  acres,  brought  from 
six  to  fourteen  dollars;  other  donation  rights  sold  at  similar 
rates,  while  the  so-called  improvement  rights  were  seldom 
sold  for  less  than  fifty  cents  per  acre. 

The  largest  land  sale  made  in  those  days  was  that  of 
Pierre  and  Therese  Menard  to  Charles  Choquier  and  John 
Holmes  of  Baltimore,  wherein,  for  the  sum  of  $9,000,  nine 
thousand  two  hundred  aud  thirty-three  and  one-third  acres 
were  conveyed  February  12,  1799.  Menard's  lands  thus 
sold  consisted  of  twenty-one  and  one  third  head  of  family 
rights,  of  400  acres  each  ;  and  seven  militia  rights,  of  100 
acres  each.     His  profits  must  have  been  considerable. 

Lardner  Clark  sold  his  mill,  distillery,  dwelling-house, 
and  "gardens."  situated  east  of  the  Kaskaskia  river,  to  John 
Edgar  for  S20  50,  November  10,  1798.  John  Edgar  had 
apparently  monopolized  the  purchasing  of  lands,  the  de- 
serijition  of  which  fills  172  consecutive  pages  iu  the  land 
records  of  the  county. 

Marriages  recorded  during  said  period. 

Nichola  Jarrot  and  Marie  C.  Barbun,  Sept.  22.  1795 — 
solemnized  bv  Gabriel  Richard.  Curate  of  St.  Joseph  of 
Prairie  du  Rocher.  Joseph  Danguiue  and  Marie  Reine 
Filet,  Sept.  29  1795 — by  the  same.  Antoine  C.  LaChance 
and  Jeanne  Felicitee  d'Amour  Louviere,  Nov.  9.  1795 — by 
same.  Antoine  d'Amour  Louviere  and  JIarie  Louise  Lang- 
lois,  Feb.  8.  1796— by  same.     Louis  Allaire  and  Magdalene 


102 


HISTORY   OF  RANDOLPH,   MONROE  AND   PERRY   COUNTIES,   ILLINOIS. 


Degagnee,  Feb.  5.  1796,  by  "Janin,"  Curate  at  Kaskaskia. 
Alexis  Paquin  and  "Archangel",  April  21.  1796  by  same. 
Joseph  Devigne  and  Julie  Godin  Tourangeau,  Nov.  8.  1795, 
by  same.  Joseph  Langlois  and  Marie  B.  D.  Toulons,  Oct. 
27. 1796.  J.  B.  Perrin  and  Marguarete  Grannon,  Nov.  14, 
1796,  Joseph  Sylvain  and  MarianeNuillier  Devignie,  Feb 
28.  1797.  Etienne  L'Anglois  and  Cecile  Candere,  January 
23.  1798.  Francois  L'Anglois  and  Marie  Godin,  Joseph  Blai 
and  Marianne  Lavone— same  day  by  Gabriel  Richard  Curate. 

The  estate  of  Louis  La  Sand  deceased  was  put  under  ad- 
ministration on  the  20th  of  November  1795,  when  his  will, 
dated  Prairie  du  Eocher  June  23.  1790,  was  proved.  The 
will  is  void  of  interest.  The  personal  property  consisted  in 
6  cows,  valued  from  15  to  20  dollars  each,  1  yoke  of  steersi 
60  dollars,  10  head  of  young  cattle,  valued  from  7  to  12 
dollars  each,  3  horses,  valued  40  dollars  each. 

The  common  law  cases  adjudicated  during  the  period, 
although  quite  numerous,  are  without  any  special  interest, 
and  criminal  cases  there  are  none,  except  now  and  then  an 
assault  and  battery  or  liquor  case,  as  for  instance  the  Indict- 
ment and  fine  of  Ephraim  Carpenter,  innkeeper  at  Kaskas- 
kia, who  had  sold  liquor  without  license — in  defiance  of  law 
and  to  the  evil  example — for  which  misdemeanor  he  paid  a 
fine  of  five  dollars  and  costs. 

The  election  returns  of  that  period  h;.ve  not  been  pre- 
served. From  documents  preserved  in  the  sister  county  St. 
Clair,  it  appears  that  Shadrach  Bond  of  Randolph  defeated 
Isaac  Darneille  of  Cahokia  [St.  Clair]  for  "a  representative 
for  to  be  sent  to  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Territorry," 
at  an  election  held  in  January  1799.  Another  election, 
after  the  organization  of  the  territory  of  Indiana,  held  on 
the  7th  of  December  1802,  to  elect  three  representatives  to 
go  to  Vincennes  and  there  to  meet  the  convention  to  be  held 
there  on  the  20.  of  December  for  the  purpose  of  sending  our 
grievances  to  Congress,  resulted  in  the  election  of  Shadrach 
Bond  sr.,  Jean  Fran9ois  Perry  and  John  Murdock.  May  21. 
1805,  Shadrach  Bond,  sr.,  was  elected  representative  to  the 
territorial  legislature  of  Indiana,  and  becoming  a  member 
of  the  legislative  council  [senate]  resigned  in  1806,  when 
Shadrach  Bond,  jr.,  his  nephew  wa«  elected  to  fill  this  va- 
cancy. He  was  reelected  in  the  following  year,  remaining 
a  representative  of  Randolph  county  until  Illinois  waa 
formed  into  a  separate  territory. 

The  officers  of  the  county  during  this  period  have  been 
mentioned  above.  The  dates  of  their  commissions  could  not 
be  ascertained.  The  sheriffs  of  that  period  were  James 
Dunn,  1795  to  1800,  George  Fisher  from  1800  to  1803,  James 
Edgar  1803  to  1805  and  James  Gilbreath  from  1805  to 
1807.  Robert  Morrison  was  clerk  of  the  court  (.f  quarter 
sessions.  William  Wilson  was  county  surveyor  from  1795 
to  1808,  William  Kelley  coroner  1795  to  1808  and  Lardner 
Clark  recorder  of  deeds.  The  organization  of  the  territory 
of  Illinois,  February  3.  1809  gave  cause  to  a  reorganization 
of  the  two  counties  then  existing,  St.  Clair  and  Randolph, 
which  was  done  by  proclamation  as  follows : 

Apbil  28,  1809. 
Nathaniel    Pope,  Secretary  of  the  Territory  of  Illinois, 
and  exercising  the  government  thereof. 


By  virtue  of  the  power  vested  in  the  Governor  for  the 
prevention  of  crimes,  injuries,  and  for  the  execution  of 
process,  civil  and  criminal,  within  the  territory,  I  have 
thought  proper,  and  by  this  proclamation,  to  divide  the 
Illinois  territory  into  two  counties  to  be  called  the  county 
St.  Clair  and  the  county  of  Randolph.  The  county  of 
Randolph  shall  include  all  that  part  of -the  Illinois 
Territory  lying  south  of  the  line  dividing  the  counties  of 
Randolph  and  St.  Clair,  as  it  existed  under  the  govern, 
ment  of  the  Indiana  Territory  on  the  last  day  of  February 
in  the  year  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  nine, — and  the 
county  of  St.  Clair  shall  include  all  that  part  of  the 
Territory  which  lies  north  of  said  line. 

Done  at  Kaskaskia,  the  28th  day  of  April,  1809, 
and  of  the  Independence  of  the  United  States, 
the  thirty-third.  Nat.  Pope. 

The  territory  of  the  county  remained  the  same  as 
heretofore.  The  population  of  the  county,  1103  in  1800, 
had  now  increased  to  about  7000.  (The  United  States 
Census  of  1810  gave  the  county  then  a  population  of 
7275.)  The  people  were  scattered  over  a  vast  area,  but 
fully  one-half  of  the  total  population  were  located  at  Kas- 
kaskia and  its  vicinity. 

A  reorganization  of  the  county  government  took  place 
on  the  3d  of  July,  1809,  when  William  Arundel,  Philip 
Fouke  and  John  Edgar,  Esquires,  Justices  of  the  Peace, 
with  William  C.  Greenup  as  clerk,  and  Benjamin 
Stephenson  as  sheriff,  assembled  at  the  house  of  Thomas 
Cox  and  "  held  court." 

1809  TO  1819. 

In  reading  and  examining  the  proceedings  of  the  first 
courts  of  various  and  diverse  counties  the  writer  observed 
that  the  licensing  of  taverns  is  the  first  step  usually  taken. 
The  absolute  want  of  public  funds  in  all  these  new  bodies 
politic  must  have  compelled  the  authorities  to  grantthose 
licenses  as  the  easiest  and  quickest  mode  of  obtaining  a 
"revenue."  And  thus  the  records  again  show  that  Philip 
Fouke  was  licensed  as  innkeeper  at  Kask^kia,  taxed  $12.00 
per  annum,  and,  being  a  man  of  "  good  character  and 
reliable  withall,"  he  was  excused  from  giving  the  usual 
bond;  he  was  allowed  to  charge  as  follows:  breakfast,  25 
eta.,  dinner  37  i  cts.,  supper  25  cts.,  lodging  12i  cts.,  horse 
to  hay  at  night  25  cts.,  corn  or  oats  12*  cts.  per  gallon, 
French  brandy,  50  cts.  per  half  pint;  whiskey,  12i  cts.  J 
taffia  or  rum,  37* ;  peach  brandy  or  cherry  bonnie,  25  cts. 

William  Morrison  was  licensed  to  keep  a  ferry  from 
opposite  the  "Little  Rock"  across  the  Mississippi,  and 
allowed  to  charge  the  following  rates :  four-horse  team, 
$3.00 ;  two-horse  team,  $2  50  ;  two-wheel  carriages,  with  a 
pair  of  horses  or  oxen,  $2.00  ;  with  single  horse  or  ox,  $1.75  ; 
man  and  horse,  62  J  cts. ;  single  horse,  50  cts. ;  single 
person,  25  cts;  "plunder,"  12V  cts.  per  100  lbs.;  neat 
cattle  per  head,  50  cts  ;  hogs  or  sheep,  12*  cts  ;  and  planks, 
25  cts.  per  100  feet.  The  Kaskaskia  ferry  rates  were  lower, 
to  wit:  Single  person  above  77  years  of  age,  6i  cts.;  man 
and  horse,  12*  cts.;  single  horse,  6i  cts.  ;  cart  and  oxen  or 
horses,  25  cts  ;  wagon  and  team,  50  cts. ;  grown  cattle,  61^ 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY'    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


103 


eta  ;  cattle  under  two  years  of  age,  sheep  or   hogs,  3i  cts. 
each. 

The  labors  of  the  county  court  were  performed  by 
justices  of  the  peace,  three  of  whom  would  form  a  quorum, 
until  January,  1810.  A  territorial  law,  pa.ssed  December 
22d,  1809,  created  county  courts,  to  be  composed  of  three 
judges  who  were  appointed  by  the  governor.  Before  pro- 
ceeding further  we  would  here  introduce  a 

LIST   OF   TOWNSHIP   OFFICERS — IS09. 

Justices  of  the  Peace. — The  early  Justices  of  the  Peace 
held  their  offices  by  appointment,  and  it  was  not  until  182" 
that  the  people  were  deemed  competent  to  elect  their  town- 
ship judicial  officers.  The  general  view  on  the  subject  seems 
to  have  been  that  the  dignity  of  the  "  Squire "  would  be 
or  was  in  danger  of  being  lowered  by  the  vulgarity  of  elec- 
tions. 

The  governor  of  the  territory  appointed  the  justices  at 
the  suggestion  of  the  county  commissioners,  or  "  at  will," 
and  the  commissions  issued  to  those  dignitaries  smack  of 
monarchical  origin,  his  excellency  the  governor  using  the 
plural  number  of  the  personal  pronoun  when  referring  to 
his  own  persou. 

The  following  gentlemen  seem  to  have  acted  as  justices  in 
1809: 

Philip  Fouke,  William  Arundel,  Henry  Levens,  Pierre 
Le  Coute,  P.  Harralson,  David  Anderson,  Jean  B.  Bar- 
beau,  Robert  Gaston,  Archibald  Thompson,  John  Guithing, 
John  Edgar,  James  M.  Roberts,  John  McFerron,  John 
Bradshaw,  i^amuel  Omelvany,  George  Robinson,  George 
Hacker,  Jas.  Lemon,  Thomas  Ferguson,  Hamlet  Ferguson, 
John  Phelps,  and  Marion  Fuller. 

Overseers  of  the  Poor. — Ralph  Drury,  John  Evert  fur 
Mitchie  ;  Clement  Drury,  Pierre  Le  Conte,  fur  Du  Rocher; 
John  Gibson,  A.  Langlois,  for  Kaskaskia ;  Joseph  Clen- 
denin,  Henry  Leven,  for  Williamsburg  ;  John  Beaird,  Paul 
Heilston,  for  Springfield;  George  Hecker  (Hacker),  and 
Squire  Green  for  Mississippi  ;  Hamlet  Ferguson  and  Fred- 
erick Grater  for  Massac  ;  James  Ford  and  Samuel  Omel- 
vany for  Rocking  Cave. 

Overseers  of  the  Highways. — Jesse  Reynolds  for  Mitchie, 
Pierre  Auguste  for  Du  Rocher,  Jesse  Griggs  for  Kaskaskia, 
Thomas  Levin  for  Williamsburg,  James  Hughes  for  Spring- 
field. For  the  newly  organized  townships  Rocking  Cave, 
Massac,  and  Mississippi,  no  appointments  were  made. 

Constable''. — Jesse  Griggs  and  Samuel  Davis  for  Kaskas- 
kia ;  Michael  Masterson  for  Mitchie;  John  Langston  for 
Mississippi  ;  Joseph  M.  Courtney  for  Marie ;  Autoin  Le 
Chance  for  Du  Rocher;   James  Laird,  Springfield. 

Licensed  Taverns  in  1809. — Pierre  IjC  Compte,  at  Prairie 
du  Rocher  ;  Philip  Fuuke,  at  Kaskaskia  ;  Thomas  C  x,  at 
Kaskaskia;  Jonathan  Taylor,  at  the  United  States  Saline  ; 
James  Truesdale,  on  the  road  leading  from  U.  S.  Saline  to 
Shawneetown  ;  James  Lane,  do.  do. 

The  first  county  court  of  Randolph  county,  composed  of 
the  Worshipful  Philip  Fouke,  William  Arui-del  and  John 
McFerron,  met  at  the  tavern  of  Thomas  Cox  on   the  4th  of 


January,  1810,  and  proceeded  immediately  to  levy  a  tax 
for  the  county  and  also  a  territorial  tax  on  lands  located. 

The  county  tax  levy  was  as  follows :  Each  single  man,  not 
having  one  hundred  dollars'  worth  of  taxable  property,  was 
assessed  one  dollar ;  owners  of  slaves  had  to  pay  for  each 
slave  one  dollar  per  year ;  horses  were  taxed  fifty  cents 
and  neat  cattle  ten  cents  each ;  each  mansion  valued 
at  two  hundred  dollars  or  more,  all  mills  and  distilleries, 
were  assessed  at  the  rate  of  thirty  cents  per  one  hundred 
dollars  valuation.  The  numerous  ferrries  were  also  a  source 
of  revenue,  and  the  year  1810  saw  the  following  ferries 
licensed,  to  wit :  Ephraim  Carpenter,  William  Cheek,  John 
Edgar,  Pierre  Menard,  James  Ford,  each  ten  dollars  ;  Ham- 
ilton Ferguson  at  seven  dollars  ;  James  Fulton  and  William 
Mirrison  eac'i  at  six  dollars  ;  Charles  Bradley,  Louis  Baor- 
ke,  Thomas  Ferguson,  John  Robinson,  RichanI  and  Waller, 
each  five  dollars;  Jonathan  Hampton  at  four  dollars; 
John  Morris,  James  McHorton  and  John  May,  each  three 
dollars. 

The  revenue  of  the  county  derived  from  these  levies  was 
small,  as  the  land  taxes  proper  were  collected  for  maintain- 
ing the  territorial  government  only.  From  a  settlement 
mentioned  in  the  county  records  of  August  term  1809,  it  ap- 
pears that  the  county  revenue  for  the  years  1807  and  1808, 
the  collection  of  which  was  entrusted  to  sheriff  James  Gil- 
breath,  amounted  to  §1,593.18,  of  which  S944.97  had  been 
collected  and  accounted  for,  while  §213.50  of  the  revenue 
of  1807  and  §435.71  of  the  revenue  of  1808  were  re- 
turned delinquent.  The  sherifl^s  of  those  days  had  a 
hopeless  task  to  perform  in  collecting  a  few  hundred  dollars 
of  taxpavers,  whose  homes  were  scattered  through  all  the 
territory  between  the  Misaissisippi,  the  Wabash  and  the 
Ohio,  nor  is  it  to  be  wondered  at  that  nearly  every  one  is 
accused  of  being  in  default.  The  expenses  of  those  infant 
counties,  though  insignificant  in  the  whole,  invariably  ex- 
ceeded the  revenue,  and  sufficed  scarcely  to  defray  court 
expenses,  rent  of  rooms  and  salaries  of  officers;  improve- 
ment of  roads  and  buHding  of  bridges  was  out  of  the  ques- 
tion; but  let  it  be  said  in  honor  of  those  pioneers,  that  they 
contrived  to  find  means  to  aid  the  poor  and  helpless.  We 
mention  here  that  the  authorities  in  1809  paid  Thomas  Cox 
8144  a  year  for  keeping  Thomas  Branham,  a  blind  man. 
Thus  it  is  shown  that  about  ode-sixth  of  the  whole  revenue 
was  expended  in  support  of  one  unfortunate  fellow  being! 
In  extreme  cases  the  aid  of  the  territorial  government  was 
extended  to  the  helpless,  as  for  instance  in  the  case  of  Julian 
Bart,  who  had  been  drafted  to  serve  a  tour  of  duty  as  a 
militiaman  during  the  past  summer,  and  while  in  service  and 
obeying  the  orders  of  his  officer,  was  shockingly  wounded, 
having  one  arm  shot  off  and  the  other  broken  in  different 
places,  his  body  lacerated  and  his  eyesight  greatly  injured, 
and  now  lies  in  a  most  distressed  situation  in  the  town  of  St. 
Louis,  dependent  on  the  bounty  of  a  poor  family ;  and 
whereas  it  would  be  cruel  to  permit  him  to  linger  out  a 
miserable  existence,  rendered  so  in  the  service  of  his  coun- 
try, without  the  support  which  it  is  able  to  aflford  hira, 
therefore  it  is  ordered  by  the  governor  that  the  auditor 
draw  warrants  for  such  sums  of  money  as  may  from  time  to 


104 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES.    ILLINOIS. 


time  become  necessary  for  the  support  of  said  Julian  Bart, 
and  to  provide  for  his  removal  from  St.  Louis  to  Kaskaskia, 
his  home,  etc  ,  etc."  Bart  was  soon  after  put  on  the  U.  8. 
pension  list. 

PROCEEDINGS  IN  COURTS  OF  JUSTICE. 

Before  reciting  some  interesting  criminal  cases  during 
territorial  times,  it  may  be  proper  to  introduce  here  a  brief 
sketch  of 

TERRITORIAL  LAWS. 

We  will  allude  to  some  features  of  the  territorial  code, 
which  may  give  an  idea  to  the  reader  of  the  progress  and 
amelioration  attained  in  criminal  jurisprudence  and  the 
punishment  for  debt.  Thus  in  the  punishment  of  crimes, 
both  felonies  and  misdemeanors,  the  barbarous  practices  of 
whipping  on  the  bare  back,  confinement  in  stocks,  standing 
in  the  pillory,  and  branding  with  hot  irons  were  the  penal- 
ties frequently  prescribed  ;  besides  fines,  imprisonment  and 
loss  of  citizenship.  These  summary  modes  of  chastisement 
grew  in  part  out  of  the  condition  of  the  country.  It  was  but 
sparsely  settled,  the  people  were  poor,  they  had  no  general 
prison  or  penitentiary,  and  the  few  jails  were  so  insecure  as 
to  present  scarcely  any  barrier  to  the  escape  of  prisoners. 
Whipping  upon  the  bare  back,  besides  other  punishments 
at  the  option  of  the  court,  was  prescribed  in  burglary  or 
robbery,  39  stripes;  in  perjury,  larceny,  the  receiving  of 
stolen  goods,  and  obtaining  goods  by  fraudulent  pretenses, 
31  stripes  ;  horse  stealing,  first  offence,  from  50  to  lOU  lashes  ; 
hog  stealing  from  25  to  39  lashes  ;  altering  and  defacing 
marks  or  brands  on  domestic  animals  at  large,  40  lashes 
"  well  laid  on";  bigamy,  punished  with  from  100  to  300 
stripes  ;  for  sodomy,  from  100  to  500  lashes  were  prescribed  ; 
forcibly  taking  away  a  female  to  marry  against  her  consent 
was  declared  a  felony  and  might  be  punished  by  whipping  ; 
children  or  servants  for  disobedience,  might  upon  complaint 
and  conviction  before  a  justice,  be  whipped  not  exceeding 
10  stripes.  Fines  were  collected  from  those  unable  to  pay 
by  the  sheriff  hiring  or  selling  them  to  any  one  who  would 
pay  the  fine  and  costs  for  such  terms  as  the  court  might 
deem  reasonable,  and  if  the  delinquent  should  abscond,  the 
penalty  was  double  the  term  of  servitude  and  39  stripes. 
Standing  in  pillory  was  prescribed,  in  addition  to  other 
penalties,  in  perjury,  forgery,  and  the  altering  or  defacing 
of  brands  or  marks  on  domestic  animals.  For  this  last 
offense,  on  second  conviction  the  culprit  was  to  have  the 
letter  T  branded  in  the  left  hand  with  a  red  hot  iron.  To 
prevent  the  common  crime  of  killing  stock  running  on  the 
range,  every  one,  including  the  owners;  was  required  to 
exhibit  the  ears  of  hogs  or  hides  of  cattle,  killed,  to  a  magis- 
trate or  two  freeholders  within  three  days  under  a  penalty 
of  810.00.  For  aiding  the  escape  of  a  convict,  the  punish- 
ment was  the  same  as  that  of  the  culprit,  except  in  capital 
cases,  when  stripes,  standing  in  pillory  or  sitting  on  the  gal- 
lows with  the  rope  adjusted  about  the  neck,  at  the  option  of 
the  court  was  the  penalty.  Besides  in  treason  and  murder, 
the  penalty  of  death  by  hanging  was  pronounced  against 
arson   and  rape,  and  horse-stealing   on  second  conviction. 


For  selling  intoxicating  liquors  to  Indians,  slaves,  apprentices 
and  minors,  severe  penalties  were  enacted.  For  disorderly 
behavior  at  divine  worship  and  hunting  on  the  Sabbath, 
penalties  by  fines  were  prescribed.  In  1810  a  law  was 
adopted  to  suppress  dueling  which  made  the  fatal  result  of 
a  duel  murder,  including  the  aiders,  abettors  or  counselors 
as  principals  in  the  crime. 

In  regard  to  the  collection  of  debts  the  principles  of  the 
common  law  favored  the  creditor.  All  the  property  of  the 
debtor,  both  real  and  personal,  without  any  humane  features 
as  to  exemption,  might  be  levied  upon  and  sold  under  exe- 
cution. The  sale  was  absolute,  no  time  of  redemption.  If 
the  laud  failed  to  sell  for  .want  of  bidders,  it  was  the  judg- 
ment creditor's  right,  at  his  option,  to  take  it  absolutely  at 
the  appraised  value  made  by  12  jurors.  But  this  was  not 
all.  If  the  property  was  insuffiiient  to  pay  the  judgment, 
the  body  of  the  debtor  might  be  seized  and  cast  into  prison. 
Here  he  would  be  allowed  the  prison  bounds,  extending  200 
yards  from  the  jail  in  any  direction,  on  condition  only  of 
giving  bonds  in  double  the  sum  of  the  debt,  not  to  depart 
ttierefrom. 

The  territorial  revenue  was  raised  by  a  tax  upon  lands. 
Those  situated  in  the  river  bottems  of  the  Mississippi,  Ohio 
and  Wabash,  were  called  1st  class  land  and  taxed  at  the 
rate  of  SI. 00  on  every  100  acres;  uplands  were  called  2d 
class  lauds,  and  were  taxed  at  the  rate  of  75  cents  per  100 
acres.  Uulocated,  but  confirmed  land  claims  were  taxed  at 
the  rate  of  37 J  cts.  per  100  acres.  The  county  revenue  was 
raised  chiefly  by  a  tax  upon  personal  property,  including 
slaves  or  indentured  servants,  not  to  exceed  SI  each.  The 
only  real  property  taxed  for  county  purposes  was  lots  and 
houses  in  towns,  mausion  houses  in  the  country  worth  8200 
and  upwards,  mills  and  distilleries.  There  was  levied  also  a 
capitation  tax  of  $1.00  on  every  able-bodied  single  man  of 
21  years  and  over.  Tavern  keepers,  merchants  and  owners 
of  ferries  were  licensed  at  from  S3  to  S15  per  annum. 
Horses  and  cattle  were  taxed  by  the  head,  not  exceeding  50 
and  10  cents  respectively — not  according  to  value,  as  at 
present. 

The  entire  territorial  revenue,  between  the  1st  of  Novem- 
ber, 1811,  and  the  8th  of  November,  1814,  was  reported  by 
the  legislative  committee  on  finance,  in  1814,  to  be  S4,875  45. 
But  of  this  amount  only  82,516.89  had  actually  been  paid 
into  the  treasury  ;  the  balance,  nearly  half, — 823,58,50  re- 
mained in  the  hands  of  delinquent  sheriffs.  The  delinquen- 
cies of  sherifls  in  their  capacity  as  collectors  of  the  revenues, 
remained  a  curse  to  Illino's,  not  only  during  its  territorial 
existence,  but  for  many  years  after  it  became  a  State.* 

The  courts  established  in  1779  by  the  county  lieutenant 
were  superseded  by  Governor  Arthur  St.  Clair  in  1790,  and 
three  judicial  districts  established  to  wit :  Kaskaskia,  Judge 
John  Edgar;  Prairie  du  Kocher,  Judge  Jean  Baptiste  Bar- 
beau,  and  Cahokia,  Judge  John  De  Moulin.    After  the  or- 


*These  delinquencies  of  sheriffs  as  collectors  of  revenue  are  to  be  excused. 
The  compensation  of  the  officers,  10  percent,  of  amounts  collected,  would  for 
the  whole  territory  amount  to  $487.50  if  all  the  revenue  were  collected.  There 
were  then  2  sheriffs,  and  if  they  had  taken  the  pains  of  calling  on  each  tax- 
payer in  their  respectivi  districits,  their  travelling  expenses  would  have  ab 
sorbed  twice  the  amount  of  their  prospective  compensation. 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY  COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


105 


ganization  of  the  territory  of  Illinois,  the  whole  territory 
formed  one  judicial  circuit  until  1818.  The  judges  during 
this  period  were  Obadiah  Jones,  Alexander  Stuart  and  Jesse 
B,  Thomas,  appointed  March  7,  1809.  Stuart  resigned  in 
March,  1810,  and  was  succeeded  by  Stanley  Griswold. 
William  Sprigg  was  appointed  July  29,  1813,  and  Thomas 
Fowles  October  28,  1815,  and  reappointed  January  16,  1816. 

This  General  Court  of  the  Illinois  Territory  held  its  first 
term  at  Kaskaskia  on  12th  day  of  Sej)tember,  1809.  Pre- 
sent: The  Honorable  Judges  Alexander  Stuart,  Obadiah 
Jones,  Jesse  B.  Thomas.  The  names  of  the  grand  jurors  were  : 

Isaac  White,  foreman  ;  Samuel  Cochran,  William  Simp- 
son, William  Daniels,  John  Manis,  John  Hibbins,  William 
Chaffin,  John  Worley,  Ephraim  Bilderback,  Josiah  Cox, 
Jacob  Bowerman,  William  Stiles,  John  Murphy,  John 
Phelps,  Thomas  Griflin,  Samuel  Omelvany,  James  Steele, 
Gershora  demons,  Alexander  Blair,  William  Alexander, 
John  Bradshaw  and  Owen  Evans. 

The  grand  jury  thus  assembled  had  a  vast  amount  of  labor 
before  them.  The  most  interesting  case  was  that  of  The 
Uuited  States  versu*  James  Dunlap,  a  physician  at  Kaskas- 
kia,  and  Michael  Jones,  "gentleman,"  also  of  Kaskaskia. 
Before  going  into  the  details  of  the  indictment  and  subse- 
quent trial,  a  few  words  should  be  said  in  reference  to  inci 
dents  preceding  the  indictment. 

Rice  Jones,  son  of  the  well-known  John  Rice  Jones  first 
lawyer  of  Illinois,  had  had  difficulties  of  a  political  nature 
with  several  gentlemen  at  Kaskaskia,  and  in  consequence  a 
duel  between  him  and  Shadrach  Bond  had  been  arranged. 
The  parties  met  on  an  island  between  Kaskaskia  and  St. 
Genevieve.  When  the  principals  had  taken  positions  and 
the  word  was  about  to  be  given,  Jones'  pistol  went  off  by 
accident.  Dr.  James  Dunlap,  Bond's  second,  claimed  that 
it  was  Jones'  fire,  and  that  Bond  might  now  fire  at  Jones; 
'but  Bond,  the  chivalrous  and  high-hearted  Marylauder,  dis- 
dained doing  so;  in  fact,  the  duel  ended  right  there  and  the 
controversy  was  amicably  settled  on  the  spot.  The  incident 
gave  rise  to  a  bitter  quarrel  between  Rice  Jones  and  Dr. 
James  Dunlap,  who  was  urged  on  by  Michael  Jones  and 
others  to  persecute  Jones  in  every  way  imaginable.  The 
threats  against  Rice  Jones'  life  had  become  verv  loud 
towards  the  close  of  the  year  1808,  so  that  John  Rice  Jones 
saw  proper  to  address  the  following  note  to  Elija  Bachus  : 

K.\sKASKrA,  Nov.  25,  1808. 
Sir— I  have  just  heard  of  your  threats  of  yesterday,  that 
if  my  son  did  not  go  out  of  the  country,  he  should  in  a  few 
days  be  put  out  of  existence— "i<  will  he  done,  it  ahnll  be 
done."  I  now  inform  you  that  he  will  remain  hfre,  and  if 
he  should  be  murdered  either  by  you  or  through  your  insti- 
gation, I  shall  know  where  to  apply.  I  must,  however,  con- 
fess that  the  threats  of  poltroons  can  be  considered  in  no 
other  light  than  as  those  of  assassins. 

Yours,  John  Rice  Jones. 

On  the  7tli  day  of  December,  1808,  while  Rice  Jones  was 
standing  in  the  streets  of  Kaskaskia,  in  conversation  with  a 
lady,  Dr^  Dunlap  stole  up  behind  him  and  shot  him  dead 


with  a  pistol.  This  murder  created  great  excitement  in  the 
community,  and  Duulap  had  to  flee  the  country. 

The  grand  jury  J  after  bringing  in  an  indictment  against 
Dr  James  Dunlap  for  murder,  also  indicted  Michael  Jones, 
"  gentleman,"  because  he  did,  on  the  6th  of  December,  1808, 
incite,  move,  abet,  etc,  feloniously  and  with  malice  afore- 
thought, the  said  James  Dunlap  to  commit  the  crime  of 
murder. 

The  prosecuting  attorney,  B.  H.  Doyle,  obtained  the  con- 
sent of  court  for  a  continuance  of  the  trial  on  the  affidavit 
of  Archibald  IMcKnabb,  an  important  witness,  being  sick 
and  unable  to  attend  court.  A  continuance  was  granted, 
and  Michael  Jones,  who  had  insisted  on  a  speedy  trial,  was 
admitted  to  bail  in  the  sum  of  S3,000.  His  securities  were 
John  McFerron,  Shadrach  Bond,  Jr.,  Thomas  Leavens, 
Henry  Leavens,  Henry  Connor  and  Samuel  Cochran — all 
of  the  best  people  of  the  county,  the  f.  f.  of  Randolph. 

Michael  Jones  was  tried  on  the  10th  of  April,  1810,  before 
a  jury  composed  of  William  Rector,  Paul  Harralson,  Thomas 
Wideraan,  William  McBride,  John  Anderson,  George 
Franklin,  David  Anderson,  John  McFerron,  Henry  Connor, 
George  Creath,  Jacob  Funk  and  James  Fulton.  It  will  be 
observed  that  two  of  his  bondsmen,  McFerron  and  Connor, 
were  members  of  the  jury  that  tried  Jones'  case. 

Michael  Jones  was  acquitted,  but  the  court  exonerated 
the  ''prosecutor"  (John  Rice  Jones?)  from  paying  the  costs, 
as  there  were  probable  grounds  for  preferring  the  indict- 
ment. 

Another  Murder  (Use. — James  McGlaughlin,  indicted  for 
the  murder  of  Thomas  McGlaughlin,  was  tried  on  the  13th 
iif  September,  1809,  before  the  following  jury:  John  An- 
dersoii,  Robert  Hill,  Thomas  Stubblefield,  John  McFerron, 
Joseph  McCourtney,  John  Howell,  Robert  Penny,  Thomas 
Leavens,  William.  Evert,  Thomas  Fulton,  William  Dees  and 
Robert  Huggin,  who  brought  in  a  verdict  of  guilty,  where- 
upon the  court  sentenced  James  McGlaughlin  to  be  hung  on 
the  23d  day  of  September,  1809,  in  or  near  Kaskaskia.  The 
writer  could  not  ascertain  if  the  execution  took  place  or  not. 

Two  others,  Robert  Hays,  "  yeoman,"  and  Jesse  Canada, 
"  laborer,"  indicted  for  the  murder  of  Thomas  Allen,  were 
tried  and  acquitted. 

John  Boren,  "  laborer,"  indicted  by  the  same  grand  jury 
for  clubbing  Samuel  Billingsley  to  death  Nov.  20,  1808,  aa 
also  Hosea  Boren,  for  aiding  John,  had  their  cases  con- 
tinued and  were  nolle  jiros.  April  10,  1810. 

Sever.il  grievous  cases  of  assault  and  battery  were  tried 
and  ended  in  the  conviction  of  the  fighters,  who  had  to  pay 
pretty  heavy  fines,  from  12  to  60  dollars.  Francis  King, 
indicted  for  breaking  into  and  burglarizing  the  store  of 
James  Wilson,  was  tried  by  a  jury  and  found  guilty 
whereupon  the  sheriff  was  ordered  to  take  King  Francis  to 
some  "  convenient"  spot  and  there  give  him  "  39  lashes  on 
his  bare  back,  well  laid  on." 

Moses  Canada  and  John  Gibson,  indicted  for  stealing 
"  one  gelding  of  a  black  color"  from  sheriff  Stephenson, 
were  acquitted. 

Nelson  Rector,  the  old  surveyor,  had  had '■  difficultiea 
with  Benjamin  H.  Doyle  (U  S.  Attorney),  and  had  admin- 


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HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,   MONROE  AND   PERRY   COUNTIES,   ILLINOIS. 


istered  a  terrible  cudgeling  to  him  on  the  first  of  June,  1809. 
The  grand  jury  could  not  ignore  this  outrage,  and  so  we 
read  on  the  records  of  that  term  : 

Nelson  Rector,  surveyor,  being  a  person  of  a  terrible, 
cruel,  fierce  and  inhumane  disposition,  and  wickedly  having 
in  his  heart  rank  malice  and  ill  will  towards  Benjamin 
H.  Doyle,  on  the  1st  of  June  1809,  did  beat  the  said  Doyle 
with  a  round  stick  or  cudgel,  cruelly  and  barbarously, 
striking  him  diverse,  terrible,  grievous  and  dangerous  blows 
upon  the  head  and  hands,  to  the  manifest  danger  of  life,  etc. 
Kector  had  the  case  continued,  and  on  the  10th  of  April, 
1810,  confessed  the  allegations  charged  against  him  in  the 
indictment,  and  put  himself  upon  the  mercy  of  the  court, 
who  fined  him  $60.00  and  costs.  Doyle  was  not  satisfied 
with  this  sentence,  and  now  brought  suit  against  Rector  for 
•  damages.  In  his  declaration  he  stated  that  Rector  felled 
him  to  the  floor  with  a  blow  of  the  cudgel,  and  then 
continued  beating  him  mercilessly  until  he  left  him  for 
dead,  etc.,  etc.  The  case  was  subsequently  dismissed, 
Rector  paying  costs. 

It  is  somewhat  strange  that  neither  the  grand  jury  nor 
the  petit  jury  had  any  French  among  them,  but  it  also 
should  be  stated  that  no  French  names  are  to  be  found 
among  those  indicted. 

PROBATE   COURT.      1809. 

William  C.  Greenup,  clerk  of  the  county  court,  trans- 
acted the  probate  business  of  the  county  on  his  own 
responsibility.  The  entries  made  on  the  records  are  not  in 
chronological  order.  The  first  one,  dated  July  9th,  1810, 
has  reference  to  the  estate  of  Jean  B.  Godfrey,  deceased, 
and  grants  letters  of  administration  to  Louis  Buatt  in  the 
following  language : 

William  C.  Greenup,  clerk  of  the  county  court  of  Ran- 
dolp  to  Louis  Buatt,  Greeting  : 

Whereas,  Jean  Baptiste  Godfrey,  late  ef  this  county, 
deceased,  died  intestate  as  it  is  said,  /do  therefore  give  and 
grant  unto  you  full  power  and  authority  to  administer, 
etc.,  etc. 

The  estate  of  said  Godfrey,  consisted  in  a  sorrel  horse 
three  years  old,  valued  at  $20.00,  and  one  arpent  of  land  in 
front  extending  from  the  bluff  to  the  Mississippi,  lying  in 
the  big  prairie  below  Prairie  du  Recher,  and  was  appraised 
at  $60  00  by  Jean  Baptiste  Gendron  and  John  Doyle. 

Then  comes  an  inventory  of  the  estate  of  John  Beaird, 
dated  March  13th,  1809.  Beaird  must  have  been  farming 
extensively  ;  the  inventory  mentions  seventeen  horses,  worth 
from  $45  to  $100  each,  two  yoke  of  oxen,  wagons,  plows, 
six  sets  of  harness,  etc.,  a  "mulatto  negro"  worth  $350,  and 
a  black  boy  worth  $250. 

Prices  paid  at  the  sale  :  Corn,  ten  cents  per  bushel,  one 
barrel  of  pork,  $10.00,  one  half  dozen  of  pewter  plates,  $2.50. 
The  negro  boy  "  Berry  "  was  sold  to  John  Beaird,  Jr.,  for 
$450,  the  other  brought  only  $225.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Worley 
paid  $120  for  a  bay  mare ;  twenty  acres  of  wheat  in  the 
field  brought  $65,  and  a  pot  trammel  $4.25  ;  cows  sold  for 
nine,  ten  and  twelve  dollars,  but  a  "muUey"  brought  $13. 15, 
purchased  by  Monsieur  Archambeau;   one  yoke   of  oxen 


sold   for   $60.00   and   the    other    for    $17.50.      The    sale 
amounted  to  $2,273.20. 

On  page  twenty-five  of  said  record  is  found  the  following 
will,  which  was  in  all  probability  drawn  up  by  some  justice, 
who  had  but  recently  written  out  a  deed. 

Illinois    Territory,  ) 

Randolph  County,  j  Know  all  men  by  these  presents, 
that  I,  Isaac  Allen  of  said  county,  being  in  a  low  state  of 
health  but  yet  in  my  right  mind,  do  render  ray  soul  to  God, 
and  my  estate  to  my  wife  and  children  in  the  following 
manner,  and  this  is  my  last  will  and  testament  to  stand 
against  all  other  previous  to  this.  And  I  do  hereby  appoint 
John  Anderson  and  David  Anderson  of  this  county  my 
executors,  and  I  do  hereby  bequeath  unto  my  wife,  Rutb, 
one  black  mare  about  thirteen  years  old  and  two  colts,  one 
a  yearling  and  the  other  a  spring  colt,  one  bay  horse  about 
six  years  old,  and  all  the  neat  cattle  except  steers;  about 
thirty  head  of  hogs,  and  all  the  household  furniture,  and  all 
the  corn  in  the  cribbs  and  the  land,  and  all  the  rest  of  the 
property  to  be  sold  on  the  15th  of  October,  at  twelve 
months  credit,  ray  wife  Ruth  to  have  a  child's  part  of  the 
vendue  money,  the  other  property  which  I  have  bequeathed 
to  her,  is  to  be  for  the  use  of  her  and  the  children  while  she 
remains  a  widow. 

This  I  acknowledge  to  be  my  last  will  and  tfstament,  in 
witness  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  seal  this 
19th  day  of  May,  1810.  Isaac-Allen. 

The  testator  seemed  to  have  been  sure  of  his  early  demise, 
inasmuch  as  he  fixed  the  day  of  sale,  nor  was  he  mistaken, 
for  the  records  show,  that  the  will  was  probated  on  the  23d 
of  June,  1810. 

ESTATES    PUT  UNDER  ADMINISTRATION    FROM  1809  TO  1818. 

Jean  B.  Godfroy,  Ambrose  Vasseur,  Jean  B.  Barbeau, 
James  Davis,  Isaac  Allen,  Charles  Burk,  Joseph  Danie, 
Nelson  Montgomery,  Henry  Bowers,  Margareta  Cochon, 
Nathan  Dever,  Moses  Stephans,  Israel  Bailey,  Samuel  Liv- 
ering,  Abel  Dewey,  Isaac  Baker,  Robert  Robinson,  Elijah 
Bachus,  Pelage  Danie,  Moses  Harrisoii,  Jesse  Reynor, 
Henry  Laughlio,  Wra.  McGlaughlin,  James  Anderson, 
James  McNabb,  John  Lively,  John  Robinson,  Francis  Gar- 
ner, James  Smith,  Clement  Drury,  Elijah  Benton,  Joseph 
Lavoy,  John  Hicks,  John  Wooten,  Joseph  Laflambuis, 
Catharine  Page  Gasper  Butcher,  Samuel  Wilson,  John 
Fisher,  Gregory  Codel,  John  Mansker,  James  Fulton,  John 
R.  McGlaughlin,  Michel  D  St.  Pierre.  William  Arundel, 
Robert  Gas'on,  Samuel  Blakely,  Nicholas  G.  R.  Rhea, 
James  Edgar,  Blissftt  de  Rouse,  Samuel  Vermillion,  Eliza- 
beth Septante,  and  John  Hochersmith. 

William  C.  Greenup  attended  to  all  the  probate  business 
of  the  county  until  August  6,  1821,  when  Hon.  Curtis  Conn 
appears  as  judge  of  probate  of  Randolph  county.  David  J. 
Baker,  succeeded  Curtis  Conn  on  the  24th  of  August,  1827. 
Dwight  Hunt,  probate  judge,  from  March  7,  1831  to  May 
16,  L31. 

During  his  brief  administration  the  Will  of  JohnEdgab 
was  probated.     This  will  was  drawu  up  in  the  handwriting 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUXTIES,    ILLIXOIS. 


107 


of  Elias  Kent  Kaue,  the  seoator,  and  was  also  witnessed  by 
him,  James  L.  Lamb,  and  Patrick  KSvenaugh.  The  will 
is  dated  Septr.  4,  182:>.  Ttie  coutents  of  the  will  are  as 
follows: 

In  the  name  of  God,  Amen.  I,  John  Edgar,  of  Kaskaskia, 
in  the  state  of  Illinois,  being  sick  in  body,  but  of  sound  mind, 
memory  and  discretion,  knowing  the  uncertainty  of  life  and 
the  certainty  of  death,  have  made  this  ray  last  will  and  tes- 
tament, and  do  hereby  declare  and  will  as  follows: 

Item  first:  Whereas  on  the  25th  day  of  November  in  the 
year  1S23,  I  executed  in  contemplation  of  my  late  marriage 
with  my  dear  wife  Eliza,  to  the  said  Eliza  a  bond  in  the 
penal  sum  of  820,000,  conditioned  for  securing  to  the  said 
Eliza  over  and  above  her  dower,  the  sum  of  $10,50(1,  now 
therefore  for  the  purpose  of  satisfying  and  fully  complying 
with  the  conditions  of  said  bond,  and  in  order  to  provide  a 
suitable  maintenance  and  support  for  my  said  wife  Eliza, 
I  do  hereby  devise  and  bequeath  to  my  said  wife  in  full 
property  and  domain  the  house  wherein  I  now  reside,  in  the 
village  of  Kaskaskia.  together  with  the  lots  adjoining  the 
same  and  together  with  all  my  household  furniture,  I  also 
for  the  same  purpose  give  and  bequeath  to  my  said  wife  my 
mills,  distillery  and  ferry  on  the  East  side  of  the  Kaskaskia, 
together  with  all  the  lands  belonging  to  and  adjoining  the 
same.  Also  my  tract  of  land  below  the  village  of  Kaskas- 
kia in  the  Common  field  of  said  village;  also  ray  tract  of 
land  on  the  East  side  of  the  Kaskaskia  river,  called  the  gar- 
rison hill  tract,  in  fee  simple  and  full  domain  ;  I  also  give  to 
my  said  wife  all  my  stock  of  cattle,  hogs  and  other  stock. 

Ittm  Stfcond. — I  do  further  will,  that  my  debts  be  paid 
out  of  the  remainder  of  my  property. 

Il'iii  Ihinl. — After  all  my  just  debts  *hall  have  been 
paid,  I  do  will  and  bequeath  al  the  rest  and  residue  of  ray 
estate,  real,  personal  and  mixed,  whether  in  possession,  in 
action  or  in  expectancy,  to  my  said  wife  Eliza,  to  have  and 
to  hold  the  same  absolutely  in  her  own  right  forever. 

Item  Fourth. — I  do  further  hereby  name  and  appoint  my 
said  wife  Eliza  sole  executrix  of  this  mj-  last  will  and  testa- 
ment, and  that  she  be  not  required  to  give  any  security  for 
the  administration  of  my  estate  in  any  shape  whatever,  etc 

Jiimes  Th'trnp^on,  Probate  Judge  from  May  16,  1831,  to 
April  27,  1837,  from  aud  after  which  day  the  judge  signed 
his  name  as  probate  justice  of  the  peace.  He  remained  in 
office  until  after  the  adoption  of  the  Constitution  of  1848, 
when  he  was  superceded  by  Hon.  John  Campbell,  first 
county  judge  of  Randolph  county. 

.SLAVERY    IS    RASDOLPH    COUNTY. 

Readers  may  wonder  at  this  caption.  Slavery  in  Illinois  I 
AVhy,  the  very  ordinance  of  Congress  creating  the  territory 
northwest  of  the  river  Ohio,  decreed  that  neither  slavery  nor 
invoAutary  servitude  shouhl  exist  in  it.  How,  then,  could 
thtt  institution  be  established?  The  fact  is,  that  the  ordi- 
nance of  July  13,  1787,  found  slavery  in  this  us  well  as  in 
other  parts  of  the  vast  territory. 

The  first  slaves  were  brought  to  Illinois  by  Antoine  Crozat 
and  his  followers  about  the  year  1713.  King  Louis  XIV.  of 
France  had,  on  the  14th  of  September,  1712,  granted  to  said 


Crozat  letters  patent  to  the  vast  regions  extending  from 
Upjjer  Canada  to  the  (.iulf  of  Mexico.  Crozat  arrived  in 
1713,  and  commenced  mining  operations  in  the  vain  hope  of 
finding  precious  metals.  Ilis  followers  were  suflTering  with 
climatic  diseases,  and  therefore  a  number  of  blacks  were  im- 
ported from  the  French  West  India  Islands.  Crozat's  ex- 
ploits, however,  failed  entirely,  and  he  returned  to  France 
in  1717,  surrendering  bis  patents  to  the  crown. 

Frantjois  Renault  (properly  Renaud),  manager  of  the 
affairs  of  a  company  of  adventurers,  .sent  out  by  the  "  Com- 
pany of  the  Indies,"  to  whom  the  royal  domain  refused  by 
Crozat  had  been  granted  in  1719,  brought  500  negro  slaves 
to  Illinois,  landing  them  at  the  site  of  the  "ancient  village 
of  St.  Phdip."  His  contract  stipulated  that  he  should 
bring  at  least  six  thousand  whites  and  three  thousand  blacks 
to  Illinois  within  tweuty-five  years  from  the  date  of  his 
grant  (1719). 

By  the  condition  of  the  peace  of  Paris,  February  10, 1763> 
the  territory  was  ceded  to  England,  and  on  taking  possession 
of  it  in  17G4,  General  Gage,  commander  in  chief  of  the 
English  troops  in  America  and  governor,  issued  aproclama. 
tion  in  the  name  of  the  crown  of  England,  December  30, 
1764,  in  which  all  the  rights  and  privileges  heretofore  en- 
joyed by  the  then  inhabitants  of  the  ceded  territories  were 
guaranteed  to  them.  Sieur  Stirling,  captain  of  the  High- 
land Regiment  brought  this  proclamation  to  Kaskaskia  in 
person.  Virginia  in  her  turn  [1779]  readily  guaranteed  to 
the  inhabitants  of  the  conquered  territories  all  their  prior 
rights  and  titles  of  whatsoever  description,  and  when  the  old 
Commonwealth  ceded  and  deeded  the  territory  to  the  United 
States,  the  rights  and  privileges  etc.  were  guaranteed  again 
bv  the  latter.  Hence  it  was  afterwanls  strenuously  con- 
tended that  the  famous  ordinance  of  1787,  prohibiting 
slaverv  conflicted  with  the  deed  of  cession  and  was  therefore 
not  binding  in  efl'eet,  as  slavery  had  legally  and  legitimately 
existed  in  the  territory. 

This  view,  however  was  not  taken  by  the  judicial  authori- 
ties of  the  territory  at  the  earlier  period  as  will  appear  more 
fully  from  the  following  proceeding  and  order  of  court  of 
Sept.  1798. 

It  appears  that  a  certain  negro,  formerly  a  slave,  had 
found  his  way  into  the  territory  aud  that  his  case  was  taken 
into  court,  in  order  to  make  a  test  case  of  it.  Guy,  the 
negro  in  question  ajjpeared  before  his  honor.  Judge  John 
ClevesSymmes  at  Kaskaskia  on  the  ■22d  of  September,  1798, 
when  the  following  proceedings  were  had.  Guy  in  making 
his  application  for  certificate  of  freedom  subscribed  the  fol- 
lowing affidavit,  to  wit : 

Guv,  a  negro  man  aged  about  .SO  years  who  being  duly 
sworn  according  to  law  deposeth  and  sayeth  that  he  formerly 
lived  with  and  belonged  to  Adam  Lawrence  of  North  Caro- 
lina who  moved  to  and  settled  on  Green  River  in  1793,  and 
that  his  master  and  "him"  agreed,  that  he  [Guy]  and  his 
wife,  also  a  slave  of  said  Lawrence,  should  stay  with  him 
until  they  had  made  1000  bushels  of  corn  for  him,  but  that 
after  having  raised  and  delivered  750  bu.-hels  of  corn  on 
lauds  first  cleared  by  them,  his  master  sold  him  to  one  Robert 
Mitchell  of  Massac  who  had  come  to  his  masters  house  with 


108 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


a  load  of  lead,  and  that  his  master  got  into  a  great  frolic  and 
was  drunk  for  sorae  days,  in  which  time  said  Blitchell  had 
bought  hiin  [Guy]  and  his  wife.  Said  Mitchell  had  then 
taken  them  to  Fort  Massac,  promising  never  to  sell  them, 
and  to  set  them  free  if  they  would  clear  off  a  piece  of  land 
[five  acres]  during  the  fall  and  winter  and  then  plant  it  in 
corn  and  tend  it  well  during  the  summer.  In  consequence 
of  these  promises,  he  had  gone  to  work  clearing  the  land, 
when  all  at  once  Mitchell  had  sold  him  and  wife  to  one 
Nealy,  bound  to  the  Spanish  dominion  ;  that  they  first  re- 
fused to  go,  but  as  he  knew  they  were  too  strong  for  him,  and 
could  bind  him  and  take  him  by  force,  he  consented  to  go, 
though  determined  to  leave  the  boat  if  he  could.  The  boat 
had  landed  20  miles  below  Fort  Massac  during  the  night, 
when  he  and  his  wife  made  their  escape,  and  after  great 
difficulties  and  many  sufferings  and  hardships  he  and  his 
wife  had  arrived  at  the  town  of  Kaskaskia  in  the  county  of 
Randolph.  On  the  22d.  of  Sept.  1798,  the  court  there  upon 
entered  the  following  order  :  Guy's  Freedom  Papers. 

Territory  of  the  United  States  }  ^ ., 

Northwtstof  the  Ohio  River  ) 

Be  it  remembered  that  on  this  24th  day  of  September, 
1798, Guy,  a  negro  man,  and  Abigail,  his  wife,  being  both 
severally  brought  before  the  subscriber,  one  of  the  Judges  of 
the  Territory,  when  they  alleged,  that  by  the  Ordinance 
creating  the  government  of  said  territory,  there  can  be  no 
such  condition  as  slavery,  therefore  that  the  said  Guy  and 
Abigail,  his  wife,  of  right  are  and  ought  to  be  free,  and  the 
subscriber  having  maturely  considered  the  premises  does 
adjudge  the  said  negro  man,  Guy,  as  well  as  his  wife, 
Ahig&il,  citizens  of  the  United  States,  and  that  they  ought  of 
right  to  enjoy  all  and  every  privilege  and  franchise  with 
relation  to  their  personal  liberty  and  protection  of  property, 
unmolested,  subject  only  to  the  laws  of  the  land. 

And  all  persons  are  hereby  advised  and  forewarned  not 
to  invade  or  annoy  the  entire  freedom  of  the  said  Guy  and 
Abigail,  which  Inj  this  record  is  ahsu'ufe. 

Given    under    the    hand  and    seal  of  John  Cleves 
Symmes,  at  Kaskaskia,  the  day  above  written. 
John  Cleves  Symmes. 

All  honor  to  the  Judge!  * 


*      MANVMISMON  IN  1700. 

Geoi-gG  Morg.Tn,  one  of  His  Majesty's  justices  of  the  peace  for  the  country  of 
the  Illinois,  took  the  acknowledgment  of  one  "Antoine  Renand"  to  the 
followint;  docnment  .nft?r  having  fully  explained  the  contents  thereof  to  him, 
in  the  Frtuch  languiise,  to  wit : 

To  all  people  to  whom  these  presents  .«hall  come,  Antoine  Eennud,  of 
Kasliaski.T  vill:ii;f,  in  Iho  country  of  the  Illinois,  yeoman,  sends  greeting. 
Whereas  the  .«r>iil  Antoine  Rcnaud  is  now  iu  actual  possession  of  a  certain 
negress  slave  named  Ton  Ton,  and,  whereas,  for  causes  and  considerations 
hereinafter  recited,  he  is  very  desirous  that  the  said  negress  shall  no 
longer  remain  in  bondage  as  a  slave  to  him,  or  any  other  person  or  persona 
whatsoever.  Now,  know  ye  tliat  the  said  Antoine  Renaid,  in  consideration  of 
the  great  and  signal  services  she,  the  said  Ton  Ton,  hath  done  and  performed 
for  him,  the  said  Antoine  Eenaud,  since  she  halhbcen  his  slave,  as  well  as  in 
consideration  of  his  mcrsion  to  anj/  of  ths  human  tpccics  contimmnce  in  perpetual 
bmdagc  and  staicrj/,  and  also  in  consideration  of  £5  lawful  money  of  Great 
Britain,  to  him,  the  said  Antoine  Renand,  hy  Ihe  .said  Ton  Ton  in  hand  paid, 
at  and  before  the  ensealing  and  delivering  of  these  presents,  the  receipt 
whereof  is  hereby  acknowledged,  he,  the  said  Antoine  Renand,  hath  for 
himself,  his  executors  and  administrators,  fully  and  amply  released,  liberated 
and  forever  disfhargr d  her,  the  said  Ton  Ton,  from  all  slavery,  bondage  and 
servitude  whatsoever,  either  to  h  mself,  the  said  Anioine  Renaud,  his 
executors  or   administrators,  or  to  any  other  periion    or  persons  whatsoever 


His  decree,  however,  was  no  surpri.se  to  the  people  of  the 
territory,  for  the  struggle  to  defy  the  stipulations  of  the 
ordinance  of  1787  was  then  scarcely  perceptible.  The 
feeble  efforts  of  several  citizens  of  the  colony  to  have 
Congress  re-consider  the  anti-slavery  proviso  were  ineffectual, 
and  injured  the  very  men  who  made  them.  The  purchase 
of  Louisiana  in  1803  added  a  vast  empire  of  slave  terri- 
tory to  the  United  States,  the  present  state  of  Missouri 
being  a  part  thereof  And  it  was  not  until  the  ftw  and 
scattering  American  settlers  in  Illinois  saw  well  equipped 
emigrants  from  the  slave  States  pass  through  Illinois,  bound 
fur  Missouri,  where  slavery  was  not  prohibited,  that  the 
actual  agitation  for  introducing  or  legalizing  it  here  was 
inaugurated.  It  must  have  been  provoking  to  see  a 
desirable  population  turn  their  backs  to  the  beautiful  lands 
on  the  east  bank  of  the  Mississippi  and  cross  over  to 
inferior  land  for  their  settlements.  A  raw-boned  Tennes- 
seean,  passing  with  his  family  and  "  property"  through  the 
streets  of  Kaskaskia  on  his  way  to  Missouri,  being  asked 
why  he  would  not  remain  here  rather  than  move  further  on, 
op&iied  his  big  mouth  saying:  "Ynur'sile'  is  rich  and 
fertile,  and  the  country  is  fine  ;  but,  God  dern  ye,  a  man  is 
not  allowed  to  own  niggers  here." 

But  to  return  to  the  suljject ;  it  should  be  stated  that  the 
ordinance  of  1787  was  prospective  only,  and  did  not  affect 
the  condition  of  the  French  slaves  or  their  descendants. 

The  Legislature  of  Indiana  passed  various  acts  in  Sep- 
tember, 1807,  (Illinois  then  forming  a  part  of  Indiana  terri- 
tory) by  which  at  least  a  temporary  and  modified  form  of 
slavery  was  effected.  Negroes  were  brought  into  the  terri- 
tory and  there  held  as  indentured  servants.  Another  act 
provided  that  the  owner  of  a  person  "  owning"  labor  (i.  e.  a 
slave)  may  bring  such  person  into  the  territory  and  "agree" 
with  him  beforethe  clerk  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  in 
the  county,  upon  a  terra  of  service,  after  the  expiration  of 
which  the  slave  should  be  free.  The  ignorance  of  the  poor 
blacks  was  taken  advantage  of,  for  many  of  them  would  as 
readily  bind  themselves  for  I'9  years  as  for  10  or  15  years. 

If  an  indentured  slave  refused  to  work,  the  owner  was 
allowed  to  take  him  to  another  State  or  territory,  i.  e.,  to 
sell  him  to  some  slave  trader  in  the  south  or  west.  Slaves 
under  the  age  of  15  were  held  in  servitude  until  the  age  of 
35  or  32  according  to  sex.  Owners  had  to  give  bond  that 
slaves  who  would  become  free  after  their  40th  year  of  age, 
should   never  become  a    county    charge.     The   children  of 


lawfully  claiming  or  to  claim  by,  from  or  under  him,  them  or  either  of  them 
from  the  day  of  the  date  hereof,  for  and  during  the  natural  life  of  her,  the 
taid  Ton  Ton,  and  by  these  presents  doth  for  himself,  his  executors  and 
administrators  fully  and  amply  release,  liberate  and  forever  discharge  her, 
the  said  Ton  Ton,  from  all  ^lavery,  bondage  and  servitude  whatsoever,  either 
to  him,  the  said  Antoine  Renaud,  his  executors  or  administrators,  or  to  any 
other  person  or  persons  whatsoever,  lawfully  claiming  or  to  claim  by,  from  or 
under  him,  them  or  either  of  them  from  tho  day  and  date  hereof,  for  and 
during  the  natural  life  of  her,  the  said  Ton  Ton,  giving  and  hereby 
granling  unto  the  said  Ton  Ton  full  liberty  to  go  and  come 
whithersoever  she  shall  think  proper,  without  the  least  trouble,  hindrance  or 
intervention. 

In  witness  whereof,  etc.,  tigned  22d  of  May,  A.  D.  1769. 


Antoine  X    R 

mark 

d  by  \Vi 

nd^o 

r  Brown 

and  Valent 

ne  Thomas  Da/ton. 

HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


1(9 


"  registered  or  indentured  "slaves  remained  in  servitude  until 
they  were  28  and  30  years  old,  according  to  sex. 

The  records  in  reference  to  the  owners  of  slaves  or  inden- 
tured servants  set  forth  that  theie  were  197  negroes  and  niu- 
lattoes  regi-tered  as  slaves  or  indentured  as  servants  during 
the  territurial  ])eriod  of  the  county  ;  the  slaves  owned  there 
prior  to  1807  were  not  mentioned.  Among  the  slaveholders 
of  the  county,  the  following  well-known  names  are  found: 
Jesse  B.  Thomas,  the  judge ;  Alexander  Stuart,  Benjamin 
Stephenson,  Frederick  Bond,  David  J.  Black,  Kinian 
Edwards,*  Nathaniel  Pope,  William  and  Elias  Rector, 
James  Gilbreath,  William  and  Rdbert  Morrison,  'Squire 
Garton,  Elias  K.  Kent,  Robert  Shields  and  others.  The 
terms  of  bondage  and  servitude  vary  from  8  and  10  years 
to  99  years.  Jean  Pierce  was  bound  to  Wright  Pierce  for 
99  years  when  he  was  19  years  of  age,  to  wit,  March  8, 1811, 
and  thus  Jean  will  be  a  free  negro  in  1910.  Millv,  a  negro 
girl  of  twenty  years  of  age  was  brought  into  the  State  from 
Kentucky,  in  May,  1811,  and  bound  herself  to  Samuel  Hall, 
her  master,  for  eighty  years;  she  will  soon  be  free,  to  wit,  in 
18. '1.  Henry  Kimniel,  one  of  those  slaveholders  of  the  ter- 
ritorial period  was  a  German,  while  there  are  quite  anuipber 
of  Frenchmen  among  them  Rachel,  the  proper!)'  of  Amos 
C'hipps,  reported  to  have  been  15  yiars  of  age  ou  the  7th  of 
April,  1811,  is  still  living  in  the  county. 

Colored  people,  who  were  not  slaves  nor  bonded  servants. 
bad  to  procure  certificates  to  that  effect,  in  order  to  be  un- 
molested.    We  introduce  here  a  few  samples,  to  wit : 

State  of  North  Carolina,  | 

Guilford  County.  J  This  is  to  certify  that  Moses 
Tabon,  a  man  of  color,  is  a  free  born.  Let  him  pass 
and  repa.ss ;  his  height  is  five  feet  nine  inches;  in  the  25th 
year  of  his  age.  Let  him  pass  through  North  Carolina  and 
Virginia,  this  14th  of  June,  1805.  His  character  is  equal  to 
any  of  his  color,  since  he  has  been  ij)  the  county. 

Jehu  Beeson,  J.  P. 

We  hereby  certify  that  the  bearer,  Mary  Ann,  an  old 
negro  woman,  was  this  day  made  free  by  us. 

William  Morrison, 

EUPHR^VSIA  MoRRI.SON. 

Recorded  Feb.  25,  1813,  at  Kaskaskia,  in  Book  M,  p.  90. 
William  ArundeLj  Recorder  R.  C. 

Persons  of  color,  whose  time  of  indentured  bondage  had 
expired,  were  furnished  certificates  of  freedom  by  the  county 
authorities,  in  form  following,  to  wit : 

May  19th,  1819. 

Dice,  a  negro  woman,  about  45  years  of  age,  five  feet  seven 
inches  high,  of  a  stout  make,  a  scar  on  her  left  cheek  aLd 

*  The  Governor  seems  to  have  been  one  cf  the  principal  slaveh  jlders  and 
.ilnve  tr.iJers  in  tlic  Territory. 

The  Illinois  Herald,  in  whii-h  his  name  as  Governor  con-tantly  app^-nred 
attached  to  various  promulgations  and  otiicial  documents,  contained  a'ao  the 
following: 

Notice:  I  have  for  sale  22  Stavea;  among  them  are  several  of  both  sexes  be- 
tween the  ages  6{  10  and  17  years.  If  not  stld  i*hortly  I  shall  wish  to  hire  them 
in  Miasourt  Terrilury.  I  have  also  for  sale  a  full  blooded  Stud  Horse;  a  very  large 
Eng'i'k  Bu'l,  and  several  young  ones. 

OlTOBER  1,  1815.  NlNIAN  Edwabds. 

The  Governor,  in  later  years,  whs  an  anti-slavery  agitator. 


right  breast,  produced  to  W.  C.  Greenup,  clerk  of  the  circuit 
court  of  Randolph  county.  State  of  Illinois,  one  indenture 
of  herself  to  John  Edgar,  dated  the  7th  of  June,  1794,  for 
twelve  years  next  ensuing;  whereupon  a  certificate  was 
granted,  under  the  seal  of  the  court,  to  her  of  her  freedom, 
pursuant  to  the  act  passed  at  the  last  session  respecting  free 
negroes,  mulattoes,  servants  and  slaves. 

In  other  instances  the  freedom  papers  assumed  the  form 
of  a  deed,  and  as  a  specimen  illustrating  this,  the  following 
is  here  introduced  : 

Know  all  men  by  these  presents  that,  whereas  I,  John 
Edgar,  of  Randolph  county.  State  of  Illinois,  in  considera- 
tion of  the  many  valuable  services  rendered  to  me  by  my 
mulatto  woman  slave,  named  Celeste,  originally  owned  by 
Louis  Lasond  and  transferred  by  him  to  William  Morrison^ 
and  by  Morrison  to  Joseph  Gendr.  n,  and  by  him  to  me,  I 
have  released  and  by  these  presents  do  release,  manumit,  set 
free  and  at  full  liberty  the  said  Celeste,  from  and  after  the 
date  hereof,  forever  free  from  my  service  and  the  service  of 
my  heirs,  executors  and  ailministratnrs  forever,  and  from 
the  service  of  all  other  persons  whomsoever,  hereby  exoner- 
ating her  from  all  bonds  of  service,  freely  to  act  for  herself 
as  any  other  free  person  of  color ;  and  I  do  moreover,  in 
consideration  of  said  services  rendered  me  by  said  Celtste, 
release,  manumit,  set  free  and  at  full  liberty  the  children  of 
the  said  Celeste,  namely  :  Leonora,  aged  14  years  last  Jan- 
uary ;  Nerville,  aged  9  years  on  the  4th  day  of  July  last; 
Virginia,  aged  6  years  ou  the  26th  day  of  April  last ;  Hil- 
laire,  aged  4  years  last  May  ;  Mary  Louise,  aged  2  years 
last  May  ;  Joseph,  aged  1  year  last  August ;  and  I  do  hereby 
exonerate  the  said  children  from  my  servicte  and  place  them 
respectively  under  the  control  of  their  said  mother,  the 
males  until  they  shall  be  21  years  old  and  the  females  until 
they  shall  be  18  years  of  age,  when  they  shall  be  free  to  act 
for  themselves  as  fully  as  any  other  free  person  of  color, 
according  to  law.     In  testimony  of  which,  etc,  etc. 

Signed 


JuuN  Edgar.    (  seai,^ 


A    NEGRO   CHILD  SET    FREE. 

Know  all  men  by  these  presents  that  I,  Joseph  Geudron, 
of  Randolph  county.  State  of  Illinois,  for  and  in  considera- 
tion of  the  sum  of  eighty  dollars  to  me,  cash  in  hand,  paid 
at  and  before  ensealing  and  delivering  of  these  presents,  the 
receipt  whereof  is  hereby  acknowledged,  do  give,  grant  and 
forever  set  free  my  servant,  named  William,  aged  about  five 
years,  the  sou  of  Therese,  formerly  the  servant  of  me  the 
undersigned  :  I  tlo  therefore,  for  and  in  consideration  of  the 
sum  aforesaid,  manumit  and  set  free  and  at  full  liberty  from 
my  service,  from  the  date  hereof,  for  ever.  And  I  do  further 
warrant  and  forever  defend  the  liberty  of  the  said  William 
from  myself,  my  heirs  or  assigns,  or  any  person  claiming 
under  or  by  virtue  of  me.  In  witness  whereof  I  have  htre- 
unto  set  my  hand  and  seal  at  Kaskaskia  this  6th  day  of  De- 
cember, 1831. 

This  '  deed"  is  signed,  witnessed,  and  formally  acknow- 
ledged before  James  Hughes,  clerk,  and  by  him  recorded. 
It  is  not  slated  who  paid  those  eighty  dollars,  but  it  may  be 
suppoeed  that  the  mothei  paid  for  him. 


110 


HISTORY   OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND   PERRY   COUNTIES,   ILLINOIS. 


isidney  Breese  manamitting  a  slave  in  1834. —  Know  all 
men  by  these  presents,  that  I,  Sidney  Breese  of  Kaskaskia, 
Illinois,  for  divers  good  causes  and  considerations  me  there- 
unto moving,  have  and  by  these  presents  do  forever  manumit 
and  set  free  my  indentured  woman  Rachel,  now  about  43 
years  of  age,  and  residing  at  present  at  Cheater,  Randolph 
county,  Illinois :  ard  I  do  hereby  release  her  from  all  her 
obligations  and  covenants  to  rae  as  contained  in  her  inden- 
ture assigned  me  by  Redding  B.  Hering  :  It  being  under- 
stood that  I  am  in  no  wise  responsible  for  any  of  her  con- 
tracts now  or  heretofore  made,  or  hereafter  to  be  made. 

Witness  ray  hand  and  seal  at  Chester  aforesaid,  this  8th 
day  of  November,  1834. 

Sidney  Breese. 

The  records  contain  the  names  of  many  persons  of  color, 
who  have  their  freedom  papers  as  documentary  evidence 
of  their  being  barn  free,  proparly  entered,  even  to  as 
late  a  day  as  the  13th  of  April  A.  D.  1863.  S.  St.  Vrain 
and  Edmund  St.  Vrain  appeared  before  R.  B.  Servant,  jus- 
tice of  the  peace,  and  made  oath  that  "Patrick"  Mitchell^ 
a  colored  inhabitant  of  the  county,  of  bright  complexion, 
etc.,  was  born  "  free"  at  Kaskaskia  about  the  year  1840, 
and  that  his  mother,  at  the  time  of  his  birth,  had  been  a 
free  colored  inhabitant  of  said  county  of  Randolph,  etc., 
etc. 

The  number  of  slaves,  as  given  by  the  county  census  of 
1820,  was  then  240.  From  that  period  their  number 
constantly  decreased,  and  in  1840  there  were  only  133 
enumerated.  While  the  system  of  slavery  existed,  however, 
it  had  all  the  appearances  and  features  of  this  peculiar  in- 
stitution in  the  southern  states.' 

The  newspapers  of  the  period  contained  the  well-known 
advertisements  of  Fifty  Dollars  Reward,  etc.,  etc. 

The  following,  taken  from  a  stray  number  of  the  Illinois 
Intelligencer,  may  serve  as  a  sample: 

Fifty  Dollars  Reward. — Ran  away  from  the  subscriber. 
on  the  night  of  the  18th  ultimo,  a  negro  man,  named  Charles, 
about  25  or  26  years  of  age,  of  large  stature.  He  has  a 
small  piece  of  the  left  ear  taken  off.  He  stole  from  my 
desk  one  hundred  and  eighty  dollars — a  hundred  dollar  bill 
on  the  bank  of  Nashville,  other  bills  not  recollected.  Also, 
•a  negro  woman,  named  Peggy,  the  fellow's  wife,  ran  away  at 
the  same  time,  near  the  same  age.  She  is  a  common-sized, 
very  black,  and  has  lost  the  sight  of  one  of  her  eyes.  The 
above  reward  will  be  given  to  any  person  who  will  appre- 
hend the  said  negroes  and  deliver  them  to  me  at  Kaskaskia. 

James  Adkins. 

The  irrepressible  negro  may  now  be  dismissed,  for  it  is 
not  the  province  of  the  chronicler  of  a  county  sketch  to 
follow  the  subject  of  the  slavery  question  through  its  various 
stages.  The  feud  between  the  pro-slavery  and  anti-slavery 
men  in  Illinois  was  more  a  national  affair  than  a  county 
matter-  Prominent  men  of  Randolph  county  were  found 
on  the -one  side  as  well  as  on  the  other.  The  contest,  fierce 
and  bitter,  ended  in  favor  of  freedom,  for  the  people  of  the 
Btate  defMted  the  scheme    of  the  new  constitutionists  or 


pro-slavery  men  by  a  vote  of  6822  against  4950,  August, 
1824.  Strange,  however,  it  must  appear  that  although  the 
anti-slavery  men  were  largely  in  the  majority,  the  pro- 
slavery  men  elected  a  majority  of  the  legislators,  who  elected 
a  violent  pro-slavery  man,  Elias  Kent  Kane,  of  Randolph 
county,  senator  of  the  U.  S.  to  succeed  John  McClean. 
Thomas  Mather,  a  member  of  the  General  Assembly  from 
Randolph,  was  a  decided  anti-slavery  agitator. 

Public  Roads. — As  heretofore  stated,  the  revenue  of  the 
county  in  territorial  times  did  not  admit  of  appropriations 
of  public  funds  towards  the  making  of  roads  and  building 
of  bridges.  The  supervisors  of  highways  mentioned  hereto- 
f'-re,  and  their  assessors,  had  no  means  at  their  disposal 
barring  the  labor  due  by  able-bodied  residents,  and  it 
barely  sufficed  to  keep  the  neighborhood  roads  in  repair. 
The  numerous  ferries  facilitated  the  traffic  across  the 
streams,  as  no  substantial  bridges  were  in  existence.  The 
want  of  roads  to  distant  settlements  was  keenly  felt,  and 
the  aid  of  the  federal  government  had  to  be  implored  to 
open  such  roads.  The  records  of  the  county  mention  the 
road  from  Kaskaskia  to  Prairie  du  Rocher,  and  to  the  place 
of  Degagnie,  as  also  a  road  to  Belleville.  A  correspondence 
in  reference  to  the  opening  of  a  road  to  Shawneetown  was 
placed  in  the  hands  of  the  writer,  from  which  the  following 
facts  are  gleaned  : 

The  Government  of  the  United  States  appropriated,  by 
Act  of  Congress,  passed  April  27th,  1816,  the  sum  of  $'<,000 
for  surveying  and  making  a  road  "  in  the  Territory  of  Illi- 
nois, of  which  amount  SI, 258. 51  were  expended  in  exploring" 
the  country  from  Shawneetown  td  Kaskaskia.  The  balance 
of  the  money  was  considered  inadequate  to  complete  the 
road,  but  deemed  sufficient  to  clear  it  of  timber  and  to  bridge 
the  worst  streams,  etc.  The  President  of  the  U.  S.  appointed 
then  Shadrach  Bond,  of  Kaskaskia,  and  Leonard  White,  of 
the  Wabash  Saline,  agents,  with  authority  to  commence  the 
work  at  the  two  extreniities  and  to  make  such  distribution 
of  the  money  as  the  nature  of  the  road  required. 

Hon.  W.  H.  Crawford,  Secretary  of  the  U-  S.  Treasury, 
addressed  a  letter  to  Shadrack  Bond,  then  Receiver  of  Pub- 
lic Monies  at  Kaskaskia,  on  June  21,  1818,  to  advisehira  of 
his  appointment,  closing  the  letter  in  the  following  sentence : 
You  will  consider  yourself  as  authorized  to  advance  out  of 
the  public  moneys  in  your  hands  the  sum,  which  shall  be 
assigned  for  the  completion  of  your  part  of  the  road.  As  the 
opening  of  this  road  is  of  great  importance  to  the  citizens  of 
the  Territory,  it  is  expected  that  your  charge  for  the  super- 
intendence will  be  as  moderate  as  possible,  not  exceeding  your 
necessary  expenses,  and  the  most  reasonable  coiiipensation  for 
the  loss  of  time,  etc  ,  etc. 

A  contract  was  then  made  with  George  Breath  and  David 
Husband,  August  15.  1818,  to  "  clear"  the  road  33  feet  in 
width,  to  remove  all  the  timber,  etc.,  from  Dernints  in  Frank- 
lin county  to  Kaskaskia,  a  distance  of  50  miles,  the  work  to 
be  done  by  January  Ist,  1819,  for  which  they  were  then  to 
receive  $2,000 

The  work  was  done  and  the  money  paid  out.  On  the  20th 
of  September,  1819,  David  Husband  contracted  for  the  build- 
ing of  good  and  substantial  bridges,  across  Tindall's  creek, 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND   PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


Ill 


2  branches  of  Cox"s  creek,  1  branch  of  Pipestone  creek,  1 
branch  of  Rattlesnake  creek,  1  branch  of  Beaucoup  creek,  2 
brandies  of  Ell  prairie  and  Prairie  creek,  and  across  little 
Muddy  river  ;  further  he  contracted  for  the  digging  down  the 
banks  of  all  the  other  creeks  across  which  the  said  road 
passed  from  Kaskaskia  ^0  miles  east,  and  for  removing  all  ob- 
structions from  fallen  trees  and  the  like,  etc.,  for  all  of  which 
work  Husband  was  to  have  ?1, 319.24,  on  the  1st  of  January, 
1820. 

Shadrach  Bond  rendered  an  account  of  his  receipts  and 
disbursements  on  the  2(tth  of  March,  1820,  from  which  it 
appears  that  he  had  drawn  ?3,395.74},  (the  exact  one-half 
of  the  balance  of  the  appropriation  mentioned  about,  and 
that  he  had  paid  out  the  following  amounts,  to  wit : 

Breath  and  Husband $i!,ikk>  00 

David  Husband I,:«9  2*^4 

Blackwfll  and  Berry,  for  publishing  notices 3  76 

Superintending  the  work,  etc 72  75 

83,395  74V2 

The  U.  S.  Government  was  not  satisfied  with  this  account, 
because,  as  Joseph  Anderson,  comptroller,  in  his  letter  of 
Shadrach  Bond,  dated  November  29,  1821,  stated,  the  two 
agents.  Bond  and  White,  should  have  rendered  a  joint  ac- 
count, etc.  Leonard  White  seems  to  have  failed  to  render 
a  proper  account  of  the  "  moiety  "  placed  in  his  hands,  for 
the  Comptroller  advised  Senator  John  McLean,  February  2, 
1825,  that  Mr.  White  had  not  accounted  for  one-half  of  said 
amount,  and  that  the  question  had  now  arisen  how  far 
Shadrach  Bond  was  liable  for  the  other  half,  etc;  and  that 
in  all  probability  suit  would  be  brought  against  Bond  as 
well  as  against  White,  as  both  had  drawn  the  amount  jointly. 

The  writer  has  not  been  able  to  ascertain  if  such  suitg 
were  brought  or  how  the  matter  was  adjusted.  Shadrach 
Bond  however  had  opened  a  road,  33  feet  wide  and  5U  miles 
long,  bridging  all  bad  streams  and  cutting  down  the  banks 
of  others  for  less  than  63,400,  or  abo.ut  §68  per  mile,  and  it 
would  have  been  a  grievous  wrong  to  have  held  him  respon- 
sible for  White's  "moiety." 

PUBLIC    BUILDIXti.S. 

The  only  public  building  erected  during  this  period  was  a 
jail  built  by  Nathan  Hill  and  Ezra  Owens  in  1815.  It  was 
"received"  on  rejiort  of  George  Fisher  and  Edgar  Owens, 
commissioners  ajiiwinted  on  the  3d   Jlonday  of  June  1815. 

The  courts  of  the  county  were  held  for  years  at  the  va- 
rious taverns  in  Kaskaskia  until  November  1812,  when  the 
authorities  of  the  county  occupied  the  house  of  James  Gil- 
breath  at  Kaskaskia.  The  court  had  apparently  purchased 
this  house,  for  on  the  3d  of  March  1818  the  clerk  is  in- 
structed to  ask  said  Gilbreath  for  a  deed,  and  on  refusal,  to 
bring  suit  against  him. 

The  records  of  the  county  commissioners  court  from  Janu- 
ary 10,  1810  to  June  20,  1814  are  missing.  On  this  date 
John  McFerron  and  George  Fisher  held  court  to  try  James 
Adkins  indicted  for  cruelly  beating  his  negro.  The  court 
fined  him  84  00.  Adkins  filed  a  bill  in  arrest  of  judgment 
on  the  following  reasons  ;  first  becau.'e  the  law  of  the  terri- 
tory does  not  lie  for  assault  and  battery  against  the  niastt  r 
for  whipping  his  servants,  as  the  law  gave  another  remedy 


for  unmerciful  punishment :  second  because  the  master  may 
correct  his  servant  and  not  be  guilty  of  assault  and  battery  : 
third  because  the  indictment  is  inconsistent  as  it  states  that 
the  assault  was  committed  by  the  defendent  on  his  indentured 
servant  :  fourth  because  if  the  servant  is  abused  the  court 
are  commanded  to  redress  his  cause  in  a  summary  way  and 
not  by  indictment.  This  bill  was  overruled  and  the  fine 
exacted. 

From  a  report  made  to  this  court  by  sheriff  that  the 
revenue  of  the  county  for  the  year  1814  amounted  to  S529  - 
90,  tax  was  paid  on 

108  negrws 108.00 

491  horses 245-50 

Studhorses 18..W 

Mansions,  mills  and  di-tillerids .11.90 

For  licenses M.OO 

Single  men M.OO 

J529.90 

It  was  further  reported  that  Benjamin  Stephenson,  ex- 
sheriff,  was  in  default  with  the  county  on  account  of  the 
revenue  of  1812  and  1813  to  the  amount  of  841  .37i  The 
affairs  of  the  county  from  1815  to  1819  were  conducted  by 
the  territorial  justices,  John  McFerron,  William  Morrison, 
James  Finney,  David  Anderson,  Philip  Fouke,  George 
Fisher,  Archibald  Thompson,  Antoine  L.  C'henett,  Miles 
Hotchkiss  and  Pierce  L.  Compte. 

A  new  township.  Plum  Creek,  was  formed  March  1816, 
and  is  described  as  follows:  All  that  part  north  of  Spring- 
field township  and  east  of  the  Kaskaskia  liver.  Meanwhile 
the  population  of  Rand(  Iph  county  or  southern  Illinois  had 
increased  to  a  considerable  extent,  in  consequence  of  which 
the  legislature  had  deemed  it  proper  to  organize  several  new 
countiesout  of  the  territory  of  old  Randolph  county,  to  wit : 
Gallatin  and  Johnson,  Sept.  14,  1812,  White,  December 
9,  1815,  Jackson,  January  10,  1816,  and  Monroe  June  1, 
1816,  and  by  doing  so  had  reduced  the  county  to  almost  its 
present  boundary. 

We  find  therefore,  at  the  end  of  this  territorial  period  the 
following  six  townships  officered  as  follows: 

Kaskaskia. — All  that  part  lying  between  Kaskaskia  and 
Mississippi  rivers  up  to  the  point  of  the  bluffs  and  up  with 
the  bluffs  to  Morgan's  run.  Shadrach  Bond  and  Michael 
Smith  supervisors  of  roads,  George  Fisher  assessor,  Dan.  L. 
Swearingen  and  Allies  Hotchkiss  ovtrseer  of  the  poor. 

Prairie  dii  Bocher. — All  that  part  of  the  county  between 
the  bluflis  and  the  river,  above  Morgan's  Run.  Pierre  Le- 
compte  and  Patrick  Earner,  supervisors  of  roads  ;  Henry 
Barbeau,  as.«essor ;  Thomas  Sterritt  and  Archibald  McNabb, 
overseers  of  the  poor. 

WiHiaimburg. — All  that  part  lying  west  of  the  Kaskaskia 
as  fiir  as  the  point  of  the  bluffs  between  the  Kaskaskia  and 
the  Mississippi,  and  up  along  the  bluffs  of  the  Mississippi  to 
the  county  line. 

Ezra  Owens  and  Otho  Leavens,  supervisors;  David  An" 
derson,  assessor  ;  Paul  Harralson  and  James  Fulton,  over- 
seers of  the  poor. 

Sprl»;/fcl<l. — All  that  part  of  the  county  south  of  the  road 
from  Kaskaskia  to  Shawr.eetown  and  north  of  Mary  town- 
ship and  Nine-mile  Creek.    Jo.«eph  Jay  and  James  Hughes, 


112 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


sui)ervisors ;  William  Bariiett,  assessor;  and  Alexander 
Barber  and  John  Clendinin,  Sen.,  overseers  uf  the  jmor. 

Mari/.—Begi  uning  at  Cul.  Edgar's  ferry  on  the  Kaskaskia, 
aloug  the  road  leading  to  Harralson's  ferry,  until  opposite 
to  Thomas  Fulton 's,  thence  east  to  the  county  line.  William 
Bilderhack  and  William  Cochran,  supervisors;  Robert  Tin- 
dall,  assessor  ;  and  G.  Franklin,  and  Itobert  Tindall,  over- 
seers of  the  poor. 

Plum  L'lrek. — Boundary  as  above.  Thomas  Widaman^ 
supervisor  of  roads  ;  David  Anderson,  assessor  ;  and  James 
Paltcr.son  and  James  I'attou,  overseers  of  the  poor. 

The  townships  of  Rocking  Cave,  Massac,  and  Mississippi 
were  now  forming  counties,  and  are  not  further  mentioned 
iu  the  records  of  Randolph  county. 


A  short  list  of  marriages  solemnized  in  the  county  in  the 
bcgiuning  of  the  latter  half  of  the  territorial  period,  will 
demonstrate  better  tliau  any  other  evidence,  that  tiie  Ameri- 
can population  had  become  the  predominant  one  as  early  as 
ISU'J. 

EAltl.Y    MAl;HlA(;liS. 


I!" 

ilM-t    Fc-l.T 

iimI  Si|..an  11. 

<  lill>..ll 

.Illlir  I!'.,  1 

Mill,   l.V     11.11 

.1  Mi.l.is. 

Jl:i 

1(1  .I..I1M-..I 

illL.I  .Ihuvi.i 

liii-s.  Si- 

.1.1.^,  l.M.i 

1.1   l;..i,.ii 

I,;|.t,.l.,  ,1. 

1'. 

•J'h 

llUi-  lh:,t. 

1  iULlSii^^aiiii. 

1  llli.'. 

ill.  :;l.  1-.1 

,  1.1   l,'..i..  1 

1.   .-I..I1.  .1 

P. 

lla 
J..I 
An 

M  I'ilhir^iii 

•1.1. a    Vim. 

.1  r.".;i;\   I..1-I 
,111.1  'Ih.'i.  .. 
|i:nl-  .111.1  Sii 

Ill    .N..\ 
-.1111. 1   1 

lliiii,   li.r 

,11-.  111-... 

■\.  IM.i.   1. 

-  .1..1111  r..i 

IT.  IMii-  1. 
1,  IMII,  l.\- 

1.1,  .1  r, 

l'liili|i  Fi 

1..1111  I'hi'i) 

ai,  J.P. 

Il<.\  .1.  P. 
N,  .!.  P. 

Til 

.Mi:i~  H.l':lt 

..11  .111.1    i:il/,il 

ii'lli  1;... 

ir.iiii, .1.111 

-'.Islii,  by. 

iilin  Mil-V 

run.  J.  P.* 

Joi 

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itiir,:,,. 

■lllili-u 

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an.  1),18U 

liy  Philip 

In 
)■■]■, 

■i.l  11. 11. .1; 

i,l(..u-n..i 
n,-y  ,Mi-C,n 

■r'aiiilSiilly  H 
mill  l'..IK-  C  111 
II  i.ii.l   l-i.iii... 

.:'';::::■; 

,  N..V.  ■1\. 

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I..I111  111:1.1 

11  liiiuiilia 
li;..i,.I,   p. 

u,  J.  P. 

-liavv.J.  1- 

Illi  li.inl  I'l 
Jonas  Iir^l 
IVter  1 .1 . 


I'.ii.l..,  S..|,t.4 
i.T,  .lull   .".,  l.^ 
11,   ViiL-.iM  7. 

111.  I.> 
sill. 

l.y   1 

iiirl   1 
,y  S. 

-J.  1 

Mil.  1 

Flani.-iis  Gai 

iciaiiil 

\ni 

Jnci.liCuirn 

ml  Pi.lK 

11 

liiilph  Lcp  a 

ml  Kliz; 

ll,.l 

Natlniii  lila 

ur..r.i  a 

ll 

Zavv  CI k 

111.1  Ml. 

■  1 

John  W1I-..1 

aii.l  N. 

ll. 

Elishaliin 

.'11  ali.l 

'ill 

Thuiiia-  1  i.l 

k  aii.l   1 

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M 

Jam.>  >;iii.l 

1-  ami 

ll.- 

Daniol  r....ii 

i.li.l  >.i 

,111 

Jami's  1  ii  ak 

r  ,111.1   V. 

Juhn  All.  ..I 

1  iili'l   1:. 

1.,, 

Samn.l  \\. 

hri   ail. 

M 

1  JIi/Fe 


.il.lsll. 
II,  l.Ml,  l.y  .kiiiR-s  Li-m.in. 
,,  isn.  l.y  Pli-  Firnki-. 
.,-..|.l   .,,  kslii,  l.y  .li.l.n  P.r.a.lshav 
i.,  i.-l.i.  I.l-  1..-..1L'.-  llai-Ui-i-. 


-l.V  Till 


1.1,1  '11 


!■>  M,. 


.\.. 


Lazai-u-  Tiini.-i  ami  Mii--n  I 
Zciilniniali  John  ami  li.-l|.l.v  ,-l..-ll.y.  Ma 
James  Fk-niiii);  anil  llai  h.  1  ,~li.  li.i ,  .M.i 
James  Wilson  ami  Jam-  .\ii.lr.-ii,  Mar.  li 
Marviu  Fullor  ami  JIarsai  i-t  llaiui..ii,  M 
Polamlei-  Kuykcm.lali-  aii.l  |i..lly  Mm  1  ■. . 

Josepl.  llarmun  ami  l-'.li/ ll.  Wan-,  I  . 

John  Hogan  ami  l-;ih-mloi-  Kol,i-.-(son,  .Mi 

•  John  McKerron  enteieii  the  \ 


II,  Man 

.•1.,  kslii,  l.y  llan.li-l    i.-.rL-ll>..li, 
,\ii-.;,  -j:i,  l-M'i,  l.y  Ik.iiil.l  I-.-riril-..ll. 
1.-.-,  I'.i,  islii,  liy  llaiiil.-t  F,Tj;ns.-,n. 
..11,  Jan.  11,  ISU',  by  Tliomas  Fei-gusou. 

•_*;), by  John  Phelps. 

Nov.  '21,  18111,  by  Giiliriel  Greatliouse. 


.  ll  -.:..,  1-11,  l.y  (ieorgc  Haeker,  J.  P. 

Ill   1..,  1  SI  I,  by  (ieiirno  ItacUci'. 

11,  isll,  ly   Marvin  Fnllcr. 
ill  11,  IMl,  by  same. 

id  nn  «  hirh  Clie.tter  stands. 


.  'JI,  Is 


Th 


111  .N 


■ll  by  tii-c 
in  1S15, 


111  lailiaiim-  Willis,  May  28,  1811,  by  lieorge  Kobinson. 

lii.l.-  ,\1...-,  n.  t,  :!1, by  William  Arnndel. 

.ami  i:ii/,ai..  lb  Mathers,  Dec.  19, 1811,  by  Jas  Finney, Judge. 
.111.-  and  Dolly  Murray,  Jannary  IG,  ISll,  by  G.  Hacker,  J.  P. 
I  i'..lly  Tindall,  April  II,  1811,  by  tame. 
I '  .1  kus  lin.ssell,  May  23, 1811,  by  same. 
!>   Mi-l.imi.-hliii,  June  0,  1811,  by  same. 

iiiri-is,  June  10, 1811,  by  same. 
,111-iiiila  Cattn-y,  Dec.  28, 1811,  by  John  Phelps,  J.  P. 
i.rds  ul  the  county  from  1S12  to  October,  1818,  have  been 
Tlie  number  of  licenses  issued  in  1812  was  17 ;  in  IS  a,  lli;  in 
i  in  1816,  8;  in  1817,  21;  and  in  1818,  it  was  25. 


UANDOLPH     COUNTY    REPRESENTED    IN     THE    TERRITORIAL 
LEGISLATURES. — 1795   TO    1818. 

Shadrach  Boiul,  Sr.,  member  of  the  L.^gislature  of  the 
U  S.  Tenitory  northwest  of  the  River  Ohio,  1T99,  and  of 
the  House  of  Representatives  of  the  Territory  of  Indiana 
to  the  year  1806,  and  member  of  the"  Council '  (Senate)  to 
1809. 

Shndrach  Bond,  Jr.,  member  of  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives of  the  territory  of  Indiana  from  1805  (took  the 
place  of  his  uncle  who  had  resigned)  to  1808. 

1809      TO     1S12.       ILLI.VOIS    TERRIXORY.    NO     LEGISLATURE. 

1812  TO  1818. 

Pierre  Menard,  (*)  member  of  the  Legislative  Council  and 
its  president  from  18r2  to  1818. 

George  Fisher,  (f )  member  speaker  of  the  House  1812  to 
1814  and  1816  to  1818. 

James  Gilbreath,  elected  in  1814,  wa.se.xpelled  during  the 
first  session — so  stated  in  the  Illinois  Legi.-^lative  Directory  of 
1881.     This  work  mentions 

Jarvis  Haz  Iton,  as  member  of  the  House  from  Ran- 
dolph County  during  the  year  1815.  Hazelton  may  have 
died  or  resigned  before  the  expiration  of  his  term,  because 

William  L  Reynolds,  {%)  though  not  mentioned  in  the 
said  directory,  was  certainly  a  member  of  the  Legislature 
from    Randolph    County  at   that  very    period. 


■  M.-- 


-.1,11 


Ih    hi 


llli! 

brother 


He 


ai  rived 

n   Kaska^k 

a  aT)out  the  year  1790,  in 

Ivpolire 

and  Franc 

is.    Pierre  was  the  most 

-ajiod  in 

nieri;haiHl 

zing  and  trading  with  the 

E  highest 

vi-neratiun, 

on  account  of  his  upright 

pr.imiuent  of  the  tin- 
Indians,  «ho  lield  Pi 
honomy  and  purity  of  intention.  Hiskmdne.ss  to  all  the  needy  was  prover- 
bial. Tlie  govi-rnnient  of  the  United  Stales  had  its  .ittention  called  to  this 
exemplary  man  at  an  early  day,  and  appointed  him  Indian  Agent,  which 
position  he  filled  for  many  years.  In  17'J5  Pierre  Mi^nard  was  appointed  Judge 
of  tbeCor.rt  i.f  Comninu  Pleas  of  Randolph  County,  and  in  1SI8  was  elected 
I,u-iiti-iiiirii..>t-iii"i"f  the  State,  and  as  such  pro-ided  over  the  Slate  Senate 
IViiiii  Isls  I.,  isjj  Alt. -r  the  close  of  this  term  of  oflfies  he  declined  to  accept 
piililii  stall. .11-,  aii.l  lb-voted  himself  to  private  aft'aii-s.  He  died  in  18-14,  and 
was  buriiil  in  the  old  giave  yard  of  K.askaskia. 

-i;e  Fisher,  .1  iiliysieian,  was  a  Virginian,  who  arrived,  according  to  E. 

.ac-uc's  Historii-al  Skelehes,  at  Ka.«ka.skia,  in   17!is  :  but  the  records  of 


to. 

J.  Mo 


Fislif 


tyhave  him  a  m- 
as  an  intlnential 
was  sherittof  Hand  Ipli 
In  181S  lie  was  elei-ted  11 
framed  the  tirst  t'lilistitu 
ISOChad  opem-il  a  f.irni  1 
rtied-lsi".    The  region 

JWilliamL.  Reynolds  V 
time.    Hepubl 


Dr. 


or  of  the  Conn  of  Cominoo  Pleas  in  1793. 
mberof  the  community,  and  a  popular  politician^ 
tnty  when  the  Illinois  Territory  was  organized. 
?iiiber  of  the  Constitutional   Convention,    w-hich 
for  the  Stale  of  Illinois.     Dr.  Fisher,  who,  since 
he  Prairie  du  Roeher,  remained  tliere  until  lie 
ever  been  known  as  Dr.  Fisher's  Settlement, 
pi-obably  the  most  diligent  representative  of  his 
I  in  the  "Illinois  Herald,"  Kaskaskia,  February  1,  1810,  a 
list  of  the  laws  passed  at  the  late  session  of  the  Legisia  urc,  4u  in  number, 
introducing  his  list  by  a  lengthy  address  to  the  citizens  of  Randolph  county, 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


113 


TERRITORIAL   OFFICES. 

Nathaniel  Pope,  Secretary  of  the  Territory  from  1809  to 
1816. 

Robert  Morrison,  Adjutant  General,  July  18,  180^,  to 
May  28,  1810. 

Elias  Rector,  his  successor,  held  the  office  until  (JctoUer, 
25,  1818. 

Shadrach  Bond,  Delegate  to  C)ngress,  1812  to  1814. 

Nathaniel  Pope,  Dc^legate  to  Congress,  from  1817  to  1818. 

Daniel  P.  Cook,  Auditor  of  Accounts,  January  13,  IHIG, 
to  April,  1817,  and  Judge  of  the  Western  Circuit  in    1818. 

RANDOLPH  COUNTY — 1818  TO  1883. 

The  State  Convention  which  framed  the  first  Constitution 
of  the  State  of  Illinois,  assembled  at  Kaskaskia  in  July, 
1818,  and  completed  its  work  on  the  28th  of  August  of  that 
year.  It  was  composed  of  thiriy-three  members,  one  of 
whom,  a  member  from  Washington  county,  whose  name  is 
unknown,  died  during  the  term.  These  members  repre- 
sented the  then  fifteen  counties  of  the  territory,  three  of 
which,  to  wit.,  St.  Clair,  Madison  and  Gallatin,  had  three 
representatives  each,  while  the  remaining  counties  were 
represented  by  two  members  each. 

The  session  of  the  Legislature  of  which  your  confidence  maile  m^  a 
con>titiient  part  has  come  to  a  close,  and  rendering  up  to  you  the  important 
trust  confided  to  my  care,  I  feel  it  my  duty  to  inform  yon  what  laws  have  been 
passed  ;  you  will  be  better  able  to  judge  for  yourselves  whether  your  public 
servants  have  exercised  that  delegated  p  >wer  %vith  a  view  to  the  political 
interest  of  our  common  country  or  not. 

Having  been  elected  after  nearly  half  the  session  had  elapsed,  a  number  of 
laws  were  parsed  before  I  took  my  seat,  and  at  this  time  I  am  unable  to  judge 
of  their  political  expediency. 

The  power  of  legi-Ulion  in  lliis  territory  under  the  ordinance  and  tlie 
several  acts  of  Cjngress  is  so  confined  and  clogged,  that  it  is  almost  put  out  i>f 
the  power  of  the  representatives  of  the  peopio  to  pa'^s  those  laws,  rules  and 
regulations  that  the  political  situations  and  necessity  of  the  country  r-quirc 

The  memorial  forwarded  to  Congress,  praying  an  alteration  in  the  ordinaiu-o, 
if  granted  to  the  extent  of  our  prayer,  will  remedy  a  host  of  evil?*  under  which 
the  territory  now  labors,  and  hereafter  your  public  servants  will  b  »  more  able 
to  legislate  for  the  real  interest  of  the  country. 

I  am  apprised  that  some  may  think  tne  ma'ting  of  four  new  counties  is 
not  justified  by  the  present  populatio  i.  To  that  opinion  permit  m**  to  remark 
thai  experience  and  former  examples  have  uniformly  proven  that  in  new 
countries  where  counties  have  been  left  too  long  at  large,  much  public 
expense  for  public  buildings  has  been  incurred,  and  on  subsequent  divisions 
wholly  lost,  therefore,  the  sooner  the  country  is  laid  out  into  counties  of 
proper  shape  and  size  the  better  for  the  public  interest. 

On  the  eve  of  the  session  the  President's  Proclamation  arrived,  ordering  all 
pt-rsons  oft  the  public  lands,  which  produced  the  deepest  emotion."  in  the 
brea-tsof  all.  It  seemed  to  come  like  a  noxious  planet,  portending  misery 
and  calamity.  And  what  could  have  dictated  so  evil  a  measure  I  am  unable 
to  ilivine.  A  great  portion  of  the  citizens  of  this  territory  are  on  Congress 
Lands,  and  to  drive  them  off  would  in  fact  almost  ruin  the  present  prosperous 
condition  of  our  country. 

What  answer  may  we  not  give  the  General  GoTernment — can  we  not  say  we 
have  left  the  "States"  because  we  were  unable  to  purchase  land,  and  unwilling 
to  be  tenants  of  the  great  land  holders  at  whose  nod  we  must  bow  in  the  sacrifice 
of  every  noble  principle  of  independence.  We  fought  for  a  century  where  we 
could  enjoy  existence  uncontrolled  by  overbearing  land  holders,  where  nature 
affords  abundant  food  for  man,  and  where  we  could  cultivate  the  soil  of  our 
beloved  country  without  fee  or  reward,  that  soil  we  have  enhanced  in  value — 
that  soil  we  have  defended  against  the  arms  of  a  savage  enemy,  the  allies  of 
England,  alone  we  stood,  almost  unaided  by  the  general  govfrnment,  without 
that  compensation  that  the  whole  is  bound  to  give  the  few  for  defending  them. 
When  that  pay  comes  many  of  us  will  be  able  to  purchase  the  lands  on  which 
we  live  from  the  government.  No  doubt  some  sordid  miscreant  hHS  given 
the  delusive  information  upon  which  the  proclaination  is  bottomed,  and  that, 
too,  to  bring  into  his  pocket  a  little  gain,  at  the  great  injury  of  his  fellow  man, 
etc ,  etc. 
Hon.  Reynolds  exhibits  a  little  deniagoguery  in  his  concluding  remarks. 
(The  "Herald"  of  February  1,  18li>,  for  want  of  paper  of  a  proper  size,  was 
published  for  the  time  being  on  half  sheets  of  super  royal,  and  the  editor  had 
gone  to  Kentucky  Co  obtain  a  supply.) 

15 


The  members  from  Randolph  county  were  Elias  Kent 
Kane  and  Dr.  George  Fisher,  whose  names  have  heen  re- 
peatedly meiitioiied  iu  preceding  pages.  A  glance  at  the 
named  of  the  other  members  shows  that  many  of  the  former 
citizens  of  Randolph  were  now  representing  other  counties, 
as,  for  instance,  Jesse  B.  Thomas,  the  first  territorial  judge, 
represented  St.  Clair  ;  Benjamin  Stephenson,  formerly 
sheriff  of  Randolph,  represented  Madison  ;  Michael  Jones, 
implicated  in  the  murder  of  Rice  Jones  (1808),  represented 
Gallatin;  Caldwell  Cairn.s,  Monroe  county ;  Samuel  Oniel- 
veny,  the  old  squire  of  Rocking  Cave  township,  represented 
Pope  ;  Isham  Harrison  and  Thomas  Roberts  represented 
Franklin  county  ;  Jesse  B.  Thomas  was  president,  and  \Vm. 
C.  Greenup,  the  old  court  clerk  of  Randolph,  secretary  to 
the  convention. 

The  constitution  was  not  submitted  to  a  vote  of  the  people 
for  their  approval  or  rejection,  nor  did  the  people  have 
much  to  do  with  the  choice  of  officers  generally  under  it, 
other  than  that  of  governors,  the  general  as.«emblies,  sheriffs, 
coroners  and  county  commissioners.  The  e!ecti\'e  franchise 
was,  however,  extended  to  all  white  male  inhabitants  above 
the  age  of  twenty  one,  having  resided  in  the  State  six  months 
-next  preceding  any  election.  Judges,  either  supreme,  cir- 
cuit or  probate,  prosecuting  attorneys,  circuit  clerks,  re- 
corders, and  even  justices  of  the  peace, — all  were  to  be 
appointed.  The  prerogative  of  appointing,  at  first  enjoyed 
by  the  governor,  was  soon  after  vested  by  law  in  the  legis- 
lature. 

The  first  election  under  the  constitution,  for  governor, 
lieutenant-governor,  ard  m<nd)rrs  of  the  general  assembly 
was  held  on  the  third  Thursday  and  the  two  succeeding  days 
in  September,  1818. 

Shadrach  Bond,  jr  ,  at  that  time  a  resident  of  St.  Clair 
county,  was  elected  governor,  and  Pierre  Jlcnard,  of  Ran- 
dolph, lieutenant-governor. 

The  first  General  Assembly,  elected  at  the  same  time,  con- 
sisted of  fourteen  senator-,  oi'"  frou  each  couuty,  with  the 
exception  of  Johnson  and  Franklin  counties,  they  forming 
one  senatorial  district.  The  house  had  twenty-nine  members, 
to  wit :  four  from  Gallatin,  three  from  St.  Clair,  White  and 
Madison,  each  ;  two  from  Edwards,  Union,  Pope,  Randolph 
and  Crawford,  each  ;  and  one  each  from  Monroe,  Jackson, 
Franklin,  Bond,  Washington  and  Johnson. 

This  General  Assembly  met  in  first  session  at  Kaskaskia, 
on  the  5tli  of  October,  1^18,  but  adjourned  on  the  13th  of 
that  mouth,  because  grave  doubts  had  arisen  as  to  the 
legality  of  the  proceedings,  inasmuch  as  Illinois  had  not 
then  been  regularly  admitted  as  a  State  into  the  Union. 

The  Act  of  Congress  passed  December  3d,  1818,  removed 
this  uncertainty,  and  the  A.ssenibly  couvened  in  Second  Ses- 
sion on  the  4th  of  January,  I81'J.  Randolph  county  was 
represented  in  the  senate  by  Johu  McFerrou,  the  old  county 
commissioner;  and  in  the  house  by  J'^dward  Humphrey  and 
Samuel  Walker.  Pierre  Menard,  of  Randoli^h,  presided  in 
the  senate  as  lieutenant-governor,  and  William  C.  Greenup 
acted  as  secretary.  Tnomas  Reynolds,  chosen  clerk  of  the 
house,  was  also  a  Randol[)h  county  mau.  The  Assembly 
elevated  other  Randolphiaus  to  high  positions,  to  wit :  Elias 


114 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS 


Kent  Kaiie,  Secretary  of  State;  Daniel  P.  Cook,  Attorney- 
General  ;  and  Blackwell  &  Berry,  State  printers.  John 
Reynolds,  then  of  Cahokia,  but  formerly  of  Randolph,  was 
chosen  Associate  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court.* 

The  Assembly  adjourned  on  the  31st  of  March,  1819.  It 
was  the  last  State  legislature  that  ever  assembled  in  the 
quaint  old  French  village  of  Kaskaskia.  Vandalia— nomen 
et  omen — had  been  selected  as  the  future  capital  of  the  State, 
after  Kaskaskia  was  stripped  of  this  honor. 

But  to  return  to  the  aifairs  of  the  county,  which,  in  the 
interregnum  from  December,  1818,  to  May,  1819,  had  been 
conducted  by  the  territorial  justices  mentioned  above.  The 
last  session  of  these  justices  was  held  on  the  I9th  day  of 
April,  1819.  There  were  then  present :  Joseph  Cro  s,  Miles 
Hotchkiss,  Raphael  Widen,  Alexander  Barber,  John  W. 
Gillis.  William  H.  Hays,  John  Steele,  Sr.,  Gabriel  Jones, 
John  Anderson,  Samuel  Taylor,  Samuel  Crawford,  Ezra 
Owen,  William  Nelson  and  Curtis  Conn. 

In  pursuance  of  a  law  passed  by  the  General  Assembly 
at  their  second  session,  these  justices  proceeded  to  "lay  off'" 
the  county  in  election  precincts.  In  doing  this,  they  retained 
the  names  and  boundary  lines  of  the  several  townships  as 
established  on  February  27th,  18 16,  and  confined  their  labor 
to  selecting  places  and  judges  of  election  : 

A'(s/,u«ita.— Court-house ;  Philip  Fouke,  Hypolite  Me- 
nard and  Michael  Smith. 

I'rairie  du  Rocher.— House  of  Archibald  McNabb  ;  An- 
drew Barbeau,  William  Drury  and  John  Fisher. 

TJ7//«(wi*6«r3/i.— House  of  William  H.  Hays;  Paul  Har- 
ralson,  Joseph  Sprigg  and  Norton  Hill. 

J/u  )■!/.— House  of  James  Gaston  ;  Robert  Tindall,  James 
Clendeuin  and  Archibald  Steele. 

SprinyfiekL—Uoniie  of  John  Tygart  ;  Alexander  Barber, 
John  Bilderback  and  Micajah  House. 

Plum  Creek.— Home  of  Washington  Sterrett  ;  William 
McBride,  Abner  Cox  and  Samuel  Crozier. 

An  election  must  have  been  held  soon  after,  for  under 
date  of  May  17th,  1819,  the  following  entry  was  made  on 
the  county  records : 

Be  it  remembered,  that  in  pursuance  of  an  act  of  the  peo- 
ple of  the  State  of  Illinois,  represented  in  the  General  As- 
sembly, entitled  An  act  establishing  the  courts  of  county 
commissioners,  it  appearing  from  certificates  from  the  judges 
of  election  of  Randolph  county  that  David  Anderson,  James 

«  Reynolds,  in  his  famous  work,  "My  Own  Times,"  tells  us  that  he  had  been 
urged  on  by  his  friends  to  join  them  in  a  visit  to  Kaskaskia  during  this  term 
of  the  Assembly.  Upon  arrival,  they  found  much  excitement  at  the  State  capi- 
tal, incident  to  the  selection  of  officers.  In  a  few  days  he  was  urged  to  give  his 
assent  to  become  a  candidate  for  supreme  judge.  This  request,  he  says,  broke 
upon  him  like  a  clap  of  thunder.  His  consent  was  yielded ;  he  was  elected. 
His  experience  in  the  law  was  four  years'  practice  oi  "  commerce  in  land."  So 
far,  the  old  governor's  own  words.  The  writer  must  say,  however,  that  the 
governor  certainly  had  some  pretensions  of  being  a  jurisprudent,  lawyer  and 
advocate,  for  it  was  the  writer's  good  fortuns  to  have  found  the  following  ad- 
vertisement in  the  Illinois  Herald,  published  at  Kaskaskia,  on  the  5th  of  De- 
cember, 1815: 

To  the  Poor  People  of  Illinois  and  Misiouri  Terrilonet :  To  the  above  class  of 
mankind,  whose  pecuniary  circumstances  will  not  admit  of  feeing  a  lawyer,  I 
tender  my  professional  services  as  a  lawyer  in  all  courts  I  practice  in,  without 
fee  or  reward.  •'"«"  ^^•'^o^o^- 

This  advertisement  admits  of  the  following  suppositions:  John  Reynolds 
was  a  philanthropist  and  an  extremely  liberal  lawyer,  or  a  demagog.ie  and  ex- 
tremely shrewd  politician. 


Patterson  and  Curtis  Conn  were  duly  elected  as  such  county 
commissioners,  whereupon  the  said  David  Anderson,  James 
Patterson  and  Curtis  Conn  took  their  seats  ;  and  thereupon 
a  court  was  held  by  the  county  commissioners  of  Randolph 
county,  on  the  17th  day  of  May,  a.  d.  1819. 

It  is  odd  that  the  two  first  built  court  houses  in  this  State 
have  been  converted  into  saloons,  for  the  first  court  house  at 
St.  Clair  county,  at  Cahokia,  still  standing,  has  for  an  age 
or  longer,  also  been  converted  into  a  modern  "  Temple  of 
Ptrsonal  Liberty." 

The  proceedings  of  the  county  board  during  1823,  1824 
and  18'25  contain  nothing  of  interest.  The  great  anti-slavery 
agitation  of  those  years  is  not  mentioned  in  the  county  pro- 
ceedings. A  majority  of  the  prominent  men  of  the  county 
were  pro-slavery  men,  as  stated  elsewhere  in  this  chapter- 
A  county  census  taken  during  the  year  1825,  when  the 
county  aria  had  been  reduced  to  its  present  limits,  may 
find  a  place  here,  as  also  some  extracts  from  the  county  census 
of  1830  and  the  United  States  census  of  1840. 

The  other  proceedings  of  this  board  are  of  no  importance. 
Their  successors,  to  wit:  David  Anderson,  James  Thompson 
and  ^[iles  Hotchkiss,  resolved  to  build  a  new  court  house, 
which  the  county  stood  so  much  in  need  of  Nathaniel 
Pope,  their  illustrious  fellow  citizen,  had  donated  a  tract  of 
land  to  the  county  for  that  purpose  as  well  as  for  the  erection  of 
a  jail  and  a  "  stray  pound."  On  the  21st  of  Decemher,  1819, 
the  board  contracted  with  J.  W.  Comley  and  J.  W.  Nelson 
for  the  building  of  a  court  house,  to  be  constructed  of  brick 
and  to  be  two  stories  high,  for  which  the  county  was  to  pay 
them  S47d0.  Nathaniel  Pope  contributed  also  8300  iu  cash 
for  that  purpose,  and  the  county  treasurer  was  iujtructed  to 
solicit  and  receive  aitl  from  other  citizens.  The  contribu- 
tions were  slow  in  coming  in,  for  on  the  7th  of  June,  1820, 
the  treasurer  was  instructed  to  borrow  money  for  the  pur- 
pose of  paying  off  the  contractors,  wherever  he  could  get  it 
at  6  per  cent.,  and  to  bring  suit  against  all  persons  who  had 
failed  to  pay  donations  formerly  promised  by  them,  A 
special  tax  of  50  cents  per  SlOO  valuation  was  ordered,  and 
as  the  total  assessed  value  of  all  the  taxable  property  in  the 
county  was  then  only  81,585.02,  this  tax  would  scarcely  net 
8700.  The  county  jail  was  also  in  a  very  bad  condition, 
for  the  militia  had  to  be  called  out  to  guard  the  prisoners ; 
80  men  did  service  of  this  kind  during  the  year,  and  received 
each  81.25  for  24  hours  service. 

The  new  court  house  was  "  received  "  and  occupied  June 
7,  1821,  and  the  contractors  were  paid  a  10  per  cent,  interest 
bearing  county  order  for  81,000  for  balance  due  them  March, 
1822.  It  may  be,  however,  that  this  amount  was  paid  for 
repairs  of  the  court  house,  for  the  records  of  September  5, 
1821,  state,  that  the  court  contracted  with  J.  VV.  Comley 
to  put  up  anew  the  '■  northwardly"  end  of  the  court  house, 
lately  blown  down  by  a  violent  storm.  Nothing  further  to 
chronicle,  except  the  organization  of  a  new  election  precinct, 
March  4,  1822,  to  be  called  Union,  now  Red  Bud,  with  poll 
at  the  house  of  James  Patterson. 

The  old  court  house  near  the  Catholic  church  (formerly 
the  property  of  ex-sheriff'  Gilbreath)  was  let  to  Jesse  W. 
Cooper  on  March  5,  1823,  to  be  used  as  an  inn,  here  called 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS 


115 


a  ''grocery"  for  the  time.  Cociper  puid  S60  per  annum  for 
the  use  of  the  house,  and  subsequently  in  1825  bought  court- 
house and  grounds  for  S250,  State  paper.  Rents  were  still 
very  high  in  182  3 

Ci'.nxus  of  the  County,  by  Th.  J.  V.  Owen.  Commission 
dated  November  25,  1825. 

Heads  of  Families — Town  of  Kaskaakia. — Jliles  Hotcli- 
kiss,  W.  C.  Greenup,  Samuel  Taylor  Samuel  Smith,  Mary 
Paine,  Leonard  Stephens,  David  J.  Baker,  Antoine  Antya, 
Sidney  Breese,  William  Siraont.ui,  II.  H  Maxwell,  Elias 
Kent  Kane,  Josiah  T.  Bills,  William  Orr,  Thomas  Rey- 
nolds, Edward  Riberts,  Jesse  Francis,  Jeptha  Siveet,  R 
M.  Young,  M  D.  Smith,  Simon  Rodergues,  John  At- 
kins, John  E  Igar,  William  Steven^,  Felix  St  Vraiii,  James 
L.  Lamb,  R.  K.  Fleming,  Thomas  Short,  Robert  JI  'rrison, 
William  Morrison,  Josejih  Morrison,  Edward  Humphreys, 
Daniel  M.  Guthrie,  Patrick  Kavanaugh,  Nathaniel  Pope, 
Jacob  Feamnn,  Nathan  Cloyes,  Jame.s  D.  Osborn,  John 
Frankford,  Diego  R  jdergues,  Samuel  Lybarger,  Rowiiia 
R'ldergues,  Elizabeth  La  Chapelle,  Antoine  Dufour.  Silas 
Leldud,  Jesse  W.  Cooper,  W.  G.  Hiser,  Leon  Pera,  Joseph 
Page,  Marie  L.  Chamberlaine,  John  W.  Comly,  Ferdinand 
Ouger,  Elizabeth  Barton,T.  S.  V.  Owen,  J.  B.  Seguin,  Sr., 
J.  B.  Seguin.  Jr.,  Celeste  Barbeau,  Therese  Godiu,  Raphael 
Meudue,  Pierre  Derouse,  ThtrcsThamour  (D'Amour),  Louis 
Masoier,  Riga  Derouse,  Joseph  Derouse,  Michael  B.  Dauie, 
Michael  Danie,  (fiddler), C.  C.  Conway,  Louis  Lemieux,  An- 
toine Chamberlain,  Placit  Casson,  Margaret  Gaston,  Pascal 
Las*ouri,  Fiancois  Menard,  Luke  Gendron,  Baptiste  Crota, 
Rosalie  Creurier,  Joseph  Gendron,  Louis  Derouse,  Benjamin 
Beatt,  Ursula  Lefleur,  Silas  Barntelle,  Alex's  Doza,  Alexis 
Euos  Pierre  Derouse,  Andre  Charleville,  Antoine  Gendron, 
Hugh  Woods,  Michael  Butcher,  Charles  Derou.se,  John  Dow- 
ling,  Philip  Fouke,  Eltienne  Derouse.William  M  Alexander, 
Ursula  Levire,  Joseph  Buyatt,  Elizabeth  Brewer,  Michae 
Derouse,  Fran(;ois  Goruor,  Hannah  Cowles,  Joseph  Derouse, 
Jr.,  John  Brady,  John  Grate,  Lawson  Lovet,  Aquilla  Can- 
trell  and  N.  E.  Allen. 

The  families  of  these  99  "heads"  were  composed  of  477 
members,  besides  they  owned  109  slaves  and  harbored  31 
free  persons  of  color.  William  Morrison  owned  22  slaves, 
Francois  Menard  21,  Sidney  Breese  4  and  Elias  Kent 
Kane  5. 

Township  of  Kaskaski.a. — Antoine  Buatte,  Joseph  Tulier^ 
Julian  Jones,  Pierre  Colme,  Louis  Seguin,  Espazell  Seguin, 
Gerorae  D^-rouse,  Magdalen  Degazine,  Jack  Backus,  (free 
negro),  Phebe,  a  black  woman,  John  Carpenter,  Michel  Pet- 
tier, Joseph  Danie,  Hip  )lite  Menard,  Joseph  Chamberlain, 
Louis  Buatte,  Gabriel  Jones,  Spencer  P.  Adkins,  Michel 
Buatte,  Henri  Bienvenue,  John  Paterson,  Shadrach  Bond, 
David  Woolscy,  Jacob  Woolsey,  John  Wegan,  Elijah  Lovin, 
Baptiste  Danie,  George  Stratton,  Alexis  Beauvois,  Antoine 
Danie,  Baptiste  Reaurae,  John  Bowers,  Joseph  Louvalle, 
Thorston  Thomas,  C.  B.  Danie,  Louis  M.  Derouse,  Peter 
Wegan,  William  Langlie,  Catherine  Lloyd,  Richard  Wool- 
Bey  and  Allen  Richards. 

Prairie  ilu  lioelier — Vi/luye — Henry  Connar,  John  M. 
Godeau,  Frank  Tonga,  Therese  Blay,  John  Louvier,  Pelagie 


Catineau,  August  Derouse,  Michel  Duclos,  Sen.,  Joseph  Go- 
deau, Baptiste  Oliver,  Baptiste  Godeau,  Alexis  Derouse,  Jaa. 
Deeper,  Charles  Blay,  William  Drury,  Francis  Champline, 
Marie  Olliver,  Joseph  Vasseur,  Henri  Phebeau,  Ellen  Degag- 
nie.  Madam  Degagnie,  Marianne  Blay,  Nicholas  Durward, 
JosephBlay,  Baptiste,  Roye,  Clement  Drury,  Michel  Duclos, 
Jr.,  Antoine  Louvier,  Jr  ,  Antoine  Ix)uviere,  Jr.,  Ichabod 
Sergeant,  Donation  Olliver  (priest),  August  Allard,  Ettienne 
Langloi.-e,  Francis  Thebau,  Henry  Barbeau,  Eliza  Chene  and 
Henry  Kerr.  There  were  38  heads  of  families  enumerated  at 
Du  Rocher.  The  total  number  of  inhabitants  of  the  village 
was  202,  of  whom  28  were  slaves  and  10  free  persons  of  color. 

Township  of  Da  Rocher. — Isadore  Godeau,  Joseph  Bonle- 
telle,  Archibald  McNabb,  Audree  Roye,  Harriet  Godeau, 
John  Drury,  Antoine  Blay,  Gerard  Langlois,  Antoine  Cato, 
Andre  Barbeau,  Antoine  Barbeau,  Baptiste  Barbeau,  Bur- 
rell  Philips,  Josia  M.  Horsey,  Michael  Smith,  Francis  Lang- 
lois, Abraham  Horine,  Sylvauus  Harlow,  James  Taylor, 
Francis  Brown,  Reuben  Sackett,  Ansel  Dennis. 

Township  of  WilUamsbunj. — Paul  Harralson,  Antoine  La 
Chapelle,  William  Steele,  John  C.  Sigiion,  James  Mudd, 
Edward  Mudd,  Joseph  Mudd,  Francis  Mudd,  Norton  Hull, 
Thomas  Orr,  Ezra  Owen,  Lewis  Hull,  Amos  Lynn,  Henry 
Royer,  John  Linsey,  James  S.  Robinson,  Thomas  Lindsey, 
Elizabeth  Lindsey,  James  Wheland  1st,  James  Wheland  -d, 
Henry  O'Hara,  Hannah  Kennedy,  E.  T.  Owen,  Alexander 
Wilson,  Robert  Wilson,  William  Nelson,  John  Stevenson, 
William  McBride,  Lemuel  Owen,  Levi  Owen,  Michael  Dil- 
lon, Edmund  Faherty,  Levi  Siinmonds,  jr.,  Joseph  H.  Orr, 
Samuel  Hill,  sr..  Prudence  Wilson,  .lames  Wilson,  David 
Lawson,  A.  C.  Adams,  Joseph  Griffin,, John  Roles,  Emanuel 
Evans,  Ettienne  Pavard,  Thomas  Hull,  Henry  Will,  James 
Adkins,  .Lacob  Fisher,  Thomas  Levens,  Ignatius  Sprigg, 
John  Smith,  Daniel  Buel,  George  Glenn,  William  Hamil- 
ton, John  C.  Crosier,  William  Been,  Shelton  Evans,  Levi 
Simmoiids,  sr  ,  James  Connar,  John  Foran,  Adam  Youug- 
man,  Ellison  Talbott,  Edward  Ralls,  John  Guthrie,  Wash- 
ington Evans,  Thomas  Horsell,  John  Brewer,  Zadock  Dar- 
row,  Absalom  Tailor,  John  Adams,  Otho  Levens,  and  Eleanor 
McNabb. 

There  were  only  5  slaves  in  this  township. 

Town-ship  Plam-Creek. — James  McDonald,  Robert  M. 
^lanu,  John  Beatty,  Andrew  Borders,  Thomas  Finley,  Isabel 
Euglish,  William  Findley,  James  McClurken,  John  Max- 
well, James  Munford,  .John  Thomason,  William  Pattison, 
Burdite  Green,  Patrick  Raines,  William  Edgar,  Adam  Ed- 
gar, David  Ferris,  Jane  Beatty,  William  M.  Maun,  .James 
Pollock,  Robert  Pollock,  William  Hill,  James  Hathorn, 
David  Hathorn,  John  Beaird,  Robert  Hill,  William  Hand- 
ly,  Andrew  McCormick,  George  McCormick,  Alexander 
McKelvey,  Andrew  McFerron,  Robert  Poster,  David  Ander- 
son, .John  Campbell,  Robert  Miller,  John  Cochran,  James 
Couch,  John  Allen,  Samuel  McClinton,  William  McCliuton, 
John  G.  Nelson,  John  Barnet,  Samuel  Morris,  Willianj 
Allen,  George  Wilson,  Samuel  Nisbet,  Archibald  Thomp- 
son, jr.,  Larkin  Dial,  Robert  G.  Shannon,  Samuel  Y.  Henry, 
James  Gordon,  Samuel  Stubblefield,  John  Irvin,  Samuel  J. 
Thompson,   James    Thompson,  Moses  Thompson.   Samuel 


116 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS 


Crosin,  Samuel  Hathorn,  John  Thompson,  James  Croain, 
Robert  Win,  Margaret  St.  Clair,  William  T.  Chambers, 
Thomas  McDill,  Thomas  Swanwick,  Samuel  Hill,  Thomas 
McBride,  John  Anderson,  sr,  William  Gordon,  Martin 
Wilson,  William  Temple,  Robert  Muggins,  John  McMillan, 
jr.,  Arthur  Parks,  James  McNulty,  Hugh  Leslie,  Robert 
McMillan,  James  Anderson,  sr.,  John  McKelvey,  Charles 
McKelvey,  John  McMillan,  sr.,  William  McDill,  William 
Thompson,  James  Wilson,  jr  ,  John  Boyd,  sr.,  Joseph  Cath- 
cart.  Smith  Dickey,  James  Clark,  Thomas  Armour,  John 
McDill,  Samuel  Leard,sr.,  Absalom  Cox,  Martin  Gray, 
Alexander  R.  Leslie,  Isaac  Scudder,  Isaac  Rainey,  Samuel 
Pitchford,  John  Hutchings,  J.  R.  Hutchings,  William  Elliot, 
William  Hodge,  John  Murdoch,  John  Wiley,  Samuel  Stor 
jjiant,  Hugh  McKelvey,  Absalom  Wilson,  Alexander  Mc- 
Kelvey, jr.,  William  Stormaut,  David  Cathcart,  Alexander 
Campbell,  sr.,  John  Dickey,  William  Marshal,  James  H. 
Beatty,  Alexander  Dickey,  Samuel  Wiley,  Alexander  Alex- 
ander, John  Alexander,  James  Beaird,  William  Wiley,  Wil- 
liam Campbell,  John  Armour,  James  Patterson,  John  Dob- 
bins, James  Strahan,  John  Bilderback,  John  Miller,  sr  , 
Archibald  Thompson,  sr.,  William  Lively,  Turner  Lively, 
John  Lively,  James  Stoker,  James  S.  Guthrie,  William  Mc- 
Bride 3d,  J.  Wilkinson,  Asa  Scott,  James  Lively,  James 
McMurdo,  Josiah  Little,  Samuel  Little,  Robert  Edgar, 
Joseph  Win,  Samuel  L.  Weir,  Kobert  Caldwell,  Archibald 
McMillan,  James  Wilson,  sr.,  William  Morris,  William 
Miller,  J.  W.  Henderson,  J.  W.  Alcorn,  Andrew  Ross, 
Elizabeth  Richey,  Robert  Thompson,  sr.,  Robert  Thompson, 
jr.,  John  Anderson,  jr.,  James  Anderson,  jr.,  Patsey  Little, 
John  McBride,  John  Haire,  William  Boyd,  Samuel  Doug- 
lass, Henry  Nore,  James  Redpath,  Frederick  Holden,  Samuel 
Leard,  jr.,  Allen  Been,  Ralph  Scudders,  John  Briggs,  Wil- 
liam McBride,  sr.,  and  Joseph  Bratuey. 

Township  of  Sprinrifield.  Pierre  Menard,  Enoch  Lively^ 
William  Robinson,  Shadrach  Robinson,  John  Taggart,  John 
Mahon,  John  Lacey,  John  Pillars,  James  Murphy,  D.  Olliver, 
Alexander  Campbell,  Jr.,  Shadrach  Lively,  Sr.,  Thomas 
Roberts,  Charles  C.  Glover,  Aquila  Brown,  Antoine  La- 
brier,  George  Franklin,  Josias  S.  Briggs,  Richard  Robinson, 
jr.,  Justus  Rockwell,  John  Reynolds,  James  Fisher,  Joseph 
Jay,  John  F.  Berry,  Joseph  Harman,  Jonathan  Bowerman, 
Lemuel  Barker,  Ezekiel  Barber,  Sarah  Lee,  Rachel  Hughes, 
James  McFarland,  Jesse  Bowerman,  Jacob  Bowerman,  W. 
H.  Threlkel,  Richard  Green,  Hugh  Brown,  John  Murphy, 
sen.,  Joshua  Davis,  James  Herd,  Jonathan  Petit,  Elizabeth 
Fowler,  James  Huggins,  William  Irick,  Charles  Stratton, 
Mary  Bilderback,  Samuel  Crawford,  Antoine  Montroy, 
John  Murdock,  James  McMillan,  Denard  Short,  Eli  Short, 
Matthew  Vann,  John  Murphy,  Jr  ,  Abijah  Leavitt,  Abigail 
Pitchford,  Julia  Ricor,  Calvin  Lawrence,  Harrison  Colbert, 
Jane  Jones,  Isabel  Hilton,  Stace  McDonough,  Anderson 
Candle,  William  Porter,  Jane  Bilderback,  Susan  Harman, 
Isaac  Slater,  William  Turner,  George  Harman,  Daniel  Tag- 
gart, Richard  Pillars,  Archibald  Snodgrass,  John  Young, 
John  Taylor,  James  Milligan,  James  McDonough,  Isaac 
Leard,  Solomon  Foresee,  John  Foresee,  William  Coddle, 
Amos  Anderson,  David  Looney,  Richard  Robinson,  Joseph 


Robertson,  Silas   Crisler,   John    Huggins,    Joseph    Lively, 
Robert  Gant  and  Samuel  Hughes. 

Township  of  Mary.  Curtis  Conn,  William  Jay,  William 
Bilderback,  James  Bilderback,  Alexander  Barber,  John 
Crane,  Wiley  Lane,  Susannah  Lane,  Malakiah  Holleman, 
Stephen  B.  Tilden,  James  Clendenen,  John  Clendenen, 
Henry  Petit,  Adonijah  Ball,  James  Steele,  George  Steele. 
William  C.  Marlin,  William  J.  Lane,  Alexis  Buatt,  William 
Cochran,  Baptiste  Montreal,  David  Hoar,  Thomas  F.  Steele, 
Bryant  Axom,  Nathan  Conant,  J.  D.  Starnes,  Samuel 
Manseo,  Francois  Montroy,  Jehu  Ertes,  George  Master.=, 
William  Paine,  Joel  Crane,  David  Petit,  Demanda  Petit, 
Shadrach  Lively,  jr.,  Genevieve  Ravel,  Nicholas  Buatt, 
Benjamin  A.  Porter,  John  Griffin,  William  Hodge,  John 
Cochran,  sen.,  Asaph  Smith,  Wdliam  Smith,  Reuben  Ertes, 
Robert  GrifMn,  Sarah  Johnson,  William  Manseo,  Isaiah 
Vineyard,  Benjamin  Grain,  John  Hindman,  Andrew  P. 
Cochran,  Daniel  Sandbon,  James  Johnson,  Martha  Herd, 
Antoine  P.  Bienvenue,  Joseph  Curry,  Pierre  Reaume,  Jean 
R.  Geiidron,  John  Harman,  John  Vineyard,  Robert  Tindell, 
Reuben  Tiudell,  Joseph  Archambeau,  John  Starnes,  sen., 
Harvey  McNeely,  Archibald  Steele,  John  Steele,  Sr.,  John 
Steele,  jr.,  Duran  Houseman,  Richard  Giviu,  Leonard  Garter, 
Charles  Bilderback,  Cornelius  Adkins,  William  Fowler, 
Mary  Bapart,  James  Gillespie,  Robert  Davis  and  John  Davis. 


ThP  pnpulalion  of  the 
asiainJividuals,— to  wil 


as  eiuuiiei-atea  by  Mr.  Owen, 

Wliites 3481 

Negroes— slaves 240 

Negroes — free 91 


Bkia Whiles T2C 

Slaves 137 

Free  negroes...  48 

911 

I  Dn  Rofher Whites 287 

Slaves 62 

Free  negroes...  13 


..Whites 421 


Free  negroes...    3 
430 

Plum  Creel! Whites 971 

Slaves 12 

Free  negroes....    ^ 

988 

Springfiel.l Whites .181 

Slaves 21 

Free  negroes...  21 


..Whites 49* 

Slaves 12 

Free  negroes....    1 


The  report  does  not  contain  any  further  items  of  interest, 
except  an  enumeration  of  what  it  calls  "  manufactories  "  of 
Randolph  county  to  wit:  eight  distilleries,  nine  horsemills, 
three  inclined  wheel  grist  mills,  one  water  grist  mill,  and 
one  "  ditto  "  saw  mill,  three  cotton  gins,  one  carding  machine, 
two  house  carpenters  carrying  on  business,  three  shoe  manu- 
factories, two  hat,  ditto,  five  blacksmith  shops,  one  "  bake  " 
ditto,  two  tailor  ditto,  one  saddle  manufactory  and  one  spin- 
ning wheel  ditto.     The  location  of  those  manufactories  and 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


117 


mills  is  not  given,  nor  by  whom  they  were  operated.  The 
presumption  is,  that  those  eight  distilleries  were  sufficiently 
large  enough  to  supply  the  800  male  adults  of  the  county 
with  the  so  much  needed  production.  Not  a  word  is  said 
about  the  occupation  of  the  people  with  the  exception  that 
Michael  Danie  was  a  fidler  at  Kaskaskia,  and  Don  Oliver 
a  priest  at  Do  Rocher 

Another  county  census  taken  in  1830  by  John  C.  Crozier 
is  more  elaborate.  From  it  we  learn,  that  the  population 
had  increased  to  4448  since  1825,  99  of  whom  were  slaves, 
and  102  free  negroes.  661  persons  over  18  and  under  45 
years  of  age  were  enrolled  as  militia  men  and  911  were 
voters.  William  Morrison  was  running  a  copper  steam 
distillery  and  a  water  grist  mill,  while  his  neighbor  Na- 
thaniel Pope  contented  himself  with  one  steam  saw  and  grist 
mill.  James  O'Hara  operated  a  water  grist  mill  and  a  cop- 
per distillery.  Enos  Christy  operated  an  inclined  wheel 
grist  mill,  two  carding  machines  and  an  oil  press  ;  William 
Nelson  a  copper  distillery  and  grist  mill  ;  Samuel  Crawford 
had  a  spinning  machine,  Jiseph  Bratney  a  water  saw  mill, 
Robert  Forster  a  band  mill  and  a  steam  distillery.  Horse- 
mills  were  operated  by  Andrews  Borders,  William  Paltison, 
James  Beaird  and  John  Armour.  George  Steele  operated 
an  inclined  wheel  grist  mill,  and  David  Steele  a  copper 
distillery,  as  also  Robeit  Tindall  and  Andrew  Crozier.  Felix 
St.  Vrain  operated  a  steam  saw  mill.  The  following  me- 
chanics were  mentioned  also  : 

BlacLmiflis:  A.  B.  Brown,  W.  T.  Evans.  Silas  Leland, 
Samuel  Lybarger,  John  Mann,  Jarret  Wilkeson,  David 
Woodside,  Robert  C.  Jones,  J.  B.  Burk  and  John  Stejih- 
enson. 

]V(ir/onmiihcrK :  Aquila  Brown  and  Jacob  Harman. 

Coopers:  Thomas  Horrell,  John  Harman,  George  Har- 
man, and  Seth  Allen. 

r(U!?!fT8;  Maurice  D.  Smith,  Samuel  Hull,  Elisha  Sty- 
mour,  Wm.  McDill,  Wm.  Gordon,  Andrew  Allen. 

Harness  makers  :  George  Lamb,  Robert  G  Shannon. 

Shoemakers:  John  Reynolds,  Michael  Peiiiiy,  James 
Strathan,  Wm.  Gordon,  Solomon  Foresee,  Justus  T.  Rock- 
well. 

Hatter:  Jacob  Feaman. 

Tailors:  Ferdinand  Unger,  Robert  G.  Shannon. 

Cabinet  ma ktrs  and  turners:  Harry  Fulton,  Henry  Res- 
inger,  Stanley  G.  Peet,  Wiley  Lain,  Wm.  C.  Marlain. 

Tinner:  Julian  Chenoux. 

Patt  Kavanaugh  operated  at  one  and  the  same  time  a 
saddler,  cooper,  shoemaker,  and  a  tailor  shop.  Cotton  gins, 
and  press  were  operated  by  Wm.  Pattison,  John  Patterson 
and  Levi  Simmons,  and  shingle  shaving  machines  by  Robert 
Miller  and  by  Charles  Bilderback.  The  following  data  are 
taken  from  the  U.  S.  census  reports  of  1840. 

The  census  of  1840  gave  Randolph  county  a  population 
of  7,944  in  the  aggregate,  133  of  whom  were  slaves  and  188 
free  colored  people ;  50  people  were  over  70  years  of  age,  2 
of  whom  were  over  90  years  old.  The  occupations  of  the 
people  of  Randolph  were  defined  as  follows:  mining  7,  ag- 
riculture 1,895,  commerce  116,  manufactures  and  trades 
360,   navigation   1,   learned    professions  and   engineers   48, 


Revolutionary  soldiers  1.  *  The  unfortunates  were  :  2  deaf 
and  dumb,  3  blind  and  6  insane.  Education  could  be  had 
in  one  college,  attended  by  50  students;  one  academy,  with 
25  scholars;  14  common  schools,  with  403  pupils  ;  78  adults 
were  unable  to  read  or  write. 

The  census  reports  of  1840  state  that  11  men  were  em- 
ployed in  digging  coal,  producing  6,011  bushels,  and  that 
§525  were  invested  in  that  business;  that  there  were  in  the 
county  5,742  mules,  16,847  cattle,  7,688  sheep,  25,338  hogs, 
and  $8,402  worth  of  poultry  ;  that  the  farmers  of  the  county 
had  harvested  in  1839,  56,792  bushels  of  wheat,  803  of  bar- 
ley, 76,051  of  oats,  1,042  of  rye,  377  of  buckwheat  and 
301,342  of  corn;  besides  9,091  pounds  of  wool,  256  of  hops, 
985  of  wax,  18,177  bushels  of  potatoes,  l.O.iOtons  of  hay,  83 
tous  of  hemp,  11,174  pounds  of  tobacco.  SOO  potinds  of  rice  (f), 
5,776  of  cotton  and  719  of  sugar.  7,085  cords  of  wood  were 
sold  ;  butter  and  cheese  brought  S4,603  to  the  diligent  house- 
keeper ;  orchards  produced  |2,9o8  worth  of  fruit ;  linsey 
and  woolsey  made  at  home  on  the  hand-loom,  now  an  almost 
unknown  and  forgotten  apparatus,  were  otimated  atS6,96I, 
and  gardening  yielded  S347.  There  were  10  commission 
houses  in  the  county,  having  a  capital  of  $51,000  invested  ; 
32  retail  houses,  with  878,820  capital ;  4  lumber  yards,  with 
S6,000,  giving  employment  to  28  hands;  4  men  were  em- 
ployed in  "  internal  transportation  "  (^running  stage-coaches)  ; 
4  others  were  engaged  in  butchering  and  packing,  having  a 
capital  of  §12,500  invested  in  that  business.  The  products 
of  the  forest  were  83,617  worth  of  lumber  and  8773  worth 
of  skins  and  furs;  13  men  produced  bricks  and  lime  to  the 
value  of  81,523.  One  fulling  mill  and  woolen  manufactory, 
with  a  capital  of  81,500,  gave  employment  to  4  persons  and 
produced  8400  worth  of  goods ;  4  persons  were  engaged  in 
manufacturing  tobacco,  had  81,000  invested  in  the  business 
and  turned  out  8350  worth  of  the  wef  d.  There  were  then  6 
tanneries  in  the  county,  which  turned  out  2  420  sides  of  sole 
leather  and  2  084  of  upper  leather,  employed  13  hands  and 
had  87,850  invested  in  the  business;  there  were  2  saddleries, 
with  8600  capital  and  2  hands,  who  manufactured  81,200 
worth  of  articles  ;  4  distilleries,  giving  employment  to  13 
men,  turned  out  5,:>00  gallons  of  whisky.  Randolph  county 
had  2  printing  offices  and  1  bindery,  emj)loying  5  men, 
capital  invested  |1,800  ;  6  flouring,  8  grist  and  11  sawmills, 
with  an  investment  of  871,000,  gave  employment  to  39  men. 
The  value  of  products,  including  11,000  barrels  of  flour 
shipped,  amounted  to  $81,050.     Boats,  valued  at  $1,500, 

*  From  a  list  of  Revolutionary  soldiers  drawing  pensions  as  such,  and  having 
been  residents  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  we  found  that  the  following  residents  of 
the  county  ot  Randolph  drew  such  pensions,  to  wit:  John  Edgar,  captain  U.  S. 
Navy,  admitted  by  special  act  of  May  26,  1830  ;  commencemeni  of  pay  March  3, 
1826,  W80  per  annum  ;  the  full  amount  drawn  was  82,201.33.  General  Edgar  died 
December  19, 1830.  The  amount  mentioned  was  drawn  by  his  administrators 
Charles  McNabb,  private  Maryland  Continentals,  drew  800  per  annum.  George 
Stamm,  privaTe  Maryland  Continenlals.  drew  ggc  per  annum.  William  Fowler, 
private  South  Carolina  militia,  drew  820  per  annum.  Paul  Harratson,  private 
South  Carolina  militia,  drew  862.50  per  annum.  We  annex  a  list  of  Invalid  Pen- 
tioncTS  of  the  War  of  1812  and  the  Indian  wars  prior  to  1816,  residing  in  Ran- 
dolph county:  Julian  Bart,  a  Virginian  (mentioned  heretofore  as  a  fit  subject 
for  charily),  served  in  the  Illinois  militia,  was  pensioned  Sept.  1, 1815,  received 
88  per  month,  and  lived  long  enough  to  draw  $1,104.80.  David  Hoar,  from  Mass- 
achusetts, private  31st  U.  8.  Infantry.  William  Henly  (Tennessee),  Dyer's 
regiment  of  militia.  Armistead  Jones,  Illinois  militia.  William  Lippincott 
(New  York),  2d  U.  S.  Infantry.  William  Lane,  Tennessee  volunteers  (U.  S.  ser- 
vice).   Eli  Short,  Kentucky  volunteers  (U.  S.  service). 


118 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND    PERRY    COUNTIES.    ILLINOIS. 


were  built  duriug  the  year,  aud  66  mechanics  erected  4 
brick  and  20  wooden  houses,  at  an  expense  of  $15,760. 

COUNTY   FINANCES — 1819   TO   1844. 

The  financial  condition  of  the  county  remained  as  it  had 
been  in  territorial  times ;  the  expenditures,  though  most 
sparingly  made,  exceeded  the  revenue.  On  the  17th  of 
December,  1825,  an  interesting  report  was  filed  by  Thomas 
J.  V.  Oiven,  treasurer  and  sheriff,  who  had  been  authorized 
by  the  county  commissioners  to  examine  all  books  and  pa 
pers  bearing  on  the  subject  of  county  finances  since  1819. 
He  reported  that  the  county  had  expended  the  following 
amounts  of  money,  to  wit : 

In  tlie  year  18W Sl,108."l>4 

"  1820 T^S.b-% 

"            "  1821 2,0u6.23 

"            "  1822 1,821.40 

"  1823 920.175^ 

"            "  1824 1,C1.1.24'4 

"  1825 1,991.925^ 

And  that  the  revenue  of  the  county  during  all  that  time  had 
been  considerably  less  than  the  allowances  made ;  that  now, 
on  the  17th  of  December,  1825,  there  were  county  orders 
out  and  unpaid,  calling  for  the  enormous  amount  of  $3,811.- 
671,  and  that  the  total  revenue  to  be  expected  for  the  cur- 
rent year  amounted  to  only  $1408.993,  to  wit :  tax  on  land, 
695.48i,  and  on  other  property,  $813.01  i. 

During  the  administration  of  the  7th  board — Arthur 
Parks,  Josiah  Betts  and  Franklin  P.  Owen — the  first  free 
schools  were  organized,  one  in  township  5  S.,  Range  7  \V., 
called  Liberty  School  District,  on  petition  of  Archibald 
Thompson  and  others  ;  the  other  at  Unionville,  on  the  peti- 
tion of  David  Hathorn  and  others. 

A  few  years  later,  during  the  administration  of  Thomas 
Roberts,  William  G.  Hizer  and  John  Thompson,  Samuel  G- 
Thompson  (in  1833)  was  appointed  commissioner  of  schools, 
and  authorized  to  sell  the  lands  donated  by  the  Federal 
Government  for  the  purpose  of  aiding  public  schools. 
Thompson  was  very  dutiful  and  accurate  in  filing  reports, 
which  were  all  approved  but  »oi  recorded. 

The  above  mentioned  board,  in  1825,  made  an  effort  to 
enliven  business  at  the  old  village,  and  on  the  29th  of  Octo- 
ber appointed  a  board  of  inspectors  for  the  harbor  of  Kas- 
kaskia.  This  board  consisted  of  Curtis  Conn  (the  probate 
judge),  Gabriel  Jones  and  William  G.  Hizer.  They  were 
authorized  to  have  warehouses  erected,  and  instructed  to 
inspect  beef,  pork,  flour,  hemp,  tobaQCO,  and  other  articles 
of  exportation  !     No  report  of  their  labors  is  found. 

The  next  reference  to  the  financial  condition  of  the  county 
was  made  March  9,  1831,  when  the  "enormous  amount  "  of 
unpaid  county  orders  of  December,  1825,  had  been  reduced 
to  891.61,  with  not  a  cent  of  money  in  the  treasury. 

This  condition  of  affairs  remained  unchanged  till  1836  and 
subsequent  years,  when  the  county  drew  large  amounts  from 
the  State  Improvement  fund. 

The  legislature  of  the  State  had,  in  an  evil  hour,  inaugu- 
rated a  system  of  public  improvements,  to  be  carried  on  by 
State  oflBcers  under  the  supervision  of  the  legislature. 

The  impetus  to  the  system,  at  the  expense,  or,  more 
properly  speaking,  on  the  credit  of  the  State,  was  given  by 


George  Farquer,  a  senator  of  Sangamon  county,  in  1834. 
(He  had  lived  for  years  in  Randolph  and  Monroe  counties, 
had  laid  out  the  present  city  of  Waterloo,  and  been  county 
commissioner  sortie  years).  His  plans,  however,  failed.  J. 
M.  Strode,  senator  of  all  the  country  including  and  north  of 
Peoria,  had  a  bill  passed  in  1835  authorizing  a  loan  of  one- 
half  a  million  of  dollars  on  the  credit  of  the  State.  This 
loan  was  negotiated  by  Governor  Duncan  in  1836,  and  with 
this  money  a  commencement  was  made  on  the  Illinois  Canal 
in  June,  1836. 

The  great  town  lot  speculation  had  reached  Illinois  about 
that  time.  The  number  of  towns  multiplied  so  rapidly,  that 
it  seemed  as  though  the  state  would  be  one  vast  city.  All 
bought  lots  and  all  dreamed  themselves  rich  ;  and  in  order 
to  bring  people  to  those  cities  in  embryo  the  system  of  in- 
ternal improvements  was  to  be  carried  out  on  a  grand  scheme. 
The  agitation  became  general  and  the  indiflerence  of  the 
busy  farmer  was  taken  for  tacit  consent.  The  legislature, 
on  the  27th  of  February,  1837,  provided  for  the  building  of 
about  1300  miles  of  railroads,  appropriating  eight  millions 
of  dollars  for  that  purpose,  two  hundred  thousand  of  which 
were  to  be  paid  to  counties  not  reached  by  these  proposed 
railroads  as  an  indemnity.  Two  millions  of  dollais  were 
voted  for  highways  and  river  improvements,  so  as  to  remove 
impediments  to  navigation,  fifty  thousand  of  which  were  to 
be  expended  on  the  Ka^kaskia  river,  and  a  loan  of  four 
millions  was  authorized  to  complete  the  canal  from  Chicago 
to  Peru.  And  as  a  crowning  act  of  folly,  it  was  provided 
that  the  work  should  commence  simultaneously  on  all  the 
proposed  roads  at  each  end  and  from  the  crossings  of  all  the 
rivers. 

No  previous  survey  or  estimate  had  been  made,  either  of 
the  routes,  the  costs  of  the  work,  or  the  amount  of  business  to 
be  done  by  them  The  arguments  in  favor  of  the  system 
were  of  a  character  most  difficult  to  refute,  composed  as  they 
were  partly  of  fact,  but  mostly  of  prediction.  In  this  way 
it  was  proved,  to  general  satisfaction  by  an  ingenious  orator 
in  the  lobby,  that  the  state  could  well  afford  to  borrow  a 
hundred  million  of  dollars,  and  expend  it  in.  making  internal 
improvements.  None  of  the  proposed  railroads  were  ever 
completed  ;  detached  parts  of  them  were  graded  on  every 
road,  the  excavations  and  embankments  of  which  have  long 
remained  as  a  memorial  of  the  blighting  scathe  done  by  this 
legi-lature  A  special  session  of  the  next  legislature,  held 
in  1839,  repealed  the  system  and  provided  for  winding  it  up, 
for  it  had  become  apparent  that  no  more  loans  could  be  ob- 
tained at  par.  Under  this  system  a  state  debt  of  $14,237,- 
348  had  been  created,  to  be  paid  by  a  population  of  less 
than  500,000  souls. 

Randolph  county  was  represented  in  the  legislature  of 
1834—1836  by  Thomas  Mather,  senator,  who  resigned  in 
1835,  to  be  succeeded  by  the  late  Richard  B.  Servant,  aud 
by  Richard  G.  Murphy  and  John  Thompson,  members  of 
the  house,  and  in  1836—1838,  by  said  Servant,  as  senator 
and  James  Shields  and  Samuel  G.  Thompson. 

We  were  unable  to  ascertain,  how  these  gentlemen  voted, 
but  from  the  fact  that  Thomas  Mather  was  soon  after  ap- 
pointed a  member  of  the  board  of  fund  commissioners — 


HISTORY    OF   EAXDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


119 


practical  and  experienced  financiers  to  contract  for  loans,  etc- 
it  raniKit  be  doubted  that  he  voted  aye. 

lu  the  next  legislature,  ISoS  to  1^40,  by  which  the  system 
was  repealed,  the  county  was  represented  by  senator  Servant, 
and  Gabriel  Jones  and  E.  Menard,  members  of  the  house, 
and  there  cannot  be  a  question  about  the  vote  of  those 
gentlemen. 

The  population  of  Randolph  county  was  then  about  7000, 
and  its  proportional  part  of  the  debt  was  fully  200,000  dol- 
lars, and  yet,  the  county  fared  far  better  than  her  sister 
counties,  as  it  was  not  reached  by  the  proposed  routes  and 
consequently  shared  in  the  200,000  dollars  indemnity  fund 
mentioned  herein. 

Xathan  Conant,  Ferdinand  Maxwell,  Thomas  McDill, 
John  C.  Crozier  and  James  Clendenin  were  appointed  com- 
missioners to  view  roads  and  report  where  improvements 
were  most  needed.  This  unexpected  wealth,  placed  at  the 
disposition  of  the  county  authorities,  who  had  struggled  for 
forty  years  to  defray  the  county  expenses  out  of  a  minimum 
of  revenue,  caused  the  inauguration  of  public  improvements 
in  the  county,  such  as  had  never  been  witnessed  before.  21 
substantial  bridges  were  built,  and  thousands  of  dollars  ex- 
pended on  the  improvement  of  public  roads,  and  still  large 
amounts  of  money  remained  in  the  treasury.  An  order  of 
the  county  board,  Wm.  G.  Hizer,  Samuel  Douglas  and 
Harvey  Clendenin,  made  on  the  7th  of  December  1838,  pro- 
vided that  12,000  dollars  of  the  improvement  fund  should  be 
loaned  out,  at  10a  annual  interest,  to  citizens  of  the  county, 
in  sums  of  from  50  to  100  dollars  cash.  141  citizens  of  the 
county  availed  themselves  of  this  opportunity,  and  §10,- 
636.00  were  loaned  out  ere  the  close  of  the  year. 

This  order  was  soon  after  succeeded  by  other  orders,  call- 
ing in  the  money,  as  it  was  needed  for  other  improvements. 
The  records  of  the  county  do  not  contain  any  information 
as  to  the  §50,000  appropriated  for  the  improvement  of  the 
Kaskaskia  river,  but  it  is  to  be  presumed  that  a  part  of  it 
was  exi>ended  for  said  purpose. 

The  balance  of  this  improvement  fund,  amounting  to 
$9,945,  as  per  report  of  April  14th,  1840,  was  reduced  to 
$3,115.42  in  1844,  when  it  was  placed  in  the  county 
treasury  and  used  as  county  revenue. 

The  financial  reports  of  the  county  officials  from  1825  ifo 
1843  were  not  recorded,  but  the  "Kaskaskia  Eepublican  " 
of  December  23d,  1843,  brought  a  lengthy  report  called, 
"  An  abstract  of  the  fiscal  concerns  of  Randolph  county  for 
the  current  year,  commencing  on  the  6lh  day  of  December, 
1842."  We  introduce  here  an  extract  of  said  abstract: 
The  income  of  the  county  was  stated  to  have  been  as 
follows: 

Fines  collected 8     6G.0O 

Licenses  collected I85.UU 

Taxesof  1842  and  hack  taxes  collected 2,828.11 

Improvement  fund  notes  and  interest  collected (j98.2.'i 

83,777.36 

EXPENDtrURES. 

Co.  offices,  stationery  and  fuel,  etc 8     75.r,7 

Courts,  jurors  and  bailiffs 2il8.f.o 

Elections I28..'i() 

Jail  and  inmates 27.!(I 

Officers,  compensation  of -l.fHIi.'JJ 

Paupers H77.4.') 

Roads  and  bridges I,u35.44       $3,402.80 

Balance  in  treasury $374.56 


The  report  further  stated,  that  the  ytar  commencing  on 
the  6th  of  December,  had  opened  with  a  balance  of  SI, 496.- 
47  of  outstanding  county  warrants,  and  that  this  floating 
debt  of  the  county  had  thus  been  reduced  to  §1,148.91. 

The  pauper  expenses  were  stated  too  high,  inasmuch  as 
Stuart  Bilderback  had  in  1842  built  a  poor-house  for  the 
county  at  an  expense  of  §125.00.  This  building  was 
erected  on  west  half  of  the  northeast  fractional  quarter  of 
section  thirteen  in  township  six  south,  range  eight  west 

During  the  period  of  apparent  prosperity  numerous  towns 
had  been  laid  out  and  improved  in  the  county,  and  consid- 
ering the  very  inconvenient  location  of  the  county  seat,  it 
was  but  natural  that  other  and  more  accessible  towns  should 
make  eflbrts  to  become  the  capital  of  the  county.  A  short 
sketch  of  th's  strife  will  be  of  interest  to  the  reader. 


CHANGE  OF  COUNTY  SEAT    FROM  KASKASKIA   TO  CHESTER. 

The  question  of  changing  the  county  seat  to  a  more 
accessible  and  safer  point,  became  general  after  the  great 
flood  of  1844.*  The  Kaskaskians  became  greatly  alarmed, 
and  Parson  Percy  of  the  ''  Republican,"  published  at 
Kaskaskia,  fought  manfully  for  the  old  village.  He  waa 
aided  by  msny  able  correspondents,  whose  communicationg 
are  signed  by  various  noms-du-plume,  "Aristides"  and 
"Sophocles,"  philosophical  and  eloquent  effusions  did  no 
more  execution  than  "Zip's"  flippancies,  or  "Taxpayer's" 
homilies.  "Ecce  Homo's'  pathetic  expectorations  are  also 
in  vain,  while  "Sans  Culotte  "  (Without  Pants)  does  harm 
by  bis  French  impetuousness.  "C\res"  appeals  tearfully 
to  the  readers  in  behalf  of  Kaskaskia.  A  bill  providing 
for  the  selection  of  a  permanent  seat  of  justice,  for  the 
county  of  Randolph,  was  introduced  in  the  General  Assem- 
bly in  January,  1847,  and  became  an  "Act"  by  approval 
of  the  governor,  January  30th,  1847. 

This  Act  was  artfully  worded  and  clearly  designed  to 
abandon  Kaskaskia  as  the  county  seat.  It  provided,  1st, 
that  an  election  should  be  held  on  the  first  Monday  of  April 
1847,  as  between  all  towns  having  aspirations  to  become  or 
remain  the  county  capital ;  2d,  that  if  one  of  the  contending 
towns  should  receive  a  majority  of  all  the  votes  cast  at  taid 
election,  a  second  election  should  be  held  on  the  first  Monday 
of  May,  1847,  to  decide  between  the  three  towns  having 
obtained  the  most  numerous  vote  at  the  first  election ;  and 
3d,  that  in  case  no  absolute  majority  was  obtained,  a  third 
election  should  be  held  on  the  first  Monday  of  June,  1847, 
to  decide  between  the  two  towns  having  received  the  greatest 
number  of  votes  at  the  second  election. 


'Ferdinand  MartceU's  Official  Report  in  rsfcrrncc  to  the  food  of  1844.— This  day, 
June  28th,  A.  D.  1844,  I  have  witnessed  the  whole  of  the  town  of  Kaskaskia 
inundated  by  the  high  water,  some  seven  feet  upon  an  average.  The  whole 
population  of  the  place  removed  over  on  the  hills  or  high  lands  opposite,  and 
a  great  many  took  shelter  at  Col.  Pierre  MenardV  house.  On  Wednesday,  the 
2Clh  of  June,  the  steamboat  Indiana,  Captain  Ludwig,  landed  near  Col.  Men- 
ard's house,  which  may  be  known  by  cin<lers  from  stone  coal  which  was  thrown 
out  at  the  place  where  she  landed,  which  is  southwest  from  the  spring  not 
over  fifty  yards,  and  she  remained  a  few  hours  and  took  away  the  sisters  or 
nuns,  who  were  teaching  a  school  in  the  village  at  the  time  of  the  flood,  to 
St.  Louis.  :^I.iny  houses  were  carried  off  by  the  water;  the  water  commenced 
ri8ing4tbout  the  r2th  of  Juno  an<i  commenced  falling  about  five  o'clock,  P.  M., 
this  28th  day  of  June.    Given  under  my  hand,  F.  Maxwell,  Clerk. 


120 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS 


The  result  of  the  first  election  was  as  follows : 

For  Kaskaskia 3"  ™',f  »• 

For  Chester "'        „ 

For  Sparta *J^ 

For  Evansv.lle 2"        .^ 

For  Centre "J        „ 

For  Geographical  Centre ^ 

Total  vote 1'36. 

It  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  at  the  general  election  of 
1846,  when  Lyman  Trumbull  contested  the  re  election  of 
Robert  Smith  for  member  of  congress,  with  the  utmost  rigor, 
the  county  of  Randolph  had  cast  only  1206  votes  in  all. 
Parsons  Percy  commented  on  this  circumstance  very  se- 
verely. The  second  election  left  Kaskaskia  out  of  the  race, 
and  the  "  Republican  "  now  embraced  the  cause  of  Sparta, 
not  because  it  loved  Sparta  more,  but  because  it  hated 
Chester  more  intensely.  He  is  aided  by  a  correspondent, 
"Old  Kaskaskia,"  who  is  loud  in  his  denunciations  of 
Chester.  "Some  parties  interested  in  the  sale  of  lots,"  says 
'  O.  K.,'  "  have  filed  a  bond  to  donate  S:3,.500  for  the  erec- 
tion of  public  buildings  at  Che.ster."  Three  of  them,  Mather, 
Lamb  and  Opdyke,  are  not  even  residents  of  Chester,  but  of 
New  Orleans  and  Springfield,  and  Mather  was  the  president 
of  the  "  rotten  "  State  Bank  of  Illinois. 

Sparta  was  championed  by  Andrew  B  trders,  R.  G.  Shan- 
non, John  A.  Wilson,  Joseph  Faruan,  William  Roseborough, 
8.  W.  McClurken,  James  A.  Foster,  E.  S.  Peck,  L- 
Murphy  and  J-  C.  Holbrook,  who  had  made  the  solemn 
promise,  signed  and  sealed,  that  they  at  their  own  expense 
would  build  a  substantial  courthouse  40x45  feet,  and  two 
stories  high,  if  Sparta  were  to  be  chosen. 

The  result  of  the  third  election  is  commented  on  by  Percy 
as  follows : 

"The  county-seat  election  came  off"  on  the  7th  of  June, 
1847.  Never  perhaps  in  the  annals  of  history  was  the  elec- 
tive sufi"rage  more  grossly  violated.  Votes  from  an  adjoining 
state  were  freely  taken— boys  and  'persons  of  doubtful 
blood'  were  accepted.  Chester  performed  her  part  with 
much  eclat,  and  Sparta  was  not  much  behind,  if  we  are  cor. 
rectly  informed.  This  game  was  played  off  by  both  of  those 
rival  towns  for  the  purpose  of  breaking  down  Kaskaskia, 
which  they  have  both  been  trying  to  do  for  years  past.  We 
have  no  doubt  that  two-thirds  of  the  voters  of  the  county  are 
dissatisfied  and  would  be,  no  matter  which  of  those  two 
points  were  successful.  So  far  as  we  can  learn  Chester  has 
received  a  majority  of  forty  votes,  but  the  people  of  Sparta 
intend  contesting  the  election. 

Had  the  previous  election  been  conducted  with  fairness, 
Kaskaskia  would  still  remain  the  county-seat,  and  we  think 
it  hard  to  lose  it  by  such  dishonorable  means  as  have  been 
resorted  to.  We  give  below  the  official  returns  of  this  hon- 
orable (?)  election,  and  leave  it  to  the  people  to  make 
what  comments  th°y  please  upon  this  extraordinary  increase 
of  the  population  of  Randolph  county. 

For  Sparta. 

.   .    83  votes 


For  Chester. 

Kaskaskia             120 votes  Kaskaskia.  .  .  . 

Prairie  du  Rocker 52  "  Pi  airie  du  Roche 

Union ,^  "     Union 

Georgetown 113  '  (Georgetown  .   .   . 

Liberty ^^1  ;;  L.herty  ....  . 

Sparta '.■-■.■.'.  '.'.'.'■'■'■'■  _>^  "     Spa"a 

1082  " 


The  next  county  election,  August,  1847,  brought  out  1428 
votes,  from  which  it  is  to  be  iuferred  that  some  60:)  or  more 
illegal  votes  were  polled  at  said  election  of  Juae  7,  1847. 

The  fact  of  accepting  fraudulent  votes  is  admitted  by 
various  citizens  who  witnessed  the  affdir  D.  S.  Lybaiger, 
Esq.,  a  native  of  Kaskaskia,  informed  us  that  the  Spar- 
tans had  been  as  suspicious  of  the  Chesterians,  as  these  of 
those.  Committees  to  reconnoitre  and  to  act  as  challengers 
had  been  sent  from  Chester  to  Sparta,  and  vice  versa.  He, 
(Lybarger),  had  arrived  at  Sparta  on  the  night  before  the 
election,  and  had  noticed  the  arrival  of  numerous  "  visitors" 
from  adjacent  counties.  On  the  morning  of  the  election  the 
Chester  challengers  were  refused  admittance  to  the  poll, 
whereupon  he  was  sent  back  to  Chester  to  report.  He  had 
made  the  trip  in  less  than  one  hour  and  thirty  minutes.  Soon 
after  his  return,  the  S|)artau  challengers  at  Chester  had 
made  their  exit,  through  door  or  window,  "  they  had  not 
been  '  particular,' at  all,  at  all."  During  election  neither 
Leonidas  nor  any  other  Spartan  was  seen  at  Chester,  but 
Joseph  Mattingley's  horse-boat  had  made  many  trips  bring- 
ing in  voters  from  the  other  side.  Flat-boatmen  also  had 
voted  diligently  and  repeatedly,  but  it  was  not  true,  that 
the  good  steamboat  Red  Cloud  had  landed  a  number  of 
passengers  and  her  crew  to  vote,  nor  had  the  boat  itself 
"  voted  for  Chester"  as  the  Spartans  had  charged. 

The  Spartans  made  an  earnest  effort  to  contest  the  ehc- 
tion.  An  investigation  conducted  by  M.  Morrison  before 
three  magistrates,  developed  the  fact,  proved  by  witnesses 
from  Chester  and  Bois  Brule  Bottom,  Mi.ssouri,  that  135  ille- 
gal votes  had  been  polled  at  Chester,  and  that  besides  there 
appeared  on  the  pull  book  70  names,  not  known  to  the  "old- 
est" inhabitants,  also  supposed  to  be  fraudulent.  "  Kaskas- 
kia Republican,"  July  31,  1847. 

The  county  seat  matter  was  finally  disposed  of  by  the 
circuit  court,  November  term  1847,  and  decided  in  favor  of 
Chester,  whereupon  the  county  board  was  convened  by  the 
chairman  in,  as  was  subsequently  charged,  an  illegal  man- 
ner, causing  another  outburst  of  indignation  and  lengthy 
preambles  and  resolutions  passed  in  citizens'  meetings  at 
Kaskaskia  and  Preston. 

The  said  session  of  the  county  board  was  held  in  the  court- 
house at  Kaskaskia,  on  the  2:id  of  November,  1847. 

Present:  Edward  Campbell,  William  McBride  and  James 
Gillespie.  The  following  order  was  then  and  there  passed 
by  a  unanimous  vote,  to  wit: 

Order  in  reference  to  remove  the  public  records  from  Kas- 
kaskia to  Chester. 

"Whereas  the  judge  of  the  circuit  court  of  Randolph 
county  has  decided  that  the  proceedings  had  by  the  president 
and  board  of  trusteeo  of  the  town  of  Sparta,  in  said  county, 
in  the  matter  of  the  county  seat  of  said  county  are  illegal 
and  void  ;  and  whereas,  the  injunction  sued  out  by  said 
president  and  board  of  trustees  of  Sparta  against  the  county 
commissioners  of  said  county  has  been  dissolved  by  his  honor, 
Judge  Koerner,  at  the  late  term  of  our  circuit  court  held  on 
the  15th  inst. :  Therefore  ordered,  that  and  in  pursuance  of  a 
law  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  entitled 
an  act  for  the  location  of  a  permanent  county  seat  for  Ran- 


120A 


COUfiT  HOUSE. 
PUBLIC  BUILDINGS     RANDOLPH   CO  /LL. 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY  COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


121 


dolph  county,  approved  January  30,  1847,  the  records  of 
Rindolph  cjunty  be  forthwith  conveyed  to  the  town  of 
Vhexfer,  the  present  county  seat  of  said  county,  and  that  the 
respective  officers  of  Randolph  county  and  the  clerk  of  the 
court  remove  thereto  and  transact  all  official  business  re- 
quired by  law  to  be  done  at  the  county  seat  at  said  taint  of 
Ch'jifci;  in  the  county  aforesaid." 

The  order  is  signed  by  each  member  individually.  The 
court  then  adjourned  to  the  next  day,  when  William  McBride 
had  the  following  words  entered  on  the  record:  I  want  it 
understood  that  I  was  in  favor  of  not  entering  the  order  for 
removing  the  records  to  Chester  until  our  December  term  of 
our  court. 

William  McBride. 

This  order,  passed  at  a  session  of  the  board  "  irregularly 
called,"  gave  rise  to  outbursts  of  public  clamor.  Indignation 
meetings  were  held  at  Kaskaskia  on  the  10th  of  December, 
presided  over  by  J.  Feaman,  with  8.  St.  Vrain  as  secretary  ; 
at  Preston,  on  the  15th  of  December,  William  Rainey  pre- 
siding, and  at  various  other  places,  in  which  meetings,  reso. 
lutions  were  passed  condemning  the  frauds  perpetrated 
at  Chester,  and  the  "indecent"  haste  of  the  county  commis- 
sioners. 

The  county  election,  August  2d,  1847,  had  been  a  very 
spirited  one,  but  failed  to  bring  out  more  than  1428  voters. 
James  Thompson  was  defeated  by  John  Campbell,  by  a  ma- 
jority of  260  votes;  John  A.  Wilson  defeated  Henry  Bil- 
derback  and  Anthony  Steele  by  a  plurality  of  30  and  28  for 
sheriff.  J.  W.  Gillis,  the  champion  of  Kaskaskia,  was  re- 
elected recorder  over  E.  Walker  and  J.  D.  Spindle.  S.  St. 
Vrain  was  defeated  by  F.  Maxwell  for  county  clerk.  H.  H. 
Baker  defeated  J.  H.  Clendenin,  W.  S.  Hughes,  and  J.  H. 
McCarty  for  treasurer.  Samuel  G.  Thompson  was  elected 
surveyor  by  an  absolute  majority  over  Ignatius  Sprigg,  and 
E.  Leavenworth  and  D   S.  Lybarger  were  chosen  coroners. 

Two  county  officers,  J.  W.  Gillis,  the  recorder,  and  Charles 
D.  Kane,  the  circuit  clerk,  continued  to  hold  forth  at  the 
old  court-house  peremptorily  refusing  to  obey  the  above  order. 

TilE   COUNTY   COURT   AT   CHESTER. 

The  regular  December  term,  1847,  of  the  county  board 
was  held  in  the  school-house  at  Chester,  which  said  house 
was  furnished  as  a  temporary  court-house  by  the  citizens  of 
said  town. 

The  county  board  remonstrated  with  the  disobedient 
county  officials,  and  succeeded  in  getting  the  circuit  clerk  to 
locate  his  office  at  Chester.  The  recorder,  however,  was 
notified  on  the  lltli  of  November,  1848,  that  if  he  failed  to 
remove  his  office  to  Chester  by  the  6th  of  March,  1849,  the 
office  of  recorder  would  be  declared  vacant.  Gillis  was 
ousted  by  this  order,  but  the  people  reinstated  him  by  tri- 
umphantly re-electing  him  to  the  office. 

The  election  for  delegates  to  the  Constitutional  Conven- 
tion 1347-8  resulted  in  the  election  of  Ezekiel  W.  Robbins 
and  Richard  B.  Servant  for  Randolph  county  The  form 
of  county  government  was  changed  under  the  new  constitu- 
tion, which  provided  for  county  courts  to  be  composed  of  a 
judge  and  two  associate  justices  for  each  county.  These 
16 


officers  were  to  be  elected  on  Tuesday  after  the  first  Monday 
of  November,  1849,  and  to  serve  for  a  term  of  four  years. 

The  old  county  board  held  their  last  meeting  on  the  4th 
day  of  December,  A.  D.  1849. 

The  site  of  the  present  court-house  at  Chester  was  selected 
by  the  county  board  on  the  lOih  of  January,  1849.  The 
lots  on  which  it  was  erected  had  been  donated  to  the  county 
by  Seth  Allen.  The  building  was  erected  by  William 
P.  Haskins,  at  the  expense  of  private  individuals. 

William  W.  Taylor  contracted  with  the  county  board  for 
the  building  of  the  old  jail  at  Chester  on  the  16th  January, 
1819.  The  jail  site  was  also  donated  by  Seth  Allen,  but  the 
building  was  paid  for  (-5140)  by  the  county. 

The  valuation  of  taxable  property  in  1849  amounted  to 
81,124,993.  The  tax  levy  was  thirty-five  cents  per  100  — 
aggregating  §3,937.47,  of  which  amount  $244.40  were  re- 
turned "  delinquent." 

The  population  of  the  county  in  1849,  as  stated  in  the 
United  States  census  of  1850,  was  11,079,  the  sixteenth  place 
in  point  of  population.  The  county  tax  per  capita  amounted 
to  only  thirty-five  and  three-fifth  cents,  while,  for  the  current 
year  the  county  tax  amounts  to  83  3G  for  every  man,  woman 
and  child  in  the  county. 

This  population  of  11,000  souls  were  largely  Anglo-Ame- 
ricans, for  although  the  country  of  Illinois  had  been  colonized 
principally  by  French,  the  descendants  of  this  old  stock  had  by 
that  time  gradually  disappeared,  and  their  number  was  actu- 
ally less  than  French  colonists  of  the  county  were  estimated 
to  have  been  in  1703.  The  chapter  on  pioneers  mentions  a  num- 
ber of  Europeans,  principally  natives  of  Ireland,  who  sought 
and  found  homes  in  the  county  in  the  very  first  years  of  the 
present  century.  Among  these  early  arrivals  we  merely 
mention  James  Patterson,  and  his  four  sons  John,  Samuel, 
Reuben  and  Jaraes,  Robert  Huggins,  John  McClinton,  David 
and  James  Anderson,  Adam  Hill,  Absalom  Cox,  James  and 
Archibald  Thompson,  William  McBride,  Robert  McDonald, 
Joseph  and  John  Lively,  George  Wilson,  Samuel  Crozier, 
R)b3rt  Foster,  John  Anderson,  A.  M.  Henderson,  William 
Nelson,  and  others.  The  reader  has  met  many  of  these 
names  among  the  leading  citizens  and  county  officials.  The 
German  nationality  now  forming  a  large  part  of  the  popu- 
lation was  scarcely  represented  in  the  territorial  times  of  the 
county.  About  the  year  1817  we  fiund  two  Germans  as 
re5i<lents  of  Kaskaskia,  to  wit :  Ferdinand  linger,  a  tailor, 
and  Heinrich  Resinger,  a  cabinet  maker.  The  actual  German 
immigration  began  about  the  year  1830,  when  Gustav  Pape 
arrived,  soon  followed  by  Caspar  iVnton  Pape,  Franz 
Schwarz,  Anton  Tilman,  Adam  Huth,  the  Wehrheims,  Die- 
derich  Moehrs,  Charles  Schribner,  Andreas  and  John 
Schoeppel  ;  between  the  years  1840  and  18.50  arrived  John 
Selteger,  -Jacob  Zang,  Charles  Reinhart,  the  Rauchs,  Wil- 
liam Schuchert,  J.  G  Middendorf,  John  Stoehr,  J.  H.  Meyer^ 
Christopher  Gatelman,  Paul  Pautler,  Louis  and  Diederich 
Liefer,  J.  H.  iMckelman,  Daniel  Gerlach,  (somewhat  later) 
J.  F.  Hornberger,  August  Begemann,  Henry,  William  and 
Fred.  Ebers,  J.  F.  Knop,  D.  Bickenberg,  H.  W^elge,  William 
Rurede,  J.  H.  Thies,  Fred.  Draves,  Julius  Schrader,  Henry 
and  Frederick  Sternberg,  Diederich    Heitmann,  Heinrich 


122 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


Knoche,  Lnuis  Meyer,  Henry  Schnoeker,  Henry  Bode, 
Frederick  Brinkman,  Herman  Decker,  Henry  Hartmann, 
H.  R.  StoUe,  Philip  Schoen,  Jacob  Gillenburg,  F.  C.  Peters 
and  others.  The  revolutionary  times  during  the  years  1848 
and  1819  caused  a  large  emigration  in  some  of  the  German 
States,  and  the  arrivals  became  so  numerous,  that  a  recital 
would  fill  many  pages.  The  bulk  of  this  German  immigration 
chose  farming  as  their  occupation,  in  which  pursuit  they 
have  met  with  astonishing  success.  Others,  principally 
mechanics,  settled  in  the  towns  and  villages,  many  engaged 
in  merchandizing,  while  not  a  few  devoted  themselves  to 
keeping  of  hotels  and  refreshment  shops.  A  few  of  these 
early  German  settlers  and  many  of  their  descendants  have 
occupied  responsible  and  important  offices  of  the  county. 
The  census  of  1860  found  fully  one-fifth  of  the  population  of 
the  county  of  foreign  birth. 

We  return  to  the  recital  of  county  affairs  after  the  adop- 
tion of  the  constitution  of  1848. 

The  election  of  November,  1849,  entrusted  the  affairs  of 
the  county  to  the  first  county  court,  to  wit : 

John  Campbell,  county  judge, 

Benbow  Bailey  and  John  Braser,  associate  justices. 

1849  TO  1853. 
This  court  held  iU  first  term  on  the  17th  of  December^ 
1849.  John  W.  Gillis,  county  clerk,  John  A.  Wilson, 
sheriff.  The  new  court-house  was  completed  duriug  their 
administration.  On  June  20,  1850,  appeared  in  open  court 
Thomas  Mather,  James  L.  Lamb,  Stacy  B.  Opdyke,  A 
Andrews,  Francis  Swanwick,  Seth  Allen,  Adolph  Blacky 
A.  Perkins,  Joseph  B.  Holmes,  Joseph  AVilliamson,  Judson 
Clement,  John  Swanwick,  Marmaduke  E.  Ferris,  Joseph  B. 
Mattingley,  James  R.  Dunn,  and  Charles  Song,  who  on  the 
4th  of  June,  1847,  had  entered  into  bond  to  build  a  suitable 
court  house  at  Chester,  at  the  expense  of  the  citizens  of  said 
town,  and  presented  to  the  county  court  said  court  house  for 
said  county  to  use  forever,  as  their  own  property  in  fee  with- 
out charge  or  rent,  and  free  from  all  lien  or  incumbrance 
whatsoever. 

Whereupon  the  court  accepted  the  tender  of  said  court 
house  and  considered  that  said  bond  had  been  fully  dis- 
charged, and  tendered  the  thanks  of  the  county  to  said 
donors  for  the  gift  nf  said  court  house. 

The  court  house  was  furnished  at  the  expense  of  the 
county,  and  first  occupied  on  the  2d  of  September,  1850. 

The  affairs  of  the  county  during  the  decade  of  1850  to 
1860  were  conducted  by  this  court  and  their  successors  in 
an  economical  and  satisfactory  manner.  The  valuation  of 
the  property  increased  perceptibly,  and  amounted  in  1860 
to  $2,963,000.  The  taxes  for  county  purposes  in  that  year 
amounted  to  $10,371.56,  of  which,  however,  $1052.27  re- 
mained unpaid.  Tax  dodging  had  commenced,  and  con- 
tinued until  it  grew  to  be  a  dangerous  evil.  The  county 
authorities  resorted  to  a  most  pernicious  practice,  to  wit, 
drawing  warrants  on  a  depleted  treasury,  and,  what  was 
worse,  made  those  warrants  10  per  cent,  interest-bearing 
paper.  The  example  given  by  the  Federal  Government 
during  the  war,  in  creating  an  immense  debt  at  the  very 


shortest  notice,  proved  contagious.  The  authorities  of  the 
county  found  themselves  coerced  to  have  a  special  act  passed 
by  the  legislature,  permitting  them  to  issue  bonds,  in  order 
to  procure  the  means  of  managing  a  heavy  floating  debt, 
June  5,  1865.  A  bridge  across  Mary's  river  had  been  paid 
for  in  such  orders,  amounting  in  the  aggregate  to  nearly 
$9,000,  and  yet  the  usual  tax  levy  of  ^5  cents  per  $HIO 
was  not  increased.  In  J864  the  court  authorized  H.  C.  Cole 
to  erect  a  fire-proof  building,  22  feet  by  48  feet,  for  clerks' 
oflaces,  promising  him  10  per  cent,  on  all  moneys  advanced 
by  him,  and  a  suitable  compensation  for  superintending  the 
work  Bonds  amounting  to  $17,000  were  issued  June,  1865, 
and  $10,000  more  in  March,  1866,  to  pay  the  purchase  price 
of  the  Gordon  farm,  bought  fur  the  purpose  of  making  it  a 
poor- farm,  and  in  November,  1866,  the  citizens  of  the  county 
voted  in  favor  of  having  $100,000  of  8  per  cent,  bonds 
issued  in  aid  of  the  construction  of  a  railroad. 

This  railroad  debt  gave  rise  to  much  complaint,  leading 
to  tedious  and  expensive  litigations,  which  terminated  in 
favor  of  the  bondholders. 

Since  1874  the  county  has  been  governed  by  a  board  of 
county  commissioners,  who  have  succeeded  in  bringing  the 
finances  of  the  county  into  shajjc. 

A  statement  of  the  financial  condition  of  the  county  in 
1882  is  introduced  here,  followed  by  a  detailed  exhibit  of 
the  taxable  property  of  the  county  and  its  value,  from  which 
the  reader  will  perceive  that  the  net  debt  of  the  county  is 
less  than  4  per  cent,  of  its  assessed  value.  It  is  also  well 
understood  that  the  real  value  of  the  taxable  property  of  the 
county  is  nearly  four  times  as  great  as  the  assessed  value, 
and  that  the  county  indebtedness  therefore  does  not  amount 
to  more  than  1  per  cent.-of  the  property  in  the  county.  The 
tax  levy  of  1882  is  high,  but  the  amount  to  be  collected 
will  reduce  the  county  debt  to  about  $10O,U0O,  the  principal  of 
the  railroad  debt  contracted  in  that  evil  hour  of  November, 
1866. 

The  value  of  the  public  buildings,  not  reckoning  the 
court  house,  which  is  a  donation,  the  substantial  clerks' 
offices,  the  expensive  new  jail,  the  poor  farm  and  its  im- 
provements, is  fully  adequate  to  the  amount  of  the  debt, 
less  railroad  bonds. 

Preceding  the  assessment  of  1882  we  insert  an  extract  of 
the  assessment  of  1  62,  in  order  to  show  how  rapidly  values 
change,  leaving  it  to  the  readers  to  draw  their  lines  of  com- 
parison. Just  think  of  it!  21  piano-fortes  in  18o2,  and  378 
pianofortes  and  melodeons  in  1882  ! ! 

FINANCIAL   CONDITION    OF    THE    COUNTY,  SEPT.    1,    1882. 


Bonds  issued  Sept.  8, 1870,  due  in  1885 813,000.00 

Bonds  issued  May,  1878,  due  1808 40,000.00 

Judgment  in  Uni  ed  States  court,  including  principal  of  Tamaroa 

R.  R.  bond  and  coupons 108,000.00 

Outstanding  county  orders 833.59 

Jury  warrants 07. 80 

Total 8161,901.^9 

ASSETS. 

Balance  in  treasury 80,835.00 

Taxes  of  18S1,  collected  and  in  hands  of  collector 4,745.70 

11,580.70 

Debt,  less  assets 8150,320.139 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


12:5 


The  county  authorities,  at  the  November  term,  1882,  or- 
dert d  the  following  tax  levies  to  be  made,  to  wit : 

For  general  onimty  purposes,  per  SlOrt S  -GO 

For  ro:uls,  per  51lKi 15 

For  part  pay  of  judgments,  per  $1U0 1-25 

Total Si.0O 

All  county  bonds,  with  the  exception  of  $13,000,  are  re- 
gistered with  the  auditor  of  the  State,  who  levies  a  special  tax 
to  meet  the  payment  of  interest. 

ASSKSSHF.NT 

7,449  horses,  rained  at $249,441 

14,472  cattle 97,46« 

bii  mules 18,2«9 

C,a»5  sheep C,2.",7 

21,7(!9  hogs 20,79J 

2  305  wagons  and  carriages....  61,825 

2,W2  clocks  and  watches 9,171 

21  piano-fortes 2,:)<>4 

Goods  and  nierchandi^ie 91,'i95 

Capital  stock 5,505           Total $2,866,3:17 

The  taxes  for  that  year  were  for 

state  purposes 812,970.% 

County  purposes 10.088.06 

Special  school  purposes 8.841.08 

Total 511,899.50 

The  delinquent  taxes  of  1861  and  prior  years  amounted 
then  to  $3,857.57. 

TAX    VALUES   OF    RANDOLPH    COUXTY    1882. 


18C2. 

M.inufactnred  articles. 7,023 

Moneys  and  credit" 119,8:12 

.\ll  otlier  personal  property...  122,707 

Total 5812,5)17 

Lands  (83,000  acres  in  culti- 
vation)   1,010  370 

Lots 43-,H80 


PERSOVU.  PKOPEBTY 

Valufd  (it 
i ,218  horses $25.32".^  each $137,474 


8,.'>37  cattle 

2,123  mules Xi-UX 

7,810  sheep 1.021 

I.5,:i32  ho;ss 91 

67  steam-engines..  217.G4 
55  fire-proof  safes™   36.90 

21  billiards 31.66?^ 

3,790  car.  &  wagons    12..55J4 
4,235  watc.  i  clocks     2.27 
2,319  seir.  machines    5.90 

145  pianofortes S0..*i3 

231melodeons. 18.27 

3  franchises 91.CCJJ 

2  annui.  *  royalties  .307.00 
9  steamb.  &  vessels  22G.(H;% 
Merchandise  on  hand 


61,404 

7(1,.%tO 

8,017 

13,935 

14,382 

2,029 

005 

47,588 

9,024 

14,007 

7,327 

4,257 

275 

734 


Material  &  manufact  articles 

Manufacturers'  tool8,etc 

Agricultural  tools 

Gold  aud  silver  plate 

Diamonds  and  jewelry 

Moneys  of  banks. 

Credits  of  banks 

Moneys  of  other  than  banks 
Credits  of  other  than  banks 

Bonds  and  stocks 

Shares  of  capital  stock,  etc... 

Property  of  saloons 

Household  furniture 

Investments  in  real  estate  ... 
All  otner  personal  property.. 


831,307 
7,214 
6G,()9G 


.51,038 
250,.58o 
15,402 
60 
3,193 
94,030 
3,630 
31,496 


Total  personal  property..  81,119,105 
LANDS  ASD  vm. 

188,973  acres,  improved,  »t  89.83  4-5 $1,8.59,251 

103,413  acres,  unimproved,  at  $3.09 504,772 

6,750  lots 646,547 

BAILROAK   PROPERTT. 

Wabash,  Chester  and  Western 862,703 

Alton  and  Terre  Haute 44,213 

Cairo  and  St.  Louis 74,057 


Total 84,310,708 

These  tax  valuations  appear  to  represent  not  more  than 
one-fourth  of  the  fair  cash  value,  and  it  is  safe  to  state  that 
the  property  enumerated  above  is  worth  fully  sixteen  mil- 
lions of  dollars. 

The  agricultural  statistics  of  Randolph  county  set  forth 
that  in  1881 


I  produced 130,054  bushels  of  < 


803,008 

2,148 

172,900 

"        293 

"        2,282 

"        37,837 

1,852 

of  orchard  produced 38,900 

"  ■•         193 

••  "         _  40 


wheat, 
spring  wheat. 

rye. 

barley. 

Irish  potatoes. 

sweet  potatoes. 

apples. 

peaches. 

pears. 


2«acr 

es  of  vineyards  prod'd  

782  gallons  of  wine. 

5.181      ■ 

of  meadow         "         

4,649  tons  of  timothy  hay 

3,922       ' 

of  clover             "         

.     3,318  tons  of  clover  hay. 

12,117       ' 

were  pastured. 

G.5,719       ' 

are  woodland. 

9,019       ' 

are  uncultivated,  and 

9M  ■ 

are  laid  out  in  city  and  town  lots. 

357  horse?,  valued  at  817,819,  died  during  the  vear,  and 
430  colts  were  foaled.  Fat  cattle,  weighing  1,295,516  pounds, 
were  sold,  and  214,  representing  a  value  of  -53,594,  died  of 
disease.  3,985  cows  furnished  the  people  of  Randolph  with 
milk,  etc.  ;  and  the  report  further  states  that  80,079  pounds 
of  butter,  5,221  of  cheese  and  085  gallons  of  milk  were  sold 
during  the  year.  470  sheep,  worth  *1,4G0,  were  killed  by 
dogs,  and  554,  worth  81,826,  died  of  disease.  (It  is  remark- 
able that  this  class  of  sheep  is  so  valuable.  The  average 
value  given  in  by  the  assessor  is  81.02  3-5,  while  the  sheep 
killed  by  dogs  are  valued  at  three  times  the  amount.)  The 
wool  clipped  it  reported  to  have  weighed  47,928  pounds  and 
valued  at  8 10,54.3 — about  82,000  more  than  the  sheep  were 
assessed  at;  besides  there  were  3,912  sheep,  weighing 
361,525  pounds,  sold,  bringing  about  815.001)  more.  2,949 
fat  hogs,  weighing  535  990  pounds,  were  sold  ;  2,149,  weigh- 
ing 157,463  pounds,  died  of  hog  cholera,  and  501,  weighing 
34,271  pounds,  died  of  other  diseases.  547  hives  of  bees 
produced  1,506  pounds  of  honey.  900  feet  of  drain  tile  was 
laid  in  1881. 

EX>r.\ruTC0E5  or  rivdoli'ii  coistv  in  1SS2. 

Assessment,  cost  of $1,909.25 

County  jail  and  ^-risoners 2,441.05 

Courts  and  bailitTs 3,073.*! 

County  officers 0,15K.30 

Court  house— fuel,  ice.  insurance 421.51 

Court  offices,  printing  and  stationery 1,313.25 

Elections 848.00 

Paupers— in  poor  house 84,149.47 

outside  of 2,748.77 

"  in  State  institutions 541.03 

"         inquests 131jn 

•'  new  building 4,',i.54,0O    S12,.'i25.23 

nd  bridges 7,021  79 


Roads 
Sundries  . 


316.98 


Total 830,709.36 

Deducting  the  cost  of  the  new  building  on  the  poorf:um,  to  wil,  81,95 1.0:"i  from 
*he  above  amount,  it  would  appear  that  the  regular  county  e.xpenditure8 

amounted  to $31,755.30 

To  which  add  interest  on  8n,000  bonds I,3ii0.0<) 

jntcrest  on  $40,000  bonds  at  7  per  cent 2,800.03 

Interest  on  100,000  R.  R.  bonds  at  8  per  cent 8,000.00 

SH.&53.30 

"We  failed  to  obtain  the  United  States  Census  Re- 
ports of  1880  before  concluding  this  chapter,  in  order 
to  add  statistics  of  public  interest  and  permanent  value. 
These  reports  are  however,  not  ready,  and  may  not  be  com- 
pleted for  some  time  From  the  lists  filed  by  the  enumerators 
in  the  clerk's  office,  we  glean  the  following  in  reference  to 
the  population  of  the  various  precincts  of  the  county  : 

1.  Baldwin— TovB,  271;  ouLside,  1280:  total 15.57 

2.  Bremen.— Toul 'M 

3-4.  Blair  and  Central— Tota\ I0.5O 

5.  BrcwtrviUe.—Tot&\ 546 

6.  Chester  —Town,  2525 ;  rural,  1995 ;  total 4520 

7-8.  CouUervilU  and  7\Uen.— Total 2004 

9.  JEiiinfi>i«e.— Total "01 

10.  Florenee.—Tota\ 701 

11.  A'a.toM*ia.— Total  population 1150 

12.  Prairie  du  Roeher— Total 111« 

13.  Red  Bu</.— Total 2595 


124 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


U.    Jfociiocorf.— Town,  231 ;  rural,  989  ;  total 1211 

15.  Buma.— Total 8*3 

16.  tparta—rovn  of  17f6  ;  Eden,  201  ;  rural,  1421  ;  total 3408 

17.  StoteMi»».— Town  of  Steelesville,  440;  rural,  1059 1499 

18.  W'iim  iffc'i.— Total 881 

Total  of  county 26,479 

In  a  preadiug  part  of  this  chaiter  we  have  iutro- 
duced  the  names  of  citizens  of  Randolph  county,  who  repre- 
senttd  it  in  the  territorial  legislatures.  A  similar  statement 
in  reference  to  the  representatives  of  the  county  in  the  con- 
stitutional conveutiocs,  the  various  general  assemblies,  State 
offices  and  United  States  congresses  is  here  appended. 

Randolph  county  as  represented  in  the  conMutional  con- 
ventions of  Illinois.  1818,  George  Fisher  and  Elias  Kent 
Kane  ;  1847,  Ezekiel  W.  Robbing  and  R.  B.  Servant ;  1862, 
Daniel  Reily  ;  1870,  J.  H.  Wilson  and  G.  W.  Wall. 

Randolph  county  was  represented  in  the  General 
Assembly  of  the  State  as  follows  : 

1818  to  1820— John  McFerron,  Senator;  Edward 
Humphreys,  Samuel  Walker,  Representatives. 

1820  to  1822— Samuel  Crozier,  Senator;  Thomas  Mather, 
Raphael  Widen,  Representatives. 

1822  to  1824.— Samuel  Crozier,  Senator  ;  Thomas  Mather, 
Raphael  Widen,  John  Mc/Ferron,  Representatives. 

1824  to  18i6— Raphael  Widen,  Senator  ;  Elias  K.  Kane, 
resigned  in  1825,  Gabriel  Jones,  elected  to  fill  vacancy 
Thomas  Mather,  Speaker  of  the  House,  resigned  1825^ 
Samuel  Smith,  elected  to  fill  vacancy,  Representatives. 

1826  to  1828— Raphael  Widen,  Senator;  John  Lacy. 
Thomas  Reynolds,  Representatives. 

1828  to  1830.  Samuel  Crawford,  Senator  for  Randolph 
and  Perry;  Thomas  Mather,  Hypolite  Menard,  Repre- 
sentatives. 

1830  to  1832— Samuel  Ciawford,  Senator  for  Randolph 
and  Perry;  John  Atkins,  Thomas  J.  V.  Owen,  Repre- 
sentatives for  Randolph  and  Perry. 

1832  to  1834— Thomas  Mather,  Senator  for  Randolph  and 
Perry  ;  David  Baldridge.  Richard  G.  Murphy,  Representa- 
tives for  Randolph  and  Perry. 

1834  to  1836— Thomas  Mather,  resigned  in  1825  and  was 
succeeded  by  Richard  B.  Servant,  Senator  as  above  ;  Rich- 
ard G.  Murphy,  John  Thompson,  Representatives. 

1836  to  1838- Richard  B.  Servant,  Senator,  Randolph 
alone  ;  James  Shields,  Saml.  G.  Thompson,  Representatives. 
1838  to  1840— Richard    B.    Servant,   Senator  ;  Gabriel 
Jones,  Edward  Menard,  Representatives. 

1840  to  1842 — Jacob  Feaman,  Senator;  James  Mc- 
Clurken,  John  P.  McGiinis,  Representatives. 

1842  to  1844 — Jacob  Feaman,  Senator;  Jacob  J.  Danner^ 
Andrew  J.  Dickinson,  William  McBride,  Representatives 
for  Randolph  and  Monroe. 

1844  to  1846  — Joseph  Morrison,  Senator  ;  E.  Adaras,  E. 
W.  Robbins,  John  D.  Whiteside,  Representatives  for  Ran- 
dolph and  Monroe. 

1846  to  1848— Joseph  Morrison,  Senator;  Robert  Mann, 
John  Morrison,  Edward  Omelveny,  Representatives. 

1848  to  1850— Hawkins  S.  Osburn,  of  Perry,  Senator 
Fourth  District ;  Samuel  H.  Guthrie,  Representative. 


1850  to  1852— H.  S.  Osburn,  Senator,  John  E.  Deitrich, 
Representative. 

1852  to  1854— John  E.  Deitrich,  Senator,  Joseph 
Williamson,  Representative. 

1854  to  1856— John  E.  Deitrich,  Senator,  Twenty-fourth 
District — Randolph,  Washington,  Clinton,  Perry  and 
Jackson  counties  ;  James  C.  Holbrook,  Representative,  Sixth 
District,  composed  of  Randolph  county. 

185G  to  1858— E.  C.  Coffey,  of  Washington,  Senator 
Twenty-fourth  Distiict;  James  H.  Watt,  Representative 
Sixth  District. 

18o8  to  i860— E.  C  Coffey,  Senator  as  above  ;  John  E. 
Deitrich,  Representative  as  above. 

1860  to  1862— James  M.  Rodgers,  of  Clinton,  Senator  as 
above  ;  Edmund  Faherty,  Representative. 

1862  to  1864 — Israel  Blanchard,  of  Jackson,  Senator  of 
Third  District,  composed  of  Randolph,  Williamson, 
Franklin,  JacksoB,  Jefferson  and  Monroe;  Stephen  W. 
]Miles,  of  Monroe,  Edward  Menard,  Representatives  Eighth 
District,  composed  of  Randolph,  Perry  and  Monroe. 

1864  to  1866— Daniel  Reily,  of  Kaskaskia,  Senator  Third 
District ;  W.  K.  Murphy,  of  Perry,  Austin  James,  of 
Monroe,  Representatives  Eighth  District. 

1866  to  1868— Daniel  Reily,  Senator  as  above  ;  W.  K. 
Murphy,  John  Campbell,  Representatives  as  above. 

1868  to  1870 — Samuel  K.  Casey,  of  Jefferson,  Senator  as 
above;  John  M.  McCutcheon,  Thomas  H.  Burgess,  Repre- 
sentatives. 

1870  to  1872— Samuel  K  Casey,  died  during  term,  and 
was  succeeded  by  W.  B.  Anderson,  of  Jtfferson,  James  M. 
Washburn,  Senators  Third  District;  James  M.  Ralls, 
Daniel  R.  McMasters,  Representatives. 

1872  to  1874— W.  K.  Murphy,  Senator,  Forty-eighth 
District ;  John  W.  Pratt,  William  Neville,  Austin  James, 
Representatives  Forty-eighth  District. 

1874  to  1876— W.  K.  Murphy,  Senator;  Joseph- W. 
Rickert,  Samuel  McKee,  Jonathan  Chestnutwood,  Repre- 
sentatives. 

1876  to  1878 — Ambrose  Keener,  Senatoir;  TheophilusT. 
Fountain,  John   Boyd,  Septimus  P.  Mace,  Representatives. 

1878  to  1880— Ambrose  Hoener,  Senator ;  John  T.  Mc- 
Bride, John  R.  McFie,  Philip  C.  C.  Provart,  Representa- 
tives. 

1880  to  1882 — Lewis  Ihorn,  Senator;  Isaac  M.  Kelly, 
W   K.  Murphy,  Austin  James,  Representatives. 

1882  to  1881 — Lewis  Ihorn,  Senator;  John  R.  McFie, 
James  T.  Cannitf,  John  Higgius,  Representatives. 

RANDOLPH     COUNTY     AS    REPRESENTED    IN    STATE    OFFICES. 

Shadrach  Bond,  first  Governor  of  the  state  of  Illinois,  in- 
augurated Oct.  6,  1818. 

*  Shadrach  Bond  is  claimed  as  a  citizen  by  Randolph  county,  Monroe  county 
and  St.  Clair  county,  and,seems  to  have  been  .1  resident  of  the  latter  at  the  time 
of  his  election.  Shadrach  Bond,  a  nephew  of  Shadrach  Bond,  sen,,  who  is  men- 
tioned more  conspicuously  in  our  chapter  on  Pioneers,  was  a  native  of  Maryland 
and  arrived  in  Kaskaskia  about  the  year  1794.  Prior  10  his  election  as  governor  he 
h.id  represented  his  district  in  the  territorial  legislature  and  the  territory  as  a 
delegate  to  congress.  He  was  at  the  e.xpirali'on  of  his  term  of  ofBce  appointed 
Register  of  the  Land  office  at  Kaskaskia,  and  continued  in  that  position 
many  years.    He  died  in  1830,  Ihe  lamented  and  favorite  statesman  of  Illinois 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY  COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


l-2o 


Pierre  Menard,  Lieutenant  Governor  from  1818  to  1822. 

Elias  Kent  Kane,*  Secretary  of  State,  from  October  6th, 
1818  to  December  10th,  1822,  when  he  resigued. 

James  Shields,t  Auditor  of  Public  accounts,  March  4lh, 
1841   to  1843. 

Thomas  H.  Campbell  was  auditor  of  public  accounts  from 
March  2Gth,  1>46,  to  Jatuary  12th,  1857. 

Daniel  P.  Cook,  the  famous  jurisprudent  of  Kandolph 
county,  Illinois,  occupied  the  office  of  Altornfy  General 
ju&t  long  enough  to  write  out  his  resignation.  He  qualified 
on  the  5.  of  March.  1819,  and  then  resigned  on  the  same  day. 

Wm.  Ale.\auder  was  Adjutant  General  from  April  24, 
1819,  to  June  11,  1821. 

RANDOLPH   COUNTY  IN  THE   CONSTITUTIONAL   CONVENTIONS 
OF    ILLINOIS. 

1818.     George  Fisher  and  Elias  Kent  Kane. 

1848.     Ezekiel  W.  Robbins  and  Richard  B.  Servant. 

1862.     Daniel  Reily. 

1870.  J.  H.  Wilson  and  George  W.  Wall  for  the  Eighth 
dbtrict,  composed  of  the  counties  of  Monroe,  Randolph  and 
Perry. 

RANDOLPH     COU.NTY     IN     THE    CONGRESS    OF    THE     UNITED 
STATES    SENATE. 

INinian  Edwards,  from  1818  to  1819,  and  from  1819  to 
1824,  ivhen  he  resigned. 

§  Jesse  B.  Thomas,  from  1818  to  182'J,  two  couseculive 
terms. 

His  remains  wore  removed  from  the  old  liomej^tead  to  Everproen  cemetery  in 
Chester  t.y  B.  N.  Bond  only  surviving  son  of  ilic  governor  m  November  1870. 
The  state  of  Illinois  is  now  ereeting  a  monument  over  the  tomb  of  her  6rst 
governor. 

B.  N.  Bond,  .M.  P.,  is  now  a  resident  of  Staubery,  Gentry  county,  Jlissouri. 

*  E.  K.  K.ine  had  commenced  the  practice  of  law  in  Kaskaskianbout  the  ye.ar 
1814.  A  man  of  brilliant  talents  lie  rose  toa  position  among  tlie  memliers  of  the 
bar.  As  member  of  the  first  .tate  convention  of  Illinois  he  is  nienti<ined  "ith 
commendation  :isa  leading  spirit  and  as  largely  stamping  the  constitution  with 
its  many  exeellenei.  s.  He  was  a  memtier  of  the  t  ouse  of  reprcentalives  of  the 
4th  general  a.ssembly  of  ll.inois,  1SJ4  to  IKC.  He  resigned  this  posit  on,  as  this 
very  assembly  elected  him  to  the  senate  of  the  United  .States,  .lanuary  182.5. 
He  was  Te-e.ectt  d  in  1631,  but  died  before  expiration  of  his  second  term,  Dec. 
12th,  ISIo,  yet  in  the  prime  of  life. 

t  James  Shields,  an  Irisliman  by  birth,  commenced  his  career  by  teacliing 
school  at  Kaskaskia,  afterwards  studying  law.  He  represented  Randolph 
county  in  the  legislature,  was  judge  of  the  circuit  court,  and  served  with  di. 
stinction  during  the  Mexican  war  as  brigadier  general  of  tlie  Illinois  volun, 
teers.  After  his  return  from  the  field,  his  grateful  fellow  citiz  ns  elected  him 
to  the  United  States  senate  from  1849tolSoJ,  as  successor  of  Sidney  Breese.  The 
senator  subsequently  emigrated  to  Minnesota,  and  represented  this  new  state 
also  in  the  U.  S.  senate,  as  also  the  state  of  Missouri  for  a  fractional  term.  Gen, 
Shields  died  a  few  years  ago  in  retirement. 

I  Ninian  Edwards  was  born  in  Montgom  cry  county,  Maryland,  in  1775,  studied 
lawat  Carlisle,  Pa,,  but  before  finishing  his  studies  he  removed  to  Kentucky 
where  he  spent  a  few  years  in  various  e.xcesses  and  extravagances.  Sub! 
Bequently  he  broke  from  his  dissulute  companions,  and  took  up  his  studies  with 
renewed  zeal  and  energy,  and  rose  to  a  most  distinguished  position  as  juris- 
prudent, and  was  occupying  the  office  of  chief  justice  tf  the  t'ourt  of  .\ppeals 
of  Kentucky,  when  April  24, 18(,9,  President  Madison  appointed  him  Governor 
of  the  newly  organized  territory  of  Illinois,  as  per  act  of  Congress,  approved 
February  .1, 18()9.  Ninian  Edwai  ds  remained  Governor  of  Illinois  until  the  State 
organization  took  effect  October  l'.,  1818.  He  was  a  resident  of  I\.-\skaskia  at  the 
time  of  his  election  to  the  Senate,  but  soon  after  took  up  his  residence  at 
Edwardsviile  in  Madison  county,  thus  ceasing  to  be  a  citizen  of  liandolph. 

gjesse  B.  Thomas,  when  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives  of  the 
territory  of  Indiana,  of  which  Illinois  then  formed  a  part,  entered  into  an  agree- 
ment with  the  leading  men  of  the  Illinois  part  to  use  his  inflitence  in  bringing 
about  a  separate  territorial  organization  of  Illinois  on  the  conditions  that  he 
should  first  be  elected  delegate  to  Congress.  The  Illinois  members,  with  a  due 
appreciatioti  of  the  promises  of  politicians,  even  at  that  early  day,  required  of 
Thomas,  before  they  would  vote  for  him,  to  support  his  pledges  by  his  bond, 
conditioned  that  he  would  procure  from  Congress  a  division,  whereupon  he 


Elias  Kent  Kane,  from  1825  to  1835,  December  12,  the 
date  of  his  death. 

David  J.  Baker,  from  November  12,  1830,  to  December 
11, 1830,  appointed  by  Governor  Edsvards  to  succeed  Judge 
John  McLean,  deceased. 

HOUSE    OF    REPRESENTATIVES. 

Daniel  P.  Cook  of  Kaskaskia  was  the  first  Representative 
of  Congress  from  the  State,  taking  his  seat  at  the  second  ses- 
sion of  *^  loth  Congress.  He  contiuued  to  represent  the 
State  during  the  16th,  17th,  IStli  and  19th  Congresses,  a 
period  of  nearly  nine  years,  being  from  December  1818  until 
March  1827.  Xo  other  from  Randolph  county  has  graced 
the  hall  of  Representatives  as  a  member  since  the  day  when 
D.  P.  Cook  retired  from  his  seat. 

Addenda. — County    Officers  of   Randolph   County, 
1779  to  1883. 

A(lministratii-e  Officrrs. — Colonel  John  Todd,  county  lieu- 
tenant, from  1779  to  1782.  Timothy  De  Moutbrun,  county 
lieutenant,  from  1782  to  1784.  John  Edgar  and  J.  B. 
Barbeau,  judges,  from  1790  to  1795. 

John  Edgar,  William  Morrison,  Pierre  Menard,  Robert 
McMahan,  George  Fisher,  Jvhn  Beaird,  Robert  Reynolds, 
Nathaniel  Hull,  Antoine  Louvier,  John  Grosvenor,  James 
Finney,  and  Samuel  Cochran,  United  States  justices  and 
members  of  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  from  179.')  to  1803. 

Paul  Harralsoii,  Robert  Morrison,  James  Gilbreath,  Pierre 
Menard,  Creorge  Fisher,  and  James  Finney,  county  commis- 
sioners, from  1803  to  1809. 

Philip  Fouke,  William  Arui.del,  Henry  Levens,  Pierre 
Le  Conipte,  Paul  Harralsoii,  David  Anderson,  Jean  B.  Bar- 
beau,  Robert  Gaston,  Archibald  Thom|isoii,  John  Guiihing, 
John  Edgar,  James  McRoberts,  John  McFtrroii,  John 
Bradshaw,  Samuel  Omelveiiy,  George  Robinson,  (ieorge 
Hacker,  James  Lemon,  Thomas  Ferguson,  Haniltt  Ferguson^ 
John  Phelps,  and  Marvin  Fuller,  justices,  members  of 
county  court,  from  1809  to  1819. 

Curtis  Conn,  David  Anderson,  James  Patterson,  James 
Thompson,  Miles  Hotchkiss,  Gabriel  Jones,  Francois  Menard, 
John  Miller,  Arthur  Parks,  Josiah  Betts,  Franklin  P. 
Owen,  John  C.  Crozier,  R.  H.  Fleming,  Pierre  De  Rousse, 
James  S.  Guthrie,  Thomas  Roberts,  Felix  St.  Yiain,  William 
G.  Hizer,  John  Thompson,  John  G.  Nelson,  James  Gillespie, 
James  S  Guthrie  yM  term),  Robert  Clark,  James  O'Harra, 
Gabriel  Jones  (2d  term),  W.  G  Hizer  ( 2d  term  i,  Samuel 
Douglas,  Harvey  Clendenin,  Lawson  Murphy,  lleiiry  O'- 
Harra, John  Mann,  Archibald  Thompson,  Edward  Camp- 
bell, William  McBriiie,  James  Gillei-pie  (2d  term\  county 
commissioners,  from  1819  to  1849. 

John  Campbell,  W.  P.  Haskins  (died  during  his  term> 
R.  B.  Servant,  John  Campbell  (2d  term  ),  J.  W.  Ralls,  Har- 
vey Neville,  Alexander  Hood,  judges  of  the  county  court, 
and  John  Braser,  Benbow  Bailey,  James  Gillespie,  Samuel 

w.as  "triumphantly"  elected  by  a  bare  majority  with  the  aid  of  his  uwn  vote  ! 
He  was  hung  in  efBgy  at  Vincciines  by  the  :inli.sepiinitioni-l-.  but  ho  dis- 
charged his  pledges  and  his  bond  by  procuring  the  ilivision  from  fungress, 
and  as  it  w.is  doubtless  desirable  to  elmngc  his  residence  he  eanie  home  w  ith  a 
commission  for  a  federal  judgeship  of  the  new  territory  in  liis  pocket,  and  re- 
moved to  Kaskaskia,  Illinois.    (History  of  Illinois  by  Davidson  and  Struve). 


126 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE,  AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


B.  Adams,  James  Gillespie  (2d  term),  William  Mudd, 
Armistead  Jones,  William  Mudd  (2d  term),  M.  Ireland, 
Philip  Wehrheim,  John  Wilson,  and  Philip  Wehrheira  (2d 
term),  associate  justices  of  the  county,  from  1849  to  1874. 

Johu  Morrison,  John  Wilson,  Philip  Wehrheim,  P. 
Faherty,  J.  R.  Doucliis,  M.  Ireland,  J.  B.  Frank,  James  J. 
Borders,  and  John  C.  Johnson,  board  of  county  commis- 
sioners, from  1874  to  1883. 

County    Clerks.— Carboneau,   from    1779   to    ?    ? 

Robert  Morrison,  from  1795  to  1803.  Paul  Harrolson  and 
William  Wilson,  from  1803  to  1809.  W.  C.  Greenup,  from 
1809  to  1827.  Miles  Hotchkiss,  from  1827  to  1832,  resigned 
in  June.  James  Hughes,  appointed  in  1832,  and  elected  in 
1833.  Andrew  J.  Dickinson,  1837,  resigned  in  1839.  Robert 
Mann,  appointed  clerk  pro  tern.,  served  3  months.  Ferdinand 
Maxwell,  elected  in  1839  and  reelected  in  1841.  J.  W. 
Gillis,  from  1845  to  1851.  J.  M.  Cole,  from  1851  to  1857. 
J.  H.  Nelson,  from  1857  to  1864.  John  A.  Campbell,  ap- 
pointed pro  tern.,  1864.  Joseph  Scbuessler,  elected  1864  to 
1865.  R.  J.  Harmer,  from  1865  to  1809.  J.  R.  Shannon, 
from  1869  to  1873.  John  T.  McBride,  from  1873  to  1877. 
R.  J.  Harmer,  from  1877  to  1882.  Louis  Dudenbostel,  1882. 
5/,,,,./^;  —Richard  Winston,  from  1779  to  1782.  Timothy 
du  Montbrun,  from  1782  to  179i).  William  Biggs  (St.  Clair 
county),  from  1790  to  1795.  James  Dunn,  from  1795  to 
1800.  George  Fisher,  from  1800  to  1803.  James  Edgar, 
from  1803  to  1805.  James  Gilbreath,  from  1805  to  1 809- 
Beijarain  Stephenson,  from  1809  to  1814.  Henry  Connor, 
Samuel  C.  Christy,  T.  J.  V.  Owens,  Ignatius  Sprigg,  John 
Campbell,  John  A.  WiLson,  elected  in  1848.  John  P. 
Thompson,  18.50.  Sav.  St.  Vrain,  18-52.  John  Campbell, 
1854.  Sav.  St.  Vrain  (2d  term',  1856.  Anthony  Steele, 
1858.  M.  S.  McCormack,  1860.  John  Campbell,  1862. 
John  T.  McBride,  18G4.  J.  R.  Shannon,  1866.  M.  S. 
McCormack,  1868.  J.  T.  McBride,  1870.  Beverly  Wilt- 
shire,  1872  and   1874.      Daniel  Gerlach,   1876  and   1878. 

Gerlach,  1«80,  and  E.  J.  Murphy,  1882. 

Treasurers  and  Assessors.— The  county  sheriffs  were  treas- 
urers until  1809.  The  duties  of  assessors  from  1795  to  1808 
were  performed  by  the  township  constables  and  special 
appointees.  David  Anderson  was  the  first  county  assessor, 
1808  and  1809.  Treasurers  and  ex-officio  assessors:  Wil- 
liam Alexander,  1812  ;  William  Barnett,  K.  Barton,  John 
McFerron,  Alexander  Barber,  Samuel  G.  Thompson,  Har- 
vey Clendenin,  Francis  S.  Jones,  Hypolite  Menard,  S  St. 
Vrain,  H.  H.  Barker,  Matthew  Huth,  H.  B.  Nisbett,  J.  T. 
McBride,  J.  M.  Thompson,  George  Wilson,  Peter  Wickline, 
F.  S.  Peters,  Edmund  St.  Vrain,  William  Swanwick,  S.  B. 
Hood,  appointed  in  1881,  and  William  A.  Campbell  since 
1882. 

(-'oro»er«.— William  Kelly,  1795  to  1803;  Miles  Hotch- 
kiss, Henry  Derousse,  R.  K.  Fleming,  D.  L.  Lybarger,  F. 
C.  Peters,  F.  D.  Lewis,  F.  C.  Peters,  2d  terra  ;  H.  B.  De- 
rousse, J.  H.  Altrogy,  J.  M.  Smith,  D.  L.  Lybarger  (2d 
term) ;  G.V.  Renter,  T.  J.  Garrett,  William  Heining.  (This 
list  is  incomplete,  as  there  were  no  records  kept  of  ofRcers 
elected  prior  to  1849.) 


Surveyors.— ^\\\\Am  Wilson,  Thomas  Patterson,  Paul 
Harralson,  James  Thompson,  Samuel  G.  Thompson,  Ferdi- 
nand Humphreys,  Ezekiel  W.  Bobbins,  James  B.  Parks, 
S.  G.  Thompson,  Joseph  Noel,  R.  B.  Thompson,  James  M- 
Thompson,  M.  S.  McAttee,  J.  P.  Thompson,  J.  T.  Douglas 
and  H.  W.  Schmidt. 

Judges  of  Co!(r<«.— Gabriel  Cerre,  Joseph  Duplassey 
Jacques  Lesource,  Nicolas  Jarvis,  J.  B.  Barbeau,  Nicolas 
Le  Chance,  Charles  Charleville,  and  Antoine  Duchafours  de 
Louvieres,  1779  to  1790.  La  Buisniere  was  State  attorney 
at  this  period.  John  Edgar  and  J.  B.  Barbeau,  1790  to 
1795,  by  appointment  of  Governor  Arthur  St.  Clair;  Hon. 
John  Cleves  Synimes,  1795  to  1809  ;  Hons.  Jesse  B.  Thomas, 
Obadiah  Jones,  Alexander  Stuart,  Stanley  (iriswold,  Wil- 
liam Sprigg,  Thomas  Towles,  Daniel  P.  Cook,  John  War- 
nock,  members  of  the' General  Court  of  the  territory  of 
Illinois,  1809  to  1819;  B.  H.  Doyle,  prosecuting  attorney; 
Hong.  Joseph  Phillips,  Richard  M.  Young,  Thomas  Reyn- 
olds, John  Reynolds,  Theophilus  W.  Smith,  Samuel  M. 
Roberts,  Samuel  D.  Lockwood  and  Thomas  C.  Brown  mem- 
bers of  the  Supreme  Court  and  presiding  judges  at  circuit 
courts  throughout  t'  e  State,  1819  to  18.35;  William  Mears, 
Charles  Mattheny  and  Sidney  Breese  prosecuting  attorneys. 
Hons.  Thomas  Ford,  Sidney  Breese,  James  Semple,  James 
Shields,  Gustav  Koerner,  W.  H.  Underwood,  Sidney  Breese, 
2d  term,  H.  K.  S.  Omelveny,  Silas  L.  Bryan,  Amos  Watts, 
W.  H.  Snyder  and  G.  W.  Wall  circuit  judges,  1835  to  1883- 
Prosecuting  attorneys  during  said  period,  W.  H.  Under- 
wood, W.  H.  Bissell,  P  B.  Foulke,  George  Abbott,  W.  C. 
Kinney,  W.  H.  Snyder,  Amos  Watts,  J.  P.  Johnston,  John 
IMichan,  Reuben  J.  Goddard  (first  county  attorney,  1872  to 
1880)  and  D.  E.  Detrich,  present  county  attorney. 

Clerics    of    Circuit     ((iiirt..<    and     exofficio    Recorders. — 

Carboneau,  1779  to  1795;  Lardner  Clark,  1795  to 

1809;  William  Arundel,  1809  to  1815;  William  C.Greenup, 
1815;  James  Hughe-s,  1831  ;  William  Guthrie,  1840;  James 
Quinn,  1845 ;  John  M.  Langlois,  1845  ;  Charles  D.  Kane, 
184/;  James  M.  Ralls,  18.50;  Savinie,n  St.  Vrain,  1860; 
G.  H.  Pate,  1876  to  date. 

Probate  Judgc-^.-Carlh  Conn,  1821  to  1827;  David  J. 
Baker,  1827  to  1831 ;  Dwight  Hunt,  from  March  7  to  May 
16,  1831  ;  James  Thompson,  1831  to  1848;  John  Campbell, 
from  1848  to  1853;  W.  P.  Haskins,  18,53  to  1853;  died 
during  his  term  of  office,  and  was  succeeded  by  R.  B.  Ser- 
vant, 18.55  to  1857  ;  John  Campbell,  2d  term,  1857  to  1861  ; 
J.  W.  Ralls,  1861  to  1865;  Harvey  Neville,  1865  to  1869; 
Alexander  Hood,  1869  to  1873;  John  H.  Lindsey,  1873  to 
1877;  W.  P.  Murphy,  1877  to  1882;  and  G.  L.  Riess, 
present  incumbent. 

School  CommUnoners  or  Superintendents.— Sa.mue\  G. 
Thompson,  183o  ;  W.  McBride,  1839;  S.  G.  Thompson,  re- 
appointed, 1840;  M.  A.  Gilbert,  1843;  Thomas  Roberts, 
1844;  Elisha  Seymour,  1845 ;  James  W.  Glenn,  1849;  J.  B. 
Parks,  1851  ;  Robert  Mann,  1854  ;  Eli  Lofton,  1857  ;  Mar- 
quis S.  Burns,  18G1 ;  John  A.  Malone,  1865 ;  R.  P.  Thomp- 
son, 1869  ;  Peter  N.  Holm,  1870  ;  R.  M.  Spurgeon  and  B.  B. 
Hood,  present  incumbents. 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MOMROE   AND    PERRY    COUXTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


127 


In  conclusion  we  introduce  here  a 

ROSTER  OF  OFFICERS  OF  RANDOLPH  COUNTY,  DECEMBER,  1882. 

George  L.  Riess,  county  judge,  elected  in  1882 ;  Louis 
Dudeubostel,  county  clerk,  elected  in  1882 ;  Everett  J. 
Murphy,  sheriff,  elected  in  1882  ;  John  C.  Johnson,  county 
commissioner,  elected  in  1882;  James  J.  Borders,  county 
commissioner,  elected  in  1881  ;  J.  B.  Frank,  county  com- 
missioner, elected  in  1880  ;  William  A.  Campbell,  treasurer, 
elected  in  1882;  William  Heiuiug,  coroner,  elected  in  1882; 
Samuel  B.  Hood,  superintendent  of  schools,  elected  in  1882 ; 
Henry  W.  Schmidt,  surveyor,  elected  in  1879 ;  D.  E. 
Deitrich,  slate's  attorney,  elected  in  1880;  G.  H.  Pate_ 
circuit  clerk,  elected  in  1880. 

PRECINCT   OFFICERS. 

Baldwin. — W.  M.  Wilson  and  James  A.  Bean,  justices . 
J.  AV.  Pickett  and  John  P.  Cox,  constables. 

Bremen. — John  H.  Wilson  and  Henry  Heitman,  justices 
of  the  peace;  Henry  Detmore  and  Jacob  Wiukelmaun, 
constables. 

Blair. — S.  B.  Boggs  and  James  Harkley,  justices  of  the 
peace  ;  and  F.  M.  Welshans  and  T.  W.-Taggert,  constables. 

Breurrvillc. — F.  A.  Jlarliu  and  W.  P.  Boyle,  justices ; 
Albert  Snook  and  Leo  Bone,  constables. 

Chr.'<f(r.—C  W.  Dean,  H.  Perkins,  W.  L.  Wilson  and 
Leonard  Crisler,  justices;  John  W.  Ragdale,  Bartley 
Tovera,  George  R.  Douglas  and  Louis  Harmon,  constables. 

Central. — John  M.  Beattie,  justice  of  the  peace;  Stephan 
Wright  and  R.  J.  Holcomb,  constables. 

Cindtrrrille. — David  Muniord  and  Anthony  Steele,  justi- 
ces ;  Jesse  McBride  and  Ruius  East,  constables. 

Evan.ivilte. — James  S.  Gray  and  John  H.  Thompson, 
justices;  John  Hagerdown  and  Paulus  Smith,  constables. 

Florence. — B.  P.  Harmon  and  H.  D.  Lilly,  justices ;  Ed. 
Beare  and  Walter  W.  Nifang,  constables. 

A'(.<A((.<A(a. — Wm.  R.  Burch  and  C.  W.  Wheeler,  justices; 
W.  H.  Doza  and  E.  A.  Lucken,  constables. 

IVairie  du  Rocher. — J.  R.  Duclas  and  Edward  Harmi- 
nutz,  justices;  Mike  Dapron  and  Francis  M.  Oliver, 
constables. 

Red  Bud — F.  D.  Gucker  and  John  H.  Meyer,  justices; 
William  Heining  and  Peter  Ensenauer,  constables. 

Rockwood. — James  F.  Bildtrback  and  W.  G.  Harry, 
justices;  James  G.  Simpson  and  James  G.  Sympson, 
constables. 

Ruiiut  — Henry  F.  Kucker  and  .John  B.  Frank,  justices  ; 
George  W.  Baker  and  Fritz  Hopka,  constables. 

Sparta  — -W.  G  Kitchen,  James  L.  Skelley,  A.  N.  Sprague 
and  T.  F.  Alexander,  justices ;  Peter  W.  Pillars,  Thomas 
C.  Blair,  J.  S.  Carter  and  O.  R.  Bannister,  constables. 

Steele's  Milk. — T.  A.  Lickip  and  D.  H.  Schaefl'er,  justices; 
A.  Short,  constable. 

Ti/den_ — William  Fulton  and  A.  M.  Chassels,  justices; 
William  Stephenson  and  John  HoUiday,  constables. 

Wine  Hill. — Henry  Ebbers  and  N.  H.  Eickelmann, 
justices  of  the  peace;  and  Conrad  Walters  and  Hermann 
Sasse,  constables. 


CONCLUSION. 

Randolph  county  has  prospered  from  the  day  the  Ameri- 
can patriot  Patrick  Henry  first  stretched  out  his  arm  from 
the  old  dominion  to  aid  the  colonists  in  forming  a  people's 
government  in  the  far  west.  Fifteen  millions  of  dollars 
would  not  sutHce  to  purchase  the  properly  owned  by  the  five 
thousand  families  now  residing  in  the  county.  A  hundred 
years  is  but  a  brief  period  in  the  life  of  nations,  and  yet  how 
wonderful  have  been  the  changes  wrought  in  that  time.  An 
Indian  trail  here  and  there,  short  neighborhood  roads  from 
Kaskaskia  to  Prairie  du  Rocher,  and  Fort  Chartres  and 
thence  to  Cahokia,  were  the  means  of  communication  be- 
tween the  sparse  and  scattering  settlements  of  a  hundred 
years  ago.  How  great  was  the  joy  of  those  people  when  in 
1810  the  first  stage-coach  came  rattling  through  the  streets 
of  quaint  old  Kaskaskia  !  The  daj-s  of  the  stage-coach  have 
passed  by  and  the  cheery  sound  of  the  coachman's  bugle 
does  not  longer  awake  and  call  forth  the  echoes  on  the 
bluffs,  the  bugle  and  the  bugler  are  forgotten. 

The  county  is  dotted  with  prosperous  and  growing  towns 
and  villages,  the  rich  fields  yield  immense  quantities  of 
golden  wheat  and  corn,  stately  school-houses  adorn  the  villages 
and  numerous  church  spires  seem  to  indicate  that  the  thoughts 
of  these  people  are  not  altogether  bent  on  things  that  perish. 

Railroads  traverse  the  county  in  various  directions,  facili- 
tating travel  and  commerce.  Telegraphic  lines  connect 
cities  and  towns  with  all  parts  of  the  >yorld,  and  electric 
lights  turn  darkness  into  day. 

Such  is  Randolph  county  now.  Predictions  as  to  what 
another  century  may  make  of  her,  are  idle.  There  isalimit  to 
all  things.  The  Titans  were  powerful,  they  were  strong 
enough  to  pile  mountains  on  mountains,  but  they  could  never 
reach  the  sacred  heights  where  Jupiter  is  throutd. 


MONROE  COUNTY. 

CIVIL    HISTORY — 1816    TO     1882— OI!G  ANIZATION    OF    THE 
COUNTY. 

The  territory  composing  the  present  county  of  Monroe 
had  formed  a  part  of  the  old  county  of  Illinois  from  1778  to 
1790,  when  it  became  incorporated  in  the  county  of  St. 
Clair.  The  organization  of  Randolph  county  in  179.5  and 
reorganization  of  the  two  counties  mentioned  above,  April 
28,  1>09,  divided  the  present  county  by  a  line  running  due 
east  and  west  from  the  famous  settlement  "New  Design." 

The  organization  of  the  county  was  decreed  by  a  formal 
act  of  the  Legislature  of  the  Territory  of  Illinois,  approved 
the  6th  day  of  January,  ISIG,  and  to  be  in  force  I'rom  and 
after  the  1st  day  of  June,  1.S16. 

This  latter  clause  gave  to  Monroe  the  tenth  place  in  the 
chronological  order  of  counties,  to  wit.,  St.  Clair,  Randolph, 
Gallatin,  Johnson,  Madison,  Edwards,  White,  Jackson,  Pope 
and  Monroe. 

The  law  creating  this  county  reads  as  follows: 

^l(i  Aet  for  forming  a  new  county  by  the  Legislative 
Council  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  Illinois  Terri- 
tory, and  it  is  hereby  enacted  by  the  authority  of  the  same: 
That  all  that  part  of  the  county  within  the  following  bounds. 


128 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY  COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS 


viz:  Beginning  on  the  Mississippi  river  where  the  base  line, 
which  is  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile  below  Judge  Biggs' 
present  residence,  strikes  the  said  river,  thence  with  the  base 
line  until  it  strikes  the  first  township  line  therefrom  ;  thence 
to  the  southeast  corner  of  township  two  south,  range  nine 
west;  thence  south  to  the  southeast  corner  of  township  four 
south,  range  nine  west ;  thence  southwestwardly  to  the  Mis- 
sissippi, so  as  to  include  Alexander  McNabb's  farm  ;  and 
thence  up  the  Mississippi  to  the  beginning,  shall  constitute  a 
separate  county,  to  be  called  Monroe. 

Be  it  further  enacted,  That  William  Alexander,  James 
Lemon,  sen.,  James  B.  Moore,  John  Prim  and  James  Mc- 
Roberts  be,  and  they  are  hereby  appointed  commissioners  to 
fix  upon  the  proper  place  for  the  seat  of  justice  for  said 
county  of  Monroe,  who  shall  meet  for  that  purpose  on  the 
third  Monday  of  July  next,  at  the  town  of  Harrison, — and 
they,  or  a  majority  of  them,  when  so  assembled  together, 
shall  take  an  oath  to  fix  the  said  seat  of  justice  at  such  place 
as  they  shall  think  best  calculated  to  promote  the  conve- 
nience and  interest  of  said  county,  without  favor  or  afiection 
to  any  individual  or  individuals;  provided,  the  owner  or 
owners  of  the  land  will  give  to  the  county  for  the  purpose  of 
erecting  public  buildings,  a  parcel  of  land  at  the  said  place, 
not  less  than  twenty  acres,  and  laid  off  into  lots  and  sold  for 
the  above  purpose;  but,  should  said  owner  or  owners  refuse 
to  make  said  donation  aforesaid,  then  and  in  that  case  it 
shall  be  the  duty  of  the  commissioners  to  fix  upon  some 
other  place  for  the  seat  of  justice  as  convenient  as  may  be  to 
the  different  settlements  in  said  county,  and,  when  fixed 
upon  by  said  commissioners,  (hey  shall  certify  under  their 
hands  and  seals,  and  return  the  same  to  the  next  county 
court  in  the  county,  which  said  court  shall  cause  an  entry 
thereof  to  be  made  on  their  records  of  said  county.  Pro- 
vided, however,  that  if  the  said  commissioners,  or  a  majority 
of  them,  shall  not  be  able  to  meet  on  the  said  third  Monday 
in  July  next,  they  shall  meet  as  soon  thereafter  as  it  may 
be  convenient,  and  either  at  the  first  or  any  subsequent 
meeting  they  may  continue  from  day  to  day,  so  long  as  they 
may  think  it  necessary  to  form  a  correct  decision,  and  said 
commissioners  shall  be  entitled  to  two  dollars  each  per  day 
that  they  are  necessarily  employed  in  fixing  the  county  seat, 
to  be  paid  out  of  their  county  levy  ;  and  provided,  also,  that 
the  town  of  Harrison  shall  be  the  seat  of  justice  for  said 
county,  until  some  other  place  shall  be  chosen  as  afore.«aid 
and  public  buildings  be  erected  thereon. 

Be  it  further  enacted,  That  the  said  county  of  Monroe 
shall  be,  and  hereby  is  allowed  one  representative  in  the 
House  of  Representatives  of  this  territory,  who  shall  be 
elected  in  the  same  manner  that  representatives  are  now 
authorized  by  law  to  be  elected  in  other  counties,  and  he 
shall  be  authorized  to  exercise  all  the  powers,  possess  all  the 
privileges,  and  be  entitled  to  all  the  emoluments  that  any 
other  Representative  can  exercise,  possess  or  receive  accord- 
ing to  law. 

Be  it  further  enacted.  That  whereas  the  said  county  of 
Monroe  was  taken  off  of  two  districts  for  the  election  of 
Members  of  Council,  all  qualified  voters  who  shall  reside 
within  those  bounds  which  previous  to  the  passage  thereof 


was  a  part  of  St.  Clair  county  shall  have  a  right  to  vote  for 
a  member  of  the  Legislative  Council  to  represent  them  and 
the  qualified  voters  of  St.  Clair  county  as  one  district ;  and 
all  those  qualified  voters  who  shall  resMe  within  those 
bounds,  which  previous  to  the  passage  hereof,  was  a  part  of 
Randolph  county,  shall  have  a  right  to  vote  for  a  member 
of  the  Legislative  Council  to  represent  them  and  the  quali- 
fied voters  of  Randolph  county  as  one  district,  and  it  shall 
be  the  duty  of  the  sheriflfs  of  the  counties  of  Monroe  and 
St.  Clair  within  eight  days  after  the  election  to  attend  at 
Bellville  and  compare  the  polls  and  make  out  and  deliver 
to  the  person  duly  elected  for  that  district  their  joint  certifi- 
cate thereof.  And  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  said  sheriffs  of 
Randolph  and  Monroe  to  attend  at  Kaskaskia,  within  ten 
days  after  the  election  to  compare  the  polls  and  make  out 
and  deliver  to  the  person  duly  elected  for  that  district  their 
joint  certificate  thereof,  provided  however  that  any  part  of 
the  said  duty  may  be  performed  by  a  legally  authorized 
deputy  sheriff,  the  principal  sheriff  being  responsible  for  the 
faithful  discharge  thereof,  and  if  the  said  sheriff  or  any  of 
them  shall  refuse  or  fail  to  perform  the  duties  hereby  re- 
quired, such  delinquent  or  delinquents,  shall  severally  forfeit 
and  pay  the  sum  of  two  hundred  dollars  to  be  recovered  by 
action  of  debt  or  indictment,  one-half  to  the  use  of  the  terri- 
tory and  the  other  half  to  the  person  suing  or  prosecuting 
for  the  same. 

Be  it  further  enacted,  that  the  qualified  voters  of  said 
county  of  Monroe  shall  be  entitled  in  all  respects  to  the 
same  rights  and  privileges  in  the  election  of  a  delegate  to 
Congress,  that  are  allowed  by  law  to  the  qualified  voters  of 
any  other  county  ;  and  all  elections  hereby  authorized  shall 
be  held  at  the  seat  of  justice  for  the  said  county  of  Monroe, 
and  shall  in  all  respects  be  held  and  conducted  as  elections 
are  authorized  and  required  to  be  held  and  conducted  in 
other  counties.  This  law  to  commence  and  be  in  force  from 
and  alter  the  first  day  of  June  next. 

RiSDON  Moore, 
Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives. 
Pierre  Menard,  President  of  the  Council. 

Approved  January  6,  1816.  Ninian  Edwards. 

A  plot  of  the  county  drawn  by  Michael  Jones,  Register, 
and  dated  1816,  is  on  file  in  the  county  clerk's  office  at 
Waterloo.  According  to  this  plot  the  original  county  of 
Monroe  contained  the  southwest  half  of  township  1  South, 
Range  10  west,  the  fractional  townships  1  South,  Range  11, 
and  li-ll,  township  2  South,  range  10,  the  southwest  half  of 
township  2  South,  range  9  west,  townships  3-9  and  3-10, 
and  fractional  township  3-11  with  Harrisonville  as  "  seat  of 
justice,"  then  townships  4-9  and  4-10,  and  also  fractional 
township  4-11.  This  area  contained  in  the  aggregate  21G,- 
640  acres,  or  about  338i  square  miles. 

The  organization  of  Monroe  county  is  one  of  the  acts  of 
the  second  territorial  legislature,  composed  of  Pierre  Menard, 
of  Randolph,  Samuel  Judy,*  of  Madison,  Benjamin  Talbott, 

»  Samuel  Judy  was  originally  from  Monroe  county,  where  his  father,  Jacob 
Judy,  (Tohudy)  a  native  of  Switzerland,  had,  in  1794,  erected  a  mill,  the  first 
water-mill  of  any  kind  built  by  American  settlers  in  that  region  ;  this  mill  did 
good  service,  and  was  for  many  years  the  only  one  between  Kasky  and  Cahokia. 


imSTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND   PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


129 


of  Gallatin,  William  Biggs,  of  St  Clair,  and  Thomas  Fer- 
guson, of  Johnson,  forming  ihe  Legislative  Council,  and 
Risdon  Moore  and  James  Lemen,  jr.,  of  St.  Clair ;  Philip 
Trammel  and  Thomas  C  Browne,  of  Gallatin,  John  G.  Lof- 
ton and  William  Rabb,  of  Madison,  and  Jarvis  Hazleton, 
of  Randolph,  forming  the  House  of  Representatives. 

The  organizalicn  of  the  county  did  not  then  give  universal 
satisfaction  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  counties,  out  of  which 
the  new  county  was  fjrined.  James  Lemen,  jr.,  then  a  re- 
presentative of  St.  Clair  county,  deemed  it  proper  to  explain 
his  vote  on  the  question  iu  a  lengthy  address  published  in 
the  Kaskajkia  Herald,  the  first  newspajjcr  published  in  the 
state. 

The  address  contains  a  vast  amount  of  political  wisdom 
and  morality,  and  is  well  worthy  to  be  preserved  Besides 
there  are  numerous  descendents  of  the  Lemen  family  iu 
Monroe  county  who  may  have  a  personal  interest  besides  in 
the  document 

To  the  freemen  of  St.  Clair  county. 

Fellow  citizens  :  Previous  to  my  election  as  one  of  your  repre- 
sentatives, I  wasnotignoraiit  of  the  responsibility  that  would 
devolve  on  me  as  a  legislator  if  elected.  On  turning  my. 
attention  to  political  matters  or  the  subject  of  legislation  ; 
I  have  always  viewed  it  as  intricate  and  important,  while  I 
have  been  led  to  believe  that  it  could  not  be  filled  to  the 
satisfaction  of  all  who  have  to  be  legislated  for,  many  of 
whom  having  real  or  imaginary  local  interests  involved  not 
differing  Irom  each  other.  Therefore  let  the  representative 
pursue  what  course  he  may,  if  he  should  receive  the  sanction 
and  applause  of  some,  he  may  expect  to  be  censured  and 
calumuiated  by  others.  A  consciousness  of  this  circum- 
stance, induced  me  to  feel  much  reluctance  in  engaging  such 
an  office,  but  believing  that  man  was  not  created  to  dwell  in 
a  state  of  nature  independent  of  or  unconnected  wiih  each 
other,  but  for  the  formation  and  benefit  of  society,  by  which 
it  is  understood  that  each  part  should  protect  and  be  under 
the  control  of  the  whole  so  that  the  community  should 
guard  the  rights  and  enforce  the  obedience  of  each  individual- 
Thus  government,  results  of  course  from  the  formation  of 
society  as  necessary  for  its  protection,  and  as  each  individual 
owes  an  equal  part  to  the  protection  of  civil  government, 
therefore  each  is  bound  in  similar  obligations  to  participate 
in  government,  when  called  by  the  community  to  aid  in 
promoting  welfare.  Although  not  entirely  congenial  to  my 
feelings,  I  freely  obeyed  the  call  of  my  fellow-citizens  to  a 
seat  in  the  legislature  of  this  territory,  in  performing  the 
duties  of  which  I  have  eudeavored  to  serve  you  to  the  best 
of  my  capacity,  and  when  your  wishes  have  been  communi- 
cated to  me  my  most  active  exertions  have  been  used  to  pro- 
mote your  wishes.  The  only  subject  which  I  supported 
without  satisfactory  information  was  the  erecting  of  a  new 
county  out  of  the  cjuuties  of  St.  Clair  and  Randolph,  but 
policy  dictated  to  me  the  necessity  of  such  a  measure,  for  at 
the  first  session  which  I  served  in  the  legislature,  there  was 
a  new  county  erected  out  of  the  northeast  part  of  Gallatin, 
to  which  a  representative  was  allowed,  and  at  the  last  session 
there  were  three  new  counties  erected  out  of  the  counties  of 
17 


Johnson  and  Gallatin  and  Randolph,  called  White,  Pope 
and  Jackson,  all  of  which  were  suj)plied  with  members  trom 
Gallatin,  one  of  its  former  members  to  supply  a  representa- 
tive ^or  White,  thus  the  lower  counties  will  at  the  next  ses- 
sion of  the  legislature  send  six  members  to  the  house  of  re- 
presentatives, while  Randolph,  St.  Clair  and  Madison  (if  no 
division  on  our  ])art  had  taken  place)  would  have  sent  but 
four,  which  would  have  given  the  lower  members  so  decided 
a  majority  as  to  have  enabled  them  to  have  legislated  for 
the  whole  territory  ;  the  necessity  therefore  of  throwing  an 
additional  weight  in  our  scale  of  legislative  power  presented 
itself  to  my  view  and  I  advocated  the  measure.  I  was  also 
sensible  of  the  extreme  hardship  under  which  those  citizens 
included  in  the  new  county  had  to  labor  in  attending  the 
seat  of  justice  of  the  old,  a  grievance  which  was  represented 
to  the  legislature  with  a  petition  containing  about  200  signers, 
and  believing  that  nothing  short  of  such  a  division  would 
tranquillize  our  county,  while  we  had  it  in  our  power  to  de- 
signate the  division  line  favorable  to  it,  and  fearing  that  such 
might  not  hereafter  be  the  case,  I  should  not  have  acted  ac- 
cording to  the  dictates  of  what  1  conceived  to  be  sound 
policy,  if  I  had  not  aided  in  the  division,  and  I  am 
happy  to  assure  my  fellow-citizens  that  I  am  of  the  opinion 
that  it  will  result  to  their  advantage,  as  the  growing  popu- 
lation in  the  frontier  parts  of  the  counties  of  St.  Clair  and 
Randolph  will  in  a  short  time  demand  the  erection  of  another 
new  county,  which  will  perminantly  settle  the  seat  of  justice 
in  our  flourishing  county. 

James  Le.mes,  Jr. 

The  third  territorial  legislature  of  Illinois,  elected  in 
August,  1816,  two  months  after  the  organization  of  Monroe 
county,  was  convened  at  Kaskaskia  on  the  2d  of  December, 
1816.  Monroe,  however,  was  not  represented  during  this 
session,  which  lasted  to  January  14th,  1817.  At  the  second 
.session,  convened  on  the  1st  of  December,  1817,  was  repre- 
sented in  the  legislative  council  (senate),  by  Abraham 
Amos,  whose  name  is  frequently  mentioned  iu  the  early 
records  of  the  county.  He  was  a  justice  of  the  peace,  and 
apparently  a  follower  of  Christ,  for  as  such  he  solemnized 
the  rites  of  matrimony  between  William  F.  Roberts  and 
Elizabeth  Farquer,  on  the  14th  of  August,  1817,  affixing 
the  letters  "  M.  P."  to  his  name.  As  Monroe  county  did  not 
then  sport  a  "  Member  Parliament  "  the  M.  P.  above  seemed 
to  read  Missionary  Preacher. 

The  houje  of  representatives  of  the  third  territorial  legis- 
lature, December,  1816,  to  January,  1818,  did  not  contain  a 
member  from  Monroe. 

COUNTY   GOVERNMENT. 

The  civil  officers  appointed  by  the  governor,  met  at  the 
house  of  John  McClure,  at  Harrisonvilie,  on  the  1st  day 
of  June,  1816,  and  caused  their  clerk  to  inscribe  the  follow- 
ing in  the  county  records,  to  wit : 

Organization  of  the  county  court. — Pursuant  to  an  act  of 
the  legislature  of  the  Illinois  territory,  passed  on  the  6th 
day  of  January,  1816,  for  forming  a  new  county  out  of 
Randolph  and  St.  Clair  counties,  to  be  called  Monroe, 
Caldwell  Cairns,  James  Lemen,  Sr.,  and  Abraham  Amos, 


130 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


gentlemen,  met  at  the  house  of  John  McClure,  in  the  town 
of  Harrisonville,  and  county  of  Monroe,  on  the  first  day  of 
June,  1816,  and  severally  produced  commissions  from  his 
excellency,  the  governor,  bearing  date  the  lOlh  day  of 
January,  1816,  appointing  them  judges  of  the  county  court 
of  Monroe  county. 

Whereupon,  William  Alexander,  Esq.,  by  commission 
from  his  excellency,  the  governor,  having  been  appointed 
clerk  and  recorder  of  the  county  of  Monroe,  aforesaid,  and 
having  heretofore  taken  the  oaths  prescribed  by  law, 
together  with  James  B.  Moore,  Esq.,  his  security  as  clerk, 
and  Caldwell  Cairus,  Esq.,  hia  security  as  recorder,  entered 
into  and  acknowledged  bonds  in  the  penalties  and  with  the 
conditions  required  by  law. 

And  thereupon,  the  said  William  Alexander,  in  pursuance 
of  the  act  of  the  legislature  in  such  case  made  and  provided, 
administered  the  several  oaths  required  by  the  constitution 
of  the  United  States  and  the  laws  of  this  territory,  to  be 
taken  by  the  judges  of  the  county  courts,  to  said  Caldwell 
Cairns,  James  Lemen,  Sr.,  «p  '  Abraham  Amos. 

James  B.  Moore,  gentl  o,  produced  a  commission  from 
his  excellency,  the  .ernor  of  this  territory,  bearing  date 
on  the  10th  day  of  January,  1816,  appointing  him  sheriff  of 
the  county  of  Monroe,  and  together  with  William  Alexander 
and  James  Lemen,  Sr.,  his  securities,  entered  into  and 
acknowledged  bond  in  the  penalty  and  with  the  condition 
required  by  law,  and  took  the  oaths  required  by  law. 

James  B.  Edwards  produced  a  commission  from  William 
Alexander,  Enquire,  clerk  of  the  county  of  Monroe,  appoint- 
ing him  deputy  clerk  of  said  county,  as  also  a  commission 
from  said  William  Alexander,  as  recorder  of  the  county 
aforesaid,  appointing  him-  deputy  recorder  of  said  county, 
whereupon  the  said  Edwards  took  the  oaths  required  by  law. 
The  little  craft,  called  Monroe  county,  was  now  officered 
to  start  out  on  its  career  as  a  body  politic.  The  reader 
will  observe  that  the  officers  ranked  as  follows :  The  judges 
and  sheriff,  as  gentlemen;  the  clerk,  as  esquire,  and  the 
deputy  without  rank  The  entry  does  not  state  to  what 
day  or  place  the  authorities  had  adjourned,  but  at  any  rate, 
the  record  shows,  that  they  had  selected  the  next  Saturday 
for  a  meeting,  and  from  the  work  done  at  this  first  "  term," 
it  is  to  be  inferred  that  the  county  fathers  had  not  been  idle 
during  the  week. 

This,  the  first  court,  was  held  again  at  the  house  of  John 
McClure,  on  the  8th  day  of  June,  1816,  when  the  following 
proceedings  were  had  : 

Present,  Caldwell  Cairns,  James  Lemen  and  Abraham 
Amos,  gentlemen  judges  of  the  county  of  Monroe.  The 
court  proceeded  to  lay  off  and  divide  the  county  into  town- 
ships as  follows,  to  wit :   ordered  that 

Eayle  Township,  being  No  1  in  this  county,  be  considered 
as  included  in  the  following  boundaries,  viz. :  Commencing 
on  the  Mississippi  river,  where  the  base  line  strikes  said 
river,  thence  with  its  meanders  until  it  intersects  the  tornado, 
where  it  crosses  said  river,  thence  east  until  it  strikes  the 
county  bridge  on  Eagle  creek,  from  thence  following  the 
meanders  of  said  creek  to  where  it  passes  through  the  bluff, 
from  thence  east  of  north  so  as  to  include  Levi  Pickett,  and 


from  thence  to  the  county  line,  continuing  on  to  where  it 
commenced. 

Harrison  Township,  being  No.  2  in  this  county,  be  considered 
as  included  in  the  following  boundaries,  commencing  where 
the  tornado  crosses  the  Mississippi  river,  thence  with  the 
meanders  of  said  river  to  the  mouth  of  the  Big  Gut  below  the 
town  of  Harrisonville,  from  thence  an  east  course  running 
between  Hugh  Kalston  and  Isaiah  Levens,  so  as  to  include 
Kinney's  mills  and  Avington  Shirril's,  from  thence  a  north 
course  so  as  to  include  Valentine's  old  mills  and  Converse's, 
from  thence  with  the  meanders  of  Eagle  creek  to  where  said 
creek  passes  through  the  bhiff. 

Mifchie  Township,  being  No.  3  in  this  county,  be  considered 
as  included  in  the  following  boundaries,  viz  :  Commencing 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Big  Gut  on  the  Mississippi  river,  thence 
with  its  meanders  to  the  county  line,  thence  with  the  county 
line  to  where  it  intersects  Range  line,  between  Ranges  No. 
9  and  No.  10  west,  from  thence  a  northwest  course,  so  as  to 
include  McRul  rts  until  it  intersects  the  division  line  be- 
tween Harrison  and  said  township. 

Belle  Fountaine  Township,  being  No.  4  in  this  county,  be 
considered  as  included  in  the  following  boundaries,  viz. : 
Commencing  where  Eagle  township  struck  the  county  line, 
thence  southeast  to  the  corner  of  said  county,  thence  south 
to  the  southeast  corner  of  township  No.  4  south,  from  thence 
with  the  county  liae  until  it  intersects  Mitchic  township, 
from  thence  with  Mitchie  until  it  strikes  Harrison  township, 
and  from  thence  until  it  intersects  Eagle  township.  After 
establishing  these  townships  the  court  hastened  to  gladden 
the  hearts  of  many  of  their  citizens  by  elevating  them  to 
various  offices.  John  Violeny  was  made  constable  of  Harri- 
son, and  Michael  Masterson  of  Mitchie,  Stephen  Terry  and 
Churchill  Fulsher  became  overseers  of  the  poor  for  Eagle, 
James  Garretson  ..nd  Solomon  Shook  for  Harrison,  James 
Henderson  and  Alexander  McNab  for  Mitchie,  and  Michael 
Miller  and  James  McDonald,  Robert  Hawk,  William  Hogan, 
William  Alexander,  Raphael  Drury,  George  McMurtrey 
and  James  Bradshaw  became  supervisors  of  roads. 

John  Moore,  "gentleman,"  produced  his  commission  as 
treasurer,  and  also  one  of  coroner,  and  was  sworn  in  the 
office.  It  was  agreed  that  hereafter  the  "  court"  should  meet 
at  the  house  of  Thomas  O'Conner,  and  that  Thomas  O'Con- 
ner  should  have  a  tavern  license,  for  which  he  was  to  pay 
$  J  GO  per  annum.  John  Cooper  was  also  granted  such 
license,  whereupon  the  court  regulated  the  prices  to  be 
charged  by  said  tavern  keepers  as  follows : 

For  a  warm  breakfast,  dinner  or  supper 25o. 

For  lodging  (one  in  abed) 12J.^ 

For  lodging  (two  or  more  in  a  bed),  each 6!4 

For  whiskey  by  the  half  pint 12H 

For  peach  or  apple  brandy,  by  half  pint 12^ 

For  cider  per  quart 12^ 

For  porter  or  beer  per  bottle 37J^ 

For  porter  or  beer  per  quart 25 

For  oats  or  corn  per  gallon 12J^ 

For  hay,  oats  or  fodder  for  a  horse,  per  day 37^ 

For  cherry  bounce,  per  half  pint 18>i 

The  court  proceeded  on  the  same  day  to  order  a  tax  levy, 
as  follows : 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


131 


For  each  bond  servant  or  slave Sl.OO 

••    each  horse  over  3  years  old ;V) 

"    eaeh  stud-horse,  the  rate  he  stands  at  the  season. 

•'    each  town  and  out  lot,  wind  and  water-mill,  mansion-house,  for 

every  $UH)  value,  the  sum  of :lil 

"    every  sijigle  man  over  21  years  of  age $I.<JO 

Timothy  Coats  was  licensed  to  keep  a  ferry  from  Carthage 
(formerly  Harrisoiiville)  across  the  Mistitsijipi,  with  rattsas 
foHows  :  Man,  "Joe.  ;  horse,  50c.;  homed  cattle,  Too. ;  light 
carriage,  $1.50;  road  wagon,  $1.75;  freight,  8c.  per  100  lbs  , 
and  a  cart  or  a  "  gig."  81.00 

The  attention  of  the  court  was  next  directed  to  acquiring 
a  donation  of  land  whereon  to  erect  the  public  buildings  of 
the  county,  as  O'Conncr'.s  charge  of  $3  00  per  term  for  the 
use  of  his  house  as  a  court-room  was  too  extravagant.  In 
this  the  court  was  successful,  inasmuch  as  McKnight  and 
Brady  were  ready  for  a  donation,  and  did  subseijuenlly  e.x- 
cute  the  following  instrument,  to  wit : 

Till-:   SK.VT    Ol-   JfSTKli. 

I)ee>l  of  McKii'Kjht  <{•  Dnnhj  to  the  Cixnilij. 
This  indenture,  made  this  lUih  day  of  June,  a.  d. 
1816,  between  John  McK night  and  Thomas  Brady,  trading 
under  the  firm  of  JIcKnight  A  Brady,  of  the  county  of  St. 
Louis  and  territory  of  Missouri  of  the  one  part,  and  William 
Alexander,  James  Lemen,  sen.,  James  B.  Moore,  and  James 
McKoberts,  commissioners  appointed  by  virtue  of  an  act  of 
assemblv,  in  that  case  made  and  provided  for  an<l  in  behalf 
of  the  county  of  Monroe,  in  the  territory  of  Illinois,  of  the 
other  part,  witnesseth  that  the  said  John  McKnight  and 
Thomas  Brady,  trading  under  the  firm  of  McKnight  & 
Bradj'  as  aforesaid,  for  and  in  consideration  of  the  sum  of 
one  dollar  current  money  of  the  United  States  of  America, 
to  them  in  hand  paid,  the  receipt  whereof  they  hereby  ac- 
knowle<Ige,  aiul  forever  acquit  and  discharge  the  said  Wil- 
liam Alexander,  James  Lemen,  sen.,  James  B.  Moore,  and 
James  McKoberts,  commissioners  aforesaid,  their  heirs,  ex- 
ecutors and  administrators,  have  granted,  bargained,  sold, 
aliene<l,  enfeciH'ed  and  confirmed,  and  by  these  presents  do 
grant,  bargain,  sell,  alien,  enfeoff  and  confirm  unto  the  said 
William  Alexander,  J.imes  Lemen,  Sen.,  James  B.  Moore 
and  James  Melloberts,  commissioners  i'or  and  in  behalf  of 
the  county  of  Monroe  aforesaid,  and  their  heirs  and  assigns 
forever,  the  following  lots  or  parcels  of  laud  situate  in  and 
adjoining  the  town  of  Carthage,  in  the  county  of  Monroe 
aforesaid,  to  wit :  Block  No.  47  in  the  "  plan  "  of  the  said 
town,  containing  one  acre  and  32  poles,  and  lots  No.  1,  2,  3, 
4,  on  the  east  end  of  the  town  tract  and  adjacent  to  the  said 
town  of  Carthage,  containing  together  eighteen  acres  and 
one  hundred'and  twenty-eight  poles,  which  said  lots  tcgether 
with  block  No.  47  in  the  plan  of  said  town  of  Carthage,  eon- 
tain  in  the  whole  twenty  acres,  more  or  less,  by  a  late  survey, 
together  with  all  inipn>veruent.'',  profits  and  ajipurtenances 
whatsoever  to  the  said  lots  belonging  or  in  anywise  apper- 
taining, and  the  reversions,  remainders  and  profits  thereof, 
and  all  the  estate,  right,  title,  interest,  property,  claim  and 
demand  of  them  the  said  John  McKnight  and  James  Brady, 
of,  in  and  to  the  same,  to  have  an<l  to  hold  the  aforesaid  lots 
or  parcels  of  land  hereby  conveyed,  with  all  an<l  singular  the 
premises  and  every  part  and  parcel  thereof,  with  every  of 
the  appurtenances,  unto  the  said  William  Alexander,  James 


Lemen,  sen.,  James  B.  Moore  and  James  McRoberts,  com- 
missioners as  aforesaid,  for  the  use  and  in  behalf  of  the 
county  of  Monroe  aforesaid,  their  heirs  and  assigns  forever. 
And  the  said  John  McKnight  and  Thomas  Brady,  for  them- 
selves, their  heirs,  executors  ami  administrators,  do  cove- 
nant, promise  and  agree  to  and  with  the  said  William  Alex- 
ander, James  Lemen,  sen.,  James  B.  Moore  and  James  Mc- 
Kobeits,  commissioners  as  aforesaid,  their  heirs  ami  a.ssigns, 
by  these  presents,  that  the  i)remises  before  mentioned  now 
are  and  forever  hereafter  shall  remain  free  of  and  from  all 
former  and  other  gifts,  grants,  barg:iins.  sales,  dowers,  rights 
and  titles  of  dower,  judgments,  executions,  titles,  troubles, 
charges  and  incumbrances  whatsoever,  done  or  suffered  to 
be  doue  by  them  the  said  John  McKnight  and  Thomas 
Brady.  And  the  said  McKnight  A-  Brady  aforesaid,  and 
their  heirs,  all  and  singular  the  premises  hereby  bargained 
and  sold  with  the  appurtenances,  unto  the  said  William 
Alexander,  James  Lemen,  sen.,  J.iracs  B.  Moore  and  James 
McRoberts,  commissioners  as  aforesai<l,  their  heirs  and  as- 
signs, against  them  the  said  .John  JIcKnight  and  Thomas 
Brady,  trading  under  the  firm  of  McKnight  &  Brady,  and 
their  heirs  and  all  and  every  other  person  or  persons  what- 
soever, do  and  will  warrant  and  forever  defend  by  these 
presents. 

In  witness  whereof  they  the  said  .lolm  McKnight  and 
Thomas  Brady,  trading  under  the  firm  of  McKnight  & 
Brady,  have  hereunto  set  their  hands  and  affixed  their  seals, 
the  day  and  year  first  before  written. 

Signed,  sealed  and  delivered  ] 
in  the  presence  of  j 

Tiio>r.vs  J.vMKs.  MiKMiaiT  A  Bi;.\I)Y. 

J AMiis  li.  Er)\v.vi;ii.s-. 
Illinois  Territory,  | 

Monroe  County,     j 

Be  it  remembered,  that  on  the  2i'th  day  of  July.  l^Ki, 
James  B.  Edwards,  one  of  the  subscribing  witnesses  to  the 
foregoing  deed  of  conveyance,  personally  appeared  before 
me,  a  justice  of  the  peace  of  Monroe  county  aforesaid,  and 
made  oath  that  he  saw  Thomas  Brady,  one  of  the  firm  of 
McKnight  and  Brady,  the  grantors  in  said  deed  mentioned, 
sign  and  heard  him  acknowledge  the  same  as  anil  for  his 
free  and  voluntary  act,  and  alloweii  the  same  to  be  recorded 
iu  the  recorder's  office  of  said  county,  given  under  my  hand 
and  seal  the  day  and  year  aforesaid. 

I'jjiNCE  Bry.^st,  /^  _  ^^ 

Justice  of  the  Peace.        v^— -_>/ 

The  title  thus  conveyed  to  the  county  by  the  firm  of  Mc- 
Knight and  Brady  was,  as  lawyer  Guy  Gaylord  contended, 
not  perfect,  and  the  county  authorities  were  unsuccessful  to 
find  purchasers.  In  IM^^,  April  28,  a  second  deed  to  the 
.same  real  estate  was  made,  signed  this  time  by  John  Mc- 
Knight, Thomas  Brady  and  Harriet,  his  wife,  individually. 
.Still  the  people  were  very  slow  in  investing  in  this  property, 
.so  that  even  (.Jen.  .lohn  Edgar,  of  Kaskaskia,  felt  it  his  duty 
to  come  to  the  rescue,  which  Ir.'  did  in  th.>  following  card 
published  in  the  Illinois  Intelligencer  of  June  15,  181!),  to 
wit : 

Nutice. — Wherea-s  the  public  in  general  and  particularly 


132 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


the  inhabitants  of  Monroe  county,  are  concerned  for  the 
honest  growth  and  prosperity  of  the  county  seat  of  said 
Monroe  county  at  Harrisonville :  Therefore,  for  the  inform- 
ation of  the  public,  I  decertify  that  I  have  sold  all  my  claim 
to  the  land  whereon  said  C(>unty  seat  is  situate  to  Messrs. 
McKnight  and  Brady,  and  know  of  no  other  claim  to  said 
land  than  that  of  the  above  named  McKnight  and  Brady. 

Kaskaskia,  May  12,  1819. 
III.  Inteirnjencer,  June  16,  1819.  John  Edgar. 

Leaving  this  subject  we  return  to  the  assessment  of  tax- 
able property  which  was  ordered  by  the  board  to  be  made 
at  ODce.  The  writer  believes  that  the  following  are  the  iden- 
tical-returns made,  although  they  arc  without  date.  They 
are  made  out  in  the  handwriting  of  John  Moore  and  signed 
by  him,  who,  as  seen  elsewhere,  was  the  first  assessor  of  the 
county.  He  served  as  such  two  consecutive  years,  and  his 
returns  may  also  serve  here  for  the  purpose  of  a  census, 
which  was  taken  in  1818,  but  not  preserved.  The  names  of 
the  tax  payers  are  alphabetically  arranged;  and  may  call  up 
many  recollections  of  times  passed. 

LIST   OF   TAXPAYERS    OF   MONROE   COUNTY — 1816. 

Alexander  William,  Anderson  William,  Arundel  William, 
Arnold  James,  Atchison  John,  Abraham  Amos,  Axley  Eli- 
sha,  Atchison  John,  Atchison  William,  Alexander  John, 
Ayers  William,  Berver  Nathan,  Bryan  Daniel,  Bradshaw 
Absalom,  Brimberry  John,  Boggs  Jesse,  Baldwin  Francis, 
Bryant  Prince,  Badgley  Ichabod,  Bryan  William,  Boisen 
Ebenezer,  Blaukenship  Noah,  Borer  Jacob,  Beaird  Joseph 
A.,  Brown  William,  Bradley  Kubin,  Barrick  William, 
Brock  George,  Blankeuship  Matthew,  Brown  William, 
Brownfield  Charles,  Browufield  Theron,  Bradshaw  James, 
Barkner  Abner,  Bond  Shadrach,  Clark  Felix,  Clark  Jacob, 
Carey  Joshua,  Clark  Edward,  Chaffiu  William,  Chafhu  Seth, 
ChafEn  Ellis,  Chaffin  Amos,  Cooper  Jesse  W.,  Crouch  Ed- 
ward, Chance  William,  Clark  Ben.,  Clark  William,  Cape  W. 
B.,  Cooper  John,  Chandler  Amos,  Converse  Seth,  Calhoon 
Ann,  Carr  Leonard,  Clover  Jacob,  Cairns  Caldwell,  Cook 
E.  R.,  Cartell  Jacob,  Drury  Raphael,  Dunn  Samuel,  Davis 
Elijah,  Dace  Michael,  DSce  Herman,  Deconey  John,  Deprew 
Michael,  Divers  John,  Dillard  Ishmael,  Eastwood  Abraham, 
Eastwood  Jacob  ( what  has  become  of  Eastwood  Isaac?  Eagan 
John,  Everett  William,  Eastes  Jehu,  Eberman  Abraham, 
Fields  Henry,  Fowler  James,  Fry  Cath.,  Forquer  George, 
Ford  Elizabeth,  Garrish  Edward,  Forquer  William,  Go^mer 
Peter,  Goldsmith  Charles,  Green  Barditt,  Greenleaf  Mayo, 
Garretson  James,  Grate  John,  Hull  Daniel,  Hettick  Andrew, 
Henderson  James,  Howard  William,  Hogan  William,  Halde- 

man  Christopher,  Hogan  Joseph,  Hammon  Michael,  Hoit , 

Hogan  Prior,  Hawk  Robert,  Hawk  John,  Hartman  Fred- 
erick v.,  Hendricks  James,  Hamilton  Thomas  M.,  James 
John,  James  Thomas,  Jameson  John,  Jameston  Alexander, 
Jonstou  Nathaniel,  Jonston  John,  Jonston  William,  Kinney 
Joseph,  Kidd  Robert,  Kinney  Andey,  Kirkpatrick  Francis, 
Kissel  James,  Lemen  William,  sr.,  Leraen  James,  Lemeu 
William,  jr.,  Lemen  Moses,  Lemen  Josiah,  Layway  Baptist, 
Lock   Gerardis,   Levins   Isaiah,   Leathers    Charles,  Lathy 


Robert,  Lusby  Thomas,  Laster  George,  Ladd  Elijah,  Moore 
J.  Milton,  Miller  Michael,  Miller  Jesse,  Miller  Robert,  Mars 
Thomas,  Miller  John,  Marney  Benjamin,  Mitchell  John, 
Martin  "Lawyer,"  Miller  Henry,  Moredock  John,  Moore 
John,  May  Reuben,  Modglin  John  sr.,  Modglin  Henry, 
Moore  James  B  ,  Miller  Joseph,  Miller  Ruben,  Modglin 
John,  Moore  Enoch,  Modglin  Henry,  Mattingley  Richard, 
McMurty  George,  McDonald  James,  McKinzey  Rolley, 
McDavid  John,  McNabb  Alexander,  McKeen  Joseph, 
McDaniel  L  ,  McDaniel  James,  McClure  John,  McRoberts 
James,  McMeen  Joseph,  Nolin  Samuel,  Nelson  Thomas, 
Nelson  James,  Nelson  Abraham,  Newlin  James,  Osborn  Fran- 
cis, OCorner  Thomas,  Preston  J^zekiel,  Porter  James,  Page 
Louis,  Payne  Adams,  Porter  Thomas,  Parraux  Pascal,  Par- 
raux  Amable,  PiggottLevi,  Parmer  Ambrose,Patterson  Luke, 
PattersonCharles,Primm  John, Ray ner  Samuel, Rapert  Dan- 
iel, Rogers  William,  Rader  Philip,  Rolsten  Hugh,  Roach  John 
Robins  William,  "Rite  Mr.",  Roberts  Henry,  Robins  John, 
Roberts  Jesse,  Robinson  David,  Ryley  Mills,  Ramey  George, 
Sterritt  Thomas,  Skeen  Jacob,  Shehen  Sebastian,  Starr  Dan- 
iel, Shehen  John,  jr..  Smith  James,  Scovel  Henry,  Pink  Dan- 
iel, Strout  Peter,  Scott  George,  Shephard  John,  Summers 
John,  Shook  Solomon,  Scott  Jehu,  Scott  John,  Strong  Solo- 
mon, Shook  Daniel,  Shephard  James,  Stevens  Samuel,  Ster- 
ritt Avington,  Smith  Samuel,  Sullivan  James, Scott  Francis, 
Sterritt  William,  Taylor  Levi.  Trask  Mervin,  Tolin  John,  jr., 
Tolin  Isaac,  Trout  Jacob,  Todd  Widon,  Turner  James, 
Turner  Samuel,  Talbott  Thomas,  Talbott  Elijah,  Taylor 
Thomas,  sr.,  Taterfield  Jesse,  Talbott  Joshua,  Taylor  James, 
Taylor  Thomas,  jr  ,  Varnum  Moses,  Vollentine  George, 
Volleutiue  Ichabod,  Varnum  Jewett,  Vaughn  Th.,  Williams 
Zophor,  Westbrook  Elisha,  Worley  Joseph,  Wilson  J.  M., 
Worley  William,  Woodrum  John,sr  ,  Worley  John,  Wiswell 
Jesse,  Wright  Josiah,  Winters  John,  Wells  Alexander, 
Warner  John,  Whaley  James,  Whaley  Baker,  Woodrome 
J.  P.,  Woodrome  David,  Whiteside  David,  Woodrome  Wil- 
liam, Whiteside  IMary,  W^allis  George,  Welch  Edward, 
Woodrome  Joel,  Wilson  Otho,  Wilson  Edward;  Wiustanley 
Thomas,  Wightman  John,  Young  David,  and  Yannie  Law- 
rence. 

Remarks. — The  number  of  people  subject  to  paying  taxes 
was  269.  Of  these  were  47  unmarried  men,  over  the  age  of 
21  years,  who  had  to  pay  a  tax  of  81.00  per  capita  for  the 
enjoyments  of  bachelor  life,  and  for  being  the  "  beaux"  of 
their  time.  The  taxable  property  of  that  period  of  time  con- 
sisted in  slaves  and  horses,  also  in  mills,  distilleries,  mansions 
and  town  lots.  The  assessment  of  1816  shows  that  there 
were  22  slaves  in  the  county,  owned  by  Jacob  Trout,  Philip 
Rader,  James  McRoberts,  fohn  Jameson,  Joseph  Hogan, 
James  B.  Moore,  George  Ramey,  each  owning  one  slave, 
Mary  Whiteside,  Caldwell  Cairns,  R.  Mattingley  and  Shad- 
rach Bond,  each  owning  two  Solomon  Shook  owned  three, 
and  Joseph  A.  Beaird,  four  slaves.  There  were  5^9  horses 
in  the  county,  the  tax  on  which  produced  S299.50. 

A  large  majority  of  the  222  families  of  the  county  lived 
in  cabins,  which  were'^iot  reached  by  the  tax  gatherer.  The 
more  opulent,  who  livtd  in  "mansions,"  were  the  following: 
Francis  Baldwin  lived  in  a  400  dollar  palace,  Joseph  A. 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


133 


Beaird  had  a  "  city"  residence,  located  on  two  lots,  and 
valued  at  8500.  Jesse  W.  Cooper  acd  John  Cooper  also 
owned  town  lots,  valued  respectively  8300  and  S500.  Seth 
Converse  resided  in  an  expensive  mansion,  worth  8550  in 
rural  districts.  Raphael  Drury  was  most  extravagant ;  for 
his,  a  planter's  residence,  was  rated  at  8700,  and  Arthur 
Eberniairs  at  8"2O0.  Michael  Dace  had  two  lots  worth  8100. 
James  Grate  and  James  Garrttson  had  good  farm  houses, 
worth  8300  and  8350.  James  Henderson's  and  John  Hogan's 
dwellings  were  worth  450  and  400  dollars.  Thomas  James' 
Harrisonville  residence  was  assessed  at  8600;  Alexander 
Jameson's  at  S'200  ;  James  Lemen  and  Thomas  Lusby  had 
town  residences  of.?4()0,  and  SlOO  value  ;  John  Moore  rivaled 
Raphael  Urury  in  the  elegance  and  ctstliness  of  residence, 
for  he  rated  his  house  also  at  STOO ;  Michael  Miller's  at 
J-250,  and  Jiinus  B.  Moore's  at  8100 ;  Daniel  Sink  sunk  8(iOO 
to  build  him  a  mansion  ;  Solomon  Shook,  8350;  and  John 
Shehen,  Jr.,  8'^00  Thus  we  see  22  families  comfortably 
"  housed,"  and  it  is  to  be  supposed  "  that  the  owners  of  mills 
also  had  convenient  house  room.  They  were  Andey  Kinney, 
whose  mill  i^*  rated  at  81,000.  Andey  had  erected  a  cotton 
machine  besides." 

I.-hmael  Dillard's  mill  was  assessed  at  8950,  and  Richard 
]\laltingley's  at  SoOO. 

There  were  31  town  lots  owned  and  improved  by  indi- 
viduals. The  taxes  to  be  collected  tn  this  assessment  give 
the  following  figures: 

Fpriy-.«evcn  bachelors  were  e.ipectcd  to  pny  for  the  fnn  of  being  sneh,  S47.00 

The  owners  of  the  22  sUves  had  to  pay  tl  per  eapitu, 22.110 

The  owners  of  the  390  hordes  were  taxed  50  cenis  eneh, 2'.i'j  JO 

And  Edward  Crouch,  who  kept  a  staUion,  was  taxed 3.00 

Owners  of  mill  property  paid  ."io  cents  per  hundred  dollars  ad  vn'orem: 

Valueof  mill  property,  S2200.:.o, 11.25 

Value  of  mansions,  J83C1 ^1-'^ 

Total  expected  revenue  of  1816, S424.50 

The  slave  property  was  not  valued  very  high  in  those 
days,  and,  if  the  tax  per  capita  should  be  a  criterion,  we 
may  infer  that  two  horses  were  equivalent  in  value  to  a 
slave.  We  add  here  a  short  sketch  of  what  the  records  of 
the  county  have  to  say  on  the  subject : 

A  census  of  slaves  residing  in  Monroe  county  was  com- 
pleted on  the  30th  of  January,  1817.  The  number  of  slaves 
reported  was  small— only  13  all  told.  Joseph  A.  Beaird 
owned  then  a  couple  of  blacks,  Henry  and  Annaky,  who 
were  "indented"  for  a  short  80  j'ears ;  both  will  be  "free" 
on  the  30th  of  January,  1897.  James  McRoberts'  man 
George  was  to  be  free  in  18.9.  William  Hogan's  negro 
servant  must  have  been  a  man  of  letters,  for  he  went  under 

♦Look  Here  !  ! 

For  the  encouragement  of  those  that  wish  to  raise  cotton  that  may  live  con- 
venient, I  therefore  give  this  early  notice,  that  I  have  erected  a  cotton  machine 
at  my  mill  on  the  waters  of  liyans  creek,  in  St.  Clair  county,  six  miles  from 
Harrisonville,  said  machine  goes  by  waler,  and  will  "machine"  one  thoufand 
weight  of  cotton  per  day,  leaving  less  seeds  or  motes  in  it  than  any  cotton  that 
has  ever  appeared  in  this  territory.  )Iy  price  for  "machining"  is  the  seventh 
pound,  but  any  "  person  living  e.ist  of  the  road  leading  from  Prairie  du  Kochcr 
to  Cahokia  fetching  cotton, shall  have  it  "  machined"  for  ihe  eighth  pound,— or 
any  person  living  west  of  the  Mississippi  fetching  cotton  shall  have  it  on  the 
same  terms.  Any  person  favoring  me  with  their  custom  on  any  day  of  the  week, 
except  the  Sabbath,  their  business  will  be  immediately  attended  to,  and  their 
work  done  in  the  neatest  order  by  the  subscriber. 

Andet  Kinnet. 

Illinois  Uerald,  December  4,  1814. 


the  name  of  "  Doctor,"  and  was  to  be  free  in  1857.  He 
came  from  Georgia.  John  Jameson  owned  a  "  wench  "  of 
royal  blood.  She  was  named  Dido,  after  the  queen  of  Car- 
thage in  North  Africa.  Freedom  dawned  for  her  in  18G2, 
when  she  would  be  61  years  of  age.  Her  cradle  had  stood 
in  the  bluegra.ss  region  of  Kentucky.  Richard  Mattingley 
had  two  slaves,  Henry  and  Harry,  aged  23  and  20  years 
respectively;  both  were  to  be  free  when  they  reached  their 
54th  year  of  age.  R.  B.  Herring's  man  Harry  was  to  be 
free  in  1847.  James  B.  Moore  owned  a  family  of  a  mother, 
two  daughters  and  a  son.  The  latter  enjoyed  the  beautiful 
and  significant  name  of"  Boar,"  was  13  years  old,  and  was 
to  be  a  free  boar  in  1839.  Frederick  Mason  brought  a  six- 
year  old  boy,  named  Hank,  from  New  York,  who  was  to  be 
a  free  man  when  21  years  of  age.  The  taking  of  servants 
from  Illinois  to  Mi.^souri  could  not  be  done  without  consent 
of  the  servants,  to  be  obtained  before  the  county  court,  as 
given  here : 

Illinois  Territory,  ) 
Monroe  County,  J  *''" 

This  is  to  certify  that  Page,  an  indented  negro  woman, 
the  property  of  Henry  Leveiis,  personally  appeared  b  fore 
the  undersigned,  one  of  the  judges  of  the  county  court  for 
the  county  aforesaid,  and  being  examined  separate  and 
apart  from  her  said  luaster,  voluntarily  declared  that  she 
was  willing  to  go  into  the  Mi.s.soiiri  Territory  with  her 
present  owner. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  seal,  this  12lh  day  of  July, 
1817. 

Caldwell  Cairns.       (^^j^J 

emancipation    PAPEHJ;. 

The  manumission  of  slaves  had  to  be  made  a  matter  of 
record.  Among  thfse  records  is  found  the  following  queer 
entry,  to  wit : 

Be  it  remembered  that  on  this  IStli  day  of  March  in  the 
year  1820,  Andrew  Mitchell,  born  on  the  first  day  of  Oc- 
tober, 1776,  sUiui  mid  robust,  iiriijh'nifj  ahnut  240  pounds 
and  produced  from  under  the  signature  and  seal  of  the 
clerk  of  the  circuit  court  of  St.  Louis  a  certificate  in  the 
following  words,  viz.: 

Territory  of  Mkwuri,  St.  Louis. 

Know  all  men  by  these  presents  that  I,  Andrew  Mitchell, 
of  the  same  territory  and  county  of  St.  Louis,  do  by  these 
presents,  of  my  own  free  will  and  pleasure,  emancipate  and 
from  this  date  forever  set  free  from  me,  my  heirs,  executors 
and  administrators  my  "  negruw  "  woman  named  Nance  or 
Nancy  and  her  four  children,  to  wit,  a  girl  named  Lucy,  a 
boy  named  Charles,  a  boy  named  Solomon  and  a  girl  named 
Cordelia,  the  said  negroes  to  be  henceforth  forever  dis- 
charged of  all  demands  of  servitude  in  ihe  same  manner 
they  would  have  been  if  they  had  been  born  free. 

In  testimony  whereof  I  have  set  my  hanil  and  seal,  in  the 
presence  of  witnesses,  this  4th  day  of  October,  1819. 

Andrew  Mitcuell.    (  seai>  i 


134 


HISIORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


Territory  of  Missouri,  \ 
county  of  St.  Louis,    j  **■ 

Circuit  court  Dec.  1819. 
Be  it  remembered  that  on  the  first  day  of  December  per- 
sonally appeared  in  open  court  George  I'itzer  and  Christopher 
M.  Price  and  being  duly  sworn  upon  their  oath  say  that 
they  saw  the  faid  Andrew  Mitchell  sign,  seal  and  acknow- 
ledge the  same  as  his  own  act  and  deed  for  the  purposes 
therein  mentioned. 

/< — ^    Given  under  ray  hand  and  seal  of  office  at  St. 
(J^^j  Louis,  Dec.  8,  1819. 

Archibald  Gamble,  Clerk. 

The  records  do  not  explain,  why  the  above  was  placed  on 
record  of  Monroe  county.  The  last  "  free  papers  "  found  in 
the  court  house  were  never  made  a  matter  of  record.  A 
small  slip  of  paper,  6x8  inches,  sets  forth  the  following  : 

Mr.  AVm.  Omelveny, 

The  bearer  hereof,  Susan  Battiste,  has 
been  raised  by  me  and  has  served  her  time  out  and  is  now 
of  age  and  is  entitled  to  her  free  papers. 

April  22nd  1847.  John  Divers. 

TESUKE  OF  land. — THE  RENAULT  GRANT. 

This  subject  has  been  treated  on  preceding  pages  in  this 
chapter  under  the  heading  of  Randolph  county,  to  which 
pages  the  reader  is  respectfully  referred.  The  ancient  French 
colony  of  St.  Philip,  a  few  miles  above  Fort  Chartres  was 
founded  about  the  year  1725  by  Philip  Franr;uis  Renault, 
(usually  called  Renault)  and  his  followers  who  came  directly 
fram  France.  The  older  colonies,  Cahokia  in  the  north  and 
Kaskaskia  in  the  south  of  St.  Philip  were  founded  by  Cana- 
dians, French  by  birth  and  by  descent.  The  lands  occupied 
by  said  Renault  had  beeu  granted  to  hira  by  the  authorities 
of  France.  The  American  state  papers,  volume  II.  page  164 
contain  the  following  statement  in  reference  to  this  claim  ; 

"On  the  14th  day  of  June  1723  a  grant  was  made  to 
Philip  Renault  in  fee  simple  in  order  to  enable  him  to  sup- 
port his  establishments  at  the  mines  of  upper  Louisiana,  by 
Boisbriant  and  des  Ursins,  the  former  styling  himself  the 
king's  lieutenant  and  governor  of  the  province  of  Louisiana, 
and  the  latter,  principal  secretary  of  the  royal  India  com- 
pany, of  a  tract  of  laud  at  a  place  called  the  Great  Marsh 
bounded  on  the  south  by  lands  of  the  Illinois  Indians,  estab- 
lished near  Fort  Chartres,  of  one  league  in  front  on  the  Mis- 
sissippi and  extending  back  into  the  county  two  leagues." 

All  that  part  lying  between  the  Mississippi  and  the  hills 
or  blutfs  has  been  conveyed  by  said  Renault  in  small  allot- 
ments to  sundry  individuals.  Out  of  this  grant  of  Renault 
has  arisen  the  village  of  St  Philip,  the  lots  of  which  were 
parts  of  the  oblong  tracts  and  were  either  occupied  as  build- 
ing spots  by  those  who  owned  the  said  tracts  or  purchased 
by  others  from  those  who  did  own  them.  Nearly  all  these 
subdivisions  were  in  1809  claimed  and  owned  by  Joseph 
Morrison,  Wm.  Mcintosh,  John  Evert,  Wra.  Morrison  and 
Wm.  Murray. 

St.  Philips  :  The  common  field  lands  of  this  French  village 
were  surveyed  by  Wm.  Proctor  and  return  made  to  the  office 
of  the  surveyor  of  the  United  States  June  2nd,  1809.     There 


were  then  27  oblong  tracts  of  various  dimensions,  running 
north  2(3°  30,  east,  from  the  river  to  the  bluffs. 

The  original  owners,  as  far  as  it  can  be  ascertained  from 
the  United  States  papers  vol.  II.  page  164  were  as  follows, 
commencing  at  the  southern  line,  which  line  has  a  length  of 
1305  poles. 

Charles  Vein  conflrmed  to  John  Everet 110  acres. 

J.  B.  Mollet  "  Joseph  Morrison 269?^  " 

Louis  Pothier  "  Joseph    Morrison 284}^  " 

Viaiilt  Esperome     "  John  Everet 28414  •' 

Louis  PoHlin  "  heirs  of  Jean  Mereiers •.   .   .   .  18'J'4  " 

Jean  Legr.inge         '*  Joseph  Morrison 189  " 

M.  Gorgnon  "  Joseph  Morrison 94  " 

Nieliolas  Prevost,  dit  Blandine  Wiliiam  MorrLson 189  " 

Joseph  Belcour  "  Joseph  Morrison 284  *' 

Louis  Lenray  "  William  Morrison 190  " 

William  Drury  "  William  Morrison 190  " 

Jean  B.  Gendron  "  Joseph  Morrison 95  " 

Etienue  Leiand  "  Joseph   Morrison 190  " 

M.  Gagnord  "  Joseph  Morrison 285  " 

J.  B.  GodiD,  alias  Champagne    Joseph  Morrison 284  " 

Buchette  *  Bienvenue  "  Jo.seph  Moriisou 800  " 

Buohette  >(;  Bienvenue  "  William  Murr.ay 033  " 

Nichol.as  Prevost  "  John  Everet 284  " 

Michael  Laguiness         "  Joseph  Morrison 174  " 

Jean  Legrange  '•  Joseph  Morrison 2.73  " 

Antom  Larcello  "  William  Mclutosh 108 

Miehael  Laguiness       "  Joseph  Morrison .   .  3:51  " 

Etienne  Guevremont    "  Joseph  .Alorrison 102  '* 

J.  B;  Gendron  "  Joseph  Morrison 8K  '* 

Jean  &  Pierre  Gerardin"  Joseph  Morrison 236 

Joseph  Pierre  "  J.  F.  Perry 5.50 

Frangois  Noisee  "  John  Uice  Jones 5.52  " 

Aggregate  number  of  acres 7,420 

The  north  boundary  line  measures  1,072  poles. 

The  lands  of  the  common  fields  of  St.  Philip's  are  now 
owned  by  Jacob  Fults'  heirs,  Oliver  Nie's  heirs,  James  Rut- 
ledge,  George  Bradshaw's  heirs,  P.  C.  Koch,  Andrew  Koch, 
Philip  A.  Maus,  A.  B.  Cavanah,  Jacob  Rebenack,  F.  W. 
Brickey,  Brickey  and  Anhuchon,  Jacob  Meyer,  John  Mat- 
tingiey,  M.  Claudet,  Joseph  Harsey,  E.  L.  Morrison,  David 
Klamp,  James  Canifl,  Michael  Carr,  Peter  Zeiger,  William 
Crook,  Demint  &  Hardy,  Dennis  Chartmnd,  D.  W.  Bryant, 
W.  J.  Burke,  Edward  Ahern's  heirs,  Charles  Doerr's  heire, 
Aquilla  McNabb,  Theodor  Hursey,  Henry  Jacobs,  Edward 
Coon,  John  Barnes,  Peter  Kelley,  Edward  Faherty,  Mary 
Slate,  John  Wall,  William  Winkelmann,  Rob.  Orr's  heirs 
and  Mary  A  Shenly.  Among  the  names  of  the  present 
owners  are  found  only  three  of  French  appearance,  to  wit, 
Aubuchon,  Claudet  and  Chartrand.  The  American  pioneer 
families  seem  to  be  represented  by  the  Bradshaws,  the  Mor- 
risons, Bryants  and  McNabba.  Many  German  names  are 
also  met  with  in  the  above  list,  while  the  Kelleys  and  Fa- 
hertys  show  that  the  Emerald  Isle  is  not  left  without  proper 
representation. 

Philip  Fran5ois  Renault,  after  having  disposed  of  the 
southern  part  of  this  grant,  returned  to  his  native  country, 
where  he  died,  as  is  said,  in  1755.*     The  north  part  of  his 

*  Andri5  Narcisse  de  la  Mothe,  of  Montreal,  appeared  in  court  at  Waterloo^ 
on  the  ICth  of  August  A.  D.  1880,  and  produced  a  power  of  alt  orney  from  the 
heirs  of  said  Renault,  and,  in  substance,  made  the  followin  g  statement : 

The  ofBcial  records  of  the  "  Tribunal  ciril  de  Peroune,  France,"  exhibit. 
That  Philip  Franijois  Renault  died  in  "France"  on  the24lhof  April,  1775,  being 
the  owner  of  large  tracts  of  land  in  Amarica,  grouted  to  him  A.  D.  1723  by  the 
French  Government,  among  which  the  Renaud  (Renault)  Grant  in  Monroe 
countv.  His  children  surviving  him  were:  Philip  Francois  Celestine, 
Thomas  Joseph,  Marie  Jeanne  Augustine,  Marie  Anne  Celestine  Philliipine 
married  to  M.  Frangois,  and    Marie   Caroline  Gabrielle,  married   to  Martin 


HISTORY    OF   RAXDOLl'H,   MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES.    ILLINOIS. 


135 


claim  was  never  dispoed  of  by  Reuault.  It  was  "u|il!iii(i," 
somewhat  broken  and  hilly,  and  consequently  not  desirable 
at  a  period  of  time  wlien  bottom  lands  could  be  had  for  tiie 
asking,  as  it  were.  The  United  States  having  declared  the 
original  grant  to  Renault  valid,  the  unoccupied  parts  of  it 
were  never  included  in  the  United  States  surveys.  In  the 
course  of  time,  fcjuatters  occupied  portions  of  it  and  converted 
the  wilds  into  fields  of  plenty.  These  occupants  were  tax 
free,  inasmuch  as  the  land  was  not  and  could  not  be  thiir 
property.  In  later  times,  about  the  years  1840  and  l^i41. 
the  laud  was  listed  for  taxation  and  sold  for  taxes  to  John 
Kyan  and  E.  P.  Rogers.  This  sale  was  annulled  March  5, 
184<i  t 

Matters  remain  d  now  in  statu  quo  until  very  recently, 
when  the  board  of  county  commissioners  cau.sed  a  survey  to 
be  made  of  the  individual  claims,  and  subdivided  the  whole 
int )  (ifty-six  "  lot^,"  now  occupied  and  in  possession  of  the 
following  residents,  to  wit:  George  Leip's  heirs  12.11  acres- 
John  Friess  70.8!),  Charles  Lohkamp  I  l.">,  John  Gutman's 
widow  ;>.'!  .SO,  Fred.  Roever  oS  ,S7,  Henry  Juelfs,  two  lots- 
2ti0  07,  Christine  Brandt  I'JO  M,  Nicholas  Sutler  1.4."),  Chris- 
tian Stahl  151.80,  Henry  Vogel  131.71,  Mary  A.  Vogel 
58.17,  Charles  Doerr  12.14,  Charles  Meister  71.51,  Frank' 
Brown  14()..')0,  Peter  Vogel  57.14,  William  Vogel  20.53' 
Christian  Hoppe,  two  lots,  2.56,  Adam  Eigner  148.18,  Her. 
maun  Landwehr  155.10,  Ulrich  Meyer  47-100,  Church  pro 
perty  1  acre,  Joseph  Heller  9(i.33,  George  Harlow's  heirs 
118  ()!),  Conrad  Burkhardt  12  6,  Lewis  Wortmann  10.5.02, 
Henry  Wortmann's  widow  4  03,  William  Wortmann's  estate 
1()8..)8,  John  Schult  (i.34,  Joseph  Heller's  estate  Oo.liO,  John 
Niemann  160.24,  Fred.  Heller  188  35,  Louis  Eymann  148.80, 

Latoiir.  Thomas  Joscpli  nnd  Marie  Jonnne  Augustine  dieil  without  issue 
(dalf  of  decease  not  mentioned)  iifter  having  willed  all  their  interest  in  the 
►aid  grant  or  grants  to  their  older  brother,  Philip  I'rancjois  Celesline  Henaul 
(Renault).  The  lut  enlied  Febru.iry  3,  ITiin,  leaving  ns  only  heir  his  daughter, 
Amelie  Josephine  Keiiaut,  married  to  Monsieur  de  Pancemont.  Sh>-  died 
intestate  January  18,  18;t^,  leaving  an  only  heir,  to  wit ;  her  daughter,  .\ugu>tine 
Anne  Peeise  Hyacinthe  .idele,  married  to  Cou..t  do  Tournou  Simiiine.  Her 
three  children,  to  %vit:  Philip  Auto  n  Fransois,  An\elie  Helene  Frant'oise  Rose, 
and  Marie  Amelie  Stephanie,  widow  of  Count  de  Croi.x,  were  still  living,  repre- 
senting three-fifths  of  the  estate  of  the  original  Uenaut.  Marie  Anne  Celestiiie 
Philippine  Francois,  the  fourth  direct  heir  of  Renault,  died  November  2M 
178K,  and  her  descendants,  now  eight  in  number,  representalso  one-fifth  in  i  aid' 
estate.  Marie  Caroline  (iabric  le  I.atunr  died  January  2»,  17115,  and  her 
descendants  now  surviving,  forty  in  number,  own  another  one-tiflh  of  the 
grant.  The  order  of  sale  for  the  purpo,-e  of  partition,  made  by  the  above- 
mentioned  tribunal,  was  approve  I  by  the  Court  of  Appeals  at  Amien.!  July  31, 
1870.  Mr.  I.a  Mothc,  mentioned  above,  claims  to  be  the  owner  of  the  northern 
jart  of  the  old  Renault  grant,  by  virtue  of  purchase.  He  brought  suit  in  the 
United  Stales  Court  of  Illinois,  at  Springfield,  and  obiainedjudguient.  The 
mitter  is  at  prj<entstill  in  litigation,  and  a  prop  )sitio.i  of  I^a  Mothe's  to  com- 
promise the  matter  by  paying  him  at  tlie  rate  of  %\iy.w  per  acie  has  been 
declined  by  the  present  "squatters." 

t  BoAHD  or  couHTV  coMMissiONP-Bs,  Marcli  .'>,  1840. 
Now  comes  Emry  P.  Rogers,  surviving  partner  of  John  Ryan,  deceased,  by 
H.  K.S.  Umelveny,  atid  filea  his  motion,  requiring  this  court  to  direct  theij. 
cleric  to  correct  an  error  in  the  list  of  lands  sold  for  taxes  for  the  years  1840 
and  1841  on  the  5th  day  of  September,  1842,  in  his  office  by  making  the  sale  of 
the  north  half  of  Renault  grant  as  having  been  erroneous,  and  to  refund  the 
taxes  paid  for  the  years  1840. 1841, 1842,  1843  and  ISJ.'..  And  thereupon  the  said 
petitioner  produces  in  proof  of  the  justice  of  this  motion  the  nertitieate  of  Jacob 
Feaman,  register  of  the  Land  Office  of  the  United  States  at  Kaskasliia,  Illinois, 
stating  that  the  above  described  land  has  never  been  confirmed  to  the  heirs  of 
Renault,  and  that  the  title  to  the  said  land  is  still  in  the  United  States,  and 
alio  a  letter  from  James  .Shields,  Commissioner  of  the  General  Land  OfHce  of 
the  United  States,  setting  forth  the  .same  facts.  And  it  appearing  to  the  Court 
that  the  said  tract'pf  Und,  t«  wit.  the  north  Half  of  Kenaulfs  grant  was  not 
taxable  atthe  date  of  thesaidsale,  it  is  ordered  that  the  taxes  thereon  for  said 
years,  amounting  to  8170.65  be  refunded  to  the  said  E.  P.  Rogers,  and  said  sale 
be  annulled. 


John  Niemann  50.04,  John  Brown,  Jr.,  73.85,  Philip  Fauer- 
bach  66.36,  Jacob  Fults  301.07,  Michael  J.  PVisch  07  72, 
Philip  Kissel  ()1.30,  J.  P.  Brown,  Sr.,  88.10,  Peter  Roden- 
berg,  Sr.,  102.(54,  Ernst  Prange  5.45,  Dieterich  Oft'erniann 
198.83,  Elenry  Jacobs  151.0,  Louis  Wortmann  141.10,  Henry 
Rodenberg's  estate  141  57,  John  Lorenz  141.12,  Fred.  Jan- 
sen  56.70,  Frederick  Hendrix  402.24,  Joseph  Heller's  estate 
225  60,  John  Ihdler  80.;)4;  lots  12,  18  and  25,  containing 
26  89  acres  in  the  aggregate,  are  "  unclaimed."  These  fifty- 
six  lots  compri-e  an  area,  according  to  county  survey,  of 
5,202  acres,  and  are  assessed  at  only  $12,840.  The  actual 
value,  if  a  perfect  title  can  be  obtained,  is  much  greater, 
probably  $35  per  acre.  Some  of  the  "  claims"  would  bring 
S75  per  acre,  and  the  actual  value  of  these  5,202  acres  is 
certainly  not  less  than  $180,000. 

Other  Land  Oniiits. — Besides  the  Renault  Grant,  there 
was  a  large  number  of  "family  head,"  "donation,"  "  \'ir- 
ginia  improvement"  and  militia  rights  located  in  the  county, 
aggregating  over  40,000  acres. 

In  order  to  present  to  the  reader  an  accurate  view  of  all 
lands  occupied  or  owned  by  individuals  prior  to  the  year 
1820,  the  following  table  has  been  carefully  arranged,  ac- 
cording to  congressional  townshijis: 


LANDS    ENTERED. 
T.  3  8. — 8  W 


1st  Entry  .\pr.l  24,  1815 


Subsequent  Entritt. 
William  Morrison,  parts  of  j 


\  Patrick  Faherty,  partsof  sec.  29  .  .  80 
Aaron  Youngman,  parts  of  see.  32  .  ICO 
James  .Smith,  part  of  section  35  .  .  IGO 
Preston  Brickey,  part  ol  sec.  30  .  .  lliO 
C  uitiis  ami  Sari-ei/s—iStiS. 

'.  John  Edgar,  survey  005,  part  in 


Ualeigh  Rawles,  parts  of  sec- 
tions 25  and  2l> 320 

Stanley  Dodge,  parts  of  section  2;i  .    so 


3-7 
John    Ri. 


.  1143 

.  1715 


T.  2  SI  9  w. 


ls(  Entry— DtetmhtT  3,  1SI4. 
James  B.  Moore,  S.  E.  of  sec.  7  .   . 
Subsifjut-nt  EidrUt. 

.  MO 

.    OS 
.  157 

.  1110 
.    80 
.144 

Claims  aiul  Sarveifs. 
«  illiam  Higgs,  survey  784,  parts 

Joseph  McMun,  parts  of  sec.  0  .   . 
I^.  McDaniel,  parts  of  sec.  0  .  .   . 
Heirs  of  J.  H.  Moore,  parts  of 

John  Murdiick,  survey,  041-171, 
parts  in  2-10 

James  Moore,  survey  304  and  030 
parts  in  2-10 

James  (tarretsou,  survey  4u7  ,fc 
720 '. 

.090 
.480 

William  Farquer,  parts  of  sec  33 

Cook  &  Farquer,  parts  of  sec.  30 
and  31 

James  B.  Moore,  survey  778  .  . 

-9  w. 

Moses  Lemon,  parts  of  sec.  19  . 
Pierre  Menard,  parts  of  sec.  19 

Cliinis  and  Suri-iys. 
Peter  Casterline,  survey  722  .  . 
George  Dement,  survey  390  .  .   . 
James  Lemon,  survey  395,  part 

.  400 

Heirs  of  G.  Dement  parts  sec.  31 

T. 
A 

\st  £n(n/,v4pn7  2n,  ISLI. 
Pierre  Menard,  N.  W.  of  sec.  7  .  . 

Subsequent  Eutrii-!. 
Richard  Dalton  parts  of  sec.  r. .  . 
Jesse  Miller,  parts  of  sec.  0  .  .  .  . 
John  Tolin,  parts  of  sec.  7.  .  .  . 
Isaac  Tolin,  parts  of  sec.  17  .   .    . 

.  nil 
3  s.- 

.  100 

74 
.  140 
1.10 
100 
100 

811 

3034 

Acj-es. 
.  160 
.168 

.102 
.    109 

T.  M.  Hamilton,  parts  of  sec.  17  . 
Moses  Varnum,  parts  of  sec.  17  . 

1003 

T  4.  s.^ — 9 


Ut  E>itrt/,  September  IG,  1814. 
W.  Hendrix.  E.  half  of  9.  E  sec.  20  . 
Spencer  Atkins,  p*rt  of  sec.  24  .   . 

Kzra  Owen,  part  of  sec.  2> 

F.  K.  Owen,  part  of  sec.  3G 


Ctiin  and  Surveij. 
Nicholas  Jorrot,  survey  G13  , 


T.  5  s. — 9  w. 

Acres. 
CUiims  and  Surveys. 

Nicholas  Jarrot,  Survey  743 400 

William  Atchison,  survey  610 400 

800 


136 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


T.  1  N  — 10  W. 

s  aid  Surcei/s,  M'y}  1,  ISlj 


Will.  Mcintosh,  survey  750  . 
Nicholas  /arret,  fract.  sec.  31 . 


T.  1  S. — 10  W. 


Claims  and  Swrveya. 
Daniel  McCann,  survey  5o8  ....  400 

John  Etlgar,  survey  773 4(iu 

David  Wliiteside,  survey  418  .   .  .   .  300 

Willi.im  Biggs,  survey  417 400 

Jacob  Judy,  survey  413 400 

Benjaniiu  Ogle,  survey   044  ....  300 

Joseph  nu'l.,  vim.y  .'..->(i 400 

Franc-l-  n-lli.r.  -inv.-y  5.55  .  .  .  .  400 
Jamus  I'mii'il.  -iiiirys4104054  .  .  801) 
Jacol>  (.]..ot,  .-luvev  41.1 4CHI 


Stephen  Kerry,  survey  0.*)4  .  .  .  . 
Nicholas  Smith,  survey  411  .  .  . 
Henry  O'llarra,  survey  414,  part 


CaldM.-nCa 
in  1-11  . 


rvey  413,  part 

1 

vey  74",  part 
1 

T.    2 


Leonard    Harness,  survey  434, 

part  in   1-11  

ls(  Eiitrji  September  7,  1814. 

.\bsaloin  Bradshaw, N.  W.  quar- 
ter of  see.  24 


Siihtcqiient  Ell 


Samuel  Hill. 

John  J. ^. 

Adelaid  I'.ii 


as  N,-Knn,  parts  of  sec-  20  .  .  .so 
Hiadshaw,  parts  of  see.  35  .  lOO 
I  Whitley,  parts  of  sec.  30  .  .  117 


-10    W. 


Sur 


J.  Wo.Iey  . 


He 


ey.  Aers 

507  11. (i 

705  100 

721  2mi 

i'.l7,  042  500 

04O  4' HI 

670  400 

400  4011 


Shaihaeli  Bond,  Sr  . 

Sliailrach  Bond,  Jr  .  .  .330,502,012  00 

John  Singleton 713  Kh 

J.  Hyan c:il  si 

Mlei.ael    Miller 7.V,  lo 

George  \alenline 30;;  loi 

Fubt  Entry,  Dec.  3,  1814. 

Soth  Comerse.   .  B.  \V.  of  sec    8  11 

Theion  Bruiinfiel.l,  part  of  see.  i  si 

T.  3  s.— 10  w 


J.ilm  Berks  . 
J.iliii  Kyaii  , 
1.  ,V  T.  Tax  In 
....i„g,.  Far,|i 
,1.  ,i  .1.  liuiila 
.1.  y[  Mi.i.ie  . 
K|.l,raiii.s,o: 
.Mieliaul.Mill. 


12  120 
25     201 

13  112 


James  Henderson  .  .  COO  pi  ili  4  m  i" 

Henry  I.eyens  .  .  .  i.;;:i  ii> 

deorge  Biggs.  .  .  .  ci:i  :;" 

Jaine.sM<dioberts,703,7n4ptiu4-10  2o 

First  Eiitn,,  .Siji(.  17,  1814. 

Miehnel  Jliller  .  fr.  N.  K.  of  .•«ee.  1  15 

James  J-euien  .  part  of  see.  12, 13  31 


M    Rirkir  .    .   .  part  of  s 
linii  .Mrlntiish  .  part  of  s 


.lalni's  :\i,.i;.,i 
W,  F.  .Mvll.il.i 
F.lijah  Talluit 


T.   4   S. — 


Snr;ey.      Acrs 

Jolm  Rilgar 730,  702  Sou 

John   liiee  Jones  .   .                    707  494 

John   Uiec  Jones  .    .  315ptin5-10  652 

Williaul    Mcintosh.  30Sptin5  10  121 

J.  Worley 4S7  2oo 

llaplniel  Druiy  .   .   .                    0^5  Im 

JaniesSeott 707  250 

Joseph    Morrison.   .    311,312,313  3.j.s 
Joseph    Morrison  .   .    2S0,  200,  203, 
204,  296,  2111,  30<1,  .illl,  302,  303, 
304,  300,  307,  300,  310,  part  in 

5-10  4,OS8 

John  Eyert  .   .  201,  305,  pt  in  5-10  442 

T.  5  s. 

Surveys.      Acrs 

John  Edgar 353,  354,  355  404 

William    Mcintosh  .                  322  61 
Joseph  Morrison.  .   318,320,321, 

323,  324,  326,  .'.20,  327  OSO 

John  Evert 288,  317,  034  292 

Pierre  Roquette    .  .    317, 3.50,  C69  191 

Joseph   Tyon  ....    348,  070,  072  785 

Joseph  Hennet  .   .  350,  004, 005,  700  981 

Gabriel   Dodier  .   .   .            351,  352  155 

Jean  Petit 000  128 

Bene  Grude 008,  609  213 


10  W. 

William 


207, 


F.  Pi 


pan 


His. 


f.Nulli. 


.   314,  pt  in  5  10  .550 

.  7C0,  pt  in  4-11  400 

Hall    .   .   .   .  4S8  400 

and  surveys  482,  03i;,  part  in4-U  son 

Jesse  Kuyner.  .  .  708,  pt  in  4-11  400 

First  Fntnj,  Si]tl.  4,  1815. 

J,  ,t  W,  Wiiiliv  ,    .  X  E  of  Mr    19  l.-,2 

lli^    .if  N.  lliill      l.ail  111  MT    ]'..  .ill  2S3 


,  lluUl 


—10  w. 


Monsieur  Deneger  . 

671     128 

Alexander  McXabb  . 

633     113 

Pierre  Menard   .   .    . 

035     374 

William    Murr.ay    .   . 

317 

323       22 

George   Atchison    .   . 

402 

40.i     80O 

Joseph  Hagan .... 

490 

491     3|i0 

Antoin    Boisnienue  . 

734     714 

IchabodCamp  .... 

009     400 

Daniel  Shultz  .... 

607     40U 

Total 

7,131 

T.    1    S. 11    \V. 


Henry  O'Harra  .  5S8,  598,  509,  097  1,000 

Caldwell  Cairns  .   .                    409  100 

William  Trumbull,  42:!,  pt  in  1-10  800 

Leonard    Harness  .                   410  400 

David  Waddle  ...                    408  314 

Adam   Stroud  .    .   .  715,pt  in2-Il  303 

Benjamin   Kogers  .  5lW.pt in 2-11  loo 

First  Fiitri,,  .W<iT/l,  1S14. 

Adelaide  Perry,  fr.  part  of  sec.  11  510 


K.lmii. 
li.ni.l 
Joliu  Pi 


Porter  .  parts  of  see.  i: 
Trumbull,  part  of  seel 
J  .lai-riitt  ,  part  of  sec.  2; 
•.'■iinl,  partof  sec.  24,  2: 

I  ii\  IV.  part  of  sec.  2i 
UK  li.  part  of  sec.  3: 
iiu  -  fr.  part  of  sec.  33,3; 


Total  . 


T.  2  s. — 11  w. 


/■'irs(  Flit  y,  Sept.  17,  1.S14. 

John  Dimpsey  .  .  .  frar-l.  uf  2 
John  Sheehan  .  .  .  parts  of  1 
Jai'oli  Glover  .    .  parts  of    I  &  29 

W.  .1,  r.i.gers pans  of  1 

.1 1  I'rilii.jr  .    .    .      pans  of    3 

Ilu\  ill  Ci.x parts  c.f       3 

Hrir-.il  li.  ,t  .1,  I:. 111]..  |.;.n-  .if  4 

W.   II      II   Illl-....    |..Mls  ..|       s  ,^    17 

E.  Il.-iiist.  li  ,v  \  M.N.iir,  |.l-  .| 
Willhim  51.1111-. .11      .  I'liiis  .if    .1 


.  .  parts  of 
.  .  parts  of 
on,  parts  of 


,  parts  15,  22,  23 
.  .  section  16 
ii-,pts  17,20,21 


10.  21, 


lan 

s  n 

28 

irts 

..r 

31 

pai 

ts 

t    30 

S  Ul 

34 

A-  35 

-11  w. 


John  K.Igar 
J.  W.irlev,  « 


T.  4  S.  — 11  w. 


flialli 
Al.-x.i 


Willi. 
Philip  li.iil.-i- 
William  L.iiK 
Ueuben  Mille 


The  grand  ag;rregate  of  the  number  of  acres  of  hiiid  of 
Monroe  in  pos.<essioii  of  individual  owners  as  early  a.<  1819, 
when  Illinois  had  become  a  state,  was  not  less  than  72,000 
acres,  nearly  one-third  of  the  present  area  of  the  county. 
The  uncertainty  as  to  the  locution  of  those  numerous  claims 
had  prevented  settlers  from  purchasing  the  lands  ou  which 
they  had  squatted,  and  the  reader  will  observe  that  the  pro- 
cess of  entering  government  lands  commenced  in  all  town- 
ships pretty  much  at  the  same  time.  The  land  entries  be- 
tween the  years  1818  and  183G  were  by  no  means  numerous, 
and  the  transactions  in  the  real  estate  market  but  few. 

EARLY   TRANSFERS   OF    REAL   ESTATE. 

The  oldest  deed  on  record  was  made  in  1708,  but  not 
recorded  until  1817.  It  is  here  introduced  at  length,  to  wit : 


HfSTORY    OF   RAXDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


137 


Benjamio  Ogle  to  James  Garrctsoii. 

This  indenture  made  this  twenty  fourth  day  of  August 
1798,  between  Benjamin  Ogle  in  Cahokia  township  in  the 
Illinois  territory,  militia  man  and  doing  duty  as  such  on  the 
first  <lay  of  August  1790,  of  the  one  part,  and  James  Garret- 
son,  of  the  other  part,  witnesseth  that  the  said  Benjamin  Ogle 
as  a  militia  man  being  entitled  to  one  iiuudred  acres  of  land 
by  the  sixth  section  of  an  act  of  congress,  entitled  an  act  for 
granting  land^  to  the  habitants  and  settlers  at  Vincennes 
and  the  Illinois  country  in  the  territory  northwest  of  the 
Ohio  and  for  confirming  them  in  their  possession,  on  hia 
part  for  and  in  consideration  of  the  sura  of  eighty  dollars  to 
him  in  hand  paid  by  the  said  James  Garretson,  the  receipt 
whereof  he  doeth  hereby  acknowledge,  hath  gis'en,  grante<l, 
bargained,  sold,  released,  conveyed  and  confirmed  and  by 
these  presents  doth  give,  grant,  bargain,  sell,  release,  convey 
and  confirm  unto  the  said  James  Garretson  his  heirs  and 
assigns  forever,  all  his  right,  title,  claims,  interest  and  de- 
mand of,  in  and  to  the  said  one  hundred  acres  of  land  which 
before  the  ensealing  and  delivering  of  this  indenture  the  said 
Benjamin  Ogle  might  rightfully  claim  by,  through  and 
under  the  said  act  of  congress  as  aforesaid  unto  the  said 
James  Garretson  his  heirs  and  assigns,  and  the  said  Benja- 
min Ogle  for  himself  his  heirs,  executors  and  administrators 
doth  covenant  and  agree  to  and  with  the  said  James  Garret- 
son his  heirs,  executors,  administrators  and  assigns  the  said 
militia  right  of  one  hundred  acres  of  land  together  with  all 
the  appurtenances  against  the  lawful  claim  or  demand  of  any 
person  or  persons  whatsoever  unto  the  said  James  Garretson 
his  heirs  and  assigns  he  the  said  Benjamin  Ogle  his  heirs 
and  will  forever  warrant  and  defend  by  these  presents.  In 
testimony  of  which  the  said  Benjamin  Ogle  hath  hereunto 
subscribed  his  name  and  affixed  his  seal  the  day  and  year 
first  above  written.  ***** 

Bexjamix  Ogle.  Jseal.J 

Witness. — James  Lemen,  J.  P.  ***** 

There  were  a  few  more  conveyances  prior  to  the  county  or- 
ganization. The  first  sale  of  town  lots  took  place  in  1810 
when  one  Jacob  A.  Boj'es,  a  resident  of  Harrisonville  and 
its  founder,  sold  to  William  Middleton  of  Louisiana  territory 
lots  number  1U7  and  108  in  the  town  of  Harrisonville  for 
one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  August  l<tth,  1810.  These 
lots  lay  between  Alexander  and  McRobert's  Streets,  front- 
ing on  Walnut.  Sales  became  more  numerous  after  the  or- 
ganization of  the  county.  David  Cox  sold  eighty  acres  lying 
in  the  northwest  fractional  quarter  of  section  No.  3,  town- 
ship 2  south,  range  11  west,  at  S-.OO  per  acre,  June  4th,  1816. 
Six  thousand  dollars  would  hardly  pay  for  these  80  acres 
to  day. 

Isabella  Bond  sold  an  unlocated  but  confirmed  claim  of 
four  hundred  acres,  a  so  called  improvement  right,  to  Abra- 
ham Amos  for  S5  0.00,  July  6th  1816.  These  improve- 
ment rights  were  sold  in  the  years  from  1793  to  1798  for 
from  twenty  to  sixty  dollars  each. 

A  tract  of  land  of  one  hundred  acres,  the  northeast  frac- 
tional quarter  of  section  27  in  town  3-11  was  sold  by  Prince 
Bryant  to  Andey  Kinney,  May  14th,  1816,  for  fifty  dollars. 
18 


This  tract  is  now  owned  by  D.  T.  Tripp,  and  is  considered 
to  be  worth  S7000.  John  Violeny,  a  constable  of  Eagle 
township,  sold  lots  oo,  .j6  and  80  in  Harrisonville,  the  pro- 
perty of  one  Abijah  Ward,  who  had  ab.sconded  to  John  Mc- 
Chire  for  eighteen  dollars,  May  l-nh,  1816. 

John  Mitchell  conveyed  a  tract  of  land  in  the  American 
Bottom — no  description — containing  100  acres  to  Alexander 
Wells  to  secure  the  payment  of  a  loan  of  two  hundred  dollars 
Sept.  8,  181.^,  the  deed  was  placed  on  record  Sept.  6th,  1810. 
Nicholas  Jarrot  of  the  county  of  St.  Clair  sold  160  acres,  a 
part  of  improvement  claim  No.  2682  certified  to  Jean  Baptist 
Parant,  to  Andrew  Kinney  for  100  dollars,  August  8ih,  1816. 

Heirs  of  Henry  O'Hara,  by  commissioners  sold  to  John 
Sullivan  claim  No.  766,  survey  .")88,  containing  400  acres, 
also  claims  76.S  and  764  containing  200  acres,  all  located  iu 
Round  Prairie  for  81.500,  Sept  6th,  1816. 

These  tracts  are  now  in  the  possession  of  J.  C.  Cairns, 
judge  E.  P.  Slate,  August  Tuntze,  Michael  Stumpf,  Herman 
Beckerle,  John  Breisen's  widow,  John  Stephan  and  others, 
and  represent  a  cash  value  of  at  least  S43,000.  Henry 
Hays,  adm.  of  the  estate  of  W.  L.  Smith  deceased,  sold  to 
Samuel  J.  Kinkead  250  acres,  the  improvement  right  of 
James  Scott,  claim  820  for  8127,  Sept.  7th,  1816. 

The  transactions  mentioned  above  may  .suffice  to  show 
what  price  the  real  estate  in  the  county  commanded  at  the 
time  of  its  organization,  to  wit  from  50  cts.  to  2i  dollars 
per  acre 

The  sale  of  real  estate  in  the  first  decade  of  the  county, 
1816  to  1826,  amounted  in  the  aggregate  to  8327.645,  prices 
ranging  between  50  cts.  and  810,00  per  acre.  The  highest 
price  was  paid  in  1820  the  lowest  in  1816;  prices  advanced 
rapidly  from  1818  to  1820,  when  a  decline  is  perceptible,  to 
wit.  to  84.00  in  1822 — prices  recovered  somewhat  in  1824 
and  reached  87.00  and  88.00  in  1825.  The  transactions  in 
the  real  estate  market  were  as  follows: 

In  1816  they  amounted  to  $14.0:t»    In  1822  they  amounted  to  513.050 


1817 
1818 
1819 
1820 
1821 


33.785 

'  1823 

«.345 

'  1824 

93.8U 

'  1825 

37.249  1 

18.721  ■ 

22.247 
22.718 
27.o:t7 


first   road  petitions   and  names  of  monroe  county 
pioneers. 

May  23,  1816. 

The  undersigned  petitioners,  citizens  of  Monroe  countyi 
humbly  sheweth 

Whereas,  a  new  High  Way  or  common  road  from  Harri- 
son to  Andey  Kinney's  Mill  is  greatly  needed,  said  road  to 
pass  along  on  the  most  convenient  ground  from  Harrison  to 
the  lane  dividing  between  Squire  Jameson  and  Mr  Thomp. 
son's  place,  thence  through  said  lane  to  the  county  road  to 
the  residence  of  Hugh  Ralston,  from  thence  up  Ryan's 
creek  on  the  best  ground  for  which  your  petitioners  therefore 
pray  that  your  honors  will  take  such  measures  concerning 
the  premises  as  to  you  seemeth  meet — and  your  petitioners 
as  in  duty  bound  will  ever  pray. 

William  Marney,  Hugh  Ralston,  Mo.ses  Jameson,  John 
Conn,  Elisha  Exley,  (Axley)  Daniel  Hull,  Joseph  Worley, 
John  Winters,  Alice  Chalffin,  James  Hull,  Michael  Doe, 


138 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND   PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS 


Amos  Cha]ffin,  Daniel  Rapert,  Samuel  Turner,  James  Heu- 
der^on,  John  James,  Edward  Crouch,  Timothy  Coats,  John 
McClure,  John  Tolen,  Reuben  Bradley,  Isaiah  Levens,  Ed- 
ward Cox,  Andey  Kinney,  Francis  Osborn,  John  Moore,  Ed- 
ward Claris,  John  Hagan,  William  Worley,  William  Chance, 
Philip  Rader,  Daniel  Star,  Thomas  James,  William  Hagan 
and  Thomas  Lusby.* 

The  older  residents  of  the  county  reniember  well  the  ec" 
centricities  of  William  Lemen,  who  at  one  time  contrived 
to  lodge  the  honorable  judge,  E.  P.  Rogers,  merchant  at 
Peter's  town,  in  a  hogshead  filled  with  eggs.  Rogers,  stand- 
ing up  to  his  waitt  within  his  eggs,  screamed  out,  you  have 
to  pay  for  these  eggs,  you  have  to  pay  for  them.  "  Cer- 
tainly," said  Lemen,  ''count  them  out,  sir;  count  them 
out."  During  the  Black  Hawk  war  he  served  as  a  volun- 
teer. The  following  practical  joke  on  Bill  Evert,  also  from 
Monroe,  is  credited  to  Lemen.  Evert  was  known  to  be  as 
great  a  coward  as  braggadocio.  Lemen  strolling  away  from 
camp  found  a  dead  (or  as  they  called  them  then  a  good 
Indi.  n.  He  wrapped  a  blanket  around  the  corpse  and 
Btood  it  up  against  a  tree.  Returning  to  camp,  he  told 
Evert  that  he  had  seen  Invert's  missing  horse  about  a  mile 
off,  on  a  little  prairie.  Evert  of  course,  rushed  out  and 
coming  near  tlie  tree  mentioned,  saw  the  dead  Lidian.  He 
discharged  his  rifle  and  ran  back  to  camp,  telling  the  men 
that  he  had  met  a  number  of  Lidians  and  was  sure  to  have 
burned  a  hole  through  the  blanket  of  one  of  them,  etc.  He 
was  laughed  out  of  camp  for  wasting  his  ammunition  on  an 
Indian  who  had  been  dead  for  a  week  or  longer. 

Lemen's  famous  court-martial  trial  for  playing  horse  and 
scaring  at  a  stump  is  known  to  ail. 

In  October,  18U),  the  following  residents  of  the  American 
Bottom  petitioned  for  a  road  from  Daniel  Vaughan's  and 
John  Hewitts  saw  mill  to  the  old  "Stroud"  place,  to  wit  : 
John  Hewitt,  Daniel  Vaughan,  James  Fowler,  Seth  Con" 
verse,  Edward  and  David  Cox,  John  Primm,  Ira  Hewitt' 
James  Whaley,  William  B.  Whaley,  William  Whaley,  S. 
Bond  (ihegcvunor  (?)  who  then  livedat  or  mar  Moredcck 
lake),  John  Cooper,  Jesse  W.  Cooper,  William  Alexander 
and  Thomas  O'Connor. 

In  February,  l!S17,  John  Cooper,  Timothy  Coates,  Avin- 
ton  Sherrill,  Hugh  Ralston,  J.  W  Cooper,  John  McClure, 
William   Arundel,    Daniel    Hull,    Zopher    William,   John 

*  Some  of  William  blarney's  descendants  are  still  living  in  the  r-niinty,  lor 
inst.-xnce,  ttie  iJilch  f:\miiy.  The  Marueys  were  from  ICentiicky.  .Closes  Janie. 
son  was  the  first  justice  of  the  peace  in  the  county.  Histomi  stone  «as  in  Uler 
days  utilir.-d  by  one— a  certain  well-known  foreign  horn  citizen— as  a  part  floor 
of  a  baking  oven.  He  was  indicted  for  this  otfense,  but  escaped  punishment ; 
subsequently  this  same  individual,  indicted  for  stealing  liogs,  and  sentenced  to 
penitentiary  for  oue  year.  A.xley's  descendants  are  still  residents  of  the  county- 
John  Winters'  tombstone  can  still  be  seen  in  the  cenielory  of  the  "  Grant  M.'cl- 
ng  House  "—so  called  because  situated  on  tlie  famous  Renault  Grant.  The 
ChatHns  and  among  them  the  Horines  are  known  residents  of  the  county. 
JohnJames  subsequently  hel.i  many  county  oftices;  liis  descendants,  and  those 
of  his  brother,  James  A.  James,  are  prominent  citizens  of  the  c  unly.  The 
Tolins*  family  was  very  prolihc.  Reuben  Bradley  lived  about  three  miles 
north  of  Harrison,  but  the  family  in  the  county  is  not  represented  at  present- 
AndeyKinney  hadawater  powermlil  atwliat  is  now  called  Monroe  City.  There 
are  no  descendants  now  found  in  the  county,  they  having  moved  north.  The 
Mooresare  moree.xtensively  mentioned  in  the  chapter  on  pioneers.  The  Clarks 
are  still  represented  in  the  county  ;  they  hail  from  Virginia.  Daniel  Starr,  who 
used  to  live  on  the  Frick  place,  removed  to  Texas.  William  Lem-n  belonged 
to  the  oldest  American  settlers  in  Illinois.  They  are  mentioned  in  the  chapter 
on  pioneers. 


Tolin,  Josiah  Lemen,  Cartwood,  Abram   Bunker  and 

Joshua  Craig,  petitioned  the  court  for  a  road,  beginning  at 
the  Hugh  Ralston  "  plantation  ''  up  Ryan's  (now  Monroe) 
creek,  thence  up  Sherrill's  branch  to  the  New  Design  road, 
thence  to  the  "  Beaver  ponds,"  there  dividing,  thence  '  along 
the  right-hand  fork  to  Judge  Lemen's  plantation,  there 
falling  into  the  Horse-prairie  road  leading  to  the  Wideman's 
and  ]Manville's  ferry  on  the  Kaskaskia,  the  other  fork  from 
the  Beaver  ponds  to  the  left,  passing  on  by  Michael  Miller's 
to  the  ■'  fountain,"  there  falling  into  the  road  that  leads  from 
New  Design  to  Belleville. 

First  road  in  Mitchie  township.  The  petitioner.=,  Alexan 
der  McNabb,  Joseph  Worley,  Seth  Chalffin,  Joseph  Wilson, 
Raphael  Drury,  Thomas  McRoberts,  and  others,  state  un- 
der date  of  April  10,  1S17.  that  a  permanent  public  road 
through  Mitchie  township  is  greatly  wanted.  This  road  is 
to  start  from  Hugh  Ralston's  plautation — ^which,  by  the  way, 
seems  to  have  been  the  centre  of  population  at  that  time  — 
along  the  bluffs,  through  the  plantations  of  Isaiah  Levens 
and  James  Henderson,  to  a  road  estal)lished  by  the  county 
court  of  R-aiidolph  county,  thence  to  the  plantation  of  Jo- 
seph Worley.  thence  to  Mill  creek,  where  a  bridge  is  to  be 
erected,  thence  through  the  prairie  so  as  to  leave  the  plan- 
tation of  the  widow  Fisher  on  the  right  hand,  thence  along 
the  so  called  middle  road  to  the  county  line.  In  December, 
1818,  a  road  was  opened  from  J.  'SI-  Wilson's  ferry  landing 
on  the  Mississippi  through  Yankee  prairie  to  Horse-prairie- 
Another  road  from  Harrison  through  the  American  Bottom 
to  Wilson's  ferry  was  ordered  to  be  opened  August  -,  1819. 
Among  the  petitioners  are  to  be  found  the  following  names 
not  heretofore  mentioned  :  Andrew  Hilton,  James  8.  Beau- 
raond,  Robert  Latty,  John  Grate,  Johu  Warnock.  William 
Mcintosh,  Charles  Haldeman,  R.  Martin,  John  Ford,  Prince 
Bryant,  George  Wallis,  Elijah  Talbott.  Edward  Garrick 
George  Forquer,  William  Bryant.  John  ^l.  Davis,  John 
Brimberg,  (a  German  >  Francis  Baldwin  and  J.  ^Mitchell. 

The  county  was  divided  into  the  following  road  districts, 
Junes,  1817. 

No.  1.  To  commence  on  the  Kaskaskia  rnail  at  the  southern 
boundary  of  Harrison  township,  and  run  north  to  what  is 
called  Robbin's  place,  or  otherwise  to  a  large  pecan  tree  near 
said  farm,  with  Thomas  James  as  supervisor. 

No.  2.  To  contmence  north  at  the  Mitchie  towasliip  line 
and  run  south  to  the  southern  boundary  line  of  the  rnuiity, 
with  William  Worley  as  supervisor. 

No.  o.  To  commence  south  at  Robbin's  |)lace,  or  the  Pecan 
tree,  and  run  north  to  the  north  end  of  the  county  bridge 
across  Eagle  creek,  with  George  Atchinson  as  supervisor. 

No  4.  To  commence  south  at  the  north  eml  of  the  county 
bridge  across  Eagle  creek,  a'  d  run  from  thence  north  to  the 
northern  boundary  line  of  the  county,  with  Thomas  Harrison 
as  supervisor. 

No.  5'.  To  begin  at  the  south  line  of  the  county  and  run 
north  to  the  lane  between  the  fields  of  Michael  Miller  and 
Felix  Clark,  with  George  M.  Mourtry  as  supervisor. 

No.  6.  To  commence  south  at  said  line  and  run  north  to 
the  boundary  line  of  the  county,  with  William  Forquer  as 
supervisor. 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


139 


EARLY   JUSTICES    OF    THE   PEACE, 

Moses  Jameson,  Alexander  Jameson,  Thomas  Brownfield; 
J.  W.  Cooper,  J.  M  Moore,  Henry  C.  Miziier.  John  Roach, 
John  Scott,  Prince  Bryant,  John  James,  Seth  Converse, 
John  Divers,  John  Prim,  Daniel  Hull,  Joseph  Worley, 
Thomas  M.  Hamilton,  and  Alexander  McNabb. 

From  a  record  of  stock  marks  of  1816  to  1818  we  are 
enabled  to  give  to  the  reader  the  names  of  all  farmers  of  the 
counv  owning  stock.  These  names  have  been  arranged  in 
alphabetical,  but  not  chronological  order,  to  wit: 

Elisha  Axley,  William  Alexander,  Abraham  Amos, 
Ichabod  Badgley,  Jacob  Borer,  John  Burk,  Seth  Chalfin, 
Edward  Crouch,  Abram  Clark,  William  Chalfin,  Caldwell 
Cairns,  Edward  Clark,  Jacob  Clark,  Adam  Clover,  John 
Clover,  John  Cooper,  Moses  Clawson,  Ebenezer  Clawson, 
Amos  Chalfin,  Joshua  Carey,  David  Cox,  Jonathan  Church, 
James  Cleiideuin,  Daniel  Converse,  Robert  C.)lman,  Wil- 
liam Chance,  Felix  Clark,  John  Clark,  John  Coop,  Erapson 
B.  Cantril,  John  Cirr,  W.  C.  Bryant,  Raphael  Drury, 
Michael  Dace,  David  Ditch,  G  W.  Ditch,  William  Ditch, 
Geo.  W.  Davis,  Elijah  Davis,  James  Davis,  (called  the 
pauper),  Barnett  Ertis,  John  Eagan,  George  Estes,  Jacob 
Eastwood,  Joseph  Evans,  Abraham  Eastwood,  Churchill 
Fulsher,  William  Farquer,  Gram  Fisher,  Jacob  Fultz,  Jere- 
miah Gilman,  James  Garrison,  John  Grate,  Edward  Gavish, 
Euos  L.  Gaylord,  William  Goldsmith,  Jake  Garritson> 
William  G.  Goforth  Joseph  Hogan,  Daniel  Hull,  P.  Hogan, 
James  Henderson,  William  Howard,  Peter  Holderaann, 
John  Hogan,  Daniel  Hilton,  Robert  Haskins,  John  Haskins, 
Joseph  Haskins,  Redding  B.  Herring,  Moses  Haskins,  Chris- 
tian Holdemann,Ad.  Hussy,  Sylvauus  Harlow,  Daniel  Heely, 
John  M.  Hull,  Mathias  Harrison,  Alexander  Jameson, 
Ishraal  Willard,  John  James,  Thomas  James,  Henry  Iraan, 
Christopher  Iraan.  Nathan  Johnston,  Samuel  J.  Kiukead, 
Audey  Kinney,  G.  W.  Kingsley,  William  (  Hills )  Lemeu, 
Gerardus  Locke,  Thomas  Lusby,  William  Lemeu,  Moses 
Locke,  Samuel  Locke,  .Arnold  Livers,  David  Lenisee,  John 
McClure,  John  Moredock,  Reuben  Miller,  John  (Meyer) 
Myars,  Thomas  Marrs,  John  Mitchell,  Benjamin  Marney, 
John  Miller,  (bar  keeper,  1817),  Jacob  McDavid,  Alexander 
McNabb,  Milton  J.  Moore,  Samuel  Miller,  Benjamin  Mas- 
terson,  Enoch  Moore,  .fames  B.  Moore,  C.  H.  Mizner,  John 
Modglin  Stephen  W.  Miles,  James  Moore,  John  Moore, 
Milton  J.  Moore  2nd,  James  B.  Moore  ?nd,  Jacob  Neft",  John 
Neff,  Abrara  NefT,  James  Nelson,  Henry  Neff,  Edward  New- 
sham,  Thomas  O'Connor,  Charles  Owens,  Adams  Payne, 
David  Petit,  Andrew  Porter,  Luke  Patterson,  Jacob  Pal- 
meier  (German),  William  Robins,  James  Robins,  Philip 
Rader,  John  Roach,  John  Robins,  John  Ryan,  Hugh  Ral- 
ston, Daniel  Raper,  .James  Roberts,  Daniel  Rapert,  James 
M.  Robinson,  John  Rogers,  Daniel  Ramer,  Peter  Rogers, 
Solomon  Shook,  Daniel  Shook,  John  Summers,  Edward 
Smith,  Jehu  Scott,  Daniel  Sink,  Peter  Stroud,  Solomon 
Stong,  Adam  Smith,  Junies  R.  Shepherd,  Nehemias  Starr, 
Isaac  W.  Starr,  William  Steel,  James  Stirrett,  Jonathan 
Shepherd,  Elijah  Talbert,  Jacob  Trout,  James  Taylor,  Thom- 
aa  Thaylor,   Jewett   Varnum,   Alexander    Wells,   Edward 


Welch,  George  Wallis,  John  Werley,  Joseph  Werley,  John 
M.  Wilson,  J.  Rodgers  William,  Elisha  Westbrook,  B. 
Baker  Whaley,  Henry  Wardman,  Z  )pher  Williams,  John  D. 
Whiteside,  Otho  Wilson,  William  Wilson,  D.ivid  Whiteside, 
Je.sse  Weswell,  Hiram  Whiteside,  John  Woodrome,  John 
Whiteside,  J.  P.  Waddle,  Moses  Williams,  William  Walker, 
David  Yates,  Joseph  I.  Young 
We  introduce  next  a  list  of 

EAHl.Y    MARRIAtiES. 

The  oldest  certificate  of  marriage  is  dated  September  28, 
1810.  The  happy  couple,  to  wit:  William  Calhoon  and 
Nancy  Quigley,  had  obtained  their  proper  license  from  the 
clerk  of  Monroe  county,  Illinois,  on  the  20th  of  August  pre- 
ceding, and  were  joined  in  the  holy  bands  of  wedlock, 
according  to  the  rules  of  the  Baptist  Church,  by  James 
Garretson.  This  was  the  only  marriage  in  the  county 
in  1816.  The  next  wedding  took  place  almost  a  year 
later,  August  14,  1817,  when  Abraham  Amos,  M.  P. 
(missionary  preacher),  solemnized  the  rites  of  matrimony 
between  William  F.  Roberts  and  Elizabeth  Fonjuer  ;  and 
also  Thomas  Porter  and  Nina  Wheeler.  The  marriage 
ceremony  between  John  Warnock  and  MLss  .Jane  McClure 
was  performed  by  Salmon  Giddings,  an  ordained  clergy- 
man. William  Griflen  and  Polly  Hendricks  were  lawfully 
married  by  Abram  Amos,  M.  P.,  Sept.  4,  1817.  Alexander 
Jameson,  a  justice  of  the  peace,  performed  the  marriage 
ceremony  for  Ira  Scovel  and  Polly  Chrisley  on  the  21st  of 
December,  1817.  John  Henson  and  Sarah  Davis  were 
joined  in  the  holy  state  of  matrimony  by  J.  Milton  Moore, 
justice  of  the  peace,  on  the  30lh  of  October,  1817  ;  and 
Squire  Alexander  Jameson  did  a  similar  act  of  kindness  to 
Joseph  Andrew  and  Katharine  Wiley  Oct.  28,  1817  ;  also 
for  John  McDavid  and  Betsey  Fisher  on  the  1.5th  of  Sept'r 
1817  ;  and,  two  days  later,  for  Reuben  Bradley  and  Nancy 
Stephens. 

Jesse  W.  Cooper,  justice  of  the  p  ace,  on  the  tJth  of  Au- 
gust, 1817,  was  addressed  by  William  Alexander,  C.  C.  0. 
M.  C,  as  follows  :  Whereas  there  is  a  marriage  shortly  to  be 
solemnized  between  Elisha  Fowler,  of  the  county  of  Monroe 
and  territory  of  Illinois,  and  Mary  Quigley,  of  the  same 
county  and  territory  ;  and  the  said  Elisha  Fowler  having 
legally  proven  the  requisitions  required  of  him  according  to 
law,  this  is  therefore  to  license  and  permit  you  to  join  to- 
gether in  the  holy  state  of  matrimony  said  parties,  agreeable 
to  the  rites  and  ceremonies  of  your  church;  and  for  so  doing 
this  shall  be  your  sufficient  warrant.  Given  under  my  hand 
at  my  office  at  Harrisonville,  Monroe  county,  this  tith  day 
of  August,  1817,  and  of  the  Independence  the  forty-second. 
The  Squire  tied  the  knot  on  Sunday,  August  10,  1.S17,  ac- 
cording to  law,  as  he  says. 

A  proclamation  and  warrant  similarly  composed  and 
worded,  with  the  addition  of  the  solemn  a.ssertion  that  the 
lady  had  consented  and  entered  into  security  as  the  law 
directs,  authorized  the  marriage  of  Daniel  Vaughn  and 
Rody  Huit ;  and  Squire  Cooper  comically  reporis  that  the 
"above  named  "  were  lawfully  married  according  to  law. 
The  year  1817  was  prolific  in  its  crop  of  marriages,  there 


140 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


having  been  eleven  recorded  in  the  county.     The  records  of 
1818  contain  the  following: 

Ellis  Chalfin  and  Rebecca  Hull,  Jan.  0,  by  Alexander  Jameson,  J.  P. 
William  Riggs  and  Sarah  Brownfleld,  .4pril  7,  by  Thomas  Browufield,  J.  P. 
Thomas  Vanmater  and  Delilah  Cain,  Feb.  15,  by  Abraham  Amos,  M.  P. 
William  Rodgers  and  Sarah  Probins,  Aug.  18.  by  J.  W.  Cooper,  J.  P. 
Joseph  Hogan  and  Eliz.^beth  Liycount,  Aig.  7,  by  Jesse  W.  Cooper,  J.  P. 
Thoma.s  Johnston  and  Eache  Cain,  Nov.  29,  by  James  Garretsoii,  M.  G. 
The  year  181S  did  not  as  well  as  1817. 

1819. 

Dennis  Dace  and  Massey  Robins,  Jan.  2,  by  James  Garretson,  M.  G. 

Jess  Boggs  and  Polly  Wilson,  Jan.  21.  by  Jesse  W.  Cooper,  J.  P. 

William  Brown  and  Betsey  Barney,  Jan.  2.3. by  John  Scott,  J.  P. 

William  Anderson  and  Sally  Valentine,  alios  SiUy  Miller,  January  23,  by  John 
Scott,  J.  P. 

Burdett  Green  and  Rebecca  Parker,  Jan.  31,  by  James  Garretson,  M.  G. 

Samuel  Lock  and  Charily  Steph-  ns,  April  21,  by  John  Scott,  J.  P. 

Moses  Divers  and  Phcebe  Jones,  July  15,  by  Henry  C.  Mizner. 

Moses  Lock  and  Sally  Stirrel,  June  12,  by  Henry  C.  Mizner,  J.  P. 

James  McDaniel  and  Elizabeth  Modglin,  Aug  6th,  by  J.  Milton  Moore,  J.  P. 

Jesse  Miller  and  Elizabeth  Modglin,  Aug.  29,  by  J.  Milton  Moore,  J.  P. 

Elijah  Axley  .ind  Elizabeth  Everman,  Aug.  26,  by  Th.  Browntield,  J.  P. 

William  D.  Brightman  and  Sophia  Devoe,  Aug.  20,  by  T.  M.  Hamilton,  J.  P. 

John  B.  Wiser  and  Catharine  Fry,  late  wife  of  Joseph  Fry,  legally  divorced  by 
an  order  of  the  Circuit  Court  of  Monroe  county,  obtained  license  to  get 
married ;  but  the  certificate  of  marriage  is  not  on  file  nor  recorded. 

Nimrod  Triplet  and  Franky  Hutson,  Nov.  18,  by  John  Divers,  J.  P. 

Reuben  Gon  and  Sarah  Elliot,  Dec.  20,  by  Henry  C.  Mizner,  J.  P. 

Among  the  marriages  solemnized  in  Monroe  county  at  an 
early  day,  that  of  Shadrach  Bond  should  here  be  mentioned. 
The  license  was  issued  on  the  16lh  of  June,  18'23,  and  worded 
as  follows : 

State  of  Illinois,  Monroe  county,  ss 

The  people  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  to  all  to  whom  these 
prefents  fhall  come  greeting  :  Know  ye  that  a  license  is 
hereby  granted  to  any  licensed  minister  of  the  Gospel,  any 
justice  of  the  peace,  county  commissioner,  or  any  other  per- 
son legally  authorized,  to  join  together  in  the  holy  state  of 
matrimony  Shadrach  Bond  and  Ann  Todd,  both  of  the 
county  aforesaid,  and  for  so  doing  this  shall  be  a  sufficient 
warrant. 

In  witness  whereof,  I,  Daniel  Converse,  deputy  clerk  for 
Samuel  McRoberts,  clerk  of  the  county  commissioners' court 
for  Monroe  county,  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  seal 
(there  being  no  public  seal  provided),  this  1 6th  day  of  June, 
in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
twenty-three. 

Daniel  Converse,  Dep'y  Clerk. 

The  marriage  was  solemnized  about  ten  days  later,  as  will 
appear  from  the  following  certiticate: 
State  of  Illinois,  Monroe  (»unty,  s« 

This  may  certify  that  on  the  twenty-sixth  day  of  June, 
1823,  by  virtue  of  a  license  from  the  clerk  of  the  cuunty 
commissioners'  court  of  Monroe  county,  I  joined  together  in 
the  holy  bonds  of  matrimony  Shadrach  Bond*  and  Ann 
Todd.     Witness  my  hand  and  seal,  June  27,  1823. 

Henry  C.  Mizner,  J.  P. 


*  This  Shadrach  Bond  cannot  have  been  the  "Governor,"  who  ' 
Nov.  27,  181(1,  in  Nashville,  Tennessee,  to  Miss  Achsah  Bond  (an  own  cousin), 
who  survived  the  Governoi-  and  died  in  Kaskai-kia,  Feb.  29, 1844,  as  stated  to 
the  writer  by  Dr.  B.  N.  Bond,  of  Slanberry,  Mo.,  only  surviving  son  of  the  Gov- 
ernor. The  doctor  al.so  Informs  us  that  Daniel  D.  Smith  and  Miss  Todd  were 
married  at  the  Governor's  house,  which  fact  was  ascertained  from  a  memoran- 
dum in  the  family  Bible,  now  in  his  possession. 


TOWNS   AND  VILLAGES   PRIOR   TO   1820. 

The  ancient  village  of  St.  Philip  has  been  mentioned  in 
the  preceding  sketch  of  the  Renault  Grant.  Harrimmille, 
or  Carthage,  is  frequently  mentioned  in  the  oldest  American 
records  of  Kaskaskia,  where  it  is  sometimes  called  t'^e  Ameri- 
can "  block  house"  or  "fort.'  A  plat  of  the  town  of  "Car- 
thage "  was  filed  for  record  on  the  20th  of  July,  1816, 
signed  James  B.  Edwards,  deputy  recorder  of  Monroe 
county.  The  town  was  located  on  the  Mis-issippi  river,  in 
section  18,  town  3—11  It  contained  56  blocks  of  4  lots 
each.  The  streets,  14  in  number,  crossed  each  other  at 
right  angles.  Water,  Second,  Third,  Walnut,  Sycamore, 
Broad  and  Mulberry  streets  ran  parallel  with  the  river. 
The  cross  streets,  commencing  in  the  south,  were  named 
Main,  Market,  Moore,  Lemen,  Alexander,  McRoberts  and 
McClure  streets.  The  public  square  was  located  in  the 
southeastern  part  of  the  town,  between  Broad  and  Mul- 
berry and  Main  and  Market  streets.  A  donation  to  the 
county  was  made  by  the  firm  of  McKnight  &  Brady,  of  St. 
Louis,  on  the  19th  of  July,  1816  This  donation  com- 
prised block  47  of  the  town  of  Carthage  and  four  outlots, 
adjoining  the  town  in  the  east,  containing  about  20  acres 
in  the  aggregate.  The  name  of  "  Harrisonville"  is  easily 
accounted  for,  as  the  town  was  laid  out  during  the  adminis- 
tration of  the  first  territorial  governor  of  the  Indiana  terri- 
tory, of  which,  until  1809,  Illinois  formed  a  part.  But  why 
was  the  town  named  Carthage?  Probably  in  honor  of  Mrs. 
Dido,  wife  of  William  Atchison,  who  was  in  possession  of  a 
tract  of  land  containing  4U0  acres,  known  as  Claim  1407, 
Survey  .561,  located  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  town, 
at  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  county.  William  and 
Dido  sold  this  tract  to  William  Morrison,  November  4, 
l.sl«,  for  §3000— the  highest  price  paid  for  lands  in  those 
days.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  our  Dido  led  a  more  fortunate 
life  than  her  namesake,  the  queen  of  ancient  Carthage.  At 
any  rate  we  found  no  account  of  a  faithless  and  heartless 
uEneas,  who,  after  playing  shepherd  with  her  in  the  adja- 
cent caves,  could  have  caused  her  to  ascend  a  funeral  pile, 
and  to  pierce  her  loving  heart  with  an  old  cavalry  sabre. 

Waterloo  was  named  and  laid  out  by  George  Forquer*  and 
Daniel  P.  Cook  on  section  25,  town  2,  south  10  in  the  be- 
ginning of  1818.  A  survey  of  the  site  was  made  by  Enoch 
Moore,  December  18,  1818. 

Town  lots  had  been  sold  by  Forqutr  and  Conk  as  early  as 
April,  1818.  Among  the  purchasers  of  these  lots  we  found 
the  names  of  James  Smith,  James  Rankin,  William  How- 
ard, Dennis  Dace,  Michael  Dace,  John  Garretson,  Joseph 
Beaird,  William  Beaird,  John  Reynolds,  Enoch  Moore, 
Peter  Prim,  Guy  Morrison,  John  Ryan,  J.  H.  Lambert, 
Jesse  W.  Cooper  and  James  Moore. 

Bridgewater,  laid  out  by  George  Forquer,  Daniel  P.  Cook 
and  John  James,  was  located  south  of  Eagle  creek,  at  its 
confluence  with  the  Mississippi.  It  contained  19  blocks  of 
from  6  to  12  lots  each.     The  public  square  was  composed 


*t;eorge  Forquer  was  :i  man  of  great  inHuence.  He  occupied  various  respon- 
sible poi-i  ions  in  the  county.  In  later  years  he  removed  to  Sangamon  county, 
which  he  represented  iu  the  State  Senate  in  1834  and  18.1.-..  He  gave  the  im- 
petus to  the  great  internal  improvement  and  railroad  fever,  which  plunged 
the  State  into  a  debt  of  a'  out  fourteen  millions  of  dollars. 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,   MONROE   AND   PERRY    COUNTIES,   ILLINOIS. 


141 


of  8  lots,  two  each  of  blocks  2,  3,  8  and  9,  being  of  oblong 
form,  '2(>0  by  344  feet,  and  containing  an  area  of  89.440 
i-quare  feet.  Samuel  Mooney.  John  Ford,  Freeman  Kelly, 
Hamilton  .Smith,  David  Levisse,  James  R.  Sheppard  and 
Henry  C.  Mizner  were  the  first  purchasers  of  lots. 

We  return  now  to  the  government  of  the  county.  The 
second  county  board.  1^*17  to  1818,  consisted  of  Caldwell 
Cairn?.  James  Lemen  and  James  McRoberts.  The  labors 
of  this  board  were  confined  to  opening  a  few  roads,  granting 
of  licens-es  and  permitting  Ichabod  Valentine  to  erect  mill" 
dams  on  Eagle  creek.  The  court  had  a  settlement  with 
John  Moore,  asse.'sor  and  treasurer,  and  also  with  James  K. 
Moore,  sheriff.  It  does  not  appear  what  the  revenue  had 
amounted  to,  but  there  were  small  balances,  to  wit:  833.02* 
and  S20.)S.")  against  the  officers.  The  cost  of  the  assessment 
was  stated  to  have  been  §12.00  exactly. 

The  act  of  the  legislature,  January  12,  1818,  established 
the  so-called  justices'  courts,  which  were  intrusted  with  the 
county  government.  This  system  continued  in  force  until 
June  7,  l><l!t. 

The  first  court  of  this  kind  was  held  en  the  20th  April, 
1818,  Justices  Jesse  W.  Cooper.  Prince  Bryant,  J.  Milton 
Moore,  Alexander  Jameson.  John  Scott,  James  Whaley  and 
William  Chalfin  attending.  The  court  was  held  in  the 
house  of  Thomas  Jame.s.  A  number  of  ^Nimrods  appeared 
to  claim  the  lawful  rewards  for  killing  wolves,  to  wit,  82  00 
for  each  scalp.  These  Nimrods  were  Ellis  Chalfin,  Warner 
Dace,  John  Clover,  Joseph  Harniss,  William  Quigley, 
Thomas  Nelson  and  James  McDonald.  James  Henderson, 
Adam  Smith  and  Daniel  C.  Link  were  licensed  to  keep 
taverns,  and  John  M.  Wilson  to  run  a  ferry  from  his 
"house"  across  the  Mississippi,  for  which  he  had  to  pay 
$3  00. 

Thomas  O'Conner  contracted  for  making  the  county 
assessment,  for  and  in  consideration  of  which  he  was  to  be 
paid  S21.0O. 

The  necessity  of  building  a  jail  had  now  become  apparent, 
and  a  contract  was  entered  into  with  Samuel  J.  Kinkead  on 
the  18th  of  April.  1.S18. 

In  order  to  give  the  present  generation  an  idea  of  what  a 
dungeon  of  those  days  consisted,  we  introduce  below  the 
contract  at  length. 

John  James  was  appointed  to  superintend  the  building  of 
the  jail,  which  seems  to  have  been  completed  June  9,  1819. 

CONTKACT  FOR  FIRST  PUBLIC  BUILDING  IN  MONROE   COUNTY. 

A  contract  is  hereby  made  with  Samuel  J.  Kinkead  to 
build  a  jail  on  the  public  square  in  the  town  of  Harrisonville, 
donated  to  the  county  for  the  purpose  of  having  public 
buildings  thereon  erected  by  the  present  proprietors  of  said 
town,  the  jail  is  to  be  of  the  following  descriptions,  viz. : 

To  be  sixteen  feet  square  in  the  clepr,  the  foundation  to 
be  of  stone  laid  in  lime  mortar,  three  feet  thick  and  two  feet 
high,  the  jail  to  be  built  of  "  hughen  "  timber  one  foot  scjuare 
and  two  tier,  each  to  be  dovetailed  so  as  to  lock  at  each 
corner  ;  timber  of  the  same  kind  and  size  to  be  set  in  per- 
pendicularly between  the  in-  and  outer  tier,  so  as  to  touch  ; 
to  be  one  story  high  and  eight  feet  in  the  clear,  all  of  the 


timber  to  be  oak,  except  the  two  inside  tiers,  the  upper  tier 
of  the  lower  floor  and  the  lower  tier  of  the  upper  one  maybe 
of  cotton  wood,  which  is  used  in  building  the  said  jail,  the. 
corners  of  said  jail  are  to  be  boxed  with  good  oak  plank,  the 
lower  floor  to  be  "  hughen"  timber,  one  foot  square  jointed 
and  to  be  double,  the  upper  tier  of  timber  to  "  lay  "  across 
the  under.  The  floor  overhead  to  be  of  light  materials  and 
made  in  like  manner  with  the  lower  one.  A  double  door  to 
be  made  of  two  inck  oak  plank,  two  feet  nine  inches  wide  to 
be  riveted  ;  and  the  door  is  to  be  hung  by.  hooks  firmly  put 
into  the  logs,  and  it  is  to  be  secured  by  a  good  substantial 
lock  :  there  are  to  be  two  windows,  two  feet  by  eight  inches, 
with  six  iron  bars,  one  inch  square  across  each  window,  to 
be  fastened  into  the  logs  8  inches  di-ep,  at  each  end,  and  one 
perpendicular  iron  bar  one  inch  square  on  the  outside  in  the 
centre  of  each  window,  al*o  to  extend  eight  inches  into  the 
logs  at  each  end.  four  plates  to  be  well  pinned  down  with 
two  inch  pins,  gable  ends  to  be  made  of  inch  oak  plank,  to 
be  covered  with  a  good  and  sufficient  roof  of  rafters,  being 
well  spiked  to  the  plates,  to  be  well  sheeted  and  covered  with 
oak  or  walnut  shingles,  laid  six  inches  to  the  weather,  the 
shingles  to  be  of  i  of  an  inch  thick  and  well  proportioned, 
the  "hole''  (nomen  et  omen)  to  be  completed  in  a  workman- 
like manner  by  the  first  day  of  December,  1818,  for  the  con- 
sideration of  one  thousand  and  four  dollars  current  money, 
to  be  paid  at  the  county  treasury,  by  order  of  the  justices 
court  and  their  successors  in  office,  as  follows  :  two  hundred 
dollars  in  advance  and  the  balance  when  the  building  afore- 
said shall  be  completed  in  manner  aforesaid,  to  the  satisfac- 
tion of  this  court  and  their  successors  in  office.  And  it  is 
further  ordered  that  the  said  Samuel  J.  Kinkead  give  bond 
and  security  in  the  sum  of  two  thousand  and  eight  dollars 
to  the  sitting  justices  of  this  court  and  their  successors  in 
office  for  the  faithful  performance  of  the  foregoing  contract 

Meanwhile  Illinois  had  made  preparation  to  be  admitted 
as  a  sovereign  state  into  the  Union  and  a  constitutional  con- 
vention had  been  elected,  and  its  members  assembled  at 
Kaskaskia  in  July,  1818,  and  having  completed  their  labors 
adjourned  August  2ti,  1818. 

Monroe  county  was  repr.sented  by  Caldwell  Cairns  and 
Enoch  Moore,  both  pioneers  of  the  county.  Cairns  was  a 
member  of  the  county  board  during  the  first  years  of  the 
county's  existence,  and  in  later  years  judge  of  probate. 
Moore  also  filled  various  official  positions  in  the  county,  both 
gentlemen  were  exemplary  officers. 

The  first  county  commissioners'  omrt  since  the  admission 
of  Illinois  as  a  State  convened  at  Harrisonville,  on  the  7th 
of  June,  1819  The  court  was  composed  of  the  Honorables 
Caldwell  Cairns,  Joseph  A  Beaird  and  James  McRoberts. 
"gentlemen,"  as  Samuel  McRoberts,  the  clerk,  stated, 
"elected  and  qualified." 

The  townships  of  territorial  times  were  now  converted  into 
election  precincts  without  any  change  in  the  territory. 

Eagle  township  commenced  as  heretofore  in  the  southwest, 
where  the  "tornado"  had  crossed  the  Mississippi,  and  its 
elections  were  to  be  held  at  the  house  of  Joseph  Hogan. 

Belie  Fountaine,  poll  at  the  tavern  of  David  Ditch,  in 
Waterloo. 


142 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


Harrison  and  Mitchic,  poll  at  the  court  room  iu  the  house 
of  Thomas  James,  at  Harrisonville.  Mitchie  became  an 
election  precinct  on  the  8th  of  June,  1824,  with  poll  at  the 
house  of  Seth  Chalfin. 

The  succeeding  board  was  composed  of  the  same  persons, 
as  Caldwell  Cairns,  the  out-going  member,  was  re-elected. 
In  the  third  board,  George  Forquer  and  John  Roach  suc- 
ceeded Beaird  and  McRoberts.  John  Garretson  was  elected 
iu  1823,  in  place  of  Forquer,  and  Nathan  Hamilton  in  1824, 
in  place  of  Roach.  John  D.  Whiteside  succeeded  Caldwell 
Cairns  in  182.5.  The  labors  of  these  boards  were  confined 
to  routine  business  only,  as  the  financial  couditiou  of  the 
county  was  most  deplorable ;  the  county  warrants  were 
worth  not  more  than  thirty-five  cents  per  dollar.  The  board 
had  some  difficulties  with  the  clerk,  but  it  is  not  known  what 
had  caused  them.  Mr.  McRoberts  was  ousted  and  Squire 
Mizner  appointed  in  his  place.  McRoberts  brought  suit  in 
the  circuit  court  against  the  county  commissioners,  who,  on 
the  3d  of  June,  1822.  were  treated  to  a  mandamus  by  his 
Honor,  Judge  Thomas  Reynolds,  to  reinstate  McRoberts. 
The  mandamus  was  obeyed  instanter ;  whereupon  McRob- 
erts entered  upon  the  duties  of  the  office  to  the  end  of  his 
terra,  September,  1824.  Eighteen  years  later  McRoberts 
was  United  States  Senator  from  Illinois. 

In  1825  the  county  seat  was  permanently  established  at 
Waterloo  by  a  board  of  commibsiouers  appointed  by  the 
legislature  of  llliuois.  The  minutes  of  the  county  board 
contain  the  following  entry  in  reference  to  the  matter,  to  wit : 

April  Term  A.  d.  182.5.— April  9,  1825. 
Nathaniel  Hamilton,    ) 


John  1).  Whiteside 
John  Garretson, 


County  Commissioners. 


Report  of  commissioners  appointed  by  the  legislature  to 
fix  the  county  seat,  was  laid  before  the  board  by  Mr.  John 
D   Whiteside,  which  report  is  as  follows: 

We,  the  commissioners  under  the  act  of  the  15th  of  Jan- 
uary, 1825,  to  fix  the  permanent  seat  of  justice  for  the  county 
of  Monroe,  to  wit,  Henry  Conner,  Joseph  Conway  and 
Samuel  C.  Christy,  met  at  the  house  of  David  Ditch,  in  said 
county,  on  the  1st  of  April,  1825,  and  according  to  law  took 
an  oath  btfore  John  Milton  Moore,  Esquire,  a  justice  of  the 
peace  in  and  for  said  county,  to  faithfully  take  into  view  the 
convenience  of  the  people,  the  situation  of  the  settlements 
with  an  eye  to  future  population  and  the  eligibility  of  the 
place,  which  oath  in  writing  is  herewith  returned  and  made 
a  part  of  said  return.  On  the  7th  of  the  same  month  another 
of  the  commissioners,  to  wit,  John  Reynolds,  took  the  same 
oath  as  above  taken  by  the  other  commissioners  and  filed  as 
aforesaid.  The  other  commissioner,  to  wit,  Thomas  Rey- 
nolds, does  not  attend.  After  mature  deliberation  and 
reflection,  and  taking  into  view  the  convenience  of  the  peo- 
ple, the  situations  of  the  settlements  with  an  eye  to  future 
population  and  the  eligibility  of  the  different  sites,  we,  the 
commissioners,  do  designate  and  determine  upon  the  public 
square  in  the  town  of  Waterloo,  as  laid  out  in  the  original 
plat  of  said  town,  made  by  Enoch  Moore,  on  the  18th  De- 
cember, 1818,  and  which  plat  is  made  a  part  of  our  return 


to  the  county  commissioners  of  said  county,  to  be  the  seat  of 
justice  for  the  said  county  of  Monroe 

We,  the  said  commissioners,  have  taken  a  bond  for  twenty 
acres  of  land,  and  another  bond  for  the  sum  of  five  hundred 
dollars,  which  two  bonds  are  herewith  filed  and  returned  to 
the  said  county  commissioners.  All  lands  which  have  been 
given  to  the  county  in  consideration  of  the  location  of  the 
seat  of  justice  on  said  public  square  shall  be  considered  and 
taken  as  part  of  the  town  of  Waterloo.  All  of  which  actings 
and  proceedings  we,  the  commissioners  as  aforesaid,  do  certify 
and  return  to  the  county  commissioners  of  Monroe  county, 
9th  April,  1825. 

H.  Conner, 

John  Reynolds, 
Joseph  Conway, 
Samuel  C.  Christy, 
Affidavits  of  Commissioners. 
Be  it  remembered,  that  on  the  first  day  of  April,  in  the 
year  of  our  Lord  one  thou.>-and  eight  hundred  and  twenty- 
five,  at  the  house  of  David  Ditch,  in  the  county  of  Monroe, 
personally   appeared    before  me,  J.  Milton    Moore,  a  justice 
of  the  peace   for  the  aforesaid  county   of  Monroe,  Henry 
Ccnner,  Samuel  C.  Christy  and  Joseph  Conway,  three  of  the 
commissioners  who  were  appointed  by  the  act  of  the  General 
Assembly  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  at  the  last  session,  approved 
the  15th  of  January,  1.S25,  to  fix  the  permanent  seat  of  jus- 
tice for  the  aforesaid   county  of  Monroe,  who,  being  duly 
sworn  on  the  Holy  Evangelist  of  Almighty  God,  faithfully 
to  take  into  view  the  convenience  of  the  people,  the  situation 
of  the  settlements  with  an  eye  to  future  population  and  the 
eli"ibility  of  the  place.     Given  under  my  hand  and  seal  this 
day  and  date  above. 

J.  MiLTos  Moore,  J.  P.    JskalI 

A  similar  affidavit  was  made  on  the  7th  of  April,  1825, 
by  John  Reynolds,  who,  however,  was  not  sworn  on  the 
Holy  Evangelist  of  Almighty  God. 

The  commissioners  were  paid  the  sum  of  S80  for  their 
labors  of  locating  the  county  seat. 

The  changing  of  the  county  seat  from  Harrisonville  to 
Waterloo  was  apparently  perfected  without  trouble  or  diffi- 
culty. The  scanty  archives  of  the  county  were  transported 
on  an  ox-cart  from  town  to  town.  Some  residents  of  Harri- 
sonville, however,  were  very  much  displeased  and  the  most 
valuable  property  of  the  county,  to  wit,  the  doorlock,  and 
other  irons  of  the  public  jail  at  Harrisonville,  was  taken 
possession  of  by  James  A.  James,  a  valiant  Harrisonvillian, 
who  retained  them  for  years,  not  surrendering  until  Septem- 
ber, 1835,  when  the  county  agreed  to  make  him  a  deed  to 
the  jail  grounds  at  the  village.  In  March,  1831,  the  court 
made  an  order  to  sell  the  old  jail.  The  sheriff'  who  was  to 
execute  this  order,  refused  to  carry  it  out,  for  fear  that  he 
would  be  held  "  respunsiljle."  whereupon  the  court  made 
another  order,  in  which  the  county  was  held  to  indemnify 
the  sheriff,  and  the  purchasers  were  assured  to  get  possession. 
However,  there  was  no  sale. 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


143 


The  first  term  of  the  county  commissioners  at  Waterloo 
was  held  in  David  Ditch's  tavern,  on  the  (ithot'June,  l><'2o; 
present — Nathaniel  Hamilton,  John  D.  White  and  John 
Garrelson,  commissioners  ;  John  James,  sherift',  and  Daniel 
Converse,  clerk.  The  tax  levy  of  that  year  (1824)  amounted 
to  S735.t)"),  and  the  sheriff  was  summoned  to  explain  why  he 
had  not  settled  his  accounts.  John  M.  Wilson  was  licensed 
to  run  a  ferry  across  the  Jlississippi  river  to  Selma's  Cliffs. 
He  paid  S1"J.0()  per  year  for  this  j.rivilege  and  was  allowed 
to  make  the  foUowiug  charges:  Foot  passengers,  2.5  cts.;  horse, 
371;  man  and  horse,  625  ;  cattle,  "i.") ;  calf,  sheep  or  goat, 
12J  cents;  wagon  and  team,  S2  00  ;  dearborn,  81.2") ;  cart 
and  horse,  SI  00  ;  cart  and  oxen,  SI  2.") ;  barrel  of  spirits  or 
wine,  2.")  cents,  and  goods  at  10  cents  per  100  lbs. 

David  Ditch  was  licensed  to  keep  tavern  at  Waterloo, 
when  upon  the  court  adjourned  for  one  hour,  it  is  presumiil 
for  the  purpose  of  holding  a  private  conference  ou  the  ques- 
tion of  prohibition.  John  Bamber  became  a  member  of  the 
board  iu  September,  \&25,  taking  the  place  of  John  Garret- 
son.  An  order  was  made  iu  D.  cembtr,  lf<2.'),  that  county 
orders  issued  prior  to  December,  1)S24,  should  be  received  by 
the  tax  gatherer  at  a  discount  of  Otis  per  cent.  ;  those  issued 
after  December,  1824,  and  prior  to  June  1st,  1825,  at  50 
per  cent. ;  and  those  subsequent  to  latter  date  and  prior  to 
date  of  order  at  25  per  cent,  discount.  Josiah  Lemen  was 
appointed  commissioner  to  lake  the  census  of  the  county. 

J.  ililton  Moore  was  employed  to  draft  a  plan  for  a  court 
house,  December  26,  1825;  finished  this  job  on  the  0th  of 
Mar.  h,  l'<2(i,  and  received  §3.00  for  his  work.  It  had 
talven  Mr.  Moure  months  to  draft  the  plan,  but  it  took  the 
court  years  to  make  use  of  them.  The  troubles  in  consequence 
of  the  change  iu  the  county  seat  were  being  felt  for  years 
inasmuch  as  constant  impediments  were  thrown  into  the 
paths  of  the  commissioners.  Board  succeeded  board  without 
even  being  able  to  procure  a  suitable  site  for  the  public 
buildings.  During  this  period  of  uncertainly  the  county 
commissioners  had  succeeded  however  to  get  the  county  out 
of  financial  ditficulties  for  coun  y  warrants  were  taken  at 
par,  December,  1830.  The  authorities  received  donations 
of  land  and  lots  iu  1<S30  for  public  buildings. 

The  following  grounds  were  donated  to  the  county,  on 
account  of  locating  the  seat  of  justice  at  Waterloo,  to  wit: 
Five  acres  of  land  granted  by  Enoch  .Moore,  beginning  at 
the  southwest  corner  of  David  Ditch's,  aiid  on  the  north- 
west corner  of  Garduer  Stone's  lots,  thence  north  ten  poles 
with  said  Ditch's  lot,  thence  east  eight  poles,  thence  north 
thirty  poles,  thence  west  twenty-two  poles,  thence  south 
forty  poles,  thence  east  fourteen  poles  to  the  place  of  begin- 
ning, which  shall  be  divided  by  a  street  running  north,  sixty 
feet  wide  and  iu  the  same  direction. 

The  founders  of  Waterloo  besides  donated  the  following 
town  lots,  to  wit:  Nos.  4,  10,  11,  14,  15,  17,  21,  22,  23,24, 
26,  27,  31,33,  40,  52,  53,  57,  58,  59,  60,  61  and  64.  These 
lots  were  to  be  sold,  and  the  amount  realized  was  to  be 
applied  towards  paying  for  the  erection  of  a  court  house. 
It  seems  that  these  23  lots  were  sold  for  8224.041. 

Finally  ou  the  26th  day  of  March,  1831,  bids  were  invited 
for  the  contracts  for  buildiuga  brick  court  house,  30  by  36 


feet,  and  two  stories  high.  W.  W.  Oraelveny  ccntractid 
for  the  brick  work  for  §478.50.  He  completed  his  work  by 
the  7th  of  December,  1831,  when  he  was  paid  S4  )8.50,  the 
county  remaining  in  debt  to  him  to  the  amount  of  840  on 
balance  of  contract,  and  81 6. 'JO  on  account  of  extra  work 
done. 

Robert  Coleman  received  8150  for  wood  work,  but  failed 
to  complete  the  work,  which  was  now  entrusted  to  J.  H. 
Harrington,  who  received  in  pay  a  certificate  "to  recover 
value  of  work  done  from  the  above  contractor." 

The  court  hou.se,  although  in  an  unfinished  condition,  was 
occupiid  on  the  4th  of  June,  1832. 

This  court  house  must  have  been  a  very  frail  building,  for 
in  September,  1834,  the  court  took  "  notice"  that  the  walls  of 
the  building  were  "shook  "  and  injured  by  the  boys  throwing 
balls  against  them,  whereui)nu  the  clerk  was  instructed  to 
draw  up  a.  proc/unidtiun  forbidding  the  throwing  of  toy-balls 
against  those  walls,  and  have  said  proclamation  posted,  one 
at  the  court  house  and  three  more  at  the  most  public  j)laces 
in  town.  Emery  P.  Rogers,  Solomon  Patterson  and 
Thomas  McRoberts  are  responsible  for  this  "  ukas."  From 
a  report  of  John  Rya-  ,  treasurer  of  the  county,  it  appears 
that  the  revenue  of  the  county  for  the  year  1831  was 
81131.02,  and  that  all  nf  if  had  been  collected  and  paid  into 
the  treasury  ;  further  that  the  collector  of  the  revenue  of 
1830  was  in  arrears  to  the  amount  of  8140  72,  that  ])ur- 
chasers  of  donation  lots  were  still  owing  the  county  8197.18i, 
and  that  Nancey  Ramey,  C.  F.  Fletcher,  E.  P.  Rogers, 
David  Ditch,  John  Divers,  James  A.  James  and  J.ihu  M 
Wilson  had  not  jiaid  their  licenses,  amounting  in  the  aggre- 
gate to  834  00  We  have  stated  repeatedly  that  the  county 
authorities  had  at  every  occasion  exhibited  great  readiness 
to  license  taverns  and  grog-shops,  and  now  let  it  be  saiil,  iu 
honor  of  the  good  people  of  Waterloo,  that,  as  early  as  1832, 
they  raised  826  for  the  purpose  of  sinking  a  well  to  procure 
good  drinking  water.  Who  would  have  thought  of  such  a 
thing  at  Waterloo,  and  atso  early  a  day  ?  The  county  board, 
not  to  be  outdone  by  the  villagers  of  Waterloo,  appro- 
priated one  dollar  of  the  public  funds  towards  purchasiiKj  a 
Bihh'  for  use  of  the  county  otticials. 

We  have  baeu  assiirod  thit  prLH-iou-i  to  this  purchase 
the  county  officers  hiwi  been  using  Chesterfield's  Letters  to 
his  .son  for  their  edification,  and,  from  present  appearauces, 
it  may  be  inferred  that  this  information  is  correct. 

During  the  term  of  this  board  a  number  of  revolutionary 
veterans  appeared  in  court  for  the  purpose  of  identifying 
themselves  and  iu  order  to  get  their  certificates  for  pensiou. 
From  these  proceedings  and  an  official  statement  by  the 
State  authorities,  it  appears  Ebei  czer  Brown,  aged  9)\,  ha<l 
served  in  the  Virginia  Continentals,  that  his  annual  pension 
amounted  to  848.33,  and  that  he  lived  long  enough  to  draw 
8144.09  ;  Andrew  Hilton,  aged  77,  of  the  Maryland  Conti- 
nentals, drew  830.00  per  annum  for  three  years,  so  did 
Michael  Miller,  of  tlu  \'irgini:i  Cjiitiueutals.  James 
McRoberts,  of  the  Pennsylvania  Continentals,  and  Joseph 
Wright,  of  the  Virginia  Continentals,  drew  each  820  per 
annum.  The  total  pensiou  money  paid  to  these  five  veterans 
amounted    to   8734.98.     George    Goble,    a    sergeant,  and 


141 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY   COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS 


William  Howard,  private,  Third  U.  S.  Infantry,  and  John 
Jeirod,  private  of  the  Sixth  U.  S.  Infantry,  were  invalid 
pensioners,  and  received  $96  per  annum.  They  were  not 
revolutionary  soldiers,  however. 

Solomon  Patterson  was  appointed  commissioner  and  agent 
for  the  disposal  of  school  lands  in  1833 

A  new  election  precinct  was  organized  in  1834,  to  be 
called 

PRAIRIE   DU    LONG. 

It  commenced  at  Thomas  Talbott's  mills  on  Prairie  du 
Long  creek,  thence  direct  to  the  big  spring  on  Horsecreek, 
thence  southwest  to  the  old  ruad  from  New  Design  to 
Kaskaskia,  thence  down  said  road  to  the  Randolph  line. 
The  pull  was  established  at  the  house  of  John  Morrison, 
with  Preston  Brickey,  John  Bamber  and  Zopher  Williams, 
as  judges  of  election. 

In  March,  1834,  the  county's  cash  box  was  replenished 
by  a  remittance  of  $300  00,  due  to  he  county,  of  amounts 
realized  from  sale  of  Gallatin  county  saline  lauds.  This 
money  was  immediately  made  use  of  in  completing  the 
court  house.  Leman  French  got  $2-50  for  furni.-hing  the 
upper  rooms,  and  Daniel  Converse  was  paid  875  for  paint 
ing  the  house. 

The  court  house  was  now  completed,  about  ten  years  after 
Waterloo  4iad  become  the  county  seat.  It  speaks  well  for 
the  morals  of  the  people  of  the  county,  that  the  want  of  a 
jail  was  not  felt  until  in  1835,  when  the  court  commenced 
to  moot  the  question  of  building  a  jail.  Afttr  four  years 
of  diligent  talking  and  planning,  the  question  was  brought 
to  a  vote  and  decided  in  favor  of  building  a  jail. 

In  the  meantime  the  county  had  come  into  possession  of  a 
large  amount  of  money,  her  proportional  share  of  the  so- 
called  iinproi'ement  fund,  mentioned  in  this  chapter  under 
the  heading  of  Randolph  county.  John  Morrison  had  been 
appointed  to  collect  this  fund,  to  wit  $6,900,  at  Vaudalia, 
and  he  brought  it  safely  to  Waterloo  on  the  5th  of  Novem- 
ber, 1838.  There  was  trouble  now,  how  to  save  and 
preserve  so  vast  an  amount  of  actual  money.  The  county 
board,  composed  of  Sidney  Todd,  William  Thrtlfull  and 
J.  M.  Wooten,  ordered,  that  Edward  Newsham,  J.  H. 
Portle  and  James  B.  Needlei  should  become  ihe  custodians 
of  this  fund,  that  each  of  them  should  receive  $2  300  of  the 
money  in  order  to  loan  it  out  in  sums  not  exceeding  $500, 
at  not  less  than  twelve  per  cent,  annual  interest  for  the 
benefit  of  the  county  This  order,  made  at  the  December 
term,  1838,  was  succeeded  by  another  order,  of  March,  1839, 
instructing  the  fund  custodians  to  at  once  collect  these 
funds  and  to  hold  them  in  readiness  for  further  orders. 

The  jail  project  had  now  ripened  into  shape,  contractors, 
who  had  heretofore  given  the  county  a  wide  berth,  were  now 
ready  and  eager  to  go  to  work.  The  jail  contract  was  let 
on  the  3rd  of  June,  1839. 

This  jail,  the  first  in  Waterloo,  was  erected  in  1839. 
John  Taylor  of  Belleville,  contracted  for  the  building  of 
it  on  July  1st,  1839,  for  $2,400  (This  jail  stood  east  of  the 
present  court  house).  It  was  to  be  erected  of  good  sound 
limestone,  thirty-five  feet  long  and  twenty-five  feet  wide, 
two   stories  high,  eight  feet  each   exclusive  of  the  joists. 


The  walls  of  the  lower  story  to  be  two  feet  thick,  and  the 
second  story  above  the  joists  twenty-two  inches  thick,  both 
stories  to  be  divided  by  partition  walls,  eighteen  inches 
thick  of  same  materials,  leaving  an  entry  of  ten  feet  wide, 
two  outside  doors  and  one  door  from  the  entry  into  each 
room,  eight  windows  of  fifteen  panels,  ten  by  twelve  glass, 
four  of  which  to  be  secured  with  iron  grates.  The  founda- 
tion to  be  of  limestone,  to  be  sunk  two  feet  and  a  half  below 
the  surface  of  the  ground  and  raised  to  a  level  one  foot 
above  the  surface  of  the  ground,  two  feet  and  a  half  thick 
to  extend  under  the  partition,  as  well  as  side  and  end  walls, 
and  all  to  be  laid  in  good  lime  and  sand  mortar.  The 
dungeon  to  be  lined  with  timber  five  inches  thick  with 
suitable  doors  and  grating.  The  contractors  had  to  furnish 
all  ^he  materials,  which  were  to  be  of  first-rate  quality,  etc. 
The  jail  was  finished  on  the  9th  of  September,  1840  Its 
construction  cost  $100  more  than  contract  price.  The  con- 
tractors were  paid  $1,205  in  cash,  and  $1  295  in  twelve  per 
cent,  interest  bearing  county  orders. 

The  county  authorities  appropriated  a  round  thousand 
dollars  of  this  fund,  towards  improving  the  road  from 
Waterloo  to  Harrisonvdle,  and  entrusted  Jacob  J.  Danner 
with  the  disbursement  of  this  amount ;  $250  of  it  were  paid 
to  Henry  Hill  for  grading  the  road  on  Tamaroi's  hill.  The 
fund  had  been  gradually  reduced  to  $4,200.34.  December 
8th,  1840,  the  fund  commissioners  surrendered  this  balance, 
all  in  promissory  notes,  to  the  county  clerk  for  safe  keeping. 
They  were  paid  $508  for  their  services.  (John  Morrison 
received  $45  for  making  the  collection  and  bringing  the 
funds  from  Vandalia  to  Waterloo).  Converse,  the  clerk, 
remained  custodian  of  this  fund  until  December,  1843,  when 
he  turned  the  papers  over  to  the  county  treasurer,  by  whom 
they  by  rights  ought  to  have  been  kept  and  preserved  from 
the  beginning.  These  moneys  were  subsequently  trtated 
and  disbursed  as  other  public  funds  belonging  to  the  county. 
New  Design  precinct  was  organized  December  8th,  1840, 
with  poll  at  the  house  of  Matthias  Harrison.  The  popula- 
tion of  the  county,  u.ore  than  1200  in  1816,  amounted  now 
over  4000  souls 

The  United  States  census  of  1840,  furnishes  the  following 
data  :  The  population  of  Monroe  was  4481  in  the  aggregate; 
there  were  then  eleven  slaves  in  this  number,  two  male  and 
nine  female.  Twenty-eight  of  the  above  number  were  ovtr 
seventy  years  of  age.  The  occupations  of  the  inhabitanis 
of  the  county,  were  defined  as  follows:  Agriculture,  979; 
commerce,  32;  manufactures  and  trades,  115;  navigation 
of  canals  and  rivers,  2  ;  learned  professions  and  engineers, 
13 ;    number   of  pensioners    for   revolutionary  or    military 

services, .      The    unfortunates    were :    One   deaf  and 

dumb,  three  blind,  two  insane,  all  at  private  charge.  There 
were  five  schools  in  the  county  attended  by  168  pupils. 
Three  hundred  and  seven  adults  were  unable  to  read  or 
write. 

The  census  of  1840  recites  that  th?  county  of  Monroe  was 
engaged  in  "  mining  "  at  that  period.  A  closer  examina- 
tion into  this  astounding  statement  led  to  an  easy  explana- 
tion. The  "  mine  "  was  a  stone-quarry,  in  which  one  man 
was  employed,  who  contrived  to  get  out  300  dollars'  worth 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


145 


of  rock  (luring  1839.  The  agricultural  wealth  consisted  in 
2289  horses,  8:):52  neat  cattle,  3338  sheep,  16,516  hogs  and 
3668  dollars'  worth  of  property.  The  agricultural  produces 
of  the  year  1839  were  reported  as  follows:  22,012  bushels 
of  wheat,  loO  of  birley.  21,975  of  oats,  350  of  rye  and 
293,462  of  corn  ;  436  pounds  of  wax,  10,016  bushels  of  po- 
tatoes, .397  tons  of  hay,  550  pounds  of  Hax,  300  pounds  of 
tobacco,  20  pounds  of  cotton,  36.59  cords  (if  wood,  11,844 
dollars'  worth  of  milk,  butter  and  cheese,  and  1910  dollars' 
worth  of  fruit.  Homespun  goods,  woven  on  the  famous 
old  loom,  represtnted  a  value  of  S16,630.  Gardening 
produced  a  value  of  $66  and  a  "nursery"  8145.  Nine 
merchants  were  doing  business  in  the  county  with  a  capital 
of  §31,281.  Under  the  head  of  "Fisheries"  we  find  that 
28  ffalloii-t  of  oil  hm\  been  produced  in  the  county.  Eight 
men  had  manufactured  920  dollars'  worth  of  bricks.  Two 
woolen  manufactories,  employing  two  persons  turned  out 
goods  valued  at  S550.  Three  tanneries,  worked  by  5  hands, 
turned  out  600  sides  of  sole  leather  and  1050  sides  of  upper 
leather.  Two  saddlery  shops  did  1800  dollars'  worth  of 
work.  Two  distilleries  manufactured  7000  gallons  of  whis- 
key. The  products  of  2  flouring,  3  grist  aud  4  saw  mills, 
with  a  capital  of  §37,750,  giving  em|)loyment  to  11  persons, 
were  valued  at  820,300. 

The  proceedings  of  the  county  board  during  the  succeed- 
ing years  are  void  of  interest.  As  a  curiosity,  we  may 
mention  here  an  order  of  the  county  board  in  reference  to 
the  official  conduct  of  James  B.  Needles,  ex-sherifl'  of  the 
county,  to  wit : 

"Ordered  that  he  have  a  certificate  under  the  seal  of  the 
court,  that  he  has  faithfully  discharged  the  duties  of  the 
office  of  sherifl'  of  Monroe  county  for  6  years  previous  to 
September  1,  1840,  and  punctually  settled  and  paid  over  all 
moneys  charged  against  him  as  collector  of  the  revenue  of 
the  county." 

The  settlements  of  the  treasurers  had  for  years  exhibited 
a  balance  of  funds  on  hand,  and  yet  there  were  considerable 
amounts  of  count}'  warrants  outstanding  aud  remained  un- 
redeemed for  vaiit  of  fuuil.<.  This  contradictory  state  of 
aflTairs  finds  an  explanation  in  the  following  report: 

"  The  undersigned  having  been  apjioiuted  agent  of  the 
county  wi  h  instructions  to  convert  the  iineurrent  funds  in 
the  treasury  of  the  county  into  lawful  money,  and  to  use  it 
in  paying  off  the  floating  debt  jf  the  county,  begs  leave  to 
report,  that  he  realized  8315.37  cash  from  the  sale  of  8647 
of  State  bank  paper,  sold  at  44  cts.  per  dollar,  and  also  of 
$99  of  the  bank  of  Shawneetown,  sold  at  33  cts. ;  that  he 
bought  county  warrants  amounting  to  860  for  836  cash,  and 
8372.50  more  for  8279.37  (cash) ;  that  he  charged  89  for 
his  trouble,  and  further  that  there  were  still  820.50  out  in 
county  warrants  which  could  be  bought  for  815.37*  cents  in 
cash." 

Soon  after,  in  1845,  Mr.  Morrison,  as  sherifl' of  the  county, 
filed  a  report  of  his  revenue  collections,  which  will  be  intro- 
duced here  at  length,  because  of  its  accuracy,  and  because 
of  its  being  the  only  one  spread  on  the  county  record  since 
the  organization  of  the  county.  The  following  is  the  docu- 
ment: 

19 


John  Morkison,  collector,  in  acct  with  the  county  of  Monroe. 

To  am't  of  CO.  revenue  as  per  receipt  for  18H, $3,440.77 

To  ara't  collected  more  Ihao  charged, 69.90 

Ce. 

By  treasurer's  receipts  filed, »2,ri38.37 

By  taxes  remitted  under  act  for  relief  of  sutTerera  by  tlood,  .       441 15 

By  errors— lands  assessed  twice 21.00 

By  errors— in  calculations, 2C.72 

By  delinquent  hits 26-67 

By  adv.  lands  inundated, 140.50 

By  forfeitures  to  the  Stale 246.03 

By  commission 77.95 

By  balance  p.l.  to  treasurer  to-day, 182.IS 

t3,.'>06.57  $3,506.67 

Septb.  9,  1845. 

John  Morrison, 

Sheriff"  and  collector. 

The  assessed  values  of  the  taxable  property  in  the  county 
for  1845  was  8798,094,  as  rep')rted  by  John  Ryan,  the 
assessor. 

From  the  report  of  Mr.  Ryan  we  glean  the  following 
facts : 

Monroe  county  had  then  910  resident  tax-payers,  and 
their  personal  property  was  valued  at  8172,500.  Eight  of 
these  910  had  personal  propjrty  exceeding  1,000  dollars 
in  value,  to  wit : 

S.  W.  Miles ?:i,"10  J.  D.  Whiteside 81.400 

James  A.  James l,62o  Samuel  E.  Owen 1,:132 

Jacob  Trout     1,531  Jewett  heirs 1,209 

Samuel  Newland 1,500  Ferdinand  Rose .    1,02.') 

Slave  property  was  assessed  at  $1,350.  Henry  Wademan, 
A.  W.  Gardner,  Cecelie  Beaird,  M  T.  Hornie,  S.  W.  Miles, 
and  A.  Eekert,  were  the  slaveowners  in  1843. 

Tliere  was  quite  a  number  of  citizens  who  sported  pleasure 
carriages  worth  from  8100  to  8300  The  present  generation 
may  have  some  curiosity  as  to  who  it  was  that  drove  to  town 
in  carriages  forty  years  ago,  and  their  curiosity  shall  be 
gratified.  The  gentry  of  1843  was  made  up  by  the  follow- 
ing : 

B.  F.  Masterson — his  carriage  was  the  finest  or  newest, 
for  it  was  assessed  the  highest ;  John  Morrison,  W.  H. 
Gale,  A.  W.  Gardner,  William  Wilson,  J.  R.  James,  J.  M 
Moore,  P.  B.  Brickey,  Milton  Moore,  W.  T.  Eekert,  Jesse 
Wiswell,  Abram  Clark,  Lewis  S.  Steigers,  and  John  Ste- 
vens. 

The  assessor's  report  further  states  that  there  were  then 
thirteen  capitalists  in  the  county,  who,  together,  were  draw- 
ing interest  on  88,930  loaned  out.  The  report  speaks  also 
of  thirteen  merchants  doing  business  in  the  county,  who 
had  stated  their  several  stocks  of  goods  to  be  worth  86,150 
in  the  aggregate. 

The  town  lots  in  the  county  were  assessed  at  $21,955 ;  the 
values  vary  from  810  to  81,000  per  lot.  Of  the  latter  class 
there  was  but  one,  to  wit :  lot  No.  90  in  Waterloo,  owned  by 
E.  Moore. 

The  lands  were  assessed  at  from  83.00  to  85.00  per  acre. 
There  were  48,060  acres  described  iu  claims  and  surveys, 
and  124,800  acres  in  sections. 

The  county  levy  for  the  year  1846  was  50  cents  per  $100, 


146 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


which  would  yield  a  revenue  of  8:^900.0(1,  a  tax  of  about  80 
cents  per  capita. 

Before  closing  our  remarks  in  reference  to  the  adminis- 
tration of  county  affairs  by  the  county  commissioners' courts 
(1819  to  1849),  we  should  mention  that  the  boundary  line 
question  between  St.  Clair  and  Monroe,  and  between  Monroe 
and  Randolph  counties,  had  been  adjusted  during  this 
period.  The  reports  of  the  county  surveyors  may,  therefore, 
find  spai.'e  here. 

J.  Milton  Moore,  surveyor  of  IMonroe  county  and  J.  Mes- 
senger surveyor  of  St.  Clair  couniy  made  the  following  re- 
port, which  is  ordered  to  be  filed  and  recorded. 

We  the  undersigned  do  hereby  certify  that  on  the  30th 
of  November  1829  we  commenced  at  the  former  corner  to 
townships  2  and  3  south,  between  ranges  7  and  8  west  of  the 
third  principal  meridian,  where  we  seta  new  post  in  the  re- 
mains of  a  former  "mound  "  from  which  a  pine  oak  now  18 
inches  in  diameter,  a  former  witness  tree  btars  south  (i9°  west 
233  links  distant,  and  with  the  compass  set  at  a  variation  of 
8°  45  east  and  ran  thence  north  89°  05  between  townships 
2  and  3  south  range  8  west  along  the  former  line,  renewing 
the  blazes  when  passing  through  timbered  lands,  and  setting 
posts  when  in  the  prairie  at  several  points  5  miles  and  seventy, 
five  chains  to  a  flag  stone  placed  at  the  point  of  the  former 
corner  to  townships  2  and  3  south,  ranges  8  and  9  west,  from 
which  stone  a  post  oak,  SO  inches  in  diameter  bears  south 
21"  west  135  links  distant  and  a  post  oak  now  15  inches  in 
diameter  bears  north  09°  west,  101  links  distant ;  each  of 
them  former  witness  trees  to  said  corner,  thence  run  north 
along  the  former  range  line  and  renewing  the  blazes  in  the 
same,  1  mile  to  the  former  corner  of  sections  30  and  31  T 
2  south,  R.  8  west,  reblazed  the  old  line  where  we  set  a  new 
post  from  which  a  Sycamore  30  inches  in  diameter  bears 
north  59°  east  72  links  distant,  each  of  which  were  the 
former  witness  trees  to  said  corner,  thence  north  44°  06 
west,  8  miles  and  33  chains  blazing  the  same  to  the  former 
corner  of  sections  30  and  31  T.  1  S.  R.  9  west  where  we  set 
a  new  post  by  the  remains  of  the  former  witness  trees  to  said 
corner,  they  having  been  recently  felled,  and  take  for  new 
witness  trees  a  post  oak  18  inches  in  diameter  bearing  46J° 
west  187  links  and  a  post  oak  15  inches  in  diameter  bearing 
north  16 J  °  west  243  links  distant,  they  being  the  former 
witness  trees  to  sections  25  and  30  T.  1.  S.  R.  10  west  thence 
north  along  the  former  line  between  ranges  9  and  10  west, 
reblazing  the  same  1  mile  to  the  corner  of  sections  19  and  30 
T.  1  S.  R.  9  west  where  we  set  a  large  flag  stone  in  the 
prairie,  thence  north  44°  west  intersecting  the  former  section 
corner  diagonally  to  seclions  13,  14,  23  and  24  and  sections 
10,  11,  14  and  15  and  sections  3,  4,  9  and  10,  five  miles  and 
52J  chains  to  the  northwest  corner  of  section  4,  T.  1  S.  R.  10 
west  thence  on  the  same  course  2  miles  and  66  chains  to  the 
banks  of  the  Mississippi  river,  where  we  set  a  post,  from 
which  a  black  walnut,  18  inches  in  diameter,  bears  south  08} 
east,  25  links  distant  and  a  sycamore,  26  inches  in  diameter 
bears  south  8  east,  50  links  distant.  The  aforesaid  line  being 
in  conformity  to  an  order  of  the  county  commissioners  of  St. 
Clair  and  Monroe  counties  and  in  conformity  to  the  act  of 


the  legislature  relative  to  the  northern  boundary  of  Monroe 
county. 

Report  is  dated  December  3d  1829  and  signed  by  J.  Mil- 
ton Moore  and  John  Messenger,  surveyors.  Cost  of  survey 
was  143  16. 

Southern  boundary  line.  Report  of  James  Thompson  and 
J.  M.  Moore,  county  surveyors,  made  the  following  report, 
March  1st  1830  and  ordered  to  be  recorded.. 

Report:  We  commenced  to  run  the  line  between  the  coun- 
ties of  Randolph  and  Monroe  at  the  southeast  corner  of 
township  4  S.  R.  9  west  of  the  third  principal  meridian  at  a 
variation  of  7"  36  east,  thence  south  70  west  on  a  random 
line  62  chains  to  the  house  of  James  M.  Canada  (Kennedy) 
about  6  chains  north  of  the  line  1  mile  30  chains  a  15  K  5 
links,  thence  north  west  2  miles  and  40  chains,  second  south 
east  4  miles  16V  chains,  Kaskaskia  road,  5  miles  to  the  top 
of  the  bluff",  7  miles  and  01  chains  to  a  road,  8  miles  236 
chains,  road  to  Kaskaskia,  8  miles  and  55  chains  to  Alexander 
McNabb's  farm,  fell  125  chains  south  of  said  farm,  thence 
cerrected  the  course  and  run  from  said  farm  south  71°  05 
west  on  true  line  to  the  Mississippi  river,  which  nine  miles 
and  78  chains  to  the  river  bank  we  set  a  post  from  which  a 
Cottonwood,  18  inches  in  diameter  bears  north  61  east  24J 
links  distant  and  another  Cottonwood  tree  1 6  inches  in 
diameter  bears  north,  25°  west,  27  links  distant,  thence  went 
back  to  A.  McNabb's  farm  and  corrected  the  line  and  blazed 
.it  back  to  the  beginning  corner. 

In  conformity  with  a  law  of  the  legislature  of  the  state  of 
Illinois  providing  for  running  a  line  between  the  counties  of 
Randolph  and  Monroe  Dated  February  18th,  1830.  Cost 
of  survey  §46.00. 

REPORT    OF    SCHOOL  COMMISSIONERS. 

From  the  reports  it  appears  that  the  school  lands  of  town- 
ship 3 — 8  were  sold  in  1830,  averaging  about  83  50  per  acre. 
Amount  realized,  $2216  00. 


T  1—111  . 
T3—  9  . 
T  3—10  . 
T  2—  0  . 
T  a-11  . 


.  I    V2i\m    T  4—10 

.      l'.i(i!l.i;(l     T4—  9 

IC^T-IT     T4— 11 

l:ii;6.sii  

-,t.ln)  Total  Sohnol  fund  in  1848  .  811.309. 


3,10.00 
484.29 
1726.60 


The  regime  of  the  ciunty  c3'Timi<3ioner's  court  ended  in 
1849.  The  constitutional  convention  of  1847  entrusted  the 
administration  of  county  affairs  to  county  courts,  composed 
of  a  county  judge  and  two  associate  justices,  who  held  their 
respective  offices  for  four  years. 

The  last  county  board  of  ilouroe  county  was  composed  of 
E.  P.  Rogers,  Joseph  Livers,  and  John  Burk. 

Before  reciting  the  events  of  the  period  from  the  adoption 
of  the  new  constitution,  March,  1848,  to  the  present  time, 
we  shall  here  introduce  an  extract  of  the  circuit  courts  of 
the  county. 

CIRCLIT    COURTS 1817    TO    1848 

The  first  circuit  court,  held  July  21.  1817,  at  Harrison- 
ville,  was  presided  over  by  Hon.  Jesse  B  Thomas,  with 
Charles  Matheny  as  prosecuting  attorney.  The  grand  jury 
at  this  term  was  composed  of  the  following  gentlemen  free- 
holders: William  Chalfin,  foreman,  Alexander  McNabb, 
Daniel  Hull,  Jacob  Trout,  Ebenezer  Bourne,  John  Worley, 


HISTOEY    OF  JRAXDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUXTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


147 


Jacob  Clark,  John  Sliehan,  Daniel  Shook,  Jacob  Clover, 
Leonard  Kerr,  George  Ramey,  Daniel  Starr,  John  Roach, 
Joseph  A  Beaird,  Elijah  Davis,  Daniel  Link,  Michael 
Dace,  Solomon  Shook,  and  Levi  Piggott. 

The  indictments  returned  were  as  follows: 

Andey  Kinney,  assault  aud  battery  for  severely  beating 
and  wounding,  at  his  mill  in  Harrisonville  township,  one 
William  Hogan,  tried  and  acquitted. 

John  Lock,  larceny.  John  had  stolen  a  bridle  from  Jcihn 
James,  of  the  value  of  80.00  ;  pleaded  guilty,  and  paid  a 
fine  of  ?1 2.00  and  costs,  and  returned  the  bridle. 

William  Hogan,  the  very  man  on  whose  account  Andey, 
the  miller,  had  been  indicted,  was  brought  up  for  larceny, 
because  he  had,  bv  force,  broken  the  lock  of  a  chest,  left  in 
his  custody  by  Joshua  Carey,  and  stolen  its  contents  of  the 
value  of  811. 5u 

There  were  7  more  cases  of  assault  and  battery  ;  the  fighters 
were  invariably  finul  from  So  to  812  00,  but  the  fine  was  as 
invariably  remitted  by  a  lenient  aud  benevolent  judge. 

A  divorce  case,  Sarah  Miller  vs.  Abraham  Miller,  was 
tried  and  Sarah's  prayer  granted.  She  was  also  awarded 
the   custody  of  their  only  child,  a  boy  named  Isaac. 

Another  divorce  case,  Joseph  Hogan  versus  Patsey  (prob- 
ably an  abbreviation  of  Potiphar)  Hogan  was  tried  before 
Judge  Warnock  at  the  August  term,  1818.  Joseph's  griev- 
ous wrongs  are  set  forth  in  the  following  pathetic  declaration  : 

To  the  honorable  Circuit   Court  for  the 

county  of  Monroe,  lUinoia  Territory. 

Your  petitioner  humbly  sheweth  that  sometime  in  the 
month  of  February  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  si.icteen,  he  was  lawfully  married  to  Pat- 
sey Bailcv,  now  Patsey  Hogan,  that  he  continued  to  live  in 
peace  and  happiness  with  her  for  about  three  months,  when 
the  said  Patsey  Hogan,  contrary  to  the  duties  of  a  wife  and 
the  matrimonial  injunctions,  eloped  from  his  bed  and  board, 
without  his  knowledge  or  consent,  and  now  lives  in  open 
adultery  with  other  men. 

Your  petitioner  humbly  prays  the  honorable  court  for  the 
causes  above  stated,  to  decree  a  dissolution  of  the  bonds  of 
matrimony  entered  into  with  the  said  Patsey  llogan,  and 
your  petitioner  will  ever  be  in  duty  bound  to  pray,  etc. 

For  Joseph  Hog.^n, 

by  E.  Martin,  his  attorney. 

Hogan  had  the  following  witnesses  subpa-naed,  to  wit ; 
Alexander  Jameson,  Edward  Croush,  and  Adam  Payne. 
PaLsey  made  no  defense,  and  the  divorce  was  granted. 

The  first  criminal  court  held  in  Monroe  county  after  the 
admission  of  Illinois  !is  a  sovereign  state,  was  presided  over 
by  Joseph  Phillips,  chief  justice  of  the  supreme  court,  May 
3d,  1819.  Subsequent  terms  were  held  by  John  Reynolds 
in  lf<19,  18-20,  and  18-21.  Hon.  Phillips  is  on  the  bench 
again  in  1822,  succeeded  in  1823  and  1824  by  Thomas  Rey- 
nolds. In  182-5  and  18-2(5  Samuel  McRoberts,  the  former 
clerk,  was  found  on  the  bench  ;  he  had  entered  upon  his 
career  to  fame  and  honors,  which  elevated  him  to  a  seat  in 


the  Senate  of  the  United  States.  The  next  judge  was  T.  W. 
Smith.  While  at  the  bench  at  Waterloo,  in  March,  1828, 
he  heard  the  first  murder  case  tried  in  the  county.  From 
papsrs  on  file  we  glean  the  following  facts  in  this, 

The  first  murder  case.  A  boy,  or  young  man,  Jacob  Gil. 
mon,  had  died  on  December  22,  1827,  under  suspicious  cir- 
cumstance.*, so  that  William  Biggs,  the  coroner,  deemed  it 
his  duty  to  hold  an  inquest  .V  coroner's  jury,  with  Joshua 
Talbot  as  foreman,  was  called  on  the  'Mth  of  January,  18-28, 
to  hear  the  testimony  of  Cynthia  Reynold,  who  swore  that 
between  the  4fh  und  \Oth  of  Jubj  lasl  she  was  a'  the  house  of 
Jervett  Varnum,  and  she  understood  that  the  said  Varnum 
was  then  whipping  Jacob  Gilmon  at  the  cow  pen.  which  was 
a  consderable  distance  from  the  house,  and  she,  the  said 
Cynthia,  distinctly  heard  blows,  which  she  supposed  to  be 
indicted  on  the  body  of  said  Gilmon  with  a  stick,  and  that 
Gilmon  screamed  from  the  tirfie  she  first  heard  the  blows, 
and  that  he  continued  screaming  for  a  considerable  time 
after  the  blows  ceased,  and  that  he  continued  crying  until 
she  went  to  bed  ;  and  that  he,  the  saiil  Varnum  came  to  the 
house  apparentlv  in  great  passion,  and  said  that  he  had  given 
the  said  Jacob  the  severest  whipping  that  he  had  ever  given 
him.  On  the  day  following  said  Jacob  said  in  the  presence 
of  herself  and  Mrs.  Varnum,  that  Jewett  would  never  give 
him  but  one  more  whipping,  for  he  had  almost  killed  him. 
The  wife  of  said  Jewett  told  him  to  hush,  that  Jewett  had 
not  given  him  too  much  ;  and  he  (-lacob)  said  that  Jewett 
had  given  him  too  much,  had  thrown  him  against  the  fence 
and  almost  killed  him. 

The  phvsicians  attending  the  post  mortem  have  the  follow- 
ing testimony  in  writing  : 

"  We,  the  undersigned  practitioners  in  medicine,  having 
been  called  on  by  W.  Biggs,  the  coroner  of  Monroe  county, 
to  examine  the  body  of  Jacob  Gilmon  who  was  supposed  to 
have  died  from  the  effects  of  an  external  injury  received,  do 
certify  on  oath,  that  our  examination  was  particularly  con- 
fined to  the  head,  and  by  careful  examination  of  the  hones 
of  the  o-ifronfis  and  os  temporis  (!)  and  the  upper  part  of  the 
OS  temporis  ^sic)  having  been  fractured,  we  do  agree  that  the 
said  deceased  came  to  his  death  by  violence  committed  iu 
some  way. 

W.  G.  GOFARTH,     J.VMIvS  Newlin,     T.  St.vxtos.' 

Thereupon  the  coroner's  jury  agreed  to  render  the  follow- 
ing verdict : 

We,  the  jurv,  aft^r  examining  the  body  of  Jacob  Gilmon, 
believe  his  death  was  caused  by  violence  done  by  Jewett 
Varnum,  from  the  evidence  produced. 

Joshua  Talbot,  foreman. 

Varnum  was  thereupon  committed  to  jail,  and  for  that 
purpose,  on  January  -M.  taken  to  Belleville,  as  Monroe 
county  had  no  jail,  only  a  lock  and  some  irons,  and  they 
were  in  possession  of  a  citizen  of  Harrisonville.  He  imme- 
diately petitioned  Judge  T.  W.  Smith  for  a  writ  of  hnbeas 
I  corpus,  under  which  he  was  brought  to  Edwardsville  before 
1  his  Honor,  Feb.  5,  18-28.     The  judge  admitted  him  to  ba  il 


148 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


in  $500  with  Thomas  Hamilton  as  security.  The  case  was 
brought  before  the  grand  jury,  «ho  on  the  8th  of  March, 
1828,  indicted  Varnum  for  murder.  The  indictment  set 
forth  that  the  beating  given  the  boy  ou  Ju'y  Titli,  1828,  had 
Caused  his  death  on  the  22d  of  December  next,  etc. 

The   case  was   tried  on  the  13ih  of  August,  1828,  and 
Varnum  was  acquitted. 

A  Challenge  to  fight  a  Duel. — At  the  next  term  of  tbe 
court,  in  August,  1828,  Justus  Varnum  was  indicted  for 
challenging  Isaac  Clark  to  fight  a  duel  with  rifles,  to  wit, 
on  the  13th  of  July  last.  Bad  blood,  caused  by  a  lawsuit 
about  the  right  of  some  property,  had  prevailed  for  some 
time  between  the  parties.  The  duel  was  not  fought,  and  the 
case  against  Varnum  the  Just  was  nol.  pros,  iu  August,  1829. 
Another  Murder. — Eliza  Head  was  put  on  trial  for  her 
life  in  May,  1831,  before  Judge  T  W.  Smith.  It  appears 
that  Daniel  Winn  had  made  an  aifidavit  before  'Squire 
Thomas  McRoberts,  on  the  21st  day  of  April,  1826,  that  he 
had  found  the  dead  body  of  a  female  infant  near  his  house  ; 
that  he  had  reason  to  believe  that  said  infant  came  to  her 
death  by  violence ;  and  further,  that  he  believed  that  one 
Eliza  Head  was  the  murderess  of  the  child.  A  special 
term  of  the  court  was  thereupon  called  by  Judge  Smith,  to 
be  held  in  May,  1831.  The  grand  jury,  through  James 
Ta:ylor,  their  foreman,  presented  an  indictment  against  said 
Eliza,  charging  that  on  April  19,  1826,  immediately  after 
having  given  birth  to  a  bastard  child,  she  had  destroyed  its 
life  by  filling  the  mouth  and  throat  of  the  infant  with  dirt 
and  leaves,  not  having  the  fear  of  God  before  her  eyes  but 
being  moved  and  seduced  by  the  instigation  of  the  devil, 
and  against  the  peace  and  dignity  of  the  state,  etc. 

The  prosecution  summoned  the  following  witnesses  :  Daniel 
and  Mary  Winn,  James  Wells,  Fielder  Burch,  Samuel  New- 
lin,  J.  M.  Wilson,  Robert  Miller,  James  Miller,  Robert 
Wilson,  David  Ditech  and  Abigail  Converse.  The  trial 
came  oft' on  the  31st  of  May,  Attorney-General  Alfred  Cowles 
prosecuting  and  A.  W.  Snider  defending.  The  jury,  com- 
posed of  William  Wright,  James  Shephard,  James  Modglin, 
John  Wooters,  Lynville  M.  Daniel,  Elijah  Axley,  John 
Matlock,  Moses  Lock,  John  Clark,  Thomas  McDaniel,  Tho- 
mas Sterrill,  Jr.,  and  Thomas  Morgan,  rendered  a  verdict 
of  "not  guilty." 

A  second  indictment,  charging  the  said  Eliza  with  con- 
cealing the  death  of  a  child,  was  disposed  of  by  a  plea  of 
want  of  jurisdiction,  the  plea  being  sustained  by  the 
court. 

More  Murders. — Henry  Appel,  indicted  April,  1818,  was 
tried  and  found  guilty  at  said  term.  He  was  defended  by 
Bissell  and  Engelmann,  and  obtained  a  new  trial,  when  he 
was  found  guilty  of  manslaughter,  and  sentenced  to  the  peni- 
tentiary for  five  years.  Two  cases  of  larceny  against  him 
added  fifteen  years  to  the  above  sentence.  Appel  was  a 
St.  Clair  county  man  ;  the  name  of  his  victim  is  not  men- 
tioned in  the  records. 

Jacob  C.  Jones  was  tried  for  murder  August,  1848,  and 
acquitted.  Christopher  aad  Franz  Reininger  wsre  tried  for 
murder  April,  1849  ;  they,  too,  were  acquitted. 


Leaving  this  subject  of  murder  and  bloodshed,  we  shall 
turn  now  to  another  subject,  to  wit :  the  naturalization  of 
foreign-  born  residents  of  the  county. 

NATURALIZATION. 

European  immigrants  commenced  to  arrive  in  the  county 
of  Monroe  about  the  year  1833.  The  first  naturalization 
papers  were  granted  to  John  Raddleberger,  August  26, 1840. 
His  Honor,  Judge  Sidney  Breeze,  administered  the  oath  of 
allegiance  to  the  applicant,  and  made  him  a  naturalized 
citizen  of  the  United  States.  Applications  for  citizenship 
now  became  numerous,  and  as  it  may  interest  the  present 
genei'ation  to  read  the  declaration  of  such  applicants,  we 
introduce  here  that  of  Ludwig  Pilger,  to  wit : 

I,  Ludwig  Pilger,  an  alien  bornjree  luhite  person,  do  here- 
by in  conformity  with  the  acts  of  congress  relating  to  the 
naturalization  of  foreigners,  declare  and  make  known  that 
my  true  and  proper  name  is  Ludwig  Pilger,  that  I  was  born 
in  the  Grand  Dutchy  of  Hesse  Darmstadt  on  the  27th  day 
August,  18(10,  and  that  I  am  forty  years  of  age,  that  I  be- 
longed to  the  German  nation  and  owed  allegiance  to  the 
Grand  Duke  of  Hesse,  that  I  landed  at  the  city  of  New 
York,  and  in  the  United  States  of  America,  on  the  20th 
day  of  June,  1834,  that  I  have  ever  since  my  first  arrival 
remained  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  said  United  States, 
and  that  it  is  bona  fide  my  intention  to  renounce,  forever, 
all  allegiance  and  fidelity  to  every  foreign  Prince,  State  or 
Sovereignty  whatever,  and,  more  paiticularly  such  allegiance 
and  fidelity  as  I  may  in  any  wise  owe  to  the  said  Grand 
Duke  of  Hesse-Darmstadt,  and  to  become  a  citizen  of  the 
United  States :  that  I  do  not  now  enjoy  or  possess,  nor  am  I 
in  any  wise  entitled  to  any  order  of  Distin-ction  or  title  of 
nobility,  and  that  I  am  sincerely  attached  to  the  principles 
contained  in  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  and  desire 
that  this  my  declaration  and  report  may  be  accepted,  filed 
and  recorded  preparatory  to  my  intended  conformity  with 
the  several  acts  of  congress  heretofore  passed  on  that  subject. 

Subscribed  and  sworn  to  before  me ") 

this  23d  day  of  Eebruarv,  A.  D.,  V  Ludwig  Pilger. 
1840.  ■  3 

W.  W.  Omelveny,  clerk. 

List  of  foreign  born  citizens  naturalized  in  the  county, 
from  August  26,  1840,  to  April  term,  1850.  J.  A.  Franke, 
George  Frick,  John  Frick,  Joseph  Haller,  W.  Kraemer, 
Philip  Wehrheim,  John  VVehrheim  and  E.  Waldmann, 
August  C.  Haserick,  Joseph  Riehl.  John  P.  Brann,  Sebas- 
tian Berger,  James  Burke,  Joseph  lieinpe,  Jacob  Horn, 
John  Koechel,  George  Koch,  George  Leip,  B.  Mosbacher, 
Joseph  Mohler,  .Joseph  Mohr,  Louis  Nadler,  Joseph  Reihl, 
Jacob  Ruch,  Joseph  Schroeder,  Valentin  Siegel,  Vincent 
Somm,  Andrew  Schirmer,  Anton  Schaefer,  Joseph  Sp^cht, 
John  Schaft'er,  Anton  Sparwasser,  William  Thackway, 
David  Walsh,  John  Welch,  John  Kirsch,  Patrick  McGrath, 
Michael  Kelley,  Jacob  A.  Beck,  Henry  Lauer,  Mathias 
Huth,  Lewis  Pelzer,  George  de  Pugh,  Anton  Dictz,  Urban 
Voelkli,  James  Newsham,  George  Maerz,  Adam  Bruegel, 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


149 


Adam  Hahnenberger,  Christopher  Klube,  John  Minker, 
Heniy  Oestrich,  Henry  Miller,  Adam  Beeker,  Henry  Manni, 
Johann  Dietz,  Nicholas  Reitz,  Valentin  Schafenberger, 
John  Hempe,  John  P.  Hofman,  Peter  U'ierscheini,  sr.,  and 
Peter  Wierscheim,  jr.,  John  McCrossin,  Thomas  Bums, 
Jacob  Ran,  James  Rogcow,  Frederick  Henekler.  Thomas 
Coop,  .Tohn  Adam  Mummert,  Michael  O'Leary,  Charles 
Henekler,  James  Sinimott,  Jacob  Frick,  Christopher  Heyl, 
J.  Michael  Kraetner,  Gottlieb  Much,  Charles  Frick,  Paul 
Schmitz,  Jacob  Ralin,  Daniel  Klein,  Louis  Grossmann, 
Joseph  Roscow,  Philip  Jarges,  Peter  Wickline,  Perry  Fox, 
Martin  Huth,  Thomas  Crowe,  John  P.  Ensinger,  jr.,  John 
Dixon,  George  A.  Kopp,  John  Lofink,  Martin  Dunn, 
Thomas  Lamb,  William  Gilraore,  Valetin  Bruegel,  Thomas 
Griffin,  John  Rye,  John  Delaney  and  Michael  Berthall. 

This  list  contains  but  a  part  of  the  names  of  the  early 
emigrants.  Hundreds  obtained  their  naturalization  papers 
'n  other  counties  and  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.  Many  more,  find- 
ing no  difference  between  citizenship  and  the  right  of  suff- 
rage, took  no  step  to  be  naturalized,  as  the  constitution  of 
the  State  gave  the  latter  right  to  all  who  had  been  residents 
of  the  county  prior  to  its  adoption — March,  18-18. 

The  number  of  immigrants  poured  into  the  county  since 
1^48,  principally  from  Germany,  have  completely  turned 
the  features  of  this  county,  which  at  its  organization  was 
largely  American.  The  German  language  now  predomin- 
ates in  many  parts  of  the  county,  and  in  the  stores,  the 
shops,  yea,  even  in  the  court  house,  "  wird  deutsch  yespro- 
chen."  Many  of  the  remainders  of  the  old  American  stock 
understand  the  German  perfectly  and  speak  it  fluently. 

The  German  schoolmaster,  and  above  all,  the  German 
priest  or  clergyman  have  by  their  ceaseless  efforts  succeeded 
in  perpetuating  the  language  of  the  Yaterland  on  the  banks 
of  the  Missistipj)i. 

MONROE  COUNTY    IN   THE    GENERAL    ASSEMBLY,  FROM    1818 

TO  1848. 

Section  8,  Article  \1.  of  the  Constitution  of  1S18,  stipu- 
lated that  Monroe  should  be  entitled  to  one  Senator  and  one 
Representative,  until  a  State  census  should  be  taken. 

The  Fimt  General  Axsemh/tj  convened  at  Kaskaskia,  Oct. 
5,  1818,  and  adjourned  on  the  13th  of  that  month,  because 
the  Constitution  had  not  yet  been  approved  by  Congress. 
It  met  in  second  se.-sion,  January  4,  1819,  and  adjourned 
March  :'l,  1819.  Alexander  Jameson  represented  the  county 
in  the  Senate,  and  William  Alexander  in  the  House,  1818 
to  1820. 

The  Second  (imeral  Axsembhj  convened  at  the  new  State 
Capital,  Vandalia,  December  4,  1>^2(I,  and  adjourned  Feb. 
15,  1821.  Alexander  Jameson,  senator,  and  Enoch  Moore, 
representative,  1820  to  1><22.  Vandalia  remained  the  State 
capital  for  twenty  years. 

Third  General  Ai^embhj,  1822  to  1824.  Joseph  A.  Beaird, 
senator;  William  Alexander,  representative. 

Fourth  General  Assardily,  1824  to  182t).  Joseph  A. 
Beaird,  senator;  George  Forquer  and  Thomas  James,  repre- 
sentatives. 


Fifth  General  Assembly,  1826  to  1828.  Joseph  A.  Beaird,* 
senator ;  Thomas  James,  representative. 

Sixth  General  Assembly,  1828  to  18;50.  Samuel  McRoberts  f 
senator  ;  Moses  Lemen,  representative. 

Seventh  General  Assembly,  1830  to  1832.  Jonathan 
Lynch,  senator  ;  John  D.  Whiteside,  representative. 

Eighth  General  Assembly,  1832  to  1834.  Jonathan 
Lynch,  senator  ;  John  D.  Whiteside,  representative. 

Ninth  General  Assembly,  1834  to  1830.  Benjamin  Bond, 
senator  ;  John  D.  Whites'ide,  representative. 

Tenth  General  Assembly,  183(;  to  1838  John  D.  White- 
side, senator  (resigned  March  6,  1837);  James  B.  Moore, 
senator  (successor  of  Whiteside);  David  Nowlin,  represen- 
tative (resigned);  John  A.  Summerville,  representative  (suc- 
cessor of  Nowlin). 

Eleventh  General  Assembly,  1838  to  1840.  James  B. 
Moore,  senator  ;  Edward  T.  Moore,  representative. 

Twelfth  General  Assembly.  1840  to  1842,  convened  at 
Springfield  (now  the  capital  of  the  State),  on  the  23d  of 
November,  1840.  James  A.  James,  senator  ;  W.  H.  Bissell, 
representative 

Thirteenth  General  Assembly,  1842  to  1844  James  A. 
James,  senator;  Jacob  J.  Danner,  Andrew  J.  Dickinson  and 
William  McBride.];  representatives. 

Fourteenth  General  Assembly,  1«44  to  1840.  Joseph  Mor- 
rison, senator  for  Randolph  and  Monroe  ;  E.  Adams,  E.  W. 
Robbins  and  John  D  Whiteside,' representatives  for  Ran- 
dolph and  Monroe. 

Fifteenth  General  Assembly,  184fi  to  184.H  Joseph  Mor- 
rison, senator  ;  Robert  Mann,  John  Morrison  and  Edward 
Omelveny,  representatives. 

MONROE  COUNTY — 1849  TO   1883. 

The  State  Convention  of  1847  was  convened  at  Spring- 
field June  7th,  1847.  and  adjourned  August  31st,  1847. 
The  constitution  proposed  was  ratified  at  a  special  elec- 
tion held  on  the  6th  of  March,  1848,  and  went  into  force 
and  effect  April  1,  1848 

This  convention  was  composed  of  one  hundred  and  sixty- 
two  delegates.  Newton  Cloud,  of  Morgan  county,  was 
president,  Henry  VV.  Moore  secretary,  and  John  A  Wilson 
sergeant-atarms. 

James  A.  James  and  John  D.  Whiteside  represented  the 
county  of  Monroe  in  the  convention. 

As  stated  on  a  preceding  page,  the  county  commissioners, 
court  was  abolished  by  the  new  constitution,  and  the  govern, 
ment  of  the  county  entrusted  to  county  courts. 

First  County  Co«r(,  1849  to  18.o3 — John  Morrison,  County 

*  A  re-npportionment  was  made  January  12,  18'-fi,  by  whi<'h  Monrop,  Clinton, 
and  Washington  counties  formed  a  senatorial,  and  the  county  of  Monroe  a 
representative  district. 

t  Samuel  McRoberts  was  elected  to  fill  u  vacancy  caused  by  the  death  of  Jo- 
seph A-  Beaird.  McRoberts  had  been  clerk  of  both  lounty  and  circuit  courts, 
as  well  as  recorder,  during  the  infancy  of  the  county.  His  records  are  to  this 
day  models  of  accuracy  and  penmanship.  He  was  elected  to  the  United  States 
Senate  in  1841,  to  succeed  John  M.  Rob'nson,  of  Carmi.  McRoberts  died 
March  22, 1813,  and  was  succeeded  by  James  Semple  of  Alton,  senator,  appointed 
by  Gov.  Ford 

t  February  26, 1811,  the  ratio  for  a  senator  was  fixed  at  12,non,  and  for  a  repre. 
snntaUve,  at  4,<xio  inhabitants.  Monroe  remained  a  part  of  the  old  St.  Clair 
senatorial  district,  and  formed  with  Randolph  county  a  representative  district, 
which  was  entitled  to  three  members  of  the  house. 


150 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND  PERRY  COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


Judge ;  Bradley  Rust,  James  M.  Robinson,  Associate 
Justices ;  Daniel  Converse,  Clerk  ;  John  H.  Wilson, 
Sheriff. 

The  first  meeting  of  this  court  took  place  on  the  3d  of 
December,  1849  The  proceedings  during  the  first  two 
years  of  this  court  are  void  of  interest.  The  judge  himself 
devoted  his  attention  to  examining  most  minutely  into  all 
county  affairs.  The  constantly  increasing  public  business,  as 
well  as  the  growing  claims  on  account  of  support  of  paupers 
necessitated  an  increase  in  taxation.  Besides,  the  o/(^  court 
house,  whose  walls  were  '■  shook  "  by  the  balls  of  children 
when  it  was  new — 1834 — was  wholly  inadequate  for  even 
the  most  modest  demands.  The  question,  when  and  how  to 
build,  was  mooted  for  fully  two  years,  and  when  at  last  the 
plan  of  building  a  new  court  house  was  matured,  and  a 
contract  made,  the  court  wisely  ordered  a  special  tax  for  the 
purpose  of  paying  for  the  work  as  it  progress;  d, 

The  contract  price  was  only  88,000,  but  how  carefully  was 
the  contract  itself  drawn  up.  There  is,  we  venture  to  say, 
uo  contract  on  the  files  of  any  of  the  other  counties  of  the 
State  so  detailed  and  so  carefully  worded  as  the  one  in 
question.  Its  perusal  may  not  interest  all  the  readers  of 
this  sketch,  and  yet  it  is  very  good  reading,  and  men  in 
future  may  learn  a  lesson  from  it. 

The  New  Court  Huu-e. — The  building  of  the  present 
court  house  was  an  undertaking  of  some  magnitude,  consid- 
ering tlie  indifferent  condition  of  the  county  finances,  and 
the  limited  revenues  of  the  county. 

The  county  authorities  were  well  aware  of  the  situation, 
and  the  articles  of  agreement  drawn  up  and  entered  into  on 
the  5th  day  of  (September,  a.  d.  1851,  bear  witness  to  their 
fonsiylit.  We  intiuduce  this  voluminous  document  at 
full  length,  so  that  in  future  times  the  county  authorities 
may  be  guided  in  similar  cases. 

Tlie  Agreem  nt. — This  article  of  agreement  made  this  5th 
day  of  April,  a.  d.  1851  between  Lloyd  Prather,  of  the 
first  part,  and  John  Morrison,  judge  of  the  county  court, 
Bradley  Rust  and  James  M.  Robinson,  associate  justices  of 
the  county  court  of  Monroe  county,  Illinois,  and  their  succes- 
sors in  ofKce  for  the  second  part,  witnesseth  : 

That  for  and  in  consideration  of  the  sum  of  S8,000,  to  be 
paid  by  the  said  parties  of  the  second  part  or  their  successors 
in  office,  as  hereinafter  on  their  part  particularly  set  forth, 
the  said  Lloyd  Prather  does  hereby  agree  and  bind  himself, 
to  build  a  Court  House  on  the  public  square  in  the  town  of 
Waterloo,  Illinois,  for  said  county,  and  on  such  place  on 
said  square  as  shall  be  de.'^ignated  by  the  said  county  court, 
according  to  the  following  plan  and  specifications,  to  wit : 

1st.  Excavation  of  all  that  part  of  the  earth  that  will  be 
under  the  two  rear  rooms,  to  be  excavated  six  feet  from  the 
lower  edge  of  the  joists,  the  same  being  about  17x25  feet 
each,  all  that  other  part  of  the  outer  foundation  which  will 
be  under  said  building,  as  shown  in  the  plot  annexed  hereto, 
and  drawn  to  i  inch  to  the  foot,  making  the  said  building 
43x60  feet  on  the  ground,  is  to  be  excavated  to  the  depth  of 
2}  feet  and  2i  feet  wide,  and  all  partition  walls  are  also  to 
be  excavated  to  said  depth,  eighteen  inches  wide,  said  cellars 
and  trenches  for  foundation  to  be  dug  to  a  level  from  the 


proper  point  in  such  a  manner  that  the  brick  walls  will 
stand  plumb  over  the  center  of  all  the  lower  foundations. 

2d.  Foundaiion. — All  that  part  of  the  foundation  from 
the  bottom  of  the  cellars  to  the  top  of  the  grade,  and  all 
that  other  part  of  the  foundation  of  said  building  to  be  good 
common  mason  work  of  lime  stone  rock  of  good  sine  for  such 
a  job,  well  laid  in  good  lime  and  sand  mortar,  said  walls  to 
be  laid  solid  and  firm  clear  through  the  whole  thickness  of 
the  wall,  all  of  said  mortar  walls  to  be  two  and  a  half  feet 
thick,  and  all  the  inner  or  partition  walls  to  be  eighteen 
inches  thi  ^k,  brought  up  to  a  true  level  at  the  top  of  grade. 

3d.  Upper  Found ttioii.—A.U  that  part  of  the  upper 
foundation  under  the  outer  walls  of  said  building  to  be  raised 
on  the  outside  from  the  top  of  the  lower  foundation  or  grade 
to  the  height  of  two  feet  with  good  bush  hammered  cut 
rock  of  lime  stone,  laid  in  two  ranges  if  practicable,  with  as 
small  joints  as  possible  of  lime  and  sand  mortar;  the  rock 
for  said  foundation  is  to  have  an  inch  and  a  half  margin  cut 
or  tooled  all  around,  top  and  bottom,  and  the  center  snugly 
dressed  with  a  fine  bush  hammer,  the  lower  range  of  rock  to 
be  a  little  wider  than  the  upper  one.  And  the  thickness  to 
vary  from  6  or  S  to  14  inches,  and  those  thick  and  thin  rock 
placed  alternately  on  the  walls  so  as  t)  make  a  good  joining 
with  the  backing  up  behind  the  face  work,  which  is  to  be 
sufficient  to  make  the  walls  two  feet  thick  of  common  mason 
work.  On  the  top  of  this  cut  stone  work  there  is  to  be  a 
water  table,  eight  inches  in  depth  and  dressed  in  the  same 
manner  on  the  face  as  the  other  cut-ston-',  said  water  table 
to  be  from  ten  to  fourteen  inches  wide,  and  beveled  from 
the  brick  walls  between  the  outside  three-fifths  of  an  inch  so 
as  to  throw  off  the  water,  and  the  same  is  to  project  over  all 
around  one  and  a  half  inches  and  beveled  snugly  all  around, 
making  good  intersections.  There  is  to  be  backing  up 
behind  the  water  table  level  with  the  top,  the  same  as  the 
backing  up  behind  the  other  cut  work.  The  partition  walls 
in  the  upper  foundation  to  be  raised  to  a  level  with  the 
outer  foundation,  the  same  thickness  as  the  lower  and  the 
same  kind  of  work,  all  of  which  must  be  well  and  substan- 
tially done,  taking  care  to  have  the  walls  well  tied  together 
from  the  face,  or  nearly  so,  tha:  the  two  beds  will  come 
snugly  together  and  thereby  prevent  springing  when  the 
weight  comes  on. 

4lh.  Sills,  etc. — There  are  to  be  sills  at  the  side  entries 
doors  set  in  range  with  the  water  table,  the  same  thickness 
and  worked  in  the  same  manner,  and  to  be  wide  enough  to 
extend  from  the  outer  edge  to  the  inside  of  the  brick  wall. 
At  the  two  ends  there  must  be  a  stone  platform,  to  be  long 
enough  to  embrace  the  entire  finish  of  the  door  set  in  range 
with  the  water  table,  the  same  thickness  and  dressed  in 
the  same  manner,  and  to  be  wide  enough  to  extend  from 
the  front  raige  of  the  water  table  fjur  feet  inside  of 
the  brick  wall,  which  will  require  each  to  be  about  6x9 
feet.  There  are  to  be  hutments  carried  in  connection  with 
the  wall  from  the  foundation  up  sufficiently  high  for  the 
platforms  to  rest  upon  at  each  end  and  to  be  a  little  elevated 
on  the  inside  to  run  out  the  water.  The  joist  must  be  so 
arranged  as  to  bring  the  floor  level  with  the  top  of  those 
sills  and  platforms,  observing  that  the  joists  must  go  into  the 


HISTORY    OF    RAyDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRV    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


15] 


stone  wall.-; ;  tiiere  nw  to  bo  tlirec  stone  steps  at  each  duor 
the  rife  being;  eight  inches  auii  trend  lourteen  inches, 
(inisheii  in  tiie  same  style. 

.5lh.  SllU  iiikI  i'<ipi. — All  windows  to  have  .-tone  ra)is  and 
sill.-,  to  be  ilressed  iu  similar  niatincr  ;  sills  J  inches  thick, 
and  as  wide  as  usual  ;  the  caps  to  be  10^  inches  wide  and  of 
proper  thick ne.-s.  The  outside  doors  must  have  wooden 
frames  clear  through  the  wall,  made  ironi  joists  2  by  .S 
inclies,  spiked  or  pinned  together  and  well  put  on,  -ci  a-  to 
prevent  settling  or  cracks. 

<>lh.  Tlir  lirick  for  sai<l  building  must  be  of  the  best 
nierchantable  (juality,  moulded  in  twos  and  of  city  sizi-s, 
using  the  best  front  brick  for  the  outride. 

7th.  lii-icl;  (toi-L-  — All  the  brick  work  is  to  be  done  in 
good  sub.-tantial  manner,  and  never  running  more  than 
scatilild  high  on  one  wall  before  bringing  up  the  other  walls 
to  the  same  height.  All  the  outside  walls  to  be  run  to  the 
height  of  2()j  feet  from  the  top  of  the  water-table  to  the 
square  of  the  building,  nuiking  the  (irst  story  101  feet  high 
niKJ  the  second  st«>ry  1')  feet  high  ;  the  outside  walls  to  be  '11 
inches  th'ck,  including  i  iiteas.  The  antea  to  i)roject  about 
41  inches,  leaving  the  walls  about  l"*  inches  thick,  and, 
after  running  to  the  t"p  of  the  antea  caps,  the  wall  must 
then  be  full  thickness  clear  through,  thert by  making  the 
faces  of  the  cornice  of  brick,  as  also  the  architrave  of  the 
cornice,  set  out  at  square  projections  ;  the  antea  cajis  are 
also  to  be  of  brick,  set  out  at  square  projections.  The  inner 
or  partition  walls  to  be  run  to  the  height  of  the  first  story, 
and  niue  inches  thick.  All  the  brick  must  be  laid  in  their 
appropriate  i)laces  with  true  face  to  walls  inside  and  out. 
with  straight  angles  and  plumb.  Sai<l  brick  must  be  laid 
in  go'  d  lime  and  sand  mortar,  and  all  the  interstices  to  he 
filled  up  wiih  mortar,  so  as  to  make  a  good  solid  wall. 

8th  C'lrpentii's  work — All  the  joists  in  the  first  and 
second  floors  to  be  2;  by  10  inches,  of  white  or  post  oak,  or 
otherwise  white  or  yellow  pine.  There  mu?t  be  at  least  one 
range  of  cro.ss  bridging,  of  suitable  size,  run  through  each 
room  and  pas-age  below  between  the  joists,  and  also  three 
ranges  in  the  u]>per  floor,  one  over  each  belovv.  well  secured 
All  the  above  joists  are  to  be  placed  on  the  walls  16  inches 
from  the  centre.  There  must  be  a  heavy  girder,  or  rather 
two,  to  reach  across  the  passage,  to  lay  the  joists  on.  Said 
girder  should  be  10  by  12  inches,  and  rest  well  on  the  wall. 
Dth.  ('t'i/iiirj  ami  riirif. — There  njust  be  si.\  pair  of  princi- 
pal rafers  in  said  roof,  one  t  •  stand  over  each  antea,  but 
where  the  flues  and  chimneys  come  they  niu.-t  be  as  near  the 
antea  as  practicable,  on  account  of  fire,  minding  to  equalize 
the  weight  as  much  as  possible ;  .said  rafters  to  be  as  fol- 
lows:  Each  main  bearn  7  by  10  inches,  and  long  enough  to 
extend  over  the  wall  on  both  sides.  There  are  to  be  two 
king  posts,  hammer  beam,  and  spur  braces.  The  queen 
posts  must  be  at  least  7  by  12  inches,  cut  in  such  a  shape 
that  the  head  of  the  principal  rafter  when  cut  square  will 
fit  it  when  applied  ;  also  cut  at  the  foot,  so  as  to  receive  the 
spur  brace.  In  the  same  way  said  posts  must  be  well 
framed  into  the  main  beams,  and  said  beams  are  to  be  sup- 
ported by  means  of  an  iron  stirrup,  h  by  2  inches,  going 
around  the  beam  and  extending  up  the  posta  at  least  two 


feet  from  the  lower  edge  of  the  beam,  drawn  up  by  means 

of  two  iron  keys,  made  of  sutticient  length  to  drive  through, 
and  then  bolted  through  with  a  three-ipiarter  iron  bolt  with 
head  and  nut.  The  principal  rafters  must  be  let  into  the 
main  beam  at  th''  bottom  or  heel,  and  there  secured  by 
means  of  a  seven-eighth  screw  bolt  with  washers,  put  ing  the 
same  through  at  riglit  angles  from  the  top  of  the  rafters. 
The  queen  posts  muyt  be  framed  into  the  girders  a  little 
more  than  one-third  of  the  space  from  the  inside  of  each 
wall.  The  hammer  beams  must  be  with  a  little  head  to  the 
shoulder,  so  as  to  b  x  into  the  queen  posts  one-half  inch  at 
its  lower  edge.  The  size  of  the  principal  rafters  and  beams 
are  to  be  7  by  8  inches,  two  ranges  on  each  siile  of  the  roof, 
one  to  jog  down  on  the  beams  immediately  behind  the  queen 
posts,  the  other  at  a  proper  distance  below,  as  near  the  head 
of  the  spur  brace  a.s  praclii'able,  or  not  quite  hall-way  to  the 
rai-iug  plate,  which  must  be  2  by  10  inches,  and  well  se- 
cured to  the  beams  and  lookouts.  Jack  rafters  mu-t  b.;  2 
by  G  inches.  The  ceiling  j  dsts  must  he  2'  by  0  inches, 
boxed  in  between  the  main  beams  as  to  a  strip  well  nailed 
or  spiked.  Said  joints  must  be  put  in  (i  inches  from  the 
centre  ;  at  lea.st  evtry  other  j  .int  at  each  end  of  the  building 
must  remain  outside  of  the  wall  to  fasten  cornice  to.  Ob- 
.serve  to  only  have  the  end  beams  that  rest  on  the  wall  half 
the  depth  of  the  others,  or  .5  by  7  inches,  and  well  .secured. 
On  the  top  o  the  joists  there  must  b  :  look.iuts  framed  in  on 
the  sides,  of  sufficient  number  and  size  to  make  a  good  sub- 
stantial job.  say  at  least  l'>  inches  deep.  All  the  above 
joists  and  roof  timbers  must  be  of  good  white  jiine,  to  u.se 
scjuare-edged  sheeting  1  inch  thick,  to  use  the  best  (|uality 
of  white  pine  shingles,  laid  from  4  to  5  imdios  to  the  weather. 
Root  to  be  the  same  pitch  as  shown  in  the  plan  ;  to  be  a  con- 
venient scuttle  left  through  the  ceiling  in  the  lobby  at  the 
head  of  the  stairs,  and  also  one  through  the  roof  at  a  con- 
venient place  for  getting  out ;  the  .same  to  be  well  secured 
with  copper,  so  as  to  entirely  prevent  leaking.  There  must 
also  be  copper  gutters  behind  each  and  all  the  chimneys, 
being  tour  in  all. 

10th.  Curnicc.  rtr.  Said  buililing  is  to  have  a  cornice  in 
the  Grecian  style  ;  it  is  to  go  all  around  said  building  Th 
gutters  iu  this  cornice  must  be  lined  with  12  lb.  copper,  the 
same  being  made  as  large  as  lo  inches;  the  copper  must  be 
put  together'with  a  double  groove,  made  perfectly  water- 
tight and  fastened  <lown  with  staples  made  at  right  angles, 
so  that  the  co()per  will  draw  under  them  when  affected  by 
heat.  It  will  be  observed  that  said  gutters  must  first  be 
lined  with  plank  before  the  copper  is  put  in  ;  there  must  be 
also  four  down  conductors,  made  from  10  lb.  copper,  and 
made  3  inches  in  diameter,  and  carried  down  behind  the 
brick  facia  and  antea  caps,  so  as  not  at  all  to  obstruct  the 
cornice  on  the  outside,  and  conductors  to  be  carried  down 
straight  in  the  first  angle  of  the  ant^a  from  the  corner  on 
each  side  to  the  top  of  the  water  table,  and  there  a  shoe 
made  to  throw  off  the  water. 

lllh.  Front iKjiiires  There  are  to  be  four  frontispieces 
in  Grecian  style,  one  to  each  of  the  four  entrances,  to  be 
made  of  thick,  heavy  stutt"of  the  best  quality  of  white  pine, 
also  four  side-light  doors,  made  of  the  same  material;  the 


152 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES.    ILLINOIS. 


two  recess  doors  not  to  stand  more  than  3  J  feet  from  the 
iuside  of  the  wall  to  the  finish  of  the  posts.  There  is  to  be 
a  heavy  fancy  architrave  around  the  outside  of  said  doors; 
the  shutters  to  said  doors  must  be  made  of  the  best  quality 
of  white  pine,  and  made  in  four  panels,  well  hinged  with 
good  butts,  each  door  furnished  with  a  good,  heavy  American 
look,  with  mineral  knobs.  There  must  be  an  iron  railing 
of  a  good  pattern  from  antea  to  antea,  on  each  side  of  the 
door  over  the  crown  of  the  frontispiece  on  each  side  of  the 
building. 

12th.  Windows.  There  must  be  four  windows  in  stone 
foundation,  two  at  each  end  of  building,  one  under  each  of 
the  other  windows.  There  are  al.so  to  be  twenty-eight  win- 
dows, twelve  lights,  each  12x18  inches,  all  of  said  windows 
to  be  made  with  good  puUies  properly  arranged,  and  the 
lower  sash  hung  with  good  cords  and  cast-iron  weights. 

1.3th.  Flooring,  etc.  Floors  to  be  laid  in  the  first  and 
second  stories  with  good  seond-rate  yellow  pine  plank,  mill 
worked  and  of  the  usual  thickness,  and  from  4  to  six  inches 
wide,  well  seasoned  and  well  laid  down  by  secret  nailing. 

14th.  Doors.  There  must  be  the  same  number  of  doors 
as  marked  on  the  plan.  All  the  inside  doors,  except  the 
door  to  the  court  room  must  be  at  least  3x7  feet,  and  the 
one  to  the  court  rojm  must  be  51x8'.,  made  folding,  and  each 
door  to  be  hung  with  three  hinges;  to  have  j:ood  spring 
bolts  with  chain  to  the  top  bolt,  also  a  good  American  lock, 
with  mineral  knobs,  as  aLso  all  the  other  doors  in  said 
house. 

15th.  Stairs,  etc.  The  stairs  in  said  building  to  be  as  laid 
down  in  said  plan,  of  yellow  pine. 

16th.  IJitse.  There  must  be  a  base  in  all  the  rooms  and 
passages  in  said  building,  made  plain  and  8  inches  wide, 
snugly  cased. 

17lh.  I'drtitions.  All  the  rojius  in  the  secjnd  story  to  be 
divided  with  partitions  ;  there  must  be  a  snug  step-ladder  to 
go  up  to  the  scuttle  in  the  upper  ceiling. 

18th.  Court  Room.  All  the  seats  for  spectators  and  jury 
boxes  must  be  raised  from  the  floor,  one  above  the  other, 
from  four  to  six  iuches,  to  have  ends  back  and  seats  solid, 
with  backs  capped  in  a  snug  manner;  there  must  also  be  a 
strip,  four  iuches  wide,  under  the  seats.  The  judge's  seat  to 
be  made  with  square  columns,  snugly  capped,  the  front 
being  25  feet  from  the  floor  of  the  stand  to  the  top.  The 
clerk's  desk  to  be  made  in  good  style,  with  doors,  also  the 
desk  for  sheriff,  officers,  etc. 

19th.  PlitstfriiHj.  All  the  rooms  and  passages  in  said 
building  to  be  plastered  w  th  three  good  coats  of  lime  and 
sand  mortar,  the  last  coat  to  be  made  of  Plaster  of  Paris  and 
marble. 

20th.  Pointing.  All  the  brick-work  on  the  outside  to  be 
painted  with  three  coats  of  white  lead  and  oil,  of  light  drab 
coLir,  and  all  the  corners,  anteas,  caps,  pediments,  frontis- 
pieces, frames,  doors,  etc.,  to  be  painted  white. 

All  the  window  blinds  to  said  building  must  be  painted 
with  three  coats,  green  of  the  best  quality.  All  the  work  is 
to  be  finisheil  in  manner  as  specified  by  the  1st  day  of  March, 
1853.  The  said  county  court  and  their  successors  in  oflice 
agree  to  and  with  the  said  Lloyd  Prather  that  they  will  upon 


compliance  of  the  said  Prather  with  this  contract  pay  to  him 
the  sum  of  $8000  in  payments  and  in  manner  as  follows,  to 
wit,  the  sum  of  $1500  on  the  first  day  of  June  1852  and  the 
sum  of  $1500  payable  yearly  after  the  year  1852,  and  at  the 
completiijn  of  the  building  the  said  court  further  agrees  to 
and  with  the  said  Prather,  that  they  will  for  the  balance 
then  due  to  said  Prather  issue  the  bonds  of  said  county  bear- 
ing interest  at  the  rate  of  10^  per  annum  until  paid  and  pay 
the  interest  thereon  annually  until  paid. 

Lloyd  Prather's  bond  was  countersigned  by  Ham.  Shoe- 
maker, W.  C.  Starkey,  N.  B.  Wall,  A.  W.  Gardner  and 
Wm.  Wilson,  jr  ,  witnessed  and  certified  to  by  J.  M.  John- 
son, a  justice  of  the  peace. 

The  court  house  was  completed  on  April  1st,  1853. 

The  tax  values  of  1852  were  $905,000  and  the  special  levy 
for  court  house  purposes  was  -41  cts. 

The  secc„''  county  court  was  elected  in  1853. 

John  Morrison  was  re-elected,  and  in  fact  remained  in 
office  until  death  called  him  off"  in  1872.  The  reader  will  find 
the  names  of  his  associates  in  the  roster  of  county  officers  on 
a  subsequent  page.  The  County  continued  to  grow  in 
wealth  and  population.  The  Financial  affairs  weie  in  good 
shape,  the  taxes  light  and  the  tax-payers  ready  to  pay 
them. 

A  financial  statement  made  during  the  third  term  of  the 
Hon.  Judge  may  find  room  here. 


Pnid  since-  June  ter 
i-)r  r-iails  ami  bridge? 


1  18J7  to  the  pieseiit  te 


county  and  probate  . 
associate  justices  .  . 


377.110 
201  .k» 


records,  cupboards  for  county  clerk's  • 

sherirt  and  deputies 

sh  ritf  s  percentage  on  revenue  .   . 
elections,  officers  of  and   mileage 
comnii-sioners  on   lost  book  (.'   .    .    .    . 

constables  on  circuit  court 

„5.essors,  depot,  assessors  

clerk  of  circuit  com  t  salary  and  fees  . 
repair  ..n  court  house  and  jail,  fuel,  ki- 
e,.r,.urr  li  .Iding  inquests 

r;'"pcr- 


l.i7.1o 


2-.i.50 
O.i.SO 
01 0.37 
138.95 
13S.20 
01.20 
il2S.78 


Total  . 


County  orders  is.sued  since  June  l.<.i7 S7. 340.44 

County  orders  of  prior  date  out -l^.W 

Total S7.J89.00 

County  orders  paid  since  June  1857 5.552.39 

County  orders  still  unpaid 2.337.21 

County  revenue  for.  1857      86.953.50 

Licenses — peddlersand  groceries 9OU.50 

7.854.00 

Paid  in  by  ooUecter,  part  revenue  of  1857 $1023.20 

Leaves  revenue  uncollected "  830.80 

Deducting  from  this  the  outstanding  county  orders  as  above 2.337.21 

Leaves  amount  due  to  the  county $4.4113.59 

Whereas  the  jury  certificates  are  not  issued  in  this  office, 
and  no  report  made  of  those  issued,  it  is  impossible  to  state 
how  many  are  out. 

I,  the  undersigned,  clerk  hereby  certify  that  the  above  is  a 


i5:a 


COURT  HOUSE. 
FUBUC BW1M/N6S     MONHOS  county.  ILLINOIS 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MOXROE   AXD    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


153 


true  ami  correct  statement  of  the  fiscal  condition  of  Monroe 
county  iij)  to  June  term  a.  d.  18>8. 

C.  II.   KiCTTI.ER,   CoUllll)   Clerk* 

The  following  statement  will   slmw   the  increasing  wealth 
of  the  county. 

STATEMFNT  OF   ASSESSHENT   18ot). 

Horso« 3.148  valued SIi"'<li>'<> 

Mules isa     '•         lG.ii4.'> 

Cattle •    ,  0230     "  6(i.fiiil 

Slieep 1300     •'        '.  .     ii.5i>.") 

Hops ...     .  i079">       "  ].'i.C(iS 

Carrinpes  an<l  wngons  ....  1703      "         3.'i.Ti>.s 

CUiek.*  and  u'atelies 11-JO      "        


740 


Go^uls  and  merehan<H>c 33.970 

Mnnnfaeturi'd  arliclfs 2.390 

Mone.v  and   .rodiis I34.r.«C 

Bouds  and  Stuek> l.HK) 

\\\  utiier  persunal  property 70.«I0 


Total  , 


Land<i — numlier  of 
Lots  in  tcuiis 


Equ.tlized  valuuliiMi 51.919.74''. 

Tnr/^r;/ /or  l.<o9  fur  state  purposes I2.8(;2.3l 

Fonouul.v     ••  7li7)t.99 

Special  school  taxes  for  said  year  are  not  mentioned  in  the 
above  statement. 

An  immense  hanking  business  was  to  be  started  at  that 
period,  with  a  capital  of  a  million   of  dollars  known  as  the 

MffcantUc  Bank,  at  Waterloo,  Monroe  county,  Illinois. 
We  whose  names  are  hereunto  annexed,  do  hereby  certify : 

J-'int.  That  we  have  associated  together  for  the  purpose 
of  establishing  an  office  of  discount,  deposit  and  circulation, 
and  do  hereby  agree  to  become  incorporated  upon  the  terms 
and  conditions,  and  subject  to  the  liabilities  prescribed  in 
the  act  of  the  general  assembly  of  the  state  of  Illinois, 
entitled  "an  act  to  establish  a  general  system  of  banking," 
and  the  name  assumed  to  distinguish  such  associations 
and  to  be  used  in  its  dealings,  is  the  Mercaiitile  Bank. 

Sffoiiil.  That  its  business  is  to  be  carried  on  in  the  town 
of  Waterloo,  Monroe  county,  state  of  Illinois. 

Third.  That  the  amount  of  capital  stock  of  the  associa- 
tion is  one  million  of  dollars,  divided  into  ten  thousand 
shares  of  one  hundred  dollars  each. 

Fourth.  That  the  name  and  residence  of  the  respective 
shareholders,  and  the  number  of  shares  held  by  each  of  them 
respectively,  are  as  follows :  Caryl  Young,  Chicago,  Illinois, 
ten  thousand  shares. 

Fijih.     That  the  said   association   shall   commence   this 

*  The  above  statement  js  a  verbatim  copy  of  the  original|as  found  on  book  E 
pages  21G  and  217.  It  i?  not  in  good  shape,  yet  accurate,  and  being  the  first 
statement  ever  placed  on  record,  it  should  find  space  o^i  this  chapter.  The 
county  revenue  to  wit  S6-854.0<i  exceeds  the  expenditures  about  S2,'jO,  which 
amount  may  have  sufficed  to  redeem  the  jui*y  certificates  mentioned  above. — 
What  use  the  county  clerk  had  for  a  cupboard  is  however  not  made  plain.  The 
lost  book  C  was  a  record  of  desed,  spirited  away  and  after  several  years  found 
in  the  court  house  well.  The  index  to  this  book  had  been  preserved,  and  a 
partial  record  was  subsequently  made  by  recording  the  deeds  4c,  remaining  in 
the  hands  of  grantees. 

20 


20th  day  of  September,  18G0,  and  terminate  on  the  20th  of 
September,  1885. 

(liven  under  my  hand,  this  20th  of  September,  1860. 
Caryl  Yoi'xg,  [l.  s.]. 
Subscribed  and  sworn  to  )  r^     n  tr  ^r  ,       i,  ,,■ 

this  20th  of  Sept.,  1860.   \  ^"  ^  "  Harris,  Xotary  Pubhc. 

The  following  report  clearly  indicate.^  that  the  people  of 
the  county  fully  understood  the  favorable  financial  condi- 
tion of  their  county  : 

EEl-OKT    OP    GR.VND  JURY,  NOVEMBER  TERM,   1858. 

The  grand  jurors  at  said  term  have  examined  the  jail, 
and  have  also  conversed  with  the  prisoners  confined  therein, 
and  we  deem  it  proper  to  report,  in  relation  to  the  prisoners, 
that  they  appear  to  be  well  provided  for  under  the  circum- 
stances, as  could  reasonably  be  expected,  and  that  all  speak 
in  the  highest  term  of  the  kind  treatment  received  from  the 
gentlemen  in  charge  of  that  department. 

We  have  a  few  remarks  to  make  in  relation  to  the  present 
condition  of  our  county  jail,  and  hope  they  will  not  pa.ss 
unnoticed  by  the  county  authorities;  we  earnest!}'  recom- 
mend that  speedy  measures  may  be  taken  to  erect  a  decent, 
safe  and  suitable  building,  to  hold  our  unfortunate  people, 
who  have  violated  and  al\vay.s  will  violate  the  laws  of 
our  common  country.  We  look  upon  the  present  jail  as  a 
nuisance  and  unworthy  of  a  resting  place  upon  the  public 
ground  of  Monroe  county,  a  county  free  of  indebtedness, 
and  settled  by  an  industrious  and  enterpri.-ing  people,  and 
occupying  the  most  enviable  position  of  all  the  southern 
counties  of  our  growing  state. 

Jacob  Gai.e,  forenuai. 

The  county  court  did  not  pay  any  attention  to  this  request 
or  report  of  the  grand  jury,  for  ihey  thougiit  it  wi.ser  and 
more  humane  to  first  provide  fi.r  the  poor  and  friend le.'^s, 
than  for  our  unfortunaif  people  ti-lio  nill  a/irays  tio/atc  the 
lauM  of  our  common  roiintrij. 

Acting  on  this  principle,  they  purchased  a  small  tract  of 
land  from  Charles  Ilenckler  and  John  S.  Boshert,  for  S200, 
and  contracted  with  Charles  Borntraeger  to  erect  an 
asylum  thereon,  in  order  to  give  shelter  to  the  county  poor. 
This,  now  commonly  called  poor  housf,  cost  the  county 
S2,2S8.15. 

The  civil  war  had  now  broken  out,  and  the  public  funds 
were  constantly  needed  to  support  the  needy  families  of  the 
men  who  had  taken  the  field. 

The  flush  times  in  the  years  immediately  succeeding  the 
war,  had  their  effect  on  the  people  of  Monroe  county  as  well 
as  on  those  of  other  counties.  The  expenditures  of  the 
county  increased  to  S25  000  a  year,  and  frequently  exceeded 
the  revenue.  County  orders,  amounting  to  S5.<I0  and  over, 
were  made  ten  per  cent.  inter>st  bearing  paper,  a  floating 
debt  was  gradually  creeping  up  and  what  was  worse,  a  large 
funded  debt  was  settled  upon  the  county,  not  by  its  officers, 
however,  but  by  the  votes  of  the  people.  The  old  county 
judge,  however,  did  not  live  to  see  his  county  loaded  with  a 
debt,  exceeding  8100,000. 

The  records  of  the  county  pay  tribute  to  this  faithful 
public  servant,  as  follows: 


]54 


HISTORY    OF   liANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


PlX-EMRER  SlTCIAL  TkUM    1S7'2. 

Mniiil,!!/  Ajlmiooii  DccciiiIk  r  '1  i. 

In  mi:mi)1:iam.  Hon.  Jc/m  J/dr./.M//*.— At  a  funiial  meet- 
ing of  tlie  I'ouiuy  cuui-t  liclil  at  the  t^ourt  House  in  Waterloo, 
Detember  :2;>  ISTii,  pi.niLiputed  in  by  the  several  couuty 
officer?,  nie;iil)er»  of  the  bar  and  citizeus  of  the  county,  for 
the  purpose  of  paying  a  last  tribute  of  respect  to  the  memory 
of  Hon.  Job.n  M  n-rison  <]ecease(l,  late  judge  of  the  county 
court  of  Monroe  County,  Illinois,  alter  appropriate  prelimi- 
nary remarks,  the  following  preamble  and  resolutions  were 
unanimously  adopted,  viz: 

AVhereas  ii  has  pleased  Divine  Providence  to  remove  by 
death  Ironi  our  miilst  Hon.  John  Jlorrison,  and  as  it  is  emi- 
nently niu't,  that  we  in  his  death  ever  honor  one  \Yhom  we 
had  so  loiig  honored  while  living,  therefore  as  a  last  teslimo. 
iiial  of  our  respect  to  his  memory,  be  it 

1st,  Ji'ryulcrJ,  that  by  the  death  of  Judge  Jlorrison,  the 
citizens  of  this  county  have  lost  one  whom  they  long  delight- 
ed to  honor  as  the  firm,  uncompromising  friend  and  protect- 
or of  the  poor,  the  friendless,  the  widow  and  the  orphan,  and 
whose  doors  and  jialms  were  always  open  to  the  wants  of  the 
needv,  and  one  whose  hands  were  ever  pure  in  the  adminis- 
tration of  !iis  official  duties. 

■_*)i(/,  7,''.-"/i'(/,  that  we  tender  our  sympathies  to  his  be- 
rfavid  widow  and  family. 

"nl,  Ji'ifo'i-cd,  that  these  resolutions  be  placed  upon  the  rec- 
ords of  the  county  court,  that  a  copy  of  the  same  be  fur- 
nished (0  the  family  of  the  deceased,  and  also  that  a  copy  be 
furnished  to  each  of  the  newspapers  of  this  county,  the  ad- 
joining counties  and  St-  Ijouis,  with  a  request  that  the  same 
be  published. 

John  IMoriison  was  succeeded  by  H.  S.  Talbott,  who  to- 
gether with  Adam  Rei.-s  and  Harrison  Druce  conducted  tha 
affairs  of  the  county  until  187 !,  and  were  relieved  by  a  board 
of  county  commissioners,  who  under  the  constitution  of  1870 
were  henceforth  entrusted  with  tlie  county  government. 

The  large  funded  debt  nientioned  above  was  created  by  a 
vote  of  tlie  people  at  a  special  election  held  on  the  24th  of 
February,  1868,  in  which  1537  voters  against  165,  decreed 
that  the  county  should  take  8100,000  stock  in  a  projected 
Bail  Road  from  East  St  Louis  to  Cairo,  and  running  through 
the  county. 

The  money  with  which  to  pay  for  the  stock  was  to  be 
raised  by  issuing  county  bonds  of  said  amount,  to  draw  8  per 
cent,  interest,  and  to  become  due  20  years  after  the  date  of 
issue.  The  result  of  the  election  however  was  not  made  a 
matter  of  record  at  that  time,  because  as  it  seemed,  the  plan 
of  building  the  road  had  been  abandoned.  Later  this  was 
done,  the  bonds  were  prepared,  and  finally  placed  into  the 
hands  of  the  railroad  people,  as  will  appear  from  the  follow- 
ing document  of  one  hundred  words  each,  which  will  cost  the 
county  twenty  six  hundred  dollars  in  principal  and  interest. 

No.  2S.  — State  oflldnois. — 1,000  Shares  Cairo  arid  St.  Louis 

Railroad  Company. 

This  is   to  certify,   that  Monroe  county,  in  the  State  of 

Illinois,  is  entitled  to   1,000  shares,  of   SlOO  each,  of  the 

capital  stock  of  the  Cairo  and  St.  Louis  Railroad  Company, 


transferable  only  on  the  books  of  said  company  by  the  said 
stockholder  in  person  or  by  attorney,  on  the  surrender  of 
this  certificate. 

In  witness  whereof,  the  said  company  has  caused  this  cer- 
^^"^^■^^  tificate  to  be  signed  by  its  president  and  secretary, 
K^-^J  this  5th  day  of  March,  1873. 

S.  S.  Taylor,  President. 

D.  IIi'RD,  Secretary. 

CON'STITUTIONAI.    CONVENTION    OF    1870. 

This  convention  was  preceded  by  that  of  1862,  in  which 
Thomas  \V.  Morgan  represented  this  county.  The  funda- 
menlal  law  proposed  by  this  convention  was  rejected  by  the 
people  at  a  special  election,  held  June  17th,  1862.  A  ma- 
jority of  the  delegates  were  not  exactly  "  loyal"  in  the  sense 
of  a  majority  of  ihe  people,  who  were  at  the  time  in  the  hot- 
test excitement  on  account  of  the  civil  war.  "  Loyalty"  in 
tho.se  days  did  not  mean  obedience  to  law,  but  allegiance  to 
ihe  dominant  party.  The  convention  of  1870  was  composed 
of  eighty  five  delegites,  j>resided  over  by  Charles  Hitchcock, 
of  Cook  county,  with  John  I.  Harmon  as  secretary  and  J. 
L.  Lothrop  as  doorkeeper.  Monroe,  together  with  Ran- 
dolph and  Perry  counties,  formed  the  eighth  district,  repre- 
sented by  J  H.  Wilson,  of  Monroe,  and  George  W.  Wall, 
of  Perry.  The  constitution  proposed  by  this  convention 
was  ralilied  by  the  people  on  the  2d  of  July,  1870,  and  went 
in  force  on  the  8th  of  August  following. 

As  stated  above,  the  county  government  was  now  entrusted 
to  a  board  of  county  commissioners  of  three  members;  the 
members  of  the  first  board  to  serve  respectively  one,  two  and 
three  years;  their  successors  were  to  he  elected  for  full  terms, 
to  wit,  three  years.    The  first  county  board  was  composed  of 

Gtorge  Fi-ick,  who  served  two  full  tci-nis 187a  to  IS70. 

Hiiiri.^ou  Druce,  wiih  served  a  two  yenr.s'  term 187:t  t'l  1875. 

George  I>i\  ers,  who  served  a  one  year  and  a  three  j-ears-'  term,  187J  lo  1877. 

The  first  board  caused  the  present  jail  to  be  erected,  a 
substantial  structure  and  a  credit  to  the  people  of  the  county, 
but  not  until  the  grand  jury  had  again  urged  the  matter. 
They  say  in  their  report  of  September,  1874  :  "  The  couuty 
jail  is  very  unsafe  and  insecure,  and  from  its  constructiou 
and  arrangement  unfit  for  the  purpose  of  a  jail,  impossible 
to  bo  kept  clean  and  ventilated  ;  its  insecurity  is  so  notorious 
that  the  sheriff  is  compelled  to  place  a  night-guard  around 
the  said  building.  Steps  should  be  taken  immediately  to 
erect  a  new  jail"  The  question  of  borrowing  the  necessary 
funds  for  building  a  jail  was  answered  in  the  affirmative  by 
a  popular  vote,  and  a  contract  entered  into  with  Jotham 
Bigelow,  of  St.  Louis,  who  agreed  to  erect  the  building 
according  to  plans  and  specifications,  for  §8,985,  and  have  it 
finished  by  the  21st  of  September,  1875.  The  jail  was  finished 
and  received  in  December,  1875,  and  cost  a  trifle  more  than 
contracted  for,  to  wit : 

Amount  paid  to  contractor SS,901  no 

"    for  lot «I0.('0 

"    for  plans 125.00 

"           "    to  superintendent 245.25 

"    tor  extras 829.75 

Total 810,001.00 

During  the  term  of  this  board,  some  changes  in  the  names 
and  boundaries  of  the  existing  precincts  were  made  and  new 


HISTORY    OF   RAXDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


loo 


precincts  formed  Eagle  township  lost  its  time-honored 
name,  to  be  henceforth  known  as  Columbia.  We  sulijoiii  a 
complete  list,  to  wit  : 

I'RECINCTS — MAKCH    SPECIAL    TERM,    1875. 

Columbia. — Each  precinct  to  be  named  Ciluin'^ia,  with 
boundaries  as  follows :  Oo  the  north  and  east  by  the  county 
lines  of  St.  Clair  and  Monroe  counties  ;  on  the  west  by  tbe 
Mississippi  river;  in  the  south  to  include  sections  2")  and 
2    and  north  part  of  survey  408,  claim  o4'>,  all  in  township 

15.  R.  11  W.,  and  sections  2o,  26,  27,  28,  29,  30,  3o  and 
',A)  in  township  1  8.  R.  10  \V.,  and  the  part  of  section  31 
township  1  S.  R.  9  W.,  lying  in  Monroe  county.  The  elec- 
tions at  this  precinct  to  be  held  in  the  town  of  Columbia. 

Neu'  Hanover,  a  new  precinct  to  be  established,  the  boun- 
daries to  be  as  follows,  to  wit :  Oa  the  west  by  the  bluffs ; 
on  the  north  by  the  north  lines  of  section  31,  32,  33  and  34 
in  township  I  S  R.  10  W.,  including  all  of  survey  413, 
claim  341  ;  on  the  east  by  the  section  lines  between  sections 
34  and  3.")  in  township  1  S.  R.  10  W.,  Dud  by  the  section 
lines  between  seelions  2  and  3,  10  and  11,  lo  and  ID,  21  and 
22  in  township  2  S.  R.  10  W;  on  the  south  by  the  section 
lines  between  sections  21  and  28,  20  and  29,  19  and  30  in 
township  2  S.  R.  10  W.,  and  by  the  section  lines  betwten 
sections  24  and  2o  in  township  2  S.  R.  11  \V;  elections  to  be 
held  in  the  town  of  Hanover. 

Waterloo,  heretofore  known  as  Fountain  precinct,  the 
boundaries  of  which  shall  be  as  follows :  On  the  east  by  the 
boujidary  line  between  the  counties  of  Monroe  and  St.  Clair 
including  all  of  township  2  S.  R.  'J  W.  lying  in  Monroe 
count)',  except  sections  25  and  30  :  on  the  north  by  township 
lines  between  township  1  S.  R.  10  W.  and  township  2  S.  R. 
10  W.,  and  the  lines  between  township  1  S.  R-  9  W.  and 
township  2  S.  R.  9  W  ;  on  the  north  by  the  lines  between 
sections  11  and  2,  10  and  3,  9  and  4,  8  and  5,  7  and  6  of 
township  3  S.  R.  9  W.,  also  by  the  lines  bstween  sections  12 
and  1,11  and  2,  and  10  and  3  oftownship  3  S.  R.  10  W  ;  on  the 
we^t  by  the  lines  between  sections  2  and  3,  1  and  10,  15  and 

16,  21  and  22,  27  and  28,  34  and  33  of  township  2  S.  R.  10 
W,  and  the  lines  between  sections  3  and  4  in  township  3  S, 
R.  10  \V. ;  elections  to  be  held  in  the  town  of  Waterloo. 

MoreJoek. — On  the  east  by  the  bluffs;  the  west  by  the 
Mississippi  river,  on  the  north  by  the  north  lines  of  survey 
599,  claim  764  and  survey  588,  claim  765,  and  survey  409 
claim  643,  and  the  north  line  of  section  36,  all  in  township 
1  S.  R.  11  W  ;  and  the  south ivest  quarter  of  survey  of  654, 
claim  579,  in  township  1  S.  R.  10  \V.,  on  the  south  by  the  sec- 
tion lines  between  :!()  and  31 ,  29  and  32,  28  and  33  and  section 
34,  all  in  township  2  S.  R.  11  W.  Klections  to  be  held  at 
the  house  of  Isaac  Eberraann,  the  old  homestead  of  the  late 
Stephen  W. Miles,  sr. 

Prairie  dii  Long. — On  the  east  by  the  Kaskaskia  river, 
including  all  of  township  3  S.  R.  8  W.  and  all  township  3 
S.  R.  7  W.  lying  in  Monroe  county,  and  sections  1,  12,  13^ 
24  and  25  in  township  3  S.  R.  9  \V.,  and  section  36  and 
fractional  section  25  in  township  2  S.  R  9  W.  Elections  to 
be  held  at  school-house  No.  2  in  3-8. 

New  De.nijn  includes  all  of  sections  7,8,  9,  10,  11,  14,  15, 
16,  17,  18,  19,  20,  21,  22,  23,  26,  27,  28,  29,  30,  31,  32,  33, 


34  35,  36,  township  3-9,  and  section  1,  2,  3,  4,  5,  0,  town- 
ship 4-9,  and  secticms  10,  II,  12,  1.3,  14,  15,  22,  23,  24,  25, 

26  27,  34,  35  and  36  in  township  3-10,  and  section^ 
1,2  and  3  in  township  4-10.  I'.leciions  to  be  held  in  the 
town  of  Burkvillo. 

Bbiff  includes  all  of  sections  4,  5.  6,  7,  8,  !>,  16  17,  Icj.  l!), 
20,  21,  28,  29,  30,  in  T.  3  S.  R.  10  W.  section  28,  2H,  30,  31, 
32,  33  in  town  210,  the  bluffs  forming  the  western  bnundary 
line,  including  the  blulf  parts  of  sections  25,  35  and  36  in 
township  2-11,  also  the  following  sections  in  townsliij)  3-11, 
lying  on  the  bluffs,  viz:  sectionsi,  2,3, 10  11,  12,  13, 14,  15, 
22,  23,  24,  25,  26 ;  elections  to  be  held  at  the  hou.se  of  Peter 
Mueller. 

Harrisovril/e. — On  the  east  by  the  blutfi  ;  on  the  west 
by  the  Mississippi  river,  it  includes  sections  31,  32,33,  town- 
ship 2-11,  and  the  claims  and  parts  of  claims  lying  within 
said  sections  of  town-'hip  2-1 1,  and  the  islands  and  parts  of 
islands  in  said  townshiji,  it  includes  also  sections  3.  4,  5,6,  7, 
8,  9,  10,15,  16,  17,  1-,  19,2),  21,22,26,  2:,  2^  2.1,  30,  31, 
32,33,  34  and  35  in  t)wnship  3  11,  and  all  tho  claims  ami 
surveys  lying  within  said  seciions  in  saiil  townships  in  the 
American  Bottom  excepting  claim  495.  survey  701  ;  elec" 
tions  to  be  held  in  the  town  of  Harrisonville. 

Mitchie  to  compose  all  of  sections  31,  32  and  '■)■)  in  town- 
ship 3-10,  also  sections  35  and  36, township  3  11,  cltiiii  V.i'), 
survey  701,  also  sections  1 ,  2,  '■',,  4.  5,  8, '.),  \'\  1  i,  12,  13,  14 
1.5,  16,  22,  23,  24,  25  an. I  26  in  4  11,  also  steti  wis  4,  5.  6,  7^ 
8,9,16,  17,  18,  19,  20,21,  2:t,  30  in  township  4  10,  the 
upper  line  of  the  common  fi^dds  of  St.  Rhilij),  farming  the 
division  line  between  Mitcliio  and  Renault  ])re(;incts  ;  elec- 
tions to  be  held  in  the  school  house  near  Clialnn  bridge. 

Renault  comprises  all  of  .sections  7,  6,  9.  1(1,  11, 12, 13,  14, 
1.),  16,  17,  18,  19,  20,  21,  22,  23,  24,  25,  26,  27,  2.-5.  29,  30, 
31,  32,  33,  34,  35  and  36  in  towiishiii  4-9,  also  tcctions  and 
parts  of  sections  10.  11.  12.  13.  14.  15,  24,  25,  35  and  o6  in 
township  4  10,  also  ail  of  th^j  itiiiault  Grant  and  the  part 
of  the  commons  of  St  I'hilip  lyinir  in  township  4  10,  also 
all  oftownship  5  9  and  township  5-10  lying  in  the  county  of 
Monroe.      Elections  to  be   held  in  the  town  of  Glasgow  city. 

I'AUl'KKS     IN    THE    L-DINTV. 

The  expenditures  of  the  county  on  account  ol'  this  class 
of  its  population  have  never  been  great.  Monroe  is  an  in- 
different field  for  pauperism.  The  expenditures  of  the 
county  in  1882  amounted  to  •■?32,t)7S.83,  for  general  purposes, 
and  to  88,000  more  on  account  of  the  interest  on  the  railroad 
debt,  making  an  aggregate  of  640,078.33.  The  pauper  bills 
amounted  to  82,873.91,  or  a  triflrf  more  than  7  per  cent,  of 
the  total.  There  is  no  other  county  in  the  state  of  Illinois 
to  show  up  as  well  in    this   respect  as   little  ^lonroe. 

After  exannning  into  the  financial  affairs  of  many 
counties  in  the  state,  we  are  of  theopini()n  that  the  pa.iii''r 
expens3S  abs  )rb  abo;it  18  per  e.Mit.  of  the  tot:,l  tount/ 
revenues. 

The  paupers  are  kept  in  an  a.sylum  at  Waterloo.  The 
superintendent  of  this  asylum  is  paid  §300.00  per  annum, 
and  twenty  cents  per  day  for  each  inmate,  whom  he  has  to 
board,  clothe,  and  provide  with  bediling,  etc.     The  inmates, 

27  in    number,   are  well   kept,  and   have  no  complaints  to 


156 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


make  ;  nine  of  this  number  are  constant  boarders,  the  others 
are  transients,  admitted  since  June,  1882  The  county 
has  20  insane  paupers  in  state  institutions. 

AGRICULTURAL  STATISTICS — 1881  AND  1882. 


Farm  Oops. 


Acres  of,  i 


1,401 


2,rji 
3,308 


O.irn lr,,758 

Wheat <56  3G7 

(Ints S,ll50 

Apple  Orchards 

Vineyards .  .    •  

Tiniotliy  meadows    .   .   . 

rinver  meadows 

Hungarian  and  millet !)■'» 

Rye !:» 

Birley l"iT 

Irish  potatoes 1,244 

Rorglio 41i; 

Turnips,  etc 2.'i 

otiier  crops 


Prodtirls  in  1681. 

btithels. 

132,316 

71B,112 

50,705 

13.000 

ons.      12,046 

s.  3.25.1 

5,590 

20 

iish.  V87 


J  72,790 
716,112 


52,080 
.55,000 


Pas'ure 

Woodland 

Ilnculti^aled  lands 

folts  foaled  number  108.  valu 
Fat  cat  le  sold,  gro.ss  weight . 
Pounds  of  butter  s.rld  .  .  .  . 
Pounds  of  cheese  sold  .   .  .   . 

Gallons  of  mik  sold 

Pounds  of  wool  sold      .   .   .   . 

Fat  sheep  sold 

Fat  hogs  sold 

Pounds  of  honey  produced  . 


6,867 
.57,240 


Addendum.— liu  horses,  representing  a  value  of  S10,64(», 
died  during  the  year  1881  ;  .i.")  head  of  cattle,  valued  at 
$1,.')49,  died  of  disease.  There  were  1780  cows  kept; 
61  sheep,  representing  a  value  of  $183,  were  killed  by  dogs, 
and  91,  worth  Sil70,  died  of  disease.  Cholera  carried  off  57.J 
hogs,  worth  S2,235  ;  and  442,  valued  at  Sl,l)4<t  00,  died  of 
other  diseases. 


STATEMENT   OF    ASSESSMENT.— 1882. 


Horses,  2.004,  valued  atS31.55  each 

Cattle,  3,76:),  valued  at  Slo.05  each 

Mule",  2.335,  valued  at  SSO.iHl  each 

Sheep,  1..586,  valued  at  81.00  each 

Hogs,  9,235,  valued  at  S1.47  e.ach 

Steam  engine.",. 5.5,  valued  at  S145.00  each 

Safes,  17,  valned  at  »21.00  each 

Billiards,  IG,  valued  at  $10,011  each 

Carriages  and  wagons,  2,382,  valued  at  S10-G5  f  aeh  . 
Watches  and  clocks,  2,130,  valued  at  81.58  each  .  .  . 
Sewing  machines.  1,157.  valued  at  $0.70  each  .  .  .  . 
Pianos,  47.  v.alued  at  $40.24  each 

Melodeons,0,  valued  at  $10.44  each 

Merchandise 

Material  and  manufactured  articles 

Manufacturers' tools  and  implements 

Agricultural  tools  and  machinery 

Moneys  and  credits  ■  ■  " 

Properly  of  saloons 

Household  property 

Grain  of  all  kinds  on  hand 

All  other  personal  property 

Total 

126,717  acres  of  improved  land  .at  $9.97 

111,065  acres  of  unimproved  land  at  $2.00 

1,804  town  lots 


Total  values  .... 
Railroad  property,  assessed  at 

Grand  total 

Addition  by  order  of  stale  board  of  equalization 

Total  equalized  value  . 


FINANCIAL   STATEMENT.— SEPT.    1,    1882. 
Receipts  : 


Balance  in  treasury,  September!,  1881  . 

Revenue  of  1881 

Licenses  

Sundries 

Excess  of  fees  from  eoimty  oflicers  .  .  . 


Total 


$7,279  22 
22,508  77 

1,<155  55 
26  60 

3,272  47 

$34,142  61 


Expenditures : 


$91,020 

37,849 

91,141 

1.586 

13,0.50 

7,055 

3.50 

307 

25,367 

3,388 

7,701 

2,173 

148 

48,985 

5,907 

1,473 

40,407 

154,775 

1.432 

42,006 

0,832 

5,727 

$000,625 

$1,264,190 

289,660 

e50,3i;0 

$2,404,835 
.55,777 

$2,400,612 
252,142 


Salary  of  county  officers  .  . 

Paupers 

Public   buildings 

Court-* 

Elections 

Jail,  dieting  prisoners.  .  .  . 

Roads  and  bridges 

Attorney's  fees  and  eommiss: 
Surveying  Renault  grant .  . 
Surplus,  available 


$6,908  89 

2,873  91 

1,0.52  70 

1,.577  15 

321  £5 

570  05 

15,700  23 

1,502  94 

406  20 

2,004  28 


f'ouuty  orders  issued  pri' 


County  Debt : 

■  to  September  1,  1881,  unpaid  . 


Railroad  bonds 


Total  indebtednc 


.ailablc  surplus  as  above -, 

.\olnal  county  debt $98. 

The  tax  s  levied  for  the  current  year  are  as  follows  : 


For  state  purposes 

For  interest  on  county  debt . 
For  county  purposes  .... 

For  town  purposes 

For  school  purposes  .... 
For  road  purposes 


$13,044  15 

9,351  83 

17,3114  00 

1,598  72 

23.010  21 

2,310  46 

Total $07,225  43 

The  population  of  the  county,  according  to  the  U.  S. 
census  of  1880,  is  at  present  1 3,682  ;  hence  the  tax  per  capita 
is  nearly  85.00. 

CIRCUIT   COURT. — 1848   TO   1882. 

During  the  period  the  circuit  courts  of  Monroe  were  pre- 
sided over  by  the  Hons.  Gustav  Koerner,  W.  H.  Under- 
wood, Sidney  Breese,  H.  K.  S.  Omelveny,  Silas  L.  Bryan, 
Amos  Watts,  George  W.  Wall,  and  W.  H.  Snyder. 

The  number  of  murder  cases  during  this  period  is  alarm- 
ingly large,  over  twenty  !  Most  of  the  accused  escaped  pun- 
ishment, many  cases  were  nol.  pros.,  with  leave  to  re-instate 
and  never  re-instated ;  others  were  acquitted  and  a  few  con- 
victed of  manslaughter,  to  be  sent  for  a  terra  of  years  to  the 
penitentiary. 

Two,  howiver,  had  to  suffer  the  extreme  penalty  of  the 
law. 

MURDER    AND    EXECUTION. 

Henry  Alter,  tried  for  the  murder  of  William  Henze,  who 
was  found  dead  in  a  field  of  Henry  Alter's,  in  Prairie  du 
Long,  on  the  5th  of  July,  1860.  luformatiim  of  the  murder 
was  made,  by  Henry  Henze  and  Rodus  Kunkel,  to  F.  T. 
Klinkhardt,  J.  P.,  who,  in  the  absence  of  the  coroner,  called 
a  jury  and  held  an  inquest  This  jury  was  composed  of  H. 
W.  Waldraaiin,  Henry  Struebig,  Kilian  Rex  roth,  George 
Bley,  John  R.  Tomlinson,  James  Wiggelsworth,  Jacob 
Christ,  Peter  Waring,  John  Bradley,  Thomas  Carter,  Mat- 
thew Donohoe  and  Casper  J.  Brann.  The  evidence  was_ 
that  Alter  and  Henze  had  had  an  altercation  about  some 


HISTORY    OF    RAXDOLPH,    MOXROK   AXD    PERRY    (  OUXTIES,    ILLIXOIS. 


l.V 


hogs,  on  said  5ih  of  July  ;  that  they  had  not  been  on  friendly 
terms  foi  some  time,  and  that  Alter  shot  Henze  while  he 
(Henze)  was  going  away.  The  wounds  inflicttd  were  in  the 
back  of  deceased.  The  verdict  of  the  coroner's  jury  was  as 
follows: 

"  We,  the  jury,  find  that  the  deceased  came  to  his  death 
bv  violence,  by  shooting  with  buckshi>t,  and  that  the  said 
body  has  upon  it  the  following  marks  and  wounds,  intlicted 
by  Henry  Alter,  and  which  this  jury  find  to  have  been  the 
cause  of  the  deceased's  death ;  all  buckshots  came  from 
behind;  five  of  them  entered  the  back  of  the  deceased,  two 
the  left  arm,  fracturing  the  bone  mar  the  shoulder;  one  his 
right  forearm,  one  his  spine,  and  was  cut  out  of  the  breast- 
bone." 

Upon  this  verdict  the  defendant  was  committed  to  jail, 
and  brought  there  by  Thomas  Ryane,  constable. 

The  grand  jury,  at  the  subsequent  October  term,  was 
composed  of  Harrison  Horine,  foreman,  John  Wilsch,  John 
Koechel,  John  Whiteside,  George  L  Ditch,  John  L.  Kiddi 
Jacob  Motes,  Frederick  W.  Brand,  John  liowman,  James 
Close,  Jacob  Beck,  Thomas  A])plegate,  Harrison  Druce, 
Michael  McDermot,  Louis  Grossmann,  Jesse  Wiswell,  Wil. 
liam  Walsh,  Sr ,  John  Morgansen  and  George  A.  Kopp,  and 
found  the  following  true  bill,  to  wit  : 

The  People  i'*.  Henry  Alter.  Indictment  for  murder.  A 
true  bill.  H.  Hokixe,  Foreman. 

Witnesses:  Kodus  Kunkel,  Henry  Henze,  Jacob  Hush- 
man,  George  Bley,  Frederick  >?chrader  and  Caspar  J. 
Brown. 

State  of  Illinoi.s  \ 

Monroe  County,      )    *'■ 

Of  the  October  term  of  the  Monroe  County  Circuit  Court, 
in  the  year  of  our  Lord  18G0. 

The  grand  jurors  chosen,  selected  and  sworn  in  and  for 
the  county  of  Monroe,  aforesaid,  in  the  name  and  by  the  au- 
thority of  the  p3ople  of  the  state  of  Illinois,  upon  their  oaths 
present  that  Henry  Alter  of  the  county  afoiesaid,  on  the  fi  th 
day  of  July  in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  one  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  si.xty,  at  and  in  the  county  of  Jklonroe  aforesaid^ 
in  and  upon  the  bo<]y  of  William  Henze  in  the  peace  of  the 
people  of  the  state  of  Illinois  then  and  there  living,  felonious- 
ly, wilfully,  and  of  his  malice  aforethought  did  make  an  as- 
sault, and  that  the  said  Henry  Alter,  a  certain  gun  then  and 
there  charged  with  gunpowder  and  ten  leaden  shot,  which 
the  said  gun,  he  the  said  Henry  Alter,  in  his  hands  then 
and  there  held,  then  and  there  felouiously,  wilfully  and  of 
his  said  Henry  Alter's  malice  aforethought  did  discharge 
and  shoot  off  to,  against  and  upon  said  William  Henze,  and 
that  the  saiil  Henry  Alter,  with  the  ten  leaden  shot  afore- 
said, out  of  the  gun  aforesaid,  then  and  there,  by  force  of 
the  gunpowder  aforesaid,  by  the  said  Henry  Alter,  dis- 
charged and  shot  ofl'as  aforesaid,  then  and  there  unlawfully, 
feloniously,  and  of  his  malice  aforethought,  did  strike,  pen- 
•  etrate  and  wound  him,  the  said  William  Henze,  in  and  up- 
on the  back  of  him,  the  said  William  Henze,  giving  to  him 
the  said  William,  then  an<l  there  with  the  ten  leaden  shot, 
aforesaid,  by  the  said  Henry  Alter,  in  and  upon  the  back 
of  him  the  said  William   Henze,  one   mortal  wound  of  the 


depth  of  six  inches,  and  of  the  breadth  of  half  an  inch  of 
which  said  mortal  wound  he,  the  said  William  Henze,  then 
and  there  instantly  died,  and  so  the  jurors  aforesaid,  upon 
their  oaths  afort  said,  do  say  that  the  said  lit r.iy  Alter, 
him  the  said  William  Henze,  in  manner  and  by  the  means 
aforesaid,  feloniously,  wilfully,  and  of  his  malice  afore- 
thought, did  then  and  there  kill  and  murder,  contrary  to 
the  form  of  the  statute,  in  such  cases  made  and  provided, 
and  against  the  peace  and  dignity  of  the  people  of  the  state 
of  Illinois. 

Amos  Watts  states  attorney.  Henry  Alter  was  defend- 
ed by  Abbott  and  Henchler.  The  witnesses  subpa-nanl  in 
his  behalf,  were  Martin  Stahlheber,  Thomas  Burns,  John 
Barthel,  Jacob  Horchman,  (son  of  crubbing  John)  Timothy 
Dun,  and  his  son  Timothy  Dun,  and  Charles  Schuckert  (a 
tailor  at  Red  Bud). 

The  trial  commenced  on  Wednesday,  November  21,  ISfiO, 
before  the  Hon.  H.  K  S.  Omelveny,  and  on  the  22d  the  fol- 
lowing verdict  was  returned,  to  wit: 

November  22,  Waterloo,  Monroe  county.  State  of  Illinois. 
We,  the  jury,  '•  finds  "  the  defendant  •'  gilty  '  in  manner  and 
form  as  charged  in  the  indictment  in  this  cause. 

Signed :  Henry  P.  Comyns,  N.  S.  Peters,  Ben  Carr, 
Francis  Malcbora,  Thomas  J.  Erwin,  John  S.  Garett,  Fred. 
Miller,  Joseph  Rincler,  Jacob  Snider,  William  M.  Nether- 
ton,  Albert  Busen  and  John  G.  Schaefer. 

A  motion  for  a  new  trial  was  overruled,  as  was  also  a 
motion  in  arrest  of  judgment  for  insufficiency  of  the  indict- 
ment, acd  the  following  sentence  passed  upon  said  defendant ; 

'■  That  he,  the  said  defendant,  Henry  .\lter,  having  been 
found  guilty  by  the  jury  of  the  crime  of  murder,  be  sentenced 
to  be  hanged  by  the  neck  until  dead  ;  and  it  is  further 
ordered  by  the  court,  that  he,  the  said  Henry  Alter,  be  exe- 
cuted on  the  2'<;h  day  of  December,  a.  d.  IMJO,  between  the 
hours  of  ten  o'clock  a  m.  and  four  o'clock  i>.  m.  of  said  day, 
in  the  hall  of  the  jail  of  Monroe  county.  111.,  if  the  room  of 
said  hall  be  sufficient;  if  not,  then  he  be  executed  in  the 
jail  yard  of  said  county  ;  that  he  remain  in  eustodv  until  said 
day  of  execution,  and  that  the  sheriff  of  this  county  execute 
this  sentence." 

This  laconic  sentence  was  duly  executed.  The  room  in 
the  hall  of  the  county  jail  was  not  "sufficient,"  and  so  the 
execution  took  place  in  the  jail  yard,  as  will  more  fully 
appear  from  the  following  certificate.  It  is  written  out  on  a 
separate  sheet  of  paper,  and  not  endorsed  on  the  death  war- 
rant, as  usual  in  such  cases ;  in  fact,  there  is  no  death- 
warrant  on  file  ; 

Certijicate. 

"  I,  H.  F.  Henckler,  Sheriff  of  Monroe  county,  in  the 
State  of  Illinois,  do  hereby  certify,  that  Henry  Alter,  who 
was  sentenced  to  be  hung  on  the  28th  of  December,  18G0,  by 
the  circuit  court  of  said  county,  at  the  special  November 
term,  18ti0,  of  said  court,  for  the  killing  of  William  Henze 
in  said  county,  was,  on  the  28th  day  of  December,  l^tJO,  at 
quarter  past  three  o'clock  P.  .M  of  that  day,  duly  executed, 
according  to  the  sentence  of  said  court,  by  hanging  said 
Henry  Alter  by  his  neck  until  he,  the  said  Henry  Alter 
was  dead,  and  that  I  did  comply  with  the  act  passed  by  the 


158 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


legislature  of  the  said  state,  on  tlie  18lh  of  Februarj',  A.  d. 
1859,  by  erecting  an  inclosure  adjoining  the  county  jail  of 
said  county  on  the  north  side,  and  having  such  persons 
present  as  the  said  act  directs ;  but  that  before  Alter  was 
hung  said  inclosure  was  forcibly  taken  down  by  a  mob,  who 
overpowered  the  officers  attending  said  execution. 
Witness  my  hand  this  28th  of  December,  1K60. 

H.  F.  Henckler, 
Sheriff  of  Monroe  county.  111." 

We  the  undersigned,  do  certify  that  the  above  certificate 
and  the  statement  thertiu  contained,  is  true  and  correct, 
and  that  we  were  present  at  the  said  execution. 

Witness  our  hands,  this  28th  of  December,  1860. 

John  Morrison,  county  judge;  Urban  Degenhard,  judge  ; 
George  Tolin,  judge.  Doctors,  K.  S.  Bollet  and  Thomas 
J.  Cornell.  Witnesses,  Paul  Schmiz,  John  C.  Morney, 
Joseph  W.  Drury,  C  F.  Gauen,  Henry  Pinkel,  G.  L. 
Ditch,  Heinrich  Kimmel,  Cortez  Crocker,  Nelson  Moody, 
Jewett  Varuum  and  G.  Ruch. 

The  sentence  of  H.  Alter,  has  by  many  been  considered 
too  severe,  and  to  this  day  it  id  thought  that  a  term  in  the 
penitentiary  would  have  been  ample.  Alters  had  been 
worried  and  laLtalized  by  Henze,  time  and  again,  and  in 
this  last  altercation  could  not  control  his  passion.  Murders 
had  been  of  frequent  occurrence  in  the  county  and  the 
people  were  clamorous  for  a  punishment  in  keeping  with  the 
heinousness  of  these  oft  repeated  crimes. 

The  sheriff's  certificate  itself  shows  plainly  how  enraged 
the  masses  were.  The  iuclosures,  erected  to  hide  the  death- 
scenes  from  the  eyes  of  a  blood-thirsty  nfultitude,  were  torn 
down  by  a  mob,  which  had  overpowered  the  authorities. 

Executioner,  doctors,  judges  and  four  fifths  of  the  wit- 
nesses have  passed  away  to  those  realms,  to  which  poor 
Albert's  soul  took  its  forced  flight  on  that  cold  December 
eve. 

TRIAL   AND   EXECUTION   OF   GABRIEL   J.    FORSEE. 

Gabriel  J.  Forsee  was  not  a  resident  of  Monroe  county. 
He  had  been  indicted  by  the  grand  jury  of  Randolph 
county,  Illinois,  at  the  September  term,  1865,  for  murdering 
Elizabeth  Darwio,  whose  throat  he  had  cut  with  a  knife 
"for  the  value  of  one  dollar,"  on  July  13th,  1865.  He 
obtained  a  change  of  venue  and  was  tried  before  judge  Silas 
S.  Bryan,  at  the  May  term,  1866.  He  was  defended  by 
Underwood  and  Hood.  The  jury  who  tried  him,  was  com- 
posed of  the  following  citizens,  to  wit:  William  Nagel,  W. 
W.  Wallace,  Michael  Finnerty,  Joseph  Proctor,  Joseph  W. 
Hilton,  Renke  Renken,  Arnold  Herchenroeder,  Frank 
Varies,  Henry  Schmidt,  Christian  Henry,  Jacob  Heer  and 
George  L.  Ditch. 

The  verdict  of  this  jury  is  very  brief,  and  bears  no  date 
or  signatures.  Its  file  mark  is  as  follows  :  Filed  May  Tth, 
1866.  William  Erd,  clerk. 

His  honor,  judge  Bryan,  closed  his  brief  sentence  of  death 
with  the  words,  "  May  God  have  mercy  on  you." 

Gabriel  Forsee  was  a  bad  man,  had  served  a  term  in 
penitentiary  for  some  other  crime,  ahd  as  he  had  been  con- 


victed, mainly  on  the  evidence  of  Elizabeth  Darwin,  he 
murdered  her  from  motives  of  revenge. 

The  execution  took  place,  as  the  sheriff's  certificate  states, 
on  the  2d  of  June,  1866,  between  the  court  house  and  jail 
at  Waterloo.  It  is  signed  by  Lewis  N.  Wilson,  sheriff,  and 
witnessed  by  Dr  G.  Hoffmann,  Dr.  H.  Rothstein,  Engelbert 
Voerster,  M.  D.,  and  a  ''jury"  composed  of  William  Hen- 
ley, Charles  W.  Meyer,  Samuel  Waddle,  Christopher  Fults, 
John  Hirz,  Martin  Dunn,  Valentine  Briegel,  C.  H  Kettler, 
J.  H.  Wilson,  Theodore  Repp,  Daniel  O'Leary  and  Charles 
Frick. 

It  should  be  stated  here,  that  judge  Lynch  held  court, 
time  and  again,  during  this  period.  His  work  was  speedy 
and  terrible,  and,  it  is  feared  not  just  in  several  cases. 
This  information  was  given  to  the  writer  from  hearsay,  and 
as  this  chapter  is"  wholly  made  up  from  documentary 
evidence,  the  details  of  cruel  and  monstrous  mob  law  must 
be  excluded  from  these  pages,  The  passions  during  and 
immediately  after  the  war  ran  high,  life  was  considered 
cheap,  and  the  evil  deeds  of  lawless  persons  exasperated  the 
people  to  such  a  degree,  that  the  word  "  not "  was  stricken 
from  their  sixth  commandment. 

Several  efforts  to  bring  judge  "  Lynch  "  into  court  proved 
futile,  and  it  seemed  that  the  people  generally  were  satisfied 
with  what  judge  Lynch  had  ordered  and  decreed. 
A  queer  indictment. 

Frederick  Heidelberger  was  indicted  May,  1864,  for 
bringing  a  negro  slave  into  the  county.  The  evidence  was 
that  Heidelberger,  although  warned  that  he  was  violating 
the  law,  had  smuggled  a  negro  slave,  who  had  run  away 
from  his  master  in  Mississippi,  and  made  his  way  to  St. 
Louis  from  that  city  to  the  county,  etc.  The  jury  found 
Heidelberger  guilty,  and  the  court,  judge  Silas  L.  Bryan, 
fined  him  SlOO  and  sentenced  him  to  one  hour  imprisonment 
in  the  county  jail.  Heidelberger  took  an  appeal,  but  it  does 
not  appear  that  the  case  ever  came  before  the  supreme 
court.  It  was  lost  sight  of  entirely.  The  fine  and  costs 
are  still  unpaid.  Heidelberger  died  February  3d,  1873. 
His  estate  was  put  under  administration  and  all  his  just 
debts  were  paid  in  full. 

MONROE  COUNTY  IN  THE  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY,  1848  TO  1884. 

Sixteenth  General  Assembly,  1848  to  18.i0.*  J.  L.  D. 
Morris-'n,  of  St.  Clair,  senator  ;  Xerxes  F.  Trail,  of  Monroe, 
representative. 

Seventeenth  General  Assembly,  1850  to  1852.  J.  L.  D. 
Morrison,  senator;  Thomas  Quick,  representative. 

Eigh:eenth  General  Assembly,  1852  to  1854.  Edward 
Oraelveny,  senator;  Thomas  Winstanley,  representative. 

Nineteenth  General  Assembly,  1854  to  1856.  The  appor- 
tionment of  1854  made  no  change  in  the  district,  except 
as  to  number.  St.  Clair  and  Monroe  counties  formed  the 
22d  senatorial,  and  Monroe  alone  the  Uth  representative 

*  Section  6  of  Article  III.  of  the  Constitution  of  1848  provided  as  follows  :  The 
Senate  shall  consist  of  25  members,  and  the  House  of  Representatives  shall 
consist  of  75  members,  until  the  population  of  the  State  shall  amount  to  one 
million  of  souls.  By  section  40  of  that  same  article  the  counties  of  St.  Clair 
and  Monroe  formed  the  5tU  Senatorial,  and  Monroe  alone  the  18th  Represent, 
ative  district. 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


159 


district.  J.  L.  D.  MorrisoD,  of  St.  Clair,  senator ;  William 
R.  Morrison,  representative. 

Twentieth  General  Assembly,  l.s5(i  to  1858.  W.  H. 
Uuderwood,  of  St.  Clair,  senator  ;  W.  R.  Morrison,  repre- 
sentative. 

Twenty-first  General  A.'sembly,  1858  to  lS(iO.  W.  H. 
Underwood,  senator ;   \V.  R.  Jlorrisou,*  representative. 

Twenty-second  General  Assembly.  18G0  to  1862.  \X.  11. 
Underwood,  senator  ;  H.  C.  Talbott,  representative. 

Twenty-third  General  Assembly,  1862  to  1864.  By  the 
apportionment  of  January  31,  1861,  Monroe  county,  to- 
gether with  the  counties  of  Williamson,  Franklin,  Jackson, 
Jefferson  and  Randolph,  formed  the  3d  senatorial,  and 
Monroe,  Randolph  and  Perry  the  8th  representative  dis- 
trict, which  latter  was  entitled  to  two  members  of  the  house. 
Israel  Blaneliard,  of  Jackson,  senator;  Stephen  W.  Miles, 
of  Monroe,  and  Edward  Menard,  of  Randolph,  representa- 
tives. 

Twenty-fourth  General  Assembly,  1864  to  1866  Daniel 
Reily,  of  Randolph,  senator;  Austin  James,  of  Monroe,  and 
W.  K.  Murphy,  of  Perry,  representatives. 

Twenty-fifth  General  Assembly,  1866  to  1868.  Daniel 
Reily,  senator  ;  John  Campbell  and  William  K.  Murphy, 
representatives. 

Twenty -sixth  General  Assembly,  1868  to  1870.  Samuel 
K.  Casey,  of  Jefferson,  senator ;  John  M.  IMcCutcheon  and 
Thomas  II.  Burgess,  both  of  Perry,  representatives. 

Twenty-seventh  General  Assembly,  1870  to  1872.  Samuel 
K.  Casey,  senator,  died  in  office,  succeeded  by  W.  B.  Ander- 
son, senator;  W.  R.  Morrison,  representative. 

Twenty-eighth  General  Assembly.  1872  to  1874.  By  the 
apportionment  of  March  1,  1872,  Monroe,  Randolph  and 
Perry  counties  have  formed  and  are  now  forming  the  4Nth 
senatorial  district,  entitled  to  one  senator  and  three  repre- 
sentatives. W.  K.  Murphy,  of  Perry,  senator;  John  W. 
Piatt,  William  Neville  and  Austin  James,  representatives. 

Twenty-ninth  General  Assembly,  1874  to  1876.  W.  K. 
Murphy,  senator ;  Joseph  W.  Rukert,  Samuel  McKee  and 
Jonathan  Chesnutwood,  representatives. 

Thirtieth  General  Assembly,  1876  to  1878.  Ambrose 
Hoener,  senator ;  Theophilus  T.  Fountain,  John  Boyd  and 
Septimus  P.  Mace,  representatives. 

Thirty-first  General  Assembly,  1878  to  1880.  Ambrose 
Hoener,  senator ;  John  T.  McBride,  John  R.  McFie  and 
Philip  C.  C.  Provart.  representatives. 

Thirty-second  General  Assembly,  l.SSO  to  1M.N2.  Louis 
Ihorn,  senator  ;  Isaac  M  Kelly,  William  K.  Murphy  and 
Austin  James,  representatives. 

Thirty-third  General  Assembly,  18M2  to  1884.  Louis 
Ihorn,  senator;  John  R.  McFie,  of  Coulterville,  James  F. 
Cauniff,  of  Waterloo,  John  Higgins,  of  Du  Quoin,  repre- 
sentatives. 

CITIZENS   OF   MONROE   COUNTY   IN   STATE  OFFICES. 

George  Forquer,  the  founder  of  Waterloo,  was  attorney- 
general  from  January  23,  1829,  to  December  3,  1832,  on 
which  day  he  resigned  the  office. 

•W.  R.  Morrison,  the  honored  member  from  Monroe,  was  Speaker  of  the 
House,  1808  to  1800. 


John  D.  Whiteside  was  state  treasurer  from  March  4, 
1837,  to  March  6,  1841.  The  Whitesides  came  to  this 
region  about  one  hundred  years  ago.  John  J.  Whiteside 
founded  the  now  defunct  town  of  Washington,  on  the  Kas- 
kaskia,  about  the  year  17it5. 

William  II  Bissell  was  elected  governor  of  Illinois  in 
1856,  was  inaugurated  on  the  12tli  of  January,  1857,  and 
died  at  Springfield,  March  15,  l.'^fiO.  (Note  from  the  "Amer- 
ican Encyclopedia.")  Gov.  Bissell  was  born  near  Coopers- 
town,  N.  Y.,  April  25,  1811.  He  took  the  degree  of  M.  D. 
at  the  Jefferson  Medical  College,  Philadelphia,  in  183); 
practiced  medicine  two  years  at  Painted  Post,  N.  Y. ;  re- 
moved to  Monroe  county,  Illinois,  in  1837 ;  was  elected  to 
the  state  legislature  in  1840,  and  there  earned  distinction  as 
a  forcible  and  ready  debater.  He  subsequently  studied  and 
practiced  law,  and  was  elected  prosecuting  attorney  of  the 
St.  Clair  district  in  1844.  He  served  in  the  Mexican  war 
in  1846  as  colonel  of  the  2d  Illinois  volunteers,  and  distin- 
guished himself  at  Buena  Vista.  On  his  return  home  in 
1849  he  was  elected  without  opposition  a  representative  in 
Congress,  in  which  capacity  he  served  till  1855,  resisting  the 
repeal  of  the  Missouri  compromise,  though  he  had  previ- 
ously acted  with  the  Democratic  party,  and  gaining  much 
reputation  in  the  North  by  his  defiant  bearing  in  a  contro- 
versy »ith  Jefferson  Davis  respecting  the  ccmparative  brave- 
ry of  Northern  and  Southern  soldiers.  Davis  challenged 
him,  and  he  accepted  the  challenge,  selecting  muskets  as 
the  weapons  to  be  used,  at  so  short  a  distance  as  to  make  the 
duel  probably  fatal  to  both  parties.  Finally  the  quarrel 
was  compromised  and  the  challenge  withdrawn. 

Henry  C.  Talbott  was  a  member  of  the  first  state  board 
of  equalization  elected  by  the  people.  He  served  his  con- 
stituents in  that  capacity  from  1868  to  1872. 

MONKOE  COUNTY  IN  THE  CONGRESS  OF   THE  UNITED  ST.\Ti;.S. 

Seriate. 

Samuel  McRoberts  was  elected   to  the  Senate  in  1841, 

succeeding   John    M.    Robinson.     McRoberts   died    JIarch 

22d,  1843,  four  years  before  the  expiration  of  his  term,  and 

was  succeeded  by  James  Semple,  then   of  Madison  county. 

House  of  Representatives. 

William  H.  Bissell,  originally  of  IMouroe  county,  repre- 
sented this,  commonly  called  the  Belleville  district,  from 
nh)  to  185.5. 

William  R.  Morrison,  the  most  distinguished  citizen  of 
Blonroe  and  of  Illinois,  represented  the  district  from  1863  to 
1865,  and  again  since  1873 — and  has  recently  been  elected 
to  serve  a  sixth  consecutive  term,  to  wit :  from  1883  to 
1885.  Morrison,  as  member  of  the  House,  is  honored  and 
respected  by  all  his  colleagues,  without  an  exception.  His 
administrative  talent  is  apparent  to  all  who  direct  their 
attention  to  public  affairs.  As  chairman  of  the  Committee 
of  Ways  and  Means,  1875  to  1877,  he  has  made  a  national 
record  of  talent  and  merit. 

OFFICERS   OF   MONROE   COt:NTY. 
A'Iministratiee  Braitcli. 
County  Commissioners  from  IS  16  to  1840. 
181G   to   1817— Caldwell    Cairns,    James     Lcraen    and 


160 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY   COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS 


Abraham  Amos,  "  GeutleEian  Judges"    of  the  county  of 
Monroe. 

1817  to  1818 — Caldi^e'.  Cairns,  James  Lemen  and  James 
McRoberts 

1818  to  1819— Caic',>ell  Cairns,  James  McRoberts  and 
Joseph  A.  Bfaird 

1819  to  1821 — George  Forquer,  Caldwell  Cairns  and 
James  McRoberts. 

1821  to  1823— George  Forquer,  Caldwell  Cairns  and 
John  Roach. 

1823  to  1824 — John  Roach,  John  Garretson  and  Cald- 
well Caiins. 

1824  to  182o — John  Garretson,  Nathaniel  Hamilton  and 
John  D.  Whiteside. 

182G  to  1828— John  D.  Whiteside,  John  Bamber  and 
John  James. 

1823  to  1829— Enoch  Moore,  H.  H.  Talbott,  John  Bamber 
and  John  JI..'Donald,  elected  to  succeed  Talbott  (resigned.) 

1829  to  1830 — Enoch  Moore,  John  Bamber  and  John 
McDonald. 

1830  to  1832— Ed.  T.  Morgan,  Ab.  Barker  and  John 
McDonald. 

I8.j2  to  1833— Ed.  T.Morgan,  John  McDonald  and  Felix 
Clark. 

1833  to  1834— Ed.  T.  Morgan,  Felix  Clark  and  Scipio 
Beaird. 

1834  to  1836 — Emery  P.  Rogers,  Solomon  Patterson  and 
Thomas  McRoberts. 

1836  to  1838— E.  P.  Rogers,  Sidney  Todd  and  Thomas 
Singleton. 

1838  to  1840-Sidney  Todd,  William  Threlfull  and  J.  M. 
Wooten. 

1840  to  1S41— J.  M.  Wooten,  Sidney  Todd  and  Thomas 
Winstauley. 

1841  to  1842— Sidney  Todd,  Thomas  Winstanley  and 
Thomas  Harrison. 

1842  to  1843 — Thomas  Winstanley,  Thomas  Harrison 
and  Clem.  Bostwick. 

1843  to  1814 — Thomas  Harrison,  Clem.  Bostwick  and 
John  Goeth. 

1844  to  1845- Clem.  Bostwick,  John  Ga?th  and  Pat. 
Saxton. 

1845  to  1846— John  Goeth,  Pat.  Saxton  and  Lewis  James. 

1846  to  1847 — Pat.  Saxton,  Lewis  James  and  E.  P. 
Rogers. 

1847  to  1848 — Lewis  James,  E.  P.  Rogers  and  Joseph 
Livers. 

1848  to  1S49— E.  P.  Rogers,  Joseph  Livers  and  John 
Burk. 

COUNTY   COURTS   FROM    1849   to    1873. 

1849  to  1853 — John  Morrison,  County  Judge;  Bradley 
Eust,  J.  M.  Robinson,  Associate  Justices. 

1853  V)  1357 — John  Morrison,  County  Judge;  George 
Tobin,  Sidoc}'  Todd,  Associate  Justices. 

1857  to  1861— John  Morrison,  County  Judge;  George 
Tobin,  Uibau  Degenhard,  Associate  Justices. 

1861  t?  I-8J5  — John  Mjrrisoj,  Cjunty  Judge;  Ernest 
Grjsie,  Stephen  C.  Potest,  Associ.?.J.e  Justices. 


1865  to  1869— John  Morrison,  County  Judge;  Jacob 
Beck,  Abraham  Porter,  Associate  Justices. 

1869  to  1874 — John  Morrison,  county  judge,  died  in 
office  December  1872 ;  vacancy  was  filled  by  Henry  C.  Tal- 
bott, county  judge.  Adam  Raisi  and  Harrison  Druce,  asso- 
ciate justices. 

County  Commissioiiers  Board  from  1874  to  date  :  1874  to 
1875. — George  Frick,  Harrison  Druce  and  George  Divers. 

1875  to  1876. — Harrison  Druce,  George  Divers  and  Geo. 
Frick. 

1876  to  1877. — George  Divers,  George  Frick  and  Jacob 
Maeys. 

1877  to  1879. — George  Frick,  Jacob  Maeys  and  Ernest 
Grosse. 

1879  to  1880. — Jacob  Maeys,  Ernst  Grosse  and  Chris- 
tian Jobusch. 

1880  to  1881. — Ernst  Grosse,  Christian  Jobusch  and  John 
Angerer. 

1881  to  1882. — Christian  Jobusch,  John  Angerer,  and  J. 
F.  Harms. 

1882  to  1883.— John  Angerer,  J.  F.  Harms  and  John 
Janson. 

Clerhi  of  the   County  Court  or  Board. 

1816  to  1819.— William  Alexander. 

1819  to  1825.— Samuel  McRoberts. 

H.  C.  Mizner,  clerk  at  "  interim,"  in  place  of  McRoberts, 
suspended  by  county  board,  but  reinstated  by  a  "  manda- 
mus "  of  the  circuit  court,  1822. 

1825  to  1843. — Daniel  Converse. 

1843  to  1848.— W.  W.  Omelveny  (resigned). 

1848  to  1857. — Daniel  Converse. 

1857  to  1861.— C.  H.  Kettler. 

ISGl  to  1873. — Ambrose  Hoener. 

1873  to  date. — Paul  C  Brey. 

Assessors. 

John  Moore,  Thomas  O'Connor,  Alexander  Jameson, 
Nathaniel  Hamilton,  John  C.  James,  Madisoi.  Miller,  J.  D. 
Worley,  Pendleton  Hill,  Thomas  Winstanley,  John  Ryan 
and  Mathew  Donohoe. 

These  officers  were  appointed  by  the  county  board  at 
times  to  act  for  the  whole  county,  and,  at  other  times,  for 
districts  or  townships. 

The  assessment  of  the  taxable  property  has  by  law  been 
made  the  duty  of  the  county  treasurer.    1844. 

Treasurers. 

John  Moore,  1816;  Prince  Bryant,  1819;  John  James, 
1825;  E.  P.  Rogers,  1827;  Nathaniel  Hamilton,  1823; 
Hardin  Newlin,  1830;  John  Ryan,  1831;  Jesse  Wiswell, 
1841  ;  Hammond  Shoe^jaker,  1843,  resigned  in  1853,  David 
M.  Livers  appointed  to  fill  vacancy  in  1853  ;  Christian  H. 
Kettler,  elected  in  1853  ;  John  L.  Lemen,  1855  ;  Ambrose 
Hoener,  1857  ;  Hammond  Shoemaker,  18(il  ;  William  Wil- 
son, 1863  ;  G.  L.  Riess,  1865  ;  David  M.  Hardy,  1869,  re- 
signed in  1878  ;  and  Alonzo  Philips  since  that  date. 
Recorders. 

William   Alexander,   1816;   Sarauel   McRoberts,  1819; 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


161 


and  Daniel  Converse,  1825,  who  remained  recorder  until 
the  law  made  the  circuit  clerk  recorder  ex-officio,  18-18. 

Surveyors. 

Enoch  Moore,  181B;  J.  Milton  Moore,  1820;  W.  C. 
Starkey,  1855;  H.  Ropiquet,  1859  ;  David  M  Livers,  1861 ; 
Leander  James,  1863;  August  Weinel,  1865;  August 
Brandes,  1867;  J.  R.  Doyle,  186!);  and  Rufus  Gardner 
s'nce  1875. 

Jmlic'uil   Officers,  Probate   Court — Judges. 

Caldwell  Cairns,  from  1816  to  1825;  James  B.  Moore, 
1825  to  1832;  Enoch  B.  Moore,  from  1832  to  1837 ;  Thomas 
Winstanley,  1837,  as  probate  justice  of  the  peace;  John 
Morrison.  1849  to  1872.  County  Judge :  H.  C.  Talbott, 
18/3  to  1877  ;  and  William  Erd  since  1877. 

Circuit  Court —Juilyes. 
Hon.  Jesse  B.  Thomas  in  1817  ;  Hon  Daniel  P.  C'ook  and 
Hon.  John  Warnock  in  1818;  Hon.  Joseph  Philips  in  1819; 
Hon.  John  Reynolds  in  1819  and  '20;  Hon.  Joseph  Philips 
in  1821  ;  Hon.  Thomas  Reynolds  in  1822;  Hon.  John  Rey- 
nolds in  1823  ;  Hon.  Thomas  Reynolds  in  1824  ;  Hon.  Sa- 
muel  McRoberts    in    1825    and    1826;  Hon.  T.  W.   Smith 

1827  to  1828;  Hons.  R.M.Young  and  \V.  C.  Brown  in  1829  ; 
Hon.  T.  W.  Smith,  1830  to  1835  ;  Hon.  Thos.  Ford  in  1835  ; 
Hon.  Sidney  Breese  from  1836  to  1843  ;  Hon.  las.  Semplein 
i843  ;  Hon.  .James  Shields  from  1843  to  1845  ;  Hon.  Gustav 
Koerner  from  1845  to  1849;  Hon.  W.  H.  Underwood  from 
1849  to  1855  ;  Hon.  Sidney  Breese  from  1855  to  1 858  ;  Hon. 
H.  K.  S.  Omelveny  from  1858  to  1862;  Hon.  Silas  L. 
Bryan  from  1862  to  1874;  Hons.  Amos  Watts,  George  W. 
Wall  and  W.  H.  Snyder  since  1874. 

Prosecuting  Attorneys. 
The  records  fail  to  give  a  succinct  account  of  these  officers 
in  the  period  from  1817  to  1840;  Charles  Matheny,  Charles 
B.  Matheny  and  Sidney  Breese  are  mentioned.  W.  H. 
Underwood  from  1840  to  18J4  ;  W.  H.  Bissell  from  1844  to 
1848  ;  P.  B.  Foulke  from  1848  to  1852  ;  George  Abbott  in 
1852  (pro  tern.)  ;  W.  C.  Kinney  to  1856  ;  W.  H.  Snyder 
from  1856  to  1858  ;  Amos  Watts  from  1858  to  1864;  George 
Vernor  in  1864  (pro  tern);  J.P.Johnston  from  1864  to 
1868;  .John  Michan,  1868  to  1872;  George  R.  Reiss,  1872 
to  1876  ;  J.  W.  Rickert  Since  1876. 

Clerks  of  the    Circuit   Court. 
William  Alexander,   1816;   Enoch  Moore,  1818;  Samuel 
McRoberts,  1819;  John  D   Whiteside,  1825;  David  Newlin, 

1828  ;  Enoch  Moore,  1836  ;  W.  W.  Omelveny,  1840  ;  W. 
R.  Morrison,  1853;  William  Erd,  1855;  John  Segler, 
1876,  died  in  office,  1879,  was  succeeded  by  John  Wiesen- 
born,  the  present  incumbent. 

Sheriffs. 
James  B.  Moore,  1816 ;  John  James,  1820 ;  Jonathan 
Lynch,  1825 ;  James  Moore,  1830 ;  James  B.  Needles, 
18;5-4;  Edward  T.  Morgan,  1840;  John  Morrison,  1842; 
John  H.  Wil.^on,  1846  ;  Charles  Henckler,  IS.jO  ;  J.  M  Wil- 
son, 1852;  Ciiarles  Frick,  1854;  H.  F.  Henckler,  1860; 
Lewis  N.  Wilson,  1864;  Joseph  W.  Drury,  1866  ;  Charles 
21 


Frick,  1868;   Joseph   W.    Drury,   1870;    Charles  Erick, 

1874;  and  J.  H.  Wilson  since  1878. 

Coroners. 
John  Moore,  1816;  Wd.  Howard,  1818;  Seih  Converse, 
1820  ;  Andey  Kinney,  1822;  William  Riggs,  1826;  Thomas 
Nelson,  1828;  Fielder  Burch,  1830;  Seth  Whitesice,  1S36; 
Fisher  Ditch,  1838;  Jacob  Troxel,  1844;  L«aac  Barker, 
1846;  H  P.  Rhodeu,  1872  ;  Otto  Kuehn,  1874;  S.  B  Hil- 
ton, 1876;   Otto  Kuehn,  1878;  S.  B.  Hilton  since  1880. 


PERRY   COUNTY. 

The  civil  history  of  this  county  properly  begins  with  the 
passage,  by  the  Fifth  General  Assembly  of  the  state,  held  at 
Vandalia,  commencing  on  the  fourth  dav  of  December,  1826, 
and  closing  on  the  nineteenth  day  of  February,  1827,  of  the 
"Act  creating  Perry  county  : — 

Sec.  1.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  people  of  the  state  of  Illinois, 
represented  in  the  General  Assembly,  that  all  that  tract  of 
country  within  the  following  boundaries,  to  wit :  Beginning 
at  the  northeast  corner  of  townshij)  numbered  four,  south  of 
range  numbered  one  west,  thence  due  west,  on  the  line  be- 
tween townsiiips  three  and  four,  twenty  four  miles  to  the 
northwest,  corner  of  township  four  south  of  range  four  west ; 
thence  due  south,  on  the  line  between  ranges  four  and  five, 
eighteen  miles  to  the  southwest,  corner  of  township  six  south 
of  range  four  west,  thence  due  east  on  the  line  between  town, 
ships  six  and  seven  twenty-four  miles  to  the  southeast  corner 
of  township  six  south  of  range  one  west,  thencedue  north  on 
the  third  principal  meridian  line  eighteen  miles  to  the 
place  of  beginning  shall  constitute  a  new  county  to  be  called 
the  county  of  Perry. 

Sec.  2.  That  for  the  purpose  of  locating  the  permanent 
seat  of  justice  for  said  county,  the  following  named  persons 
shall  be,  and  they  are  hereby  appointed  commissioners,  to 
wit :  Edward  Humphreys  and  Samuel  Crawford  of  Randolph 
county,  and  Singleton  Kimmel  of  Jackson  county,  whose 
duty  it  shall  be  to  meet  at  the  house  of  Amos  Anderson,  in 
said  county,  on  or  before  the  first  Monday  of  April  next, 
and  after  being  duly  sworn  before  some  judge  or  justice  of 
the  peace  of  this  state,  faithfully  and  impartially  to  dis- 
charge the  duties  imposed  upon  them  by  this  act,  shall  pro- 
ceed to  determine  upon  a  place  upon  which  to  locate  the 
permanent  seat  of  justice,  for  said  county  :  Provided,  the 
proprietor  or  proprietors  of  the  land  so  selected,  will  give  to 
the  county,  for  the  purpose  of  enabling  it  to  erect  the  neces- 
sary public  buildings,  a  quantity  of  land  not  less  than  twenty 
acres;  which  said  land  shall  be  conveyed  to  the  county  com- 
missioners of  .said  county  and  their  successors  in  office,  for 
the  use  of  the  people  of  said  county,  by  a  good  and  sufficient 
deed  in  fee  simple,  in  the  customary  form,  and  with  the  usual 
covenants  of  warranty  ;  and  shall  afterwards  be  laid  out 
into  lota,  and  sold  under  the  direction  of  the  county  com- 
missioners of  said  county,  at  such  times  and  upon  such  terms 
as  the  said  commissioners  may  ajipoint  for  the  purpose  of 
enabling  said  county  to  erect  the  necessary  public  buildings 
as  aforesaid.     Should  the  proprietor  or  proprietors,  refuse  to 


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HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND   PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


make  a  donation  as  aforepaid,  then,  and  in  that  case,  it  shall 
be  the  duty  of  the  commissioners  to  fix  upon  some  other 
place  for  the  seat  of  justice,  which  place,  when  so  fixed  and 
determined  upon,  shall  be  considered  the  permanent  seat  of 
justice  for  said  county  ;  and  the  county  seat  when  so  estab- 
lished, shall  be  called  Pinckneyville.  And  the  said  com- 
missioners shall  certify  their  proceedings,  under  their  proper 
hands  and  seals,  to  the  first  county  commissioner's  court,  to 
be  held  in  and  for  said  county  ;  which  court  shall  cause  an 
entry  thereof  to  be  spread  at  large  on  their  books  of  record. 
Sec.  3.  Until  public  buildings  shall  be  erected,  for  the 
purpose  and  designated  by  the  county  commissioner's  court, 
as  such,  the  several  courts  of  record,  with  the  exception  of 
the  probate  couit,  shall  be  held  at  the  house  of  Amos  An- 
derson in  said  county. 

Sec.  4.  An  election  shall  be  held  at  the  house  of  the 
above  named  Amos  Anderson,  on  the  first  Monday  of  May 
next,  for  three  county  commissioners,  one  sheriff,  and  one 
coroner,  for  said  county,  who  shall  hold  their  offices  until 
the  next  general  election,  and  until  their  successors  be  quali- 
fied :  which  said  election,  shall  in  all  respects  be  conducted^ 
agreeably  to  the  provisions  of  the  act  or  acts  now  in  force, 
or  which  may  hereafter  be  enacted  regulating  elections  : 
Provided,  that  the  qualified  voters  of  said  county,  when  met 
shall  proceed  to  elect,  from  among  their  number  which  may 
then  be  present,  three  qualified  electors,  to  act  as  judges  of 
said  election,  who  shall  appoint  two  qualified  voters  to  act  as 
clerks. 

Sec.  5.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  clerk  of  the  circuit 
court,  who  may  be  appointed  for  said  county,  to  give  public 
notice  of  the  time  and  place  of  holding  said  election,  by  caus- 
ing advertisements  to  be  set  up  at  three  of  the  most  public 
places  in  said  county,  at  least  fifteen  days  previous  to  the 
day  on  which  it  is  hereby  directed  to  be  held  :  and  in  case 
there  shall  be  no  clerk  appointed  in  time,  it  shall  be  the  duty 
of  the  recorder  to  give  notice  as  aforesaid,  of  the  time  and 
place  of  said  election. 

Sec.  6.  The  citizens  of  the  said  county  of  Perry  shall  be 
and  they  are  hereby  declared  to  be  entitled  to  the  same  rights 
and  privileges,  as  are  or  may  be  allowed  in  general  to  the 
other  counties  in  this  state. 

Sec.  7.  That  until  the  nest  general  apportoinment  of  the 
representation  of  the  several  counties  of  this  state,  all  that 
part  of  the  said  county  of  Perry,  which  is  hereby  taken  from 
the  county  of  Randolph,  shall  constitute  a  separate  and 
distinct  precinct,  which  shall  continue  to  vote  with  the  county 
of  Randolph  in  all  general  and  special  elections  for  senators 
and  representatives  to  the  general  assembly  of  this  state  ; 
and  all  that  part  which  is  taken  from  the  county  of  Jackson, 
shall  for  the  like  period,  in  like  manner  continue  to  vote 
with  the  county  of  Jackson  for  representatives,  and  with  the 
counties  of  Franklin  and  Jackson  for  senators  to  the  general 
assembly,  in  all  special  and  general  elections,  until  other- 
wise directed  by  law  :  Provided,  that  the  said  county  of 
Perry  shall  in  all  other  elections,  and  for  all  other  officers, 
be  entitled  to  vote  as  a  free  and  independent  county,  without 
any  other  or  further  restiiction,  than  is  imposed  upon  other 


counties  in  this  state-.  The  said  county  of  Perry  shall  be  at- 
tached to  and  form  a  part  of  the  second  judicial  circuit. 

Sec.  8.  The  said  commissioners  shall  receive  as  a  com  pen" 
sation  for  their  services,  the  sum  of  one  dollar  and  fifty 
cents  per  day,  for  each  day  by  them  necessarily  spent  in 
discharging  the  duti>s  imposed  upon  them  by  this  act,  to  be 
allowed  by  the  county  commissioners'  court,  and  paid  out 
of  the  county  treasury. 

This  act  to  take  effect  from  and  after  its  passage. 

NiNiAN  Edwards, 
Approved,  January  2'"th,  1827.  Governor. 

This  act,  as  it  appears  from  the  original  manuscript  in  the 
records  now  at  Springfield,  was  signed  by  J.  McLean, 
Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  William  Kinney, 
Speaker  of  the  Senate,  and  approved  by  the  Council  of  Re- 
vision on  the  29th  day  of  January,  1827,  and  signed  by 
Ninian  Edwards,  Governor  of  the  State,  at  which  time  it 
took  effect  and  went  into  force. 

1.  Creating  Perry  County. — The  county  was  named  in 
honor  of  Commodore  Oliver  H.  Perry,  who  won  great  honors 
for  defeating  the  English  squadron  on  Lake  Erie,  on  the 
tenth  day  of  December,  1813.  The  severe  naval  battle,  in 
which  he  destroyed  the  British  fleet  was  fought  near  Put-in- 
Bay  ;  and  his  dispatch  to  General  Harrison  was,  "  We  have 
met  the  enemy  and  they  are  ours." 

The  house  of  Amos  Anderson,  at  which  the  elections  were 
to  be  held,  was  situated  on  the  west  half  of  the  southwest 
quarter  of  section  twenty- two,  in  township  five,  south  range, 
two  west  of  the  third  principal  meridian,  and  was  a  log  cabin 
common  in  those  days. 

First  County  offieers. — On  the  nineteenth  day  of  the  same 
month  and  year,  Theophilus  W.  Smith,  associate  justice  ofthis 
judicial  district, being  thesecondjudicial  district  in  the  State, 
commissioned  Humphrey  B.  Jones,  circuit  clerk  of  our 
county,  whose  duty  it  was,  under  the  6th  section  of  the  act, 
creating  the  county,  to  give  at  least  fifteen  days  notice,  by 
causing  advertisements  to  be  set  up  at  three  of  the  most  pub- 
lic places  in  the  county,  of  the  election  of  three  county  com- 
missioners, a  sheriff  and  coroner  as  provided  by  the  act,  to 
be  held  on  the  first  Monday  in  May,  18'27.  The  records  of 
the  county,  however,  contain  no  account  of  this  election, 
there  being  no  records  of  any  county  election  previous  to 
August  4th,  1828. 

We  are  informed  however,  by  Enoch  Eaton,  who  was  then 
a  legal  voter,  and  now  living,  that  an  election  was  had  in 
the  spring  of  1827,  pursuant  to  an  order  of  H.  B.  Jones,  cir- 
cuit clerk,  and  that  John  R.  Hutchings  and  William  Adair 
were  two  of  the  commissioners  elected;  the  third  one  he  does 
not  now  remember;  and  that  William  C.  Murphy  and  Joseph 
W'ells  were  candidates  for  sherifl^  and  that  they  each  had  an 
equal  number  of  votes,  and  upon  casting  lots,  Joseph  Wells 
was  the  lucky  aspirant  for  the  office.  Amos  Anderson  was 
elec.ed  coroner. 

As  usual  in  elections  however  with  our  people,  and  we 
came  by  it  honestly,  there  was  considerable  excitement  and 
feeling  over  the  election,  and  Dr.  Brayshaw,  one  of  the  dis- 
satisfied ones,  being  no  doubt  on  the  losing  side,  raised  a 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


1G3 


point  as  to  the  legality  of  the  election  on  the  ground  that 
the  circuit  clerk  instead  of  calling  for  the  election  to  be  held 
at  the  house  of  Amos  Anderson,  as  provided  for  in  section 
four  of  the  act,  had  by  his  public  advertisements,  announced 
the  same  at  the  house  of  George  Franklin,  who  lived  east  of 
south  from  the  now  present  site  of  Pinckneyviile  about  a 
mile,  and  at  which  last  named  place  the  election  was  held. 
So  persistent  was  Dr.  Brayshaw  in  pronouncing  the  election 
illegal,  that  in  order  to  carry  his  point  he  went  on  horseback 
to  Vandalia,  then  the  capital  of  the  State,  for  the  purpose 
of  procuring  a  copy  of  the  act.  What  was  the  result  of  this 
error  of  the  clerk  in  thus  calling  the  election  contrary  to  the 
provision  of  the  act,  we  are  unable  to  ascertain.  That 
^\  illiam  Adair,  whom  we  are  informed  by  Mr.  Enoch  Eaton 
was  elected  one  of  the  commissioners  under  the  first  call  for 
an  election,  was  not  sworn  in  as  the  records  show,  leads  us 
to  conclude  that  a  second  election  was  held  the  first  year. 

RECORD    OF     THE     MEETING     OF     THE     FIRST     BOARD     OF 
COMMISSIONERS. 

From  the  first  record,  it  appears  that  John  K.  Hutching^' 
David  H.  Mead  and  Elijah  Wells  met  at  the  house  of  Amos 
Anderson,  who  lived  about  two  and  one-half  miles  east  of 
the  present  site  of  Pinckneyville  ;  and  on  what  is  now  the 
Du  Quoin  and  Pinckneyville  road,  and  were  there  sworn  into 
office  as  county  commissioners,  on  the  fourth  day  of  June, 
1827,  b)-  Humphrey  B.  Jones,  a  justice  of  the  peace,  and 
immediately  held  the  first  session  of  the  county  commissioners' 
court.  The  first  official  act  was  the  appointment  of  Hum- 
phrey B.  Jones  as  county  clerk.  He  gave  bond  in  the  sum 
of  one  thousand  dollars,  with  Lewis  Wells  and  Daniel  Dry 
as  his  sureties,  took  the  oath  of  office  and  entered  upon  his 
duties.  For  the  office  of  treasurer  there  were  two  candidates, 
Daniel  Dry  and  Richard  G.  Hutchings.  Daniel  Dry  re- 
ceiving a  majority  of  the  votes  of  the  commissioners,  was 
declared  elected,  and  gave  bond  in  the  sum  of  one  thousand 
dollars,  with  Humphrey  B.  Jones  and  Lewis  Wells  as  his 
sureties,  took  the  official  oath,  and  was  given  the  money  box 
of  the  county.  At  this  same  meeting,  the  commissioners 
appointed  James  H.  Franklin  constable  for  the  district  west 
of  Beaucoup  creek  in  said  county,  and  Franklin  gave  bond 
in  the  sum  of  five  hundred  dollars,  with  William  C.  Murjjhy 
as  his  surety  at  the  same  time.  The  following  orders  were 
made  the  same  day  : 

E/fcrio)t  diftrirU.—"  Ordered,  that  in  pursuance  of  the  act 
entitled  "  An  act  to  provide  for  the  election  of  justices  of 
the  peace  and  constables;  the  county  of  Perry  be  divided 
into  districts  as  follows,  to  wit:  All  that  tract  of  country 
lying  east  of  Beaucoup  creek  in  said  county  shall  constitute 
and  compose  one  district  to  be  denominated  the  Eastern 
District ;  and  all  that  country  in  said  county  west  of  said 
Beaucoup  creek  shall  form  another  district  to  be  called  the 
Western  District." 

"  Ordered,  That  Robert  McElvain,  Charles  C.  Glover  and 
Abner  Pyle  be,  and  they  are  hereby  appointed  judges  of  the 
election  for  justices  of  the  peace  and  constables  in  the  Ea.>-t- 
ern  District  of  this  county  ;  and  that  Thomas  Swanwick, 
sr.,  William  H.  Threlkel  and  James  Crane  be  and  they  are 


hereby  appointed  judges  of  the  election  of  justices  of  the 
peace  and  constables  for  the  Western  District  of  this 
county  " 

AKse.fsment  of  Properly. — Ordered,  That  a  ta.x  of  one  third 
per  cent,  be  levied  on  all  town  lots,  which  are  not  taxed  by 
the  trustees,  which  may  be  appointed  to  the  town  of  Pinck- 
neyville; on  all  slaves  and  indentured  negroes  or  mulatto 
servants;  on  pleasure  carriages;  on  all  distilleries  ;  on  stock 
in  trade  ;  on  all  horses,  mares,  mules,  asses  and  neat  cattle 
above  three  years  of  age  ;  and  on  watches  with  their  appen- 
dages ;  and  on  bank  stock." 

"  Ordered,  That  the  court  adjourn  until  to-morrow  morn- 
ing, nine  o'clock."  Tne  cjm  nissioners  met  in  session  the 
follosving  day  and  appointed  the  following  named  citizens 
as  the 

First  Grand  Jurors. — "  Ordered  by  the  court  that  John 
Campbell,  Jr..  Avery  Chapman,  Lewis  Wells,  Jr.,  William 
Troop,  Sr.,  John  Pyle,  Sr. ,  Robert  McElvain,  John  G. 
Simpkins,  William  Pyle,  Sr.,  John  Berry,  Amos  Ander- 
son, Robert  Huggins,  William  Elliott,  Jonathan  Pettit, 
John  Hutchings,  Robert  B.  Murphy,  William  H  Threlkel, 
Richard  G.  Murphy,  James  Brown,  sr.,  Richard  Green, 
William  Adair,  Charles  Garner,  John  Flack,  Robt-rt  Crowe, 
James  Crane,  be  and  they  are  hereby  appointed  standing 
Grand  Jurors  to  serve  at  the  next  August  term  of  the  Perry 
Circuit  Court,  and  the  clerk  of  this  court  issue  a  venire 
therefor. 

First  Pdit  Jurors. — Ordered  by  the  cjurt,  that  Jonathan 
Foster,iIames  Simpkins,  Joseph  Taylor,  James  West,  Joseph 
Brayshaw,  Joseph  Wells,  John  Pyle,  Jr.,  Lswis  Wells,  Sr  , 
William  Pyle,  Jr.,  Abner  Pyle,  Enoch  Eaton,  James  Hug- 
gins,  Thomas  Swanwick,  Jr.,  Epiiraim  Bilderback,  James 
Murphy,  William  (xarner,  Hugh  Brown,  Matthew  Vaun, 
Benjamin  F.  Brown,  Jacob  Short,  R  ibert  F.  Clark,  John 
Brown,  Jr.,  Shadrach  Lively  and  James  Brown,  Jr.,  be  and 
the  same  are  hereby  appointed  standing  Traverse  jurors,  to 
serve  at  the  next  August  term  of  the  Perry  circuit  court, 
and  that  the  clerk  of  this  court  issue  a  venire  therefi)r. 

John  Pyle,  Jr.,  was  appointed  constable  in  the  Eastern 
District,  and  gave  bond  in  the  sum  of  five  hundred  do'lars, 
with  William  Pyle^  Sr..  as  surety. 

First  Order  for  Road. — Whereas,  a  petition  signed  by 
William  Pyle,  Sr  ,  H.  B.  Jones,  Lewis  Wells  and  others, 
amounting  to  eighteen,  has  been  presented  to  this  court, 
praying  for  a  road  to  be  viewed  and  marked,  to  commence 
at  the  road  leading  from  Shawneetown  to  St.  Louis,  at  or 
near  where  said  road  enters  the  east  edge  of  what  is  called 
Paradise  prairie,  thence  running  the  nearest  and  best  route 
to  Beaucoup  creek,  and  to  cross  said  creek  at  the  nearest 
good  ford  thereon  to  the  centre  of  this  county,  thence  the 
nearest  and  best  route  to  what  is  called  "  Willards  road," 
where  the  same  leaves  the  west  edge  of  the  six  mile  prairie. 

Ordered,  by  the  court,  that  the  prayer  of  said  petitioners 
be  granted,  and  that  William  Pyle,  Sr.,  David  H.  Mead 
and  Amos  Anderson,  be  and  are  hereby  appointed  to  view 
and  mark  said  road  from  the  St.  Louis  road  to  Beaucoup 
creek,  and  that  John  Hutchings,  George  Franklin  and 
Robert  B.  Murphy,  be  and  they  are  hereby  appointed  com- 


104 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


niisbioucrs  to  view  and  mark  said  road  from  Beaucoiip  creek 
to  "  Willard's  road,"  where  it  passes  out  of  the  west  end  of 
the  six  mile  prairie,  according  to  the  provisions  of  the  fore- 
going order. 

Firt>t  License  to  keep  a  Tavern. — Amos  Anderson  applied 
for  a  license  to  keep  a  tavern  or  public  house  of  entertain- 
ment, at  his  house  in  the  county  for  one  year. 

Ordered,  that  his  request  be  granted  on  his  giving  bond 
according  to  law  and  paying  for  the  use  of  the  county,  one 
dollar  and  fifty  cents,  the  clerk's  fees  for  the  same. 
Ordered,  that  the  court  adjourn  one  hour. 
Court  met  pursuant  to  adjournment,  and  passed  the  fol- 
lowing schedule  of  charges  for  Amos  Anderson  : 

Ordered,  that  the  following  be  the  rates  and  prices  to  be 
paid  or  demanded  by  tavern  keepers,  within  this  county, 
for  liquors,  lodging,  diet,  stableage,  provender,  pasturage, 
&c  ,  to  wit : 

For  whisky,  twelve  and  a  half  cents  per  half  pint;  for 
rum  or  brandy,  wine,  gin,  peach  or  apple  brandy,  or  cherry 
bounce,  eighteen  and  three  quarter  cents;  for  lodging,  six 
and  one  quarter  cents  per  night ;  for  breakfast  and  supper, 
eighteen  and  three-quarter  cents ;  for  dinner,  twenty-five 
cents;  for  feeding  horse,  beast,  twelve  and  one-half  cents; 
keeping  .'ame  per  night,  thirty-seven  and  one-half  cents  ;  for 
pasturage  for  horse,  beast,  si.x  and  one-quarter  cents  per 
head  for  each  day  or  night ;  pasturage  for  neat  cattle,  hogs 
or  sheep,  four  ceuts  per  head  for  each  day  or  night. 

First  Polls. — Ordered,  that  the  election  for  justices  of  the 
peace  and  constables  for  the  Eastern  District  of  thi^  county, 
be  held  at  the  house  of  William  Pyle,  Sr.,  and  that  the 
election  for  the  same  in  the  Western  District,  be  held  at  the 
house  of  Robert  B.  Murphy. 

Ordered,  that  the  court  adjourn  until  court  in  course. 

j.  r.  hutchinus, 
David  H.  Mead, 
Elijah  Wei.ls. 

First  Session  of  the  Perry  Circuit  Court.— 7he  next  sub- 
ject to  attract  the  attention  of  the  reader  in  order  of  date, 
is  the  first  session  of  the  circuit  court  for  the  new  county. 
The  original  records  show  that  the  session  was  but  of  one 
day's  duration,  and  the  principal  acts  were  as  follows: 

At  a  session  of  the  circuit  court,  begun  and  held  at  the 
house  of  Amos  Anderson,  in  the  county  of  Perry,  state  of 
Illinois,  on  the  twenty-eighth  day  of  August,  Anno  Domini, 
1827. 

Present:  The  Hon.  Theophilus  W.  Smith,  a  justice  of  the 
supreme  court  of  said  state,  and  presiding  judge  of  said 
circuit  court.  Himphkey  B.  Jones,  clerk. 

AVilliam  C.  Mi'RPHY,  sheriff. 

Humphrey  B.  Jones,  the  clerk  of  this  court,  produced  in 
coprt  his  bond  with  Richard  J.  Hamilton,  John  A.  Jones 
and  Conrad  Will,  his  securities,  in  the  penal  sum  of  two 
thousand  dollars,  payable  to  the  governor  of  the  state,  for 
the  faithful  discharge  of  the  duties  of  his  office,  which  bond 
and  security  was  approved  by  the  court,  and  was  ordered 
to  be  certified  accordingly. 


William  C.  Murphy,  as  sheriif  of  the  county,  produced  in 
court  his  bond,  which  wa«  approved  and  certified  accordingly. 
The  bond  was  for  tlie  sum  of  ten  thousaud  dollars,  with 
William  Adair,  William  H.  Threlkel,  Hugli  Brown,  George 
Franklin  and  Robert  B.  Murphy,  as  sureties.  The  bond 
sets  forth  that  William  C.  Murphy  was  elected  on  the  7lh 
of  May,  1827.  Murphy  also  took  the  "  duel  "  oath,  and 
filed  his  commission,  signed  by  Niniau  Edwards,  Gov- 
ernor. 

The  sheriff  returned  into  court  the  grand  jurors  (men- 
tioned in  a  previous  part  of  this  chapter)  with  the  exception 
of  four  who  were  absent ;  thereupon  the  court  appointed 
Richard  Green,  foreman.  The  said  grand  jury  being  sworn 
to  inquire  for  the  body  of  the  county  of  Perry,  were  charged 
by  his  honor  the  judge,  and  retired  to  consider  present- 
ments. David  J.  Baker  was  appointed  in  the  absence  of  the 
circuit  attorney,  Henry  Eddy,  to  prosecute  as  said  attorney 
pro  tern.     The  following  business  was  then  transacted  : 

The  People  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  Pllff.  ) 

vs. 
William  Pyle,  Sr.,  Deft.  ) 

Upon  a  recognizance  taken  and  returned  by  a  justice  ox 
the  peace  to  this  court,  the  witnesses  in  said  cause  were 
severally  called,  and  having  answered,  were  directed  to  go 
before  the  trrand  jury.  The  grand  jury  was  empaneled,  but 
were  discharged  without  presenting  any  indictments,  and 
there  being  no  other  business,  the  court  adjourned  upon  the 
first  day  thereof. 

Siiailar  orders  wire  nade  in  cases  of  the  same  character 
agsi'jst   John   Pv'.e,  Jr.    David  Pyle   and  Abner  Pyle,  Jr. 

Robert  McElifaiD,  John  G- Simpkins,  John  Flack  and 
William  Elliott,  who  were  severally  summoned  to  attend 
the  term  of  this  court  as  grand  jurors,  and  having  failed  to 
attend,  it  is  Ordered  that  a  summons  issue  against  said  de- 
linquent grand  jurors,  returnable  to  the  next  term  of  this 
court,  requiring  the  said  McElvain,  Simpkins,  Flack  and 
Elliott  to  show  cause  why  they  should  not  be  fined  for 
"  contempt  of  this  court  in  making  default  in  their  atten- 
dance as  aforesaid." 

In  the  cases  of  the  People  against  William  Pyle,  Sr., 
David  Pyle,  Abner  Pyle,  Jr.,  and  John  Pyle,  Jr.,  upon  a 
recognizance  to  keep  the  peace,  the  following  order  was 
made  : 

In  the  above  causes  the  defendants  being  called  and  ap- 
pearing, and  as  it  appeared  to  the  court  from  the  statement 
of  the  party  complaimint  and  upon  whose  application  said 
defendants  were  recognized,  that  the  causes  of  complaint  no 
longer  existed,  it  was  thereupon,  Ordered  by  the  court  that 
the  defendants  be  discharged  from  their  said  recognizances. 

Ordered,  That  the  court  adjourn  until  court  in  course. 

W.  T.  Smith,  Justice  Sup.  Court. 

Circuit  Court,  Auyust  Term,  1828.— Nothing  being  done 
at  the  first  session  of  the  circuit  court,  a  second  session  was 
convened  at  the  same  place,  and  with  the  same  officfrs,  in 
August,  1828.  The  docket  for  that  ttim  consisted  of  ac- 
tions for  contempt  against  Robert  McElvain,  John  G. 
Simpkins,   William   Elliott  and   John    Flack,   delinquent 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


k;.-) 


grand  jurors  of  the  previous  term,  and  two  cases  ou  appeal 
in  debt — one  of  Jeisse  W.  Cooper  rs.  Ambrose  Ford,  and  the 
other  S.  Wills,  administrator  of  M.  Dillinger,  deceased,  rs. 
John  Flack,  both  of  \vhi(;h  were  coutiuucd.  On  the  ITlh  of 
June  judgment  was  rendered  against  Robert  McElvain  for 
costs;  and  on  the  20th  of  the  same  month  the  same  order 
was  entered  against  Wdliam  Elliott  and  John  Flack,  while 
that  against  John  G.  Simpkins  was  continued.  On  the 
same  docket  and  at  the  same  term,  we  find  the  names  of 
Reynolds,  Wills,  McRoberts,  Breese,  Baker,  Hamilton  and 
Eddy  entered  as  attorneys. 

As  an  example  of  the  inexpeusiveness  of  litigation  in 
those  early  days,  we  append  a  copy  of  an  early  cost  bill  iu 
an  appeal  cause  of  Matthew  Jones  and  Francis  Miller  rs. 
Abner  Pyle,  Jr.,  which  was  affirnied  by  consent  at  the 
May  term  of  the  circuit  court,  18o7  : 

COST  BILL  IN  CIRCUIT  COURT,  1837. 

Matthew  JoTics  iiiid  Franci.s  Miller) 

vs.  ■  Appe;il. 

Abner   Pyle,  Jr.  J 

Oust  6v  DefaitUint,  M(i>j  Term,  18.37. 
Clerks  filing  transcripts  and  papers  from  J.  P.  an.l  taking  l>.>nil,  etc.,  511 

cts. :  filing  bon«l,  6^4  i-ts.,     b&\^ 

Filing   injiinotiiin,  C'i  ets. ;   .approving,  \>y,  ets  ;   Entering  :itturney, 

liHcts " 31'/4 

Docketing,  \i.\i  cts.;  bill  of  cos  ,  2,1  ctf.;  certifying  and  sealing  same, 

50  cts s.V/i 

Summnns,  .W  cts. ;  fil.ng,  6%  cts. ;  filing  bill  of  post,",  6^  cts., 63>< 

Docketing,  12)/2  cts. ;  sherilTs  return,  12^  ct.s 25 

Tolal t-i  cji - 

SiATROP  Illinois,  ) 

Perry  lounty.    /   '■ 

I  hereby  certify  that  the  foregoing  is  a  true  bill  ..f  the  ilel'en(1:\nfs  posts  in 
this  case,  and  that  the  same  was  adjudged  a.iiainst  said  defendant  by  tlie  cir- 
cuit court  at  their  May  term,  1S.-57 

Given  under  niy  hand  and  private  seal,  no  public  seal  being  provided,  at 
Pinckneyville,  this  L'Olh  day  of  June,  1S3T.  II.  B.  Joxes,  Clerk. 

SECOND   MEETINC    OF   COMMISSIONERS   COURT. 

The  second  se^sion  of  the  county  commissioners'  court 
lasted  but  one  day,  the  third  day  of  September,  1^27  ;  Elijah 
Wells,  David  II.  Mead,  and  Jolin  R.  Hutchings  being 
present,  and  transacting  the  following  business: 

Daniel  Dry  was  granted  a  license  to  keep  a  tavern  ;  and 
also  allowed  the  sum  often  dollars  for  assessing  the  taxable 
property  of  the  county,  the  time  reiiuired  being  seven  days. 

THE    FIRST    RO.\I). 

The  commissioners  appointed  at  the  June  term  reported 
that  they  believed  the  establishment  of  the  road  to  be  useful 
and  necessary,  and  that  they  had  proceeded  to  locate  the 
same  and  have  designated  its  course  through  prairies  by  fix- 
ing stakes  iu  the  ground,  and  through  timbered  land  by 
marking  the  trees  at  a  convenient  di.itance  from  each  other 
on  said  route. 

FIRST    ROAD    DISTRICTS    AND    ROAD    OFFICERS. 

Ordered,  Tiiat  all  that  tract  of  country,  beginning  at  the 
southwest  corner  of  section  sixteen,  town  six,  south  range 
two  west,  thence  due  east  to  the  third  principal  meridian 
line,  thence  north  on  said  line  to  the  northeast  corner  of 
township  five,  south  of  range  one  west,  thence  due  west  on 
the  line  between  townships  four  and  five  to  where  the  same 
crosses  Beaucoup  creek,  thence  down  said  creek  to  the  i)lace 
of  beginning,  thall  be,  and  constitute  a  road  district,  and  be 


known  as  the  Upper  Eastern  District ;  and  Daniel  Dry  is 
hereby  appointed  supervisor  of  the  same. 

The  Lower  Eastern  District  comprised  all  that  p<irtic)n  of 
the  county  lying  within  the  following  boundaries  :  beginning 
at  the  southwest  corner  of  section  sixteen,  thence  due  east  to 
the  principal  meridian  line,  thence  south  with  said  line  to 
the  southeast  corner  of  township  six,  thence  due  west  on  the 
line  between  townships  six  and  seven  to  where  the  same 
crosses  Beaucoup  creek,  thence  up  said  creek  to  the  point  of 
starting,  Abner  Pyle,  sr,,  was  ajipointed  supervisor  of  this 
district. 

The  third  district  was  known  as  the  Lower  Western 
District,  and  embraced  all  that  territory  bounded  by  a 
line  commencing  at  the  southwest  corner  ofj  section  six, 
township  six,  thence  due  east  to  Beaucoup  creek,  theuce 
down  said  creek  to  the  line  between  townships  six  and  seven, 
thence  due  west  with  said  line  to  the  southwest  corner  of 
township  six,  and  thence  due  north  to  the  place  of  beginning. 
Robert  Gillihau  was  appointed  supervisor. 

The  remainder  of  the  county  constituted  the  last  district, 
and  was  known  as  the  Upper  Western  District,  and  William 
H.  Threlkel  was  the  supervisor. 

Charles  C.  Glover,  John  M.  Campbell,  jr.,  and  James 
West  were  appointed  overseers  of  the  poor  for  the  Eastern 
District  of  the  county  ;  and  Thomas  Swanwick,  Charles 
Garner,  and  William  Brown  for  the  Western. 

Humphrey  B.  Jones  was  allowed  five  dollars  ami  fifty 
cents  in  specie  or  its  equivalent  for  books  and  stationer'- ; 
and  Amos  Anderson  two  dollars  and  fifty  cents  for  house 
rent  to  date. 

FIRST    PROCEEDINGS    IN    RELATION    TO  THE  ESTACLISH.M  ENT 
OF   COU.VTY   SEAT, 

At  the  request  of  a  number  of  the  citizens  of  the  county 
by  petition,  James  Crain,  Abner  Pyle,  sr.,  and  Thomas 
Swanwick  met  at  the  house  of  George  Franklin  ou  the  twen- 
ty-second of  October,  1X27;  and  after  an  examination  of  a 
certain  section  of  country  designated  by  said  petitioners, 
reported  to  the  county  court  ou  the  twenty-ninth  of  October, 
\i>'H,  that  they  believe  the  east  half  of  the  northeast  quarter 
of  section  twenty-four  in  town.ship  five  south,  range  thrie 
west  of  the  third  princijml  meriiiian,  to  be  the  "  mo:t  eligible 
and  best  calculated  for  the  permanent  seat  of  justice  of  this 
county." 

In  pursuance  of  which  an  order  was  made  adoi)ting  said 
tract  of  land  as  the  "site  for  the  future  seat  of  justice  fur 
the  county;'  and  appointing  Joel  Manning,  of  Jackson 
county,  and  William  T.  Swanwick  and  Humphrey  B.  Jonts 
commissioners,  to  lay  out  twenty  acres  of  said  tract  into  lots 
■'with  a  public  square,  streets  and  alleys  so  that  the  whole 
sh'jU  be  conveniently  and  properly  situated  and  arranged  in 
conformity  with  the  most  approved  plan  of  towus  or  villages 
similarly  situated." 

As  yet  the  land  had  not  l)een  entered  from  the  govern- 
ment At  the  December  term,  1827,  an  agreement  was 
made  that  the  land  should  be  entered  in  the  name  of  the 
county  commissioners,  H.  B.  Jones,  or  some  other  person  to 
furnish  half  the  money,  and  to  receive  a  deed  to  the  south 
half  of  the  tract. 


166 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND  PERRY  COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


William  C.  Murphy  was  appointed  agent  to  make  the 
entry,  and  on  the  third  day  of  December,  1827,  ao  order 
drawn  in  his  favor  for  fifty  dollars  in  specie  or  its  equivalent 
in  state  paper  at  the  rate  of  seventy-five  cents  to  the  dollar, 
and  was  afterwards  paid  the  discount,  five  dollars  aud  twenty 
cents,  and  the  amount  due  from  Humphrey  B.  Jones  was 
advanced  out  of  funds  placed  in  his  hands  by  parties  in 
Kentucky  for  the  purpose  of  speculating  in  lands.  The 
money  was  placed  iu  the  hands  of  William  C.  Murphy,  who 
proceeded  to  Kaskaskia,  and  on  the  twenty-eighth  day  of 
December,  1827,  entered  the  tract  in  the  name  of  the  county 
commissioners  David  H.  Mead,  John  R  Hutchings,  and 
Elijah  Wells.  The  south  half  of  said  tract,  excepting  a 
small  part  included  in  the  original  survey  of  Pinckueyville, 
was  afterwards  conveyed  to  Humphrey  B.  Jones. 

The  commissioners,  who  were  instructed  at  the  time  of 
their  appointment,  to  so  lay  oft"  the  twenty  acres  that  there 
miffht  be  two  tiers  of  lots  on  each  side  of  the  public  square, 
made  their  report  to  the  county  commissioners  on  the  fifth 
dav  of  January,  1828 ;  but  it  was  not  placed  on  record  until 
the  twenty-first  day  of  that  month. 

RETORT    OF    COMJirSSIOSERS    TO    PLAT    THE    TOWN. 

In  pursuance  of  the  order  of  said  court,  and  by  virtue  of 
the  power  vested  in  va  as  commissioners  aforesaid,  we  met 
at  the  house  of  H.  B.  Jones,  in  said  county,  on  the  third 
instant,  and  after  a  critical  and  thorough  examination  of 
ihe  ground  to  which  we  were  limited  in  laying  off'  the  said 
town,  proceeded  aud  made  the  following  survey,  to  wit: 
Beginning  at  the  half  mile  corner  between  sections  thirteen 
and  twenty-four  of  the  town  and  range  aforesaid,  from 
which  a  hickory,  twelve  inches  in  diameter,  bears  south 
forty-seven  degrees,  east  thirty  links,  thence  south  upon  the 
east  line  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  twenty-four, 
town  five  south,  range  three  west,  seven  chains  and  eighty 
links  to  a  post  oa  said  line,  thence  west  one  chain  and  fifty 
links  to  a  post,  from  which  last  mentioned  point  we  pro- 
ceeded, and  surveyed  and  laid  off"  a  town,  consisting  of  a 
public  square,  town  lots,  streets,  etc.,  which  is  particularly 
exhibited,  set  forth  and  described  on  a  plat,  which  we  hereby 
make  a  part  of  this,  our  report.  The  whole  of  said  survey 
was  made  with  a  variation  of  the  needle  of  seven  and  a  half 
degrees  west.  The  twenty  acres  mentioned  in  the  said  order 
being  laid  off"  sixty-four  rods  north  and  south,  by  fifty  rods 
east  aud  west,  and  disposed  of  so  far  as  exhibited  on  the 
plat.  There  stillremains  a  strip  of  ground  of  fifteen  feet  wide 
'upon  the  west  side  and  one  of  one  hundred  an<l  twelve  feet 
wide  upon  the  north  side,  subject  to  future  dispo.sal. 

All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted.  Perry  county, 
January  5th,  1828. 

Signed.  Joel  Manning. 

H.  B.  Jones. 

The  county  commissioners  court  at  its  session  of  January 
21st,  1828,  approved  the  report  of  the  commissioners  to  plat 
and  survey  the  town  site,  and  on  the  same  day  passed  the 
following  order  : 

First  Sale  of  Town  Lots. — Ordered,  That  H.  B.  Jones, 
John  R.  Hutchings  and  William  C.   Murphy  be,  and  they 


are  hereby  appointed  commissioners  to  sell  the  lots  in  said 
town,  and  that  the  same  be  exposed  to  sale  to  the  highest 
bidder  on  the  fourth  Monday  of  February  next,  an  i  that 
the  time,  place,  nature,  etc.,  of  said  sale  be  published  in  the 
I/Uiuiis  Cjrrector  for  three  weeks  preceding  said  sale,  and 
that  the  clerk  be  and  he  is  hereby  required  to  issue  hi-s  order 
on  the  treasurtr  of  this  county  for  a  sum  of  money  sufficient 
to  pay  for  the  said  publication. 

Ordered,  That  all  the  lots  in  said  town  be  exposed  to  sale 
on  the  said  fourth  Monday  of  February,  1828,  except  lots 
numbered  32  and  29,  aud  that  no  lot  or  lots  shall  be  sold 
for  a  less  sum  than  five  dollars,  which  is  hereby  estab- 
lished as  the  minimum  price  of  said  lots;  and  that  David 
H.  Mead,  or  in  case  of  his  absence  on  the  day  of  sale,  Elijah 
Wells,  is  hereby  appointed  and  constituted  agent  for  the 
purpose  of  bidding  off"  said  lots  for  the  benefit  of  this  county 
in  case  any  of  them  should  not  be  purchased  by  another 
person  or  other  persons  fur  more  than  the  said  sum  of  five 
dollars. 

Ordered,  That  the  lots  iu  said  town  be  sold  on  a  credit 
as  follows,  to  wit:  One-half  the  purchase  money  to  be  paid 
iu  six  months  and  the  other  half  in  nine  months,  the  pur- 
chaser being  required  to  give  bond  and  approved  security. 
The  lots  were  sold  at  the  appointed  time,  and  §1223. 28i 
realized  from  the  sale  of  twenty-four  lots. 

The  bill  for  advertising  sale  of  lots  was  SI 0.50  "  in  specie  or 
its  equivalent  in  State  paper."  K.  K.  Fleming  was  the 
publisher. 

First  Collection  of  Ta.ves  1627 — The  statement  of  William 
C.  Murphy,  sheriff"  aud  collector,  of  amount  of  taxes  collected 
by  him,  shows  the  names  of  the  taxpayers,  fifty -one  in 
number  and  the  amounts  paid  by  each,  ranging  from  S9.26l 
down  to  2J  cents,  the  total  amount  being  S74.ll,  an  aver- 
age of  SI. 45 i  each. 

Early  Retrenchment— December,  1831.  J.  R.  Hutchings 
presented  a  bill  of  S25  for  assessing  the  county  and  for 
commission  as  treasurer,  "  but  the  court  being  of  the  opinion 
that  the  charge,  *  *  *,  was  extravagant,  and  ought  not  to  be 
allowed  in  full,"  the  sum  of  822.82  was  allowed 

Probably  the  smallest  claim  allowed  against  Perry 
county  was  that  of  6i  c<-nts,  for  ink  for  general  election, 
furnished  by  John  R.  Hutchings,  allowed  December,  1834. 
David  Baldridge  was  appointed  commisioner  to  dispose  of 
the  school  lands,  in  1831. 

First  Justices  of  tlie  Peace — Humphrey  B.  Jones,  George 
Franklin  and  Lewis  Wells,  Sr.,  were  the  first  justices  of 
the  peace  in  the  county.  They  were  commissioned  on  the 
sixteenth  day  of  February,  1827,  sworn  into  office  May  8th, 
1827, and  their  term  expired  October  1,  1827.  Atthesecoud 
election  John  R.  Hutchings,  Humphrey  B.  Jones.  Richard 
G.  Murphy,  Daniel  Dry  andRobert  McElvain  were  chosen 
and  commissioned  September  6tii,  1827,  for  a  term  of  two 
years.     David  H.  Mead  was  commissioned  June  30,  1828. 

First  Assessment — The  first  assessment  made  of  the  county 
cannot  be  better  shown  than  by  appending  the  receipt  of 
he  clerk  for  the  same.  It  is  as  follows :  "  Received  of 
Daniel  Dry,  treasurer  of  Perry  county,  a  list  of  the  resident 
land  of  Perry   county,  Illinois,  that  is  taxable  for  the  year 


HISTORY    OF   L'AXDOLJ'H,    MOXROE   AXD    PKRRY    COrXTIKS,    ILLIXOIS. 


107 


1827,  assessed  by  him,  tlie  tax  on  which  amounts  to  sixty- 
seven  dollars  and  twelve  cents,  and  likewise  a  list  of  the 
personal  property  taxed  by  the  county  commifsioners'  court 
of  said  county,  the  tax  on  which  at  one-third  per  centum 
amounts  to  tij^ht  dollars  and  twenty-two  and  one-third 
cents.    July  -3d,  lJ^-7.  II.  B.  Jon'ks, 

C.  C.  C.  P.  C. 

Fird  FUcnl  Stalemcid — The  firi-t  financial  statement  of 
the  county  was  made  on  the  third  day  of  December,  1S27, 
by  Daniel  Dry,  treasurer,  in  settling  with  William  C. 
^lurphy,  sheriff,  iiud  was  as  follows  : 

liectived  from  William  C.  Murphy,  j-herill': 


I"  Spc-ie 

Ill  Stiici-  liuper  and  iiiiercst  uii  yat 
III  ceriitii-ates  liiid  county  orders  . 


U.     U.     .l..,u-^,   IM, 

J.  U.  lluMiiiig.-.  ; 
Llijah  Will-,  M-iv 
liiiMU  II.  M.iid,  »e 


Total  paid  Mill SII.i>:% 

Leaving  a  balance  of  803  371,  which  was  especially 
api)ropriateil  and  ordered  paid  over  to  William  C.  jMnrphy, 
for  the  |)urpose  of  eniering  the  land  for  ihe  county  seat. 

V.\K\.\     ,MA1!I!IA(.E    LICENSES. 
Dntt  of  Ufii'-.  f.iriu •.  l\u  l,j  iHrfurmuui  '\r.  ,«n'i!/.  Dnle  nf  Mitirimje. 

Nov.  IT,  Ij-'-'T.     Alexaiid.i  11  :,ik  !■■         Eliiirll  WVII-.  l'...  Com.        Nov. '»,  ISL'T. 

IIillii   r.'a.£il.., 
Dec  24,  ISiT.     Iliniii.  M...  i.>  .l.dm  I!.  Iliit.-liiii|-s  J.  P.  Doc.  2.".,  1827. 

Man-  .\im  HilLliiilgs, 
Julvli,  ISiS.     lila.'Un.ll  i.i..i..h..i  lo    iMvid  H.  M.-ad.fo.Com.  July  13,  1828. 

.Malll.da  .M.i..,«aii. 
Feb.  Hi,  182!i.    Uiiiii..|.l  Ml^'id  1.,  .lolin  Wood  I!.>mp,  Feb.  28,  1829. 

Lhzii  1).  rriin:l..li.  lip.  B.  ''.  C. 

M»rch  2,  lS2'.l.   U.Miv  Amki-.n  lo         liloliard  ij.  Murphy,, I.  P.  .March  3, 1S20. 


.Ma.l.'iv. 
March  T,  18.11,    ,l..lui  Hr..\ni  lo  Humph 

Manila  11 luithani. 

June  2.i,  182:i.    .l..ci  inuu  i  .  Ilumpli 


Auc.  31,  182'.).     A.li  laii  Vai.  WiiiU-lc 

Ka-u-r  llaiik«. 
Nor.  18,  1820.      I'cur  11.  »  lIUs  lo 


J»n.  G,  18.W,        Hcuja 

(■a^.va1 

Jan.  2,'i,  18,'W.      John  ; 


■py  H..lonc-..l.I'.  March  12,  ls.»i 
rcy  H.  Jones, .1.1'.  June  2.-.,  Is2'.i. 
Iluniplircy  H,J..ncs,J,  P,  July  ::u,  imi. 

Iiavid  H.Mcad.ro.C.m.   Sept,  it,  1s2'.i, 

Ilmupliny  ll.Joiics,J.I'.    .Nov.  10,  l.v.'O. 

Iliiuipllicy  H.J..11CS,  I.I>.    lie.'.  21,  I.SJO. 

Huiuphv.-y  H.,l(MU-s,J.P.   .hiu.  T,  l«:',n. 

Hanicl  lliy,  J.P.  Jall.2t;.  IK.lii. 

Hicharrt  II.  Murphy,  J   I', 

Wm  Johnson,  Co.  Com.     Feb.  2.S  18.3U. 


Fird  Deal  p/nccil  on  Record  after  tlir  ('niiiifii  >rM  orrjaulzed. 

The  following  is  the  first  deed  put  on  record  in  Perry 
county  ;  it  was  made  by  William  Pyle,  Sr,,  and  wife  to 
Daniel  Dry  ;  it  contained  thirty-five  acres,  the  consideration 
being  two  hundred  dollars  : 

This  Indenture,  made  this  tiiirtcenth  day  of  .\ugu.-t,  in  the 
year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  twenty- 
seven,  by  and  between  William  Pyle,  Sr.,  and  his  wife 
Elizaiietii,  of  Perry  county  and  State  of  Illinois,  of  the  one 
part,  and  Daniel  Dry,  of  the  couniy  and  State  aforesaid,  of 
the  other  part,  Witmaadh:  That  the  said  William  Pyle,  Sr,, 
and  his  wife  Elizabeth,  for  and  in  consideration  of  the  sum 
of  two  hundred  dollars,  to  them  in  hand  jiaid  by  the  said 
Daniel  Dry,  the  recei|)t  whereof  is  hcreity  acknowledged, 
hath  granted,  sold,  remised,  released  and  lorever  ipiit  claim 
and  bv  the.se  presents  doth  grant,  sell,  remise,  rehase  and 
forever  quit  ehiim,  unto  the  said  Daniel  Dry,  his  heiis  and 
assigns,  all  their  interest  in  and  to  a  certain   triict  of  land. 


lying  and  being  situated  in  the  county  of  Perry  and  State 
afore^aid,and  bounded  l)y  the  following  medes  and  bounds,  to 
wit:  Beginning  at  the  .'ioutliwest  corner  of  section  twelve  in 
range  two  west  town  six  south  of  the  tliird  principal  meri- 
dian, running  thence  north  seventy  rods,  thence  tast  eighty 
rods,  thence  si  nth  seventy  rods,  thence  west  to  the  beginning, 
so  as  to  contain  thirty-five  acres.  To  have  and  to  hold  the 
aforesaid  tract  of  land,  together  with  all  and  singular  the 
rights  and  profil-i,  tenements,  hereditaments  and  appurte- 
nances thereunto  belonging  or  in  any  wise  appertaining  to 
the  only  proper  use  and  benefit  to  him.  the  said  Daniel  Dry, 
his  heirs  and  assigns  forever  And  the  said  William  Pyle, 
Sr.,  and  his  wife  Kli/.abeth,  doth  covenant  to  and  with  tl  e 
said  Daniel  Dry,  that  they  will  forever  warrant  and  defiiid 
the  said  tract  of  land  from  the  claim  of  themselves,  their 
heirs  and  assigns  and  against  the  claim  or  claims  of  any 
other  person  or  per.sons  whomsoever. 

In  testimony,  we  have  hereunto  set  our  hands  and  afhxed 
our  seals  the  day  and  year  above  first  written, 

Wi;,i,i.\.\t  PvLE,  Si:.,    [l..  s.] 

Signed,  sealed  and  Ki.i/.aki-.tii' x  Pyi.e.     [i..  s.] 

delivered  in  jiresence  of  n.ark 

H.  B.  .Tones', 
John  Pyle,  Jk, 

This  deed  was  duly  acknowledged  August  20th,  1S27, 
before  II.  B.  Jones,  J.  P. 

Flrd  Will  on  Rrrnrd  (,1829).  The  following  is  the  last 
will  and  testament  of  Thomas  Swanwick  : 

I  give  to  my  dear  wifi;'.  Hannah  Swanwick,  all  my  pro- 
perty of  every  kind,  real  and  [lersonal,  wherever  situated,  to 
her  and  her  heirs  forever,  being  fully  satisfied  that  in  so 
doing  I  best  consult  the  intt rests  and  ha j .pine, s  of  my  dear 
children. 

I  appoint  my  said  wife  and  (my  eldest  son,  John,  being  in 
England)  my  two  sons  Thomas  and  William  guardians  of 
niv  younger  cliildreii,  and  executrix  and  executors  of  this 
my  "will.      D.ite.l  llii>  filtli  day  of  July,  1«29, 

Thomas  Swanwick.     [i..  s.] 

Signed  in  the  prc.-enee  of 

Lewis  Minipisox,     [i,.  s.] 
.Iames  McMvrdo.     [i,.  s.] 

Thomas  Swanwick  died  on  the  26th  day  of  July,  1829. 
The  will  was  filed  in  the  iiroUate  court,  by  Thomas  and 
William  Swanwick,  on  the  12ih  day  of  August,  1»29,  and 
proven  the  same  day  by  .lames  McMurdo,  and  by  Lewis 
Morrison  on  the  10th  day  of  September,  the  same  year.  The 
executrix  and  executors  named  in  ihc  will  gave  bond  in  tiie 
sura  of  S4,OltO,  and  certificate  of  probate  and  letters  testa- 
mentary were  granted  on  the  17tli  of  October,  1829. 

EIKST    I'KOIiATE    COIUT. 

The  first  olheial  act  of  this  court  was  the  apprenticing  of 
a  minor,  and  the  order  entered  was  as  follows: 

At  a  term  of  the  Probate  Court  of  Perry  County  Illinois, 
begun  and  held  at  the  house  of  Humphrey  B.  Jones,  in  and 
for  said  County  on  Monday  the  1  llh  liay  of  February,  1828. 

Present:  Humphrey  B  Jones,  Judge.  It  being  represent- 
ed to   the  court  by  Charles  C.  Glover,  that  Alexander  Head, 

infiint  son  of ,  has  no  parent  or  guardian  in  this  State  : 

Whereupon  the  said  Alexander  Head  came  into  court  and 
voluntarily  and  with  the  approbation  and  consent  of  this 
court,  bound  himself  to  the  said  Charles  C.  Cilover,  until  the 
said  Alexander  shall  attain  to  the  age  of  twenty-one  years, 
which  will  be  on  or  ah  nit  the  Uth  day  of  March  A.  D.  \>^'6l. 
h!  B.  Jones,  Judge. 


168 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


The  apprentice  soon  complained  to  the  court  on  account 
of  not  being  furnished  with  suitable  raiment,  and  asked  to 
be  released.  The  court  gave  the  complaint  immediate  and 
careful  attention,  and  found  the  charge  to  be  well  founded, 
and  compelled  the  master  to  furnish  suitable  clothing,  but 
refused  to  release  the  apprentice. 

The  first  letters  of  guardianship  were  granted  to  David 
H.  Mead  on  the  thirteenth  of  April,  1830,  as  guardian  of 
David,  Mahala,  and  Elizabeth  McGowan,  and  their  sister 
Malinda  Gotcher. 

On  the  first  day  of  Februa'y  1831,  the  first  letters  of  ad- 
ministration were  grant'^d  to  Martha  Malone,  widow,  and 
Staples  Malone,  on  the  estate  of  Lewis  Malone  deceased. 
A  bond  fir  two  hundred  dollars,  dated  January  21st,  1831, 
with  William  Neal  and  John  Beard  as  sureties,  was  filed. 
On  the  second  of  the  following  March,  Staples  Malone  filed 
an  inventory  of  the  estate,  and  James  Ford,  John  Hansford 
and  Solomon  Thompson  were  appointed  appraisers.  The 
second  letters  of  administration  were  granted  to  John  R. 
Hutchings  and  the  widow,  Elizabeth  Berry,  on  the  estate  of 
John  F.  Berry,  deceased.  At  a  special  term  of  the  Probate 
Court,  on  the  twenty  first  of  March,  1831.  The  admfhistra- 
tors  gave  bond  in  the  sum  of  nine  hundred  dollars,  with 
Amos  Anderson,  David  Baldridge,  and  James  Hoggins,  se- 
curities. Abner  Keith,  Matthew  Jones,  and  Reuben  Kelly 
were  appointed  appraisers.  At  a  special  term  of  the  court, 
held  at  the  house  of  the  judge,  September  24th,  1831,  an  in 
ventory  was  filed  showing  the  condition  of  the  estate  to  be 
as  follows  : 

Amount  of  sale  li-t  on  file S-W.M 

Debts  due  the  intestate ii33,.8 

Total  assets $807  27 

Total  amounts  of  claims  allowed .269.ai!^ 

Leaving  a  bal.ance  in  favor  of  the  estate  of Jo37.8sJ^ 

Of  this  balance  1447,57  J  was  in  notes  which  were  filed 
witw  the  judge. 

At  the  second  election  of  Justices  and  Constables,  there 
seems  to  have  been  some  trouble  at  the  polls  of  the  Eastern 
District,  and  the  following 

PETITION  FOR  REUKESS 

was  filed  in  the  commissioners  court  on  the  second  day  of 
June,  1828. 

"  To  the  Honorable  County  Commissioner's  Court  ]  ^^, 
of  Perry  county,  Illinois.  ) 

Whereas  the  county  commissioner's  court  of  Perry  county 
hath  established  the  house  of  William  Pyle,  sr.,  the  perma- 
nent place  of  holding  elections  for  justices  of  the  peace  and 
constables  in  the  eastern  district  of  the  county  and  state 
aforesaid  and  the  said  William  Pyle  and  his  sons  having 
disturbed  the  public  peace  at  several  elections  held  at  the 
said  house  of  William  Pyle  by  threatening  to  fight  and  abuse 
some  of  the  qualified  voters  who  appeared  ;  in  order  to  enjoy 
the  Rights  of  liberty  that  is  guaranteed  to  the  free  people  of 
the  United  States  and  in  order  to  promote  the  welfare  of 
the  people  and  protect  the  liberty  of  the  voters  at  large 
therefore  we  your  humble  petitioners  pray  your  honorable 
body  to  remove  the  present  place  of  holding  elections  and 
order  the  elections  to  be  held  at  some  other  place  in  the 
named  district  where  people  will  not  be  imposed  or  molested 
when  actually  exercising  their   liberty  and  promoting  the 


welfare  of  their  country  by  making  a  free  choice  in  electing 
their  officers  for  which  removal  we  your  humble  petitioners 
are  ever  bound  to  pray,  etc.     May  24th,  1828." 

(Signed.)  Daniel  Dry. 

Robert  McElvain,  Jiles  Wells,  William  Dye,  Lewis 
Wells,  sr.,  EliasFord.B.  F.  Bender,  John  Leemasters,  Lewis 
Wells,  William  Throop,  sr.,  William  Throop,  jr.,  Caleb 
Throop,  James  West,  Andrew  Perkins,  Micajah  Phelps, 
Zachariah  Clinton,  John  Campbell,  Alexander  Campbell, 
Joseph  Terry  Williams,  Abraham  Cokenower,  David  Rees, 
John  Craneshaw  and  David  Diel. 

The  court  refused  the  petition  first,  because  the  allega- 
tions set  forth  in  the  said  petition  are  not  sufficiently  proven 
and  secondly  because  the  said  petition  was  not  signed  by  a 
majority  of  the  qualified  voters  in  the  said  eastern   district. 

The  first  charge  of  official  crookedness  was  a  suit  ordered 
to  be  brought  against  Dan.  Dry,  J.  P.,  for  failure  to  p^y  over 
a  certain  fine  collected  of  Lewis  Wells,  sr. 

William  Pyle,  sr.,  was  appointed  to  prosecute  said  suit; 
and  nine  dollars  was  recovered.  Considering  that  the  fore- 
going patriotic  petition  was  headed  by  Daniel  Dry,  and  that 
there  had  been  a  change  in  the  commissioner's  court,  a  new 
Board  being  now  in  power,  the  idea  of  a  feud  is  suggested 
by  this  action. 

revenue  collected — 1829. 

The  first  report  upon  record  concerning  collection  of 
county  revenue  is  for  the  year  182!t.  The  amount  collected 
and  paid  over  to  the  treasurer  by  William  C.  Murphy,  high 
sheriff  in  and  for  this  county  is  as  follows  : 

In  county  orders 8G5.1'2V,    In  specie 1.25 

In  re-1 -sited  state  paper  .  .    62. wi  _ 


after  deducting  the  legal  per  centum. 

FIRST  GENERAL  ELECTION. 

On  the  second  day  of  June,  1828,  the  county  commis- 
sioners ordered  that  the  voters  of  that  portion  of  the  county 
which  had  been  formed  from  Jackson  county  should  vote  at 
the  house  of  John  Flack,  and  appointed  William  Brown, 
Charles  Green  and  Lewis  Wells,  jr.,  as  judges  of  the  general 
election  to  be  held  on  the  fourth  day  of  August,  1828  ;  and 
that  those  voters  in  the  territory  formerly  belonging  to  Ran- 
dolph county,  should  vote  at  the  place  selected  and  laid  out 
for  the  county  seat,  and  appointed  as  judges,  Robert  B. 
Murphy,  George  Franklin  and  Van  S.  Teague.  For  member 
of  Congress,  Joseph  Duncan  received  eighty-one,  and  Geo. 
Forquer,  twelve  votes  For  State  Senator,  in  the  Randolph 
district  that  portion  which  had  been  taken  from  Randolph 
county  in  the  organization  of  Perry  county,  Samuel  Craw- 
ford received  thirty  five  votes,  and  Isaiah  T.  Belts  six  votes. 
For  Representative  to  the  General  Assembly,  John  Lacey 
received  thirty-one  votes  ;  Hypolite  Menard,  thirty-six,  and 
Thomas  Mather,  sixteen.  For  the  county  offices,  William 
C  Murphy  received  sixty-six  ;  and  Giles  Wells,  twenty-one 
votes  for  sheriff.  For  coroner,  Amos  Anderson  received 
fifty-three  votes  and  Ambrose  A.  Ford,  six  votes.  The 
county  commissioner's  office  seems  to  have  been  the  favorite 
official  position  in  those  days,  as  there  were  no  less  than 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


10!) 


seven  candidates,  and  but  three  to  elect.  For  this  office, 
William  H.  Threlkel  had  seveuty  four  votes  ;  Wm.  Johnson, 
fixty-live  ;  John  Pyle,  jr.,  sixty;  Charles  C.  Glover,  nine; 
Wm.  T.  Garner,  twenty-eight  ;  Wm.  Adair,  five ;  and  Wm. 
Pyle,  two. 

THE  FIRST    BRIDGE 

Built  by  the  county  authorities  seems  to  have  been  built 
in  1830orl8.Sl  across  Big  Beaucoup  creek  just  east  of  Pinck- 
neyville. 

The  bridge  was  to  be  sixteen  feet  wide,  and  some  of  the 
timbers  were  12x15  inches  ;  and  the  flooring  of  plank  or 
puncheons  so  laid  on  as  to  make  it  safe  and  convenient  for 
carriages  and  passengers  to  pass  and  repass  with  convenience 
and  safety.  The  bridge  was  to  be  built  by  contract,  the 
contractor  to  give  bonds  and  insure  the  bridge  for  five 
years.     Joseph  Wells  built  the  bridge. 

In  1S31  licenses  to  sell  goods  were  granted  bv  the  com- 
missioners' court,  for  a  fee  of  five  dollars,  to  Daniel  Dry, 
David  Baldiidge  and  Limrick  &  Demming. 

lOPY    OF    ROAD    PETITION. 

The  following  was  filed  in  the  county  clerk's  office,  De- 
cember 4th,  1837  : 

"  To  the.  Honorable    County   Commis-iioners'   Court  of  Perry 
County,    (ireeting  : 

Whereas  there  is  a  reputed  public  road  through  our  ntigh- 
borhood,  the  course  of  which  is  such  that  it  crosses  indivi- 
dual lands  for  three  or  four  miles  on  a  stretch,  and  wanders 
through  the  prairie  nobody  knows  where,  and  finally  dies 
before  it  gets  to  little  Muddy  ;  the  public  utility  of  this  road 
answers  no  other  purpose  but  to  mar  the  peace  of  the  settle- 
ment ;  it  affords  no  relief  to  travellers  in  its  present  course 
and  length.  Therefore,  we,  the  undersigned  petitioners,  sin- 
cerely solicit  your  honorable  body  to  disannul  the  former 
review  and  grant  us  a  new  one,  running  with  the  old  one 
from  Beaucoup  to  Mr.  Lane's  mill,  thence  through  Elijah 
Wells'  land  between  the  house  and  shop,  thence,  to  a  half 
mile  corner  ea.'t,  thtnce  cast  to  Kobert  McElvain's  north- 
east corner  in  the  prairie,  thence  through  the  prairie  on  the 
best  ground  to  intersect  the  post  road  to  Frankfort. 

On  a  road  by  these  points  travellers  can  pass  and  repass 
in  peace  and  have  intercourse  with  public  roads  to  the  east 
and  to  the  west. 

The  cause  of  our  petition  is  great,  the  remedy  so  natural  and 
easy  to  be  applied,  and  when  it  is  completed  the  traveller  will 
be  benefited  and  the  neighborhood  will  be  blest;  therefore, 
we,  your  humble  petitioners,  confidently  trust  that  your  hon- 
orable body  will  apply  the  proper  remedy,  and  for  this  vour 
petitioners  will  ever  i>ray. 

Bennet  Lane,  E'ijah  Wells,  Robert  McElvain,  Thomas 
Keeling,  Abner  Pyle,  sr.,  Lihew  Onstott,  William  Wooten, 
Joseph  Taylor,  Elijah  Lane,  John  King,  Richard  Williams, 
Joseph  H.  McElvain,  Avery  Chapman,  Samuel  Md^Hvain, 
John  H.  Creekpaum,  D.  H  Mead,  Abner  Pyle,  jr.,  Hiram 
Root,  George  W.  Gill,  Paris  A.  Hickman,  John  D.  Burklow, 
Lewis  Wells,  J.  G.  Clark,  Roann  Bowlin,  George  Lishnian, 
John  Pyle,  Andrew  Rw,  William  O^burn,  Van  M.  Teague, 
Jeremiah  Collins,  Josiah  Wells,  Lewis  Wells,  jr.,  L.  Berrv 
22 


Ford,  Elias  Ford,  John  House,  S.  M.  Woodside,  D.  Bald- 
ridge,  Thomas  Armstrong,  M.  Bald  ridge." 

At  the  same  time  that  the  order  for  the  sale  of  the  lots 
was  made,  the  following  order  was  passed  regarding  the 
building  of  a  court  house  on  the  corner  west  of  the  Public 
Square  now  occupied  by  the  old  saddlery  shop. 

THE    FIRST   COURT   HOUSE. 

"  Ordered,  That  at  the  same  time  when  and  the  place 
where  the  lots  in  the  said  county  seat  are  offered  for  sale, 
there  shall  be  by  the  aforesaid  commissions  let  to  the  lowest 
bidder  the  building  of  the  court  house  on  lot  numbered  32  in 
said  town,  which  house  is  to  be  built  of  the  following  descrip- 
tion and  dimensions,  to  wit : 

The  said  house  to  be  built  of  hewn  log',  which  are  to  face 
from  ten  to  twelve  inches  in  the  middle;  and  to  be  eighteen 
by  twenty-two  feet  in  length.  The  lower  floor  in  said  court 
house  to  be  laid  with  good  puncheons  with  good  hewn  joists, 
but  no  floor  above;  to  be  covered  with  clapboards;  with  a 
door  furnished  with  a  shutter  and  good  knob  or  stock  lock 
in  the  east  end,  and  a  window  of  twelve  lights,  ten  inches  by 
twelve,  in  the  west  end.  Also  a  platform  sufficiently  elevated 
for  a  seat  for  the  judge,  with  steps  leading  thereto,  and  like- 
wise a  suitable  but  plain  bar  and  table.  The  said  judge's 
seat  and  bar  to  be  placed  in  the  said  west  end  of  the  said 
court  house.  A  good  and  sufficient  bench  or  seat  shall  be 
placed  by  the  side  of  said  bar  extending  the  whole  length 
thereof,  the  whole  to  be  executed,  completed  and  finished  ina 
good  and  workmanlike  manner,  and  to  be  finished  and  ready 
for  delivery  to  the  county  commis.-ioiiers  of  this  county,  or 
their  agent,  specially  appointed  for  that  jjurpose,  on  or  before 
the  first  day  of  August  next.  The  contractor  will  be  required 
to  give  bond  with  good  and  sufficient  security,  to  be  approved 
by  the  said  commissioners,  in  the  penal  sum  of  two  hundred 
dollars,  conveutioned  for  the  compliance  with  this  order, 
which  bond  shall  be  made  payable  to  the  county  commis- 
sioners of  this  county  and  their  successors  in  office,  for  the 
use  of  said  county,  and  shall  be  left  and  deposited  with  the 
clerk  of  this  court  and  by  him  carelully  filed  with  the  papers 
of  said  clerk's  office." 

The  contract  was  awarded  to  Berry  Anderson  for  the  sura 
of  fifty-four  dollars,  and  a  bond,  with  Amos  Anderson, 
Joseph  Wells  and  Humphrey  B.  Jones,  as  sureties,  was 
accepted  and  filed  at  the  March  terra  of  the  county  court. 
At  the  September  term,  1828,  the  building  was  received 
and  the  contract  price  paid. 

An  order  made  at  the  June  term,  182S,  declaring  Pinck- 
neyville  the  seat  of  justice,  and  requiring  all  process  issued 
by  the  clerks  of  the  cou:ity  and  circuit  courts  to  be  made 
returnable  thither,  was  at  the  September  term  rescinded. 

The  first  term  of  the  county  commissioners'  court,  held  ip 
the  new  court  house  in  Pinckneyville,  began  on  the  second 
day  of  March.  182il,  with  William  Johnson,  John  Pyle,  Jr., 
and  William  H.  Threlkel,  commissioners  ;  and  the  first  term 
of  the  circuit  court  held  at  the  same  place,  commenced  on 
the  tenth  day  of  April,  1829,  Theophilus  W.  Smith,  presid- 
ing as  judge.  In  1829,  the  court  house  was  weather-boarded 
with  four  foot  boards,  neatly  shaved,  and  a  large  stray  pen 
was  also  erected  on  the  same  lot  with  the  court  house      The 


17rt 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


pen  WHS  lliiity-six  feet  square  and  six  feet  high.  The  work 
was  done  by  Fergus  M.  Milligan,  contractor,  and  the  price 
of  both  jobs,  S22G21. 

REMONSTRANCE  AGAINST  BUILDING  SECOND  COURT  HOUSE. 

Be  it  known  to  the  people  of  Illinois  and  the  county  of 
Perry,  that  the  county  commissioners'  court  of  said  county, 
have  agreed  to  build  a  brick  court  house,  forty-three  feet 
square  and  tweuty-four  feet  high  with  a  square  or  hiped 
roof,  and  a  brick  floor  with  two  doors  and  twenty-four 
windows,  and  two  chimneys  with  two  fire-places  each.  We 
the  undersigned,  knowing  the  annual  income  of  our 
county  to  be  insufficient  to  perform  such  mighty  work, 
without  essential  and  everlasting  injury,  do  hereby  protest 
against  said  proceedings,  and  pray  said  court  to  recall  said 
order  until  we  are  better  able  or  approved  of  by  a  majority 
of  said  county,  given  under  o..r  hands,  this  third  day  of 
February,  1 836. 

Names  of  signers:  Frederick  Williams,  Lewis  Wells, 
Paris  A.  Hickman,  JNIichael  J.  Taylor,  Jacob  House, 
Thomas  Wells,  Obadiah  West,  Jonas  Lype,  Reuben  Kelly, 
Jonathan  McCollum,  Hezekiah  Balch,  John  King,  John  A. 
C'rotlbrd,  John  Lype,  CViruelius  Godwin,  Samuel  McElvain, 
John  Pyle,  Sr.,  Joseph  Williams,  John  R.  Teague,  Leonard 
Lype,  Van  M.  Teague,  Jeremiah  Walker,  Van  S.  Teague, 
Jacob  Lipe,  William  Throop,  Siprian  Davis,  Guilford  H. 
Haggard,  Solomon  Woolsey,  Robert  M.  Galloway,  Lewis 
AVells,  Sr.,  Thomas  Wells,  J.  H.  McElvain,  Elija  Laine, 
Beunet  Lain,  Elisha  L.  Lane,  Abner  Pyle,  Sr.,  Simpson 
Williams,  W.  Williams,  Jordan  Harris,  Johnzy  Orten, 
John  Harris,  Thomas  Morris,  Edgar  M.  Thompson,  Abra- 
ham Morgan,  Isaac  Lee,  Laban  G.  Jones,  Abraham  Lee, 
Edmund  Lafferty,  Edniond  Callaway,  Hiram  Lafferty, 
Samuel  T.  Etherton,  David  Dial,  Richard  WilliaTiis,  Wil- 
liam Dyal. 

SECOND    COURT    HOUSE. 

The  second  building  erected  for  a  Court  House  was  a 
brick  structure  of  two  stories,  situated  about  the  centre  of 
the  jjresent  public  square. 

It  was  forty-three  feet  square,  with  a  door  in  the  North, 
South  and  West  sides  of  the  lower  story,  two  or  three  chim. 
neys,  and  open  fire  places  above  and  below.  The  lower 
floor  was  of  brick  set  on  edge.  Five  windows  of  twenty-four 
lights  each  were  placed  in  each  of  three  sides  of  the  upper 
room,  and  two  in  the  other  side  corresponding  to  the  num- 
ber of  doors  and  windows  below. 

The  building  was  erected  by  Amos  Anderson  and  com- 
pleted in  the  fall  of  1837,  nearly  two  years  after  the  enter- 
prise was  undertaken.  One  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
sixty  five  dollars  was  the  cost,  and  (owing  doubtless  to  the 
stringency  of  money  matters)  the  contractor  was  paid  large- 
ly in  notfs  taken  by  the  County  commissioners,  for  sale  of 
lots  in  Pinckneyville.  The  present  Bank  building  of  Mur- 
phy, Wall  &  Co  at  Pinckneyville,  was  subsequently  built 
of  the  brick  of  this  Court  House. 

In  1838  the  court  house  was  finished  by  Thomas  L.  Ross, 
carpenter  and  Andrew  Hays  plasterer,  at  an  additional  cost 
of  eight  hundred  and  forty  dollars,  and  eighty  seven  and  one 
half  cents. 


OFFICl.\L    BLUNDERING. 

In  September,  1810,  an  order  was  made  by  the  county 
court  authorizing  the  sheritt'to  employ  some  mechanic  to  re- 
pair the  doors  and  windows  of  the  court  house,  so  as  to 
cause  them  to  shut  and  bolt,  so  that  they  cannot  be  opened 
from  williont. 

On  another  occasion  an  order  was  made  for  the  letting  of 
a  bridge  contract  "  to  the  highest  bidder." 

In  1S41  the  appointment  of  assessor  was  given  to  the  per- 
son ofiering  to  do  the  work  in  the  shortest  time.  John  Gil- 
liam took  the  ofiice,  agreeing  to  do  the  work  in  twenty-six 
days,  that  is  for  the  amount  of  twenty  six  days'  wages. 

THE  THIRD    COURT-HOUSE. 

At  the  March  Terra,  1849,  of  the  County  Commissioners' 
Court,  Joel  Rushing,  Reuben  Dye,  and  Isaac  A  Bradley, 
being  the  commissioners,  William  Edwards  presented  a  pe- 
tition signed  by  five  hundred  and  twenty  voters,  praying 
that  a  suitable  court  house  be  bui  t.  In  compliance  with  the 
request  of  the  petitioners,  the  court,  on  the  seventh  day  of 
March,  1849,  appointed  Humphrey  B.  Jones,  Chester  A. 
Keyes  and  Charles  L.  Starbuck  commissioners  to  procure 
plans  and  report  the  same  at  a  special  term,  to  be  held  the 
following  April.  At  the  same  time  the  clerk  of  the  commis- 
sioners' court  was  instructed  to  give  notice  for  letting  the 
contract  for  building  the  walls.  The  notice  was  to  be  pub- 
lished in  the  Sparta  Re'jidcr,  Chester  Reveille,  and  Bellerille 
Advocate.  The  inside  frame-work,  roof  windows  and  doors 
were  to  constitute  a  separate  contract,  of  which  notice  was  to 
be  given  at  the  same  time.  On  the  ninth  of  April  the  court 
met  in  special  session,  received  the  report  of  the  commit- 
tee, and,  after  making  certain  «mendments  thereto, 
adopted  the  same.  The  new  building  was  to  be  erected  upon 
the  public  square,  west  of  the  old  courthouse.  The  dimen- 
sions were  to  be  forty-six  by  thirty  six  feet.  The  founda- 
tion was  to  be  of  limestone  two  and  one-half  feet  thick  below 
the  surface,  and  twenty  inches  in  thickness  above.  It  was  to 
extend  two  feet  and  eight  inches  above  the  surface,  and  that 
portion  to  be  bush-hammered,  range  stone-work,  with  water- 
tables.  The  remaining  portion  of  the  walls  were  to  be  brick, 
sixteen  inches  thick  for  the  first  ttory,  and  thirteen  inches 
for  the  second,  and  twenty-five  in  height.  The  brick 
masonry  was  to  be  of  the  Tuscan  order,  as  was  also  the  cor- 
nice. The  partitions  in  the  first  story  were  to  be  brick,  and 
ten  feet  high.  The  vvall  was  to  have  two  coats  of  light- 
colored  drab  paint.  The  plastering  to  consist  of  two  coats 
and  white  finish.  The  windows  were  to  be  supplied  with 
twelve  light  sash,  the  glass  to  be  twelve  by  sixteen  inches, 
and  also  to  have  Venitian  shutters. 

The  terms  of  the  contract  required  the  completion  of  the 
building  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  September,  1851. 
Bonds  of  one  thousand  dollars  each,  bear. ng  six  per  cent,  in- 
terest, were  to  be  issued  to  the  contractor,  reserving  thirty 
per  cent  UQtil  the  building  was  received.  The  contract  was 
let  to  Daniel  W.Norris,  of  St.  Clair  county,  for  seven  thou- 
sand five  hundred  dollars,  on  the  lOth  day  of  April,  1849: 
The  contractor  filed  his  bond  for  twelve  thousand  dollars, 
with  Christian  Raysing,  Isaac  Griffin  and  John  Reynolds  as 
sureties,  on  June  5th,  1849.     Ihe  next  day  the  ground  was 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MOXROE   AXD    PERRY    COUXTIES,    ILLIXOIS. 


171 


staked  off  by  the  court,  and  the  buildiug  ordered  to  stand  with 
the  canliiial  points  of  (he  compass.  Work  commenced  at  once, 
and  on  the  fifth  day  of  Decembfr,  1849,  the  first  bond  for 
one  thou^a^d  (iollars  was  issued  to  the  contractor,  and  the 
clerk  was  further  ordered  to  issue  five  hundred  dolhirs  in 
six  per  cent,  interest-bearing  county  orders  of  such  denomi- 
nation as  the  builder  should  desire.  A  new  countv  court, 
consisting  of  a  county  judge,  Hosea  H.  Strait,  and  two  asso- 
ciates, Edward  A  Whipple  and  Robert  H.  Williams,  hav- 
ing been  elected  under  the  new  constitution,  held  a  meeting 
on  the  9th  day  of  July,  l'S.50.  At  this  meeting  Hosea  H. 
Strait  was  appointed  to  go  to  Mt.  Vernon  and  select  a  com- 
petent workman  to  inspect  the  building  in  course  of  con- 
struction. Edward  H.  Whipple  was  sent  to  Chester,  and 
Robert  H.  Williams  to  Washington  county  on  a  similar 
erraud.  The  workmen  were  procured,  and,  after  an  examina- 
tion, made  the  following  report  to  the  court,  July  1(5,  1850  : 

Pinckneyville,  July  IGth,  18-50. 
We,  the  committee  appointed  by  the  honorable  county 
court  of  Perry  county  to  examine  the  rock  and  brick  work 
of  the  court  house  now  being  erected  in  the  town  of  Pinck- 
neyville, would  beg  leave  to  respectfully  report,  that  they 
have  diligently  examined  the  workmanship  of  the  same,  also 
the  materials,  and  believe  the  materials  to  be  of  a  good  and 
suitable  quality,  and  the  workmanship  neatly  and  well  exe- 
cuted, and  in  all  respects  complying  with  the  contract  be- 
tween Daniel  W.  Norris  and  the  couuty  of  Perry,  with  the 
exception  of  one  rock  in  the  second  course  of  cut  stone  to 
the  right  hand  of  the  south  front  door,  which  we  would 
recommend  the  contractor  to  remove  and  replace  with  a 
harder  one. 

JiDsoN  Clement. 

H.   D.   HiNM.^s. 

Matthew  Forre.st. 

These  building  experts  were  allowed  for  their  services  the 
following  amounts  :  Jud.son  Clement,  twvlve  dollars;  H.  D. 
Hinman,  nine  dollars;  and  Matthew  Forrest  live  dollars. 
On  the  strength  of  this  report,  Mr  Norris  was  allowed  one 
bond  of  one  thousand  dollars,  and  two  of  five  hundred  dol- 
lars each  ;  and  an  additional  allowance  of  ten  dollars  for 
extra  work  in  cutting  a  scuttle-hole  in  the  roof.  The  build- 
ing was  completed  and  received  by  the  county  court  on  the 
third  day  of  December,  1850,  and  the  balance  paid  in  four 
bonds  of  one  thousand  dollars  each. 

THE   PRESENT   COURT    HOVSK. 

The  rapid  increase  in  the  population  of  the  county,  and 
the  increase  of  litigation,  made  more  commodious  quarters 
necessary.  Much  uneasiness  was  also  felt  for  the  security 
of  the  many  valuable  records  which  were  under  no  protec- 
tion from  fire,  and  but  slight  from  the  incursions  of  evily- 
disposed  persons.  Many  valuable  court  papers  mysteriously 
disappeared,  and  cases  coming  on  for  trial  were  continued 
on  account  of  missing  papers.  To  afford  the  requisite  ac- 
commodations, supply  a  safer  receptacle  for  the  records  and 
to  prevent  the  tampering  with  valuable  records,  the  county 
commissioners,  John  Baird,  chairman,  John  Schneider  and 
John  W.  Pyatt,  at  their  meeting,  October  9th,  1877,  passed 


the  following  order  :  "  Ordered,  That  there  be  submitted 
to  the  legal  voters  of  this  county,  to  be  voted  on  at  the  ensu- 
ing November  election,  a  proposition  for  the  erection  of  an 
addition  to  the  county  court  house,  and  to  levy  a  tax  there- 
fore in  the  j'ears  187 ■<  and  1879,  not  exceeding  five  thousand 
dollars  in  each  of  said  years.  Such  addition  is  to  be  of 
brick,  two  stories  high,  with  fire-proof  protection  to  the  pub- 
lic records.  The  necessary  funds  to  meet  the  expen.5es  of 
such  building  to  be  borrowed  in  one  or  more  loans,  to  be 
redeemed  when  said  taxes  shall  be  collected  :  The  vote  upon 
said  proposition  shall  be  "  For  taxation  for  addition  to  court 
house;"  and,  "Against  taxation  for  addition  to  court 
house.''  And,  if  authorized,  the  board  shall  let  a  contract 
without  delay,  and  shall  have  said  work  completed  during 
next  summer.  The  proposition  met  with  defeat  at  the  polls, 
there  being  seven  hundred  and  ninety-four  votes  for  the  pro- 
position, and  nine  hundred  and  sixty-one  against  it.  In 
April,  1878,  the  people  seeing  the  folly  of  their  actions  at 
the  polls,  sent  numerous  petitions  to  the  county  board,  ask- 
ing for  what  they  had  just  denied  by  their  votes.  By  the 
ninth  day  of  April,  1878,  no  less  than  one  thousand  and 
eighty-five  names  were  presented  to  the  commissioners  asking 
that  the  proposed  improvement  be  made.  On  the  same  da}-, 
the  county  commissioners  ordered  that  John  Chapman,  of 
Du  Quoin,  be  employed  to  prepare  a  plan  and  the  specifica. 
tions  for  the  improvement.  The  plans  and  specifications 
were  presented  to  the  county  commissioners  on  the  seven- 
teenth of  the  following  May  and  adopted.  The  county  clerk 
was  ordered  .May  3,  1S7S,  to  give  notice  in  the  Du  Quoin 
Tribune  and  Pinckneyville  Independent,  that  bids  would  be 
received  up  to  noon  on  June  3d,  1878,  when  the  contract 
would  be  let  to  the  lowest  bidder.  On  the  5th  day  of  June, 
187S,  the  contract  was  let  to  William  G.  Wilson,  of  Pinck- 
neyville for  the  sum  of  nine  thousand  seven  huiidred 
and  forty  two  dollars.  He  gave  bond  in  the  sum  of  nine- 
teen thousand  four  hundred  and  eighty-four  dollars,  with 
J.  L.  Murphy,  Charles  Gueraalley,  Henry  Dricineyer, 
Charles  A.  Hoflman,  Jacob  M.  Kunz,  Fred  Behreuds, 
Joseph  Bischof,  Fred  Mueller,  William  Klotz,  A.  K. 
Kalbfleisch,  William  H.  Smith,  Evan  B.  Rushing,  R.  N. 
Davis,  Philip  Gruner,  G.  R.  Hincke  and  Joel  M.  Sul" 
Jivan  as  security.  The  building  was  to  be  completed  by 
the  twenty-fifth  day  of  October,  1878.  The  bond  was 
approved  July  9,  and  an  order  matle  to  advance  the 
contractor  two  thousand  dollars.  The  house  of  Lewis  Vung 
was  rented  for  the  use  of  the  county  officials,  while  the  work 
of  remodelling  was  in  jirogress.  On  the  twelfth  of  October 
of  the  same  year,  two  thousand  dollars  was  paid  on  the  con- 
tract with  a  further  order  to  pay  two  thousand  more  when 
the  roof  was  completed.  Work  was  at  once  commenced,  the 
walls  of  the  old  building  razed  to  the  top  of  the  windows  of 
the  first  story,  and  the  whole  interior  removed.  A  wing 
was  added  to  the  east  side  of  the  old  building  and  carried  up 
two  stories  high.  The  wing  is  forty-five  feet  fronting  south 
by  a  depth  of  thirty-six  feet,  making  the  building  present  a 
front  of  eighty-one  feet.  The  building  is  a  handsome  brick 
with  stone  facings  window-sills  and  caps.  It  is  well  ven- 
tilated  and   lighted   by  large  windows,  which  are  furnished 


172 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


with  blinds  ujjon  the  inside.  Two  halls  run  through  the 
building  from  north  to  south.  On  the  first  story  of  the  old 
building  are  four  handsome  and  commodious  offices.  On 
the  same  floor  in  the  wing  are  the  offices  of  the  county  and 
the  circuit  clerk,  both  supplied  with  large  fire-proof  vaults, 
with  burglar-proof  combination  locks  upon  the  doors.  The 
vaults  f  re  conveniently  fitttd  with  racks  for  the  records  and 
pigeon  holes  in  which  to  file  the  numerous  papers.  The 
second  floor  of  the  main  building  contains  the  court  room, 
with  hand.<ome  bar  and  comfortable  seats  for  the  audience. 
To  the  right  of  the  judge's  desk,  a  handsome  and  life-like  oil 
painting,  nearly  life-size,  of  the  late  Judge  Sidney  Breese, 
looks  down  upon  the  auditorium.  The  portrait  was  painted 
by  E.  C  H.  Willoughby,  and  purchased  by  the  bar,  since 
Judge  Breese's  demise.  The  second  story  of  the  wings 
contains  two  large  rooms  for  the  use  of  the  grand  jury,  and 
the  petit  jury,  with  witness  rooms  adjoining  each.  The 
grounds  are  yearly  becoming  more  attractive,  containing 
many  handsome  shade  trees.  On  the  22d  day  of  January, 
1879.  John  Chapman  and  William  G.  Wilson  were  appointed 
agents  to  ])urchase  furniture  and  the  necessary  supplies  for 
the  new  court  house.  They  were  to  receive  two  dollars  and 
fifty  cents  per  day  for  their  services.  John  Chapman,  on 
the  10th  of  April,  1879,  made  his  report  and  presented  a  bill 
for  two  hundred  and  ninety  dollars,  the  total  cost  of  furni- 
ture for  the  building.  At  the  same  meeting  John  Schneider 
was  instructed  to  purchase  a  chandelier  for  thirty  dollars. 
John  Baird,  John  W.  Pyatt  and  John  Schneider,  county 
commissioners,  received  the  building  from  the  contractors 
on  the  thirtieth  day  of  April,  1879  ;  and  ordered  the  balance 
of  six  hundred  and  forty-two  dollars,  due  on  the  contract, 
paid  The  custody  nf  the  new  buildiug  was  placed  in  the 
hands  of  the  clerks  of  the  courts.  A  handsome  iron  fence 
now  surrounds  the  entire  square,  the  cost  of  which  was  one 
thousand  five  hundred  and  thirteen  dollars  and  fifty  cents. 
E.  T.  Barnum,  of  Detroit,  was  the  contractor  for  the  work, 
and  John  W.  Pyatt,  Thomas  Stevenson  and  Lysias  Heape 
were  the  commissioners  at  the  time. 

FIRST  JAIL. 

The  first  jail  was  built  in  1833  and  1834,  and  stood  upon 
the  site  of  the  present  jail  until  torn  down  and  removed  to 
make  room  for  the  present  one.  It  was  of  brick,  with  three 
inner  walls  of  square  timber,  two  of  which  were  built  up  in 
the  usual  manner— logs  notched  together— and  the  middle 
wall  of  square  timbers,  set  in  perpendicularly  This  jail 
consisted  of  two  rooms  one  above  the  other.  The  dimen- 
sions were  14  by  16  feet  inside.  Two  small  grated  windows 
in  each  room  afforded  a  .scant  supply  of  light  and  ventilation. 

Amos  Anderson  was  the  contractor  for  this  jail,  the  cost 
of  which  was  $750. 

THE    PRESENT    JAIL. 

By  a  special  act  of  the  General  Assembly  the  present 
county  jail  was  built. 

On  the  twentieth  day  of  September,  186(5,  the  county 
court,  then  composed  of  William  Elstun,  county  judge,  and 
Ephraim  T.  Rees  and  James  L.  Primm,  associates,  the  fol- 
lowing order  was  passed  : 


"  Ordered,  that  a  tax,  at  the  rate  of  two  mills  on  the 
dollar,  be  levied  on  all  the  taxable  property  in  the  county  of 
Perry,  to  be  expended  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  a  common 
jail  in  the  town  of  Pinckneyville,  under  and  by  virtue  of  an 
act  of  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  Illiuois,  approved 
February  15th,  186.'),  and  published  in  Vol.  II.,  Private 
Laws  of  Illinois,  186.5,  page  542." 

Nothing  further  was  done  until  the  tenth  day  of  October, 
1870,  when  the  court,  Charles  E.  R.  Winthrop,  James  L. 
Primm  and  James  Ervin,  ordered  that  a  special  tax  of  three 
mills  be  levied  upon  the  taxable  property  of  the  county,  under 
and  by  virtue  of  "  An  act  to  amend  an  act  to  authorize  the 
county  court  to  issue  bonds,  approved  February  16,  1865, 
and  in  force  February  28,  1867.  Private  Laws  of  Illinois, 
1867,  Vol.  I.,  page  890." 

Plans  were  at  once  solicited,  and  those  submitted  to  the 
court  by  Samuel  Hannaford,  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  were 
adopted  by  the  county  authorities,  April  21,  1871. 

On  the  26th  of  the  same  month  notices  were  issued 
soliciting  bids  for  the  erection  of  the  building,  and  all 
bids  were  to  be  presented  by  the  10th  of  the  following  May. 
The  old  jail  was  sold  to  Thomas  Turner  for  S15.  The  con- 
tract was  let  to  E.  Haugh,  of  Indianapolis  Ind.,  on  the  10th 
of  May,  1871.  The  contract  price  was  814,1.50,  and  the 
payments  were  to  be  made  on  the  first  day  of  each  month. 
Ninety  per  cent,  of  the  value  of  the  materials  and  labor 
were  payable  at  that  time. 

The  contractor  gave  bond  in  the  sum  of  Slo.OOO,  on  the 
]8th  of  May,  with  B.  F.  Haugh,  J.  R.  Haugh  and  Thomas 
H.  Butler  as  sureties,  and  work  was  commenced.  The  brick 
work  was  sub-contracted  to  Xorris  &  Hinckley.  To  pro- 
vide the  means  to  pay  for  the  work,  James  Ervin  was  ap- 
pointed financial  agent  for  the  county  to  borrow  811,000. 
Bonds  were  to  be  issued,  payable  in  one  and  two  years,  and 
to  bear  interest  at  the  rate  of  10  per  cent,  per  annum. 
James  L  Primm  was  also  appointed  superintendent  of  the 
building  on  the  same  day,  July  6th,  1871,  at  which  time  the 
contractor  was  also  paid  81000.  On  the  18th  of  the  same 
month  the  financial  agent  reported  that  he  had  ett'ected  a 
loan  from  the  Belleville  Savings  Bank,  and  a  bond  for  85000, 
payable  in  one  year,  and  one  for  86000,  payable  in  two 
years,  were  issued  to  that  institution.  On  the  16th  of  Au- 
gust of  this  year  a  tax  levy  of  40  cents  on  the  8100  was 
levied  for  jail  purposes  On  the  fourth  day  of  December, 
1871,  a  furnace  was  purchased  from  Blanchard  &  Garrison, 
at  a  cost  of  1200.  On  the  15th  of  the  same  month  a  final 
settlement  was  made  with  the  contractor  and  the  building 
received.  The  only  extra  cost  above  the  contract  price  was 
the  additional  allowance  of  8200  for  extra  plumbing,  and 
8391.50  for  extra  masonry.  In  connection  with  the  jail  is  a 
handsome  two-story  brick  residence  for  the  sheriiT.  The 
jail  is  of  brick,  and  best  described  by  the  Board  of  State 
Commissioners  of  Public  Charities,  in  their  report  for  1878. 
It  is  as  follows  : 

"  The  jail  is  in  the  rear  of  the  sheriff's  residence,  two 
blocks  west  -of  the  court  house ;  brick  walls,  not  lined ; 
boiler-iron  floor ;  ceiling  of  lath  and  plaster  ;  eight  iron 
cells,  with  grated  fronts,  dotible  row,  back  to  back.     These 


172A 


COURT   HOUSE. 
PUgUC  3UILDIN6S,     PEf^my  COUNTY,  ILL. 


HISTORY    OF    RAXDOLPn,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


173 


cells  are  surrounded  on  four  sides  by  an  inner  corridor  for 
the  use  of  the  prisoners,  and  jailor's  corridor  surrounds  this 
agiiia  on  four  sides,  next  the  outer  walls.  The  two  are 
separated  by  a  cross-barred  grating,  which  also  extends  over 
the  inner  corridor  making  a  perfect  cage  ;  the  eflect  is  very 
light  and  airy.  Bar  locks,  with  levers  in  jailor's  corridor. 
Eight  large  windows  ;  good  natural  ventilation  ;  heated  by 
furnace;  privy  seat  in  corridor;  force-pump;  wooden  tank 
in  attic  ;  bath  tub  and  fixed  basins.  Large  cell  for  female 
prisoners  in  upper  story  of  sheriff's  house;  in  good  repair 
clean  and  roomy,  and  would  be  strong  if  a  better  (juality  of 
iron  had  been  used  in  its  construction." 

TtlE    COUNTY    ALMSHOUSE. 

In  1865,  a  tract  containing  ninety  acres  of  land  was  pur- 
chase<l  at  a  c  )st  of  seventeen  hundred  dollars,  for  a  poor 
farm.  The  farm  lies  one  mile  due  south  of  the  county  seat. 
No  attempt  was  made  to  utilize  it  for  many  years,  the  farm 
being  rented  to  various  persons  in  the  meantime.  The  sup. 
port  of  the  paupers,  scattered  all  over  the  county  as  they 
were,  became  burdensome,  and  presented  many  opportuni- 
ties for  exorbitant  charges  from  all  sides.  John  Baird> 
Charles  Gaemalley,  and  Elihu  Onstott,  the  board  ofCounty 
commissioners  at  the  time,  entered  an  order,  on  the  twelfth 
day  of  October  1874,  for  a  vote  to  be  taken  at  the  ensuing 
November  election,  on  the  proposition  to  build  an  almshouse 
by  levying  a  tax,  in  the  years  1875  and  1870,  not  to  exceed 
twenty  five  hundred  dollars  each  year.  The  vote  was  taken 
and  the  propos-ition  receiving  six  hundred  and  fifty-five 
votes  for,  and  there  being  but  five  hundred  and  sixty-two 
vote^  against  it,  a  plan  was  prepareil  by  John  Chapman  of 
Du  Quoin,  and  adopt'  d  on  the  seventeenth  day  i.f  March, 
1875.  At  the  same  time  bids  were  ordered  to  be  received 
up  to  noon  of  April  8th.  At  the  last  named  date,  the  pro- 
posals ten  in  number  were  opened,  and  the  contract  for  the 
erection  of  the  building  given  to  D.  P.  Delano  and  John  M 
Bayless  for  the  sum  of  four  thousand  three  hundred  and 
thirty  seven  dollars  and  fifty-four  cents.  The  payments  for 
the  work  were  one  thousand  dollars  on  the  fifteenth  of 
May,  1875  ;  i  ne  thousand  dollars  when  the  brick  work 
was  completed,  and  the  balance  when  the  building  was  com- 
pleted, and  received  by  the  county  commissioners.  On  the 
13th  of  April,  1875  the  contractors  filed  a  bond  for  five  thou- 
sand dollars,  dated  April  9th,  1875,  with  II.  R.  Pomeroy,  B. 
F.  Pope,  Sr.,  and  P.  N.  Pope  as  sureties  The  bond  was  ap- 
proved the  same  day.  To  provide  for  the  payments,  it  was 
ordered  that  the  following  sums  be  borrowed  from  the  fol- 
lowing named  persons,  at  the  several  ditferent  times,  and 
that  the  county  clerk,  W.  S.  D.  Smith,  issue  nine  per  cent, 
interest  bearing  county  orders,  receive  and  pay  out  the  mon- 
ey.    The  loans  effected  were  as  follows  : 

Murphy,  WaU  4  Co.,    .Maj-    1,  )S75 $i(Xi.O0 

-        ••      July    IS,  1875 600,00 

'•        ■'      Oct.      15,  1875 1,000,00 

G.  R.  Hincke  t  Bro.,  July  15,  1875 500/10 

"        "  "       Oct.     15,  1875 1337.»t 

Total  amount  borrowed $3837.54 

Interest-bearing  county  orders,  payable  annually,  were 
issued  in  compliance  with  the  order.  John  Bairdaud  Chas. 
Gaemalley  were  appointed  superintendents  of  construction 


by  the  commissioners.  The  work  was  rapidly  pushed  for- 
ward, and  the  first  payment  was  male  May  1st,  1875,  one 
thousand  dollars  ;  the  second,  one  thousand  dollars,  July 
15th,  and  the  final  payment  of  twenty-three  hundred  and 
thirtys  even  dollars  and  fifty  four  cents,  together  with  eighty- 
seven  dollars  and  fifty  cents  for  extra  work  was  made  Oct. 
15th  of  the  same  year.  The  building  was  received  by  the 
commissioners  on  the  ninth  day  of  December,  1875.  The 
building  is  a  handsome  two-story  brick,  with  cellar  under 
the  kitchen.  The  main  building  ii  thirty  by  fifty  feet.  On 
the  first  floor  there  are  six  large  rooms,  with  ten  foot  ceiling. 
Also  a  large  hall  thirty-nine  by  ten  feet.  On  the  second 
floor  are  two  halls,  thirty-nine  by  four  feet,  and  sixteen  by 
ten,  and  eight  large  bedrooms,  with  a  ceiling  nine  feet,  six 
inches.  There  is  also  a  wing,  twenty  by  thirty-six  feet,  with 
dining-room,  kitchen  and  store-room,  on  the  first  floor  ;  and 
a  porch  six  fiet  wide  along  the  wing.  On  the  second  floor 
there  is  a  hall  extending  the  full  length  of  the  building  and 
six  feet  wide,  and  three  chambers. 

The  rooms  are  well  lighted  and  ventilated  by  large  win- 
dows. The  building  is  a  credit  to  the  county,  and  a  blessing 
to  those,  who  have  to  seek  shelter  beneath  its  roof  It  is 
doubtful  whether  there  is  a  county  in  the  whole  state,  that 
takes  more  care  of  its  indigeut  poor  than  Perry.  The  aver- 
age number  of  inmates  has  been  thirteen,  annua'ly.  The 
county  commissioners  appoint  a  superintendent,  annually, 
and  the  following  named  gentlemen  have  held  the  position  : 
John  M.  Bavless,  a|)pointed,  January  1st,  1876  ;  Alexander 
A.  Kimzey,  January  1st,  1877  ;  and  William  E.  Gladson, 
January  1st,  1878,  and  has  held  the  position  to  the  present 
time.  The  phvsicians  in  charge  since  its  commencement, 
have  been  Dr  William  L.  McCandless  for  the  year  1877  ; 
Dr.  R.  S.  Peyton,  for  1878;  and  Dr.  William  L.  McCand- 
less since  that  time.  There  were  twenty  inmates,  according 
to  the  state  report  of  1880,  twelve  of  whom  were  children 
We  append  the  closing  remarks  of  the  state  visiting  agent 
for  1878.  "This  is  one  of  the  best  kept  Almshouse?  in 
southern  Illinois  ;  the  county  sujiplies  everything  required 
and  pays  the  keeper  three  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  a  year." 

THE  CIKCUIT  COURT. 

The  first  fine  assessed  in  this  court  was  one  of  fifty  cents 
taxed  against  Joel  Crain  and  Afton  Crawford  for  an  affray 
for  which  they  had  been  indicted.  They  were  each  fined  at 
the  April  term,  1829,  and  John  Pyle,  jr.,  was  fined  twelve 
and  one-half  cents,  on  an  indictment  for  an  assault. 

At  the  April  term,  1>(30,  Joseph  Brayshaw  was  admitted 
as  a  naturalized  citizen,  the  first  citizen  admitted  in  Perry 
county. 

At  the  succeeding  October  term  six  persons  of  color, 
Soudon  Parkes,  Agga,  Jeremiah,  James,  John  and  Simeon 
presented  proofs  of  having  served  out  their  time,  as  slaves, 
and  were  granted  certificates  of  Freedom. 

At  the  Sept  'mber  term  1832  Leonard  Lipe  and  Lewis 
Wells,  and  at  the  May  term  1833  Benjamin  Johnson  were 
certified  as  having  been  soldiers  of  the  Revolutionary  war 
and  entitled  to  pension  accordingly. 

The  first  sentence  of  imprisonment  pronounced  was  at  the 
October  term  1834  imposed  upon  Augustine  Davis  who  upon 


174 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


a  charge  of  Larc  ny  was  ordered  coufined  in  the  county 
jail  for  thirty  davs.  Not  until  four  years  after,  at  the  July 
special  terra  of  1838,  was  confinement  in  the  State  Peniten- 
tiary adjudged  necessary  the  county  then  having  been  in 
existence  eleven  years.  At  that  term  J.  Bennet  for  stealing  a 
horse  was  ordered  to  be  sent  to  Alton,  and  to  be  confined  at 
hard  labor  fourtten  and  one-half  months,  and  in  solitary 
confinement  for  two  weeks. 

The  first  Divorce  obseived  upon  record  was  granted  at 
the  May  term  of  1839  upon  the  petition  of  Eliza  Lakin 
against  Adam  Lakin. 

THE   FIRST    MURDER   TRIiL. 

The  first  person  tried  in  this  county  upon  the  charge  of 
murdf  r,  was  one  William  Corberly.  The  cause  was  brought 
on  change  of  venue  from  St.  Clair  county,  where  the  indict- 
ment had  been  found.  The  first  order  regarding  this  cause, 
appears  on  the  record  of  April  30th,  184'2,  when  James 
Shields,  the  prisoner's  attorney,  appeared  before  judge 
Walter  B.  Scates,  and  made  a  moion  that  the  cause  be 
s'ricken  from  the  docket  for  want  of  j"risdiction.  The 
motion  was  sustained  and  an  order  in  accordance  therewith 
entered.  His  at'orney  appears  in  court  again  with  a  peti- 
tion for  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus,  and  upon  a  hearing  on 
May  3d  of  the  same  year,  the  prisoner  was  ordered  to  be 
delivered  to  the  sheriff  of  Sr.  Clair  county.  The  cause 
came  up  for  trial  in  this  court,  on  the  fifteenth  day  of 
October,  1842.  W-illis  Allen  was  the  attorney  for  the 
people,  and  John  Dougherty  appeared  in  defence  of  the 
jirisoner.  A  jury  composed  of  James  Huggins,  John  Hug- 
gins,  Euclid  Logan,  Peter  W.  Robinson,  John  Ayers,  John 
M  Campbell,  John  King,  Daniel  Gunn,  Samuel  S.  W^ilson, 
William  Linton,  William  Hutchings  and  Samuel  Brown, 
was  secured.  The  same  day  the  prisoner  entered  a  plea  i>f 
"not  guilty,"  the  trial  completed  and  the  verdict  of  the 
jury  rendered,  finding  the  prisoner  guilty  and  fixing  his 
jiunishment  at  two  months  and  three  weeks  in  the  peniten- 
tiary, with  two  weeks  in  solitary  confinement. 

At  the  October  term,  1856,  a  meeting  of  the  members  of 
the  bar  was  held,  Ben.  Bond  of  Clinton  county,  chairman, 
and  Wm.  Stokes,  secretary,  at  which  Wm.  H.  Underwood, 
B.  M.  Cox,  P.  E.  Hosraer,  R.  S  Bond  and  A.  J.  Dickinson 
were  appointed  a  committee  to  present  resolutions  commem- 
orative of  the  death  of  H.  B.  Jones,  a  member  of  the  bar, 
who  had  died. 

Of  the  murder  trials,  which  have  been  had  in  this  county, 
the  death  penalty  was  never  adjudged  by  the  jury,  until 
November  8th,  1873.  At  the  November  term  of  the  circuit 
court,  John  Feefee  and  George  Williams,  negroes,  were  put 
upon  trial  for  the  murder  of  a  farmer  named  Mattison. 
They  had  been  stealing  his  hogs,  and  were  being  followed 
by  Mattison,  when  they  riddled  his  body  with  btillets,  and 
left  him  lying  dead  in  the  field.  The  cause  came  up  for 
trial  before  judge  Amos  Watts,  on  the  first  day  of  November, 
and  issue  joined  and  pha  of  "  not  guilty,"  entered. 

D.  W.  Fountain  appeared,  alone,  for  the  people,  while 
the  prisoners  were  defended  by  Gen.  Jones,  E.  H.  Lemen, 
Lewis  Hammack  and  M.  C.  Edwards.  The  following  jury 
was  obtained  after  several  days'  effort :    Samuel  J.  Brown, 


William  G.  Brown,  Julius  Schlegel,  Jesse  Green,  James  M. 
Whtatley,  James  Smith.  Absalom  Adkins,  Jonathan  M. 
Rice,  Daniel  Benson,  James  Horner,  Isaac  Lipe  and 
Ephraim  Pyle.  On  the  morning  of  the  8th  of  November, 
the  jury  rendered  a  verdict  of  guilty,  and  fixed  the  punish- 
ment at  death  by  hanging.  The  criminals  were  sentenced 
to  be  hanged  on  the  28  h  of  November,  1873.  The  scafl'old 
was  built  and  every  preparation  made  by  sheriff,  Leonard 
T.  Ross,  to  carry  into  effect  the  sentence,  when  governor 
Beveridge  commuted  the  sentence  to  imprisonment  for  life. 

TRIAL  AND    EXECUTION   OF  VAUGHN. 

The  history  of  this  crime  is  best  told  in  the  language  of 
the  Globe-Democrat,  of  June  17th,  18?2  :  "James  Vaughn 
was  a  tall,  good-looking  fellow.  He  worked  in  the  coal 
mines  the  bfst  part  of  his  life,  and  so  was  not  tanned  and 
browned  like  the  general  run  of  country  laborers.  He  wore 
quite  a  swell  mustache,  parted  his  hair  neatly,  and  when 
dressed  for  the  grave  in  a  suit  of  broadcloth  he  looked  like 
anything  but  a  murderer.  In  June,  1881,  there  was  a 
meeting  of  Democrats  held  in  the  town  of  Tamaroa,  III., 
nine  miles  northeast  of  Pinckneyville.  It  was  here  that 
Vaughn  lived  at  this  time,  together  with  his  father  and 
mother  and  their  children.  Ben  Vaughn  was  the  favorite 
brother  of  James,  and  Ben  liked  fun  as  well  as  any  man. 
Ben,  although  a  Republican,  went  to  the  Democratic  meet- 
ing, and  when  one  of  the  speakers  was  soaring  to  the  top 
cloud,  Ben  spoiled  the  effect  by  shouting  '  Hurrah  for  Gar- 
field. This  breach  of  the  peace  riled  William  Watts,  the 
city  marshal  of  Tamaroa.  He  pulled  his  revolver  and 
pointing  it  at  Ben  he  frightened  the  latter  so  that  he  took 
to  his  heels,  with  Watts  after  him,  still  holding  the  revolver 
and  flourishing  it  as  though  he  intended  killing  the  fugitive. 
The  latter  ran  clear  to  his  father's  home  and  entered  the 
house  just  as  Watts  was  catching  up  with  him.  James 
Vaughn  heard  of  the  escapade  of  his  brother  and  of  the 
chase,  and  the  more  he  thought  of  it  the  madder  he  got. 
'  If  Watts  ever  tries  to  arrest  or  fool  with  me  as  he  did  with 
Ben,'  said  Vaughn,  '  I'll  kill  him  just  as  sure  as  there's  a 
God  in  Heaven.'  On  August  4th,  just  two  months  after  the 
occurrence  noted,  James  Vaughn,  filled  up  with  whiskey, 
took  a  walk  about  the  public  streets  of  Tamaroa.  He 
talked  loudly,  said  he  did  not  care  much  for  anybody,  and 
less  for  Watts,  and  as  he  talked  the  latter  appeared  and 
told  him  he  was  disturbing  the  peace,  and  that  he  would 
arrest  him  if  he  did  not  shut  up  Vaughn  turned  his  nose 
up  at  the  marshal  and  told  him  he  could  not  arrest  him 
unless  he  was  armed  with  a  warrant.  This  statement 
appears  to  have  irritated  Watts,  for  he  seized  hold  of  his 
man  and  said  he  would  have  to  come  along.  Vaughn 
jerked  away  from  Watts,  and  this  made  the  latter  very  angry. 
He  raised  his  cane,  and  struck  Vaughn  over  the  head  with 
it.  Vaughn  seized  the  cane  and  raised  his  right  hand, 
which  contained  a  pocket-knife  with  the  big  blade  open. 
Vaughn  aimed  for  a  vital  spot,  and  his  aim  was  true,  the 
knife  severing  the  subclavian  artery.  AVatts  fell  to  the 
ground,  saying,  '  I'm  a  dead  man,'  but  before  giving  up 
life,  and  while  in  the  very  throes  of  death,  he  drew  his 
revolver  and  aimed  at  Vaughn,  who,  noticing  the  marshal's 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


175 


move,  beat  a  hasty  retreat.  The  dying  man  aimed  at  the 
fugitive,  but  the  cartridge  failed  to  explode.  A  stcoud 
time  he  fired.  This  time  the  weapon  responded,  and  a 
bullet  pierced  Vaughn's  left  log,  inflicting  a  slight  flesl, 
wound.  The  next  moment  Watts  toppled  over  and  wag 
dead.  Vaughn  was  seized  by  bystanders,  and  before  them 
he  said  :  '  Oh,  I'm  a  man  of  my  word.  I  told  you  I'd  kil' 
that  man  if  he  ever  tried  to  arrest  me,  and  I've  kept  my 
word.' " 

An  indictnmit  for  murder  soon  followed  his  arrest,  and 
on  the  first  day  of  May,  1882,  James  Vaughn  was  arraigned 
before  judge  George  W.  Wall,  on  a  charge  of  murder.  He 
entered  a  plea  of  ''  not  guilty."  Mcirtiraer  C.  Edwards,  the 
county  attorney,  a.ssisted  by  R.  W.  S.  Wheatley,  Esq.^ 
conducted  the  prosecution,  and  Messrs.  R.  M.  Davis  and 
E.  H.  Lemen,  the  defense.  The  first  two  days  were  spent 
in  obtaining  a  jury,  which  was  as  follows:  John  W.  Rush- 
ing, P.  S.  Wilks,  George  Kraft,  Charles  Seifert,  William 
Stewart,  W.  H.  Sterling,  Christian  Schwartz,  Jacob  Thomas, 
Chesterfield  Harold,  Hugh  Devinney,  James  Knox  and 
R.  p.  Burbank.  The  cause  wa.s  given  to  the  jury  on  the 
evening  of  May  3d,  and  at  fifteen  minutes  past  twelve  the 
next  morning,  they  rendered  their  verdict  of  guilty  and 
affixed  the  death  penalty.  The  usual  motitms  were  made 
in  the  case,  but  all  were  overruled,  and  on  the  13th  day  of 
May,  judge  Wall  passed  the  sentence  of  death,  selecting  the 
Itith  day  of  June,  18.S2,  as  the  date  for  the  execution,  the 
first  and  only  one  in  the  county.  The  case  was  then  taken 
to  the  Supreme  Court,  who  affirmed  the  decision  of  the  jury 
in  the  lower  court. 

Sheritf,  Thomas  Penwarden,  had  named  12.15  r.  m.,  as 
the  hour  for  the  execution,  and  at  that  time  twenly-fivo 
persons  were  admitted  to  the  body  of  the  jail.  This  included 
the  sherift's  guard,  the  spiritual  adviser  of  the  condemned 
and  the  reporters.  The  scafi'old  was  in  one  corner  of  the 
jail.  To  reach  it  the  tops  of  the  cells  had  to  be  scaled,  and 
reaching  this  point  was  made  easy  by  a  temporary  wooden 
stairway.  The  little  crowd  gathered  on  the  top  of  the  cells 
and  awaited  the  coming  of  the  condemned.  At  12.20 
Vaughn  was  taken  out  of  his  cell  and  led  to  the  scaffold  by 
the  sheriff.  The  minister  walked  by  his  side  and  stood  by 
him  upon  the  trap.  After  prayer  the  death  warrant  was 
read,  and  then  the  sheriff  asked  Vaughn  if  he  had  anything 


to  say.  He  answered.  "  I  have  got  nothing  at  all  to  say," 
whereupon  the  clergyman  said  that  Vaughn  had  asked  hira 
to  speak  for  him.  He  said  that  Vaughn  was  very  sorry 
that  he  had  killed  Watts,  but  confident  and  hopeful  that 
Christ  would  pardon  him  for  all  the  sins  committed  in  this 
life.  He  repented  for  the  crime,  and  had  faith  that  God 
had  a  pardon  waiting  for  him  in  Heaven.  After  this  last 
statement  the  sheriff  put  on  the  black  cap  and  adjusted  the 
rope.  Then  the  minister  and  the  sheriff  stepped  off'  the 
trap,  shaking  hands  at  the  same  time  with  Vaughn  and 
bidding  him  good-by.  Deputy  sheriff  Lemen  raised  the  axe 
and  severed  the  rope  that  held  the  trap  up.  The  door  fell 
with  a  crash  and  N^aughn  was  sent  flying  into  the  unknown 
world.  There  was  a  twitch  of  the  ropes  and  then  all  was 
over.  The  fall  was  nearly  six  feet  and  had  broken  his  neck. 
Thirty  five  minutes  after  the  drop  life  was  pronounced 
extinct  by  the  attending  physicians.  Vaughn  was  a  Ten- 
nesseean  by  birth,  hailing  from  McNair  county,  that  state. 
He  was  thirty  three  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

STATISTICS. 
The  Krowtli  of  tlie  c.mnty  in 
giung  ihe  ab!.essi 
appended,  viz;  tli 

Assessment  of  Perry  County  In  1N60. 


uIIm  at  (iirtVrent  periodti 
IWll)  iviid  \W>. 


>  way  be  so  elearly 
We  select  tvvu,  «1 


by 


Number. 

Hnrses 4,250 

Neat  Cattle \\,3V> 

Mnle.s  and  Asses ^1 

Sheep 0,271 

Hogs 10,1>07 


rmge 


I'l.H-U 


hi  U, 


id  Wag 


Value. 

tn",K)(» 

C.273 
UI,M1 
38,iK0 

;i:i5 
67,075 

i;is>b 
4'J,K2U 

4,«!IU 
78,fiU 


Total  value  of  taxable  personal  property $576,141 

Lands $1,014,840 

Town  Lots lti!),917 


Total  value  of  lands  and  town  lots $1,184,763 


on  Sirei. 


Total  value  of  real  and  personal  property $1,760,914 

T\XK 
Slate  Tax,  47  re- 
state S.-hool  T;i 
State  Tax  on  I' 
State  Tax  and  1 
County  Tax,  4(1 
'     inty  Ta 


riner  years.. 


$^,270  29 

3,521  83 

39  53 

128  02 

7,041  65 

107  55 


Speei..l  County  Tux 0,7.">5  32 


Total  Tax  levied $25,932  19 

Acres  in  cultivation— Wheat,  10,290;  Corn,  17,157;  Other  field  products,  2,4t9. 

Assessment  of  Real  Estate,  Personal  Propei*ty,  and  Principal  Articles  of  Perry  County,  Illinois,  for  the  year  1883. 


Steam 

Improved 

Unimproved 

Total            Improved    Unimprvd 

Total  Lots. 

Horses. 

Cattle. 

Mule  and 
Asses. 

Sheep. 

Hogs. 

Engines 
incTdng 

Acres 

Value. 

Acres 

Value. 

Acres  Value.  Lts. 

Value. 

Lts.    Val. 

Lts. 

Value. 

No. 

Value 

N.vl 

Val, 

No. 

Val. 

No. 

Val. 

No. 

Val. 

2 

Val. 

Town  4,  range  1.. 

9933 

81008.10 

8230 

$17367 

I81C3    $118217    147 

$27045 

300    $1645 

447 

$11690 

310 

-  ■■  \-     I   : 

';:  -    104 

$;)280 

68 

$68   275 

$380  10 

$1030 

t.      f,^     „ 

1 

17748 

169(m      7737 

161ffi 

2,5485      18.52541     26 

1295 

45        124 

71 

1419 

472 

1 

"      6,      " 

1.. 

13624 

15B4041     M05 

11034!  2002a|     107438,  602 

122.^58 

2:12     7078 

834 

229436 

;149 

I 

4(145    244 

355-  418 

,.      4_      .. 

■/. 

41.36 

;12265 

12337 

283112    1114731       60r,47  

1.59 

42 

1245 

"       5,       " 

2„ 

9573 

86:170 

1032i 

2'16!H1     IMwri;       Iii7ii,'.1 

242 

•-        87 

2686 

10:t 

10:1 

685 

10.15;  1 

100 

2.. 
S.. 
3.. 

10582 
2472 
7974 

100311 
17321 
69490 

9037 
1.5022 
12178 

180l,i;     1"  I'l       ll'"'IT  

274;i7     1,  I'l         I'T  ,.    .    ..' 
2244-J    Ji'l...        :rli..ij    221 

289 
107 
.329 

••      4,      " 

,  ,  1 

47919 

342 

*!M 

50:1 

"■"52J!59 

1  : 1  ( (      87 

2491 

207 

207 

377 

400   7 

1155 

"     0,     '• 

3 

10.-34 

965ia 

11238 

2lo.)ii   2n;.;     U7i.,u 1 

218 

7_J..    Jl' 

-l.,l,     89 

31.55 

260 

200 

"      4,      " 

4 

1040(: 

97564 

12:t42 

2.398i    228(12      12l"i4G 

•?4| 

2041 

94 

loot 

12f 

3051 

252 

mzv:  :j8:i 

:-88Ul     74 

22.50 

291) 

294   289 

4.. 

4.. 

12200!     113952 
87871       7;i043 

10660 
14178 

21205    i292U      1:15157 
294.32    22965     102475 

288 

910'' 
8350 

3U8 
226 

3019 
2325 

85 
64 

3  00 
2285 

i;u7 

317 

607'  316 

345   3 

"      0,      " 

24| 

2835 

87 

431 

111 

3266 

324 

341 
5088 

450 

Totals.... 

n7784!»11131.54ll32687 

$257942  247471  $1371(196 

1044' 

$203197 

1098  W>2 

:142l  $224120 

3244 

$101555 

4490 

$43269 

1052 

83.3960 

2t26 

$28'29 

$6460 

il 

$71"& 

176 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


1 

t 

1 

1 

2 

1 

O 
§ 

i 

1 
1 

1 

C 

-a 
SI 

II 

il 

II 

x 

•a 

e 

0  . 

3 '5 

IJ 

=  0 
P  0. 

•6 

so. 

.1 

-c 

S 

-5 

<  > 

1 

2 

■p 

S".S 

>. 

^   -S 

£m 

|i£  ii| 

1 

.a 

1 

a, 

E 

PQ  », 

<3 

^ 

^ 

CU 

S 

a 

S 

> 

■< 

s 
> 

i! 

0  ]  c 
;2  > 

a. 
> 

> 

0  < 

>   i  > 

H 

^ 

f, 

> 

?; 

? 

a 

■3 

> 

z; 

1 

6 

> 

z 

t    . 

> 

> 

> 

> 

> 

Z 

Town  4,  R 

nge  1 

4 

20.) 
lUI) 
180 

..... 

•■■••■ 

1155 

298G 

172 

357 

110 

788 

10 

490 

21 
11 

415 

255  . 

11165 

1563 

1977 
3262 

2950 
1946 

525  

775I 

5215 
4506 

775 
65 

1  200 

o\   250 

46537 
4:)463 

171 
152 

"   6. 
"   4. 

"   5, 
"   6, 

1 

2 

2 

:    1:::::: 

^    3 

11 

4 

175 

25  i 
86 
40 

IM 

389.t 
973 

2218 

216 
02 

314 
64 
110 
118 
4", 

853 
74 
167 
157 

48 

233 
32 
57 
60 
21 

131 

2124 
122 
610 
696 
87 
663 

38 

1 

2 

is 

1635 

"so 

100 
1200 

i 

1 

i'l 

305 

'"70  ' 
20  . 

465  . 

1  10 

32800 
12820 

2555 
700 

14J0 

3715 
1071 
2292 
2470 
548 
2402 

2119 
180 

5200 
100 

800O 

5825 
400 

1315 

10001 

250[ 

350  3050 

"25 

1238  

2670  45 
2833   50 

6761 

6828' 

1 

40  4V, 

13205 
31181 
32844 
8978 
518.17 

96 
130 
146 

66 
209 

"   6, 
"   4. 
"   5, 
"   6, 

44 

?H 

■2 

60  . 

1727 

Jliii>a 

4 

'    4 

' 

3 

6(1  . 

905 

1568 

800 

1900' 

11   Ti 

1 

11-' 

m 

5« 

301 

1 

5  . 

125 

95 

2678 

161 J8 

2116 

...1 

105 

19IJH 

99 

255 

75 

3S7 

1 

37 

6 

155  . 

3116 

10 

496 

1962 

940 



18  8UU 

o!  275 

177 

26213 

72813394 

997 

7267 

71 

3590 

« 

1810 

1  10 

61021 

3265 

3707 

26732 

^ 

31213 

5056  3050 

395 

49263  1850 

790  3565  427-lM 

1686 















— 





■ 

AueMment  of  Real  Estate,  Personal  Property,  Principal  Artitles  of  Perry  County,  lUluois,  for  the  y. 


Personal  Property. 


Sheep... 


Hogs. 

Steam  Engines  and  Boilers 

F  re  or  Biirrflar-Proof  Safes 

Billiard, Pigeon-h"l>',  Bagatelle  t 

Carriages  and  Wagons 

Watches  and  Clocks 

Sewing  and  Knitting  Machines.. 

Piano  Portes 

Melodeons  and  Organs 

Franchises 


age 
Value. 
$11  24 
9  63 
32  28 
1  04 
1  27 
124  70 
44  45 
30  65 
15  75 
1  90 
7  20 
.50  42 
19  00 


Total  Assessed  Value  of  Eaumer.ated  Property... 


Amount  of  line  11 


rated  Property. 


Merchandise 

Material  and  Manufactured  Ar 
Man'f  Tools,  It 


Agricultural  'In..!-,  In,|.l..in.  m-  .^Uh 
Moneys  of  Hat.i       1 .  -    ■  .n.i  I'.i  • 

Monevs  of  nth    t     '  l.  .  1    '        '    -i  -.  .t. 
Credits  of  otli.i.  ili  "1  r.ml.'iN  ■Ir 

Bonds  and  Storks 

Properly  of  Corporations  not  befon 
Properly  of  Saloons  and  Ealing  Ho 


•  Fur 


ehold  and  Otfic 

Investment!*  in  R.  E.  and  Improvements  thereon .. 

Grain  of  all  kinds 

All  other  personal  property 

Total  Assessed  Value  of  Unenumerated  Property $190,4 

Total  Assessed  Value  of  Personal  Property 429,0 


8101,5.56 
43,269 
33,960 


26,213 
3,394 

7,267 
3,580 


Real  Estate— Lands 


Improved  Lands 117,769  i   89 

Unimproved  Lands -•     128,982  1     2 

Total  Assessed  Value  of  Lands $1,371,406 


ber  of     »  p 
Acres.      .„„ 


Real  Estate— Town  and  City  Lots. 


Improved  Town  and  City  Lots 1,041     $187  12     $203,497  ] 

Unimproved  Town  and  City  Lots 1,090         16  00        17,443 

Total  Assessed  Value  of  Town  and  City  Lots $220,940 

Aver-  Assessed 
Railroad  Property.  I  aee  I    yalue. 


Class  C.  Personal  Property J     $  90 

Class  r>.  Lands  No.  Acres  20 $20  00,       400 

Class  D.  Lots  No.  of  Lots  G 31  66,       190 

Total  Val.je  of  Railroad  Property  Assessed  in  County $680 

Total  Value  of  all  Taxable  Property  Assessed  in  County I  $2,022,051 


Agricultural  Statistics  of  Perry  County  for  tbe  yeai-  1884. 


u  -I,  ..«.« 

4,   ' 

2 

2 

6,   ' 

-'   , 

6*   ' 

3 

4 

5   ' 

4 

6,   ' 
Totals.. 

12650 
179.50 
13085 

6130 
20470 
20745 

9440 
30020 
24180 
11990 
21216 
13690 


8371   201765  2610U 


36180 
39610 
33511 
842o: 
31115| 
32325 
13874 
33110 
46965 
64i00 
69456 
27330 


428144  171  726]  6017 


'.'.'.'.'.'. 

"(j's 
106 

"275 
460 

7950 
14486 

5618 
1860 
120110 
14405 
3775 
7690 
18705 
16625 
17221 
13030 


133514  654  73425 


970] 
.3300'. 
30001. 
2190  . 
7520.. 
6250 
7625 
11900 
6425 


6 1530  16  130 


so 

44 

431 

5 

4.55 

In 

68 

28 

330 

69 

604 

39 

3S3 

3Z4 

176 

20 

4875 

220 

HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


177 


Town  4,  Range  1 


2" 



=.,      6 



I 

:::;::  ::::::i 

I        'i"2  -I 

Sweet      a„„K«      S§>:  Pas- 
Potatoes    S«r8ho.     j^ij   ,^^g^ 


li 

|l 

3SI 

2414 

l^'^O 

2>»I 

lai 

lOull 

2i»i 

2U00 

4U 

1C1.1 

4l>i> 

13S4 

17.-) 

1*J0 

3711 

Tino 

:m 

uimi 

ai4 

4:117 

418 

1414 

im 

371)7 

M3i 

394C0 

IIIOOO 
llOfll 
1£)15 
IKKH)  . 

9193  . 
ll-Jl(i  . 
lUilO  . 

G.iSO 

8«HMI  . 

87n)| 
113{K)  . 

7*10;. 

ll'Jl8o' 


nil 

22iil 


Caitle 
Died 
1881. 


i  a-  1- 


17      17       949:      SC8 


,.|       13»l 


9|      6,      475 

15J       4'       225 


isiixm I 

52ti  2C5-i5ol     21    ZH 

711,        17o0| I 

59'      314JO! ' 

lull  eG9iiu      g!  136 

8'i;  34lu>       2 1     40 

50       22490! I 

24|      10i4<l : 

77 1  39U1IU       5;  125 

1:17[       R43Sii! I 

108       84:150 ' 

441       213SIII I 


^1         I, 


xTjii- 1  *  J I  Sheep  '  Sheep     ■=  b 

SoH     §•=     '<'"«5  :  died  Of     §3 

l^by  dogs.  Disease.  ^5 


Town  4.  Range  1. '    39    18u|. 


•i-iH    13!     30,      8,     llil 


1401     171    M,     22     041 


90    125 ! I '  111^     40'     40. 


84il') 

2.n->.-. 

14^0.) 

litsll 
117lo 
121  >0 
l.i80 


Pies  '  f  =  S  ;  Bees  and  Bjl"  ^f^^ 

Diednf  £::!S2       Honey.    Igc.  «.•;     ■'■? 

Cholera,  I  S^ls                     1-=°  £=  La'<'- 

IdO     4J.>l.  4,       b99     51        o20       5    60U 


193    9ue   700       8      4368    60Ci     79    153      30,     80      20331  154    1590U|     30W;     IbUOl    301931    192     7U>U      14      lluo      89      1175 


;>|  UUb, 


County  Subscription  to  Railroads. — Id  pursuance  of  peti- 
tions numerously  signed,  the  county  court  on  the  24th  day 
of  Mav,  1869,  ordered  an  election  to  be  held  at  the  several 
voting  places  in  the  county  on  the  3i]  day  of  July,  1869,  on 
the  proposition  to  subscrilte  stock  to  railroads,  viz ;  Belle- 
ville &  Southern  Illinois,  .§150,000;  Chester  &  Tamaroa 
Coal  and  Railroad  Company,  $100,000  ;  Cairo  &  St.  Louis 
Railroad;  850  000. 

The  election  was  held  and  resulted  in  the  casting  of  a 
sufficient  number  of  votes  (twelve  hundred  and  thirty  being 
required)  to  authorize  the  first  proposition. 

Upon  the  election  of  a  new  court  and  a  renewal  of  peti- 
tion, a  vote  was  on  the  ISth  of  January,  1870,  ordered  to 
be  held  on  the  19lh  of  February,  to  ascertain  if  a  maj<irity 
of  the  voters  (nine  hundred  and  eighty-four  being  now 
required  as  the  minimum)  would  vote  to  authorize  the  sub- 
scription of  8100,000  to  the  Chester  &  Tamaroa  Coal  and 
Railroad  Company. 

The  election  was  held  and  nine  hundred  and  eighty-six 
votes  were  cast  in  favor  of  the  proposition. 

By  the  terms  of  said  votes  the  B.  &  S.  I.  road  was  to  be 
completed  from  Belleville  to  Du  Quoin  by  January  1st, 
1871.  The  terms  were  complied  with  (thefirst train  pa.ssing 
through  December  4th,  1H70)  and  on  the  5th  day  of  Decem- 
ber, 1870,  the  bonds  of  the  county  were  issued  to  the 
amount  of  8100,000,  and  that  amount  of  stock  taken,  it 
haviug  been  ascertained  that  the  statutory  limit  of  county 
subscription  to  railroads  was  8_100,000. 

These  bonds   bear  date  January   1st,  1871,  with  annual 
interest  at  seven  per  cent.,  redeemable  at  any  time  after  five 
and  within  twenty  years  from  their  date. 
23 


The  C-  &  T.  R.  R.  was  by  the  terms  of  the  vote  to  be 
entitled  to  S50  000  of  bonds  upon  the  completion  of  the 
road  from  Tamaroa  to  Pinckneyville,  and  the  remainder, 
§50,000,  upon  the  completion  of  the  road  to  C'hester.  This 
being  done  the  first  instalment  of  850,000  was  issued  Novem- 
ber 10th,  1871,  dated  July  1st,  1871,  with  seven  per  cent, 
interest,  payable  semi-annually  and  the  remaining  850,000 
were  issued  December  6th,  1S71,  and  dated  January  1st, 
1872,  bearing  same  interest,  and  all  payable  after  five  and 
within  twenty  years  of  their  date. 

Saline  and  Swamp  Lands — By  an  act  of  the  Legislature 
of  1831,  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  wa-i  appropriated 
from  the  avails  of  th?  saline  land-  for  a  roa  1  from  E]uality 
to  Carmi ;  and  the  county  commissioner.-!,  at  their  meeting  of 
September  3,  1833,  appointed  Samuel  Pyatt  agent  to  collect 
and  pay  the  same  into  the  county  treasury.  The  agent 
performed  his  work,  and  on  the  si^cond  day  of  the  following 
December  he  made  his  report  and  was  paid  six  dollars  for 
his  services. 

The  State  Auditor  reported  on  the  10th  of  June,  1854, 
that  the  value  of  the  swamp  lands  of  the  county  was 
8tl38.i9.  The  counti^  court  appointed  Charles  E.  R.  Win- 
ihrop  Drainage  Commissioner  on  September  6th,  1853.  The 
following  day  the  county  court  appraised  the  lands.  Perry 
county  also  received  82,3'-:2  76  from  the  national  govern- 
ment as  a  portion  of  the  sale  of  swamp  lands.  The  lands 
were  sold  December  4th,  1854,  and  on  the  seventh  of  the 
following  March  the  Drainage  C.)mniis.>ioner  reported  that 
he  had  in  money  and  notes  84377.74  and  the  expenses  were 
8126.30,  leaving  a  balance  of  84  251.44,  which  was  ordered 
paid  into  the  school  fund  and  received  by  the  School  Com- 


178 


BIS  TORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND   PERRY  COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


niissioner.  The  lands  were  not  all  sold  at  that  time,  but 
frequent  sales  have  since  been  made. 

An  attempt  was  made  to  adopt  a  lownsbip  organization 
at  the  November  election,  1878,  but  met  with  defeat.  The 
vote  showed  only  three  hundred  and  sixty-seven  votes  for, 
and  eighteen  hundred  and  fnty-four  votes  against  it 

A  list  of  the  members  of  the  General  Assembly  from 
Perry  county  since  its  organizatior,  or  the  district  in  which 
the  same  is  situated  : 

SENATORS. 

Samuel  Crawford,  1828-32;  Conrad  AVill,  1828-32; 
Thomas  Mather,  )832-3C;  John  D.  Wood,  183!i-42^ 
John  Crain,  1842-46;  Elias  8.  Dennis,  1846-48  ;  Hawkin 
S.  0=burn,  1848-52;  John  E.  Detrich,  1852-50;  E.  C. 
Coffey,  1856-60;  Jarafs  M.  Kodgers,*  1860-62;  William  A 
J  Sparks,  1862-64  ;  David  K.  Green,  1864-68  ;  John  P 
Van  Dorston,  1808-72;  Jediah  F.  Alexander,  1870-72; 
William  K.  Murphy,  1872-76  ;  Ambrose  Hoencr,  1876-80' 
Louis  Ihoru,  1880-84. 

P.EPRESENTATIVES. 

1828- 30- Singleton  H.  Kitrmel,  Thomas  Mather,  Hy 
polite  Menard. 

1830-32— J<,hn  Atkins,  Thomas  J.  V.  Owens. 

1832-34— David  Bnldridge,  Richard  G.  Murphy. 

1834-36— Richard  G.  ISIurphy,  John  Thompson. 

1836-42— Richard  G.  Murphy. 

1842-44— John  D.  Burklow. 

1844-46 -John  Steele. 

1846-48— Hawkins  S.  0=burn. 

1848-50— Zenas  H.  Vernor. 

1850-52- Richard  G.  Murphy. 

1852-54— William  M.  Phillips. 

18.=)4-56— P.  E    Hosmer. 

18.56-58— Hawkins  S.  Osburn. 

1858-60— John  D.  Wood. 

1860-62— Orson  Kellogg. 

1862-64— Stephen  W.  Miles,  Edward  Menard. 

1864-66— William  K.  Murphy,  Austin  James. 

1866-68— William  K.  Murphy,  John  Campbell. 

1868-70— John  M.  McCutcheon,  Thomas  H.  Burgess. 

1870-72— William  R.  Gass 

1872-74 — John  W.  Pyatt,  William  Neville,  Austin 
James. 

1874-76 — Joseph  W.  Rickert,  Samuel  McKee,  Jonathan 
Chesnutwood. 

1876-78— Theophilns  T.  Fountain,  John  Boyd,  Septimus 
P.  Mace. 

1878-80— John  T.  McBride,  John  R.  McFie,  Philip  C.  C 
Provart. 

1880-82— Austin  James,  Isaac  M.  Kelly,  William  K.. 
Murphy. 

MASTERS   IN   CHANCERY. 

Andrew  J.  Dickinson  received  the  first  appointment  to 
this  office  in  1845  and  served  until  1847  ;  Charles  L.  Star- 
buck,  1847  to  1851;  Lewis   Hammack,  1851  to  1855;  An- 


•  Jamea  M.  Rodgera  died  wl: 
lected  to  fill  the  va.-ancy. 


A.  J.   Spnrks 


drew  J.  Dickinson,  1855  to  1857;  AVilliam  H.  McKee, 
1857  to  1860;  William  K.  Murphy,  1860  to  1869;  Evan 
B.  Rushing  1869  to  1873  ;  Theophilus  T.  Fountain,  1873 
to  1875,  and  Evan  B.  Rushing  from  1875  to  the  present 
time. 

COUNTY   COMMISSIONERS. 

Flrd  and  Subsequent  Boards  of  County  Commissioners. — 
John  R.  Hutchings,  Elijah  Wells,  David  H.  Mead,  1827  ; 
William  H.  Threlkel,  William  Johnson,  John  Pyle,  Jr., 
1828-29;  William  Johnson,  Joseph  Wells,  Abner  Keith, 
1830  ;  Elijah  Wells,  Joseph  Wells,  Abner  Keith,  1831  ; 
Daniel  Dry,  Samuel  Pyatt,  Benjamin  Hammack,  1832-3; 
Daniel  Dry,  Samuel  Pyatt,  William  Edwards,  1834-5 ; 
William  Edwards,  Andrew  Bourlaud,  Samuel  Pyatt,  1836; 
John  Reid,  Nathan  G  Curlee,  Jacob  Sliort,  1837;  George 
W.  Ho'chkiss,  Enoch  Eaton,  Richard  G.  Davis,  1838; 
Enoch  Eaton,  Jonathan  G.  Clark,  Richard  G.  Davis,  1840; 
Enoch  Eaton,  Jonathan  G.  Clark,  Abner  K.  Pyle,  1^41  ; 
Enoch  Eaton,  Abner  K.  Pyle,  Isaac  H.  Bradley,  1842-3; 
Henry  F.  Hampleraan,  Enoch  Eaton,  Isaac  Bradley,  1844- 
5;  Joel  Rushing,  Isaac  A.  Bradley,  Henry  F.  Hampleman, 
I.SIO  ;  Reuben  Dye,  Joel  Rushing,  Isaac  H.  Bradley,  1847-8. 
In  1849,  and  after  the  adoption  of  the  constitution,  the 
county  judges  performed  the  duties  heretofore  performed  by 
the  county  commissioners. 

Probate  Justices  of  the  Peace. — Humphrey  B.  Jones,  1828 
to  1847;  Levi  Green,  1847;  Humphrey  B.  Jones,  1849. 

County  Judges. — Hosea  H.  Straight,  Richard  H.  Wil- 
liams, Edward  A.  Whipple,  Associates,  1849.  Edward  A. 
Whipple  resigned,  and  Peter  W.  Wilks  succeeded  him  in 
1851.  Laban  G.  Jones,  Jonathan  G.  Clark,  John  Pyle, 
Associates,  1853;  John  Baird,  William  Craig,  Samuel  Y. 
McCluer,  Associates,  1850;  Henry  S.  Hampleman,  William 
Craig,  Ephraira  T.  Rees,  Associates,  1801  ;  William  Elston, 
Ephraim  T.  Rees,  James  L.  Primm,  Associates,  1SG5  ; 
Charlts  E.  R.  Winthrop,  James  L.  Primm,  James  Ervin, 
1869;  William  Elstun,  1873  to  January  31st,  1881,  when 
he  resigned,  and  Sample  G.  Parks,  the  present  incumbent, 
was  appointed  by  Governoc  Cullom. 

Under  the  constitution  of  1870,  a  board  of  three  county 
commissioners  were  given  control  over  county  affairs,  one 
member  being  elected  annually  after  the  organization  of  the 
first  board,  the  term  of  office  being  three  years.  Under  this 
regime  the  following  were  elected 

County  Commissioners. — Elihu  Oustott,  Charles  Guemal- 
ley,  John  Baird,*  1873;  John  Baird,*  Elihu  Onstott, 
Charles  Guemalley,  1874;  John  W  Pyatt,  John  Baird,* 
Elihu  Onstott,  1875  ;  John  Schneider,  John  W.  Pyatt,  John 
Baird,*  1876  to  1879  ;  Lysias  Heape,  John  W.  Pyatt,*  John 
Baird,  1879;  Thomas  Stevenson,  Lysias  Heapi  *  and  John 
W.  Pyatt,  1880  to  1882. 

Clerks  of  the  County  Court. — Humphrey  B.  Jones  was  the 
first  county  clerk,  being  appointed  by  the  county  (  oramis- 
sioners  at  their  first  meeting,  June  4th,  1827.  He  served 
until  August  10th,  1839,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  John 
D.  Burklow,  who  resigned  on  the  Slst  of  August,  1841. 
Joshua  M  Rice  was  appointed  by  the  county  commissioners 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AXD    PERRY  COUNTIES,  ILLINOIS. 


179 


to  fill  the  vacancy,  and  served  until  the  6th  of  September, 
1841.  He  was  succeeded  by  Humphrey  B.  Jones,  who  had 
been  elected  at  the  preceding  August  election.  Mr.  Jones 
continued  to  fill  the  oftiL-e  until  Charles  L.  Starbuck  was 
elected  on  the  "id  of  August,  1857.  Nathan  T.  Kelly  was 
elected  under  the  new  coustituiiou,  and  took  the  office  in 
December,  1849.  Since  that  time  the  office  has  been  filled 
by  John  W.  I'yatt,  1853  to  18G1  ;  David  M.  Hoge,  ISGl  ; 
Leonard  T.  Kuss,  1S65;  J  Carroll  Harris,  1869,  and  since 
1873  by  Walter  S  D.  Smith,  the  present  efficient  and  courte- 
ous incumbent. 

Clerh  of  Circuit  Court. — Humphrey  B.  Jones,  appointed 
in  1827,  and  succeeded  by  Marmaduke  S.  Ferguson,  he 
having  been  by  Justice  Semple  appointed  clerk  of  said 
court  on  the  U'th  day  of  Ajjril,  184:!. 

Andrew  J.  Dickinson  was  appointed  clerk  by  Justice 
Shields.  December  12,  1843;  Charles  L.  Starbuck  was  ap- 
pointed clerk  by  Judge  Koermr,  Sept.  28,  1847;  Lewis 
Haramack,  elected  Sept.  4, 1848  ;  J.s.  M.  Mi)ntague,  elected 
1852  ;  Evan  li.  Hushing,  tlecti  d  1856  ;  Jas.M.  Bmwn,  elected 
1864  ;  Jas.  M.  Bruwn  died  August  10,  1867.  an  dCharles  H. 
Roe  was  by  Judge  Crawford  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy 
until  the  ensuitig  election,  when  in  November,  1867,  he  wa.s 
elected  to  the  position  of  clerk,  which  position  he  still 
occupies. 

SUIiRIFFS   OI-'   THE   COfXTY. 

Wni.  C.  JIurphy,  sherifTfrom  1827  up  to  1837,  iu  which 
year  Matthew  Jones  succeeded  him,  and  retained  his  posi- 
tion until  succeeded  bj'  John  Steele  who  was  elected  August 
3.1840;  Abner  K.  Pyle,  1843;  Laban  G.  Jones,  1844; 
David  M.  Hoge,  commissioned,  August  28,  1846;  Johu  W. 
Pyatt,  elected  in  1850;  David  M.  Hoge,  1852;  John  D. 
Reese,  1854;  David  M.  Hoge,  1856;  Jas.  J.  Hoge,  1858; 
Albert  A.  Clymer,  1860;  James  F.  Mason,  1862  ;  Wm.  G. 
Leslie,  1864;  J.  Carroll  Harriss,  ISGii;  Daniel  W.  Dry, 
1868;  Samuel  A.  Beard,  1870;  Samuel  A.  Beard  died  May 
4,  1872,  and  his  term  was  partially  completed  by  Geo.  N. 
TafTc-,  coroner,  who  committed  suicide  before  the  term  had 
expired;  Leonard  T.  Ross,  1872;  Leonard  T.  Ross,  1874; 
Kdward  M.  Harris,  1876  ;  Ralph  G.  Williams,  1878 ;  and 
Thomas  Penwarden,  1880. 

COUNTY   TREASURERS. 

Daniel  Dry  was  appointed  by  the  county  commissioners 
at  their  first  meeting,  June  4,  1827,  and  continued  in  office 
by  them  until  1829  The  commissioners  continued  to  elect 
the  treasurers  until  1839;  when  they  were  elected  by  vote  of 
the  people.  The  following  named  served  by  appointment: 
Richard  G.  Murphy,  1829;  John  K.  Hutchings,  1830  to 
1832;  Samuel  Pyatt,  1832;  David  H.  Mead,  1833  to  1836; 
Joshua  M.  Rice,"l836  to  1839.  In  1859  George  O.  Hotch- 
kiss  was  elected;  Lewis  Staten,  1840;  John  D.  Burklow, 
1841  to  1843  ;  Luther  Beal,  1813  to  1845  ;  David  iM.  Hoge, 
1845;  Benjamin  Ilammack,  1846;  James  M.  Montague, 
1847  to  1850  ;  Johu  Moore,  1850  ;  John  McClure,  1852  to 
1855  ;  Samuel  King,  1855  to  1861  ;  Johnson  C.  Harris,  1861  ; 
Leonard  T.  Ross,  1863;  James  C.  Kimzey,  1865  to  1871  ; 
John  Patterson,  1873  to  1879 ;  Josiah  W.  Haines,  1879  and 
the  preseiit  incumbent. 


COUNTY  SURVEYORS. 

Richard  G.  Davis  was  the  first  surveyor  and  received  his 
appointment  from  the  county  commissioners,  at  their  Sep- 
tember term,  1829,  to  hold  his  ofiice  until  the  next  meeting 
of  the  General  Assembly.  He  continued  to  hold  this  office 
until  1835,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Abner  Pyle,  Jr.,  who 
had  been  elected  by  the  people.  Thomas  H.  Campbell  was 
elected  in  1839;  Abner  Pyle,  Jr.,  1842;  Nathaniel  B.  Dill- 
horn,  1843;  Nelson  Holt.  1847;  John  II.  Hutchings,  1848; 
Samuel  Katon,  1849;  James  M  Montague,  1851  ;  Isham  E. 
Willis,  1855;  Robert  Steele,  1857;  David  L  Benson,  1861  ; 
William  H.  Lovehdy,  1863,  and  held  the  office  until  May 
2d  1870,  when  he  resigned  and  was  succeeded  by  William 
Golightly,  who  served  until  1871  ;  John  W.  Tyler,  1871  ;  J. 
J  Flack,  1875;  William  Collins,  1879,  and  died  while  in 
office,  and  was  suci  ?eded,  in  1881,  by  J.  J.  Flack,  who  now 
holds  the  office. 

Riaoi;i)i:i:. 

The  following  have  filled  the  (rffice  of  recorder,  an  office 
now  coupled  with  that  of  circuit  clerk  :  Humphrey  B.  Jones 
was  elected  in  l'\35  ;  John  D.  Burklow  in  1839;  .Sylvester 
Adams  in  1812;  William  J.  Weir  iu  1843,  and  Charles  L. 
Starbuck  in  1847. 

MINE   ISSiPECTOR. 

Prior  to  Sept.  20th,  1877,  the  county  surveyors  were  ex- 
officio  inspector  of  mines,  but  the  law  changing  and  requiring 
the  board  of  county  commissioners  to  appoint  a  practical 
miner  to  that  office,  Tliouiiis  Penwarden  was  appointed  Sept. 
20,  1877,  and  filled  that  office  until  Sept ,  issi),  when  he  was 
succeeded  by  Thomas  Bailey,  who  now  fills  the  office,  and 
looks  after  the  safety  of  his  fellow  workmeu. 

CORONFRS. 

Amos  Anderson  was  elected  May  7,  1827,  at  the  first 
election  held  in  the  county,  and  was  re-elected  in  1828,  serv- 
ing until  1S31  ;  David  Baldridge,  1831  ;  Matthew  Jones, 
1832;  David  Baldridge,  1834;  Aaron  Lipe,  1836;  Thomas 
Armstrong,  1838;  John  R.  Hutchings,  1840,  and  continued 
in  office  until  1848;  John  L.  Baldridge,  1848;  John  R. 
Hutchings,  1850 ;  John  Wheatley,  1852 ;  Fleetwood  B. 
Garner,  elected  in  1854;  John  Wheatley,  elected  iu  1856, 
and  continued  in  office  until  lN(i2;  Robert  Craig.  1862  and 
1864;  Warren  Wheatley,  1866  ;  George  U.  Tafi't,  1868  aud 
1870;  William  G,  Anderson,  1872;  William  G.  Gordon, 
1874;  Martin  Smith,  1876;  William  G.  Gordon,  1878, 
died  November  11,  1879,  when  Joseph  Ogborn  was  ap- 
pointed his  successor,  and  re-elected  to  the  oflSce  in  1 880. 

SCHOOL   COMMISSIONERS. 

The  first  to  hold  this  office  was  David  Baldridge,  appointed 
by  the  commissioners'  court  in  1831,  and  continued  in  office 
until  1845,  having  been  elected  by  the  people  in  1841  and 
184 , ;  he  had  been  followed  by  Charles  L.  Starbuck  in 
1845;  William  H.Turner  in  1846;  Nelson  Holt  in  1847  ; 
Marmaduke  Ferguson  in  1849  ;  Samuel  Eaton  from  1850 
to  18.54  ;  Isham  E.  Willis,  18.54  to  1857  ;  Zebedee  P  Curlee, 
1857  to  1861 ;  Charles  E.  R.  Winthropin  1861,  and  Richard 
M.  Davis  in  1863. 

COUNTY   SUPERINTENDENTS. 

James  W.  Blair  elected  in  1865  for  a  term  of  four  years; 


180 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND    PERRY  COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


Benajah  G.  Roots  in  1869  ;  John  B.  Ward  in  1873,  who  now 
holds  the  fffice. 

COUNTY   DIRECTORS   FOR   CHESTER    Si  TAMAROA    RAILROAD. 

Under  the  provi>ions  of  an  Act  o""  the  General  Assembly, 
in  force  A])ril  16  1869,  T.  M  Sunjs  and  Jaiuis  Ritchie  were 
comnaissioned  as  such  i  ffieers',  June  7,  1871. 

STATE    AND    COUNTY    ATTORNEYS. 

David  J.  Baker  pro  tem.  for  first  terra  of  Court,  August 
28,  1827;  James  Sample,  pro  tem.,  August  term,  1828; 
Kichard  J.  Hamilton,  pro  tern.,  April  terra.  1829;  Henry 
Eddy,  October  term,  1829;  Richard  J.  Harailton,  April 
term,  1830  ;  Alexander  F.  Grant,  pro  tem.,  October  term, 
1830;  Walter  B.  Scales,  pro  ttm.,  April  term,  1831  ;  Alex- 
ander F.  Grant,  pro  tem.,  October  term,  1831  ;  Walter  B. 
Scates,  pro  tem.,  April  term,  1832;  Alexander  F.  Grant, 
pro  tem.,  October  term,  1832  ;  Walter  B.  Scates,  pro  tem  , 
April  term,  1833  ;  Walter  B.  Scates,  pro  tem.,  October  term 
1833,  April  term,  1834,  and  October  term,  1834;  John 
Dougherty  made  his  first  appearance  May  term,  1835  ; 
David  J.  Baker,  October  term,  1837  ;  Samuel  Marshall, 
July  term,  183?;  Wm.  H.  Stickney,  May  term,  1839; 
Wm.  H.  Underwood,  April  term,  1843;  Philip  B.  Fouke, 
April  term,  1847  ;  P.  P.  Hamilton,  October  term,  1855; 
George  Abbott  was  appointed  states  attorney,  pro  tem.,  at 
the  May  term,  1856  ;  Monroe  C  Crawford  first  appeared  at 
the  April  temi,  1857  ;  George  W.  Wall,  April  term,  1^65  ; 
Robert  R.  Townes,  April  term,  1869  ;  R  M.  Davis,  appointed 
by  county  court,  July  16,  lh72  ;  D.  W.Fountain,  elected 
November,  1872  ;  Richard  M.  Davis,  November,  1876 ;  and 
Mortimer  C.  Edwards,  November,  1880. 

CIRCUIT  JUDGES. 

Theophilus  W.  Smith,  a  justice  of  the  supreme  court,  pre 
sided  over  the  August  term,  1827,  and  the  August  term, 
1828;  and  was  followed  by  Thomas  C.  Browne,  justice  of 
the  supreme  court  who  presided  over  the  Perry  county  cir- 
cuit court  from  April,  1829,  to  October,  1834  ;  Alexander 
F.  Grant,  judge,  May  terra,  1835  ;  Jepthath  Hardin,  judge, 
May  term,  1836  ;  Walter  B.  Scates,  judge,  up  to  including 
October  term,  1841  ;  James  Senipte,justice  of  supreme  court, 
April  term,  1843;  James  Shields,  justice  of  supreme  court, 
up  to  including  September  term,  1844;  Gustavus  P.  Koerner, 
up  to  including  October  term,  1848  ;  Wm.  H  Underwood, 
up  to  including  May  term,  1855  ;  Sidney  Breese,  up  to  in- 
cluding October  term,  1866  ;  Wm  K.  Parrish,  up  to  includ- 
ing April  term,  1859  ;  Alexander  M.  Jenkins,  up  to  includ- 
ing September  term,  1863;  John  H.  Mulkey,  including 
September  term,  1865;  Wm.  H.  Green,  April  terra  1867  ; 
Monroe  C.  Crawford,  November  term,  1872;  since  which 
date  Araos  Watts  has  been  presiding  over  said  court,  alter- 
nating with  judges  George  W.  Wall  and  William  H.  Snyder, 
since  June  16,  1873. 


CHAPTER    IX. 


BENCH  AXD    BAR. 


RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

O  follow  in  cocsecutive  order 
the  history  of  the  Bench 
and  Bar  of  Randolph,  the 
oldest  settled  part  of  Illinois, 
is  a  pleasing  and  yet  arduous 
undertaking.  Twenty-four 
years  had  elapsed  after  ihe 
first  settlement  of  Kaskaskia, 
before  any  form  of  civil 
government  was  attempted. 
Without  such  form,  legal 
enactments  were  unknown 
outside  of  the  church  ;  and  even  after  its  introduction,  the 
people  were  largely  a  law  unto  themselves,  although  dif- 
ferences were  adjusted  by  the  Commis'^ary  of  Louisiana. 
D'Artacjuette  was  the  first  appointment  of  the  French  gov- 
ernment to  this  position,  in  the  year  1708.  In  1712  a 
change  was  made,  in  that  a  wealthy  merchant  of  Paria 
named  Crozat  was  appointed  as  D'Artaquelte's  .successor, 
and  became  supreme  judge  over  the  actions  of  the  people  of 
the  great  valley.  In  1717  he  was  succeeded  by  the  ''Com- 
pany of  the  West,"  whose  aifairs  were  wildly  administered 
for  two  years  by  John  Law,  a  Scotchman,  whose  ideas  re- 
specting banking  and  adjustment  of  titles,  gained  for  him 
an  unsavory  reputation.  In  1719  the  ''  Royal  Company  of 
the  Indies,"  whatever  such  appellation  might  mean,  obtained 
the  power  and  located  M.  Boisbriant  and  De  Ursins  at  Fort 
Chartres  as  their  legal  agents.  Under  this  regime  a  series 
of  articles  bearing  the  faintest  semblance  of  legal  enact- 
ments were  adopted  in  1721.  The  first  recognition  of  lex 
scripta  proved  a  rallying  point  for  the  early  settlers, — a  little 
pebble  of  civilization  dropped  into  the  centre  of  the  wild 
ocean  of  savage  life,  the  circling  ripple  enlarged  and  enlisted 
the  attention  of  all.  In  1732  the  charter  of  this  company 
was  surrendered  to  the  French  government,  and  M.  D'Arta- 
quette  was  appointed  governor  of  Illinois.  La  Buissoniere 
was  appointed  his  successor  and  held  sway  until  1751,  when 
he  was  succeeded  by  Chevalier  McCarty.  His  successor,  M. 
Ange  de  Belle  Rive,  was  the  last  of  the  French  governors, 
as  in  1763  the  country  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  English. 
On  the  arrival  of  Captain  Stirling  of  the  Royal  Highland- 
ers in  1765,  Gov.  Rive  retired  to  St.  Louis.  Capt.  Stirling 
died  soon  after  his  arrival,  and  was  buried  at  Fort  Chan  res. 
He  was  succeeded  by  Major  Frazier,  and  soon  after  by  Col. 
Reed,  who  became  notorious  for  his  military  ojipressions, 
based  largely  upon  what  he  considered  breaches  of  law.  His 
career  was,  however,  short,  as  he  was  succeeded  in  1768  by 
Col.  Wilkins,  who,  by  the  authority  of  General  Gage,  then 
Commander  of  the  British  Army  in  America,  established  a 
court  of  justice.  He  appointed  seven  judges,  who  held 
court  at  Fort  Chartres,  commencing  on  the  6th  of  December, 
1768.  This  was  the  first  court  of  common  law  jurisdiction 
ever  held   in   the   Mississippi  valley.      Prior,  even  under 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS 


181 


the  enactinents  of  1721,  the  governor  sat  as  judge,  and  held 
uurestrictfd  power  iu  passing  sentence. 

In  1787,  Metsrs.  Parsons,  Barnuni  and  Syraraes  were  ap- 
pointed United  States  Judges,  having  jurisdiction  over  the 
Niirtliwest  Territorv,  with  headquarters  at  Kaskaskia.  Al- 
though their  appointment  dated  from  1787,  they  did  not 
arrive  in  Kaskaskia  until  1790.  Immediately  after  their 
arrival  a  court  of  common  pleas  was  instituted,  and  John 
Edgar,  of  Kaskaskia,  and  Jean  Bajjtiste  Barbeau  of  Prairie 
du  Rod  er,  were  appointed  as  Judges,  each  holding  court  in 
the  district  of  his  residence.  Many  of  the  old  records  of 
Randolph  county  attest  their  fairness  in  dealing  with  aflairs 
brought  to  their  attention. 

John  Edgar  was  a  native  of  Ireland.  As  a  subject  of 
Great  Britain  he  served  in  her  navy,  which  he  left  during 
the  time  of  the  Ameiican  revolution,  and  in  1784  took  up 
his  residence  in  Kaskaskia.  His  sound  judgment,  liis  quick- 
ness of  perception,  and  great  decision  of  character,  all  con- 
duced to  make  him  a  popular  judge. 

Jean  B.^ptiste  Barbeau  was  a  Canadian  by  birth,  and 
of  French  parentage,  and  one  of  the  founders  of  Prairie  du 
Rocher.  He  was  a  very  influential  man  in  his  community, 
and,  prior  to  his  appointment  as  judge,  was  often  appealed 
to  by  neighbors  as  an  arbitrator  of  petty  differences. 

In  17fl5  a  reorganization  of  the  court  of  common  pleas 
took  effect,  and  the  following  were  appointed  as  judges: 

John  Edgar,  William  Morrison,  Pierre  Menard,  Robert 
McMahon,  George  Fisher,  John  Beard,  Robert  Reynolds, 
Nathaniel  Hull,  Antoine  Louvier,  John  Grovenier,  James 
Finney,  and  Samuel  Cochran. 

It  appears,  however,  tliat  most  of  the  work  devolving  upon 
these  twelve  men  was  done  by  John  Edgar. 

In  1809  this  court  was  superseded  by  the  county  court^ 
composed  of  justices  of  the  peace,  three  of  whom  were 
necessary  to  constitute  a  quorum.     Their  names  were  : 

Philip  Fouke,  Henry  Levens,  William  Arundel,  Samuel 
Onielveny,  John  McFerren,  Paul  Harrelston,  David  Ander- 
son, Archibald  Thompson,  John  Phelps,  Alexander  Wilson 
and  Robert  Gaston. 

In  1814  this  court  wa-s  again  changed,  and  the  court  of 
common  pleas  reinstated  with  members  as  follows  : 

John  McFerren,  William  Morrison,  James  Finney,  David 
Andei^on,  Philip  Fouke,  George  Fisher,  Archibald  Thomp- 
son, Antoine  Chenttt,  ^Miles  Ilotchkiss,  and  Pierre  La 
Corapte. 

Upon  the  organization  of  Illinois  Territory  in  1809,  a 
higher  count,  called  the  General  Court,  was  established.  As 
judges  of  this  court,  there  appears  from  the  records,  the 
names  Jesse  B.  Thomas,  Obadiah  James,  Alexander  Stuart, 
Stanley  Griswold,  Wra.  Sprigg,  John  Reynolds,  Daniel  P. 
Cook  and  John  Warnock. 

In  the  year  1813  the  territory  was  re-districted  into  three 
judicial  districts,  as  set  forth  iu  the  following  act: 

"  Be  it  known,  that  under  an  Act  of  Congress,  entitled 
'  An  Act  regulating  and  defining  the  duties  of  the  United 
States  Judges  for  the  Territory  of  Illinois,'  it  is  allotted  to 
Jesse  B.  Thomas  to  preside  in  the  first  circuit ;  to  William 


Sprigg  to  preside  in  the  second,  and  to  Thomas  Fowler  to 

preside  in  the  third  circuit." 

In  18.'55  the  judiciary  of  Illinois  was  remodeled  and  re- 
organized, at  which  time  the  circuit  court  was  establibhed. 
The  following  persons  have  acted  in  the  capacity  of  Judges: 

183\  Sidney  Breese ;  1843,  James  Shields;  1845,  Gus- 
tavus  Koerner ;  1849,  W.  H.  Underwood  ;  18o.5,  Sidney 
Breese;  1858,  H.  K.  S.  Omelveny;  1800,  Silas  L.  Bryan; 
1872,  Amos  Watts. 

Upon  the  reorganization  of  the  courts  of  Illinois  taking 
eifect  July  1,  1879,  the  following  became  the  Circuit  Judges 
of  the  circuit:  Amos  Watts,  George  W.  Wail,  AV^illiam  H. 
Snyder. 

Of  all  the  above  judges  only  three  were  residents  of  Ran- 
dolph and  Monroe  counties.  Sidney  Breese  and  James 
Shields  were  both  at  one  time  residents  of  Kaskaskia,  Raii- 
doljih  county,  and  H.  K.  S.  Omelveny,  of  Waterloo,  Mon- 
roe county. 

Sidney  Breese,  born  in  Oneida  county,  New  York,  in 
1800,  after  graduation  from  Union  College  in  1818  came  to 
Illinois,  and  located  first  in  Kaskaskia,  where  he  studied 
law  with  Elias  Kent  Kane  He  was  soon  after  admitted  to 
practice.  His  first  efibrts  before  a  jury  were  so  very  un- 
satisfactory to  himself  that  he  determined  to  quit  the  pro- 
fession forever.  Friends  interceded,  and  encouraged  him  to 
try  again.  In  1822  he  was  appointed  attorney  of  the  second 
cieuit,  which  position  he  held  for  five  years.* 

James  Shields,  a  native  of  Ireland,  began  the  practice  of 
law  in  Kaskaskia  in  18.32.  Prior  to  engaging  in  this  pro- 
fession he  taught  school.  It  was  during  his  experience  in 
the  school-room  that  he  prosecuted  the  study  of  law.  As  a 
debater  in  a  literary  society,  organized  in  Kaskaskia  in  1833, 
he  was  said  to  have  excelled  all  his  fellows.  In  1830-7  he 
represented  Randolph  county  in  the  State  Legislature. 
During  the  progress  of  the  Mexican  War.he  was  appointed 
Brigadier-General.  At  the  battle  of  Cerro  Gordo  he  was 
severely  wounded.  Iu  1849  he  was  elected  United  States 
Senator  from  Illinois.  He  subsequently  represinted  Minne- 
sota and  Missouri  in  the  same  body,  thus  representing  three 
different  States  in  the  Senate  ;  a  distinction  never  befi)re 
enjoyed  by  political  aspirants.  His  challenge  to  Abraham 
Lincoln  to  fight  a  duel  has  become  historical.  Lincoln, 
having  choice  of  weapons,  selected  broadswords,  Shields 
being  a  small,  short  armed  man,  wliile  Lincoln  was  a  tall, 
sinewy,  long-armed  man,  as  stout  as  Hercules.  Shields 
evidently  was  "in  for  it."  Friends  interfered,  and  the  duel 
was  averted. 

Shields  was  a  warmhearted,  impulsive  Irishman  ;  a  brave 
and  gallant  soldier;  an  excellent  judge  of  law;  an  advocate 
of  marked  ability.  He  died  at  Ottumwa,  Iowa,  in  June, 
1879. 

H.  K.  S.  Omelveny,  a  lawyer  of  marked  ability,  a  judge 
of  fine  attainments,  was  a  native  of  Monroe  county.  He 
was  a  self-made  man,  a  close  observer,  a  critical  student,  a 
man  of  derided  judicial  turn  of  mind.  He  served  in  the 
Mexican  War,  and  in  18i,8  was  elected  Judge  of  the  Circuit 

*  For  a  more  full  i<ketch  of  Judge  Ureeee  s6o  ai'liclc  od  "  Beach  and  Bar, 
Perry  county." 


182 


HISTORY   OF  RANDOLPH,  MONROE  AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS 


Court.  In  this  capacity  he  proved  his  worth  ;  his  tlecisions 
were  clear,  forcible,  concise,  and  exhibited  a  thoroiigli  and 
sound  knowledge  of  the  law.  In  IStSG  Judge  Oiiielveny 
moved  to  Los  Angeles,  California,  whither  his  reputation  as 
an  able  jurist  has  followed  hiiu. 

FORMER  MEMBERS   OP   THE   BAR,  RANDOLPH   COUNTY. 

The  name  of  the  first  attorney  to  practice  in  the  courts  of 
Kaskaskia,  so  far  as  any  record  now  extant  shows,  is  that  of 
La  Buinieux,  who  presented  a  petition  to  the  court  against 
Richard  Winston,  April  29,  1872.  Of  his  character  or 
abilities  nothing  is  known  save  that  he  was  a  man  of  keen, 
shrewd  ways,  and  exercised  considerable  power  among  his 
fellows.  His  name  subsequently  occurs  in  many  cases 
brought  before  the  court  from  June  5,  1787,  to  February 
15,  1788,  during  which  time  the  court  seems  to  have  been 
pretty  much  in  the  hands  of  one  family,  as  three  of  the  five 
justices  are  named  Beauvais.  Of  these  Antoine  Beauvais 
was  the  presiding  justice.  The  first  English-speaking  at- 
torney was  John  Rice  Jones. 

John  Rice  Jones,  who  was  born  in  Wales  in  17-)!l,  re- 
ceived a  classical  educalion,  studied  law  in  England,  and 
became  a  resilient  of  Kaskaskia  in  1790.  Being  an  accom- 
plished scholar,  a  fluent  speaker  and  skilled  in  the  law,  he 
acquired  a  great  reputation  among  early  settlers  as  an  advo- 
cate. His  practice  extended  from  Louisvi'le  and  Vinccnnes 
on  the  south  and  east  to  the  limits  of  the  white  settlements  on 
the  north  and  west.  He  had  acquired  some  reputation  as  a 
lawyer  in  Philadelphia,  which  city  he  left  for  the  West  in 
1787,  locating  first  at  Vincennes,  Ind.  As  a  speaker  his 
capacity  under  excitement  was  extraordinary.  His  excel- 
lent knowledge  of  the  French  language  was  of  great  advan- 
tage in  enabling  him  to  tran.-iact  business  for  tlie  French 
population.  He  never  permitted  himself  to  be  idle,  nor  en- 
gaged in  light  or  trivolous  amusements.  He  nniaintd  in 
Kaskaskia,  in  the  enjoyment  of  an  extensive  practice,  until 
1802,  when  he  returned  to  Vincennes.  In  the  same  year  lie 
was  appointed  a  United  States  Judge  of  Indiana  Territory. 
He  afterwards  moved  to  St.  Louis,  and  finally  to  Washing- 
ton county,  Missouri.  He  was  a  candidate  in  opposition  to 
Thomas  H.  Benton  for  the  United  States  Senate  before  the 
first  General  Assembly  of  Jlissouri,  but  was  defeated.  He 
was  elected  by  the  same  Legislature  one  of  the  Judges  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  Missouri,  which  office  he  held  until  his 
death  in  1824. 

Rice  Jones,  the  oldest  son  of  John  Rice  Jones,  obtained 
a  legal  education  in  Connecticut  and  located  in  Kaskaskia 
in  180G.  His  talents  however  were  of  that  order  which 
lead  men  to  seek  the  excitement  of  political  life  in  prefer- 
ence to  the  comparative  quiet  of  a  straightforward  profes- 
sional career.  This  ambition  led  to  his  death.  He  had  a 
difficulty  with  Governor  Bond  growing  out  of  political  dif- 
ferences. The  preliminaries  for  a  duel  were  arranged.  The 
parties  met  upon  the  appointed  ground,  and  just  before  the 
word  was  given  to  fire,  Jones'  pistol  went  off  accidentally 
and  Bond  refused  to  fire.  The  matter  between  himself  and 
Bond  was  amicably  adjusted,  but  a  controversy  between 
Dunlap,  Bond's  second,  and  Jones  grew  out  of  it  which  be- 


came most  bitter  and  unrelenting.  One  afternoon,  as  Jones 
was  standing  on  the  side  of  a  street  engaged  in  conversation 
with  a  lady,  Dunlap  approached  and  shot  him  dead.  Thus 
tragically  was  the  early  bar  of  Illinois  deprived  of  one  of 
its  most  promising  members,  and  politics  of  a  bright  parti- 
cular star. 

David  Jewitt  Baker,  a  native  of  Conaecticat,  came  to 
Kaskaskia  to  ])ractice  law  in  1S18.  He  was  a  graduate  of 
Hamilton  College,  New  York.  As  a  lawyer  he  became  dis- 
tinguished and  eminent.  In  1829  he  was  appointed  United 
States  Senator  from  Illinois  by  Governor  EJwards.  While 
in  Congress  he  successfully  carried  through  the  measure  for 
disposing  of  public  lands  in  tracts  of  forty  acre.s,  a  change 
highly  beneficial  to  settlers.  In  183  j  he  was  appointed 
United  States  Attorney  for  Illinois  by  President  Jackson 
and  was  reappointed  in  1837  by  President  Van  Buren.^ 
Politicall}'  he  was  a  pronounced  advocate  for  the  prohibition 
of  human  slavery.  When  it  was  attempted  to  introduce  the 
iniquitous  traffic  into  this  State,  he  turned  his  whole  power 
against  it.  For  his  bold  utterances  he  was  attacked  in  the 
streets  of  Kaskaskia  by  Governor  Reynolds,  of  Missouri. 
The  marks  of  the  bludgeon  used  by  Governor  Reynolds  on 
Judge  Baker's  head  was  carried  by  him  to  his  dying  day.  In 
1844  he  moved  to  Alton  where  he  continued  his  professional 
career  until  1854,  when  he  retired  to  enjoy  a  well  earned 
quiet  during  the  evening  of  life.  He  died  August  6,  1809. 
Chief  Justice  Breese  said  of  him  in  closing  an  address  re- 
counting his  worth.  "In  a  few  words  he  was  a  ripe  scholar, 
a  genial  gentleman,  a  faithful  friend,  a  true  patriot  and  a 
Christian,  and  well  worthy  of  the  honors  this  day  due  to  his 
memory." 

Elias  Kent  Kani;  commenced  the  practice  of  law  in 
Kaskaskia  in  1814.  lie  was  a  man  of  brilliant  talents,  and 
rose  to  a  high  position  among  the  members  of  the  bar.  He 
served  in  the  Slate  Legislature  with  distinguished  ability ; 
by  that  body  he  was  elected  to  the  United  States  Senate. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Fir.-^t  Constitutional  Convention  of 
Illinois  which  convened  in  Kaskaskia  in  July,  1818.  He 
died  in  18:!o  whilst  a  member  of  the  United  States  Senate. 

Natii.vniicl  Pope  first  appeared  in  Kaskaskia  in  1804, 
but  soon  left,  for  St.  Genevieve,  Missouri,  where  he  remained 
until  1808,  when  he  returned  and  took  up  his  permanent 
residence  in  Kaskaskia.  Upon  the  organization  of  Illinois 
as  a  territory  in  18(i9,  he  was  app  liuted  .Secretary — a  posi- 
tion he  held  until  181(5.  In  1817  he  was  elected  a  territorial 
delegate  to  Congress,  and  became  a  very  iutluential  member 
of  that  body.  It  was  by  his  ttlbrts  that  the  northern  boun- 
dary of  the  State  was  changed  from  a  line  running  due  west 
from  the  southern  part  of  Lake  Michigan,  and  fixed  upon 
latitude  foity-two  and  a-half  degrees  north.  Upon  the  ad- 
mission of  Illinois  into  the  Federal  Union,  Pope  was  ap- 
pointed judge  of  the  United  States  District  Court,  which 
office  he  held  for  more  than  thirty  years.  Nature  fitted  him 
for  the  bench,  and  he  occujiied  the  position  with  such  ability 
and  dignity  as  elevated  him  to  a  high  rank  among  the  jurists 
of  the  country.  He  was  the  father  of  General  John  Pope, 
who  figured  in  our  late  civil  war,  and  is  memorable  for  having 
dated  his  military  orders  "  From  headquarters,  jn  the  saddle." 


HISTORY    OF   liANDOLPH,    MOMROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


183 


James  Haggan  came  from  Kentucky  to  Illinois,  locating 
in  Kaskaskia  for  the  practice  of  law  in  1804.  He  was  a 
man  of  marked  ability.  He  remained  l)ut  a  short  time,  re- 
turning to  Kentucky,  where  he  became  a  Judge  of  more 
than  ordinary  reputation.  Simultaneously  with  hira  came 
Benjamin  H.  Doyle  and  John  Rector  to  engage  in  the  same 
profession. 

John  Rkctok's  stay  in  Kaskaskia  was  but  temporary. 
He  was  o:.j  of  a  family  of  nine  brothers,  some  of  whom 
attained  en/inence  as  surveyors  of  public  lands. 

jAJtiis  '^uiN.v  located  in  Kaskaskia  in  1^.3(5.  He  was  a 
studious  pains-taking  lawyer,  though  not  a  man  of  broad 
culture  iior  profound  knowledge.  At  one  time  he  was  clerk 
oftlie  ircuit  court  of  this  county.  Immediately  after  the 
M;;xi"an  war  iu  which  he  took  part  he  located  in  the  terri- 
tory of  New  Jlexico,  where  he  was  subsequently  appointed 
Judge. 

Hrcui  Murray  lived  in  Kaskaskia  some  time  before  the 
breaking  out  of  the  ]Nfexiean  war,  and  practiced  law.  He 
entered  the  army  i'.  1846  and  subsequently  went  to  Cali- 
fornia wnere  he  became  Judge  of  ihe  Circuit  Court. 

Francis  B.  Anderson,  for  years  a  school  teacher,  during 
which  time  he  prosecuted  the  study  of  law  and  practiced  a  few 
years  iu  the  courts  of  Randolph  county.  He  was  very  pre- 
cise in  his  use  of  language — prided  himself  greatly  on  pro- 
nunciation. He  was  a  brilliant  speaker,  being  a  fine  rhetori- 
cian. Some  years  since  he  moved  to  Kansas  where  he  is  yet 
engaged  in  practice.  Gov.  Bissell  declared  of  him  that  lie 
had  passed  the  best  examination  of  any  one  he  had  ever  ex- 
amined for  admission  to  the  bar. 

Jami:s  L.  D.  Morri.sox  was  born  at  Kaskaskia  on  the 
twelth  of  April,  181().  When  si.xteen  years  of  age  he  was 
appointed  midshipman  in  the  United  States  navy.  While 
confined  in  the  naval  hospital  at  I'eusacola,  Florida,  he 
commenced  reading  law.  In  183G  hj  returned  to  Kaskas- 
kia where  he  was  soon  after  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  was  a 
Lieutenant-Colonel  in  the  ^Mexican  war,  and  f  lUght  with 
General  Taylor  in  all  his  battles,  from  Palo  Alto  to  Buena 
Vista.  He  is  a  man  of  elegant  manners,  and  of  a  gallant 
and  chivalrous  nature.  He  has  altainid  considerable  dis- 
tinction as  a  real-est?le  lawyer. 

Thomas  Bond  eldest  son  of  Governor  15ond,  practiced 
law  for  several  years  iu  Randolph  county  and  when  in  the 
vigor  and  strength  of  manhood's  youth  and  promise  died  in 
1^49. 

James  H.  Watt  was  a  native  of  Tennessee  and  came  to 
Rand(  iph  county  with  his  parents  when  he  was  quite  young. 
He  was  brought  up  on  a  farm  and  had  only  the  advantage 
of  a  common  school  education.  During  the  gold  fever  he 
wont  to  California  in  18.51  or  2  where  he  was  very  success- 
ful. After  four  years  there  he  returned  to  his  home.  About 
the  year  1'H.")G  he  began  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  C. 
N.  Htarbird  and  was  admitted  to  the  bariu  18.')7.  The  year 
following  he  was  elected  to  the  state  Legislature  where  he 
was  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  a.^siduous  workers.  At  the 
close  of  his  term  of  office  he  applied  himself  exclusively  to 
his  law  studies  where  he  was  known  as  a  tireless  worker  and 
an  indefatigable  student.     Though  not  brilliant  he  was  al- 


ways regarded  a  good  judge  of  law  and  of  remarkable  in- 
tegrity he  rose  rapidly  in  his  profession  and  stood  at  the 
head  until  his  death  which  occurred  in  a  railroad  disaster 
at  French  Village,  St.  Clair  county,  in  April  1870.  At  the 
time  of  his  death  he  was  a  candidate  for  the  office  of  circuit 
judge  of  the  circuit  in  which  he  lived  with  every  prospect 
of  success.  Mr.  Watt  was  not  a  good  speaker  and  yet  he  was 
an  interesting  talker,  for  he  comprehended  well  every  subject 
he  undertook  to  discuss  and  always  spoke  to  the  point.  He 
never  faltered  in  that  which  he  believed  to  be  right,  and  never 
went  astray  in  hunting  after  policies  or  seeking  for  popularity 
at  the  expense  of  justice. 

Of  all  the  attorneys  of  Rand'l'li  county  perhaps  none  was 
more  conspicuous  than  Thomas  G.  Allen,  a  native  of 
Philadelphia.  He  came  to  this  county  in  18-57  and  devoted 
himself  a.ssiduoUfly  to  his  profession.  A  man  of  extraordinary 
industry  he  was  in  a  few  years  possessed  of  rare  attainments 
in  legal  learning,  but  from  excessjve  study  he  was  of  a 
morose  disposition  which  increased  his  difficulties  in  his 
march  up  the  hi'l  of  fame.  In  the  summer  of  1801  he 
entered  the  servic  of  the  United  States  as  Colonel  of  the 
80th  111.  Vol.  :■  ailing  health  compelled  his  resignation  the 
following  ye:ir.  His  fame  as  a  lawyer  began  with  his  con- 
necticu  with  the  celebrated  Dempsey  murder  case.  From 
that  time  he  rose  rapidly  and  stood  high  among  lawyers  of 
his  time.  He  was  a  man  of  an  "  infinity  of  words,"  hence 
was  ever  ready  with  something  apjjlicable  to  the  work  in 
hand.  He  was  an  orator  of  excellent  tact,  and  ever  ready 
for  debate.  His  greatest  strength  lay  iu  his  pains-taking 
research,  an<l  his  exact  knowledge  of  every  phaseofhisca.se. 
Mr.  Allen  left  Chester  for  St.  Louis  in  IStiO,  where  he  still 
resides. 

C.  N.  Starhird  came  to  Randoli)h  county  about  1846. 
He  was  a  brilliant  lawyer  and  had  the  advantages  of  a 
classical  education,  being  a  graduate  of  one  of  the  best 
colleges  of  New  England.  His  was  a  mo.st  propitious  begin- 
ning and  the  future  seemed  to  be  promising;  honor  and  fame 
seemed  in  easy  reach.  He  gained  popularity  in  a. short  time, 
being  a  fine  orator  and  an  attractive  speaker,  but  his  bright 
prospects  were  blighted  from  inordinate  use  of  strong  drink. 
He  died  in  1857. 

James  M.  Rai.i.s  was  a  native  of  Randolph  county,  and 
was  often  spoken  of  as  being  "  the  luckiest  man  that  ever 
lived.''  He  had  the  advantage  of  a  liberal  education.  While 
he  was  quite  young  he  was  appointed  clerk  of  the  circuit 
court  to  fill  a  vacancy.  To  this  oiftice  h$-was  twice  after- 
wards elected.  In  1861  he  was  elected  jwdge  of  the  county 
court  As  a  practitioner  his  success  was  remarkable.  It 
seemed  to  an  observer  that  success,  indeed,  courted  his 
friendship,  and  that,  too,  but  to  betray.  Possessed  of  a  tena- 
cious memory,  in  his  manners  aft'able,  he  was  the  friend  of 
all.  Not  a  close  student ;  indeed  it  was  said  of  him  "  that 
he  didn't  read  law,  he  simply  .sat  around  with  the  boys  and 
inhaled  it."  In  1870  he  was  cloct^d  a  member  of  the  legis- 
lature. Here  his  convivial  habits  obtained  the  mastery 
over  him,  bringing  on  a  lingering  illness,  of  which  he  died 
in  1879. 

P.  P.  Hamilton,  the  son  of  a  Presbyterian  clergyman, 


184 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


came  to  Randolph  county  in  1849,  to  engage  in  the  practice 
of  law.  lu  1854  he  moved  to  Alton,  and  soun  after  engaged 
as  a  preacher  of  the  M.  E.  faith. 

Capt  Johnson,  who  came  from  Nashville,  111 ,  in  1849, 
■was  a  man  of  brilliance — a  fascinating  speaker.  His  legal 
career  here  was  short,  as  he  died  in  18.51. 

John  N.  Hoi.loway,  a  native  of  Indiana,  came  to  Ran- 
dolph county  in  1872.  Th-^  family  is  of  English  origin.  He 
was  a  graduate  of  Asl)ury  University,  Indiana,  from  which 
institution  he  graduated  in  1862.  For  some  years  he  taught 
school.  In  1868  he  published  a  History  of  Kansas,  of  which 
State  he  had  been  for  two  years  a  resident.  In  1872  he  came 
to  Chester,  as  principal  of  the  public  schools.  In  1874  he 
was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  soon  formed  a  copartnership 
with  J.  Perry  Johnsjn.  He  left  the  county  under  a  cloud 
caused  by  his  shortcomings. 

J.Perry  Johnson  was  admitted  to  practice  in  ]8-j9; 
located  in  Chester  in  1861.  In  1864  he  was  elected  State's 
attorney  for  the  second  judicial  district.  He  soon  took  rank 
among  the  able  lawyers  of  southern  Illinois.  He  now  resides 
in  Perryville,  Missouri,  where  he  has  a  large  practice.  As 
an  attorney,  he  is  clear,  forcible  and  accurate  ;  and  during 
his  residence  in  this  county  had  au  extensive  practice,  and- 
by  his  genial  and  affable  manners  won  hosts  of  friends. 

In  the  good  old  times,  when  attorneys  rode  the  circuit, 
their  practice  e.\;tending  from  Shelbyville  to  Cairo,  and  from 
Vincennes  to  the  Mississippi  river,  many  interesting  expe- 
riences were  encountered.  Kaskaskia,  the  centre  of  western 
civilization,  offered  many  of  these  episodes.  To  practice 
here  came  such  men  as  Judge  Breese,  Gen.  Semple,  Joseph 
Gillespie,  Usher  F.  Linder,  Governor  Reynolds,  Lyman 
Trumbull,  Adam  Snyder  and  a  host  of  others. 

As  related  by  Gillespie,  he  and  Linder  put  up,  during  the 
term  in  183(),  with  one  Deevers  at  Kaskaskia.  It  was  Lin- 
der's  first  appearance  at  Kaskaskia.  "He  took  a  stroll 
about  town,  and  soon  returned  with  his  budget  of  news. 
Amongst  other  items,  he  had  discovered  that  our  landlord 
had  sued  a  man  named  Campbell  in  assault  and  battery, 
laying  his  damages  at  81.00U,  and  expected  a  heavy  ver- 
dict on  account  of  having  lost  a  portion  of  his  ear  in  the 
skirmish.  Campbell  had  offered  Linder  a  small  fee  at  a 
venture,  which  the  other  declined,  not  knowing,  as  he  said, 
but  that  the  landlord  would  employ  him,  and  if  he  did,  he 
would  make  it  pay  both  our  board  bills.  I  liked  the  scheme, 
but  told  Linder  that  I  thought  Deevers  had  set  his  heart  on 
getting  Trumbull  to  assist  Baker,  his  resident  lawyer.  But 
I  agreed  to  try  and  get  him  in  for  Deevers.  Soon  after,  the 
landlord  inquired  who  my  companion  was.  I  pretended  to 
be  much  surprised,  and  said,  '  Is  it  possible  you  don't  know 
Gen.  Linder,  the  attorney  general,  the  greatest  lawyer  in  the 
State  in  a  certain  class  of  cases?  In  slander  ca.ses  or  in 
assault  and  battery,  particularly  the  latter  class,  he  has  no 
equal ;  and  if  you  have  any  friend  who  has  an  assault  and 
battery  case,  tell  him  by  all  means  to  hasten  and  employ 
Linder.'  Deever  did  not '  bite,'  however,  and  I  told  the 
general.  'Well,'  said  he,  'if  he  don't,  I'll  close  with 
Campbell,  and  give  Boniface  h — 1!'  Sunday  night  Trum- 
bull drove  up,  and  the  landlord  sprang  to  the  side  of  his 


buggy  and  engaged  him  before  he  could  get  out.  I  reported 
to  Linder,  and  he  posted  off  and  made  a  bargain  with 
Campbell. 

The  case  was  set  for  Wednesday,  and  the  general  bestowed 
his  undivided  attention  upon  his  only  case.  He  told  me  that 
upon  looking  into  the  case,  he  found  that  if  the  plaintiff's 
attorneys  were  not  looking  out  sharp,  he  would  get  the 
advantage  of  them  in  the  pleadings,  and  then  it  was  the 
'finest  case  he  ever  1  loked  into.' 

His  opponents,  having  their  hands  full  of  business,  fell 
into  the  error  he  had  anticipated,  and  when  the  pleadings 
were  made  up,  Linder  said  of  the  plaintiff,  as  Cromwell  did 
of  the  Scotch  army,  '  The  Lord  hath  delivered  thee  into  my 
hands.'  Linder  said  he  was  going  to  make  one  of  the  finest 
efforts  of  his  life,  and  I  believed  it,  in  so  fiir  that  I  told  my 
acquaintances,  and  among  them  Judge  Pope,  that  there 
would  be  music  in  court  on  Wednesday.  I  said  to  hira  that 
I  thought  Linder  would  outdo  himself  if  he  could  have  some 
ladies  in  the  audience.  The  judge  said  he  would  have  the 
court  room  filled  with  them. 

The  day  arrived  ;  the  evidence  was  heard,  and  the  ladies 
graced  the  room.  Linder  was  in  perfect  trim,  and  when  he 
went  to  the  jury,  the  scene  baffled  description.  My  stock  of 
language  is  totally  inadequate  to  the  task  of  giving  any  defi- 
nite idea  of  the  circumstances.  I  feel  like  Burns,  when  he 
says : 

•But  hore  my  muse  hor  wines  maun  cower, 
Sic  fiiglits  are  far  beyond  tier  power.' 

Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  the  merits  of  the  case  were 
all  with  the  plaintiff  the  jury,  without  leaving  their  box, 
returned  a  verdict  for  the  defendant.  I  was  so  dazed  by  the 
adroitness,  the  eloquence  and  the  masterly  ability  of  Linder 
that  I  was  never  able  to  remember  much  that  he  said.  I 
think  he  gained  the  case  by  ridicule,  by  the  most  brilliant 
displays  of  rhetoric  and  by  dramatic  effect.  It  seemed  to 
me  that  he  had  acquired  absolute  dominion  over  the  jury, 
and  that  if  he  had  called  upon  them  to  render  a  verdict  of 
guilty  of  murder  against  poor  Deevers,  they  would  havedoue 
s  >.  The  jury,  the  audience,  everybody,  was  convulsed  with 
laughter,  from  the  beginning  to  the  end  of  Linder's  argu- 
ment, but  poor  Deevers,  and  he  looked  very  much  like  a 
man  going  to  the  gallows.  Linder  gave  him  the  most  terri- 
ble castigation  man  ever  received.  Not  by  saying  severe  or 
harsh  things  about  him,  but  by  ridiculing  hira  beyond  mea- 
sure. He  literally  laughed  the  case  ont  of  court.  The  court 
adjourned  upon  the  rendition  of  the  verdict,  and  while  we 
were  going  out,  Deevers  said  to  me : 

'Oh  God!  why  didn't  I  take  your  advice,  and  employ 
that  man  ?     I  would  not  have  lost  my  case  if  I  had.' 

'  Deevers,'  said  I,  '  when  I  take  the  pains  to  give  you 
good,  disinterested  advice  hereafter,  you  will  be  apt  to  fol- 
low it.' 

'  Yes,  indead,  I  will,'  said  he. 

The  first  thing  Deevers  would  say  to  me  when  I  met  with 
him  after  that,  would  be  '  Well  Gillespie,  what  a  fool  I  was 
that  I  didn't  take  your  advice  that  time.'  " 

Another  incident  which  occurred  in  Kaskaskia  at  an  early 
day  is  worthy  of  preservation.     Benjamin   Mills,  a  resident 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND    PERRY  COUNTIES,  ILLINOIS. 


185 


of  Greenville.  Bond  Co.  travelled  the  circuit.  He  was  a 
man  of  great  native  wit  and  sarcasm,  which  he  visited  with 
telling  force  U()on  a  fellow  aUoriiey,  (Jeneral  Adams  Adams 
had  for  a  client  a  man  indicted  for  murder ;  to  secure  his  fee 
he  took  a  mortgage  upon  everything  the  fellow  hud,  even 
down  to  his  househohl  and  kitchen  furniture.  His  client 
was  convicted  and  sentence  1  to  be  hung  some  thirty  days 
thereafter,  and  between  the  sentence  and  execution,  Adams 
foreclosed  his  mortgage  and  sold  the  property,  not  leaving 
the  wife  and  children  ot  the  crimnal  a  bed  to  sleep  on,  or  a 
pot  in  which  to  C(K)k  their  dinner.  His  client  was  hung  and 
his  body  was  handed  over  to  the  surgeons  for  scientific,  ex- 
periment. The  doctors  invited  the  lawyers  to  attend,  and 
among  t  the  rest  cirae  General  Adams  anti  Benjamin  Mdls. 
They  had  their  galvanic  battery,  and  placed  one  of  the  poles 
to  his  spinal  column  while  his  body  was  still  warm  and  let  on 
the  electric  fluid.  Immediately  the  corjjs  began  a  series  of 
distortions,  most  horrid  to  look  upon  when  Adams  laying 
his  hand  on  Mills'  shoulder,  said  in  a  sorry,  slow  and 
solemn  voice : 

'■  This  is  a  very  sorrowful  sight." 

'•  Yes,"  said  Ben,  "  it  must  be  very  sorrowerful  to  a  law- 
yer to  see  his  client  skinned  the  second  time." 

General  Adams  sneaked  off  and  left  the  doctors  to  finish 
their  experiment. 

Another  non  resident  attorney  prominent  at  the  Kaskas- 
kia  bar  was  Alexander  P.  Field.  As  a  criminal  lawyer 
he  had  not  at  the  time  a  peer  in  the  Stale  He  was  a  man 
of  fiue  personal  appearance — -about  six  feet  four  inches  high, 
and  possessed  of  very  graceful  gestures  ;  his  voice  was  magi- 
cal;  his  power  over  juries  was,  as  many  old  settlers  attest, 
almost  unlimited.  Not  only  was  he  a  powerful  man  before 
the  courts,  but  as  a  political  speaker  he  could  madden  or 
convulse  his  audience  with  laughter  at  pleasure.  He  was  a 
brother-in-law  of  Nathaniel  Pope,  having  married  his  sister. 
He  went  from  Illinois  to  New  Orleans,  where  he  placed  him- 
self at  the  very  head  of  the  Louisiana  bar. 

PRjaENT  MEMBERS  OF  THE  BAR. 

The  honor  of  being  the  oldest  resident  member  of  the  bar 
of  Randolph  County  belongs  to  Major  J.  C.  Hollbrook,  a 
portrait  and  sketch  of  whom  may  be  found  elsewhere  in  this 
work.  He  studied  law  in  Hamilton,  Ohio,  and  in  the  year 
184-5  came  to  Randolph  county  to  engage  in  the  practice  of 
his  profession.  He  acquired  a  fine  reputation  as  a  lawyer 
and  gained  a  large  and  lucrative  practice.  A  few  years 
since,  owing  to  ill  health,  he  abandoned  active  practice. 

JoHK  MlcHAU,  is  among  the  earlier  practitioners  at  the 
bar,  of  these  now  actively  engaged.  He  is  a  self  made  man, 
has  attained  a  profound  knowledge  of  the  law,  is  a  good 
speaker,  a  cogent,  close  reasoner,  and  the  able  advocates  of 
Southern  Illinois  recognize  in  him  a  "  foeman  worthy  of 
their  sttel."  He  came  to  this  county  in  li^SS  but  did  not 
venture  uj.on  the  practice  of  law  until  18.')9.  He  is  of  an 
ardent  temperanii  nt   has  a  strong  will  and  goes  in  to  win. 

Alexander  Hood  has  been  a  member  of  the  Randolph 
county  bar  since  1862.  He  graduated  from  the  law  depart- 
ment of  the  University  of  Michigan  in  1861.  In  1862  he 
24 


opened  a  law  office  in  Sparta,  bat  soon  after  rem  ived  to 
Chester,  where  he  hn  sinca  resided.  He  has  been  several 
times  elected  city  attorney  for  Chester.  He  is  now  associated 
with  A.  G  G  )rdon.     The  firm  enjoys  an  excellent  practice. 

Abrm.  G.  Gordon  is  among  the  younger  and  rising  mem- 
bers o^'the  Randolph  bar,  to  which  he  was  admitted  in  May 
1871.  He  graduated  from  McKendree  College  in  1871. 
He  soon  after  opened  a  law  ofiice  in  Steelville,  but  in  1874 
removed  to  Chester  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  was  se- 
lected the  first  Prosecuting  Attormy  of  Randolph  county, 
afterward,  the  duties  of  which  he  ably  discharged  for  several 
months.  His  habits  ofclo.se  application,  his  extended  gen- 
eral knowledge  have  given  him  an  intimate  acquaintance 
with  the  law,  svhile  his  natural  talents  fit  him  for  a  high 
professional  rank. 

John  H.  Lendsey,  one  of  the  most  successful  members  of 
the  Randolph  bar,  in  common  with  many  others  made  the 
school-room  a  stepping-stone  to  the  legal  profession.  He 
came  to  this  county  in  18-57,  and  prosecuted  the  work  of 
teaching  with  marked  success  until  1872,  when  he  was 
elected  justice  of  the  peace.  He  at  once  applied  himself  to 
master  the  rudiments  of  law,  and  in  1873  was  elected  county 
judge.  The  duties  of  this  office  he  discharged  with  signal 
ability,  and  soon  entered  upon  a  large  and  constantly  in- 
creasing pracace.  In  partnership  with  him  is  his  son-in- 
law, 

Ralph  E.  Sprigg,  a  native  of  the  county  and  son  o^ 
James  D.  Sprigg,  a  former  prominent  citizen  and  office, 
holder.  Mr.  Sprigg  is  attentive  and  determined.  He  is 
making  the  best  of  his  advantages,  and  success  is  assured. 

Albert  N.  SPRAutJE,  a  native  of  New  York,  came  to 
Randolph  county,  locating  in  Spirta,  in  1869.  He  had 
studied  law  with  Ju  ige  Haiumick,  of  Pinckneyville,  and 
been  admitted  to  practice  the  year  before.  Mr.  Sprague  is 
diligent,  and  has  acquired  considerable  reputation  as  an  ad- 
vocate. 

John  R.  McFie  is  one  of  the  rising  young  lawyers  of 
southern  Illinois.  Was  born  where  he  yet  resides.  Studied 
law  with  J.  B  Jones,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1870. 
He  has  twice  been  elected  a  mendier  of  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives from  his  district,  thus  making  law  a  stepping- 
stone  to  political  preferment.   (See  sketch  elsewhere.) 

Adam  Ru.ssell,  a  young  man  of  acknowledged  ability, 
is  a  native  of  the  county  and  resides  in  Coukerville.  When 
asked  with  whom  he  had  studied  law,  he  promptly  replied, 
"With  Adam  Russell,  fir."  He  was  admitted  in  1874,  and 
has  acquired  a  fiue  local  practice  in  Coukerville,  and  sur. 
rounding  villages. 

Jon.athan  Cuestnutwood,  located  in  Evansville,  of 
which  place  he  is  among  the  oldest  rtsident-x,  is  a  native  of 
Ohio.  Was  educated  in  Marietta  College.  Here  he  studied 
law,  although  he  did  not  enter  upon  its  practice  until  a  few 
years  ago.  In  1874  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  State 
Legislature. 

Reuben  J.  Goddard  is  a  native  of  this  county.  Gradu- 
ated from  the  law  department  of  Michigan  University  in 
1864.  His  practice,  commenced  at  Sparta  immediately 
thereafter,  has  become  large  and  lucrative,  made  so  by  his 


18G 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY  COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


uiifliigi;iiig  zeal  id  behalf  of  the  cause  of  clients  aud  his  close 
scrutiiij  of  the  law.  lu  1870  he  was  elected  prosecuting 
attorney  of  the  Common  Pleas  court  of  Sparta.  Elsewhere 
in  llii.s  "ork  is  a  biogra|>hical  sketch. 

Thomas  T.  ALEXANUt';R  is  a  native  of  Randolph  county- 
Accjuired  his  education  in  the  Indiana  State  University  at 
Blootnington.  When  a  junior,  left  college  to  volunteer  in 
Co.  F,  80lh  Illinois  Regiment.  Read  law  with  J.  C.  Law- 
ber,  now  of  St.  Loi'.s,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at 
Spriiiglield,  1878.     Was  .'iected  city  attorney  in  1.S78. 

J.  C.  Ha\vtho«nk,  a  native  of  Randolph  county,  is  a 
young  and  ambitious  cuember  of  the  bar.  Taught  school 
for  several  years,  aud  while  teaching  was  admitted  to  the 
bar. 

Do.v  E.  Dktrich  was  born  in  Sparta,  this  county.  At- 
tended the  High  School  of  his  native  town.  Studied  law 
with  John  Michau,  and  for  a  year  subsequently  attended 
St.  Louis  Law  School.  He  was  aiimitted  to  practice  in 
187'J,  and  in  1880  was  elec  ted  proseci.ling  uttoiney  for  Ran- 
dolph county.  He  is  a  yo  lug  man  oi  ttuJiou'  habits,  perse- 
verance and  tict. 

William  Hartzell,  a  nat  vo  of  OMj,  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  l.S(14.  Read  law  with  J.  P'jrry  Johnson.  His 
commanding  talents  gained  fi  •  him  tlio  nomination  for  and 
election  to  Congress  as  member  from  his  district  in  1874,  and 
again  in  1876.  As  a  lawyer  he  is  recognized  as  being  pos- 
sessed of  ability,  energy  and  unflagging  zeal.  He  lately 
formed  a  copartnership  with  J.  B.  Simpson. 

J.  B.  SiMJ'sos,  a  native  of  Randolph  county,  is  one  of 
nature's  noblemen.  He  took  up  the  study  of  law  unaided 
by  teacher.  Read  Blackstoue's  Commentaries  whilst  on  his 
father's  larm  As  indicative  of  his  judgment  in  selecting 
text-bonks  as  a  foundation  for  legal  knowledge,  we  learn  he 
read  Walk  t's  American  Law,  Greenleaf  s  Evidence,  Par- 
sons on  Contracts,  Chilly's  Pleadings  aud  Wharton's  Crim- 
inal Law.  Upon  application  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1871.  His  close  application  to  whatever  engages  his  atten- 
tion, his  acknowledged  integrity  of  character  and  his  urbane 
manners  bespeak  him  success.  In  the  campaign  of  1882  he 
was  the  Republican  candidate  for  cuunly  judge,  but  was 
defeated  by  sixteen  votes. 

H.  C.  Horner,  of  whom  a  sketch  may  be  found  elsewhere 
in  this  work,  was  a  native  of  Arkansas.  He  was  admitted 
to  practice  in  1877,  and  has  rapidly  taken  high  rank  among 
his  fellows.  Clear  and  forcible  in  argument,  well  versed  in 
the  law,  since  he  is  a  close  student,  he  is  steadily  command- 
ing a  large  and  cons-tantly  increasing  practice. 

James  J.  Morrison,  of  the  noted  family  of  thai  name, 
studied  law  with  J.  H.  Wall  and  William  Hartzell,  and 
was  admitted  in  1874. 

Warren  N.  Wilson,  a  young  man  of  promise,  is  a  native 
of  this  county.  Studied  law  with  Hartzell  and  Johnson. 
Admitted  1>>77.  Appointed  Master  in  Chancery  in  1880. 
(See  sketch.) 

B.  W.  Sharp,  practicing  at  Red  Bud,  came  to  the  county 
from  Tamaroa,  111.,  in  1874.  He  is  a  graduate  of  the  Law 
Department  of  the  University  of  'Virginia,  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  1838. 


George  L.  Riess,  the  present  efficient  County  Judge  of 
Randolph  county,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Waterloo, 
Monroe  county,  September,  1871.  Came  to  Randolph 
county  in  1875.  He  studied  with  Charles  Henckler,  taking 
a  very  thorough  course.  He  is  well  read  in  the  law.  We 
refer  the  reader  to  a  biographical  sketch  of  Judge  Riess  ou 
another  page  of  this  work. 


MONROE  COUNTY. 

former  micmbers  of  the  bar. 
Charles  Henckler  was  a  native  of  Germany.  Came 
to  America  when  about  seventeen  years  of  age.  Followed 
the  vocation  of  cal)inet  maker  in  Columbia  for  several 
years,  then  merchandized  and  during  this  time  was  elected 
Justice  of  the  Peace.  Whilst  discharging  the  duties  of  this 
office  he  acquired  considerable  knowledge  of  law,  and  in 
1853  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  was  a  good  lawyer  and 
special  pleader.  He  was  first  a  partner  of  Thomas  Quick, 
and  subsequently  of  H.  C.  Talbott.     He  died  in  1878. 

Gi'.ORGE  Abbott  was  an  eastern  man.  He  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  Waterloo  in  1852.  Remained  here  until  the 
breaking  out  of  the  late  war  when  he  enlisted  as  captain  in 
the  Twenty-second  Regiment,  Illinois  Infantry.  Was 
wounded  at  Belmont.  Was  subsequently  appointed  Pro- 
vost Marshal  for  this  district  with  headquarters  at  Alton. 
After  this  he  moved  to  Pinckueyville,  Perry  county,  where 
he  died  in  1878. 

John  C.  Bonman  practiced  law  in  1856-7.  Afterwards 
took  Greeley's  advice  and  went  west  to  grow  up  with  the 
country. 

Jame.s  a.  Kennedy,  a  graduate  of  the  college  of  the 
Christian  Brothers,  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  came  to  Waterloo  in 
1858.  Admitted  to  the  bar  in  1862.  Was  elected  School 
Commissioner,  the  duties  of  which  office  he  performed  with 
signal  ability.  He  formed  a  copartnership  with  H.  K.  S. 
Omelveny.  Subsequently  he  moved  to  Springfield,  Illinois, 
where  he  was  elected  City  Attorney.  He  was  a  mau  of  fine 
legal  attainments. 

M.VTiiiAS  Kramm,  a  citizen  of  Burksville,  practiced  a 
short  time,  beginning  in  1862.  Moved  to  Belleville,  thence 
west. 

Henry  C  Talbott,  Sr.,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  came  to 
Monroe  county  in  1844.  Was  educated  in  McKendree 
College.  Taught  school.  Publi>hed  the  Waterloo  Patriot. 
Was  admitted  to  practice  in  1856.  Served  as  justice  of  the 
peace  and  county  judge.  Continued  in  his  practice  until 
his  death  iu  1879  Was  a  partner  of  Cuailes  Henckler.  He 
was  a  sound  lawyer  and  good  citizeiL 

George  Morrison,  a  native  of  'iVatf  rlno,  read  law  in 
the  office  of  his  brother,  Hon  W.  R.  Morrison.  He  was 
educated  in  the  college  of  ihe  CliristiHU  Brothers,  i-t.  Louis, 
Mo.  Admitted  to  practice  in  1870.  Held  the  office  of 
Master  in  Chancery  several  years.     Died  in  1881. 

Thomas  Quick,  a  native  of  Illinois,  practiced  law  for  a 
number  of  yeaps  in  Waterloo,  where  he  was  for  a  time  a 
partner  of  Charles  Henckler.  He  subsiqnently  moved  to 
Belleville,  thence  to  St.  Louis. 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


187 


John  Stanley,  a  young  man  of  con.^iderable  ability,  a 
native  of  the  county,  practiced  a  few  years,  begini  ing  about 
1874.     Went  to  Butler  county,  Missouri,  where  he  died. 

Charles  W.  Meykr,  educated  iu  MiKeudree  College, 
practiced  law  iu  Waterloo  several  years  and  runved  to  Leb- 
anon, then  to  east  St.  L  'uis,  where  he  dieil.  He  was  an 
able  advocate,  a  mau  of  pre-eminent  social  qualities. 

Edward  Omelvesy  washy  nature  a  lawyer.  Of  Scotch- 
Irish  origin,  he  was  at  the  same  time  an  exponent  of  the 
wit  of  the  one  and  the  hardihood  of  the  other  nationality. 
During  the  years  immediately  preceding  the  Mexican  War 
he  was  regarded  the  leading  legal  light  among  lawyers  of 
the  Waterloo  bar,  not  that  he  was  so  profound  in  know- 
ledge, but  so  quirk  in  repartee — so  happy  in  his  It'gal  appli- 
cations and  possessed  of  tact  that  challenged  admiration. 
Upon  one  occasion  he  was  fined  by  Judge  Breese  8">'l  for 
contempt  of  court.  Very  promptly  he  arose  from  his  scat, 
called  the  attention  of  the  sheriti",  to  whom  he  handed  the 
$50,  saying:  "  Judge.  I  expected  you  wouM  get  ev<-n  wiih 
me,  because  thi-i  is  the  moin-y  I  won  from  y<u  last  night, 
playing  pnker.  "  It  is  n  'edless  to  say  that  lh\<  sally  of  wit 
"  brought  down  the  house." 

Of  W.  H.  BissELi.  at  one  time  a  ciiizen  of  Waterloo,  af- 
terwards governor  of  the  state,  and  a  frequent  attendant  on 
the  sessions  of  the  court  at  Kaskaskia.the  following  interest- 
ing sketch  is  given  by  Joseph  (Jillespie,  in  an  address  deliv- 
ered before  the  Chicago  Historical  Society  ;  Bissell  was  born 
in  New  York  in  ISll,  where  he  studied  the  medical  profes- 
sion, and  removed  to  Monroe  Co.  Illinois.  He  had  no  fond- 
ness for  his  profusion,  though  he  had  the  reputation  of  be- 
ing successful.  He  inclined  to  politics,  where  he  displayed 
marked  abilities.  He  was  elected  as  a  Democrat  from  Mon- 
roe County,  to  the  legislature  of  I^ID,  and  was  soon  recog- 
nized as  one  of  the  best  speakers  of  the  House  of  Represen- 
tatives. He  was  characterized  by  the  elegance  of  his  style, 
and  diction,  and  a  quaint  sort  of  satire  that  was  very  cutting 
and  effective. 

An  ungovernable  passion  soon  seized  him  to  abandon  his 
profession,  and  betake  himself  to  the  law.  He  attended  the 
sessions  of  the  courts  as  diligently  as  any  of  the  lawyers,  his 
mind  seemed  to  be  engrossed  with  all  that  was  going  on 
His  friends,  perceiving  the  bent  of  his  inclination,  advised 
him  to  procure  Blackstone's  Commentaries,  and  go  to  work. 
In  an  incredibly  short  space  of  time  he  was  admitted  to  prac- 
tice, and  was  soon  appointed  prosecuting  attorney,  and  was 
in  his  element.  He  stood  at  once  in  the  front  rank  as  a 
prosecutor.  He  never  failed  to  convict.  It  shortly  came 
to  be  considered  a  hopeless  task  to  defend  where  he  was 
prosecuting.     He  was  equal  to  any  emergency. 

Bissell  prosecuted  for  murder  a  man  named  Raney,  who 
lived  in  Washington  County,  but  was  tried  at  Carlisle  Clin- 
ton County,  and  was  defended  by  Judge  Breese,  in  his  own 
county,  where  he  had  unbounded  influence.  Raney  was  a 
respectable  man,  and  u  leider  in  the  doTninant  party  ;  there 
wajB  great  room  to  doubt  his  guilt,  and  the  court  instructed 
strongly  in  his  favor.  lie  had  an  interesting  wife  and  fam- 
ily. Breese  defended  him  with  great  zeal  and  ability.  He 
left  no  stone  unturned,  but  after  presenting  the  facts  and 


laws  of  the  case  with  remarkable  clearness  and  force,  he  ven- 
tured upon  an  appeal  to  the  sympathies  in  behalf  of  the  wife 
aud  little  children  of  his  client.  It  was  a  most  powerful  ef- 
fort, and  the  by -slanders  all  believed  that  he  had  saved  his 
man.  But  not  .so  ;  by  his  eflorts  to  work  upon  the  sympa- 
thies of  the  jury,  he  had  opened  a  door  which  let  Bissell  in 
to  play  upon  their  fef  lings.  This  was  his  forte.  The  scene 
was  at  night ;  the  room  was  dimly  lighted,  and  wore  a  sepul- 
chral air  ;  and  such  word  painting  I  shall  never  hear  again- 
as  Bissell  employed  on  that  occasion.  He  turned  the  pic- 
ture over,  and  portrayed  the  murdered  man  in  his  grave,  his 
winding  sheet  around  him,  his  h«ir  motted  with  clay,  and 
his  shroud  clotted  with  blood,  streams  of  crimson  gore  trick- 
ling still  from  his  gaping  wounds.  He  drew  the  mother  and 
little  children  to  the  edge  of  the  grave  where  they  could  take 
a  la-t  look  at  the  cold  and  clammy  remains  of  their  beloved 
hu.-band  and  father.  He  depicted  their  agony  in  such  heart- 
rending t<rms  as  to  scarcely  leave  a  dry  eye  in  the  house. 
He  turned  the  tide  •<(  sympathy,  and  it  bee  irae  an  irresisti- 
ble torrent  iu  behalf  of  the  bereaved  widow  and  offspriug  of 
the  dead.  The  iff-  c*s  of  the  splendid  efforts  of  Breese  were 
all  swept  away.  I  realized  then,  to  its  fullest  extent,  the 
power  of  language  in  the  mouth  of  a  master  over  the  feel- 
ings of  mankind.  The  picture  drawn  by  Bissell  on  that  oc- 
casion, has  stamped  itself  imlelibly  on  ray  mind.  I  see  it  i'. 
the  virions  of  the  night.  I  hear  his  burning  eloquence  to 
this  day,  ringing  in  ray  ears.  He  triumphed,  and  poor  Ra- 
ney was  loiiiil  guilty.  If  that  effirt  In  I  b;en  taken  down, 
and  could  be  read  by  u — of  itself — it  would  have  raade  the 
name  of  William  II.  Bi;sell  immortal.  Judge  Joseph  Gil- 
lespie, of  Edwardsville,  to  \>'hose  graphic  pen  we  are  indebt- 
ed for  the  above  sketch,  is  now  one  of  the  few  survivors  of 
that  band  of  active  men  who  were  f 'reniost  in  shaping  the 
political  sentiment  of  the  state  forty  years  ago. 

Hesry  W.  Billings,  an  eastern  man,  located  in  Water- 
loo, in  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  1837,  and  left  in 
1845  for  Alton,  where  he  continued  to  resiile  until  the  tirae 
of  his  death.  He  was  a  very  able  aud  excellent  speaker, 
conducted  his  cases  with  much  a<'roitncss,  and  was  not  often 
excelled  in  the  preparation  and  management  of  business  in 
the  higher  courts.  He  was  a  man  of  engaging  manners  and 
splendid  presence,  and  was  exceedingly  popular  with  the 
bar  and  the  people. 

PRESENT    MEMBERS    OF    THE    BAR. 

Hon.  William  R.  Morrison,  a  native  of  Monroe  county, 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Springfield,  Illinois,  whilst  a 
member  of  the  state  Legislature  in  1850,  and  opened  an 
ofHce  in  Waterloo  afler  his  return.  He  rapidly  took  his 
place  as  the  leading  attorney  of  the  county,  until  he  mea- 
surably abandoned  its  practice  to  become  a  member  of  Con- 
gress. Whilst  a  member  of  the  Legislature,  he  was  made 
Speaker  of  the  House.  He  was  first  elected  to  Congress  in 
1802,  again  in  1S72,  since  which  time  he  has  continuously 
been  kept  in  that  body  by  the  franchise  of  his  fellow- 
citizens.  As  chairman  of  the  Ways  and  Mejms Committee  he 
developed  great  tact  and  further  enileared  himself  to  his 
constituency.     He  is  a  man  of  broad,  liberal  culture,  of 


188 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND   PERRY  COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


sound  legal  knowledge,  of  practical  and  well-(l<  fined  ideas 
regarding  the  wants  of  the  masses.  As  a  lawyer  he  receives 
recognition  as  heing  pos-sesjed  of  ability  and  strict  integ- 
rity— two  elements  that  give  weight  to  his  opinions. 

8PENCER  Tompkins,  a  native  nl  Galefburg.  I'liiDis,  edu- 
cated in  FCnox  college  of  tliat  city,  came  lo  Waterloo  in 
1880.  He  read  law  with  Col.  Beardsley,  of  Rock  Island, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Davenport,  Iowa,  in  1865. 
He  U  acquiring  a  fair  practice. 

Joseph  W.  Rickekt,  born  in  Vicksburg,  Mississippi, 
was  1  ducated  and  grai'uated  from  the  St.  Louis  Uuiverjity, 
St.  Louis,  Mo.  He  came  to  Waterloo  as  a  teacher  in  her 
public  schools  ;  read  law  with  H.  K.  S.  Omelveny  at  Cen- 
tral City,  Marion  county,  Illinois,  and  subsequently  iu  the 
office  of  James  A.  Kennedy,  of  Waterloo.  He  soon  after 
went  south  and  resumed  teaching;  then  returning  to  Illinois, 
read  law  in  office  of  Johnson  &  Hartzell,  of  Chester,  and  in 
March,  1869  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  In  the  fall  of  the 
Bame  year  he  was  elected  superintendent  of  the  public 
schools  of  Monroe  county,  a  position  he  filled  with  credit 
for  four  years  In  1873  he  buckled  on  the  armor  as  an  at- 
torney, and  soon  placed  himself  by  untiring  energy  and 
perseverance  in  the  front  rank,  a  positinn  he  still  retains. 
In  1875  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  State  Legislature. 
He  is  clear  and  logical  in  his  presentation  of  cases  before 
the  court,  being  well  read  in  the  law ;  is  a  man  of  ripe  scho- 
larship, a  fine  linguist  and  an  excellent  companion. 

Emery  P.  Slate,  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  now  one  of 
the  prominent  members  of  the  legal  fraternity  of  Monroe 
county,  came  to  Illinois  in  1836  In  1854  his  parents 
moved  to  Waterloo,  Missouri,  where  he  irregularly  studied 
law  in  the  office  of  S.  Kibbs,  until  the  breaking  out  of  the 
war,  practicing  on  some  oc(asions  before  a  justice  of  the 
peace  in  the  vicinity  where  he  lived.  In  June,  1861,  he 
entered  the  army  and  assisted  in  raising  the  1st  Regiment 
of  North  Missouri  Infantry.  He  became  quartermaster  of 
the  regiment.  In  1862  he  returned  to  Illinois  and  took  up 
his  residence  in  Waterloo,  Monroe  county.  He  has  achieved 
marked  success  in  the  practice  of  law,  and  the  esteem  in 
which  he  is  held  as  a  citizen  does  not  fall  below  his  profes- 
sional standing. 

Henry  Talbott,  son  of  H.  C.  Talbott,  a  native  of  the 
county,  was  educated  iu  the  public  schools  and  in  Wyman's 
Institute,  city  of  St.  Louis,  Mo. ;  read  law  in  the  office  of  his 
father;  in  1876  entered  the  law  department  of  Harvard 
University,  Cambridge,  Mass.,  but  was  soon  after  called  to 
Washington,  D.  C,  as  clerk  to  the  Ways  and  Means  com- 
mittee, whose  chairman  was  Hon.  W.  R.  Morrison.  He  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1878,  at  Mt.  Vernon.  He  is  a  rising 
young  lawyer,  earnest  and  faithful  in  the  discharge  of  all 
the  duties  devolving  upon  him. 

Charles  Morrison  was  born  in  Waterloo,  educated  in 
McKendree  College,  from  which  institution  he  graduated  in 
1875.  Read  law  in  the  office  of  his  brother,  Hon  W.  R. 
Morrison,  and  subsequently  with  H.  C.  Talbott.  Was 
admitted  iu  1878.  He  is  industrious,  painstaking,  and  a 
genial  and  pleasant  gentleman. 

William  H.  Horine,  a  native  of  Waterloo,  graduated 


from  McKendree  College  in  1875.  Read  law  with  George 
Morrison  and  subsequently  with  Michau  and  Riess.  Was 
admitted  at  the  June  term  of  the  Supreme  Court  at  Mt.  Ver- 
non, 1878. 

James  F.  Cauniff  hails  from  New  York.  Came  to 
Illinois  with  his  parents  in  ISS.'i.  He  was  educated  iu  the 
college  of  the  Christian  Brothers,  St.  Louis,  Mo  Read  law 
and  was  admitted  during  the  session  (if  the  Appellate  Court 
at  Springfield  in  June,  1880,  and  afterwards  commenced  the 
practice  in  Waterloo.  During  the  campaign  of  1882  he 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  Legislature  from  this  district. 
He  i3  recognized  as  being  a  man  of  ability. 

George  L.  Riess,  a  former  practitioner  here,  is  men- 
tioned iu  the  article  on  the  Bench  and  Bar  of  Randolph 
county. 


PERRY    COUNTY. 

The  first  term  of  the  Circuit  Court  was  held  at  the  house 
of  Amos  Anderson  in  Holt's  Prairie,  August  28,  1827. 
Pre-sent:  The  Hon.  Theophilus  W.  Smith,  a  Justice  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  said  State,  and  presiding  judge  of  said 
Circuit  Court ;  Humphrey  B.  Jones,  clerk,  and  William  C 
Murphy,  sheriflF. 

David  J.  Baker  was  appointed  in  the  ab.sence  of  the 
circuit  attorney  to  prosecute  as  said  attorney. 

Theophilus  W.  Smith,  the  first  judge  of  Perry  county, 
was  a  native  of  Virginia,  emigrated  to  Kentucky,  there  read 
law,  and  soon  after  his  admission,  came  to  Illinois,  and  took 
up  his  residence  in  Edwardsville.  There  he  edited  a  pro- 
b'avery  newspaper  during  the  exciting  campaign  of  1823-24, 
when  the  question  was  settled  as  to  vphether  the  constitution 
of  the  State  should  be  so  amended  as  to  admit  slavery.  Soon 
after  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  justices  of  the  Supreme 
Court.  In  1835  he  was  impeached  by  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives for  misdemeanors  iu  office,  and  was  ably  defended 
by  Sydney  Breese  as  leading  counsel,  assisted  by  Thomas 
Ford,  Judge  Richard  M.  Young  and  J.  W.  Whitney.  He 
was  acquitted  of  the  charge.  Judge  Smith  was  an  able  law- 
yer but  of  somewhat  pompous  mien,  and  when  upon  the 
bench  the  very  incarnation  of  dignity.  His  decisions  how- 
ever, were  regarded  in  the  main  as  usually  correct,  and  if  he 
erred  it  was  usually  on  the  side  of  mercy. 

Judge  Smith  continued  to  preside  in  the  circuit  until  the 
April  term,  1829,  when  Thomas  C.  Brown,  another  justice 
of  the  Supreme  Court,  held  the  courts.  Prisent:  Hum- 
phrey B.  Jones  and  William  C.  Murphy.  Judge  Brown 
presided  until  the  May  term,  1835,  when  Alexander  F. 
Grant  presided  iu  the  courts  of  Perry  county.  Judge  Grant 
held  but  one  term  of  the  court  when  he  was  superseded  by 
the  Hon.  Jephthah  Hardin,  who  was  appointed  Judge  of  the 
Third  Judicial  Circuit  of  the  State.  He  presided  at  the  May 
term,  1836,  and  until  the  May  term,  1837,  when  he  was 
succeeded  by  Walter  B.  Scales,  who  was  elected  to  the  posi- 
tion of  Judge  of  the  Third  Judicial  Circuit.  Of  Judges 
Grant  and  Hardin  but  little  is  known.  Judge  Scales  pre- 
sided until  the  April  term,  1843,  when  the  Hon.  James 
Semple  presided. 

Judge  Scales  was  appointed   to   the  Supreme  Bench  i 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


189 


1840,  and  served  with  distinction  in  that  body  until  1857_ 
when  he  resigned.  He  was  well  read  in  the  law  and  had 
been  prior  to  his  election  State's  Attorney  of  the  Third  Judi- 
cial District. 

Judge  Sf;Mri.n  held  but  nno  term  of  court  in  Perry 
county.  .He  was  succeeded  by  James  Sliields,  who  presided 
in  this  circuit  until  the  April  term,  184'). 

JlTDrtK  J.\MK.-i  SiiiKi.DS  was  of  Irish  birth.  He  read  law 
in  the  office  of  Elias  Kent  Kane  at  Kaskaskia.  Upon  the 
reorganization  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State,  he  was 
appointed  one  of  the  justices  of  the  Supreme  Court.  Further 
mention  is  made  of  Judge  Shields  in  the  article  on  Bench 
and  Bar  of  Randolph  county. 

At  the  April  term,  1845,  Hon.  Gust.vvus  Koernek,  of 
Belleville,  St.  Clair  county,  came  to  the  bench  and  presided 
over  the  courts  of  Perry  county  until  the  April  term,  1849, 
•when  he  was  succeeded  by  Hon.  William  H.  Underwood. 
Judge  Koerner  is  a  native  of  Gernuuiy,  and  was  educated  at 
Univer.>ity  of  Munich,  and  completed  his  studies  at  Heidle- 
berg,  receiving  the  dtgrse  of  LL.D.  In  the  Republican 
uprising  of  18:52,  he  took  an  active  part  which  rendered  him 
obnoxious  to  the  reigning  powers.  In  consequence  thereof 
he,  »fter  much  tr-biilation  and  several  arrests,  escaped  to 
this  county.  He  took  up  his  residence  in  Belleville,  Illinois^ 
and  commenced  the  study  of  American  law.  He  attended 
the  law  school  at  Lexington,  Kentucky,  and  in  18;i.")  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  In  184.5  he  was  appointed  by  the 
Governor  of  the  State  to  a  position  on  the  Supreme  bench, 
and  in  the  following  year  was  elected  to  the  same  position. 
In  18")"2  he  was  elected  Lieutenant  Governor  of  Illinois, 
being  the  first  German  nominated  and  elected  to  that  position^ 
During  the  late  war  he  was  appointed  by  President  Lincoln 
colonel  of  Volunteers,  and  assigned  tea  position  on  the  staff" 
of  General  Fremont.  In  18(52  he  represented  this  country 
at  the  Court  of  Madrid  as  Minister,  and  had  much  to  do  in 
maintaining  the  strict  neutrality  of  that  foreign  power  dur- 
ing tlie  progress  of  the  civil  war.  As  a  judge  upon  the  bench 
he  had  the  reputation  of  being  a  clear  logical  reasoner,  and 
his  decisions  were  m  rked  by  great  clearness  and  research. 

Hos.  WiLLiAJt  H.  Underwood  pre.'<ided  in  this  circuit 
until  the  October  term  1855.  Judge  Underwood  was  born 
in  Schoharie  county.  New  York,  February  1818.  He  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  Academy  of  his  native  county, 
and  Hudson  River  Seminary.  In  June  1^40  he  came  to 
Belleville,  Illinois,  and  commenced  the  practice.  He  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  State  Senate  in  1856.  In  18(59  he 
was  chosen  a  member  of  the  Constitutional  convention  that 
framed  the  present  constitution  of  the  state.  He  was  an  able 
lawyer,  not  only  in  one  but  in  all  branches  of  the  profession. 
At  the  October  term  of  the  circuit  court,  1855,  held  in 
the  county  of  Perry,  Sidney  Bkee.se  presided  and  con- 
tinued until  the  April  term  1857  when  ho  was  appointed  to 
the  supreme  bench  to  fill  the  vacancy  occasioned  by  the 
resignation  of  Hon.  Walter  B.  Scates. 

Judge  Breese'.s  history  is  so  well  known  to  the  people 
of  Illinois  that  it  is  unnecessary  to  speak  of  him  at  length. 
He  was  born  in  Oneida  county,  New  York,  in  1>;()().  He 
graduated  at  Union  College  which  was  presided  over  b}'  the 
celebrated  Dr.  Nott,  in  1818.     He  came  west  to  Kask:u«kia 


the  same  year  and  read  law  at  the  office  of  Elias  Kent  Kane. 
In  1822  he  was  appointed  by  Gov.  Bond  circuit  attorney  and 
reappointed  by  l^dwin  Coles  In  1S27  he  was  appointed  by 
President  Madison  attorney  for  the  state  of  Illinois.  In  1831 
he  compiled  and  reported  the  decisions  of  the  supreme 
court.  The  result  was  "Breese's  Reports"  published  at 
Kaskaskia  in  IS.'il  and  the  first  book  printed  in  Illinois.  In 
1835,  on  the  establishment  of  circuit  courts,  he  was  elected 
Judge  of  the  second  judical  circuit,  then  comprising  the 
counties  of  Madison,  St.  Clair,  Monroe,  Randolph,  Washing- 
ton, Clinton,  Bond,  Fayttte,  Montgomery  and  Shelby.  In 
1838  there  came  before  his  court  the  celebrated  and  at  that 
time  exciting  question  of  the  power  of  the  governor  to  re- 
move the  incumbent  of  the  office  of  secretary  of  slate,  and  to 
appoint  anoiher.  The  question  as-sumed  a  personal  and  a 
partisan,  as  well  as  a  legal  aspect,  though  Judge  Breise 
treated  it,  in  one  of  the  most  elaborate  judicial  ojunions  ever 
delivered  in  this  state,  purely  as  a  legal  matter.  Ho  decided 
that  the  power  existed  but  the  suprenje  court  reversed  the 
judgment.  Judge  Breesc  remained  on  the  bench  until  in 
December  1842  when  he  was  elected  United  States  Si  nator. 
In  the  fall  of  1850  he  was  elected  without  opposition  to  the 
Legislature  and  upon  the  organization  of  that  bejdy  was 
elected  Speaker.  In  1857  when  Judge  Walter  B.  Scates  re- 
signed he  was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy  and  again  elected  in 
June  1861,  re-elected  and  held  a  position  on  the  supreme 
bench  until  his  death,  which  occurred  June  27th,  1878.  It 
may  be  said  of  Judge  Brec-^e  that  he  united  the  scholar  with 
the  statesman,  the  jiolished  gentleman,  warm-hearted,  cordial 
companion  with  the  gravity  and  profundity  of  an  able  and 
experienced  jurist.  One  of  the  most  significant  tributes  to 
his  character  is  that  though  exposed  for  sixty  years  ^\ilh 
public  service  of  the  state  as  circuit  and  state  attorney, 
judge  upon  the  circuit,  senator,  legislator,  lawyer  and  judge 
upon  the  supreme  bench,  in  both  judicial  and  political  life 
a  conspicuous  mark  for  personal  and  political  hatred,  j  et 
slander  and  calrauny  have  failed  to  leave  a  single  blemifh 
upon  his  great  name  and  reputation. 

'■.V  combination  and  lorm  in  deed 
Where  every  pod  did  seem  to  set  Ilia  seal 
To  give  the  wnrhl  nssnrnnce  of  a  man." 

Judge  Breese  was  succeeded  by  Wm.  K.  Parrish,  who 
was  commissioned  January  4th,  1854,  but  held  no  term  in 
Perry  county  until  April  18.57.  He  resigned  June  15th, 
1859,  and  died  April  22ud,  1861.  He  was  a  resident  of 
Franklin  county,  Illinois,  removed  to  Du  Quoin  after  his 
election  and  resided  there  until  his  death.  He  was  a  man 
of  signal  ability  a  very  clear-headed  lawyer  and  presidexl 
with  great  dignity. 

He  was  succeeded  by  Alexander  M.  Jenkin-s  who  first 
presided  at  the  .September  term  1859.  He  was  elected  to 
fill  the  vacancy  occasioned  by  the  resignation  of  Judge  Par- 
rish, anel  re  elected  and  commissioned  July  1st,  18(51,  and 
presided  until  his  death,  which  occurred  Feb.  13th,  1864. 
He  was  a  resident  of  Murphcyboro,  Jackson  county,  and 
was  closely  connected  with  the  Logan  family,  of  which  Gen. 
John  A.  is  a  distinguished  member.  He  was  well  advanced 
in  years  when  he  came  to  the  bench.  He  gave  good  satis- 
faction as  a  Judge  and  was  regarded  as  a  good  lawyer. 


190 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


He  was  Fucceeded  by  Hon.  John  K.  Mulkey  of  Cairo. 
He  came  on  the  bench  at  the  April  term  1804,  and  presided 
until  the  April  terra  1866,  when  he  resigned  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Wm.  H.  Green,  who  was  commissioned  December 
28th,  1865,  and  held  until  the  April  term  1867. 

Hen.  John  H.  Mulkey,  after  his  retirement  practiced  law 
in  the  third  judicial  circuit  and  attained  eminence  in  his 
profession.  In  1879  he  was  elected  to  the  Supreme  bench 
of  the  state. 

Hon.  William  H.  Green  was  and  is  yet  a  resident  of 
Cairo,  Illinois,  and  is  a  prominent  lawyer. 

Hon.  Monroe  C.  Crawford  was  elected  judge  of  the  third 
judicial  circuit,  and  commissioned  June  27th,  1867,  and  held 
this  po  ition  until  the  new  apportionment,  when  he  was 
changed  to  the  first  circuit,  and  was  re-elected  for  a  full  term 
of  six  years.  His  time  expired  at  the  May  term  1873.  He 
is  a  native  of  Franklin  county,  Illinois.  He  received  his 
primary  education  in  the  common  schools,  and  his  literary 
education  at  McKendree  College.  He  read  law  in  the  office 
of  Hon.  William  K  Parri.-h  at  Benton,  and  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1856.  He  served  two  terms  as  states'  attorney. 
He  is  a  resident  of  Jonesboro,  Illinois  county,  and  still 
engaged  in  practice. 

In  June  16th,  1873,  Hon.  Amns  Watts,  of  Nashville,  was 
elected  judge  and  presided  until  1877,  when  the  circuits  were 
consolidated  and  it  was  made  the  third  circuit,  and  is  at 
present  presided  over  by  Judges  Amos  Watts,  William  H. 
Snyder  and  George  W.  Wall. 

Hon.  Amos  Watts  is  a  native  of  Illinois,  and  was  reared 
in  Nashville,  Washington  county.  He  read  law  with  Hon. 
P.  H.  Hosmer,  and,  soon  after  his  admission,  was  elected 
states'  attorney.  He  h  s  been  upon  the  circuit  bench  since 
1873.     He  is  a  pains  taking,  able  ard  careful  judge. 

Hon.  George  W.  Wall  is  a  native  of  this,  but  a  resident  of 
Perry,  county  since  1840.  He  was  (  ducated  at  McKendree 
College,  Ltbanon,  Illinois,  and  graduated  from  the  literary 
department  of  the  University  of  Michigan  at  Ann  Arbor  in 
1858,  and  from  the  Cincinnati  Law  School  in  1859.  He 
read  law  in  the  office  of  Cyrus  G.  Simons  of  Cairo,  Illinois, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  the  June  term  of  the  Su- 
preme Court,  held  at  Mt.  Vernon,  in  1859.  He  commenced 
the  practice  in  Perry  county.  In  1864  he  was  elected  states' 
attorney  for  the  judicial  district.  When  the  districts  were 
consolidated  he  was  elected  one  of  the  judges  of  this  judicial 
district.  In  1879  he  was  appointed  by  the  Supreme  Court 
one  of  the  judges  of  the  Appellate  Court  of  the  Fourth  Dis- 
trict of  Illinois,  and  is  now  serving  in  that  capacity.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Constitutional  Convention  of  1862  and 
1870-71.  Judge  Wall  possesses  a  bright  legal  mind.  Few 
judges  upon  the  bench  have  superior  perceptive  powers.  His 
statement  of  a  legal  proposition  is  clear,  logical  and  con- 
vincing. He  gets  at  the  heart  and  real  merits  of  the  point 
in  question  in  the  shortest  and  most  direct  manner,  stripping 
it  of  all  verbiage  and  sophisms  until  it  stands  out  clear  and 
perceptible  to  all  concerned.  His  power  of  concentration 
and  presenting  the  real  point  or  pith  of  a  case  is  good. 

Hon.  William  H.Snyder,  of  Belleville,  Illinois,  the  third 
judge  in  this  circuit,  was  born  iu  Prairie  du  Point,  St.  Clair 


county.  Ills.  His  father,  Adam  W.  Snyder,  was  in  his  day 
one  of  the  leading  lawyers  of  Southern  Illinois.  William 
H.  Snyder  completed  his  education  at  McKendree  College, 
in  his  native  county.  He  prepared  himself  for  the  legal 
profession  in  the  office  of  Hon.  Gustavus  Koerner  of  Belle- 
ville. He  served  his  country  in  the  Mexican  war,  and  was 
adjutant  of  the  Fifth  Illinois  regiment.  He  was  twice 
elected  to  represent  his  district  in  the  legislature,  and  in 
1855  was  appointed  states'  attorney  by  Governor  Mattison. 
He  was  elected  judge  of  the  circuit  court  in  1857,  and  was 
on  the  bench  until  l''<62.  In  1870-71  he  was  a  member  of 
the  Constitutional  Convention  that  framed  the  present  Con- 
stitution of  the  State.  He  was  elected  Judge  of  the  Circuit 
Court  in  1873  and  reelected  in  1879,  and  alternates  with 
Judges  Watts  and  Wall  in  holding  the  courts  of  Perry 
county.  He  is  a  gentleman  of  genial  manners  and  warm^ 
generous  impulses,  of  great  literary  attainments,  and  a 
thorough  jurist.  He  has  made  an  efficient  and  popular 
judge. 

Non-resident  Lawyers. — The  early  sessions  of  the  Perry 
county  courts  were  usually  attended  by  the  lawyers  compris- 
ing the  bar  of  Kaskaskia,  Chester,  Cairo,  Belleville,  Ed- 
wardsville,  Nashville  and  Shawneetown  Among  the  ear- 
liest lawyers  to  practice  at  this  bar,  and  who  were  present  at 
the  opening  of  the  first  court,  was  Diniel  J.  Baker.  The 
records  show  that  he  was  appointed  States'  Attorney  pro  tern. 
at  the  first  court.  He  was  a  native  of  New  York  and  a 
resident  of  Kaskaskia.  In  1829,  Henry  Eddy,  of  Shawnee- 
town, commenced  attendance  upon  the  circuit  courts  of  the 
county ;  also,  Richard  J.  Hamilton.  The  next  year 
came  Sidney  Breese,  Alexander  F.  Grant,  Walter  B.  Scates, 
John  Dougherty  of  .Johnsboro.  William  H.  Ramsey  was 
States'  Attorney.  The  next  year  came  Martin  Doriyes,  A. 
P.  Field,  who  was  an  eminent  lawyer  from  Kaskaskia,  after- 
wards removed  to  Vandalia  ;  Adam  W.  Snyder  of  St.  Clair 
county,  who  was  the  Democratic  candidate  for  Governor  of 
the  State  in  1842,  and  died  during  the  campaign  ;  Stephen 
R.  Rowen,  James  Shields  (afterwards  judge),  and  United 
States  Senator  John  Reynolds  (the  "  Ranger  "  Governor), 
John  A  McClernand,  then  of  Gallatin  county,  now  of  Spring- 
field, Illinois.  In  1834  came  Samuel  S.  Marshall,  from  Mc- 
Leansboro,  a  fine  lawyer,  and  subsequently  elected  judge  of 
the  Circuit  Court,  and  also  represented  his  district  in  Con- 
gress several  terms.  Jepthah  Hardin  and  Lyman  Trumbull 
commenced  the  practice  in  the  courts  of  Perry  in  1838, 
and  .1.  L  D.  Morrison  in  the  same  year.  Stephen  G.  Hicke, 
M.C  Kinney,  W.  H.  Stickney,  Willes  Allen,  L.  B.  Clement, 
John  Whitehead,  William  H.  Underwood,  Richard  Nelson, 
Joseph  Gillespie,  George  Trumbull,  Philip  B.  Fouke,  L  C. 
Holbrook,  P.  E.  Hosmer,  Richard  S.  Bond,  of  Carlyle;  W. 
J.  Galewood,  of  Shawneetown  ;  John  A.  Logan,  Judge  Duff, 
Samuel  Casey,  Benj.  Bond,  W.  A.  J.  Sparks,  Joshua  Allen, 
F.  Albright,  I.  N.  Haynie,  subsesquently  Adjutant  General 
of  the  State;  A.  P.Corder,  W.K.  Parrish,  William  Hacker, 
John  Michen,  R.  S.  Nelson,  Nathan  S.  Weeks,  Samuel 
Eaton  and  Geo.  Abbotts  were  among  the  prominent  lawyers 
who  practiced  in  the  courts  of  Perry  county.  Last  but  not 
least  was  William   H.  Bissell.     We  subjoin  a  brief  sketch 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


191 


of  hiiu  :  He  was  born  iu  New  York  iu  l'^  11,  where  he 
stu  lied  ti>r  tlie  medical  professiou,  aud  removed  to  Mouroe 
couiUy  llliuois.  He  abandoned  medicine  soon  af'ler,  aud 
took  up  the  profession  of  law,  in  which  he  became  eminent. 
In  1840  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  legislature,  aud 
served  with  distinguished  honor  in  that  body  and  was  recog- 
nized as  one  of  the  ablest  debaters  aud  speakers  on  the  floor 
of  the  House.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the  Mexican  war  he 
was  commissioned  colonel  of  the  Second  llliuois  regiment, 
and  won  the  plaudits  jf  the  whole  country  for  his  gallant 
actions  on  the  field  of  Buena  Vista.  He  was  elected  to 
Congress,  aud,  in  18.56,  became  Governor  of  Illinois,  and 
died  near  the  close  of  his  gubernatorial  terra.  He  was  a 
fine  lawyer,  but  specially  excelled  as  an  advocate.  He 
was  irresistible  before  a  jury,  and  none  excelled  him  in  the 
use  of  language  and  power  to  stir  the  deeper  feelings  of  his 
hearers. 

FORMER    AND    PRESENT    RESIDENT    LAWYERS. 

Among  the  first  resident  attorneys  was  Humphrey  B. 
Jones,  who  destrves  more  than  a  passing  notice.  He  was  a 
native  of  Christian  county,  Kentucky.  He  there  studied 
medicine,  aud  in  1821  came  to  Illinois,  and  settled  in 
Brownsville,  in  Jackson  county,  and  practiced  his  profession. 
In  April,  1^27,  he  came  to  Perry  county,  which  had  by  an 
act  of  the  Legislature  of  1826-7  been  organized  as  a  county. 
He  entered  the  laud  on  which  the  town  of  Pinckneyville 
now  stands.  When  the  courts  were  organized  he  was 
appointed  clerk,  and  held  that  position  for  fourteen  years. 
He  iu  fact  held  all  the  county  offices  for  a  number  of  years, 
aud  was  also  the  only  physician  aud  postmaster  of  the  town. 
During  his  term  as  county  officer  he  acquired  considerable 
knowledge  of  the  law,  and  was  frequently  called  upon  for 
advice  as  to  the  proper  method  of  bringing  suits;  in  short, 
was  the  oracle  who  was  consulted  in  all  kinds  of  business. 
He  commenced  the  practice  in  the  courts  regularly,  and 
was  soon  employed  on  one  side  or  the  other  of  every  case 
that  was  tried  in  the  courts  of  Perry  county.  His  prac- 
tice was  large,  but  not  so  lucrative  as  it  would  be  at  the 
present  day.  Then  a  ten  dollar  fee  covered  a  large  amount 
of  work,  both  in  the  preparation  of  the  case  and  its  progress 
through  the  courts.  He  was  regarded  as  an  able  lawyer, 
and  perhaps  had  no  superior  iu  southern  Illinois  as  a 
chancery  and  real  estate  lawyer.  His  large  practice  con- 
tinued until  his  death,  which  occurred  November  18th, 
18.55.  He  was  the  judge  of  the  probate  court  for  many 
years. 

C.  L.  Starbi'ck,  a  resident  attorney  of  Perry  county, 
was  a  native  of  New  York,  and  came  to  the  county  about 
1841,  and  commenced  practice  He  was  a  good  lawyer. 
He  removed  to  the  northern  part  of  the  State,  and  there 
died  about  l85(i. 

William  Eowards  came  to  Pinckneyville  iu  1830.  He 
was  born  in  Athens,  Vermont,  February  14th,  1805.  The 
family  moved  to  Ohio  in  an  early  day,  a.  d  from  there  to 
Shawneetown,  and  Mr  Kdwards  came  to  this  county  on 
the  date  above  mentioned.  He  followed  the  mercaitile 
business  here  until  1.S4.'5,  when  he  commenced  the  practice  of 
law,  which  he  continued  until  his  death,  April  10th,  1854, 


The  Court  records  disclose  the  fact  that  he,  too,  had  a  large 
practice,  and  is  remembered  as  a  sound,  thorough  lawyer. 

Pkksley  p.  Ha.milton  was  a  brilliant  young  lawyer. 
He  was  born  in  White  county,  Illinois,  Marcii  25lh,  1824. 
He  read  law  in  the  office  of  Hon.  S.  S.  Marshall,  of 
McLeausboro,  llliuois.  Before  he  finished  his  studies  he 
removed  to  Pinckneyville,  and  continued  his  studies  under 
William  Edwards.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  184G. 
He  practiced  in  the  surrounding  courts.  In  1858  he  entered 
the  Law  Scliool  at  Louisville,  and  graduated  from  that 
institution  in  February,  1859  He  succeeded  to  a  fine 
lucrative  practi('e  and  contiuued  therein  until  1863,  when  he 
abandoned  the  law  and  entered  the  ministry  of  the  M.  E. 
church,  aud  died  iu  the  rainistry  October  22d,  1869. 

Lewis  HaMMAck,  attorney  at  law,  has  now  the  honor  of 
being  the  "oldest  man  on  the  job."  He  was  born  iu  War- 
ren county,  Pa  ,  June  25th,  1825,  and  was  but  two  years 
of  age  when  the  family  came  to  llliuois.  He  was  educated 
in  the  subscription  schools  of  Perry  county.  During  the 
Mexican  War  he  was  a  member  of  Company  K,  of  the 
Second  Regiment,  llliuois  Volunteers,  commanded  by 
Colonel  Bissell.  After  the  war  ho  returned  aud  taught 
school  several  terms.  During  that  time  he  obtained  a  copy 
of  "Chitty  on  Contracts,"  which  awakened  in  him  a  desire 
to  study  for  the  profession.  In  the  meantime  he  was  elected 
circuit  clerk,  and  served  until  1852,  then  the  year  following 
obtained  his  license  and  commenced  practice.  His  position 
of  circuit  clerk  gave  him  a  knowledge  of  forms  which  was 
a  great  help  to  him,  and  he  soon  had  a  large  practice,  partic- 
ularly on  the  chancery  side,  and  in  real  estate  litigation. 
Like  many  of  the  old  lawyers,  while  he  had  a  large  practice, 
yet  in  consequence  of  the  fees  being  small  he  failed  to  reap 
the  just  rewards  that  should  always  attend  industry  and 
ability.  He  was  master  in  chancery  two  terms,  and  was  a 
candidate  for  judge  of  the  circuit  in  1861,  and  again  in  1864, 
but  each  time  was  defeated  by  a  small  majority. 

William  McEwing,  an  attoruey  of  Waterloo,  Monroe 
county,  came  to  Piuckueyville  in  1855,  and  continued  here 
three  ytars,  then  removed  to  St.  Louis,  and  is  now  prac- 
ticing in  Missouri.  He  is  more  particularly  remembered  in 
connection  with  the  journalism  of  the  county,  and  is  credited 
with  being  the  first  editor  and  publisher  of  a  newspaper  in 
Pinckneyville. 

William  H.  McKee  was  from  the  east.  He  came  to 
Piuckueyville  in  18.56.  He  was  a  graduate  of  the  Law 
School  at  Louisville,  Kentucky.  He  removad  to  Belleville 
iu  1861  and  diid  the  year  following.  He  was  a  bright, 
talented  lawyer,  and  gave  evidence  of  a  brilliant  career,  but 
the  dread  disease,  consumption,  carried  him  off  before  he 
had  reached  th^  zenith  of  his  professional  career. 

JuDOE  Georoe  W.  Wall,  of  Du  Quoin,  is  mentioned 
in  the  bench  of  the  county. 

Hon.  William  K.  Murphey  is  to  the  "manor  born." 
He  i=  a  native  of  Perry  county.  He  received  his  education 
in  the  common  schools,  aud  private  instruction  under  the 
tuition  of  B.  G.  Roots,  a  veteran  educator  of  Perry  couuty. 
In  1859  he  entered  the  law  office  of  William  H.  McKee, 
of   Pinckneyville,  and  commenced  the  study  of  law.     He 


192 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


pursued  his  ftuiiies  diligently,  and  in  the  sjiring  of  1860 
was  admitted  to  the  bir.  la  1861  he  was  appointed  master 
in  chancery,  in  which  position  he  continued  until  1865,  after 
which  he  confined  himself  closely  to  the  practice.  A^  a 
trial  lawyer  he  has  no  superior  in  the  county,  is  well  read 
in  the  la*,  and  is  an  advocate  of  more  than  ordinary  force. 
He  represented  his  district  in  the  Twenty-fourth,  Twenty- 
fifth  and  Thirty-first  General  Assemblies  of  the  State.  In 
1872  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  State  Senate,  and 
served  in  that  body  for  four  years.  He  was  also  a  candidate 
for  Congress  in  the  Twentieth  Congressional  District  in 
1882. 

Judge  William  Elstun,  who  until  recently  was  a  resi- 
dent lawyer  of  Perry  county,  is  a  native  of  Franklin 
county,  Illinois.  He  came  to  Du  Quoin  a  short  time  before 
the  late  war.  He  was  regarded  as  a  good  lawyer,  particu- 
larly in  probate  law.  He  was  county  judge  for  twelve 
years.     He  is  now  a  resident  of  Emporia,  Kansas. 

Mortimer  C.  Edwards  is  the  sou  of  William  Edwards, 
who  was  one  of  the  early  resident  lawyers  of  Perry  county. 
He  was  born  in  i'iuckneyville  and  received  his  early  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools,  and  in  the  Masonic  College  at 
Lexington,  Missouri.  He  read  law  in  the  office  of  Lewis 
Hammack,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1860.  During 
the  war  he  enlisted  for  three  years,  and  was  captain  of 
Company  C,  of  the  Eighty-first  Regiment,  Illinois  Volun- 
teer Infantry.  In  1880  he  was  elected  States  Attorney,  and 
at  present  he  is  prosecuting  attorney.  He  is  a  good  lawyer 
and  able  prosecutor. 

Hon.  John  Boyd  is  a  native  of  Randolph  county,  Illi- 
nois. He  received  his  education  in  the  common  schools, 
and  subsequently  followed  the  profession  of  teaching.  He 
read  law  with  Lewis  Hammack,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  1862.  He  formed  a  partnership  with  his  preceptor, 
which  continued  one  year  From  1806  to  18.S2  he  was 
associated  in  the  practice  with  William  K.  Murphey.  Mr. 
Boyd  possesses  a  fine  legal  mind  of  a  logical  and  analytical 
order,  and  excels  a-i  a  pleader.  He  represented  his  district 
in  the  Legislature  in  the  session  of  1876-77. 

Richard  M.  D.wis  is  a  native  of  Jackson  county.  111.  ; 
he  was  educated  in  the  common  schools,  and  read  law  in  the 
office  of  Louis  Hammack,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
May,  1864.  During  the  late  rebellion  he  was  lieutenant  in 
Co.  I  of  the  80ih  Reg't  111  Vols.  He  served  one  term  as 
superintendent  of  schools  of  Perry  county.  In  1876  he  was 
elected  State's  attorney,  and  served  one  term.  He  was  a 
vigilant  prosecutor,  and  earned  the  commendation  of  the 
good  citizens  of  Perry  county. 

Robert  R.  Townes,  a  resident  lawyer  of  Du  Quoin,  was 
a  native  of  Franklin  county,  111.,  and  came  to  Perry  county 
iu  1865,  and  was  State's  attorney  for  the  judicial  cir- 
cuit from  1868  to  187?.  He  removed  to  Jonesboro',  in 
Union  county,  and  subsequently  to  Athens,  Alabama,  where 
he  at  present  resides. 

Edward  V.  Pierce  is  a  native  of  Liverpool,  England, 
and  emigrated  to  America  in  1848.  He  learned  the  printer's 
trade,  and  for  some  time  edited  and  published  a  newspaper 
in  Franklin  county.     He  read  law  iu  the  office  of  Judge 


William  A.  Denning,  of  Benton,  Franklin  county,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1851.  He  was  State's  attorney  of  the 
26th  judicial  circuit  from  1858  to  1860,  and  master  in 
chancery  for  a  number  of  years.     He  came  to  Du  Quoin  in 

1864,  and  in  1874  removed  to  St.  Louis  and  practised  there. 
He  returned  to  Perry  county  in  1882,  and  has  continued 
the  practice  here  to  the  present.  Mr.  Pierce  is  a  good  lawyer, 
well  posted  in  the  elementary  principles  of  the  law,  and  has 
been  a  successful  practitioner. 

G  Parks,  a  resident  attorney  of  Du  Quoin,  is  a  native  of 
Indiana.  He  commenced  the  study  of  law  with  Cyrus  G 
Simons,  of  Jonesboro',  111.,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1856 ;  commenced  the  practice  in  Johnson  county.  In  1862 
he  went  into  the  service,  and  was  mustered  out  as  captain  at 
the  close  of  the  war.  After  the  war  he  came  to  Du  Quoin> 
and  continued  the  practice.  In  1881  he  was  appointed 
county  judge  by  the  county  commissioners,  and  in  1882  was 
elected  to  the  same  position. 

Hon.  T.  T.  Fountain  is  a  native  of  Washington  county, 
111.  He  received  his  primary  education  in  the  common 
schools  and  his  literary  training  at  McKendree  College, 
Lebanon,  Illinois,  and  subsequently  graduated  from  the  law 
department  of  the  University  of  Michigan,  at  Ann  Arbor,  in 
the  class  of  1868.  He  commenced  the  practice  at  Du  Quoin, 
in  connection  with  Judge  Munroe  C.  Crawford.  During  the 
late  war  he  enlisted  for  three  years  in  Co.  K  of  the  13th  111. 
cavalry,  and  passed  through  the  grades  to  the  second  lieu- 
tenancy. He  resigned  in  1864.  He  was  master  in  chancery 
from  1873  to  1875.  He  represented  his  district  iu  the  38th 
General  Assembly.  Mr.  Fountain  has  a  good  practice  and 
possesses  an  excellent  knowledge  of  his  profession. 

Dempsey  Fountain,  who  was  until  recently  a  resident 
attorney  of  Perry  county,  is  a  native  of  Williamson  county, 
111  He  received  his  legal  education  at  the  University  of 
Michigan,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1869.  He  was 
State's  attorney  from  l.'<72  to  1876.  He  is  now  a  resident 
of  Big  Stone  City,  Dacotah  Territory. 

R.  W.  S.  Wheatley  was  born  iu  St.  Clair  county  in 
1850.  He  received  a  fair  English  education  in  the  schools 
of  Perry  county.  He  read  law  iu  the  office  of  Colonel  R.  R. 
Townes,  of  Du  Quoin,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1871. 
Commenced  the  practice  in  Du  Quoin.  He  is  a  man  of 
taleut  and  eucrgy,  and  bids  fair  to  attain  eminence  in  his 
profession. 

A.  R.  PuGH  was  an  attorney  at  the  Perry  county  bar.  He 
was  a  native  of  Wales.     Commenced  the  practice  here  in 

1865.  He  moved  to  Jackson  county,  and  died  there  in  1881. 
1.  K.  P.  Rayland,  an  attorney,  and  at  present  justice  of 

the  peace  at  Pinckneyville,  is  a  native  of  Perry  county. 
Read  law  in  the  office  of  F.  M.  Youngblood,  of  Benton,  111., 
and  also  attended  the  Law  School  at  the  same  place,  and  of 
which  Judge  A.  D.  Duff  was  principal.  He  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  1869,  and  commenced  the  practice  at  Pinck- 
neyville. He  has  served  several  terms  as  justice  of  the  peace. 
E.  H.  Lemen  is  a  native  of  St.  Clair  county.  111.  He 
read  law  in  the  office  of  Hon.  John  B  Hay,  of  Belleville, 
111.,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1868.  He  is  also  a  gra- 
duate of  the  law  department  of  the  University  of  Michigan. 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND   PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


193 


Came  to  Perrj  couuty  in  1869,  and  commenced  the  practice 
here.  He  is  an  able  lawyer  and  a  pleasing  and  eloquent 
speaker  (tor  further  mention,  see  biographical  sketch). 

Evan  B.  Rushinu  was  boru  in  Bedford  couuty,  Tennes- 
see, but  was  reared  in  Perry  county.  111.  In  ISotJ  he  was 
elected  circuit  clerk  and  re-elected  in  1<H(J0,  and  served  eight 
years.  He  was  admiited  to  the  bdr  in  1868,  and  has  been 
master  in  chancery  ever  since,  except  two  years,  from  1873 
to  1875. 

Georue  Abbott,  of  Waterloo,  111.,  came  to  Pinckneyville 
in  1872,  and  practised  here  uutil  his  death,  in  1870. 

William  M.  Breese  was  born  in  Clinton  county,  III.,  in 
1839.  He  was  educated  in  Rock  River  Seminary,  at  Mount 
Morris,  in  Ogle  couuty  ;  then  spent  one  3-ear  at  MeKendree_ 
and  graduated  at  the  St.  L  ruis  University,  in  the  class  of 
lH.57.  Read  law  in  the  office  of  his  father,  the  late  Chief 
Justice  Sidney  Breese,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1870. 
Commenced  the  practice  in  Carlyle,  III.  Came  to  Pinckney- 
ville in  1M7),  and  has  continued  the  practice  here.  During 
the  late  war  he  was  first  lieutenant,  commanding  Co.  E  of 
the  Itith  regular  infantry,  2d  battalion,  and  served  until  in 
the  latter  part  of  1S()4. 

W.  W.  Ed\vakd.s  is  a  native  of  Perry  couuty.  111. ;  was 
educated  at  McKendree  College,  graduating  in  the  class  of 
1873,  and  read  law  in  the  office  of  his  brother,  M.  C.  Ed- 
wards, and  with  Messrs.  Rayland  &  Raylaud,  of  Lexington^ 
Mo.,  and  was  admitted  to  the-  bar  there.  Commeuced  toe 
practice  in  Carletou,  Thayer  county,  Nebraska,  and  came  to 
Pinckneyville  in  18M,  and  has  continued  the  practice  here. 

Thomas  Bovd  is  a  native  of  Randolph  county.  III.  Re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  common  schools,  and  subsequently 
followed  the  profession  of  teaching.  In  l'<70  he  commenced 
the  study  of  law,  in  the  office  of  Murphey  &  Boyd,  and  at 
the  spring  term  of  the  supreme  court,  held  at  Springfield, 
187-1,  passed  a  highly  creditable  examination  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar.  He  formed  a  law  partnership  with  his 
preceptors,  and  the  firm  of  Murphey  &  Boyd  Bros,  continued 
until  the  summer  of  1882,  when  it  was  dissolved.  Mr  Boyd 
removed,  in  the  latter  part  of  l.S'S2,  lo  Mound  City,  Pulaski 
county,  where  at  present  he  is  continuing  the  practi  e. 

B.  W.  Pope,  of  Du  Quoin,  is  a  native  of  Franklin  county, 
Illinois.  He  was  educated  at  the  Industrial  Univer.-ity  at 
Urbana,  Illinois  Read  law  in  the  office  of  Hon.  George  \V_ 
Wall,  of  Du  (^uoin.  He  received  his  legal  education  in  the 
Law  Department  of  the  Washington  Univeroitj'  at  St.  Louis 
and  at  the  Union  Law  School  at  Chicago,  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  at  the  June  term  of  the  Supreme  Court  held  at 
Mt.  Vernon.  He  commenced  the  practice  in  Perry  county, 
where  he  still  continues. 

Henry  Clay,  a  resident  lawyer  of  Tamaroa,  Perry  county, 
is  a  native  of  Pope  count}',  Illinois.  Received  his  education 
in  the  common  schools  and  two  years  at  the  Wesleyan  Uni- 
versity at  Bloomington,  Illinois.  Head  law  with  Hatch  and 
Prince,  of  Bloomington,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
McLean  county  in  1800,  and  soon  thereafter  commenced  the 
practice  in  Perry  county. 

M.  G.  Kelso  is  a  native  of  Kentucky.  Commenced 
reading  law  in  1809  with  T:  T.  Fountain,  at  Du  Quoin,  and 
25 


was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1870.  In  the  same  year  he 
graduated  from  the  Law  Department  of  the  St.  Louis  Uni- 
versity,    ('ommenced  the  practice  in  Du  Quoin. 

Henry  P.  Scott,  one  of  the  bright  young  lawyers  at  the 
bar  of  Perry  county,  is  a  native  of  Vermont.  He  received 
his  education  in  the  public  schools  and  academy  of  hig 
native  place.  He  came  to  Illinois  in  1800,  and  to  Du  Quoin 
in  1870.  He  read  law  in  the  office  of  Judge  S.  G.  Parks, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  August,  1881.  He  com- 
menced the  practice  in  Du  Quoin,  and  so  far  has  given 
every  evidence  of  success  in  his  chosen  profession. 

There  were  a  few  other  lawyers  who  were  residents  of 
Perry  county  for  a  brief  time,  among  whom  was  Colonel 
Joseph  A  Nuses.  He  came  to  Du  Quoin  in  1872,  re- 
mained a  short  time,  and  then  moved  to  Louisville,  Ky. 
Also  James  W.  Blair,  who  was  an  attorney,  and  was  su- 
perintendent of  schools  one  term.  He  died  September  17, 
1879. 

D.  B.  Van  Svckle,  an  attorney,  practiced  here,  and  was 
also  for  a  short  time  engaged  in  publishing  a  newspaper. 
T.here  were  probably  some  others,  but  their  stay  here  was 
brief,  and  they  were  comparatively  "  briefless." 


CHAPTER  X. 


EISTOE  Y  OF  THE  PRESS. 


Illinou  Herald,  IlUnoit  InlrHioencer,  KoAntki'i  Recorder.  Kdxl.tstia  RrTittblicmt,  Colum- 
bus Heralii,  Sparta  Herald,  Sparta  Democrat,  R  tlulolpU  C  lunti/  Record,  Chesler  Revcdle, 
Saiithern  Idiania  Advocate,  Chester  Heral  I,  Prairie  Dentoerai,  Siiarta  Freeman,  Sparta 
Jounial,  Independent,  Star  of  the  West,  Sparta  Piainlealer,  WeeHi)  Randolph  Omat) 
Democrat,  Egyptiim  Picket  Guard,  Valleij  Clarion,  Valtelj  Clarion  Prtutitig  Compawj, 
Tlie  Frie  BlaeUcr,  Chester  Trilimie,  Grenihuci  Gazette.  Bi<ihtcen-E  ghtij.  The  Rjyptiats 
Courier,  Rett  Bad  Courier,  Courier,  Recitw,  Chronicle,  The  Item,  0«r  Woik,  Indepm- 
dent  Democrat,  War  Eagle,  Potritil,  Adrertirrr,  Waterloo  Adcocate,  Monroe  Democrat, 
Times,  Freie  Presse,  Gazette.  Voice  of  Monroe,  iVi-ij  (kmnln  Times,  Du  <*ioin  AKiiin; 
Joarnal,  SUirt  nud  Stripes,  Da  Quoia  Recorder.  Ttilimie  and  Recorder,  Progress,  T>U>um 
Itrpnhliran.  Bnunrr.  Perrg  Counlij  Watchman,  Enterprise,  Star,  Item,  Neat,  Independent 
II r.,1,  ;■  : . ;,  I   I  ,.,;;,  Sijnal,  The  I're^s,  Da  tjnuin  Press. 


H  fr^^Jr7>f^ 1 1 1 ]•'  newspaper  history  of  Illinois  is  as  in- 
.•',;S=v'nl  /  dli.  t^.resting  and  checkered  as  that  of  the 
<SiAVv.5iJ^  'Via  race  or  nation.  Much  of  it  is  involved 
n X  \^?^^'?7 'l ^  '"  darkness,  and  comes  down  to  us  in  a 
traditionary  form.  Writers  disagree  as 
to  the  date  of  the  first  appearance  of  a 
newspaper  in  Illinois.  Reynolds  says 
that  it  was  as  early  as  1809,  while  others 
equally  reliable  fix  the  dale  in  1814. 
All,  however,  agree  that  the  I/linois  Herald  was  the  first 
paper  published  in  the  Territory,  and  that  Matthew  Duncan 
was  the  publisher  and  editor.  These  points  being  settled, 
we  are  prepared  to  fix  positively  the  date  of  its  first  appear- 
ance. We  are  in  possession  of  No.  32  of  Vol.  II.  of  the 
lUiiioin  Herald,  published  at  Kaskaskia  (Illinois  Territory)^ 
Thursday  morniug,  April  18,  1810.  Presuming  that  its 
publication  continued  without  iuterraptiou  up  to  the  date 


194 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY   COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


above  named,  the  first  issue  was  made  September  6,  1814. 
The  Herald  was  a  four  column  folio  with  wide  columns, 
printed  by  Mathew  Duncan,  "printer  to  the  Territory  and 
publisher  of  the  laws  of  the  United  States."  The  number 
before  us  is  mainly  taken  up  with  the  publication  of  the  laws 
of  the  Terriiory.  Its  columns  show  little  if  any  local  news, 
and  not  much  of  a  general  character.  This  is  accounted  for 
by  the  editor  who  laments  the  "  barreness  of  this  day's  paper 
on  account  of  the  non-arrival  of  the  eastern  mail."  He  also 
proposes  to  "enlarge  his  paper  and  print  it  with  small  type, 
and  devote  all  of  his  time  to  its  trianagement,"  and  an- 
nounces his  determination  to  continue  his  residence  in  Kas- 
kaskia  We  copy  some  of  the  "  Notices"  and  advertise- 
ments; of  the  latter  there  were  few.  Daniel  P.  Cook  Audi- 
tor of  Public  Accounts  for  Illinois  Territory  publicly  gives 
not  ce,  "That  all  nonresident  claimants  to  land  in  Illinois 
Territory  are  required  to  enter  all  such  land  for  taxation 
with  the  Auditor  of  Public  Accounts  on  or  before  the  1st 
day  of  August  next."  In  the  issue  of  the  Htrald  of  the 
same  date  Josiah  McClanahan  advertises  his  runaway  negro 
slave,  Brookens  Cole,  offtring  a  reward  of  S'25  for  his  cap- 
ture and  return  and  gives  a  personal  description  of  him. 
In  the  issue  of  February  1st,  1815,  the  editor  says:  "The 
want  of  paper  of  a  pr.iper  size  compels  the  publication  of 
the  //•  raid  of  this,  and  probably  for  some  succeeding  weeks, 
on  a  half-fheet  of  super  royal  paper.  The  editor  has  gone 
to  Kentucky  to  obtain  a  supply.  We  have  had  no  eastern 
mail  for  two  weeks  past  further  than  Shawneetown,  conse- 
quently the  readers  of  this  paper  have  lost  nothing  by  its 
late  failure." 

Notici Daniel  P.  Cook  informs  the  public  that  the  Au- 
ditor's office  (having  been  assigned  to  him)  will  be  kept  at 
the  house  of  X.  P(ipe,  E.^^q.,  where  all  calls  on  him  in  the 
line  of  his  profession  as  (\innsellor  and  Attorney  at  Law 
will   also   be   promptly  attended   to. 

Kaskaski.v,  January  13,  ISIO.  18tf 

Notic( 1   have   for  sale   22  slaves.     Among  them   are 

several  of  buth  sexes  between  the  years  of  10  and   17  years. 
If  not  shortly  sold  I  shall   wish  to   hire  them   in   Missouri 
Territory.     I  have  also  for  sale  a  full  blooded  stud  horse,  a 
very  large  English  Bull  and  several  young  ones. 
October  1st,  181.").  Ninian  Edwards. 

The  above  may  read  strangely  to  the  present  inhabitants 
of  Illinois. 

The  following  is  a  card  from  the  old  "  Ranger"  Gover- 
nor of  Illinois.  True  to  his  instincts  he  never  missed  an  op- 
portunity to  make  himself  popular  with  the  dear  people. 

To  the  poor  people  of  Illinois  and  Missouri  Territory. 
To  the  above  class  of  mankind  whose  pecuniary  circum- 
stances will  not  admit  of  feeing  a  lawyer.  I  ten<ler  ray  pro- 
fessional services  as  a  lawyer  in  all  courts  I  may  practice 
in  without  fee  or  reward. 
Kaskaskia,  Dec.  10th,  181.5.  John  Reynolds 

Mathew  Duncan,  the  founder  of  the  Illinois  Hirild,  was  a 
native  of  Paris,  Bourbon  county,  Kentucky,  and  a  brother 
of  Joseph  Duncan  who  succeeded  Reynolds  as  Governor  of 
the   State.      He   sold    the    paper  to   Daniel   P.  Cook   and 


Robert  Blackwell.     The  date  of  transfer  was   August  25th, 
1817.     They  changed  the  name  to 

The  Illinois  Intellir/encer.  After  the  State  was  admitted 
to  the  union,  Mr.  Cook  was  elected  to  congress.  A  short 
time  prior  to  this  event  he  sold  his  interest  to  Elijah  C. 
Berry.  The  firm  was  then  B'ackwell  &  Berry.  Mr.  Cook 
was  elected  for  several  terms  to  congress,  and  served  with 
great  distinction  in  that  body.  He  held  the  chairmanship 
of  the  ways  and  means  committee,  and  no  doubt  his  death 
was  hastened  by  his  laborious  duties  as  its  chairman.  He 
died  in  1827,  universally  lamented.  It  is  generally  con- 
ceded that  he  was  a-t  able  a  man  as  ever  represented  Illinois 
in  the  halls  of  congress. 

The  hitelligencer  was  in  form,  a  four  column  folio,  neatly 
printed  in  small  type.  The  "  Adds"  were  set  the  first  time, 
in  heavy  black  letter.  From  No.  39  of  vol.  3,  printed  at 
Kaskas'kia  Wednesday,  May  26,  1819,  we  notice  the  follow- 
ing cards  of  lawyers,  some  of  whom  subsequently  became 
prominent  in  the  history  of  the  State.  Nathaniel  Pope,  H. 
Starr  and  D.  Blackwell,  Henry  S.  Dodge  and  Richard  M. 
Young  attorneys  at  law.  The  latter  had  removed  from 
Kentucky  to  Jonesborough,  Union  county,  Illinois,  and 
practiced  in  the  courts  of  Illinois  and  Missouri  Territories. 

Notice. — Being  authorized  for  that  purpose  it  hereby  re- 
quests the  attendance  of  the  commissioners  appointed  by  the 
legislature  for  selecting  a  site  whereon  to  fix  the  seat  of  gov- 
ernment of  this  State,  agreeable  to  the  law  of  the   United 

States  and  of  this  State  at  the  house  of Revis,  on  the 

Kaskaskia  river,  on  the  first  Monday  in  the  month  of  June 

next. 

May  19,  1819.  Wii.mam  Alexander, 

One  of  the  Commissioners. 

The  commissioners  met  agreeably  to  appointment  and  se 
lected  a  site  and  named  it  Vandalia,  to  which  point  the 
State  Government  was  removed  the  next  year. 

In  the  same  issue  John  Edgar  gave  notice  "that  he  had 
sold  all  his  claims  to  the  land  whereon  is  situated  Harrison- 
ville,  the  county  seat  of  Mimroe  county,  to  Messrs.  McKnight 
&  Brady  and  know  of  no  other  claims  to  said  land,"  also 
notice  to  the  Brethren  of  Western  Star  Lodge  No.  107, 
A.  F.  &  A.  M.  will  celebrate  St.  John's  day  in  the  town  of 
Kaskaskia,  June  24th,  1819.  By  order  of  John  Betts,  Sec. 
The  Intelligencer  was  published  in  Kaskaskia  un'il 
the  following  year  (1820)  when  the  state  Capital  was  re- 
moved to  Vandalia.  It  being  a  part,  so  t  >  speak,  of  the  state 
government  it  was  also  removed  to  the  latter  place.  Elijah 
C.  Berry  became  the  sole  publisher,  and  afterward  was 
elected  Auditor  of  Public  Accounts. 

The  Republican  Adivente  was  established  in  Kaskaskia 
in  1823,  by  Elias  Kent  Kane.  He  continued  its  imblieation 
for  a  short  time  or  until  the  date  ot  his  election  to  the 
United  States  Senate,  th^n  the  office  was  leased  to  other 
parties  and  suspended  publication  in  1825.  Mr.  Kane  was 
a  native  of  New  York  and  settled  in  Kaskaskia  in  1814, 
four  years  before  the  organization  of  the  state  government. 
In  1818  he  was  appointed  by  Gov.  Bond  secretary  of  state, 
and  continued  in  that  <  ffire  until  1824,  when  he  was  elected 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


195 


to  represent  Illiuoij  in  the  Senate  of  the  United  States.  He 
proved  himself  an  industrious  and  able  member  of  that  body, 
and  served  out  his  full  time  with  so  much  satisfaction  to  his 
constituents  that  he  was  re  elected  without  serious  opposition 
in  1830.  Before  the  expiration  of  his  second  term  his 
health,  which  had  always  been  feeble,  gave  way  and  he  died 
in  Washington,  December  lltli,  IS;!.").  Few  men  of  his  daj's 
enjoyed  a  higher  degree  of  popularity.  He  was  esteemed 
by  all  who  knew  him,  and  even  the  few  enemies  he  had  ad- 
mitted the  purity  of  h'n  character  aud  the  honesty  ol  his  in- 
tentions. 

The  Adoocate  office  passed  into  the  bauds  of  Robert  K. 
Fleming,  who  revived  the  publication  of  the  paper  and 
named  it  the  Kuskofikia  Recorder.  It  was  established  May 
5th,  182.^,  by  Mr.  P^leming,  who  soon  removed  the  office  to 
Vandalia.and  in  l'S27  went  to  Edwardsville  and  established 
the  IUinoi.-<  Corrector.  Two  years  later  he  returned  to  Ka.s- 
kaskia  aud  published  the  Recorder,  and  remained  there  until 
the  summer  of  1  «.>:>,  then  went  to  Belleville  and  remained 
there  until  his  death.  At  the  time  of  his  death  in  1<'S74  he 
was  the  oldest  living  printer  and  publi-her  in  the  state. 

Col.  Menard  owned  a  printing  office  in  IM.'iO.  It  was  his 
custom  to  leave  it  or  allow  any  parties  the  use  of  it  who 
would  publish  a  paper  in  the  town  of  Kaskaskia.  In  1840 
the  office  was  opened  by  James  Fitzsimmons,  a  young  man 
who  came  to  Ka.skaskia  in  the  employ  of  a  party  of  bridge 
builders  in  the  capacity  of  book  and  timekeeper.  Having 
some  journalistic  aspirations  he  got  permission  from  Me- 
nard to  open  the  office,  and  issued  therefrom  the  Kaakdnkia 
Republican. 

He  was  succeeded  by  Wm.  E  Jones,  who  continued  pub- 
lisher until  after  the  high  water  of  l'S44,  when  the  office  was 
clo.sed  for  a  short  time.  The  publication  was  revived  in 
1841)  by  Parsons  Percy  and  a  Mr.  Wallace.  Mr.  Percy 
was  a  Scotchman  by  birth  and  an  old  printer,  and  well  known 
throughout  southern  Illinois.  He  was  a  character  in  his 
way,  and  posessed  of  more  than  average  ability  but  un- 
fortunately was  addicted  to  gross  intemperance.  It  was  his 
custom  as  soon  as  the  paper  was  printed  to  go  to  the  grog 
shop  and  get  drunk  aud  continue  in  that  state  for  several 
days,  only  returning  to  the  office  in  time  to  set  up  and  get 
out  the  next  week's  issue.  It  is  related  of  him  that  on  one 
occassion  the  drunk  continued  until  the  day  of  publication. 
Sobering  up  he  realized  that  something  had  to  be  done.  It 
was  too  late  to  set  up  the  paper.  The  last  week's  forms 
were  still  on  the  press.  In  this  dilemma  he  sat  down  and 
wrote,  "At  the  urgent  request  of  a  large  number  of  our 
subscribers  we  republish  last  week's  edition."  The  paper 
was  worked  off  and  distributed.  It  is  not  related  whether 
his  subscribers  discovered  the  trick  or  not,  at  least  it  gave 
him  extra  time  to  indulge  in  his  favorite  recreation  of  getting 
gloriously  drunk.  He  afterwards  published  a  paper  in 
Sparta,  then  in  Staunton,  Macoupin  count}',  after  which  he 
went  to  Chester  and  there  died. 

During  the  time  that  Parsons  Percy  was  publisher  of  the 
paper,  Peter  W.  Baker  became  associated  with  him  and  sub- 
sequently became  publisher,  and  continued  the  paper  until 
1849    when   the  office    of   the   Republican  was  sold  by  the 


Menards  to  B.  J.  F.  Hanna,  and  by  him  removed  to  Chester, 
which  had  then  iiecome  the  county  scat  of  Randolph  county. 
The  first  paper  established  outside  of  Kaskaskia  in  Ran- 
dolph county  was 

The  Columhu.':  Herald. — It  was  established  at  Sparta, 
and  its  founder  was  James  Morrow,  a  practical  printer 
and  native  of  Ohio.  He  came  west  to  Illinois  in  the 
early  spring  of  18:59.  He  brought  a  printing  office  with 
him.  The  first  issue  of  the  Herald  was  made  May  Ist,  1839. 
It  took  its  name  from  the  town  Columbia  which  by  an  act 
of  the  legislature  of  1840—41  was  changed  to  Sparta.  It 
was  the  first  newspaper  printed  in  the  town,  and  it  may  be 
said  that  with  the  exception  of  a  few  years,  Sparta  has  not 
been  without  a  newspaper  from  that  date  to  the  present. 
In  form  it  was  a  .l  col.  folio,  neatly  printed  and  had  a  fair 
advertising  patronage.  It  was  independent  in  politics.  In 
the  Prospectus  the  Editor  said  "In  the  language  of  Thomas 
Jefferson,  we  are  all  Rt publicans.  So  we  would  now  say. 
We  are  all  whigs,  we  are  all  Democrats."  On  the  10th  of 
January,  1840,  in  consequence  of  the  name  of  the  town  being 
changed  the  paper  was  named 

The  Sparta  Herald. — With  the  completion  of  the  first 
volume  the  paper  passed  into  the  possession  of  Mr.  John  E. 
Deitrich,  who  converted  it  into  a  political  paper  and  made 
it  the  organ  of  the  Democratic  party  in  the  county.  On  the 
8th  of  May,  1840,  he  changed  the  name  from  the  Sparta 
Herald  to 

Tlie  Sparta  Democrat. — In  the  exciting  campaign  of  1840 
i.lie  Democrat  advocated  the  claims  of  Martin  Van  Burea 
for  the  presidency.  Mr.  Deitrich  continued  the  publication 
unti  184;),  when  it  suspended.  In  1.S44  the  office  waj 
leased  to  0.  F.  McMillan,  who  on  the  •JSili  of  May,  1844, 
commenced  the  publication  of  the 

Randolph  Couiitij  Record.  —  It  was  a  four-column  folio, 
wide  columns.  It  su))ported  James  K.  Polk  for  the  presi- 
dency. It  was  continued  by  Mr.  McMillan  until  June, 
1846,  when  trouble  arose  in  the  Democratic  camp.  In  the 
convention  a.ssembled  for  the  purpose  of  nominating  candi- 
dates for  Congress,  Robert  Smith,  the  member  from  the 
district,  was  defeated  by  Lyman  Trumbull.  The  friends  of 
Smith  claimed  that  Trumbull  had  secured  the  nomination 
by  unfair  means,  and  Smith  therefore  proposed  to  run  inde- 
pendent. All  the  papers  in  the  district  stood  by  the  nominee 
of  the  convention.  Smith  had  no  organ  to  represent  him. 
McMillan  was  a  friend  of  Smith's.  He  proposed  to  have 
the  Record  su))port  Smith.  This  Mr.  Dietrich,  to  whom  the 
office  belonged,  would  not  permit  to  be  done.  McMillan 
wrote  Smith  the  facts.  He  at  once  purchased  press  and 
type,  shipped  it  to  Chester  and  placed  McMillan  in  charge. 
He  set  up  the  office  and  issued  the  Record.  Six  mouths 
later  he  changed  the  name  to 

The  Chester  Reveille,  the  first  number  of  which  was  printed 
February  20,  1847.  It  was  in  form  a  four-column  folio, 
afterwards  enlarged.  Smith  was  elected  by  a  large  ma- 
jority. He  continued  McMillan  in  the  office  until  1850, 
when  he  sold  it  to  Messrs.  Hanna  &  Whitehurst,  pub- 
lishers of  the  Randolph  County  Herald.  Their  office  had 
been  destroyed  by  fire  a  few  months  before. 


196 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS 


Mr.  McMillan  is  a  practical  printer  ;  he  learned  his  trade 
io  Ceutreville.  In  1842  he  came  to  Kaskaskia  and  worked 
at  the  case  in  the  office  of  the  Republican;  aflerwanU  went 
to  Sparta,  then  to  Chester,  where  he  yet  resides.  He  was  a 
strong  advocate  of  the  Homestead  Exemption  law=,  and 
contributed  not  a  little  to  their  passage  His  paper  bore 
the  name  of  the  Chcder  Reixille  and  Homcdi'ad  A-hw.ate. 
As  will  be  seen  by  the  above,  he  is  among  the  veteran  and 
pioneer  printers  and  publishers  of  the  state. 

The  first  newspaper  published  in  Chester  county  was 
called 

The  Southern  Illinois  Advocate. — It  was  founded  by  John 
Smith  and  M.  H.  Abbott.  The  first  number  was  issued 
May  14th,  1839.  In  form  it  was  a  five-column  folio,  and 
claimed  to  be  independent  in  politics.  Its  publication  was 
continued  until  1840,  when  it  suspended. 

After  the  flood  of  1844,  the  town  of  Kaskaskia  retro- 
graded. As  before  stated,  a  feeble  effort  was  made  to 
keep  up  a  newspaper  after  that  date,  but  it  was  a  failure. 
In  1849  the  Menards,  the  owners  of  the  material  of  the 
Republican  office,  sold  it  to  Mr.  B.  J  F.  Hanua.  He  re- 
moved it  to  Chester  and  there  commenced  the  publication 
of  the 

Chester  Herald.— The  first  number  was  issued  March  15, 
1849.  Soon  after  the  publication  was  commenced  Mr. 
Whitehurst  was  taken  into  partnership,  and  the  firm  of 
Hanna  &  Whitehurst  continued  until  185;>,  when  the 
latter  retired  and  was  succeeded  by  William  Philips.  They 
continued  the  Herald  until  18.'i(),  when  Phillips  withdrew 
and  went  to  Kansas,  where  he  laid  out  the  town  of  Salina, 
and  subsequently  accumulated  a  fortune.  He  was  a  Scotch- 
man by  birth,  and  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  force  of 
character.  He  possessed  no  education,  but  was  gifted  with 
a  strong  natural  mind.  He  arose  to  distinction  and  repre- 
sented his  district  in  congress.  He  was  succeeded  in  the 
Herald  by  E.  J.  Montague,  and  with  him  the  paper  ceased 
publication.  Mr.  Montague,  in  1860,  went  to  Belleville,  in 
St.  Clair  county,  and  took  charge  of  the  Advocate.  At  pre- 
sent he  is  a  resident  of  Missouri. 

After  Mr.  McMillan  removed  from  Sparta  to  Chester  in 
1846,  there  was  no  paper  published  in  the  former  place 
until  1848;  when  John  R.  Shannon  started  a  campaign 
paper  called 

The  Prairie  Democrat. — It  advocated  the  election  of  Lewis 
Cass.     About  the  same  time  a  paper  called  the 

Sparta  Freeman  was  issued  by  James  Coleman.  It  repre- 
sented the  views  of  the  anti-slavery  party,  and  supported 
James  G.  Birney  for  the  presidency.  In  18.30  James  S. 
Coulter  succeeded  Coleman,  who  died,  and  continued  the 
paper  for  several  years.     He  changed  the  name  to 

The  Sparta  Journal— He  retired  in  1852  and  went  to 
Belleville,  and  there  edited  the  Advocate.  He  was  a  Protest- 
ant Irishman,  and  one  of  those  irrepressible  characters  so 
often  found  among  the  natives  of  the  Emerald  Isle.  He 
wielded  a  sharp  vigorous  pen,  and  was  indiscriminate  in  the 
use  of  it,  and  sometimes  would  puncture  a  friend  as  well 
afl  a  foe. 

After  Mr.  Coulter  retired  from  the  Journal  Mrs.  Gintileus 
took  charge,  and  a  short  time  after   the  paper  suspended. 


John  R.  Shannon  conducted  the  Democrat  until  1851, 
when  the  office  was  leased  to  C.  P.  Jjhnsoa,  late  Lieutenant- 
Governor  of  Missouri.  He  named  the  paper  The  Inde- 
pendent, and  continued  it  until  after  the  campaign  in  1852, 
when  it  suspended.  It  was  revived  by  S.  A.  Armour  who 
published  the  pip^r  f)r  a  sh  >rt  \\m\  then  leased  to  Parsons 
Percy  wh)  continue  1  it  f)r  twj  years,  after  which  J.  W. 
Fletcher  succeeddd  to  the  management  and  soon  after  the 
office   was   removed    to   Chester.       lu    1862    the    Ilotrock 

Brothers  published  a  paper  in  Sparta  called   the •. 

They  continued  the  publication  through  the  war,  after  which 
they  leased  the  office  to  W.  J.  Armour,  who  changed  the 
name  to  the  Star  of  the  West.  It  was  sold  to  Gen.  J.  Black- 
burn J.nes  in  November  1866.  It  had  then  but  130  sub- 
scribers. Mr.  Jones  then  purchased  new  type  and  changed 
the  name  of  the  paper  to  the  Randolph  Plaindealer.  It  rap- 
idly grew  in  circulation  under  the  management  of  Gen 
Jones.  It  was  the  first  paper  in  Illinois  that  hoisted  the 
name  of  U.  S   Grant  for  president. 

An  incident  is  related  about  "Bill"  Armour,  as  he 
was  familiarly  called.  Shortly  after  he  went  out  of  the 
office,  and  Jones  took  possession,  he  came  back  and  claimed 
the  rolling  stone  as  his  property.  Upon  investigation  it  was 
found  to  be  the  tombstone  of  his  departed  uncle  which  had 
been  shipped  to  him  to  be  set  up  at  the  head  of  the  grave 
in  the  cemetery  ;  being  just  the  sort  of  a  rolling  stone  he 
wanted,  he  utilized  it.  We  are  not  informed  whether  it  did 
or  did  not  do  duty  as  a  tombstone  after  it  had  served  his 
purpose. 

Gen.  Jones  continued  the  publication  of  the  Plaindealer 
until  August  1868,  when  he  sold  to  T.  M.  Nichol  who  con- 
tinued the  publication  until  the  following  April,  then  J.  D. 
Watson  purchased  an  interest  with  Nichol.  The  firm  of 
Nichol  &  Watson  continued  until  December  1870,  when 
the  paper  was  sold  to  Messrs.  Kimball  &  Taylor  of  Belle- 
ville. They  placed  Edward  Fagin  in  charge  as  editor  and 
manager.  He  was  succeeded  by  Fred.  L.  AUes,  April  27, 
1872.  In  April  1873  an  eflfort  was  made  by  some  parties  in 
Sparta  to  purchase  the  Plaindealer,  and  while  they  had  the 
matter  under  consideration  Mr.  AUes  purchased  it  of  F.  M. 
Taylor  of  Belleville,  and  on  the  same  date  sold  it  to  S.  L. 
Taylor  of  Sparta.  The  date  olsale  was  May  19, 1873.  On 
the  21st  of  June  following  Albert  Goddard  became  associ- 
ated with  Mr.  Taylor  in  the  management  He  retired  Feb- 
ruary 17,  1874,  and  was  succeeded  by  W.  B  Taylor,  brother 
of  S.  L.  Taylor.  The  Taylor  Brothers  continued  to  publish 
the  Plaindealer  until  May  10,  1881,  when  they  sold  it  to 
Messrs.  George  Campbell  and  Don.  E.  Deitrich.  Charles 
Campbell  purchased  Deitrich's  interest  September  1st,  1881, 
since  which  time  it  has  been  conducted  by  the  Campbell 
Brothers.  They  are  both  young  men  of  energy  and  ability, 
and  have  succeeded  in  making  the  Plaindealer  a  necessity  to 
the  people  of  Sparta  and  surrounding  country. 

The  Weekly  Randolph  County  Democrat  was  founded  by 
Judge  J.  M.  Ralls.  The  first  number  was  issued  JIarch  10, 
1857.  The  office  was  brought  from  Sparta  and  managed  by 
J.  W.  Fletcher,  who  was  a  practical  printer.  He  subse- 
quently founded  the  Sentinel  at  Centralia,  which  is  still  in 
existence. 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


197 


The  Democrat  was  a  6  column  folio,  and  its  name  indi- 
cated its  politics.  Judge  Rails  continued  proprietor  until 
April  1,  1858,  when  he  sold  out  to  H.  B.  Nisbet  and  C.  C 
(Jleraeus.  They  continued  the  Dcmorral  as  ati  independent 
paper.  At  the  close  of  the  third  volume,  or  on  April  1st, 
l><(iO,  Mr.  Nisbet  purchased  Clemens'  interest  and  conducted 
the  paper  until  June  186-5.  Wheu  he  got  control  he 
made  it  a  republican  paper.  It  gave  an  unqualified  and 
hearty  support  to  the  union  cause  and  all  measures  for  the 
suppression  of  the  rebellion.  John  W.  Dean  and  M.  W. 
Rotrock  purchased  the  Democrat.  The  firm  of  Dean  & 
Rotrock  continued  editors  and  publishers  until  1876, 
when  Rotrock  sold  his  interest  back  to  Jlr.  Nisbet.  The 
firm  name  was  then  Dean  &  Co.  Dean  during  this  time 
had  charge  of  the  management  of  the  paper.  He  let  it  run 
down,  so  that  it  became  of  little  value.  It  was  sold  to  the 
Clarion  Company. 

The  next  candidate  for  journalistic  favors  in  Chester  was 
the 

E<i]iptian  Picket  Guard. — John  R.  Shannon  and  Robert 
McHenry  were  the  founders.  The  first  number  was  issued. 
May  22nd,  1862.  Mr.  P.  W.  Baker,  a  veteran  printer  and 
publisher  in  southern  Illinois,  had  much  to  do  in  organizing 
the  Company,  and  placing  the  Picket  Guard  upon  its  feet. 
He  was  the  compositor  in  the  office  and  set  up  the  paper, 
and  also  had  an  interest  in  the  business.  In  fact  it  was 
owing  to  his  energy  and  industry  that  the  paper  was  started. 
In  the  spring  of  1SG3  Mr.  McIIenry,  whose  health  had  failed, 
withdrew  from  the  paper  and  went  to  California.  Mr. 
Shannon  then  became  sole  Editor  and  publisher.  ThcPickrt 
Guard  at  once  became  extremely  partisan  in  its  tone  and 
gave  offense  to  the  union  sentiment  in  the  county.  In  the 
summer  of  L'^G:!  it  suspended  publication  for  two  months. 
In  the  meantime  a  Company  composed  of  the  leading  Demo- 
crats of  the  county  was  formed  and  the  paper  became  the 
property  of  the  democratic  party  of  Randolph  county.  S. 
St.  Vrain  was  appointed  as  its  special  agent,  treasurer  and 
general  manager.  P.  W.  Baker  took  charge  as  publisher, 
and  managed  the  business  department  inside  the  office.  John 
R.  Shannon  was  continued  as  Editor.  He  was  extremely 
partisan  in  his  views,  and  criticised  the  measures  adopted  for 
the  suppression  of  the  rebellion  in  such  a  caustic  term  that 
he  provoked  the  anger  of  a  company  of  soldiers  who  in  July 
18ti4  broke  into  the  office,  took  out  the  type  and  scattered  it 
along  the  streets.  The  office  was  refitteil  with  type  and  the 
publication  resumed.  Soon  after  that  event  John  McBride, 
a  prominent  local  politician,  became  i)roprietor  of  the  Picket 
Guard  He  retained  Shannon  as  Editor.  In  186.")  JIcBride 
retired  from  the  management  and  was  succeeded  by  William 
H.  Toy,  who  published  the  paper  until  the  fall  of  1867, 
when  McHenry,  one  of  the  original  proprietors,  returned 
from  California  and  assumed  control  He  changed  the 
name  to 

The  Valley  Clarion,  and  continued  Editor  and  publisher 
until  June  1868,  when  he  died.  Robert  E  Dcitrich  con- 
ducted the  paper  until  the  close  of  the  year,  when  he  was 
succeeded  by  William  J.  Armour  who  held  control  until 
Nov.    9th,   1869 ;  then  Charles   L.  Spencer  purchased   the 


Clarion  and  continued  editor  and  publisher  until  December 
8ih,  1875.  During  Spencer's  management  the  Clarion  be- 
came the  leading  and  most  potential;  Democratic  newspaper 
in  the  District.  He  was  not  only  an  'able  editor  but  was  in 
addition  a  most  exeellentnewppaper  manager.  Few  country 
newspapers  in  Illinois  f'rtt^'ed  so  profitable  as  the  Clarion 
under  Mr.  Spencer's  management.  On  the  last  date  above 
named  Mr.  Spencer  sold  the  Clarion  to  John  H.  Lindsey  & 
Co.  The  Company  was  composed  of  Beverly  Weltshire, 
who  was  then  sherifl^,  and  John  S.  McBride,  County  Clerk. 
Mr.  Lindsey  was  at  that  time  County  Judge.  In  the  spring 
of  1876  the  publishing  firm  was  changed  to  the 

Valley  Clarion  Printinr/  Company.  —  On  the  1st  of  May, 
1876,  John  H.  Lindsey  .sold  out  to  Charles  L.  Spencer  and 
John  S.  McIJride.  They  remained  proprietors  with  Mr. 
Spencer  as  Editor  until  February  11th,  1^78,  when  John 
H.  Lindsey  purchased  the  interests  of  the  Valley  Clarion 
Printing  Cimpany  and  became  again  the  publisher.  He 
associated  with  him  Robert  E.  Deitrich  in  the  editorial  de- 
partment. This  arrangement  continued  until  October  1st, 
1880,  when  he  sold  out  to  Wm.  M.  Holmes,  the  present 
Editor  and  publisher. 

The  V'dley  Clarion  is  the  organ  of  the  Demociatic  party 
in  Randolph  county.  It  is  tyi)ographically  neat  and  well 
edited,  and  its  superior  management  reflects  credit  upon  its 
owner. 

The  Frei  Blaetter  was  the  name  of  a  German  paper  published 
in  Chester.  The  first  issue  was  made  August  11th,  1880.  It 
was  brought  to  Chester  from  St.  Genevieve,  Mo.  Franz 
Klein  and  Alonzo  Humphreys  were  the  Editors.  It  was 
sold  out  February  18th,  1881,  under  a  foreclosure  and  pur- 
chased by  William  M.  Holmes  of  the  Clarion.  It  started 
as  an  Independent  paper  but  developed  into  a  Republican 
journal  before  its  demise. 

The  Che.'iter  Tribune  was  founded  October  30th,  1872,  by 
William  Knapp  and  C.  B.  Wassell.  At  that  time  there 
was  no  Republican  paper  published  in  Chester,  and  it  was 
started  with  a  view  to  supply  the  party  with  an  organ.  The 
firm  of  Knapp  &  Wassell  continued  until  February  21st, 
1874,  when  it  was  dissolved,  Wassell  retiring,  and  Mr. 
Knapp  continued  sole  owner  until  March  1st,  1881,  when 
he  sold  to  James  B.  Matlack  and  James  F.  Wassell,  who 
have  continued  the  publication  to  the   present. 

It  was  originally  a  6  col.  folio.  Mr.  Knapp  enlarged  it 
to  a  5  col.  quarto.  The  present  proprietors  changed  it  back 
to  a  folio  form,  7  col. 

The  Tribune  has  been  an  exponent  of  Republican  prin- 
ciples since  its  first  establishment.  The  proprietors  are  both 
practical  printers  and  have  had  considerable  experience  in 
the  printing  business  both  at  the  case  and  in  the  sanctum, 
therefore  the  Tribune  under  their  management  has  grown  to 
be  one  of  the  representative  organs  of  the  party  in  southern 
Illiuois,  and  is  in  a  healthy  financial  condition  and  a  source 
of  revenue  to  its  owners. 

The  Greenback  Gazette  was  the  name  of  a  campaign  paper 
printed  at  the  Tribune  office.  It  was  edited  by  R.  P. 
Thompson  and  A.  G.  Gordon.  It  made  its  appearance  in 
the  presidential  campaign  of  1876,  and  advocated  the  claims 


198 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS 


of  Peter  Cooper  for  the  presidency.  That  there  might  be 
no  mistake  as  to  its  political  color,  it  was  printed  on  green 
paper.     It  suspended  at  the  close  of  the  campaign 

Eightecn-Eujhty  was  the  name  of  a  paper  published  by- 
Mr.  Knapp,  in  connection  with  the  Tribune.  It  was  issued 
on  Saturdays. 

The  first  paper  published  in  the  enterprising  town  of  Red 
End  was  called 

The  Egyptian. — The  press  and  material  was  purchased  in 
Belleville  by  John  and  William  Brickey.     The  first  issue 

was  made ,  18(i8.     Peter  \V.  Baker  had  charge  of 

it  for  the  proprietors.  At  the  same  time  a  German  paper 
was  published  in  Red  Bud  by  the  same  parlies,  over  which 
Anton  Helmich  presided  as  editor.  Both  papers  supported 
Seymour  and  Blair  for  the  prefc.de  icy.  They  soon  sus- 
pended. 

In  1872  Albert  L.  Krepps  started  a  paper  in  Red  Bud, 
called 

The  Courier. — It  continued  three  months,  then  ceased 
publication.  No  paper  was  published  in  the  town  after  that 
date  until  August  19,  187(i,  when  the 

Red  Bud  Courier  made  its  appearance.     It  was  edited  by 
De  Journette  &  Brewer.     It  was  Democratic  in  tone.     It 
suspended  after  the  sixteenth  number. 
The  next  venture  was  the 

Courier,  Everett  H.  Eliff  editor  and  publisher.  The 
office  was  brought  to  Red  Bud  from  Lebanon.  The  first 
number  was  issued  April  20  1877.  It  also  was  Democratic 
in  tone.  Mr.  Eliff  continued  the  publication  until  Septem- 
ber 19,  1879,  when  the  office  was  leased  to  H  C.  Hinckley, 
for  the  term  of  one  year.  In  February,  1880,  Mr.  Eliff 
purchased  the  lease  from  Mr.  Hinckley  and  removed  the 
press  and  material  to  Columbia,  in  Monroe  county.  On  the 
date  of  the  surrender  of  the  lease  Mr.  Hinckley  bought  the 
Review  office  and  continued  the  publication  of  the  Courier 
until  August,  1882,  when  he  sold  the  paper  and  office  to 
Miss  T.  A.  McDouough,  her  brother,  T.  J.  McDonough, 
taking  editorial  charge.  The  paper  is  the  exponent  of 
Democratic  principles,  and  in  political  campaigns  the 
Courier  is  a  factor  of  more  than  ordinary  importance. 

The  Review  was  established  in  Red  Bud  July  19,  1879, 
by  William  H.  Toy.  He  published  the  paper  for  a  few 
months,  then  closed  up  the  office  and  soon  after  sold  to  Mr. 
Hinckley  as  above  stated. 

Coulte-rviUe  Chronicle  was  published  in  the  village  of 
Coulterville.  The  first  issue  was  made  in  the  latter  part  of 
August,  1879.  John  A.  Wall  was  the  proprietor.  The 
office  was  brought  from  Pinckneyville.  Mr.  Wall  published 
the  Chronicle  for  one  year,  then  it  passed  into  the  hands  of 
Messrs.  McFie  &  Childs.     They  changed  the  name  to 

Coulterville  Headlight.  McFie's  interest  was  purchased 
by  his  partner,  who  continues  to  edit  and  publish  the  paper. 
The  Item  was  an  amateur  paper,  published  monthly  and 
printed  in  the  office  of  the  Sparta  Plaindealer.  It  was  edited 
by  E.  C.  Minner.  The  first  number  was  issued  August  15, 
1878,  and  the  last,  August  12,  1879. 

Our  Work  was  the  name  of  a  religious  journal,  published 
in  Sparta.    It  was  edited  by  Rev.  Thomas  E.  Green.    It  was 


published   under  the  auspices   of  the  First   Presbyterian 
Church  of  Sparta. 

MONROE    COUNTY. 

The  first  newspaper  published  in  Monroe  county  was 
established  in  Waterloo,  and  founded  by  Elam  Rust.  It  was 
called 

The  Independent  Democrat.  The  first  number  was  printed 
in  the  spring  of  1843.  In  18-15  the  name  was  changed  to 
the 

War  Eagle.  It  was  then  Democratic,  and  supported  the 
administration  of  James  K.  Polk  and  the  war  measures  in- 
augurated for  the  conquest  of  Mexico.  It  suspended  soon 
afterward.  Rust  went  to  Belleville  and  edited  a  paper 
there,  after  which  he  drifted  north  to  Central  Illinois.  In 
1856  he  published  the  Democrat  in  Decatur,  Illinois,  and 
died  there  in  1857. 

The  War  Eagle  vias  succeeded  by  the 

Patriot,  which  was  established  by  Mr.  Abbott  February 
19th,  1852.  Its  publication  was  continued  until  1856, 
when  it  was  sold  to  H.  C.  Talbott,  and  consolidated  with  the 

Monroe  Advertiser,  which  had  been  established  in  Waterloo 
by  ]\Ir.  Talbott  March  1st,  1851.  It  continued  until  the 
purchase  of  the  Waterloo  Patriot,  then  the  Advertiser  dropped 
and  the  Patriot  continued.  Mr.  Talbott  continued  the  pub- 
lication until  1857  when  it  suspended.  The  office  was 
opened  in  1858,  and  J.  C.  Goethe  published  the  paper  for  a 
short  time.  It  was  subsequently  bought  by  George  Abbott 
and  sliipped  to  Alton. 

After  the  Patriot  went  down  the  Democratic  party  of 
Monroe  county  were  without  an  organ.  For  the  purpose  of 
supplying  that  want  a  joint  stock  company  was  formed, 
composed  of  the  leading  representative  men  of  the  party. 
The  principals  were  Hon.  W.  H.  Morrison,  Hon.  J.  L.  D. 
Morrison,  Charles  Frick,  Hon.  William  Erd,  John  Morri- 
son and  James  Seunott.  The  latter  was  chosen  editor.  The 
material  and  presses  were  bought,  and  on  the  first  of  August, 
1858,  the  first  number  of 

The  Wattrloo  Advocate  was  issued.  It  advocated  the  elec- 
tion of  Stephen  A.  Douglas  for  the  Presidency.  Mr.  Sen- 
nott  was  succeeded  by  James  A.  Kennedy  in  the  editorship 
and  management,  and  he  in  turn  by  Mr.  Weedin,  a  news- 
paper publisher  of  Belleville,  Illinois.  In  1861  J.  C. 
Goethe  had  charge  for  a  short  time.  On  the  first  of  April, 
1862,  Mr.  J.  F.  Gotshall  succeeded  to  the  management.  He 
continued  in  charge  as  editor  and  manager  for  the  company 
until  1875,  when  he  purchased  the  stock  of  the  company, 
and  he  became  sole  owner.  Mr.  Gotshall  is  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania.  At  an  early  age  he  emigrated  to  Ohio  and 
learned  the  printer's  trade  in  the  office  of  the  Stark  County 
Democrat  at  Canton.  He  came  to  St.  Louis  and  worked  at 
the  case  in  the  Republican  office,  and  from  there  came  to 
Waterloo. 

The  Monroe  Democrat. — No.  1  of  vol.  1  was  issued  July 
10,  1868.  It  was  a  German  paper  edited  and  published  by 
Julius  Von  Reicbenstein.  Seven  numbers  were  issued 
when  it  suspended. 

The  Waterloo  Times  was  established  in  October,  1872,  by 


HISTORY    OF   IiA.\DOLPR,    M  OX  ROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


199 


R  F.  Brown  At  the  close  of  volume  one  it  was  purchased 
by  A.  G.  Ferguson  and  C.  F.  Vangorder.  lu  July,  1874, 
Ferguson  sold  his  interest  in  the  paper  to  R.  T.  Mclvill. 
The  firm  of  Melvill  A  Vangorder  continued  until  June  26, 
1885,  when  Melvill  retired  and  Vangorder  became  sole  pro- 
prietor. He  continued  the  publication  until  in  December, 
187ti,  when  he  failed.  The  office  passed  into  possession  of 
the  Kellogg  Newspaper  Comj)any,  of  St.  Louis.  They 
placed  a  man  ia  charge,  and  continued  the  publication  for  a 
short  time,  then  sold  the  paper  to  a  joint  stock  company,  of 
which  William  Bodie  is  President,  Henry  Talbott  Secretary, 
and  C.  A.  M.  Schlierholz  Treasurer.  Mr.  Vangorder  was 
appointed  editor  and  manager.  He  was  succeeded  by  Peter 
W.  Baker,  who  held  control  for  three  years,  then  Henry 
Talbott  took  charge  for  a  short  time.  On  the  9th  of  Decem- 
ber, 1880,  George  E.  Jahn,  the  present  editor  and  manager 
assumed  control  of  the  paper.  Mr.  Jahn  is  a  practical 
printer  and  editor  of  more  than  ordinary  ability.  He  has 
brought  the  Times  up  to  a  paying  basis  as  well  as  making  it 
an  influential  organ  of  the  party  in  the  Congressional  Dis 
trict. 

On  the  •'3th  of  July,  1881,  Mr  Jahn  commenced  the  issue 
of  a  German  paper  called  the 

Monroe  Freie  I'resse.  It  is  a  "-column  folio  and  printed 
in  the  Time»  office.  It  is  the  organ  of  the  German  Demo- 
crats of  Monroe  county. 

The  Munroe  Demokrat  was  the  name  of  a  German  paper 
published  in  Waterloo  in  18)6.  It  was  edited  by  William 
Keelmann.  It  was  the  property  of  a  stock  company  and 
was  managed  by  Henry  C.  Talbott. 

The  first  paper  [irinted  in  the  town  of  Columbia  was  the 
Columbia  Giizau.  It  was  started  by  Everett  H.  Eliff.  The 
issue  was  made  in  February,  1880.  The  office  was  brought 
to  the  town  from  Red  Bud.  Five  numbers  were  issued  when 
the  paper  suspended.  The  office  remained  closed  until  May 
5th  following,  when  it  was  purchased  by  Peter  W.  Baker, 
and  from  it  was  issued  the  I'oice  of  Monroe.  The  Qazetle 
wai  published  as  a  Democratic  paper,  but  the  latter  advo- 
cated Republican  principles.  Owing  to  the  ill  health  of  Mr. 
Baker  tt)e  paper  suspended  publication  from  Nov.  4th,  188(J, 
to  May  6th,  1881,  when  the  publication  was  resumed  and  con- 
tinued until  the  close  of  1882.  ]Mr.  Baker  is  a  native  of 
Canada.  He  learned  the  printer's  trade  in  Cleveland  Ohio, 
and  came  to  Kaskaskia  in  1840,  and  since  that  time  has  been 
connected  with  the  journalism  of  southern  Illinois.  His 
long  experience  in  the  sanctum  and  at  the  case  makes  him 
one  of  the  best  posted  men  in  the  state  on  the  politics  of  the 
past  forty  years.  He  is  a  ready  writer,  and  his  articles  pos- 
sess considerable  literary  merit. 


PERRY  COUNTY. 

The  first  newspaper  established  in  Perry  County  was 
called  the  Perry  County  Times.  It  was  published  at  Pinck- 
neyville  and  the  first  issue  made  October  1st,  1856.  Wil- 
liam JIcEwing  was  the  editor  and  publisher.  In  form  it 
was  a  5  col.  folio. 

The  second  paper  was  established  at  Du  Quoin,  and  was 


named  The  Du  Quoin  Mining  Journal.  It  was  founded  by 
Paul  Watkins,  a  practical  printer  who  was  well  known  to 
the  early  journalists  of  the  State.  The  first  number  was  is- 
sued Aug.  21st,  1858.  In  form  it  was  a  4  col.  folio,  subse- 
quently enlarged  to  a  7  col.  same  form.  It  was  Republican 
in  politics,  and  devoted  to  the  interests  of  Du  (Juoin  and  vi- 
cinity. Mr.  Watkins  continued  editor  and  publisher  until 
his  death,  after  which  the  office  passed  into  the  hands  of 
Alonzo  Bennett  He  changed  its  politics  and  converted  it 
into  an  ultra  Democratic  paper.  He  was  severe  in  his  criti- 
cisms of  measures  instituted  for  the  suppression  of  the  rebel- 
lion. His  extreme  views  led  to  a  rupture  between  him  and 
a  company  of  soldiers.  They  broke  into  the  office  and 
pitched  the  type  into  the  street.  Mr.  Bennett  refurnished 
the  office,  but  soon  after  the  paper  suspended  publication. 

The  SUii-snnd  Stripes  was  established  in  Du  Quoin,  March 
24th,  1864,  J.  D.  Mondy  editor  and  publisher.  The  press 
and  type  were  purchased  by  the  citizens,  who  contributed 
different  sums.  In  the  prospectus  it  was  announced  by  the 
editor  that  the  "  Stars  and  Stripes  was  to  be  an  unconditional 
Union  paper — to  be  for  the  Union, — whole  Union,— without 
anj'  ifs,  or  ands,  or  buts — believing  as  we  do,  that  there  can 
be  but  two  parlies  in  this  conflict.  A  man  must  be  either 
for  his  country  or  against  it.  He  must  be  either  a  patriot 
or  a  traitor.  A  man  can  not  serve  two  masters.  He  must 
love  his  country  and  despise  its  enemies." 

Mr.  Mondy  continued  editor  and  publisher  for  a  few 
weeks  only.  On  the  26th  of  April,  1861,  Mr.  Geo.  O.  Ash 
and  A.  B.  Bennett  formed  a  partnership  and  took  charge  of 
the  Stars  and  Stripes.  They  held  control  until  December 
30  of  the  same  year,  when  they  were  succeeded  by  W.  A. 
Ballard  &  Co — J.  E.  Boweu  «as  the  "  Co."  This  arrange, 
ment  continued  eight  months,  when  Mr.  Bowen  retired.  The 
name  of  the  paper  was  changed  by  Mr.  Ballard  to  the  J>u 
Quoin  Recorder.  The  first  issue  of  the  paper  under  the  new 
name  was  March  ;>d,  1865.  Ballard  conducted  the  paper 
until  1867,  when  Charles  H.  Hays  became  associated  with 
him.  This  arrangement  continued  until  November  7,  1867, 
then  Ballard  .sold  the  Recorder  to  R.  Berry,  and  the  latter 
formed  a  partnership  with  A.  J.  Alden,  the  editor  and  pro- 
prietor of  the  Tribune,  and  the  two  papers  were  consolidated 
under  the  name  of  the  Tribune  and  Recorder. 

When  Mr.  Bowen  retired  from  the  firm  of  W.  A.  Ballard 
&  Co.,  ])ublishers  of  the  Stars  and  Stripes,  he  purchased  an 
office  and  commenced  the  publication  of  a  Democratic  paper 
called  the  Du  Quoin  Progress.  The  first  issue  was  made 
October  14,  1865.  It  was  a  seven-column  folio.  He  con- 
tinued editor  and  proprietor  until  hia  death  in  1868  ;  after 
which  it  was  published  for  a  short  time  by  his  brother, 
Frank  Bowen.  The  office  was  afterwards  sold  and  removed 
to  Pinckneyville. 

The  Du  Quoin  Tribune  was  established  by  A.  J.  Alden. 
and  the  first  number  issued  March  21st,  18()7.  It  was  an 
eight-column  i'olio,  Republican  in  politics.  It  was  yet  in  its 
first  volume  when  it  was  consolidated  with  the  Recorder. 
The  firm  of  Alden  &  Berry  continued  until  November  9^ 
1870,  when  Alden's  interest  was  purchased  by  J.  T.  Beem 


200 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


and  C.  P.  Richards,  two  practical  printers  and  compositors 
in  the  office.  The  firm  of  Berry,  Beem  &  Richards  con- 
tinued until  Feb.  10, 1874,  at  which  time  Mr.  Berry  retired, 
from  the  firm,  and  the  remaiuing  partners  have  conduc  ed  ihe 
paper  to  the  pr  esent. 

'V\vi  Tribune  is  the  recognized  organ  of  the  Republican 
party  in  the  Twentieth  Congressional  District.  It  is  neatly 
printed  and  ably  edited.  The  oflice  is  well  supplied  with  all 
tiie  modern  styles  of  type  necessary  to  the  successful  opera- 
tion of  a  country  newspaper,  and  fitted  up  with  power 
presses,  etc.  Altogether,  it  is  not  excelled  iu  this  respect  by 
any  other  oflice  in  Southern  Illinois,  outside  of  Cairo. 

Mr.  Beem  is  a  native  of  Pittsburg,  Penn.  He  came  to 
Alton,  Ills.,  when  young,  and  learned  the  printer's  trade  in 
the  oflice  of  the  Alton  Telegraph.  In  1861  he  was  one  of 
the  firm  who  re-established  that  paper.  In  1862  he  enlisted 
in  Co.  "  G,"  97th  regiment  Ills.  Vols.,  and  served  three  year 
in  the  army.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  returned  to  Alton ^ 
and  in  1868  came  to  Du  Quoin,  and,  two  years  later,  became 
one  of  the  proprietors  and  editors  of  the  Tribune.  C.  P 
Richards,  the  junior  member  of  the  firm,  is  a  native  of  Wy- 
oming county,  New  York,  where  he  learned  the  trade  of 
printing.  He  came  west  in  1863,  and  worked  in  the  print- 
ing ofiices  of  Kalamazoo,  Chicago,  Champaign  and  Rock 
Island.  He  came  to  Du  Quoin  in  1868,  and  iu  1870  became 
a  partner  in  the  Tribune,  and  has  continued  as  one  of  the 
editors  and  publishers  of  the  paper  to  the  present. 

The  Du  Quoin  Republican. — The  office  of  the  above  named 
paper  was  bought  in  Pinckneyville,  where  it  was  known  as 
the  Banner  oflice,  by  Messrs.  Kimball  &  Taylor  of  Belle- 
ville, Illinois,  and  by  them  removed  to  Du  Quoiu.  The  first 
number  was  issued  May  6,  1871.  Fiank  R.  O'Neil  was 
placed  in  charge)  as  editor  and  manager.  It  was  a  nine 
tolumn  folio,  re[)ublican  in  politics.  The  publication  was 
continued  until  the  third  volume,  when  the  Union  News- 
paper Company  of  Belleville,  of  which  Messrs.  Kimball  & 
Taylor  were  the  proprietors,  failed,  and  with  them  failed  the 
difl'ereut  newspapers  under  their  management  in  southern 
Illinois. 

The  Perry  County  Banner,  No.  1,  of  volume  1  was  flung 
to  the  journalistic  breeze  May  27,  1869.  John  A.  Wall  and 
D.  B.  Van  Syckel  were  the  tditors  and  proprietors.  When 
first  issued,  it  was,  in  form  a  six  column  folio,  subsequently 
it  was  enlarged  to  an  eight  column  same  form.  On  the  1st 
of  May,  1870,  Mr.  Van  Sickel's  interest  was  purchased  by  E. 
H.  Lemeu,  Esq.  He  took  charge  of  the  editorial  columns, 
and  soon  gave  the  Bioiner  a  political  standing  among  its 
contemporaries.  It  started  as  an  independent  paper,  but 
Mr.  Lemen  made  it  the  exponent  of  republican  principles. 
The  increasing  business  in  his  profession  compelled 
his  retirement  from  the  editorial  chair,  the  date  of 
which  was  February  10,  1871.  W.  K.  Murphy  and  John 
Boyd  succeeded  him  as  political  editors,  and  of  course  they 
gave  it  a  different  political  cast.  The  paper  was  soon  after 
sold  to  Messrs.  Kimball  &  Taylor  as  stated  above  and  re- 
moved to  Du  Quoin. 

In  1870  the  citizens  of  Tamaroa  concluded  that  a  news- 
paper was  necessary  in  order  to  speak  for  the  town,  and  in- 


form the  outside  world  the  advantages  it  possessed  over 
many  places  in  Illinois.  The  citizens  with  commendable 
liberality  subscribed  a  sum  sufficient  to  purchase  a  press  and 
the  necessary  outfit  of  type.  They  selected  L.  E.  Knapp- 
and  H.  W.  Adams  to  take  charge  of  it  as  editors  and  pub- 
lishers. The  first  number  was  printed  December  20th,  1870, 
and  bore  the  name  of  the 

Perry  County  Watchman. — The  publication  continued  un- 
der the  same  management  until  1872,  then  D.  C.  Barber 
who  had  obtained  control  of  the  stock,  leased  the  office  to 
H.  F.  Montressor.     He  changed  the  name  to 

The  Enterprise  — His  admiuistration  was  short  and  not 
over  brilliant.  The  material  was  then  leased  to  E.  W. 
Koonce  who  changed  the  name  to 

The  Star. — The  Star  shone  with  a  lack-lustre  brilliancy 
for  a  short  time,  when  its  light  went  out  and  in  its  place 
came 

The  Item,  under  the  editorial  control  of  F.  A.  Allison  ; 
after  him  came  the  Curlee  Bro'.  who  run  it  for  a  short 
time,  then  Mr.  Barber  sold  it  to  parties  in  Murphreysboro, 
Jackson  county,  Illinois,  since  which  time  there  has  been  no 
paper  published  in  Tamaroa. 

The  News  was  the  name  of  a  paper  published  iu  Du  Quoin 
by  Thos.  K.  Wi  loughby.  It  was  independent  in  politics. 
After  the  close  of  the  first  volume  it  was  removed  to  Pinck- 
nezville,  and  from  the  office  was  issued 

The  Independent,  a  democratic  paper,  the  first  Issue  of 
which  was  made  January  16th,  1875.  John  A.  Wall  was 
the  editor  and  proprietor.  He  ran  it  successfully  until 
November  1878,  when  a  mortgage  held  against  the  oflice 
was  foreclosed  and  it  passed  into  the  posession  of  E.  C.  H. 
Willoughby.     He  changed  the  name  to  the 

PinchieyviUe  Democrat. — It  passed  from  Mr.  Willoughby 
to  J.  J.  Sargeant  and  T.  K.  Will  ughby.  It  was  originally 
a  seven  column  folio.  The  last  named  publisher  changed  it 
to  a  five  column  quarto.  Sargeant  bought  out  Willoughby  s 
interest  in  1880,  ami  published  the  Democrat  until  October 
28,  1881,  when  publication  was  suspended.  The  office  was 
then  purchased  by  W.  A.  Penny,  and  the  next  issue  ra^ide 
November  25,  1881.  On  the  same  date  J.  J.  Penny,  a 
brother  of  W.  A.  Penny,  became  a  partner,  and  took 
charge  of  the  editorial  columns.  The  Democrat  in  the  hands 
of  Mr.  Penny  has  become  healthy  and  prosperous,  aud  bids 
fair  under  his  management  to  live  a  long  life  of  usefulness. 
John  A.  Wall  and  L  D.  Murphy  purchased  a  press  and 
material  and  on  the  16th  of  November  1878  issued  at  Pinck- 
neyville the  first  number  of  the  Perry  County  Signal.  It 
was  an  independent  Republican  paper.  In  April  1879  Mr. 
Wall  withdrew  from  the  Signal  and  took  charge  of  the  Belle 
ville  Advocate,  afterward  established  the  Chronicle  at  Coul- 
terville  then  moved  it  to  Benton,  run  it  one  year,  then  sold 
out,  and  at  present  is  engaged  at  farming  near  Mt.  Vernon, 
Illinois.  Mr.  Wall  learned  the  printer's  trade  in  Mt.  Ver- 
non, and  has  been  connected  with  many  papers  in  the  difl^er- 
ent  counties  of  Jefferson,  Marion,  Perry,  Randolph,  St.  Clair 
Williamson  and  Franklin.  His  papers  were  always  popu- 
lar with  the  masses. 

The  Press  was  first  issued  at  Tamaroa  May   9th,  1879,  by 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY  COUNTIES,  ILLINOIS. 


201 


theCurlce  Bros,  and  there  continued  until  Sept.  15th,  1881, 
when  it  was  moved  to  Du  (^uoin,  and  from  liie  office  ha? 
since  been  iss-ued  the  Du  (/iiaiii  Prciig.  Mr.  M.  B.  Lawrence 
became  as-focialul  with  the  busine.-^.s  bfter  its  removal  to  tiie 
latter  phtce.  In  furm  the  paper  i.-^  si.\  col.  folio,  indejiendent 
iu  politics. 

This  in  brief  is  the  history  of  the  journalism  of  Randolph, 
Monroe  and  Terry  countiis.  For  facts  and  dates  relating  to 
its  history  we  are  under  many  obligations  to  the  members  of 
the  press  throughout  the  counties.  They  have  aided  us  in 
every  way  possible,  and  have  kindly  placed  at  our  dispo.sal 
files  of  their  papers  from  which  we  have  gleaned  much  valu- 
able infornialion.  We  also  desire  to  extend  our  thanks  to 
Kdmund  Menard,  H.  G.  Jone.s  Robt.  tt.  Deitrick,  Hon. 
John  II.  himlsay,  Judge  Murphy  and  8.  L.  Taylor,  of  Ran- 
dolph county;  Hon.  William  End  ami  J.  \V.  Drury  of  Mon- 
roe county  and  G.  M.  Hinckley,  W.  H.  Adams  and  Hon. 
E.  H.  Lcmen  of  Perry  county,  and  the  county  officials  of 
those  counties  for  favors  shown  and  information  given  which 
has  enabled  us  to  trace  the  history  of  the  press  from  its  fir.-t 
establishment  iu  Kaskaskia  iu  1814  down  to  the  present  time. 

CHAPTER    Xr. 


PATRIOTISM. 


\  HE  French  settlements  on  the  frontier,  at 
the  conclusion  of  the  treaty  of  I'uris, 
February  10th,  176.3,  owed  their  alle- 
giance to  the  kingdom  of  France.  The 
missionaries  of  the  Catholic  faith  had 
zealously  labored  nearly  a  century  to 
convert  the  aborigines  to  the  Christian 
fliith,  and,  armed  with  the  olive  branch 
of  peace,  they  planted  the  French  stan- 
dard above  their  rudely  constructed  forls.  Actuated  by 
this  zeal,  their  first  thought  was  to  their  God,  and  the  second 
to  their  native  country.  By  the  above  mentioned  treaty, 
their  allegiance  was  transferred  to  the  British  crown  in 
terms  as  follows  : 

"  In  order  to  establish  peace  on  solid  and  durable  founda- 
tions, and  to  remove  forever  all  subjects  of  dispute  with 
regard  to  the  limits  of  the  British  and  French  territories  on 
the  continent  of  America,  it  is  agreed  that  for  the  future  the 
confines  between  the  dominions  of  his  Britannic  !Majestv  and 
those  of  his  most  excellent  Christian  Majesty  in  that  i)art  of 
the  world,  shall  be  fixed  irrevocably  by  a  line  drawn  along 
the  middle  of  the  river  Mi.-<si.ssippi,  from  its  source  to  the 
river  Iberville,  and  from  thence  by  a  line  along  the  middle 
of  this  river  and  the  lakes  Maurepas  and  Pontchartrain  to 
the  sea  ;  and  for  this  purpo.«e,  the  most  Christian  king  cedes, 
in  full  right,  and  guarantees  to  his  British  Majesty  the  river 
and  port  of  the  Mobile,  and  everything  which  he  possesses 
ou  the  left  side  of  the  river  Mississijjpi,  with  the  exception 


of  the  town  of  New  Orleans  and  of  the  island  on  which  it  is 
situated,  which  shall  remain  to  France;  it  being  well  under- 
stood that  the  navigation  of  the  river  Mississippi  shall  be 
cipially  free,  as  well  to  the  subjects  of  Grtat  Britain  as  to 
those  of  France,  in  its  whole  breadth  and  length,  from  ita 
source  to  the  sea ;  and,  expres.sly,  that  part  which  is  between 
the  said  island  of  New  Orleans  and  the  right  bank  of  that 
river,  as  well  as  the  passage  both  in  and  out  of  its  mouth. 
It  is  further  stipulated  that  the  vessels  belonging  to  the 
subjects  of  either  nation  shall  not  be  stopped,  visited  or 
subjected  to  the  payment  of  any  duty  whatsoever." 

So  far  as  those  were  concerned  who  had  gathered  around 
the  inis-^ionary  outposts  of  the  frontier,  this  tran.«fer  of  do- 
minion was  merely  upon  paper;  these  hardy  few  were  a  law 
unto  them-selves.  They  cared  little  whether  England  or 
France  was  supreme  ou  this  side  of  the  Atlantic.  France 
lost  no  hold  ou  their  affections,  nor  did  England  secure  their 
confidence.  English  subjects  who  visited  the  old  French 
towns  of  Kaskaskia  and  ( 'ahokia,  only  had  the  effect  of  more 
deeply  instilling  into  their  minds  the  aversion  and  dread  of 
the  "  Long  Knives,"'  as  the  Virginians  were  generally  de- 
nominated by  the  French  settlers  and  Indians.  Of  this  fact 
Col.  Clark  took  advantage  when  sent  to  this  frontier  under 
the  advices  of  the  Virginia  administration.  As  this  conquest 
was  practically  terminated  at  these  French  towns,  a  brief 
review  will  not  prove  uninteresting  iu  this  connection.  A 
characteristic  of  Col.  Clark  was  never  to  betray  fear  in  the 
presence  of  the  Indians.  It  was  not  his  policy  to  bribe 
them  to  do  his  bidding  by  loading  them  with  trinkets,  and 
he  never  made  advances  when  seeking  for  relations  of  peace. 
When  the  Indian  warriors  had  cast  aside  with  contempt  the 
bloody  wampum  sent  them  by  the  British  government,  he 
stoically  answered  them  that  he  would  reply  the  next  day 
and  cautioned  them  against  shaking  hands  with  the  Long 
Knives,  as  peace  was  not  yet  established,  saying  it  was  time 
enough  to  extend  hands  when  hearts  went  with  them.  The 
following  day  the  Indians  gathered  to  hear  his  answer, 
which  he  made  in  the  following  language: 

"  Men  and  warriors,  pay  attention  to  my  words.  You 
informed  me  yesterday  that  the  Great  Spirit  had  brought  us 
together,  and  that  you  ho[)ed  that  as  He  was  good,  it  would 
be  for  good.  I  have  also  the  same  hope,  and  expect  that 
each  party  will  strictly  adhere  to  whatever  may  be  agreed 
upon,  whether  it  shall  be  peace  or  war,  and  henceforth 
prove  ourselves  worthy  the  attention  of  the  Great  Spirit.  I 
am  a  man  and  a  warrior,  not  a  counsellor.  I  carry  war  in 
my  right  hand  and  in  my  left  peace.  I  am  sent  by  the 
great  council  of  the  Big  Knife  and  their  friends  to  take  pos- 
session of  all  the  towns  possessed  by  the  English  in  this 
country,  and  to  watch  the  motions  of  the  red  people — to 
bloody  the  paths  of  those  who  attempt  to  stop  the  course  of 
the  river ;  but  to  clear  the  roads  for  us  to  those  that  desire 
to  be  in  peace,  that  the  women  and  children  may  walk  in 
them  without  meeting  anything  to  sir  ke  their  feet  against. 
I  am  ordered  to  call  upon  the  Great  Fire  for  warriors  en(mgh 
to  darken  the  land,  and  that  the  red  people  may  hear  no 
sound  but  of  birds  who  live  on  blood.  I  know  there  is  a 
mist  before  your  eyes ;  I  will  dispel  the  clouds  that  you  may 


•20-i 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY  COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


clearly  see  the  causes  of  the  war  between  the  Big  Knife  anil 
the  English  ;  then  you  may  jud,e  for  yourselves  which  party 
is  in  the  right;  and  if  you  are  warriors,  as  you  profess  your- 
selves to  be,  prove  it  by  adhering  faithfully  to  the  paity 
which  you  siiall  believe  to  be  entitled  to  your  friendsliij), 
and  not  show  yourselves  to  be  sr|ijaws." 

He  ilien  proceeded  by  vivid  imagery  to  describe  the  cause 
of  the  war,  and  added  :  "  The  English  were  driven  from  one 
place  to  another  until  they  got  weak,  and  then  they  hired 
you  red  people  to  fight  for  them.  The  Great  Spirit  got 
angry  at  this,  and  caused  your  old  Father,  the  French  king, 
and  other  great  nations,  to  join  the  Big  Knife  and  fight  with 
them  against  all  their  enemies.  So  the  English  have  become 
like  the  deer  in  the  woods;  and  you  may  see  that  it  is  the 
Grent  Sjiirit  that  has  caused  your  waters  to  be  troubled,  be- 
cause you  have  fought  for  the  people  He  was  angry  with. 
If  your  women  and  children  should  now  cry,  you  must  blame 
yourselves  for  it,  and  not  the  Big  Knife.  You  can  now 
judge  who  is  in  the  right.  I  have  already  told  you  who  I 
am  ;  here  is  a  bloody  belt,  and  a  white  one ;  take  which  you 
please.  Behave  like  men,  and  don't  let  your  being  sur- 
rounded by  the  Big  Knife,  cause  you  to  take  up  the  one  belt 
with  your  hands,  while  your  hearts  take  up  the  other.  If 
you  take  the  bloody  path,  you  shall  leave  the  town  in 
safety,  and  may  go  and  join  your  friends,  the  English  ;  we 
will  then  try  who  can  longest  keep  our  clothes  stained  with 
blood.  If,  on  the  other  hand,  you  should  take  the  path  of 
peace,  and  be  received  as  brothers  to  the  Big  Knife,  with 
their  friends  the  French,  should  you  then  listen  to  bad  birds 
that  may  be  flying  through  the  land,  you  will  no  longer 
de.serve  to  be  counted  men,  but  as  creatures  with  two  tongues, 
that  ought  to  be  destroyed,  without  listening  to  anything 
you  might  say.  As  I  am  convinced  you  never  heard  the 
truth  before,  I  do  not  wish  you  to  answer  before  you  have 
taken  time  to  counsel.  We  will,  therefore,  part  tliis  even- 
ing, and  when  the  Great  Spirit  shall  bring  us  together  again, 
let  us  speak  and  think  like  men  with  one  heart  and  one 
tongue." 

The  eflect  of  this  address  was  magical  upon  the  sous  of  the 
forest,  and  had  the  desired  result  as  was  intended  by  Col. 
Clark.  The  manner  with  which  he  coupled  the  French  and 
Big  Knives  had  much  weight  with  the  Indians,  who  had 
long  held  the  missionaries  iu  great  respect  and  reverence. 
From  this  time  forth,  a  spirit  of  patriotism  was  awakened 
in  behalf  of  the  cause  of  American  Independence,  that  in- 
creased and  glowed  during  the  entire  revolutionary  struggle. 
To  the  good  judgment,  bravery  and  foresight  of  Col  Clark, 
is  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi  largely  indebted  for  itsEnglish- 
speaking  pioneers,  many  of  whom  were  of  his  immediate 
command,  they  remaining  after  the  disbandment  of  the  army. 
To  this  conquest,  too,  are  the  United  States  indebted  for  the 
extension  of  their  frontier  boundaries  and  vast  western  pos- 
sessions. 

As  considerable  frontier  history  pertaining  to  tffie  war  of 
the  Revolution  was  made  in  and  about  Kaskaskia,  we  here 
give  a  brief  outline  of  the  same  as  gathered  from  Reynolds' 
Pioneer  Jottings.  Col.  Clark  on  arriving  with  his  forces  at 
the    "Old    Cherokee    Fort,"   or    Fort  Massacre,  below  the 


mouth  of  the  Tennessee  river,  fell  in  with  a  party  of  hunters 
from  Kaskaskia,  under  the  command  of  John  Duff. 
From  these  parties  Clark  learned  that  Lieutenant  Governor 
Rochblave,  a  Canadian  Frenchman,  commanded  Fort  Gage 
at  Kaskaskia  and  the  country,  and  that  the  militia  were 
organized  and  well  disciplined  ;  that  spies  were  stationed  at 
various  points  to  give  information  if  the  Virginians  came 
into  the  country.  Before  leaving  Corn  Island,  Col.  Clark 
had  obtained  two  important  facts  of  information  of  which 
he  made  good  use.  Ojc  was  that  France  had  joined  the 
Americans  in  the  war  against  England,  and  the  other  was 
that  the  French  in  Illinois  had  ber-n  led  to  believe  by  the 
English  that  the  ''Long  Knives"  (Virginians)  were  canni- 
bals and  worse  than  demons. 

The  distance  from  Fort  Massacre  to  Kaskaskia  was  one 
hundred  and  twenty  miles,  and  composed  of  swamps  and 
wilderness.  Col  Clark  with  his  command  arrived  within  a 
short  distance  of  the  village  of  Kaskaskia,  on  the  evening  of 
the  4th  of  July,  1878.  After  dark  he  proceeded  to  a  house 
on  the  river — the  old  ferry  building — three  fourths  of  a 
mile  above  the  village.  After  taking  possession  of  the  pre- 
mises he  made  the  following  disposition  of  his  troops.  Two 
parties  were  to  cross  the  river,  and  the  remainder  of  his 
forces  was  to  remain  on  the  east  side,  so  as  to  capture  the 
town  and  take  Fort  Gage  at  the  same  time.  Captain  Helm 
commanded  the  troops  to  cross  the  river  and  take  the  village, 
while  Clark  in  person  commanded  the  other  wing  to  capture 
the  Fort.  About  midnight  everything  was  in  readiness  for 
the  movement  of  both  expeditions;  and  there  in  the  dark 
on  the  banks  of  the  Kaskaskia,  Col.  Clark  delivered  the 
following  address  to  his  troops  :  "  Soldiers — We  are  near  the 
enemy  for  which  we  have  been  struggling  for  years.  We 
are  not  fighting  alone  for  liberty  and  independence,  but  for 
the  defence  of  our  own  frontiers  from  the  tomahawk  and 
scalping  knife  of  the  Indians.  We  are  defending  the  lives 
of  our  women  and  children,  although  a  long  distance  from, 
them.  These  British  garrisons  furnish  the  Indians  with 
powder  and  lead  to  desolate  the  frontier  and  pay  gold  for 
human  scalps  We  must  take,  and  destroy  the  garrisons. 
The  fort  before  tis  is  one  of  them,  and  it  must  be  taken.  We 
cannot  retreat.  We  have  uo  provisions,  and  we  must  con- 
quer. This  is  the  4th  of  July  ;  we  must  act  to  honor  it,  and 
let  it  not  be  said  iu  after  limes,  that  Virginians  were  de- 
feated on  that  memorable  day.  The  fort  and  town,  I  repeat, 
must  be  taken  at  all  hazards." 

After  these  remarks,  the  troops  silently  separated  in  the 
darkness,  two  squads  to  cross  the  river  and  the  other  to  at- 
tack the  fort.  Those  crossing  the  river,  entered  the  village  at 
the  two  extremes  of  t'.e  town,  and  so  quiet  and  t-ilent  was  their 
approach,  that  not  one  in  the  sleeping  village  knew  of  their 
presence  until  the  signal  was  given,  when  the  air  was  rent 
with  terrific  yells  and  wh',ops  by  the  soldiery,  leading  the 
just  awakened  citizens  to  believe  that  the  whole  nation  of 
"  Long  Knivis"  had  bukm  kise  upon  them  \\ilh  one  fell 
swoop.  Those  among  the  American  troops  who  could  speak 
French,  proclaimed  to  the  terrified  inhabitants,  that  if  they 
remained  quiet  within  their  houses  they  would  not  be  harmed, 
but  if  they  came  out,  or  made  any  risistance,  they  would  be 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


203 


exterminated.  In  two  hours  after  the  town  was  first  entered, 
the  inhahitants  had  surrendered  all  their  guns  and  naeaus  of 
defense  to  the  Virginians;  the  ruse  thus  proving  a  perfect 
success. 

We  will  now  return  to  the  little  force  left  on  the  other 
side  of  the  river,  uuder  the  command  of  Col.  Clark.  The 
attempt  to  take  Fort  Gage,  one  of  the  strongest  British 
fortifications  on  the  frontier,  was  a  most  ])erilous  enterprise, 
and  in  conception  was  almost  equal  to  Wayne's  storming 
Stony  Point,  or  Ethan  Allan's  capturing  Ticonderoga. 
Clark  had  no  arti  lery  or  means  of  assaulting  the  Fort,  and 
therefore  rcsorte<l  to  stratagem  The  sagacious  scout,  Simon 
Kenton,  commanded  a  detachmeut  to  enter  the  fort,  and 
luckily  came  upon  an  American,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
who  was  familiar  with  the  fort.  The  guards  of  the  garrison 
were  asleep,  and  the  liberty-loving  Pennsylvanian  conducted 
Kenton  and  his  little  .squad  througii  a  small  back  gate,  and 
into  the  very  bed  chamber  of  the  slee[)ing  governor,  Roch- 
blave.  The  first  notice  Rochblave  had  that  he  was  a 
prisoner  was  Ivuntou  tapping  him  on  the  siiouKlfr  to  awaken 
him. 

Thus  the  ftrrt  and  village  were  both  captured  without 
shedding  a  drop  of  blood.  It  will,  therefi>re,  be  seen  that 
the  conquest  and  capture  of  Fort  Gage  and  Kaskaskia,  the 
capital  of  Illinois,  was  one  of  the  most  peculiar  and  im- 
portant events  recorded  in  history. 

More  than  a  century  has  passed,  and  the  ruins  of  Fort 
Gage  may  yet  be  seen  by  the  traveler,  situated  on  the  side 
of  the  blurt"  overlooking  the  now  almost  extinct  village  of 
Kaskaskia.  Both  yet  linger  as  departed  glories  of  Revolu- 
tionary fame  and  historv. 

The  people  of  Kaskaskia,  after  learning  from  Clark  that 
Franc*  had  joined  hands  with  the  colonists  in  battling 
against  England  for  liberty,  readily  acceded  to  his  desires 
and  wishes,  and  several  influential  citizens  of  the  town  vol- 
unteered their  services  to  accompany  Cupt.  Bowman  to  Ca- 
hokia  to  prejiare  the  minds  of  the  people  of  that  town  of 
the  change  of  sentim,  nt  in  the  minds  of  the  French.  This 
expedition  was  successful  in  its  efforts,  the  Cahokians  de- 
claring for  the  American  cause. 

Col.  Clark  sub?e(iueutly  learned  that  the  British  governor 
at  Vincennes  had  gone  to  Detroit,  and  that  the  fort — old 
Sackville — was  in  the  hands  of  the  citizens.  He  therefore 
arranged  an  embassy  under  the  leadership  of  the  good  old 
priest,  Gibault,  to  go  to  Vincennes  and  persuade  the  people 
to  espouse  the  cause  of  the  patriots.  The  enterprise  was 
successful,  and  the  French  of  Vincennes,  like  the  people 
of  Cahokia  and  Kaskaskia,  declared  for  the  Americans, 
when  Gibault,  accompanied  by  several  gentlemen  from  Vin- 
cennes. returned  to  Kaskaskia  with  the  joyful  intelligence. 
About  this  time  the  enlistment  of  the  volunteers  under 
Clark  was  about  to  expire,  and  as  his  instructions  were  un- 
defined, he  acted  at  discretion  Some  of  his  men  re-enlisted, 
and  several  of  the  French  from  Kaskaskia  and  Cahokia 
joined  his  command.  Early  in  the  following  year,  1770, 
two  French  companies  were  organized  by  Clark,  one  from 
Kaskaskia  and  the  other  from  Cahokia.  The  former  was 
commanded  by  Capt.  Charleville  and  the  latter  by  Capt. 


JlcCartney.  On  the  7th  of  February,  177!t,  this  band  of 
heroes  commenced  its  march  from  Kaskaskia  on  the  "Old 
Vincennes  trace"  to  Fort  Sackville.  This  "  trace  '  was 
celebrated  in  Illinois,  having  been  used  as  a  route  by  the  In- 
dians nearly  two  centuries  ago.  It  commenced  at  Detroit, 
thence  to  Ouiaton,  on  the  Wabash,  passing  through  Vin- 
cennes and  terminating  at  Kaskaskia.  In  the  language  of 
another  writer,  "  It  was  the  Appian  Way  of  Illinois  in  an- 
cient limes."  In  places  it  may  yet  be  seen  between  the 
historic  towns  of  K:u-kaskia  and  Vincennes.  This  expedi- 
tion of  Col.  Clark  aud  his  little  band  was  one  of  the  most 
dreary  and  fatiguing  that  was  performed  bj  the  patriots 
during  the  Revohitio  i. 

WAIt  OK    1S12. 

In  the  year  179.")  Captain  William  Whiteside  gathered  to 
his  staudard  his  few  but  trusty  comrades,  to  the  number  of 
fourteen,  and  attacked  and  killed  a  camp  of  Indians  of  con- 
siderable number,  who  the  French  at  Cahokia  informed  him 
had  assembled  at  the  bluff,  in  pursuance  of  a  medita'ed  at- 
tack upon  him  or  his  property.  This  decisive  victory  effec- 
tually put  an  end  to  Indian  hostilities  in  this  vieinitv, 
including  the  territory  of  Randolph,  Monroe  aud  Perry 
counties, and  peace  and  security  reigned  for  a  period  uf  about 
sixteen  years,  until  ISIl,  when  hostilities  again  broke  out. 
Other  localities,  however,  farther  in  the  interior,  were,  prior 
to  this  date  iu  constant  fear  of,  and  in  actual  sudcriug  from, 
Indian  outrage. 

The  immediate  cause  of  the  manifest  increase  of  hostile 
feelings  were  the  British  agents  and  traders,  who  not  only 
furnished  the  Indians  with  arms  aud  ammunition,  but  also 
encouraged  a  course  of  conduct  the  savages  were  readv  to 
pursue.  Treaties  made  with  solemn  pledges  were  broken 
with  indifference.  Promises  and  professions  of  friendship 
were  only  better  means  of  accomplishing  the  ends  of  treach- 
ery. Murders  were  committed,  and  property  was  stolen  and 
carried  away.  This  conditiou  of  things  made  it  necessarv  to 
put  the  frontier  in  a  condition  of  defen.se.  The  citizens 
organized  companies  themselves,  without  the  order  of  the 
government,  and  the  frontier  was  guarded  along  the  Missis- 
sippi, from  the  mouth  of  the  Kaskaskia  northward,  and  along 
that  stream,  and  also  at  other  points.  Forts  and  block- 
houses or  stations  were  also  erected  at  various  places,  and 
others  already  erected  were  brought  into  requisition.  In 
Randolph  county  were  Fort  Gage,  of  revolutionary  fame, 
occupying  a  position  on  the  bluff  looking  across  the  Kas. 
kaskia  river  upon  the  old  town  of  that  name;  Xuthaniel 
Hill's  fort  iu  the  northern  part  of  the  county,  on  Doza  creek, 
a  little  above  its  junction  with  the  Kaskaskia;  a  stockade 
fort  in  section  •'J'J,  town  4,  range  7  ;  the  Georgetown  fort, 
within  the  corporate  limits  of  Steelesville,  on  the  Shawnee, 
town  road;  and  Huggins'  fort, erected  in  l^T^  or  '1.'!  in  sec- 
tion 19,  town  •"),  range  0  In  Monroe  were  Whiteside's  station, 
a  short  distance  southeast  of  Columbia  ;  Pitrgot's  fort,  about 
a  mile  aud  a  half  west  of  that  village,  at  the  foot  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi bluff,  where  flows  the  creek  called  by  the  French  the 
Grand  Risseau ;  and  Going's  fort,  erected  in  an  earlv  dav,  a 
short  distance  southwest  of  Bellefontaine.     Iu  these  strong- 


204 


BIS  TOE  y     OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY  COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


holds  the  womeu  and  children  were  placed  for  fafety  and 
protection,  while  the  men  able  to  bear  arms  went  in  defense 
of  the  settlement. 

In  1811  Congress  passed  an  act  for  the  organisation  often 
companies  of  mounted  rangers  to  protect  the  frontiers  of  the 
West.  Four  of  these  companies  were  allotted  lo  the  defense 
of  Illinois,  whose  respective  captains  were :  Samuel  and 
William  B.  Whiteside,  James  B.  Moore,  and  Jacob  Short- 
The  VVhitetides  and  the  Moores  were  among  the  early  set- 
tlers, not  only  of  Monroe  county  but  also  in  the  Illinois  ter- 
ritory, and  were  ever  to  the  fror.t  at  the  call  of  patriotism 
and  valor.  They  were  bred  to  the  toils  of  pioneer  life  and 
the  i)erils  of  Indian  warfare  ;  and,  besides  the  sentiment  of 
patriotism,  they  had  the  additional  stimulus  of  a  determina- 
tion to  avenge  the  blood  of  their  kindred. 

Most  active  and  zealous  of  all  the  patriots  of  Monroe 
during  the  war  of  1812  and  the  Indian  troubles  that  pre- 
ceded it,  was  John  Moredock,  who  had  declared  an  eternal 
enmity  against  the  Indian  race,  in  peace  and  in  war,  on 
account  of  the  butchery  of  his  mother,  his  father  and  his 
two  stepfathers.  He  was  field  officer  in  the  campaign 
under  Governor  Edwards  in  the  fall  of  1812  to  the  upper 
end  of  Lake  Peoria,  and  acted  as  major  in  that  expedition. 
He  also  acted  in  that  capacity  in  the  campaign  of  1813 
under  General  Howard.  In  December,  1814,  while  the 
command  of  Captain  James  B.  Moore,  about  fifty  rangers, 
were  guarding  a  herd  of  cattle  at  a  grove  near  Sugar 
Creek,  on  a  trail  leading  from  Camp  Russell  to  Peoria, 
they  discovered  some  Indians,  and  singling  out  one  gave  him 
chase  William  Hewit,  having  the  fleetest  horse,  came  up 
with  the  Indian,  and  promptly  received  the  surrender  of  his 
gun.  Moredock,  who  had  sworn  he  would  kill  every  Indian 
■who  crossed  his  path,  raised  his  gun  to  fire.  The  Indian 
sprang  forward  and  wrenched  the  gun  he  had  surrendered 
from  Hewit's  hands,  and  shot  him  just  as  the  bullet  from 
Moredock's  rifle  went  crashing  through  his  breast  For  two 
years  prior  to  l.sU,  though  nothing  like  a  regular  warfare 
existed,  murders  had  been  committed  and  property  had  been 
stolen.  Governor  Edwards  proceeded  to  inaugurate  meas- 
ures for  a  redress  of  these  grievances.  The  surrender  of  the 
murderers  of  innocent  whites  and  of  the  stolen  property 
was  to  be  demanded,  and  terms  of  an  amicable  settlement  of 
existing  difliculties  were  to  be  oflered.  Captain  Levering, 
of  Kaskaskia,  Randolph  county,  was  chosen  for  the  perilous 
undertaking  of  bearing  Governor  Edwards'  communication 
to  the  Indians.  To  this  end  he  organized  a  military  com- 
pany at  Cahokia,  and  proceeded  with  it  in  a  boat  to  Peoria, 
then  an  almost  inaccessible  place  in  the  midst  of  a  wilder- 
ness. Though  the  mission  was  not  fruitful  in  accomplishing 
the  end  in  view,  on  account  of  the  cunniug  diplomacy  of  the 
Indians,  yet  by  his  frequent  informal  communications  with 
them,  Captain  Levering  learned  much  of  their  internal  polity 
and  their  feelings  toward  the  Americans,  whom  they  re- 
garded as  their  enemies,  despite  professions  of  friendbhip. 
Among  those  whose  name  should  appear  on  the  roll  of  honor 
for  Randolph  county,  stands  Colonel  Stephenson,  a  brave 
officer,  who  was  in  General  Howard's  campaign  in  1813. 
To  her  credit  should  also  be  placed  the  names  of  Absalom 


Cox,  George  Wilson  and  Eli  Short,  and  many  others.  Otho 
and  Willit-.n  Wi'son,  Major  Starkey,  the  Whitesides  and 
the  Moores  were  a  few  of  those  who  responded  with  manly 
grace  to  their  country's  call,  from  Monroe. 

Pay  roll  of  a  company  of  militia  commanded  by  Captain 
William  Alexander  of  the  county  of  Randolph,  Illinois  Ter- 
ritory, Ninian  Edwards,  Governor  of  said  Territory. 


Willi 


Captain. 
im  Alexander 

Liaitcnnnt. 
m  MoBride 


Coiiw 


Seigcaiits. 
Amos  Chaffin 
Uavid  Everett 
George  Wilson 
John  AndersoH 

Corp(yra\s. 
A.lnm  MoDonald 
William  Lees 
(ieniKe  Coehran 
,I..sei.li  Robinson 

rraat.-s. 
Rildfrbuk,  Danie 
Bailej-,  Jsnwl 
Buatte,  Joseph 


•iiv.  Joseph 
i:am..cl'v,  Alexande 
C'l-awfoVd,  John 
fi-eath,  George 
Dnre,  Lonis 
Eberman.  Joseph 
Etlen,  James 
Fisher.  John 
Gill,  J,aines 
Hill,  John 
llr.-L'ni-,   l,'..li.Tt 


Mav,  J..hn 
M.'Hride,  John 
.Me.Nal.h,  James 
.Mr-Ilonald,  Robert 
Null,  H-my 
Patton,  Idmer 
Petoiiie,  Jn-eph 


Johi 


.b'l 


.lolll 


1,1 

I.^.v,  F.dward 
I.a;iUford,Eli 
Mai  tin,  George 
.Mill  trv,  James 
Miller,  Joseph 


Muster  roll  and  inspection  return  of  a  detachment  of  the 
1st  Regiment  of  Illinois  militia,  under  the  command  of 
Capt.  Absalom  Cox,  at  Kaskaskia,  the  third  of  September, 
1812. 


Captain. 
Absalom  Cox 

Corporals. 
Shadrach  Lively 
Edward  Clark 

John  Beatty 
John  Smvthe 
James  Clark 
Thoma-  Me  Biid 

Thomas  Roberts 

lyrwnvier. 
Samuel  3Iansker 

George  Basics 
John  Willson 

Adorn  Wobrick 

Sergeants. 

Privates. 
William  Thompson 
William  Little 

Robert  Foster 
William  3IcDonald 
Richard  Robinson 
Samuel  Keiner 

James  Patterson 
James  McFailand 
Sh.ldrach  Lively 
John  McClinton 

All, hen-    R..SS 
Uobert  Thompso 

Of  the  above  Samuel  Mansker  is  yet  living  on  the  same 
farm  from  whence  he  enlisted,  near  Rockwood  a  few  miles 
south  of  Chester. 

We  subjoin  a  list  of  the  soldiers  from  these  counties  in 
the  Black  Hawk  and  Mexican  wars. 

Captain  Josiah  S.  Briggs'  Company,  Third  Regiment, 
Third  Brigade,  of  Illinois  Mounted  Volunteers,  called  into 
the  service  of  the  Vnitcd  States,  on  the  requisition  of  Gen- 
eral Henry  Atkinson,  by  the  Governor's  proclamation  dated 
May  1.3,  1832.     Mustered  out  August  17,  1832  : 


rupfnin.— Josiah  S.  Bliggs 

Firtit  Lievtcnant. — John  INlorrison 

Secovd  Licvtenant. 


SergfaiilK. 
Robert  Mann  John  Ale 


Andrew  McFarlan.     Horse  lost. 
John  MeFiirlan 

Kiehaid  Brodlev  "        "         Pis- 

charsed  it  Winiiebiiso,  July  15. 
Samuel  Hathorn    Horse  lost, 

Piicafes. 

.\nderson,  Pavid.       Supposed   to  be 

discharged  at  Caslieonong. 
Anderson,  Thomas 
Barbour,  James,    Left  to  attend  Saml. 

Barboui-,  sick  at  Ft.  Winnebago, 
Bateman,  James 
Burns,  Samuel 
Brown,  Samuel 

Campbell,  Alexander.  FiirnisliedJulv 
l!ith,  W.  Harper  as  subetuuto. 


Trans,  to  Capt.   Lindsey 
25th. 
Campbell.  Samuel. 


Co.,   July 


1  Caldwell,   Rob 


Left  at  Prairie   du 

I  .  fr  with  Col,  Sharp  at 

;i  .let.  serv, 

I         Left  at  Prairie  du 

>.    Horse  lost, 

a. 

Promoted  Sergt.  Major 


Saiiford 
.  John  C. 
,es,  John  M, 


,  Mose 
ick.  Is 


Kilpat 

ilton,  sick, 
Lee,  James  F, 
Lee,  John  Ho 
Lee,  Thomas 
Lively,  Joseph 
LivelV,  James 
Laird",  John 
1  Murpliv,  Davk 
McHeiirv,.lolii 


ant  B, 

A.  Left  at  Fort  Ham- 


Left  tj  attend  sick  at 


ins-lORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MOXROE   AXD    PKHRY    COUXTIES,    ILL  I XO  IS. 


205 


While,  .I.>liii.     Wounded  in  battle  Aug. 


Mnxwell,  Samuel.     I.efl  to  attend  sick  Smith,  Franeis 

at  Prairie  duChien.    Hor-e  loit.         Snanwick,  Francis.    Left  to  attend  the 
Oliver,  Duritt.  Lett  at  Blue  Mound'.sick         sick  of  I'rairic  du  Chien. 
Piitlei-sou,  .larnes  H.     left  at  Prairie  du  S.adler,  ISenjainin 

Chieu,  silk.  Sheets,  Firman.    Horse  lost. 

PetlitI,  Samuel  Thomer-on,  tieorge 

Kobiuson   Richard     Horse  lost. 
Short,  Thomas    Killed  July  21st. 

This  company  eniolled  and  electe  1  its  officers  on  May  24, 
lcS32.  May  27,  18:?'2,  inarciied  on  for  Beardstown,  and  was 
raustcred  into  tlie  service  of  llie  United  States  June  21, 
1832. 

CAPTAIN  WILLIAM    IJORDON's    COMPANY.        ENROLLED    JUNE 

22,  1832. 

A  company  of  Mounted  Volunteers  of  Illinois  Militia, 
organized  as  a  company  of  spies,  by  order  of  Brigadier  Gen- 
eral Atkinson  of  the  V  .S.  Army.  The  uon-coinniissioned  offi- 
cers and  privates  having  been  taken  from  the  lines  of  other 
companies  i  \  the  service,  and  the  officers  having  been  ap- 
pointed by  General  Atkinson,  and  continued  in  the  .service 
as  a  spy  company,  during  the  period  stated  mustered  out  at 
Dixon's  August  14,  1832. 


Hill.  L»wi= 
.lones  Sla'iphter 
Jeriard  Francis 
Kinion,  James 
Kinimau-.a,  Haplist 
l.vn.li,  Janus 
ii-.M.lvinv,  John 


Sefond  Licut''nnnl, 

Co'jtorah. 

William  Morrison 

Mcdard  Mcnar.l 
Louis  Wihuot 

iierff€fiiiVt. 

l!ol»rt  Murphy 

William  Murphv,ofPinck- 

iieyvillc. 

Pritfales. 

William  Swauu  ick.of  Kas- 
kaskia. 

Adams.  Levi 
Jtl'K'k.  Marcus 

William  Mvers.of  Kaskas- 

Urausou,  Lewis 

kia 

Brown,  John 

Robert   Crawford,  of  Kas- 

Chan,l.i.,e,  Lewi 

kuskia 

I>..za,  Joseph 

cpp. 


.Haplist 
Pa.-<c]ial.  Francis 
SmiUi,  Francis 
La.hapcllc,  Hcnr 


CAPTAIN  THOMAS    HARRISON  S   COMPANY. 

Of  the  Old  Battalion  commanded  by  Thomas  James, 
Major,  composing  part  of  the  Brigade  of  Mounted  Volun- 
teers commanded  by  Brigadier  General  Samuel  Whiteside. 
Mustered  out  of  service  of  the  United  States  at  the  mouth 
of  Fox  river  on  the  Illinois  river  on  May  28,  1832. 


OiJ.Min. 

Thos.Uarrison.app.  Capf.  Apr.  28,  1832 

I-'irst  LientcHnnt, 
Edward  T.  Morgan.elec.lst  Lieut. 
April  28, 1832. 

Sr.€Oiid  LieuUnant, 
Thomas  McRoberts,  dec.  2d  Lieut. 
April  28, 18»2. 

Serqeants. 
James  Moore,  app.  Adjt  April  28, 1832. 
Thomas  Tftj"lor, 
Feli.x  Clark. 
John  Strong, 

CorpomU 
William  McMoore    William  McNabb 
Pendleton  Hill  Henry  Harttin 

Farriers. 
Johnston  Nathan  C,  app.  Sergt.  Major 

May  18. 
Miller.  William 
Whitelockc,  James 
Cornelius,  J  M  Mc,  tr  toanother  Regt 
Surg's  Mate,  Isl  Regt. 

Pricala 
Bond.  Shadr.ich  B. 

Baird  Scinio,  apt^rtrmstr.  May  18, 1832 
Birch,  John 
Birch,  Fielder 
Brooks,  Stephen 
Clark,  tieorgo 

CAPTAIS    A.    W. 


Carr,  Solomon 

Fasten,  Stephen 

Fisher,  Gramer 

Haskins  .Moses,  app.  Brig.  Trumpeter 

April  28.  IS12. 
Horinc  Michael,  app  PaymstrApr  28, '32 
James  John,  on  furl,  app.  Sergt.  Major 

April  28,  resig'd  May  18.  ' 
Kidd,  John 
Lacey,  Caleb 
Livers,  Joseph 
Morgan,  William 
M«M)re  J  Milton,  app.  Brig.  Color  Bearer 

April  28,1832. 
M.Klglin,  John 
McDaniel,  John, app.lst  Sergt.  Apr 28, '32 


.He 


-NcH,  H 
Xeeilles,  James  I 
I*rest<in,  .lames 
Bamsev  William 
Rogers,  John 
Rieht.  John 
Snvder  Solomon 
Smith,  Calvin 
ShfK.k,  Michael 
Starr,  Ashbridgc 
Todd,  Edward 
Trail,  Xerxes  F. 
Triplet!,  Nimrod 
Wyatt,  R.  M. 


SfTf/eantt, 
Nathan  Johnston 


Corporals. 
,  gun  lost,  battle 


SSYDER  S    COMPASy. 

PriroUx. 
Cornelius  I M  McTy,  gun  lost  Jun 


Hill  Pendleton 
Moore,  John  M. 
McMoore,  William 
Needles  James  B. 
!l6,'32    Right,  John 


1  I8:i-2,  at  Di.xon'3 
Ferrv.  Rock 
[river,  111. 


CAPTAIN  WM.  C.  RALLS'   COMPAiJY. 
ScrgentiL 


Pd'int'j 
Brooks,  Stephen 
Trail,  Xerxes  F. 


Illinois  Mounted  Volunteers,  mustered  out  of  the  service 
of  the  United  .States  by  order  of  Brigadier  General  Atkin- 
son, June  loth,  1832. 

CAPTAIS  JAMES  TDOMPSOS's  COMPAXY. 

Of  the  Third  Regiment,  Third  Brigade,  of  Illinois 
Mounted  Volunteers,  called  into  the  service  of  the  I'nited 

States  by   the  Governor's  proclamation,  dated 

1S32.     Mustered  out  August  17,  1832: 


Captain. 
James  Thompson 


•,  Ishom  F, 

-r,  John 

,  William,  lost  hi! 


horse  on  forced 


fir^  Li«iitt:nant.  march 

amucl    Barbour,  .absent  sick;  left   at  '}""'"  "y- ,"■' 

Fort  Winnebago,  July  15.  Illalhwav,  Mi 

Seroiil  Licuteuanl.  Ilui:hc«.  lolii 

Vm.  H.  McUill.  ab-ent :   left  at  Prairie  J"'.";"'  \;)']"; 
iln  fhein  to  take  care  of  John  Whi 
wounded  t>y  Indians. 


Millii 
M.. 


iixl  on  sun 
i.l.'.  Al.-al.. 


,  Millc 


Sc'ncanli.  M'B 

Moses  W.  Tasgnrt  "';'' 

Hiihard    Lively,    absent;  left     above      " 
■"Prairie  du  Chien  to  take  care  of  Kob-  ^j"^ 

crt  Smith,  sick.  \lin.-i-   liobert 

K..l.ert  c.  Jones  |Mc.\ecl,  William 

Harmon,  Marim  Overton,  Bcnjami 

Corporal:  I'allir^oii,  .lohn, 

>r,-hibald  Croiier  I    brother  Jnmc 


,  absent  with  leave 


1  F.,  horse  killed 


KolMTt  Ha 


lillo 


TI,omp« 


Park 
r.,  absent :  left  to'  sii- 
li-cw    McCorniick,  R' 


.  W"i 


,  lost  his  horse,  present 


1,  Ja 


Airn(M. 


John 


Brown, 

Brown,  John  C. 

Been.  Allen 

Ball,  X.'Ison. discharged  .n 

on  surgical  ecrliti'  ate 
Bowerman,  William 
Bildcrbnck,  Friend 
Crozier.  Andrew 
Davis,  Robert 
Iiiikcs,  Martin 


.Short.  John,  discharged  at  Bine  Mound 

on  surgical  certiticate 
Steele,  James,  absent  on  furlough  since 

Jidy2.-. 
Stc^'je,  IJcorpc.  lost  his  horse 
Smith,  Robert  R  .absent  sick  ;  left  near 


.  Join 


!  Mound  Ta 

T las.  .I..hu  W. 

Timlcl.John 
Ai.kcrs,  Abel 
\Vil.ox.  James 
Wise.   Kno.h  (;.  horse    dr 


utiK 


:  lost 


This  company  was  raised  and  organized  on  June  4th, 
under  the  command  of  Gabriel  Jones,  Captain  ;  James 
Thompson,  First  Lieutenant;  Samuel  Barbour,  Second 
Lieutenant.  Marched  on  June  Mh,  and  was  mustered  into 
the  service  at  Fort  Wilbourn  June  21st,  under  Captain 
Thompson,  Gabriel  Jones  having  been  elected  Colonel. 

CAPTAIS     JACOB     FP.EEM.lS's, 


AFTEP.H'ASDS    CAPTAIS    JA.\IE3    COSSER  3 
COMPASY. 


Of  the  third  Regiment,  Third  Brigade,  Illinois  Mounted 
Volunteers,  called  into  the  service  of  the  United  States  on 
the  requisition  of  General  Atkinson  by  the  Governor's 
proclamation,  dated  - 
August  17,  1832. 

Copiaini. 


1^.;2.      Mustered    out 


Wiley  Paschall,  horse  lost  or  stolen 
f  Privates. 

Jacob  Feamans,  resigned  July  2.i,  18;12  Rnnj^  Edward 
James  Conner,  promoted  July  25  from  ijrewer,  Vincent 
First  Lieutenant  Brigbtwell,  John 

_     ,  ,.     ,„     ,  Brown  Allan.sun.dis.  June  21;  disability 

first  Linilaaa^t.  ,        .   ^^,..^  ^,  _  ^,jg    j^|y  ,,,.  jjj^bility 

Matthew  Gray.  pro.  July  25, 1832,  from  (hniiall,  Elias 
Firet  Sergeant  Ctiaupine,  Lewis 

„         .  -.     , „,  I>oris,  Martin  W.,  pro.   pavmstr  July  15 

Sccoia  UculenanL  Duggcr,  Find,  left  at  Prairie  du  Chien 

Darid  Wright,  pro.  June  1"  and  left  sick  I    to  tend  sick  August? 
at  Prairie  du  Chien  i  De  Rouse,  Henry 

I  Davis,  Michael 
Sergeants.  >  Doza,  Joseoh 

Isaac  Nelson,  appointed  July  25  f-"™'-  Y;'.'.',','"'" 

George  Glenn,  appointed  June  22  i Fulton.  W  .llmm 

Menard  Maxwell,  appointed  June  20       Hampton,  W  ilson 
Joseph  Orr,  appointed  Quar.  Serg.  July  Jones.  Armstead,  woundeil 
26,  1832 

Corporals. 
Patrick  Faherty  ,    .liilv  M 

James  Wlielan  Lachapclle.  He 

John  Levett,  sup.  dis.  Aug.  4, 1832  ILevens,  Henry 


July  21 
d  absent  with  leave  from  July  25 
Jarrcl,  John 
Langton,  Francis,  left  sick  at  Mounds 


206 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


Mi-liiM.l.  Mc.liM.l.ah.  with   leave-  Aua.  7  Pa^ral,  Fnui.i«i 

Miei>,  JiiniesP.,  det.  to  t»n<i  on  Jones   1:.l.  it-,  \i 

JnlviS.                                                  i:.>  ii"M-,  I'll" 

Mart,  Riwelle                                               s  im  .m  ,  i ,  i    ,.  ,  sup.  dis.  Jul 

'26,  183 

Morrison,  William,  ab.  with  leave  Aug.:  .<!    \  t  nii,  1 '..ni.ims  F.,  dis.  J 

une    16 

Mn.ld,  Hiirrison                                                 disninlitv 

MCnar.l.    Peter,    lost   horse    and    pack  Will,  Joseph 

saddle  on  foreed  march                          Winter,  William 

Onuer,  Ferilinaud                                       Woolsev,  Washinston 

O'Harra,  John,  .lis  JulvI6:disnl)ilitv      Wilson,'    David   E:,   left  at   Pr 

lirie   di 

Phillips,  lierrel,  dis.  July  16;  disability     Chien  sick 

Pattersi>n,  IShenler                                        White,  John 

Penniana,  Haptisf,  horse  lost  on  or  near  Willmuth,  Louis 

This  company  was  organized  at  Kaskiskia  May  "25, 
1832,  aiul  was  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States 
at  Fort  Wilbourn,  June  21,  1S32. 

CAPTAIN  WILLIAM  ADAIr's  COMPANY 

Of  the  Third  R  giment,  3d  Brigade,  Illinois  Volunteers, 
called  into  the  s  rvio  of  the  United  States  on  the  requisi- 
tion of  General  Henry  Atkiisoa,  by  the  G  ivernor's  procla- 
mation, dated ,  1S32.     Mustered  out  August  17, 1832. 

Oipfniiu.— Pnvid  Baldridsie,  resicned  June  26,  and  nppointcil  adintant. 

William  Adnii-,  piomoted  captain  June  26  IVoin  the  lanks. 
First  L'n't'-rn„f. — Tail.!'  .Sliort,  jiromoted  June  I'.f  fruni  2d  lieuienant. 
Snowl  /<,../',,;..'  -I-hn  Hansf<ird,  promoted  Jum    l:i  fr-iii  i-i  ii.ite.     Lost  tent. 
Serge::'!!    -  \\  in    r    Miirphi 


-  U  in     I 
Corjio.!.;..— Mnalii 


Ander.son,  Al. 

I.i  at  Win 
Ander-on,  B.- 

l.oiirn  :  n 


undcd  in  Irattle  :  1.  ii  m  I'ln lu  fhien. 

.  U.  Murphy.     Lo-t  t.iii.       Frederi.-I;  \Vi 

c'    Lo.st  horse;  I'urloushed  August  8. 
James  M.  Hogue,  furloughed  .\ngust  8. 
frigates. 
■  :[  Julv     Hii'-'cins,  James. 

Hull.  Z.-l.-.li  e. 
■.  :,[  Wil-      K.Mtli.  K..-1I1 


.  ~  .M.,  left  sickatPrai- 


lironn,  James  C,  furloUKhed  Augusts  ^1 

Brown.  Pavton.  M  - 

Benson.  l..'» is. 

rliiik.  .Inl.ii,  liirl.  AUS!.  8;  lost  horse.  r.:       I    ■■    -     nn-l  :  lost  horse. 

Clinr     ,|.n   I  1'.  I  \n:n   '        In:-!   llOVSC. 

(  a-^,  ill!  nn,  fill  I. .nulled  August  S.  I'.  I.I,  ,1 :ii  11, 

Cr.iii.  l:-!ii    .hsr  .liuie   2:iat  Wilbonrn ;  I:.    -,  I  i  '  i. 

surL-eon's  eertif.  l-'i         \-        ' 

Dickson.  John.  I  '.       -  [bourn. 

Earnest,  Andrew.  "  i         i  Iv,  dis.  June  2:!  at  Wil- 

Ford  Jess,.  \\.,,.    I   .  Ill,  .ti>chd,  at  Blue  Mound; 
France,  Peter.  «.Hn..l..i  August  in. 

Garner,  Fran.  is.  ,  Wells,  Josiah. 

Hawkins    \u-l".rn.  :  Wejks,  Peter  W.,  furloughed  August  2. 

Hotehings,  Eli  J.  Wo,.,lrum,  Nieh.jlas. 

Hutching, ,  d.  Aug.  Z,  rec.  Aug.  0,  Washburn,  John. 

Hutching,  William,  dead;  left  siek  at  Wolf,  Tliom.as,  furloughed  August  8. 

SaltUiverJuneU. 

SOLDIERS   IN  MEXICAN  WAR. 

The  Si.clh  Regiment. — Otherwise  known  as  the  Second 
Regiment,  enlisted,  "during  the  war,"  was  organized  out  of 
the  overtlow  of  companies  which  were  raised  for  the  Fifth 
Regiment.  So  much  honor  had  been  achieved  by  the  four 
regiments  sent  out  by  the  State  the  first  year  of  the  war, 
that  their  praise  was  on  every  lip,  and  the  young  and  am- 
bitious were  ready  to  make  any  sacrifice  to  be  able  to  go  and 
fight  the  Mexicans.  When  the  call  was  made  for  the  Fifth 
regiment  it  was  difficult  for  the  Governor  to  select,  as  the 
men  poured  in  by  hundreds,  and  enough  reported  in  ten  days 
to  fill  half  a  dozen  regiments.  Application  was  made  to  the 
Secretary  of  War  for  permission  to  organize  another  regiment 
which  was  granted,  and  the  Sixth  was  organized  at  Alton, 
Illinois,  on  the  3d  day  of  August,  1847,  by  the  election  of  J. 
Collins  as  Colonel. 

Shortly  after  the  regiment  was  mustered  into  the  United 
States  service  it  was  forwarded  by  steamer  to  New  Orleans, 
and  then  divided  into  two  battalions.  Companies  A,  D,  E, 
F  and  H,  under  the  command  of  Col  Collins,  being  sent  to 
Vera  Cruz,  where  they  arrived  August  3 1st,  18847.  The 
second  battalion  under  Lieutenant  Col.  Hicks  consisted  of 
companies  B,  C,  G,  I  aud  K,  and  was  forwarded  by  vessel  to 


Tarapico,  remaining  there  until  Jan.  1st,  1848,  then  joined 
regiment  at  Jalapa  and  marched  to  city  of  Mexico.  From 
there  they  were  ordered  to  Pueblo  where  they  remained  un- 
til they  came  home.  Both  battalions,  as  the  muster  rolls 
show,  lost  heavily  from  sickness,  incident  to  climate.  This 
regiment  was  mustered  out  on  the  20th  to  the  25th  days  of 
July,  1848,  at  Alton,  Illimiis. 

MUSTER    ROLL    C0MP.4XT    G. 
Discharged  at  Alton,  July  21,   1818. 
C'tplain. — James  Moore.         First  Lieutenant. — Edward  Olme'.veney. 
Second  t.euren.cnte.— William  C.Slarkey  Austin  James 

Serj/ertMte.— James  Close.       Solomon  Varnum.        Willii 
a.r^.oru(s.— Benjamin  Atwell.      Peter  Dowling.     John  Hillhurn. 


Phomas  James. 
1  Hillburn. 
Elijah  Adams 


.V«< 


s. — .Vugustus  Holley 

Primtcs. 
Ellis,  William 


Conrad  Kii 


McCullock,  Wm.  G. 
Miirphv,  Patrick 
Mann,  Joseph 


I.  Williiin 

II,  Win. 
s.  Ha 


fans,  Ev 
>  Left  si. 


.Adams,  Edward.  . 
Blunt,  Britain  .  .  . 
Bishop,  George  .  . 
Blaeksto.ie,  George 
Bishop.  E 


Br  I 


.  Charle' 
i-l,  .Nirli.ila 


Lively,  George 
MeCannah,  John 

t  VeraC.-u2;  supp:)S 
18. 

.Srrgennl. 
.  Died  in  Hospital  r 
Privnta. 
.  Died  in  Il.ispital  s 
.  Die.l  in  Hospital  : 
.  llle.l  i.i  l|..s|,ical  : 
,   I ill   II. -I'll  .1 


Swam;,.]. I 
iSUMlh.Wii 
Swear,  I'll 
Willinan. 
Wil..o'c,,\ 
Walla.-e.  ( 

;d  tobe'.liicharg 


;  Tampii 
.  Tampie 


Me.\ico,  Nov.  4,  1847. 


,  Nov.,  1847. 
,  Nov.  4,  1847. 
.  N.jv.  II),  1847. 
\'_'iil  •_■•_•,  1848. 


.  Die,'  i 

1  lb 

SI.  II      ll       ,ll         1        111 

.  Die.l  i 

1  111 

-].|tal  lit    1,11. 

.  Died  1 

1  II. 

.|ill  ll  111    I'll. 

.  Did 

1  lb 

spil.ll    111      1,11111 

.  Die.l  1 

n  II. 

spiral  at  Jalap. 

.  Dui.l  1 

1  Hi 

spiral  at  Tamp 

1  Hospital  atTampico,  Me.xico,  Feb.  II,  1848. 


John  H.  Di.t 
Beahers,  Th 


Mi-Kiiil.-v,IIngh  F. 


.  .  Discharged  at  Vera  Cruz,  Feb.,  1848,  disability. 
Privates. 


Pisi.|ial;.'...l  : 


I  ...  Sent.  2.S,  1S)7,  ilisabllitv. 
.  ...  Sept.  28,1847,  dis.ahility. 
1  uz,  Feb.  7,  1848,  disability. 


.King. 


.  Transferred  by  order  of  Col.  Gates. 


Edward  Tilley Transferred  by  order  of  Col.  Gales. 

Corporal. 
Joseph  Wilcox Discharged  at  Pueblo,  Mexico,  April  'j4, 1848. 

Privates. 
Heath,  D.aniel  S.  Youngm.an,  Jacob. 

There  are  but  six  survivors  of  this  company  :  Capt.  James 
M.  Moore,  now  in  California;  Austin  James,  Monroe  County  ; 
Thomas  James,  a  merchant  in  Chester  ;  Henry  Clover, 
Missouri;  John  Dickson,  Illinois;  and  Solomon  Varnum  of 
Oregon. 

Ml'STEK    ROLL   COMP.\SV    I. 

Organized  at  Waterloo,  Monroe  County,  Illinois,  in  the 
month  of  May,  1846.  Mustered  into  the  service  of  the 
United  States  at  Alton,  Illinois,  on  the  24th  day  of  June, 
1846.  Mustered  out  on  the  18th  day  of  June,  1847,  at 
Camargo,  Mexico. 


HISTORY    OF   ItAXDOLPH,    MOSROE    AND    PERRY    (OCXTIES,    ILLIXOIS. 


207 


,  Adj.  of  Regt.,  order  Col. 


Oi/jl Mil— Madison  .Miller. 

FiiU  LiVnfamenl— .\iiKu-I  G.  Whitcsidf,  detashed  senic 

l<id»!ll,  from  July  1st. 
Sf<onit  LUiitennHls—3o\\n  L.  Wilson,  Jnmes  H.  Waddle. 

Scrj/canf.— Jamos  C.  B.  Rcid,  .nhscnl  fin  furlough  from  May  3.1  till  etp.iervic< 
Tii'.m.TS  W.  Mnrmui,  appointed  from  private  March  Nt,  IS47. 
William  S.  Agnew,  appointed  from  corporal  .March  Ijth.  1847. 
Jacoli  Frieli. 
CVKiH/rafc— Is.iae  Tolin. 

John  Agnew.  appoint^^d  from  private  March  1. 1S47. 
Jaikson  M.  LcKkerl.  apix.inl.d  from  private  March  l.%im7. 
Samuel   MeMiirirv.  a:))K>inIed   lr<im  private   .March'-;   wounded 
battle  of  Feb.  s.\,  IslT. 
3fH«tciaii« — .John  Cook,  appointed  from  private. 

Henry  Iman,  apjiointed  from  private. 
PriciiUs — Apnew.  Francis. 

Applepat.-,  Aaron  H.,  w  mnded  in  lialtle,  Feb.  it. 
Buru.»,  Fred.-ric.  (.iirev,  tieorge.  F.verett,  Elward. 

Clark,  Feli.x.  lliveVs,  Ananias.  Fisher,  William. 

I'laik,  Edward. 

Finiier,  Theodore,  ho.«pital  attendant  at  San  .\ntonio  from  Oct.  G. 
Hiltnian.  Lewis,  wounded  in  battle  of  Feb.  .:3. 
Hewetl,  Ja.ob. 

Hiiikler,  Chailes,  wounded  in  battle  of  Feb.  n. 
HaiUin.  James  L.  Hol.bs.  William.  John.ion,  William. 

Hill.  Samuel  G.  Inian.  Samuel.  Klinkliard,  Je.sepli. 

H.irker.  rhi.mas.  Irinakei,  Henrv.  King,  William. 

K.  II.  S.'I'.iii.iu,  wounded  in  bailie  Feb.  H. 

I.a..  V,  William.  MeMi.rlrv,  Joseph.      Morrison,  William, 

l.illv'.  Jaiii.s  11. 

.Miiiiimeii.  Miehael,  wounded  in  b.tttlc  Feb.  -a. 
.M..lir.  J..lin  Jacob.  Moire,  Lvwis  W.  .Moore,  I.  Milton. 

M.>..r.-,  Nels,.ii,  reduced  from  sem.aTU  .March  1.1:  nans,  to  staff. 
.Mnrrav,  lart-r.  Stionir,  John  L.  Talb..tt,  Elijah, 

tlllricli,  John.  Smith,  .\i.li..|as.  Tope,  GeolBC  W. 

I'illiard,  Ja  -..b.  Thackeniy,  tt  illiam.  Wilson,  Edward. 

Soiinoti,  .lami-jf.  Tliompsoii,  James.  Warnoek,  Joseph. 

Sexton,  haniel. 

Welirlieuo,  Valentine,  w..iiiide.l  in  little  Feb.  2J. 
Walllc.-.  liei.llle.  Wal.l,  Philip. 

}1.  Im,  William,  reduee.l  from  ,...rp..ial  March  1. 
Long,  John,  reduced  from  Sergeaiu  .March  1. 
l,U^l...r.jol. 
Dains,  William,  disehargc.l  Bnena  \ista  Mav  :l.i:  wounded  Feb.  -il. 
Kiinvnii,  Courlland.ilisiharg.'d  Bnena  Vi.|  T  Mav  3U. 
Wliite,  John  xM.,  discharged  llnena  Vista  .May  M. 

Dirl. 
Leerninp.  tieorgo,  died  >ray  8  at  Camp  Hiicna  Vi 


Suiiiies,  llirain.  died  of  wounds  received 
Wilcox,  James  .M.,  died  at  Parros;  time  i 


SECOND   KEGIMENT   ILLINOIS    V01.S.,    -MEXICAN    WAR. 

MISTER    KOI.I.   COMl'ASV    K. 
a.j.(.aii«.— I.al  an  G.  .Tones,  resigned  at  Alt.oi,  III. 

Hawkins  s.  I  isvburn.  resigned  at  laiiiii  Croekelt,  Texas. 

Thomas  Armstrong,  lesiirn.d  at  .Saltill...  Mexico. 

C.  L.  S'arl.n.k,  must,  rcl  „iil  June  Is,  IslT.  at  lamargo,  Jl.xieo. 
Fira  lifiifeu.ui'.— Nalhal  II    liclh.,111.  musld  0111  June  l.s,  IstT.  at  (  alimlg...  Mex. 

Srcoi.</  ;..™/,«..Nf.— Ni leiniis  We-t.  w.mn.led  batll.   ..f  Huciia  Vista.  Feb.  il,47. 

T»ird  iiciitaoiiirt. -James  I     Steel,  kill,  d   in  battle  01  liiiclia  Vista.  Feb.  ii,  1S47. 

John  I>.  1:11-.'.  noist.'i.'.l Jim.'  Is.  1S17,  al  Lainargo,  Mex. 

SrrjMiiii.— Mustered  out  June  Is.  Ist7.  al  « '  .loar;.'..,  M.xic.i. 

liavidson  C.  Moor.-.  l:iel,ar.|  II.  Williams,  .ler..ii„   II.  W.-si,  Gilford  II.  lia'.-g.ard. 

Onjoi-of..— Mnslc-reil  out  June  Is,  Isj:.  a'  (  aliiai!;...  .M.-.xiei). 

John  A.  Faiiin.  J..hii  V.  F..rd.  J..I111  |i.  ll..«laii.l.  Eliiui  G.  Chappell. 
Priru/o.— .Mustereil  out  Juno  IS.  1S47,  at  lalnar-o,  Mi^xieo. 

Armsir..iig.  I!. .Ik  it  W.,         Auileison.  William  1'. 

Abcrnalhy,  KolKut,  killed  at  battle  of  liiiena  Vista.  Feb.  Zl,  1847. 

Mustered  out  June  is.  ls47,  at  Caniargo,  Mexico. 
Brown,  Isaac  M.,         Hmwn,  William  G.,         Bridges,  William  W. 
BoMland,  Hani|itoli,  ilie.l  at  (amp  Crockell,  Texas. 

Miislere.l  out  June  IS,  IS47,  at  Camargo,  Mexico. 
Campbell,  G.  W  .  laiiii.t.k.  .Saurl.  Crawfor.l,  Marsh  ,  Crawford,  Hamp. 
Capewll,  J..s.-ph.  .lis.haige.l  (disabililv). 
Llelingei,  William  H.,  .lied  at  Sallill  .,  Mexico. 

Mustereil  out  June  18, 1817,  at  Caiiiar.go,  Mexico. 
Haily,  Hiram,        Dry,  .lolin  M.,        iMy,  Edmninl. 
Kitton,  Siiinuel,  discharged  at  Camp  Crockett,  Texa?  (disability). 

Clustered  out  Juue  18, 1847,  at  Camargo,  Me.xico. 
Fanin,  William  1'.,  Foster,  William  A. 

1  lischarged  at  Camp  Crockett,  Texas  (disability). 
Glover,  Itii'hard,  Hamp,  llosi^a. 

Hawkins,  Marquis  C,  mustered  out  June  18, 1847,  at  Camargo,  Mexico. 

Wounded  in  battle  of  Buena  Vista,  Feb.  2:t.  1847. 
Hoge,  Marion  Ii..  Hamilton,  Ali'xaii.ler  A. 

Humphries   F.rdid  G.,  mustered  out  June  Is,  ls47,  at  Camarg...  Me.x. 
Hale,  Jonathan  K..  died  at  Camp  Cnxkcit,  Tex.as. 
Higgarsou,  John  1".,  died  at  Uueiia  Vista,  .Mexico. 

Mustered  out  June  IS,  1817,  at  Camargo,  Mexico. 
Hammaek,  I-ewis,         Johnson,  William  L.  (of  Uaudolph  county,  Mo.) 
Jones,  Riley,  died  at  Camji  Crm-keil,  Texas. 

Killed  in  the  Kittle  of  liucna  Vista,  Feb.  23, 1817. 
Jones,  Mansker,  Jones,  William. 

Kellev,  Uriah  U..  wounded  in  the  battle  of  li la  Vista.  Feb.  ja,  1SI7. 

Kimzey,  Jonn,  killed  in  the  battle  of  Uueiia  Vista,  Feb.  ii,  1847. 

JIustered  out  June  18, 1847,  at  Camargo.  Mexico. 
Lynch,  Adam  W.,  I.vneh,  David  a. 

Leigh,  George  E.,  woiin.le.l  in  the  battle  ol  Biiciia  Visl;^  Feb.  23,  IS17. 


Musterc.l  out  June  IS.  Isi7,  at  Camargo,  Mexie.i. 
.Maline,  K.lwin,  .Marl.iw,  William. 

Marlow,  Ui.'liar.l,  wounded  in  the  battle  ot  Uiiena  Vista,  Feb.  21, 1847. 

Killed  in  the  battle  of  Buena  Vistm  Feb.  zi,  lsl7. 
.Marlow,  St  Tliiig  S.,  -Marlow,  R  .biuson. 

Mustered  out  June  l.s,  1S47,  at  Camargo,  Mexieo- 
Montagil.',  Cave,        Monlai-ii.'.  G.  T..        Neil,  Win..        Hyatt.  J.  W. 
I'yatt,  James,  died  from  aecid  ntal  gunshot  W'.iiud,  San  Anlunio,  Tex. 

Mustered  out,  June  IS,  1817,  at  Caniargo,  Mexico. 
I'rit.  hel,  Levi,  Pe  tit,  John  V.,  Pettit,  G  .urge  D. 

Must  Id  out  June  18, 1847. 
Kohinson,  I.arkiu  L.i.if  W.ish.  e.i.i.        Itobiiisnn,  John  (of  Wash,  co.) 
Kamse.v.  Eli.  inustere.l  ..ut  Jiin  •  Is,  lsl7,.at  CaluarKo,  Me    ' 


,  .Na  hi 


llaglalid    Mar.illis,  kill   .1 
Ihe.dau.l,  J..hn  l'.,»..ii 
SpouL-,  liavi.l.  .lie.l  (.,( 


I'l'.l  i 


Id  i 


III.-  I.: 
Ilh 


sles)  i 


He  .if  Bile 
ml.' of  llll.'lk 
Untie  .,r  Ilui 


1  Vista  Feb.  i:.  I«»7. 
»,  Feb.  it,  1.117. 
sta,  Feb.il,  lsl7 


Milt  le.l  out  June  18, 1.'5I7,  at  Camario,  Me 
.'Siewart.  .bun.s.       .Stewart,  1!.  W.,       Tavlor,  W.  U., 
Terrv.  Alfred,  died  at  Pans,  M.-xieo. 
Terry,  Carter,  died  at  Adtillo,  .Mexico. 

Slilst-red  out  June  is.  1S17,  at  (amarg.i,  M.xieo. 
T.-ague,  Joslina,        West.  Van  1! ,        Wilks.  Ui.  Iiar.l. 
Wilks.Jnhn  (..f  Jaks..ii  .„.  ,kill.-.l  in  baille  liu.iia  Vista.  Feb.  i!, -47 
Wi|s,,„,  U.,lH-rt,  drown.-.l  in  .Mi-sissip|.i  J!.,  six  miles  l.e|.       - 
Wells.Gile.s,  inusteiedoiit  Jim.-  Is,  1647,  at  Camargo,  .Me 


,  Hansel. 


■  Natchel. 


THE  WAR  FOR  THE  UNION. 

The  history  of  tliis  bljoily  c  iiillict  antetlates  l)y  many 
years  actual  recurrence  to  arras;  and  in  the  senate  chamber 
and  in  the  hall  of  representatives  were  enacted  scenes  nf 
moral  warfare,  no  less  noble  in  character  or  glorious  in  re- 
sults than  those  that  afterward  occurred  in  the  ensanguineil 
field.  Whether  here  or  in  the  congress  of  the  United  iStates 
the  contest  was  the  same — a  war  for  principle,  justice  and 
right.  With  subtile  brains  as  the  cliam]>iiiiis  and  opponents 
of  the  doctri  le  of  St  lie  rights,  and  witli  the  institution  of 
slavery  in  tL..  .tfoulh,  hated  by  the  North  the  cuutcst  could 
not  remain  a  moral  one.  Ttie  fire.s of  interiul  dissension  which 
had  long  been  smouldering,  burst  into  a  flame.  And  history 
nowhere  exhibits  a  nobler  moral  spectacle  than  that  of  a 
united  North,  with  buried  prejudices,  moving  as  one  man  in 
defence  of  that  union  wLtse  fcuriialit  us,  laid  by  wisilom's 
hand  and  sealed  by  jiatriots'  blood,  were  destined  eteiually 
to  remain.  The  ytar  l.'Still  witnesied  the  elevation  of  Abra- 
ham Lincoln  to  the  chief  magistracy  of  the  United  States, 
and,  on  the  20lh  day  of  Dcci'mber,  the  secession  of  South 
Carolina  from  the  union,  Mississippi,  Florida,  Alabama, 
Georgia,  Louisiana  and  Texas  fullowcd  in  order  the  exam- 
ple of  their  bister  State. 

The  government  of  the  Confederacy  styled  "The  Confed- 
erate States  of  America,"  was  formed  February  4,  ISGl, 
and  Slonlgomery,  Alabama,  was  chosen  as  the  ])lace  of  ad- 
ministration. The  seat  of  government  was  subsequently  re- 
moved to  Virginia,  after  the  secession  of  that  State. 

Upon  the  accession  of  President  Lincoln  JIarch  4,1861, 
he  found  the  Union  divided,  and  the  country  on  the  eve  of 
civil  war.  No  more  trying  lircumstances  ever  existed,  than 
those  that  surrounded  the  new  president;  patriotism,  cour- 
age and  juiignu-nt  were  never  more  eminently  displayed. 
With  a  dejik-t  (1  treasury,  empty  ais,!iials  and  a  sea  tcred 
uavy,  the  prospect  for  the  union  seemed  dark  indeed  ;  but, 
the  noble  Lincoln,  as  by  an  insight  more  than  human,  boldly 
issued  a  call  for  troops  and  began  the  work  of  suppressing 
the  rebellion 

The  war  opened  with  the  tiring  on   Fort  Sumter,  ou   the 


208 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


morniug  of  Apiil  12,  1861.  This  insult  to  the  uni.u  flag, 
this  daring  act  of  open  rebellion,  sent  a  thrill  of  excitement 
through  the  whole  land ;  patriotic  blood  ran  coursing 
through  the  veins,  as  it  had  never  run  before.  Men  of  all 
classes  left  their  occupations,  and  in  response  to  the  call  of 
the  president  for  troops  for  three  months,  seventy  five  thous- 
and volunteers  were  seen  marching  to  the  sound  of  martial 
music. 

The  first  blood  <if  the  war  was  spilled  in  Baltimore,  dur- 
ing an  attack  made  by  the  mob  upon  a  Massachusetts  regi- 
ment of  volunteers,  while  passing  through  that  city,  on  their 
way  to  Washington,  April   19,  IXGl. 

The  first  important  battle  was  fought  at  Bull  Run,  Vir- 
ginia, June  21,  same  year.  For  a  complete  account  of  this 
greatest  and  most  sanguinary  of  all  wars,  the  reader  is  re- 
ferred to  the  many  excellent  histories  on  that  subject.  The 
war  virtually  closed  with  the  surrender  of  Lee's  army  to  the 
Union  commander,  Gen.  U.  S.  Grant,  arrangements  for 
which  were  made  by  these  generals,  at  Appomattox  Court 
House,  April  9,  18(i.").  The  surrender  of  Gen  Joseph  E. 
Johnston  to  Gen.  Sherman,  at  Raleigh,  North  Carolina,  2tjth 
inst,  and  the  capture  of  Jefferson  Davis,  at  Irwinsville, 
South  Carolina,  IMay  Kith,  were  the  closing  evtnts  of  the 
war. 

The  sentiment  of  patriotism,  so  generally  felt  in  all  parts 
of  the  land,  was  strong  in  the  people  of  Randolph,  Monroe 
and  Perry,  and  nobly  did  they  respond  to  their  country's 
call,  sending  many  of  their  brave  sons  in  defence  of  the 
Union. 

Their  names,  as  enrolled  at  the  Adjutant  General's  office, 
appear  below  under  the  heads  of  the  commands  to  which 
they  respectively  belonged. 

SEVENTH  INFAXTRY. 
{Three  Yeui-s'  Sen-ice). 
The  Seventh  Infantry  Illinois  Volunteers  was  mustered 
into  the  United  States  service  at  Camp  Yates,  Illinois,  April 
2.5,  ISGl,  by  Capt.  John  Pope,  U.  S.  A.  It  was  forwarded 
to  Alton,  St.  Louis,  Cairo,  and  Mound  City,  where  it  re- 
mained during  the  three  months'  service.  It  wa^  re-organized 
and  mustered  for  three  years'  service  July  2-5,  1H61,  by  Capt. 
T.  G.  Pitcher,  U.  S.  A.,  and  immediately  joined  the  com- 
mand of  Brigadier  General  B.  M.  Prentiss  in  Missouri.  It 
went  into  winter  quarters  at  Fort  Holt,  Kentucky.  During 
the  battle  of  Belmont  it  was  sent  to  Ellicott's  Mills,  just 
above  Co'umbus,  in  the  rear  of  which  it  had  been  in  the 
reconnoitering  expedition  under  General  Grant.  It  was 
engaged  in  the  last  charge  on  the  left  of  the  enemy's  works 
at  Fort  Donelson,  February  15,  1802.  April  6ih  and  7th, 
it  was  engaged  continually  in  the  battle  of  Shiloh.  At  the 
battle  of  Corinth,  October  3d  and  4th,  1862,  the  regiment 
was  engaged  both  days.  From  this  time  up  to  December 
22,  1863,  it  was  in  many  important  skirmishes  and  marches. 
At  this  date  the  regiment  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Volunteers, 
and  behaved  with  great  gallantry  at  the  battle  of  Altoona 
Pass.  On  the  9ih  of  July,  1865,  it  was  mustered  out  of 
service. 


r,;r„l,;  — M.N.^ 


MI^TKi;    RltlA,    (OMPA 


MI.'STEU    r.OI.L    inMI'ANV    1. 


-N.irt.iii,  Cliailfs  S.,  niustcre.l  olil  .Inn.-  -i,  \mr-,. 

M1;N    FltOM    MOSIiOE    COUNTY. 


Ml  SI 


i|  1. 


I  Ml'. 


^V    .V. 


•s.-KrviMit.  .Ic,M.|,li  I-.  .||.  J  :,l  [-.III  11..11.  Kv  ,  Ilr...  T,  ISOI. 
ran,,.  .\ii|...j,..,n,  .li.'.l  m1  .Mnin„l  I  ic\.  Ill  .  .\..>.  JU,  l!fi;l. 
(ifriH-,  Jli.lia.l,  .h~.  I.ariir.lac  l'..il  Holt,  Ky.,  .Ian.  7,  lni;2. 

ML-nTKli    ROLL   f'OMl'.VXV    F. 

Mr.STER    HOLL    COMl'-VNY     F. 
,1  ami  S„k.lil„tf  y.vma.v— Fr..zziir.l.  E.luHPl,  mn-li-lvcl  .,nt  S..|.I. 


NINTH  INFANTRY. 
{Three  Years'  Serrk,}. 
This  was  one  of  the  six  regiments  organized  at  Springfield 
for  three  months'  service.  After  the  expiratiou  of  this  term, 
on  the  2(ith  day  of  July,  l.stil,  it  was  mustered  into  United 
States'  service  for  three  years  by  Captain  Pitcher.  It  was 
engaged  at  Fort  Donelson,  occupying  a  position  where  the 
most  severe  fighting  took  place.  It  lost  '■>■'>  men  killed,  166 
wounded,  and  6  prisoners.  At  Shiloh,  it  played  a  gallant 
part,  sustaining  a  loss,  April  6th,  of  61  kill(d,2^7  wounded, 
and  two  prisoners.  It  participated  at  the  battle  of  Corinth, 
October  3d  and  4th,  losing  19  killed,  82  wounded,  and  52 
prisoners.  Dec.  13,  1862,  commenced  a  reconnoisance  to 
Guntown,  Tupelo,  and  Marietta,  JMii-sissippi.  It  was 
mustered  out  of  service  July  LUh,  LSi'i5,  at  Lanesville, 
Kentucky. 

JIEN    FROJt    TERRY    COUNTY. 

MusTLi'.  r.oi.L  c:ioir.\NY  it. 

P/  i.,ito.— ri.nnr..nl,  .Lise].].,  Vet.  tr.  to  c...  C  as  Consolhtati.l  .M  O.  .Inn,.  2\.  ISW 

MFN    FROM    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

MISTER    F.OLL    COMP.\NV    I'. 
Se,;.,,.l  lu-ulemt»t  lifitr'nn  H.ni  v  \->  t  ,  M    n,  .1  nlv'i,  ■.;,-. 


Will.  M.M-I,l,.|ilii k,liiii.rx..\Mfj.2n,'i'.l 

A.l.ilulin-  CriHliu-.  I I  Xuv.  l:i,  IsiU 


M    11.    Vii 

u-t  ■!»,  I.SM 

:..  11.  n.   All 
iii.kir.lCi.r 

n-l    -li\  1S.14 
iilhiu.U.'r.i 

Buavorsoil,  Williiim  W  .liliii,:  rh;,i  I. -,  .li- 1,     IVIay   27,   1805, 

Belise  William,  ilical  Mavll,  ISM.  .ii-,l,.,  W.ii   h.^i    i- S.Tiroaiit 

Borgamieu  Baltliisar,  died  Mar.  4,  ISili'  Zunl.aiih  II.  iii  v ,  \  .1  ,  M.  1 1.  Si-pt.  a, 'Go 

TENTH    INFANTRY. 

{Three  Years'  Service}. 

This   regiment  was  organized  and  mustered  into   United 

States  service  for  three  months,  April  29,  1861,  at  Cairo,  111. 

It  was  composed  of  seven  companies  of  infantry  and  three 

of  artillery.     It  was  mustered  into  service  for  three  years, 

July  29,  1861,  by  Capt.  T.  G  Pitcher,  and  remained  at  Cairo 

and  Bird's  Point  during  the  winter,  engaging,  January  ^^ii'l, 

in  Grant's  movemeut  to  the  rear  of  Columbus.     jNIarch  1st, 


HISTORY    OF   RAXDOLPH,    MOXROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


209 


assisted  iu  scattering  Jeff.  Thompson's  guerillas  at  S3-kes- 
town,  Mo.  Ou  the  night  of  the  12th  instant  advanced  with 
General  Pope's  army  on  New  Madrid.  The  night  of  April 
7th,  intercepted  the  forces  retreating  from  Island  No.  10, 
causing  the  surrender,  at  Tiptouville,  of  Gen.  Macall  and 
2,.j00  men.  Was  in  the  advance  in  all  the  movements  re- 
sulting in  the  capture  of  Curiu'h  and  the  pursuit  of  the 
enemy  to  Booneville.  Reached  Nashville  September  12th, 
having  lost  five  men  killed  by  guerillas.  liemained  here 
during  the  blockade,  and  participated  in  the  repulse  of  the 
enemy.  Nov.  24th,  supported  Gen.  Sherman's  attack  on 
the  left  of  Mission  Ridge,  pursuing  the  retreating  forces  and 
capturing  20  of  tlieir  rear  guard.  Jan.  1,  180-1,  re-enlisted 
as  veterans  under  command  of  C(d.  John  Tillson.  Jan  oO, 
180."),  crossed  the  Salkahatchie  at  River's  bridge.  The 
crossing  was  difficult,  and  obstinately  contested.  The  Third 
Brigade,  to  which  the  regiment  was  attached,  being  in  the 
advance,  lost  12.5  men.  Dec.  0th,  crossed  South  Edisto,  at 
Binniker's  bridge,  and  took  the  position  of  the  enemy  in 
flank,  driving  them  from  their  entreM<hmeut!  and  capturing 
several  prisoners.  March  2lltli  and  21st,  participated  in  the 
battle  of  Bentonville,  with  a  loss  of  about  tiO  men.  Mus- 
tered out  of  service  July  4,  l^O-"),  and  on  the  11th  received 
final  payment  and  d  scharge  at  Chicago. 

HEX    FROM    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

i.it■u^^lull^C^.(<^lld.— Pavirl  Gilk-spii',  tnustcreil  out  July  4, 18C5. 
1IUST£U  EOLL  CO.MPAXY  I. 


CJnj)<ai 


i  Fuller  S.-tli,  rlis.  April  0, 1802,  disability 


Ephi 


ustered  out 


First  LUttUnattts.  II  .'ti 

:  II  Roaersou,  rcsignVI  Nov  13,  "Ki     Hu'sh-n  .J;i 


Scr^jefmts. 
William  C  Bradlcv,  Vet. 
AWku  Wier,  Vet.,  'M.  O.  July  4,  1S(S5 


lia 


•I'll. 


i  Xclsnn,  diedSeptrab'rl5,  18r,2 
II:ir.lin  r.,luinbus,  accidentally  killed 

.liilv  'J,  isiu 
.lai^l.'  I.'.ui^.  died  December  21,  1801 
CarporaU.  K.  ni.T  I -:..!.■,  died  riH.-eTill'er  IS,  isr.l 

.Josepli  S.  Cain  KiuK  .Mil.--  It  ,  .li-r- .  ...,„!  ..v,.„.,.,| 

Isaacs  Bern,  di.«e.  as  private, term  exp  Kr.niey  Cm  .  \  .  :  l-i-  -...,.  .Ii.l 
TliomasC  Haskins.pris.  war.wa- K-ilM        of  wound-)  i\,j  ,   i     i 

whil.-altempIimrt.M'seape  .M:,r.9, '14     Lively  Isi.a.    \  h  ,     jj-.i 

Nfls.iii  UI.!arner,V.-I..M.ci..llv.4.'.o.Sir  LvKari;.-!- s.,n,u  I,  \  .  •  ,  M  .)  .1,',  I,.,:, 
LukeM.SIireusbetn.N  I  M'l.lvl.  ...  b^'l'  ':'>-■:•  W.,  V.t-,  si.-k  at  nuilta- 
.\u.l.  J.  Seliainilli..rn  \  .  I     Mi'     1%    1     i  ".  n  -  _  i,    T.-iin 

.lolni  IiS.'lio.ilcri.li,    n.   1  M  .,   II    i,.j      I,n    ;■    I    .:.r  N  ,  M.  O.  July  4  ISfij 
Saiimel  F.  .\ndei>..ii,  .li^r   n.  i,  :.   i-i.j.      Li\  ■  l\'  \\  iMiatn  C.  M,  disc.  December 
■  :i:!.  I.sill,  disability 
XnticMn.  Maun  J.jlin  A.,  Vol.,  M.  0.  July  4,  ISO,',. 

Henrv  Gousemnnn  \et    M  O  Ilv  4  'rji    Montgomery  Alieek,  disc  ;  term  exp 
llenrj  oousemann,\  .  t.,  .y.  (J.  Jlj  4,  Oo    M.mtr.n- J..hn,  Vet.,  M.  O.  .lulv  4, 18';5 
p,i,„^_  1  M.-n:,r,[Arm..,nil|...V,.t,M  n.-.Iy.lT,'  " 


Ml- 


Arney  Alex,  Vet.  CorpUickBeaufort,S.C    .M.-c.-i k  ii.i  i-n  n.  I      h-.-  inn-i 

Adni-v  Alfred,  dis.  Jan.  3,  l8C3,to  enlist    M.-Kn \  .b.hii  .ii-,-  i.  rm  .  xi.ir.  .1 

in  .-Slis-s.  Marine  Brigade  N,cli,,l..s  l,aa. ,  r;i,.>l.-r..l  ,.,i.  ,1,  Iv  4,  65 

Agermeyer  Pliilip,  Vel.,M.  O.  July  4,     P..rt.-rJam 

I89i  (as  KBgernieyer,  Philip)  Purt.s  Ambi 

An.lers.in  Jae.ib.Vet.,  M.O.July  4, 18C,i,    Put,.,  Pi-iie 

as  1st  Sergeant  Pcnv,  William  C. 

BuniKart  Charles,  disc  ;  term  expired      Perk'ius  H..rati.i,  Vet.,  M.  O.  Julv  4,  '0.', 
Brown  James  W.,  Vet.,  mustered  out    Pieket  Heel,  Vet  ,mustereil  .lut  Jv4, 'liS 

July  4, 18CW,  as  Corporal  ,  Rickets  Beiiiamin,  disc,  term  expired 

Brewer  Tli..aias  .1.  Kiioy  i>;>,rj.l;.  di.-.l  .biuiuirv  I,  1h'-,2 

Badekerl-i,  ,  ■    ■  1>  ,V.  l    V.  O.  Jy.  4,'C5    .Steinirl  ri,.,i,„,-  I:  .  \ -t  .  i.uislnred  out 
Brookin.\  ■  r  '-^  \  .  i  Jnlv  4.  |m.,,   ,-  -.  ■  j.    ml 

BradleyJ-  1'.  I     i         >'.     Jl, '02disblty    Sniilf. 'I'li  .in  .-   l     \~i     M    .  i  .Ily.  4. '0.1 
C.wbin  J..I.I.,   I..  .  ..  ■Iin..|(;ity  ,  Smid.  Il.iu  v  .   ,  \  .  i  ,  M.  ■ .  .liilv  4,  180J 

CharlesJ..l.i.A,.ii~.  .1  .  i..  ls,-G-J,  disblty    Smith  iMvi.i,  .li>.-. :  terni  expii-'ed 
Crawfonl  Jaiiu-s  H,  .lis,-.  .March  4,  Wa    San.lers  .l.ihil  K.,  Vet.,  killed  at  Rocky 
Carmoody  Michael,  accid.MitAliy  killed  '      Fa.-e  Mt  (ia    Mayo  18.'-,4 

Sept.  ;!il,  I8il:i  Shrewsbury   M.i.se.s  A.,  absent  on  de- 

Crisler  (Jeorge  W.,  Vet.,  mustered  out        tached  service  at  M.  O.  of  liegt 

July  4,  18l»,  as  Sergeant  i  Shrewsbury  Samuel,  Vet.,  died  at  Jef- 

Craig,  J.iseph  ;      fersonville.  Ind 

Craig,  William  '  Tatfe  Peter,  Vet.,  killed  at  Bentonville, 

Clitf..i.l  luMiiinebam,  .[,•:(•.■.  term  exp         N.  C,  March  21,  IsGi 
Crili.ii  ..  -1  I    I    :.   1  ,\.i.  Ii.  .lofwounds  ,  Uhlers  George  W.,  disc:  term  expired 

"■      -        'I        '    '■    '  Wntt  J..hn  <:.,  .lisi-.Fet)T,l»02:.lisal.ltv 

Ii> 1-'.         M   .1.  July4,'C5  ,  Witcraft  Wm.  H.,  Vet,  M.  O.  Julv  4 '1,5 

Ii.iul.ii   I  .III    --    I.-.    I  .:.   ..,  1803  West  George  W.,  die.l  at  Moun.lCitv 

Kmers.jii  Kih  rt  ,s  ,  \  ,■[  Williams  Columbus,  died  Feb.  1, 1862 

Emerson  Ldward  R.,  Vet.,  M.  0.  Jy  4,  '03     Wollseii  William,  disc;  term  expired 

27 


Biirk-  William,  disc  October  I,  1802       .  McDonough  .lames,  M.  o.  Julv  4. 1805 
B.-L'L-:iiii..iiSimon.  mustered  out  Jy4,'0o    Malney  Franklin,  M.  t).  .May  ilo,  laiii 

August,  .killed  July   18  at  |  Pi.-ket  J..liii»o   ,  died  April  17,  1804,  at 


R.I 


-ill.-. 


istered  out  1  (Juilmiier  Willii 

Uiirige  Henrv,  mils 
I  July  4,  '05  Spigl.-s  Fritz,  kilu 
lime  21, '0.S  '      .lune-2-l,  1804 


Ke 


Mt. 


av20,  isr.4;disablty 

""-■■'-  I  i"i.  .1  ..ill  jiiiv  1,  ....     H  .  ir  \v  iih  .,.,,  \  .  1  ,  .11, 'd  of  wounds  Kt 

Hii.-i.i   -    M...              ...     i.,|  ,..;!   ,I„K     I     i,,  K     ...      ...,    M,     ,h,,„..J7,  1804 

biil.'li       Ii   .ii      i  .ii  Ii  .■]  ii  l;  i--.  i'l.  ...  ,  W   .;.i   I:    i|i.    ...  i.  .|-I..r,.,lout  Julv4.'()i 

■M..I1  i-  .1   ..'.ii.  I'i  1-    ..1..1    -lii.  .-  \..i   J  ..   i.l  W  .,;,  ,,   W  illi.i,,,   -  ,  .M    O.  July  4,  180.5 

M..rrisSi.i,m,-H-,,  niust..ie,l..iil  .ly.l.'i,:,  W.t,.!  .I,.s..pli,  .lle.l  .lauuiiry  12,  1805  at 

.MillerClmrlcs  W., mustered  out  Jy.4,'0j  I  ^avall^all,  Ua 

TWELFTH    INFANTRY. 

(  Three  Yeirs  Scrvim. ) 
This  regiment  was  mustered  into  service  for  three  years, 
August  1st,  18G1.  It  was  organized  at  Cairo,  where  it  re- 
mained until  Septemb.'r  .ath,  IjOl,  when  with  Ninth  Illinois 
Infantry,  it  moved  up  to  and  occupied  Paducah,  where  it 
remained  until  February  Sth,  1802.  With  the  Ninth  and 
Forty-first  it  formed  McArthur's  Brigade  that  fought  so 
bravely  on  the  15th  of  February  at  Fort  Donelson.  It  took 
part  iu  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  and  fought  nearly  the  entire 
two  days.  It  also  assisted  in  the  siege  of  Corinth,  which  be- 
.gau  April  S.'Stli,  1S02.  In  the  battle  of  that  place, 
October  .'!d  and  4th,  it  playeil  a  gallant  part,  losing 
in  killed,  wounded  and  missing,  one  huiulrej  and 
twelve  men.  From  this  time  forward  till  January  10th, 
1864,  the  regiment  was  occupied  with  miscellaneous  duties. 
At  that  date  its  members  re-enlisted  as  veteran  volunteers. 
The  fir.-t  engagement  the  ngiment  pirticipated  in  was 
Lays's  Ferry  and  Rome  Ooss  Roads,  loth,  14th  and  13th  of 
May.  On  the  27 ih  of  that  month  it  assisted  in  rejiulsing  a 
heavy  night  attack  on  Dallas.  In  the  battle  of  Bald  Knob 
and  Decatur,  July  22d,  it  lost  thirty-five  or  forty  men  iu 
killed  and  wounded.  During  the  month  of  August  it  was 
closely  engaged  in  the  siege  of  Atlanta,  losing  some  forty 
men.  October  5th  it  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Allatoona, 
losing  fifty-seven  men  in  kille  I  an. I  wo'jnded  out  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty-one  that  carried  muskets  into  the  fight. 
Oa  the  11th  of  November  it  started  on  the  memorable 
"  march  to  the  sea."  From  January  10th,  18G5,  to  March 
24th  it  accomplished  a  distance  of  six  hundred  miles,  leav- 
ing Atlanta  on  the  former,  and  arriving  at  Goldsboro,  North 
Carolina  on  the  latter  date.  It  was  mustered  out  of  service 
at  Louisville,  Kentucky,  July  lOih,  1865. 

TWELFTH   INFANTRY    REGIMENT. 
( Thre-e  Years'  Service.) 

MUSTEK    KOLL  C0.MPAN1'    R. 
P,  ivaU.-  Anderson,  Thoma-s  S. 

MEN  PROM   PERRY    COUNTY. 

,  Resigned  June  10, 18C2,  Re-entered  ser- 

MUSTEK    KOLL,  COMl-AXV    F. 
Mustered  out,  July  10, 1805. 
flfcmite— Hecslcy,  William  Hony,  Daniel  Miller,  Frederick 

MUSTEK  KOLL  CO.Ml'ASV  G. 
Captains— Guv  C,  Ward,  died  Oct.  4,  180-2. 

William  Shannon,  declines.    Lost  an  arm.    Canceled. 
Robert  G.  Thompson,  mustered  out  July  10,  18C.5. 
/irsl  Lieuftnaa  s— John  Hall,  promoteil  Capt.  4tll  V.  S.  Heavy  Art. 

John  Patterson,  mustered  out  July  10,  1805. 
Stcond  Lieutenants— }ohn  F.  Watkins,  resigneil  Sept.  10,  1802. 

Ja.son  J.  Sanburn,  term  expired  Aug.  1, 1804. 
.Serjca«(5— Norton  W.  Campbell. 

Robert  Q.  Thompson,  veteran,  promoted  Sorgt.,  then  1st  Lieut. 
Frank  W'  Campball,  mustered  out  Aug.  1,  18C4. 
CurporaU — John  Thornwell,  discharged  Jan.  1!),  t8o;j. 

William  H.  Hicks,  died  Oct.  4,  1802.    Wounds. 


210 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND  PERRY  COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


I>!\fav 

nlti 

IVl.f.rn   mn 

CillllS 

11.  \V"l  1 

Willii 

;.  l.i"  ii.    M 

out  Auk-  1,1864. 
■  \  (.ut  Allh'.  1,  1*14. 

,  1,  imil 


Tho 


>  Eii.li 


.1,1  .UlK.  1,  IW.l. 

.  Miintli  (U-t.  ;i,  1862. 

.linif  i;ri,l«l>2.    Wounds. 


.J  M.Br. 

Petfi-  Ck-iii.v,  kllk>l  lU  bliileli  .April  6, 18112. 
M«ida«— Augustus  Price,  died  July  U,lsfi2. 

Miilctim  Staubouse,  Jr.,  vet.,  killed  at  Atlanta  ,7uly  22, 18W. 
Wnjouer— Abr.'xiiaiii  Stiiuvbi  idge,  vet ,  mustered  out  July  10,  ISOJ. 
Pli«al£»- Andrea?,  Alfred  T..  pn.m..tedCom.  Sergt.  M. 

Ambrose.  Levi  P.,killeil  al  Corinth  Oel.  4, 186i 
liroun    .I•.lnle^^  t'..  dis.b;o  L-eil  .Ittll.  lO.lSUa. 

n    li.r,   N.in  Feb.  15,1862. 


Baelin. 
BluU,  II. 


\V. 


ily21,1800.    Pris.  War. 


Ml  .liily  10, 1SC5. 
iiVisMi',  Ullli.uii,  kill.. I  .It  .MLiotaJuly  :i2,  18C1. 
Bovle    lliiuli  v  t    ,li-.li;ot;.,l  .May  14,1804.    Wonnds. 
follin'r-   Ml.  l,".„l.  kill.  ih,t  Slii!..li  April  r.,18C2. 
Child.-.l  111  iM"plieil.',.ii..liioi.'ed  July  10, 1862. 

Campbell,  Haiuian  '  " 

-        y,  Vincent  H 


l)u 


,  SiK 


eneb,  Uieli; 
Holennil..  P..  I 
Herb.ii.  Will 


d,  V 


t  Aug.  1,1804. 
isl.i.a  ..lu  .Inly  10,1805. 

vat..  Ml  .  mustered  out  July  10,1805,  as  Sergt. 
,m~t,  v.-.l  out  .lulv  10, 180,%  as  Sergt. 
1     IIII1-1..1-...I  nut  .lulv  10,  lS0.'i,as  tjorporal. 
L,'!l.  .1  ;.t  .\tlillilii.lury22,  1804, 
-I.., ...I  ..111  July  10,  l»o;i,  as  Corporal. 


.,1  s..i,t 


,  ls02. 


Hood,  Samuel  .1.,  mustered  out  July  10,  1865. 
Healey,  John  S_  mustered  out  May  11, 1865. 
s,Jobn,  died  April  24,  1804. 


Kennedy,  James, 'disehargert  Feb.  15, 1803. 
•d'y,  Lawrence,  diseliai 


,rged  Oct.  11,1862.    Wounds, 
eiiy',  Patrick,  d'ied  April  28, 1802. 
Ltinzee,  tJharles  F. 

Letler,  Thomas,  discharged  Sept.  14, 1802. 
Martin,  Cliavles,  mnstered  out  Aug.  1, 1804. 
Milem.  Jessie,  vet. 
McCarlv,  Dennia. 
MeConnell,  Brian,  liisrharged  Jan.. \1863.  .        ,       .   ,        ,   ,^, 

>IeDoii..iii:li    1.1 M.  I  .11.11,  Alexander, mustered  out  Aug.l,l81i4. 

McAIill.n   .I'lii-      -  n  ...I  Dec.  8,  1801. 

HIcMill.  ii'  K..I  .  .  .    -Iiiloh,  April  6. 1803. 

Meliuii.     F.l"  v:  I     I      '      -     I  .\pril  28. 1802.    Disability. 

McLav   .l'..hii    kill.  .1  ..1  '  .  iiiiiliOct.3,1864. 

Me  Lay!  Willi. on.  .Ii-  h.n  f.   I  loly  5,1803.    Disability. 

Nailer.'ll.iiiv,  111I1-1..1...I  ..Mt  .Vug.  1,1864. 

Neelei,  .l..liri  II  ,   .li.  .1    'olN    21.  1803. 


Ols. 
Par-.. 11-  1  '  1 
Putl.'i-.  ..  I  '. 
Park..!,  I  .  M  l: 
Quillui.ui.r.  1.  1 
lJuine,Jolui..ii 
Kichmond,  Mill 
Koe,  Robert!  , 
Boe,  rlo.rl..-  II 
Rnviii..,..!.  I.  . 
Rid.  11.  ..    ,  '    :  I 


Sterling,  .loliu  K.,  miisl.  i.  ,1  . 
Swaffonl,  James,  vet  ,  kill.  .1  : 
8milb,J..s..i.li,M-t..  kilL.l  :o 


lo  1802.    Wounds. 
1   i.il\-  10,  1805. 
.      :,.    s.rgt. 

{i.„.'lo,  1804. 
Wounds, 
uged  July  31,1802.    Wc 


.111  lulv  2,<.1.m;4. 
,  .lulv  2^.1S1j4. 
.1  il   li.  1.S02. 
ii;.  •.;:.,  1804. 


Thomas,  Will 
Thomas,  Dav 
Weaver,  Henry  F. 


.  Int'l.         Todd.  John. 
;.  I.  .1  ..ut  July  in,  1805,as  Sergt. 
1  \it '.  21, 1802.    Wounds, 
nd  out  May  31,1805. 
.    Vug.  1,1805. 
1    lis,  1804. 
.1  uui  May  31, 1865. 


Weeks.'Hcni-y,  vet.,  killed  at  Allntoonn.Oct.  5,1804. 
Welgamood,  George,  mustered  out  Aug.  1, 1804. 
While,  Price  B.,  musli-red  ..ut  luly  1",  1805. 
Wright,  .John,  ilu-i.  i.    i    '. 
Willmans,  ii.l.  I    1      .1      i   . 
Wanzer,  Jam.  -   i  i  .   - 

Ward.F.b.-u....  .   '■■  ■! 


.  214,  1»14, 


I    II.  1802. 
Ill  0,  1802. 

-ifi.  u.  s.f.  r. 

d  out  July  10, 1805. 


iiided  at  Corinth,  supposed  dead. 
1  S,.pt  28, 1804.    Wounds. 
1      1.  ,1  ..III  July  10,1805. 
.'    .1   '  tl\-  10, 1805,as  Corpl. 
,  1.  I.  :i    111  July  10, 1805. 

ii.. 1  ...11  July  10,1805. 

«iii  1. 1  i.,..ner, mustered  out  July  13,  J8C5. 
Treleaven,  John,  corporal,  muslered  out  Sept.  14, 1805. 
Vnaaignid  Becmiis-Camphell  John,  mustered  out  July  18,  1805. 


JEecmifo— Bighu 
Chilli 
Hill, 
Hunt 
Stanli 
Sniilb,  Wil 


Dunn,  William. 


Davis,  John. 


FOURTEENTH  INFANTRY. 
{Three  Years'  Service.) 
The  regiment  was  first  called  into  State  service  for  thirty 
days  under  the  "  Ten  Eegiment  Bill,"  and  was  mustered  into 
service  May  -ith,  1861.  On  the  2.5th  of  the  same  month  it 
was  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  for  3  years  by 
Capt.  Pitcher.  After  an  honorable  term  of  service  it  was 
mustered  out  at  Fort  Leavenworth,  Kansas,  September  16, 


1865,  and  received  final  payment  at  Springfield,  September 


22,  1865. 


MUSTEU  ROLL  CO.MPANY  G. 


OTpomk — John  Kelley,  mustered  out,  Sept.  16, 1805. 
JViuatfa— Baven,  George  G..  mustered  out,  Sept.  10, 1805,  as  Corpl. 
Chapman,  Wm.H.     Johnson,  Harmnn. 
Kirtner,  David  H.,  discharged  July  nth,  186.5.    Dis.-ibility. 
Noel,  Jackson.    Oilman,  George,  mustertd  out  Sept.  10,1865. 
Bauds,  John  H. 

MUSTEK    ROLL   COMPANY    U. 
Pi-ii..i/c»~Sno\v,  Corydon,  P.  M.  O.,  March  8,  1805  for  promotion  as  1st  Lieut. 
mustered  out  Sept.  10,  lso.». 

EIGHTEENTH  INFANTRY 
{Three  Years'  Servire  ) 
The  Eighteenth  Infantry  Illinois  Volunteers  was  orga- 
nized under  the  Ten-Regiment  act,  at  Anna,  Illinois,  and 
mustered  into  State  service  for  thirty  days,  by  Captain  U. 
S.  Grant,  May  16th,  1861.  It  was  mustered  into  the  United 
States  service  May  28th,  18  1.  It  participated  in  the  three 
days'  battle  at  Fort  Donelson,  losing  fifty  men  killed  and  one 
hundred  and  fifty  wounded.  April  6th  and  7th  it  was  en- 
gaged at  Shiloh,  and  there  acquitted  itself  with  great  brave- 
ry. It  was  present  at  the  siege  of  Corinth.  After  these  bat- 
tles Companies  H  and  C  were  so  reduced  in  numbers  that 
they  were  consolidated  with  the  remainder  of  the  regiment, 
and  in  the  fall  of  1862  two  new  companies  were  raised  at 
Carbondale,  by  Captain  A.  Connor.  December,  1863,  the 
regiment  began  service  in  the  dejiartraeut  of  Arkansas,  com- 
manded by  Major  General  F.  Steele,  being  stationed  prin- 
cipally at  Pine  Blufi',  Duvall's  Bluff  and  Little  Eock,  and 
was  engaged  in  numerous  campaigns  and  expeditions.  It 
was  mustered  out  of  service,  December  IGth,  1865,  at  Little 
Rock,  Arkansas. 

MEN    FROM    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 
Ml'STER    ROLL    COMr,\SY    .^. 
Oi/itii'i.— Paul  T    I.n.  »   i.roi  .\|. ires  1804. 

Coruoruf.— Levi  M  i-    Imrgcd  May  8, 1802. 

Wah.i  I     .  nlid  at  Shiloh. 

John  I     1     1,-,  barged  June  18,1802.    Wounds. 

Privn^fs— Cochran.   I  ..       .^.| 

Kirkw I    W  ill'ini.  .ii.-.niiii-.li  in.isi,.'.     Woiind.s. 

Little  S.i l..l,..-l..iL..  .1  N..V     ;.  IM.J.    Wounds. 

Tinkl.T,  Ki.'.l.  ink  W  il.l.i  man.  i  liaili's. 

Wineli..st..r,  \    .1..  kill. ..I  at  \|. .in|. Ins  .liui.  24, 180.3. 

EIGHTEENTH  INFANTRY  REGIMENT— (REORGANIZED.) 

{Three    Years'  Service.) 
Snrgeom—EUe}  F.  Henderson,  declined.    Commission  canceled. 

MUSTER  ROLL  COJIPASY  A. 
Pri.af,»-Barrow,  Flavins  J.,  Transf.  from  Co.  C.,  mustered  out  Jul.v  8th,  1865. 
Killian  William  F.,  transf.  from  Co.  C,  mustered  out  July  8th,  1865. 
Stone,  fmby  C,  transf.  from  Co.  C,  mustered  out  Jul.y  M'.  }>"'•■•■ 
Stone,  William  H.,  transf.  from  Co.  C,  mustered  out  July  8th,  l»6i.. 
MUSTER   ROLL  COMPANY    B. 
P.-i™(<..— Longhery,  William  G.,  mustered  out  Dec.  10, 1805. 


iie<:ruib-—Hogskiss',  George,  mustered  out  Dec.  10, 18t5. 
MUSTER    ROLL   COMPANY    F. 
PriValc— Eichell,  Henry. 

MUSTER    ROLL   COMPANY  I. 
Prirale— Hammer,  Leander  P.,  mustered  out  Dec.  16, 1805. 
MEN    FROM   PERRY  COUNTY. 
NON  COM.MISSIONED  STAFF. 
Pfinniiiil  Musician.— Vi'm.  McPherson,  mustered  out  Dec.  10th,  1865 

MU.STER    ROLL,    COMF.\NY    B. 
First  iimt'iKin;.— Alfred  W.  Wright,  mustered  out  Dec.  16th,  1865 
Corm^nh  -George  Morris,  mustered  out  Dec.  loth,  1805  as  Pvt 
i>rraT« -Golden,  George,  died  at  Little  Bock,  Oct.  13,  1«65 
y,  ivam.    'I^^^fj^-j.^^    t  i,  _  di,.,,  „j  ijttie  Rock,  Aug.  20, 1865 

Thompson.  William  T.,  died  at  Little  Rock,  May  14, 1805 
MUSTER    ROLL,    COMPANY    C. 
PriDalCT.— McDonald,  Angus,  mustered  out  Dec.  16th,  1865 

MUSTER    ROLL,    COMPANY     D. 
Privote  -Cheney,  Nelson  W.,  mustered  out  Dec^  10th  1865 
Currant,  Georga,  mustered  out  Dec  16th  1805 
Howaid,  William  W.,  mustered  out  Dec.  loth,  1805 
Ley,  William,  absent  sick  ot  M.  O.  of  Regt 

MUSTER    ROLL,    COMPANY    B. 
Prita(e.— Beard,  Anton  P.  G.,  mustered  out  March  15th,  1866. 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY   COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


211 


TH[RTIET1I    INFANTRY. — MEN    FROM    PERRY    COUNTY. 
{Three   Years'  Service.) 

MISTEK   KOI.I.,    COMPANY    E. 
Bftruit.—StiMan,  I),ivi.l  H.,  dio.l  ilt  AlUnta,  Ga,,  Nov.  8th,  1804 
MUSTER  ROLL,    COMPANV    H. 


V  'pliii 


MUSTER    ROLL,  COMI'ASV  A. 
PS  llftirH,  resiKiied  November  ifTth,  18iil. 

James  S.  (.-niii:,  kill.-.l  in  hadle. 
First  i.riife.ja.i/.— Alex;.,  i.r  M.  Hr  .iv.i,  ilieil  February  Cth,  18a 
Second  Ltmln'inl —  \Uu   m  '.    K.  I-.,,  resigned  Aug.  ;jlst,  ISiii 
AVyeanta-.— Willi. irii  II     W.  -'.,  \.  : .  t;ill 

J  .  1.1  s  r    I,,,,,    1       I       li.  June  22J,  18a2;  disability 

J.ihii  Kirk"  i  ■  I.    Ii"  I  M.ir,  I  th,  18m,-  wouuds 
Co  porn/j.— liilb.rl  H.  KKiiu  1^  .lie.i  Aug.  *ilh,  Isiil 

.S  iinu  -I  1".  Anii-ii-  Ml'.',  killed,    Ft.  1)  )nel9on,  Feb  I.Hh,  1852 

Nat  ■■Hu  ,s.  Weeka,  l(ill.-.l.    Ft.  Uonelsou  Feb.  15,  ISlii 

S  I  u  1   I  B.  I.  -^Iie,  .lied  :?  -pt.  jtn,  U'^ 
Miu'ehii. — Francis  Yeariau 
Prieatca. — Ayer,  .\ndrew. 

Bonus,  Thomas,  Vet,  Tr.  to  Co.  B  as  re-organiicd. 

n.ilUri.i,-.-,  .I.>se|)h 


•d.    Ft,  Dunelson,  F,-b.  15th,  18C2 

ch.  .Mav  8th,  180-2;  disability 

—     Brnvn,  Henry  S. 

\[r-    ,■-.'■    H-.l:    ll-al.ilitv 

!'■■■    ■ -  <     I'-^.'.ility 


Carson,  .Sil..-,  i  -  ii.  I'     .  i  :...  I'  ■  l .  ili-..^ility 

C«ri;.in,  J.isp.T,  V.-t.  Tr  toi-.,  H  ;..  r.-.rn.mueil,  M.  0.  Dec.  IGth  as 

1st  Sergeant       Cliappal,  John  I'ro.  S.-rnt 
Davis,  William  A.,  killed  at  Clifton,  Tenn.,  .Ian.  2d,  18r,3 
Kale,  Jam 's  Vet.  tr.  to  Co.  B  as  re-organized.    Died  at  Pine  Bluff, 

Ark.,  Nov.  I7th,  18M 
Elliott,  Hiram  B.,  Vet.,  tr.  t<i  Co.  6  as  re-organized  died  at  Litle 

KoL-k,  Ark.,  S-pt.  Ifitil,  liHl 
Gordon,  K  ibert  H  ,  killed  at  Clifton,  Tenn  .Jan.  2d,  ISM 

Gladson,  J-iel  W. GmIT,  Fran  -is,  pp.m  .ted  Corporal 

Green,  Albert  J.,  Vet    tr.  t.)  C...   B  as   re.orK*nizfJ   .M.   O.   Dec.  IGth, 

18.i--.    H  •rbison,Sjmiiel,  iliseh.  M;iy  ir.th,  lsi;u  disability 
Hum-^ihiev,  H.n-a  B,  killed  at  Fl.  iJ.uels.u,  F.-b    15th,  ISGJ 
J.'in.   •!,  Ill     F.disch.  .Mav  8th,  18iii 
Jii       i:     '  i    I    li-i-li    lie.-,  isth,  ISOl;  disability 


.  Feb.  15th,  18G5 


Ki      .  ,,  !;    m  M.  wounded  at  Ft.  D) 

K;u..,i  ..  U  .l.^.i;i.  B-,  I'l-om  ited  Corpl.,  th<u  Ser,jt 

Kin/.arv,  Jaiii-j<  C,  w  )unded  at  Ft   U.inelson        King,  George 

King,  thaddeus  L.,  dis.-h.  Uec  18th,  laiil ;  disability 

Longhrey,  William  G  ,  Vet.  tr.  to  Co.  B  as  re-organized,  M.O.Dec. 

I.ith,  18l>.i 
McKuight,  Samuel,  killed  at  Ft.  Dinelson.  Feb.  lith,  18G2 
Kamsay,  Nathan,  diseh.  .M.ay  15th,  18G2;  disability 


Rial,  Ja 

Steel, 

Willi! 


vrus  J.,  died  at  Anna,  III.,  Julv  121  h,  1801 

's,  Thoma-.  E.,  killed  at  Ft.  Donelsoii,  Feb.  15th,  18G-2. 

Wheatelv,  Mir.leMi,  Jr. Wright  Nathaniel  A. 

Whitaker,  Jamjs  Vet   tr.  to  Co.  B  as  re-oi-ga  lized  M.  O.  Djc.  16,  I8G5 
Y  ..ung,  Absaluni  M  ,  died  Feb.  18th,  18G2:  wounds 
iii««.— Bartlesiin,  William,  tr.  to  Co.  B  as  re-nrgantzed  M.  O.  July  7th,  1854 
lin.wii,  Henrv,  iliseh.  Julv  lid,  ISCl  :  disability 
Dii-u,  Amu-tiw,  tr.  to  Co.  B  as  re.i.rganized  M.  0.  Julv  7th,  18G1 
Gladson,  lo.biia  L.        Gordon,  William  G.        Neal,  John  N. 
Tayl.ir.  William  H.  H. 

Tnompson,   William   F.,  V.-t.  tr.  to  Co.  B  as  re-organized.    Died  at 
Little  K.>ck,  Ark.,  May  14th,  18G4 

MUSTER  ROLL,    COMPAXY    D. 
1,  George,  tr.  to  Co.  B  as  re-organized  M.  0.  Dec.  IGth,  lar..'; 


Rensche,  Frank  A.,  tr.  to  Co.  B 
D.!pt.  18.i5 
-Page,  Jerome,  tr.  to  Co.  H  as  re-orgaaized  M.  O.  July  7th,  18G4 

MUSTER  ROLL,  COMPANY    E. 
-B'.ak',  William  H.,  tr.  t)C>.  B  a.  re-.r^iniz.d  M.  O.  July  4th,  isr,4 
Pr--- .*.,.id.  Cullin,  tr.  to  Co.  B  as  r.>-i.ri:a'iize,i  M.  i).  Julv  7th,  1304 
Kii—  II,  Wm.,  tr.  to  Co.  B  as  consolidal.-.i  M.  n.  .lulv -th'.  1804 
Wnt'l.t,  Alfred  W.,Vt.    pro.    Isl  Lielll.   ~..nsoli,lal.-.l  M.  O.   Dec.    ICth, 
l.Mw        Wright,  William,  disch.  Mav  18th,  IHM;  wounds 


re-organized  pro.  2d  Lieut  M.  0. 


MUSTER   ROLL,  COMPAXY    F. 
Barnil— Williams,  Milton,  tr.  to  Co.  C  as  consolidated  M.  O.  Dec.  IGth,  1865 
Vctrran. — Sharp,  John,  tr.  to  Co.  C  as  co 
O.  Dec.  10th,  18J5 


nsoliduted  pro.  Principal  Musician  M. 


F.r«l  LieulenM 
S*rgftHl.  —  Fl:i 
tbrprti-.il.  —ii  I 
3f.«i<-i.l.u,-M 
l>.-tcu4i«.— Gill 


.1  ir 


MUSTER    ROLL.  COMPAXY     I. 
iilan,  resigned  Julv  Ist,  18G1 
I  1  ison,  disch  Djc.iuth  1802;  disability 


IGth,  186J 


MI-  M  ■'   ,11 V       John  Brundage,  died  at  Little  Rock  Dec.  rid,  18G.1 

.  .  .1 .  \  ,1.  woun.led  at  Ft.  1)  inelson  tr.  to  Co.  C  as  consolida- 

e.i  .\l.  I',  1 loth,  18I-.5         Uarbaugh,  Cornelius,  Vet.  tr.  to  Co.  C 

as  e..iisi.li.l,u.-.l Harill,  Thomas 

McCullogh.  i;re.-n  IS,  V.-t.tr.  to   C'o.  C  as   consolidated   died   at   Lit- 
tle Rock,  Ark.  Aiis.  LItb,  1805         Olden,  John 
Pinnegar,  H.  J.,  Vet.  Ir.  to  Co.  C  as  consoli  lated  M.  O.  De 
Sharp,  Tlnmias,  .lisoh   April  :toth,  18J3;  disability 
Sloan,  J.N.       Sheph-Tj,  James  F.       Shepherd,  William  P. 
fi.-£ruit.— Mago,  Jesse,  disch.  Jan.  -2!lth,  180;} 

MUSTER  ROLL,    COMPAXY    K. 
iWo4i<!iaii.— Henry  Starr,  disch.  Aug.  ICth,  18G2;  disability 
Prirofe.— Thomas  B    Kelly 
UmMigned  J^cru^t.— Sutherland,  John  T. 


TWENTY'-SECOND    INFANTRY'. 

{Three  Years'  Service.) 
The  regiment  was  organized  at  Belleville,  May  II,  IHfil, 
and  mustered  into  United  States  service  at  Casej'vilic,  Illi- 
nois, by  Captain  T.  G.  Pitcher,  June  2.5,  18G).  November 
7th,  seven  companies  participated  in  the  battle  of  Belmont, 
Missouri,  there  doing  duty  in  guarding  trans(Kirts.  In  this 
engagement  one  hundred  and  forty-seven  were  lost  in  killed, 
wounded  and  missing.  11  conuuitered  through  Missouri 
under  Gen.  Grant,  .January  14,  l.*i6i.  Assisted  at  Tipton- 
ville,  to  intercept  the  enemy  retreating  from  Island  Xo.  10, 
capturing  many  prisoners  and  a  large  quantity  of  stores, 
ammunition,  arms,  etc.  Was  engaged  in  the  battle  of 
Farmington,  May  9,  1862  and  in  tiie  siege  of  Corinth.  En- 
gaged in  the  battle  of  .Stone  river  December  31,  l.S(i2,  and 
the  following  two  days  losing  one  hundred  and  uinety- 
nine  men  out  of  three  hundred  and  forly-two  engaged. 
Early  in  June,  1.SG3,  marched  southward  with  the  army  of 
the  Cumberland.  Participated  in  the  bat  le  of  the  Chicka- 
mauga,  September  lUth  and  2i)tli,  under  (Jen.  Sheridan, 
sustaining  a  loss  of  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  officers  and 
men  out  of  less  than  three  hundred  that  went  lo  battle 
November  2t)th,  with  the  remainder  of  Gen.  Sheridan's 
division,  was  engaged  in  the  storming  of  Mi.ssouri  Kidge, 
losing  over  thirty  men  out  of  the  mere  remnant  of  which 
the  regiment  consisted.  In  the  month  of  January,  1.H64, 
the  few  remaining  men  fit  for  duty,  marched  to  Dandridge 
in  pursuit  of  Gen.  Longstreet's  army,  retreating  to  Straw- 
berry Plains.  Marched  thence  to  Louden,  Tennessee,  and 
there  received  the  first  full  rations,  for  si.^c  months  past. 
Was  engaged  for  two  days  at  Resaca,  having  about  twenty 
men  killed  and  wounded.  July  7,  l.HGl,  all  except  the  re- 
cruits and  veteran-i,  wjre  nmstered  out  of  service  at 
Springfield,  lUinois.  The  balance  were  consolidated  with, 
the  Forty-second  regiment. 


illy; 


Julv  7,  1304 
.).  Julv  7,  1,S04 
o.  J  lily  7,  1804 


M,,.li( 


12. '62 


'  Sloata. 


MEN    FROM    RANDOLPH   COUNTY. 

LintlrnaHl  Coljnel.  I  S*fnml  Asa'nlanl  SiirgfOH. 

unwick,  term  exp  July  7,'C4  I  Isaac  W.  Brown,  term  exp.   J 
NON-COMMISSIOXED    STAFF. 
Sertjeaut  jlf.jvr.— Samuel  Gait,  n 
HoiiitiU  Str-uiiii-rf.— David  T.  Brown, 
Piincipat  JlfiMicia/i.— Jacob  Matthew: 

MUSTER  ROLL  COMPANY    II. 

vill.  rcsig.  Feb.  8,  18G4  I  Amler-^'n    It 

erm  exp.  July7,  1864  )  An.b-i-    ■•     I  i, 

Li'iit.-il'iHt. 

"V.'ma  Ai^.  :-..  Ij-a 

Brown.  . I I  1-. 

Briugs  De  Wilt  C,  died  at  Mound  City 

Nov.  7,  1801 
Bair.l,  J.ilin  L.,  M.  O.  Julv  7,  18G4 
Harth.ilman  August,  di.sc.  o.-t.  16,1862 
Baird  Robert  G.,  M.O  Jnly7,  181.4 
Bagaman   Augustus,  trans,   to  42d    111. 
Inf.  Corpl  trans,  to  U.  S.  Vol.  Engiirs 
Aug.  A,  'Gl 
Cal.lwell  Joseph  W.,  M.  O.  Julv  7, 1864 
Cochran  Samuel  B.,  killed  at  Mission 
,  Nov.  2.-.,  I8g;i 

<l  Samuel  J.,  Vet.  ti-.ins,  to  C.). 
Dec.  IG  as  Serg.-ant 


xp.  July  7, 1804  j 


Martin  Irelaud,  term 

Second  Linttenatit. 
Wesley  R.  Graves,  resig.  March  10, 1804 

Serijeantt. 
William  C.  McKee,  M.  O.  July  7,  1804 
James    Dyer,    killed   at    Farmington, 
Miss.,  May  9,  '62 

CorporaU. 

Myron  Camp,  disc.  July  1!>,  1862 


.  killed  at  Fa 
died  at  Bird's 


.  to  1st  III.  Cav 
July  2.'.,  18G1 
Robert   C.  Mann,   died  Oct.   2,   18G3i 
wounds 

July  7, 1804,  as 


Ge'irge  W.  Saylor, 

Wdliam  J.  Ammour,  trans,  to  1st  111 

Cav.  Julv -r.,  1801  ,,       ,    „  , 

James  U.  Couch,  M.O.  July  7,  l»Gl,.is    lou.-li  H.>1 

Serg 
Zachariah  Wright,  tin 


Ridgi 
Crawfoi 

B.  4-2,  M. 
Coiuinn,  James 
Cecil  Pins  1!.  J., .lied  at  Padu.ali,  Kv., 

I.-.,  1802 


eii.l.-u  Fl 


.!/«•; 


M  111 
..  E,  51. 


.  M.  O.  Julv  7.  1S64 
,-.-l.  ll-Aiis.  t.'.  1-2.1  111. 
as  l..ipl.  Ibis.  War 


Will.iini 

inil.-l.  .lise 

William,  .: 


212 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLFH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


Dean  John,  d 
Eder  Joliu  A., 

18U2 
EUminston  Robert,  M.  O.  .Inly  7,  l«r.4 
liatea  Charles,  Vet.  trans.  iM  III.,M.  O. 

Dec.  li;,  l«ii.i 
Gadbois,  Joseph 

Haley  Charles  H  .died  in  Andersonville 
Sept.  30, 18W.     No.  of  grave 

Ha"  ' 


Ha 


.loll) 


William.-  William,  died  in  Anderson- 
ville Sept.  Ill,  Ihlit.    No.  of  grave,  8,:ilU 
Wright  I.«nac  N.,  disc.  July  1:1,  181iJ 
Wooley  George,  liisc.  Dec.  14,  I8lj2 
Wiltshire  Walter  J.,  disc.  Jan.  16, 186'2 

Recruits. 
Allen  Nathaniel  P.,  died  March  lo.isra ; 

wounds 
Bart"ls  Peter,  with  Vet.  dct.  22  111.  4 


Havvkllrno.I,  M.  O.  Jilly7,18G4  cli: 

Heiidtrson  Beechvr   B.,  died  at  Farm 

ington,  Miss.,  July  20,  IsiiJ. 

Hleff;  John  "  r h  11 

Henson  Hermann  D.  A.,  M.  O.  Jy  7, '04       .In,,.,  l. 
Ireland  John  J.,  di.se.  Jan.  ic,  18G2  I  ItmtL'lM-^ 

Jones  John  R.  S.,  died  ai  Bird's  Point 

Feb.  14,  1«62 
Jaclvober  Rudolph,  disc.  March  in,  1804 
Kettel  Chiules,  M.  (1,  Jnlv  7. 1864 
Livelv  Hi.  l.-i..!  K  ,  V.>t.  ifans.  to  42  111. 
Langh.il   .   V.I.I'   II  .il  utBird's  Point,       .li 


.  to  4Jd  111..  M.  0. 
i.iral 

42.1  111,  M 


I>|„lL■lH-^,-:,l^.|.•l     B.,  t 

().  .lour  17,  I6i..i 
Dailv  James, 
Daily  Charle 

111,  1SI-.5 
Gli..t.r  Louis  H  ,  trans,  to  42  111.,  M.  O. 


Mo 


111. 


,  M.  O.  Apr.  7,'fi.'i; pris  wa 


McK.,     Ill      II      1     :|il  ,  died  at  Big 

Sprniu-  .liri.   J.i.  l.M.j 
Miison,  .lohii  E. 

Ii.li.ii.l    Will)  mi   Henry  H.,  with  Vet. 

K  III!      ,  1   1    ill   killed  at  Chickamauga 

Montrov  John,  trans,  to  V.  Ti.  fi. 

McHonVv  .Fames,  M.  0.  April  20, 1»C5, 

1        1      ^        ^l  .  .lisc.  June7, 1802 

Pris.  War 

Mill    1-  M      .  1.  1,  with  Vet.  det.  22  III. 

McDonal.l  Andrew  J.,  disc.  Jnlv  13, '6  ■ 

4  A,  1  ■. 

Newman  William,  died  January  10,  186.! 

Mnrlen  Richard  B  S.,died  .at  Farming- 

wo,mds 

t..n,  Mass.,  Julv  Hi, '02 

Nairell  Gu^tav,  trans,  to  1st  III.  Cav. 

Presslv  Robert,  trans,  to 42  111.,  missing 

Nov.  1,  I«i;i 

ill  -..'ri.  •,    l:;Iv  111.  '04 

Parlis  Arthur  B  ,  .li-.\  June  Is,  lsf,:l 

r,  ■     .       I;    '      t    M.  trans,   to  42   III., 

Pres.^ley    lieuKc-n    L.kill...!    ai..i.l,ul. 

1  -               IS114  :  wounds 

allv  at  Ch.-xiiiiii'.  r-'  •'■  t.  li.  1m,.i 

1',  1            -  ,    ,  1.  1  W.,  tr.to42Ill.,M.  0. 

Poornmo  An^.'l  K  ,  .lit-.l  ul  wounj.s  Uc:t. 

1  ,  .     1  ,.   1  .. 

23,  l»i.:i 

1  .    ,        1;     i   II  1   .hsc.  April  23,1803 

Reynol.l.  s   U  nlt.-i ,  Use.  Oct.  3, 1863 

1:              ,  1      1    -  T..  with  Vet.  delaeh- 

SulliiHii  .I..I11.  11  .  M    0,  July  7,  lKli4 

1  .  ■,■    .     li       1  .\.  C. 

Sieglil...i  I'Miinniil  M  ,  trans,  toV.R.C, 

>i,           \  1  ■  .   ■    - 

Scott  Ni.iiii.iii.l,  M   •<  ,liiK  7,  lMi4 

,-h    III  \i  il    i  ,  ri  ,11s,  to  Co.  I,  42d    III.,M. 

Swan  .I..I111  1'  ,.ii-.    >.  pt   J,  Iv.  J 

1  1   1),.,     ll.   Is.,', 

Shafer  ,l.ili:i  li  ,  M    "   .luU  7,  1m4 

Si-.i-.i:!,  u'llliHiu  H,.with   Vet.  det,  22 

Sanders  .  1,1,11.  ,  u  ,  .li^,.   -,.,,,    ',,  isr.i 

III  .4   \    r 

Schwartz    Kiuil.   .li..l    at  Chattanooga 

Tinn.T  Williniii   B.  died  at  Murtrees- 

June  4.  IMil 

l.,.ri.  .Ilaich  21,  1803 

Thorn  .I..I.1.  B,  :M    i  i.  Julv  7, 18r,4 

Turner  Hi.iiard  M.,  with  Vet.  det.  22d 

White  1  ah  111  1',,  51.  1 1.  Julv  7,  1864 

111,  4  A.  I-. 

Walter  Louis,  disc.  Dec.  1, 1802 

Williams  Andrew  T.,  disc.  Apr.  27, 1803 

MUSTEK  EOl 

L  COJirASY  I. 

CnpdMiis,— John  A.  Deitricli,  resit-neiT  J 

larrh  ll.lsi-i2. 

Milton  .\.  Fi.-nrl,,  ,lj,  ,1  ,.|  ,. 

i;ii  ;-  ■;.  1  ■.•iiii..'i  :7.isG3. 

Sauiuel  H.  11 i.  Li   '    .      1 

'  ,'    "1-1 

riV8(Iini((iiioi(i.— Hiit'h  <     M.I.I 

-,  isr.2. 

Willuuii   1-     \i  ,1.    '     1- 

1    ■           7,  180,1, 

Serowl  Lieiile 1    -1:    1  .    -HI 

::.     .          i        iiilier  14,1801. 

firxl  S<T5r.o.(.— 11.  1.;  v    -:              1  - 

,  1 ..    .        .  •    .   1  -,,-j 

Serytauh.—Vllil.  x    II    i       , 

.'  1,  1  SOT :  wonnds. 

I!. .I.V.I   1      I'll: •      -1 

1-1   as  First  Sergeant. 

Corporali.—V.  ill '      I 

Ja 1     M.  '    1  .  i  .  ■   ,    1 

,"'       '■'•■'    1 '1.4.  as  Sergeant. 

'  .'.    1     '        ••  1  1.   .  -i.J  ''.l:-al.llitv. 

K'litii-i      I'.i      ■  ,     ■  .    1    ,'  1, 

r      '   \  1       1  .'■',  I.M.I , 

Jfusicmii.— Thuiii  1     Ml 

•  II      -       >.  11 |"i   111.  I.Hr.3. 

J^-iBuies.— All.-i.   1    I-.      -.  ■  ..  .■■•    1  . 

.■  .   1  ■    ls.i4;  leiiampulated. 

Ahm  |..  1   1     ..  ■     ;        •1,1. 

M  .     h  20,1304;  disability. 

Boom,.       1  •.  ■; 

ilv  7,1804. 

liovil,   !■.       .     .          ■                1 

1                  Isrl, 

Brn«.i  n    ,,  ..    r,  . 

II       1  ■  1     M...I  September  25, 1803. 

Br..>M,'  ,.1       ■'-.■.   :.  . 

■    1        T.  ; .'  1 

Bum-       .       .  1 

■1  .       IS.  Cavalry. 

Br.mi.    1.  .    11.  :   1    .  1,1  ;.  .1  .,1 

Ill    1.  n    ,  ,_.  ,  -  ;.t,..mber  19,  1805. 

Baseoiii.    HeliK,  ii,u-I..i...i  .. 

I  .liii\    7,  l,s.i4. 

ColTal,  John,  disoliarged  to  e 

ilist  ill  4  U.S.  Cavalry. 

Cair,  Patrick. 

Carson,  Gideon  K  ,  mnsfered 

out  Julv  7. 1804. 

Cinilt."'.  l!.-.li-rt  ,■.:,, ,i.i..l..i-...l 

.lit  .Ii,lv7,  1804. 

Coiili -  1:     11.11- 1 

.Ill  .lull  7,1804. 

Dou^:..    1  .    •    .11     y.i-  .1 

■  ■'1.  1    1.    IS02. 

Ml     '1  11.  1803;  wonnds. 

Foil"'-    \i.      ,     1 

1  iimry  18,  bSiiS:  prisoner  of  war. 

G.i.l.li.i'l,  .l.iM.'  ■   II  .             1 

11    1  -■■  1,  to  accept  pos.  as  eont.  surgeon 

Gil..s..,i.  M..XH  .      ..1       : 

s         I  ..n  detached  service. 

Grav,  Willroi  ,  II-.    I  ,■  -   .1  :  1.  i-, 

Gali"^l:l^.  .I'lim    m  i-nn    1  .•■.:    lnl.    7,  ISG4. 

Gibbons,  Benjainiii  F  ,  killf.l  ;il  riiickam.anga  September  10,1803. 

Humphries,  William,  died  at  Buds  Point. 

Higgerson,  James  H.  died  at  Bird's  Point  August  2."i,  isr.l. 

Jouinegau,  Martin,  dis.  May  II,  1862,  for  wounds  received    at  Ft 

ington,  Miss- 
Kaley,  James,  mustered  out  July  7, 1804, 
Lynch,  John.        Lennox,  John. 
LafTerty,  David  S.,  mustered  out  .Fuly  7,  1S«4. 


Lart- 

Lu.'k..^ 

Lewi-. 


M.-Huriii 
McEl.lrv 
Neil,  Jan 


W,iii>-     \..ril  ■••t,  isiii,  fi.r  n..iin.ls  r I    at   Stone  Rii 


.1.  .1  I. Ill  .III!-,    7,  1,S04, 
'.I  .    r    liilv  7.1864. 

';i         1'   I  .niber  31,  1802. 
I    .1  !■.  \     R  C. 
I   11.   Ill    I   1:.  Twelfth  Illinois  Infantry. 
llsrl,:u^■.■,l  u.-oiher  18,  1804. 
edout  July  7,  1864. 


Neil,  James  S.,  mustered  out  July  7, 1804. 

P.Tris,  .lames  c,  discharged  August  29,  1863;  disability. 

Iliipp.  1 1,  I  liiules,  mustered  out  July  7, 1804. 

^-k.  1'.  ».  I'.  1.1. 

>,i,l,i   1  i,  \ii-tin,mnsteredout  July  7, 1864. 

^  ... .    i.\  ,  !■.  I  I  V  1'  ,  diseliargeil  Julv  In.  1802;  disability. 

1.    !    i\,:     ,11      11.    1  .,1  r.  11  -  I'     I.I  - 'i.tember  lo,  1801. 
Ill  I  .1,1     1      ,        M   <-i.  Deo.  10, 1805,  as  Corporal. 

w  .■  .  I.    1    -.  I  ll  11     ■   .   -.1  .1  .      :,  IK64. 

\\.    ■    \.i  II-  ..,  \i     .•  ii-i.  ..   I  .   •   i     .  ".  is.14. 

\s  I-..  .1,1  hi  I  1    .  \  .  I    I)    I.    1 .  r      ^1  'I    1  -  .    Ih,  'fi.'..  .'I-  I"'.  ■!  ill. ;  wounded 


M 


.  \\  1 


.M  ,  1  .     iiiis,  killed  at  Stone  River  December  31, 1862. 

M    1         I       I  1,  died  at  Murfrecsboro.Tenn.,  March  14, 1863. 
K  .--,  \Mlli..iii  .1,,  killed  at  Stone  River  December  31,1862, 
Ti.n  is,  Bill  D,  T  ,  trans,  from  Co.  E,  12  III.,  mustered  out  July  7,  1864. 
Welch,  William,  trans,  to  42    III.  Infantiv,  mustered  out  Dec  16,  1865. 
Uitasaimeil  i?ariii(s,- Conrad,  .Michael, 

Mann,  William  B,,  tr,  to  4i  III.  Inf.,  M.  O.  December  16,  1805^ 

MEN    FROM    MONROE   COUNTY. 

J/.yur— George  Abbott,  honorably  discharged  on  account  of  wounds.  May  7,1803 

NON-COMMISSIONED   ST.\FF. 
Principal  Musician — Vincent  Stienier. 

MUSTER  ROLL  COMPANY  E. 
JVi«<ile— Wills,  Daniel,  killed  at  Belmont,  Mo,,  Nov.  7, 1861. 

MUSTER   ROLL  COMPANY  F. 
Oipluins— Hermaiin,  B,.riieinann,  rc-signc.l  Sept.  3, 1803. 

r,>,.(  L.r  .  .-'.•    i'  ■       I     '-I  '-    ll    '.    .  I  .  '  .  .        'I'l  "■.■    n'll  .Inly  T,1SG4, 
First  Se'-.j.    .        i      -.        .      I'll'     _.        I       1.   _     ,1'   r    1  ;,  1S..J,  liisability, 
iiei'iycun 


Gfoif..  1; 
Carh  I.'.  \ 

Corjjwals— Heiin  I 
Chai  I  - 
Williiiii 
John  I. 
Chrisii 
J,lcoli  II 
Fre.l.  I 

Slasiciana — Brim..  - 
Will  ill  1 1 

W'lgoiw} — Chail'  -  1 


.  of  Regt. 


.  N..V.  7.  1861, 
.  1,  lsi-2,  wounds, 
J.  uounds. 

7 ,  I  si74,  as  1st  sergeant. 

-Ill, 
77,  1802. 


Pn 


-Ada 


Bollet,  1|.  . 
Behieii.l-, 
Bott.  .I...iiii 
Benkcr,  Fi 


k\  ,  at  m.  o.  of  regt. 

It  JUIV7. 1804. 

vet.,  irans.  to  Co.  F.  42  III  inny.,n 

li'   17.  1S02.  disability. 
■   I    ly  7,1804. 

I  I  at  m.  o.  of  regt. 

1  Mistered  out  Dec.  16, 1865. 


Bock, 
Boe,  1 
Bohiii 


Henkl.r.  1. 
Hetzh.'t.r,  1 
Henslii.ii.  n 


Kellc 
K 1-011 
Liel.f 


.1     M  '  .  N"i    7,  l.siil. 
.1    .1  -■  111..  KiMT  riec.  31,1862. 
.   I.    I    I-  Ml-- Kidge  Nov.  25,1803. 

I    1   '   I        1-'  J,  .hs.ll'illt.V. 

I    1,1  I  ll.  7,  1804. as  corporal. 
.     iiil.v  7, 1804. 

■        I       •  .liiiv7, 1804,  as  sergeant. 

..Ill   .lllh    7,   l.sOl. 

h.im.'.l  .M.ir.  .J,  ISOJ,  wounds. 

.1  liiK  III.  isiv:,  .lisabilitv. 
_'    i  >l,ir    l.\  lsi.:i, 
■    liilv  7.  Isiil, 
■    lillv  7.  1S1-.4. 


.  al.isent  sick  at  m.  o.  of  regt. 
-  .pt,  1!),  I80:). 
M...  Xov.  7,  1801. 
,  ,  ii.t.  14,  ISOl. 
V  7.  1S1.4. 


noiul,  Va.,  at  m.  o.  of  regt. 


HISTORY    OF   RAXDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


213 


Rei(;«-lm.>ior.  Willmm.  ilisi-lwrg.'d  to  pnlist  in  4  V.  8.  Cbv. 

f-v>llr].-.l.  I'.Mnii.l,  iliril  iVt.  7,  lsi,:l,  wounds. 

S.lieil..l.  (-Ill  i>tiiui,  inii^t.'iv.l  ..iit  .Iiilv  7,  lsr.4. 

.■^.Iinifc/..  .M;.iliui.,  niu-l,M.-.l  out  .liilv'7,  im.i. 

t;.!, nil. It.  .lii>  ,.!,.  kill,-.l  ill  K.li.H.iii,  Si,:.  Nmv.7,  isr.l. 

S.-lin,i.|..  I',-1.M.  .ini-t.T-.l  oul  .liilv  7,  l.v  .4. 

M..  11^    !■    ..  . 1..    I  in  Mi--i--'ii.|.l  riviT  July  11,  ISGl. 

M,.   :-     -  ,-!,•,  ,1  ,.,ii  .liiiv  7.   ISG4. 

J-  ill  I   I    I.  il  ,.iil.luly7. 1804. 

M  I  ,11  111  I'l.iiiil,  Mil.,  Nov.  7, 1801. 

Ml  I  I  :    iiii-li  1.  .1  ..in  .lulv",  ISiil. 

Sl..ll..l....Iiii,  inil-l,||.-.i  ...11  .lulv  7,  \>IA.' 

SrliulU'ir.^.  .\'liuii.  i.ris.-uor  ol  uiir  at  Kiclunond,  Va.,  at  m.  o.  of  regt. 
Ts.liincii.  J.ihu,  ilis,.|iiirif.|  ( l -t    li.,  1S(.1,  disability. 
\..llc.  J..-i-|.li,  ill, ..I  111  Si.  (lair  C.I.,  111.,  Nov.  21,  liol. 

v.. Hi.  Anil. 11,  111.1. l.-i.-.l  ...11  .lulv  7,  lSi;4. 
\Vi-ii,...li.  Il.iirv.  ii,.i-i.i-.l  ..ill  .lulv  7.  1S.14. 
Wal.lli,.!..  il.ii-n.ii..  ...  i-lT.-.l  out  Julv7,  IW'.t. 
\\.  --.  :.  I.  11.,^    i;.ii-i.-r.|.l  ...It  .lulv  7,  l<.». 

Zi.  ".  illiaiii,  ih.-.l  ..l\;..ii)i.U  i.-.-.-iv.>.l  at  Stone  Rivcv. 

Z.  -.  Ii.uxe.l  M.iivli  •.,  isi.j,  «.i mil-. 

Kco-iii's-l:  II  111  til.,  li.-lil  li.-ar  Ai  l.u.i.lh.  i,,i 

>      I  I  .  .  ihM-llaru'.-.l  Al.nl  .:!,  iM.l.  «-.ill..ls. 


J  Co.  i:  la  III.', 


o.  Dec.  10,  1305. 


Scliu..iii.iiiii,  JUniy,  I 

MKN    FROM   PERRY   COUNTY. 
JR-.STEn  ROLL  COMP.\XY  I. 
PciraiM— Conner,  (icorge  W.,  died  in  Perry  Co.,  111.,  Sept.  4,  Isci. 
Ui>dv;e,  Colin,  mustered  out  July  7,  1804. 

TWKSTY-FOURTII    INFANTRY. 

(Tlircc  Yairs'  &rvi<\:] 
This  regiment  was  organized  at  Chicago,  and  nnutered 
into  service  July  fS,  l.'^Gl,  by  Capt.  T.  G.  Pitcher,  and  was 
known  as  the  "  Hecker  Ilegiment."'  It  did  effectual  and 
gallant  service,  and  was  mustered  out  July  ol,  1805,  at 
Lexington,  Ky. 

MEN    FROM   MOUROE   COUNTY. 

MCSTER    ROLL   COMP.tSY    O. 
lUauits. — Kertel,  Charles,  trans,  to  hea.lqunrters  14  A.  C.  for  nssignineut. 


ML'STKK    EOLL   C0M1".\NY    I. 
/.'«ni.7«.— Bergniann,  Clinrle-,  trans,  to  hendqimrter^  14  A.  C.  for  assignment, 
ilottiiiau.  Christian,  ninstered  out  .Mav  :iii,  18I1.1,  prisoner  war. 
KoelI.el,  Frank,  dis.harged  May  a7,  18iH  :  wounds. 
Stephan,  Joseph,  trans,  to  head.iuarters  14  A.  C.  for  assignment. 

TWENTY-NINTH   U.   S.    COLORED   INFANTRY. 

(Three   Years'  Service.) 
MEN    FROM    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

MISTER    ROLL   COMPANY    A. 
Bicriia.— Kowlett,  Joseph   W.,  mustered  out  Nov.  0.,  ISO.",,  as  corporal. 

MlSTliR    ROLL   COMPANY    B. 
2/fcniit.— Laflore,  Levi,  al  sent  sick  at  M.  O.  of  Regiment. 

MCSTKR    ROLL   COMPANY    C. 
Bccruifc.— Coles,  Henry,       Morrison,  Joseph,  mustered  out  Nov.  0, 1805. 

MUSTER   BOLL  COMPANY   D. 
BecriiiYj.— Beeson,  Baptist,  missing  in  aclinn  nt  Hntclier's  Run,  Va  ,  Mar.  3u,  1805. 
Joseph,  l."rederiik.  nm-lered  out  Nov.  0, 1805. 
Louvriere.  I'iero,  discliarged  .Iiine  2,  180.). 
Senty,  Isadorc,       Terraee,  John,  mustered  out  Nov.  0, 1805. 

MfSTIiR    ROLL   COMPANY    I. 
P,i,n(e«.— Block,  Levi,       Griffin,  Joseph,  mustered  out  Nov.  0, 1805. 

MEN    FROM   MONROE  COUNTY. 
MUSTER    ROLL   COMPANY    I. 
Priiutfi.— Scroggins,  P.  M.,  vet.,      Webb,  James,  mustered  out  Nov.  0, 1805. 

THIRTIETH  INFANTRY. 
{Three  Years  service.) 
The  Thirtieth  Infantry  was  organized  at  Camp  Butler^ 
Illinois,  August  28th,  1861,  Colonel  P.  B.  Fouke,  com- 
manding. September  1st,  moved  to  Cairo  and  was  assigned 
to  MeClernand's  Brigade.  November  7th,  was  engaged  in 
the  battle  of  Belmont.  From  January  10th  to  22d,  moved 
on  a  reconnoisance  into  Kentucky.  February  6th,  was  en- 
gaged in  the  attack  on  Fort  Henry.  Took  part  in  the 
capture  of  Fort  Donelson,  i:}th,  14th  and  loth  of  February. 
Participated  in  the  siege  of  Corinth  in  Colonel  Logan's  Bri- 
gade.    September  1st  fjur  milea   from  Medau  Station  met 


the  enemy's  cavalry  6000  strong  and  after  four  hours'  hard 
fighting  drove  the  enemy  from  the  field,  achieving  a  brilliant 
victory.  From  this  time  till  May  Tith,  1863,  was  engaged 
in  various  campaigns  ami  marches  in  Tennessee,  Louisiana 
and  Mississijipi.  On  that  day  participated  in  the  battle  of 
Raymond  May  16th  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Champion 
Hills,  losing  heavily.  Also  participated  in  the  siege  of  Vicks- 
burg  Was  in  the  engagement  at  Bv)gachitta  creek,  in  Oc- 
tober. Jan.  1st,  1864,  mustered  in  as  a  veteran  organization. 
Feb.  3d, entered  on  the  Meridan  Campaign,  participating  in 
the  several  skirmishes  with  the  enemy.  April  28lh,  began 
the  Tennessee  River  Expedition.  From  this  time  forward 
till  July  21st  marched  to  various  points  in  Tennessee,  Ala- 
bama and  Georgia,  skirmi.-hing  with  the  enemy  at  Big 
Shanty,  June  10th.  July  21st  and  22d  was  in  the  battle 
near  Atlanta,  losing  heavily  on  the  latter.  Partici|)ated  in 
the  entire  work  resulting  in  the  capture  of  this  place  and 
Jonesboro.  November  1.5th  movcil  with  General  Sherman's 
army  on  the  "  march  to  the  sea,"  participating  in  the  capture 
of  Savannah,  December  21st,  of  Pocotaligo,  on  the  l.'Jth  on 
Orangeburg,  Columbia  and  Cheraw,  South  Carolina,  and  of 
Fayetteville,  North  Carolina.  Took  part  in  the  grand  review, 
May  24th,  186.'),  at  Washington,  D.  C.  Clustered  out  of 
service  July  17th,  186.5,  and  received  final  payment  and 
discharge  the  27th  inst.  at  Camp  Butler,  Illinois. 

MEN    FROM    RANDOLPH    COUNTY'. 


NON-COMMIS.SI0NED    STAFF. 

-Granville  B.  McDonald,  mustered  out  July  17, 1805. 
MUSTER    ROLL   COMPANY    C. 


C.i|.(.iii«.— James  R.  Wilson,  killed  in  battle. 

Alexander  M.  \ViI-..ii,  pr..iii..l.-.l  by  Pri'sLbiit 

AuKUst,  1801. 

William  M    \.i .:..  n.'.^:   ..-.I  ...i  luh  i".  1-.;.-. 

Firaf  iieii/rlm.,!.  — U..\  ..1   M     M  .  1      i.  i  :•  i,  i.i  .    ■    i      1       ,.    hilv 

17, ISGJ. 

tiecotid  LieutvniniU. —  A  hi-    .  li   i  -    i  — u'  -    i    '  .     in     -'^    Is 

li  1,  ■  (i    1 ;,  1 11     iiiii-i...  ,  ..  ,-    -.  i  ^;.-ii 

I'l'j  July  17,1805 

Sa-gcu„ls.—F.\,\  H:,i  ii.  ....    ii.  .1  .,i  l.,.i..,  .  U....1..I-. 

.Siiiii.i.'l  Mill.-i.  .li   .1  ul  hi.liu.  Aimu   t  2'.l. 

1  ;f.  i.l  !■  .  ..ii.|.l..  II.  .lied  at  home  Dec.  31, 1803 

(.'orp<.r.d«— l:..l..il   M.|\i,l.ll:.iv. 

stli-  1    1  1 1-1.  1,  ii.ii-tered  out  .Inne  r.,  18ft-..  as 

sergeant. 

\\  1    !.  ,  !■   II     1  1   1  liter,  trans.  Sept.  15, 1803. 

.lischarged  July  24, 1812.  as  sergeant, 
vet.,  mustered  out  July  17, 1805. 
.1  at  Belmont,  Nov.  7,  1801. 


.  mustered  out  July  17, 1805,  as  corporal. 

stered  out  July  17,'l8t«t,  as  corporal. 

,  vet.,  mustered  out  July  17,  1805,  as  sergeant. 

.an. 

Clli-b 

li.-.lat  Belmont.  Nov.  7,  ISOl. 
..  1  ,  killedatAtlanla,tJa.,  July  22, 1804. 

k.  vet.,  died  at  Millen,  Ga.,  Dec.  4, 1804. 

...1.,  u  .lliam. 

,  iJavid,  vet.,  mustered  nut  Jiilv  17,  18C.>. 

,  Harvey,  vcl.,  died  at  Millen,  Ga.,  Oct.  31,  '64,  pris 


,  .I..IIT1,  discliarged  :  term  ( 
,  I'Mward,  vet.,  mustere.l  ... 
■II,. lames  B.,  dischare.-.l  I. 
iniiivk,  A.  A.,  vet.. 


e.l. 


Julv 


M.  -M 11,  .1. 

Neil,   han.l. 
I'olloeU,  Sam 


.  H.,  vet.,  kill. I.I  i..-..r   \ii  . 
.dat  Kelm.iit.  .\..v.  7.  Isi.l. 
.  killed  at  Fort  Donelson,  Feb.  1.'.,  1802. 
,  mustered  out  -lulv  17, 1805,  as  corporal. 
lualered  out  June  9,' 1805. 


el,  killed  at  Fort  Donelson,  Feb.  15, 1802. 


St<-vens,  Jo«eph,  vet.,  discharged  for  disability. 

Snodgrass,  Isaac  E  ,  mustered  out  July,  17,  Isofi,  as  sergeant. 

TaggHrt,  Silas,  vet.,  mustered  out  July  17,  180.-i,  as  corporal. 

TagL'art.  Daniel,  discharged  June  13,  1802;  disability. 

'I'livlor,  Spencer,  trans,  to  V.  R.  C. 

W  ils..ii.  -lames  C,  vet.,  mustered  out  July  17, 1805,  a-  sergeant. 

Williiiiiis.in,  Francis,  vet-,  mustered  out  July  17, 1805,  as  corporal. 

Wilson.  John. 

Wells,  Robert,  discharged;  term  expired. 


214 


HISTORY   OF  RANDOLPH,  MONROE  AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


A-eo-»i(«.— Adier,  Williiim,  died  at  And 
Hoyd,  John  B  ,  v  t., 
Coney.  Andrew,  vet. 
fouvier,  S.initiel  H. 
ndle,  S.  A.,  killed 


le;  grave  12,430. 
ine  Hi,  I8C5. 
tered  out  June  9,  18(»5. 


jnesnw  Mt.,  June  0,  18(14. 
Dun-iMK.  August,  died  lU  Andersonville,  Jan.  2",  Mi:,;  Rrave  12, 
Elliott,  W.  I'.,  died  at  Miicou,  Ga.,  Sept.  23,  1804,  prisoner  war. 
Fisher,  Scipio. 

Fisher,  Thomas  mustered  out  June  4, 1SG5. 
Fennian,  George  L. 

Golden,  Nat  aoiel,  mustered  out  July  17, 1805. 
Greer,  Uharh's  S..  mustered  out  June  4,  181)5. 
Grape,  George,  mustered  oul  July  17, 1805. 
Gerlach,  Charles, 
llecker,  William. 

Hat.'hie,  Henry,  vet.,  died  at  Florence,  S.  C,  Feb.  5,  '05,  prisone 
Hill,  Price  B. 
Hargus,  David,  niu.>!tered  out  June  4, 18G.i. 

Harm Ml    li:i    1.  .Ii>'  l.;iri;.d  Deo.  -M,  1802. 

Ha\itli"iii    W  r  .  iMii-tir.  .1  ..lit  July  17, 18i». 
Ha\illi..i  I..  I'avil  M  ,  Hiii-t.  r.-ii  out  June  9,  1805. 
Jon.-!-. '■  .1.1  1.  I   \  .  .1.-.  Ii,.i;.'til  ,  term  e.Kpir..d. 


Lin.U-     ,  I  ..  ' 

Liveh',   I. nil."-.  .1;.   I  al  Millen  October  20,  1804;  prisoner  war. 

Liv.'l}    ,l..-..}.li   .\    hanged  prisoner;  no  discharge  furnished. 

Mort,.n',  .I..I.1I,  'li-'tiarsed  Novemher  13,  1802. 

Mahaii,  An  ii.  u   1  .  .Ii-.liari;ed  Dec.  17,  1802,  ai  Sergeant;  disability. 

M'lrelaud  Jam...  11,.  .Ji-.  Inn  ied  :  term  expired. 

Mvers  Peter,  iiiii-i.  I.  .1  ...il  .liiiie4,  1S05. 

Maxwell,  Dun.  ;.i  ... 

Mulligan,  'rii'-in. 

McN'ultv,  John.        m.  .Mm  i  i\ .  i .  n  i.i 

MciNultV,  Hugh,  mii-i   i .  .1     n  i  .n.   4,  l.<05. 

Mccormick,  A.  L.,  .hf.l    .r  Miliu  I'.  .  .niber  3,  1804. 

Mccormick,  John  B.,  .Ii.  .1  ii  >:o  .nnah,  Ga..  January  2-2, 1805. 

McMunlv,  John,  trans,  to  V.  K.  v  .  April  27,  1S04. 

Uats,  William  H.        Owens,  Anthony. 

Mustered  out  June  2:!,  1805. 
Parks,  James  n         s..,.,l  .v-,  L.^.^ph.       Steinberg,  John. 
Williamson.  M 
Wood,  Sidii.x 
Whitney,  AI..1.. 
Wright,  John, 
WelTiaus,  WllUi 


April  22,  1802. 

,.11-ed. 

I  Julvl7,  1805. 


MUSTER   KOLL  COMPANY    E. 
Otplaine. — John  C.  Johnson,  resieiu..!  lannsrv  is,  isr,;l 

AshleyPearce,  hon..nii  IV  .h.,  1.....  .1  M  ,,  l'.,1805 

Linzey.Steel,  mustfi...  ,-i    ■   I        ;     .    .  h  ,  July  17.  18Co. 

first  iieiiieiimito.— Benjamin  H.  K'    n.  ,  -.      ill:   .  ny  1    181.2 

Smith  Crane,  iini-i    i. .  i-  >.  i  ^.   uit^  Inly  17,  180o. 

Secoa<!i«»/eiian(».— Henry  Beck   nsignocl  F.-l.ruai,y  14  1803.  ,,,„,.. 

Thomas  Ireland,  mustered  out  (as  Sergeant)  July  17,  1805. 
SeroMMts.— Charles  Fitzlierbert,  transferred  .May  1,  1802. 

Hugh  H.  Baker,  died  in  rebel  prison  September  1,  1802. 
John  McKenzie,  killed  at  Fort  Donelson  February  15,  1802. 
O»T)0raJ«.— James  H.  McMilten,  died  at  Cairo  November  21,  1801. 
Isaac  Marks,  Vet,,  mustered  out  July  17,  1805. 
James  r,a-t,,n,  discliaiged  June  17,  1802;  wounds. 


Uio 


-charged  April  30  1802. 

harged  June  17,  1802;  disability. 

-.harijcd  April  3li,  1S02;  di,«ahilitv. 

I,,,.,,,i,.._„.,f  |.-..i„.|i.,rv  1,  lsr,2;  di.sability. 

.   i  1.   ,  .  ..,1.1   -.    IM.I,  disabiliiv. 

I  ;    i,  .  jleptember  1,  1802 


Blal.,  :      •    :,    ,  -1    red  out  July  17,  1805. 

Bi..\\i     I     r     .        .1'         Burgos.s  Samuel  B. 

Can. 1.1     \.liii.    ill-,  harged  November  25,  1802;  disability. 

C  nder' S  . I. im. in,  discharged  Octulier -28, 1S..2;  disability. 

Emery,'  Alfred,  died  at  Cincnnati  March  3,  18.12. 

Emerv,  William,  discllarged  August  1, 1802,  as  Sergeant ;  wounds 

Fisk,'ballas.  ,   ,      _    „„, 

Gastin,  Jam.-s  G  ,  V...  .  m...   i.  1  -.it  .Tuly  17,  1S05 

Gessman,  Heiir\,  .Il         ,    ..    I   i    '.   :J.  r- ..•    .Ii>abillty. 

Holtz,  John  H    II  .  m  .  i  I'        '"    ' 

Hartz,  Franci-s  .li-'i.i  -    <  -   i-    - 

Ingols,  Edgar  W.,  \  eL,  nu.--uic..l  .. 

Jordan,  Horatio  B.  „  ,  „   ,„„„ 

Koop,  George,  killed  at  Fort  Donelson  February  16, 1802. 

Malone,  Daniel,  Vet ,  mustered  out  July  17,  180.5. 

Martin,  Albert  Michael.        McClintock,  Forward. 

Kyan,  Joseph,  died  at  Ja-kson,  Tenn.,  June  10,  1802. 

Buhl,  Charles,  killed  at  Fort  Donelson,  February  15,  1802. 

Steele,  Martin.  ^  .      , 

Short  Edward,  discharged  September  27, 1804  ;  term  expired. 

uu^^,n^^i^\r    .Irthn  Hischnrppfl  Sentember  27.  1804;  term  expired. 


^  .4  ;  term  expired. 
.7,  1805,  as  Sergeant, 


Short,  Jidward,  aiscnargeu  oeofcenioei  £<,  i^u^ ,  i«;i 
Sheemonick,  John,  discharged  September  27,  1804;  .^.....-»r 
Waltamete,  William,  discharged  October  12,  1802;  disability. 
Wolf,  Henry,  discharged  August  1.5,  1802;  wounds. 
Whittock,  Andrew,  killed  at  Fort  Donelson  February  15, 1802. 

Btcrtiii.  — Ande?™n',  JameV K..  discharged  November  12,  1804;  term  expired. 
\rnolJ,  John,  died  at  Memphis  February  13,  1803. 
Adams,  John  P.,  mu.stered  out  July  17,  1805. 
Bowerman,  Jesse,  Vet.,  mustered  out  July  17,  1805,  as  Corporal. 
Barnes,  William,  discharged  April  30,  1»02. 
Better,  Benedite,  died  at  Atlanta,  Ga.,  July  22, 1804;  wmuds. 
Brown,  Bobert  L..  discharged  January  1,  I8i:3;  disability. 
Beiter,  Efo,  mustered  out  June  4, 180.5,  as  Corporal. 
Baker,  Joseph,  mustered  out  July  17,  180.i. 
Carpenter  Siillimon,  died  at  Shiloh  Hill  February  28,  1802. 
Caruthers,'  David,  discliarged  July  2-2, 1302  ;  wounds. 
Coulter,  Matthew  W.,  mustered  out  July  17, 1805.  ,  u     n- 

Carr,  John  T.        Deppe,  A.  H.        Fisk,  Stephen.        Finle.v,  John  F. 
Grab.  Charles,  killed  February  15, 1802. 


Givenrod,  Jacob,  mustered  out  June  4, 1865. 

Girdon,  Alexander,  died  Julv  5, 1864;  wounds. 

Garner,  Francis,  trans,  to  V.  R.  C.  April  27,  1804. 

Garvin,  Kubirt,  mustered  out  July  17,  180.i. 

Hilling,  Henry,  killed  at  Fort  Donelson  February  15, 1802. 

Hood,  William,  tran.s.  September  15,  180:). 

Hatcher,  Charic-,  discharged  April  3  ',  1802. 

Hutt;  Gjorge  W.,  discharged  November  12, 1804  ;  term  expired. 

Hamilton,  David  J.,  mustered  out  .lulv  17,  1805. 

Hardin,  William  E.,  died  at  Marietta,  Ga  ,  August  20, 1864. 

Jernigan,  John  G.,  died  at  R..me.  Ga.,  Juno  5,  1804. 

James,  Isaac  M„  died  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  November  5, 1804. 

Jeruigan,  William  B.,  mustered  out  July  17,  1805,  as  corporal. 

Jackson,  John  J.,  mustend  oul  Julv  17,  1805. 

Kilpatrick,  Ribert  B.,  .11-    li  .i  _•    1  "   r  ,1,,-r  1,  1802;  disability. 

Koke,  John  Henry,  di-i  .   .        i  \i     I  ::ii.  1802. 

Krentzer.  John,  d'le.l  III  \  \  il- Ht  5,  1803. 

Koeu,  William,  niustei.i      .     )...    ;.i-(.5. 

Kennedy,  William  J.,  nm.-lmd  ..ui  July  17,1803. 

Louther,  Johnson,  discharged  September  27,  1804  ;  term  expired. 

Long,  William,  Vet ,  mustered  out  July  17,  1805,  as  Corporal. 

Louther,  Martin,  trans.  September  15,  1803. 

Mustered  out  July  17, 1805. 
Leiner,  John,  Vet.,  asCorpi.,         Lively,  William,         Lytic,  James  T., 

Laird  Martin  T., 
Lively,  Amos  A.,  died  at  New  Albany,  Ind.,  May  19,  1804. 
LatTertv,  Jesse,  killed  at  Atlanta  Ga.,  Julv  22,  1804. 
Lively,  Edward  R.,  died  at  Home,  Ga.,  July  zo,  1804. 

Mustered  out  July  17,  1805. 
Lively,W.  C.  M.,    Long,  Daniel  B..    Lythe,  Jas.  K.  P.    Lewis,  Thomas. 
Miles,  William,  mustered  out  July  17,  1805. 
Morris. in,  James  K.  P.,  mustered  out  July  17.  1805. 
Malone,  William,  died  in  Memphis  January  2:),  1863. 
McCann,  Josiah,  Vet.,  mustered  out  July  17,  1805. 

Mustered  out  July  17,  1805. 

McCann,   Robert.  McFie.   John   R,  McBride,   Matthew    L., 

Mi-Brido,  Charles,  McCallum,  I-aao  N. 

McKiiiio-v,  I. L-..  !■  ,  .li.-.l  ..f  w.,un,ls  ill  rebel  prison. 

Newfll    I  I,, .111,1-  II     ,ii,.  I   ,1  l;,.iiM  ,  I.,.  ,  .lulv  17,  4s04. 
Pick. .11,  l:,     ,,.,,..,       ..  ,1    '      .      I     I,-..,-., 


Pole 

Perkiii-    ,l..l.i.   I 
Roonev,  Beniaiiiin 
Rasboirough',  U  ilh 
Siewart,  John  K  ,  ii 
Soper,  .\sapli.  .Ik. I 


Ml  I  11  .    ..a  ,  July  22,1861. 
t:...i  .\..\|.iiibcr  12,  18i>4;  term  expired. 
.ii-tered  out  July  17,  1805. 

.lit  Julv  17,  1805. 
-tta,  Ga.,  August  8,  1864;  wounds. 
■red  out  July  17,  1865. 
Welden,  Smilh  B.,        Wilson,  Mark. 


MUSTER   ROLL   COMPANY  H. 


MUSTEK  KOLL  CO-MPASY  I. 


mustered  out  July  17, 1805. 
U.NASSIGSED    RECRUITS. 
Bonner,  Robert,  died  at  Camp  Butler  March  31,  1804. 
Kerr  James. 
Thompson,  Joseph  B. ;  rejected. 

MEN    FROM    RANDOLPH   COUNTY. 

MUSTER    ROLL  COMPANY    E. 
Pcii-a/c8.— Clark,  Jacob,  Vet,,  mustered  out  July  17,  1805,  as  Corporal. 

Dixon,  Thomas. 

Pr.ictor  Valentine.  Vet.,  mustered  out  July  17,  1805. 

Wetzell,  William,  Vet.,  mustered  out  July  17,  ls05. 
iZ^-cru*/«.— Pickett,  Francis  M.,  died  in  rebel  prison  .August  12, 1804. 

THIRTY  FIRST  INFANTRY. 

[  Three  Yiars^  sennce  ] 

The  thirty-first  was  organized  at  Cairo,  Illiuois,  September 

8th,  1861,  by  Colonel  John  A.  LogaD,  aid  mustered  into 

the  United  States  service  by  Captain  T.  G  Pitcher,  United 

States    Army.     It  was  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Belmont, 

Noveraber7th,  1801,  and  was  in  reconnoissance  in  Kentucky 

in    January    1862.     February    2d    it    embarked    for   Fort 

Henry.     February  13th,  14th  and  15th   it  participated  in 

the  battle    of  Fort   Donelson,  where  it  remained    till  the 

22d,  when  it  was  ordered  to  Pittsburg  Landing.     It  was 

engaged  in  the  siege  of  Corinth,  May,  1862    May  1st,  1863, 

it    moved   to   the   assistance    of    General    McClernaud,    at 

Thompson  Hill.      The  regiment  was  without  rations,  and 

had  nothing  to  eat  the  night  before  ;  but  they  made  a  march 

of  twelve  miles  in  three  hours,  and  came   up  to  the  enemy, 

turning  their  right  flank  and  thus  saving  the  day.     May 

3d,  they  engaged  with  the  enemy  at  Ingram's  Heights,  and 

were  victorious.     On  the  12th  the  "  chivalry  "  made  a  stand 

at  Jackson,  Mi.-sissippi,  and  a  severe  engagement  followed, 

resulting  in  a  victory  for  the  Union  troops.     May  16th  they 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


215 


defeated  the  enemy  at  Champion  Hills.  On  the  19th  the 
regiment  reached  the  defenses  at  Vicksburg  and  was  en- 
gaged during  the  entire  siege.  In  the  charge  on  Fort  Hill 
it  lust  two  officers  and  eight  men  killed  and  forty  wounded. 
Its  flag  received  one  hundred  and  fifty-three  shots  and  the 
staff' was  severed  four  times. 

The  regiment  was  veteranized  January  .")th,  1H04.  On 
the  !lth  of  June,  it  joined  General  Sherman's  grand  army  at 
Ackworth.  It  was  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Bush  Moun- 
tain, June  27th,  and  participated  in  all  the  battles,  skir- 
mishes and  marches  made  by  the  Third  Division  during  the 
siege  of  Atlanta,  from  July  19lh  to  August  31st.  In  Oc- 
tober 1S()4  the  regiment  was  with  Sherman  in  the  campaign 
after  Hood,  and  on  November  15th  it  moved  with  that 
officer  in  the  "  March  to  the  Sea,"  arriving,  at  the  defenses 
of  Savannah,  December  10th,  and  on  the  12th  camping  at 
Dr.  Owen's  rice  plantation.  January  .'lOth,  it  commenced 
the  Carolina  campaign,  marching  via  Salkahatchie  to  Golds- 
boro,  arriving  there  March  24th,  liSG5,  having  been  without 
communication  for  filty-fuur  days.  The  regiment  partici- 
pated in  the  grand  review  at  Washington,  May  24th,  l.SB"). 
July  l!(th  it  was  mustered  out  of  United  States  service  by 
Lieutenant  Augustus  P.  Noyes,  and  received  its  final  pay 
and  discharge  July  :!Ut. 

MEN    FROM   PERRY   COUNTY. 


3f(yor«.— Harrv  .\lmon,  rosipnetl  Julv  27,  ISiU. 

Willtam  B.  Slioit,  iniisttToifoiu  July 

10,  18(15. 

Qunrlermtigter. — .Toshllu  B.  Oiivis,  niustfied  out 

Inly  li),  1805. 

Clinptiiin. — Jftcob  Coif,  nltl^t'T»■ll  .iill    ImK    I'l,  1 

Cuptaiu.-  Daniel  (Juillnmi i-i.  r.  .1  .m  Julv 

1:1!  iRi;5. 

fir«(iuii/fii<iii(».-Jolin  rHlniiJ..  II,    li.  .1    \\.,,l    1 

,  IHr.i. 

David.s.iii  r.  .Mi  .r.',  v-icu-, 

.Inly:),  isiu. 

Second  Lievt€naut».—\iiUnm  E.  \\  illis,  mu^tt-ierl 

out  -lannary  4, 18G5. 

John  M.  Brown,  niustcrcd 

3Ut(iisSerg't)  July  19,18115 

Fir.(S.rjCTu(.— VVillinm  H.  Kinzev. 

Sfrjfuiit..— Andrew  f^implinll,  .lie".!  Mav  4,  lsr,>. 

Slr-|.nrn  ,1    Tiyl.r.  <li.,  hnL'-.l  f  T  d 

«;\hi]ity. 

Co:jiora/s.— .1,111, •  -  '  i  ,.  1 1 ,,  .1 1 -".  1 ,  ,  i  --•.  i  ,1  n  1  >    :  ;,  l' 

I.J,  dis.ibility. 

Tl.'i'li\:iVl';"''.'i'!'.'i','"i',"l  ''i,,ii-i'.,',.;i  ,, 

1  Mi.v  1.1.  1-..-,',,  „«  corporal 

Willi. rn  J.  W..lk.M,  n  .  I'li  ip  1    -1.  <l,„l 

u-i.-. .'T.  >M1. 

.1..  in  yi.  Hrnun,  ^.■l  i-|.  t.  <l  

.Irmip.  W,  I..,i.Mii,  ■,•!  ,  .iiit-.,.|,-,l  Ml, 

lull  1'..  1^...'.,  ,1^  -erginnl. 

,li.U    !■.,  I~..,-,. 

Jchii  1'    .Millii;  .11.  L1I1...1  ;,t  K.iit  |.,.i 

.■I~..!.,  K.l.nmy  1,",,  1SC2. 

11,  discharge.!  July  i!,  18r..',  wounds 


Black,  John,  vcl..  died  nl  Anriersonville  Julv  30, 1864,  Grave  4315. 

Brown,  William  JI.,  died  November  10,  laia,  wounds. 

Baker,  I'n.leri.k,  v.  t  ,  niuslere.l  ..ul  Julv  10,  \w,5.  as  sergeant. 


C.i.i,. 

r. 

!■          ■      1     ..      i    ■   ' 

■       1    1        1  ■<    •    .1;^  il.i 

ity. 

(■;t!  I 

■ ,  \^ 

.  ■      1 

.., :    1  ill .    1  i,  1  -i.  .,  ;,s  . 

orporal 

\':ii 

1.  I-...:,  ai.s.ii..iiu. 

Ev,.i, 

! 

1^.  181.1,  wound's. 

Es.i- 

,'V.     ■! 

:.'\'.\:':\. 

^1.  1802,  wounds. 

t'-ry. 

i.MliS. 

KoSt.T 

Sanii 

Vii. 

l.hi.ls..ll,J; 

tnes.           Gray,  Richard. 

Gamh 

e,  Robert,  vet 

mustered  out 

July  10,  1805. 

Ciamb 

e,  Johr 

Greye 

,  .\u.lr 

ew  T,, 

if.l  N..vriiil.er 

7,  1861,  wounds. 

Guun, 

John 

,  \  .1  , 

,  ;...  1  .  il  .-ill 

Illy  19,1805. 

Hney, 

Jolio 

Mi      '     i  ,  ]  -    , 

MiilDdS. 

Heath 

Oliv 

>     ill. 

i  i  i,  ■     ',,       !  ;     1 

.1. 

Holco 

nb,  111 

v.i|   K  . 

hi.i.ii  i  i'il  iiiii 

-I.t^mber  24,  1864. 

Hamil 

ton,  \\ 

Iliam, 

iis.-h.in:...!  .Ua 

■  M,  1802,  disability. 

Harmon,  Jol 

n. 

Hall.  Isaae  iN. 

Heape 

■ihon 

«8,  died  of  wounds  N 

^vembor  7, 1801. 

Henrv 

Hami 

ton. 

Kine: 

.^-imii.. 

,    .il...lT 

I   ll..|iv  ,r,  T...1 

1  .  November  9, 1862. 

-  ^,.1.  1 

,i    -.    _yi|..-_,    ^ 

'..-*,  disability. 

.Ml.:. 

.    );■' 

i   i  .11 

',     ',,',',,■„-'  \     „     ■,;, 

irg.  May  31, 1803. 

Mii:. 
51.  1  ' 

I  i  'ill  1 

r  M.,died  Apr 

il  4.  1804. 

M.'i 

'.  .'■ill- 

v.,  died  May  liH,  18112,  wounds. 

51. ...).' 

\\  l\    i 

!ll      1'    ,    1 

l.-.iat.lak,oi 

.  'l-CDn.,  July  0.  1802. 

Mum 

.•  W  .  1 

i  il    M,.ri   li   _■- 

■..■.2. 

Megill.le,  Wils.in,  ki    .    ,         I: 
Noith,  William,  mii-i.  ,.   ,    ,  ;t  - 
North,  Jasper,  died  .Mar..ii  1,  !.■. 


I'vle.  Wlllian 
l'.'.t..M.Svlv.. 
I'..lt.T,  N,.|...i 


iHid-, 


1.-,  I  I 


pl.i,,,  1  .  I.iu.ui   11,  1803. 
(juillll.all..l.>l,li  II. 

Ulun.-,  Iiiivi.l  ,\  .  killed  at  Fort  Donclson,  February  15, 1802. 

KanliiM.I,  lliiuUin-.  died  at  liome  Juno  3,  1802. 

I!»io~.-v,  I: 11  I.,  killed  at  K..rl  Ii.eiel....n  Kebruary  I\1802. 

'■    '  III.-  July  2,  180,i. 

>^1..  ;tr ,  n.i.r.i  i",  \.  t  ,  niii-t.  1 .   i  ,  >,   I  .    I'..'.,  as  corporal. 

■I  l''.l.ruary  l.i,  1802. 

on  February  15, 1802. 

n,  vet.,  mustered  out  July  19, 1805. 

us  51,, vet. .captured,  reported  diedat  AndersonvillePrls. 
<■   1,  li  illed  at  Fort  Uonelson  February  15,  1802. 
1.  I  at  Fort  Uonelson  February  15, 1802. 

II  ,  disehavEod  April  21, 1802,  wounded. 
,     I    il.«"!i-i...-.M|  nl  21, 1802,  disability. 


Hliiik.  Iiui. 
Iti.iKlialu.. 

Craw  ford,  J 
Connor,  Jo 
Craig,  Job] 

Collins,  Jol 

w' 

I)ix..M,  Anil.  u.  iiiiisi.r.-d  out  .lulv  I'.l,  ISiii. 

Hix.n.   I  , .,  >t.red  out  July  19,  1805. 

Emu.-,   lil...  M  .killed  near  Keuesaw  Mt.,  June  27,  1804. 

F..M.i|,  «  iIIliiii  I' 

(11. .\. I     I     I  ii  i  \  ,  \  .-t .  mustered  out  July  19, 18C.'». 

li.  I  1         >  il.-.  to  V.  R.  <: 

lil    I  i   i      I  ..-.  I. aigod  Seplember8,lS02,  disability. 

ll...iu.  ,  \.  .1:    .  .    .  ii.uslered  out  Julv  19.  18lKi. 

lb. 11. 1 1 1,,  .1    III.  \  ..lie.lal  Rome,  (ia.,  September  2,  1804. 

M..mu...,...M, ......i.-l. 

51ii.h.  II,  1:    I  ,  r.. .1-1. Ted  out  Julv  19,  ISO.-.. 
.Mi,s«.ii   I  .i i.i.T.T.i.i  ...11  .i.iiv  19,  mrs-,. 

M.iKiii-ii  ■,      l.i'  ■.,  ^i.  i.-i  i.iii    Ink.    I'MSO.-.. 

0.1 ■  ,  11    •  i  I. ,11,  iMiss. 

Tl..ini|i -.11,  l.i  ■..  ;-  -ill.  '1  ,.i  I'  .  liii   ill,  Ky.,  Jlar.  10,  1802. 
MUSTER  ROLL  Wl.MPANY  H. 
0»7).vrii?.— John  Oliver,  killed  at  Fort  Donelsoii  February  15,  1802. 

JirSTER  ROLL  COMPANY  L 
TVirafc.— Turman,  Hodge  B. 

Ml'STER  ROLL  COMPANY  K. 
Ow(.iiii.- Thomas  Hunter,  died  of  w..uiids  Jiiuu  27,  1804. 
AVrjcnu/s.— William  Fo.x,  killed  at  Fort  Uonels.ui  February  l.'i,  1802. 

William  B.  Lau,gston,  \et.,  absent  sick  at  m.  o.  of  Regiment. 
Priralfi—Mo  ris,  Henry  A.  Bro. 
/^-•eruito.— Crew,  Joseph.  Staddon,  Hiram. 

Langston,  William,  vet.,  .absent  sick  at  111.  o.  of  Regiment. 
rudM-'jiied  lifcruit. — Wilson,  .An  irew, 

THIRTY-SECOND    INFANTRY. 

{Three  Years'  Service.) 
R.A.NDOLPH   COUNTY. 
5ir.STER  ROLL  COMPANY  G. 
Bicnii(fi.-James,  Henry  i'.,  mustered  out  July  11,  1.805. 

THIRTY-FOURTH  INFANTRY. 
(Three  Years'  Service.) 
The  regiment  was  organized  at  Camp  Butler,  Illinois, 
September  7,  IHIU,  by  Colonel  E.  N.  K'rk.  December  22, 
18()''>,  it  was  mustered  as  a  veteran  organization.  It  waa 
discharged  from  service  July  12th,  l.^(;."i,  at  Louisville, 
Kentucky. 

MEN  FROJI  RANDOLPH  COUNTY. 
MUSTER    ROLL   COMPAXV   0. 
.  Cieseer.    Never  mustered, 
mustered  out  July  12,  1805,  as  Sergt, 


Mo 


;e.l  Aug.  24, 1S03.    Hisahiiity. 

pi.  died  Camp  Nevins,  Dee.  7, 1801. 

aiisf.  to  V,  R.C.,  .Mays,  ISM.    Picket,  John. 


Oats,  1,1 1.1  1 1. 1, 

.MEN   FROM  R.\NDOI.PII  COUNTY. 

MCSTEB    BOLL  COMTAXY    G. 
Priiate— Weaver,  William  II.,  di«l  at  .V.-vshvillc,  March  13th,  18(>5. 

THIRTY-EIGHTH   INFANTRY. 

{Three  Years'  Service.) 
MEN    FROM  RANDOLPH  COUNTY. 
MU3TKII  ROLL  COMPANY    E. 
7(e<:;uil.-Addison,  David  .1.,  transf.  from  811th  111  ,  mustered  out  Feb,  7,  laofi. 
Campbell,  Louis  ('.,  transf.  from  80th  111,,  mustered  out  Feb.  7, 1866. 
Dickey,  Milton  W.,  transf.  from  80th  111.,  mustered  out  Feb.  7, 1866. 
Watson,  William  C,  mustered  out  Feb.  7, 1806. 


216 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNFIES,    ILLINOIS. 


FORTIETH    INFANTRY. 

{Three   Years'   Sai'iee.) 
MEN  FROM  RANDRLPH   COUNTY. 
MUSTER  ROLL  COMPANY     P. 
Private— Farmer,  James  E.,  transf.  to  1st  West  Tenn.  Infantry,  Jan.  26, 1804. 

FORTY-THIRD   INFANTRY. 

{Three  Years'  Service.) 
The  Forty-third  was  organized  at  Camp  Butler,  Illinois, 
in  September,  1861,  by  Colonel  Julius  Raith.  Itwasequip- 
ped  at  Benton  Barracks,  Missouri,  there  beiug  then  but 
eight  companies  in  the  regiment.  Here  it  was  soon  after 
joined  by  companies  I  and  K.  It  participated  in  the  two 
days'  bloody  battle  of  .Shiloh,  losing  in  killed  and  wounded, 
two  hundred  men.  Here  Colonel  Raiih  was  mortally 
wounded.  Was  engaged  during  the  siege  of  Corinth  in 
May,  1862.  From  this  time  till  December,  it  was  employed 
in  various  duties,  Assisted  to  repulse  a  vastly  superior  force 
of  the  enemy  near  Lexington.  In  the  spring  of  18G3,  two 
hundred  men  of  the  regiment  were  mounted  and  did  excel- 
lent service,  capturing  guerrillas,  etc  The  Forty-third  was 
the  first  infantry  regiment  to  enter  Little  Rock,  Arkansas, 
September  11th,  a'ter  its  evacuation  by  the  enemy.  At 
Okolona,  April  2d,  had  a  slight  skirmish  wtth  Shelby's 
Brigade.  On  the  10th  inst.  occupied  the  front  in  the  ad- 
vance on  Prairie  d'Anne,  charging  a  body  of  the  enemy  and 
driving  them  from  the  field.  When  the  enemy's  line  gave 
way  the  Forty-third  was  the  first  in  the  enemy's  works. 
At  Jenkins'  Ferry,  being  a  part  of  the  rear  guard,  it  sus- 
tained the  first  onset  of  Kirby  Smith's  array.  In  this  en- 
gagement the  Union  troops  were  successful  over  a  vastly 
superior  force  of  the  enemy.  The  regiment  was  mustered 
out  of  service  at  Little  Rock,  November  30,  I860,  and  re- 
ceived final  payment  and  discharge  December  14th,  at 
Camp  Butler,  Illinois. 

MEN  FROM  MONROE  COUNTY. 

MrJTI   !■   l;"I.L  CU-Ml'.iSV   F. 
FinlSerjMu/— Freilerii'l<,  S  .lni  !■  i 
Sr/jcdit.— ValPiitine,  P.l-^  iiii.i  li. 
Corpurah — Killl;ili,  Wliii  hi.  1 ,  1,  ill.  li 


^  consoli'd,  must.  outNo 


,  Fh]li|.. 


n  V.  K.  I'.,  s  ■pt.  -ii;,  \W.). 
Sclinell,  Frpil'.  Williacn,  vet.,  trausf.  to  Co.  C,  as  consoli'd,  51.0.  Nov.  30, 

l«ti."i,  as  Corpl.  . 

Van  Bornain,  Henrv,  disohavEcd  Fell.  0,1802. 
Vogello,  John,  di.sc'iiargod  Jnl.v  2.".,  1802. 
Weissling,  Andrew,  mustered  out  Deo.  16, 1804. 

MUSTER  BOLL  COMPANY  H. 
Piiuatcs—Armhrrrh*,    v-h-fpti,  vet.,  transf.  to  Co.  E.,a3  consolidated,  M.  O.  Nov. 

Ffilr',     I  >    .■     .      '.Hired  Oct.  28,  1802. 
refarnn— Biciu-..  ih,  1         .    i,  1 1  :iusf.  to  Co.  E.,  as  consolidated,  M.  O.,  Nov.  30,  1805. 

MrsTKU  r.f'i.L  riiMPANY  c. — (43<?  OS   Consolidated.) 
First  LUuteaant— Henry  Bcutel,  mustered  out  Nov.  30,  1805. 

MEN   FROM   RANDOLPH   COUNTY. 

MUSTER    ROLL    COMPANY    E. 


Piioafes— Hass,  Paul. 

Moses.  Frederick,  vet.,  transf.  to  Co.  C,  as  consol'd,  M.O.  Nov.  30, 180.1, 

Simors,  Ad'olph,  died  Sept.  27,  1862. 
Spoetter,  JIarlin,  mustered  out  Dec.  10, 1804. 

MUSTER  ROLL  COMPANY  H. 


MUSTER  ROLL  COMPANY  I. 
Btcniit-Dscker,  Jacob,  killed  at  Shiloh,  April,  1862. 

FORTY-FOURTH  INFANTRY. 

This  regiment  was  organized  in  August,  18<il,  at  Camp 
Ellsworth,  Chicago.  It  was  mustered  into  service  on  the 
13th  day  of  September,  l<St!l.  Most  of  the  members  of  the 
regiment,  after  their  term  of  service  had  expired,  re-enlisted 
It  was  mustered  out  Sept.  25,  1865. 

MEN   FROM    PERRY   COUNTY. 
MUSTER    ROLL  COMPANY  I. 


FORTY'-SEVENTH  INFANTRY  (CONSOLIDATED.) 
MEN   FROM   RANDOLPH   COUNTY. 
MUSTER    ROLL    COMPANY    E.  .t 


FORTY  NINTH    INFANTRY. 

{Three   Years'  Service.) 

The  Forty-ninth  was  organized  at  Camp  Butler,  Illinois, 
December  31,  1861,  by  Col,  William  R.  Morrison.  It  con- 
tained among  its  members  representatives  from  the  three 
counties  of  Randolph,  Monroe  and  Perry,  company  I  repre- 
sented all  three;  company  A,  Randolph  and  Monroe;  com- 
pany B,  Monroe  and  Perry.  February  23d,  1862,  the  regi- 
ment was  ordered  to  Cairo.  It  was  assigned  to  the  Third 
Brigade,  MoCliraand's  Division,  at  Fort  Henry.  On  the 
11th  it  moved  to  Fort  Donelson,  and  on  the  13th  engaged 
the  enemy ;  losing  fourteen  men  killed  and  thirty-seven 
wounded.  It  was  also  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  los- 
ing seventeen  killed  and  ninety-nine  wounded.  Participated 
in  the  siege  of  Corinth,  and  many  of  the  more  important 
engagements  of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee.  August  21st, 
joined  Gen.  F.  Steele's  expedition  to  Little  Rock,  Arkansas, 
and  on  the  10th  of  November  assisted  in  the  capture  of  that 
place. 

January  15,  1861,  three-fourths  of  the  regiment  re-enlisted 
and  were  mustered  into  service  as  veteran  volunteers,  and 
were  assigned  to  the  Third  Brigade,  Col.  S.  H.  Wolf,  Third 
Divission,  Brig.  Gen.  A  J.  Smith  of  the  sixteenth  Army 
Corps.  On  the  27th  inst.,  marched  to  Vicksburg,  Missis- 
sippi, and  engaged  under  Sherman  in  the  Meridian  cam- 
paign. Participated  in  the  Red  River  expedition,  and 
March  14th,  assisted  in  the  capture  of  Fort  De  Russey, 
Louisiana.  Also  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Pleasant  Hill, 
April  9th.  Engaged  in  the  battle  of  Tupelo,  July  14th  and 
15th,  under  command  of  Capt.  John  A.Logan.  The  regi- 
ment was  with  the  army  in  pursuit  of  Gen.  Price  through 
Missouri.  Moved  to  Nashville,  and  took  part  in  the  battle 
of  that  place  December  15,  1864.  The  non-veterans  were 
mustered  out  at  Paducah,  Kentucky,  December  24lli,  and 
thereafter  the  regiment  did  garrison  duty.  It  was  mustered 
out  Sept. mber  9th,  1S65,  and  received  final  pay,  and  dis- 
charged on  the  15th  inst.  at  Camp  Butler,  Illinois. 


HISTORY    OF   RAXDOLPH,   MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


217 


I  Georto    Y.   McCIiire,  died    March  28, 


n..hr. 


MEN    FROM    PERRY    COUNTY. 
MUSTER  ROLL  COMPASV  B.        I        MUSTEK  ROLL  COMPANY  I. 
It^citiit.  ]  shroud  l.'fvteHtint, 

Ross,  James,  miij'tiTed  otlt  Sopt !),  18CS. 
MUSTER  ROLL  COMPANY  F. 

Aaron  A.  Uoglan.l,  disch.  Kov.  18, 1802; 
disability. 

S.Win«rT?l..rt,   dicJ   at  S;^^^«i..\'ii^^^^'^'«'^-,,^^   . 
l-.un.,  April  1.,  0..  H.'n»oii,  Mi.hiiel.  wounds. 

Itt'-rnit.  Knapr>,  Jt;rutiii\  killc-d  at  Shiloh,  April 

Liuun,  Alfr,-d,  iiiu.«t  out  Si-pt.  «  1805  '     7,  l«Ci. 

MEN    FROM    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

F.itt  AuM.iut  Si'nitoa.—.KuilroK  B.   Hinlly,  resigned  April  22, 18^2. 

Ml'STER  ROLL  CO.MPANY  A. 

P<-i<-nV  — Carr  Mii-Iiaul,  .liRC}mri;ed  Mareli  21,  IPG't;  wounds. 

I'eWran.— Burns,  Tjiirnas,  sorgl.  killsJ  ut  N.islivilk-,  Tcnn.,  Dec.  l:.,  ISM. 

MUSTER  ROLL  COMPA.NY  B. 


-stored  out 


Sergm 

Gv»orge  T.  Brewer,  i 

D,  1605,  as  private. 

Oirpoml. 


Hiiks 


tcred  out  Jan 


William  H.inslirow,  mustered  out  Mar. 
7,  IS  jo,  a-j  private. 

B  irn»,  Thomas  H.,  Vet.,  m  istor.' 1  out 

S.'pl.  X  '''*"*.  a-*  corpiral. 
Brewer,  1} -oree  L.    dielMiyH,  !<••;. 
Brewer.  Willia-n  T.,  disca  »v  -J  J.lly  I, 

ls;2:  dis.aiiilitv. 
Callin.  Eli,  killed  at  Shiloh.  April  n,  'i 
Drowry  William,  discharged  fir    d 

abilitv. 
Drowry,  Michael,  dijd  April  21,  18.1 


.lohn.  Vet.,  mustered  out  Sept. 
I8ri6,  as  sergeant 
Hicks,  Andrew  J.,  Vet.,  mustered  out 

S*--p. '"»,  IS  '.."»,  as  corporal. 
Kulili,    Ad.iui.  tra:is.  to  2d  U.  S    C»v  , 

Jan.  — ,  ISitl. 
Loos,  Henrv,  died  Feb.  17, 1804. 
.Misspluv.    Acan.,   Vet.,  mustered  out 

Sep.  0,  l80.->. 
Munilih',  John,  Vet.,  killed  at  Pleasant 

Hill,  La.  Apr. I '.I,  l.s  1 
PredoMi.  Joseph,    Vet.,  mustered  out 

S 'Ot.  II,  l.Hio. 

2.    Slioily,  Totield,  mustered  out  Jan.  9, 


18; 


stered  out 


Wilson,    Robert,    Vet„ 

.Mept.  9,  IsiiJ. 

MUSrES  ROLL  COMPANY  I. 

Hill,    Edward,  mustered    out   Jau.  9, 


Arehihald,    W.    Thompson,    resigned 

March  •-•s.  I8H2. 
Thomas,  Alexander,  killed  August  13, 

1802. 

Steond  Lit'HletttttitM. 
Oearse    W.   Brewer,   honorably    dis- 

char.:C!d  .March  21,  '05. 
Absalom    W.  Johnson,  mustered  out , 

(as  scrgt.)  Sept.  n,  1803. 

Scrgtant 

April  7,  1S02. 

Corportd*. 
Samiel  B.  Smith,  died  at  Shiloh,  April 

14, 1.SS2. 
John    L.  Gray,  mustered   out  Jan.    9, 
1805,  AS  sergt. 

Prirnif*. 

.Anderson,  Jamca  W.,  discharged  June 

5,  IS62. 
.Ager,  Goorjre,  mustered  out  .Ian.  0, 1SG5 
Bovil,  Jasper,  died  at  Chester,  Tenn., 

SJay  I,  ISi;2. 
Bovd,  .lames,  mustered  out  Jan.  9, 1805. 
Cox,  .Vbsalom  M.,  mustered  out  Jan.  9, 

1S05. 
Cochrane,  James  T.,  died  at  home  Nov. 

W,  ls02.  I 

Drews     Daniel,    Vet.,    mustered    out    Wilson,  James  M.,  missing  in  action  at 


Hofiil,  James,  Vet.,  mustered  out  Sept. 
9,  1805,  as  sergeant. 

Irwin,  John  C,  mustered  out  Jan.  9, 
1 80V 

Jaines,  Francis,  died  .Vug.  15, 1802. 

Lincoln,  James  H.,  died'atCamp  But- 
ler, 111.,  March  a,  1802. 

Lyie,  Jame.s  discharged  .April  15,  1804; 
wound.*. 

William  J.,  mustered  out  Jan.  9, 

trans,  to  non-com. 

stair,  Jan.  I,  IS02. 
Mi-Nahh,  Lewis,  died  at  Camp  Butler, 

111.,  Jan.  S,  1802. 
McUinnis,  Tli.nnas. 
Nesbit,  Robert,  Vet.,  eergt.,  died  Dec. 

21,  ism ;  wounds. 
Nelson,  John,  discharged  Dec.  31, 1803. 
Stewart.  Lewis  K.,  killed  at  Fort  Doncl- 

son,  Feb.  13,  1802. 
Tavlor,  Peter  .\.,  discharged    Dec.  30, 

l'8<'i:l;  disability. 
Ulrich,  Joseph,  mustered  out  Jan.  9, 

181.5. 
Vansickle,  George,  Vet.,  mustered  out 


Wo 


.  9.  1805. 


Scpt^  0,  l.sr.5,  as  corporal, 
Gibson,  John,  mustered  out   Sept.  9, 

1805. 

Banowin,  Owen,  drowned.  Fort  Donel- 

son,  Feb.  211,  IS02. 
Hachtnaa,   Pi'tor,  Vet.,  mustered  out 

Sept  9,  180.5,  as  corpl. 
Hall,  .lohn,  discharged  Sept  29, 1802; 

wounds. 


Shiloh,  Auril  7,  1802. 
Youn*.  Andrew  H.,  mustered  out  Jan. 

9,  1805. 
Young,  James  M.,  mustered  out  Jan.  9, 

1805. 

raojii^ited  ItecruUs 
Dagett,  William  R.,  mustered  out  Aug. 

21 ,  180.5. 

Little,  Samuel. 


MEN    FROM    RANDOLPH  COUNTY. 

Colontli.  j  iiViiii».iiil-&liiKl. 

„       ,     ,  „    J.  E.  Ganen,  M.  O.  (.Major)  Sept.  9, 1865 
William  R.  Morrison,  Res.  Dec.  13, 1802 1  v      j     ;       f      . 

Wm.  P  Moore,  M.  O.  (LieuU-Col.)  Sep.  I  ^'J'"- 

9, 1805  I  Thos.  W.  Morgan,  hon.  dis.  Jan.  5,  1804 

SOS-COilMISSIOSED  STAFF. 
SerjMnl-.Vy'ir.— Abram  Horine.M.O.  out  Sept.  4, 1804 
Q.  M.  *r^iiJ.— Edward  Niion,  M.  O.  Sept.  4.  1804 
Oimini/vury  !<<,,jeaid.— Anton  T.  Hess,  M.  O.  .Sept,  4,  1804 
Principal  Jfwiciaw.— tie'irge  Lnnipkins,  M.  O.  M.iy  22,  I8(il 

William  Loliuk,  prom.  Ist  Lt.  01st  U.  S.  C.  I.  July  1, 1803 

MUSIEE  BOLL,  COMPASY  A. 

'  Second  LteuUnajtlM. 

Wm.  H.  Rogers,  K.  in  the  baU  of  Shiloh 
Abram  Chalfin,  .M.  O.  Sept.  9,  1805 

FirU  SergeauL 
Wm.  Rainor,  mustered  out  Sept.  9, 1805 
Nich.  C.  Chester,  died  May  3,  1802,  of  :  Scrgtanti. 

wounds    received  at  Ft.  D  (nelson,     E.  W.  Charles,  discharged  Dee.  In,  1802 
Feb.  li,  1S02  Joshua    Patty,    died  at  Savannah.   T. 

Andy  K.  Dament,  on  deta'-'hed  service  !         April  :i,  1S02 
at  muster  out  of  Regiment  I  Louis  Schneider 

•26 


Oiplaix. 
William  Cogan,  M.  O.  Sep.  9,  1805 

First  Licultnaatt. 


CoiyoraU.  I  Kcnnyon,  Abbey,  Vet.,  M.  0. 8ep.9, 1805 

John  Ijtne  I  Lovtel,  Napoleon,  dis.  fur  wounds 

Daniel  Hughes,  died  at  Columbus,  III.  1  Moser,  Henry 

June  0.  IS02  Meyer,  Win.,  k.  Shiloh,  April  t.,  1302 

Louis  St.  Tlininas,  Vet.,  mustered  out    .Marien,  Puiri.  k 

Sept.  •.',  l.sOi.  as  Sergt.  Murphy,  Jer.,  Vet.,  M.  O.  Sept.  '.1,  1805 

Thomas  Biirnes,  Vet.  S'rgt.,  killed  at    SIull,>n,Clias  ,  diseh.  to  rec.lve  prom'n 

Nashville,  Tenn.,  Dec  1.5,  lso4  ;  .McAdam,  Saiiil.,disch.  Apr.  13,  I8ia  dis. 

John    SinitUsehneider,    Vet.,  died  at     Melrus.ii,  J.  d.  Savannah,  T.  Ap  .3,  1802 

Vicksliiiig,  June  5,  1804  Nolan,  .lohn.  Vet,  M  O  Sept.  9,  lonS 

Richard  .MoSett  '  1  Neil,  Osiar,  Vit.  .M.  O.  Sept.  9,  1805 

p„.,„^  r.iwell.  Will,  diseh  June  22.  1802 

,,,      ,.        ,  ,.■  .  „       .  '  R.-ters,  M  Vet.  Corpl.  M.  O  Sept.  »,  1865 

Allerdine,  Lawrence,  Vet.  Sergt.  Robinson,  Thos.  k    Ft.  Doiu.'i;on  Feb. 

Iio.;bs,  \\  ,k.  Ft  Diiiels.iii,  F-b.  II,  1802,         |,   ig,\, 

Hiiniiaii  Patii  -k,  k.  Shil.n  Apr.  0,  lsr,2    (i„i„i.'j.  'rfiad.  .1.  St.  Louis,  Mo.  May  20, 
H.ik.r,  Daliiil,  Vet  ,.M    O.  S   pt    ^1,  IJOj  1  isi  •■  winiinls 

Uihries,  N.lsoii,  Ver.,  M.  o.  ^iep.'i,  isia  I  r  .v„old'.  Tli.'nivs  J 
BurroUKh,  Samu.l,  dlsch.  June  13,  1802  |  u,.^„,    |/,„i,_  v,'t.   M.  O.  Sept.  9,  1805 
BaU.r,  Hemy  smith,  l'inli|.,  .M.  O.  Sept.  '.1.  ISO.'. 

C^Ig^li!  MleCl,  Vet.,  M.  a  9ep.9,  1805    ^^lllS.ier  'w'.MeMn^r'"-  "'  '"^ 
Cann.Wm.M.,  d.  at  Ca.iip  Butler  III., '  smith,  H.  d-i'l,.  .\|„-.  ji,  isci;  disab'ty 
IViiv.  7,  18  I  .S.'hwiiitti  .hi-tin   Vet    \l  t)  Si'p  u   18i.5 

Carr,  Milt  .11,  died  at  Camp  Butler,  III.,  '  .Siiii.,^.,,i,  'wui  .1  *at  hiii'ui'   Nov  'a*'  1801 

^' "    '■'  Tri.siliaii',  S.  ui.l'is.-h.  .Mav'.\  isisl   '        ; 

T.irner.  J.  <1.  .Mound  City  .Mar.  10,  1802 

wounds 
Tureott.  George,  Vet. 
Tikeviver,  Lou 

"   "  1805 

lsi;5 
Butler,  III., 


D.Muint,    Will.,  diseh.  Oct.  6,  1802 
Demar.  uhas.,  d  Sell  for  wounds 
Daniur,  William,  Vet. 
Ella,  .Morilz 


mis,  .Is  k.  Ft.  Diielson  Feb.  II,  1,802    withrow,  .\.  J.  Vet.  M.  O.  Sep. 
>etll.-,  t.,  .1.  I  amp  ButUr,  111.,  Nov.  24    Wilt,  llani.  I,  M.  O.  Sept.  9,  ISIk 
''.'    „       ..  ^  „     .  ■  ,„..   t„  WitM-.iw,  J.  J.  il.  at  Camp  Bu 

ass.  A,  Vet,  M.  O.Sept.  9,  1805,  Wagr  I  Nov.  In  l.sr,l 


,  Vet.  M.  0.  Sept.  9,  ISC5 


khn,  Vi  t. 
,.|,  H  -ni-v  "  i  liixraits. 

Hill,  lieWaJn',  Vet.  M.  O.  Sept.  9, 18.T5       Carr,  Bartlett,  d.  Camp  Butelr,  III.  Feb. 
Hill,  II.,  d.  Louisville  Ky.,  May  14,  ISS2  8,  Isii2 

Heii.li  r,  Kr.d.  Vet.  I  Kriblw,  Peter,  M.  O.  Nov.  IS,  >8C4 

Hinton,  William  1  Kidd,  S.  k.  Shiloh  April  0,  1802 

Kellx,  J.  W.,  Vet  M.  O.  Sep.  9, 1805 Scrgt  I  Stinsoii,  .Martin,  Vet.  M.  O.  S--pt.  9,  1865 

MCSTER  r.OLL,  COMl'ASy  B. 
Ca,iiaiii«.  G.ildin,  Ams.,  diseh.  Mar.  20,  18i3.-  disb 

John  L.  Stanley,  t;nm  expired  as  1st    l|'""'"p  [■"'•'"li.  V-t.  .M.o.H.  pt.  9,  ib05 

Lieut.  Jan.  '1,  l.siB  Hale.unb,  Is.iae.  died  Apr.  2s,  Isoj 

Andrew  J.  Metiregor,  »L  O  as  2d  Lieut.  '  ■'V™'}-  D-mlilis -li.  .Mar.  2,  l.si..i;ilisab 
Vuc  11   lsO.-i  Kiik,  Jim.  \it.  M.  o.  s-pt.  ;i,  l.so,  Corp 

.lUfc.  11,  1  0.1  J     1^^^^  H.iirv,  M.il.  Jan.v,  Is,.",  "^ 

Ft fut  Lieutenant,  Livers,  l.rati'k-r,  ilied  ,\pr.  l;i.  1S02 

James  P.  Bums,  died  April  1,  1802  Lewis,  Biirtwiii.'lu-.l,  date  ilii'klii.wn 

s«o„d  LU..>. /.  !-.'^''>-  ^■'.'^■.  ■.''-■)'•  "-'■■  '■-.  '••< 


Ml 


.  11.  lll-l'll.  Jll 


thv  W  Blanchard,  M.  O. 
Sept.  9,  1S05 

Ru/  55r7nn.ll. 
Saml.  T.  Agnew,  discli.  Aug.  11,  \i&2; 
disability 

Sergcftnts. 
Saml.  Smith,  diseh.  Aug.  %\  1802;  di9.ah. 
Frs.  .M.  Viiris  M  O.  Jan.  9, 1805  1st  Serg 
Samuel  Carlton 

Corfutrntt, 
J.  P.  Smith,  pro.  Scrgt.  d.  5rar.  20, 1803 
Edwin  R.  Rusk,  died  .Viiril:i,  I8i;:| 
William  .M.artiu,  M.  O.  Jan.  9, 1805  „.     , 

Jim  E.  Fosl<r,  diseh.  Sep  0,  lsi;2  disab.     »,  •'.' ', 
Uriah  ONeil.  sent  to  Lunatic  Asylum, 

D.  C,  Aug.  02 
Ja.  U.  Bryan,  diseh.  Sep.  4, 1802 ;  disab 


,  Ni 


MusUinn. 
r,  kill'.'d  at  Uendersoni 

I.  21,  1302 


.^l.  V.  I.  Win.,  tl.  nil  r.  .S.  (.HV.  Jan. 
.N.-tt.  J.s..  V>|.  diseh.  IVb.  1:1   ISM  disb 
Puk.tl.  .las.  .M.,  Ist  .S.ivt.  dlsch.  .Vug. 

II,  l.s.',3:.lisal>llilv 
P.att  rs.iii,  Jas.  Il.s<-rgt.  diseh.  Nov.  S, 

IsOi;  disal.ililv 
Pease,  lia\  id.  .M.  b.  June  29,  KSr^ 
Kolili.  William,  died  Sipt.  21.  HA 
.«ho.ik.  «  111.  .M.  dis.  June.  I'l.  l.s.,-.i ;  disb 
Si.in.  IIv..  V.l.  .M.  I".  .S,  |.l.  11.  IsiiO  Oirp 
.Sulivaii.  Il-7.ekia!i,  diseh.  July  2:1,  180^ 

disaliililv 
Sivilis,  Hariisiin,  dis.  Dee.—  lsi;2;  disb. 
Turk.  Joseph  I"..  .M.  1).  Jan.  9,  1»05 
III-,  .li.-.l  .Ian.  1:1,  IS02 
.-...liid  I'.li.  14,  Is.;.!:  wounds 
uilliains,  L..reiizo  1 1..  \\-t.  drowned  in 

lied  river,  .\]iill  4,  l.sol 
Williams.  Edwar.l  Y..  .lii.j  Fib.  19,  I8G2 
Welch,  Frk.  Vet.,  M.  O.  Sept.  9,  1805 


iinds 


Frifnt€S. 


Baker.  Robt.  dis,  Nov.  25,  1802: 
Davis,  Tliuin.is.  .M.  U.  S.^t.  9,  lsi.5 
,  Green,  James  iM..  died  Aoiil  2.s.  ISia 
bers,  Jefferson,  died  Jan.  Isf,  1802    Giirr.tt,  l"ie<lei  i,k,  .M.  (i,  .laii,  9. 1805 
Harli.w,  J..S..  died  at  home,  Nov.  7,  1803 
Lawrenie.  .Mai  'in  <;.,  .M.  1  >.  S.pt.  9,  IBi'iS 
Miller,  Freeman,  died  at  Camp  Butler, 


Crow,  .lohn  W.  M.  Vet.  M.  0.  Sept.  9 

l8i'.*»  as  Sergt 
Crow,  Patrick,  »ii,seh.  .\pr. —  1802:  disab 


Dee 


.  isol 


Recruit. 


,  Hir.,  diseh.  May  2  i,  18ia:  disaby  ,  Reviiolds,  Joshua  II.,  diseh.  Oct  8, 18C2 
Dains,  J.,  Vet  M.  l>.  Sept  9,  1805  Sergt  I         disaliilitv 
Deal,  Frederick,  M.  O,  Sept.  9,  1805         |  Smith,  John',  M.  O.  Jan.  9, 1805 
Erviiis,  James,  died  at  home  Shake,  Christian 

Eicholts,  .M.  diseh.  Mar,  12, 1803;  disab, ,  Walton,  J.  B,,  d.  Camp  Butler,  Dec.  7, 
Greer,  Lemuel  |         I8GI 

MUSTER  nOLL,  COMPANY  E. 
FiriraU.  1 

McTigue,  Thos.  Vet  M.  O.  Sept  9, 1805  I  Thompson,  Joseph 
Mb'STEB  noi.L,  COMP.VSY  F. 
Fa-sl  Lieut  nam— L.  It  H.  Dohbleman,  re.«.  Dec.  11,  ISCt 
MUSTER  ROLL  COMPANY  H, 
CnplaiH.  I  Umician. 

Jacob  Fisher,  m,  o.  Sept,  9, 1805. 

First  Liaticnaata. 
Service,  Sonday 
Edward  Latsch, 
Sept  9, 1805. 

Second  Lieutenant. 
Daniel  Stein,  m,  o,  as  srgt.  Sept.  9, 1805. 

^ir«i  Serijentit. 
Bernard  Lofiiik,  trs.  bv  pro.  to  2d  W. 
Tenn.  iuft  July  1,1803. 


nliimer,  pro.  pr 
nft  July  I,  1803. 
/Viroi  s. 
aa  2d  Lieutenant  1  *'''«•  Looiiard,  m.  o  Nov.  22,  1804. 
Armstrong.  Michael,  vt 
1  Arms,  Liwis,  m.  o.  U.r 
Bail 


o  Sep,  9, '05. 
•irl,  as  crpl. 
Biiuin,  George,  m,  o.  Nov.  22,  '04,  as  crpl. 
Rose,  Peter,  m.  o  Nov,  22.  •04,  as  erpl. 
Bow,  Joseph,  died  at  Vksbg,,  .Mr.  4,  '04. 
Ilrc-er,  Nielmbis,  .lied  at  Paducah  Ap. 

7,  1842;  wounds. 
Buchard,  Flank,  m.  o.  Nov.  22, 1804. 


220 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,-  MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


MUSTER  r.oil,  riiMi'ANY  A. 
OiBtoim-. lames  L.  Mnnn,  r.-siL-n.  .1  M.iu  li  II.  Isi :). 

Samuel  T.  J<.n.>.-,  IicmiumIU-  .1  i^.i,;im.  ,1  Mav  l.'i,  1S6S. 

Haivey  Clfiid.  iifii,  Jii.l  .  i  wn.HMi-.  July  111,  l«i;4. 

Goodwin  Scuamor.',  niustered  out  i,!i»  l8t  Lleul.)  Ju.ie  10,  1805. 
First  leuiciiaiii— James  L.  Bruwn,  mustered  out  (as  Serel.)  Juno  10, 18CS. 
B.con  t  Lieut iiani— John  Criley,  mustered  out  tts  Sergt.)  June  10, 18H6. 
SergeunUi—Jfifi.  D  Man-kfr,  reded  to  ranks,  died  at  New  Albany,  Ind.,  May  S,/fi3 


Elis,  Till 


,  IHIIS 

Tiidu 


need  to  ruulis;  wounded  at  Redaca,  Ga.,  M.  O. 

di-i'ha'fred  Aue.  n,  isr,;!.    Disaliilily. 

i-irr,-,l  out  June  u  1.  IMi:i.     Wouuded. 

li.i  ■■■  I    •!■  .'Ill    I'.ui.     Di-ability. 


n,  discharged  M  ly  1:1,  l«<i3.     Di 


Ulark,  redai 

>wn,  died  at  Murtr 


.,  April  6,  1SC3. 
ability. 


Hn 


Jat 


2,S,   ISGJ, 


Bi.rli,   Jolili,   di 

Corpl.    Dl^abllity. 
BarlA,  Phihp  11.,  M.  O.  June  10,  18  ;.-.. 
Beckett,  Jidin    F.,   diM;li.    Nov.    ISliJ. 

lii^alulity. 
rrilev,  Cyiu.s  M.  O.  June  10, 1SC5. 
Clendenen,  Moses  W.,  Iransf.to  N.C.S., 

St  pt.  lS(i:i. 
Childers  Sam'l  W.,  died  at  Clialtanoo- 

ga,  M» 


i(,  M.  O.  Junj  10,  18C5. 
esboro.  Ton  i.,  Feb.  2, 18(13. 

Miller,  Mathias,    died    Mumlordville, 

Kv.Nov.  .-i,  18r.2. 
McKiuna,    Hugh,    killed    at    Lovejoy 
!      St ...  G.I..  Sept.  2,  1804. 
Mrli.uiul.l.   .I:ir,,li,   uicd  at  CavB  City, 

Kv  ,  .\mi    jj,  iw;-). 
Muiiii,  .I.uiuilmii  IS.,  M.  O.  June  10, '05, 

M.Mill.  II.  ,I..lir.  \V.,  absent,  wounded, 

III  .M.  II  -1  IJix't. 
M"iii..  Ml  -lex.M.C).jHnelli,'6.i. 
I'liu,-,  V.iiirnt,  M.  O.  June  10, '05. 

usi.  to  V.  R.  C.  Feb. 


C  mil 
M. 


II  . 


sent  wounded  at 
at  Murfreesl  oro, 
lied  at  Mumford- 


i.,eDl  sick  at  M.O. 


Jerinu,. 

of  K.ninniil 
John.-ton,  JucI,  M.  n.  June  10, 180,-.. 
Jcrnigau,  Alleu,  M.  O.  June  10, 1805, 

Corporal. 


/cnkiii-.  Ill 
Ke 


M 


W 


<  lo.isn.i 


Sim.in.s,  Edward,  M.  O.  Juno  in,  '05,  as 

Coipl. 
.Siuiiiii-r,  Jn^epli,  M.  O  June  In,  180.1. 
Mlu|  -I  u,  .l;iti:es  G.,  M.  O.  June  10,  '05, 

u.  C.-li.!. 

.^iliiiiti-,  I  liiiil..sA,died  Reedyville, 

■\.  Ill,  .  M:,i,  h  in,  'ivi 
rii.ii  II.    II.  i  i\    K     .liiii  at  Murfrecs- 

1  I  I        I  ■  :   :        M  .!.  II   li  .  1803. 

•Ill,  11  :..    1  ,    ,     ■   ■    Mil  June  lo,'0.5. 
Villi  111  III  I    I-i.ii^-.  M   O.June  10, 'US, 

Wood,  John  M.,  M.  O.  June  10,  '05,  as 

Corporal. 
Wilson,  Johnson,  M.  O.  June  10,  '05,  as 

W  .  11-    I, ,111.  -  H.,  died  atMurfroeslioro, 

li  nil  ,  Allll  J,  '0:1. 

\\  liihlini-t  ,  .l.iseph,  died  at  Murfrees- 


Mu 


iilordville 


Wllsoi 
Childo 


Harvey,  M.  O.  June  10,  'C,i. 

ii.cn/i7. 
s,  Jolin  B.,  M.  O.  June  10,  '05. 


Beiiehcamp,  Henri 
Kv.,  M.av  7,  Lson. 

Eilernian,  Geoii£e, 
Ky.,  Nov.  il,  ISOJ 

Grumer,  Andrea.-, 
Feb.  lo,  '04. 


Ml'STEK    ROLL   COMI'ASY    C 
Prhai,t. 
iied  at  I'aducali, 
ed  at  Louisville, 
anf.  to  V.   R.  C, 


,  M.O.  June  10, 1805. 

O.  June  in,  1.S05. 

rd,  disoh.  Aug.  31,  ' 


.icn,  Cliri.~tia 
MUSTtR  ItOLL  CO.Ml'AXV   D. 


Captains. 
Carter,  C.  Wm.,  Resigned  March  15. '03.  i 
James  Neville,  disci, .  Sept.  2-1.  1804.         | 
Tlln-a    W     Scgar,    hon.   disch.    (us    2d  i 

Lieut.)  Mav  V.,  isr.i. 
Daniel  McKinzie,M  O.  (as  1st  Lieut.)  | 
June  10,  1805 

First  Lindemnit . 
John  F.  Heitman,  M.  0.  (as  Serg  )  June 
10, 1805 

SecouA  Lientennt.t.  i 

Alex.  VnnKendle,kil'd,hat.  Oct.  R,  18(12 
Nicholas  B.  Jones,  M.O.  serg.  June  lll,'G5 

First  Sfiv/eio.l. 
George  Heitman,  M.  O.  June  10, 1805. 

Payton  C.  Jones,  disc.  June  28,  '03,  as  1 

sergeant 
Ephraim  Rockwell,  disc  Sep.9,'03idis. 

Cur,rorali. 
Nicholas  B.  Jones,  M.  O.  Juno  10,  ISriS. 

as  serg. 
J   A  Dare,  serg.  died  at  Murfreesborn, 

Feb.  l-','03 
D.  H.  Milliuin,  serg.  died  Cliatlanonga, 

Not.  n, '03 
John  E  Morris,  M.  O.  June  10.  'oSsei  «. 
Christie  Hughes,  M  O.June  lii,'iv,,|iriv. 
John  Wassel,  kil'd  Perryville,  lvy.,Oct. 

S,  '02 
Adam  Douglas,  disc.  June  20,'03:  disab 

Wngonfr. 
Jfts.  Rayum,  died  Louisville,  Ky.,  Sept. 


,  M. 


disnb. 


rp    all. 


inil.inlville, 

loiinded,  M. 

ili«c    Jan.  1, 'o:l;  disab. 
I,  M.  II.  .Iiinelo,  '65 
hiiiii,  disc.  Aug.  :•>,  '04; 

s  \V.,  d  Louisville,  Ky., 

J.,    d    Mumfordville, 

y  L.,  (r.  to  V.  R.  C.  Oct. 

m,  ciirp.  d  at   Marietta, 


iliiam  A.,  M.   O.  Ju 

ral 

.Willis,  d  Cnstiiiioi 


r  pris.  tr.  to  V.  R.    Ro 


Ingram,  Robert  H.,  \ 

C.  May  3,  '04 
Jondron,  liotesc,  disc.  July  C,'0:i;  disab. 
Johndr.in,  Eli,  d.  at  Nashville,  Tenu., 

AubE    14  '03 
Jondrnn.'jatne.s,  M.  O.  May  31, 'M  I  Snuil,.  1  ,,«vli   M.O.  June  10,  '0.1,  crp. 

■ick,  tr.  to  V.  K.  C.  Feb.   S.iwer,  Jacob,  Jl.  O.  June  10,  '05;  wnded. 


I  k,  Henrv  A.,    died   Mumford- 
Kv  ,  Ni.\!  20, '02 
III  i|.  ink  J.,  M.  0.  June  10, '05; 

,11.  H.il.i  ri,M.  O  June  lo,  '05 


c,  Fr, 


Ludres,  Frederick,  d.  Nashville,  Tenn., 

April  s,  'oa 
Menaid,  Joseph  A  ,d.  at  GaIlali,Tenn., 


M,Fii,l,len,  Charle.s,  M.  O.  June  lo,  '05 
Marrlin,  William  C,  d.  Gallatin,  Tenn., 


laus,  Frederick,  t.ans.  to  V.  R.  C. 

,t.  In,  ■04 

r.  W  iUiam  N.,  M.O.Jnne  10,'6o,as 

.s',"william  R.,  M.  O.  June  10, '05 
hart,  Augustus,  killed  at  Retaca, 
,  May  14,  '04 


iir-ton,  killed  at  Kenetaw 

'I,  111 

.  William,  M.  0.   June  10, 
li'il 

I,    liottleib,  Corp.,  died    at 
-.11,  .luuelO,  0:i| 
111.  iliedat  Perryville,  Ky., 
.  Hounds 


ji\,.|v,  ,Ii,in,s    U,corp.,  died  Spring- 

ficl.i.  III.,  April  0,  '04 
Jarlen,  .liiliii  M  ,died   at  Chattanooga 

June  '25,  '04;  wounds 


MUSTER  BOLL  com;>a: 


Captains. 

John  Hood.hon.  disc.  Lieut.  May  15,'i,5 

Thomas  F.  Alexander,  M.  O.  as  scrgt. 

June  ■u,'05  I 

First  LieHleumil. 

Goo  W.  Clark,  M.  O.  sergt.  June  10,  '06 

Second   Lieutnwiil. 
Albert  Foster,  resigned  ;january  24,  '03 


John  Willi( 

C'or^jonds. 
Thomas  Brown,  disc.  March  7,'63;  disab. 
William  O  Arnette,  disc.  June  8,  '03 


Haverficlil,  John  L.,ab.  sick,  M.  O.  reg. 
Hciiipliill.  Matthew  R.,M.  O.  Junelo,'06 


i.ilin  A.,M.  O.June  10, '05 
1..  l;..l,  1,  M.O.June  li','iAcorp 
lui,  Lorp'l.,  tr.  to  V.  R.C.  May 

John,   wounded  ;    drowned 
lier  HI,  1804 

iVilliiiMi.  disc.  Jan.  n,'63;  di.sab. 

Ill-  I    .Mil    .UilielO,  '05,  serg. 

II    11     \".  l; C.  Sept.  15, '04 


Call" 

Dal 

Dunn 


EwiiiL-,  .lulu,  >  l:  .  lii-c.  for  disability 
Edgai.  li.hus  W.,  M.   O.  June  lo, '05  ; 


orp. 


Real 


.loh 


Firat  Lienlemnits. 
I  W.  McCormack,  resig.  Apr. 


1-Mwin  K.  Fo-ler,  rcsig.  April  II,  'i 
iscpli  T.  fhajubcrs,  M.  O.  serg.  . 
Ill, '05 

Seioud  Licvlenniils. 
•illiiiui  IT.  Ml  ll'll,  linn.disc.May  1.5,'05    n 
mill  I..  F.  Chambers,  M.O.  Juuel0,'G6    II 


,  Rob't,  tr.  38  III.  M.  0.  Mar.20,'l6 

Ml'STER  ROLL  COMPANY    G. 

!  Crawford,  James  H.,  died  at  Nashville' 
"       n.,  March  10,  l.si;3 

r,  James  A.,  died  at  Murfrees- 
I,  Teuu.,  April  0,  lso:l 
•  Dickcv,  James  A.,  M.  O.  June  10, 1805 
'06  '  Dobbiiis,  Andrew,  crans.  to  38  HI. 

Diiv,  John 
ne    F,.--ti  r,  Andrew  G.,  M.  O.  June  In,  '05 
Fosicr  William,  M.  O.  Jiinelo.'BS:  wn.Id 
Glisten,    David,     died     Mumfordville, 


III., 
Wlllii 


First  fr>i,;e«iit. 
.  Burns,  M.  O.  June  10,'G5;  wnd'd. 


Ha 


Sergeant. 
Iliam  H.  Frazier,  disi 
Usability 

Corjtorals. 


May!),  1805:    Kirkpi 


sHa 


lilti^n.di, 
,.„1,  M    I, 


Jail 


Jam, IS  .1.  Ln.l.v.  M.  n  .hi 

J/n,MC..ni. 
James  E.  Little,  M.  O.  Ju 

Piiralc. 
Aihutr,  F.zekiclC,  di, 


Bnvil.L, 


John   I;..  M 


le  10, -05:  scrgt 
il.i.lii.-ii.-i:  wild 
\  .  n.  C.  Peb- 

iiit  JuiielO.'CS 
I.  .lime  in,  TiS 
■111  lie  111,1805 
1  I  Inc.  10,1805 
Sin.  111.1803 


','.-;ui.-lidcd 
IT.  ls,;:i. 

,t.\ilslivillc, 
Louisville, 
Louisville, 

!S,'l'.ldi,-bltv 


ilX 


Brooks,  John,  M.  O.  Ju 


niSTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


221 


»terO(loutM»vl(!,'C3  i  While,  Nnthnn  A.,  diec.  March  17, 1SG1. 
M  <>  June  10,  lKll.i  I  WilU-y,  Alexander,  died  nt  GiilUitin, 
'    'lifd  ftt  Murfiees-l     Teiin.,  iJecember  2:i,  ISti/. 

i,iy27,  isia  I 

\i.,  died  at  Chatta- 


liecri.Us. 


Sto%,ii-.n  Willi  iiiii,..M  O.  June  1(1, '65    Adlison,  David  J.,tran.  to  38  111.  Inftrv, 
Spin, IIP.  K. hi;. 1,1  .1  .  iljcd  at  Louisville,  I      M.  O.  Feb.  7,  ls6i;. 

Kv,  I  iri,.l,,  1  IT,  Isi.-J.  I  Campbell,   Louis   F.,  trans,  to  33   III. 

Thi.Tii|,.^.,n.  Kill..- 1 1  1 1. .M.  CI.  June  10, '6.5  1      Inltrv.  M.o.  Kel.niRry  7.  WM. 
Tnvlo  ..l..-«|.|i.iniisi..|.  ilcutlne.  lo,'i,5    Dicilc.'v',  Milton  W.,  trans. to  III.  Inftrv. 
Thoni)!-   II.  Si.inii.l  i;  .  M  M  ,li,no  \li,'r,5        M.  O.  N.iv. '^7,  ISG.'i. 
Tln.Tii,,-nii.s.unu.  I  II  ,M  "  .limeH),'i»    Wnlson,  William  C,  trans,  to  III.  In- 
Valenlm^,  .lam.s  II,.  ill-r,  ,liiiio  :!0,  '63        lantry  ;  M,  O.  Feb  7,  ISOO. 

EIGHTY-FIRST  INFANTRY. 
{'Ihree  YfOTg*  ^'m'icc.) 
This  regiment  was  organized  at  Anna,  Uni.m  county, 
Illinois,  in  August  1862,  in  pursuance  of  President  Lincoln's 
second  call  fur  volunteers.  James  J.  Dollins  was  chosen 
colonel ;  Frankliu  t'aiiipboU,  lieutenant  colonel  ;  A.  W.  Ro- 
gers, major  ;  W.  S.  Post,  chaplain  ;  Zibedee  Hammock,  ad- 
jutant ;  Dr.  Dver,  surgeon,  and  Dr.  Campbell,  assistant 
surgeon.  The  oaii  of  service  for  three  ytars  was  adminis- 
tered August  2Glli,  and  on  the  6th  day  of  September  the 
regiment  was  ordered  to  Cairo,  111.  Embarked  at  this  point 
for  Columbus,  Ky.,  October  the  8th.  On  the  9th  arrived  at 
Humboldt,  Tenn.  November  12th  went  by  train  to  La 
Grange,  Miss.,  and  was  assigned  to  the  Third  Brigade,  Colo- 
nel Stephenson,  Third  Division,  Gen.  John  A.  Logan,  Seven- 
teenth Army  Corps,  Gen.  James  B.  McPherson,  Army  of 
the  Tennessee,  Gen.  U.  S.  Grant.  November  28th  began 
the  Mississippi  expedition,  during  which,  till  February  19th, 
the  regiment  was  engaged  in  various  duties,  including  many 
long  and  weary  marches,  and  much  suffering  on  account  of 
exposure  and  short  rations.  February  20tii,  186.3,  it  broke 
camp  near  Memphis,  marched  to  the  Missis.>-ippi,  and  boarded 
the  fleet  for  Vicksburg.  On  the  23d  landed  at  Lake  Provi- 
deuce,  La.,  seventy-five  miles  above  that  city.  April  16th 
embarked  on  boats  down  the  river  landing  at  Milliken's 
Bend,  still  twenty-eight  miles  above  its  point  of  destination. 
Left  this  place  April  2.5ih  and  marched  overland  and  on 
the  28th  camped  about  a  mile  from  the  Mississippi,  and 
below  Vicksburg.  April  liOih  crossed  the  river  lauding  at 
Bruinsburg,  ]\Iiss.  May  1st,  participated  in  the  battle  of 
Thompson's  Hill,  near  Port  Gibson  Miss.  On  the  12th  did 
gallant  service  in  the  battle  of  Raymond.  The  regiment 
was  going  at  double  quick  to  assirt  the  Eighth  when  Gen. 
Logan  rode  up  and  shouted  "  Turn  back,  go  to  the  right  and 
flank  them."  They  obeyed  orders  and  a  signal  victory  was 
the  result.  As  they  were  passing  by  after  the  battle,  Logan 
sat  on  his  horse  observing  them.  One  of  the  boys  saluted 
him  with  "  Flank  'em.  General."  Logan  replied,  "That's  the 
way  to  do  it  boys,  flank  'em."  May  14th  the  regiment 
participated  in  the  scenes  that  resulted  in  the  occupancy  of 
Jackson  by  the  llnion  troops.  On  the  16th  met  the  enemy 
at  Champion  Hill  and  gallantly  repulsed  several  attacks 
upon  the  battery  it  was  in  possession  of,  and  also  did  other 
effictual  service.  On  the  19th  the  siege  of  Vicksburg  was 
begun  and  the  Eighty-First  formed  into  line  of  battle  On 
the  22d  it  participated  in  the  general  charge  on  the  (nemy's 
works,  losing  nincty-.M.'c  men -wounded.  Adjutant  Zebedee 
Hammock  and  Capt.  Ward  of  Co.  D.,  mortally,  and  eleven 
killed,  including  Col.  Dollins  and  Lts.  Warnock  and  Far- 
mer. June  24th  Lt.  Col.  Campbell  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  Colonel.     July  4th  the  regiment  participated  in  the 


cereroonits  attending  the  surrender  of  Vicksburg.  August 
21st  began  the  expedition  to  the  Washita,  which  ended 
September  2()ih.  Early  in  October  the  regiment  made  an 
expedition  to  Clinton  and  Canton,  fighting  most  of  the  way. 
November  13th  Gen.  Leggett  became  commander  of  the 
Third  Division,  in  place  of  Gen.  L  igan.  The  Greenville 
expedition  was  begun  Janiiary  10th,  1864.  It  was  fruitful 
of  small  results,  as  the  (nemy  had  left  the  country  before 
the  expedition  arrived. 

This  month  the  small-pox  broke  out  in  the  regiment  and 
several  men  died  of  it.  The  Eighty-First  was  not  allowed 
to  accompany  its  biigade  in  the  expedition  toward  the  Big 
Black  River,  early  in  February.  Was  engaged  in  the 
numerous  skirlni^hes  and  marches  of  the  Red  River  expidi- 
tion,  from  March  9th  to  May  24th,  when  it  airived  at 
Vicksburg.  Immediately  began  the  Guntown  expedition, 
and  in  the  battle  of  that  j)lace,  June  10th,  called  by  the 
enemy  Bryse's  Cross  Roads,  bthaved  with  signal  bravery. 
It  repulsed  charge  after  charge,  driving  the  enemy  from  the 
front.  It  was  the  last  to  leave  the  field,  maintaining  its 
position  till,  with  exhausted  cartridge  boxes,  it  was  out- 
flanked by  the  enemy.  In  the  second  charge  a  Rebel  color 
bearer  was  sh,>t  and  the  colors  captured.  On  the  morning 
of  the  12lh  the  regiment  arrived  at  Colliiisville,  twenty-five 
miles  from  Memphis,  with  a  loss  of  one  hundred  and  forty- 
one  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners,  out  of  three  hundred 
and  seventy-one  that  went  into  the  fight  on  the  10th.  Of 
the  prisoners,  the  privates  were  sent  to  Andersonville,  and 
the  officers,  seven  in  number,  to  Macon,  and  placed  in  Camp 
Oglethorpe,  as  the  prison  was  called,  where  we  will  leave 
them  at  present. 

The  regiment  remained  at  Memjihis,  after  its  arrival  from 
Guntown,  until  August  1st,  when  it  left  on  transports,  and 
went  up  the  White  River  to  St.  Charles,  Ark.  The  last  of 
the  month  they  moved  up  the  river  as  far  as  Augusta.  The 
boats  were  fired  upon,  but  none  of  the  Eighty  First  was  in- 
jur d.  Soon  ri-turned  to  Duvall's  Bluff,  and  took  the  cars 
for  Biownsville  Station,  Ark.,  where  it  remained  for  some 
time.  September  17th  it  engaged  in  Maj.  Gen.  Mower 'a 
expidition,  after  Price  and  Marmaduke,  through  Arkansas 
and  Missouri.  Marched  to  Cape  Girardeau,  Missouri,  a 
distance  of  three  hundred  and  fifty  miles  in  nineteen  days. 
Went  by  boat  to  Jefferson  City,  thence  by  cars  to  Otterville, 
and  marched  to  Warrensburg,  where  it  remained  for  some 
time.  Oct'dier  31st  took  the  train  for  Jefferson  City,  thence 
for  St.  Louis,  and  remained  at  the  Benton  Barracks  for  rest. 
November  23d  embarked  for  Nashvil'e,  Tenn.,  to  assist 
Thomas  against  Hood.  On  the  night  of  December  8th,  the 
steamer  "  Thos.  E.  Tutt"  reached  Fort  Donelson,  and  on 
the  morning  of  ihe  9ih  proceeded  up  the  river.  It  had  not 
gone  far  when  the  Rebels  opened  fire  upon  her,  disabling 
and  capturing  her.  Among  the  prisoners  were  six  belong- 
ing to  the  Eighty-First.  December  lOih  they  were  paroled 
and  allowed  to  go  to  Fort  Donelson. 

As  a  part  of  the  "  Detachment  of  the  Army  of  the  Ten- 
nessee," the  regiment  was  commanded  by  Gen.  A.  J.  Smith. 
December  15th  engaged  the  enemy,  and  on  the  16th  com- 
pleted the   wcjrk   of  defeat,  following  in   pursuit  as  far  as 


222 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


Clifton,  on  the  Tennessee  river,  where  the  regiment  em- 
barked for  East  Port,  Miss.  At  this  place  it  remained  for 
a  considerable  peri'  d  of  time.  February  1st,  1865,  went 
by  boat  to  Cairo,  111.,  and  thence  to  Vicksburg,  Miss,,  where 
it  remained  a  few  days  and  then  embarked  for  New  Orleans, 
La.  Here  the  troops  were  re-organized,  the  Eighty-First 
becoming  a  part  of  the  Sixteenth  Army  Corps,  assigned  to 
the  Third  Division,  commanded  by  Gen.  Carr.  March  5th 
left  New  Orleans  and  on  the  17th  disembarked  at  Dauphine 
Island,  and  remained  there  a  few  days  in  camp.  March 
24th  embarked  and  ran  up  Fish  river,  and  then  went  into 
camp.  Marched  toward  Spanish  Fort,  and  happened  upon 
the  enemy  in  ambush,  who  fired  upon  the  regiment,  con- 
sisting of  only  about  three  hundred  men,  but  were  quickly 
repulsed.  Left  Fish  river  on  the  26th,  and  marched  toward 
Mobile,  skirmishing  most  of  the  way.  On  the  morning  of 
the  27th  the  Eighty-First  were  deployed  as  skirmishers,  and 
marched  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  who  had  deserted  their 
camp.  They  fell  back  across  a  small  river,  emptying  into 
the  bay,  burning  the  pontoon  after  them,  and  poured  a 
desperate  volley  into  the  skirmishers  as  they  halted  at  the 
opposite  bank,  killing  one  man  and  wounding  three  others. 
The  fire  was  immediately  returned,  divesting  the  brush  of 
the  skulking  enemy.  From  10  o'clock,  on  the  morning  of 
the  26th  of  March,  till  nightfall  of  that  day,  the  regiment 
fired  l.'>,0()0  rounds  of  ammunition.  It  continued  skirmishing 
till  April  :!d,  when  it  was  ordered  to  take  its  position  in  the 
brigade  on  the  right  of  Spanish  Fort.  In  the  bombardment 
of  the  enemy's  works,  April  4th,  it  was  ordered  to  the 
skirmish  line,  where  it  lost  one  man  killed  and  one  wounded. 
Participated  in  the  charge,  made  April  8th,  on  the  Rebels' 
works,  capturing  seventy-three  prisoners,  besides  many 
small  arms,  and  sustaining  a  loss  of  six  men  killed,  and 
fourteen  wounded.  After  the  capture  of  Mobile,  marched 
to  Montgomery,  where  it  lay  until  the  latter  part  of  July, 
1865,  when  it  went  to  Vicksburg,  and  was  mustered  out  of 
service.  It  went  thence  to  Ciiicago  and  there  received  final 
payment  and   discharge. 

July  29th,  1864,  the  officers  of  the  Eighty-First,  pi isoners 
at  Camp  Oglesby,  Macon,  together  with  others,  were  sent  to 
Savannah,  where  they  remained  till  September  loth,  when 
they  were  transferred  to  Charleston  and  placed  in  the  jail 
yard.  September  25th  Capt.  Reese  and  Capt.  Bartleson 
managed  to  have  themselves  exchanged,  under  an  order, 
for  the  exchange  of  Sherman's  officers.  October  4th  an 
order  was  received  to  leave  for  Columbia,  South  Carolina. 
October  7th,  were  all  marched  across  the  Saluda  river,  and 
placed  in  custody  at  Camp  Sorghum,  as  the  prisoners  called 
it,  becau.se  that  plant  with  corn  bread  constituted  their  rations 
at  that  place.  Most  of  the  prisoners,  including  those  of  the 
81st,  had  not  tasted  meat  for  two  months.  February  14th, 
1865,  they  were  sent  from  South  Carolina,  where  they  had 
spent  five  months,  arriving  at  Charlotte,  North  Carolina, 
next  day.  On  the  19th  left  Charlotte,  arriving  at  Raleigh 
on  the  22d.  Were  paroled  by  the  Rebels  for  an  exchange, 
which  by  reason  of  circumstances  could  not  be  immediately 
effected.  The  exchange,  or  rather  the  parole  and  discharge, 
took  place  near  Goldsboro,  North  C-arolina,  March  1st,  1865. 


MES  FROM  PERRY  ( 
Cohnel.  I'','"" 

Franklin  Campbell,  resig'd. 


-  )[  ,  killedat  Vicka- 


»  20,  'G4 


Maja, 


James  P.  Cowan,  M.  O.  August  5, 18G5 

A'tjutant, 
Zeliedee  Hammock,  died  of  wounds 
May  29,  1803 

LoKan  H.  Roots,  promoted  by  the  Pres- 
ident .July  6,  181)4 

Lewis  Dyer,  mustered  out  August  5, '65 

Semnd  AssisUtul  Hiirgcon. 
Abel  Campbell,  died  May  27, 1864 

Chaplain. 
Willi 

NOS-COMMISSIONED    STAFF. 

Q.  M.  Sergeant. 

Charles  C.  Waples,  returned  to  Co.  A  as 

private  December  12, 18IJ4. 
Cyrus  Crogan,  M.  O.  August  6,  1805 

Commissary  Sergeant. 
George  W.  Ward,  M.  O.  August  5, 1865 

Principal  Musicians. 
Joseph  .\.  Weeks,  returned  to  Co.  C,  M. 

O.  August  5,  1S05 
Robert  liouston,  mustered  out  Aug  5,'65 

Capttiin. 
William  McNeil,  mustered  out  .\ug5,'Co 

First  Lieutenants. 
Samuel  Pavne,  resigned  Jan.  22, 1863 
John  B.  Kelley,  mustered  out  Aug. i,  '65 

Second  Lieutenant. 
Hugh  Warnock,  killed  in  battle  May 
22,  1863 


Kills  1',  ;.  ,  ,l|.r  h,n  11,  -1,3;  .lisablty 
Eat>n  Uc'ime  W,,  M.  t  >.  Aug  9,  ■65;serg 
Etherton,  Alouzo,  sergt.,  d'd  May  3U,'63; 

wounds 
Fitzgerald,  William,  died  at  Humboldt, 

Tehn..  April  ID,  1802 
Ferguson,   George,   sergt.,   mustered 

out  July  22,  1865;  prii 


Foster,  Pete 
Gleeson,  N)i')t<in 
Golden,  .b  Im  ^li 
Hunter,    \i      m 

Vioksbir  ,  M 
Hempler,  I'lHh; 
Hutchinson,  .loll 

May  23,  1863 
Harris,  William, 
Hansr.ird,  11. 
H:. IN. -11. .-I    .1 


St  5,  1865 
M    cl    August  5,  186.') 
■  Jiilv  J',,'!;:!;  disablty 
||  ,   .■orpl.,   killed 

,  .i:;i'.d  June  11, '64 
,  killed  at  Vicksburg 


11a 


itered  out  Aug  5,'65 
M.  O.  August5, '65 
■]ili  F.,  M.O.August  .V65 
I,  died  at  Marietta,  Ga., 
.1 
.1  M.,  corpl.,  captured 


Keith,  John  R..  killed   at  Champion 

Hills  May  17,  1863 
Kelbon,  EUsha(i.,  M.  O.  Aug.  5,'65;  corpl 
King,  James  U.,  M  O.  August  .■),  '65 
Keslin,  Larkin,  d.  Memphis  Feb  lo.'liS 
Kellog,  George  W.,  died  at  Cairo,  111., 

Oct.  2.5,  IS65 
Lonslev,  E.l«  in,  disc.  June  8, 1865 
Lii  .  ,  .N.  1    .1,,      rpl,,  killed  Aug. in, -64 
I.  .        \,      .     II,  died  al   Memphis 


,  Apr.  13,'6: 


sblty 


Leonard  Wella,  M,  0,  as 
Sergeants. 
George  Kirkbride, 
6,  1865,  as  private 
Leonard  T.  Ross,  disc.  Aug.  4,'C3] 

Corporals. 


■gt.  Aug5,'65 
uatered  out  Aug- 


,b.hii  I! 


I  Bishop,  fli.'f   f"' 


,  kilMf 


May  28,  Is 
Jordan,  0, 
17,  lnr..i  as 


7.I.,  M,  O.  July  22,  186,'), 


Jlllv  l.'-i,  186.i 


Smith,  John,  M.  O,  Aug.  5,  186.5 
Thomas,  Gillie  rt.disch.  Jan. ll,'05,di.sab. 
Tucker,  Joseph  A.,  M.  O.  Aug.  5,  ISCo 
Thompson,  Edward  R,,  died  at  home 

July  4, 1866 
Tli.Mua-,  \Vm.,  M.  O,  Aug.  5, 1865 
Ti.n.i.   W'li     ,|j«ili   ivlnr  31,'<',3,  disab, 

Ti     ■,     .    •,.  .,-1  i,t  hi. me  May  11, '65 

I  ;      ;    ,      I  .        i ;-.  h    l^'i..  .5,  '63,  disab. 


,  M, 


Wells,  John  H,.  M,0.  Aug.  n, '6.5,  corp'l 
.Veils    H.-nrv  C,  M,  11,  An::,  .5,  I860 

\V,„.t.ii   ,1  »  .1  ,  .1  ^.1..  Nov.  10.  1862 

\\  ,,.,1.  11'   w  111     K  ,   ■  ..p.. ml,   killed  at 
-ri.'.i^li  l'...i,   \ 1,  IS...'. 


.-.:  sergt 
..■ksburg, 

■ris,  mustered  out  May 
-geant :  prisoner  of  war 
reduced;  caiJtured  June 
1, 1864  ;  not  fieard  from  t-ince. 

3Insir.ian. 
Hanson,  A,  Young,  M.  O.  Aug  5, 186.5 

Wagoner. 
Jacob  Painter,  died  at  Benton  Barracks 
Mo,,  July  19, 1863  ;  wounds. 

Pricales. 
Booth,  Robert,  M,  O,  August  .5, 1865 
Bets,  Nicholas,  died  at  Vicksburg  July 

18,  1863. 
Baxter,  Nicholas,  M.  O.  .\ug  5,'65;  corpl 
Bell,  James,  killed  at  Vicksburg  May 

2:1,  1863 
Burgess,  Charles  B..  d.  Mav  28,'63;  wnds 
Brown,  Francis,  trans,  to  V.  R.  C.  Mar. 

15.  1865 
Burk,  Lewis,  died  at  Humboldt,  Tenn., 

November  1-',  1862 
Burr,  Ruins  H.,  d.  at  Memphis  Jan  0,'65 
Brown,  William  E.,  M,  O,  Aug,  .5,  1865 
Co,x,  James G,,  corpl,,  captured  June,'64 
Crogan,  Patrick,  M,  O,  August  .5,  I8r.5 
Cl.irey,  William  A,,  died  at  Memphis 

April  18,  lSO,i 
Cruger,  James  E,,  absent;  sick  at  M,  0, 

of  Rcgt, 
Denny,  Robert,  M,0,  Jne,17,'65:  pris  war 

MUSTER  ROLL  COMPANY  B. 
Jiccrui(«.— Kelcher,  Joseph  S,,  trans,  to  58  111,  Infantry, 

Reynolds,  Henry  3,,  died  in  Memphis,  Tenu.,  Fob,  14, 1865, 
MUSTER  ROLL  COMPANY  C, 

Madison  L,  Baird,  M,0,  (as  serg't)  Aug. 


M,  O. 


\\  I  i.^lii,  S.  Mil  II  ,  M  I'  \iii:  :.,  .-"..sfrg't 
Will,.  1,. Ill-  \  ,11,..!,-  \  Hi  1  1.  I . -'4, '62 
Veanan,  /.epiii.ias  b,,  li„o=.,  to  V,  B,  R, 

Ocl,  24,  1862 

Recruits. 
Church,  Robert  H,,  trans.  10  ,58  III,;  M, 

O,  April  1, 1806,  prisoner  war 
Keller,  John  A  ,  trans,  to  58  III, 

April  1,1866 
Provert,  Azariah,  corporal,  trans,  to  58 

III,;  M,  O,  April  1,  1866 
Thornton  Orsen  H,,  killed  at  Guntown, 

Miss.,  June  10,1864 
Wilks,  Richard  M,,  trans,  58  III,  Inft'y; 

d,  ai  Andersonville  prison  Feb,  1,  '65; 

grave  12 


Captains. 

John  C,  Armstrong,  resig'd  June  30,  '64 
Mort  mer  O,  Edwards,  M,  O,  Aug,  5, '66 

First  Lieutenants, 
Jac,  B,  King,  hon'bly  disch.  May  15,'65 
Andrew  Y,  jirown,  rt,0  (as  serg't)  Aug, 
5,  1865 

Second  Lieutenants. 
Thomas  B,  McClure,  died  Oct,  24, 1862 
Abraham  L,  Lippincott,  d,  of  wounds, 
Nov,  3,  1863 


5,  1865 

First  Sergeant. 
Louis  Trefftys,  reduced  to  ranks,  pro- 
moted corporal,  trans,  to  V,R.C,  Feb. 
24,  1864 

Sergeants. 

Umphry  C.  Kingsly,  died  at  Vicksburg, 

June  13,  1863 
James  B,  Alexander, disch,  July  6, 1865, 

wounded 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    I'ERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


223 


James  C.  MoMillan,  M.  O.  M»y  29, 18C5, 

John  H  '^Moure,  died  Humholdt,Tenn., 

Oct.  M,  186:! 

Cojyorals. 
John  F.  Brown,  d.  May  2X,a,  wounded 
Newron  \.  Brown,  d.  Lagrange,  TeUD., 

Not.  Zi,  isia 
William  H.  Burk 
.Andrew  A.  .\lesander,  M.  O.  Aug.  5, 

iHik"!,  as  private 
Willinni  .StronK,  trans,  to  7th  Mo.  Vols. 
Jos.  J.  Kinc  >f  l>.  Maya,  'iv'i.pris'r  war 
John  K.  Darrough,  discli.  Dec.  17, 1SG2 


Wagoner. 
Hugh  R.  Durrsugh,  M.  O.  Aug.  5,  ISlii 

Prirofei. 
Allen,  Robert,  M.  O.  Aug.  .=^,  isai 
Allen,  .las  Y.,  .M.  O.  Aug.  .i,  ISiiS 
Armstrong,  James  L.,  M.  U.  .\ug.  5,  'G5, 

as  forporal 
Anderson,  Kavid  A.,  M  O.  Aug.  5,  "Co, 

us  sergeant 
.\sh,  Nathan,  .M.  O.  Aug. .%  'Ci,  as  corp'l 


.\9h,  Wm.,  M.  O.  Aug. .%  'ivV  as  corporal 
.,T«.  O.    •         "    ■  ■ 
as  1st  sergeant 


Brown,  .\ndreH 


.*ug.  5,  'Co, 


Memphis,  June 

II,  'W :  wounds 

Brown.  John  P.,  d.  Memphis,  Fet).  14,  V,3 
Brown,  G  \V.,  d.  Memphis,  Jan.  31,  'CI 
Brown,  Jas.  L  ,  d.  Memphis,  Feb.  In,  'Ui 
Berrv,  .Miles,  d.  Humboldt,  Tenn.,Nov. 

Berrv,  Elijah,  d.  Lagrange,  Tenn.,  Not. 

ai.'t;:' 
Bigham,  George  \V.,  d.  Memphis,  Oct. 

■J4,  'a 
Bridgewaters,  Andrew,  M.O.  Aug,.'>,*65 
Braden,  Jas.,  M.  O.  Aug.  6,  'Go,  as  corp'l 
Borders,Simon  P.,  d.at  Memphis,  Feb. 

■Ji,  'itl 
Baiiv,  Robert,  51.  O.  Ang.  5,  "05 
BilLs",  Boi«<e,  disch.  Feb.  il,  'la 
Bills,  Hiram  X.,  disch.  Nov.  ■>,  '02 
Baird.  Madison  L.,  M.  0.  Aug.  5,  '65,  as 

sergeant 
Coleman,  James  C,  M  O.  Aug.  .1,  '65 
Cunntngtian),  Roljert  P.,  died  at  Vicks- 

bnrg  .lune  17,  "03 
Collins,  William 

Cunningham,  J.'unes  H.,  died  at  La- 
grange, Tenn.,  Jan.  31,  'C3  ' 
I>obl.ins,  Adam  \V.,  M.  O.  Aug.  5,  'Ci,  as 

corporal 
Dagcn,  Konrnd,  M.  O.  June  17,  'G5 
Dev.  .Moses  \V.,  d.  Memphis  Feb.  20, '63 
lleaii,  Kliiali,  d.  Memiiliis,  Mar.  ai,  'Ul 
liav,  John  L.,  disch.  May  31,  T,.-),  disab. 
Dorrc.ngh,  Andrew,  d.  Slemphis,  June 

•2-j.  'ui.  wounds 
Ririie-t,  Francis  M.,  M.  O.  Aug.  .■;,  'C5 
Fair,  Allied,  captured  June  1",  lA 
Foster,  John  B  ,  M.  O.  Ang  :.,  'la 
F.ister,  Wm.,  died  at  Lagrange,  Tenn., 

Jan.  :ll.  'ii3 
Ferguson,  .Marmaduke,  M.  0.  May  29, 

'IV',,  was  prisoner 
Fallon,  Wm.  J.,  M.  O.  Aug.  5,  'C5 
(inen,  Jiimes  P.,  M.  O.  Aug.  5,  '65 
(irittilh.  Wm.  Y.  .Irowned  Kcb.  4,  '65 
HiiMiilt.in,  liavid  L.,  M.  O.  Aug.  6,  'W 
H:iiiiilloM,  John  F., d.at  .Memphis  Feb. 

III,  "t^J 

Hniiler.  Alex.  d.  Memphis.  Jan  31, '63 
Heiulerson,  Samuel  J.,  Jl.  O.  Aug.  5,  '65, 

as  corporal 
Johnson.  .Vbram,  absent  sick  at  M.  O. 

of  Regiment 
Kruse,  Washington,  died  at  Lagrange, 

Tenn.,Feb.  10,  GJ 
Kinzey,  John  A.,  M.  O.  Aug.  6,  '65,  as 

sergeant 
Luke.  Robert,  disch.  May  26,  '63 
McMillan,  Isaac  W.,  disch.  Bepl.  8,  'M 


McQiiaide,  Daniel,  absent  sick  at  M.  O. 

of  Regiment 
Mcijuaide,  Henrv,  died  at  Lafayette, 

Tenn.,  Jan.  IB,  '03 
Mcguaide,  William  died  at  Memphis, 

Feb.  22,  '63 
MeClane,  Thomas,  trans,  to  V.R.C.  Oct. 

14.  '6:t 
Mark,  Win  ,  d.  Vicksburg,  Sept.  13,  TJ 
.Milburn.  Thomas  H,  died  at  Keokuk 
Mumford,  James,  died  at  Lagrange, 

Tenn.,  Nov.  22,  '62 
Milligan,  William  C,  M.O.Ang.  5,  '65,;as 

corp4iral 
Oldham.  Wm.  J.  disch.  >ov.  2",  '63 
Pommerhim,  Robert,  M.  O.  June  24,  '65, 

was  prisoner 
Pun-ell,  Harrison  M.,  trans,  to  V.  R.  C. 

Oct.  14,  '13 
Peek.  Zacharias  S. 
Paskill.  William,  killed  at  Ravmond, 

Miss,  Mav  12, '03 
Pa-kill,  Uriahs,  diseh.  Nov.  20,  'M 
Quails,  Neval,  di-sch.  -Alar.  28,  '63 
Robinson,  John 
Sterdivnn,  Join: 
Selfridge,  Jason  S.,  M.  O.  Ma.v  29,  '65 
Stephenson,  John   A.,  died  at  Vicks- 
burg July  22,  '63 
Stevens,    .\ehilles,    died    at   Jackson, 

Tenn.,  Dec.  9,  '1.2 
Tyler,  Samuel,  M.  O.  Aug.  5,  '65 
Woodside,  Abner  Y.,  disch.  Feb.  2,**,  '63 
Woodside,  Henry,  died   at    Memphis 

June  26, '03,  wounds 
Williams.  John,  d.Memphis  Sept.  24,  '6S 
Wellv.  John.  d.  al  .Memphis,  Feb.  22, '03 
Wilson.  John  A.,  disch.  Dec.  17.  '63 
WiUoii.  Geo.  R.,  M.  O.  Aug.  .1  "65 


2U,  '64 


y,  John,  died  at  Vicksburg  Mar. 


Rfcruits. 


Anderson.  Joseph  H.  B.,  died  at  Mem- 
phis Feb.  14.  '64 
Armstrong,  Slanin  L„  died  at  Mem- 
phis June  3.  '("4 
Copcland,  Richard,  died  at  Memphis 

Feb.  14,  '64 
Craig,  Alexander,  corporal,  trans,  to  58 

111.,  M.  O.  April  I,  '60,  as  corixiral 
Caruthers,  John,  trans,  to  58  III..  M.  O. 

April  I, '66 
Carter,  William,  trans,  to  58  III.,  absent 

sick  at  M.  O.  of  Regiment 
Deiiinger,  George,  Jr.,  trans,  to  58  III., 

absent  sick  at  51.  U.  of  Regiment 
Darrah,  William  H.,  trans,  to  58  III., 

corporal,  M.  O.  April  1,  'i*,  as  serg't 
Eaton,  Joel,  trans,  to  58  III.,  captured  at 

Guntown  June  10,  "64;  discharged 
Franklin,  George  £.,  trans,  to  58  III. 

Inf.,  M.  O.  April  I,  'r* 
Fninklin,  Jiunes  H.,  died  at  Vicksburg 

Feb.  18,  '64 
Glaspel,  Louis,  trans,  to  58  III.  Inf.,  dis- 

ihsrgcd  .Mar.  "2,  '00 
Hiird,    August  \'.,   trans,  to  V.  R.  C. 

Mav  7,  '64 
HurJ,  Alfred  T,  trans,  to  58  III.  Inf., 

absent  sick  at  M.  O.  of  Regiment 
Hinlon,  George  W.,  died  at  Vicksburg, 

April  -ill,  'a 
.Mann,  George,  trans,  to  58  III.,  M.O. 

April  1,  "66 
Poslen,  Dent,  trans,  to  58  III.,  absent  at 

M.  O.  of  Regiment 
Presswood,  Martin  V.,  absent  at  M.  O. 

of  Regiment 
Robinson,  .li.seph  J.,  trans,  to  58  III., 

died  at  Monlgomen",  Ala.,  Dec.  7,  'ii5 
Rosan.  Smith,  trans.' to  58  111.,  M.  O. 

April  1,  *00.  as  ritris>ral 
Selfridge,  John  T.,  di^ch.  Mav  29.  'M 
Tyler,  Ja.ob,  trans,  to  58  IIL  Inf;  dis- 
charged f..r  di-mbility 
Wilson,  Jas.  T.,  trans,  to  V.  R.  C.  Jan. 

•^».  '65 
Wilson.  D.  K.,  trans,  to  58  III.  Inf.,  M. 

O.  Feb.  11,  "lie, 
Williams.  Austin,  trans,  to  58  IIL  Inf., 

M.  O.  April  1.'66 
Woodside.s,  Thomas  P.,  trans,  to  58  III. 

Inf.,  M.  O.  Mar.  -23,  'oo 


MUSTER  ROLL  COMPANY  H. 

OipOsiiu.  CorporaU. 

Albert  F.  Crane,  resigned  April  6, 18rj>.    John  Andrews. 

Edwin  P.  Simmons,  M.O.  (as  1st  Lieut )    John  H.  Lowells,  captured  June  10, '64 
Aug.  5, 1865.  Jason   Winchester,  m.  o.  Aug.  5,  1865, 

s  private. 


Wn 


Firtt  Lieuttnant. 
\.  Stewart,  resigned  Dec.  5, 1S62. 
Second  Lieutenant. 


Cregan,  Cyrus,  tr.  to  V.R.C.  Sent.  22, '63. 

Campbell,  John  A.,  died  .Aug.  14,  1803, 

wounds. 


Leonard  G.  Porter,  honorably  disch.    Daniels,  George  W,  disch.  May  17, 186.3, 
May  15,  I860.  disability. 

„  ;  Dennte,  Peter,  kilted  at  Spanish  Fort, 

~'9'°"'-  '      Ala ,  .March,  l»6a. 

Hugh  Oliver,  disch.  Sept.  S,  1864,  dis-    Daniels,  Isaac,  died  at  Lake  Provid'nce 
ability.  ,      March  7,  18CJ. 


McWaide,  Criphicid,  died  at  Memphis  I  Loucks,  Henry  W.,  traus  to  58  III. 
June  21,  186;).  McCord,  John  M.,  trans,  to  58  HI.,  m.  o. 

n^^n,iit  I      -April  I,  1S66,  as  corpontl. 

ncrniiu.  Wade,  Benj.Hmin  F.,  died  at  Vicksburg 

K  ing,  .Andrew,  disch.  Not.  25,  '64,  disab.  |      February  13. 1801. 


MUSTER  ROLL  COSIPASY  K. 
I.  I  Holder,  lohn.  killed  at  Gi 


rttown,  .Miss., 


Dee. 


CVlJltljilK. 

Samuel  Pyle,  Resigned  June  24, 1863. 

Lycurgus  Rces,  mustd.  out  Aug.  5,  '05.    Jmks,  Ji^lin,  died  at  Lagrange,  Tenn 

Firtt  LUuteHttttt. 
Edwin  .A.  Green,  hon.  disch.  May  15,  '6.5. 

Second  Lieutennnt. 
William  Needhain,regign"d  Feb.  14, '6."?. 
Robert  G.  Rees,  must,  oat  (as  Sergt.) 
Aug.  5, 1805. 


First  SergeanL 
Thomas  North,  m.  o.  .Aug. 5,  '65, as  pvt. 

Sergeant*. 
Nathaniel  P.  Farr,  disch.  Feb.  24,  1863, 

disability. 
James  Gill,  trans,  to  V.  R.C.  July  1,  '64. 

C'orporat$. 

William  Miller,  Sergt.,  died  at  Ander-  Q'uilmaii, 

sonville  Prison,  1864.  Sudy.  A»a,  1 

JohnR.  Lipe,  m.  o.  Aug.  5, '65,  as  Sergt.  Still,  John,  trans,  to  V.R.C,  May,  31, '64. 

George  W.  Gearing,  d'a  at  Holly  Sp'ngs,  Smith.  James,  disch.  Feb.  K',  'la,  disab. 


'.  William  B.,  died  at  Lagrange, 

Tenn.,  Dec.8,'6'2. 
Keller,  Joseph  W.,  died    at    Jackson, 

Tenn.,  Dec.  16.  02. 
Keiper.    Patrick,   disch.  July    15,  '6.1, 

disability. 
Lipe,  (Jeorge  W.,  m.  o.  Ang.  5,  '65. 
McCleland.  A  lexauder,  m.  o.  .Aug.  5,  '65, 

as  eorpoi-al. 
McMill.in,  Joseph,  disch.  Feb.  26,  '63, 

disability. 
McMillan,  William,  disch.  Jan.  15.  '63. 
McL'tjIliini,  William,  died  at  JelTersou- 

ville.  La.,  April  2,  "o.",. 
Manin,  Jeptlia.  m  o.  Aug.  5,  •fA. 
Pyle.  Lpliniim.  m.  o.  Aug.  5.  'IV^,  as  cor. 
,  disch.  Feb.  a4,  03,  disa. 


Mi: 


.  Dec.  2u. 


Fer<linaud  Will 
Franc 


.  o.  as  sergt.  .Aug. 


Ermtxilga,  died  at   Jackson, 
Tenn.,  Nov. -211, '62. 
George  J.  Church. 
Josiah  Woolen,  m.  o,  June  17,  '65,  pris- 


.  3(1,  'M.  disab. 
•  17.  65. 
Dec.  19.  '6-2, 


J/n. 


Thomas  P>'att. 


iel7,'G5,' 

n'ttgoaer. 

Henry  M.  Chambers,  di'dJi 

Prirutes. 
Bidwell,  Cj-rus,  died  at  St.  Louie,  June  1  Croiran    Tl 

30.  '63.  -  I       ••        '■    •  - 


5  pris. 


1  14, 1803. 


Stickell,  Wm. disch. 

Vaneil.  I>atri.k.  in.  o. : 

W.l-on,  Archibald,  •!» 

disabil  ty. 
Wilson,  George,   died   at     Lagrange, 

Tenn.,  Jan.  31,  '63. 
Wells,  John  H.,  m.  o.  Aug.  5,65. 
Wiihlgam-  ed,  Josiah  F.,  died  at  Grand 

Gulf.  Miss,  Mav  II, '63. 
Whalen,  Michaef,  disch.  May  26,   '65, 

disability. 


RecTnUa. 


Brandon,  .Mart 


Lake  Provl 


March  I 


trans,  to  58  III., 
il  1,  '66,  as  corporal. 

died    at     Memphis 


James  G.,  died 

dence.  March  18,  '03. 
Bellamy.  William,  killed  at  Guntown,  ■  fuWow  Ale 

Miss.j  June  10,  04.  I     „.  Aphl.  1 

Bvars,  John  W    ■-  "  »"~  '  '"'■  -. »«~     ..        '.   . 

Carnim,  .Maria..., ,  _.. 

Crowel,  William  B.,  m.  o.  June  17,  '65, 

was  prisoner. 
Crowel,  Sylvester  A.,  ra.  o.  Aug.  5,  '65, 

as  corporal 
Derringer,  Jacob,  disch.  Jan.  10,  '63, 

disability. 
Gill.  Edwiji.d.at  Jlemphis.  Xot.25,  '62. 


Clark,  Thomas,  flied  at  Rome,  Ga.,  July 


1  o.Aug..S  65,asserg.    Hage.  John,  trans.  10  58  III ,  dis.  Oct.  3. 
disch.  Mav  2.', '6:t.         :  Jones,  Berrv  W.,  died   at  Rome,  Go., 

" '•■-     "    "         July  1,  '64.' 

Johnson,  Lewis,  trans,  to  58  III.,  died 

near  Sloiitgomery,  Ala..  Jan.  24,  '0<-.. 
Keller,  Andrew,  died  at  Memphis.  July 

i,  '114. 
Young,  George  C.  died  at  Alexandria, 
La,  .May  14,  'M 


1  M.,  al^ent  sick  at  1 
of  regiment, 
endcrson,  Kdwin,  died  at  Lagrange, 


Burk,  George  W. 


EIGHTY-SECOSD    INFANTRY. 

[Three  Fears'  Service.) 

MEN    FROM    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 
Sccoml  -iMis/a/il.— Herman  Deitzel,  mustered  out  June  9,  1805. 

EIGHTY-THIRD   INFANTRY. 

{Three  Years'  Service.) 

MUSTER  ROLL  COMPANY  E. 

Bccruit>.— Holcomb,  Ola  W.,  discharged  May  28.  IS'"..'',  disability. 

Henrv,  William,  trans,  to  fil  III.,  mustered  out  Sept.  «.  ISi'.5. 
Vnatsignal  Secruil.— Heath,  .Morgan  L.,  died  at  Camp  Builer,  III.,  Feb.  11,  '64. 

EIGHTY-NINTH    INFANTRY. 

{Three  Years'  Service.) 

The  Eighty-ninth,  called  the  Railroad  Regiment,  was  or- 
ganized by  the  railroad  companies  of  IHiiiois,  at  Chicago,  in 
August,  1802,  and  it  was  mustered  into  the  United  Slates  ser- 
vice, August  27th.  It  participated  in  the  battle  of  Lawrenee- 
burg,  Perryville,  Stone  River,  Liberty  Gap,  Ciiickamauga, 
Lookout  Mountain,  Mission  Ridge,  Rockyface,  Resaca, 
Pickett's  Hill,  in  the  investment  of  Kene.'aw  Mountain  and 
of  Atlanta,  in  the  battle  of  Jonesboro,  Lovejoy's  Station, 
Spring  Hill,  Franklin  and  Nashville.  It  was  mustered  out 
of  service  .Tune  10,  IMi"),  near  Nashville,  Tennessee.  Was 
discharged  at  Camp  Douglas,  .June  24,  1805. 


224 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY   COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


Privates. 
Allen,  D:ivid  S,  m.  o.  June  W,  '65. 
AndiMsuii,  Wiilmm  G.,  disch.  Mar.  10, 

•tii,  disKbili  y. 
Bayles,-,  :    - 
Brainier. 

.lisiibilil... 
Carroll,  Charles. 
Catim,  William  B.,  trans,  to  V.  R.  C, 

March  1.%  '04. 
Caton,  Wilson  F.,  m.  o.  June  10,  '05,  as 


Dodge,  .William. 

Estoi.,  J.  C,  die. I  March  22,  'G4. 

GMrBC,  Ji>so  N.,  di-ch.   Aug 


MEN    FROM   PERRY   COUNTY. 

Simson,  D.  W.,  trans,  to  Eng.  Corps, 

July  27, '64. 
Suesbery,  G.  W.,  disoh.  Jan.  29,   'G3, 

disability. 
Silkwood,  H.  M.,  died  in  Andersonville 

Prison  June  24,  '04,  No.  of  grave  2,430. 
Shaw,  John. 
Tinsley,  Henry,  trans,  to  V.  R.  C.  Nov. 

20,  ISKi. 
Tvrell,  J.  E.,  died  at  Louisville,  Ky., 

'Feb.  3,  'C4. 
Teaney,  E.  A.,  disch.  Feb.  16,  '6.3,di»ab. 
Witcher,  G.  B.,  disch.  Jan.  17,  '04,  di.-ab. 
Weaver,  J.  H.,  trans,  to  V.  K.  C,  April 


26,  '03, 


2i,  '64. 


Griiv./^,  .l"'liii,  .li-' 

\prii  K,  'ri:(,  disab 

Gull-^,  .1    .1  ,  .li-.  ! 

h.v  .     ..!.  disab. 

Hui.,|.liiv>.  1    1.- 

^1  ..u,.n„-,-d. 

MidJIit-".  V    \'<  .  1" 

,.   .lull.-  10,  '06. 

Monk,  ^T^''M■ge   10. , 

isch.  Mar.  o,  'C4 

Monk,  .Joseph  C,  m 

0.  June  10,  '05. 

Rice,  W.  S.,  m.  0.  Ju 

le  10,  '65. 

Snow,  Zu.nion,  trans 

.  to  V.  R.  C.  Sept 

20,  '03. 

ReCi  uils. 
Caleb,  m.  o.  July  22, 


'05, 


Barton. 

prisoner  of  i 
Baker,  John. 
Burton,  Stephen,  trans,    to  V.  R.  C, 

Feb.  29,  '04. 
Giles,  Hallaway,  died    at    Nashville, 

Tenn.,  May  Hi,  '05. 
Henderson,  Alonzo,  disch.  June,  1803, 

wounds. 
Rogers,  James,  disch.  Feb.  24,  '63,  disab. 

MUSTER  ROLL  COMPANY  C. 
Corj)oi-ai.— William  H.  Daniels,  mustered  out  June  8, 1865. 

MUSTER  ROLL  COMPANY  B. 
Becruils.— Rogers,  William  J.,  trans,  to  ,10  III. 

Rains,  Hugh  G.,  killed  at  Chicliamauga,  September  10, 1803. 

MUSTER  ROLL  COMPANY  D. 
iSlr 


NINETY-EIGHTH   INFANTRY. 

( Three  I'eai-s'  Service. ) 
MEN    FROM    RANDOLPH   COUNTY. 
:cr«i(».— Uieediuir,  Enoch,  mustered  out  Juno  3, 1865. 
Ouihousf,  J.  F. 
Smiih,  John  F.,  died  at  Camp  Butler. 

ONE   HUNDRED   AND   SECOND    INFANIRY. 
(Three  Years'  Service.) 
MUSTER  ROLL  COMPANY  A. 
ufleet,  Olis  B.,  rau.-tered  out  June  6, 1805. 

MUSTER  BOLL  COMPANY  D. 
nccr,  Josiah,  mustered  out  June  0,  1SC5. 

MUSTEK  ROLL  COMPANY  I. 

rd  t.j  r,.iiks,  trau«.  to  Co.  A,  disch.  Nov. 

Hiiuni y  2J,  l.^i'.l,  di.^ability. 


CyrpornL— Ch 
Pricatei.—  H 


Huiiiphi 


.  I'lilliI', 
,  En.av, 


MEN   FROM    PERP.Y   COUNTY. 

NON-COMMISSIONED  STAFF. 
Seraeaiil-.ir.yor— Joseph  L.  Murphy,  Pro.  First  Lieut.  Co.  H. 
MUSTER   ROLL  COMPANY  B. 
Serifeauli.  ,  Wilkersnn,  Hiram  K 

Josiah  Willis,  trans,  to  Co.  A,  as  co: 


olidated. 


to  Co.  A 
iidated.     M.  O.  Juno  8,  1805, 
as  Corp'l. 

Wheeler,  Anthony  C,  trans,  to  Co.  A  as 
consolidated.  M.  O.  June  8, 1808. 


Privates. 

Strir-klin,    WillKiin    S.lnms,   to  Co.   A  I  „ 

asr,,„„,li,l:il,.,|     .M   .1    .him^  8,1865.  Becrmf. 

Wilkt-r-nii    Will    I-      luiii-   tn  Co.  A  as  Watts,  John  D..  trans,  to  Co.  ^ 

i;oa.solid.ilrd.  31.  u.  JuUL-  s,  1805.          '  solidated.  M.  O.  June  8,  1858, 

.MUSTER  ROLL,  CO.MPANY    F. 
First  iieli(eniiii(.  I  Serfleanl. 

Carroll,  Payne,  resigned  Feb.  12,  1803.      Jonalhan  J.  Browning. 


Second  Lieutenant. 
!  G.  r.ayne,  killed,  Deo.  31, 1802. 


ale. 


MUSTER  ROLL,  COMPANY  G. 
i>,ioa((s.— Wilson,  Samuel,  trans,  lo  Co.  D  as  consolidated. 
Wilmore,  Henry,  trans,  to  Co.  D  ascon.solidated. 
Williamson,  Jas.  C,  trans,  to  Co.  D  as  consolidated. 

MUSTEll  ROLL,  COMPANY  H. 
P'  ivates. 
Kelley,  Matthew. 
Osburn,  Benton. 
Payton,  Alexander. 
Stroud,  John  D. 

ONE  HUNDRED  AND  TENTH  (CONSOLIDATED)  INFANTRY. 
( Three   Years'  Hervice  ) 
MUSTER  ROLL,  COMPANY  A. 
iiecrua.— Wdkerson,  Hiram  K  ,  m.  o.  Juno  8,  ISO:-,  as  Corporal. 

MUSTER  ROLL,  COMPANY  C. 
iie.r<.tl.-Kcllcr,  Robert  G,  mustered  out  Juno  8,  1805. 


.MUSTER  ROLL,  COMPANY  D. 


John  P.  Watson,  m. 

First  Lieui 
Joseph  L.  Murphy,  t 

Second  LU 
David  W.Gillespie,! 

Thomas  M.  Jones,  m 
Mallhew  Rule,  Jr.,  u 

as  Private 
Thos.  Mines 

10,  1804. 


to  V.   R.  C,  March 
n.  o.  Jun 


!  8,  1805 

IhitmiMi.  I- iihiaun,  m.  o.  Junes,  1865. 
MillinnM,  .Milton,  trans,  to  V.  K.  C.,Jul. 
2,s,    1804. 

Milligan,  .Jas.  C,  m.  o.  June  8, 1803. 

MilllKiin,  Wm.  H  ,  disc.  May  28,  1S03. 

'  ■  1805. 


,  K, 


Willn 


1.1.  o.  June  8,  1». 
.1,  m.  o.  June  8,  I8C-.. 
i-[.,     died   at    .Nashvil 

Jl,  1803. 
my,  ra.  o.  June  8,  1805. 


died  at  Chattanooga,  Jan. 

Wm.  N.  Staten,  m.  o.  June  8,  ISO.'i. 
Robt.  J.  Logan,  Sorg't,  died  on  David's 
.  harbor,  Apl.  16,  1865. 


ud,   N. 


Recruits. 
Anderson,  Wm.  P.,  m. o.  June  8,  1805. 
Bird,  John,  m.  o.  June  8,  t80.5. 
Clorry,  James,  m.  o.  June  8,  1S0.1. 
Jones,  Pendleton  W.,  m.  o.  June  8, 


■ .;,  1, 


Privates. 
.\met.  Thos.,  died  at  Chattanooga  Dec. 

3,  1803. 
Amet,  John,  Disc.  June  1,  186,3. 
Bridges,  Andrew  J.,  m.  o.,  June  8, 1865. 
Brown,  Isaac  R.,  m.  o.  June  8,  1365,  as 

Corporal. 
Brewer,  J.asper  M.,  m.  o.  June  8, 18C3. 
Cunningham,  Wm.  T.,  m.  o.  Juno  8, 

1805. 
Campbell,  John  P. 


MUSTER  ROLL,  COMPANY  H. 


C«ptai, 


Wn 


.  K.  Murphy,  resigned  Feb.  20,1803    grown,  Fra 
s  D.  Hoge, m.  o.  May  8, 1803.  5''"?''.   ' 


May  i 
Second  Lieutenant. 
James  Richie,  resigned  Dec.  19, 1SG2. 
Sergeants. 
iS.SIawsi 


The 


i  J.  .\ble 


1-  died  Dec.  G,  1802. 


Cor^oraU. 

Thomas  Ozburn.  1,1,1,1,1. 

Pendleton  W.  Jones,  Jr.,  trans,  to  Co.     l   '-'■  1 ,  ' '1  1  !-<■. 

D  as  consolidated  'I'l'     -        '^'J, 

Richison  Collins.  I  "      ,","'|    ,        .p  1,^ 

Prioates.  1 1  , "          w  ■,,   - . 

Adk ins,  Martin.  II, 1,1  1,1,      ,,1  liarles. 
Bridges  Richard  .\.,  died  at  Louisville,  i  Iiii;|i(,  ,\ii.ln\v  J. 

Ky.,  Dec.  ■29,1802.  1 

ONE   HUNDRED   AND   ELEVENTH   INFANTRY. 

(Three  Years'  Smvicc.) 
MUSTER  ROLL  COMPANY  A. 

MEN  FROM  RANDOLPH. 

ilemiil— Patterson,  Thomas  G.,  disch.arged  Deeeiiibcr  13,  1804. 

MUSTER  ROLL  CO.MPANY  B. 
Private— Ijeslcy,  .Alexander,  mustered  out  Juno  0,  18G5,  as  Corporal. 

MEN   FROM   PERRY 

P)  ieale— Fitsimmons,  Charles,  mustered  out  Jlay  30, 1805. 

ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SEVENTEENTH  INFANTRY. 

(Three  Years' Service.) 
The  regiment  was  organized  at  Camp  Butler.  Illinoi.s,  iu 
September,  1862,  by  Col.  Resdon  M.  Moore,  and  was  mus- 
tered into  service,  September  19,  by  Captain  Washington. 
The  regiment  in  its  three  years  service,  was  engaged  in  six 
battles  and  thirty-three  skirmis-hes,  niaichid  2,o07  mile.=, 
traveled  by  water,  6,191,  and  by  rail,  778  miles.  It  wa.s 
mustered  out  of  service,  August  o,  186.5,  ;it  Camp  Bntler, 
Illinois,  by  Captain  James  A.  Hall,  United  States  Army. 

MEN    FROM    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 
MUSTER  ROLL  COMPANY  H. 

Prifa(cfi— Gerlaeh,  August,  mustered  out  .Vugust  5, 1805. 

Hamilton,  Tliomas. 

Huber,  Jacob,  died  at  M- 
i?ccjiii(— Myerseough,  Jo-cpl 
&ip.>mi— Nicholas,  Roitz,  m 
Piivale 


,  H. 


f,,n,pM-y;;v 

.,  1SG4. 

mustered  out  Nov.  24, 1805 

',„i't'.\',',gii;;i 
ored  out  Augi 
d  out  August  I 

1;  1805,  as  Sergeant. 
1  G.  1803. 
1S0.-1. 
St  (i,  1805. 
,  1805. 

ilecrujf— Crook,  William,  trans,  to  33  111.,  muste 


ut  Nov.  24,  1805. 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


225 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    TWENTY-EIGHTH    INFANTRY. 

(T'lree  Yeirx'  Sercicc.) 

NON-COMMISSIONED  STAFF. 

MEN    FROM   PERRY   COUNTY. 

Hospital  8(«ifftrd— Miircus  L.  Ros.s. 

ONE   HUNDRED    AND   THIRTY-THIRD    INFANTRY. 

( One  Ilwtdnd  Dnyx'  Serrice.) 

MUSTER  ROLL  COMPANY  D. 
Pr!»(>/»— .McElv.iinc,  Aidlia  C,  mustered  out  Sept.  24,  1804. 
ONE  HUNDRED  AND  THIRTIETH  INF.4.NTRY. 

(Three  Years'  Service.) 
The  regiment  was  organized  at  Ciimp  Butler.  Illinois,  in 
October,  1*^62,  by  Colonel  Nathaniel  Niles,  and  was  mus- 
tered into  service  on  the  25th.  Moved  from  this  point, 
November  10,  1862,  arriving  at  Memphis,  Tennessee,  on  the 
18th,  where  it  did  provost  duty.  Moved  from  this  point  to 
Liui-siana.  Marched  from  Alexandria,  up  Red  river,  driv- 
ing the  enemv  to  .Sabine  Cross  Roads,  where,  April  8,  18(14, 
they  defeated  the  Union  forces.  The  ne.xt  day,  fought  at 
Pleasant  Hill,  where  the  confederates  sustained  a  complete 
repulse.  In  October,  was  ordered  to  New  Orleans  for  pro- 
vost duty.  While  here,  by  order  issued  January  21,  186.')^ 
was  consolidated  with  the  Seventy-seventh  Infantry.  March 
1st,  the  consolidated  Seventy-seventh  was  transported  for 
duty  and  placed  before  Mobile,  Alabama.  Was  "engaged 
in  the  entire  siege  and  capture  of  Spanish  Fort,  Biakely 
and  Mobile,  remaining  constantly  under  fire.  July  7,  186.3, 
per  order,  the  One  Hundred  aud  Tliirlieth  was  revived 
and  was  mustered  out  of  service  at  New  Orleans  August 
15th,  and  on  the  26th,  at  Camp  Butler,  Illinois,  received  final 
payment  and  discharge. 

MEN    FROM    MONROE   COUNTY. 
MUSTER  ROLL  COMPANY  A. 


,  i«ra. 


OtpllliM. 

ed  \"n 
cd  M« 
John  W.  Gall,  m. ...  .it  eon.«cilidalion. 

Fimt  Lifnteiinnt. 
William  H.  Miller,  dicj  March  !>,  isn3. 

Fintl  SftnjeftHt. 
Robert  S.  .\le.\rindcr. 

SergetwU. 

John  R.  Co.x,  died  at  Carvollton,  La., 

Sept.  -1,  InM. 
Joseph  V.  Lao.v,  trans,  to 77  III.  re-trans. 

m.  o.  June  17,  'tio,  prisoner  of  war. 

Tho9.  Reillv,  died  at  Vieli-*l>urg,  AuK. 

•,;l,  ISKi. 
Ira  Stanton. 
Lewis  lirokaw,  trans,  to  Co.  C.  77  III., 

re-tran-.m.  o.  June  I7,'6.>,pris.  of  war. 
Elijah  Fields. 
Cliailea  Drver. 
Alonzo  M.  Danner,  trans,  to  V.  R.  C, 

Oct.  1,  IS'B. 
William  Shook. 


ed    at  St.   Louis 


Priiiiilct. 
Acnew,  Monroe,  traus.  to  Co.  C,  77  III , 

re-trana.  to  VW.    m.  o.  June  17,  'l>5. 

Prisoner  of  war. 
Bettis,  Daniel,  ii-ans.  to  Co.  C,  77  111 , 

re-tians.  to  l:!ii.    m.  •<.  Auk.  1'>.  1Si>.'>. 
Behler,   Frederick,  trans,  to  Co.  C.  77 

Ills.,  re-lrans  to  l:lO.  m.  o  Aug.  1.5,  v,j. 
Bales,  William,  tr.ins.  to  Co.  C,  77  Ills., 

re-tran«.  to  Mil.     m.  o.  June  17.  18ii5. 

Pri-soner  of  war. 
Butram,  William  A.,  trans,  to  Co.  C,  77    Lakins  William 

Ills.,  re-trans,  to  130.    m.  o.  June  17,    McLaurar,  John,  trans,  to  77  Ills, 

1865.    Prisoner  of  war.  Aug  15  18^5 

29 


Clark,  James    J 
Sept.  ■>»,  1811.1. 

Clark,  Leaniler. 

Casev,  .Midi-ew. 

Coon.  Levi. 

Cabiiek,   Theodore,   died   at   New   Or- 
leans, I,:,. 

Dix.iii.  William,  trans,  to  Co.  C,  77  Ills., 
r.'-ti;ins.  ni.  o.  June  17, 'iij,  prisoner 

Dillon,  Michael,  trans,  to  Co.  C,  77  Ills., 
rc-tiaiis.  ni.  o.  Aug.  1..  1805. 

Hon  liiii!.  John,  trans.  u>  Co.  C,  77  Ills., 
re-trans. 

Everett,  Traverse. 

Evman,  Kdward  J. 

Fisher,  John,  trans,  to  77  Ills.,  re-trans, 
m.  o.  Juno  17,'  iio,  prisoner  of  war. 
i  Folks,  Andrew  J.,  trans,  to  77  Ills.,  re- 
trans,  m.  o.  June  17,  '65,  prisoner  of 

Fields.  Jothnm,  trans,  to  77  Ills.,  re- 


Fields,  Samuel  W. 
Fiosi,  E.lward  W. 
Griffin,  .Michael,  trans,  to  77  Ills., 
trans,  in.  o.  June  17,  'li5,  prisoner 


■r.  Ja 

rlv.  Preston. 
I  Harper.'Jolm  H.,  tran.s.  to  77  Ills.,  re- 
I     trans,  m.  o.  May  2:;,"ii.=i. 
i  Hilton,  James  S.,  trans,  to  77  Ills.,  re- 
\     trans,  m.  o.  June  17, *65,  prisojer  of 

Inihoir,  Christian,  trans,  to  77  Ills.,  re- 

traiis.  m.  o.  Anir.  l-"»,  'G.V 
Kell.v.  Timothy,  trans,  to  77  Ills.,  re- 

ti-nns.  m.  o.  June  17, 'ti%  prisoner  of 

Leisure,  David,  trans,  to  V.  R.  C,  Oct, 

14,  18113. 
Lacv,  l..ftonidas  W. 
Leu-is.  TMomas  B..  trans,  to  77  Ills.. 

re-lrans.  m.  o.  June  17,' 65,  prisoner 


Miller,  Austin,  died  at  New  Orleans, 

Oct.  -Ig,  18;;:). 
Miller,  Juines,  trans,  to  V.R.C^^Jun?  28, 

1.SI14. 
Masters,  Turner  M.,  died  at  Camp  But- 

l-r.  111. 
.Nihl.  -,  llnih,  II  ,iis.!o77  111.,  re-trans. 


Wilkerson,  William,  trans,  to  77   III  . 

re-trans,  m.  o.  Auk.  1.").  \Wn. 
VValfn,  Edward  W.,  trans,  to  77  111., 

reirins.  m.  o.  Auk.  15,  1865. 
Whitu-ide,  Hiram,  irans.  to  77  111.,  di.«. 

March  I-i,  18A  disabilitv. 
W.alker,  John  L.,  trans,  io  77  III.,  re- 
1 17,  ldiJ5,  as  pri.^oaer 


\i  i  11..  trans,  to  77  111., 

of  war. 

1-    111    .1     \!i:;.  1,5,  1865. 

Workman,  Frederick,  trans,  to  77  111., 

.l..-|.li.  tians.  to  77  III.,  re- 

reirans. m.  o.  Auk.  15,  18 -1.5. 

in,  o.  .Mln.  15,  1855. 

Wootcrs,  John,  trans,  to  77  III.,  retrana. 

allies,  trans,  to  77  III.,  re-lrans. 

m.  o.  June  17.''i5.  prisoner  of  war. 

uni-  17.  Uq:,,  prisoner  of  war. 
.liisepli  U. 

Itremitn. 

Ii.liii  W.,  tran.s.  to  77  111.,  rc- 

HogKs,  Thomas. 

t.i  130  Int.  m.  O.June  17,  18G.5, 

.lohiison,  Thomas. 

-1-  of  war. 

Lane,  Hiram. 

\iiilrew  J,  trans,  to  77  HI.,  re- 

Miller, Frederick,  trans,  to  V.   R.  C. 

in  i:ili  Inf.  m.  o.  June  0,  IS65 

June  2>,  181)4. 

dull,  John. 

Miller,  Reuben. 

I:iiiles  E.,  trans,  to  V.R.C-Sept. 

McCaiill.v,  Michael,  trans,  to  77  III.,  re- 

*. 

trans,  ni.  0.  June  17.  '65,  prisoner. 

ONE    HUNDRED    AND    THIRTY-SIXTH    INFANTRY. 

( One  Ilundre  I  Djyn'  S^ni-e  } 
a— John  W,  Phillips,  mustered  out  Oct.  il,  lSi;4. 


i.dr.S., 


N0>"-C0MM1SS10NEU  STAFF. 
-Walter  S.  Elston,  mustered  out  Oct.  2-2,  1804. 


MUSTER  ROLL  COMPANY  A 

CajiUiin. 
,m  Bowlby,  m.  o.  Oct.  22, 1864. 

Second  Lieutenant. 
mt  N.  Pope,  m.  o.  Oct.  2-2,  1804. 

Firtt  Serjeant. 

m    Onslott.  died  at  Columbus, 
Ky.,  \af.  2,  l.s(i4. 

Serijeant. 
Simon  Sprague,  m.  o.  Oct.  22, 1804. 

CorpornlK. 
■Tolin  P.  Stiai^-hl,  m.  o.  Oct.  22, 1804. 
L    V   111  i- ILinson,   m.  o.  Oct. -22, 


Willi! 


Willi, 


Burgess,  Joseph  H.,  m.  o.  Del.  22, 1834. 
Hu'ler,  Itailev,  m.  o.  Oct.  22,  18n4. 
Co.i,  liaiiriel  W'.,  m.  o.  Oct.  22, 1804. 
Duchroit,  Jame.s,  a'lsent  -ick  at  m.  o. 

of  reKt. 
Dunn,  cliiirles  H.,  m.  o.  Oct.  22, 1864,  as 

Houston,  ,lohn,  m.  o.  Oct.  22,  isr.4. 
Hoovey,  ll-zekiall.  m.  o.  Oc.  22, 1301. 
m,  died  at  Columbus,  Ky., 


,.11, 


Lewis,  Willia 

Julv  31,  l.si; 
McCollin,  N.,  m.  o.  0 
Miffin,  .lolin  J.,  m.  o. 
Moss.  Allre'il  s,  m.  o 
l{"ineh;irt,  Andrew,  r 
Richards,  George  W 

1804. 


,  IdOI. 
2.',  1S04. 

22,  ISlrJ. 
.1  t.  2-2,  1804. 
ivned  Aug.  3, 


Privates. 
I,  m.  o.  Oct.  22. 


ii,  isw,    Sandford  John  A.,  ni.  o.  Oct.  22, 1864. 
.Sanders,  Henry,  ni.  o.  Oct.  22,  1804. 
Stuck  house,  I.-aac,  m.  o.  Oct.  22,  1804, 

;4  '     as  corpornl. 

2>  vj     .Spoils.  William,  m.  o,  Oct. '2-2.  iar4. 

•'2 '-64      Stewart,  Wilunin,  m.  o.  .Nov.  18, 1864. 

o  'Oct     Thoinp-on.  I'Mf,  m.  o.  Di-t.  '22,  1864. 
^  "•  "^  ■     VouKlit.  Albert,  iii.y..  Ocl.  22,  IS64. 

is.  E.,  m.  0.  Oct.  2-2,  1304.  Wel.lon.  Matliew  W.,  m.  o.  Ocl.  22,  ■64. 

1-^   Si\mn^nn    in   o    Oct    -'-'   '04  as  corporal. 

norat      "^  ""'  Yearian,^Mari.,n,  m.  o.  Oct.  22, 1864. 


Till 


C'iptmr. 
mas  F.  (lay. 
First  I.'cale 


•■III. 


Joseph  B.  Curlee. 

S  cmiii  LiailiiiinU. 
Joseph  L.  Stedlan. 

FuKt  gel-rjraiit. 

Ezra  Woods. 

Sergeants. 

Isaac  D.  Kellev. 
Henry  W.  Vales. 
George  Linsey. 


MUSTER  ROLL  COMPANY  D. 
Mustered  Out  October  22, 1S64. 


Bowman,  I'ri; 
Burr,  Williaii 
Butler,  David 
Brown,  Andri 


,  He 


Corpara't. 
John  S.  Winthrnpe. 
(iideon  B.  Wilcller. 
Jasper  Keller.* 
William  H,  .McDowell. 


Cornelii 


Pvie 


W.  R: 

.Wirs.Vinri, 
Gefirce  W.  .shoiifT. 

Joseph  Shelpnian. 


Hlckson,  .Natli! 
Drew,  Johns. 
iJun.-an,  Frano 


.Ian 
Edivi 


nklin. 


K. 


~       I,.,    ll.lirv. 
--,..,1      i,  li.iVsillia. 
S:iiidcis,  Lafayette. 
ToppiuK.  James. 
TeiiKue,  .Marion. 
Tebo,  Amaziah. 
Tample,  William.) 
Viin.iossdale.  Isaac. 
Vinevai-d.  Albert  B. 
Whitley,  .Samuel. 
;;tr™,(.-Bell,  Edwii 


Hester,  Monti 
•  A-  Private.  t  A«  Corporal. 

}  Absent  Sick  at  rn.  o.  of  regiment.  J  Died  at  Colilnibus,  Ky.,  Aug.  14.  1304 

I  Died  at  Columbus,  Ky.,  Sept.  15,  1SJ4 

MUSTER  ROLL  COMPANY  G. 
P.imi-.. 
Church,  Lrtfaye-te,  m.  n.  July  14,  1.lrK5. 
Clarke,  Win.  C,  in.  o.  July,  14,  1S05,  as 

corporal. 
Ezcll,  Jfi.hn  m.o.July  14,18;4,a«corpl 
Nailor,  H.,  died  at  Alton,  III.,  May  2-1, 'OC 


Randolph,  J.aspcr,  m.  o.  Julv  14,  IS05. 
■  ih,  in.  o.  Julv  U,  18(i-i. 
s,  E,,dicdatDaquoin,  111. 


W'illii 


Weligamojdd,  G.,  m.  o,  July  14, 1S05. 

MUSTER  ROLL  COMPANY  H. 
CapfoJn.— Jason  J,  Sanburn,  mustered  out  July  14, 1?65, 
ftcc™i<— Stophi-n,  John,  muswred  out  July  14, 1805. 


226 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    FERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


ONE  HUNDRED  AND  FORTY-SIXTH  INFANTRY. 

{One  Years  Sei-vice.) 

MUSTER  ROLL  COMPANY,  E. 

Viidff,— Taylor,  Francis  M.,  discharged  May  10, '65;  disability 

ONE   HUNDRED   AND  FIFTIETH   INFANTRY. 

{Oue  Yearns  Service.) 


-Wils 
\V(.i: 


MUSTER  ROLL  COMPANY  I. 
n,  Jolm. 
e\;  George,  mustered  out  Jan.  1«,  l8G(i. 


ONE  HUNDRED  AND  FORTY  SECOND  INF.4NTRY. 

{One  Hundred  Day's  Service.) 
The  One  Huudred  and  Forty-second  Infantry  was  organ- 
ized at  Freeport,  Illinois,  by  Colonel  Rolliu  V.  Ankney,  as 
a  battalion  of  eight  companies,  and  ordered  to  Camp  Butler, 
where  two  companies  were  added,  and  the  regiment  mustered 
in  June  18,  1864.  June  21st,  moved  for  Memphis  via  Cairo 
and  the  Mississippi  river,  arriving  on  the  '24tli.  Moved  to 
White's  Station,  2Gth  inst.,  11  miles  from  Memphis,  where 
it  was  assigned  to  duty  at  guarding  the  Memphis  and  Char- 
leston railroad.  Mustered  out  of  service  October  27,  1864, 
at  Chicago,  Illinois. 

MEN    FROM    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

JWfijor.— Charles  .1.  Childs,  mustered  out  Oct.  27,  1S04. 

MUSTER  ROLL  COMPANY  G. 
P)ii«i(f.— Uiown  Cli.avles  E ,  mustered  out  Oct.  2(i,  ISOi  . 

MUSTER  ROLL  COMPANY  H. 


Andr 


Willi; 


Seroiid  Lieiitfin.int. 
•  B.  Hogard,  m.  o.  Oct.  27, 1804. 


Crawford  Jain* 
Ellison,  Ale.xa 
Grass,  .John  F. 


1  Ncvill, 


Scrgetut. 

o.  Oct.  26,  lSf,4. 


Corpora/8. 
George  Winfield,  m.  o.  Oct.  26, 1804. 
UlricTi  W.  Wilsoi],  m.  o.  Oct.  26, 1804. 
Tyler  W,  Seders,  m.  o.  Oct.  26,  1S04. 

Privates. 
Allmon,  11.  C,  m.  o.  Oct.  26, 1804. 
Bowman  Wm   J.,  m.  o.  Oct.  16,  1864. 
Bridgnmn  Jackson,  m.o.  Oct.  Hi,  1804. 
Clearv  Jlichael  T.,  m,  o.  Oct.  10,  1S04. 
Cochran,  Thos.  H.,  m.  o.  Oct.  10,  IBM. 

MUSTER  ROLL 
Cnptain 
John  Stevenson,  m.  o.  October  27, 1864. 

First  Lieulenarl. 
Daniel  P.  Baker,  m.  o.  Oct.  27,  1804. 

ScroT.d  LUutenant. 
Charles  C.  Lawson,  m.  o.  Oct.27,  1804. 

First  Sergtant. 
Francis  B.  Anderson,  m.  o.  Oct  26, 1804.    ' 
Sergeants.  i  . 

David  L.  Murphy,  m.  o.  Oct.  26, 1804. 
Stewart,  Orr,  m.  o.  Oct.  2ll,  1864,  for  re-  '  : 
enlistment.  j  . 

Wm.  W.  McDonald,  m.  o.  Oct.  26, 1864.    I  . 
Wm.  Clittenden,  m.  o.  Oct.  20, 1804. 

Uorpnrals 
Andrew  Given,  m.  o.  Oct.  26, 18IU. 
James  Nelson,  m.  o.  Oct.  1804. 
Wm.  J.  Crawford,  m.  o.  Oct.  26,  1864. 
Wm.  M.  Baird,  m.  o.  Or.t.  20,  1804. 
Wm.  M.  Brown,  m.o.  Oct.  26,  1804. 
John  Gallowav,  m.  o.  Oct.  26, 1864. 
Nathan  Hanuon,  m.  o.  Oct.  20, 1804. 
Joseph  E.  Davas,  m.  o.  Oct.  i6, 1804. 

Privates. 
Amett,  Theophilus,  absent  sick  at  ni.  o, 

regiment. 
Anderson,  John  H.  m.  o.  Oct.  20,  1864. 
Andrew,  Robert,  m.  o.  Oct.  26,  1854. 
Benson,  Lewis  A.,  m.  o-  Oct.  26,  1864. 
Burns,  Wm.  J.,  m.  o.  Oct.  V6,  1864. 
Bolinger,  Lewis,  m.  o.  Oct.  26,  1804. 
Bailey  James  T.,  m.  o.  Oct.  20, 1804. 
Cain,  Chas.,  ditd  at  White  Station,  T. 

Sept.  2,  1804. 
Crawford  Wm.  G.,  m.  o.  Oct.  26,  1864. 
Crittenden  John  J.,  m  p.  Oct.  20,  1804. 
Crouch,  John  W.  m.  o.  Oct.  26, 1864. 
Cuthbertson,  John,  m.  o.  Oct.  20, 1864. 
Couch,  Milton,  m.  o.  Oct.  26, 1864. 


H.,  m.o.  Oct.  10, 1864. 

ler.  m.o.  Oct,  10,  1804. 

■n.  o.  Oct.  10,  1864. 
m.  o.  Oct.  10, 1804. 
VV.,  died  at  White  Station, 

,  1804. 

^\    .  Til,  n    ("in     'If;   1,S64. 


■Iiiili.n,  B,.  .Ii.d  at  .Memphis,  .luIvS 
Thomas,  John  W.,  m.  o.  Oct  20,  I'sc 

corpoi-al. 
Woods,  George,  m.  o.  Oct.  26, 1804. 


1     ■'  .  1-114, 
.  20.  I8ii4, 


■  ■■  ■■    -■■.,  1864. 
■'  I    -1.,  1804. 
11,  llct.2»,  1864. 

,  o.  Oct.  26,  '64. 

I,  '20,  1S04. 
Ill   I     JO.  IKIU, 


Petitt,  Jamt- s  W,   in,  i 
Rainev,  Geo.  VV.  ' 
Rowland,  Geo.  W. 
Stevenson,  Robert  J. 
Simpson,  James  T. 


Smith, Geo.  W.,  m.  o.  Oct.  20, 1864,  for 

re-t-nlistment. 
Sproule,  Matthew,  m.  o.  Oct.  20, 1804. 
Stewari,  John  G  ,  m.  o.  Oct.  2i;,  l«o;. 
Thompson,  Jos.  B.,  m.  o.  Oct.  20,1864. 
Tavlor,  Jolin  G.,  m.  o.  Oct.  20,  18ii4. 
Temple,  James  M., 


Telfer,  Wjlli,ar 
Toverca,  Hartley. 
Troester,  Fred.,  i 


.  Oct.  21. 
o.  Oct. 


.;iso(, 

21.,  1804. 


Watson,  Wm.  C,  m.  o.  Oct.  26, 1864. 
White,  Nathan  A.,  m.  o.  Oct.  26, 1804. 
Wvlle,  Henry  C,  m.  o.  Oct.  26,  1,864. 
Wlilflngion,  Pleasant,  m.  o.  Oct. '26, '65. 

1.  Oct. -20, 1865. 

Oct.  '26,  1865. 

Itecrmt. 

m.  o.  Oct.  26,  1865. 


MEN  FROM  MONROE  COUNTY. 

MUSTER  KOI.L    COMPANy    H. 

Pr  irate.-. 

Oldendorph,  George,  m.  o.  Oct.  20,  '64     |  Woods,  Jeremiah,  m.  o.  October  26,  '64 

ONE  HUNDRED  AND  FORTY-NINTH  INFANTRY. 
{One  YeoT''s  Service.) 
This  regiment  was  organized  at  Camp  Butler,  Illinois, 
February  11,  1865,  by  Colonel  William  C.  KuefTner.  On 
the  14th  inst.  moved  to  Nashville,  Tenn,,  and  thence  to 
Chattanooga;  was  assigned  to  duty  guarding  railroads  May 
2d  ;  moved  to  Dalton,  Ga.,  and  July  6th,  to  Atlanta.  On 
the  20th  was  assigned  to  guard  duty  in  the  Fourth  sub-dis- 
trict iu  the  District  of  Allatoona.  January  27.  1866,  was 
mustered  out  at  Dalton,  Ga.,  and  received  final  payment 
and  discharge  at  Springfield,  Illinois. 

MEN    FROM    MONROE    COUNTY. 
Ml'STEK    ROLL    COMP.INY    H. 

Lingeman,  Joseph,  ni.  o.  Jan.  27, 1806 
Politisch,  Wiegand,  m.  o.  Jan.  27, 1806 
Siapp,  John,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '06 
W^eter,  Jacob,  mustered  out  Jan.*27, '06 


,  Peter,  mustered  ( 


.  27, '06 
1,  27, '06 
.  27,  '66 


MUSTEK    ROLL    CmiV.K'SY    K. 


Deitz,  Anton,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '60> 
(Joldman,  Andreas,  m.  o.  Jan.  '27,  '65 
Gross,  Jacob,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  'C6 
Habermehl,  Joseph,  m.  o.  Jan.  '27,  '00 
l.eiser,  Louis,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66 
Mund,  Fred,  mustered  out  Jan.  27,  '66 


,  Nicholas,  m.  o.  Jan.  27,'G6 
ONE  HUNDRED  AND  FIFTIETH  INFANTRY. 

(O/fc  Yt^ar's  Service.) 
The  One  Hundred  and  Fiftieth  was  organized  at  Camp 
Butler,  February  14,  and  mustered  into  service  on  the  15th, 
and  it  left  for  the  front  on  the  18lh,  1865.  Did  various 
guard  and  garrison  duty,  till  January  16,  1866,  when  it 
was  mustered  out  at  Atlanta,  Georgia,  and  moved  to 
Springfield,  Illinois,  where  it  received  final  payment  and 
discharge. 

MEN   FROM   RANDOLPH   COUNTY'. 


MUSTER    ROLL    COMPANY     F. 


Second  Lievtenants. 


David  8.  Dicken,  trans,  to  136  Regt.  U 

S.  Col.  Troops 
George  W.Clark, mo,  as serg.  Jan  16,'66  j  Hicks" J 

Pfion(«,  !  Lansa'nce,  Thaddeus, 


Bequelt,  Ambrose,  m,  o.  .Taniiarv  16,  '66 
Henderson,  Isaac 

Hicks,  Cornelius,   died  at   Cleveland, 
April  2U,  1865 


in.  o.  Jai 
Peter,  died  at  ft 


Jan  16,  1866 
larvie, '66    Palmer,  Joseph,! 
np"Butler,     Rom.an,  Joseph, 


III.,  March  7, '05  '  Strickland,  W.  H. 

ONE  HUNDRED  AND  FIFTY-FOURTH  INFANTRY. 

(  One  Years  Service.) 
This  regiment  was  organized  at  Camp  Butler,  Illinois, 
February  21,  1865,  under  the  call  of  December  19,  1864. 
On  the  24th  inst.,  left  by  rail  for  Louisville,  Kentucky  ;  ar- 
rived at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  on  the  27th,  where  it  was  de- 
tained by  floods  till  .March  2d,  when  it  went  by  rail  to  Mur- 
freesboro.  Remained  here,  doing  picket  and  guard  duty 
till  May  13th,  suffering  severely  from  exposure  to  cold  rains. 
Marched  for  Tullahoma,  May   15th,  remaining  there  until 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


227 


June  11th,  when  it  returned  by  rail  to  Nashville,  Tennessee 
Here  it  was  put  on  picket,  guard  and  garrison  duty,  and 
many  of  the  officers  on  courts  martial  and  military  commis- 
sions. September  IS,  1864.  was  mustered  out  at  this  point, 
and  on  the  29th  inst.  it  received  final  payment  and  dis- 
charged at  Camp  Butler,  Illinois. 

MEN    FROM    RANDOLPH  COUNTY. 
G-Juii.J.  Major. 

PraDcis  Swanwick.   mustered  out 
Lieut.  Col.  September  18,  1805 


Principal  Mmii 


NOXCOMMISSIOSED  ST.\FF. 
aeob  Mathews,  absent ;  sick  a 


nuster  out  of  Regt. 


.  o.  Sept.  18,  18t», 


ML'STtK    ROLL   COMPANY   C. 
Stcotid  Limlenanl.  Derousse,  Joseph  S.,  r 

•^•.beneier  M.  Been,  resigned  May  19, '65  ■  Derousse,  Peter  K.,  m 
,  I     assergdnnt 

brrgcant.  Derousse.  Thomas,  m 

'  *nry  G.  Gray,  mustered  out  Juy.  22,*65  '     as  corporal 

„  ,  I  Derousse,  Henry  C,  m.  o.  Sept.  18,  'C5 

Corporal..  '  Derousse,  Emanuel,  m.  o.  Sept.  IS,  '65 

Archib.ild  J.Luther,  m.  o.Sept.  18. 181,5    Guthrie,  William  M. 
I'heohelis  Boncherie,  m.  o.  Sept.  18,  'Co    Jackson,  William,  m.  o.  Sept  18,  '(53 
„  .    ,  LaFlaur,  Joseph,  m.  o.Sept  18,  ISC". 

""■"'"■  '  Lawvalle,  Emirtii,  m.  o.  Sept.  18,  18C5 

\Ur  >gge,  Henry,  died  at  Tullahoma,    Mont'?ry,  Antoin",  m.  o.  Sept.  18, 1805. 
Teim.,  June  8,  18'i.i  Stockstill.  JohnS.,  M.  O.June  m,  '65 

Boncherie  Gdward,  m.  o.  Sept.  18,  'lio      Smallv,  .\niiis,  M.  O.  June  lu,  1805 
Dirousse,  Louis  B.,  m.  o.  Sjpl  18,  1805      Truit,  George,  M.  O.  June  10,1805 

MUSTER  ROLL  C0MPAS7  F. 


Fred'ck  Trieft?,  M  O.  lieut.  Sep.  18, 'C. 

Finl  LictlteH'int. 
James  M.  Malone,  M  Client.  Sep.l8,'C5 

S-^ond  Lieutenant. 
Harmond  Hanson,  .M.  <>.  as  sergeant 
September  18,  'Ci 

Ferdinand  B.  Rotrnok,  .M.  O.  Sep.  18.'G5 
Nelson  R.  Grain,  MO  Sep.  18,  'Ri 
William  Gibson,  M.  O.  August  21,  65 

Carporlttjt. 
Edmund  VI.  Crittenden.  M.  O.  May  23. 

18i'rf>,  as  sergeant 
William  C.  Brown,  M.  O.  Sept.  IS.  ■&:, 
Wm    B  Tntum.  M  O.  Sep.  18,  '01,  priv. 
James  W.  Pettit.  M.  O.  September  18.'05 
Henrv  Sternburz.  .M.  O.  Sept    18.  '65 
Owen  T.  Crisler.  >t.  O  .Mav  2>,  '65 
John  M.;Menoni»,  M.  0."Sept.  18,  'i;" 
Philip  Rhinehardt 

Pricn!es. 
Anderson,  William  L.,  M.  O.Sep.  18,  '05 
Anderson,  Archb'ld  T..  M.  O.Sep.  18.05 
Barker.  LaCnvette,  M.  O.  June  Iip.'OS 
Bureue,  William,  .M.  O.  Sept  18,  '65 
Beckman,  Henrv,  died  at  Tullahoma, 

Tenn..  June  s,  '65 
Broughtou,  Lafv'tte  W.,M.O.May22,'65 
Brown,  William  H.,  M  O.  S.-pt.  IK,  'la 
Bjwman,  Williiim  J.,  M.  <).  S -pt.  18, '65 
Bridgeman.  Jackson.  M  o,  S  -pt.  Is.'ai 
Bridgeman,  William  F..MC).  Sep.  18,'65 
Bruch,  Adam,  M.  O.  Sept.  18.    '65 
Binuett,  Henrv,  M.O.September  l«,'65 
CrumwidW,  Dedrich,  M.  O.  Sep.  18,  '65 
Caldwell,  William  F.,  M.  ().  Sept.  18,  '65 
Cemmas,  Jacob,  M.  O.  Mav  23,  1865 
Cochran,  William  M.,  M.  O.  Sep.  18,  '(a 
Crawford,  William,  d.  at  Jetfersonville, 

Ind.,  September  'i.  18'.3 
Cleary,  Michael  F.,  M.  O.  Sept.  18.  'lA 
Crisler,  William  F.,  M.  O.  Sept.  18,  '65 
Casey,  Henrv  W.,  M.  O.  Sept.  18.  '65 
Couch,  Milton.  M.  O.  September  18. '65 
Durkee.  Alfred  W..  ».  O..  Sept.  18.  "la 
Donnldson,  Alfred  J.,  d.  .Murfreesboro. 

Tenn.,  Sept.  18. 1805 
Evans.  Edward,  M.  O.  Sept.  18.  '65 
Eggamair,  Fred,  M.  O.  July  4,  '65 
Frajier,  Samuel,  M.  O.  Sept.  18.  '65 
Fray,  Moses  J..  M.  O.  Sept.  18,  '05 
Gordon,  Parker,  M.  O.  Sept.  18.  ca 
Gale.  William  J.ab.:  sick  at  M.  O.  reg 
Grossman,  Henry,  M.  O.  Sept-  18,  "65 


Glenn,  Eliivi  G..  M.  O.  Sept.  18.  '65 
Hei  t.  Henrv,  .M.  O.,  Sept.  19,  '06 
Holloman,  \Villinm  M.,  (1.  at  Murfrees- 
boro, T..  March  :t,  'iki 
Ireland,  Peter,  M.  O.  Sept.  18,  '65 
Ireland,  John    J.,  d.  at  Murfreesboro, 

Tenn.,  April  1:1.  05 
Kramer.  Andrew.  M.  O.  Sept.  21,  '65 
Keller,  Henrv,  M.,  O.  .Sept.  is,  '65 
Kanemann,  Henrv,  M.  O.  Sept.  18,  '65 
Ki-llv,  Nicliol;is  W.,  M.O.Sep.18,6  .eorp. 
Lawrence,  ls;.a'  H    M.  O.  S.pt.  18,  '65 
Luckhar|>t,  C;irl.  ^I    i'   ^ftit    is.  ■(..'> 
Louleryoune.  i:  1   '.M   ti   -  ir   is,  "to 
Louis,  Miclin.'l.  M   "  -  ir   1-.'  ■ :. 
Latfertv,  Jam  -s  ,i  ,  >1  1 1  ^  p   is,  ■.,.-, 
Mi.spla'    - 


Ind.,  Feb. 


IV.  died  at  Murfreesboro, 


,  April  11, 


ck  at  M.  O.  reg. 

t.    18,  ■■ 


May  il,  '65 

M    ■     I.:..        I  ,:i,     .  M    i.l.  Mav 2:1,  '65 
M    I   I  ■••n,  I/.,  ri-  ■    I.  M.  O.Sept.  19, '05 
N.'<ri:.-s,  Hoiirv,  M.  n.Sept.  l,".  '05 
Nichyl,  Alexander,  M.  O.  Sept   18.  '65 
Owens,  John,  M.  O.  September  18,  '05 
Piers.n,  William,  M.  OSept.  18,  '61 
-khill,  Willmm.  <lied  at  Murfrees- 


Te 


Ma 


k,  M.  O.  Sept.  18, '65 
Rouse,  James,  M.  O.,  Sept.  18,  '05 
Kiechmann.  Henrv.  M.  O.  Sept.  18,  '05 
Runge,  Frederick."  M.  O.  Sept.  18,  '65 
Stelle,  William,  M.  O.  Sept.  18,  '65 
S;vlk,  Jacob,  .M.  O,  Sept.  18,  'I'.i 
Sheairer,  John  F.,  died  at  Tullahoma, 

Tenn.,  June  2.1,  '65 
Smith,  Joseph,  M.  O..Sept.  19.  '05 
Stiimpe,  George.  M.  O.  Sept.  Vt,  '65 
Stiimpe.  Il.ivi.l.  M   ().  Sept.  19,  'I'vi 
SlumtM  .  II.ii!\  .1    111  ...-icp.  I9,'ii5,  Corp. 
Sehut,-.  Will:  .fi,.  M  1 1  s:.pt.  19,  '05 
S-hul/     II     in  v\      M.  O.  Sep.  19, '05 
Stop.-s.  Wilh.in  .1  .  MO.  Sept.  19, '65 

Tocksteini  Adolph^M.  O.  Sept.  18,  '6S 
Temple.  Jame-.  M.  O.Sept.  18,  65 
Trentliam.  Absalom,  M.  O.  Sept.  18,  '65 
Vowel.  Willev.  M.  O.  Sept.  7,  '65 
Wilson,  George  W.  M.  O.  Sept.  18,  '65 
Weber,  Lnui-.  .M.  O.  Sept.  18,  'i>5 
i  Waters  John  N.,  M.  O.  Sept.  10,  '65 
i  Woolschock,  Thomas,  M.  O.  Sep.  18,  '65 
Welge,  Frederick 
Welge,  Conrad 
Were.  August 
Worlev,  Andrew 


ONE  HUNDRED  AND  FIFTY-FIFTH  INFANTRY. 

{One  Year's  Service.) 

This  regiment  was  organized  at  Camp  Butler,  Illinois,  by 

Colonel  Gustavus  A.  Smith,  and  mustered  in  February  28, 

1865.       March   '2d,  the    regiment,   !*04   strong,   moved   via 

Louisville  and  Nashville,  to  Tullahoma,  Tennessee,  and  was 


assigned  to  the  command  of  Brevet  Brigadier  General  Dud- 
ley. In  June  the  regiment  was  divided  into  detachments, 
numbering  twenty  or  thirty  men  each,  and  assigned  to  guard 
duty  on  the  Nashville  and  Chattanooga  railroad,  occupying 
the  block  houses  from  Nashville  to  Duck  river,  a  distance 
of  fifty  miles.  Was  mustered  out  of  service  September  -Ith, 
and  moved  to  Camp  Butler  for  final  payment  and  discharge. 

MEN  FROM   RANDOLPH  COUNTY. 
Ml'STER    ROLL  COMPANY  A. 


Noah  Smith,  M.  O.  Sep.4,'65,  as  private 

Corporalt. 
Harrison,  Talbot,  M.  O.  Sep.  4,  '65 
John  H.  Skidmore,  M.  O.  Sept.  4,  '05 


Fiiilev,  James,  M.  O.  Sent.  4,  '04 
Hamrnell,  Frederick,   M.  O  Sept.  4, '66 
Kennedv,  John,  M.  O.  Sept,  4,  '64 
McLashin,  James,  M.  O.  Sept.  4,  '65 
Muelbach,  C.nrad,  M.  O.  Sept.  4,  '55 
Skidmore,  John  B.,  M.  O.  Sept.  4,  '65 
Skidmore,  James,  M.  O.  Sept.  4,  '65 
Skidmore,  Andrew  J.,  Sept.  4,  '65 
Spurgeon,  Lewis,  M.  O.  Sept.  4,  '65 
Snyder,  Cliristopher,  pro.  2d  LieuL 


MKN   FROM   MONROE  COUNTY. 
MUSTER  ROLL  COMPANY  A. 


F<rat  Lieutenant. 
George  Schuerman,  M.  O.  Sept.  4,  '65 

Sergeants. 
August  Mund,  M.  O.  Sept.  4,  '05 
John  Kimmick ,  M.  O.  Sept,  4,  '65 

Curpomtf. 
H  Elgner.  M.  O.  Sept.  4,  '65  as  private 
Jacob  Shellhardt,  M.  O.  Sept.  4, '65,  as 
private 

Prirn/CT. 

Crum.  Peter.  M.  O.  Sept.  4,  "05 
Fisher,  Charles,  M.  O.  Sept.  4,  '65 
Glanzer,  Chailes,  .M.  O.  Sept.  4,  '05 

SEiOND     CAVALRY    REGIMENT — MEN     FROM     PEKRY    COUNTY. 
{Three   Yean' Service.) 
MUSTER  ROLL  COMPA.W  E. 
K.rnii(.—Gailiek, George  W.,  trans,  to  12  III.  for  promotion,  Dec.  4,  '62. 
FIFTH  CAVALRY  REGIMENT. 
(  Three  Years'  Serciix. ) 
MUSTER  ROLL  COMPANY  K. 
n''ijoner. 
Robert  Dale,  M.  O.  Oct.  31,  04 


orge,  M.  6.  Sept.  4,  '05 
Kobb,  John  M  (1.  Sept.  4,  '0.%  as  enrp'l 
Keidell,  Trongnit,  M.  O.  Sept.  4,  '65 
Kreiscr,  AuKUSt.  M.  O.  Mav  2:!,  '05 
Kramlcch,  J>ic..b,  M.  O    Sept.  4,  '05 
;  Quick,  William,  MO.  Sept.  4,  '65 
i  Reinhold,  Loreni,  M.  O.  Sept.  4,  '05 
R.issnmn,  Andrew,  M.  O.  Sept.  4.  '65 
I  Setlick,  Thomas,  M.  O.  Sept.  4, '65,  oa 
I     wagoner 
Steinkamph,  Fred'k,  M.  O  Sept,  4, '65 
I  Schmidt   I'eter,  M  0.  Sept.  4,  '65 
1  Weber,  Peter,  M.  O.  Sept.  4,  '65 
I  Zusan,  Henry,  M.  O.  Sept.  4,  '65 


17,  '63, 


Wil.ly,  Henr.v,  M.  O.  Oct.  21,  '05, 


1st 


Recruit. 
n,  Eugene,d.  Dec.  4, '64 


sergeant 
Cunninghac 
FIFTH   CAVALRY. 

{Three  Years'  Service.) 
This  regiment  was  organized  at  Camp  Butler,  Illinois,  in 
November,  1861,  and  Hall  Wilson  was  appointed  Colonel. 
Randolph  county  was  largely  represented  in  the  Fifth  as 
will  appear  from  the  subjoined  roster.  February  20,  1862, 
went  to  Benton  Barracks,  St  Louis,  Mis.souri,  and  March 
3d  moved  to  Pilot  Knob,  and  thence  to  Doniphan.  April 
1st  skirmished  with  the  enemy,  capturing  three  camps,  kill- 
ing tliree  and  taking  seven  prisoners.  Arrived  at  Jackson- 
port,  June  27th,  and  joined  Curtis'  armv  and  marched  to 
Helena.  October  22d,  Lieut.  Elliott  and  seventy  eight  men 
were  ciptured  after  losing  one  man  killed  and  six  wounded. 
In  June,  186;},  made  a  reconnoisance  to  Mcchanicsburg, 
drove  the  enemy  ten  miles,  skirmishing  heavily,  capturing 
forty-three  prisoners,  and  losing  one  man  killed  and  seven 
wounded.  August  21st,  encountered  Blytlie's  rebel  cavalry 
at  Coldsvater  and  defeated  them,  losing  one  man  killed  and 
five  wounded.  In  October,  took  part  in  thecalvalry  charge 
at  Brownsville,  routing  General  Adams.  January  1  1864, 
many  of  the  regiments  re  enlisted  as  veterans.  February 
27th,  Colonel  John  McConnell  assumed  command  of  the 
regimeut.     At  this  time  eight  companies  were  dismounted 


228 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


for  garrison  duty.  During  the  month  of  September  the 
battalion  was  at  Jackson  and  Port  Gibson,  engaged  in  fre- 
quent skirmishing.  The  Fifth  Calvalry  with  the  Third 
United  States  Calvalry,  charged  the  enemy  near  Woodville, 
driving  him  in  confusion  and  capturing  three  cannon.  Re- 
turned to  Vicksburg,  October  11th,  and  thereafter  spent 
several  mouths  skirmishing.  In  January  went  on  an  expe- 
dition to  southern  Arkansas,  and  northern  Louisiana,  re- 
turning February  loth.  July  1st,  moved  to  Te.xas  via  Red 
river,  arriving  at  Hempstead,  Texas,  August  2Gth.  Mus- 
tered out  at  Springfield,  October  '27th,  and  received  final 
payment  and  discharge,  October  30,  1865. 

MKN  FROM   R.\NI)OI,ril  COUXTV. 

Jlf.ijur.— JamLS  l':iniani,  vesig'd  Sopt.  30,  04 

NON-COM M ISSIONED  ST.4FF. 

Sngeuril  Majur.  JLtsyilal  Stewanls. 

James  W.  Marklinm,  M.  O.  Mch.  2,  '(iS    Thnmna  S.  M.inision,  disch.Oct.  31,  .(.i, 

Q.  M.  Sercieimts.  Mim'ifi'i;d''vV.  Uolrook,  M.  0.  June  Ij,  r,5 

J osepli  Neville,  disch.  Out.  31,04;  tf-rm 
expired  ytlcrinary  Sttrgeonft. 

llnstlev  T..vfra,disch.  Ort.2fi, 'i;2 
Commt.<sar:i  Sergeant.  .|„|,„    G.  Cnlvill,  d.  Hempstcild,  Tex:is 

George  W.  Bean,  disch,  Jan. — , 'G.I.  Sept.  li;,"iio 

MUSTER  ROLL  CO.MPANY  H. 

Scrond  Lkutenant.  i  Kns=,  David,  tians.  to  V.  B.  C,  July  29. 

Wm.  H.  Pinc-kerton,  M.  O.  Got.  iT,  '05.    r„sV,  Thomas,  vet.- 


Scholhii-,  Jan 
Pel  rales.  Aug.  1, '04 

Hare,  Jno.,   vot.   d.  at   Memphis,   Julv 

24  'C,-)  Canith,  Wm. 

M.Lmwcll,  Alexander,  vet.  M.  O.  Oit.     Jl.Cluiken, 
White,  Uilli: 


27,  ' 


vet.  M.  O.  Oi- 

M1.',?TER  ROLL  CO.MP.IN' 


Coptnin!,.  Mn,„-.  « 

James  Nesbit,  died  near  Hempstead,  v'^'".','', 

Te.NU",  Sept.  .%  Mii  .\.il  ,  1." 

William  C.  Addison,  HL  II.  as  IM  Lieut  ,''/''''' 

Oct.  27,  '65  j;  ';  ,  l'"^'- 

Fir^t  Liciil.uriiil.  >\,\.""., 

Charles  J.  Childs.resig,  Jan,  II,  T,:!  -< i-' 

Siconrf  l.hDl-vnnt.  '-.         _    , . 

William  Maxwell.  31,  C),  Oct.  27, 115  \              > 

Ce.mpmmQ.  M.Serge.ml.  .ii>,  •     ■ 

Cliarles  C.  Anderson,  M.  O.  Ont.  31,  •|;4  Bovd,  R.i 

Ser.jeiwtt.  p.l.;ri;i,iii 

Jame.s  W.  MeQuiston,  31.  O.  Ort.:!l.'ii4  (  h,,,l,.|i, 

c..rp.,r..h.  '■;;;;i„,". 

William  Ft'."'"'!'  rliseh.  Jtine  4, '02,  ri'iinil.T 


•.<■,  ool-p'l.d.  at  Vieksbu 

Recriiits. 
vet ,  31.  O.  Oot.  2T,  T,:. 
amuel.  M.  O.  Jlav  24, ' 
II,  .M.  O.June  1,5. -1,5 


■  lied  Sept,  21, '63 
.li  die. I  June  i;, '02 
,iet  ,  M.  (I.  Orl.  27, 


as  I  I-  i  ■.    !  ■ 
Peter  I    . 
Saniu,  ,  -     \ 
Alex;, II. 1^1  . 
Louis  J.  L'a 


M, 


' ..  T.  31.  '(',4,  private  i 

;    dAug.  13,'P2  1 

31.0.  net.  ol, '04  i 

I.  Oct.  31.  '04  I 


Ijowtlier,  Robert,  mustered  out  Oct.' 


,  51.  O.  Oot. 


John  T.,  die.l  Oc 


Buyler. 
John  F.   Farnan,    disch.  Oct.  15,  'C2 

disability 

SoAdler. 
Hciirv  Hildy  or  WiW\ 

21,  05,  as  1st  Seig'l 
FuveUes. 
Boudonot,   Tobias,    died   Jan.  24, 

accidental  wounds 
Breiihaupt,    Frederick    C,   trans 

V.  R,  c.  Aug.  1,  '03  w    K.  .1..      ■/,  . .      .■:    iM,.j 

Burk,  John  \f .,  vet.,  51,  O.  Oct.  27, '05      Mii,,).  ,      ..i-., 

asserg't  .M.  i  .in.i.  j, ,,  , '.\  ,i .M,n  .':;,  1805, 

Beiatt,  Vestal,  disch.  May  3, '62,  di.sab.    31.  (  ;.ii.u  iji.  ,  .\K  .\.;ii.u  i,  i,i.  u!  3Iav  25, 

Chrismann.Peter,  vet.,  M.O.  Oot,  27,'6i         1S05. 

Conant,  Sullivan,  died  Sept.  30,  '02  5IcLaughlin,  5tichael  E.,  died  Julv  8. 

Douglas,  Lancev,  vet,  died  Sept.  3&,  '62        1804. 

Doniiil,  Edward,  vet  :  McEldry,  Samuel,  m,  o,  Oct.  27,  1865. 

Fulton,  Robert,  vet.,  51.  O,  Oct.  27,  '65,    Ogdeu.  John,  died  while  absent  sick. 

asserg'i  I  Petit.  Natli.an  C.  m.  o,  Oct,  27, 1805. 

Fraiislo.  Fniz  Perry,  William, dischargedSept.3, 1803, 


,  1S65. 


.  1S65. 


Gordon,  Andr.w  J.,  M.  O.  Oct.  31,  '04 
Gral.niii   r...l't   \.  t  ,  M.  O.  Oct.27,  '04 

Girlev,  M ,  \.  i  ,  31.  O.Oct.  27, '04 

HardniL'.r,  Ai..li.u ,  vet,  M.  O.  Oct.  27, 


di>ahi 


James.  1 
Keys,  Hi 
Kr"mvi. 
King,  R. 
Lawler, 


■.I  Sort  5, '01 


'.iln.k  II  ,  .I... I  . 
innl>..ii   1  ,  .I1..I  .l.ilv  I'l,  '.;; 
ij.le,  Fr.  .1  1.,  .I,..l  >..|it.  -.LX  - 
il.erl.M    u.  Lict..)!.  '04 
.Nicholas,  M.  O.  Oct.  31, '04 


Wound 
Toorea,  Elias. 
Tiiomas,. David  V 


iliiiiiu,  Jr.,  dud  .Nov.  7,  ISO:). 
W  llliam.  m.  o,  Oct.  27,  180.5, 
Emanuel,   died  July  5,  1865, 


SIXTH   CAVALIiY  Ei;i:IMENT. 
(  Three  Years'  Service  ) 

This  regiment  was  organized  at  Camp  Butler,  Illinois, 
November  19,  1861,  and  soon  after  left  for  the  field  of  ac- 
tion. At  Columbus,  Kentucky,  it  «as  divided  into  three 
detachments,  which  during  the  spring  and  summer  of  1862, 
operated  against  the  guerrillas.  At  Dyersburg,  Tennessee, 
and  Olive  Branch  and  Coldwater,  Mississippi,  it  met  with 
signal  success,  with  a  loss  of  two  men  killed,  six  wounded 
and  one  taken  prisoner.  Early  in  the  fall  of  1862,  the  de- 
tachments were  re-united  at  Memphis,  and  November  26th, 
constituted  the  advance  of  General  Sherman's  army  in  its 
movements  south  toward  Grenada.  January,  186.S,  it  went 
into  winter  quarters  at  La  Grange,  Tennessee,  and  did  good 
service  against  the  numerous  bands  of  partisan  rangers  in 
that  region. 

Thus  engaged,  on  one  occasion,  it  surprised  and  routed 
Richardson's  command,  near  Covington,  Tennessee,  captur- 
ing their  entire  camp  equipage.  March  29th,  a  detachment 
gallantly  repulsed  a  superior  force  by  which  it  was  surprised 
at  midnight.  Gen.W.  S.  Smith  issued  an  order  compliment- 
ing the  officers  and  men  for  their  gallantry. 

April,  1863,  it  was  engaged  in  the  expedition  which,  un- 
der Col.  B.  H.  Grierson,  made  the  famous  tour  through 
Jlississippi  and  Louisiana,  traveling  about  eight  hundred 
miles.  At  Port  Hudson,  Louisiana,  June  3d,  it  had  a 
heavy  engagement  with  the  enemy  and  lost  two  killed,  four 
wounded  and  three  taken  piisoners.  Near  Jlascow,  Tennes- 
see, December  4,  186.'),  it  took  part  in  a  heavy  engagement 
sustaining  a  loss  of  five  killed,  six  wounded,  twenty  prisoners 
and  two  missing.  March  30,  1864,  the  regiment  re-enlisted 
as  veterans.  August  13th,  it  was  engaged  at  Hurricane 
creek,  Mississippi,  as  a  part  of  Gfneral  Forrest's  command. 
After  skirmishing  for  several  days  with  Hood's  army  along 
the  Tennessee  river,  a  brisk  engagement  of  five  hours  fol- 
lowed, at  Lawrenceburg.  It  took  an  active  part  in  the  bat- 
tle of  Franklin  ;  arriving  at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  the  last 
of  November,  l.'^64.  December  loth  and  14th,  it  partici- 
pated in  the  cavalry  charge,  capturing  nine  pieces  of  artil- 
lery and  a  ntimber  of  prisoners.  It  was  mustered  out  of 
service  November  o,  186.5,  receiving  final  payment  and  dis- 
charge at  Springfield,  Illinois,  November  20,  18G5. 

MEN    FROM   PERKY   COUKTY. 

Lieutenant  Colonel. — Reuben  Loomis,  killed  Nov.  2, 1863. 


NON-C05I5IISSIONED  STAFF. 
SnAHer.— David  51.  Fligor,  m.  o.  Nov.  5, 1865. 

5IUSTER  ROLL  C05IPANy    C, 
Corporal.  Privutt 

Robert  L.  Yancey,  m.  c 


Sergeant, 


1865  as 


Ml:STER  ROLL  CO.MPANV   I 
Captains. 

Thomas  W.  Lippincott,  resigned  July  0, 

1863 
Wesley  F.  Fallon,  m.  o.  Nov.  5, 1805. 

First  Lieutenants. 
James  H.  Gordon,  resigned  April  25, 

1802. 

Benjamin  F.  Guiteau,  dismissed   Dec.    Geo.  W.  i 

28, 1803.  George  I 

.  (as  2d  Lieut.)  '  Lawrenc 

,  Hiram  P 


Caleb  H.  Throp. 
Isaac  N.  East. 
John  G.  Fulton, 
private. 


Oct.  14,  1804, 


HISTORY    OF   RAyDOLPIT,    MOXROE   AND    PERRY    COUXTIES,    ILLIXOIS. 


229 


Calvin  Branile 


AHritis,  Isaao  n  .  m.  o.  Dec.  10,  18fi4. 
Bmn.lon,  Mnrlin  V.  Ti. 

Willinm,  m.  o.  Dor.  in,  1<!G4. 


.  o.  Dee.  10,  ISOl. 


Cnmpbell, 

Clnrk,  0..n.  11 .  m 

Dye,  Willinm  M. 

Emmerson.  .T.ithn 

Henekley,i;oo.  E.,  m.  o.  Xov.  17, 18« 

Hill.  .Tohn  r...  m.  o.  Nov.  17,1801. 

Hill   Riehnrd 

Horn,  fhnrles 

Hose,  Davi.l  .v..  m.  o.  Oct.  11,  18C4. 

Kelloes.  rii.irie.s 

I,neev,.I..hn 

MeKinney.  .Tolin  F.  O. 

Peck.  .I.««.ph  v..  m.  n.  Xov.  IT,  18*^4 

Porter.  I.a'iren  U. 

Kentfrow.  Knnel, 


tllicksmilli. 
.lolin  n.  JlcUcnry,  m.  o.  Nov.  ,i,  IBM. 

Ptivalts. 
Hell,  DiinicI,  m.  o.  Nov.  r.,  IRW. 
lila.Kljiun,  Joseph  M.,  m.  o.  Nov.  6, 

ISI..'.. 

BiKkles,  .Samuel,  m.  o.  Nov.  .■>,  lsc."i. 
Cliirk.  James  1\,  ni.  o.  Nov  .%  1,SC5,  a.s 

Serjeant. 
Dve,  Tlioma.s,  rliseli.  at  Decatur,  Ala. 
Fligor,  James  K.,  m.  o.  Nov.  ,%  18C.i,  as 

i  Hickman,  Thomas  J.,  m.  o.  Nov..'),18io. 

Moore,  HuKh,  m.  o.  Nov.  5,  I80J 
i  Pyle,  Tliomas,  m.  o.  Nov.  3,  1805,  as  .Scr- 
Veant. 
Robinson,  Georpe  H.  m.  o.  Nov.  5,  ISCl. 
Stenger,  Louis,  killed  at  Bulortl,Tenn. 
Dee.  24,  18i;4. 


i'ljre,  Boone,  m.o.  No 


■.  3. 180.5. 

s18li.5. 

.  5,  lSii.S 

,  .5,  18r..i. 


,  Willi; 


H. 


.No 


Strgcanls. 
Jonathan  G.  Clark,  m.  o.  Nov.  .■;,  1SC.5. 
^atllau  C.  Slcbbtii»,  111.  o.  Nov.  3,  1803 
lijt  Sergeant. 


..  14(15. 
'mphis 


t'ofponilg. 


I  .■leni;iii,  Elijah  .M.,  m.  o.  Nov. : 

Uavi.lson.  Henry 

Desonier,  .loseph,    died    at    M 

May  8. 1K,4. 
Giav!  John  L. 

lienning,  .Mbert  O..  m.  o.  June  IT,  1803. 
Paea,  Joseph,  m.  o.  Nov.  5. 18G.3. 
Harii-av,  William  D.,  died  at  Memphis 

S.-pl.V.,  1SI14. 
I!i.-liie,  Van 


Nov.  5,  1805  1 


Kola 


neca 


.  No 


Samuel  Moore, 


5,180.5.  ■  Wilks,  William 

MUSTER  ROLL  COMPANY  L. 
John  J.  Clark,  m.  o.  Nov. .-.,  lsr,3.  i'nV<./f.-Pellam.  Joh 

ML'STER  ROLL  COMPANY   .M. 
Prk^ilKS.  JtfCruilf. 

Ballard,  lohn  |  Herner,  Lawrence 


Haiiett.  Tin 
King,  Geoiu 
Itiici.ic.  V» 


Bur 


n,  Saiul.  H..  k.  Mempliis  Aui: 
Pace,  W  e.-lev  S. 
SliH-,(i..l,lman,  veteran. 
W  liUe,  Tiniuthv,  ni.  o.  Nov.  5,  186.>. 


cliibald 

MEN    FROM    MONROE   COUNTY. 

Jir.STEl:  ROLL  COMPANY    B. 

i(<-cru(«.— Smith, .laeoh, died  Aug.  LI,  ISM,  wounds 

TWELFTH   CAVALRY   REGIMENT. 

Tlirrc   )Vrtr.^'   J^'cfrice. 

Ml'.srER  ROLL  CO.MPANY   B. 

FurnVr.— Daniel  Faus,  .liscliarv'e.l  for  disahilities. 

Ml'STKlt  nOLL  COXirAXV  U. 
flMTBiVi.— Dalton,  James,  mustered  out  Nov.  .i,  1803. 
Felltoii,  John  II ,  ni.  o.  Noveiiiljer  3,  IbOj. 

MfSTF.l!  EOLL  COMl'ANV  I. 

Btci-Ki/.— Robertson,  James,  dieil  at  Memphis,  June  14, 18c;4. 

IXASSIOXED  liKCKVlTS. 

Robinson,  James,  m.  o.  )L'>y  -21,  ISIm.  |  Ward,  George,  mustered  out  May  21, 1803, 

SEVENTH   CAVALRY. 

{Three  Yearg'  Seriler.) 
The  Seventh  Cavalry  was  organized  in  September.  1^01, 
with  William  P.  Kellogg  as  colonel.  Randolph  county 
was  represented  in  it,  as  the  appended  roster  will  show,  by 
a  considerable  number  of  men.  The  regiment  participated 
in  many  of  the  important  engagements  of  the  war,  and  bore 
an  honorable  and  important  part  in  each. 

MEN    FROM  UANDOLPH  COUNTY. 
MUSTEH  KOI.I.  CO.Ml'A.SY  M. 
OiplmM.  1  <3.  -V-  Srrgea,ii. 

John  P.  LudwifT,  resiRned  May  2R,  1S02  '  John  A.  Ritz,  disc.  Oct.  1,  '02;  sereeant 
BernhardC.  Janssen,resgnd.  Jne.  1,'iM  ,  ... 

Charles  Stoll,  mustered  out  Nov.  4,  '03  Sergeanls. 

y  rst  Li'utetinut. 
John  Nicholson,  m.  o.  November  4,  'Oi 

Sfcoud  LientemtHlt. 
John  H.  Jlever,  resigned  May  'JS,  1802 
Henry  Nieholsun.  died  October  II',  la 
Charles  Valier.  declined  commission 
August  Lesaire,  mustered  out  Nov.4,'0; 

First  Sfrgeanl. 
Thaddeus  C.  S.  Barker,  disc,  .hi 


M. 


i    He 


y  Neuber,  m.  o.  October  13, 1SS4 

Jacob  Zimpleman.  disc.  ^ray20,'fi2;  pvt 
Charles  Hatlicrt,  in.  o.  October  13,  04 
William  H.  Foley,  vet.,  mustered  out 
1      November  4,  '05  as  sergeant 
10,02     Philip Thon.discGet.  7,  '02;  disability 


William  licckmcier,  disc.  June  1.5, '02;  Ratlicrl,  Frederick,  tran.=.  to  V.  R.  C. 

disal.ilitv  .luiie  21,  18114 

Charles  Wiking,  m.  o.  Oct.  1.5.  '04;  serg  Ratlierl,  Henry,  m.  o.  April  24,  "65;  pris. 

Henry   Idecker,  Vet.,    mustered   out  war 

N«»vember  4,  '05,  as  sereeant.  Ros.-meir.  Frederick,  trans,  to  V.  R.C. 

Jacob  Koenigsteiu,  disc.  April  in,  '0.1  as  April  2s.  lsi,4 

sergeant;  disability  Pcliiirliar.il,  rhas.  vet .  m.  o.  Nov.  4, '05 

Sippel.  H.-Iiiv,.|.  luAlldels.invillepriS 

Hi'illn-s.  St.iek,  Cliarh-s,  trans,  to  V.  H.  C.  Aug. 

Daniel  Fiekies.  mustered  out  Oct.l.5,'il4  2,  1«H 

Henry  iinukenbriiig,  diedat  St.  Louis  Scli.aefer,  Stephen,  vet.,  mustered  out 


December  2,  1802 


ll.iiry  l: 

tier,  d.  in  Ande 
Dlnrk^mirh. 

rsonville  pris 

Louis  Va 

n  Cohen,  yet.,  m 
Si'iilUr. 

.O.Nov.  4, '03 

liber  -i,  181.5,  as  eorponil 
Schliehner,  J..hu,  v.-t.,  mns.ered  out 

Nr.vcmb.r  1.  18.1.5,  as  Serg.'aut 
Sira.-Uli.-ili,  Louis,  ni.  o.  April  21,1805, 

Starr,  .loseph,  vet.,  absent ;  sick  at  m. 

o.  of  Keist. 
Siehcit.  Henry  C,  d.  in  Andersonvillo 

pri-.ii,  .\.iv.  10,  18.14;  No.  grave  12,'ili5 
Herman  Mueller,  m.  o.  October  15,  '04      Scliimeii;al].  Fi  ..Icrii.k,  d.  at  Jackson, 

I'.imla.  ■l\-llll..  rt.-pl.  22.  181.2 

Scliw^ulz.  .l.i-.-pii.  m.  o.  1.5.  1801 
S.-li\v:ii  u,  Aii.lr.w.  .1.  in  Ander.sonville 
pri^.iii  .\tit:..s.  Isti4;  No.  ofgrave  01U3 
SheiKTl,  A.Iain,  in.  o.  ' let.  1.5,  '01:  corp 
S.-liiiei.ler,  Jacob,  trans.  toV.K.  C.  Aug. 
2.I.S04 

I.'        I    ...,      1  i.,i.    \t;„   o„.  (,,.c.     Thmn.  Got(leil).m.  o.  Oct.1.5, 18i;4 
Ba.''.;!lla\Ti!'rmiiste;e;iomif.tll"  Tillman,  George,  .li.-lat  .St.  Louis  Aug. 

^'7:ii:"!:i^''-Uu::!'^':^>''^o^f^l1^i    V.niiercharles,   pris.   war.   com.   2d 
Mile  pn.>.  .Inn.....  1.4:  .No. (rinie  1...8         i  ,....,    ,-,.„  ,„„',.;,',. ,.i..„„  „„n,i.,.,,   i,,,. 


.VHen.  Miner  E..  mustered  out  .\pril  i:'., 

1.S03;  pris.  «ar 
Andeiuaii.  G.-..rge.  vet.,  died  at  Mem- 

phis  November -2.5.  1804 
Blaltiicr.  S^iniuel,  m.  o.  April  I.?,  l..iC3 


4.1s 

Blitz,  John,  niusteied  out  Oct.  1.5. 1804    , 
Blatter.  Riui.lolpli,  m.  ...  Jan.  10,  1805; 

P1110I...1  pri,.,ner 
Im.  IcT,  Casper,  vet.,  m.  o.  Nov.  4, 1.SC.5, 

I'ii   k.  i.'l'ijiir.id,  d.  in   Andersonville 
I  ii-.iu  SL-,,t.  17,  lsi;4;  No.  ginieniiTii 

I. Niiiiro,l,d.  in  Anderson  vilk- oris. 

I-..  ,  I  i.-.leri.-k,  in.o.  oeiobcr  1.5,  IsiU 
I  II!  1  li..la....l..  liiil.teredolllOct.l.5,'.14 
I  -  :  .  !..l..hn.  vet.,  m.  o.  N..v.  4,180.5 
'.  ;  .  ir.  I  liail.-s,  m.  o.  Oei.iI.er  1.5.  l.S.;3 
..  in..n.l.  lleiirv..lisc.  Feb.  l.i,'i«:dsl.lty 
H  :i~i.  I.  Ueriiiaii.  tn.  o.  0.-tol.,-r  1.5. '04 
llii.:.i:.:iii.  Ernst,  vet.,  disc.  Dec.  3,  '04: 


<I|~mIi|||| 

Ji.lin.1.  li:i 
,I..-pl,.  .1., 


not  mu-lered;  m.  o.  .^lav  1:*.  '05;  serg 
V.-iL'ht.  Dr.  Franz  L..  dis.^.  N..v  T,  1801; 

disability 
W,-l.er.Ja.ob.disc..Iilnel.5, 'i^Jiilisblty 
Wi.-hel.  John,  d.  at  St.  Louis,  .510.,  Aug. 

4,  I,<r.3 


Wilson.  Fred.  disc.  Oct.  31. 1802:rtshliy 
Wiehl,  Fri'.leri.U..l.  at  Amlersonville 
prison  Aug.  0.  18.14:  No.  ofgrave  3138 


7?«ri'it«. 


vi.l.  disc.  Oct.  (1.  •i'.2;  di..'blty 
liii.  m.  ...  July  8.  '05;  .«eret 
Fr..l.-ii.'k,  .1.  at  St.  Loiiis, 
Mm.,  I-'.bi  iiaiy  22.  lsO,T  Ballhafer.  Ernst,  m.  o.  Nor.  4,  '0.5 

Kill.-rii.aii.  William,  .lisc.  Oct.  0,1802;     Brewer.  Charles .~..  m..i.  N..v.4.'o3: corp 


.  Her 


vet.,  t 


Ba 


|.ri..u 


Henry,  il.  in  .indersouville 
Fie.le 


Kr.ise.  llcnrvC...lise.Sept  1.5,i,2;dsbh 

K...-ni4rsl.Mii;  .Mi.d.ael.  .1.  at  La'-'ianue.  Hi  •  . ^•.  .  :. 

Tenii.,  M:.i.-h.s.lMi:i  -  r 

K...'ll.  William,  ili-c.  o.-r  r.. 'i  2;  .lisl.Iiv  11 

Klapper.  I  l.rl-li:.ii.  in.  ...  o.t.  15.  l.s.ir  K 

.M.iiih..ltz.  H.-urv.  ni.  .1.  .\..v.  l,-.;4;  seru'  K 

M:.ii.l.-rliel,l,  J.ihii,  m.  o.  October  I.5.'04  LiiiiiiP.hi.  W 
Mc'ilc.-.  Henry, vet.,  m.o  Nnv.4,'S5,as        .lisabilitv 

Loliiing.  l-'rederiek,  ilisc.  April  IS,  'OS; 


.  m.  o.  Nov.  4,  "05 
at  m.  o.  of  Regt. 
.  in.  o.  Nov.  4,  180.5 
ick.m..>.  Nov.4,'(>5 
•.  Nov.  4,  1803 
N..V.  4.  180.5 
ill.  disc.  Oel.  C,  '02; 


JI. 


I'.l -t.  .M.-lehior.  vef„m.o.  Nov.  4,  isi',3  ,  I.  I'l 

l',.i.-T.  rasper,  disc.  Nov.  — . 'la:  dsbltv  I;  i  i.l 

l;..-.,i;....rge.di.sc.  April  ll..'i;3:  dsbltv  ,  ,n ,.,  ,.  i  ,. ,   ; j.  ,.,, 

liathert.  Cut,  vet.,  m.o.  Nov. 4.'0-5:corpl  Wiililii.iiui..  i:iii.-l.,  ii.. »..  Nov.  4,  1803 

Ratheit,  H.  William,  dise.0et.31, 1802,  Witte,  Frederick,  m.  o.  November4,05 

disability  Weniz,  George,  m.  o.  November  4,  l!Oi 

TWELFTH  CAVALRY'   REGIMENT. 

(Three  Years'  Service.) 
The  Twelfth  was  organized  in  February,  ^^Cy2,  at  Chicago. 
Arno  Vo.ss  being  its  first  colonel.     In  pursuance  of  general 
orders  issued  March  2d,  it  was   consolidated   into  an   eight 
company  organization. 

MEN    FROM   PEURY    COUNTY. 

.MUSTER  ROLL.  COMPANY  A. 

/'.■.rn(r«.—Brenizer.  Charles  G.,  trans,  to  Co.  C  as  consolid.ated.  Disc.   Aug.  23, 
180.5,  di.-abilitv  veteran. 
Passmore,  Francis,  transferred  to  Co  C. 

MUSTER  ROLL,  COMPANY  C. 
Scr,jraut.  Reason.  John   W  ,  Vet.,  trans,  to  Co.  C 

„  ^1     ,      r.    ..  .  -IS  consoli.iated.  M.  O. 

Breni/.iT,  Charles  G.,  Vet.  Russell,  B.  51 

Pi-jVrt/^*  i  W'ils.m,    Wm.,   Vet.,    died    at    Baton 

/iirorrt.  Rouge,  Li.,  Oct. 23,  1804. 

Blakemore,  James.  i  Worth'ing  Joshua 

Costelton,  John,  Vet.,  refused  to  muster  ; 
Davis,  Jas.,  Vet.,  trans,  to  C.>.  C  as  con- 
soli.iated. '  RecraOt. 
L.anea.ster  Nelston,  died  at  Camp  But  |  oieason,  David. 

ler,  lll.,.Mar.h2ii.i.s.i2.  i  Wilson,  Jackson,  Jr. 

Passmore,  Wm.,(iie.l  at. Vnnapolis.Md.,  '  * 

Oct.  30,  1,803.  Wounds.  Vna,si,r,td  BccTuit. 

Reason,  David,  Vet.,  trans,  to  Co.  C  as  * 

consolidated.  M.  O.  Cor.  .May  29,  1803.    Covington,  John. 


230 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


nsolidated.  Died  at  Browns 


TENTH   CAVALRY    REGIMENT. 
(Three   Years'   Service.) 
MUSTER  ROLL.  COMPANY  D. 
fiecnii*.— Taokett,  .lames  H  ,  trana,  to  Cc 
Ark.,  Feb.  10,  18i«. 

THIRTEENTH  C.4^VALRY. 

(Three  Years'  Serviee.) 
This  cavalry  regiment  was  organized  at  Camp  Douglas, 
Illinois,  in  December,  1861,  by  Col.  J.  W.  Bell.  It  was 
armed  and  equiped  at  Benton  Barracks,  Missouri,  February, 
1862.  It  was  on  duty  in  southeast  Missouri,  until  June  1, 
1862,  when  it  joined  General  Curtis'  command  at  Jackson- 
port,  Arkansas,  and  moved  with  it  through  that  State,  re- 
turning to  Missouri  in  the  fall  of  1862.  It  was  with  Gen- 
eral Davidson  in  the  campaign  of  southwest  Missouri,  driv- 
ing Marmaduke  and  his  command  from  the  State  In  July, 
186.3,  it  moved  with  that  commander  into  Arkansas,  and 
had  the  honor  of  first  entering  Little  Rock,  after  its  cap- 
ture, September  10,  1863.  In  the  spring  of  1864,  it  accom- 
panied General  Steele  in  the  expedition  to  Camden.  It  was 
engaged  the  balance  of  the  year  in  scouting,  raiding.and 
picketing.  After  this  it  did  guard  duty  until  it  was  mus- 
tered out  August  31,  1865.  It  received  final  payment  and 
discharge  at  Springfield,  Illinois,  September  31,  of  that 
year. 

MEN    FROM    PERRY   COUNTY. 

Lieulen.iiil-Cohiid.— Stephen  Wetmure,  disc.  Deo.  31, 1884. 

NON-COMMISSIONED   STAFF. 

Chief  Biij/h-.— Hugh  Smitli, disr 
Sadrller  Sergenut.—Btivid  C.  Stedl 

ML'STER  ROLL.  COMPANY  D, 

Cu,,tai.:  :  U.ilXTt.s,,n,  .Toll 

Zebedee  P.  Curlee,  m.  o.  Sept.  10,  ISiH.     „;V'".t •'■;,-'■  l?'" 


ns.  to  Co.  F.    M. 


i.i  Lkulei 


Sept.  10, 


\ng.  31.  1805, 


Austin,  Wni.  A.,  m  o 

BeneSiot"  .loliii,  m.  o.  Aug.  31 ,  ISfio  , 

Bolton,  Tlionias  F.,  died  at  Benton  B  ks  1  l-i' 

April  a,  ISM. 
Earles,  Robert,  m.  o.  Aug.  31,  isro. 
Fa's    Alex.,  trans,  to  Co.  H.   Died  at 

Camp  Bntler,  111..  March  lo,  1864. 
Hester,  Reuben,  m.o.  Aug.  31,  180o. 
Hiekersnn,  William,  m.  o.  Aug,  31,180.5. 
Kent,  Wm.  M.,  died  at  Pine  Bluff,  Ark., 

Sept.  20, 1864. 
Mathews,  Bevf 


Robe,  ts.in,  Wm.  H  ,  m.  o.  Aug.  11.  180.n. 
Srono',   Andrew,  die.l   at    Pine   Bluff, 

Ark,  .Julv  .30,  1864. 
Stuart,  David  C,  m.  o.  Aug  31,  186.5. 
Williams,  Christopher,  disc.  June  25, 

18IU. 


Recriiila. 


11,  Fred,,  r 
Craig,  Wm.  A.  m 
Fallon,  Don  C  , 

Corporal. 
Fallon,  Georzel 
(irifHn,  Benianii 
H.-t.-r.  .l.iliH,  in 


uKhl.. 


Iraus.  to  Co.  H. 
ins.  to  Co.  H. 
i'ngh,  fhom'as.   died   at  Camp  Butler, 

III,,  Feb.  13,  1864. 
Pugh,   Bales,   killed  near   Pine   Bluff, 
Feb.  n,  1860. 

JIUSTER  BOLL,  COMPANY  E. 
P,  iidlc— Peel,  Daniel  T. 

MUSTER  ROLL,  COMPANY  P. 


o.  June  16,  186.5. 
Aug.  31,  1865. 
.  o.   Aug.  31,  1865, 


Aug.  31,    186.5, 
1.  Aug.  31,  1865. 


Ninian  E.  Orten,  in.  o.  Aug.  31.  18ii5. 

First  Li'-ntentJtitB. 
Benjamin  H.  Crain,  died  Aug.  10,  1864, 
Wm.  E.  Sparron,  m.  o.  Aug.  31, 18C,% 

Secmi  Lieiitemtnt. 
Wm.  S.  Junkins,  m.  o,  as  Sergeant, 
Aug.  31,  186.5. 

FirtI  .'ScgmiU. 
Wm.  E.  Sparron,  promoted  2d  Lieut. 

Co7n.  Scrrjeatit. 
William  Yates,  Jr,  died  at  Pine  Bluff, 
Ark.,  Feb.  25, 1SG5. 

Sergeants. 
Thus.  Hammock,  priv.,  trans,  to  Co.  C. 

M.  O.  Aug,  31,  18C5. 
Samuel  Sfiaffcr,  m.  o   Aug.  31,1865. 
William  Rue, m.o.  Aug.  31,  1865. 
Jonathan  Chiles,  died  Pine  Pluff,  Ark., 

Dec.  16, 1864. 
James  N.  Mahar,  m.  o.  Aug.  31, 1865,  as 
private. 


Citrporah. 
Joseph  H.  Gr.aham,  m.  o.  Aug.  31,  186.5, 

as  Sergeant. 
Cvrns  W.  Lind.say,  trans,  to  Co.  D.    M. 

'O,  Aug.  31,  1805,  as  Sergeant. 
Samuel  Evans,  died  at  Tamaroa,  111., 

Nov.  20. 1864. 

John  McKee.  m.  o.  Aug  31,  1.865. 
John  F.  Hunt,  died  at  Pine  Bluff,  Ark., 

Feb.  7,  1865 
John  W    Dobbins,  m.  o.  Aug  31, 1865. 
J.mathan  J.  Howell,  died  Aug.  28, 1804, 

Wounds. 
James  J.  Elans,  m.o.  Aug.  31,  1865,  as 
■    Sergeant. 

PriviiUn. 

Anderson,   William,  disc.  Oct  7,  1802. 

Disability. 
Brownlee,  Win,  R.,  m.  o.  Aug.  31, 1865. 
Baughman,  George  M.  m.o.  Aug.  31, 

1865. 
Baker,  Newton,  G.,  m.  o.  Aug.  31, 1865. 
Bardness,  Abram,m.  o.  Aug.  31,1865. 
Barclav.  Wm.  G,,  m.  o.  Aug.  31,  1865,  as 


rd,  John  W.,  m.  o.  Aug.  31,  1865. 
us,  J.ames,  m.  o.  Aug.  31,  18B5. 
IS  Joseph,  m.  o.  Aug.  31. 1865. 
stian,  Archibald,  died  Pine  Bluff, 
Iv  7,  1804. 

■.  r,  Samuel  E.,  m.  o.  Aug.  31,  186,5. 
man,  John  L.,  died  at  Alton,  III., 
av  3,  1864. 

;,  William  M.,  died  at  Camp  But- 
-.111..  Feb.  5, 1864. 
■v,  Henrv,  C,  m.  o.  Aug.  31,  1865. 
es  W.,  m.  o.  Aug.  31,  1865. 


Pugh,  A>i 


,  Aug 


31,  1865. 
Penear,  James  1.,  m.  o.  Aug.  31,  1865. 
Provins,  Wm.  S.,  Disc.  net.  8,  1804. 
Rice,  William  H.,  m.  o.  Aug.  31,  1866. 
Ridgwav,  Edw'd,  d.  atPine  Bluff,  Ark., 

Aug.  9,  1864 
Ridgwav,  Robert  C,  m.  o.  Aug.  31. 1865. 
Raider.'William,  m.  o.  March  8,  1865. 
Renfro,  Mark  W.,  m.  O.Aug.  31,  1865. 
Sterling.  J.  R.,  ra.  o.  Aug.  31, 1865,  as  Cor. 
Sams,  Benj.  F.,  trans,  to  Co.   D.     Disc. 

March  4, 1865,  as  Sergeant. 


Thos.  W.,  m.o.,  Ang.  31,1865    Stilly,  gilas,  M.  O.  Aug.  31, 18Gi 


Dixon,  Wm.,  m.  o.  Aug.  31, 1865. 
Deason,  John  B.,  m.  o.  Aug.  31, 1865. 
Falls,  James  A.,  died  at  Pine  Bluff, 

Oct.  12,  1864. 
George,  James  L.,  m.  o.  Aug,  31,  1865. 
"  ih  H,    Ml.  II    Aui;  31,1,865, 


Hnlrlungs.I'ihii 
Harris  .Ii.lin  ,\I  , 
Hall.  Wm,   \  ,.iie 

Julv  10,  1864. 
Hardsock,  James 
Hester,  Thomas, 
Hugs,  Peter. 
Johnson,  Mordec 
Kennisou,  Thorn 


,11,  IS 
;l,  isi, 


.  1864. 


Lawliead.Wm,,  m.  o.  Ang.  .31,  1865. 
Marlow,  Aiex.,  died  at  Pine  Bluff,  Aug. 

31,  1864. 

Murphy.  John,  m.  o.  Ang.  31,  lsn.5.  Morniw,  \ 

Miller,  James  N.,  Pro.  Asst.  Surg.  07th  Malkey,  Isi 

III.  Inftv.  :i  isiu 

McKee,  James,  m.  o.  June,  11, 186,5.  .i:!..      :-    r. 

Marshall,  Theophilus,  died    at    Pine  s:  '> 

Bluff,  Aug.  6,  1865.  II 

Mahar,  Joseph,  m.  o.  Aug.  31,  1865.  \\  li    n  -,   I 

Nailer,  Christian,  died  at  Camp  Butler,  W  .liji,  W  n 

III,,  Feb,  6,1804.  Yeaiian,  Fi 


Thomp'son,  Jaa.  d.  Pine  Bluff,  Ju  18,  '64 
Tolbert,  Sherrod  W.,  died  Camp  Butler 

Feb.  11,  1864 
Tinsley.  John  M.,  M.  O.  Aug,  31,  1865 
Tavlor,  Henrv.  M,  O.  Aug,  31,  1865 
Tavliir.  .n.lin  M  ,  M   O,  ,Iune  20.  1865 
Tiii^K.v,  Isaiah,  M    O    Aug,  31,  1865 
■ri,,..st..r,  (ieorg.-,  M    II,  Aug,  31.1865 
■|'li..iij|.siiii,  Henrv,  .M,  O,  Ang.  31.  1865 
Tucker,  Henry    .M.  O.  June  20,  1865 
Walter,  Clifton  M.  O.  Aug.  31, 1865 
Ward,  Daniel,  died  Brownsville,  Arfc., 

June  14, 1884 

Rcr.jllits. 

Crane,  R.anson  N.,  M.  O.  Aug.  31,  18«5 

Cross,  William  E.,  M.  O.  Aug.  31,  1865 

Crump,  Chas.  M.  M.  0.  Aug.  ,31,  1865 

Hotchkiss,  Alex.,  M.  O.  June  211,  1865 

Morrow.  Wm.  J.,  M.  O.  Aug.  31,  U65 

c  N.  died  Pine  Bluff,  Aug. 


r    !l,l;'5 
\'rj    :  1 .  1 S65 

\ii-    i>,  1864 

Aug,  31,  1865 


MI'STER  ROLL,  COMPANY 
Second  Ucutc'-ttnt. 
.  M.  Weaver,  m.  o.  Sergt,  Ang,  31 


Boswell,  James  R.,  tr.  Co.  D  m.  o.  Aug. 

31,  186.5  as  Corpl. 
Bryant,  Wm,,  d.  Camp  Bntler,  Feb.  lo, 

1864 


Rapalyed,  Daninl,  m.  o,  June 

as  Com,  Sergt. 
ShetllewojIh.SamI,,  m.  o.  Ang 
Watson,  G.  W.,  trans,  to  Co. 

June  20, 186.5 
Wooduaril,  Gilbert,  tr.  to  Co. 

31,  186,1 


20,  1865 
31,  186.5 


MoCollon,  J.  D.,  m.  o.  Aug.  31,1805  Corp  Walle.John.  tr.  to  Co.  F  d.  Benton  Bks 
Montague,  Benj.  F.,tr.  to  Co.  D  Aug.  31  Mar,  24,1.804 

18.15  as  Corp'l.  Young,  William  J.  B.,  tr  to  Co,  V  m.  o. 
Mitehett,  Silas  W.,  trans,  to  Co.  D  d.  at  Aug.  31, 1805  as  Corpl. 

Pine  Bluff  May  9,  1805 

MUSTER    ROLL,  COMPANY    I 
Fiml  Serjfmit.-Henrv  C.  Hoffman,  m.  o.  July  20,  1805 
Recniu  —Duncan    Chas  ,  d.  Pine  Bluff  of  accidental  wounds,  Nov.  1, 1661 
Spann,  Solom  d,  died  Pine  Bluff  Oct.  27,  1864. 


MfSTER  ROLL,  COMPANY    K. 


First  Lituteii' 
Rudolph  A.  Wheatley,  n 


Sergt  Aug. 
31,  186 

Second  Lieutenant. 
T,  FouDtuin.  m.  o.  Sept.  4, 1864 
Privale.i. 


Aug  31,  1805 
Parker,  Ed  C,  r 
Rentlrii.  Willian 


Short.  Jo 
leatlei 
disability 


.Oct,  11,  1865  to  dat 

o.  Aug.  31, 1865  Sergt 
B.,  m.o.  Aug,  31,1865 
L,,  m.  o.  Aug,  31,  1865 
F,,  m.  o,  Aug,  31,  186,5 
np  Butler  Feb,  13  1864 
,  diseh.  Nov.  11,  1864 
Aug.  31,  18 


Chandler,  J.,  d.  Pine  Bluff,  July  9,  1864 
Drew,  Je-se,  absent  at  m.  o.  of  Regt.  i 
Dye,  Elmore  C,  m,  o.  Aug.  31, 1865  1 

Foster,  Thos.  m.  o.  Aug.  31,  1865 
Kirk,  (ieorge  M. 

Lawrence,  Henrv  S.,  m.  o.  Aug.  31, 1805 
LawBon,  J.  B,,  discli,  July  3, 1865  Sergt.  i 


Recruits. 

1,  Wiu  .  absent  sick  at  m.  o.  Reg. 

.,  lis  ,  I.I  ii.  Aug.  31,  1865  Corpl. 

1  .  ^  I  l;  ,  ilisch.   May  9,  1805  to 

.■    Vol:   :11,  1S05 

Ulaihorne  R  ,  m.  o.  June  30.  1805 

in,  Chas.,  m.  o.  Aug.  31,  1865 


MUSTER  ROLL,  COMPANY    L. 


Ca),t<,iii. 
James  Crain,  m,  o.  Aug.  31,  1865 

FiT!,t  Lieutenant. 
Wm.  G.  Anderson,  m.  o.  Sergt.  Aug.  31, 
1866 

Private. 


Rerruits. 


Ballard,  William,  diseh.  Aug.  31,  1804 

MUSTER  ROLL,  COMPANY    F 


Berry  D,  J  ,  d.  Little  Rock  Sept,  20, 1864 
Fetter,  Jao.,  d.  Pine  Bluff  Apr.  13,  1865 
Moore,  Thomas,  diseh.  Feb.  15,  1865 
Miller,  Jno.  d.  Pine  Bluff  Sept.  14,;i88i 
Thompson,  Gideon 


Bluff 


lUiimssiijnedRi 
Butler,  Bailey,  rej 
Chalford,  Chas.  M. 

2,  1864 
Fallon,  Robert,  rejected 


Roper,  Wm.,  tr.  to  Co.  D  d.  P 
Sept.  25, 1864  wounds 

Reed,  Wm.,  tr.  lo  Co.  F  d.  P 
Sept,  22,  1864 

MEN    FROM    RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 

MUSTER  ROLL  COMPANY  L. 

Coii(OTn«,— Geo.  W.  Sewsberry,  resig'd  June  7,  '65. 


d.  Camp  Butler  Apr 


Sergeantt.  —  5o\\n  Ris 


John  W.  Malo 


,  M, 


Bluff,  Ark.,  Aug.  25,  '65. 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


231 


Corporal*. 
James  Dunbar,  M.  O.  Aug.  31,  '65,  a 

private. 
Francis  Smith,  died  at  Pine  Bluff,  Ark, 

July  14.  '64. 
Edward  M.  Smith,  M  O.  Aug.  31,  '65. 
Will'    •  — --■-    --"^  -■"' 


Fornp,  John  A. 

Greenawiilt,  Henry,  died  at  Pine  Bluff, 
~  Ark.,  Sept.  1,1864. 
Caller,  Wm.  H  ,  M.O.  Aug  31, 1865. 
Holt.  Wm.  S.,  died  at  Piue  Bluff,  Ark., 
Oct.  iS  1IW4. 


':ni;;m je^,n^vHv;;erd5;d^. pine  top?^i/vr;^wt;i^3f \8?f • 

Bluff,  Ark.,  Sep,.  26,  04.  K'cy?  *":;  died  af pfoe 'filuffroc. 


Bw)ler. 
John  T.  Smith,  died  at  Alton,  III.,  May 


Pressley, 
20,  1861. 
Perkins.  Peter.  M.  O:  Aug.  :il.  ISGi. 
.    ,,..      »onnn,  Poypus,  Clias.,  M.  O.  Aug. 31. 1865. 

I,  U4.     nounas.  Throup,  Francis  M.,abslnt. sick  at  M.O. 

Artificer.  of  regiment. 

Samuel  C.  Stewart,  detached  at  M.  0.  of  ,  Throup,  Thomas,  MO.  June  »>..  IS"; 
R.^irim^nr  Vemcr,  Jos.,  disch.  Aug.  18, 186.1.  disao. 

Kcgimeni.  I  Williams.  George,  M.  O.Aug.  .11,  IHiib. 

','„•.  Wren.  Josiah  F,  died  at  Benton  Bar- 

Armour.  James  M.,M.  O.Aug.  31,1865.         racks.  Mo.  March  2, '64. 
Arnev.Andrew.died  at  Pine  Bluff,  Ark.,       "•^'"'••'    •     • 

Oct'.  Jl.  '64.  ie«ru,(.. 

Bilev,  Alfred,  claimed  by  and  Trans,  to    Beckett,  John  F.,  disch.  Feb.  17,  lsr,4. 

lu'ith  III.  Inftv.  '      Disability. 

n.ii"..ii,  John,  M.  O.Aug.  31,1865.  Condor,  Adam,  M.  O.  Aug.  31,  18ii5. 

(\uhll..,  Francis  M.,  M.O.  Aug.  .31, 1865.    Corwin,  Elijah,  M.  O.  Aug.  31. 1865. 
IMM-,  Kiiizlv.  M.  O.  Aug.  31,  1865,  as    Edwards,  John,  died  atPine  Bluff,  Ark., 

r,iij.,irHl.  "  '      Julv  30,  1864. 

Duvi.-,  John  W.,  trnnsf.  (o  Co.  E.  Jenkins.  Sam'l  C,  M.  O.  Aug.  31, 18';5. 

Fmlev,  William,  died  at  Pine    Bluff,    McLaughlin,   Wm.   H..  died    at    Pine 

Ark.,  Oct.  28,  -64.  Bluff.  Ark.,  June  13, 1S64. 

FIFTEENTH  CAVALRY  REOIMENT. — (Three  Years'  Semce.) 

MUSTEK  BOLL  COMPANY  E. 
fnro/«— Bean,  Oliver  \V.,  killed  near  Hickman,  Ky,  June  4, 1863. 

Cunningham.  Francis  .M.,  tiansf  to  lutli  Cav.,  as  consolidaterl. 
Lett,  Sherrod. 
FOURTEENIH   CAVALRY. — MEN    FROM    PERRY    COVNTY. 

MUSTER  ROLL  COMPANY  C. 
Primb^Crocket,  John  C.died  at  Peoria,  III.,  April  7.  1863. 
Mf.STER  ROLL   COMPANY  E. 
Priv(tl'f—\rney,  Benjamin,  mustered  out  June  12.  I86j.    Pris.  War. 
Daine.s  James,  mustered  out  July  31, 1865. 
Ingram,  Chas.,  mustered  out  July  31,  1865. 
Mosley,  James  P. 

MISTER  ROLL  COMPANY  G. 
PKpnte— Lefler,  Thomas,  missing  in  action  since  .\ug.  3, 1864. 

FIFTEENTH  CAVALY  REGIMENT. — {Three    Yems'  Service.) 

MUSTER  ROLL  COMPANY  C. 
nu.-tered  out  Aug.  31, 1805. 

MUSTER 

Sergeant — James  M.  Bla 

Buafe-— George  Taffec. 

Prifa/« — Bacon,  Benjar 

Shank  Oliver, 

MUSTER  ROLL  COMPANY  F. 
/V»e«ii#— Coleman,  Miles  H.,  trausf.  to  Co.  L.,  loth  Cavalry,  as  consolidated. 

SIXTEENTH  CAVALRY  REGIMENT. — {Three  Ycws'  Service.) 

MUSTER  ROLL  CO.MPANV  L. 

/V/r<,(<!— Guard,  John. 
MUSTER    ROLL  COMPANY  M. 
/Vila/™— Winters,  Louis  A..,  escaped  prisoner,  -M.  O.Aug.  1!),  1S65  as  Corpl. 

ALTON  BATTALION  INFRY — 100  (lays — FROM  RANDOLPH  CO. 

Captain     Simon  S.  Slot  key's  Company. 

Corporult.  I  Barns.  Lewis,  m.  o.  October   7.  '64 

Thomas  Horner,  m.  o.  October  7.  '64  |  .lackson,  Alexander,  m.  o.  October  ".'64 

Burke.  Franklin  M.,  m,  o.  o.t.  7.    fA  I  McMellon.  William  T.,  m.  o.  Oct.  7,  '64 

Benson,  Newton,  iii.  o.  Oclobcr  7,  '64  |  Short,  William,  m.  o.  Oct.  7,  '04 

FIRST  ARTILLERY — [Three  Years'  Service.) 

MEN  FROM  RANDOLPH  COUNTY.      Battery    D. 

iVii-ata.— Herbert.  Charles  F..  tr.  from  30  III. 


Battery  G. 


Sergec 

I  Bradley,  m 


.  Sept. 


MEN  FROM  PERRY  COUNTY.     Battery  D. 

l"<(ffan.— F-iton,  William,  mustered  out  July  28. 1863. 

Battery  G. 


PncptfS. 

Robinson,  George,  .lisc.Feb.l.5,'6.i.i 

Barcla 

V.  John 

,  died  Feb.  29,  '64 

1  Stevenson,  George,  disc.  Feb.  5,  '65 

Breen 

Denni 

s.  mustered  out 

Hill.... 

rh.im 

IS 

1                               Uicmih. 

Full.': 

l:    '  •  r 

H  ,.lisc.Junel,'62;disnb. 

1 

M..    ; 

Use.  July  l,'62;dis«b 

Baxter,  Joseph,  disc.  March  11,  '65 

.M:,-. 

h ,. 

11^..  Feb.5.'64 

1  Garetv.  Peter,  M.  0.  June  10,  '65 

M.'.i 

,1.     NIm. 

-     hsc.  Sept.  30, '62 

Stevenson,  Jas.,  ra.  o.  June  19,  '65,  ct 

Battery  I. 

iJecru*;.— Lany,  Abram  V..  discharged  October  30,  '62 

SECOND  ARTILLERY. — {Three  Years'  Service.) 

MEN  FROM  PERRY  COUNTY'.     Battery  D. 

Bft-riiil.— Todd,  John,  discharged  September  24,  '64  ;  term  expired 

Battery  F. 

Recruit 
Davis,  Samuel,  dropped  from  the  rolls  August  1,  '64 


MEN    FROM    MONROE   COUNTY.      Battery    E. 

Privaiet.  I  Nagel.  William,  Vet.  trans,  to  Bat.  A.i 

Eberlein,  Charles,  Vet.  tr.  to  bat.  A,    „"• ''"'>'  i?')'"',, 

m.  o.  Julv'27, '6>  jS'immer, 

Langeb..hn,  Jacob,  killed  at  Liberty,  I     o.  July 


r,  Joiin,  Vet.  trans,  to  Bat.  A, 


.o.  September  17,  61 


-Engsling,  Stephen. 


CHAPTER   XII. 


C  0  MM  0  X    SCHOOL  S. 


RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 


BY  8.  B.  HOOD. 


OIvSIDERlNG  the  early  settle- 
ment and  organization  of 
this  county  and  the  fact  of  its 
having  contained  the  chief 
city  and  greatest  centre  of 
civilizatiun  in  the  Missis- 
sippi Valley,  we  should 
expect  that  the  history  of  its 
schools  would  be  attended 
by  more  than  ordinary  in- 
terest. And  such,  no  doubt, 
would  be  the  case  with  a 
complete  history  ;  but  the 
very  antiquity  that  would 
add  to  its  interest  hangs  the  mists  of  centuries  before  our  eyes. 
Governor  Reynolds,  in  his  history  of  Illinois,  speaks  of  the 
school-houses  being  guarded  during  school  hours,  and  of  the 
dangers  to  wiiich  children  were  exposed  in  going  to  and 
returning  from  school  in  the  country  districts  in  early  times. 
The  only  book  education,  therefore,  that  many  of  these 
children  received  was  from  their  parents  in  their  cabin  homes. 
In  the  villages,  however,  schools  were  established  and 
sustained  from  a  very  early  period,  and  it  is  fair  to  presume 
that  those  of  Kaskaskia  and  I'rairie  du  Rocher  were  taught 
in  French.  They  were  of  the  parochial  type,  since  the 
leading  men  of  these  villages  were  Frenchmen  —  men  of 
culture,  and  of  the  Catholic  religion.  Unfortunately,  no 
records  of  these  schools  were  kept,  and  tradition  is  almost 
silent  respecting  them.  In  later  years  the  churches  sustain- 
ing these  schools  have  kept  records  of  them,  which  will  be 
found  in  the  chapters  devoted  to  these  churches. 

The  earliest  schools  were  priucijially  taught  in  the  de- 
serted log  huts  of  the  itinerant  squatter  or  hunter.  These 
were  much  inferior  to  the  first  houses  built  expressly  for 
school  purposes,  a  tvpical  one  of  which  I  shall  cndcKvor  to 
present  to  the  reader's  mind  : 

The  walls  were  of  unhewn  logs,  and  the  cracks  were 
daubed  with  mud  mortar  from  the  yard.  This  black  mortar 
was  mixed  with  dead  prairie  grass  to  make  it  slick,  and  was 
put  on  with  the  hand,  so  that  corrugations  were  formed  in 
it  by  the  finger  prints  of  the  dauber.  The  roof  was  of 
clap-boards,  held  down  by  weight-poles  kept  in  position  by 
jiieces  of  wood  called  kuees  or  cripples  placed  between  them. 
The  door  was  on  the  south  or  ea^t,  and  turned  on  wooden 
hinges  and  was  fastened  by  wooden  latch   or  pin.     On  the 


232 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


opposite  side  a  log  was  cut  out  to  admit  light  to  the  writing- 
desk,  a  long  slab  fastened  to  the  wall  just  below  this  open- 


The  above  cut  represents  the  exterior  of  one  of  these  cabin 
school  buildings.  The  seats  consisted  of  puncheons,  sup- 
ported by  four  legs  driven  into  the  holes  near  the  ends.  The 
legs,  usually  put  in  green,  were  too  small  for  the  holes  when 
seasoned,  and  would  stick  up  through  the  bench  Air  enough 
to  prevent  the  "  pu.shing  off"  process,  to  which  the  pupil  on 
the  end  of  the  bench  was  ever  exposed.  These  benches, 
without  backs,  were  placed  end  to  end  round  the  walls  of  the 
room,  so  that  the  pupils  could  rest  their  aching  spines 
against  the  projecting  logs.  The  bench  at  the  long  window 
was  a  high  one,  as  none  but  the  "  big''  boys  and  girls  wrote 
in  those  days.  As  Judge  Murphy,  of  Sparta,  once  said  in 
addressing  a  teachers'  meeting :  "  The  school  benches  in  the 
old  times,  were  much  like  the  seats  in  modern  railroad  cars, 
springy  and  reversible,  only  that  in  the  former  the  boy  had 
to  do  the  springing  and  reversing  "  The  heating  apparatus 
consisted  of  a  wide  chimney  or  fire-place,  built  of  mud  and 
split  sticks.  The  wood,  dragged  up  in  the  tree  by  three  or 
four  yoke  cf  oxen,  was  cut  into  suitable  lengths  by  the 
Echool-boys,  detailed  in  regular  order  for  the  work. 

The  school-house  ax  was  reputed  the  dullest  in  the  neigh- 
borhood, and  yet  no  one  ever  stuck  it  into  the  ground.  The 
large  girls  swept  the  puncheon  floor  by  turns  with  a  wild- 
grass  home-made  broom.  Water  carrying  from  the  ever 
adjacent  spring  or  creek  was  a  privilege  usually  awarded  to 
the  meritorious. 

School-books  in  these  days  were  far  different  from  those 
used  now.  The  elementary  spelling  book,  with  its  alternate 
pages  of  spelling  and  reading,  was  the  only  book  for  begin- 
ners, and  the  Testament  for  advanced  readers.  In  later 
days,  the  Euglish  Reader  and  the  Introduction  were  used  in 
some  of  the  most  progressive  schools.  In  Arithmetic  there 
was  but  one  book  for  the  older  and  the  younger  pupils,  the 
teacher  giving  such  individual  help  as  he  thought  needful. 
The  copy  books  were  made  at  homo,  of  common  unlined 
paper,  which  the  teacher  ruled.  He  also  set  the  copies  and 
made  and  repaired — "fixed' — the  goose-quill  pens-     Pen- 


making  was  quite  an  att  in  those  days,  and  the  sharp  "  pen- 
knife "  was  one  of  the  teacher's  first  necessities.  Spelling, 
reading,  writing  and  arithmetic  constituted  the  school  cur- 
riculum. Pluck,  and  muscle  to  back  it,  were  considered  im- 
portant qualifications,  and  the  teachers  were  usually  males  ; 
yet  we  hear  of  some  few  females  who  taught  in  this  county 
at  a  very  early  da}-,  and  gave  the  young  womeu  of  their 
schools  instruction  in  needle-work. 

The  schools  were  sustained  by  subscription  to  an  agreement 
to  pay  the  teacher  a  certain  price  for  a  specified  number  of 
scholars,  for  a  stated  time,  the  article  specifying  the  branches 
to  be  taught.  The  price  per  scholar  ranged  from  33  Jc  to 
SI  '-5  a  month,  according  to  the  studies  taken.  Besides  the 
regular  term  pupils  there  were  "  day  scholars,"  who  paid 
five  cents  a  day  when  at  school.  As  the  schools  were  neces- 
sarily small,  teaching  was  not  very  remunerative;  but  the 
small  salaries  were  supplemented  by  free  board,  or  "  board- 
ing round,"  as  it  was  called,  among  the  patrons.  Many  of 
the  teachers  were  of  limited  education,  but  some  were  men 
of  thorough  scholarship. 

As  many  children  had  to  travel  to  school  through  track- 
less forests,  the  fathers  usually,  on  the  first  day  of  school, 
blazed  a  path  to  the  school  house,  marking  the  trees  on 
both  sides  so  as  to  guide  the  children  in  going  either  way. 
Large  trees  were  felled  across  the  streams  for  bridges,  and 
pole  hand-rails  were  placed  on  forked  stakes  driven  into  the 
ground  on  either  side  of  the  log.  Even  as  late  as  1841, 
most  of  the  streams  in  this  county  were  without  bridges, 
and,  when  swollen,  a  source  of  danger  to  the  lives  of  both 
teachers  and  pupils  in  crossing, — though  few  fatal  accidents 
from  this  cause  are  remembered. 

The  following  touching  account  was  given  by  Mrs  Mary 
G.  Allison,  of  St.  Louis,  the  mother  of  one,  and  the  sister  of 
another  of  the  unfortunate  victims  of  pioneer  life,  whose 
names  this  sketch  shall  p  rpetuate  :  In  1841,  Miss  Ptachel 
M.  Graham,  aged  seventeen,  and  daughter  of  Hugh  Graham, 
who  then  lived  near  Chester,  taught  a  school  near  Gordon's 
mill.  On  the  2'2d  November,  Miss  Graham  started  for  her 
school  on  horseback,  taking  her  nephew,  Chelsey  Drew,  a 
lad  ten  years  old  with  her  to  return  the  horse.  Mary's  river, 
at  that  time  swollen  by  the  heavy  rains  of  the  previous  Sun- 
day, was  crossed  at  a  ford  some  distance  below  the  bridge 
on  the  old  Chester  and  Georgetown  road.  It  seemed  from 
the  tracks  of  the  horse  that  they  entered  the  river  with  no 
fear  of  danger  ;  but  the  rapid  current  swept  the  horse  and 
its  precious  burden  down  the  stream.  Miss  Graham  sank 
and  perished.  The  boy  caught  hold  of  the  branches  of  a 
tree  that  hung  across  the  stream,  and  cried  for  help.  A 
German  woman  living  near  by,  hearing  his  cries,  ran  to  the 
river,  and  saw  the  boy  holding  on  to  the  limb,  sometimes 
above  the  water,  and  sometimes  disappearing  beneath  it. 
Seeing  she  could  do  nothing  herself,  she  ran  fur  her  hus- 
band, who,  mounting  hLs  horse,  galloped  to  the  ford,  dashed 
boldly  in  and  tried  to  swim  his  horse  to  the  rescue.  But 
again  the  stream  prevails, — horse  and  gallant  rider  both  go 
down  and  swiftly  pass  the  rising,  sinking,  hoping,  now  de- 
spairing child.  Being  washed  from  the  horse's  back,  Mr. 
Daningbunk,  the  noble  German,  caught  around  the  animal's 


HISTORY    OF   RAXDOLPir,    MOXROE   AXD    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


233 


neck,  urged  by  his  wife,  who  had  iiiiain  reached  the  river,  to 
try  to  save  his  own  life  For  a  quarter  of  a  mile  the 
struggling  horse  and  man  were  swept  down  by  the  current, 
till  at  length  the  horse  getting  footing,  emerged  from  the 
waler  and  clambered  up  the  steep  bank,  but  his  heroic 
rider,  exhausted,  fell  back  into  the  hungry  stream  and 
sank.  Deeds  less  daring,  sacrilices  less  noble,  have  been 
immortalized  in  song. 

The  woman,  though  deeply  licart-smitten,  by  the  dreadful 
death-scene  of  her  husband,  still  determined  if  possible  to 
save  the  boy.  She  ran  and  informed  a  Mr.  Chapman  of  his 
condition.  He,  mounting  a  horse,  rode  rapidly  to  the  fords, 
but  when  he  readied  it  all  was  hii-^'hed  and  still  save  the  dis- 
mal gurgling  of  the  angry  stream  whose  cold  resistless  cur- 
rent disdaining  alike  the  purity  and  beauty  of  womanhood, 
the  strength  and  courage  of  manhood  and  the  helpless  inno- 
cency  of  pleading  childhood,  had  covered  all  three  in  the 
gloomy  depths  of  a  watery  grave. 

But  to  return  to  our  history  : — Where  the  first  school  was 
taught  in  this  county  is  not  certainly  known,  but  it  is  a 
matter  of  history  that  as  early  as  17'i()  the  Jesuits  founded 
a  college  at  Kaskaskia,  which  flourished  until  17o4,  and 
schools  of  a  lower  grade  probably  existed  at  a  still  earlier 
date 

John  Doyle,  one  of  General  Clark's  ohl  Siddiers,  returned 
to  Kaskaskia  after  the  war  and  taught  school,  many  years 
between  1790  and  18011.  About  this  time  a  heavy  immigra- 
tion set  in  from  the  States,  and  early  in  the  present  century, 
we  find  settlements  scattered  all  over  the  county.  We 
shall  therefore  take  the.se  settlements,  as  represented  by  the 
townships,  in  which  they  are  located  and  give  as  nearly  as 
possible  the  school  history  of  each.  Township  4,  range  5, 
including  Coulterville :  The  first  school-house  in  this  town- 
ship, was  a  log  cabin  erected  probably  in  the  fall  of  18"28, 
and  located  in  the  N.  E.  quarter  of  section  27.  The  first 
school  was  taught  the  following  winter  by  Mr.  (i'orgc 
Campbell,  who  still  lives  near  Sparta.  Henry  L.  McGuire 
and  Kenjamin  Wham,  afterward  Dr  Wham,  were  among 
its  other  early  teachers  There  was  another  school  taught 
at  a  very  early  day  in  the  western  part  of  this  township, 
in  section  19,  west  of  the  old  Stuart  Burns'  place,  but  its 
date   is  not  known. 

Mr.  Blair  Strahan.  now  an  old  man  residing  in  the  north- 
ern part  of  the  township,  attemled  this  school  when  twelve 
vcars  old.  James  B.  Parks  and  William  McKee  taught  in 
this  school.  In  later  years,  the  school  was  moved  further 
north  and  a  round  log  school-house  erected  on  the  land  now 
owned  by  Thomas  Lindsey.  Rev.  James  Morrow,  now  an 
aged  man  living  on  Mud  creek,  taught  a  number  of  terms 
in  this  house. 

The  first  school  under  the  free  school  law  was  taught  by 
David  Coulter,  now  a  minister,  in  Winchester,  Kansas. 
Miss  Martha  Bailey,  (now  Mrs.  West,  of  Ii<lwardsville), 
Mr.  Frank  Anderson,  now  of  Wyandotte,  Kansas,  Miss 
Lydia  Morland,  late  Mrs.  Rev.  Elliott,  of  Swauwick,  and 
Mr.  George  McKay  were  among  the  early  teachers  of  this 
school.  The  township  has  now  six  schools,  including  the 
graded  school  of  Coulterville, -541  children  of  school  age  and 
30 


a  township  school  fund  of  SI 931,  82.  It  has  also  a  good 
academy,  the  particulars  of  which  will  be  found  in  the  his- 
tory of  Coulterville. 

Township  5-5,  containing  Eden.  The  first  school  in  this 
township  was  taught  in  1821  by  an  Irishman  by  the  name 
of  Robert  Moor.  The  school-house  was  one  of  the  typical 
kind,  and  was  located  in  section  7.  The  District,  including 
the  present  location  of  Sparta,  was  about  six  miles  scjuare 
In  the  summer  of  1822,  G.  T.  Ewing,  afterwards  a. covenan- 
ter minister,  taught  a  school  in  section  9,  east  of  Eden,  an 
apple  tree  on  the  farm  of  Mr.  Tavlor  Nesbit,  marking  the 
site  of  the  old  school-house.  Robert  Clark,  one  of  the  noted 
teachers  of  his  time,  taught  here  in  18  j4  and  1835.  Rev. 
Samuel  Wylie,  late  of  Eden,  frequently  had  private  students. 
The  names  of  Don  JSIorrison  and  brother  and  the  Bonds 
of  Kaskaskia  were  among  his  pupils.  The  township  now 
has  7  schools,  387  children  of  school  age  and  a  township 
school  fund  of  S2550.70. 

T(nvn«hip  G-5,  containing  Steelesville  and  Percy,  had  a 
school  as  early  as  1812,  or  six  years  before  Illinois  became 
a  State.  The  school-house  was  an  old  log  cabin  which 
stood  where  Steelesville  now  stands,  then  a  dense  forest. 
John  White  was  the  teacher.  The  firs'  regular  school-house 
was  constructed  of  round  logs,  in  1820,  and  was  located  in 
the  X.  E.  quarter  'of  section  17,  and  familiarly  known  as 
the  "  Jones'  School-house."  Mr.  White  was  succeeded  by 
the  following  teachers  named  in  order  :  Col.  Gabriel  Jones, 
Mr.  Carnes,  Mr.  Bender,  Martin  Jernigan,  .James  Guthrie, 
Benjamin  Wham,  Isaac  B.  Brown,  Mr  Ward,  Mr.  Ellis, 
Archibald  Smith,  Jlr.  Hill,  Mr.  Spears,  Miss  Ford,  Nathan 
Cole,  now  of  St.  Louis,  and  once  mayor  of  that  city.  Miss 
Herd,  Mi.ss  Herdman,  Biddy  Farnan,  Dr.  William  A. 
Gordon,  now  of  ('hester,  Mary  G.  Malone,  W.  W.  Doggett, 
Wm.  B.  Bergfield,  Mr.  McDaniel  and  James  M.  Malone, 
present  posSmaster  of  Steelesville,  the  latter  taught  before 
the  free  school  law  was  in  operation  and  for  many  years 
afterwards. 

This  township  furnished  School  Commissioner,  Mr.  Eli 
Lofton,  and  a  county  Superintendent,  Mr.  John  A.  Malone. 
To  the  latter  we  are  indebted  for  the  organization  of  the 
Randolph  County  Teachers'  Institute.  The  township  has 
now  seven  sehor)ls,  including  the  graded  school  of  Steeles- 
ville, 548  children  of  school  age  and  a  township  school  fund 
of  •?94:)  U(i. 

Towiisliip  7,  Range  5,  including  Sliiloh  Hill.  The  first 
school-house  was  erected  in  this  township  about  1830,  on 
the  S.  E.  corner  of  section  10,  and  Isaac  B.  Brown  was  the 
first  teacher.  There  was  also  a  small  log  school-house 
built  within  the  present  limits  of  the  village  of  Shiioh  Hill, 
in  1836,  and  Josiah  Cully  taught  in  it  in  1837.  The 
building  was  also  used  for  preaching. 

Bridget  Farnan,  sister  of  the  late  Dr.  James  Farnan,  of 
Sparta,  taught  a  school  in  1843,  in  a  vacant  house  near  the 
site  of  the  present  Mill  Creek  brick  school  house.  Among 
the  other  early  teachers,  the  following  names  occur  :  Hora- 
tio Newberry,  William  JIcAdams,  now  of  Chester,  Richard 
Davis,  now  a  popular  Baptist  preacher,  James  II anna, 
Daniel    Lvnch   and   the  venerable   Paul    Hallworth.     Mr. 


234 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY  COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


HaHwertli,  ihcugh  now  veil  advanced  in  life,  is  still  active, 
euergttic  and  progressive  in  eduational  matters. 

Smator  John  A.  Lngan,  the  distinguished  soldier  and 
statesman,  attended  Daniel  Lynch's  school  in  this  township. 
It  has  been  fortunate  in  having,  within  it,  a  number  of  men 
who  were  warm  friends  of  education,  and  particularly  of  the 
public  schools.  A  mong  those  who  deserve  mention  are  :  Paul 
Hallworth,  mentioned  above,  and  his  co  laborers.  Judge  Jas- 
Gillespie(fatherof  Col.  Gillespie),  John  B.  Burke,  John  Bar- 
row and  Judge  Martin  Ireland.  The  latter  has  been  intimately 
connected  with  the  school  interests  of  the  township  for 
nearly  forty  years.  There  are  now  four  schools  in  this 
township,  277  children  of  school  age  and  a  school  fund 
of  S844  01.  The  origin  and  parliculars  of  the  Shiloh  Hill 
College,  will  appear  in  the  history  of  the  village. 

Township 'i.  Range  b,  cnxiisanrng  the  town  of  Rockwood. 
The  first  school  was  taught  in  the  northwestern  part  of 
the  township  in  1829,  by  Mr.  Conant,  an  eastern  gentleman; 
of  classical  education,  afterward  a  resident  of  the  county, 
who  lived  to  an  old  age.  Another  early  school  was  taugjit 
by  J.  H.  Cleudinen,  in  the  present  limits  of  the  Ebenezer 
District,  piior  to  1833.  The  first  school-house  was  built  by 
Louis  Garrelt  in  1836.  The  school  coniisted  of  35  to  40 
subscription  scholars.  About  this  time,  a  very  eccentric 
teacher,  William  Robinson,  was  known  here.  He  taught 
school  north  of  Kaskaskia,  as  early  as  1812  or  14,  and  some 
of  the  earliest  residents  of  the  township  were  his  pupils. 
He  was  often  with  the  Indians,  and  one  occasion  after  his 
absence  of  two  or  three  years,  his  wife  received  a  letter  from 
him,  containing  only  the  words  "Sane;  Yours  William 
Robinson."  Israel  Curtis  in  1838  and  '9,  taught  in  the 
present  limits  of  Rockwood  village.  In  1838,  Robert  Jef- 
frey kept  a  winter  term  of  school  in  a  cooper  shop,  in  the 
present  limits  of  the  Ebenezer  District.  Forty  years  after, 
his  g'and-daughter,  Mattie  Jefl^rey,  is  teaching  about  100 
yards  from  the  same  place.  He  was  an  excellent  penman 
and  a  very  successful  teacher.  Dr.  Lynch  taught  in  the 
township  in  1840.  While  teaching  at  Shiloh,  he  predicted 
the  future  notoriety  of  his  pupil,  John  A.  Logan.  The 
Ebenezer  log  school-house  was  built  in  1842.  Mr.  Seymour 
Straight,  since  a  prominent  Ohio  dairyman  and  millionaire, 
taught  here  in  1843  or  '4. 

The  first  public  school-house  was  built  in  Rockwood  iu 
1848.  Joseph  Walker  was  the  first  teacher.  The  second 
was  built  in  1852,  in  the  Ebenezer  District.  The  lumber 
was  sawed  with  the  whip-saw,  one  man  above  and  the  other 
below  the  log.  The  township  has  now  two  schools,  one 
hundred  and  sixty  children  of  school  age,  and  a  school 
fundofS847,75. 

Toumship  8,  R.  6,  including  the  village  of  Houston.  The 
first  school  in  this  township  of  which  we  have  reliable  in- 
formation, was  taught  in  1834,  near  the  farm  of  John  Mc- 
Millan, about  three  fourths  of  a  mile  west  of  Houston.  The 
school-house  was  a  deserted  log  cabin.  The  first  teacher 
Mas  James  Finley,  of  Hill  Prairie,  the  next,  Thomas  An. 
derson.  Afterward  the  house  was  moved  to  a  point  near 
Mattliew  Lessley's  farm,  and  Hugh  McKelvey,  son  of  Chas. 
McKelvey,  taught  there  in  1837.     Ee  was  followed  by  Jas. 


Parks  and  Mr.  Glenn.  In  1844,  Robert  Steen  taught  in  a 
small  house  built  by  some  settlers,  in  the  northern  part  of 
Gordon's  Grove,  near  the  present  United  Presbyterian 
church.  In  1846,  Mrs.  Delilah  Meek  taught  a  school  in 
her  own  house,  on  the  hill,  where  the  residence  of  Mr. 
Hugh  Mathews  now  stands.  On  the  eastern  side  of  the 
township,  schools  were  taught  at  an  early  day  by  Adam 
Marshall,  uncle  of  Dr.  S.  W.  Marshall,  of  Sparta.  One  of 
these  schools  was  kept  on  the  hill,  near  old  Dr.  Marshall's, 
and  another  on  Plum  creek,  near  Samuel  McClinton's. 
This  township  has  now  seven  schools,  424  children  of  school 
age,  and  a  township  school  fund  of  S1119.90. 

Township  5 — R.  6,  containing  part  of  Blair.  The  first 
school  in  this  township  was  probably  taught  in  a  small  log 
school-house,  on  the  old  Dial  place,  more  recently  the 
Frazier  place,  in  sec.  4.  As  best  remembered,  it  was  origi- 
nated by  Major  Andrew  Borders,  father  of  judge  James  J. 
Borders,  now  of  Sparta,  William  Temple,  father  of  jNlr. 
John  Temple,  and  Joseph  Weir,  fatherin-law  of  Mr.  Wm. 
Weir,  both  of  Livcly's  Prairie.  The  first  teacher  was  James 
Guthrie,  who  taught  in  1826.  A  Mr.  Armour,  probably 
John  Armour  of  Sparta,  taught  in  1834.  Staflxird  C.  Meek, 
Coe  W^.  Caice,  John  C.  Means  and  Thomas  Slater,  were 
among  the  early  teachers.  There  was  also  a  school  taught 
at  a  very  early  day  on  the  creek  east  of  Major  Borders' 
farm,  in  sec.  3,  but  no  facts  can  now  be  gathered  of  its  date 
or  teachers.  As  late  as  1848  there  was  but  one  regular 
school-house  in  this  township,  and  even  it  was  used  for 
preaching  as  well  as  for  school.  Another  school  was  kept 
in  the  old  Associate  Reformed  Church,  in  Opossumden 
Prairie,  near  the  site  of  the  present  United  Presbyterian 
Church,  iu  sec.  24.  The  township  has  now  seven  schools, 
414  children  of  school  age,  and  a  township  school  fund  of 
$909.01. 

Township  6, — 7?.  G,  containing  Bremen  and  part  of  Blair. 
The  first  school  in  this  township  was  taught  by  Ezekiel 
Rubbins,  for  a  number  of  years,  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Randolph,  now  Bremen.  The  first  school-house  was  situated 
in  northwest  qr.  of  sec.  27,  and  had  been  the  log  dwelling 
of  some  early  settler.  The  first  house  built  for  school  pur- 
poses, was  of  logs,  and  about  25  feet  square,  and  was  located 
on  the  northeast  qr.  of  sec.  26.  The  first  school-house  iu 
the  neighborhood  of  Blair,  was  a  round-pole  deserted  dwell- 
ing, but  no  one  remembers  the  dates  or  early  teachers. 
James  Hughes  taught  Ex.  Gov.  John  Reynolds  and  others, 
at  his  own  house.  This  township  furnished  one  school  com- 
missioner, Mr.  Marcus  L.  Burns,  who  held  the  office  credit- 
ably from  1861  to  1865.  It  has  now  6  schools,  422  children 
of  school  age,  and  a  township  school  fund  of  S1842  00. 

Township  7 — B.  6.  The  first  school  of  which  we  can 
learn  anything  in  this  township,  was  taught  by  Nathan 
Conant,  in  lb23.  He  taught  also  in  1824.  These  schools 
were  taught  in  the  summer  time,  to  enab'e  children  to  attend, 
living  from  a  distance.  The  school-house  was  on  the  south 
side  of  Mary's  river,  near  its  mouth,  in  what  was  then  known 
as  the  Brain  and  Hindman  settlement.  Nothing  more  can 
be  learned  of  the  schools  of  this  township  till  1849,  when 
the  names  of  Almira  Smith,  R.   G.  Davis,  William  Taylor, 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


235 


James  Pinkerton.  Margaret  Phillips,  F.  R.  Douglass,  P.  X. 
Russel,  Wm.  McClure,  James  P.  Craig  and  Wra.  McAilams, 
appear  as  teachers.  Among  the  leading  men  in  educational 
matters  at  au  early  day,  were  Isaac  Rust,  John  Smith,  Mr. 
Aldricli,  Mr.  Phillips  and  Abel  Crisler.  This  township  has 
now  five  schools,  322  children  of  school  age,  and  a  township 
school  fund  of  §1875.00 

Towmliip  8,  Range  6,  is  a  fractional  township  on  the  Mis- 
sissippi river  between  Chester  and  Rockwood.  The  first 
school  in  this  township  was  taught  by  a  Mr.  Garrett,  in  a 
Louse  in  the  southwest  qr.  of  sec.  11,  belonging  to  Samuel 
Mansker,  in  183G.  lu  1842,  William  Clark  kept  a  school 
in  a  house  belonging  to  John  Moore,  in  the  southwest  qr. 
of  sec.  12,  and,  in  1843,  a  Mr.  Thompson  taughtin  thesame 
house.  In  1844,  Truman  Strate  kept  a  school  in  a  house  of 
Samuel  Mansker,  in  the  southeast  qr.  of  sec  2.  The  first 
house  built  for  school  and  church  purposes,  was  erected  on 
Robert  Moore's  land,  northwest  qr.  of  sec.  2,  and  was  named 
the  Pleasant  Ridge  school-house  The  first  free  school  was 
taught  by  Sohcrry  Morgan,  brother  of  Wm.  H.  Morgan,  of 
Shiloh  Hill,  in  18.57,  in  the  Clift(m  school  house,  in  south- 
east qr.  of  sec.  2.  The  leading  educational  men  in  early 
times  were  Samuel  Mansker,  Alexander  Hiudraan,  Robert 
Grissom,  Joab  Parks  and  Robert  Moore,  who  were  elected 
school  trustees  in  1835.  The  school  lands  in  this  township 
were  sold  in  1836,  for  31  25  per  acre  The  township  has 
now  two  schools,  71  children  of  school  age,  and  a  school 
fundofS318  86. 

Toicnship  4,  Range  7,  containing  Baldwin.  The  fir.-t 
school  in  this  township  was  taught  in  the  old  Fort,  in  sec. 
33,  in  181G  or  1817,  by  an  old  sailor,  named  Davis.  Of 
those  who  went  to  this  school,  the  only  survivor  is  Mrs. 
Jennie  L  Nel.-on,  of  Baldwin.  The  second  was  taught  by 
one  Summers,  in  1818,  in  a  cabin  on  sec.  28.  Mr.  Summers 
was  acquainted  with  military  tactics,  and  drilled  the  boys 
at  noon,  and  other  spare  times.  John  A.  Wilson,  late  of 
Sparta,  then  a  little  boy,  acted  as  drummer  in  this  youthful 
company.  The  third  school  was  in  sec.  21,  just  above  Cos's 
Ferry,  on  the  Okaw  river,  and  was  taught  by  Mr.  Davis, 
above  mentioned. 

The  first  house  built  for  school  purposes  was  in  see.  27, 
on  Plum  creek.  It  was  erected  in  1822,  and  Robert  llill 
was  the  first  who  taught  in  it.  About  1828,  a  split  log  house 
■was  raised  in  sec.  23,  and  the  first  teacher  to  teach  in  it,  was 
Isaac  Hill.  He  was  followed  by  Thomas  Anderson,  Mr. 
Wilson,  J.  T.  W.  Rodgers,  Mr.  Pattison,  Andrew  Wilson, 
J.  H.  Nelson  and  James  Bane.  The  leading  educational 
families  in  this  township  were  the  Andersons,  Thompsons, 
Coxes,  Wilsons,  Mudds  and  Hills  The  township  has  now 
six  schools,  381  children  of  school  age,  and  a  township  school 
fund  of  S1019.47. 

Township  5,  Range  7,  including  Preston.  The  first  school 
remembered  in  this  township,  was  taught  by  Archibald 
Thompson,  in  1820,  in  his  own  kitchen.  The  next  was  kept 
bv  Henry  Noah,  in  1826,  in  a  log  house,  on  the  old  John 
Campbell  place,  a  mile  or  so  west  of  Preston.  The  third 
was  on  the  farm  of  Andrew  McCormick,  near  the  southern 
side  of  the  township,  on  a  branch  of  the  Nine  Mile  creek, 


and  was  taught  by  George-  Mc'Jormick,  Andrew's  son.  Mr. 
William  Foster,  now  an  old  man,  living  west  of  Sparta, 
attended  Mr.  Noah's  school,  ncarPre-ton,  when  a  little  b\v. 
On  one  occasion  Mr.  Noah  whipped  William  fjr  misspelling 
a  word,  and  a  splinter  of  the  switch  stuck  in  William's  face. 
The  teacher  wished  to  pull  it  out,  but  the  boy  would  not 
permit  this  evidence  of  mistreatment  to  be  removed,  till  his 
father  should  see  it.  As  Mr.  Noah  rode  home  from  school, 
he  took  William  on  the  horse,  behind  him,  perhaps  to  con- 
cilate  him.  On  reaching  Mr.  Foster's,  the  chdds  story  and 
splintered  face  made  a  temporary  storm,  and  no  doubt  our 
Noah  would  have  gladly  entered  au  ark  to  escape  the  danger 
that  threatened,  had  one  been  present.  This  township  has 
now  eight  schools,  333  children  of  school  age,  and  a  school 
fund  of  S735.25. 

Town-hip  6,  Range  7,  containing  Kaskaskia  and  Ellis 
Grove. — James  Thompson,  familiarly  known  as  Judge 
Thompson,  father  of  J.  D.  and  R  M.,  of  Central  preL-inct 
and  Chester  respectivel)-,  taught  school  in  Kaskaskia  in  this 
township  from  1814  to  1817.  Mr.  Thompson  became  a 
prominent  man  in  this  countj',  filling  many  positions  of 
public  trust  for  long  periods.  In  1822  Rev.  Samuel  Wiley, 
late  pastor  of  the  Reformed  Presbyterian  church  of  Edei', 
assisted  by  G.  T .  Ewing,  then  a  theological  studenta  nd  after- 
ward a  mini-ter  of  the  same  denomination,  opened  an  aca- 
demy in  Kaskaskia,  and  carried  it  on  till  about  1S29.  The 
early  schools  in  the  country  settlements  are  not  remembered. 
The  township  has  now  six  public  and  several  private  schools  ; 
524  children  of  school  age  and  a  township  school  fund  of 
81674.55. 

Township  1,  Range  7,  including  the  city  of  Chester. — The 
following  are  the  names  of  most  of  the  early  teachers,  toge- 
ther with  the  dates  of  their  labors  :  Mr.  Oiborn,  in  a  log 
school-house,  near  Mrs.  Ellen  Cotes'  present  residence, 
about  the  year  1830  or  1831 ;  Miss  Kansas  L^jland,  in  same 
house,  about  1832;  also  James  Robinson,  in  1834;  Mr. 
Holliday,  at  Portland,  where  the  Southern  Illinois  Peniten- 
tiary now  stands,  about  1835  ;  Mr.  Ilolloway,  a  Scotch  Vir- 
ginian, in  a  log  house  near  the  present  residence  of  Hon.  W. 
Hartzell,  about  1836,  and  summer  school,  in  187);  Mrs. 
Drew,  summer  school,  1838;  also  winter  school  i[i  town, 
1838  and  1839;  Mr.  Hunipris,  in  a  log  school-hsuse  near 
Mr  Hartzell's,  in  1838  and  1839;  James  Askins,  father  of 
W.  P.  Askins,  of  Sparta,  in  same  house  summer  school,  in 
1840  or  1841 ;  Rev.  James  Glenn,  just  at  north  line  of  town 
ship,  near  Plea=aut  Ridge  church,  winter  school,  1S43; 
George  Lindsey,  in  the  old  Porter  house,  now  in  Senenberg's 
addition,  fall  and  winter,  1846. 

The  later  teachers  in  Chester  were  as  follows  in  the  order 
named  from  1840  to  1854:  Miss  Drew,  John  C.  Means,  Mr. 
Sax,  Dr.  Junk,  Miss  Huntingter,  Miss  Cummings,  James 
Glenn,  Mr.  Jenkins,  Dr.  Johnson,  L.  D.  Skilling  and  wife. 
Miss  Frone,  Hugh  Corrington.  The  present  school  is  a 
graded  one,  including  a  high  school  department,  and  has  one 
of  the  finest  school  buildings  in  Southo-n  Illinois.  The 
township  now  contains  three  schools,  1031  children  of  school 
age  and  a  school  fund  of  S2006  32. 

Township  4,  Range  8,  including  the  city  of  Red  Bud. — The 


23G 


HLSTOBY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


first  schoul  remembered  was  taught  by  John  C.  Crozier,  in 
1826.  The  house  used  for  the  school  was  a  little  abandened 
pole  cabin,  near  the  Monroe  county  line.  Mr.  Crozier  wa^ 
the  father  of  Samuel  Crozier,  one  of  the  founders  of  Red  Bud, 
and  of  James  Crozier,  who  still  lives  in  that  citj'. 

When  the  first  school  was  taught  in  Red  Bud  is  not  now 
known.  This  towuship  has  now  five  schools,  including  the 
graded  school  of  Red  Bud,  'J16  chil  dren  of  school  age,  and 
a  school  fund  of  8110.00. 

Toicwhip  5,  Range  8,  containing  the  towns  of  Ruraa  and 
Evansville. — The  first  school  in  this  towuship  was  taught  by 
Mr.  Henry  O'Harra,  in  his  own  house.  The  exact  date  of 
this  school  is  not  now  known.  The  next  school  was  in  1830, 
and  taught  by  Mr.  Henry  Noah,  whose  name  occurs  in  con 
nectiou  with  other  early  schools.  He  taught  several  years  in 
succession,  receiving  S.'i.'iS  a  quarter  per  scholar,  and  five 
cents  a  day  from  day-scholars,  of  whom  he  had  several.  The 
first  school  under  the  free-school  law  was  taiight  in  1856,  by 
V\  iiliara  P.  Boyle.  This  township  has  now  four  public  and 
several  private  church  schools,  4U5  children  of  school  age 
and  a  school  lund  of  83517,82. 

Townships  6-8  and  7-8  are  both  fractional  townships, 
lying  principally  between  the  Mississippi  and  Okaw  rivers. 
As  tlieir  schools  were  not  organized  till  a  comparatively  re- 
cent date,  no  history  of  early  schools  is  given.  The  former 
has  now  two  schools  and  121  children  of  school  age,  but  no 
township  fund  ;  the  latter  has  two  schools,  109  children  of 
school  age  and  a  township  fund  of  $1353 

Tonmsliip  a,  Range  9.— Tlie  first  English  school  in  this 
township  twas  taught  in  Prairie  du  Rocher,  by  Henry 
Slaggus,  date  not  known.  Charles  McNabb  taught  an  Eng- 
lish school  here  as  early  as  1820.  The  first  free  school  was 
also  in  Prairie  du  Rocher,  and  the  teacher  was  paid  by  the 
county  school  commissioner.  Afterward  a  board  of  trustees 
was  ehctid,  who  hired  teachers  and  controlled  the  school. 
In  1850  Mr.  F.  W.  Brickey  became  a  member  of  this  board, 
and  hired  William  P.  Boyle  as  teacher.  In  order  to  induce 
him  to  encourage  the  people  to  patronize  the  school,  IMr. 
Brickey  agreed  that  he  should  have  as  his  salary  83.00  per 
quarter  for  each  scholar  in  attendance.  But  this  plan  was 
unpopular  with  the  people,  anri  they  would  not  send  their 
children  to  the  school.  Mr.  Brickey  then  hired  Mr.  Doyle 
at  a  regular  salary  per  month,  and  the  patrons  resumed 
sending  and  a  good  school  was  the  result.  There  are  uow 
eight  schools  in  this  township,  five  supported  by  taxation 
and  the  public  school  funds,  and  tiiree  by  the  income  of  the 
Prairie  du  Rocher  commons.  The  commons  fund  is  sime- 
thing  over  814,000  00,  the  interest  of  which  is  more  than 
sufficient  for  the  three  schools.  This  large  fund  has  been  ac- 
cumulated by  leasing  the  commons.  These  lands  are  very 
rich  and  valuable,  and  the  income  will  more  than  keep  pace 
with  the  demands  of  the  common  schools.  Mr.  Brickey 
is  treasurer  of  the  township  and  also  of  the  commons  funds 
and  is  in  every  way  a  representative  man  in  the  edu- 
cational interests  of  the  township.  This  township  has  n<iw 
eight  schools,  485  children  of  school  age,  and  a  township 
school  fund  of  8546.93. 

Toumship  6— 9— is  a  fractional  township  in  the  extreme 


western  point  of  the  county.     It  has  but  one  school    and  83 
children  of  school  age.     It  has  no  school  fund. 

The  first  school  in  Sparta,  was  taught  by  John  Armour 
Sen.  in  1831.  The  school  was  kept  in  one  end  of  Robert  G. 
Shamion's  warehouse,  which  stood  north  of  the  present  old 
brick  store.  The  following  year  the  same  school  was  taught 
by  John  Armour,  Jr.,  son  of  the  preceding.  John  Armour 
Senior  was  the  grandfather  of  Mr.  James  Armour,  now  of 
this  city.  The  next  teacher  was  Adam  Wylie,  brother  of 
Rev.  Samuel  Wylie,  late  of  Eden.  He  taught  in  1833  and 
1835.  Benjamin  Wham,  later  Dr.  Wham  mentioned  before 
followed  Mr.  Wylie.  The  last  two  taught  in  an  old  log 
house  which  stood  where  the  residence  of  Mrs.  Henry  Gard- 
ner now  stands.  The  house  was  afterwards  used  by  Col. 
James  Morrow  for  a  printing  tffice.  James  G.  Paiks  fol- 
lowed Mr.  Wham.  In  1839,  Hugh  McKelvey,  brother  of 
S.  W.  McKelvey  near  Sparta,  taught,  and  was  followed  the 
next  year  by  his  cousin,  Hugh  McKelvey,  son  of  Alexander 
McKelvey.  Dr.  Beggs  followed  Mr.  McKelvey.  Dr.  Chas.  B. 
Pelton,  and  wife  taught  from  about  1846  to  1849.  In  1838 
the  first  regular  school-house  was  erected.  It  w;is  of  brick, 
one  storv  high,  and  was  seated  somewhat  like  a  church.  Two 
teachers  were  usually  employed  in  this  house,  though  it  was 
all  in  one  room,  the  teachers  hearing  their  respective  classes 
at  the  opposite  ends. 

The  building  was  known  as  the  Sparta  Seminary  and  stood 
near  the  site  of  the  present  school  building.  Many  learned 
men  and  excellent  teachers  were  employed  in  that  old  sem- 
inary. The  Union  Academy,  founded  in  1858,  and  presided 
over  for  several  years  by  Rev.  M.  M.  Brown,  was  for  a  time 
an  excellent  school  and  gave  a  good  academic  education  to 
many  who  are  now  filling  places  of  public  trust  and  honor 
in  this  and  other  states.  Sparta  School  district  has  685 
children  of  school  age.  The  present  school  building  has  a 
seating  capacity  of  600,  whith  is  about  the  average  enroll- 
ment of  the  school.  The  school  has  eight  grades  exclusive 
of  the  high  school.  The  high  school  has  a  course  of  study 
extending  over  a  period  of  four  years,  and  embracing  Greek, 
Latin,  Book-keeping,  Chemistry  and  the  higher  mathematics. 
It  has  a  large  attendance  of  non-resident  s-tudents.  The 
school  as  a  whole  employs  thirteen  teachers 

The  county  has  91  ungraded  and  6  graded  schools,  16 
private  schools  and  200  teachers,  70  males  and  130  females. 
Children  of  school  age,  8722  A.u  aggregate  school  fund  of 
825,135,43.  In  1 882  it  received  f.-om  the  state  funds  89,254,00 
and  levied  a  school  tax  of  829,395,65.  It  has  14  log  school 
houses,  63  frame,  25  brick  and  3  stone,  exclusive  of  private 
school-houses.  The  school  commissioners  and  superinten- 
dents as  far  as  the  records  give  them  are  as  follows  : 

Commissioners Dates    Eli  Lofton 1857 

m.  McBride 18:!(i    Marcus  L.  Burns 1881 

niiu'l  (t    'i'lmnipson    I.^t"  Superintendents. 

\    (.iii„M  .       1>|:    .l.-liii  A    M:,l"ii.' 1805 

,     l:  .    .  -^  IMI      l:.l  I     V    li |--n  1809 


The  Randolph  county  teachers'  Institute  was  organized 
in  186G  or  1867.  This  association  meets  yearly  and  spends 
from  one  to  four  weeks  in  a  review  of  the  common 
school    branches     conducted     by    the    best   teac  hers    that 


HIS2  0HY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND   PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


237 


can  be  obtained.  Among  these  appear  the  names  of  Hon. 
Newton  Batemau,  Presidents  Edwards,  Hewet  and  Avlln, 
and  Pro's.  John  W.  Cook,  Granville  F.  Foster,  Joseph  W. 
Ewing,  James  II.  Browulee,  I.  H.  Brown,  Major  J.  B. 
Merwin  and  State  superintendents  Etter  and  Slade.  Besides 
giving  instruction  in  the  common  studies,  the  conductors 
have  presented  and  discussed  modern  systems  of  education 
and  late  and  improved  methods  of  teaching  and  disicpline. 


MONROE  COUNTY. 

The  general  cliaracter  of  tlie  English  taught  schools  of 
this  county  was  a  fair  type  of  those  conducted  in  the  State 
for  more  than  a  half  century  following.  The  old  time 
school-master,  could  not,  in  the  general  parlance  of  to-day, 
be  termed  a  professional  teacher.  He  was  selected  amid  the 
pioneers,  as  the  one  best  fitted  to  fill  the  position, — one  who 
had  a  fair  smattering  of  the  common  branches,  and  at  the 
same  lime  knew  well  the  corrective  influence  of  the  hazel 
switch  and  ferule.  We  do  not  employ  this  language  to  cast 
any  reflections,  or  bring  censure  upon  the  zealous  tcholastic 
labors  of  the  pioneer  pedagogue  ;  but,  as  illustrative  of  the 
ideas  and  modes  of  training  that  existed  among  the  people 
in  those  early  times.  The  author  of  the  "  Hoosier  School- 
master," express  the  sentiment  mu/tutii  in  parvo,  when  he 
quotes  the  language  of  "Bud  "  Mean's  father  (then  trustee 
of  his  "  deestrict"j  "  that  where  there  was  no  licking,  there 
was  no  larning."  Yet  in  afier  years  the  grey  hairs  of  the 
pedagogue  of  long  ago  were  thought  of  in  kind  remembrance 
by  those  who  had  grown  to  mature  years,  and  wiiom  time  and 
experience  had  taught  to  appreciate  the  honest  effort  of 
those  whose  lot  it  had  been  selected  to  become  their  tutors. 

Monroe  county  bears  the  palm,  and  has  the  honor  of  hav- 
ing the  first  English  school  taught  within  the  boundaries  of 
the  Prairie  State.  Ere  the  clicking  of  the  type  shall  have 
ceased,  which  shall  record  this  as  a  part  of  the  State's  his- 
tory, the  centennial  anniversary  will  have  arrived  of  the 
first  English  school  taught  in  the  western  frontier.  The 
first  American  schoolmaster  in  Illinois,  was  John  Seely,  who 
taught  in  the  summer  of  ITT-'!,  iu  the  "  New  Design  "  settle- 
ment, now  New  Design  precinct.  The  school-house  was  an 
abandoned  squatter's  cabin.  Round  poles  were  placed  in  it 
for  seating  purposes,  and  what  little  dtsk  facilities  were 
furnished,  were  merely  small  logs  flattened  by  a  few  strokes 
of  the  ax  and  placed  with  the  hewed  side  up.  A  log  was 
cut  out  of  one  side  for  lighting  purposes,  and  with  mother 
earth  for  a  floor,  the  reader  will  have  a  vague  idea  of  how, 
a  century  ago,  the  pioneer  children  obtained  their  meager 
education. 

The  next  teacher  was  Francis  Clark,  who  taught  a  school 
in  the  fall  and  winter  of  the  same  year.  He  proved  to  be 
an  intemperate  man,  and  the  school  was  not  a  success. 
Following  him  was  an  Irishman  by  the  name  of  Halfpenny, 
who  taught  school  within  the  State  for  many  years  after- 
ward, and  sub.sequently  became  noted,  and  might  be  appro- 
priately termed  the  schoolmaster-general  of  the  State,  in 
those  early  times.  He  was  a  man  of  active  mind,  and  as 
early  as  1795,  he  erected  a  water  mill  on  Fountain  creek,  a 


little  west  of  the  present  city  of  Waterloo.  A  little  later 
an  educated  man,  John  Clark,  taught  in  the  neighborhood. 
He  was  a  Scotchman  by  birth  and  a  minister  by  profession. 
He  taught  the  higher  branches  in  mathematics,  philosophy, 
etc.,  and  became  very  popular  among  the  people  of  this  set- 
tlenif  nt.  As  late  as  the  year  1800  there  was  only  one  school 
in  Monroe  county — at  New  Design.  Charles  Walker  taught 
a  school  in  a  log  cabin  that  stood  within  the  corporate 
limits  of  Columbia  near  the  Waterloo  road  as  early  as  1815. 
About  1817,  Levi  Piggott  kept  school  in  a  log  house 
that  stood  in  the  timber,  near  a  spring,  still  discharging  its 
waters  into  Biggs'  creek,  a  little  north  of  the  town. 

In  the  vicinity  of  Chalfin  Bridge,  in  Mitchie  Precinct, 
Edward  Humphrey  taught  a  school  in  1805,  and  continued 
several  years.  He  was  a  skillful  teacher  and  a  man  held  in 
high  esteem  by  the  people,  filling  many  important  positions. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  general  assembly,  and  was  register 
of  the  land  office  at  Kaskaskia. 

Mrs.  Ford,  who  became  a  resident  of  this  county  in  1804, 
taught  an  early  school  in  section  .BO  of  T.  3,  R.  10,  which 
some  of  the  McRoberts'  children  attended. 

It  must  be  remembered  that  in  these  early  times  there 
was  no  uniformity  of  text-books.  The  few  pioneer  boys  and 
girls  were  sent  to  school  with  such  books  as  the  family  hap- 
pened to  have  at  hand.  For  reading-books  they  used  the 
New  Testament,  histories,  biographies  of  prominent  men,  and 
other  literature,  such  as  they  could  command.  In  arithme- 
tic one  had  virtually  completed  his  education  when  he  had 
arrived  at  the  "  Rule  of  three."  Grammar  was  scarcely 
within  the  curriculum  of  the  pioneer  school-boy.  Times 
have  materially  changed  since  then,  and  so  have  the  customs 
and  sports  of  the  school  youth  of  that  day.  Much  of  the  an- 
tagonism formerly  existing  between  teachers  and  pupils  has 
passed  away.  The  more  humane  methodsof  discipline  have 
softened  and  refined  the  manners  of  the  youth  and  teachers, 
and  inspired  respect  in  the  former,  and  forbearance  in  the 
latter.  "Barring  out"  in  primitive  school  life,  was  a  spe- 
cies of  forcible  entry  and  detainer  of  the  school-house  by  the 
larger  boys,  resorted  to  for  the  purpose  of  coni|)elliug  the 
teacher  to  yield  the  point  for  which  they  were  petitioning, 
frequently  a  jug  of  rum  as  a  treat.  If  the  boys  succeeded 
in  holding  the  school-house  against  the  efforts  of  the  teacher 
to  enter  it,  he  yielded  gracefully  to  their  demands,  like  the 
"craven"  of  the  wager  of  battle  of  old.  On  the  other  hand 
if  the  teacher  proved  the  stronger  in  the  contest  the  boys 
(juietly  acquiesced.  Those  old  customs,  however,  have 
nearly  passed  away  and  gone  with  thethings  that  wttc.  A  new 
era  has  opened  up,  and  the  youthof  the  country  haveharned 
that  they  must  give  their  whole  thought,  time  and  energy 
to  prepare  themselves  to  cope  with  the  world  in  its  present 
advanced  stage  of  general  information  and   education. 

From  the  foregoing  it  will  be  seen  what  obstacles  and 
disadvantages  the  children  of  the  pioneers  were  obliged  to 
undergo,  in  order  to  obtain  even  a  common  school  educa- 
tion. To  show  the  progress  that  has  been  made  in  the  con- 
duct of  schools  within  the  last  thirty  years,  we  append  a 
.synopsis  of  the  reports  made  to  the  State  Superintendent  of 
Public  Instruction  of  1851  and  1882. 


238 


HISTOBY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


For  the  year  ending  October  1st,  1851,  we  glean  the  fol- 
lowing: 

Whole  numlter  under  21  years  of  age 4,100 

Kuinber  ol' ilif-tricts -z-i 

Kumher  of  schools  taught "^4 

Number  of  teachers 24 

Number  of  scliool-hnases 18 

Average  montlily  wa.^es  paid  male  teachers S^o.Oj 

Average  monthly  waives  paid  female  teachers Sl'-."() 

Whole  amouut  paid  to  teachers S'',4J0.00 

Whole  amount  expended  for  public  schools S*J,4-0.0U 

The  following  h  taken  from  the  county  school  superiuten- 
dent's  report  made  for  the  school  year  eudiug  June  30th, 
1882 : 

Whole  number  of  males  under  21  years  of  age 3,40(1 

"Whole  number  of  fomalcfi  under  ^1  years  of  age :!,:i73 

Total 0,872 

Number  of  districts  in  the  county 47 

Number  of  schools  taught 5:i 

C.racip.l   «r-hn,,|.i 2 

>  .:  :   :     I     I'TS  in   public  schools 03 

lli-h'-r  iiiiy  wages  paid  tcaehers $o:.,t)ii 

Lowest  niinit^ily  waives  paid  teacliers &'.'i,iii) 

Animal  amount"  paid  to  t'acher-4 SJi.lsjm 

Total  school  expeuscs  for  the  year «;il,'.jiM4 

Value  of  school  property  in  the  county Sii. ,uo 

From  the  above  shcviug,  it  may  be  readily  be  seen  with 
what  strides  the  county  has  increased  in  popuhition,  and  has 
progressed  in  its  educational  interests.  In  three  decades  it 
has  nearly  trebled  in  its  number  of  teachers  and  school- 
houses.  The  manner  of  teaching  has  kept  pace  with  the 
age,  and  the  school-houses  are  mostly  of  the  modern  style, 
and  in  the  main  supplied  with  the  latest  and  most  approved 
furniture  and  other  school  belongings.  As  an  example  of 
the  manner  of  the  tiiinking  and  disfavor  of  the  public  school 
system,  in  the  minds  of  some  no  longer  ago  than  1858,  we 
take  the  privilege  of  inserting  the  sentiment,  expressed  un- 
der the  head  of  remarks,  by  a  Township  Treasurer,  to  the 
then  county  superintendent  of  schools.  "  The  people  in  this 
section  are  very  generally  dissatisfied  with  the  present  school 
law,  and  if  it  cannot  be  amended  so  as  to  operate  better, 
they  think  there  had  better  be  no  law  at  all.  On  the  sub- 
ject last  year,  four  of  the  districts  had  a  tax  to  the  amount 
of  over  S900  of  which  the  collector  paid  over  to  the  treas- 
urer 8700,  and  the  balance  of  over  S200  is  no  where',  and 
it  caused  so  much  trouble  and  botheration  that  I  believe 
they  concluded  not  to  try  it  again.  Not  a  single  district 
has  laid  a  tax  this  year.  The  County  Clerk,  I  understand 
does  labor  in  assessing  the  school  ta.<  in  the  county,  to  the 
amount  of  eighty  or  a  hundred  dollars,  in  May,  all  of  which 
he  has  to  lose  because  the  law  has  made  no  provision  for 
paying  him  anything.  If  I  should  suggest  anything,  it  would 
be  to  leave  the  whole  business  of  laying  and  collecting  taxes 
with  the  trustees  of  schools,  and  uot  trouble  the  county 
officers  with  it  any  further  than  to  lake  the  list  of  property 
off  the  assessor's  books.  The  whole  business  of  the  exami- 
nation of  teachers  by  the  School  Commissioner,  and  giving 
certificates  is  a  perfect  humbug,  and  might  be  disposed  of 
without  the  least  detriment  to  the  community.  I  do  not 
wish  to  speak  evil  of  dignitaries,  but  it  rather  strikes  me 
that  the  office  of  the  State  Superintendent  with  the  salary 
of  $1,''')00  a  year  might  also  be  placed  in  the  same  category. 
I  do  not  know  what  he  has  to  do  to  earn  his  very  handsome 
stipend  ;  but,  I  suppose  he  is  a  lawyer,  and  as  it  is  the  law- 
yers that  have  the  making  of  most  of  our  laws,  I 
suppose  it  is  necessary  to  have  a  lawyer  to  expound  and  ex- 


plain the  law  for  the  people,  an  1  thus  the  office  of  State 
Superintendent  had  to  be  created.  I  do  not  think  he  ha? 
ever  shown  his  face  in  this  part  of  the  State,  and  all  that  I 
have  ever  heard  or  known  of  his  doing  for  us  was  the  send- 
ing around  of  a  few  circulars,  requesting  the  names  of  school 
officers.     All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted,  etc." 

In  1876,  a  Teachers'  A?wciatioa  v/xi  established  under  the 
auspices  of  Suparintendiut  W.  H.  Hilyard,  who  is  yet  the 
efficient  officer  at  the  head  of  the  schools  of  the  county. 
The  first  attendance  was  composed  of  about  forty  teachers. 
There  was  a  healthy  increase  of  members,  and  in  1880,  the 
attendance  reached  sixty  teachers.  This  Institute  was  un- 
der the  efficient  management  of  Prof.  I.  H.  Brown  of  Ed- 
wardsville,  aided  by  Prof  Mann  of  Ashley.  Much  good 
was  done  in  these  sessions  for  the  teaching  profession,  and 
it  may  be  hoped  that  they  will  be  encouraged  and  fostered 
for  many  years  to  come. 

The  following  is  a  roster  of  the  names  of  school  commis- 
sioners and  county  superintendents  of  Monroe  county  in 
the  order  of  their  election ; 

Solomon  Patterson,  appointed  September  5,  1832,  by 
county  board  ;  John  Morrison,  appointed  September,  1834, 
by  county  board.  William  Cowell,  elected  August,  1841  ; 
Ananias  Divers,  elected  August,  1843  ;  C.  H.  Kettler,  elected 
August,  1845 ;  W.  L.  Adelsberger,  elected  August,  1847  ; 
W.  L.  Adelsberger,  re-elected  August,  1851.  Mathias  T. 
Horine,  elected  at  a  special  election  February,  1853  ;  James 
A.  Kennedey,  elected  in  18G1  ;  Joseph  W.  Rickert,  elected 
in  1869  ;  Joseph  H.  Hilgard,  elected  in  1873,  present  in- 
cumbent. 

We  also  append  a  list  of  the  names  of  the  present  Town- 
ship Treasurers  : 

Henry  Homrighauson,  township  3,  range  8  ;  Z.  J.  Voris, 
township  2,  range  9  ;  Hugh  Murphy,  township  3,  range  9  ; 
Dr.  J.  Chewning,  township  4,  range  9  ;  F.  W.  Brickey, 
township  5,  range  9  ;  Christ.  Brinduker,  township  1,  range 
10;  William  B.jde,  township  2,  range  10;  John  P.  Hoflman, 
township  3,  range  10;  William  Mayeys,  township  4,  range 
10;  Philip  Mans,  township  5,  range  10;  Frederick  Zweig, 
township  1,  range  11  ;  Jacob  Meyer,  township  2,  range  11; 
Louis  Ihorn,  township  3,  range  11  ;  William  Feldme'ir,  Jr., 
township  4,  range  11. 

We  have  thus  briefly  sketched  the  rise  and  progress  of 
the  schools  of  Monroe  county.  Its  advancement  will  bear 
favorably  with  other  counties  in  the  State,  and  it  is  to  be 
hoped  that  it  will  take  no  backward  step  in  the  cause  of 
the  free  schools.  They  are  the  foundation,  the  grand  bul- 
warks which  are  to  perpetuate  the  free  institutions  and  gov- 
ernment of  the  American  people. 


PERRY  COUNTY. 

BY  B.  G.  ROOTS. 

For  much  of  the  data  obtained  for  the  compilation  of  the 
schools  of  Perry,  lam  under  obligations  to  the  present  corps 
of  teachers  of  the  county,  and  specially  to  the  Rev.  Peter 
Hagler,  Wm.  M.  Eaton,  and  R.  H.  Eaton,  all  of  whom  were 
school-boys,  together,  in  an  early   day,  and  have  since  been 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY  COUNTIES,  ILLINOIS. 


239 


well  known  as  teachers  and  school  officers  in  the  county. 
I  also  desire  to  mention  the  names  of  the  following  persons, 
who  have  taken  an  interest  in  our  common  schools,  for  many 
years  :  Hon.  P.  C.  C.  Provat,  who  taught  a  school  on  Holt's 
Prairie,  as  early  as  18S9  ;  Nelson  Holt,  Henry  Clay,  David 
A.  Hoge,  M.  C  Edwards,  Henian  E.  Kelsey,  Laura  M. 
Tuthill,  H.  West,  W.  S.  D.  Smith,  C.  H.  Koe  acd  J.  B. 
Ward. 

The  early  schools  were  taught  under  contracts,  signed  by 
both  teacher  and  patrons.  1  will  here  append  copies  of 
two  articles  of  agrtcmeut  to  tfach  as  written  at  that  tiuie. 
The  first  is  between  Allen  Parlier,  long  an  honored  citizen 
of  this  county,  and  parties  in  Was-liington  county,  and  reads 
as  follows  : 

"Articles  uj  agreement  drawn  this  "-'.olh  of  May,  1833,  be- 
tween Allen  Parlier,  of  the  county  of  Washington  and  state 
of  Illinois,  of  the  one  part,  and  we,  the  undersigned,  of  said 
county  and  state,  of  the  other  i)art,  witnesseth,  that  the  said 
Parlier  binds  himself  to  teach  a  school  of  spelling,  reading, 
writing,  and  the  foregoing  rules  of  arithmetic,  for  the  tcrin 
of  three  months,  for  ?2  per  scholar,  per  quarter;  said  Par- 
lier further  binds  himself,  to  keep  good  order  in  said  school, 
will  teach  five  days  in  each  week,  all  due  school  hours,  and 
will  make  up  all  lost  time,  except  muster  days,  and  will 
set  up  with  twenty  scholars,  the  subscribers  to  furnish  a 
comfortable  house,  with  all  the  conveniences  appcrlainiug 
thereunto,  the  school  to  commence  as  quick  as  the  bouse 
is  fixed.  N.  B.— Wheat,  pork,  hogs,  beeswax,  tallow,  deer 
skins,  wool  and  young  cattle,  all  of  which  will  be  taken  at 
the  market  price,  delivered  at  my  house,  at  the  expiratinu  of 
said  school,  day  and  date  above  written. 

(Subscribers'  names.)  Ai.i.i;n  P.^i^likr." 

The  second  article  is  shorter  and  without  date, 

"Ferdinaud  G.  Humphreys,  proposes  to  teach  a  common 
English  school,  at  the  school  house  near  John  Baird's  Esq., 
in  Holt's  Prairie,  Perry  county,  state  of  lUiuois,  in  town 
five,  south  of  range  two  west,  for  the  term  of  sixty  days,  at 
the  rate  of  two  dollars  per  scholar.  We  undersigned  sub- 
scribers, agree  to  pay  to  F,  G.  Humphreys,  the  above  named 
teacher,  each  for  himself,  two  dollars  per  scholar,  for  the 
term  of  sixty  days,  and  they  agree  also,  that  the  said  teaclur 
may  draw  their  proportionate  share  of  the  school  fund." 

This  is  signed  by  the  teacher  and  ten  subscribers,  three 
of  whom  sign  for  *  scholar  each.  The  whole  number  of 
scholars  that  subscribed  for  it,  is  eighteen  and  one  half.  The 
teacher  boarded  around  among  the  employers,  a  week  or  so, 
in  each  family,  without  charge.  The  articles  under  which 
Hon.  Philip  C.  C.  Provat  taught  in  diflerent  parts  of  the 
county,  in  183i),  and  six  following  years,  were  much  like 
the  above  ;  he  agreeing  to  take  young  cattle,  mink  skins,  etc., 
in  payment,  and  not  to  charge  willows  anything  in  addition 
to  their  share  of  school  fund.  Most  of  what  was  due  him 
from  subscribers,  to  one  school,  was  paid  in  fence  rails,  de- 
livered on  land  which  he  had  bought  with  what  he  had  re- 
ceived for  teaching.  That  we  may  know  what  was  meant 
by  a  comfortable  school-house,  I  give  a  description  of  one, 
furnished  by  Messrs.  Eaton,  who  know  whereof  they  affirm, 
as  their  early  school  days  were  passed  in  this  house.     "  Our 


school-house  was  18x20  feet,  built  of  round  logs,  about  1833. 
The  openings  between  the  logs  were  closed  with  pieces  of 
wood,  split  to  the  right  thickness,  and  daubed  with  mud  ; 
this  was  called  chinking.  At  one  end  was  a  fire  place,  six 
feet  wide,  for  burning  wood.  The  fire  place  was  made  of 
split  logs,  which  were  partially  defended  from  the  fire  by  a 
big  slate  stone,  and  clay.  The  chimney  was  built  of  slats 
laid  in  mortar,  made  by  mixing  wet  clay  and  straw.  On 
each  corner  of  the  chimney,  at  the  top,  was  laid  a  large  ball, 
composed  of  this  mortar.  These  balls  answered  both  for 
ornaments  and  holding  the  pieces  of  the  chimney  in  place. 
On  the  east  side  the  upper  half  of  the  fourth  log,  from  the 
bottom,  was  cut  out  for  16  feet  in  length  ;  the  lower  half  of 
the  log  above  this,  was  cut  iu  a  similar  manner ;  through 
this  opening  the  light  entered  the  building,  except  in  cold 
and  stormy  weather.  Above  this  opening  was  a  long  plank 
or  board,  suspended  by  leather  hinges,  which  was  lowered 
down,  to  close  the  opening  in  bad  weather.  When  this 
opening  was  closed,  some  of  the  scholars  saw  their  books  by 
light  that  came  through  crevices  in  the  walls,  and  others 
gathered  about  the  fire  place  and  studied  by  light  coming 
down  the  spacious  chimney.  Parallel  with  the  lower  edge 
of  the  opening  in  the  wall,  was  placed  a  split  log,  which  ex- 
tended the  whole  length  of  the  house,  and  was  inserted  into 
the  space  between  the  logs  at  each  end.  This  half  log  was 
our  writing  desk.  In  some  school-houses  a  long  plank,  sup- 
ported by  long  pins,  driven  into  holes  boied  in  the  logs,  took 
the  place  of  the  split  log  for  writing  desk.  The  seats  were 
made  of  split  logs,  with  holes  bored  into  their  lower  side, 
into  which,  pins  called  bench  legs,  8  to  20  inches  long,  were 
driven.  The  benches  were  placed  near  the  walls,  leaving 
the  central  part  of  the  floor  vacant.  On  this  vacant  space 
clas.ses  stood  to  recite.  There  was  no  floor  but  the  earth. 
This  soon  became  smooth,  so  that  walking  around  made 
little  noise."  One  correspondent  says:  "To  the  first  school 
that  I  attended,  I  walked  4  miles,  in  company  with  two  older 
brothers,  in  1833.  Webster's  spelling-book  was  the  only 
text  book  used  l>y  my  brothers,  and  one  was  considered 
sufficient  for  both  of  them.  In  later  years,  all  that  was  taught 
in  any  of  the  schools  that  I  knew  anything  about,  was 
spelling,  reading,  writing,  and  arithmet'C.  After  finishing 
the  spelling  book,  we  read  as  class  books,  the  Testament,  life 
of  Gen.  Francis  Marion,  and  Columbian  orator.  Most  of 
the  studying  was  aloud,  and  one  passing  near  the  school 
house  could  hear  simultaneously,  "  Baker,  brier.  A.  A.  S. 
Fellow  of  the  American  Academy, — •")  times  1  are  5,  9  times 
9  are  81.  An  old  man  found  a  rude  boy,"  etc.  The  paper 
on  which  pupils  wrote,  was  not  ruled  when  it  was  bought. 
To  enable  pupils  to  have  it  properly  ruled,  the  teacher  had 
a  ruler,  to  which  a  lead  pencil  was  attached  by  a  string. 
Each  scholar  ruled  his  own  paper,  and  many  a  rap  on  the 
head  we  got  for  ruling  irregularly.  Our  pens  were  made  of 
goose  quills,  and  one  important  part  of  the  teacher's  quali- 
fications, was  ability  to  make  a  good  pen.  We  made  our 
own  ink  by  boiling  brier  roots,  and  adding  a  little  copperas. 
The  juice  of  poke  berries  was  much  used  for  ink,  so  was  a  solu- 
tion of  indigo.  Not  many  of  the  scholars  walked  us  far  to 
school  as  I  did  when  I  first  began  to  attend,  but  all  the  children 


240 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND   PERRY  COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


of  school  age  within  a  radius  of  3  miles  attended,  making 
the  whole  number  of  pupils  17. 

After  one  or  two  terms  an  Eastern  man  taught,  and  he 
talked  about  grammar,  and  urged  the  necessity  of  having  it 
taught  in  school,  but  the  people  seemed  to  think  it  was  some 
kind  of  language,  not  likely  to  be  much  used,  and  it  was 
kept  out  of  the  school  for  several  years  after  this.  Spelling, 
reading,  writing,  arithmetic,  and  good  manners  and  morals 
were  all  that  was  taught  in  most  of  our  schools.  In  some, 
geography  was  taught  by  singing.  All  the  states  and  their 
capitals  were  wrought  into  a  tune,  which  was  sung. 

Corporal  punishment  was  common.  The  teacher  carried 
in  his  hand  a  long  hazel  switch,  and  when  he  saw  ten  or 
fifteen  boys  who  sat  on  one  long  beuch  about  to  go  to  sleep^ 
or  engaged  in  mischief,  he  tingled  their  bare  feet  and  shius 
with  his  switch.  When  a  boy  was  guilty  of  a  flagrant  vio- 
lation of  rules,  he  was  called  into  the  middle  of  the  floor, 
and  received  over  the  shoulders  a  number  of  lashes  propor- 
tioned to  his  oflfence.  The  severest  punishments  were  ad- 
ministered with  the  "ruler,"  apiece  of  wood  eighteen  inches 
long,  one  half  or  three-fourths  of  an  inch  thick,  and  one 
and  one-half  inch  wide.  The  teacher  took  hold  of  the  right 
hand  of  the  boy  with  his  left  hand,  straightened  out  the 
fingers,  held  it  firmly,  and  smote  it  with  the  ruler,  fre. 
quently  until  the  hand  was  blistered.  The  schools  were  not 
commonly  crowded  with  too  many  scholars ;  and  if  one 
parent  was  too  poor  to  pay,  the  early  teachers  treated  him 
with  liberality,  and  said:  "Send  your  children  to  school 
without  pay."  It  was  also  a  common  thing  for  an  old  pio- 
neer who  had  no  children  to  send  to  school,  to  pay  some- 
thing to  the  teacher  in  order  to  have  the  school  kept  up. 
At  the  close  of  the  term  there  was  a  spelling  match  between 
our  school  and  the  one  nearest  to  us.  It  was  attended  by 
nearly  all  the  men,  women  and  children  in  both  districts — 
more  than  could  get  seats  in  the  school-house.  The  match 
was  decided  long  before  noon — five  bushels  of  apples  were 
distributed  among  the  children.  The  larger  boys  and  the 
men  present  put  in  most  of  the  remainder  of  the  day  in 
playing  ball.  Among  the  players  were  M.  G.  I\Iax- 
well,  who  weighed  250  pounds,  and  several  gray-headed 
men. 

All  the  spelling  was  oral,  no  scholar  having  a  slate  until 
he  was  ready  to  "cypher."  It  commonl}'  took  several  terms 
to  reach  this  point.  At  least  once  during  eveiy  term,  a 
visiting  day  was  appointed  by  the  teacher,  and  all  came, — 
fathers,  mothers  and  the  little  ones.  This  somewhat  long 
description  of  our  primary  school,  which  is  a  fair  specimen 
of  the  schools  of  Perry  county  from  1830  to  1840,  gives  a 
better  idea  of  the  schools  than  any  general  description  that 
I  could  give.  I  will  give  an  instance  or  two,  to  illustrate 
the  interest  which  the  early  settlers  felt  in.  education,  al- 
though many  of  them  had  had  very  little  opportunity  for 
obtaining  "book  learning"  in  their  youth.  I  knew  one 
case,  in  which  the  chimney,  made  of  sticks  and  sod,  fell 
down  near  the  close  of  the  school,  one  day,  and  was  burnt. 
The  teacher  sent  word  by  the  children,  to  the  men,  to  come 
and  rebuild  it.  The  next  day  every  man  in  the  district  was 
there  to  help,  and  the  chirane)'  was  completed,  so  that  school 


was  stopped  but  one  day.  About  18-11,  the  school-house  on 
Eaton's  prairie  was  accidentally  burned.  In  three  days, 
another  house  was  built  on  the  same  spot  by  the  men  in  the 
district,  without  the  expenditure  of  one  cent  of  money,  and 
the  school  was  started  again  on  the  fourth  day.  The  schools 
of  the  county  continued  much  like  the  one  described  until 
the  decade  extending  from  18-10  to  18.50.  During  this 
period  there  was  great  improvement  with  schools,  a  large 
part,  but  not  all,  of  which  was  owing  to  improved  school 
law.  They  have  continued  to  improve,  and  will  now  com- 
pare favorably  with  the  public  schools  in  any  part  of  the 
United  States.  Within  a  few  years  past  I  have  visited  the 
schools  of  every  State  from  Missouri  to  Maine,  and  all  the 
schools  of  this  couuty,  and  although  there  is  still  much  room 
for  improvement  in  our  schools,  what  I  have  said  of  them  as 
compared  with  others  I  know  to  be  true.  The  private 
schools — schools  not  coming  under  the  name  of  common  or 
public  schools — have  done  much  to  cause  this  improvement. 

In  1839,  B.  G.  Roots  and  wife  opened  a  boarding-school 
on  the  land  where  he  now  resides.  In  this  school  every 
thing  which  is  now  required  to  obtain  a  first  grade  teacher's 
certificate,  and  several  other  branches,  were  taught.  He 
has  taught  in  the  county  some  part  of  each  of  more  than 
thirty  years,  and  from  every  year's  school  some  have  gone 
out  to  teach.  In  1842,  Nelson  Holt  and  his  wife  com- 
menced teaching  in  the  county,  and  taught  much  of  the  time 
up  to  Mar.,  1851.  They  did  as  good  work  as  the  gratluates 
of  normal  schools  now  do.  Miss  A.  F.  Holt  commenced 
teaching  in  this  county  in  I860,  and  is  still  teaching,  and 
adding  to  the  pedagogue  roll.  Samuel  Eaton,  who  received 
his  death  wound  on  the  field  of  Shiloh,  discharging  the  du- 
ties that  devolved  on  him  as  Major  of  the  18th  Illinois 
Infantry,  commenced  teaching  in  the  common  school  in 
1842,  and  taught  from  time  to  time  until  1851.  Many  of 
his  pupils  have  been  counted  among  the  best  teachers  in 
the  county. 

Below  I  give  a  list  of  those  who  have  acted  as  principals 
of  the  graded  schools  in  the  county.  Most  of  them  have 
done  good  work  and  aided  in  supplying  the  demand  for 
good  teachers  :  J.  B.  Ward,  in  addition  to  his  other  work, 
has  for  several  years  taught  during  a  portion  of  the  summer, 
and  in  August  conducted  an  institute  for  one  month,  the 
special  work  of  which  is  to  drill  teachers.  This  teachers' 
drill  in  this  county  was  first  begun  by  B.  G.  Roots  in  1870, 
and  has  been  conducted  by  the  county  superintendent  every 
year  since  then.  I  am  sorry  that  1  can  not  name  all  the 
veteran  teachers,  but  my  memory  is  fallible,  and  all  my  ap- 
peals have  failed  to  induce  them  or  their  friends  to  give  me 
their  names.  I  take  pleasure  in  making  honorable  mention 
of  the  following  veterans,  in  addition  to  those  named  else- 
where in  this  paper  :  James  Preston,  Thomas  W.  Blair, 
Franklin  Campbell,  J.  R.Cleveland,  La  Fayette  Church, 
Abel  Campbell,  David  M.  Hoge,  A.  J.  Dickenson,  John 
Cooper,  Lewis  Garret,  Sarah  Heape  (now  Mrs.  Abner  Wil- 
liams), Thos.  Saunders,  Obadiah  West,  Jacob  Walker,  John 
S.  Haggard,  William  Baldridge,  James  Holliday,  F.  G. 
Humphreys,  Rev.  Lysias  Heape,  Isaac  Hale — all  of  whom 
have   ceased   to  be  teachers  here,  and  most  of  whom  have 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS 


passed  from  this  life.  To  insert  all  the  names  of  the  honored 
host  who  have  done  good  work  in  our  common  schools  within 
the  last  thirty  years  would  require  more  space  than  lam 
allowed.  I  believe  that  John  B.  E  iton,  who  has  taught  some 
part  of  each  of  the  last  37  years,  and  is  still  doing  good 
wurk,  is  the  senior  of  the  present  force  in  ungraded  schools. 
The  following  list  comprises  the  names  of  such  as  I  recol- 
lect of  the  sum  j  class  who  have  taught  long  enough  to  he 
couoted  veterans,  that  are  not  named  as  principals  of  graded 
schools,  or  otherwise  : — Messrs.  Samuel  Y.  Hawkins,  John 
S  Williams,  Jcihii  D,  Strait,  Richard  P.  Todd,  \Vm.  M. 
Eaton,  Richard  A.  Hampleman,  Benj.  F.  Hammack,  James 
W.  Van  Brunt,  James  \V.  Blair,  James  R.  Blair,  Richard 
S.  Guy,  Roh't  Rushing,  Samuel  L.  Sibbett,  John  F.  Hanna, 
J.  Hosea  Thurnton,  Josiah  Malone,  Friend  Smith,  Sdomon 
McPherson,  John  V.  Tyler,  Mrs.  Eliza  Miller  Lipe,  Julia 
C.  Eaton  West,  Sophia  B.  Ross  Tuthill,  Mattie  K.  East. 
Sadie  Harshaw  White,  Emma  Hawkins  Ward,  Mary  Cham- 
berlin  Burgess,  Francis  Thompson  JIcMillen,  Misses  Laura 
M.  Tuthill,  Mary  F.  L^igh,  Emma  Wheatley,  Dora  A.  Lipe, 
S.irah  Heape,  Mattie  Heape,  (daughters  of  Rev.  Lysias 
Heape),  Mary  E.  K'ilsey,  Marianne  Milligan,  Tillie  Hissong, 
A'lna  M.  Sibbett,  Miry  E.  Cotter  and  Martha  Mc  Millin. 

SCHOOL   CO.M.MrsSroXERS   AND   CO.   SUPTS. 

The  School  Commissioner  was  the  successor  in  office  of 
C)ra-nissioner  of  Scho)l  Lmds,  as  the  Co.  Supt.  is  of  School 
Commissioner. 

D.ivid  Baldridge  was  first  appointed  by  the  County  Court 
asCoramissioner  of  School  Lands  in  1841.  Chas.  L.Starbuck 
became  S-'hool  Commissioner  in  184o.  His  resignation  of 
the  office  is  dated  :  B.ittle  Gniund  N.  Orleans  July  L'l!, 
184r> ;  he  was  followed  by  Wm.  H.  Turner  in  184() ;  Nelson 
Holt  in  1847;  Marmaduke  N.  Furguson  in  1849;  Samuel 
Eaton  in  ls.")0;  Isham  E.  Willis  "in  1854;  Zabedee  1'. 
Curlce  in  18-37  ;  Charles  E.  R.  Winthrope  in  1801  ;  Richard 
M.  Dxvis  ill  1863;  James  W.  Blair  in  1865;  B.  G.  Roots 
in  1869;  John  B.  Ward  in  1873;  R.  B.  Anderson  in  1882; 
Since  the  schools  became  really  public  schools,  free  to  all 
children  of  school  age  all  moneys  used  for  payment  of  teachers 
or  any  other  purpose  connected  with  schools,  pass  through 
the  hands  of  County  Superintendentand  Township  Treasurer. 
Not  one  defaulter  is  found  in  the  list.  The  School  laws  show 
that  great  changes  in  the  duties  devolving  on  County 
Superintendents  have  been  made  since  1841.  Then  the 
care  of  the  finances  comprised  nearly  all  his  dutv.  Now 
the  law  makes  him  indeed  Superintendent  of  Schools.  Mr. 
Winthrope  was  the  first  Supt.  so  far  as  I  know,  or  can  learn, 
who  visited  the  schools  officially.  His  immediate  successor 
continued  this  important  part  of  the  work  to  some  extent. 
Every  school  in  the  county  was  visited  by  the  Supt.  in  1X7(1, 
in  1871  and  in  1872,  and  the  Supt.  was  paid  five  doUarsa  day 
for  the  time  occupied  in  visiting  the  schools.  The  visitation 
of  schools  by  the  County  Supt.  did  more  to  elevate  and 
improve  the  schools  than  an  equal  sum  expended  in  any 
other  way  has  ever  done. 

In  1873,  the  County  Board  put  a  stop  to  the  Supt's. 
visiting  schools,  by  limiting  the  time  for  which  he  shall  be 
31 


paid  by  the  county  for  educational  work,  to  so  small  a 
number  of  days  that  it  is  impossible  for  him  to  perform  all 
other  educational  work  which  is  peremptorily  required  of 
him  by  law,  within  the  number  of  days  for  which  he  is  paid. 
He  was  allowed  pay  for  37  days  for  educational  work  during 
the  last  school  year.  The  County  Board  has  fixed  the  salary 
of  the  County  Supt.  elected  Nov.  7th,  1S.S2,  at  S18I)  a  year. 
This  does  not  include  his  commission  as  financial  agent  of 
school  fund.  There  are  now  sixty-nine  school  districts  in 
the  county.  Each  of  one  hundred  and  nine  teachers,  taught 
in  the  county,  some  part  of  the  last  school  year.  The 
aggregate  compensation  of  them  was  §18,623.91.  The 
average  pay  of  male  teachers  during  the  year  was  838  10 
per  month.  Same  of  females,  §30.68.  Amount  of  Township 
funds  in  the  County,  815,8  4.63.  Amount  of  County  fund, 
84353.07.  Amount  of  tax  levied  by  school  districts,  collec- 
ted, and  paid  Township  Treasurers  and  by  them  disbursed 
for  school  ])urposes,  816,552.51. 

(•'railed  School.i — Although  some  districts  had  more  then 
one  teacher  previous  to  1S67,  there  was  no  regular  graded 
school  in  one  building  previous  to  that  date.  The  first 
graded  school  in  the  county  was  opened  in  the  brick  school- 
house  in  Du  (^uoiu  Jany.  2nd,  l'"<67. 

The  Principals  have  been  B.  G.  Roots,  S.  R.  Wilson,  E. 
J.  Palmer,  J.  B  Ward,  H.  A.  Cooledge,  G.  F.Foster,  J.  B. 
Ward,  (two  years,)  B.  W.  Pope,  J.  B.  Ward,  (three  years,) 
C  O.  Sawyer,  (two  years.)  J.  B.  Ward,  is  now  principal. 

Pinckneyville  Graded  School  began  in  1S70. 

Principal.^  and  Assistantii. — 1870,  Principal,  Wm.  McNeil ; 
Salary  per  month,  860.00;  Assts.,  E.  H.  Lemeu,  855.00; 
D.  A.  Hogc,  S50  00  ;  1871,  Priu.  S.  Gee,  Assts.  D.  A.  Hoge 
and  Miss  Jenner;  1872,  Prin.  D  A.  Hoge,  Assts-  Eliza 
Harshaw  and  J.  H.  Thornton  ;  1873,  Prin.  D.  A.  Hoge,  Assts. 
iMiss  Lyon  and  Miss  Mary  Prinim  ;  l.s74,  Prin.  S.  C.  Bond, 
Assts.  E  M.  Hawkins  and  A.  P.  Owens  ;  1875,  Prin.  B.  G- 
Roots,  Salary  per  month,  8100  00.  Assistants  Emma 
Wheatley,  Miss  L.  Abbott,  Alice  Burgess,  D.  B.  Vau.Syckle, 
R.  B.  Anderson  and  Geo.  H-  Farmer,  have  each  been  prin- 
cipal one  year ;  1882,  Samuel  Y.  Hawkins  principal.  la 
every  case  in  which  the  salary  or  names  of  assistants  is 
omitted  in  the  above  list  I  have  been  unable  to  learn  what 
they  were. 

Tamaroa. — I  have  searched  carefully  for  facts  respecting 
the  Tamaroa  Graded  School.  I  am  not  fully  satisfied  with 
the  fruits  of  my  search,  but  I  believe  the  following  is  a  cor- 
rect list  of  Princi))als.  The  date  following  the  name  denotes 
the  year  in  which  the  person  named  became  principal.  Some 
of  the  principals  named  below  taught  bef)re  the  school  be- 
came a  regular  Graded  School  in  one  building : 

Green,  185!) ;  Wells,  1860  ;  Miss  A.  F.  Holt,  1862-63-64  ; 
p.  White,  18(i5;  A.  Etherton,  1866;  Wyatt,  1867;  J.  B. 
Ward,  1868  ;  Miss  A.  F.  Holt,  1869  ;  W.  E.  Smith,  1870; 
J.  B.  Ward,  1871;  P.  White,  1872;  Wm.  Edwards,  1873  i 

B.  W.  Pope,  1874;  W.  G.  Heape,  1875;  J.  H.  Thornton, 
1876;  B.  G.  Roots,  1877;  R.  B.  Anderson,  1878;  E.J. 
Ward,  1879;  P.  F.  Adkins,  1880;  Matt.  Fergerson,  1881  ; 

C.  Laban  Kruse,  1882. 

In   Du  Qiipin  School,  every  since  it  became  a  graded 


242 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


school,  all  the  branches  named  in  a  first  grade  certificate  are 
taught. 

These  branches  have  all  been  taught  at  sorae  time  in  the 
other  two  graded  schools.  Miss  Holt  taught  some  of  the  first 
grade  branches  while  she  was  Principal  of  Taniaroa.  Dur- 
ing her  last  term  of  service  the  School  Board  prohibited  the 
teaching  of  any  but  second  grade  branches,  and  the  first  grade 
has  been  taught  but  little  in  this  school  since  then.  About 
one  fourth  of  the  teachers  in  the  ungraded  schools  are  qual- 
ified to  teach  first  grade  branches,  and  mostof  these  do  teach 
some  of  them. 

On  August  25  and  26,  1882,  sixty-nine  applicants  for 
teachers'  certificates  were  examined.  Fifteen  of  these  re- 
ceived First  Grade  certificates;  thirty-five  received  Second 
Grade,  and  nineteen  failed  of  coming  up  to  the  lowest  stand- 
ing, on  which  the  County  Superintendent  issues  a  certificate. 
Du  Quoin  and  Pinckneyville  are  the  only  points  in  the 
county  at  which  there  are  many  colored  children.  At  each 
of  these  places  a  separate  public  school  for  them  has  been 
kept  for  several  years  past. 

The  few  of  them  who  reside  in  other  districts  attend  the- 
common  school  with  the  whites. 

Du  Quoin  Female  Seminary-  — \\a.a  located  about  five 
miles  southeast  of  Du  Quoin,  in  what  was  then  known  as 
Du  Quoin,  and  now  known  as  Old  Du  Quoin.  Next  to  the 
County  seat,  it  was  the  largest  village  in  the  County.  This 
institution  should  be  named  in  this  history  as  having  been 
an  important  factor  in  improving  the  public  schools.  It 
came  into  existance  through  the  influence  of  an  eastern 
teacher,  (Miss  Paine,  of  South  Hadley,  Mass.,)  sent  out  by 
an  Educational  Society  in  answer  to  an  application  for  a 
teacher  for  this  locality. 

Miss  Paine  commenced  her  teaching  in  the  District  School- 
House  June,  1852.  More  scholars  came  in  than  the  house 
would  accommodate,  so  a  room  was  fitted  up  in  another  build- 
ing, and  a  second  teacher  (Miss  Reynolds,  from  Connecticut,) 
sent  for,  and  employed  to  assist  Miss  Paine  in  her  work. 

In  the  fall  of  IS'^S,  Miss  Paine  opened  a  private  school^ 
which  became  the  Seminary  after  a  charter  had  been  ob- 
tained from  the  Legislature,  and  a  Board  of  Trustees  ap- 
pointed. The  corner-stone  of  an  excellent  Seminary  building 
was  laid  June  13,  1855,  and  a  permanent  superstructure 
was  erected  in  a  reasonable  time. 

"  To  train  teachers  on  the  field  "  was  laid  down  as  theprom- 
inent  object  of  the  school.  Teachers'  diplomas  were  given 
to  those  that  became  proficient  in  the  branches  required  by 
the  school  law  of  this  Siate;  and  those  that  went  out  from 
this  institution  to  teach,  made  marked  improvements  in  the 
Echools  where  they  taught. 

Rev.  Josiah  Wood  devoted  himself  largely  to  the  welfare 
of  the  Seminary.  The  early  teachers,  as  copied  from  a  cata- 
logue, were  Miss  E.  Paine,  Miss  Jane  Hunt,  Miss  M.  M. 
Moulton,  Mrs.  E.  R.  Saunders,  Miss  H.  L.  Plimpton,  Miss 
Lizzie  A.  Dole,  Miss  Hattie  Paine. 

The  debt  contracted  in  erecting  the  building,  caused  it  to 
pass  into  private  hands  in  1872.  Since  it  became  private 
property  a  school  for  both  sexes  has  been  maintained  with 
creditable  success. 


Supplement. 
Since  writing  the  foregoing,  I  have  gathered  the  following 
additional  statements  respecting  the  schools  in  each  of  the 
precincts,  into  which  the  county  is  now  divided,  from  such 
sources,  that  I  believe  them  reliable: 

Pinckneyville. — -The  first  school  in  this  precinct,  was  taught 
in  a  log  school  house  16x16  in  1831,  near  the  West  side  of 
Four  Mile  Prairie,  at  $2  50  per  scholar  for  six  months. 

In  1832,  Eliza  Smith,  from  Kentucky,  taught  in  a  small 
log-school-house  near  Thomas  Armstrong's.  Later  S.  W. 
Woodside  taught  here. 

June  3d,  1833,  the  Sheriff,  by  order  of  County  Court, 
leased  the  Court-house  for  school  purposes  at  fifty  cents  a 
month,  to  be  paid  by  the  teacher,  or  by  the  subscribers  to 
the  School  Article. 

Paradise. — The  first  school  in  this  precinct  was  taught  in 
1830,  by  John  S.  Haggard. 

A  man  named  Hagaman  taught  in  another  part  of  the 
precinct  at  the  same  time.  No  building  was  erected  for 
school  purposes  previous  to  1838.  Up  to  this  time  schools 
were  taught  in  the  house  of  the  teacher,  or  in  some 
deserted  cabin.  The  first  teacher  in  the  new  school-honse^ 
was  R.  P.  Paramore.  Obadiah  West  was  also  an  early 
teacher  in  this  precinct. 

Du  Quoin  Precinct— The  first  school  in  this  precinct  was 
taught  by  Abraham  Brayshaw,  about  1830,  in  the  west 
part  of  N  ine  Mile  Prairie.  The  first  school-house  was  erected 
■ibout  three  and  a  half  miles  south  of  where  Du  Quoin  now 
is,  and  a  Mr.  Beneldo  was  the  first  who  taught  in  it. 

Tamaroa  Precinct. — The  Bland  school-house,  about  five 
miles  northeast  from  Tamaroa,  was  erected  in  1832  or  '3, 
and  named  after  "  Grandfather  "  Bland.  First  teacher  was 
Jacob  Walker,  and  the  second  teacher  was  "Granddaddy" 
Johnson,  who  taught  in  1834. 

Cutler  Precinct.  —  The  first  school  was  taught  in  Lost 
Prairie,  by  Miss  E.  Tilden.  The  first  school-house  was 
erected  on  section  16,  T  5,S.  R.  4  W,  in  1835,  in  the  same 
prairie.  Johp  Cooper  taught  in  it  during  the  summer  of 
1S35  About  the  same  date  a  school  was  taught  for  a  short 
time  in  Conant's  Prairie,  but  it  could  not  be  kept  up. 

Grand  Cote  Precinct. — The  first  school  was  taught  in  a 
little  cabin,  on  S.  E.  i  of  sec.  30,  T.  4.  S  R.  4  W.  The  next 
school  was  taught  by  John  Fulton,  in  his  kitchen  on  sec  4, 
town  4,  in  1835  or  '6. 

Beavcoup  Precinct.  —  The  children  who  resided  west  of 
Hutihing's  Prairie,  at  first  attended  at  "Big  Rock"  school- 
house,  in  Washington  county.  Those  who  lived  east  of  this 
prairie,  attended  school  in  Mud  Prairie.  The  first  school- 
house  was  erected  on  Edward  Hodge's  place,  the  second  on 
the  Truster  place,  in  1850. 

Soidlnvestern.— Robert  Clark  taught  the  first  school  in 
1825,  in  a  little  log  school-house,  erected  the  same  year. 
The  architecture  of  the  school-houses  named,  in  connection 
with  the  several  precincts,  was  similar  to  the  description, 
given  by  Messrs.  Eaton,  and  copied  in  the  former  part  of 
this  sketch.  Books  were  also  much  the  same.  In  some 
schools,  the  American  Preceptor,  Columbian  Orator  and 
Pike's  Arithmetic,  were  used  also. 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS 


243 


CHAPTER   XIII. 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY. 


RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 
REFORMED  rUE-BYTElUAN  CHURCH. 

ISy   REV.  \V.  J.  .^MILKV 


ral^jE^2^9nK  history  of  the  Reformed  Presbyterian 
./,.*3i^ni /^GiK)  Church  in  Randolph  county  goes  back 
to  the  year  1S18.  To  the  Rev.  Samuel 
Wylie  belongs  the  credit  of  the  planting 
of  the  church.  He  was  boru  in  County 
Antrim,  Ireland,  February  19,  1790; 
came  to  the  United  States  in  1807  ;  en- 
tered the  I'niversity  of  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  graduated  in  the  class  of  1811  ; 
prepared  for  the  ministry  in  the  Theological  Seminary  at 
Philadelphia,  under  the  care  of  his  uncle.  Dr.  S.  B.  Wylie, 
and  was  licensed  to  preach  in  May,  lfSl.5,  at  Philadelphia, 
by  the  Middle  Presbytery. 

In  the  summer  of  1817  he  visited  various  places  in  the 
West,  passing  through  Illinois  and  continuing  his  travels 
as  far  as  Boonville,  Mo.  On  his  return  he  again  passed 
through  Illinois  and  spent  the  winter  in  supplying  the  va- 
cancies in  Tennessee  and  South  Carolina. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Synod  in  Pittsburg  in  the  latter 
part  of  Miy,  1818,  he  reported  his  travels  and  the  pros- 
pect for  church  extension  in  the  West.  Synod  ordered 
the  Middle  Presbytery  to  take  him  on  trial  for  ordination, 
and  he  was  accordingly  ordained  in  Pittsburg,  Pa  ,  on  the 
2d  of  June,  1818,  and  sent  as  a  nii.-sionary  to  Southern 
Illinois.  Mr.  Wylie  reached  Kaskaskia  the  last  day  of 
July  following  and  immediately  entered  upon  his  work. 

The  field  of  operation  at  fir^t  was  Randolph  county, 
though  it  afterward  embraced  parts  of  Perrv,  Washington 
and  St  Clair.  A  number  of  families  belonging  to  the  As- 
sociate Reformed  church  in  South  Carolina  had  moved  into 
the  county  early  in  the  present  century,  and  made  a  settle- 
ment near  the  present  town  of  Preston.  They  had  been 
organized  into  a  congregation  by  Rev.  S.  Brown,  of  Ken- 
tucky, a  number  of  years  before  Mr.  Wylie's  arrival,  and 
being  without  preaching  from  their  own  ministers,  by  request, 
Mr.  Wylie  made  his  principal  preaching  place  with  them. 
Members  of  the  Reformed  Presbyterian  church  began  to 
come  in.  James  M.  Gray  was  the  first  to  arrive.  He  came 
in  October,  and  was  followed  immediately  by  his  father-in- 
law,  James  Wilson,  and  family.  They  came  from  near 
Vincennes,  Indiana,  where  they  had  lived  a  number  of 
years  after  leaving  South  Carolina.  They  first  settled  near 
Kaskaskia,  but  finally  located  about  three  miles  south  of 
Sparta. 

John  McDill,  Sr.,  and  Hugh  McKelvey,  from  South 
Carolina,  came  out  in  the  summer  of  1818,  and  bought  land 
in  Township  4-5.  On  their  way  home  they  stopped  in  Ten- 
nesseee  with  William  Edgar,  Samuel  Nisbet  and  Samuel 
Little,  who  had  removed  from  South  Carolina  a  number  of 


years  before,  and  informed  them  of  the  mission  begun  in 
Illinois.  They  immediitely  set  out  for  Kaskaskia  and  pur- 
chased laud,  and  Messrs.  Edgar  and  Little  moved  out  in  the 
spring  of  1819.  Mr.  Nisbet,  however,  was  detained  and  did 
uot  arrive  until  September.  Mr.  Dill  did  not  move  out  until 
November,  1819,  though  his  son,  John,  came  in  the  spring 
of  that  year,  and  began  to  improve  his  father's  place.  Mr. 
McKelvey  did  not  come  until  l'<20.  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Ritchie  came  in  1818;  John  McMillan  and  family,  from 
Princeton,  Indiana,  arrived  about  the  close  of  1818  or  the 
the  beginning  of  1819,  and  settled  on  Plum  creek,  near  the 
present  town  of  Houston.  David  Cathcart  and  his  son-in- 
law,  William  Campbell,  from  South  Carolina,  came  in  the 
spring  of  1819,  and  settled  in  the  lower  end  of  Grand  Cote 
Prairie.  Alexander  Alexander  arrived  in  the  spring  of 
1819,  and  bought  land  near  the  old  grave-yard,  and  after  im- 
proving his  place,  returned  to  South  Carolina  and  brought 
out  his  family  in  the  latter  part  of  1819.  His  father-iulaw, 
John  McDill,  Sr.,  James  Munford  and  John  Dickev,  with 
their  families  came  at  the  same  time.  John  McMillan,  of  the 
Associate  church,  also  came  with  them  and  settled  between 
E  en  and  Sparta,  and  Munford  and  Dickey  settled  north- 
east of  E  len.  James  Strahan,  from  western  Pennsylvania, 
came  in  the  spring  of  1819,  and  settled  first  down  toward 
Kaskaskia,  but  finally  in  the  west  end  of  Grand  Cote. 

Mr.  Wylie  continued  to  preach  in  Kaskaskia  and  in  the 
Irish  settlement  and  among  the  Covenanters,  until  the  arrival 
of  William  Edgar  and  Samuel  Little,  when  the  first  session 
was  constituted,  May  24,  1819,  at  James  McClurken's,  about 
six  miles  southwest  of  Sparta.  William  Edgar  had  been 
ordained  to  the  eldership  in  the  Rocky  creek  congregation, 
Sjuth  Carolina,  in  18i)l,  and  Saml.  Little  in  Hephzibah  con- 
gregation, Tennessee,  at  its  organization  in  the  spring  of  181.5. 

This  may  be  reckoned  the  formal  organization  of  Bethel 
Reformed  Presbyterian  Church.  It  is  thought  by  some  that 
the  first  communion  was  held  at  that  time. 

A  call  was  made  soon  after  for  Rev.  J  Wylie  and  for- 
warded to  Synod  to  meet  in  Conoeocheague  in  August,  1819. 
The  call  itself  bears  no  date,  but  the  letter  accompanying  it 
bears  date  June  7,  1819,  and  is  signed  on  behalf  of  the 
meeting  by  James  Wilson  and  Samuel  Little. 

The  following  names,  with  their  accompanying  subscrip- 
tions, are  attached  to  the  call,  viz.:  James  Wil.son,  S20 ; 
Samuel  Little,  S15 ;  James  McClurkcn,  SI •") ;  William  Edgar, 
SIO;  James  Strahan,  812;  James  M.  Gray,  810;  David 
Cathcart,  810;  H.  H.  Christie,  So  ;  John  McMillan,  S15  ; 
Alexander  Alexander,  810;  John  McDill,  810;  Thos.  G. 
Armour,  810;  Elizabeth  Ritchie,  820.  The  names  of  fifteen 
others  follow,  who  had  not  the  opportunity  of  signing  in  their 
proper  place,  viz. ;  Jennet  C.  Edgar,  Nancy  Wilson,  Sarah 
Wilson,  Rachel  Wilson,  Jennet  Strahan,  John  Wilson,  Jr, 
Martin  Wilson,  Jenny  Wilson.  Jenny  Gray,  Jenny  Little, 
.Susanna  McClurken,  Ann  Strahan,  Margaret  McMillan, 
Mary  Edgar.  Accompanying  the  call  was  a  subscription 
amounting  to  8150  from  the  Associate  Reformed  congrega- 
tion already  referred  to,  for  which  they  desired  part  of  Mr. 
Wylie's  time.  The  matter  is  thus  referred  to  m  the  letter : 
'•  We  beg  leave  to  add  that  there  is  in  this  county  a  verv 


244 


HISTOBY   OF  RANDOLPH,  MONROE  AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


respectable  congregation  belonging  to  the  Associate  Ee- 
formcd  church.  These  people  live  amongst  us,  or  more 
properly,  we  live  amongst  them.  They  are  (we  believe)  pre- 
pared to  supplicate  for  part  of  Mr.  Wylie's  time.  The 
places  where  he  would  preach  to  them  would  be  tolerably 
convenient  to  his  own  people.  This  circumstance  would 
appear  accommodating  to  us  at  present.  We  have  not, 
however,  craved  their  assistance;  but  we  are  more  than 
willing  to  further  their  edification  and  comfort." 

Ihe  letter  urges  the  acceptance  of  the  call  strongly 
and  skillfully.  Synod  referred  the  call  to  the  Western 
Presbytery,  and  at  a  meeting  of  that  court  held  in  Hartford, 
Indiana,  October  11,  181!),  it  was  presented  and  accepted, 
and  the  Rev.  John  Kell  appointed  to  install  Mr.  Wjlie  as 
pastor.   For  some  reason  the  installation  did  not  take  place. 

Presbytery  met  in  Bethel  congregation   in   the  spring  of 

1820.  The  question  of  Mr.  Wylie's  settlement  was  again 
brought  up,  but  it  was  deemed  best  to  wait  another  year. 
At  this  time  a  communion  was  held  at  Samuel  Little's, 
and  James  Mumford  and  James  McClurken  were  added  tp 
the  session  ;  the  former  had  been  an  elder  in  South  Carolina ; 
the  latter  was  furmerly  a  member  of  the  Associate  Reformed 
church,  and  having  joined  the  Covenanters  in  1819,  was 
chosen  and  ordained  to  the  fellowship  at  this  time. 

A  second  call  was    made    out  for  Mr.  Wylie   May   2'2, 

1821.  It  was  signed  by  thirty-five  members,  who  subscribed 
$208  for  his  support.  The  names  on  the  call  show  the  finan- 
cial but  not  the  numerical  strength  of  the  congregation.  It 
is  probable  that  the  number  of  the  membership  at  this  time 
was  about  seventy.  The  call  was  presented  to  Presbytery 
on  the  24th  of  May,  and  at  length  accepted,  Mr.  Wylie 
agreeing  to  give  the  congregation  half  his  time,  leaving  the 
other  half  to  be  employed  in  mission  work.  He  was  in- 
stalled pastor  on  the  28th  of  May,  1821,  over  the  congre- 
gation which  he  had  gathered  in  the  field  where  he  had 
labored  now  nearly  three  years  as  a  missionary. 

All  the  names  of  those  contributing  for  ministerial  sup- 
port on  the  former  call  are  on  this  except  those  of  James  M. 
Gray,  who  had  died,  Thos.  G.  Armour  aud  H.  H.  Christie. 
The  follovfing  new  names  appear:  Thomas  Blair,  who  came 
from  Pittsburg,  but  remained  only  a  short  time  aud  then 
returned;  Joseph  Weir,  from  South  Carolina,  who  settled 
iu  Lively  Prairie ;  Alexander  McKelvey,  who  settled  near 
his  father,  Hugh,  in  Grand  Cote,  in  1820  ;  William  Temple, 
William  Marshall  and  James  Beattie,  who  came  together 
from  the  vicinity  of  Pittsburgh  in  1821,  and  settled  north- 
east of  Eden.  Mr.  Temple  afterward  located  about  three 
miles  west  of  Sparta.  James  Muuford  aud  John  Dickey, 
whose  arrival  has  already  been  noticed  ;  John  Alexander, 
who  settled  near  his  brother  ;  Adam  Edgar,  son  of  William 
Edgar,  and  came  at  the  same  time;  Ann  McMillan  (mother 
of  John  McMillan  on  Plum  creek),  and  Mary  Boyd,  an 
unmarried  woman  who  lived  with  her ;  Robert  Bratney, 
who  came  from  Tennessee  in  1280;  his  son,  Joseph,  who 
came  at  the  same  time,  was  alto  a  member.  They  settled 
west  of  Lively  Prairie,  near  Preston.  Robert  Sinclair,  who 
came  from  South  Carolina  and  settled  in  Grand  Cote ; 
Samuel  Nisbet,  who  arrived  with  his  family  from  Tennessee 


September  11,  1819,  and  settled  east  of  Eden  ;  Jeremiah 
Murphy,  also  from  Tennessee,  who  settled  in  the  lower  part 
of  the  county,  near  Shiloh ;  James  Gordon,  son-in-law  of 
James  Wilson,  who  came  from  Indiana  in  the  fall  of  1819, 
settled  south  of  Sparta,  where  his  sou,  A.  J.  Gordon,  now 
lives;  Hugh  McKelvey  and  Samuel  Allan,  who  came  iu 
1820  ;  William  Cambell,  who  came  in  the  spring  of  1819 
with  his  father-in-law,  David  Cathcart,  and  James  McWil- 
lan,  also  from  South  Carolina,  who  settled  on  the  places 
where  John  McClinton  now  lives.  The  subscriptions  ranged 
from  two  to  fifteen  dollars. 

Among  other  members  who  came  at  an  early  day  may  be 
mentioned  Robert  Moore  and  wife.  He  remained  but  a 
short  time,  but  during  his  residence  here  he  taught  the  first 
school  iu  the  neighborhood.  This  was  probably  in  1821, 
and  the  school-house  was  on  sec.  7,  town  5-5,  southeast  of 
Sparta.  The  next  school  was  taught  in  the  summer  of 
1822,  by  Gordon  Ewing  in  a  house  southeast  of  Eden.  Mr. 
Ewing  came  out  from  Philadelphia  in  the  spring  of  1822, 
along  with  Mrs.  Wylie  (mother  of  Rev.  Wylie)  and  her 
daughter,  Mrs.  Dobbins.  The  following  year  he  was  en- 
gaged in  teaching  in  an  academy  in  Kaskaskia  along  with 
Mr.  Wylie.  He  was  received  as  a  student  of  theology  by 
the  Western  Presbytery  June  2,  1823,  and  subsequently 
became  a  minister  iu  the  Reformed  Presbyterian  church. 
While  teaching  in  Kaskaskia  he  was  a  principal  agent  in 
securing  the  organization  of  a  Sabbath-school  in  the  fall  of 
1823.  It  was  attended  in  the  morning  by  the  white  "  child- 
ren, English  and  French,  to  the  number  of  fifty,  and  in  the 
afternoon  by  the  blacks  to  the  same  number.  Some  of  the 
most  respectable  citizens  are  engaged  as  teachers." 

The  congregation  still  continued  to  increase.  The  early 
records  of  session  are  missing,  but  a  report  prepared  for 
Presbytery,  bearing  date  March  25.  1825,  gives  the  number 
of  members  received  up  to  that  time  as  follows:  Received 
on  testimonial,  77  ;  on  personal  examination,  44.  Of  these, 
seven  had  removed  to  other  congregations,  and  eight  had 
died,  leaving  the  membership  at  that  date  106,  and  the 
number  of  families  51.  The  number  of  infant  baptisms 
was  42. 

The  first  places  of  preaching  were  under  the  trees  of  the 
forest,  in  cabins  and  in  barus.  The  first  house  of  worship 
was  a  frame  28x40  feet,  built  in  1823.  It  soon  became  too 
small  to  accommodate  the  growing  congregation.  It  was 
lecided  first,  July  14,  1827,  to  enlarge  the  house,  and  finally, 
February  11,  1830,  to  sell  and  build  a  new  brick  church. 

Two  sites  were  named  for  the  nevv  church — the  one  the 
old  site  lowland  (about  200  yards  south  of  the  old  grave- 
yard) ;  the  other  upland,  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile 
northeast  of  the  old  church,  within  the  present  limits  of 
Eden, — the  location  to  be  determined  by  the  amount  of  the 
subscriptions  in  favor  of  each.  The  new  site  was  chosen.  A 
building  committee  was  appointed,  and  the  work  let  ipr 
$800.  Those  in  favor  of  the  old  site  became  dissatisfied, 
and  the  matter  was  finally  referred  to  Presbytery  for  settle- 
ment. 

Pending  its  settlement,  a  petition  for  a  separate  organiza- 
tion was  pre.sented,  signed  by  27   families,  who   favored  the 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


245 


old  site  aiid  were  opposed  to  the  new  chuuh.  The  rtquett 
was  granted  and  a  second  congregation  formed  on  the  oih  of 
November,   1831. 

The  first  elders  in  Bethel  congregation,  were  in  the  new 
organization,  and  claiming  this  to  be  the  original  congrega- 
tion, they  prefixed  the  name  Old  to  the  original  name 
Bethel,  and  are  so  known  to  this  day.  The  new  church 
was  45x(i0.  It  was  inclosed  in  1H3'2,  so  that  the  congrega- 
tion used  it  during  that  summer  and  the  summer  following. 

For  many  yeais,  a  diflerence  of  opinion  existed  among 
ministers  and  members  of  the  Keformed  Presbyterian 
Church,  respecting  the  moral  character  of  the  United  States 
government,  and  consequently  a  diflerence  of  opinion,  re- 
specting the  practical  application  of  the  principles  of  the 
church  on  civil  government. 

This  diflerence  of  opinion,  was  the  occasion  of  a  division 
in  the  body,  in  I'^-'iS.  The  general  Synod  was  divided  into 
two  separate  organizations,  in  August  of  that  year. 

The  one  retained  the  name  General  Synod,  and  the  other 
is  known  as  the  Synod  of  the  Reformed  Presbyterian  Church. 

The  former  allows  her  members  to  decide  for  themselves, 
as  to  their  participation  in  civil  aflairs,  prohibiting  only  sucli 
conuection  with  the  government  as  involves  immorality. 

The  latter  does  not  allow  her  members  to  vote,  or  hold 
office,  provided  this  implies  support  of  the  Constitution  of 
the  United  States,  or  to  sit  on  juries.  This  division  affected 
nearly  all  the  congregations  in  the  body. 

Bethel  was  divided.  The  pastor,  and  James  Munford, 
J.  K.  Taylor,  James  Blair  and  Thomas  Blair,  members  of 
session,  with  the  majority  of  the  congregation,  adhered  to 
General  Synod. 

A.  McMillan  and  Jas.  Coulter,  with  the  minority  of  the 
congregation,  took  the  side  of  the  Synod.  Old  Bethel  also 
sided  with  the  Synod.  James  McClurken,  however  adhered 
to  the  General  Synod,  and  returning  to  Bethel,  he  was  again 
chosen  ruling  elder,  March,  1^34,  an  office  which  he  filled 
until  his  death,  Jan.  17th,  18.51.  A  few  other  families  re- 
turned about  the  same  time. 

The  new  cliurch  building  was  inclosed,  but  not  yet  finished. 
The  question  of  ownership  arose.  Samuel  Nisbet  and  An- 
drew Miller,  the  former  with  General  Synod,  the  latter 
with  the  Synod,  proposed  a  settlement.  Mr.  Miller  chose 
the  church,  and  each  chose  two  arbitrators  (they  choosing 
a  fifth )  to  whom  the  decision  of  the  terms  was  left.  They 
decided,  that  those  taking  the  church  should  g<-t  all  sub- 
scriptions given  by  those,  not  members  of  the  church,  and 
those  with  the  General  Synod  should  receive  their  own  sub- 
scriptions back  again. 

In  the  spring  of  1834,  the  congregation  resolved  to  build 
a  new  brick  church,  oOxGO,  close  by  the  second  building. 
The  old  frame  church  was  occupied  by  the  congregation, 
while  the  new  one  was  being  built. 

It  was  begun  in  1834,  and  inclosed  the  following  year. 
The  whole  cost  was  about  §2700,  which  was  mostly  provided 
for,  by  the  sale  of  the  pews. 

In  1828,  69  families  and  127  communicants  are  reported. 
In  1836,  90  families  and  20")  communicants  are  reported. 
The  next  year  shows,  99  families  and  233  communicants. 


The  congregation  now  began  to  colonize.  As  early  as 
February,  1834,  a  petition  was  presented  from  Mud  Creek, 
asking  for  supplies.  Supplies  were  given  from  lime  to  time, 
untd  June  l?th,  1838,  when  the  Mud  Creek  society  was  or- 
ganized, as  Salera  congregation,  John  Hemphill  and  James 
Mclntire,  being  ordained  elders.  .James  Wilson,  an  elder 
in  Bethel,  also  belonged  to  the  new  organization.  The  so- 
ciety in  Six  mile,  and  that  in  Hill  Prairie,  received  organiza- 
tion in  1>'42.  The  former  took  the  name  Concord,  and  the 
latter  Hill  Prairie.  Dr.  R.  W.  Marshall  and  Robert 
Mathews,  were  the  first  elders  in  Hill  Prairie.  We  do  not 
follow  its  history  farther,  save  to  say  that  in  connection 
with  Concord,  it  formed  the  pastoral  charge  of  Rev.  M. 
Harshaw,  who  was  ordained  to  the  ministry  in  the  Bethel 
church  Eden,  Nov.  9th,  1«42.  The  history  of  Concord  will 
he  given  among  the  churches  of  Perry  county.  Grand  Cote, 
on  the  northeast,  look  steps  for  an  organization,  in  1849, 
and  it  was  effected  at  the  house  of  James  Robb,  on  the  8th 
of  February,  1850  James  Robb,  and  A.  R,  McKelvey, 
were  chosen  to  the  eldership,  and  ordained  in  Eden  on  the 
7th  of  March,  following.     The  membership  numbered  sixty. 

Bethel  still  continued  to  flourish,  and  in  \>*'j'^  there  were 
over  280  communicants.  At  an  earlier  date  there  were  over 
■350  communicants. 

In  1860,  another  congregation  called  Smyrna,  was  or- 
ganized in  Opossumden  Prairie,  on  the  southwest.  James 
C.  Wilson  and  John  H.  Breckenridge,  were  ordained  elders, 
and  the  membership  numbered  32.  After  receiving  supplies 
for  a  few  years,  it  became  disorganized,  most  of  the  members 
returning  to  Bethel. 

In  1867,  the  United  Presbyterians  organized  a  congrega- 
tion, about  bix  miles  north  of  Eden,  and  a  numberof  families 
belonging  to  Bethel,  residing  in  that  vicinity,  connected 
with  it. 

During  this  year  and  the  year  following,  the  entire  de- 
nomination was  stirred  up,  over  the  subjects  of  psalmody 
and  communion.  Geo  H.  Stuart,  of  Philadelphia,  a  leading 
elder  in  the  church,  and  a  member  of  the  General  Synod 
at  its  meeting  held  in  May,  1868,  in  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  for  in- 
subordination to  the  .Synod,  expressed  with  reference  to  her 
rules,  on  the  subjects  before  mentioned,  was  suspended.  This 
action  led  to  the  withdrawal  of  quite  a  number  of  ministers 
and  members  from  the  fellowship  of  General  Synod.  Bethel 
was  affected  by  it.  The  Scotch  element  in  the  congregation 
almost  unanimously,  withdrew  and  subseciueutly  effected  an 
organization  in  Sparta,  in  connection  with  the  Old  School 
Presbyterian  Church.  This  church  was  organized  on  the 
5th  of  June,  1869,  with  60  members,  most  of  whom  were 
formerly  members  of  Bethel.  As  many  as  70  in  all  with- 
drew on  this  account. 

In  1870  the  question  of  union  between  the  United  and 
Reformed  Presbyterian  churches,  was  again  agitated.  A 
basis  of  Union,  framed  by  a  committee  from  the  two  bodies, 
was  laid  before  the  General  Synod,  in  May,  1870,  but  was 
not  adopted.  It  was  adopted  by  the  General  Assembly  of 
the  United  Presbyterian  Church. 

The  ministers  of  the  Western  Presbytery,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  Rev.  Dr.   Wylie,   in   August,   1870,  withdrew   from 


246 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND  PERRY  COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


the  Reformed  Presbyterian  Church.  Concord,  Hill  Prairie, 
and  Grand  Cote,  were  divided,  about  one-third  of  the  mem- 
bership of  each  going  into  the  U.  P.  Church.  lu  Bethel, 
no  new  organization  was  attempted,  but  quite  a  number  of 
families  withdrew  and  connected  with  the  United  Presby- 
terian church  in  Sparta. 

Previous  to  this  action  however.  Rev.  Dr.  Wylie  had  at 
his  own  request,  been  released  from  the  pastoral  care  of 
Bethel  congregation.  His  release  took  eflect  on  the  20th 
of  February,  1870,  when  he  had  entered  upon  the  81st  year 
of  his  age.  That  day  being  the  Sabbath,  he  explained  Psalm 
90:  13 — 17,  and  preached  in  the  forenoon  from  Rom.  8.  28, 
and  in  the  afternoon  from  2  Cor.  l-S  :  11. 

He  still  remained  in  the  congregation,  preaching  as  op- 
portunity ofiered,  in  the  different  congr  gations,  now  desti- 
tute by  the  death  or  withdrawal  of  their  pastors,  —  until 
called  to  his  reward,  March  20tii,  1872. 

He  fell  asleep  peacefully,  in  the  83d  year  of  his  age,  hav- 
ing nearly  completed  the  54th  year  of  his  labors  as  a  mis- 
sionary in  that  field,  and  the  57th  of  his  ministry. 

His  last  public  service  was  at  the  opening  of  the  new  church 
in  Grand  Cote  congregation,  Jan.  14th,  1872.  He  explained 
J'salm  84,  and  preached  the  sermon  from  Hebrews  12  :  28 

On  the  28th  of  December,  1871,  he  presided  in  the  mo- 
deration of  a  call  for  a  pastor  in  Bethel.  The  call  resulted 
in  the  choice  of  the  writer,  who  accepted  the  call  and  was 
ordained  and  installed  on  the  5th  of  June,  1872,  in  the 
church  of  Eden. 

Though  the  congregation  had  been  greatly  reduced 
through  repeated  divisions,  it  has  since  enjoyed  a  good  de- 
gree of  prosperity.  In  the  spring  of  1876,  it  was  decided  to 
remove  from  Eden,  and  locate  in  Sparta.  Accordingly,  the 
Methodist  church,  which  wa^  then  offlred  for  sale,  was 
bought  and  completed,  and  the  services  of  the  congregation 
have  been  held  in  Sparta,  since  the  first  of  July,  1876. 

The  records,  as  far  as  preserved,  show  that  over  a  thous- 
and members  were  received  into  full  communion,  during 
Mr.  Wylie's  ministry.  The  present  membership  is  about 
170  (Jan.  1883.)  The  financial  aftairs  of  the  congregation 
are  managed  by  a  board  of  trustees,  and  a  treasurer.  The 
present  members  of  the  board  are  :  S.  F.  Hyndman,  J.  F 
Blair,  \Vm  H.  Wilson,  J.  C  Wilson,  J.  M.  Lackey,  S. 
Baird,  and  Wm.  C.  Fullerton.  J.  C.  Boyle  is  treasurer  of 
the  congregation. 

The  session  consists  of  the  pastor,  W.  J.  Smiley,  and  the 
following  ruling  elders  :  John  McCaughan,  S.  T.  Nisbet, 
John  Temple,  J.  G.  Wylie,  W.  W.  Hemphill,  Wm.  Mc- 
Intyre,  Hugh  Nisbet,  Neal  Mclntyre,  and  D.  R  Stormont. 
The  following  persons  have  entered  the  ministry,  from  this 
congregation,  viz  :  Gordon  T.  Ewing,  Hugh  A.  McKelvey, 
Wm.  T.  Wylie,  Robert  Brown,  R.  C.  Wyatt,  and  John  B. 
Galloway. 

Ijisl  of  Ruling  Elders  in  Bethel  Congregation,  with  time  of  entering 
upon  o£ice. 


*  James  Wilso 

n,  April  29,  1817. 

6  James  Cr.awford,  .ipril  19,  1855. 

•.lolin  Ciimpb 

^11,  Sept.  11, 1841. 

a  Samuel  Neil,  Oct.  31,  1861. 

♦James  Wllso 

n,  Jr.,  Sept.  11,  H4l. 

0  Samuel  W.  McKelvey,  April  30, 1863. 

«J..lin  Ri.'lim 

>n,  Sept.  11,  1811. 

James  F.  Blair,  April  30,  1863. 

n  Davi.l  IMiiiH. 

r.l,  tieul.  11,  ls41. 

6. James  B.  Anderson,  April  30, 1863. 

•Chail.-  M'-K 

.•!■,. 'V,  F.'!.   :..  l-l:l. 

Samuel  T.  Ni'<bet,  April  30,  1863. 

John  .M.  (HI 

ill',    I'"-  ;     .'  .    1  -  1  ;. 

s,  Milton  McMillan,  Sept.  21,  1871. 

»Hearv  \\  il-. 

1    1     ■'     '  .    1  .  1  ; 

John  Temple,  Sept.  21,1871. 
James  G.  Wvlif.  S.'lil.  21,  1871. 

«  Rolv'lt  W    M 

n- ,  Ml',  It  1850. 

«  Willi.iiii  M.'l 

.  nti,  ..,-,,  u,  i»;,a, 

Wm-  W    II   rni.liill,  n.t   10,  1876. 

*Johii  WiN.iii 

■  i.-i    1 1,  isr.j. 

Will    M.liiui-   1  1  ■■    11.  1S76. 

fc.I:um-s  r,.uc 

A|ii  II  I'l,  lH.iS. 

Himh  Ni.'-  1    III    1  '    1^-2. 

..  J..s,.,,l,  .M.H 

■iii\.  A|inl  19,  1865. 

N..:il,  M.  hill  (.  .  Ill  1    I'll.  1S82, 

*.SiiMrl  L,  Uo> 

a,  .Vpiil  ID,  1855. 

Dand  U.  .-M ...uuual,  ikt.  19,  18S2. 

>  William  Edgar,  May  24,  1819. 
•Samuel  Little,  May  24, 1819. 

►  James  Muntorri,  April  28,  1,S20. 
•James  McClurken,  April  28,  1820. 

•  Archibald  McMillan,  April  l^,  1623. 

•  Thos.  G.  Armour,  1826  probably. 
•James  Coulter,  May  5, 1831. 


'John  K   Tavlor,  Aug.  11,  1832. 

'  .1  nil....  llh.ir.  Aug.  11,  1832. 
'    j  III. 1, III-  r.i  111,  Aug.  11,  1S32. 
■  w  hliiiiii  I'lin-nii,  "April  11,  1834. 
'  Siiinii.il  .\islii/l,  April  11,  1834. 

•  William  Jamison,  April  11, 1834. 

•  John  Fulton,  May  30, 1835. 


*  deceased. 

a  now  in  the  United  Presbyterian  Church. 

b  now  in  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

Forty-two  persons  in  all  have  been  ruling  Elders  in 
Bethel,  of  whom  but  seventeen  are  now  living. 

Messrs:  Edgar  J.  Munford,  A.  McMillan,  and  J.  Wilson 
were  elders  in  South  Carolina  ;  Messrs.  Little,  Taylor,  and 
James  and  Thos.  Blair  in  Tennessee  ;  Mr.  Fulton  in  Ohio  ; 
Dr.  Marshall  in  Hill  Prairie  ;  and  Mr.  M.  McMillan  in 
Concord  ,  though  the  last  two  were  members  of  Bethel 
before  Hill  Prairie  and  Concord  were  organized: 

BETHEL  SYNOD. 

This  congregation  is  a  part  of  the  original  Bethel,  and  its 
separate  history  dates  from  the  division  of  1833. 

At  that  time  its  members  chose  the  new  church  building, 
still  unfinished,  and  agreed  to  pay  those  in  connection  with 
General  Synod  the  amount  subscribed  by  them  for  building 
the  church.  Rev.  Daniel  Steele  of  Ohio  was  the  first  minis- 
ter who  visited  them.  In  the  summer  of  1834  he  preached 
here  and  in  Old  Bethel  and  Elkhorn.  During  his  stay  he 
organized  a  congregation  in  Elkhorn,  in  connection  with 
Synod,  which  obtained  Rev.  S.  McKinney  as  pastor  in  1835. 
This  congregation  does  not  claim  connection  with  Bethel,  al- 
though Mr.  Wylie  had  labored  there  and  gathered  in  some 
members  before  the  division. 

Beth  1  was  dependent  on  supplies  for  several  years.  The 
first  effort  to  obtain  a  pastor  resulted  in  the  choice  of  Rev. 
J.  B  Johnston  on  the  17th  of  September,  1839.  The  call 
was  declined.  On  the  27th  of  January,  1840,  a  call  was 
made  in  favor  of  Mr.  Hugh  Stevenson.  Having  accepted 
the  call,  he  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  the  Lakes, 
July  13,  1840,  and  soon  after  began  his  labors  in  Bethel, 
and  was  installed  pastor  on  the  15th  Oct.,  1840.  He  died, 
greatly  lamented,  on  the  15th  of  May,  1846,  in  the  38th  year 
of  his  age  During  his  pastorate  76  persons  were  received 
into  full  communion. 

The  ue.xt  pastor  was  the  Rev.  James  Milligan.  He  begau 
his  labors  in  M  rch  1848.  The  congregation  still  increased 
in  numbers,  and  during  his  pastorate  the  Church  Hill  con- 
gregation in  Grand  Cote  Prairie  was  organized.  He  was 
released  from  his  charge,  at  his  own  request,  on  the  9th  of 
August,  1854. 

On  the  13th  of  August,  1855,  Mr.  D.  J.  Shaw  was  called 
to  become  pastor,  but  declined  the  call. 

Mr.  D.  S.  Paris  was  called  on  the  26th  of  March,  1857. 
He  accepted  the  call  and  was  ordained  and  installed  Oct.  7, 
1857.  From  that  time  until  the  present  Mr.  Paris  has  con- 
tinued to  discharge  faithfully  the  duties  of  his  office,  and  his 
pastorate  is  now  the  longest  in  the  whole  community. 

In  1874  the  old  church  and  lot  were  sold  and  a  new  brick 
church  40x60  feet  was  built  in  Sparta,  at  a  cost  of  over 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MOXROE   AXD    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


247 


85,000.  It  was  first  used  for  public  worship  on  Sabbath, 
Feb  21, 1875,  the  pastor  preaching  the  opcniDg  sermon  from 
John  4:  23.  The  number  of  members  at  present  is  94. 
Among  those  who  have  entered  the  ministry  in  the  Reformed 
Presbyterian  Church  from  this  congregation  may  be  named  : 
A.  C.  Todd,  and  T.  P.  Stevenson,  editor  of  the  Christkin 
Staifsman,  publisiied  iu  Philadelphia  in  the  interest  of  na- 
tional reform. 

The  following  is  the  list  of  officers  in  the  congregation, 
and  the  time  of  entering  on  office: 

DEACONS. 

James  Pre.eton,       Feb.  1841. 
Wm.  Miller,  do. 

Ale-tanderMcKelvpy,    do. 
Robert  Sinclair,  Feb.  6. 184S. 
I.«aac  H.  Hayes,  Sept.  4, 1856. 
Charles  Preston,        do. 
C.  H.  Slormoni,  Ocloher  14, 1859. 
R.  H.  Sinclair,  .*pril  27,  IStJii. 
R.J.  Miller,  April  la,  1877. 
Juhu  Siiiari,      do.       do. 


Archibald  McMillan. 
James  Coulter. 
John  Hunter. 
Alexander  Moore. 
Robert  Miller.  Feb.  6,  1S45. 
Wm.  Bovd,         do.        do. 
ph  f  atton,  Oct.  31,  1830. 


Mattli 


Pre- 


do. 


Wm.  A.  Stevenson,  Oct.  14,  1859. 
James  Finlev,  April  27,  l8t^. 
R.  H.  .Sinclair,  .May  7, 1868. 
Daniel  Dickev. 
A.  \V.  Hunter;  April  19,  1877. 


John  E.  Wils 


<lo.       do. 


Present  Members  of  Session  are:—       Those   now  serving  are:— Isaac   H. 
Rev.  I).  S.  Paris,  Pastor;  J.  Palton,  C.    Haves. Charles  Pre.>.ton,C.  H.Stnrmont 
R.  Miller,  V.  Dickey,  A.  W.  Hunter  and   and  R.  J.  .Miller. 
J.  E.  Wilson. 

OLD    BETHEL   CONGREGATION. 

Old  Bethel  was  organized  by  act  of  Presbytery,  Nov.  5th, 
1831.  Twenty-seven  families  joined  iu  the  request  for  a 
separate  organization,  and  at  the  first  meeting  of  Bethel 
session  after  this,  three  other  families  asked  to  be  certified  to 
the  new  congregation. 

As  they  opposed  the  building  of  the  new  church,  and  had 
with  them  the  first  elders  of  Bethel,  they  claimed  to  be  the 
original  congregation  ;  and,  to  make  sure  their  claim,  pre- 
fi.\ed  the  term  "Old"  to  the  original  name  "Bethel,"  and 
are  so  known.  The  records  of  the  congregation  for  a  period 
of  nine  years  are  lost. 

In  the  divi.-ion  of  1833  the  congregation,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  a  few  families,  went  with  the  Synod.  The  congre- 
gation received  supplies  until  the  settlement  of  their  first 
pastor,  Rev.  James  Wallace,  Nov.  1st,  1840.  Before  this 
time,  Alexander  J.  Edgar  and  James  Finley  had  been  added 
to  the  session. 

The  first  election  for  deacons  was  held  January  11, 1841, 
when  John  Finley,  William  Edgar  and  Robert  Weir  were 
chosen  and  ordained  on  the  20th  of  the  same  month.  Archi- 
bald Rodgers  was  added  to  the  session  Sept.  26   1845. 

On  the  10th  of  December,  184(5,  Archibald  Hunter  and 
William  Weir  were  ordained  to  the  eldership,  and  David 
Ewing  was  added  to  the  board  of  deacons.  James  Mathews 
and  Robert  Redpath  were  chosen  deacons  Sept.  lltli,  1850 
and  ordained  in  October  following.  Thonuis  Doneily  was 
chosen  ruling  elder  at  the  same  time.  On  the  3d  of  Feb  , 
1853,  J.  A.  Brown  and  Robert  W.  Lyons  were  invested  with 
the  office  of  deacon,  and  at  the  same  time  James  C.  Lynn 
was  added  to  the  session.  James  Mathews  was  added  to  the 
session  Feb  1,  1855,  and  John  Weir,  April  15th,  185X.  At 
the  latter  date,  John  Lynn  and  Joseph  B.  Mathews  were 
added  to  the  board  of  deacons  On  the  5th  of  May,  1865, 
Hugh  Mathews, John  Houston  and  Wm  J.  S  Cathcart  were 
invested  with  the  office  of  ruling  elders. 


On  the  16tb  of  May,  1867,  Mr.  AVallace  having  received 
an  appointment  to  bring  the  subject  of  National  Reform  be- 
fore the  people  of  Illinois,  asked  to  be  released  from  bis  con- 
gregation His  request  was  granted,  and  the  pulpit  was 
declared  vacant  on  the  first  Sabbath  of  July  following.  His 
pastorate  extended  over  a  period  of  nearly  twenty-seven 
years.  After  filling  his  appointment  in  the  interests  of  Na- 
tional Reform,  he  continued  to  labor  in  the  work  of  the 
ministry  as  opportunity  offered,  until  his  death,  May  1st, 
1877. 

The  first  house  of  worship  was  built  a!)out  the  time  that 
Mr.  Wallace  became  pastor.  It  was  a  frame  buildiug,  and 
stood  on  the  hill  near  Adam  Wylie's  residence.  It  was  de- 
stroyed by  fire  in  1852.  A  brick  church  was  built  the  fol- 
lowing year  on  Plum  Creek,  more  than  a  mile  S.  W.  of  the 
old  site,  and  the  congregation  still  continues  to  worship  in  it. 

About  the  same  lime  a  part  of  the  congregation  that  had 
been  seeking  a  separate  organization  for  some  time,  built  a 
frame  church  on  John  Lynn's  farm,  about  two  miles  N.  W. 
of  the  site  of  the  old  church. 

Failing  to  obtain  a  separate  organization,  some  united 
with  other  congregations  under  care  of  .Synod,  and  the  rest 
declined  the  authority  of  Synod  and  organized  in  connection 
with  the  Reformed  Presbytery. 

In  April,  18GS,  a  call  was  made  out  for  Mr.  James  A. 
Black,  a  licentiate  of  the  Pittsburgh  Presbytery.  It  was 
declined.  A  year  later,  a  call  was  made  upon  Mr.  W.  J. 
Gillespie,  a  licentiate  of  the  same  Presbytery.  This  call 
was  accepted,  and  Mr.  Gillespie  was  ordained  on  the  14th  of 
October.  IX&K  After  laboring  with  much  acceptance  for  a 
year,  he  joined  the  United  Presbyterian  Church,  and  became 
pastor  of  the  congregation  in  Sparta.  In  November,  1^71, 
a  call  was  made  upon  Mr.  S.  J.  Crowe,  which  was  declined. 
Another  call,  made  October  7,  1872,  in  favor  of  Rev.  N.  M. 
Johnston,  was  also  declined.  In  the  spring  of  1874  a  call 
was  made  for  Rev.  P  P.  Boyd,  of  Cedarville,  Ohio. 

He  accepted  the  call,  and  was  installed  pistor  July  20, 
1874,  a  relation  which  he  still  sustains. 

During  his  pastorate  the  following  members  have  been 
added  to  session — Thos.  Finley,  Thos.  Orr,  Louis  M.  Patter- 
son. Their  ordination  took  place  Dec.  4th  ,  1875.  At  the 
same  time  J.  T.  Weir,  J.  H.  Marshall  and  D  J.  Reid  were 
ordained  deacons. 

The  congreg.ation  is  in  a  flourishing  condition, and  stronger 
than  at  any  firmer  period  of  its  history.  The  present  mem- 
bership is  168.  J.  McDonald  and  J.  JI.  Armour  entered 
the  ministry  from  this  congregation,  and  J.  M.  Finley, 
licentiate  was  also  brought  up  in  it. 

HILL    PRAIRIE   CONGREGATION. 

(Reformed  Presbytery).  That  part  of  Old  Bethel  congre- 
gation referred  to  above  as  seekinga  separate  organization 
was  known  as  the  Hill  Prairie  society  of  the  Reformed 
Prft'^byterian  Church. 

In  August  1857,  twenty  members  of  that  society  petitioned 
the  Reformed  Presbytery  for  an  organization.  The  request 
was  granted  and  on  the  4th  of  Nov.  Rev.  David  Steele  and 
James  Williams,  (ruling   Elder)  committee  of  Presbytery, 


248 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


organized  a  congregation  consisting  of  twenty-three  members. 
Joseph  Keys,  Wm.  R.  Lynn  and  Johu  Tweed  were  chosen 
candidates  for  office  of  ruling  Elder,  and  ordained  on  the 
12th  of  the  same  month,  and  the  first  communion  was  held 
on  the  Sabbath  following. 

In  March  1858  a  unanimous  call  was  made  upon  Rev. 
David  Steele  to  become  pastor,  the  congregation  asking  for 
one  halt  of  his  time.  The  call  was  signed  by  twenty-three 
members  as  follows:  James  Elder,  Jenny  C.  Holmes,  Mary 
Fowlds,  Ellen  Cathcart,  Joseph  Lynn,  William  R.  Lynn, 
Nancy  Lynn,  Joseph  Keys,  Ellis  Keys,  John  Cathcart,  Mary 
Cathcart,  Hugh  Tweed,  Jennet  Twetd,  Jane  'Cuthbertson, 
David  Tweed,  Amelia  J.  Tweed,  James  E.  Wilson,  Ann 
Wilson,  John  J.  Marshall,  Elizaeth  Marshall,  John  Tweed, 
Nancy  Tweed  and  Robert  J.  Ritchie. 

Mr.  Steele  began  his  labors  in  June  1858,  and  continued 
to  do  the  work  of  a  pastor  among  them  about  eight  years, 
though  he  was  never  formally  installed  pastor  over  the 
congregation.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  removed  to  Phila- 
delphia having  accepted  a  call  from  the  congregation^  in 
that  city. 

On  the  17th  of  October  1861,  M.  H.  Lynn  M.  D,  was 
added  to  the  session  In  May  18(53,  the  congregation  had 
increased  so  that  the  communicants  numbered  forty-five. 

Session  having  become  disorganized  by  the  death  of  all 
its  members,  except  John  Tweed,  on  the  '27th  of  May  1867, 
J.  H.  Marshall  and  Hugh  Tweed  were  chosen  candidates 
for  the  Eldership.  On  the  6th  of  June  following,  Mr. 
Maishall  was  ordained,  Mr.  Tweed  having  declined  to 
serve.  The  membership  at  this  time  was  35— The  congre- 
gation aiterward  decreased  but  there  is  still  a  remnant  which 
is  supplied  from  lime  to  time  by  the  Presbytery. 

GRAND   COTE   E.    P.    CHURCH. 

Grand  Cote  was  the  fourth  congregation  formed  from 
Bethel  in  connection  with  General  Synod  after  the  division 
of  1833.  At  the  fall  meeting  of  the  We.stern  Presbytery  in 
1849,  Bethel  session  was  authorized  to  organize  a  congre- 
gation in  Grand  Cote  Prairie  if  the  way  should  be  open. 
This  decree  was  carried  into  effect  on  the  8th  of  Feb.  1850, 
at  the  house  of  James  Robb  ;  James  Robb  and  A.  R. 
McKelvey  were  chosen  ruling  Elders  and  their  ordination 
took  place  on  the  first  Thursday  of  March  in  the  Bethel 
church  in  Edtn  The  congregation  consisted  of  sixty  mem- 
bers and  took  its  name  from  the  paririe  in  which  it  was 
located  The  site  chosen  for  the  church  was  withiu  the 
limits  of  the  present  town  of  Coulterville.  The  first  building 
was  a  frame  40  x  50,  erected  in  1851  though  not  finished  for 
some  years  afterwards. 

Starting  under  such  favorable  circumstances  they  soon 
sought  to  obtain  a  pastor,  and  on  the  15th  of  August  1850 
in  connection  with  Salem  made  a  call  upon  Mr.  James  Pearson 
This  call  was  declined.  Another  call  was  mads  soon  after 
in  connection  with  Unity,  in  favor  Mr.  G.  R.  McMillan,  but 
was  also  declined. 

Mr.  Pearson  having  been  released  from  his  charges  in 
Washington  congregation  was  again  called  by  the  Grand 
Cote  congregation  in  connection  with  Unity  in  the  spring  of 
1853.    Having  accepted  the  call  he  was  installed  on  the  18th 


of  August  following  and  continued  to  labor  with  success 
until  laid  aside  by  disease  which  terminated  in  his  death  on 
the  28th  of  March,  1856. 

In  the  spring  of  1857  a  call  was  made  upon  Mr.  Matthew 
McBride,  but  it  was  not  accepted. 

The  next  effort  to  secure  a  pastor  resulted  in  the  choice 
of  Mr.  Wm.  S.  Bratton  on  the  24th  of  October  1859.  He 
accepted  and  was  ordained  and  installed  over  the  congrega- 
tion on  the  15lh  of  Dec.  following.  He  labored  diligently, 
even  beyond  his  strength,  publicly  and  from  house  to  houte, 
for  nearly  eleven  years.  The  congregation  increased  to  such 
an  extent  tl- at  it  became  necessary  to  enlarge  the  house  of 
worship. 

In  August  1870,  along  with  most  of  the  ministers  of  the 
Western  Presbytery,  Mr.  Bra:ton  withdrew  from  the 
Reformed  and  joined  the  United  Presbyterian  Church.  About 
one  third  of  the  congregation  went  with  him,  and  he.  contin- 
ued to  preach  to  them  until  his  death  Jan.  lUh,  1873.  The 
congregation  was  again  dependent  on  supplies. 

In  the  fall  of  1871,  the  old  church  was  taken  down  and  a 
new  frame  building  40  x  60  erected  on  the  same  site.  On 
the  16th  of  April  1872  a  call  was  made  upon  Mr.  W.  J.  Smiley 
to  become  their  pastor.  This  call  was  never  presented  in- 
asmuch as  the  candidate  has  already  accepted  a  call  from 
the  Bethel. 

On  the  22nd  of  July  1873  a  unaminous  call  was  made 
upon  Mr.  Robert  Hunter,  to  become  then  pastor.  This  call 
was  accepted  and  the  pastor  elect,  after  completing  his  course 
in  the  Seminary  began  his  labors  in  March  following  and 
was  ordained  and  installed  on  the  I5th  of  May  1874.  He 
labored  succesfully  here  for  a  period  of  seven  years  when  on 
account  of  the  failing  health  of  his  wife  he  was  compelled  to 
seek  a  change  of  climate.  He  oflered  his  resignation  of  his 
charge  which  was  accepted,  the  release  going  into  effect  on 
the  15th  of  May  1881. 

The  session  at  its  first  meeting  consisted  of  three  members, 
viz :  James  Wilson,  James  Robb,  and  A.  R.  McKelvey. 
The  first  named  was  an  elder  in  Bethel,  and  belonged  to 
that  part  of  the  congregation  set  off  to  form  the  new  organ- 
ization. David  Munford  also  an  elder  in  Bethel  was  chosen 
an  elder  in  Grand  Cote  Jan.  20th,  1852.  Robert  Mathews 
one  of  the  original  members  of  Hill  Prairie  session  was 
chosen  to  that  office  here  on  the30ih  of  Oct.,  1852.  Sam'l 
Douglas,  James  R.  McKelvey  and  Wm.  Munford  were 
added  to  the  session  June  20th,  18.59. 

James  W.  McMillan,  Robert  James,  and  Wm.  J.  Mathews 
were  likewise  added  April  30th,  1863.  Wm.  W.  Jamison 
declined  serving. 

Session  having  been  reduced  by  the  deith  of  some  of  its 
members  and  the  removal  of  others  from  the  congregation, 
was  increased  April  4lh,  1873  by  the  installation  of  James 
Kemps  and  Jno.  B  lyle,  who  had  been  ordained  to  the  elder- 
ship in  the  Unity  congregation  at  the  time  of  itsorgauization 
a  few  years  before,  and  the  ordination  of  James  Walker. 
James  H.  Carlisle,  Charles  R.  McKelvey  and  Matthew  S. 
McMillan  were  cho.sen  at  the  same  time  but  declined. 

The  last  addition  to  the  session  was  made  Oct.  26th,  1876 
when  Jno.  C.  McKelvey  and  M.  S.  McMillan  were  ordained 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS 


249 


and  iostalled  Elders.  James  S.  Kell,  formerly  an  elder  in 
Princeton  congregation,  chosen  at  this  time,  declined  serving. 
The  members  now  are  James  Robb,  Robert  Mathews,  Wm. 
J.  Mathews,  James  Kemps,  J  no.  Boyle,  James  Walker,  Jno. 
C.  McKelvey  and  Matthew  S.  McMillan. 

On  the  I3th  of  September  1882,  a  call  was  made  upon  Mr. 
James  B.  McCool,  a  licentiate  of  the  Philadelphia  Presbytery 
to  become  pastor;  which  has  since  been  declined. 

In  March  1868  a  congregation  consisting  of  thirty-seven 
members  was  organized  in  Elkhorn  Prairie  Washington  Cj. 
it  took  the  name  Unity  and  was  recognized  as  a  branch  of 
Grand  Cote  congregation  and  enjoyed  a  share  of  the  p:istors 
labors  for  a  time.  In  1870  most  of  the  members  went  into 
the  United  Presbyterian  Church  and  theorganizatibn  became 
the  basis  of  of  the  Oakdale  U.  P.  Congregation. 

Abont  six  hundred  and  fifty  members  in  all  have  been 
connected  with  the  Grand  Cote  congregation.  The  present 
membership  is  about  two  hundred. 

CHURCH    HILL  CONGREGATION. 

This  congregation  was  organized  on  the  17th  of  July,  18.")4, 
by  a  committee  of  the  Illinois  Presbvteiy.  It  was  originally 
a  part  of  the  Bethel  congregation  Eden.  Fifty-nine  mem- 
bers were  received  from  that  congregation,  and  enrolled  as 
members  of  the  new  organization. 

Alaxander  Moore,  Sr.,  J.  G.  Miller  and  John  Robinson, 
were  elect2d  Ruling  Elders,  and  Samuel  Elliott  and  Wm. 
Woodside,  Deacons. 

A  church  building  had  been  erected  some  time  previous 
to  the  organization  on  what  was  familiarly  called  "  ihe 
mound"  in  Grand  Cote  pairie,  the  present  site  of  the  village 
of  Coulterville,  named  in  honor  of  its  founder  James  Coul- 
ter, the  oldest  resident  of  the  prairie. 

The  congregation  was  able  from  the  first  to  support  the 
regular  ordinances.  Accordingly  the  moderation  of  a  call 
was  granted  them  and  on  the  tith  of  November  18.54,  Rev. 
James  Milligan  (who  had  resigned  the  charge  of  Bethel 
congregation)  was  chosen  pastor.  This  call  was  never  pre- 
sented, but  Mr.  Milligan  was  continued  stated  supply  for  a 
considerable  time. 

On  October  2(),  18.")7,  a  call  was  made  on  Rev.  H.  P. 
McClurken.     This  call  was  presented  and  declined. 

Another  call  made  October  28,  Ls.X,  on  Rev.  A.  C  Todd, 
was  also  declined.  On  the  14th  of  November,  18.")9,  a  call 
was  made  on  Rev.  W.  F.  George,  which  was  accepted,  and 
his  installation  took  place  on  the  .5th  of  March,  I8(i0. 

June  21,  18.58,  Samuel  Woodside  and  M.  K.  Mawhinney 
were  ordained  elders,  and  Thompson  Moore  and  Andrew 
Thompson,  deacons. 

October  18,  1860,  D.  H.  Coulter  and  Alaxander  Moore 
were  added  to  the  session  ;  also,  Wm.  Woodside  and  W.  B 
Whittaker  on  the  16th  of  October,  1863. 

April  1.5th,  1864,  Willsou  Moore  and  Alexander  Camp- 
bell were  made  deacons. 

Another  election  January  9,  1867,  resulted  in  the  choice 
of  VVill.son  Moore  and  David  Mearns,  as  elders,  and  on  the 
28th  of  February  following,  they  were  ordained  and  in- 
stalled. 

.32 


At  the  same  time,  W.  McKelvey,  J.  0-  Mawhinney  and 
Robt.  Cathcart  were  invested  with  the  office  of  deacon. 

Rev.  W.  F.  George,  after  laboring  faithfully  in  the  con- 
gregation eleven  years,  was.  at  his  own  request,  released 
from  his  charge  on  the  3d  of  May,  1871. 

In  December  following,  a  call  was  moderated  in  favor  of 
Mr.  S  J.  Crowe,  but  it  was  not  accepted. 

On  February  11,  1873,  a  call  was  made  out  in  favor  of 
Rev.  J.  M.  Faris,  which  was  acceptetl,  and  on  June  19,  1872 
he  was  installed  pastor  by  a  commission  of  presbytery. 

February  4,  1875,  J.  D.  Elder,  R.  S.  Edgar,  J.  M.  Wylie, 
R.  K.  Wiseley  were  added  to  the  se.-sion. 

On  the  1.5th  of  March  of  the  same  year,  R.  R.  McKelvey, 
R.  B.  Elliott,  W.  J.  Crawford  and  J  J.  Torrens  were  added 
to  the  board  of  deacons.  M.  H.  McKelvey  and  J.  W.  Pres- 
ton were  also  invested  with  the  office  of  dtacoii  on  the  14th 
of  November,  1881. 

The  records  show  the  names  of  312  persons  enrolled  as 
members  since  the  organization  of  the  congregation.  The 
number  now  in  full  communion  is  134. 

The  present  house  of  worship  was  built  in  1873.  It  is  of 
brick,  40x65  ft  and  costs  ?5,000,  and  was  first  occupied  on 
the  1st  of  March,  1874. 

The  present  officers  of  the  congregation  are  Rev  J.  M. 
Faris,  pastor ;  J.  G.  Miller,  Wm.  Woodside,  Samuel  Wood- 
side,  J.  D.  Elder,  R  S.  Elgar  and  R.  K.  Wiseley,  ruling 
elders;  and  Samuel  Elliott,  R.  B.  Elliott,  W.  J.  Crawford, 
M.  H.  McKelvey  and  James  Preston,  deacons. 

D.  H.  Coulter  formerly  an  elder  is  now  in  the  ministry. 

While  the  influence  of  the  Reformed  Presbyterian  Church 
in  this  community  is  not  as  extensive  as  formerly,  being 
now  shared  by  other  churches,  yet  we  may  truly  say  that 
the  reputation  which  the  community  enjoys  for  intelligence 
and  morality,  is  in  large  measure  due  to  the  Reformed  Pres- 
byterian Church. 

Her  influence  for  liberty  has  been  felt,  and  while  her  tes- 
timony against  slavery,  lifted  up  at  the  close  of  the  last 
century,  (since  the  year  1800  no  slaveholder  was  retained 
in  her  communion)  has  been  vindicated,  she  still  pleads  for 
the  recognition  of  the  rights  of  Christ  as  "  Head  over  all 
things  to  the  church. 


EVANGELICAL  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

BY    REV.    FR.    ERUMANN. 

The  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  is  the  church  named 
after  the  great  Reformer,  Dr.  Martin  Luther.  She  receives 
the  canonical  books  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments  as  the 
infallible  revealed  Word  of  God,  and  adheres  to  "  Book  of 
Concord,"  from  the  year  1580,  as  her  Confession.  The 
"Book  of  Concord"  consists,  1.  Of  the  three  CEcumenical 
Creeds;  2  The  Augsburg  Confession  from  1530;  3.  The 
Apology  of  the  Augsburg  Confession  ;  4.  The  Schraalcaldian 
Articles;  5.  Luther's  Smaller  and  Larger  Catechisms;  6. 
The  Formula  of  Concord. 

The  Lutheran  Church  was  transplanted  to  this  country 
mainly  by  German  and  Scandinavian  immigrants,  and  dates 
back  as  far  as  when   New  York  was  yet  a  Dutch  colony, 


250 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY  COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


The  present*  state  of  the  Evangelioal  Lutheran  Church  in 
the  United  States  is  about  as  follows:  57  Synods;  3,300 
Ministers;  5  900  Congregations;  741,000  Communicants. 
She  has  under  her  care :  20  Theological  Seminaries ;  23 
Academies ;  16  Colleges  ;  14  Female  Seminaries  ;  20  Orphan 
Houses;  5  Hospitals;  1  Institution  for  the  Deaf  and  Dumb. 
She  issues  78  church  papers — 26  in  the  English,  28  in  the 
German,  6  in  the  Swedish,  14  in  the  Norwegian  and  4  in 
the  Danish  language. 

The  Lutheran  Church  in  Randolph  county,  Illinois,  has 
at  present  ten  German  congregations. 

The  oldest  of  these  is  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Trinily 
congregation  in  Horse  Prairie,  in  the  northwestern  part  of 
the  (  ounty.  It  dates  back  as  far  as  18 12,  and  was  organized 
by  German  immigrants  from  the  principality  of  Schaumburg 
Lip[>e  and  from  the  former  kingdom  of  Hanover.  The  first 
Germans  who  came  to  Horse  Prairie,  in  the  year  1838,  were 
the  two  brothers  Charles  and  Ernest  Schrieber,  Henry 
Mohrs  and  Henry  Beier.  For  the  next  two  years  other  new 
settlers  came  in,  and  though  they  were  small  in  number,  yet 
they  organized  themselves,  in  the  year  1842,  as  the  Evan- 
gelical Lutheran  Trinity  congregation.  The  first  divine 
services  were  held  in  private  houses.  In  1844,  Henry 
Moehrs  donated  to  the  congregation  one  acre  of  land,  to  be 
used  partly  for  the  site  of  a  church  and  partly  for  a  grave- 
yard. In  the  same  year  the  first  church  was  built,  a  very 
primitive  log  house,  25x18  feet.  The  whole  cost  of  this 
church  was  hardly  mors  than  S50;  but  nevertheless  they 
were  rejoiced  to  have  a  church  of  their  own.  The  first  pastor 
who  preached  occasionally  to  this  congregation  was  Rev. 
Jordan  ;  the  next  one  Rev.  Gotha.  In  the  fall  of  1845  the 
Rev.  Martin  Stephan  accepted  a  call  from  the  congregation  ; 
he  died  on  the  26th  day  of  February,  1846.  Stephan  was 
the  first  pastor  who  resided  in  the  midst  of  the  congregation 
—the  log  church  was  at  the  same  time  his  dwelling  house. 
After  Stephan,  the  Rev.  A.  Baltzer,  from  Waterloo,  III., 
preached,  for  about  one  year  and  a  half,  occasionally  to  the 
congregation,  and  in  like  manner  his  successor,  the  Rev.  W- 
Bmner.  The  Revs.  Bjltzer  and  Binner  were  not  Lutheran 
pastors ;  they  both  belonged  to  the  so-called  United  Evan, 
gelical  Church,  and  they  both  tried  to  draw  over  the  congre- 
gation to  their  denomination;  but  though  they  did  not 
succeed,  yet  they  were  the  cause  of  a  division  in  the  congre- 
gation. In  1848  nine  members  withdrew  from  the  Lutheran 
congregation  and  organized  an  Evangelical  one.  This 
Evangelical  congregation  was  in  existence  until  1859,  when 
their  members  reunited  with  the  Lutheran  church  and 
turned  over  their  property  to  this  congregation.  In  1848 
the  Rev.  C.  Strasen  took  charge  of  the  Lutheran  congrega- 
tion, and  remained  with  them  for  about  two  years.  In  the 
meantime  the  congregation  had  increased  in  number,  and 
the  log  church  became  too  small,  and  they  began,  in  1849, 
to  build  the  second  church,  a  frame  building,  40x28  feet. 
In  185t>  the  Rev  Brey  accepted  a  call  from  the  congrega- 
tion. He  was  a  man  of  great  learning,  but  more  adapted 
for  a  professor's  chair  than  for  the  pulpit.   He  resigned  after 

•Where  the  words  "present,"  "to  the  present,"  "at  the  present  time,"  are 
used  in  this  article,  it  always  means  to  October,  1882. 


six  months.  His  successor  from  March,  1851,  to  March 
1853,  was  the  Rev.  A.  Brandt.  In  1851  the  new  church 
was  completed,  and  was  dedicated  on  the  3d  day  of  August 
'n  the  same  year.  On  this  occasion  the  Rev  Birkmann, 
from  Monroe  county,  preached  in  German,  and  the  Rev.  M. 
Eirich,  from  Chester,  in  English.  The  cost  of  the  new 
church  was  about  SI, 000.  After  the  new  church  was  occu- 
pied, the  old  log  church  was  used  as  a  parsonage.  In  May, 
1853  the  present  pastor,  the  Rev.  F.  Erdmann,  received  and 
accepted  a  call  from  the  congregation,  and  took  charge 
thereof  on  the  25th  day  of  September,  1853.  At  that  time 
the  congregation  numbered  about  16  voting  members,  which 
number  was,  on  the  26th  of  December  of  the  same  year, 
increased  to  32.  The  number  of  communicants  at  this  time 
were  about  85,  and  the  number  of  scholars  in  the  school  was 
32.  At  the  present  time  the  congregation  counts  more  than 
100  voting  members  and  about  350  communicants,  and  in 
the  school*  are  more  than  100  scholars.  In  1856  a  new 
parsonage  was  built,  at  a  cost  of  about  8700,  and  the  old  one, 
the  former  log  church,  was  converted  into  a  school  house. 
In  1859- when  the  Evangelical  congregation  had  reunited 
with  the  Lutheran,  their  church  waj  moved  to  the  premises 
of  the  Lutheran  congregation,  and  used  for  a  school  house 
until  the  year  1869.  In  1860  the  old  log  church  was  taken 
down.  In  1859  the  first  pipe  organ  was  purchased  by  the 
congregation — it  was  a  small  instrument  with  but  three 
stops — at  a  cost  of  S315.  About  two  years  later,  this  organ 
was  exchanged  for  a  larger  one,  with  eight  stops.  Up  to  the 
year  1866,  the  pastor  of  the  congregation  had  at  the  same 
time  to  teach  the  school,  but  at  that  time  the  number  of 
scholars  had  become  so  large  that  it  became  necessary  to 
employ  a  teacher.  The  first  teacher  was  B.  Cunz  ;  he  took 
charge  of  the  school  in  March,  1866,  and  was  discharged  in 
September  of  the  same  year.  The  present  teacher,  C.  Ste- 
dingk,  has  had  charge  of  the  school  since  October,  1866.  By 
natural  growth  and  by  immigration,  the  congregation  had 
become  so  large  that  their  second  church  proved  to  be  too 
small  ;  so  it  resolved  to  build  a  larger  one.  On  the  13th  day 
of  May,  1868,  the  corner-stone  of  the  new  church  was  laid. 
Preaclung  was  had  on  different  occasions  by  the  Rev.  J.  C. 
Noll,  from  near  Ruma,  and  Rev  Fr.  Herold,  from  Ma'- 
coutah,  and  on  the  3d  day  of  December,  1868,  the  new 
church  was  dedicated.  The  preaching  on  this  occasion  was 
by  the  Revs.  Eisenbach,  Tegtmeyer  and  Noll.  The  new 
church  is  a  brick  building,  75x  .3  feet,  with  a  steeple  of 
about  120  feet  high,  and  two  good  sized  metal  bells  in  the 
belfry.  The  cost  of  the  new  church  was  about  S14,200. 
After  the  new  church  was  occupied,  the  old  one  was  used  for 
a  school  house,  and  received  an  addition  of  a  room  for  cate- 
chetical instruction.  In  1875  a  new  frame  parsonage  was 
built,  at  a  cost  of  about  S2,200.  It  is  resolved  to  build,  next 
spring,  a  dwelling  house  for  the  teacher,  which  will  cost  at 
least  $1,500.  The  congregation  owns  at  present  seven  acres 
of  land,  with  all  the  buildings  thereon,  whose  value  is  at 
least  $18,000. 

The  Evangelical  St.  John's  congregation  in   Red   Bud. 
In  the  year  1854,  the  Rev.  Francis  Erdmann  commenced 

•  The  word  "school"  in  this  article  always  means  "Parochial  school." 


HISIORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


251 


preaching  every  alternate  Sunday  in  Red  Bud.  At  that 
time  neither  a  school  house  nor  other  building  suitable  for 
preaching  was  to  be  found  in  the  limits  of  the  town.  The 
first  divine  services  were  held  in  a  log  school  house,  about 
one  mile  west  of  the  town  on  the  Waterloo  road.  Here,  in 
1855,  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  St.  John's  congregation  was 
organized  with  about  ten  members.  Among  them  were 
William  Giiebert,  William  Hilgeraaier,  William  Kloepper, 
Christian  Busse,  H.  Kooh,  E^q  ,  all  from  the  northern  part 
of  Germany.  About  the  same  time  the  congregation  was 
organized,  a  new  public  school  house  was  built  in  Red  Bud 
Divine  services  were  held  therein.  In  18.56  Mr.  Samuel 
Crozier  donated  one  acre  of  land  to  the  congregation  for  the 
site  of  a  church,  and  the  congregation  bought  two  more 
acres  of  him,  partly  to  be  used  as  a  graveyard,  and  com- 
meoced  in  the  same  year  the  building  of  a  church,  which 
was  completed  and  dedicated  in  the  spring  of  1857.  On 
the  occasion  the  Revs.  Boetiicher  and  Eppens  preached 
German  aud  the  Rev.  D.  Swaney  in  English.  The  new 
church  was  a  brick  building,  and  cost  about  81  500  In 
February,  1859,  the  Rev.  Francis  Erdmann  resigned  this 
charge,  and  the  congregation  extended  a  call  to  the  present 
pastor,  the  Rev.  Fr.  Schaller,  who  was  installed  on  the 
fourth  day  of  December,  1859.  By  that  time  the  congre- 
gation numbered  26  voting  members.  At  present  it  counts 
87  voting  members,  and  about  340  comniunicanls.  In  1864 
a  new  parsonage  was  built  for  about  Sl,800.  The  first 
church  had  become  too  small,  and  the  corner  stone  of  a  new 
one  was  laid  on  the  23J  day  of  June,  1867,  the  Revs.  M. 
Stephan  and  C.  S.  Kleppisch  officiating.  In  the  spring  of 
1868  it  was  completed,  and  was  dedicated  on  the  19th  day  of 
April  of  the  same  year.  The  Revs.  Professors  A.  C'raemer 
and  G.  Schaller,  both  from  St  Louis,  Mo.,  preached  dedication 
sermons-  It  is  a  brick  building,  erected  at  a  cost  of  about 
812,000.  The  old  church  was  converted  into  a  school  house. 
The  pastor  of  the  congregation  taught  the  church  school  until 
the  year  1864.  when  the  first  teacher,  A.  Burgdorf,  was  em- 
ployed. The  present  teacher,  William  Holtmann,  has  had 
charge  of  the  school  since  fall,  1875.  The  school  numbers  90 
scholars.  In  1876  a  new  dwelling-house  for  the  teacher  was 
built  for  about  8900,  and  in  1880  the  old  church  taken  down, 
and  on  its  foundation  a  two-stcry  biick  school-house 
erected  for  about  81500.  The  property  of  the  congrega- 
tion   at  the  present  time  is  of  a  value  of  about  816,000. 

The  Evangelicil  Lutheran  St.  John's  congregation 
near  Ruraa.  At  the  time  when  the  Rev.  C.  Strasen,  was 
pastor  of  the  Trinity  congregation  in  Horse  Prairie,  he 
preached  at  the  same  time  to  the  people,  who  had  settled 
between  Horse  Creek  aud  Camp  Creek,  and  in  the  year 
1848  the  St.  John's  congregation  was  organized  with  eleven 
members,  all  from  the  former  kingdom  of  Hanover,  Ger- 
many. Among  the  first  members  were  H.  Wegner,  C. 
Liefer,  H.  Knoke,  D.  Kueker,  etc.  In  the  same  year,  one 
acre  of  land  was  bought  by  the  congregation,  partly  for  the 
site  of  church,  and  partly  for  graveyard,  and  a  log  church 
was  erected.  In  1858  the  congregation  bought  five  acres  of 
land  for  850  of  Mr.  Clark,  situated  more  centrally,  about 
one  mile  and  a  half  southwest  of  their  first  church.     The 


first  building  erected  on  this  new  premises  was  a  log  parson- 
age in  1860.  In  1866  the  building  of  a  new  church  was 
commenced  and  finished,  and  dedicated  in  March,  1837. 
The  Revs.  Knoll,  Staiger  and  Erdmann  preached  on  the 
occasion.  The  new  church  is  a  brick  building,  and  its  costs 
were  about  83,500.  In  1868  a  log  school  house  was  built, 
and  in  1880  a  new  frame  parsonage  for  about  81,100.  The 
congregation  numbers  at  present  45  voting  members,  and 
about  150  communicants.  The  school  numbers  40  scholars 
and  is  taught  by  the  pastor.  The  first  pastor  of  the  con- 
gregation was  the  Rev.  C.  Strasen,  who  resigned  in  1849. 
His  successors,  until  the  year  1858,  were  the  Revs.  G.  Weit- 
brecht  and  H.  A.  Eppens.  From  1859  to  the  beginning  of 
1860  the  Rev.  Frounn  had  charge  of  the  congregation,  and 
was  the  first  pastor  residing  within  the  bounds  of  the  con- 
gregation. During  the  summer  of  1860  the  Rev.  I.  C.  Knoll 
took  charge  of  the  congregation  and  remained  with  them  until 
the  second  day  of  November,  1878,  when  he  died.  Then  the 
congregation  exiended  a  call  to  the  present  pastor,  Rev.  E. 
Schrader.  who  was  installed  in  February,  1879.  The  con- 
gregation possesses  a  property  worth  more  than  $5,000. 

The  Evangelical  Lutheran  congregation  in  Evaiisville 
is  of  a  more  recent  date ;  it  was  organized  by  the  Rev.  J.  C. 
Xoll,  owns  a  brick  church  54x34  feet.  Its  property  is  worth 
p.bout  83  000.  In  1881  the  Rev.  J.  G.  Gruber  took  charge 
of  the  congregation,  and  resigned  in  1882.  At  present 
the  Rev.  C.  Schrader  preaches  for  the  congregation,  and 
Mr.  Mohr,  a  theological  student  is  assistant,  and  teaches 
at  the  same  time  school.  With  iliis  congregation  a  preach- 
ing place  in  Preston  is  connected. 

The  Evangelical  St  John's  congregation  in  Chester 
was  organized  on  the  22d  day  of  April,  1849,  by  the  Rev. 
S.  Butterniann,  with  14  members,  all  from  the  northern  part 
of  Germany.  Among  the  first  members  were  F.  A.  All- 
meyer,  F.  W.  Allmeyer,  H.  Bode,  H.  Goehr,  F.  Brinkmann, 
etc.  In  the  same  year  the  first  church,  a  frame  building, 
was  erected  for  about  8800.  In  1854  a  brick  parsonage  was 
built.  In  1857  the  church  was  enlarged  by  an  addition  of 
twenty  feet,  and  a  basement  for  school.  In  1865  a  new 
brick  school  hou->e  was  erected.  By  continual  growth  the 
congregation  became  too  large  for  its  house  of  worship,  and 
the  corner-stone  of  the  new  church  edifice  was  laid  on  the 
13th  day  of  October,  1878.  In  the  fall,  1880,  the  new 
church  was  completed,  aud  was  dedicated  on  the  14th  day 
of  November  in  the  same  year.  It  is  a  brick  structure,  and 
one  of  the  finest  church  edifices  in  the  southern  part  of  Illin- 
ois, and  an  ornament  to  the  city  of  Chester.  The  congre- 
gation numbers  at  present  90  voting  members  and  about  360 
communicants,  and  possesses  property  worth  about  815,000. 
The  first  pastor  of  the  congregation  was  the  Rev.  S.  Butter- 
mann.  His  successor  was  the  Rev.  M.  Eirich,  who  had 
charge  of  the  congregation  from  the  year  1849  to  the  year 
1866,  when  he  resigned.  Rev.  Eirich's  successor  from  1866 
to  1875  was  Rev.  M.  Stephan.  After  Stephan  had  resigned 
the  congregation  extended  a  call  to  the  present  pastor,  the 
Rev.  J.  A.  F.  W.  Mueller,  who  was  installed  December  5, 
1875.  Prior  to  1856,  the  pastor  taught  the  church  school, 
but  in  that  year  a  teacher  was  employed.     Nine  teachers 


252 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS 


have  bad  charge  of  this  school  for  a  louger  or  shorter  time 
since  its  organization.  The  present  teachers  are  H.  Loh- 
meyer,  (since  1877)  for  the  second  class,  and  G.  Allmeyer. 
(since  187S)  for  the  first.  The  number  of  scholars  in  both 
classes  are  about  120. 

The    Evangelical    Lutheran    St.    Peter's    congregation, 
north   of   Randolph    (Bremen  P.  O.)  is   the  oldest  in  the 
southern  i)art  of  the  county.     It  was  organized  before  1845 
by  Germans,  mainly  from  the  former  Kingdom  of  Hanover, 
Germany.     Among  its   first  members  were  Messrs  Knop, 
Heitmann,  Schierenbeck  and   Goehrs,   etc.     Some  of  them 
lived   in  Chester,  where  there  was  no  Lutheran  church  at 
that  time.     Shortly  after  the  organizatijn,  the  congregation 
built  their  first  church,  a  small  log  building.     The  property 
then  owned  by  the  congregation  was  worth  about  §150.     In 
1857  a  log  house  was  erected  to  be  used  partly  for  a  parson- 
age and   partly  for  a  school  room.     In  1862  a  log  building 
school  was  raised      In  1875  the  parsonage  was  renovated 
and  enlarged  at  a  cost  of  about  S300.     In  1863  the  present 
brick  church  edifice  was  built  for  about  |2,500.     The  pro- 
perty owned  by  the  congregation  at  the  present  time  is  worth 
at  least  Sl.OOO.     Though   this  congregation  is  one  of  the 
oldest,  yet  it  is  at  the  present  time  one  of  the  smallest  in  the 
county,  numbering  19  voting  members  and   68  communi- 
cants.    It  was,  after  its  organization,  for  a  number  of  yiars 
without  a  pastor,  yet  they  assembled  every  Sunday  for  divine 
service.     Mr.  Dunsing,  a  German  school  teacher,  read  a  ser 
mon,  taught  school   for  about  four  months,  including  the 
winter  season.     In   the  years   1856  and   1857  the  Rev.  C 
Tegtmeyer  preached  for  the  congregation.     His  successor  to 
the  year  1862  was  the  Rev.  J.  Dunsing.     From   August, 
1862,  to  November,  1873,  the  Rev  I-  H.  Doermann  had 
charge  thereof.     From   November,  1873,  to  October,  1878, 
the  Rev.  F.  W.  Pennekamp,  and  since  January,  1879,  the 
present  pastor,  the  Rev.  G.  I.  Mueller.     From  1863  to  1875 
H.  Lohmeyer  was  teacher  of  the  school,  since  that  time  the 
p-istor  is  also  the  teacher. 

The  Evangelical  Lutheran  St.  John's  Congregation, 
northeast  of  Randolph  (Bremen  P.  O.).  Some  of  the  immi- 
grants from  the  Northern  part  of  Germany,  who  had  settled 
in  this  part  of  the  county,  bought  as  eaily  as  the  year  1848, 
ten  acres  of  land,  partly  for  the  site  of  a  church,  partly  for 
a  graveyard  and  other  purposes,  and  erected  in  the  same 
year  a  small  frame  church  thereon.  The  church  property 
at  that  time  was  worth  about  $600. 

Though  the  Revs.  Buttermann  and  Eirich  from  Chester  had, 
from  time  to  li  me,  preached  to  this  people,  the  congregation  w.as 
not  properly  organized  before  the  year  1853,  when  Rev.  Charles 
Tegtmeyer,  who  is  the  present  minister,  became  pastor. 
About  16  members  took  part  at  the  organization.  At 
present  the  congregation  counts  70  voting  members  and 
235  communicants,  and  the  school,  which  is  taught  by  the 
pastor,  numbers  about  90  scholars.  In  1857,  a  parsonage 
was  built,  and,  in  1878,  a  schoolhouse,  and  at  the  same  time 
one  acre  and  a-half  more  land  was  bought.  During  the 
summer,  1882,  a  new  brick  church  edifice  was  erected.  The 
property  owned,  at  the  present  time,  by  the  congregation 
has  a  value  of  about  fifteen  thousand  dollars.     With  this 


congregation  a  preaching  place  is  connected,  in  the  so-called 
Sternberg  settlement,  which  owns  a  little  church  worth  about 
1500,  and  numbers  about  38  communicants. 

The    Evangelical    Lutheran    St.    Paul    Congregation  at 
Wine   Hill.     Though  the   Rev.   C.    Tegtmeyer   had,  since 
1853,  preached  to  the  people  in  the  yicinity  of  what  is  now 
called  Wine  Hill,  the  proper  organization  of  St.  Paul's  con- 
gregation was  not  eflvcted  until  the  28th    of  November,  in 
the   year  1860,  by  the  Rev.  M.  Eirich,   from   Chester.     18 
members  participated  in  the  organization,  all  from  the  for- 
mer Kingdom  of   Hanover,  Germany.     The   first  Deacons, 
elected  on  the  day  of  organization,  were  Henry  Ebers   and 
Henry  Brueggemann.     After  ten  acres  of  land  were  bought 
by  the  congregation  the  first  church  was  built   thereon,  in 
the  year  1860.     It  is  a  frame  building,  which   cost   about 
$1,400.     This  church  is  yet  in  use.     A   new  brick   church 
edifice  to  cost  not  less  than  810,000  is  in  prospect  for  1883. 
In  1861  a  small  parsonage,  and  in  1864  a  small  schoolhouse, 
were  erected.     In  1874,  a  new  frame  parsonage  was  built  at 
a  cost  of  31,600.     In   1877    a  new  frame  schoolhouse,  cost 
about  $800.     lu  1880  the   old  parsonage  was  rebuilt  and 
enlarged,  and  is  now  worth  about  $800.     It  is  occupied   by 
the  teacher  of  the  congregation.     The  congregation  numbers 
60  voting  members  and  275  communicants,  and  owns  about 
$5,000  worth  of  property.  •  The  first  pastor  who  served  this 
congregation,  after  its  organization,  was  the  Rev.  M.  E;rich, 
who  preached  only  occasionally.     His  successor,  from  July 
1861   to    November  1863,  was    the  Rev.  H.   Evers.     From 
December,  1863,  to  May,  1873,  the  Rev.   J.   H   Doermann 
was  in  charge,  but  did  not  reside  within   the  congregation, 
but  at  Randolph,  where  he  was  at  the  same  time   pastor  of 
the  St.  Peter's  congregation.     After  the  Rev.  Doermann  had 
resigned,  the  present  pastor,  the  Rev.  C  F.  Liebe,  accepted 
the  charge,  in   November,  1873.     Six  teachers   have  been 
connected  with  the  school  since  its  organization.     The  pres- 
ent teacher,  Mr.  Aug.  Wilde  has  had  charge  of  the  school 
since,  February  18711.     It  numbers  at  present   time  about 
70  scholars. 

The  Evangjlical  Lutheran  St.  Peter's  Congregation 
at  Wine  Hill,  was  formerly  connectedwith  the  St.  John's 
Congregation  of  Randolph,  and  the  Rev.  C.  Tegtmeyer  was. 
from  1853  to  1861,  pastor  of  both  congregations.  In  1861 
the  St.  Peter's  congregation  separated  from  St.  John's,  and 
extended  a  call  to  the  Rev.  J.  F.  Hornberger,  which  was 
accepted,  and  he  was  pastor  of  the  congregation  until  1876, 
when  he  resigned.  The  present  pastor,  the  Rev.  F.  Weiss- 
gerber,  has  had  charge  of  the  congregation  since  1878.  This 
congregation  numbers  about  30  voting  members  and  about 
85  communicants  ;  it  possesses  a  small  frame  church  which 
was  built  in  I860,  a  parsonage  and  a  schoolhouse,  besides 
several  acres  of  real  estate.  Its  property  at  present  is  worth 
about  Sl,500.  The  school  connected  with  the  congregation 
is  taught  by  the  pastor. 

The  Evangelical  Lutheran  St.  Marous'  Congregation, 
in  Steelesville  was  organized  on  the  15th  day  of  February, 
1874,  though  the  Rev.  C.  Tegtmeyer,  from  Randolph, 
preached  for  them  before  they  were  properly  organized. 
Eight  members,  all  from  the  northern  part  of  Germany  par- 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


253 


ticipated  in  the  organization,  among  whom  wrre  A.  Bege- 
mann  and  F.  Maasberg.  At  the  present  time  the  congre- 
gation numbers  18  voting  members  and  fio  rommunicants. 
It  owns  a  frame  church,  which  was  built  in  1875,  for  about 
$1,550,  and  was  dedicated  on  the  "iliih  day  of  December,  in 
the  same  year;  also  a  paisonage  and  a  schoolhouse,  the 
whole  property  worlh  at  least  two  thousand  dollars.  After 
the  Rev.  C.  Tfgtmeyer  had  resigned, the  Rtv.C.  F.  Liebe  had 
charge  of  the  congrtgation  from  the  ■24(h  of  May,  1874,  to 
1879.  Aftf  r  the  Rev.  Litbe  had  rcs-igntd,  the  Rev.  G.  Erd- 
mann  filled  llie  vacancy  for  several  months.  The  present 
pastor,  the  Rev.  E.  G.  Franck,  was  installed  the  2l2nd  day 
of  May,  1879.  Pie  is  the  first  jastor  residing  with  the 
congregation.  The  school  numbers  about  20  scholars,  and 
is  taught  by  the  pastor. 

So  the  Lutheran  Church  has,  up  to  the  ])resent  time,  in 
Randolph  county  ten  congregations,  ten  church  buildings, 
nine  school  houses,  about  two  thousand  communicants,  and 
marly  seven  hundred  scholars  between  the  ages  of  seven  and 
fourteen  years  under  her  training.  Her  church  property  has 
a  value  of  over  eighty-five  thousand  dollars. 

MOXKOE    COINTY 

is  at  the  present  time  represented  by  three  Evangelical  La- 
the run  Congregations — all  German. 

The  Evangelical  Lutheran  Congregation  of  the  Holy 
Cross,  southeast  of  Waterloo  and  northwest  of  Burksville 
(Wartburg  P.  O.),  was  organized  in  1841  by  the  Rev.  G.  A. 
iSchieferdecker,  with  nine  members,  among  them  Jacob 
Horn,  J.  C.  Just,  Sam.  Koch,  from  the  southern  part  of 
Germany  ;  and  H.  Johanning,  from  the  northern  part.  Di- 
vine service  had,  for  the  first  year,  to  be  held  in  private 
houses.  In  1M44,  Mr.  J.  Horn  donated  to  the  congregation 
four  acres  of  laud,  situated  about  two  miles  south  of  Water- 
loo ;  and  in  the  same  year  a  small  frame  church,  at  a  cos, 
of  about  S300,  was  erected  thereon.  This  church  was  dedi- 
cated on  the  10th  day  of  November,  1844.  The  Rev.  Prof 
D.  Walther,  from  St.  Louis,  Mo  ,  preached  the  dedication 
sermon.  On  the  4th  of  Dec.  184(),  the  church  was  consumed 
by  fire.  Too  poor  to  rebuild,  the  congregation  again  held 
its  services  in  private  houses.  In  the  meantime  it  was 
resolved  to  build  in  a  more  central  and  more  convenient 
locality.  In  1848,  Mr.  J.  C.  Just  granted  the  congregation, 
for  this  purpose,  one  acre  and  a-half  of  land,  about  two  miles 
south  of  the  former  site,  and  in  the  same  year  they  erected 
their  second  church,  which  was  dedicattd  on  the  27th  day  of 
August,  1848.  The  Revs.  C.  Strasen  and  R.  Lange  preached 
on  the  occasion.  This  second  church  became  too  small,  and 
in  18(53,  a  stone  building,  48.\32  feet,  was  erected  and  dcdi. 
cated.  The  Rev.  E  A.  Brauer  preached  the  dedication  ser- 
nion.  This  church  erected,  in  1874,  a  steeple  75  feet  high. 
Besides  the  church,  the  congregation  owns  a  parsonage,  a 
school  house,  and  a  dwelling  house  for  the  teacher,— all  brick 
buildings.  The  whole  property  of  the  congregation,  at  the 
present  time,  is  worth  at  least  85,000.  It  numbers  at  present 
43  voting  members  and  152  communicants.  The  pastors 
who  have  served  this  congregation  are  :  Rev.  G.  A.  Schie. 
ferdecker,  from   1841    to  1849;  Rev.  C.  H  G.  Schliepsick, 


from  1849  to  1850 ;  Rev.  J.  G.  Birkmann  from  the  26th  of 
September,  1850,  to  his  death,  on  the  28th  December,  1865  ; 
Rev.  C  S  Kleppisch,  from  the  24th  of  November,  1867,  to 
August,  1871.  The  present  pastor,  Rev.  J.  Nachtigall,  was 
installed  on  September  17th,  1871.  Up  to  the  year  1858  the 
pastors  taught  the  school,  but  at  that  time  a  teacher  was 
employed.  The  first  teacher  was  Mr.  L.  Deftuer.  The  other 
teachers  have  been — Mr.  F.  R  Bi.\,  Mr.  H.  Johanning  and 
Mr.  H.  Keller.  Since  October  1881,  Mr.  H.  Johanning  has 
again  been  teacher  of  the  school.     It  counts  55  scholars. 

The  Evangelical  Lutheran  Congregation  of  the  Holy 
Cross,  near  Glasgow  City  (Renault  P.  O  )  This  congrega- 
tion was  formerly  connected  with  that  of  the  Holy  Cross 
(Wartburg  P.  O.).  It  was  organized  about  the  year  18.53 
by  the  Rev.  J.  G.  Birkmann,  and  known  by  the  name  : 
"Evangelical  Lutheran  Immanuels  Congregation,"  and  its 
first  church  stood  about  three  miles  south  of  Burksville. 
Rev.  Mr.  Birkmann  served  the  congregation  until  his  death 
in  1865.  Then  the  Rev.  C.  S.  Kleppisch  took  charge  thereof, 
and  after  him  the  Rev.  J.  Nachtigall. 

The  first  church  haviug  become  well  worn,  and  most  of 
the  members  of  the  congregation  living  in  the  vicinity  of 
Glasgow  City,  about  five  acres  of  land  were  purchased  near 
that  i)lace  in  1809  as  the  site  of  a  new  church.  In  the  same 
year  the  congregation  reorganized  itself  dropped  its  former, 
and  adoj)ted  its  pre.seutname:  "Evangelical  Lutheran  Con- 
gregation of  the  Holy  Cro.ss."  In  1880  a  new  church  was 
erected  on  the  lately  purchased  premises  a  frame  building 
28x40  feet,  with  a  small  steeple,  was  dedicated  in  the  same 
year.  The  Rev.  F.  Erdmann  preached  in  the  German  and 
the  Rev.  G.  J.  Goehringer  in  the  English  language,  on  the 
occasion.  The  following  year  a  new  frame  par.sonage  was 
built.  In  1880  the  congregation  extended  a  call  to  the 
present  pastor,  the  Rev.  H  Schaefer,  who  was  installed  on 
the  7th  day  of  November,  1880.  The  congregation  numbers 
at  present  20  voting  members,  and  75  communicants.  Its 
church  property  is  worthabout  12,501).  The  school  numberts 
20  scholars,  and  is  taught  by  the  pastor. 

The  Evangelical  Lutheran  St  Paul's  congregation  in 
Columbia.  This  congregation,  which  numbers  at  present 
24  voting  members  and  about  SO  communicants,  was  or- 
ganized in  the  year  1849,  by  Rev.  G  A.  Scliieferdecker. 
Of  the  mend)ers  who  took  part  in  the  organization  only  two, 
Jacob  Beck  and  Henry  Schmidt,  Sen.,  are  yet  living.  This 
congregation  owns  a  brick  church,  which  was  built  in  1855 
and  enlarged  in  1870;  a  school-house  built  in  1870,  and  a 
two-acre  graveyard.  The  whole  property  has  a  value  of 
about  two  thousand  dollars.  The  first  pastor  of  the  con- 
gregation was  Rev.  G.  A.  Schieferdecker  ;  his  successor 
Rev.  Rennicke.  From  the  year  1855  up  to  the  present 
time  the  Rev.  F.  W.  Holls,  from  Millstadt,  St.  Clair  County 
Illinois,  has  served  the  congregation.  As  the  pastor  of  the 
congregation  does  not  reside  in  their  midst,  it  became  neces. 
sary  to  employ  a  teacher  fur  the  school.  This  was  done  as 
early  as  1850.  The  first  teacher  was  Mr.  Held,  who  died  soon  ! 
his  follower,  Mr.  Ben.  Giinther,  who  took  charge  of  the 
school  in  185C,  died  also.  The  other  teachers  who  had  charge 
of  the  school  successively  were,    O.  Gerstenbach,  F.  Ber- 


254 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


gesser,  and  S.  Merz.  The  last  naraed  died  in  1881,  so 
that  at  the  present  time  the  congregation  is  without  a 
teacher.     The  school  numbers  about  seventy  scholars. 


THE  CATHOLIC  CHURCH. 

The  history  of  the  Mother  Church  of  Randolph  county  is 
so  closely  interwoven  with  its  secular  history  that  an  at- 
tempt to  separate  the  two  seems,  at  once,  a  task,  both  im- 
practicable as  well  as  impossible,  especially  so,  as  far  as  the 
early  part  of  the  history  is  concerned.  The  parish  records 
of  Kaskaskia  and  Prairie  du  Rocher  comprise  volumes  of 
themselves  and  have,  for  years  past,  been  the  basis  of  re- 
searches of  the  historian.  Much  credit  is  due  to  the  Histori- 
cal Society  of  Chicago,  who,  thought  Mr.  Edward  G.  Mason, 
rearranged  and  rebound  those  old  records,  and  whose  re- 
searches are  embodied  iu  papers  read  before  that  society  on 
December  16th,  1879,  and  June  16th,  1880,  which  papers 
have  been  freely  consulted  in  these  pages.  While  the  early 
records  of  the  other  parishes  are  greatly  deficient,  owing  to 
the  absence  of  resident  pastors  during  the  first  few  years  of 
their  organization,  still,  much  valuable  iniformation  has 
been  obtained  from  early  settlers,  yet  living.  Taking  all 
these  facts  into  consideration  it  is  evident  that  we  must  con- 
fine ourselves  to  a  brief  sketch  of  each  parish,  referring  the 
reader,  who  desires  deeper  researches,  to  special  works  on 
this  subject,  a  list  of  which  is  appended  :  Father  Meret'" 
Letters;  Shea's  History  of  Catholic  Missions;  Mason's 
Kaskaskia  and  its  Parish  Records  ;  Mason's  Fort  Chartres; 
Montague's  History  of  Randolph  county  ;  Reynolds'  Pio- 
neer History  of  Illinois,  and  to  the  original  records  them- 
selves, most  of  which  are  among  the  archieves  of  the  diocese 
of  Alton,  while  others,  are  still  in  the  possession  of  the  par- 
ishes to  which  they  belong. 

Kaskaiikia. — The  earliest  parish  record  of  this  congre- 
gation is  the  "  Reyidrum  pro  anno  1696  "  also  a  copy  of  the 
original  mission  records,  entitled  :  '  Extrait  des  Registries 
de  Bapteme  de  la  Mission  des  Illinois  sons  le  Hire  de  V  Imma- 
culee  Conception  de  la  S   V. 

"  From  Marest's  letters  we  know  that  some  Frenchmen 
intermarried  with  the  Indians  of  this  village  and  dwelt  there, 
BO  that  the  inhabitants  of  Kaskaskia  were  a  mixed  popula- 
tion of  whites  and  Indians,  under  the  sway  of  the  priests  of 
the  Order  of  Jesus.  Within  the  first  twenty  years  from  its 
foundation,  Kaskaskia  was  a  mission,  simply,  then  a  trading 
station,  and  soon  a  military  post;  features  enough  to  justify 
the  worthy  priests  to  establish  a  parish  to  succeed  their  be- 
loved mission.  It  is  curious  to  notice  the  difficulty  the  good 
fathers  seemed  to  have  found  in  writing  the  names  of  Indian 
women  who  appeared  at  these  baptisms,  as  mothers  and 
godmothers  of  the  infants,  as  shown  by  their  use  of  Greek 
characters  for  this  purpose.  We  can  imagine  them  stand- 
ing at  the  front  listening  to  the  many  syllabled  titles  of  pa- 
rents and  sponsors,  smoothly  uttered  in  the  Illinois  tongue, 
and  vainly  trying  to  reproduce  them,  until  in  despair  they 
have  recourse  to  their  classical  learning  for  symbols  or 
something  akin  to  the  new  sounds. 

Gabriel  Marest  appears  as  parish  priest  about  that  time, 
(1700.)     Previous  to  him,  1696  to  1700,  we  meet  with  the 


names  of  Fathers  James  Gravier  and  Julian  Bineteau.  la 
lV07,  first  appears  the  name  of  Father  P.  J.  Mermet,  who 
came  to  Kaskaskia,  from  the  great  village  of  the  Peorias. 
From  the  next  baptismal  records,  commenced  June  18th, 
1719,  it  appears  that  the  old  mission  chapel  was  still  in  use, 
hut  that  a  parish  had  been  duly  formed,  and  the  first  entry 
is  a  baptism  performed  by  Father  Le  Bonllenger,  the  chap- 
lain of  the  French  troops,  giving  evidence  of  the  presence 
of  soldiers  there  at  that  period.  This  priest  was  a  learned 
man.  He  prepared  a  catechism  in  the  Illinois  tongue. 
After  him  we  find  the  pastorate  in  charge  of  military  chap- 
lains." 

We  now  find  Kaskaskia  no  longer  in  the  pastoral  care 
of  a  missionary,  or  military  chaplain,  but  having  a  regular 
parish  priest.  Father  Nicholas  Ignatius  de  Beaubois,  who 
describes  himself  as  "Cure  de  cttte  Paroisse  ",  signalizes  his 
accession  by  opening  a.iiev/"Registre  des  Baptenies  faits  dans 
Veglise  Parroissiale  de  la  Conception  de  Ne  Dame  des  Cascas- 
k-ias,"  which  he  commenced  July  9Lh,  1720.  And  this,  per- 
haps, indicates  the  time  of  the  substitution  of  a  parish  church 
for  the  earlier  mission  chapel.  The  burial  register  from 
January  4th,  1721,  to  1727,  relates  many  sad  scenes,  which 
the  infant  settlement  had  sometimes  to  witness,  i.  e.  that 
of  the  many  Indian  massacres,  to  which  they  were  subjected. 
This  register  of  deaths  was  kept  by  Father  Beaubois.  From 
this  register  we  further  learn  that  Fathers  Marest  and  Mer- 
met, died  at  Kaskaskia,  and  found  their  last  resting  places 
under  the  church,  to  which  their  remains  were  transposed 
from  the  old  chapel,  on  Dec.  18th,  1727. 

From  this  time  to  1729,  no  records  exist,  save  a  marriage 
register,  from  1724  to  1729,  the  books  being  probably  de- 
stroyed. The  next  marriage  record,  a  book  of  220  pages, 
contains  the  marriages  at  Kaskaskia,  from  1741  to  1835.  It 
begins  with  R.  Tartarin  as  Cure.  In  Sept.  1746,  Father  P. 
J.  Watrin  becomes  Cure.  His  successor  was  Father  An- 
bert,  in  17.59.  Father  Menrin  took  charge  of  the  parish,  in 
1764.  He  describes  the  parish  as  that  of  the  Immaculate 
Conception  of  the  holy  virgin,  village  of  Kaskaskia,  county 
the  Illinois,  Province  of  Louisiana,  Diocese  of  Quebec." 

'•The  sturdy  priest,  Pierre  Gibault,  assumes  the  functions 
of  Cure  des  Kaskaskia.s  et  Vicaire  General  des  Illinois  el  la- 
marois  in  ^768,  and  his  bold  signature,  with  its  unique 
flourish,  greets  us  through  these  records  for  fifteen  years  or 
more. 

We  should  know  that  the  man  with  such  chirography, 
would  have  been  just  the  one  to  render  the  efficient  assist- 
ance given  to  George  Rogers  Clark,  and  must  have  belonged 
to  the  church  militant.  Reluctantly  we  see  the  last  of  the 
handwriting  of  this  friend  of  the  new  republic,  which  is 
followed  in  1785,  by  that  of  De  Saint  Pierre  as  Cure,  and 
that  of  De  la  Valiniece,  as  Vicar-General ;  and  in  their 
time  English  names  appear  among  the  laymen,  noted  in  the 
records  ;  e.  g.  McNabb,  Edgar,  Morrison,  etc.  New  French 
names  also  appear,  among  them  the  Menards. 

In  1793,  Gabriel  Richard  takes  up  the  record  as  parish 
priest.  Later  he  was  stationed  at  Detroit,  and  took  a  lead- 
ing part  in  the  early  history  of  Michigan,  representing  that 
territory  in  Congress,  and  was  the  only  catholic  priest  who 
was  ever  a  member  of  that  body." 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY  COUNTIES,  ILLINOIS, 


255 


Next  we  meet  (1806)  the  name  of  Father  Donatien  Olli- 
vier,  noted  for  his  great  piety,  who  was  succeeded  by  Father 
Francois  Xavier  Dahmen.  Up  to  1844,  the  time  of  the 
great  tlood,  nothing  of  importance  may  be  gleaned  from  the 
records,  save  the  enlargement  of  the  old  church,  the  evacu- 
ation of  the  convent  by  the  sisters,  during  the  flood.  Out 
of  the  materials  from  the  ruins  of  the  convent,  a  priest's 
house  had  been  erected.  In  the  steeple  of  the  church  hangs 
the  old  bell,  brought  here  from  France,  in  1742,  which  h.as, 
with  measured  tones,  tolled  three  generations  to  their  graves. 
Rev.  Becker,  D.D.,  is  at  present  parish  priest  of  the  "Island 
of  Kaskaskia."  The  long  feared  junction  of  the  Mississippi 
and  Kaskaskia  rivers,  has  been  made  north  of  the  town,  and 
the  next  tlood  will  spare  nothing  of  the  ancient  village,  save 
its  old  parish  records." 

Prairie  du  Rocher. — The  first  church  building  at  this 
place  was  erected  in  1734  It  was  constructed  in  the  French 
style  of  architecture,  by  driving  cedar  posts  in  the  ground 
and  filling  the  space  between  with  stone  and  mortar.  This 
building  stood  about  130  years.  The  early  church  history 
of  Prairie  du  Rocher  affords  but  little  of  importance 
Mason  tells  us  that  the  old  records  of  St.  Anne  of  New 
Chartres  were  transferred  to  this  place,  and  in  the  burial 
register  we  find  an  account  of  the  removal  of  the  bodies  of 
Fathers  Gagnon  and  Collet,  priests  of  .St.  Anne  of  New 
Chartres,  from  the  ruined  cemetery  near  that  church  on  the 
point  of  the  river,  and  their  burial  in  the  chapel  of  St. 
Joseph,  at  Prairie  du  Rocher. 

In  1860  the  erection  of  a  commodious  brick  church  was 
commenced,  which  has  since  been  again  enlarged  by  the 
addition  of  a  sanctuary  and  a  steeple.  The  congregation 
numbers  2.50  families,  mostly  of  French  descent.  Rev.  C. 
Krewet  is  at  present  parish  priest. 

St.  Patrick's  Church,  near  Runia,  Randolph  county 
(O'Hara  Settlement).  This  thrifty  congregation  dates  its 
origin  back  to  the  year  1820.  It  was  the  first  English- 
speaking  Catholic  congregation  organized  in  the  county,  and 
among  the  first  of  the  slate.  During  the  years  1820-1,  Rev. 
Demonlin,  who  resided  at  Kaskaskia,  came  to  this  vicinity 
on  horseback  and  said  mass  at  the  house  of  Henry  O'Hara 
about  once  a  month.  This  priest,  as  well  as  his  two  succes- 
sors, might  well  be  termed  '  itinerant  priests,"  since  they 
attended  several  congregations  and  were  continually  travel- 
ling from  one  settlement  to  another.  Father  Brassac 
succeeded  Father  Demonlin,  but  little  is  known  of  him. 
R^v.  Dr.  Coeline,  an  Italian,  was  his  successor.  He  was 
equally  famous  as  a  physician  and  priest.  When  Henry 
O'Hara  died- (June  2(Jth,  1826),  he  bequeathed  100  acres  of 
fine  land,  in  the  N.  W.  quarter  of  section  .5,  township  5-8, 
for  church  purposes,  and  his  oldest  son,  James,  as  his 
executor,  deeded  the  same  tract  to  the  church,  after  the 
congregation  had  erected  thereon  a  log  church  (1827).  This 
primitive  house  of  worship  was  30  feet  long,  20  feet  wide, 
and  14  feet  high.  On  the  N.  VV.  en<l  was  a  log  cabin  which 
served  as  a  -vestry.  The  site  was  50  feet  west  of  the  present 
church  building.  The  parish  records  date  from  January 
13th,  1831,  at  which  time  a   French    priest,   Rev.    Vital 


Paillosson,  was  pastor.     He  was  succeeded  by  Father  Vital 

Van  Cloastere,  who  remained  seven  years  (1832-39). 

On  May  4th,  1831,  Bishop  Rosati  of  St  Louis,  to  whose 
diocese  Southern  Illinois  then  belonged,  visited  this  congre- 
gation for  the  purpose  of  administering  confirmation.  The 
second  Episcopal  visit  by  the  same  prelate  took  place  May 
15th,  18.'!4.  The  parish  records  also  give  an  account  of 
Bishop  Rosatis  administering  confirmation  at  the  house  of 
Thomas  James,  near  Harrisonville,  Monroe  county,  on  June 
13th,  1836.  Rev.  John  Kenny  came  to  the  pastorate  Feb. 
11th,  1839.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Patrick  MeCabe, 
Nov.  24th,  1842.  Rev.  James  A.  Kane  and  Rev.  Conway 
attended  here  from  1850  to  1854,  when  Rev  John  W. 
Gifford  was  called  to  the  pastorate.  He  was  a  native  of 
Scotland  and  a  convert  to  the  Catholic  fdith.  His  memory 
as  a  famous  orator  is  still  cherished  among  the  older  mem- 
bers of  the  congregation.  During  his  pastorate  the  new 
church  was  completed  and  he  said  the  first  mass  in  it.  The 
corner-stone  of  the  new  church  had  been  laid  by  Bishop 
Vandville,  of  Chicago,  in  the  spring  of  1849.  Father  Gif- 
ford remained  here  till  1859.  He  died  shortly  after  ind  his 
remains  are  interred  in  the  Tipton  Catholic  cemetery  (Mon- 
roe county).  Rev.  Francis  Recouvreur  was  the  next  pastor 
(1859-1867).  He  built  a  parsonage  and  commenced  the 
erection  of  a  large  building  to  be  used  as  an  academy  for 
young  ladies.  The  plan  was  afterwards  changed,  and  after 
the  completion  of  the  building  by  Rev.  A.  Hinzelin,  it  was 
opened  as  a  school  for  boys.  Rev.  Hinzelin  came  here  in 
1867,  and  after  two  years  of  successful  labor  among  his 
parishioners,  he  died.  His  remains  are  interred  near  the 
front  door  of  the  church.  He  was  a  man  of  superior  talents. 
His  conversational  poweis  were  great,  and  he  especially 
excelled  in  music.  He  was  born  at  Dienze,  France,  May 
16,  1842,  and  was  ordained  by  Bishop  Junker,  of  Alton,  on 
Aug.  1(),  1866.  After  being  in  America  six  months  he  had 
so  far  mastered  the  English  language  that  he  could  deliver  a 
short  address  in  that  vernacular.  The  date  of  his  death  was 
Sept.  21, 1869.  Of  him  may  well  be  said  :  ''  Consuvimatua 
prttvi  complevit  tempora  mulla."  The  history  of  the  "  Col- 
lege" forming  a  distinct  part  of  this  congregation,  the  writer 
thought  it  best  to  embody  it  in  the  history  of  the  ''  Convent," 
to  which  the  reader  is  referrd.  Father  Hinzelin  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  John  F.  Mohr  ;  he  by  Rev  A.  Vogt,  both 
of  whom  remained  but  a  short  time.  Rev.  Lawrence  Hoey, 
an  excellent  speaker  as  well  as  a  fine  scholar,  was  parish 
priest  from  1870  to  1874,  when  the  present  pastor,  Rev. 
Anthony  Vogt,  took  charge.  During  his  administration,  a 
fine  bell,  weighing  2,700  pounds,  was  purchased,  and  a 
parish  school  erected,  which  numbers  50  pupils.  The  con- 
gregation now  numbers  9.3  families,  consisting  of  about 
500  souls. 

Convent  of  the  Si.'iters  of  the  Precious  Blond  near  St.  Pat- 
rick's church  (O'Hara  Settlement.) — During  the  year  1866, 
at  the  agitation  of  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  H.  D.  Junker,  first 
bishop  of  Alton,  St.  Patrick's  congregation  commenced  the 
erection  of  a  spacious  two-story  lirick  building,  to  be  used  as 
an  academy  for  young  ladies.  The  bricks  were  made  on  the 
grounds,  and  the  work  carried   on   under  the  supervision  of 


256 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY  COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


the  parish  priest,  Rev.  F.  Recovreur,  and  a  committee  con- 
sisting of  Edm.  Faherty,  Sr.,  J.  D  Simpson  and  John  Ros- 
cow.  The  building  was  completed  in  18t'i7  by  Rev.  A. 
Hiuzeliu,  and  the  plan  changed  to  an  academy  for  boys. 
The  total  cost  was  $17,000.  The  congregation  set  aside  25 
acres  of  land  for  college  purposes.  The  school  was  opened 
with  Rev.  Hinzelin  as  its  first  president.  He  wUs  succeeded 
by  Revs.  Mohr,  Vogt  and  Hoey,  who  were  all  anxious  to 
make  the  school  a  success,  but  for  many  reasons,  the  main 
one  of  which  was  undoubtedly  its  location,  the  school  proved 
to  be  a  financial  failure.  Upon  the  accession  of  Bishop 
Baltes  to  the  Episcopal  see,  this  prelate  bought  the  college 
from  the  congregation  for  $5,000.  He  erected  an  addition 
to  it  and  converted  into  a  classical  and  theological  seminary- 
While  under  these  auspices  the  college  was  presided  over  by 
Rev.  Hennemann,  O.  S.  B.,  Rev.  William  Cluse,  Rev.  J. 
Meckel  and  Rev.  Augustus  Brumleve  as  presidents,  and 
independent  of  St.  Patrick's  congregation.  Notwithstanding 
the  energy  and  zeal  of  the  president  and  professors,  the  school 
could  not  be  made  a  success  and  was  finally  (^1875)  abandoned. 
Bishop  Baltes  then  sold  the  building  and  grounds  to  the 
Sisters  of  the  Precious  Blood  for  $12,000.  These  sisters  had 
come  as  exiles  from  Kurtweil,  Baden,  in  18G8,  and  located 
at  Belle  Prairie,  now  Piopolis,  Hamilton  Co  ,  111.  In  1870 
their  number  had  swelled  to  about  60,  when  half  of  them 
went  to  St.  Louis,  and  became  attached  to  that  diocese. 
The  remaining  half,  which  remained  in  the  diocese  of  Alton, 
intended  to  locate  at  Edwardsville  and  there  erect  their 
mother  house.  Plans  for  the  same  had  already  been  pre- 
pared when  Bishop  Baltes  offered  them  the  ''College  near 
Runia,"  which  they  bought  and  at  once  occupied.  There 
are  now  42  members  of  the  order  at  the  convent.  The  object 
of  the  order  is  to  prepare  and  furnish  teachers  for  the  Cath- 
olic parish  schools,  and  it  is  here,  at  their  mother  house, 
where  their  candidates  are  prepared  for  their  responsible 
duties.  The  order  is  under  the  supervision  of  the  General 
Superioress  at  Rome,  Carolina  Signoretti.  The  Superioress 
of  the  Convent  is  Clementine  Herr.  The  parish  schools  of 
Edwardsville,  Chester,  Evansville,  Ruma,  St.  Rose,  Madon- 
naville,  Altamont,  Shawueetown,  Piopolis  and  Mt.  Carmel 
are  supplied  with  teachers  from  this  convent.  Rev.  John 
Menhaus  is  chaplain  of  the  convent.  The  chapel  of  the 
institution  is  indeed  very  beautiful  and  tasty,  and  is  a  fit 
place  of  worship  for  the  devout  sisters  and  their  pupils. 

Evansville,  Randolph  county,  Illinok.  On  the  7th 
day  of  April,  I860,  38  familie.s,  most  of  whom  were  poor, 
organized  a  Catholic  congregation,  with  Michael  Berthold, 
Nicholas  Gross,  Paul  Pautler,  Martin  Oberle  and  John 
Schulein  as  trustees.  After  the  organization  was  perfected 
the  first  mass  was  said  in  August,  I860,  at  the  house  of 
Michael  Berthold  and  later  divine  service  was  held  at  the 
residence  of  Herman  Sliefvater.  At  that  time  clergymen 
from  Chester  and  Ruma  attended  to  the  spiritual  needs  of 
this  congregation.  A  frame  church  30x40  feet  was  soon 
after  erected  about  150  yaids  east  of  the  present  church 
site,  which  grounds  are  now  used  as  a  cemetery  of  the  con- 
gregation. On  June  14,  1866,  this  church,  which  had  been 
dedicated  to   the    honor  of  St.  Joseph,  was  burned   to  the 


ground,  the  work  of  an  incendiary.  It  was,  indeed,  a  heavy 
loss  to  the  yet  struggling  little  flock  of  Catholics.  They, 
however,  at  once  laid  plans  for  the  erection  of  a  new  brick 
building,  and  in  May,  1867,  the  Vicar  General  of  the 
diocese.  Very  Rev.  P.  T.  Baltes,  laid  the  ciruer-stone  of 
their  new  church  edifice.  Mr.  John  Wehrheim,  a  non- 
Catholic,  had  donated  two  acres  of  land  in  the  suburbs  of 
Evansville,  and  Mrs.  Mary  Fsaman  also  presented  the  con- 
gregation with  one  acre  adjoining  the  above  tract.  The  work 
of  building  the  new  church  progressed  rapidly.  It  is  a 
handsomestruc!ure,  45x70  feet,  and  of  the  Romanic  style  of 
architecture.  Christmas  of  1867  found  the  congregation 
assembled  in  its  new  church  for  the  first  time,  each  member 
feeling  proud  of  the  good  work  accomplished.  Rev.  Louis 
Pommer  was  the  officiating  priest  at  this  first  service  in  the 
new  church. 

On  the  second  day  of  December,  1869,  the  church  was 
formally  dedicated  to  the  honor  of  St.  Bouiface  hy  Rev. 
John  F.  Mohr,  delegated  by  Bishop  Baltes.  A  parish  school- 
house  was  also  built  in  1S()7,  and  a  parish  school  is  main- 
tained there  since.  Rev.  John  Menhaus,  while  pastor  at 
Red  Bud,  attended  this  congregation  in  1871.  After  Bishop 
Baltes  took  charge  of  the  "  College  at  Ruma"  some  of  the 
clergymen  who  served  there  as  professors  acted  as  pari-sh 
priests.  When  the  "  college"  was  sold  to  the  Sisters  of  the 
Precious  Blood  the  congregation  was  again  blesssd  with  a 
resident  priest,  Rev.  Albinus  Breinlinger,  who  has  been 
pastor  since  August  30,  1878.  During  his  pastorate  the 
congregation  has  built  a  fine  parsonage  and  otherwise 
improved  the  church  property.  The  erection  of  a  large 
school  building  is  at  present  contemplated.  The, congrega- 
tion now  numbers  70  families,  or  about  400  souls,  and  the 
total  value  of  the  church  property  is  about  $15,000.  The 
members  are  mostly  Germans.  The  history  of  the  congre- 
gation is  a  worthy  example  of  energy,  liberality  and  devo- 
tion to  the  church 

Rnl  Bud.— On  the  2Gth  day  of  November,  1858,  a  few 
Catholic  families  residing  in  the  vicinity  of  Red  Bud,  met 
organized,  and  determined  to  build  a  church.  Rt;.  Rev. 
Bishop  Junker  said  mass  for  them  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Hoefele. 
A  handsome  subscription  having  been  raised,  the  congrega- 
tion soon  found  itself  the  happy  possessor  of  a  handsome 
church.  The  first  service  in  the  new  church  was  held  on 
Palm  Sunday,  18-59,  by  Rev.  Barlels,  then  stationed  at 
Freeburg.  Rev.  Blasinger  and  Rev.  Kraemer  remained 
here  a  short  timeas  pistors.  On  the  28th  day  of  September, 
1862,  the  church  was  dedicated  to  the  honor  of  St.  John  the 
Baptist  by  Bishop  Junker.  Rev.  John  F.  Mohr  was  the 
parish  priest  from  1862-68.  A  house  was  purchased  in 
1862  to  be  used  as  a  parsonage  and  school-house.  Two  fine 
bells  were  consecrated  by  Bishop  Junker  on  December  1st, 
1866,  and  the  following  year  the  erection  of  a  new  school- 
house  begun.  Rev.  A.  Rustige  came  as  pastor  in  1868,  and 
after  a  stay  of  a  few  months  was  succeeded  by  his  prede- 
cessor, Rev.  Mohr.  Rev.  Berlage,  of  Prairie  du  Long,  then 
visited  the  congregation  on  alternate  Sundays.  In  Novem- 
ber, 1870,  Rev.  John  Menhaus  was  called  to  the  pastorate, 
and  remained  about  one  year.     Like  its  sister  congregation, 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


257 


Evansville,  Red  Bud  was  then  till  1875,  attended  by  priests 
from  the  college,  the  last  one  of  which  was  Rev.  Augustine 
Brumleve,  who  was  in  1875  made  resident  priest,  having 
attended  the  c  )Dgregation  fjr  two  j'ears  previous,  while  pre- 
fect, and  later  president  of  the  college.  The  benefit  of  a 
resident  priest  soon  began  to  show  itself  The  old  parsonage 
was  sold  and  a  handsome  brick  house  erected  south  of 
the  church  in  1877.  In  1882  the  church  has  been  frescoed 
and  the  congregatiou  is  now  in  a  flourishing  condition.  To 
the  congregation  is  attached  a  branch  of  the  Catholic  Knights 
of  America,  styled  :  "  St.  Augustine  Branch,  No.  266," 
organized  November  14th,  1882,  the  object  of  which  is  a 
co-operative  life  insurance. 

Chester. — In  the  year  1840,  Father  Perren,  then  parish 
priest  of  Kaskaskia,  occasionally  visited  Chester  and  at- 
tended to  the  spiritual  wants  of  the  little  flock  of  Catholics 
residing  there.  In  18-')2  a  church  building  was  erected,  and 
Father  Repies  took  charge  of  the  church.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Revs.  Kraemer,  Chmelizek,  Pommer,  Claus  and 
others.  At  present  Rev.  H  Hegemann  is  the  parish  priest 
and  the  future  prospects  of  the  congregation  are  encouraging 


PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH. 

From  the  best  data  obtainable,  the  first  Presbyterian 
minister  to  visit  the  Illinois  country,  was  John  Evans  Fin- 
ley,  from  Chester  county,  Pennsylvania.  He  landed  at 
Kaskaskia,  in  1797,  after  having  been  borne  by  keel  boat, 
from  the  headwaters  of  the  Ohio,  hither. 

He  remained  but  a  short  time — too  short  to  attempt  an 
organization.  In  1814,  two  missionaries,  Samuel  J.  Mills 
and  Daniel  Smith,  visited  Kaskaskia,  and  reported  a  de- 
plorable lack  of  co|)ies  of  the  Bible,  in  that  vicinity. 

On  the  27lh  of  May,  1821,  a  society  was  organized,  with 
nine  members,   under  the  care  of  Rev.  Salmon   Giddings. 

The  first  members  were :  Mr.  and  INIrs.  David  J.  Baker, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Guthrie,  Mrs.  Perniilia  Burr,  Mrs.  Dr.  Sy- 
mington, Mrs.  Robert  Morrison,  Mrs.  Martha  Heard,  and 
Mrs.  Eliza  Conn.  Mrs,  Permelia  Burr,  was  elected  and  re- 
gularly ordained  and  installed  as  elder  of  the  church.  Soon 
after,  Mrs.  Burr's  family  moved  some  twenty  miles  up  the 
Kaskaskia  river,  on  a  farm.  From  here  she  often  walked 
to  church,  so  great  was  her  zeal  in  the  cause.  In  1830, 
John  Mann  and  James  (,'lendeiiin  were  appointed  elders. 
John  Mann  maintained  his  relationship  with  the  church  — 
continuing  after  the  removal  to  Chester,  until  the  time  of 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  1881.  After  the  organization 
of  the  church,  there  is  no  record  of  any  preaching,  until 
1825.  It  is  known  however,  that  Mr.  Giddings  and  others, 
made  them  occasional  visits.  In  November,  1825,  Rev. 
John  M.  Ellis  came  on  from  Mas.«achusetts,  and  located  in 
their  midst.  He  was  well  received,  and  listened  to  with 
attention.  He  remained  here  until  April,  1828.  During 
his  incumbency  the  "  Kaskaskia  Social  Literary  Association  " 
was  organized,  with  Col.  Thomas  Mather  as  Librarian. 

The  next  preacher  to  have  charge  of  this  congregation, 
was  Rev.  John  Matthews,  who  came  in  1828,  and  remained 
until  1834. 
33 


Services  were  held  whenever  place  could  be  obtained, — 
in  private  rooms,  warehouses,  school-rooms,  and  a  few  times 
in  the  county  house.  In  1837,  Rev.  Joshua  T.  Tucker, 
preached  in  Chester.  Kaskaskia  was  abandoned,  and 
Chester  became  the  place  of  meeting.  On  Oct.  0th,  1840, 
the  name  was  changed  by  the  Presbytery,  from  Kaskaskia 
to  "  First  Presbyterian  church  of  Chester."  The  elders  at 
this  time  were,  John  Mann,  James  Clendenin,  and  James 
McLaughlin.  Rev.  Cyrus  C.  Riggs,  was  in  charge  of  the 
church,  until  1845.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  B.  F.  Spil- 
man,  who  remained  until  1849.  Rev.  John  Kennedy,  was 
their  minister  from  June  14th,  1850,  until  the  time  of  his 
death,  July  21st,  1851.  Rev.  P.  D.  Young  was  with  them 
from  March  1st,  1852,  to  March  31st,  1857.  Under  his 
ministry,  the  afl^airs  of  the  church  moved  on  with  great 
order  and  system.  Rev.  B.  H.  Charles  was  his  successor, 
and  remained  until  1866,  a  period  of  nearly  nine  years. 
Rev.  Abram  J.  Clark,  commenced  here  about  September, 
1867,  was  installed  pastor,  and  served  the  church  until 
March,  1875.  Rev.  D.  L,  Gear,  commenced  January,  1876, 
and  remained  until  September,  1881,  when  the  present 
pastor.  Rev.  O.  G.  Morton,  was  installed. 

The  first  place  of  meeting  in  Chester,  was  Scth  Allen's 
office.  The  next  was  a  school  house  near  the  present  house 
of  worship — a  house  common  to  all  denominations. 

The  present  and  only  church  edifice  ever  owned  by  the 
congregation  is  of  stone,  occupies  a  very  commanding  posi- 
tion, and  was  built  between  1845  and  l.'<47,  and  cost  about 
SI  500. 

Elder  Amzi  Andrews,  in  liis  will,  left  a  valuable  legacy  to 
this  church,  amounting  in  all  to  perhaps  .?20,000.  It  is 
now  in  litigation. 

Rev.  John  Millot  Ellis,  was  born  in  New  Hampshire. 
His  ancestors  were  of  Welch  origin.  He  graduated  from 
Dartmouth  College,  in  1822,  and  subsequently  from  the 
Theological  Seminary  at  Andover.  He  was  a  great  friend 
of  education,  and  everywhere  he  went,  worked  in  aid  of 
educational   institutions. 

Rev.  John  Mathews,  was  born  in  Beaver  county,  Penn'a. 
A  graduate  of  Jefl^erson  College.  The  missionary  spirit 
moved  him  to  work  in  the  west,  which  he  did  with  marked 
success.  He  lived  to  the  good  old  age  of  84  years,  and  is 
buried  near  Georgetown,  where  he  died,  May  12th,  1861. 

Rev.  Joshua  T.  Tucker,  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  was 
fitted  for  college  at  Phillips  Academy,  .Vndover  ;  graduated 
from  Yale  College,  183'>,  and  from  Lane  Seminary,  1837. 
lie  was  one  of  the  original  founders  of  the  Boston  Rtview. 
He  is  the  author  of  several  works,  among  them  the  "  Life 
of  Christ,"  and  journal  of  travel. 

Rev.  Cyrus  C  Riggs,  a  Pennsylvanian,  graduated  from 
Allegheny  Seminary.  After  leaving  Chester,  he  became 
President  of  Richmond  College,  Jefferson  county,  Ohio,  and 
subsequently  took  charge  of  a  Female  Seminary,  at  Beaver, 
Penn'a. 

Rev.  A.  J.  Clark,  was  a  native  of  Champaign  county, 
Ohio.  Graduated  from  Delaware  College,  in  1859.  He 
accomplished  much  during  his  slay  with  the  congregation  at 
Chester,  in  behalf  of  the  Master's  cause. 


253 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


Rev.  D  L.  Gear,  was  a  Congregational ist  in  faith.  He 
served  the  congregation  faithfully,  and  in  1880,  went  to 
Nokomis,  where  he  died. 

Rev.  O.  G.  Morton,  a  native  of  Ttnnessee,  is  a  young  man 
of  decided  ability.  He  was  educated  in  Southern  University, 
Greensboro,  Alabama,  Vanderbilt  University,  Nashville, 
Tennessee,  and  Lane  Seminary,  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  from 
which  institution  he  graduated.  May,  1881.  The  following 
September,  he  was  called  to  the  charge  of  the  Chester 
church,  and  in  May,  1882,  he  was  regularly  ordained  and 
installed,  as  pastor.  He  is  a  fluent  speaker,  a  genial  geulle- 
nian,  and  under  his  charge  the  cause  is  prospering.  There 
is  at  present  a  membership  of  fifty-eight  persons.  Sunday 
School  attendance  about  100. 

Liberty,  now  Rockwood  Church,  is  on  the  Mississippi 
river,  in  the  southwest  corner  of  Randolph  county.  It  was 
organized  at  the  house  of  Dr.  James  C.  Junk,  by  Rev. 
Cyrus  C  Riggs,  March  9th,  1843,  with  twenty-nine  mem- 
bers. The  following  ministers  have  served  here:  Cyrus  C 
Riggs,  B.  F.  Spilmiin,  Alex.  Brown,  A.  A.  Morrison,  B.  H. 
Charles,  A.  R.  Naylor,  John  C  Wagaman,  Alfred  Wright. 
James  S.  Davis. 

In  a  revival,  in  1862,  twenty-nine  persons  were  received  ; 
in  another,  in  the  winter  of  1876,  twenty-eight  were  added. 
The  name  of  the  church  was  changed  from  Liberty,  to 
Rockwood,  Feb.  16th,  1865,  to  correspond  with  the  name 
of  the  village,  as  changed  by  the  Legislature.  This  con- 
gregation met  in  private  houses,  or  in  the  school-house, 
until  the  dedication  of  the  present  house  of  worship,  which 
took. place  late  in  the  fall  of  1864.  This  house  is  of  brick, 
and  cost  SI 950.  The  site  is  on  two  lots,  which  cost  thirty 
dollars. 

Georgetown,  now  Steele's  Mills  church,  was  organized  by 
a  committee  of  the  Kaskaskia  Presbytery,  January  22d, 
1859,  with  eleven  members.  James  Brown  sr.,  elder,  John 
Mathews,  Wm.  H.  Templeton,  A.  J.  Clark,  J.  W.  Cecil, 
and  James  S.  Davis,  have  officiated  as  pastor.^. 

The  name  of  the  church  was  changed  from  Georgetown, 
to  Steele's  Mill's,  in  April,  1875.  The  organization  took 
place  in  the  old  Baptist  house,  which  stood  on  the  site  of 
their  present  edifice.  Services  were  held  mostly  in  the  old 
Baptist  church,  but  sometimes  in  a  store-house,  on  the  Alma 
side  of  the  town,  and  occasionally  at  the  railroad  depot. 
The  site  for  the  present,  and  only  edifice  owned  by  the  con- 
gregation, was  given  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  \V.  F.  Stinder.  The 
building  was  erected  in  1875,  and  cost  15000.  The  corner- 
stone was  laid,  July  17th,  1875,  and  the  edifice  was  com- 
pleted in  December,  following.  Since  1878,  services  have 
not  been  regularly  held. 

SPARTA.    Jordan's  grove  or  Baldwin  church, 

Was  organized  at  Sparta,  July  24th,  184.3,  by  Rev.  Cyrus 
Riggs.  First  elders  :  H.  M.  Livingston,  and  Temperance 
McCormick.  Ministers  ;  Cyrus  Riggs,  to  April,  1845  :  B.  F. 
Spilman,  from  February,  1846,  to  September,  1851 :  B  Lefler, 
one  year  :  C.  D.  Martin,  W.  R.  Sim,  18.58—60:  Martin  B. 
Gregg,  August,  1872,  until  his  death,  August  31st,  1873 : 
James  Scott  Davis,  January,  1874,  to  June,  1875:  M  M. 


Cooper,  September,  1876,  to  August,  1877.  The  name  was 
changed  from  Sparta  to  Jordan's  Grove,  April  12th,  1851. 
It  was  again  changed  to  Baldwin,  after  the  church  building 
was  moved  to  that  village. 

While  worshiping  in  Sparta,  this  church  had  no  edifice 
of  its  own.  Its  meetings  were  not  long  held  in  that  village, 
but  in  the  country,  some  five  miles  distant,  northeast,  where 
a  house  of  worship  was  erected,  costing  about  a  thousand 
dollars.  This  house  was  removed  to  Baldwin,  on  the  narrow 
gauge  railroad,  in  the  fall  of  1872,  when  it  was  repaired  and 
refurnished.  Dedicated,  June  1st,  1873.  The  congregation 
is  now  in  a  languishing  state. 

The  Church  of  Sparta,  was  organized  June  5th,  1869,  with 
sixty-three  members.  Rev.  John  Hood,  was  their  first 
minister.  He  was  dismissed,  June  30th,  1878.  He  was  a 
native  of  this  state,  having  been  born  in  Washington  county. 
He  was  educated  in  Indiana  State  University,  from  which 
institution  he  graduated,  in  1862.  Served  as  Lieutenant 
and  Captain,  in  the  80th  Illinois  Regiment.  In  October, 
1865,  he  commenc;d  the  study  of  theology,  in  the  Reformed 
Presbyterian  Seminary,  at  Allegheny  City,  Penn'a.,  and 
was  licensed,  1869.  His  eight  years'  pastnrate  was  marked 
with  great  success.  His  successor  was  Rev.  John  \^'.  Bailey, 
now  President  of  Blackburn  University,  Carlinville,  Illinois. 
The  last  pastor  was  Rev.  Green,  a  young  man  of  extraordi- 
nary abilities,  a  master  of  oratory,  a  fine  logician  as  well. 
He  has  recently  accepted  a  call  from  Chicago,  which  leaves 
a  vacancy  in  the  pulpit  of  this  church.  This  is,  next  to 
Paris,  Edgar  Co.,  the  largest  organization  in  the  state,  hav- 
ing a  membership  of  over  three  hundred.  The  church  edifice, 
a  handsome  brick  building,  was  erected  in  1870,  at  a  cost  of 
S9000. 


THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH. 

BY    E,    P.    TRABUE. 

The  earliest  recorded  preaching  in  Randolph  county,  by 
a  minister  of  this  denomination,  dates  back  to  1844,  when 
Elder  Harmon  Husband,  from  Somerset  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, began  his  labors  in  the  "Garden  of  the  West," 
as  Randolph  county  was  then  called.  He  labored  in 
diflferent  localities  in  the  county,  and  his  labors  were 
crowned  with  a  measure  of  success.  In  1868  his  followers  at 
Mill  Creek  organized  themselves  into  a  society,  and  met  for 
worship  in  the  school-house.  The  Revs.  Dr.  Mulkey,  Hus- 
band, Combs,  Thornberry,  Bryan,  J.  T.  Baker  and  John  A. 
Williams  have  preached  for  them.  In  the  year  1872 
a  society  was  organized  at  Baldwin,  and  a  plain  substantial 
frame  house  of  worship  was  erected.  The  congregation, 
which  no  longer  meets  for  services,  has  sat  under  the 
ministry  of  Revs.  David  Husband,  Marion  Combs,  J. 
L.  Thornberry,  James  Bryan,  J.  T.  Baker  and  John 
A.  Williams. 

The  Rockwood  congregation  was  organized  in  the  year 
1867,  by  M.  Linn  and  H.  D.  Bantan,  and  in  1874  a  good 
frame  church  building  was  erected,  in  which  they  at  first 
met  regularly,  but,  like  the  congregation  at  Baldwin,  they 
have  since  abandoned  their  place  of  worship.     They  have 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS 


259 


received  the  services  of  Rev.  Dr.   Mulkey  and  Rev.  M. 
Combs. 

The  membership  of  the  Christian  Church  in  the  county 
numbers  about  200  persons,  and  the  entire  value  of 
its  property  does  not  exceed  S2,000. 


ST.  MARK'S  PARISH. 

BY  REV.  THOMAS  H.  GORDON. 

The  only  parish  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church  in  Ran- 
dolph county  is  St.  Mark's.  Chester,  so  that  an  account  of  its 
origin  and  growth  will  be  the  history  of  the  church  in  the 
county.  Its  history  has  been  marked  by  so  few  events  in  its 
outward  life  suitable  for  a  public  record,  that  this  sketch  will 
be  simplv  a  brief  narration  of  facts.  Thi.s  parish  was  founded 
by  the  Rev. William  Mitchtll.M.D  ,asa  missionary,  who  came 
frotii  the  Atlantic  states  under  the  auspices  of  the  Board  of  Do- 
mestic Missions,  and  began  his  work  here  under  the  spiritual 
jurisdiction  of  the  Rt.  Rev.  Philander  Chase,  D.  D.  Mr.  Mit- 
chell entered  upon  his  duties  April  14,  1848,  and  on  Sunday, 
April  IB,  held  church  services  in  the  court  house  at  Kas- 
kaskia.  On  the  following  Sunday  a  public  school-house  in 
Chester  was  used  for  the  same  purpose,  and  at  both  these 
places   the   sacrament  of  holy  baptism   was    administered. 

These  were  the  first  public  services  held  in  Randolph 
county  by  a  priest  of  the  Protestant  F]piscopal  church. 
Services  were  continued  by  Mr.  Mitchell  at  Kaskaskia  for 
some  time,  and  occasional  services  were  held  at  other  points^ 
but  the  only  place  in  which  they  seemed  to  bear  any  visible 
and  permanent  fruit  was  Chester.  Upon  his  arrival  in  this 
town  Mr.  Mitchell  found  but  three  male  members  of  the 
church,  whose  names  we  put  on  record.  They  were  P. 
Haskins,  Richard  B.  Servant  and  William  C  Marlen.  On 
the  Gth  of  May,  1S43,  a  meeting  was  held  in  Chester  of 
those  interested  in  the  church,  and  a  parish  was  organized 
by  the  election  of  wardens  and  vestrymen,  the  adoption  of 
the  name,  St.  Mark's  parish,  and  the  election  of  a  delegate  to 
the  Diocesan  Convention  to  be  held  in  the  following  month 
at  Quincy,  Adams  county,  Illinois.  The  officers  of  the  or- 
ganization were  :  Wm.  P.  Haskins,  Senior  Warden  ;  Richard 
B.  Servant,  Junior  Warden  ;  Wm.  C.  Marlen,  Jas.  H.Jones, 
E.  J.  Whituey,  J.  M   Bair,  Vestrymen. 

At  the  Diocesan  Convention  held  at  (Quincy  June  5,  1843, 
St.  Mark's  Parish,  Cnester,  was  admitted  into  union  with 
the  convention  and  became  a  part  of  the  church  in  the  dio- 
cese and  in  the  United  States. 

The  first  Episcopal  visitation  of  the  parish  was  made  on 
the  Uth  of  the  following  month  by  the  Rl.  Rev.  Philander 
Chase,  D.  D.,  who  administered  the  rite  of  confirmation  to 
eighteen  persons  These  were  the  first  fruits  of  the  mis- 
sionary's labors  in  Chester.  From  this  time  onward,  amid 
many  difiiculties  and  discouragemenU.  the  parish  continued 
to  increase;  but  the  congregation  having  no  church  building, 
were  under  the  necessity  of  meeting  for  worship  in  the  public 
school-house.  The  lack  of  a  house  of  worship  was  felt  to  be 
a  great  hindrance  to  the  progress  of  the  parish,  and  at 
length,  on  April  1,  1849,  the  corner-stone  of  the  present 
church  was  laid  with  appropriate  ceremonies,  by  Bishop 
Chase.     Five  years  passed  before  the  building  was  finished, 


so  great  an  undertaking  was  it  for  the  small  number  of  pa- 
rishioners, even  when  assisted  by  kind  friends  in  the  Atlantic 
states  But  the  rector  aud  his  flock  triumphed  over  all 
difficulties,  and  on  May  "28,  18.54,  the  church  was  dedicated. 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Mitchell  was  rector  of  the  parish  for  a  quarter 
of  a  century,  resigning  his  charge  in  1868.  During  his  min- 
istry at  Chester  he  baptized  216  persons,  presented  90  can- 
didates for  confirmation,  solen:nized  42  marriages  and 
committed  88  bodies  to  the  grave.  Such  is  the  brief  record 
of  twenty-five  years  of  ministerial  life. 

The  history  of  the  church  in  Chester  is  chiefly  a  history 
of  Mr.  Mitchell's  labors  in  the  Gospel,  so  that  little  can  be 
said  of  it  without  mention  of  his  name. 

Mr.  Mitchell's  successors  in  the  charge  of  this  parish  have 
been  the  Rev.  R.  Trewartha,  from  May  1,  1868,  to  May 
1,  1870  :  Rev.  R.  Ryall,  from  March  12,  1871,  to  December 
14.  1875;  Rev.  J.  T.  Adderly,  September  21,  1876,  to 
March  1,  1877  ;  Rev.  A.  E.  Wells,  February  23,  1878,  to 
April  9,  1882,  and  Rev.  Thos.  II.  Gordon,  from  May 
7,  1882  St.  Mark's  church  has  thus  been  ministered  to  by 
six  clergymen  during  its  forty  years  of  existence.  In  that 
period  396  persons  have  beeu  baptized,  133  received  the  rite 
of  confirmation,  75  marriages  have  been  solemnized  and  161 
bodies  buried  by  the  ministers  of  this  church.  This  parish 
has  been  under  the  spiritual  jurisdiction  of  four  bishops. 

This  sketch  may  well  be  concluded  with  statistics  taken 
from  the  report  of  St.  Mark's  parish  to  the  fifth  annual 
Synod  of  the  Diocese  of  Springfield,  May,  1882  :  Number  of 
families  in  parish  as  entered  upon  register,  30;  souls,  177; 
communicants,  52  ;  Sunday-school  scholars,  95. 


FREEWILL  BAPTIST  CHURCH. 

RANDOLPH    AND    PERRY    COUNTIES. 
EV  REV.  G.  A.  GORDON'. 

The  founder  of  this  Christian  denomination  was  the 
Rev.  Henry  Smith  Gordon,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  who 
emigrated  with  his  father's  family  to  Missouri,  and  settled 
near  St.  Louis,  when  a  mere  boy.  In  the  year  1836,  at  the 
age  of  twentv,  he  removed  to  Randolph  county,  and  united 
with  the  Missionary  Baptist  Church,  at  Georgetown,  now 
Steelesville.  Shortly  afterward  he  entered  the  ministry  and 
acted  with  that  church  as  missionary,  organizer  and  pastor 
until  I'^ol,  in  the  mean  time  attendiug  Shurtlifl'  College  at 
Alton.  In  the  year  1850,  while  yet  acting  with  the  old 
cluirch  he  organized  a  congregation,  whose  members  en- 
dorsed the  doctrine  of  free  and  open  communion,  thus  lay- 
ing the  corner-stone  upon  which  the  liberal  Baptists  of 
southern  Illinois,  have  continued  to  build.  In  1851,  he  was 
tried  for  heresy,  by  a  court  of  ministers,  and  excluded  from 
the  church.  'The  greater  part  of  the  old  congregation  be- 
came dissatisfied,  and  a  meeting  was  held  at  the  residence 
of  John  P.  Short,  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  a  new 
church.  Rev.  R-  A.  Bradley,  of  Jackson  county, was  chosen 
moderator,  and  John  McLaughlin,  clerk.  The  meeting  was 
addressed  by  Rev.  Gordon,  Dr.  Lawrence,  Rev.  John 
Mathews  and  E.  Lofton,  Esq.,  and  resulted  in  the  organiza- 
tion of  a  church  with  twenty  members,  all  formerly  belong- 


260 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY'    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


ing  to  the  old  church.  Thus  was  formed  the  first  Freewill 
Baptist  church  in  Randolph  county.  Mr.  Gordon  was 
elected  pastor,  and  continued  to  serve  the  church  in  that 
capacity  for  fifteen  years.  During  the  following  summer 
the  church  received  an  accession  of  twenty-five  members. 
The  congregation  proceeded  to  build  a  new  church  house 
which  was  completed  in  three  mouths.  This  society  was 
known  as  the  Free  Communion  Baptist.  Among  its  first 
members  were  John  T.  Short,  H.  S.  Gordon,  Milton  Mc- 
Kinzie,  W.  VV.  Higgerson,  George  Steele,  John  Guyman, 
P.  Higgerson,  George  Bowerman,  Elizabeth  Short,  Nancy 
Gordon,  sr.  and  jr.,  Nancy  Steele,  Clarinda  Garner  and  a 
number  of  others.  Shortly  after.  Rev.  Gordon  organized 
Pleasant  Ridge  church,  about  two  miles  above  Rockwood, 
on  the  Mississippi  river.  Among  its  first  members  were 
Robert  Moore,  Joseph  Robertson,  John  Wood  and  others. 
This  church  is  still  in  active  existence,  under  the  pastoral 
charge  of  Rev.  W.  R.  Wilson,  and  numbers  sixty  members. 
Next  in  order,  was  instituted  a  church  at  Denmark,  in  the 
southwestern  part  of  Perry  county,  known  as  Pipestone 
church.  Judge  E.  T.  Reese,  Ambrose  Bradley  and  others  were 
among  its  first  members.  It  also  is  at  present  in  a  flourish- 
ing condition,  numbering  about  forty-six  members.  Four 
ministers,  viz  ,  H.  S.  Gordon,  R.  A.  Bradley,  Isaac  Hale 
and  Wtlliam  Bradley  have  served  it  in  the  capacity  of  pas- 
tor. October  31,  18.!)1,  a  convention  met  at  Steelesville, 
then  Georgetiwn,  to  organize  these  churches  inloan  associa- 
tion. The  delegates  to  this  convention  were  H.  S  Gordon, 
John  S.  Short,  F.  Garner,  R.  A.  Bradley,  David  Under- 
wood, William  Bradley,  Robert  Moore,  Joseph  Robinson, 
E.  P.  Reese  and  J.  A.  Bradley.  The  organization  formed 
was  known  as  the  Southern  Illinois  Association  of  Free 
Communion  Baptists.  In  the  year  1854,  it  learned  of  the 
existence  of  a  body  of  Christians  in  Indiana,  holding  sub- 
stantially the  same  views,  known  as  (Jeneral  Baptists,  and 
in  1856,  the  new  organization  adopted  that  name. 

In  1866,  G.  A.  Gordon,  J.  C.-Gilliland  and  A.  Pearson 
were  added  to  the  list  of  ministers.  In  the  fall  of  1872,  the 
Georgetown  church  was  moved  to  Percy.  Sometime  in  1874, 
the  Rev.  J.  C.  Gilliland  organized  Bethany  church,  two 
miles  nor  heast  of  Tamaroa,  in  Perry  county.  In  1876  our 
churches  were  called  together  in  convention  at  Campbell 
Hill,  to  consider  the  advisability  of  consolidating  with  the 
Freewill  Baptists.  After  much  deliberation,  that  step  was 
taken  and  their  name  adopted.  In  1879,  Rev.  V.  B.  Sutter 
organized  Antioch  church,  located  about  one  mile  west  of 
Tamaroa.  And  in  1880,  Rev.  H.  S.  Gordon  and  V.  B.  Sut- 
ter constituted  Salem  church,  situated  about  six  miles  north 
of  Pinckneyville,  in  Perry  county.  The  six  churches  of 
this  deuomiuation,  with  one  exception,  all  own  good  com- 
fortable church  liouses,  and  have  an  aggregate  membership 
of  two  hundred  and  thirty  communicants.  Thus  have  I 
recorded  unembellished,  the  principal  facts  of  the  origin  and 
history  of  the  Freewill  Baptist  church  of  Randolph  and 
Perry  counties. 


GERMAN    M.  E.  CHURCH. 


BY    REV.  P.  COLONIUS. 


The  first  pastor  was  Henry  Hartmann,  who  organized 
the  church  at  Red  Bud,  known  as  the  "  Monroe  Mission." 
In  1842  the  first  church  was  built  about  two  and  one-half 
miles  northwest  of  Red  Bud,  in  Monroe  county,  and  received 
the  name,  Wesley  Chapel.  The  first  quarterly  meeting  was 
held  Nov  22,  1846.  In  1864  the  new  brick  building,  60x 
48,  was  built  in  the  town  (now  city)  of  Red  Bud,  at  a  cost 
of  about  $4,500  ;  also,  a  comfortable  parsonage  was  bought 
at  a  cost  of  11200.  Thid  was  accomplished  under  the  pas- 
toral labor  of  Philip  Merkel. 

The  first  school  was  organized  in  1864.  Its  first  minutes 
report  one  superintendent,  five  teachers  and  fifceen  scholars  ; 
and  at  present  it  numbers  a  superintendent,  fifteen  teachers 
and  one  hundred  scholars. 

Peter  Colon ius  is  the  present  pastor. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  presiding  elders  and  pastors  who 
have  served  the  church  :  Henry  Hardtraann,  Charles 
Koeneke  Cammermeyer,  Wm.  Kaverraester,  Theo.  Kark, 
mann,  Geo.  Boeshenz,  Christian  Hoech,  Franz  Horstmann, 
Henry  Schmidt,  Jacob  Mueller,  Thomas  Heyer,  William 
Meyer,  Rudolph  Havrighorst,  Henry  Schultze,  Phillip 
Merkel,  John  Feisel,  Charles  Rodenberg,  Henry  Balche, 
Wm.  Schuetz,  G.  E.  Keller,  Phillip  Skaer  and  Peter  Colonius, 
the  present  pastor. 

The  church  at  Chester  was  organized  in  1848  under  the 
pastoral  labor  of  Geo.  Boeshenz,  and  in  1850  the  first  church 
house  was  built  in  connection  with  the  English  Methodist 
Church.  In  1873  the  building  now  occupied  by  this  con- 
gregation was  purchased  for  $3,000.  They  organized  the 
first  Sunday  School  in  1851.  They  have  a  membership 
of  105. 

The  Randolph  and  Steelesville  congregations,  belonging 
to  the  Chester  Circuit,  were  organized  about  the  same  time 
as  the  circuit,  and  in  1882  a  new  church  was  built  at  Ran- 
dolph, under  the  pastoral  labor  of  P.  W.  Jacoby,  the  present 
pastor,  at  a  cost  of  82,500. 

The  church  at  Ellis  Grove  was  organized  in  1846  by  Len- 
hard  Hardnagel,  a  local  preacher  from  Red  Bud,  and  the 
first  meetings  were  held  at  the  residence  of  John  George 
Schoepples.  The  first  church  house  was  built  in  1848,  under 
the  pastoral  labor  of  George  Boeshenz  ;  the  present  one  was 
built  in  1868,  under  the  pastoral  labor  of  C  Stueckemann, 
at  a  cost  of  about  $2,000.  The  congregation  also  have  a 
parsonage  valued  at  $800.  The  present  pastor  is  T.  M.  Buch- 
holtz.  The  first  Sunday  School  was  organized  in  1854,  and 
at  present  it  numbers  10  teachers  and  55  scholars. 

It  should  be  observed  that  the  sketch  of  the  German 
Methodist  Churches  of  Randolph  county  brings  their  history 
down  to  a  period  in  November,  1882  ;  and  founded  as  it  is 
upon  data  derived  from  the  several  records,  it  is  hoped  it 
may  be  found  to  be  a  faithful  account  of  its  origin,  develop- 
ment and  progress. 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


261 


MONROE    COUNTY. 
CONCORD  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH. 

BY    JOHN    C.   BLAIR. 

The  Reformed  Presbyterian  (Ihurch  was  constituted  iu 
America  during  the  year  1774,  by  Rev.  Messrs.  John  Cuih- 
berson,  Matthew  Lin  and  Alexander  Dobbin  (with  ruling 
elders).  She  traces  her  history  from  the  period  between 
1638-1649,  and  adiieres  to  the  doctrines  held  by  the  Church 
of  Scotland,  as  protesters  against  Popery,  Prelacy  and 
Erastianism  supported  by  other  Presbyterians  of  that  age. 
In  1806  they  (the  Reformed  Presbyterians)  adopted  their 
present  Standards  and  Testimony.  One  of  her  laws  excluded 
slaveholders  from  her  communion,  and  her  ministers 
preached  in  favor  of  the  abolition  of  slavery  in  the  United 
States. 

The  Concord  congregation  of  the  Reformed  Presbyterian 
Church  was  organized  Nov.  9,  1842,  and  the  following 
named  persons  (heads  of  families)  made  a  call  on  Rev.  M. 
Harshaw,  of  Pennsylvania,  to  be  their  pastor:  Tliomas 
Blair  and  John  Richmond,  Tuling  elders;  Matthew  Rich- 
mond, John  Cunningham,  M.  J.  Cunningham,  Robert  Cun- 
ningham, Andrew  Cooper,  George  Campbell,  Matthew 
McClure,  David  McClure,  William  McClure,  Samuel 
McClure,  John  McClure,  Thomas  McClure,  James  McMil- 
lan, Milton  McMillan,  Matthew  McMillan,  William  Camp- 
bell, Matthew  Munford,  Hugh  Cooper  and  James  Cunning- 
ham. The  call  was  accepted,  and  Rev.  Harshaw  was 
installed  as  pastor,  remaining  in  charge  until  1870,  during 
which  time  he  gathered  together  a  large  and  influential 
congregation.  Rev.  Harshaw  was  born  in  county  Armagh, 
Ireland,  in  1807  ;  crossed  to  America  in  1826  ;  attended  the 
Western  University,  at  or  near  Pittsburgh  ;  graduated  with 
honor  in  1838,  pursued  his  theological  course  under  Dr. 
Black  and  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1840  by  the  Pittsburgh 
Presbytery  of  the  Reformed  Presbyterian  Church.  Mr. 
Harshaw  wa-s  a  thorough  Biblical  scholar,  and  his  mind  was 
well  stored  with  useful  knowledge.  In  1870  he  and  part  of 
his  congregation  connected  themselves  with  the  United  Pres- 
byterian Church,  and  he  remained  in  it  until  his  death,  Aug. 
11,  1874. 

During  seven  years  the  Concord  congregation  was  without 
a  pastor,  and  at  intervals  had  preaching  from  a  number  of 
ministers — Revs.  Samuel  AVylie,  D.  D.,  LL.D.,  Eden,  111.  ; 
David  Steele,  D.  D.,  Philadelphia;  J.  F.  Morton,  D.  D., 
Ohio ;  S.  M.  Ramsey,  Chicago ;  Matthew  and  William 
Gailey,  Philadelphia,  and  Mr.  David  Murdock,  Ohio  Mr. 
Alexander  Raulstone  (licentiate)  was  sent  to  the  congrega- 
tion Tor  the  spring  and  summer  of  1877.  In  May,  1878,  he 
was  ordained  and  installed  pastor.  After  nearly  four  years, 
on  account  of  ill  health,  he  resigned  his  charge  and  removed 
to  St.  John's,  N.B.,a  more  congenial  climate,  taking  charge 
of  a  congregation  there. 

The  membership  of  the  Concord  congregation  now  num- 
bers 110,  with  6  ruling  elders.  During  Rev.  Harshaw's 
pastorate  the  membership  numbered  about  160.  The  fol- 
lowing are  the  names  of  the  ruling  elders  ordained  since  its 
organization :    D.   S.   McClure,   Milton    JIcMillan,   James 


McMillan,  Hugh  Cooper,  Henry  Irvine,  David  Stevenson, 
W.  R.  Blair,  John  S.  Faris,  J.  C.  Blair,  Riley  McClure,  A. 
Y.  Richmond  and  John  B.  Gordon,  M.  D. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH. 

We  have  been  disappointed  greatly  in  our  efforts  to  gather 
sufficient  materials  to  enable  us  to  give  a  full  history  of  the 
rise  and  progress,  in  this  county  of  this  organization. 

For  many  years  before  Illinois  was  admitted  into  the  sis- 
terhood of  States,  Methodist  ministers  were  here,  holding 
meetings  in  the  pioneer  cabins,  forming  societies,  defending 
the  frontier,  and  actively  engaged  in  giving  moral  and  re- 
ligious tone  to  society.  The  history  of  Methodism  in  Illinois 
begins  in  Monroe  and  Randolph  counties.  Th  efirst  minister 
of  this  faith,  who  came  to  Illinois  was  the  Rev.  Joseph  Lil- 
lard  ;  he  established  the  first  church  in  Illinois,  at  New  De- 
sign, in  Monroe  county,  in  1793.  He  had  been  a  circuit- 
rider  in  Kentucky,  iu  1790.  In  this  society  Rev.  Lillard 
appointed  Captain  Joseph  Ogle,  class  leader.  Rev.  Lillard 
was  a  pious,  energetic  man,  whose  labors  sowed  the  first  seeds 
of  Methodism  in  this  State. 

The  next  prominent  preacher  was  Hosea  Rigg,  who  ar- 
rived in  Illinois  in  1796,  and  remained  preaching  in  this 
county  until  his  death,  in  1841,  at  his  residence  a  few  miles 
east  of  Belleville,  in  St.  Clair  county.  Rev.  Benjamin 
Y'^oung,  who  was  sent  here  by  the  "  Western  Annual  Confer- 
ence," in  the  year  1804,  was  tha  first  circuit-rider  in  Illinois. 
His  father  resided  in  Randolph  county.  Rev.  Thomas 
Harrison,  came  in  1804;  Dr.  Joseph  Oglesby,  in  1805; 
Rev.  Charles  R.  Matheny,  in  1806.  Rev.  Jesse  Walker  and 
Bishop  McKendree  were  among  the  earliest  preachers  in  Il- 
linois, all  of  whom  held  services  within  the  limits  of  Monroe 
county. 

The  earliest  meetings  were  held  in  the  rude  cabins  of  the 
pioneers,  and  it  was  not  uutil  several  years  after  the  first 
preachers  arrived,  that  the  societies  were  large  enough  to 
build  churches.  The  old  block-houses  or  forts,  were  also 
used  for  divine  worship,  and  in  them  many  of  the  earliest  so- 
cieties date  their  organization.  The  first  services  of  this  de- 
nomination in  Waterloo,  were  held  in  the  old  Court-house, 
early  in  the  present  century.  The  society  grew,  and  in 
1828,  a  house  of  worship  was  erected.  For  several  years  the 
church  had  a  membership  of  over  one  hundred,  and  grew, 
and  was  prosperous.  Many  of  the  American  families  have 
moved  from  this  section  of  the  State,  and  their  places  have 
been  filled  by  foreigners,  who  are  mostly  members  of  other 
denominations,  and  the  Methodist  church,  at  this  writing,  is 
not  very  strong  in  Monroe  county.  At  Waterloo  they  have 
a  church  valued  at  two  thousand  dollar.'*,  and  a  i)arsonage 
worth  eight  hundred  dollars,  and  church  property  at  Colum- 
bia valued  at  fifteen  hundred  dollars. 

Several  societies  have  been  organizid  at  various  times, 
and  flourished  for  a  short  period,  but  finally  ceased  to  be 
operative.  The  county  is  now  included  into  a  circuit,  all 
churches  being  supplied  alternately  by  the  pastor  in  charge. 
It  is  known  as  the  Waterloo  circuit. 


262 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


THE  GERMAN  EVANGELICAL  CHURCH. 

BY    REV.    F.    HOLKE. 

St.  Paul's  Church. — This  church  is  at  Waterloo,  and  dates 
its  origin  back  to  the  year  A.  d.  1846.  Of  the  small 
number  of  German  families  that  had  then  settled  in  and 
about  Waterloo,  Rev.  W.  Binner  organized  an  evangelical 
congregation,  which  assembled  for  services  at  the  court 
house.  The  first  confirmation  was  celebrated  in  an  English 
church.  The  feeling  of  being  homeless  evoked  in  the  con- 
gregation the  desire  of  having  a  house  of  worship  of  their 
own,  and  the  little  flock  accordingly  built  a  small  edifice. 
This  neat  brick  church  was  dedicated  on  the  28th  of  No- 
vember, 1847.  But  twelve  families  were  then  actually 
members.  The  Revs.  Baltzer,  Wall,  Binner  and  Knauss, 
who  are  now  dead,  oflSciated  at  the  dedication.  A  year 
after  dedication  Rev.  Binner  was  compelled  by  sickness  to 
leave  the  congregation.  He  installed  Dr.  G.  Steinert, 
recently  from  Germany,  as  his  successor.  In  1850  a  par- 
sonage and  school-house  were  built.  The  church  attend- 
ance increasing  a  more  commodious  church,  70x40  feet,  with 
galleries  and  a  steeple  with  large  bell  was  built  in  LS-j.J-oG. 
It  was  dedicated  on  the  21st  day  of  September,  18.36,  Rev. 
A.  Baltzer,  assisted  by  Revs.  Binner,  Wall,  Knauss,  Peters, 
and  pastor  luci  officiating.  Dr.  Steinert  labored  faithfully 
and  diligently  in  church  and  school,  and  succeeded  in  build- 
ing up  a  large  congregation.  When  the  public  school-house 
was  built,  the  parochial  school  was  closed,  and  remained  so 
for  several  years.  In  1874  the  old  steeple  was  removed,  and 
a  more  massive  spire  built  up  from  the  ground  to  the  height 
of  125  feet.  Two  new  bells  were  placed  in  it  at  once,  and  a 
third  one  was  added  in  1880.  Soon  after  the  accomplish- 
ment of  this  improvement  Dr.  Steinert,  after  having  labored 
with  great  energy  and  perseverance  for  26  years,  tendered 
his  resignation,  preached  his  farewell  sermon  on  the  27th 
day  of  September,  1875,  and  installed  as  his  successor  the 
present  pastor,  Rev.  Father  Holke,  then  at  Summerfield, 
111.  Father  Steinert  died  on  the  16th  day  of  April,  1876. 
The  ministrations  of  the  present  pastor.  Rev.  F.  Holke, 
have  been  blessed  with  success.  He  established  a  good 
parochial  school,  secured  for  its  work  the  services  of  Mr.  J. 
F.  Riemeier,  who  fills  his  position  to  universal  satisfaction. 
In  1877  a  new  pipe  organ,  valued  at  11,000,  was  ac(iuired. 
The  interior  of  the  church  has  been  improved,  a  new  par- 
sonage, a  two-story  brick,  built  close  by  the  church.  The 
congregation  numbers  now  120  active  members  (families). 
Three  of  the  founders,  H.  Pinkel,  J.  Koechel  and  J.  Olden- 
dorph,  are  yet  very  active  members. 

St.  Paul's  Church  at  Columbia. — Rev.  Dr.  Steinert, 
during  his  ministration  at  Waterloo,  preached  occasionally 
to  a  few  German  families  at  Columbia.  In  1857  a  congre- 
gation was  organized,  and  as  they  were  not  able  to  support 
their  own  minister,  Father  Steinert  served  them  seven 
years.  In  1861  Rev.  M.  Fotrich  took  charge  of  the  church, 
but  left  after  two  years  and  several  months  labor.  Rev. 
Klingsohr,  an  independent  minister,  was  then  elected 
pastor.  His  labors  were  unsuccessful,  and  he  left.  The 
people  then  applied  to  Father  Steinert  to  procure  them  a 
good  minister.     This  he  did   in   the  person  of  Rev.  E.  Otto, 


a  pastor  that  served  four-  j'ears  with  good  success,  after 
which  he  was  elected  professor  of  the  theological  seminary 
at  Marthasville,  Mo.  Rev.  L.  Reymann  was  his  successor 
two  years,  and  then  he  was  also  elected  professor.  After 
that  Rev.  Jul.  Hoffmann  served  two  years,  and  Rev.  C. 
Kantz  was  his  successor  for  five  years,  until  1880,  when 
Rev.  J.  Hoffman,  who  is  now  pastor,  was  called  the  second 
time.  There  are  at  present  44  families  in  membership. 
The  property  consists  of  a  church,  parsonage  and  school 
house. 

Salem  Church. — This  church  is  in  Bluff  Precinct,  and  has 
been  in  existence  since  1844.  It  was  organized  by  Rev.  G. 
Ries,  but  never  had  its  oivn  minister.  Until  1875  it  was  a 
second  church  to  Waterloo  ;  since  that  time  it  is  in  connec- 
tion with  the  St.  John's  church  at  Maeystown.  It  numbers 
42  members  (families).  Five  of  the  founders — Peter 
Voelker,  John  Mueller,  Jac.  Schleramer,  Philip  Hofl'man 
aud  Christ.  Schaefer — are  yet  actual  members. 

St  John'.i  Church. — The  origin  of  this  church  dates  back 
to  the  year  1858.  Rev.  Bergmann  gathered  a  few  families 
at  tlie  residence  of  Mr.  W.  Feldmeyer,  near  Maeystown.  In 
1859  the  congregation,  numbering  but  very  few  members, 
erected  a  log  church  at  Maeystown.  Some  difficulty  among 
the  members  caused  Rev  Bergmann  to  withdraw  his  service. 
Rev.  Louis  Haeberle,  stationed  near  Burksville,  was  called 
to  reorganize  the  congregation.  This  was  done,  and  from 
that  time  its  growth  was  such  that  in  1865  a  larger  church 
was  required.  This  church,  a  stone  building,  was  finished 
and  dedicated  in  '66.  In  the  following  year  a  parsonage  at 
the  cost  of  81700  was  built.  Rev.  F  Ra.sche  was  the  first 
stationed  pastor  at  Maeystown.  He  served  4  years.  Rev.  F. 
Streit  was  his  successor  from  1871  to  1875.  Rev.  J.  Baehr 
served  two  years.  The  present  pastor,  Rev.  E  J.  Hosto, 
was  installed  in  spring  of  1876.  His  ministrations  are  blessed 
with  great  success,  so  that  the  congregation  at  Maeystown 
to-day  is  among  the  best  in  the  county.     It  has  57  members. 

St.  Mark's  Church. — This  church  is  in  Prairie  du  Round, 
and  is  the  oldest  German  evangelical  church  in  the  county. 
A  congregation  was  organized  in  January,  1840,  but  it 
prospered  very  slowly.  The  first  church,  a  log  building,  was 
erected  in  18)5,  and  dedicated  April  221,  1846.  The 
religious  interest  that  was  shown  by  the  members  was  very 
feeble,  so  the  change  of  ministers  was  frequent.  No  less 
than  ten  pastors  served  in  this  church  in  36  years, 
including  long  vacancies.  Under  such  circumstances 
prosperity  was  impossible.  The  present  pastor,  Rev.  Aug. 
Jannrieh,  a  faithful  and  diligentgeutleman,  has  been  laboring 
with  good  success  since  1876  In  1877  a  brick  parsoLSge 
was  erected.  The  church  attendance  is  better  than  ever 
before.     32  members  have  joined  the  congregation. 

The  Immanuel's  Church. — This  is  a  second  church  to  the 
St  Mark's  at  Prairie  du  Round.  It  was  organized  by  Rev. 
F.  Erdmanu  in  1857.  From  1863  to  1876  it  was  vacant. 
In  August,  1876,  Rev.  Aug.  Jennrich  took  up  the  work, 
and  since  that  time  the  congregation  prospers,  so  that  a 
church  will  be  built  soon.  The  services  are  held  in  a 
public  school-house.      There  are  25  families  in  membership. 

Zoar  Church.—  In  the  year   1844   German  ministers  were 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,   MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS 


263 


rare  in  this  country,  and  the  German  christians  lived  scat- 
tered without  churches.  Rev.  Conrad  Riess,  stationed  at 
Centreville,  St.  Clair  county,  111.,  came  over  to  Xew  Hanover 
to  look  after  the  religious  interest  of  the  Germans  at  that 
place.  He  found  a  number  of  families  that  were  happy  to 
see  a  minister  in  the  new  country.  A  congregation  was 
organized  and  soon  a  log  church  and  parsonage  were  built. 
Many  ditficultiis,  however,  came  in  the  way  and  the  change 
of  ministers  was  frequent.  The  successors  to  Rev.  Riess 
were:  Revs.  Ch.  Schrenk,  R.  Boeticher,  N.  Werth,  F. 
Delveau,  J.  Seyboldt,  W.  Wahl  and  George  Maul.  The 
last  named  gentlemau  has  been  in  charge  of  the  church  since 
spring,  187G.  In  186.")  a  new  etouo  church,  and  in  1>S70  a 
new  brick  parsonage  were  built.  The  membership  numbers 
50. 

Zion's  Chtircli. — The  German  evangelical  Christians  in 
and  about  Burksville,  fur  a  long  time,  traveled  from  «  to  1  2 
miles  to  attend  church  at  Waterloo.  In  1860  they  thought 
themselves  strong  enough  to  build  their  own  church  and 
have  their  own  minister.  By  mediation  of  Father  Steinert 
Rev.  Louis  Haeberle  was  sent  to  organize  a  congregation. 
This  was  done  in  October,  1860.  A  church  and  parsonage 
were  soon  built,  and  by  the  faithful  labor  of  the  pastor  the 
congregation  prospered,  but  after  three  years  Rev.  Haeberle 
was  elected  pastor  of  St.  John's  church  at  St.  Louis.  Rev. 
F  A.  Umbeck  was  his  successor  for  one  year,  then  he  was 
drafted  and  served  for  several  years  as  chaplain  in  the 
Union  army.  The  congregation  had  the  misfortune  of  a 
frequent  change  of  ministers,  and  prospered  but  slow.  The 
present  pastor,  Rev.  H.  Schmidt,  has  had  charge  of  the 
church  since  August,  1880.  The  membership  at  present 
numbers  40. 

iS<.  Paul's  Church. — About  1879  the  English  Methodist 
people  at  Harrisonville  built  a  neat  frame  church,  but  as 
they  were  so  few  they  sold  their  church  to  the  Germans, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1882,  a  German  evangelical  congrega- 
tion was  organized  by  Rev.  E.  J.  Hosto  from  Maeystowu. 
About  40  members  joined.  Messrs.  Peter  Ptlaesterer,  Ily. 
Niebruege,  Gottfr  Haltenhotf  and  William  Stechmesser 
are  the  first  elected  trustees.  A  niini.'ter  was  stationed 
there  in  the  last  da3's  of  Noveinl)er,  1>^X'2. 


BAPTIST   CHURCH. 

BY  REV.  A.  WISWELL. 

Ever  since  the  Church  and  State  were  first  united,  the 
Baptists  have  suffered  much  persecution  on  account  of  their 
loyalty  to  soul  liberty.  Bancroft,  the  historian,  speaking  of 
the  German  Baptists,  says:  "  With  greater  consistency  than 
Luther,  they  applied  the  doctrines  of  the  Reformation  to 
the  social  positions  of  life,  and  threatened  an  end  of  priest- 
craft and  king-craft,  spiritual  domination,  title  and  vassal- 
age. They  were  trodden  under  foot  with  foul  reproaches 
and  most  arrogant  .scorn,  and  their  history  is  written  in  the 
blood  of  thousands  of  the  German  peasantry  ;  but  their 
principles,  secure  in  their  immortality,  escaped  with  Roger 
Williams  to  Providence, — his  colony  is  witness  that,  natu- 
rally, the  paths  of  the  Baptists  are  paths  of  freedom,  pleas- 


antness and  peace"  Mr.  Locke  has  truly  said:  "The 
Baptists  were,  from  the  beginning,  the  friends  of  liberty — 
just  and  true  liberty — equal  and  impartial  liberty."  Yet, 
until  the  (Quakers  arose  in  1060,  the  Baptists  stood  alone  in 
its  defense.  A  writer  for  the  New  American  Cyclopedia 
says  :  "  Among  the  Baptists,  Christian  freedom  found  its 
earliest,  its  staunchest,  its  most  consistent  and  its  most  dis- 
interested champions.  Nor  less  powerful  has  been  the  influ- 
ence of  the  Baptists  in  the  United  States.  Introduced  into 
Rhode  Island  with  Roger  Williams  and  John  Cook  in  1638, 
their  history  for  more  than  a  century  in  most  of  the  colonies 
is  that  of  proscribed  and  banished  men.  In  its  code  of  law 
established  by  them  in  Rhode  Island,  Judge  Story  says: — 
"  We  read,  for  the  first  time  since  Christianity  ascended  the 
throne  of  the  Cxsars,  the  declaration  that  conscience  should 
be  free,  and  men  should  not  be  punished  for  worshipping 
God  in  the  way  they  were  persuaded  He  requires."  The 
Amendment  to  the  Americiin  Constitution  made  in  1780,  was 
introduced  into  it  by  the  united  efforts  of  the  Baptists.  The 
spirit  of  liberty  infused  by  the  Revolutionary  war  was  fol- 
lowed by  the  rapid  spread  and  growth  of  Baptist  principles. 
In  fact,  their  great  prosperity  dates  from  that  era. 

The  First  Protestant  Church  in  Illinois,  a  Baptist  Church. 
—  On  the  29lh  of  February,  170.5,  nearly  a  quarter  of  a 
century  prior  to  the  admission  of  the  State  of  Illinois  into 
the  Union,  Elder  David  Badgly  organized  a  Baptist  church 
of  twenty-eight  members  at  New  Design,  thus  being  the  first 
Protestant  organized  church  within  the  boundaries  of  the 
State.  The  State  now  contains  nearly  one  thousand  churches, 
about  seven  hundred  ministers,  and  upwards  of  sixty-eight 
thousand  members 


CATHOLIC  CHURCH. 


BY    REV.  J.  ECKERLE. 


Tiptown. — This  part  of  the  county  commenced  to  be  set- 
tled in  184(i  by  Irish  Catholics.  Patrick  Lynch,  David 
Donahoe  and  Tim  Duggan  were  the  first  pioneers  that 
called  many  a  friend  from  St.  Louis  and  Ireland  to  their 
new  home,  to  help  them  to  clear  the  forests  and  to  cultivate 
the  fertile  land.  About  18.53  Tiptown  was  a  prosperous 
Irish  settlement.  Before  1<S50  Catholic  priests  attended 
Tiptown,  partly  from  St.  Louis  and  partly  from  Prairie  du 
Long.  Service  was  held  at  that  time  in  a  private  house.  In 
18.50  Rev.  McAbe  bought  forty  acres  of  Congress  land  and 
built  a  log  church,  which  was  used  for  service  until  1)^64. 
From  18.52  to  18.54  Rev.  Pat.  Gallagher  and  Rev.  J.  Keane 
visited  Tiptown  occasionally  from  Runia.  From  lis.54  to 
1«61  Rev.  J.  W.  Gittbrd,  residing  at  Ruma,  had  charge  of 
the  congregation,  and  got  all  the  articles  necessary  for  divine 
service.  At  his  death  he  willed  some  money  to  build  a  par- 
sonage at  Tiptown.  From  ItOl  to  11^63,  Rev.  F.  C.  Carroll 
and  Rev.  Recouvreur  attended  Tiptown,  from  Ruma  and 
Prairie  du  Long.  From  1863  to  l'S60,  Rev.  John  T.  Mohr, 
residing  at  Red  Bud,  made  the  congregation  what  it  is  to- 
day. In  l>i()4,  on  the  7th  of  April,  he  laid  the  corner-stone 
of  the  present  st<jtie  church.  In  1^60  he  built  at  Tijjtown  the 
handsomest  parsonage  in  Monroe  county,  a  two  story  brick 


264 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


building.  From  18G9  to  1871,  Rev.  P.  Dee  was  rector. 
From  1871  to  1877,  Rev.  James  Deneher  officiated  iu  that 
capacity.  He  improved  the  church  and  parsonage  to  a  great 
extent — built  a  belfry  and  procured  a  bell.  From  1877  to 
1878,  Rev.  Aug.  Brunileve  attended  the  congregation  occa- 
sionally from  Red  Bud.  In  1878  Rev.  F.  Stick  was 
appointed  rector,  and  procured  many  articles  for  the  church 
and  the  parsonage.  In  1881  he  was  appointed  rector  of 
Pana,  III.  Rev.  J.  Eckerle  succeeded  him  and  is  the 
present  rector.  He  has  made  about  S600  worth  repairs  and 
improvements  on  the  church  propert}'. 

Renault. — The  congregation  in  this  town  was  organized  in 
1880  by  Rev.  F.  Stick,  and  the  following  year  it  succeeded 
in  building  a  handsome  frame  church,  worth  about  81,800. 
The  pews  being  rented  in  1882,  the  church  was  found  to  be 
too  small.  Rev.  J.  Neuhaus  is  the  present  rector  This 
congregation  has  made  great  progress  since  its  organization. 

]rn/ti"/oo.  —  This  town  has  the  largest  Catholic  congrega- 
tion in  the  county.  It  numbers  at  present  about  two  hun- 
dred families.  Before  1849  the  Catholics  were  visited 
occasionally  by  Rev.  Cotting,  S.  J.,  Rev.  McCabe  and 
others,  from  St.  Louis  and  the  neighborhood.  In  1849  Rev. 
M.  Prendergast  was  appointed  resident  rector  of  Waterloo- 
Rev  Prendergast  organized  a  congregation,  and  in  the  same 
year  laid  the  cornerstone  of  a  brick  chiirch  40x70.  In 
18.52  this  church  was  dedicated  by  Rev,  O'Regan,  in  honor 
of  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul,  Rev.  Patrick  Gallagher  being  the 
rector  at  the  time.  In  October  of  the  same  year  a  school 
house  was  built  and  a  Catholic  school  commenced.  From 
1854  to  18.56,  Rev.  P.  J.  Bakes,  now  bishop  of  the  diocese, 
had  charge  of  the  congregation.  Rev.  Baltes  finished  the 
church  and  procured  all  the  articles  necessary  for  divine 
service.  He  also  bought  a  graveyard  for  the  Catholics,  and 
established  a  Rosary  society  in  the  congregation.  Rev.  Fr. 
Fischer  succeeded  Rev.  P.  J.  Baltes  from  18.56  to  1861.  Rev. 
Fischer  succeeded  in  building  a  two  story  brick  house  for  the 
rector.  In  18.58  he  bought  an  organ  at  the  cost  of  S800,  and 
in  18.59  enlarged  the  church.  In  1860  he  also  built  a  steeple. 
Since  1861  Uev.  P  Limacher  has  been  rector.  His  labors 
have  made  the  congregation  and  church  what  they  are.  In 
1861  he  bought  a  second  bell,  and  in  1863  built  a  spire.  The 
same  year  he  established  a  library  society,  which  has  now 
700  volumes,  in  1865  he  built  a  convent  and  academy,  at 
the  cost  of  815,000.  The  next  year  he  enlarged  the  old 
school  house  for  S2  869.  This  was  to  be  used  for  the  boys 
exclusively  and  the  academy  for  the  girls.  In  1867  he  pur- 
chased the  Rust  property,  adjoining  the  church  lots,  for  the 
sum  of  $1,535.  In  1875  he  erected  a  house  of  worship  at  a 
cost  of  810,000.  In  1876  he  procured  a  magnificent  high 
altar  for  it,  worth  81,500.  In  1868  he  also  established  the 
St.  Vincent  Benevolent  Society,  for  the  support  of  the  poor 
and  destitute  and  for  the  aid  of  school  children  unable  to 
pay.  At  present  it  has  80  members.  In  1876  he  established 
St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul's  Mutual  Aid  Society  for  cases  of 
sickness  and  death.  Its  present  membership  is  50.  St. 
Aloysius'  Young  Men's  Society,  for  promoting  a  virtuous 
and  Christian  life  amongst  the  Catholic  young  men,  was 
established  in  1879.     It  has  60  members.     The  main  build- 


ing and  tower,  commenced  in  1875,  are 'now  (1882)  com- 
pleted, at  the  cost  of  817,500.  This  church  is  131  feet  long 
and  61  feet  wide  ;  the  tower  150  feet  high.  The  congrega- 
tion is  at  present  in  a  most  flourishing  condition  and  numbers 
over  1,000  members.  The  parish  school  is  attended  by  200 
children,  under  the  direction  of  five  highly  qualified  teachers, 
of  the  Sisters  of  St.  Joseph.  From  this  we  see  what  a  faithful 
rector  can  accomplish  in  the  course  of  twenty  years. 

Prairie  du  Long  — This  is  about  the  oldest  congregation 
in  the  county.  In  the  last  century  Catholic  Frenchmen 
settled  here  and  gave  the  place  its  name.  In  the  beginning 
of  this  century  a  large  immigration  of  English  Catholics 
followed,  and  Prairie  du  Long  had  a  good-sized  Catholic 
congregation.  Priests,  however,  being  very  scarce  at  that 
time,  it  was  attended  only  occasionally  by  a  missionary 
priest.  The  first  church  records  we  find  in  1828.  In  this 
year  the  Catholics  took  up  a  subscription  and  built  a  church, 
which  was  consecrated  in  1838  by  Rt.  Rev.  Joseph  Rosati, 
of  St.  Louis,  Rev  John  Kenning  being  the  first  resident 
rector  of  the  place.  Having  a  poor  foundation,  the  church 
soon  became  dilapidated.  Rev.  B.  McCabe  rebuilt  it  in 
1845,  and  procured  all  the  articles  necessary  for  divine  ser. 
vice.  From  1849  until  1861  Revs.  J.  Keane  and  J.  W. 
Gifford  attended  Prairie  du  Long,  as  other  duties  permitted. 
From  1861  until  1867,  Revs.  F.  C.  Caroll,  J.  Mohr,  J. 
Turk,  and  Fr  Mueller  were  the  rectors  successively.  Rev. 
Mr.  Caroll  built  the  first  parsonage.  In  1867  Rev.  John 
Berlage  was  appointed  rector,  and  has  charge  of  the  congre- 
gation at  present.  He  paid  oflT  all  the  debts  yet  incumbent 
on  the  church,  and  improved  the  organization  The  same 
year  he  established  a  parish  school,  and  commenced  to  build 
a  two-story  brick  parsonage.  In  1872  he  added  a  steeple  to 
the  church  and  procured  some  bells  for  it.  To  his  labors 
the  present  well-improved  condition  of  the  church  property 
is  due. 

Madonnaville. — Divine  service  was  celebrated  for  the  first 
time  in  the  vicinity  of  this  place  iu  the  year  1790,  by  Rev. 
Mr.  Olivier,  S.  J.,  and  next  by  Rt.  Rev.  Du  Bourge,  who 
visited  the  Catholics  along  the  Mississippi  from  New  Or- 
leans in  1819.  From  this  year  until  1839  no  priests  are 
recorded  to  have  visited  Madonnaville.  The  number  of 
Catholics,  however,  increasing  by  large  immigrations  from 
Germany,  Mr.  James  succeeded  in  having  priests  from  Ca- 
hokia  and  St.  Louis  to  visit  them  occasionally.  In  1841  the 
first  church  was  built  by  a  part  of  the  Catholics.  This 
church,  however,  being  too  remote  for  a  greater  portion  of 
the  congregation,  a  second  building  was  started  in  1844  on 
the  place  where  the  present  rock  church  stands,  and  was 
finished  in  1850  by  Rev.  Mr.  McCabe  of  Prairie  du  Long. 
Regular  service  was  now  held  once  a  month  by  Revs.  Pen- 
tegrass,  Gallagher  and  Masterson,  from  Waterloo.  In  1855 
Rev.  P.  J.  Baltes  (now  bishop  of  the  diocese),  having  charge 
of  the  congregation,  took  up  a  subscription  to  build  a  stone 
church  and  had  all  ready  to  start.  Being  removed,  how- 
ever, to  Belleville,  Rev.  Mr.  Fisher  completed  the  church, 
and  attended  Madonnaville  until  1861  from  Waterloo. 
1861-1866,  Rev.  L.  Hinssen  was  the  resident  rector  of  the 
congregation.    The  first  year  he  built  a  two-story  parsonage 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS 


265 


of  rock,  and  in  1862  started  a  parish  school  in  his  own 
house.  In  1864  he  built  a  steeple.  Adam  Dehra  having  do- 
nated a  bell.  1866-1868,  Franciscan  priests,  Revs.  Berlage 
and  Limacher,  attended  the  congregation.  Rev.  Mr.  Hinsseu 
having  been  removed.  1868-1872,  Rev.  F.  Stick  took 
charge  of  it,  improved  its  organization,  and  procured  many 
articles  for  divine  service.  1872-1875,  Rev.  H.  Htsse  was 
appointed  rector,  but,  having  poor  health,  could  not  work 
much.  1875-187H,  Rev.  B  Ahue  succeeded  him  His  main 
work  was  the  buidiug  of  a  two-story  school  house  of  stone  ; 
ill  health,  however,  compelled  hira  to  give  up  the  charge 
of  the  congregation.  Rev.  B.  Claus  was  his  successor  from 
1878  to  1882  He  worked  hard  to  reduce  the  debt  incum 
bent  on  the  church  property,  and  shortly  before  his  removal 
had  the  church  decorated  «ith  fre.sco  painting.  In  the  be- 
ginning of  1882,  Rev.  L.  Quitter  was  appointed  his  succes- 
sor, and  hm  charge  of  the  congregation  at  present.  He 
works  successfully  in  the  congregation,  and  raised  §600  00 
the  first  year  to  make  improvements  and  pay  off  the  church 
debt. 

Co^umi/a.  — Before  1847  service  was  held  in  a  private 
house  by  priests  who  visited  the  place  from  the  neighbor- 
hood. In  1846  Mr.  McQuaid  donated  a  lot  for  the  building 
of  a  church,  and  the  following  year  a  small  church  building 
of  rock  was  erected.  From  1847  to  18.)J  Revs.  H  Luer- 
mann  (of  Centreville)  and  J.  Gallagher  held  regular  service 
once  a  month,  and  procured  the  uectssary  articles  for  it. 
l.'^."):M8-w,  Rev.  P.  J.  Baltes  attended  Columbia  from  Wa- 
terloo, and  established  a  parish  school.  18.55-18.36  Rev.  H. 
Luermann  attended  the  parish  again  and  bought  a  school 
h)use  for  8600.  1856-18o8  Revs.  Messrs.  Fibber  and  Th 
Raphael  had  charge  of  this  congregation.  In  this  period 
the  church  was  improved  and  a  cemetery  procured.  1858- 
1860,  Rev.  A.  Pinkers  was  appointed  resident  rector  of  Co- 
lumbia. He  organized  the  congregation  well  and  built  a 
two-story  parsonage  for  §1600.  1^61-1864,  Rev.  \V.  Koe- 
nig  succeeded  Rev.  A.  Pinkers.  This  rector  worked  faith- 
fully for  the  congregation.  He  bought  a  lot  for  a  new 
church,  built  a  steeple,  ami  procured  three  large  bells  In 
1864  he  died  at  Columbia  of  consumption.  In  1865,  Rev. 
Julius  Maurer  was  appointed  his  successor,  and  has  charge 
of  the  congregation  at  present.  He  paid  off  all  the  old 
debts  of  the  congregation.  In  18()7  he  built  a  new,  spacious 
church  for  S2.'!00.  In  1873  he  enlarged  the  old  church 
for  a  school,  and  called  the  Ursuline  Sisters  from  Louisville, 
Ky.,  to  take  charge  of  the  parish  school.  Rev.  Mr.  Maurer 
has  succeeded  in  bringing  the  congregation  to  a  flourishing 
condition  in  every  respect,  and  can  look  with  pride  on  his 
work  of  the  past  seventeen  years  at  Columbia. 


PERRY  COUNTY. 
CHRISTIANS  OR  DISCIPLES. 

BY  J.  E.  PROPH.^TER. 

This  denomination  of  Christians  has  three   church   build- 
ings in   Perry   county,  1<  cated   respectively   at   Du   Quoin, 
Friendship  and  Mulkey  Grove.     The    men  who   have  been 
identified  with  its  interests  have  added  to  its  permanancv, 
34 


are  the  Popes  and  VVheatleys  of  Da  Quoin,  and  Lysias 
Heape  of  Taniaroa.  The  earliest  preaching  among  the  Dis- 
ciples in  the  county  was  by  William  Pyle  and  Philip  Mul- 
key. Pyle  lived  in  Tamaroa  township  in  1839,  and  preached 
in  the  vicinity  uf  Du  Quoin,  and  baptized  several  persons 
before  1840.  Mulkey  preached  in  Old  Du  Quoin  and  in 
Paradise  Prairie  about  the  same  time.  In  1840,  the  Heape 
family,  all  Disciples,  moved  to  Perry,  from  Richland  county, 
Ohio.  In  1840,  the  following  persons  were  or  soon  became 
members  of  the  church  :  Elizabeth  Pyle,  sr.,  Wm.  Pyle, 
Hannah  Pyle,  Abner  Pyle,  sr.,  Sarah  Pyle,  sr  ,  Abner  Pyle, 
jr.  (Coast  Surveyor),  Mary  Pyle,  Sarah  Pyle,  jr.,  Martha 
Pyle,  John  Pyle,  Louisa  Pyle,  Matilda  Pyle,  Martha  Wil- 
Hams,  William  Williams,  Bi.xy  Williams,  Frederick  Wil- 
liams, Rachel  McElvain,  Elvira  Lse,  Jonzi  Orton  and  wife, 
Martha  Heape,  sr.,  Thos.  Heape,  Lysias  Heape,  John 
Heape  and  the  wives  respectively  of  Thos.  and  Lvsias, 
Elizabeth  and  Hannah  Heape.  also  Martha  and  Ann  Heape, 
composing  the  family,  all  members  in  Ohio.  In  June,  1840, 
a  temporary  organization  was  formed  of  the  scattered  flock. 
A  meeting  was  held  one  mile  west  of  St.  John,  and  21  names 
enrolled  Wm.  Pyle  and  Lysias  Heape  officiated  as  bishops. 
Services  were  held  in  private  houses  until  a  school  and 
church  house  was  built  on  the  farm  and  present  residence  of 
Mrs.  Martha  Williams,  two  miles  west  of  Du  Quoin.  Wm. 
Pyle  preached  fretjuently  at  various  points  in  the  settle- 
ments during  the  first  years  of  the  work,  but  afterward 
moved  to  Missouri.  Lysias  Heape  was  the  main  evangelist 
for  years  in  Perry  county.  He  preached  not  onlv  in  Perry, 
but  extended  his  labors  into  adjoining  counties.  He  is  still 
living,  at  the  age  of  (iO.  Wm.  Bristow  and  John  Hayes  of 
Horse  Prairie,  Franklin  county,  aided  Elder  Heape  from 
41  to  46,  exchanging  labors  from  time  to  time. 

When  in  1855,  the  111.  C.  R.  R.  was  built  and  Du  Quoin 
founded,  the  place  of  meeting  was  moved  to  Du  Quoin.  In 
1857,  Lysias  Heape  enclosed  the  present  church  building 
north  of  the  City  Park,  in  Du  Quoin.  Mr.  Keys,  an  old 
citizen,  donated  the  lot  and  SI 00  for  the  house.  A 
front  and  cupola  have  since  been  added.  The  Wheatleys 
moved  to  Du  (^uoin  alwut  this  period — I-^aac  Wheatley  first 
and  then  his  brother  Robert.  Both  have  served  the  church 
as  teachers,  elders  and  active  workers  for  years.  Isaac  died 
some  years  since,  but  Robert  after  half  a  century's  labors  is 
still  found  at  his  post.  He  has  been  unexampled  almost,  for 
his  ability  in  his. work. 

Isaac  and  Neivtou  Mulkey  labored  for  the  church  in  Du 
Quoin,  during  its  infancy. 

Elder  Heape  with  casual  visits  from  others  served  in  the 
weekly  administrations. 

In  1862,  O.  A.  Burgess,  since  Prest.  of  X.  W.  Christian 
University  of  Indianapolis,  held  the  first  and  most  success- 
full  meeting  for  the  church. 

A  number  were  brought  in  under  his  ministry  who  have 
been  the  prop  and  stay  of  the  cause  since.  Among  these 
were  P.  N.  Pope,  B.  F.  Pope,  jr ,  R.  A.  Wheatley,  E.  S. 
Wheatley,  Artenias  Brown  and  Leander  Brown.  One  of 
these  has  since  entered  the  ministry,  Leander  Brown,  and  is 
now  filling  worthily  bis  important  truH. 


•266 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


J.  Z.  Taylor,  now  of  Kansas  City  Misouri,  held  two  suc- 
cessful meetings.  W.  F.  Black  of  Indianapolis,  and  Wm. 
Patterson  of  Misouri,  followed  with  numerous  accessions. 
Others  have  preached  more  or  less  for  the  church,  viz. : 
Clark  Braden,  R.  B.  Roberts,  H.  R.  Trickett  and  Ira  J. 
Chase.  Several  religious  discussions  have  been  held  in  Du 
Quoin,  by  leading  ministers  Clark  Braden  held  public 
discussions  with  Underwood,  a  skeptic,  and  with  Dunn,  a 
spiritualist.  In  these  discussions.  Braden  with  much  force 
and  ability  defended  the  Bible  as  a  Divine  Revelation.  J. 
S.  Sweeny  discussed  with  G.  W.  Hughey,  Methodist  ques- 
tions of  difference  on  baptism,  etc.  Both  of  these  men  were 
able  controversialists. 

W.  L.  Crira  and  Colcord,  Seventh  Day  Adventi-t,  ex- 
amined the  Scriptures  publicly  on  the  Sabbath,  and  First 
Day  observances.  The  following  ministers  have  served  as 
pastors  of  the  church  since  1863:  John  Lindsey,  Leander 
Brown,  Peter  Vogel,  Buford  Allen,  T.  J.  Shelton,  J.  S. 
Rose,  H.  F.  Tandy,  J.  E.  Prophater.  There  have  been 
several  hundred  added  to  the  church  since  its  organization  ; 
changes,  removals  and  death  have  left  it  with  a  present  resi- 
dent membership  of  70. 

The  lady  members  have  had  societies  and  contributed  te 
the  general  and  home  work.  The  Sunday  School  has  been 
always  maintained  ;  The  board  of  officers  of  the  congregation 
are  B.  F.  Pope  and  R.  J.  Wheatley,  Elders.  R.  A.  Wheat- 
ley,  P.  V.  Pope  and  J.  M.  Wheatley,  Deacons.  J.  E 
Prophalter  pastor. 

The  Church  at  frienilship  was  formed  by  P.  W.  Jones  a 
Baptist  minister.  P.  W.  Jones  and  J.  C.  Wilson,  in  the 
spring  of  1867  organized  the  church  at  the  Paririe  Grove 
School  House.  The  following  names  appear  on  the  record,  as 
charter  members  signing  the  covenant. 

Jacob  Nowart,  Michael  Goos,  S.  C.Moore,  G.  W.  Staton 
D.  L.  Benson,  Wm.  Baker,  Julia  Staton,  Nancy  Staton, 
Margaret  Staton,  Easter  Benson,  Bexy  Miller,  Eliza 
Miller  and  Eliza  Staton. 

lu  1869  G.  W.  Puckett,  a  Baptist  minister  from  Tennessee 
located  with  the  church.  Through  his  labors,  the  church 
grew.  On  the  first  Saturday  in  March  1870,  the  Declar- 
ation of  Faith,  Covenant  and  Rules  of  Decorum  were  re- 
pealed and  the  Bible  alone  without  any  other  written  creed 
was  adopted  as  a  rule  of  faith  and  practice.  The  moderator 
at  this  meeting  was  G    W.  Puckett  and  clerk  S.  C.  Moore. 

In  1870,  the  present  house  of  worship  was  built  three 
miles  west  of  Tamaroa.  D.  L.  Benson  and  John  Miller 
served  as  Elders,  and  Michael  Goos  with  Abraham  Heape 
as  Deacons. 

The  following  ministers  have  labored  for  the  church,  G 
W.  Puckett,  Lysias  Heape,  Newton  Mulkey,  Isaac  Mulkey, 
John  A.  Williams,  Wra.  .McDonold,  Louis  Goos  and  David 
Husband.  The  church  has  given  one  to  the  ministry,  Lewis, 
Goos.  Its  present  membership  is  forty  six.  Pastor  in  charge 
David  Husband. 

The  church  at  Mulkey  Grove  was   begun    by    Wakefield 
De  Wilt,  and  enjoyed  for  years  the  labors  of  Elder  Newton 
M.  Mulkey. 
Elder  Mulkey  not  only  watered  the  flock,  but  donated  the 


land  upon  which  the  present  church  edifice  stands.  The 
present  house  was  built  in  the  last  few  years  and  is  yet  un- 
finished. The  congregation  has  been  broken  up  by  remov- 
als to  the  west.  A  few  still  reside  in  the  neighborhood  and 
in  Tamaroa.  Dr.  Lovelady,  J.  N.  Stoker,  Frederick 
Williams  and  families  with  a  few  others  remain  of  the  ori- 
ginal baud. 

PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH. 

BY  REV.  C.  P.  PHILLIPS. 

The  first  Presbyterian  church  in  Perry  county  was  organized 
at  the  house  of  Mrs.  .Sarah  Roop,  in  old  Du  Quoin,  Nov.  15, 
1840,  by  Rev.  Beuj.  B.  Brown.  Two  years  later,  December 
16,  184-2,  Johnson  Chandler  and  William  Burbank  were 
elected  elders  and  were  ordained  and  installed  by  Rev. 
William  Chambsrlin.  Besides  the  elderships,  the  firs 
members  were :  Elmer  W.  Adams,  Henry  W.  Smith, 
Miss  Mary  Hinckley,  Mary  Burbank,  Wm.  P.  Burbank, 
Hiram  Hinckley,  Mrs.  Sarah  Hinckley,  John  Chandler 
Mrs.  Mary  Chandler,  Miss  Ellen  Tuthill,  Miss  Elizabeth 
Tuthill,  Mrs  Maria  Wall  and  Oliver  K.  Clouch.  The 
ministers  have  been  :  Revs,  Josiah  Woods,  1843-1851  ; 
Wm.  H.  Bird,  1851-1854;  Albert  Smith,  1855;  Josiah 
Wood,  1856-7  ;  Joseph  A.  Bent,  1857  ;  Thomas  Lippincott, 
1858-63  ;  Josiah  Wood,  1863-65  ;  Thomas  Lippincott,  1865- 
67  ;  C.  F.  Hulsey,  1867-(!8  ;  Jared  M.  Stone,  D.  D.,  1871-76. 
The  name  was  changed  to  Old  Du  Quoin  in  1865.  This 
church  never  owned  a  house  of  worship,  but  alternated  be- 
tween the  school-house  and  seminary,  until  it  was  dis- 
banded by  order  of  the  Presbytery  of  Cairo,  by  Rev.  C.  T. 
Phillips  in  August,  1882.  The  building  of  the  Illinois 
Central  R.  R.  drew  away  the  population  and  with  it  the 
membership  of  the  church  from  Old  to  New  Du  Quoin. 

Galum  church  was  organized  June  2  •,  1844,  at-the  house 
of  James  C  Kinzey,  in  Four  Mile  Prairie,  with  the  following 
members:  William  and  Nancy  Hamilton,  Mary  Simzoy, 
Jane  Brown,  Ann  Hamilton,  Julia  Ann  Woodside,  John 
Hamilton,  Polly  M.  Foster,  Jai?e  Kinzey,  Nancy  J.  Hamil- 
ton, Jaraes  C   Kinzey  and  William  Hamilton. 

The  first  elders  were:  John  Hamilton  and  William  Hamil- 
ton. The  ministers  have  been  Revs.  Cyrus  Riggs,  B.  F. 
Spilman,  C  D.  Martin,  John  Matthews,  Daniel  Steele,  Wil- 
liam H.  Templeton  (who  still  lives  near  the  church),  George 
K  Perkins,  Geo.  B.  McComb,  at  two  different  times,  M.  M. 
Cooper,  Jared  M.  Stone,  D.D..  Samuel  Ward,  and  ihe  present 
supply  (1882),  Rev.  Wm.  C.  Smith.  The  congregation  own  a 
comfortable  frame  church,  situated  in  a  dense  wood,  built 
for  S600.  Its  present  value  is  very  much  less.  The  con- 
gregation is  scattered  over  a  good  farming  country,  and 
possesses  the  elements  of  permanence.  The  present  session 
of  the  church  are:  A.  T.  Hughey,  J.  P.  Rial,  William  B. 
Kinzey  and  Samuel  D.  Rule.  The  membership  April  1st, 
1882,  was  about  sixty-five. 

The  church  at  Pinckneyville  had  a  very  chequered  ca- 
reer. It  belonged  to  the  New  School  wing,  as  did  also  the 
rest,  and  was  first  organized  by  Rev.  Josiah  Wood,  in  April, 
1851.     There  were  eight  members  and  one  elder,  Nathaniel 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


267 


Weeks.  It  soon  became  extiact,  and  was  again  organizeJ 
in  May,  1S6S,  but  again  died.  Augu^^t,  1873,  Rev.  Jared 
M.  Stone,  D  D.,  and  Rev.  John  Huston,  re-organized  it,  or 
rather  formed  a  new  organization,  eon.sistiag  of  Mrs.  C. 
BaMridge,  Miss  Frances  Baldridge,  Ale.\:auder  A.  Kimzey, 
Mrs.  Jane  Kimzey,  Mrs.  M.  J.  Kelso,  Mr.  H.  M.  Brown, 
Mrs.  Nancy  Brown,  Mrs.  E  E.  Brown,  Mrs.  Louisa  Opp, 
Mrs.  Sarah  Durringer,  Samuel  J-  Henderson,  Mrs.  I'eliua 
Buchanan,  Mr.  J.  Rusk  and  Mrs.  M.  Harbison.  The  elders 
have  been,  Hugh  M  Brown,  Alex.  A.  Kimsey,  Eph.  Hill ; 
ministers.  Rev.  Geo.  E.  Perkins,  Geo.  B.  McComb,  M.  M. 
C'joper  and  Geo.  B.  McComb.  Again  until  1879  this  was 
the  last  stated  ministry. 

A  small  house  of  worship,  costing  between  -SI  ><>0  and 
81800,  was  built,  but  never  wholly  paid  for.  It  burned  in 
1881,  and  since  then  no  attempt  has  been  made  to  keep  the 
church  alive.  There  is  no  present  probability  of  a  re- 
organization, al'.hough  Rev.  William  C.  Smith  is  on  the 
ground. 

The  First  Presbyterian  church  of  New  Du  Quoin  was  or- 
ganized by  Rev.  Joseph  Gordon  (^recently  deceased),  Sept.  H, 
1856.  Alvah  I.  Sprague,  Mary  Sprague,  Harriet  E.  Keyes, 
Edwin  N.  Smith,  Sarah  Smith,  Lucius  B.  Skinner,  Geo.  S. 
Smith,  Juliana  Smith,  Jane  Smith  and  James  Hunt  were  the 
first  members.  With  one  or  two  exceptions,  they  had  belonged 
to  the  Old  Du  Quion  church.  Geo.  S.  Smith,  the  senior  mem 
ber  of  the  firm  of  G.  S,  Smith  &  Co.,  merchants  and  bankers, 
was  the  first  elder.  Since  that  time  the  elders  have  been  Lewis 
Dyer  (late  surgeon  U.  S.  Vols.),  Moses  H.  Ross,  Russel 
Tuthill,  George  M.  Hinckley,  Reuben  Berry  and  Wra.  H- 
Holmes.  The  present  session  are:  Geo.  S.  Smith  and  Geo. 
JI.  Hinckley.  Tne  first  pastor  was  Rev.  S.  Post,  now 
of  Chicago.  Since  then  the  following  have  ministered  at 
the  times  indicated  :  Rev.  Thomas  Lippinott,  Nov.  1,  18G1_ 
to  May  l,48ij2;  Yates  Hiokey,  June  1,  1862,  to  August  1, 
1862  ;' James  Slatlord,  August  1,  18  \2,  to  April  1,  1864  ;  J- 
Jerome  Ward,  April,  1864,  to  April,  186-5 ;  Joseph  D. 
Barston,  Nov.  26,  1865,  to  Nov.  26,  1867 ;  Josiah  Wood, 
Nov.  1867,  to  Miy,  1868;  Peter  S.  Van  Nest,  D.  D.,  May 
1,  1868,  to  July  23,  1871  ;  Edward  F.  Fish,  Nov.  30,  1871, 
to  Nov.  20,  1878;  Charles  T.  Phillips,  Dec.  1,  1878,  to  the 
present  (Nov.  1882).  The  property  of  church  consists  of  a 
frame  church,  valued  at  (with  contents  i  8200  1,  and  a  par- 
sonage, the  gift  of  .Mrs.  Sarah  Root,  valued  at  .52000.  About 
250  persons  have  at  different  times  belonged  to  this  church, 
of  whom  92  remain. 

The  Tamoroa  church  was  organized  May  24,  1857,  by 
Rev.  Elisha  Jenney.  The  first  members  were:  William 
Yates,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Ann  Yates,  Mrs.  Lydia  Hudson,  J. 
M.  Simpson,  Mrs.  Ann  E.  Simpson;  Mrs.  Rosemond  O. 
Blanchard,  Miss  Mary  Ann  Vates,  Miss  Adelaide  Simpson. 
The  elders  have  been  :  Oliver  A.  Holt,  Jedediah  Lathrop. 
Dr.  C.  M.  Hughey,  Townsend  Blanchard,  Hillery  S.  Patrick, 
Joseph  W^.  Haynes  and  Providence  White.  Ministers: 
Thomas  Lippincott,  18.58-62;  Josiah  Wood,  1863-67; 
Charles  F.  F.  llalsey,  1867-68;  M.  B.  Van  Arsdale.  1870- 
71;  John  Huston,  1872,  and  Robert  Rudd  from  1.S74  to 
the  present  (September,  1882j.     The  church  is  small,  but 


vigorous,  atid  deserves  great  praise  for  its  successful  struggle 
against  many  adverse  circvmrtances.  The  congregation 
own  a  very  neat  frame  house  of  worship,  large  enough  tor 
the  place.  It  cost  about  S2600.  The  present  membership 
is  about  seventy-five. 

The  Prairie  Grove  church  was  situated  about  midway 
between  Tamaroa  and  Pinckneyville.  Revs.  Hillery  Pa- 
trick. John  Huston,  Samuel  Ward,  Geo.  B.  McComb  and 
Robert  Rudd  have  preached  there  at  different  times.  In 
the  early  part  of  1881,  Rev.  C.  T.  Philips  and  Ehler  Towns- 
end  Blanchard  visited  the  church,  and  finding  but  seven 
members,  they  were,  with  the  exception  of  the  elder,  Mr. 
Wagstart",  dismissed  to  the  Tamaroa  church,  and  the  church 
was  declared  dissolved. 

The  Denmark  church  was  organized  August  30,  1868, 
with  nine  members  and  one  elder,  J.  L.  Collom.  It  has 
never  had  more  than  a  nominal  existence.  The  last  minis- 
ter was  the  Rev.  Wm.  H.  Templeton,  of  Galum.  At  last 
reports  there  were  eleven  members. 


THE  BAPTISTS  (PERRY  COUNTY). 

RY  W.  S.   D.   SMITH. 

When  Perry  county  was  organized,  doubtless,  the  number 
of  Baptists  within  its  limits  could  have  been  told  upon  the 
fingers  of  one  hand.  Indeed  we  have  positive  knowledge  of 
but  two, — one  of  whom  is  still  living  at  the  same  spot  w  here 
he  located  in  the  year  1825,  and  from  whom  we  learn  these 
facts :  that  he,  Enoch  Eaton  anil  his  wife  Polly,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Hughs,  settled  upon  the  northeast  quarter 
of  section  24,  twp.  5  S.  R.  4  W.,  in  what  was  then  a  part  of 
Randolph  county. 

They  were  both  Baptists,  having  been  baptized  in  Ten- 
nessee, their  native  state.  One  and  a-half  miles  west  of 
Bro.  Eaton's,  at  the  "Butler  Nace  farm,"  lived  the  only 
Baptist  who  is  now  known  to  have  had  an  earlier  settlement 
in  what  is  now  Perry  county  ;  this  was  a  lady,  then  far  ad- 
vanced in  years,  and  known  as  Grandmother  Murphy.  She 
was  the  wife  of  John  Murphy,  and  mother  of  William  C 
and  Richard  G.  Murphy,— the  latter  being  the  father  of 
Hon.  Wm.  K.  Murphy.  She,  with  her  husband, came  from 
Smith  county,  Tenn.,  in  1818.  She  dieil  in  the  spring  of 
1827,  having  lived  a  very  exemplary  life. 

No  organization  of  the  Baptists  existed  in  Perry  county, 
until  June  1829,  two  years  later  than  the  organization  of  the 
county.  It  is  not  to  be  presumed,  however,  that  there  was 
no  manifestation  of  the  religious  life  of  this  people.  Baptists 
preachers  passing  hrough  the  country  were  always  met  by 
an  eager  congregation  of  neighbors,  summoned  together 
under  the  hospitable  roof  of  Bro.  Eaton.  Here  the  gospel 
was  preached  by  Elder  Nathan  Arnett,  the  Lemens  of  St. 
Clair  county,  and  others,  prior  to  the  organiz.ition  of  the 
county,  and  long  p'ior  to  the  organization  of  the  Galuin 
church  in  that  vicinity.  Of  other  ministers  who  preached 
in  this  county  at  an  early  day  may  be  named  Rev.  John  M. 
Peck,  W.  F.  Boyakin,  .\tlas  Moore,  all  now  deceased,  and 
1).  L.  Phillips,  afterwards  president  of  the  B.  and  S.  il.  R. 
Company 


268 


HISTOHY    of   RANDOLPH,    MONROE    AND    I'ERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


lu  the  eastern  part  of  the  county  the  first  Baptists  settled 
near  Du  Quoin.  EUler  Peter  Hagler  with  his  wife,  who  u 
now  deceased,  located  in  the  Nine  Mile  Prairie  in  the  spring 
of  1829.  Others  came  soon  afterward,  but  none  of  them 
have  survived  liira.  Brethren  Eaton  and  Hagler  may, 
therefore,  be  regarded  as  pioneers.  What  changes  they 
have  lived  to  witness  can  never  be  fully  described 

The  development  of  the  Baptist  family  may  be  traced 
by  a  sketch,  more  or  less  extended,  of  each  of  the  several 
church  organizations  which  we  find  have  existed  within  the 
borders  of  the  countv,  making  some  allowance  for  the  fact 
that  the  county  lines  do  not  limit  the  territory  of  the 
churches.  This  is  followed  by  a  sketch  of  the  Nine  Mile 
Baptist  Association,  and  of  some  individuals: 

THE    SINE    MILE    B.VPTIST    CHURCH 

This  is  the  name  of  the  first  organization  of  Baptists  in 
Perry  county.  Two  considerations  entitle  it  to  the  honor- 
able appellation,  "The  Mother  of  Churches." 

First,  its  antiquity  ;  and,  secondly,  the  fact  that  nearly  all 
the  Baptist  churches  subsequently  organized  in  Ferry  county 
•were  partly  composed  of  members  taken  from  the  Nine  Mile, 
or  were  organized  of  material  gathered  by  the  labors  of  min- 
isters belonging  to  that  body.  Hence,  the  history  of  the 
Nine  Mile  Church  is  of  special  interest. 

On  Saturday  before  the  third  Sunday  of  June,  1829,  at  a 
little  log  house  then  standing  on  the  west  half,  southeast 
quarter  section  1,  twp  6,  S.  R.  2  W.,  where  lived  Peter 
Hagler  and  wife  there  were  gathered  together  four  brethren 
and  four  sisters  in  the  Baptist  faith.  These  were  :  Abner 
Keith,  and  Sarah  his  wife  ;  Van  S.  Teague,  and  Rachel  his 
wife;  Peter  Hagler,  and  Frances  his  wife;  Leonard  Lipe, 
and  Francis  Jones 

Two  Baptist  ministers,  Eli  Short,  who  lived  in  Short's 
prairie,  Randolph  county,  Illinois;  and  Silas  Chrislo,  who 
lived  near  Kaskaskia,  Illinois,  met  with  this  little  company 
of  pioneer  Baptists,  and  the  organization  was  efiected  by  the 
adoption  of  these  eight  members,  of  a  church  covenant,  arti- 
cles of  faith  and  rules  of  order.  The  name  chosen  and 
adopted  was  "  Nine  Mile  Prairie'' Church,  that  being  the  name 
of  the  post-office,  which  is  now  Du  Quoin.  Peter  Hagler  was 
chosen  clerk  of  the  church,  and  the  same  year  a  log  house 
about  eighteen  or  twenty  feet  square  was  built  a  short  dis- 
tance frem  Hagler's  cabin,  on  what  was  then  "  Congress 
land,"  afterward  entered  by  Leonard  Lipe,  now  owned  by 
Hon.  T.  T.  Fountain. 

Here  they  held  meetings  monthly,  to  which  the  people 
would  come  from  distances  of  five,  ten,  and  fifteen  miles. 
Peter  Hagler  was  licensed  by  the  church,  soon  after  its  or- 
ganization, and  preached  very  acceptably  to  the  church  and 
in  the  surrounding  neighborhoods. 

After  a  time,  Elder  Robert  Moore  became  the  pastor  of 
the  church,  and  served  until  1833,  when  a  serious  division 
rent  the  church,  which  at  this  time  contained  about  sixty 
members,  and  a  number  of  members  who  had  been  received 
by  letter  from  churches  in  Tennessee  holding  the  "  Predes- 
tinarian  "  doctriue,  withdrew  under  the  leadership  of  John 
S.  Haggard,  who  was  then   clerk  of  the  church.     Prior  to 


the  time  of  this  "  split,"  a  process  of  separation  had  been 
going  on  in  the  Baptist  churches  of  Tennesseee  and  other 
States.  Those  holding  the  extreme  Calvinistic  (or,  rather, 
hyper-Calvinistic)  doctrine,  which  leads  toward  fatalism 
and  discourages  the  employment  of  human  agencies  or  means 
in  the  work  of  salvation,  could  not  remain  in  harmony  with 
those,  who,  under  the  influence  of  the  strong  missionary 
spirit  infused  into  American  Baptists  by  the  conversion  to 
Baptist  views  of  the  missionaries,  Judson  and  Rice,  were 
impelled  to  put  forth  renewed  efforts  for  the  spread  of  the 
gospel  in  heathen  lands.  This  leaven  had  now  reached 
southern  Illinois,  and  in  a  few  years  the  churches  were  either 
divided  or  carried  over  to  one  side  or  the  other,  and  have 
since  remained  as  separate  denomination. 

While  it  is  true  that  this  radical  difference  in  doctrine 
was  the  real  cause  of  ihe  division  in  the  Nine  Mile  Church, 
a  minor  question  was  made  the  pretext  for  withdrawal  ;  this 
was  an  alleged  irregularity  in  the  reception  or  approval  of 
Amos  Anderson  as  a  candidate  for  baptism. 

Eleven  members  of  the  church,  among  whom  was  John  S. 
Haggard,  Matthew  and  Thomas  Jones,  voted  against  his 
admission  to  the  church  after  he  had  been  baptized  by  the 
pastor.  Eld.  Moore, — and,  withdrawing,  organized  a  new 
body  which  still  continues  as  the  old  Baptist  Church  of  Par- 
adise Prairie,  and  bears  the  name  of  "Nine  Mile." 

As  to  which  of  these  bodies  is  better  entitled  to  the  original 
name,  or  to  be  regarded  as  the  main  body  of  the  original 
Nine  Mile  Church,  opinions  may  differ,  and  some  impor- 
tance might  attach  to  it,  were  the  standing  of  a  Baptist 
Church  dependent  upon  "  unbroken  succession."  Without 
being  a  stickler  for  "  ecclesiastical  pedigree,"  we  assume 
that  Ihe  body  which  remained  with  Eld.  Hagler,  and  which 
was  distinguished  by  the  descriptive  title,  "  Missionary  Bap- 
tists and  Friends  to  Humanity,"  is  the  church  we  are  en- 
deavoring to  sketch.  (Some  facts  regarding  the  other  body 
may  be  found  further  on). 

The  Nine  Mile  Church,  thus  left  to  the  enjoyment  of  the 
same  doctrines  upon  which  it  was  founded,  was  obliged  to 
withdraw  from  the  Salem  Association,  to  which  it  had  at- 
tached itself, — and,  after  some  years  of  isolated  existence,  it 
became  a  member  of  the  Saline  Association.  Their  minis- 
ter. Elder  Moore,  having  adhered  to  the  Salem  Association 
party,  they  were  left  without  a  pastor.  A  council  was  ac- 
cordingly called  to  meet  at  Limestone  Church,  in  Union 
county,  for  the  purpose  of  the  ordination  of  Brother  Peter 
Hagler  as  a  minister  of  the  gospel.  Eld.  John  Browning, 
a  member  of  the  Nine  Mile  Church,  residing  in  Franklin 
county;  Elder  Isaac  Herrin  of  Franklin  county;  and  Elder 
Jeremiah  Brown  of  Union  county,  who  in  1828  had  bap- 
tized Brother  Hagler  and  wife,  composed  the  council  ;  and 
Eld.  Hagler,  being  duly  inducted  into  the  ministerial  office, 
became  pastor  of  the  Nine  Mile  Church. 

About  1833  or  1835,  the  church  erected  a  new  house  of 
logs.  18x24  feet,  on  the  west  half  of  the  northeast  quarter  of 
section  25,  twp.  5  S.  R.  2  W.,at  the  site  of  the  present 
building.  This  log  house  afterward  had  a  frame  addition, 
and  the  beautiful  grove  adjacent  to  the  house  was  annually 
brought  into  requisition  as  a  place  for  camp  meetings,  where 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS 


2G9 


immense  gatherings  of  people  were  accustomed  to  assemble 
in  the  fall  of  the  year — whole  familifs,  bringing  their  teams 
and  camping  outfits,  would  remain  fir  days  and  weeks  en- 
gaged in  the  work  of  the  gospel. 

Elder  Nathan  Arnett,  of  St.  Clair  county  ;  Elder  T.  M. 
Vance,  of  Beuton,  111.,  and  others,  here  preached  the  gospel 
"  in  demonstration  of  the  spirit  and  power,"  and  thirty  to 
forty  conversions  and  baptisms  usually  resulted  from  these 
annual  camp-meetings.  How  diflerent  the  exercises  in  these 
primitive  meetings  from  what  may  be  seen  at  this  day  in  a 
ia.shionable  city  church  would  be  difhcult  to  describe. 

Of  those  who  were  prominently  identified  with  these  ear- 
lier years  of  the  church's  history,  besides  those  already 
named,  may  be  mentioned  :  Eld.  J.  R.  Hutchings,  who  was 
baptized  and  ordained  here,  afterwards  a  member  and  pastor 
of  Concord  church,  and  prominent  in  the  civil  organization 
of  the  county  ;  Ehi.  Richard  G.  Davis,  afterward  pastor  of 
the  Pipe  Stone  church  ;  Elder  P.  W.  Jones,  now  of  Allen- 
dale, Mo. ;  Elder  John  S.  Brown,  who,  later  in  life,  became 
a  member  of  the  "  Latter  Day  Saiyts  ;"  William  Thornton 
(now  deceased),  and  M.  J.  Wilks,  of  Joplin,  both  of  whom 
were  afterwards  ordained  as  ministers  of  the  gospel ;  John 
Wilks  (deceased),  a  licentiate  of  this  church;  also,  William 
Staton,  Peter  Wilks,  Jordan  Harriss,  and  his  wife  Luciuda 
Harriss,  who  survives  her  husband  and  is,  with  perhaps  a 
single  exception,  the  oldest  living  member,  being  about  76 
years  old,  and  the  mother  of  a  large  number  of  Baptist 
children  and  grand-children,  including  Elders  Johnson  C. 
Harriss  (deceased),  J.  Carroll  Harriss,  and  Marion  Teague 

On  Friday  before  the  first  Sunday  in  October  1845,  min- 
isters and  messengers  or  delegates  from  six  other  churches 
met  with  the  Nine  Mile  church,  and  formed  a  new  associa- 
tion called  the  ''  Nine  Mile  Baptist  A.-sociation."  This 
church  at  that  lime  had  one  hundred  and  two  members. 
Robert  Keller  was  its  clerk.  The  earlier  church  records 
having  been  destroyed  by  fire,  statistical  information  cannot 
be  given  for  that  period  prior  to  184-5. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  church  clerks  since  1845  : — 
Nelson  Holt,  served  four  years  ;  John  R.  Teague  (dec'd), 
served  twenty  years  ;  Pleasant  F.  Staton  (dec'd~),  served 
seven  years  ;  James  W.  Lemmon  was  clerk  in  1875,  E.  M. 
Harriss  in  1876;  Johnson  C  Harriss,  from  1877  to  1881  ; 
since  which  time  bis  son,  Josiah  E.  Harriss  has  been  clerk. 

In  1851,  and  again  in  1863,  the  Nine  Mile  Association 
held  its  meetings  with  this  church. 

In  1853  thirty  two  members  were  dismissed  to  form  the 
Paradise  Baptist  Church. 

In  1865  or  1866  the  present  house  of  worship,  a  neat 
frame  building,  about  40x60  feet,  was  erected  at  a  cost  of 
81200. 

When  the  necessity  for  a  new  building  was  realized,  the 
question  of  a  change  of  location  came  up.  A  considerable 
proportion  of  the  membership  resided  in  Holt's  Prairie,  and 
an  cflbrt  was  made  to  locate  the  new  house  upon  the  high 
ground  east  of  Panther  Creek,  on  the  Pinckneyville  and  Du 
Quoin  road  ;  but  the  strength  of  the  old  associations  held 
the  place  of  worship  at  the  original  site  by  the  old  burial- 
ground. 


With  commendable  spirit  the  church  soon  began  to  divide 
the  appointments  for  preaching,  and  about  half  the  meet- 
ings were  held  at  Holt's  Prairie,  and  the  church  recognized 
the  reception  of  members  at  these  meetings;  and  in  July, 
187li,  thirty-nine  members  were  dismissed  to  go  into  the 
organization  of  the  Holt's  Prairie  Baptist  Church.  In  its 
later  years  the  church  has  enjoyed  several  revivals.  In 
1874,  in  a  meeting  of  seventeen  days.  Elder  J.  M.  Billings- 
ley  assisting,  thirty  were  baptized.  In  October,  1876,  nine 
were  baptized,  as  the  result  of  a  meeting  held  by  Elders  J. 
Cole  and  J.  Carroll  Harriss. 

Id  Dec.  1877,  Brethren  Johnson  C.  Harriss,  Marion 
Teague,  and  Elders  \Vm.  R.  McClure,  Wm.  H.  Carner,  and 
J.  Carroll  Harriss  engaged  with  the  church  in  a  special 
eff)rt  resulting  in  thirty-five  baptisms. 

In  Nov.  1879,  at  a  meeting  in  which  Elder  W.  H.  Carner 
and  Brother  Marion  Teague  were  engaged,  nineteen  were 
baptized. 

December  2'i,  1877,  Eld.  Peter  Hagler,  having  served  the 
church  as  pastor  about  forty  years,  resigned.  About  two 
years  afterward,  Bro.  Marion  Teague,  who  had  been  in  1877 
licensed  to  preach,  was  chosen  pastor,  and  on  the  3d  day  of 
January,  188U,  he  was  ordained, — the  council  of  ordination 
being  composed  of  A.  A  Kendrick,  D.  D.,  Pres't  of  Shurt- 
leff  College  ;  Elders  J.  Carroll  Harriss,  J.  M.  Billingsley, 
Peter  Hagler  and  other  brethren  not  ministers. 

At  the  suggestion  of  the  new  pastor,  the  church  procured 
a  library  costing  §100.  Dec.  1881,  Eld.  J.  Carroll  Harriss 
was  elected  and  is  at  this  time  the  pastor  of  the  church. 

The  number  of  persons  who  have  had  membership  in  this 
"  Mother  of  Churches  "  is  very  great.  No  e?timate  can  be 
made  of  the  great  amount  of  good  that  ha<  resulted  and  will 
result  from  the  earnest,  selfdenying  labors  of  those  who 
have  served  the  Lord  in  and  through  this  organization. 
Purity  of  doctrine  has  always  characterized  the  church,  and 
a  spirit  of  benevolence  has  never  been  wanting. 

THE    G.^LU.M    BAPTIST    CHUKCU. 

This  body  is  now  in  its  fortieth  year,  having  been  or- 
ganized August,  5,  1843,  as  the  "  Delum  Creek  Church  of 
Christ  friends  to  humanity."  The  organization  took  place 
at  the  house  of  Enoch  EatoU:  Sr.,  near  Calum  creek,  on  the 
Pinckneyville  and  Sparta  road,  where  the  meetings  were 
held  until  1819,  when  the  church  building,  since  enlarged 
by  an  addition  made  in  1856,  was  built  on  the  N.  W.  quarter 
of  N.  E.  quarter  of  sec.  23,  tp.  5-5,  range  4  W. 

The  original  members  were:  Samuel  Eaton,  Elizabeth 
Eaton,  Barnabas  Woolcott,  Sarah  Woolcott,  George  Wilson, 
Sarah  Wilson,  John  Adair,  Rebecca  Adair,  Lewis  Benson, 
Rebecca  Benson,  Alexander  Clark,  Rutha  Clark,  En^'h 
Eaton,  Polly  Eaton,  Isaac  Eaton,  Sarah  Eaton,  Elizabeth 
Eaton,  Jr.  and  Elizabeth  Rice,  of  whom  Enoch  Eaton,  Re- 
becca Adair  and  Rebecca  Benson  are  still  living. 

Elders  Peter  Hagler  and  John  R.  Hutchins  were  the 
council  of  recognition,  and  Enoch  Eaton  was  chosen  deacon 
and  his  wife  deaconess. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  pastors  and  clerks: 

Pastors— Elder  P.  Hagler,  from  Aug.  1843  to  Jan.  1846  ; 


270 


HISTOHY   OF  RANDOLPH,  MONROE  AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


Eld.  D.  Huggins,  April  1846  to  Sept.  1848 ;  Eld.  P.  W. 
Jones.  Feb.  1849  to  Jan.  18,i0;  Eld  J.  S.  Brown,  Sept. 
1850  to  May  18-51  ;  Eld.  P.  W.  Jones,  May  1851  to  April 
18-55;  Eld.  H.  S.  Dappe.  May  185.5  to  May  18-56;  Eld. 
P.  W.  Jones,  Aug.  18 j6  to  De\  18B0;  Eld.  M.  J.  Wilks. 
March  1800  to  April  1861  ;  Eld.  J.  B.  Campbell,  June 
1861  to  June  1865;  Eld.  W.  H.  Garner,  Feb.  1866  to  April 
1869:  Eld.  J.  C.  Wilson,  Oct.  1870  to  Oct.  1874;  Eld.  D 
Shipraan,  Nov.  1874  to  Aug.  1875;  Eld.  J.  C.  Harris,  Jan. 
1877  to  the  present  time. 

Clerks — Isaac  Eaton,  elected  August  o,  184S  ;  Samuel 
Eaton,  elected,  February,  1848  ;  William  'S\.  Eaton_ 
elected  October,  18-51  ;  Butler  Nace,  elected  April,  1858  . 
William  Eaton,  elected  April,  18.59  ;  Abel  Campbell,  elected 
June,  1800 ;  H.  L.  Eaton,  elected  June,  1860 ;  W.  R. 
Eaton,  elected  July,  li^l-i;  W.  F.  Treffizs,  elected  Septem- 
ber, 1881. 

This  church  entertained  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Saline 
Association  in  1844.  The  next  year  it  weat  into  the  or- 
ganization of  the  Nine  ^liie  Association,  which  body  met 
with  this  church  in  185;.  Bro.  J.  B.  Campbell,  now  of 
Sparta,  Illinois,  was  licensed  to  preach  Oct.  2,  1852.  Bro. 
Addison  Pressley  was  licensed  July  9,  1881.  Eld.  Heze- 
kiah  West  was  in  April,  1865,  ordained  here,  by  Elders  P. 
Hagler,  P.  W.  Jones  and  R.  C.  Keele. 

This  church  has  experienced  remarkable  seasons  of  re- 
vival and  declension.  The  question  of  "  Masonry  "  was  a 
disturbing  cause  in  1850.  Of  the  numerous  revivals  pro- 
bably none  effected  a  more  marked  change  in  the  church 
than  two  protracted  meetings  in  the  winter  of  1877-78, 
resulting  in  seventeen  baptisms  at  each,  which  with  other 
accessions  during  the  year,  raised  the  membership  about 
two  hundred  per  cent. 

In  recent  years  the  Sunday-school  enterprise  has  received 
due  atteutioD.  Brethren  James  Knox,  W.  F.  Trefftzs,  Ad- 
dison Pressley,  Daniel  Benson,  W.  R  Eaton  and  H.  L. 
Eaton  serving  as  superintendents.  The  church  has  always 
been  prompt  to  meet  its  financial  obligations. 

THE    SWANWICK    BAPTIST    CHURCH. 

One  of  the  earliest  organizations  in  the  county,  but  now 
extinct,  was  the  Swanwick  church,  which  came  into  exist, 
ence  in  the  year  1843,  not  long  after  the  Galum  church. 
Its  location  was  in  sec.  36,  tp.  4  S.,  range  3  W.,  near  the  pre 
sent  residence  of  John  Kellerman,  and  not  far  from  the  Oak 
Grove  church.  The  original  members  were  :  Bryant  West, 
David  Huggins  and  wife,  and  sister  Roach.  Elders  Wil- 
liam Whitchurch  and  J.  H.  Mitchell,  of  St.  Clair  county, 
were  the  ministry  composing  the  Presbytery. 

They  were  distinguished  at  first  as  "  Emancipating,"  or 
"  Emancipated  Baptists,"  believing  in  the  frceness  of  the 
gospel  of  salvation.  Though  averse  to  the  payment  of  a 
stated  sum  to  ministers  as  salary,  they  were  not  "  anti- 
effort  "  or  "  anti-mission  "Baptists.  They  built  a  meeting- 
bouse,  and  it  was  duly  dedicated.  Elder  Atlas  Moore,  of  St 
Clair  county,  preaching  the  sermon.  This  church  was  one 
of  the  constituent  members  of  the  Nine  Mile  Association. 

David  Huggins  was  at  that  time   its  clerk,  and   J.  H. 


Mitchell,  pastor.  Next  five  years,  1840  to  18-59,  David 
Huggins  was  pastor,  and  William  Hutchings  clerk.  The 
membership  had  grown  to  about  fifty.  William  Davis  was 
then  elected  clerk,  and  continued  to  serve  as  such  during 
the  life  of  the  church.  In  1854  P.  W.  Jones  was  pastor  ; 
Elder  Huggins  succeeded  him.  In  1857  the  church  be- 
came extinct. 

THE   FOUR   MILE   BAPTIST   CHURCH. 

This  church  was  organized  February  19,  1848,  at  the 
house  of  Jeremiah  Walker,  in  sec.  24,  tp.  6,  S.  R.  3  W.,  un- 
der the  name  of  "  The  Baptist  Church  of  Christ  at  Four 
Mile  Prairie."  The  constituent  members  were :  Jeremiah 
Walker,  Martha  Walker,  Rachel  Walker,  Richard  G. 
Murphy,  Mary  Ann  Murphy,  James  Thompson,  Margaret 
Thompson,  John  N.  Thompson,  Harriet  Thompson,  Martha 
Brown,  Alexander  Brown,  Louisa  Brown,  Lewis  S.  Thump- 
son,  Lucinda  Thompson,  Hester  Denny,  Mary  Van  Winkle, 
Elizabeth  Arnold,  Cyrene  Pyatt  and  Lucinda  N.  Bourland, 
of  whom  Harriet  Thompson,  Cyrene  Pyatt  and  Rachel 
Walker  ( now  Kiuzey)  are  the  only  ones  known  to  be  living. 

The  presbytery  or  council  was  composed  of  Elders  Peter 
Hagler  and  David  Huggins  and  Bro.  P.  W.  Jones,  a  licen- 
tiate. Elder  Hagler  was  the  first  pastor.  Richard  G. 
Murphy  was  the  first  clerk  and  Jeremiah  Walker  the  first 
deacon.  Samuel  Pyatt  was  the  first  member  received.  He 
was  chosen  clerk  and  served  until  1855.  In  October,  1848, 
the  church  enjoyed  a  revival  in  which  fourteen  were  bap- 
tized. The  amount  collected  and  paid  to  the  pastor  as  his 
salary  for  1848  was  $6.75. 

The  church  languished,  after  18-50,  for  five  years,  when, 
in  1855,  under  the  labors  of  Elder  H.  S.  Deppe,  fifteen  mem- 
bers were  added.  The  salary  of  the  pastor  in  1855  was 
fixed  at  S-50,  and  James  G.  Brown  was  chosen  clerk.  In 
January,  1867,  Elder  M.  J.  Wilks  became  pastor,  and  at  a 
protracted  meetiug  held  in  December  1858,  seven  members 
were  received.  Then  followed  the  pastorate  of  Elder  Wil- 
liam Thornton  for  nearly  two  years.  From  1860  to  1868 
meetings  were  suspended.  From  February  to  September, 
1868,  Elder  P.  Hagler  again  served  the  church  ;  8  were 
baptized,  and  with  2  others  added  to  10  old  members  re-en- 
rolled, the  record  of  this  church  of  20  members  closes. 

THE    PIPE   STONE    BAPTIST    CHURCH 

Was  organized  in  1848  at  the  house  of  E.  T.  Rees,  near  Den- 
mark. Besides  E.  T.  Rees  and  Elvira  R,,  his  wife,  the  original 
members  were  Independence  Jinkins,  R.  S.  Hood  and  Polly 
Ernest,  and  perhaps  others,  all  deceased  so  far  as  we  can  learn. 
It  was  through  the  instrumentality  of  Elder  R.  G.  Davis 
that  this  body  was  organized.  They  were  a  small  band.  He 
was  the  first  pastor,  but,  losing  his  health  a  year  or  so  after- 
ward, Elder  H.  S.  Gordon  became  their  pastor. 

The  church  was  admitted  lo  membership  in  the  Nine-Mile 
Association  in  1849,  with  a  membership  of  sixteen.  Their 
pastor.  Elder  Davis,  preached  the  Associational  discourse, 
and  the  church  was  reported  to  be  in  a  promising  condition, 
but  upon  the  accession  of  Elder  Gordon  to  the  pastorate,  the 
church   became  "open  communion"   in  faith  and  practice. 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


271 


and  was  accordingly  dropped  from  the  fellowship  of  the  As- 
sociation at  its  meeting  in  I80I. 

THE    PARADISE    BAPTIST    CHURCH. 

This  church  was  organized  September  10,  18.j3,  at  a  meet- 
ing held  in  the  barn  belonging  to  Deacon  Hosca  H.  Strait, 
in  Sec.  20,  Tp.  5,  S.  11. 1  W. 

The  original  members,  thirty-two,  in  nuniber,  were  dis- 
missed from  the  Nine-Mile  church  in  a  body,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  forming  a  church  in  the  Paradise  Prairie,  which, 
prior  to  that  time,  had  been  an  out  station  or  arm  of  said 
church. 

Miner  J.  Wilk,,*  Eliza  A.  Wilks,  H.  II.  Strait,  Nancy 
M.  Strait,*  R.  C.  T.  Keller,*  Eleanor  Keller,*  Henry  F. 
Hamplemau,  Minerva  Hampleman,*  William  Gee,*  Malinda 
Gee,*  H.  J.  Sulser,*  Margaret  Sulser,  James  A.  Jones,* 
Sarah  Jones,  George  Martin,  William  Thornton,  J.  T.  R. 
Thornton,  L.  C.  Braraley,"  JIary  J.  Bramley,*  Samuel  T. 
Etherton,  Rebecca  Etherton,  Daniel  Gunn,  Nancy  Gunn,* 
Elizabeth  Teel,*  Charles  E.  R.  Winlhrop,*  Dcliah  Win- 
throp,*  B.  H.  Keller,'-  Mary  J.  Keller,*  B.  D.  Kelley.  Nancy 
W.  Kelley,  Rose  A  Robinson,*  Isabella  Galloway.  Of 
these  R.  C.  T.  Keller,  Eleanor  Keller,  Nancy  Strait,  '  now 
Lowraan)  Minerva  Hampleman,  and  Elizabeth  Teel,  .-till 
iiave  their  membership  in  the  bddy. 

In  lf<5i  a  good  frame  building  was  erected  at  the  S.  W. 
corner  of  the  S.  E.  \  of  S.  W.  J,  Sec.  14,  Tp. .'.,  S.  R.  1  W  , 
of  3d  P.  M.  at  a  cost  of  81,500. 

Hosea  H.  Strait  and  Benjamin  D.  Kelley  were  the  first 
deacons.  They  were  "  «orthy  of  double  honor,"  and  have 
gone  to  their  reward.  William  Gee  was  the  tirst  clerk,  and 
was  succeeded  by  R.  C.  T.  Keller,  R.  A.  Hampleman.  A. 
Zwahleu  and  James  W.  Lenmion,  the  present  clerk.  El 
der  P.  H»gler  was  the  first  pastor,  serving  two  years.  Elder 
P.  W.  Jones,  served  one  ye:ir.  The  subsei|uent  pastors 
were  Elders  M  J.  Wilks,  William  Tlioruton,  Wra.  II. 
Career,  A.  Rice,  P.  Hagler,  J.  Carroll  Harriss,  Marion 
Teague  and  J.  II.  Thornton,  [jresent  incumbent.  Fre- 
quently two  of  these  pastors  served  together  as  joint-pastors. 
If  Nine-Mile  church  can  be  called  the  mother  of  churches. 
Paradise  is  entitled  to  be  called  the  mother  of  Baptists,  as 
the  number  baptized  here  will  average  above  one  each  mouth 
during  the  entire  period  the  church  has  been  in  existence. 
Besides  the  brethren  named  above  as  pastors.  Elders  John 
M.  Billingsley,  John  A.  Rodman  and  H.  S.  Deppe  have  ren- 
dered valuable  aid  in  protracted  meetings. 

This  chiirch  has  also  sent  out  a  goodly  number  uf  minis- 
ters asthefjllowing  list  will  show:  Miner  J.  Wilks  and  Wil- 
liam Thornton,  licensed  October,  18.")4.  ordained  November 
13,1856;  Wm.  H.  Carner,  licensed  June,  1861,  ordained 
December  4,  1864;  W.  Sanford  Gee,  licensed  February, 
1869,  ordained  May  14,  1871  ;  J.  Carroll  Harriss,  licensed 
February,  1876,  ordaiued  July  8,  1M76  ;  Joseph  II.  Tlidrii- 
ton,  ordained  July  8,  1876 

This  church,  early  in  1854,  extended  its  influence  in  the 
establishment  of  an  out  post  or  station  at  Horse  Prairie,  in 
Franklin  county,  which  was  supplied  with  preaching,  and 
recognized  as  an  "arm"  of  thechurch  until  a  separate  church 

•  (Those  marked  •  pre  "till  Hvinz.l 


was  organized  therein  1856.  Paradise  church  became  a 
member  of  the  NineMile  Association  in  18.53,  and  that  body 
met  with  this  church  in  the  year  18.55,  1865,  1871  and  1878. 

Of  the  early  member.-  of  this  church  several  have  finished 
their  course.  Deacon  H.  H.  Strait,  died  March  15,  l''<56, 
aged  43.     He  left  a  brlL'lit  example. 

Deacon  H.  F.  Hampleman,  died  October  8,  1876,  aged  62 
years.  He  filled  the  otlice  of  County  Judge,  of  Perry  county, 
as  did  also  H.  H.  Strait  and  C.  E.  R.  AVinthrop 

Elder  William  Thornton,  after  a  brief  but  useful  life  in 
the  ministry,  died  April  21  ^  1866,  leaving  his  mantle  to  his 
foil,  the  present  pastor. 

Tin:    lit'    'iCOIS    BAPTI.ST    CHURCH. 

On  the  oOth  day  of  May,  1857,  when  the  present  city  of 
Du  Quoin  was  a  mere  village,  fourteen  Baptists,  seven 
brethren  and  seven  sisters,  were  gathered  together,  and 
uniting  in  covenant  relations  with  each  other,  were  recog- 
nized as  the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Du  (,)uoin.  The  council 
of  reco::iiiti()n  was  composed  of  Rev. S.  H.  Bundy, then  editor 
of  the  JI!iiio!s  ll'ijjtiH,  publi.rhed  at  Benton,  Elders  P.  Hag- 
ler and  P.  W.  Jones.  Toe  following  are  the  names  nf  the 
original  members:  Rev  Hamilton  Sampson,  Desire  .'^amp- 
son.  Deacon  Jloses  Winters,  Ann  S.  Winters,  John  A.  Wil- 
liams, Mary  Jane  Williams,  John  D.  Perry,  ilary  j\l.  Perry, 
Edmund  Lipe,  Moses  C.  Winters,  Asenath  A.  Winters, 
Drusilla  A.  Winters,  Christiana  C.  Winters  and  Edwin 
Sampson.  By  reason  of  removals  and  deaths,  none  of  these 
are  now  members  of  this  church,  it  being  the  only  Baptist 
church  in  the  ei>unty  that  has  survived  all  its  constituent 
mend)ers.  Rev.  H.  Sampson  was  installed  as  pastor  of  the 
church.  Moses  Winters  was  recognized  as  Deacon,  and 
John  A.  Williams  was  chosen  clerk. 

The  first  person  baptized  was  sister  .Malinda  Burke.  In 
April,  1.S5'*,  Rev.  E.  Jaynes  was  chosen  pastor,  and  the 
church  was  enrolled  as  a  member  of  the  Nine  Mile  Associa- 
tion. In  March,  l'S5!),  a  council  was  called,  and  Bro.  W.  C. 
F.  Hempstt^ad,  a  member  of  the  church,  was  ordained  to  the 
ministry.     Elders    II  Jaynes,  Peter  Hagler,  E.  Hempstead 

and    Martin,    with    other    brethren,    composed   the 

council.  Elder  Hempstead  then  became  the  pastor  of  the 
church,  to  serve  one  half  the  time,  at  a  salary  of  8200.  The 
church,  however,  was  unable  to  sustain  him,  and  were 
besides  without  a  house  in  which  to  worship,  using  the  vil- 
lage school  house  and  other  placts  until  November,  1861, 
when  they  secured  the  use  of  the  Presbyterian  church  for  a 
time,  and  engaged  Rev.  H.  H.  Hatl'as  pastor  for  six  months, 
one-half  the  time,  for  880.  The  services  of  Elder  Hatt' con- 
tinued and  the  church  gained  some  strength,  and  many  con- 
sultations were  had  and  eflbrts  made  to  build  a  house.  On 
May  12,  1800,  Bro.  John  A.  W'lliams  was  licensed  to 
pnacli.  In  November,  18(53,  Rev.  R.  S.  Johnson  became 
pa>tnr.:uid  the  tide  of  general  prosperity  enabled  thechurch 
to  undertake  and  successfully  prosecute  the  enterprise  of 
erecting  the  present  house  of  worship,  which  is  a  substantial 
structure  of  brick,  lOxC'ti  feet,  located  near  the  southwest 
corner  of  the  i)ublic  park,  almost  in  the  heart  of  the  city. 
Its  cost  was  between  85,000  and  86,000.   The  building,  when 


272 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


completed,  was  one  of  the  finest  in  southern  Illinois,  and 
was  dedicated  March  26,  1865.  Rev.  J.  G.  Johnson,  now 
of  Philadelphia,  preached  the  dedicatory  discourse.  On  the 
1st  of  April  fourteen  members  were  received  from  the  Eben- 
ezer  Baptist  Church,  among  whom  were  Elder  Josiah  Lemen, 
an  ordained  minister,  and  W.  S.  D.  Smith,  a  licentiate. 
Elder  Johnson's  pastorate  closed  in  December,  1865,  and  he 
was  succeeded  by  Elder  Jacob  Cole,  now  of  Champaign,  111., 
who  served  one  year,  when  Elder  D.  P.  French  became 
pastor,  and  served  until  October,  1866.  In  December  of 
that  year  the  Rev.  F.  Hill  was  called  to  the  care  of  the 
church,  and  served  one  year.  Elder  D.  P.  French  then 
served  the  church  again  as  pastor  for  about  two  years,  during 
which  time  the  indebtedness  for  church  building  was 
discharged. 

In  March,  1872,  Rev.  L.  M.  Whiting  was  chosen  pastor- 
salary  $700.  He  served  nearly  two  years,  during  which 
time  the  church  enjoyed  some  prosperity,  but  was  also 
entangled  in  some  ditficulties.  Feb.  5,  1874,  Rev.  Demas 
L.  Clouse,  now  in  Iowa,  became  pastor  and  served  a  little 
more  than  a  year. 

Sept  5,  1874,  Elder  E.  C  H.  Willougliby,  who  had  for- 
merly been  a  Baptist  minister,  but  had  become  connected 
wiih  the  "  Christian  Chureh,"  was,  by  the  action  of  this 
church,  restored  to  fellowship  as  a  Baptist.  He  succeeded 
Elder  Clouse,  as  pastor  of  the  church,  and  served  about  two 
years.  August  15,  1878,  the  venerable  Rev.  Erastus  Ad- 
kins,  D  D.,  now,  as  formerly,  a  resident  of  Ohio,  was  settled 
as  pastor,  the  church  being  aided  in  his  support  by  the  Home 
Mission  Society.  From  Juue  to  October,  1879,  the  pulpit 
was  supplied  by  Bro.  Thomas  S.  Bovell,  then  a  student  at 
Shurtleff  College.  From  October,  1880,  to  October,  1881, 
Rev.  Marion  Teague  served  as  pastor,  preaching  only  a  part 
of  the  time.  In  October,  1881,  Rev.  John  Powell,  of  Belle- 
ville, began  his  present  pastorate,  which  so  far  has  been 
quite  successful. 

This  church  has  always  been  weak  financially— has  had 
many  hindrances -is  probably  enjoying  as  much  real  pros- 
perity now  as  at  any  time  in  the  past.  Situated  in  a  town 
of  from  2,000  to  3,000  inhabitants,  where  every  grade  of 
society  is  to  be  found,  and  in  the  midst  of  all  the  "  isms"  of 
the  present  age,  the  little  handful  of  faithful  brethren  have 
held  the  ground  and  contended  for  "  the  faith."  Liberal 
contributions  have  from  time  to  time  been  made  by  the 
members  of  the  Du  Quoin  church  to  the  American  Baptist 
Home  Mission  Society,  American  Baptist  Publication  Society^ 
for  Foreign  Missions  and  the  support  of  Baptist  colleges. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  difl^erent  clerks  of  said 
church:  John  A.  Williams  (now  an  ordained  minister), 
James  W.  Winters,  Samuel  E.  Evans,  T.  C.  Watkins,  H.  S. 
Lemen,  J.  B.  Kelly,  Friend  Smith  and  Charles  F.  Linzee. 
S.  E.  Evans  is  the  present  clerk. 

Deacons  D.  Harley  and  George  S.  Smith,  Sister  Margaret 
Winters  and  her  son,  James  W.  Winters,  are  also  worthy  of 
mention  as  pillars  of  the  church  ;  the  two  last  named  are 
now  the  only  members  who  have  been  with  the  church 
throughout  its  entire  history,  and  they  have  always  been 
among  its  chief  supporters. 


The  Pinekneyville  Baptist  Church. — Appears  to  have 
been  the  name  of  a  shortlived  organization  which  seems  to 
have  formed  a  sort  of  connecting  link  between  the  old 
"Swanwick"  church  and  the  present  churches  of  "Oak 
Grove"  and  "  Pinekneyville."  On  the  31st  day  of  Decem- 
ber, 1857,  Elders  Peter  Hagler  and  Hamilton  Sampson 
being  present  at  aPresbytery  or  council  of  recognition,  the 
following  named  Baptists  of  Pinekneyville  and  vicinity,  viz. : 
William  Davis  and  Sarah  Davis  his  wife,  George  Baxter, 
Charles  Song,  Thomas  Thompson,  James  F.  Mason,  Lucy 
Ann  Gordon  and  Sarah  Helvey  were  united  together  in 
church  relation. 

Elder  Sampson  was  chosen  pastor  and  Brother  William 
Davis,  clerk.  The  church  was  admitted  to  the  Nine-Mile 
Accociation  in  1858. 

One  or  two  members  were  smbsequently  received  by  letter. 
Elder  P.  W.  Jones  appears  to  have  been  the  pastor  from 
September,  1858  until  August,  1859,  when  the  record  closed. 
George  Baxter  died  October,  1867.  William  Davis  and 
wife  went  into  the  organization  of  the  Oak  Grove  church 
while  James  F.  Mason,  Charles  Song  (now  deceased)  and 
Lucy  A.  Gordon  (now  Malone)  were  constituent  members 
of  what  is  now  called  the  "  First  Baptist  church  of  Pinekney- 
ville." 

Doubtless  this  feeble  organization  served  its  purpose 
though  no  imposing  array  of  statistics  can  be  brought 
forward  to  its  credit.  The  record  of  one  of  its  meetings  is 
in  these  words:  "Saturday  before  the  second  Lord's  day  in 
April,  1859,  three  members  met  and  had  prayer."  It 
would  be  interesting  to  know  what  petitions  went  up  from 
that  little  circle  and  in  what  manner  the  promise  was  fulfilled 
to  the  "two  or  three"  thus  gathered  together  in  the  name 
of  the  Lord. 

The  Ehmezer  Bupiist  Church— l^ie:  Ebenezer  Baptist 
church  was  organized  on  the  16th  day  of- June,  1860.  At 
the  school  house,  in  district  Number  5,  Tp.  6,  S.  R.  1,  W., 
about  two  miles  east  of  Du  Quoin,  by  the  following  named 
bretheru  and  sisters  entering  into  covenant  relations,  viz.  : 
Elders  Josiah  Lemen,  Martha  Lemen,  David  McCollum, 
Mary  McCollum,  Mary  Cole,  Jesse  McCollum  and  Melissa 
McCollum,  of  whom  the  two  last  named  are  still  living. 
Elders  Josiah  Lemen  and  W.  C.  F.  Hempstead  were  the 
Presbytery  and  Elder  Hempstead  was  cho?en  pastor  the  first 
year.  Elder  P.  W.  Jones  then  served  one  year  followed  by 
Elder  Josiah  Lemen,  about  two  years,  when  Elder  P.  Hagler 
was  chosen  and  served  one  year. 

The  whole  number  baptized  into  the  fellowship  of  the 
church  was  thirty.  In  1860,  it  was  received  into  the  fellow- 
ship of  the  Nine-Mile  Association.  October  od,  1863,  the 
church  granted  to  brother  W.  S.D.  Smith  a  license  to  preach. 
The  church  was  considerably  diminished  by  the  withdrawal 
on  the  18th  day  of  March,  1865,  of  a  large  number  of  its 
members  who  desired  to  unite  with  the  church  in  Du  Quoin, 
consequently,  at  the  next  meeting  the  church  voted  to 
dissolve  its  organization.  Some  of  the  members  going  into 
the  Du  Quoin  church  and  others  to  Paradise  church. 

It  would  seem  that  the  organization  of  this  body  at  a  point 
so  near  a  church  already  established  iu  the  thriving  village 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND    PERRY   COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


273 


of  Du  Quoin  was  a  mistake,  but  doubtless  it  served  a  tem- 
porary purpose  for  good.  David  McCoUum  died  while  a 
member  of  his  church  in  186:?. 

The  Tnmaron  lidjitist  Church. — Was  constitued  January 
12,  18.59,  by  the  following  named  brethren  and  sisters  enter- 
ing into  covennnt  relations  with  each  other  as  a  gospel 
church.  Elder  P.  Hagler,  being  the  officiating  minister, 
viz.:  Nelson  Holt,  Harriet  A.  Eaton,  E.  G.  Bell,  John  B. 
Kelly,  John  W.  Staton,  Alonzo  Etherton,  Lazarus  Eaton, 
Martha  Tyrrel,  Elizabeth  Bell,  Martha  Roots,  Rhoda  A. 
Barker,  Martha  A.  Bell,  Elizabeth  Kelley,  Eliza  A.  Staton, 
Lovisa  Etherton,  Lydia  Eaton,  Barthana  Bell,  Elizabeth 
Davis,  Alfred  Turman,  Charles  Kellogg  and  f^dmond  Bar- 
ker.    Only  the  two  first  namsd  are  members  at  this  time. 

Soon  after  its  organization  the  church  received  a  consider- 
able number  of  members  by  letter  and  was  enrolled  a 
member  of  the  Nine-Mile  Asssociation  in  1859.  Elder  P- 
Hagler  was  the  first  pastor  and  served  about  two  years. 
Some  service  was  rendered  the  cliurch  from  September  18(52 
to  January  18(14  by  Elder  Negus,  after  which  the  church 
was  destitute  of  a  pastor  until  July  180(5  when  brother  A. 
L.  Wilkinson,  a  young  man,  a  licentiate,  from  Ann  Arbor, 
Michigan,  became  their  pastor.  He  served  the  church  for 
about  a  year,  being  ordained  at  a  meeting  of  the  Niue-Mile 
Association  at  Du  Quoin  in  October,  18(>(i.  He  is  now 
pastor  of  the  First  Baptist  church  of  Springfield,  Ohio. 

For  the  first  ten  years  of  its  existance  the  church  seems  to 
have  made  but  little  progress.  Being  without  a  house  of 
worship  the  meetings  were  held  in  the  ^[ethodist  church 
until  November,  1^(10,  when  the  school  house  was  secured, 
the  church  putting  in  the  seats  for  the  use  of  the  house.  In 
April,  L'^(i!>  the  church  again  began  holding  its  meetings  in 
the  Methodist  church,  and  had  the  services  of  Rev.  I.  S. 
Mahan  for  nearly  two  years  and  enjoyed  some  prosperity. 
Eight  were  baptized  in  March,  1870. 

At  the  close  of  that  year  a  new  and  commodious  house  of 
worship  having  been  erected,  Elder  L  C.  Carr  was  chosen 
pastor.  The  church  was  dedicated  January  26,  1871.  Rev. 
S.  F.  Holt,  of  Decatur,  preaching  the  sermon.  The  cost  of 
the  building  was  about  S:5,oOO,  a  frame  building,  size  32x48 
feet,  with  gallery  and  a  good  bell.  Rev.  S.  C.  Carr  was 
pastor  until  is":!.  Rev.  Jonas  Woodward  served  as  pastor 
from  June,  1873  until  November,  187.5,  and  his  labors  ap- 
pear to  have  been  very  profitable  to  the  church  until 
declining  health    brought  them  to  a  close. 

In  December,  1877,  Rev.  D.  P.  French  began  to  serve  the 
church,  and  continued  to  do  so  until  the  summer  of  1880; 
but  was  not  able  li  preach  often,  on  account  of  his  duties  as 
general  missionary  calling  him  elsewhere.  His  membership 
is  still  with  the  church.  Elder  J.  H.Thornton  was  assistant 
pastor  for  three  months  in  1880.  In  April  1>*81,  the  present 
pastor  Elder  Marion  Teague  entered  upon  his  duties  and  the 
work  seems  to  be  prospering  in  his  hands. 

The  Grand  Cote  Bapli.-^t  Chun-h. — At  a  meeting  held  for 
that  purpose  in  a  grove  of  timber  in  the  east  end  of  the 
Grand  Cole  Prairie,  where  the  church  building  now  stands, 
the  following  named  brethern  and  sisters  of  the  Baptist 
"persuasion"  were  on  Saturday  before  the  fourth  Sabbath 
35 


in  September,  1861,  united  together  as  a  church,  to  wit : 
Joel  F.  Deason  and  wife,  E  D.  Rountree  and  wife,  John 
W.  Rushing  and  wife,  John  C.  Wilson  and  wife,  Joel  Rush- 
ing, Nancy  Rushing,  Levina  Haile,  Sarab  Wells,  Martha 
J.  Ragland  and  Francis  J.  Huggins.  Elders  M.  J.  Wilks, 
William  Thornton,  P.  W.  Jones,  John  A.  Williams  and  W. 
W.  Hutchings  composed  the  council.  E.  D.  Rountree  was 
chosen  clerk  and  J.  F.  Deason  and  J.  W.  Rushing  deacons. 
The  next  vear  a  house  was  built  costing  about  $350. 

The  church  has  generally  been  supplied  with  preaching 
once  a  month  at  a  cost  of  about  $40  per  year. 

Elders  M.  J  Wilks,  William  Thornton,  D.  Huggins,  W. 
Sanford  Gee,  Alex.  Rice,  J.  K.  P.  Ragland  and  D.  H. 
Thornton  have  successively  served  as  pastors.  Elders  Hag- 
ler, Billingsley,  Wilson  Harriss  and  W.  Wright  have  at 
various  times  rendered  service  in  special  m'eetings. 

The  church  has  always  been  small  in  number  of  members 
and  only  for  a  short  period  has  it  maintained  a  Sunday 
school.  Some  members  have  been  lost  by  removal,  and  on 
the  10th  day  of  July,  1878,  Bro.  Joel  Rushing  was  removed 
by  the  hand  of  death  ;  his  age  was  78  years.  Only  three 
male  members  remain.  The  church  has  been  a  member 
of  the  Nine  Mile  Association  since  1861.  J.  W.  Rushing  is 
clerk  and  Elder  J.  H.  Thornton  pastor.  Present  member- 
ship twenty-two. 

Beaucoup  Baplki  Church.— On  the  fourth  Saturday  in 
September,  1863,  at  a  meeting  held  at  the  Round  Prairie 
school  house,  a  church  of  twenty-five  meml)ers  was  organized. 
Elders  David  Huggins,  A.  Rice,  W.  W.  Hutchings  and 
W.  H.  McElhanon  were  present  and  recognized  the  organi- 
zation. Elder  W.  W.  Hutchings  was  chosen  pastor  and 
Thomas  J  Rice  clerk.  Afterward  Elder  A.  Rice  served  as 
pastor  for  one  year,  and  in  18(>.)  (or  about  that  date)  the 
church  dissolved. 

It  was  admitted  to  the  Nine  Mile  Association  in  1863. 
After  disbamling  the  members  attached  themselves  to  Con- 
cord Mud  Prairie  and  other  churches. 

The  Oak  Grove  Baptid  Church. — Situated  about  two  miles 
north  of  Pinckneyville,  this  church  was  constituted  princi- 
pally of  those  who  had  survived  the  Swanwick  church  and 
the  earlier  Pinckneyville  church  At  a  meeting  held  in  the 
school  house  in  District  No.  •>,  Tp.  5  S.  R.  3  W.  on  the  5th 
day  of  March,  18(>4,  the  following  named  persons  affixed 
their  names  to  a  church  covenant  in  the  usual  form  in  the 
presence  of  Elders  W.  W.  Hutcl-.ings  and  P.  W.  Jones,  and 
agreeing  to  accept  the  Bible  as  their  rule  of  faith  and  prac- 
tice as  a  church,  were  recognized  as  an  independent  ecclesi- 
astical body  with  the  name  of  the  "  Oak  Grove  Baptist 
Church,"  to  wit:  William  Davis  and  Sarah  Davis,  his  wife 
Enoch  Taylor  and  Nancy  J.  Taylor,  bis  wife,  William  H' 
Smith  and  Margaret  J.  Smith,  his  wife,  John  li  Richmond, 
Judith  K.  Preswood,  Amy  M.  Keen,  Louisa  McClurkin  and 
Phebe  Hill.  The  church  elected  Bro.  William  H.  Smith 
clerk  and  Bro.  John  C  Wilson  (then  a  licentiate)  pastor.  The 
next  year  he  was  ordained  by  a  Presbytery  consisting  of 
Elders  D.  Huggins  and  E.  M.  Brown,  and  in  August,  1865, 
he  was  succeeded  in  the  pastorate  by  Elder  William  Thorn, 
ton,  who  served  until  May,  1866,  when  Elder  A.   Rice  be- 


274 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


came  pastor.  Elder  Jesse  Farmer  served  as  pastor  during 
18U7;  Elder  M.  J.  Wi Iks  from  January,  1868,  to  Septem- 
ber, 1869  ;  Elder  A.  Rice  again  served  as  pastor  until  De- 
cember, 1870,  when  Elder  J.  C.  Wilson  again  took  charge 
of  the  church,  and  served  until  October,  1872.  Elder  D. 
Huggins  then  served  the  church  until  March,  1876,  when  he 
was  succeeded  by  Elder  A.  Rice,  the  present  pastor.  Like 
many  other  country  churches.  Oak  Grove  has  generally  had 
services  only  once  per  month,  and  only  occasionally  has 
any  effort  been  made  to  sustain  a  Sunday  school.  Numer- 
ous protracted  meetings  however  have  been  held  and  a  con- 
siderable number  have  professed  religion  and  been  baptized 
under  the  special  efforts  of  the  pastors  aided  by  other  min- 
isters. Besides  those  whose  names  are  given  above.  Elder 
S.  A.  Martin  aided  the  church  in  special  meetings.  Usually 
from  ten  to  seventeen  new  members  have  been  the  result  of 
a  protracted  meeting  in  this  church,  but  the  church  has 
never  been  strong  financially  and  the  want  of  sufficient  reli- 
gious instruction  seems  to  have  been  a  great  hindrance. 
Exclusions  and  restorations  have  been  remarkably  numerous. 
In  June,  1878,  Bro.  James  K.  P.  Eayland  was  licensed  to 
preach,  and  on  the  day  of  May,  1880,  he  was  ordained  by 
a  presbytery  composed  of  Elders  J.  C  Wilson,  A.  Rice,  W. 
A.  Jarrel  and  S.  A.  Martin.  The  oldest  member  of  this 
church  is  the  venerable  Deacon  William  Davis,  born  in 
Washington  county,  Virginia,  in  1802.  This  is  one  of  the 
few  Baptist  churches  in  this  county  which  observes  the 
"washing  of  feet"  as  a  ceremonial  in  the  church.  Oak 
Grove  church  was  received  into  the  Nine  Mile  Association 
in  1864.  Their  present  house  of  worship  is  a  substantial 
building  of  hewed  logs.  Bro.  John  S.  Davis  is  the  present 
clerk.  Elder  W.  A.  Jarrel  was  a  member  of  this  church  for 
a  short  time  after  withdrawing  from  the  church  at  Pinck- 
neyville. 

The  PinckneyviUe  Baptist  Church  — The  "  First  Baptist 
Church  of  PinckneyviUe,"  as  it  is  now  called,  was  organized 
July  30,  1865,  under  the  name  of  the  "PinckneyviUe  Bap- 
tist Church,"  the  former  organization  of  that  name  having 
become  extinct.  Elders  P.  W  Jones,  of  this  county,  and 
Joseph  G.  Rutter,  of  Perry  county,  Missouri,  assisted  in  the 
organization.  The  original  members  were  A.  B.  Hogard, 
an  ordained  minister,  and  Ellen  J.  Hogard,  his  wife,  Richard 
M  Davis,  and  Catharine  O.  Davis,  his  wife.  Deacon  Charles 
Song,  James  F.  Mason,  Lucy  A.  Malone,  Louisa  Denny 
and  Parthenia  Church.  Bro.  R.  M.  Davis  was  the  first 
clerk  and  served  until  1868.  Elder  P.  W.  Jones  was  chosen 
pastor,  and  continued  to  visit  the  church  "  once  a  month  " 
for  two  years  and  three  months,  during  which  time  sixty-six 
persons  were  baptized  and  the  membership  otherwise  in. 
creased  to  ninety-three.  In  October,  1865,  the  church  was 
admitted  to  the  Nine  Mile  Association.  In  February,  1866, 
a  Sunday  School  was  organized,  which  continues  to  the  pre- 
sent time  a  means  of  incalculable  good  to  the  church.  In 
December,  1866,  Bro.  R.  M.  Davis  was  licensed  to  preach. 
In  December,  1867,  having  chosen  Rev.  JohnH.  Mize,  now 
of  Hastings,  Nebraska,  as  pastor,  and  secured  aid  from  the 
Home  Mission  Society  for  his  support,  the  building  enterprise 
was  begun  in  earnest,  and  on  the  27th  day  of  August,  1868, 


the  present  church  building  was  dedicated.  Rev.  Dar-iel 
Read,  D.  D.,  then  President  of  Shurtleff  College  preached  a 
discourse  on  the  occasion.  The  house  is  a  substantial  brick 
structure  32x52  feet,  with  gothic  windows — three  on  each 
side,  a  gallery  and  vestibules — spire  about  50  feet  high,  with 
a  good  bell.  Total  cost  about  S3300.  At  the  first  meeting 
in  this  house,  Bro  John  W.  Primm,  now  pastor  of  the  Bap- 
tist church  at  Lincoln,  111.,  was  licensed  to  preach.  In 
October,  1869,  the  Nine  Mile  Association  met  with  this 
church.  Elder  Mize  closed  his  pastorate  in  May,  1870, 
having  baptized  thirty  persons,  and  leaving  the  church  with 
a  membership  of  one  hundred  and  thirteen.  Rev.  L.  C. 
Carr,  who  recently  died  in  Florida,  was  the  next  pastor: 
served  the  church  from  January  to  August,  1871,  leaving  it 
with  103  members.  For  the  next  seven  months  the  church 
had  no  pastor,  but  enjoyed  the  labors  of  Rev.  J.  M.  Billings- 
ley  in  a  protracted  meeting.  Twenty-three  persons  were 
baptized.  Rev.  William  H.  Garner,  now  of  McLeansboro, 
111.,  was  the  next  pastor  from  March,  1872,  to  near  the  close 
of  1873.  This  was  a  very  stormy  period  in  the  history  of 
the  church.  Bro.  J.  L.  Primm  was  clerk  of  the  church 
from  October,  1868,  to  September,  1872,  when  Bro.  W.  S. 
D.  Smith,  the   present  clerk,  succeeded  him.     January  17, 

1874,  Bro.  Joseph  H.  Thornton  was  licensed  to  preach.  The 
church  about  this  time  discharged  the  remainder  of  its 
building  debt.  From  March  to  October,  1S74,  Rev.  D. 
Matlock,  now  deceased,  was  pastor.     From  April  to  Octcber 

1875,  Elder  David  Huggins  visited  the  church  once  a  month, 
From  January,  1876,  to  July,  1877,  Elder  E.  C.  H.  Wil- 
loughby  was  pastor.  October,  1877,  the  Nine  Jlile  Asoocia- 
tion  again  met  with  this  church.  The  introductory  sermon 
was  preached  by  Rev.  J.  Carroll  Harriss,  a  former  member 
of  this  body.  Bro.  Harriss  with  Elder  J.  M.  Bennett 
assisted  the  church  in  a  series  of  meetings  following  the  Asso- 
ciation and  nine  were  baptized.  Bro.  Harriss  then  became 
pastor,  preaching  once  a  month  for  about  a  year:  In  Janu 
ary,  1879,  Elder  D.  P.  French  held  a  series  of  meetings  with 
the  church.  The  membership  now  numbered  ninety-seven 
and  seemed  to  be  united  and  prosperous.  Elder  W.  A.  Jar- 
rel, now  of  Texas,  became  pastor  March  1, 1879,  and  by  the 
close  of  his  year'sservice  the  church  was  in  great  confusion. 
The  views  and  methods  of  the  pastor  were  opposed  by  several 
of  the  leading  members,  and  a  faction  seeking  to  continue 
him  in  the  pastorate,  or  have  the  church  "  endorse  "  him,  A 
bitter  contest  was  the  result,  and  the  "  pastor  party  '  to  the 
number  of  twenty-eight  withdrew,  since  which  time  the 
church  has  had  no  pastor,  but  has  enjoyed  a  good  degree  of 
peace  and  prosperity.  Total  number  who  have  been  mem- 
bers of  this  church  255;  total  baptisms  165. 

THE  FRIENDSHIP  BAPTIST  CHURCH 

Was  organized  in  1867  through  the  labors  of  Elder  P. 
W.  Jones,  aided  by  Elder  J.  C.  Wilson.  The  original  mem- 
bers were  Michael  Goos  and  wife,  Jacob  Nawart  and  wife 
Solomon  Thompson  and  wife.  Smith  C.  Moore  and  wife, 
David  L.  Benson  and  wife,  Baker  and  wife,  Mar- 
garet Statou,  Julia  Staton,  Eliza  Miller. 

This  enterprise  encountered  a  little  opposition  from  some 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


275 


of  the  neighboring  Baptists,  who  thought  a  new  organization 
in  the  bounds  of  ciiurches  already  established  would  be  de- 
trimental. 

The  church  was,  however,  recognized  and  admitted  to  the 
Niue-MileAsfociation  iu  October,  1^07. 

Elder  P.  W.  Jones  was  pas  or  of  the  church  from  its  or- 
ganization until  he  removed  from  the  State  in  1869.  Ekler 
W.  H.  Garner  was  then  chosen  pastor,  but  did  not  serve  as 
such. 

About  the  close  of  1869,  the  church  engaged  a  young  min- 
ister from  Tennessee,  whose  name  was  Geo.  W.  Pricket.  In 
about  six  months  they  were  led  away  from  the  ground  oc- 
cupied by  Baptists,  receiving  into  their  fellowship  some  mem- 
bers of  the  "Christian  "  order. 

Accordingly,  at  the  meeting  of  the  Association,  in  1870, 
the  church  was  dropped  for  heresy,  and  a  resolution  adopted 
declaring  non-fellow  hip  with  George  W.  Pricitet,  as  a  Bap- 
tist raiiiistcr,  and  recognizing  Brother  S.  C.  Moore,  as  hav- 
ing stood  firm  in  the  faith  on  which  the  Friendship  church 
was  first  organized  Thus  the  cliurch  passed  out  from  the 
ranks  of  the  Baptist-brotherhood,  and  has  since  stood  as  a 
Christian  or  "Carapbellile"  body. 

D.  L.  Benson  was  the  first  clerk,  and  S.  C.  Moore  was 
clerk  at  the  time  of  the  separation.     He  died  June  24,  1876. 

THE  HOLTS  PRAIRIE  B.iPTIST   CHURCH. 

As  early  as  1835,  Elder  Peter  Hagler,  then  pastor  of  the 
Nine  Mile  Baptfst  church,  held  occasional  meetings  in  Holt's 
Prairie,  preaching  at  the  house  of  Jordan  Harriss,  one  of 
the  members  of  the  Nine  Mile  church,  and  at  the  school- 
house,  in  the  lower  end  of  the  prairie.  Subsequently  Elders 
P.  W.  Jones,  William  Thornton,  and  M.  J.  Wilks,  preached 
in  this  neighborhood,  the  latter  having  regular  raonliily  ap- 
pointments for  some  lime.  It  was  regarded  as  an  out  station 
of  the  Nine  Mile  church,  and  in  1871,  Fielder  J.  M.  Billlngs- 
ley  held  a  series  of  meetings  in  E.  M.  Harriss'  barn,  result- 
ing in  many  conversions,  and  by  the  consent  of  the  Nine 
Mile  church,  the  applicants  for  membership  here  were  ap- 
proved by  the  brethren  residing  in  Holt's  Prairie,  and  bap- 
tised and  recognized  as  members  of  the  Nine  Mile  church. 

To  supply  this  portion  of  the  church  with  preaching,  the 
pastor  visited  them  regularly,  and  the  necessity  for  a  house 
of  worship  being  apparent,  a  good  frame  building  3().x4()  feet 
was  erected  on  the  S.  \V.  qr.  of  the  S.  W.  qr.  of  Sec.  21,  Tp. 
5,  S  R  2  W.,  and  paid  for  largely  through  the  instrumen- 
tality of  Brother  Jefferson  Thornberry,  now  deceased. 

The  council  of  recognization,  consisting  of  Elder  P.  Hag- 
ler and  William  Malone,  of  Nine  Mile  church  ;  J.  L.  Priram, 
J.  Carroll  Harriss,  and  S.  Ballard,  of  Pinckneyville  church  ; 
Richard  Wilks,  of  Paradise  church,  and  Lindsey  Benedict, 
of  Concord  church.  Elder  P.  Hagler  was  chcsen  pastor,  and 
served  until  December,  1872,  when  Elder  Wm.  H.  Carner 
was  elected  and  served  six  consecutive  years.  Elder  J.  Car- 
roll Harriss,  then  served  three  years,  when  the  present  pas- 
tor, Elder  John  A   Rodman,  was  chosen. 

John  H.  Harriss  has  been  clerk  of  the  church  from  the 
beginning. 

This  church  has  been  remarkably  successful,  has  encoun- 


tered few  obstacles,  and  now  rank^  as  one  of  thestrrngjst 
churches  of  the  Nine  Mile  Association  in  which  body  it  took 
membership  iu  1872. 

THE   NINE   MILE   BiPTIST   ASSOCI.iTION. 

Baptists  recognize  the  local  church  as  the  only  ecclesi- 
astical organization  divinely  instituted.  They  hold  it  to  be 
absolutely  independent,  and  clothed  with  plenary  authority 
for  the  administration  of  Scriptural  discipline  to  its  mem- 
bers, and  in  no  wav  connecteJ  with,  or  dependent  upon,  the 
system  of  civil  government  adopted  by  the  state. 

The  local  bodies,  however,  for  the  promotion  of  their 
mutual  interests  and  to  facilitate  the  complete  observance  of 
that  command,  "  Preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature,"  have 
have  f(;und  it  expedieut  to  hold  annual  meetings  for  con- 
sultation and  concert  of  action. 

This  annual  meeting  is  called  an  "  Association,"  and  is 
composed  of  ministi^rs  and  delegates  appointed  by  the  church- 
es, but  has  no  legislative  or  judicial  authority.  The  "  Nine 
Mile  Baptist  Association,"  which  includes  all  the  churches  of 
Perry  county,  excepting  those  calling  themselves  the  "Old 
Baptists"  and  the  churches  of  colored  people,  was  organized 
October  4,  184.1,  at  a  meeting  held  at  the  Nine  Mile  Church, 
from  which  it  takes  its  name.  Elder  D.  S  Crain,  modera- 
tor of  the  Saline  Association,  presided  at  this  meeting,  in 
which  Elder  Ignatius  O' Daniel  and  D.  Bijgs  of  Clear  Creek 
Association  participated.  Elder  J.  R.  Hutchings  was  clerk 
of  the  meeting.  Seven  churches,  among  which  were  Nine 
Mile,  Swanwick  Creek,  and  Delum  (Galum)  of  Perry  coun- 
ty, went  into  the  organization,  and  Elder  P.  Hagler  was 
chosen  moderator,  J.  R.  Hutchings  clerk,  and  Pendleton  W- 
Jones  treasurer. 

A  constitution  and  rules  of  order  were  adopted,  and  the 
following  resolutions  parsed: 

Remlvfd,  That  we  advise  the  churches  to  patronize  and 
sustain  the  Baptist  Publication  Society,  by  their  purchases, 
contributions,  and  prayers  so  far  as  they  can. 

Resolved,  That  we  recommend  the  churches  to  use  nil  pes. 
sible  eflvirts  to  get  up  and  sustain  well  managed  Sabbath 
schools  in  their  immediate  vicinities. 

Resolced,  That  we  recommend  and  advise  both  members 
anil  ministers  of  our  churches  to  sustain  the  temperance 
pledge,  and  that  thoy  exert  their  influence  in  the  suppression 
of  the  use  of  intoxicating  drinks  as  a  beverage. 

Also  resolutions  recommending  settled  pastors  supported, 
so  far  as  possible  by  the  churches,  and  the  holding  by  each 
church  of  at  least  one  protracted  meeting  each  year.  From 
that  time  to  the  pres9nt  the  minutes  of  the  annual  meeting 
of  the  Nine  Mile  Association  "bristle"  with  advisory  resolu- 
tions concerning  secret  and  family  prayer,  Sabbath  schools, 
temperance,  support  of  the  ministry,  home  and  foreign  mis- 
sions, ministerial  education,  Baptist  publications,  denomina- 
tional schools  and  colleges,  and  everything  else  which  might 
claim  the  attention  of  the  churches,  but  never  dictating  to 
the  churches  nor  prescribing  any  tests  of  fellowship.  Occa- 
sional difficulties  between  churches  or  ministers  have  beeo 
made  the  subjects  of  investigation  and  advice,  and  every 
departure  from   the  doctrines  held   by  Baptists  has  been 


276 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


jjidiuptly  nitt  by  cH'oits  to  correct  erroneous  views,  or  by 
dropping  from  membership  any  church  embracing  or  toler- 
ating heresy.  Kume  ministers  and  members  of  churches, 
and  in  a  few  instances,  whole  churches  have  lapsed  into 
"Canipbellism,"  "open  communion,"  and  the  like,  but  no 
considerable  dis-turbance  seems  to  result.  The  churches  of 
this  Association  are  (perhaps  without  exception)  organized 
upon  the  articles  of  belief  known  as  the  "New  Hampshire 
Confession  of  Faith." 

Among  the  instances  of  departure  from  the  faith  may  be 
mentioned  Elder  H.  S.  Gordon,  who,  wiih  Pipe  Stone  and 
Looney's  S])ring  churches,  in  18.50  wcLtover  to  the  Free  Will 
Baptists  ;  Elder  H.  C.  Hodges  and  a  part  of  the  Kingcade 
church,  who,  in  1852,  went  into  Canipbellism ;  Elder  G.  W. 
Pricket  and  the  Friendship  church  (except  Brother  S.  C- 
Moore)  in  1809  did  likewise;  Elder  John  S.  Brown  became 
a  "Latter  Day  Saint."  Others,  becoming  engro.ssed  with  the 
cares  of  secular  pursuits,  have  become  unfruitful,  but  a  kind 
Providence  constantly  fills  the  ranks. 

Among  the  questions  presented  to  the  Association  for  dis- 
cussion at  its  meeting  in  1850  was  that  of  secret  societies. 
The  Association  advised  the  churches  "  to  occupy  the  ground 
of  non-interference."  The  churches  were  at  that  time  recom- 
mended to  patronize  Sabbath  schools,  "on  the  union  plan." 
Later  the  advice  was  for  each  church,  when  of  sutBcient 
ability,  to  maintain  its  own  school,  and  in  1879  a  resolution 
recommending  the  churches  to  have  nothing  whatever  to  do 
with  the  state  and  county  (union)  S.  S.  conventions,  was 
passed,  but  such  was  not  the  sentiment  of  the  churches.  In 
1850  the  Association  sent  delegates  to  a  missionary  meeting 
at  Bethel  church  in  Madison  county.  111.,  with  instructions 
to  "oppose  the  project  of  the  American  Bible  Union  to 
translate  and  circulate  a  new  version  of  the  Scriptures." 

At  its  last  meeting  the  members  voted  to  endorse  the 
"prohibition"  movement. 

In  its  missionary  work  the  Association  has  been  in  har_ 
raony  with  the  great  denominational  enterprises  of  Ameri. 
can  Baptists,  but  in  the  cultivation  of  the  home  field  it  has 
resorted  to  co-operation  with  local  organizations;  in  1851 
with  the  Nine  Mile  Domestic  Mission  Society,  the  next  year 
with  the  Baptist  Convention  of  Southern  Illinois,  but  since 
1857  with  the  Baptist  General  Association  of  Illinois,  which 
was  organized  in  1845,  sometimes  having  its  own  executive 
board  of  missions  to  direct  and  aid  in  the  work.  Elder  J. 
Carroll  Harris  is  the  Association's  home  missionary. 

At  various  times  in  the  past  thirty  years  Ministers' and 
Deacons'  Conferences,  and  local  Sunday  School  Conventions 
have  been  established.  An  organization  for  Sunday  school 
work  is  now  fully  organized  in  connection  with  the  Associa- 
tion and  with  the  Baptist  State  Sunday  School  Association 
Bro.  W.  S.  D  Smith  is  at  the  head  of  this  department,  with 
J.  L  Primra,  jr.,  assistant  for  Perry  county. 

Evidently  considerable  progress  has  been  made  by  the 
Baptists  of  P^rry  county.  The  time  has  passed  by  when 
the  entire  burden  of  church  work  was  left  to  be  borne  by 
the  ministry.  Not  only  are  these  public  servants  belter  sus- 
tained in  their  work,  but  the  various  departments  of  Chris- 
tian labor  are  now  filled  with  active  brethren   and  sisters, 


whose  influence  is  everywhere  manifest.  The  utility  of  the 
Association  as  an  organization  adapted  to  promote  the  gen- 
eral prosperity  and  unity  of  the  churches  cannot  be  ques- 
tioned. Sixteen  of  the  thirty-eight  annual  meetings  of  the 
Nine  Mile  Association  have  been  held  iu  Perry  county. 

To  this  sketch  of  the  churches  and  the  Association  should 
be  added  some  reference  to  the  biography  of  individual 
Baptists. 

As  in  secular,  so  in  religious  matters,  the  destiny  of  an 
organization  is  determined  by  the  character  and  acts  of  its 
individual  members,  as  well  as  by  the  constitution  or  creed 
upon  which  it  is  based.  Foremost  among  the  pioneer 
Baptists  of  Perry  county,  stands 

Elder  Peter  Hagler,  the  only  surviving  member  of  the 
little  band  who  first  constituted  the  Nine  Mile  Baptist 
church.  His  history  has  largely  been  written  in  the  annals 
of  the  churches,  but  a  few  additional  facts  will  here  be  set 
down.  Born  iu  Montgomery  county.  North  Carolina,  Sep- 
tember 1,  1806,  he  was  brought  up  in  the  hard  labor  of  a 
farmer's  boy,  and  limited  to  few  opportunities  of  education. 
At  the  age  of  thirteen  settled  in  Jackson  county,  Illinois  ; 
married  at  the  age  of  twenty,  to  Francis  Keith,  daughter  of 
Abner  Keith.  Eight  years  afterward  he  and  his  wife  pro- 
fessed faith  in  Christ,  and  were  baptized  by  Eld.  Jeremiah 
Brown,  and  united  with  Ridge  church,  in  Union  county,  111. 
In  the  spring  of  1829  he  settled  in  Perry  county,  where  he 
has  since  resided. 

He  was  licensed  by  the  Nine  JNIile  church  to  preach  the 
Gospel,  and  some  years  later  ordained  at  Limestone  church, 
in  Union  county.  Eld.  Jeremiah  Brown  preached  the  or- 
dination sermon. 

With  his  Bible  and  hymn  book,  and  a  pocket  concord- 
ance, and  a  heart  consecrated  to  the  work  of  winning  the 
souls  of  his  fellow-men  from  the  ruinous  ways  of  sin,  this 
earnest  and  devoted  servant  of  God  breasted  the  storms 
and  endured  the  heat  for  Christ's  sake.  In  the  first  thirty 
years  of  his  ministry  he  did  not  miss  on  an  average  more 
than  one  of  his  appointments  each  year,  though  the  dis- 
tances to  some  of  them  were  thirty  miles  or  more.  It  is 
estimated  that  three  thousand  persons  have  been  baptized 
by  him.  Besides  being  instrumental  in  the  conversion  of 
so  many  souls  and  their  reception  into  the  churches,  he 
has  assisted  in  the  organization  of  many  churches,  the 
ordination  of  about  twenty  ministers,  and  served  as  mod- 
erator of  the  Saline  and  Nine  Mile  Associations  a  great 
many  years.  His  wife,  with  whom  he  had  lived  for  half 
a  century,  died  January  9,  1877.  They  never  had  any 
children,  but  had  raised  seven  orphans.  He  is  now  spend- 
ing the  evening  of  his  life  at  Du  Quohi,  111.,  with  his  second 
companion,  the  late  Mrs.  Isabella  Hawkins,  whom  he 
married  November  11,  1877.  He  was  present  at  the  thirty- 
eighth  annual  meeting  of  the  Nine  Mile  Association  at 
Tamaroa   October  6,  18.S2. 

Eld.  Pendleton  W.  Jones,  for  many  years  a  co-laborer 
with  Eliler  Hagler,  was  born  in  Bedford  county,  Tennessee, 
February  16,  1815;  settled  in  Perry  county  in  the  fall  of 
1.S29;  married  Rachel  Keith,  December  11,  1839. 

He  and  his  wife  werre  baptized  at  the  same  time  in  the 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


277 


fall  of  1841.  October,  1847,  he  was  licensed  to  preach,  ami 
in  October,  184S,  he  was  ordained,  by  a  presbytery  com- 
posed of  Elds.  T.  J!.  Vance  aud  Kathan  Aruett.  He  was 
a  successful  j)astor,  serving  as  such  at  Galum,  Paradise^ 
Piiickntjville,  Fritud.-hip  and  other  churches,  and  never 
had  a  church  ditliculty.  He,  with  Eld.  Hagler,  endured 
many  hardships  iu  the  early  years  of  Perry  county,  swim- 
ming swollen  streams,  and  overcoming  other  obstacles  in 
their  mission,  among  which  was  the  making  of  support  for 
their  families  by  farm  labor.  They  were  at  that  day  per- 
sonally acquainted  with  every  man  iu  the  C6unty.  Bro. 
Jones  is  now  pastor  of  the  Baptist  church  at  Allendale, 
Missouri. 

Eld.  Richard  G.  D.wis  was  born  near  Bowling  Green, 
Kentucky,  about  the  beginning  of  the  present  century  ; 
learned  the  printer's  trade.  When  a  young  man  he  came 
to  Perry  county  ;  was  baptized  by  Eld.  P.  Hagler,  and  re 
ceived  as  a  member  of  the  Nine  Jlile  church,  by  which  body 
he  was  licensed  to  preach,  and  afterwards  ordained  a  min- 
ister of  the  Gospel.  He  was  a  zealous  Baptist,  and  was 
blessed  in  his  ministerial  work.  He  served  as  pastor  of  the 
Pipe  Stone  and  other  churches.  He  died  June  7,  1851, 
leaving  a  widow,  who  still  survives  him,  and  several  child- 
ren, of  whom  K.  M.  Davis,  of  Pinckneyville,  is  one. 

Eld.  John  K.  Hutchings  was  prominently  identified  w  ith 
the  early  history  of  Perry  county  and  of  its  Baptist  churches. 
He  was  baptized  by  P21d.  P.  Hagler,  was  ordained  by  the 
Nine  Mile  church,  and  for  several  years  was  very  useful 
iu  the  Baptist  ministry  ;  was  clerk  of  the  Nine  Mile  Asso- 
ciation for  the  first  seven  years  of  its  existence.  He  was 
a  man  of  good  education,  and  taught  school  fur  many  years 
in  what  is  now  Beaucoup  precinct.  He  had  the  honor  of 
selecting  the  site  for  the  court  house  at  Pinckneyville.  In 
the  later  years  of  his  life  he  lost  his  influence  for  good. 
He  died  June  23,  I86i). 

Eld.  Josiah  Lemen  was  born  near  New  Design,  Monroe 
count)-,  Illinois,  August  1-5,  1794.  He  was  a  son  of  Rev. 
James  and  Catharine  Lemen,  and  four  of  his  brothers  were 
also  Baptist  ministers,  all  of  whom  have  preached  in  Perry 
county.  His  early  education  was  obtained  from  a  Baptist, 
minister,  named  John  Clark  ;  he  was  by  "  Father  Clark  " 
baptized.  May  2,  IMl);  soon  after  licensed  to  preach,  and 
ordained.  He  located  near  Du  Quoin  about  1858  ;  was  one 
of  the  constituent  members  of  the  Ebenezer  church,  and  for 
a  time  its  pastor.  He  was  a  warm-hearted  man  and  an 
ardent  advocate  of  temperance.  He  died  July  11,  1«G7,  a 
member  of  the  Du  Quoin  church. 

Eld.  David  IIuggins  was  born  May  5,  1820,  iu  St.  Clair 
county,  Illinois;  professed  religion,  was  baptized  and  united 
with  the  Swanwick  Baptist  church  in  1844,  and  was  or- 
dained in  184-5.  He  was  one  of  the  original  members  of 
the  Nine  Mile  Association.  After  thirty-two  years  of 
faithful  service,  in  which  time  he  served  many  of  the 
cliiirehes  of  Perry  county  as  pastor,  he  dieil  at  his  home 
iu  Washington  county,  111.,  April  2;!,  1;<77. 

Eld.  JonNso>f  C.  Harris.?  was  born  in  Tennessee  in 
April,  1826  ;  was  count)-  treasurer  of  Perry  county  iu  I8G3. 
He  was  afterwards  licensed  to  preach,  and  rendered  faithful 


-service  to  the  cause  of  religion  in  the  Nine  Mile  church, 
of  which  he  was  clerk  at  the  time  of  his  death,  March 
5,1881. 

Bro  Isaac  Eaton  was  a  "  pillar  in  the  church "  at 
Galum  ;  died  February  20,  1880,  aged  seventy-three  years, 
having  seen  a  half-century  of  Cnristian  service. 

Samuel  Eaton,  Sr.,  was  a  useful  member  of  Galum 
church,  being  a  licensed  minister. 

Deacons  H.  H.  Strait  and  H.  F.  Harapleraan,  of  Para- 
dise, Charles  Song,  of  Pinckneyville,  and  many  others 
equally  worthy  might  here  be  mentioned  did  space  permit, 

Bro.  Enoch  Eaton,  Sr.,  the  oldest  Baptist  in  Perry 
county,  was  born  in  Tennessee,  September  29,  1803,  where 
he  and  his  excellent  wife  were  both  baptized.  They  settled 
in  what  is  now  calleil  Eaton's  prairie,  in  l."<25,  kept  open 
house  for  Baptist  meetings  and  Baptist  preachers,  and 
otherwise  contributed  liberally  for  the  support  of  the  cause, 
until  the  death  of  Sister  Eaton,  which  took  place  August 
4,  187()-  "Judge  Eaton,"  as  he  is  called — having  been  a 
judge  of  the  county  commissioners'  court — has  been  a  man 
of  sterling  worth  and  influence-  About  four  years  ago  he 
had  the  misfortune  to  lose  his  hearing,  and  he  has  been 
otherwise  sorely  afflicted,  but  his  mental  faculties  are  still 
vigorous,  and  his  heart  warm  in  the  cause. 

Eld-  David  P.  French.  Probably  no  man  has  done 
more  in  later  years  to  promote  the  Baptist  cause  in  Perry 
county,  than  this  faithful  servant  of  God,  whom  the  in- 
firmities of  life  have  laid  aside  from  active  duties.  Eld- 
French  is  a  native  of  New  Hampshire,  and  is  now  about 
sixty  six  years  of  age-  Failing  health  and  the  lo-ss  of  voice 
resulted  in  the  suspension  of  bis  labors  over  three  years 
ago.  As  the  General  Missionary  of  the  Baptist  General 
Association  he  began  his  work  in  this  part  of  southern  Illi- 
nois in  l'S67;  was  moderator  of  the  Nine  Mile  Association 
from  1868  to  1879  inclusive  ;  served  the  churches  at  Du 
Quoin  and  Tamaroa  as  pastor  a  part  of  the  time,  and  assisted 
many  other  churches  in  protracted  meetings.  His  great 
attainments  and  deep  piety,  together  with  his  long  experi- 
ence in  church  affairs,  rendered  him  a  counselor  whose 
words  have  been  "  like  apples  of  gold  in  pictures  of  silver." 

Eld.  John  Powell.  Of  those  now  actively  engaged  as 
pastors  in  this  county,  we  will  make  special  mention  of 
Rev.  John  Powell,  of  Du  Quoin,  who.se  venerable  years 
perhaps  entitle  him  to  this  distinction.  Eld.  Powell  was 
born  in  Wales,  in  1821  ;  came  to  the  United  States  when 
eight  years  of  a>»e  ;  was  for  some  years  connected  with  his 
brother-in-law.  Rev.  W.  C.  Van  Meter  (who  afterwards  es- 
tablished a  Baptist  mission  at  Rome,  Italy),  in  the  work  of 
Howard  Mission  in  New  York  city.  Eld.  Powell  has  had 
extensive  experience  as  a  teacher,  and  is  active  in  the  Sun- 
day-school and  Temperance  work. 

These  are  the  men  and  these  tlie  means  which  f  rod  ha3 
ordained  and  we  would  honor  as  the  instrumentalities  for 
the  perpetuation  of  those  principles  in  religion  and  morals 
which  Baptists  hold  to  be  essential  to  the  best  interests  of 
men  here  and  iu  the  great  hereafter. 


278 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


BAPTISTS   AMONG   THE   COLORED   PEOPLE. 

The  census  of  1830  shows  that  four  African  slaves  were 
enrolled  in  Perry  county.  The  condition  of  that  people,  as 
to  religious  privileges  as  well  as  political  rights  and  social 
standing,  has  vastly  changed  since  that  day.  Soon  after  the 
war  of  the  rebellion,  a  large  number  of  colored  people  from 
the  south  found  homes  in  Perry  county.  In  1865  an  effort 
was  made  by  the  Pinckueyville  Baptist  Church  to  have  a 
Baptist  church  organized  among  them,  but  the  enterprise 
did  not  succeed.  Various  efforts  were  subsequently  made, 
but  no  organization  or  house  of  worship  has  yet  been  secured. 
Rev.  Mark  Tolbert  and  others  ha^e  been  faithful  in  their 
efforts  to  uphold  the  cau?e.  Two  were  baptized  at  Pinckuey- 
ville, in  the  spring  of  1882,  by  Rev.  Major  Anderson,  and 
their  membership  enrolled  at  Du  Quoin.  At  Du  Quoin  the 
cause  has  been  more  prosperous.  Through  the  efforts  of 
Elders  Jacob  Cole  (white)  and  John  A.  Williams  (white)^ 
Rev.  Thomas  Reasoner  and  others,  a  church  was  organized 
in  Du  Quoin  about  1864  or  1865.  In  1879  a  neat  frame 
house  was  built  at  the  Locust  Grove,  between  Du  Quoin  and 
St.  John's,  costing  about  $600.  It  has  since  been  moved  to 
a  lot  near  the  Catholic  church.  This  body,  formerly  called 
the  "  Second  Baptist  Church  of  Du  Quoin,"  but  lately  the 
"Mount  Zion  Baptist  Church,"  has  many  worthy  members, 
of  whom  several  are  preachers.  Rev.  Richard  Dement  has 
been  pastor  of  the  church  from  the  beginning,  except  eight 
months,  when  Rev.  J.  H.  Barton  was  pastor.  Bro.  Barton 
is  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school,  which  has  five  or  six 
teachers  and  a  regular  attendance  of  about  thirty-five.  The 
church  numbers  about  125  members  and  is  a  part  of  the 
Mount  Olive  Association,  which  has  met  with  this  church 
two  or  three  times— the  last  time  on  Sept.  5,  1882.  TLis  was 
an  interesting  meeting  and  well  attended. 

Among  those  who  have  been  prominent  in  this  church 
may  be  named  Richard  Dement,  Mark  Tolbert,  Samuel 
Barton,  deceased,  Daniel  Jackson,  deceased,  George  Roey, 
deceased,  George  Ragland  and  others,  who  were  the  first 
members;  also,  Alexander  White,  Nathan  Banks,  Nathan 
Ricks,  Major  Anderson,  Nelson  David  and  others.  Green 
Weaver  and  Elijah  Roey  have  been  clerks  of  the  church. 

APPENDIX. 

As  a  supplement  to  what  has  been  written  concerning  the 
Baptist  denomination  in  Perry  county,  the  following  brief 
statement  comprises  about  all  we  have  been  able  to  gather  as 
to  that  people  calling  themselves  the  "  Regular  Baptists." 
So  averse  do  they  seem  to  be  to  the  publication  of  their  own 
hi-tory  that  it  is  impossible  to  do  them  the  degree  of  honor 
we  would  desire. 

Among  the  earlier  settlers  of  Perry  county  were  a  number 
of  immigrants  from  Tennessee,  men  of  sterling  integrity  and 
uprightness  of  character,  holding  views  of  the  divine  char, 
acter  and  government  which  led  them  to  decline  fellowship 
with  those  who  belitvtd  in  the  use  of  means  iu  the  conver- 
sion of  the  unregenerate 

"  We  believe  in  the  doctrine  of  election,  and  that  God's 
people  were  chosen  in  Christ  from  all  eternity,"  is  the  sub- 
stance of  a  tenet  so  strongly  cherished  by  them  that  It  was 


incorporated  in  the  letters  of  dismission  they  brought  with 
them  from  Tennesseee.  Inadvertently  or  otherwise,  a  num. 
ber  of  them  became  members  of  the  Nine  Mile  church  soon 
after  its  organization.  Failing  to  bring  the  church  to  their 
views,  they  withdrew  and  organized  a  separate  body,  with 
the  name  "Nine  Mile"  Baptist  church.  Friendly  relations 
seem  to  have  existed  between  the  two  bodies,  as  they  for  a 
time  occupied  the  same  house. 

John  S.  Haggard,  Matthew  Jones  and  Thomas  Jones  were 
among  the  original  members,  and  this  separate  organization 
took  place  about  1833,  some  account  of  which  is  given  in  the 
foregoing  sketch  of  the  Nine  Mile  Baptist  Church.  John 
Harriss,  of  Paradise  Prairie,  is  their  present  clerk. 

Two  other  organizations  were  in  existence,  but  both  have 
long  since  become  extinct.  One  of  them,  called  "  Holt's 
Prairie"  church,  was  situated  at  the  forks  of  the  Benton  and 
Du  Quoin  roads,  about  a  mile  east  of  Pinckneyville.  The 
grave  of  Samuel  P.  Groves  marks  the  spot  occupied  by  the 
old  log  church.  John  Haggard,  living  near  by,  was  one  of 
the  first  members.  Elders  Silas  Chrislo  and  Eli  Short  were 
present  at  the  organization.  The  dates  of  its  organization 
and  dissolution  are  not  known. 


METHODISM  IN  PERRY  COUNTY. 

BY  MRS.  LUCY  M.  HAMILTON. 

The  earliest  account  of  Methodism  to  be  found  in  Perry 
county  dates  back  to  the  year  1837.  In  that  year  a  small 
society  was  organized  at  Pinckneyville,  by  Rev.  James  H. 
Dickens  (now  of  Illinois  Conference)  and  Rev.  John  Van- 
cleve,  presiding  elder.  This  society  was  composed  of  Dr. 
Humphrey  B.  Jones  and  Harriet  Jones  (father  and  mother 
of  the  writer),  Isaac  Carmack  and  wife,  Benjamin  Ham- 
mack,  Sarah  Hammack,  Aaron  Holman,  Patsey  Holman, 
Calvin  Edwards  and  Fannie  Edwards.  Their  meetings  were 
held  first  at  the  house  of  Dr.  H  B.  Jones;  afterward,  for  a 
time,  in  the  court-house;  from  there  the  services  were 
removed  to  the  school-house,  and  thence  to  the  old  Temper- 
ance Hall,  which  they,  as  did  other  denominations,  used  as  a 
place  of  worship  for  a  number  of  years.  Their  first  church 
was  built  in  the  year  1857,  under  the  labors  of  Rev.  G.  W. 
Cullom.  It  was  a  plain  frame  building,  30x40  feet,  with  a 
seating  capacity  for  about  two  hundred.  This  house  served 
them  as  a  place  of  worship  for  about  twenty-five  years.  By 
this  time  the  old  church  was  too  small  to  accommodate  the 
congregation,  and  not  being  centrally  located,  they  deter- 
mined to  build  another.  In  the  year  1881,  under  the  super- 
vision of  Rev.  W.  H.  Tyner,  the  work  commenced,  and  the 
corner-stone  of  the  new  building  was  laid  May  17,  1881  ;  but 
owing  to  the  severe  drought  in  that  year  the  house  was  not 
completed  until  May  21,  1882,  when  it  was  dedicated  by 
Rev.  C.  Nash,  presiding  elder,  assisted  by  the  pastor.  Rev. 
W.  H.  Tyner  and  Rev.  James  H.  Dickens.  This  church  is 
a  beautiful  brick,  82x52  feet ;  will  seat  from  300  to  400,  and 
cost  $3,000. 

Rev.  James  H.  Dickens,  the  first  Methodist  circuit 
preacher  in  Perry  county,  of  whom  we  have  any  knowledge, 
remained  therein  two  years  (1837-'38),  laboring  to  build  up 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


279 


and  establish  Methodism.  He  traveled  on  horseback  through 
heat  and  cold,  over  a  thinly-setlled  country,  organizing 
small  societies  and  f.)rming  what  was  known  for  many  years 
as  the  Pinckneyville  circuit,  which  we  find  in  1850  had 
grown  to  be  a  charge  of  fourteen  appointments  of  the  fol- 
lowing named  places  :  Pinckneyville,  Du  Quoin,  Tamaroa, 
Six  Mile,  Greenwoods,  Woolley's,  Virgeunes  (Jackson 
county).  Fallen's,  Benson's  scliool-house,  Johnson's  school- 
house,  Anderson's,  Miuson's,  Jenkins'  and  Campbell's. 
Pre-eminent  among  these  appointments  were  Pinckneyville, 
Du  Quoin  and  Tamaroa.  We  find  from  an  old  conference 
journal  that  a  small  Methodist  society  was  organized  in  old 
Du  Quoin  in  1845  by  Rev.  Americus  Don  Carlos  (now  of 
the  Illinois  Conference),  which  was  a  standing  appointment 
for  several  years.  Rev.  L.  Hawkins  was  appointed  by  the 
Southern  Illinois  Conference  to  the  city  of  Du  Quoin,  then 
a  small  village,  where  he  formed  a  Methodist  society. 

We  are  iudebled  to  the  Rev.  T.  N.  Johnson  for  the  fol- 
lowing report  of  Methodism  in  Du  (^uoin.  He  says  that  in 
1863  the  Rev.  T.  N.  Johnson  was  appointed  to  the  Du  Quoin 
circuit,  that  place  being  one  of  the  appointments.  Here  he 
found  a  few  members,  with  no  place  of  worship,  and  obtained 
liberty  to  use  the  school  house  for  that  purpose.  Soon  pastor 
and  people  saw  the  need  of  a  church,  and  the  work  of  build- 
ing one  began,  many  friends  of  the  cause  giving  liberally. 
Mrs.  Nancy  Woolley,  widow  of  Rev.  Benjamin  Woolley, 
donated  the  site,  and  the  work  progressed,  notwithstanding 
the  hard  times  brought  on  by  the  war  of  the  rebellion.  It 
is  due  many  of  our  noble  soldiers  to  say  that  they  gave  lib- 
erally of  their  hard  earned  wages.  This  church  was  built  of 
brick,  60.x40  feet,  seating  300  to  400,  and  costing  between 
$3,000  and  S4,000.  It  was  dedicated  in  September,  180.5, 
and  still  serves  as  a  place  of  worship  for  the  Methodist  peo- 
ple of  Du  Quoiu.  Du  Quoin  was  made  a  station  in  the  year 
1865,  with  72  members,  and  it  has  grown  to  be  a  station  of 
considerable  importance,  with  a  present  membership  of  105. 

In  1865  a  Methodist  society  was  organized  at  Tamaroa  by 
Rev-  G.  W.  CuUom,  circuit  preacher  of  Pinckneyville  circuit. 
Since  that  time  this  society  has  built  a  very  good  frame 
church.  This  charge  is  known  as  Tamaroa  circuit  and  em- 
braces several  appointments. 

There  are  small  Methodist  societies  throughout  Perry 
count}',  besides  those  already  mentioned,  many  of  them  being 
quite  active  and  prosperous ;  and  it  is  safe  to  say  that 
Methodism  in  Perry  county  is  rapidly  and  surely  becoming 
a  prominently  established  feature. 


GERMAN  EVANGELICAL  CHURCH. 

BY    REV    J.    F.    KLICK. 

There  are  two  congregations  in  Perry  County  that  belong, 
to  the  protestant  church  as  it  is  represented,  by  the  German 
Evangelical  Synod  of  North  America.  One  of  these  is  in 
Pinckneyville,  the  other  in  Du  Quoin.  The  one  in  Pinck- 
neyville is  called,  "  Evangelical  St.  Paul's  congregation." 
And  this  one  we  will  describe  first. 

The  Evangelical  St  Paul's  Congregation  in  Pinckneyville 
hae   property   valued   at    forty-five    hundred   dollars      It 


consists  of  two  lots,  a  nice  brick  church  building,  a  comforta- 
ble brick  parsonage,  with  school-room  under  the  same  roof, 
and  all  necessary  outbuildings.  The  church  has  a  steeple, 
containing  two  bells,  and  cost  about  four  hundred  dollars- 
There  is  seating  room  for  three  hundred  people. 

Its  history  embraces  this  peculiarity  that  it  was  built 
without  one  established  congregation,  or  a  settled  pastor. 
The  Germans  wante  1  a  church, without  being  settled  in  their 
minds,  as  to  what  denomination  it  should  belong.  Their 
first  aim,  was,  to  have  a  German  church.  Accordingly 
Evangelicals,  Lutherans,  Reformed  and  Methodists  built 
together,  and  not  until  the  church  was  finished  did  the 
question  of  ownership  arise.  The  only  way  to  solve  this 
question,  was  to  organize,  and  accept  a  coustilution.  On 
this  occasion  the  large  majority  of  Germans  were  in  favor  of 
an  Evangelical,  that  is  united  Reformed  and  Lutheran 
church,  and  accordingly  in  the  year  ]'^72,  accepted  an 
Evangelical  con.stitution- 

The  beginning  of  the  congregation,  dates  back  to  1855, 
when  the  first  members  among  the  German  emigrants  settled 
in  the  county.  Now  the  Germans  are  all  church  members, 
but  under  the  first  struggles  to  secure  a  comfortable  home 
for  themselves,  the  church  matter  was  some  what  neglected. 
The  German  Methodists  were  the  first  that  held  services  in 
town  and  the  surrounding  country,  that  were  attended 
exclusively  by  Gertnans.  Then  occasionally,  single  stand- 
ing ministers,  that  is,  ministers  that  belong  to  no  Synod, 
came  around  and  held  services.  But  as  the  Methodists  have 
many  strange  arrangements  in  their  service  for  the 
Germans,  and  the  single  standing  ministers  proved  to  be 
l>artly  infidels,  these  meetings  only  served  to  make  the 
Germans  feel  the  want  of  a  church,  as  they  have  it  in  the 
old  country.  Therefore  in  the  year  1868,  some  Germans 
began  to  circulate  a  subscription  list  to  raise  money  for  a 
German  church  in  Pinckneyville,  the  first  German  church 
in  town,  and  a  considerable  amount  of  money  was  sub'  cribed. 
With  this  the  present  Evangelical  St-  Paul's  church 
was  built,  in  1870.  When  finished  it  was  open  to  all 
German  services.  The  first  minister  that  held  services  was 
Rev-  George  Goeringer.  He  was  a  member  of  the 'Mis- 
souri Lutheran  Synod,"  and  therefore  too  exclusive  to  do  any 
good  here.  He  was  succeeded  by  the  Kev.  John  Maul,  who 
came  at  intervals  to  hold  meetings-  But  as  he  had  a  congre- 
gation of  his  own,  and  could  not  come  often,  they  called  "Rev. 
Albert  Zeller,"  of  the  German  Evangelical  Synod  of  North 
America  He  was  successful  in  giving  the  people  a  solid 
foundation,  in  the  form  of  a  constitution.  This  constitution 
was  adopted  in  1872,  and  subscribed  to  by  thirty-five  fami- 
lits.  At  this  time  there  was  no  parsonage,  and  the  minister 
urged  upon  the  congregation  the  necessity  of  building  one- 
They  at  first  held  back,  knowing  that  there  was  still  a  debt 
of  one  thousan<l  dollars  on  the  property.  But  at  last  they 
concluded  to  build.  The  house  was  not  to  cost  over  fifteen 
hundred  dollars,  and  this  sum  was  to  be  collected  by  the 
minister  ;  but  the  house  and  appurtenances,  aside  from  the 
collected  money,  entailed  upon  the  congregation  a  debt  of 
two  thousand  dollars.  At  this  point,  in  1874,  Rev.  A.  Zel- 
ler  left  the  congregation.     Under  such  circumstances  the 


280 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


Rev.  F.  Laufman  was  called.  He  worked  under  these  diffi- 
culties for  two  years,  and  succeeded  in  holding  up  the 
congregation,  but  neither  increasing  the  number  of  members, 
nor  decreasing  the  debt.  He  left  the  congregation  in  1876, 
and  it  called  Rev.  John  Klick  from  Nebraska,  in  the  same 
year.  Under  his  management  the  congregation  began  to 
prosper,  the  number  of  members  increased  and  the  debt  was 
paid.  At  this  time,  1882,  the  congregation  stands,  nearly  free 
from  debt,  and  numbers  fifty  families  as  its  members.  At 
present  there  is  hardly  anything  to  impede  the  congregation 
in  its  flourishing  growth.  At  the  peaceful  gatherings  of  the 
congregation  at  present,  it  is  hard  to  be  ieve,  that  there  have 
been  so  many  difficulties  to  overcome. 

The  congregation  has,  as  staled  in  the  beginning  a  school 
which  at  present  is  taught  by  the  minister.  The  school  is 
held  six  months  during  the  winter.  Here  the  children  o£  the 
congregation  receive  their  religious  education,  and  are  taught 
in  all  the  elementary  branches  in  the  German  language, 
though  the  school  is  open  to  all,  who  wish  to  learn  German. 

ST.    JOHNS   EVANGELICAL    CONGREGATION. 

The  other  Evangelical  congregation  as  stated  in  the  begin 
ning  is  in  Du  Quoin.  It  has  property  to  the  value  of  two 
thousand  dollars,  consisting  of  one  lot,  and  a  frame  church 
building,  erected  in  1876  with  seating  capacity  for  two 
hundred  and  fifty  people.  Some  of  the  members  of  this 
congregation  had  lived  here  a  long  time  before  any  German 
servises  was  held.  In  fact  as  they  lived  among  the  Ameri- 
cans, and  have  adopted  the  English  language  and  manners, 
they  hardly  knew  that  there  were  more  than  a  few  German 
Protestant  families.  The  German  settlement  seven  miles 
west  of  Du  Quoin,  had  been  visited  by  ministers  occasionally, 
but  could  not  succeed  in  organizing  a  congregation.  In  1874 
Rev-  F.  Laufman  of  Pinckneyville,  visited  this  settlement 
and  held  service  in  a  school-house  for  a  period  of  time,  and 
then  he  was  invited  to  preach  in  Du  Quoin  itself  At  the 
first  meetings  the  German  Protestants  found  that  there  were 
more  of  their  own  persuasion  then  they  had  any  idea  of  So 
Rev.  Laufman  was  invited  to  preach  there  regularly.  He 
did  so,  and  began  to  organize  a  congregation  in  187.5.  There 
were  nineteen  families  to  enroll  on  the  list.  They  con- 
stituted themselves  as  the  "  German  Evangelical  St.  John's 
church  of  Du  Quoiu."  This  being  done  they  called  Rev.  J. 
Kramer  from  St.  Joseph,  Missouri  He  commenced  his  work 
in  the  spring  of  1876.  His  first  aim  was  to  obtain  a  church 
building.  He  circulated  a  subscription  list  for  this  purpose, 
with  much  success,  and  a  church  was  built  the  same  year. 
By  this  time  the  congregation  had  increased  to  26  families. 
By  the  time  the  church  was  completed,  there  was  a  debt  of 
nine  hundred  dollars.  Rev.  Kramer  left  the  congregation 
late  in  the  year  1877,  and  was  followed  by  the  Rev.  R.  A. 
John,  who  remained  with  them  one  year,  and  was  followed 
by  Rev.  J.  L.  Seybold,  who  likewise  stayed  one  year,  and  the 
concregat  on  was  without  a  minister  for  si.x  months.  In 
December,  1880,  Rev.  N.  Mohr  took  charge  of  the  congre- 
gation, and  worked  faithfully,  and  at  present  the  congrega- 
tion is  beginning  to  prosper.  The  number  of  members  is 
thirty  four,  the  debt  slightly  diminished  and  strong  efforts 
are  being  made  to  pay  the  whole. 


HOLY  CATHOLIC  CHURCH. 

BY  REV.  C.  KLOCKE. 

Nothing  could  be  ascertained  of  this  church  in  Perry 
county  prior  to  18.57,  except  the  fact  that  Louis  Du  Quoin, 
an  Indian  chief,  after  whom  the  city  was  named,  was  a  Cath- 
olic ;  and  he  was  probably  the  first  one  that  set  his  foot  on 
the  soil  of  the  county.  His  remains  lie  buried  at  the  his- 
toric town  of  Kaskaskia. 

In  the  month  of  Mxy,  1857,  the  few  Catholic  families  liv- 
ing within  this  county,  assembled  for  the  first  time,  for  the 
purpose  of  worship.  The  majority  of  them  had  not  seen  a 
priest,  and  had  not  worshiped  according  to  the  rite  of  the 
church  to  which  they  belonged  for  a  number  of  years.  At 
the  time  above  mentioned,  Rev.  Father  Cusack,  of  Vandalia^ 
said  mass  at  the  residence  of  Michael  Bradley,  then  living 
some  miles  north  of  the  present  site  of  the  city  of  Du  Quoin, 
at  a  place  named  Black  Diamond. 

Upon  that  occasion.  Baptism,  according  to  Catholic  rites, 
was  administered  for  the  first  time  within  the  county,  to  a 
child,  (John  Bradley);  John  Bradley  and  Miss  Donovan, 
now  Mrs.  Carroll,  acting  as  sponsors.  Father  Cusack  sub- 
sequently visited  the  county  at  intervals,  and  said  mass  at 
different  times  at  the  houses  of  M.  Bradley,  John  Bradley, 
Mr.  Day,  Dr.  O'Rielly,  Mr.  iMotler,  and  the  late  Timothy 
Kelly.  Father  Cusack,  after  having  attended  to  the  spiri- 
tual wants  of  the  Catholics  of  the  county  for  a  few  years,  was 
relieved  by  Rev.  Father  Lambert.  Father  Lambert  quite 
frequently  celebrated  mass  at  Mr.  Henry  Hoen's  house,  then 
standing  on  the  same  lot,  that  afterward  became  the  property 
of  the  congregation  Father  Lambert  continued  his  visits 
up  to  1861.  Rev.  Father  Mark  next  visited  the  county 
three  or  four  times,  and  was  succeeded,  in  1863,  by  Rev. 
Father  J.  W.  Vahey,  of  Vandalia,  who  attended  this  mis- 
sion till  186.5  These  visits  were  neither  frequent  nor  regu- 
lar, and  probably  did  not  exceed  one  every  quarter,  from 
1857  to  1865.  These  occasions  gathered  together  the  Cath- 
olic settlers,  residing  many  miles  apart  from  each  other  in  the 
surrounding  country. 

In  1865  Rev.  Father  Walshe,  of  Vandalia,  began  to  visit 
Du  Quoin  every  two  months.  At  that  time  there  were 
about  twenty  Catholic  families  residing  there,  while  the 
whole  number  living  within  the  county  did  not  exceed 
thirty. 

After  a  time  Father  Walshe  decided  to  build  a  church, 
and  a  meeting  to  consider  the  practicability  of  such  a  step 
was  held  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Nicholas  Kigert,  in  August^ 
1866.  At  this  meeting,  Henry  Horn,  J.  J.  Higgins,  Owen 
Reddington,  James  Hartigan,  and  Nicholas  Kigert  were  ap- 
pointed as  directors  and  building  committee,  and  succeeded 
in  collecting  a  sum  of  about  three  hundred  and  fifty  dollars 
in  this  county. 

Henry  Horn  received  the  contract  for  building  a  brick 
structure  forty  feet  by  fifty,  at  the  price  of  two  thousand 
and  two  hundred  dollars.  The  building  was  commenced  in 
September,  1866.  Misfortune  overtook  the  work  in  Decem- 
ber, 1866.  A  severe  storm  swept  across  this  section,  and 
caused  one  of  the  newly-erected  walls  to  cave  in,  necessitat- 


HISTORY    OF   RAXDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


281 


ing  repairs  costing  seven  hundred  dollars,  and  delaying  com- 
pletion of  the  building  till  the  following  year. 

The  first  mass  was  said  in  the  new  church  to  a  congrega- 
tion of  twenty  Citholic  families  ab.)Ut  Christmas  1SG7.  Af- 
ter mass  baptism  was  administered  to  one  adult  and  seven 
children. 

Father  Walshe's  successor,  in  18G8,  was  Rev.  Father 
Mackeuhaupt,  of  Centralia,  who  attended  the  newly  founded 
mission  once  a  montli  fir  about  nine  mouths,  when  he  died. 

In  May,  iMis,  this,  as  well  as  all  the  surrounding  missions, 
were  visited,  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  Bi5hop  Yuucker,  of  Alton. 
On  September  2><,  1  •"<()>>,  the  congregation  of  Da  Quoin  and 
the  other  missions  were  placed  under  the  care  of  Rev.  Chas. 
Klocke,  who  ever  since  that  time  has  remained  continu- 
ously at  this  post. 

At  that  time  Father  Klocke  was  the  only  resident  priest 
on  the  Illinois  Central  railroad,  between  Cairo  and  Effing- 
ham, and  his  labors  extended  over  a  territory,  in  which 
there  now  are  eight  congregations,  each  of  which  has  a  resi- 
dent priest.  After  becoming  somewhat  acquainted  with  those 
amongst  whom  he  was  in  future  to  labor,  he  directed  hi^  at- 
tention towards  the  spiritual  and  material  condition  of  his 
congregation.  Before  a  year  had  passed,  the  church  had 
received  a  plastering,  had  been  provided  with  seats,  and 
many  other  necessary  fixtures. 

The  present  parochial  residence  was  bought  in  l^^GQ  of 
Mr.  Henry  Horn,  for  the  sum  of  six  thousand  and  five  hun- 
dred dollars.  It  it  a  neat  and  substantial  building,  and  will 
serve  its  purpose  for  many  years  to  come.  In  one  of  the 
rooms  of  the  residence  a  school  attended  at  first  by  eight 
children,  was  commenced  by  Father  Klocke,  but  as  the  num- 
ber of  pupils  iucreased.  the  school  was  removed  to  a  small 
house  that  was  standing  on  the  same  lot  as  the  residence, 
and  had  been  included  iu  the  six  thousand  and  five  hundred 
dollar  purchase.  After  the  removal,  the  school  was  placed 
under  the  care  of  Mr.  John  Masquelet,  who  remained  its 
teacher  for  five  years. 

In  I'^Tl,  the  congregation  was  divided,  and  two  ne>T  con- 
gregations founded,  one  (St.  Bruno's)  at  Pinckneyville,  and 
the  other,  (St.  Mary  Magdalen's,)  at  Todd's  mill,  Beaucoup 
precinct. 

At  Todd's  mill  a  chapel  was  built,  where  services  are  held 
once  a  month,  by  the  priest  of  Pinckneyville.  During  the 
same  year  a  brick  church  (o5x(i>»)  was  begun  at  Pinckney- 
ville, which  was  completed  in  1874.  It  was  built  under  the 
direction  of  Rev.  Father  Klocke  at  a  cost  of  about  eight 
thousand  dollars,  and  is  the  handsomest  church  edifice  in 
Perry  county.  Pinckneyville  remained  in  charge  of  Rev. 
Father  Klocke  until  IS"."',  when  Rev.  Father  L.  Riesen  be- 
came its  rector.  Father  Riesen  remained  one  year,  and  was 
succeeded  by  Rev.  Father  II.  Ader,  who  is  still  there.  About 
sixty  families  belong  to  this  congregation,  which  is  in  a  flour- 
ishing condition.  In  1^72  a  two-storied  school-house  was 
erected  in  Du  (iuoin.  Its  iliniensions  are  40x24.  It  is  an 
airy  spacious  building,  well  constructed,  with  proper  regard 
for  ventilation,  etc.,  and  is  at  |>reseut  visited  by  seventy-four 
pupils.  In  1.S74  forty  acres  of  land  was  purchased,  of  which 
ten  were  reserved  for  burying  purposes.  After  these  large 
36 


purchases  had  been  made,  there  followed  a  series  of  complete 
failures  of  the  crop.s,  rendering  the  members  of  the  congre- 
gation unable  to  pay  their  contributions.  In  consequence 
of  this  the  financial  condition  of  the  congregation  had  be- 
come very  distressing.  When  the  distress  was  the  greatest 
there  came  a  deliverer.  Mr.  Henry  Horn,  whose  name  has 
already  several  times  appeared  on  these  pages,  came  for- 
ward, and  generously  donated  the  congregation  the  hand- 
some sura  of  nine  thousand  dollars.  For  this  generous  act 
the  Catholics  of  the  Du  Quoin  congregation  owe  Mr.  Horn 
a  debt  of  gratitude  that  they  will  never  be  able  to  cancel. 

There  are  at  present  (I'S.SJ)  over  three  hundred  Catholic 
families  in  this  county.  In  1857  there  were  thirty.  By 
comparing  these  two  figures  any  one  that  will,  may  see  that 
Catholicism  is  steadily  making  slow,  but  sure  progress  within 
the  territory  of  which  we  are  writing. 


THE  UNITED  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH. 
{Randolph  and  Perry   Counties). 

BY  REV.  J.  C.  ELLIOTT. 

This  religious  organization  was  formed  May  the  26th, 
1S.58,  by  the  union  of  the  Associate  and  the  Associate 
Reformed  Presbyterian  Churches.  The  former  had  its 
origin  iu  Scotland  in  the  year  17o-'> ;  the  latter  was  largely 
a  product  of  the  American  Revolution  for  Independence. 
The  Associate  and  the  Reformed  Presbyterian  Churches, 
having  originated  in  Scotland,  their  members  haled  the 
tyranny  of  England,  and  many  of  them  were  iu  the  Ameri- 
can army  fighting  side  by  side  for  independence.  This  et 
a/i'i  led  to  a  union  of  these  bodies  in  1782. 

In  Randolph  and  Perry  counties  there  are  at  present  nine 
representatives  of  thij  church,  the  oldest  of  wh  ch  is  at 

SPRIXGFIELD. 

It  is  likewise  the  oldest  congregation  of  the  Presbyterian 
faith  in  the  State  of  Illinois,  having  been  organized  in  the 
year  1810  by  Rev.  Samuel  Brown  of  the  Associate  Reformed 
Presbytery  of  Kentucky.  The  first  elders  were  Archibald 
Thompson,  John  Anderson  and  John  Bcatty.  The  first 
house  of  worship  was  built  in  the  year  1812  by  the  joint 
labor  of  those  "  who  wished  a  church  "  It  was  a  double  log 
cabin,  lGx32  feet,  and  stood  near  what  is  now  known  as  the 
Kelley  graveyard,  about  two  miles  east  of  Evansville.  In 
this  same  year  the  first  administration  of  the  ordinance  of 
baptism  was  administered  to  forty-four  children,  among 
whom  was  the  writer's  mother.  A  second  house  of  worship, 
a  frame  building  about  30x40  feet,  was  built  in  1823  or  '24, 
and  stood  on  the  east  side  of  the  present  cemetery  near 
Preston,  formerly  Springfield.  Their  present  commodious 
brick  church  was  erected  in  1841-42  at  a  cost  of  about  one 
thousand  dollars,  and  stands  on  a  beautiful  ridge  in  the 
eastern  part  of  this  little  village.  Besides  Rev.  Brown, 
Revs.  Samuel  Carothers  and  Alexander  Porter  preached  for 
the  congregation,  as  occasion  permitted,  prior  to  1826.  In 
this  year  was  installed  their  first  pastor.  Rev.  John  Rey- 
nolds, who  remained  with  them  till  1829.  Rev.  Samuel  C. 
Baldridge  succeeded  hira  in  1831,  and  resigned  his  charge 


282 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY  COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


in  1836.  Rev.  Jas.  McAuley  began  his  labors  here  in  1839, 
and  continued  them  till  the  spring  of  1847,  when  he  re- 
signed. His  successor  from  1849  to  1854  was  Rev.  M.  M. 
BrowD,  who  was  followed  from  185.5  to  1866  by  Rev  J.  W. 
Glenn.  Rev.  John  Todd  was  installed  May  14,  1870,  and 
released  April  10,  1872.  Their  present  pastor,  Rev.  8.  M. 
Moore,  has  served  the  congregation  since  1873.  It  is  a 
noteworthy  fact  that  not  a  single  pastor  of  this  congrega- 
tion, during  its  seventy  years  of  existence,  has  been  removed 

by  death. 

Jordan's  grove. 

This  congregation  was  organized  in  connexion  with  the 
Associate  Presbyterian  Church  of  North  America  in  the 
year  1828.  It  was  known  by  the  name  of  Unity  until  1871, 
when  it  was  changed  to  Jordan's  Grove.  Its  first  Elders 
were,  Messrs.  John  McMillan,  Moses  Thompson  and  William 
Rutherford.  Rev.  James  P.  Miller,  who  made  a  tour  of 
exploration  westward  through  Indiana,  Illinois,  and  into 
Missouri  in  the  years  1824  and  '25,  was  probably  its  first 
minister. 

The  late  Rev.  James  Rodgers,  D.  D.,  preached  here  in. 
1830.  The  first  house  of  worship  was  a  small  log  cabin; 
afterwards  it  was  enlarged  by  a  small  frame  addition  to  one 
end.  In  1847-'8,  a  frame  church  that  would  seat  about  one 
hundred  persons  was  erected.  In  1860  they  built  their 
present  large  brick  church,  60x45  feet,  with  a  seating  capa- 
city for  nearly  500  perjons.  It  is  located  about  six  miles 
southwest  of  Maris^^a,  in  Randolph  county.  Rev.  Thomas 
S.  Kendall  labored  here  about  the  years  1843  and  '4  Rev 
Byron  Porter  was  pastor  from  1851  until  1856  Rev.  J.  P. 
Wright  accepted  a  call  in  the  spring  of  1861,  but  returned 
it  in  October  of  the  same  year.  He  was  succeeded  in  Oct., 
1862,  by  the  Rev.  R.  N.  Fee,  who  remained  until  April, 
1871,  when  he  resigned.  Sept.  1875,  to  August  1876,  Rev. 
T.  B.  McKee  was  pastor.  Rev.  R.  C  Hamilton  was  or- 
dained and  installed  in  December,  1877,  and  remained  till 
April,  1879.  Their  present  pastor,  Rev.  W.  J.  Gillespie, 
took  charge  in  December,  1879.  The  congregation  is  pros- 
pering under  his  eflScient  management.  It  was  much  weaK- 
ened  in  1870  by  the  organization  of  a  church  at  Marissa, 
which  received  accessions  from  its  members  residing  in  the 
vicinity  of  that  place.  The  present  membership  of  Jordan's 
Grove  is  eighty-one. 

UNION. 

This  congregation  was  organized  May  31,  1830.  Rev. 
John  Reynolds  preached  there  first  in  1826.  Its  first  elders 
were,  Messrs.  Arthur  Parks,  William  McKee,  Maxey  Mc- 
Cormick,  and  James  Morrow  ;  its  first  trustees,  Messrs.  Ar- 
thur Parks,  James  Morrow  and  James  Baird  Their  first 
church  edifice-a  brick  building  60x40  feet— was  erected  in 
1832  for  about  $1,500  00,  and  would  seat  some  .300  persons. 
This  house  becoming  unfit  for  use,  another,  70x40  feet,  was 
erected  in  1870-71,  about  three  miles  southwest  of  Sparta, 
of  the  same  material,  costing  §3,200.  The  first  church 
stood  in  the  northern  side  of  Union  cemetery.  Its  first 
pastor  was  Rev.  Samuel  C.  Baldridge  ;  the  second.  Rev. 
James  McAuley,  from  1839  to  1843 ;  the  third,  Rev.  Wm. 
M.  Graham,  from  the  summer  of  1844  until  September,  1847  ; 


the  fcurth.  Rev.  Samuel  McDill,  D  D.,  from  April,  1849, 
to  the  fall  of  18.56;  the  fifth.  Rev  J.  F.  Stewart,  from  April 
2,  1857,  until  1859,  when  Sparta  became  a  separate  congre- 
gation, after  which  he  devoted  his  whole  time  there.  The 
sixth  pastor  of  Union  was  Rev.  Henry  Allen,  from  Dec, 
1860,  until  May,  1865.  Rev.  M  M.  Marling  was  their 
seventh  pastor,  from  Feb.,  1866,  until  April,  1870.  Their 
present  pastor.  Rev.  T.  P.  Proudfit,  was  installed  April  24, 
1872.     Its  present  membership  is  109. 

HOPEWELT,. 

This  congregation  was  organized  in  1832  with  about 
thirty  five  members.  The  first  minister  who  preached  there 
was  Rev.  Samuel  C.  Baldridge.  He  was  their  first  pastor, 
from  the  date  of  their  organization  until  he  left  southern 
Illinois  in  1837.  In  1840.  Rev.  Joseph  Thompson  became 
their  pastor.  On  account  of  some  diflSculties  in  the  congre- 
gation, he  resigned  in  the  year  1846.  In  1847  or  '8,  Rev. 
James  Morrow  began  to  labor  there  as  a  stated  supply,  and 
continued  until  about  18.j2.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev. 
William  Wright  in  1859,  until  Nov.,  1863.  Rev.  T.  D. 
Davis  began  work  in  Nov.,  1864,  but  was  not  installed  until 
early  in  1865.  He  remained  until  the  fall  of  1867,  and  was 
succeeded  by  the  Rev.  John  E.  Richey,  July  14,  1868,  who 
continued  pastor  until  his  death,  Dec  30,  1874.  The  next 
pastor  was  Rev.  Wm.  L.  Garges,  from  Sept.  6,  1880,  until 
Dec,  1881,  when  he  resigned,  leaving  the  pastorate  vacant. 
The  first  elders  were :— Messrs.  David  Baldridge,  Robert 
Woodside,  James  Steele  and  Hugh  Brown.  Their  first 
house  of  worship  was  built  in  1832  on  the  northeast  quarter 
of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  19,  town  5  south,  range  3 
west.  It  is  a  frame  building  (still  used),  and  will  seat  two 
hundred  persons. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  William  Wright,  in  1860, 
they  erected  a  second  house  of  worship  in  Pinckneyville  for 
the  accommodation  of  members  living  in  that  village  and 
vicinity.  It  was  also  a  frame  building  and  cost  about  S1300. 
Since  its  erection  services  have  been  held  in  each  house  on 
alternate  days.  In  1874  it  had  one  hundred  and  fifty  mem- 
bers;  and  now  (in  1882)  it  has  only  one  hundred  and  six- 
teen, and  these  widely  scattered.  They  have  recently  sold 
their  house  in  Pinckneyville,  and  contemplate  building  one 
more  centrally  located. 


This  congregation  was  originally  a  part  of  Hopewell.  In 
1840  there  were  six  or  eight  families  residing  in  this  vicinity 
who  held  their  membership  in  that  congregation.  During 
the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Joseph  Thompson  he  frequently 
preached  for  them  in  some  of  the  farm  houses  in  this  neigh- 
borhood, and  was  the  first  preacher  here.  A  plain  frame 
church  edifice  was  completed  in  the  year  1850,  at  a  cost  of 
about  S500,  about  a  half  a  mile  southeast  of  Swanwick. 
In  1873  and  '74  it  was  repaired  at  a  cost  of  $5.50.  This 
congregation  was  organized  October  12, 1850,  by  Rev.  David 
McDill,  D.  D.,  with  twenty  members.  Messrs.  Joseph  Craig 
and  John  C  Huey  were  its  first  elders.  Messrs.  John  Clark 
and  Daniel  Fullerton  were  elected  soon  after  its  organization. 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND   PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


283 


Itj  first  Trustees  were  Messrs.  John  McMillan,  Samuel  Huey 
and  John  M.  Woodside.  Rev.  James  Morrow  preached  as  a 
supply,  for  two  or  three  years,  as  aUo  various  other  minis- 
ters for  short  periods.  lu  May,  18.")!),  Rev.  Daniel  Steele 
was  settled  as  their  first  pastor.  lie  rennined  until  the  be- 
ginning of  the  year  l.SOt!,  when  he  was  released.  After  two 
years  vacancy,  Rev.  J.  C.  Elliott,  as  theirsecond  pastor,  be- 
gan his  labor  July  1,  1868,  but  was  not  installed  until  the 
15th  of  the  following  October.  He  is  still,  1882,  their  pas- 
tor. There  were  seventy-five  members  when  he  took  charge, 
and  now  there  are  one  hundred  and  thirty-eight.  It  is  now 
the  senior  pastorate  in  the  U.  P.  Presbytery  of  Southern 
Illinois. 


As  early  as  1830,  this  was  a  preaching  station 
in  connection  with  Union  congregation.  A  large  brick 
church  was  completed  here  in  l>4-5  or  'G,  costingabout  §4200. 
It  had  a  basement  story.  Its  four  basement  rooms  were  in- 
tended for  high  school  purposes,  and  one  of  them  was  so 
used  for  several  years  until  Union  Academy  was  built.  A 
A  defective  foundation  rendered  this  church  unsafe  for  use, 
and  it  was  therefore  replaced  by  the  jiresent  handsome  one 
erected  in  1800  at  a  cost  of  StiOOO,  October  5,  IS-VJ,  the 
Presbytery  approved  of  a  separate  organization  in  accor. 
dance  with  the  report  of  a  committee  appointed  in  that  be- 
half. Since  then  Union  and  Sparta  have  existed  as  distinct 
congregations.  The  elders  of  Sparta  at  that  date,  >..  e.  1859, 
as  far  as  we  know,  were  as  follows  :  Messrs.  Aaron  M.  Allen, 
John  McDill,  John  Taylor,  George  Brown,  Matthew  Gilles- 
pie, Henry  Clendennin,  and  James  A.  Foster.  Its  mem. 
bership  in  1860  was  one  hundred  and  seventy.  Rev  J.  F. 
Stewart  resigned  his  charge  of  Union  in  the  full  of  18-59  and 
gave  all  his  time  to  Sparta  until  October  •"),  1S70,  when  he 
resigned.  The  congregation  immediately  called  Rev.  W.  J. 
Gillespie,  who  was  installed  November  11th  following.  He 
resigned  the  charge  May  10,  1871,  on  account  of  ill  health. 
He  accepted  a  call  the  second  time  August  7,  1872,  contin- 
uing pastor  until  August  14,  1877.  Rev.  .1.  W.  McNary 
the  present  pastor,  was  installed  May  14,  1878.  The  present 
membership  of  this  church  is  373. 

riiOSl'ERITY, 

This  congregation  was  organized  in  May,  1867,  by  Rev. 
J.  F.  Stewart,  by  direction  of  Presbytery.  The  fifty  persons 
entering  into  this  organization  were  members  of  the  U.  P. 
churches  of  Sparta  and  Mud  Creek,  and  the  R.  P.  Church 
of  Coulterville.  The  first  elders  were  Messrs.  Samuel  L. 
Boyd,  James  Kennedy,  Samuel  Gibson,  John  Pinckerton 
and  Gavin  Bicket.  A  commoJious  brick  church  OOxoO  feet 
wa.s  erected  in  1867,  near  Tilden,  in  Randolj)h  county,  at  a 
cost  of  a  little  over  $8000,  with  accomodations  for  four  hun- 
dred and  seventy  persons  May  1,  180S,  Rev.  James  R. 
Finney  was  installed  the  first  pastor.  During  his  pastorate 
the  congregation  increased  from  seventy-four  to  one  hundred 
aud  fifty-five  members.  He  was  released  iu  April,  1873,  on 
account  of  failing  health.  November  20,  1873.  Rev.  J.  M. 
McKitrick  became  their  second  pastor,  remaining  with  them 
until  September  6,  1830,  when  he  resigned  on  account  of 


delicate  health.  The  coagregation  was  saddened  greatly 
during  his  pastorate  by  the  death  of  two  of  its  active 
elders,  viz  :  Messrs.  Stevenson  and  Aitken.  Since 
Rev.  McKitrick's  resignation  they  have  been  vacant.  Its 
membership  as  reported  to  the  last  (Miy,  1882;  General 
Assembly,  was  one  hundred  and  sixty-eight 

COVLTERVILLE. 

This  congregation  came  into  the  United  Presbyterian 
Church  from  the  Reformed  Presbyterian  Ch  irch  in  the  year 
1S70.  The  pasior.  Rev.  W.  S.  Bralton,  four  elders,  viz. : 
Messrs.  William  Munford,  D.ivid  Munford,  James  R. 
McKelvey  and  James  \V.  McMillan,  and  ninety  members, 
came  as  an  organized  body,  by  virtue  of  the  action  of  the 
Western  Presbytery  of  the  Reformed  Presbyterian  Church, 
which  accepted  a  basis  for  union  that  had  been  prepared 
some  years  before.  A  part  of  the  congregation  remained  in 
their  former  connection,  and  held  the  church  property.  This 
entailed  the  burdun  of  erecting  a  new  church  edifice  on  those 
who  had  seen  fit  to  change  their  ecclesiastical  connection. 
iSoon  they  had  a  new  and  beautiful  frame  church  60x37 
feet,  built  at  a  cost  all  told  of  S4641.  It  was  dedicated  July 
7,  1871.  Rev  John  McMaster,  D.  D.,  of  Princeton,  In- 
diana, preached  the  dedication  sermon.  Success  in  erecting 
this  house  of  worship  so  speeddy  was  due  to  the  energy  and 
faithfulness  of  the  first  three  trustees,  viz.  :  Messrs.  John  II. 
McKelvey,  Thomas  McDill  aud  James  Mark.  The  congre- 
gation continued  to  prosper,  until  its  venerable  pastor's 
death,  January  11,1873.  He  had  served  them  since  De- 
cember, 18.59  and  was  sincerely  lamented.  They  next  called 
Rev.  J.  H.   Peacock,  who  was  installed  pastor  Oct 'ber  31, 

1873,  and  continued  to  act  iu  that  capacity  until  February 
1,  1875,  when  he  was  removed  by  death.  A  vacancy  fol- 
lowed until  Rev.  J.  II.  Gibson  was  ordained  and  installed 
March  13,  1877  Their  last  report  shows  a  membership  of 
two  hundred  and  eight.  This  compared  with  their  first 
report  in  1S71,  shows  a  gain  of  one  hundred  aud  fifteen  mem- 
bers in  eleven  years. 

CUTLER. 

The  original  name  of  this  congregatign  was  Concord.  It 
also  came  from  the  Reformed  Presbyterian  Church  in  1870, 
with  its  pastor.  Rev.  M.  Harshaw,  and  four  elders,  viz. : 
Messrs.  Hugh  Cooper,  David  Stevenson,  Robert  VV.  Cun- 
ningham, D.ivid  S.  McClure  and  forty-eight  members  As 
at  Coulterville  so  here  the  old  church  held  the  church  pro- 
perty. Rev.  Harshaw  aud  his  people  however  soon  secured 
a  piece  of  ground,  and  in  the  summer  of  1871  erected  near 
Culler  a  neat  frame  church  46x33  feet,  at  a  cost  of  S1900, 
with  seating  room  for  two  hundred  persons.     August  11th, 

1874,  their  venerable  pastor  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven, 
closing  a  pastorate  among  them  of  nearly  thirty-two  years. 
This  was  a  very  discouraging  event  in  the  history  of  this 
church.  Having  made  several  unsuccessful  attempts  to 
secure  a  pastor,  Mr.  Tneodore  C.  McKelvey,  a  licentiate  of 
our  own  Presbytery,  was  ordained  and  installed  September 
7,  1880.  Finding  their  house  of  worship  to  be  inconveni- 
ently located,  they  bad  it  removed  in  December,  18  81.  to 
the  village  of  Cutler,  at  an  expense  of  S47o.  Their  member- 
ship now  numbers  seventy-si:v. 


CHESTER. 


RANDOLPH    CO. 


^^HESTER,  the  county  seat  of  Randolph  county, 
^^  began  its  growth  as  a  town  in  1829.  As  Alton 
^^^5/^  bounds  the  American  Bottom  on  the  north,  so 
*A|^  ■*;  Chester  on  the  south  is  built  where  the  bluf}' 
'^'f^*^^  fii'st  touches  the  eastern  bank  of  the  Missi-sippi 
in  a  distance  of  one  hundred  and  ten  miles. 
Its  location  was  considered  most  advantageous 
in  the  early  days  of  river  navigation,  and  its  founders 
prophesied  that  a  great  and  populous  city  would  be  built 
upon  its  site.  It  became  the  seat  of  county  government  in 
1848.  It  is  now  the  largest  town  on  the  river  between  St. 
Louis  and  Cairo. 

The  vicinity  of  Chester  early  attracted  the  attention  of 
men  as  a  suitable  place  for  building  a  town.  In  the  early  part 
of  the  year  1819  a  company  was  organized  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio 
for  the  purpose  of  founding  a  town  on  the  Mississippi  near 
the  mouth  of  the  Kaskaskia.  The  projected  town,  it  was 
thought,  might  become  the  future  metropolis  of  Illinois. 
The  company  was  composed  of  jMajor  William  Oliver,  W. 
Bart,  David  Brown,  Daniel  D.  Smith  ard  some  others. 
Daniel  D.  Smith,  as  agent  of  ti)e  company,  came  to  Illinois, 
and  purchased  a  large  tr.Jct  of  land  near  the  mouth  of  the 
Kaska.«kia,  above  the  present  city  limits,  on  which  to  build 
the  future  town.  It  is  the  same  spot  where  the  Southern 
Illinois  Penitentiary  has  since  been  built.  The  next  year 
Benjamin  A.  Porter,  under  contract  with  the  proprietors, 
erected  a  number  of  dwellings,  and  built  a  steam  mill.  The 
town  was  named  Portland.  It  was  likely  thought  that  the 
new  town  would  draw  away  the  trade  of  Kaskaskia.  The 
enterprise,  however,  languished,  the  town  refused  to  grow, 
and  in  a  few  years  a  heap  of  ruins  marked  the  spot  which,  it 
was  hoped,  might  have  resounded  with  the  stir  of  commerce 
and  the  busy  hum  of  labor.  Of  the  persons  connected  with 
this  scheme  Benjamin  A.  Porter  became  the  founder  of 
the  town  of  Helena,  Arkansas.  Daniel  D.  Smith  removed 
to  a  more  northern  part  of  the  State,  and  became 
the  Recorder  of  Pike  county.  While  at  Edwardsville  on  a 
Saturday  evening  in  November,  1824,  he  was  killed  by 
Palmon  H.  Winchester,  then  practicing  law  at  Edwardsville. 
Winchester  was  acquitted  and  for  many  years  afterward 
practiced  his  profession  at  Carlinville,  Macoupin  county. 

The  earliest  entry  of  land  on  the  site  of  Chester  was  made 
by  John  McFerron  who  on  the  thirtieth  of  September,  1816; 
purchased  from  the  Government  fractional  section  twenty- 
five  containing  upward  of  forty-seven  acres.  This  is  a  tri. 
angular  tract,  embracing  the  present  depot  and  ferry  land- 
ing, and  extending  up  the  river  as  far  as  Hancock  street. 
October  the  eighth,  1824,  McFerron  conveyed  this  land  to 
284 


John  Griffith  for  two  hundred  dollars,  and  June  twenty- 
ninth,  1829,  for  a  consideration  of  twelve  dollars,  Griffith 
made  conveyance  to  Thomas  Mather  and  James  L.  Lamb- 
The  southwest  fractional  quarter  of  section  twenty-four, 
running  along  the  river  front  above  Hancock  street  for  more 
than  half  a  mile,  and  taking  in  the  site  of  the  court  house, 
was  also  entered  by  John  JIcFerron.  This  tract,  on  the 
seventh  of  July,  1829,  was  deeded  to  Jacob  Mayer  of  Kas- 
kaskia. It  contained  nearly  eighty-nine  acres,  and  the  price 
paid  for  it  was  two  dollars  an  acre.  On  the  tenth  of  March, 
1830,  Mayer,  for  a  consideration  of  one  hundred  dollars, 
conveyed  the  land  to  Samuel  Smith. 

From  an  earl)' date  there  had  been  temporary  residents  on 
the  site  of  the  town.  John  McFerron,  the  original  patentee  of 
the  land,  occupied  a  cabin  by  the  branch  near  the  present 
railway  station,  previous  to  the  year  1820.  He  represented 
Randolph  county  as  State  Senator  in  the  first  Legislature 
that  convened  after  the  admission  of  the  State  into  the 
Union. 

To  Samuel  Smith,  however,  more  than  to  any  one  else, 
belongs  the  honor  of  being  the  founder  of  Chester.  He  was 
born  near  Carlisle,  Pennsylvania.  He  erected  a  dwelling, 
established  a  ferry,  and  began  the  construction  of  a  mill. 
It  is  said  that  he  erected  his  house  in  the  summer  of  1829, 
though  the  records  show  that  he  did  not  become  the  owner 
of  the  land  till  the  spring  of  1830.  This  house  stood  on 
lot  three  of  the  original  town,  on  Water  street,  about  mid- 
way between  Wall  and  Ferry.  His  wife  was  a  native  of 
Chester,  England,  having  come  to  Illinois  with  the  Swan- 
wick  family  and  from  this  circumstance  the  name  of  Chester 
was  bestowed  on  the  new  town.  He  kept  a  hotel,  and 
ferried  passengers  across  the  river  in  a  fiat-boat  He  was  a 
man  of  considerable  edusation  and  intelligence  and  a  good 
surveyor.  In  a  few  years  he  removed  to  Jack.son  county, 
where  he  took  quite  an  active  part  in  politics,  and  was  elect- 
ed county  surveyor  and  to  other  public  positions.  He 
there  incurred  the  enmity  of  a  man  named  Martin  Harrison 
who,  accompanied  by  his  brother  iu-law,  ]Slanton  Brown, 
the  latter's  wife  and  her  sister,  met  him  on  the  road  one  day 
within  half  a  mile  of  his  house,  and  dragging  him  from  the 
wagon  on  which  he  was  riding,  beat  him  in  a  terrible  man- 
ner. A  bound  boy  with  Smith  at  the  time  ran  to  tell  his 
wife  of  the  occurrence  and  she  reached  the  spot  to  find  her 
husband  dead.  Brown  and  the  women  were  confined  in  the 
jail  at  Brownsville,  then  the  county  seat  of  Jackson  county,  a 
couple  of  years,  but  were  finally  acquitted  of  the  charge  of 
murder  on  which  they  were  tried. 

The  firm  of  Mather,  Lamb  &  Co.  were  then  carrying  on  a 


NEW    STORE 

PROPCHry  or  isaac  MERED/rH,  Chester ,  /ll. 


:s4r 


RESIDENCE    OF  W 'T'  SCHU  C  H  E  RT ^  CH  E  S  T  E  R  ^  I L  LI  N  01 S  . 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MOXROE   AXD    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS 


285 


large  mercantile  business  at  Kaskaskia-  One  feature  of 
their  operations  was  the  packing  of  beef  and  pork,  which 
they  sold  at  Xew  Orleaus  and  other  points  on  the  river. 
Finding  some  difficulty  in  reaching  the  steamboat  landing 
from  Kaskaskia,  they  delermiued  to  erect  a  slaughter  house 
and  packing  establishment  where  Samuel  Smith  had  already 
projected  the  town  of  Chester.  His  plan  was  carried  out  in 
November,  18:50.  Directly  afterward  Stacy  B.  Opdycke, 
representing  the  firm  of  Mather,  Lamb  &  Co.,  of  which  he 
was  a  member,  opened  a  store  in  a  building  on  the  corner  of 
Water  and  Wall  streets.  This  was  the  first  store  in  Chester. 
In  the  spring  of  1831  Samuel  Smith  laid  off  that  part  of 
his  land  below  Wall  street  iuto  town  lots,  and  Mather,  Lamb 
&  Co.  surveyed  a  few  lots  above  Wall  street.  In  1630  Rich- 
ard B.  Servant  began  the  manufacture  of  castor  oil.  In  the 
year  1831  Setli  Allen  began  business  as  a  cooper.  The  same 
year  a  blacksmith  shop  was  established  by  Silas  Leland. 
The  next  s-tore  was  opened  in  October,  1833,  by  Holmes, 
Swanwick  &  Co.  in  a  building  which  the  firm  erected  on  lot 
five  of  the  original  town,  at  the  corner  of  Water  and  Ferry 
streets.  The  building  is  the  one  now  occupied  as  a  store  by 
Korris  C.  Crissy.  The  firm  was  composed  of  Joseph  B. 
Holmes,  Francis  Swanwick,  and  Gabriel  Jones. 

Among  the  early  residents  of  Chester  were  men  of  no 
small  energy,  enterprise,  and  business  ability.  The  differ, 
eut  members  of  the  firm  of  Mather,  Lamb  &  Co.  were  at 
times  residents  of  the  town.  Thomas  Mather  was  a  native 
of  New  England,  and  a  descendant  of  Cotton  Mather.  He 
came  to  Kaskaskia  shortly  after  1820.  After  the  firm  closed 
out  their  stores  at  Kaskaskia  and  Chester,  which  svas  about 
the  year  1833,  he  became  a  resident  of  Springfield.  He  was 
president  of  the  State  Bank  of  Illinois.  He  was  elected 
from  Kandolph  county  to  the  state  legislature  in  1828, 
1832.  and  ls:;4,  serving  the  first  term  as  representative  and 
tiie  last  two  terms  as  senator.  He  died  at  Springfield. 
James  L.  Lamb  attended  to  the  pork-packing  department  of 
the  firm's  business.  He  was  a  man  of  bold  and  speculative 
mind,  and  made  and  lost  large  amounts  of  money,  but  died 
wealthy.  His  widow  is  still  a  resident  of  Springfield.  Stacy 
B.  Opdycke  also  died  at  Springfield.  He  was  a  native  of 
New  Jersey. 

The  firm  of  Holmes,  .Swanwick  &  Co.  began  bu.-iuess  in 
1833  with  a  capital  of  less  than  two  thou.sand  dollars,  and 
from  the  start  transacted  a  business  of  fifty  thousand.dollars 
a  year,  to  which  subsequently  a  material  increase  was  made. 
After  two  or  three  years  Dr.  Lewis  Morrison  became  a 
member  of  the  firm.  Their  principal  store  was  at  Chester, 
and  branches  were  established  at  Steclesville,  then  called 
Georgetown,  Pinckneyville  in  Perry  county,  Frankfort  in 
Franklin  county,  and  Brownsville  in  Jackson  county.  Cas- 
tor oil  mills  were  carried  on  at  Chester,  Pinckneyville,  and 
Frankfort,  and  the  product  shipped  by  river  from  Chester. 
Very  little  cash  was  received  for  goods ;  ready  money  was 
then  scarce.  Beeswa.x,  deerskins,  castor  beans,  hides,  and 
all  kinds  of  produce  were  taken  in  payment  for  merchandise 
and  were  disposed  of  in  all  parts  of  the  country,  but  chiefly 
New  Orleans,  St.  Louis,  or  Philadelphia.  Sometimes  ship- 
ments were  even  made  to  England.    At  one  time  a  thousand 


coon  skins,  costing  twenty-five  cents  each,  were  shipped  to 
Liverpool,  and  a  dollar  a  skin  realized.  Joseph  B.  Holmes 
was  born  in  Cumberland  county,  Pa.  On  a  visit  of  Thomas 
Mather  to  Philadelphia  to  purchase  goods  from  Barcroft  & 
Co.,  which  then  to  a  great  extent  supplied  the  merchants  in 
this  part  of  the  country,  he  inquired  of  Mr.  Barcroft  if  he 
knew  a  capable  young  man  to  go  with  him  to  Kaskaskia. 
Holmes  was  recommended,  and  reached  Kaskaskia  about 
the  year  1^28.  After  coming  to  Chester  in  1833  he  carried 
on  the  mercantile  business  nearly  till  the  time  of  his  death 
in  November,  1879.  Francis  Swanwick  was  born  at  Ches- 
ter, England.  He  came  to  Chester  as  clerk  in  the  store  of 
Mather,  Lamb  &  Co.  when  it  was  firsi  established.  He  was 
in  business  at  Chester  till  about  1861.  He  was  lieutenant- 
colonel  of  the  Twenty-second  Illinois  regiment  during  the 
war  of  the  rebellion,  and  now  resides  near  Oswego,  Kansas. 
Swanwick  and  Holmes  married  sisters,  the  daughters  of 
Gov.  Shadrach  Bond. 

Col.  Gabriel  Jones,  who  was  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Holmes,  .Swanwick  &  Co.,  was  born  in  Loudon  county,  Va., 
in  1790,  and  in  1810  went  to  Kentucky,  and  there  married 
a  Miss  Ashby,  who  belonged  to  the  \'irginia  family  of  that 
name.  He  was  in  the  Kentucky  troops  who  took  part  in 
the  war  of  1812-14,  and  was  present  at  the  battle  of  the 
Thames,  in  Canada.  November,  1817,  he  came  to  Randolph 
county,  settling  at  Steele-sville,  where  he  taught  school  one 
winter.  From  1825  to  1828  he  was  farming  at  Kaskaskia 
on  laud  which  he  rented  of  Judge  Nathaniel  Pope.  In 
1828  he  took  charge  for  Mather,  Lamb  &  Co.  of  a  store  at 
Steclesville,  one  of  the  first  stores  established  in  the  county 
outside  of  the  Americau  Bottom.  He  sold  goods  about  three 
years  at  Steclesville,  and  then  was  employed  in  Mather, 
Lamb  i&  Co.'s  store  at  Chester.  He  went  to  the  Black 
Hawk  war  in  l.s32  as  captain  of  one  of  the  three  companies 
raised  in  Randolph  county,  and  later  in  the  campaign  was 
elected  colonel  of  the  regiment  to  which  his  cami)any  was 
attached  From  October,  ls3:{,  till  the  close  of  the  year 
1839,  he  was  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Hulmes,  Swanwick  & 
Co.  He  was  elected  county  commissioner  iu  1822  and  in 
183(),  and  a  member  of  the  legislature  in  1824  and  in  1838. 
He  also  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  and  deputy  United 
States  marshal.  He  was  killed  in  November,  18G4,  in  the 
severe  storm  which  passed  over  Chester  at  that  time.  His 
house,  which  was  on  the  spot  now  occupied  by  the  residence 
of  Capt.  C.  (".  Williams,  was  completely  demolished. 

Dr.  Lewis  Morrison  was  born  at  Kaskaskia,  and  was  the 
son  of  William  Jlorrison.  He  was  educated  as  a  physician. 
His  wife  was  a  sister  of  Francis  Swanwick.  He  wius  farm- 
ing iu  Washington  county,  i)revious  to  his  becoming  a  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  Holmes,  Swanwick  &  Co.,  and  after  1840 
was  again  a  resident  of  Washington  county  for  a  number  of 
years,  and  then  returned  to  Chester  and  opened  a  store, 
which  he  carried  on  for  some  time. 

On  the  last  day  of  December,  1840,  the  firm  of  Holmes, 
Swanwick  &,  Co.  dissolve<I,  and  the  new  firm  of  Holmes  & 
Swanwick  began  operations.  In  184()  their  mercantile  bus- 
ne-ss  was  disposed  of  to  John  Sftanwick,  a  brother  to  Fran- 
cis, and  the  firm  engaged  in  milling.     They  began  the  erec- 


286 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


tion  of  the  stone  flouring  mill,  now  being  changed  into  an 
elevator,  in  1842,  and  completed  it  in  184G.  Among  other 
merchants  who  did  business  iu  Chester,  within  the  the 
ten  years  subsequent  to  1834,  was  Thomas  H.  Campbell, 
who  had  charge  of  a  stock  of  goods  owned  by  Robert 
Shannon. 

Col.  Richard  B.  Servant  came  to  Chester  to  engage  in  the 
manufacture  of  Castor  oil  He  furnished  farmers  in  the 
eurrounding  country  with  the  seed  and  induced  them  V> 
plant  a  crop,  and  then  erected  a  mill  for  the  manufacture  of 
oil,  and  for  several  years  carried  on  a  large  and  flourishing 
business.  At  a  period  previous  to  1840,  he  had  more  ready 
money  at  hb  command  than  any  other  citizen  of  the  place. 
He  was  a  whig  in  politics,  and  was  appointed  receiver  of 
public  monies  at  the  land  office  at  Kaskaskia.  He  after- 
ward established  a  conveyancer's  office  at  Chester.  He 
served  as  a  member  of  the  State  Senate  from  183(5  to  1840. 

Seth  Allen  carried  on  the  cooper  business  for  a  number  of 
years.  For  a  long  time  he  was  Justice  of  the  Ptace.  He 
owned  the  land  on  which  the  court  house  is  built,  and 
deeded  it  to  the  county  on  condition  that  it  should  revert  to 
the  town  of  Chester,  when  no  longer  used  as  u  ^ite  for  the 
public  buildings. 

The  names  of  the  Cole's  have  for  many  years  been  hon- 
orably and  conspicuously  identified  with  the  history  of 
Chester.  Nathan  Cole  was  born  in  Dntcliers  county,  New 
York,  in  the  year  1783.  He  came  to  St.  Louis  in  1621 
and  engaged  in  business  in  that  city  and  iu  East  St.  Louis 
then  known  as  Illinoistown.  He  is  said  to  have  been  the 
first  person  to  undertake  regularly  the  packing  of  pork  in 
the  Mississippi  valley.  He  came  to  Cliester  in  IS;!?,  and 
built  the  first  flouring  mill  in  the  place.  Adilitional  im- 
provements were  made  two  years  afterward,  and  Mr.  Cole 
began  the  shipping  of  flour  to  the  southern  markets.  He 
died  in  1840  After  the  death  of  Nathan  Cole,  his  .ions, 
Abner  and  Hernion  C.  Cole,  continued  to  carry  on  the  mill, 
and  the  latter  subsequently  became  the  sole  pniprietnr. 
On  coming  to  Chester  in  1837,  Hermon  C.  Cule  begiui  liic 
mercantile  business  which  he  carried  on  until  l'<(>7,  when  he 
sold  his  stock  of  goods  to  AVilliam  Schuehtrt.  He  died  at 
Upper  Alton,  in  October,  1874.  Previous  to  his  dtatli  liis 
sons  had  been  taken  into  partnership,  and  tlioy  have  since 
continued  the  milling  and  banking  business. 

The  earliest  physician  in  Chester,  was  Dr.  Barbee. 
He  came  in  1833,  a  short  time  after  his  arrival  fell  a  vi<'tiin 
to  the  cholera.  The  cholera  prevailed  during  the  year  1832 
and  1833,  and  again  in  1849.  The  deaths  were  large  in 
proportion  to  the  population.  Dr.  Jefferson,  a  native  of 
Virginia,  came  in  1834,  and  for  a  short  time  practiced  his 
profession.  Dr.  M.  E.  Ferris  became  a  resident  of  the 
place  in  1835.  He  died  of  cholera  iu  1849.  Dr.  Charles 
Baker  began  the  practice  of  medicine  in  1844,  but  left  soon 
after.  Dr.  M  W.  Millard  came  from  Ohio  the  same  year. 
He  died  in  1849.  Dr.  C  T.  Jones,  a  native  of  Kentucky, 
from  about  the  year  1843  to  1846,  practiced  his  profession 
in  partnership  with  Dr.  Ferris.  He  then  moved  to  a 
firm  in  the  neighborhood  of  Steelesville,  but  subsequently 


returned  to  Carter  and  resumad  his  medical  practice. 
He  now  lives  in  St.  Ijouis. 

From  18-50  to  186-5,  a  number  of  physicians  located  at 
Chester,  the  must  of  them  remaining  but  a  short  time. 
Among  them  were  Drs.  Waggoner,  Birton,  William  Vance, 
C.  J.  Childs,  G.  N.  Poston,  Oaks,  Richard  Hopkins  and  a 
number  of  German  physicians.  The  oldest  practitioner  of 
medicine  now  in  Chester  is  Dr.  William  A.  Gordon.  He 
was  bom  iu  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  and  came  to  the  county  in 
1843,  and  after  practicing  his  profession  at  Steelesville,  came 
Vj  Chester  in  the  spring  of  1848.  Dr.  John  T.  Pollock,  who 
w:is  born  iu  the  county  near  Sparta,  has  practiced  medi- 
cine in  Chester  since  1857.  The  other  physicians  now  in 
the  place  became  residents  at  more  recent  periods. 

The  lawyers  who  made  Chester  their  home  in  former  days 
are  spoken  of  in  the  chapter  on  the  bench  and  bar. 

ITKMS   COSCEESISG     TUE     EARLY    HISTORY    OF    THE    TOWN. 

The  first  brick  house  in  Chester  was  built  by  Amzi 
Andrews  in  the  year  1835.  It  stood  near  the  river.  During 
the  flood  of  1844,  a  steamboat,  th  ■  Bellair,  ran  against  it  and 
demolished  it.  The  same  bjat  knocked  a  corner  out  of 
Holine-i  and  Swauwick's  mill,  then  iu  process  of  construc- 
tion. For  the  injury  to  their  two  buildings  Holmes  and 
Swanwic'i  recovered  S5000  damages.  Amzi  Andrews  came 
to  Ivaska.-ikia  and  made  a  number  of  trips  from  that  place  to 
New  Oileans  with  produce.  In  1831  he  became  a  resident 
of  Che.-ter.  Oa  the  4lh  of  February,  1834,  he  was  married 
to  Contejit  Walker,  daughter  of  Eleazer  Walker,  and  this 
marriage  w:is  the  first  that  ever  took  place  in  Chester.  The 
ccritmony  was  performed  by  Seth  Allen,  a  justice  of  the 
peace.  Mr.  Andrews  died  in  187G,  and  his  widow  is  now  one 
of  the  oldest  residouls  iu  Chester.  Horace  Francis  and 
Amzi  Andrews  together  built  the  first  stone  house  in  Chester 
in  1833  It  stands  on  the  corner  of  Water  and  Pine  streets. 
Amos  Emerson  began  the  ooper  business  about  1833. 
About  the  yeir  1837  brilliant  expectations  were  entertained 
c.meeniiiig  the  fulurcoF  Cliester,  and  real  estate  rose  to  high 
values.  It  v.a-  thought  by  many  persons  that  it  would 
bieiiue  a  jiK.u  commercial  town,  and  even  that  it  might 
rival  St.  Lmis  in  importance.  Investments  were  made  in 
t  )w  u  iirojieity  by  citizens  of  other  places.  Lvman  Trumball 
liiae!ui=cJ  a  "lot  on  Water  street,  between  Angle  and  Han- 
cock, for  twelve  hundred  dollars,  which  after  keeping  nearly 
lorlv  years, he  sold  for  two  hundred  dollars. 

Along  iu  the  years  1837  and  18JS  tlie  condition  of  the 
river  bauk  and  the  need  of  a  good  steamboat  landing  ex- 
cited the  attention  of  the  people.  An  onliuiuce  was  passed 
on  the  14tli  of  April,  1833,  which  pledged  the  faith  of  the 
corporation  to  reimburse  each  citizen  who  should  secure  the 
river  bank  in  front  of  his  own  lot.  If  the  revenue  for  the 
current  year  should  ba  iusuffijieiit,  each  lot  owner  should 
receive  a  pro  rata  amount  and  scrip  for  the  balance,  bearing 
six  per  cent,  interest.  Uuder  this  ordina-jce  Eleazer  Walker 
was  allow'ed  one  hundred  dollars,  Richard  B.  Servant  sixty- 
three,  Horace  Fraucij  forty-three,  Richmond  Darwin  forty- 
five,  Seth  Allen  fifty,  and  Francis  Swanwick  one  hundred 
and  seven. 


HISTORY    OF  RAXDOLPH,    MONROE   AXD    PERRY  COUNTIES,  ILLINOIS. 


287 


In  1839  the  Board  of  Trustees  arranged  to  erect  a  build- 
ing twenty-eight  feet  front  by  forty  deep,  to  be  used  as  a 
school  house,  union  meeting  house  and  town  house.  Mather, 
Lamb  A  Co.  gave  lot  five  of  block  nine  of  their  addition  to 
the  town  as  a  site  for  the  structure.  Its  cost  exceeded  three 
thou.'and  dollars,  The  building  was  finished  in  the  summer 
of  1839,  and  in  September  of  that  year  a  committee  was 
directed  to  have  the  interior  plastered  provided  the  cost  did 
not  embarass  the  treasury  too  much.  Peter  McCuUoch  did 
theplastering  for  one  hundred  and  thirty-three  dollars.  The 
cost  of  the  building  was  met  by  levying  a  special  tax  of  one- 
half  of  one  per  cent. 

In  1839  a  coramit'eeof  the  board  of  trustees  reported  that 
a  school  of  thirty  pupils  could  be  formed,  and  a  contract  was 
made  with  O.  P.  Eaton  to  teach  the  school  fur  two  dollars 
and  fifty  cents  per  quarter  for  each  pupil. 

The  Removal  of  the  f'ountij  Sent  from  Ka.ska.skia  to  Chester 
was  accomplished  only  after  mucb  agitation.  The  great  flood 
of  1844  demonstrated  to  a  great  many  citizens  of  the  county 
the  unfitness  of  Kaskaskia  as  the  seat  of  justice,  but  it  was 
only  after  arduous  exertions  that  a  majority  of  the  people 
could  be  got  to  vote  ;o  remove  the  public  buildings  to  Ches- 
ter, which  was  accomplished  in  1848. 

PUBSECJUKST   GROWTH. 

In  early  days  all  of  Chester  was  comprised  in  the  space  at 
the  foot  of  the  bluffalong  the  river  front.  It  was  some  years 
before  it  began  to  expand  on  the  hill.  Arazi  Andrews,  .Seth 
Allen  and  Elcaser  Walker  were  among  the  first  to  choose 
the  hill  as  a  place  of  residence.  Andrews  occupied  a  log 
house  on  the  street  on  w-hich  the  jail  is  located.  Allen's 
house  was  a  one-story  frame  structure  on  Market  street  in 
what  is  known  as  Young's  addition.  It  is  still  standing. 
Walker's  house  may  still  be  seen  on  Spartf  street  Captain 
Frank  Swanwick  occupied  it  in  early  years.  Walker  origi- 
nally built  this  house  under  the  hill,  but  btcoming  alarmed 
by  the  sliding  of  the  ground  on  which  it  was  built,  by  whicii 
it  became  twisted  on  its  foundations,  he  moved  it  to  its 
present  position.  Colonel  Richard  B.  Servant  in  1838  built 
the  brick  residence  on  Sparta  street,  above  where  Dr.  Gordon 
lives.  It  was  consiilered  in  its  day  a  fine  specimen  of  archi- 
tecture, and  was  formerly  surrounded  by  a  beautiful  garden, 
plented  with  flowers,  and  kept  with  good  taste.  Truman  E. 
Andrews  in  early  days  lived  in  a  small  log  house  in  the  rear 
of  the  Virginia  hotel.  These  comprised  nearly  all  the 
houses  that  had  been  erected  on  the  hill  previous  to  the  year 
1847.  At  that  date  the  site  of  the  court  house  was  a  field, 
and  where  that  flourishing  part  of  the  city,  known  as  Beuna 
Vista,  has  since  been  built,  was  the  farm  of  George  W. 
Stratton.  The  building  of  the  court  house  on  the  hill  caused 
that  portion  of  the  town  to  grow  in  favor.  In  1880  the  post 
ofiice  was  re.muved  to  upper  Chester. 

CHESTER   IN    18.59. 

A  directory  of  Chester  published  in  18.'39  gives  the  names 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty -one  residents  of  the  town.  This 
would  give  a  population  at  that  time  of  about  nine  hundred. 
The  first  name  on  the  list  is  that  of  Amzi  Andrews,  druggist 


in  partnership  with  John  L.  Edwards.  Those  engaged  in 
the  mercantile  business  at  that  time  were  John  II.  Allmyer, 
Chirles  C.  Anderson,  Jo.seph  Bcare,  Frederick  Buckman, 
Hermon  C.  Cole,  Abner  B.  Cole,  Alexander  Dunn,  James 
H.Jones,  Gabriel  S.  Jones,  Hugh  Loughran,  John  G.  Mid" 
dendorf,  and  John  F.  .Schuchert.  Grocery  stores  were  kept 
by  Charles  Black,  David  Black.William  Brunt,William  Bun- 
gle, William  Clieman,  E.  and  A.  Phillip,  Valentine  Bitter, 
and  H.  Iv.  Stolle.  Robert  Adams,  Enier.-on  Gray,  Uriah 
McCullura,  Adam  Ochs,  Henry  Rader,  John  W.  Reno 
and  Charles  Schrader  followed  the  cooper  business.  A. 
A.  Anderson  was  in  charge  of  the  Chester  hotel,  on  Water 
street,  one  square  above  the  wharf  boat.  The  Buckeye  house 
was  kept  by  John  C.  McQuiston,  the  Planter's  house,  at 
the  corner  of  Front  and  Angle  streets,  by  ^\  illiam  McBrine, 
and  the  Illinois  house,  opposite  th-;  wharf  boat,  by  Casper 
Horn.  The  lawyers  were  Thomas  G.  Allen,  James  C. 
Halbrook,  Thomas  L.  ^Morrison,  Harvey  Nevill  and  James 
H.  Watt.  William  Assman,  C.  J.  Childs,  William  A.  Gor- 
don and  A.  H.  Lieper  represented  the  medical  profession. 
Hugh  B.  Nisbert  was  the  publisher  of  the  D>mocrut.  Joseph 
r>.  Holmes  is  placed  in  the  pages  of  the  directory  as  a  dealer 
in  real  estate.  Henry  Tackeuberry  and  Charles  Wassell 
were  carrying  on  the  tailor  business,  and  Captian  C.  C. 
Wdliams,  then  as  now,  was  managing  the  ferry. 

The  bank  of  Chester  had  for  its  cashier,  C.  Miltenberger. 
Gahrs  and  Whitaker,  and  A.  S.  Palmer  were  dealers  in 
furniture  Raymond  Wheerly  had  a  shop  on  the  hill,  near 
the  court  house,  where  be  repaired  watchfs  and  clocks  and 
sold  jewelry.  The  marble  shop  of  ^lartin  Dillon  was  down 
by  the  river  adjoining  the  dry  goods  store  of  J.  H.  and  G. 
S.  Jones.  C-  I.  Haskin  was  iu  the  livery  business,  also  down 
under  the  hill.  Gabriel  Jones  was  the  mayor  and  a  justice 
of  the  peace.  Richard  B.  Servant  also  filled  the  office  of 
magistrate.  Horace  Francis  was  street  commissioner.  The 
"  William  Garvin,''  Alexander  Ziegler,  master,  ran  as  a 
regular  tri-weekly  packet  between  Chester  and  St.  Loni-, 
leaving  Chester  every  Wednesday,  Friday  and  Sunday 
morning  at  seven  o'clock.  A  stage  line  was  then  running 
between  Chester  and  .St.  Louis,  by  way  of  Sparta,  Athens 
and  Belleville,  under  the  management  of  John  M. 
McCutcheon,  of  Sparta,  who  had  the  contract  for  carrying 
the  mail.  The  stage  left  Chester  every  week  day  at  two 
o'clock,  reaching  Sparta  in  the  evening.  Leaving  Sparta 
the  next  moringat  six  o,clock,  passengers  reached  St.  Louis 
the  evening  of  the  same  day.     Churches* 

SCHOOLS. 

When  the  old  public  school-house  was  erected  in  18.58.  It 
was  spoken  of  as  "  an  ornament  to  the  place  and  a  lasting 
monument  to  the  intelligent  spirit  of  the  citizens  of  Chester." 
That  building  was  of  insignificant  pretensions  in  comparison 
with  the  one  completed  in  1882.  The  latter  is  a  capacious 
and  handsome  structure  of  brick.  Beside  the  city  of  Chester 
the  school  district  includes  portions  of  township  seven,  range 
six,  and  township  seven,  range  seven.     In  addition  to  the 

•.\s  the  history  of  the  churches  are  shown  in  the  ecclesiastical  chapter  it  is 
therefore  unnecessary  to  mention  them  hero 


288 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND    PERRY  COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


central  school  building  there  is  a  school-house  in  the  first 
ward  used  by  colored  children,  and  one  in  the  third  ward 
used  for  a  piimary  school.  Eight  teachers  are  employed  to 
■whom  during  the  year  1882-83  salaries  were  paid  amount- 
ing to  thirty-seven  hundred  dollars.  A  Catholic  and  a 
Lutheran  school  are  also  maintained  which  are  largely 
attended  by  the  children  of  those  denominations. 

SECRET   AND   BENEVOLENT   ORGANIZATIONS. 

The  oldest  secret  society  in  Chester  is,  Chester  lodge.  No. 
57,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  which  came  into 
existence  in  July,  1850.  Randolph  Encampment,  No.  55, 
originally  established  at  Sparta  in  October,  1864,  now  meets 
at  (.'hestcr. 

The  ^Masonic  order,  shortly  after  the  Odd  Fellows,  succeed- 
ed in  securing  a  foothold.  Chester  lodge,  No.  72,  dates  from 
1851.  Servant  was  the  first  master,  andStaleyand  Joues 
acted  respectively  as  senior  and  junior  wardens. 

Herman  G.  Reynolds  chapter,  No.  84,  Royal  Arch 
Masons,  was  instituted  in  October,  1865.  It  first  met  at 
Kaskaskia,  and  was  subsequently  removed  to  Chester. 

Randolph  council,  No.  44,  Royal  and  Select  Masters,  was 
charted  in  October,  1869,  with  nine  original  members. 

Chester  lodge,  No.  1708,  Knights  of  Honor,  was  instituted 
in  September,  1879  with  twenty-two  charfer  members. 

Jeflerson  council.  No  648,  American  Legion  of  Honor, 
was  organized  in  1881,  with  twenty-six  charter  members. 

The  Vity  Cemetery: — In  August,  1843,  the  city,  through 
Amzi  Anders  >n  and  Seth  Allen,  trustees,  purchased  one  acre 
and  three  quarters  of  laud,  on  the  west  side  of  the  Chester 
and  Evan;vil!e  road,  for  a  burial  ground.  The  trustees  were 
directed  to  enclose  the  ground  with  a  substantial  fence,  and 
to  lay  off  lots  which  were  to  be  sold  for  five  dollars  each.  This 
with  sub-sequent  additions  of  laud,  is  the  Chester  cemeterj'. 
The  first  body  which  here  found  a  resting  place,  was  that  of 
John  Bowman,  who  died  on  the  eleventh  of  October,  1843. 
Among  the  conspicuous  features  of  the  cemetery,  is  a  hand- 
some monument  to  the  memory  of  Governor  Shadrach  Bond, 
erected  by  the  State  of  Illinois.  Governor  Bond's  remains 
were  removed  from  Kaskaskia  to  this  place  in  1880. 

The  first  graveyard  in  Chester  was  on  the  summit  of  the 
bluff,  above  Mugge's  mill.  Several  of  the  early  residents  of 
Chester  were  buried  there.  The  placs  was  difficult  of  access, 
and  con.sequently  a  new  location  was  selected. 

The  Tornado  that  swept  over  Chester  on  the  morning  of 
the  ninth  of  November,  1864,  was  the  most  destructive  storm 
with  which  the  town  was  ever  visited.  The  storm  struck 
the  town  between  one  and  two  o'clock  in  the  morning.  Its 
violence  was  first  felt  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  ferry  land- 
ing, whence  it  pursued  its  destructive  course  over  the  bluff. 
The  upper  works  of  the  ferry  boat,  the  "  Henry,"  were  blown 
completely  away,  and  portions  were  afterwards  found  at 
Coulterville,  a  distance  of  twenty  eight  miles.  The  smoke- 
stack was  blown  up  over  the  hill  about  a  mile.  Twenty-two 
houses  were  blown  down  and  damaged.  Three  persons  were 
killed.  Col.  Gabriel  Joues,  Chancery  I.  Haskin  and  an  or- 
phan girl  living  with  Capt.  Anson  Morey.  A  number  of  the 
citizens  were  injured. 


Sotdhern  lUinoU  Penitenilary. — The  act  establishing  the 
Southern  Illinois  Penitentiary  was  approved  on  the  twenty- 
fourth  of  May,  1877.  On  the  tenth  of  September,  of  that 
year,  it  was  decided  to  build  the  penitentiary  (a  view  of 
which  is  shown  on  another  page)  on  a  site  about  a  mile  above 
Chester,  on  the  Mississippi  river,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Kas- 
kaskia. In  October,  1877,  the  erection  of  the  first  building 
was  commenced.  This  was  a  frame  dwelling,  below  the 
penitentiary,  now  used  as  the  deputy  warden's  residence. 
The  same  mouth  (October)  the  contract  for  building  a  cell- 
house  and  warden's-house  was  awarded  to  Baltes  &  Nelson, 
of  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana.  The  contract  price  of  these  build- 
ings was  ninety-five  thousand  and  four  hundred  dollars. 
The  construction  of  a  two-story  brick  building  for  the  con- 
finement of  prisoners  was  commenced  in  November,  1877. 

On  the  twenty-first  of  March,  1878,  two  hundred  convicts 
were  received  from  Joliet,  who  were  set  to  work  on  the  con- 
struction of  the  buildings.  Beside  the  buildings  already 
mentioned,  a  large  chapel,  engine-house,  tobacco-house,  con- 
vict kitchen,  female  prison,  and  laundry,  barn  and  solitary, 
have  been  erected,  the  work  baing  mostly  done  by  prison 
labor.  The  cell-house  has  room  for  eight  hundred  prisoners. 
Most  of  the  convict  labor  is  let  to  contractors  at  a  certain 
amount  per  day. 

The  Sonihfrn  IllinoU  Stork  anil  Affrirultural  Association 
was  organized  in  1874.  The  original  incorporators  were 
William  Hartzell,  William  McAdam,  John  T.  McBride, 
William  Swanwick,  Guilford  Warren,  C.  C.  Williams,  Wil. 
Ham  A.  Gordon,  John  H.  Lindsey,  and  George  H.  Tate. 
The  annual  fairs  have  been  the  most  successful  in  the  south- 
ern part  of  the  State.  The  association  now  owns  fifty-two 
acres  of  land,  of  which  one-half  is  enclosed.  The  oflieers  in 
1882  were:  President,  William  A.  Gordon;  Vice-Presi- 
dent, John  G.  Middendorf;  Secretary,  William  Schuchert; 
Assistant  Secretary,  Frederick  Bueckman  ;  Treasurer,  Isaac 
Lahnherr. 

Maniijiiclures. — One  of  the  earliest  manufacturing  estab- 
lishment in  Chester,  Cole's  mill,  is  still  in  existence,  and 
forms  an  important  element  in  the  business  life  of  the  place. 
It  was  establislied  by  Nathim  Cole  in  1837.  Two  years  later 
the  mill  was  enlarged  and  improved.  The  mill  is  now  well 
supplied  with  new  machinery,  and  his  eight  run  of  buhrs 
and  five  sets  of  rolls.  Twenty  hands  are  employed.  The 
capacity  is  four  hundred  barrels  per  day.  Two  principal 
brands  of  flour  arc  made,  "F  F  F — G"'  and  "Cole's  Mill." 
From  the  time  the  mill  was  first  put  in  operation,  the  flour 
has  been  extensively  sold  in  the  South,  and  the  sale  of  the 
product  is  now  divided  between  southern  and  eastern  mar- 
kets. A  large  stone  warehouse  and  elevator,  near  the  mill, 
was  built  in  1872.  The  firm  is  known  as  H.  C.  Cole  &  Co., 
and  is  composed  of  Henry  C.  Cole,  Zachary  T.  Cole,  and 
Charles  B.  Cole.  A  cooper  shop,  employing  thirty  hands, 
and  turning  out  seventy  thousand  flour  barrels  each  year, 
beside  barrels  for  other  purposes,  is  also  connected  with  the 
mill. 

The  Excelsior  Mill  of  August  Mugge  was  started  in  1872 
in  a  building  near  the  river  in  lower  Chester  formerly  occu- 
pied as  a  brewery.     It  has  two  run  of  buhrs,  and  is  mostly 


288A 


OPERA    HOUSE. 


Business  PKOPZRTY  Of  JOHN  F  SCHUCHEftT,  CHESTER,  lU.. 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS 


289 


employed  on  custom  grinding,  though  some  flour  is  made  for 
shipment.  Three  hands  are  employed  beside  the  proprietor, 
and  the  mill  makes  from  twenty-five  to  thirty  barrels  of  flour 
per  day. 

The  Chester  Foundry  and  Machine  Shop  was  placed  in 
operation  in  1868  by  a  stock  company  of  which  H.  C.  Cole> 
Joseph  B.  Holmes  aod  Gabriel  S.  Jones  were  the  leading 
members.  March,  1869,  it  was  rented  to  Joseph  Baron- 
owsky,  who  in  1873  became  the  possessor  of  the  property. 
Mr.  Baronowsky  has  since  carried  on  the  business.  Iron 
castings  of  all  descriptions  are  made,  and  special  attention 
given  to  the  manufaci  .re  of  railings,  hot-air  furnaces  and 
other  kinds  of  house  work.  Repairs  to  all  kinds  of  machin- 
ery are  made. 

The  firm  of  Grace  Brothers  carry  on  the  manufacture  of 
carriages,  phsetons,  buggies  and  spring  w^agons.  Richard  B. 
Grace  began  business  in  Chester  in  ISSO  in  partnership  wiih 
Edmund  M.  Montroy.  The  present  firm,  composed  of 
Richard  B.  Grace,  Michael  Grace  and  John  J.  Grace,  was 
established  in  18'<2 

Farm  wagons  and  agricultural  implements  are  made  by 
H.  Herslibach  -.V  Bro.,  whose  shop  is  lorated  in  Buena  Vista. 
Henry  Hershbach  began  business  in  1872,  and  the  present 
firm  has  been  in  existence  since  1876.  A  specialty  is  made 
of  the  manufacture  of  the  Chester  wagon.  A  Braecher  has 
also  a  shop  for  the  manufacture  of  heavy  wagons  in 
ISuena  Vista.  Joseph  Poroorski  is  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  farm  and  spring  wagons  in  lower  Ches- 
ter. He  began  business  in  18  9.  Frank  Gousman  hss 
carried  on  a  wagon  factory  in  the  same  part  of  the  town. 
The  wood-work  part  of  the  business  is  now  in  charge  of  Fred- 
erick Moller. 

The  manufacture  of  iron  beam  plows  has  been  carried  on 
by  Henry  Lortz. 

James  Douglas  is  the  proprietor  of  the  Washington  Mar- 
ble Works.  He  has  been  engaged  in  this  business  longer 
than  any  other  man  in  Southern  Illinois,  having  started  in 
St.  Louis  in  18.5.5,  and  since  1865  having  been  established  at 
Chester.  He  manufactures  all  kinds  of  granite  and  marble 
work. 

The  Chester  Monumental  Marble  Works  are  carried  on 
by  Edward  Howorth  and  Robert  D.  Burns.  The  present 
37 


firm  has  been  in  existence  since  1875.     From  six  to  eight 
hands  are  employed. 

TOWN  ORGANIZATION. 

The  citizens  of  Chester,  on  the  10th  of  February,  1835, 
met  at  the  house  of  Thomas  Short  to  decide  whether  or  not 
to  take  advantage  of  an  act  of  the  Legislature  authorizing 
the  incorporation  of  the  town.  Richard  B.  Servant  was 
elected  President,  and  Joseph  B.  Holmes,  secretary,  but 
there  being  no  person  present  to  administer  the  oath  of  office 
to  these  gentlemen  the  meeting  was  adjourned.  On  the 
succeeding  twenty-fifth  of  April  a  meeting  was  held  at  the 
house  of  Horace  Francis,  at  which  it  was  decided  to  incor- 
porate the  town.  There  were  no  votes  in  the  negative. 
From  the  adoption  of  town  organization  the  government 
was  in  the  hands  of  trustees.  The  first  board  of  trustees  in 
1835  were  Richard  B.  Servant,  President ;  John  Paschall, 
Leonard  Stevens,  Horace  Francis,  Stacy  B.  Opdycke ; 
Amos  Emerson  was  subsequently  elected  in  place  of  Op- 
dycke, and  Silas  Leland  in  place  of  Paschall 

INCORPORATION    AS    A    CITY. 

Iq  1855  the  Legislature  passed  an  act  incorporating 
Chester  as  a  city.  In  October,  1855,  the  board  of  trustees 
divided  the  new  city  into  three  wards.  The  first  ward  em- 
braced that  part  of  the  city  between  the  Mississippi  river 
and  the  north  side  of  Buena  Vista  street ;  the  second  that 
part  between  the  north  side  of  Buena  Vista  street  and  the 
south  side  of  Church  alley  ;  and  the  third  ward  comprised  all 
of  the  city  lying  north  of  the  south  side  of  Church  alley.  The 
first  election  under  the  city  charter  took  place  on  the  5th  of 
April,  1S56.  The  Mayor  and  Aldermen  elected  at  that 
time  were  as  follows:  ISoG — Mayor,  Joseph  Williamson; 
-Mdermen — First  ward,  Richard  H.  Crittenden,  Gabriel  S. 
Jones  ;  Second  ward.  Henry  Stump,  Isaac  H.  Nelson;  Third 
ward,  Alfred  Whitaker,  Frederick  Buckman. 

As  the  names  of  the  officers  are  all  a  matter  of  record,  we 
only  give  the  names  of  the  first  trustees  and  the  first  and  last 
officers  under  the  city  government. 

1882 — Mayor,  William  Schuehert,  Aldermen — First 
ward,  Xelson  R.  Crain,  E.  C.  Segar;  Second  ward,  George 
W.  Staley,  John  Kennedy ;  Third  ward.  Christian  Wegner, 
Isaac  Lehuherr. 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


JOSEPH   B.  HOLMES. 


Perhaps  few  uames  are  more  familiar  to  the  people  of 
Randolph  and  adjoining  counties  than  that  of  Joseph  B. 
Holmes,  and  certain  it  is  that  none  are  treasured  with  fonder 
recollections.  He  was  born  in  Newville,  Pennsylvania,  on 
the  1st  day  of  April,  1809,  and  came  to  Kaskaskia,  Illinois, 
in  the  spring  of  1829,  to  clerk  for  Mather,  Lamb  &  Co., 
then  doing  business  at  that  place.  He  removed  with  the 
firm  to  Springfield  the  following  year,  and  remained  in  their 
employ  until  Oct  1st,  1833,  having  charge  of  their  branch 
store  in  Chester  during  a  portion  of  the  time.  At  the  last- 
named  date  he  associated  with  Francis  Swanwick  and  Ga- 
briel Jones,  Sr.,  also  clerks  in  the  employ  of  Mather,  Lamb 
&  Co.,  and  formed  the  co-partnership  of  Holmes,  Swanwick 
&  Co.,  which  for  many  years  was  the  leading  mercantile 
firm  of  Southern  Illinois.  After  1839,  Holmes  and  Swan- 
wick pursued  the  business  alone,  with  head-quarters  at 
Chester.  They  had  branch  stores  at  Steele's  Mills,  in  Ran- 
dolph county  ;  Brownsville,  in  Jackson  county  ;  Pinckney- 
290 


ville,  Frankfort,  and  Old  Du  Quoin.  In  addition  to  all 
this,  they  operated  several  castor-oil  mills,  and  handled  the 
produce  of  the  greater  portion  of  the  territory  from  the 
Wabash  to  the  Mississippi.  The  firm  was  never  dissolved, 
but  ceased  to  do  business  prior  to  the  rebellion.  Mr.  Holmes 
engaged  in  active  business  until  his  death  on  November  7, 
1879,  and  at  one  time  was  one  of  the  most  extensive  land- 
holders in  Randolph  county. 

He  was  married  at  Kaskaskia  on  the  first  day  of  ^larch, 
1838,  to  Miss  Mary  Bond,  second  daughter  of  Gov.  Shadrach 
Bond,  with  whom  he  lived  happily  until  her  death,  a  year 
before  his  own,  July  19th,  1878.  He  left  surviving  five 
sons  and  two  daughters.  He  never  held  any  public  office 
save  that  of  Mayor  of  the  City  of  Chester,  which  he  filled 
from  1865  to  1873.  He  established  a  reputation  during  life 
among  his  fellow-men  for  unquestioned  integrity  of  character 
and  high  moral  worth. 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS 


291 


Ju'lU^_^ LM<yhMrvCy4:J 


The  memory  of  none  of  the  old  citizens  of  Chester  is 
treasured  more  highly  than  that  of  John  Swanwick,  who 
died  September  15th,  1880,  after  having  lived  his  fourscore 
years.  He  was  born  in  Chester,  England,  August  31st, 
1799,  and  was  the  son  of  Thomas  and  Hannah  Swanwick. 
Thomas  Swanwick,  a  tobacconist  by  trade,  came  to  America 
in  1818.  The  following  year  came  his  family  of  ten  chil- 
dren, fis-e  sons  and  five  daughters.  They  located  in  what  is 
now   Perry   county.     Here   they   prosecuted   the  work   of 


farming.  John  had  had  four  years'  experience  as  a  clerk 
for  Bolten,  in  the  city  of  Liverpool.  In  1826  he  returned 
to  England,  to  take  charge  of  an  uncle's  estate,  and  there 
remained  until  184-'>,  when  he  came  to  Chester.  He  followed 
merchandizing,  and  amassed  considerable  property.  He  is 
a  very  earnest  and  active  member  of  the  Episcopal  Church, 
and  gave  largely  of  his  time  and  means,  to  enhance  its  wel- 
fare. His  unquestioned  integrity  of  character,  his  goodness 
of  heart,  and  life,  endeared  him  to  all. 


292 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


(3-A^^  cy/i  f^^'^ 


William  Schuchert,  of  Chester,  is  one  of  the  enterpris- 
ing business  men  of  Randolph  county.  He  first  took  up  his 
residence  in  Chester  in  1848,  and  has  been  in  business  for 
himself  since  1867.  His  native  place  is  Ottendorf,  Hanover, 
Germany, — here  he  was  born  Sept.  28th,  1832.  His  educa- 
tion was  obtained  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  town. 
When  si.xteen  years  of  age  he  was  brought  by  his  father  to 
America,  and  for  a  time  was  left  at  New  Orleans,  whilst  his 
father  made  his  way  to  Chester,  where  he  afterwards  joined 
him.   In  1849  he  returned  to  Germany  for  his  brother  John 


F.,  having  saved  sufficient  out  of  his  wages  of  |10  per  month 
to  nialse  the  trip.  He  returned,  arriving  in  Chester  in  Nov. 
1849.  In  18.52,  he  went  to  California,  returning  in  1858. 
For  a  time  after  his  return  he  clerked,  then  became  propri- 
etor of  a  store,  in  which  bu.siness  he  has  since  remained. 
He  was  married  to  Louami  F.  Castellow  in  April,  1860. 
The  Castellows  were  originally  South  Carolinians,  and  came 
hither  via  Tennessee.  Mr.  Schuchert  was  elected  Mayor  of 
Chester  in  April,  1881,  the  duties  of  which  office  he  is  dis- 
charging with  great  credit  to  himself  and  adopted  city. 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS 


293 


eiP^ 


Few  men  work  more  earnestly  fur  the  general  prosperity 
of  towns  of  their  adoption  than  J.  F.  Schuchert.  Born  in 
Germany,  Feb.  3d,  18:>7, — the  year  184.H  finds  him  a  resident 
of  this  country,  whither  he  was  brought  by  an  elder  brother. 
He  obtained  a  good  common-school  education,  and  for  several 
years  clerked  in  stores  of  various  kinds  for  different  peo|)le. 
His  first  experience  for  himself,  independent  of  the  counsel 
of  others,  was  as  a  retail  grocer,  then  in  general  merchan- 
dizing. For  two  years  he  followed  wholesaling  in  groceries 
at  St.  Genevieve ;  then,  in  1S77,  returned  to  Chester.     He  is 


the  proprietor,  as  he  was  the  projector,  of  the  elegant  0])era 
House  elsewhere  shown  in  this  work,  and  is  the  owner  of 
several  buildings  used  for  various  purposes.  He  was  first 
married  to  Elizabeth  Hoppe,  February  15,  185G.  She  died 
May  G,  18G'2,  and  on  the  18th  of  March,  18G3,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  his  present  wife,  Saletha  Ford.  Mr.  Schuchert  is  a 
man  of  enterprise,  push,  and  ambition.  Any  mooted  im- 
provement in  his  city  finds  in  him  a  friend  and  abettor. 
Ready  as  ho  is  with  voice  and  purse  to  aid  any  good  under- 
taking, he  is  popular  with  his  fellow-citizens. 


294 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


/^^/dJt^ydy^ 


Was  born    in  Churchville,  Pictou  county,  Nova    Scotia, 
February  15,  1844.     He   is  justly   proud  of  his  ancestry. 
His  grandfather,  Alexander,  a  highly  educated  man,  came 
from  Scotland  to   Nova  Scotia,   where  even  to  this  day  a 
common  quotation  with  the  people  is  "As  Deacon  Macken- 
zie said."     He  could  not,  in  his  American  home,  give  his 
sons    like    advantages    he    possessed    in    the    old    country 
although  the  best  possible  part  was  done  by  them.     Alex 
ander,  jr.,  the  father  of  the  subject  of   this  sketch,  now 
eighty-four  years  of  age,  still  lives  in   the  old  homestead 
Around  him,  the  farthest  not  more  than  seven  miles  distant, 
are  his  four  married  daughters,  Margaret,  Nellie,  Elizabeth 
and  Isabelle  Ann.     Of  the  five  sons,  Alexander  is  a  drug 
gist  in  Chester.     John,  a  valiant  soldier,  was  killed  in  the 
battle  of  Fort  Donelson.     Daniel,  who  was  first  a  Lieuten- 
ant, then  Captain  of  Co.   D,  80th  Regt.,  111.  Vol.,  died  in 
Fredericksburg  from  disease  contracted  in  the  army.  Thomas 
died  in   New  Brunswick.     Kenneth   died    in    Nevada  and 
the  doctor  is  practicing  in  Chester.     The  maiden  name  of 
Alexander's  wife  was  Elizabeth   Macmillan,   a  daughter  of 
William  Macmillan  who  was  pressed  into  the  British  service 
during  the  war  of  1812. 


Dr.  Wm.  R.  Mackenzie  came  to  the  United  States, 
landing  in  Boston  in  1865.  He  had  prior  to  this  taught  in 
the  home  school.  From  Boston  he  went  out  on  a  fishing 
expedition,  full  of  adventure  and  incident,  returned  to 
Boston  and  thence  to  Sparta,  Illinois,  in  1867.  Here  he 
studied  medicine  and  recited  iu  Greek  and  Latin  with  Rev. 
Stuart.  He  graduated  from  the  Medical  Department 
Michigan  University  in  March,  1870.  He  at  once  com- 
menced the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Ann  A.rbor,  Mich., 
with  his  preceptor,  Chajjin,  where  he  remained  but  a  short 
time,  returning  to  Sparta,  then  to  Kaskaskia  and  in  1875  to 
Chester,  where  he  has  since  resided. 

On  the  17th  of  May,  1875,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Nellie  M.  Gordon,  daughter  of  Dr.  Wm.  A.  Gordon,  one  of 
the  oldest  and  most  popular  physicians  of  Randolph  county. 
Two  children  bless  this  union.  William  A.,  born  Novem- 
ber 22d,  1877,  and  Robert,  June  3d,  1882. 

The  doctor  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  and  Odd  Fellows 
organizations,  of  the  Knights  Templar,  CyreneCommandery 
No  23,  Centralia.  He  is  an  earnest,  active,  Republican. 
As  a  physician  he  takes  high  rank  in  his  profession:  as  a 
citizen  he  is  eminently  social. 


HISTORY   OF  RANDOLPH,   MONROE  AND   PERRY   COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


295 


-y-^^-HyO^^^ 


Was  born  ia  Central  Precinct,  four  miles  west  of  Sparta, 
Randolph  county,  April  24tli,  185S.  After  attending  the 
district  school  several  years,  he  entered  the  Sparta  High 
School  in  1873,  from  which  institution  he  graduated  in  lx~'), 
in  a  class  of  eight — the  first  class  graduated  from  that 
school.  He  was  chosen  the  first  President  of  the  Alumni. 
In  187G  he  entered  Bryant  it  Stratton's  Commercial  College 
of  St.  Louis,  where  he  remained  but  a  short  time,  being 
called  home  to  enter  his  father's  office,  that  of  Sherifl',  a.s 
clerk.  The  day  he  reached  his  majority  his  father  surprised 
him  with  the  appointment  of  Deputy  Sheriff.  He  was  ma-- 
ried  to  Miss  Catharine  Dauer,  daughter  of  John  and  Mar- 
garet Dauer,  April  29th,  1880.  She  died  August  28,  1881, 
leaving  a  child  to  survive  her,  little  Rosa. 


In  1880,  although  but  twenty-two  years  of  age,  Mr.  Ger- 
lach  was  elected  Sheriff  of  Randolph  county,  on  the  Repub- 
licn  ticket.  He  was  at  the  time  the  youngest  man  elected 
in  Illinois  to  so  responsible  a  position,  and  is  believed  to 
have  been  the  youngest  Sheriff  in  the  United  States.  The 
duties  of  the  office  he  discharged  with  signal  ability.  The 
nomination  was  made  in  convention  by  acclamation  The 
democrats  nominated  one  of  the  best  and  most  popular  citi- 
zens of  the  county,  John  L.  Taggart  The  contest  was  most 
e.xciting,  and  resulted  in  his  election  by  71  majority. 

At  present,  Mr.  Gerlach  is  a  committee  clerk  in  attend- 
ance upon  the  Legislation  of  the  State.  He  is  well  (lualificd 
to  fill  any  position  of  public  trust,  possessing  as  he  does  en- 
ergy, pluck  and  earnestness.  Courteous  and  generous  he 
has  hosts  of  friends. 


296 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY   COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


K^^^^^/yfT^^^^^^ 


Welcomed  to  America's  shores  are  representatives  of 
every  nationality.  The  Emerald  Isle  has  furnished  many 
thousands  who  have  contributed  no  little  to  her  prosperity. 
Almost  every  community  numbers  sons  of  Erin  among  its 
population.  No  better  representative  can  be  found  in  Ches- 
ter than  he  whose  name  \ifA%  this  article,  and  whose 
portrait  graces  this  page.  He  was  born  in  county  Galway, 
November  15,  1837.  He  was  the  son  of  Philip  and  Mar- 
garet Devine;  his  mother's  maiden  name  was  Redington. 
Mr.  Devine  came  to  America,  landing  in  New  York  city 
February  20, 1854  ;  remained  a  few  months  in  the  city  with 
friends,  then  went  to  Richland  county,  Wisconsin.  In  the 
spring  of  1857  he  went  to  St.  Louis,  and  for  about  a  year 


followed  the  river  between  that  city  and  New  Orleans.  In 
1858  clerked  for  Hugh  Dolau,  in  the  liquor  industry  ;  after 
a  few  months,  returned  again  to  the  river,  and  remained  in 
this  employ  until  after  the  battle  of  Pittsburg  Landing ; 
thence  to  Cairo,  where  he  obtained  a  position  as  clerk  in  a 
boat  store.  Here  he  was  married  to  Julia  Woodward,  of 
Clinton,  Kentucky.  In  1869  he  moved  to  Grand  Tower, 
where  he  went  into  the  ice  trade,  which  industry  he  has  since 
successfully  followed.  His  wife  died  Sept.  4,  1874,  and  on 
Feb.  23, 1876,  he  was  married  to  his  present  wife,  Ida  Jones. 
In  1876  he  was  elected  coronor  of  Jackson  county  ;  in  1879 
moved  to  Chester,  where  he  has  since  resided. 


:o6A 


,;      /  |-^Tjt::4l:-i  f- r-' 


RESIDEMCEOF  Mif  M.  C.  D£.   »OUSS£,    CMESTCK  ILLINOIS,  KESIDENci  Of  M"  F  i'h^    ^-il      ^'^csTeh 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


297 


Almost -two  eenturies  ago  (lfiS6)  the  first  family  of  the 
name  Derousse  came  from  France  to  settle  in  Kaskaskia. 
Their  descendants  have  accomplished  much  in  behalf  of  the 
old  lown,each  generation  of  their  numher  furnishing  some 
representative  men.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  whose  por- 
trait heads  this  article,  was  the  son  of  Pierre  K.  Derousse, 
Louis  was  born  in  Kaskaskia,  August  28th,  1816.  At  six- 
teen he  was  bound  ivs  an  apprentice  to  the  cabinet  making 
business,  and  worked  at  that  business  till  he  was  twenty-one. 
In  November,  1842  he  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Ungerwho 
died  in  February,  18<iO,  leaving  four  children.  In  April, 
38 


18.36  he  was  married  to  Mary  Mauger,  of  New  Jersey  yet  of 
French  blood.  By  this  marriage  there  were  born  four 
chihlren.  Elizabeth,  now  in  attendance  at  school,  in  Bell- 
ville,  Leon,  who  was  two  years  in  St.  Joseph  College,  in 
Teutopolis,  Napoleon  and  John  F. 

Mr.  Derousse  filled  various  offices  of  profit  and  trust 
with  credit  to  himself  and  friends.  He  was  widely  known  and 
highly  respected.  He  died  May  2d,  1878.  His  widow,  a 
woman  of  more  than  ordinary  intelligence  is  doing  an  excel- 
lent part  by  her  children  and  the  estate  left  her  through 
the  decease  of  her  husband. 


298  HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH,  MONROE  AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


^-  ^,  ^^.rt^i^rz^^'^ , 


Mr.  Holbrook  comes  of  good  old  Puiitanic  stock,  his 
ancestors  having  come  to  New  England  in  1040.  More  than 
a  hundred  farms  are  now  to  be  found  on  the  original  home- 
stead of  the  Holbrook's,  near  Sherborne,  Massachusetts. 
His  parents  were  Clark  and  Betsey  (nee  Bullene)  Holbrook. 
Clark  was  a  druggist,  with  which  occupation  he  combined 
farming.  J.  C.  Holbrook  was  educated  at  Brattleboro,  Ver- 
mont. He  left  his  native  State  in  1836,  St.  Louis,  Missouri, 
being  his  objective  point,  thence  to  Ohio,  where  he  studied 
law  in  the  office  of  George  Bell,  in  Hamilton,  Butler  county. 
Here  he  was  married  to  Eliza  McDill,   daughter  of  Kev. 


David  McDill,  May  15, 1845.  By  this  marriage  there  are 
now  four  children  living,  Mrs.  Clara  H.  Smith,  an  authoress 
of  commanding  ability,  living  in  Chicago ;  Edward  E.,  a 
druggist  in  Chester,  Elizabeth,  and  Lydia.  Mr.  Holbrook 
entered  the  army  in  1 802,  and  was  made  pay-master,  with 
rank  of  Major.  From  exposure,  during  the  war,  he  became 
physicially  disabled,  thus  greatly  lessening  his  powers  and 
abilities  as  an  attorney,  and  finally  compelling  abandonment 
of  the  profession  he  honored. 

Maj.  Holbrook  is  a  genial  gentleman  ;  a  fine  conversation- 
list;  a  ready  debator,  and  fiue  lawyer. 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


299 


^ J"  ^-fYo^/C^ 


Dr.  Pollock,  oceofiheold  established  and  popular  phy- 
sicians of  Randolph  county,  began  practice  in  1855.  He  is  a 
native  of  the  county,  having  been  born  at  Sparta,  iu  Sep- 
tember, 1829.  The  doctor  received  his  early  education  in 
Sparta,  in  1848,  began  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  Joseph 
Farnan,  who  had  located  in  Sparta  in  1830,  and  was  a  lead- 
ing physician  forraany  years.  In  1851  he  entered  St.  Louis 
Medical  College,  from  which  institution  he  graduated.  In 
1853,  by  the  misfortune  of  losinghis  eyesight,  he  was  compel- 
led to  undergo  treatment,  contiuuingtilll855,and  which  pre- 


vented him  from  entering  on  his  anticipated  professional  ca- 
reer, until  that  time.  His  vision  restored,  he  began  practice 
in  Sparta,  in  connection  with  his  old  preceptor.  Dr.  Farnan. 
Of  Dr.  Pollock's  career,  as  a  physician,  it  is  only  neces- 
sary to  say,  that  it  has  been  one  of  uniform  success.  He 
largely  combines  the  qualities  requisite  for  the  skillful  and 
popular  practitioner  of  medicine.  In  1857,  he  took  up  his 
residence  in  Chester,  where  he  has  since  been  most  active  in 
his  profession. 


300 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS 


^^c   ^ 


QriTE  a  colony  of  enterprising  citizens  came  to  Raudolph 
County  early  in  the  present  century,  1804  from  Sovith  Caro- 
lina whose  ancesters  were  from  the  northern  part  of  Ireland, 
and  yet  earlier  from  the  mountain  portions  of  Scotland, 
among  them  was  the  grand  father  and  father  of  the  subject 
of  this  sketch. 

William  McBride,  the  father,  was  a  substancial  farmer, 
who  had,  by  his  industry  acquired  a  good  competency,  and 
was  always  considered  as  one  of  the  leading  men  in  his  sec- 
tion, in  everything  pertaining  to  schools  and  the  general 
interest  of  society,  leaving  to  his  children  the  valuable 
injunction— "  Be  useful  and  you  will  be  happy"  He  filled 
various  offices  of  trust  and  honor,  among  others,  that  of 
Capt.  ofa  Company  of  Rangers  in  1812;  County  School 
Superintendent;  Member  of  County  Board;  and  represented 
his  district  in  the  State  Legislature.  He  died  in  1856  in 
the  seventy-second  year  of  his  age,  and  was  laid  by  the  side 
of  his  wife  Eliza,  daughter  of  William  Nelson,  who  was 
also  an  early  pioneer  settler,  in  the  Nelson  Cemetery,  four 
miles  south  of  Red  Bud 

John  T.  McBride,  was  born  March  15  1838,  on  his  father  s 
homestead  in  the  western   part  of  Randolph   County.     He 


was  the  ninth  in  order  of  birth  ofa  family  of  ten  children. 
His  earlier  years  were  passed  upon  the  farm  attending 
school  during  the  winter  months.  In  1858  he  taught  school  ; 
about  this  time  an  accident  befell  him  which  caused  him  to 
use  crutches  much  of  the  time  for  three  years.  A  horse 
running  with  him  fell  backwards  upon  him  crippling  him  in 
the  ankle.  Rheumatism  set  in  with  the  above  result.  During 
this  time  he  taught  school  and  in  1860,  was  elected  Assessor 
and  Treasurer  of  the  county  and  re-elected  without  any 
opposition  in  186-2.  In  1864  he  was  elected  Sheriff,  and 
again  in  1868.  In  1873,  his  brief  rest  from  public  service 
was  broiien  by  his  being  elected  County  Clerk,  during  which 
time,  at  the  urgent  request  of  many  friends  he  served  a  term 
as  Mayor  of  the  City  of  Chester,  but  could  not  be  induced 
to  agree  to  re-election.  At  the  end  of  his  term  as  Clerk, 
he  refused  being  a  candidate  for  re-election,  prefering  re- 
tiring in  order  to  devote  himself  to  his  private  business.  But 
in  1878  at  the  strong  solicitation  of  many  friends,  and  against 
his  own  wishes  at  the  time,  he  consented  to  accept  the  nomi- 
nation of  his  party  for  Representative,  and  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  State  Legislature  from  this  district.  In  1880 
he  received  (he  nomination  of  his   party,  for  State  Senator, 


HISTORY    OF   RAXDOLPH,    M  OX  ROE    AXf)    PERRY    COUXTIES.    ILIJXOIS. 


301 


and  was  only  defeated  by  a  small  majority,  caused  by  too 
great  a  confidence  of  himself  and  friends  at  the  election,  and 
the  general  political  Tidal  Wave,  of  that  year,  which  in 
many  places  swept  away  large  majorities;  in  each  of  these 
various  positions,  he  acquited  himself  with  market  ability, 
being  uuiver:ally  regarded  as  an  efficient  and  faithful  public 
officer. 

He  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Wilson,  a  daughter 
of  one  of  the  early  settlers,  April  21st,  L'^oll ;  she  died  De- 
cember ^•'^th,  1861.  By  her  he  had  a  daughter;  Eliza  G. 
who  is  now  a  highly  respected  teacher  in  the  Red  Bud 
schools. 

His  second  marriage  took  place  March  4ih  I'^To.  Mary  C. 
Smith  was  the  former  name  of  his  second  wife;  she  was  born 
and  raised  iu  Chester  and  was  the  daughter  of  Davis  Smith ; 
a  son  hy  this  union  .•survives,  William  K.  S.  McBride.  She 
died  Jan.  2ilth,  1^70. 

Mr.  McBride  was  the  third  time  married  to  Mrs.  Mary  E. 
Givin,  March  1st,  l>>si.  She  was  a  Brown,  and  like 
himself  this  is  her  third  marriage.  Her  first  husband 
having  been  A.  V.  Burk  and  her  second  James  Givin,  bjlh 
highly  esteemed  and  early  settlers  of  Randolph  County. 

Mr.  McBride  has  been  a  steadfast  Democrat  in  p')litics, 
and  has  always  taken  an  active  interest  in  pal)lic  affairs.  His 
honesty  and  integrity  of  character  together  with  a  general 
disposition  to  make  himself  useful,  by  being  a  live  active 
worker  in  every  thing  to  advance  the  interest,  and  promote 
the  prosperity  of  his  county  and  section,  and  his  frank, 
jovial  manner,  with  his  friends  form  the  basis  of  his  popu- 
larity. He  is  a  man  who  never  bstrayeJ  a  trust ;  he  has 
been  faithful  to  the  interests  of  the  county,  to  his  party  and 
evcrv  confidence  reposed  iu  him. 

Anil  although  generous  to  a  fault,  he  has  by  his  industry 
and  perseverance,  acquired  a  good  competency,  and  is  to  day 
one  of  the  substantial  citizen  of  the  ojiity,  occupying  a 
worth V  place,  among  those  iu  the  front  rank  who  are  enjoy- 
ing the  highest  marks  of  populiar  esteem. 


MATLACK    AND    WASSELL 

Are  the  publishers  and  editors  of  that  recognized  leader 
among  Republican  journals  of  southern  Illinois,  the  Chester 
Trilninc.  They  are  both  young,  energetic,  determined  men. 
J.  B.  Matlack  was  born  in  the  city  of  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  June 
7,  l."<47.  His  parents  were  William  L.  and  Harriet  A. 
Matlack,  the  one  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  the  other  of  Ma- 
ryland. When  sixteen  years  of  age  Mr.  Matlack  entered 
the  office  of  the  the  "  Star  of  the  West,"  at  Sparta,  to 
learn  the  printer's  art ;  thence  to  Chester,  where  he  engaged 
on  the  "  Picket  Guard  "  as  a  typo  ;  then  to  the  "  Clarion  " 
office,  where  he  worked  off  the  first  copy  of  that  paper. 
Next  to  Belleville  as  assistant  foreman  in  the  "  Advocate" 
office,  when  patent  outsides  were  issued  therefrom.  The 
business  management  of  the  Nashville  Journal  was  intrust- 
ed to  him  in  l'^7().  This  paper  he  bought  in  1872;  sold 
out  to  Wassell  Brothers,  and  went  into  the  State  Auditor's 
office,  Springfield,   111.,  iu    1«76.     In    1««1    he  bought   the 


"Tribune,"  in  connection  with  Wassell.  He  was  married  to 
Emily  Wassell  of  Chester,  October  IS,  1.S69;  by  her  he  has 
two  children  living,  one  dead. 

James  F.  Wassell  is  a  native  of  Chester,  where  he  was 
born  May  10.  18.")t!.  Charles  Wassell,  his  father,  is  a  mer- 
chant tailor  of  tiiis  city.  James  learned  the  printer's  trade 
in  the  home  offices.  In  various  capacities  he  has  been  con" 
nected  with  the  Nashville  Journal,  (of  which  he  became 
part  proprietor  in  187(>),and  a  paper  in  Petersburg,  Menard 
countv.  where  he  was  foreman  In  1880  he  returned  to  his 
home,  and  in  l'S81  became  associated  with  Mr  Matlack  in 
the  management  of  the  Tribune. 

They  are  making  a  fine  succe-«s  of  their  paper,  possessed 
as  they  are  of  thorough  practical  knowledge  acquired  by 
long  experience  in  the  work,  and  of  a  familiarity  with  the 
expectations  of  the  reading  public  in  a  paper's  make-up 
It  is  fast  becoming  a  recognized  power  iu  behalf  of  Repub- 
licanism throu'jhout  southern  Illinois. 


WARKI.N  N.  WILSON. 

The  ranks  of  the  legal  profession  are  largely  recruited 
from  among  farmers'  ambitious  sons.  Such  an  one  was 
Warren  N.  Wilson.  He  was  born  February  ><ih,  l."S"21,  on 
the  present  site  of  the  village  of  Baldwin.  His  parents 
were  James  and  Jennie  WiLson,  {iwe  McBride.)  They  were 
natives  of  this  county.  George  Wilson  his  grandfather  was 
one  of  the  pioneers,  coming  here  as  he  did  in  180G.  The 
Wilsons  were  study,  energetic  men,  possessed  of  that  vim 
and  push  so  nece.-sary  in  reaping  success  from  frontier 
life. 

Warren  N.  Wilson  obtained  in  the  home  schools  a  fair 
education,  and  having  detern)ined  to  leave  the  path  his 
father  before  him  had  trodden,  i.  e.  farm  life,  fur  profes- 
sional labor,  entered  Shurtlifi' College,  Upper  Alton,  Illinois, 
where  he  attended  three  years  He  next  commenced 
the  study  of  law  with  Harizel  and  Johnson,  and  in 
1S77,  after  passing  a  highly  creiiitable  examination,  was  ad- 
mitted to  practice  at  the  bar.  Recognizing  his  emnient 
fitness  for  (lischargug  the  duties  of  the  office,  Judge  Watts 
appointed  him  Master  in  Chancery  in  1880,  a  position  he 
yet  holds  and  the  duties  of  which  he  discharges  with  fidelity 
and  care.  Early  in  life  Mr.  Wilson  espoused  the  cause  of 
Democracy  and  vigorously  defended  its  principles.  His 
first  Presidential  vote  was  cast  for  Horace  Greeley.  He 
entertains  the  faith  of  his  fathers,  being,  as  were  they,  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  His  wife's  maiden 
name  was  Helen  Crittenden,  a  daugliter  of  Richard  Critten- 
den of  old  Kentucky.  She  adorns  her  station  in  life  with 
the  true  grace  of  a  daughter  of  Kentucky.  By  her  Mr. 
Wilson  has  two  bright  children,  John  Tliurman  and  Edmond 
Crittenden  by  name. 

In  the  practice  of  his  profession  Mr.  Wilson  is  earnest, 
pains-taking  and  is  winning  a  fair  share  of  practice;  as  a 
citizen  lie  is  a  social,  high-mindeil,  and  true  to  his  friends. 


302 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND     PERRY    COUNTIES,  ILLINOIS. 


H.  C.  HORNER. 

Few  young  men  throughout  the  State  of  Illinois  have 
made  more  rapid  advancement  in  their  profession  than  the 
subject  of  this  sketch.  Dependent  alone  upon  his  individ- 
ual exertions,  unaided  by  fortuitous  circumstances,  he  has 
acquired  a  position  at  the  bar  that  commands  respect.  To 
the  local  bar  he  is  known  as  the  "Arkansaw  traveler,"  having 
been  born  in  Lawrence  county  in  that  Slate,  October  23, 
1834.  His  father,  Benjamin  Horner,  was  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania, a  merchant  by  occupation.  His  mother,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Mary  Merriweather,  was  an  Alabamian. 
In  1860  the  family  came  to  Chester,  where  Benjamin  died 
in  March,  1861.  Mrs.  Mary  Horner  is  still  living.  H.  C. 
Hcrner  was  educated  in  the  Public  Schools  of  Chester.  At 
the  age  of  sixteen  he  entered  the  school-room  as  a  teacher. 
In  this  work  he  continued  until  the  time  of  his  admission  at 
the  bar.  During  the  time  he  bent  his  energies  to  a  mastery  of 
the  elements  of  legal  knowledge  studying  with  Hartzell  and 
Holloway  and  with  Alexander  Hood.  In  June,  1877  he 
passed  such  an  examination  as  entitled  him  to  enter  the  Ksts 
as  a  practitioner  of  law.  Accepting  the  saying  of  Webster 
that  there  was  "plenty  of  room  in  the  upper  story  "  he  has 
worked  faithfully  to  accomplish  his  ends.  As  a  lawyer  he 
is  clear,  incisive  and  forcible.  Feeling,  as  have  many 
fellow-members  of  his  profession,  the  necessity  for  a  treatise 
on he  set  to  work  and  gave  the  profession  a  valu- 
able and  exhaustive  work.  Ever  studious  he  avails  himself 
of  every  means  to  enhance  his  knowledge.  For  a  time  afier 
his  admission  he  was  associated  with  J.  Perry  Johuson,  but 
since  1880  he  has  been  alone. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Fleming, 
November  28th,  1877.  Politically,  Mr.  Horner  is  in  full 
accord  with  the  principles  of  the  Republican  party,  and  has 
been  an  active  participant  in  its  successes. 


WILLIAM  A.  CAMPBELL. 

TflEpresent  efficient  and  popular Treasunr  of  Randolph 
county,  was  born  near  the  village  of  Blair,  Randolph 
county,  January  12,  1848.  His  ancestors  on  his  father's  side 
were  among  the  pioneers  of  the  county,  having  come  from 
Abbeville,  South  Carolina,  in  1807.  His  father,  Andrew  J. 
Campbell,  was  a  practical  unassuming  farmer.  His  mother, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Mary  Caudle,  was  born  in  this 
county.  Her  people  were  originally  from  South  Carolina. 
William  A.  Campbell  obtained  a  fair,  district  school  educa- 
tion near  the  place  of  his  birth,  which  was  supplemented  by 
a  commercial  course  in  Jones'  Commercial  College,  St.  Louis, 
Missouri,  from  which  institution  he  graduated  in  1878.  For 
several  years  he  tad  been  a  teacher  in  common  schools,  be- 
ginning in  St.  Clair  county.  For  three  terms  he  taught  the 
home  school.  In  1871  he  entered  upon  mercantile  life  in 
Blair,  which  he  prosecuted  quite  successfully  until  1877, 
when  he  again  entered  the  school  room  as  a  teacher.  Dur- 
ing much  of  his  life  he  has  been  more  or  less  engaged  in 
farming.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  J.  McKee,  daugh- 
ter of  S.  C.  McKee,of  Blair,  October  8,  1874.     By  this  union 


there  has  been  born  one  child,  whof  e  name  is  Samuel  Andrew 
Jackson  Campbell,  perpetuates  memories  of  hisgrandfatbers 
Politically,  Mr.  Campbell  has  ever  been  an  active,  consistent 
Democrat  His  first  vote  was  cast  for  Greeley,  in  1872.  His 
eflTorts  in  behalf  of  Democratic  success  received  recognization 
upon  the  part  of  party  friends  and  associates,  who  nominated 
him  as  candidate  for  County  Treasurer,  in  1882.  In  the 
November  election  he  was  chosen  by  a  majority  of  three 
hundred  and  thirty-four  votes.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Ma- 
sonic order ;  courteous  to  all  ;  pains-taking  as  an  official,  he 
is  fast  proving  himself  to  be  the  "  right  man  in  the  right 
place" 

ABRAM  G.  GORDON. 

The  legal  profession  attracts  to  its  ranks  a  fair  share  of 
the  youth  of  our  land.  In  Randolph  county  many  have 
tried  its  experiences — some  doomed  to  failure,  others  to 
meet  success.  Of  this  latter  class  is  Abram  G.Gordon,  who 
was  born  in  the  vicinity  of  Percy,  Nov.  6,  1849.  His  family 
is  of  Scotch  and  German  descent.  A  brief  course  of  in- 
struction gained  in  the  public  schools  of  his  district  was 
supplemented  by  a  thorough  scientific  course  taken  in  Mc- 
Keudree college,  Lebanon,  Illinois,  from  which  institution  he 
graduated  in  1871,  receiving  his  degrees  in  both  the  scientific 
aud  law  departments.  He  at  once  returned  to  Randolph 
county  and  commenced  the  practice  of  his  chosen  profession 
in  the  village  of  Steelesville.  In  1874  he  moved  to  Chester, 
where  in  March,  1875,  he  associated  himself  with  Alexander 
Hood.  The  firm  received  a  fair  share  of  the  business  of  the 
county.  For  a  time  these  parties  practiced  separately,  until 
recently,  when  they  again  united  their  destinies  under  the 
firm  style  of  Gordon  &  Hood.  Mr.  Gordon  was  the  first 
prosecuting  attorney  of  Randolph  county  after  the  creation 
of  that  office,  the  duties  of  which  he  discharged  for  a  period 
of  several  months  with  credit.  He  has  gained  a  promising 
place  at  the  bar  by  virtue  of  close  application  to  business, 
unremitting  eflfort  and  studious  habits.  His  private  char- 
acter is  above  reproach,  and  his  relations  cordial  with  his 
friends  and  acquaintances  He  was  married  to  Miss  Clara 
J.  Short,  a  native  of  Randolph  county,  in  November,  1872. 

Mr.  Gordon  is  a  Democrat  in  his  political  principles,  and 
has  voted  generally  for  the  candidates  of  that  party  ever 
since  attaining  his  majority.  His  industry  is  fast  gaining 
for  him  a  large  and  lucrative  practice,  whilst  his  eminent 
fecial  qualities  make  for  him  hosts  of  friends. 


WILLIAM  M.  HOLMES, 

Editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Valley  Clariun,  Chester,  Illinois, 
is  a  native  of  Randolph  county,  having  been  born  here 
November  5th,  1856.  His  father,  of  whom  portrait  and 
sketch  can  be  found  elsewhere  in  this  work,  was  Joseph  B. 
Holmes,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  early  settled  here,  hav- 
ing come  to  Kaskaskia  in  1829,wherehe  prosecuted  milling 
and  merchandising.  His  mother  was  a  daughter  of  Gov. 
Shadrack  Bond.  The  remains  of  both  were  laid  away  in 
Evergreen  cemetery,  Chester. 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


303 


William  M.  Holmes  chose  the  profe?sion  of  law  and  pur- 
sued its  study  with  Messrs.  Hartzell  and  Morrison  and  was 
admitted  to  practice  iu  1878.  Soon  after  he  made  au  ex- 
tensive western  trip,  occupying  a  year  and  a  halfs  time. 
Returning  he  bought  *he  Valley  Clarion  and  entered  upon  a 
journalist  career.     He  is  making  the  Chirioii   the  leadinsj 


democratic  journal  of  southern  Illinois.  As  a  writerof  political 
articles,  Mr.  Holmes  wields  a  graceful  pen,  and  is  forcible 
and  vigorous.  In  compilation  of  news  he  gives  particular 
attention  to  local  correspondence,  a  feature  that  makes  his 
paper  a  welcome  visitor  to  many  homes. 


KASKASKIA 


RANDOLPH   COUNTY. 


I  HE  exact  date  of  the  founding  of  Kas- 
kaskia  cannot  be  stated  with  certainty. 
It  has  been  supposed  that  members  of 
La  Salle's  party  stopped  here  on  their 
way  back  from  their  voyage  of  discovery 
to  the  mouth  of  the  Mis.sissippi  in  1682, 
and  gave  rise  to  the  present  town-  The 
conjecture  has  also  been  made  that 
Tonti  here  established  a  trading-post  in  1686.  The  evidence, 
however,  seems  conclusive  that  the  birth  of  the  town  arose 
from  the  transfer  of  the  Jesuit  mission  from  the  banks  of 
the  Illinois  river  to  this  spot  about  the  year  170O. 

This  mission  was  established  by  Marquette  in  the  year 
167.3.  Its  site  was  the  Indian  village  of  Kaskaskia,  near 
the  present  town  of  Utica,  in  La  Salle  county,  Illinois.  The 
Kaskaskia  Indians  then  inhabited  that  region.  After  the 
death  of  Marquette,  Father  Claude  Allouez  had  charge  of 
the  mission  at  different  periods  from  1677  to  161)0.  From 
16(11  to  169.'>  Sebastian  Rasle  was  the  priest,  and  he  was 
succeeded  by  James  Gravier.  The  latter  was  ardent  and 
enthusiastic  in  his  work.  He  reduced  the  language  of  the 
Illinois  Indians  to  grammatical  rules,  and  made  many  con- 
verts among  the  savages  to  the  Christian  faith.  The  journal 
of  Gravier,  written  in  the  years  1693  and  1694,  shows  that 
the  mission,  at  that  period,  was  still  located  on  the  l)anks  of 
the  Illinois.  Fathers  Bineteau,  Piuet  and  Gabriel  Marcst 
labored  there  as  missionaries  in  1699.  Letters  and  journals 
written  in  1699  and  17l»il  indicate  that  u|)  to  the  latter  year 
the  mission  retained  its  original  site.  Its  removal  to  where 
the  town  of  Kaskaskia  now  stands,  likely,  took  place  in  the 
autumn  of  the  year  1700,  when  the  Kaskaskia  Indians,  to 
escape  the  ravages  of  their  powerful  and  warlike  enemies, 
the  Iroquois,  journeyed  to  the  South  and  founded  their  vil- 
lage near  the  mouth  of  the  river  to  which  they  gave  their 
name. 

For  the  first  years  of  its  existence  Kaskaskia  obtains 
little  note  except  as  a  mission  station.  Its  history  is  chiefly 
drawn  from  the  parish  records,  now  in  the  keeping  of  the 
bishop  of  the  dioce-se,  and  the  letters  and  journals  of  the 
early  priests  Its  population  was  increased  by  the  arrival 
of  hardy  French  voyageurs  from  Canada  and  adventurous 
immigrants  direct  from  France.  Marriages  between  the 
French  and  Indians  were  frequent.     Marest  was  joined  in 


1707  by  Father  Merniet,  who  had  previously  labored  as  a 
missionary  at  the  great  village  of  the  Peorias.  Mermet, 
whose  health  was  feeble,  remained  at  the  village  for  the  in- 
struction of  the  Indians  ;  while  Marest,  who  describes  him- 
self as  "so  constituted  that  I  can  run  on  the  snow  with  the 
rapidity  with  which  a  paddle  is  worked  in  a  canoe,  and  who 
have,  thanks  to  God,  the  strength  necessary  to  endure  all 
these  toils, "  roamed  through  the  forest  with  the  rest  of  the 
Indians,  who  spent  a  great  part  of  their  time  in  the  chase- 
"  Our  life,"  he  writes,  "  is  spent  in  roaming  through  thick 
woods,  in  clambering  over  hills,  in  paddling  the  canoe  across 
lakes  and  rivers,  to  catch  a  poor  savage  who  flies  from  us, 
and  whom  we  can  tame  neither  by  teachings  or  caresses." 

The  labors  of  these  missionaries  are  not  without  their 
fruits.  In  1820  the  Illinois  Indians  are  spoken  of  as  nearly 
all  Christians.  They  cultivated  the  ground  iu  their  own 
way,  and  under  the  influence  of  religion  had  become  indus- 
trious, raising  poultry  and  live  stock  to  sell  to  the  French. 
The  women  were  adroit,  weaving  of  buffalo-hair  a  fineglos-ty 
stuff,  which  they  dyed  of  various  colors  and  worked  into 
dresses  for  themselves,  manufacturing  a  fine  thread  with 
great  ingenuity.  A  parish  was  regularly  formed  in  1719,  of 
which  in  1720  Father  Nicholas  Ignatius  de  Beaubois  had 
charge.  Separate  missions  were  established.  One  "  about 
half  a  league  above  Old  Fort  Chartres,  within  gun-shot  of 
the  river,"  was  under  the  direction  of  Father  Joseph  Ig- 
natius le  Boulanger,  who  is  spoken  of  as  a  man  of  great 
missionary  tact  and  wonderful  skill  in  languages.  His  Illi- 
nois catechism  and  instructions  in  the  same  dialect  for  hear- 
ing mass  and  approaching  the  sacraments,  were  considered 
by  other  missionaries  as  master-pieces,  and,  for  their  benefit, 
were  literally  translated  into  the  French  language.  Boul- 
anger, in  1721,  was  assisted  by  Father  de  Kreben.  Another 
Kaskaskia  village  was  six  miles  inland  from  the  Mississippi, 
and  of  this  Father  John  Charles  Guj'monneau,  who,  it  ap- 
pears, was  the  leading  authority  of  the  church  in  Illinois, 
had  charge.  On  the  organization  of  Louisiana  as  a  colony, 
Illinois  became  subject  to  its  government,  and  the  superior 
of  the  Jesuits  at  New  Orleans  had  the  superintendence  of 
the  Illinois  mission. 

The  first  military  occupation  of  the  village  was  late  in  the 
year  1718,  when  Pierre  Du/jue  Boisbriant,  commandant  at 
the   Illinois,  arrived  witli  a  detachment  of  troops.     He  did 


304 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


uot,  however,  long  make  the  place  his  residence.  iSelecting 
a  site  for  a  military  pest  on  the  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  six- 
teen miles  above  Kaskaskia,  he  set  his  men  industriously  to 
work,  and  by  the  spring  of  1720  had  completed  Fort  Char- 
tres,  which  thenceforth  was  the  residence  of  the  commandant 
and  the  centre  of  military  authority.  About  1718  the  vil- 
lage sprang  into  new  life,  and  the  arrivals  from  France  and 
Canada  were  numerous. 

In  1721  a  monastery  and  college  were  established  by  the 
Jtsuits  In  1725  Kaskafkia  became  an  incorporated  town, 
and  Louis  XV,  the  French  king,  made  a  grant  of  commons 
to  the  inhabitants. 

THE  PARISH  RECORDS. 

During  this  period  the  records  speak  of  baptisms,  wedt 
dings  and  deaths,  and  thus  some  idea  is  obtained  of  the  social 
life  of  the  place  and  the  names  of  its  principal  citizens.  In 
theearly  baptisms  it  is  noticeable  that  the  names  of  the  women 
are  mostly  Indian,  though  oecasioDally  both  parents  are 
French.  On  the  register  in  1720,  apptar  the  signature  of 
Le  Sieur  Pierre  D'Artaguiette  and  Le  Sieur  Sirardot 
the  former  captain,  and  the  latter,  ensign  of  a  company 
of  troops,  both  godfathers  at  baptisms.  D'Artaguiette 
was  the  gallant  young  French  officer  who  subsequently 
became  ccnimandant  at  the  Illinois,  and  in  1736,  led  an 
expedition  against  the  Chickasaws,  which  resulted  in  his 
capture  by   the  enemy   and  his  death   at  the  stake. 

In  1721,  the  register  is  signed  by  Le  Sieur  Nicholas 
Michel  Chassin,  ccmmissary  of  the  Company  of  the  West, 
in  the  country  of  the  Illinois,  and  Le  Sieur  Phillippe  de  la 
Renaudiere,  director  of  mines  for  the  same  company,  both 
leadirg  men  in  the  colony.  The  rites  of  the  church  fre- 
quently sokmnize  marriages  between  Frenchmen  and  Indian 
women.  The  wedding  of  a  native  of  Brittany  with  Anne, 
a  female  sa\age  of  the  Nachitoches  tribe,  in  1724,  is  wit 
nessed  by  Giiardot  and  other  citizens,  and  in  1726,  the  mar- 
riage of  Jacques  Hyacinthe,  of  the  Pawnee  nation,  and 
Therese,  a  freed  savage  woman  of  the  Padoucah  tribe,  is 
celebrated.  In  172.5  two  Indian  chiefs,  one  the  head  of  the 
Tamaroa  tribe,  make  their  marks  as  witnesses  of  the  mar- 
riage of  a  Frenchman  with  a  German  woman.  The  names 
ot  the  witnesses  to  the  mariiage  of  Joseph  Lorrinand  Marie 
Phiilipe,  on  the  twentieth  of  October,  1727,  shows  that  it 
was  one  of  the  notable  social  events  of  the  day. 

The  Chevalier  Vinsenne,  commandant  of  the  port  on  the 
Wabash,  where  the  city  of  Vincennes  now  stands,  and  one 
of  his  officers,  St.  Angefils,  made  their  toilsonje  journey  by 
river  and  through  forrest,  to  sign  their  names  ou  the  regis- 
ter and  to  dance  at  the  wedding.  A  long  entry  ou  the 
seventh  of  January,  1748,  tells  of  the  wedding  of  Monsieur 
Joseph  Buchet,  "  Principal  Secretary  of  the  Marine,  Sub- 
delegate  of  Monsieur  the  Commissary  Ordonnateur  and 
Judge  at  the  Illinois,"  once  a  widower,  and  Marie  Louis 
Michel,  twice  a  widow.  The  ceremony  is  performed  by 
the  Reverend  Father  Guyenne,  Superior  of  the  Missions  of 
the  company  of  Jesus,  in  Illinois.  The  Chevalier  deBertel, 
major  comraandiog  for  the  King  at  Fort  Chartres,  and 
Benoi^t  de  St.  Clair,  captain  commanding  at  Kaskaskia,  are 


among  those  who  sign  their  names  as  witnesses.  Afterward 
follows  the  wedding  of  the  daughter  of  Sieur  Leo- 
nard Billeri)nt,  royal  notary  at  the  Illinois,  with  the  son 
of  Charles  Vallee.  The  last  name  will  be  recognized  as  that 
of  a  family  conspicuous  in  the  early  history  of  Kaskaskia, 
representations  of  which  may  still  be  found  throughout  the 
Mississippi  valley.  In  April,  1873,  occurs  the  marriage  of 
Phiilipe  Francois  de  Rastel,  Chevalier  de  Rocheblave,  to 
Michel  Marie  Dufresne.  daughter  of  Jacques  Michel  Du- 
fresne,  officer  of  Militia.  This  Rocheblave  became 
became  commandant  of  the  Illinois,  after  the  cession  of  the 
country  to  Great  Britain,  and  was  the  last  British  Governor. 
In  July,  1778,  he  was  taken  prisoner  at  Fort  [Gage,  by 
George  Rogers  Clark,  who  took  possession  of  the  Port  in 
the  name  of  the  Thirteen  American  Colonies,  then  engaged 
in  their  struggle  for  independence  from  the  British  crown. 

Although  the  Kaskaskia  Indians  and  others  were  friendly, 
there  is  evidence  that  depridatious  were  frequently  commit- 
ted by  members  of  hostile  tribes.  An  entry  on  the  parish 
register  in  1722,  reads  as  follows:  The  news  has  come  here 
this  day  of  the  death  of  Alexis  Blaye  and  Laurent  Bran- 
sart,  who  were  slain  upon  the  Mississippi  by  the  Chicka- 
saws." Immediately  afterward  comes  a  statement  that  ou 
the  twenty-second  ot  June  of  the  same  year  was  celebrated 
in  the  pari.^h  church  at  Kaskaskia,  a  solemn  service  for  the 
repose  of  the  soul  of  the  lady  Michelle  Chauviu,  wife  of 
Jacques  Nepven,  mt  rchant  of  Montreal,  aged  about  forty-five 
years,  and  of  Jean  Michelle  Nepven,  aged  twenty  years,  and 
of  Elizabeth  Nepven,  aged  thirteen  years,  and  Susanne  Nep- 
ven, eight  years,  her  children.  They  were  slain  by  the 
savages   from  five  to  seven  leagues  from  the  Wabash. 

THE    EARLY    FRENCH    SETTLKRS 

in  Kaskaskia,  included  Bazyl  Lachapelle,  Michael  De  Rousse, 
Baptiste'  Montreal  Boucher  De  Mon  brun,  Charles  Danie, 
Francis  Charlesville,  Autoine  Bienvenu,  Louis  Buyal,  Alexis 
Doza,  Joseph  Paget,  Prix  Pagi,  Michael  Antoyen,  Laiiglois 
De  Lisle,  and  families  by  the  name  of  La  Deroutteand  Noval. 
Bazyl  Lachapelle  came  from  Canada  in  company  with 
eleven  brothers,  but  he  alone  remained  permanently  in  Kas- 
kaskia. Antoine,  Louis  and  Baptiste  were  his  sons.  Mich- 
ael De  Rousse  was  the  ancestor  of  the  most  numerous  French 
family  in  Illinois.  In  France  the  home  of  the  family  was 
the  village  of  St.  Pierre,  and  frohi  this  circumstance  its 
early  members  in  Illinois  were  called  St.  Pierre  De  Rousse. 
Michael  DeRousse  was  the  father  of  Michael,  Joseph,  Phillip, 
Jerome  and  De  Bordeau,  each  of  whom  left  descendants. 
Jean  Baptiste  St.  Gemme,  called  Beauvais,  from  the  fact 
that  the  family  came  from  Beauvais  in  France,  became  a 
resident  of  the  village  about  1750.  Capt.  Pitman,  in  1766, 
speaks  of  him  as  the  wealthiest  citizen.  He  purchased  the 
property  of  the  Jesuits  on  its  sale  under  the  decree  for  the 
suppression  of  the  order.  He  kept  eighty  slaves,  and  fur- 
nished eighty -six  thousand  pounds  of  flour  "to  the  King's 
magazine,"  which  was  only  part  of  his  harvest  for  one  year. 
He  left  six  sons,  Raphael,  Antoiue,  Charles,  Joseph,  Vitol 
and  Baptiste.  Raphael  and  Charles  became  citizens  of 
Louisiana,  and  Antoine  of  Arkansas.     Vitol  and  Baptists 


304A 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE    AND    PERRY    COUXTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


;iO-) 


were  among  the  early  French  settlers  of  St.  Genevieve,  and 
left  numerous  desfendents  in  that  part  of  Missouri.  Raph- 
ael St.  Gemme  took  part  in  the  defense  of  Fort  Duquesne, 
and  was  among  the  French  force  which  defeated  Gen.  Brad 
dock  in  17.55.  Baptists  Montreal  came  from  Canada,  and 
was  a  man  of  industrious  and  quiet  disposition.  Boucher 
de  Montbrun  became  one  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  Kas- 
kaskia.  His  wife,  who  belonged  to  the  Lauglois  family, 
was  a  woman  of  much  beauty  and  respectability.  Charles 
Danie  was  a  quiet  farmer.  The  earliest  grant  of  land  of 
which  there  is  any  record  was  made  to  him  on  the  tenth  of 
May,  1722.  Francois  Charlesville  was  among  the  early  ar- 
riva  s  in  the  village  from  Canada.  He  engaged  iu  the  river 
trade  to  New  Orleans,  and  by  his  industry,  shrewdness  and 
energy  amassed  a  considerable  fortune.  His  four  sons  were 
Francois,  Baptists,  Charles  and  Louis.  Autoine  Bienvenu 
reached  the  village  from  France  by  way  of  New  Orleans, 
and  brought  with  him  abundant  means, 

Kaskaskia  in  176(5  is  spoken  of  by  Capt.  Pitman  of  the 
British  array,  "  as  by  far  the  most  considerable  settlement 
in  the  country  of  Illinois,  as  well  from  the  number  of  inhabi- 
tants as  from  its  advantageous  situation."  The  water-mill 
bult  by  Monsieur  Paget,  on  the  site  of  the  present  Reiley's 
mill  was  in  use  at  that  time  both  for  grinding  corn  and 
sawing  boards.  The  principal  buildings  in  town  were  the 
church  and  Jesuits  house  to  which  a  small  chapel  was  at 
tached.  These  were  built  of  stone,  as  were  some  of  the  other 
houses  in  the  village," and  in  the  opinion  of  the  writer  made 
a  good  appearance,  "  considering  this  part  of  the  world." 
The  Jesuits  plantation  contained  two  hundred  and  forty 
arpents  of  land,  well  stocked  with  cattle,  and  with  abrewery . 
Tbis  property  was  sold  for  the  crown  by  the  French  com- 
mandant, after  the  country  had  been  ceded  to  the  English 
under  the  decree  for  the  suppression  of  the  order  of  the 
Jesuits.  The  population  of  the  village,  in  17()li,is  placed  at 
sixty-five  families,  "  besides  merchants,  other  casual  people 
and  slaves." 

The  cession  of  Illinois  to  Great  Britain  deprived  Kaskas- 
kia of  many  of  its  wealthy  citizens.  Some  removed  to  St. 
Genevieve,  and  others  joined  in  founding  St.  Louis.  It  is 
supposed  that  one-third  of  the  inhabitants  left  the  village. 
These  removals  took  i)lace  about  1765,  at  which  time  the 
British  troops  took  possession  of  Fort  Chartres.  The  terri- 
tory had  been  ceded  three  years  previous,  but  the  fact  for 
some  time  was  not  generally  known.  By  taking  up  their 
residence  west  of  the  Mississippi,  these  people  sup|)osed  they 
could  remain  under  the  French  Government  though,  in  fact, 
by  a  secret  treaty  made  in  1762,  the  country  west  of  the 
river  had  been  cede<l  to  Spain.  On  Clark's  conquest  the 
citizens  of  the  village  readily  transferred  their  allegiance 
from  Great  Britain  to  the  sea-board  colonics.  Indeed,  some 
enthusiasm  for  the  American  cause  seems  to  have  been  shown 
by  the  leading  inhabitants.  A  militia  company  volunteered 
to  assist  Clark  in  the  capture  of  Cahokia,  and  Father  Gib- 
ault  visited  Vincennes  and  induced  the  inhabitants  there 
to  sever  their  relations  with  the  British  government  and  to 
take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  commonwealth  of  Virgin- 
ia. Kaskaskia  in  1778,  is  said  to  have  been  a  village  of 
39 


two  hundred  and  fifty  houses.  If  this  statement  is  true 
it  shows  a  considerable  growth  from  1766  when  Capt.  Pit- 
man reported  that  sixty-five  families  resided  here,  "  besides 
merchants,  other  casual  people  and  slaves."  Capt.  Pitman's 
enumeration,  however,  was  taken  at  a  time  when  the  popu- 
lation was  doubtless  at  its  lowest  ebb,  on  account  of  the  re- 
cent hegira  of  wealthy  families,  with  large  numbers  of  slaves, 
to  the  west  side  of  the  Mississippi  to  escape  the  English  rule. 
Up  to  this  time  the  population  of  Kaskaskia  was  wholly 
French.  The  great  part  of  the  families  had  come  from  Canada, 
and  some  up  the  Mississippi  direct  from  France.  After  the 
conquestby  Clark  there  began  an  immigraticm  from  the  coun- 
try east  of  the  Alleghenies.  Enterprising  merchants  seized 
upon  the  advantages  of  the  place  as  a  trading  point ;  English 
blood  becaraeinfused  into  the  village;  and  theslow  and  sleepy 
life  of  an  exclusive  French  settlement  gave  way  to  the  vigor 
of  Anglo-Saxon  methods.  It  was  during  this  period,  the 
half  century  succeeding  the  American  Revolution,  that 
Kaskaskia  made  its  greatest  progress  and  reached  the  zenith 
of  its  prosperity. 

FORMER   PROMINENT   CITIZENS. 

Among  the  men  who  assisted  in  inaugurating  the  new  era 
was  John  Edgar.  By  birth  he  was  an  Irishman.  He  had 
been  an  officer  in  the  British  Navy,  and  at  the  beginning 
of  the  revolutionary  war  resided  at  Detroit,  his  wife  was  an 
American  by  birth,  and  her  sympathies  were  warm  for  the 
colonial  cause. 

The  British  commander  at  Detroit  seized  Edgar,  on  ac- 
count of  his  openly  expressed  sympathy  for  the  American 
cause,  and  he  was  sent  as  a  prisoner  to  Quebec.  On  his  way 
there  he  escaped  near  Montreal,  and  found  his  way  within 
the  American  lines.  Remaining  for  a  time  with  the  army 
of  the  colonists,  he  then  sought  greater  safety  in  the  wilds 
of  the  west,  and  in  1784,  settled  at  Kaskaskia.  His  wife 
joined  him  two  years  later  with  twelve  thousand  dollars 
which  she  had  saved  from  the  confiscation  of  his  propert}'. 
This  was  the  necleus  of  a  large  fortune.  For  many  years  he 
was  the  wealthiest  citizen  of  Illinois,  and  paid  more  taxes 
then  any  other  person  in  the  territory.  He  adopted  a  mer- 
cantile career,  and  his  store  contained  a  large  stock  of  goods. 
He  rebuilt  Paget's  flouring  mill,  which  had  fallen  into  a 
ruined  condition,  and  before  the  year  1800,  made  large 
quantities  of  flour  which  he  shipped  to  the  New  Orleans 
market.  He  was  large  and  portly  in  person  and  genial 
and  benevolent  in  di-position  He  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  legislature  of  the  North  Western  territorj'  which  con- 
vended  at  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  during  the  administration  of 
Gov  St.  Clair.  He  was  appointed  by  the  Uniteil  .Statas, 
Major  General  of  the  Illinois  militia,  and  at  the  annual 
general  musters  deported  himself  with  great  dignity.  On 
the  organization  of  St.  Clair  county  in  1790,  he  was  made 
one  of  the  judges  of  the  common  pleas  court,  and  thence- 
forward his  name  frequently  appears  on  the  court  records 
for  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century.  Tiie  Edgar  mansion 
on  Elm  street,  the  ruins  of  which  could  still  be  seen  a  few 
vears  ago,  was  one  of  the  finest  residences  in  Kaskaskia,  and 
was  the  resort  of  distinguished  visitors.  On  Lafayette's  visit  to 


306 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND  PERRY  COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


the  place  in  1825,  a  reception  was  given  in  its  parlors  in  his 
honor.  Mrs.  Edgar,  a  woman  of  grace  and  accomplishments, 
was  the  acknowledged  leader  of  the  fashionable  society, 
which  made  Kaskaskia  gay  in  the  old  days  of  its  prosperity. 
Gen.  Edgar  died  without  children  in  1832. 

John  Doyle,  who  had  been  a  soldier  under  Clark,  returned 
to  Illinois  with  some  of  his  comrades,  and  settled  in  Kaskas- 
kia in  1781.  He  made  some  aspirations  to  learning,  and 
understood  ihe  French  and  Indian  languages,  as  well  as  the 
English  He  taught  school  and  his  name  deserves  to  be 
perpetuated  as  perhaps  that  of  the  first  American  who  en- 
gaged in  the  occupation  of  a  teacher  in  Illinois.  Soon 
afterward,  John  and  Israel  Dodge  became  residents  of  Kas- 
kaskia. The  latter  was  the  father  of  Henry  Dodge,  who 
served  in  the  United  States  senate  from  Wisconsin,  and  the 
grandfather  of  A.  C.  Dodge,  Senator  from  Iowa.  The 
Dodge  family  in  1794  removed  to  St.  Genevieve,  and  manu 
factured  salt  on  the  Mississippi,  a  few  miles  below  St.  Gene 
vieve,  at  the  mouth  of  Saline  creek 

William  Morrison  for  years  the  leading  spirit  in  commer- 
cial circles  in  Illinois,  made  his  home  in  Kaskaskia  in  1790. 
He  established  the  firm  of  Bryant  and  Morrison  long  known 
as  one  of  great  wealth  and  high  standing.  His  partner  was 
his  uncle,  Guy  Bryant,  a  resident  of  Philadelphia.  The 
main  store,  both  wholesale  and  retail,  was  at  Kaskaskia. 
From  it  the  merchants  of  St.  Louis,  St.  Genevieve,  Cape 
Girardeau  and  New  Madrid,  supplied  themselves  with  goods. 
His  trade  extended  from  Kaskaskia  around  to  Pittsburg,  to 
Niw  Orleans,  Prair'e  du  Chien,  and  the  Rocky  Mountains. 
He  was  a  person  of  vast  energy  and  superior  business  facul- 
ties. For  many  years  he  carried  on  a  heavy  commerce  on 
the  Mississippi  between  Kaskaokia  and  New  Orleans.  His 
boats  were  the  largest  and  the  best  that  up  to  that  time  had 
ever  stemmed  the  waters  of  the  Mitsissippi.  He  accumulated 
a  large  fortune.  In  1801  he  built  a  fine  stone  house  on  Elm 
Street  and  furnished  it  in  a  costly  and  elegant  manner ;  it 
was  considered  the  best  in  the  Illinois  country.  He  died  in 
April  1837,  and  was  buried  in  the  old  grave-yard. 

Robert  and  James  Morrison,  brothers  of  William,  came  to 
Kaskaskia  in  1798.  They  both  became  prominent  and  distin- 
guished citizens.  The  wife  of  Robert  Morrison  {nee  Miss 
Donaldson)  was  a  lady  of  much  refinement  and  culture.  She 
frequently  wrote  for  the  papers  on  political  and  other  sub- 
jects. 

One  of  the  most  distinguished  and  worthy  citizens  of 
Kaskaskia  was  Pierre  Menard.  He  was  born  at  Quebec,  in 
Canada,  in  the  year  1767.  His  father  was  an  officer  in  the 
French  service.  He  reached  Vincennes  in  1786,  and  was 
employed  by  Col.  Vigo  as  agent  in  the  Indian  trade.  In 
1789  he  accompanied  Vigo  across  the  mountains  to  Carlisle, 
Pennsylvania,  where  they  had  an  interview  with  President 
Washington,  relative  to  the  defence  of  the  western  frontier. 
In  1790  he  came  to  Kaskaskia,  where  he  established  a  store. 
For  many  years  he  acted  as  Indian  Agent  for  the  United 
States  Government,  and  also  in  several  instances  was 
appointed  commissioner  to  negotiate  Indian  treaties.  The 
Indians  bad  great  respect  and  affection  for  him.  He  carried 
OH  an  extensive  trade  with  several  tribes,  and  it  was  said 


that,  at  any  time,  an  Indian  would  prefer  giving  Menard 
his  peltry  for  nothing  than  to  receive  double  value  for  it 
from  a  long  knife  American.  In  the  early  history  of  Illi- 
nois Menard  was  foremost  in  almost  every  enterprise.  He 
was  elected  one  of  the  representatives  from  Randolph 
county  to  the  Legislature  of  the  Indiana  territory  in  1803, 
and  attended  the  legislative  sessions  at  Vincennes.  He  was 
a  member  of  each  territorial  Legislature  of  Illinois  from 
1812  to  the  organization  of  the  State  government  in  1818, 
and  during  this  time  served  without  interruption  as  presi- 
dent of  the  legislative  council.  He  is  said  to  have  presided 
over  this  body  without  parade  or  show,  but  with  great 
common  sense,  and  to  have  fostered  wise  and  equitable 
laws  for  the  growing  commonwealth.  He  was  elected  the 
first  lieutenant-governor  of  the  State.  Menard  county,  on 
its  organization  in  1839,  was  given  its  name  in  his  honor. 
By  his  mercantile  business  and  investments  in  land,  he  ac- 
quired a  large  fortune,  which,  to  some  extent,  was  dimin- 
ished by  his  liberal  disposition  and  desire  to  accommodate  his 
friends,  many  of  whose  debts  he  was  obliged  to  pay.  His 
first  partner,  on  coming  to  Kaskaskia,  was  a  gentleman  of 
Vincennes  named  Du  Bois.  In  1808  he  became  a  partner 
in  the  great  trading  company  of  Emanuel  Liza,  for  which 
he  transacted  business  among  the  Indians  in  the  Rocky 
mountains.  The  firm  of  Menard  &  Valle  was  established 
about  1824,  and  carried  on  a  mercantile  business,  chiefly 
with  the  Indians,  for  several  years.  He  died  in  1844.  The 
house  in  which  he  lived  is  still  standing  on  the  east  side  of 
the  Kaskaskia  river,  just  below  the  town.  Of  his  children, 
Edraond  Menard  alone  survives. 

In  the  year  1795  Francois  and  Hypolite  Menard  followed 
their  older  brother,  Pierre,  to  Kaskaskia.  The  former  be- 
came a  noted  navigator  of  the  Mississippi,  and  secured  a 
reputation  for  judgment,  courage  and  skill  as  a  boatman,  not 
surpassed  by  that  of  any  other  habitue  of  the  river.  Hypo- 
lite  Menard  was  a  farmer  in  the  point  below  Kaskaskia, 
and  an  estimable  and  popular  man.  He  was  elected  in 
1828  a  representative  from  Randolph  county  in  the  Sixth 
General  Assembly. 

John  Rice  Jones,  the  first  lawyer' that  ever  practiced 
before  the  Illinois  courts,  became  a  citizen  of  Kaskaskia  in 
1790.  He  was  a  Welshman  by  birth,  and  from  Philadel- 
phia, where  he  had  enjoyed  the  acquaintance  of  Benjamin 
Franklin,  Dr.  James  Rush  and  other  distinguished  men^ 
removed  to  Vincennes  in  1787.  Further  mention  of  Jones 
is  made  in  the  article  on  Bench  and  Bar. 

Dr.  George  Fisher,  one  of  the  early  physicians,  became  a 
citizen  of  Kaskaskia  in  1798.  He  was  a  Virginian  by  birth. 
He  was  the  first  sheriff  of  Randolph  county,  a  member  of 
the  first  and  third  territorial  legislatures,  in  which  he  served 
as  speaker  of  the  house  of  representatives,  and  delegate  in 
1818  to  the  convention  which  framed  the  first  constitution 
of  the  State.  Among  the  other  physicians  was  Dr.  William 
L.  Reynolds,  who  came  from  Bracken  county,  Kentucky^ 
and  settled  at  Kaskaskia  in  1809.  He  was  a  man  of  good 
professional  education  and  ability,  and  for  a  long  time  stood  at 
the  head  of  his  profession.  Dr.  Truman  Tuttle  came  in  1802 
as  surgeon  in  the  United  States  Army.    After  the  removal  of 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


307 


the  troops  he  remained  at  Kaskaskia  and  practiced  hia 
profession,  linth  he  and  Dr.  Reynolds  removed  to  Cahokia. 
Dr.  James  Rose  reached  Kaskaskia  from  Kentucky  in  the 
year  1805. 

To  the  town  belongs  the  distinction  of  being  the  home  of 
the  first  Governor  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  Shadrach  Bond. 
He  was  born  in  Frederick  county,  Maryland,  in  the  year 
1773,  and  in  1794  came  to  Illinois  with  his  uncle,  Shadrach 
Bond,  settling  in  the  American  Bottom  in  what  is  now 
Monroe  county.  He  was  elected  a  member  of  the  legisla- 
ture of  Indiana  territory,  in  1812  the  first  delegate  to  Con- 
gress from  the  territory  of  Illinois,  and  afterward  was 
appointed  receiver  of  public  monies  at  the  Kaskaskia  land 
office.  He  removed  to  Kaskaskia  in  1814,  and  made  a 
large  farm  west  of  the  village.  The  house  in  whi^h  he 
lived  may  still  be  seen.  At  the  expiration  of  his  term  of 
office  he  became  register  of  the  land  office.  He  died  in 
April,  1830.  He  was  buried  at  his  farm.  His  grave  being 
threatened  by  the  encroachments  of  the  Mississippi,  his 
remains,  within  a  year  or  two,  have  been  removed  to  the 
cemetery  at  Chester,  where  the  State  has  erected  a  fitting 
monument  to  his  memory. 

Of  the  early  lawyers.  James  Haggin  came  to  Kaskaskia 
in  1.H04,  Benjamin  F.  Doyle  in  1805  and  John  Rector  in 
1801).  Haggin  returned  to  Kentucky,  and  there  became  a 
distinguished  lawyer.  Doyle  served  as  attorney  general  for 
the  territory  in  1809.  Nathaniel  Pope,  the  first  secretary 
of  the  territory  of  Illinois,  come  to  Kaskaskia  in  1804.  He 
resided  at  St.  Genevieve  till  180H,  and  then  returned  to 
Kaskaskia.  He  was  territorial  secretary  from  1809  to 
1816,  and  in  1817  and  1818  was  the  delegate  to  Congress. 
On  the  admission  of  the  State  into  the  Union  he  was  made 
judge  of  the  United  States  district  court,  and  held  that 
office  for  more  than  thirty  years.  He  removed  to  Alton  in 
l'<44,  and  died  in  1850.  His  son,  General  John  Pope,  now 
of  the  United  States  Army,  was  born  in  the  Bottom  near 
Kaskaskia.  Elias  Kent  Kane  began  his  brilliant  career  as 
a  young  lawyer  at  Kaskaskia  in  1814.  He  was  a  native  of 
New  York,  and  a  graduate  of  Yale  college.  He  was 
appointed  by  Governor  Bond  secretary  of  State  on  the  organ- 
ization of  the  State  government  in  1818.  (See  Bench  and 
Bar  for  further  sketch). 

Sidney  Breese  came  to  Kaskaskia  in  1818,  and  Gen. 
James  Shields  located  here  in  1«32  as  a  school  teacher. 
Thev  both  became  prominent  in  politics  and  eminent  jurists. 
(A  more  extended  sketch  of  these  gentlemen  may  be  found 
in  the  chapter  on  Bench  and  Bar.) 

KASK.A.SKIA    SINCE    1800. 

In  the  last  century  Kaskaskia  was  essentially  a  French 
village.  The  French  style  of  architecture  prevailed,  and 
rows  of  low  one-story  houses  lined  the  streets.  The  only 
brick  house  in  the  place  was  built  about  1750  with  bricks 
brought  in  boats  from  Pittsburg.  Gradually  the  old  French 
exclusiveness  broke  away,  and  a  few  years  before  1800  the 
leading  places  in  business  and  society  began  to  be  taken  by 
men  of  English  blood.  Early  in  the  present  century  a  large 
floating  population  poured  into  the  town.     Immigration  to 


Illinois  had  set  in  rapidly,  and  every  new  settler  directed 
his  course  to  Kaskaskia,  from  which  point  he  explored  the 
country  and  selected  his  location.  From  1810  to  1820  the 
town  probably  contained  more  people  than  at  any  other 
period  of  its  history.  A  census  taken  at  that  time  showed 
a  popu'ation  of  seven  thousand.  Its  merchants  carried  on  a 
heavy  trade,  and  an  air  of  bustle  and  activity  pervaded  the 
streets.  About  1820  other  towns  began  to  spring  up;  it 
was  no  longer  the  center  of  immigration,  and  gradually  and 
quietly  it  lost  its  importance,  and  gave  way  to  rival  settle- 
ments. The  flood  of  1844  gave  the  finishing  blow  to  ita 
prosperity.  Many  of  the  inhabitants  left  after  that  disaster. 
It  was  the  seat  of  government  of  the  Territory  of  Illinois 
from  1>>09  to  1818.  It  was  the  county  seat  of  Randolph 
county  from  1795  to  1848.  The  first  newspaper  was  estab- 
lished here  in  1809,  by  Matthew  Duncan. 

After  the  time  of  Morri.son,  one  of  the  leading  mercantile 
firms  was  that  of  Menard  &.  Valle,  composed  of  Pierre 
Menard  and  Jean  Baptiste  Valle.  They  began  business 
about  1824  They  also  carried  on  a  store  at  St.  Genevieve, 
where  Valle  lived.  Their  trade  was  chiefly  with  the  Dela. 
ware,  Shawnee,  and  Peoria  tribes  of  Indians  in  Missouri  and 
Arkansas.  They  owned  part  of  the  stock  of  the  American 
Fur  Company.  They  sold  guns,  ammunition,  strouds,  and 
other  articles  of  Indian  use,  and  received  in  exchange  fura 
and  peltries.  Their  trade  was  remunerative,  and  out  of  it 
they  were  said  to  have  made  half  a  million  of  dollars. 
Mather,  Lamb  &  Co.  carried  on  business  at  the  same  time 
with  Menard  &  Valle.  This  firm  had  for  its  members 
Thomas  Mather,  Stacy  B.  Opdycke,  James  L.  Lamb,  and 
Edmund  Roberts.  A  branch  of  their  business  was  estab- 
lished at  Chester  on  the  commencement  of  the  growth  of 
that  place,  and  the  members  of  the  firm  subsequently  be- 
came residents  of  Springfield.  Hugh  H.  Maxwell  also  had 
a  store  during  the  same  period.  He  was  a  native  of  Ire- 
land, and  a  man  of  some  education.  He  married  Mary  O- 
Menard,  a  daughter  of  Pierre  Menard,  in  the  year  1><11. 
He  did  ui  1832.  His  widow  survived  him  thirty  years.  In 
more  recent  years  George  W.  Staley  was  one  of  the  mer- 
chants of  the  place.  His  store  was  burned  down.  William 
and  J.  P.  Lakeuan  were  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business 
before  1><44,  and  removed  to  Chester.  Thomas  Short  was 
another  merchant.  Gustavus  Pape,  who  now  has  the  only 
store  in  the  place,  has  been  in  business  for  many  years. 

Among  the  physicians  in  former  days  was  Dr  Josiah  P. 
Betts.  He  was  successful  in  his  practice.  Soon  after  Chi- 
cago began  its  growth  he  went  there,  but  returned  t^)  Kas- 
kaskia about  the  year  1S44,  and  a  few  years  subsequently 
died.  Dr.  Thomas  M.  Hope  became  a  resident  of  the  place 
about  1836.  He  married  a  daughter  of  Judge  Nathaniel 
Pope,  and  removed  to  Alton  Dr.  James  Burch,  previous 
to  his  death  in  187'<.  had  practiced  his  profession  at  Kas- 
kaskia for  many  years. 

In  1844,  before  the  flood  of  that  year,  the  town  was  more 
than  twice  as  large  as  now.  The  population,  by  the  census 
of  1880,  was  three  hundred  and  fifty.  It  is  now  not  more 
than  two  thirds  of  that.  The  washing  away  of  the  neck  of 
land   separating  the  Mississippi   and    Kaskaskia   rivers,  in 


308 


HISTORY    OF   BANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS 


April,  1881,  placed  the  town  on  an  island,  and  took  away  a 
considerable  portion  of  its  trade.  The  bank  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi was  once  three  miles  distant.  The  river  has 
gradually  crept  to  within  a  mile  of  the  village,  and  further 
encroachments  are  feared.  Some  of  the  pld  buildings  still 
remain.  On  Chartres  street  is  the  old  hotel,  a  large  build- 
ing with  porch  fronting  the  street,  and  a  spacious  room  in- 
side in  which  balls  and  parties  used  to  make  gay  the  social 
life  of  the  village.  In  the  dining  room  La'ayette  sat  down 
to  a  bounteous  collation  in  182.5.  Farther  up  Chartres 
street,  on  the  corner  of  Poplar,  is  the  brick  building  in 
which  the  Bank  of  Kaskaskia,  chartered  by  the  legislature 
in  1817,  transacted  business.  Its  walls  are  now  leaning  and 
threatened  with  destruction.  It  was  originally  built  for  a 
dwelling,  and  it  was  once  the  residence  of  Elias  Kent  Kane 
It  was  used  for  a  time,  also,  as  the  United  States  land  office, 
which  afterward  transferred  its  location  to  a  frame  building 
across  the  street. 

The  old  state  hou.se,  in  which  the  territorial  and  state 
legislatures  held  their  sessions,  stood  on  the  north  side  of 
Elm  street,  the  second  block  above  the  residence  of  William 
Morrison.  It  was  a  store  building.  The  legislature  is  also 
said  to  have  met  in  the  second  story  of  the  building  now 
occupied  by  Pape's  store.  This  is  one  of  the  oldest  build, 
ings  that  have  survived  from  ancient  times.  The  old  county 
court  house  has  been  rebuilt,  and  presents  a  modern  appear- 
ance It  is  used  as  the  public  school  building.  A  brick 
house  on  Elm  street,  above  the  site  of  the  state  house,  is  one 
of  the  oldest  buildings  still  in  existence.  It  was  once  the 
residence  of  Mr.  Ayrondale,  magistrate  and  register  of  the 
land  office.  •  In  a  stone  house  eas-t  of  the  old  convent  site  an 
Indian  chief,  Louis  Duquoin,  lived  many  years.  On  his 
death  he  was  buried  in  the  Catholic  grave  yard.  Raphae' 
Widen,  a  clerk  for  Menard  k  Valle,  and  a  justice  of  the 
peace,  also  lived  and  died  in  this  house. 

In  place  of  the  log  mission  chapel  built  on  the  establi.-h- 
ment  of  the  mission,  a  stone  church  was  erected  as  early  as 
1720  at  the  expense  of  the  French  government.  This  was 
replaced  in  1774  by  another  structure,  which  was  taken 
down  in  1801  on  account  of  a  fissure  in  its  walls.  The  next 
church  building  stood  till  1838,  when  it  was  likewise  demol- 
ished. The  present  church  was  built  in  1843.  In  it  hangs 
the  old  bell,  cast  at  Rochelle  in  France  in  the  year  1741, 
and  sent  to  Louis  Buyat,  by  him  to  be  given  to  the  infant 
church  in  America.  It  was  the  first  church  bell  that  ever 
rang  west  of  the  Allegheny  mountains. 

The  Convent  of  the  Ladies  of  Visitation  was  established 
at  Kaskaskia  in  May,  1^83,  by  a  colony  from  the  parent 
house  at  Georgetown,  District  of  Columbia.  .  With  it  was 
connected  Menard  Academy,  patronized  with  much  zeal  and 
benevolence  by  Pierre  Menard.  A  large  building  was 
erected  for  the  accommodation  of  its  inmates.  It  was 
opened  for  pupils  in  1836.  During  the  kvi  years  of  its  ex- 
istence it  enjoyed  a  high  reputation.  The  flood  of  1844 
compelled  an  abandonment  of  the  institution. 

Two  attempts  have  been  made  to  bridge  the  Kaskaskia. 
The  first  bridge  was  built  about  the  year  1824  by  William 


Morrison  It  was  constructed  of  trestle  work,  and  after  beii  g 
used  a  year  or  tw  o,  fell  to  the  water.  The  second  bridge  was 
erected  by  the  Kaskaskia  Bridge  Company,  whose  capital 
stock  was  twenty  thousand  dollars,  of  which  the  county  sub- 
scribed one  fourth.  Work  was  commenced  on  the  structure 
in  184U.  It  consisted  of  three  spans,  and  on  the  west  side 
was  to  be  a  drawbridge  The  plan  on  which  it  was  built 
was  deficient,  and  in  May,  1843,  before  it  was  opened  for 
general  u.se,  it  fell  by  its  own  weight.  A  ferry  has  been 
maintained  across  the  Kaskaskia  from  an  early  date  in  the 
history  of  the  town.  The  franchise  was  formerly  owned  by 
Pierre  Menard,  and  it  is  now  in  the  possession  of  his  son 
Edmond   Menard. 

The  old  records  of  the  town  have  been  destroyed.  For 
about  thirty-five  years  no  officers  were  elected  under  the 
charter.  In  1871  it  was  resolved  to  revive  the  town  govern- 
ment, and  Julien  Chenu,  the  only  surviving  member  of  the 
old  board  of  trustees,  made  appointments  to  fill  vacancies  in 
the  board.  On  the  24th  of  May,  1873,  the  citizens  voted  to 
incorporate  as  a  village  under  the  general  law. 

To  the  town  of  Kaskaskia  belongs  the  Commons,  com- 
prising nine  thousand  acres  of  rich  land  in  the  point  between 
the  Kaskaskia  and  Mississippi  rivt  rs.  About  seven  thousand 
acres  is  capable  of  cultivation.  Three  thousand  acres  are 
now  under  lease,  and  furnish  a  liberal  income  to  the  village 
for  school  and  church  purposes.  Under  the  old  management 
all  the  inhabitants  had  equal  access  to  the  Commons  for 
pasturage  and  fuel.  By  an  act  of  the  legislature  passed  in 
1854,  the  citizens  were  authorized  to  elect  five  trustees  every 
two  years,  who  should  exercise  charge  of  the  Comtuous,  lease 
portions  thereof,  and  apply  the  proceeds  to  church  and 
school  purposes  only.  The  first  trustees  to  serve  under  this 
act  were  Savinien  St.  Vrain,  Edmond  Menard,  Dennis  Kav- 
•anaugh,  Joseph  Baronowski,  and  Adam  Feaman.  The 
Common  Field  was  also  originally  owned  jointly  by  the  vil- 
lagers, though  each  resident  was  assigned  an  individual  por- 
tion. The  United  States  commissioners,  in  1809,  determined 
the  rights  of  each  citizen,  and  the  lots  have  since  been  held 
in  fee  simple. 

The  business  interests  are  now  represented  by  Gustavus 
Pape  as  general  merchant  and  postmaster.  Donatus  Beiter 
deals  in  drugs,  and  Charles  M.  Wheeler  in  drugs  and  gro- 
ceries. Dr.  H.  M.  Boldt  is  the  only  physician.  Beside  the 
public  school,  there  is  a  school  conducted  under  the  care  of 
the  Catholic  church. 

KASKASKIA    POINT 

Embraced  a  rich  body  of  land  below  the  village  of  Kas- 
kaskia, between  the  Mii-sissippi  and  Kaskaskia  rivers,  occu- 
pied by  the  Common  Field  and  Commons  of  Kaskaskia. 
Two  ferries  over  the  Kaskaskia  river  furnish  easy  access  to 
Chester.  The  town  of  Dozaville,  on  the  Mississippi,  was 
projected  by  William  Doza  in  1872.  There  is  a  general 
store,  of  which  the  proprietor  is  Leon  E.  Delassus,  also  the 
owner  of  a  saw  mill.  A  drug  and  grocery  store  is  kept  by 
E.  Ellison.  It  is  without  a  postoffice,  mail  matter  being 
received  at  Kaskaskia. 


308A 


FARM   RiSlDENCE  OF  J  M  CRIoLLR^StLJb   T  6^  R  7,  (CHESTER  PRECINCT)  RANDOLPH   CO.  ILL. 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND   PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS 


309 


LAND    OFFICE    AT    KASKASKIA. 

We  append  the  following  letter  received  November  2"), 
1882,  from  the  Commissioner  of  the  Genaral  Land  OtHee. 
Washington,  D.  C,  in  regard  to  the  land  office  at  Kaskaskia  : 

"  Gentlemen  : — In  reply  to  your  letter  of  the  16th  inst., 
requesting  information  concerning  the  land  office  at  Kas- 
kaskia, Illinois,  I  have  to  inform  you  that  the  land  district 
was  created  by  Act  of  Congress  approved  March  26,  1804, 
and  it  was  discontinued  by  order  of  the  President  dated 
November  12,  \6'y5.  The  transfer  of  the  records  to  the 
office  at  Springfield  was  effected  on  February  25,  18.')6. 

I  a'U  unable  t)  furnish  you  with  a  complete  list  of  the 
names  of  the  officers  prior  to  1821  for  the  reason  that  this 
office  was  formerly  a  branch  of  the  Treasury  Department, 
and  the  records  then  in  that  Department  were  destroyed  by 
fire  in  1832.  A  partial  list,  however,  was  obtained  from 
other  sources,  and  the  following  embraces  all  the  data  I  am 
able  to  give  you. 

Nichohi!*  .lonos,  commissioned March",  U'.'I. 

Shadrach   Bond  "  January  28,  1823 

Miles  Hotchkiss  "  April  30,1832 

Jacob  Fearman  "  June  20, 1844 

Ferdinand  Maxwell        "  September  24,  1849 

Daniel  P  Robert,'!  "  March  2S,  18,1.1. 

Each  of  these  officers  retained  his  position  until  the  ap- 
poii  tnient  of  his  successor. 

Edward  Humphries,  e.inilnissioneil March  5,  1821. 

Samuel  Crawford,  "  .4ugusl  r,,  I«4u 

Richald  B.  Servant,  "  March  17,  184.1. 

J.*n  A.  Lannlois,  "  August  2, 184.1. 

E7.ra  C.  (  otTey,  "  June  8,  18.-.0. 

William  Adair,  "  hm.-  3,  1S54. 

From  original  papers  on  the  files  of  this  office  datingfrom 
1804  to  1809,  the  names  of  Michael  Jones  and  E.  Backus 
appear  as  Register  and  Receiver,  and  in  181.)  Michael  Jones 
and  Shadrach  Bond  appear  as  holding  the  office  of  Register 
and  Receiver  respectively.  I  regret  that  I  am  unable  to 
furnish  you  more  specific  information. 
Very  RespectluUy, 

N.  C.  McFarland,  Comraitsioner. 


FORT   GAGE 

During  the  progress  of  the  war  with  the  Chickasaws  and 
other  hostile  Indian  tribes,  a  fort  was  built  on  the  high  hill 
opposite  Kaska-skia  for  the  defense  of  the  town.  The  date  of 
its  construction  was  the  year  17.'56.  Of  its  size  and  strength 
tradition  gives  no  information.  In  1756,  during  the  old 
French  and  English  war,  it  was  repaired  and  strengthened, 
and  occupied  by  a  French  garrison.  From  that  time  to  the 
present  the  bluff  on  which  it  stood  has  borne  the  name  of 
Garrison  hill.  In  1766  the  old  fort  was  destroyed  by  fire, 
and  soon  after  another  was  built  on  the  .same  spot  by  the 
English.  Its  shape  is  described  by  Capt.  Philip  Pitman 
as  that  of  an  oblong  quadrange,  of  which  the  exterior  poly- 
gon measured  21t()  by  251  feet.  It  was  constructed  of  very 
thick  squared  timber,  dovetailed  at  the  angles.  Within  the 
walls  were  a  stone  magazine,  the  conimaiulant's  house,  and 
other  smaller  buildings.  On  the  abandonment  of  Fort 
Chartres  in  1772  the  British  garri.son  occupied  the  fort  to 
which  the  name  of  Gage  had  been  api)lied  in  honor  of  the 
commander-in-chief  of  the  British  forces  in  America.  On 
the  night  of  the  4lh  of  July,  1778,  it  was  captured  by  Col. 
Clark.  The  garrison  then  consisted  of  twenty  soldiers  un- 
der command  of  M.  Rocheblave,  the  British  commandant  in 
Illinois.  Its  approaches  were  guarded  by  four  cannon.  The 
records  of  the  English  possession  of  the  country  are  said  to 
have  been  destroyed  on  the  night  of  the  surrender  by  the 
wife  of  M.  Rocheblave,  so  that  many  val liable  documents 
belonging  to  that  period  were  lost.  While  ('olouel  Clark 
remained  in  Illinois  he  occupied  the  fort  as  his  headquarters. 
At  the  close  of  the  war  of  the  Revolution  the  fort  remained 
unoccupied  until  liSOl,  when  it  was  garrisoned  by  a  detach- 
ment of  United  States  soldiers.  Colonel  Pike's  regiment 
was  stationed  here  for  a  short  period.  It  was  soon  abamloned. 
The  walls  crumbled  and  fell  to  the  ground  and  the  building 
decayed.  The  lines  of  the  fort  are  now  marked  by  embank- 
ments of  earth.  The  parade  ground  north  of  the  fort  is 
grown  up  with  timber.  The  site  commands  a  beautiful  view 
of  the  Kaska.-'kia  and  Mississippi  rivers,  and  the  adjacent 
bottom. 


^ '^^^^¥^t^' 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


LOUIS  J.  DEROUSSE,  Jr. 


One  of  the  younger  representatives  of  the  family  of  that 
name,  so  conspicuous  during  the  past  in  the  history  of  Ran- 
dolph county,  was  born  in  Kaskaskia,  September  22,  1854, 
being  the  son  of  the  late  Louis  Derou.sse,  w  ho  was  for  many 
years  a  well  known  citizen  of  this  town.  His  father  died  in 
1878.  A  portrait  and  sketch  may  be  found  of  him  on 
another  page  of  this  work.  He  has  followed  farming  and 
mercantile  persuits  all  his  life.  On  the  eighth  of  November, 
1881,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Odial  M.  Chann,  daughter  of 


Joseph  M.  and  Sophia  A.  Chann.  Captain  Chann  was  for- 
merly the  proi)rietor  of  the  landing  on  the  Mississippi  river 
a  few  miles  from  Kaskaskia,  and  known  as  Kaskaskia  land- 
ing. 

Louis  J.  Derous.se  is  following  the  footsteps  of  his  de- 
ceased father,  in  that  he  is  an  office  holder.  He  was  elected 
constable  in  1881,  a  position  his  father  had  held  many  years 
before.  He  is  an  ardent  working  Democrat,  a  member,  to- 
gether with  his  wife,  of  the  Catholic  church. 


310 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


S^^yn-U^  ^^or>e(_:^ 


There  are  names  cherished  with  pritle  by  every  lover  of 
the  early  history  of  his  commonwealth.  Among  such  iu 
Illinois  is  that  of  Menard.  Pierre  Menard,  a  Frenchman, 
came  to  Kaskaskia  in  1790.  Remarried  Angelique  Souci, 
in  1792.  He  traded  with  the  Indians,  taking  their  furs, 
pelts,  etc  ,  in  exchange  for  goods,  also  engaged  in  farming. 
He  was  a  prominent  citizen,  and  took  an  active  part  in  every 
public  enterprise.  Upon  the  organization  of  the  State,  he 
was  elected  Lieutenant-Governor.  His  father,  John  Menard, 
fought  at  Quebec  under  Montgomery.  Edmond,  a  son  of 
Pierre,  was  born  in  Kaskaskia,  February  7,  1813.  He  in- 
herited much  of  his  father's  disposition.  In  1837  he  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  Legislature,  which  then  convened 
at  Vandalia,  and  was  continued  during  the  first  session  after 


the  removal  of  the  capitol  to  Springfield.  He  has  followed 
merchandising  and  farming.  His  neighbors  held  him  in 
high  esteem,  be  ause  of  noble  qualities,  and  generous,  im- 
pulses, prompting  him  to  deeds  of  charity.  The  poor  of  the 
old  town  of  Kaskaskia,  recognize  in  him  a  benefactor  and 
friend.  His  little  acts  of  kindness,  such  as  supplying  a  dis- 
tressed family  with  meat  or  provisions,  furnishing  them  with 
horses  to  enable  them  to  drive  the  plow,  etc.,  are  many,  and 
treasured  in  memory  of  all  who  know  him.  Among  his  fellow- 
citizens  and  to  each  one  of  them  he  is  "Uncle  Edmand." 
So  much  is  said  of  his  father  and  family  in  the  pioneer  and 
other  chapters  of  this  work,  owing  to  their  great  prominence 
that  a  lengthy  sketch  is  deemed  unnecessary  in  this  connec- 
tion. 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


311 


J.  -f  dJu^-^^ 


One  of  the  prominent  farmers  and  large  landholders  of 
Kaskaskia  bottoms,  is  Joshua  G.  Burch.  He  was  born  in 
Nelson  county,  Kentucky,  November  15, 1815,  and  has  been 
a  resident  of  Randolph  county  since  1840.  His  ancestors 
were  Virginians.  In  1770  they  located  in  Kentucky,  where 
they  were  compelled  to  live  in  a  fort  for  protection  against 
the  Indians,  at  that  time  John  H.  Burch,  the  father  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  was  a  mere  lad. 

Joshua  G.  Burch  was  married  to  Bridget  Tewel,  April 
11th,  1837.  She  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  but  had  been  prin- 
cipally raised  in  Kentucky.  By  her  he  had  eight  children, 
four  of  whom  are  living.     She  died  October  12,  1875,  and 


on  the  thirtieth  of  September,  1876,  Mr.  Burch  was  married 
to  Catherine  Allen. 

To  him  belongs  the  credit  of  having  brought  the  first 
wheat  drill  to  the  county,  also  the  first  thresher.  The  bring- 
ing of  the  thresher  caused  as  much  excitement  then  as  would 
a  circus  now.  The  third  3'ear  after  the  sowing  of  the  first 
wheat  introduced  into  the  vicinity  of  Kaska£kia,  he  threshed 
out  twenty-nine  thousand  bushels  with  his  new  thresher.  He 
devotes  much  of  his  attention  to  the  raising  of  stock,  and 
now  in  the  evening  of  life  rents  out  large  areas  of  his  farm- 
ing lands  to  tenants.  He  is  a  Democrat  of  the  old  Jackson 
stamp. 


312 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


DR.  H.  M.  BOLDT. 

Germany,  the  land  of  scientists  and  philosophers,  has  fur- 
nished this  country  thousands  of  men  of  culture  and  erudi- 
tion. Of  college  professors,  lawyers,  and  physicians,  not  a 
few  have  taken  high  rank  in  the  country  of  their  adoption. 
Lovers  of  the  patriotism  that  comes  of  American  institutions 
of  the  liberty  thereby  extended,  they  annually  come  in  great 
numbers.  Dr.  H.  M.  Boldt,  a  young  man,  belongs  to  this 
class;  he  was  born  in  Dantsic,  Germany,  July  1.5th,  1851- 
Obtained  a  liberal  education,  not  alone  in  his  native  State, 
but  in  Berlin,  where  he  completed  his  college  course.  In 
1872  he  learned  to  love  American  institutions  from  know- 
ledge gathered  respecting  them,  and  announced  to  his  father 
his  determination  of  crossing  the  sea.  His  father  thought 
he  was  joking,  and  up  to  the  very  hour  of  his  departure 
would  not  have  it  otherwise.  Arriving  here,  he  set  about 
mastering  the  English  tongue,  then  selected  medicine  as  his 
chosen  profession.  Most  assiduously  did  he  persecute  his 
studies;  he  entered  the  office  of  Dr.  Tuholski,  in  St.  Louis, 
where  he  remained  several  years.  In  1879  he  graduated  as 
Doctor  of  Medicine  from  McDowell  College,  St.  Louis. 
The  same  year  found  him  in  old  Kaskaskia  ready  to  prac- 
tice. The  field  had  been  recently  vacated  and  he  was 
anxious  to  try  his  powers.  Right  rapidly  has  he  grown  in 
the  estimation  of  the  people  among  whom  he  has  cast  his 
lot.  A  student  from  force  of  habit,  he  leaves  no  investiga- 
tion, once  undertaken,  until  a  proper  understanding  has 
crowned  his  efforts.  As  a  physician  he  is  gaining  a  good 
practice,  in  which  he  is  giving  eminent  satisfaction.  Based 
upon  his  knowledge  of  American  institutions,  he  is  an  ardent 
Republican,  and  cannot  understand  why  any  of  his  fellows, 
prompted  by  motives  similar  to  his  own,  coming  from 
Germay,  can  be  anything  else.  His  characteristics  briefly 
summed  up  are  earnestness,  enthusiasm,  laborious  research 
and  the  exercise  of  sound  judgment. 


CHARLES  M.  WHEELER. 

Among  citizens  of  Kaskaskia  who  have  contributed  no 
little  to  the  rejuvenation  of  that  time-honored  spot,  none  has 
worked  more  faithfully  than  Charles  M.  Wheeler.  He  was 
born  in  St.  Genevieve,  Missouri,  January  4th,  1844.  His 
parents  were  James  M.  and  Mary  Wheeler.  His  father 
was  a  Londoner,  and  came  to  America  when  he  was  but 
fourteen  years  of  age  ;  he  died  in  Kaskaskia  April  4th,  1860 
after  a  residence  of  about  thirty  years.  His  mother,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Mary  Boarman,  died  Sept  1.5th,  1846,  and 
is,  together  with  her  husband,  buried  in  Kaskaskia  Cem- 
etery. 

Charles  M.  attended  first  the  public  schools  of  Kaskaskia 
and  subsequently  the  seminary  at  Connewago,  Penna., 
which  he  entered  at  the  age  of  fourteen.  Here  he  studied 
the  classics  and  after  three  years  returned  home  to  enter  the 
employ  of  Riley  as  clerk.  After  a  short  time  he  went  to 
Kansas  City  in  the  same  manner  of  business.  Under  force  of 
circumstances  he  joined  the  rebel  army  under  General  Price. 
Prior  to  his  doing  this  he  had  written  a  letter  to  a  sister  in  which 
he  used  the  expression,  "  I  hope  the  North  will  send  down 
enough  men  to  bring  South  Carolina  back;  she  had  no 
business  to  secede."  Despite  his  Union  sentiments,  freely 
expressed,  he  found  himself  compelled  to  enter  the 
Southern  army.  His  command  surrendered  to  General 
Cauby  at  Shreveport,  Louisiana,  in  1865.  He  remained  a 
year  in  Louisiana  in  attendance  at  school  at  Mt.  Lebanon 
for  a  year  thereafter,  returning  to  Kaskaskia  in  1867,  since 
which  time  his  life  has  been  spent  in  clerking  and  merchan- 
dising in  Kansas  Cty,  Memphis  and  Kaskaskia.  He  was 
married  to  Miss  Mary  Reily,  Sept.  1st,  1869.  By  this 
union  there  have  been  born  five  children.  In  1881  he  pur- 
chased the  drug  store  he  now  manages.  In  1873  he  was 
elected  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  an  office  he  still  holds.  He 
is  an  ardent,  active  Democrat,  politically,  and  is  quite  prom- 
inent in  conventions  of  that  party,  being  generally  a  dele- 
gate. During  the  last  campaign  he  was  made  chairman  of 
the  Democratic  Central  Committee  for  the  county. 


FLORENCE 


RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 


N  Township  6,  R.  7  West,  lies  Florence 
precinct.  It  has  many  natural  advan- 
tages, in  the  respect  to  good  soil,  and  a 
plentiful  supply  of  timber,  admirably 
adapting  it  to  the  growth  of  all  the  grains 
grasses  and  fruits.  It  is  drained  by  Nine 
Mile  creek  and  its  tributaries.  Little 
Nine  Mile,  and  Robison  creeks.  The 
Kaskaskia  river,  bounds  its  western 
side,  and  affords  a  means  for  transporta- 
tion of  its  products.  Evansville  bounds 
it  on  the  north,  Blair  and  Chester  on  the 
east,  and  Chester  and  Kaskaskia  on  the 
south.  It  is  from  the  number  and  charac- 


ter of  the  pioneers  though,  that  much  of  the  interest 
attached  to  this  precinct  derives  its  origin.  Ellis  Grove  on 
section  17,  in  the  middle  of  the  western  part  has  long  been 
renowned.  Here  improvoments  were  made  as  early  as  1780 
by  settlers  who  had  formerly  been  soldiers  under  the  famous 
Colonel  Clark.  The  names  of  these  old  settlers  were  John 
Montgomery,  Joseph  Anderson,  John  Dodge,  John  Doyle, 
David  Pagon,  M.  Augustus,  James  Curry  and  Levi  Teel. 
This  settlement  on  which,  at  first,  a  few  small  farms  with 
their  humble  cabins  served  to  sustain  and  shelter  the  pioneers 
was  almost  broken  up  before  the  year  1790. 

The  year  1797  marked  the  advent  of  one  of  the  most  no- 
ted and  promiuent  pioneers,  a  man  who  was  the  hero  of 
numberless  exploits  with  the  Indians,  who  had   been  one  of 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND      PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


813 


C)lonel  Clark's  old  soldiers,  when  he  made  his  march  to  the 
Wabash  iu  1778,  and  who  took  part  with  General  St  Clair 
in  his  disastrous  defeat  in  1791.  This  was  Stacy  McDonough. 
He  was  born  in  the  state  of  New  Jersey,  and  was  of  Scotch 
descent.  A  natural  backwoodsman,  fond  of  the  rifle,  he 
seemed  to  court  danger.  In  1793  while  passing  down  the 
Ohio  river  on  a  boat  which  he  commanded,  he  received  a 
wound  from  a  shot  in  the  shoulder  by  the  lurking  savages, 
which  afflicted  him  through  life,  still  he  was  undaunted  and 
always  engaged  in  some  perilous  exploit.  He  served  with 
General  Anthony  Wayne,  whose  disposition  suited  him. 
During  the  war  of  IM  "J,  heiarried  the  mail  from  St.  Louis  to 
bhawneetown,  though  a  route  thickly  beset  with  dangers 
from  the  hostile  Indians,  but  the  danger  did  not  deter  him, 
and  he  made  his  trips  regularly.  He  was  a  Captain  in  the 
ranging  service,  and  proved  a  man  of  marked  ability,  and 
one  of  the  moit  popular  men  in  the  new  settlement.  He 
lived  on  a  farm  where  he  first  located  nearly  half  a  century 
and  died  deeply  mourned.  He  left  two  sons,  James  and 
David  ;  the  former  settled  on  the  lower  end  of  Gposrum<len 
Prairie,  about  the  year  1820.  David  lived  on  the  farm  made 
by  his  father. 

Ill  179S  Jonathon  I'ettit  another  noble  specimen  of  the 
pioneer,  came  to  the  settlement,  and  was  a  valuable  acquisi- 
tion. He  erected  a  mill  on  Nine  Mile  creek,  at  a  point  where 
the  Chester  and  Evansville  road  crosses  it.  He  was  an 
active  and  leading  man,  and  was  prominent  in  all  important 
movements.  He  joined  the  Rangers,  in  1812  and  discharged 
his  arduous  duties  in  a  highly  creditable  manner.  His  sons 
were  David,  Henry,  Jonathan  and  Joseph.  Among  the 
first  emigrants  to  the  county  after  1800,  was  Rooert  Rey- 
nolds from  Tennessee,  and  originally  from  Ireland.  He 
located  first  in  Kaskaskia  and  alter  a  short  time  came  to  the 
sctllenieiit  of  Hughs  and  Pillar.^.  He  became  a  leading  man 
and  filled  several  important  officers.  After  a  residence  of 
twenty  years  he  went  to  Madison  county  where  he  died.  He 
was  the  father  of  John  Reynolds,  who  afterwards  became 
Governor  of  the  state,  and  Thomas  Reynolds  who  became 
an  eminent  lawyer  and  Judge.  George  Franklin  who  came 
to  Illinois  in  1801.  settled  on  a  farm  in  section  22,  T.  0,  R.  7 
W.  John  and  Ephraira  Bilderback  came  to  Illinois  in 
1802.  Ephraim  made  a  farm  in  the  region  of  the  settle- 
ment on  the  east  side  of  the  Kaskaskia  river,  about  one  mile 
north  of  Riley's  mill.  They  soon  became  representative  men 
and  were  noted  for  their  ability  and  industry.  Their  descen- 
dants are  numerous,  and  are  now  scattered  in  every  direction. 

In  1811,  there  came  to  the  .settlement  a  man  named  John 
Young,  who  located  on  a  farm  near  Ellis  Grove.  Stephen 
Yuung  who  lived  in  the  same  neighborhood  was  his  son. 
John  Young  arrived  in  company  with  Harmon's  family 

James  Milligan  living  on  section  21.  T.  6,  R.  7  W.,  is  the 
son  of  David  Milligan  who  emigrated  from  North  Carolina 
to  Tennessee,  and  thence  to  Illinois  in  1812  He  first  settled 
f  lur  miles  south  of  Pinckneyville,  on  Four  Mile  Prairie, 
and  after  a  years  residence  there,  removed  to  where  Si)arta 
now  stands.  He  rais  d  a  family  of  nine  children,  five  .sons 
and  fiiur  daughters,  Fergus,  James,  David,  Hezekiah  and 
William  were  the  names  of  the  sous,  and  Elvira,  Sarah, 
40 


Mary  and  Martha  were  the  names  of  the  daughters.  James 
Milligan  is  the  second  son,  and  was  born  in  North  Carolina, 
March  4th,  1801.  He  came  with  his  father  to  Illinois 
in  1><12."  In  1821  he  married  Nancy  McDjnough,  a 
daughter  of  Stacy  McDjnough  before  mentioned.  Mrs. 
Milligan  was  born  March  17th,  1808, on  the  old  McDonough 
place  within  a  mile  of  where  she  now  lives.  He  served  in 
the  Black-Hawk  war.  One  of  the  early  settlers  in  the 
vicinity  of  Ellis  Grove,  was  William  Fisher,  a  son  of  Archi- 
bald Fisher,  who  came  from  Scotland  to  America  some  time 
before  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  settled  first  in  South 
Carolina  and  afterward  in  Tennessee,  where  his  son  William 
married  Ann  White.  He  was  the  father  of  the  Archibald 
Fisher,  who  received  his  grandfather's  name,  and  was  born 
in  Tennessee.  In  1804  William  Fisher  moved  to  Randolph 
county,  Illinois,  and  settled  a  few  miles  northeast  of  Ellis 
Grove.  Archibald  was  at  this  time  a  boy  of  three  years. 
The  Bollinger  Family  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  Ran- 
dolph county.  They  were  natives  of  Tennessee,  where  they 
were  a  numerous  and  well  known  family.  Daniel  Bollinger 
came  with  his  father  to  Ellis  Grove  about  1828.  In  1873 
he  opened  a  store  in  Ellis  Grove.  In  1874  he  was  appoint- 
ed post-master. 

Elisha  and  Edward  Seymour  came  to  Randolph  county 
in  1822  Edward  lived  in  Randolph  county  until  1849 
when  he  joined  the  adventurous  band  who  were  attracted  to 
the  Pacific  Slope  He  accompanied  his  brother  Elisha,  and 
engaged  in  mining,  with  varied  success,  until  the  death  of 
his  brother,  who  was  drowned  in  Jlay,  18.51,  while  trying  to 
ferry  a  man  over  Salmon  river  when  it  was  swollen  and  in  a 
dangerous  stage.  In  the  winter  of  18.51-' .')2,  Mr.  Seymour 
made  the  journey  homeward  by  way  of  Panama,  and  returned 
to  his  old  home  in  Randolph  county,  where  he  settled  up  his 
brother's  estate,  aud  continued  to  reside  in  the  county  until 
his  death  in  187G.  He  left  two  sons,  George  D.  and  Henry 
E  ,  both  of  whom  live  in  the  county.  Elisha,  his  brother, 
married  Sarah  McDonough,  a  daughter  of  Stacy  Mc- 
D.)nough,  and  sister  of  James  Milligan's  wife. 

Christian  Beare  is  an  old  settler,  who  came  from  Switzer- 
land in  18:52.  He  first  located  upon  a  place  two  miles  north 
of  Ellis  Grove,  and  engaged  in  farming  until  1842,  when  he 
settled  upon  his  pr&sent  place,  section  18,  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  southwest  of  the  village. 

Hiram  Rnberts  came  to  Randolph  county  in  the  year 
18:59,  when  fifteen  years  of  age,  since  which  time  he  has 
resided  in  it,  except  a  period  of  three  years  spent  on  the 
Pacific  coast.  His  father's  name  was  James  Robert-;,  a  na- 
tive of  New  Jersey,  who  was  married  to  Margaret  Murphy, 
iti  the  city  of  New  York.  He  first  moved  to  Ohio,  and  set- 
tled at  Columbus,  where  Hiram,  his  son,  was  born.  The 
fami  y  moved  next  to  Michigan,  and  subsequently  to  Taze- 
well county,  Illinois  In  18:59  they  moved  to  Randolph 
county  and  settled  in  the  neighborhood  of  Ellis  Grove. 
Daniel  Preston  Roberts,  the  grandson  of  William  Roberts, 
who  came  to  Illinois  from  Kentucky  about  the  beginning  of 
the  present  century,  was  born  Nov.  :)Oth,  1816,  near  Kas- 
kaskia. He  studied  law,  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  was 
appointed  register  in  the  land  ofiice  at  Kaskaskia  until  its 


314 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


close.  In  1S66  he  bought  a  farm  half  a  mile  west  of  Ellis 
Grove,  where  he  still  re.^ides. 

Oue  of  the  earliest  Germans  to  locate  in  this  precinct  was 
John  George  Schoeppel,  a  native  of  Bavaria,  Germany.  He 
emigrated  to  America  in  the  fall  of  the  year  1839,  landing 
at  New  Orleans.  On  coming  up  the  river  the  boat  was 
frozen  in  the  ice  opposite  Kaskaskia.  This  incident 
caused  him  to  stop  at  that  place,  though  it  was  his  intention 
to  settle  in  Missouri.  He  was  a  tailor,  and,  after  working  a 
few  weeks  at  his  trade,  he  settled  about  one  mile  north  of 
Ellis  Grove,  and  engaged  in  farming.  He  died  in  1858. 
Some  of  his  children  are  still  residing  in  the  vicinity. 

There  are  few  of  the  old  settlers  now  in  Florence  precicct. 
They  have  fought  their  battles  with  bfe  and  passed  away. 
The  old  landmarks  have  gone  with  them.  The  primitive 
log  church  has  been  supplanted  by  those  of  brck  or  frame, 
and  the  old  squatty  school-house  of  round  poles,  without 
window  or  floor,  has  been  succeeded  hy  elegant  frame  struc- 
tures.    On  every  hand  the  ok!  traces  of  pioneer  life  are  gone. 

Riding  along  the  road  from  Evansville  to  Ellis  Gr.ive,  if 
the  traveller  were  to  pause  when  he  comes  to  Nine  Mile 
Creek,  he  would  look  in  vain  for  any  remains  of  the  old 
mill  erected  by  Jonathan  Fettit  in  1798,  but  he  can  let  his 
memory  revert  to  the  scenes  at  that  time.  The  little  band 
of  pioneers  or  their  boys,  engaged  in  games  of  ball  or  feats 
of  wrestling  and  throwing  the  thoulder-slone,  while  awaiting 
their  turn  for  their  grist,  enjoying  themselves  in  their  leisure 
time  in  the  rude  manner  of  the  pioneer  life,  would  to  day, 
if  sketched  by  the  artist,  make  an  interesting  picture. 

ELLIS    GROVE. 

The  village  of  Ellis  Grove  is  beautifully  located  in  an 


elevated  region  about  two  miles  east  of  the  Kaskaskia  river^ 
on  the  wej-t  half  of  section  17.  The  region  around  the  vil- 
lage has  some  natural  advantages  in  the  way  of  timber,  soil 
and  water.  It  was  at  an  early  period  a  place  of  note.  lu 
1852  George  Ellis  purchased  a  part  of  the  old  Hunt  farm, 
put  up  a  house  and  opened  a  store  A  post-office  was  also 
established  and  Mr.  Ellis  appointed  post-master.  A  Union 
meeting-house  was  erected  the  same  year,  which  still  stands, 
though  now  used  as  a  dwelling.  A  school-house  was  put  up 
also.  These  buildings  gave  to  the  little  place  somewhat  the 
appearance  of  a  village.  Mr.  Ellis  had  hi-i  land  surveyed 
into  town  lots,  and  called  the  place  Ellis  Grove.  The  plat 
was  recorded  Oct.  9,  1855.  In  1855  a  church  building  was 
erected  by  the  Baptists,  which  was  burned  in  the  spring  of 
1882.  The  society  was  in  a  flourishing  state.  Mr.  Ellis 
had  his  store  destroyed  by  fire  in  1857,  and  removed  to  Ur- 
bana;  and  William  Crawford  moved  in,  opened  a  store,  and 
took  charge  of  the  post-office. 

Pi-es('uf  Business. — The  town  has  now  a  population  of 
about  two  hundred,  some  of  whom  are  of  German  ancestry  ; 
one  dry  goods  store,  owned  by  J  Beard  &  Brother  ;  two 
hotels,  one  by  Mrs.  John  Schoeppel,  and  oue  by  Mrs.  Fred. 
Peters  ;  two  blacksmith  shops,  one  by  William  Kuntz,  and 
one  by  Frederick  Dudenbostel  ;  one  wagon  shop  ;  one  drug 
store,  by  Henry  Lilly,  who  is  also  the  post-master,  a  justice 
of  the  peace,  and  a  notary  public;  two  physicians — Dr.  J. 
B.  Kay,  and  Dr.  J.  Howard  ;  also,  one  German  jMethodist 
church. 

There  are  two  school-houses,  one  quarter  of  a  mile  each 
from  the  centre  of  the  village  ;  and  a  saw-mill,  owned  by 
Heob,  Lutz  &  Neuling. 


WATERLOO 


MONROE   COUNTY. 


\: 


LLLEFONTAINE  was  the  ear- 
liest settlement  in  the  county. 
The  first  American  colony 
came  from  Maryland  and  Vir- 
ginia to  Illinois  in  1781,  and 
of  its  members  three.  James 
Jloore,  Darken  Rutherford, 
and  James  Garretson,  settled 
at  or  near  the  Bellefuntaine  in 
1782.  This  name  had  been 
applied  by  the  French  to  a 
spring  of  water  a  mile  south  of  the  site  of  Waterloo,  at 
which  they  had  doubtless  often  camped  on  their  journeys 
between  Kaskaskia,  Cahokia  and  St.  Louis.  By  the  side  of 
this  spring  Moore  determined  to  build  his  future  home, 
Rutherford  settled  in  the  vicinity.  Early  in  the  present 
century  he  removed  to  the  neighborhood  of  the  present  town 


bJiA 


of  Belleville,  in  St.  Clair  county,  where  he  died.  He  had 
been  a  soldier  under  Colonel  Clark  in  his  expedition  to  Ill- 
inois in  1778.  Garretson  selected  a  location  a  mile  northeast 
of  where  the  town  of  Waterloo  now  stands,  on  claim  516, 
survey  720,  a  grant  of  land  which  he  rectived  from  the  gov- 
ernment. He  afterward  removed  to  the  American  Bottom, 
near  Moredock  Dake,  where  he  ended  his  days.  Moore  and 
his  family  clung  to  the  original  settlement  at  the  Bellefon- 
taine.  The  grant  of  four  hundred  acres  of  laud  which  he 
obtained  from  the  Government  (claim  220,  survey  :]94)  cov- 
ering the  spring,  has  remained  in  the  possession  of  the  Moore 
family  from  the  last  century  to  the  present  time. 

Captain  James  Moore  was  born  in  Maryland  in  the  year 
1750.  He  subsequently  settled  in  Virginin,  his  old.  st  son, 
John  Moore,  being  the  only  one  of  his  childrrn  bora  in 
Maryland.  He  settled  in  Virginia  on  the  banks  of  the 
Kanawha  river,      lie  took  part  in  the  e.xi.editiou  to  Illinuis 


niSTOHV    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES    ILLINOIS. 


315 


in  177S,  uiiiler  the  comtnaiid  of  Caloiiel  George  Rogers 
Clark,  in  wiiich  il  is  generally  supposed  he  served  in  the 
commissary  department,  lie  was  adventurous  aiicl  daring 
in  disposition.  He,  with  his  companions,  reached  Kaskaskia 
in  the  fall  of  17S1,  and  there  remained  ilnriii;;  the  winter. 
The  next  spring  iiesettled  at  Beliefontaine.  It  was  supposed 
when  these  immigrants  left  the  country  cast  of  the  AUeghe- 
uies  that  little  danger  need  be  feared  from  the  Indians.  It 
was  not  long,  however,  before  the  savages  began  to  make 
trouble,  and  James  Moore  was  elected  captain  of  the  com- 
pany which  came  to  be  raised  for  the  protection  of  the  colony. 
IlliiM)is  at  that  lime  was  a  county  of  Virginia,  and  the  com- 
mission which  Captain  Moore  received  was  from  the  Gover- 
nor of  Virginia,  Patrick  Henry.  He  was  directed  to  estab- 
lish a  military  post  and  ci)minand  the  Illinois  militia.  A 
fort,  or  blockhouse,  was  accordingly  built  at  Bellefontaine, 
and  afterwani,  during  the  Indian  war  this  was  one  of  the 
most  frenuent  and  noted  places  of  resort.  Captain  Moore's 
ctf'jrls  were  of  great  value  in  establishing  amicable  relations 
with  the  Indians,  so  that  it  wa.s  not  until  IT'^G  that  serious 
trouble  began  with  the  hostile  tribes.  With  Gabriel  Cerre, 
a  wealthy  merchant  of  St.  Louis,  he  entered  into  trade  with 
the  Indians,  and  for  some  time  maintiined  his  headquarters 
on  the  site  of  Nashville,  Teun.  He  died  in  or  about  the 
year  1788,  his  family  obtaining  scanty  results  from  his  ven- 
ture in  the  Indian  trade.  His  wife,  whom  he  had  married 
in  JIaryland  in  177"2,  was  Catharine  Biggs.  At  her  hus- 
band's death  she  was  left  with  a  family  of  six  children,  the 
oldest  of  whom  was  but  fourteen  years  of  age,  and  the 
youngest  an  infant.  She  kept  the  family  together,  though 
her  situation  was  one  of  trial  and  embarrassment.  By  this 
time  the  Indians  had  resumed  their  encroachments,  though 
their  object  seemed  to  be  to  steal  rather  than  to  kill,  some 
of  them  boasting  that  they  spared  the  .settlers  so  that  they 
might  raise  horses  and  provisions  for  them.  Her  neighbors 
planted  for  her  a  crop  the  first  season  after  her  husband's 
death,  some  standing  guard  against  the  Indians  while  others 
tilled  the  field.  At  one  time  the  danger  became  so  immi- 
nent that  the  family  was  driven  to  the  block  house  in  the 
American  Bottom  for  protection. 

The  oldest  son,  John  Moore,  on  attaining  his  majority  in 
1794,  married  Elizabeth  Whiteside,  the  oldest  daughter  of 
William  White.-ide,  who  had  reached  Illinois  in  ll'Xi.  He 
settled  north  of  Waterloo,  on  claim  122:5,  survey  3i)7.  He 
died  in  the  year  l)S:!:i.  He  was  a  lieutenant  in  the  Illinois 
militia,  in  the  ranging  service  during  the  war  of  1812-14, 
and  the  first  treasurer  of  Monroe  county.  William  and 
Benjamin,  the  two  next  sous  of  James  Moore  died  in  early 
life.  The  fourth  son,  James  Biggs  Moore,  known  asGeneral 
Jloore,  was  born  in  Virginia  in  N'^U.  He  embarked  in 
various  business  enterprises,  and  for  some  years  trade<l  on 
the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  rivers  between  New  Orleans  and 
Pittsburg,  making  his  voyages  in  a  keel  boat.  He  aban- 
doned the  boat  business  to  settle  three  miles  northeast  of  the 
present  town  of  Waterloo,  on  what  was  known  as  the  "  tan 
yard  farm."  He  here  invested  in  a  large  tanning  enterprise, 
at  that  time,  jierhaps,  the  largest  west  of  the  Alleghenies. 
He  organized  a  company  of  rangers  in  the  war  of  1812-14, 


and  was  commissioned  its  captain.  He  was  appointed  sheriff 
of  Monroe  county  by  Governor  Ninian  Edwards,  and  was 
the  first  to  (ill  that  office  after  the  organization  of  the  county, 
lie  was  sheriti'  several  years,  and  afterward  for  two  terms 
represented  the  county  iu  the  State  Legislature.  He  was  a 
man  of  active  business  enterprise,  and  establisluHl  a  mill  on 
Prairie  du  Long  creek,  and  a  carding  factory  near  his  own 
homestead.  He  died  (ui  the  tan  yard  farm  in  1.S40  Enoch 
Moore,  the  next  son  of  the  pioneer,  was  born  in  the  old 
block  house  at  the  Bellefontaine  in  the  year  178:!,  and  was 
probably  the  first  white  child  born  within  the  limits  of  the 
present  county  of  Monroe.  He  secured  a  good  education 
and  became  an  excellent  surveyor  Much  of  the  gov- 
ernment surveying  in  this  part  of  Illinois  was  done  uuder 
his  direction  and  supervision.  He  married  Mary  Whiteside. 
During  the  war  of  181-2-'14  he  served  as  a  private  in  the 
company  of  rangers  commanded  by  his  brother.  Captain 
James  B.  Moore.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  conventi(jn  that 
framed  the  first  constitution  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  and  was 
elected  a  representative  in  the  State  Legislature.  He  was 
also  at  diff'erent  times  circuit  clerk  and  judge  of  the  probate 
court.  He  was  a  local  minister  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  In  company  with  one  of  his  sons,  McKendree 
Moore,  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  at  Waterloo. 
He  died  in  the  year  1818.  His  home  was  the  farm  now 
o  vned  by  Josepti  W.  Drury  north  of  Waterloo.  Mary 
Moore  born  at  Bellefontaiue  in  178  i,  became  the  wife  ot 
Colonel  David  Robinson.  J.  Milton  Moore,  the  youngest 
son  of  the  pioneer,  Captain  James  Moore,  was  born  in  Belle- 
fontaine in  178t).  Several  years  of  his  boyhood  were  spent 
with  his  uncle  Zaccheus  Biggs,  in  Virginia,  where  he  re- 
ceived a  good  common  school  education.  He  had  a  strong 
liking  for  mathematics  and  qua'ified  himself  as  a  surveyor. 
Soon  after  he  was  s'xteen  years  of  age  he  was  made  surveyor 
of  .St.  Clair  county,  and  filled  that  position  forseveral  years. 
He  surveyed  a  considerable  part  of  the  public  land  in  Mon- 
roe county,  running  the  lines  of  the  sections  and  townships. 
He  was  in  the  ranging  service  during  the  war  of  1812-'14. 
and  served  as  a  justice  of  the  peace  for  many  years.  He  died 
in  1844. 

The  old  claim  2006,  survey  978,  a  mile  or  more  southeast 
of  Waterloo,  was  granted  by  the  government  on  account  of 
an  improvement  made  by  Auguste  Big^er-taff  in  the  year 
1786.  The  testimony  before  the  board  of  commissioners  to 
adjust  land  claims  in  the  Kaska.<'kia  district  showed  that 
Biggerstaff  cultivated  corn  and  rai.scd  a  crop  that  year. 
Peter  Casterline  testified  that  he  assisted  Biggerstafl'  to  lay 
the  foundation  of  his  cabin,  to  deaden  some  timber  and  put 
in  a  crop.  Andrews'  run,  a  tributary  to  Fountain  creek, 
which  rises  north  of  Waterloo,  was  so  called  from  the  An- 
drews family,  which  settled  at  its  head  in  early  times,  and 
who  were  mas.sacred  by  the  Indians.  James  Andrews  was  a 
young  Virginian  who  came  to  Illinois,  and  shortly  afterward 
married  Capt.  Joseph  Ogle's  daughter,  and  settled  on  An- 
drews' run.  Here  he  was  attacked  by  the  Indians,  himself 
and  wife  killed,  and  his  child,  a  girl  three  years  of  age, 
taken  prisoner.  Her  name  was  Drusilla.  She  was  recovered 
through  the  agency  of  some  French  traders  of  St.  Louis, 


r.iG 


niSTOEY    OF    RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND     RERRY    COUNTIES,  ILLINOIS. 


niul  was  raised  in  tlie  family  i>f  James  Lemaii,  at  New 
Design  ;  she  miirried  Henry  Mace.  Governor  St.  Clair  con- 
firmed a  grant  ol'  four  hnndred  acres  of  land,  covering  the 
original  improvement  made  by  Andrews,  to  his  daughter 
Drusilla,  on  which  she  and  her  husband  afterward  spent 
their  days.  The  HuH'and  Moredock  family,  on  coming  to 
Illinois  first  settled  in  the  vicinity  of  Bellefontaiue,  and  in 
1809  the  claim  was  affirmed  by  the  commissioners  to  John 
Moredock.  The  massacre  of  Mrs.  Hufl'  and  part  of  the 
family  bj'  the  Indians,  in  their  journey  up  the  Missis- 
sippi, is  elsewhere  related.  Huff  himself  was  killed  by  the 
Indians,  on  the  road  between  Kaskaskia  and  Prairie  du 
Rocher.  The  family  removed  to  the  American  Bottom,  on 
]\[oredock  lake,  and  John  Moredock  became  a  noted  citizen 
of  the  county-  On  claim  229,  survey  784,  about  three  miles 
north  of  Waterloo,  the  first  improvement  was  made  by 
Samuel  Hanley.  This  grant  was  confirmed  by  Governor 
St.  Clair  to  William  Biggs,  in  whose  possession  it  also  was 
at  the  time  of  the  leport,  made  in  181-3,  of  the  commis- 
sioners to  adjust  land  claims  in  the  Kaskaskia  district. 

Biggs  lived  a  long  and  eventful  life  in  Illinois.  He  was 
born  in  Maryland  in  the  year  17.5.5,  and  at  the  age  of 
twenty-three  enlisted  in  the  expedition  for  the  concjuest  of 
Illinois,  commanded  by  Colonel  George  Rogers  Clark.  He 
held  a  commission  as  lieutenant,  and  served  during  the 
years  1778  and  1779.  He  returned  to  Virginia,  was  married, 
and  shortly  afterward,  in  company  with  his  two  brothers, 
came  to  Illinois  and  settled  at  Bellefontaiue.  In  the  spring 
of  1788,  while  on  his  way  to  Cahokia,  in  company  with 
John  Vallis,  he  was  attacked  by  the  Indians  and  taken 
prisoner.  He  was  released  on  the  payment  of  S260  ransom 
money.  He  afterward  wrote  a  narrative  of  his  captivity. 
He  was  appointed  by  Governor  St.  Clair  sheriff  of  St.  Clair 
county  in  1790,  and  filled  the  office  for  a  number  of  years  ; 
he  was  also  a  justice  of  the  peace,  and  judge  of  the  court  of 
common  pleas  He  was  elected  to  serve  in  the  legislature  of 
the  Northwestern  territory  two  terms.  In  1808  he  was 
chosen  to  represent  St.  Clair  county  in  the  legislature  of 
Indiana  territory,  and  by  his  efforts  contributed  to  the  divi- 
sion of  the  territory  and  the  establishment  of  the  Illinois 
territory  the  following  year.  From  1812  to  1816  he  repre- 
sented St.  Clair  county  in  the  legislative  council  of  General 
Assembly  of  the  territory  of  Illinois. 

South  of  the  Moore  tract,  below  Waterloo,  Michael  Miller 
settled  at  an  early  day.  He  was  from  Pennsylvania,  and 
came  to  Illinois  about  the  year  1800  The  fivrm  north  of 
Waterloo,  which  was  for  many  years  the  residence  of  Geo. 
L.  Ditch,  was  first  improved  by  Benjamin  Marney.  While 
returning  up  the  river  from  New  Orleans,  where  he  had 
taken  a  flat-boat  loaded  with  produce,  he  was  seized  with 
yellow  fever,  died  and  was  buried  on  the  bank  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi. This  was  in  the  early  part  of  the  year  1822. 
William  Agnew  was  an  old  resident  of  the  precinct,  and 
occupied  a  farm  in  section  2  of  township  2  range  10,  now 
owned  by  Conrad  Kohlmar.  James  Taylor  lived  on  the 
Loehr  place,  three  miles  north  of  Waterloo,  on  the  St.  Louis 
road.  In  the  same  neighborhood  was  the  old  Eberraan 
place,  where  the  Rev.  William   Eberman   lived   for  many 


years.  At  this  place,  early  in  the  present  century,  Thomas 
Marrs,  afterward  a  residentof  the  American  Bottom,  settled. 
David  Robinson,  who  has  been  mentioned  as  having  mar- 
ried the  only  daughter  Capt.  James  Moore,  was^  lieutenant 
in  the  company  of  his  brother-iu-law,  Capt.  James  B.  Moore, 
in  the  war  of  1812-14,  and  was  afterward  appointed  by 
Governor  Ninian  Edwards  a  colonel  of  militia.  In  later 
life  he  became  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
He  died  in  the  year  1833. 

CITY    OF   WATERLOO. 

The  tract  of  land  on  which  the  original  town  of  Waterloo 
was  laid  out  was  purchased  by  George  Forquer,  in  1818. 
The  projectors  of  the  town  were  Forcjuer  and  Daniel  P- 
Cook.  The  latter  was  a  prominent  lawyer,  a  resident  of 
Kaskaskia  and  afterward  a  member  of  Congress.  Forquer 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1794,  and  came  to  Illinois  with 
his  mother,  Mrs.  Ford,  and  his  half  brother,  Thomas  Ford, 
(afterwards  Gov.  Ford),  in  1804.  He  also  was  the  original 
j>roprietor  of  the  town  of  Bridgewater,  on  the  Mississippi, 
above  Harrisonville.  He  opened  a  store  at  Waterloo,  but 
his  mercantile  venture  proved  a  failure.  He  then  under- 
took the  study  of  law  and  engaged  in  politics,  in  both  of 
which  pursuits  he  was  successful.  The  Ford  family  lived  in 
Waterloo  for  many  years,  inhabiting  a  little  log  house  which 
stood  at  the  west  side  of  the  present  Main  street,  just  south 
of  the  old  Morrison  place.  Mrs.  Ford  died  here,  and  was 
buried  in  the  cemetery  east  of  town.  At  Waterloo  Thomas 
Ford  grew  up  to  manhood  and  began  his  distinguished  legal 
and  political  career. 

Much  of  the  land  on  which  the  town  is  now  built  was, 
previous  to  the  laying  out  of  the  town,  owned  by  David  H. 
Ditch  who  acquired  it  by  entry  from  the  government.  He 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  in  the  year  1781,  and  married 
Hannah  Forquer,  sister  of  George  Forquer.  They  came  to 
Illinois  in  1804,  Mrs.  Ditch  fording  the  Kaskaskia  river  on 
horseback  with  one  of  her  children  tied  behind  her.  After 
living  some  time  in  the  vicinity  of  Kaskaskia,  and  in  the 
American  Bottom  neai  Harrisonville,  JNIr.  Ditch  moveel  to 
the  site  of  Waterloo.  He  built  the  log  house,  afterward 
known  as  the  Morrison  house,  which  stood  until  the  spring 
of  1881,  when  it  was  torn  down.  This  in  early  days  was 
used  as  a  hotel,  and  when  Waterloo  first  became  the  county 
seat,  the  courts  were  held  in  this  building. 

For  many  years  the  growth  of  Waterloo  was  slow,  and  it 
remained  a  place  of  small  size  and  importance.  The  first  per- 
manentstore  was  established  by  Emery  Peter  Rogers,  for  many 
years  a  leading  citizens  of  Waterloo.  A  young  man  named 
Ruddisill  also  sold  goods  for  a  time  in  the  early  history  of 
the  place.  Rogers  was  born  in  Massachusetts,  and  came 
to  Illinois  about  the  year  1816.  He  first  taught  school  and 
then  opened  a  small  store,  his  stock  of  goods  consisting  of  a 
barrel  of  whiskey,  some  tobacco,  powder  and  lead,  and  a  few 
other  articles  indispensable  to  the  pioneers.  This  store  was 
kept  in  a  log  building  on  Main  street,  on  lot  eight  of 
Rogers'  subdivision,  opposite  the  house  to  which  he  after- 
ward removed,  which  is  still  standing.  For  some  time  this 
was  the  only  store  in  the  county.     A  store  had  been  estab- 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


317 


lished  at  Harrisonville  in  early  times,  but  for  some  years 
was  discontinued.  About  the  year  1826,  Mr.  Rogers  en- 
larged his  store,  and  put  in  a  more  general  and  complete 
stock  of  goods  He  put  up  a  large  rock  building  which 
stood  where  the  Rogers  homestead  now  is.  Part  of  the 
building  was  used  as  a  hotel.  It  burned  down  in  1843,  and 
in  its  place  the  present  brick  building  was  erected.  He 
kept  the  hotel  until  1817,  and  continued  the  store  until  his 
death  in  the  year  1S50.  He  was  a  raan  of  large  frame, 
weighed  about  two  hundred  and  forty  pounds,  was  intelli- 
gent and  well  educated,  and  enterprising  as  a  business  man. 
In  addition  to  his  store,  he  had  a  carding  mill  and  saw  mill 
in  his  part  of  the  town,  and  erected  a  number  of  buildings. 
He  was  comuionlv  known  as  Peter  Rogers,  and  his  part  of 
the  town  received  the  soubri(juet  of  IVterstown,  by  which  it 
is  still  known.  He  embarked  in  several  outside  enterprises, 
and  had  he  not  met  with  several  serious  disasters,  such  as 
the  fire  which  burned  his  store,  the  loss  of  a  barge  load  of 
tobacco  in  the  ice,  and  of  an  investment  of  thirty  thousand 
dollars  in  a  steamboat,  he  would  have  accumulated  great 
wealth.  As  it  was  he  died  in  good  circumstances  aud  left 
a  comfortable  estate  behind  him.  His  first  wife  was  Mary 
Miller,  daughter  of  Michael  Miller,  who  came  from  Penn- 
sylvania, and  settled  south  of  Waterloo  about  the  year 
1800.  His  second  wife  was  Eunice  Rogers,  the  widow  of 
his  brother,  Lemuel  Rogers.  His  third  wife,  Caroline  Rob- 
inson, daughter  of  David  Robinson,  is  still  living, 

Another  store  was  started  about  the  year  1838,  by  Mc- 
Kendree  Moore,  in  partnership  with  his  father,  Enoch 
Moore,  and  was  carried  on  until  the  death  of  the  son  in 
1840.  It  was  kept  in  a  brick  building,  about  fifteen  by 
twenty-two  feet  in  dimensions,  which  stood  on  the  site  of 
Peter  Bickelhaupts  hotel,  on  Main  street,  opposite  the  court 
house.  Shortly  after  the  Moors  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
business,  another  store  was  started  by  James  B.  Meedles 
(father  of  Thomas  B.  Needles,  formerly  State  Auditor)  and 
John  Gall.  The  date  of  its  establishment  was  about  the 
year  1830,  and  it  was  carried  on  for  nearly  ten  years.  Soon 
after  1840,  the  town  began  to  increase  iu  population,  and  in 
1841  and  lH4l',  two  or  three  additional  stores  were  started. 
Isaac  Clark  and  Zaccheus  B.  Moore,  opened  a  store  on  the 
corner  of  Main  and  Third  streets,  where  the  marble  shop 
now  is.  Ferdinand  Rose  had  a  store  on  Main  street,  just 
south  of  Peterstown.  Rose  was  afterward  interested  in  busi- 
ness with  John  B.  Frank.  In  184"),  there  were  four  stores; 
that  of  Rogers  ;  one  carried  on  by  George  Leip  on  the  west 
side  of  Main  street,  corner  of  Mill  street  ;  one  belonging  to 
Conrad  Stroh  on  the  west  side  of  Main  street,  father  north, 
and  one  opened  that  year  by  John  Frank  and  Major  X.  F_ 
Trail.  Lafayette  Warnoch  carried  on  the  the  mercantile 
business  from  lcS48  to  l'<">4.  Among  other  merchants  who 
carried  on  business  in  Waterloo  previous  to  1800,  were  John 
A.  Reed,  Napoleon  Bond,  George  Lutz,  John  G.  Shaeffcr, 
Charles  Ileer,  Henry  Boedeker,  M.  T.  and  Harrison  Horine, 
George  Leip,  William  Moore,  William  Devine,  Berger, 
David  Walsh,  John  Borchert  and  Frederick  Timraerniann. 

In  183(5  the  town  contained  not  more  than  twenty  build- 
ings.   Beginning  at  the  north  end  of  the  town,  the  brick 


building  still  standing,  the  one  farthest  north  on  Main 
street,  was  occupied  that  j'car  by  David  Nolan.  He  was 
clerk  of  the  circuit  court,  a  member  of  the  bar,  and  died  at 
Vandalia  in  183X,  while  at  the  capital  as  member  of  the 
legislature.  The  next  was  a  small  frame  house  with  two 
rooms,  occupied  by  Catherine  and  Delilah  Hilton,  seam- 
stresses. The  next  was  the  residence  and  store  of  Emery 
Peter  Rogers,  and  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  street  lived 
Benjamin  Dean.  Next  below  on  the  east  ride  of  the  street 
was  a  log  building,  owned  by  Peter  Rogers,  father  of  Emery 
P.  Rogers,  into  which  Jesse  Slate,  the  father  of  E.  P.  Slate, 
moved  on  his  arrival  in  the  town  from  Massachusetts  in 
June,  183(5.  Opposite  was  the  log  building  in  which  Emery 
P  Rogers  kept  his  first  store,  aud  which  in  1«3()  was  used 
as  a  workshop.  Luke  Patterson  had  erected  this  building 
and  sold  it  to  Rogers.  On  the  east  side  of  the  street, 
further  down,  a  man  named  Owens  lived.  The  next  bouse 
was  the  building  known  as  the  old  Morrison  place,  a  large 
log  structure  two  stories  in  height,  built  by  David  H.  Ditch, 
iu  which  in  early  days  he  kept  a  hotel.  Next  on  the  west 
side  of  the  street  was  the  residence  of  Dr.  John  Rogers.  He 
was  a  brother  of  Emery  P.  Rogers.  He  had  acquired  a 
good  medical  education  and  had  practiced  his  profession  in 
Massachusetts  some  years  before  coming  to  Illinois.  He 
came  to  Waterloo  in  182(5,  and  followed  his  profession  till 
his  death  iu  18.58.  He  was  the  leading  physician  of  the 
county  during  that  period,  and  his  ])ractice,  which  extended 
over  this  county  with  St.  Clair  and  Randolph,  kept  him 
busy  day  and  night.  On  the  east  side  of  the  street,  oppo- 
site Dr.  Rogers,  was  a  story  and  a  half  log  house,  with  two 
rooms  below,  used  as  a  school-house.  James  Rogers, 
brother  of  Emery  P.,  and  Dr.  John  Rogers  taught  school  in 
this  building  for  several  years.  The  building  on  Main 
street,  the  second  block  north  of  the  court  house,  now  occu- 
pied by  Borntraeger's  store,  was  used  as  a  dwelling  iu 
1836  by  Daniel  Converse,  who  for  many  years  filkd  the 
office  of  county  clerk.  The  next  house  was  on  the  north- 
east corner  of  M  lin  and  Mill  streets,  where  Stroh's  saloon 
now  is,  and  in  it  lived  John  Coleman,  He  was  the  propri- 
etor of  a  mill  which  stood  just  east  of  his  residence  on  Mill 
street  and  north  of  the  court  house.  This  was  first  built  as 
a  wind  mill  in  1830,  or  shortly  afterward.  Its  operation  as 
a  wind  mill  was  not  very  successful,  the  mill  only  running 
when  the  wind  blew  with  a  certain  force.  About  1837  it 
was  changed  to  an  ox  mill.  The  court  house  in  1836  was  a 
small  two-story  brick  building,  with  the  court  room  below 
and  the  county  offices  above,  and  stood  a  short  distance 
southwest  of  the  present  structure.  The  Methodist  church, 
the  only  one  in  town,  stood  near  the  site  of  the  i)resent 
church  building.  The  southwest  corner  of  Main  and  Third 
streets  was  taken  up  by  a  log  building  iu  which  was  kept  a 
grocery.  On  the  west  side  of  Maiu  street,  below  Fourth 
street,  there  was  a  log  house  in  which  Isaac  Clark  lived  in 
].S3(5,  but  which  shortly  afterward  was  purchased  by  John 
Gall.  On  the  west  side  of  Main  street,  north  of  Third 
street,  was  a  frame  house,  into  which  William  H.  Bennett 
moved  in  1836,  and  on  the  northwest  corner  of  Maiu  and 
Third  streets  was  a  blacksmith  shop. 


318 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLrn,    MOXROE   AND    PERRY    COUXTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


The  merchants  of  Waterli)o  in  the  year  185.')  were  Emery 
P.  Rogers,  John  S.  Borchert,  M.  T.  Horine,  Charles  H. 
Heer,  John  G.  SchaeflFer,  Conrad  Stroh,  Hoener  &  Moore, 
David  Walsh,  Martin  Dunn  and  Vincent  Sum.  The  latter 
two  had  small  stores.  The  flouring  mill  on  the  site  of 
the  present  Edwards  and  Chouteau  mill  was  carried  on  in 
1855  by  Francis  A.  Gauen  and  Fridolin  Meyer.  John 
Coleman's  mill,  on  Mill  strtet  opposite  the  court  house, 
was  then  running.  It  was  at  that  time  operated  by  steam, 
though  wind  and  then  ox  power  had  previously  been, 
tried.  This  mill  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1857.  In  "  Peter.s- 
town"  Emery  P.  Rogers  had  a  saw  mill,  and  a  brewery 
was  carried  on  by  John  Koechel. 

In  1858  Jacob  Miller  and  Valentine  Briegel  built  a  large 
brick  mill  east  of  the  town.  Its  site  is  now  included  in  the 
corporation  limits.  It  was  bought  by  Chouteau,  Edwards 
&  Co.,  and  torn  down  in  1874.  The  first  brewery  in 
Waterloo  was  built  in  1847  by  John  Koechel,  who  began 
operations  in  a  small  frame  building.  The  original 
building  was  torn  down  about  the  year  1852,  and  the 
present  brick  building  erected  in  its  place.  Koechel  ran  it 
till  18G5,  and  then  leased  it  to  other  parties.  It  was  sold 
in  January,  1882,  to  Michael  Schorr  and  Henry  Wilmes- 
meier,  and  is  n  iw  run  by  Schorr.  About  1858  John  Her- 
rold  started  a  brewery  in  a  building,  partly  brick  and 
))artly  frame,  which  stood  in  the  southeast  part  of  the  town. 
It  bufned  down  in  1869.  The  firm  of  Wellier  &  Burch 
ran  it  for  a  time.  A  small  distillery  was  operated  by 
Edward  Kemuff  for  five  or  si.x;  years.  It  stood  iu  the  south 
part  of  town. 

Among  the  phj-sieians  who  practiced  in  Waterloo  in 
former  years  were  Drs.  Sonierville,  Harper,  De  Puyt 
Doelicht,  Smith,  Bull,  Copp,  Bollert,  Whiteside,  Koernel 
and  Deming. 

The  German  population  of  Waterloo  began  to  increase 
rapidly  after  1840.  The  town  has  a  beautiful  situation  on 
elevated  ground,  from  which  an  excellent  view  of  the  sur- 
rounding country  is  obtained.  The  line  of  the  bluffs  is  dis- 
tinctly visible,  and  beyond  the  Missouri  hills.  It  is  twenty- 
three  miles  from  St.  Louis  by  the  St.  Louis  and  Cairo  rail- 
road. The  population  is  estimated  at  twenty-five  hundred. 
There  are  three  newspapers,  two  English  and  one  German. 
The  Methodists,  Baptists,  Lutherans,  and  Catholics  have 
churches.  In  addition  to  public  school,  both  the  Lutherans 
and  Catholics  maintain  large  parochial  schools,  and  there  is 
a  convent  under  the  care  of  the  Catholic  sisters.  A  large 
and  handsome  brick  public  school  building  was  erected  in 
1871. 

TOWN   GOVERNMENT. 

The  town  of  Waterloo  was  incorporated  by  act  of  Legis- 
lature, approved  in  February,  1849.  The  charter  was 
amended  in  1855,  and  again  in  1859.  Since  the  latter  date 
no  amendment  has  been  made.  The  town  government  is  in 
the  Vands  of  a  board  of  trustees,  five  in  number,  elected  in 
December  of  each  year. 

The  board  in  each  case  being  elected  iu  December  of  the 
year  previous  to  that  given  : 


First  board,  1859 — M.  T.  Horine,  (president),  George 
DePuyt,  Charles  Borntraeger,  Adam  Kunipf,  and  Ambrose 
Hoener. 

1860 — Harrison  Horine,  (president),  Francis  A.  Gauen, 
Charles  Borntraeger,  Ambrose  Hoener,  and  Fred  Miiller. 

1861 — Harrison  Horine,  (president),  Francis  A.  Gauen, 
John  Koechel,  Charles  Borutraeger,  and  Ambrjse  Hoener. 

1862— Christian  H.  Kettler,  (president),  John  Koechel, 
Charles  Bornkraeger,  Hubert  Kiinster,  and  Henry  C.  Tal- 
bott. 

186-3 — John  Koechel,  (president),  Charles  Borntraeger, 
George  Gauen,  Christian  Jobusch,  and  Henry  C.  Talbott. 

1864 — Hubert  Kiinster,  (president),  John  Koechel,  Henry 
C.  Talbott,  and  Christian  Jobusch. 

1865 — Henry  C.  Talbott,  (president),  Adam  Kumpf,  Louis 
Eilbracht,  H.  F.  Borutraeger,  aud  James  A.  Kennedy. 

1861) — Charles  Frick,  I  president),  Hubert  Kiinster,  Dr. 
A.  Wetmore,  John  Moeller,  and  Adam  Reis. 

1867 — Charles  Frick,  (president),  Hubert  Kiinster,  Dr. 
A.  Wetmore,  Adam  Reis,  and  Valentine  Sturtzura. 

1868 — Charles  Frick,  (president).  Dr.  A.  Wetmore,  Ser- 
vais  Sondag,  Jacob  Muller,  aud  Valentine  Sturtzum. 

186y — Conrad  Herchenroeder,  (president),  Frederick  De 
Puyt,  George  L.  Riess,  Adam  Reis,  and  Henry  Colmar. 

1870 — Harrison  Horine,  (president),  George  De  Puyt, 
Frederick  De  Puyt,  John  S.  Borchert,  and  Stephen  Heim. 

1871 — Christian  Jobusch,  (president),  Stephen  Keim, 
Anton  Gatzert,  George  De  Puyt,  and  Henry  C.  Talbott. 

1872 — Christian  Jobusch,  (president,)  Stephen  Keim, 
Anton  Gatzert,  George  De  Puyt,  aud  H'-nry  C.  Talbott. 

187;)— Christian  Jobusch,  (president),  Stephen  Keim, 
Anton  Gatzert,  George  De  Puyt,  and  Henry  C.  Talbott. 

1874 — Hubert  Kiinster,  (president),  George  De  Puyt, 
Anton  Gatzert,  George  Schmitt,  and  Henry  C.  Talbott. 

1875— Hubert  Kiiuster  ( president  i,  Henry  C.  Talbott, 
Anton  Gatzert,  Adam  Reis,  aud  Henry  Colmar. 

1876 — Hubert  Kiinster,  (president),  Henry  C.  Talbott, 
Anton  Gatzert.  George  Schmitt,  and  Edward   Borntraeger. 

1877 —  George  Schmitt,  (president),  Edward  Borntraeger, 
Anton  Gatzert,  George  C.  Gauen,  and  Henry  C.  Talbott. 

1878 —Edward  Borntraeger,  (president),  Anton  Gatzert, 
George  C.  Gauen,  Joseph  W.  Rickert,  and  Ferdinand  Cavi. 

1879 — George  C.  Gauen,  (president)  Anton  Gatzert,  Jo- 
seph  W.  Rickert,  Ferdinand  Cavi,  and  Peter  Bickelhaupt. 

1880 — Ferdinand  Cavi,  (president),  John  Moeller,  Joseph 
W.  Rickert,  Peter  Bickelhaupt,  aud  George  Morrison. 

1881 — Frederick  H.  Borutraeger,  (president),  Ferdinand 
Cavi,  Joseph  Gauen,  and  Peter  Bickelhaupt. 

1882. — Ferdinind  Cavi,  (president),  Peter  Bickelhaupt, 
Charles  Metzger,  Philip  Arras,  and  Henry  Oldendorph. 

188.')— Ferdinand  Cavi,  (president),  Peter  Bickelhauph, 
Charles  Metzger,  Philip  Arras,  and  Philip  Wagner. 

SECRET    A.-iD    BENEVOLENT   SOCIETIES. 

Waterloo  Lodge,  No.  27,  I.  0.  0.  f.— The  original  char- 
ter of  this  lodge  was  granted  July  14,  1847,  with  five  charter 
members.  After  a  few  years  the  lodge  ceased  to  work,  aud 
tbe  charter  was  surrendered.     It  was  restored  May  loth, 


HISTORY    OF    HAXDOLPII,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


319 


1880,  and  tlie  lodge  was  re  instituted  June  1st  of  the  same 
year.     At  tliis  writii)<r  it  is  in  sucoesrful  operation. 

Watfr/oo  Enrii>iipmt)it,  No.  lOti,  was  instituted  March  1st, 

1881,  with  eleven  charter  members.  During  the  year 
(1881),  a  handsome  brick  building  was  erected  on  Mill 
street,  the  upper  part  of  which  is  owned  by  the  Odd  Fellows 
and  is  used  by  them  for  lodge  purposes. 

T'rbdii  Lii'l(/t;  Xii.  liKiO,  Kiiii/hts  of  Honor,  was  instituted 
on  the  twenty-iiith  of  August,  1^8(1,  with  seventeen  ciiarter 
members. 

Monroe  Lodge,  No.  o6o.  Order  oj Horuijuri,  was  instituted 
Jau.  28th,  187."),  with  sixteen  charter  members. 

M.VNUFACTURES. 

The  flouring  mill  of  the  Chouteau  A'  Edwards  Co  is  the 
main  manufacturing  establishment  of  Waterloo.  A  steam, 
mill  was  tirst  built  on  the  site  of  the  present  building  in  the 
year  1N48,  by  Major  Xerxes  F.  Trail.  He  ran  it  a  couple 
of  years,  and  it  then  passed  into  possession  of  Francis  A. 
Gauen  aud  Fridolin  Meyer.  Gauen  afterward  operated  it 
aloiie,aud  in  18()5  it  was  purchased  by  the  firm  of  Chouteau 
&  Edwards.  A  company,  with  a  capital  slock  of  S.')tl,00(), 
•was  incorporated  in  July,  1877,  under  the  name  of  the 
Chouteau  &  Edwards  Co.,  the  present  owners.  Improve- 
ments were  made,  and  the  present  building  erected  in  1877. 
The  manufacture  of  flour  was  carried  on  by  the  old  methods 
till  1881,  when  the  Stevens'  rolls  were  introduced,  and  the 
machinery  of  the  mill  entirely  reconstructed.  The  mill  has 
a  capacity  of  one  thousand  barrels  per  day,  which,  in  l.ss;',, 
it  is  proposed  to  increase  by  two  hundred  barrels.  There 
are  fifteen  sets  of  double  rolls,  three  of  single  roils,  and 
twelve  run  of  buhrs.  The  product  in  1882  was  about  one 
hundred  and  twenty  thousand  barrels.  The  main  building 
is  six  stories  in  height,  and  in  area  sixty  by  eighty-four  feet. 
The  elevator  buildings  have  a  storage  capacity  of  eighty- 
five  tliousand  bushels,  and  there  are  also  extensive  cooper 
shops  in  connection  with  the  mill.  The  motive  power  is  fur- 
nished by  a  Harriss-Corliss  engine  of  twelve  hundred  horse- 
power. Forty-three  men  are  employed  in  the  mill,  and 
thirty-eight  in  the  cooper  shop.  Part  of  the  product  is 
shipped  direct  to  the  East,  and  the  balance  disposed  of  in 
St.  Louis,  through  the  commission  house  of  Chouteau  & 
Edwards.  The  officers  of  the  company  are: — President, 
James  C.  Edward.s  ;  Vice-President,  J.  Gilman  Chouteau  ; 
Secretary  and  Treasurer,  S   F.  Chenot. 

The  manufacture  of  plows  and  wagons  is  carried  on  by 
the  firm  of  Oldendorph  Bros  ,  composed  of  George  and  Ja- 
cob Oldendorph.  The  business  was  established  in  1872 
The  manufacture  of  iron-beam  plows  is  made  a  specialty. 
Beside  this  firm,  the  manufacture  of  wagons  is  carried  on  to 
some  extent  by  Philip  Arres,  Adam  Kumpf  and  Philip 
Wagner  ;  and  of  carriages  and  buggies  by  Louis  Teichgraber 
and  Philip  Mitchell.  Henry  Kemper  and  Mr.  Mittendorf 
carry  on  the  wheelwright  business.  Louis  "Wahl  has  a  ma- 
chine shop  for  the  repair  and  manufacture  of  agricultural 
and  other  machinery. 

The  Waterloo  Marble  Works  were  established  in  1875  by 
the  firm  of  M.  C.  Rodeuberger  &  Co.,  of  which  M.  C.  Ro- 


denberger  and  William  Kestner  are  members.  Marble  and 
granite  monuments,  headstones  and  tablets  are  made  and 
sold.  The  trade  of  the  firm  extends  to  St.  Louis  and  to 
adjoining  counties  in  Illinois.  Ten  hands  are  employed  in 
the  shop.  The  firm  also  operate  a  quarry,  seven  miles  west 
from  Waterloo,  in  Blutt'  precinct,  from  which  limestone — 
said  to  be  the  finest  in  the  Stale — is  quarried.  In  the  sum- 
mer eight  men  are  here  employed.  The  Monroe  County 
Marble  Works,  on  Mill  street,  were  established  by  Henry 
Fisiher  in  187!),  and  have  turned  out  a  large  amount  of 
monumental  work. 

J  F.  Gotshall  Knitting  Machine  Manufactory,  started  iu 
1879,  runs  three  machines;  manufactures  between  three  and 
four  hundred  dozen  pairs  of  socks  and  stockings  during  the 
season  ;  supplies  local  demand  only. 

BUSINESS  HOUSES. 

The  Commercial  Bank,  the  only  one  in  the  county,  was 
established  January  1st,  1883,  and  is  conducted  under 
the  firm  name  of  H.  Kunster  &  Co.,  operated  under  articles 
of  co-partnership,  Wm.  H.  Horine,  jr.  as  Cashier,  with  a 
capital  slock  of  S1-"),000.00,  with  the  followiug  stockholders: 
Hubert  Kunster,  Christian  Jobusch,  Jos.  W.  Rickert, 
William  Bode,  and  William  Erd.  They  have  a  good  fire 
aud  burglar  proof  safe  with  time  lock. 

General  Stores. — Bode  and  Jobusch,  Edward  Bomtraeger, 
Louis  Eilbracht,  George  C.  Gauen,  Frank  Heer,  Fred 
Joedecke,  Henry  Jung,  Herman  Koechel,  George  Pinkel, 
Jacob  Pluth,  Fred  Sauerhage. 

Physicians. — J.  P.  Denning,  Hugo  Rothstein,  A.  Wet- 
more,  F.  Bock,  Nicholas  Soteriades,  A.  Wichmann. 

Post  Office.— U,  Kunster,  P.  M. 

Hotels. — City  Hotel,  Peter  Bickelhaupt ;  Southern,  Peter 
Feller. 

Livery  Stables. — Drury  and  Hilton,  Daniel  Stein. 

DriKjf/i.'its — H.  Kunster,  L.  and  W.  E  Eichelbracht. 

Jewelers. — August  Forkel,  Charles  F.  Gauen. 

Tailors  and  (jent.<i'  Furnkhing  Goods. — Becker  and 
Ruppert,  Louis  Pieper. 

Soda  Factory. — Henry  Boeke. 

Lumber  Yard. — George  C.  Gauen,  R.  aud  C.   Grosse. 
Hardware. — R.  and  C.  Grosse,  Henry  Walhaus. 

Brick  Yards. — Ben.  Hoffman,  Jacob  Burkhardt. 

Stores  and  Tinware. — Frederick  Klemm,  John  Gaerteer, 

jr- 

Aijricultural  Implements — Philip  Zimmer,  Louis  Wall. 

Dentist  — C.  M.  Fike. 

Veterinary  Surgeon. — Frederick  Wagner. 

Photographer. — H.  Rundle. 

Furniture  and  Undertakers. — August  Siegel,  Quernheim 
and  Sons. 

S((ddleri. — Henry  Jobusch,  Mat.  Schmitz,  Conrad  Hcrch- 
enroeder. 

Cigar  Manufacturer. — Fred  Linne. 

Shoe  Stores,  also  Makers. — John  Braun,  John  Moller. 

Shoeviakers — Theodore  Sontag,  J.  W.  Meyer,  Jacob 
Rodenhauser,  George  Schmitt. 

.Ba^me*.— Philip  Herbert,  Rudolph  Molteuschart. 


320 


HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH,  MONROE  AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS 


Brewery. — Michael  Schorr. 

Blaeksniiths. — Adam  Kumpf,  Louis  Mueller,  Oldendorph 
and  Bros.,  Henry  Oldendorph,  Louis  Teichgraeber,  Pliilip 
Wagoner,  Philip  Arras. 

Wagon  Makers. — Philip  Mitchell,  Herman  Mittendorf, 
Henry  Kemper. 

Millinery. — Miss  Elizabeth  Shuell,  Mrs.  Mary  Welch. 

Caipenters  and  Builders  — -Chas.  Sieber,  Ferdinand  Cavi, 
Henry  VVinterraan. 

Butcherg. — Theodore  Ruch,  George  Euch,  Anthony  Ruch, 
Henry  Fischer. 


J'ainters. — H.  W.  Miiller,  Louis  Grimmel,  Louis  Strubig. 

Plaster.  -Wm.  Vanhalter 

Barbers. — Frank  Leidenheimer,  Philip  Bremser. 

Stores  and  Saloons. — George  Eschenfelder,  Martin  Dunn. 

Saloons. — Peter  Bickelhaupt,  Henry  Bickelhaupt,  Fred 
Borntraeger,  Peter  Feller,  Louis  Arns,  Louis  Bersche,  Ben. 
Goethe,  Joseph  F.  Gauen,  Conrad  Herman,  Jolin  Lutz, 
Vincent  Rapp,  Peter  Ray,  U.  H.  Stroh,  John  Stolgenberg, 
Adam  Weddel,  Charles  Wil.son,  Daniel  Stf-iu. 

The  attorneys  and  newspapers  will  be  found  in  the  chap- 
ters on  the  Bench  and  Bar  aud  the  Press. 


BIOGRAPHIES 


HON.  JOHN  JANSON. 

One  of  the  substantial  and  prominent  faimers  of  Monroe 
county  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  His  father  Valentine 
Janson.  is  a  native  of  Hesse  Darmstadt.  He  came  to 
America  in  18d8,  and  settled  near  Columbia,  in  Monroe 
county,  where  he  engaged  in  farming,  which  vocation  he 
followed  until  a  few  years  ago  when  he  retired,  and  at  pres- 
ent he  is  a  resident  of  the  village  of  Columbia.  While  yet 
a  resident  of  his  native  country  he  married  Elizabeth  Sei- 
bert.  By  that  union  there  were  seven  children,  six  of  whom 
are  yet  living.  John,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  eldest. 
He  was  born  near  Columbia,  in  Monroe  county,  Illinois, 
March  17th,  1839.  He  grew  up  on  his  father's  farm  and 
received  a  limited  education  in  the  subscription  schools  of 
bis  neighborhood.  The  schools  of  his  youth  were  few,  and 
much  inferior  to  the  present  ones.  He  being  the  eldest  son 
and  of  a  naturally  industrious  disposition,  his  time  was  much 
occupied  in  assisting  his  father  to  make  a  home  and  acquire 
a  competency.  His  education  is  therefore  more  the  result 
of  habits  of  close  observation,  united  with  a  naturally  strong 
mind  than  of  instruction  in  schools,  or  book  knowledge. 
He  remained  at  home  the  chief  assistant  of  his  father  until 
he  reached  his  twenty-third  year,  when  he  commenced  farm- 
ing for  himself  on  land  rented  and  belonging  to  his  father. 
This  arrangement  continued  for  five  years,  when  he  pur- 
chased the  farm,  which  then  contained  one  hundred  acres, 
and  to  which  he  has  added  sixty  more,  and  there  he  has 
made  his  home  to  the  present.  On  the  7th  of  October^ 
1862,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Eliza,  daughter  of 
John  and  Hannah  Weilbecher.  Mrs.  Janson  was  born  in 
St.  Clair  county,  Illinois.  There  have  been  five  sons  and 
four  daughters  born  to  Mr  and  Mrs.  Janson.  The  names 
in  the  order  of  their  birth  are  John,  Mary,  Peter,  Elizabeth, 
Catherine,  Philip,  Christian,  Emma  and  Herman  Janson. 
Politically  Mr.  Janson  is  a  staunch  Democrat,  but  is  iu  no 
■wise  a  strict  party  man.  He  votes  the  ticket  of  his  party 
in  all  national  and  State  election,  but  in  matters  pertaing  to 


the  county  or  local  officers  he  votes  for  the  best  men  and 
measures  regardless  of  party  affiliations.  He  is  a  friend  of 
education  and  takes  an  active  interest  in  the  public  schools 
of  his  neighborhood,  and  was  school  director  for  fourteen 
years.  In  1882,  at  the  earnest  solicitation  of  his  friends  he 
consented  to  allow  his  name  to  go  before  the  citizens  of  the 
county,  as  a  candidate  for  the  office  of  County  Commissioner, 
and  at  the  ensuing  election  in  November  following  was 
elected  by  a  handsome  majority,  and  at  present  is  serving 
the  people  in  that  honorable  capacity. 


CHRISTIAN  FREDERICK  HARTMANN. 

The  subject  of  the  following  sketch  was  born  in  the  Pro- 
vince of  Hanover,  September  3, 183.5.  He  is  the  son  of 
Louis  and  Louisa  (Rhinehart)  Hartmann.  His  parents 
came  to  America  in  18.53  and  settled  in  St.  Clair  county, 
Illinois,  and  there  died  in  1854.  His  mother  also  died  in 
the  same  county.  He  was  a  farmer  in  Illinois,  but  in  Ger- 
many was  a  marble  cutter.  Christian  F.  at  the  age  of 
fourteen  years  was  apprenticed  to  the  shoemaking  trade. 
He  worked  at  it  for  a  short  time  after  coming  to  this 
country.  In  1858  he  began  for  himself  on  his  portion  of  the 
farm,  and  remained  there  until  in  1865,  when  be  ^came  to 
Monroe  county  and  bought  175  acres  in  chain  26666,  in  T 
2,  R  9,  and  there  he  has  made  his  home  to  the  present.  He 
also  owns  a  farm  in  the  Bottom.  On  the  15th  of  June, 
1858,  he  married  Miss  Catherine,  daughter  of  Matthew  and 
Catherine  Ritzel.  Her  parents  were  natives  of  Germany, 
and  came  to  America  when  Mrs.  Hartmann  was  two  years 
of  age.  Eight  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hartmann.  Two  died  in  infancy.  The  names  of  those 
living  are  Christina  C,  Kate,  George,  Caroline,  Christian 
and  Emil  Hartmann.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  are  members  of 
the  Evangelical  Lutheran  church.  Politically  he  is  a 
Republican.  He  is  a  strong  advocate  of  good  schools,  and 
very  much  in  favor  of  education. 


320A 


eMMGSUCAL    ST.  PAUl's  CHU/iCH,    WATEKLOO,  ILUNOIS. 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


321 


The  subject  of  the  following  sketch  is  of  German  nativity. 
He  was  born  in  the  vicinity  of  Ulm,  September  10,  18:U. 
His  father,  Ernst  Brey,  was  a  native  of  the  same  place. 
He  came  of  a  family  possessed  of  ample  means,  and  being  of 
scholastic  turn  of  mind  was  educated  in  the  University  of 
Tuebingen,  became  a  teacher,  studied  theology,  and  subse- 
quently adopted  the  profession  of  teacher  of  languages, 
which  he  followed  until  his  advanced  age  compelled  his 
retirement.  In  1849  he  emigrated  to  America  and  settled 
in  New  York.  One  year  later  he  came  west,  to  St.  Louis, 
and  there  made  his  home,  and  there  he  continues  to  reside. 
He  married  Maria  Regina  Kru-ner,  a  native  of  Germany. 
She  died  in  St.  Louis  in  the  year  1858.  Of  that  union 
there  were  seven  children  who  arrived  at  the  age  of  matu- 
rity, four  of  whom  are  yet  living.  Paul  C.  Brey  is  the  sec 
ond  child  and  eldest  son.  He  received  a  good  education  in 
the  schools  of  his  native  country.  He  came  with  his  father 
to  America  in  1849,  and  soon  after  attended  one  session  of 
the  public  schools  at  Williamsburg,  N.  Y.  At  the  expira- 
tion of  the  school  term  some  friends  procured  for  him  a 
situation  in  a  general  retail  dry  goods  store.  He  remained 
there  in  a  clerical  position  until  18.52,  when,  at  the  urgent 
request  of  his  father,  who  had  come  west  to  St.  Louis  two 
years  before,  he  joined  him,  and  soon  after  his  arrival  secured 
a  situation  in  a  wholesale  book  and  stationery  house  in  St. 
Louis.  He  learned  the  business,  and  continued  in  it  until 
1857,  when  he  came  to  Monroe  county  and  settled  in  Burks- 
ville,  and  there  opened  a  general  store.  He  continued  mer- 
chandising until  1873,  when  he  removed  to  Waterloo,  where 
41 


he  has  continued  to  reside  up  to  the  present.  Soon  after 
Mr.  Brey  came  to  Burksville  he  was  appointed  postmaster,  a 
position  he  held  for  seventeen  years.  He  soon  became  prom- 
inent in  the  precinct  where  he  settled,  and  was  called  on  to 
fill  various  positions  of  trust.  In  1863  he  was  elected  jus- 
tice of  the  peace,  and  held  the  scales  of  justice  for  six  years. 
He  also  held  other  minor  offices,  such  as  township  treasurer, 
school  director,  etc.  In  1873  his  standing  and  character  as 
a  citizen  of  Monroe  county  received  honorable  recognition 
at  the  hands  of  the  voters  of  the  county,  by  being  elected 
county  clerk.  In  1877  he  was  reelected,  and,  under  the  act 
of  the  legislature  regulating  the  time  of  holding  elections, 
held  over  until  1882,  when  he  was  elected  for  the  third  time, 
without  opposition.  The  freciuent  elections  without  the  aid 
or  connivance  of  party  machinery,  but  by  the  free,  untram- 
nieled  votes  of  the  people,  show  the  standing  and  popularity 
of  Mr.  Brey.  As  a  clerk  he  brings  to  the  office  a  thorough 
business  training,  industrious  habits,  aud  a  very. affable  and 
accommodating  disposition,  all  of  which  combined  makes 
him  very  popular  as  a  public  officer.  On  the  13th  of  Au- 
gust, 1860,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Sophia  A., 
daughter  of  Alex.  H.  and  Mary  Frances  (Carlisle)  Durfee, 
old  settlers  of  Monroe  county.  By  that  union  there  are  nine 
children.  Mr.  Brey  has  always  been  a  consistent  Democrat 
of  the  Douglas  school.  In  1861  he  was  solicited  by  some  of 
his  young  friends  to  raise  a  company  for  the  Forty-ninth 
regiment  Illinois  volunteer  infantry,  (Col.  Morrison's  regi- 
ment), but  being  a  newly  married  man  he  declined,  but 
served  the  United  States  afterward  by  proxy. 


322 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,   MONROE  AND   PERRY  COUNTIES,   ILLINOIS. 


U/l^ 


The  subject  of  the  following  sketch  was  born  at  Vicks- 
burg,  Miss.,  July  9,  1841.  He  is  the  second  in  a  family  of 
six  children.  His  parents  were  French  and  German.  His 
father,  Andrew  Kickert,  was  a  native  of  Alsace,  France. 
He  came  to  America  in  1832,  landing  in  New  York;  from 
there  came  west,  then  went  south,  and  married  in  Vicks- 
burg,  and  there  remained  until  1845,  when  he  came  north  to 
Illinois,  and  settle'!  in  Monroe  county,  and  here  died  a  few 
years  ago.  Joseph  W.  received  his  primary  education  in 
the  schools  of  his  neighborhood.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he 
entered  the  St.  Louis  University,  and  remained  there  until 
1861,  a  period  of  nearly  five  years.  His  further  atteudance 
at  college  was  prevented  by  the  death  of  his  mother.  He 
remained  at  home  until  in  October,  1861,  when  he  came  to 
Waterloo  as  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools.  He  taught 
nine  months,  and  by  the  exercise  of  great  prudence  and 
economy  he  saved  the  greater  part  of  his  salary,  which,  by  a 
little  assistance  from  his  father,  enabled  him  to  return  to 
college,  where  he  graduated,  received  his  diploma  and  the 
degrees  of  A.  B.  and  A.  M.  After  his  graduation  he  re- 
turned home,  then  went  to  Central  City,  in  Marion  county, 
and  there  taught  school,  and  at  the  same  time  read  law 
under  the  direction  of  Judge  H.  K.  S.  O'Melveney.  In  May, 
1865,  Mr.  Eickert  returned  to  Monroe  county,  and  contin- 
ued his  studies  in  the  office  of  James  A.  Kennedy,  of  Water- 
loo. In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  he  went  south  on  a  tour 
combining  business  with  pleasure,  and  visiting  different  cities 


on  the  Mississippi  river.  In  the  following  May,  1866,  he 
returned  home  and  reengaged  in  teaching  in  different  places 
until  1868,  when  he  weut  to  Chester,  Randolph  coun- 
ty, and  resumed  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Johnson 
Hartzell.  In  March,  1869,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar. 
He  came  direct  to  Waterloo  and  opened  a  law  office,  and 
formed  a  law  partnership  with  I.  P.  Johnson,  who  was  then 
state's  attorney  for  the  district.  In  the  same  fall  he  was 
elected  superintendent  of  public  schools  of  Monroe  county. 
At  the  conclusion  of  his  term  iu  1873  he  resolved  to  devote 
his  energies  and  entire  time  to  the  practice  of  the  law,  which 
had  then  already  become  reasonably  lucrative  and  which 
has  since  grown  into  a  large  practice. 

Politically,  Mr.  Eickert  has  uniformly  voted  the  Demo- 
cratic ticket.  He  represented  the  counties  of  Monroe,  Ean- 
dolph,  and  Perry  in  the  session  of  the  legislature  in  1875, 
and  while  a  member  of  that  body  succeeded  in  placing  upon 
the  statute  books  important  laws  in  relation  to  road  matters 
in  counties  not  under  township  organization.  In  1876  he 
was  elected  state's  attorney  for  the  county,  and  reelected  in 
1880,  and  at  present  is  serving  the  people  in  the  capacity  of 
public  prosecutor.  On  the  22d  of  May,  1873,  Mr.  Eickert 
was  united  in  married  to  Miss  Minnie  Ziebold,  a  native  of 
Chillicothe,  Ohio,  but  a  resident  of  Monroe  City  at  the  time 
of  her  marriage.  By  that  union  there  are  two  children 
living,  whose  names  are  Josie  L.  and  Minnie  E.  Eickert. 
George  F.,  the  only  son,  died  in  infancy. 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS 


323 


The  Payne  famil)'  is  of  English  ancestry.  Tiioiuas  J., 
the  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  a  native 
of  England,  and  came  to  America  in  1773,  and  settled  in 
Lexington,  Ky.,  which  was  then  a  small  frontier  village. 
There  his  son,  whose  name  was  also  Thomas  J.,  was  born, 
the  date  of  which  was  June  10,  1800.  The  latter  grew  to 
manhood  and  remained  in  Kentucky  until  1834,  when  he 
moved  to  St.  Louis  and  engaged  in  land  speculations,  and 
continued  there  until  1847  ;  then  removed  to  St.  Charles 
county,  in  same  state,  and  lived  there  until  1858,  when  he 
returned  to  St.  Louis,  and  purchased  the  residence  on  the 
noithwest  corner  qf  Fifteenth  and  Chestnut  streets,  and 
there  lived  until  his  death,  which  occurcd  September  21, 
1866.  Mr.  Payne  in  his  life  was  a  shrewd  business  man, 
and  at  an  early  date  foresaw  the  great  rise  and  future  values 
of  real  estate  in  St.  Louis  and  the  west.  He  was  very  suc- 
cessful in  his  ventures,  and  amas-sed  a  handsome  fortune  be- 
fore his  death.  He  was  thrice  married  ;  his  first  wife  w;us  a 
Craig;  she  died  leaving  two  children,  both  of  whom  are 
since  dead  ;  his  second  wife,  and  mother  of  Thomas  J.  Payne, 
was  Mrs.  Mary  Jones,  n6e  Hill  ;  she  wa.s  of  French  descent; 
she  died  in  St.  Charles  county  in  1853.  ]}y  that  union  there 
were  three  sons,  viz.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  Bryant  M., 
who  died  in  his  twelfth  year,  and  Edward  Howard  Payne, 
who  at  present  is  a  resident  of  Fulton,  Calloway  county. 
Mo.  The  father,  subsequent  to  the  death  of  his  second  wife, 
married  again,  but  there  was  no  issue  by  that  marriage. 

Thomas  J.  Payne,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  boru  in 
St.  Louis  county,  at  a  place  now  the  northea.st  corner  of 
Shaw's  Garden,  St.  Louis,  October  20,  1841.     He  was  a 


CX.'^^^*'''-^ 


mere  lad  when  the  family  moved  to  St.  Charles  county, 
and  there  Thomas  received  private  instruction  and  was  pre- 
pared for  admission  to  the  College  of  Christian  Brothers  in 
St.  Louis  ;  he  remained  in  that  educational  institution  two 
terms,  then  entered  the  St.  Louis  University,  and  remained 
there  about  the  same  length  of  time,  and  then  went  to  Wil- 
liam Jewell's  College  in  Clay  county,  Mo.,  and  remained 
there  six  mouths,  after  which  he  returned  home  and  worked 
on  his  father's  farm  in  St.  Louis  county,  near  Webster  Sta- 
tion, and  remained  there  until  the  war  of  the  Rebellion 
broke  out.  Being  a  southerner  by  birth  and  education,  he 
espoused  the  cause  of  the  south  and  promptly  entered  the 
service  of  the  Southern  Confederacy  ;  he  became  a  member 
of  the  Third  Arkansas  cavalry,  and  remained  in  the  service 
from  July,  18()1,  until  the  war.  He  was  twice  slightly 
wounded,  and  once  taken  prisoner,  l)Ut  remained  a  captive 
but  a  short  time  when  he  escaped.  After  the  war  closed  he 
returned  to  the  farm  in  St.  Charle.s  county,  then  to  St.  Louis, 
and  in  February,  1866,  came  to  Monroe  county,  III.,  and 
took  charge  of  a  farm  in  the  American  Bottom,  one  mile 
east  of  Harrisonville  ;  he  remained  there  until  1880,  when 
he  came  to  Waterloo,  and  since  then  has  made  this  place  his 
residence. 

On  the  21st  of  November,  1870,  he  was  married  to  Mrs. 
Margaret  James,  nee  Raynor.  Mrs.  Payne  was  born  in 
Monroe  county.  They  have  had  six  children,  three  of  whom 
are  living;  two  died  in  infancy  and  one  in  early  childhood. 
Their  names  in  the  order  of  the  birth  of  those  living  are, 
Fannie  H,  Mary  Alice,  and  Thomas  Jefferson  Payne.  Po- 
litically, Mr.  Payne  is  a  staunch  and  reliable  Democrat. 


324 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


TT^^^i 


'?f/ 


The  present  circuit  clerk  of  Monroe  county  is  to  the  manor 
born.  The  place  of  his  birth  is  at  a  point  six  miles  south- 
west of  Waterloo,  and  the  date  July  25th,  1847.  His  father 
Frederick  Wiesenborn,  was  a  native  of  Germany.  He  emi- 
grated to  America  when  quite  young  and  settled  in  Monroe 
county,  and  here  followed  the  occupation  of  a  farmer  until 
his  death.  He  married  Miss  Caroline  Erd,  who  was  also  of 
German  birth.  By  that  union  there  were  five  children,  two 
of  whom  are  yet  living,  viz :  Caroline  who  is  the  wife  of 
Peter  Miller,  a  resident  of  this  county,  and  John  the  subject 
of  this  sketch  The  latter  received  his  primary  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  the  county,  and  his  literary  educa- 
tion in  the  St.  Louis  University,  where  he  spent  two  years. 
And  subsequently  took  a  cotirse  in  Jones'  Commercial  Col- 
lege, St.  Louis.  He  then  returned  to  Monroe  county,  and 
went  to  work  in  a  flouring  mill,  in  which  he  continued  two 
years,  then  went  back  to  the  farm  where  he  remained  until 
1875,  when  he  received  the  appointment  of  Deputy  Circuit 
Clerk  under  John  Seyler.  Mr.  Seyler  died  in  Sept.  1879, 
and  in  the  following  November,  Mr.  Wiesenborn  was  elected 


to  fill  out  the  unexpired  term.  In  1880,  he  announced  him- 
self as  a  candidate  for  the  full  term,  andin  the  ensuing  elec- 
tion was  elected  by  a  handsome. majority,  and  at  present  he 
is  serving  the  people  in  that  official  capacity.  Mr.  Wiesen- 
born as  clerk  gives  satisfaction.  He  is  a  careful  and  com- 
petent officer,  kind  and  accommodating  to  all  who  come  in 
contact  with  him  as  an  officer  of  the  county.  The  records  of 
the  office  are  kept  up  and  are  neat  and  clean.  System  and 
order  prevail  in  all  departments  over  which  he  exercises  con- 
trol. By  his  close  attention  to  his  office  and  earnest  dispo- 
sition to  faithfully  discharge  the  duties  thereof,  he  has 
earned  the  esteem  and  good  will  not  only  of  those  who 
honored  him  with  their  suffrages,  but  all  others.  On  the 
26th  of  January,  1880,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Mary  E.  daughter  of  Valentine  Schuetz.  Her  parents  were 
natives  of  Germany,  they  came  to  America  at  an  early  date 
and  settled  in  Monroe  county.  There  have  been  two  chil- 
dren born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wiesenborn,  whose  names  are 
Annie  and  Frederick  Wiesenborn. 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


325 


Is  a  native  of  Orange  county,  born  June  loth,  1850.  His 
parents  James  and  Mary  (Bowanj  Canniff  were  natives  of 
Cork,  Ireland.  They  emigrated  to  America  in  1848  and 
settled  in  New  York,  where  they  remained  until  185.5  then 
came  west  to  St.  Louis  and  the  following  year  removed  to 
Monroe  county,  Illinois,  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  the  Ameri- 
can Bottom  and  there  Mr.  Canniff  remained  until  his  death 
which  occured  in  1867.  He  was  a  farmer  and  stock  dealer 
by  occupation.  His  wife  and  mother  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  survived  him  and  died  in  1879.  There  were  seven 
children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Canniff  two  of  whom  are  yet 
living — George  W.  and  James  J.  The  latter  received  his 
primary  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Monroe  county. 
At  the  age  of  fourteen  years  he  entered  the  college  of  the 
Christian  Brothers,  in  St.  Louis  and  there  remained  for  a 
period  of  five  years.  His  health  failing  he  was  compelled  to 
abandon  college,  before  graduating.  He  returned  to  this 
county  and  engaged  in  teaching,  in  which  profession  he  con- 
tinued for  seven  years.  He  then  determined  to  adopt  the 
profession  of  law  as  the  future  business  of  his  life.  With 
this  idea  in  view  he  commenced  the  study,  read  the  standard 


text  booksand  diligently  continued  his  studies  for  two  years, 
when  at  the  June  term,  1880  of  the  Appellate  court,  held 
at  Springfield,  Illinois,  he  was  upon  examination  admitted 
to  the  bar.  He  commenced  the  practice  in  Waterloo,  in 
connection  with  William  Winkelman  a  prominent  lawyer 
of  Belleville  Illinois  Mr.  Canniff  is  yet  upon  the  thres- 
hold of  his  professional  experience.  He  brings  to  the  pro- 
fession a  mind  well  trained  by  years  of  study  in  schools  and 
in  teaching,  studious  habits,  industry  and  a  determination  to 
succeed  and  to  the  possessor  of  these  traits  of  character, 
success  in  the  future  is  almost,  if  not  positively  assured.  Po- 
litically, Mr.  Cannitl'is  a  Democrat,  thoroughly  imbued  with 
Democratic  ideas  and  principles  and  an  active  supporter  of 
that  political  organization.  In  IS^^iJ  his  zeal  and  labors  in 
behalf  of  his  party,  received  honorable  recognition  by  being 
nominated  and  elected  to  represent  the  counties  of  Monroe 
Randolph  and  Perry  in  the  Twenty-third  General  Assembly 
of  the  state.  While  a  member  of  that  body  he  served  on 
several  important  committees,  and  took  an  active  interest  in 
the  legislation  and  laws  enacted  at  that  session. 


326 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


C^'^t/^^:^^^/r<^^^rZ^-^<^V^i^^^^ 


The  present  superintendeut  of  schools  of  Monroe  county 
is  a  native  of  Cumberland  count}',  New  Jersey.  He  is  the 
son  (>f  Henry  and  Dorcas  Hilyard.  Mr.  Hilyard  was 
reared  upon  the  farm,  and  like  farmer's  sons  spent  the 
winter  months  in  the  public  schools  of  his  neighborhood 
wherein  he  received  bis  primary  education.  His  academical 
education  was  received  in  the  academy  at  Bridgeton,  Cum- 
berland county,  N.  J.  lu  1865  he  entered  the  business 
college  at  Poughkepsie,  New  York,  and  remained  there 
until  completing  a  full  course.  In  1866  he  came  west  to  St- 
Louis,  and  soon  after  came  to  Monroe  county,  Illinois,  and 
here  began  teaching  school,  in  which  profession  he  con- 
tinued for  ten  years.  In  1873  his  zeal  and  industry  in  the 
cause  of  education  received  honorable  and  suitable  recogni- 
tion by  being  elected  superiutendent  of  the  schools  of  Monroe 
county.  In  1877  he  was  re-elected,  and  under  the  change 
in  the  law  with  regard  to  the  time  of  holding  elections,  held 
over  until  1882,   when  he  was  electedf  for  the  third  time, 


and  at  present  is  discharging  the  duties  of  his  office.  These 
frequent  elections  may  be  regarded  as  testimonials  of  Mr. 
Hilyanl's  energy  aod  efficiency  iu  building  up  the  school 
system  of  the  county  to  the  high  standard  that  it  now  occu- 
pies. On  the  1st  of  January,  1879,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Mary  Jane  Fults,  who  was  born  in 
Mitchie  precinct.  By  that  uoion  there  are  two  children, 
whose  names  are  Horace  M.  and  Perry  C.  Hilyard.  Mr. 
Hilyard  is  a  member  of  the  ancient  and  honorable  order  of 
A  F.  A.  M.  and  holds  membership  with  Columbia  Lodge, 
No.  474,  and  also  is  a  member  of  Belleville  Chapter,  No. 
106,  and  Tancred  Commandery,  No.  50,  Belleville,  111.  He 
belongs  to  Waterloo  lodge.  No.  27,  I.  O.  O.  F  ,  and 
Encampment  No.  106,  and  also  belongs  to  the  beneficiary 
order,  A.  O.  U.  W.  of  MonroeLodge,  No.  165.  During 
the  past  four  years  Mr.  Hilyard  has  been  clerk  in  the 
office  of  the  sheriff  of  the  county,  and  cdlects  all  the  taxes 
and  disburses  the  same. 


HISTORY   OF  RANDOLPH,   MONROE  AND   PERRY   COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


327 


WILLIAM  ERD. 

Judge  William  Erd  is  a  native  of  Hesse  Darmstadt, 
Germany,  born  February  22,  1828.  He  was  educated  in  tlie 
excellent  schools  of  his  native  country.  In  1842  he  came  to 
America  and  settled  in  Monroe  county,  Illinois,  and  here 
worked  upon  a  farm  until  1845  when  he  received  the  ap- 
pointment of  deputy  circuit  clerk,  under  W.  R.  Morrison. 
The  same  fall  Mr.  Morrison  resigned  the  office  of  clerk  to 
take  a  seat  in  the  Legislature,  and  Mr.  Erd  was  appointed 
to  fill  out  the  unexpired  term.  In  1856  Mr.  Erd  was  elected 
circuit  clerk  and  was  reelected  every  succeeding  four  years, 
and  served  until  the  latter  part  of  1870.  In  1877  he  was 
elected  county  Judge  and  under  the  amended  law,  regulating 
the  time  for  holding  elections,  held  over  until  1882  when  he 
was  reelected  to  the  same  position.  Hisi  present  term  will 
expire  in  1886.  Politically,  Judge  Erd  has  been  a  life  long 
Democrat. 

CHARLES  METZGER. 

The  subject  c.f  the  following  sketch  was  born  in  Kirch- 
heim  under  Teck,  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  December  27th, 
1840.  He  is  the  third  son  of  John  and  Caroline  (Kicherer) 
Metzger.  Charles  received  his  early  education  in  the  latin 
schools  and  gymnasiums  of  his  native  city.  His  father  was 
a  man  in  good  financial  circumstances,  and  was  an  iron 
manufacturer.  In  the  spring  of  1860  young  Metzger  left 
Germany  and  came  to  America  and  came  direct  to  the  west. 
He  settled  in  St.  Louis,  and  soon  after  engaged  as  salesman 
in  a  grocery  and  provision  store  in  which  capacity  he 
remained  two  years.  He  then  engaged  in  the  business  for 
himself.  He  carried  on  the  mercantile  business  for  two 
years  and  then  sold  out  and  engaged  as  clerk  in  a  wholesale 
house. 

Three  years  later  he  engaged  in  the  commission  business 
in  which  he  continued  for  some  time.  In  the  year  1873,  Mr. 
Metzger  became,  a  re.sident  of  Waterloo.  Here  he  clerked 
for  his  brother  in  law,  George  L.  Riess,  the  present  county 
Judge  of  Randolph  county,  Illinois.  In  1875  Mr.  Metzgar 
secured  the  appointment  of  deputy  couDty  clerk,  under  Paul 
C.  Brey,  and  has  continued  to  be  deputy  clerk  to  the  present. 
The  same  year  1875  he  was  elected  a  justice  of  the  peace  to 
to  fill  out  an  unexpired  term,  aud  in  1^77  was  elected  for 
the  full  term  and  reelected  in  1881. 

It  may,  also  be  mentioned  that  Mr.  Metzger  has  been  a 
member  of  the  board  of  Trustees  of  Waterloo  for  the  past 
three  years,  and  has  been  clerk  for  that  body  during  that 
time. 

On  the  11th  of  February,  1865  he  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Anna  Victoria,  daughter  of  Rev.  John  J.  and  Vic- 
toria (Petit)  Riess.  Mrs  Metzger  was  born  in  Ceutervilie, 
(now  MillstadtJ  St.  Clair  county,  Illinois, by  that  union  they 
have  had  born  to  them  three  children,  whose  names  in  the 
order  of  their  birth  are,  Ida,  Alfred  and  Arthur  Metzger. 
In  politics  Mr.  Metzger  was  originally  a  Republican  and 
remained,  a  member  of  that  political  organization  until  1872, 
when  he,  like  thousands  of  other  men  of  an  independent  turn 
of  mind,  "  liberalized  "  as  it  was  called  and  voted  for  Horace 


Greeley  for  president.  He  soon  after  joined  the  Democratic 
party  and  has  remained  a  true  and  steadfast  supporter  of  its 
principles  to  the  present.  He  is  a  member  of  the  ancient 
order  of  A  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  also  belongs  to  the  Chapter  and 
Commandery.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  I  O.  O-  F.,  and 
Haunagari  Lodge  (beneficiary)  No  376,  and  a  member  of 
Knights  of  Honor  Lodge.  Mr.  Metzger  is  held  in  high 
esteem  by  those  who  know  him  best.  He  posseses  fine  social 
qualities  and  has  hosts  of  friends.  In  the  capacity  of  deputy 
county  clerk  he  ha.s  always  been  found  efficient,  courteous 
and  accommodating,  aud  makes  it  pleasant  for  all  who  come 
in  contact  with  him. 


DR.  HUGO  ROTUSTEIN. 

Dr.  Rothstein,  a  prominent  physician  of  Waterloo,  was 
born  in  Linnep  Rhine,  Prussia,  December  31,  1838.  His 
family  occupied  a  good  standing  in  society,  and  he  received 
■A  thiiruugh  education  and  was  a  student  in  the  priucii)ai 
German  Universities.  He  came  to  America  in  1857,  and 
went  directly  to  the  west,  and  spent  seven  months  in  the 
then  unexplored  region  of  the  Rocky  mountains  afterward 
embraced  in  the  territory  of  Montana  and  Idaho.  In  1858 
Dr.  Rothstein  located  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and  in  1859  re- 
visited his  home  in  Germany,  but  returned  the  same  year 
to  St.  Louis,  where  in  1861  he  opened  an  office  as  physician, 
having  for  two  years  pursued  the  study  of  medicine  in  Pope 
medical  college.  He  had  previously  studied  medicine  in 
Germany.  He  is  a  graduate  of  the  Missouri  Medical  Col- 
lege. He  continued  the  practice  in  St.  Louis,  afteward  at 
Pilot  Knob,  Mo.,  was  medical  inspector  in  the  United  States 
Army,  and  in  May,  1865,  came  to  Waterloo,  aud  here  he 
has  by  industry  and  careful  attention  to  his  duties  built  up 
a  large  and  lucrative  practice.  On  the  28th  of  March,  l.Hti3, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Louise,  daughter  of 
Morris  Wuerpel,  of  St  Louis,  Mo. 


PETER  BICKELHAUPT 

Was  born  in  Germany  in  March,  1831 ;  he  is  the  son  of 
Philip  and  Eva  (Arras)  Bickelhaupt.  His  father  was  a 
weaver  by  trade;  he  came  to  America  in  1S49,  landing  at 
New  Orleans  and  from  there  came  north  to  St.  Louis,  and 
frona  there  went  to  Centeryille,  in  St.  Clair  county,  and  in 
the  latter  place  Peter  learned  the  blacksmith  trade.  He  re- 
mained in  Centreville  three  and  a  half  years,  then  went  to 
Burlington,  Iowa,  and  remained  there  until  185<>,  when  he 
settled  in  Mayesville  in  Monroe  county  aud  then  followed 
his  trade.  He  afterward  went  to  Monroe  City  and  opened  a 
saloon  and  also  engaged  in  the  milling  business  In  1871 
he  came  to  Waterloo  and  took  charge  of  the  City  Hotel  as 
proprietor,  and  has  conducted  it  to  the  present.  Under 
his  management  the  City  Hotel  has  acquired  a  reputation 
for  good  cheer.  Politically  Mr.  Bickelhaupt  is  a  Democrat. 
He  has  occupied  several  offices  of  local  trust,  and  at  present 
is  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Waterloo. 


328 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY   COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


/C'C^^I^^^^tt^^^  /^^^ 


The  subject  of  the  following  sketch  is  a  native  of  Wur- 
temberg,  Germany.  He  was  born  November  11,  1850.  He 
is  the  .sou  of  Joseph  and  Matilda  ( Walz)  Von  Schlierholz, 
and  the  third  in  a  family  of  six  children.  His  father  is  and 
has  been  for  a  number  of  years  chief  engineer  and  counsellor 
of  the  Royal  Wurtemberg  Railway,  and  is  a  resident  of 
Stuttgart.  Charles  was  educated  at  the  university  of  Tue- 
bingen  and  Stuttgart  and  in  the  Polytecnic  Institute  at 
Lautrach,  Germany,  where  he  studied  engineering  and 
surveying.  Subsequently  he  was  employed  in  the  engineer- 
ing department  of  the  Royal  Wurtemberg  Railway,  under 
the  direction  of  his  father,  and  there  received  a  practical 
knowledge  of  civil  engineering  and  surveying.  In  1868  he 
passed  his  military  examination.  He  remained  in  the  ser- 
vice of  the  above-named  company  until  June,  1870.  The 
following  fall  he  emigrated  to  America,  and  came  direct  to 
St.  Louis,  where  he  spent  a  few  months,  then  went  to  Chi- 
cago, and  there  followed  surveying  and  engineering  until 
after  the  great  fire  of  1871,  after  which  he  went  to  Bloom- 
ington  and  taught  school.     Soon  after  he  was  employed  by 


Messrs.  Warner  &  Beers,  map  publishers,  as  topographer 
and  draughtsman,  and  remained  with  that  firm  until  1874. 
In  October,  1874,  he  came  to  Waterloo,  Monroe  county,  and 
here  he  has  remained  to  the  present-  Since  he  has  been  a 
resident  of  this  county  he  has  followed  his  profession,  and 
at  the  present  time  holds  the  position  of  drainage  and  levee 
engineer  of  the  districts  in  the  county.  In  1881  he  held  a 
similar  position  in  Randolph  county. 

On  the  2.5th  of  June,  1875,  Mr.  Schlierholz  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Christina  Sopp,  a  native  of  Waterloo. 
By  that  union  there  were  two  daughters,  named  Matilda  and 
Flora  Schlierholz.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Order  of  K.  of  H, 
No.  1939,  and  is  district  deputy  of  the  Order.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  beneficiary  order  of  A.  O.  U.  W.  Lodge  No. 
165,  and  Treubund,  No.  5,  and  Harrugari,  No.  365.  Politi- 
cally, Mr.  Schlierholz  was  originally  a  Republican,  but  in 
1880  he  joined  the  Democratic  ranks,  and  has  since  re- 
mained a  staunch  advocate  of  the  principles  of  the  latter 
political  organization. 


HISTORY    OF  RAXDOLPU,    MONROE   AXD    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


329 


GEORGE  E.  JAHN, 

The  present  able  editor  of  the  "  Times,"  Witerloi,  U  a 
native  of  St.  L^iiis,  M).,  bora  Saptembsr  2  4,  ISil.  H;  is  the 
son  of  John  T.  H  and  Catherine  Elizabeth  Jahn,  who  were 
natives  of  Nassau,  near  Weisbaden,  Gjrmany.  Mr.  Jahn, 
the  elder,  was  a  believer  and  advocate  of  the  republican 
theories,  the  agitation  of  which  led  to  the  rev.)lution  of 
184H,  and  in  which  Mr.  Jahn  was  oncjrnel.  His  pirtici- 
pation  in  that  short  struggle  placed  hitn  under  the  ban  of 
the  government,  and  he  came  to  America,  landing  here 
in  1849.  He  settled  in  St  Liuis  and  reraaineJ  there  until 
1856,  when  he  came  to  Monroe  county  and  here  died,  in 
1862.  He  was  a  jeweler  by  trade ;  his  wife  died  in  1874. 
George  E.  is  the  youngest  of  the  family.  Hi  recjivel  a 
good  education  in  the  public  schools  of  the  county,  then 
followed  teaching  for  some  time  ;  subsequent!)-  entered  the 
office  of  the  "  Advocite,"  and  learned  the  printer's  trade. 
In  1876  he  edited  the  "  Ava  Register,"  in  Jackson  county, 
Illinois.  The  paper  was  subsequently  changed  to  the  "  Ava 
News."  The  paper  did  effective  service  in  thj  campaign  of 
1S76,  and  advocated  the  claims  of  Samuel  J.  Tilden  for  the 
presidency.  lu  December,  18S0,  Mr.  Jalin  raturuel  t) 
Waterloo  and  took  editorial  charge  of  the  'Times,"  which 
arrangement  still  continue.s.  Oa  the  5th  of  February,  1881, 
he  established  the  Monroe''  Freie  Pfesse,"  a  Garmin  pap?r, 
and  has  also  conducted  it  to  the  present.  Both  papers  are 
strongly  Democratic  in  tone,  and  under  Mr.  Jahu's  manage. 
ment  have  risen  to  be  very  popular,  and  are  recognized 
among  the  prominent  and  potential  organs  of  the  pirty  in 
southern  Illinois  Mr.  Jahn  is  an  unswerving  Democrat. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  0.  O.  P.,  and  at  present  is  at  the 
head  of  the  order  (N.  G.),  in  Waterloo  Lodge  No.  27.  He 
is  also  a  member  of  K.  of  H.  Urbana  Lodge,  No.  1839,  and 
member  and  speaker  of  Turner  Society,  Waterloo,  Illinois. 
On  the  10th  of  October,  1878,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Mary  J.,  daughter  of  James  and  Harriet  (Hatfield) 
Rainey.    She  was  born  in  Jackson  county  Illinois. 


Hoy.  AMBROSE  HOENER 

Was  born  at  Cologne  on  the  Rhine,  Germany,  in  1825.  He 
comes  from  a  sturdy,  long-lived  German  family;  his  father 
was  a  wealthy  merchant  of  the  ab3ve-named  place,  and  died 
at  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty-four  years.  His  mother  sur- 
vived and  died  in  her  eighty-eighth  year.  Mr.  Hoener 
received  a  good  education  in  the  Latin  schools  and  a  thor- 
ough education  in  the  commercial  college  in  Cologne,  and 
served  an  appreciative  ap[)renticeship  in  the  mercantile 
business  under  the  direction  of  his  father.     Subsequently  he 


traveled  for  a  number  of  years  for  a  large  business  house, 
through  Holland,  Switzerland  and  the  German  states. 
Being  strongly  impressed  with  republican  iilcas  and  theo- 
ries, his  sympathies  were  enlisted  on  the  part  of  the  revolu- 
tionists, although  he  was  compelled  tu  serve  in  the  Prussian 
army  opposing  them  in  the  uprising  at  Baden.  In  1849  he 
left  Germany  and  emigrated  to  the  United  States.  He  settled 
in  St.  Louis,  but  soon  after  went  to  St.  Clair  county,  in  Illi- 
nois, and  in  1851  came  to  Waterloo,  where  he  has  since 
resided.  He  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits,  which  he 
followed  for  two  years,  after  which  he  was  prevailed  upon 
to  accept  an  official  position.  His  peculiar  ability  and  fitness 
for  public  life  was  soon  recognized,  and  he  became  the 
recipient  of  the  people's  favor,  and  was  repeatedly  elected 
to  positions  of  honor  and  trust.  He  was  assessor  and 
treasurer  of  Jlouroe  county  for  four  years,  and  county  clerk 
for  twelve  consecutive  years,  and  police  magistrate  for  eight 
years.  These  frequent  elections  testify  to  his  popularity, 
and  are  testimonials  to  his  worth  as  a  man  and  citizen,  and 
his  ability  and  fidelity  as  an  officer  of  the  county.  Politi 
cally  he  has  always  been  an  uncompromising  Democrat, 
giving  an  unqualified  support  to  the  principles  and  nominees 
of  that  political  organization.  In  1876  he  was  selected  to 
be  the  senatorial  standard-bearer  for  the  48th  District.  It 
was  believed  that  he  was  the  most  popular  man  for  that 
position,  and  was  the  one  to  harmonize  all  the  antagonistic 
and  conflicting  elements  of  the  party,  and  bring  out  its  full 
strength.  The  prediction  was  verified  in  his  election  by  the 
large  popular  vote  of  5,574  against  4  679  for  his  opponent, 
an  influential  and  popular  Republican.  While  a  member 
of  the  state  Senate  Mr.  Hoener  was  chairman  of  the  com- 
mittee on  finance,  and  was  also  assigned  to  several  other 
important  committees.  While  a  member  he  earned  the 
reputation  of  being  an  able,  industrious  legislator  and  a 
highly  competent  and  creditable  representative  for  his  con- 
stituents. His  entire  course  in  that  body  was  marked  by  a 
desire  to  legislate  in  the  interest  of  the  whole  people  rather 
than  in  favor  of  the  i'tw.  During  the  protracted  senatorial 
struggle  which  resulted  in  the  election  of  David  Davis  to 
the  United  States  Senate,  Mr.  Hoener  being  dissatisfied  with 
the  tactics  of  the  majority  and  desiring  to  hasten  the  busi- 
ness of  the  Legislature,  thereby  saving  the  people  much 
money,  arranged  a  meeting  of  the  German  members  of  both 
houses,  and  proposed  to  them  that  in  the  event  that  Davis 
was  not  elected  on  the  first  ballot  after  the  reassembling  of 
the  different  bodies,  that  he  would  propose  the  name  of  E.y- 
Governor  Koerner.  This  arrangement  was  concurred  in  by 
all  the  members  present,  but  it  coming  to  the  knowledge  of 
the  majority,  they  at  once  upon  the  next  ballot  elected 
Judge  Davis.  We  have  no  doubt  his  election  was  the  re- 
sult of  the  action  of  Mr.  Hoener  and  his  Gorman  friends. 


NEW    DESIGN. 


MONROE    COUNTY. 


■ss^Ntlie  year  1786  the  first  settlements  at 
New  Design  seem  to  have  been  made. 
The  name  is  said  to  have  arisen  from  the 
circumstance  that  James  Lemen,  the 
founder  of  the  colony,  observed  that  he 
had  a  "new  design"  to  make  a  settle- 
ment south  of  Bellefontaine.  The  New 
Design  settlement,  previous  to  1800,  con- 
tained the  largest  American  colony  in 
Illinois.  It  was  the  common  rendezous 
of  the  immigration  from  Kentucky  and 
Virginia,  and  with  Bellefontaine,  the 
head  qnartersof  the  whole  American  population  in  thelastcen- 
turv.  Its  founders  wereattracted  by  the  elevated  and  beautiful 
country,  then  prairie,  afterward  overgrown  with  timber,  from 
which  the  courses  of  both  the  Kaskaskia  and  the  Mississippi 
could  be  traced.  The  settlement  rapidly  increased  in  size, 
and  by  the  year  1790  a  considerable  number  of  families  had 
here  made  their  homes.  In  1800  the  population  is  estimated 
to  have  been  two  hundred  and  fifty.  The  location  of  James 
Lemen's  house,  on  survey  395,  claims  502,  about  four  miles 
south  of  Waterloo,  nearly  marked  the  centre  of  the  colony. 
James  Lenieu  was  born  in  Berkeley  county,  Virginia,  in 
the  autumn  of  1760.  His  grandfather  had  emigrated  to 
America  imm  the  north  of  Ireland.  Hisfiither  died  when 
James  was  a  year  old.  His  mother  married  again  and  he 
was  raised  in  the  Pje.sbyterian  faith.  In  1777,  during  the 
war  of  the  Revolution,  he  enlisted  in  the  Virginia  forces. 
He  took  part  in  the  battle  of  White  Plains.  He  served  in 
the  army  two  years,  and  then  returned  to  Virginia.  He 
lived  for  a  time  in  the  vicinity  of  Wheeling,  and  their  mar- 
ried Catherine  Ogle,  daughter  of  Captain  Joseph  Ogle.  He 
came  to  Illinois  in  1786,  arriving  in  July,  of  that  year,  with 
his  family  by  a  flat  boat  from  Pittsburg,  on  the  Ohio  and 
Mississippi  rivers  to  Kaskaskia.  After  James  Smith,  a 
Baptist  preacher,  arrived  and  preached  in  the  New  Design 
settlement,  Mr.  Lemen  professed  religion,  and  thenceforth 
he  was  an  active  member  of  the  church.  He  was  an  earnest 
opponent  of  slavery,  and  mere  expressions  of  his  in  a  sermon 
preached  in  the  Richland  church  in  1809,  caused  the  division 
that  sprang  up  between  the  Baptist  churches  of  southern 
Illinois.  He  was  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  many  years  under 
the  Territorial  government,  and  also  acted  as  Judge  of  the 
County  Court.  Hisfirstdwelling  wasalog  cabin,  and  he  after- 
wards built  a  brick  house,  which  is  still  standing,  and  which 
was  the  first  brick  house  erected  within  the  limits  of  the 
present  county  of  Monroe.  His  house  stands  on  the  north- 
west part  of  claim  602,  survey  395. 
330 


This  tract  was  conceded 


to  James  Lemen  in  right  of  his  militia  service.  The  building 
is  thirty  by  twenty  feet,  and  contains  four  rooms,  two  above 
and  two  below.  Near  by  is  the  grave  yard  where  rests  the 
remains  of  several  members  of  the  Lemen  family  and  other 
pioneers  of  that  settlement.  Elder  James  Lemen  died  on 
the  9th  of  January,  1823.  His  wife  died  July  14,  1840, 
aged  seventy-five  years.  James  Lemen  raised  a  large  family 
of  children  ;  six  of  his  sons  were  preachers  of  the  eospel ; 
one,  Robert,  taught  school  a  number  of  years,  and  was  of 
great  benefit  to  the  settlement.  James,  who  was  born  at  the 
New  Design,  in  1787,  was  elected  to  several  important  public 
positions.  He  served  several  times  in  both  branches  of  the 
State  Legislature,  and  was  a  delegate  from  St.  Clair  county 
to  the  convention  which  framed  the  first  constitutioii  of  the 
State.  Early  in  the  present  century  Robert,  Joseph,  and 
James  Lemen,  Jr.,  removed  to  the  Ridge  prairie,  in  St  Clair 
county,  and  there  made  prominent  settlements. 

Captain  Joseph  Ogle  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  New  De' 
sign.  H*  was  born  in  Virginia  in  1744.  He  commanded 
a  company  of  Virginia  troops  during  the  Revolutionary  war, 
holding  a  commission  as  captain  from  Patrick  Henry,  then 
Governor  or  Virginia.  He  came  to  Illinois  from  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Wheeling,  Virginia,  in  1785.  With  him  came 
Joseph  Worley,  and  James  Andrews.  He  was  a  man  of 
untiring  energy,  and  strong  will  power,  in  his  honor  one  of 
the  counties  of  the  State  received  its  name.  He  professed 
religion  under  the  preaching  of  the  Rev.  James  Smith,  at 
New  Design  in  1787,  and  was  appointed  leader,  by  the  Rev. 
Joseph  Lillard,  in  1793,  of  the  first  Methodist  class  ever 
formed  in  Illinois.  Members  of  the  Ogle  family  removed 
from  New  Design,  and  in  1796  made  a  settlement  in  the 
American  Bottom,  near  where  the  road  from  Bellefontaine  to 
Cahokia  descended  the  bluff. 

In  1802  Captain  Ogle  made  one  of  the  pioneer  locations 
in  the  Ridge  prairie,  near  the  present  town  of  O'Fallon,  in 
St.  Clair  county,  where  he  resided  till  his  death,  in  1821. 
His  descendants  reside  in  St.  Clair  county. 

In  the  year  1793  the  most  numerous  colony  Illinois,  so  far, 
had  received  settled  in  and  around,  the  New  Design  This 
colony  embraced  families  by  the  name  of  Whiteside,  Griffin, 
Gibbons,  Enochs,  Chance,  Musick,  and  Going.  In  it  were 
many  daring,  enterprising,  and  influential  men,  whose  ar- 
rival was  hailed  with  great  satisfaction  by  the  other  settlers, 
who  were  anxious  to  strengthen  the  colony  against  attacks 
of  the  Indians.  The  Whitesides  were  born  and  raised  in 
North  Carolina.  They  subsequently  settled  at  Whitesides' 
station,  southeast  of  Columbia. 

Joseph  Kinney  also  reached  the  New  Design  settlement  in 


HISTORY    OF   RAXDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


331 


1793.  He  rai*:ed  a  crop  during  tlie  siinimer  of  that  year 
and  then  returned  to  Kentueky  for  liis  family,  which  he  liad 
left  on  Bear  Grass  creek,  seven  miles  Ironi  Louisville.  From 
the  site  of  Louisville  he  descended  the  Ohio  to  Fort  Massa- 
cre, from  which  place  he  crossed  the  country  to  Kaskaskia, 
and  from  there  came  to  New  Design  settlement.  He  lived 
on  the  Rock  Horse  creek  until  his  death,  in  1803.  He  ha(' 
seven  sons  and  four  daughters,  wiio  grew  to  years  of 
maturity.  One  of  his  daughters  married  Mr.  Demint,  in 
Kentucky,  in  1792.  Demint  came  to  Illinois,  and  made  a 
farm  southeast  of  New  Design.  (In  section  eighteen,  town- 
ship three,  range  nine.)  He  was  a  pious  man,  and  a  good 
citizen.  One  Sunday  morning,  while  bridling  his  horse,  to 
go  to  meeting,  the  horse  kicked  him  so  .severely  that  he  died. 
This  occurreil  in  the  year  1811. 

Andrew  Kinney,  son  of  Joseph  Kinney,  built  a  water 
mill  on  the  site  of  Mcmroe  city.  The  youngest  daughter 
married  Joseph  Lenun,  1809.  She  had  no  education,  what- 
e.-er,  at  the  time  of  htr  marriage,  but  went  to  sciiool  after- 
ward, learned  to  read  and  write,  and  became  the  mother  of 
a  large  and  respectable  family  of  children.  William  Kinney 
was  born  in  Kentucky,  in  1781,  and  was  nearly  thirteen 
when  he  came  to  Illinois  with  his  father.  At  nineteen  he 
married.  In  180:!  he  removed  to  a  place  a  few  miles  north, 
cast  of  the  present  city  of  Belleville.  In  1809  he  opened  a 
store  on  his  farm,  and  at  that  time  could  barely  write.  He 
became  interested  in  religion,  was  baptized  in  1809,  and  af- 
terward  became  a  member  of  the  Baptist  ministry.  He  was 
.several  times  elected,  from  .St.  Clair  county,  to  the  State 
Legislature,  and  in  I'^^'iii  became  Lieutenant-Governor  of  the 
State.     He  died  in  LSI:!. 

Robert  McMahan,  a  native  of  Virginia,  came  to  Illinois, 
from  Kentucky,  in  1793,  and  settled  at  New  Design.  The 
next  year  he  selected  a  location  for  a  farm  southeast  of  New 
Design,  in  what  is  now  known  as  the  Yankee  Prairie.  Here 
several  members  of  his  family  were  murdered  by  Indians  on 
the  twenty-sixth  of  January,  1795.  The  circumstances  of 
this  affair  are  elsewhere  related.  This  massacre  took  placi- 
(jn  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  nineteen,  township  three, 
range  nine,  about  a  mile  west  of  Burksvillc  station.  Me. 
Mahan  removed  to  Ralls'  riilge,  in  Randolph  county,  and 
thence  to  the  vicinity  of  Troy,  in  Madison  county,  where  he 
died  in  1822. 

In  the  years  1790  ami  I7'.I7  important  additions  were 
made  to  the  New  Design  settlement.  Solomon  Shook  and 
Mr.  Borer  arrived  from  Virginia  in  179(),  and  the  next  year 
witnessed  the  coming  of  a  large  colony  from  the  country 
adjacent  to  the  south  branch  of  the  Potomac  in  Hardy 
countv,  Virginia.  A  year  or  so  jjrevious  David  Badgeley, 
Leonard  Carr,  Daniel  Stookey,  Abraham  Eyeman,  Mr. 
Whetstone  and  Abraham  Stookey,  made  the  journey  to  Ill- 
inois from  Virginia  on  horseback  and  thoroughly  explored 
the  country  with  the  view  of  selecting  a  good  location  for 
their  neighbors  in  Virginia  David  Badgeley,  who  was  a 
Baptist  preacher,  held  religious  meetings  in  the  American 
settlements. 

The  summer  of  1797  was  uncommonly  wet  and  rainy, 
and  the  streams  between  Fort  Massacre  and  Kaskaskia  were 


all  swollen  beyond  their  banks.  After  arranging  their 
wagons  and  horses  and  making  all  things  ready  for  the  jour- 
ney, they  set  out  from  Fort  Massacre  for  New  Design.  The 
ravages  of  disease  carried  off  almost  one-half  of  this  Vir- 
ginia colony  during  the  first  sunuuer  and  fall  of  their  arrival. 
The  prevailing  sickness  was  a  malignant  fever  supposed  to 
be  contagious.  Scarcely  a  household  but  mourned  the  loss 
of  one  or  more  of  its  members. 

After  1797  the  country  was  healthy,  and  that  part  of  the 
colony  which  remained  did  well, and  furnished  many  valua- 
ble citizens.  The  Carr,  Stookey,  Eyeman,  Shook,  Mitchell, 
Clark,  Badgeley,  Teter,  Miller  and  other  families  left  numer- 
ous and  resi)cctable  descendants.  About  1800  many,  among 
whom  were  Edward  and  Thomas  To<ld,  moved  from  New 
Design  to  the  American  Bottom.  The  neighborhood  of  the 
present  city  of  Belleville  in  St.  Clair  county  received  a 
number  of  early  settlers  from  this  colony. 

David  Bedgeley  was  one  of  the  earliest  Baptist  ministers 
in  Illinois.  During  his  first  visit  in  1797  he  preached  in  the 
settlement  from  the  4th  to  the  3()th  of  May,  and  ba|)tized 
fifteen  persons.  Among  the  fcttlers  was  Joseph  Chance  who 
had  been  set  apart  as  a  lay  elder  in  Kentucky.  He  and 
Elder  Badgeley  organized,  with  twenty-eight  members,  the 
first  Baptist  Church  in  Illinois.  If  was  ca  led  the  N(!w  De- 
sign Church.  Jaines  Smith,  a  Bajitist  preacher  from  Ken- 
tucky, preached  here  in  1787,  and  Joseph  Lillard,  a  Metho- 
dist, in  171'3.  John  Clark,  a  Scotchman  by  birth,  who  had 
followed  the  seas  in  early  life,  and  in  1781  had  been  pressed 
into  service  on  board  a  British  man-of-war,  which  lay  off 
( 'harleston  harbor,  and  had  swam  ashore  at  the  risk  of  hia 
life,  rather  than  fight  the  Americans,  came  to  Illinois  in 
1797,  and  both  preached  and  taught  school  at  New  Design. 
He  is  said  to  have  been  the  first  preacher  of  the  gospel  to 
cross  the  Mississipfii  and  preach  to  the  Americans  west  of 
the  river,  a  proceeding  contrary  to  the  regulations  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  Spanish  government  of  Upper  Lnuisiana. 
Elder  Joseph  (.'hance,  who  with  David  Badgeley,  organized 
the  pioneer  Baptist  church  in  Illinois,  was  born  in  Delaware 
in  170-3.  He  removed  to  North  Carolina,  thence  to  Kentucky, 
and  in  171*4  came  to  Illinois.  One  of  the  earliest  movements 
in  Illinoii  toward  forming  a  Bible  Society  was  made  at  Nesv 
Design. 

The  first  American  school  teacher  in  Illinois  was  a  resi- 
dent of  the  New  Design  settlement,  and  there  taught  his 
first  school  This  was  John  Seeley.  He  first  came  to  Illi- 
noss  in  178.'!.  An  early  physician  named  Wallace  attended 
to  the  sick  at  New  Design  in  1797. 

The  Tolin  family  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  the  precinct,  com- 
ing from  N'irginia,  and  settling  near  where  Burksvillc  now 
stands  in  the  last  century.  Isaac  Tolin,  who  was  a  small 
boy  when  became  to  Illinois,  married  Susan  Dendnt.  The 
oldest  sou  by  this  marriage  was  Judge  George  Tolin,  for 
three  terms  one  of  the  judges  of  the  Monroe  county  court 
who  died  in  l'S74. 

The  farm  on  section  seven  of  township  three,  rangti  nine, 
now  owned  by  Valentine  Schneider,  was,  in  early  years,  the 
house  of  Joshua  McMurtrey.  He  was  from  Virgiiua.  In 
1818  a  number  of  families  came   from   Ohio,  chiefly  from 


332 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND     PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


the  vicinity  of  Marietta.  Some  of  them  settled  in  the  Prai- 
rie, and  from  that  circumstance  it  was  called  Yankee  Prairie. 
One  of  these  immigrants  was  Rev.  Daniel  Hilton,  a  minister 
of  he  Baptist  church.  For  many  years  he  was  pastor  of  the 
Fountain  Creek  Baptist  Church.  Several  of  his  descendants 
reside  in  the  county.  Daniel  M.  Barker,  a  native  of  Ver- 
mont, settled  in  the  New  Design  prairie  in  1818.  In  1854 
he  removed  to  Red  Bud  where  he  died.  He  had  nine  chil- 
dren, Hiram,  Lewis,  Albert,  Miron,  Eveline,  Melceua, 
Susan,  Eliza  and  Daniel  Perry,  of  whom  Lewis  alone  now 
resides  in  this  county-  Several  became  residents  of  Ran- 
dolph county.  Zebediah  Barker,  the  father  of  Daniel  M. 
Barker,  settled  a  mile  and  a  half  west  of  the  present  town 
of  Burksville,  on  land  novv  owned  by  H.  Johanning. 

With  the  Ohio  immigration  came  the  Norton  and  Oilman 
families  which  settled  on  Dry  run,  south  of  Burksville. 
Moses  Varnum,  born  at  Belfast,  Maine,  came  from  Ohio 
with  his  family  in  1818.  Jewett  and  Justus  Varnum  were 
his  two  sons  and  he  had  two  daughters,  one  of  whom  mar- 
ried Daniel  M.  Barker.  Jewett  Varnum  made  an  improve- 
ment in  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  seventeen,  township 
three,  range  nine,  and  Justus  on  the  southeast  quarter  of 
sictiou  eighteen. 

Among  later  settlers  in  the  precinct  were  Eben  Alexan- 
der and  John  Durfee,  who  came  about  the  year  1837,  and 
entered  land  on  Horse  Creek.  They  built  a  saw  mill  on 
Horse  creek.  Richmond  Durfee,  a  newphrw  of  Alexander 
Durfee,  started  a  store  half  a  mile  northwest  of  the  present. 
Burksville  station,  the  first  store  in  this  part  of  the  county. 
After  a  year  or  two  it  was  removed  to  the  Horse  prairie, 
near  the  county  line.  He  afterward  started  a  store  in  Red 
Bud.  The  Durfees  were  natives  of  Fall  River,  Massachu- 
setts, and  came  to  Illinois  from  Ohio.  Harrison  Druce,  a 
native  of  the  Stale  of  New  York,  settled  where  he  now  lives, 
in  section  sixteen,  township  three,  range  nine,  in  1842. 
John  Murphy  and  his  son  James  settled  near  Cambria  sta- 
tion in  1840.  Soon  after  183.5  a  number  of  families  of  Irish 
descent  settled  in  the  precinct,  among  which  were  the  Sennot, 
McLaughlin,  Burns,  Dugan,  Lynch,  Donahue,  Cooney, 
Dwyer  and  Butler  families.  St.  Patrick's  Catholic  church 
was  established  in  their  neighborhood. 

There  are  two  stations  of  the  St.  Louis  and  Cairo  railroad, 
Cambria  and  Burksville  stations,  within  the  limits  of  the 
precinct.  There  are  three  post-ofSces,  Burksville  and  New 
Design,  at  Burksville  station  ;  and  Tipton  at  Cambria. 


BURKSVILLE. 

The  commencement  of  the  growth  of  the  town  of  Burksville 
was  the  starting  of  a  store  in  1851  by  John  G.  Burk- 
hardt  and  John  Metzler  Burkhardt  was  a  resident  of 
St  Louis.  Napoleon  Fitzpatrick  was  taken  in  as  a  partner 
in  1854,  but  in  about  a  year  afterward  disposed  of  his 
interest  to  the  other  raembtrs  of  the  firm.  The  store  was 
purchased  in  1857  by  Paul  C.  Brey,  and  the  same  year 
Jacob  Miller,  subsequently  a  resident  of  Red  Bud,  was 
made  a  partner.  Afterward  Mr.  Brey  became  again  the  sole 
owner,  and  continued  the  store  until  1864,  when  Francis 
Schifferdecker  obtained  an  interest,  which  in  1866  he  sold 
to  Alexander  Durfee,  who  died  in  1868.  The  store  was 
burned  in  1872,  and  Mr.  Brey  then  formed  a  partnership 
with  Anton  Langjdorf,  which  continued  till  1874,  since 
which  time  the  business  has  been  carried  on  by  Mr.  Langs- 
dor  f. 

The  second  store  was  established  in  1856  by  Miron 
Barker  and  Rudoljjh  Kuederle.  Frederick  Zimmerraaun 
and  George  Baum  also  carried  on  the  mercantile  business 
for  a  time.  The  original  town  site  was  owned  by  John  P. 
Brown,  who  sold  the  lots  in  parcels.  The  name  of  Burks- 
ville was  given  the  place  in  1857  in  honor  of  John  G.  Burk- 
hanlt. 

An  addition  known  as  "  Hendricks'  addition"  was  then 
made  in  1858  by  Gerhardt  J.  Hendricks,  and  one  in  1868 
by  Fred  Burkhardt.  A  post  office  was  established  in  1857 
and  Paul  C.  Brey  appointed  the  first  postmaster.  He  re- 
tained the  office  till  his  removal  from  the  place  in  1874, 
since  which  time  the  position  has  been  filled  by  Anton 
Langsdurf  The  town  contains  about  twenty  dwelling 
houses,  and  has  a  population  of  about  one  hundred  and 
twenty. 

There  is  an  Evangelical  Lutheran  church,  and  one  of 
the  same  denomination  two  miles  and  a  half  south.  The 
business  interests  of  the  place  are  now  represented  as  follows: 
merchants,  Anton  Langsdorf  and  Charles  Boehne&Son; 
shoemaker,  Frederick  Zimmermann  ;  saw  mill  and  black-, 
smith  shop,  Frederick  Meyer  ;  blacksmith,  William  Enrich  ; 
wagon  maker,  William  Klein  ;  harness  maker,  Jacob 
Blette;  hotels,  Fred  Burkhardt  and  Anton  Conrad.  Burks- 
ville is  nearer  than  any  other  town  to  the  geographical 
centre  of  the  county.  At  Burksville  station  on  the  railroad 
two  miles  distant,  a  store  is  carried  on  by  Jacob  B. 
Berger. 


332A 


MOREDOCK. 


'U''  ^  t^J^  OREDOCK  precinct  lies  wholly  in  the 
^».  American  Bottom.  Within  its  limits 
f-L^f:  jfn^fi-r^y  A  were  made  some  of  the  earliest  settle- 
's ^-  /!^f>-,vV''  /  roents  in  Illinois,  and  it  has  been  the 
home  of  many  dirtinguished  and  cele- 
brat  d  men.  One  of  the  first  improve- 
ments was  made  bj'Shadrach  Bond  who 
settled  in  the  bottom  near  the  mouth  of 
Dug  hollow  in  the  year  1782.  He  was  a  native  of  Maryland, 
and  was  raised  near  the  city  of  Baltimore.  He  held  a  con- 
spicuous position  among  the  early  settlers  of  the  county. 
Although  quiet,  unassumingand  unambitious,  he  was  several 
times  elected  a  representative  in  the  legislatures  of  both  the 
Indian  and  Northwestern  territory,  and  for  many  years  was 
justice  of  St.  Clair  county  court  of  common  pleas,  before 
Monroe  Co.  was  organized.  He  was  familiarly  known  as 
Judge  Bond.  He  had  a  strong  mind  and  a  liberal  and 
generous  disposition.  He  was  not  ambitious  for  wealth  but 
was  the  owner  of  a  large  body  of  laud.  Claim  322,  survey 
399,  was  granted  to  him  (the  confirmation  being  made  by 
Gov.  St.  (.;lair)  in  right  of  an  old  French  concession.  This 
comprised  four  hundred  acres,  and  extended  from  the  foot 
of  the  bluff  to  the  bottom.  Claim  .'521,  survey  4(10,  contain 
ing  four  hundred  acres,  is  the  grant  of  land  which  he  obtain- 
ed by  virtue  of  his  improvement.  His  house  was  at  the  mouth 
of  Dug  hollow,  in  the  bottom  a  short  distance  from  the 
bluff,  and  some  scattered  stones  still  remain  to  mark  its  site. 
On  his  death  he  was  buried  in  the  old  graveyard  on  the  bluff 
just  above  his  residence. 

At  the  same  time  with  Bond,  James  Garretson  came  to 
Illinois.  He  settled  first  near  Bellefontaine,  a  mile  north- 
east of  the  present  town  of  AVaterloo,  where  four  hundred 
acres  of  land  was  given  him  on  account  of  the  improvement 
he  there  made.  He  subsequently  made  his  home  in  the 
bottom.  He  was  the  owner  of  claim  2609,  survey  107,  con- 
firmed to  him  in  right  of  the  militia  claims  of  himself ,  James 
Bryan,  and  Benjamin  Ogle.  On  the  tenth  of  December,  1788, 
while  hauling  hay  in  company  with  Benjamin  Ogle,  he  was 
attacked  by  two  Indians.  Ogle  was  struck  in  the  shoulder 
by  a  ball,  Garretson  escaped.  In  stacking  the  same  hay 
Samuel  Garretson,  a  brother  to  James  Garretson,  and  a  man 
named  Reddick,  were  killed  and  scalped  by  the  Indians. 
James  Garretson  on  the  eighteenth  of  March,  1800,  married 
Mary  Carr,  daughter  of  Joseph  Carr,  who  came  to  the  new 
design  settlement  in  1794.  It  was  right  after  his  marriage 
that  he  settKd  in  the  bottom  of  what  is  now  Moredock  pre- 
ciuct.  He  was  an  honest  and  upright  citizen,  and  an  or 
dained  preacher  in  the  Baptist  church. 


MONROE    COUNTY. 


One  of  the  most  remarkable  persons  who  ever  lived  in 
this  part  of  the  country,  was  John  Moredock.  In  his  honor 
the  precinct  received  its  name.  His  house  was  on  the  south 
side  of  Moredock  lake  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  William 
Wincklemann.  His  father,  Barney  Moredock,  having  died, 
his  mother  married  as  her  second  husband  Michael  Huff, 
and  in  the  year  1786,  the  family  set  out  from  the  Monun- 
gahela  country,  in  western  Penusylvania,  for  Illinois.  They 
embarked  in  a  boat  on  the  Ohio  at  Red  Stone,  where  the 
town  of  Brownsville  was  afterward  built.  While  ascending 
the  Mississijipi,  they  encamped  for  the  night  near  the  Cirand 
Tower.  Here  the  party  was  attacked  by  the  Indians.  Mrs. 
Hufl',  and  one  of  her  sons  were  killed.  The  body  of  the 
woman  was  frightfully  mangled  before  the  eyes  of  her  son, 
John  Moredock.  The  rest  of  the  famil  y  came  to  whatis  now 
Monroe  county.  The  list  of  land  grants  made  on  account  of 
the  improvements  shows  that  Huff,  at  an  early  date,  began 
the  cultivation  of  a  farm  about  a  mile  north  of  the  site  of 
Waterloo.  The  family  subsequently  settled  in  the  American 
Bottom.  Mr.  Huffwas  killed  by  the  Indians  between  Prairie 
du  Rocher  and  Kaskaskia.  The  calamities  which  the  Indi- 
ans had  visited  on  his  family  excited  deep  feelings  of  hatred 
and  vengeance  in  the  bieast  of  young  Moredock,  and  he 
swore  eternal  enmity  against  the  .'•avage  race.  He  was  a 
boy  svhen  ho  came  to  Illinois,  and  his  mind  and  character 
were  formed  under  the  peculiar  circumstances  ihat  belong  to 
a  wild  and  new  country.  He  had  little  opportunities  for 
education.  He  ci  uld  merely  read  and  write,  and  pi  .s.scssed 
a  scant  acquaintance  with  the  rules  of  arithmetic.  In  1803, 
he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  territorial  legislature,  which 
convened  at  Vincenues  the  same  year,  he  was  a  man  of 
much  strong  common  sense  and  though  young  made  a  good 
legislator.  He  had  some  talent  and  ta^te  for  military  life. 
He  was  first  Captain  of  a  company,  and  afterward  became 
Major  of  a  battalion.  In  1814  he  was  elected  to  the  legis- 
lative assembly  held  at  Kaskaskia,  under  the  territorial  gov- 
ernment. He  had  two  daughters,  but  neither  of  whom  left 
children  ;  they  were  excellent  rifle  shots,  and  it  is  said  of 
them,  that  they  could  take  off" the  head  ofasquirrel  from  the 
top  of  the  tallest  tree  Major  Moredock  was  in  the  service 
during  the  war  of  1812 — 14  as  Major.  He  died  in  1830. 

At  the  mouth  of  Trout  hollow  in  early  times  lived  a  Ger- 
man by  the  name  of  Jacob  Trout,  after  whom  the  hollow 
received  the  name  which  it  still  bears.  He  was  a  tanner 
and  traces  of  his  old  tan  vats  can  still  be  discovered  in  the 
hollow  a  short  distance  from  the  bottom.  He  had  a  wide 
reputation  for  making  an  excellent  quality  of  leather,  and 
grew  rich.  An  old  lady,  still  living,  Mrs  PheLe  Miller 
333 


334 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS 


relates  that  one  of  the  wonders  of  her  childhood,  was  a  visit 
to  Trout's  house  and  the  sight  of  a  chest  full  of  silver  dollars. 
Alter  liviug  at  this  place  many  years  he  moved  to  a  farm  on 
the  river  where  he  died. 

Benjamin  Byram  lived  for  many  years  north  of  Moredock, 
where  he  was  the  owner  of  claim  825,  survey  582,  compris 
ing  four  hundred  acres  of  land.  This  claim  was  given  him 
in  virtue  of  an  improvement  right,  he  having  settled  here 
previous  to  the  year  1788.  On  claim  1417,  survey  771,  lying 
between  Moredock  lake  and  the  bluffand  immediately  below 
the  mouth  of  Trout  hollow,  Elisha  Nelson  made  the  first 
improvement.  He  lived  there  a  few  years,  the  grant  of  land 
obtained  as  account  of  his  improvement  passing  into  the 
possession  of  Shadrach  Bond,  and  afterward  into  that  of 
John  Moredock.  Clainns597,  survey  5G2,  on  the  river  a  mile 
below  Smith's  landing,  is  a  grant  of  four  hundred  acres  made 
on  account  of  an  'jiuproveinent  here  made  in  early  times 
by  James  Curry.  How  long  he  lived  there  is  not  known. 
He  was  one  of  Clark's  soldiers,  and  a  man  of  great  bravery 
and  hardihood.  He  came  to  the  neighborhood  of  Kaskaskia 
shortly  after  the  year  1780,  and  in  the  spring  of  1788  had 
a  desperate  fight  with  the  Indians.  A  ferry  was  carried  on 
from  the  Missouri  side  of  the  river  at  this  point  in  early 
times,  for  the  claim  is  described  as  situated  "  on  the  bank  of 
the  Mississippi  river,  opposite  Smorlesses'  Ferry."  The  Rev. 
David  Badgeley  who  had  previously  preached  at  the  New 
Design,  preached  in  the  American  Bottom  during  the  winter 
of  1797 — 98,  and  with  Elder  Joseph  Chance,  formed  a 
Baptist  church  in  this  pricinct  in  April  1798,  Aaron  Badge- 
ley  lived  on  Moredock  Lake,  nearer  Harrisonville. 

On  claim  576,  survey  402,  at  the  bend  of  Fountain  creek, 
east  of  Smith's  Landing  the  first  improvement  was  made  by 
Robert  Watts.  George  Atcheson  succeeded  to  his  right  to  the 
grant,  and  lived  here  for  many  years.  In  early  times  a 
brick  house  was  built  near  the  creek,  on  that  part  of  the 
claim  now  owned  by  Philip  Jehling  and  which  was  known 
as  the  George  Atcheson  house.  Andrew  Porter,  in  former 
years,  occupied  the  farm  in  the  bend  of  the  creek,  included 
in  claim  576,  which  is  now  owned  by  James  Dacre.  He  mar- 
ried a  daughter  of  James  Garretson  as  has  been  before  re- 
marked. Daniel  Shook,  an  early  resident  of  the  precinct,  who 
came  to  Illinois  from  Pennsylvania,  settled  on  claim  851, 
survey  406.  He  carried  on  a  blacksmith  shop  and  farm. 
Joseph,  Benjamin  and  Jacob  Shook  were  his  sons.  Farther  up 
Fountain  creek  lived  a  man  named  Brewer.  Solomon  Shook, 
a  brother  of  Daniel  Shook,  lived  on  claim  620,  survey  564,  on 
the  north  side  of  Moredoch  lake,  on  land  owned  by  John 
Sennot,  on  claim  917,  survey  563.  Ichabod  Valentine  lived  in 
early  times.  The  brick  house  on  claim  309,  survey  423,  was 
built  by  Dan.  Sink.  It  is  one  of  the  oldest  houses  now  standing 
on  Eagle  prairie.  It  and  the  Atcheson  house  were  the  only 
two  brick  houses  in  this  part  of  the  county.  In  the  assessment 
of  1817,  Sink's  house  was  assessed  at  six  hundred  dollars, 
within  one  hundred  dollars  of  the  highest  valuation  placed 
on  any  dwelling-house  in  the  county,  two  others  being 
assessed  at  seven  hundred.  On  claim  957,  survey  422, 
Henry  Starr  lived  at  an  early  period. 

Jehu  Scott  for   many   years   lived   on   a   farm    included 


in  claim  578,  survey  420.  He  was  a  native  of  Maryland, 
and  was  mostly  raised  in  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania- 
He  learned  the  blacksmith  trade  in  Pennsylvania,  and 
moved  to  Kentucky.  lu  1797  he  came  to  Illinois  and 
settled  in  the  bottom,  in  Moredock  precinct.  His  second 
wife  was  Polly  Kinkead,  daughter  of  James  Kinkead,  who 
came  to  Illinois  in  1786.  He  carried  on  a  blacksmith  shop. 
He  was  in  the  ranging  service  during  the  war  of  1812-14. 
He  died  near  Freeburg  in  St  Clair  county,  in  January,  1840 
The  house  in  which  he  lived,  in  the  east  part  of  claim  578, 
is  still  standing,  though  additions  and  alterations  to  it  have 
have  since  been  made.  Below  Scott  a  man  named  Jameson 
made  an  early  improvement.  William  Walker,  a  native  of 
Wheeling,  W.  Va ,  settled  near  the  old  Donner  place, 
between  that  farm  and  the  brick  church,  in  1825,  His 
daughter  became  the  wife  of  Austin  James. 

One  of  the  earliest  permanent  settlers  near  the  river  was 
John  Robbins,  who  lived  about  a  mile  south  of  east  from 
Smith's  Landing,  on  land  owned  by  Joseph  Meyer.  About 
the  year  1><20  he  had  a  farm  of  forty  acres  under  cultivation, 
and  worked  industriously  at  his  trade  of  a  shoemaker. 

The  Murdick  family  came  from  Kentucky,  and  settled  in 
the  bottom  near  Judge  Bond  in  1796.  Her  husband  dying 
the  next  year,  Mrs.  Murdick  married  George  Blair,  after- 
ward the  first  proprietor  of  Belleville.  John  Murdick,  her 
son,  was  born  in  Kentucky  in  1790,  and  was  a  soldit-r  in  the 
second  war  with  Great  Britian.  After  the  close  of  the  war 
of  1812-14  he  enlisted  in  the  regular  army,  and  he  died  in 
the  United  States  service. 

One  of  the  oldest  residents  of  the  precinct  is  now  Rugus 
Merrimau.  His  father,  William  Merriman,  was  a  colored 
man  whom  Governor  Shadrach  Bond  brought  from  Mary- 
land. His  mother,  Abagail  Warner,  was  a  bound  girl  be- 
longing to  Judge  Shadrach  Bond.  Merriman  was  born  in 
the  bottom,  where  his  whole  life  has  been  passed. 

Stephen  W.  Miles,  then  a  young  man  of  twenty-four,  em- 
igrated to  Illinois  and  settled  at  Eagle  Cliffs  in  1819;  he 
was  born  at  Cazenova,  Madison  county,  New  York.  He 
married  Lucretia  Shook.  He  became  the  owner  of  large 
tracts  of  land  and  a  prominent  citizen  of  the  county.  Eagle 
Cliffs  was  the  name  given  to  a  post-office,  first  established 
under  the  blufl",  at  the  mouth  of  Dug  hollow,  whence  the 
name.  Its  location  was  afcerward  changed,  and  abandoned 
on  the  establishment  of  the  Merrimac  Point  post-ofiice. 

On  the  summit  of  the  bluff,  immediately  below  Dug 
hollow,  is  an  old  burying  ground  in  which  repose  the  re- 
mains of  many  of  the  pioneers  in  this  part  of  the  county. 
The  situation  is  beautiful,  and  commands  a  far-reaching  view 
of  the  fertile  bottom  lands,  of  the  Mississippi  river,  and  of 
the  opposite  shores  of  Missouri.  Judge  Bond  was  buried 
here,  and  John  Moredock,  and  the  tombstones  disclose  the 
names  of  members  of  the  Livers,  Shook,  James,  Miles,  Todd, 
Voris,  Alexander,  and  other  families.  The  large  and  costly 
vault  used  by  the  Miles  family  can  be  seen  from  a  consider- 
able distance.  It  is  handsomely  constructed  of  stone,  with 
marble  doors,  and  the  inscription  shows  that  it  was  erected 
in  1858  by  Stephen  W.  Miles,  to  be  used  as  a  burial  place 
fur  himself,  his  family  and  descendants,  under  the  care  and 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


335 


direction,    in   succession,    of  the    oldest    male    heir   of  the 
family. 

Fountain  creek,  which  traverses  this  j)art  of  the   bottom 


for  many  miles,  was  called  by  the  French  I'Aigle  creek. 
Eagle  prairie  has  retained  its  French  name  of  I'Aigle 
prairie. 


PIIsrCKNEYVILLE. 


PERRY  COUNTY. 


UNCKNEYVILLE  Precinct  is  the 
largest  in  the  county.  It  comprises 
all  of  town  four,  range  three,  lying 
south  of  sections  seventeen  and 
eighteen,  as  well  as  all  south  of 
Swanwiek  creek  ;  all  of  township 
two,  range  two,  lying  west  of  sec- 
tions two,  eleven  and  eighteen,  and 
west  of  Little  Beaucoup  creek, — all  of  town  five,  range 
three, — and  all  that  part  of  township  six,  range  three,  lying 
west  of  Beaucoup  creek  and  northeast  of  Galum  creek.  The 
surface  is  undulating,  with  here  and  there  a  small  prairie. 
The  greater  portion,  however,  was  formerly  covered  with  a 
heavy  growth  of  timber,  most  of  which  has  long  since  been 
removed  to  give  place  to  productive  farms.  The  soil  is 
fertile  and  well  adapted  to  agriculture.  The  precinct  is 
well  watered  and  drained  by  Beaucoup,  Little  Beaucoup, 
and  Galum  creeks,  with  their  numerous  small  tributaries. 
Lake  Breese  is  a  handsome  sheet  of  water  near  Pinckney- 
ville.  Beaucoup  and  Grand  Cote  bound  it  on  the  north  ; 
Tamaroa  and  Du  (^uoin  on  the  east ;  Jackson  county  and 
South  Western  on  the  south  ;  Cutler  and  Grand  Cote  on  the 
west.      Population  (1880)  3,589 

Pinckneyville  Precinct  takes  its  name  from  the  county 
seat.  The  county  seat  received  its  name  from  the  act  incor- 
porating the  county,  which  provided  in  its  second  section  : 
"that  the  seat  of  justice,  when  established  in  the  county, 
should  be  known  as  Pinckneyville." 

If  we  are  to  receive  the  tradition  from  father  to  son,  this 
precinct  is  the  first  settled  portion  of  the  county.  In 
1799,  John  Flack  came  with  his  family  and  settled  in  Four 
Mile  Prairie,  on  or  near  the  place  where  Benton  Ozburn 
now  lives,  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  11,  town  6,  range 
3.  When  he  settled  there,  he  found  only  one  other  white 
family  living  in  the  county,  and  their  name  was  Cox.  They 
lived  on  Claim  No.  1410,  .Survey  No.  459,  where  sections  17 
and  18  are  located,  in  town  six,  range  two — the  only  claim 
and  survey  in  Perry  county.  Whence  and  when  Cox  came 
to  our  county,  or  what  became  of  him  after  having  clothed 
himself  with  the  honor  of  being  the  first  settler  of  ourcounty, 
we  know  not.  We  only  know,  from  tradition,  that  Flack 
found  Cox  here  in  1799,  and  that  Mr.  Cox  di.-^ajipears,  so 
far  as  the  history  of  our  county  is  concerned. 

The  original  John  Flack  left  a  son,  John  Flack,  who  was 


born  in   1803,  and  whom  our  first  settlers  found  living  in 
Four  Mile,  when  they  first  came  to  this  precinct 

Fergus  Milligan  came  from  Iredell  county.  North  Caro- 
lina, in  the  spring  of  1827,  first  settling  three  miles  north- 
west of  Pinckneyville,  on  what  is  yet  called  Milligan  Hill. 
He  improved  the  farm  belonging  to  the  Harmonies.  In  the 
fall  of  1827  he  removed  to  the  Four  Mile  Prairie,  and  made 
himself  a  home  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  the  southeast 
quarter  of  section  11,  town  6,  south  range  3.  This  pioneer 
had  a  family  of  nine  children  when  he  came  to  the  county, 
whose  names  were  :  Abner  M.,  John,  Milton,  Thomas  B., 
William  R.,  Joseph  B.,  sons;  and  three  daughter.  He  died 
some  years  ago,  after  seeing  the  wonderful  change  in  the 
development  of  the  county. 

About  the  year  1818  or  1819,  it  is  said,  a  man  named 
Bates,  or  Bets,  made  some  little  improvements  on  the  banks 
of  Beaucoup.  about  three  miles  south  of  the  present  site  of 
Pinckneyville  ;  and  tradition  has  it  that  Bates  came  home 
from  Kaskaskia  one  night  terribly  wounded  and  cut  to 
pieces,  from  the  effects  of  which  wounding  he  died ;  and  that 
he  was  buried  about  ten  rods  west  of  the  old  coal  bank. 
How  and  from  whom  he  received  the  wounds  is  not  known. 
Indeed,  the  family  had  abandoned  the  county  when  our  set- 
tlers, in  1820,  came  into  the  county-  Traces,  however,  re- 
mained to  show  improvements  of  a  rude  kind  made  near  the 
place  described,  which  is  strong  evidence  that  somebody 
had  been  there.  Whether  it  was  Bates  or  not  we  have  no 
positive  information. 

B.  A.  Brown  and  family  settled  in  Six  Mile  Prairie  about 
1815.  We  have  no  further  trace  of  this  family.  In  1822, 
Shadrach  Lively  settled  in  this  precinct  in  southwest  corner 
of  Holt's  Prairie. 

Matthew  Jones  settled  on  the  wesl  side  of  Holt's  Prairie 
about  1826.  John  Hazzard  came  with  Jones,  or  about  the 
same  time.  They  were  from  Tennessee.  Also,  John  Berry, 
from  Tennessee,  settled  in  Holt's  Prairie  in  1826. 

Abner  Flack,  from  S.uth  Carolina,  settled  in  Four  Mile 
Prairie  in  1826.  George  Franklin  settled  one-half  mile 
south  of  Pinckneyville  in  1826. 

H.  B.  Jones  came  to  Pinckneyville,  and  settled  near  the 
site  of  the  Old  Spring,  April  21,  1827. 

Humphrey  B.  Jones,  a  Kentuckian,  came  to  Browns- 
ville, Jaikson  county,  tWn  State,  first  in  April,  1821,  pre- 
vious to  coming  to  this  county. 


336 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES.    ILLINOIS. 


Ephraim  Bildeiback  and  Charles  Garner  came  to  Four 
Mile  Prairie  and  settled  in  the  southwest  part  of  it  in  1826. 
The)'  came  from  Randolph  county. 

Jonathan  Petit  came  from  Randolph,  and  settled  on  what 
is  now  our  County  Poor  Farm  in  1827. 

Robert  Woodside,  James  Kinzey  and  William  Armstrong 
came  to  the  Four  Mile  and  settled  in  1829.  They  were 
Kentuckians. 

In  1828,  James  Steele  (father  of  John  St-ele),  and  Wil- 
liam Craig  settled  in  Four  Mile  Prairie. 

Berry  Crain,  from  New  York,  and  McDowell,  from 

North  Carolina,  settled  in  the  south  end  of  Four  Mile  Prairie 
in  1828. 

In  1 830,  James  Woodside  (father  of  S.  M.  Woodside),  set- 
tled on  the  west  half  of  northeast  quarter  of  section  7,  town 
6,  range  2  west.     They  were  from  Kentucky. 

A.  Crawford  was  one  of  the  old  settlers  of  the  south  end 
of  Four  Mile  Prairie, — the  date  of  his  settlement  not  being 
known,  though  it  was  previous  to  1827,  as  he  was  then  liv- 
ing on  what  is  now  known  as  the  Old  Bill  Murphy  place. 

Abner  Flack  surveyed  the  State  Road  from  Shawneetown 
to  Kaskaskia,  and  gave  Four  and  Six  Mile  Prairies  their 
present  names. 

The  second  store  kept  in  Pinckneyville  was  by  David 
Baldridge  in  l-<30.  His  log-cabin  store-house,  which  he 
afterward  built,  occupied  the  lands  where  the  buildings  of 
Charles  Hoffman  now  stand,  on  the  east  side  of  the  squares. 
By  reference  to  the  county  records  we  find  that  a  license 
was  granted  to  David  Baldridge  by  the  county  commis- 
sioners' court  to  keep  store  in  the  county  in  1831.  He  first 
kept  store  in  the  court-house. 

About  1827  and  1828,  H.  B.  Jones  kept  the  post-office  at 
his  residence  near  the  Spring.  About  the  first  paper  that 
■we  have  any  account  of  coming  to  the  county  through  the 
post-ofRce  was  called  the  Kentucky  Reporter. 

Joseph  Wells  kept  the  first  licensed  tavern  at  Pinckue}'- 
ville  in  the  year  1829.  His  little  log-cabin  stood  on  the 
corner  where  G.  R.  liinck  it  Bro.'s  store  building  now  is, 
and  was  the  first  house  ever  put  up  in  Pinckneyville.  Wells 
entertained  travellers  when  the  case  demanded  it. 

From  the  old  county  records  we  find  that  the  county  com- 
missioners' court  rented  the  court  house  to  David  Baldridge 
to  keep  store  in,  from  April,  1830,  to  October,  1830.  Except 
during  terms  of  court  Baldridge  was  to  pay  seventy-five 
cents  a  month  rent  for  the  use  of  it.  The  county  records 
also  show  that  a  merchant's  license  was  granted  to  Josiah 
B.  Denning  in  the  year  1830,  and  that  a  license  was  also 
granted  to  Limmick  &  Denning  in  1831.  Denning  started 
his  store  in  the  same  year  with  Baldridge,  commencing 
shortly  after  him.  Previous  to  the  establishment  of  dry 
goods  stores  in  Pinckneyville  the  settlers  obtained  their  stock 
at  St.  Louis,  going  on  a  kind  of  pilgrimage  once  or  twice  a 
year  for  this  purpose. 

John  Milligan,  of  Four  Mile,  states  that  he  was  oue  of  the 
party  who  met  at  Pinckneyville  in  1828  for  the  purpose  of 
cutting  out  the  first  roads  from  the  place.  They  divided 
into  parties,  opening  the  road  north  toward  Nashville,  an- 


other toward  Six   Mile,  west,  and   still  another  to  the  east 
boundary  of  the  county. 

Among  the  first  blacksmiths  in  Pinckneyville  was  Bergen 
Happy.  The  first  blacksmith  that  pretended  to  keep  a  stock 
of  iron  on  hand  was  William  Neil.  We  were  informed  by 
J.  S.  Wilson  that  he  has  in  his  possession  a  pair  of  old 
dog-irons,  as  they  are  called,  which  he  purchased  at  Michael 
Baldridge's  sale,  and  which  are  the  workmanship  of  this  pio- 
neer blacksmith,  Neil,  and,  what  is  more,  he  says,  they  are 
pretty  good  yet.  Joseph  Craig,  who  resides  in  Grand  Cote, 
had  a  blacksmith  shop  west  of  Pinckneyville,  near  where 
W.  G.  Wilson  now  lives,  at  an  early  day.  He  ironed  the 
first  jail  built  in  the  county,  in  1833-34.  In  1825-26  the 
farmers  made  most  of  their  own  plows.  They  were  famil- 
iarly known  as  the  bull-tongue  pattern  of  plow,  and  in  many 
instances  were  constructed  out  of  a  forked  stick,  one  fork 
answering  to  the  beam,  the  other  acting  as  plow  and  doing 
the  scratching,  while  rude  handles  were  pinned  to  the  main 
branch.  Our  informant  states  that  when  the  first  settlers 
Saw  an  iron  plow  at  work  in  1830  they  declared  it  would 
ruin  the  land,  because  it  turned  the  ground  up  so  sleek.  The 
first  iron  plows,  if  we  are  correctly  informed,  came  from 
Kaskaskia.  Bergen  Happy  made  the  first  plowshares  at 
Pinckneyville  about  1830.  They  were  known  as  the  Carie 
plow.  Alexander  did  the  stocking  part  The  mouldboard 
was  generally  a  slab  split  from  a  twisted  post  oak  in  order 
to  give  it  the  proper  curve, 

Alexander  Nelson,  who  came  to  this  county  from  Ireland 
in  1832,  was  a  wagonmaker,  and  perhaps  the  first  in  the 
precinct.  He  lived  two  miles  southwest  of  Pinckneyville. 
He  generally  went  round  in  the  neighborhood  and  begged 
seasoned  white  oak  rails,  out  of  which  to  make  the  running 
gear  of  the  wagons.  Bergen  Happy  did  the  iron  work. 
Matthew  Thompson  was  the  first  wagonmaker  to  put  up  a 
shop  in  Pinckneyville  ;  this  was  about  the  year  1833. 

Previous  to  1830  a  great  many  truck  wagons  were  made  ; 
the  wheels  being  made  of  sections  sawed  from  sycamore  or 
black  gum  logs.  Of  that  class  of  wagons  every  man  was  his 
own  manufacturer.  With  a  heavy  load,  on  a  dry  day,  it 
was  no  uncommon  thing  for  the  spindles  to  take  fire.  The 
old  settlers  represent  their  screaking  as  loud  enough  to  be 
heard  a  mile  on  a  still  morning. 

George  Franklin  was  among  our  pioneer  shoemakers.  In 
1829,  Mr.  Wilson  states,  he  made  Franklin  one  hundred 
rails,  while  Franklin  made  him  a  pair  of  shoes.  David 
Baldridge  sold  the  first  pair  of  shoes  at  his  store  in  Pinck_ 
neyville.  Wash  Glover  was  perhaps  the  first  man  tha^, 
made  shoes  at  Pinckneyville,  in  1829.  One  of  our  old  pio. 
neers  took  him  a  piece  of  leather  to  have  himself  a  pair  of 
shoes  made  ;  the  first  pair  he  burned  on  the  last  and  ruined, 
and  after  he  had  taken  still  another  piece  of  leather  and  cut 
out  another  pair,  he  ran  away. 

In  the  matter  of  grist-mills,  Pinckneyville  had  her  share 
in  the  early  days.  Previous  to  1830  the  settlers,  or  many  of 
them  in  this  precinct,  had  their  milling  done  at  Elijah  Well's 
mill  on  the  west  side  of  Nine  Mile.  In  1829  they  got  some 
grinding  done  at  Shade  Lively's  mill  in  Holt's  Prairie. 


EISIORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


337 


la  1839,  Levi  Green  built  a  thread  mill,  six  or  eight  miles 
west  of  Pinckoeyville  on  the  Chester  road.  It  was  operated 
by  six  or  eight  oxen,  and  was  considered  about  one  of  the 
best  mills  iu  the  county.  It  was  operated  for  several  years. 
The  records  of  the  county  court  contain  an  order  of  per- 
mission to  Amos  Anderson  (after  an  inquest  by  a  jury  of 
ad  quad  damnum)  to  build  a  mill  dam  across  Big  Beaucoup 
near  the  present  crossing  of  the  W.  C.  and  W.  R.  R.  Track. 
We  believe  neither  dam  or  mill  was  ever  built.  This  occurred 
in  1831,  and  in  1832  similar  proceedings  were  had  for  the 
erection  of  a  dam  across  Beaucoup  at  the  Woodside  Ford. 
Shade  Lively  had  an  old  hand  or  tug  mill  in  Holt's  prairie. 
It  was  put  up  in  1829,  and  run  about  four  years.  James 
Woodside  built  a  horse-mill  on  Beaucoup  shoals  in  1833 
and  '34.  He  died,  however,  before  its  completion,  and  his 
son  Samuel  Woodside  put  it  in  operation  and  run  it  several 
years,  when  he  sold  it  to  Robert  Yearing,  who  removed  it  to 
Nine  Mile  Prairie  and  ran  it  some  vears.  In  1840,  John 
Steele  and  John  Elder  put  up  a  carding  mill,  and  run  it 
several  years  on  the  place  where  John  Hepp  now  lives. 
In  1839,  David  Thomas  built  a  steam  saw  mill,  (the  first 
thing  of  the  kind  that  we  knew  of  in  the  county)  on  the  lake 
which  bears  his  name,  south  of  the  present  site  of  Pinckney- 
ville,  about  a  mile  and  a  half  distance.  This  mill  was  run 
about  four  years.  In  18.52,  what  is  now  known  as  Schulz's 
old  mill,  was  purchased  by  Wood  &  Kirkwood,  of  same 
parties,  on  Mary's  river,  moved  here  and  put  up.  At  that 
day  it  was  an  important  thing.  It  too,  however,  has  had 
its  day  and  generation.  Blanton  &  Stilley  put  up  a  water 
mill  on  Beaucoup,  a  short  distance  above  Lake  Breese, 
about  the  year  1836,  but  it  proved  a  failure  after  a  few 
years'  trial.  The  floods  destroyed  it,  and  financially  its 
owners  also.  As  before  stated,  Joseph  Wells  kept  the  first 
saloon  in  Pinokneyville  in  1827,  and  Humphrey  B.  Jones 
the  first  postofiice  in  1827  and  '28.  A  minister  named 
Micajah  Phelpj  probably  did  the  first  preaching  in  Piiik- 
neyville,  at  the  little  house  that  stood  on  Hincke's  corner, 
about  1828  or  '29.  Phelps  was  a  Jlethodist.  The  first 
camp  meeting  in  the  county  is  said  to  have  been  held  at 
Mud  Prairie  about  1838  or  1839.  The  Rev.  James  Gore, 
Nathan  G.  Curlee,  and  Father  Chase  preached  to  a  large 
attendance.  In  Feb.,  1830,  Rev.  S.  C.  Baldridge,  an  Associate 
Reformed  Presbyterian  Minister,  preached  at  the  house  of 
James  Brown,  Sr.  It  was  about  this  time  the  Hopewell  Con- 
gregation was  founded.  In  1831,  the  Rev.  Peter  Hagler,  a 
Baptist,  preached  at  the  house  of  James  Thompson, 
in  Four  Mile  Prairie.  The  Hopewell  was  the  first 
church  built  in  the  county.  Commenced  in  1831  and  com- 
pleted in  1833.  The  members  all  united  and  worked  to- 
gether to  build  it  under  William  Adair,  chief  carpenter.  The 
occasion  of  the  interruption  and  delay  in  building 
was  Adair's  absence  in  the  Black  Hawk  War. 

The  first  school  taught  in  this  precinct  was  in  1831,  near 
Robert  Woodside's,  in  the  western  part  of  Four  ilile 
Prairie,  in  a  little  log  house,  16x16  feet.  The  term  lasted 
six  months,  at  82. .50  a  scholar.  Webster's  old  spelling  book 
and  Pike's  arithmetic  were  the  principal  text  books.  In 
1832,  Eliza  Smith,  from  Ky.,  kept  school  in  a  small  log 
43 


cabin  near  Thomas  Armstrong's.  This  schookhouse  was 
kept  up  about  four  years.  S.  M.  Woodside  also  taught 
school  there.  The  New  Testament,  Webster's  Spelling 
Book,  the  first  edition  of  Pike's  Arithmetic,  and  the  Colum- 
bian Orator,  were  the  standard  text  books.  June  3,  1833, 
the  SheriflT,  as  the  records  of  the  County  Commissioners 
Court  show,  was  authorized  to  let  the  court-house  for  a 
school-room,  for  fifty  cents  rent  per  month,  to  be  paid  either 
by  the  teacher  or  subscribers.  In  1833,  Bryant  Bender 
taught  a  neighborhood  or  family  school  in  an  old  outhouse, 
near  where  Cy.  Willis  lived.  Books  were  so  scarce  that 
they  sometimes  divided  a  Testament  into  two  or  three  pieces, 
so  each  might  have  a  portion. 

The  first  physician  who  practiced  in  Pinckney  ville  precinct, 
was  Dr.  Brayshaw  of  Old  Du  Quoin,  and  Dr.  Conrad  Will  of 
Brownsville,  Jackson  county.  Dr.  Will,  it  is  said,  was  very 
fond  of  hunting,  and,  for  that  purpose,  kept  a  pack  of 
hounds,  which  he  would  often  take  along,  when  he  went  to 
see  a  patient  and  stay  and  hunt  until  the  patient  either  got 
better  or  died.  He  was  elected  to  the  legislature,  sitting  at 
Vandalia,  and  to  while  away  leisure  hours  he  took  his 
hounds  along  with  him  to  coon-hunt.  Dr.  H.  B.  Jones  was 
the  first  resident  physician  at  Pinckneyville,  settling  there 
in  1827. 

The  first  resident  lawyers  were  H.  B.  Jones,  and  W.  B. 
Edwards.  Next  came  Sylvester  Adams,  B.  G.  Roots,  and 
Charles  L.  Starbuck.  H.  B.  Jones  held  most  of  the  principal 
oflJices  of  the  county  at  an  early  day.  Few  men  in  that  early 
day  commanded  the  influence  of  H.  B.  Jones,  and  few  men 
have  sustained  such  unbroken  confidence  in  all  the  varied  ca- 
pacities iu  which  he  served  the  people,  whether  as  physician, 
attorney,  or  ofiicer.  H.  B.  Jones,  the  first  lawyer,  first  cir- 
cuit clerk,  first  recorder,  first  justice  of  the  peace,  first  notary 
public,  first  postmaster,  first  judge  of  probate,  and  the  first 
master  in  chancery  in  the  county,  was  born  in  Shelby 
county,  Kentucky,  January  13,  1799,  and  died  at  his  home 
in  Pinckneyville,  Nov.  18,  18.').'),  without  a  stain  upon  his 
name  or  character,  private  or  public,  honored,  esteemed, 
and  respected  by  all  who  knew  him. 

The  first  lands  entered  in  what  is  now  Pinckneyville 
township  were  as  follows:  March  2,  1813,  James  Flack,  W. 
*  of  S.  W.  J,  section  14,  80  acres  ;  October  1,  1814,  John 
Flack,  N.  E.  i  of  section  22,  160  acres;  April  25,  181.'), 
William  Mcintosh,  all  of  section  27,  640  acres;  April  2.5, 
181-5,  S.  Lavapein,  S.  i  of  section  10,  320  acres  ;  April  25, 
1815,  Alexander  Douglass,  N.  J  of  section  10,  320  acres; 
March  16,  1819,  Roger  Claxton,  S.  W.  }  of  section  34,  160 
acres ;  and  Benjamin  Brown,  W.  i  of  the  N.  E.  }  of 
section  19,  80  acres,  all  in  town  six  south,  range  three  west. 
In  town  five  south  range  three,  Joshua  Davis  entered  the  E. 
i  of  S.  E.  i  of  section  34,  containing  80  acres,  November  30, 
1818. 

CITY   OF   PINCKNEYVILLE. 

The  history  of  the  survey  and  plat  of  Pinckneyville  may 
be  found  in  the  chapter  of  Civil  History  of  the  county.  At 
the  first  sale  of  lots,  on  the  fourth  Monday  of  February  we 
find  the  following  sales : 


338 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


Charles  C.  Glover,  No.  21,  ...   .  J22.0O  Eli  Short,  No.  42 J13.U0 

Amos  Anderson,  No.  20 8.00  David  H.  Meail,  No.  10 10.00 

Amos  Anderson,  No.  22 10.00  James  Murphy,  No.  18 10.25 

Amos  Anderson,  No.  23 0.00  William  H.  Tlirelkol,No.  30  .  .   .   15.50 

Joseph  Wells,  No.  38 32.,50  John  Hnggins,  No.  4.0 13.00 

Wm.  Brown  4  Jas.  Crain,No.  43  .    20.60  DavidPyle,  Nol7 8.OC14 

No.  44  .   .    IC.OO  Elijah  Wells,  No.  31 20  00 

fiabriel  Jones,  No.  in 12.50^  Robert  Caldwell,  No.  30 20.00 

William  Garner,  No.  28 22.1214  Berry  Anderson,  No.  15 D.OO 

William  C.  Murphy,  No.  37  .   .    .    26.00  William  Johnson,  No.  14 5.00 

Matthew  Vann,  No  39 17..W  Mavid  Baldridge,  Nos.  26,  27,  33  .    37.47 

There  were  twenty-four  lots  sold,  and  one  thousand  two 
hundred  and  twenty-three  dollars  and  twenty-eight  and  one- 
half  cents  realized  from  the  sale. 

The  first  dry  goods  store  in  this  city  was  kept  by  Charles 
Glover  in  1827.  His  storeroom  was  a  small  log  building 
which  occupied  the  lot  where  Jacob  Kunz's  blacksmith  shop 
now  stands  on  the  north  side  of  the  public  square. 

As  most  of  the  historical  facts  connected  with  the  city  are 
given  in  the  foregoing  pages  of  the  precinct  history  we  will 
not  repeat  them  here. 

No  organization  was  ever  had  until  March  17,  1857,  when 
an  election  was  held  at  the  court  house  for  the  purpose  of 
voting  upon  the  question  of  incorporation.  Lewis  Hammack 
was  chosen  president  of  the  election  and  William  McEwing 
clerk.  The  vote  was  almost  unanimous  in  favor  of  incor- 
poration, there  being  thirty-nine  votes  in  favor  and  only 
two  opposed.  On  the  twenty-sixth  of  the  same  month  an 
election  was  held,  and  John  Baird,  J.  L.  Mann,  S.  M.  Carter, 
Philip  Gruner  and  A.  D.  Gosney  were  elected  trustees.  On 
the  30th  of  September,  1872,  an  election  was  held  as  to  the 
adoption  of  the  general  law,  and  was  carried  by  a  vote  of 
thirty-four  in  favor  to  sixteen  opposed. 

The  first  steam  mill  in  the  town  as  well  as  the  county, 
was  built  during  the  years  1854  to  1856.  It  was  erected  by 
a  corporation  known  as  the  Pinckneyville  Mill  Company,  at 
a  cost  of  $20,000.  The  company  was  organized  on  the  22d 
day  of  September,  1854,  and  John  Baird  as  President, 
Humphrey  B.  Jones  as  Secretary,  Hawkins  S.  Osburn,  Joel 
Rushing  and  Fergus  M.  Milligan  were  the  first  trustees.  A 
three  story  brick  building,  sixty  by  forty  feet,  with  a  stone 
basement,  was  erected  nearly  north  of  the  present  public 
school  building.  The  capital  stock  was  $15,000  divided  into 
three  hundred  shares.  A  good  steam  engine  furnished  the 
motive  power,  while  a  saw  and  three  run  of  burrs,  with  a 
capacity  of  fifty  barrels  a  day,  comprised  the  machinery. 
The  mill  never  paid  its  owners,  and  was  totally  destroyed 
by  fire  in  18G0. 

Besides  the  handsome  and  substantial  county  building, 
there  are  numerous  large  and  commodious  brick  business 
houses,  almost  surrounding  the  public  square ;  and  many 
handsome  and  costly  private  residences  in  the  town.  The 
education  of  the  children  is  well  cared  for  in  a  handsome 
two-story  six-room  brick  building.  Five  churches  care  for 
the  moral  and  spiritual  welfare  of  the  community.  The 
Methodist  Episcopal,  Baptist,  Lutheran  and  Roman  Catholic 
congregations  have  handsome  brick  church  edifices,  while 
that  of  the  German  Methodists  is  a  neat  frame.  The  streets 
of  the  village  are  wide,  and  the  sidewalks  are  kept  in  good 
repair.  The  street  surrounding  the  public  square  has  just 
been  well  macadamized  at  a  heavy  expense ;  and  many  feet 


of  tile  sewering  is  now  being  laid.  The  railroad  facilities 
of  the  town  are  of  the  most  beneficial  character,  as  the  Cairo 
Short  Line  Railroad  enters  the  precinct  at  the  northwest 
corner,  passing  across  it,  and  through  the  village  in  a  dia- 
gonal direction,  and  passes  out  at  the  southeast  corner.  The 
Chester  and  Tamaroa  railroad  passes  through  Pinckneyville 
and  across  the  entire  precinct  from  southwest  to  northeast; 
while  the  St.  Louis  Coal  Railroad  has  its  northern  terminus 
at  Pinckneyville,  connecting  it  with  Murphysboro.  Few 
towns  are  more  favorably  situated  for  manufacturing,  as  a 
supply  of  water,  coal  and  timber  are  found  in  abundance. 

PRESENT    BUSINESS. 

Pinckneyville  Coal  Mining  Company. — The  certificate  of 
incorporation  of  this  company  is  dated  October  7th,  1874, 
and  names  S.  J.  Gillis,  Alansou  Edwards,  and  M.  C. 
Edwards,  as  commissioners,  to  open  subscription  books. 
The  company  was  to  exist  for  ninety-nine  years,  and  have 
its  office  at  Pinckneyville.  The  capital  stock  was  $15,000, 
divided  into  one  hundred  and  fifty  shares.  The  share- 
holders were  John  R  Jones,  who  held  twenty-seven  shares  ; 
Alanson  Edwards,  six  shares;  S.  J.  Gillis,  twenty  five 
shares  ;  B.  W.  Jones,  five  shares,  and  George  W.  Gillis 
eighty-seven  shares.  At  an  election  for  Directors,  held 
October  1st,  1874,  John  R.  Jones  was  elected  for  one  year, 
Alanson  Edwards,  two  years,  and  S.  J.  Gillis  for  three 
years.  The  following  spring  a  shaft  was  sunk,  and  a  five 
and  one-half  foot  vein  of  good  coal  reached,  at  a  depth  of 
thirty  feet.  The  works  are  operated  by  steam,  and  employ 
twenty  men,  who  dig  from  four  to  five  car-loads  daily.  The 
mines  now  belong  to  Hon.  William  K.  Murphy,  and  are 
operated  by  Barwell  &  Carter. 

Ploio  Factory. — This  industry  was  established  in  1868,  by 
Enoch  C.  Eaton.  The  building  is  a  onestory  frame,  one 
hundred  and  thirty  by  forty  feet.  Four  forges  are  in  con- 
stant use.  The  motive  power  is  furnished  by  a  twenty-four 
horse  power  engine.  The  establishment  employs  ten  hands 
in  the  manufacturing  of  Eaton's  sulky  and  walking  plows, 
which  have  an  extensive  sale.  Other  agricultural  imple- 
ments are  also  manufactured.  About  ten  thousand  dollars 
are  invested  in  the  business. 

City  Flouring  Milk.— These  mills  were  built  in  1871,  by 
John  H.  Schulze  &  Sou,  at  a  cost  of  twenty-six  thousand 
dollars.  The  building  is  a  three-story  brick,  seventy -five  by 
forty-five  feet,  with  a  brick  engine  room;  in  which  there  is 
a  sixty  horse-power  engine.  The  mill  is  furnished  with 
four  run  of  burrs,  and  many  of  the  late  improvements. 
Thecapacityof  the  mill  is  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  barrels^ 
much  of  which  find  a  ready  market  in  New  Orleans  and 
St.  Louis.  Ten  men  find  employment  in  the  mill,  and 
seven  in  the  cooper  shop.  The  present  owners  and  opera- 
tors are  Nolle,  Standing  &  Co.  This  firm  ships  about  one 
hundred  thousand  bushels  of  wheat  annually. 

"  0.  K."  M/Z.— Henry  Bohn  built  this  mill  in  1874,  at 
a  cost  of  eight  thousand  dollars.  It  is  now  owned  by 
Sawyer  &  McCracken,  of  Nashville,  and  operated  by  A. 
Duckworth,  manager.  The  building  is  a  frame,  forty  by 
thirty  feet,  three  stories  high,  with  a  warehouse,  twelve  feet 


HISTORY    OF  RAXDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


339 


wide,  the  entire  length  of  the  building.  The  machinery  is 
moved  by  an  engine  of  sixty-horse  power.  There  are  three 
setts  of  burrs  in  the  mill,  whose  capacity  is  seventy-five 
barrels  a  day.  The  business  is  principally  custom.  Four 
hands  are  employed  in  the  mill.  There  is  a  cooper  shop 
attached,  in  whioh  three  hands  are  employed.  About 
eighty  thousand  bushels  of  wheat  are  shipped  annually. 

Fallon  Mills.— The  owner  and  present  proprietor,  Robert 
V.  Fallou,  erected  this  mill  in  1874,  at  a  cost  of  §5,000. 
The  building  is  a  two-story  frame,  forty  by  twenty-four  feet, 
with  a  wing  twenty  four  feet  square.  It  is  supplied  with  a 
thirty-horse  power  engine,  a  wheat,  a  corn,  and  a  middling 
burr.  Its  ca])acity  is  thirty-five  barrels.  This  is  a  strictly 
custom  mill.  A  saw-mill  is  also  attached.  Four  men  find 
employment  in  this  establishment. 

Banking  Home  of  Murphy,  Wall  &  Co. — Friend  Smith 
and  Robert  Rushing,  cashiers. 

General  Store-f. — G.  R.  Hincke  &  Bro.,  Lewis  Weingarlh, 
C.  H.  Gieser  &Co.,  J.  P.  Cowens,  Henry  Driemeyer,  J.  W. 
Bischof  &  Bros.,  O.  S.  Butler. 

DniggiisU. — Campbell  &  McNeil,  Prudence  E.  Smith. 

Grocers. — W.  R.  Schember,  R.  H.  Eaton. 

Confectionery  and  Restaurant. — J  G.  Hepp,  R.  H.  Eaton, 
Alexander  McCants,  Edward  Smidt. 

Jeweler. — Charles  Geumalley. 

Millinery  and  Fancy  Goods. — Wilson  &  Christian. 

Phy-icians. — William  L.  McCandless,  George  S.  Smith, 
R.  S.  Peyton,  Guy  Morrison,  Thomas  Holman. 

Insurance. — Mortimer  C.  Edwards  &  Bro,  Ralph  G.  Wil- 
liams.    Hardware. — Jacob  M.  Kunz. 

House  Furnishing  and  linner. — Philip  Gruner. 

Boots  and  Shoes. — Fred.  Beck. 

Saddler  and  Harness  Maker. — Charles  A.  Hoffman. 

BlacLvniths  and  Wagon  Makers. — Slimpert  &  JIcDonald, 
Driemeyer  &  Schoch,  J.  M.  Kunz. 

Real  Estate. — Kane  &  Bischof 

Clothing  and  Notions. — A.  Haas,  Joel  M.  Sullivan. 

Merchant  Tailors. — Lutz  k  Brey. 

Sewing  Machines. — Fred.  Beck. 

Furniture  and  Undertakers.^-Kohert  (i.  Thompson,  .Vdam 
YuDg. 

Books. — Robert  Q.  Thompson. 

Grain  Dealers. — J.  L.  Murphy,  Lewis  Yung. 

Lmmbcr  and  Bnildrrs'  Material. — Wangelin  &  Co. 

Carpenters  and  Contraclor.i.  —  W iWia.m  G.  Wilson,  Adam 
Gieser  &  Son,  Joseph  Schilling,  Martin  Schneider. 

Butchers. — Henry  Kaiser,  Henry  Mcehlhauscn. 

Shoemnkcr. — William  Dunn. 

Brick  Mason. — John  Gruver. 

Stonemasons. — Herman  Mueske. 

Milliners  and  Dressmakers. — Miss  Sophia  Schrader,  Miss 
Lena  Hoffman. 

I>re.%smaker . — Mrs.  Wallace. 

Barbers. — Charles  Geumalley,  E<lward  C.  Hayes. 
Cigar  Manufactory  and  Tohacconi.it. — William  Klotz. 

Agricultural  Implement.^. — Kane,  Son  &  Bischof,  John  J 
Bischof.     Livery  Stable. — Peter  Lee. 

Hotels. — Sullivan  House,  Joel  M.  Sullivan  ;  City  Hotel, 


Joseph     Bischof;  Broadway    House,  Alexander   Grosney  ; 
Rule  House,  Mrs.  Belle  Osborn. 
Po.itmastcr. — Robert  Q.  Thompson. 

Saloons. — Frederick  Miieller,  Joseph  Bischof,  John  J. 
Bischof,  Isodore  Bout,  N.  E.  Orton,  Charles  Eisfelder. 
Lime,  Cement  and  Builders'  Material.— Jjewis  Yung. 
Beaucoup  Lodge,  No.  159,  /.  0.  0.  F.— This  Lodge  wa-s 
instituted  by  B.  J.  F.  Hanna,  special  deputy,  assisted  by 
Brothers  Gorsuch,  of  Sparta,  and  C.  Was^el  and  W.  C.  Jones 
of  Chester  September  20th,  1854.  James  G.  N.Anderson, 
David  W.  Sanders,  Wilson  McQuaid,  Samuel  Eaton  and  J. 
M.  Montague  were  the  charter  members.  J.  G.  X.  Ander- 
son, N.  G.,  E.  J.  Dickerson,  V.  G.  and  Samuel  Eaton 
secretary,  were  the  first  officers.  During  the  war  the  lodge 
ceased  to  exist,  but  was  re  chartered  December  15,  18t).). 
The  present  officers  are  William  E.  Gladson,  N.  G. ;  George 
Clark,  V.  G. ;  James  W.  Trover,  recording  .-secretary  ;  Henry 
Schroeder,  permanent  secretary,  and  John  Burke,  treasurer, 
are  the  present  officers.  The  present  membership  numbers 
thirty-five.  The  financial  condition  is  good.  The  lodge 
meets  every  Wednesday  night  in  their  hall  in  J.  L.  Mur- 
phy's building. 

Mitchell  Lodge  No  85,  A.  F.  and  A.  J/.— The  lodge  was 
chartered  October  8,  A.  L.  5850,  with  W.  C.  Hofi",  E.  R. 
Roe,  J.  T.  Linsey  and  James  Keyes  as  charter  members. 
The  present  membership  numbers  forty-seven. 

Beaucoup  J/iHtv. — This  town  is  situated  one  mile  north- 
west of  Pinckneyville,  on  the  Cairo  Short  Line  railroad.  It 
was  laid  out  by  the  Beaucoup  coal  company,  George  W. 
Wall  president  and  William  K.  Murphy  secretary,  and  was 
surveyed  and  platted  by  D.  L.  Benson,  deputy  county  sur- 
veyor, March  17,  1873.  It  is  located  on  the  northwest 
quarter  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  fourteen  ;  and  I  he 
northeast  quarter  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  fifteen, 
and  in  town  five,  south  range  three.  The  only  business 
enterprise  at  this  place  is  the 

Beaucoup  Coal  Mining  Company.— Tlw  company  was 
organized  August  12  1870,  for  a  period  of  thirty  years.  Its 
operations  were  to  be  confined  to  mining  and  selling  coal 
and  making  and  selling  coke.  The  capital  stock  was 
S20,(lOO,  divided  into  two  hundred  .<hares.  The  original 
directors  and  stockholders  were  Edward  F.  Leonard,  Wil- 
liam G.  Broughton,  George  W.  Wall,  William  K  lyiurphy. 
and  George  W.  Parker.  In  1872  a  shaft  was  sunk  to  a 
depth  of  one  hundred  and  eighty  feet,  when  a  vein  of  coal  six 
feet  thick  was  reached.  Forty  men  are  now  employed  at  these 
works,  which  are  operated  by  steam,  and  have  a  capacity 
varying  from  five  to  eight  ears  daily.  As  many  as  forty 
cars  have  been  taken  in  one  day.  The  present  owners  and 
operators  are  Donk  Bros  &  Co. 

Holt's  Prairie  P  0. — This  post  oflicc  is  four  and  one-half 
miles  east  of  Pinckneyville  in  Pinckneyville  township. 
Postmaster  and  General  Store — J.  H.  Harris. 
Four  Mile  P  0.  (formerly  Penny ville) — This  post  office 
is  situated  in  Four  Mile  prairie,  and   is  five  miles  south  of 
Pinckneyville. 

Poslmasttr.W .  J.  M.  Elliott. 
Physician. — H.  P.  Huntsinger. 


BIOGRAPHIES 


uQ^duA^  r^  o(sL4A\SUA^  /W,     /^  o^ 


:z--)--^-<2<z^. 


Edwin  Hogan  Lemen,  eldest  child  and  son  of  Isaac  and 
Caroline  nee  Hogan,  Lemen,  was  born  near  Collinsville,  Mad- 
ison count)'.  111.,  Nov.  9, 1644.  The  earliest  history  extant 
of  Mr.  Lemen's  paternal  ancestry  gives  the  family  of  Swiss 
origin.  In  the  fourteenth  century,  when  the  tyranny  of  the 
Austrian  conquerors  had  desolated  Switzerland,  the  family 
migrated  to  Russia,  and  at  a  later  period  some  of  them  be- 
came soldiers  in  the  European  armies  in  the  wars  of  the 
Continental  powers  with  England,  and  after  their  campaigns 
through  England  and  Scotland  finally  settled  in  the  latter 
country. 

In  the  seventeenth  century,  during  Cromwell's  reign,  the 
family  emigrated  from  Scotland  to  the  north  of  Ireland,  and 
in  the  early  part  of  the  eighteenth  century  three  of  their 
family,  brothers,  came  to  America  and  settled  in  Virginia, 
where  they  married  and  reared  families.  Nicholas  Lemen, 
a  son  of  one  of  these,  was  the  father  of  James  Lemen,  the 
founder  of  the  family  in  Illinois.  James  Lemen  was  born 
in  Berkeley  county,  Va.,  November  20,  1760,  and  was  a  sol- 
dier in  the  war  of  Independence,  being  present  at  the  sur- 
340 


render  of  the  allies  at  Yorktown.  He  married  Catharine 
Ogle  in  1782,  and  settled  in  Monroe  county.  111.,  in  1786, 
where  they  reared  a  large  family.  Their  first  child  and 
son,  Robert,  was  born  in  Berkeley  county,  Va.,  September 
25,  1783,  before  they  removed  to  Illinois. 

Robert  Lemen  married  Hester  Tolin  in  Monroe  county  in 
1805,  and  they  settled  in  Ridge  Prairie,  St.  Clair  county, 
111  ,  where  they  reared  a  large  family  and  accumulated  a 
good  competence  in  a  home  and  fine  farm.  He  was  a  leader 
in  the  early  times  of  Illinois,  being  United  States  marshal 
for  the  State  under  John  Quincy  Adams.  In  religion  Rob- 
ert Lemen  and  his  wife  were  of  the  Baptist  faith,  as  were 
also  his  father  and  mother.  They  lived  to  a  good  old  age, 
but  have  long  since  passed  to  that  rest  which  awaits  the 
faithful  Christian,  and  now  sleep  side  by  side  in  the  ceme- 
tery of  Bethel  Church  in  St.  Clair  county,  which  church 
they  aided  to  organize  nearly  three  quarters  of  a  century 
ago. 

Among  the  large  family  reared  by  Robert  and  Hester 
Lemen  was  Isaac  Lemen,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


341 


sketch.  Isaac  Lemen  was  boru  at  the  old  homestead  in  St. 
Clair  county,  February  2,  1815.  He  grew  to  manhood 
under  the  parental  roof  and  care,  and  married  Caroline  E. 
Hogan,  January  19,  184o.  His  wife  was  born  November 
2, 1821,  at  the  homestead  of  her  parents,  Patrick  and  Nancy 
Ann  Hogan,  in  Ridge  Prairie,  St.  Clair  county,  III.  Her 
maternal  grandparents  were  the  Rev.  John  Simpson  and 
Nancy  Ann,  noe  Ryder,  both  of  English  birth,  the  family 
of  the  latter  belonging  to  the  nobility  of  England  Rev. 
John  Simpson  was  born  near  London,  England,  was  a  Bap- 
tist of  learning,  eminent  piety  and  usefulness,  and  with  his 
wife  emigrated  to  America  in  1780  and  settled  in  Kentucky. 
At  a  somewhat  later  period  they  moved  to  Monroe  county, 
III.,  and  were  among  the  early  pioneer  settlers  of  that  State. 
Among  their  children  were  Gideon  and  Nancy.  Gideon 
Simpson  became  a  Baptist  minister,  and  Nancy,  after  her 
first  marriage  to  John  Best,  who  died  after  an  issue  of  two 
children,  married  Patrick  Hogan  ;  there  were  issue  of  the 
last  marriage,  but  only  one  of  the  family  is  now  living  — 
Caroline  E  Lemen.  As  issue  of  the  marriage  of  the  latter 
to  Isaac  Lemen  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  Edwin  H.  and 
Frederick,  Clara,  Oscar,  and  Lillie  are  yet  living,  two  chil- 
dren having  died  in  infancy.  The  father,  Isaac  Lemen,  was 
a  man  of  good  practical  information,  and  highly  esteemed 
for  his  excellent  qualities  as  a  neighbor  and  citizen.  He 
was  a  successful  farmer,  and  purchased  and  paid  for  the 
large  fine  farm,  the  old  homestead  of  his  parents,  in  Ridge 
Prairie,  St.  Clair  county,  and  placed  substantial  improve- 
ments upon  it.  He  died  at  his  home  January  .'>1,  1874, 
aged  ■'JO  years.  His  widow  and  two  children  are  yet  resid- 
ing at  the  homestead. 

Edwin  H.  Lemen  was  reared  to  the  occupation  of  farm- 
ing. He  had  received  a  liberal  common  school  education 
while  quite  young,  and  having  received  a  certificate,  he 
taught  school  very  acceptably  at  eighteen  years  of  age.  He 
afterwards  attended  school  at  Shurtleft'  College,  and  subse- 
quently attended  the  course  at  the  law  department  of  Mich- 
igan University,  at  Ann  Arbor,  and  received  his  diploma. 
Having  thus  thoroughly  prepared  himself  for  the  practice 
of  the  law,  he  received  his  liceii.se  and  was  admitted  to  the 
Illinois  bar  in  1868.  He  located  in  Pinckueyville,  and  for 
some  two  years  in  connection  with  his  first  practice  of  the 
law  his  time  was  partially  occupied  in  school  teaching  and 
journalism.  On  September  24,  1871,  at  Bethel  Baptist 
Church,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Post  officiating,  Mr  Lemen  was 
united  in  marriage  with  the  companion  of  his  early  child- 
hood, and  youthful  schoolmate,  Miss  Cynthia  Cornelia  Be- 
gole,  youngest  daughter  and  child  of  Joshua  and  Marv 
Begole,  of  Ridge  Prairie,  St.  Clair  county.  As  a  result  of 
this  union  there  were  two  children  ;  the  first,  Maud  Parepa, 
was  born  March  2,  187.5,  and  is  now  an  intelligent  and 
charming  little  girl ;  the  second  child,  a  son,  born  December 
15,  1876,  and  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Lemen  and  his  wife 
purchased  themselves  a  good  home  and  farm  adjoining 
Pinckueyville,  a  part  of  which  is  included  in  its  corporate 
limits. 

While  Mr.  Lemen's  religion  and  politics  were  matters  of 
deliberate  reason  and  careful  choice  after  the  mature  judg- 


ment of  manhood,  it  so  happened  in  these  important  matters 
there  is  no  conflict  between  them  and  those  of  his  ancestors 
for  a  century  back.  While  his  ancestors  were  in  religion 
Baptists,  and  in  politics  Whigs,  of  the  anti-slavery  and  Re- 
publican faith,  so  also  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  He 
united  with  the  Bethel  Baptist  Church  in  St.  Clair  county, 
in  the  winter  of  1871,  and  uniformly  contributes  his  influ- 
ence for  the  support  of  his  church,  though  not  narrowly 
sectarian  in  his  respect  for,  and  confidence  in,  the  other 
Christian  churches.  Mr.  Lemen  transferred  his  member- 
ship by  letter  from  Bethel  Church  to  the  First  Baptist 
Church  at  Pinckueyville,  in  which  church  he  has  ever  since 
been  a  prominent  member  and  supporter,  contributing  to 
the  church  as  well  as  to  the  other  religious  and  eleemosyn- 
ary purposes  such  aid  as  his  means  will  justify. 

In  the  rational  gradation  of  duty  next  perhaps  to  a  man's 
religion  is  his  humanitarian  impulses  toward  his  race.  For 
the  aristocracy  of  men  of  shoddy  wealth  Mr.  Lemen  has  no 
veneration  ;  but  the  toilers  of  the  country,  whether  in  the 
department  of  mental  activity  or  of  manual  labor,  he  holds 
in  perpetual  esteem  and  honor :  and  with  the  latter  his  sym- 
pathy is  not  theoretical,  but  experimental,  as  his  labors  in 
every  department  of  farming  duty  qualified  him  to  respett 
toil.  The  toilers  of  the  age  are  the  men  who  are  bearing 
the  banners  of  our  civilization  upward  and  onward,  and  he 
respects  them.  In  the  application  by  the  government  of 
the  great  questions  of  political  economy  he  favors  such  ad- 
justments as  will  reduce  the  burdens  of  taxation  on  the 
laboring  masses,  while  at  the  same  time  protecting  them 
from  the  too  overpowering  competition  of  the  products  of 
foreign  labor- 
In  politics  a  Repblican  by  virtue  of  inheritance,  reason 
and  right,  Mr.  Lemen  is  less  a  partisan  than  a  patriot.  He 
would  carry  forward  the  principles  of  his  party  by  making 
them  conserve  the  highest  public  interests  ;  but  the  prostitu- 
tion of  the  party  to  mere  individual  ends  seldom  if  ever  of 
any  advantage  to  the  public,  and  often  corrupt  atid  dishon- 
orable, he  opposes.  He  favors  the  complete  elimination  of 
the  so-called  spoils  system  from  the  domain  of  partisan  poli- 
tics, and  the  consequent  suppression  of  that  intense  and 
arrogant  pha.se  of  bossism  which  permits  the  perpetuation 
of  individual  power,  often  weak  and  frequently  venal,  at  the 
expense  of  the  public  interest  and  good.  In  the  acceptance 
of  ofiice  he  holds  that  an  intelligent  conception  of  the  peo- 
ple's rights  and  interests  should  be  the  cardinal  idea,  and 
that  cliques  and  personal  ends  are  not  to  be  conserved  thcrc- 
b)'.  Of  the  people  and  for  the  people,  Mr.  Lemeu  is  by  no 
means  oblivious  to  a  consciousness  of  the  compliments  im- 
jilied  when  the  peojile  tender  a  position  ;  but  for  the  means 
freciuently  employed  by  the  craft  and  intrigue  of  politicians 
to  secure  preferment  and  place,  he  has  no  sympathy  or  re- 
spect. Being  a  man  of  strong  convictions  and  uncompro- 
mising views  of  duty  and  honesty,  as  well  in  politics  as  in 
the  business  relations  of  life,  he  holds  that  the  sanctity  of 
integrity  and  honesty  should  obtain  and  control  in  that 
sphere  as  well  as  in  every  other  calling. 

The    mere  facts   and    data    in    biographical    history  are 
readily  compiled,  and  in  this  case  the  author  trusts  that  the 


]42 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND     PERRY    COUNTIES,  ILLINOIS. 


subject  of  this  sketch  with  the  readers  generally  will  here 
fiud  tlieai  accurately  given ;  but  in  delineating  those  factors 
of  character,  temperament,  and  mental  attributes  which  so 
largely  enter  in  to  make  men  and  mankind  what  they  are, 
the  task  is  for  more  delicate  and  difficult.  An  unbending 
conscience,  a  resolute  will,  and  a  discerning  judgment  form 
a  combination  which  is  the  augury  of  success.  Possessed  of 
this  triple  alliance  of  subjective  forces  in  a  large  measure, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  is  pressing  to  the  front  ranks  of 
the  legal  profession.  The  possession  of  those  intellectual 
forces  which  make  it  possible  for  him  to  deliver  a  speech 
before  a  jury  or  an  audience  wiih  such  marked  eflect  and 
impassioned  feeling  as  generally  characterize  his  efforts,  has 
justly  won  for  him  the  popular  good  will  and  esteem  which 
such  qualities  merit.  As  a  writer  of  merit  and  force  he  is 
recoo-nized  by  the  journalists  throughout  the  State,  and 
through  this  avenue  the  line  to  success  and  distinction  is 
open  to  him  if  he  should  elect  to  accept  it.  Naturally  rapid 
and  forcible  in  the  delivery  of  thought,  Mr.  Lenien  is  of  an 
impetuous  and  positive  temperament,  and  though  quick  to 
resent  an  indignity,  he  always  holds  himself  open- and 
amenable  to  the  convictions  of  right.  Such  characteristics 
of  course  will  create  a  few  opponents,  but  hosts  of  friends  ; 
and  such  is  Mr.  Lemeu's  social  status.  In  the  practice  of 
the  law  he  is  scrupulously  observant  of  that  professional 
comity  and  courtesy  due  his  legal  associates,  the  court,  and 
■witnesses,  and  to  all  whom  it  is  his  duty  to  defend  or  oppose. 
From  the  proceeds  of  his  practice,  with  those  received  from 
their  form,  Mr.  Lemen  and  his  family  derive  a  fair  compe- 
tence and  support  at  their  home  in  the  suburbs  of  Pinck- 
neyville,  where  they  now  reside. 

In  addition  to  our  sketch  here  of  Mr.  Lemen  the  author 
■will  add  a  brief  sketch  of  his  wife.  A  community  is  what 
its  men  and  women  make  it,  and  the  aims  and  ends  of  his- 
tory are  not  fully  conserved  unless  it  reflect  in  some  degree 
the  antecedents  of  both.  Cynthia  Cornelia  Begole,  twelfth 
and  youngest  child  of  Joshua  and  Mary  Begole,  was  born 
at  the  old  homestead,  in  Ridge  Prairie,  St.  Clair  county, 
Illinois,  December  12th,  l.s5()  The  family  are  of  French 
origin,  emigrating  from  France  toward  the  close  of  the 
seventeenth  century,  having,  by  reason  of  belonging  to  the 
Huguenots,  been  expelled  from  the  realm  as  a  result  of  the 
revocation  of  the  celebrated  edict  of  Nantes,  about  the  year 
1685,  whence  they  settled  in  America.  About  the  year 
1805,  her  paternal  grandfather  removed  with  his  family 
from  the  state  of  Maryland,  and  settled  in  Livingston 
county.  New  York. 

Joshua  Begole,  her  father,  was  born  in  Washington 
county,  Maryland,  March  25th,  1792.  In  the  spring  of 
1819,  prompted  no  doubt  by  that  spirit  of  adventure  so 
characteristic  of  the  young  man  of  perseverance  and  enter- 
prise, Mr.  Begole,  after  many  trials  and  adventures,  cal- 
culated to  overcome  a  less  determined  spirit,  came  to  St. 
Clair  county.  Ills.,  via  Detroit,  Cincinnati  and  St.  Louis, 
rich  in  nothing,  save  a  vigorous  manhood,  industrious  dis 
position  and  a  will  to  win  his  own  way  in  life.  On  March 
2nd,  1824,  he  was  united  in  marriage,  by  the  Rev.  John  M. 
Peck,  to  Mary  Terry,  the  daughter  of  George  Terry  and 


Sallie,  nee  Linton,  natives  of  Virginia  who  had  removed  and 
settled  in  the  American  Bottom.  The  mother  of  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  was  born  May  15th,  1808,  and  at  the  age  of 
three  years,  her  father  having  died  and  her  mother  remar- 
ried, the  family  removed  to  Ridge  Prairie,  where  Miss  Terry 
resided  at  the  time  of  their  marriage 

In  1820  they  began  the  battle  of  life  in  earnest,  by  the 
purchase  of  a  home  of  80  acres  of  land,  in  Ridge  Prairie, 
near  the  present  site  of  O'Fallon,  St.  Clair  county.  Ills.,  to 
which,  by  industry  and  economy,  they  added  several  hun- 
dred acres  of  the  best  and  most  valuable  lands  in  that  farm- 
ing district,  as  the  result  of  their  united  labor  and  effort. 
Mr.  Begole  was  a  leading  citizen  ;  for  many  years  a  justice  of 
the  peace,  his  good  judgment,  practical  common  sense  and 
unswerving  predisposition  to  the  right  inspiring  his  fellow 
citizens  with  the  utmost  confidence  in  him  as  an  officer  and 
man.  In  18.j7  he  purchased  the  large  farm,  two  miles  south- 
east of  Collinsville,  to  which  he  removed  and  where  he  re- 
sided until  his  death,  which  transpired  March  2nd,  1874— 
fifty  years  to  a  day  from  date  of  his  marriage,  at  the  ripe 
old  age  of  82  years,  beloved  and  respected  by  all  who  knew 
him,  his  last  resting  place  being  the  cemetery  adjoining  the 
Bethel  church,  where  his  membenship  had  been  placed  near 
a  half  century  before.  His  life  having  been  that  of  the  con- 
sistent devoted  Christian,  his  rest  is  that  of  the  saint.  He 
united  with  the  Bethel  Baptist  Church,  August  the  4th, 
1827,  his  wife  united  with  the  Church,  Oct.  6th,  1827,  and 
with  a  liberal  hand  and  sincere  purpose,  trusting  in  the 
blessed  promises  of  Heaven  for  their  reward,  for  well  nigh 
fifty  years,  they  sought  to  keep  the  way  of  life  together! 
His  amiable  companion  who  still  survives  him,  resides  with 
her  son  at  the  old  homestead.  The  issue  of  the  marriage 
was  twelve  children,  four  of  whom  are  dead,  the  others  ex- 
cept Mrs.  Lemen,  reside  in  St.  Clair  county  in  this  state, 
most  estimable  and  well-to-do  citizens. 

Mrs.  Lemen's  childhood  was  at  the  old  home,  being  about 
seven  years  old  when  the  family  removed  to  their  place 
near  Collinsville.  Here  she  passed  her  girlhood  days  and 
entered  the  years  of  womanhood.  Her  opportunities  and 
advantages  for  intellectual  culture,  training  and  refinement 
were  neither  wanting  nor  neglected.  With  a  naturally  vig- 
orous mind,  having  made  the  best  use  of  these  advantages 
at  the  schools  at  home,  she  visited  New  York  and  there 
underwent  a  thorough  training  in  the  schools  of  music ; 
bringing  back  to  her  home  the  honors  of  her  classes,  which 
merit,  and  not  favoritism  had  conferred. 

At  the  early  age  of  thirteen  years,  she  embraced  religion, 
was  baptized  by  the  Rev.  D.  P.  French,  and  united  with  the 
Bethel  Baptist  church  in  St.  Clair  county.  Here  she  re- 
mained a  member  until  her  membership  with  that  of  her 
husband  was  transferred  to  the  Fist  Baptist  church  at  Pinck- 
neyville,  where  her  efforts  and  influence  are  devoted  to  the 
interests  of  the  church,  being  an  active  laborer  in  the  Sab- 
bath-school and  in  other  church  work.  At  home  Mrs. 
Lemen  is  truly  the  good  wife  the  comfort  and  happiness  of 
husband  and  child,  being  her  joy  and  ambition,  and  the 
pride  of  her  every  day  life.  In  society  she  counts  her 
friends  by  scores.      The  standard   by  which  she  selects  her 


342A 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS.  -.'M 


daily  associates,  friends  and  companions  being  merit,  rather 
than  the  caste,  which  position  or  fortune  may  create,  with- 
out regard  to  those  nobler  attributes,  which  beautify  the 
heart  and  soul. 


JAMES  J.  PENNY. 
The  present  editor  and  publisher  of  the  Democrat  is  a 
native  of  Benton  Franklin  county,  Illinois,  and  was  born  No- 
vember 2,  IS'iG.  He  is  the  youngest  son  of  J.  A.  and  Mar- 
tha A.  (Patton  I  Penny.  His  parents  were  natives  of  Middle 
Tennessee  and  immigrated  to  Illinois  about  1845  and  settled 
in  Franklin  county,  where  the  father  died  in  1S.")6.  His 
wife  and  mother  of  James  J.  still  survives  him,  and  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Benton.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  a  good 
English  eJucatirn  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  county. 
While  yet  young  he  entered  as  an  apprentice  in  the  office  of 
the  Johnson  County  Journal  at  Vienna  and  learned  the 
printer's  trade,  and  subsequently  became  the  publisher  and 
continued  its  publication  for  eighteen  months,  after  which  he 
worked  in  the  Union  office  in  Anna,  Illinois.  In  1S77  he 
went  to  Cairo  and  was  foreman  in  the  lUdletin  and  Anjns 
offices  at  difterent  times  and  continued  there  until  Novem- 
ber, ISSl,  when  he  came  to  Pinckneyville  and  purchased 
the  office  of  the  Perry  County  Democrat,  and  has  edited  and 
conducted  its  publication  to  the  present.  Mr.  Penny  is  a 
practical  printer  of  industrious  habits  and  plenty  of  energy, 
and  it  will  be  no  fault  of  his  if  he  fails  to  give  the  people  of 
Perry  county  a  good  live  newspaper.  He  was  reared  a 
Democrat  and  votes  that  ticket.  On  the  4th  of  July,  1882, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Bertha  A.,  daughter  of 
Joseph  M.  and  Mary  (Ba.xter)  Sullivan,  of  Pinckneyville. 
Mrs.  Penny  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 


J.  K.  P.  RAGLAN  I). 

Til  1-;  subject  of  this  sketch  is  on  the  maternal  side  descended 
from  one  of  the  pioneer  families  of  Illinois.  The  Raglands 
on  the  paternal  side  are  of  Scotch  ancestry.  Members  of 
the  family  originally  settled  in  South  Carolina,  and  during 
the  Revolution  fought  on  the  side  of  the  patriots.  Benjamin 
Ivagland,  the  grandfather,  came  to  Kentucky  soon  after  the 
State  was  admitted  to  the  Union.  John  B.  Ragland,  his 
son,  and  fethcr  of  J.  K.  P  was  born  in  Allen  county,  Ky., 
August  27,  l.H2y.  He  came  to  Illinois  in  1S32,  and  lived 
the  first  six  months  of  his  residence  here  in  a  Sugar  Camp 
on  Rushing  branch  in  Grand  Cote  prairie,  and  then  settled 
on  a  place  now  owned  by  Robert  C.  Rushing,  and  there  fol- 
lowed farming  until  the  Mexican  war,  when  he  enlisted 
in  Co.  K  of  the  2d  Regt.  Ills.  Vols.  He  took  part  with  his 
command  in  the  desperate  battle  of  Bucna  Vista,  and  was 
wounded  in  the  engagement,  which  wound  finally  caused  his 
death  July  5th,  iHii'.i.  He  married  Miss  Martha  J.  Huggins 
October  23,  1844.  She  was  a  daughter  of  John  Huggins, 
Sr.,  a  resident  yet  of  Lost  Prairie  and  a  native  of  South 
Carolina.  He  came  to  what  is  now  Perry  county  in  1802, 
and  is  the  oldest  settler  in  the  county,  and  if  we  mistake  not 
the  oldestsettlerlivingiu  Illinois.  The  Huggins  werefrom  the 
Abbeyville  District  in  South  Carolina.     Robert  Huggins 


the  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Ragland  came  to  Illinois  in  1802 
and  stopped  at  Menard  Springs  opposite  Kaskaskia  in  Ran- 
dolph county.  He  married  Catharine  Lively,  sister  of  John 
Lively,  who  together  with  his  family  were  murdered  by  the 
Indians  at  a  settlement  on  Crooked  creek  north  of  Nashville 
in  Washington  county,  Illinois. 

The  union  of  John  B.  and  Martha  Ragland  was  blessed 
with  but  one  child — the  subject  of  this  sketch.  He  was  born 
on  Lost  Prairie,  Perry  county,  Illinois,  December  27,  1^(4.5. 
He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Perry  county. 
At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  commenced  the  study  of  law  in 
the  office  of  Messrs.  Youngblood  &  Barr,  attorneys  of  Ben- 
ton, Franklin  county,  Illinois,  and  also  attended  the  law 
school  in  same  place,  under  the  management  of  Judge  A.  D. 
Duff,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  18(j!(.  In  l'<71  he 
moved  to  Pinckneyville  and  commenced  to  practice.  In 
June  1X73  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  Justices  of  the 
Peace  of  the  County  Court.  In  November  of  the  same  year 
he  was  elected  to  the  same  position,  and  in  18'S1  was  re-elect- 
ed and  is  now  holding  that  position  Politically  he  has 
uuiformly  voted  the  Democratic  ticket.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Baptist  church,  and  regularly  ordained  as  a  minister  in 
that  Christian  organization. 


WILLIAM  E.  GLADSON 
W.\s  born  in  Sullivan  county,  Tennessee,  January  25, 1849. 
His  father  was  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  and  moved  to 
Tennessee,  where  he  remained  until  l''<54,  when  he  came  to 
Illinois,  and  settled  in  Perry  county,  where  he  at  pre_-ent  re- 
sides. He  learned  the  carpenter  trade,  and  followed  that  and 
farming.  He  married  Mary  J.  Doggette,  whose  mother  was 
of  English  birth,  and  of  the  name  of  Brimmer.  She  was  bora 
in  Fredericksburg,  Virginia.  By  the  marriage  of  W.  L.  and 
Mary  J.  Gladsou,  there  were  seven  children,  four  sons  and 
three  daughters,  and  three  sons  and  one  daughter  are  yet 
living.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  eldest  of  the  chil- 
dren. He  was  but  five  years  of  age  when  his  parents  came 
to  the  State.  Here  in  Perry  county  he  was  reared,  and  re- 
ceived a  good  English  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
Pinckneyville  and  surrounding  country.  He  learned  the 
trade  of  cari)eiiter,  and  worked  at  that,  and  later  engaged  in 
farming,  which  has  been  his  priiKii)al  avocation  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  On  the  1st  of  January,  1878,  he  was  appointed, 
by  the  Board  of  County  Commissioners,  Superintendent  of 
the  Poor  Farm,  and  reappointed  each  year  afterward,  and 
is  now  serving  his  fifth  year  in  that  capacity.  He  is  a  care- 
ful and  competent  man  for  that  position,  and  has  been  com- 
plementeil  by  F.  H.  Wiues,Sec'y  of  the  State  Board  of  Pub- 
lic Charities,  for  the  excellent  manner  in  which  he  conducts 
his  business  and  on  his  reports.  On  the  iUh  of  October,  1871, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary,  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam and  Margaret  Owens.  She  was  born  in  Kilmarnock, 
on  the  Frith  of  Forth,  Scotland.  By  that  union  there  are 
four  children  living,  whose  names  are  Robert  Lindsey,  Geo. 
Andrew,  Arthur  William,  and  Sarah  Ethel  Gladson.  Politi- 
cally, Jlr.  Gladson  is  a  Democrat.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  at  the  present  time  is  N.  G.  of  Beaucoup 
Lodge  No.  159. 


344 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


'^'kr  '^/'^^^^y<f<k^ 


The  Murphy  family  of  Perry  County  are  of  Irish  extrac- 
tion, the  ancestors  of  whom  emigrated  to  America,  prior  to 
the  Kevolutionary  war.  John  Murphy  the  grandfather  was 
a  native  of  the  North  of  Ireland  and  was  a  soldier  of  the 
revolution  and  fought  on  the  side  of  the  patriots  at  Kings 
Mountain  and  in  other  battles  in  the  South.  Soon  after  the 
war  he  removed  to  Tennessee  and  in  1818  came  to  Illinois 
and  settled  on  the  edge  of  Lost  Prairie,  in  Perry  county. 
There  he  remained  until  his  death.  He  was  a  stone  mason 
by  trade  but  also  engaged  in  tilling  the  soil.  He  married 
in  North  Carolina  and  was  the  father  of  five  s  )n3  and  five 
daughters.  Of  those  sous,  was  Richard  G.,  father  of  William 
K.  Murphy.  William  C.  another  son  was  a  prominent  man 
in  the  early  history  of  Illinois.  He  was  for  many  years 
door-keeper  in  the  State  Senate  and  House  while  the  capital 
was  at  Vandalia,  and  after  it  was  removed  to  Springfield, 
upon  the  organization  of  Perry  county  in  1827,  he  was 
appointed  Sheriff  and  held  that  and  other  county  offices  for 
a  number  of  years.  His  name  was  honored  and  kept  in 
memory  by  the  naming  of  Murphysboro,  the  couuty  seat  of 
Jackson  county. 

Richard  G.  Murphy  was  born  in  Smith  couuty,  Tennessee, 
January  4th,  1801,  and  was  the  youngest  of  the  family,  and 


but  a  youth  of  seventeen  years  when  the  family  came  to 
Illinois.  Here  in  Perry  county  he  grew  to  manhood  and 
became  a  conspicuous  and  prominent  man  in  southern  Illi- 
nois. In  1831-32,  during  the  Black  Hawk  war,  both  he 
and  his  brother,  William  C,  volunteered  and  were  present 
at  the  battle  of  "  Bad  Axe"  where  the  latter  was  severly 
wounded. 

In  1832  Richard  J.  was  a  candidate  for  the  Legislature, 
aud  was  opposed  by  the  late  Judge  Breese.  He  was  elected 
and  served  ten  consecutive  yiars  in  that  body.  In  1847 
during  Polk's  administration,  Mr.  Murphy  was  appointed 
agent  for  the  Sioux  Indians,  who  were  upon  their  reserva. 
tion  in  Minnesota.  He  repaired  there  in  1847  and  entered 
upon  his  duties.  In  18.50  he  was  again  elected  to  the  Illi- 
nois legislature  and  at  that  st-ssion  was  made  chairman  of 
the  committee  on  railroads  which  incorporated  the  Illinois 
Central  railroad.  He  moved  his  family  to  Minnesota  in 
1854  and  there  made  his  home  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  1874.  He  was  president  of  the  first  senate  of 
Minnesota,  the  same  year  the  state  was  admitted  to  the 
Union.  Mr.  Murphy,  being  an  earnest  friend  and  supporter  of 
Stephen  A.  Douglas,  thereby  incurred  the  displeasure  of  the 
administration  of  James  Buchanan  and  was  removed  from 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,   ILLINOIS 


345 


his  agency  on  account  of  political  differences.  During  the 
remainder  of  his  life  he  devoted  himself  to  farming,  stock- 
raising  and  developing  the  country. 

In  1834  he  married  Miss  Sarah,  daughter  of  Joseph  and 
Mary  (Kinney)  Lemen.  She  was  a  niece  of  Governor  Kin- 
ney of  Belleville,  Illinois.  She  died  October  28th,  1846. 
He  subsequently  married  Mrs.  Nancy  Wier  nee  Glore,  who 
was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  but  at  the  time  of  her  marriage  a 
resident  of  Randolph  county,  Illinoi.«.  By  the  first  marriage 
there  were  five  children  whose  names  are,  Mary,  wife  of 
Richard  A.  Huntsman,  Joseph  L.,  Benton  P.,  George  W- 
and  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

William  Kinney  Murphy  was  born  in  Perry  county,  Illi- 
nois, July  20th,  18.'i5.  He  was  reared  upon  the  farm,  and 
like  farmers'  boys  of  forty  years  ago,  enjoyed  but  few  oppor- 
tunities of  receiving  an  education.  He  attended  the  sub. 
scription  schools  of  his  neighborhood,  received  private 
instruction  and  was  for  a  short  time  under  the  tutelage  of 
B.  G.  Roots,  a  veteran  educator  of  Perry  county.  That  was 
the  sum  total  of  his  educational  training.  But  from  these 
facts  it  must  not  be  inferred  that  he  is  without  education, 
but  instead  of  receiving  it  in  schools,  it  has  been  mainly 
attained  by  self-culture.  Being  gifted  with  a  strong 
natural  mind  and  possessed  of  a  good  retentive  memory  and 
perceptive  faculties  of  a  high  order,  he  has  been  able  to  sup- 
ply the  lack  of  educational  training.  He  remained  on  the 
farm  until  ISoSI,  when  he  concluded  wisely,  to  adopt  the 
profession  of  law  as  the  business  of  his  life.  With  that  idea 
in  view  he  entered  the  law  office  of  William  H.  McKee,  a 
brilliant  young  attorney  of  Pinckney  ville,  now  deceased,  and 
commenced  the  study.  He  made  rapid  progress  in  his 
studies  and  at  the  fall  term  of  the  circuit  court  held  in 
Pinckneyville  in  1859,  applied  for  and  received  admission 
to  the  bar.  He  commenced  the  practice  in  connection  with 
his  preceptor.  The  dissolution  of  the  partnership  took  place 
soon  after.  In  186G  he  formed  a  law  partnership  with  Hon. 
John  Boyd,  which  continued  until  187t),  when  Thomas  Boyd 
was  admitted  to  the  firm.  The  firm  of  Murphy  &  Boyd 
Bros,  continued  until  1882  when  it  was  dissolved  by  mutual 
consent.  Mr.  Murphy  was  appointed  Master  in  Chancery, 
and  held  that  office  until  1868,  when  increasing  business 
compelled  his  resignation.  Soon  after  the  breaking  out  of 
the  late  war  Mr.  Murphy  assisted  in  raising  a  company  of 
men  for  the  service.  When  the  company  was  organized  he 
was  elected  captain.  It  was  known  as  company  H  of  the 
110th  Regiment  of  Illinois,  Volunteer  Infantry.  The  date 
of  muster  in,  was  August  15th,  1862.  Captain  Murphy 
remained  in  the  service  until  April,  186-'\  when  continued 
ill  health  compelled  his  resignation.  He  returned  home  and 
resumed  his  practice.  It  would  perhaps  be  proper  to  say 
that  Mr.  Murphy  has  been  the  most  successful  resident 
lawyer  of  Perry  county.  In  the  years  gone  by  the  firm  of 
which  he  was  the  head  enjoyed  a  wide  reputation  as  sound 
and  able  lawyers,  and  built  up  a  practice  which  in  extent 
and  volume  was  second  to  none  in  southern  Illinois.  The 
records  of  the  court  show,  that  for  many  years  they  were 
retained  as  counsel  on  one  side  or  the  other  of  every  impor- 
tant case  tried  in  the  courts  of  this  and  surrounding  counties. 
44 


We  say  this  in  no  boastful  spirit  but  merely  to  show  what 
may  be  accomplished  by  a  boy  or  man,  who  has  the  right 
kind  ofstuffinhim,and  courage  and  energy  to  acquire  a  name 
and  reputation  for  himself  no  matter  what  his  surroundings 
may  be. 

Politically  Mr.  Murphy  comes  from  an  old  Democratic 
family,  and  from  them  we  have  no  doubt  imbibed  more  or 
less  of  his  political  ideas.  Education  has  much  to  do  in 
forming  our  opinions  and  to  some  extent  gives  the  bent  and 
shape  to  them  in  after  years.  His  first  presidential  vote  was 
cast  in  1856.  In  1860  he  voted  for  Douglas,  and  in  all  sub- 
sequent general  elections  voted  the  Democratic  ticket.  He 
has  been  frequently  honored  by  his  fellow  citizens  with 
positions  of  honor  and  trust.  In  1864  he  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  24th,  and  in  1866  of  the  25th  General  Assem- 
by  of  the  state  for  the  district  comprising  the  counties  of 
Perry,  Randolph  and  Monroe.  In  1«72  he  represented  the 
same  district  in  the  State  senate,  and  in  the  session  of  1880- 
81  in  the  lower  House.  During  his  term  in  these  bodies  he 
was  a  member  of  the  Judiciary,  revenues  and  railroad  com- 
mittees. He  also  originated  and  was  the  author  of  several 
important  bills,  which  subsequently  were  enacted  and  became 
laws  of  the  State.  His  course  throughout  was  marked  by 
an  earnest  desire  to  enact  such  legislation  as  would  be  in  the 
interests,  not  only  of  his  constituents  but  the  entire  State. 
In  the  exciting  campaign  of  1882  he  became  the  Democratic 
standard  bearer  in  the  Twentieth  Congressional  District, 
but  was  defeated  by  the  present  incumbent,  by  a  majority  of 
only  280  votes  in  the  District,  which  gave  in  1880,  two  years 
prior,  a  republican  majority  of  1840  votes.  In  Perry  county 
where  Mr.  Murphy  was  born  and  raised,  and  where  people 
know  him  best,  he  received  a  majority  of  452  votes.  The 
county  in  1880  gave  a  republican  majority  of  179.  Mr.  Mur. 
phy's  majority  indicates  a  change  of  625  votes,  or  nearly  one- 
fourth  of  the  entire  vote  cast  in  the  county.  His  frequent 
elections  to  the  legeslative  bodies  of  the  State  and  the  mag- 
nificent and  highly  complimentary  vote  in  this  Congressional 
District,  show  the  kind  and  manner  of  man  he  is,  and  attest 
in  the  strongest  manner  possible,  his  standing,  ability  and 
worth  as  a  man  and  citizen. 

In  November,  1874,  he  in  connection  with  other  capitalists 
of  Perry  county,  originated  and  started  the  banking  house  of 
Murphy,  Wail  &  Co.,  in  Pinckneyville. 

On  the  18th  of  April,  1860,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Penina  Ozburn,  daughter  of  Hawkins  S.  and  Mahala 
(Reese)  Ozburn.  She  was  born  in  Perry  county.  Her 
parents  were  natives  of  Tennessee,  but  came  to  Illinois  at  an 
early  day  and  settled  in  Jackson  county.  Hawkins  S.  Ozburn 
was  a  captain  of  a  company  in  the  second  Illinois  Regiment, 
in  the  Mexican  war.  He  was  also  at  one  time  a  member  of 
the  State  senate. 

Four  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Murphy, 
two  of  whom  are  living,  whose  names  are  Hawkins  O.  and 
Sarah  V.  Murphy  He  is  an  honored  member  of  the  A.  F.  k 
A.  M.  order,  and  holds  membership  with  Mitchell  Lodge  No. 
85  of  Pinckneyville. 

This  in  brief  is  an  outline  sketch  of  one  of  Perry  county's 
native  born  citizens.    That  he  is  one  of  her  successful  men 


UG 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY  COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


will  not  be  doubted.  Starting  in  life  poor,  with  a  limited 
education,  no  influential  friends  to  aid  him,  but  alone 
backed  by  indomitable  energy,  business  tact  and  a  determi- 
nation to  succeed,  he  has  won  his  way  step  by  step  to  his 
present  honorable  position.  To  accomplish  what  he  has, 
requires  uncea.«ing  labor,  mental  force,  rigid  economy,  and 
superior  business  tact  and  judgment,  all  of  which  are 
characteristics  of  Mr.  Murphy.  Matters  pertaining  to 
enterprises  that  liave  for  their  object  the  material  increase 
or  prosperity  of  the  town  or  county,  find  in  him  a  liberal 
friend  aud  one  who  always  gives  substantial  aid. 


HON.  JOHN  BOYD. 
The  subject  of  the  following  sketch  is  of  Scotch  and  Eng- 
lish ancestry.  William  Boyd,  the  great-grand-father  of  the 
present  family,  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  and  emigrated  to 
America  during  the  Revolutionary  war.  He  espoused  the 
cause  of  the  patriots,  joined  the  army  under  Washington, 
and  fought  for  the  indepeudence  of  his  adopted  country. 
After  the  war  closed  he  married  and  settled  in  Georgia, 
where  his  son  John,  the  grand-father  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  born,  John  Boyd  remained  in  Georgia  until 
1818,  then  moved  to  North  Carolinia,  from  there  to  Ten- 
nessee, and  in  1823,  came  to  Illinois,  aud  stopped  in  Wash- 
ington county  for  a  short  time,  went  to  Randolph  county, 
and  settled  in  Heacock's  Prairie,  now  known  as  Dutch  Hill 
Prairie,  which  is  located  in  the  northern  part  of  the  county, 
and  there  remained  until  his  death,  which  occurred  about 
1837.  During  the  war  of  1S12  with  Great  Britain,  he  en- 
listed aud  was  in  the  Southern  army,  commanded  by  Gen. 
Jackson.  His  .son  William  was  born  in  Georgia,  in  1806, 
and  was  in  his  seventeenth  year  when  the  family  came  to 
Illinois.  He  married  Isabel  Douglass,  who  was  born  in 
Scotland,but  was  a  resident  of  Randolph  county,  Illinois,  at 
the  time  of  her  marriage.  Her  father,  Launcy  Lat.  Doug- 
lass, was  a  native  of  Jedboro,  Scotland,  and  emigrated  to 
America  in  the  year  1830.  William  Boyd  died  in  1854. 
His  wife  survived  him  and  died  in  1880.  By  that  union 
there  were  eight  children,  five  of  whom  are  yet  living. 
John  Boyd  is  the  eldest  of  the  family.  He  was  born  in 
Randolph  county  near  the  village  of  Preston,  June  30th, 
1833.  He  was  raised  upon  the  farm,  working  during  the 
summer  months  and  attending  the  District  school  in  the  win- 
ter. He  learned  the  carpenter's  trade  and  worked  at  the 
business  for  four  or  five  years,  by  which  time  he  became 
convinced  that  there  were  other  avenues  open  to  wealth,  or 
at  least  a  competency,  that  promised  equally  well  and  more 
inviting  than  the  trade  of  carpenter.  In  1860,  he  came  to 
Pinckneyville,  and  commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the  oflice 
of  Lewis  Hammack.  After  two  years  study  he  applied  for 
admission  to  the  bar,  which  was  granted  after  a  thorough 
examination  as  to  his  qualifications.  He  commenced  the 
practice  in  connection  with  his  preceptor,  which  partnership 
continued  for  one  year,  after  which  he  practiced  alone  until 
1866,  when  the  law  firm  of  Murphy  &  Boyd  were  formed, 
and  it  continued  until  the  summer  of  1882,  when  it  was 
dissolved  by  mutual  agreement.     The  law  firm  of  Murphy 


&  Boyd  was  well  known,  not  only  in  Perry  county,  but  in 
Southern  Illinois.  It  took  front  rank  at  the  bar  of  Perry 
county.  The  records  of  the  court  disclose  the  fact 
that  they  were  retained  on  one  side  or  the  other  of  nearly, 
if  not  all  the  important  cases  tried  in  the  courts  of  the 
county.  Mr.  Boyd  is  a  careful,  pains-taking  and  studious 
lawyer,  a  good  pleader,  logical  reasoner  and  considerable  of 
an  advocate.  He  has  confined  himself  to  the  legitimate 
practice  of  law. 

Politically  he  has  been  a  life-long  Democrat.  In  1876, 
he  was  nominated  and  elected  by  his  party  to  represent  the 
District  in  the  Legislature.  While  a  member  of  that  body  in 
the  session  of  1877,  he  was  a  member  of  the  judiciary  and 
other  important  committees,  aud  earned  the  reputation  of  a 
careful,  able  and  prudent  representative.  On  the  26th  of 
January,  1866,  he  married  Mrs.  Emeline  Osborne,  nee 
Phelps.  She  died  October  26,  of  the  same  year.  On  the 
26th  of  March,  1868,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Mary  E.  daughter  of  William  G.  Brown  of  Perry  county, 
Illinois.  By  the  latter  marriage  there  are  five  children^ 
whose  names  in  the  order  of  their  birth  are  :  Elizabeth  I., 
Mary  E.,  William  W.,  Florence  and  Marrilla  Boyd.  Mr. 
Bovd  is  a  member  of  the  ancient  and  honorable  order  of  A. 
F  aud  A.  M  ,  and  a  member  of  Mitchell  Lodge,  No.  8o, 
Pinckneyville,  Illinois. 


WILLIAM  M.  BREESE, 

The  family  is  of  Welsh  descent  on  the  paternal  side  and 
English  on  the  maternal.  Sidney  Breese  was  a  Welsh  gen- 
tleman who,  after  some  years  of  service  in  the  royal  army, 
came  to  America  and  settled  in  New  York,  in  1756,  and 
died,  leaving  one  son.  This  son,  Samuel,  lived  in  New 
Jersey,  and  his  son,  Arthur  Breese,  was  born  in  that  State. 
He  graduated  at  Princeton,  adopted  the  law  as  a  profession, 
and  in  1793  moved  into  the  wilderness  of  Western  New 
York,  and  settled  at  Whitestown,  now  in  Oneida  county. 
Here  he  married  Catherine,  daughter  of  Henry  Livingston, 
of  Poughkeepsie,  who  had  served  as  a  major  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary army.  Sidney  Breese,  the  father  of  William  M., 
was  the  second  sou  of  this  marriage.  We  copy  from  his 
biographer:  '•  In  1808  the  family  having  removed  to  Utica, 
Mrs.  Breese  died,  leaving  nine  children.  At  twelve  years 
young  Breese  was  placed  in  the  care  of  Rev.  Jesse  Townsend, 
a  Presbyterian  minister  near  '  Madison  Four  Corners,'  where 
he  was  fitted  for  college.  At  fourteen  years  of  age  he  en- 
tered Hamilton  College,  as  freshman.  In  1816  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  Union  College,  at  whose  head  was  the  celebrated 
Dr.  Nott,  entering  in  the  junior  year.  He  graduated  in 
1818,  the  youngest  of  his  class,  and  took  the  third  honor, 
George  W.  Doane,  afterwards  bishop  of  New  Jersey,  the 
second,  and  Alonzo  Potter,  bishop  of  Pennsylvania,  the  first 
He  had,  while  yet  a  boy,  a  strong  personal  friend  in  Elias 
Kent  Kane,  who  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1814.  The 
latter  settled  in  Kaskaskia,  in  the  same  year,  there  opened 
a  law  office,  and  soon  rose  to  distinction,  was  Secretary  of 
the  State  under  Shadrach  Bond,  and  United  States'  Senator 
for  nearly  twelve  years.     He  wrote  to  young  Breese  to  come 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND   PERRY  COUNTIES,  ILLINOIS. 


1^47 


west.  He  complied  with  his  request,  and  oa  the  24th  of 
December,  1818,  he  reached  Kaskaskia.  He  commenced 
reading  law  in  the  office  of  Mr.  Kane,  and  at  the  same  time 
assisting  him  in  the  business  of  the  office  of  Secretary  of 
State.  He  was  a  close  student  and  had  an  able  preceptor, 
and  soon  was  admitted  to  practice.  He  chose  Brownsville, 
in  Jackson  county,  Illinois,  as  the  place  to  begin.  He 
opened  an  office,  and  the  first  terra  brought  thirty  suits.  His 
first  appearance  in  court  and  before  a  jury  was  such  a  de- 
cided failure  that  in  his  chagrin  he  resolved  to  abandon  the 
profession,  and  was  only  prevented  by  the  earnest  appeals 
of  Conrad  Will,  then  the  most  prominent  man  in  the  county. 
In  1820  he  fullowed  the  State  Capital  from  Kaskaskia  to 
Vandalia,  and  there  opened  an  office.  In  1821  he  returned 
to  Kaskaskia,  and  resumed  his  profession.  Soon  after  he 
was  appointed  postmaster  of  the  town.  In  1822  he  was  ap- 
pointed Circuit  Attorney,  by  Governor  Bond,  and  was  reap- 
pointed by  Governor  Cole,  and  held  the  office  for  four  years, 
when  he  was  removed  by  Governor  Edwards.  The  same 
year  of  his  removal  President  Adams  appointed  him  United 
States  Attorney  for  the  State  of  Illinois. 

In  1831  he  proposed  to  the  Judges  of  the  Supreme  Cou.rt 
to  report  all  their  <lecisions.  The  result  was  '  Breese's  Ke- 
ports,'  printed  at  Kaskaskia,  in  18;!1,  and  which  was  the 
first  book  printed  in  Illinois.  The  printer  was  Robert 
Fleming.  In  1832  he  volunteered  as  a  private  in  the  Black 
Hawk  war,  and  when  the  battalion  met  at  Beardstown  was 
elected  Major.  Theophilus  W.  Smith,  a  Justice  of  the 
Supreme  Court,  was  elected  Lieutenant  Colonel.  The  latter 
resigned,  and  Major  Breese  succeeded  to  the  colonelcy  of  the 
battalion.  The  following  year  he  was  leading  counsel  for 
Judge  Smith,  of  the  Supreme  bench,  who  had  been  ini 
peached  by  the  House  of  Representatives  for  misdemeanors 
in  office.  In  183.5,  on  the  establishment  of  the  Circuit  Courts, 
Mr.  Breese  was  elected  Judge  of  the  Second  Circuit.  In 
1839  the  Supreme  Court  was  reorganized,  and  Jlr.  Breese 
was  appointed  to  a  position  on  the  Supreme  bench.  In  1842 
he  resigned  to  accept  the  position  of  United  States  Senator, 
from  Illinois,  and  remained  a  distinguished  member  of  that 
body  foi  six  years.  Among  the  special  bills  that  he  intro- 
duced and  urged  their  adoption  was  the  report  of  a  grunt  of 
land  to  the  State,  for  the  construction  of  a  railroad  from  the 
termination  of  the  Illinois  and  Michigan  canal  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Ohio  river.  This  was  the  original  plan  of  the 
Illinois  Central.  He  also  made  a  long  and  exhaustive  re- 
port in  favor  of  a  grant  of  land  for  a  railroad  from  Lake 
Michigan  to  the  Pacific  Ocean.  This  was  the  first  public 
recognition  of  the  importance  of  that  work.  He  was,  while 
in  the  Senate,  chairman  of  the  comniiitee  on  Public  Land. 
He  favored  the  annexation  of  Texas,  and  was  one  of  the  few 
Senators  who  maintained  the  American  title  up  to  the  Rus- 
sian line  54°,  40',  thereby  excluding  England  from  any  part 
of  the  Pacific  coast.  Upon  his  return  from  the  Senate  he 
retired  to  his  ferm,  in  Clinton  county,  and  there  made  his 
home  until  his  death.  In  the  fall  of  18.50  he  was  elected 
without  opposition,  to  the  Legislature,  and  was  made  speaker 
of 'that  body.  At  this  session  the  Act  incorporating  the 
Illinois  Central  Railroad  Company  was  passed.     In  1855  he 


accepted  a  seat  on  the  Circuit  bench,  and  in  1857,  when 
Judge  Scates  resigned,  he  was  elected  to  the  Supreme  Court 
to  fill  the  vacancy.  In  regular  course  he  became  Chief  Jus- 
tice. He  was  re-elected  in  1861,  and  again  elected  in  1870. 
In  June,  1878,  on  his  way  home  to  Carlyle,  from  the  Su- 
preme Court,  at  Mt.  Vernon,  he  stopped  over  at  Pinckney- 
ville  to  see  his  son,  William  31.,  and  while  here  was  taken 
suddenly  ill,  and  died  a  few  hours  later,  the  date  of  which 
was  June  27,  1878.  From  the  resolutions  passed  by  the 
Chicago  bar,  we  subjoin  the  following  excerpts  :  'For  sixty 
years  he  occupied  a  conspicuous  position  as  a  lawyer,  states- 
man, and  jurist,  and  by  his  eminent  services  in  professional 
and  public  life,  and  the  sterling  integrity  which  marked  his 
character  inspired  universal  confidence  and  respect.  In 
every  position  he  attained,  he  was  fullj-  equal  to  its  respon- 
sibilities'  *  *  *  *  'In  the  last  twent\- years  of  his  life 
he  was  one  of  the  most  learned  and  accomplished  members 
of  the  Supreme  bench.' 

Much  more  might  be  written  of  Judge  Breese's  eminent 
ability  as  a  jurist  and  statesman,  but  we  deem  the  foregoing 
sufficient  to  give  our  readers  an  insight  to  his  character, 
talents  and  profound  learning. 

Judge  Breese  married  Miss  Eliza,  the  second  daughter  of 
William  Morrison,  of  Kaskaskia.  She  yet  survives  her 
honored  husband,  and  is  a  resident  of  Carlyle,  Clinton  county, 
Illinois.  Of  that  union  is  William  M.  Breese.  He  is  the 
ninth  in  a  family  of  fourteen  children,  six  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing. Samuel  Livingston  Breese  is  a  captain  in  the  United 
States  Navy,  Henry  L.  enlisted  in  the  ill-fated  expedition  to 
Nicaragua,  under  Walker,  and  died  from  cholera  before  the 
siege  of  Grenada.  Mary,  wife  of  George  C.  Hanson,  died  and 
left  one  child.  The  others,  deceased,  died  in  infancy 
and  early  childhood.  William  M.  was  born  in  Carlyle, 
Clinton  county,  Illinois,  April  29,  1839.  He  received  his 
primarj-  education  in  the  common  schools,  and  at  fourteen 
years  of  age  went  to  Rock  River  Seminary,  in  Ogle  county, 
and  remained  there  one  term,  then  entered  McKendree  Col- 
lege at  Lebanon,  Illinois.  One  year  later  he  went  to  the  St. 
Louis  L'niversity,  in  St  Louis,  and  from  that  institution 
graduated  in  18.57.  He  then  spent  one  year  under  private 
instructions  in  York,  Maine,  then  returned  home  and  com- 
menced the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  his  father.  When 
the  war  broke  out  he  was  appointed  second  lieutenant  in  the 
IGth  U.  S.  Infantry,  and  subsequently  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  first  lieutenant,  commanding  a  company.  He  re- 
mained in  the  service  until  1864,  then  resigned.  He  was  in 
the  battle  at  Shiloh,  Stone  River,  Chickamauga,  siege  of  At- 
lanta, and  with  Sherman  in  his  "March  through  Georgia." 
After  the  war  he  returned  home  and  engaged  in  farming,  in 
which  he  continued  until  1870,  when  he  was  admitted  to  the 
bar,  and  commenced  practice  in  Carlyle.  In  1872  he  went 
to  Grand  Tower,  in  Jackson  county,  then  to  Thebes,  in 
Alexandria  county,  and  in  1875  came  to  Pinckneyville  and 
opened  a  law  office,  and  here  he  has  remained  to  the  present. 
He  married  Miss  Julia,  daughter  of  Hon.  Levi  L.  Leghtner, 
of  Alexandria  Co.,  Illinois.  Had  one  child  by  that  union 
named  Rosa  Irvin  Breese.  Politically  he  has  always  voted 
the  Democratic  ticket. 


348 


HISTORY   OF  RANDOLPB,   MONROE  AND   PERRY   COUNTIES,   ILLINOIS 


y^^^i<^^><^<>^^t^ 


Walter  Scott  Dinsmore  Smith,  the  present  county 
clerk,  who  has  just  entered  upon  his  third  term,  is  a  native  of 
Ohio,  born  at  Beallsville,  Monroe  county,  January  12, 1845. 

Samuel  Smith,  the  great-grandfather  of  Walter,  was  a 
native  of  Scotland,  a  Presbyterian  clergyman,  educated  at 
the  University  of  Edinburgh.  He  came  to  America,  settled 
in  New  Jersey,  and  was  for  a  short  time  a  teacher  in  the 
Theological  Seminary  at  Princeton  ;  taught  a  select  school 
at  Rahway,  at  which  place  he  died  leaving  a  wife  in 
destitute  circumstances,  with  two  small  children,  one  a 
daughter,  named  Mary,  who  never  married,  and  the  other 
a  son,  Samuel  B.,  then  a  lad  of  ten  years,  who  was  ap- 
prenticed to  a  shoemaker,  from  whose  cruel  treatment  he 
soon  ran  away  and  began  to  buffet  the  realities  of  life  for 
himself.  At  about  twenty  years  of  age,  in  Bucks  county, 
Fenn,  after  a  short  service  in  the  war  of  1812,  he  married 
Martha  Siegfried,  daughter  of  George  Siegfried,  who  was 
by  profession  an  editor,  a  descendant  of  the  old  and  notable 
Siegfried  family  of  Germany,  and  whose  sons  and  grandsons 
were  nearly  all  editors  and  Baptist  ministers. 

Samuel  B.  and  Martha  were  the  parents  of  ten  children, 
all  but  one  of  whom  are  still  living  though  widely  scattered. 


After  the  birth  of  their  third  child,  born  March  23,  1817, 
and  named  George  Siegfried  Smith,  they  removed  to  Ohio, 
settling  in  Jefferson  and  Belmont  counties,  afterward  in 
Monroe,  where  the  family  grew  up  in  the  occupations  of 
farmine  and  manufacturing  woollen  cloths. 

George  S.  adopted  the  profession  of  medicine,  and  was  mar- 
ried March  3,  1840,  to  Miss  Rachel  Garvin,  of  Scotch-Irish 
parentage,  born  in  Ohio  county,  West  Virginia.  She  was 
about  a  year  his  junior.  Her  parents,  James  Garvin  and 
Jane,  whose  maiden  name  was  Scott,  a  descendant  of  the 
Scottsand  Dinsmores,  were  both  born  in  the  north  of  Ireland, 
and  had  five  children.  Rachel  being  the  youngest  was  left 
an  orphan  at  an  early  age.  She  died  in  Jackson  county, 
111.,  in  186iJ,  leaving  four  children  grown  to  maturity.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  third  in  the  family  :  the  other 
members  being  A.  J.  Smith,  of  Du  Quoin  ;  Friend  Smith,  of 
Murphysboro  ;  and  Jennie,  wife  of  L.  T.  Ross.  George  S. 
Smith,  the  father,  now  lives  in  Finckneyville,  having  moved 
to  near  Jefferson  City,  Mo.,  in  1858,  thence  to  Du  Quoin, 
111 ,  in  1862,  and  to  Finckneyville  in  1877. 

Walter  obtained  his  primary  education  in  the  district 
school  near  Newport,  Ohio,  where  he  spent  the  formative 


HISTORY   OF  RANDOLPH,   MONROE  AND   PERRY   COUNTIES,   ILLINOIS 


349 


period  of  his  youth,  fortunately  surrounded  by  good  in- 
fluences. He  was  quite  proficient  iu  all  his  studies,  and 
while  the  family  resided  in  Missouri,  he  taught  two  terms  of 
school — this  was  before  he  was  seventeen  years  old.  After 
the  family  came  to  Illinois,  he  was  engaged  in  farming, 
taught  school  one  winter  and  attended  Shurtleft"  college,  at 
Upper  Alton,  a  little  over  two  years. 

In  December,  186),  having  abandoned  his  college  course 
on  account  of  ill-health,  he  was  appointed  deputy  clerk  by 
L.  T.  Ross,  and  continued  to  serve  as  such  under  him  and 
his  successor,  Mr.  Harriss,  until  1873,  when  as  an  In- 
dependent candidate,  he  was  elected  county  clerk  by  a 
majority  of  nearly  850.  In  1877,  he  was  re-elected  without 
opposition,  held  over  under  the  new  law  until  1882,  when, 
for  the  third  time  he  was  elected,  his  majority  being  1803 
in  a  vote  of  2989.  These  frequent  elections  by  increased 
majorities  show,  in  the  strongest  manner  possible,  the  stand- 
ing and  popularity  of  Mr.  Smith  iu  Perry  county,  and  are 
tributes  to  his  worth  as  a  man,  and  his  ability  and  faith- 
fulness as  a  county  official.  Politically,  Mr.  Smith  is  a 
Republican,  but  in  no  wise  a  partisan. 

On  the  11th  day  of  Sept-,  1868,  he  married  Jliss  Laura 
A.  Gordon,  a  native  of  Pinckneyville,  born  February  8, 
18.")1.  She  was  the  youngest  daugiiter  of  James  E.  Gordon 
(deceased),  who  came  here  from  Kentucky  in  1840,  and 
died  in  18.55.  Her  mother,  Lucy  A.  (now  Malone),  is  the 
daughter  of  William  Jones,  deceased,  and  sister  of  Humph- 
rey B.  Jones,  deceased. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  have  been  born  six  children — 
Emma,  Elmer  G.,  Arthur  C,  Harry  S.,  Xi-llie  May,  and 
Percy  B.  The  two  before  the  last  named  sleep  side  by  side 
in  the  village  cemetery. 

Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smitli  are  members  of  the  Baptist 
church.  The  former  has  been  a  member  since  the  eleventh 
year  of  his  age,  having  been  baptized  in  the  Ohio  river  by 
Rev.  J.  C.  Riley.  Two  "of  the  children  have  followed  his 
example  by  uniting  with  the  church  at  an  early  age. 

Of  W.  S.  D.  Smith,  it  may  truly  be  said  that,  next  to  his 
family  he  loves  his  church.  Though  tolerant  of  tlie  opinions 
of  others,  he  is  firm  in  the  doctrines  of  his  people  and 
earnest  in  the  support  of  the  cause.  He  has  for  many  years 
served  as  Sunday-school  superintendent  and  clerk  of  the 
church,  and  was  years  ago  granted  a  license  to  preach,  but 
secular  engagements  have  kept  him  from  engaging  in  the 
work  of  the  ministry,  except  as  an  occasional  supply. 

LOUIS  M.  KANE. 
The  Kane  family  are  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry  and  the  de- 
scendants of  the  old  covenanter  stock.  John  Kane,  the 
grandfather  of  Louis  M.,  emigrated  to  America  from 
Ireland  about  the  time  of  the  Revolutionary  war.  He  was 
while  a  resident  of  Ireland  engaged  in  shipping.  Was  a 
sailor  by  profession  and  captain  of  a  vessel.  He  settled  in 
New  York  city,  and  there  continued  the  merchant  marine 
business,  and  was  the  owner  of  several  ships  that  plied  be- 
tween New  York  and  foreign  ports.  He  was  then  a  man  of 
large  means,  but  a  short  time  before  his  death  his  fortune  by 
some  unlucky  ventures  was  swept  away  from  him.     His  wife 


whom  he  married  in  Ireland,  died  in  New  York,  where  both 
she  and  her  husband  lie  buried.  There  were  six  children. 
The  eldest  son  Searline  died  while  at  college.  John  K., 
rose  to  prominence  as  a  lawyer  and  was  a  judge  of  the  courts 
of  Philadelphia  for  many  years.  He  was  the  father  of 
Gen.  Kane,  who  distinguished  himself  during  the  late  war, 
and  also  of  Dr.  Kane,  the  famous  Artie  explorer.  There 
were  three  daughters,  only  one  of  whom  married.  Ellas 
Kent  Kane,  the  father  of  Louis  M.,  was  the  youngest  of  the 
family.  He  was  born  in  New  York  in  1781,  and  educated 
at  Yale  College.  After  his  graduation  he  studied  law,  and 
practiced  for  some  time  in  his  native  state.  In  1814  he 
came  west  to  the  territory  of  Illinois  and  settled  at  Kaskas- 
kia,  which  was  then  the  metropolis  of  the  west.  He  there 
opened  a  law  office  and  had  for  his  pupils  the  late  Judge 
Sidney  Breese,  Gen.  Shields  and  other  men  who  in  after 
years  became  prominent  in  the  state.  In  1818  he  was  ap- 
pointed Secretary  of  State  by  Governor  Bond,  and  continued 
in  office  until  1824,  when  he  was  elected  to  the  senate  of  the 
United  States.  He  proved  himself  an  industrious  and  able 
member  of  that  body  and  served  out  his  full  term  with  so 
much  satisfaction  to  his  constituents  that  he  was  re-elected 
in  1830,  without  any  serious  opposition.  Before  the  expira- 
tion of  his  second  term  his  health,  which  had  always  been 
feeble,  gave  way,  and  he  died  December  11th,  1835.  As  a 
public  man  Mr.  Kane  stood  among  the  first  of  the  state. 
He  left  the  impress  of  his  genius  and  talent  upon  the  fun- 
damental law  of  Illinois.  It  was  he  who  drafted  and  wrote 
the  constitution  which  was  adopted,  and  which  notwith- 
standing the  changes  that  time  has  demanded,  and  its 
amendments  which  have  marred  its  beauty,  still  challenges 
the  admiration  of  statesmen  for  its  matchless  purity  of  dic- 
tion, broad  statesmanlike  principles,  liberal  construction, 
concise  though  comprehensive  provisions  and  definition  of 
its  powers.  It  is,  indeed,  a  model  of  its  kind,  and  without  a 
peer  in  the  Union.  Mr.  Kane  was  held  in  high  estimation 
by  his  party  throughout  the  Union.  He  was  distinguished 
for  his  zeal  and  firmness  as  a  party  man,  and  exerted  a  po- 
tent influence  through  hi.''  talents  and  moral  worth,  as  well 
as  by  the  rectitude  of  his  political  principles,  for  the  cause  of 
his  party  in  the  west.  Yet  such  was  his  sense  of  decorum 
and  his  power  of  enforcing  its  obligations  on  others  that  he 
was  scarcely  ever  reached  by  the  bitterness  of  party  invec- 
tive. His  political  friends  loved  him — his  political  enemies 
respected  him.  In  1814  he  married  Felicita  Peltia,  a  native 
of  Kaskaskia,  born  in  1796,  and  a  descendant  of  an  old 
French  family.  She  died  in  the  home  of  her  birth  in  1852. 
There  w'ere  ten  children  by  that  union.  Two  of  them  died 
in  infimcy  and  four  grew  to  maturity.  Maria,  the  eldest 
daughter,  married  W.  ('.  Kinney,  son  of  ex-(tovernor  Kin- 
ney. Elias  K.,  was  educated  and  graduated  from  West 
Point  in  l'H41.  He  pa.ssed  through  the  Mexican  war  under 
the  command  of  Gen.  Taylor,  with  distinguished  honor  to 
himself,  and  rose  to  the  rank  of  captain  at  its  close.  He 
was  captured  with  Captain  Thornton  at  the  opening  of  the 
war  when  the  first  blood  was  shed,  and  remained  a  prisoner 
a  few  weeks  when  he  was  exchanged.  He  was  at  the  siege 
of  Monterey,  and  was  stationed  there  during  the  battle  of 


350 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


Buena  Vista.  He  came  up  with  re-enforcements  early  on 
the  moruiug  after  the  battle,  having  been  engaged  during 
the  battle  in  guarding  the  pass  of  Riaconada,  to  protect 
Gen.  Taylor's  rear.  After  the  war  he  went  in  the  expedition 
from  Camargo  to  Santa  Fc.  He  was  then  ordered  to  Cali- 
fornia, where  he  acted  as  Quartermaster  from  1847  to  185-. 
He  disbursed  immense  sums  of  money  to  the  perfect  satis- 
faction of  his  superiors  at  Washington  city.  It  is  said  of 
him,  that  although  he  was  one  of  the  youngest  officers  in 
the  regular  array,  yet  he  stood  among  the  highest  in  every 
quality  of  the  man  of  honor,  the  soldier  and  the  gentleman. 
No  man  ever  possessed  more  of  the  confidence  of  those  who 
were  on  terms  of  intimacy  with  him.  "  None  knew  him  but  to 
love  him."  Elizabeth,  the  second  daughter  of  Elias  K. 
Kane,  married  William  H.  Bissell,  who  was  then  a  practising 
attorney  of  law,  in  which  profession  he  became  eminent. 
At  the  breaking  out  of  the  Mexican  war  he  raised  a  regi- 
ment and  was  commissioned  colonel.  It  was  known  as  the 
2d  Regiment,  and  took  a  conspicuous  part  in  the  battle  of 
Buena  Vista,  and  to  it  and  the  Mississippi  Rifles  belongs  the 
honor  of  saving  the  day  and  preventing  the  defeat  of  Gen. 
Taylor's  forces.  After  the  war  he  returned  and  represented 
his  District  in  Congress,  and  while  there  was  noted  for  his 
aggres-siveness  and  hostility  to  the  slave  power.  His  phil- 
ippics against  the  institution  of  slavery  were  unequaled  and 
terrible,  and  called  down  upon  him  the  wrath  and  vengeance 
of  the  leaders  from  the  South.  But  he  had  faced  the  cold 
polished  lance  in  the  hands  of  the  Mexican,  and  stood  un- 
daunted on  the  gory  field  of  Buena  Vista,  while  his  com- 
rades were  falling  thick  and  fast  aroiind  him,  and  was  made 
of  too  heroic  material  to  quail  before  the  braggadocio  of 
southern  chivalry  and  their  threatened  resort  to  the  duello, 
to  compel  his  acquiescence  to  their  views  and  schemes.  In 
1856  he  was  nominated  by  his  party  and  elected  Governor 
of  Illinois,  and  died  much  regretted  in  1859. 

Louis  M.  Kane,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  the  youngest  of 
the  children  of  Elias  Kent  Kane.  He  was  born  in  Kaskaskia 
May  17th,  1831,  and  spent  his  boyhood  in  the  schools  of 
Kaskaskia  and  remained  there  until  1841,  when  he  removed 
to  Belleville,  and  from  there  he  went  to  California  in  1851, 
and  engaged  in  mining  and  different  vocations  until  1S56, 
when  he  returned  home  to  Belleville.  In  1857,  he  was  ap- 
pointed private  secretary  to  Governor  Bissell,  and  remained 
in  that  capacity  for  two  years.  In  1869  he  went  to 
Nashville  in  Washington  county,  then  back  to  Belleville, 
and  in  1879  came  to  Pinckneyville,  and  engaged  in  the 
agricultural  implement  trade  in  connection  with  his  sons,  and 
soon  after  they  added  livery,  feed  and  sale  stables,  and  here 
he  has  continued  to  the  present.  On  the  6th  of  August, 
1856,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary,  daughter  of 
Captain  William  Watson  of  Belleville.  By  that  union 
there  have  been  ten  children,  eight  of  whom  are  living. 
Their  names  in  the  order  of  their  birth,  are  Louis  McLain, 
who  is  a  lawyer  and  resident  of  Chicago,  Illinois  ;  Carrie  W., 
Charles  Delisle,  law  student  in  the  office  of  E.  H.  Lemen  ; 
William  W.,  Elias  Kent,  John  K.,  May  and  Elizabeth  Kane. 
Louis  M.,  married  Miss  Ella  Kaniff  of  St.  Louis,  Mo. 
Politically  Mr.  Kane  has  always  been  a  staunch  and  reli- 
able Democrat.     He  is  an  honored  member  of  A.  F.  and  A. 


M.,  and  belongs  to  Mitchell  Lodge  No.  85,  Pinckneyville, 
Illinois. 


THOMAS  BOYD. 

The  Boyd  family  on  the  paternal  side  is  of  Scotch  ances- 
try, and  on  the  maternal,  English.  William  Boyd,  the 
great-grandfather  of  Thomas,  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  and 
emigrated  to  America  during  the  Revolutionary  war,  es- 
poused the  cause  of  the  patriots,  joined  the  army  under 
Washington  and  fought  for  the  independence  of  his  adopted 
country.  After  the  close  of  the  war  he  married  and  settled 
in  Georgia,  where  his  son,  John,  the  grandfather  of  the 
present  family,  was  born  in  1818.  John  Boyd  moved  to 
North  Carolina,  and  from  thence  to  Tennessee,  and  in  1823 
came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Washington  county,  but  soon 
after  removed  to  Randolph  county  to  a  point  then  known 
as  Heacock's  Prairie,  now  known  as  Dutch  Hill  Prairie,  and 
there  remained  until  his  death,  which  occurred  about  1837. 
During  the  war  of  1812  he  enlisted  and  was  a  soldier  under 
Jackson  in  the  southern  army.  His  son,  John  B.,  father  of 
Thomas,  was  born  in  Georgia  in  1800,  and  came  with  his  father 
to  Illinois,  and  here  married  L«abel  Douglass,  daughter  of 
Lance  L.  Douglass.  She  was  born  in  Scotland  though  partially 
reared  in  Illinois.  She  survived  her  husband,  who  died  in 
1854,  and  she  in  1880.  By  this  union  there  were  eight  chil- 
dren, five  of  whom  are  living.  Thomas,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  born  in  Randolph  county,  Sept.  6th,  1847;  he  was 
reared  upon  his  father's  farm  and  recieved  his  education  in  the 
district  schools  of  his  neighborhood.  At  the  age  of  nineteen 
he  left  home  and  worked  at  his  trade  of  carpenter;  subsequent- 
ly taught  school,  which  he  continued  until  1870,  when  he  en- 
tered the  law  office  of  Murphey  &.  Boyd  at  Pinckneyville 
and  commenced  the  study  of  law;  he  however  continued  to 
follow  teaching  in  the  winter  months,  returning  to  his 
studies  during  vacation.  At  the  January  term  of  the  Su- 
preme Court,  held  at  Springfield  in  1875,  he  passed  a  suc- 
cessful examination  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar;  he  then 
formed  a  law  partnership  with  his  preceptors,  and  became  a 
member  of  the  well-known  law  firm  of  Murphey  &  Boyd 
Bros.,  which  continued  until  July,  1882;  when  John  Boyd 
withdrew,  and  Thomas  Boyd  remained  a  law  partner  with 
Mr.  Murphy  until  the  latter  part  of  November,  1882,  when 
the  dissolution  of  the  firm  took  place  by  mutual  consent. 
As  a  practitioner  Mr.  Boyd  has  reason  to  be  gratified  with 
his  success ;  he  brought  to  the  profession  studious  habits, 
industry,  and  an  earnest  desire  to  excel ;  while  comparative- 
ly on  the  threshold  of  his  professional  life,  he  has  given  un- 
doubted evidence  of  his  fitness  and  ability  to  cope  with  the 
subtle  intricacies  of  the  law,  and  in  good  time  we  opine 
he  will  become  eminent  and  learned  in  his  chosen  profession. 

Politically  Mr.  Boyd  has  always  been  a  reliable  Demo- 
crat, true  to  his  principles,  and  without  doubt  or  shadow  of 
turning.  He  is  an  honored  member  of  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  and 
also  of  the  higher  order  of  R.  A.  M.  On  the  13th  of  March, 
1878,  he  was  joined  in  holy  wedlock  to  Mrs.  Sarah  J.  Hight,7iee 
Hughes,  daughter  of  William  A.  Hughes,  of  Pulaski  county, 
Illinois.  By  that  union  there  have  been  two  children, 
named  Maud  S.,  who  died  in  her  second  year,  and  Loren 
H.  Boyd. 


350A 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    M  OX  ROE   AXD    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


351 


(3^  d^  C^^S^^^^^^ 


The  Anderson  family  of  Pern*  county  are  descended  from 
the  pioneer  stock  of  Illinois.  They  are  of  Scotch  ancestry. 
Members  of  the  family  came  to  America  prior  to  the  Kevo- 
lutionary  war  and  settled  iu  Virginia.  Amos  Anderson,  the 
grandfather  of  Richard  B.,  was  born  in  that  State  and  came 
west  to  Kaskaskia  in  17'JO.  He  remained  there  until  1824, 
then  moved  to  Perry  county  and  settled  in  the  eastern  part 
of  Holt's  Prairie,  and  there  died  about  1844.  In  his  house 
wa.s  held  the  first  term  of  court  after  Perry  county  was  or- 
ganized in  1827.  During  the  war  of  1812  he  volunteered 
and  was  a  soldier  under  General  Jackson  in  the  Southern 
army.  He  married  in  Virginia,  by  which  union  there  were 
seven  children,  one  of  whom  is  living,  named  John,  a  resi- 
dent of  Emporia,  Kansas.  Of  that  union  was  Berry  Ander- 
son, the  father  of  Richard  B.  He  was  born  in  Kaskaskia 
December  27,  1805,  and  died  December  5,  18G7.  He  fol- 
lowed the  occupation  of  a  farmer,  and  was  a  resident  of  this 
county  until  his  death  He  was  a  soldier  of  the  Black 
Hawk  war,  and  was  an  open-hearted  generous  man,  and 
gave  much  to  charity.  He  married  Elizabeth  Marlow  in 
1830      She  was  a  native  of  Perry  county,  and  the  daughter 


of  Richard  and  Tabiiha  Marlow.  .'^he  died  .Tune  11,  1853. 
He  subsequently  married  Aletha  JIcKlnney.  Her  maiden 
name  was  Hall,  daughter  of  Alcanac  Hall.  By  the  latter 
marriage  there  was  one  child  named  John  Newton  Ander- 
son. B)'  the  first  marriage  there  were  nine  children,  si.^  of 
whom  are  still  living.  Two  of  the  sons,  Andrew  J.  and 
Bartley  C.  were  soldiers  in  the  late  war.  The  first  was  a 
member  of  Company  I,  1st  Mo.  Regt.,  and  the  latter  in  the 
80th  Regt.  Ills.  Vol.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the 
youngest  in  the  family.  He  was  born  in  Holt's  Prairie, 
Ferry  county,  Illinois,  June  9,  185o.  He  was  reared  upon 
the  farm,  and  received  his  primary  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  the  county.  After  the  death  of  his  father  he  was 
placed  with  his  brother  in  Bond  county  and  remained  in  his 
home  one  year,  after  which  he  hired  out  to  do  general  farm 
work.  During  the  winter  months  he  attended  school.  When 
he  reached  the  age  of  nineteen  he  attended  the  Agricultural 
School  in  Irvington,  in  Washington  county,  and  in  the  follow. 
ing  winter  taught  school.  In  the  summer  he  returned  to 
farm  work,  and  so  continued  teaching  iu  the  winter  and 
working  in  the  summer  months  until  1875,  when  in  the  spring 


352 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


of  that  year  he  entered  the  National  Normal  University  at 
Lebanon,  Ohio,  with  the  design  of  more  fully  equipping  him. 
self  for  teaching,  a  profession  he  determined  to  adopt  and 
make  his  life  work.  He  remained  in  the  University  two 
years,  then  returned  and  taught  the  public  schools  in  Nash- 
ville, Washington  county,  Illinois,  then  took  charge  of  the 
schools  at  New  Mindom  in  same  county,  and  subsequently 
was  Principal  of  the  public  schools  of  Tamaroa  and  Pinckney- 
ville  in  Perry  county,  and  Kinmendy,  in  Marion  county, 
Illinois.  In  1882  ill  health  compelled  him  to  abandon 
teaching  for  awhile.  In  1882  his  ability  as  a  teacher  and 
zeal  in  the  cause  of  education  was  suitably  rewarded  by 
being  elected  to  the  position  of  Superintendent  of  the  schools 
of  Perry  county,  and  at  the  present  time  he  is  exercising  the 
duties  of  the  office  in  a  manner  creditable  alike  to  himself 
and  those  who  honored  him  with  their  suffrages.  On  the 
14th  of  August,  1879,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Retta,  daughter  of  A.  J.  and  Sarah  Bowman,  of  Tamaroa, 
111.  By  that  union  there  is  one  daughter  named  Elma  Vera 
Anderson.  His  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 
Mr.  Anderson  holds  membership  with  the  Baptist  church. 
His  father  and  mother  were  among  the  first  members  of  that 
church  in  Perry  county,  and  assisted  in  its  organization. 
Mr.  Anderson  isamember  ofthe  A.  F.and  A.  M.,and  belongs 
to  Tamaroa  Lodge  No.  207.  Politically  he  uniformly  votes 
the  Republican  ticket.  School  teaching  has  been  his  pro- 
iession  during  the  greater  part  of  his  active  life,  and  it  may 
be  incidentally  mentioned  that  his  brother,  Harrison  M. 
Anderson,  is  also  a  teacher,  and  stands  in  the  front  rank  of 
the  profession  in  the  State. 

LEWIS  HAMMACK. 

The  Hammack  family  is  of  English  and  Scotch  ancestry. 
The  paternal  grandfather  was  named  Lewis,  and  was  born 
in  Virginia,  and  removed  to  Tennessee  in  1814,  and  settled 
in  Warren  county,  where  he  died.  He  was  by  occupation  a 
farmer,  and  a  local  preacher  in  the  M.  E.  Church.  He 
married  a  lady  by  the  name  of  Fagins,  by  which  union  there 
were  nine  children,  who  grew  to  maturity.  Of  these  was 
Benjamin,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  He  was 
born  in  Virginia  in  1800,  and  went  with  the  family  to  Ten- 
nessee, where  he  remained  until  1827,  when  he  came  north 
to  Illinois,  and  settled  in  Jackson  county.  Two  years  later 
he  removed  to  Perry  county,  and  settled  northwest  of  Tama- 
roa, and  there  died  in  1875.  He  followed  farming.  He 
married  Sarah  Hull,  of  Kentucky.  She  was  the  daughter 
of  Richard  and  Nancy  (Stockdale)  Hull.  She  died  in  1877. 
By  that  union  there  were  nine  children,  all  of  whom  reached 
maturity,  and  five  of  them  yet  survive.  Lewis  is  the  second 
in  the  family.  He  was  born  in  Warren  county,  Tennessee, 
June  25,  1825,  and  was  two  years  old  when  the  family  came 
north  to  Illinois.  He  grew  up  on  the  farm,  and  like  most 
farmers'  boys  of  an  early  day  in  Illinois,  received  a  limited 
education  in  the  subscription  schools  of  his  neighborhood. 
He  remained  at  home  until  June,  1846,  at  which  time  he 
volunteered  for  one  year's  service  in  the  Mexican  war.  He 
joined  Company  K  of  the  Second  Regiment  Illinois  Vol- 
unteers, under  the  command  of  Col.  Bissell,  subsequently 


governor  of  Illinois.  He  participated  with  his  command  in 
the  hard- fought  battle  of  Buena  Vista,  where  the  American 
forces  under  Gen.  Taylor  met  and  defeated  five  times  their 
number  of  the  Mexicans  under  their  favorite  leader  and 
general,  Santa  Anna.  After  his  enlistment  expired  he  re- 
turned home  and  went  to  school  fifteen  days, — then  taught 
school  two  terms  at  Pinckneyville.  In  1848  he  was  soli- 
cited to  run  for  circuit  clerk.  He  consented,  made  the  race, 
and  was  elected,  and  served  oue  full  term.  In  1852  he  was 
a  candidate  for  the  same  position  on  the  prohibition  plat- 
form, but  was  defeated  by  a  small  majority.  When  he  was 
teaching  school  he  got  hold  of  "  Chitty  on  Contracts,"  which 
awakened  in  him  a  desire  for  the  profession  of  law.  Dr. 
Jones,  a  warm  personal  friend  of  his,  encouraged  him  to 
study  for  the  bar,  and,  without  his  knowledge,  procured  his 
license  to  practice,  the  date  of  which  is  Feb.  7th,  1853.  He 
then  went  to  work  in  earnest,  and  studied  hard  to  acquire  a 
knowledge  of  the  law.  The  first  court  held  after  his  admis- 
sion he  had  a  few  cases,  and  at  every  subsequent  term  they 
kept  increasing,  and  he  was  soon  in  the  possession  of  a  large 
docket ;  and,  in  fact,  for  a  number  of  years,  no  cases  of  any 
importance  were  tried  in  the  courts  of  Perry  county  in  which 
he  was  not  retained  as  counsel  on  one  side  or  the  other.  His 
specialties  are  in  the  line  of  the  Chancery  side  and  real 
estate  law,  and  in  that  class  of  practice  he  has  few  superiors 
at  the  bar. 

In  18G1  he  was  a  candidate  fur  the  position  of  Judge 
of  this  Circuit,  and  also  in  1863,  but  both  times  was  de- 
feated, the  last  time  by  only  twenty-seven  votes.  His  com- 
petitor on  that  occasion  was  Judge  Mulky,  now  one  of  the 
Supreme  Justices  of  the  State.  He  has  held  the  ofijce  of 
Master  in  Chancery  twice, — the  first  time,  while  he  was  cir- 
cuit clerk,  and  the  other  after  he  was  in  the  practice.  His 
practice  accumulated  to  such  a  degree  that  he  was  unable 
to  give  it  the  attention  it  required,  and  therefore  resigned. 
Mr.  Hammack  has  been  married  three  times.  The  first  time 
to  Miss  Cordelia  M.  Edwards,  April  7th,  1851.  She  died 
May  14th,  1872,  leaving  three  children,  named  Elizabeth 
Jane,  who  is  the  wife  of  Benjamin  Wood,  now  a  resident  of 
Choctaw  Nation,  in  the  Indian  Territory  ;  William,  and 
Charles  Lewis,  who  are  residents  of  Pinckneyville.  On  the 
9th  of  October,  1876,  Mr.  Hammack  married  Miss  Emma 
J.  Bull.  She  died  Nov.  25,  1877,  leaving  no  living  issue. 
He  married  his  present  wife  December  7th,  1879.  She  was 
Mrs.  Maria  Jane  Guthrie,  nee  Rigg,  a  native  of  Chester 
county,  Pennsylvania,  and  daughter  of  Alexander  and  Han- 
nah (Maitland)  Rigg.  His  wife  is  a  member  ofthe  Presby- 
terian Church.  Politically,  Mr.  Hammack  was  originally  a 
democrat,  but  was  opposed  to  slavery.  In  1866,  during  the 
Kansas-Nebraska  troubles,  he  leaned  to  the  anti-slavery 
party,  and  voted  for  W.  H.  Bissell  for  governor  ;  and  the 
whig  ticket  for  Bell  and  Everett  in  1860 ;  and  for  Abraham 
Lincoln  in  1864  ;  and  voted  for  all  subsequent  Presidents 
up  to  1880,  when  he  became  a  convert  to  the  principles  and 
theories  of  the  Greenback  party  and  voted  their  ticket.  He 
is  an  outspoken  and  avowed  prohibitionist,  and  believes  that 
the  licensing  of  saloons  is  an  offense  against  good  morals, 
religion,  and  against  the  best  interests  of  society. 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


353 


/^' 


't/ . 


The  Rushing  family  are  the  descendants  of  ICnglish  and 
Welsh  ancestry.  The  paternal  grandfather,  Joseph  Rush- 
ing, was  born  in  Ason  county,  North  Carolina.  In  1811  he 
moved  to  Bedford  county,  Tennessee,  and  there  died.  He 
married  Martha  Deason.  Both  lie  buried  at  the  Enos 
Meeting  House  burying  ground  in  Bedford  county,  Tenn. 
There  were  four  sons  and  eight  daughters  by  that  union. 
Five  of  the  children  are  yet  living.  Of  the  sons  was  Joel, 
father  of  Evan  B.,  born  in  Ason  county,  N.  C,  Dec.  20, 
1799.  He  grew  to  manhood  in  Tennessee,  and  married  in 
1820,  and  in  1833  came  to  and  stopped  for  a  short  time  in 
Washington  county.  The  same  year  he  purchased  the  S. 
W.  quarter  of  the  S.  E.  quarter  of  section  thirteen  and  the 
N.  W.  quarter  of  the  N.  E.  quarter  of  section  twenty-four 
in  T.  4,  R.  4,  W.  of  3d  P.  M.  in  Perry  county,  improved  it, 
and  there  made  his  home  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
45 


July  10,  1878.  He  was  (juite  active  and  prominent  in  life, 
and  was  one  of  the  county  commissioners  under  whose  direc- 
tion was  built  the  old  part  of  the  present  court-house.  He 
became  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church  in  1860.  He  was 
an  exemplary  and  good  citizen.  In  1820,  while  a  resident 
of  Tennessee,  he  married  Susanna  Ilaile  of  the  same  state. 
She  died  Aug.  7,  1843.  He  afterwards  married  Sabra  Tack- 
ett.  She  died,  leaving  no  children  living.  He  subsequently 
married  Martha  Y.  Wells,  who  yet  survives  him.  By  the 
latter  marriage  there  is  one  son,  named  Robert  C  Rushing, 
clerk  in  the  banking  house  of  Murphey,  Wall  cS:  Co 

By  the  union  of  Joel  and  Susanah  (Haile)  Rushing,  there 
were  eight  children,  whose  name.s  are  Joseph  A.,  who  died 
in  his  fourteenth  year,  John  W.,  Evan  B.,  Enoch  D., 
Amanda,  wife  of  Rev.  John  C.  Wilson,  Joel  P.,  Thomas  S. 
and  Martha  Ann.     The  latter  died  in  infancy.     Evan  B., 


354 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE    AND    PERRY   COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Bedford  county, 
Tenn.,  June  17,  1827.  He  was  raised  on  the  farm,  and  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  common  schools  of  Perry  county, 
which  was  farther  improved  by  teaching  and  self  culture. 
In  18.5(j  he  was  elected  circuit  clerk  of  Perry  county,  re- 
elected in  1860,  and  served  two  terms.  The  position  of  clerk 
made  him  acquainted  with  many  of  the  forms  of  law  and  a 
knowledge  of  the  practice,  and  by  reading  the  standard 
text-books  during  his  leisure  time  while  he  was  circuit  clerk, 
he  fitted  himself  to  enter  the  profession  of  law.  He  passed 
a  creditable  and  successful  examination,  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  July,  18B8.  He  commenced  ihe  practice  in 
Pinckneyville.  He  chose  the  chancery  and  real  estate  busi- 
ness, and  has  given  that  practice  the  most  of  his  attention 
since  his  admission.  In  1868  he  was  appointed  master  in 
chancery  by  Hon.  M.  C  Crawford,  Judge  of  this  judicial 
circuit,  and  was  re-appointed  at  different  times  by  Judges 
Watts,  Snyder  and  Wall,  and  has  held  the  office  with  but 
slight  interregnum  ever  since.  Politically,  Mr.  Rushing 
has  been  a  life-long  democrat  and  a  staunch  believer  in 
Democratic  principles.  In  the  local  government  of  Pinck- 
neyville, he  has  served  the  people  as  President  of  the  Board 
of  Trustees  for  three  terms,  and  has  been  a  member  of  the 
board  before  and  since.  He  was  one  of  the  original  founders 
and  promoters  of  the  Perry  County  Agricultural  Society  in 
18.56,  and  has  been  prominently  identified  and  connected 
with  it  since  that  date.  It  can  truthfully  be  said  of  Mr. 
Rushing,  that  he  is  eminently  a  business  man,  and  conducts 
his  business,  whether  it  be  of  a  public  or  private  nature, 
upon  plain  business  principles,  «hicb,  in  the  end,  always 
assures  and  brings  success. 

On  the  20th  of  March,  1849,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Letitia,  daughter  of  Reuben  and  Elizabeth  (Jones) 
Kelley,  natives  of  Bedford  county,  Tenn.  She  was  born  in 
Perry  county.  Ills.,  Feb.  6,  1833,  and  died  Sept.  28,  1864. 
By  that  union  there  were  four  children,  three  of  whom  are 
living.  Their  names  in  the  order  of  their  birth  are  Susanna 
E.,  wife  of  Thomas  S.  Campbell,  Mary  A  ,  wife  of  Frank 
M.  Roe,  Edna  L.,  who  died  Sept.  15,  1861,  and  Richard  J. 
Rushing,  who  married  Miss  Lizzie  Rohe  of  Pinckneyville. 
On  the  3d  of  Sept.,  1878,  Mr.  Rushing  married  Mrs.  Mar- 
garet M.,  widow  of  James  J  Hoye,  and  daughter  of  W.  C. 
Murphey.  an  old  and  distinguished  settler  of  Perry  county- 
Mrs.  Rushing  was  born  in  Perry  county.  She  has  one  child 
by  her  former  marriage,  named  Kate  Hoye.  Mr.  Rushing 
is  a  member  of  the  A.  F.  and  A.  M  order,  and  belongs  to 
Mitchell  Lodge,  No.  85,  and  Du  Quoin  Chapter,  No.  44. 


Capt.  R.  Q.  THOMPSON. 

The  subject  of  the  following  sketch  was  born  in  Lawrence 
county,  Pennsylvania,  Aug.  31st,  1836.  His  father  James 
G.  Thompson  was  a  native  of  the  same  State.  He  came 
west  in  18.59  and  settled  in  Du  Quoin,  Perry  county,  Illinois, 
and  remained  in  the  county  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
Nov  16,  1879.     He  was  a  carpenter  and  cabinetmaker,  and 


followed  the  trade  for  the  greater  portion  of  his  life.  He 
married  Miss  Polly  Hunter,  who  was  born  and  raised  in 
Lawrence  county.  Pa.,  and  there  died  in  1857.  By  that 
union  there  were  four  sons  and  the  same  number  of  daughters. 
Robert  Q.  is  the  eldest  of  the  family.  He  received  a  fair 
English  education  in  the  common  schools  of  his  native 
county.  When  old  enough  he  worked  at  the  trade  of  car- 
pentering and  cabinet-making  ,  and  subsequently  followed 
the  business  of  oj)erating  and  running  stationary  engines 
He  came  to  the  west  in  1857,  and  remained  a  citizen  of 
Perry  county  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  late  war,  when, 
with  characteristic  patriotism  and  devotion  to  his  country, 
in  the  hour  of  its  peril,  enlisted  for  the  term  of  three  years, 
the  date  of  which  was  August  1st,  1861.  He  became  a 
member  of  Co.  G  of  the  12th  Regt.  Ills.  Vols.  Ezekiel 
and  William  were  also  members  of  the  same  company.  The 
former  veteranized  and  remained  in  the  service  until  the  close 
of  the  war.  The  12th  Regt.  was  enlisted  for  the  three 
months'  service,  but  soon  after  re-enlisted  for  three  years. 
On  the  31st  of  Dec,  1863,  while  the  regiment  was  stationed 
at  Pulaski  in  Tennessee,  Mr.  Thompson  veteranized  with  his 
company,  and  remained  in  the  service  until  the  close  of  the 
war,  and  was  mustered  out  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  July  4,  1865, 
and  finally  discharged  at  Springfield,  Ills.,  July  11,  1865, 
having  been  in  the  service  a  few  days  lacking  four  years. 
The  r2th  Ills,  was  when  first  in  the  service  a  part  of  Gen. 
Prentiss'  division.  When  the  army  was  organized  into  corps 
it  became  part  of  the  16th  army  corps,  under  the  command 
of  Gen.  Dodge.  In  the  Atlanta  Campaign  it  was  part  of  the 
15th  army  corps,  under  command  of  Gen.  John  A.  Logan, 
and  remained  with  that  corps  all  through  the  succeeding 
campaigns,  including  Sherman  s  memorable  march  to  the  sea- 
Capt.  Thompson  passed  from  a  private  to  sergeancy  in  his 
company,  and  then  to  a  second  lieutenancy.  When  the  regi- 
ment veteranized  he  was  elected  captain  of  the  company,  and 
from  that  time  had  command  of  the  company  until  mustered 
out  of  the  service.  His  commission  as  first  lieutenant,  dates 
April  11,  1865,  and  his  commission  as  captain,  June  12,  186.5. 
He  was  wounded  on  the  22d  of  July,  1864,  at  the  siege  of 
Atlanta,  the  ball  passing  through  his  left  shoulder.  He 
came  home  and  remained  there  until  convalescent,  when  he 
rejoined  his  command  which  was  then  at  Rome,  Georgia,  and 
continued  with  it  until  mustered  out  in  date  above-named. 
After  the  close  of  the  war  he  came  to  Pinckneyville  and  en- 
gaged in  the  cabinet  making  and  furniture  business,  and  still 
remains  in  the  same  trade.  On  the  1st  January,  1873,  he  was 
appuinted  postmaster  of  Pinckneyville,  and  has  been 
continued  in  that  position  to  the  present.  On  the  7th  Sept., 
1865,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  Jane,  daughter 
of  Josiah  and  Isabel  Foster  Swafford,  of  Franklin  county. 
Ills  By  that  union  there  were  four  children,  one  of  whom 
is  living,  a  son  named  James  J.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomp- 
son are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  He  is  a  member  of 
I.  0.  O.  F.  Politically  he  comes  from  an  old  whig  family, 
who,  after  the  disbandment  of  that  party  joined  the  Republi- 
can organization.  Capt.  Thompson  cast  his  first  presidential 
vote  for  A.  Lincoln,  and  from  that  time  to  the  present  has 
not  swerved  in  his  allegiance  to  the  party  of  his  first  choice. 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS 


355 


o};^ 


ey^o 


The  Roe  family  are  of  Welsh  descent.  Daniel  Roe,  the 
grandfather  of  the  present  family  was  born  at  Oyster  Bay, 
Long  Island,  New  York,  in  1780.  His  parents  were  na- 
tives of  Wales,  and  emigrated  to  America  some  time  prior 
to  the  Revolutionary  war.  Daniel  Koe  adopted  the  ministry 
as  his  calling,  and  was  a  <lisciple  and  believer  iu  the  religious 
tenets  as  expounded  by  Swedenborg,  preaching  that  doc- 
trine for  many  years  at  Cincinnati,  but  finally  abandoned 
it  and  became  a  convert  to  orthodoxy.  While  yet  in  his 
boyhood  his  parents  removed  to  Mason  county,  Kentucky, 
and  he  there  remained  until  I'SO'i,  when  he  went  to  Ohio 
and  settled  at  Lebanon.  He  afterwards  removed  to  Cincin- 
nati, where  he  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law,  and  thence  to 
Dayton,  of  which  city  he  laid  out  a  portion  while  it  was  in 
its  infancy.  He  died  there  in  1M4'2,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
three  years. 

His  son,   Thomas  S.,  the   father   of  the   subject  of  this 

sketch,  was  born   in  Cincinnati  on   the day  of , 

1818.  The  family  soon  after  removed  to  Dayton,  and  there 
Thomas  S,  grew  to  manhood,  adopted  medicine  a,s  his  pro- 
fession, and  graduated  at  the  Louisville  Medical  college,  in 
1841.     He   commenced   practice   in   Ohio,  and    there   con- 


tinued until  1«48,  when  he  removed  to  Illinois,  and  stopped 
at  Shawneetown.  The  next  year  he  moved  to  Mt.  Vernon, 
and  one  year  later  to  Nashville,  in  Washington  county,  and 
there  remained  until  the  fall  of  1849,  when  he  removed  to 
Chester,  in  Randolph  county,  and  finally  on  February  14th, 
18.57,  came  to  Pinckneyville,  where  he  died  on  October  I'ith, 
1873.  He  married  Miss  Anna  Maria  Boyer  (daughter  of 
Jacob  and  Catherine  Boyer,  who  were  a  family  of  Pennsyl- 
vania Germans  from  Lancaster  county.  Pa.),  on  March  30, 
1841.  She  died  March  10,  1871.  By  that  union  there 
were  three  sons  who  reached  years  of  maturity  :  Robert  C, 
who  was  a  member  of  Co.  G,  12th  111.  Inft.,  and  was  killed 
at  the  battle  of  Fort  Donelson  on  Feb.  14,  18ri2  ;  Frank  M. 
the  youngest,  now  deputy  circuit  clerk,  aud  Charles  H.,  the 
eldest,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  was  born  at  Dayton, 
Ohio,  Feb.  24,  1842.  He  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  Chester  and  Pinckneyville.  Before  he  attained 
his  majority  the  war  of  1861  broke  out,  and  on  the  24th  day 
of  July,  1801,  he  enlisted  for  three  years'  service  in  Co.  G, 
12th  111.  Inft,,  and  remained  with  the  company  until  June, 
186i,  when  he  was  detailed  for  special  duty  in  the  regi- 
mental adjutant's  office,  and  there  remained  until  he  was 


356  HISTOHY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


detailed  as  clerk  at  post  head-quarters,  at  Coriuth,  Miss. 
He  was  successively  detailed  clerk  to  Brigade  adjutant's 
office,  Brigade  quarterinaster's  office  and  finally  to  Division 
quartermaster's  office  of  the  4th  Division  15th  Army  Corps, 
where  he  remained  until  the  expiration  of  his  service,  and 
then  accepted  an  appointment  as  chief  clerk  in  that  office 
until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  practically  remained  in  the 
army  until  July,  18ti5,  when  he  returned  to  Pinckneyville, 
and  in  November,  1865,  entered  the  circuit  clerk's  office  as 
deputy,  and  so  remained  until  August  10,  1867,  when  the 
death  of  J.  'SI.  Brown,  the  clerk,  occurred.  On  the  12th  of 
August  Mr  Roe  was  appointed  clerk  by  Judge  M.  C.  Craw- 
ford, and  in  November  was  elected  to  till  out  the  unexpired 
term.  In  1868,  by  reason  of  his  ability  and  attention  to 
duties,  he  was  renominated  by  the  Republican  party,  and  at 
the  general  election  following  was  re-elected  ;  he  has  since 
been  successively  re-elected  in  the  years  1872,  1876  and 
1880,  and  at  the  expiration  of  the  present  term  will  have 
been  clerk  of  said  court  for  seventeen  successive  years. 
Such  a  record  of  continued  confidence  in  his  integrity  and 
ability  any  one  may  be  proud  of.  As  an  official  he  is 
quick,  prompt  and  industrious,  looking  carefully  after  the 
details  of  the  office,  and  keeping  the  records  in  a  clear, 
business-like  style.  In  his  intercourse  with  the  public  he 
is  attentive  and  accommodating,  and  at  all  times  read}'  to 
furnish  information,  and  in  such  a  cheerful  manner  as  to 
win  him  many  friends  and  make  him;  almost  a  necessity  in 
the  office,  to  which  much  of  his  poipularity  is  due.  In 
1867  he  began  abstracting  the  titles  of  the  lands  of  Perry 
countv,  completing  the  same  in  I8i81,and  which  he  has 
always  kept  open  to  public  inspection  free  of  charge.  In 
politics  he  is  a  staunch  Republican,  his  first  vote  being  cast 
for  Lincoln  for  President,  since  which  time  he  has  been  a 
consistent  member  of  that  political  organization.  On  the 
16th  day  of  September,  1S66,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Harriet  V.  Jones,  youngest  daughter  of  Humphrey  B. 
and  Harriet  (^Dobbyns)  Jones.  Her  parents  were  natives  of 
Virginia  and  Kentucky,  and  moved  to  Illinois  in  the  year 
1821,  where  he  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine:  he 
moved  to  Pinckneyville  in  1827.  Mr.  Jones  during  his  life 
filled  many  offices  of  honor  and  trust  in  Perry  county.  He 
held  the  offices  of  circuit  and  county  clerk  and  probate 
judge  when  the  county  was  first  organized,  and  for  a  number 
of  years  afterwards.  In  fact,  for  a  long  time  he 
held  all  the  offices  of  the  county  except  that  of  sheriff, — 
including  that  of  postmaster  at  Pinckneyville.  In  1840 
he  commenced*  the  practice  of  law,  and  from  that  time 
until  his  death  was  the  leading  lawyer  of  the  county ;  he 
was  a  member  of  the  constitutional  convention  of  Illinois  in 
the  vear  18-15.  He  was  a  man  of  strict  probity  of  charac- 
ter, honorable  to  a  fault,  aud  possessed  of  the  kindliest 
feelings  toward  all.  Few  men  of  his  day  had  finer  business 
qualifications,  and  for  years  he  was  regarded  as  the  encyclo- 
piedia  of  knowledge  pertaining  to  the  records  and  business 
of  said  county.     He  died  November  25,  18-55. 

The  connections  of  Mr.  Roe  seem  to  have  been  singu- 
larly fortunate  in  being  selected  to  official  positions.  Himself 
and    father-in-law    circuit    clerk    of  said    county,   and    his 


younger  brother,  his  deputy,  married  the  youngest  dauo-hter 
of  Evan  B.  Rushing,  who  was  for  eight  years  circuit  clerk 
of  said  county.  The  terms  of  the  three  represent  forty-one 
years  of  the  said  office.  In  addition,  the  uncle  of  Mr.  Roe,  Col. 
E.  R.  Roe,  was  for  four  years  circuit  clerk  of  McLean  county, 
and  afterwards  U  S.  Marshal  for  the  southern  district  of 
Illinois.  Two  uncles  of  Mr.  Roe  also  occupied  official  posi- 
tions in  Ohio,  one  as  county  auditor  at  Dayton,  Ohio,  and 
one  as  county  inspector  of  the  same  place.  Mr.  Roe  and 
Mr.  Rushing  have  been  for  three  elections  pitted  against 
each  other  as  representing  the  strength  of  the  opposing 
parties,  and  at  each  election  exerted  the  strength  and  ac- 
tivity of  their  friends  to  the  utmost 

There  have  been  born  to  Charles  H.  and  Harriet  V.  Roe 
eight  children,  seven  of  whom  are  now  living,  to  wit : 
Fannie  Gertrude,  Jennie  Jones,  Harriet  Maria,  Robert 
Boyer,  Charles  Henry,  Thomas  Hamilton  and  John  DeWitt. 

Mr.  and  Mrs,  Roe  are  both  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church 

The  parentage  of  Humphrey  B.  Jones  was  as  follows: 
William  Jones,  born  April  24,  1772,  of  Welsh  parentage, 
and  Humphrey  B.  Jones  was  born  January  13,  1799. 


HON.  JOHN  W.  PYATT. 

The  Pyatt  family,  of  which  the  subject  of  this  sketch  is 
a  member,  are  the  descendants  of  a  Quaker  family  who 
came  to  America  with  William  Penn,  founded  Philadelphia 
and  settled  Pennsylvania.  There  the  family  lived  for  sev- 
eral generations.  Ebenezer  Pyatt,  the  grandfather  of  John 
W.,  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  in  1755.  During  the  Revo- 
lutionary war  he  espoused  the  cause  of  the  patriots  and  en- 
Ibted  in  the  army  under  Washington,  and  remained  in 
the  service  four  years.  A  grateful  country  in  after  years 
acknowledged  his  services  and  he  became  a  revolutionary 
pensioner.  After  the  war  he  married  Rebecca  Jlilburn,  of 
Loudon  county,  Virginia,  and  soon  after  moved  to  Southern 
Ohio,  at  which  place  a  few  settlements  had  been  made. 
From  there  he  went  to  Tennessee,  then  to  Kentucky  and  in 
1814,  came  to  the  Territory  of  Illinois  and  settled  in  what 
is  now  known  as  Jackson  county,  and  there  lived  until 
his  death,  which  took  place  January  20, 1835.  There  were 
seven  children  by  his  marriage  with  Rebecca  Milburn, 
one  of  whom  was  Samuel  Pyatt,  father  of  the  present 
family.  He  was  born  in  Southern  Ohio,  April  16,  1793. 
He  came  to  Illinois  in  1814,  and  settled  in  Jackson  county, 
and  remained  a  resident  of  that  county  until  April,  1829, 
when  he  removed  to  Perry  county  at  a  point  southwest 
from  where  the  town  of  Du  Quoin  now  stands.  There  he 
rented  land,  farmed  it,  aud  during  the  winter  months  taught 
school.  About  two  years  later  he  moved  to  sec.  8,  twp.  6, 
R.  2,  to  land  that  he  had  entered,  and  there  remained  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  September  21,  1875.  In  1817, 
he  married  Miss  Mary,  daughter  of  John  Phelps,  a  native 
of  Kentucky,  but  a  resident  of  Williamson  county  at  the 
time  of  her  marriage.  She  died  January  4, 1846.  He  sub- 
sequently married    Mrs.  Cyrena  Marlin.  who  still  survives 


356A 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


357 


her  liusbaDtl  and  at  jireseut  lives  iu  Jasper  county,  Mis- 
souri. By  the  union  of  Sarauel  and  Mary  (Piielps)  Pyatt 
there  were  nine  children,  one  of  whom  died  in  infancy,  and 
another,  a  daughter,  died  at  the  age  of  fourteen.  Seven  of 
the  children  grew  to  maturity,  and  six  are  yet  living.  James 
M.  one  of  the  sons,  enlisted  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  Mexican 
war,  in  Co.  K,  2nd  Regt.,  and  while  en  route  to  the  seat  of  war 
was  accidentally  shot  while  the  command  to  which  he  was 
attached  was  passing  through  Texas,  and  near  the  renowned 
Alamo,  made  famous  and  historical  in  the  annals  of  Texas 
when  that  State  threw  off  the  yoke  of  Mexico.  He  died 
three  months  after  at  San  Antouia,  from  the  effects  of  his 
wound.  John  W.  Pyatt,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
born  in  Jackson  county,  Illinois,  June  22,  1820.  He  was 
raised  upon  the  farm,  and  received  a  limited  education  in 
the  subscription  schools  of  Jackson  and  Perry  counties. 
His  education  has  been  that  of  self-culture,  and  was  derived 
more  from  general  reading  and  habits  of  close  observation 
than  from  schools 

He  remained  at  home  until  the  Mexican  war,  when  he  en- 
listed for  one  year's  service  in  Co.  K  of  the  2ud  Illinois  Regt. 
commanded  by  Col.  Bissell,  afterward  Governor  of  the 
State.  After  his  brother  received  his  accidental  wound  he 
was  detailed  to  take  care  of  him,  and  during  the  next  three 
months  nursed  him  until  death  relieved  him  of  his  charge. 
In  the  meantime  the  army  had  passed  on  to  the  seat  of  war 
and  had  fought  the  battle  of  Buena  Vista.  So  arduous  was 
Mr.  Pyatt's  duties  in  taking  care  of  his  brother,  and  being 
unaccustomed  to  the  climate  and  water,  his  own  health  gave 
wa)',  and  from  that  time  to  the  present,  he  has  been  an  invalid. 
At  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  service  he  returned  home, 
and  in  1849  was  solicited  to  run  for  Sheriff.  He  consented 
and  was  elected.  In  1853  he  was  elected  County  Clerk,  and 
re-elected  in  1857,  and  held  that  position  until  1861.  On 
July  2,  1859,  he  married  Mrs.  Lj'dia  E  Burnell  nee 
Andrews.  She  was  a  native  of  New  York.  In  1864,  he 
moved  on  to  a  farm  and  farmed  until  the  death  of  his  wife, 
which  sad  event  occurred  May  6,  1878.  Since  that  time  he 
has  practically  made  his  home  with  his  brother.  Politically 
Mr.  Pyatt  was  originally  a  Henry  Clay  Whig,  and  iu  1844, 
cast  his  first  vote  for  "  Gallant  Harry  of  the  West."  After 
the  disbandment  of  the  Whig  party  he  joined  the  Repub- 
lican ranks,  and  voted  for  Abraham  Lincoln.  From  that 
time  to  the  present  has  been  devoted  to  the  principles  of 
that  political  organization. 

In  1872,  his  worth  and  standing  as  a  citizen,  was  honor- 
ably recognized  by  being  elected  to  represent  the  48th  Dis- 
trict iu  the  General  A.ssembly  of  the  State.  While  a  mem- 
ber of  that  body  he  earned  the  reputation  of  being  a  careful 
and  prudent  member,  and  one  who  carefully  guarded  the 
rights  of  his  immediate  constituents  and  voted  for  measures 
that  were  in  the  interest  of  the  whole  State.  In  1875,  he 
was  elected  one  of  the  County  Commissioners,  re-elected  in 
1878,  and  again  elected  in  1881,  and  is  now  serving  his 
third  term  in  that  body.  We  simply  mention  these  facts  in 
the  history  of  Mr.  Pyatt,  as  it  seems  to  show  in  what  esti- 
mation he  is  held  by  the  people  in  whose  midst  he  has  lived 
for  over  fifty  years.     He  succeeded  to  the  confidence  of  the 


citizens  of  Perry  county  over  thirty  years  ago,  and  from  that 
time  to  the  present  has  not  forfeited  it,  but  rather  has  grown 
in  their  esteem  and  giod  will.  This  a  record  of  which  any 
man  may  be  proud.  In  his  manner  Judge  Pyatt  is  a  plain, 
unassuming  man,  making  no  pretensions  to  be  other  than 
what  he  is — a  quiet  and  unobtrusive  gentleman. 


CAPTAIN  M.  C.  EDWARDS. 

The  Edwards  family  are  descendants  of  English  ancestors, 
but  for  many  generations  have  been  residents  of  this  country. 
Cilviu  Edwards,  the  grandfather,  was  a  native  of  Vermont, 
born  in  1786.  He  removed  to  Ohio  in  LS14,  and  in  1818 
came  to  Illinois  and  settled  at  Shawneetown,  and  there 
remained  until  1835,  when  he  came  to  Perry  county,  and 
died  here  December  2,  1861.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion. He  married  Fanny  Cook,  who  was  born  in  1780  in 
Connecticut.  She  survived  her  husband,  and  died  in  the 
spring  of  1S76  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-six  years.  Of 
that  union  was  William  Edwards,  the  father  of  Mortimer 
C  He  was  born  in  Athens,  Vermont,  February  14,1805. 
He  was  a  mere  lad  when  the  family  moved  to  Ohio,  and  in 
his  bo)hood,  when  they  came  to  Illinois.  He  grew  up  to 
manhood  in  Shawneetown,  and  remained  there  until  1830, 
when  became  to  Pinckneyville,  and  here  he  and  his  brother 
engaged  in  mercantile  business,  in  which  he  continued  until 
Saptembsr,  1843,  when  he  eomraeuced  the  practice  of 
law,  which  he  continued  until  his  deatii,  which  occurred 
April  10,  18.54. 

On  the  24th  of  May,  1832,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Juliet  M.,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  (Jenkins) 
Brown.  Mrs.  Edwards  was  born  in  Abington,  Washington 
county,  Virginia,  in  1813.  She  was  a  resident  of  Shawnee- 
town, Illinois,  at  the  time  of  her  marriage.  She  still  sur- 
vives her  husband,  and  is  a  resident  of  Pinckneyville.  By 
the  union  of  Mr  and  Mrs.  Edwards  there  were  eight  chil- 
dren, six  of  whom  reached  maturity,  and  three  of 
whom  are  now  living.  Their  names  in  the  order  of 
their  birth  are  Cordelia,  who  was  the  wife  of  Lewis 
Hammack.  She  died,  leaving  three  children.  Gilbert  H. 
was  the  second  son.  He  enlisted  during  the  late  war  in 
Company  A,  of  the  Eighteenth  Regiment,  Illinois  Volunteer 
Infantry,  and  died  at  Cairo,  Illinois,  ill  August,  l''<61,  from 
disease  contracted  while  in  the  line  of  his  duty.  Eliza  was 
the  wife  of  C  C.  Irwin.  She  died,  leaving  two  children.  Row- 
ena  was  the  wife  of  J.  D.  Hamilton.  They  are  both  residents  of 
Geneva,  Nebraska.  W.  W.  is  the  youngest  living.  He  is 
a  practicing  attorney  of  Pinckneyville.  Mortimer  C,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Pinckneyville,  March 
14,  1838.  He  wa-s  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  his 
native  town,  which  was  supplemented  by  two  years  tuition 
in  Masonic  College,  located  at  Lexington,  Missouri.  He 
then  entered  the  office  of  Lewis  Hammack  and  commenced 
the  study  of  law,  and  after  reading  the  standard  text  books 
and  making  suitable  progress  was  upon  examination  in  open 
court  admitted  to  the  bar.  The  date  of  his  admission  was 
in  the  fall  of  1860.  The  war  of  the  rebellion  breaking  out 
soon  afterward  he  assisted  in  raising  a  company  for  the 
service.     Upon  its  organization  Mr.  Edwards  was  elected 


358 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


First  Lieutenant,  and  duly  commissioned.  The  company 
became  a  part  of  tlie  18th  Regiment,  Illinois  Volunteer 
Infantry,  and  was  known  as  Company  C  The  date  of  the 
muster  in  was  August  10, 1862.  The  regiment  was  organized 
and  rendezvoused  at  Anna,  Illinois,  and  from  there  pro- 
ceeded to  Cairo,  where  it  became  a  part  of  the  Third  Bri 
gade  of  the  Third  Division  of  the  Seventeenth  Army  Corps 
The  regiment  received  its  first  baptism  of  fire  at  Fort 
Gibson,  May  1st,  1863.  Afterward  it  took  part  in  the  siege, 
reduction  and  capture  of  Vicksburg.  In  the  charge  upon  the 
works  of  the  latter  place  May  22,  1863,  company  C  went  into 
the  fight  with  thirty-two  men,  and  so  desperate  and  deadly  was 
the  fire  of  the  enemy  that  they  left  twenty-four  dead  and 
wounded  on  the  field  of  battle.  After  the  capture  of  Vicks- 
burg the  regiment  was  detached  and  joined  the  command 
under  General  Thomas,  and  were  placed  in  the  corps  com- 
manded by  General  A.  J.  Smith,  and  under  him  made  the 
memorable  campaign  through  Missouri  in  their  eflTort  to 
capture  the  rebel  General  Price.  Before,  however,  going 
upon  that  raid  they  assisted  in  the  battle  of  Guntown,  or 
Tupelo.  After  the  campaign  in  Missouri  they  went  to  St. 
Louis  and  embarked  for  Nashville,  where  they  joined 
Thomas'  forces  and  assisted  in  the  battle  of  Nashville,  which 
resulted  in  the  annihilation  of  Hood's  forces.  Soon  after 
they  joined  the  forces  at  Mobile,  and  participated  in  the  cap- 
ture of  Fort  Blakely  and  Spanish  Fort.  The  regiment  then 
returned  to  Montgomery,  Alabama,  where  they  were  mus- 
tered, and  proceeded  to  Chicago,where  they  were  discharged. 
Lieutenant  Edwards  was  promoted  to  the  captaincy  of  the 
company  and  commissioned  in  June,  1864,  soon  after  the 
battle  of  Tupelo.  Captain  Edwards  returned  home  and 
here  engaged  in  various  businesses  until  1869,  when  he 
engaged  regularly  in  the  practice  of  law  in  which  he  has  con- 
tinued until  the  present.  In  1880  he  was  nominated  for 
the  ofiice  of  State's  Attorney  by  the  Republican  party,  in 
convention  assembled,  and  at  the  ensuing  election  in  Novem- 
ber was  elected  by  a  handsome  majority.  Mr.  Edwards  is 
recognized  as  an  able  and  vigilant  prosecutor,  well  read  in 
law  and  a  good  advocate.  His  official  career  so  far  has 
justified  the  wisdom  of  those  who  honored  him  with  their 
suffrages.  Politically,  he  is  a  thorough-paced  Republican, 
and  a  prohibitionist  in  sentiment.  He  is  an  honorable 
member  of  the  A.  F.and  A.  M.  order.  On  the  23d  of  August, 
1860,  he  married  Miss  H.  M.  Edwards,  a  native  of  Pinck- 
neyville,  by  which  union  there  are  two  children,  whose 
names  are  Emma  A.,  wife  of  J.  A.  Biby,  of  Cairo,  Illinois, 
and  William  O.  Edwards.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  M.  E.  church. 

RICHARD  M.  DAVIS. 

The  Davis  family  are  of  Welsh  ancestry  on  the  paternal 
side  and  Irish  on  the  maternal.  Four  generations  ago,  the 
paternal  great-grandfather  emigrated  from  Wales  and  settled 
in  Virginia.  There  his  son,  Isham  Davis,  was  born  and 
there  grew  to  manhood.  About  1808,  the  family  moved  to 
Kentucky,  and  settled  in  Warren  county,  and  there  Isham 
Davis  died.  He  married  a  Miss  Gillam,  and  of  that  union 
was  born  Richard"  Gillam  Davis,  father  of  the  subject  of 


this  sketch.  He  was  born  in  Virginia  in  1806.  He  was  in 
his  infancy  when  the  family  went  to  Kentucky.  In  1828 
he  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Randolph  county,  near 
what  is  now  known  as  Steelesville.  In  1849,  he  took  up  his 
permanent  residence  in  Perry  county,  and  died  near  the 
village  of  Denmark,  in  June,  18.51.  He  was  a  regularly 
ordained  minister  in  the  Baptist  church,  and  followed  his 
ministerial  calling  until  his  death.  He  married  Eliza 
Bradley,  a  native  of  Tennessee,  daughter  of  Joshua  and 
Nancy  (Gardner)  Bradley.  She  was  a  resident  of  Jackson 
county,  Illinois,  at  the  time  of  her  marriage.  She  still  sur- 
vives her  husband,  and  at  present  is  a  resident  of  Pinckney- 
ville.  By  her  marriage  with  Mr.  Davis  there  were  eight 
children,  five  of  whom  are  living.  Richard  !M.  is  the  eldest. 
He  was  born  in  Jackson  county,  Illinois,  September  15, 
1834,  and  was  in  his  fourth  year  when  the  family  removed 
to  Perry  county.  The  family  subsequently  removed  to 
Randolph  county,  and  again  returned  and  located  per- 
manently here  in  1849,  as  above  stated.  Richard  M.  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Randolph  and  Perry 
counties.  He  farmed,  taught  school  during  the  winter 
seasons,  and  remained  so  engaged  until  July,  1862,  when  he 
assisted  in  raising  a  company  of  soldiers  for  the  war.  Upon 
its  organization  it  was  known  as  Co.  "  I  "  of  the  80th  Regt. 
111.  Vol.  Infantry.  Mr.  Davis  was  elected  2nd  Lieutenant, 
and  duly  commissioned.  He  remained  in  the  service  and 
with  the  company  until  June,  1863,  when  continued  ill- 
health  compelled  his  resignation.  He  returned  home  and 
commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Lewis  Ham- 
mack  and  John  Boyd,  and  in  May,  1864,  was  admitted  to 
the  bar.  He  commenced  the  practice  in  connection  with 
his  preceptor,  Mr.  Hamraack,  which  arrangement  continued 
until  1866,  then  practiced  alone  until  1876,  when  he  again 
formed  a  law  partnership  with  Mr.  Hammack,  which  con- 
tinued until  November,  1882,  when  it  was  dissolved  by 
mutual  consent.  In  1863,  he  was  elected  superintendent  of 
schools  of  Perry  county  and  held  the  office  one  term. 
Politically  Mr.  Davis  was  originally  an  old  line  whig,  and 
voted  for  Fillmore  in  1856,  and  in  1860  he  voted  for  Lincoln 
and  remained  a  Republican  until  1872,  when  he  joined  the 
Liberal  party,  voted  for  Horace  Greeley,  and  subsequently 
acted  and  voted  with  the  Democrats.  In  1876,  he  was 
nominated  for  the  office  of  state's  attorney  by  the  Demo- 
cratic party  in  Convention  assembled,  and  notwithstanding 
the  county  was  Republican,  Mr.  Davis  was  elected  by 
seventy-five  majority.  As  a  public  prosecutor  he  was 
vigilant  and  ac'ive,  and  justified  the  wisdom  of  those  who 
had  honored  him  with  their  suffrages.  As  a  lawyer,  Mr. 
Davis  is  well  read,  has  a  clear  conception  of  the  law  govern- 
ing his  cases,  and  in  the  cause  of  his  clients  is  very  indus- 
trious and  painstaking.  On  the  6th  of  March,  1865,  he  was 
joined  in  holy  wedlock  with  Mrs.  Catherine  O.  Vineyard 
nee  Willis,  daughter  of  James  Willis.  She  had  two  child- 
ren by  her  former  husband.  Their  names  are  Albert  and 
Mary  J.  The  latter  married  W.  J.  Gordon,  now  deceased. 
By  her  latter  marriage  with  Mr.  Davis  there  were  five 
children,  three  of  whom  died  in  infancy  and  early  childhood. 
The  names  of  those  living  are  Maggie  F.  and  Annie  B.  Davis. 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


359 


Jr^.  #/^: 


^  Cf^t '^^^^^^-^^ 


The  subject  of  the  followiug  sketch  is  a  native  of  Phila- 
delphia, born  December  6th,  1848.  The  family  is  of 
Scotch  ancestry.  His  father,  James  F.  McCandless,  was 
born  in  New  York,  removed  to  Philadelphia,  and  there 
married  Mary  J.  Lemon,  who  was  a  native  of  the  latter 
city.  In  1857  he  came  west  to  Illinois,  and  settled  in 
Sparta,  in  Randolph  county,  where  his  wife  and  mother  of 
Dr.  McCandless  died  in  1859.  During  the  late  war  he 
enlisted  in  Co.  A.  of  the  22d  Regiment  Illinois  Infantry, 
and  was  injured  in  the  service  before  his  time  expired, 
which  compelled  his  discharge. 

He  is  now  a  resident  of  Terre  Haute,  Indiana,  where  he  is 
enaged  in  the  agricultural  implement  trade.  Dr.  William 
L.  is  the  eldest  of  a  family  of  four  children,  three  of  whom 
are  living.  He  was  in  his  ninth  year  when  the  family  came 
west.  His  schooling  was  obtained  in  Sparta,  and  a  short 
time  in  the  High  School  in  Du  Quoin.  His  mother  dying 
while  he  was  yet  a  youth,  and  his  father  entering  the  army 
in  1861,  had  the  effect  of  breaking  up  the  family.  When 
in  his  thirteenth  year  he  came  to  Perry  county  and  made 
his  home  with  Matthew  Kule,  a  prominent  farmer  of  this 


county,  and  remained  with  him  at  work  on  the  farm  until 
he  reached  his  twenty-first  year.  He  then  concluded  to 
adopt  the  profession  of  medicine  as  the  business  of  life,  and 
with  that  idea  in  view,  came  to  Pinckneyville  and  entered 
the  office  of  Dr.  James  Ritchie,  and  studied  under  his 
directions.  In  order  to  sustain  himself  and  defray  expenses 
through  the  Medical  College,  he  clerked  in  a  drug  store, 
and  thereby  provided  means.  He  studied  diligently  up  to 
the  fall  of  1870,  when  he  entered  Rush  Medical  College  at 
Chicago,  and  continued  there  through  two  terms,  and 
graduated  from  that  institution  in  the  spring  of  1872  with 
the  degree  of  M.D.  He  commenced  the  practice  in  Pinck- 
neyville in  connection  with  his  preceptor.  The  partnership 
continued  two  years,  after  which  Dr.  McCandless  practiced 
alone,  and  has  so  continued  to  the  present.  The  Doctor 
belongs  to  the  progressive  school  of  medicine,  and  keeps 
well  posted  and  fully  abreast  with  all  the  discoveries  that 
are  constantly  being  made  in  the  science  of  medicine.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Tri-State  and  Southern  Illinois  Medical 
Societies,  which  have  for  their  object  the  mutual  advance- 
ment of  its  members  in  the  healing  art.     Dr.  McCandless 


S60 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY  COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


has  been  emineutly  successful  iu  his  profession,  ilud  has 
succeeded  by  his  zeal,  studious  habits  and  superior 
knowledge  iu  bnilding  up  a  large  and  lucrative  practice. 

On  the  14th  of  May,  187!),  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Lizzie,  daughter  of  Dr.  Janies  and  Mary  J.  Murphey 
Ritchie.  Her  mother  was  the  daughter  of  Hon.  W  C. 
Murphey,  one  of  the  pioneers  and  prominent  men  in  an 
early  day  of  Perry  county.  He  was  the  first  sheriff  of  the 
county  in  1827,  and  held  many  other  offices  of  equal  im- 
portance. Mrs.  McCandless  was  born  in  Perry  county. 
One  child  has  been  born  to  them,  named  Marion 
McCandless.  Dr.  McCandless  is  a  strong  and  ardent  be- 
liever in  the  principles  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  votes 
that  ticket  on  all  national  and  state  occasions. 


THOMAS  F.  PENWARDEN. 

The  subject  of  the  following  sketch  is  of  English  parentage. 
His  father  emigrated  from  England  to  Canada  in  1842,  and 
there  died  in  18.51.  He  was  a  seafaring  man,  and  married 
Sarah  Bromell,  a  native  of  Devonshire,  England.  At  present 
she  is  a  resident  of  Wisconsin.  By  that  marriage  there  were 
four  children  ;  three  sons  and  one  daughter.  Thos.  F.  was 
born  in  Elgin  county,  Canada,  January  28ih,  1843.  In  18.33, 
he  was  taken  by  his  maternal  uncle  to  Wisconsin.  At  the 
age  of  twelve  years  he  shipped  as  a  cabin  boy  on  board  a 
vessel  plying  between  Chicago  and  Buffalo.  He  stayed  on 
the  lake,  and  also  sailed  on  the  ocean  until  1861,  when  he 
returned  and  in  company  with  others  started  for  Pike's  Peak, 
but  hearing  bad  reports  from  that  place  turned  back  to 
Fort  Leavenworth,  and  there  he  and  his  comrades  enlisted 
for  three  years  in  the  3rd  Reg.  Kansas  Vols.  Cavalry,  after- 
wards known  as  the  5th  Kansas.  Date  of  enlistment  was 
July  11th,  1861.  In  1864  he  veteranized  with  his  command 
and  remained  in  the  service  until  the  close  of  the  war.  On 
the  25th  of  April,  18H4,  he  was  wounded  at   the   battle  of 


Mark's  Mills,  and  left  for  dead  on  the  field.  He  was  taken 
prisoner,  paroled  and  sent  to  Fort  Leavenworth,  and  as  soon 
as  he  recovered  rejoined  his  command.  He  was  also  woun 
dcd  at  Pine  bluff,  and  in  South  Carolina,  when  under  Sher- 
man in  his  famous  march  to  the  Sea,  taken  prisoner,  sent  to 
Libby,  and  was  in  the  last  lot  of  prisoners  freed  from  that 
famous  prison.  He  was  mustered  out  and  honorably  dis- 
charged at  Louisville  Ky.,  in  July  1865,  having  been  in  the 
service  exactly  four  years.  He  was  attracted  to  Du  (Juoin 
where  his  mother  who  had  married  again  was  living,  and  here 
engaged  in  mining,  in  which  he  continued  until  elected 
Sheriff  of  Perry  county. 

On  the  2nd  of  December,  1866,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Jane,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Agnes  Houston.  She  was 
born  in  Scotland  and  came  with  her  parents  to  America  in 
1853.  By  that  union  there  are  three  children  living,  whose 
names  are  Robert,  Thomas  and  John  Penwarden.  He  is  an 
honored  member  of  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  order  and  also  a 
member  of  the  Royal  Arch  Chapter.  Both  he  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  M  E.  Church.  Politically  he  has 
always  voted  the  Republican  ticket.  In  1880  he  was  regu- 
larly nominated  for  Sheriff  of  Perry  county  by  the  Repub- 
lican party  in  convention  as  embled,andin  November  follow- 
ing was  elected  by  a  handsome  majority.  During  his  term 
of  office  it  became  his  duty  to  execute  the  extreme  sentence 
of  the  law  passed  upon  James  Vaughn.  He  obeyed  the 
mandaie  of  the  courts  and  hung  the  prisoner  on  the  day 
and  hour  fixed  for  the  execution.  That  was  the  first  judi- 
cial hanging  ever  held  in  Perry  county.  Mr.  Penwarden 
nnide  a  nioa  excellent  Sheriff.  No  man  ever  held  the  office 
who  executed  the  laws  more  faithfully,  or  guarded  the  inter- 
ests and  rights  of  the  people  more  jealously.  He  is  a  man 
of  the  most  generous  impulses,  warm-hearted  and  kind  to  a 
fault ;  one  who  would  share  his  last  crust  or  coat  if  possible 
with  a  friend.  This  trait  is  characteristic  of  Thos.  Penwar- 
den. 


T  A  M  A  R  ( J  A . 


PERRY    COUNTY. 


jIj^^^l^'JHIS  portion  of  the  county  occupies  the  extreme 


SXljJ^  northeast,  and  is  bounded  on  the  nortii  by 
^^.  Washington  county,  on  the  east  by  Jefferson 
and  Franklin,  on  the  south  by  Paradise  and 
Du  Quoin  Precincts,  and  on  the  west  by  Pinck- 
neyville  and  Beaucoup.  The  surface,  though 
mainly  level,  and  apparently  flat,  is  quite  ele- 
'*'  vated,  and  the  drainage  is  good.     The  soil  is 

principally  of  the  prairie  kind,  and  is  well  adapted  to  wheat- 
growing.  Corn,  though  cultivated  to  some  extent,  is  re- 
garded as  an  uncertain  crop,  and  less  profitable  than  wheat. 


which  is  the  staple.  Other  cereals  are  also  grown.  Though 
the  precinct  is  composed  of  land  mainly  under  cultivation, 
yet  there  is  timber, — chiefly  hard  wood,— sufficient  for  the 
ordinary  purposes  of  life.  The  principal  water-courses  are 
Little  Muddy  river,  Little  Beaucoup,  and  Rees'  creek. 
The  precinct  has  excellent  railroad  facilities,  tMe  Illinois 
Central  extending  through  it  from  north  to  south,  and  the 
Tamaroa  and  Chester,  connecting  with  the  Cairo  Short  Line 
at  Pinckneyville,  terminating  at  the  village  of  Tamaroa,  in 
the  central  part.  The  principal  industry  of  the  inhabitants 
is  agriculture,  although  coal-mining  is  carried  on  to  some 


3  60  A 


STORE  or  PC  KNAPP,  DEALER  IN  GENERAL  MERCHANDISE,  CHESTER  IL  L 


"THE  ROOTS  PLACE';  S.E.^4  T.5  S.R.I  W.3 '.°  P  M. AND  ADJOINING  LANDS  PURCHASED  BY  B.G. ROOTS  IN  1838  &  1833, 
WHEN  RAW  PRAIRIE  AND  BROUGHT  TO  ITS  PRESENT  CONDITION  BY  HIM  &  MEMBERS  OE  HIS  EAMIL  Y  viz.  MARTHA  S.  HIS  El  HS  T 
WIFE,  EL  I7ABETH  R.  HIS  PRESENT  iVIEL,  R  K  &  L.H  ROOTS,  HIS  SONS,  MARTHA  E.  HIS  DAUGHTER,  J.  C.  KIMSEY  HER  HUSBAND . 
SITUATED  ON  I.C.R.R.  2  MILES  SOUTH  DP  TAMAROA  . 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH,    MOXROE   AXD    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


:?fil 


extent.  Cattle-breeding  receives  some  attention.  The  Jer- 
seys were  introduced  by  \l  J  Cox  in  lS(i(J.  The  Diiriu.ni 
br>.'ed  largely  prevails. 

K.iRLY    HISTORY. 

The  dates  of  the  earliest  settlements  in  Tamaroa  pncinct 
are  necessarily  obscure,  and  are  arrived  at  with  difficulty 
and  some  uncertainty.  But  from  information  «hich  we 
have  good  reason  to  credit,  the  first  settlement  was  made 
about  the  year  IMl-J  by  the  parents  of  the  late  Judge  11  T. 
Rees  of  Cutler  precinct,  who  settled  near  what  is  now  known 
as  Rees'  creek,  which  took  its  name  from  that  family. 

Following  this  settlement  was  that  of  a  Aimily  named 
Foster,  about  the  year  182.J.  Benjamin  Haramack,  a  native 
of  Virginia,  came  into  the  precinct,  in  182-S,  from  Jackson 
countv,  and  located  on  section  seventeen,  township  four 
south,  range  one  west.  He  had  a  wife  and  four  chddrcn. 
When  he  arrived,  he  found  located  on  the  same  section  N. 
G  Curlee,  who  had  preceded  him  only  a  few  months.  He 
and  his  family  stopped  with  Abe  Morgan,  who  lived  on  the 
Samuel  Benson  place,  and  who  had  located  several  years 
previous  to  1.S28.  Stephen  Brown  and  family  came  soon 
after  Hammack,  and  located  in  the  same  section.  About 
1829  came  the  Bland  family,  consisting  of  the  elder  John 
Bland  and  wife,  John  and  David  Bland,  his  .sons,  and  their 
families,  who  came  from  Tennessee.  Between  the  years 
1828  and  1833  came  James  Johnson,  Daniel  Council,  Jacob 
Walker  Blackstock  and  Isaac  B  Walker,  Peter  Scronce, 
Richard  Hull,  James,  Robert  and  Solomon  Carpenter, 
from  North  Carolina  ;  a  f\imily  of  Calloways,  who  settled 
on  section  o  ;  the  Robinsons  and  Martin  C.  Lindsley.  Ben- 
jamin Hammack  located  on  section  20,  twp.  4,  range  1,  in 
1829.  Abuer  Keith  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  in  the  trm 
of  the  Kine  Mile  Prairie;  William  Dial  located  in  Para- 
dise Prairie;  William  Williams,  George  Sturtevant,  old 
Joe  Little,  Henry  and  John  Bridges,  and  Thomas  Metcalf, 
Tennesseeans,  came  to  the  precinct  about  18;>(3.  Richard 
Hull  and  Henry  Bridges  were  notorious  throughout  that 
part  of  the  county  as  gr.  at  hunters.  Isaac  Lee,  Abraham 
Lee,  Simuel  Eiherton,  Anthony  Liffjrty,  Thomas  Morris, 
William  Dye,  Sanniel  Di.von  and  Henry  Oohan  were  among 
the  earlv  settlers  of  this  precinct.  Dr.  J.  S.  Williams,  a 
native  of  Kentucky,  came  to  the  county  in  1840.  He  is 
now  a  practicing  physician  in  Tamaioa. 

Illustrative  of  the  force  of  pioneer  custom  of  those  early 
days,  we  cite  the  incident  related  of  Martin  C.  Lindsley,  who 
lo.st  the  respect  and  esteem  of  all  of  his  pioneer  neighbors 
by  the  simi)le  act  of  inviting  them  to  a  house-raising  after 
breakfast,  which  they  regarded  as  a  gross  violation  of  pio- 
neer etiquette,  too  palpable  to  be  forgotten,  and  ever  after 
stamped  him  in  their  estimation  as  too  selfish  and  stingy  for 
their  fellowship. 

The  first  dry  goods  store  in  the  precinct  dates  back  to 
1834,  and  was  kept  by  Nathan  G.  Curlee,  in  a  little  shed- 
room  ten  feet  square,  on  his  farm,  some  three  miles  north  of 
the  present  site  of  Tamaroa.  Mr.  Curlee  was  a  prominent 
man  in  that  precinct  among  the  early  settlers,  acting  as  he 
did  in  the  varied  capacity  of  farmer,  merchant,  minister  and 
40 


postmaster,at  what,  if  we  are  properly  informed,  was  known 
as  Appleton  i)ost-office,  about  the  year  1840.  The  fir.st 
blacksmith  who  had  his  shop  and  did  work  in  this  precinct 
was  Henry  Biidgcs.  Previous  to  his  day  (  1.S30),  the  settlers 
h,d  their  sujithwork  done  at  Old  Man  White's  in  Mud 
prairie,  in  the  ed^e  of  Washington  county.  In  1829  and 
1830,  Benjamin  Hammack,  a  wheelwright,  made  truck 
wagons,  stoc'ied  plows,  and  did  such  other  work  as  the  far 
mors  stood  in  need  of  in  the  way  of  repairs.  The  early  set- 
tlers (182^-'30)  got  their  milling  at  what  was  known  as 
Stilley's  mill,  north  from  Tamaroa,  in  the  edge  of  Washing- 
ton county.  It  was  one  of  the  old  pioneer  style  of  horse- 
mills,  with  cog-wheel  attachment  and  buhrs  about  two  feet 
and  ahalf  in  diameter,  and,  when  run  steadily  all  day, 
would  grind  about  fifteen  bushels  of  corn.  When  they 
ground  wheat  on  it,  the  ilour  was  bolted  by  h::nd.  The 
crank,  which  was  turned  by  b;)ys,  required  regularity  in  the 
turning,  in  order  that  the  flour  might  bolt  evenly.  Oar 
informant,  who  hail  experience  at  the  old  bolt-crank, 
said  :  "  When  we  got  to  turning  irregularly,  the  old  miller, 
Stilley,  would  yell  out  at  us,  '  turn  that  crank  regular  ;  I 
don't  want  your  f.ither  fu,ssing  about  the  way  that  flour  is 
bolted.'"  "The  old  Stilley  mill  was  the  principal  institution 
of  that  kind  for  a  number  of  years,  and  was  patronized  al- 
most entirely  by  the  neighbors  for  eight  or  ten  miles  around. 
It  was  finally  purchased  by  one  Lazarus  Stuart,  who  re- 
moved it  to  the  neighborhood  of  Coloma. 

Subsequent  to  183(),  William  Christian  owned  a  little 
mill  two  and  a-half  miles  northeast  of  Tamaroa,  which  did  a 
considerable  amount  of  grinding  for  the  early  -settlers. 

Among  the  first  preachers  in  the  precinct,  were,  James 
Walker  and  Rev.  Barr,  of  the  ^Methodist  denomination,  the 
latter  the  circuit  rider.  This  was  al  out  1831.  previous  to 
the  organization  of  a  church,  when  the  meetings  were  held 
at  the  house  of  Benjamin  Hammack.  N.  G.  Curlee  was  for 
many  years  a  ministtr  of  the  Gjspel,  of  the  ISIethodist  de- 
nomination, and  preached  in  that  precinct.  One  incident  of 
Rev.  Curlee's  preaching,  which  occurred  in  1840,  has  come 
to  us  in  gathering  up  our  scraps  of  the  jiioneer  days.  His 
subject  on  the  occasion  allu  led  to  w;-.s '-Abraham  ottering  up 
Isaac."  In  the  course  of  his  sermon,  becoming  somewhat 
animated  and  wound  up,  he  described  the  ram  which  the 
Lord  provided  as  "  Tied  by  a  rope  in  the  bushes,  wai  ing 
for  the  sacrifice."  The  first  local  preachers  were.  Rev. 
Curlee,  and  "  Father  "  Depositor,  as  he  was  familiarly  known 
in  those  days.  He  organized  the  first  M.  E.  Church  in  the 
precinct,  at  the  Bland  school-house,  about  \>>'-)\  or  '32,  and 
about  the  year  1833  or  1834,  the  school-house  having  been 
removed,  the  meetings  were  held  at  the  house  of  Benjamin 
Hammack,  where  they  were  c  ntinued  up  to  1837. 
Isaac  B.  Walker,  was  tbc  first  class  leader,  and  James 
Walker  was  a  licensed  Exhorter,  who  occasionally  preached. 
In  1837,  Win  Hammack  sold  out  ami  moved  to  Holt's 
Prairie,  where  the  church  was  still  kept  up  at  his  re.-idence, 
until  ho  moved  to  the  arm  of  Nine  Mile,  about  '48  or  '49, 
when  the  church  went  down,  and  was  neglected.  About 
the  year  1831,  and  several  years  afterward,  Shadrach 
Cheek,  a  hard  shell  Baptist  preacher,  called  in  those  days. 


362 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


the  "01(1  Regulars,'  held  meeting  from  time  to  time  in  ths 
Stilley  Settlement.  The  first  Sabba'hschool  held  in  the 
precinct,  was  organized  at  the  Bland  school  house,  by  Rev. 
James  Walker,  Itinerant  preacher,  and  Elder  S.  J.  Borger, 
presiding  Elder,  abjut  1831.  Nathan  G.  Curlee  and  Thos. 
O.  Ellis,  were  Superintendents,  and  Benjamin  Hammack 
and  wife,  Joseph  Tilley  and  Elizabeth  Slurdevant,  were  the 
teachers.  The  Sunday-school  enterprise  met  with  very 
strong  oppositi  n  at  that  early  day,  from  many,  even  the 
most  pious  professors,  they  regarding  it  as  a  questioi  able 
innovation  upon  the  church,  and  as  calculated  rather  to 
iiijure  its  influence  than  to  add  support  to  its  cause. 

The  first  tchool-house  was  the  Bland  school  house,  built 
about  1832  or  '33,  and  was  named  after  old  Grandfather 
Bland.  It  was  about  four  or  five  miles  north  of  Tamaroa. 
The  first  ti  acher  wa-i  Jacob  Walker.  His  qualifications  as 
a  teacher  in  Mathematics  were  expressed,  in  the  homely 
phrase,  of  "  Cipl  tr  thicugh  Long  Division."  Some  of  his 
more  advanced  i-cholars,  however,  even  doubled  his  capacity 
in  that  rule.  The  first  school  consisted  of  about  twenty-five 
scholars  —  tuition,  $2  00  a  scholar,  per  quarter.  In  1834, 
a  second  school  was  taught  at  the  same  place,  by  old  Grand- 
daddy  Johnson,  as  he  was  familiaily  called.  He  was  deaf 
and  indiscreet,  and  faikd  to  control  the  school,  and  it  broke 
off  before  his  term  was  regularly  ended.  Dr.  Joseph  Bray, 
thaw,  who  lived  near  old  Du  Quoin,  was  the  chief  reliance 
of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  this  precinct,  for  medical  aid,  for  a 
number  of  years.  Dr.  Wm.  Weir  was  the  first  resident 
physician.  Dr.  Wall,  of  Du  Quoin,  practiced  in  the  pre- 
cinct, in  1840,  and  for  several  years  thereafter 
The  following  were  the  first  land  entries  in  the  precinct  : 
October  Uth,  1832,  George  Lipe  entered  N.  E  J  of  S. 
W.  J  of  section  18,  thirty-four  and  forty-four  hundredths 
acres.  January  3,  1833,  Wra.  Hatcher  entered  E  i  of  N. 
W.  i  of  section  5,  seventy-five  and  seventy  one  hundredth 
acres.  January  23d,  1833,  Abraham  Morgan  entered  S. 
W.  i  of  N.  E.  i  of  section  18,  forty  acres. 

VILLAGE   OF   TAMAEOA. 

After  the  Illinois  Central  railroad  was  located.  Col.  R.  B. 
Mason,  chief  engineer,  proposed  to  Mrs.  Nelson  Holt  and 
Mrs.  B.  G.  Roots,  that  they  name  the  station  which  the 
company  had  decided  to  locate  on  the  present  site  of  the 
village  of  Tamaroa.  At  first  thty  chose  the  name  of 
"  Kiawkashaw,"  after  a  tribe  of  Indians.  They  afterwards 
adopted  the  more  polite  and  euphobious  "Tamaroa,"  which 
was  the  French  name  of  that  tribe.  The  village  was  laid 
out  on  the  N.  E  J  of  section  thirty  two,  T.  4,  R.  1,  by  the 
Central  Railroad  Company,  J.  N.  A.  Griswold,  President, 
and  surviyed  and  platted  May  14,  1855,  by  Nathan  Holt, 
deputy  county  surveyor.  After  the  village  was  first  platted, 
it  received  three  additions,  one  by  the  railroad  company, 
one  of  thirty  acr^s,  by  W.  E.  Smith,  north  of  the  original 
plat,  and  one  of  forty  acres,  by  Joseph  Cox,  on  the  so"th. 
The  present  area  of  the  village  is  one  square  mile.  The 
first  election  fur  trustees  was  held  April  4,  1859.  and 
resulted  in  the  choice  of  Thomas  Sanders,  R  H.  Davis,  S. 
A.  Beard,  F.  B.  Garner  and  M.  S.  Spencer.     The  village  is 


pleasantly  located,  and  has  excellent  railroad  facilities. 
Among  the  railroad  improvemei  ts  is  a  large  union  freight 
depot  and  a  passenger  house,  belonging  to  the  Illinois 
Central  Railmad  Co.  The  company  have  a  park  extending 
along  the  railroad  four  hundred  feet  long  and  eighty  feet 
wide.  It  is  shaded  by  forest  trees.  The  school-house  is  a 
two-story  frame,  and  contains  four  rooms.  The  first  public 
school  building  was  erected  in  1861.  It  was  destroyed  by 
fire  in  1873,  and  the  present  one  was  immediately  built. 
Prior  to  1861,  school  was  taught  in  unoccupied  dwellings. 
The  first  village  teacher  was  Miss  Bonner.  The  school  was 
graded  in  1859- GO.  The  three  church  edifices  are  frame 
buildings,  and  belong  respectively  to  the  Methodist,  the 
Presbyterian,  and  the  Baptist  denomination.  The  first  in 
the  order  mentioned  was  built  in  1858,  the  second  in  1869, 
and  the  remaining  one  in  1874.  The  first  house  in  the  vil- 
lage was  put  up  by  the  railroad  company  in  August  and 
September  of  1854.  It  was  a  two  story  frame  building, 
erected  for  a  boarding  house.  The  first  settlers  of  the  town 
were  Mrs  N.  Holt,  Samuel  Ewing,  William  Garner, 
Samuel  Eaton,  r  .  P.  and  E.  H.  Simmons,  Allen  Pailier,  D. 
C.  Barber,  and  D.  Saucks.  N.  Holt  assisted  in  surveying 
and  laying  out  the  town,  and  was  the  first  postmaster  and 
station  agent,  the  latter  of  which  positions  he  still  holds. 
We  have  no  hesitation  in  saying  Mr.  Holt  is  the  oldest 
station  agent  in  this  county,  having  performed  its  duties 
satisfactorily  to  the  company  for  twenty-eight  years  in  succes- 
sion. Barber  and  Simmons  put  up  the  first  store ;  Beard 
and  Hague  starting  a  store  about  the  same  time.  The  first 
resident  physician  was  William  E.  Smith. 

PRESENT    BUSINESS. 

Cox's  Coal  Mine  is  owned  by  Joseph  C  ix,  and  is  leased 
and  worked  by  P.  White.  The  shaft  is  two  hundred  feet 
(feep,  through  which  are  raised  daily  from  seventy-five  to 
eighty  tons  of  coal.  The  machin-^ry  is  operated  by  a  thir- 
teen horse-power  engine.  The  vein  is  six  feet,  and  fifteen 
men  are  employed  in  mining  the  coal. 

Barber's  Coal  Mine  is  owned  and  operated  by  D.  C. 
Barber  The  mine  is  worked  by  a  shaft  two  hundred  feet 
in  depth  The  coal  is  raised  by  a  thirteen  horse-power 
engine  from  a  vein  six  feet  in  thickness.  Fifteen  men  are 
employed,  and  about  seventy  five  tons  of  coal  are  raised 
daily.  The  tunnel  to  connect  these  mines  and  to  afford 
ventilation  and  safety  for  them  is  rapidly  approaching  com- 
pletion. 

Tamaroa  Mill— The  original  mill,  built  by  B.  P  Curlee 
and  A.  Anderson,  was  burned  in  1861.  These  gentlemen 
immediately  rebuilt  the  present  mill,  whose  value,  including 
equipments,  is  about  SI 0,000  '  It  has  three  run  of  burrs, 
two  for  wheat  and  one  for  corn,  and  its  capacity  is  fifty 
barrels  a  day.  The  size  of  the  main  buildiug  is  forty-six  by 
forty  feet.  There  is  a  slied  altachiiieiil,  forty  by  ten  feet, 
and  an  engine  room,  forty  by  twenty  fett  The  motive  is 
supplied  by  a  forty  horse  power  engine.  The  present  owner 
and  proprietor  is  Mr.  H    W.  Adams. 

Tamaroa  Custom  Mill  is  owned  and  operated  by  J.  H. 
Eaton.     It  is  a  combined  saw  and  grist  mill.     The  saw  mill 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS 


363 


department  was  built  in  1877,  ami  a  corn  burr  with  a 
capacity  of  one  hundred  bushels  a  day  was  soon  added. 
The  sawing  department  does  custom  work  in  hard  wood  ex- 
clusivelv,  and  is  equipppd  willi  a  "  doul)le  saw  ri:,'  "  A  wheat 
burr  was  added  in  18S1,  with  a  capacity  of  sixiy  bushels  a 
day.  The  grist  mill  is  thirty-five  by  thirty  feet  in  length  and 
brea'th,  and  the  value  of  the  entire  esta'^lishment  is  about 
83  000 

R  C  Lisenbcy'g  Grist  and  Siw  MilU  were  built  by  Henry 
Willis  in  1876.  and  are  operated  by  the  present  owner.  The 
building  is  fifty  feet  in  length,  and  twenty  four  f.et  in 
breadth.  The  engine-room  is  eighteen  by  twenty-four  feet, 
and  the  engine  has  a  capacity  of  sixteen  horse-power.  The 
present  value  of  the  mills  is  about  S'5,000. 

rhy.ilci(m.i.—T.  M.  Sams,  J.  S  Williams,  F  M.  Ward.  S. 
J  Layman. 

Lawyer  and  litdl  E^tiie  Agent. — Henry  Clay. 

Police  Magistrate  — John  W.  Corgan. 

Justices  of  the  Peace  — W   H.  H.  Large,  S  L.  Willoughliy. 

General  Stores. — IJlanchard  .\:  Co.,  D.  C.  Barber  &  Sous, 
D.  A.  Spencer,  A;  Blanchard. 

Family  Groceries. — P.  White. 

Hardware,  Stores,  Tinware  and  Agricultural  Implements. — 
M.  F.  Stone  Milo  Keck. 

Drug  Stores. — Williams  i  Willoughby,  B.  F.  Lipe. 

Hotel  —A.  P.  Adams. 

Butcher. — John  Miller. 

Barbers. — James  Fleuer,  A  Barker. 

Harnessmakers  — Pierce  &  Herrin. 

Shoemakers. — F.  Ruppe,  W.  H.  H.  Large. 

Lumherman. — R.  C  Nicholson. 

Livery  Stable. — B.  0=born. 

Black-Smiths. — Samuel  Robinson,  T.  R.  Harrison,  James 
Taylor,  L.  Bartneck. 

Postmaster  and  Stationer. — J.  B.  Swan. 

Station  Agent. — Nathan  Holt. 


Carpenters. — W.  J.  Dingle,  Samuel  Bear,  B.  Johnson,  J. 
W.  Curlee. 

Furniture. — David  Johnston. 

Grain  Dealers. — W.  A.  Haines,  R.  H  Nicholson,  H.  W. 
Adams,  J.  B.  Swan.  D.  C.  Barber. 

Agricultural  Implementi. — John  Miller,  H.  S  Patrick,  A. 
W.  Adams. 

In.mrance  Agents. — A.  Blanchard,  M.  F.  Stone,  H.  S. 
Patrick. 

Restaurant,  Bakery  and  Cnnje'tionery — Charles  and  A. 
Froelich. 

Milliner  and  Dressmaker. — Mrs.  .\.  Kerstine. 

SOCIETIES. 

Tamaroa  Lodge,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  No.  207,  was  chartered 
in  1S.')6.  It  has  a  membership  of  forty  brothers,  and  meets 
in  Masonic  Hall.  Its  financial  condition  is  good.  It  owns, 
just  outside  of  tiie  village  limits,  a  cemetery  with  an  area  of 
ten  acres.  It  was  laid  out  in  1802,  and  is  ornamenttd  with 
handsome  and  costly  monuments. 

Perry  Lodge.  Nn.  97.  /.  0.  0.  F.,  was  cliartereil  in  18.')0. 
It  is  in  ea.«y  circumstances  financially,  and  has  a  member- 
ship of  thirty-four.  It  meets  in  Odd  Fellows' Hall  every 
Saturday  evening. 

Royal  Templars  of  Temperance. — The  objects  of  this  or- 
ganization are  mutual  aid  and  the  advancement  of  temper- 
ance. It  was  organized  in  March,  1877,  and  it  !ias  a  present 
membership  of  tw.enty  persons.  It  meets  regularly  on  Mon- 
day evening  of  each  week  in  Royal  Templars'  Hall. 

Appleton  was  laid  out  by  W.  E.  Smith,  and  platted  and 
surveved  by  Elijah  T.  Webb,  deputy  county  surveyor,  Sep- 
tember 23, 18.53,  and  since  added  to  the  village  of  Tamaroa. 

Berlin,  an  obsolete  town,  was  laid  out  by  N.  G.  Curlee, 
in  Section  17,  T.  4,  S.  R.  1,  and  platted  and  surveyed  by 
Thomas  H.  Campbell,  county  surveyor,  June  11,  1840. 


BIOGRAPHIES, 


Hon.  LYSIAS  HEAPE. 
Amoxg  the  old  settlers  of  Perry  county  is  the  subject  of 
the  following  sketch.  He  was  born  in  York  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, June  C,  1813.  Robert  Ileape,  his  great-grand- 
father, was  by  birth  an  Englishman.  He  came  to  America 
while  yet  a  boy  and  settled  in  Maryland.  His  son  Robert 
■was  born  in  Hartford  county,  same  State,  as  was  also  John 
Shock  Heape,  the  father  of  Lysias.  John  C  married  Mar- 
tha Allen,  who  was  born  in  York  county.  Pa.  In  1816,  the 
family  came  west  to  Ohio  and  settled  in  Fairfield  county. 
There  Mr.  Heape  the  father  remained  until  about  18.50, 
■when  he  moved  to  Indiana,  and  there  died  in  1864  at  the 
advanced  age  of  eighty-four  years.  Of  that  union  there 
were  six  children — three  sons  and  three  daughters ;  four   of 


whom  are  yet  living.  Lysias,  the  subject  of  this  sketMi,  is 
the  second  son  and  third  in  the  family.  He  was  yet  in  his 
infancy  when  the  family  left  Pennsylvania  and  settled  in 
Ohio.  He  there  grew  to  manhood,  and  his  first  schooling 
was  in  a  sugar  camp,  and  his  teacher  a  man  by  the  name  of 
McBride.  He  subsequently  attended  the  subscription 
schools  that  were  held  in  the  rude  log  school-houses  of  half  a 
century  ago.  When  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age  his  father 
gave  him  permission  to  go  out  into  the  world  and  do  for 
himself.  He  cut  timber— did  any  and  all  kinds  of  work  that 
came  in  his  way.  In  1838,  he  married  and  came  west  to 
Illinois.  He  was  attracted  to  Perry  county  by  ac(iuaint- 
ances  who  had  come  here  from  his  section  of  the  country, 
and  also  his  brother  who  then  lived  in  Jackson  county.    He 


364 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND     FERRY    COUNTIES,  ILLINOIS. 


came  in  a  wagon  that  contained  liis  household  goods  aud  all 
his  worldly  wealth.     He  landed  here  on  the  lOlh  of  January, 
1840.     He  prospected  around,  and  in  June  of  the  i-ame  year 
entered  a  quarter  section  of  land  in  section  7,  T.  5   U.  1,  and 
there  through  the  kindmss  of  Mr  Holt,  now  of  Taniaroa, 
he  was   permitted  to  live  in  a  cabin,  which  was    upon   the 
]atter"s  land,  until  he  could  improve  and  prepare  a  habita- 
tion of  his  own.      The  first  year  he  built  a  small  clap  board 
house  with    puncheon  floors — the  windows  he    whittled  out 
with  his  penknife   in  his  leisure  monienis,  and  there  he  and 
his  wife  commenctd   housekeeping,  and  there  on  that  same 
piece  of  land  has  continued  to  the  present.     He  was  niarritd 
on  the  '/2d  cf  February.    1828,  to    Miss  Hannah    Reeder, 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Hannah  Reeder.     Her  mother  was 
the  widow  of  John  L'gan.     Her   maiden   name  was  Ham p- 
Bon.     There  have  been  six  children   born  to  Mr.   and  INIrs. 
Heape,  four  of  whom  are  living.      Their  names  in  the  order 
of  their  birth  are— Eunice,  who  died  in  her  twentieth  year; 
AVilliam  G.  who  is  a  farmer  and  a  resident  of  the  county  ; 
Sarah  Ann  and  Martha,  who   are  teachers  in    the    public 
schools  of  the  county.     His  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Christian 
church.     From  the  year  1847  to  1855,  Mr.  Heape  was  em- 
ployed by  the  association  of  the  Christian  church  in  Southern 
Illinois  to  preach    and    travel    over  the  district.     In   that 
ministry   he  travelled    and   preached    until    his    voice  gave 
way,  and  he  was  compelled  to  resign  the  call.     He  was  wf  11 
known  far  and  near,  and  was  prominent  as  a  preacher  of  the 
gospel  for  many  years  in  Southern   Ills.       Politically  Mr 
Heape  cast  his  first  vote  for  Martin  Van  Buren,  but  he  soon 
discovered  that  his  party  was  pruslavery.      He  then  avowed 
his  abolition    sentiments   and   cast  his  vote   for     James  G. 
Birney,  and  afterwards  voted  for  John  P.  Hale  for  president. 
In  1856,  he  was  one  of  the  few  who  voted  for  John  C.  Fre- 
mont.   Mr  Heape  has  the  honor  of  being  one  of  the  original 
and,  perhaps,  the  only  avowed  abolitionist  who  lived  here  as 
early  as  1840.      In  1879,  he  was  elected  one  of  the  commis- 
sioners of  the  county  by  the  Republican  party.      This,  in 
brief,  is  a  history  of  Mr.  Heape,  who  may  be  termed  a  pioneer 
of  two  States,  viz.,  Ohio  and  Illinois. 


NELSON  HOLT. 

Among  the  old  settlers  and  pioneers  of  Perry  county, 
Illinois,  is  the  subject  of  the  following  brief  biographical 
sketch.  He  was  born  in  Monroe  county.  New  York,  Janu- 
ary 6th,  1816.  The  family  is  of  English  descent,  the  ances- 
tors of  whom  settled  in  Connecticut,  where  his  parents,  Con- 
stant and  Sybil  (Dart)  Holt,  were  born,  reared  and  mar. 
ried.  They  removed  to  Monroe  county.  New  York,  then  a 
wilderness  in  1812,  and  there  died.  Mr.  Holt  was  raised 
up  on  the  farm,  and  received  a  good  English  education  in 
his  native  State.  He  commenced  teaching  before  he  was 
eighteen  years  of  age,  and  taught  for  five  winters  in  his  na- 
tive town.  In  the  autumn  of  1839,  he  came  We=t  to  Shaw- 
neetown,  Illinois,  and  taught  school  there  six  months.  Dur- 
ing that  winter  he  purchased  one  quarter  section  land  in 
section  six  in  T.  5  S.  R.  1.  W-  in  Perry  county.  In  the 
summer  of  1840,  he  rsturned  East,  and  married  Eliza  G. 


Holt  of  Willington,  Connecticut,  on  the  13th  September  of 
that  year,  and  the  same  Fall  moved  to  their  farm  in  Illi- 
nois, and  there  resided  until  the  spring  of  1842,  when  he 
engaged  in  teaching  school  at  Pinckneyville  foroneyear.  In 
the  spring  of  1843,  himself  and  wife  went  to  Jonesboro,  in 
Union  county,  where  they  were  both  employed  in  teaching 
school  for  two  years  He  then  returned  to  his  farm,  and 
there,  in  addition  to  his  farming,  opened  a  private  boarding 
school,  and  continued  teaching  most  of  the  time  until  March, 
1851.  On  ihe  1st  day  of  August  of  the  same  year,  he  ac- 
cepted the  position  of  Civil  Engineer  on  the  Illinois  Central 
railroad,  which  was  thtu  in  process  of  location  and  construc- 
tion, and  continued  in  that  capacity  until  April,  1855,  when 
this  part  of  the  road  was  finished  and  opened  for  business. 
He  was  then  appointed  Station  Agent  at  Tamaroa  and  has 
held  that  position  ever  since.  At  the  present  time  he  is  the  old- 
est Agent  and  employee  of  the  company,  having  entered  its 
service  in  the  summer  of  1851 — nearly  thirty-two  years  ago 
— the  ordinary  life-time  of  an  individual.  What  a  record 
it  shows  of  ability,  zeal  and  faithfulness  to  the  company's 
interest.  It  speaks  volumes  for  Mr.  Holt's  honesty  and  in- 
tegrity. He  is  also  agent  for  the  St.  Louis  Coal  R.  R.  Co., 
originally  the  Chester  and  Tamaroa  road.  He  has  also  been 
the  agent  of  the  American  Express  Co.  for  twenty-six  years  ; 
also,  agent  of  the  Adams  Express  Co.  for  several  years 
past. 

From  the  spring  of  1846,  until  the  fall  of  1851,  Mr.  Holt 
was  Postmaster  of  Mt.  Hawkins  P.  O.  then  located  at  his 
house.  During  this  time  he  also  served  the  county  one  term 
as  County  Surveyor  and  School  Commissioner.  In  May, 
1846,  there  was  one  daughter  born.  She  died  at  the  age  of 
six  months.  October,  1847,  another  daughter  was  born 
named  Emma  Eliza,  who  is  the  wife  of  Hamilton  Cox,  as- 
sistant agent  and  telegraph  operator  at  Taniaroa.  They 
have  two  children,  named  Eliza  and  N.  Holt  Cox,  twelve 
and  eight  years  respectively.  Mr.  Holt's  first  wife  died 
December  7th,  1870,  and  on  the  16th  of  October,  1871,  Mr. 
Holt  married  Mrs.  Sophia  A.  Dunham,  a  native  of  Mans- 
field, Connecticut.  Both  Mi:  and  Mrs  Holt  are  members 
of  the  Baptist  church,  and  he  has  been  a  member  for  over 
fifty  years.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican — is  in  good 
health,  and  bids  fair  to  live  and  labor  for  many  years  to 
come. 

HON.  CHARLES  E.  R.  WINTHROP. 

The  subject  of  the  following  sketch  is  of  English  ancestry, 
and  a  descendant  of  the  Pilgrims  who  landed  at  Plymouth 
Rock,  in  1620.  Members  of  the  family  a  few  generations 
after  settled  in  New  York,  and  there  John  S.  Winthrop, 
the  father,  was  born  and  remained  a  citizen  of  that  State  until 
his  death.  The  latter  event  occurred  while  he  was  on  a 
visit  to  his  son,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  In  life  he  was  en- 
gaged in  the  wholesale  dry  goods  business,  in  which  he 
amassed  a  fortune  and  then  retired.  He  married  Harriet 
Rogers,  a  native  of  New  York  city.  She  died  in  1835. 
By  that  union  there  were  ten  children,  five  sons  and  the 
same  number  of  daughters.  Three  of  the  sons  and  two  of 
the  daughtersare  yet  living.    Charles  E.  R.  is  the  fouth  son. 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MOXROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


B65 


He  was  born  in  New  York  city,  October  8,  1816.  In  his 
youth  he  enjoyed  fair  advantages  and  received  a  good  edu- 
cation. At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  was  placed  in  ciiarge 
of  a  wholesale  drugstore.  During  that  time  the  family  had 
moved  back  to  Stamford,  Connecticut,  but  soon  after  returned 
to  New  York.  Youug  Winthrop  di.<liking  the  drug  busi- 
ness abandoned  it,  and  secured  a  position  as  a  leveler  in  the 
Engineer  corps,  on  the  New  York  and  Erie  railroad,  which 
was  then  being  built.  He  served  ten  months  in  that  capa- 
city. About  that  time  the  Slate  of  Michigan  was  carrying 
on  the  general  improvement  system  and  were  trying  to  im- 
prove the  St.  Joseph  river  for  slack  winter  navigation.  To 
that  point  Mr.  Winthrop  made  his  way  and  obtained  a  simi- 
lar position.  Three  mouths  later  he  was  sent  to  Saginaw, 
and  remained  there  three  years,  and  then  the  crash  of  18.S7, 
so  well  known  in  the  fiuancid  history  of  the  country  took 
place,  and  all  work  was  suspended.  He  returned  to  New 
York,  where  he  made  the  acquaintance  of  a  young  man  who 
had  been  to  Illinois,  and  who  gave  a  glowing  account  of  this 
county.  Young  Winthrop  came  here  on  a  tour  of  observa- 
tion, and  finding  the  country  all  that  his  youthful  imagina- 
tion had  painted  it,  remained  here.  His  arrival  dates 
November  25,  1839.  He  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  in 
sec.  2,  of  5-1,  on  which  was  a  rude  cabin.  About  fifteen 
acresof  the  land  were  improved  and  under  cultivation.  He 
commenced  farming,  for  which  he  always  had  a  strong  in- 
clination, and  followed  it  and  remained  where  he  settled  to 
the  present  time.  After  his  first  purchase  he  entered  differ- 
ent tracts,  and  now  owns  a  fine  body  of  land.  On  the 
21st  of  February,  1842,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Delilah  Lipo,  a  native  of  Jackson  county,  Illinois.  She  is 
the  daugh  er  of  Jonas  and  E-thcr  Lipe.  By  that  union  there 
have  been  nine  children,  of  whom  two  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters are  yet  living.  Charles  E  R.  died  July  2,  1877.  He 
in  life  married  Nancy  J.  Kirkpatrick,  and  left  one  child, 
named  Claude  Winthrop.  Delilah,  wife  of  Richard  Ham- 
pieman,  died  February  14,  1881,  leaving  two  children, 
named  Winthrop  and  Auguste.  Harriet  R.  died  in  her  fifth 
year,  and  Emily  C.  in  her  third  year.  The  names  of  those 
living  are  John  S.  who  is  a  farmer.  He  married  Mi*s  Mary 
Patrick  and  has  six  children,  whose  names  are  Charles, 
John,  Effie,  Elsie,  Katie  and  Walter  Scott.  Henry  R.  mar- 
ried Martha  Hutson  and  has  three  children,  named  Carrie, 
Dempsy  and  Handlon.  Ellen  is  the  wife  of  Zebedee  Ham- 
pieman.  Esther  is  the  wife  of  W.  D.  Eaton,  and  has  two 
children,  named  Ethel  and  Roger  Eaton.  Susan  is  the 
youngest  of  the  children  and  is  yet  beneath  the  paternal 
roof.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Winthrop  are  members  of  the 
Missionary  Baptist  church.  He  is  a  member  of  the  A.  F. 
and  A.  M.  and  I.  O.  O.  F.  orders.  Politically  he  was 
originally  an  old  line  Whig,  but  joined  the  Republican 
party  on  its  organization,  and  has  remained  steadfast  to  its 
principles  ever  since.  He  served  one  term  as  Superinten- 
dent of  Public  Schools.  In  1870,  he  was  elected  County 
Judge.  In  both  positions  he  gave  ample  satisfaction,  and 
evidence  of  his  ability  to  conduct  the  offices  and  discharge 
the  duties  thereof  in  the  interests  of  the  whole  of  his  con- 
stituency. 


JOHN  S    WILLIAMS,  M.  D. 

Was  born  in  Allen  county,  Kentucky,  March  2,  1839- 
The  family  is  of  \Velsh  descent.  Langslon  Williams,  the 
grandfather  of  the  present  family,  was  born  in  North  Caro- 
lina, and  while  yet  a  young  man  went  to  Kentucky  and  set. 
tied  in  Allen  countj-,  and  there  married  Ruth  McElroy,  who 
was  of  Scotch  ancestry.  Of  that  union  was  Richard  H.  the 
father  of  John  S.,  who  was  born  in  Allen  county,  Ky.,  De- 
cember 28,  1814.  He  remained  a  resident  of  the  latter  State 
until  the  spring  of  1840,  when  he  came  to  Illinois  and 
settled  in  Perry  county  in  the  Grand  Cote  Prairie.  In  1857 
he  moved  to  Four  Mile  Prairie  and  iu  1865  to  Six  Mile, 
and  there  still  resides.  He  has  devoted  his  whole  life  to 
farming  and  stock  raising.  When  the  Mexican  «ar  broke 
out,  he  enlisted  in  Company  K  of  the  2d  Ills.  Vols.  com. 
manded  by  Col.  \'  .  H.  Bissell,  and  was  orderly  i-ergeant  of 
his  company  He  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Buena  Vista 
and  escaped  without  a  wound.  He  marri' d  Mi-s  Nancy 
Thompson  in  1838,  who  was  born  in  Allen  county,  Ky. 
She  died  in  1840.  He  afterward  married  Eliza  Gillespie, 
of  Perry  county.  111.  She  was  a  native  of  Tennessee  By 
that  marriage  there  were  eight  children.  By  the  first  mar. 
riage  there  was  one  son,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  He  was 
in  his  infancy  wlien  the  family  came  to  Illinois,  and  here  in 
Perry  county  he  grew  to  manhood  and  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools.  He  remained  at  home  at  work 
on  the  farm  until  1859,  when  he  went  to  Ttxas,  and  there 
entered  Mantua  Seminary  and  remained  eighteen  months. 
When  the  war  of  the  rebellion  broke  out  he  enlisted  in  Co.  K 
of  the  IGth  Texas  Civalry  under  Col.  George  Fitzhugh,  and 
remained  iu  the  service  two  years  when  he  was  captured  by 
the  Union  forces  when  General  Banks  was  on  his  disastrous 
Red  River  expedition.  He  had  become  dissatisfied  with  the 
cause  of  the  South,  and  therefore  very  promptly  took  the 
oath  of  allegiance  and  came  north  to  his  home,  and  here 
taught  sch  )ol  until  1870,  when  he  concluded  to  adopt  medi- 
cine as  the  bus  ness  of  his  life,  and  with  that  idea  in  view 
entered  the  office  of  Dr.  C.  C.  Swanwick,  of  Jackson  county, 
Illinois,  and  remained  until  the  death  of  the  doctor  ;  then 
studied  with  Dr.  Jones,  of  Pinckneyville.  In  the  winter  of 
1874-75  he  entered  the  Missouri  Medical  College  at  St 
Louis  and  took  two  full  courses,  and  graduated  from  that 
institution  iu  the  spring  of  187t)  with  the  degree  of  M.  D. 
He  commenced  the  practice  in  Tamaroa,  and  by  his  close 
attention  to  business  and  uniform  success  in  the  treatment  of 
his  patients,  soon  built  up  a  lucrative  practice.  It  is  hardly 
necessary  to  say  that  Dr.  Williams  belongs  to  the  regular 
school  of  medicine  and  is  also  progressive,  as  is  indicated  by 
his  membership  in  the  Medical  Societies  of  Southern  Illinois, 
which  have  for  their  object  the  mutual  advancement  of  its 
members.  On  the  14th  of  March,  1875,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Mrs.  Sarah  Spiller  nci'  Patrick,  daughter  of  Rev. 
Hillary  Patrick.  She  is  a  native  of  Tennessee.  She  had 
two  children  by  her  former  marriage,  whose  names  are 
George  C.  and  Maud  Spiller.  By  the  latter  union  there  is 
one  son  named  Homer  Williams.  Dr.  Williams  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  ancient  and  honorable  order  of  Masonry,  and 
holds  his  membership  with  Tamaroa  Lodge.     Both  he  and 


366 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


his  wife  are  metubers  of  the  Preib3-terian  church.  In  1879 
he  formed  a  partnership  with  C.  L  Willuughby  in  the  drug- 
busiuess,  which  firm  still  continues. 


FREDERICK  WILLIAMS 

The  Williams  family  on  the  paternal  side  is  of  Welsh 
descent.  Frederick  Williams,  the  grandfather,  was  born  in 
South  Carolina,  and  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 
He  died  in  that  State  March  18th,  1808;  his  sou,  William 
Willianis,  was  born  in  South  Carolina  in  1773,  and  there 
married  .Martha  Wells  and  in  1807  removed  to  Christian 
county,  Kentucky,  and  there  died  in  18-59  His  wife  sur- 
vived him  and  died  in  1876,  aged  ninety-one  years.  There 
were  eleven  children  by  that  union,  five  of  whom  are  still 
living  ;  Frederick,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  third  iu  the 
family;  he  was  born  in  Christian  county,  Ky.  Mar.  18,  1808. 
At  the  age  of  nineteen,  which  was  in  1827,  he  came  to  Perry 
county,  Illinois  to  look  after  and  improve  lands  that  his  father 
had  entered  here  .some  years  before;  liking  the  count);,  he 
remained  here,  built  a  log  cabin,  fenced  the  farm  and  im- 
proved it.  For  the  first  five  years  he  kept  "  Bachelor's 
Hall,"  then  in  1833  married.  In  1841  he  removed  to 
Pinckneyville  and  engaged  in  general  merchandising,  but 
money  being  scarce,  business  was  unprofitable  and  he  aban- 
doned it  and  went  back  to  farming  and  stock-raising.  In 
1844  he  removed  to  the  place  where  he  now  lives.  Iu  1855  he 
built  his  present  large  and  commodious  dwellingl  o  ise,  and 
there  he  has  lived  in  ease  and  comfort  since  that  time  On  the 
17th  of  January  1833,  he  married  Miss  Bexey  Orton,  who 
was  born  in  Orange  county,  Indiana,  January  15th,  1815. 
Her  parents,  Johnzie  and  Rachael  (Campbell)  Orton,  were 
natives  of  North  Carolina  and  came  to  Perry  county  in  1832. 
There  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Williams  eight  chil- 
dren, six  of  whom  are  living  Their  names  in  the  order  of 
their  birlh  are:  Cordelia  M.,  Christopher  C,  Desdemona 
M  ,  Clariuda  I.  C,  Frankliu  L.  and  Frederick  A.  Williams. 
Cordelia  M  ,  wife  of  Dr.  T.  A  Lovelady  ;  they  have  sevi  n 
children  named  :  Isabel  H.,  Desdemona  Aneadna,  Otis  E., 
Oscar  M  ,  Thomas  F.,  Luella  C  and  Ethel  Bexey.  Chris- 
topher C.  married  Miss  M.  E.  Ferguson ;  they  have  five 
children  whose  names  are:  Lillie  M.,  Minna  B.,  Frederick 
L.  D.,  Lsnora  and  Bauton.  Desdemona  M.  is  the  wife  of 
John  E.  Campbell,  now  a  resident  of  Elk  county,  Kansas; 
they  have  seven  children  whose  names  are:  Frederick  A., 
Benjamin  F.  E.,  Mabel  E.,  Charles  W.,  Edith  L.,  Daisy 
M  B  and  Edward  E.  Clarinda  I.  C.  married  Dr.  T.  C. 
McKinney.  who  is  a  resident  of  Carbondale,  Illinois  ;  they 
have  two  children  named:  Auguste  B.  and  Daisy.  Frank- 
lin L  married  Miss  Alice  L.  Bayliss;  they  have  three  chil- 
dren whose  names  are:  Roger  Roscoe,  Emil  and  Lois. 
Frederick  A.  married  Miss  Amelia  A.  White;  they  have  one 
child  whose  name  is  Auguste  Minnie  Williams.  Both  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Williams  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church. 
Mr.  Williams  is  a  Republican  in  politics;  he  was  originally 
an  Old  Line  Whig,  and  is  a  devoted  f  lUower  of  Henry  Clay. 
He  and  his  family  were  opposed  to  slavery,  and  as  soon  as 
the  Republican  party  was  organized,  and  gave  evidence  of 


its  hostility  to  slavery,  he  joined  its  ranks  and  has  remained 
a  member  to  the  present.  In  the  Black  Hawk  war  of  1832, 
Mr.  Williams  volunteered  with  defence  against  Black  Hawk 
and  his  Indian  allies;  he  was  in  command  under  General 
Henry,  of  Illinois.  In  the  late  war  his  son  Christopher  C. 
was  a  soldier,  and  enlisted  for  three  years  in  Co.  F  of  the 
13th  Illinois  Cavalry;  he  served  nearly  one  year,  when  he 
was  honorably  discharged  on  account  of  physical  disability. 
This  in  brief  is  a  hi-tory  of  Mr.  Williams.  His  family  have 
been  the  pioneers  of  two  Siates,  Kentucky  and  Illinois.  He 
has  lived  here  for  over  half  a  century  and  has  lived  to  see 
his  county  and  State  grow  from  insignificance  to  the  third 
State  in  the  great  union  of  States,  and  his  county  to  that  im- 
portance and  wealth  that  places  it  in  the  lead  of  many  of 
its  contemporaries.  Mr.  Williams  is  well  advanced  in 
years,  but  yet  he  gives  indications  of  many  years  of  usefulness. 


JOSEPH  B.  CURLEE. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  representative  of  one  of 
the  oldest  fimiiies  in  this  section  of  the  country.  His  grand- 
father, Ervin  Curlte,  was  a  native  of  North  Carolina.  He 
moved  from  Tennessee,  and  from  there  to  Illinois,  and  set- 
tled in  Fayette  county  in  1829.  He  was  a  soldier  of  the 
war  of  1812.  He  married  a  Gilbert.  She  died  in  Tennessee 
iu  1812.  He  subsequently  married  Nancv  Ferrill,  who  died 
in  1846.  Of  that  union  was  Nathan  Gilbert  Curlee,  who 
was  born  in  North  Carolina  Feb.  2,  1805,  and  was  the  oldest 
son.  He  came  to  Illinois  in  1828.  The  family  stopped  in 
Washington  county,  near  Nashville,  and  made  one  crop,  and 
then  came  to  Perry  county,  settling  on  section  17,  in  town 
4,  range  1,  on  land  that  he  had  tntered  and  improved,  and 
there  remained  until  his  death,  which  occurred  January  15, 
1858.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  also  kept  a 
country  store  which  in  the  early  history  of  the  State  was  one 
of  the  landmarks  in  that  section  of  the  country.  Mr. 
Curlee  was  raised  a  Baptist,  but  later  in  life  professed  reli- 
gion and  joined  the  M.  E.  Church,  and  was  regularly  or- 
dained a  minister  in  that  Christian  organization.  He  was 
possessed  of  good  business  tact  and  qualifications,  and  accu- 
mulated property  rapidly  ;  but  he  was  very  charitable  and 
benevolent  in  his  disposition,  and  gave  much  of  his  wealth 
away.  He  was  the  friend  of  the  poor,  and  no  one  ever  came 
to  his  door  soliciting  charity  or  help  who  went  away  empty- 
handed. 

He  married  Mary  King,  who  was  born  in  Virginia,  No- 
vember 28th,  ISO 3.  The  marriage  occurred  in  1824.  She 
died  December  16th,  1867.  By  that  union  there  were  seven 
children,  two  of  whom  died  in  their  tenth  year,  and  five 
grew  to  maturity,  and  two  are  yet  living,  viz :  Zebedee  P. 
and  Joseph  B.  The  latter  was  born  June  25th,  18^8,  on  the 
section  where  his  father  settled  when  he  first  came  to  Perry 
county.  There  he  grew  to  manhood,  and  there  he  has  made 
his  home  to  the  present.  He  received  a  fair  English  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools  of  his  neighborhood,  which  was 
further  improved  by  one  year  at  the  Wesleyan  University 
at  Bloomingtou,  Illinois.  In  1862  he  engaged  in  the  mer- 
cantile business  in  Tamaroa  for  one  year,  and  then  returned 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


367 


to  his  farm,  cultivated  it,  and  engaged  in  stnck-liuying  and 
trading.  In  April,  1864,  during  the  ribellion,  he  entered 
in  Cii  "  D'  of  tiie  136th  Regt  Illinois  Vol.  Infantry,  under 
what  was  known  as  the '•  Emergency  Call,"  and  remained 
in  tlie  service  until  October  of  the  same  year.  He  was  First 
Lieutenant  of  the  company.  On  the  14th  of  March,  1861,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  to  ^liss  Marjiaret  B.  Spencer,  who 
was  born  in  Wa.-hington  county,  Illinois,  July  'list,  1842. 
She  is  the  daughter  of  Daniel  R.  and  Lavinia  Spei.ctr.  Her 
mother  was  a  native  of  Tennessee  and  her  father  of  Vermont. 
By  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs  Curlee  there  are  two  chil- 
dren livins: ;  one  died  in  infancy.  The  names  of  those  living 
are,  Clyde  and  John  Linder  Curlee.  Himself  and  wife  are 
members  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  Mr.  Curlee  is  an  active 
member,  but  is  particularly  known  in  the  county  and  in  fact 
in  the  State  for  his  labors  and  efforts  in  behalf  of  Sunday- 
schools  and   their  work.     He  is  president  of  the  Sunday 


school  organization  of  the  county,  and  by  his  uncea^irg- 
labors  it  has  been  brought  up  to  as  high  a  .standard  as  any 
in  the  Slate.  Politically,  he  ca.'t  his  first  vote  for  Stephen 
A.  Douglas  in  1860,  but  in  all  subsequent  elections  has  vo'.ed 
the  republican  ticket.  He  is  a  pronounctd  prohibitionist, 
and  believes  that  the  licensing  of  saloons  is  an  offense  against 
good  morals  and  the  best  interests  of  society.  Mr.  Cuilee 
has  iidierited  many  of  the  characteristics  of  his  fther. 
Among  others  may  be  mentioned  his  liberality.  His  brother 
Zibedee,  and  brothtr-inlaw.  Rev  D.  W.  Phillips,  budt  the 
church  that  stands  near  Mr.  Curlee's  resdei.ce.  Zelxdee  is 
an  older  brother,  and  was  born  Nov.  27, 18o() ;  married,  Jan. 
8ih,  1»52.  His  wife  was  Miss  Mary  A.  Anderson.  They 
have  five  children  living.  His  sister  Mary  Susau  was  born 
June  4.  1844,  and  died  Jan.  2,  1S68.  She  was  the  wife  of 
Rev.  D  W.  Phillips,  presiilent  of  McKendree  College.  One 
child  was  born  lo  them  named  Mary  Phillips. 


c<:^SgS^^^lK^ 


PARADISE. 


PERRY  COUNTY. 


j,.|,  ,1  YING  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  county,  this  pre- 
'====^^^'  cinct  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Tamaroa,  on 
the  east  by  Franklin  county  and  the  Little 
Muddy  river,  and  on  the  so'ith  and  west  by  Du 
Quoin  precinct  and  Recs'  creek  It  was  estab 
lished,  April  21,  1870.  Most  of  the  territory 
had  been  a  part  of  Du  Quoin,  a  small  portion 
having  belonged  to  Tamaroa.  The  first  voting  place  was  at 
the  house  of  C.  C.  Provast.  The  precinct  received  its  name 
from  P.ira'lise  Prairie,  a  large  part  of  which  it  includes. 
The  prairie  is  so  called  fror.i  an  expression  dicited  by  its 
extreme  beauty,  from  the  lips  of  one  Wells.  Looking  one 
day,  with  some  companions,  from  an  eminence  over  it,  in  its 
flowing  gayety,  he  e.xclaimed,  "  This  is  as  near  Paradise  as 
I  ever  expect  lo  get !'  The  surface,  especially  in  the  centre 
part,  is  level.  On  the  east  side,  along  the  Little  Muddy,  it 
is  undulating  and  somewhat  rough,  though  the  toil  of  this 
part  is  richer  than  on  the  west,  along  Rees'  creek,  where  the 
surface  is  less  brokui.  The  principal  farming  di^trict  is  the 
central,  prairie  portion.  The  timber,  which  is  quite  abund- 
ant, and  which  consists  mainly  of  the  different  varieties  of 
oak  and  hickory,  is  confined  principally  to  belta,  extending 
along  the  Little  Muddy  and  Rees' creek.  Some  young  forests 
had  grown  up,  within  the  recollection  of  the  oldest  settlers. 
The  soil  is  quite  productive  and  easily  worked.  Wheat  is 
principally  cultivated,  though  the  other  cereals  and  fruits 
and  berries  receive  a  share  of  attention.  Lime-stone  rock, 
suitable  for  building  purposes,  abounds  along  Rees'  creek, 
although  little  attention  has  yet  been  paid  to  (juarrying. 


Tne  earliest  permanent  settlement  in  what  is  now  Paradise 
Precinct  was  made  in  the  year  1827.  The  earliest  sittler 
was  probably  David  Dial,  who  came  from  Tennessee  with  his 
wife  and  six  children,  two  boys  and  four  girls.  He  squatted 
and  built  a  cal'in  on  sec.  2H,  in  the  edge  of  the  timber,  and 
afterward  entered  laud  in  section  21,  purchasing  the  improve- 
ments of  David  Rees,  who  had  there  erected  a  ronnd-log 
cabin.  The  two  sons  and  two  of  the  daughters  are  dead. 
The  others  live  in  Franklin  county,  Illinois. 

William  Jones,  with  his  wife  and  several  children,  came 
from  Tenne.'.see  and  first  settled  in  what  is  now  Pinckneyville 
precinct  About  the  year  1827  he  moved  into  Paradise  and 
first  occupied  a  small  cabin  that  had  been  built  by  Alexander 
Clark,  who  had  come  from  Lost  Prairie,  whither  he  re- 
turned after  a  short  stay.  Jones'  permanent  settlement  was 
in  section  19  or  20,  township  o,  range  1,  west-  Some  of  his 
children,  two  or  three  of  whom  were  born  here,  are  now 
living.  One  of  them,  Elizabeth,  is  the  wife  of  Josiah  Ilarriss. 
James  Jones,  a  brother  of  William,  with  a  wife  and  several 
children,  came  from  Tennessee  in  1^-27  or  1828.  John  M. 
Hagganl,  also  from  Tennessee  came  along  with  William  Jones 
for  the  purpose  of  prospecting.  After  a  short  stay  he  re" 
turued  for  his  wife  and  child  whom  he  had  left  behind  him. 
He  built  a  pole  cabin  in  section  34,  but  remained  in  the 
precinct  only  a  short  time  and  then  went  to  Holt's  Prairie, 
where  he  still  lives.  Kext  in  order,  about  the  year  1828, 
came  from  Bedford  county,  Tennessee,  three  brothers,  Ed- 
ward, Minyard,  and  Robert  Gilliam.  They  all  brought 
families  with  them,  consisting  of  their  wives  and  the  children 


SG8 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS 


of  Edward  and  Miiiyard.  Edward  settled  the  N.  W.  1  of 
the  8.  W.  I  of  section  21,Minyard  the  N.  E.  one-fourth  of  the 
N.  \V.  i  of  section  -8,  and  Robert  in  section  3t.  Each 
erected  a  cabin  on  his  settlement.  Afterward  ihey  all  entered 
land  in  Gilliam  Prairie,  in  the  northern  part  of  the  precinct. 
Robert,  who  never  had  any  children,  went  to  Texas  where 
he  died.  Edward  and  Minyard  died  in  the  precincts.  The 
widow  of  the  latter  is  still  living.  Thomas  Jones  arrived  in 
the  settlement,  from  Tennessee,  in  the  -spring  of  18:^11,  and 
squatted  in  section  o3.  He  and  his  family  and  West  Eaton 
and  family  came  to  the  territory  together  in  an  ox-wagon- 
The  lattir  setthd  first  in  Eaton's  Prairie,  whence  he  moved 
to  Nine  Mile,  and  came  thence  to  the  precincts  about  183:2, 
and  settled  in  section  28,  where  he  now  lives 

Johnson  Harriss  was  a  native  of  Virginia.  He  went  to 
North  Carolina  and  thence  to  South  Carolina,  where  he 
married  Anna  Garrett.  He  then  moved  to  Bedford  county, 
Tennessee,  where  he  lived  as  a  farmer  about  twelve  years 
He  then,  in  1829  brought  his  family,  consisting  of  his  wile 
and  children,  three  sons  and  three  daughters,  to  Illinois,  and 
settled  on  section  28.  Here  he  built  a  clapboard-covered 
log  cabin  which  is  still  standing  on  the  old  place,  doing  duty 
as  a  stable.  He  had  two  sons  and  four  daughters  married 
before  he  came  to  the  precinct.  Jordan,  one  of  the  married 
sous  and  his  family,  came  with  his  father  in  the  ox-cart, 
which  was  the  mode  of  conveyance.  He  stopped  in  the  pre- 
cinct only  a  little  while,  and  then  went  to  Holt's  Prairie, 
where  he  lived  till  a  short  time  before  his  death  which  oc- 
curred in  Du  Quoin.  Polly,  while  yet  in  Tennessee,  mar- 
ried John  Gilliam,  brother  of  Robert,  Edward  and  Minyard. 
John  immigrated  in  1829,  and  settled  in  section  28,  where 
he  built  a  cabin  and  lived  two  or  three  years.  He  then 
moved  to  Gilliam's  Prairie,  where  he  remained  for  a  period 
of  time,  and  then  weut  to  Fnnklin  County  and  there  died. 
Nancy,  wife  of  Minyard  Giliiam,  and  Sally,  that  of  Labau 
G.  Jones,  had  preceded  their  father  to  the  prtcinct,  where 
Nancy  still  lives.  Laban  G.  Jones,  whose  wife  is  now  dead, 
settled  on  section  33,  and  after  a  residence  in  the  territory 
of  the  precinct  for  about  thirty-five  years,  moved  to  North 
West  Missouri.  Of  the  children  of  Johnson  Harriss,  there 
are  still  living  in  the  precinct,  besides  Nancy,  John,  Kezia 
and  Hosea.  Kezia  is  the  wife  of  West  Eaton.  Hosea  lives 
on  the  old  homestead  place.  John,  who  lives  on  section  28, 
came  to  the  precinct  as  a  part  of  his  father's  family,  at  the 
age  of  eighteen.  In  1831  he  married  Cinlhia  Wells,  daugh- 
ter of  Elijah  Wells  who  lived  in  Du  Quoin  precinct.  By  htr 
he  had  eleven  children,  five  boys  and  six  girls,  of  whom 
seven  are  yet  living,  four  in  Paradise,  two  in  Du  Quoin  and 
one  in  Franklin  county.  His  first  wife  died  in  1877.  In 
1878  he  married  Mrs.  Rebecca  Willmore,  daughter  of  Will- 
iam Otterson,  by  whom  he  had  three  children,  one  of  whom 
is  now  living.  John  S.  Haggard,  from  Bedford  county, 
Tennessee,  arrived  in  the  precinct  in  the  winter  of  1829  or 
30.  He  brought  with  him  a  family,  consisting  of  his  wife 
and  several  children,  and  built  a  cabin  on  section  34,  where 
he  finally  improved  a  good  farm,  and  in  1848  died,  leaving 
a  widow  who  still  resides  there.  Robert  Moore,  a  minister, 
came  about  this  time  from  Hamilton  County,  and  purchased 
the  improvement  of  John  M-  Haggard,  in  section  34.     He 


lived  here  two  or  three  years,  and  then  sold  his  improvement 
to  Reuben  Kelly  who  came  from  Bedford  county,  Tennessee^ 
to  Perry,  in  1829,  and  to  the  precinct  in  183:!,  there  purcha- 
sing the  Haggard  improvement,  on  which  he  died  in  1864. 
Isaac  McCollum.a  Tennesseean,  who  is  now  dead,  came  with 
his  family  to  what  is  now  Paradise  precinct,  in  the  year 
1830.  One  son,  Jonathan,  who  came  with  his  father  from 
Tennefsee,  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  is  now  living  on  a 
farm  adjoining  the  homestead  place.  Among  the  other  early 
settlers  may  be  mentioned/  the  names  of  John  Woodram, 
Thomas  Goacher,  George  Young,  Aquila  Combs  and  the 
brothers,  Roben  and  Wilson  Montgomery. 

The  first  binh  in  the  precinct  was  probably  that  of  Malita 
Gilliam.  The  first  graveyard  was  in  section  twenty-one. 
Here  in  1829  were  to  be  seen  the  graves  of  several  infants. 
Who  they  were  tradition  does  not  relate.  Ttie  first  minister 
who  preached  within  the  limits  of  the  precinct,  was  John 
Woodram,  The  next  was  Robert  Moore,  already  mention- 
ed. He  was  of  the  United  Baptist  persuasion,  as  were  also 
Isaiah  Youngblood,  Charles  Lee,  John  Browning,  and  John 
Maddox,  who  may  be  classed  amoung  the  early  preachers. 
Pleaching  was  at  first  confined  to  the  groves  and  the  houses 
of  the  settlers.  It  was  not  until  1842,  that  the  first  house  of 
worship  was  erected.  It  is  a  ''.•ame  building  belonging  to 
the  regular  Baptists,  and  stands  on  section  twenty-eight. 
Prior  to  1829  or  '30  the  children  of  Paradise  attend  school 
in  Du  Quoin  precinct,  when  Obediah  West  was  the  teacher. 
The  first  school  within  the  precinct  was  taught  about  this 
time,  in  section  thirty-three,  by  John  S.  Haggard.  One 
Hagaman  also  taught  a  school  in  the  precinct  in  1830.  His 
qualifications  in  orthography  and  orthoepy  seem  to  have 
been  quite  limited,  even  for  those  primitive  times,  judging 
from  recollections  that  yet  remain  of  his  laughable  mistakes 
in  those  branches  of  learning.  The  "  g  "  of  "  legislator  "  he 
always  insisted  on  pronouncing  with  the  hard  sound.  Teach- 
ing was  at  first  done  at  the  homes  of  the  teachers  or  in 
deserted  cabins.  No  building  for  school  purposes  was  put 
up  before  1838.  Ihe  first  teacher  in  the  new  school -house  was 
R.  P  Paramore.  The  justices  of  the  prtcinct  as  a  political 
organization,  were  Addison  Teel  and  John  Harris,  who  is 
an  incumbent.  The  early  physicians  were  Joseph  Brayshaw 
who  practised  in  this  section  of  country  for  a  number  of 
years;  Leo  T.  Hamilton,  of  Pinckneyville  ;  Mil  on  Mulkey, 
a  botanical  doctor,  from  Franklin  county,  and  Dr.  Berklow, 
who  practiced  principally  in  Nine  Mile  prairie.  The  first 
post  ottice  was  at  a  little  town,  long  since  extinct,  laid  out 
by  Aquila  Combs  in  the  southeast  part  of  the  precinct,  and 
called  Iowa.  Here  Combs  kept  a  few  articles  of  merchan- 
dise which  constituted  the  first  store.  About  the  same  time, 
Laban  G-  Jones  and  Reuben  Kelly,  kept  a  small  stock  of 
store  goods  in  a  frame  building,  in  section  thirty-three.  The 
first  blacksmith-shop  in  the  settlement  stood  in  section 
twenty,  and  was  keept  by  one  Rees.  N.  T.  Kelly  and  J.  B. 
Haggard  were  early  blacksmiths  and  wagon  wrights.  Isaac 
McCollum  in  an  early  day  built  a  tread-mill  for  wheat  and 
corn,  on  Little  Muddy  river.  This  was  probably  the  first 
mill  within  the  present  limits  of  Paradise  precinct.  Other 
early  mills  were  the  horse-mills  of  George  Young  and  Leo- 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


360 


nard  Keeling,  and  the  steam  saw  and  grist  mill  of  Reed  and 
Wilson.  In  the  days  of  which  we  have  just  been  writing — 
early  yet  remembered  days — wild  game  was  abundant.  TJie 
flesh  of  the  deer  and  of  the  wild  turkey  and  the  product  of 
the  bee-tree,  constituted  a  considerable  part  of  the  settler's 
living.  Among  other  things  that  engaged  early  attention 
was  the  entry  of  land  at  the  Land  oflice,  in  order  that  a 
greater  security  of  title  might  be  enjoyed,  than  that  possessed 
by  the  mere  squatter.  August  Iflth,  1.S30.  Abraham  Cok- 
enaur  entered  the  W.  ^  of  the  S.  W.  ]  of  section  32,  eighty 


acres.  August  13th,  1832,  John  S.  Haggard  entered  forty 
acres,  the  S.  E.  }  of  the  S.  W.  1  of  section  34.  January 
28th  1833,  eighty  acres  were  entered  by  Reuben  Kelly,  the 
W.  ]  of  the  S.  Vv.  i  of  section  34.  William  Eaton,  July 
14th,  1833,  entered  the  eighty  of  the  E.  J  of  theS.  E.  J  of 
section  33.  The  West  eighty  acres  of  the  N.  W.  i  was 
entered,  August  llith,  18.34,  by  Thomas  Jones.  Van  S. 
Teague,  June  21st,  1832,  entered  the  southwest  forty  acres 
of  the  N.  W.  }  of  section  32. 


■^^5^^3^i^^^^- 


COULTERVILLE, 


RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 


N  the  extreme  northeastern  part  of  this 
'  ciiunty  is  situated  the  precinct  of  Coulter- 
ville.  It  occupies  the  west  arm  of  Grand 
Cote  prairie,  widely  known  for  its  beauty 
and  fertility  of  soil.  The  timbered  por- 
tions are  small  and  lie  in  the  northeast 
corner  and  in  the  extreme  southern  part 
of  the  precinct.  The  streams  that  flow 
through  the  lands  are  small,  the  source  of 
i^  Mary's    river    and   minor  tributaries    in 

the  south.  Plumb  creek  in  the  west  and 
Big  Muddy  iu  the  north.  The  greater  part  of  the  precinct 
lies  in  T.  4  S.  R.  5  W.,  and  five  sections  are  taken  from  the 
northea.st  corner  of  T.  5  S.  R.  5  W.,  which  are  included  in 
Coulterville.  Wheat  and  corn  are  the  staple  productions. 
The  shipping  facilities  are  excellent.  The  Cairo  Short  Line 
Railroad  passes  through  the  northern  part  of  the  county  in 
a  southeasterly  direction  through  the  village  of  Coulterville, 
which  is  an  important  shipping  point  on  the  line. 

E.\RLY   SETTI.E.MENTS. 

The  earliest  settler  to  locate  in  what  is  now  knnwn  as 
Coulterville  precinct  was  David  Cathcart.  He  made  a  trip 
to  the  county  in  1818,  and  selected  and  entered  a  tract  of 
land  consisting  of  100  acres — the  N.  W.  1  of  section  35,  T. 
4,  R.  5  W.,  December  3,  1818 — which  was  entered  in  the 
name  of  his  son,  Joseph.  Mr.  Cathcart  was  a  native  of 
Ireland,  and  came  here  from  South  Carolina  early  in  the 
spring  of  1819.  He  built  his  rude  log  cabin  in  the  edge  of 
the  timber,  near  the  present  residence  of  Mrs.  John  Edgar, 
his  grand-daughter  He  brought  his  family  with  him.  His 
children  were :  Mary,  who  married  James  Munford ; 
Rosanna,  who  became  the  wifeof  William  Campbell  in  South 
Carolina;  Elizabeth  married  William  Stormont,  and  one 
son,  Joseph.  They  are  all  deceased.  Joseph  reared  a 
family,  of  whom  Robert,  Francis,  Margaret,  the  wife  of 
William  Woodside,  and  Agnes,  the  wife  of  John  Edgar,  are 
47 


living  in  the  vicinity.  Mr.  Cathcart  was  a  weaver  by  trade, 
and  followed  that  occupation  in  the  Carolinas.  He  im- 
proved a  good  farm,  where  he  died  about  1845,  over  90 
3'ears  of  age.  William  Campbell,  his  son  in  law,  who  came 
with  the  family  to  Illinois  in  1819,  located  about  a  mile 
south  of  Mr.  Cathcart,  in  section  2,  of  T.  5,  R.  5,  where  he 
made  a  farm  and  resided  until  his  death.  James  Munford, 
also  a  son-in-law  of  Mr.  Cathcart,  arrived  and  made  a  settle- 
ment in  the  same  neighborhood,  in  December,  1819.  He 
died  in  January,  1840,  at  the  age  of  seventy-six  years. 

Hugh  McKelvey,  the  second  pioneer  of  Coulterville,  like 
Mr.  Cathcart,  had  visited  the  county  in  1818  and  purchased 
land.  He  came  in  the  same  spring  and  about  the  time  of 
Mr.  Cathcart's  arrival,  and  located  on  section  2(i,  their 
cabins  being  about  one  mile  distant  from  each  other.  He 
died  many  years  ago  at  the  residence  of  his  daughter  in 
Washington  county. 

John  Dickey  came  with  James  Munford  to  this  county 
in  December,  1819,  and  located  in  the  S.  W.  ',  of  section  3,, 
which  tract  he  entered.  He  erected  a  small  log  cabin,  the 
only  buildings  constructed  by  the  pioneers  and  began  cultivat- 
ing a  form,  and  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days  on  the  place. 
William  Dickey,  a  justice  of  the  peace  in  Washington 
county,  is  a  son  of  his,  and  is  the  only  one  of  the  family  now 
living.  In  1823  Smith  and  Alexander  Dickey,  l)rothers  of 
the  above  named,  came  to  the  county  together,  and  located 
in  section  28,  and  both  continued  to  reside  on  the  farms  they 
firot  settled.  Smith  Dickey  reared  a  large  fomily  of  chil- 
dren. John  M.,  Alexander  S.,  James  L.  and  William  .). 
reside  in  this  precinct.  Alexander  Dickey  was  born  in 
South  Carolina  in  1795.  He  married  Margaret  Hair,  who, 
together  with  her  brothers,  accompanied  the  Dickeys  to  the 
county.  William  J.,  who  lives  in  Kan.sas,  and  James  H. 
Dickey,  a  resident  of  Sparta,  are  sons  of  his.  In  1836 
Alexander  Dickey  built  a  grist  mill,  propelled  by  horse 
power,  and  in  1H45  a  saw  mill  was  attached  and  the  business 
increased.     Mr.  Dickey  also  erected  in  the  same   year  a 


370 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


large  brick  house,  which  largely  added  to  the  already  pop- 
ular locality.     He  died  in  Sparta  about  1873. 

The  following  are  a  few  of  the  earliest  land  entries  made 
in  this  precinct  It  will  be  observed  that  they  all  became 
actual  settlers  on  the  land  they  purchased  : 

Hugh  McKelvey  entered  September  19th,  1818,  the  N. 
W.  i  of  section  twenty-six,  160  acres ;  same  day  John 
McDiil  entered  N.  W.  i  of  section,  twenty-two,  160  acres; 
April  30th,  1819,  Joseph  Carthcart  entered  N.  W.  }  section 
thirty-five,  160  acres;  December  3d,  1818,  James  Muuford 
entered  the  S.  E.  i  of  section  (3)  T.  5  S.  R.  5  W.  of  3  P. 
M.,  160  acres  ;  December  31st,  1819,  John  Dickey  Jr., 
entered  the  S.  W.  i  of  same  section,  township  and  range, 
160  acres  ;  January  24th,  1820,  William  Campbell  entered 
the  W.  i  of  the  N.  E.  J  section  two,  75tV5  acres,  T.  5,  R.  5 
W.  of  3rd  P.  M. 

James  Dickey,  brother  of  those  already  mentioned,  ar- 
rived here  in  the  spring  of  1824,  and  made  the  first  settle- 
ment in  the  northern  part  of  the  precinct.  He  located  on 
section  eleven,  where  he  made  a  fine  farm,  reared  a  family 
of  respectable  children,  and  ended  his  days,  September  lst7 
1881.  The  wife  of  James  East,  and  Harriett  and  Caroline, 
and  the  wife  of  Christopher  Kean  are  daughters  of  James 
Dickey,  living. 

It  was  about  the  same  date  that  James  Coulter,  the 
founder  of  Coulterville,  arrived  and  made  a  settlement  on 
the  hill,  on  the  present  site  of  the  village.  Coulter  was  a 
very  industrious  man,  and  became  one  of  the  most  popular 
and  enterprising  citizens  of  this  part  of  the  county.  He 
remained  here  actively  engaged  in  building  up  the  town, 
until  a  few  years  ago,  when,  having  met  with  reverses,  he 
turned  his  eye  westward  to  the  fields  of  gold,  whither  he 
went  in  search  of  a  fortune.  He  died  soon  afterward  in 
Colorado.  Rev.  David  Coulter,  a  minister  residing  in 
Kansas,  Sarah  and  Catharine  B.,  single,  in  Colorado,  the 
wife  of  Charles  Preston,  in  Cutler,  and  the  wife  of  R.  B. 
Elliott,  residing  in  Coulterville,  are  those  of  his  family  now 
living.  William  Jamison,  came  in  1821),  and  settled  in 
section  33  of  T.  4,  R.  5,  where  he  followed  the  occupation 
of  farming  until  his  death.  William  W.,  and  Alexander 
at  Coulterville,  and  Joseph  residing  on  the  old  place  are 
sons  of  his.  John  G.  Miller,  an  old  and  respected  citizen 
of  the  village,  is  a  son  of  Andrew  Miller,  a  Scotchman  who 
settled  at  Eden  in  1827. 

The  Woodsides  are  also  early  arrivals.  They  were  South 
Carolinians.  Samuel  Woodside,  came  with  his  family  in 
1829,  and  took  up  his  residence  south  of  Coulterville,  and 
died  there.  Robert  H.,  John  J.,  Samuel,  William  and 
James  are  sons  of  his  living  in  the  vicinity.  James  Wood- 
side,  brother  of  the  above  named,  did  not  arrive  until  1831, 
and  remained  but  a  short  time  in  the  neighborhood.  He 
died  in  Perry  county  in  1833.  James  Wylie,  one  of  the 
oldest  citizens  of  the  precinct,  resides  on  section  15.  He  is 
of  the  Wylie  family  who  settled  and  originated  the  town  of 
Eden,  and  were  among  the  first  pioneers  in  this  part  of  the 
county.  The  pioneers  of  this  precinct  were  of  an  intelli- 
gent and  hard  working  class,  and  nearly  all  who  located 
here  at  an  early  day  became  permanent  settlers,  and  many 


of  the  descendants  of  these  old  families  are  among  the  best 
citizens  of  to  day.  They  early  evinced  an  interest  in  the 
cause  of  education  and  religion,  and  schools  and  churches 
were  early  established.  A  school  was  taught  in  a  small 
log  cabin,  situated  on  the  N.  E.  }  of  section  27  as  early  as 
the  winter  of  1828-'29,  by  George  Campbell.  Henry  L. 
McGuire  and  Benjamin  Wham  were  among  the  first 
teachers. 

We  have  named  a  few  of  the  very  earliest  settlers  in  this 
precinct.  It  would  be  impossible  to  mention  them  all,  at 
this  late  date. 

About  1830,  there  began  a  steady  increase  in  the  popu- 
lation ;  immigrants  came  pouring  in  from  every  direction  ; 
and  the  territory  soon  contained  a  large  number  of  inhabi- 
tants. A  few  years  later  and  the  log  cabin  was  replaced 
with  fine  frame  and  brick  structures,  and  the  scene  was 
soon  changed  from  a  wilderness  to  a  beautiful  and  highly 
cultivated  region.  In  the  census  of  1880,  Coulterville  and 
Tilden  precincts  were  taken  together  and  gave  a  population 
of  1,998  souls. 

VILLAGE   OF   COULTERVILLE. 

This  village  was  laid  out  on  the  S.  E  i  of  the  S.  W.  i  of 
section  13  in  the  spring  of  1851,  by  James  Coulter,  and 
named  by  him  Grand  Cote,  from  the  prairie  on  which  it  is 
situated.  It  was  surveyed  and  platted  by  special  deputy  E. 
Leavenworth,  and  recorded  in  the  office  of  the  circuit  clerk 
March  21,  1851.  The  name  Grand  Cote,  was  subsequently 
changed  to  Coulterville,  in  honor  of  the  original  proprietor, 
James  Coulter.  The  beautiful  location,  fertility  of  soil  and 
the  advantages  for  agriculture  soon  attracted  attention. 
The  year  following  Henry  Taylor  erected  a  building  and  be- 
gan the  mercantile  business.  His  store  consisted  of  a  small 
stock  of  general  goods,  which  were  the  first  sold  in  the  place. 
The  residence  of  James  Coulter  was  situated  on  the  original 
site  of  the  village.  His  first  home  was  a  log  cabin.  He 
afterward  erected  a  stone  house,  on  the  hill,  which  still 
stands,  one  of  the  old  landmarks  of  the  place.  A  church 
was  also  built  by  the  Reformed  0.  S.  Presbyterian  denomi- 
nation, prior  to  or  about  the  time  of  the-  laying  out  of  the 
town.  It  was  a  small  frame  structure  and  was  the  first 
chiirch  in  the  village.  A  log  school-house  was  also  erected 
about  the  same  time.  James  Thompson  opened  the  next 
store,  and  John  Miller  was  the  first  blacksmith.  In  1854, 
John  J.  Sloan  built  a  blacksmith  shop  on  section  10,  and  a 
short  time  afterward  moved  with  his  family  into  the  village 
and  opened  a  shop.  Thomas  McNeal  erected  and  conducted 
the  first  hotel.  The  building  is  still  standing  on  Chestnut, 
between  4th  and  5th  streets.  He  also  erected  a  shop  and 
carried  on  blacksmithing  on  the  corner  just  east  of  his 
residence.  We  quote  the  following  from  an  article  written 
by  Hon.  John  R.  McFie,  and  published  in-  the  Headlight. 
"  To  show  the  disposition  of  the  boys  of  that  early  day,  it  is 
but  necessary  to  refer  to  one  hallow-eve  night.  The  boys 
took  a  dead  hog,  mounted  the  shop  with  it  and  threw  it 
down  the  chimney.  When  fire  was  started  the  next  morn- 
ing, the  chimney  refused  to  draw,  which  led  to  the  dis- 
covery of  the  hog.     In  attempting  to  remove  it,  it  was  found 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS 


371 


that  it  had  stiffened  during  the  night,  and  would  neither  go 
up  or  down,  and  the  chimney  had  to  be  torn  open  to  remove 
the  animal." 

The  post  office  was  established  here  about  1854,  and 
Henry  Taylor  was  appointed  the  first  post  master.  Dr. 
Hiram  H.  Rice  was  the  earliest  resident  physician  locating 
here  in  1855.  In  185G,  he  and  a  young  man  studying  medi- 
cine with  him  opened  a  drug  store.  Esquire  James  H. 
Pinkerton  was  the  earliest  justice  of  the  peace,  and  the  first 
case  was  the  noted  (Christina  Dixon  case,  so  familiar  to  the 
older  citizens.  In  1858,  A.  M.  Thompson  erected  a  saw 
mill  on  the  lot  where  A.  R.  Smith's  mill  now  stands,  on  the 
south  side  of  Chestnut  street.  It  was  in  operation  about 
three  years.  It  was  in  the  same  year  that  Esq.  James  H.  Pink- 
erton and  Charley  Coder  began  making  brick  where  Adam 
Miller's  machine  shop  now  stands.  In  1859,  the  village 
contained  two  churches,  two  stores,  one  wagon  shop,  three 
blacksmith  shops,  one  merchant  mill,  one  saw  mill,  one  shoe 
shop,  one  drug  store,  three  carpenter  shops,  one  tin  shop, 
one  saddlery,  two  hotels,  one  brick  yard,  one  brick  school- 
house  and  two  physicians.  At  that  time  there  was  consid- 
erable building  being  done  ;  several  stores  and  residences 
were  in  course  of  erection. 

Id  the  spring  of  1860  there  occurred  a  severe  storm  in 
this  locality,  and  in  its  passage  over  the  village  it  unroofed 
the  brick  mill,  unroofed  and  blew  in  the  west  gable  of  the 
brick  school-house  and  also  demolished  the  stone  building  of 
Dickey  and  Jamison,  besides  doing  .considerable  damage  to 
other  buildings,  residences  and  all  kinds  of  property.  Tiie 
fences  in  the  vicinity  were  scattered  in  every  direction. 

Early  schools  were  held  in  the  basement  of  the  R.  P.  Church 
after  its  erection  until  1857,  when  R.  B.  Elliott  and  John 
Robinson  built  the  old  brick  school.  It  stood  on  the  same 
spot  where  the  present  one  was  erected.  Among  the  early 
teachers  were  Margaret  Guitillius,  George  McKay,  Profes- 
sor Sweazy,  Frank  Anderson  and  H.  Coulter.  The  present 
school-house  is  a  beautiful  brick  building,  two  stories  high, 
and  contains  four  rooms.  The  school  is  graded,  employing 
four  teachers.  There  are  at  present  four  churches  in  the 
village — United  Presbyterian,  O.  S.  Reformed  Presbyterian, 
N.  S.  Reformed  Presbyterian,  and  Methodist  Episcopal. 

Coiilterrillc  Academy. — This  institution  was  established  in 
1871.  The  building  is  a  neat  frame,  containing  two  rooms. 
There  are  two  courses,  classical  and  normal.  It  is  now  under 
the  professorship  of  R  G  Ramsay.  It  is  controlled  by  a 
board  of  managers,  elected  by  the  stockholders..  The  acade- 
my is  well  patronized  by  the  citizens. 

Incorporation. — There  have  existed  at  least  two  incorpor- 
ating organizations,  the  first  being  from  some  cause  illegal. 
At  an  election  held  July  15,  1874,  the  question  whether  the 
place  should  be  reorganized  and  incorporated  under  the  gen- 
eral law  as  a  village  was  carried.  It  is  controlled  by  a 
board  of  trustees  elected  each  year  as  provided  by  law.  The 
present  board  are  J.  Q.  A.  Nisbet,  president ;  William  Hood> 
James  M.  Jones,  W.  T.  Craig,  J-  S.  Milligan  and  John  Os- 
born.  S,  M.  East,  clerk  ;  William  Orr,  treasurer  ;  John 
Dixon,  street  commissioner;  William  McDill,  constable; 
Nathaniel  Childs,  Police  Magistrate. 


Coullerville  Cemetery  is  situated  one  mile  north  of  the  vil. 
lage,  and  contains  two  acres  nicely  laid  off  and  set  with  or- 
namental trees.     It  is  managed  by  a  board  of  trustees. 

Elliott's  Mill  was  erected  in  1877,  and  began  operation  in 
November  of  the  same  year.  It  is  frame,  constructed  in 
elevator  style,  occupying  'llOx.30  feet  on  the  ground.  It 
contains  three  run  of  buhrs  and  two  sets  of  rolls,  and  has  a 
capacity  of  100  barrels  in  twenty-four  hours.  Elliott's  Best 
and  Champion  are  the  brands  manufactured.  There  is  an 
elevator  in  connection  with  the  mill  operated  by  steam 
power.  A  cooper  shop  is  also  a  part  of  the  establishment, 
and  manufacture  the  barrels  for  shipment.  R.  B.  Elliott  is 
owner  and  proprietor. 

Coulterville  Mill  was  erected  by  Elliott  and  Jamison  in 
180.3.  It  is  a  frame,  three  stories  high,  40x40  feet,  steam 
power,  now  owned  and  operated  by  A.  K.  Smith,  who  pur. 
chased  it  in  April,  1881.  It  has  three  run  of  buhrs  with  a 
capacity  of  100  barrels  in  twenty-four  hours.  Process  Strait 
and  White  Rose  Patent  are  the  brands  manufactured.  It 
has  a  cooper  shop  in  connection.  These  are  both  custom  mills. 
Coulterville  Coal  Company. — This  shaft  was  sunk  in  1872, 
by  Kennedy  and  Jones.  It  is  three  hundred  feet  to  the  sur- 
face of  the  coal.  The  vein  will  average  seven  feet,  and  is 
an  excellent  quality  of  coal.  The  mine  is  dry,  and  the  coal 
is  easily  worked.  It  is  operated  by  steam  power,  and  when 
working  its  full  capacity,  can  raise  and  load  twenty  cars  per 
day.  Work  from  sixty  to  eighty  men.  James  M.  Jones 
and  J.  Q.  A.  Ni-bet,  are  the  proprietors  and  operators. 

Coulterville  Foumlry  and  Machine  Shops  were  established 
in  LS77  by  Miller  &  Demier,  and  are  now  owned  and  oper- 
ated by  Adam  Miller.  All  kinds  of  repairing  in  iron  and 
castings  is  executed  with  neatness  and  despatch. 

The  Hotel  Elliott. — This  is  one  of  the  ornaments  of  the 
village.  It  is  situated  just  opposite  the  depot,  and  the 
grounds  comprise  nine  acres,  two  of  which  are  taken  up  with 
"East  Lake."  Tiie  grounds  are  laid  out  in  park-like  style, 
with  numerous  walks.  A  large  number  of  shade  trees  and 
ornamental  trees,  flower  beds,  mounds,  vases,  fountains, 
statuary,  rustic  seats,  summer-houses,  etc,  are  appropriately 
and  tastefully  arranged.  There  is  also  a  quarter-mile  race 
course,  with  a  band  stand  in  the  center.  The  lake  is  sup- 
plied with  fish,  and  a  number  of  small  boats  fir  the  pleasure 
of  the  guests.  There  is  a  mineral  spring  near  the  house,  the 
water  of  which  is  an  excellent  cure  for  rheumatic,  dyspep- 
tic, kidney  and  liver  diseases.  In  connection  with  the  spring 
is  a  well-arranged  bath  house,  where  the  guests  are  accom- 
modated with  either  hot  or  cold  sulphur  baths.  The  location 
is  beautiful  and  healthful.  In  the  warmest  days  of  sum- 
mer there  is  always  a  good  breeze  passing  over  the  Grand 
Cote  prairie.  The  place  is  fast  becoming  a  favored  summer 
resort.     Mr.  Michael  Adami  is  the  proprietor. 

PKIiSENT  BUSINESS  — TRADE  OF  1882 

Physicians — C'.  J.  Childs,  R.  S.  Edgar,  A.  R.  Leeper, 
Andrew  Marlow. 

General  Merchandise. — W.  J.  Crawford,  W.  W.  Jamison, 
Woodside  &  Wiseley. 

Dry  Goods  and  Notions — John  Osborn. 


372 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND     PERRY    COUNTIES,  ILLINOIS. 


Drugs,  Books  and  Stationery. — Edgar  &  East,  J.  S.  Mil- 
ligan. 

Hardware,  Stoves  and  Tinware. — Thomas  Crawford,  J.  M. 
Elliott. 

Groceries. — Nathaniel  Childs,  J.  B.  Morrow. 

Clothing, — Stewart  &  Armstrong. 

Books,  Stationery,  Jewelry  and  Postmaster.— \Y .  A.  Milligan. 

Harness  Store. — William  Orr  &  Co. 

Shoe  Stores  —Christ.  Emig,  James  Millikin. 

Jewelry.— WiWium  Warnock,  Thomas  Orr. 

lAvery  Stables.     James  W.  Gillespie,  Wiseley  Bros 

Furniture. — Burns  &  Stewart. 

Lumber  Yard  and  Carpenter  S/iop.— Wiseley  &  Lyle. 

Newspapers.—"  Coulterville  Headlight,"  Ashwood  &  Mar- 
low,  editors ;  "  Coulterville  Clipper,"  William  Beattie,  editor. 

Dentist— S.  H.  Wirtz. 

Brick  Fard.— Robert  McAfee. 

Painter. — John  Saffer. 


Carpenter  Shops. — J.  P.  Williamson,  J.  P.  Patterson,  James 
Wylie. 

Insurance  Agents.— S.  M.  East,  J.  A.  Nisbet,  Anthony 
Steele. 

Ifo/efe.— Hotel  Elliott,  M.  Adarai,  proprietor  ;  Coulterville 
House,  John  Dixon,  proprietor;  City  Hotel,  Mrs.  Harben, 
proprietress;  Stranger's  Home,  I.  N.  McCollum, proprietor. 

Wagon  3Iakers.  — M.  G.  Treffls,  A.  W.  Rideway. 

Blacksmith  /SAojo.s.— William  Craig,  Adam  Miller. 

Butchers.— J.  C.  McKelvey,  S.  B.  Brown. 

Restaurants  and  Bakery.— Ma.tthevi  Wilson,  John  Rich- 
mond, Mariah  Anderson. 

Cigars  and  Confectionery.— Sa.mue\  Williamson. 

Millinery.-ADna,  McKelvey,  Harmau  McLaughlin. 

Dressmakers. — Mrs.  Mason,  Mrs  Elder,  Sarah  A.  Pettigrew. 

Barbers — John  Cjstley,  Samuel  Tabor. 

Justices. — David  Munfbrd,  Anthony  Steele. 

Constables. — Rufus  East,  Jesse  McBride. 


BIOGRAPHIES 


MESSRS.   ASHWOOD  &  MARLOW. 

These  young  men  are  the  proprietors  and  editors  of  the 
Coulterville  Headlight,  a  paper  that  displays  energy  and 
good  practical  management  on  their  part.  J.  W.  Ashwood 
is  a  native  of  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he 
was  born  in  March,  1861.  He  received  his  education  in  the 
schools  of  Pennsylvania  and  Kansas.  Id  Kansas  he  gradu- 
ated from  Winchester  Academy.  In  1880  he  came  to  Ran- 
dolph county  and  commenced  teaching  in  Jordan's  Grove 
school,  a  position  he  has  since  retained,  a  compliment  to  his 
teaching  ability.  In  connection  with  Mr.  Marlow  he  bought 
the  Headlight  March  1st,  1882. 

Alexander  H.  Marlow  is  a  native  of  Tennessee,  from  which 
State  he  removed  with  his  father's  family  and  settled  in  Me- 
tropolis, Massac  county,  Illinois,  in  1870.  In  1871  he  entered 
the  office  of  the  Metropolis  Weekly  Times  to  learn  the  prin- 
ter's trade.  Here  he  remained  three  years.  In  1875  he  be- 
came foreman  of  the  Gibson  Courier,  and  in  1879  he  took 
charge  of  the  Clay  County  Gazette,  published  at  Flora, 
Illinois,  at  which  place  he  was  honored  with  the  presidency 
of  the  National  Christian  Temperance  Union,  with  a  mem- 
bership of  eight  hundred.  In  December,  1880,  he  became 
foreman  in  the  office  of  the  Headlight,  and  remained  in  that 
position  until  the  time  of  the  purchase  of  the  paper.  He  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Anna  M.  Woodside,  a  native  of 
Pittsburg,  Pa.,  a  few  months  since. 


Of  both  members  of  this  firm  it  may  be  said  they  are  men 
of  excellent  habits,  good  citizens,  and  are  highly  respected 
by  all  who  know  them. 

WISELY  BROTHERS. 

The  energetic  liverymen  of  Coulterville  are  of  Irish  ex- 
traction, their  father,  Peter  Wisely,  having  been  born  in 
county  Armagh,  Ireland,  May  6,  1806,  and  their  mother, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Sarah  Lindsay,  in  county  Derry, 
August  22,  1808,  same  country.  Peter  Wisely  came  to 
America,  landing  in  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  in  Septem- 
ber, 1828,  and  in  1831,  came  to  Washington  county,  Illinois, 
thence  to  Randolph  in  1852,  where  he  died   April  25,  1861. 

Of  the  brothers,  J.  L.  was  born  August  15, 1831,  in  Frank, 
lin  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  Alex,  in  Washington  county, 
Illinois,  February  17,  1847.  Brought  up  as  farmers'  sons 
inured  to  toil,  they  obtained  fair  knowledge  of  books  by 
attendance  at  school  during  the  winter  months.  Both  have 
forsaken  farming  for  other  pursuits.  They  jointly  own  the 
livery  stable,  which,  under  their  management,  is  proving 
profitable.  They  are  held  in  high  repute  as  citizens,  being 
active  in  prosecuting  whatever  is  calculated  to  promote  the 
public  welfare. 


HISTORY   OF  RANDOLPH,   MONROE  AND   PERRY   COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


373 


tz^i  ,^  ^, 


The  present  able  representative  from  Randolph  county 
in  the  State  Legislature,  boasts  of  being  of  Scotch  descent, 
his  parents  having  both  been  born  in  the  land  of  the  high- 
lands. His  father,  John,  and  his  mother,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Elizabeth  Borland,  were  married  in  the  country  (f 
their  nativity,  and  had  seven  children  before  embarking  for 
this  country,  where  they  arrived  in  1845.  They  came  by 
way  of  the  lakes,  and  touched  first  at  Chicago,  and  then 
made  their  way  to  southern  Illinoi.s,  and  settled  in  Wash- 
ington county.  After  a  residence  there  of  some  five  years 
came  to  this  county  and  located  near  Coulterville.  Mr. 
McFie  received  in  Scotland  a  finished  education,  and  fol- 
lowed teaching  several  years  before  coming  to  this  country, 
and  also  a  number  of  3'ears  after  becoming  a  citizen  of 
Illinois.  He  died  at  his  residence  in  Coulterville,  Augnst 
7th,  1862,  after  a  lingering  illness  of  four  years.  He  was  a 
devout  member  of  the  Reformed  Presbyterian  Church.  He 
possessed  fine  natural  abilities,  and  bore  an  untarnished 
reputation.  Two  children  were  added  to  the  family  circle 
after  coming  to  this  country,  John  R.  and  Elizabeth. 
William,  the  only  other  surviving  member,  lives  at  present 
in  Colorado.     Both  these  sons  served  in  the  Union  Army 


during  the  late  rebellion.  William  volunteered  in  1861, 
and  was  in  the  army  three  years.  John  enlisted  in  1864, 
and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  volunteered  in 
Co.  E.,  .30th  III.  Infantry,  and  was  made  regimental  P.  M. 
He  was  with  Sherman  in  his  march  to  the  sea. 

Mr.  McFie's  early  inclinations  led  him  to  adopt  the  law 
as  a  profession,  and  he  commenced  a  course  of  legal  reading 
at  the  age  of  twenty-two,  under  J.  B.  Jones,  now  of  Chicago. 
He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  April,  1870.  He  at  once 
established  a  practice  in  Coulterville,  where  he  has  since 
resided.  He  was  elected  to  the  State  Legislature  by  a  very 
flattering  majority  in  1876  and  again  in  1880.  As  a  legis- 
lator he  serves  his  people  faithfully  and  earnestly,  and  has 
established  a  reputation  for  activity  and  legislative  ability 
second  to  none  in  that  body. 

He  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  B.  Steele,  a  lady  of  fine 
accomplishments,  October  9,  1S76,  at  the  residence  of  her 
parents  in  Coulterville.  They  made  a  bridal  tour  to  the 
great  centennial  exposition  at  Philadelphia.  Mrs.  McFie's 
father  was  Matthew  .Steele,  a  citizen  for  many  years  of  St. 
Louis,  and  latterly  of  Coulterville. 


BBEWERVILLE 


RANDOLPH     COUNTY. 


c\)"f  REWERVILLE  lies  in  the  western  part  of  the 
county,  and  the  precinct  received  its  name 
from  the  little  town  of  Brewerville,  situated 
in  township  five,  range  nine.  Its  formation 
and  established  boundaries  are  of  recent  date, 
and  it  constitutes  a  part  of  four  congressional 
townships  as  follows:  townships  five  and  six 
ranges  eight  and  nine. 

It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Ruma  and 
Evansville  precincts,  on  the  east  by  Kaskaskia  and  Kaskas- 
kia  river,  south  by  the  Mississippi  and  Kaskaskia  rivers 
and  west  by  Prairie  du  Rocher.  The  surface  is  much 
broken,  after  leaving  the  American  Bottom,  and  the  blufl^s 
rise  to  an  altitude  of  several  hundred  feet.  About  one  half 
of  the  precinct  is  included  in  the  bottom,  which  constitute 
some  of  the  richest  farming  land  in  the  West.  Large  groves 
of  pecan  trees  still  exist,  and  are  made  useful  for  their 
bountiful  supply  of  nuts.  This  soil  is  better  adapted  to  the 
culture  of  corn  than  the  uplands,  though  much  excellent 
wheat  is  raised.  After  reaching  the  bluff,  wheat  becomes 
the  principal  crop.  In  an  early  day  the  upland  was  covered 
with  a  heavy  growth  of  timber.  Large  forests  of  timber  yet 
remain,  but  it  is  mainly  of  a  later  growth.  An  early  settler 
pointed  out  to  the  writer,  trees  that  were  a  foot  and  a  half 
in  diameter  that  had  grown  since  his  boyhood,  and  stated 
that  prior  to  their  growth  the  wild  grass  was  growing  there 
six  feet  in  height.  But  a  small  portion  is  sectionized,  hav- 
ing been  early  settled  by  the  French,  and  they  obtained 
grants  of  various  sizes  and  shapes,  some  of  which  were  but 
one  arpent  wide,  and  extended  from  the  river  to  the  bluff. 
Big  creek  extends  through  the  central  eastern  portion  of 
the  precinct,  and  discharges  its  waters  into  the  Kaskaskia. 
The  population  is  a  mixture  of  English,  German  and  French 
nationalities.  The  district  is  sparsely  settled,  containing 
only  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  votes. 

EARLY   SETTLEMENTS. 

As  above  stated  the  first  tillers  of  the  soil  were  the  French. 
They  owned  their  arpents  of  land  in  the  bottom,  but  lived  in 
Kaskaskia  or  Prairie  du  Rocher  for  many  years  after 
selecting  and  cultivating  their  lands.  This  was  as  early  as 
1750,  or  before. 

The  first  English  settlement  was  made  in  1806,  by  Dr. 
George  Fisher.  He  came  from  Virginia  in  1798,  and  first 
located  in  Kaskaskia,  where  he  resided  for  eight  years.  He 
then  moved  with  his  fiimily  and  settled  at  the  foot  of  the 
bluflfin  survey  360  about  four  miles  south  east  of  Brewer- 
ville on  the  land  now  owned  by  the  heirs  of  Daniel  Willis. 
374 


He  became  an  influential  man  in  his  community.  When 
the  Indiana  Territory  was  organized,  he  was  appointed 
Sheriff  of  Randolph  county.  Upon  the  organization  of  Illi- 
nois Territory,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  first  General 
Assembly,  and  from  his  popularity  was  chosen  speaker  of 
the  Lower  House.  On  the  admission  of  the  state  into  the 
Union,  he  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  Constitutional  Con- 
vention which  framed  the  first  Constitution  of  the  State.  He 
died  on  the  old  farm  at  the  foot  of  the  bluff"  in  1820.  This 
part  of  the  precinct  is  yet  known  as  the  "  Dr.  Fisher  settle- 
ment." He  had  but  one  son,  John  who  cultivated  a  farm 
on  the  west  side  of  the  Kaskaskia,  near  the  shoal.  He 
subsequently  emigrated  to  Arkansas. 

Ezra  Owens  and  Thomas  J.  V.,  his  son,  located  in  the  Dr. 
Fisher  neighborhood  as  early  as  1809.  Mr.  Owens  became 
quite  a  prominent  man  in  the  community.  He  was  chosen 
major  of  the  militia,  and  filled  the  office  with  credit  to.him- 
self  and  satisfaction  to  his  comrades.  His  son  Thomas  was 
elected  to  the  office  of  sheriff",  and  had  the  honor  of  repre- 
senting his  constituency  in  the  State  Legislature. 

Ignatius  Sprigg  was  an  emigrant  from  Maryland,  and 
located  in  the  Menard  Survey,  on  what  is  known  as  the 
Rerior  farm.  This  was  in  1817.  He  had  a  wife  and  four 
children,  William,  Joseph,  James  D.,  and  Margery  A.  He 
was  twice  married,  and  two  children  were  born  from  the 
second  marriage. 

Mr.  Sprigg  was  a  high-minded  man,  and  became  one  of 
the  leading  spirits  of  the  pioneer  times.  He  filled  the  re- 
sponsible office  of  Treasurer,  and  afterwards  held  the  office 
of  Sheriflf  for  a  period  of  ten  years.  He  moved  with  his 
family  to  the  state  of  Arkansas  in  about  1865,  where  he 
died.  One  of  his  daughters,  Margery  A.,  wife  of  Thomas 
Blais,  resides  in  Prairie  du  Rocher. 

Another  early  seitler  was  James  Mudd,  a  native  of  Mary- 
land. His  father  and  family  moved  to  Kentucky  in  an 
early  day,  where  James  grew  to  manhood  and  married  Amelia 
O'Harra.  In  the  winter  of  1818  he  moved  to  Illinois  and  locat- 
ed at  Kaskaskia.  The  family  then  consisted  of  two  children, 
William  and  Margaret.  A  few  years  later  he  moved  to  this 
precinct  and  settled  in  section  29.  Here  he  commenced  the 
cultivating  of  a  small  farm,  and  on  account  of  the  milling 
privileges  being  so  meager,  he  erected  a  little  horse  mill  on 
his  premises.  This  was  the  first  and  only  mill  within  the 
boundaries  of  Brewerville  precinct.  Mr.  M.  resided  here 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1835. 

Benedict  Horrell  came  from  Kentucky  in  1818,  and  lo- 
cated near  the  line  dividing  Brewerville  and  Ruma.  The 
family  have  all  passed  away.     John  Brewer  was  also  an 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND   PERRY   COUNTIES,   ILLINOIS. 


375 


early  settler,  locating  here  not  long  after  the  above.  He 
came  from  Kentucky  and  made  his  settlement  in  the  western 
part  of  the  precinct.  He  had  a  family  of  four  sons  and 
three  daughters, — -Thomas,  John,  Felix,  Vincent,  Susan, 
Polly  and  Sophia.  Two  children  were  born  after  their  com- 
ing, George  and  Pius.  The  family  are  now  all  gone  from 
the  county  e.Kcept  one  daughter,  who  resides  on  the  edge  of 
Prairie  du  Rocher  Commons.  Mr.  Brewer  died  at  the  old 
place  about  fifteen  years  ago.  Several  of  the  descendants 
are  residents  of  the  county,  and  from  this  family  the  precinci 
received  its  name. 

William  Hamilton,  Adkins  and  Signer  were  among  the 
pioneers.  Hamilton  and  Adkins  were  from  the  South,  and 
at  their  coming  they  located  in  the  Menard  Survey.  They 
resided  here  until  their  death. 

The  custom  in  the  early  times  of  burying  the  dead  was  for 
each  family  to  have  a  private  place  of  interment  on  the 
clearing  near  the  settler's  cabin.  Hence  it  was  not  until 
about  fifty  years  ago  that  a  public  cemetery  was  established. 
This  is  situated  in  section  29  near  the  precinct  line  between 
Brewerville  and  Ruma.  School  privileges  were  very  mea- 
ger in  those  times,  and  the  pioneer  children  had  but  limited 


chances  for  even  a  common  school  education.  It  was  little 
more  than  half  a  century  ago  that  the  first  school  was  taught 
in  the  precinct.  The  school-house  was  a  small  log  building 
situated  in  section  28,  and  among  the  first  teachers  was 
Henry  Noah.  The  house  and  teacher  passed  away  years  ago. 
One  of  the  first  to  practice  medicine  in  this  part  of  the 
county  was  Dr.  Seargeant,  who  resided  in  Prairie  du  Rocher. 
He  subsequently  moved  to  St.  Genevieve,  Missouri,  where  he 
died. 

TOWN    OF   BREWERVILLE 

Is  situated  just  at  the  blufi"  in  the  western  part  of  the  pre- 
cinct, in  township  5,  range  9,  and  receives  its  name  in  honor 
of  Thomas  Brewer.  It  is  a  new  town,  only  having  been  laid 
out  but  a  few  years.  It  was  here  that  the  first  post-office 
and  the  first  goods  were  sold  within  the  precinct.  It  con- 
tains at  this  writing  one  general  store,  Wallace  Snooks  pro- 
prietor. Mr.  S.  is  also  postmaster.  Henry  Hine  conducts 
the  business  of  general  blacksmithing.  This  constitutes  the 
business  of  the  town  except  one  saloon.  The  facilities  for 
trade  are  so  meagre,  that  the  most  sanguine  could  scarcely 
expect  to  see  it  rise  to  a  place  of  any  considerable  impor- 
tance. 


PRAIRIE    DU    ROCHER. 


RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 


FORT    CHARTRES. 

(HE  settlement  of  Prairie  du  Rocher  pre- 
cinct dates  from  the  building  of  Fort 
Chartres,  for  many  years  the  seat  of  mil- 
itary and  civil  authority  in  Illinois.  In 
1718  Pierre  Duque  Boisbriaut,  who  had 
been  commissioned  commandant  at  the 
Illinois,  reached  Kaskaskia.  Selecting 
a  site  for  a  military  post  sixteen  miles 
above  that  village,  he  began  the  erection 
of  a  fort,  which  was  completed  in  1720,  and  called  Fort 
Chartres,  in  compliment,  in  all  probability,  to  the  Due  de 
Chartres,  the  son  of  the  regent  of  France.  The  French 
commandants  at  the  fort,  after  Boisbriant,  were  M.  De 
Siette,  Pierre  D'Artuguiette,  La  Buissoniere,  Benoist  St. 
Clair,  the  Chevalier  de  Bertel,  Chevalier  Makarty,  Neyon 
de  Villiers,  and  St.  Auge  de  Belle  Rive. 

While  in  the  possession  of  France,  the  fort  was  the  basis 
of  important  military  operations.  D'Artuguiette,  in  17.36, 
with  a  force  composed  of  the  garrison  of  the  fort,  a  company 
of  volunteers  from  the  French  villages,  and  a  throng  of  In- 
dian warriors,  some  of  whom  had  come  even  from  Detroit, 
get  out  to  subdue  the  Chickasaws.  He  was  defeated,  and 
with  the  Chevalier  Viusenne,  whose  name  is  perpetuated  in 
that  of  the  city  by  the  Wabash,  the  Jesuit  priest  Seuat,  and 


others  of  his  companions,  he  was  burned  at  the  stake.  Dur- 
ing the  French  and  English  war,  1754-59,  the  fort  was  the 
depot  of  supplies  and  place  of  rendezvous  for  the  united  forces 
of  Illinois  and  the  other  provinces  of  Louisiana.  The  fort 
was  originally  built  of  wood,  and  was  soon  out  of  repair.  It 
was  rebuilt  of  stone  by  Chevalier  de  Makarty,  who  reached 
the  fort,  and  assumed  command,  in  the  autumn  of  1750. 
The  new  fort  was  completed  in  1756.  Blocks  of  stone  were 
quarried  from  the  bluff,  and  transported  to  the  fort  over  the 
intervening  lake.  The  place  from  which  they  were  taken 
may  yet  be  seen.  The  finer  stone,  with  which  the  gateways 
and  buildings  were  faced,  were  brought  from  west  of  the 
Mississippi.  The  French  government  felt  the  importance  of 
the  post,  and  spared  no  expense  to  build  an  impregnable  fort- 
ress. The  minute  of  its  surrender  to  the  British,  in  1765, 
has  been  preserved  by  the  French,  and  in  it  is  a  careful  de- 
scription. The  gateway  was  arched,  and  fifteen  feet  in 
height.  Above  the  gate  was  a  cut-stone  platform,  a  stone, 
stairway  of  nineteen  steps,  with  a  stone  balustrade,  leading 
to  it.  The  walls  were  stone,  and  eighteen  feet  in  height. 
The  four  bastions,  each  with  fortj'-eight  loop-holes,  eight 
embrasures,  and  a  sentry  box,  were  constructed  of  stone. 
Within  the  walls  was  the  great  store  house,  ninety  feet  long 
by  thirty  wide,  two  stories  high,  and  gable-roofed ;  the  guard 
house,  with  a  room  above  for  a  chapel ;  the  commandant's 
house,  with  iron  gates  and  stone  porch,  a  coach  house  and  a 


376 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


pigeon  house  adjoining,  and  a  large  stone  well  inside ;  the 
intendant's  house  of  stone  and  iron,  with  a  portico,  and  two 
rows  of  barracks.  The  magazine  was  thirty-eight  feet  long, 
thirty-five  feet  wide,  and  thirteen  feet  high  above  the  ground, 
with  a  doorway  of  cut  stone,  and  two  doors,  one  of  wood  and 
one  of  iron.  The  prison  had  four  cells  of  cut  stone,  and  iron 
doors.  There  was  a  bake-house  with  two  ovens,  and  a  stone 
well  in  front. 

By  the  treaty  of  1763  Fort  Chartres  passed  into  the  posses- 
sion of  England.  French  troops  composed  the  garrison  for 
more  than  two  years  afterward.  It  was  during  this  period  that 
Pontiac  organized  the  Indian  tsibes  from  the  great  lakes  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Mississippi  for  war  against  the  English.  The  great 
chief  himself,  at  the  head  of  four  hundred  warriors,  appeared 
at  the  fort,  and  demanded  of  St.  Auge,  who  had  succeeded 
De  Villiers  in  command,  arms  and  ammunition  with  which 
to  prosecute  the  war.  Major  Loftus,  with  four  hundred 
British  troops,  while  ascending  the  Mississippi,  in  February, 

1764,  to  take  possession  of  the  fort,  was  fired  on  by  the  In- 
dians, a  short  distance  above  New  Orleans,  and  compelled  to 
return.  In  the  fall  of  1765  Captain  Sterling,  in  comm'and 
of  a  hundred  men  of  the  forty-second  regiment,  descended 
the  Ohio,  and  reaching  Fort  Chartres,  formally  received  its 
surrender  from  St.  Auge,  who,  with  his  garrison  of  twenty- 
one  men,  retired  to  St.  Louis.  Some  three  months  afler  his 
arrival  Captain  Sterling  died,  leaving  the  office  of  command, 
ant  vacant,  and  the  affairs  of  the  Illinois  settlements  in  some 
confusion.  St.  Auge,  therefore,  returned  from  St.  Louis, 
and  acted  as  commandant  till  another  British  oflicer  could 
reach  the  fort.     The  garrison  was  strengthened  in  December, 

1765,  by  the  arrival  from  Mobile  of  a  detachment  of  the 
thirty-fourth  British  foot.  Colonel  E.  Cole,  a  native  of  Rhode 
Island,  and  an  officer  in  the  old  French  war,  who  commanded 
a  regiment  under  General  Wolfe  at  the  siege  of  Quebec,  was 
stationed  at  the  fort  from  1766  to  1768.  Colonel  Reed  be- 
came the  commandant,  and  by  his  tyrannical  and  oppressive 
measures,  gained  the  hatred  of  the  feeble  French  settlements. 
He  was  relieved  in  September,  1768,  by  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Wilkins,  the  firmer  commander  of  Fort  Niagara.  He 
reached  the  fort  from  Philadelphia,  by  way  of  Pittsburg,  in 
command  of  seven  companies  of  the  Eighteenth,  or  Royal 
Irish,  regiment.  Under  his  administration,  on  the  sixth  of 
December,  1768,  was  convened,  at  Fort  Chartres,  the  first 
court  of  common  law  jurisdiction  ever  held  in  Illinois. 

The  fort  was  abandoned  in  1772,  and  the  British  garrison 
transferred  to  Fort  Gage,  at  Kaskaskia.  When  fir^t  built 
the  fort  was  about  one  mile  distant  from  the  river.  In  1724 
a  great  flood  swept  over  the  bottom,  and  washed  away  a 
portion  of  the  bank  in  front.  In  1756  the  river  bank  was 
half  a  mile  distant.  A  few  years  afterward  a  sand  bar  formed 
in  the  river,  turning  the  current  against  the  bank  nearest 
the  fort,  which  began  to  wear  away  rapidly.  By  1770  the 
river  had  approached  so  near  as  to  alarm  the  officers  of  the 
garrison.  In  1772  the  river  bottom  was  again  inundated, 
the  flood  sweeping  away  a  bastion  and  part  of  the  western 
wall.  It  was  never  subsequently  occupied  by  a  garrison- 
Judge  Brackenridge,  of  the  United  States  Court  of  the 
District  of  Louisiana,  writes  in  1817,  "  Fort  de  Chartres  is  a 


noble  ruin,  and  is  visited  by  strangers  as  a  great  curiosity. 
I  was  one  of  a  party  of  ladies  and  gentlemen  who  ascended 
in  a  barge  from  St.  Genevieve,  nine  miles  below.  The  out- 
ward wall,  barracks,  and  magazine  are  still  standing.  There 
are  a  number  of  cannon  lying  half  buried  in  the  earth  with 
their  trunnions  broken  ofl^  In  visiting  the  various  parts, 
we  started  a  flock  of  wild  turkeys,  which  had  concealed 
themselves  in  this  hiding  place.  I  remarked  a  kind  of 
enclosure  near,  which,  according  to  tradition,  was  fitted  up 
by  the  officers  as  a  kind  of  arbor  where  they  could  sit  and 
converse  in  the  heat  of  the  day." 

Congress,  in  1788,  reserved  from  settlement  a  tract  of 
land  surrounding  the  fort,  between  the  old  French  grants 
and  the  river.  In  1849  this  was  opened  to  purchaser.?.  The 
laud  was  taken  up  by  settlers,  a  cabin  built  within  the  walls, 
and  the  trees  cleared  away.  The  visitor  of  to-day  can  see 
the  ridges  of  earth  and  stone  which  mark  the  location  of  the 
ancient  walls.     Farm  buildings  are    within  the    enclosure. 

Pierre  Laclede,  the  founder  of  St.  Louis,  spent  the  winter 
of  1763-64  at  Fort  Chartres.  His  company  had  been  granted 
the  exclusive  privilege  of  trading  with  the  Indians  of  the 
Missouri,  and  those  west  of  the  Mississippi,  above  the  Missouri. 
Leaving  New  Orleans  in  August,  1763,  we  reached  St. 
Genevieve  on  the  third  of  November,  and  from  there  came 
to  Fort  Chartres.  Learning  of  the  cession  of  Illinois  to 
England,  he  decided  to  establish  a  fort  on  the  west  of  the 
Mi.ssissipppi.  His  goods  were  stored,  and  his  company 
quartered,  at  the  fort,  until  February,  1764,  when  he  began 
the  settlement  of  St.  Louis. 

FORT   CHARTRES    VILLAGE. 

On  the  building  of  Fort  Chartres  a  village  began  to  grow 
up  outside  its  walls  in  which  the  Jesuits  built  the  church  of 
St.  Anne  de  Fort  Chartres.  Under  the  jurisdiction  of  the 
priest  of  this  church,  chapels  were  subsequently  erected  at 
St.  Phillips  and  Prairie  du  Rocher.  After  the  rebuilding  of 
the  fort  in  1756,  the  village  was  called  New  Chartres. 
Part  of  the  records  of  the  parish  of  St.  Anne  have  been  pre- 
served. The  marriage  register  notes  at  great  length  the 
weddings  of  the  officers  of  the  fort  and  of  the  Royal  India 
Company,  among  which  are  those  of  Jean  la  Freile  de 
Vidrinne,  officer  of  a  company,  to  the  daughter  of  Jean 
Francois  Liverson  de  Moncharveaux,  a  captain  in  the 
French  garrison,  and  of  Monsieur  Andre  Chevalier,  royal 
solicitor  and  treasurer  for  the  King  at  the  country  of  the 
Illinois,  to  Madeline  Loisel.  In  1764,  the  village  is  said  to 
have  contained  forty  families.  The  following  year  witnessed 
the  surrender  of  the  fort  to  the  English  forces.  With  the 
the  departure  of  the  French  soldiers  the  village  died  out. 
The  inhabitants  moved  away,  many  to  St.  Louis,  which  had 
been  founded  the  year  before. 

PRAIRIE   DU   ROCHER. 

The  date  of  the  founding  of  the  village  of  Prairie  du 
Rocher  is  commonly  fixed  at  1722,  a  short  time  after  the 
building  of  Fort  Chartres.  Its  site  is  in  a  tract  of  land  granted 
by  the  Royal  India  Company  to  Pierre  Duque  Boisbriant, 
the  French  commandant  at  the  Illinois,  and  the  builder  of 


HISTORY   OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND   PERRY    COUNTIES,   ILLINOIS. 


377 


Fort  Chartres,  and  by  him  transferred  to  his  nephew,  Jean 
St.  Therese  Langlois,  some  time  before  tlie  year  1834  Lan- 
giv,U  was  an  officer  of  the  French  troops.  He  divided  out 
the  tract  in  allotments  to  actual  settlers,  reserving  certain 
seigneurial  rights  according  to  the  custom  of  Paris.  A  tract 
of  land  for  Commons  was  granted  to  the  inhabitants  by 
Delaloire  Flancourt,  the  civil  judge  at  Fort  Chartres, on  the 
seventh  of  May,  1743.  Among  residents  of  the  village  in 
the  latter  part  of  the  last  century  were  Etienne  Langlois, 
Jean  Baptiste  Blais,  Jean  Baptiste  Barbeau,  Antoine  Lou- 
vier  and  the  La  Corapte  and  other  families. 

The  grant  to  Boisbriant  extended  from,  the  bluffs  to  the 
river.  Surveys  made  in  1737,  show  that  Antonie  Bienvenu, 
M.  Rosally,  M.  Mails,  M.  Buchet,  Antonie  Pie  dit  Laplume, 
Pierre  Pille  dit  Lasond,  Francois  Bastien,  Mathurin  Char- 
reau,  Sanshayrin,  Ignaee  Legras,  Antoine  Revierre,  Charles 
Heneau,  Urbain  Garvais,  Ueni  Grude,  Charles  Gosseaux, 
Franfois  Corset,  Auguste  Langlois,  Legras  dit  Groce  Jean 
and  Ambrose  Moreau  were  then  among  the  proprietors. 
The  lines  of  this  same  tract  were  again  run  in  1810,  the 
United  States  surveyor,  William  Rector,  certifying  that  the 
survey  was  made  by  the  consent  and  under  the  superintend- 
ence of  many  of  the  citizens  of  Prairie  du  Rocher,  and  that 
he  found  "  many  antient  boundaries"  which  governed  the 
surveys. 

The  ancestor  of  the  Blais  family  in  Prairie  du  Rocher 
was  Jean  Baptiste  Blais,  who  came  from  Canada,  and  was 
a  leading  man  in  the  village.  He  died,  at  an  extreme  old 
ace,  in  the  year  1783.  He  had  four  sons,  Antoine,  Joseph, 
Charles,  and  Louis.  The  two  oldest  died  in  1823,  Charles 
in  1831,  and  Louis  in  early  life.  Antoine  married  Terese 
De  Coche,  daughter  of  Gabriel  De  Coche,  a  native  of 
France,  and  an  old  resident  of  Prairie  du  Rocher.  The 
next  to  the  oldest  of  the  children  by  this  marriage,  born  in 
the  year  1809,  was  Antoine  Blais,  who  for  a  long  number  of 
years  has  been  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  in  the 
village. 

The  first  of  the  Barbeau  family,  whose  name  appears  in 
connection  with  the  history  of  Prairie  du  Rocher,  was  Jean 
Baptiste  Barbeau,  like  the  others  an  emigrant  from  Canada. 
His  four  sons  were  Andrew,  Antoine,  Baptiste,  and  Henry. 
Andrew  lived  to  be  a  very  old  man,  and  died  suddenly,  while 
walking  on  the  bluffs,  in  the  year  1858.  Antoine  died  in 
1845.  Barbeau  creek,  below  Prairie  du  Rocher,  received 
its  name  from  the  Barbeau  family. 

Antoine  Louvier  was  the  first  of  the  Louvier  family  to 
settle  in  the  village,  the  date  of  his  arrival  being  about  the 
year  1780.  His  son,  Antoine,  became  a  prominent  citizen, 
and  died  in  1836.  John  N.  Louvier,  the  son  of  the  Antoine 
last  mentioned,  is  now  the  oldest  representative  of  the  French 
settlers  in  the  vicinity  of  Prairie  du  Rocher.  He  was  born 
in  March,  1802.  His  mother  was  Louise  Langlois.  When 
the  Fort  Chartres  reserve  was  opened  for  settlement,  he 
made  the  first  entry  of  land  in  the  reserve,  and  on  this  land 
he  is  now  living.  His  patents  bear  date  of  the  year  1850. 
About  one  half  of  the  ruins  of  old  Fort  Chartres  is  included 
in  his  farm.  The  house  in  which  he  lives  is  the  oldest  on 
the  reserve,  and  was  built  by  Ralph  McNabb. 
48 


Major  Pierre  La  Compte  was  one  of  the  leading  men  in 
the  village-  He  carried  on  a  store  for  a  number  of  years, 
and  subsequently  moved  to  St.  Genevieve,  Mo. 

In  the  last  century,  Prairie  du  Rocher  was  wholly  French. 
About  the  year  1800.  American  settlers  began  to  make  their 
appearance.  Among  them  was  Archibald  McNabb,  who 
came  to  Illinois  from  Kentucky.  He  established  a  tan  yard, 
which  he  carried  on  till  his  death  in  1821.  He  had  two 
brothers,  Charles  and  Alexander.  Charles  was  an  un- 
married man.  He  taught  school  for  several  years  in  Prairie 
du  Rocher,  and  probably  was  the  teacher  of  the  first  Eng- 
lish school  in  the  village. 

Clement  Drury,  a  native  of  Maryland,  settled  in  Prairie 
du  Rocher  as  early,  perhaps,  as  the  year  1795.  He  built  a 
horse  mill.  He  died  in  1812.  His  four  sons  were  John, 
William,  Clement,  and  Raphael.  Henry  Conner,  who  at 
one  time  was  a  resident  of  Prairie  du  Rocher,  and  the  pro- 
prietor of  a  .store,  was  born  in  Maryland  in  1785 ;  in  1795, 
went  to  Kentucky;  and  in  1807,  came  to  Illinois.  He  first 
settled  in  Kaskaskia,  then  moved  to  a  farm  in  Monroe 
county,  and  in  1812  returned  to  Randolph  county.  He  was 
sheriff  of  the  county  from  1814  to  1821,  and  United  States 
marshal  for  some  years  between  1825  and  1830.  Barnet 
William,  and  Edward  Conner  were  his  sons. 

Henry  Ker,  who  settled  in  the  village  in  1816,  and  prac- 
ticed medicine  and  kept  a  store,  was  one  of  the  most  remark- 
able men  who  ever  resided  in  the  place.  He  was  born  in 
Boston,  Massachusetts,  while  his  parents  who  were  English 
people,  were  temporary  residents  of  that  city.  The  family 
moved  back  to  London,  where  he  received  his  education.  In 
1808,  he  began  his  travels,  which  lasted  for  eight  years,  and 
are  described  in  a  book  which  he  published  at  Elizabethtown, 
New  Jersey,  in  1816.  From  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  he 
journeyed  through  the  interior  of  the  country  to  New  Orleans. 
In  1809  he  visited  the  West  India  islands,  and  experienced 
a  shipwreck.  Soon  after  coming  to  Prairie  du  Rocher,  he 
married  Felicite  Fascair.  He  died  at  St.  Genevieve  in  1828. 
Of  Prairie  du  Rocher  in  1766,  Captain  Philip  Pitman 
writes :  "  It  is  a  small  village,  consisting  of  twenty-two  dwell- 
ing-houses, all  of  which  are  inhabited  by  as  many  families. 
There  is  a  little  chapel,  formerly  a  chapel  of  ease  to  the 
church  at  Fort  Chartres.  The  inhabitants  are  very  indus- 
trious." 

Up  to  1840  there  was  only  one  store  in  the  place.  In 
Major  La  Corapte's  time  this  store  was  kept  in  a  log  build- 
ing. On  the  death  of  La  Compte,  Henry  Conner  carried  on 
a  store  in  a  stone  house,  which  stood  just  below  the  present 
church  Antoine  Blais  opened  a  store  in  1839,  and  a  year 
or  two  after  Eli  C.  Hausborough  embarked  in  the  mercan- 
tile business.  There  was  a  post  office  from  an  early  date, 
but  it  had  been  kept  continuously.  About  the  year  1825, 
Dr.  Ichabod  Sargent  was  postmaster.  He  also  acted  as  jus- 
tice of  the  peace.  In  early  times  a  horse  mill  was  operated 
here  by  La  Compte.  It  stood  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
street  from  the  church,  and  subsequently  passed  into  the 
possession  of  Clement  Drury.  Andrew  Barbeau  built  a 
mill  two  miles  below  the  village  in  1824,  on  Prairie  du  Ro- 
cher creek. 


378 


HISTORY   OF  RANDOLPH,   MONROE  AND   PERRY  COUNTIES,   ILLINOIS. 


William  Henry  began  building  a  water  mill  on  Prairie  du 
Rocher  creek  about  the  year  1833,  but  the  project  was  never 
finished.  In  1840  he  built  a  steam  mill  at  the  spot  where 
now  stands  Brickey's  mill.  It  was  first  a  flour  mill,  and  was 
afterward  turned  iuto  a  saw  mill.  It  was  operated  only  at  in- 
tervals, and  in  18.^8  gave  place  to  the  present  Brickey's 
mill,  erected  by  Frank  W.  Brickey  and  Abraham    H.  Lee. 

The  church  of  St.  Joseph  was  built  in  1734.  The  corner- 
stone of  the  present  church  was  laid  July  19th,  1858.  The 
front  was  rebuilt  and  steeple  constructed  in  1881.  The  old 
tabernacle  brought  from  France,  and  in  use  in  the  church  of 
St.  Anne  at  Fort  Chartres  village,  is  still  preserved,  as  also 
are  the  old  chalices.  Among  the  other  property  of  the  par- 
ish is  a  silver  castor  marked  1680.  Of  the  congregation 
two-thirds  is  made  up  of  French  families.  The  rest  are 
Americans  and  Germans.  Services  are  held  in  the  French, 
German  and  English  languages.  The  Rev  Charles  Krewet 
is  the  priest  in  charge  of  the  parish. 

The  population  of  Prairie  du  Rocher  by  the  census  of  1880 
was  about  three  hundred.  More  than  one-half  of  the  fami- 
lies are  French,  the  descendants  of  the  early  settlers  of  the 
vicinity.  Some  few  of  the  old  ladies  can  speak  nothing  but 
the  French  language,  though  of  late  years  the  English  has 
come  into  general  use.  The  village  wears  a  thrifty  and 
prosperous  look,  and  numerous  improvements  have  lately 
been  made. 

The  town  was  incorporated  in  18'2.^,  but  the  organization 
was  soon  abandoned.  The  town  government  was  renewed  in 
183.5,  but  was  again  allowed  to  die  out.  In  1871  the  town 
organization  was  again  revived,  and  trustees  elected.  In 
March,  1873,  the  inhabitants  voted  to  organize  as  a  village 
under  the  general  law.  The  board  of  trustees  for  1882  is 
composed  of  Franklin  W.  Brickey,  President,  Philip  W. 
Unger,  Dr.  James  Sloey,  Frank  Gladd,  Louis  Chaudet,  and 
William  D.  Ames. 

There  are  three  general  stores,  carried  on  by  Franklin 
W.  Brickey,  Philip  W.  Unger  &  Co.  (Philip  W.  Unger, 
Antoine  Blais  and  William  H.  Conner)  and  Stephen 
Chaudet  &  Co  (Stephen  and  Louis  Chaudet).  William  D. 
Araet  has  a  grocery  store.  Martin  Becker  and  Ernest 
Girard  have  blacksmith  shops,  and  John  Schott  and  Joseph 
Seecleger  follow  shoe  making.  Dr.  James  Sloey,  Albert  L. 
Brands  and  Dennis  F.  Cecil  practice  medicine.  William  A. 
Gibbs  is  police  magistrate,  and  Jacob  R.  Duclos  postmaster. 
The  post  office  is  supplied  by  a  tri-weekly  mail  by  the 
route  from  Brewerville  by  Prairie  du  Rocher  and  Renault 
to  Burksville  stations.  The  most  important  factor  in  the 
prosperity  of  the  village  is  the  mill  of  Franklin  W.  Brickey, 
built  by  Mr.  Brickey  and  Abraham  H.  Lee  in  18-58.  The 
present  proprietor  has  been  absolute  owner  since  1868.  The 
mill  has  a  capacity  of  two  hundred  barrels  per  day.  The 
product  is  shipped  to  the  New  Orleans  market.  A  cooper 
shop  is  now  in  connection  with  the  mill.  The  least  amount 
of  wheat  ground  at  this  mill  since  its  establishment  was 
.30,661  bushels  in  1860,  and  the  highest  118,062  bushels  in 
1879      The    lowest  price  paid   per  bushel  for   wheat  was 


seventy-six  cents  in  1878,  and  the  highest  two  dollars  and 
thirty-five  cents  in  1867.  Mr.  Brickey  is  a  native  of  Wash- 
ington county,  Missouri,  and  has  been  a  resident  of  the 
county  since  1844,  in  which  year  he  began  business  at  Fort 
Chartres  landings 

PRAIRIE    DU    ROCHER    COMMON.S. 

A  grant  of  upland  more  than  three  miles  square,  was 
made  to  the  inhabitants  of  Prairie  du  Rocher  for  commons 
on  the  7th  of  May,  i743.  The  grant  is  signed  by  Delaloire 
Plancourt,  civil  ^udge  at  the  Illinois,  residing  at  Fort 
Chartres.  The  land  was  used  in  common  by  the  residents  of 
the  village  for  more  than  a  hundred  years  without  restric- 
tion. A  special  act  in  force  February  8th,  1851,  was  passed 
by  the  State  Legislature,  which  constituted  Andrew  Bar- 
beau,  Leon  Vion,  Antoine  Albert,  Joseph  Blais  and 
Ambrose  Ker,  and  their  successors,  a  body  corporate  and 
politic,  by  the  name  and  style  of  ''  The  President  and 
Trustees  of  the  Commons  of  Prairie  da  Rocher."  It  was 
provided  that  an  election  for  trustees  should  be  held  in 
^pril,  1853,  and  every  two  years  subsequently.  The 
trustees  were  given  power  to  sell  or  lease  the  land,  the  pro- 
ceeds to  be  applied  to  the  education  of  the  children  of  the 
inhabitants  of  Prairie  du  Rocher,  and  "of  such  residents  as 
by  immemorial  custom  had  been  commoners  on  said 
common,  and  the  children  of  the  lessees  of  said  land  or  lots. 
No  lease  of  land  should  be  made  to  extend  beyond  ninety- 
nine  years.  To  carry  out  the  provisions  of  the  act  the 
trustees  were  authorized  to  establish  not  more  than  two 
elementary  schools  in  the  village  of  Prairie  du  Rocher. 
Under  the  provisions  of  this  act  one  half  of  [the  commons 
was  sold  at  public  sale  in  the  year  1852.  The  land  brought 
from  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents  to  four  dollars  an  acre.  The 
balance  has  since  been  sold  at  private  sale.  The  money 
has  been  used  for  the  support  of  the  public  schools,  so  that 
no  money  for  school  purposes  is  raised  by  taxation  in  the 
Prairie  du  Rocher  district.  On  the  21st  of  May,  1859,  the 
commons  fund  amounted  to  $11,856.40,  and  on  10th  of 
April,  1882,  to  815,286.64.  The  fund  is  in  the  hands  of 
Franklin  W.  Brickey  as  treasurer  The  present  trustees 
are  Philip  W.  Unger,  president ;  Joseph  Bessen,  Henry 
Barbeau,  Vincent  Mudd  and  Thomas  L.  Mudd. 

No  early  settlements  were  made  in  the  commons,  it  being 
possible  to  acquire  no  fee  simple  title  to  the  land  till  after 
the  sales  in  1852.  John  Mudd,  now  a  resident  of  the  Com- 
mons, is  one  of  the  oldest  citizens  of  the  county.  He  was 
born  in  Washington  county,  Kentucky,  in  February,  1802, 
and  came  with  his  father,  Thomas  Mudd,  to  Randolph 
county  in  1816,  the  family  settling  in  section  twenty,  of 
township  five  south,  range  eight  west  His  wife,  with  whom 
he  has  lived  since  1830  (they  having  been  married  longer 
than  any  other  couple  in  Prairie  du  Rocher  precinct)  was 
Mary  Brewer,  daughter  of  John  Brewer,  who  settled  in 
section  twenty-four,  township  five  south,  range  nine  west, 
adjoining  the  Commons,  in  the  spring  of  1822. 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY  COUNTIES,  ILLINOIS. 


379 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


^/^/Wv-uC        ^tf^t 


COO^ 


Prairie  DU  RociiER,  a  charming  village,  located  early  in 
the  past  century,  fur  the  last  twenty-five  years  has  recognized 
Antoine  Blais  as  its  leading  merchant.  Here  he  was  born 
August  27,  1809.  His  ancestors  for  three  generations  before 
him,  lived  in  the  same  village.  Antoine  received  his  early 
education  in  the  subscription  schools  in  his  native  town.  At 
the  age  of  seventeen  he  went  to  St.  Genevieve,  Mo.,  where 
he  learned  the  trade  of  a  blacksmith.  Two  years  thereafter 
found  him  in  St  Louis  driving  his  trade.  In  1832  he  re- 
turned to  Prairie  du  Rocher,  where  he  prosecuted  the  same 
business. 


In  July,  of  the  same  year,  he  married  Lucy  Conner, 
who  died  in  184l>.  In  1.S49,  he,  in  company  with  others, 
went  to  California,  returning  in  1857,  witii  considerable 
means,  acquired  during  his  stay.  At  that  time  he  entered 
upon  his  mercantile  career.  A  few  months  after  his  return 
he  was  married  to  Mary  M.  Phegley,  the  daughter  of  Abra- 
ham Phegley,  a  native  of  Kentucky.  Mr.  Blais  is  favorably 
known  throughout  the  county  as  a  business  man  of  reliabil- 
ity and  enterprise.  He  commenced  his  career  without  a 
dollar,  and  !iis  accumulations  have  been  the  result  of  his  in- 
dividual efforts. 


380 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


aJ 


ABKAHAM  H.  LEE  (deceased). 
A  STRANGER  entering  the  pretty  little  village  of  Prairie 
du  Rocher,  from  the  east,  perceives  while  yet  descending 
the  steep  hill  leading  to  the  great  American  Bottom,  the 
quaint  old  mill  of  Franklin  W.  Brickey,  formerly  built  and 
owned  by  Abraham  H.  Lee,  in  connection  with  its  present 
proprietor.  Close  by  the  mill  the  eye  catches  the  sight  of  the 
beautiful  Lee  mansion,  now  occupied  by  Mr.  F.  W.  Brickey. 
The  history  of  Mr.  A.  H.  Lee,  whose  portrait  heads  this 
sketch,  is  indeed  a  very  interesting  one,  and  well  deserves  to 
be  perpetuated  in  the  annals  of  Randolph  county.  He  was  a 
native  of  Centreville,  Ohio,  born  on  the  26th  day  of  Sep- 
tember, 1819.  Coming  to  St.  Louis  when  yet  a  young  man, 
he  was  there  engaged  as  commission  merchant  and  steam- 
boat clerk  ;  he  afterward  founded  the  firm  of  David  Tatum 
&  Co.,  in  St.  Louis,  on  Second  street,  between  Washington 
and  Christy  avenues,  which  house  did  a  lucrative  commis- 


sion business.  In  1857  he  came  to  Prairie  du  Rocher,  111., 
where  he,  in  conipa^ny  with  Mr.  Brickey',  entered  the  milling 
business,  at  which  he  continued  until  the  year  1867.  On 
the  2"2d  day  of  January,  1846,  Mr.  Lee  was  married  to  Miss 
Marie  Josephine  Henry,  at  Prairie  du  Rocher.  Mrs.  Lee 
was  born  at  Ross  Town,  New  York,  December  13,  1826. 
Her  parents  were  William  and  Mary  Henry,  Their  child- 
ren, in  the  order  of  their  birth,  are :  Roger  S-  Lee,  born 
Nov.  26,  1846.  He  married  Miss  Martha  Johnson,  in  1870, 
They  have  four  children,  and  reside  near  St.  Joseph,  Bu- 
chanan county..  Mo.,  where  Mr.  Lee  is  engaged  in  farming. 
Mary  Lee,  born  Nov.  24,  1848;  died  August  18,  1850. 
William  H.  Lee,  born  Dec.  10,  1852;  was  married  to  Miss 
Matilda  McCartney,  Feb.  5,  1875.  They  had  three  child- 
dren,  two  living  and  one  dead.  Wm.  H.  Lee  is  engaged  in 
the  wholesale  liquor  trade  at  212  Walnut  street,  St.  Louis, 
Mo.     Louis  H.  Lee,  born  March  24, 1854  ;  Charles  H.  Lee, 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND   PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


381 


born  April  9,  1856 ;  Angelica  G.  Lee,  born  June  7,  1858, 
died  March  10,  1863.  Elmira  Lee,  born  March  16,  1860. 
Miss  Elinira  was  married  to  Mr.  H,  Benoist,  on  Feb.  10, 
1878.  They  have  three  children.  Mr.  Benoist  carries  on  a 
wholesale  saddlery  store  at  425  North  Main  street,  St.  Louis, 
Mo.  J.  Perry  Lee,  born  Aug.  5,  1862 ;  Grace  Lee,  born 
July  4,  1864,  died  April  1.5,  1866. 

Mr.  A.  H.  Lee  was  postmaster  of  Prairie  du  Rocher  for 
three  years.  An  amusing  feature  of  his  official  career  in 
that  capacity  is  his  collection  of  the  different  styles  of  spell- 
ing the  name  of  "  Prairie  du  Rocher  "  which  came  under  his 
observation.  There  are  only  twenty-four  various  ways.  The 
list  was  originally  published  in  the  "  Missouri  Republican  ": 
Perry  Deruth,  peredrush,  Prairie  du  Roncher,  Perider- 
oosh,  Piere  Deroncher,  Praridruch,  Pirairie  de  rocher, 
Praria  Der  Rocher,  Prairn  du  Rusher,  Praire  du  Rocher, 
Prairie  du  Roocher,  Pery  doroch,  Prairie  DeRushar,  Prarie 
Du  Rush,  Praery  du  Rucher,  Praree  Roodichard,  prair 
deuerse,  Prerie  darcher,  Prarie  duche,  Prairie  du  Rocheis 
Perraerie  Daroushe,  Prei  Durusya,  Pary  Jeruse  Praiue  du 
Roche. 

The  list  goes  to  show  that  the  efficiency  of  our  postal  ser- 
vice, as  far  as  reading  of  names  is  concerned,  approaches 
perfection  rather  closely. 

Mr.  Lee  also  served  for  a  number  of  years  as  a  notary 
public.  The  most  notable  event  of  his  life  occurred  on  the 
21st  of  January,  1867,  on  which  day  he  was  the  fortunate 
winner  of  the  "  Crosby  Opera  House,"  at  Chicago.  This 
magnificent  structure  had  been  erected  by  Mr.  U.  H.  Crosby, 
at  a  cost  of  $600,000.  Owing  to  the  great  excess  of  this 
expense  over  the  original  estimates,  resulting  from  many 
unforeseen  causes  originated  by  the  war  and  its  accom- 
panying disasters,  Mr.  Crosby  became  financially  embar- 
rassed, which  made  the  sale  of  the  property  a  necessity.  It 
was  determined  to  arrange  a  grand  drawing,  the  opera 
house  being  offered  as  first  premium.  The  price  of  tickets 
was  fixed  at  five  dollars  each.  Mr.  Lee  bought  only  one 
ticket,  No.  58,600. 

The  subsequent  history  of  the  matter  will  be  shown  to 
better  advantage  by  newspaper  clippings  preserved  in  Mr. 
Lee's  scrap-book,  which  are  given  below : 

"The  following  letter  written  by  Mr.  Lee  to  a  friend  in 
Chicago  on  the  day  after  he  first  was  notified  of  his  good  luck. 
It  explains  more  than  aught  else  what  kind  of  a  man  Mr. 
Lee  was,  and  shows  that  fortune  in  awarding  the  magnifi- 
cent prizeexercised  a  commendable  discretion  in  the  selection 
of  her  favorite : 

Pr.\irie  du  Rocher,  January  22,  1867. 
Dear  Daniel: — I  was  very  much  astonished  last  evening 
at  about  seven  o'clock,  by  the  sudden  appearance  of  two 
men  in  our  bed  room,  where  I  sat  reading  by  the  side  of  my 
wife's  bed,  with  the  sudden  announcement  that  I  had  drawn 
the  opera  house  at  Chicago.  I  don't  think  that  I  was  at  all 
excited  by  the  report.  I  had  a  slight  acriuaintance  with 
Mr.  Burroughs,  one  of  the  men  ;  the  other,  from  Waterloo, 
was  an  entire  stranger.  The  only  document  they  brought 
was  a  copy  of  the  Republican  of  the  22d  inst.,  which  had  so 
many  accounts  of  the  matter  that  I  hardly  dared  believe 


any  of  them.  However,  I  bore  the  congratulations  of  my 
new  friends  with  commendable  fortitude,  and  dismissed 
them  with  suitable  acknowledgement.''. 

After  the  lapse  of  half  an  hour  I  was  the  recipient  of 
sundry  calls  from  neighbors  and  friends  in  the  village,  all 
highly  excited.  The  report  had  spread  like  lightning,  and 
the  whole  neighborhood  was  in  an  uproar.  I  bore  a  hand 
at  receiving  the  company,  answered  their  questions  with  as 
much  dignity  as  I  could  assume,  and,  in  a  state  of  semi-con- 
sciousness of  what  it  all  meant,  started  off  to  commune  with 
Frank  (F.  W.  Brickey)  on  the  curious  appearance  of  things. 
I  had  been  there  but  a  few  minutes  when  a  halloo  was  made 
at  the  door  for  Mr.  Lee.  "  Is  Mr.  Lee  here  ?"  Well,  I  went 
to  the  door  and  acknowledged  that  I  was  that  person  and 
went  at  him  with  the  question  of  "  What  do  you  want  ?  " 
"  Why,  said  the  poor  frozen  fellow,  "  I  have  a  dispatch  for 
you  from  Belleville.  You  have  drawn  the  opera  house  " 
I  received  the  document  and  after  asking  Sallie  (Mrs.  F. 
W.  Brickey)  the  privilege  of  reading  it  by  the  light  of  her 
lamp,  I  read  as  follows: 

A.  H.  Lee,  Prairie  du  Rocher,  Illinois.  Crosby's  Opera- 
house  yours.     Hold  your  ticket. 

J.  B.  Chamberl.mn. 

I  mentally  returned  thanks  to  my  new  friend,  Chamber- 
Iain,  and  returned  home  considerably  perplexed  and  not  yet 
fully  conscious  of  the  reason  of  my  being  in  the  hands  of  so 
many  new  friends,  who  all  seemed  to  show  so  strong  a  desire 
to  favor  me.  But  a  happy  thought  struck  me.  "  I  will 
look  at  my  ticket  and  see  if  there  is  anything  in  it."  VVell, 
Daniel,  when  I  found  it,  there  stood  the  figures  as  plain  as 
day,  58,600,  and  no  mistake.  In  the  meantime,  Joe  and 
Ma  had  got  hold  of  the  matter,  and  to  my  unbounded  aston. 
ishment,  they  received  it  at  once  as  a  fiict.  I  had  undressed 
myself,  for  it  was  getting  late,  and  was  sitting  in  my  long- 
tailed  night-shirt,  discussing  the  events  of  the  evening,  when 
a  thundering  knock  at  the  door  announced  that  all  was  not 
over  yet.  Ma  went  to  the  door,  and  quickly  returned  with 
the  intelligence  that  "a  man"  wished  to  see  me,  and  that 
he  said  I  had  drawn  "  Crosby's  Opera-house."  "  The  devil," 
said  I,  '■  I  wish  they  had  to  swallow  the  opera-house  ;  "  and, 
after  dressing  myself,  went  down  to  receive  the  new  messen- 
ger. He  bowed  to  me,  I  thought,  as  though  I  was  a  man  of 
property,  and  in  suitable  style  delivered  his  credentials.  I 
looked  carefully  over  a  well-written  letter  of  six  lines,  and 
derived  such  information  as  induced  me  to  believe  that  the 
lucky  holder  of  .>'^,600  was  actually  to  become  a  man  of 
property,  sure  enough  ;  for  this  letter  came  from  Messrs. 
Pettes  &  Leathe,  "  sent,"  as  they  say,  by  instructions  of  Mr. 
Crosby  himself.  I  found  this  last  raeseenger  pretty  well 
informed  about  the  matter,  and,  after  seeing  him  eat  a 
hearty  supper  and  arrive  at  that  condition  when  people 
generally  become  confidential  and  good-natured,  took  him 
aside  and  asked  him,  "  if  it  were  a  fact,  and  no  mistake." 
He  gave  me  most  solemn  assurance  that  there  was  no  mis- 
take about  it,  and  that  "  John  Meyer,  of  somewhere,  Ran- 
dolph street,  Chicago,  was  a  humbug." 


382 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


"  Very  well,  Daniel,  as  I  am  really  the  possessor  of  ticket 
58,600,  I  suppose  that  the  opera-house  really  belongs  to  me, 
and  I  just  say  to  you,  that  it  is  for  sale.  I  suppose  some- 
body wants  to  buy  it,  and  I  have  to  ask  you  to  sell  it  for 
me.  It  is  impossible  for  me  to  leave  my  wife  in  her  present 
condition,  or  I  would  go  up  to  you  at  once.  I  must  wait 
until  she  gets  better,  whether  I  get  the  opera-house  or  not. 
She  is  very  ill,  indeed  ;  but  I  think  her  symptoms  are  favor- 
able for  improvement.  At  all  events,  write  to  me  on  receipt 
of  this.  Your  friend  and  brother, 

"A.  H.  Lee." 

The  followiug  communication  of  Mr.  Lee  to  the  Chicago 
Timet'  embodies  the  reasons  for  the  sale  of  the  opera-house  to 
Mr.  Crosby,  and  explains  satisfactorily  the  dilatoriness  of 
Mr.  Lee  in  reaching  the  city  of  Chicago,  and  the  reluctance 
he  entertained  relative  to  being  made  an  object  of  curiosity 
and  remark  : 

"  To  the  Editor  of  The  Times  :  " 

De.\i;  Sir  : — I  desire  to.pub- 
licly  acknowledge  the  obligations  I  am  under  to  Jlr.  N.  H. 
Crosby  for  the  promptitude  and  courtesy  with  which  he  has 
dealt  with  me  as  the  drawer  of  the  opera  house.  As  soon 
as  the  books  were  unsealed  by  the  committee  and  my 
name  discovered,  a  telegraphic  message  was  sent  by  him  to 
Pettes  &  Leathe,  the  agents  of  the  association  at  St.  Louis, 
to  "  put  a  faithful  man  on  horseback  and  at  once  notify  me 
of  the  fact,"  and  this  was  done  without  expense  to  me. 
The  illness  of  my  wife  prevented  me  from  coming  sooner 


to  Chicago.  It  was  my  wish  and  request  that  I  might  come 
here  and  transact  my  business  with  Mr.  Crosby  without 
being  the  object  of  unpleasant  notoriety,  and  without  having 
my  name  heralded  in  the  newspapers,  and  I  feel  deeply  in- 
debted to  him  for  the  considerate  manner  in  which  the  re- 
quest has  been  observed,  especially  since  it  has  caused  him 
some  embarrassment  as  well  as  occasioned  invidious  comment. 

Feeling  that  the  opera  house  should  properly  be  owned 
by  Mr.  Crosby,  I  made  him  the  offer  to  sell  it  to  him  for 
S'200,000,  and  the  offer  was  accepted  in  a  spirit  which  is  very 
gratifying,  and  the  money  promptly  paid  to  me. 

My  connection  with  the  opera  house  having  thus  happily 
terminated,  I  am,  sir, 

Very  respectfully  and  sincerely,  j'ours, 

A.  H.  Lee. 

The  above  two  letters  of  !Mr.  Lee  plainly  delineate  his 
fine  character.  His  many  friends  fouud  him  entirely  un- 
changed after  the  acquirement  of  his  fortune,  and  he  always 
continued  to  be  the  same,  whole-souled,  liberal  and  high- 
miuded  A  H.  Lee  of  old. — Mrs.  Lee,  to  whom  her  husband 
was  closely  attached  was  not  permitted  to  enjoy  their  good 
fortune  long.  She  died  only  a  few  months  after,  on  Sep- 
tember 20th,  18(57,  at  the  age  of  40  years,  9  months  and  7 
days.  Her  remains  are  interred  in  Calvary  cemetery,  St. 
Louis. 

3Ir.  Lee,  while  traveling,  died  suddenly  at  the  Burnett 
House  at  Cincinnati,  on  July  23d,  1869,  at  the  age  of  51 
years,  9  months  and  7  days.  His  remains  are  interred  by 
the  side  of  his  beloved  wife  at  St.  Louis. 


RENAULT. 


MONROE    COUNTY. 


EXAULT  precinct  bears  the  name  of  one  of 


the  most  conspicuous  men  connected  with 
the  early  French  settlements  of  Illinois.  The 
Company  of  the  West  was  organized  in 
France  in  1717  with  the  object  of  develop- 
ing the  mineral  resources  and  great  wealth 
of  the  Mississippi  valley.  This  company  was  invested  with 
exclusive  and  valuable  privileges.  A  branch  called  the 
Company  of  St.  Phillip's  was  formed,  to  improve  the  mines 
of  Illinois  and  Upper  Louisiana.  Philip  Francois  Renault, 
a  native  of  Picardy,  France,  and  a  man  of  sound  mind  and 
much  energy,  was  selected  as  the  principal  agent  to  carry 
out  the  plans  of  the  company.  He  sailed  from  France  in 
the  year  1719  with  two  hundred  mechanics,  miners  and 
laborers,  and  stopping  at  the  island  of  San  Domingo  secured 
five  hundred  negro  slaves  to  aid  in  working  the  mines. 
These  negroes  were  the  first  slaves  in  Illinois.  He  arrived 
at  Fort  Chartres  with  this  colony,  the  largest  which  up  to 
that  time  had  reached  the  Mississippi  valley. 


To  aid  him  in  his  undertakings  he  received  several  con- 
cessions of  land.  On  the  fourteenth  of  June,  1723,  he  re- 
ceived a  grant  "  in  freehold,  in  order  to  make  his  establish- 
ment upon  the  mines  "  of  a  tract  of  land  a  league  and  a  half 
in  width  by  six  in  depth  on  the  "  Little  Marameig  "  in 
Upper  Louisiana  (Missouri)  ;  another  tract  of  two  leagues 
"  at  the  mine  called  the  mine  of  Lamothe  ;  "  another  of  one 
league  in  front  of  Pimeteau  on  the  river  Illinois  ;  and  "  one 
league  fronting  on  the  Mississippi,  at  the  place  called  the 
Great  Marsh,  adjoining  on  one  side  to  the  Illinois  Indians, 
settled  near  Fort  de  Chartres,  with  a  depth  of  two  leagues, 
this  place  being  the  situation  which  has  been  granted  to  him 
for  the  raising  of  provisions,  and  to  enable  him  to  furnish 
them  to  all  the  settlements  he  shall  make  upon  the  mines." 

This  conveyance  is  signed  by  Boisbriant,  the  commandant 
at  Fort  Chartres,  and  Des  Ursins,  the  principal  of  the  Royal 
India  Company.  The  Company  of  the  West  in  1719  had 
been  merged  into  the  Compauy  of  the  Indies,  under  the  title 
of  the  Royal  India  Company.     The   grant  at  Pimeteau  on 


HISTORY   OF  RANDOLPH,   MONROE  AND   PERRY   COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


38.3 


the  Illinois  river  was  in  the  vicinity  of  Peoria,  and  was  sup- 
posed to  cover  a  copper  mine.  That  of  one  league  front  on 
the  Mississippi  at  the  Great  Marsh  was  what  has  since  been 
known  as  the  Renault  grant  in  the  south  corner  of  Monroe 
county.  Numerous  explorations  were  made  throughout 
Illinois  in  fruitless  search  of  metal.  Renault  was  more  suc- 
cessful in  Upper  Louisiana,  now  Missouri,  and  melted  con- 
siderable lead  which  was  conveyed  by  pack  horses  to  the 
river,  and  thence  transported  to  New  Orleans.  It  will  be 
noted  that  the  fertile  tract  of  bottom  land  in  the  Renault  grant 
was  intended  to  furnish  supplies  for  the  mines.  Farmers 
and  mechanics  were  induced  to  settle  on  this  tract,  and  the 
village  of  St.  Phillips,  five  miles  from  Fort  Chartres,  was 
founded.  Renault  himself  had  his  headquarters  at  the  fort. 
Persons  claiming  to  be  his  legal  representatives,  have  lately 
attempted  to  recover,  through  the  courts,  possession  of  this 
land  from  those  who  have  been  living  on  it  for  many  years, 
and  who  have  been  engaged  in  its  cultivation. 

THE    Vni.I.AGE    OF    ST.    PHILLIl'.S. 

Renault  received  his  grant  of  land  in  June,  1723,  and 
shortly  afterward  the  village  of  St.  Phillips  began  its  growth. 
A  chapel  was  here  established  under  the  care  of  the  church 
of  St.  Anne  at  Fort  Chartres  village.  Surveys  made  on  the 
24th  of  March,  173(3,  show  that  the  St.  Phillips  common 
field  lands,  beginning  at  the  south  boundary,  were  then 
divided  among  the  settlers. 

The  village  of  St.  Phillips  never  grew  to  any  great  size. 
It  was  built  on  claim  1308,  survey  303  and  adjoining  .survey 
3,  on  the  east  what  is  known  as  the  "  Stringtownroad,"  and 
little  remains  to  show  its  site.  Captain  Philip  Pitman,  of 
the  British  army,  thus  describes  it  in  1700 :  "  Saint  Phillipe, 
a  small  village  about  five  miles  from  Fort  Chartres,  on  the 
road  to  Kaoquias.  There  are  about  sixteen  houses  and  a 
small  church  standing.  All  of  the  inhabitants,  except  the 
captain  of  the  militia,  deserted  it  in  176.5,  and  went  to  the 
French  side  (Missouri.)  The  captain  of  the  militia  has  about 
twenty  slaves,  a  good  stock  of  cattle,  and  a  water  mill  for 
corn  and  planks.  The  village  stands  on  a  very  fine  meadow, 
about  one  mile  from  the  Mississippi."  After  1761!  the 
village  rapidly  declined,  and  before  the  close  of  the  last 
century  contained  not  a  single  French  family.  John  Everett 
was  the  only  inhabitant  in  1803,  on  claim  l'>t't8,  survey  317, 
a  lot  containing  about  twenty  acres,  was  a  water  mill,  owned 
at  one  time,  according  to  the  records,  by  Charles  Cndron. 
who  acquired  title  in  173(J. 

AMERICAS    SETTLEMENTS. 

In  this  part  of  the  country  was  made  one  of  the  first 
American  settlements  in  Illinois  by  Robert  Kidd.  He  had 
been  a  soldier  under  Colonel  George  Rogers  Clark,  and  had 
taken  part  in  the  capture  of  Kaskaskia.  He  returned  to 
Illinois  in  1781,  in  company  with  four  others,  with  the  inten- 
tion of  permanently  settling  in  the  country.  His  com- 
panions chose  locations  near  the  present  town  of  Waterloo, 
and  in  the  bottom  in  what  is  now  Moredock  precinct,  while 
Kidd  settled  in  the  bottom  above  Fort  Chartres.  His  home 
was  under  the  blufi",  at  the  head  of  Kidd  lake.     He  died  in 


1849  at  an  age  upwards  of  eighty  years.  The  old  house  in 
which  he  is  said  to  have  lived,  is  still  standing  on  survey 
939,  His  farm  is  a  part  of  the  estate  of  Jacob  Fults.  He 
was  a  good  citizen,  quiet  and  domestic  in  his  ways,  and  rais- 
ed a  family  of  children  among  whom  were  two  sons,  John 
and  Samuel  Kidd.  Some  of  his  descendants  still  reside  in 
the  country. 

On  survey  G33,  claim  99.5,  in  the  bottom, not  far  from  the 
Randolph  county  line,  lived  Alexander  McNabb.  He 
acquired  this  tract  under  the  act  of  Congress  granting  a 
donation  of  one  hundred  acres  to  each  militiaman  enrolled 
and  doing  duty  in  Illinois,  on  the  first  day  of  August,  17!)0, 
He  had  a  genius  for  mechanical  pursuits,  and  was  master  of 
several  trades.  At  one  time  he  carried  on  the  manuftieture 
of  powder  in  the  cave  in  the  bluff  a  mile  above  Prairie  du 
Rocher. 

The  McDavid  prairie  received  its  name  from  .John 
McDavid,  who  came  to  Illinois  from  Virginia,  and  lived  for 
many  years  in  this  part  of  the  county.  With  him  came  his 
brother  Jonnathan  McDavid,  who  died  not  long  after  his 
arrival.  John  McDavid  rented  land  belonging  to  Mrs. 
Fisher,  a  daughter  of  Henry  Levins,  and  the  widow  of  John 
Fisher,  son  of  Dr.  George  Fisher  of  the  vicinity  of  Kaskas- 
kia, McDavid  finally  married  Jlrs,  Fisher,  Samuel  Nolan 
settled  in  early  times  near  the  vicinity  of  Ivy  Landing, 
Below  the  landing  also  at  an  early  day  settled  Daniel  Winn, 
The  farm  on  which  he  lived  has  disappeared  in  the  river,  A 
si.iter  to  Samuel  Nolan  married  Lewis  Greene,  and  after  the 
death  of  her  first  husband  she  became  the  wife  of  Daniel 
Winn.  Elizabeth  Greene,  a  daughter  of  Lewis  Greene, 
married  Jacob  Fults,  one  of  the  former  residents  of  Renault 
precinct.  She  was  born  September,  1803,  near  Cahokia, 
and  was  married  to  .lacob  Fults,  in  1818,  near  Rush  Tower, 
Missouri.  Jacob  Fults  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  the  year 
1793,  his  parents  having  emigrated  to  that  state  from 
Germany.  He  served  five  years  in  the  regular  army,  taking 
part  in  the  war  of  1812-14.  He  left  the  United  States 
service  in  1817,  He  first  settled  on  Moredock  lake,and 
afterward  came  to  Rjniult  precinct  where  he  died 
July,  1841,  He  lived  for  a  time  half  a  mile  up  Braun's 
hollow,  and  then  on  survey  309,  claim  1309,  where  his  son 
Jacob  afterward  lived  for  many  years.  He  came  to  this 
location  in  the  year  1829, 


Glasgow  City  was  laid  off  by  .James  Glasgow  in  the  year 
I860,  A  frame  store-house  was  built  by  Stamen  Keagy, 
who  began  the  mercantile  business.  He  kept  the  store  two 
or  three  years,  and  was  then  succeeded  by  John  Glenn. 
This  store  stood  on  Main  street  in  the  north  part  of  the  town. 
After  (ilenn  relinquished  it  Frank  Brickcy  was  the  proprie- 
tor. Among  other  merchants  who  have  tran.sacted  business 
in  the  jilace  have  been  Jacob  Meyer,  John  Burkhardt, 
Frank  Burk  it  Brothers  and  Andrew  Sale.  A  steam 
flouring  mill  was  built  in  the  year  1868  by  James  G.  Ellifl'. 
He  only  ran  the  mill  a  short  time,  and  then  Simon  Sale 
became  the  proprietor.  The  town  now  contains  twenty-eight 
dwelling  houses  and  a  ])opulatiou  of  about  one  hundred  and 


384 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND   PERRY   COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


fifty-  Abraham  B.  Sale  and  Dr.  Jesse  Chewning  carry  on 
general  stores.  The  latter  also  sells  drugs.  Peter  Studt, 
Geortre  W.  Dashner  and  William  Hess  are  engaged  in  the 
blacksniithing  business.  Anton  Stagel  and  John  Agelstien 
are  wagon  makers.  Harmon  K.  Tilkemeyer  has  a  shoe- 
making  e.'^tablishment.  Hotels  are  kept  by  Harmon  Church, 
George  W.  Dashner  and  James  Wright.     The  mill  owned 


by  Simon  Sale  has  three  run  of  buhrs.  There  are  two 
churches,  one  Catholic  and  the  other  Lutheran.  The  post 
office  is  called  Renault.  The  town  is  built  on  the  old  St. 
Louis  and  Kaskaskia  road,  which  ran  from  Prairie  du 
Rocher  along  the  bluH'till  south  of  Glasgow  City,  and  then 
ascended  the  bluff,  passing  through  Burksville  and  Water- 
loo to  St.  Louis. 


■^^^g^^^^SS9^^- 


SPARTA 


RANDOLPH  CO. 


RETROSPECTIVE  of  sixty  years  carries 
the  reader  of  history  back  to  the  first  settle- 
ment of  this  precinct.  It  was  originally 
about  three-fourths  timber  land,  the  remain- 
der being  prairie  of  a  rich  sandy  loam.  This 
was  known  as  Flat  Prairie,  situated  in  the 
northeast.  The  timber  was  mainly  of  post  oak  and  black 
iack  varieties,  interspersed  with  hickory  and  walnut.  The 
soil  was  of  a  clayey  loam,  sprinkled  with  sand,  and  pecu- 
liarly adapted  to  the  culture  of  wheat.  In  the  early  days 
corn' and  cotton  were  the  chief  products.  A  few  years  later 
the  castor  bean  was  introduced  and  became  the  leading  in- 
dustry of  the  husbandman.  To-day  the  staple  is  winter 
wheat.  The  surface  is  undulating  and  the  natural  drainage 
is  almost  complete.  In  the  northwest  is  Plum  creek  and 
its  tributaries,  which  forms  an  important  auxiliary  for  the 
drainage  of  that  portion  of  the  precinct.  Tributaries  to  the 
Little  Mary's  river  in  the  south  and  east  constitute  an  ex- 
cellent water-way  for  that  section.  The  following  are  the 
present  boundaries  of  the  precinct :  On  the  north  by  Tilden 
and  Coulterville ;  on  the  east  by  Coulterville  and  Perry 
county  ;  south  by  Steele's  Mills  and  Blair  precincts ;  and  on 
the  west  by  Blair  and  Central  precincts. 

The  transportation  facilities  are  very  good,  the  Cairo  and 
St.  Louis  railway  entering  the  precinct  from  the  west,  in 
the  northwest  corner  of  section  2,  town  5,  range  6,  and 
passing  through  the  precinct  in  a  southeasterly  direction, 
crossing  the  line  in  section  27,  town  5,  range  .5. 

EARLY    SETTLEMENTS. 

The  first  to  make  a  home  in  Sparta  precinct  was  the  pio- 
neer, Robert  Hoggins  ;  he  came  from  South  Carolina  in 
1798,  and  located  near  Kaskaskia;  subsequently  in 
1812  he  moved  with  his  family  and  squatted  in  section  19, 
town  5,  range  5,  on  the  land  now  owned  by  Samuel  Wilson. 
He  erected  a  small  pole  cabin  and  commenced  the  life  of  a 
pioneer,  living  mostly  by  trapping  and  hunting.  He  cleared 
a  piece  of  ground  and  raised  a  patch  of  corn  sufficient  to 
supply  the  wants  of  the  family,  but  occupied  the  greater 
part  of  his  time  in  hunting ;  indeed,  he  was  purely  a  back- 


woodsman of  the  Daniel  Boone  type,  and  it  is  said  of  him, 
that  there  was  but  one  man  who  was  his  equal  as  a  hunts- 
man in  all  the  country  around,  and  that  was  a  Frenchman  at 
Kaskaskia.  He  moved  to  Perry  county  in  1823  and  resided 
there  until  his  death.  One  son,  John,  lives  in  Perry  county, 
being  upwards  of  eighty  years  of  age.  Near  the  cabin  of 
Huggius  was  built  a  fort  or  block-house ;  it  was  constructed 
of  logs,  and  was  two  stories  high  ;  it  was  built  in  1812  or  '13, 
and  was  the  place  of  refuge  during  those  troublesome  times 
when  the  States  were  at  war  with  Great  Britain.  This  was 
then  the  frontier,  and  the  settlers  took  every  caution  to  pro- 
tect their  families  from  the  Indians ;  if  an  alarm  was  given, 
the  whole  neighborhood  would  fly  to  the  forts  for  protection 
and  safety.  In  the  second  story  port-holes  were  gashed  in 
the  logs,  and  so  arranged  that  the  rifle  could  bear  upon  any 
point  within  range  of  the  fort.  This  building  might  have 
been  seen  standing  as  late  as  1820.  It  was  subsequently 
torn  down  and  the  logs  utilized  for  stables  by  the  early 
settlers. 

David  Hoggins,  a  brother  of  Robert,  settled  in  section  18, 
town  o,  range  5,  about  the  same  time  as  the  above ;  he  re- 
mained but  a  few  years,  moving  to  Washington  county  in 
1815.  James  Hnggins,  a  son  of  Robert,  was  the  first  settler 
in  Flat  Prairie;  this  was  in  1817  ;  they  have  long  since  mi- 
grated to  other  portions  of  the  States. 

Another  pioneer  was  James  Patterson  ;  in  1817  he  moved 
to  Randolph  county  and  settled  in  section  13,  town  5,  range 
6,  where  he  resided  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  the 
fall  of  1828. 

Among  the  most  prominent  early  settlers  was  Maj.  Andrew 
Borders.  He  was  born  in  South  Carolina,  and  when  a  young 
man  went  to  the  State  of  Georgia,  where  he  married 
Martha  Clark  in  1813.  Three  years  later  he  emigrated  to 
Illinois,  and  settled  in  section  3,  township  5,  range  6,  on  the 
farm  now  owned  by  Silas  M.  Little.  His  family  then  con- 
sisted of  his  wife  and  one  daughter,  Mary  A.  He  arrived 
the  first  of  January,  1816.  Having  no  house  to  go  into,  the 
family  lived  for  a  short  time  in  a  tent  prepared  for  the  pur- 
pose.    In  the  meantime  a  rude  cabin  was  constructed. 

Subsequently  he  entered  a  quarter  section  of  land,  and 


3  84  A 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


commenced  the  improvement  of  the  same.  Several  cliihlren 
were  born  to  the  family  as  follows :  James  J.,  Michael  W  , 
Elias  K.,  Sarah  K.,  Rachel,  Cynthia,  Martha,  and  Minerva 
11.  Mr.  Borders  was  a  good  financier,  frugal  in  hi.s  habits, 
and  thus  became  one  of  the  wealthiest  men  in  the  county. 
At  his  death,  which  occurred  in  January,  l.S(i4,  he  was  in 
possession  of  seven  or  eiglit  thousand  acres  of  land.  James 
J.  is  a  baker  in  Sparta,  Michael  W.  lives  in  St.  Clair  county, 
Sarah,  widow  of  Andrew  Mcllwain,  lives  in  town  4,  ranged, 
anil  Minerva  H.,  wife  of  Silas  M.  Lott,  resides  at  the  old 
homestead  in  town  5,  range  C.  No  other  members  of  the 
family  are  now  living. 

James  McClurken  was  also  born  in  South  Carolina,  but 
while  in  Kentucky  he  married  Susan  Leapcr.  Soon  after- 
ward they  moved  to  the  State  of  Indiana,  and  in  18 Ui,  emi- 
grated to  this  county,  and  located  in  what  is  now  Central 
precinct.  Two  years  later  (1818)  he  moved  to  Sparta,  and 
located  in  section  (>,  and  entered  the  land  that  the  city  now 
occupies.  The  family,  at  thi.s  time,  were  his  wife  and  three 
children,  Jane,  Susan,  and  Samuel.  Six  other  children  were 
born  to  the  family,  Sarah,  James  L.,  Matthew,  i\Iary,  Florence 
A.,  and  Thomas.  Mr.  McClurken  entered  ijuite  a  tract  of 
land,  and  became  one  of  the  leading  business  men  of  that 
day.  He  constructed  the  first  cotton  gin  in  this  part  of  the 
country,  and  thus  became  an  important  factor  in  the  indus- 
try of  the  culture,  and  propagation  of  the  cotton  plant. 
Subsequently  he  built  a  castor  oil  prcs»,  and  was  largely  en- 
gaged in  the  traffic  of  the  castor  bean  product,  and  the 
commerce  of  the  same.  In  18:?9  he  erected  a  saw  mill  in 
Sparta,  and  the  following  year  (1840)  built  the  first  steam 
flouring  mill  in  this  part  of  the  county.  His  eflbrts  as  a 
shrewd  business  man  were  appreciated,  and  in  the  same 
j'ear  he  was  elected  to  represent  his  constituency  in  the  State 
Legislature.  During  his  whole  business  life  he  was  one 
among  the  leading  men  of  the  day.  His  death  occurred  in 
Sparta,  January,  18.')1.  All  the  children  have  passed  away 
except  Matthew  and  Florence.  The  former  is  a  resident  of 
Sparta,  atid  is  one  of  the  foremo.5t  business  men  of  the  city. 
He  owns  the  woolen  mills,  and  is  largely  engaged  in  the 
mercantile  afl'airs  of  the  town.  In  honor  of  his  birth,  which 
was  among  the  first  in  the  village,  he  has  erected  his  dwel- 
ling over  the  very  spot  where  he  was  born.  Florence, 
■widow  of  Henry  Gardner,  is  also  a  resident  of  the  citv. 

Samuel  Nisbet  wa.s  a  native  of  Ireland,  born  in  1782.  He 
came  with  his  parents  to  America  in  IT^*!),  and  landed  in 
Charleston,  South  Carolina.  In  18().5  he  married  Nancy 
Morris,  and  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year  they  moved  to  Ten- 
nessee, where  they  remained  until  the  fall  of  181i).  The  year 
before  he  had  come  to  Illinois  and  entered  land  on  section  9. 
He  returned,  and  the  next  tall  removed  his  family  to  the 
new-made  state.  The  family  then  consisted  of  three  sons  and 
three  daughters  :  James,  Robert,  Samuel  T.,  Jane  C,  Agnes 
and  Mary.  Their  first  shelter  was  a  tent,  where  they  lived 
for  three  weeks,  or  until  a  cabin  could  be  erected.  This 
house  was  a  rude  affair,  16x18  feet,  and  constructed  of  logs 
or  poles,  such  as  four  men  could  conveniently  handle. 
Neighbors  were  so  scarce,  that  Mr.  N.  was  obliged  to  go  six 
miles  to  obtain  help  in  the  raising  of  his  cabin.  Windows 
49 


were  luxuries  in  those  days  that  the  pioneers  were  unable  to 
purcha.se.  For  lighting  purposes,  a  crack  between  the  logs 
at  the  jamb  was  left  open.  The  door  was  maile  of  rived 
clap-board-,  and  the  roof  was  of  the  same  material,  held 
down  with  "  weight-poles."  The  floor  was  mother  earth, 
and  the  chimney  was  constructed  from  slicks  and  mud.  He 
became  a  jjrosperous  farmer  ;  he  was  aho  a  carpenter.  lie 
died  in  1872. 

Quite  an  addition  was  made  to  the  little  colony  in  l^Ui 
and  1820;  among  whom  were:  Arthur  Parks,  William 
and  Samuel  Gordon,  John  and  James  Baird,  Thomas  Mc- 
Dill,  James  Wilson,  William  Chambers,  Alexander,  John 
and  Ebenezer  Alexander,  Thomas  and  William  Finley,  and 
John  McMillan. 

The  Alexanders  were  also  early  settlers,  so  was  William 
Chambers  and  family.  Jarucs  Wilson  was  another  early 
settler;  he  came  in  1><20,  and  raisetl  a  large  family,  all  of 
whimi  are  decea.sed.  He  and  his  wife  died  several  years 
ago.  Arthur  Parks  settled  in  this  precinct  in  the  spring 
of  1819  He  was  for  a  time  county  commissioner,  and 
served  many  vears  as  justice  of  the  peace;  he  died  in  l''^44. 
The  McDills  were  from  South  Carolina,  and  settled  here  in 
1820.  John  and  James  Baird  became  residents  of  what  is 
now  this  precinct  in  1819.  Thomas  and  William  Finley 
(brothers)  were  natives  of  Ireland  ;  they  settled  on  sec.  7  in 
1820,  and  both  had  families.  William  and  Samuel  Gordon 
also  located  here  in  1820.  William  was  a  tanner  by  trade. 
His  brother  Samuel  married  here  and  reared  a  family. 
He  was  a  blacksmith  and  established  the  first  shop  in  this 
precinct  on  section  19.  He  subsequently  became  interested 
in  the  culture  of  castor  beans.  He  constructed  the  first  oil 
l)ress  and  was  the  leading  factor  of  that  industry.  James 
Anderson  came  from  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania,  in  1821,  and 
settled  in  section  8,  a  little  south  of  Eden.  He  and  his  wife 
are  both  deceased  ;  he  died  in  July,  1827.  .Samuel  Wylie,  an 
Irishman  by  birth,  became  a  resident  of  the  county  in  1817. 
He  first  located  in  Kaska.skia  anil  in  lS2ii  came  to  this  pre- 
cinct. John  Armour  located  here  in  1826.  He  was  a  school 
teacher,  and  was  a  man  of  considerable  reputation  and  en- 
terprise One  of  the  most  prominent  citizens  here  of  his 
time  was  Robert  G.  Shannon.  He  was  of  Irish  descent,  and 
came  to  Illinois  in  1818.  In  1827,  he  established  himself  in 
the  mercantile  business  on  section  G,  a  mile  south  of  Sparta. 
In  1828,  he  moved  to  the  present  site  of  that  town,  and  es- 
tablished the  first  store.  The  first  post-office  in  the  town 
was  called  Shannon's  store,  and  Mr.  Shannon  was  the  post- 
master. He  was  one  of  the  leading  business  men  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  1849.  Nine  children  were  born 
to  the  family,  only  one  of  whom  is  living,  John  R.  who 
now  resides  somewhere  west  of  the  ^Mississippi.  Joseph 
Brown  emigrated  from  South  Carolina  to  the  precinct  of 
Sparta  in  the  fall  of  1827.  His  family  then  consisted  of 
his  wife  Elizabeth,  and  three  children,  Isaac,  James  M.  and 
Eliza  J.  lie  first  located  in  section  13,  T.  o,  R.  (i.  The 
following  spring  he  moved  to  section  12,  a  little  south  of 
Sparta.  Several  children  were  born  to  the  fanjily  after 
their  coming.  All  are  living  except  James  M.  Isaac,  Eliza 
J.  and  William  are  in  Kansas.    David  is  in  Perry  county, 


380 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY  COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


Margaret  lives  in  Sparta,  Joseph  resides  near  Coulterville, 
and  Mary  lives  at  the  old  homestead.  Mr.  Brown  is  yet 
living,  and  in  his  eighty-sixth  year  of  age.  He  yet  resides 
in  section  12,  where  he  located  in  1828. 

Lawson  JMurphy  was  a  Tennesseean,  and  moved  with  his 
family  to  this  precinct  in  the  spring  of  182!),  and  first  located 
in  what  is  now  Tilden  precinct.  He  remained  here  but  a 
few  months,  when  he  removed  to  Sparta,  where  he  lived  un- 
till  his  death.  At  his  coming  he  had  a  wife  and  an  infant 
son,  William  P.  Seven  other  children  were  born  to  the 
family,  all  of  whom  are  now  dead.  William  P.  is  the  only 
survivor  of  this  numerous  family.  Mr.  Murphy  was  a  brick 
mason  by  trade,  and  was  auxiliary  in  making  the  brick, 
and  constructed  the  first  brick  houses  in  Sparta.  He  died 
in  1851.  William  P.  has  for  many  years  been  a  prominent 
citizen  of  the  county.  He  has  filled  the  office  of  county 
treasurer,  been  the  assessor  of  internal  revenue  for  Randolph 
county,  held  the  office  of  Judge  of  the  Common  Pleas  Court 
of  the  city  of  Sparta,  and  was  the  last  county  Judge  up  to 
December,  1882. 

.  William  Rosborough  settled  in  Sparta  in  the  spring  of 
ISo.;.  He  was  for  many  years  an  active  business  man. 
Among  other  early  residents  were,  James  Bottom,  John 
Michau.  The  latter  has  for  many  years  been  a  leading 
lawyer  in  the  county.  The  Bsatties,  James  S.  Brown,  Wra. 
J.  Morrison  and  A.  Stewart,  may  also  be  mentioned. 

Believing  that  the  early  land  entries  will  be  of  interest 
we  append  a  few  of  the  same  : 

April  10th,  l.'d"),  William  Morrison  entered  all  of  section 
19,  being  (ill  acres.  June  oOth,  1817,  N.  Pope  and  W. 
Harrison  entered  the  E  \  of  section  20.  March  :;d,  1818, 
James  Anderson  entered  the  S.  W.  1  of  8.  July  'iOth  of 
the  same  y&xt,  James  and  John  Huggins  entered  the  W.  I 
of  the  S.  E.  -i  of  section  H.  August  26th,  1818,  Jacob  Rann 
entered  the  N.  W.  1  of  section  17.  November  28th,  1818, 
Samuel  Nisbet  entered  the  E.  I  of  the  N.  E.  i  of  section  9. 
August  8th,  1818,  John  Murphy  entered  the  E.  I  of  the  S. 
E.  f  of  section  30.  August  24th,  1818,  Augustine  Davis 
entered  the  E.  \  of  the  N.  E.  }  of  the  same  section.  Sep- 
tember 22(1,  1818,  Nicholas  Bowerman  entered  the  N.  E.  \ 
of  section  25.  October  1st,  1818,  William  I\[arshall  entered 
the  W.  J  of  the  N.  W-  \  of  .section  4.  October  15th,  1818, 
John  McMillan  entered  the  W.  \  of  the  S.  W.  \  of  section 
5.  December  17th,  1818,  James  McClurken  entered  the  S. 
W.  I  of  section  5.  The  above  entries  are  all  in  town.ship  5, 
range  5.  Francis  Beatty  entered  400  acres  in  section  33, 
town  4,  range  5.  August  3d,  1818,  Samuel  Hill,  jr.  entered 
the  S.  W.  4  of  section  30,  same  town  and  range. 

The  first  marriage  ceremony  was  performed  at  the  house 
of  James  Patter.son  in  1820  The  contracting  parties  were 
William  Sterret  and  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Patterson.  In  the 
same  year  was  recorded  the  first  death,  the  person  being  a 
little  daughter  of  William  Chambers.  She  was  buried  in 
section  eight,  on  the  land  then  occupied  by  Ebenezer  Alex- 
ander. He  subsequently  laid  off  the  grcund  for  a  cemetery, 
and  it  is  now  known  as  the  Bethel  burial  ground.  The 
first  school  was  taught  by  a  man  of  the  name  of  Moore  in 
the  summer  of  1820.      The  school-house  was  situated  in 


section  sixth,  about  a  mile  south  of  Sparta.  It  was  originally 
built  for  a  dwebing  by  one  of  the  early  settlers,  but  had 
been  abandoned.  It  was  a  little  log  cabin,  with  puncheon 
floor,  and  the  lighting  was  obtained  through  the  cracks 
between  the  logs.  It  then  required  about  six  miles  square 
to  constitute  a  sufficient  number  of  children  to  form  a 
school.  Among  the  early  justices  of  the  peace  were  Arthur 
Parks  and  Robert  Clark.  The  first  practicing  physician 
was  Dr.  Jernigan,  who  then  resided  near  Georgetown. 
Joseph  Fernan  was  the  first  physician  to  locate  here.  This 
was  in  1829.  He  remained  here  until  his  death 
which  occurred  in  18(il.  A  post  office  was  established  in 
1822,  and  was  situated  in  section  six,  about  a  mile  south 
of  Sparta.  William  Gordon  was  the  post  master.  The 
major  part  of  the  subsequent  history  will  be  found- in  the 

CITY    OF    SrAKTA. 

The  first  upon  the  ground  of  this  beautiful  city  was  James 
McClurken,  a  sketch  of  whom  has  already  been  given  in 
this  chapter.  In  1826,  he  sold  twenty  acres  to  John 
Armour  who  erected  a  small  log  house,  situated  on  what  is 
now  the  southwest  corner  of  St.  Louis  and  Main  streets. 
It  is  yet  standing  with  a  frame  addition  attached.  It  is 
now  weatherboarded  and  is  occupied  for  a  dwelling  by  A.  J. 
D(/naldson.  A  year  or  two  later  Mr.  Armour  erected  a 
mill  near  his  premises,  and  about  the  same  time,  Robert  G. 
Shannon  moved  his  store  of  goods  from  the  south  part  of 
section  six,  to  this  point.  This  formed  the  nucleus  of 
the  embryo  village.  In  1829,  Mr.  Armour  conceived  the 
idea  of  establishing  a  town.  He  therefore  laid  off  his  land 
into  town  lots  and  offered  them  for  sale.  The  streets  were 
named  Main,  Second  and  Cross  streets,  and  the  number  of 
lot!  was  seventy-two.  The  first  lot  sold  was  purchased  by 
Samuel  Hill  for  the  sum  of  four  dollars.  Mr.  Shannon  had 
the  honor  of  naming  the  town,  and  he  gave  it  the  name  of 
Columbus.  This  it  bore  until  late  in  1839.  The  history 
of  its  change  is  briefly  as  follows:  The  post  office  was 
called  Shannon's  store,  and  the  town  being  of  one  name 
and  the  post  office  another,  made  it  very  inconvenient  to 
the  citizens.  A  meeting  of  the  people  was  therefore  called 
to  take  into  consideration  the  renaming  of  the  town.  They 
met  at  the  McDill  hotel,  and  at  the  suggestion  of  James 
Morrow  the  name  of  Sparta  was  adopted,  which  was  subse- 
quently sanctioned  by  legislative  enactment.  The  name  of 
the  post  oflice  was  changed  a  few  months  later.  The  mill 
constructed  by  Armour  was  the  first  in  the  precinct.  It  was 
worked  with  a  sweep,  and  required  four  horses  or  oxen  to 
propel  it.  It  was  in  successful  operation  for  several  years. 
Shannon's  store  was  a  small  log  house  situated  on  Main 
street,  just  west  of  the  brick  building  now  standing  with  the 
sign  of  J.  R.  Shannon.  William  H.  McDill  constructed 
and  kept  the  first  hotel.  This  was  in  1833.  The  house 
was  a  two  story  frame,  situated  on  Main  street,  lot  one, 
Armour's  survey.  It  is  yet  standing.  Just  east  of  it  was 
laid  out  a  public  square.  Let  the  reader  imagine  if  he  can 
a  public  square,  thirty  by  sixty  feet  in  dimensions,  for  that 
was  its  size.  Until  within  the  last  year  or  so  it  has  been 
open  to  the  commons.  Robert  Pollock  was  one  of  the  first 
business  men  of  Sparta.     In  about  1830,  he   established  a 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MOXROE   AND   PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


387 


tannery  in  the  town,  and  conducted  a  butcher  shop.  His 
son,  J.  T.,  in  later  days  became  a  prominent  phj'sician  in 
the  town.  The  tirst  brick  house  was  erected  in  liS.'iO 
by  Rubt.  G.  Shannon  for  a  store  house.  It  is  situated  on 
the  north  side  of  Main  street,  and  a  little  east  of  .'^t.  Louis 
street.  It  is  now  occupied  as  a  dwelling  by  H.  J.  Wilson. 
In  the  same  year,  Thornhill  Ballard  established  a  black- 
smith shop  on  Main  street,  on  the  premises  now  occupied  by 
the  Reverend  McXary.  Ballard  afterwards  moved  to 
Washington  county,  where  he  died.  Alexander  Campbell 
established  the  first  carpenter  shop  in  the  same  year. 
Several  dwelling-houses  were  erected  about  this  time,  and 
the  little  town  received  quite  an  impetus  in  the  way  of 
improvement.  In  18.'S3,  James  McClurken  built  a  cotton 
gin,  and  a  few  years  later  he  erected  a  steam  grist  and  saw 
mill,  which  was  the  first  in  this  part  of  the  country.  These 
gave  an  additional  importance  to  the  commercial  interests 
of  the  place,  and  other  substantial  improvements  soon  fol- 
lowed. About  this  time — LSS!) — the  ('i/liiiiihu,i  Ileru/d  was 
established  by  James  Morrow.  This  was  an  important 
auxiliary  toward  improving  the  town.  In  1840,  an 
academy  of  learning  was  instituted  with  considerable  show 
of  success.  The  building  is  yet  standing  at  the  west  end  of 
Broadway,  and  is  now  utillized  for  a  dwelling.  In  the 
same  year,  James  McClurken  erected  an  oil  mill  for  the 
manufacture  of  castor  oil.  This  industry  formed  an  impor- 
tant item  in  the  commerce  of  Sparta  for  many  years. 

At  this  writing  the  city  is  in  a  prosperous  condition,  and 
contains  nearly  '>,W{)  inliabitauts.  This  article  would 
be  incomplete  without  mentioning  the  reputation  that  Sparta 
and  the  town  of  Eden  gained  in  the  time  of  the  agitation  of  the 
slavery  question.  Indeed,  these  two  towns  formed  the  grand 
depot  of  the  system  known  as  the  "  Underground  railway." 
After  crossing  the  Mississippi  the  objective  point  of  the  escap- 
ing slave  was  one  of  these  towns.  They  were  then  secreted  and 
as  soon  as  practicable  conveyed  from  point  to  point  in  the 
night  time  to  the  dominions  of  Canada.  The  route  was  to 
Chicago,  via  Alton.  After  the  Illinois  Ceiitral  Railroad 
was  constructed  they  were  conveyed  to  Centralia,  thence 
north.  Hundreds  were  thus  removed  beyond  the  recovery 
of  their  owners.  This  sy.-.tem  prevailed  until  after  the  com- 
mencement of  the  Civil  War. 

Li'-i/rpi/rntion. — The  town  was  incorporated  in  18.17,  with 
the  following  first  officers:  Dr.  Joseph  Farnan,  Lawson 
Mur|)hy,  John  A.  Wilson,  James  A.  Foster  and  John  W. 
Slade  constituted  the  Board  of  Trustees.  In  lf<o9  the  town 
obtained  a  city  charter,  and  the  following  named  persons 
were  elected  the  first  city  officers;  Mayor,  John  A.  WiKson  ; 
Alderman — Fir=t  ward:  Robert  Gainnull  and  John  Wat.son  ; 
Second  ward  :  Matthew  McClurken  and  Hugh  Kirkpatrick; 
Third  ward,  J.  F.  McCandless  and  John  W.  McCormack  ; 
Fourth  ward,  Robert  J.  Ilarmer  and  Samuel  Niel ;  Street 
Commissioner,  James  Laughlin ;  Treasurer,  Joseph 
McHenry  ;  Assessor,  H.  C.  McCormack.  The  present  offi- 
cers are  Mayor,  S.  Lovejoy  Taylor;  .Vlderinen,  William 
Blakemere,  f.  A.  R.  Orr,  T.  II  Finley,  John  Watson,  W.  I).  U. 
Eiker  and  Charles  Stamm  ;  Clerk,  Benjamin  J.  Klene  ;  City 
Attorney,  R.  J.  Goddard  ;  Police  Magistrate,  A.  X.  Sprague ; 


Marshall,  John  Meyer ;    Street  Commissioner,   T.   A.   R. 
Orr;  Treasurer,  William  M.  Brown. 

TRESKNT  BLSINliSS,  ETC. 

Union  avd  Spnrta  Sli'itm  Floiiriny  Mills — These  are 
among  the  leading  industries  of  the  city,  and  have  really  a 
national  reputation.  The  firm  is  styled  Gordon,  Barker  & 
Co.  The  Union  Mill  is  located  on  the  north  side  of  East 
Broadway,  and  was  established  in  18.37  by  what  was  known 
as  the  Union  Mill  Co.  It  has  been  under  the  present  man- 
agement since  18G6.  The  building  is  a  brick  structure,  four 
stories  high  and  attic.  The  main  building  is  .30x70  feet. 
There  is  also  a  bran  room  and  office — two  stories — and  18s 
50  feet.  The  engine  £.nd  boiler  room,  one  story,  24x.50  feet. 
There  is  also  a  ware  room  attachment,  frame,  ;!0x.')0  feet 
and  two  stories  high.  A  side  track  extending  to  the  rail- 
road is  one  of  the  conveniences  of  the  mill.  The  estimated 
value  of  capital  invested  is  SoO  000.  It  has  the  ca[)acity  of 
manufacturing  three  hundred  barrels  of  flour  in  twenty-four 
hours,  containing  six  runs  of  stone  and  four  sets  of  rolls.  It 
was  the  first  mill  in  the  country  to  adopt  the  patent  process 
of  manufacturing  flour.  Its  present  favorite  brand  is  the 
"Gazelle."  The  annual  value  of  manufactured  product  is 
about  8300,000.  Shipments  are  made  both  South  and  East, 
Tliirtysix  men  are  given  employment  by  this  firm. 

The  Sparta  Mill  is  situated  on  Jackson  street,  in  the  south 
part  of  the  city.  It  is  a  brick  building,  four  stories  high. 
The  main  building  is  forty  feet  square,  with  engine  and 
boiler  room  24x41)  feet,  and  warehouse  of  the  same  dimen- 
sions. A  side  track  or  switch  leads  to  the  mill.  The  mill 
was  constructed  in  18.32  by  the  Sparta  Mill  Co.,  and  has 
been  under  the  present  management  since  its  establishment. 
The  capital  invested  is  Si'-'nOOO.  It  contains  five  run  of 
burrs,  two  sets  of  rolls,  and  has  the  capacity  of  grinding  1.50 
barrels  of  flour  daily.  Value  of  ronnufactured  product 
8200,000  annually.  Its  fine  brand  of  flour  is  entitled  Ten- 
broke.  The  machinery  is  driven  by  an  80-horse  power 
engine. 

Eiigli'  Fliinriiirf  Mill-t,  owned  and  operated  by  J.  ('.  Boyle. 
They  were  established  by  Mr.  Boyle  in  1870,  and  are  locat- 
ed on  the  corner  of  Washington  and  Church  streets.  The 
capital  invested  is  about  830,000.  The  building  is  a  fine 
brick  structure,  four  stories  and  basement.  The  entire 
building  covers  4132  square  feet  of  ground.  It  has  six  run 
of  burrs  and  three  sets  of  rolls,  and  has  the  capacity  of 
manufacturing  1.30  barrels  of  flour  per  day.  The  annual 
value  of  manufactured  product  is  estimated  at  821)0,000, 
which  is  shipped  mainly  to  New  York  and  New  Orleans. 
The  business  furnishes  its  own  barrels  for  shipment,  and  in 
all  employs  twenty-five  men.  Its  favorite  brand  of  flour 
is  the  •'  Early  Riser."  At  the  Millers'  Exhibition,  in  Cin- 
cinnati, a  few  years  ago,  this  brand  of  flour  took  the  medal 
of  the  world. 

Sparta  Woolen.  Factovi;. — This  industry  was  established 
by  James  McClurken  in  18.31-2,  and  was  located  on  the 
corner  of  Market  and  Jackson  streets,  in  the  south  part  of 
the  town.  In  18.">:!,  Thomas,  a  sou  of  the  above,  bought 
out  the  business  and  conducted  it  until  Ixill .  when  it  passed 


388 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND     PERRY    COUNTIES,  ILLINOIS. 


into  the  hands  of  the  present  proprietor,  Matthew  McClur- 
ken.  The  business  was  conducteil  in  the  old  building  until 
1879,  when  Mr.  McClurken  purchased  the  factor)'  of  Kirk- 
wood  &  Co.,  on  South  St.  Louis  street,  and  moved  his  ma- 
chinery, etc  ,  over  there,  where  he  is  now  operating.  The 
building  is  a  two  story  brick,  54x74  feet,  besides  an  engine- 
room  and  dye  house  30xG4  feet.  The  capital  invested  is 
estimated  at  S15,000.  The  factory  is  what  is  known  as  a 
"two-set"  mill,  with  ten  looms.  The  value  of  manufac- 
tured product  is  from  $50,000  to  $76,000  annually.  Twenty 
persons  are  given  employment  by  tiiis  iudustry. 

Sparta  Plow  Works  were  established  in  1857,  by  F.  R. 
Crothers,  and  situated  on  Broadway  between  McMillan  and 
Vine  streets.  It  is  a  brick  building,  the  front  being  two 
stories  high,  and  32  by  60  feet  on  the  ground.  Two  one- 
story  buildings  extend  back,  with  an  alley  between,  and 
are  26  by  80  fiet.  The  capital  invested  is  $25,000,  and 
1,200  plows  and  200  harrows  are  manufactured  in  one  year. 
They  are  mainly  sold  in  Southern  Illinois.  Eight  men  are 
employed  in  the  works. 

Plow  Manvjiidory,  A.  A.  Burlingarae,  proprietor.  Mr. 
Burlingame  established  in  Eden  in  1844,  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  wagons,  and  merged  into  the  plow  business  in  1859. 
He  moved  his  works  to  Sparta  in  1866,  and  located  on 
Jackson  street,  between  McMillan  and  Vine  streets.  The 
building  is  a  two-story  frame  structure,  and  with  the  entire 
belongings  covers  4420  square  feet  of  ground.  It  is  exclu- 
sively engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  plows  and  harrows,  and 
gives  employment  to  nine  men.  The  annual  value  of 
manufactured  product  is  about  $12,000, 

Stirrup  Factory. — This  industry  was  established  by  Hynd 
man  Brothers  in  the  spring  of  1882,  and  is  situated  on  the 
north  side  of  East  Broadway,  near  the  Union  Flouring 
Mills.  The  building  is  a  frame  24  by  48  feet  in  dimen- 
sions, besides  an  engine-room  16  feet  square.  It  has  a  capa- 
city of  manufacturing  200  dozen  pairs  of  stirrups  per  week. 
From  seven  to  ten  men  are  given  employment.  The  ship- 
ments are  mostly  made  to  the  State  of  Texas.  Its  estima- 
ted annual  value  of  product  is  $5,000. 

Brick  Yard,  Samuel  Burns,  proprietor.  This  is  located 
in  East  Broadway,  opposite  the  Union  Mills.  It  was 
established  in  the  spring  of  1882,  with  one  kiln  and  a  capa- 
city of  turning  out  200,000  bricks  per  year. 

Coal  Fields. — One  of  the  most  important  industries  of 
Sparta  and  vicinity  is  the  raining  of  coal.  There  are  three 
principal  shafts:  Boyd's,  Dobbins',  and  Roseborough's.  At 
present  the  coal  is  raised  by  horse  power,  though  the  inten- 
tion is  to  soon  operate  them  by  steam  power.  These  shafts 
are  respectively  90,  160,  and  25  feet  in  depth.  The  coal- 
bed  roof  is  black  slate  or  "  cannel,"  with  occasionally  sand- 
stone or  lime-stone.  The  floor  is  fire  clay,  while  the  depth 
of  vein  is  about  6  feet,  and  the  quality  of  coal  is  the  best  in 
the  state.  The  most  extensively  worked  mine  is  that  of  R. 
H.  Roseborough,  situated  in  section  22,  a  few  miles  south- 
east of  the  town.  Thirty  men  are  employed,  and  from  80  to 
100  tons  of  coal  is  raised  daily.  The  first  coal  was  obtained 
by  drifting  into  the  hillside,  the  coal  cropping  out  at  some 
points  in  the  hills  south  of  town. 


Bank. — Borders  &  Boyle,  proprietors.  This  was  estab- 
lished in  1877,  and  located  on  the  south  side  of  Broadway. 
It  has  a  cash  capital  of  $20,000,  and  is  well  prepared  in 
every  way  to  do  a  safe  banking  business.  It  has  a  fire  proof 
vault,  and  McNeal  &  Urran's  fire  and  burglar  proof  safe. 

The  School  Building  is  situated  in  the  north  part  of  town, 
bounded  on  the  south  and  west  by  Main  and  St.  Louis 
streets.  It  is  a  fine  brick  building  three  stories  in  height> 
and  63  by  83  feet  on  the  ground.  The  play  grounds  are 
commodious  and  well  adorned  wiih  shade  trees.  The  school 
is  divided  into  eight  grades  ;  four  primary,  three  intermedi- 
ate and  a  grammar  and  high  school  department.  Fourteen 
teachers  are  employed,  and  there  is  a  maximum  of  attend- 
ance of  about  650  pupils. 

Broadway  Hotel. — The  city  contains  but  one  hotel  at  this 
writing,  and  it  is  one  of  the  best  buildings  in  the  town.  It 
was  erected  by  a  stock  compaily  in  1867,  at  a  cost  of  $15,000. 
It  is  located  on  the  southwest  corner  of  Broadway  and  St. 
Louis  streets.  It  is  three  stories,  brick,  and  a  store  base- 
ment, and  has  the  capacity  of  accommodating  seventy-five 
guests      G.  W.  Royce  is  the  present  efficient  landlord. 

The  Illinois  National  Guards  were  organized  in  Dec. 
1879,  as  company  F,  of  the  11th  regiment,  but  was  sub- 
sequently changed  to  company  C  ,  9th  regiment.  The  first 
officers  were,  Captain  G.  B.  McDonald  ;  1st  lieut.,  H.  C. 
McDill ;  2Dd  lieut.,  W.  E.  McConachie ;  l.st  sergt,,  C.  C. 
Hyndman  ;  2nd  sergt,,  C.  W.  Miller  ;  3rd  sergt.,  R.  L,  Gaines ; 
4th  sergt,  Thurston  Taggart;  5th  sergt.,  James  Hartley; 
1st  corpl.,  J.  F.  Miller ;  2ud  corpl  ,  S.  M.  Frazier  ;  3rd  corpl. , 
T.  W,  Hill ;  4th  corpl ,  James  A.  Ennis.  The  company, 
when  organized,  had  47  members,  and  at  this  writing  has 
59.  They  are  fully  uniformed,  and  among  the  best  drilled 
in  the  state, 

MERCANTILE    HOVSES    AND   TRADE. 

Drij  Goods,  Clothing,  Hats,  Caps,  etc. — James  Bottom, 
Sproul  Brothers,  J.  &  R  Hood,  James  H.  Taylor. 

Dry  Goods. — Watson  &  Son,  Daniel  Burnett,  Joseph 
McHenry. 

Clothing  Stores. — William  C.  Barnett,  Mrs.  John  Temple. 

Groceries  and  Hardware. — William  Brown,  J.  C,  Perkins, 
James  H.  Sherrard,  W.  J.  Lyle,  Chas.  Stamm,  Thomas  N. 
McCormack,  Wm.  H.  Frazier,  Jno.  R.  Allen,  Stevenson  & 
Beattie,  Borneman  &  Klene,  G,  W.  Williams. 

Hardware  and  Stoves. — Hamilton  &  Co. 

Baker  and  Confectioner. — John  A.  Holdoway. 

Furniture  Dealers. — Taylor  Bros,,  William  McLaughlin, 
Eiker  Brothers. 

Watches,  Clocks,  and  Jewelry. — A.  B,  Clifton,  Joseph 
Victor. 

Agricultural  Implements  — Hamilton  &  Co.,  Burnett  & 
Sproul,  M.  E.  Foster,  Dickey  &  Bro.,  Daniel  Morrison, 
Chas.  Oliver. 

Drugs  and  Medicines. — N.  R.  Gordon,  Eugene  Grinslet, 
J.  and  S.  Alexander. 

Books  and  Stationery. — James  D.  AVatson,  Chas.  Gardner, 
William  Chambers. 

Shoe  Stores. — William  Anderson,  George  Graham,  James 
F.  Hanson. 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


389 


Merchant  Tailor. — Cbas.  Stamm. 

Tailor. — Henry  Smith. 

J/i7/fiierx.— Misses  A.  &  E.  Gibson,  Misses  McFarland  & 
McHenry,  Miss  Clara  Brown,  Mrs.  H.  Wolfington,  Miss 
Jennie  McDill. 

Dres.'i  3/«A-er«.— Misses  McClurken,  Miss  Nancy  Tenant, 
Miss  L.  Anderson,  Misses  Lattimore,  Mrs.  J.  Patterson,  ami 
the  Misses  Calvin. 

Boot  and  Shoemak-er.—WM&m  Telfert. 

Blacksmiths  S/iops.— McCormack  &  Son,  Elias  Perkins, 
■William  Liitle,  Miller  &  Bro.,  C.  &  J.  Levinston. 

Harness  and  Saddlery.— James  B.  Jor.lon,  .John  T.  Clen- 
deniu,  Samuel  Neil. 

Phij.'iiciuns.—li.  R.  Guthrie,  D.  S.  Booth,  C.  M.  Babcock, 
S.  R.  Roynton,  N.  R.  Gordon,  J.  W.  Weir,  L.  Burgess,  I.  J. 
Sanders. 

Dentist — J.  C.  Simpson. 

Photographers. — Louis  Huebschman,  John  W.  Minuer. 

Livery  and  Feed  StablfS.—J.  A  Miller  &  Co  ,  J.  S.  Foster. 

Stock  Dealers  and  Shippers.— Fred  Leiner,  William  Ros- 
borough. 

Mimcal  In.itrninents.—J.  C.  Bratney,  J.  W.  Minner. 

Meat  Miirkets.-Leiuer  Bros.,  Robert  Sinclair,  J.  Snyder. 

Barbers.— Samuel  W.  Hunter,  Geo.  P.  Taylor,  Carter 
Jackson. 

Lumber  Dealers. — Dickey  &  Brother. 

Carpenters  and  Builders. — L  Pyles,  Robt.  H.  Rogers, 
Robt.  C.  Wylie,  Hugh  Clark,  Albert  H.  Hawthorn,  Peter 
Ireland,  Jacob  Lehnheir. 

Painters  and  Glaziers. — Campbell  it  Son,  \X.  C.  Orr. 

Stone  Masons. — James  Wat.son,  Thomas  Lonigan. 

i>'/-icA-/((i/«'rs.— William  Skelly,  S.  W.  Skelly.  Joseph 
Lattimore. 

Postma.'<t'r. — James  I).  Watson. 

There  are  also  seven  churches  in  the  city :  Reformed 
Presbyterian,  United  Pre.sbyterian,  Presbyterian  proper, 
New  Light  Covenanters,  two  M.  E.  churches— white  and 
colored— and  the  Baptist.  All  have  comfortable  houses  ot 
worship. 

The  city  lies  on  a  rolling  piece  of  ground,  and  is  well 
supplied  with  good  side  walks,  and  excellent  kept  streets. 
In  the  south  part  of  the  town  is  what  is  called  "Brick 
Town."  This  was  laid  otl' by  William  Rosborough  several 
years  ago,  and  he  will  not  sell  a  lot  to  anyone  unless  he  will 
obligate  himself  to  build  a  good  brick  house.  The  result  U 
that  this  part  of  the  town  is  one  of  the  finest  parts  of  th 
city. 

i^OCIETIES. 

Hope  Lodge,  No.  1(32,  A.  F.  and  A.  M  ,  was  chartered 
Oct.  3,  18.55,  with  seven  charter  members.  The  present 
membership  is  53.  The  lodge  is  in  good  condition  finan- 
cially, owing  one  half  of  the  present  lodge-room.  It  meets  in 
Masonic  hall  every  Friday  night,  on  or  before  the  full  of 
the  moon  in  each  month. 

Staley  Chapter,  No.  103,  R  A.  M  ,  was  chartered  Oct.  5_ 
186t),  having  fourteen  members.     Present  membership  is  48. 


It  is  in  excellent  condition  financially,  its  assets  being  valued 
at  81  200. 

Sparta  Lodge,  No.  52,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  recewed  its  charter, 
July  20,  1849,  having  five  members.  The  present  member- 
ship is  35.  Meets  at  Dickey's  hall  every  Tuesday  evening. 
The  lodge  has  81. 100  iu  the  treasury,  besides  regalia  .and 
furniture  estimated  at  8300. 

There  are  two  colored  lodges,  the Heiinan  iodjre.  No. 

21,  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  was  organized  June  21,  1875,  with  31 
members.     The  pre.sent  membership  is  19. 

Sttphcn  Lodge,  Xo.  1  B.  and  F.,  was  established  June  12, 
with  19  charter  members.     The  present  membership  is  12. 

EDEN 

is  a  departed  glory.  It  is  situated  on  a  high  eminence  of 
ground  in  section  five,  a  mile  southeast  of  Sparta  Samuel 
Wylie  located  here  in  1822.  He  soou  afterwards  established 
a  church  of  the  Reformed  Presbyterian  denomination.  The 
little  comnmuity  grew  and  prospered,  and  in  1837,  he  and 
his  brother  Adam  laid  out  the  town  into  village  lots  and 
called  it  "  Eden,"  on  account  of  its  beautiful  situation.  It 
sub.sequently  became  the  chief  manufacturing  town  in  this 
part  of  Randolph  county.  At  this  writing  it  contains  a 
population  of  only  about  150  inhabitants,  about  one  half 
colored.  The  only  business  is  one  store,  Richard  Watt, 
proprietor,  two  blacksmith  shops,  owned  and  operated  by 
Milton  Dickey  and  James  Gaston. 

RANDOLPH    COUNTY    AGRICUI.TUKAL    BOARD. 

This  was  established  in  1852  by  the  enterprising  farmers 
of  Flat  Prairie.  Early  in  the  above  year  Messrs.  Addison, 
Crawford,  Craig,  Robertson,  Brown,  Beattie,  and  a  few 
others  conceived  the  idea  of  establishing  a  fair  association  at 
Sparta.  They  met,  and  Robert  Brown  was  chosen  presi- 
dent, Jacob  B.  Beattie,  treasurer,  and  William  Addison, 
secretary  The  first  fair  was  held  the  third  Wedneslay  iu 
October,  1852,  on  the  farm  of  James  Craig,  two  or  three 
miles  northeast  of  town.  The  second  fair  was  held  at  the 
same  place,  and  the  third  on  the  farm  of  William  Robert- 
son, near  the  place  of  the  above.  In  1855,  the  citizens  of 
Sparta  joined  hands  with  those  of  Flat  Prairie,  and  Mr. 
Matthew  McClurken  kindly  gave,  free,  the  use  of  his  grove 
a  little  south  of  the  business  part  of  the  town,  for  the  bene- 
fit of  the  association  for  five  years.  Three  successive  fairs 
were  held  on  the  ground,  when  the  E.xecutive  Board  pur- 
chased ten  acres  of  land  iu  section  12,  about  one  half  mile 
south  of  the  city.  About  1870,  the  association  added  five 
acres  to  the  original  purchase,  and  has  enlarged  the  track  to 
nearly  one  half  mile.  The  grounds  are  enclosed  with  a  good 
fence,  and  contain  all  the  buildings  conveniens  for  conduct- 
ing a  successful  display  of  all  the  products  presented  to  the 
average  county  fair.  Fine  shade  trees  adorn  the  ground, 
and  the  water  privileges  are  all  that  could  be  desired. 
There  are  137  excellent  stalls,  and  other  conveniences  in 
keeping  with  the  grounds.  The  present  ofiicers  are  :  Presi- 
dent, E.  B.  McGuire  ;  Secretary,  John  G.  Taylor  ;  Treasurer, 
C.  C  Hyndman  ;  Gen.  Supt.,  R.  R.  Burns  ;  Chief  Marshal, 
A.  K.  Glenn  ;  Executive  Com.,  W.  C.  Gordon  William 
Hood,  R.  R.  Burns,  John  Anderson,  and  John  Roscow, 


B I  O  C4  H  A  P  H I E  S 


/i^^^^Xl 


Was  born  June  7th,  1820,  in  Jlifflinsburg,  Union  county, 
Pennsj'lvania.  His  ancestors,  paternal  and  maternal,  were 
Germans,  and  some  of  them  emigrated  from  the  Father- 
land and  settled  in  the  eastern  part  of  Pennsylvania  in  an 
early  day-  His  mother's  maiden  name  was  Gutelius.  He 
was  left  an  orphan  when  quite  young.  An  uncle,  John  P. 
Gutelius,  became  his  guardian  and  in  his  home  he  became 
an  inmate.  After  acquiring  an  academical  education  he 
entered  a  printing  office  as  an  apprentice.  After  gaining 
some  proficiency  as  a  typo  he  went  to  Columbus,  Ohio,  where 
he  engaged  his  services  to  Samuel  Medary,  the  editor  of  the 
Ohio  Statesman.  In  18.':!9,  he  met  James  Morrow  and  his 
son  Samuel  (who  is  now  a  clergyman  in  Albany,  N.  Y.l 
who  were  on  their  way  to  Columbus,  now  the  city  of  Sparta, 
Illinois,  with  a  press  and  materials  of  a  printing  office,  to 
commence  the  publication  of  a  newspaper  at  that  place. 
He  accompanied  them  to  their  destination,  where  he  has 
ever  since  resided.  In  May,  1840,  he  purchased  the  office 
and  engaged  in  journalism.  Finding  it  unprofitable  he  dis- 
continued it  in  1841.  In  May,  1842,  he  married  Elizabeth 
Jane  Shannon,  daughter  of  Robert  G.  Shannon,  one  of  the 
leading  merchants  of  Sparta.  She  <lied  in  1840.  He  spent 
the  winter  following  in  Alabama  and  Mississippi.  In  No- 
vember, 1850,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  State  Legis- 
lature from  Randolph  county,  and  in  18.52,  he  was  elected 
State  Senator  without  opijosition,  being  engaged  in  mer- 
cantile pursuits  in  which  he  had  embarked  the  same  year  and 
390 


in  which  he  had  continued  until  1869,  during  which  time 
much  attention  was  given  public  aflairs.  In  1858,  he  was 
again  elected  to  represent  Randolph  county  in  the  Legisla- 
ture. Until  1861,  he  acted  with  the  Democratic  party,  but 
was  not  in  full  sympathy  with  all  of  its  measures.  As  a 
legislator  he  was  active  and  vigilant.  A  great  friend  of 
education  he  aided  the  cause  and  was  chairman  of  the  com- 
mittee on  education  when  the  first  free  school  law  of  Illinois 
was  enacted.  In  May,  1861,  he  volunteered  in  the  cause  of 
the  Union,  in  the  22d  Regiment,  Illinois  Volunteers,  and 
was  elected  captain  of  a  company  .raised  in  and  around 
Sparta.  Other  positions  were  tendered  him,  but  failing 
health  compelled  his  resignation.  In  May,  1863,  he  was  ap- 
pointed Commissioner  of  the  Board  of  Enrollment  for  the 
12th  Congression  il  District  of  Illinois,  a  position  he  re- 
signed in  December,  1«04.  In  March,  1869,  he  was  appointed 
Internal  Revenue  Collector  for  his  district.  The  duties  of 
this  position  he  filled  with  marked  ability,  collecting  a  larger 
per  cent,  of  the  revenues  during  the  time  of  his  incumbency 
than  had  ever  been  collected  in  the  same  time  before.  In 
1873  he  resigned.  He  was  appointed  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Trustee  of  the  Illinois  Southern  Hospital  of  the 
Insane  in  1877,  a  position  he  held  until  1882,  when  he  re- 
signed. In  every  position  he  has  ever  held  be  has  been 
earnest,  faithful  and  honest.  He  stands  deservedly  high  in 
the  estimation  of  his  party.  His  portrait,  herewith  pre- 
sented, is  from  a  likeness  which  was  taken  when  he  was  a 
member  of  the  State  Senate. 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


3!)1 


^J^cc^^c^e^  ^^^^^ 


Among  those  who  left  the  "  Faderlaml,"  severing  all  the 
dear  associations  of  family  and  home  iu  order  to  live  uudir 
a  Republican  form  of  Government,  stands  the  name  of  Mr. 
Gerlach.  He  was  born  September  9, 1835,  in  Bavaria,  Ger- 
many. In  the  spring  of  1853,  he  left  behind  him  father, 
mother,  brothers  and  sisters,  and  native  land.  He  set  sail 
for  the  United  States,  thus  gratifying  a  long  cherished  wish, 
nursed  from  early  boyhood.  He  came  by  way  of  New 
Orleans,  and  up  the  Mississippi  river,  and  after  stopping  a 
short  time  with  relatives  at  Carondelet,  Mo.,  he  came  on  to 
Waterloo,  Monroe  county,  and  there  commenced  to  work  at 


his  trade,  that  of  blacksmithing.  He  remained  there  three 
yoars,  ami  then  settled  where  he  now  resides.  He  immedi- 
ately went  to  work"  at  his  trade,  improving  with  that 
jieculiar  zeal  common  to  his  people,  and  like  them  he  has 
prospered.  In  the  foil  of  1856,  October  28,  he  was  joined 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Annie  C.  Baum,  of  Monroe  county. 
Daniel  Gerlach  was  elected  sheriff  in  1876  and  re-elected  in 
1878.  He  made  a  universally  popular  officer.  He  is  a 
•member  of  the  Masonic  order,  in  whose  workings  he  takes 
deep  interest. 


392 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


13  J^ 


JAMES  B.  ANDERSON 
Was  born  April  2,  1825,  and  is  the  youngest  son  of  James 
and  Mary  Anderson,  and  resides  upon  the  place  of  his  birth. 
Deprived  of  his  father  when  but  two  years  old,  he  owes  all 
to  a  mother's  care.  In  temper  and  other  characteristics  he 
was  his  father  over  again.  His  mother's  exclusiveness  and 
disposition  to  make  her  home  her  kingdom,  became  his,  by 
choice,  as  well  as  inheritance.  He  was  born  in  Illinois,  but 
at  nine  years  of  age,  his  widowed  mother,  to  better  her  con- 
dition, moved  to  Allegheny  City,  Pennsylvania.  Five  years 
of  cotton -factory  life  comprised  a  period,  when  his  education 
was  only  that  given  by  a  mother  at  night.  The  mixed 
character  of  those  that  are  collected  as  hands  in  factories, 
was  obnoxious  to  his  mother,  and  was  a  spur  to  him  to 
win  the  confidence  of  all,  and  ally  himself  to  none.  This  was 
soon  noticed  by  his  employers,  and  rewarded  by  the  position  of 
confidential  messenger  to  the  firm.  The  campaign  of  1840 
was  so  spirited,  that  old  and  young  had  their  flags  and  cam- 
paign songs.  The  factory  firm  were  Whigs,  and  James  B. 
Anderson's  mother's  minister  was  a  Whig,  as  well  as  Pres- 
byterian. He  became  a  Presbyterian  and  Whig.  In  1842 
he  was  brought  back  to  the  Illinois  home,  and  very  much 
against  his  mind,  farming  was  to  be  his  pursuit  in  life.  The 
others,  having  families  of  their  own,  he  and  his  mother  occu- 


^y^  ^y?^^U//^0^ 


pied  the  old  home.  His  marriage  with  Matilda  Nimock 
November  4,  1857,  was  instrumental  in  bringing  him  into 
active  relation  with  the  reforms  of  the  day.  He  was  active 
alike  in  attairs  of  churches  and  schools,  giving  time  and  money. 
The  happy  home  his  wife  had  made  him  was  to  be  dismember- 
ed and  shadowed  from  time  to  time.  The  delicate  wife  mourn- 
ing the  loss  of  an  infant  child,  in  1861,  became  more  delicate, 
and  symptoms  of  paralysis  were  met,  and  check-  d  from  time 
to  time.  1869  came  in  with  forebodings.  The  young  mother 
longed  to  be  spared  to  fulfill,  to  an  only  sou,  her  sacramen- 
tal vow,  "to  train  him  for  the  Lord,"  but  the  physicians, 
at  her  bed-side,  answered,  (softening  of  the  brain)  "At  least 
we  can  only  ease  your  sufferings,  the  end  is  death."  Seven- 
teen weeks  she  lingered,  and  in  the  morning.  May  5,  she 
died,  answering,  by  signals,  her  husband's  voice  to  the  last. 
The  aged  mother,  now  the  housekeeper,  took  the  mother's 
place  to  the  grandchild,  but  her  prolonged  stay,  too,  must 
end.  On  September  16,  1876,  James  B.  Anderson,  with 
none  to  care  for,  other  than  James  C.  Anderson,  his  wife'-s 
legacy,  became  absorbed  in  his  education — delicate  like  his 
mother  ;  endeared  to  his  father  by  much  sufl'eriug,  as  well 
as  noble  qualities,  after  attaining  his  majority,  casting  but  one 
vote  as  a  citizen.  His  last  visit  to  Sparta,  was  on  Decoration 
day,  at  evening ;  he  came  home  to  die,  and  during  his  illness, 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


39:^) 


when  in  fever,  was  anxious  to  join  the  procession,  as  the 
music  was  in  his  ears.  Attended  day  and  night,  by  old  and 
young,  he  died  August  25,  18.S1.  His  remains  lie  buried  in 
the  Caledonia  burying  grounds.  Shorn  of  all  his  family, 
James  B.  Anderson  lives  comforted  by  the  assurance  that  his 
loss  is  their  gain. 


MARY  ANDP:RS0N. 

Mary  (Beattie)  Anderson,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
born  near  Xewburgh,  NY.,  on  the  10th  day  of  August,  1790. 
Being  the  eldest  daughter,  she  was  early  given  such  privi- 
leges and  opportunities  as  wealth  and  .social  position  war- 
ranted. A  Presbyterian  ecclesiastically,  home-training  and 
visiting  friends  of  the  faith  made  an  impression  on  her  mind 
that  was  never  reraovid.  The  Bible,  the  catechism,  and  the 
Westminster  Standards  had  a  sure  place  in  her  father's 
library.  As  taught  by  her  parents,  so  she  taught  when 
having  a  family  of  her  own.  AVhen  our  subject  was  about 
seventeen  vears  old,  her  father  anil  family  determined  to 
remove  to  Allegheny  county.  Pa.  This  was  accomplished  in 
the  old  style,  in  covered  wagons,  camping  out  by  the  way. 
The  mountains  retanled  their  journey,  and  made  it  seem 
never-ending.  Passing  through  Pittsburg  across  the  Monon- 
gahela,  they  stopped  there  one  season,  and  nest  year  returned 
and  settled  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Allegheny  river,  about 
eight  miles  above  the  city.  After  a  few  more  years  of  home- 
training,  she  Wiis  sent  to  the  city  of  Pittsburg  to  learn  needle- 
work. In  hat-binding  and  tailoring  she  gained  the  use  of  the 
"needle"  that  was  ever  after  a  source  ot  income  in  years  of 
widowhood.  Jan.  19,  181G,  she  was  mariied  to  James  An- 
derson of  Pittsburg,  where  they  resided  until  about  1821, 
when  they  and  others  seeking  new  homes  came  to  Randolph 
county,  Illinois.  They  had  at  this  time  three  children,  Fran- 
cis B.,  John  H  ,  and  Mary  J.  James  Anderson  came  West 
to  die  an  early  victim  of  consumption.  In  their  new  home 
three  more  children  were  born  to  them  :  Malinda  M.,  James 
B.,  and  Sarah  A.  Mrs.  Anderson's  widowhood  dates  from 
July  3d,  1827.  Iler's  was  a  two  fold  grief,  as  her  youngest 
child  had  died  the  previous  month.  Sore  tried  but  com- 
forted by  many  friends,  her  young  family  had  to  be  provided 
for.  Her  needle  made  an  income,  together  with  the  rent  of 
the  farm,  that  made  her  situation  endurable.  This  was 
continued  until  prompted  by  friends  in  the  East  to  return 
among  them.  Assenting  to  their  request,  she  leased  the  farm, 
made  sale  of  personal  estate,  and  in  18:i4  moved  back,  mak- 
ing her  home  in  Allegheny  city.  This  period  just  preceded 
the  "  bard  times."  She,  as  ever  %elf  reliant,  with  three  of  her 
children  in  the  cotton  factory,  met  the  crisis  like  many 
another  mother,  with  tired  fingers  and  aching  heart.  Eight 
years  of  town  life,  and  her  family  about  all  grgwn  up,  her 
resolution  was  to  return  West  to  the  farm.  The  move  was 
made  in  1842. 

She  had  the  benefit  of  a  strong  constitution  ;  this,  and 
a  well-cultivated  mind,  gave  her  an  equipoise  of  temper, 
added  to  a  daily  trust  in  the  Divine  supervision,  and  was 
the  secret  of  her  success  during  49  years  of  widowhood  Her 
two  eldest  sons  having  removed  to  Kan.sas,  her  home  was 
with  her  youngest  (James  B.  Anderson),  who  with  the  only 
50 


living  daughter  TMrs.  R.  Jack),  waited  on  and  carried  the 
remains  to  "  Bethel  burying-ground,"  near  .Sparta.  3Irs.  A. 
died  ."September  I'iih,  1^70,  nged  80  years,  o7  days,  mourned 
and  remembered  by  many  friends. 

The  following  are  her  surviving  children  :  Francis  B. 
Anderson,  Wyandotte  city,  Kansas ;  John  H.  Anderson, 
Tabor  city.  Clay  county,  Kansas  ;  Mary  J.  Jack,  Colfax, 
McLean  couutv,  Illinois  ;  James  B.  Anderson,  Sparta, 
Illinois. 


WILLIAM  P.  MURPHY 
Is  a  native  of  Tennessee,  having  been  born  in  Lincoln 
county,  that  state,  November  11th,  1828.  When  he  was 
scarcely  a  year  old,  his  parents  came  to  Illinois,  locating  in 
Sparta.  When  a  young  man  the  Judge  took  up  with  mer- 
chandizing, first  as  clerk.  In  1855,  he  commenced  the  study 
of  law.  In  this  Hosmer  of  Nashville  and  Fouke  of  Belle- 
ville were  his  preceptors.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1856,  and  was  the  same  year  elected  Treasurer  of  Randolph 
county.  In  181)9.  he  was  elected  Judge  of  the  cjmmon  pleas 
court  of  Sparta  and  in  1877,  Jud.e  of  the  county  court.  In 
each  of  these  offices  he  acquitted  himself  with  credit.  He 
was  married  to  Mary  J.  Frush,  in  October  1849.  To  them 
have  been  born  Clarinda  J.  Emer  L.  (who  died  May  4th, 
1880),  Everette  J.  (present  sheriff  of  the  county),  William 
H.,  mail  agent,  U  S.  service,  Ptolemy  H.  and  Philip  F. 
Pearl  and  Alice,  (dead).  Judge  Murphy  is  a  tried  and  true 
Republican,  having  upheld  the  principles  of  that  party  ever 
since  its  inception.  He  is  a  faithful  member  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  church.  An  honest  man ;  a  true  citizen,  he 
holds  the  respect  of  all. 


CAMPBELL  BROS., 
THEenterpri^ing  editors  and  publishers  of  the  "Sparta  Plain- 
dealer,"  are  both  young  men  of  energy  and  business  push. 
Charles  M.,  the  elder  of  the  two,  was  born  in  St.  Louis, 
Missouri,  January  27th,  1853.  Early  in  life  he  learned  his 
father's  occupation,  that  of  a  carriage  and  car  painter.  He 
obtained  a  fair  education,  being  a  graduate  of  the  Sparta 
High  School,  and  having  attended  a  short  time  the  Southern 
Illinois  Normal  L'niversity,  at  Carbondale.  George  H.  wa.s 
born  in  St.  Louis,  August  9,  1855.  When  about  fifteen 
years  of  age  he  entered  the  home  printing  office  in  Sparta, 
and  learned  the  art  of  printing.  Having  gained  some  pro- 
ficiency as  a  type-setter,  he  went  to  Monmouth.  Illinois,  where 
he  became  a  compositor  on  the  "Atlas";  from  thence  to 
Moline,  on  the  ''  Reverie,"  and  from  there  in  turn  to  St. 
Louis,  where  he  entered  the  office  of  the  "  Times,"  returning 
to  Sparta  in  1880.  He  was  married  February  25  1880,  to 
Miss  Marian  Cr.iwford,  daughter  of  Bricj  Crawford,  one  of 
the  old  settlers  of  Randolph  county. 

The  parents  of  the  members  of  this  firm  were  Louis  H. 
and  Mary  Campbell  (nee  Scott).  Louis  II.  Campbell  was  a 
native  of  Vermont ;  he  left  his  home  in  Middlebury  in  1850, 
going  first  to  St.  Louis,  and  from  thence  to  Sparta,  in  1856, 
where  he  has  since  resided.  Campell  Bros,  purchased  the 
Plaindealer"  in  1880,  and  are  publishing  one  of  the  neatest 


394 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


and  best  papers  in  this  part  of  the  state.  They  particularly 
pride  theraselvea  upon  the  typographical  appearance  and 
outspoken,  honest  sentiments  of  the  "  Plaindealer."  Under 
their  management  the  paper  is  prosperous.  The  cause  of 
Kepublicanisra  has  been  abetted  no  little  through  its  agency. 

JOHN  MICHAN 
Was  born  in  Philadelphia,  Penn.,  Nov.  1st,  1822.  His 
pareuts  were  both  natives  of  Ireland,  though  they  traced 
their  ancestry  to  Scotland.  They  came  to  this  country  in 
1820.  In  18.']7  they  moved  to  Washington  county,  Illinois, 
where  John,  though  but  fifteen  years  of  age  obtained  a  posi- 
tion as  teacher.  He  next  entered  a  store  as  clerk,  in  which 
position  he  remained  two  years,  dropping  it  to  take  up  car- 
riage and  wagon  making.  In  1852,  he  went  by  overland 
route  to  Oregon;  first  to  Portland,  where  he  found  no  work, 
then  to  Oregon  City,  with  the  same  result.  Being  met  here 
by  a  stranger,  who  evidently  took  an  interest  in  him,  heat- 
tended  him  to  his  home  and  the  next  day  was  rejoiced  to 
find  in  the  stranger  a  friend  indeed  as  he  secured  fur  him  a 
school,  upon  the  duties  of  which  he  at  once  entered  as  teach- 
er. In  1854  he  returned  and  put  into  execution  a  resolution 
formed  in  Oregon,  to  study  law.  He  secured  a  few  books_ 
and  alternated  his  study  with  labor.  Three  years  thereafter, 
he  was  admitted  to  practice  at  the  bar.  He  soon  rose  to 
prominence  in  his  profession,  and  has  built  up  a  large  prac- 
tice. In  1862,  he  was  appointed  Master  in  Chancery  for  his 
county,  a  posilion  he  held  for  two  years.  In  1868,  he  was 
elected  States'  Attorney  for  his  district,  on  the  the  Republi- 
can ticket.  In  this  election  a  high  compliment  was  paid 
his  legal  abilities,  in  that  he  overcame  a  majority  of  1400 
votes. 

Mr.  Michan  is  a  self-made  man,  has  attained  to  a  profound 
knowledge  of  the  law  ;  is  a  good  speaker,  cogent,  close  rea- 
soner,  and  receives  recognition  as  an  able  lawyer. 

He  was  married  to  Miss  Margaret  Alexander,  a  native  of 
Randolph  county  January  21st,  1845. 

J.  C.  HAWTHORNE, 

A  NATIVE  of  Randolph  county,  was  born  near  the  village 
of  Blair.  A  common  school  education  was  supplemented 
by  attendance  in  the  Illinois  State  Industrial  University  at 
Champaign  1873  74  ;  McKendree  College  in  1875,  and 
when  Dr.  Allyn,  its  President,  was  called  to  a  similar  posi- 
tion in  the  Southern  Illinois  Normal  University,  at  Carbon- 
dale,  Illinois,  Mr.  Hawthorne  was  one  of  the  pupils  to  follow 
his  preceptor.  From  this  institution  he  graduated  in  June, 
1876.  Having  chosen  the  profession  of  law  he  attended 
Union  Law  College,  a  branch  of  Chicago  University,  from 
which  he  graduated  May  27 ih,  1880.  Immediately  after  he 
engaged  in  practice  in  connection  with  Messrs.  Steele  and 
Jones  in  the  city  of  Chicago,  and  after  six  months  came  to 
Sparta  and  located  in  the  practice.  His  father,  James  Haw- 
thorue,  was  born  iu  Preble  county,  Ohio,  April  16th,  1816. 
Was  brought  by  his  family  to  Illinois,  1819,  who  located  on 
a  farm  where  Evansville  now  stands.     When  a  boy,  some 


Indians  came  to  the  house,  when  his  parents  were  at  church, 
and  stole  all  the  bread  to  be  found  except  three  pieces. 
The  children  ran  up  stairs  to  secrete  themselves  where  they 
were  followed  by  an  Indian  who  counted  their  number  on  his 
fingers  and  had  a  piece  of  bread  left  for  each.  He  died 
April  18th,  1866. 

J.  C.  Hawthorne  is  a  young  man  of  steady  habits  and 
much  force  of  character,  and  has  the  qualifications  necessary 
make  a  successful  lawyer. 


REUBEN  J.  GODDARD. 

Among  the  members  of  the  Randolph  bar,  none  deserve 
more  honorable  mention  than  Reuben  J.  Goddard.  He  is  a 
native  of  the  county,  and  has  always  recognized  it  as  his 
home.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  commenced  a  course  of 
study  at  the  Union  Academy,  at  Sparta,  a  religious  institu- 
tion under  the  management  of  the  United  Presbyterian 
church,  afterward  dissolved  in  favor  of  Monmouth  college, 
in  the  northern  part  of  the  State. 

At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  entered  Michigan  University 
at  Ann  Arbor,  where  after  remaining  until  the  age  of  nine- 
teen, he  began  the  study  of  law  in  which  he  graduated  in 
1864.  He  immediately  began  the  practice  of  h'u  profession 
in  Sparta,  and  by  close  application  to  his  books  and  busi- 
ness, he  has  established  a  large  and  lucrative  practice.  In 
1870  he  was  appointed  Prosecuting  Attorney  of  the  Common 
Pleas  court  at  Sparta,  an  office  abolished  by  the  new  Consti- 
tution. In  November,  1872,  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of 
State's  Attorney  for  Randolph  county.  Iu  1876  he  was  re- 
elected to  the  same  oflice.  The  duties  of  this  position  he 
discharged  with  signal  ability. 

In  his  political  views  he  is  conservative,  yet  in  the  heat  of 
a  campaign  active  and  outspoken.  He  identified  himself 
with  the  Democratic  party  upon  attaining  his  majority,  and 
has  ever  since  aided  and  abetted  her  cause,  by  voice  and 
vote.  Ambitious  to  excel  in  professional  life  he  devotes  his 
energies  to  its  prosecution. 

Mr.  Goddard  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Emma  Ker, 
November  30th,  1875,  by  whom  he  has  one  child,  a  boy, 
Willie  D.  Goddard.  His  wife  is  an  accomplished  musician, 
possessed  of  a  rare  voice. 

Mr.  Goddard's  father,  William  B.  arrived  in  this  county 
when  an  infant,  as  early  as  1819.  He  died  in  1875  in  the 
little  town  of  Evans,  Colorado,  where  he  had  gone  fiir  the 
benefit  of  his  declining  health.  He  was  married  in  this 
county,  near  Kaskaskia,  to  Miss  Eliza  Hawthorne,  daughter 
of  James  Hawthorne,  one  of  the  old  pioneers  of  Randolph, 
and  a  very  prominent  and  leading  citizen,  and  who  filled  at 
various  times  a  number  of  public  offices.  He  was  intimate- 
ly connected  with  all  the  enterprises  looking  toward  the 
improvement  and  development  of  the  county  and  its  resour- 
ces. Afier  his  marriage,  Mr.  Goddard  moved  to  the 
vicinity  of  Sparta,  which  was  tis  home  at  the  time  of  his 
death.  During  his  life  he  followed  at  diflerent  times  the 
occupations  of  farmer,  merchant,  builder  and  architect,  and 
was  an  active  Justice  of  the  Peace  about  twenty  years. 
For  many  years  he  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  Presby- 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


395 


terian  church,  in  which  he  was  noted  for  his  uevotion  and 
exemplary  piety.  He  was  not  very  successful  in  the 
accumulation  of  property,  but  was  nevertheless  a  fair  liver. 
He  took  great  pride  iu  his  family,  and  nothing  gave  him 
more  pleasure  than  the  prosecution  of  plans  promoting  the  r 
advancement  in  intellectual,  social  and  moral  culture  He 
gave  his  children  that  which  is  of  infinitely  more  value  than 
property,  a  good  education  and  proper  ideas  of  the  true  ends 
and  duties  of  life. 

Of  the  brotheis  and  sisters  of  Reuben  J  ,  James  H.  is  a 
practising  Attorney  at  Sedgwick,  Kauas,  Albert  is  a  printer, 
Sarah  E  ,  now  the  wife  of  I'orter  Morrison  lives  near 
Monmouth,  Illinois,  and  Eveline  L.  wife  of  Mayron  Camp, 
resides  near  WichitP,  Kansas. 

His  grandfather.William  Goddard,  was  an  early  settler  of 
Kentucky,  and  was  a  soldier  in  the  United  States  service, 
during  the  war  of  1812,  and  was  afterwards  employed  as  a 


ranger  in  defense  of  the  white  settlers  of  Illinois  against  the 
Indians,  and  was  finally  killed  in  a  skirmish  with  the 
savages,  near  the  old  Indian  town  of  Cahokia,  St.  Clair 
county  He  was  a  fearless  and  brave  man,  and  did  much 
in  holding  in  check  the  incursions  of  the  red-men  in  their 
depredations  on  the  whites.  His  progenitor  in  town  was  an 
old  Continental  soldier,  who  faithfully  served  his  country 
through  its  struggle  for  independence. 

The  Hawthorne  family  are  of  Scotch  origin,  and  derived 
the  name  from  a  shrub  of  thick  undergrowth  in  the  moun- 
tains of  Scotland,  where  the  old  Scots  were  in  the  habit  of 
retreating,  when  vancjuistied  on  the  plains  during  their  wars  ^ 
with  the  Danes.  Its  bestowal  upon  the  famil}-  was  because 
of  the  leading  part  they  took  during  the  wars.  They  were 
afterwards  among  the  persecuted  for  conscience  sake.  Some 
of  their  number  found  their  way  to  this  country  in  time  to 
participate  in  the  revolution  of  1776. 


c^:^'^^^^'^^:^ 


MITCHIE 


MONROE  COUNTY. 


lECEIVED  its  name  from  the 
Mitchegamie  Indians,  who  a' 
one  time  inhabited  the  bottom 
in  the  extreme  south  part  of 
Monroe  county.  Three  ancient 
grants  of  land  were  made  by 
the  French  within  the  lim- 
its of  the  precinct.  One  of 
these,  claim  1753,  survey  706, 
wascoiiceded  to  Franyois  Ilen- 
nett  dit  Sauschagrin,  and  is 
described  as  ten  arpents  in  front, 
extending  from  the  hills  to  the  Mississippi,  situatc<l  at  the 
Prairie  Apocquois.  Chalfin  bridge  is  on  the  upper  end  of 
thisgrant.  ('laim  12«3,  survey  707,  was  granted  to  Fran^'ois 
Noyze  dit  Labc,  and  also  extended  from  the  Mississippi  to 
the  hills,  and  is  described  as  situated  in  the  Prairie  Apocquois. 
Claim  17.J3  was  owned,  in  1809,  by  Joseph  Hennett,  and 
claim  1283,  at  that  date,  had  passed  into  the  possession  of 
John  Rice  Jones,  a  prominent  lawyer,  of  Kaskaskia.  Claim 
263,  survey  769,  was  an  old  French  grant  to  Deville,  (or 
Villiers),  and  in  1809  was  owned  by  Peter  Menard.  That 
part  of  the  bottom,  between  Chalfin  bridge'and  the  river, 
was  called  by  the  French  the  Prairie  Apocquois,  from  the 
Indians  who  lived  there  in  early  times. 

The  old  French  grants  were  not  necessarily  founded  on 
the  improvement,  or  cultivation,  of  the  soil.  It  is  evident 
that  a  Frenchman,  named  Louis  Pillet  La.sond,  made  a  set- 
tlement at  an  early  day  on  the  river  in  the  neighborhood  of 
the   present   Ivy   landing.     Claim  2046,  survey  736,  was 


granted  to  him  on  account  of  an  improvement  he  had  there 
made.  Claim  633,  survey  484,  at  the  blufl',  near  Chalfin 
bridge,  was  granted  to  Louis  Villard,  in  right  of  his  im- 
provement. Other  grants  show  the  early  American  settle- 
ments. The  first  improvement  on  claim  828,  survey  467, 
was  made  by  James  Scott;  on  claim  5.57,  survey  055,  by 
Raphael  Drury;  on  claim  760,  survey  486,  by  William 
Howe;  on  claim  770,  survey  483,  by  Elizabeth  Labushe  ; 
on  claim  768,  survey  448,  by  Charles  Gill ;  on  claim  2623, 
survey  097,  by  Henry  O'Harra;  on  claim  615,  survey  485, 
by  Isaac  Chalfin;  on  claim  1618,  survey  698,  by  William 
Chalfin,  and  on  claim  495,  survey  701,  by  Josiah  Ryan. 
Claim  316,  survey  70J,  on  part  of  which  Maeysville  is  now 
built,  is  an  improvement  right  granted  to  James  McRoberts. 
One  of  the  most  noted  of  the  pioneer  settlers,  of 
Mitchie  precinct,  was  Nathaniel  Hull.  He  was  born  and 
raised  in  Massachusetts,  and  acquired  a  good  education. 
About  the  year  17'^0.  in  company  with  several  other  young 
men,  he  came  to  Illinois.  He  descended  the  Ohio,  and 
landed  at  a  place  afterward  called  Hull's  landing,  from 
which  he  opened  a  road  across  the  country  to  Kaskaskia, 
which  afterward  became  the  main  traveled  way.  He 
bought  the  improvement  right  of  Elizabeth  Labushe,  claim 
770,  survey  483,  at  the  foot  of  the  bluff,  just  below  the  pres- 
ent Chalfin  bridge,  and  there  settled.  A  iiiv!  years  after  his 
arrival  he  married  into  the  O'Harra  family.  The  place  of 
his  settlement  was  where  Christopher  Fults  now  lives.  He 
bought  a  farm  of  considerable  size  under  cultivation,  and 
built  a  block  house.  He  was  commonly  the  leader  of  the 
companies  raised  in  the  neighborhood  to  protect  the  settle- 


396 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


ment  from  Indian  depredations,  and  soon  acquired  the  title 
of  Captain  Hull.  A  post-office  and  small  store  were  estab 
lished  at  the  block-house.  This  post-office  was  probably  the 
first  within  the  limits  of  Monroe  county.  He  btcame  a  Jus 
tice  of  the  Peace,  and  Judge  of  the  Randolph  County  Court 
In  1794  he  revisited  Massachusetts.  On  his  return  his 
brother,  Daniel  Hull,  came  with  him,  and  settled  in  the 
bottom      He  died  in  the  year  1806. 

The  Worleys  came  to  Illinois  with  the  first  American  im- 
migration Joseph  Worley  made  an  improvement  north  of 
Bellefontaine,  and  received  a  grant  of  four  hundred  acres  of 
land,  included  in  claim  .562,  survey  640.  This  is  the  farm 
on  which  Joseph  W.  Drury  now  lives,  and  was  in  the  own- 
ership of  the  heirs  of  Worley  till  September,  1809,  when  his 
son?,  John,  Joseph,  and  William,  sold  it  to  Enoch  Moore. 
James  Worley  was  killed  by  the  Indians  in  the  American 
Bottom  in  Mitchie  precinct  in  1789.  From  Bellefontaine 
the  Worleys  moved  to  the  bottom,  and  made  early  settle- 
ments at  the  foot  of  the  blufi".  John  and  William  Worley 
lived  at  the  mouth  of  the  hollow  at  Chalfin  bridge,  and  there 
raised  families.  Their  farms  were  in  claim  63;5, survey  484. 
The  stream  which  flows  out  of  the  hollow,  now  known  as 
Maeysville  creek,  was  then  called  Worley's  creek.  Joseph 
Worley,  Jr.,  settled  a  couple  of  miles  below  Chalfin  bridge, 
near  the  bluff,  on  what  was  afterward  known  as  the  Master- 
son  place.  The  old  house,  now  standing  on  this  place,  was 
built  by  Benjamin  Masterson,  who  moved  here  from  Harri- 
sonville.  He  gave  his  name  to  Masterson  lake,  now  mostly 
drained  and  under  cultivation.  At  this  place,  also,  lived  Dr. 
Carribine,  an  Irish  gentleman,  who  lived  here  many  years 
and  practiced  medicine.  At  this  point,  Masterson,  at  one 
time,  kept  a  small  store. 

The  Chaifins  (the  name  is  commonly  spelled  by  early 
members  of  the  family  "  Chaffin  ")  settled  in  the  bottom, 
where  Chalfin  bridge  now  is,  in  the  year  1796.  They  came 
from  England,  Isaac  Chalfin  and  his  son  William,  and  first 
settled  in  Pennsylvania,  near  Harrisburg,  and  from  there 
came  to  Illinois.  Isaac  was  an  old  man  at  the  lime  he  left 
England.  He  was  blind  for  several  years,  but  regained  his 
eyesight  previous  to  his  death.  James  Chalfin,  a  brother 
of  William  Chalfin,  removed  from  Pennsylvania  to  Illinois 
about  the  same  time  with  the  other  members  of  the  family. 
Coming  up  the  Mississippi  they  got  out  of  provision,  and 
landed,  sending  a  man  to  Hull's  fort  for  assistance  and  pro- 
visions. On  his  return  to  the  boat  the  whole  crew  was 
found  massacred.  The  Indians  had  mangled  the  bodies 
cruelly,  and  of  some  the  tongues  had  been  cut  out.  This  is 
said  to  be  the  same  massacre  in  which  Mrs.  Neff,  the  mother 
of  John  Moredock,  was  killed.  James  Chalfin  and  his 
whole  family  were  among  the  victims.  Selh  Chalfin  son  of 
William  Chalfin,  was  born  on  the  old  Chalfin  place,  lived 
there  during  his  life,  and  died  in  18.38.  He  built  the 
Klein  house  near  Chalfin  bridge.  Nathaniel  Chalfin  went 
to  California  in  1849.  Five  generations  of  the  Chai- 
fins are  now  buried  in  the  old  graveyard,  under  the  bluff, 
near  Chalfin  Bridge.  The  first  settlement  made  on  the  up- 
land in  this  precinct  was  by  James  McRoberts,  claim  316, 
survery  704,  but  he  settkd  permanently,  at  an  early  day, 


on  claim  315,  survey  703,  which  was  given  him  as  a  militia 
donation.  He  was  born  near  Glasgow,  in  Scotland,  in  May, 
1760.  He  emigrated  to  America  at  the  age  of  twelve,  and 
settled  in  Philadelphia.  When  eighteen  years  old  he  be- 
came a  soldier  on  the  side  of  the  colonies  in  the  war  of  the 
Revolution  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was 
married  iu  the  year  1787,  and  the  next  year  settled  in  Ken- 
tucky on  the  Ohio  river.  In  1786  he  came  to  Kaskaskia, 
where  he  remained  till  1797.  During  his  first  visit  to  Illi- 
nois he  settled  temporarily  on  claim  316,  and  made  some  at- 
tempt to  place  land  under  cultivation,  which  entitled  him 
to  the  grant  of  land  he  subsequently  obtained.  He  came 
back  to  Illinois  and  settled  on  claim  olo,  a  mile  north  of 
where  Maeysville  now  stands,  which  was  afterward  his  home 
for  nearly  half  a  century.  The  same  year  of  his  settlement 
here  {1798j  he  built  a  dwelling-house,  which  is  still  stand- 
ing and  is  probably  the  oldest  house  now  in  the  county.  In 
this  house  his  children  were  born,  among  them  Josiah  Mc- 
Roberts, who  became  a  prominent  member  of  the  bar,  and 
Samuel  McRoberts,  the  first  native-born  citizen  of  the  state 
elected  to  the  United  States  Senate  from  Illinois.  Judge 
McRoberts  devoted  himself  with  much  industry  to  his  farm. 
He  served  as  a  justice  of  the  peace  for  many  years,  and  was 
also  elected  county  judge.  His  death  occurred  in  1844,  and 
his  widow  survived  him  several  years  "  His  son,  Samuel 
McRoberts,  was  born  in  1799.  He  attended  a  school  kept 
by  Edward  Humphrey  in  the  bottom  near  Chalfin  Bridge. 
At  the  age  of  twenty  he  became  clerk  of  the  Monroe  County 
Circuit  Court,  and  in  18"24  was  elected  Circuit  Judge  bv  the 
State  Legislature.  He  filled  several  other  public  positions, 
and  in  1840  was  elected  United  States  ^enator.  He  died 
at  Cincinnati  in  1843,  while  on  his  way  home  from  Wash- 
ington. Two  children  of  James  McRoberts  are  still  living. 
Josiah  McRoberts  is  a  resident  of  Joliet,  and  the  youngest 
daughter,  Mary,  the  widow  of  Major  Xerxes  F.  Trail,  lives 
in  the  county. 

David  Waddle  owned  claim  768,  survey  448,  at  the 
beginning  of  the  present  century.  On  part  of  this  claim, 
Isaiah  Levins,  who  married  a  daughter  of  William  Chalfin, 
lived  for  some  years  in  early  times.  About  a  mile  below 
Nathaniel  Hull's  place,  under  the  bluff  lived  Colonel  Wil- 
liam Alexander.  He  acquired  his  military  title  in  his  ser- 
vice against  the  Indians.  He  was  a  justice  of  the  peace, 
and  a  man  of  some  wealth  and  standing  in  the  community. 
At  Hull's  old  place,  Oilman  Jewett  once  lived.  He  mar- 
ried a  daughter  of  Colonel  Alexander. 

One  of  the  oldest  places  along  the  river  is  the  farm  now 
owned  by  Louis  Ihorn,  a  mile  above  Ivy  Landing.  It  is 
included  in  the  old  French  grant,  made  to  Deviile  or  Vil- 
liers,  and  from  him  passed  into  the  possession  of  Colonel 
Pierre  Menard,  of  Ka-ska-kia.  In  1803.  Thomas  Marrs  lo- 
cated here.  He  came  to  Illinois  from  Kentucky  in  the  year 
1797,  accompanjing  Judge  James  McRoberts  in  a  boat 
down  the  Ohio.  He  first  lived  near  Cahokia,  and  then  be- 
tween Waterloo  and  Whiteside's  station.  During  the  Indian 
troubles  in  1811,  the  family  found  refuge  in  Whiteside'.s 
Fort  He  subsequently  returned  to  Kentucky.  He  only 
had   one  son  who  died   at  the  age  of  twenty,  and  twelve 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY   COUNTIES,  ILLINOIS. 


397 


daughtTS.  Abigail  married  Abner  Carr.  Lucinda,  now  Mrs. 
Eli  Wiley,  is  living  in  Jeflerson  county,  Missouri  Phabe 
niarrit-d  Robert  Miller  iu  the  year  18-J2,  and  is  still  living, 
and  is  one  of  the  oldest  residents  of  the  county.  She  ivas 
born  below  Cahokia,  in  the  American  Bottom,  on  the  twenty- 
fifth  of  December,  1800.  Her  husband,  Robert  Miller, 
whom  she  married  in  1822,  came  from  Kentucky,  and  the 
family  settled  iu  the  northwest  part  of  Mitchie  preoinct,  on 
the  river  near  where  Austin  Janus  now  lives.  Reuben  Mil- 
ler made  the  first  improvement  here,  and  it  was  the  earliest 
settled  place  on  the  river  between  liarrisouville  and  Ivy 
landing.  Mrs.  Miller  remembers  the  first  steamboat  that 
ascended  the  Mississippi.  It  was  the  "  General  Pike,"  and 
reached  St.  Louis  on  the  second  of  August,  1817.  She  was 
married  to  Robert  Miller  in  18'22. 

Along  the  blutt'in  this  precinct  is  a  spacious  cave  known 
as  Saltpetre  cave.  Saltpetre  was  collec  ed  here  for  the  man- 
ufacture of  powder,  and  hoppers  were  arranged  to  catcli  the 
drippings  from  the  rocks  This  was  one  of  the  last  places  of 
resort  for  the  Indians  in  this  part  of  the  State.  When  they 
moved  away  from  Kaskaskia  several  frequented  the  cave, 
and  used  it  for  a  shelter  and  sleeping  place. 

One  of  the  early  school  teachers  in  Illinois  had  a  school 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Chalfin  Bridge.  This  was  Edward 
Humphrey;  he  taught  school  here  as  early  as  180.'). 


MAEYSVILLE. 


Maeysville  may  be  .said  to  have  begun  its  growth  as  a 
town  from  the  year  18-52,  when  Jacob  Maeys  here  built  a 
saw  mill.  The  site  of  the  town  was  known  as  the  McRob- 
erts  meadow  tract,  and  was  purchased  by  Mr.  Maeys  in  1848. 
For  a  year  after  its  construction  the  mill  remained  idle  on 
account  of  there  not  being  sulEcient  water  to  drive  it. 
Steam  engines  were  then  put  in  place,  and  the  mill  success- 
fully operated.  The  first  store  was  opened  iu  18.58  by  Jacob 
Maeys  in  partnership  with  Judge  Abraham  Pos'on  By 
this  time  some  half  a  dozen  houses  had  been  erected  in  the 
place.  A  town  had  been  surveyed  and  laid  off  in  18.56  by 
Mr.  Maejs,  and  called  Maeysville.  A  post-office  was  estab- 
lished in  18G:J  by  the  name  of  Maeystown.  Jacob  Maeys 
was  appointed  postmaster  and  has  retained  the  office  ever 
since.  Mr.  Maeys  purchased  Judge  Poston's  interest  in  the 
store  and  became  sole  proprietor  in  1867.     A  steam  flouring 


mill  was  built  by  Jacob  Pilgeran<l  Mr.  Coleman.  It  passed 
into  the  possession  of  Anton  Zeitiiiger  who  owned  it  at  the 
time  it  was  burned  down  in  1868.  The  building  was  then 
purchased  by  Jacob  Maeys,  William  Maeys,  Jacob  Hoff- 
man, Jacob  S.  Jobb,  George  Hoffman,  William  Iloeft  and 
Dr.  Charles  Wilhelniy.  The  mill  was  rebuilt  in  188(»  and 
made  ready  for  machinery,  but  has  never  been  put  in  opera- 
tiim.  St.  John's  Evangelical  Church  was  completed  in  1866. 
The  Rev.  Edwaril  Jacob  Hosto  is  the  pastor.  There  is  no 
public  school  nearer  to  the  town  than  a  mile,  and  most  of 
the  children  attend  a  school  carried  on  under  the  care  of  the 
pastor  of  the  church.  Dr.  Charles  Wilhelmy  has  been  en- 
gaged ill  the  practice  of  medicine  in  the  village  s  nee  ]8.)8. 
His  son.  Dr.  Charles  Wilhelmy,  Jr  ,  is  now  also  establi.-hed 
here  as  a  ph/sician.  The  town  contains  about  twenty  five 
dwelling-houses.  There  is  one  store  (  f  which  Jacob  ISIaeys 
is  proprietor.  The  other  business  interests  are  represented 
by  Charles  Siebermann,  wagonmaker  ;  Henry  Wippemanu, 
merchant  tailor  ;  Jacob  G.  Jobb,  saddler  and  harness  maker  ; 
Lewis  Krone,  shoemaker;  and  George  Hoffman,  black- 
smith. 

CH.^LFIN    BIUDCK. 

In  the  neighborhood  of  Chalfin  Bridge  is  the  old  Chalfin 
farm,  and  the  small  bridge  that  crosses  what  is  now  called 
Maeysville  creek,  but  what  was  known  t )  the  pioneer  settlers 
as  Worley's  creek,  gave  the  post-office  established  at  this 
point  its  present  appellation.  There  is  a  store  of  which 
Nicholas  Kohnz  and  William  Keckritz  are  proprietors. 
Nicholas  Kohnz  owns  a  blacksmith  shop,  and  William  Bade 
carries  on  business  as  a  wagon  maker.  The  post-office  is 
supplied  with  ihe  mail  three  times  a  week,  and  Mr.  Kohnz  is 
postmaster. 

IVY   I,ANI>I.\i;. 

Ivy  Landing,  formerly  known  as  Goodman's  Landing,  is 
on  the  Mississijjpi  in  the. extreme  south  part  of  Mitchie  pre- 
cinct, and  is  an  important  shipping  point.  A  post-office  by 
the  name  of  Ivy  was  established  in  187-4.  George  W. 
Cavanaugh  was  the  fir.-t  postmaster  ;  Smith  H.  Brickey  now 
has  charge  of  the  office.  Mr.  Brickey  and  Zeno  Aubuchon 
have  carried  on  the  mercantile  business  since  1874.  There 
is  a  blacksmith  shoj),  and  the  place  in  all  contains  about 
half  a  dozen  buildings. 


BIOGRAPHY. 


J.  WM.  GOODMAN. 


Was  born  in  Waj'ne  county,  lllinoi?,  on  the  30th  of  May, 
1840;  he  was  the  son  of  J.  Martin  Goodman  and  Lucinda 
Goodman  {nee  Conn).  Lucinda  Conn  was  of  German  de- 
scent, and  the  daughter  of  James  Conn,  who  settled  in  the 
eastern  part  of  this  State  before  its  admission  into  the 
Union.  J.  Martin  Goodman  was  elected  Captain  of  a  Com- 
pany during  the  Mexican  War,  under  command  of  Col  C. 
Tarhara,  but  peace  being  declared,  his  Company  returned 
home  without  active  engagement  with  the  enemy.  He  had 
a  family  of  four  children,  !'i2;  Martha  J.,  J.  William,  (the 
subject  of  this  sketch),  John  and  Henry— the  last  named 
lives  in  Louisville,  Kentucky.  Martha  is  the  wife  of  J.  WjiUs, 
a  resident  of  Arkansas,  and  John  is  deceased. 

William  Goodman,  father  of  J.  Martin  (niodman,  and 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  of  German  extraction,  and 
settled  in  Wayne  county,   this  State,  as  early  as  the  year 


1S'>3.  He  was  married  in  Knoxville,  Tennessee,  to  MirS 
Martha  Gunu,  a  sister  of  the  celebrated  Dr.  Gunn,  author 
of  Gunn's  Medical  Works.  Wm.  Go'dman  was  a  resident 
of  Illinois  for  about  twenty  years,  and  subsequently  removed 
to  Missouri.  J.  Wm.  Goodman  came  to  Monroe  county  at 
the  age  of  fourteen,  where  he  has  since  continued  to  reside. 
On  October  25th,  1860,  he  was  united  in  marriaee  to  Miss 
Delitha  Cheek,  daughter  of  John  Cheek,  an  old  settler  of 
this  county ;  this  lady  died  in  1865.  Mr.  Goodman  again 
married  in  1879  a  Miss  Elizabeth  Crittenden,  by  whom  he 
has  one  child.  He  has  followed  the  business  of  farming  all 
his  life,  and  has  been  successful  ;  by  persevering  industry 
and  economy  he  has  acquired  a  well-improved  and  cultiva- 
ted farm;  a  view  of  his  residence  and  surroundings  can  be 
seen  in  another  portion  of  this  work.  In  politics  JMr.  Good- 
man is  a  Republican. 


►^^S^f^^- 


RED    BUD 


RANDOLPH  CO. 


'his  precinct  lies  in  the  northwestern 
part  of  the  county,  and  is  bounded  on 
the  north  and  west  by  Monroe  county, 
on  the  east  by  the  Kaskaskia  river,  and 
on  the  south  by  Ruma  precinct  and 
Horse  creek.  Its  territDry  embraces  the 
greater  portion  of  town  4  south,  range 
8  west,  and  that  part  west  of  the  Kas- 
kaskia river,  in  town  4,  range  7,  north 
of  the  southern  line  of  sections,  and  contains  about  thirty- 
four  sections  of  land.  It  receives  its  name  from  t^e  city  of 
Red  Bud,  the  only  town  in  the  precinct.  Originally,  it  was 
about  two  thirds  rich,  rolling  prairie,  with  good  timber 
bordering  on  the  Kaskaskia  and  the  breaks  of  Horse  creek. 
The  prairie  received  its  name — "Horse  prairie"— in  the 
early  days  of  the  settlement  of  Kaskaskia  and  Prairie 
du  Rocher.  The  horses  of  the  French  settlers  would  escape 
and  seek  the  prairies  for  grazing,  and  as  this  was  one  of  the 
most  productive  in  the  region,  it  was  a  favorite  resort  for  the 
wandering  animals. 

The    surface   is   undulating,   sufficient  for  good  natural 
drainage.    The  Kaskaskia  on  the  east,  with  the  tributaries 
398 


emptying  into  it,  affordj  excellent  drainage  in  that  part  of 
the  precinct,  while  Horse  creek  and  its  branches  in  the  south 
and  west,  form  a  complete  waterway  for  that  section  of  its 
territory.  The  Cairj  and  St.  Liuis  railway  enters  the  pre- 
cinct from  the  west,  in  section  6,  extends  in  a  southeasterly 
course,  and  crosses  the  Kaskaskia  in  section  16;  thus  fur- 
nishing transportation  facilities  to  the  citizens  of  Red  Bud 
and  vicinity. 

EARLY    SETTLEMENTS. 

From  indications  yet  not  extinc*,  and  from  all  history  that 
can  be  gleaned  at  the  present  time,  the  first  settlements  made 
in  this  precinct  were  in  sections  five  and  six,  town  4,  range  7, 
near  the  prominent  bluffs  on  the  Kaskaskia.  In  the  year, 
1795,  John  J.  Whiteside,  and  a  few  others  located  on  the 
bluff  in  section  five,  where  a  small  town  was  laid  oflT  and 
called  Washington.  A  beautiful  panorama  of  field  and 
prairie  can  be  viewed  from  this  site,  overlooking  Horse 
Prairie,  at  the  west.  The  inhabitants  of  Washington  enclos- 
ed fields  and  engaged  in  stock  raising  and  agriculture.  The 
houses  were  mere  log  cabins,  but  the  town  was  laid  out  with 
regular  streets,  and  took  on  the  general  appearance  cf  a 
frontier  village.  Conspicuous  among  the  inhabitants  were  the 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


"G.iing"  families.  Th-y  wtre  emigrants  from  Kentucky, 
and  on  fir^t  coming  to  Illinois  stopped  for  a  short  time 
a  little  distance  south  we  t  of  Bellefoataine,  where  they 
erected  a  fort.  A  little  later  ihey  came  to  the  town  of 
Washington.  They  consisted  of  the  father  and  son,  both 
having  families  and  were  blacksmiths  by  trade,  and 
proved  useful  citizens  to  the  little  colonv-  Another  re-ident 
of  the  town,  was  .John  Grosvenor.  He  was  a  native  of  Con- 
necticut, and  located  here  in  1799.  He  wasast  )ne-ma.«on  by 
trade,  la  the  same  year,  John  Pulliam  located  in  the  vil- 
lage. He  tmignted  from  Kentucky  in  179G,  and  first 
stopped  at  New  Design,  iu  Monroe  county.  A  year  later, 
he  moved  to  a  point  west  of  St.  Louis,  and  in  179'.l,  came  to 
the  town  of  Washington  While  here  he  cultivated  a  farm, 
near  the  town.  He  had  a  large  family,  and  several  of  his 
descendants  are  citizens  of  the  state.  In  1SL)2,  he  removed 
to  Monroe  county,  and  finally  made  a  plantation  on  the 
Kaskaskia.  in  S  .  Clair  County,  where  he  died  in  181,3. 

Late  in  the  ftll  of  1797,  the  families  of  William  Scott 
and  his  son-in-law,  Jarvis,  located  in  the  town.  They  were 
from  Kentucky.  They  remained  here  but  a  few  months, 
then  moved  to  Monroe  county.  The  "  old  man  "  Scott  died 
at  Turkey  Hill  in  St-  Clair  county,  in  182S,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-two  years.  The  town  of  Washington  by  common 
consent  changed  its  name  to  that  of  ''  Horse  Prairie  Town," 
under  which  name  it  lingered  and  ditd  about  18U). 
Twenty-five  years  later,  another  little  town  sprang  up,  and 
was  called  Lafayette.  This  was  situated  on  or  near  the  old 
site  of  Washington.  At  one  tfrae  it  contained  one  store 
kept  by  John  Ralls;  a  saw  mill  owned  and  operated  by 
J.  &  K.  Ralls,  and  a  population  of  eight  or  ten  families. 
It,  too,  has  passed  away,  with  scarcelj-  a  relic  to  tell  where 
it  once  stood,  .\mong  others  who  settled  on  Horse  Prairie 
as  early  as  l."<0(),  were  Robert  McMahan,  Jarrot  Brickey, 
Samuel  and  Winder  Kinney,  Chance  Ratcliti",  Gibbons, 
Teter,  Everraan  and  Henrj'  Levins.  McMahan  was  an 
emigrant  from  Kentucky,  and  first  lorateil  in  New  Dij.sign, 
Monroe  county,  in  1794  A  year  later  he  moved  his  family 
to  "Yankee  Prairie,"  a  few  miles  southeast  in  thesame  county. 
He  is  mentioned  more  at  lengih  inother  portionsof  the  work. 

Jarrot  Brickey  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  while  a 
youth  went  to  Kentucky,  and  from  thence  to  Illinois  in  a 
very  early  day,  and  located  in  the  '■  New  Design  Settle- 
ment." About  1800,  he  mived  to  Horse  Prairie,  aud  set- 
tled a  little  northeast  of  the  present  site  of  Red  Bud.  For 
a  time  this  little  settlement  was  so  harassed  by  Indians 
that  nearly  all  the  pioneers  left  it  and  moved  to  other  re- 
gions, only  two  or  three  families  remaining.  Among  these 
was  Mr.  Brickey.  This  was  about  1810.  In  the  war  of 
1812,  the  Indians  became  more  bold  and  troublesome  than 
before,  but  these  hardy  few  stood  their  groum),  and  braved 
the  dangers  of  those  times  which  tried  the  souls  of  the  pio- 
neers Mr.  Brickey  joineil  the  Rangers,  aud  did  faithful 
service  in  protecting  the  frontier.  He  lived  an  industrious, 
respected  citizen  of  Horse  Prairie  for  nearly  half  a 
century,  and  died  lamented  by  many  friends  His  eldest 
son,  Preston  B  ,  was  also  in  the  service  of  1812.  He  located 
a   little   north   of    Red   Bud.     Two  of   his  sons,  John  and 


William,  purchased  the  Red  Bud  flouring  mills,  and  for 
many  years  were  among  the  leaiiing  business  men  of  the 
city.  They  moved  to  other  parts  about  two  years  ago. 
Another  pioneer  was  Rawleigh  Ralls,  a  Sc  tchman  by  birth. 
He  emigrated  with  his  family  from  Virginia  to  Randolph 
County  in  1804,  and  located  in  section  6,  township  4,  range 
7,  not  far  from  the  Kaskas^kia.  This  is  a  high,  rolling 
ridge  of  ground,  and  from  this  pioneer  that  part  of  the  pre- 
cinct retains  the  name  of  Ralls'  Ridge  The  pioneer  chil- 
dren were  two  sons  and  five  daughters  Mr.  R.  lived  but  a 
few  years.  His  wife  survived  him  about  ten  years  The 
sins,  Edward  and  John,  marrie<l  here  and  reared  families. 
The  latter  became  i)Mite  a  prominent  local  Baptist  preacher 
in  early  days.  He  died  in  18.57.  Edward  became  a  promi- 
nent farmer,  and  died  early  in  1875. 

Samuel  Crozier  came  from  South  Carolina  in  1808,  and 
located  three  miles  south  of  Evausville,  where  he  died  The 
eldest  son,  John  C,  cane  to  Red  Bud  in  1820,  and  settled 
in  section  8,  town  4,  range  8.  He  was  then  a  young  mar- 
ried man  without  children.  Only  two  of  his  children  are 
now  living,  John  L.  and  Caroline,  wife  of  R.  D.  Durfee. 
The  former  is  now  -59  years  of  age,  and  resides  on  the  farm 
where  he  «as  born,  now  within  the  city  limits  of  Red  Bud. 
He  says  that  he  can  recollect,  when  a  small  boy,  that  in 
this  region  of  the  country  there  were  a  dozen  Indians  to  one 
white  man,  and  that  deers,  wolves  anil  wild  turkeys  were 
numerous. 

Chesley  Allen  settled  here  in  1809.  He  came  from 
Virginia,  and  several  of  his  descendants  are  now  citizens  of 
the  county.  After  the  close  of  the  war  of  1812,  the  Indians 
became  less  hostile,  and  there  was  quite  an  influx  of  immi- 
gration. Among  these  was  Edward  Faherty,  a  native  of 
Ireland.  He  landed  at  Baltimore  in  1800,  being  then  but 
seventeen  years  of  age  He  afterwards  married  Mary 
Tewell,  and  moved  to  Kentucky.  Early  in  1818,  he 
migrated  to  Randolph  county  and  located  in  section  twenty- 
one,  town  four,  range  eight.  He  erected  a  log  cabin  at  the 
edge  of  the  prairie.  His  family  then  consisted  of  his  wife 
an  I  six  children,  Patrick,  Bridget,  Birtholomew,  John, 
Mary  and  Micha  1,  all  of  whom  are  now  dead.  Two  other 
children  were  born  to  the  family,  .James  and  Edraond.  Mr. 
Faherty  remained  here  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
1840.  James  resides  on  the  place  his  father  first  located. 
Edmond  lives  in  Red  Bud.  Both  are  congenial  men,  and 
fair  types  of  the  hospitable  pioneer.  John  Adams  was 
from  Kentucky,  and  settled  in  section  twenty,  town  four, 
range  seven,  in  1819.  Shelton  Evans  and  Levi  Simmons 
settled  at  a  point  below  Kaskaskia  in  1819.  In  182.J,  they 
moved  to  Horse  Prairie.  Another  early  settler,  is  Henry 
O'Harra  of  Red  Bud,  who  is  now  engaged  iu  the  lumber 
trade.  For  the  history  of  the  O'llarras,  see  Runia  chapter. 
Among  other  prominent  citizens  of  the  precinct  at  this 
writing,  and  who  would  rank  as  being  with  those  of  a  more 
recent  date  are,  David  Ohlwine,  and  the  descendants  of 
Bartholomew  Hoy,  and  Timothy  Liddy. 

Believing  that  the  first  land  entries  will  prove  of  interest 
to  the  reader,  we  here  append  a  few.  The  first  entry  made 
in  town  four,  range  eight,  was   by  W.  Rector  and   E.   Ban- 


400 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


croft,  April  14th,  1815,  being  the  S  E.  oiie-fcjurth  of  sec- 
tion No.  1.  The  following  are  in  the  same  township: 
Checquer  and  others,  eutered  the  S.  E.  one-fourth  of  section 
twelve,  the  29th  of  April,  1815.  Paul  Haralson  entered 
the  S.  E.  one- fourth  of  section  twenty-five,  April  24th  of  the 
same  year.  The  first  school  taught  in  the  precinct  was  by 
John  C.  Crozier  about  1826.  The  school-house  was  a  little 
pule  cabin  that  had  been  abandoned  by  a  squatter.  It  was 
situated  north  of  Red  Bud,  near  th<j  county  line.  About  this 
time  there  was  a  small  frame  church  house  erected  in  the 
Brickey  and  Ralls'  settlement.  The  denomination  was  the 
Baptist.  John  Ralls,  the  pioneer,  was  the  first  pastor. 
Near  where  this  old  church  building  was  situated  may  be 
found  an  ancient  cemetery.  It  was  here  that  the  first  inter- 
ments were  made.  The  first  facilities  or  conveniences  for 
milling  purposes  in  the  immediate  neighborhood  of  this 
precinct,  was  erected  by  Edmond  Falierty  at  his  premises 
in  section  t«emy-one.  This  was  in  1825.  It  was  what 
was  then  known  as  a  "horse  band  mill,"  and  served  an 
excellent  purpose.  The  first  to  give  attention  to  the  rai,<ing 
and  propagating  fine  stock  was  Edward  Ralls.  At  this 
writing  the  leading  stuck  mm  are.  Judge  William  iMudd, 
and  John  and  Daniel  Liddy.  According  to  the  late  census, 
the  population  of  Red  Bud  precinct  numbered  2,554  inhabi- 
tants, composed  mainly  of  a  thrifty  German  population. 

CITY    OF    RED    BUD. 

In  order  to  give  the  history  of  this  town  properly,  it  is 
necessary  to  go  back  a  few  years — 1838 — a  d  give  an  ac- 
count of  the  little  town  of  PrairieviUe,  which  would,  un- 
doubtedly, have  been  the  town  to-day  if  good  judgment  had 
been  exerci.-'ed  by  its  proprietors.  This  nucleus  for  a  town 
was  situated  in  section  16,  a  mile  or  two  south  of  Red  Bud, 
and  was  laid  out  by  J.  \V.  Baker  and  Miles  A.  Gilb  rt.  As 
subsequent  history  must  relate,  it  was  merely  a  prospective 
town  and  only  placed  on  paper.  It  is  true  that  a  po^t- 
oifice  was  located  here,  and  a  few  goods  sold,  by  William 
S.  Hughes  ;  but  a  little  later  more  active  parties  located  in 
■what  is  now  Red  Bud,  and  from  the  hamlet  then  begun  now 
booms  a  live  little  cily.  It  is  situated  upon  a  ri^ing  eminence 
in  Horse  Prairie,  a  little  south  of  the  Monroe  county  line,  in 
sections  4  and  9,  town  4,  range  8.  It  receives  its  name  trum  a 
speciesof  flora  that  was  then  growing  largely  in  this  part  of  the 
prairie.  Indeed,  where  the  city  now  stands  was  a  jungle,  com- 
posed of  black  haws,  grape-vines  and  red  bud.  On  what  is 
now  the  northeast  corner  of  Market  and  Main  streets  there 
was  a  large  patch  of  the  "red  bud  "  flora,  and  Mr.  R.  D.  Dur- 
fee,  being  one  of  the  settlers  of  the  town,  saw  fit  to  name  the 
hamlet  and  post-oflice  Red  Bud.  The  first  indication  of 
civilization  within  what  is  now  the  city  limits  was  made 
by  Preston  Brickey,  in  1820.  He  constructed  a  little  log 
cabin,  a  few  yards  north  of  the  depot,  and  here  cultivated 
a  farm ;  but  no  thought  could  have  entered  his  mind  that 
only  two  decades  later  there  would  be  a  city  of  life  and 
activity  within  a  stone's  throw  of  his  cibin.  In  1839  James 
Pollock  placed  a  small  stock  of  goods  in  the  log  cabin 
built  by  Henry  Simmons,  where  he  did  business  for  about 
a  year.     This  was  situated  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  east 


of  the  Catholic  church  building,  on  the  property  now 
owned  and  occupied  by  William  Gubert.  The  next  year 
he  moved  his  stock  of  goods  into  a  log  building  erected 
by  John  C.  Crozier,  which  was  situated  on  the  ground 
now  occupied  by  Henry  O'Harra  s  lumber  yard.  He  contin- 
ued the  business  here  about  three  years,  when  he  moved  to 
Preston.  In  1840  R  D.  Durfee  became  the  first  permanent 
merchant  in  Red  Bud.  Two  years  later  he  built  a  frame 
store  house  on  the  southeast  corner  of  Market  and  Main 
streets,  where  theCommercial  Hotel  now  stands.  In  the 
same  year  he  erected  his  dwelling  just  in  the  rear  of  the 
bank  building.  These  were  the  first  frame  houses.  The  town 
was  laid  ott'  and  platted  by  William  Simmons,  January  19, 
184 ^.  The  village  grew  and  jjrospered,  so  that  other  addi- 
tions were  soon  made  by  R.  D.  Durfee  and  Samuel  Crozier. 
The  first  brick  building  erected  was  the  school-house;  it 
was  built  in  1854,  in  the  east  part  of  the  town.  It  is  still 
sianding.  The  first  brick  store  was  built  by  Durfee  & 
Crozier,  in  1855,  and  is  situated  on  the  northeast  corner 
of  Main  and  Market  streets,  and  is  now  occupied  by 
L  Marx  &  Co.  The  first  hotel  was  built  by  Lawrence 
Smith  in  185t).  and  was  located  on  the  northwest  corner  of 
Market  and  Main  streets.  It  was  a  two-story  frame  build- 
ing. Gabriel  S.  Jones  was  the  first  blacksmith.  He  com- 
menced business  .in  1847,  and  his  shop  was  situated  on  the 
north  side  of  East  Market  street,  where  Peter  Wey's  jewelry 
store  now  is.  The  first  church  house  was  erected  by  the 
Lutheran  denomination.  It  is  yet  standing  by  the  side  of 
the  present  magnificent  structure,  in  the  southeast  part  of 
the  city,  and  is  now  used  by  the  church  for  a  parochial 
school. 

According  to  a  directory  made  in  1859,  the  following  was 
the  business  of  the  town :  five  dry  goods  stores ;  six  groceries ; 
two  flouring  mills  ;  two  lumber  yards  ;  six  merchant  tailors  ; 
one  drug  store;  one  brewery  ;  one  livery  stable;  five  boot 
and  shoe  shops  ;  three  blacksmiths ;  three  wagon  shops ; 
one  saddler  ;  four  hotels;  two  brick  yards  ;  four  carpenter 
shops ;  three  cabinet  shops  ;  three  tinners  ;  one  jewlery  store  ; 
and  one  ambrotype  gallery. 

Inc'irporation — It  was  organized  as  a  village,  April  19, 
1866,  the  officers  belugas  follows  :  John  Brickey,  president  of 
the  board,  Gerhard  Boekhott',  William  Schuck,  Gerhard 
Ortgeisen,  and  John  Brunner.  B.  C.  F.  Janssen  was 
appointed  clerk,  John  Washbaugh,  town  constable,  and 
G.  Boekhott',  treasurer. 

The  village  charter  was  not  received  until  February  28, 
1667.  In  January,  1875,  a  vote  was  taken  for  the  purpose 
of  incorporating  as  a  city  under  the  general  law;  the  result 
being  94  votes  fur  incorporation,  and  76  against  it.  The 
citizens,  therefore,  being  in  favor  of  incorporating  as  a  city, 
on  the  3rd  day  of  April  following,  an  election  was  held  for 
city  officers  with  the  following  result :  Mayor,  Jacob  Miller  ; 
Aldermen,  Alexa'nder  N.  Green,  Henry  Fohrell,  John 
Gerner,  Peter  Kardell,  Benedict  Rau,  and  Frederick 
Roepke.  City  Treasurer,  George  Carl  ;  City  Attorney^ 
Joseph  B.  Simpson  ;  Police  Magistrate,  John  Stoehr;  Clerk, 
Fred  D.  Guker ;  City  Marshal,  J.  Matt  Smith;  Collector, 
John  Hahn  ;  Street  Supt.,  Christian  Sippel.     The  officers  at 


400A 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


401 


this  writing  are  Mayor,  Benedict  Rau  ;  Aldermen  of  the 
first  ward,  Fred  Merz,  Henry  Wahlmann  ;  second  ward, 
Alexius  Mudd.  John  Schirmer ;  third  ward,  William  Bar- 
rett, William  J.  ISchrooder  ;  Street  Supt.,  Philip  Lindner  ; 
Cemetery  Supt ,  Fred  Ahnefeld  ;  Way  Master,  Valentine 
Heck ;  City  Marshal,  Henry  Weidling  ;  Treasurer,  John 
Hahn  ;  City  Clerk,  Fred  D.  Guker ;  Police  Magistrate, 
John  Stoehr. 

The  city  at  this  writing  contains  a  population  of  about 
1,700,  mostly  composed  of  a  wide-awake  German  class,  and 
with  the  most  substantial  improvements.  There  are  ex- 
cellent brick  and  stone  side-walks,  and  the  business  houses 
and  dwellings  are  constructed  mainly  of  brick  :  indeed  it 
niigiit  l)e  termed  a  brick  town. 

PRESENT    BUSINESS,    ETC. 

Red  Bud  Flatiring  Milk  and  Ekvahir. — This  leading  in- 
dustry was  established  ia  18-57.  by  a  stock  company,  and 
was  subsequently  purchased  by  Brickey  Brothers,  and  in  the 
summer  of  18X0,  it  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  present 
proprietor,  G.  Ziebold.  It  is  a  brick  building,  three  stories 
high,  beside  basement  and  attic,  and  the  main  buihling  is 
42x56  feet  on  tlic  ground.  It  is  located  in  the  northeast 
part  of  the  city,  situated  between  Mill  and  Pine  streets. 
The  mill  contains  six  run  of  burrs,  and  has  the  capacity  of 
manufacturing  22.5  barrels  of  flour  in  24  hours.  The 
intention  of  the  proprietor  is,  in  a  few  months,  to  put  in  the 
mill  a  complete  '•  roller  system."  It  ha.s  the  conveniences  of  a 
side  track,  extending  from  the  railroad  to  the  mill.  Twenty- 
three  men  are  given  employment  by  this  industry,  and  the 
estimated  value  of  annual  manufactured  product  is  8200, 0<iO. 
The  firm  does  its  own  coopering,  haying  extensive  shops 
situated  a  little  east  of  the  mills.  The  elevator  was  built  in 
1><81,  and  is  constructed  in  the  regular  elevator  style.  It  u 
36x5fi  feet  on  the  ground,  and  to  the  top  of  the  ventilation, 
is  62  feet.  It  has  a  capacity  of  elevating  500  bushels  of 
grain  per  hour,  and  can  store  50,000  bushels 

The  New  Sleam  Flouring  Mills,  were  erected  in  1870,  by 
Samuel  Sale,  and  are  situated  in  the  northwest  part  of  the 
town,  on  Pine  street.  Mr  Sale  did  not  finish  the  mill  on  ac- 
count of  a  lack  of  means  Leonhard  and  Fisher  bought  out 
the  concern,  and  placed  in  the  machinery.  They  conducted 
it  for  a  time,  when  it  came  into  the  hands  of  Wm.  A.  Fish- 
er. In  18Sl,  Mr.  Fisher  erected  an  elevator,  and  made 
other  improvements  to  the  mill,  and  the  fi)llowing  year  he 
sold  out  to  the  present  firm,  H.  B.  Fggers  &.  Co.  The  main 
building  is  a  substantial  brick  edifice,  -50  x  .50  feet,  and  four 
stories  high.  The  elevator  is  attached  to  the  mill,  and  is 
also  of  brick,  three  stories  high.  The  mill  contains  five 
runs  of  .stone  and  seven  sets  of  rolls,  Avith  a  capacity  of  manu- 
facturing 250  barrels  of  flour  daily.  Twenty-five  employes 
are  given  labor  by  this  industry,  as  the  firm  manufacture 
their  own  barrels  for  shipping  flour.  The  shops  are  located 
a  little  north  of  the  mill,  and  cover  o()oO  square  feet  of  ground. 
The  "  Ambrosia"  is  their  favcjrite  brand  of  flour.  The  ele- 
vator has  the  capacity  of  storing  18,i)(IO  bu^hels  of  wheat. 
B.  V.  Frank  is  the  head  miller,  and  the  manager  of  the 
mills. 

51 


Carriage  Manufactory,  J.  Roscow  &  Brother  Proprietors. 
This  factory  was  established  in  the  spring  of  1876,  by  James 
Roscow;  and  January,  18>>0.  the  firm  became  W.  &  J.  Ros. 
cow,  but  was  subsequently  changed  to  the  present  firm  name. 
The  building  is  a  two  story  frame,  50  x  76  feet,  and  contains 
a  blacksmith  shop,  wood  work  and  trimming  rooms,  besides 
two  floors  for  a  repository.  Fourteen  men  are  given  employ- 
ment. The  firm  make  a  specialty  of  the  "Tinkcn  and 
Brewster  platform  spring  "  Surrey  carriages  of  every  descrip- 
tion are  manufactured. 

So'la  WatiT  Factory. — This  business  was  commenced  in  the 
.-pring  of  1878,  by  Henry  Buettner,  and  is  situated  in  the 
middle  of  the  block,  east  of  the  post-office,  on  the  north  side 
of  East  Market  street.  It  has  two  fountains  and  a  generater, 
with  a  ca]iacity  for  manufacturing  fifteen  hundred  boxes  of 
soda  wat°r  every  month.  The  building  is  a  two  story  brick, 
and  was  originally  built  for  a  brewery.  The  firm  do  a  good 
liuisness. 

Cigor  Monvjiictroy  of  Christian  KatH,  is  located  three 
doors  east  of  Main  street,  on  the  north  side  of  East  Market 
>treet.  The  bu.^iness  was  commenced  in  18ii7,  by  the  present 
proprietor.  The  amount  of  annual  manufactured  goods  is 
120,000  c'gars.  and  it  employs  three  men.  The  market  is 
mainly  found  in  Red  Bud,  and  surroundiug  towns. 

Brick  Yards  — There  are  two  within  the  city.  That  of 
Anton  Huegle  is  situated  in  the  southeast  part  of  the  town, 
a  block  or  two  south  of  the  school  buildings.  The  business 
was  commenced  in  1862.  It  contains  one  kiln,  and  turns 
out  about  .300,000  bricks  annually.  Besides  the  brick-yard, 
Mr.  Huegle  has  a  lime  kiln  within  the  city  limits,  and  fur- 
nishes that  product  to  the  people  of  the  town  and  surround- 
ing country.  Jacob  Melly  also  owns  and  ojierates  a  brick- 
yard in  the  west  part  of  the  city.  He  has  one  kiln  and 
Inirns  about  the  same  number  of  brick  as  the  above.  The 
business  was  established  in  187i)  by  the  father  of  the  above 
Mr.  Melley  also  owns  a  lime-kiln  and  one  of  the  stone  quar- 
ries. There  are  two  good  limestone  quarries  in  or  near  the 
city  limits  which  are  quite  extensively  worked.  The  principal 
streets  are  already  pavtd  with  the  rock. 

Bank. — This  institution  was  organized  in  June,  1875,  bv 
a  stock  company.  It  is  located  in  a  good  brick  building, 
five  doors  west  of  JIain  street,  on  the  north  side  of  West 
Market  street.  It  has  ample  capital  to  do  a  safe  banking 
l)usiness.  The  bank  is  supplied  with  a  fire  and  burglar- 
))roof  safe,  the  "Yale"  time  lock,  and  all  the  fixtures  of  a 
first-clas<  bank.  President,  David  Ohlwine  ;  Cashier,  A.  L 
Wilson. 

Besides  the  business  houses,  there  are  tour  good  churches, 
Lutheran,  Catholic,  Methodist  and  J5aptist.  The  public 
.school  buildings  are  worthy  of  mention,  and  the  schools  aie 
now  under  the  eflicient  management  of  T.  C.  McDonougli, 
principal.  The  city  can  also  boast  of  two  public  halls,  a 
cornet  band,  public  library  association,  and  a  local  board  of 
insurance  underwriters.  The  latter  was  organized  in  lx''.i, 
with  four  members.  President,  John  Stoeher ;  Treas  ,  A.  L. 
Wilson  ;  Secretary,  J.  Matt.  Smith.  The  present  Secretary 
is  Fred.  D.  Guker. 

General  3Iercliant^. — Peningroth,  Scriever  &  Co. ;  J.  J. 


402 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


Helber  it  Sons  ;  Johannah  Huth  ;  Sophia  Boekhoff,  prop'r, 
R.  J.  and  H.  P.  Boekhoff,  managers;  Marx  &  VVeiler ;  Sale 
&  Neu. 

Books,  Stutlonery,  dc. — George  Carl. 

Dru(///kt-i  (did  Pharmacists. — Lewis  Lesaulnier,  H.  A 
Dinges. 

Liiniber  Mcrch(tiit.  -Thomas  B.  O'Harra. 

Physicians. — W.  J.  Seeley,  A.  B.  Beattie,  J.  P  Bahren- 
burg,  Franz  Veight. 

Harness  and  Saddlery. — G.  &  T.  Saxenmeyer,  August  H. 
Koch,  Henry  Sturtzum. 

Hotels. — Philip  Offerding,  Margaret  Haverraann,  John 
Curten,  Peter  Jost. 

Merchant  Tailor. — Fred.  A.  Rathert. 

Tailor  — John  Kline. 

Furniture  (ioods  and  Undertakers.  —  Valentine  Heck, 
Louis  Hensins,  A.  Streicher. 

Hardware  and  Timrare. — Benedict  Rau,  J    H.  Just 

Wa(/on  Makers.  —Henry  Ruehnkorf,  C.  Petersen,  Henry 
Wahlniann,  William  Floreth. 

Gimsinith. — Sylvester  S.  Durfee. 

Watch  Makers  and  Jewelers  — Peter  Wey,  August  Kal- 
bitz 

Ci'jar  Store  — Edward  Heberer. 

Blacksmiths. — Fred.  Merz,  Ernst  Budde,  John  Lang, 
Peter  Petersen,  Louis  Schuette,  William  Whitchurch. 

Milliners  and  Dress  Makers. — Mrs.  Elizabeth  Maier,  Miss 
Sophia  Noll,  Mrs.  Sarah  Walsh 

Lirery  ami  Feed  Stables. — B,  C.  Dunn  &  Bro.,  Miller  & 
Fairchilds. 

Photographer. — Monroe  Parrott. 

Butchers. — William  Thielan.  Charles  Burgdort'. 

Stock  Dealers  — George  Ratz,  Henry  Ratz,  James  W.  Rea 

Shoe  Makers. — Philip  Hahn,  Christoph  Jakle,  Henry 
Klueuder,  Charles  Gielow,  Henry  Bayer. 


Carpenters  and  Builders. — William  I.  Schroeder,  Louis 
Hensins,  H.  H.  Droge,  Gotlieb  Koester,  Fred.  Yannert. 

Brick  and  Stone  Ma.sons. — Frank  Heege,  John  Helbig, 
Conrad  Berg,  Wm.  Rathert,  Wm.  Henschen,  Herman 
Loesche,  Anton  Huegle. 

Dealer  in  Tobacco,  Pipes,  etc. — Henry  Hoth. 

Dentist. — C.  W.  Jocelyn. 

Painters  and  Glaziers. — Adam  Kaffaix,  Jno.  J.  Fox,  Paul 
Dumas. 

Bakers. — Leonard  Kaffenberger,  John  Er.senlohr. 

Barbers — Philip  Snyder,  Theodore  Jakle. 

Justices  of  the  Peace. — John  Stoehr  Jno.  H.  Meyer,  Fred. 
D.  Guker. 

Family  Groceries. — John  Hahn. 

Postmaster. —  George  Carl. 

The  Red  Bad  Courier,  is  likewise  one  of  the  enterprises 
of  the  city,  further  mention  of  which  is  made  in  the  article 
on  the  Press.  The  town  also  contains  sixteen  places  where 
beer  and  other  stimulants  are  sold  by  the  small,  besides  three 
places  where  spirituous  liquors  are  dealt  out  by  wholesale. 


Red  Bud  Lodge,  No.  427,  A.  F.  and  A.  M.  was  organized 
under  dispensation  August  18,  1864,  and  received  its  charter, 
dated  October  4,  A.  D  ,  18(35.  The  present  membership  is 
94  members.  The  Lodge  meets  regularly  in  its  hall  every 
Saturday  evening,  on  or  after  the  full  of  the  moon  in  each 
month. 

Kiii(/hls  of  Honor,  U.  D.,  No.  •JG'iS,  was  established  the 
18th  of  January,  188"2,  with  thirteen  members.  The  present 
membership  is  now  thirty-six,  being  the  maximum  number 
enrolled  The  first  Dictator,  was  Geo.  L.  Riess;  first 
Reporter,  Fred.  D.  Guker.  The  Lodge  meets  the  second 
and  fourth  Fridays  in  each  month.  It  is  in  good  condition 
financially,  and  prospering  equally  with  the  other  lodges  in 
the  State. 


■«^^6^^^*8S3^^- 


BIOGRAPHIES 


W.  S.  FAIRCHILD. 


Red  Bud  possesses  few  better  business  men  than  W.  S. 
Fairchild,  the  proprietor  of  the  livery  stable.  He  was  born 
in  Monroe  county  December  20,  1845.  His  father,  a  native 
of  New  York,  came  from  Ohio,  where  he  had  lived  a  few 
years,  to  Monroe  county,  settling  near  Yankeetown  in  1838. 
His  name  was  Daniel,  whilst  his  wife's  was  Elvira.  He 
followed  the  vocation  of  farming.  Died  October  20,  1873. 
W.  S.  Fairchild  went  to  Bates  county,  Missouri,  in  1867, 
where  he  remained  until  1878.  In  Missouri  he  followed 
farming,  which  he  continued  after  his  return  to  Illinois  in 
Randolph  county.  In  1881  he  purchased  the  liveiy  stable 
in  Red  Bud,  which  he  has  since  most  successfully  carried  on. 


He  was  married  to  Miss  Grace  Swift,  daughter  of  Arnold 
and  Harriet  Swift,  October  23,  1871.  By  this  marriage 
there  are  three  children,  Harriet  Elvira,  Fay  Edward  and 
Helen  May.  Mrs.  Fairchild,  a  native  of  New  York,  came 
here  as  a  teacher  in  1865.  She  followed  this  calling  several 
years  in  Monroe  and  Randolph  counties. 

Early  in  life  Mr.  Fairchild  learned  to  love  the  principles 
of  the  Republican  party.  His  first  presidential  ballot  was 
cast  for  U.  S.  Grant,  the  soldier  President.  In  his  dealings 
with  patrons  and  friends  Mr.  Fairchild  is  accommodating 
and  obliging.  As  a  citizen  he  enjoys  the  confidence  and 
respect  of  all. 


HISTORY    OF   RAynOLFH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS.  403 


/^-//^^v  ^^  ciy^^M^ 


404 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE    AND    I'ERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


■Ljy:f^[^' 


The  Randolph  county  bar  has  among  its  members  no 
more  congenial  spirit  or  popular  advocate  than  George  L 
Riess,  the  present  county  Judge.  He  is  a  native  of  St. 
Clair  county,  Illinois,  having  been  born  in  Centreville,  uow 
known  as  Millstadt,  September  'lOth,  1838.  His  father  was 
a  clergyman,  the  Rev.  J.  J.  Riess,  at  that  time  the  only 
minister  of  the  German  Evangelical  church  in  the  West. 
The  maiden  name  of  his  mother  was  Charlotte  Henckler, 
and  she  was  born  in  Weisbaden,  in  Nassau,  whilst  his 
father  was  a  native  of  Puttlingeu.Wurtemberg.  The  family 
lived  in  Centreville  until  George  was  seven  years  of  age,  and 
then  moved  to  St.  Louis  where  the  next  six  years  of  his  life 
were  spent.  The  Rev.  William  Riess  was  an  efficient  and 
active  clergyman  and  the  German  Evangelical  church  in  the 
West  owes  much  of  its  present  strength  to  his  labors.  While 
in  St.  Louis  he  founded  three  churches  of  his  denomination, 
two  of  which  bear  his  name.  In  the  public  schools  of  St. 
Louis  George  S.  received  his  early  education. 

In  1851  the  family  removed  to  Quincy,  Illinois,  returning 
after  one  year  to  St.  Louis,  where  the  Rev.  Mr.  Riess  died 
July  8th,  1855. 

In  August  following  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  chosen 
as  one  of  the  teachers  iu  the  public  schools  of  Waterloo,  at 


that  time  under  the  supervision  of  Rev.  G-  Steiuer.  For 
five  years  he  followed  the  calling  of  a  teacher  and  in  1860 
having  given  up  his  long  cherished  hope  of  becoming  a 
college  graduate,  he  became  Deputy  Sheriff  of  Monroe 
county.  Prior  to  this  he  had  diligently  devoted  his  spare 
hours  to  the  study  of  law.  In  1.S65  he  .was  chosen  Assessor 
and  Treasurer  of  Monroe  county,  and  was  re-elected  in  1867. 
Then  was  made  Police  Magistrate  and  subsequently  Justice 
of  the  Peace. 

He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  September  14th,  1871,  and 
immediately  entered  upon  a  lucrative  practice.  As  an 
evidence  of  his  popularity  and  of  the  confidence  of  the 
community  in  his  abilities  it  may  be  mentioned  that  he  had 
thirty-five  cases  at  the  first  term  of  court  after  his  admission 
to  practice.  In  1875  he  moved  to  Red  Bud,  and  in  1882 
was  elected  Judge  of  the  county  court  of  Randolph  county. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Sarah  A.  Turk  October 
3d,  1861.  Mr.  Riess  early  cast  his  fortunes  with  the 
Democratic  party,  of  whose  principles  he  has  ever  been  a 
steadfast  supporter.  During  the  progress  of  the  war  for^he 
LTnion  he  was  an  ardent  friend  of  the  Union's  cause,  and 
toward  the  end  of  the  struggle  raised  a  company  of  one- 
hundred  and  ten  men,  the  "  Monroe  Tigers,"  and  proceeding 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


405 


to  Springfield,  offered  their  services  to  the  government-  The 
war,  however,  about  that  time  came  to  an  end,  and  they  were 
never  in  the  field. 

Gifted  with  more  than  ordinary  endowments  and  energies, 
a  genial  nature  and  a  generous  flow  of  good  humor  have 
contributed  to  establish  his  hold  on  the  aff-Ctions  of  the 
people.  As  Judge  of  the  county  court  he  is  winning  golden 
opinions  from  the  people  and  the  bar  by  his  sound  judgment 
and  fair  decisions. 

FREDERICK  GUKER,  (DEC.) 
The  name  of  "  Kaskaskia  Fred,"  proprietor  of  the  Eagle 
Tavern,  is  still  in  pleasant  recollection  by  the  old  pioneers 
of  Randolph  county  ;  a  native  of  Alsace,  near  Strassburg. 
he  emigrattd  to  America  in  1827,  having  served  his  time  as 
miller  and  afterward  as  baker  at  Strassburg.  He  landed 
at  New  York,  and  after  working  at  the  baker's  trade  for  five 
years  in  New  York  State,  he  left  there  for  New  Orleans,  where 
he  landed  on  the  4ih  of  July,  183'2.  On  February  6th.  183t), 
he  came  to  Kaska.skia,  where  he  worked  one  year  for  McGin- 
nis;  he  bought  McGinnis  out,  and  in  the  Spring  of  1840  he 


built  the  spacious  "  Eagle  Tavern,"  the  only  brick  hotel  in 
the  town,  which  for  a  number  of  years  was  the  principal 
resort  of  lawyers  and  officers  visiting  Kaskaskia.  In  the 
summer  of  I8:i4  he  married  Miss  Margaretha  Medart ;  they 
had  twelve  children:  Carolina,  (dec.l  Louisa,  wife  of  Geo. 
Hatters,  of  iVlgiers,  Louisiana,  Frederick  I).  J.  P.,  Notary 
Public,  Insurance  and  Real  Estate  Agent,  and  City  Clerk 
of  Red  Bud,  Margaret,  wife  of  John  Rail,  farmer,  near  Red 
Bud,  Sophia,  (dec),  John,  (dec),  Sophia,  wife  of  James 
Ashton,  Algiers,  Loui-iaua,  Mary,  wife  of  Wm.  H.  Toy, 
printer,  at  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  Daniel  R  ,  baker  and  confec. 
tioner  at  Red  Bud,  Jul  a,  (dec)  and  Ferdinand,  (dec). 
Mr.  Guker  lived  at  Kaskaskia  from  18:56  to  18.58;  during 
this  time  he  grew  to  be  one  of  the  wealthiest  men  of  Ran- 
dolph county.  He  lived  for  two  years  on  a  farm  two 
miles  above  Evansville  ;  from  thence  he  removed  to  Algiers, 
Louisiana,  and  after  the  Rebellion  returned  north,  living  at 
Thebes,  Kaskaskia  and  Red  Bud.  He  carried  on  a  bakery 
and  confectionery  at  Red  Bud  till  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred April  22nd,  187.5,  leaving  his  widow  and  children. 
His  remains  are  interred  in  the  old  city  cemetery  at  Red 
Bud. 


BALDWIX 


RANDOLPH  CO. 


ALDWIN  precinct  lies  in  the 
northern  part  of  Randolph, ad- 
joining St.  Clair  county,  and 
embraces  about  forty-five  sec- 
tions of  land.  It  is  princii)al- 
Iv  prairie,  although  the  south- 
ern part  and  the  western,  along 
the  Kaskaskia  river,  were 
originally  wooded.  Hill 
prairie  lies  in  the  northeastern 
part,  and  stretches  eastward 
into  Tilden.  It  is  separated 
from  Heac  ><k,  now  commonly  called  Plum  Creek  prairie, 
by  a  belt  of  somewhat  broken  surface  extended  north  and 
south,  of  which  the  locality  of  Jordan's  Grove  is  a  part. 
Heacock  prairie,  so  named  from  Gecjrge  Heacock,  who  was 
an  early  settler  in  it,  is  a  level  area.  The  surface  in  the 
south,  along  Plum  creek,  is  considerably  broken.  The  tim- 
ber originally  consisted  of  large,  thinly  set  post  oaks,  among 
which  was  a  heavy  growth  of  tall  grass.  The  principal 
streams  which  supply  water  and  drainage  are  the  Kaskaskia 
river  and  Plum  and  Little  Plum  creeks.  Doza  creek  is  so 
named  from  a  Fr»nch  hunter  who  frequented  its  banks  in 
quest  of  game.  The  soil  is  productive  and  the  improve- 
ments are  good.  Wheat  is  the  staple,  and  the  other  cereals 
receive  but  little  attention.      Fruit  is  not  raised  for  the 


market.  Sheep  farming  receives  some  attention  and  is  found 
to  be  profitable  ;  a  small  flock  of  sheep  on  the  farm  is  (juite 
common.  Thomas  Black  introduced  the  Cotswalds  and 
Southdowns  about  twenty  years  ago.  The  Berkshire  hogs, 
introduced  by  D.  R.  McM;'.ster,  are  the  approved  and  pre- 
vailing breed.  Attention  has  been  pa  d  to  the  breeding  of 
suitable  farm  horses.  The  English  draft  Clidesdale  breeds 
were  brought  in  several  years  ago  by  Thomas  McHatton. 
The  facilities  for  travel  are  among  the  best.  The  Kaskaskia 
and  St.  Louis  State  road  is  a  wide  thoroughfare,  extending 
north  and  south,  passing  through  Baldwin  village.  The 
Cairo  and  St  Louis  railroad  with  its  connections  affords  ex- 
cellent shipping  advantages.  The  precinct  was  first  settled 
in  the  southern  and  we.-tern  part  by  immigrants,  principally 
from  Sou  h  Carolina  and  Kentucky.  Several  settlementa 
were  made  here  prior  to  1812.  The  Scotch  some  years  later 
settled  the  northeastern  part  in  Hill  prairie.  The  Germans 
in  1844  or  1H4.5,  began  to  push  th^ir  settlements  southward 
from  Dutch  Hill,  so  called,  in  St.  Clair  county,  into  Heacock 
prairie.  This  region,  however,  had  been  to  some  extent, 
previously  occupied.  The  Germans,  first  to  make  settle- 
ments here,  were  Conrad  Spitz,  Michael  Bilger  and  Fran- 
cis Keener.  Teutonic  blood  is  now  largely  in  occupancy  of 
this  part  of  the  precinct,  and  the  Germans  are  among  the 
best  farmers  in  the  community.  There  are  eight  schools  in 
the  precinct,  provided  with   suitable  buildings.      In   1812, 


406 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY  COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


about  three  and  a  half  miles  above  the  mouth  of  Plum 
creek,  and  a  half  mile  east  of  the  west  bank  nf  the  Kaskas- 
kia,  near  a  spring  of  lasting  water  there  stood  a  small  log 
building  in  which  James  St.  Clair  taught  the  children  in 
the  settlement.  This  was  the  first  school-house.  In  these 
early  days  it  was  the  custom  enforced  by  necessity  for  the 
settlers  to  detail  and  employ  one  of  their  own  members  to 
act  as  teacher;".  From  this  rude  beginning  almost  as  by 
magic,  has  developed  the  present  advanced  condition  of  the 
common  schools  Husbandry  in  early  days  was  confined  to 
the  timber  districts,  partly  from  other  circumstances  and 
necessarily  on  account  of  the  immense  numbers  of  green- 
headed  flies  that  infested  the  prairies,  and  rendered  the 
horses  in  daylight  utterly  unmanageable.  The  primitive 
prairie  farmer  was  obliged  to  do  his  team  work  at  night. 
Not  the  least  among  the  burdens  that  fell  to  the  lot  of  the  pio- 
neer, were  those  in  respect  of  milling  and  clothing.  The 
responsibility  and  care  of  the  latter  fell  principally  upon  the 
women,  who  plied  the  spindle  and  the  shuttle  with  diligence. 
About  1816,  on  a  settler's  claim  in  section  28  or  29,  on  the 
banks  of  the  river,  Robert  McDauiels  built  the  first  mill, 
and  supplied  a  much  felt  need. 

The  earl  est  important  American  settlements  in  what  is 
now  Baldwin  precinct  were  made  by  Absalom  Cox,  of  Cox's 
ferry  notorietv,  David  Ander.-on  and  William  McBride, 
who  came  with  other  families  from  South  Carolina  in  1801. 
There  were  three  of  the  Anderson  brothers  who  played  an 
important  part  in  the  development  of  the  country  around 
Plum  creek.  They  were  besides  David  just  mentioned, 
James  and  John  The  two  former  came  together  in  company 
with  Cox,  McBride  and  Robert  McDonald.  Cox  located  on 
a  four  hundred  acre  settler's  claim  in  the  N.  W.  }  of  section 
28.  This  claim.  No  1044,  and  the  oi;e  adjoining  it  on  the 
south.  No  1992,  were  located  respectively  in  favor  of  two 
bachelors  named  Hix  and  Smith.  Each  had  a  cabin  on  his 
claim,  but  they  lived  principally  together  and  took  their 
meals  at  the  upper  cabin.  One  day  one  of  them  went  to  the 
river  to  get  water.  His  long  absence  excited  some  alarm, 
and  his  companion,  who  was  deaf,  went  in  search  and  found 
his  comrade  lying  in  the  canoe  dead  and  scalped.  This  so 
alarmed  him  that  he  never  returned  from  the  burial  of  the 
body  for  which  he  started,  in  the  canoe,  to  Kaskaskia.  The 
lower  claim  was  afterwards  confirmed  to  General  Edgar,  by 
whose  permission  Cox  located  on  the  one  lying  above.  He 
brought  with  him  to  the  county  his  wife,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Jane  McBride,  sister  of  Thomas,  William  and  John,  and 
three  children.  Five  other  children  were  born  in  the 
county,  Mr.  Cox  was  a  man  of  courage  and  enterprise. 
The  former  made  him  a  leader  in  the  ranger  .service.  The 
latter  shortly  after  his  arrival  showed  itself  iu  the  establish- 
ment of  a  ferry.  This  was  at  first  operated  by  means  of  a 
canoe.  About  1816  or  '17  increased  immigration  demanded 
better  facilities  for  crossing  the  river,  and  Mr.  Cox  built  a 
ferry  boat  suflacient  to  carry  two  wagons  at  a  trip.  But 
exposure  to  the  sun  during  low  water  soon  ruined  it.  After 
its  abandonment,  about  1822,  the  ferry  was  operated  again 
in  the  old  way.  As  early  as  1815  or  '16,  Thomas  Wide- 
man,  who  married  Cox's  sister  in  Tennessee,  operated  a  ferry 


about  a  mile  up  the  river,  and  had,  in  a  rude  form,  the  first 
ferry  boat.  It  consisted  of  a  deck  formed  of  puncheons, 
resting  on  two  canoes  placed  side  by  side.  This  ferry  was 
largely  patronized  by  the  settlers  prior  to  the  building  of 
Cox's  boat.  Wideman  brought  his  wife  and  daughter  to 
the  country  with  him  and  settled  on  section  21.  He  excited 
the  suspicions  of  the  company  of  regulators,  a  sort  of  censor- 
ial vigilance  and  police  committee,  whose  business  it  was  to 
deal  summary  justice  to  ofl'enders  and  suspicious  characters; 
and  to  escape  punishment  he  left  the  country  about  1819. 
One  of  the  most  active  in  the  prosecution  of  Wideman  was 
his  brother-in-law,  Cox,  evincing  a  disapproval  of  lawless- 
ness and  disorder,  even  though  fijund  near  his  own  door. 

David  Anderson  brought  with  him  one  child,  Jane,  who 
died  unmarried.  His  wife  was  Nanc}',  daughter  of  Adam 
Hill,  who  settled  south  of  Plum  creek  His  children,  be- 
sides Jane,  were  Mary,  Elizabeth,  and  Julia.  He  located 
on  section  5,  T.  5,  R.  7,  where  he  lived  and  died.  The 
IMcBride  family  was  a  large  one,  and  a  valuable  accession 
to  the  new  settlement  It  consisted  of  William  and  his  wife, 
who.se  maiden  name  was  Jane  Law,  and  their  children, 
Thomas,  John,  William,  Jr.,  Nancy,  Margaret,  Jane,  and 
Elizabeth,  all  married  before  their  arrival  in  the  ccunty. 
Thomas  had  a  wife  and  three  children,  Elizabeth,  John,  and 
William.  He  settled  about  three  miles  south  of  Baldwin, 
on  the  E.  '■  of  the  N.  E  ]  of  section  26.  Here  he  made  im- 
provements, reared  a  large  family  acd  lived  all  his  life.  He 
began  blacksmithing  soon  after  he  located,  and  was  the  first 
to  ply  that  trade.  He  was  the  only  man  in  the  entire 
settlement  who  could  make  cow-bells,  an  article  then  in 
great  demand.  He  understood  the  art  of  brazing,  by  which 
he  rendered  the  bells  sound.  John  married  Sarah  Little,  in 
Kentucky,  where  the  McBrides  had  stopped  a  number  of 
years  before  coming  to  Illinois.  Jane  McBride,  whom  John 
Anderson  brought  with  him,  in  1806,  as  his  adopted 
daughter,  was  the  result  of  this  union.  About  1815,  Mr. 
McBride  settled  on  the  E.  \  of  the  N.  W.  i  of  section  23. 
William,  Jr.,  who  was  also  married  in  Kentucky,  settled  in 
section  24,  southeast  of  Baldwin,  where  he  remained  a  few 
years  and  then  moved  to  what  is  now  Ruma  precinct,  and 
there  died.  He  was  an  intelligent  man,  a  teacher,  and 
county  superintendent  of  schools  about  forty  years  ago.  He 
also  represented  his  district  in  the  State  Legislature. 

In  1806,  George  Wilson,  John  Anderson,  and  John 
Douglas  located  here.  Mr.  Wilson  was  iu  the  ranger  ser- 
vice for  three  years;  other  early  settlers  were  John  G- 
Nelson  and  Samuel  Douglas.  Mr  Nelson  was  a  justice  of  the 
peace  for  many  years,  and  was  the  first  in  what  is  now  this 
precinct. 

Jane  McBride  became  the  wife  of  John,  son  of  Archibald 
Thompson,  and  theirs  was  probably  the  earliest  marriage  in 
the  precinct.  Thompson  subsequently  settled  in  Evansville 
precinct.  He  became  a  member  of  the  legislature,  and  died 
at  his  boarding  place  during  one  of  the  sessions  The 
Thompson  family  came  to  the  county  in  1804.  Robert 
McDaniel  built  the  first  mill.  He  settled  here  in  1812. 
Thomas  and  David  Fulton,  South  Carolinians,  came  in  1814. 
Giorge  Heacock  was  an  eastern   man,  and  settled  north  of 


406A 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,   MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


407 


Bdldwin,  in  sjction  2,  in  1818,  in  the  prairie,  which  bears 
his  name.  He  and  Stephens,  who  came  ab  mt  the  same 
time,  lived  in  separate  cabins  in  the  same  yard.  They  had 
a  dairy  and  were  also  cattle  dealers  The  Sendder  family 
also  settled  in  this  prairie.  Tliey  came  Ir  >m  IVMiie.ssee  here 
in  1810.  The  family  followed  hiiutiii;;  aii.l  fi-liiM>^  and  made 
no  permanent  settlement.  James  R'dpitli,  a  native  of 
Scjtlanii,  came  to  lieacock  prairie  in  1H21,  his  wile  dying 
on  the  voyage  at  .sea.  In  182.5  the  neiglih  irhood  of  .Ionian's 
Grove  wa>Sfttled;  at  that  date  William  U'ltherford.  Iv  )l>ert 
Redpath,  Hugh  Leslie,  and  John  McMillan  began  itnpruve- 
inents  in  ihat  vicinity. 

In  the  edge  of  Jordan's  grove  the  first  p  >st  oHico  was 
established  as  early  as  18.50.  The  office  was  ke()t  by 
^Villiam  Jleek  ;  he  also  had  a  stock  of  goods  there.  The 
next  nearest  store  was  at  Sparta.  The  post  office  is  now 
kept  at  the  store  of  Thomas  Boyles.  The  territory  em- 
braced by  what  is  now  B  >ldwin  prfcincl  was  repr^-sented  in 
the  Black  Hawk  war  by  James  A.  Bean,  Ah-aloni  McBiide 
and  David  And>rsi>a  "The  fort,  "  so  called,  was  built  in 
181 -J,  by  the  Andersons,  Wilsons,  McBrides,  Thompsons, 
Co.x  and  otliprs,  because  of  the  murder  of  the  Lively 
family  in  Washington  county.  The  wives  and  children 
were  placed  within  its  walls  for  protection  while  the  fathers 
and  husbands  went  into  the  ranging  services.  The  enclo- 
sure, consisted  of  heavy  pickets.  It  was  located  on  section 
thirty-three. 

VII.I-.VGE    OF    B.^LDWIN. 

The  charter  of  incorporation  was  granted  in  187G.  The 
first  trustees  were  S.  B.  Adams  S.  H.  Johnston,  J.  E. 
Davis,  W.  T.  Thompson,  J.  R.  Holden,  William  M.  Wilson 
S.  B.  Adams,  President ;  S.  D.  Lindsey,  Clerk.  The  first 
business  building  was  a  grain  and  machinery  house,  put  up 
by  S.  C.  Jordan  in  the  fall  of  187o.  The  railroad  was  built 
the  previous  spring.  The  village  is  situated  on  Ileacock 
prairie,  and  has  a  population  numbering  about  two  hundred 
and  fiftv.  There  are  three  neat  frame  church  buildings. 
The  Presbyterian  was  built  in  1872,  at  a  cost  )f  8800;  the 
Methodist  in   J871,  at   a  cost    of  about  Sl',200;    and   the 


Campbellite,  in  1875,  costing  about  §600.  The  school-house 
is  a  frame  two-room,  24x50  building,  erected  in  1874-5  at 
a  cost  of  about  82,000.  The  Baldwin  flouring  mill  was 
built  by  James  Scott  &  Son  iu  187G.  The  property  after 
changing  hands  several  times,  came  into  the  possessi m  of 
the  present  proprietor,  S.  II.  Johnston,  in  1880.  It  has 
two  run  of  burrs  and  a  capacity  of  twenty-four  barrels  a 
day.  The  saw  mill  was  moved  from  St.  Clair  county  in 
1874  or  '75.  It  is  owued  by  Holden  &  Johnston.  The 
grain  house  of  W.  B  Pres'on  was  built  by  its  present  owner, 
in  1877,  at  a  co^t  of  §2,200.  The  grain  is  elevated  by  steam 
at  the  rate  of  four  hundred  bushels  an  hour.  From  seventy- 
five  thousand  to  a  hundred  thousand  bushels  of  wheat  are 
handled  annually.  The  grain  is  discharged  from  the  bins 
directly  into  the  cars  of  the  Cairo  &  St    Liuis  railroad. 

BUSIXF,S.S    DIRECTORY. 

Pkyiidaw  — C.  F.  Marshall,  0  H.  Rhodes,  J.  M  Camp- 
bell, J.  McMenomy. 

General  Stores. -^Ui.  S.  H.  Spaeth,  W.  B   Preston. 

Groeeries,'  Provisions  and  Post  OJice. —  William  T. 
Thompson. 

Drug  Stores.— 0.  H   Rhodes,  McMenomy  and  Fellows. 

Grain  I)e.aler.<.—\\\\\[&m  B.  Preston,  S.  H.  Johnston. 

B/anksmitJis-  —C.  li.  Wiltshire,  H.  C.  Fink,  Joseph 
Holden. 

Shoemalcer^ — William  Weierbach. 

Harness  Maker. — J.  W    Porch 

Wagon  Maker. —  William  I'ink. 

HoteLs  — G.  W.  Nelson,  Mrs.  Jane  Douglass. 

Milliners  and  Dre.ismakers.—Mr=.  James  Holden,  Mrs. 
W.  L.  Wiley. 

Carpenter.— J.  C.  Wells. 

Barbers.— R.  L.  Nelson,  H.  A.  Rhodes. 

Livery  Stables. — J   A.  and  R.  L    NeUon. 

Police  Magistrate — W.  G.  Young. 

Village  Attorney- — John  A.  Ddugla.«s. 

Saloons. — George  Heifer,  Henry  Baumann,  Mrs.  John 
Scheak. 


TILDEN 


RANDOLPH    CO. 


She  precinct  of  Tilden  is  situated  in  the 
extreme  northern  part  of  the  county. 
It  is  bounded  north  by  St.  Clair  and 
Washington  counties,  east  by  C<mlter- 
ville,  south  by  Sparta  and  Central  and 
west  by  Baldwin.  The  surface  is  rolling 
prairie,  with  but  little  timber.  The 
precinct  is  made  up  from  parts  of 
township  4,  range  5,  and  township  4,  range  6,  the  greater 
portion  being  in  the  latter  township.     It  occupies  portions 


of  Grand  Cote  and  Flat  prairies,  the  foil  of  which  is  very 
rich  and  productive.  Plum  creek  and  its  several  tributa- 
ries, drain  the  lands  and  furnish  water  for  stock  purposes. 
The  Cairo  Short  Line  Railroad  traverses  the  northeast 
corner,  on  the  line  of  which  is  located  the  village  of  Tilden, 
which  gives  facilities  for  the  shipment  of  stock  and  produce. 
Wheat  is  the  principal  crop,  although  corn,  oats,  hay,  fruits 
and  vegetables  are  cultivated  and  yields  abundantly. 
About  1840  the  chief  industry  was  the  cultivation  of  castor 
beans,  an<l  it  is  related  that  most  of  the   money  with  which 


408 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES.    ILLINOIS. 


the  lands  were  entered  in  tliis  ])recinct,  was  dKlained  from 
the  production  of  tliis  article.  Tliere  were  several  oil  mills 
then  operated  in  the  county.  Since  1860  but  little  of  this 
product  has  been  grown.  There  i.o,at  this  writing,  consider- 
able attention  being  paid  to  fruit  growing,  esppciiilly  among 
the  Scotch  citizens,  who  form  a  great  poition  of  the  popula- 
tion. The  raising  of  s  ock  also  receives  a  fair  share  of  at- 
tention. About  the  first  blooded  stock  was  the  Durham 
breed  introduced  by  B.  C'rawforJ,  some  time  during  the  de- 
cade of  1850-60  Daniel  Mcintosh  introduced  the  Alder- 
ny  stock  about  1872.  In  the  business  of  s-heep  rai.'ing, 
there  has  existed  quite  a  rivalry  between  theSco  ch  settlers. 
Among  the  breeds  popular  with  them  are  Merinos,  the 
Southdowns  and  the  Cottswolds.  Matthew  Kirkwood,  John 
Andrews  and  W.  J.  Crawford  are  among  the  leading  mm 
engaged  in  this  industry. 

Samuel  Henry,  James  Clark  and  Nathan  Davis,  all  set- 
tled here  about  the  same  time  and  improved  the  first  farms 
in  the  pncinct.  These  parties  entered  their  land,  upon 
which  they  settled  prior  to  or  about  1820.  We  will  here 
give  a  few  of  the  earliest  land  entries  which  will  show  the 
names  of  others  who  probably  settled  here. 

Nov.  17th,  1818,  Samuel  Stublefield  entered  W.  1,S.  E. 
J,  Sect.  19,  80  acres,  Same  date  Samuel  F.  Henry  entered 
W.  i,  N.  E.  },  Sect  19,  80  acres.  Nov.  17th,  1818,  James 
Clark  entered  E.  *,  N.  E.  i,  Sect.  18,  80  acres  March  9th, 
1819,  Nathan  Davis  entered  the  E.  i,  S  W.  J,  Sect.  8,  80 
acres  The  above  entries  are  in  township  No.  4  south, 
range  5  west.  The  following  entries  are  in  township  No.  4 
south,  range  6  west.  March  9th,  1818,  Hugh  Leslie  entered 
the  E.  i,  S.  W.  i,  and  the  W.  5,  S.  E.  i  of  Sect.  No.  20, 
160  acres.  Aug.  .5th,  1818,  W.  C  Ballard  entered  the  E.  i, 
N.  E.  5,  Sect.  23,  80  acres. 

It  does  not  always  follow  where  these  early  entries 
were  made  that  the  parties  became  actual  settlers,  for  in 
many  cases  the  lands  were  entered  by  those  who  were  never 
residents  of  the  county. 

James  Strahan,  a  Pennsylvanian,  came  as  early  as  1822, 
and  located  on  the  E  i  of  S.  W.  i  of  section  8,  T.  4,  E.  5, 
which  tract  he  purchased  of  Nathan  Davis.  Strahan, 
brought  with  him  a  wife  and  family— John,  Blair,  Jane, 
Margaret,  Mary  Ann  and  Nancy,  were  the  names  of  his 
children.  John  married  Mary  Boyd,  and  entered  land  in 
section  9,  and  resided  there  until  his  death,  about  1860 
Blair  married  Jane  Campbell,  and  is  still  living  on  section 
8.  Jane  married  Thomas  Lindsay,  who  entered  land  and 
settled  in  S.  E.  k  of  section  13,  about  1828  Mary  Ann 
died  single.  Margaret  became  the  wife  of  John  Hair,  and 
Nancy  the  wife  of  Alexander  McGuire,  who  first  .settled  on 
•vacated  land  in  section  18,  remained  in  the  county  a  few 
years,  and  finally  located  in  Washington  county. 

John  and  William  K.  McDill,  brothers,  and  natives  of 
South  Carolina,  came  to  the  county  with  their  father,  in 
1819  or  '20.  He  settled  in  the  vicinity  of  Sparta,  and  John 
and  William  K.  became  early  residents  of  this  precinct, 
locating  in  section  21.  John  reared  a  large  and  much 
respected  family  of  children,  several  of  whom  are  living  in 
this  part  of  the  county.     William  K.  McDill,  was   born  in 


1797,  and  after  coming  to  this  county  married  .lanett  Mun- 
ford,  in  1823.  His  father's  name  was  John.  He  also  came 
with  the  family  to  the  county,  but  died  in  1824.  His 
mother  died  in  South  Carolina  William  McDill's  children 
were  John,  James,  Robert,  Thomas,  Jane,  Margaret  and  a 
daughter  who  died  young.  S(jme  of  them  are  living  in  this 
county. 

.'■amuel  Boyd,  Sr. ,  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  born  in  1777. 
He  was  married  in  South  Carolina,  to  Nancy  Varner,  and 
came  to  Tilden,  about  182.5.  He  settled  on  section  17, 
where  he  improved  a  good  farm.  His  children,  brought 
from  S.)uth  Carolina,  were  Samuel  L ,  Margaret,  Eliza, 
Agnes,  Jane,  Mary,  Sarah,  Abigail  and  Rebecci.  Samuel 
L  married  Jane  Gibson,  located  on  section  17,  improved  a 
farm,  and  rema  ned  there  until  his  death,  leaving  a  large 
family.  He  was  twice  married,  and  all  the  daughters  <xcept 
Sarah,  married  and  had  families. 

Anderson  Jones,  from  Lincoln  couuty,  Tennessee,  came 
about  1829,  and  located  on  sf-ction  19,  where  he  remained  a 
few  years,  and  then  moved  to  Jackson  county,  this  State. 
He  brought  with  him  a  large  family,  but  none  of  ihem  are 
now  living  in  this  county. 

Stewart  Burns,  from  South  Carolina,  came  with  a  wife 
and  lamily,  and  selected  a  home  on  the  N  E.  i  of  section 
19,  in  1830.  He  improved  a  fine  farm,  upon  which  he 
res-ided  until  his  death,  about  1865.  His  wife  was  Sarah 
Gillespie,  daughter  of  James  Gillespie,  an  old  resident  of 
Washington  county.  She  is  still  living  on  the  old  home- 
stead. Burnsserved  as  a  soldier  in  the  warof  1812  and  was 
a  much  respected  citizen  in  the  community.  He  reared  a 
family  of  intelligent  children,  many  of  whom  reside  in 
various  parts  of  the  county,  and  are  much  respected  in  their 
community.  Hugh  C.  Gault,  also  from  Lincoln  (ounty, 
Tennessee,  was  another  early  arrival.  He  came  in  1831, 
and  brought  with  him  a  family  of  five  or  six  children.  In 
the  latter  years  of  his  life  he  resided  in  Sparta,  where  in 
1878,  he  died,  at  the  age  of  86  years. 

William  Edmiston,  a  native  Virginian,  was  one  of  the 
prominent  arrivals  of  1832.  He  came  here  from  Tennessee, 
from  where  he  had  enlisted. in  the  war  of  1812,  and  where 
in  1816,  he  married  Sarah  Askins.  He  emigrated  to  Illinois 
in  1832,  making  his  home  on  the  N.  W.  i  of  section  5,  T.  4, 
R.  6,  in  the  spring  of  that  year.  He  entered  three  or  four 
hundred  acres  of  land,  and  became  one  of  the  prosperous 
citizens  of  the  county.  His  children  were  Albert,  Harmon, 
William,  Rufus,  James,  John,  Polly,  Sarah  and  Taylor. 
John  Edmiston,  a  younger  brother  of  William  Edmiston, 
came  with  his  family,  to  this  county,  and  in  1832  located  on 
the  N.  E.  i  of  section  19,  where  he  improved  a  good  farm, 
and  reared  a  large  family,  none  of  whom  are  now  residing 
in  the  precinct.  His  children  brought  with  him  to  this 
county,  were  John,  Abner,  Thirsa,  Betsy,  Susan  and  Rhoda. 
John  McMillan,  Mark  Wilson  and  Mrs.  Sarah  Clark  and 
their  families  were  among  the  early  settlers  here. 

William  Chambers,  a  native  of  South  Carolina,  and 
another  old  veteran  of  the  war  of  1812,  emigrated  with  his 
family  to  this  county  in  1822,  and  settled  here.  He  reared 
a  large  family,  improved  a  good  farm,  and  died  in  1840. 


HISTORY   OF  RANDOLPH,   MONROE  AND   PERRY   COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


409 


The  first  settlers  in  this  precinct  located  along  the  various 
streams  where  water  and  timber  were  plenty,  and  it  was  not 
until  about  1833  that  the  prairies  began  to  be  settled. 

The  first  mill  was  constructed  by  Samuel  Boyd  on  his 
place  about  1831.  It  was  what  is  known  as  a  horse-mill. 
Rude  as  it  was,  it  served  a  good  purpose  in  its  day.  Near 
this  mill,  in  section  17,  was  the  first  grave-yard  in  the  pre- 
cinct.    Sarah  Boyd  was  the  first  person  buried  there. 

Schools  were  early  taught  and  have  been  liberally  main- 
tained. The  first  church  erected  was  in  18G4  by  the  Pres- 
byterian denomination.  It  was  constructed  of  brick,  and 
stands  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  the  southwest  quarter  of 
section  7.  Rev.  Gibson  was  the  earliest  preacher.  Dr. 
Marshall  was  the  earliest  physician,  locating  here  as  early 
as  1840. 

VILLAGE   OF   TILDEN. 

This  thriving  little  village  was  laid  out  by  William  Ed- 
miston,  Robert   Matthews  and  William  G.  Cra^wford,  and 
surveyed  and  platted  by  James  D.  Thompson,  county  sur- 
veyor.    The  plat  was  recorded  in   the  office  of  the  circuit 
52 


clerk  May  8,  1871.  The  first  building  was  a  hotel,  built  by 
Daniel  Mclntire  in  the  spring  of  1871.  A  post-office  was 
established  the  same  year,  with  James  Watt  as  post-master. 
The  first  blacksmith  shop  was  opened  by  P.  T.  Jones  in 
April,  1871.  The  first  goods  sold  in  a  building  used  for  that 
purpose  was  by  William  Poyle,  prior  to  the  laying  out  of 
the  town  in  I860.  The  village  is  situated  on  the  line  of  the 
Cairo  Short  Line  Railroad,  and  is  quite  a  shipping  point, 
and  a^reat  convenience  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  precinct. 

PRESENT     BUSINESS. 

General  Store  mid  Post-office. — James  Watt,  R.  K.  Tor- 
rens. 

Blacksmith. — James  W.  Armour. 

Wagon  Maker. — John  Neil. 

Shoe  Maker. — Alexander  Ricket. 

Grain  Dealers,  Farm  Machinery,  Coal  and  Lumber. — Ed- 
miston  &  Fonibelle. 

Dru(j  Store  and  Physician. — Dr.  T.  J.  Garrett. 

Carpenter. — S.  R.  Thompson. 

Custom  Mill — R.  K.  Torrens,  proprietor. 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


^^^^   '/^^^^^ 


Scotland,  the  land  of  the  sturdy  Highlanders,  of  the  once 
hounded  covenanters  and  of  a  people  withal  patriotic  in 
impulses,  has  given  the  country  many  noble  sons.  A  goodly 
number  of  Scots  have  in  the  past  located  within  the  limits  of 
Eandolph  county;  among  them  James  Watt  is  a  fitting 
representative.  He  was  born  in  the  parish  of  Fenwick,  Ayr- 
shire, Scotland,  July  3d,  1828.  At  the  age  of  fifteen  he  was 
apprenticed  to  a  shop-keeper.  After  a  brief  time  he  traveled 
in  England,  then  kept  store  in  Glasgow.  Soon  tiring  of  this 
he  engaged  as  a  detective  on  the  police  force,  which  business 

he  pursued  three  years.    After  a  brief  sojourn  in  Ireland  he 
410 


made  his  way  to  Canada,  landing  on  Christmas  day,  1855,  at 
the  port  of  New  York  on  his  way  hither.  In  Canada  he 
remained  three  years  when  he  went  to  Wisconsin.  In  1859 
he  came  to  Kandolph  county,  where  he  has  since  resided. 
In  1864  he  entered  the  service  of  the  United  States,  in  Com- 
pany A  ,  32d  Keg.,  111.  Volunteer  Infantry.  Was  wounded 
in  Nashville,  from  the  effects  of  which  he  was  discharged 
June  3d,  1865.  Since  the  war  he  has  pursued  mercantile 
pursuits.  In  1870  he  secured  the  location  of  a  post-office,  to 
which  he  gave  the  name  Sadowa.  In  1871  the  name  was 
changed  to  Tildeu.     That  oflice  he  yet  holds. 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND   FERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


411 


C^^^tX,  '^'-  .^^^z.^i^^</> 


Among  representatives  of  the  Scotch-Irish  popuhitiun, 
none  is  more  deserving  of  recognition  for  true  worth  thsui 
Hugh  Mathews.  He  was  born  in  county  Antrim,  Ireland, 
June  26th,  18'2(>  His  parents,  Ijoth  natives  of  Scotland, 
came  to  Ireland  because  of  religious  persecution  in  tlicir 
native  land.  Thomas  Mathews,  his  father,  was  a  manufac- 
turer of  linen.  A  son  Robert  came  to  this  country  in  1S38, 
and  was  so  favorably  impressed  with  its  fitness  for  a  home, 
as  to  induce  his  father  and  family  to  follow  suit,  which  they 


did  in  1840.  The  family  located  near  where  Hugh  now  lives. 
Hugh  Mathews  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Jane  Maguire, 
Dec.  2ord,  IS')!.  By  this  union  there  are  three  children  ; 
Eliza  C.  Nancy  Emma  and  Thomas  Henry.  Mr.  Mathews 
and  wify  are  members  of  the  Reformed  Presbyterian  church, 
and  in  its  work  are  devoted,  earnest  and  zealous.  The  par- 
ents of  Hugh  both  died  in  this  county;  the  father  Thomas 
in  1874,  at  the  age  of  ninety-three,  and  the  mother,  who.se 
maiden  name  was  Nancv  Ro.ss,  in  1804. 


HARRISONVILLE. 


MONROE   COUNTY. 


^  ARRISONVILLE  precinct  lies  wholly  in 
tlie  American  Bottom,  and  comprises  a 
large  area  of  rich  and  productive  farm- 
ing land.  This  part  of  the  bottom  in 
early  years  contained  a  numerous  popu- 
lation, and  some  of  the  most  noted  men 

of  the  earlier  times  of  Illinois  here  had 

their  homes.  Tlie  old  town  of  Harri- 
sonville  on  the  river  was  selected  as  the  seat  of  justice  of 
the  new  county  of  Monroe  on  its  formation,  and  for  some 
years  was  the  most  important  point  in  the  county.  The 
improvement  rights  granted  in  this  precinct  show  that  a 
number  of  settlements  were  made  between  the  years  1780 
and  1790.  These  settlements  were  along  the  bluff  and  in 
the  bottom  of  the  vicinity  of  Harrison ville.  Claim  511, 
survey  497,  now  owned  by  William  Bamber,  immediately 
south  of  Harrisonville,  was  confirmed  to  the  heirs  of  John 
Ellison.  The  testimony  before  the  Board  of  Commissioners 
to  examine  land  claims  within  the  Kaskaskia  district  showed 
that  Ellison  had  come  to  this  place  in  1783,  and  had  grubbed 
a  few  acres  of  land  adjoining  L'Aigle  (Eagle)  and  had  died 
in  the  country  in  the  same  year. 

The  siie  of  the  main  portion  where  the  town  of  Harrison- 
ville was  first  improved  by  John  Jones,  and  was  affirmed 
by  the  board  of  commissioners  in  1809  to  John  Payne.  The 
claim  next  north,  580,  was  granted  in  right  of  an  improve- 
ment made  by  George  Wear.  It  was  affirmed  by  Governor 
St.  Clair  to  James  Gillham  in  1813  to  the  same  person. 
Claim  554,  survey  421,  near  Moredock  lake,  on  the  north- 
ern boundary  of  the  precinct,  was  first  improved  by  Peter 
Zipp,  and  was  in  the  ownership  of  his  heirs  for  many  years. 
Claim  510  was  confirmed  to  Tobias  Brashears.  The  fort 
erected  in  this  vicinity  during  the  Indian  War  from  1786  to 
1795  was  called  Brashear's  Fort. 

In  the  year  1794  the  population  in  the  American  Bottom 
received  an  important  addition  in  the  person  of  Shadrach 
Bond,  a  nephew  of  Judge  Shadrach  Bond.  He  was  born  in 
Frederick  county,  Maryland,  in  1773,  the  son  of  Nicholas 
Bond,  and  was  twenty -one  years  of  age  when  he  came  to 
Illinois.  He  had  received  a  plain  English  education,  and 
his  early  life  had  been  spent  on  a  form.  Reynolds  says  that 
"  he  learned  much  useful  knowledge  of  all  the  various  moving 
principles  of  the  human  heart,  and  was  nature's  nobleman,  edu- 
cated in  the  wide  world  of  the  human  family,  with  his  con- 
science and  sound  judgment  as  his  unerring  preceptors." 
For  some  years  he  resided  with  his  uncle,  and  indulged 
much  in  the  gayety  and  amusements  of  the  country  at  that 
day.  He  afterward  purchased  a  farm  on  the  bank  of 
412 


Moredock  Lake,  where  he  resided  till  his  removal  to  Kas- 
kaskia in  1814.  He  was  elected  a  member  of  the  general 
assembly  of  Indiana  territory,  which  met  at  Vincennes,  and 
in  1812  was  sent  to  Congress  as  the  first  delegate  from  the 
territory  of  Illinois.  Chiefly  through  his  exertions.  Con- 
gress in  1813  passed  the  first  act  granting  the  right  of  pre- 
emption of  the  public  lands,  a  measure  which  was  of  the 
greatest  importance  in  securing  the  development  of  Illinois. 
He  was  next  appointed  receiver  of  public  moneys  at  the  Kas- 
kaskia land  office,  and  in  1814  removed  to  a  farm  in  the 
vicinity  of  Kaskaskia.  On  the  admission  of  Illinois  into  the 
Union  as  a  State,  he  was  chosen  without  opposition  the  first 
Governor,  aud  after  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office  was 
made  register  of  the  land  office  in  Kaskaskia,  in  which  office 
ho  remained  for  many  years.     He  died  in  1830. 

Two  brothers  of  Governor  Bond,  Nicodemus  and  Joshua 
Bond,  also  made  their  homes  in  the  American  Bottom.  The 
latter  resided  here  but  a  few  years,  and  then  removed  to  St. 
Louis,  and  afterward  to  Vincennes.  Several  of  the  sons  of 
Joshua  Bond  acquired  reputation  at  the  bar. 

The  point  of  the  bluff  near  the  northern  boundary  of  Har- 
risonville precinct,  known  as  Salt  Lake  point,  marks  the 
place  where  the  manufocture  of  salt  was  carried  on  in  early 
time.  This  saline  trade  was  one  of  the  earliest  established  in 
the  West.  General  John  Edgar,  of  Kaskaskia,  was  its  first 
proprietor,  and  placed  it  in  operation  about  the  year  1802. 
Among  its  subsequent  owners  was  a  man  named  Boise,  one 
of  the  early  residents  of  the  town  of  Harrisonville.  He  em- 
ployed Thomas  Marrs  to  work  the  saline,  and  he  had  charge 
of  it  three  years.  At  this  time  there  were  twelve  wells  sunk. 
Considerable  salt  was  manufactured  for  a  time  which  brought 
a  good  price. 

Just  north  of  the  present  town  of  Harrisonville,  lived  Dr. 
Caldwell  Cairnes,  who  was  well-known  all  over  the  country 
in  early  times,  as  an  excellent  physician.  He  came  to  Illi- 
nois from  Pennsylvania,  soon  after  the  year  1800.  He 
bought  a  fine  farm  under  cultivation,  which  he  called  Wal- 
nut Grove.  He  was  fond  of  agriculture,  and  farmed,  for 
those  days,  on  a  large  scale.  He  attended,  likewise,  to  his 
profession,  and  had  a  large  practice  among  the  residents  of 
the  bottom.  He  was  elected  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  also 
one  of  the  Judges  of  the  St.  Clair  County  Court.  (Before 
Monroe  county  was  organized.)  He  was  sent  as  one  of  the 
delegates,  from  Monroe  county,  to  the  convention  which 
formed  the  first  constitution  of  the  State  of  Illinois.  He  was 
one  of  the  active  working  members  of  that  body.  He  was 
a  man  of  sound  mind,  and  was  honest  in  his  transactions 
with  the  public,  and  upright  in  his  deportment.     He  died  on 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND   PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


his  farm,  leaving  behind  him  a  good  reputation,  and  a  large 
estate.  One  of  his  daughters  married  Gen.  James  Semple, 
who  was  at  one  time  one  of  the  Supreme  Judges  of  Illiuois, 
United  States  Senator,  and  Minister  to  Bogota.  He  died  a 
few  years  since,  as  did  also  his  wife,  at  their  home  near 
Elsah,  Jersey  county,  Illiuois.  Thoma.s  and  Edward  Todd 
were  also  early  settlers  in  the  bottom,  Thomas  not  far  from 
Harrisonville,  and  Edward  in  Moredock  precinct. 

Claim  1726,  on  which  Harrisonville  is  built,  was  formerly 
owned  by  John  and  Alexander  Jameson.  They  were  brothers. 
John  died  previous  to  1826.  The  Levisee  family  lived  at 
Harrisonville  some  years,  and  removed  from  there  to  More- 
dock  precinct.  A  man  named  Gallatin  owned,  at  one  time, 
a  large  tract  of  land  below  Harrisonville,  including  the  place 
now  owned  by  Thomas  Holland.  Close  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Monroe  City  hollow,  Abraham  Bivens  lived  about  1830.  On 
the  "sand  hill,"  as  it  is  called,  near  the  Willow  ford  bridge, 
Hugh  Ralston  lived  in  182.5.  Below  the  Monroe  City  hol- 
low, under  the  bluff,  lived  Turner  Todd,  and  farther  down 
the  Lewis  family.  Just  north  of  Dr.  Cairnes,  on  Fountain 
creek,  was  the  residence  of  Bradley  Rust.  He  was  from  one 
of  the  New  England  States.  For  a  number  of  years  he 
served  as  a  Justice  of  ihe  Peace,  till  he  was  succeeded  in  that 
office  by  Noah  B.  Harlow.  He  moved  to  Waterloo,  and 
died  there. 

The  James  family,  of  Welsh  origin,  were  among  the  early 
settlers  in  the  American  Bottom.  Joseph  Austin  James  em- 
igrated to  Illinois  in  1803,  accompanied  by  his  son,  Thomas 
James,  who  was  born  in  Maryland,  in  the  year  1782,  and 
James  A.  He  moved  to  Missouri  in  1807,  where  he  died. 
Thomas  James  made  his  first  trip  to  the  Rocky  mountains 
in  1809,  and  returned  in  1810.  He  was  in  the  store  at 
Harrisonville  for  several  years  following  the  autumn  of  1815, 
and  in  1821  embarked  on  a  hazardous  expedition  to  New 
Mexico.  He  was  made  a  general  of  the  Illinois  militia  in 
1825,  and  the  same  year  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Leg- 
islature, where  he  served  two  yea-s.  He  was  appointed 
postmaster  at  Monroe  City,  then  called  James'  Mills,  in  1827; 
in  1832  served  as  major  in  the  Black  Hawk  war,  and  died  at 
Monroe  City,  in  December,  1847. 

Col.  James  A.  James,  son  of  Joseph  A.  James,  was  born 
in  Kentucky,  in  1798,  andreceived  a  good  education,  attend- 
ing the  college  at  Beardstown,  Kentucky.  He  married  Miss 
Susan  O'Hara,  a  native  of  JNIonroe  county.  Col.  James 
was  a  man  of  considerable  prominence  in  the  county.  His 
residence  was  first  in  Renault  precinct,  and  subsequently  at 
Harrisonville.  He  was  a  farmer,  by  occupation ;  represented 
Monroe  and  St-  Clair  counties  in  the  State  Legislature  four 
years.  In  1827,  he  was  colonel  of  State  militia.  Austin 
James,  son  of  Col.  James,  was  born  in  the  county  in  1823. 
Was  a  farmer;  served  in  the  Sixth  Illinois  Regiment  dur- 
ing the  Mexican  war ;  Justice  of  the  Peace  several  years ; 
served  in  the  State  Legislature  in  18G4  and  in  1872,  and 
has  been  postmaster  at  Mitchie. 

BRIDGEWATER. 

The  old  town  of  Bridgewater,  on  the  Mississippi,  nearly  a 
mile  above  Harrisonville,  was  laid  out  by  George  Forquer 


shortly  after  the  year  1818.  Forquer  was  the  proprietor  of 
a  store  in  partnership  with  his  brother-in-law,  William  F. 
Roberts,  who  was  a  millwright  by  trade.  A  man  named 
Meisner,  a  son-in-law  of  Dr.  Caldwell  Cairnes,  kept  store 
there  for  a  time.  The  high  water  of  the  spring  of  1826 
covered  the  most  of  the  town  site  and  drove  the  few  inhabi- 
tants to  higher  and  more  favored  locations.  Sylvester  Har- 
low, father  of  Noah  B.  Harlow,  came  here  in  1826  ;  he  was 
a  native  of  Maine,  came  to  Illinois  in  1818,  and  previous  to 
settling  at  Bridgewater,  had  lived  in  the  American  Bottom 
near  Kaskaskia  ;  at  this  time  the  town  of  Bridgewater  con- 
tained ten  or  twelve  houses,  mostly  built  of  hewed  logs,  but 
the  Harlow  family  were  the  only  inhabitants.  There  was 
some  trouble  about  the  titles  to  the  lots  which  had  been 
sold,  and  finally  about  1828  or  1829  Sylvanus  Harlow  pur- 
chased the  whole  town  site  from  Guy  Morrison,  who  claimed 
ownership.  He  was  the  owner  till  some  time  before  his 
death,  when  he  conveyed  the  laud  to  his  daughter,  Lucinda, 
who  had  married  William  Kinney.  Harlow  at  one  time 
opened  a  small  store;  in  1830  he  put  up  a  distillery,  a  flour, 
iug  mill,  and  a  saw  mill,  all  run  by  the  same  engine ;  these 
were  in  operation  five  or  six  years,  till  the  encroachments 
of  the  river  made  advisable  the  removal  of  the  buildings. 
Soon  after  1828  it  became  a  shipping  point,  and  Mr.  Harlow 
dealt  largely  in  wood,  which  he  sold  to  the  steamers  naviga- 
ting the  river.  The  wood  business  a ,  the  river  landings  was 
large  and  profitable  in  those  days.  Sylvanus  Harlow  died 
at  Bridgewater.  Major  X.  F.  Trail  opened  a  store  in  183.5, 
and  after  carrying  it  on  two  or  three  years,  removed  to 
Columbia.  The  water  had  been  cutting  away  the  river 
bank  for  years,  and  by  1844  the  greater  part  of  the  town 
site  had  disappeared.     It  is  now  all  in  the  river. 

HARRISONVILLE. 

The  first  seat  of  justice  of  Monroe  county  was  at  the  old 
town  of  Harrisonville,  some  distance  west  of  the  present 
town  of  that  name.  The  waters  of  the  Mississippi  now  sweep 
over  its  site.  The  first  town  projected  here  was  called  Car- 
thage. The  Legislature  of  the  territory  of  Illinois  at  its  ses- 
sion in  Kaskaskia  during  the  winter  of  1816-17,  authorized 
the  name  of  it  tt)  be  changed  to  Harrisonville  ;  the  act  bears 
the  date  of  the  twenty -first  of  December,  1816.  The  new 
name  was  given  it  in  honor  of  Gen.  William  Henry  Har- 
rison, who  ha<l  occupied  the  position  of  Governor  of  the 
northwestern  territory,  and  who  was  afterward  elected  Pres- 
ident of  the  United  States.  He  invested  in  several  tracts  of 
land  in  the  bottom  above  Harrisonville,  mostly  in  the  pres- 
ent Moredock  precinct,  the  ownership  of  which  he  retained 
till  his  death. 

The  site  of  the  town  came  into  the  possession  of  John 
Edgar,  of  Kaskaskia,  who  sold  it  to  the  firm  of  McKnight 
&  Brady ;  *  a  man  named  Boise  was  proprietor  of  a  store  at 

•Note.— In  the  "  Illinois  Intelligencer,"  published  at  Kask&skia,  there  ap- 
pears the  following  advertisement,  in  the  year  1819: 

NOTICE. 

"Whereas  the  public  in  general,  and  particularly  tho.inhabitanU'of  ^lonroo 
county,  are  concerned  for  the  honest  grawth  and  prosperity  of  the  county  seat 
of  said  Monroe  county  at  Harrisonville ;  Therefore,  for  the  information  of  the 
public,  I  do  certify  that  I  have  sold  all  my  claim  to  the  hind,  nheroii  the  .'aid 


414 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS 


Harrisoiiville  at  an  early  day.  Thomas  James  began  his 
mercantile  career  at  Harrisonville  in  the  fall  of  1815  as  the 
manager  of  McKuight&  Brady's  store.  In  this  firm  Frede- 
rick Dent,  the  father-in-law  of  Gen.  Grant,  owned  a  consi- 
derable interest,  and  he  used  to  visit  the  place  frequently. 
MoKnight  accompanied  Thomas  James  to  New  Mexico  in 
18'21,  and  was  killed  by  the  Comanche  Indians.  John 
S.  Beaumont  carried  on  a  store  in  1818,  or  1819.  He  went 
to  Shawneetown.  An  advertisement  in  a  Kaskaskia  paper 
shows  that  Alexander  Jameson,  Thomas  James,  and  Jesse 
W.  Cooper,  leading  residents  of  Harrisonville  and  vicinity, 
were  appointed  to  receive  subscriptions  to  the  capital  stock 
of  the  State  Bank  of  Illinois  at  Kaskaskia.  McKnight  & 
Brady  erected  a  brick  store-house  and  a  frame  dwelling- 
house.  Aside  from  these,  a  few  scattering  buildings  com- 
pose the  town.  There  were  two  ferries,  between  182G  and 
18:^.0,  both  operated  by  horse  power.  One  was  carried  on 
by  Adam  Smith,  who  moved  down  from  Bridgewater  in 
182r.,  and  the  other  by  William  Ellis.  The  latter  was  a 
resident  of  Herculaneum,  ou  the  opposite  side  of  the  river. 
Herculaneum  in  those  days  was  a  thriving  town.  It  had 
four  stores,  and  was  the  depot  of  supplies  and  the  place  of 
shipment  of  the  Missouri  lead  mines.  Much  business  was 
also  transacted  at  Bates  Landing,  just  below  Herculaneum, 
where  there  was  a  large  store  and  shot  tower.  The  JMonroe 
county  farmers  often  went  to  Herculaneum  to  buy  goods 
and  sell  produce,  and  thus  there  was  sufficient  patronage  for 
both  ferries.  Herculaneum  was  the  county  seat  of  Jefferson 
county,  Missouri,  at  the  same  time  that  Harrisonville  was 
the  seat  of  justice  of  Monroe  county.  About  the  year  1829 
C.  B.  Fletcher,  father  of  Thomas  Fletcher,  afterward 
Governor  of  Missouri,  who  lived  at  Herculaneum,  and  car- 
ried on  a  heavy  business  as  a  merchant,  put  up  a  log  build- 
ing a  quarter  of  a  mile  east  of  the  site  of  the  old  town,  and 
opened  a  store,  of  which  Madison  Miller  had  charge.  Not 
far  from  the  same  line  Matthias  T.  Horine  started  a  store  in 
the  McKnight  &  Brady  store-house.  For  some  years  pre- 
vious to  this  there  had  been  no  store.  The  town  site  at  this 
time  was  in  the  possession  of  Col.  James  A.  James.  The 
Fletcher  store  was  afterward  moved  east  to  the  Jameson 
tract,  on  which  the  new  town  of  Harrisonville  is  built. 
Madison  Miller,  who  had  married  Fletcher's  daughter,  was 
still  in  charge.  The  Horine  store  was  carried  on  in  the  old 
town  till  1840,  and  then  also  moved  east,  and  established  in 
a  frame  building  constructed  on  the  south  side  of  the  street, 
a  little  east  of  the  present  James  store.  The  Horines  were 
the  last  who  did  business  in  the  old  town,  and  after  1840  it 
was  abandoned.  In  1838  Col.  James  A.  James,  the  proprie- 
tor of  the  town,  and  a   man  named  Vanardsdale,  were   the 

p.mntyseat  is  situate,  to  Messrs.  MoKniglit  &  Brady,  aiiJ  Icnow  of  no  oDicr 
claim  to  said  land  than  tlmt  of  tlie  above  named  McKnight  &■  Brady." 

Kaakaskia,    May   Vi,  1819. 


only  residents.  James  was  the  owner  of  the  ferry.  The 
river  each  year  washed  away  more  and  more  of  the  land 
on  which  the  town  was  built,  and  by  1860  the  last  of  the 
buildings  had  disappeared  in  the  waters  of  the  Mississippi. 
The  early  courts  were  held  in  Harrisonville  during  the 
time  it  was  the  county  seat.  A  jail  was  erected  for  the  con- 
finement of  prisoners. 

NEW   HARRISONVILLE. 

The  Fletcher  and  Horine  stores,  which  we  have  stated 
had  been  established  on  the  site  of  the  present  town  of  Har- 
risonville, were  carried  on  together  for  some  years.  The 
latter  store  was  owned  by  Matthias  T.  and  Harrison  Horine. 
Fletcher's  store  was  discontinued,  and  after  the  high  water 
of  1844  the  Horines  moved  their  store  to  Waterloo.  Matthi- 
as T.  Horine  remained  till  1816,  and  kept  some  goods  on 
hand,  though  he  did  not  pretend  to  do  much  business  as  a 
merchant.  At  the  flood  of  1844  the  water  stood  about 
twelve  feet  deep  in  the  streets  of  Harrisonville. 

About  the  year  1846  the  Horine  farm,  part  of  claim  511, 
survey  497,  was  purchased  by  Noah  B.  Harlow,  who  in 
1852  opened  a  store  on  the  south  side  of  the  street. 
About  the  same  time  he  laid  out  the  town  of  New  Har- 
risonville. Three  years  afterward  he  built  the  brick  store- 
house now  owned  by  the  James'  store.  Thomas  James 
started  a  second  store  on  the  old  Horine  place,  where  Wil- 
liam Bamber  now  lives,  and  Bamber  and  James  went  into 
partnership  in  the  mercantile  business.  James  subsequently 
removed  part  of  the  goods  to  the  Andrew  Kinney  farm,  be- 
low Monroe  city,  and  Bamber  disposed  of  his  interest  to 
Harlow,  who  again  had  the  only  store  in  the  place.  He 
sold  his  store  to  Jacob  and  Fred.  Meyer,  and  they  to 
Thomas  James,  Bennett  James  and  William  Kinney.  This 
was  the  only  store  till  Lewis  Ihorn  started  another  in  1875. 
William  Bamber,  a  native  of  IMaryland,  whose  father  came 
to  Prairie  du  Long  in  1820,  has  been  a  resident  of  Harrison- 
ville since  1852. 

The  business  interests  of  Harrisonville  are  now  repre- 
sented as  follows:  Merchants,  James  &  Hurst  (Charles 
James  and  Lewis  Hurst),  and  Lewis  Ihorn  ct  Co.  (Lewis 
Ihorn,  John  Graziano  and  AVilliam  Ihorn) ;  Blacksmiths, 
John  Merkle,  Joseph  Vanon  and  Henry  Neiman ;  Saddler 
and  Harness  Maker,  Herman  Diemert ;  Shoemakers,  Henry 
Josephs  and  Frederick  Heuwendieck  ;  Physicians,  Drs. 
Samuel  Skeel  and  W.  S.  Johnson,  Dr.  G.  P.  Livingston  and 
Dr.  William  James.  There  are  two  churches,  the  Catholic 
church  of  St.  Francis,  built  1868,  and  St.  Paul's  Lutheran 
church,  built  1880.  The  Rev.  B.  Quitter  is  pastor  of  the 
Catholic  congregation.  William  Ihorn  is  the  postmaster 
About  1870  only  half  a-dozen  fiimilies  composed  the  popula- 
tion of  the  town,  and  the  place  has  been  mostly  built 
up  since  1875.  There  are  now  about  twenty-five  dwelling- 
houses.     It  is  an  important  shipping  point. 


EVANSVILLE. 


RANDOLPH     COUNTY. 


VAXSVILLE  precinct,  is  a  fine  body  of 
laud  ;  bounded  on  the  north  by  Baldwin, 
on  the  east  by  Central,  on  the  south  by 
Florence,  and  on  the  west  by  the  Kaskas- 
kia  river.  It  is  drained  in  the  northern 
portion,  by  Plum  creek.  In  the  south- 
eastern by  Butter  creek,  which  empties 
into  Nine  Slile  creek,  running  along 
its  southern  boundary.  The  land  in  the 
eastern  portion  is  quite  level,  that  along  the  western  bound- 
ary somewhat  broken.  The  wooded  districts  comprise  a 
portion,  about  one-third  in  size,  as  compared  to  the  cleared 
land.  The  farms  are  in  a  fine  state  of  cultivation,  and  the 
primitive  cabin  of  the  first  settlers  has  given  place  to  the 
modern  structure,  and  two  story  frame  and  brick  dwellings, 
are  numerous.  The  farmers  are  thrift)-.  The  German  element 
predominates  in  the  western  and  middle  portions,  while  in 
the  vicinity  of  Preston,  there  still  remain  some  of  the  des- 
cendants of  the  original  Scotch-Irish  who  were  the  first  to 
encounter  the  perils  of  early  emigration. 

About  the  year  1780,  a  settlement  was  made  about  the 
mouth  of  Nine  Mile  creek,  by  some  of  Col.  Clarks  old  soldiers, 
and  some  friends,  whom  they  had  persuaded  to  come  along 
with  them  to  the  country.  Of  these,  Daniel  Hicks,  Henry 
and  Elijah  Smith,  Hilderbrand,  Hayden,  Lunceford  and 
others  were  prominent.  They  nearly  all  lived  and  died  in 
the  settlement.  Lunceford  went  to  St.  Clair  county,  111., 
where  he  left  quite  a  large  number  of  descendants.  These 
were  undoubtedly  the  first  settlements  made  in  this  precinct, 
and  but  little  can  be  learned  of  them  at  this  date.  A  local- 
ity famous  in  early  days,  was  called  the  Irish  settlement, 
which  was  located  near  the  mouth  of  Plum  Creek,  and 
derives  its  name  from  the  fact  that  the  Irish  settlers  were 
called  South  Carolina  Irish.  The  place  was  probably  first 
settled  by  a  man,  eminent,  even  at  that  early  day,  for  great 
energy  and  activity,  James  Patterson,  from  the  Abbeville 
district,  South  Carolina.  He  afterwards  settled  upon  the 
site  of  Preston  village,  in  1804.  This  old  pioneer  held  the 
offices  of  Justice  of  the  Peace  and  County  Commissioner,  and 
also  made  himself  conspicuous  as  a  ranger  in  the  war  of  1812. 
He  had  four  sons,  John,  Samuel,  Keuben  and  James  Harvey. 
John,  after  living  for  several  years  in  the  same  settlement, 
with  his  father,  moved  to  Hill  Prairie,  where  in  18;>7,  he 
died.  Samuel  settled  in  Horse  Prairie ;  Reuben,  in  Heacock 
Prairie ;  James  H.  lived  on  the  farm,  first  settled  by  his 
father.  John  Fulton,  another  addition  to  this  settlement, 
came  in  1812.  He  proved  to  be  of  considerable  aid,  in  pro- 
moting the  best  interests  of  the  little  community.     His  sons, 


Thomas,  David  and  Cyrus,  all  located  in  the  neighborhood. 
On  the  2-5th  of  December,  If^H,  a  great  addition  was  made 
to  this  settlement  by  the  arrival  of  the  families  of  luliii  Mc- 
Clinton,  David  and  James  Anderson  and  Adam  Hill,  all  of 
whom  numbering  thirty-one  sons  came  from  the  Abbeville 
District,  South  Carolina.  David  Anderson  was  called  on 
frequently  to  fill  places  of  trust  and  honor,  and  was  a  very 
popular  colonel  of  the  militia.  He  left  no  sons,  all  dying 
while  young.  His  oldest  daughter  married  Robert  G.  Shan- 
non. His  brother  James  only  lived  a  few  years  after  com- 
ing to' Illinois.  Adam  Hill,  one  of  the  four  sons,  settled  near 
Lvansville,  living  there  until  his  death.  His  sons  were  John, 
William,  Adam,  Robert,  and  Samuel.  There  was  a  further 
increase  of  the  Irish  settlement  in  the  latter  part  of  the  voar 
1804,  b}-  the  arrival  of  Absalom  Cox,  James  and  Archibald 
Thompson,  William  McBride  and  Robert  ilcDonald,  and 
others.  Archibald  Thompson  was  noted  for  his  efficiency 
and  excellence  of  character.  After  living  a  few  years  in  the 
settlement  he  moved  in  1812  to  a  place  two  miles  south  of 
Evansville,  where  he  died  in  1833.  His  sons  were  Robert, 
William,  Morris,  Archibald,  John  and  James. 

William  McBride,  though  advanced  in  years  when  he 
came  to  the  Irish  settlement,  still  endeared  himself  to  every 
one  by  the  mode  of  his  life,  and  the  manner  in  which  he 
endured  the  hardships  of  the  country.  He  died  in  1818.  His 
sons  Thomas,  John  and  William,  settled  in  the  neighbor- 
hood. Thomas  left  two  sons,  William  and  John.  William 
McBride  was  captain  of  a  militia  company  in  I'^IS,  and  was 
also  once  a  county  commissioner.  Alexander  Clark,  who 
came  to  the  settlement  in  180.5,  located  three  miles  south  of 
where  Evansville  now  stands.  Samuel  Crozier  and  George 
Wilson  came  to  the  settlement  in  1806.  Samuel  Crozier 
settled  two  miles  south  of  Evansville.  Being  a  man  of  talents 
and  fine  character  he  soon  attained  a  leading  position  and 
received  high  recognition.  Some  of  his  descendents  are  still 
living  in  the  county. 

In  the  year  1807  John  Campbell  settled  near  the  mouth 
of  Nine  Mile  creek,  and  subsequently  died  in  1827,  four 
miles  east  of  Evansville.  Robert  Forster  was  another  old 
settler  who  built  a  mill,  run  by  horse  power,  and  a  steam 
distillery  near  the  mouth  of  Plum  creek.  These  improve- 
ments were  the  attractions  that  caused  the  settlement  to  grow- 
rapidly.  John  Ander.son  came  in  1808  and  first  settled  near 
his  brother,  Colonel  Anderson, where  he  lived  until  his  death. 
In  1808  William  Barnett  came  from  Kentucky.  He  died 
in  1818. 

A  block-house  was  erected  in  the  Irish  settlement  in  181 2, 
rendered  necessary  bv  Indian  hostilities.     Andrew  Borders 

415 


416 


HISTOIiY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


came  to  the  settlement.  He  worked  when  a  young  man  in 
the  distillery  of  Eobert  Foster.  Alexander  Campbell  came 
to  the  Irish  settlement  in  the  year  1819. 

In  1820  Robert  Bratney  came  from  Tennessee.  He  settled 
on  Plum  creek.  His  sons  were  :  John  B.,  Robert  N.  and 
James  C.  Robert  Bratney  was  a  soldier  of  the  revolutionary 
war  and  did  his  country  good  service. 

There  came  to  Randolph  county  in  1821  a  rather  remark- 
able man,  who,  if  not  a  pioneer,  deserves  mention  as  an 
early  immigrant,  James  Pollock.  This  gentleman,  to  whom 
the  county  is  greatly  indebted  for  an  example  of  energy 
and  thrift,  came  from  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  to  St. 
Louis  in  1818.  Here  he  followed  the  trade  of  tanner  for  a 
short  time,  when,  seized  with  the  immigration  fever,  he  came 
to  Randolph  county,  and  settled  where  Preston  now  stands. 
In  1822  he  married  Ann  Eliza  Conway,  whose  father  was 
once  scalped  and  left  for  dead  by  the  Indians  in  one  of  those 
bloody  skirmishes  so  frequent  in  these  days.  James  Pollock 
purchased  a  form  of  John  Rankin,  who  had  previously  pur- 
chased of  Washington  Sterritt,  and  erected  on  it  a  tan-yard. 
This  was  a  new  enterprise,  and  Mr.  Pollock  being  a  man  of 
energy  and  sagacity,  did  not  wait  for  tr.ide  to  come  to' him. 
^^^len  hides  were  scarce,  he  bought  cattle  and  slaughtered 
them,  and,  loading  the  carcases  on  boat,  pushed  off'  down 
the  river,  visiting  the  towns  as  far  as  New  Orleans;  and, 
disposing  of  his  beef,  returned  to  load  up  a  new  supply.  In 
this  wav  he  maintained  his  business  and  increased  his  pro 
pertv,  until  he  owned  all  the  land  upoij,  which  Preston 
stands,  and  much  in  the  vicinity.  He  died  in  1867.  He  was 
the  father  of  twelve  children. 

John  H.  McCarty  originally  came  from  Kentucky  in  1828, 
and  was  a  prominent  man,  holding  at  times  the  offices  of 
sheriff,  assessor  and  treasurer. 

Mary  M.  Bratney,  wife  of  John  B.  Bratney,  who  resides 
at  Preston,  is  a  daughter  of  James  Pollock,  above  mentioned. 
Her  husband  is  the  son  of  James  Bratney,  who  came  from 
Ireland  to  Tennessee,  and  thence  to  Randolph  county  with 
his  father,  Robert  Bratney,  who  was  a  gallant  soldier  in  the 
war  of  the  Revolution.  Joseph  Bratney,  his  son,  served  in 
the  war  of  1812,  under  General  Jackson.  On  their  arrival 
in  Randolph  county,  the  family  entered  a  half  section  of 
land  on  Little  Plum  creek,  just  above  its  mouth. 

The  Hon.  Jonathan  Chesnutwood  is  one  of  the  oldest  re- 
sidents in  Evansville.  He  is  the  son  of  Samuel  Chesnut- 
wood and  Hannah  Hughs,  who  were  united  in  marriage  in 
1796  in  Lancaster  county.  Pa.  Jonathan  was  born  in  Stark 
county,  Ohio,  in  the  year  182.5,  and  was  the  youngest  in  a 
family  of  nine.  He  entered  upon  a  classical  course  of  study 
at  Marietta  in  1847.  After  three  years  he  engaged  in  mer- 
cantile pursuits,  and  in  1852  came  to  Evansville,  where  he 
has  since  resided. 

Paul  Pautler,  of  Evansville,  is  one  of  the  oldest  German 
residents.  He  was  born  in  Alsace,  France,  in  1834.  His 
father,  Joseph  Pautler,  emigrated  to  this  country,  landing 
at  New  York  in  1847.  He  went  from  there,  first  to  Erie 
county,  in  western  New  York.  In  1852  Paul  came  to  Ran- 
dolph county,  Illinois. 

Dr.  Rudolph  Homaa  is  a  native  of  Hanover,  Germany. 


He  emigrated  to  this  country  January,  1838,  and  first  set- 
tled in  St.  Louis,  attending  school  until  1845,  when  he  went 
as  midshipman  on  the  man  of-war  "  Susquehanna,"  served 
until  1847,  when,  having  temporarily  lost  the  use  of  his 
eyes  by  an  explosion,  he  returned  to  St.  Louis  and  studied 
medicine  with  Prof.  Pope,  and  graduated  from  the  Univer- 
sity. He  first  began  to  practice  in  Centreville  and  George- 
town, St.  Clair  county.  Ills.,  and  in  1856  came  to  Randolph 
county,  where  he  has  since  practiced  in  Evansville. 

Charles  Ohms,  Wilhelm  Ricknagel,  John  Shuline,  Daniel 
Berthole  and  Frank  Vacht,  are  residents  of  the  precinct 
living  along  the  road  between  Preston  and  Evansville,  who 
came  from  St.  Clair  county,  111.,  in  1856.  They  were 
originally  from  Germany.  Valentine  Wehrheim  is  the  son 
of  John  Wehrheim  who  came  to  this  country  from  Germany 
in  1834,  and  landed  first  in  New  Orleans,  and  came  thence 
to  St.  Louis,  and  thence  to  Randolph  county.  The  year 
1854,  marks  his  advent  to  Evansville,  where  he  entered 
upon  an  extensive  and  prosperous  career,  leaving  the  im- 
press of  his  energy  on  Evansville  and  the  surrounding 
country,  where  he  is  still  remembered. 

He  built  the  flouring  mill  in  conjunction  with  Cadwell 
Evans,  which  was  destroyed  in  1864  by  fire.  He  rebuilt 
the  mill,  and  it  still  stands  a  monument  to  his  foresight  and 
thrift.  N.  and  W.  Sauer  are  the  sons  of  Philip  Sauer,  who 
emigrated  from  Hesse  Cassel,  Germany,  in  or  about  1833. 
He  settled  first  in  Monroe  county,  engaged  in  farming,  and 
afterwards  came  to  Randolph  county. 

A  true  specimen  of  the  old  pioneer  is,  Wiley  Roberts, 
living  about  two  miles  from  the  town  of  Evansville  in  a 
southwestly  direction,  on  a  farm  situated  between  survey's 
442  and  444.  His  father,  Thomas  Roberts,  came  from 
Kentucky  in  the  year  1787.  His  mother's  name  was  Jane 
Preston,  a  daughter  of  Daniel  Preston,  a  native  of  Penna. 
Thomas  Roberts  first  settled  in  Randolph  county  near 
Kaskaskia,  on  Gen.  Edgar's  land.  He  remained  there 
until  his  death  in  1860.  He  raised  nine  sons.  One 
daughter  died  while  young.  His  sons  names  were  William, 
John,  Preston,  Jacob,  Wiley,  Thomas,  Darius,  Voluey 
and  Perry,  all  of  whom  except  William  settled  in  the 
county.  Thomas,  the  father  of  the  above  children,  was  a 
scout  and  ranger  along  with  captain  McDonough,  major 
Hughes  and  others.  He  was  a  county  commissioner  and 
judge  under  the  old  law,  at  the  same  time  that  judge 
Thompson,  Hyzer  and  Gillispie  held  their  positions.  Wiley 
Roberts  was  born  in  Randolph  county,  April  30th,  1822, 
near  the  place  where  he  now  lies.  He  served  in  the  Mexi- 
can war  under  Captain  Rozier  and  Col.  John  C.  Fremont, 
and  was  mustered  out  at  the  close  of  the  war  at  Fort 
Leavenworth. 

TOWN  OF  EVANSVILLE. 

Evansville  is  beautifully  situated  on  the  eastern  side  of 
the  Kaskaskia  river  about  10  miles  from  Kaskaskia.  The 
land  upon  which  it  is  built  is  hilly,  affording  good  drainage 
and  fine  plats  for  private  residents.  The  town  was  laid  out 
in  1834  by  Cadwell  Evans.  Prior  to  that  time  in  1811 
Andrew  White  formed  the  town  site,  and  after  some  years 


416A 


fARM  RESIDENCE  OF  J.  W 


^^EdmTn'^MITCHIE  PRECINCT,  MONROE    CO   ILL 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


417 


sold  out  to  Adam  Henderson,  who  in  turn  sold  it  to  Levi 
North.  A  ferry  was  run  across  the  river  by  North,  called 
after  him,  "North's  Ferry,"  a  name  by  which  it  was  for  a 
long  time  known.  Eli  Chappell  purchased  the  property 
from  North,  and  in  turn  sold  it  to  Cadwell  Evans,  from 
whom  it  took  the  name  Evansville.  The  first  buildings 
erected  were  a  dwelling-house,  and  wag m  and  plough  shop. 
In  l?*.'i7,  Mr.  Evans  built  a  horse  mill,  and  Paul  Craddock 
a  cooper  shop.  The  next  year  a  tan  yard  was  opened  by 
Edmund  Eccles  and  Joseph  Bratney.  Mr.  Evans  at  the 
same  time  started  a  hotel.  In  the  year  following  William 
McNeal  commenced  the  saddlery  business,  and  in  1840, 
William  McKee  O'Melveny  opened  a  store  for  general  mer- 
chandizing. At  this  time  it  seemed  probable  the  town 
would  grow  up  to  a  flourishing  place,  and  great  expectations 
were  entertained  in  regard  to  its  importance.  But  a  crash 
came,  and  it  remained  without  any  increase  in  the  way  of 
improvements,  until  the  year  1847,  when  that  industrious 
and  capable  man  before  mentioned,  John  Wehrheim,  opened 
a  store.  Another  accession  of  importance  to  the  place  was 
made  in  lSo'2,  by  the  arrival  of  Jonathan  Chesiiutwuod  and 
his  large  stock  ot  goods.  Al)iiut  this  time  John  Wehrheim 
built  a  mill  which  contributed  largely  to  the  growth  of  the 
place.  The  river  afibrded  facilities  for  the  transportat'on  of 
flour,  and  the  mill  was  the  "  Mecca,"  to  which  the  farmers 
far  and  near  directed  their  footsteps  for  flour  for  family  use. 
In  18.J7  a  brewery  was  built,  and  many  yet  living  can  at- 
test to  the  good  quality  of  the  product.  Thus,  the  little 
town  gained  new  accessions,  and  feeling  its  importance,  bid 
for  the  county  seat  against  Chester.  The  country  around 
partook  of  its  enterprise,  and  the  farmers  of,  the  neighbor- 
hood organized  an  agricultural  society,  that  gave  several 
very  creditable  exhibitions,  and  ultimately  united  its  force 
with  the  Randolph  County  Agricultural  Society,  dropp  ng 
its  cognomen  of  Western  Randolph  Agricultural  Society, 
which  doubtless  was  a  wise  and  proper  movement. 

In  the  last  few  years  Evansville  has  been  slowly  but 
steadily  improving ;  the  Kaskaskia  river  is  now  success- 
fully navigated,  and  secures  beyond  all  hazard  the  transpor- 
tation for  its  mills  and  other  products;  an  advantage  that 
must  enhance  its  future  pro.'perity.  Steamboats  ply  between 
P^vansville  and  Chester.  The  town  now  has  a  population 
of  500,  and  contains  several  substantial  brick  and  frame 
residences  and  business  houses.  It  has  a  good  mill  ;  it  is 
owned  by  N.  and  W-  Sauer.  The  capacity  of  the  mill  is 
two  hundred  barrels  per  day.     It   has   two   churches — one 


Catholic,  and  one  German  Lutheran  ;  both  fine  brick  edifices. 
Two  school-houses — one  Catholic,  and  a  free  school. 

The  ferry  by  which  conveyance  is  had  across  the  river  is 
owned  by  the  Messrs.  Williamson  and  Cragin.  Evansville 
has  in  addition  to  the  above  the  following  places  of  business: 
One  dry  gomls  Morr  kept  by  the  Wagner  Brothers  ;  one  dry 
ijtiods  -store  kept  by  Valentine  Wehrheim  ;  one  dru;/  st(jrr  by 
the  Postmaster  WiUinia  H.  Grant;  one  puff-offire ;  tour  ph  i/- 
!iirtriiv<,  Rudolph  Homan,  M.  I).,  Jerome  Thompson,  M.  D., 
Dr.  W.  J.  Crozier  and  J.  M.  Wilson,  M.  D. ;  one  blaekmnith 
and  marlilne  shop,  hy  Peter  Baumbauer;  one  ahoenviking 
yhop,  F.  Wulf ;  one  Police  Ma;/i4rate,  Henry  G.  Meyerott ; 
one  Jwitice  of  the  Pence,  James  S.  Gray;  one  saddle  undh'ir- 
nexs  shop,  Henry  Rabe.  There  is  also  a  lime  done  quarry 
and  a  cooper  xhop.  The  latter  is  run  in  connection  with  the 
mill.  There  are  three  holeU  One  is  kept  by  Paul  Pautlir, 
one  by  Henry  Pautler  and  one  by  Joseph  Meyer. 

There  are  several  miIooiis  and  feed  st'(ble-<.  The  citizens 
are  mostly  of  German  descent,  and  exhibit  the  social  traits 
peculiar  to  the  race,  enjoying  the  pic-nic  and  the  dance. 
They  are  also  highly  moral  and  cultivated.  Attending  to  their 
own  business,  conservative  in  politics  and  religion  they  con- 
stitute a  pleasant  coniniuuitv. 

I'I'.ESTON   VlLI.AciE 

This  is  a  very  quiet  place,  with  a  fuw  good  family  re.--i- 
dences.  Preston  owes  much  of  the  interest  attaching  to  it 
from  the  church  location  here,  which  is  considered  the  mother 
of  Associate  Reformed  churches  in  Illinois. 

James  Patterson  settled  upou  the  town  site  in  I8il4,  and 
sold  out  in  181(1  to  Washington  Sterrit,  who  in  turn  sold  to 
John  Rankin  in  1820.  James  Pollock  bought  ot  the  latter 
and  e--tablished  a  tan  yard  in  182.1.  Samuel  B.  Strankey 
opened  a  store  in  18:!3  ;  Pollock  and  Bratney  also  opened  a 
store  in  18.J.5,  and  the  town  lots  were  surveyed  and  laid  off 
May  VI,  18;?(;,  by  Samuel  G.  Thompsun,  deputy  county  sur- 
veyor. The  village  is  located  on  section  10  in  the  N.  E. 
corner  of  the  precinct,  and  has  a  population  of  about  one 
himdred.  It  contains  one  dry  ijoods  More  kept  by  W.  J. 
Hill ;  a  post-office,  Postmadcr  J.  B.  Bratney  ;  Deputy  Pod- 
master  \\  .  J.  Hill ;  two  blacksmith  ^hopa,  one  uagon  mahtr's 
shop,  one  saw  mill,  one  phy.iicinn,  J.  W.  Seniple,  M.  D.,  and 
one  schaol-hoaae.  The  village  owes  much  of  its  renown  to  its 
being  the  locality  where  was  formed  a  church  that  dates 
back  to  1810,  called  the  original  "  Associate  Reformed  Pres- 
byterian." 


BIOGBAPHIES 


JOSEPH  PAUTLER,  Sr.  (Deceased.) 


The  Pautler  family  is  one  of  the  most  respected  in  the 
vicinity  of  Evansville,  and  its  members  are  closely  con- 
nected with  the  early  progress  and  development  of  that 
section  of  the  country. 

Joseph  Pautler,  Sr.,  was  born  at  Bremmelbach,  Canton 
Sulz,  Alsace,  on  the  2'2d  day  of  December,  1801.  There  he 
received  a  limited  education  in  the  German  language,  and 
later  learned  the  trade  of  stonemason,  which  profession  he 
followed  for  nine  years.  He  afterward  went  to  farming 
and  trading.  In  the  year  1823  he  was  married  to  Margar- 
etha  Weckerle,  a  native  of  the  same  village.  They  had 
six  children,  three  boys  and  three  girls,  the  names  of  which 
are,  in  the  order  of  their  birth  :  Margaretha,  Jo,  Christina, 
Franzi-ska,  Bernhard  and  Wendelin,  all  natives  of  Bremmel- 
bach. 

In  the  spring  of  the  year  184(5  he  sent  his  eldest  son, 
Joseph,  to  America  on  a  prospecting  tour,  who  was  followed 
by  his  daughter,  Christina,  in  autumn  of  the  same  year.  In 
418 


the  fall  of  the  year  1847  he,  with  the  remainder  of  the 
family,  emigrated  to  America.  The  voyage  was  accomplished 
in  32  days,  on  the  sailing  vessel  "Seville  de  Grace."  His 
first  settlement  was  in  Erie  County,  N.  Y.,  near  Buffalo, 
where  he  purchased  a  farm  and  erected  a  saw  mill,  in  con- 
nection with  a  partner  by  the  name  of  H.  Weiberle. 

On  the  2,jth  day  of  March,  18.50,  his,  wife  died.  In  the 
fall  of  the  .same  year  he  married  Miss  Henrietta  Dieze,  a 
native  of  Prussia.  They  had  five  children,  four  boys  and 
one  girl :  Henry,  Salome,  wife  of  Joseph  Schwarz,  John, 
deceased,  John  W.  and  Peter  Paul.  In  autumn  18.56  he 
came  to  Randolph  county,  Illinois,  where  he  bought  a  farm 
of  144  acres,  two  miles  south  of  Evansville. 

Mr.  Pautler  died  on  the  16th  day  of  January,  1873.  He 
had  always  been  a  devout  member  of  the  Catholic  Church, 
and  a  staunch  Democrat.  His  remains  are  interred  in  the 
Catholic  cemetery  at  Evansville. 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


419 


Dr.  WILLIAM  J.  CROZIER. 
Among  the  rising  young  physicians  of  Randolph  county, 
none  by  virtue  of  close  application  to  business,  and  determina- 
tion to  become  masters  in  their  profession,  deserve  more 
honorable  mention  than  he  whose  name  heads  this  article. 
His  ancestors  came  from  South  Carolina  to  this  county  as 
early  as  180(1.  The  Crozier  family  has  always  sustained  a 
very  respectable  position  in  the  community.  The  parents  of 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  were  Samuel  P.  and  Caroline 
Crozier.  The  mother's  maiden  name  was  Hill.  His  father 
is  a  man  of  eminent  social  qualities.  William  J.  was  edu- 
cated in  the  Sparta  Public  Schools,  where  he  enjoyed  the 
skill  of  Supt.  S.  B.  Hood  as  an  instructor.  After  completing 
the  course  of  study,  prescribed  in  the  public  schools,  he  de- 
voted his  time  to  the  study  of  medicine  under  direction  of 
Jerome  Thompson  in  1>'79.  In  the  fall  of  thesame  year  he 
entered  the  Missouri  Medical  College,  at  St-  Louis,  as  a 
student,  and  graduated  therefrom  March  2d,  lf<''^l  In 
August  of  the  same  year  he  opened  an  office  in  the  town  of 
Evansville,  and  since  has  devoted  his  time  and  attention 
most  industriously  to  the  practice.  Thoroughly  in  love  with 
his  calling,  and  alive  to  the  importance  of  vigorous,  unre- 
mitting effort,  he  is  making  rapid  headway.  Habits  of  in- 
dustry, such  as  he  cultivates,  bring  their  due  reward.  He 
makes  ophthalmology  rather  a  specialty,  taking  great  delight 
in  its  investigation  and  practice.  Politically  the  doctor  is  a 
Democrat.  Socially  he  is  highniiuded,  generous  and  com- 
pa.ssionate. 

WILLIAM  H.  GRANT. 

Amonc  the  pushing,  energetic  young  men  of  Evansville 
none  possess  more  merit  or  are  more  deserving  of  mention 
than  William  H.  Grant.  H-;  was  born  in  Rich  view,  Wash- 
ington county,  Illinois,  April  8th,  18-54.  His  father,  Robert 
H.  Grant,  a  millwright  by  trade,  was  a  native  of  Scotland 
where  he  was  born  January  '2"2d,  182.3.  He  prosecuted  his 
business  in  Randolph  county  for  some  years,  during  which 
timeiie  erected  the  Sparta  and  Union  mills  at  Sparta  and 
the  mill  at  Steelesville.  He  was  considered  an  adept  in  his 
line  of  work.  He  died  October  23d,  1870.  The  mother 
of  William  H.  who.se  maiden  name  was  Sarah  J.  Allen, 
was  born  October  22d,  18;!o,  and  died  February  21st, 
1861.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  obtained  most  of 
his  education  at  Sparta,  under  the  present  Supi.rinten- 
dent  of  schools  of  the  county,  S.  B.  Hood.  His  first 
experience  in  business  was  as  a  clerk.  In  187'J  he  set 
up  for  himself  in  ])nisecuting  the  drug  busine.ss  in  Evansville 


In  this  he  has  been  quite  successful,  a  careful  prescriptionist, 
a  skilled  pharmacist,  he  secures  such  encouragement  as  such 
care  and  skill  command.  In  188'3  he  was  appointed  post- 
master for  Evansville.  Prior  to  this,  in  fact  ever  since  1879 
when  he  opened  his  store  he  had  been  discharging  the  duties 
of  such  official,  being  a  deputy  to  his  predecessor.  He  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Elizabeth  Wehrheim,  daughter 
of  John  and  Elizabeth  Wehrheim,  November  29th,  1881. 
The  Wehrheims  are  among  the  best  citizens  of  the  county. 
John  was  a  man  of  great  activity  and  business  tact. 

Politically  Mr.  Grant  is  a  strong  and  active  Republican, 
outspoken  and  earnest  in  maintaining  his  position.  Socially 
he  is  a  clever  gentleman. 


NICHOLAS  SAUER 

NifHOi,.\s  Saueh  is  not  only  one  of  the  leading  business 
men  of  Evansville,  but  of  the  Kaskaskia  Valley.  His 
name  betrays  his  Teutonic  origin.  His  father,  Philip  Sauer, 
was  a  native  of  Germany,  from  which  country  he  ""-^p  first 
to  Pennsylvania,  in  183').  He  was  one  of 
patriotic,  energetic  characters,  so  common  among  Germa^i 
immigrants.  He  married  Elizabeth  Seorel,  a  woman  worthy 
of  such  a  husband. 

Nicholas  Sauer  was  born  in  Monroe  county,  Illinois, 
March  21,  1841.  He  obtained  a  fair  education,  such  as  fall 
to  the  lot  of  farmers'  sons  in  rural  districts.  In  18(36,  he 
commenced  merchandising  in  Mascoutah,  St.  Clair  county, 
Illinois.  This  he  followed  but  a  short  time,  leaving  that 
point  for  his  present  home,  where  he  has  ever  since  been  en- 
gaged in  milling.  By  the  exercise  of  sound  judgment  in 
its  management,  the  introduction  of  new  and  approved 
machinery  in  its  make-up,  he  has  made  the  reputation  of 
his  mill  second  to  none. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Elizabeth  Gerlach, 
daughter  of  John  Gerlach,  a  citizen  of  Monroe  county. 
July  21,  l86ij.  Five  children  have  been  born  to  them, 
naraelv:  John  William,  Philip  Edward,  Magdalena  Eliza- 
beth, Philip  Emil  and  George  Philip. 

Mr.  Sauer  is  one  of  the  representative  Republicans  in  his 
section  of  the  county.  He  is  proud  of  the  fact  that  his  first 
presidential  ballot  was  cast  for  the  martyr  President,  Abra- 
ham Lincoln. 

As  a  citizen  no  one  is  more  patriotic,  or  contributes  more 
to  enhance  the  prosperity  of  his  adopted  village,  than  Mr. 
Sauer.  A  thorough-going  business  man,  a  genial  gentleman, 
success  smiles  upon  him. 


CENTRAL 


RANDOLPH    CO. 


J]NTRAL  precinct,  from  its  location  in  the 
county,  doubtless  takes  its  name  ;  it  is  loca- 
ted mostly  in  L.  5,  R.  6  W.  It  contains 
thirty-six  sections  of  land.  About  one-fourth 
of  the  area  is  prairie,  and  the  remainder  is 
slightly  broken  and  hilly  and  covered  in 
places  with  timber ;  this  is  the  character 
more  especially  of  the  northern  and  western 
portions.  The  head  waters  of  the  Little  Plum  creek  have 
their  origin  in  the  north.  A  branch  of  Pillars  creek  waters 
the  southeast.  Baldwin  and  Tilden  bound  Central  on  the 
north,  Sparta  on  the  east,  Blair  bounds  it  on  the  south,  and 
Evansville  on  the  west  side. 

John  Lively,  whose  name  will  be  immortalized  by  the 
prairie  called  after  him,  was  undoubtedly  the  pioneer  of  this 
])recinct,  and  first  settler  on  it  in  1805  ;  section  -i  was  the 
localitv  of  the  old  home,  and  it  has  ever  since  been  the 
home  of  some  of  the  name.  John  Lively  die  i  in  182(5 ;  he 
was  a  brother  of  Joseph  Lively  who  came  from  Abbeville, 
South  Carolina,  and  settled  three  miles  north  of  Kaskaskia. 
John,  as  was  also  his  brother,  was  a  rather  notable  man  ;  he 
exhibited  some  noble  traits  of  character,  and  his  memory  is 
yet  held  in  veneration  by  his  descendants.  He  was 
originally  from  South  Carolina.  He  took  part  in  the 
war  of  1812,  and  when  he  came  to  Illinois  engaged  in  the 
ranging  service  ;  he  also  served  in  the  Black  Hawk  war 
He  was  also  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  He  was  a  soldier 
by  nature,  and  engaged  in  service  of  some  kind  from  his 
youth.  A  splendid  marksman,  he  used  to  supply  his  table 
with  the  wild  game  of  the  forest ;  his  latch  string  always 
hung  out,  and  many  a  traveler  could  testify  to  his  bountiful 
hospitality,  and  many  a  sufferer  on  a  sick-bed  received  adeli- 
cate  morsel  from  his  unerring  rifle.  His  residence  was  ex- 
tensively known. 

Samuel  A.  Mann,  now  living  on  section  14,  T.  5,  R.  7, 
came  to  Randolph  county  with  his  father,  Robert  M.  Mann, 
in  1817.  His  ancestors  were  from  the  Abbeville  district 
in  South  Carolina.  His  father,  Robert  M.,  was  born  there 
in  1771,  and  was  there  married  in  1795  to  Mary  Houston. 
About  1807  Robert  M.  Mann  left  South  Carolina  with  his 
family,  intending  to  settle  in  Illinois  ;  when  he  got  as  far  as 
Kentucky,  the  tidings  received  of  the  Indian  depredations 
deterred  him  from  proceeding  further,  and  he  settled  in 
Logan  county,  Kentucky,  and  remained  there  until  1817, 
when  he  came  to  Randolph  county.  He  had  at  that  time 
eight  children ;  Samuel  Alexander  Mann  was  the  youngest 
son,  and  was  about  three  years  old  when  his  father  arrived 
in  Randolph  county.  Robert  M.  Mann  died  on  the  land 
420 


where  he  first  located  in  the  year  1855,  at  the  great  age  of 
eighty  four  Samuel  Alexander  Maun  was  born  in  Logan 
county,  Kentucky,  on  February  28th,  1815. 

John  M.  Beaty,  living  on  section  12,  is  the  son  of  John 
Beaty,  whose  father,  John,  came  from  South  Carolina  in 
1808.  The  father  of  John  M  was  a  participant  in  the  war 
of  1812.  His  grandfather  was  a  retired  and  quiet  man,  yet 
esteemed  a  valuable  citizeu,  and  a  man  of  considerable  force 
of  character ;  he  left  three  sons,  some  of  whom  are  living. 

John  Beaty,  the  father  of  Johu  M  ,  was  born  in  South 
Carolina,  and  came  to  Illinois  with  his  father;  he  married 
Elizabeth  Maun,  by  whom  he  had  eight  children — four  sons 
and  four  daughters ;  John  M.,  on  section  12,  and  Charles, 
living  on  section  17,  are  two  of  the  sons;  Robert  T.  Beaty 
was  the  name  of  another  son ;  the  name  is  often  spelled 
Beattie.  He  built  the  first  house  on  section  17,  and  opened 
the  first  farm. 

Robert  N.  Bratney  is  the  son  of  Joseph  Bratney,  who 
came  to  Randolph  county  in  1820,  along  with  his  father, 
Robert  Bratney.  Joseph  Bratney  was  a  soldier  under  Gen- 
eral Jackson  in  the  war  of  1812.  Robert  N.  was  the  second 
son  and  third  child  of  Joseph  Bratney  and  his  wife  Eleanor 
(Beaty),  and  was  born  in  1829.  Charles  Beattie,  an  uncle, 
raised  him  on  the  place  where  he  now  lives,  which  formerly 
was  called  the  '  old  Beaty  farm." 

William  Weir  is  the  sou  of  Robert  Weir,  who  came  to  this 
country  from  Ireland  and  first  settled  in  South  Carolina,  from 
whence  he  removed  to  Randolph  county,  Illinois,  in  the  year 
1821,  and  settled  on  section  17.  He  raised  six  sons  and  two 
daughters,  all  of  whom  settled  in  the  same  locality.  His 
sons  were  James  N.,  Samuel  T.,  William,  Samuel,  James  B. 
and  John. 

John  B.  Wilson  came  from  Scotland  in  1854,  and  first 
located  in  Maryland,  where  he  resided  until  1857,  when  he 
came  to  Sparta,  Randolph  county,  Illinois.  He  opened  a 
coal  mine  the  same  year  on  section  17,  and  after  a  short 
time  took  charge  of  the  Rozier  mine,  formerly  known  as 
the  Ritchey  mine,  located  in  section  16.  At  this  place  he 
has  since  resided,  superintending  the  mine. 

The  Rozier  mine  is  of  the  same  vein  as  the  Belleville,  in 
St.  Clair  county.  It  runs  about  six  feet  in  thickness,  and  is 
covered  by  a  limestone  roof  of  four  feet  in  thickness.  It  is 
well  adapted  for  fuel  or  coke.  The  capacity  of  the  mine  is 
25,000  bushels  yearly,  all  of  which  finds  a  home  market. 
The  coal  is  brought  to  the  surface  through  a  shaft  by  horse- 
power.    It  was  opened  in  the  year  1840. 

Among  others  worthy  of  mention  as  old  settlers  is  Daniel 
Gerlach,  ex-sheriff  of  Randolph  county.     He  was  born  in 


fflSTOHY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    CQUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


421 


Bavaria,  Germany,  September  9,  1885,  he  came  to  Illinois 
in  the  spring  of  1853. 

James  D.  Thompson,  living  on  section  14,  is  the  son  of 
Jamfs  Thompson,  who  came  from  Abbeville  district,  South 
Carolina,  about  I'^H,  and  settled  first  at  Kaskaskia  and 
afterwards  in  Evansville  precinct,  where  he  died  in  the 
eighty-fourth  year  of  his  age.  He  was  a  surveyor,  and  was 
the  first  county  surveyor  of  Randolph  county  after  its  or- 
ganization; he  was  also  probate  judge  and  captain  in  the 
Black  Hawk  war,  under  Col.  Gabriel  Jones.  He  had  five 
sons:  John  P.,  Archibald  C,  James  D.,  .Samuel  H.  and 
Robert  P.,  all  of  whom  but  John  P.  are  living  in  Randolph 
county.  James  D.  has  been  county  surveyor  for  three 
terms. 

Major  Andrew  Borders,  from  South  Carolina,  came  to 
Randolph  county  in  1816,  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  section 
•'?,  township  5,  range  6.  He  had  several  children  born 
here;  he  died  in  18(i4.  For  a  more  extended  sketch  of  this 
prominent  man  see  Sparta  precinct.  Major  Borders  and 
Joseph  Weir,  the  father  of  William  Weir's  wife,  made  up 
the  firpt  school  ever  taught  in  this  portion  of  the  j)recinct. 
The  building  was  log,  very  small,  and  James  Borders,  now- 
living  in  Sparta,  a  son  of  the  Major,  well  recollects  going  to 
the  .school  in  or  about  the  year  l^-U.  It  was  taught  by  a 
man  named  Armour. 

The  following  land  entries  were  maile,  viz. :  January  10, 
181M,  Andrew  Borders  entered  the  N.  E.  qr.  sec.  4,  134tSs 
acres.  March  7,  1817,  Larkin  Doyle  entered  the  W.  half 
N.  W.  qr.  sec.  4,  GSiVci  acres.  July  12,  181tj,  John  Lively 
entered  the  S.  W.  qr.  sec  4,  160  acres. 

The  population  of  the  precinct  are  generally  descendants 
of  the  Scotch  and  Irish  pioneers  from  South  Carolina  ;  and 
belong  to  some  branch  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  There 
are  a  few  German  families  settled  along  the  western  boun- 
dary of  the  precinct,  who  are  industrious  and  thrifty. 


The  old  settlers  have  nearly  all  passed  away,  and  much 
that  might  have  been  of  interest  to  their  descendants  has 
been  lost  to  the  memory  of  some  now  living. 

The  first  burial-place  was  on  the  farm  of  John  Lively. 
The  only  church  in  the  precinct  h  located  on  section  5.  It 
belongs  to  the  Baptists,  and  is  called  "  Fairview."  There 
are  now  four  school-houses  in  the  precinct. 

The  first  grist-mill  was  built  by  Major  Borders  on  section 
4,  on  land  now  owned  by  Silas  M.  Lott.  Thomas  Weir  also 
built  a  mill  shortly  afterward  on  section  21.  These  mills 
were  run  by  horse-power.  Tne  farmers  bringing  grain  fur- 
nished the  h«rses  and  awaited  their  turn,  the  rule  being, 
"  first  come,  first  served."  Those  who  came  from  a  distance 
and  were  compelled,  sometimes  brought  with  them  blankets 
and  provisions.  Time  passed  pleasantly,  and  the  oppor- 
tunity for  social  greeting  and  an  interchange  of  neighbor- 
hood news  was  not  to  be  forgotten. 

The  Cairo  and  St.  Louis  R.R.  passes  diagonally  across  the 
northeast  corner  of  the  township. 

HOUSTON    .STATION. 

This  is  a  small  hamlet  containing  a  dozen  families  and  a 
population  of  perhaps  50  individuals,  situated  on  the  Cairo 
and  St.  Louis  Narrow  Gauge  Railroad,  before  mentioned. 
It  is  located  on  the  east  half  of  the  northeast  quarter  of 
section  2!(,  township  4,  range  6  west,  according  to  survey.  It 
can  boa<t  of  a  grain  elevator,  with  a  capacity  for  storing  ten 
thousand  bushels  of  grain. 

Store— By  W.  C.  McKee. 

Post  office.—  Post-master,  W.  C.  McKee. 

Elera(ur.—\y.  C.  McKee. 

Blucksmith  Shop. — R.  C-  Temple. 

Physieian.— Dr.  Hugh  C.  Gait. 

Millinery. — Mrs.  Ellen  McCandless. 

The  commissioners  for  Central  precinct  are  :  James  J. 
Borders,  Martin  Ireland  and  John  B.  Frank. 


'^'Cl^ 


^S^- 


BLUFF. 


MONROE  COUNTY. 


N  the  limits  of  the  present  Blufl"  precinct  the 
earliest  settlement  was  made  in  the  year 
1796  bj'  several  families  by  the  name  of 
Short)  Griffins,  Gibbons,  Roberts,  and 
Valentine.  This  colony  remained  only  a 
few  years,  and  its  members  then  scattered 
to  other  localities.  It  must  have  been  quite 
numerous  at  one  time,  for  years  afterward 
.'«  could  be  seen  a  large  graveyard  in  which 

the  early  pioneers  were  buried,  on  the  creek,  between  Mon- 
roe city  and  the  bottom,  which  by  the  early  settlers  was 
called  Ryan's  creek,  from  the  fact  that  Josiah  Ryan  had 


settled  on  it  in  the  bottom  under  the  bluff.  Daniel  Shultz, 
also  made  an  early  settlement  here.  Where  Monroe 
City  now  stands  Andrew  Kinney  built  a  water  mill, 
and  this  vicinity,  at  an  early  time,  became  one  of  the  im- 
portant business  points  of  the  county.  From  this  mill  flour 
was  shipped  to  St.  Louis  and  to  New  Orleans  before  the  war 
of  1812.  Kinney  was  one  of  the  sons  of  Joseph  Kinney, 
who  settled  east  of  New  Design,  aud  there  built  one  of  the 
earliest  water  mills  in  the  county.  In  building  the  mill, 
Kinney  was  seriously  injured  by  a  piece  of  timber  falling 
on  his  breast.  He  was  confined  to  his  house  for  many  years. 
In  1818  he  became  a  candidate  for  delegate  to  the  conven- 


422 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


tion  which  framed  the  original  constitution  of  the  State  of 
Illinois.  He  subsequently  died  in  Missouri.  Ilis  brother, 
Wm.  Kinney,  settled  near  Belleville,  and  became  Lieuten- 
ant-Governor of  the  State.  On  Ryan's  creek,  below  Mon- 
roe city,  Josiah  Ryan  built  a  mill  in  1798.  The  Kinney 
farm,  where  Andrew  Kinney  lived,  was  on  Ryan's  creek, 
below  Monroe  city.  On  the  site  of  Kinney's  mill,  in  the 
year  1827,  another  mill  was  subsequently  built  by  Gen. 
Thomas  James.  A  post-office  was  established  there  called 
James'  Mills.  The  mill  afterward  passed  into  the  hands  of 
Lewis  James.  It  was  run  as  a  water  mill  until  1851  ;  it  was 
then  changed  to  a  steam  mill.  The  scarcity  of  water  occa- 
sioned the  suspension  of  the  mill  in  dry  seasons,  and  its  in- 
creasing trade  made  the  introduction  of  steam  a  necessity. 
The  mill  was  afterward  owned  by  James  L.  Garretson, 
Uriah  Harlow,  and  James  Harlow.  Wm.  H.  Bis.sell,  after- 
wards Governor  of  Illinois,  began  his  distinguished  career 
at  James'  Mills,  where  he  settled  and  for  a  time  followed  his 
profession  as  a  physician.  He  subsequently  became  a  law- 
yer. (See  article  on  Bench  and  Bar  for  sketch  of  Geo. 
Bissell). 

About  a  mile  south  of  Madonnaville  was  formerly  an  old 
ox  mill  built  by  Thomas  Harrison,  of  Belleville.  Isaac  J. 
Bailey,  and  a  Mr.  Jarrot,  operated  this  mill  for  a  time  for 
Harrison.  Settlers  came  from  a  distance  to  this  mill.  The 
mill  was  located  on  what  was  known  as  the  old  tan  yard 
farm,  on  section  17,  township  2,  range  10.  George  Biggs, 
one  of  the  pioneer  citizens  of  the  county,  resided  on  claim 
777,  survey  643,  in  township  3,  range  10.  At  an  early  day 
a  family  named  Great  lived  in  the  hollow  a  mile  below 
Monroe  city.  They  came  from  Maryland.  John  Great,  one 
of  the  sons,  was  a  stonemason,  and  did  the  stone  work  of  the 
mill  at  Monroe  city.  He  died  at  Prairie  Du  Pont.  Arnold 
Livers,  of  Frederick  county,  Maryland,  came  with  the  Great 
family.  He  was  about  sixteen  years  of  age  when  he  arrived 
in  Illinois.  He  subsequently  married  and  settled  on  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  7,  township  3,  range  10.  Joseph 
Livers  came  out  from  Maryland  some  years  afterward,  and 
located  on  the  American  Bottom,  four  miles  north  of  Har- 
risonville  on  the  Nagel  place  in  section  18.  The  Bryant 
family  settled  at  an  early  date.  Prince  Bryant  lived  on 
this  place  in  1824  ;  an  old  graveyard  a  short  distance  north 
of  Madonnaville  was  used  as  a  burial  place  by  the  Bryants. 
Elias  Bryant  lived  on  section  IS.  Wm  Bryant's  farm 
was  on   section   11,  and  is  now  owned  by  William  Pryor. 

Orlando  Mattingly  lived  on  gection  32,  T.  2,  R.  10.  The 
farm  was  entered  by  his  father.  His  widow  married  a  man 
named  Foster,  and  the  pond  on  the  land  was  given  the  name 
of  Foster  pond,  which  it  has  since  retained. 

Among  the  later  population  of  the  precinct  were  a  large 
number  of  German  families,  who  settled  here  after  the  year 
1840.  In  the  vicinity  of  Madonnaville  lived  the  Berger 
family  on  the  Kraft  place  in  section  18.  Matthias,  John, 
Sebastian,  and  Joseph  Berger  were  the  sons,  only  the  last  of 
whom  is  now  residing  in  the  county.  John  P.  Hoffman  has 
been  living  a  mile  east  of  Madonnaville  since  1844.  Other 
early  settlers  were  Francis  Adelsberger,  Michael  Mentel, 
Louis  Gerster.     Adam   Andreas  settled  prior  to   1845,  on 


section  18.  Nicholas  and  Sebastian  Andreas  were  his  sons, 
the  former  of  whom  is  still  living.  Other  early  German 
residents  were  Jacob  Coerver,  Francis  Coerver,  Henry 
Mueller.  The  latter  settled  on  section  5  in  1844.  Peter, 
George,  John,  and  Henry  Mueller  were  his  sons.  John 
Harbaugh,  a  Pennsylvanian,  came  in  1845.  Soon  after  came 
Philip  Knisler.  John  Christian  Wilsenborn,  has  lived  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Monroe  city  since  1846.  He  served  in  Co. 
H.  2d  Regiment,  commanded  by  Col.  Bissell,  in  the  Mexican 
war. 

MONROE   CITY. 

A  store  was  opened  at  this  place  (formerly  called  James' 
Mill)  in  the  year  1851.  In  the  building  now  occupied  as  a 
store  by  David  Schein,a  large  mercantile  business  was  here 
carried  on  at  one  time,  four  clerks  being  occupied  in  the  sale 
of  goods.  About  the  time  the  store  was  started  the  place 
came  to  be  called  Monroe  city.  In  1864  the  stock  of  goods 
was  destroyed  by  fire.  It  then  belonged  to  the  Garret- 
son  heirs.  The  town  now  contains  twenty  dwelling-houses. 
The  mill,  which  has  two  run  of  burrs,  is  owned  by  Gottlieb 
Ziebold,  and  is  leased  by  Valentine  Lupfer.  David  Schein 
is  proprietor  of  the  store  and  postmaster.  Adam  Keiser, 
blacksmith  and  wagon  maker.  Michael  Eschman  and  Adam 
Seipel  are  carpenters.  There  is  a  public  school  and  tri- 
weekly mail. 

M.VDONNAVILLE 

was  laid  out  by  Joseph  W.  Ruebsam.  He  erected  the  first 
building  ;  it  is  now  used  as  a  store.  Ruebsam  started  a  store 
shortly  after  the  town  was  laid  out.  A  man  named  Helmich 
was  also  the  proprietor  of  a  store  for  some  time.  John 
Eichenseer  built  the  second  dwelling.  It  is  the  stone  house 
now  occupied  by  John  Harbaugh.  Ruebsam's  stock  of 
goods  was  purchased  in  1868  by  George  W.  Harbaugh,  who 
kept  the  store  until  the  spring  of  1882.  St.  Mary's  Catholic 
Church  was  built  in  1857.  With  the  church  is  connected  a 
■parochial  school.  The  village  is  now  composed  of  nine 
dwelling-houses,  a  church,  a  school-house,  and  a  store.  There 
is  a  tri-weekly  mail.  The  business  men  are  John  Wtiler, 
merchant  and  postmaster  ;  Nicholas  Schroeder,  carpenter  ; 
and  Michael  Eichenseer,  shoemaker. 

WARTBURG 

is  the  name  of  a  new  village  that  has  Tately  sprung  up  four 
or  five  miles  southwest  of  Waterloo,  on  the  road  from  that 
place  to  Monroe  city.  July  1st,  1881,  a  post-office  was  es- 
tablished, with  Louis  P.  Buettner,  postmaster.  He  still 
retains  the  position.  He  is  also  the  proprietor  of  a  store. 
The  village  contains  half  a  dozen  dwellings,  a  carpenter 
shop,  and  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  of  the  Holy 
Cross,  with  which  a  school  is  connected.  The  church  is  a 
large  stone  building.  The  school  has  sixty  or  sixty-five 
pupils.  An  extensive  pond  near  the  town  is  known  by  the 
name  of  Beaver  Pond.  It  was  at  first  the  intention  to  call 
the  post-office  by  that  name,  but  on  account  of  its  prevalence 
as  a  title  for  post-office,  the  name  of  Wartburg  was  substi- 
tuted in  commemoration  of  the  castle  in  Germany,  where 
Luther  for  some  time  resided,  and  translated  the  Bible. 
Nearly  all  the  members  of  the  village  are  Lutherans. 


STEELE'S    MILLS. 


RANDOLPH   COUNTY. 


HIS  precinct  is  iu  the  eastern 
part  of  the  county,  and  ex- 
cepting sections  31,  '.i'2,  33, 
34  and  portions  of  35  and 
36,  comprises  the  whole  of 
Township  six  south,  range 
five  west,  and  also  the  south- 
ern tier  of  sections  of  town- 
ship five  south,  range  five 
west.  The  surface  is  divided 
between  prairie  and  timber 
land.  Theprecinct  is  supplied 
with  excellent  roads,  the  principal  being  the  Shawneetown 
and  Kaskaskia,  which  was  an  old  Indian  trail,  and  the 
Sparta  and  Chester.  The  Cairo  and  St.  Louis  and  the 
Wabash,  Chester  and  Western  pass  through  it  intersecting 
at  Percy.  It  derived  its  name  from  Steele's  mills  of  which 
George  Steele  was  the  proprietor  at  Georgetown,  now 
'Steelesville,  at  an  early  day.  In  1880  it  had  a  population 
of  1,059.  The  number  and  character  of  its  school  buildings 
testify  in  favor  of  a  due  ap])lieation  of  educational  advan- 
tages. Coal  in  great  abundance  underlies  the  surface  and 
is  mined  quite  extensively.  The  first  vein  lies  from  thirty  to 
eighty  feet  below  the  surface,  and  has  a  thickness  of  about 
seven  feet,  the  second  about  twenty  feet  below  the  first,  with 
a  thickness  varying  from  four  and  a  half  to  five  feet,  and 
the  third  fifteen  feet  lower  varies  from  two  and  a  half 
to  three  feet  in  thickness.  The  first  two  are  covered  with 
limestone,  the  third  with  sandstone.  The  Barnard  Coal 
Mining  and  Transportation  Company's  mine  is  located  half 
a  mile  east  of  Percy,  on  land  of  R.  J.  Short.  The  company 
was  organized  in  IJSTI  or  '72.  The  shaft,  which  is  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  five  feet  deep,  passes  through  two  workable 
veins.  The  coal  is  blasted  out  of  the  solid,  and  7,0O0 
to  8,000  bushels  are  daily  raised.  The  mine  is  almost  free 
from  water,  and  has  a  fine  natural  roof  of  bituminous  shale 
and  limestone  forty  feet  thick.  David  Brown  sunk  two 
shafts  on  his  land  respectively  on  the  N.  W.  J  and  the  S.  W. 
i  of  section  11.  The  mines  were  in  operation  aboui  eight 
years,  and  together  had  a  capacity  varying  from  five  hun- 
dred to  a  thousand  bushels  a  day.  Gen.  Madi.son  Miller's 
mine,  on  the  S.  W.  i  of  sec.  14,  is  operated  by  Isaac  Rury. 
About  two  hundred  bushels  of  coal  are  rai.sed  daily  by  horse 
power.  Henry  Bierraan's  mine  is  on  the  S.  I  of  section  25. 
It  is  now  under  lease  to  B.  F.  Soper.  The  coal  is  dug  and 
raised  by  gin.     Henry  Weberling's  mine  on  the  N.  E.  }  of 


section  3G,  is  leased  and  worked  by  Theodore  Hart ;  the 
coal  is  mined  by  horse  power.  These  coal  interests  together 
with  a  variety  of  soil  consisting  of  prairie  and  upland, 
make  this  one  of  the  most  iiuportant  precincts  iu  the  county. 

The  pioneer  settler  was  John  Steele.  He  was  a  native  of 
Summer  county,  Tennessee,  and  came  to  this  county  in  1798. 
He  was  a  man  of  self-reliance  and  courage  and  pushed  his 
way  beyond  the  settlements  already  made,  and  in  that  year 
located  on  the  S.  W.  i  of  section  28.  He  came  with  wagons 
and  horses,  and  brought  with  him  to  the  county  his  family, 
consisting  of  his  wife  and  seven  children,  viz.,  Archibald, 
George,  James,  John,  Thomas,  Elizabeth  and  Catharine. 
He  made  some  improvements  on  section  28,  where  he 
remained  till  1807,  when  he  moved  to  the  W.  A  of  section 
16,  where  he  improved  a  good  farm  and  lived  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  September  11th,  1^20.  Archibald  was  born 
July  24th,  1798.  In  1812  he  married  Elizabeth  Flack  and 
settled  on  his  father's  place  in  section  16.  His  childrenjwere 
Anthony,  Jefl'erson,  Ryland,  Merritt,  Jasjier,  Mahala, 
Delila,  Lucinda,  Harriett,  Minerva  and  Lindsay.  He  died 
April  9th,  1859.  George,  the  original  proprietor  of  Stteles- 
ville,  settled  near  the  center  of  section  16,  where  this  village 
now  stands,  in  1810.  He  married  Nancy  Steele  by  whom  he 
had  five  children,  James,  Thomas,  Melinda,  Mariah  and  Re- 
nia.  James,  brother  of  George,  married  Matilda  White  some 
time  prior  to  181 2.  By  her  he  had  seven  children,  viz.  Sidney, 
Lafayette,  Araminta,  Martha,  Margaret,  Sarah  and  Mary. 
Mr.  Steele  settled  on  the  N.  W.  i  of  section  28,  where  he 
remained  till  the  year  1848,  when  he  went  to  Wisconsin, 
where  he  died  about  18G4.  John,  brother  of  James,  about 
1818,  married  Elizabeth  Davis,  by  whom  he  had  eight 
children,  Alfred,  Matthew,  Martin,  M.  E.,  now  living  in 
Steelsville,  Elvira,  Huldah,  Cynthia,  and  Margaret  E.  Two 
other  children  died  in  infancy.  About  1818  Mr.  Steele 
entered  the  S.  E  i  of  section  28  where  he  lived  till  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1872.  Thomas,  brother  of  the  above, 
married  Nancy  Holloman,  by  whom  he  had  six  children, 
Wilson, Carl,  Romina,  Ro.salvey,  Fidelia,  and  Emily.  He 
settled  on  the  S.  W.  i  of  section  28,  where  his  home  was  for 
life.  Elizabeth,  sister  of  Thomas,  came  with  her  father  as 
the  widow  of  .lohn  McCallaster.  She  afterward  married 
George  Crcth,  and  Catherine  her  sister  married  a  Steele  in 
Tennessee,  and  with  her  husband  and  two  children  came  in 
company  with  her  father.  Her  husband  settled  on  section 
22  at  an  early  day. 

The  next  settler  in  the  year  1808,  was  Jacob  Bowerman. 
423 


4'>4 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND     PERRY   COUNTIES,  ILLINOIS. 


He  was  a  man  of  marked  decision  and  force  of  character, 
and  he  was  possessed  of  a  fertile  mechanical  genius.  He  was 
the  pioneer  blacksmith  of  the  settlement,  and  possessed  great 
skill  in  the  manipulation  of  metals.  He  was  an  expert  gun- 
smith. He  was  born  in  1773  and  died  in  1847.  James 
White,  from  South  Carolina,  made  a  settlement  about  1808 
in  the  W.  i  of  section  17  about  half  a  mile  north  of  the 
point  where  the  road  leading  from  Steelesville  to  Chester 
crosses  Mary's  river.  About  this  date,  Augustus  Davis, who 
settled  first  at  Kaskaskia,  came  to  the  vicinity  of  Steeles- 
ville. The  Robbison  family  were  from  South  Carolina 
Thev  settled  first  at  Kaskaskia  about  the  year  1808.  Not 
long  after  this  they  came  to  township  six,  range  five  The 
original  ancestor  was  Richard.  He  had  eight  sons,  John, 
Joseph,  Richard  Jr.,  Jame.s,  Shadrach,  William,  Thomas 
and  Jefferson.  John  came  to  the  county  a  single  man.  At 
Kaskaskia  he  married  Barbara  Synot.  His  two  sons,  John 
S.  and  Richard,  were  born  there.  He  settled  on  section  34, 
and  Richard  occupied  theold  homestead  from  about  1832  till 
his  death.  His  wife  was  Betsy,  daughter  of  John  Thomason. 
John  S.  now  lives  on  section  34,  where  he  settled  in  1864. 
His  wife  was  Pariza  Axum,  by  whonj  he  had  eight  children. 
William  settled  near  his  brother  John.  Their  descendants 
are  quite  numerous  in  the  county. 

John  Layue,  a  Tennesseean,  settled  near  Steelesville  in 
1816,  where  he  died.  Emanuel  Canaday  settled  in  the 
precinct  in  1816.  He  afterward  went  to  the  Bradley  settle- 
ment near  Shiloh  Hill.  Colonel  Gabriel  Jones  with  a 
family  from  Adair  county,  Kentucky,  arrived  in  1817. 
He  settled  about  a  mile  west  of  Steelesville,  on  what  become 
known  as  the  "old  Colonel  Jones  place."  He  was  a  man 
of  talent,  energy  and  activity,  and  took  a  lively  interest  in 
the  affairs  of  the  community  in  which  he  lived.  He  repre- 
sented the  county  in  the  General  Assembly,  and  held  other 
positions  of  trust.  He  was  made  a  colonel  in  the  Black 
Hawk  war,  and  was  a  gallant  soldier.  About  1859,  he  was 
mayor  of  the  city  of  Chester,  to  which  place  he  had  pre- 
viously removed,  where  his  son  Gabriel  now  resides. 
His  brother,  Dr.  Ashby  Jones,  practiced  medicine  in  the 
precinct  at  an  early  day.  John  Thomason  was  from 
Georgia.  He  came  by  pack  horses  about  1816  or  18}7, 
with  his  family,  consisting  of  his  wife,  a  son,  George,  a  step- 
son, David  Simmons,  and  three  daughters,  Nancy,  Letitia 
and  Elizabeth.     He  settled  on  section  twenty-three. 

Eli  Short,  came  to  the  county  from  Kentucky  in  1819, 
and  settled  on  section  eleven  in  the  prairie  that  still  bears 
his  name.  His  means  of  conveyance  to  the  county  were 
wagon  and  horses,  by  which  he  brought  his  wife,  Betsy 
Sanders,  and  his  children,  viz.  Polly  with  her  husband, 
William  Thraelkeld,  and  Dennard  with  his  wife,  Mary  Ann 
Ireland,  and  Juliet,  Ann,  John  T.,  Thomas  Jefferson  and 
Betsy.  John  T.  donated  the  land  on  which  the  village  of 
Percy  now  stands.  Thomas  J.,  while  a  young  man,  was 
killed  in  the  Black  Hawk  war,  in  Wisconsin,  July  21, 1832. 
Mr.  Short  was,  in  many  respects,  a  remarkable  man.  His 
influence  in  the  community  in  which  he  lived  was  wide- 
spread, and  in  favor  of  industry  and  morality.  He  was 
the  pioneer  settler  in  the  beautiful  prairie  which  he  adopted 


as  the  place  of  his  activities  and  labors,  and  the  first  resident 
minister  in  the  precinct,  and  among  the  first  in  the  county. 
As  a  minister  he  belonged  to  the  denomination  of  regular 
Baptists,  and  in  the  early  part  of  his   career,  held  to  the 
doctrine  of  election  with  unswerving  tenacity.     He  was  a 
man  of  strong  common  sense  and   of  good  powers  of  argu- 
ment, and  these  added  to  a  gift  of  language  made  him  an 
effective  preacher  and   a  wily  adversary  in  defense  of  the 
doctrines  of  his  faith,   an   attack  upon  which   his  love  of 
argument   sometimes    induced    him    to    invite.     From    the 
narrow  tenet  of  election,  he  turned  to  the  broad  doctrine  of 
universalism.     An  educated  clergy  he  did  not   believe  in, 
holding  that  the  true  ministry  were  called  not  educated  to 
their   office.     He  preached  to   the  early  settlers  in  his  own 
house,  which  he  dedicated  as  a  church,  by  arranging  a  little 
platform  or  rest  in  the  stair-case.     He  had  a  cider  press  on 
his  farm,  and  on  meeting  occasions  dispensed  cider  as  well 
as  gospel.     In  the  course  of  one  of  his  sermons,  a  question 
arose  in  some  way  concerning  the  prophet  Daniel.     Daniel 
Malone  was  in  the  audience,  and  according  to  a  custom 
quite  common  in  those  days  of  informally  referring  questions, 
occasionally,    to   those    preseht,   it  was    addressed   to   him. 
"What  do   you   think   about  it,  Daniel  ?"    thundered   Mr. 
Short.     "  Well,  I  think  I  would  like  to   have   some   cider," 
was  the  reply   amid   much   audible  smiling.      Mr.  Short's 
associate  in  ministerial  labor  was  Rev.  Silas  Chrisler.     At 
this  early  day  there  was  also  a  traveling   missionary  of  the 
Dunkard  faith,  who  preached  occasionally.     Mr.  Short  was 
severely  wounded  in  the  knee  in  the  battle  of  the  Thames. 
He  carried  the  buck  shot  there  received  all  his  life.     He 
and  his  commander,  Col.  Johnson,  were  riding  together,  and 
both  were  wounded  in  the  same  volley.     Short  fell  from  his 
horse   and    Johnson's  rushed    wildly   into   the   presence   of 
Tecumseh,  whom   his   rider  shot  dead.     Thomas  J.   Short 
now  wears  the  watch  his  grandfather  carried  in  that  battle. 
A  comparatively  early  settler  was  Cornelius  Adkins.     He 
brought  with    him   his   wife   and  children,  Robert,  Nancy, 
Sarah,  Vina,  Harriett,  Gabriel,  Jacob,   Martin   and   Burd. 
He  settled  on  section  twenty-two. 

Daniel  Malone  was  a  native  of  Tennessee.  He  settled 
first  in  Four  Mile  Prairie,  Perry  county,  in  1829.  In  1835, 
he  settled  on  section  11,  Randolph  county,  now  the  David 
Brown  property.  He  married  Mary  G  ,  daughter  of  Samuel 
Brown,  now  Mrs.  Holloman  of  Wine  Hill  precinct.  J.  M. 
Malone  of  Steelesville,  was  born  in  Perry  county,  and  came 
to  Randolph  in  1833.  David  Brown,  an  enterprising 
fanner,  mine  owner  and  grain  dealer  of  Percy,  is  the  son 
of  Mr.  Brown,  an  early  pioneer  living  in'Sparta  precinct, 
and  was  born  in  the  county  in  1828.  Among  the  earlier 
arrivals  in  the  county  now  living  in  the  precinct,  are  G.  W. 
Suesberry,  a  merchant  of  Steelesville,  who  was  born  in 
Kentucky,  and  came  to  the  county  in  1838 ;  Robert  Mor- 
rison, a  farmer  of  section  two,  a  native  of  Ireland,  who 
came  in  1840  ;  Sarah  Jay,  a  native  of  Ohio,  who  is  en- 
gaged in  farming  on  section  eighteen,  and  who  came  to  the 
county  in  1838,  and  Rev.  H.  S.  Gordon,  of  section  ten,  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  who  came  here  from  Missouri  in 
1838.     The  first  school-house  in  the  precinct  was  built  of 


424A 


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SOUTHERN  ILLINOIS  P£NIT£NTIARY,CHESTER,ILLlHOIS;SITUAJED  NEAR  MOUIH  Of  KASKASiilA  RIVLH  OH  BAHKOf  MiSSlSSIPP\. 


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HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


425 


round  logs  as  early  as  1820,  and  called  Jones.  It  stood  on 
the  N.  E.  i  of  the  N.  W.  }  of  section  seventeen.  The  seats 
were  made  of  round  poles  and  the  desks  of  puncheons. 
Here  began,  as  early  as  1831,  the  Union  Sabbath-school, 
still  in  existence.  What  was  known  as  the  Georgetown 
school-house,  was  a  hewed  log  building  put  up  at  a  later 
day.  It  was  used  as  a  free  for-all  meeting-house,  and  was 
the  parent  of  the  first  churches  in  the  precinct.  An  early 
schoolmaster  was  Benjamin  Wham,  an  eastern  man  and  an 
excellent  teacher.  Steele's  cemetery  is  the  oldest  burial 
place  in  the  precinct.  The  Bowerman,  Short  and  Jones 
graveyards  were  of  an  early  date.  The  marriage  of  William 
Robbison  and  a  daughter  of  Jacob  Bowerman,  was  a  very 
early  marriage,  and  probably  the  first  in  the  precinct. 
Squire  Durett  Oliver  was  an  early  justice  of  the  peace.  Eli 
Short   had  a  five  acre  apple  orchard  set  out  as  early  as  ]8'2"i- 

A  distillery  for  making  apple  brandy,  was  established  in 
1834  or  '35.  The  blockhouse  in  which  the  neighborhood 
took  refuge  from  the  Kickapoos  during  the  Indian  troubles, 
was  built  in  1812  and  stood  within  the  present  corporate 
limits  of  Steelesville,  on  the  Shawneetown  road,  about  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  east  of  the  west  boundary  line  of  section 
sixteen.  An  old  well  now  marks  its  site.  During  an  entire 
season  the  people  lived  in  this  blockhouse,  never  leaving  to 
go  far  away  without  their  guns.  We  subjoin  a  few  of  the 
early  land  entries  : 

September  30th,  1841,  John  Steele  entered  S.  i  section  28, 
320  acres ;  same  date,  James  White  entered  the  W.  i  sec- 
tion 17,  320  acres;  January  20th,  1817,  Jacob  Bowerman, 
entered  N.  E.  }  section  5, 175i"3  acres  ;  November  3d,  1817, 
Richard  Robinson  entered  W.  }  of  N.  W.  i  section  6 
931%  acres  April  29th,  1815. 

VILLAGE    OF    STEELESVILLE. 

In  1810  George  Steele  located  where  the  village  now 
stands,  and  made  a  small  farm.  In  1825  he  laid  the  foun" 
dation  of  the  town,  by  erecting  a  mill.  It  was  the  first 
mill  in  the  precinct,  and  was  a  very  rude  affair.  The 
power  was  supplied  by  the  weight  of  oxen  on  an  in- 
clined wheel.  The  roof  was  formed  by  hooking  clap-boards 
through  which  wooden  pins  had  been  driven  over  the  lathes. 
It  had  one  set  of  burrs,  and  wheat  was  ground  one  day  in 
the  week,  and  corn  the  balance.  It  was  widely  known  and 
largely  patronized  till  1842,  when  it  was  abandoned,  and 
superseded  by  another  built  near  its  site.  In  1827  Col. 
Gabriel  Jones  opened  a  store,  and  sold  the  first  goods.  The 
post-office,  called  Steele's  Mills,  was  established,  with  Mr. 
Jones  as  postmaster,  in  the  same  year.  The  village  was  origi- 
nally called  Georgetown,  which  name  the  older  portion  of 
the  town  yet  popularly  bears.  The  newer  portion  is  famil- 
iarly called  Alma.  The  name  was  changed  to  Steelesville 
by  act  of  the  Legislature.  The  village  was  laid  out  by  Mr. 
Steele,  and  surveyed  and  platted  February  16,  1830,  by 
James  Thompson,  county  surveyor,  and  the  plat  recorded  in 
the  office  of  the  Circuit  Clerk  August  5,  of  the  same  year. 
Town  lots  were  offered  for  sale,  and  Capt.  Rogers,  Col.  Jones, 
Dr.  Ashby  Jones,  Robert  Jones,  and  Tanner  Briggs,  were 
among  the  purchasers.  In  1838-9  Mr.  Steele  built  a  brick 
54 


dwelling,  the  first  of  the  kind  in  the  precinct.  The  first 
church  in  the  precinct  was  organized  here  in  1834,  by  Rev. 
Eli  Short.  After  some  years  the  organization  was  abandoned. 
The  first  permanent  church  organization  was  established  by 
Rev.  J.  B.  Aicott,  a  Baptist  minister.  In  1848  the  congre- 
gation built  a  frame  church-house,  the  first  one  erected  in 
the  precinct.  In  1859  the  town  had  a  flouring  mill,  a  saw 
mill,  four  dry  goods'  stores,  one  wagon  shop,  one  cooper  shop, 
one  blacksmith  shop,  one  tailor  shop,  one  hotel,  and  two 
physicians.  The  growth  of  the  town  has  not  been  rapid,  but 
has  been  of  a  substantial  character.  The  population  census 
of  1880,  was  four  hundred  and  forty.  There  are  five 
churches.  The  German  Methodist,  a  frame  structure,  was 
built  in  1863  or  '64.  The  Methodist,  a  brick  building,  was 
completed  in  1871,  at  a  cost  of  about  S'2,000.  The  Presby- 
terians built  a  brick  church  in  1875,  at  a  cost  of  85,500.  St. 
Mark's  Evangelical  Lutheran,  was  erected  in  1879,  at  a  cost 
of  $1,500  The  Baptists  completed  their  frame  church  in 
1882.  The  school-house,  erected  in  1874,  crowns  an  abrupt 
elevation,  and  is  a  commodious  and  ornamental  brick,  two. 
story,  four-room,  basement  building.  It  cost,  including  fur- 
niture and  heating  apparatus,  the  sum  of  $7,000. 

PRESENT   BUSINESS. 

Alma  Flouring  Mill  was  built  in  1859  or  '60,  by  S.  Parker 
and  company,  at  a  cost  of  $1,100.  In  1867  it  was  sold  to 
Pickles  and  Guiguon,  who,  in  1869,  parted  with  it  to  Robert 
Elickiss.  In  1870  it  was  purchased  by  J.  M.  Allen,  who 
owned  it  till  1876,  when  it  was  bought  by  E.  F.  Stinde  and 
company,  who  are  now  operating  it.  Its  dimensions  are, 
main  building,  36x44;  engine-room,  14x36;  office-room, 
12x16.  Its  capacity  ranges  from  one  hundred  and  thirty  to 
one  hundred  and  sixty  barrels  a  day.  It  has  three  run  of 
burrs,  and  eight  bolting  reels,  and  employs  twelve  hands. 
The  cooper  shop,  attached,  finds  work  for  six  or  eight  men. 

Alma  Woolen  Mills,  a  three-story  brick  building,  was 
put  up  in  1866.  at  a  cost,  including  machinery,  of  §18,000, 
by  Shalberg,  Theis  &  Co.,  and  is  owned  and  operated  by  J. 
II.  Thies,  who  manufactures  flannels,  blankets,  jeans,  etc. 

Physicians. — C.  Davis,  Jacob  Keller,  Martin  Laird,  H. 
G.  Armbrewster. 

General  Merchanti. — G.  W.  Shrewsberry,  Stahlenburg  k 
Eagle,  L.  Dudenbostel  &  Bro. 

Grocery  Merchants. — Mrs.  Elizabeth  Elickiss,  William 
Sake. 

Fancy  Dry  Goods  Merchanti.  —James  and  Lewis  Edwards 

Drugs,  Groceries,  and  General  Merchandise. — J.  M. 
Malone. 

Hotel  Keepers — Lewis  Smith,  Dr.  C.  Davis. 

Livery  Stable  Keeper. — H.  Fiene. 

Boarding  House  Keepers. — J.  M.  Malone,  H.  Bullinger, 
C.  Vesper,  Mrs  A.  Harris. 

Butchers  — August  and  Henry  Beisner. 

Blacksmilhs. — Theodore  Dorl,  James  M.  Gray,  S.  W. 
Weibusch. 

Wheelwright. — G.  J.  Knapp,  H.  Triefte. 

Furniture  Store. — William  Nolte. 

Stoves  and  Tinware- — Edward  Gornelson. 


42«5 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY  COUNIIES,    ILLINOIS. 


3Iil/itiers  and  Drrssmaket'i. — Miriam  Malone,  Emma 
Eagle,  Mrs.  Lucy  Davis. 

Saddle  and  Harness  Shop. — F.  Maaberg,  Herman  Jostmau. 
Barhcr. — \Villiam  Lake. 
Tailor. — Charles  Palmer. 

Justices  of  the  Peace. — Daniel  Shaeffer,  Charles  Palmer. 
Tllhffe  Attorney. — W.  W.  Edwards. 
Grain  Dealer. — Charles  Dennis. 
Lumber  Yard. — James  Pikett. 
Lumber  Agent. — L.  M.  Smith. 
Shoemaher  &  Shocstore. — Henry  Luchsinger. 
Shoemaker.  —  Philip  Kann. 
Painter. — Lewis  RufBng. 
Carpenters. — William  Henry,  John  Brusch. 
Plasterer  and  Erich  Ma.-ion. — William  O'Brien. 
Cooper. —  Henry  Schwab. 

Saloon  Keepers.  —  Charles  Vesper,  Henry  Bollinger. 
Saw  J/i//.— William  M.  Blair. 
Brick  Yard. — A.  Frey. 

SOCIETIES. 

SteelesviUe  Lodge  No.  528,  /.  0.  0.  F.,  was  organized  Octo- 
ber 14, 1873.  It  has  a  present  membership  of  about  twenty- 
five,  and  meets  in  J.  M.  Malone's  hall.  It  has  about  $320 
in  the  treasury. 


Alma  Lodge  No.  497,  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  was  chartered 
October,  18G6.  It  has  a  membership  of  fifty-two,  and  meets 
in  Masonic  Hall.     Its  finances  are  in  goed  shape. 

Banner  Council  R.  T.  T  No.  54,  was  organized  May  16, 
1880.     Its  membersliip  numbers  thirteen. 

The  Randolph  county  Historical  and  Library  Association, 
was  chartered  by  the  State  Legislature,  in  1866.  It  has  a 
membership  of  about  twenty-five,  and  owns  about  two  hun- 
dred volumes  . 


The  town  of  Percy  was  laid  out  by  the  Cairo  and  St- 
Louis  Railroad,  on  the  S.  E.  }  of  section  11,  and  platted 
and  surveyed  by  R.  W.  Clark,  Railroad  Surveyor.  The 
plat  was  recorded  in  the  office  of  the  Circuit  Clerk,  July  3, 
1863.  The  land  was  donated  to  the  company  by  John  T. 
Short,  reserving  alternate  lots.  The  place  is  characterized 
by  life  and  activity,  and  is  in  the  midst  of  a  fine  agricultural 
country.  The  trains  on  the  Cairo  and  St  Louis,  and 
Wabash,  Chester  and  Western  Railroad,  stop  for  meals  at 
the  popular  hotel  of  Mr.  Griffin,  who  also  runs  a  general 
store.  The  physician  of  the  place,  is  R.  W.  Steele.  Drugs 
and  groceries  are  sold  by  William  Moulic,  who  is  also  the 
postmaster.  David  Brown  deals  in  grain.  James  Higgins 
runs  a  hotel,  and  Francis  Harris  the  saw  mill. 


BIOGRAPHIES 


Rev.  H.  S.  GORDON. 

There  are  few  citizens  in  Randolph  county  more  deserv- 
ing of  honorable  mention  in  a  work  of  this  character  than 
Rev.  Henry  S.  Gordon.  He  was  born  in  Franklin  county 
Pa.,  June  19th,  1816.  When  four  years  of  age,  his  parents 
(George  and  Nancy  Gordon)  came  west  and  located  in  St. 
Louis  county,  Missouri,  where  the  family  resided  until  1838, 
then  moving  to  Randolph  county,  Illinois,  settled  on  a  farm 
near  Georgetown. 

Mr.  Gordon  attended  the  common  schools  near  his  home 
in  Missouri,  and  in  1841  entered  Shurtleff  College  at  Upper 
Alton,  and,  upon  completing  his  course  of  study,  was  or- 
dained a  minister  of  the  Baptist  Church.  Ten  years  later  a 
difficulty  arose  between  Rev.  Gordon  and  his  congregation 
regarding  communion,  he,  believing  in  free  communion, 
was  excommunicated.  Immediately  afterward  he  organized 
a  Freewill  Baptist  Church,  in  accordance  with  his  own 
views,  and  has  been  the  pastor  of  the  society  ever  since. 

In  1834  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Rebecca 
Young,  by  whom  four  children  were  born.  She  died  in 
1848,  and  the  following  year  he  married  Mrs.  Nancy  Hill, 
and  five  children  have  been  born.  Rev.  Gordon  has  always 
been  engaged  in  the  pursuit  of  farming,  reared  a  large  and 
intelligent  family,  and  is  one  of  the  useful  and  influential 
men  of  the  county,  evincing  an  interest  in  all  enterprises  that 
tend  to  improve  both  the  property  and  morals  of  the  com- 
munity. 


Rev.  GEORGE  A.  GORDON 
Is  the  son  of  Rev.  Henry  S.  and  Rebecca  Gordon.  He  was 
born  in  the  city  of  Alton,  Illinois,  April  14, 1842,  and  when 
at  the  age  of  six  months,  his  parents  moved  to  Randolph 
county  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  section  11,  near  the  present 
village  of  Percy.  His  early  years  were  spent  on  the  farm 
with  his  parents,  and  attending  the  schools  of  the  neighbor- 
hood, subsequently  attending  the  mathematical  and  classical 

Institution  at ,  where  he  completed  his  education, 

and  for  some  time  afterward  employed  his  time  in  teaching 
school  and  farming.  In  1860  he  married  Miss  Harriet  Glore, 
daughter  of  Jeptha  and  Margaret  Glore  ;  she  is  a  native 
of  Randolph  county,  III.,  born   near  Shiloh  Hill,  in  1846. 

In  1872  he  embarked  in  the  drug  business  in  Percy, 
where  he  continued  for  three  years,  then  removing  to 
Campbell  Hill  in  Jackson  county,  Illinois  ;  here  he  con- 
tinued engaged  in  a  very  successful  mercantile  business. 
In  August,  1868,  he  was  ordained  minister  of  the  Free-will 
Baptist  church.  In  1865  he  made  a  six  months'  tour  of 
Europe,  visiting  many  places  of  interest,  and  acquiring  a 
store  of  useful  information. 

While  Rev.  and  Mrs.  Gordon  have  not  been  blessed  with 
ofl^spring,  their  house  has  ever  been  an  asylum  to  poor  and 
unfortunate  orphans,  who  there  receive  kind  and  true 
Christian  benevolence.  Few  have  done  more  for  sufl^ering 
humanity  than  they,  and  none  are  more  honored  and  re- 
spected in  the  community. 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY  COUNTIES,  ILLINOIS. 


42' 


No  more  industrious,  earnest  people ;  no  more  loyal,  pa- 
triotic citizens  come  to  our  American  shores  from  foreign 
lauds,  than  those  who  recognize  Germany  as  their  father- 
land. Thousands  of  their  number  have  here  found  welcome 
— a  welcome  heartily  reciprocated  upon  their  part,  and 
which  they  most  keenly  appreciate. 

Kandolph  couuty  has  within  her  boundaries  a  goodlv 
number  of  German  people,  many  of  whom  are  recognized 
leaders  in  different  lines  of  business  or  in  public  capacity- 
None  are  deserving  of  more  honorable  mention  than  the 
present  affable  and  capable  county  clerk,  Louis  Dudenbostel. 
He  was  born  in  Germany  March  29,  l.s:3(i.  In  his  native 
land  he  acquired  a  fair  education.  In  1800  he  came  to  this 
country,  locating  first  in  the  city  of  Chester,  Randolph 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  attended  the  common  schools,  and 
acquired  the  English  language  sufficiently  for  the  transac- 
tion of  business.  He  opened  a  general  store,  which  he  kept 
successfully  for  a  period  of  three  years,  aud  then  sold  his 
property,  and  located  in  Evansville  in  the  same  county. 
He  remained  at  this  place,  in  the  same  business,  for  a  like 
period  of  time,  when  he  parted  with  his  stock  of  merchan- 
dise, and  engaged  in  the  sale  of  farming  implements  for  a 
short  time.  January  1,  1870,  he  received  the  appointment 
of  deputy  county  clerk  under  Hon.  John  K.  Shannon,  and 
remained  in  that  position  during  the  unexpired  term  of  that 
official.    He  received  a  similar  appointment  at  the  hands  of 


John  T.  McBride  after  his  election  to  the  office  of  county 
clerk,  and  continued  to  perform  its  duties  until  the  summer 
of  1875,  when  he  moved  to  Steelesville,  and  again  engaged 
in  the  general  mercantile  business,  which  he  has  successfully 
carried  on  to  the  present  time.  In  1877  he  was  the  nominee 
of  the  Democratic  party  for  county  clerk,  but  was  defeated 
at  the  election  by  a  small  vote.  In  the  fall  of  1882  he  again 
became  a  candidate  for  this  office,  and  was  this  time  success- 
ful, being  elected  by  a  handsome  majority. 

April  2."),  1870,  Mr.  Dudenbostel  was  married  to  Miss 
Mary  C.  Knapp,  daughter  of  John  J.  and  Elizabeth  Kuapp. 
Mrs.  Dudenbostel  was  born  in  Chester  in  184II.  Five  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  them,  viz.  Elizabeth,  Edmond,  Na- 
omi, .\lma,  who  died  in  infancy,  and  Louis.  Jlr.  Duden- 
bostel is  a  democrat  of  the  Jeffersouian  type.  He  has  always 
been  held  in  high  esteem  by  the  community  in  which  he  has 
lived,  as  a  moral  and  useful  citizen,  aud  has  many  warm 
aud  confidential  friends,  all  of  whom  he  is  proud  to  honor. 
In  his  management  of  the  affairs  of  the  count)'  clerk's  office 
he  is  making  hosts  of  friends,  and  is  proving  his  genuine 
worth  in  the  position.  Affable  and  courteous  in  his  demea- 
nor, correct  aud  accurate  in  his  clerical  work,  he  is  being 
recognized,  even  by  those  whose  political  affiliations  lead 
them  to  cast  their  ballots  for  his  opponent,  as  being  the 
"  right  man  in  the  right  place." 


428 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


JAMES  PICKETT. 
Mr.  Pickett  was  born  in  Kenton  county,  Ky.,  July  22,1833. 
When  he  was  about  eight  years  old  he  moved  with  his  pa- 
rents to  Illinois,  and  settled  in  Randolph  county,  where  his 
father,  William  Pickett,  in  March,  1840,  purchased  land 
and  began  farming,  continuing  there  until  his  death.  James 
remained  at  home  and  labored  for  his  father  until  August, 
1852,  when  he  engaged  with  H.  C  Cole,  of  Chester,  as  clerk 
and  book-keeper  in  his  flouring  mill.  This  position  he  re- 
tained until  1857,  when  he  opened  a  general  store  at  Shiloh 
Hill,  and  continued  there  for  a  period  of  twelve  years,  and 
then  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  at  Steelesville,  where 
he  has  since  remained.  February  17, 1863,  he  married  Miss 
Martha  Ann,  daughter  of  William  and  Rachel  Jay,  who 
immigrated  from  South  Carolina  to  the  territory  of  Illinois 
at  a  very  early  day.  Mrs.  Pickett  was  born  in  Randolph 
county  in  1831,  and  received  her  education  at  the  common 
schools.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  Mr.  Pickett  entered  col- 
lege at  Lebanon,  Illinois,  where  he  remained  during  the 
Freshman  and  Sophomore  years.  He  has  been  esteemed  as 
one  of  the  live  and  useful  citizens  of  the  county  in  which  he 
has  lived,  and  has  done  his  full  share  to  improve  and  build 
up  Steelesville,  where  he  is  blessed  with  many  warm  friends. 


JAMES  M.  MALONE, 
A  NATIVE  of  Perry  county,  Illinois,  was  born  April  3,  1833. 
Soon  after  this  date  his  parents  moved  to  Randolph  county 
and  settled  in  section  eleven,  where  the  village  of  Percy  now 
stands.  When  he  was  eight  years  old  his  father  died,  and 
his  mother  subsequently  married  E.  Holloman.  James  re- 
mained on  the  farm  with  his  mother  and  attended  the  com- 
mon schools  till  the  age  of  twenty-one,  when  he  embarked  in 
business  for  himself  For  several  years  he  clerked  in  stores, 
taughtschool,  became  a  partner  in  the  flouring  mill  at  Steeles- 
ville, now  owned  by  E.  F.  Stinde  &  Co.,  and  for  fourteen 
years  engaged  ih  merchandising.  In  the  late  conflict  be- 
tween the  States  he  volunteered  and  was  elected  orderly  ser- 
geant of  Co.  F  one  hundred  and  fifty-fourth  Illinois  Infantry, 
and  was  mustered  out  at  the  close  of  his  term  of  service  as 
First  Lieutenant.  In  1870  he  was  appointed  Postmaster  of 
Steelesville,  which  position  he  still  holds. 

On   the  19th  of  April,   1S55,  he  was  married   to   Miss 
Mary  S.  Johnson.     By  this  union  there  are  seven  living,  in- 


telligent children,  viz. :  Frank,  Willis,  James,  Clarence, 
Cora,  Belle  and  Grace.  In  religion  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Malone 
are  both  firm  believers  in  the  Presbyterian  church.  Mr. 
Malone  is  elder  of  his  church  and  superintendent  of  the 
Sunday  School.  In  politics  he  has  been  a  Republican  since 
1860.  Perhaps  there  are  few  if  any  citizens  in  the  community 
that  have  done  more  to  improve  the  morals  and  support 
good  society  than  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Malone ;  they  are  both 
blessed  with  many  warm  friends,  and  are  held  in  high 
esteem  by  all  good  citizens  of  their  acquaintance. 

JOHN  H.  THIES 

Was  born  in  Germany,  January  10th,  1824,  where  he 
received  his  early  education,  and  worked  at  farming  until 
he  was  about  nineteen  years  old,  when  he  joined  the  eleventh 
regiment  of  cavalry,  in  the  regular  army  of  Prussia,  and 
served  for  three  years,  being  honorably  discharged  in  March, 
1849.  Soon  afterward  he  emigrated  to  the  United  States, 
landing  at  New  Orleans,  where  he  remained  but  a  few  days, 
taking  passage  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  where  he  immediately 
engaged  as  a  sutler,  in  which  he  continued  till  1856.  He 
married  Miss  H.  F.  Stalberg  in  1856,  and  immediately 
afterward  moved  to  Randolph  county,  Illinois,  and  pur- 
chased land,  where  he  was  successfully  engaged  in  farming 
pursuits  until  1866.  Desirous  of  changing  his  avocation  in 
life,  he  bought  land  in  Steelesville,  and  with  his  two  brothers- 
in-law,  Charles  and  William  Stalberg,  built  a  large  and 
convenient  building,  and  commenced  the  manufacturing  of 
woolen  goods  in  first-class  grades  and  styles,  in  which  capa- 
city they  cooperated  until  1879,  when  Mr.  Thies  bought  the 
interest  of  his  partner,  and  has  successfully  carried  on  the 
business  ever  since. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thies  are  now  the  parents  of  six  intelligent 
children,  two  sons  and  four  daughters.  They  are  both  firm 
believers  in  the  Christian  religion,  and  consistent  members 
of  the  M.  E.  church.  Mr.  Thies  has  frequently  been  called 
upon  by  his  fellow-citizens  to  accept  many  important  offices 
of  his  precinct,  in  which  he  has  in  all  instances  rendered 
full  satisfaction  to  his  constituents  and  credit  to  himself 
He  has  always  been  held  in  high  estimation  for  his  true 
merits  and  good  citizenship.  He  is  always  willing  to  aid 
and  support  all  moral  and  useful  enterprises  that  have  a 
tendency  to  develop  and  improve  the  country. 


GRAND    COTE 


PERRY  COUNTY. 


ITUATED  in  the  extreme  northwestern 
portion  of  the    county,  lies  Grand  Cote 
Frecinct.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by 
Washington     county,    on    the   east    by 
Beaueoup,  on  the  south  by  Cutler,  and 
on  the  west  by  Randolph  county.  Much 
1^    (H         of  the  surface,  which  is  level,    was  for- 
y^^i>        merly  covered  with  timber.      The  only 
^v''  prairie    is  that  beariog  the  same  name 

as  the  precinct.  Much  of  the  timber  remains  undisturbed. 
The  Cairo  Short  Line  Railroad  enters  at  section  -iB,  pa.ssing 
through  the  precinct  in  a  northwesterly  direction,  and 
passes  out  at  section  7.  This  precinct  has  no  water-courses. 
It  comprises  all  of  congressional  town  four  south,  range  four, 
and  two  tiers  of  sections  in  the  northern  part  of  town  five, 
range  four.  The  soil  is  fertile  and  productive.  Agriculture 
is  the  principal  occupation  of  its  inhabitants.  The  population, 
according  to  the  census  of  1880,  was  nine  hundred  and  forty- 
one. 

Grand  Cote — from  the  French — meaning  Beautiful 
Prairie,  was  first  settled  by  Thomas  Swanwick,  who  came 
from  Chester,  England,  and  located  on  the  northwest  quarter, 
and  the  east  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  Sec.  11,  T.  4, 
R.  4,  which  he  had  entered  February  13, 1818.  The  lands  first 
settled  by  Thomas  Swanwick  are  now  occupied  by  J.  J.  Swan- 
wick, his  son,  who  is  past  the  meridian  of  life,  a  most  estim- 
able and  respected  citizen.  With  Thomas  Swanwick  came 
James  McMurdo  to  the  western  county.  The  second  settler 
in  Grand  Cote  was  Wm.  P.  Elliott,  from  the  State  of 
Georgia.  He  located  on  section  20,  T.  4,  R.  4,  about  the 
year  1820.  He  brought  his  family  in  the  spring  of  1821. 
Next  came  Jonathan  Petit  in  the  spring  of  1825,  from  Ran- 
dolph county,  from  what  was  then  known  as  the  "Irish 
Settlement,"  and  located  on  section  30,  T.  4,  R.  4.  In  the 
ensuing  fall  Petit  sold  out  his  claim  to  one  Absalom  Wilson, 
a  native  of  Washington  county,  Virginia,  who  did  not  move 
upon  the  lands  until  1840.  George  Cherry,  of  the  Chester 
District,  South  Carolina,  arrived  the  same  year,  1825.  and 
located  on  section  5.  He  resided  there  until  his  death  in 
March,  1867.  In  the  year  1828,  James  Kirkpatrick,  a  native 
of  South  Carolina,  settled  on  section  9,  on  lands  now  occupied 
by  B.  Semple.  So  far  as  we  are  able  to  learn,  these  men 
who  came  to  Grand  Cote  were  its  original  pioneers.  From 
some  cause,  between  the  years  1829-1833,  no  additions 
were  made  to  this  little  band  of  bold  and  venturesome 
pioneers,  who  formed  the  nucleus,  in  their  wild  and  almost 
unbroken  lands,  of  what  is  now  one  of  the  most  prosperous 


and  refined  farming  communities  in  the  little  county.  John 
White  is  a  native  of  South  Carolina.  He  came  to  the 
county  in  1832,  and  now  resides  in  section  6.  Robert  H. 
Allen,  who  lives  in  section  25,  was  born  in  Perry  county  in 
1834.  W.  M  Adair,  a  merchant  of  Swanwick,  was  boru  in 
Illinois,  and  came  to  the  county  in  1837.  Hugh  Cooper  of 
Section  9,  T.  5,  R.  4,  was  born  in  South  Carolina,  and 
located  in  Perry  county  in  1831.  About  the  year  1835,  a 
new  and  full  tide  of  immigration  began  to  pour  into  this 
settlement.  Among  the  first  was  Alexander  Craig,  a  native 
of  Ireland,  who,  on  his  way  to  his  western  home,  had  stopped 
in  South  Carolina  and  Kentucky.  He  located,  in  1835,  on 
section  25,  the  present  Craig's  station  on  Cairo  Short  Line 
Railroad,  being  on  the  lands  originally  settled  by  him.  In 
1834,  William  Rainey  came  out  from  St.  Clair  county  and 
settled  on  section  24.  In  1836,  he  sold  his  farm  to  Solomon 
Maxwell,  from  Bedford  county,  Tennessee,  the  latter  re- 
maining upon  it  until  his  death.  Bmjamin  Ragland  was 
the  eighth  of  the  settlers  in  1835.  He  came  from  Kentucky 
and  settled  on  section  24.  In  1836,  he  sold  his  farm  to  John 
McMillen,  and  again  settled  on  section  14  of  the  same  town- 
ship. Mr.  McMillen  in  turn  sold  his  farm  in  December, 
1838,  to  Joel  Rushing,  for  one  hundred  and  twenty  dollars. 
In  the  year  1836,  Henry  H.  Elliott,  son  of  W.  P.  Elliott, 
and  father  of  the  Rev.  J.  C.  Elliott,  settled  on  section  13, 
on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  H.  H  Rice.  About  the  same 
year  John  Hughey  settled  on  section  20,  and  Newton  Frank- 
lin on  section  14. 

From  this  time  the  settlers  flowed  into  the  precinct  very 
rapidly,  among  whom  we  might  mention  the  Craigs,  Justices 
and  others,  and  the  country  was  filled  up  almost  as  by 
magic. 

Between  the  years  1822  and  1840  the  dry  goods  and  gro- 
ceries were  most  generally  purchased  from  R.  G.  Shuman, 
of  the  then  little  town  of  Columbus,  Randolph  county, 
better  known  now  as  Sparta,  Mr.  Shuman  carrying  on  to 
considerable  extent  the  grain  trade,  purchasing  corn  at 
Chester  and  shipping  to  New  Orleans.  In  the  year  1845 
the  first  dry  goods  store  was  opened  in  this  precinct  by  J. 
C.  Steele,  near  where  Swanwick  station  is  now  located.  He 
also  kept  the  first  post-office  in  the  precinct.  In  1846  upon 
the  breaking  out  of  the  Mexican  war,  he  turned  the  store 
and  post-oflice  over  to  one,  Samuel  Hughey,  and  went  into 
the  army.  John  M.  Woodside  afterward  kept  the  store  and 
post-ofiice  at  the  same  place.  In  1840  Grand  Cote  had  a 
shoemaker  named  Isaac  Fowler. 

In  the  vears  1822-'23  William  P.  Elliott  built  the  first 

429 


430 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,   MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


band  or  tug  grist  mill  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  T.  S. 
Elliott,  Esq.  In  1834  he  replaced  it  by  a  draft  mill  with  cog- 
wheel attachment.  The  burrs  were  made  from  granite  bould- 
ers, stray  waifs  as  it  were,  which  were  occasionally  found 
scattered  over  our  prairies  in  those  early  days.  Both  of 
these  mills  were  the  work  of  Mr.  Elliott,  and  were  very  gen- 
erally patronized  by  the  neighbors  for  a  distance  of  ten  or 
fifteen  miles  around.  The  only  record  furnished  us  of  the 
earliest  preaching  in  that  precinct,  was  by  the  Rev.  Robert 
Moore,  of  the  old  Regular  Baptist  tenets,  at  the  house  of 
Solomon  Maxwell,  about  the  year  1841.  The  first  school 
taught  in  Grand  Cote  precinct  was  in  1832,  by  James  Holli- 
day,  in  a  little  log  cabin  located  on  the  S.  E.  i  of  section  30, 
the  price  of  tuition  being  $2  per  scholar.  The  next  school 
was  kept  by  John  Fulton  in  his  kitchen  on  S.  E.  i  of  section 
31,  about  the  years  1836  or  1837.  His  schedule  was  the 
first  to  draw  public  moneys  on  that  side  of  the  county. 
David  Baldridge  was  the  county  school  commissioner  at  the 
time.  Alexander  Skelly  was  next  in  the  order  of  school  teachers 
in  that  precinct.  He  taught  in  a  little  log  cabin  built  for  a 
residence  on  section  13,  about  the  year  1841 ;  tuition  $2  per 
quarter. 

With  this  concludes  our  early  history  of  Grand  Cote 
prairie.  To  the  Rev.  J.  C.  Elliott  are  we  indebted  for  most 
of  the  information  concerning  this  precinct.  The  first  land 
entries  in  this  precinct,  in   the  order  of  their  dates,  were  as 


"fbllows :  January  18, 1819,  Thomas  Swanwick  entered  the  E. 

i  of  the  N.  E.  i ;  and  the  S.  E.  }  of  section  ten  in  town 
four,  range  four  ;  May  27,  1819,  James  Parker,  the  N.  W. 
i  of  section  29,  and  the  S.  W.  i  of  section  20;  June  7,  1821, 
Alexander  Campbell,  the  W.  *  of  the  S.  \V.  }  of  section  32  ; 
the  N.  E.  i  of  the  S.  E.  i  and  the  S.  E.  i  of  the  S.  K  i  of 
section  31,  all  in  town  four  south,  range  four. 

SWANWICK. 

!  This  little  village  was  laid  out  by  William  Moore  and 
surveyed  and  platted  by  D.  C.  Benson,  deputy  county  sur- 
veyor. May  27, 1871.  Its  location  is  the  S.  E.  of  the  N.  E. 
of  section  21,  township  4,  range  4.     It  is  a  station  on  the 

;  Cairo  Short  Line  Railroad.  The  present  business  of  the 
village  is  as  follows  :  Physician,  W.  H.  Ferguson  ;  general 
merchants,  Harmon  &  Adair,  William  Gray;  postmaster, 
William  Gray;  blacksmith,  James  Luna;  carpenter,  A. 
Shockency  ;  grain  dealers,  W.  Sokup  ;  carriage  maker,  D.  J. 
Woodside. 

CRAU'. 

This  hamlet  is  a  station  on  the  Cairo  Short  Line  Railroad, 
and  issituatedon  theeasthalf  ofSec.  2.5,  township  4,  range  4, 
and  on  the  boundary  between  Grand  Cote  and  Pinckney- 
ville.  It  was  laid  out  by  William  Craig  and  surveyed  and 
platted  by  William  Golightly,  county  surveyor,  October  23, 
1871.  The  postmaster  is  J.  Allen.  A  general  store  is  kept 
by  W.  L.  Pennoyer. 


■^"^^es^^^s^^- 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


REV.  JAMES  C.  ELLIOTT. 


The  history  of  Perry  and  Randolph  counties  would  be 
incomplete  without  a  sketch  of  the  Elliott  family.  They  are 
the  descendants  of  English  and  Scotch- Irish  ancestry.  Mem- 
bers of  the  family  came  to  America  prior  to  the  Revolution- 
ary War.  William  Preston  Elliott,  th£  grandfather  of 
James  C.  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  one  of  seven 
brothers.  He  married  in  Virginia,  and  a  few  years  later 
moved  to  Georgia.  In  1814  he  came  to  Illinois  and  settled 
in  the  American  Bottom,  in  the  Goshen  settlement.  Ague 
and  fever  prevailed  to  a  considerable  extent  then,  and  be- 
lieving that  the  country  was  unhealthy,  returned  to  Georgia. 
But  the  rich,  fertile  and  productive  lands  of  Illinois  had 
left  their  impression,  and  the  old  pioneer  longed  for  the 
"  Flesh  Pots  "  of  Illinois.  He  accordingly  returned  in  1818, 
and  settled  in  Randolph  county  west  of  Sparta,  on  what  is 
known  as  "  Temple  Hill,"  and  there  built  a  house  which 
was  the  first  erected  there.  He  remained  there  until  the 
spring  of  1821,  when  he  removed  to  the  south  side  of  Grand 
Cote  prairie  about  two  and  a  half  miles  south  of  Coulterville, 
where  he  opened  a  farm,  and  there  continued  the  peaceful 
avocation  of  a  farmer  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1840. 
He  married  Margaret  Murdock  of  Virginia.  She  survived 
her  husband  a  few  years  and  died  in  1843.     By  that  union 


I  there  were  eleven  children,  who  grew  to  maturity.  Oue  of 
her  sons,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  named 
Henry  Hodge  Elliott.  He  was  born  in  Virginia,  February 
18,  1801,  and  was  but  thirteen  years  of  age  when  the  family 
first  settled  in  the  American  Bottom.  He  returned  to  Georgia 
with  his  father,  and  came  back  with  the  family  to  Illinois 
the  second  time,  and  here  grew  to  manhood,  followed  farm- 
ing and  remained  in  the  precinct  until  his  death,  which 
took  place  March  4th,  1872.  He  married  Miss  Margaret, 
daughter  of  James  and  Elizabeth  (McBride)  Couch.  Her 
mother  was  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry,  born  in  the  north  of 
Ireland,  and  was  but  eight  years  of  age  when  her  parents 
landed  in  Charleston,  South  Carolina.  Margaret  (Couch) 
EUiott  was  born  August  9th,  1810,  and  departed  this  life 
August  7th,  1847.  By  the  union  of  Henry  H.  and  Mar- 
garet Elliott  there  were  seven  children,  two  sons  and  five 
daughters.  William  P.,  one  of  the  sons,  was  born  July 
31st,  1836,  and  died  in  Andersonville  prison  in  September 
1864,  in  his  twenty-ninth  year.  He  enlisted  in  Co.  "C"  of 
the  30th  Regiment  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry.  He  was 
taken  prisoner  before  Atlanta  July  22d,  1864,  sent  to 
Andersonville  prison,  and   there  died  as   did   thousands  of 

I   others  from  exposure,  neglect  and  lack  of  sufiicient  to  eat. 


HISTORY   OF  RANDOLPH,  MONROE  AND   PERRY   COUNTIES,   ILLINOIS. 


431 


Catharine  was  the  eldest  daughter.  She  was  born  July  24th, 
1847,  and  died  in  her  sixteenth  year.  Jane  was  the  wife  of 
William  Gallegly.  She  died  April  24th,  1873,  in  her 
fortieth  year.  She  left  five  children.  Frances  Elizabeth 
was  the  wife  of  Joseph  Lively.  She  died  without  issue  April 
10th,  1870,  in  her  thirty-first  year.  Mary  W.,  wife  of  John 
W.  Lively,  died  March  14th,  1870,  iu  her  thirty-fifth  year, 
leaving  four  children.  Rachael  C  died  February  12th, 
1870,  in  her  twenty-fifth  year.  James  Couch  Elliott,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  is  the  eldest  of  the  family  and  the 
only  survivor.  He  was  born  in  Randolph  county,  Illinois, 
near  Sparta,  January  6th,  1830.  He  was  reared  on  the 
farm,  and  acquired  his  primary  education  in  the  subscrip- 
tion schools  of  his  neighborhood.  From  fifteen  to  twenty- 
one  he  hired  out,  and  his  wages  went  to  the  support  of  the 
family  only  retaining  enough  to  clothe  himself.  He  attended 
one  terra  at  the  Academy  in  Sparta,  and  then  [aught  school 
for  several  terras.  At  the  age  of  twentv  he  entered  the 
State  University  at  Bloomington,  Indiana,  and  graduated 
from  that  institution.  He  had  resolved  to  enter  the  min- 
istry of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church,  and  with  that 
idea  in  view  he  spent  three  terms  of  seven  months 
each  in  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Jlonmouth,  Illinois. 
He  was  licensed  to  preach  May  7th,  1862,  and  regularly 
ordained  a  minister  of  the  church  Oct.  7th,  1863.  In  the 
latter  year  he  went  to  Wyoming  in  Iowa  county,  Wisconsin, 
apd  was  the  "Supply  "  for  six  months,  after  which  he  be- 
came the  pastor  of  the  Wyoming  and  Blue  Mound  United 
Presbyterian  Congregations,  and  remained  in  charge  until 
in  February,  1868.  In  July  of  the  same  year  he  was  called 
to  the  pastorate  of  the  Bethel  Congregation  in  Grand  Cote, 
Perry  county,  and  has  remained  iu  charge  up  to  the  jiresent, 
a  period  of  nearly  fifteen  years.  On  the  14th  of  April,  ]8t)4, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Lydia  A.  Moraland  of 
Randolph  county,  Illinois.  She  was  the  daughter  of  James 
and  Margaret  Moreland.  She  died  December  7th,  1873, 
leaving  one  son,  named  William  Zwingli  Elliott,  now  in 
attendance  at  the  Academy  in  Coulterville,  Illinois. 

On  the  10th  of  October  1876,  he  married  Miss  Maggie, 
daughter  of  Rev.  James  M.  and  Nancy  (McClanahan)  Hen- 
derson, of  Oakdale,  Washington  county,  Illinois.  Mrs. 
Elliott  was  born  near  Madison  City,  Indiana.  Politically, 
Mr.  Elliott  votes  the  Republican  ticket,  but  takes  no  farther 
interest  than  exercising  the  right  and  duty  of  every  Ameri- 
can citizen  by  casting  his  ballot,  lie  is  very  much  in  favor 
of  prohibition,  and  regards  the  licensing  of  saloons,  an  offense 
against  religion,  good  morals  and  the  best  interest  of  society. 

CAPTAIN  WILIAM  M.  ADAIR 

Was  born  in  Randolph  county,  January  0,  1837.  The 
family  is  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry.  His  grandfather  came 
to  America  from  the  north  of  Ireland,  and  settled  in  South 
Carolina,  and  there  his  son  William  was  born  in  1781.  The 
latter  grew  to  manhood,  and  wasasoldier  in  the  war  of  1812, 
under  Gen.  Jackson.  Soon  after  that  war  he  came  north  to 
Illinois,  and  settled  in  Perry  county,  on  "  Six  Mile  Prairie ;" 
subsequently  removed  to  Randolph  county  to  a  place  eight 


miles  east  of  Kaskaskia,  on  the  Shawneetown  road.  He 
died  in  Perry  county  while  back  here  looking  after  the  im- 
provement of  land  that  he  had  entered,  the  date  of  which 
was  in  1856.  He  was  also  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1831-32, 
with  Black  Hawk,  and  was  major  of  the  regiment.  He  was 
appcjinted  Receiver  of  the  Land  office,  a  few  years  before  his 
death,  and  was  in  that  position  when  he  died.  Soon  after 
he  first  came  to  Perry  county,  he  married  the  daughter  of 
James  Brown.  She  died,  leaving  two  children,  one  of  whom 
is  yet  living.  He  afterwards  married  Mrs.  Rebecca  Lacey, 
widow  of  John  Lacey.  Her  maiden  name  was  Taggart. 
She  was  of  Irish  parentage,  and  born  in  South  Carolina. 
She  died  in  1877,  aged  eighty-two  years.  By  this  raarriage 
there  were  two  children,  twins,  sou  and  daughter.  The 
daughter  is  the  wife  of  Frank  Moore,  a  resident  of  Randolph 
county.  William  Miles  Adair,  the  son,  was  reared  upon 
the  farm  ;  received  a  fiiir  English  education,  and  remained 
at  home  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  late  war,  when  he  en- 
listed for  three  years  in  company  "C,"  of  the  30th  regiment 
Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry.  On  the  organization  of  the 
company  he  was  elected  Orderly  Sergeant.  The  regiment 
was  brigaded  at  Cairo,  and  formed  a  part  of  the  3d  Brigade, 
3d  Division  of  the  17th  Array  Corps,  Gen.  McPherson  com- 
manding. The  regiment  received  its  first  baptism  of  fire  at 
the  battle  of  Belmont,  and  subse([uently  participated  in  the 
capture  of  Forts  Donaldson  and  Henry,  siege  of  Corinth  ; 
marched  to  Jackson  ;  was  in  the  battle  of  Brittain's  Lane,  in 
Tennessee,  then  toMemphisand  to  Vicksburg;  took  part  in  the 
siege  and  capture,  and  in  the  meantime  was  in  the  battle  of 
Champion  Hills.  While  at  Vicksburg  the  30th  regiment 
veteranized,  then  came  home  on  a  furlough  ;  returned  and 
was  in  the  Atlanta  campaign,  and  in  the  fight  before  Atlanta, 
on  the  22d  of  July,  1864,  Mr.  Adair  was  taken  prisoner,  and 
was  held  uutil  the  1st  of  September,  of  the  same  year,  when 
under  an  arrangement  between  the  Generals  of  the  I'nion 
and  Rebel  armies,  he  and  others  that  were  captured  were 
exchanged.  He  joined  Sherman's  forces,  and  then  went 
with  him  in  his  memorable  march  to  the  sea,  up  through  the 
Caroliuas  and  to  Washington,  where  he  participated  in  the 
Grand  Review.  The  company  was  mustered  out  at  Somer- 
ville,  and  finally  discharged  at  Springfield,  July  17,  1865, 
having  been  in  the  service  a  few  days  lacking  four  years. 
He  enlisted  August  20, 1861.  He  entered  as  a  private  ;  was 
elected  Orderly  Sergeant,  commissioned  2d  Lieutenant,  Janu- 
ary 28,  1862;  1st  Lieutenant,  May  16,  186.),  and  commis- 
sioned Captain  of  the  Company,  August  20,  1S(;4.  Captain 
Adair  was  in  every  battle  and  skirmish  in  which  his  company 
and  regiment  participated,  except  those  occurring  when  he 
was  a  prisoner,  which  was  only  a  few  weeks.  After  the 
war  he  returned  to  Randolph  county,  and  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. In  1872  he  came  to  Perry  county,  and  he  continued 
in  same  avocation  up  to  1880,  when  he  came  to  the  village 
of  Swanwick,  and  engaged  in  mercantile  business,  in  which 
he  still  continues.  He  married  Miss  Parthena,  daughter  of 
John  and  Florinda  (Uhles)  Harmon  She  was  born  in 
Randolph  county,  September  11,  1844,  and  died  March  10, 
1882,  leaving  no  children.  Capt.  Adair  is  a  member  of  the 
United   Presbyterian   church.     Politically   he   has   always 


432 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


since  casting  his  first  vote,  been  a  Democrat.     This  in  brief 
is  an  outline  history  of  Capt.  William  M.  Adair.     He  was 


a  gallant  and  brave  soldier,  and  old  settler,  and  an 
and  upright  citizen. 


SOUTH    WESTERN 


PERRY  COUNTY. 


•  HIS  precinct  is  situated  in  the  southwes- 
tern corner  of  the  county.  It  is  bounded 
ou  the  north  by  Cutler,  on  the  east  by 
Pinckueyville,  on  the  south  by  Jackson 
county,  and  on  the  west  by  Randolph 
county.  Pipestone  creek  furnishes 
ample  drainage  and  water  supply.  The 
surface  is  undulating  and  the  soil  fertile. 
The  St.  Louis  and  Cairo  Railroad  crosses 
the  southwest  corner  of  this  precinrst. 
By  the  last  census,  in  1880,  the  precinct  had  a  population 
of  one  thousand  and  eighty-nine. 

Among  the  first  settlers,  as  early  as  1817,  were  Simon 
Williard,  who  located  on  section  two,  town  six  south,  range 
four,  where  he  entered,  January  19th,  1819,  504.60  acres  of 
land.  James  Craine  settled  on  the  northeast  quarter  of 
section  thirteen,  of  the  same  town  and  range;  and  became 
the  owner  of  the  tract  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  by  en- 
tering the  same  at  the  land  office  in  Kaskaskia,  May  14th, 

1818.  Benjamin  Brown  was  also  one  of  the  settlers  of  this 
precinct  in  1817.  We  find  him  making  his  home  on  the 
west  half  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  eleven,  town 
six  south,  range  four  west,  which  he  entered,  January   14th, 

1819.  Richard  Green,  Robert  Johnson,  Robert  Crow,  with 
their  families,  were  also  living  in  this  locality  at  the  same 
time,  and  together  with  William  H.  Threlkel,  Robert  Gilli- 
han,  Jacob  Short  and  John  Stuart  were  leading  characters 
in  the  early  history  of  the  county.  They  were  natives  of 
New  York,  Kentucky  and  Tennessee.  Stephen  Kelly  was 
also  an  early  pioneer.  Alexander  A.  Watkins,  a  farmer  and 
stock  raiser,  who  resides  in  section  19,  township  6,  range  3, 
is  a  native  of  Tennessee,  and  came  to  the  county  in  1839. 

The  first  dry  goods,  groceries  etc.,  shoes,  plows,  and 
wagons  were  bought  of  Lyborger  and  Reed,  at  Kaskaskia, 
previous  to  1827.  Much  of  the  trading  was  done  with  Col. 
Jones,  of  Georgetown,  Randolph  county,  between  1827  and 
1840.  The  first  dry  goods  and  grocery  store  in  this  precinct 
was  kept  in  1827  by  a  man  named  Jacob  Short.  The  first 
blacksmith  shop  was  kept  by  John  McClure,  in  1839. 
There  was  a  wagon  shop  in  18.50,  kept  by  Gadbuy.  John 
McClure  had  the  first  plow  shop  in  the  precinct.  The  first 
band  grist  mill  was  built  here  by  a  man  named  Willard,  in 
1819.  It  did  pretty  good  work  for  a  mill  of  its  kind,  for  a 
period  of  nine  or  ten  years.  In  1834  a  good  many  of  the 
settlers  had  their  milling  done  at  Riley's  Mill,  in  Kaskaskia. 
They  also  had  milling  done  at   Glide's  mill  in  Georgetown 


about  1834.  Dickey  P.  Smith  was  the  first  preacher  in 
the  county.  In  1830  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was 
organized  in  this  precinct,  consisting  of  ten  members.  The 
name  of  the  minister  who  organized  tbe  church  was  French. 
They  held  their  meetings  in  a  small  school-house,  where 
Denmark  now  stands.  In  1835  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
denomination  built  their  first  church  near  Denmark.  The 
first  Sabbath-school  was  held  in  this  precinct  in  1859,  with 
twenty-eight  scholars ;  it  was  the  work  of  the  Associate 
Reformed  Presbyterians.  Robert  Crow  and  Green  Derring- 
ton  were  teachers.  The  first  school  taught  in  this  precinct 
was  in  1825,  by  a  man  named  Robert  Clark,  near  the  present 
residence  of  Francis  Smith.  The  first  school-house  was 
built  in  1825,  out  of  round  logs.  Weight  poles  were  used 
to  hold  the  roof  on.  The  books  used  were  the  American 
Preceptor,  English  Reader,  and  Columbian  Orator.  The 
school  lasted  from  three  to  six  months.  Tuition  rated  from 
S2.00  to  S2.50  per  quarter.  The  writing  paper  was  coarse, 
unruled,  and  goose-quill  pens  and  maple  bark  ink  were  used. 
Land  entries  of  South  Western  precinct :  April  25th, 
1815,  William  Mcintosh  entered  three  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  in  the  N.  i  of  section  3.  February  5th,  1818,  Jona- 
than Bowerman  entered  the  E.  *  of  the  N.  E.  i  of  section  6, 
seventy-nine  and  twenty-hundredths  acres.  August  12th, 
1818,  the  same  entered  the  E.  }  of  N.  W.  i  of  section  6, 
eighty-seven  and  sixty-four  hundredths  acres. 

DENMARK. 

The  little  hamlet  of  Denmark,  is  situated  in  the  western 
part  of  South  Western  precinct,  the  nearest  railroad  station 
being  Cutler,  some  five  miles  distant.  The  town  was  laid 
out  by  John  D.  Rees,  ou  the  northwest  quarter  of  the  north- 
west quarter  of  section  twenty-four,  in  town  six  south,  range 
four  west,  and  was  surveyed  and  platted  by  Robert  Steele, 
county  surveyor, on  tbe  first  day  of  April,  1S60.  It  formerly 
bore  the  euphonious  name  of  "  Jack  Town." 

The  first  house  was  built  by  John  D.  Rees,  whose  family, 
and  those  of  several  Canadian-French,  were  the  first  to  settle 
in  that  section.  The  house  was  a  small  frame.  John  D. 
Rees  opened  the  first  store,  and  the  post-office  was  kept  by 
Brown.  There  are  two  handsome  church  buildings  in  the 
town,  belonging  respectively,  to  the  Presbyterian  and  Bap- 
tist denominations.     Also  a  neat  school-house. 

PRESENT  BUSINESS. 

Postmistress. — Mary  Rees.  General  Store. — William  Boau. 
TFof/o/iniaA-er.— James  Eeaton.  Blacksmith. — J.  L.  Tessier. 
Dressmaker — Mary  Rees. 


43  2A 


DU  QUOIN 


PERRY  COUNTY. 


r  (^I'OIN  precinct  lies  in  the  southeast- 
ern part  of  Perry  county,  bounded  on  the 
north  by  Tamaroa,  east  by  Paradise  pre- 
cinct and  Franiilin  county,  south  by 
Jackson  county  and  west  by  Pinckney- 
ville.  The  surface  is  mostly  rolling  prai- 
rie, excepting  the  southern  and  western 
portions,  where  it  is  somewhat  broken. 
Along  Beaucoup  and  Little  Beaucoup  creeks,  there  is  quite 
a  heavy  belt  of  timber,  comprising  the  various  species  that 
are  usually  found  in  this  latitude.  The  s-oil  is  rich  and  pro- 
ductive, wheat  being  the  principal  crop,  although  a  consi- 
derable quantity  of  corn  is  annually  raised.  The  lands  are 
well  drained  by  Little  Muddy  river,  Rees's  and  Bcauc£)up 
creeks  and  their  numerous  tributaries.  Underlying  the 
whole  surftice  of  this  precinct,  there  is  an  almost  ine.xhausti- 
ble  body  of  coal,  which,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  railroads,  is 
extensively  mined,  and  gives  employment  to  a  great  num- 
ber of  men,  and  brings  a  large  sum  of  money  among  the 
people.  This  interest  was  not  developed  until  after  the 
advent  of  railroads,  in  1854,  when  the  Illinois  Central  was 
completed  through  this  county.  Prior  to  the  building  of  the 
railroads  the  county  was  thinly  populated,  and  farming  was 
the  only  occupation  of  the  inhabitants  except  a  few  of 
the  mechanical  trades  and  merchandising  at  the  old  town 
of  Du  Quoin,  about  four  miles  southeast  of  the  present  city 
of  that  name.  The  building  of  this  road,  at  that  early  day, 
was  the  beginning  of  a  new  era  in  Illinois.  All  along  its 
line  sprang  into  existenc,  thriving  towns  and  villages,  and 
Du  Quoin,  now  the  metropolis  of  Perry  county,  was  one  of 
their  number.  This  road  enters  the  precinct  on  the  north, 
at  the  line  between  sections  19  and  20  of  township  5  S., 
range  1  W.,  and  passes  in  a  southern  direction,  leaving  the 
precinct  on  section  32.  "  The  Cairo  Short  Line  "  traverses 
the  county  in  a  southeasterly  course  across  the  precinct, 
through  the  city  of  Du  Quoin.  These  roads  with  their  con- 
nections with  the  various  main  lines  and  larger  cities  of  the 
west,  gives  excellent  facilities  for  the  shipment  of  the  pro- 
ducts and  manufactures. 

The  following  are  a  few  of  the  earliest  land  entries,  which 
will  show  the  names  of  a  number  of  the  early  settlers.  In 
township  6  S.,  range  1  W.,  Dec.  5,  1814,  Jerrold  Jackson 
entered  the  S.  \V.  quarter  of  section  35,  IGO  acres ;  Feb.  13, 
1817,  L.  Bebee  and  J.  II.  Root,  S.  W.  quarter  section  34, 
160  acres;  April  25,  1815,  William  Mcintosh,  N.  W.  quar- 
ter, section  30,  IGO  acres;  May  7,  1819,  John  Pyle,  W.  half 
N.  W.  quarter,  section  19,  81  acres;  Feb.  2G,  1819,  Edward 
II.  Rees,  W.  half,  N.  E.  quarter,  section  9,  80  acres;  Nov. 
26,  1828,  Jacob  Lipe,  W.  half,  N.  W.  quarter,  section  6, 
55 


77,  acres.  In  1829  Blackwell  Gochar,  David  H.  Mead, 
and  Thomas  Gochar  also  made  entries  here  in  1829.  In 
township  6  S.  range  2  W  ,  the  first  entries  were  made  April 
25,  1815,  by  Sebastian  C.  Lavoche,  part  of  S.  \V.  quarter, 
section  17,  84  acres,  and  William  Mcintosh  the  whole  of 
section  18,  containing  628  acres.  April  23,  1818,  Thonia-s 
Taylor  entered  the  S.  E.  quarter  of  Sec.  25, 160  acres ;  Oct. 
2,  1818,  Elijah  Wells,  W.  half,  N.  W.  quarter,  section  23, 
80  acres  ;  Nov.  U,  1818,  Robert  McElvain,  E.  half  of  N.  E. 
quarter  of  section  23,80  acres.  June  25,  1819,  Louis  Wells 
entered  the  E.  half  of  S   E.  quarier  of  section  24,  80  acres. 

Du  Quoin  precinct  is  by  far  the  most  wealthy  and  popu- 
lous in  the  county.  It  received  it-s  name  from  the  town  of 
Old  Du  Quoin,  it  having  been  named  after  an  Indian  chief, 
who  spelled  his  name  Du  Coign,  and  who,  if  tradition  be 
true,  boasted  that,  as  the  exception  of  his  race,  he  had  never 
spilled  the  blood  of  a  white  man.  He  became  converted, 
and  joined  the  Catholic  Church.  He  lived  a  pure  life,  and 
at  his  death  wsis  buried  by  the  Catholic  Mission  of  Kas- 
kaskia. 

If  we  are  correctly  informed,  Jarrold  Jackson,  who  kept 
a  toll-bridge  on  Little  Muddy  in  181 1,  on  the  road  between 
Shawneetown  and  Kaskaskia,  was  the  lir.st  white  man  to 
settle  in  Du  (^uoin  precinct.  Thomas  Taylor,  a  South  Caro- 
linian, settled  in  Jackson  county  in  180:;,  and  from  there 
came  to  Perry  county  in  1812.  Lewis  Wells,  also  from  the 
State  of  South  Carolina,  emigrated  to  Illinois,  stopping  in 
Jackson  county,  in  1804.  In  the  same  year  that  Mr.  Taylor 
came  (1812),  Wells  also  moved  and  settled  in  the  same 
vicinity,  where  he  remained  until  his  death  in  L846,  being 
then  96  years  of  age.  John  Campbell  (father  of  Ji)hn, 
Washington,  Isaac,  Alexander  and  Charles  Campbell),  came 
from  Tennessee  in  1812,  and  settled  in  the  same  neighbor- 
hood.    The  above-named  are  all  decea-sed. 

Hiram  Root  and  Ephraim  Skinner,  natives  of  New  York, 
arrived  and  located  here  in  1810.  Mr.  Skinner  died  four 
years  afterward.  Mrs.  Root  was  here  when,  as  she  saiil,  she 
had  seen  the  wolves  prowling  about  the  house,  and  had 
chased  a  bear  from  her  pig-pen  with  fire.  John  Pyle  came 
to  the  precinct  in  1819,  and  William  and  Abner  Pyle  at  an 
early  day,  perhaps  at  the  same  time.  Zachariah  Clinton, 
Green  Durrington,  and  Micajah  Phelps,  in  1824,  from  the 
State  of  Kentucky.  Dr.  Joseph  Brayshav?,  from  England, 
Avery  Chapman  ,  and  Joshua  Davis,  who  built  on  the  site 
of  Old  Du  Quoin,  arrived  and  settled  in  the  precinct  about 
the  same  time  (1824).  Robert  McElvain,  Rodney  Bolin, 
(father  of  John  Bolin),  located  here  between  1820  and  1830. 
Bolin  settled  near  Old  Du  (^uoin  in  1829,  and  Mrs  Lucy 
Bolin,  his  widow,  died  here,  two  or  three  years  ago,  at  the 

433 


434 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE    AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


advanced  age  of  over  ninety  years.  The  Flacks  and  Bur- 
banks  were  also  early  settlers.  These  persons  named,  who 
came  to  this  precinct  previous  to  1830,  may  be  regarded  as 
its  original  pioneer  settlers. 

Previous  to  the  formation  of  Perry  county  in  1827,  Kas 
kaskia  was  the  nearest  trading  point,  and  the  nearest  store 
of  any  kind  was  in  that  city.  In  those  early  days  the  pio- 
neers experif  need  many  hardships  and  inconveniences.  They 
lived  in  small  cabins,  generally  about  8x10  feet,  constructed 
of  rough,  unhewn  logs,  with  the  spaces  between  them  some 
limes  clinked  or  daubed  with  mud.  The  roof  was  usually 
made  of  clap-boards,  held  to  their  places  with  knee  and 
weight-poles  ;  the  chimneys  of  sticks  and  clay,  while  the 
end  of  a  log  sawed  out  served  as  a  window,  and  the  floor 
was  frequently  nothing  more  than  mother  earth.  These 
humble  abodes  of  those  hardy  men  and  women  were  oft- 
times  situated  many  miles  in  advance  of  civilization,  in  a 
wilderness,  amid  wild  beasts  and  the  fiercer  red  man.  The 
first  settlers  paid  but  little  attention  to  the  tilling  of  the 
soil  ;  a  small  patch  of  corn,  some  vegetables  and  a  few  herbs 
for  medicinal  purposes  served  them.  Wild  game  and  honey 
were  plentiful,  aLd  they  ate  principally  of  this  delicious  and 
wholesome  food.  They  located  near  the  small  streams,  where 
water  and  fuel  could  be  easily  obtained,  and  many  years 
elapsed  before  the  prairies  were  found  suitable  for  culti- 
vation. 

There  was  no  merchandise  of  any  kind  carried  on  in  this 
precinct  until  some  time  between  1827  and  1830,  when  Daniel 
Dry,  opened  a  small  store  of  general  goods  in  Old  Du  Quoin. 
The  county  court  records  show  that  license  was  granted  him 
for  that  purpose  in  1831.  David  Mead,  kept  the  next  store, 
and  Chester  A.  Keyes,  also  had  a  store  up  to  1840.  John 
Williams  was  the  first  licensed  saloon-keeper  in  the  precinct. 
John  Campbell,  who  came  in  1829,  was  a  blacksmith,  and 
erected  a  shop  and  began  smithing  that  year  at  Old  Du 
Quoin,  and  was  the  first  of  his  tradesmen  in  the  precinct. 
Mr.  Campbell,  in  connection  with  Elijah  Wells,  also  began 
the  manufacture  of  plows,  a  very  useful  and  much  needed 
article.  John  Fulton,  another  early  mechanic,  made  the 
pioneer  wagons.  It  is  said  they  used  the  truck  wagons 
principally,  in  those  days. 

Thomas  Farrow  located  in  Old  Du  Quoin  in  1831,  and  was 
the  first  shoemaker. 

OLD  DU  QUOIN, 

to  which  we  have  frequently  referred  above,  was,  at  one 
time,  quite  a  flourishing  village,  and  for  many  years  the  only 
one  in  the  precinct.  It  is  situated  on  the  S.  I  of  the  N.  W. 
J  of  section  26,  T.  6.  S  ,  R.  1  W.  There  is  no  record  of  the 
plat  on  file  at  the  county  seat.  It  was  originally  laid  out  by 
Avery  Chapman,  about  1844,  and  surveyed  and  platted  by 
Amos  Webster. 

There  were  churches,  school  houses,  a  seminary,  and  sev- 
eral stores  and  dwellings  erected  in  the  village,  and  it  be- 
came quite  prosperous.  After  the  Illinois  Central  railroad 
had  been  built,  and  the  present  city  of  Du  Quoin  laid  out, 
most  of  the  business  men  moved  up  to  the  new  town.  Many 
of  the  stores,  houses,  and  residences,  were  also  moved  to  the 


new  town,  being  carried  the  whole  distance  upon  trucks, 
drawn  by  ox  teams.  There  is  now  but  little  remaining.  A 
store  kept  by  Isaac  B.  Adams,  a  post-office,  and  few  resi- 
dences, are  all  that  now  mark  the  once  thrifty  village  of  Old 
Du  Quoin. 

Mills — Prior  to  the  existence  of  mills,  in  this  precinct,  the 
early  settlers  principally  patronized  Dillinger's  old  water 
mill,  in  Jackson  county.  About  1829  Elijah  Wells  built  a 
mill  on  the  west  side  of  Nine  Mile  prairie,  on  the  old  Kas- 
kaskia  road.  It  was  a  very  rude  affair,  its  capacity  being 
fifteen  bushels  a  day,  when  it  was  crowded  to  its  utmost.  In 
1830  Elijah  Lane  built  a  horse  mill  in  the  same  vicinity, 
which  continued  to  run  for  a  number  of  years  About  the 
same  time  John  Reed  constructed  a  mill  of  the  same  kind 
iu  Paradise  prairie.  Robert  Yeann  built  a  tread  mill  about 
a  half  mile  south  of  Elijah  Wells',  in  1841,  and  it  continued 
in  operation  for  several  years. 

The  first  preaching  was  about  1829,  by  a  man  named 
Joseph  Taylor  in  a  private  house.  He  was  of  the  Univer- 
salist  faith.  There  was  preaching  previous  to  1840,  by 
John  Monkey,  of  the  Christian  denomination.  Dennis 
Wells  and  William  Wooley,  Methodists,  held  meetings  in 
1840,  and  iu  1841  Josiah  Wood,  a  Presbyterian,  commenced 
preaching  in  the  precinct.  Philip  Mulkey,  held  his  early 
meetings  at  Avery  Chapman's. 

The  earliest  school  taught  in  this  precinct  was  by  a  man 
named  Abraham  Brayshaw,  about  1830.  Soon  afterward 
a  school-house  was  erected  three  and  a  half  miles  south  of 
Du  Quoin,  and  a  teacher  named  Binedlo  (?)  was  first  to 
teach  in  it.  The  house  was  built  of  round  logs,  with  clap- 
board door.  A  log  was  cut  out  of  one  side  to  serve  as  a 
window.  The  chimney  extended  across  the  entire  end  of 
the  house,  and  a  hole,  left  in  the  roof,  served  for  the  exit  of 
smoke.  This  is  said  to  have  been  the  first  house  built  for 
school  purposes  in  the  precinct. 

Dr.  Joseph  Brayshaw,  above  mentioned,  was  the  earliest 
physician  in  the  precinct,  and  we  may  add  the  only  one  in 
the  entire  county  for  several  years.  The  earliest  magistrate 
and  lawyer,  was  Sylvester  Adams,  Oliver  Root  acting  as  his 
constable.  Thus  have  we  briefly  sketched  the  early  settle- 
ment of  the  precinct.  From  1830,  the  settlement  gradually 
increased  by  a  number  of  new  arrivals  each  succeeding  year, 
until  the  building  of  the  Illinois  Central  railroad,  when  it 
received  a  large  influx  of  population,  and  it  was  not  until 
after  this  event  that  there  were  any  business  interests  of 
importance  developed.  The  precinct,  including  the  city  of 
Du  Quoin  and  villages,  in  the  census  of  1880,  contained  a 
population  of  5,550,  which  has  probably  increased  somewhat 
in  the  past  three  years. 

THE   CITY   OF    DU    QUOIN, 

as  stated  elsewhere  in  this  chapter,  had  its  origin  with  the 
construction  of  the  Illinois  Central  railroad  through  that 
part  of  the  county.  It  was  laid  out  by  the  B.  R.  company, 
through  I.  S.  Metcalf  their  agent,  and  Chester  A.  Keyes, 
and  surveyed  and  platted  September  20,  1853,  by  William 
Richart,  county  surveyor  of  Jackson  county.  The  original 
site  was    on  the   S.  W.  quarter  of  section  8,  T.  6  S.,  R  1 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS 


4:?5 


W.,  of  which  the  S  W.  quarter  of  the  S.  W.  quarter 
belonged  to  the  I.  C.  R.  R  company  and  the  balance  to 
Keyes.  The  work  of  grading  the  road  was  commenced  in 
1852,  but  it  was  not  completed  fjr  the  passage  of  trains 
through  here  until  the  spring  of  1854. 

The  first  huildiugs  were  erected  by  the  railroad  company, 
being  a  freight  and  pivssenger  depot,  and  a  boarding-house 
for  the  entertainment  of  the  laborers  in  the  em[)loy  of  the 
company.  The  boardiug-house  was  first  kept  by  Edward 
N.  Smith,  for  about  six  months,  while  his  residence  was 
being  erected.  Mr.  Smith,  who  is  one  of  Du  (Quoin's 
prominent  and  enterprising  citizens,  is  the  oldest  resident 
and  merchant  in  the  city.  In  the  same  spring,  1854,  two 
frame  storehouses  were  moved  here  from  old  Du  Quoin,  a 
distance  of  five  miles,  and  one  from  Jack  Pyle's  hill,  in 
which  John  Johnson  kept  a  small  stock  of  goods.  The  first 
to  embark  in  the  mercantile  business,  was  G.  S.  Smith  & 
Co.,  who  moved  one  of  the  houses  above  mentioned  from 
old  Du  (^uoin,  and  this  firm  have  been  in  bu^ines?  contin- 
ually ever  since.  At  the  time  of  the  laying  out  of  the  place 
there  were  two  log  cabins,  situated  within  its  limits,  one 
occupied  by  Albert  Adkins,  and  the  other  by  B.  F.  Giiitcau, 
a  carpenter,  who  moved  into  it  in  the  sjiring  of  1854. 
McCoy  Brothers  opened  a  blacksmith  shop,  and  other 
mechanics  and  merchants  came  during  the  same  year. 
Among  some  of  the  early  business  men  and  residents  were, 
(•'.  A.  Keyes,  L.  C.  Blakeslee,  Robert  Bartley,  William 
Frizzell,  George  Y.  McClure,  Lype  &  Dry,  Dr.  G.  T.  Wall, 
J.  A.  Williams,  Benjamin  &  A.  J.  Prague,  William  Combs 
and  others. 

The  population  had  increased  so,  that  on  the  •28th  of  July, 
1S57,  an  election  was  called  for  the  ])urpose  of  voting  on 
incorporation.  It  was  carried  unanimously,  without  a  dis- 
senting vote.  The  first  trustees  were  15.  Sprague,  G.  Y. 
McClure,  G.  S  Smith,  Daymon  Thing  and  (J.  C.  Ward, 
five  in  nnrnber.  Benjamin  Sprague  was  elected  police 
magistrate. 

It  has  since  been  incorporated  under  the  general  law  as  a 
city,  under  which  government  it  is  now  controlled. 

Schools  were  established  soon  after  the  laying  out  of  the 
place  and  for  the  first  year  or  two  were  taught  in  rented 
buildings,  when  a  frame  school  building  on  the  site  of  the 
present  one  was  erected.  The  lots  were  d.  nated  by  the 
original  proprietors  for  that  purpose.  That  building  was 
used  until  the  present  imposing  brick  structure  was  erected, 
at  a  cost  of  tweuty-fnir  thousand  dollars.  It  contains  eight 
class  rooms,  and  employs  the  same  nund)er  of  instructors. 
There  is  also  a  colored  public  school,  whi(^h  has  a  neat  frame 
building,  and  a  catholic  parochial  school  in  the  city. 

The  city  has  been  prosperous  from  the  very  beginning, 
and  each  year  has  added  to  it  increased  wealth  and  popula- 
tion. It  progressed  slowly,  but  steadily,  and  on  a  solid 
financial  foundation.  It  has  had  for  its  citizens,  men  of 
industry  and  enterprise,  who  have  united  their  tfn)rts  in 
building  up  a  city,  that  to-day  ranks  among  the  first  in 
southern  Illinois.  The  streets,  the  principal  of  wliich  are 
Main  and  Washington,  are  one  hundred  feet  in  width,  and 
are  adorned  with  many  fine  brick  business  blorks  and  hand- 


some residences.  The  side  walks  aud  streets  ara  kept  in 
good  style  and  are  generally  well  shadai  with  fine  maple 
trees.  Near  the  center  of  the  place,  there  is  a  park  compris- 
ing one  whole  block,  which  was  donated  by  the  original 
proprietors,  at  the  time  of  the  laying  out  of  the  city.  It 
contains  shade  and  ornamental  trees,  aud  is  laid  out  wi  ih 
intersecting  walks  along  which  are  a  number  of  rustic  seats, 
for  the  comfort  of  th  ise  who  seek  its  cool  shades.  There 
are  eight  churclies  in  the  city,  the  Presbyterian,  (Jhristian, 
Methodist,  First  Baptist,  Catholic,  St.  John's  Evangelical 
and  two  colored  churches. 

The  jiopulation  ;us  taken  from  the  census  of  1880  numbers 
2809,  which  has  undoubtedly  b3en  increased  since  that  time. 

LEADISC    MANlFACTUUIvS    AND    IXI)USTUIK.S. 

The  mining  of  coal,  is  the  leading  industry  of  the  place. 
There  is  a  vast  field  of  this  mineral,  underlying  the  whole 
area  of  the  county.  There  are  several  veins  at  various 
depths,  but  the  one  now  being  worked,  is  of  an  excellent 
quality,  varying  from  six  to  ten  feet  in  thickness,  aud  is 
considered  the  most  profitable  to  mine.  The  mines  are 
mostly  situated  along  the  Illinois  Central  railroad  track,  in 
the  suburbs  of  the  city.  The  most  extensive  of  them,  is  at 
St.  Johns,  about  one  mile  norih  of  the  depot,  an  account  of 
which  may  be  had  below. 

Du  Quoin  Star  Coal  Miiiiii;/  ('(napmvj. — At  this  shaft, 
the  coal  is  reached  at  a  depth  of  sixty  feet,  and  the  vein 
averages  from  six  to  seven  feet.  The  company  work  from 
fifty  to  ninety  men,  and  ship  from  twelve  to  eighteen  cars 
per  day.     The  coal  is  raised  by  steam  power. 

Enterprise  Coal  and  Coke  Company.  Thisshaft  was  sunk  in 
1881,  and  the  vein  was  reached  at  tiie  depth  of  seventy  feet 
from  the  surface  The  vein  will  average  fullv  six  feet,  and 
there  are  at  present  about  fifty  men  employed  in  the  mine. 
It  raises  from  eight  to  ten  car  loads  per  day.  This  is  a  new 
mine,  and  as  yet,  is  not  under  full  headway. 

The  Sun  Cial  and  Coke  Comp'tin/'s  mine,  is  the  farthest 
one  north  of  the  city,  situated  about  one  mile  above  St.  Johns. 
It  is  worked  by  shaft,  and  employs  from  fifty  to  ninety  men, 
and  ships  from  twelve  to  eighteen  car  loads  daily. 

East  of  the  city,  about  one  mile  from  the  railroad,  there 
are  three  mines  being  worked,  known  as  the  Ilodgers  coal 
mine,  the  Moon  mine,  and  the  Dudley  and  Hruckshaw  mine. 
The  Rodgers  and  Moon  mines,  are  operated  by  steam 
power. 

The  Blakeslee  Mannfadurinij  Company,  was  established  in 
1862,  by  II.  F.  and  A.  J.  Blakeslee.  It  was  incorporated 
in  1880,  with  A.  J.  Blakeslee,  President,  and  E.  T.  Blakes- 
lee, Secretary  and  Treasurer.  They  occupy  large  frame 
buildings,  and  their  works  are  fitted  up  with  the  latest  im- 
proved machinery,  forges,  etc.,  that  are  required  to  execute 
first  class  workmanship.  The  Blakeslee  Direct  A('tin<'- 
Steam  pump,  Blakeslee  Steam  Jet  pumps,  Veneering  ma- 
chinery, portable  and  stationary  engines,  saw-mills,  mill  and 
coal  mining  machinery,  etc.  are  the  principal  articles  manu- 
factured All  kinds  of  job  work  are  also  done,  with  neat- 
ness and  dispatch.  The  works  employ  constantly  about 
thiilv-live  men. 


■4  oil 


HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH,  MONROE  AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS 


Handle  Factory.  This  institution  has  been  in  operation 
for  several  years  under  the  management  of  the  late  W.  H. 
Holmes.  Handles  of  all  kinds,  neck-yokes  and  singletrees 
are  a  specialty.     It  employs  a  number  of  men. 

Oldeudorpk  ManvJachmtKj  Company  have  recently  com- 
pleted a  large  brick  building,  south  of  the  depot,  and  are 
just  beginning  the  manufacture  of  road  and  farm  wagons. 
New  and  improved  machinery  and  forges  have  been  placed 
in  the  factory,  and  it  promises  to  be  one  of  the  successful  in- 
dustries of  the  city. 

The  Skir  Mill  Ccwpony  was  organized  April  7th,  1855, 
and  the  articles  of  association  were  filed  January  1st,  1856. 
The  capital  stock  was  84,500,  divided  into  450  shares.  The 
term  of  existence  was  fifty  years,  and  the  purposes  were 
those  oi  building  and  optratirg  mills  and  other  business  in 
Du  Quoin  and  vicinity.  The  mill,  a  three  story  frame 
building,  is  situated  in  the  west  end  of  the  city.  It  has  a 
run  of  four  burrs,  with  a  capacity  of  eighty  barrels  a  day. 
It  is  a  merchant  mill.  The  leading  brands  of  flour  are 
"  Top  Notch, "ai:d  "  Beauty,"  which  are  shipped  principally 
to  southern  markets.  There  is  also  a  cooper  shop  in  con- 
nection with  the  mill,  which  makes  the  barrels  The  instil 
tution  employs  in  all  twelve  men.  George  McKinney  and 
S.  J-  Ross  are  the  present  owners  and  proprietors. 

Tlie  Du  Quoin  Mill  Company  was  organized  with  a  capi- 
tal of  Sl-'.OOO.  The  property  is  a  fine  four  story  brick 
mill,  situated  just  south  of  the  depot.  It  contains  four  run 
of  burrs  and  two  pairs  of  rolls,  with  a  capacity  of  manu- 
facturing 130  barrels  per  day.  The  mill  makes  a  choice 
grade  of  flour  which  is  sold  principally  in  southern  and 
southwestern  cities.  It  is  under  the  management  of  Edward 
Kiramell,  president,  John   Cunliffe,  treasurer  and  secretary. 

Davis'  M/^.— Situated  opposite  the  depot  has  two  run  of 
stones  and  manufactures  corn  meal  and  Graham  flour.  It 
is  owned  and  operated  by  Davis  &  Pope.  It  has  also,  in 
connection  with  it,  an  elevator  constructed  for  handling  all 
kinds  of  grain,  with  a  capacity  of  storing  20,000  bushels, 
and  it  can  handle  from  5,000  to  7,000  bushels  a  day.  The 
elevator  is  owned  by  P.  N.  Pope. 

Farmers'  Mill,  is  a  small  frame  structure  with  two  burrs, 
one  wheat  and  one  corn.  It  is  a  custom  mill,  owned  and 
operated  by  Bryant  Brothers. 

The  Exchange  Bank — was  established  in  1860,  by  G.  S 
Smith  &  Co.,  and  was  the  first  institution  of  the  kind  in 
Perry  county.  It  is  located  on  Main  and  Division  streets, 
and  occupies  a  fine  brick  building. 

The  Du  Quoin  Bank  was  established  December  8th, 
1877,  by  Henry  Horn  and  P.  N.  Pope,  under  the  style  of 
Horn  &  Pope,  with  H.  A,  Forman  cashier.  It  continues 
under  the  same  firm  and  management.  The  building,  a  sub- 
stantial brick  structure,  built  for  the  purpose,  is  situated 
just  west  of  the  depot. 

District  Fair  Associaiio7i  of  Du  Quoin. — The  articles  of 
association  are  dated  July  16,  1870,  and  were  filed  July  21, 
1870.  The  district  comprised  the  counties  of  Franklin, 
Williamson,  Jackson,  Randolph  and  Perry.  The  capital 
stock  was  stated  at  not  less  than  810,000,  and  not  more  than 
8100,000,  with  shares  at  85  00  each.     The  first  ofticers  were 


President,  I.  M.  Neely  ;  Vice  President,  William  Jackson  ; 
Secretary,  J  R.  Elstun  ;  Treasurer,  Edwin  Smith  ;  and  five 
trustees.  There  were  but  three  fairs  held  by  this  association, 
in  1870,  '71  and  '72.  In  1871  the  state  fair  was  held  here. 
The  enterprise  proved  to  be  a  failure,  and  the  buildings  were 
moved  to  Pinckceyville  and  the  grounds  abandoned. 

Du  Quoin  Cemetery,  situated  in  the  northeast  part  of  the 
city,  belongs  to  and  is  controlled  by  Hope  Lodge,  I.  O.  O  F. 

LEADING  BUSINESS  HOUSES — TRADE   OF  1882. 

General  Stores. — William  E.  Brokings,  John  M.  Brown- 
ing, Henry  Horn,  Morris  B.  Lawrence,  Adam  Miller,  Pope 
&  Co.,  George  S.  Smith  &  Co.,  Mifflin  &  White. 

Groceries — William  Dudley,  W.  A.  Housel,  William 
Hickman,  J.  F  Humphries  &  Co.,  John  Thorwell,  Kingsbury 
&  Johnson. 

Clothing. — Joseph  Solomon,  Boston  Clothing  House. 
Hardware. — George  F.  Blakeslee  &  Co.,  Don  Onstott. 
Dry  Goods. — Thomas  J.  Eddleman. 
Furniture. — W.  R.  Neighbors,  Mrs.  J.  A.  Palmer. 
Boots  and  Shoes. — W.  A.  Smith  &  Co,  Leonard  Kentzger, 
Charles  F.  Siekman,  Louis  Striker. 

Phy.ncians. — W.  J.  Burgess,  Dyer  &:  Carr,  Amos  Tetrick, 
Edward  Meyer,  J.  W.  Renfro. 

Druggists. — A.  C.  Brookings,  A.  T.  Leraing  &  Co.,  Whited 
&  Lehn. 

Farm  Implements. — W.  B.  Hall,  John  Schneider. 
Jewelers. — J.  J.  Higgins,  W.  E.  Lintner. 
Western  Brewing  Co. — Agent,  Thomas  Thompson. 
Sewing  Machines.-  C.  D.  Elstun,  J.  W.  Whitelock. 
News  Papers — Du  Quoin  Tribune,  Du  Quoin  Press. 
Marble  Works. — John  Saurbier,  R.  F.  Drake. 
Flour  and  Feed. — George  McKinney. 
Cigars  and  Tobacco. — Henry  F.  Henke,  Poe  &  Schiele. 
Meat  Markets. — Beck   Bros.,    T.  Briggs   &  Son,  Freeman 
&  Goel,  Alfred  Mills,  John  Kreher. 
Stoves  and  Tinware. — Adam  Muench. 
Bakeries  and   Restaurants. — Samuel  Eicenberger,  E.  Mc- 
Elvaine,  A.  Tetrick,  Joseph  Bookstaver. 

Photographers. — John  C.  Dopp,  E.  S.  Wheatley. 
Confectioner. — John  Lewis. 
Soda  Water  Factory. — Mrs.  M   Hayes. 
Bill  Posters- — Hurt  &  Barrett. 
Shoemakers. — W.  E.  Dunn,  A.  Seliger. 
Blacksmith  and    Wagon  Shops. — Adam   Kern,  J.  Henry 
Willis,  John  Wheatley,  Andy  Tate,  Yehling  &  Kraft. 
Tailor. — John  G.  Melroy. 

Harness  Makers. — Jacob  Messmore,  Wiley  Bates. 
Pianos  &  Organs. — H.  P.  Stott. 

Hotels. — Du  Quoin  can  boast  of  having  one  of  the  best 
hotels  in  southern  Illinois,  the  St.  Nicholas,  which  is  a  fine 
brick  structure,  located  opposite  the  depot.     It  is  nicely  fur- 
nished and  well  kept  by  W.  D.  Story.     There  are  also  two 
other  hotels,  the  Shaffer  House  and  the  GifTord  House. 
Barber  Shops  — John  Smith,  Anton  Ruess,  Martin  Smith. 
Licery.—\\.  D.  Ward  &  Bro. 
Dentists.  — John  J.  Jennelle,  Louis  Betts. 


436A 


JOHN    OLDENOORPH,  PfiESI  OENT^ 

OLDENDORPH    MA  N  U  FA  C  TU  R I NG  COMPA  NY ,  DU  Q  UO I N  ^  PEFRY  CO.  ILLINOIS  . 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


437 


Heal  Et^tate  and  Insvrance.  —  C.  F   Liczee,   B    AV.  Pope, 
W.  Mueller,  H.  P.  Scott. 
Pwi  Master. — I.  M.  Neely. 

SKCKET  ORDERS. 

Du  (^uiiin  lldjie  Liidge,  No.  232, 1.  0.  O.  F.  meet  at  their 
hall  in  Wall's  Brick,  every  Thurtday  evening  at  7^  o'clock. 
C  C.  Breed,  N.  G.,  A.  L.  Bryant,  Sec'y. 

Du  (^voiu  Encampment,  No.  18,  /.  0.  0.  J',  meet  at  Odd 
Fellows'  Hall,  first  and  third  Tue.'^day  in  each  month.  M 
Davison,  C.  P.,  T.  H.  Howell,  Scribe. 

Du  Quoin  Lodije,  No.  '2M,  A.  F.  A.  M.  Regular  Commu- 
nication on  second  Thursday  evening  in  each  month.  Hall 
in  Post-office  building.  H.  A.  Fornian,  W.  M.,  H.  P.  Scott, 
Sec'y. 

Du  (/uoin  Chapter,  No.  a,  li.  A.M.  Stated  Convoca- 
tions at  Masonic  Hall,  on  the  second  and  fourth  Mondays 
of  each  monih.  Wm.  A.  Housel,  H.  P.,  T.  H.  Howell, 
Sec  y. 

Perry  Lodge,  No.  1578,  A',  of  H.  meets  on  the  1st  and 
3d  Mondays  of  each  month.  Hall,  3d  floor  Schrader's 
block,  Du  Quoin.  John  B.  Ward,  Dictator,  W.  H.  East, 
Reporter. 

Du  Quoin  Easttrn  Star  Lodge, No.  27,  A.  F.  .4.  M.  Regu- 
lar Communication  on  la.st  Tuesday  evening  in  each  month. 
Hall  in  Pope  &  Co's  building.  C.  A.  Ricks,  W.  M.,  Stephen 
Oates,  Sec'y. 

Doric  Pride  Lodge,  No.  1940,  Crand  United  Order  of 
Olid  Fe/lotvs — meet  at  their  hall  in  Burgess'  Block,  Du 
Quoin,  on  the  firrt  and  third  Mondays  in  each  month. 
Albert  Watson,  N.  G.,  Richard  Dement,  Sec'y. 

Du  (Juoin  Horse  and  Mide  Protecting  Society — meets  regu- 
larly at  stated  meetings,  in  Du  Quoin.  Hiram  Burbank, 
President. 

ST.   JOHNS 

is  situated  about  one  mile  north  of  the  Du  Quoin  depot,  on 
the  line  of  the  Illinois  Central  railroad.  It  was  laid  out  as 
a  village  by  Ashley  &  Bro.,  and  was  surveyed  and  platted 
by  I.  ¥j.  Willis,  county  surveyor,  September  13,  185(3.  It  is 
located  on  sec.  5  of  tp.  ij  S.,  range  1  W.  In  1857  it  voted 
on  incorporation  and  carried  it  unanimously.  The  first 
trustees,  elected  June  ti,  1857,  were:  John  Wheatley,  A. 
W.  Nason,  Robert  Knox,  C.  B.  Meserole  and  Charles  Leav- 
enworth ;  police  magistrate,  Elisha  Nason. 

It  is  not  at  this  writing  incorporated.  It  is  a  small  vil- 
lage con)prisiug  only  a  few  dwellings.     It   is  here  that  the 


fait  works   are  located  and  that  coal  is  mined    more   exten- 
sively than  at  any  other  point  in  Perry  county. 

The  Illinois  Central  Iron  and  Coal  Mining  Company  was 
organized  March  3,  1857,  and  their  articles  of  association 
filed  March  27  of  the  same  year.  The  capital  stock  was 
•536,000  divided  into  560  shares,  incorporated  for  thirty 
years.  The  first  directors  and  officers  were :  Austin  S. 
Tuttlc,  President;  Alonzo  W.  Nason,  secretary  and  trea- 
surer, and  Orrin  J.  Rose.  This  comjjany  began  raining  coal 
in  1857.  The  vein  at  this  point  dips,  and  it  is  worked  by 
digging  a  slope  instead  of  sinking  a  shaft,  the  usual  way  of 
mining  in  this  state.  In  1867  \V.  P.  Holliday,  of  Cairo, 
purchased  all  the  stock  of  the  company  and  assumed  the 
control  and  management  of  the  mine.  In  the  spring  of 
1873  a  new  slope  was  sunk,  a  mile  and  a  quarter  east,  and  is 
the  one  now  being  used  for  mining  the  coal.  The  vein  varies 
from  seven  to  ten  feet  in  thickness,  and  the  coal  is  of  a  superior 
quality. 

In  1870,  while  boring  to  examine  the  lower  coal  fields, 
a  salt  well  was  struck  at  the  depth  of  940  feet.  Mr.  Hol- 
liday at  once  saw  the  importance  of  this  discovery,  and 
immediately  began  the  erection  of  suitable  buildings  for  the 
manufacture  of  salt,  which  were  completed,  with  machinery 
ready  for  use,  in  November,  1873.  Since  then  there  have 
been  six  wells  sunk,  from  each  of  which  are  thrown  from 
fifteen  to  twenty  gallons  of  salt  water  per  minute.  The 
buildings  and  capacity  have  been  greatly  enlarged,  and  the 
manufacture  of  five  grades  of  salt  is  now  being  extensively 
carried  on.  The  works  will  average  about  150  barrels  of 
salt  per  day,  which  are  shipped  mostly  to  soul  hern  states. 
There  is  also  a  general  store,  and  an  elevator,  constructed 
for  handling  all  kinds  of  grain,  belonging  to  the  works. 

Besides  these  extensive  manufacturing  and  mining  institu- 
tions, there  is  a  farm  consisting  of  2,300  acres,  700  acres  of 
which  are  under  cultivation,  belonging  to  the  works,  all  of 
which  are  owned  and  controlled  by  Mr.  Holliday.  There 
are  employed  here  about  350  men,  including  all  the  branches 
of  business. 

DIAMOND   TOWN 

was  named  from  the  Black  Diamond  Coal  Mining  Company's 
mine,  which  was  located  at  this  point.  The  company  was 
organized  in  1865.  The  mines  are  not  being  worked  at  this 
writing,  and  there  is  nothing  there  but  a  few  old  buildings. 
The  town  was  laid  out  by  James  Dick,  and  surveyed  and 
platted  by  William  H.  Lovelady,  county  surveyor,  Sep- 
tember 15,  1864.  It  is  located  on  the  N.  W' .  quarter  of  sec 
29,  tp.  5  S.,  range  1  W. 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


Was  a  native  of  White  county,  Illinois,  and  was  born 
March  25th,  1824  ;  his  parents,  Woods  M.  and  Jane 
(McCluskey)  Hamilton,  were  natives  of  Tennessee,  and  emi- 
grated to  Illinois  and  settled  in  White  county  soon  after 
the  State  was  admitted  to  the  Union.  Woods  M.  Hamilton 
was  a  Cumberland  Presbyterian  minister ;  he  was  the  father 
of  ten  children — nine  sons  and  one  daughter ;  but  two  of 
them  are  now  living,  viz  :  Dr.  Hamilton,  of  Murphysboro, 
Illinois,  and  Jane,  who  was  the  wife  of  Judge  J.  M.  Ralls, 
now  deceased,  of  Randolph  county,  Illinois,  now  the  wife  of 
Mr.  Fulton,  of  the  same  county.  Presley  P.  was  raised  in 
the  home  of  his  father,  in  White  county  ;  while  yet  a  young 
man  he  entered  the  law  office  of  Hon.  S.  S.  Marshall,  of 
McLeansboro,  and  read  law  ;  before  he  finished  his  studies, 
he  removed  to  Pinckneyvilleand  there  completed  his  studies 
in  the  office  and  under  the  tuition  of  Col.  William  Edwar's, 
an  eminent  and  successful  lawyer  of  that  place.  He  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  when  he  was  in  his  twenty-second  year. 
Judge  Scates,  one  of  the  Supreme  Justices  of  tlie  State,  pre 
sided  over  the  circuit  courts  of  Perry  county  at  that  time.  In 
the  fall  of  1858  Mr.  Hamilton  entered  the  Law  School  at 
Louisville,  Kentucky,  and  graduated  from  that  institution 
438 


in  February,  1859  ;  he  continued  the  prr.clice  in  Perry  and 
surrounding  counties  until  186  ],  and  had  built  up  a  large  and 
lucrative  business,  and  was  reganled  as  one  of  the  leading 
lawyers  in  the  circuit;  in  1863  he  experienced  religion  and 
became  a  convert  and  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church  ;  he 
conceived  it  to  be  his  duty  to  enter  the  ministry  of  the 
church,  which  he  did,  notwithstanding  that  by  so  doing  he 
sacrificed  his  large  and  profitable  business,  and  took  up 
a  calling  that  promised  no  eraolumeiits  beyond  a  mere 
living  ;  but  he  was  as  earnest  and  sincere  in  his  last  pro- 
fession as  he  was  active  and  energetic  in  the  first.  He  was 
admitted  to  the  ministry  at  the  Southern  Illinois  Con- 
ference held  at  Olney,  and  his  first  labors  were  on  the  Kin- 
niundy  circuit;  two  years  later  he  was  transferred  to  Litcih- 
field  Station,  and  there  remained  three  years;  then  went  to 
Alton,  where  he  remained  one  year.  His  health  then  began 
to  fail,  and  he  was  compelled  to  seek  repose  from  his  labors, 
but,  alas !  it  was  too  late.  He  departed  this  life  October 
22nd,  1869,  having  been  actively  engaged  in  the  ministry 
nearly  six  years.  In  1865  he  was  ordained  deacon,  and  in 
1867,  an  elder  in  the  church.  He  was  by  nature  admirably 
adapted  to  the  ministry ;  he  was  devout  and  earnest;  his  great 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND   PERRY    COUNTIES,   ILLINOIS. 


439 


earnestness  carried  conviction  tothosewhocamein  contact  with 
his  niinistraiions,  and  as  an  exhorter  he  was  powerful;  ail 
acknowledged  his  power  and  ability  to  sway  his  auditnce, 
and  lead  iheiu  in  the  path  of  righteousness.  That  he  was 
useful,  and  had  not  mistaken  his  culling,  it  is  proved  by 
the  fact  that  in  the  six  years  of  his  ministry  he  converted 
five  hundred,  and  led  them  into  the  fold  of  the  church.  Ills 
great  regret  was  that  he  had  heeded  the  call  to  the  ministry 
at  the  eleventh  hour,  and  therefore  .said  he  must  do  a  whole 
day's  work  in  one  hour.  In  his  home  he  was  a  kind  and 
devoted  husband,  and  to  his  children  an  affectionate  and 
indulgent  father. 

On  the  2()th  of  July,  184(),  he  mirried  Mi-ii  Lucy  M. 
daughter  of  Humphrey  B.  and  Harriet  I  Dobbins)  Jones. 
Mrs.  Jones  was  born  in  Virginia,  but  reareci  and  married  in 
Christian  county,  Kentucky,  where  Mr.  Jones  was  born  and 
raised.  Mr.  Jones  came  to  Illinois  in  April,  1821,  and  set- 
tled in  JJrownsville,  -Jackson  county,  and  there  followed  the 
practice  of  medicine,  and  continued  there  until  April  21st, 
1827,  when  he  removed  to  Perry  county,  which  had  just 
been  organized  ;  he  entered  the  land  on  which  Pinckneyville 
now  stands,  and  assisted  in  locating  and  laying  out  the  town 
when  the  county  sen  was  located.  He  was  the  first  county  and 
circuit  clerk,  and  held  nearly  all  the  offices  of  the  county 
for  sixteen  years.  In  addition,  he  was  the  leading  physician 
und  post-master  of  Pinckneyville.  lie  Wds  admitted  to  the 
bar  about  1841),  and  from  that  time  to  his  death  was  the 
leading  lawyer,  and  was  engaged  ou  one  side  or  the  other  of 
ne.rly  »11,  if  not  all,  the  ca.'es  tried  in  the  courts  of  Perry 
county.  He  was  indeed  a  prominent  and  in  many  re.«pects 
a  remarkable  man.  His  death  occurred  Nov.  18th,  18.")."), 
nged  fifiytix  years.  Mrs.  Hamilton  was  born  in  Pinckney- 
ville, December  2;)rd.  1S27,  and  is  credited  with  being  the 
first  child  born  in  that  town.  There  was  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hatiiilton  six  children — five  sons  and  one  daughter. 
Three  of  the  sons  died  in  infancy.  Harriet  A.,  the  only 
daughter,  married  Joseph  R  Blackwell ;  she  died  December 
9th,  1878,  leaving  three  children,  named  Lucy,  Bessie,  and 
Guy  Blackwell.  The  names  of  the  surviving  sons  are: 
Edward  J.,  who  married  Miss  Lena  Baldwin,  of  Ironton, 
Missouri,  and  John  ,].  Hamilton,  who  is  a  book-keej)er  in 
St.  Louis. 


CHARLES  P.  RICHARDS, 

One  of  the  proprietors  and  editors  of  the  Tribune,  is  a  native 
of  Wyoming  county,  New  York,  born  September  18th, 
1841.  He  is  the  son  of  Newell  G..  and  Roxyelte  (Kingsley) 
Richards,  who  are  the  descendants  of  old  settlers  in  New- 
York.  Josiah  W.  Kingsley,  the  maternal  grandfather,  is 
still  living.  He  is  closely  related  to  the  Fulton  family,  of 
which  Robert  Fulton,  the  inventor  of  the  steamboat,  was  a 
raem})er.  Newell  G.  Richards  remained  in  New  York  fol- 
lowing the  occupation  of  a  farmer  uniil  the  winter  of  180."), 


when  he  removed  west  and  settled  in  Flint,  Michigan,  where 
he  at  present  resides.  By  his  marriage  with  Miss  Roxyette 
Kingsley  there  were  seven  children,  only  two  of  whom  are 
at  present  living,  viz.,  James  B  ,  who  for  the  greater  portion 
of  his  life  has  been  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits,  and  the 
subject  of  this  sketch.  Charles  P.  received  a  fair  Iviglish 
education  in  the  schools  of  his  native  county.  At  the  age 
of  fifteen  he  entered  a  printing  office  in  the  town  of  Perry, 
and  served  an  apprenticeship  of  three  years,  after  which  he 
worked  at  the  case  iu  the  printing  office  at  Gcneseo,  and 
from  there  went  to  Warsaw  and  took  the  foremanship  of  an 
office.  In  the  fiiU  of  1864  he  came  west  to  Michigan, 
and  stopped  at  Kalamazoo,  where  he  worked  at  the  case. 
One  year  later  he  went  to  Chicago,  where  he  remained  six 
months,  then  came  down  to  Champaign,  Ills.,  and  clerked  at 
a  hotel  for  six  months,  after  which  he  returned  to  the  trade, 
and  worked  in  the  printing  offices  of  Toledo,  Ohio,  Wabash, 
Ind.,  and  Bloomington,  Ills,  returning  to  Champaign  where 
he  was  married.  He  then  went  to  Rock  Island  and  worked 
on  a  daily  paj)er  for  nearly  one  year.  His  health  failing 
him,  he  returned  to  Champaign,  in  the  offices  of  which  place, 
after  his  health  had  recruited,  he  worked,  and  in  August 
1808  he  came  to  Du  Quoin,  and  returning  to  Champaign,  ten 
months  later,  took  charge  of  the  Gazette  office  as  foreman. 
In  Nov.,  1870,  he  returned  to  Du  Quoin  and  purchased  a 
third  interest  iu  the  Tribune  office.  The  firm  of  R.  Berry 
&  Co.  continued  until  1874,  when  Berry's  interest  was  pur- 
chased by  the  remaining  partners,  who,  under  the  firm  name 
of  Beem  &  Richards,  have  continued  the  publicatiou  of  the 
Tribune  to  the  present.  The  Tribune,  under  the  manage- 
ment of  the  latter  firm,  has  ri.sen  to  be  the  most  potential 
organ  in  the  Twentieth  Congressional  District,  and  one 
of  the  prominent  and  leading  newspapers  in  Southern  Illi- 
nois. The  office  is  superior  to  many  country  offices  in  its 
outfit  of  power  presses,  type  and  all  kinds  of  material  neces- 
sary to  do  any  and  all  kinds  of  first-class  work.  Both  these 
gentlemen  are  practical  printers,  and  have  had  many  years 
of  practical  experience  in  both  country  and  metropolitan 
offices,  and  therefore  bring  to  the  office  a  thorough  knowledge 
of  the  wants  of  the  people  and  the  interests  of  the  community, 
whiih,  as  ne  ispaper  publishers,  they  represent  On  the  2d 
of  August,  18(!6,  Mr.  Richards  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Emma  L.,  daughter  of  Lyman  D  and  Freelove  C. 
(Brown)  Chaddon,  of  Champaign,  Illinois.  Mrs.  Richards' 
parents  are  natives  of  New  York.  At  present  they  are 
residents  of  Wellington,  Kansas.  There  have  been  three 
children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Richards,  whose  names,  in 
the  order  of  their  birth  are,  Herman  E.,  Helen  Corabelle 
and  Charles  Albert  Richards.  Mr.  Richards,  politically, 
comes  from  a  Democratic  family,  but  after  casting  his  first 
vote  with  that  party,  joined  the  Republican  ranks.  He  cast 
his  first  presidential  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln  iu  1864,  and 
for  each  succeeding  Republican  president  since. 


440 


HISTORY    01    RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY  COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


^^^-wXj^^/^^ 


The  rliUject  of  the  following  sketch  has  been  for  many 
years  one  of  the  prominent  educators  of  Perry  county.  He 
was  born  in  Cayuga  county,  New  York,  July  18th,  1836. 
The  Ward  family  on  the  paternal  side  is  of  English  descent 
and  on  the  maternal  French.  A.  Ward,  his  father,  was  a 
native  of  New  York.  Removed  toClaremont  county,  Ohio, 
in  1841,  and  there  remained  until  1857,  when  he  came  to 
Illinois  and  settled  in  Perry  county,  where  he  died  in  18/3. 
He  followed  the  peaceful  occupation  of  a  farmer  during  his 
active  life.  He  married  Priscilla  H.  Brand,  who  was  born 
in  western  New  York.  She  died  in  this  county  in  1875. 
John  B.  Ward,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  the  fifth  in  a 
family  of  nine  children,  four  of  whom  have  survived  the 
parents  and  are  yet  living.  The  oldest  son,  G.  C.  Ward 
during  ihe  late  war  enlisted  for  three  years,  and  became  a 
member  of  Company  G,  12lh  Ills.  Vol.  Inlty.  He  was 
killed  at  the  second  battle  of  Corinth,  where  he  participated 
with  his  commander  in  a  desperate  charge  upon  the  enemy 
to  recapture  a  battery.  John  B.  was  reared  upon  the  farm 
and  attended  the  District  schools  of  Claremont  county 
during  the  winter  months,  and  therein  received  his  primary 
education,  which  was  of  such  a  character  as  fitted  him  for 
entrance  to  the  high  schools  and  academies  of  the  county. 
In  those  institutions  he  laid  the  foundations  of  his  learn- 
ing, which  Has    afterward  improved  by  self-culture,  exten- 


sive reading  and  many  years  of  teaching.  In  the  spring  of 
1855  he  came  We.«t  to  Illinois  and  stopped  at  Galesburg,  in 
Knox  county.  In  May  of  the  same  year  came  to  Du 
Quoin  and  here  served  an  apprenticeship  at  tbe  pla-terer's 
trade  and  worked  at  the  business  for  three  years.  During 
those  years  he  taught  school  in  the  winter  months,  returning 
to  his  trad  -.  with  the  opening  of  spring.  He  is  credited  with 
teaching  the  first  school  established  in  the  city  of  Du  Quoin. 
He  then  concluded  to  adopt  the  profession  of  teaching  and 
m<ke  it  his  life  work,  and  with  this  view  he  studied  the 
various  methods  and  systems  of  teaching  and  commenced 
fitting  and  equipping  himself  forthe  work.  He  entered  upon 
it  and  has  followed  it  steadily  to  the  present  time  During  the 
last  twelve  years  he  has  been  principal  of  the  public  schools 
of  Du  Quoin.  In  1873  his  reputation  and  skill  as  an 
educator  received  suitable  and  honorable  recognition  from 
the  citizens  of  Perry  county,  who  elected  him  county 
superintendent  of  schools,  overall  competitors,  by  a  hand- 
some majority.  In  1877  he  was  re-elected,  filling  the  position 
for  eight  years  with  great  credit  to  himself,  aud  also  in  that 
time  bringing  the  public  schools  of  the  county  up  to  a 
standard  second  no  other  county  in  the  State.  In  1882 
he  was  an  Independent  candidate  for  the  same  position,  but 
owing  to  the  many  factious  and  different  parties,  and 
much  oonfusion  in  political  circles,  he  was  defeated  by  the 


HISTORY   OF  RANDOLPH,   MONROE  AND   PERRY   COUNTIES,   ILLINOIS. 


441 


small  majority  of  thirty-six  votes.  Combinations  by  politi- 
cal leaders  often  thwart  the  will  of  the  people.  Politically 
Mr.  Ward  cast  his  first  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln  and  the 
Kepublican  ticket,  and  on  State  and  national  occasions 
from  that  time  to  the  present,  has  given  that  party  his 
support.  However  he  possesses  sufBcient  independence  to 
ignore  party  ties  and  affiliations  and  give  his  support  to 
men  and  measures  that  in  his  judgment  will  redound  to  the 
best  interests  of  his  county  and  country.  On  the  18th  of 
September,  1857,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Margery,  daughter  of  Silas  and  Elizabeth  (Emery)  Hutch- 
inson. She  was  born  in  Claremont  county,  Ohio,  April 
14th,  1837.  By  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ward  there  are 
four  children  living.  There  names  in  the  order  of  their 
birth  are,  Eva,  who  is  the  wife  of  Eli  T.  Blakeslee,  Hattie 
Gertrude,  wifeof  Valle  Nettleton,  Harry  B.  and  Charles  E. 
Ward.  Both  Mr.  Ward  and  his  estimable  wife  are  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  church.  In  his  habits  he  is  strictly 
temperate,  and  in  his  manners  is  a  pleasant  and  affable  gentle- 
man, unassuming  and  quiet.  In  the  community  where -he 
has  lived  for  many  years,  and  where  people  know  him  best, 
he  is  highly  respected  for  his  worth  as  a  man  and  citizen. 


HIRAM  L.  BURBANK. 

Among  the  prominent  and  substantial  farmers  and  old 
settlers  of  Perry  county  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Henry 
Burbank,  the  grandfather  of  Hiram  L.,  was  born  and  lived 
until  the  day  of  his  death  in  New  Hampshire.  He  married 
a  Miss  Johnson,  and  of  that  union  was  Johnson  Burbank. 
He  was  born  in  the  same  State  in  1790.  He  came  to  Illi- 
nois in  1837  and  entered  land  in  Perry  county,  returned,  and 
the  nest  year  came  west  with  his  family  and  settled  on  it. 
It  was  the  same  tract  on  which  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
now  lives.  There  he  remained  until  his  death,  except  a  few 
years  that  he  was  in  Kentucky.  His  death  occurred  in  18.)() 
He  married  Mary  Paren,  born  in  1788,  and  died  in  1880, 
There  were  six  children,  all  living.  Their  names  are  Edwin, 
William  P.,  George  W.,  Emily  S.,  widow  of  John  Stratton, 
deceased,  Hiram  L.  and  Laura,  wife  of  Henry  K.  Wells, 
now  of  Whiteside  county,  Illinois.  Hiram  L.  was  born  in 
Haverhill,  New  Hampshire,  April  3,  1826.  He  received  a 
fair  English  education  in  his  youth,  came  west  with  his 
father,  and  in  1849,  went  to  Kentucky  and  operated  a  saw 
mill  there  for  about  six  years,  then  returned  to  the  old  home- 
stead, engaged  in  farming  and  has  continued  there  until  the 
present.  On  the  14th  of  August,  18.")0,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Melvina  Tucker,  daughter  of  James  R. 
Tucker,  of  Union  county,  Ky.  She  died  July  18,  18.54, 
leaving  one  child  living  named  Henry  M.  Burbank,  who 
was  born  and  raised  on  the  old  homestead  and  married 
Hattie,  daughter  of  Wily  and  Mary  Lipe,  old  settlers  of 
Perry  county.  They  have  four  children  named  Gussie 
Guy,  Alice  M.  and  Annie  Burbank.  Mr.  Hiram  L.  Bur- 
bank, on  the  12th  of  February,  ISGl,  married  his  second 
56 


wife,  whose  name  was  Alice  M.  Seeley.  She  died  September 
6,  1863,  without  issue.  Mr.  Burbank  is  a  Republican  in 
politics.  He  has  been  justice  of  the  peace  since  1873.  He 
was  raised  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  He  is  one 
of  the  pioneers  of  Perry  county,  and  much  respected  for  his 
nobility  of  character. 


M.  B.  LAURENCE, 
The  editor  of  the  Du  Quoin  Pras,  is  a  native  of  New  Jer- 
sey, where  he  was  born  February  25, 1837.  He  is  the  son 
of  Isaac  and  Keturah  (Springer)  Laurence.  He  received 
his  education  in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  State, 
which  was  supplemented  by  a  short  term  in  the  academy. 
He  remained  at  home  until  in  his  twentieth  year,  when  he 
came  west,  to  Illinois,  and  stopped  in  Christian  county;  from 
the  e  removed  to  Sangamon  county,  and  engaged  in  -scliool- 
teaching  and  stock  business.  In  1863  he  came  toDu  Quoin 
to  superintend  the  coal  mines  of  Frank  Priest,  then  a  wealthy 
capitalist  of  Decatur,  Illinois.  Two  years  later  he  engaged 
in  the  hardware  business,  which  he  subsequently  abandoned 
to  engage  in  steamboating  on  the  Ohio  and  Cumberland 
rivers.  In  1878  he  returned  to  Du  Quoin  and  re-engaged 
in  merchandising,  in  which  he  continued  until  1881,  when 
he  became  a  partner  in,  and  editor  of  the  Du  Quoin  Piess, 
a  weekly  paper  removed  from  Tamaroa,  and  established 
here  in  the  same  year.  The  Press,  under  his  able  editorial 
management,  has  become  well  known  to  the  citizens  of  Perry 
county.  Politically  he  is  independent  in  politics,  and  sup- 
ports men  and  measures  regardless  of  party  ties  or  affiliation. 
Upon  questions  of  a  religious  character,  he  is  liberal.  He  sub- 
scribes to  none  of  the  formulated  creeds  or  dogmas  of 
churches,  but  believes  in  the  golden  rule  of  doing  to  others 
as  he  would  have  others  do  unto  him,  and  believes  that  in  the 
strict  observance  of  that  rule  is  contained  the  true  spirit  of 
religion.  Mr.  Laurence  has  been  twice  married.  The  date 
of  the  first  was  January  25,  1865,  to  Miss  Eunice  Miller. 
She  died  December  31,  of  the  same  year,  leaving  a  child, 
named  Emma  Laurence.  In  April,  1871,  he  married  his 
present  wife,  Susan  Evans,  of  Aurora,  Illinois. 


CHARLES  W.  AND  ALBERT  N.  CURLEE, 
Are  sons  of  Jesse  W.  and  Mary  (Stout)  Curlee,  and  both 
are  natives  of  Perry  county,  Illinois.  They  received  a  good 
English  education  in  the  schools  of  Tamaroa,  and  both 
learned  the  printer's  trade,  and  are  practical  printers.  They 
started  in  the  printing  business,  in  Tamaroa,  in  1879,  where 
they  continued  until  Sej)tember,  1881,  when  they  moved  the 
press  and  material  to  Du  Quoin,  and  in  connection  with  M. 
B.  Laurence,  as  editor,  established  the  Du  Quoin  Pia/. 
They  are  active  and  energetic  young  men,  and  if  fortune  is 
not  too  severe,  we  predict  for  them  wealth,  prosperity  and 
fame  in  the  journalistic  world. 


442 


HISTORY   OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND    PERRY   COUNTIES,   ILLINOIS. 


(^.  fp  (^3J^^^^^^^ 


The  subject  of  the  following  sketch  is  one  of  the  active 
and  energetic  business  men,  and  the  leading  manufacturer 
of  Du  Quoin.  The  Blakeslee  family  belong  to  a  race  of 
machinists.  They  take  naturally  to  mechanism.  Albert 
Judd  Blakeslee  was  born  in  Perryville,  Madison  county, 
New  York,  March  1,  1824.  He  is  the  son  of  Eli  and  Emily 
(Judd)  Blakeslee,  who  were  of  English  descent.  The  family 
originally  settled  in  Litchfield,  Conn.,  and  from  there  moved 
to  New  York.  Eli  Blakeslee,  while  a  resident  of  the  latter 
State,  was  engaged  in  the  manufacturing  of  carriages  and 
wagons.  In  1845  he  brought  his  family  to  Illinois  and  set- 
tled in  Metamora,  in  Woodford  county,  and  there  opened  a 
foundry  and  machine  shop,  and  carried  on  the  business  un- 
til 18.57,  when  he  was  induced  to  remove  to  Ullin,  in  Pulaski 
county,  and  engage  in  the  milling  business,  which,  after  a 
trial  of  three  years,  proved  disastrous  financially.  In  1860 
he  came  to  Du  Quoin,  and  in  connection  with  his  sons 
established  a  machine  shop  on  a  small  scale,  and  there  he 
remained  until  his  death.  He  married  Miss  Emily  Judd.  of 
New  York.  Albert  Judd  Blakeslee  is  one  of  the  offspring 
of  that  union.  He  received  only  an  ordinary  common  school 
education  in  his  youth,  which  was  afterward  improved  by 
a  short  time  in  the  academy,  and  by  teaching  for  a  term. 
He  went  into  his  father's  shop,  served  an  apprenticeship,  and 
at  eighteen  years  of  age  took  charge  of  the  forging  depart- 


ment of  a  foundry  and  machine  shop  at  Fredonia,  New 
York.  He  came  west  with  his  father,  and  was  connected 
with  him  in  business  until  the  former's  death.  He  con- 
tinued the  business  in  Du  Quoin  with  his  brothers,  and 
much  of  the  business  growth  and  success  of  the  manufactory 
is  due  to  the  energy,  inventive  genius,  and  business  tact  of 
A.  J.  Blakeslee.  He  is  the  inventor  and  manufacturer  of 
the  well-known  directing  and  acting  pump  for  heavy  service 
in  mine  work  or  boiler  feeding.  He  is  also  the  inventor  of 
the  Veneer  machine,  which  is  extensively  used  in  all  parts 
of  the  United  States,  and  is  especially  adapted  for  cutting 
fruit-box  material.  The  first  successful  Steam  Jet  Pump 
was  patented  by  him  in  1809,  which  the  Company  still  con- 
tinue to  manufacture.  The  Blakeslee  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany, of  which  he  is  president,  also  manufacture  portable 
engines,  and  do  a  general  jobbing  business. 

On  the  27th  of  March,  1851,  he  married  Miss  Sarah  Jane, 
daughter  of  Thomas  Wafer.  She  was  born  in  La  Salle 
county,  Illinois,  in  1829.  Her  father  was  a  native  of  South 
Carolina,  and  a  soldier  in  the  Black  Hawk  war.  Five 
children  have  been  born  to  him  and  Mrs.  Blakeslee,  four  of 
whom  are  living.  Their  names  in  the  order  of  their  birth 
are  :  Eli  T.,  who  is  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Blakeslee 
Manufacturing  Company.  He  married  Eva,  daughter  of 
John  B.  Ward,  of  Du  Quoin.     Ella  M.,  wife  of  H.  P.  Scott, 


HISTORY   OF  RANDOLPH,   MONROE  AND   PERRY   COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS 


443 


attorney  at  law,  Du  Quoin.  Eda  E.,  who  was  the  wife  of 
J.  C.  Sturgeon.  She  died  in  February,  18S2,  leaving  two 
children.  Clarence  Eugene,  who  is  at  present  a  student  in 
the  Industrial  University  at  Urbaiia,  Illinois,  and  Albert  H. 
Blakeslee.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Blakeslee  are  members  of  the 
Episcopal  Church. 


Dr.  L.  dyer. 

The  Dyer  family  is  of  English  ancestry  and  the  descendants 
of  an  old  family.  Members  of  the  family  emigrated  to 
America  at  an  early  day  in  the  history  of  this  county, 
some  of  whom  were  soldiers  in  the  revolutionary  war.  Dr. 
Dyer  was  born  in  Shaftesbury,  Bennington  county, Vermont. 
He  is  the  son  of  Henry  and  Sarah  Coy  Dyer,  natives  of 
Connecticut.  He  grew  to  manhood  in  Vermont,  and  re- 
ceived his  primary  education  in  the  common  schools,  and 
his  literary  education  in  the  academy.  His  professional 
studies  were  obtained  in  the  Berkshire  Medical  Institute,  at 
Pittsfield,  a  dei)artmcnt  of  Williams  College,  from  which 
institution  he  graduated  in  1828  He  entered  upon  the 
practice  in  his  native  county,  but  a  few  years  later  was  in- 
duced to  go  west,  in  which  direction  emigration  was  then 
tending.  He  followed  the  stream  to  Ohio,  and  settled  in 
(Jrecnbrier  county,  where  he  was  appointed  physician  to 
Kenyon  College  and  Theological  Institute.  From  these  he 
removed  to  Mount  Vernon  and  shared  the  office  with  I  Ion. 
Columbus  Delano,  late  secretary  of  the  interior.  In  ihv 
latter  place  he  edited  a  whig  newspaper,  in  addition  to 
practi.*ing  his  profession.  In  18.5"),  he  removed  to  Iowa,  but 
the  climate  of  that  State  proving  too  severe  after  a  two 
years'  residence,  removed  to  Du  Quoin,  Illinois,  where  he 
has  since  resided.  While  a  resident  of  Iowa,  he  was  offered, 
but  declined,  a  profes.sorship  in  the  Medical  College  at 
Keokuk.  During  the  late  war  he  took  a  prominent  and 
decided  stand  in  favor  of  the  union,  and  sustaining  the 
armies  in  the  field,  and  promoting  the  growth  of  union 
sentiment  in  Southern  Illinois.  In  1.^(12,  while  at  Sjiring- 
field.  Gov.  Yates  importuned  him  to  enter  the  service  as  a 
surgeon  of  one  of  the  regiments  that  were  then  being  or- 
ganized. He  consented,  appeared  before  the  Medical 
E.vamining  Board,  ])assed  a  highly  creditable  examination, 
and  was  commissioned  surgeon  and  a.ssigned  to  duty  with 
the  Mst  Regiment  Illinois  Vol.  Infty.,  the  date  of  which 
was  August  20,  1862.  In  October  following  he  was  placed 
on  the  operating  staff,  in  which  position  he  served  two  years, 
and  then  was  made  surgeon-in-chief,  appointing  his  own 
staff.  While  in  the  service  an  incident  occurred  which 
demands  notice  here.  Two  or  three  officers  of  the  line 
having  become,  without  cause,  hostile  to  him,  succeeded  by 
perjury  in  having  charges  preferred  against  him,  which 
were  forwarded  to  the  secretary  of  war.  The  information 
of  the  conspiracy  came  to  Dr.  Dyer  one  month  after  its  con- 
coction, and  after  the  false  evidence  was  sent  to  Washington. 
He  upon  first  knowledge  made  enquiries  at  division  head- 
quarters, and  was  there  informed  that  no  paper  of  such 


purport  had  passed  through  the  hands  of  the  general.  But 
his  colonel  still  persisted  that  a  paper  containing  charges 
against  the  doctor  had  been  forwarded,  and  believed  that  it 
would  result  with  his  (the  doctor's)  dishonorable  discharge 
and  advised  him  to  resign.  This  the  doctor  refused  to  do, 
declaring  that  such  action  on  his  part  would  be  an  admission 
of  guilt,  and  would  in  his  judgment  be  cowardly.  He  went 
at  once  to  General  (irant's  head-quarters,  and  then  learned 
positively  that  charges  had  been  made  and  where  then  in 
the  hands  of  the  secretary  of  war,  at  Washington.  He 
enquired  of  General  Grant  what  an  innocent  and  honorable 
man  should  do  under  the  circumstances.  General  Grant  at 
once  issued  an  order  to  General  McPherson  to  order  a  court 
of  inquiry  and  investigate  the  whole  matters.  The  court  was 
convened,  charges  investigated,  and  Dr.  Dyer  declared  inno- 
cent. The  proceedings  with  a  letter  were  forwarded  to  the 
war  department,  but  in  the  meantime  an  order  dismissing 
him  from  the  service  and  loss  of  pay,  was  received  and  read 
on  dress  parade.  Surgeon  Dyer  was  present  and  remarked 
that  "  this  is  not  the  end  of  it."  He  took  of!"  his  shoulder 
straps,  repaired  to  General  McPher.son's  head-iiuarters  and 
.*aid,  "  General,  I  have  come  to  tender  my  services  to  carry 
a  musket  in  the  ranks.  The  medical  director,  who  was  pre- 
sent said,  "  If  Dr.  Dyer  wishes  to  volunteer  I  shall  l)e  very 
glad  to  assign  him  to  duty,  as  I  need  his  services  very  much." 
The  Dr.  accepted,  and  was  assigned  to  duty,  and Vemained  ,<i.\ 
weeks,  when  an  order  for  his  reinstalment  was  received, 
which  was  as  widely  published  as  the  order  of  dismissal. 
We  mention  this  incident  as  one  of  the  many  growing  out  of 
the  turbulent  times  of  the  war.  Had  it  not  been  for  the 
doctor's  determination  and  pluck,  not  to  suffer  the  ignomiiiv 
of  a  dishonorable  discharge,  when  he  was  guilty  of  no 
crime,  misdemeanor,  or  semblance  of  it,  perhaps  the  onler 
would  have  remained  in  force  and  he  for  ever  disgraced,  but 
he  staid  upon  the  ground  until  his  vindication  came  and  was 
given  as  much  publicity  as  his  discharge.  One  of  the  highest 
compliments  i)aid  to  the  intelligence  and  integrity  of  Dr. 
Dyer  was  the  fact,  that  he  was  called  upon  to  write  the  his- 
tory of  the  command  to  which  he  was  attached,  for  the  use 
and  information  of  the  state  of  Illinois.  At  the  close  of  the 
war,  congress  p;issed  a  bill  granting  him  full  pay  and  allow- 
ance for  the  si.\  weeks  he  was  nominally  out  of  the  service. 
He  returned  to  Du  Quoin  after  the  close  of  the  war,  and  re- 
sumed his  practice,  in  which  he  yet  continues.  On  the  2d 
of  Sept.,  187o,  he  was  appointed  examining  surgeon  for 
pensions  in  the  district.  Dr.  Dyer  married  Miss  Laura  A. 
I'urdy,  of  Vermont,  by  which  union  there  were  two  sons  and 
four  daughters.  In  religious  faith  he  is  a  Presbyterian.  His 
eldest  brother  was  a  clergyman  in  the  M.  E.  church,  while 
his  younger  brother.  Rev.  H.  Dyer,  of  New  York,  is  one  of 
the  most  distinguished  Episcopalian  ministers  in  that 
church,  having  been  in  184")  elected  president  of  the  uni- 
versity of  western  Pennsylvania,  and  in  May,  \H&.\  elected  bi- 
shop of  Kansas.  Politically  Dr.  Dyer  is  a  Republican.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Southern  Illinois  ]\Iedical  A.ssociation,  and 
others,  that  have  for  their  object  the  mutual  improvement 
and  advancement  of  its  members,  and  at  different  times  has 
been  president  of  that  body. 


444  HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


The  subject  of  the  following  sketch  is  one  of  the  rising 
young  lawyers  of  Perry  county.  The  family  is  of  English 
descent.  His  ancestors  settled  in  New  Hampshire,  and  from 
there  removed  to  Vermont,  in  the  year  1840.  Charles  W. 
Scott,  the  father  of  Henry  P.,  came  to  Illinois,  for  his  health, 
in  1866,  settled  in  Bureau  county,  and  there  died  in  1871. 
He  married  Lucy  Kellum.  She  died  in  18.54.  By  that 
union  there  were  eight  children.  Henry  Percy  Scott  is  the 
youngest  living.  He  was  born,  in  Johnson,  La  Moille  county, 
Vermont,  Aug.  2nd,  1852.  His  primary  education  was  re- 
ceived in  the  excellent  schools  of  his  native  state,  and  sub- 
sequently much  improved  by  a  two  years'  term  in  the  acad- 
emy in  Johnson.  He  came  west  with  his  father,  in  1866,  to 
Bureau  county,  and  worked  on  a  farm,  until  1868.  In  1869, 
he  came  south  to  Centralia,  and  three  months  later  went  to 
Murphysboro,  in  Jackson  county,  and  on  the  10th  of  March, 
1870,  came  to  Du  Quoin,  and  there  engaged  in  the  sewiug 
machine  business,  as  general  agent  for  the  Florence  sewing 
machine  company.  In  1873  he  added  music,  in  which  lat- 
ter trade  he,  to  some  extent,  still  continues.  In  1877,  he 
opened  an  office,  with  real  estate,  loan  and  insurance  busi- 


ness, in  which  he  is  still  largely  interested.  In  1878,  he 
commenced  the  study  of  law,  under  S.  -G.  Parks,  and  in 
August  of  1881  was  upon  examination  admitted  to  the  bar. 
He  commenced  the  practice  in  Du  Quoin,  and  has  met  with 
very  flattering  success.  He  is  a  young  man  of  industry, 
energy,  and  to  the  possessor  of  these  qualities,  continued 
success  is  assured.  He  held  the  position  of  City  Clerk  of 
Du  Quoin  for  two  years,  and  in  that  position,  gave  complete 
satisfaction  to  the  people  of  that  city.  Politically,  he  is  a 
sound  Republican,  and  has  been  frequently  called  upon  to 
represent  his  constituency  in  the  various  county.  Senatorial 
and  Congressional  conventions,  held  in  his  district.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Ancient  and  honorable  order  of  A.  F.  &  A. 
M.,  and  also  a  member  of  the  I.  0.  O.  F.,  and  Knights  of 
Pythias.  On  the  12th  of  March,  1875,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Ella  M.,  daughter  of  A.  J.  &  Sarah  Blakes- 
lee,  ofDu  Quoin.  That  union  has  been  blessed  with  four 
children.  Mrs.  Scott  was  born  in  Metamora,  Woodford 
county,  Illinois.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Scott  are  members  of 
the  Episcopal  Church. 


HISTORY   OF  RANDOLPH,   MONROE  AND   PERRY    COUNTIES,   ILLINOIS. 


445 


R.  W.  S.  WHEATLEY, 

OsE  of  the  rising  young  attorneys  of  Perry  county,  is  the 
subject  of  the  following  sketch.  He  was  born  in  St.  Clair 
county,  Illinois,  August  19th,  1850.  The  family  were 
formerly  natives  of  Virginia.  Mordecai  Wheatley,  the 
grandfather,  came  from  that  state  to  Ohio,  and  from  there 
to  Perry  county,  Illinois,  in  March,  1842,  and  remained  here 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1880.  He  married  Mary 
Wheately  who  was  also  a  native  of  Virginia.  She  de- 
parted this  life  in  Du  Quoin,  in  the  spring  of  1882.  By 
that  marriage  is  Warren  Wheatley,  father  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.  He  was  born  in  Tuscaroras  county,  Ohio,  in 
1828,  and  came  with  his  father  to  Perrj'  county  on  the  date 
above  mentioned.  In  1850,  he  moved  to  St.  Clair  county, 
and  lived  there  a  few  years  then  returned  to  Perry  and 
settled  in  the  vicinity  of  Du  Quoin,  and  subsequently  moved 
into  town  and  resides  there  at  p  resent.  He  was  by  occupation 
a  farmer,  also  a  wagon  maker  by  trade.  On  the  14th  of 
August.  1849,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Kachel. 
daughter  of  Robert  and  Martha,  (Beard)  Stewart.  She  was 
born  in  Jeffersonville,  Indiana.  By  that  union  there  are 
three  children  living,  Robert  W.  S ,  is  the  first  born ; 
Martha,  the  only  sister,  and  James  W.  Wheatley  are  the 
namei  of  the  sons  and  daughter.  Robert's  education  was 
received  in  the  public  schools  of  Du  Quoin  and  viciuity 
He  followed  different  callings  until  he  was  eighteen  years  of 
age,  at  which  time  he  entered  the  office  of  Col.  R.  R. 
Townes,  an  attorney  of  Du  Quoin,  and  commenced  the  study 
of  law.  He  read  the  standard  text  books  and  prosecuted 
his  studies  diligently  until  the  spring  term  of  the  supreme 
court,  1871,  held  at  Mt.  Vernon,  Illinois,  when  upon  ex- 
amination he  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  commenced  the 
practice  in  Du  Quoin,  and  has  continued  there  until  the 
present.  In  the  practice  of  his  profession  he  has  been  more 
than  ordinarily  successful,  and  at  present  has  the  largo.-^t 
practice,  and  is  the  most  successful  criminal  lawyer  at  the 
bar  of  the  county.  He  brings  to  it  energy,  studious  and  in- 
dustrious habits  which  in  due  time  bring  their  own  reward, 
which  is  seen  in  his  constantly  increasing  practice.  J[r. 
Wheatley  early  learned  that  the  law  is  a  jealous  mistress 
that  required  all  the  time  of  her  devotees  if  they  would 
succeed  and  become  eminent  and  learned  in  the  profession. 
What  he  is  in  the  law,  and  what  he  may  become,  depends 
upon  himself  He  entered  the  profession  under  no  advan- 
tageous circumstances  nor  had  he  an)'  powerful  or  iufluential 
friends  to  back  him  or  lend  him  a  helping  hand  ;  but  his 
succcs-s,  so  far,  is  due  to  his  indomitable  energy  and  de- 
termination to  win  a  place  in  the  front  rank  at  the  bar.  He 
is  eini)hatically  the  architect  of  his  own  fortune.  He  has 
filled  acceptably  the  position  of  City  Attorney  of  Du  Quoin 
for  several  years.  In  1882,  he  was  the  Independent  can- 
didate for  the  office  of  County  Judge,  but  was  defeated  by 


so  small  a  majority  that  his  candidacy  reflects  credit  upon 
himself.  Politically  he  is  a  Republican.  lie  is  a  member 
of  the  I.  O.  0.  F.  order.  In  his  habits  he  is  temperate,  and 
never  indulges  or  befogs  his  brain  with  any  intoxicating 
liquors  of  any  kind. 


JOHN  T.  BEEM, 

OxE  of  the  editors  and  publishers  of  the  Du  Quoin  Trib- 
une, was  born  in  Pittsburg,  Ponn.,  Aug.  23rd,  1838.  He 
is  the  son  of  Andrew  and  Margaret  (Hoppe)  Beem.  His 
parents  removed  to  Illinois  in  1844,  and  settled  in  Alton, 
and  there  John  T.  was  educated,  and  grew  to  manhood.  At 
the  age  of  fourteen  years,  he  entered  the  office  of  the  Alton 
Telegraph,  and  served  an  apprenticeship  of  four  years  at  the 
printer's  trade.  The  Teh  graph,  was  then  one  of  the  most 
|)rominent  journals  in  Illinois,  or  in  the  west.  He  continued 
in  the  office  until  1860,  when  he  became  one  of  the  owners 
and  editors  of  the  paper.  The  war  of  the  rebellion  breaking 
out  soon  after,  he  sacrificed  his  interest  in  the  office  to  enter 
the  service,  his  father,  and  two  brothers  entering  before  him. 
He  enlisted  in  Co.  "  G.,"  of  the  OTth  Regt.,  Ills.  Vol.  Infty. 
Six  months  after  the  enlistment,  he  was  placed  on  detached 
service,  serving  one  year  with  the  Cliicago  Mercantile 
Battery,  and  one  year  and  six  months  as  clerk  at  the  head- 
quarters of  Gen.  T.  E.  G.  Ransom,  Gen.  M.  Lawler  and 
Gen.  E.  R.  S.  Canby,  at  New  Orleans.  After  the  war,  he 
returned  to  his  home,  in  Alton,  and  worked  at  the  printing 
business  for  two  years,  then  came  to  Du  Quoin,  arriving  in 
the  latter  place  in  June  of  i86S.  He  worked  as  a  "jour." 
until  Nov.  7th,  1870,  when  in  connection  witli  C.  P.  Richards, 
he  purchased  two  thirds  interest  in  the  Trilntw.  The  (irm  of 
Berry  it  Co.  published  the  paper  until  1874.  when  Barry's 
interest  was  purchased  by  Messrs.  Beem  it  Richards,  and 
they  bei ame  the  sole  proprietors  and  publishers  of  the  Tiib- 
line,  and  have  coutiuiieil  its  publication  to  the  jjreseut. 
The  Tribune,  under  their  management,  has  risen  to  an  honor- 
able and  promiuent  position  in  the  journalism  of  the  State, 
and  is  recognized  as  the  leading  organ  of  its  party,  in  the  20th 
Cong.  District.  Mr.  Beem  is  a  practical  and  thorough  print- 
er and  skilled  workman,  and  has  few  superiors  auywhere. 
Specimens  of  his  handicraft  show  artistic  beauty  and  original- 
ity of  design.  On  the  17tli  of  May,  18('it),  he  married  Miss 
Elvina  McGowen,  of  Butler  county,  Pa.,  daughter  of  James 
McGowen.  She  died  June  10th,  187-3,  leaving  two  children 
named  Delia  and  Loren  Beem.  On  the  3rd  of  .Sept ,  1879, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Jliss  Cara  D.,  daughtir  of  Rev. 
E.  F.  &  Anna  II.  Fisk.  Siie  is  a  native  of  Ohio.  By  that 
union  there  is  one  child,  named  Cara.  JTrs.  Beem  is  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Chinch.  Politically,  Mr.  Beem 
east  his  first  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  in  all  subsequent 
general  elections  voted  and  worked  for  the  Republican  ticket. 


CUTLER 


PERRY    CO. 


in  tlie  extreme  western  portion  of  the 
comity.  It  is  better  known  as  Lost 
Prairie,  which  name  was  changed  a  few 
vears  ago.  Its  northern  boundary  line 
commencing  at  the  west,  is  the  south 
of  section  thirty-one  of  Grand  Cote, 
then  foHowing  along  the  west  bank  of 
Galum  Creek  to  the  southeast  corner 
of  section  eight  of  town  five  south,  range 
four  west,  thence  due  east  to  the  western 
boundary  line  of  town  five,  range  three 
west.  Ou  the  east  it  is  bounded  by 
Piucknevville,  on  the  south  by  South  Western,  on  the  west 
by  Randolph  county,  aud  ou  the  north  by  Grand  Cote.  It 
comprises  the  two  northern  tiers  of  sections  in  town  six, 
range  four,  and  all  of  congressional  town  five  south,  range 
three,  save  those  sections  lying  east  of  Galum  Creek  and 
north  of  the  southern  boundary  line  of  those  sections  north 
of  the  boundary  line  of  the  tier  beginning  with  section 
thirteen  of  that  town.  It  is  admirably  watered  and  drained 
by  both  branches  of  Galum  Creek,  which  enter  from  the 
north  at  sections  three  aud  sis,  aud  unite  in  section  thirty- 
four,  flowing  southeast  and  passing  out  at  the  southeast 
corner  of  the  precinct. 

The  Tamaroa,  Chester  &  Western  railroad  passes  through 
this  precinct  from  the  northeast  to  the  southwest.  A  large 
portion  of  this  precinct  was  formerly  timber  land,  though  the 
Sis  Mile  Prairie  extended  from  north  to  south,  through  the 
entire  precinct.  Much  of  the  timber  land  has  been  con- 
verted into  valuable  farms.  Couant's  and  Eaton's  prairie 
are  also  within  the  limits  of  this  precinct;  and  the  lower 
edge  of  the  Lost  Prairie  has  its  terminus  in  the  northern 
part.  It  received  the  name  of  Lost  Prairie  at  a  very  early 
day  in  the  history  of  the  county.  The  occasion  of  giving  it 
that  name,  grew  out  of  the  circumstance  of  a  party  of  several 
men  getting  lost  there  on  their  way  from  Vincennes  to 
Kaskaskia.  The  date  of  its  receiving  that  name  is  not 
known,  or  the  circumstances  that  gave  rise  to  it,  other  than 
above  stated. 

Among  the  first  settlers  was  Enoch  Eaton,  who  is  still 
living.  He  settled  on  the  N.  E.  one-quarter  of  section  24, 
T.  5,  R.  4,  where  be  now  resides,  in  1825,  the  territory 
belonging  then  to  Randolph  county,  previous  to  the  organi- 
zation of  Perry.  There  were  at  that  time  only  six  or  seven 
families  residing  in  the  precinct.  Their  names  were  John 
Murphy,  the  father  of  Robert,  James,  Richard  G.  and 
William  C.  Murphy,  names  familiarly  interwoven  with  the 
history  of  this  county,  and  natives  of  Smith  county,  Ten- 
nessee ;  the  family  of  Richard  Green,  a  native  of  N.  Y. ; 
446 


Hugh  Brown,  the  father  of  John  Brown  of  Conant's  prairie, 
from  South  Carolina;  Matthew  Vaun,  from  Tennessee; 
Andrew  Cooper  and  Shadrach  Lively,  The  nearest  post- 
office  in  those  early  days  was  Kaskaskia,  and  this  was  also 
the  place  of  the  nearest  store,  kept  by  a  merchant,  Lamm. 
The  nearest  grist  mill  was  that  of  George  Steele,  ou  the 
present  site  of  Steelesville.  It  was  a  tread  mill  operated  by 
five  or  six  yoke  of  oxen.  The  early  settlers  had  most  of 
their  blacksmith  work  done  at  that  place  also. 

In  ISoO,  Isaac  Eaton  opened  a  cabinet  shop  in  the 
precinct.  He  stocked  plows,  put  up  some  wagons,  and  did 
general  repairing.  He  constructed  a  turning  lathe,  and 
furnished  the  neighbors  with  bedsteads,  chairs,  tables,  &c., 
and  especially  spinning-wheels.  His  pay  was  often  work 
for  work.  The  party  who  came  for  work  would  go  out  and 
make  rails  for  him,  wliile  he  worked  in  the  shop.  He 
relates  the  circumstance  which  is  not  liable  now  to  occur  to 
our  minds,  that  there  were  no  matches  in  those  early  days. 
If  a  family  happened  to  let  the  fire  go  out,  the  first  thing 
to  do  would  be,  to  go  out  and  see  from  what  one  of  the  neigh- 
bors' chimney  smoke  could  be  discovered,  so  that  no  mis- 
take might  be  made  when  in  quest  of  fire.  It  used  to  be 
quite  a  common  remark,  years  after  matches  came  into  use, 
when  a  neighbor  went  to  another's  house  in  a  hurry,  for  him 
to  ask  "if  he  was  after  fire,"  as  one  was  always  regarded  as 
being  in  a  hurry  when  after  that  element,  especially  to  get 
breakfast.  A  flint  and  steel  were  sometimes  used  to  start  a 
fire,  and  were,  in  those  early  days,  the  standby,  when  all 
other  expedients  failed. 

In  18.32  a  Baptist  church  was  organized  by  Peter  Hagler 
in  Eaton's  prairie,  at  the  house  of  Samuel  Eaton. 

A  church  building  was  put  up  about  that  time  by  the 
members  of  this  denomination,  on  a  ridge  north  of  the  Sparta 
road,  between  Lost  prairie  and  Eaton's  prairie,  and  was  the 
only  church  building  for  many  years  in  that  precinct. 

About  1832,  Clark  built  a  horse  or  ox  mill.  This  mill 
proved  a  failure,  and  did  not  run  long.  It  was  located  on 
the  east  side  of  Lost  prairie,  about  a  fourth  of  a  mile  north 
of  the  Sparta  road.  The  settlers  then  got  their  milling  done 
at  Pope's  Steam  Mill,  on  Mary's  river,  in  Randolph  county. 
The  first  school  taught  in  Lost  prairie  was  in  1827  or  '28. 
It  was  taught  in  a  barn  belonging  to  Green,  by  Miss  Elvira 
Tilden.  It  was  a  neighborhood  school,  and  consisted  of 
about  ten  scholars.  The  tuition  paid  was  two  dollars  per 
scholar.  In  1835  the  first  school-house  was  built  iu  the 
precinct,  on  section  16,  T.  5,  R.  3,  by  the  neighborhood.  It 
was  a  rude  log  cabin,  covered  with  clap-boards,  secured  by 
ridge  pales.  A  log  cut  out  of  one  side  served  for  a  window 
without  any  glass.     The  desks,  as  well  as  seats,  were  of  split 


446A 


HISTORY   OF  RANDOLPH,   MONROE  AND   PERRY    COUNTIES,   ILLINOIS. 


447 


logs.  The  first  school  teacher  was  John  Cooper,  a  South 
Carolinian.  The  house  was  built  in  the  spring,  and  he 
taught  school  in  it  during  the  summer  season.  The  school- 
books  consisted  of  the  old-fa.sliioned  Webster's  spelling  book, 
biographical  sketches,  and  the  Testament  for  reading; 
Pike's  arithmetic,  and  Walker's  dictionary.  These  consti- 
tuted our  first  boys'  school,  and  outfit  in  those  early  days 
and  a  boy  was  considered  lucky  if  he  had  all  of  those. 

In  1837,  a  school  was  kept  in  theedgeofConant's  prairie, 
near  Robert  Cunningham's.  It  was  soon  after  removed  near 
where  Squire  Henry  Brown  lived. 

Dr.  Brayshaw,  in  Nine  Mile,  near  old  Du  Quoin,  admin- 
istered to  the  medical  wants  of  the  earliest  settlers  in  this 
precinct,  as  in  many  others,  for  several  years,  when  the  county 
was  in  its  infancy.  Their  next  physician  was  Dr.  Jeunegin, 
located  at  Steele's  Mills. 

The  lawyers,  known  to  the  earlv  settlers  of  that  precinct, 
were  David  J.  Baker,  Sidney  Brcese,  Col.  J.  L.  D.  Morris- 
son,  of  Ka.skaskia;  John  Daugherty,  of  Union  county;  Jefl!" 
Gatewood,  and  S.  8  Marshall,  of  Shawneetown,  and  old 
Governor  Reynolds.  These  were  the  legal  fraternity  that 
most  generally  followed  the  courts  around  from  circuit  to 
circuit,  and  from  county  to  county.  People  did  not  need 
many  lawyers,  in  those  days,  and  we  sometimes  hear  a  sigh 
for  a  return  of  those  good  old  days. 

The  following  are  the  first  land  entries  in  that  portion  of 
T.  5  S.,  R.  4  W.,  which  is  included  ki  Cutler:  April  2o, 
1815,  William  Mcintosh  entered  the  N.  E.  }  of  section  34. 
March  27,  1818,  Matthew  Vaun  entered  the  S.  E.  i  of  sec- 
tion 21.  January  13,  1819,  Shadrach  Lively  entered  the 
E.  *  of  the  S.  E.  \  of  section  31.  March  10,  1819,  Charles 
Owen  entered  the  E.  *  of  the  N.  E.  J  of  section  33.  January 
6,  1820,  Alexander  Wier  entered  the  N.  E.  i  of  section  8. 

CUTLER. 

This  village  was  laid  out  by  D.  C.  Barber,  president,  and 
W.  B.  Stephenson,  secretary  of  the  Chester  and  Tamaroa 


Coal  and  Railroad  Company,  on  the  east  half  of  the  south- 
west quarter  of  section  five,  township  six  south,  range  four; 
and  by  R.  C.  Allen,  on  a  part  of  the  northwest  quarter  of 
the  southeast  quarter  of  the  same  section.  It  was  platted  and 
surveyed  by  J.  V.  Tyler,  County  Surveyor,  February  25, 
1873.  It  is  situated  in  the  southwest  corner  of  the  precinct 
of  the  .same  name,  and  is  a  station  on  the  Chester  and  Tam- 
aroa railroad.  The  village  school-house  is  a  frame  building 
in  which  is  taught  an  ungraded  school.  The  United  Pres- 
byterians, since  the  fall  of  1881,  have  met  for  worship  in  a 
neat  frame  church.  Haifa  mile  north  of  the  hamlet,  the  Re- 
formed Presbyterians  have  a  handsome  brick  church,  which 
was  built  in  1858.  Near  the  village  is  'Maynard's  coal 
mine,  from  which  are  daily  raised,  by  horse  power,  about 
one  hundred  and  fifty  bushels  of  coal. 

I-RESENT   BUSINE.«a. 

Pht/sieians. — A.  Bruce,  F.  P.  Gil  lis. 

Druij'jiiU- — Bruce  &  White,  F.  Faraen. 

General  Stores — Gardner  and  Bros.,  C.  Preston. 

Books  and  Stationery. — John  McClure. 

Lumber.— \y.  T.  White  &  Co. 

Grain  Elevntur. — H.  C.  Cole  &  Co. 

General  Merchandise, Grain  and  Livery. — John  Brown. 

Mill. — Joseph  Brown. 

Station  Agent.— \V.  T.  White. 

<Sait'  Mill. — Battey  Bros. 

Carpenter. — Henry  Darrough. 

Blacksmith. — James  Kelso,  George  Krontz. 

Shoemaker. — Peter  Keller. 


General  Store  and  Post-office. — P.  J.  C.  Hamm. 
Saiv  Mill— J.  Shutt. 
Black-imilh. — E.  Koontz. 


NEW    HANOVER 


MONROE    COUNTY. 


f  HIS  precinct  was  created  in  the  year  1875  out  of 
Eagle,  Fountain  and  Bluff.  It  lies  in  the 
northern  part  of  the  county,  and  embraces 
in  geographical  area  portions  of  township  1 
south,  range  10  west,  and  township  2  south, 
ranges  10  and  11  west.  The  population,  census 
of  1880,  was  5G8.  The  surface,  generally^ 
is  elevated  and  broken.  Drainage  is  afforded 
by  Fountain  creek  and  Andrews'  run,  a  tributary  flowing 
west.  There  is  an  abundance  of  lime  rock  along  both  these 
streams,  and  of  sandstone  along  the  latter. 


Attica,  a  station  on  the  St.  Louis  and  Cairo  R.  R.,  which 
extends  north  and  south  through  the  eastern  part  of  the  pre- 
cinct, is  a  convenient  shipping  point.  The  inhabitants  at 
present  are  principally  German  and  of  German  descent. 
They  speak  the  English  language  as  well  as  that  of  their 
native  tongue.  It  is  a  subject  worthy  of  remark,  that  while 
the  German  builds  his  residence  of  brick,  the  pioneer  or  his 
descendant  occupies  the  primitive  log  dwelling.  He  adheres 
to  it  apparently  with  an  attachment  not  unlike  that  evinced 
by  the  Indian  for  the  game-haunted  hillside  and  ravine. 
There  are  two  public  schools  in  the  precinct,  one  in  the 


448 


HISTORY   OF  RANDOLPH,   MONROE  AND   PERRY    COUNTIES,   ILLINOIS. 


town  of  New  Hanover,  and  one  a  mile  and  a-half  north- 
east of  it.  , 

The  oldest  permanent  settlement  in   what   is  now  New 
Hanover  precinct,  was  made  in  the  northern  part  by  Jacob   ', 
Judy,  in  the  year  1794.     Jacob  Judy  was  a  very  ancient 
and  respectable  pioneer  in  Illinois.     He  came  and  settled  in   1 
Kaskaskia  in  the  year  1788.     He  was  born  in  Switzerland, 
and  immigrated  to  the  United  States  with  his  parents  when 
he  was  three  years  old.     He  married  in  Frederick  county, 
Maryland.     In  the  year  1786   he  and   his  family  descended 
the  Ohio  river  to  Kentucky.     On  the  river,  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Scioto,  he  heard  the  Indians  making  noises  to  decoy  him 
to  land,  but  he  kept  straight  on.     He  had  but  one  man  with 
him  besides  his  family.     His  daughter,  Nancy  Judy,  then 
eighteen  years  old,  steered  the  boat,  while  her  father,   her 
brother,  Samuel  Judy,  and  the  hired  man,  rowed  the  craft 
with  all   possible  speed  by  this  dangerous  section  of  the 
river.     He  remained  two  years  in  Kentucky,  near  Louis- 
ville, and  descended  the  Ohio  in  a  flat  boat.     He  was  forced 
up  Cash  river,  in  the  present  county  of  Alexander,  for  pro- 
tection from  the  Indians,  and  remained  there  for  seven  weeks, 
until  a  boat  could  come  from  Kaskaskia  to  his  relief.     He 
resided  in  Kaskaskia  four  years,  and  then  moved  in  1792, 
to  New  Design.     In  1794  he  settled  at  his  mill  and  died 
there  in  1807.     Judy  worked  at  his  trade  in  Illinois,  and 
accumulated  considerable  property.     He  possessed  a  strong 
mind,  with  much  enterprise  and  energy.     Samuel  Judy,  his 
only  son,  came  with  his  father  to  Illinois  in  the  year  1788, 
and   became  a  very  conspicuous  and   enterprising  citizen. 
He  married  into  the  Whiteside  family  and  settled  in  Goshen 
in  1801*.     Judy's   mill  stood  on  Gilmore,  formerly  called 
Judy's  creek,   where   the   St.   Louis   and   Cairo   Railroad 
crosses  that  stream  south  of  Columbia  village,  in  section  34, 
township  1  south,  range  9  west.     It  was  an  overshot  water- 
mill,  and  the  first  in  Monroe  county.     In  the  early  part  of 
the  present  century  it  was  patronized  by  the  upper  colonies, 
including  the  Goshen  settlement.     George  Valentine  also 
had  a  water  mill  on  the  stream  west  of  Judy's  at  an  early 
day. 

With  a  few  exceptions  the  territory  of  New  Hanover  was 
not  early  settled.  Seth  Converse  settled  on  the  S.  W.  i  of 
section  8,  a  mile  and  a  half  south  of  New  Hanover  as  early 
as  1814  or  '15.  He  established  a  tannery,  which  was  in  oper- 
ation as  early  as  1820.  William  Bradshaw  settled  in  section 
8  on  a  property  adjoining  that  of  Converse.  John  Hender- 
son settled  in  section  8  on  Fountain  creek.  A  portion  of 
his  place  was  afterward  occupied  by  McKendrick  Moore, 
who  had  a  saw  mill  on  Fountain  creek.  Jordan  Johnson, 
about  the  year  1818,  married  Susanna  Lock  and  settled  on 
the  N.  E.  i  of  section  8,  Township  2  South,  Range  10  West. 
Mrs.  Johnson  is  still  living  in  the  precinct  at  the  age  of 
eighty-four  years.  Abraham  Neff,  about  the  year  1820,  set- 
tled on  Fountain  creek.  Henry  Imon  was  an  early  settler 
on  Bond  creek  in  section  18,  Township  2  south,  range  11, 
west.  One  Osborn  was  among  the  early  settlers  on  Andrews' 
run.  He  was  in  search  of  silver,  and  in  pursuance  of  his 
object  blasted  some  ten  or  twelve  feet  into  the  solid  rock. 

•  From  Reynolds'  Pioneer  History. 


John  Vanarsdal  was  also  an  early  settler.  Hiram  Whiteside 
was  born  in  Columbia  precinct.  About  1825  he  married 
Delila  Kidd  and  settled  on  the  S.  W.  *  of  the  N.  E.  i  of 
section  8,  Township  2  south,  range  10  west.  This  was  his 
home  for  life.  Mrs.  Whiteside  is  still  living  at  the  age  of 
seventy-two,  with  her  son  Wi'liam,  on  the  old  place.  As 
early  as  1825  Mr.  Whiteside  followed  the  trade  of  shoemak- 
ing.  The  neighbors  obtained  leather  at  the  tannery  of  Seth 
Converse,  and  had  it  made  into  shoes.  This  was  also,  at  a 
little  later  date  the  trade  of  Elias  Clover,  who  was  born  near 
Harrisonville  in  1810.  In  1829  he  was  married  to  Anna 
Kidd  and  settled  on  the  W.  i  of  section  8,  Township  2 
south,  Range  10  west.  His  widow  survives  him  at  seventy- 
one  years  of  age. 

John  Cloves,  a  brother  of  Elias,  at  a  little  earlier  date, 
married  a  Miss  Brownfield,  and  settled  on  the  N.  half  of 
section  8  John  Dulan  was  a  resident  on  Fountain  creek, 
near  a  natural  pool  of  water  named  Dulan's  spring,  which 
perpetuates  his  memory.  About  the  year  1830  Robert 
Coleman,  whose  wife  was  a  McRoberts,  moved  from  Colum- 
bia precinct,  and  built  a  mill  at  the  point  where  the  road 
leading  from  New  Haven  to  Dug  Hollow,  in  the  bottom, 
crosses  Fountain  creek  in  the  S.  E.  quarter  of  section  7, 
township  2-10.  John  Fischer,  of  German  descent,  but  an 
immigrant  from  Virginia,  a  mill- Wright  and  cabinet  maker, 
constructed  the  Coleman  mill.  He  settled  on  the  S.  E. 
quarter  of  section  8-,  southwest  of  New  Hanover.  The 
following  are  the  first  land  entries  :  Seth  Converse,  Decem- 
ber 3,  1814,  entered  the  S.  W.  quarter  of  section  8,  115 
acres.  September  24,  1816,  James  B.  Moore  entered  the 
W.  half  of  the  S.  E.  quarter  of  section  9,  80  acres.  The 
N.  E.  quarter  of  section  10,  160  acres,  was  entered,  April  3, 
1816,  by  John  Slaughter. 

The  Germans  began  immigrating  in  1835.  In  this  year 
John  Martin,  with  his  wife,  came  from  Hanover,  Germany, 
and  settled  about  two  miles  east  of  New  Hauover,  and  there 
improved  a  farm.  Ernst  Schrader  settled  one-half  mile 
south  of  the  village.  He  came  from  Hanover  and  brought 
his  wife  and  his  son  Henry.  The  latter  married  and  set- 
tled on  the  old  homestead.  He  now  lives  a  little  north  of 
New  Hanover.  Henry  B.  Stehr  arrived  from  Hauover, 
Germany,  in  1839.  He  settled  on  the  site  of  the  village  of 
New  Hanover,  whose  founder  he  became- 

VILLAGE  OF  NEW  HANOVER. 

This  well  built  hamlet  derived  its  name  from  Hanover, 
Germany,  of  which  Henry  B.  Stehr,  its  founder,  was  a  native. 
It  is  situated  in  the  northern  part  of  the  precinct  on  the  S. 
W.  i  of  the  S,  E.  ^  of  section  5,  township  2  south,  range  10 
west.  It  was  platted  and  surveyed  by  Hugo  Ropiquet, 
county  surveyor,  January  17,  1860.  The  first  house,  a 
frame  dwelling,  was  built  by  John  Karius  about  1815.  Mr. 
Karius  was  a  tailor,  and  kept  some  goods  for  his  own  trade. 
To  these  he  made  additions  for  the  purpose  of  trade,  and 
thus  founded  the  first  store  in  the  town  which  was  also  the 
first  in  the  precinct.  Not  far  from  the  same  date  Mr.  Stehr 
built  a  blacksmith  shop  which  was  operated  by  his  son, 
Henry  Stehr.jr.    Charles  Mindermann  began  shoemaking 


448A 


GARDNER    ROLLER  MILLS,  PROPERTY  OF  T  HOENIGSMARK , COLUMBIA  ,  MONROE  CO.  ILL 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY   COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


449 


in  1859.  The  first  saloon  was  kept  by  Ernst  Koch  in  1860. 
Charles  Mund  built  a  wagon  shop  in  1861.  In  1866, 
Michael  Hesse  built  a  blacksmith  shop,  Adolph  Springer  a 
wagon  shop  and  Frederick  Rudelof  began  the  manufacture 
of  brick.  The  post-office  was  established  March  5,  1875. 
The  town  is  well  built  and  manifests  considerable  life  and 


enterprise.  Jacob  Fischer  now  keeps  a  general  store  and  a 
hotel,  and  is  also  the  postmaster.  Henry  Stumph  and  Wil- 
liam Jehlingare  blacksmiths.  Charles  Mund  and  William 
Sibert  wagon  makers.  The  shoemaker  is  Frederick 
Schwarze,  John  Stein  is  tailor,  Louis  Lot  stone  mason  and 
Henry  Beckman  carpenter,  builder  and  brick  maker. 


^l^e^t«S«- 


COLUMBIA 


MONROE   COUNTY. 


J^,OLUMBL\  precinct,  formerly  called  Eagle,  had 
in  1880  a  population  of  2,242.  It  occupies  the 
extreme  northern  part  of  the  county.  The  blufl's 
that  separate  the  bottom  from  the  upland  divide 
its  territory  into  two  nearly  equal  areas.  The 
greater  portion  of  the  precinct  is  in  tp.  1  S., 
ranges  10  and  11  W.  The  northern  triangular 
part  is  in  tp.  1  X.,  ranges  10  and  II  W.  Carrel  Island,  so 
named  from  Samuel  Carrel,  who  was  once  its  owner,  contain- 
ing about  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land,  lies  in  the  Mis- 
sissippi, and  is  a  part  of  Columbia  precinct.  Drainage  and 
water  supply  areaffi)rded  by  streams  and  lakes;  the  latter  in 
the  bottom.  The  largest  of  these.  Fi-sh  and  Long  lakes,  lie  in 
a  line  with  each  other,  nearly  parallel  with  the  river.  The 
former,  so  called  from  the  large  quantities  of  fish  that  in- 
habited its  waters,  receives  through  Trumbull  and  Carr  creeks 
the  greater  part  of  the  drainage  of  the  high  land.  It  is  a 
resort  of  some  importance  for  lovers  of  piscatorial  sport.  In 
1857  an  outlet  from  it  to  the  river  was  formed  to  prevent 
overflow.  Hill  lake,  partly  in  St.  Clair  Qounty,  is  a  small 
body  of  water  lying  in  the  bottom.  The  entire  territory  of 
the  precinct  was  originally  wooded.  The  timber  in  the 
bottom  was  heavy  and  of  different  varieties  both  of  hard 
and  soft  wood.  The  staple  production  is  wheat,  although 
corn  is  quite  extensively  cultivated  west  of  the  bluff^.  Coal 
has  been  mined  to  some  e.xtent  in  the  vicinity  of  the  town 
of  Columbia,  but  is  believed  not  to  exist  in  regular  measures. 
Limestone  rock  of  an  excellent  quality  for  building  pur- 
poses is  quarried  near  the  village,  and  shipped  to  St.  Louis 
and  other  points.  The  St.  Louis  &  Cairo  R.  R.  extends 
northwestand  southeast  through  its  territory,  and  aff)rds  con- 
venient shipping  advantages.  The  inhabitants  are  princi- 
pally of  German  nativity  and  descent,  and  the  language  of 
the  Fatherland  is  principally  that  of  the  fireside  and  social 
life. 

The  oldest  permanently  settled  place  in  what  is  now 
Columbia  precinct  was  Whiteside  station,  which  was  estab- 
lished by  the  Flannaries.  James  Flannary,  in  1783,  was 
killed  by  the  Indians.  This  was  three  years  prior  to  the 
first  decisive  Indian  war  waged  against  the  Americans,  in 
Illinois.  This  war  began  in  1786,  and  continued  till  1795. 
The  dangers,  suflTerings  and  hardships  of  the  settlers  were 
57 


almost  without  a  parallel.  Not  least  conspicuous  am  ing 
those  who  shared  and  endured  them,  were  the  Wbitesides. 
The  original  pioneers  of  that  name  were  Davis,  Samuel, 
AVilliam  and  John  L.,  brothers  of  John  D  ,  a  cousin  of  the 
latter.  William  and  Mary  his  wife,  in  the  year  179:5,  settled 
in  section  26,  Township  1,  south.  Range  10,  west  on  the  St. 
Louis  and  Waterloo  road,  a  little  southeast  of  Columbia 
village.  He  came  to  Illinois,  as  captain  of  a  company 
of  mounted  rangers  and  immediately  began  the  protection 
and  defense  of  the  settlers.  His  eldest  daughter,  Elizabeth, 
the  next  year  after  the  arrival  of  the  family  at  the  station, 
became  the  wife  of  John  Moore.  Their  first  child  Sebas- 
tian, was  born  there  in  1795.  In  this  same  year.  General 
John  D.  Whiteside,  youngest  issue  of  William  and  Mary, 
was  born.  The  births  of  these  children  are  presumably  the 
first  (white  children)  in  the  precinct.  General  Whiteside 
was  reared  at  the  station,  and  his  early  educational  advan- 
tages were  necessarily  limited.'  Nevertheless  he  was  a  man 
not  only  of  strength  of  intellect  but  of  refined  tastes.  During 
his  life,  he  held  several  official  positions  of  State  and  Nation- 
al importance,  and  was  once  tendered  the  nomination  for 
governor  by  the  Democratic  party,  but  declined  the  honor. 
President  Polk  appointed  him  Commissioner  to  confer  with 
the  Government  of  Great  Britain  relative  to  complications 
that  existed,  concerning  the  Illinois  State  bonds.  He  held 
the  rank  of  Adjutant  General,  and  at  the  outbreak  of  the 
Mexican  war,  entered  the  service  and  did  duty  in  the  work 
of  organizing  and  training  the  volunteer  troops.  Bolin 
Whitesdale  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  in  1717,  and  came 
to  Illinois  with  his  father,  in  179.3.  He  grew  to  manhood  at 
the  station  homestead.  He  was  a  natural  .soldier  and  .served 
asa  captain  of  mounted  rangers  throughout  the  war  of  1812, 
and  Black  Hawk  war.  About  the  year  lf<00,  he  married  a 
Miss  Randall,  of  St.  Clair  county.  Sarah  Whiteside  was 
born  in  North  Carolina,  in  1790,  and  came  with  the  family 
to  the  station.  She  married  •^ohn  F.  McColluin.  Elvira 
Marshall,  who  resides  near  Sacramento  cit^',  California,  is 
the  sole  survivor  of  the  family. 

The  Whitesid.'S  and  their  early  connections  were  born 
and  raised  on  the  frontiers  of  North  Carolina,  and  immi- 
grated to  Kentucky.  They  had  been  inured  to  Indian  hos- 
tilities and  other  hardships  incident  to  frontier  life  from 


450 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE,    AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


their  early  years  to  manhood.  The  patriarch  and  leader, 
William  Whiteside,  had  been  a  brave  soldier  iu  the  revolu- 
tionary war,  and  was  in  the  celebrated  battle  of  "  King's 
Mountain."  To  be  a  soldier  in  the  battle  of  King's  Moun- 
tain is  an  honor  of  itself.  The  Whiteside  family  were  of 
Irish  descent  and  inherited  much  of  the  Iri  h  character. 
They  were  warm-hearted,  impulsive  and  patriotic.  Their 
friends  were  always  right,  and  their  foes  always  wrong  in 
their  estimation.  William  erected  a  fort  on  the  road  from 
Cahokia  to  Kaskaskia,  which  became  celebrated  as  "  White- 
side's Station."  At  this  station  Whiteside  raised  a  large 
family  of  children.* 

In  1795,  Captain  Whiteside  gathered  to  his  standard  his 
small  but  trusty  company  :  Samuel  and  William  L.  White- 
side, Samuel  Judy,  Isaac  Enochs,  Johnson  J.  Whiteside  and 
others,  to  the  number  of  fourteen,  and  attacked  and  killed 
a  camp  of  Indians  of  considerable  number,  who,  the  French 
at  Cahokia  had  informed  him,  had  assembled  at  the  bluft'in 
pursuance  ot  a  meditated  attack  upon  him  or  his  property. 
In  this  battle  he  was  wounded  as  he  supposed  mortally.  He 
fell  to  the  ground,  but  still  exhorted  his  men  to  fight  bravely. 
His  son  Uel,  whose  arm  was  disabled  so  that  he  could  not 
use  his  gun,  examined  the  wound  of  his  father,  and  found 
that  the  bullet  had  not  passed  through  the  body,  but  having 
been  deflected,  was  lying  near  the  skin.  He  took  his  butcher- 
knife  and  cut  it  out.  The  old  warrior  sprang  to  his  feet  and 
said:  "Boys,  I  can  still  fight  the  Indians  The  "evil 
wind  "  of  this  bloody  encounter  blew  fruits  of  gladness  and 
good  cheer.  The  captain's  sous  afterward  married  the  two 
accomplished  daughters  of  the  Widow  Rains,  an  American 
lady  iu  Cahokia,  at  whose  house  they  dressed  their  wounds 
From  this  time  forward  till  1811,  the  settlers  enjoyed  the 
blessing  of  peace  and  security.  But  at  this  date  the  Indians 
again  commenced  depredations,  and  Captain  Whiteside,  was 
elected  Colonel  of  St.  Clair  county  militia,  and  held  that 
office  for  many  years.  After  peace  with  the  Indians,  he 
turned  his  attention  to  his  farm,  at  the  station,  and  improved 
it.  He  cultivated  a  fine  apple  orchard,  which  iu  days  gone 
by  was  quite  celebrated,  as  there  were  very  few  orchards  in 
the  country.  In  1812,  he  organized  the  militia  of  St.  Clair 
county,  and  prepared  them  for  active  service.  He  attended 
personally  at  Camp  Russel,  near  Edwardsville,  in  carrying 
out  the  military  operations  in  defense  of  the  frontiers.  He 
died  at  his  residence  in  the  year  1815-  He  and  his  wife 
were  both  buried  at  the  station. 

A  number  of  improvement  claims  lie  scattered  over  the 
preciuct,  indicating  permanent  settlements,  prior  to  the  year 
1788.  Claim  228,  was  improved  by  Jacob  Stillman,  and 
comprises  the  southeastern  portion  of  the  territory  of  Co- 
lumbia, while  Claim  2058,  improved  by  Thomas  Winn,  em- 
braces the  northwestern  part.  Claim  501,  was  improved 
by  Joseph  Lacoutour;  claim  408,  Robert  Watt;  claim  505, 
Francis  Bellew  ;  claim  487,  James  Piggott.  These  claims 
lie  in  the  northern  part  of  the  precinct,  adjoining  one 
another  on  the  north  and  south,  and  embrace  the  Mississippi 
Pluffs  throughout  their  point  of  extent.     Southeast  of  these 

•  We  briefly  note  the  characteristics  of  the  Whiteside  family  here,  as  they 
are  mentioned  at  length  in  the  Pioneer  Chapter. 


and  less  than  a  half  mile  south  of  Fountain  creek,  lies  claim 
G07,  improved  by  Jacob  Groats.  South  of  this  lie  adjoin- 
ing claims  521,  improved  by  Nicholas  Smith  ;  573,  Charles 
Wood.  Claim  571,  improved  by  Leonard  Harness,  lies  in 
the  western  part,  and  claim  543,  improved  by  t'harles  Gill, 
some  distance  south  of  it.  Claim  520,  is  in  the  eastern  part, 
southeast  of  Columbia,  and  is  the  seat  of  the  celebrated 
Whiteside  Station. 

The  Wilsons  were  originally  from  Maryland.  They 
moved  to  Kentucky,  and  about  the  year  1800,  came  from 
that  State  to  Illinois.  There  were  three  brothers,  Otho, 
Edward  and  William.  Otho  married  Elizabeth  Biggs,  and 
settled  on  section  7,  a  mile  and  a-half  northwest  of  Colum- 
bia. Here  he  improved  a  farm,  and  lived  and  died.  His 
children  were  Zeborah,  Nancy,  Edward,  William  and  Sarah. 
He  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  also  in  the 
Black  Hawk  war.  Edward  married  ^"atherine  Ryan,  and 
settled  in  St  Clair  county.  William  married  Matilda  Wallace, 
aiid  settled  on  section  9,  three-fourths  of  a  mile  northwest  of 
Columbia.  Here  he  improved  a  large  farm,  and  made  it 
his  Ijome  for  life.  He  served  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  in  the 
Black  Hawk  war.  His  children  J.  H  Elizabeth,  Sarah, 
Mary,  Deborah,  Louis  M.  and  George  W.,  are  all  living 
but  Mary.  J.  H.,  has  served  the  county  at  difierent  limes, 
for  the  period  of  ten  years,  as  Sherifi',  and  is  the  present  in- 
cumbent of  the  post-office.  William  Biggs  owned  a  farm  a 
little  north  of  Columbia.  His  advent  probably  antedated 
that  of  the  Wilsons.  He  kept  a  place  of  public  entertain- 
ment, on  the  old  Kaskaskia  road,  one  half  mile  north  of 
Columbia,  near  a  spring  of  lasting  water.  This  was  one  of 
the  first  stopping  places  between  Kaskaskia  and  St.  Louis, 
and  existed  as  early  as  1800. 

George  Ramsay  came  from  Virginia  about  the  year  1803. 
He  married  Nancy  Chance,  in  1805,  and  settled  on  Fish 
Lake  iu  the  bottom.  In  1816,  he  bought  land  one  and  a 
half  miles  north  of  Columbia,  of  Joseph  Ogle.  Benjamin 
Ogle  owned  land  adjoining,  where  he  resided  permanently 
and  died.  The  Ogles  were  from  Virginia,  with  families  of 
several  children  and  were  very  old  settlers.  James  Brad- 
shaw  and  his  wife,  from  Kentucky,  settled  on  the  S.  E.  i  of 
section  35,  in  1814.  Here  he  resided  for  life  and  died  about 
1845.  His  children  were,  Mabel,  Mary,  John  and  Sylvester. 
Jacob  Neff,  was  of  German  descent.  In  1814,  he  settled 
on  the  W.  i  of  the  S.  W.  i  of  section  25,  Township  1,  south 
Range  11,  west.  He  was  a  plain,  industrious  farmer  and 
had  a  family  of  four  daughters  and  two  sons,  who  moved  to 
Missouri.  Mr.  Nefi"  died  on  his  farm  at  an  advanced  age. 
Thomas  Porter,  was  a  sporting  man  and  lover  of  horse- 
racing.  He  lived  on  Fish  Lake,  in  the  bottom  in  1814.  He 
died  on  his  farm.  Joseph  Beaird  was  a  prominent  and  in- 
fluential business  man  as  well  as  farmer.  He  settled  iu 
section  24,  Township  1  south.  Range  10  west,  in  1817,  and 
became  a  large  laud  owner  and  kept  ten  or  twelve  slaves. 
Thomas  Nelson,  in  the  same  year,  settled  on  the  N.  W.  i  of 
section  26,  and  built  a  cabin,  still  standing,  in  which  he 
lived  till  about  1830.  He  reared  a  family  of  six  sons,  all 
above  six  feet  in  stature,  and  one  or  two  daughters.  He 
died  near  Nashville,  Washington   county.     Richard  Aklas 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


451 


lived  on  Fish  Lake,  iu  the  bottom,  some  time  prior  to  1817. 
He  had  a  family  of  several  children.  Oae,  McKanii,  a 
surveyor,  was  a  large  land  owner,  married  Mrs.  Sarah  Seotti 
mother  of  Levi  and  George.  He  lived  on  Fish  Lake,  in 
the  bottom,  as  early  as  1817.  Samuel  Hill,  came  from 
Virginia  and  brought  a  family,  and  settled  (m  land  he  en- 
tered, being  the  W.  J  of  the  N.  W.  i  of  section  4.  He  was 
an  influential  man.  and  became  a  large  land  owner,  and  also 
kept  a  number  of  slaves.  In  1818,  he  entered  land  in 
section  4,  and  resided  there  until  his  death.  Leonard  Carr, 
a  German,  lived  on  the  creek  that  now  bears  his  name, 
formerly  called  by  the  French,  Grand  Ris.seau,  in  section 
20  Here  he  entered  land  in  1818.  He  reared  a  large 
family  John  Divers,  came  from  Baltimore,  Maryland, 
about  1822,  and  settled  one  mile  west  of  Columbia.  Mr. 
Divers  was  the  owner  of  slaves  He  became  a  successful 
and  wealthy  farmer,  and  was  also  interested  in  milling  His 
death  occurred  in  Columbia,  in  1849.  George  Divers,  his 
son,  is  at  present  mayor  of  that  town. 

William  Morgan  with  a  wife  and  several  children,  arrived 
from  Kentucky  about  the  same  time.  He  lived  all  his  life 
in  the  vicinity  of  Columbia,  and  died  there.  James  Shep- 
herd, about  182G,  came  to  the  precinct,  with  his  wife  and 
two  children,  and  settled  in  section  2o.  Here  he  improved 
a  small  place  and  lived  a  number  of  years.  John  Ryan 
was  a  single  man,  and  married  Susan  Gall.  About  182(),  he 
settled  on  section  25,  township  1  south,  range  10  west.  He 
reared  two  daughters.  His  death  occurred  in  Waterloo. 
Dr.  Shoemaker  came  to  the  precinct  from  New  Orleans  in 
183.3,  and  settled  on  the  E.  1  of  the  N  W.  \  of  section  20. 
He  was  educated  as  a  physician,  iu  Philadelphia.  Rev. 
Nolan,  father  of  Dr.  James  Nolan,  during  his  life  a  promi- 
nent and  influential  citizen  of  Columbia  village,  was  among 
the  very  first  preachers  in  the  precinct.  A  school  was 
taught  by  Levi  Piggott  in  a  log  house  that  stood  in  the  tim- 
ber near  a  spring  as  early  as  1817.  This  spriug  still  dis- 
chargr-s  \U  waters  into  Biggs'  creek,  a  little  north  of  Colum- 
bia. The  Palmier  graveyard  is  the  oldest  burial  place  in 
the  precinct.  It  was  was  laid  out  on  the  Ogles'  estate  not 
far  short  of  a  century  ago.  The  remains  of  surveyor  gen- 
eral William  Rector  lie  buried  here.  The  Germans  b  gan 
immigration  about  ISS-l  In  this  year  arrived  Robert  and 
Peter  Frierdich,  brothers  ;  Joseph  Platz  ;  John  Beckele  and 
Valentine  Jansen,  brothers-in-law  ;  John  Pfeifer,  John  Bohl- 
man,  Eimer  Horner,  Daniel  Kline  and  Godleib  Huch  ar- 
rived in  1836.  The  following  are  the  first  land  entries : 
The  estate  of  N.  Jarrott  entered  May  1,  1815.  the  fractional 
section  31,  township  1  north,  range  10  west  The  following 
are  in  township  1  south,  range  10  west:  A  Bradshaw 
entered  September  7,  1814,  the  S.  W.  i  of  section  24; 
Thomas  Nelson,  February  10,  1817,  the  E.  h  of  the  N.  W.  i 
of  section  20;  Adalada  Perry  May  1,  181.5,  in  the  N.  W.  i 
of  section  7,  one  hundred  and  forty-five  and  sixty-five  hun- 
dredths acres;  January  24,  1817,  Samuel  Hill,  the  W.  *  of 
the  N.  W.  \  of  section  4,  eighty-one  and  seventy-four  hun- 
dredths acres ;  January  16,  1818,  Edward  Wilson,  one  hun- 
dred and  four  and  forty  hundredths  acres  in  the  S.  W.  i  of 
section  9. 


TOWN    OF    C0LI"MB1.\. 

It  is  situated  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the  precinct,  near 
the  centre  of  township  1  south,  range  10  west.  In  size  and 
importance  it  ranks  second  in  the  county  only  to  Waterloo, 
and  has  a  population  numbering  1,308.  The  southeastern 
part  is  the  oldest,  and  was  laid  out  on  land  of  Louis  Nolan 
in  the  year  1820.  Several  ad.litions  have  been  made  to 
the  town,  among  which  was  one  made  by  Wilson  and  Gor 
don,  near  the  centre,  about  1849.  It  was  surveyed  and 
platted  by  John  B.  Whiteside,  but  never  recorded.  The 
first  building  within  the  corporate  limits  of  the  town  was  a 
log  cabin  that  stood  southeast  of  the  village  proper,  on  the 
west  side  of,  and  not  far  from,  the  Waterloo  road.  Charles 
Walker  taught  a  school  here  as  early  as  1815.  And  the 
building  was  probably  used  for  this  purpose  at  an  earlier 
date.  A  double  log  house  was  put  up  by  David  Robinson 
and  used  as  a  dwelling  and  hotel,  probably  as  early  a.s  1825. 
About  1828  Robert  Coleman  built  an  ox-mill.  It  is  still 
standing,  repaired  and  improved,  and  is  doing  duty  as  a 
hotel.  J.  B.  Smith  and  one  Steward  sold  the  first  goods  in 
a  log  building  that  stood  near  the  mill.  Joshua  Parker 
had  the  first  blacksmith  shop.  The  post-office  was  estab- 
lished as  early  as  1830,  and  probably  a  little  earlier  About 
1840  Philip  Smith  made  beer  in  a  frame  brewery  building, 
still  seen  in  a  condition  of  half  dilapidation  The  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  was  built  in  1843  at  a  cost  of  S600. 
About  1865  it  was  remodeled  at  a  cost  of  81,200  It  was 
originall.  designed  and  used  for  school  as  well  as  church 
purposes.  It  is  a  frame  building  30  by  40  feet  The  Old 
Lutheran  church  is  a  brick  edifice,  and  is  in  size  36  by  44 
feet.  It  was  built  in  1849,  at  a  cost  of  S2300.  The  Evan- 
gelical (Lutheran)  church  was  built  of  brick,  in  1850,  at  a 
cost  of  S2500.  The  school  house  appurtenant  to  the  church 
is  a  brick  building,  and  was  raised  about  1862.  School 
was  maintained  in  it  till  five  years  since.  The  Methodi-st 
church,  south,  is  a  brick  building,  and  was  erected  in  1866, 
for  a  school-house  and  Masonic  hall.  Shortly  after  it  was 
purchased  by  the  c  mgregation,  and  the  second  story,  which 
had  been  the  hall,  was  converted  into  an  audience  room,  while 
the  lower  part  continued  to  be  used  for  a  public  school- 
room, and  served  for  that  purpose  until  the  present  public 
school-house  was  erected. 

The  (Catholic)  Church  of  the  Immaculate  Conception  is 
a  handsome  brick  edifice  with  sandstone  trimmings,  and  was 
built  iu  1867,  at  a  cost  of  824,000.  A.ssociated  with  it  is  a 
school,  taught  in  the  former  church,  which  was  built  in 
1848  or  1849.  There  is  an  average  daily  attendance  of 
about  one  hundred  pupils,  who  are  under  the  charge  of 
three  of  the  Sisters.  The  priest's  house,  a  two  story  brick, 
was  built  in  1858  or  1859,  and  cost  about  83,500. 

The  Giirdnrr  Roller  Mill  was  originally  built  of  brick  by 
John  Divers,  William  H.  Gaile,  and  Stephen  Gardner, 
about  1835.  It  was  burned  in  1844,  and  was  immediately 
rebuilt  by  Mr.  Gardner  alone  In  1856  it  again  fell  a  vic- 
tim to  the  flames,  and  was  a  second  time  rebuilt.  The  pro- 
])erty  changed  hands  in  1864,  and  came  into  the  possession 
of  Afflick  and  Phelps.  The  latter  died  about  a  year  after 
the  purchase,  and  Afflick  became  the  owner.     He  afterwaril 


452 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


sold  the  properly  to  Switzer,  who  owiitd  it  till  1874,  when 
it  was  purchased  by  Thomas  Koeiiigsinark,  its  present  pro- 
prietor and  operator.  It  is  at  the  present  writing  a  five 
story  brick  structure,  whose  foundation  is  -10  by  70  feet  in 
area.  The  floor  of  the  engine  and  boiler-room  is  20  by  65 
feet.  Above  them,  on  the  same  foundation,  is  tbe  packing- 
room.  The  mill  contains  a  con}plete  roller  system,  consist- 
ing of  thirteen  sets  of  rolls,  two  pairs  of  middling  burrs,  six 
scalping  reels,  and  sixteen  flouring  reels,  four  middling 
purifiers,  also  a  bran  duster,  three  flour  packer.*,  and  one 
bran  packer.  The  wheat  cleaning  machine  consists  of  three 
wheat  brushes,  two  shakers  and  two  screen  reels.  The 
capacity  of  the  mill  is  260  barrels  in  twenty-four  hours. 
Shipment  is  eflected  by  means  of  two  private  switches 
connecting  with  the  St.  Louis  and  Cairo  Railroad,  upon 
which  the  company  run  their  cars.  The  cooper  shop  at- 
tached turns  out  from  six  hundred  and  fifty  to  seven  hundred 
flour  barrels  weekly. 

The  Columbia  Star  Mill  was  built  in  1865,  by  James  and 
William  Nimerick,at  a  cost  of  about  S'25,000.  It  had  four  run 
of  burrs,  and  produced  about  150  barrels  of  flour  a  day.  It 
was  built  of  brick,  four  stories  high,  on  a  foundation  40x50. 
feet.  An  addition  20x50  feet  was  built  in  1880,  and  an- 
other, 20x60  feet,  in  1882.  Its  present  capacity  is  three 
hundred  barrels  a  day.  It  has  seven  run  of  burrs,  three  sets 
of  rolls  and  twenty  reels.  The  warehouse  is  of  brick,  three 
stories,  and  forty-five  feet  square.  Its  storage  capacity  is 
fifty  thousand  bushels  of  wheat.  The  cooper  shop  con- 
nected with  the  mill  employs  fifteen  men,  and  turns  out 
three  hundred  barrels  daily.  Mr  Henry  Huch  is  the  pre- 
sent proprietor  and  operator. 

The  Monroe  Brewery  is  a  brick  building,  erected  in  1856, 
by  John  Gundlach  at  a  cost  of  about  $30,000.  It  is  now 
occupied  by  the  Klausmann  Brewery  company,  of  South  St. 
Louis.  Its  annual  capacity  is  six  thousand  barrels  of  beer. 
Underneath  the  building  there  are  beer  caves,  capable  of 
receiving  in  storage  about  3500  barrels  of  beer.  There  is 
also  a  malt  house  and  mineral  water  establishment  con- 
nected with  the  business. 

The  Public  School  building  was  erected  in  1876.  It  is  a 
handsome  brick  structure  with  limestone  trimmings,  and  is 
an  ornament  to  the  village.  It  cost  about  §13,000  ;  it  con- 
tains six  school-rooms  in  which  as  many  schools  are  taught, 
by  male  teachers.  An  effort  is  now  being  made  looking  to  a 
higher  and  more  efficient  scholarship.  The  first  new.spaper 
in  the  village,  the  Gazette,  was  establishfd  February,  1880. 
by  E.  H.  Ellis.  It  had  an  existence  of  only  five  weeks, 
The  Voice  of  Monroe  was  founded  by  its  present  proprietor, 
Peter  W.  Baker,  May  5,  1880.  Ground  was  broken  Oct. 
12,  1882,  for  the  new  Masonic  Hall,  now  in  process  of  erec- 
tion. The  building,  a  brick  with  limestone  trimmings,  three 
stories  and  33x70  feet  floor,  will  cost  when  completed  the 
sum  of  $7000.  The  third  ffoor  will  be  used  as  a  Masonic 
and  the  second  as  a  public  hall.  The  first  will  be  devoted 
to  business.  Within  the  territorial  limits  of  the  village 
there  is  a  mineral  spring,  containing  sulphur  and  magnesia. 
Its  owner,  August  T.  Weinel,  purposes  to  erect  a  bath  house 
in   connection   with   it  the   following  season.     The  growth 


of  the  village,  though  not  rapid,  has  been  of  a  substantial 
character.  The  buildings  are  well  constructed,  of  brick  and 
limestone  rock,  and  the  streets  well  paved  and  drained. 
The  charter  of  incorporation,  approved  February  19,  1859, 
was  granted  to  the  following  trustees:  Stewart  McKee,  La- 
fayette Warnock,  John  Gundlach,  John  Ferkel  and  John 
Jost  Officers:  President,  Stewart  McKee;  Clerk,  H.  A. 
Boreman  ;  Treasurer,  Johu  Ferkel. 

PRESENT    BUSINESS. 

Physicians.— M.  G.  Nixon,  William  Rose,  William  Grip- 
penburg,  John  Pflueger. 

Justice. — Lafayette  Warnock. 

Notary. — Henry  Riebeliug. 

General  Stores. — Henry  H.  Siemens,  Edward  Heiligstedt, 
Reid  &Schuler,  John  Pfeflfer&Son,  Henry  Schaiper,  Henry 
Voges,  Frederick  Meyer. 

Dniff  Store.— Wm.  Rose,  L.  E.  Seyffardt. 

Hamvare,  Farminr;  Implements  and  Machinery. — C.  Brei- 
decker. 

lail'irs  — John  Petera,  Henry  Beck,  Ferdinand  Haber- 
loch,  John  Ehret. 

Shoe  Makers — John  Deitrich,  Fred'k  Herold,  Edward 
Fiege,  J.  Fruka. 

Harness  Makers.— Frank  Fahney,  Wm.  Kremmel,  John 
Kolb. 

Blacksmilhs.— Jacob  Lotz,  P.  W.  Miller,  William  Schaef- 
fer,  Joseph  Ranch,  Daniel  Kraus,  Joseph  Wuest,  Frank 
Riebeling. 

TFai/ort  J/n^-fr6\— George  Schmidt,  John  Schmidt,  Henry 
Schmidt,  Henry  Riebeling,  Jacob  Schaffenberger. 

Carpenters. — Frederick  Koch,  Joseph  Brandt,  August 
Walhausen. 

Milliner  — Mrs.  Ellen  Smith. 

Dressmakers  — Mrs.  Sophie  Schneider,  Miss  Minnie  Tim- 
mermann. 

Livery  Stable  and  Lumber  Yard — August  F.  Weinel. 

Hotels. — John  T.  Angerer,  Jacob  Weinel. 

Boarding  Homes. — Jacob  Ferkel,  John  Eichmueller, 
Charles  Juengling. 

Saloons.— F.  C.  Schneider,  Henry  Siemens,  E.  Heilig- 
stedt, Henry  Reichenbach,  Henry  Schuerman,  John  B. 
Schmidt,  Jacob  A.  Schmidt,  Joseph  Vahle,  P.  C.  Schneider. 

Cabinet  Makers. — Charles  Schneider,  Frederick  Litzen- 
berger. 

Tinware. — Philip  Wilde,  Louis  Kuehner. 

Barbers. — Charles  Reis,  Louis  Ritter,  Paul  Wilde. 

Machinery  Agents. — James  Warnock,  John  A.  Gray. 

Butchers.— J&mes  Stephan,  Augustus  Rohm  &  Bro.,  Fred- 
erick lUgner. 

Cigar  Makers  — H.  Kunz,  G.  Pentzler. 

Post-office.—  C-  Breidecker. 

Jeweler.— 5.  Bersche,  Max  Seybeck. 

Brick  Yards. — Henry  HeuUinghorst,  William  Danken- 
bring. 

Bakery. — Philip  Kupfl^erschmidt. 

Foreman  Star  Mills   Cooper-shop. — James  Habermehl. 

Foreman  Gardner  Milk  Cooper-shop —Joseph  Tolar. 


HISTORY    OF   KANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


453 


SOCIETIES. 

Columbia  Turnverein  was  chartered  May  24, 1866.  Its 
membership  at  present  numbers  26.  Turner's  hall,  owned 
by  the  society,  is  its  ])lace  of  meeting. 

Columbia  Lodge,  No.  477,  -4  F.  li:  A.  M.  was  chartered 
Oct.  3,  1866.  Jan.  6th  following  was  the  date  of  the  first 
meeting.  The  names  of  61  active  members  iippear  at 
present  upon  its  rolls,  and  it  is  in  a  sound  linanciiil  con- 
dition. 

The  Columbia  Siut/iiig  Society  was  organized  about  1848. 
It  became  a  body  corporate  by  grant  of  charter  August  19, 


1671.  It  has  44  members  and  meets  in  Library  hall.  It 
has  control  of  the  books  (about  two  hundred  volumes) 
belonging  to  the  Library  Association,  which  was  chartered 
about  1870. 

(olumbid  Lixlyr,  No.  :i7i>,  I).  O.  11,  was  chartere<l  in 
1875.  It  has  about  75  members,  and  §900  in  the  treasury. 
The  hall  in  which  its  meetings  take  place  is  held  by  the 
society  under  a  five  years'  lease. 

Mtinroe  Lodge,  No.  165,  A  O.  U.  \f' ,  was  chartered  Mar. 
■M,  1880.     It  lias  54  incnibers  and  S250  in  tiie  treasury. 


■^^^6^^^S^9^^- 


BIOGRAPHIES 


HON.  JOHN  T.  ANGERER. 

JoiinT.  Angeker  wasborn  in  Bavaria,  Germany,  Febru- 
ary IGth,  1832.  His  father  Jasper  Andrew  Angerer  was  a 
farmer.  John  T.  received  bis  primary  education  in  the 
schools  of  his  native  country,  and  after  his  arrival  in  this 
country  attended  the  schools  here  for  a  short  time.  In  the 
fall  of  1848,  be  came  to  America,  landing  in  l^t.  Louis, 
November  10th,  1848.  He  there  learned  the  trade  of  baker 
and  remained  in  St.  Louis  until  September  7th,  1856,  when 
he  rimovcd  to  Columbia,  in  Monroe  county,  Illinois.  Dur- 
ing a  part  of  the  time  he  was  in  St.  Louis,  he  was  engaged 
in  stearaboating  on  the  upper  Mississippi.  After  he  came  to 
Columbia,  prior  to  engaging  in  the  hotel  business,  he  worked 
in  the  Gardner  flouring  mills.  He  continued  there  for  four 
years  ;  then  opened  a  hotel  in  Mr.  Grasse's  property  and  in 
1867  bought  the  property  and  removed  to  where  he  now  is, 
where  he  has  continued  the  business  of  hotel  keeping  until 
the  present.  Mr.  Angerer's  house  is  well  known  to  the 
traveling  public  as  a  place  that  is  first  class  in  all  of  its 
appointments,  and  in  consequence  enjoys  a  large  patronage. 

On  the  24th  of  May,  1854,  Mr.  Angerer  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss.  Emma  Margarita  Baumann,  a  native  of 
Germany,  but  a  resident  of  this  county  since  the  fourth  year 
of  her  age.  She  was  raised  in  Syracuse,  New  York.  The 
family  subsequently  removed  West  to  St.  Louis,  where  her 


marriage  to  Mr.  Angerer  took  place.  By  that  union  there 
have  been  four  children,  two  of  whom  are  living  The 
names  of  the  latter  are  Caroline,  who  is  the  wife  of  James 
Hart,  of  Belleville,  Illinois.  They  have  two  children  whose 
names  are  Emma  and  James.  Eva  Margarita,  married 
Julius  Breidicktr  of  Columbia.  They  have  two  children 
named  Amanda  and  Caroline.  ]Mr.  Angerer  is  a  member 
of  the  order  of  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,aud  was  made  a  mason  in 
Waterloo  Lodge.  He  is  now  a  member  of  Columbia  Lodge 
No.  474.  He  takes  an  active  interei-t  in  everything  jiertaiu- 
ing  to  the  order,  and  it  was  through  his  aid  and  eflbrts,  as  a 
chairman  of  the  building  committee,  that  the  new  Masonic 
building  was  projected  and  brought  to  a  successful  comple- 
tion. Politically  he  was  a  Democrat,  until  the  breaking 
out  of  the  war,  whm  being  a  strong  union  man  and  heartily 
in  favor  of  the. early  sujipressiou  of  the  rebellion,  he  joined 
the  Republican  ranks  and  remained  with  that  political 
organization  until  1872,  when  believing  that  the  results  had 
been  attained  for  which  the  Republican  party  had  been 
called  into  power,  he  left  it,  liberalized  and  since  has  voted 
the  Democratic  ticket.  In  1880  he  was  elected  by  the  people 
of  Monroe  as  one  of  the  commissioners,  and  at  present  is  a 
member  of  the  Board.  Mr.  Angerer  is  a  pleasant  and 
genial  gentleman  and  ])ossesses  that  rare  fiiculty  of  making 
all  at  home  who  come  beneath  his  roof. 


454 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


/■  ^.(m^^^^- 


The  Wilsou  family  is  of  Scotch-Irish  descent.  Their  ances- 
tors on  coming  to  this  county  settled  near  Fredericktown, 
Maryland  Joshua  Wilson,  the  grandfather  of  John  H., 
moved  from  there  to  Kentucky,  and  there  died  in  1802.  He 
married  Deborah  Dorsey,  who  belonged  to  an  old  and  well- 
known  family  in  Maryland.  She  died  in  Kentucky  in  the 
year  1800.  They  left  three  children  named  Otho,  Edward, 
and  William.  The  latter  was  the  father  of  John  H.  He 
was  born  in  Washington  county,  Kentucky,  in  1798.  In 
1804  he  accompanied  his  brothers  to  Illinois  territory.  At 
the  age  of  twenty -one  he  married  Matilda  Wallace,  who  was 
born  in  Georgia,  but  the  family  had  settled  at  an  early 
period  near  Harrisonville  in  this  county.  By  that  union 
there  were  eleven  children,  nine  of  whom  grew  to  maturity. 
John  H.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  about  one  mile 
northwest  of  Columbia,  INIonroe  county,  Illinois,  August  8, 
1819  His  education  was  obtained  in  the  subscription 
schools  of  his  neighborhood,  and  by  a  short  time  in  the 
schools  of  Waterloo.  During  the  time  that  he  was  attend- 
ing the  school  in  Waterloo,  he  received  the  appointment  of 
Deputy  Sheriff,  under  John  Morrison,  the  father  of  Hon. 
W.  R.  Morrison.  He  held  the  office  of  deputy  for  fifteen 
months,  then  returned  to  the  farm.  Soon  after  Mr.  Wilson 
married,  and  then  he  rented  a  farm  near  Columbia,  and  re- 
mained on  it  three  years,  then  moved  to  a  farm  south  of  the 


before-mentioned  place,  and  there  he  continued  to  reside 
until  the  present,  except  a  short  time  when  he  was  sheriff, 
when  he  resided  in  Waterloo.  In  18.56;  he  engaged  in 
merchandising  in  Columbia,  in  which  he  continued  for 
four  or  five  years,  and  a  short  time  before  the  war  was  also 
in  the  milling  business. 

In  May,  1844,  Mr.  Wilson  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Sarah  Morgan,  by  which  union  there  were  seven 
children.  All  died  young  with  the  exception  of  Joshua, 
who  is  now  a  young  man,  grown  Politically,  Mr.  Wilson 
is  a  Democrat,  and  has  always  been  active  in  the  support  of 
its  principles.  His  zeal  in  the  cause  of  his  party,  and  his 
worth  and  character  as  a  man  and  citizen,  has  received 
public  recognition  at  various  times.  In  1846  he  was  first 
elected  sheriff  of  the  county,  and  re-elected  in  1848, without 
opposition.  He  was  under  the  law  ineligible  in  1850,  but  in 
1852  he  was  elected  for  the  third  time.  In  1870  he  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  Constitutioual  Convention  that 
framed  the  present  organic  laws  of  the  State,  and  in  con- 
nection with  his  colleague,  Hon.  Geo.  Wall,  represented  the 
counties  of  Monroe,  Randolph,  and  Perry.  In  1878  he  was 
again  elected  sheriff,  and  re  elected  in  1880,  and  again 
elected  for  four  years  in  1882,  and  at  present  is  discharging 
the  duties  of  his  position  in  a  manner  that  gives  complete 
satisfaction  to  his  many  friends.      Mr.  Wilson's  private  and 


454B 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


455 


public  life  has  been  without  a  reproach,  and  his  honesty  and 
integrity  has  never  been  called  in  question.  The  family  be- 
long to  that  heroic  band,  the  pioneers  of  the  west.  Here, 
Mr.  Wilson  was  born  and  reared,  and  here  he  hopes  to  live 
until  the  "  dread  summons  comes  to  join  that  innumerable 
caravau  that  is  moving  to  the  pale  realms  "  that  lie  be3'ond 
this  world. 


THOMAS   KCENIGSMARK 

Is  one  of  the  enterprising  and  substantial  business  men  of 
Columbia.  He  was  born  in  Bohemia,  October  '2d,  1835. 
He  is  the  son  of  .folin  and  Catherine  (Fait)  Kffiuigsmark. 
The  parents  came  to  America  and  settled  in  Columbia, 
where  the  fatlierdied  in  1864.  The  wife  and  mother  of  Thomas 
still  survives,  and  at  j)reseut  is  a  resident  of  Columbia. 
Thomas  received  his  education  in  his  native  country.  At 
the  age  of  fourteen,  in  company  with  others,  he  emigrated 
to  America,  and  came  direct  to  St.  Louis,  landing  there 
in  the  spring  of  1849.  In  1850,  Mr.  K.  went  to  New 
Orleans,  and  there  followed  clerking  and  the  tailoring 
business.  He  remained  in  New  Orleans  until  1855,  when 
he  came  up  the  river  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Columbia, 
and  there  clerked  in  a  general  store.  In  1863,  he  engaged 
in  merchandizing,  in  which  he  continued  actively  engaged 
until  1870,  when  he  was  compelled  to  retire  from  active 
pursuits  on  account  of  ill  health.  He  remained  out  of 
business  until  1874,  when  ho  purchased  the  old  Gardner 
Mills  and  became  a  manufacturer.  He  has  continued  in 
the  milling  business  until  the  present.  Under  his  possession 
and  management,  the  mill  has  undergone  many  changei', 
and  various  injprovement-?  all  tending  to  make  it  first-class 
in  every  respect.  In  1882,  it  was  practically  rebuilt  and 
the  "  roller  "  system  introduced. 

In  April,  1858,  Mr.  Ka-nigsmark  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Theresa  Geiger.  She  is  a  native  of  Germany,  but 
came  to  America  with  her  parents  while  yet  in  her  infancy. 
By  that  union  there  have  been  ten  children,  four  of  whom 
are  still  living,  whose  names  are  Jacob,  Louisa,  John  and 
Mary.  Jacob  married  Miss  Dora  Roever,  and  have  one 
child  named  Thomas  KaMiigsmark.  Louisa  is  the  wife  of 
Edward  Kuehner.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ka^nigsruark  are 
members  of  the  Catholic  church.  Politically  Mr.  K.  was 
originally  a  Democrat,  and  cast  his  first  vote  for  Stephen  A. 
Douglas.  During  the  war  he  was  a  strong  Union  man,  and 
in  favor  of  the  speedy  suppression  of  the  rebellion  and  the 
restoration  of  the  government  and  union.  This  feeling 
naturally  led  him  into  the  Republican  party,  and  he  has 
remained  with  it  to  the  present  He,  however,  is  not  a 
partisan  that  sees  no  good  in  any  men  or  measure?,  unless 
belonging  to  or  originated  by  his  own  party.  He  possesses 
sufficient  independence  to  vote  for  men  and  measures,  which 
will  redound  to  the  advantage  of  the  whole  country.  Prac- 
tically Mr  K.  has  been  the  architect  of  his  cwn  fortune. 
He  started  in  life  unaided,  but  by  the  exerci.se  of  good 
management,  industry  and  economy,  has  succeeded  in  mak- 
ing a  comfortable  competency,  and  at  the  same  time  has  made 
for  himself  a  character  for  honesty,  integrity  and  honorable 
dealing  with  his  fellow-men. 


WILLIAM  ROSE,  M.  D. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  leading  and  representa- 
tive physician  and  surgeon  of  Columbia  and  vicinity  ;  he 
is  of  German  birth,  born  in  Clausthal,   Hanover,  Germany, 
Feb.  12,  1848  ;  he  is  the  third  child  in  a  family  of  six  chil- 
dren ;  his  parents,  Frederick  and  Dorothea  Ro.se,  were  natives 
of  the  same  place  in  Germany,  where  the  father  carried  on  the 
manufacture  of  furniture.   William  received  a  good  education 
in  the  schools  of  his  native  country,  and  at  the  age  of  thirteen 
years  came  to  America  in  company  with   his  sister;  they 
settled  in  St.  Louis  with  their  uncle.  Dr.  Edward  Rose,  a 
prominent  physician   of  that  place;  there  Mr.   Rose   spent 
several  years  in  the  College  of  the  Christian   brothers;  he 
then  entered  a  drug  store,  and  learned  the  drug  trade,  and 
spent  three  years   in   obtaining  a   thorough    knowledge   of 
pharmacy.     He  determined  to  adopt  the  ])rofes!-iou  of  medi- 
cine as  the  business  of  his  life,  and,  with  this  idea  in  view, 
entered  the  office  of  his  uncle.  Dr.  Edward  Rose,  and  com- 
menced the  study.     He  was  industrious  in  his  habits,  and 
made  rapid  progress,  and  soon  entered  the  Missouri  Medical 
College  and  took  one  full  course.     He  then  came  to  Illinois 
and  settled  in  Columbia  in  Monroe  county,  and  commenced 
the  practice  ;  the  date  of  his  arrival  in  the  county  was  in  the 
spring  of  1869.     Here,  by  close  attention  to  business,  and  the 
thorough  knowledge  of  his  ))rofcssi()n,  he  soon  built  up  a 
large  and  lucrative  practice.    In  1878,  under  the  operation  of 
a  statute  providing  for  the  regulation   of   the   practice   of 
medicine  in  the  State  of  Illinois,  and  which  required  of  all 
pbysicians  to  have  a  diploma  from  scmie  standard  Medical  Col- 
lege, or  have  jiracticed  ten  years  preceding  the  passage  of  the 
Act  in  the  State,  was  constrained  to  enter  the  Medical  College 
at  Keokuk,  Iowa,  from   which  insti  ution   he  graduated  in 
the  following  spring.     He  returned  to  Columbia,  and  con- 
tinued the  practice,  which  has  gradually  increased  from  his 
first  arrival  here  until  the  present.      When  he  first  came  to 
Columbia  he  engaged  in   the   drug    business   in   connection 
with  his  practice,  in  which  he  still  continues.     Dr.  Rose  be- 
longs to  the  regular  school  of  medicine,  and   is  of  the  pro- 
gressive kind  that  keeps  pace  with  all   the  discoveries  that 
are  daily  being  made  in  the  science  of  medicine.     On  the 
12th  of  March,  1869,  he  was  happily  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Lena,   daughter  of  Stephen  and  Magdalena   (Wiess) 
Frockman.     Mrs.  Rose  was  born  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri. 
By  that  union  there  are  six  children — three  sons  and  three 
daughters;    their  names  in  the  or  er  of  their   birth  are: 
Frederick,  Amelia,  William,  Ida,  Herman  and  Louise  Rose. 
Dr.  Rose  is  an  honored  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.,  and  be- 
longs to  Lodge  No.  165,  and  also  of  the  Harrngari  Order,  No. 
37G, Columbia,  Illinois.     Politically  he  is  an  active  Republi- 
can, and  votes  that  ticket  in  all  general  elections.     He  takes 
an  active  part  in  the  cause  of  education,  and  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  School  Hoard  for  the  past  four  years.     In  conclu- 
sion, it  may  be  said  of  Dr.  Rose  that  he  has  been  very  suc- 
cessful  in   his   chosen   profession.      He   came  to  Columbia 
almost  unknown,  if  not  quite  so,  and  in  the   face  of  much 
opposition  built  up  an  extensive  practice.     His  success  is 
attributable  to  several  causes,  chief  of  which  are  his  close 
attention  to  business  and  his  skill  as  a  physician. 


PRAIRIE    DU    LONG. 


MONROE  CO. 


RAIRIE  DU  LOXG  precinct,  so 
named  from  the  prairie  that  con- 
stitutes an  important  part  of  its  ter- 
ritory, lies  in  the  extreme  eastern 
part  of  the  county,  and  by  the  cen- 
sus of  1880  had  a  population  of 
1480.  Its  area  embraces  the  whole 
of  Township  3,  Range  8,  together 
with  a  strip  of  territory  lying  be- 
tween the  Kaskaskia  and  the  west  boundary  line  of  town- 
ship 3,  Range  7,  and  also  sections  1,12,  13,  24  and  25  of 
Township  3,  Range  9  and  section  36  and  oue-half  of  section 
25  of  Township  2,  Range  9.  Most  of  its  territory  was- orig- 
inally wooded,  and  the  timber  was  quite  heavy  along  the 
streams.  Prairie  du  Long  and  Prairie  du  Round  (hybrid 
terms  of  French  and  English)  so  called  on  account  of  their 
shape,  were  open  areas.  The  former  has  a  length  of  about 
nine  miles,  half  of  which  lies  in  St.  Clair  county.  Its 
width  is  about  three  and  a  half  miles  Prairie  du  Round  is 
about  three  miles  in  circumference,  and  lies  a  little  south- 
west of  the  central  part  of  Township  3,  Range  8.  A  small 
portion  of  Twelve-mile  Pra-rie  lies  in  the  northeastern  part. 
Horse  prairie  extends  a  short  distance  into  the  precinct  from 
the  south.  The  surface,  aside  from  the  prairies,  is  mainly 
broken,  although  even  in  the  timbered  parts,  there  is  much 
bad  land.  The  timber,  of  which  there  is  still  a  considerable 
amount,  consists  of  the  difterent  varieties  of  oak  and  hickory, 
maple,  ash,  pecan  and  black  walnut.  Wheat  is  the  staple, 
though  corn  and  oats  are  largely  grown.  The  principal 
streams  are  the  Kaskaskia  river,  Richland  and  Prairie  du 
Long  creeks.  Attention  is  paid  to  the  subject  of  good  roads, 
and  Richland  and  Prairie  du  Long  creeks  are  spanned  by 
iron  bridges,  the  former  on  the  state  road  extending  from 
Nashville,  Washington  county,  to  Harrisonville  on  the 
Mississippi,  passing  through  Freedom,  and  the  latter  on  the 
Kaskaskia  and  St.  Louis  road 

The  earliest  permanent  settlement  was  made  in  the  year 
1802  by  John  Pulliam,  from  Horse  prairie,  a  place  described 
in  the  chapter  on  Red  Bud  precinct.  Pulliam  improved  a 
farm  on  Prairie  du  Long,  a  little  north  of  Richland  creek. 
Among  the  settlers  of  about  this  date  were  three  brothers, 
John,  James  and  Richard  Hix.  They  settled  in  section  31, 
Township  3,  Range  8.  They  were  owners  of  farms,  but  were 
especially  hunters  and  Indian  fighters.  One  of  the  brothers 
was  in  pursuit  of  game,  when  he  and  an  Indian  simulta- 
neously discovered  each  other  dodging  behind  a  tree  for  pro- 
tection. Hix  outwitted  the  red  skin  by  a  little  device.  He 
placed  his  hat  on  the  ramrod  of  his  rifle,  and  with  mock  cau- 
tion exposed  it  to  the  Indian's  view.  He,  supposing  that  Hix's 
456 


head  was  in  the  hat,  pierced  it  with  a  bullet,  and  then  started 
forward  for  his  scalp,  when  the  latter  stepping  from  his 
retreat,  shot  him  dead.  Two  brothers,  John  and  Modglin 
Wright,  lived  on  adjoining  farms  in  section  28.  They  were 
farmers  and  professional  hunters. 

A  family  named  Faraday,  were  among  the  very  earliest 
settlers  in  the  precinct  They  were  several  sons,  and  their 
mother,  and  lived  on  the  E.  i  of  section  29.  Tljey  neither 
worked  nor  hunted,  yet  fared  more  sumptuously  than  their 
pioneer  neighbors.  Samuel  Winn,  may  also  be  referred  to 
as  among  the  early  settlers.  Matthew  and  John  Donahoo, 
lived  on  section  10.  James  Lacy,  an  early  settler,  owned  a 
considerable  quantity  of  land  in  section  16. 

About  1810,  James  and  Robert  Smith,  from  Tennessee, 
arrived.  They  brought  families  with  them,  and  settled  on 
section  36.  James  had  two  sons,  Booker  and  Ransom. 
Robert  had  one  son,  Henry.  James  was  a  lover  of  good 
horses,  and  had  a  valuable  mare,  which  he  prized  very 
highly,  not  only  on  account  of  her  personal  good  qualities, 
but  also  because  she  gave  promise  of  profit.  One  night  he 
heard  the  noise  of  wolves,  perceptibly  in  great  numbers, 
and  felt  assured  that  his  mare  was  a  victim,  but  though  a 
brave  man  he  dared  not  venture  to  her  assistance.  In  the 
morning  her  carcass  and  that  of  her  filly  lay  near  each 
other.  One  evening,  one  of  the  Smiths  shot  a  wolf ;  imme- 
diately he  heard  a  wolf 'call,"and  then  in  succession  he  heard 
others,  and  soon  found  that  he  was  surrounded  by  them. 
He  climbed  a  small  tree  that  stood  near  and  was  obliged  to 
remain  in  captivity  all  night.  The  wolves  used  their  teeth 
with  diligence  and  energy,  but  did  not  succeed,  in  felling 
the  tree,  as  Smith  feared  they  would.  Major  Starkey,  an 
early  settler  in  Prarie  Du  Long,  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of 
1812.  He  was  a  man  of  gentlemanly  bearing,  of  fine  phys- 
ique, and  of  standing  in  the  community.  Henry  Hill,  one 
Slater  and  one  Scott,  were  among  the  early  settlers  on 
Twelve  Mile  prairie.  Hill  settled  in  the  N.  E.  i  of  section 
2,  and  Slater  and  Scott  in  the  immediate  vicinity.  Their 
descendents,  as  those  also  of  most  of  the  other  early  settlers 
in  the  precinct,  have  been  displaced  by  a  population  mainly 
German.  John  Morrison,  was  of  the  Morrison  family  that 
played  so  important  a  part  in  mercantile  affairs  at  Kaskas- 
kia, at  an  early  day.  At  this  city  he  was  born.  He  mar- 
ried a  Ralls,  and  settled  on  Richmond  creek,  two  or  three 
miles  above  its  mouth.  Here  some  time  prior  to  1821,  he 
had  a  water  mill.  He  moved  to  Kaskaskia  and  subsequently 
returned  and  settled  on  the  Philip  Sauer  place,  in  section  20. 
He  held  the  office  of  Sheriff  and  Judge  of  the  county  court, 
for  a  number  of  years.  "  Morrison's  bridge,"  that  spans 
Prairie  Du  Long  creek,  bears  his  name.     He  was  the  father 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    FURRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


457 


of  Col.  Wm.  R.  Morrison,  at  the  present  writing  a  member 
of  Congress.  His  death  occiirreil  at  Waterloo.  Ahrahaiu 
McMurtice  came  from  South  Carolina,  in  I'^H  or  '1.5,  anil 
settled  in  the  forks  of  Richland  and  Prairie  Du  Long  creek. 
Here  he  improved  some  land,  but  did  not  remain  long.  Henry 
Null,  a  German,  and  his  wife,  came  as  early  as  1815,  and 
settled  southeast  of  Freedom,  on  the  N.  E.  1  of  section  14. 
At  this  place  he  made  his  home  for  life. 

The  most  important  early  settlement  was  formed  by  the 
English  Catholics,  in  the  northwestern  part  of  Township  '■), 
Range  8.  The  central  spirit  of  this  settlement  was  Thonuis 
Winstanley.  He  lived  just  acros  s  the  line  of  Monroe,  in 
St  Clair  county,  and  is  mentioned  here  becau.se  the  settle- 
ment bears  his  name  and  because  of  his  influence  in  its 
affairs.  He  was  a  raau  of  means  and  a  devoted  Catholic, 
and  a  center  of  attraction  for  those  of  his  niitionality  and 
of  his  faith.  This  English  settlement  at  that  early  day 
possessed  most  of  what  there  was  of  culture  and  refinement 
in  the  territory  of  Prairie  Du  Long  precinct.  St.  Augus- 
tine Church  and  the  school  that  at  an  eirly  day  was  taught 
near  it,  -symbolized  their  devotion  to  piety  and  to  learning. 
William  Threlfall  was  a  native  of  Lancashire,  England. 
On  his  arrival  in  Illinois,  he  landed  at  Kaskaskia.  He  re- 
mained here  but  a  short  time,  and  then  with  his  wife  and 
children  came  to  the  Winstanley  settlement  in  181!*,  and 
located  on  the  N.  E.  i  of  section  6,  where  he  improved  a 
good  farm.  Mr.  Threlfall  was  a  patriotic  citizen  and  served 
his  country  in  the  Black  Hawk  war.  He  had  nine  children, 
John,  Edward,  Peter,  James,  William,  Jane,  Nancy,  Mary 
and  Elizabeth.  John  was  a  man  grown  when  he  came. 
He  married  Margaret  Thompson,  and  settled  on  unimproved 
land  in  section  0.  He  died  of  cholera  in  1S4!I.  In  the 
year  1819,  Edward  Newsham,  also  an  Englishman  and  his 
wife  arrived  in  the  settlement.  He  located  south  of  St. 
Augustine  Church  on  section  6.  He  never  had  any  children 
to  advance  the  settlement,  but  was  a  pronunent,  influential 
and  useful  man  in  the  community  of  which  he  formed  a 
part.  John  Bamber,  arrived  in  1821.  He  was  a  native  of 
Yorkshire,  England,  and  in  1817,  came  to  Maryland,  where 
he  remained  two  years.  He  then  set  out  for  Illinois  with 
his  wife  and  eight  children,  James,  Thomas,  William,  John, 
Ann,  Mary,  Betsy  and  Ellen.  He  was  also  accompanied  by 
five  brothers,  Edward,  John,  Thomas,  William  and  Richard 
Coop,  who  came  from  England  to  Maryland  in  1819.  De- 
scending the  Ohio  in  a  flat  boat  they  landed  at  Shawnee- 
town,  where  they  remained  for  a  period  of  two  years,  Wil- 
liam Coop  having  in  the  meantime  died.  In  1821,  the 
Bamber  family  and  Thomas  Coop  left  Shawneetown,  and 
came  overland  to  what  is  now  Prairie  Du  Long  precinct. 
On  their  way  to  the  Winstanley  settlement  they  stopped  at 
the  house  of  John  Morrison  on  Richland  creek.  Mr.  Bam- 
ber settled  on  the  N.  i  of  section  (!,  land  now  owned  by  Dr. 
Kemp,  a  mile  and  a  half  west  of  Freedom.  Here  he  im- 
proved a  good  farm  and  ended  his  days. 

James  Bamber  married  shortly  after  his  arrival  and   set- 
tled in  St.  Clair  county.   Thomas  also  settled  in  that  county 
about  1830.     William  is  living  in   Harrisonville.      John, 
Ellen,  Ann    and   Mary  are  dead.     Betsy  resides   in  Cali- 
58 


fornia.  Thomas  Coop  married  Ann  Dickinson,  and  settled 
in  section  1,  township  '■'>,  range  9,  where  he  still  lives  at  the 
age  of  77.  Mr.  Coop  is  a  wcll-knowir  citizen,  and  has  been 
a  useful  man  in  his  community.  John  Gregson  immigrated 
from  England  in  1819.  His  family  consisted  of  his  wife 
and  three  children,  William,  George  and  James.  William 
and  George  died  very  young.  Their  names  were  afterward 
given  to  two  after-born  brothers.  There  was  also  a  daugh- 
ter, Eliza.  Mr.  Gregson  settled  on  section  19,  where  he  be- 
came quite  a  successful  farmer.  James  Ibisou  and  his  wife, 
about  the  year  1820,  arrived  from  J^ancashire,  England, 
and  located  in  the  Winstanley  settlement,  in  section  !>. 
Here  he  improvtd  a  good  farm.  His  children  were  named 
James,  Thomas  and  Ann.  He  died  in  Fort  Smith,  Arkan- 
sas. Zopher  Williams  and  his  brother  Arthur  were  settlers 
of  the  year  1^20.  The  former  located  on  the  N.  i  of  section 
5.  The  Winstanley  settlement  is,  at  present,  a  mere  name 
for  a  thing  that  is  past.  The  English  .settlers  have  become 
scattered,  and  those  of  another  nationality  have  taken  their 
place.  Several  of  the  families  went  to  California.  About 
the  year  1820,  Henry  Noah,  a  Kentuckian,  who  married 
Eliza  Robbi.5on,  settled  in  Horse  Prairie,  sooth  of  Richland 
creek.  He  was  a  teacher,  and  probably  the  first  in  the  pre- 
cinct. To  the  same  date  and  locality  may  be  referred,  the 
Guthrie?,  a  family  from  one  of  the  Eastern  States.  The 
children  were  John,  ('harles,  James,  Samuel,  Joseph,  Catha- 
rine and  Nancy.  James  was  a  teacher.  He  married  Nancy 
Hurlstone. 

The  Germans  began  to  arrive  about  theyearlSoO.  Piiilip 
Hen.singer  was  among  the  first.  On  his  arrival  from  Ger- 
many he  had  a  wife  and  two  or  three  children.  He  settled 
in  section  1").  Henry  and  Catharine  Frick,  and  their  chil- 
dren, Conrad,  John,  George,  William,  Charles,  Ernst,  Jacob 
and  Catharine,  came  from  Hesse  Ca.ssel  to  St.  Clair  county 
in  183;>,  and  thence  to  Monroe  in  1835.  The  family  located 
about  two  miles  south  of  the  town  of  Freedom.  The  father 
and  mother  are  dead.  Four  of  the  brothers  arc  living  here. 
John  Ruht  arrived  in  Twelve  Mile  Prairie  in  1833.  He 
came  from  Hesse  Darmstadt  with  his  wife  and  four  children, 
and  settled  on  the  N.  E  i  of  section  1(!.  In  the  same  year. 
Christian  Steigers  from  Beyern,  Germany,  with  his  wife  and 
five  children,  four  sons  and  a  daughter,  .settled  on  the  E.  1 
of  section  13  in  Twelve  Mile.  In  the  same  prairie,  on  the 
N.  E.  i  of  section  14,  Conrad  Moore  settled  in  1835.  He 
and  his  family,  his  wife  and  two  children,  were  from  Hesse 
Darmstadt.  John  Weaver,  also  a  German,  settled  about 
the  centre  of  section  13  in  1836.  Timothy  Dunn  and  his 
wife  Ann  Flood  were  natives  of  Ireland,  married  in  New 
York  city,  and  came  licie  in  183)8.  The  first  land  entered 
in  this  precinct  was  by  Henry  Neill,  the  N.  W.  i  of  section 
14,  160  acres  entered  August  Uth,  1814. 

TOWN    OF    FREEDOM. 

The  town  was  laid  out  on  land  of  Theodore  Hilgard.  It 
was  platted  and  surveyed  by  Thomas  Singleton,  county 
surveyor,  December  18,  1840.  It  stands  on  the  N.  W. 
(luarter  of  section  4,  T.  2  S.,  R.  10  W.  In  1849,  Jacob 
Frick  built  the  first  house.     The  same  year  he  opened  a 


458 


HISTORY   OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRT    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


stock  of  goods.  The  Star  flouring  mill  was  built  in  1863, 
by  Keho  and  Thieltges.  In  1864,  it  was  purchased  by 
George  Frick,  the  present  owner  and  operator.  The  build- 
ing is  of  frame,  and  contains  four  run  of  burrs  with  a 
capacity  of  eighty  barrels  a  day.  The  school-house  is  a 
brick  building,  erected  in  1865,  at  a  cost  of  $1,300.  The 
Freedom  Library  Association  was  organized  as  early  as 
1867.  It  was  chartered,  December  9,  1872.  It  has  five 
hundred  and  seventy  volumes  of  books,  worth  about  |2,500. 

PRESENT    BUSINE.SS. 

General  Stores. — Henry  Gambach,  Adam  Roth,  Joseph 
Klinkhardt. 


Hotels. — Jacob  Thum,  K.  Y.  Roxroth. 

Saloon. — Jacob  Heuvies. 

Blacksmiths. — Lenhardt  Weis,  John  Grib,  Joseph  Meyer- 
cough. 

Wagon  Makers. — Sepbastian  Jakel,  Jacob  Wagner. 

Shoemaker. — Henry  Diefenbach. 

Harness  Maker. — Henry  Reiameyer. 

Justice  and  Notary  Public. — H.  J.  Frick. 

Postmaster. — Henry  Gambach. 


BIOGRAPHY. 


JACOB  THUM 


Was  born  in  St.  Gallen,  Switzerland,  March  11th,  182i). 
His  parents  were  Jacob  Thum  and  Francisco  Thum.  They 
came  to  America  in  1842,  landing  in  New  Orleans.  Their 
objective  point  was  Highland,  by  way  of  the  city  of  St. 
Louis,  but  on  the  way  thither  by  boat  they  were  "  frozen  in,'' 
below  Cairo,  where  they  remained  two  months.  From  here 
part  of  the  company,  including  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
walked  to  Belleville,  St.  Clair  county.  Here  Jacob  Thum, 
Jr.,  hired  out  to  a  farmer  living  near  Shiloh  at  $36  per 
annum.  He  remained  with  his  employer  three  years,  when 
he  again  engaged  his  services  to  Dr.  Reis,  first  at  $5,  then 
at  $7  per  month.  In  the  meantime  his  father,  whose  business 
in  the  old  country  was  that  of  a  potter,  secured  a  farm  and 
he  returned  to  live  and  labor  with  him. 

Jacob   Thum,  Jr.,  was    married  to   Josephine   Zeller.   a 
native  of  Switzerland,  in   Belleville,  Nov.    1,  1852.     The 


following  year  she  died  of  cholera,  and  Jacob  commenced 
trading.  Prior  to  his  wife's  death  he  had  spent  a  few  months 
in  Central  city  engaged  in  the  grocery  trade,  but  thinking 
to  do  better,  exchanged  his  business  for  a  place  in  Belleville. 
He  was  married  to  his  present  wife,  Kuni  Gundi  Schoen- 
bein,  Nov.  5th,  1855.  By  her  he  has  three  children.  In 
1859  he  located  in  Red  Bud,  where  his  father  died,  Jan. 
31st,  1861.  In  1864  he  moved  to  Freedom,  where  he  has 
since  resided.  Mr.  Thum  is  a  business  man  of  energy  ;  he 
manages  a  fine  farm  and  at  the  same  time  keeps  a  hotel  fur 
the  accommodation  of  the  traveling  public.  In  politics  he 
takes  great  interest,  and  can  generally  be  found  a  delegate  in 
local  political  conventions.  His  children  are  Anna  Francis, 
born  May  4, 1858,  and  now  the  wife  of  Joseph  Klunkhardt ; 
Jacob,  born  July  1st,  1859,  died  Jan.  31st,  1861 ;  Elizabeth, 
born  Jan.  1.3,  1865,  and  Emma  Eva,  born  June  15,  1867. 


RUM  A 


RANDOLPH   CO. 


^N  the  northwest  part  of  Randolph  county,  south 
of  Red  Bud,  lies  the  precinct  of  Ruma.  The 
\S^  Kaskaskia  river  flows  along  its  eastern  boundary. 
T^'^s  Brcwerville  adjoins  it  on  the  south,  Prairie  du 
Rocher  and  a  portion  of  Monroe  county  on  the 
west.  The  land  is  elevated,  divided  into  ridges 
and  bluffs  in  the  western  portion,  and  rolling  and  level  in 
the  central  part.  It  is  well  watered  by  Horse  creek  flowing 
from  the  northwest  in  a  southeasterly  direction,  where  it 
empties  into  the  Kaskaskia.  Camp's  creek  waters  the  south- 
ern portion,  and  is  also  a  tributary  of  tiie  Kaskaskia.  Horse's 
creek  derives  its  name  from  Horse  prairie,  and  Camp's  creek 
from  a  family  of  the  name  of  Camp.  The  bottom  lands  of 
these  creeks  are  rich  with  alluvial  deposits,  and  admirably 
adapted  to  grass.  They  are  well  timbered.  The  streams 
are  tortuous,  with  blufl'y  banks,  and  limestone  beds  at  fre- 
quent intervals.  The  soil  of  the  ridge  lands  are  adapted  to 
wheat.  There  were  settlements  made  in  this  precinct  as 
early  as  1782,  on  the  authority  of  one  of  the  oldest  settlers. 
Two  brothers  named  Ichabod  and  (Jeorge  Camp  made  im- 
provements on  the  creek  called  Camp's  creek.  These  men 
seemed  to  be  rovers,  and  moved  shortly  after  they  came  to 
the  precinct  to  Missouri,  where  a  place  is  called  Camp 
Spring  after  them.  Their  name  has  been  given  to  one  creek 
and  two  springs. 

Paul  Harelston  settled  near  the  moulh  of  Camp's  Creek  in 
1802.  Not  much  can  be  gathered  from  any  reliable  source 
respecting  him,  except  that  he  was  quite  a  prominent  man 
and  for  some  time  held  the  office  of  sheritt'  of  the  county. 

In  1808,  Mr.  Henderson,  from  South  Carolina,  settled  op- 
posite Evansville  on  the  west  side  of  the  Kaskaskia.  Wil- 
liam Nelson  came  to  Randolph  county  in  1812  or  '14.  He 
settled  on  Horse  creek  near  where  the  village  of  Ruma  now 
stands,  and  erected  a  horse  mill  and  a  small  distillery  It 
was  conducted  on  a  limited  scale,  there  being  only  one  small 
copper  still.  He  became  a  prominent  man,  held  the  office 
of  county  commissioner,  and  was  justice  of  the  peace  for  a 
long  time.  He  was  married  in  South  Carolina  to  Ellen 
Gray,  by  whom  he  had  five  sons,  John  G.,  Isaac,  William, 
Robert  and  James,  and  two  daughters,  Eliza  and  Mary. 
Eliza  married  William  McBride  and  Mary  married  John 
Stevenson,  an  old  settler  from  Ohio.  The  oldest  settler  now 
living  in  Randolph  county  is  James  O'Hara.  the  sou  of 
Henry  O'Hara,  who  came  with  his  father  originally  from 
Frederick  county,  Maryland,  where  he  was  born  November 
8,  1799.  His  father's  name  was  Henry,  and  he  was  married 
in  Maryland  to  Margaret  Brown,  by  whom  he  had  ten 
children,  Mary,  Amelia,  Catharine,  James,  Thomas,  Samuel, 
Henry,  Sarah,  John  and  Charles,  all  of  whom  were  born  in 


Maryland  except  Charles,  who  was  born  in  Kentucky.  Of 
these,  four  sons  are  still  living.  James  and  Henry  live  in 
Randolph  county,  John  in  Wisconsin,  and  Charles  in  Cali- 
fornia. The  father  of  these  sons  first  moved  from  Maryland 
to  Nelson  county,  Ky.  in  1811,  from  thence  to  Belleville,  St. 
Clair  county.  111.,  in  1817,  and  the  succeeding  year,  1818, 
to  Randolph  county,  when  he  located  in  section  5,  one  mile 
.southwest  of  Ruma  village.  When  they  first  settled  in  that 
locality,  their  nearest  neighbor  was  two  miles  north,  their 
next  three  miles  south,  and  the  next  six  miles,  on  the  Amer- 
ican Bottom.  William  Nelson,  spoken  of,  was  the  nearest 
neighbor.  Joseph  Orr,  and  his  brother  Thomas,  were  three 
miles  off. 

Henry  O'Hara  and  his  wife  died  on  the  old  place.  She, 
on  July  25th,  1825,  and  he,  June  18th,  1826.  James 
O'Hara,  is  the  oldest  son  of  Henry  O'Hara  spoken  of.  He 
was  about  17  years  old  when,  with  his  father  he  came  to 
Randolph  county,  Illinois.  He  had  to  depend  for  his  edu- 
cation on  what  he  picked  up  here  and  there.  The  county 
was  a  wilderness,  there  were  plenty  of  wolves  and  game,  but 
no  school-houses.  He  followed  his  father's  occupation, 
farming.  In  1828,  on  the  26th  of  August,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Elizabeth  Threlfall,  a  daughter  of  William  Threl- 
fall,  who  came  from  England,  about  1820,  and  settled  in 
Jlonroe  county,  where  Mr.  O  Hara  first  met  and  was  married 
to  her.  As  a  result  of  this  marriage  there  were  born  twelve 
children.  The  wife  of  this  venerable  patriarch,  diedNovem. 
ber  5th,  1876,  at  the  age  of  66,  having  been  born  in  1810. 
The  father  of  James  O'Hara  was  quite  an  extensive  land 
owner.  In  1818,  Joseph  and  Thomas  Orr  came  from  Vir- 
ginia and  located  in  the  O'Hara  settlement.  Joseph  died  in 
Sparta,  and  Thomas  went  to  Pike  county,  Illinois.  Some 
of  the  children  live  at  Sparta.  John  Brewer  who  came 
at  the  same  time  from  Kentucky,  brought  along  six  sons, 
Thomas,  Felix,  Vincent,  George,  Pius  and  John,  all  of  whom 
filled  important  places  in  the  estimation  of  their  neighbors. 
John  was  once  county  commissioner,  and  a  justice  of  the 
peace.  The  father  had  in  all  ten  children,  all  of  whom  are 
now  dead.  He  lived  four  miles  .southwest  of  Mr.  O'Hara. 
James  Whalen,  emigrated  from  Maryland  to  Kentucky,  and 
thence  to  the  O'Hara  settlement  in  1818.  He  was  the 
father  of  Mrs.  Julia  Whalen,  who  married  Bartholomew 
Hay,  who  located  on  Horse  Prairie.  Francis  E.  Harrell, 
living  on  section  21,  is  the  grandson  of  Benedick  Harrell, 
who  came  from  Maryland  to  Kentucky,  in  1795.  In  the 
year  1818,  he  came  thence  to  Randolph  county,  and  located 
in  the  O'Hara  settlement  where  he  died  about  1830.  His 
wife's  name  was  Alice  Payne,  and  they  were  married  in 
Maryland.     Eight  children  were  the  result,  Cornelius,  Ber- 

459 


400 


HISTORY    OF    RAXDOLPH,    MONROE    AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


naril,  Benedict,  Thomas,  Henry,  Robert,  Mary  and  Jane, 
all  of  whom  are  dead.  Benedict  and  Henry  came  out  to 
the  country  with  their  father.  Cornelius,  the  oldest  son,  was 
born  in  ]\Iaryland  iu  1793,  and  was  about  two  years  old 
■when  the  family  came  to  Kentucky.  In  1815,  while  in 
Washington  county,  Kentucky,  he  married  Elizabeth 
Gough,  daughter  of  John  B.  Gough,  an  old  Revolutionary 
soldier,  born  in  Maryland,  who  came  to  Randolph  county, 
Illinois,  in  1832,  and  remained  one  year,  whence  he  went  to 
Missouri. 

Francis  E.  Harrell  was  twelve  years  old,  when  his  father 
came  to  Randolph  Co.,  and  is  living  on  the  same  place 
■where  his  father  located. 

Thomas  Mudd  was  born  in  Maryland.  His  ancestors 
were  of  the  Lord  Baltimore  party.  Some  of  them  took  part 
in  the  Revolutionary  war.  He  married  in  Maryland  a  lady 
named  Johanna  Carrick,  or  Cariev,  whose  ancestors  were 
also  participants  in  the  Colonial  struggle  for  independence. 
A  short  time  after  his  marriage,  Thomas  Mudd  moved  to  Ky. 
and  located  in  Spencer  county,  where  he  was  a  pioneer  and 
settled  down  to  farm  life.  He  had  a  family  of  nine  children 
by  his  marriage,  seven  sons  and  two  daughters,  whose  names 
were  James,  Edward,  Francis,  Joseph,  Felix,  John  and 
Thomas  H.  Teresa  and  Lucreta.  James,  the  oldest  son,  came 
out  from  Kentucky  one  year  before  his  father  left.  He  was 
born  in  Maryland.  He  was  married  in  Ky.,  to  Amelia 
O'Hara,  a  sister  of  James  O'Hara  before  mentioned.  He 
raised  a  family  of  six  sons  and  three  daughters,  all  of  whom 
grew  to  maturity  except  one  son.  Their  names  were  William, 
Henry,  Felix,  Charles,  Leo  T.  and  Pius;  Margaret  A- 
Harriet  and  Eliza  L.  all  are  still  alive  but  Pius,  and  they 
all  live  in  Randolph  county  111.,  but  Felix,  who  went  to 
Texas,  and  still  lives  there.  James  Mudd,  the  father  of 
these  children  came,  as  was  stated,  to  111.,  one  year  before 
his  father  Thomas  came  out.  It  was  the  year  1818.  He  first 
settled  on  the  blufi",  N.  East  of  Prairie  du  Rocher.  William 
Mudd  was  the  eldest.  He  was  born  April  30th,  1816,  and 
was  the  only  son  born  in  Kentucky,  all  the  rest  being  born 
in  Illinois.  William  remained  on  the  farm  at  home,  until  he 
was  21  years  of  age.  Mr.  Mudd  has  always  been  an  active 
promoter  of  public  interests.  In  1857  he  was  chosen  as  a 
candidate  for  the  office  of  As.sooiate  Judge  of  Randolph  Co. 
Alter  serving  four  years,  he  was  again  elected  in  1861,  and 
served  another  term.  He  is  at  present  enjoying  home  life 
in  his  large  farm  seven  miles  from  Red  Bud,  on  section  30, 
Kuma  precinct. 

The  Simpson  family  were  also  among  the  early  settlers  in 
this  township.  They  are  descendants  of  an  old  English  family 
who  emigrated  to  America  with  Lord  Baltimore  on  account 
of  religious  persecution.  William  Pregley,  was  born  in 
Spencer  county,  Kentucky,  April  25th,  1818.  His  grand- 
father, Simon  Pregley,  emigrated  from  the  State  of  Pennsyl- 
vania at  an  early  period  to  Ky.,  where  Abraham  Pregley, 
the  father  of  William,  was  born  about  1796.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  Ky.  to  Susan  Smith,  and  in  1833  moved  to  Randolph 
county,  and  located  in  Township  5,  Range  8,  about  4  miles 
west  of  Evansville. 

John  Vinson  came  from  Kentucky    to  Illinois  in  1831, 


and  settled  in  Christian  county.  He  took  part  in  the  Black 
Hawk  war.  He  moved  to  Randolph  county  in  1845,  and 
settled  on  section  22.  He  was  married  to  Mary  Ann 
Simpson  (sister  of  James  D.),  in  Sangamon  county,  in  the 
year  1833. 

John  M.  Baker  was  an  old  settler,  who  came  from  New 
York  to  Randolph  county  about  the  year  1834;  he  was  a 
brother  of  David  J.  Baker,  of  Kaskaskia.  He  died  at  Ruma 
iu  1855. 

Michael  Donohoo  was  married  in  Kentucky  about  1819 
to  Julia  Welch.  Iu  1826  he  came  to  Randolph  county,  and 
settled  where  the  village  of  Ruma  now  stands  on  section  33. 
James  M.  Kennedy  was  born  March  17, 1795,  in  the  State 
of  Vermont.  He  came  to  Randolph  county,  Illinois,  and 
was  married  there  in  1828  to  Sarah  D<idge.  He  helped  to 
build  a  house  for  John  M.  Baker,  which  was  the  first  build- 
ing erected  in  Ruraa.  They  hauled  the  logs  from  Horse 
Creek  Bottom,  as  there  was  no  timber  near  large  enough. 
He  had  by  his  marriage  nine  children. 

James  O'Hara,  first  mentioned,  is  a  grand  old  patriarch, 
whose  hair  and  beard  are  white  as  snow.  His  memory  at 
the  age  of  83  is  somewhat  remarkable:  he  can  give  the 
dates  of  all  the  early  events  connected  with  his  family  his- 
tory, and  the  names  of  all  the  old  settlers.  He  remembers 
the  location  of  St.  Patrick's  Church,  half  a  mile  from  his 
residence  ;  it  was  originally  constructed  of  logs  and  was  built 
in  1828  Its  history  is  as  follows:  His  father,  before  his 
death,  made  a  will  devising  one  hundred  acres  of  his  land 
for  the  use  of  the  Catholic  Church,  and  on  this  land  the  first 
building  was  erected  as  stated.  About  1853  the  present 
brick  edifice  was  built.  Father  John  Gifford  was  the  pastor. 
There  have  since  been  added  a  fine  brick  convent,  a  priest's 
house  and  buildings  for  school  purposes.  Rev.  Father 
Vocht  is  the  present  pastor,  and  the  church  is  in  a  flourish- 
ing condition. 

Mr.  O'Hara  also  remembers  Nelson's  hor.se  mill  and  dis- 
tillery, and  relates  how  the  neighbors  used  to  get  their  jugs 
filled  ;  and,  putting  them  in  one  end  of  the  bag,  placed  their 
grist  from  the  mill  into  the  other  end, — and,  setting  astride, 
ride  home,  happy  in  the  prospect  of  a  good  time. 

RUMA   VILLAGE. 

Ruma  village  is  located  about  four  miles  south  of  the 
town  of  Red  Bud,  on  sections  4,  5,  32  and  33.  It  is  bisected 
by  the  township  line  running  east  and  west.  It  was  laid 
out  in  the  year  1854.  Three  acres  were  sold  by  William  S. 
Hughs,  a  brother  of  Felix.  This  laud  was  sold  to  the  heirs 
of  John  M.  Baker,  an  old  settler  before  mentioned.  Town 
lots  were  laid  ofl^  by  the  Baker  heirs  and  the  brothers  Dono- 
hoo, Mathew  and  Thomas ;  and  the  village  grew  apace.  In 
the  year  1872  a  large  four  story  brick  flouring  mill  was 
erected.  Albert  W.  Baker,  John  Heck  and  Thos.  Donohoo 
were  the  leaders  in  the  enterprise.  The  mill,  after  a  period 
of  varied  success,  ultimately  passed  into  the  hands  of  its 
present  enterprising  owners,  Fred.  Engelke  and  Valentine 
Weismantel,  under  whose  management  it  is  in  a  flourishing 
condition.  Its  capacity  is  200  bbls.  daily.  It  uses  both  the 
buhr  and  roller  process,  and  makes  a  fine  brand  called  the 


460A 


ST.  BONIFACE  ROMAN  CATHOLIC  CHURCH  ANDPfflTSTS  RESIDENCE,  EVANSVILLE,  ILL 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


401 


"  Queen  of  the  West."    lu  connexion  with  the  coojfcrs'  shop 
attached,  it  employs  twelve  men. 

The  vilhige  ha.«  one  brick  hotel,  by  Henry  Keukuer ;  one 
frame  hotel,  by  Medard  Heck  ;  two  brick  store.s,  one  by  Ja-s. 
O'Hara,  the  other  by  Keukner,  Uegener  &  Co.  ;  two  black- 
smiths' shops — one  by  Henry  Sievers,  the  other  by  C.  E.  De 
Witt;  one  tailor  shop,  by  Fritz  Wilkning;  one  shoemaker 
shop,  by  J.  B.  Frank  ;  one  wagon  shop,  by  August  Miller  ; 
one  post-office — James  O'Hara,  postmaster  ;   one  physician, 


T.  P.  Lark,  M.  D.;  two  justices  of  the  peace,  J.  B.  Frank 
and  Henry  Keukner.  J.  B.  Frank  is  notary  public  and 
county  commissioner.  There  are  two  school-houses,  one 
half  a  mile  north,  and  one  five  miles  southeast.  There  are 
two  churches,  but  not  in  the  village, — one  Evangelical 
Lutheran  and  one  Catholic.  Stacy  Hughs  was  the  first 
postmaster. 

There  are  several  good  brick  and  frame  residences  in  the 
village,  which  has  a  population  of  about  two  hundred. 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


JOHN  B.  FllANK. 


Onk  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  the  thriving  village  of 
Ruma  is  County  Commissioner  John  B.  Frank  ;  he  was  born 
on  the  21st  day  of  December,  18.U,  at  Ob-rdof,  Bavaria, 
and  is  the  youngest  of  nine  children  of  Conrad  and  Caroline 
(Kreiter)  Frank.  After  completing  an  elementary  education, 
he  learned  the  shoemaker's  trade  in  his  native  village.  In 
the  year  1853,  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years,  he  emigrated  to 
America,  landing  at  New  York  ;  he  came  west  to  St.  Louis, 
Missouri,  and,  after  working  at  his  trad*  a  few  months  in 
that  city,  settled  at  Louisiana,  I'lke  county,  Missouri,  where 
he  established  himself  in  his  profession.  On  the  l>>th  day 
of  March,  18.i8,  he  married  Miss  Mary  Williams,  daughter 
of  (Iraham  and  Nancy  Williams;  Mrs.  Frank  was  born 
May  14th,  1843.  Their  children  are:  George,  born  Decem- 
ber 28th,  1858,  who  grew  to  be  a  bright  boy  of  sixteen  years, 
when  he  died,  March  5th,  1875  ;  Cora,  born  September  14th, 
1861,  married  to  Edward  Horrel,  on  October  14th,  1879; 
Edgar  C,  born  September  24th,  1874;  and  Isabel,  born  De- 
cember 14th,  IS.sl. 

At  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  War  Mr.  Frank  entered 
military  service  as  a  private  in  the  5th  Regiment  of  Mis- 
souri State  troops;  he  then  re-enlisted  in  the  33rd  Regiment, 
Missouri  Volunteers,  when  he  served  as  Corporal  of  Co.  D. 


At  the  battle  of  Nashville,  on  December  15th,  18(i4,  he  was 
dangerously  wounded,  receiving  a  fracture  of  the  skull  ;  al 
though  little  hopes  were  entertained  as  to  his  recovery,  he, 
under  skilful  treatment,  was  restored  to  life,  and  was  honor- 
ably discharged  at  the  Marine  Hospital  at  St.  Louis  on 
June  5th,  1865.  On  the  21st  day  of  March:  1866,  Mr. 
Frank,  with  his  family,  came  to  Ruma,  where  he  at  once 
opened  a  shop,  and  where  he  is  still  doing  a  thriving  busi- 
ness. In  1868  he  was  commissioned  as  post-master  of  Ruma, 
which  office  he  held  for  eleven  years  and  nine  months;  find, 
iog  the  office  too  troublesome,  he  resigned  the  same,  and  in 
1875  was  elected  a  Justice  of  the  Peace;  as  a  prominent 
member  of  the  Republican  party  of  Randolph  county,  Mr. 
Frank  soon  became  widely  known,  and  in  the  year  1880  his 
party  honored  him  with  the  nomination  for  County  Com- 
missioner, to  which  office  he  was  elected  by  a  handsome 
majority.  At  present  Mr.  Frank  is  President  of  the  Board 
of  County  Commissioners,  and  his  official  record  in  that  ca- 
pacity is  without  blemish.  He  cast  his  first  vote  for  Lin- 
coln and  Johnson,  and  has  ever  since  affiliated  with  the  Re- 
publican party.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  Church. 
Mr.  Frank  has  a  comfortable  home  at  Ruma,  and  he  and  his 
family  are  highly  esteemed  by  their  neighbors  and  friends. 


462 


HISTORY    OF  BANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS 


/S^^//(^^, 


a^iu 


The  firm  of  O'Hara  Bros,  general  merchants,  at  Ruma, 
was  organized  in  1872,  by  Henry  and  James  R.  O'Hara 
Henry,  the  oldest  sou  of  James  O'Hara  and  Elizabeth 
(Threllfall)  O'Hara,  was  born  on  December  10th,  1829,  at 
the  O'Hara  homestead,  near  Ruma.  He  left  home  in  the 
year  1850,  and  for  a  short  time  went  to  farming  on  his  own 
account.  In  1851,  he  entered  the  store  of  H.  C.  Cole,  at 
Chester,  as  a  salesman  and  remained  there  for  three  years. 
Joining  a  party  headed  by  William  Threllfall  in  1854  he 
went  to  California,  by  the  overland  route  and  arrived  there 
safely  after  a  six  months'  journey.  During  the  twelve  years 
stay  in  California  he  was  engaged  in  raining,  but  with 
unsatisfactory  results,  returning  by  the  isthmus  route  to 
New  York  and  from  there  to  his  home.  He  and  his  brother 
James  went  to  farming,  one  mile  south  of  Harrisonville, 
Monroe  county,  Illinois.  While  there  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Mary  Misplay,  daughter  of  Louis  and  Jane  (Tyner) 


Misplay.  The  marriage  occurred  on  the  1st  day  of  Febru- 
ary, 1870.  Mrs.  Mary  O'Hara  was  born  on  the  9th  day  of 
November,  1849.  They  had  five  children,  Addie,  born 
November  18th,  1871;  Carrie  Agnes,  born  January  13th, 
1872  ;  Maggie  Jane,  born  June  29th,  1875  ;  James  Oscar, 
born  February  19th,  1877  and  died  December  18th,  1877  ; 
and  Jessie  Rachel,  born  November  30th,  1878.  While  on  a 
trip  to  St.  Louis,  Mr.  O'Hara  contracted  pneumonia  and 
died,  after  an  illness  of  but  five  days,  on  February  10th, 
1879,  mourned  by  his  widow  and  children  and  his  many 
relatives  and  friends.  During  his  lifetime  he  gained  the 
highest  esteem  of  all  who  knew  him,  by  his  honesty,  industry 
and  superior  social  qualities.  His  remains  are  interred  in 
the  Catholic  cemetery  near  Ruma.  He  left  his  widow  and 
children  in  comfortable  circumstances,  and  his  wife  still 
holds  his  share  in  the  store  at  Ruma. 


BLAIR. 


RANDOLPH  CO. 


lIR  is  a  small  precinct  containing  twenty 
sections  of  laud.     It  lies  south  of  the  Central 
and  Sparta  precincts,  and  is  bounded  on  the 
east  by  Steele's  mills,  and  Sparta  ou  the  south 
by  Bremen,  and  on  the  west  by  Florence  and 
Central.     The  land  is  rolling,   some  timber 
and  some  prairie,  and  is  generally  well  im- 
proved.     The  soil  is    loam   on   the   prairie, 
but  clay  in  the  timbered  portion.     The  south- 
east part  of  the  precinct  is  watered  by  a  branch  of  Mary's 
river.     Pillars'    creek    also   flows  through  it.     The  praiiie 
is  called  "Opossumden." 

The  first  settler  in  Blair  was  Major  John  Pillars,  a  half 
brother  of  James  Hughs,  son  of  Thomas  Hughs,  who  tvas 
killed  by  the  Indians  while  crossing  the  Ohio  river  on  his 
way  back  to  a  settlement  ;  he  had  previously  lived  near 
Kaskaskia.  His  wife  escaped,  and,  returning  to  Kentucky, 
afterwards  married  James  Pillars,  the  father  of  Major  John 
Pillars,  who,  with  his  two  sons,  John  and  Richard,  and  Mrs. 
Hughs'  son,  bv  her  former  husband,  came  out  and  made  a 
settlement  on  what  is  known  as  the  "Old  Hughs  Place,"  on 
the  east  side  of  the  Kaskaskia  river.  John  Pillars  did  not 
long  remain  here,  but  opened  a  farm  near  his  father,  and 
soon  afterward  moved  to  Opossumden  prairie.  He  was  a 
man  of  note,  and  for  a  long  time  was  major  of  the  militia. 
He  died  on  his  farm  January,  18.52.  He  received  his  first 
education  from  James  Hughs,  his  half-brother,  who  was 
older,  and  quite  a  mathematician.  John  Pillars  built  the 
first  house  in  Blair  precinct,  on  section  four.  It  was  made 
of  round  logs.  He  also  improved  the  first  farm.  His  daugh- 
ter, Anne  Pillars,  now  Mrs.  Harmon,  was  the  first  child  born 
in  the  precinct. 

The  first  burial  ground  was  ou  the  farm  above  mentioned. 
In  it  were  buried  John  Pillars,  his  wife,  and  a  few  friends. 

Samuel  Crawford  built  the  second  house  in  this  precinct. 
He  originally  came  from  Tennessee,  in  the  year  1816.  He 
settled  on  Opossumden  prairie  in  1819.  He  was  said  to 
have  been  the  first  school  teacher.  A  prominent  and  pop- 
ular man,  he  served  in  various  capacities.  At  one  time  he 
was  Justice  of  the  Peace,  then  a  receiver  of  public  moneys  in 
the  Land  office,  at  Kaskaskia,  also  a  member  of  the  Legis- 
lature. 

William  Morris  settled  on  Opossumden  prairie  in  1817. 
Edward  Campbell,  who  at  present  resides  in  Blair  village, 
is  the  sou  of  Alexander  Campbell,  who  came  from  Smith 
county,  Tennessee,  in  1819,  bringing  with  him  a  family  of 
eight  children,  making  the  journey  by  wagon,  and  accom- 
panied several  other  families.  Their  journey  was  tedious, 
and  without  incident. 


The  Indians  were  numerous,  and  Mr.  Campbell  says  he 
frequently  saw  as  many  as  three  hundred.  Bear,  deer,  and 
other  game  abounded.     Wolf  killing  was  quite  a  pastime. 

Alex.  Campbell,  after  living  a  (juiet  and  industrious  life, 
died,  esteemed  a  good  citizen,  in  the  year  1827.  His  sons 
were,  Edward,  John,  Andrew,  William,  and  Alexander. 
Edward  still  lives  near  the  old  place,  which  was  on  section 
eight. 

He  has  been  County  Commissioner  and  Justice  of  the 
Peace.  John  was  elected  sheriB'in  1838,  and  held  the  office 
for  ten  years.  Was  afterwards  elected  Judge  of  the  County 
Court;  theu  sheriff  again,  and  finally  judge,  which  position 
he  held  until  his  death. 

James  McFarland,  William  Morris,  and  James  McDon- 
ough,  were  old  settlers  in  Blair.  A  company  was  made  uji 
on  the  Opossumden  prairie  for  the  Black  llawk  war,  with 
Josiah  S.  Biggs  for  captain,  and  during  an  enthusiasm  cre- 
ated by  a  Col.  Henry,  from  the  northeast  part  of  the  State, 
a  second  waa  raised,  which  had  for  captain,  James  Thomp- 
son, who  resided  near  Preston,  on  the  Irish  settlement. 

Marcus  L  Barnes  was  in  the  Mexican  war.  His  father 
was  a  captain  in  both  the  Black  Hawk  and  Mexican  wars. 

Felix  Hughs,  an  old  settler,  lives  in  section  9  His 
father,  James,  whose  mother  married  James  Pillars,  came 
from  Kentucky,  and  settled  with  his  step-father  near  Ka." 
kaskia  in  the  year  187.5.  The  place  is  known  as  the  "  Old 
Hughs  place"  James  Hughs  was  a  noted  man,  remarka- 
ble for  energy  and  sound  judgment.  He  was  also  considered 
a  fine  scholar  for  those  days;  he  excelled  in  mathematics. 
So  noted  was  he  that  John  Reynolds,  afterward  Judge  of 
the  Supreme  Court  and  Governor  of  the  State,  applied  to 
him  and  received  all  the  education  he  obtained  until  he 
reached  his  seventeenth  year.  The  future  governor  walked 
from  the  farm  on  which  the  family  lived,  and  which  is  now 
owned  by  John  Beare,  on  section  21,  in  Florence  precinct, 
and  received  his  instruction  during  the  winter  nights ;  coKl 
weather,  rain,  or  snow  did  not  deter  him. 

James  Hughs,  being  a  man  of  energy  and  business  capa- 
city, engaged  in  making  salt,  at  the  mouth  of  Saline  creek, 
in  Missouri,  opposite  Kaskaskia,  a  place  where  the  early 
settlers  were  in  the  habit  of  boiling  salt.  This  salt  he  con- 
veyed to  the  falls  of  the  Ohio  in  what  were  then  called  K- 
r05r«e.v,small  flat-bottomed  boats,  which  were  polled  and  hauled 
along  the  river.  Trading  the  salt  he  brought  back  such 
articles  as  were  needed  for  use  and  to  barter.  On  one  of 
these  trips  he  met  his  future  wife,  a  lady  named  Rachel 
Hall,  and  engaged  to  marry  her  at  the  conclusion  of  his 
next  trip.  His  step-father,  James  Pillars,  having  by  some 
means  gotten  information  of  the  mutter,  unknown  to  Mr. 

403 


464 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


Hughs,  made  his  arrangements  to  surprise  him,  so  when 
James  started  down  the  river  with  his  cargo  of  salt,  Mr. 
Pillars,  taking  two  horses,  besides  the  one  he  rode,  cut 
across  the  country  and  met  young  Hughs  at  the  falls,  who, 
being  thus  surprised,  inquired  the  reason  of  his  unlooked-for 
presence,  and  was  told  by  Mr.  Pillars  that,  expecting  a  mar- 
riage, he  had  brought  the  horses  so  that  he  might  ride  with 
his  wife  to  her  new  home.  The  party  rode  back  together, 
camping  out  at  night,  their  only  bed  being  the  blankets  car- 
ried on  horseback,  and  their  food  such  as  could  be  prepared 
by  the  way  with  the  camp  kettle. 

James  Hughs  lived  on  his  step-father's  farm,  which  he 
obtained,  until  his  death.  He  was  in  the  United  States 
ranging  service  in  1812.  He  left  five  sons,  namely,  James, 
John,  Stace,  Feli.K  and  Henry. 

Returning  to  the  history  of  Felix  Hughs,  we  find  he 
was  born  in  Randolph  Co.,  near  the  site  of  Ellis  Grove  in 
1816. 

Amos  Taggart,  living  on  section  5,  is  the  son  of  Daniel  C. 
and  Margaret  Taggart-  Daniel  C  was  born  in  South  Caro- 
lina and  came  to  Randolph  Co.,  the  first  time,  about  the 
year  1812.  After  a  short  sojourn  he  returned  to  South 
Carolina,  and  remaining  a  few  years,  emigrated  with  his 
family  about  the  year  182.5.  He  settled  in  this  precinct. 
John  Taggart  a  brother  of  Daniel  C,  who  came  to  the 
county  about  the  same  time,  took  part  in  the  Black  Hawk 
war.  Daniel  C  Taggart  had  nine  children,  six  sons  and 
three  daughters.  John,  David,  William,  Amos,  Jane,  Ellen, 
Margaret,  Francis  and  Robert.  All  are  dead  but  David, 
William,  and  Amos. 

William  Taggart,  a  brother  of  Amos,  served  in  the  Mexi- 
can war,  in  company  C,  of  the  2d  111.  Vol.  Inf,  under  Cap- 
tain Crow.  He  was  a  participant  in  the  battle  of  Buena 
Vista.  Amos  Taggart  is  a  member  of  the  old  debating  socir 
ty,  mentioned  in  the  latter  part  of  this  chapter. 

Alexander  M.  Wilson,  living  on  sections  6  and  7,  came 
from  Duchess  county,  New  York,  in  1837.  He  first  settled 
on  Lively  Prairie.  He  had  to  encounter  but  few  of  the 
vicissitudes  connected  with  the  first  settlement  of  the  county. 
He  followed  the  business  of  farming  until  the  breaking  out 
of  the  late  war,  when  he  entered  the  service  and  attained 
the  rank  of  captain  in  the  oOth  Ills.  Vol.  Inf  Toward  the 
close  of  the  war  he  was  commissioned  major,  and  appointed 
to  duty  in  the  Commissary  Department.  He  continued  in 
this  department  until  after  the  surrender  of  General  Joseph 
Johnson,  in  North  Carolina,  when  he  returned  to  the  more 
peaceful  pursuits  of  farm  life  In  1842  Mr  Wilson  married 
Susan  Young,  a  daughter  of  John  Young,  who  came  from 
Pennsylvania  to  Illinois  among  the  early  settlers.  He 
served  in  the  Black  Hawk  war.  The  father  of  Mr.  Wilson 
was  named  Alexander  Murray  W^ilson. 


The  following  are  some  of  the  first  land  entries  in  Blair 
precinct.     They  are  in  township  6  N.,  range  6  W. 

April  10th,  1815,  Wm.  Morrison  entered  south  half,  sec- 
tion 3,  320  acres.  April  21st,  1815,  John  Pillars  entered 
the  S.  E.  quarter  of  section  4,  160  acres.  Jan.  16th,  1818, 
David  Lovney  entered  the  E.  half,  N.  W.  quarter,  section  3, 
71  acres.  Oct.  3d,  1818.  Charles  Glover  entered  the  W- 
half,  S.  W.  quarter,  section  4,  80  acres. 

BI.AIR    TILLAGE. 

This  little  village  lies  almost  due  south  from  Sparta,  and 
is  located  on  sections  2,  3,  34,  35.  It  derived  its  name  from 
Thomas  C.  Blair.  On  making  an  application  for  a  post 
office  at  the  place,  there  being  no  name  designated,  it  was 
suggested  that  Mr.  Blair's  own  name  be  given.  And  it 
was  accordingly  called  Blair.  He  was  appointed  the  first 
postmaster,  and  was  also  the  first  justice  of  the  peace.  He 
built  the  first  house.  It  was  a  frame,  and  put  up  in  the 
year  1859.  Mr.  Blair  also  opened  and  kept  the  first  store. 
He  came  from  county  Antrim,  Ireland,  in  the  year  1842. 

The  village  is  on  the  Chester  and  Sparta  road,  and  the 
buildings  extend  along  the  cross  formed  by  the  intersection 
of  that  by  the  townshi|)  road  running  east  and  west.  It 
has  some  neat  frame  dwellings.  One  very  fine  farm-house 
stands  on  the  Chester  road  on  the  .southern  limit,  that  would 
o-raceany  town.     The  population  is  about  two  hundred. 

There  are  in  this  neat  quiet  village,  two  church  edifices, 
0.  S.  Presbyterian  and  Southern  Methodist.  The  former 
was  erected  a  cost  of  $3,200.  The  latter,  82,400.  Rev. 
A  W.  Wright  was  the  first  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian,  and 
Uev.  L   Duckworth  of  the  Methodist  church. 

The  first  physician  was  Dr.  Milton  Hubbard,  he  was 
succeeded  by  Dr.  J.  F.  White,  and  he  by  Dr.  J.  L. 
Mathews.     The  village  has  the  following  business,  viz. : 

Store  for    Genend   Merchandise. — Owned    by    the    Blair 
Brothers,  nephews  of  Thomas  C.  Blair. 
Pod  0/^ce.— Postmaster,  Robert  J.  Blair. 
Justice  of  the  Peace.— S.  Boggs. 
Blacksmith.— Fred.  Hartley. 

Wagon  Maker. — James  Hartley,  also  justice  of  peace. 
Flour  Mill. — Having  a  capacity  for  one  hundred  barrels 
daily,  is  owned  by  W   E.  Brown.     It  gives  employment  to 
three  hands. 

Saw  Mill- — Owned  by  the  same,  runs  in  connection  with 
the  grist  mill. 

There  are  two  school  houses  near  the  village  on  sections 
two  and  thirty-five.  There  is  a  coal  mine  one  and  a  quarter 
miles  northeast  of  the  village,  owned  by  George  Stanway. 
It  gives  employment  to  three  men,  and  yields  a  fine  quality 
of  bitimmous  coal,  used  mainly  by  the  farmers  in  the  neigh- 
borhood. 


BREEMEN 


RANDOLPH     COUNTY. 


S  situated  in  the  scutlicast  of  the  centra' 
part  of  the  county,  and  comprises  por- 
.  tions  of  T.  6  and  7  S.  R.  6  W.,  the  - 
greater  part  being  in  Town  G.  It  con- 
tains twenty  six  sections  or  about  ltj,640 
acres,  and  had  in  1880  a  population  of 
703.  The  general  surface  is  rolling,  which 
becomes  quite  rugged  in  many  places  on 
iijjproaching  the  various  water  courses, 
which  are  u.-iually  lined  with  a  narrow 
belt  of  timber.  The  principal  streams 
are  Mary's  river,  which  flows  across  the 
southeastern  portion  of  the  precinct, 
forming  its  southern  boundary,  and  Little  Mary's  river  and 
Pillars'  creek,  which  water  and  drain  the  western  and 
northern  portions  of  the  precinct.  The  Wabash  and  Chester 
Railroad  traverses  diagonally  througli  the  southeastern  pari, 
crossing  Mary's  river  twice  within  her  borders. 

Breemen  is  one  of  the  best  improved  bodies  of  land  in  the 
county  The  farmers  are  a  thrifty,  hard-working,  industrious 
class,  many  of  them  Germans.  Much  attention  is  given  to 
manuring  the  lands,  which  have  been  so  long  neglected,  and 
they  are  being  well  paid  for  their  labor.  As  a  rule  thefe 
are  no  better  farm  buildings  to  be  found  in  Randolph 
county,  than  in  the  little  precinct  of  Breemen.  The  country 
abounds  in  finely  made  farms,  beautiful  groves  and  orchard.-^, 
and  well  made  roads.  The  soil  is  productive,  and  yields 
abundant  crops  of  all  kinds  of  grain,  fruit  and  vegetables. 
The  first  permanent  settler  to  locate  within  the  limits  of 
Breemen  was  undoubtedly  Robert  Tindall,  in  the  year  180J. 
He  was  from  Chester  county,  South  Carolina,  and  located 
on  Sec.  '■)'!,  T.  G  S.,  R.  6  W.,  on  the  old  Fleming  place.  It 
was  here,  on  the  banks  of  the  small  tributary  of  Little  Mary 
creek,  that  he  commenced  the  erection  of  a  small  water  mill 
which,  before  its  completion,  was  swept  away  by  the  floods. 
He  soon  after  erected  a  horse  mill,  near  his  cabin,  which 
served  a  good  purpose,  and  was  a  great  convenience  to  the 
early  settlers.  There  is  no  doubt  but  that  this  small  rude 
aflair  was  in  those  days  a  great  inducement  for  the  pioneers 
to  locate  near  it.  Mr.  Tindell  was  a  valuable  man  in  this 
thinlv  peopled  country,  and  one  who  was  greatly  esteemed 
by  his  brother  pioneers.  He  spent  a  life  of  usefulness.  His 
sons  Reuben  and  Robert  are  well  remembered  by  many  of 
the  citizens.  Tindell,  was  soon  followed  by  others,  many  of 
whom  remained  only  a  short  period  in  the  settlement.  John 
Lacy,  a. South  Carolinian,  located  here  in  1804.  He  was 
probably  the  next  permanent  settler.  The  Harmon  settle- 
ment, just  west  of  the  western  bouudarv  line  of  this  pre- 
59 


cinct,  was  the  next  settlement,  and  it  filled  up  rapidly 
Michael  Harmon,  a  native  of  Tennes.see,  was  the  founder, 
and  resided  there  until  his  death.  This  settlement  does  not 
properly  belong  to  this  chapter,  and  is  mentioned  fully  in 
another  part  of  this  work.  At  this  late  date  it  is  impossible 
to  give  the  names  or  the  history  of  the  settlers  as  they  came 
in,  but  we  can  only  write  a  short  account  from  the  meager 
data  collected  from  the  memories  of  the  few  old  pioneers. 
Prior  to  the  war  of  1812,  and  the  Indian  hostilities  resulting 
therefrom,  the  settlers  were  few,  and  in  many  instances  they 
were  separated  many  miles  from  each  other.  During  those 
troubles  there  were  many  Indian  depredations  committed 
within  the  limits  of  Randolph  county,  but  so  far  as  we  can 
learn,  this  little  band  of  hardy  pioneers  fortunately  escaped 
harm  from  the  hands  of  the  savages,  although  like  all  they 
were  in  constant  alarm.  When  an  attack  was  expected,  these 
settlers  sought  refuge  either  in  Fort  Gage  or  at  Georgetown 
(Steelesville.)  The  war  over,  and  treaties  of  peace  made  with 
the  Indians,  the  country  began  rapidly  filling  up  with  emi 
grants  from  the  southern  and  eastern  states. 

James  McFarland  came  from  South  Carolina,  and  settled 
here  iu  1817.  His  son,  Andrew  McFarland,  lived  in  the 
neighborhood  until  his  death,  a  few  years  ago.  John  Foresee 
was  another  very  early  arrival,  and  came  from  Virginia, 
bringing  a  wife  and  fannly,  consisting  of  girls,  viz. :  Susie, 
who  married  Josei)h  Robinson  ;  Sally,  who  became  the  wife 
of  Jeflerson  Robinson  ;  Betsey,  the  wife  of  Bryant  Axom ; 
Polly,  the  wife  of  Assac  Laird,  and  Lovina,  who  married 
Joseph  Lively.  All  are  now  dead.  Mr.  Foersee  purchased 
100  acres  of  land  of  Col.  John  Edgar,  upon  which  he  settled, 
and  which  was  known  for  many  years  as  the  old  Foresee 
place,  in  the  N.  E.  quarter  of  section  14.  He  improved  a 
good  farm  and  remained  on  it  until  his  death.  Isaac  Oliver, 
a  man  of  family,  located  at  a  very  early  day,  improved  a 
farm  and  remained  a  resident  of  the  precinct  for  many 
years. 

Breemen  can  boast  of  having  within  her  limits  one  among 
the  oldest  settlers  now  living  in  the  county, — Joseph  Lively. 
He  is  a  son  of  Shadrach  Lively  aud  a  grandson  of  Joseph 
Lively,  the  original  one  of  the  name  to  come  to  this  country. 
He,  the  grandfather  of  Joseph  Lively,  came  from  Abbeville, 
South  Carolina,  in  180.5,  and  first  settled  three  miles  north 
of  Kaskaskia,  in  Florence  precinct.  He  remained  there 
until  182.3,  when  he  moved  and  settled  iu  the  lower  end  of 
Opossumden  prairie,  and  one  year  later  settled  the  Camp- 
bell place,  in  sec.  18,  tp.  G  S.,  range  5  W.  He  was  an 
industrious  aud  benevolent  man  ;  he  died  here  in  1833. 
His  sons  were  Amos,  Shadrach,  Enoch,  Richard,  James  and 

465 


466 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND   PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


Reuben,  none  of  whom  are  now  living.  They  were  all 
farmers,  and  among  the  best  citizens  of  the  county,  from 
whom  a  numerous  progeny  have  sprung.  John  Lively,  a 
brother  of  old  Joseph  Lively,  came  with  his  brother,  and 
afterward  permanently  located  in  a  beautiful  prairie  on  sec. 
4  of  tp.  5  S.,  range  6  W.,  which  has  ever  since  borne  the 
name  of  Lively  prairie.  Joseph  Lively,  son  of  Shadrach, 
who  now  lives  on  sec.  25  of  tp.  6,  range  6,  was  born  in  1804, 
consequently  one  year  old  when  he  came  to  the  county  with 
his  lather's  family.  He  is  a  native  of  Abbeville  county, 
South  Carolina.  The  party  came  in  four-horse  wagons,  with 
but  little  household  furniture  and  with  little  means;  they 
lived  in  rough,  unhewed  Ing  cabins.  After  arriving  at  ma- 
turity he  married  Lovina  Foresee,  daughter  of  John  Foresee, 
above  mentioned.  About  1829  he  purchased  of  Alexander 
Donaldson  280  acres  of  land,  being  in  the  E.  half  of  section 
25.  This  was  unimproved  land.  He  erected  a  hewed  log 
house  upon  the  tract  and  began  improvements.  He  is  still 
living  on  the  old  place,  now  over  seventy- eight  years  of  age. 
In  his  younger  days  Mr.  Lively  was  a  great  hunter,  and 
spent  much  of  his  time  in  pursuit  of  game.  Then  the  deer 
and  wild  turkey  and  all  kinds  of  game  were  abundant.  He 
sold  much  of  his  game  in  St.  Louis  every  season  ;  his  load 
consisted  of  from  twenty  to  thirty  deer,  besides  a  number  of 
wild  turkeys.  He  relates  that  he  has  killed  hundreds  of 
wolves,  and  that  he  killed  the  last  one  that  was  caught  in 
this  part  of  the  country  about  twenty  years  ago.  He  raised 
a  family  of  seven  children. 

Early  land  entries. — December  23,  1819,  John  Rowland 
entered  the  W.  i  of  the  S.  W.  i  of  section  14,  80  acres; 
October  17, 1818,  John  Mahan  entered  W.  J  of  N.  E.  i  of 
section  17,  80  acres;  August  20,  1818,  John  Vineyard  en- 
tered the  W.  i  of  S.  E.  }  of  section  32,  80  acres.  The 
above  are  all  in  township  6  south,  range  6  west. 

The  first  orchard  was  set  out  by  Joseph  Lively  on  his 
place  in  section  25.  He  purchased  the  trees  from  a  nursery 
up  the  Mississippi  river  a  few  miles.  Isaac  ^liver  had  a 
cider  press  in  early  days.  Sandy  Campbell  was  the  first 
justice  of  the  peace  in  this  neighborhood.  Dr.  Ashby  Jones 
was  the  first  to  practice  medicine  here.  The  earliest  school 
was  taught  by  Ezekiel  Robbins,  in  a  log  house  in  the  N.  W. 
}  of  section  27.  He  continued  teaching  in  the  neighbor- 
hood for  a  number  of  years.  The  first  school-house  was 
built  on  the  N.  E.  i  of  section  26,  and  was  about  25x25 


feet  in  size,  constructed  of  logs.  It  was  in  this  building 
that  the  first  preaching  was  done,  by  the  Revs.  John  Crane 
and  Bowers,  both  Methodists.  Ephraim  Joy  also  preached 
here  at  a  very  early  day.  The  Evangelical  Lutheran  de- 
nomination erected  the  first  church  in  the  precinct  in  1840. 
It  is  now  superseded  by  a  handsome  brick  with  sandstone 
trimmings,  which  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $9,000.  The  old 
graveyard  on  the  N.  E.  i  of  section  26  is  the  first  public 
burying  ground  in  the  precinct.  The  ground  was  deeded 
for  that  purpose  by  Job  Laird  as  early  as  1830,  and  his 
wife  was  the  first  buried  there. 

VILLAGE    OF    RANDOLPH. 

This  place  was  laid  out  on  the  old  Sparta  and  Chester 
road  by  Hiram  Chapman,  and  surveyed  and  platted  by 
Samuel  Thompson,  deputy  county  surveyor,  September  12, 
1839,  and  the  plat  recorded  in  the  office  of  the  circuit  clerk, 
October  16,  1839.  This  road,  in  early  days,  was  quite  a 
thoroughfare.  About  1850,  it  was  partially  planked,  and 
a  great  deal  of  grain  and  flour  was  hauled  over  it  to  the  Mis- 
sissippi river,  before  the  building  of  the  railroad.  It 
has  again  became  a  dirt  road.  About  1850,  John 
Wood  kept  a  small  grocery  and  liquor  establish- 
ment there.  In  a  few  years  the  Germans  began  flocking 
into  the  vicinity,  and  through  their  industry  and  prudence 
the  country  around  became  more  prosperous.  In  1856,  Isaac 
Lehnherr,  erected  a  good  store-house,  and  laid  in  a  well 
selected  stock  of  goods  and  began  doing  a  brisk  trade.  The 
post-office  which  had  been  established,  a  short  time  pre- 
viously, just  south  of  the  village.was  moved  into  the  place  in 
the  winter  of  1856.  It  was  called  Breemen,  which  name  it  still 
retains.  Mr.  Buckman  soon  afterward  opened  a  store,  and 
several  workshops  were  soon  being  operated  in  the  vicinity. 
A  school-house  was  erected  at  St.  John's  church  in  1856.  A 
school-house  was  erected  in  1879.  The  place  is  now  quite  a 
brisk  little  inland  village,  and  considerable  business  is  being 
done  there.  Among  the  business  men  and  tradesmen  of 
1882,  we  will  mention  the  following  : 

General  Merchandise — William  Buckman,  also  P.  M. 
and  Henry  Schroeder. 

Drugs  and  Physicians.- — Henry  Adderly. 

Wagon  Maker. — E.  F.  Sick.  Tailor  — John  Struss. 

Dress  Maker. — Miss  Eliza  Dillman. 

Shoe  Maker. — John  Dannenbrink. 


KOCKWOOD 


RANDOLPH   COUNTY. 


fills  precinct  is  situated  in  the  extreme 
southeastern  part  of  the  county,  and 
lies  on  tiie  Mississippi.  It  comprises 
geographically  portions  of  townships 
seven  and  eight  soutli,  and  ranges  five 
and  six  west.  The  surface  generally  is 
hilly  and  rough,  and  on  approaching 
the  Mississippi  terminates  in  a  high 
range  of  abrupt  bluffs,  extending  along 
the  river.  Almost  the  entire  territory  was  originally 
heavily  wooded,  and  much  of  it  is  still  in  that  condition. 
The  soil  of  these  uplands  is  quite  productive.  There  is  an 
area  of  bottom  belonging  to  the  precinct,  which  including 
Mary's  River,  Liberty  and  Sheep  islands,  perhaps  does  not 
exceed  two  thousand  acres.  Mary's  River  island,  formerly 
called  Crane's,  from  John  Crane,  who  was  the  original  settler 
of  it  and  who  died  there  in  1850,  lies  in  the  Mississippi  and 
constitutes  a  part  of  township  seven  and  eight  south,  range 
six  west.  It  has  an  area  of  about  one  thousand  acres,  less 
than  one-fourth  of  which  lies  in  Chester  precinct.  Much  of 
it  is  under  cultivation.  Liberty  island,  now  with  doubtful 
propriety  so  called,  is  a  level  area  of  about  seven  hundred 
acres  of  land,  lying  in  the  Mississippi,  and  in  1880,  had  a 
population  of  988.  The  streams  that  supply  water  and 
drainage,  are  Mary's  River,  Little  Nile,  Degognia,  Hiskison, 
and  Jones  creeks.  The  three  former,  together  with  the 
Mississippi,  constitute,  of  the  mainland,  a  peninsula.  The 
timber  is  of  an  excellent  character,  and  abundant.  The  soil 
is  rich,  and  but  little  attention  is  paid  to  fertilizing. 
Wheat  is  the  staple,  though  corn  is  raised,  and  yields 
abundantly  in  the  bottoms.  Fruit  grows  well  and  is  exten- 
sively cultivated. 

The  first  settlement  in  Kockwood  precinct  was  made  in 
1802  by  Benjamin  Crane,  on  section  22,  township",  range  G. 
He  had  seven  sons,  Benjamin,  Squire, William,  James,  Joel, 
Lewis  and  John.  They  settled  about  the  mouth  of  Mary's 
river  and  on  the  island  opposite,  which  once  bore  the  family 
name.  The  next  settlement  was  made  by  Elmsley  Jones^ 
within  the  present  limits  of  Kockwood  village,  as  early  as 
1804.  The  small  creek  that  flows  through  the  village  still 
bears  his  name.  He  was  the  first  man  capitally  punished  in 
the  county.  The  execution  occurred  at  Kaskaskia,  in  180.5, 
James  Gilbreath  being  then  sheriff.  Jones  murdered  a  man 
named  Reed,  of  Jackson  county  with  whom  he  had  quar- 
reled. John  Hickman  built  a  cabin  on  the  river  at  Kock- 
wood village,  in  180.5.  The  site  has  long  since  been  swept 
away  by  the  current.  John  Manskcr  was  originally  from 
the  neighborhood  of  Louisville,  Kentucky.     In   1801   he 


brought  his  family  to  Missouri  and  settled  opposite  section 
11,  where  he  remained  about  six  years.  He  then  came  to 
Randolph  county,  and  in  1807,  located  on  Liberty  formerly 
called  Mansker  island,  where  he  remained  till  1813,  when  he 
settled  on  section  10.  The  site  of  this  settlement  has  been 
swept  away.  Samuel  Mansker,  son  of  the  above,  was  born 
near  Louisville,  Kentucky,  in  1795.  He  went  to  Missouri, 
with  his  father  at  the  age  of  six  years,  and  came  along  to 
Liberty  Island,  at  the  age  of  twelve.  About  1816  or  '17  he 
married  Nancy  Crawford  and  settled  on  the  N.  E.  i  of  sec- 
tion 11,  where  he  improved  a  good  farm,  much  of  which  has 
been  swallowed  up  by  the  river.  He  still  lives  on  the  old 
farm  at  the  age  of  eighty-six,  the  oldest  pioneer  in  the 
precinct  and  probably  in  the  county.  He  was  four  times 
married  and  is  now  living  with  his  fourth  wife.  He  had  a 
large  family  of  children,  seven  of  whom  are  now  living. 
John  Hindman  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  and  about  the  year 
1800.  came  to  Kentucky  where  he  married  Ann  Gaston.  He 
remained  here  about  five  or  six  years,  when  he  came  with 
his  family  to  Randolph  county.  He  and  his  wife  walked  all 
the  way,  he  leading  a  filly  that  bore  upon  his  back,  in  a  sort 
of  basket,  his  two  sons  and  only  children,  Robert,  then  about 
four,  and  Alexander  two  years  of  age.  In  1806  he  settled 
on  the  S.  E.  i  of  the  S.  W.  }  of  section  22,  where  he  put  up 
a  cabin  and  remained  about  two  years,  and  then  moved  to 
the  N.  E.  i  of  the  N.  W.  i  of  section  2-3,  where  he  died  in 
1826  or '26.  His  wife  survived  him  for  a  period  of  time. 
Robert  died  unmarried  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  years. 
Alexander  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  Alexander  Barber, 
at  the  age  of  twenty-two,  and  in  1826  settled  on  the  old 
homestead,  in  section  23,  where  he  lived  about  five  years. 
He  then  moved  to  the  S.  E.  \  of  the  N.  W.  i  of  section  12, 
where  he  entered  eighty  acres  of  land  and  built  a  stone  house 
still  standing,  in  which  he  lived  about  twenty  years  and 
then  moved  to  the  S.  W.  i  of  the  N.  E.  1  of  section  12, 
where  he  built  a  frame  house  in  which  he  still  resides,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-six.  He  has  seven  children  living,  John, 
Samuel,  Alexander  Jr.,  James  H.,  Ann,  Emeliue,  and 
Sarah.  Alexander,  on  the  S.  W.  i  of  the  S.  E.  t  of  section 
1,  township  8  south,  range  6  west.  Ann.  Emeline  and  Sarah 
live  in  the  precinct. 

The  Bilderback  family  settled  first  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Kaskaskia  in  1802.  In  1818,  William  and  Charles  came 
to  Rockwood  precinct  and  entered  land  in  section  7.  They 
became  permanent  residents.  Charles  died  in  1849.  .\lcx- 
ander  Barber,  was  a  native  of  Connecticut.  He  came  to  the 
county  from  Ohio  in  1804,  and  first  settled  on  the  east  side 
of  Kaskaskia  river  in  the  Bilderback  settlement  not  far 

467 


468 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


from  Riley's  mill.  He  came  to  the  preciuct  in  1825,  and 
located  about  two  miles  north  of  Rockwood.  In  1834,  he 
settled  on  section  18,  and  purchased  land.  His  first  wife 
was  Nancy  Dennis,  whom  he  married  at  Marietta,  Ohio. 
He  was  a  skilful  millwright  in  his  day  and  erected  a  mill  on 
his  farm.  He  held  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  for  a 
period  exceeding  forty  years,  and  was  the  first  justice  in  the 
precinct.  He  died  in  18G1,  leaving  a  widow  who  had  been 
his  second  wife.  Henry  Clendinen  was  of  Scotch  descent, 
and  came  to  the  county  from  Kentucky,  and  in  1818,  en- 
tered eighty  acres  of  land  in  section  -4.  He  brought  along 
with  him  his  wife  and  sis  grown  children.  He  died  in  1851. 
Descendants  of  the  family  are  still  living  in  the  precinct- 
prominent  among  whom  is  Dr.  M.  W.  Clendinen  of  Rock, 
wood  village.  George  Sebastian  came  to  the  precinct  in 
1830,  from  Kentucky.  In  that  state  he  married  Nancy, 
daughter  of  Leonard  Carter,  who  settled  on  the  N.  W.  i  of 
section  23,  as  early  as  1820.  He  remained  here  but  a  short 
time  and  then  went  to  Rockwood  village,  and  finally  to 
Jackson  county,  where  he  became  a  prosperous  farmer. 
B.  F.  Sebastian  was  born  in  the  county  in  1838  The  first 
settler  on  Sheep  Island  was  George  W.  Steele.  He  built  a 
cabin  and  began  improvement  here  in  1837.  He  was  soon 
after  drowned  and  was  succeeded  in  ownership  by  William 
Burns,  who  was  the  last  occupant. 

Near  the  S.  W.  corner  of  section  16,  was  an  old  French 
fortification  of  earthwork.  Traces  of  it  which  have  disap- 
peared in  the  course  of  husbandry,  were  visible  about 
twenty  years  ago.  Not  far  from  this  point  on  the  bank  of 
Degognia  creek,  now  lost  to  view,  was  visible  only  a  few 
years  since  the  grave  of  Degognia,  an  old  Indian,  or,  as  the 
name  would  seem  to  indicate,  a  Frenchman,  whose  history  lies 
beyond  the  shadowy  land  even  of  tradition.  Near  the  center 
of  section  17,  on  a  slight  elevation  now  the  site  of  George 
Cooper's  residence,  stood  an  old  log  cabin.  This  elevation  on 
digging  for  the  foundation  of  Mr.  Cooper's  house  proved  to 
be  an  Indian  burial  place  from  which  were  exhumed  skele- 
tons in  a  sitting  posture.  But  few  of  them  were  removed. 
Among  the  bones  taken  out  was  a  massive  jaw  bone,  which 
must  have  been  the  property  of  a  giant.  Pottery  of  dif- 
ferent designs  was  found.  A  vase,  which  was  in  a  good  state 
of  preservation,  contained  a  species  of  red  powder.  The 
oldest  burial  place  in  the  precinct  is  just  north  of  the  Eben- 
ezer  school-house  on  the  S.  }  of  section  5.  An  early  inter- 
ment here  was  that  of  Henry  Clendinen.  Samuel  Mansker 
improved  the  first  farm. 

VILLAGE    OF    ROCKWOOD. 

The  first  to  occupy  the  site  of  the  village  which  was  for- 
merly called  Liberty,  was  probably  Elmsley  Jones,  already 
referred  to.  Samuel  Mansker  built  the  second,  if  not  the 
first  house,  within  her  limits.  The  first  store  was  estab- 
lished by  James  McCormick.  In  1832  John  Stearns,  who 
immigrated  from  Kentucky,  laid  off  the  town  into  lots. 
January  20,  1836,  Samuel  Mansker  and  Joab  Parks  had  it 
surveyed  and  platted  by  James  Thompson,  county  surveyor. 
The  plat  was  recorded  in  the  office  of  the  circuit  clerk,  July 
25,  1836.     It  was  soon  after  sought  by  a  number  of  enter- 


prising men.  Among  them  was  Captain  W.  B.  Charles,  who 
had  followed  the  Mississippi  for  a  number  of  years.  His 
boat  was  laid  up  here,  and  during  his  suspense  he  concluded 
to  become  a  resident,  which  he  continued  to  be  for  a  number 
of  years,  and  then  removed  to  Litchfield.  Illinois,  and  there 
died.  About  this  time  James  Dean,  Harvey  Clendinen, 
Samuel  Barber,  Dr.  Manning,  Thomas  Frazier,  E.  G.  Hall 
and  many  others  came  to  the  place  and  gave  to  it  quite  an 
impetus.  Mansker,  Clendinen  and  Barber  established  a 
store,  and  did  an  extensive  business  in  the  purchase  and 
shipment  of  grain.  The  town  was  incorporated  in  the  year 
1837,  with  William  B.  Charles,  Nathaniel  Manning,  Jacob 
Parks,  John  Stearns  and  John  D.  Stearns  as  trustees.  John 
Stearns  was  chosen  president,  and  Harvey  Clendinen,  clerk. 
About  this  time  the  citizens  built  a  wharf,  which  was  used  for 
a  number  of  years.  Two  years  prior  to  this,  in  1835,  the 
first  school-house,  a  hewed  log  structure,  was  built.  At  this 
school-house  was  preached,  by  the  Reverend  Mr.  Reasonerj 
the  first  sermon  delivered  at  a  public  place  in  the  village. 
The  first  resident  physician  was  Dr.  Higgins.  John  Gray 
established  a  blacksmith  shop  as  early  as  1837.  The  Presby- 
terian church  was  organized  in  1844  by  Rev.  C.  C.  Riggs. 
Its  meetings  were  held  iu  the  school-house.  The  church 
building,  a  brick  structure,  was  built  in  1860.  The  school- 
house  is  a  frame  building.  About  1855,  the  name  of  the 
viUage  was  changed  from  Liberty,  and  that  of  the  post-office 
from  Jones'  Creek  to  Rockwood,  an  appellation  in  keeping 
with  the  natural  surroundings  of  the  place.  In  this  year  some 
of  the  citizens  of  the  town  and  vicinity  organized  a  joint 
stock  company  and  began  the  building  of  a  mill,  which  was 
completed  and  set  in  operation  the  next  year.  When  built 
it  was  one  of  the  largest  class  of  merchant  mills.  It  was 
burned  in  1863,  and  rebuilt  by  J.  B.  Holmes,  of  Chester,  at 
a  cost  of  821,000.  It  is  now  owned  by  Samuel  H.  Canaday, 
of  New  Orleans,  and  leased  and  operated  by  H.  B.  Brown 
and  Son.  It  is  a  stone,  three-story  basement  and  attic, 
sixty  by  forty  mill,  and  has  a  capacity  of  about  one  himdred 
and  forty  barrels  a  day.  It  is  equipped  with  a  system  of 
elevators,  and  has  three  run  of  four  feet  burrs.  The  engine 
room,  like  the  mill  proper,  is  built  of  dressed  sand-stone. 
There  is  a  cooper  shop  attached  which  employs  ten  hands. 
About  twenty  years  ago  Rockwood  was  one  of  the  largest 
wood  markets  on  the  Mississippi.  Prior  to  the  construction 
of  the  railroads  that  extend  through  the  county,  it  was  a  cen- 
ter of  shipment  for  much  of  the  interior,  and  was  as  such,  at 
a  period  of  its  history,  superior  to  Chester.  Shipments  of 
goods  were  received  here  for  the  merchants  of  Red  Bud. 
The  trade  sustained  a  terrible  blow  by  the  change  in  the 
course  of  the  river,  which  placed  the  village  commercially 
nearly  a  mile  inland.  In  1860  it  contained  five  dry  goods 
stores,  two  grocery  stores,  one  wagon  shop,  two  blacksmitli 
shops,  one  chair  factory,  one  boot  and  shoe  shop,  one  cooper 
shop,  one  hotel  and  three  physicians.  Population  in  1880 
numbers  231. 

PRESENT   BUSINESS. 

Physicians. — William  Vance,  J.  C.  Barber,  M.  W.  Clen- 
dinen, J.  N.  Taylor. 

General  Merchandise. — G.  W.  Walters. 

General  Merchandise  and  Dru</s. — Benjamin  Richards 
P.  J.  Wagner,  W.  G.  Harry  &  Son. 

Postmaster. — W.  G.  Harry. 

Laimjer- — John  P.  Mann. 

Justice  of  the  Peace. — W.  G.  Harry. 

Blacksmiths. — Robert  Emery  and  Son. 

Wagon  Maker. — John  Ried. 

Carpenter. — G.  W.  Hooker. 

Tailor. —  Zivny. 

Machinery  Agent. — Benjamin  Richards. 

Dressmakers. — Mrs.  J.  A.  Ried,  Miss  Francis  Jeffrey. 

Restaurant. — John  Frazier. 


BIOGRAPHIES 


SAiMUEL 
A  LIFE  of  four-score  years  cannot  fail  to  be  full  of  eventful 
incidents,  and  especially  is  this  true  of  the  career  of  Samuel 
Mansker,  born  in  Kentucky,  in  1795 ;  his  family  were 
pioneers  of  Missouri  locating  there  in  1804,  and  a  few  years 
later  settlers  of  Randolph  county,  Illinois 

In  1807,  the  Manskers  made  their  first  improvements  in 
Illinois,  near  Rockwood.  The  site  has  been  washed  away  by 
the  waters  of  the  great  river,  many  years.  Upon  the  break- 
ing out  of  the  war  of  1812,  the  throbs  of  patriotism  beating 


MANSKER. 

in  his  breast,  led  Samuel,  then  a  lad  of  seventeen,  to   offer 

his  services  to  his  country,  as  a  drummer  boy.    They  were 

accepted.     For  over  seventy  years  he  has  resided  where  his 

father  located  before  him,  a  few  miles  below  Chester.     Here 

he  has  followed  his  business  of  farming,  flat-boating  and 

trading  with  great  success.     He  is  one  of  the  largest  laud 

owners  in  the  county.     A  man  of  great  energy,  perseverance 

and  courage.     One  of  the  few  who  served   in  the  war   of 

1812  now  living. 

469 


WINE    HILL 


RANDOLPH    COUNTY. 


I  HIS  precinct  is  in  the  southeast  side  of 
Randolph,  adjoining  Jackson  county. 
It  is  quite  irregular  in  shape,  and  com- 
prises in  geographical  area,  portions  of 
townships  six  and  seven  south,  range 
five  west  and  a  portion  of  township 
seven  south,  range  six  west,  and  con- 
tains in  all  about  twenty-five  sections  of 
land.  The  principal  streams,  supplying  water  and  drainage, 
are  Little  Mill  and  Mobb  Creeks  and  Mary's  River.  The 
surface  is  composed  principall)'  of  hilly  up-land.  Gillespie's 
Prairie  in  the  northeast  contains  about  four  hundred  acres 
of  level  surface.  There  is  also  some  good  bottom  land  at 
the  junction  of  Little  Mill  Creek  and  Mary's  River.  Most 
of  the  land,  especially  the  hill-sides,  was  originally  heavily 
wooded.  Much  of  the  surface,  however,  consisted  of  open 
hill-tops  covered  with  a  growth  of  tall  gr.ass.  These  open 
ridges  proved  to  be  fertile  and  well  adapted  to  the  produc- 
tion of  wheat  and  clover,  yielding  more  certain  results  than 
the  prairie.  The  timber  consists  principally  of  oak  and 
hickory,  and  is  still  abundant.  Wheat,  both  in  the  prairie 
and  the  high  lands,  is  the  staple  production.  Clover  is 
largely  grown  and  turned  under  with  the  plow  as  a  fer- 
tilizer. The  precinct  is  well  supplied  with  schools.  There 
are  five  within  its  limits.  The  principal  one  is  at  Shiloh 
Hill,  which  at  one  time  made  considerable  pretensions.  An 
attempt  was  made  to  elevate  it  to  the  dignity  of  a  college, 
and  to  this  end  a  charter  was  granted  to  ten  trustees  by  the 
State  Legislature.  The  precinct  is  well  organized  and  free 
from  debt.  It  had,  census  of  1880,  a  population  of  88L 
The  woods,  considering  the  ruggedness  of  much  of  the  sur- 
face, are  well  kept.  But  little  attention  is  paid  to  stock 
breeding.  Henry  Eichelman  introduced  the  Durham  breed 
of  cattle,  about  1872.  The  cholera  of  a  few  years  ago,  gave 
a  set-back  to  hog-breeding,  from  which  recovery  has  not  yet 
been  effected.  The  Essex,  the  Berkshire,  and  the  Poland 
China  breeds  have  received  attention.  The  Berkshire  is 
the  favorite. 

The  earliest  permanent  settlement  was  made  in  the  region 
of  Shiloh  Hill.  Benjamin  Brown  located  here  in  1816. 
But  little  is  known  of  his  history.  In  1817,  the  Bradley 
family  made  a  permanent  settlement  in  this  neighborhood, 
which  bears  their  name.  They  were  hardy,  influential  and 
public  spirited  men,  and  well-fitted  for  pioneer  life.  They 
were  James,  Franklin,  William  and  Richard.  In  this  same 
year  came  William  Guin,  from  Sumner  county,  Tennessee. 
He  was  of  Irish  descent,  the  family  having  emigrated  to  this 
country  and  settled  in  South  Carolina,  about  1775.  He 
470 


brought  with  him  to  the  county,  his  wife,  Francis  Canaday, 
whom  he  had  married  in  Sumner  county.  He  entered  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  in  the  N.  W.  quarter  of 
section  eleven,  where  he  improved  a  good  farm,  and  on 
which  he  lived  until  18-48,  the  date  of  his  death.  He  was 
the  pioneer  settler  in  Gillespie's  Prairie,  and  the  cabin  he 
there  erected,  and  the  improvements  he  began,  were  among 
the  very  first  evidences  of  civilization  in  the  precinct.  He 
had  a  family  of  eleven  children,  whose  descendants  are  quite 
numerous  in  the  county. 

About  the  same  time  the  settlement  of  Shiloh  Hill  was 
increased  by  the  accession  of  Barrows  and  Houseman  ;  Jas. 
M.  Houseman  was  for  a  number  of  years  a  respectable  far- 
mer of  that  region,  where  descendants  of  the  family  still  re- 
side. In  1819  Adonijah  Ball  made  a  settlement  on  Rock 
Castle  creek  ;  this  settlement  was  then  in  advance  of  the 
frontier  line  ;  he  came  to  Illinois  from  Connecticut,  and 
finally  moved  to  Missouri,  when  he  accidentally  killed  him- 
self while  carrying  water.  John  Stearns  came  in  from  Ten- 
nessee about  1821,  and  settled  on  the  S.  E  k  of  section  3; 
he  lived  here  a  number  of  years,  and  then  moved  to  the 
town  of  Rockwood,  where  he  engaged  in  merchandising;  he 
was  an  active  and  enterprising  man,  and  in  18-12  laid  out 
the  town  into  lots.  He  died  here,  and  was  buried  in  Gilles- 
pie's grave-yard  in  section  2.  James  Gillespie  came  to  what 
is  now  known  as  Wine  Hill  precinct  in  1826,  and  entered 
the  S.  W.  }  of  section  2,  and  built  [a  hewed  log  house  ;  he 
was  born  in  1794.  He  went  from  Summer  county,  North 
Carolina,  to  Tennessee  when  twelve  years  of  age,  and  lived 
there  till  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  permanently  located  on 
section  2.  He  brought  with  him,  in  an  ox-cart,  his  wife, 
whom  he  married  in  1819,  and  three  children,  John,  Eliza, 
beth,  and  Nellie.  He  was  an  active,  public-spirited  man, 
and  manifested  much  interest  in  public  instruction.  The 
people  of  the  county  testified  their  appreciation  of  his  worth 
by  electing  him  to  the  position  of  Associate  Justice  of  the 
county  court.  The  beautiful  prairie  in  which  he  lived  bears 
his  name.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  was  in 
several  important  engagements  under  Colonel  Coffee.  He 
died  in  1865.  His  son,  John,  married  Miss  Ann  Askins, 
and  settled  down  on  section  .3  ;  here  he  died  in  1849.  Eliz- 
abeth married  John  K.  Burk.  Nellie  became  the  wife  of 
Willis  Osborn,  who  first  settled  in  Jackson  county  ;  he  after- 
ward went  to  Missouri,  and  thence  to  Oregon,  on  the  way  to 
which  State  Nellie  died  and  was  buried  at  the  foot  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains.  Mr.  Gillespie  had  seven  children  born 
here — three  sons  and  four  daughters,  all  of  whom  are  living. 
Colonel  David  Gillespie  lives  on  the  old  homestead,  and  in 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY   COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


471 


the  old  ancestral  house ;  in  his  door-yard  stands  a  pear  tree, 
more  than  eight  feet  in  circumference,  planted  by  his  father 
over  fifty  years  ago  ;  it  is  said  to  be  the  largest  of  its  species 
in  Illinois.  John  B.  Burk  entered  eighty  acres  of  land,  and 
built  a  cabin  thereon,  in  1827 ;  he  was  born  in  Iredell 
county,  North  Carolina,  in  1789;  he  there  married  Jane 
Cowan  in  18Itj,  and  about  three  years  later  with  her  and 
their  child,  Thomas  C,  removed  to  Tennessee,  where  be  re- 
mained till  his  departure  for  Illinois,  which  occurred  at  first 
without  the  company  of  his  family,  for  whom  he  returned,  after 
completing  his  cabin  ;  he  brought  them,  consisting  of  his  wife 
and  three  sons,  Thomas  C.  John  K.,  and  James,  in  an  old 
North  Carolina  wooden-wheeled  wagon ;  on  his  return  to  Ten- 
nessee, he  fastened  up  in  his  newly-built  house  two  dogs,  for 
whom  he  had  prepared  a  supply  of  Indian  meal  and  water; 
on  his  arrival  they  seemed  none  the  worse  of  their  long  im- 
prisonment, and  testified  iheir  joy  at  his  return.  He  died 
in  1869.  Thomas  C.  married  Jemima  Barrow,  of  Jackson 
county,  by  whom  he  had  several  children.  He  entered  land 
in  section  1-5.  His  death  occurred  at  Shiloh  Hill.  John 
K.  married  Elizabeth  Gillespie,  and  settled  on  forty  acres  of 
unimproved  land  in  section  23;  from  this  small  beginning 
he  became  a  large  land  owner.  In  1877  he  moved  to  Texas 
By  Elizabeth  Gillespie  he  had  thirteen  children. 

James  McLaughlin  came  about  1828,  from  North  Caro- 
lina. His  family  consisted  of  his  wife,  one  son,  James,  Jr., 
and  four  daughters,  Rebecca,  Susan,  Polly  and  Elizabeth. 
The  two  latter  are  still  living,  the  others  are  dead.  Mr. 
McLaughlin  entered  land  in  section  21,  and  built  a  hewed 
log  house  still  standing,  where  he  lived  till  old  age.  He 
died  in  the  neighborhood.  Abel  Broughton  and  his  wife, 
came  from  Tennessee,  about  1838,  and  squatted  on  a  piece  of 
land  in  section  1,  and  there  built  a  small  cabin.  On  his 
arrival  he  had  an  old  gray  mare,  which  constituted  the  sum 
and  substance  of  his  property,  and  whose  value  did  not 
exceed  ten  dollars.  He  used  to  make  the  old-time  shuck 
collars  and  splint  baskets  By  industry  and  frugality  he  ac- 
cumulated property  and  became  a  successful  fiirmer  and  stock 
raiser.  He  finally  squandered  his  jimperty  by  dissipation. 
Among  the  names  of  earlier  settlers,  may  be  mentioned  those 
of  Duran  Houseman  and  Martin  Ireland.  The  former  was 
from  Tennessee.  He  entered  forty  acres  of  land  in  the  S. 
W.  i  of  section  14,  where  he  died  and  was  buried.  Judge 
Martin  Ireland  was  born  in  Scott  county,  Kentucky,  October 
18,  1811.  In  1835  he  married  Mary  Short,  grand-daughter 
of  Rev.  Ellis  Short,  the  pioneer  preacher.  Two  years  later 
he  came  to  Randolph  county,  bringing  his  wife  and  son,  John 
J.  He  entered  forty  acres  in  the  N.  E.  i  of  section  20. 
Other  entries  and  purchases  have  largely  increased  his  pos- 
sessions. He  now  lives  on  the  N.  W.  i  of  the  N.  W.  i  of 
section  21. 

In  the  vicinity  of  Wine  Hill  village  the  population  is 
principally  Gi^rman.  The  first  of  that  nationality  to  settle 
there,  was  Fritz  Knop.  He  came  in  1851,  with  his  wife, 
from  Hanover,  and  entered  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
of  land  in  the  N.  i  of  section  eight,  where  he  died.  Henry 
Helms  came  from  Hanover,  a  single  man  in  1851.  He 
entered  forty  acres  in  the  S-  W-  i  of  section  eight,  where  he 


still  lives.  From  the  same  place,  in  1852,  came  Conrad 
Walters.  He  brought  with  him  a  wife  and  three  children, 
and  settled  on  the  N.  E.  i  of  section  eight.  Conrad,  Jr., 
lives  on  the  S.  E.  }  of  section  five.  Another  early  German 
settler  from  Hanover,  is  D.  Rickenberg,  who  came  in  1852, 
and  entered  land  in  the  N.  W.  i  of  section  eight. 

The  pioneer  miller,  was  Alexander  Barber,  who  [built  a 
combined  saw  and  grist  water-power  mill,  on  Mill  creek,  a 
portion  of  whose  foundation  is  yet  to  be  seen.  It  had  one 
run  of  burrs  and  an  upright  saw,  and  was  probably  built 
about  1825.  George  Steele  built  a  saw  mill  on  Rock  Castle 
creek,  in  section  32,  as  early  as  1830. 

The  first  school-house  was  built  about  1830,  and  stood  in 
theS.  E.  corner  of  section  10-  The  first  to  give  instruction 
in  it  was  Isaac  Brown.  Rev.  Eli  Short  preached  the  first 
sermon  at  the  house  of  James  Gillespie,  about  1830.  An 
early  preacher  was  Richard  Davis.  James  Gillespie  and 
John  Burke  were  the  early  blacksmiths  of  the  precinct,  and 
at  their  shops  on  their  farms  did,  for  a  number  of  years,  the 
work  in  their  line  for  the  community.  The  Burk,  Guin, 
and  Gillespie  families,  planted  orchards  soon  after  their  ar- 
rival, and  a  few  of  the  original  trees  in  the  Gillespie  orchard 
are  still  standing.  Dr.  Curtis  Swanwick,  who  lived  near 
Shiloh,  was  the  first  resident  physician.  His  practice  be- 
gan not  far  from  1850.  Dr.  Ashby  Jones,  of  Steelesville, 
had  been  the  principal  medical  dependence  prior  to  that 
date. 

The  first  physician  consulted  by  the  settlers  was  Dr.  Betts, 
of  Kaskaskia.  Jeremiah  Chapman  established  the  first 
wagon  shop  about  1856.  A  post-oflnce  was  established  in 
1860  at  Shiloh  Hill,  and  kept  by  Mr.  Picket ;  Emanuel 
Canaday  was  the  first  justice  of  the  peace  under  the  present 
precinct  organization.  W^illiam  A.  Durkee  sold  the  first 
goods,  a  half  mile  north  of  the  town  of  Shiloh  Hill,  about 
the  year  1852.  The  Germans  in  the  neighborhood  of  Wine 
Hill  hamlet  introduced  grape  culture  and  wine-making  quite 
extensively,  and  this  circumstance  gave  rise  to  the  name  of 
Wine  Hill.  An  early,  and  probably  the  first  marriage,  was 
that  of  James  Barber  and  Sophia  Crider,  about  1832,  at  the 
house  of  James  Gillespie,  'Squire  John  Stearns  officiating. 
The  Gillespie  burial  ground,  section  2,  is  the  oldest.  The 
burial  of  a  little  son  of  John  McNeill  in  this  graveyard  was 
probably  the  first  burial.  The  first  land  entries  were  as  fol- 
lows: Richard  Jones,  August  3,  1818,  entered  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres,  being  the  S.  W.  i  of  section  2;  November 
18,  1817,  John  Crenshaw  entere<l  the  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  the  N.  E.  i  of  section  11.  Adam  Storm  entered 
the  eighty  acres  in  the  E.  }  of  the  S.  W.  i  of  section  3, 
October  3,  1818.  January  1,  1819,  the  eighty  acres  in  the 
E.  i  of  the  N.  E.  }  of  section  14,  were  entered  by  John  I 
Henry. 

VILLAGE  OF  SHILOH  HILL. 

This  village,  formerly  called  Steuben,  is  situated  in  the 
northwest  quarter  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  14. 
The  fir^t  building  was  the  old  Shiloh  school-house,  erected 
some  time  prior  to  1838.  A  notable  fact  connected  with  its 
hist.rv  is,  that  Gen.  John  A.  Logan  was  one  of  its  inmates, 
and  received  a  part  of  his  early  education  under  its  clapboard 


472 


HISTORY   OF  RANDOLPH,   MONROE  AND   PERRY    COUNTIES,   ILLINOIS. 


roof.  It  was  used  as  a  Union  church  house  as  well  as  for 
school  purposes.  It  was  in  this  house  that  Rev.  Cyrus 
Chrisler,  an  old  "  Ironsides  "  Baptist  minister,  is  said  to  have 
burned  brimstone,  to  purge  it  from  the  devil,  whom  he 
claimed  had  been  introduced  through  the  agency  of  a  fiddle 
used  by  Jabez  Newton,  an  early  singing  master,  in  the 
instruction  of  his  classes.  The  school  of  Shiloh  Hill  has 
ever  been  of  a  high  grade,  and  its  history  is  the  pride  of  the 
villagers  and  neighbors.  An  eighty  acre  tract  of  land  was 
ceded  and  a  charter  granted  by  the  State  Legislature  to  ten 
trustees  about  1840,  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  a  college 
to  be  called  •'  Shiloh  College."  The  scheme  was  never  fruit- 
ful, beyond  fostering  and  stimulating  au  interest  in  higher 
education.  The  old  school  house  did  duty  till  1857,  when  a 
frame  one  was  built  on  the  same  site.  This  was  superseded 
in  1882  by  the  present,  a  handsome  two-story  brick  building, 
which  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  S3,500.  In  1856  the  sale  of 
town  lots,  which  had  been  previously  laid  out,  commenced. 
The  town  is  able  to  report  progress,  and  is  enjoying  a  share 
of  prosperity,  as  will  appear  from  the  following  showing  of 
the 

PRESENT     BUSINESS  : 

Fhijiidan  —P.  H.  McMillan. 

Dry  Goods  Merchant  and  Postmaster. — Dennis  Sheldon. 

General  Merchandise  and  Drugs. — George  Tegtmeyer. 


Blacksmith. — William  Newman. 

Shoemaker. — Henry  Brammer. 

Tailor.— Fred.  Helms. 

Cooper. — David  Criley. 

General  Agent. — George  Tegtmeyer. 

Carpenter.  — C.  J.  Steele. 

Wagon  Maker. — Thomas  Neeley. 

The  hamlet  of  Wine  Hill  occupies  an  eminence  overlook- 
ing a  fine  landscape,  embracing  many  valuable  farms.  The 
farm-buildings  of  this  vicinity  are  largely  new  and  well- 
painted.  The  thrift  and  economy  of  the  Germans  are  mak- 
ing this  one  of  the  best  farming  districts  in  southern  Illinois. 
In  the  hamlet  is  St.  Paul's  Evangelical  Lutheran  church. 
It  is  a  frame  house,  erected  in  1862,  and  is.  in  point  of  time, 
the  first  church  in  the  precinct.  Its  supercession  in  the  near 
future  by  a  brick  building  is  contemplated.  The  minister 
first  in  charge  was  Rev.  Christian  Avers.  The  membership 
of  the  church  numbers  75.  Connected  with  it  is  a  flourish- 
ing school,  numbering  from  75  to  80  scholars,  established  in 
1862.  Powel  Grose  was  the  first  teacher.  The  school-house 
is  a  commodious  frame  building.  The  post-ofiice  here  was 
established  about  1866  or  1867,  and  was  originally  called 
Lakeville.  The  business  consists  of  a  general  store  kept  by 
William  Werre,  who  is  also  post-master  ;  a  blacksmith  and 
wagon  shop,  operated  by  Henry  Stiens;  and  a  tailor's 
shop,  of  which  Henry  Lege  is  proprietor. 


-^=0^ 


9=^^- 


BEAUCOUP. 


PERRY   COUNTY. 


".AUCOUP  is  situated  in  the 
northern  part  of  the  county, 
and  is  bounded  on  the  north 
by  Washington  county,  on  the 
east  by  Tamaroa,  on  the  south 
and  southwest  by  Pinckney. 
ville,  and  on  the  west  by 
Grand  Cote  precinct.  It  con- 
tained, census  of  1880,  a  p  .pulation  of  1047.  The  surface, 
is  level  and  divided  between  prairie  and  timber  land, 
the  latter  largely  predominating.  Round  Prairie,  a  circular 
area,  is  about  one  mile  in  diameter.  It  was  originally 
larger,  but  has  been  encroached  upon  by  the  growth 
of  the  timber.  The  precinct,  though  originally  in 
part  covered  in  forests,  as  appears  from  a  well-marked  Indian 
trail,  at  present  visible,  was  much  less  densely  so  than  now. 
Much  of  the  timber  has  grown  up  within  the  last  thirty  or 
forty  years.  The  Indian  trail,  alluded  to,  extends  in  a  north- 
easterly and  southwesterly  direction,  and  leads  to  Beaucoup 
creek,  whose  banks  the  Indians  are  supposed  to  have  ap- 
proached, through  the  trail,  for  the  purpose  of  hunting  and 
fishing-      The  St.  Louis  aad  Shawneetown  road  extends 


through  the  precinct,  crossing  the  Beaucoup.  This  is  one 
of  the  old  highways  into  the  interior  of  Illinois.  The  timber 
consists,  principally,  of  the  various  kinds  of  hard  wood,  and 
is  of  an  excellent  quality.  The  water-  supply  and  drainage 
are  derived  from  Beaucoup,  Little  Beaucoup  and  Swanwick 
creeks.  The  soil,  like  that  of  Tamaroa,  is  best  adapted  to 
the  growing  of  wheat.  The  precinct  has  not  a  town  or 
village  within  its  limits.  Camden  was  laid  out,  July  31, 
1859,  by  Isaac  Redfern,  and  platted  and  surveyed  by 
Robert  Steele,  county  surveyor.  It  was  located  on  the  S. 
W.  i  of  the  S.  W.  \  of  section  5,  town  four  south,  range 
2  west.     It  never  prospered  and  was  vacated  years  ago. 

The  first  settler  in  township  four,  range  two  west,  which 
includes  Beaucoup  precinct,  and  the  northwest  corner  of 
Pinckneyville  precinct  was  made  in  1816  by  John  Hutchins 
and  William  Hutchins  his  brother,  two  years  previous  to 
the  organization  of  the  state.  The  Hutchins  were  natives  of 
North  Carolina,  whence,  with  their  wives,  they  went  to 
Tennessee,  stopped  a  while,  and  not  being  satisfied  with  the 
country,  pushed  foward  to  the  Illinois  Territory.  Their 
original  aim  was  Missouri,  whither  they  were  on  their  way, 
when  in  May,  1816,  they  camped  upon  the  banks  of  Beau- 


HIHTORY   OF  RANDOLPH,   MONROE  AND   PERRY   COUNTIES,   ILLINOIS. 


473 


coup,  where  they  made  their  permanent  settlement.  John 
Hutchings,  besides  himself  and  wife  and  four  children,  had 
a  colored  raan  named  Laudon  Parks,  and  Agis,  his  wife,  and 
another  colored  woman,  named  Dinah,  in  company  with  hira. 
William  Hutchings'  family  consisted  of  his  wife  and  six 
children,  and  a  Miss  Delilah  Jones,  who  afterwards  be- 
came the  wife  of  John  R.  Hutchings,  his  eldest  son.  When 
this  btdy  of  fmigrants,  eighteen  in  all,  with  their  several 
wagons  and  teams,  halted  upon  Beaucoup  for  a  few  days' 
rest,  they  had  no  other  expectation  than  to  continue  their 
journey  when  their  teams  had  rested  and  recruited.  They, 
however,  found  grouse  so  abundant  and  wild-honey  so  plen- 
tiful, and  the  whole  country  wearing  such  a  rich  and  pro- 
ductive appearance,  that  they  were  delighted  with  what  they 
saw,  and  the  thought  impressed  them  of  abandoning  their 
trip  to  Missouri.  In  the  fourse  of  a  few  days,  however,  they 
continued  their  journey  as  far  as  RatclifTs  or  Sawj'er's 
Point,  in  Washington  county,  when  they  concluded  to  re- 
turn to  the  camp  they  had  last  occupied  on  Beaucoup. 
They  accordingly  began  their  return,  and  when  they  ar* 
rived  at  their  destination,  there  was  encamped  within  sight 
of  them  a  large  body  of  Kaskaskia  Indians  upon  what  was 
then  their  favorite  camping  grounds,  and  what  is  now 
familiarly  known  as  Hutchings'  prairie.  The  Hutchings 
say  that  when  they  came,  there  were  great  quantities  of 
elks',  antelopes'  and  deers'  bones  scattered  upon  the  prairie  ; 
that  in  Four  Mile  prairie,  below  Pinckneyville,  there  were 
many  human  bones  to  be  found.  The  presence  of  these 
bones  they  supposed  at  that  time  to  have  been  occasioned 
by  a  desperate  fight  between  the  Kaskaskia  and  Kickapoo 
Indians  i>revious  to  their  settlement  here,  in  which  a  great 
many  of  the  braves  were  killed  on  both  sides,  and  in  their 
running  fight  were  left  unburied.  John  Hutchings  built 
his  first  cabin  on  the  N.  W.  qr.  of  sec  19,  tp  4,  range  2, 
which  he  entered  July  2-5,  l.><17.  He  built  a  two-story 
house  ntar  the  original  cabin,  which  was  known  as  the 
"  Traveler's  Inn  "  for  a  number  of  years;  this  building  stood 
for  upward  of  fifty  years.  William  Hutchings  first  built  in 
the  south  side  of  the  Hutchings'  prairie;  in  1810  he  re- 
moved to  what  is  now  known  as  the  Watson  place,  where  he 
resided  till  his  death,  about  ten  years  after  he  came  here. 
John  R.  Hutchings,  oldest  son  of  William  Hutchings,  is 
pretty  familiarly  known  throughout  the  county,  having  been 
one  of  the  early  schoolmasters  and  Baptist  ministers.  He 
aided  in  the  organization  of  our  county  in  1827,  and  was 
one  of  the  commissioners  to  locate  Pinckneyville  as  the 
county  seat,  and  subsequently  served  as  county  judge. 

Wesley  W.  Hutchings,  who  has  kindly  furnished  the  facts 
and  dates  of  this  precinct,  through  Mr.  Todd,  for  this  chap 
ter,  is  the  onlv  surviving  member  of  the  family  of  William 
Hutchings,  the  first  pioneer.  He  lives  in  Three  Mile  Prairie, 
Washington  county,  highly  esteemed  by  all  who  know  him_ 
He  was  born  at  the  new  pioneer  home,  Oct.  4,  1822,  on  the 
east  side  of  the  creek. 

Mrs.  Marv  Rice  (wife  of  Hiram  Rice,  deceased),  daughter 

of  John   Hutchings.  is  the  only  surviving  member  of  that 

emigrant  train  of  eighteen  persons  who  made  their  homes 

in  the  territory  of  the  precinct  in  May,  1816.     She  was  five 

60 


years  old  when  her  father  came  to  Illinois.  The  nearest 
settlement  to  the  Hutchings' when  they  settUd  on  Beaucoup 
was  RatlifT's  or  Sawyer's  Point,  as  it  was  called,  about  fifteen 
miles  distant,  in  Washington  county.  Mr.  Hutchings  says 
it  was  no  uncommon  thing  for  the  whole  family  to  start  afoot 
early  on  Sabbath  morning  to  attend  preaching  at  Ratliff's 
Point  and  get  back  home  before  night. 

House  raisings  were  very  common  in  those  early  days,  and 
the  custom  was  to  invite  the  neighbors  in  for  ten  and  twelve 
miles  around,  those  that  lived  farthest  generally  coming 
the  evening  before  and  going  back  on  the  morning  after  the 
raising.  The  nearest  town  to  this  settlement,  when  first 
found,  was  Kaska.<kia.  Here  these  early  settlers  did  most, 
or  all  of  their  trading  and  milling.  Deer  skins,  honey  and 
bees  wax  were  the  chief  articles  of  trade.  These  they  ex- 
changed for  clothing  and  such  other  goods  as  they  were 
compelled  to  have.  Bee  trees  in  those  days  were  very  rich. 
One  tree  cut  in  the  precinct  is  represented  as  having  combs 
varying  from  ten  to  twelve  feet  long  ;  and  as  many  as  twenty 
gallons  of  honey  are  known  to  have  been  taken  from  one 
tree. 

The  settlers  learned  from  the  Indians  the  art  of  tan- 
ning deer  skins.  They  made  their  hunting  shirts,  leather 
breeches  and  moccasins.  Joshua  M.  Rice,  emigrated  from 
Tennessee  to  Illinois  in  1829,  and  stopped  at  Hutchings' 
prairie,  where  he  raised  one  crop.  He  then  removed  to 
township  4,  in  1830.  Abner  S.  Rice,  son  of  Joshua  M.Rice, 
was  born  in  Tennessee  in  1810,  and  Mrs.  Lucy  Rice  was 
born  in  the  same  State  in  1812,  and  belonged  to  another 
pioneer  family  named  Hulls,  that  settled  in  Round  prairie. 
Jlr.  and  Mrs.  Rice  still  live  on  the  old  place  aged  and  es- 
teemed citizens.  In  18.30,  Jeremiah  Dinuis  settled  in  sec- 
tion 1,  township  4,  range  2,  on  land  that  was  sold  to  Edward 
Hodges  in  1834.  Mr.  Hodges  says:  "  They  raised  cotton  and 
flax  for  clothing;  that  the  cotton,  when  planted  thin,  grew 
to  a  height  of  ten  or  twelve  feet,  and  not  maturing  until 
late  in  the  fall,  was  often  killed  by  the  frost  ;  but,  that  when 
they  learned  to  sow  it  thick,  it  grew  the  ordinary  height  and 
yielded  well.  Jacob  Walker  settled  what  is  now  known  as 
the  Page  place,  in  1831,  his  house  being  built  directly  on 
the  line  between  Washington  and  Perry  counties.  Camp- 
bell Stuart  settled  on  the  Lindsley  place  1831.  Smith  or 
Owens,  on  the  Gilbert  Rice  place  in  section  10,  Round 
prairie,  in  1831.  Christopher  Stone,  on  the  Wm.  Chap- 
man place  in  section  29,  in  1841.  Lewis  Stilley,  on  the 
Peyton  Brown  place  in  1836.  Elisha  Dunn  settled  the 
Matthew  Marlow  place  in  1836.  James  Gordan  slopped  in 
the  Brown  settlement  before  removing  to  Washington 
county.  John  Peyton  settled  the  Evan  Brown  place,  sec- 
tion 27,  in  1.S41.  Brown  was  in  Pinckneyville  in  1829. 
James  Meadows  settled  the  Shade  place,  in  section  6,  in 
1833.  The  Campbell  place  was  settled  in  1830.  Joseph 
Todd  and  wife,  born  in  Lounenberg,  made  a  permanent 
home,  where  he  now  resides,  1839.  Mr.  Todd  came  to 
America  on  a  trial  trip,  to  see  the  country,  and  visited  all 
the  principal  citiei  on  the  seaboard,  and  then  returned  with 
his  family.  All  these  places  were  permanently  settled  in 
Beaucoup  precinct,  previous   to,  and   in  the  year  1841,  it 


474 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND     PERRY    COUNTIES,  ILLINOIS. 


having  at  that  time  had  a  population  of  about  eighty  per- 
sons. Beacoup  contained  only  about  three  sections  of  prairie 
lands,  hence,  we  may  the  more  easily  account  for  its  being 
so  slow  in  settling  up. 

The  children  of  the  settlers  living  west  from  Hutchings' 
prairie  first  attended  the  school  at  the  Big  Rock  school- 
house,  in  Washington  county,  and  those  on  the  east  side 
went  to  a  school  in  Mud  prairie.  The  first  school-house  was 
built  in  1837  on  the  Edmund  Hodges'  place,  in  section  1, 
and  the  second  at  the  Truster  place,  in  section  21,  in  18-50, 
both  being  small  log  buildings.  After  the  introduction  of 
the  free  school  system  four  school  districts  were  formed,  and 
houses  erected  in  each  of  them,  at  a  cost  of  Sl,'275.00. 

Probably  the  first  mill  put  up  in  the  county  was  that 
built  by  John  Hutchings,  about  1820.  It  was  of  the  band 
or  tug  sweep  style,  and   ground  corn  only.    Hutchings  built 

it  for  tie  accommodation  of  his  settlement,  quite  as  much 
as  for  profit.  It  was  operated  by  two  horses  or  a  yoke  of 
oxen,  and  would  grind  as  much  as  twenty-five  bushels  of 
corn  in  a  day.  In  18-15,  William  Hutchings,  Jr.,  built  a 
tread  grist  and  saw  mill  combined,  upon  the  old  home- 
stead place,  on   the  bank  of  Beaucoup.     He  ground  corn 

and  wheat  and  sawed  lumber  with  it  a  number  of  years. 
Joseph  Todd  &  Sons  put  up  a  steam  circular  saw-mill  on  the 


former's  farm  in  1854,  at  a  cost  of  $2000.  Hodges'  horse- 
power mill  was  built  in  1857,  and  was  afterwards  turned  into 
a  steam  saw  and  grist  mill.  Crass'  circular  saw  mill  was 
built  in  1867  or  1868.  In  the  earliest  days  of  our  settlement 
the  milling  was  done  at  Kaskaskia,  Sparta  or  Murphy's 
steam  mill,  on  Beaucoup,  in  Washington  county. 

St  Mary  Magdalen's  Church  was  built  in  1869— a  frame 
structure,  24  by  40  feet.  The  congregation  was  organized 
by  Rev.  Thomas  Cuissic,  in  1859. 

The  following  are  the  first  land  entries  in  the  precinct : 
May  16,  1833,  William  Hutchings  entered  the  E.  half  of 
the  N.  E.  quarter  of  section  24,  80  acres.  March  1,  1837, 
John  Hutchings  entered  the  N.E  quarter  of  the  S.E.  quarter 
of  section  24,  40  acres.  April  15,  1837,  Joshua  McRice 
entered  the  N.  half  of  the  S.  W.  quarter  of  section  1,  80 
acres.  Same  date,  C.  Mason  entered  the  E.  half  of  S.  E. 
quarter,  section  2,  80  acres.  Jan.  17,  1837,  John  McKason 
entered  the  N.  W.  of  the  N.  E.  quarter  of  section  22,  33 
acres. 

Though  the  precinct  possesses  a  productive  soil  and  an 
abundance  of  valuable  timber,  the  future  depends  upon  the 
rich  mines  of  coal,  yet  undeveloped,  that  underly  its  sur- 
face. 


475 


PARTIAL  LIST   OF  PATRONS 


RANDOLPH,  MONROE  AND  PERRY  COUNTIES,  ILLINOIS. 


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Randolph  Co.,  Ill 
Randolph  Co.,  Ill 
ShenandoahCoVa 
Perry  Co  ,  Mo.  . 
Randolph  Co.,  Ill 

Germany  .... 
Gerniany  .... 
Randolph  Co.,  Ill 

Randolph  Co.,  Ill 
Germany  .... 
Germany  .... 
Posing,  Ger  .  .  . 
Germany  .... 

Smytlie  Co!,  'Tenii 
Randolph  Co.,  Ill 

Germany  .... 

Randolph  'Co.,'lil 

Germany  .... 

Randolph  'ca.'lil 
Germany  .... 
Bondolph  Co.,  Ill 

St.  Clair  Co.,  Ill  . 
Randolph  Co.,  HI 

North  Wales.  .    . 
Randolph  Co.,  Ill 

Randolph  Co.,  Ill 
Suelzc  Han'r.Oei 
Randolph  Co.,  II, 
Gerniany  .... 

Chester  Co.,  S.  i 
Randolph  Co.,  Ill 
Germany  .... 

Randolph  'co.,'lii 
Hanover,  Ger  .  . 

Germany  .... 

Randolph  Co.,  lii 

Alabama 

Crawford  Co.,  0  . 

Late  wife  of  Joseph  Lively  .... 

Farmer  and  Carpenter 

Wile  of  Charles  H.  F.  Lindharsi  . 

Farmer 

vy  lie  of  Valentine  Meyer 

Wii,.  of  James  McNnbnay  .  .  .  . 

Wil,  of  Henry  Schnoeker  .  .   .  . 

1',  11,  ral  Merchandise 

\\  il,.  of  Henry  Schroeder.  .  .  .  . 

\s  il..  of  Friedrick  Sternberg  .  .  . 

\\  11,- of  Louis  Sternberg 

I'li.'i  wife  of  Charles  Tegtmeyer  . 
I'l,  s,,iit  wife  of  Charles 'legtnieyer 

Fl  1  SI  wileof  Francis  i'hiea  .  !  !  ! 
Present  wife  of  Francis  Thies  .  . 

Wife  of  Amos  Tag'gart  .'.'.'.'.'. 

c  c 

a> 

1 

3  t. 

M 

1 

3  ] 

sS 
xS 

b  i 

.SI 

II 

Fanner 

Wileof  John  Beare,  Jr  .... 

Firttwifeof  Joseph  Hahn    .  . 
Present  wile  of  Joseph  Hahn  . 
(Farmer  and  PrpT  BfiiH'  Ferry 
Wileof  B.  B.  ifarmon  .... 

Wileof  Miciiael  Kavanaligii  .' 
Farmer 

1  Father  of  Hen'ry  4  Chiir's'Tilma 
Motherof  Henry*  Char's  Tilmn 

Fanner.   ....  

Wile  of  Thurston  Thomas  .  . 
Farmer 

Farmer 

Wile  of  C.  D.  Wassell 

iFurming 

Farmer 

Wileof  John  H.G.  Clasen   . 

Relircd  Farmer 

Fanner  and  Justice  of  the  Pe 
Wile  of  Leonard  t'risler    .   '. 
Fanner  and  Stone  Mason  .   . 

Farmer 

Wileof  William  H.Ebers    . 
Farmer  and  stock  Raiser  .  . 
Wile  of  Diedrich  Heitmann 

Karmor 

Wile  of  Friedrick  Hogralo  . 

Farmer 

First  wile  of  George  Harmon 
Present  wife  of  George  Harm 

See.  13   .  .  . 
Sec.  13    .  .   . 
Survey  601    . 

1807 

Survey  .'ail    . 
Sec.  U    .  .   . 
Sec.  13    .  .   . 
Survey  278    . 

Survey  478    , 
Survey  478    . 

1879 

Survey  478   . 
Survey  480    . 
Survey  480    . 
Survey  2u8    . 
Survey  '298    . 
Survey  441    . 
Survey  441    . 



.cc 

Sec.  32 
Sec.  34 
Sec.  34 
See.  0  . 
1881  .   . 
Sec.  35 
Sec.  35 
Blair  . 

1840.    . 
Sec.  18 
occ.  18 
Sec.  34 
1803  .  . 
Sec.  20 
Sec.  20 
Sec.  22 
Sec.  22 
Sec.  22 
Sec.  22 
See.  19 
1872  .   . 
Sec.  19 
Sec.  0  . 

1874.   . 
Sec.  0  . 
Sec.  0  . 
Sec.  '20 
Sec.  -20 
Sec.  25 

1876  .    . 
Sec.  18 
See.  18 
Sec.  38 
Sec.  30 
Sec.  8  . 
Sec.  8  . 
See.  27 
Sec.  27 
Randolp 
Randolp 
Sec.  15 
See.  15 
Sec.  17 
Sec.  17 
Sec.  20 
1803.   . 
Sec.  20 
Sec.  •M 
1873.   . 
Sec.  20 
Sec.  4  . 
Sec.  4  . 

Ellis  Grove  . 

Modoc    .  .  . 
Died  Aug.  6, 
Modoc    .  .  . 
Ellis  Grove  . 

Kaskaskia  '. 

Modoo    .  .   '. 

Died  Mar. '2-2, 
e  Modoc    .  .  . 

Ellis  Grive  '. 

Chester .  .  . 
Bremen  .  .  . 
Bremen  .  .  . 
Blair  .... 
Died  Dec.  17, 
Brem,-ii  .  .   . 
Bremen  .  .  . 
Blair   .... 
Died  Sept'br, 
Diam'd  Cross 

Bremen .  .  . 
Died  June, 
Bremen  .  .  . 

Diam'd  Cross 
Died  Sept.  10 
Diam'd  Cross 
Blair  .... 

Died  Sept.  23, 
Blair  .... 
Blair   .... 
Chester .  .  . 
Chester .  .  . 
Bremen  .  .   . 
Died   Oct.   4 
Diam'd  Cross 
Diam'd  Cross 
Welga.  .  .  . 
Welga.  .  .   . 
Diain'd  Cross 
Diam'd  Cross 
Bremen.  .  . 

BlairJ  ..'.'! 

Bremen .  .  . 
Died  Feb.  14 
Bremen.  .  . 
Bremen .  .  . 
Died  Oct.  17 
Bremen  .  .  . 
Blair  .... 

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TOWNSHIP  8  SOUTH,  RANGE  5  WEST. 

Uhii'Liz  iliziM-'-iM 

iiliili: 

^-  :'-  -"-"^  ~.---^~  '-^^  ."Si:  •§  ••     •  ■""= 

Randolph  Co.,  Ill 

Wood  Co.,  Vn  .  . 
Randolph  Co.,  Ill 
Strasbiirg,  Pa  .   . 
Randolph  Co.,  Ill 

Ky  .  .  .    .  "    . ". 
Randolph  Co.,  Ill 
Jackson  Co.,  Ill  . 

Ireland 

Ireland 

England   .... 
Randolph  Co.,  Ill 
Randolph  Co.,  Ill 
Ky  .  .  '^.  .  .  '.  . 
Randolph  Co.,  Ill 
Paris,  F"'rance  .  . 

Mead  Co,.  Ky  .  . 

Farmer 

Wife  OfDanielT.  Malone 

Father  of  J.  P.  Mathes 

.Mother  of  J.  P.  Mathes 

First  wile  of  John  Morrison..  .  . 
Present  wife  of  John  Morrison  .  . 

Farmer 

Wife  of  A.  J.  Opp 

Wife  of  James  Pickett 

Fariii.M- 

Wil,-  ,.|  William  F.  Reickenberg  . 

(Wife  .1  Williiim  Ruhrede 

Pro|.ri..|.  r   .1  Miller  Coal  Mine  .  . 
Wile..|  u    ,1    Rury 

First  U  ,1.     .1  (1.  VI.  Suesberry.  .   . 

'Present  .iiio  of  G.  W.  Suesberry. . 

Farmer 

VVifo  of  William  H.  Stephens  .  .  . 

w"il'e  of  R.H.  Short'.  '.  .'  .'  .'  '.  '.   '. 

Proprietor  of  Alma  Mills 

Father  of  E.  F.. Stinde 

Mother  of  E.  P.  Stinde 

Father  of  John  F.  Thomas 

j.Mother  of  John  F.  Thomas  .       .  . 
Pro.  &  Owner  of  Alma  Woolen  Mills 
Wife  of  John  H.  Thies 

[Wife  of  Gottlieb  Weber 

[Farmer 

First  wife  of  Henry  Woberling  .  . 

.Second  wife  of  Henry  Weherling  . 
Present  wife  of  Henry  Weherling 
Farmer  and  Stock  Rearer 

Iwife  of  Aaron  Wilson.  ...    .  .  . 

IGeueral  Blacksmith 

Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser 

Wife  of  Frank  W.  Crain 

Father  of  Frank  W.  Crain  .... 
Motherof  Frank  W.  Crain  .... 

Physician  and  Surgeon 

Late  wife  of  M.  W.CIendinen  .  .  . 
Farmer 

Father  of  j.'  H.  4  B.'  H.  'cieiidiiieii 
Mother  of  J.  H.  A  B.  H.  Clendinen 
Blacksmith  4  Dl'r  in  Agri'l  implts 

v\ife  of  John  L.  Crane 

Retired 

Late  wife  of  Thomas  Kelly  .... 

Wife  of  Benjamin  Richards  .  .  . 

First  wife  of  B.  F.  .Sebastian  .  .  . 
[Present  wife  of  B.  F.  Sebastian  .   . 

Farmer 

iFirst  wife  of  John  Tudor 

ILate  wife  of  John  Tudor 

1 



1861 

18159  .   .   . 
Steeiesville  . 
Sec.  34. .  .   . 
Sec.  34.  .   .    . 
.Sec.  1 .  .  .  . 
Sec.  1 .  .  .  . 
Steeiesville  . 

.Sec.  27..  .  ! 
Sec.  '22. .  .  . 
Sec.  22. .  .  . 

1870 

Sec.  15 . .  .  . 
Steeiesville  . 

Sec.  a.  .  .  '. 
Sec.  8  .  .  .  . 
Sec.  30 . .  .  . 

Sec.  'l9. '.  '.  '. 
Sec.  19. .  .  . 
Steeiesville  . 

Sec.  8  .  .  .  . 
Sec.  8  .  .  .  . 
Sec.  33   .  .  . 
Sec.  33   .  .  . 
Rockwood 

1881 

Sec.  0  .  .  .  . 
ISec.  0  .  .  .  . 
'1881  

1 1880 

Rockwood 
Sec.  8  .  .  .  ! 

1872 

1808 

Sec.  4  .   .   .   . 
1880 

Sec.  9  .  . 
Sec.  9  .  . 
Sec.  13. . 
Sec.  13.. 
Sec.  13. . 
See.  22. . 
Sec.  22 .  . 
Sec.  10.  . 
1804  .   .   . 
Sec.  10. . 
Percy  .  . 

Steelesvi'll 

See.  6  .  . 

Sec.  5  .  .  ,, 
See.  9  .  . 
See.  9  .  . 
See.  14. . 
Sec.  14 . . 

SteelesvUl«  . 
Percy  .... 

Steeiesville  '. 

Died  Jan.  7, 
Steeiesville  . 
Percy  .... 

SteelesTille  °. 
Percy  .... 

Died  Sept.  24, 
Died  Mar.   1 
Steeiesville  . 

Percy  .... 
Steeiesville  ■ 

Died    Feb.  2 
Steeiesville  . 

Died .  .  .  .  ; 

Died 

Steeiesville  . 

Rockwood    . 

Died  Jan.  18 
Rockwood    . 

Died    July  6 
Died  Feb.  28 
Rockwood    . 

Died  July  6 
Rockwooil    . 

Died  March,' 
Rockwood    . 

Died  Febru'y 
Died  Febru'y 

Crain,  Frank  W 

Coiiti'ut  E.  ClendineD.  . 

Criiin.  .Iiiines 

Criiiii.l'li.be  (nee  Morris) 

CI liii.-ii,  M.  W   .   .   .   . 

Lyilii  A-  Wagner  .... 

Cl,-i,.lii„i,,  J.H 

Cli-ii.liii,ii,  B.  H    .... 
Cl.ii„liii,ii,JohnH.  .  .  . 
Cl.-ii,lii,,ii,  Mary  E.  (nee 
Craii...  .lohn  L  .  (Vickera 
Margaret  Ann  Burns  .  . 

Kelly,  Thomas 

Elizabeth  Kelly  (nee  An- 
Richards,  Benj   .  (derson 
Marget  A.  Clendinen  .  . 

Sebastian,  B.  F 

Alevie  Underhill  .... 

Sophia  Lawder 

Tudor.  John 

Eliza  Richards 

Mary  A.  Barnfield  .  .    . 

Malone,  Daniel  T  .  .  . 

Loui.<a  Lickiss 

Mathes,  J.  P 

Mathes,  Leonard  .  .  . 

Mathes,  L.  S 

Myer,  Henry 

Mary  Summer 

Morrison,  John  .... 
Mahala  Steele.  .  (Simon 
Lurana    E.   Brown   (ne 

Ellen  Cross 

Pickett,  James 

Martha  Ann  Jay.  .  .  . 
Reickenberg,  William  F 
Emma  C.  S.  Voges.  .  . 
Ruhrede,  William  . .  . 
Louisa  Rosenthal .  .  . 

Rury,  W.J 

Suson  P.  Worley.  .  .  . 

Ellen  A.  Brown  .... 
Anna  E.  Brown  .... 
Rachel  E.  Tindnll .  .  . 
Stephens,  William  H  . 
Indiana  Minter  .... 

Short,  H.H 

Su.«an  C.  Bigelow  .  .  . 

Stinde,  E.  F 

Stinde,  H.  F.  .  .  (Sliver 
.Stinde,    Mary     E.    (ne 

Steele,  James  C 

Trinka,  Ignalz 

Ada  E.  llarnian .... 
Thomas,  lohn  F.  .  .  . 
Thomas,  Pliimer  (Dobb 
Thomas,    Mary   A.   (ne 

Thies,  John  H 

Ann  F.  W.  H.  Stahlberg 

i  Matilda  Sheck 

Woberling,  Henry  . .  . 
Doras  Missel  horn  .  .  . 
Wi.helmine.Nuderbrach 

(nee  Kirchhof)  .  .   . 
Dora  Hyer  (nee  Clouser 

Wilson,  Aaron 

Lena  Runife 

3 

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Germany  .... 
Philadefphia,  Pa 
Germany  .... 
Monr.ie  Co.,  Ill   . 
Jefferson  Co.,  Mo 
Monroe  Co.,  Ill  . 
Germany  .... 
Germany  .... 
Gerninny  .... 
Germany  .... 
Germany  .... 
Germwny  .... 
Germany  .... 

I 

;■":'•" 

General  Merchant 

First  wile  of  Emil  Bereer.   .    . 
Present  wife  of  Emil  Berger  . 

Grain  Dealer 

First  wife  of  W.  D.  Druce  .   . 
Present  wife  of  W.  D.  Druce  . 
Pastor  St.  Patrick's  Church  .   . 

Farmer 

Late  wife  of  Louie  Grossmann 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser  .   . 
Wife  of  Henry  Schneider  .   .  . 
Farmer  and  Stock  Raiser  .  .   . 
Wife  of  Christian  Von  Ende  . 

1  :||illlillll 

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of  Frederick  Meyer    .   . 
wife  of  HenryNiebi^uegge 

u»i  i-ji   ■   ■   '    'S 

of  James  Bamber  .  . 

of  William 'f:  Bamber 

her 

of  Lewis  Brokaw  .  . 

of  William' C'.  Cairns' 

wife  of  Green  Crowde 
id  wife  of  Grcn  Crow 
J  wife  of  Green  Crowde 

nt  wife  of  Green  Crow 
ng  Machine  Agent ,  . 

of  Charles  F.  W.  Doerr 

wife  of'c'hirles  Flarka 
of  Saloon  &  Boarding 

c  .- 

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of  Charles  L.  James 
hantand  Farmer    .  . 

of  Thomas  C.  James 

cian  and  Surgeon  .  .. 
of  William  A.  James 
ician  and  Surgeon  .  . 

of  G.  P.  Livingstone 
rietor  Monroe  i:ity  Mill 
of  Valentine  Lupfer 

ietor  Hotel  and  Saloon 
of  Matthis  Laubenthal 

ietor  of  Saloon  .  .   . 
of  John  Ladner  .   .   . 
ral  Blaoksmithing  .   . 
of  John  Markle  .  .   . 

A  Agt  for  an  kinds  of  Agric 
of  Charles  Mokop    . 

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493 


CONSTITUTION  OF  ILLINOIS. 

Adopted  in  Convention  at  Springfield,  May  13,  a.  d.  1870;  Ratified  by  the  People  July  2,  1870;  in 
FoKCE,  August  8/ 1870 ;  and  Amendments  thereto,  with  the  Dates  of  Ratification. 


PREAMBLE. 
We,  the  people  of  the  t^tate  of  Illinois — pratefiil  to  Almighty 
God  fortlie  civil,  political  and  religious  liberty  which  He  hath  so 
long  permitted  us  to  enjoy,  and  looking  to  Him  for  a  blessing 
upon  our  endeavors  to  secure  and  transmit  the  same  unimpaired 
to  succeeding  generations — in  order  to  form  a  more  perfect  gov- 
ernment, establish  justice,  insure  domestic  trancjuillity,  provide 
for  the  common  defense,  jiromiite  tlie  general  welfare,  and  secure 
the  blessings  of  liberty  to  ourselves  and  our  posterity  ;  do  ordain 
and  establish  this  constitution  for  Uie  State  of  Illinois. 

ARTICLE  L 

BOUNDARIES. 

The  boundaries  and  jurisdiction  of  the  State  shall  be  as  fol- 
lows, to  wit :  Beginning  at  the  mouth  of  tbe  Wabash  river ; 
thence  up  the  same,  and  with  the  line  of  Indiana,  to  the  nortli- 
west  corner  of  said  State;  thence  east,  with  the  line  of  the  same 
State,  to  the  middle  of  Lake  Michigan;  thence  north,  along  the 
middle  of  said  lake,  to  north  latitude  42  degrees  and  30  minutes  ; 
thence  west  to  the  middle  of  the  Mississippi  river,  and  thence 
down  along  the  middle  of  that  river  to  its  confluence  with  the 
Ohio  river,  and  thence  up  the  latter  river,  along  its  northwestern 
shore,  to  the  place  of  beginning  :  Provided,  that  this  State  .shall 
c.Kercise  such  jurisdiction  upon  the  Ohio  river  as  she  is  now 
entitled  to,  or  such  as  may  hereafter  be  agreed  upon  by  this 
State  and  tbe  State  of  Kentucky. 

ARTICLE  II. 

BILL  OF  RIGHTS. 


1.  Inherent  and  In..ilienable  Rights. 

■Z.  Due  Process  of  Law. 

;i.  LilxjrtyofConsoicneeGuamnteed. 

4.  Freedom  of  the  Pro.«s-LibeI. 

,■).  Riglit  of  Trial  by  Jury. 

C.  Unreasonable  Searches  and  Seiz- 

7.  Bail  allowed — Writ  of  Habeas  Cor- 

D«9. 

— Grand  Jury 
Accused    of 


8.  Indictment  requir 

Abolished. 

9.  Rights    of    Persoi 


tion— Forfeili 
a  12.  Imprisonment  for  Debt. 
I  13.  Compensation  for  Property  take 
g  14.  Ex  post  facto    laws— Irrevocab 

J  LI.  Milit.irv'lv.u.r  SnlKi.linutu. 
3  10.  Quart. 'liiiL-  -I  >.iMi,  ,s. 
Sl7.  Right  . if   \--.  ii.l.lv  ;..,,!  l'etili..n 
ns.  Elccti  .ii~  f"  I..    K..-  :iu.l  Equal. 
]  19.  What  l-.iuw  ..iislit  I"  I.e. 
^20.  Fundamental  Principles. 


?  1.  All  men  are  by  nattare  free  and  independent,  and  have 
certain  inliereiU  and  inalienable  rights — among  these  are  life, 
liberty,  and  the  pursuit  of  happiness.  To  .secure  these  rights 
and  the  protection  of  property,  governme-it«  are  instituted  among 
men,  deriving  their  just  powers  from  the  consent  of  the  gov- 
erned. 

I  2.  No  person  shall  be  deprived  of  life,  liberty  or  property, 
without  (\\H'.  process  of  law. 

I  3.  The  free  exercise  and  enjoyment  of  religious  profession 
and  worshij),  without  discrimination,  shall  forever  be  guaranteed ; 
and  no  person  shall  be  denied  any  civil  or  political  right,  privi- 
lege or  capacity,  on  account  of  his  religious  opinions;  but  the 
liberty  of  conscience  hereby  secured  shall  not  be  construed  to 
dispense  with  oaths  or  affirmations,  e.\cuse  acts  of  licentiousness, 
or  justify  practices  inconsistent  with  the  peace  or  safety  of  the 
State.  No  person  shall  be  required  to  attend  or  support  any  min- 
istry or  place  of  worship  against  his  consent,  nor  shaU  any  pref- 
erence be  given  by  law  to  any  religious  denomination  or  mode  of 
worship. 

?  4.  Every  person  may  freely  speak,  write  and  publish  on  all 
subjects,  being  responsible  for  the  abu.se  of  that  liberty;  and  in 
all  trials  for  libel,  both  civil  and  criminal,  the  truth,  when  pub- 
lished with  good  motives  and  for  justifiable  ends,  shall  be  a  suffi- 
cient defense. 


I  5.  The  right  of  trial  by  jury  as  heretofore  enjoyed  shall  re- 
main inviolate;  but  the  trial  of  civil  cases  before  justices  of  the 
peace  by  a  jury  of  less  than  twelve  men,  may  be  authorized  by  law. 

i  6.  The  right  of  the  peojile  to  be  secure  in  their  persons, 
h»uses,  papers  and  clfccts,  against  unreasonable  searches  and 
seizures,  shall  iint  lie  viulatcd  ;  and  no  warrant  shall  issue  with- 
out probable  cause,  supiiorted  by  affidavit,  particularly  describ- 
ing the  place  to  be  searched,  and  the  person  or  things  to  be 
seized. 

I  7.  All  persons  shall  be  bailable  by  sufficient  sureties,  except 
for  capital  offenses,  where  the  proof  is  evident  or  the  presump- 
tion great;  and  the  privilege  of  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus  sliall 
not  be  suspended,  unless  when  in  cases  of  rebellion  or  invasicm 
the  public  safety  may  reijuire  it. 

i  8.  No  person  shall  be  _  held  to  answer  for  a  criminal  offense, 
unless  on  indictment  of  a  grand  jury,  except  in  cases  in  which 
the  punishment  is  by  fine,  or  imprisonment  otherwise  than  in  the 
jienitentiary,  in  cases  of  imiwaehmcnt,  and^in  cases  arising  in  tin- 
army  and  navy,  or  in  the  militia  when  in  actual  service  in  time 
of  war  or  public  danger :  Provided,  that  the  grand  jury  may  be 
abolished  by  law  in  all  cases. 

I  9.  In  all  criminal  prosecutions,  the  accused  shall  have  the 
right  to  appear  and  defend  in  person  and  by  counsel  ;  to  demand 
the  nature  and  cause  of  the  accusation,  and  to  have  a  copy  there- 
of; to  meet  tht^  witnesses  face  to  face,  and  to  have  process  to 
compel  the  attendance  of  witnesses  in  his  behalf,  and  a  speedy 
public  trial  by  an  impartial  jury  of  the  county  or  district  in  which 
the  oti'ense  is  alleged  to  have  been  committed. 

^  10.  No  person  shall  be  compelled  in  any  criminal  case  to  give 
evidence  against  himself,  or  be  twice  put  in  jeopardy  for  the  same 
offense. 

?  11.  All  penalties  .shall  be  iiroportioned  to  the  nature  of  the 
offense  ;  and  no  conviction  shall  work  corruption  of  blood  of  for- 
feiture of  e.state ;  nor  shall  any  [>ersim  be  transported  out  or  the 
State  for  any  offense  cumniittcd  within  the  same. 

i  12.  No  person  shall  be  imprisoned  for  debt,  unless  upon  re- 
fusal to  deliver  up  his  estate  for  the  benefit  of  his  creditors,  in 
such  manner  as  shall  be  prescribed  by  law;  or  in  cases  where 
there  is  strong  presum])tion  of  fraud. 

I  13.  Private  property  .shall  not  be  taken  or  damaged  for  public 
use  without  just  compensation.  Such  compensation,  when  not 
made  by  the  State,  shall  be  ascertained  by  a  jury,  as  shall  be  pre- 
scribed by  law.  The  fee  of  land  taken  for  railroad  tr.aeks,  with- 
out consent  of  the  owners  thereof,  shall  remain  in  such  owners, 
subject  to  the  use  for  which  it  is  taken. 

i  14.  No  ex  post  faeto  law,  or  law  impairing  the  obligation  of 
contracts,  or  making  any  irrevocable  grant  of  special  privileges  or 
immunities,  shall  be  p.assed. 

§  1.5.  The  military  shall  be  in  strict  subordination  to  the  civil 
power. 

i  16.  No  soldier  shall,  in  time  of  peace,  be  quartered  in  any 
house  without  the  consent  of  the  owner  ;  nor  in  time  of  war  ex- 
cept in  the  manner  prescribed  by  law. 

i  17.  The  people  have  the  right  to  assemble  in  a  peaceable 
manner  to  consult  for  the  common  good,  to  make  known  their 
opinions  to  their  representatives,  and  to  apply  for  redress  of  griev- 
ances. 

§  18.  All  elections  shall  be  free  and  eipial. 

^  19.  f>cry  person  ought  to  find  a  certain  remedy  in  the  laws 
for  all  injuries  and  wrongs  which  he  may  receive  in  his  person, 
property  or  reputation  ;  he  ought  to  obtain,  by  law,  right  and 
justice  freely,  and  without  being  obliged  to  purchase  it,  completely 
and  without  denial,  promptly  and  without  delay. 
1 


494 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND   PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


I  20.  A  frequent  occurrence  to  the  fundamental  principles  of 
civil  government  is  absolutely  necessary  to  preserve  the  blessings 
of  liberty. 

ARTICLE  III. 

DISTKIIJUTION   OF   POWERS. 

The  powers  of  the  Government  of  this  State  are  divided  into 
three  distinct  departments — the  Legislative,  Executive  and  Ju- 
dicial ;  and  no  person,  or  collection  of  persons,  being  one  of  these 
departments,  shall  exercise  any  power  properly  belonging  to 
either  of  the  others,  except  as  hereinafter  expressly  directed  or 
permitted. 

ARTICLE  IV. 

LEGISLATIVE   DEPAKTMENT. 

2    1.  ,;..:..  ,1    \ nMyc-lcftiv.-.  ig  IS.  IH-^liii  ii>     Ixi-n.-     ^.-Ui.lDefi- 


Extended. 


]ioa.lnr.;-l'n.umg-Title- 

PriviU^ecs  of  members. 
lii?;ibilitieB  of  members. 
Hills  TiiaUing  Appropriatii 
Payment    of   money— SI 
of  Expenses. 


g  m.  Cuueeruiug  Kuads — public  and  pri- 
vate. 
?  :il.  Draining  and  Ditching. 
^  .^2.  Homestead  and  Exemption  Laws. 
i  'Si.  Completiou  of  the  State  House. 


I  1.  The  legislative  power  shall  be  vested  in  a  General  As- 
sembly, which  shall  consist  of  a  Senate  and  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives, both  to  be  elected  by  the  people. 


I  2.  An  election  for  members  of  the  Gemrnl  .\ssombly  shall 
be  held  on  the  Tuesday  next  after  the  tii^t  MniHlny  in  November, 
in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  tlKUisand  eiij,lit  liiiniln d  and  seventy, 
and  every  two  years  thereafter,  in  each  county,  nt  such  places 
therein  as  may  be  provided  by  law.  When  vacancies  occur  in 
either  house,  "the  governor,  or  pensou  exercising  the  powers  of 
governor,  shall  issue  writs  of  election  to  fill  such  vacancies. 

ELIGIIilLITY   AND   OATH. 

I  3.  No  person  shall  be  a  senator  who  shall  not  have  attained 
the  age  of  twenty-five  years,  or  a  representative  who  shall  not 
have  attained  the  age  of  twenty-one  years.  No  person  shall  be 
a  senator  or  a  representative  who  shall  not  be  a  citizen  of  the 
United  States,  and  who  shall  not  have  been  for  five  years  a  resi- 
dent of  this  State,  and  for  two  years  next  preceding  his  election 
a  resident  within  the  territory  forming  the  district  from  which  he 
is  elected.  No  judge  or  clerk  of  any  court,  secretary  of  state, 
attorney  general,  state's  attorney,  recorder,  sheriff,  or  collector  of 
public  revenue,  member  of  eitiier  house  of  congress,  or  person 
holding  any  lucrative  office  under  the  United  States  or  this  State, 
or  any  foreign  government,  shall  have  a  seat  in  the  general  as- 
sembly :  Provided,  that  appointments  in  the  militia,  and  the  offi- 
ces of  notary  public  and  justice  of  the  peiiee,  shall  not  be  con- 
sidered lucrative.  Nor  shall  any  person,  holding  any  otfiee  of 
honor  or  profit  under  anv  fi.rei_'n  CT.vernment,  or  under  the  gov- 
ernment of  the  United  Stat.s,  i,  \i  r|.t  postmasters  whose  annual 
compensation  does  not  cxr.r.l  tli.  sum  of  $300,)  hold  any  office 
of  honor  or  profit  under  the  autliunty  of  this  State. 

§  4.  No  person  who  has  been,  or  hereafter  shall  be,  convicted 
of  bribery,  perjury  or  other  infamous  crime,  nor  any  person  wdio 
has  been  or  may  be  a  collector  or  holder  of  public  moneys,  who 
shall  not  have  accounted  for  and  paid  over,  according  to  law,  all 
such  moneys  due  from  him,  shall  be  eligible  to  the  general  as- 
sembly, orto  any  office  of  profit  or  trust  in  this  State. 

I  6.  Members  of  the  general  assembly,  before  they  enter  upon 
their  official  duties,  shall  take  and  subscribe  the  following  oath 
or  affirmation : 

"I  do  solemnly  swear  (or  affirm)  that  I  will  support  the  constitution  of  the 
United  States,  and  the  constitution  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  and  will  faithfully 


v.ooharge  the  duties  of  senator  (or  representative)  according  to  (he  best  of  my 
ability;  and  that  I  have  not,  knowingly  or  intentionall.v,  paid  or  contributed 
anything,  or  made  any  promise  in  the  nature  of  a  bribe,  to  directly  or  mdi- 
rectly  influence  any  vote  at  the  election  at  which  I  was  chosen  to  till  the  said 
office,  and  have  not  accepted,  nor  will  I  accept  or  receive,  directly  or  mdireot- 
ly,  any  money  or  other  valuable  thing,  from  any  corporation,  company  or  per- 
son, for  any  vote  or  influence  I  may  give  or  withhold  on  any  bill,  resolution  or 
appropriation,  or  for  any  other  official  act." 


This  oath  shall  be  administered  by  a  judge  of  the  supreme  or 
circuit  court,  in  the  hall  of  the  house  to  which  the  member  is 
elected,  and  the  secretary  of  state  shall  record  and  file  the  oath 
subscribed  by  each  member.  Any  member  who  shall  refuse  to 
to  take  the  oath  herein  prescribed,  shall  forfeit  his  office,  and 
every  member  who  shall  be  convicted  of  having  sworn  falsely  to, 
or  of  violating,  his  said  oath,  shall  forfeit  his  office,  and  be  dis- 
qualified thereafter  from  holding  any  office  of  profit  or  trust  in 
this  State. 

APPORTIONMENT — SENATORIAL. 

?  6.  The  general  assembly  shall  apportion  the  State  every  ten 
years,  beginning  with  tlic  year  1.S71,  by  dividing  the  population 
of  the  State,  as  ascertaiiieirby  the  federal  census,  by  the  number 
51,  and  the  quotient  shall  be  the  ratio  of  representation  in  the 
senate.  The  State  shall  be  divided  into  51  senatorial  districts, 
each  of  wliich  shall  elect  one  senator,  whose  term  of  office  shall 
be  four  years.  The  senators  elected  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1872, 
in  districts  bearing  odd  numbers,  shall  vacate  their  offices  at  the 
end  of  two  years,  and  those  elected  in  districts  bearing  even  num- 
bers, at  the  end  of  four  years;  and  vacancies  occurring  by  the 
expiration  of  term,  shallbe  filled  by  the  election  of  senatoi's  for 
the  full  term.  Senatorial  districts  shall  be  formed  of  contiguous 
and  compact  territory,  bounded  by  county  lines,  and  contain  as 
nearly  as  practicable  an  equal  number  of  inhabitants;  but  no 
district  shall  contain  less  than  four-fit'ths  of  the  senatorial  ratio. 
Counties  containing  not  less  than  the  ratio  and  three-fourths, 
may  be  divided  into  separate  districts,  and  shall  be  entitled  to 
two  senators,  and  to  one  additional  senator  for  each  number  of 
inhabitants  equal  to  the  ratio,  contained  by  such  counties  in  ex- 
cess of  twice  the  number  of  said  ratio. 


Note— Bv  the  adoption  of  minority  representati. 
cease  to  be  a  part  of  the  constitution.    Un<U 

of  adoption,  the  following  section  relating  to  minority  representation 
tuted  lOT  said  sections  : 


UnderTl2'of'Vfie'schedule,  and  tl'ie  vote 
bsti- 


MINORITY  REPRESENTATION. 

ll~  and  S.  Tlie  house  of  representatives  shall  consist  of  three 
times  the  number  of  the  members  of  the  senate,  and  the  term  of 
ofliee  sliall  be  two  years.  Three  representatives  shall  be  elected 
in  each  senatorial  district  at  the  general  election  in  the  year  of 
our  Lord,  1872,  and  every  two  years  thereafter.  In  all  elections 
of  representatives  aforesaid,  each  qualified  voter  may  cast  as 
many  votes  for  one  candidate  as  there  are  representatives  to  be 
elected,  or  may  distribute  the  same,  or  equal  jjarts  thereof,  among 
the  candidates,  as  he  shall  .see  fit;  and  the  candidates  highest  in 
votes  shall  be  declared  elected. 

TIME  OF  MEETING  AND  GENERAL  RULES. 

I  9.  The  sessions  of  the  general  assembly  shall  commence  at 
12  o'clock,  noon,  on  the  Wednesday  next  after  the  first  Monday 
in  January,  in  the  ye.ar  next  ensuiifg  the  election  of  members 
thereof,  and  at  no  other  time,  unless  as  provided  by  this  consti- 
tution. A  majority  of  the  members  elected  to  each  house  shall 
constitute  a  quorum.  Each  house  shall  determine  the  rules  of 
its  proceedings,  and  be  the  judge  of  the  election  returns  and 
qualifications  of  its  members;  shall  choose  its  own  officers;  and 
the  senate  shall  choose  a  temporary  president  to  preside  when 
the  lieutenant-governor  shall  not  attend  as  president  or  shall  act 
as  governor.  The  secretary  of  state  shall  call  the  house  of  repre- 
sentatives to  order  at  the  opening  of  each  new  assembly,  and 
preside  over  it  until  a  temporary  presiding  officer  thereof  shall 
have  been  chosen  and  shall  have  taken  his  seat.  No  member 
shall  be  expelled  by  either  house,  except  by  a  vote  of  two-thirds 
of  all  the  members  elected  to  that  house,  and  no  member  shall 
be  twice  expelled  for  the  same  offence.  Each  house  may  punish 
by  imprisonment  any  person,  not  a  member,  who  shall  be  guilty 
of  disrespect  to  the  "house  by  disorderly  or  contemptuous  beha- 
viour in  its  presence.  But  nosuch  imprisonment  shall  extend  be- 
yond two  hours  at  one  time,  unless  the  person  shall  persist  in 
such  disorderly  or  contemptuous  behaviour. 

?  10.  The  doors  of  each  house  and  of  committees  of  the  whole, 
shall  be  kept  open,  except  in  such  cases  as,  in  the  opinion  of  the 
house,  require  secrecy.  Neither  house  shall,  without  the  consent 
of  the  other,  adjourn  for  more  than  two  days,  or  to  any  otlier 
place  than  that  in  which  the  two  houses  shall  be  sitting.  Each 
house  shall  keep  a  journal  of  its  proceedings,  which  shall  be  pub- 
lished. In  the  senate  at  the  request  of  two  members,  and  i»  the 
house  at  the  request  of  five  members,  the  yeas  and  nays  shall  be 
taken  on  any  question,  and  entered  upon  the  journal.    Any  two 


MISTORY   OF  RANDOLPB,   MONROE  AND   PERRY   COUNTIES,   ILLINOIS. 


495 


members  of  either  house  shall  have  liberty  to  dissent  from  and 
protest,  in  respectful  lansruage,  against  any  act  or  resolution  which 
they  think  injurious  to  tlie  public  or  to  any  individual,  and  have 
the  reasons  of  their  dissent  entered  upon  the  journals. 

STYLE  OF  LAWS  AXD  PASSAGE  OF  BILLS. 

?  11.  The  style  of  the  laws  of  this  State  shall  be :  Be  it  en- 
acled  by  the  People  of  the  State  of  Jllinois,  represented  in  the  Gen- 
eral Assemhlij. 

?  12.  Bills  may  orifrinate  in  either  house,  but  may  be  altered, 
amended  or  rejected  by  the  other ;  and  on  the  final  p;L<sage  of  all 
bills,  the  vote  sliall  be  by  yeas  and  nays,  upon  each  bill  sepa- 
rately, and  sh.ill  be  entered  upon  the  journal ;  and  no  bill  shall 
become  a  law  without  the  concurrence  of  a  majority  of  the  mem- 
bers elected  to  each  hou>e. 

i,  l:!.  Every  bill  shall  be  read  at  large  on  three  different  days, 
in  each  house  ;  and  the  bill  an<l  all  amendments  thereto  shall  be 
printed  before  the  vote  is  taken  on  its  final  passage ;  and  every 
bill,  having  passed  both  houses,  shall  be  signed  by  the  speakers 
thereof.  No  act  here;iftcr  passed  shall  embrace  more  than  one 
subject,  and  th.it  sli.ill  be  expressed  in  the  title.  Cut  if  any  sub- 
ject sh.ill  be  embraced  in  an  act  which  shall  not  be  expressed  in 
the  title,  such  act  shall  be  void  only  as  to  so  much  thereof  as 
shall  not  be  .so  expres.sed  ;  and  no  laws"haU  be  revived  or  amended 
by  reference  to  its  title  only,  but  the  law  revived,  or  the  section 
amended,  shall  be  inserted  .it  length  in  the  new  act.  And  no  act 
of  the  general  assembly  shall  take  effect  until  the  first  day  of 
July  next  after  its  pass.age,  unless,  in  case  of  emergency,  (whidi 
emergency  shall  be  expressed  in  the  preambleor  body  of  the  act), 
the  gencr.il  assembly  shall,  by  a  vote  of  two-thirds  of  all  the 
members  elected  to  each  house,  otherwise  direct. 

PKIVILKOES  .VXD  PISAI!ILITIF.S. 

?  14.  Sen.itors  and  representatives  shall,  in  all  casc«,  except 
trcas:in,  felony  or  breach  of  the  peace,  be  privileged  from  arrest 
during  the  session  of  tlie  general  assembly,  and  in  going  to  and 
returning  from  the  same;  and  for  any  speech  or  debate  in  either 
house,  they  shall  not  be  questioned  in  any  other  place. 

?  15.  No  person  elected  to  the  general  assembly  shall  receive 
any  civil  appointment  within  this  State  from  the  governor,  the 
governor  and  senate,  or  from  the  general  assembly,  during  the 
term  for  which  he  shall  have  been  elected  ;  and  all  such  appoint- 
ments, and  all  votes  given  for  any  such  members  for  any  such 
offices  or  appointment,  shall  be  void  ;  nor  shall  any  member  of 
the  general  .issembly  be  interested,  either  directly  or  indirectly, 
in  anv  contract  with  the  state,  or  any  county  thereof,  authorized 
by  any  l.iw  passed  during  the  term  lor  which  he  shall  have  been 
elected,  or  within  one  year  after  the  expiration  thereof. 

PUBLIC  MONEYS  AXD  APPROPRIATIONS. 

I  IG.  The  general  assembly  shall  make  no  appropriation  of 
money  out  of  the  treasury  in  any  private  law.  Bills  making  aji- 
propriations  for  the  pay  of  members  and  officers  orthe  general 
assembly,  and  for  the  salaries  of  the  officers  of  the  government, 
shall  contain  no  provisions  on  any  other  subject. 
•\?  17.  No  money  shall  be  drawn  from  the  treasury  except  in 
pursuance  of  an  appropriation  made  by  law,  and  on  the  presenta- 
tion of  a  w.arrant  issued  by  the  auditor  thereon  ;  and  no  money 
shall  be  diverted  from  any  appropriation  made  for  any  purpose, 
or  taken  from  any  fund  whatever,  either  by  joint  or  separate 
resolution.  The  auditor  shall,  within  60  days  after  the  adjourn- 
ment of  each  session  of  the  general  assembly,  prepare  and  pub- 
lish a  full  statement  of  all  money  expended  at  such  session,  spe- 
cifying the  amount  of  each  item,  and  to  whom  and  for  what 
paid. 

1 18.  Each  general  .issembly  shall  provide  for  all  appropriations 
necessary  for  the  ordinary  and  contingent  expenses  of  the  govern- 
ment until  the  expiration  of  the  first  fiscal  quarter  after  the  adjourn- 
ment of  the  next  regular  session,  the  aggregate  amount  of  which 
shall  not  be  increa.-ied  without  a  vote  of  two-thirds  of  the  mem- 
bers elected  to  each  house,  nor  exceed  the  amount  of  revenue  au- 
thorized by  law  to  be  raised  in  such  time  ;  and  all  appropriations, 
general  or  special,  refjuiring  money  to  bo  paid  out  of  the  State 
Treasury,  from  funds  belonging  to  the  State,  shall  end  with  such 
fiscal  quarter :  Provi'lerl,  the  State  may,  to  meet  casual  deficits  or 
failures  in  revenue,  contract  debts,  never  to  exceed  in  the  aggre- 
gate $250,000;  and  moneys  thus  borrowed  shall  be  apjilied  to 
the  purpose  for  which  they  were  obtained,  or  to  pay  the  debt  thus 
created,  and  to  no  other  purpose ;  and  no  other  debt,  except  for 


the  purpose  of  repelling  invasion,  suppressing  insurrection,  or 
defending  the  State  in  war,  (for  payment  or  which  the  faith  of 
the  State  shall  be  pledged),  shall  be  contracted,  unless  the  law 
authorizing  the  same  shall,  at  a  general  election,  h.ive  been  sub- 
mitted to  the  people,  and  have  received  a  majority  of  the  votes 
c;ist  for  members  of  the  general  assembly  .it  such  election.  The 
general  assembly  shall  provide  for  the  publication  of  said  law  for 
three  months,  at  least,  before  the  vote  of  the  people  shall  be 
taken  upon  the  same;  and  provision  shall  be  inade,  at  the  time, 
for  the  pavment  of  the  interest  annually,  as  it  shall  accrue,  by  a 
tax  levieA  for  the  purpose,  or  from  other  sources  of  revenue; 
wliicli  law,  providing  for  the  payment  of  such  interest  by  such 
tax,  .shall  be  irrepealable  until  such  debt  be  paid:  And  proridcd 
further,  that  the  law  levying  the  tax  shall  be  submitted  to  the 
"people  with  the  law  authorizing  the  debt  to  be  contracted. 

i  19.  The  general  assembly  shall  never  grant  or  authorize  extra 
compensation,  fee  or  allowance  to  any  public  off.t  er,  agent,  ser- 
vant or  contractor,  after  service  has  been  rendered  or  a  contract 
made,  nor  authorize  the  payment  of  any  claim,  or  part  thereof, 
hereafter  created  .against  the  State  under  any  agreement  or  con- 
tract made  without  express  authority  of  law:  and  all  such  un- 
authorized agreements  or  eontr.icts  shall  be  null  and  void:  Pro- 
vided, the  general  assembly  may  make  appropriations  fiir  expendi- 
tures incurred  in  supjires-iiig  insurrection  or   repelling  invasion. 

J  20.  The  State  shall  never  pay,  assume  or  become  responsible 
for  the  debts  or  liabilities  of,  or  in  any  manner  give,  loan  or  ex- 
tend its  credit  to,  or  in  aid  of  any  public  or  other  corporation, 
association  or  individual. 

PAY  OF  MEMBERS. 

?  21.  The  members  of  the  general  a.ssembly  shall  receive  for 
their  services  the  sum  of  $8  per  day,  during  the  first  session  held 
under  this  constitution,  and  10  cents  for  each  mile  necessarily 
traveled  in  going  to  and  returning  from  the  seat  of  government, 
to  be  computed  by  the  auditor  of  jmblic  acccmnts  ;  and  thereafter 
such  compensation  as  shall  be  prescribed  by  law,  and  no  other 
allowance  or  emolument,  directly  or  indirectly,  for  any  puroose 
whatever;  except  i'JO  per  session  to  each  member,  which  shall 
be  in  full  for  postage,  stationery,  newspapers,  and  all  other  inci- 
dental expenses  and  i)er<iuisites ;  but  no  change  shall  be  made 
in  the  compensation  of  members  of  the  general  assembly  during 
the  term  for  which  they  may  have  been  elected.  The  pay  and 
mileage  allowed  to  each  member  of  the  general  assembly  shall 
be  certified  by  the  speaker  uf  their  respective  houses,  and  entered 
on  the  journals  and  published  at  the  close  of  each  session. 

SPECIAL  LEOISLATIOX  PROHIBITED. 

2  22.  The  general  assembly  shall  not  pass  local  or  special  laws 
in  any  of  the  following  enumerated  cases,  that  is  to  say:  for — 

Granting  divorces; 

Changing  the  names  of  persons  or  places  ; 

Laying  out,  opening,  altering,  and  worl.ing  roads  or  highways ; 

V.acating  roads,  town  plats,  streets,  alleys  and  public  grounds ; 

Locating  or  changing  county  seats ; 

Regulating  county  and  township  affairs  ; 

Regulating  the  practice  in  courts  of  justice  ; 

Re^'ulating  the  jurisdiction  and  duties  of  justices  of  the  peace, 
Dolice  magistrates,  and  constables  ; 

Providing  for  change  of  venue  in  civil  and  criminal  cairs. 

Incorporating  cities,  towns,  or  villages,  or  changing  or  amend- 
ing the  charter  of  any  town,  city  or  vill.ige ; 

Providing  for  the  election  of  members  of  the  board  of  super- 
visors in  township's  incorporated  towns  or  cities; 

Summoning  and  empaneling  grand  or  petit  juries; 

Providing  tor  the  management  of  common  schools; 

Regulating  the  rate  of  interest  on  money  ; 

The  opening  and  conducting  of  any  election,  or  designating 
the  place  of  voting ; 

The  sale  or  mortgage  of  real  estate  belonging  to  minors  or 
others  under  disability ; 

The  protection  of  game  or  fish; 

Chartering  or  licensing  ferries  or  toll  bridges ; 

Remitting  fines,  penalties  or  forfeitures ; 

Creating,  increasing,  or  decreasing  fees,  percentage  or  allow- 
ances of  public  officers,  during  the  term  for which  said  officers, 
are  elected  or  appointed  ; 

Changing  the  law  of  descent; 

(Iranting  to  anv  corporation,  a.«sociation  or  individual  the  right 
to   lay  down  railroad  tracks,  or  amending  existing  charters   for 
such  purpose; 
3 


496 


msTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE  AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


Granliiiir  to  iiny  corporation,  association  or  individual  any  spe- 
cial or  exclusive  privilege,  immunity  or  franchise  whatever  ; 

In  all  other  cases  where  a  general  law  can  be  made  applicable, 
no  special  law  shall  be  enacted  ; 

J  23.  The  general  assembly  shall  have  no  power  to  release  or 
extinguish,  in  whole  or  in  part,  the  indebtedness,  liability,  or  ob- 
ligation of  any  corporation  or  individual  to  this  State  or  to  any 
municipal  corporation  therein. 

IMrEAClIMF.XT. 

{  24.  The  house  of  representatives  sh.ill  have  the  sole  power  of 
impeachment  ;  but  a  majority  of  all  the  membei-s  elected  must 
concur  theri'in.  All  im|)eaehments  shall  be  tried  by  the  senate  ; 
and  when  sitting  lor  that  jmrpose,  the  senators  shall  be  upon 
oath,  or  alhrmation.  to  do  ju.-ticc  according  to  law  and  evidence. 
When  the  governor  of  the  State  is  tried,  the  chief  justice  shall 
preside.  No  person  shall  be  convicted  without  the  concurrence  of 
two-thirds  of  the  senators  elected.  But  judgment,  in  such  cases, 
shall  not  extend  further  than  removal  from  otfice,  and  disqualili- 
cation  to  hold  any  oftiee  of  honor  prolit  or  trust  under  the  gov- 
ernment of  this  State.  Tlic  party,  whether  convicted  or  acquit- 
ted, sh.ill  nevertheless,  be  liable  to  prosecution,  trial,  judgment 
and  punishment  according  to  law. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

i  2.'>.  The  general  assembly  shall  provide,  by  law,  thnt  the  fuel, 
stationery  and  printing-paper  furnished  for  the  use  of  the  State ; 
the  copying,  printing,  binding  and  distributing  the  laws  and 
journals,  and  all  other  printing  ordered  by  the  general  assembly, 
shall  be  let  by  contract  to  the  lowest  responsible  bidder;  but  the 
general  assemblv  shall  fix  a  maximum  price ;  and  no  member 
thereof  or  other' officer  of  the  State,  shall  be  interested,  directly 
or  indirectlv,  in  such  contract.  But  all  such  contracts  shall  be 
subject  to  the  approval  of  the  governor,  and  if  he  disapproves 
the  same  there  shall  be  a  re-letting  of  the  contract,  in  such  man- 
ner as  shall  be  prescribed  by  law.  c, 

i  26.  The  State  of  Illinois  shall  never  be  made  defendant  in 
any  court  or  law  of  equity. 

I  27.  The  general  assembly  shall  have  no  power  to  authorize 
lotteries  or  gift  enterprises,  for  any  purpose,  and  shall  pass  laws 
to  prohibit  the  sale  of  lottery  or  gift  enterprise  tickets  in  this 
State. 

g  28.  No  law  shall  be  p.assed  which  shall  operate  to  extend  the 
term  of  anv  public  officer  after  his  election  or  appointment. 

§  29.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  general  assembly  to  pass  such 
laws  as  may  be  necessary  for  the  protection  of  operative  miners, 
by  providing  for  ventilation,  when  the  same  may  be  required,  and 
the  construction  of  escapement-shafts,  or  such  other  appliances 
as  may  secure  safety  in  all  coal  mines,  and  to  provide  for  the  en- 
forcement of  said  laws  by  such  penalties  and  punishments  as 
may  be  deemed  proper. 

?  30.  The  general  assembly  may  provide  for  establishing  and 
opening  roads  and  cart-ways,  connected  with  a  public  road,  for 
private  and  public  use. 

g  31.  The  general  assembly  may  pass  laws  permitting  the  own- 
ers and  occtipants  of  lands  to  construct  drains  and  ditches,  for 
agricultural  and  sanitary  purposes,  across  the  lands  of  others. 

I  32.  The  general  assembly  shall  pass  liberal  and  homestead 
and  exemption  laws. 

i  33.  The  general  assembly  shall  not  appropriate  out  of  the 
State  treasury,  or  expend  on  account  of  the  new  rai>itol  grounds, 
and  construction,  completion  and  furnishing  of  the  State-house,  a 
sum  exceeding  in  the  aggregate,  $3,50l),tKl(l,  inclusive  of  all  ap- 
propriations heretofore  made,  without  first  submitting  the  propo- 
sition for  an  additional  expenditure  to  the  legal  voters  of  the 
State,  at  a  general  election  ;  nor  unless  a  majority  of  all  the  votes 
at  such  election  shall  be  for  the  proposed  additional  expenditure. 

ARTICLE  V. 

EXECUTIVE   DEPARTMENT. 

Pf^pnrtmont.  ?  14.  Governor  as  Commander-in-Chief. 

^  l.^i.  Impeachment  for    Misdemeanor. 
i  ir,.  Veto  of  the  Governor. 
~f  17.  Lieutenant-Governor  as  Governor. 
3  18.  As  President  of  the  .Senate. 
f  10.  Vacancy  in  Governor's  C)fliee. 
^  20.  Vacancy  in  other  State  Offices. 
?  21.  Reports  of  State  Officers. 
)  22.  Great  Seal  of  State. 
^  23.  Fees  and  Salaries. 
i  24.  Definition  of  "  Office." 
i  25.  Oath  of  Civil  Officers. 


.  Convenin 
.  Prorogiii 
.  Nominati 
.  Vacancie 
.  Removal; 
.,  RoprieTC! 


ons  bv  the  Governor. 

9  mav  be  filled. 

!  bv  the  Governor. 

I,  Commutations,  Pardons 


EXECUTIVE    DEPARTMENT. 

?  1.  The  executive  department  shall  consist  of  a  Governor, 
Lieutenant-Governor,  Secretary  of  State,  Auditor  of  Public  Ac- 
counts, Treasurer,  Su|ierintendent  of  Public  Instruction,  and  At- 
torney-General, who  shall  each  with  the  exception  of  the  Treas- 
urer, hold  his  otfice  fur  the  term  of  four  years  from  the  second 
Monday  of  January  next  after  his  election,  and  until  his  succes- 
sor is  elected  and  qualified.  They  shall,  except  the  Lieutenant 
Governor,  reside  at  the  seat  of  Government  during  their  term  of 
office,  and  keep  the  public  records,  books  and  papers  there,  and 
shall  perform  such  duties  as  may  be  prescribed  by  law. 

§  2.  The  Treasurer  shall  hold  his  office  for  the  term  of  two 
years,  and  until  his  successor  is  elected  and  qualified  ;  and  shall 
"be  ineligible  to  said  office  for  two  years  next  after  the  end  of  the 
term  for  which  he  was  elected.  He  may  be  required  by  the  Gov- 
ernor to  give  reasonable  additional  security,  and  in  delault  of  so 
doing  his  office  shall  be  deemed  vacant. 

ELECTION. 

§  3.  An  election  fcfr  Governor,  Lieutenant-Governor,  Secretary 
of  State,  Auditor  of  Public  Accounts  and  Attorney-General,  shall 
be  held  on  the  Tuesday  next  after  the  first  Monday  in  November, 
in  the  vear  of  our  Lord  1872,  and  every  four  years  thereafter  ; 
for  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction,  on  the  Tuesday  next 
after  the  first  Monday  of  November,  in  the  year  1870,  and  every 
four  vears  thereafter;  and  for  Treasurer  on  the  day  last  above 
mentioned,  and  every  two  years  thereafter,  at  such  places  and  in 
such  manner  as  may  be  prescribed  by  law. 

?  4.  The  returns  of  every  election  for  the  above  named  officers 
shall  be  scaled  up  and  transmitted,  by  the  returning  officers,  to 
the  Secretary  of  State,  directed  to  "  The  Speaker  of  the  House 
of  Representatives,"  who  shall,  immediately  after  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  house,  and  before  proceeding  to  other  business,  open 
and  publish  the  same  in  the  presence  of  a  majority  of  each  house 
of  the  general  assembly,  who  shall,  for  that  purpose,  assemble  in 
the  hall  of  the  house  of  representatives.  The  person  having  the 
highest  number  of  votes  for  either  of  the  said  offices  shall  be  de- 
clared duly  elected  ;  but  if  two  or  more  have  an  equal  and  the 
highest  number  of  votes,  the  general  assembly  shall,  by  joint 
ballot,  choose  one  of  such  persons  for  said  office.  Contested 
elections  for  all  of  said  offices  shall  be  determined  by  both  houses 
of  the  general  assembly,  by  joint  ballot,  in  such  manner  as  may 
be  prescribed  by  law. 

ELIGIBILITY. 

?  5.  No  ^5erson  shall  be  eligible  to  the  office  of  governor,  or 
lieutenant-governor,  who  shall  not  have  attained  the  age  of  30 
years,  and  been,  for  five  vears  next  preceding  his  election,  a  citi- 
zen of  the  United  States  and  of  this  State.  Neither  the  gover- 
nor, lieutenant-governor,  auditor  of  public  accounts,  secretary  of 
State,  superintendent  of  public  instruction  nor  attorney  general 
shall  be  eligible  to  any  other  office  during  the  period  for  which 
he  shall  have  been  elected. 

GOVERNOR. 

I  G.  The  supreme  executive  power  shall  be  vested  in  the  gov- 
ernor, who  shall  take  care  that  the  laws  be  faithfully  executed. 

i  7.  The  governor  shall,  at  the  commencement  of  each  se.ssion, 
and  at  the  close  of  his  term  of  office,  give  to  the  general  assembly 
information,  by  message,  of  the  condition  of  the  State,  and  shall 
recommend  such  measures  as  he  shall  deem  expedient.  He  shall 
account  to  the  general  assembly,  and  accompany  his  message 
with  a  statement  of  all  moneys  received  and  paid  out  by  him 
from  any  funds  subject  to  his  order,  with  vouchers,  and  at  the 
commencement  of  each  regular  session,  present  estimates  of  the 
amount  of  money  required  to  be  raised  by  taxation  for  all  pur- 
poses. 

J  8.  The  governor  m.iy,  on  extraordinary  occasions,  convene 
the  general  assembly,  by  proclamation,  stating  therein  the  pur- 
pose for  which  they  are  convened;  and  the  general  assembly 
shall  enter  upon  no  business  except  that  for  which  they  were 
called  together. 

S  9.  In  case  of  a  disagreement  between  the  two  houses  with 
respect  to  the  time  of  adjournment,  the  governor  may,  on  the 
same  being  certified  to  him,  by  the  house  first  moving  the  ad- 
journment, adjourn  the  general  assembly  to  such  time  as  bethinks 
proper,  not  bevond  the  first  day  of  thenext  regular  session. 

I  10.  The  governor  shall  nominate,  and  by  and  with  the  advice 
and  consent  of  the  senate,  (a  majority  of  all  the  senators  elected 
concurring,  by  yeas  and  nays,)  appoint  all  officers  whose  offices 
4 


niSTORY    OF    RAXDOLPII,    MOXROE    ASD    PERRY    COUSTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


497 


are  established  by  this  constitution,  or  which  may  be  created  by 
hivv,  and  whose  appointment  or  election  is  not  otherwise  provided 
for ;  and  no  such  officer  shall  be  appointed  or  elected  by  the  gen- 
eral assembly. 

I  11.  In  case  of  a  vacancy,  during  the  recess  of  the  senate,  in 
any  office  which  is  not  elective,  the  governor  shall  make  a  tem- 
porary appointment  until  the  next  meeting  of  the  senate,  when 
lie  shall  nominate  some  person  to  fill  such  office  ;  and  any  person 
so  nominated,  who  is  confirmed  by  the  senate  (a  majority  of  all 
the  senators  elected  concurring  by  yesis  and  nays  I,  shall  hold  his 
office  during  the  remainder  of  the  time,  and  until  his  successor 
shall  be  appointed  and  (pialified.  No  i)erson,  after  being  rejected 
by  the  senate,  shall  be  again  nominated  for  the  same  office  at  the 
same  session,  unless  at  the  request  of  the  senate,  or  be  appointed 
to  the  same  office  during  the  recess  of  the  general  assembly. 

I  VI.  The  governor  shall  have  power  to  remove  any  officer 
whom  he  may  appoint,  in  case  of  incompetency,  neglect  of  duty, 
or  malfeasance  in  oflice  ;  and  he  may  declare  his  office  vacant, 
and  fill  the  same  as  is  herein  provided  in  other  cases  of  vacancy. 

J  1.3.  The  governor  shall  have  power  to  grant  repriovi's,  com- 
mutations and  pardons,  after  conviction,  for  all  otl'ences,  subject 
to  such  regulations  as  may  be  provided  by  law  relative  to  the 
manner  of  a[)plying  therefor. 

J  14.  The  governor  shall  be  commander-in-chief  of  the  mili- 
tary and  naval  forces  of  the  State  (except  when  they  shall  be 
called  into  the  service  of  the  I'nited  States) ;  and  may.  c;;ll  i.c.t 
the  same  to  execute  the  laws,  suppress  insurrection,  and  rcjit  1 
invasion. 

I  !■').  The  governor,  and  all  civil  officers  of  this  State,  shall  be 
liable  to  impeachment  for  any  misdemeanor  in  office. 


5  IG.  Every  bill  passed  by  tlie  general  a.ssembly  idiall,  before  it 
becomes  a  law,  be  presented  to  the  governor.  If  he  approve,  he 
shall  sign  it,  and  thereupon  it  shall  become  a  law  ;  but  if  he  do 
not  approve,  he  .shall  return  it,  with  his  objections,  to  the  house 
in  which  it  shall  have  originated,  which  house  shall  enter  the 
objections  at  large  upon  its  journal,  and  proceed  to  reconsider  the 
bill.  If,  then,  two-thirds  of  the  mendx'rs  elected  agree  to  pass 
the  same,  it  shall  be  sent,  together  with  the  objections,  to  the 
other  house,  by  which  it  sludl  likewise  be  reconsidered ;  and  if 
approved  by  two-thirds  of  the  members  elected  to  that  house,  it 
shall  become  a  law,  notwithstanding  the  objections  of  the  gover- 
nor. But  in  all  such  cases,  the  vote  of  each  house  shall  be  de- 
tcrmin.'d  by  ycivs  ami  nays,  to  be  entered  on  the  journal.  Any 
bill  which  shall  not  be  returned  by  the  governor  within  ten  days 
(Sundays  excepted)  after  it  shall  have  been  presented  to  him, 
shall  become  a  law  in  like  manner  as  if  he  had  signed  it,  unless 
the  general  assend)ly  shall,  by  their  adjournment,  prevent  its  re- 
turn; ill  which  ca-se  it  shall" be  filed,  with  his  objections,  in  tlie 
office  of  the  secretary  of  State,  within  ten  days  after  such  adjourn- 
ment, or  become  a  law. 

I.IEUTF-JJAXT-GOVF.RKOR. 

J  17.  In  case  of  death,  conviction  or  impeachment,  failure  to 
qualitV,  resignation,  absence  from  the  State,  or  other  disability 
of  the  governor,  the  powers,  duties,  the  emoluments  of  the  office 
for  the  residue  of  the  term,  or  until  the  di.sability  shall  be  re- 
moved, shall  devolve  upon  the  lieutenant-governor. 

?  IS.  The  lieutenant-governor  shall  be  president  of  the  senate, 
and  shall  vote  only  when  the  senate  is  equally  divided.  The 
srnatc  shall  choose  a  president,  pro  tempore,  to  preside  in  case  of 
the  absence  or  impeachment  of  the  lieutenant-governor,  or  when 
he  shall  hold  the  office  of  governor. 

J  lit.  If  there  be  no  lieutenant-governor,  or  if  the  lieutenant- 
governor  shall,  for  any  of  the  causes  specified  in  i  17  of  this 
article,  become  incapable  of  ]ierlbrming  the  duties  of  the  oflice, 
the  president  of  the  senate  shall  act  as  governor  until  the  vacancy 
is  filled  or  the  disability  removed;  and  if  the  president  of  the 
senate  for  any  of  the  above  named  causes,  shall  become  incapa- 
ble of  performing  the  duties  of  governor,  the  same  shall  devolve 
upon  the  speaker  of  the  house  of  representatives. 

OTHER  STATE  OFFICERS. 

3  20.  If  the  office  of  auditor  of  ])ublic  accounts,  treasurer,  scc- 
ret'arv  of  State,  attorney  general,  or  suiierintendent  of  public  in- 
struction shall  be  vaca"ted  by  death,  resignation  or  otherwise,  it 
shall  be  the  duty  of  the  governor  to  fill  the  same  by  appointment, 
and  the  appointee  shall  hold  his  oflice  until  Id's  successor  shall 
be  elected  ard  qualified  in  euch  manner  as  may  be  provided   by 


law.  An  account  shall  be  kept  by  the  officers  of  the  executive 
department,  and  of  all  the])ublic  institutions  of  the  State,  of  all 
moneys  received  or  disbursed  by  them, severally,  (i-om  all  sources, 
and  for  every  service  performed,  and  a^emi-annual  report  thereof 
be  made  to  the  governor,  under  oath  ;  and  any  officer  who  makes 
a  false  rcportshall  be  guilty  of  perjury,  and  i)unislicd  accordingly. 
i  21.  The  officers  of  the  executive  department,  and  of  all  the 
iniblic  institutions  of  the  State,  shall,  at  least  ten  days  f  receding 
each  regular  session  of  the  general  assembly,  sevi  rally  report  to 
the  governor,  who  shall  transmit  such  reports  to  the  general  as- 
sembly, together  with  the  re|)orls  of  the  judges  of  the  su|)reme 
court  of  the  defects  in  the  constitution  and  laws  ;  and  the  gover- 
nor may  at  any  time  require  information,  in  writing,  under  oath, 
from  the  officers  of  the  executive  deiiartment,  and  all  ofliccrsand 
managers  of  state  institutions,  upon  any  subject  relating  to  the 
condition,  management   and  expenses  of  their  respective  offices. 

THE  SEAL  OF  STATE. 

?  22.  There  shall  be  a  seal  of  the  State,  which  shall  be  called 
the  "  Great  seal  of  the  State  of  Illinois,"  which  shall  be  kept  by 
the  secretary  of  State,  and  used  hv  him,  officially  as  directed  by 
l.iw. 

FEES  AND   SALARIES. 

I  2'^.  The  officers  named  in  this  article  shall  receive  for  their 
services  a  salary,  to  be  established  by  law.  which  shall  not  be  in- 
creased or  diminished  during  their  oflicial  terms,  and  they  shall 
not  after  the  expiration  of  the  terms  of  those  in  office  at  the 
adoption  of  this  constitution,  receive  to  their  own  use  any  fees, 
costs,  perquisites  of  olfice,  or  other  compensation.  And  all  fees 
that  may  hereafter  be  payable  by  law  for  any  sirvice  jierformed 
by  any  officer  provided  for  in  th's  article  of  the  constitution, 
shall  be  paid  in  advance  into  the  State  treasury. 

DEFIXITIOX  AXU  OATH  OF  OFFICE. 

?  24.  An  oflice  is  a  public  position  created  by  the  constitution 
or  law,  continuing  during  the  pleasure  of  the  appointing  power, 
or  for  a  fixed  time,  with  a  successor  elected  or  appointed.  An 
cniploymcMit  is  an  agency,  for  a  temporary  purpose,  which  ceases 
when  "that  jiurpose  is  acccmiplished. 

§  2').  All  civil  officers,  excei)t  members  of  the  general  assembly 
and  such  inferior  officers  as  may  be  by  law  exempted,  shall,  be- 
fore they  enter  on  the  duties  of  their  respective  offices,  take  and 
subscribe  the  following  oath  or  affirmation : 

I  do  solcmnlv  sweni-  (or  nffirm,  :>!>  tlio  ca^e  mny  he)  that  I  will  support  the 
constitution  of  tlio  United  Stales,  iind  tlie  Conslitulion  of  the  St.aie  of  Illinois, 

and  that  I  will  f:iilhfully  disehaigo  the  duties  of  the  office  of  aeeording 

t,j  the  liesit  of  my  ability. 

.Vnd  no  other  oath,  declaration  or  test  shall  be  required  as  a 
iiualilication. 

ARTICLE  VI. 

JUDICIAL    DEPARTMENT. 

?    1.  .Tndioial  Powers  of  Courts.  '3  18.  County  Judse.*— County  Clerks. 

f    •!.  Seven     Supreme     Judges— Four]  ^  It",  .\ppeals  from  County  Courts. 

Decide.                                             '  j  liu   t'robate  Courts  Authorized. 
i    n   Qiialilieations  of  a  Supreme  Judge   ^  21.  Jtt.stices  of  the  Peace  and  Con.>;ta- 
i    4.  Terms  of  the  Supreme  Court.         j            hies. 
i    .-,    Three    limnd      Divmious— Seven '?  22.  Slate's   Attorney  —  — •-  '^ ■•• 


*i   -1     f  ^'tprrmo  Judges. 

■  ■■:«:;;^TEri^"=" 

-,:.!t;i   :,:     I   Ueporler. 
.  -  1  1  ;!.■,  Mi|jreme  Court. 
■Ihitc  Courts  Authorized, 
idiction  of  Circuit  Courts. 
Mtion  of  ludicial  Circuit". 
>  of  holding  Circuit  Courts, 
tits  containing  Four  Judges, 
icsof  the!  ircuit  Judges, 
itications  of  Judges  or  Com- 


j  3  -ja.  Ctii    :i.  t  '         •     M  >'■  k  County. 
jf27.  (l.:i  '  ;      '     ""ty  Court. 

I  l'2n.  Unif'Tmilv  in  tlic  Courts. 

i  i  :i(i.  Kemoval  of  any  Judcc. 
|:n.  Judces  I)  niake  Written  Reports 
i  a2.  Terms  of  OtKce— Filling  \acan 


?  1.  The  judicial  powers,  except  as  in  this  article  is  otherwise 
jirovided,  shall  be  vested  in  one  supreme  court,  circuit  courts, 
county  courts,  justices  of  the  [)eace,  police  magistrates,  and  in 
such  courts  as  may  be  created  by  law  in  and  for  cities  and  incor- 
porated towns. 

SUI'HE.ME  COURT. 

J  2.  The  supreme  court  shall  consist  of  seven  judges,  and  shall 
have  original  jurisdiction  in  cases  relating  to  the  revenue,  in 
mandamu.i,  and  habeas  eorpim,  and  appellate  jurisdiction  in  all 
other  ea.ses.  One  of  said  judges  shall  be  chief  justice ;  four  shall 
constitute  a  quorum,  and  the  concurrence  of  four  shall  be  neces- 
sary to  every  decision. 
■       5 


498 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE    AND    RERRT    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


I  3.  No  person  shall  be  eligible  to  the  ofBce  of  judge  of  the 
supremo  cnurt  unless  he  shall  be  at  least  thirty  years  of  aje,  and  a 
citizen  of  the  United  States,  nor  unless  he  shall  have  resided  in 
the  State  five  years  next  preceding  liij  election,  and  be  a  resi- 
dent of  the  district  in  which  he  shall  be  electod. 

^  4.  Terms  of  the  supreme  court  shall  continue  to  be  held  i:i 
the  present  grand  divisions  at  the  several  places  now  provided 
for  holding  the  same ;  and  until  olhcrwise  provided  by  law,  one 
or  more  terms  of  said  court  shall  be  held,  for  the  northern 
division,  in  the  city  of  Chicago,  each  year,  at  such  times  as  said 
court  raav  a^ipoint,  whenever  said  city  or  the  county  of  Cook 
shall  provide  appropriate  room  therefor,  and  the  use  of  a  suitable 
library,  without  expense  to  the  State.  The  judicial  divisions 
may  be  altered,  increased  or  diminished  in  number,  and  the  times 
and  places  of  holding  said  court  may  be  changed  by  law. 

5  5.  The  present  grand  divisions  shall  be  preserved,  and  be 
denominated  Southern,  Central  and  Northern,  until  otherwise 
provided  by  law.  The  State  shall  be  divided  into  seven  districts 
for  the  election  of  judges,  and  until  otherwise  provided  by  law, 
thoy  shall  be  as  f  )llows  : 

First  District. — The  counties  of  St.  Clair,  Clinton,  Washing- 
ton, Jcfr:!rson,  Wayne,  Edwards,  W.abash,  White,  Hamilton, 
Franklin,  Perry,  Randolph,  Monroe,  Jackson,  Williamson,  Saline, 
Gallatin,  Hardin,  Pope,  Union,  Johnson,  Alexander,  Pulaski  and 
Massac.    , 

Second  Disirirf. — The  counties  of  Madison,  Bond,  Marion,  Clay, 
Bichland,  Lawrence,  Crawford,  Jasper,  Efhngliam,  Fayette,  Mont- 
gomerv,  Macou-un,  Shelby,  Cumberlaiul,  Clark,  Greene,  Jersey, 
Calhoun  and  Christian. 

Thtril  lUxfrirf — The  counties  of  Sangamon,  Macon,  Logan,  Dc 
Witt,  Piatt,  Douglas,  Champaign,  Vermilion,  McLean,  Living- 
ston, Ford,  Iroquois,  Coles,  Edgar,  Moultrie  and  Tazewell. 

Fourth  District. — The  counties  of  Fulton,  McDonough,  Han- 
c  )ck,  S.huyler,  Brown,  Adams,  Pike,  Mason,  Menard,  Morgan, 
Cass  and  Scott. 

I'ifth  District. — The  counties  of  Knox,  Warren,  Henderson, 
Jlercer,  Henry,  Stark,  Peoria,  Marshall,  Putnam,  Bureau,  Lasalle, 
Grundv  and  Woodford. 

Si.rlU  Dlifrirt. — The  counties  of  Whiteside,  Carroll,  Jo  Daviess, 
St;'plunson,  Winnebago,  Boone,  McHenry,  Iv'me,  Kendall,  Dc 
Kalh,  L,v,  Ojle  and  Pvock  Island. 

S,rr„l/i  Dixirirt.— The  counties  of  Lake,  Cook,  Will,  Kankakee 
and  Du  l"agc. 

Ths  boundaries  of  the  districts  may  be  changed  at  the  session 
of  t'le  general  assembly  next  preceding  the  election  for  judges 
herein,  and  at  no  other  time ;  but  whenever  such  alterations 
shall  be  made,  the  same  shall  be  upon  the  rule  of  equality  of 
popuhxtion,  as  nearly  as  county  boundaries  will  allow,  and  the 
districts  will  be  composed  of  contiguous  counties,  in  as  nearly 
comnact  form  as  circumstances  will  ])crniit.  The  alteration  of 
the  districts  shall  not  affect  the  tenure  of  an  oflice  of  any  Judge. 

?  6.  At  the  time  of  voting  on  the  adoption  of  this  constitution, 
one  judge  of  the  supreme  court  shall  be  elected  by  the  electors 
thereif,  in  each  of  said  districts  numbered  two,  three,  six  and 
seven,  win  shall  hold  his  office  for  the  term  of  nine  years  from 
the  first  Monday  of  June,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1870.  The 
term  of  office  of  judges  of  the  supreme  court,  elected  after  the 
adoption  of  this  constitution,  shall  be  nine  years ;  and  on  the 
first  Monday  of  June  of  the  year  in  which  the  term  of  any  of 
flie  judges  in  office  at  the  .adoption  of  this  constitution,  or  of  the 
judge  then  elected,  shall  expire,  and  every  nine  years  thereafter, 
there  shall  be  an  election  for  the  successor  or  successors  of  such 
judges,  in  the  respective  districts  wherein  the  term  of  such  judges 
shall  expire.  The  chief  justice  shall  continue  to  act  as  such 
until  th^  expiration  of  the  term  for  which  he  was  elected,  after 
which  thi  judges  shall  choose  one  of  their  number  as  chief  jus- 
tice. 

?  7.  From  and  after  the  adoption  of  this  constitution,  the 
judge i  of  the  supreme  court  sh.all  each  receive  a  salary  of  $4,000 
per  annum,  p.ivable  quarterly,  until  otherwise  provided  by  law. 
And  after  said  salaries  shall  be  fixed  by  law,  the  s.alarics  of 
the  judges  in  office  sh;\ll  not  be  increased  or  diminished  during 
the  terms  for  which  said  judges  have  been  elected. 

?  8.  Appeals  and  writs  of  error  may  be  taken  to  the  supreme 
court,  held  in  the  grand  division  in  which  the  case  is  decided,  or, 
by  consent  of  the  parties,  to  any  other  grand  division. 

3  9.  The  supreme  court  shall  appoint  one  reporter  of  its  deci- 
sions, wdio  shall  hold  his  oflSce  for  six  years,  subject  to  removal  by 
the  court. 

§  10.  At  the  time  of  the  election  for  representative  in  the  gen- 
eral assembly,  happening   next  preceding  the  expiration  of  the 


terms  of  office  of  the  present  clerks  of  said  court,  one  clerk  of 
said  court  for  each  division  shall  be  elected,  whose  term  of  office 
shall  be  six  years  from  said  election,  but  wiio  shall  not  enter  upon 
the  duties  of  his  office  until  the  expiration  of  the  term  ct'  his 
predecessor,  and  every  six  years  thereafter,  one  clerk  of  said 
court  for  each  division  shall  be  elected. 

APPELLATE    C'OL'ETS. 

S  11.  After  the  year  of  our  Lord  1874,  inferior  appellate  courts 
of  uniibr:a  organization  and  jurisdiction,  may  be  created  in  dis- 
tricts forracd  for  that  purpose,  to  which  such  appeals  and  writs 
of  error  as  the  general  assembly  may  provide,  may  be  prosecuted 
from  circuit  and  other  courts,  and  from  which  appeals  and  writs 
of  error  shall  lie  to  the  supreme  court,  iu  all  criminal  cases,  and 
cases  in  which  a  franchise,  or  freehold,  or  the  validity  of  a  stat- 
ute is  involved,  and  in  such  other  cases  as  may  be  provided  by 
law.  Such  appellate  courts  shall  be  held  by  such  number  of 
judges  of  the  circuit  courts,  and  at  such  times  and  places,  and  in 
such  manner,  as  may  be  provided  by  law;  but  no  judge  shall  sit 
in  review  upon  cases  decided  by  him  ;  nor  shall  said  judges  re- 
ceive any  additional  compensation  for  such  services. 

CIPXriT  COURTS. 

^  12.  The  circuit  courts  shall  have  origin.al  jurisdiction  of  all 
causes  in  law  and  ccjuity,  and  such  appellate  jurisdiction  as  is  or 
may  be  provided  by  law,  and  shall  hold  two  or  more  terms  each 
year  in  every  county.  The  terms  of  office  of  judges  of  circuit 
courts  shall  be  six  years. 

ri3.  The  State,  exclusive  of  the  county  of  Cook  and  other 
counties  having  a  population  of  1C'0,C00,  shall  be  divided  into 
judicial  circuits,  prior  to  the  expiration  of  terms  of  office  of  the 
present  judges  of  the  circuit  courts.  Such  circuitsshall  be  formed 
of  contiguous  counties,  in  as  nearly  compact  form  and  as  nearly 
equal  as  circumstances  wdll  permit,  having  due  regard  to  busi- 
ne  s,  territory  and  population,  and  shall  not  exceed  in  number 
one  circuit  for  every  100,000  of  population  in  the  State.  One 
judge  shall  be  elected  for  each  of  said  circuits  by  the  electors 
thereof.  New  circuits  may  be  formed  and  the  boundaries  of  cir- 
cuits changed  by  the  general  assembly,  at  its  session  next  pre- 
ceding the  election  for  circuit  judges,  but  at  no  other  time:  Pro- 
ridal,  that  the  circuits  may  be  equalized  or  changed  at  the  first 
session  of  the  general  assembly,  after  the  ado])tion  of  this  con- 
stitution. The  creation,  alteration  or  change  of  any  circuit  shall 
not  aflect  the  tenure  of  office  of  any  judge.  Whenever  the  busi- 
ness of  the  circuit  court  of  any  one,  or  of  two  or  more  contigu- 
ous counties,  containing  a  popidiition  exceeding  50,000,  shall  oc- 
cupy nine  months  of  tbe  year,  the  general  assembly  may  make 
of  such  county,  or  counties,  a  separate  circuit.  Whenever  addi- 
tional circuits  are  created,  the  foregoing  limitations  shall  be  ob- 
s.'rvcd. 

S  14.  The  general  assembly  shall  provide  for  the  times  of  hold- 
ing courts  in  each  county  ;  wdiich  shall  not  be  changed,  except 
by  the  general  assembly  next  preceding  the  general  election  for 
judges  of  said  courts;  but  additional  terms  may  be  provided  for 
in  any  county.  The  election  for  judges  of  the  circuit  courts  .shall 
be  held  on  the  first  ^Monday  of  June,Jn  the  year  of  our  Lord 
1873,  and  every  six  years  tlicrcafter. 

115.  The  general  assembly  may  divide  the  State  into  judicial 
circuits  of  greater  population  and  territory,  in  lieu  of  the  circuits 
provided  for  in  section  13  of  this  article,  and  provide  for  the  elec- 
tion therein,  severally,  by  the  electors  thereof,  by  general  ticket, 
of  not  exceeding  four  judges,  who  shall  hold  the  circuit  courts  for 
which  they  shall  be  elected,  in  such  manner  as  may  be  provided 
by  law. 

i  10.  From  and  after  the  adoption  of  this  constitution,  judges 
of  the  circuit  courts  shall  receive  a  salary  of  $3,000  per  annum, 
payable  quarterly,  until  otherwise  provided  by  law.  And  after 
their  salaries  shall  be  fixed  by  law,  they  shall  not  be  increased  or 
diminished  during  the  terms  for  which  said  judges  shall  be,  re- 
spectively, elected  ;  and  from  and  after  the  adoption  of  this  con- 
stitution, no  judge  of  the  supreme  or  circuit  court  shall  receive 
any  other  compensation,  jierquisite  or  benefit,  -in  any  form  whatso- 
ever, nor  perform  any  other  than  judicial  duties  to  which  may 
belong  any  emoluments. 

I  17.  No  person  shall  be  eligible  to  the  office  of  judge  of  the 
circuit  or  any  inferior  court,  or  to  membership  in  the  "board  of 
county  coinmissioncrs,"  unless  he  shall  be  at  least  25  years  of  age, 
and  a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  nor  unless  he  shall  have  re- 
sided in  this  State  five  years  next  preceding  his  election,  and  be 
a  resident  of  the  circuit,  county,  city,  cities,  or  incorporated  town 
in  which  he  shall  be  elected. 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE    AND    PERRY    COUXTIES,    ILLIXOIS. 


499 


COUNTY  COURTS. 

I  18.  There  shall  be  elected  in  and  foreaeh  county,  one  judge 
an.l  one  clerk  of  the  county  court,  whose  terms  of  office  shall  be 
four  vears.  But  tlie  general  lusscnibly  uuiy  create  districts  of  two 
or  more  contiguous  counties,  in  each  of  which  shall  be  elected 
one  judge,  wlio  shall  take  tlie  place  of,  and  exercise  the  powers 
and  jurisdiction  of  county  judges  in  such  districts.  _  County 
courts  shall  be  courts  of  record,  and  shall  have  original  jurisdic- 
tion in  all  matters  of  probate  ;  settlement  of  est:ites  of  deceased 
persons  ;  appointment  of  guardians  and  conservators,  and  .settle- 
ments of  their  ikccounts;  in  all  matters  relating  to  ajjprentices  ; 
and  in  proceedings  for  the  collection  of  taxes  and  assessments, 
and  such  other  jurisdiction  as  may  be  pr(Jvided  for  by  general 
law. 

i.  19.  Appeals  and  writs  of  error  shall  be  allowed  from  final 
determination  of  county  courts,  as  may  be  provided  by  law. 
I'ROBATE  COUr.TS. 

I  2(1.  The  general  assembly  may  l^rovidc  fur  the  establishment 
of  a  probate  court  in  eacli  county  having  a  population  of  over 
511,000,  and  for  the  election  of  a  judge  thereof,  whose  term  of 
office  shall  be  the  same  iis  that  of  the  county  judge,  and  who 
shall  be  elected  at  the  same  time  and  in  the  same  manner.  Saiil 
courts,  when  established,  shall  have  original  jurisdiction  ot  all 
])robate  matters,  the  settlcnieut  of  estates  of  dece;used  persons, 
the  appointment  of  guardians  and  conservators,  and  settlement 
of  their  accounts  ;  in  all  matters  relating  to  apprentices,  and  in 
cases  of  the  sales  of  real  estate  of  deceased  persons  for  the  pay- 
ment of  debts. 

JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE  AND  CONSTABLES. 

?  21.  Justices  of  the  peace,  police  magistrates,  and  constables 
shall  be  elected  in  an<l  for  such  districts  as  are,  or  may  be,  pro- 
vided by  law,  and  the  jurisdiction  of  such  justices  of  the  peace 
and  police  magistrates  .shall  be  uniform. 

state's  attokxeys. 

?  22.  At  the  election  for  mcmi)ers  of  the  general  assembly  in 
die  year  of  our  Lord  1672,  and  every  four  years  thereafter,  there 
shall  he  elected  a  State's  attorney  in  and  for  each  county,  in  liiu 
of  the  State's  attorney  now  provided  by  law,  w  hose  term  of  otUce 
shall  be  fjur  years. 

COURTS  OF  COOK  COUNTY. 
I  21.  The  conntv  of  Cook  shall  he  one  judicial  circuit.  The 
circuit  court  of  C.'ook  county  shall  consist  of  live  judges,  until 
the'.r  number  shall  be  increa-'ed,  as  her.'in  provided.  The  present 
judge  of  the  recorder's  court  of  the  city  of  Chicago,  and  the  pres- 
entr'jud"e  of  the  circuit  court  of  Cook  county,  shall  be  two  of 
said  judges,  and  shall  remain  in  office  for  the  terms  for  which 
thev'werjrospectivelv  elected,  and  until  their  succcs-sors  shall 
be  elected  and  qualilied.  The  superior  court  of  Chicago  shall  be 
continued,  and  called  the  sup<'rior  court  of  Cook  county.  Thj 
eeueral  assembW  may  increase  the  number  of  said  judges  by  ad- 
ding one  to  either  of  said  courts  for  every  additional  .")0,000  in- 
habitants in  said  county,  over  and  above  a  population  of  4(IO,000. 
The  t<Tnis  of  office  of  the  judges  of  said  courts  hereafter  elected, 
shall  be  six  years.  ,    ,,   , 

jI'1\.  The  judge  having  the  shortest  unexpired  term  shall  be 
chief  justice  "of  the  court  of  which  he  is  judge.  Incase  there 
are  two  or  more  whose  terms  expire  at  the  same  time,  it  may  be 
determined  by  lot  which  shall  be  chief  justice.  Any  judge  of 
either  of  said  courts  shall  have  all  the  powers  of  a  circuit  judge, 
and  may  hold  the  court  of  which  he  is  a  member.  Each  of  them 
may  hold  a  diflfcrent  branch  thereof  at  the  same  time. 

8  2').  The  judges  of  the  superior  and  circuit  courts,  and  the 
State's  attorney,  in  said  county,  .shall  receive  the  same  salaries, 
payable  out  of  the  State  treasury,  as  is  or  may  be  paid  from  said 
treasury  to  the  circuit  jud<_'es  and  State's  attorneys  of  the  ."^tate, 
and  such  further  compensation,  10  be  paid  by  the  county  of  Cook, 
as  is  or  may  he  provided  by  law  ;  such  compensation  shall  not 
be  changed  "during  their  continuance  in  ofiice. 

I  21).  The  recorder's  court  of  the  city  of  Chicago  shall  be  con- 
tinued, and  shall  be  called  the  "criminal  court  of  Cook  county." 
It  shaU  have  the  jurisdiction  of  a  circuit  court,  in  all  ca.ses  of 
criminal  and  ^lui.si' criminal  nature,  arising  in  the  county  of  Cook, 
or  that  m.ay  be  broncrbt  before  said  court  pursuant  to  law ;  and 
all  recogniz.ancesand  appeals  taken  insaid  county,in  criminal  and 

?uasi  criminal  cases  shall  be  returnable  and  taken  to  said  court, 
t  .shall  have  no  jurisdiction  in  civil  ca.ses,  except  in  those  on 
behalf  of  the  people,  and  incident  to  such  criminal  or  quasi  crim- 
inal matters,  and  to  dispose  of  unfinished'  business.  The  terms 
7 


of  said  criminal  court  of  Cook  county  shall  he  hehl  by  one  or 
more  of  the  judges  of  the  circuit  or  superior  court  of  Cook 
county,  as  nearly  as  may  be  in  alternation,  as  may  be  determined 
by  said  judges,  "or  provided  by  law.  Said  judges  shall  be  ex- 
o//mV)  judges  of  said  court. 

S  27.  The  present  clerk  of  the  recorder's  court  of  the  city  of 
Chicago,  shall  be  the  clerk  of  the  criminal  court  of  Cook  county, 
during  the  term  for  which  be  was  elected.  The  present  clerks  of 
the  suiierior  court  of  Chicago,  and  the  present  clerk  of  the  circuit 
court  of  Cook  couiitv,  shall  <'ontinue  in  office  during  the  terms 
(or  which  they  were  respectivelv  elected ;  and  thereafter  there 
shall  be  but  oiie  clerk  of  the  superior  court,  to  be  elected  by  the 
(lualilied  electors  of  said  county,  who  shall  hold  his  office  for  the 
term  of  four  years,  and  until  his  successor  is  elected  and  iiualificd. 

I  2H.  .VII  justices  of  the  peace  in  the  city  of  Chicago  shall  be 
api'iointed  by  the  governor,  by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent 
of  the  senate,  (but  only  upon"  the  recoinincndation  of  a  majoHty 
of  the  judges  of  the  circuit,  superior  and  county  courts,)  and  for 
such  di'stricts  as  are  now  or  shall  hereafter  be  |)rovided  by  law. 
They  shall  hol.l  their  offices  for  four  years,  and  until  their  suc- 
cess^ors  have  been  eoinmissioned  and  .lUalilied,  but  they  may  be 
renioveil  by  summary  proceedings  in  the  circuit  or  superior  court, 
for  ext. ution  or . >l her" malfeasance.  K.xisting  justices  of  the  peace 
and  police  magistrates  may  hold  their  offices  until  the  expiration 
of  their  respective  terms. 

GENERAL   PROVISIONS. 

?  2i).  All  jnilicial  officers  shall  be  commissioned  by  the  gover- 
nor. All  laws  relating  toi-ourts  shall  be  general,  and  of  uniform 
operation  ;  and  tlie  organization,  jurisdiction,  power,  proceedings 
and  practice  of  all  courts,  of  the  same  class  or  grade,  so  far  as 
regulated  by  law,  and  the  force  and  etlect  of  the  process,  judg- 
ments and  decrees  of  such  courts,  severally  shall  be  uniform. 

'i.  30.  The  general  assembly  may,  for  cause  entered  on  the 
journals,  upon  ilnc  notice  aiid  opportunity  of  defense,  remove 
from  oHice  any  judse,  upon  concurrence  of  three-fourths  ot  all 
the  members  "erected,  of  each  house.  All  other  oHicers  in  tills 
article  mentioned,  shall  be  removed  from  ollice  on  prosecution 
and  final  conviction,  for  misdemeanor  in  office. 

8  .-il.  All  jiKliTCS  of  courts  of  record,  inferior  to  the  supreme 
court,  shall.'on  or  before  the  first  day  of  June,  of  each  year,  re- 
port in  writing  to  the  judges  of  the  suiireme  court,  such  delects 
and  omissions  in  the  laws  as  their  exi.erience  may  suggest;  and 
the  judges  of  the  supreme  court  shall,  on  or  betorc  the  hrst  day 
of  .ianuary  of  each  year,  report  in  writing  to  the  governor  such 
defects  aii"d  omissions  in  the  constitution  and  laws  as  they  may 
find  to  exist,  tocetlier  with  ajipropriate  forms  of  bills  to  cure  such 
defects  and  omissions  in  ihe  laws.  And  the  judges  of  the  several 
circuit  courts  shall  report  to  the  next  general  assembly  the  num- 
ber of  days  thcv  have  held  court  in  the  several  counties  compos- 
in"- their  respective  circuits,  the  preceding  two  years. 

i  :!2  All  officers  provided  for  in  this  article  shall  hold  their 
offices  until  their  successors  shall  be  quiilifu'd,  and  thev  shall,  re- 
spectively reside  in  the  ilivision,  circuit,  county  or  district  for 
which  tb'e'y  may  be  elected  or  api.oiiitcd.  The  terms  of  office  of 
all  such  officer.s",  where  not  otherwise  prescribed  111  this  article 
shall  be  four  years.  All  officers,  where  not  otlierwise  provided 
for  in  this  article,  shall  perform  such  dutusaml  receive  such 
compensation  as  is  or  may  be  provided  by  law.  Vacancies  in 
such  elective  offices  shall  be  filled  by  election  ;  but  where  the 
unexpired  term  does  not  exceed  one  year,  the  vacancy  shall  be 
hlled  by  appointment,  as  follows  :  Of  judges,  by  the  governor; 
of  clerks  of  courts,  by  the  court  to  which  the  office  appertains,  or 
by  the  jud<'e  or  judges  thereof;  and  <if  all  such  other  officers,  by 
the  board  of  supervisors  or  board  of  county  comnu.ssioners  in 
the  county  where  the  vacancy  occurs.  ,      ,  ,, 

?  33  .Vll  process  shall  run  :  In  Ihr  nnmr  of  Ihr  Penple  of  the 
S/,',fc  ofjlllnoh:  and  all  prosecutirms  shall  be  carried  on :  //i 
the  Home  ,i,hI  h„  ihe  m,ll,..nt,,  of  the  IVoplr  of  th:  Slot,-  ,f  Hh,w,s; 
and  conclude  •"'J./"'"--'  the  pm.-r  and  dhjmliinf  the  .■.,nnc.  '  1  op- 
ulation  "  wherever  used  in  this  article,  shall  be  .letermined  by  the 
next  preceding  census  of  this  State  or  of  the  United  Slates. 

ARTICLE  VII. 


i  1.  Wlin  »r<?  pntillod  ffi  Vole. 
i  ■'     \\\  Votinc  to  II**  liv  Ballot. 
'(  X  r'nvil.'ues  of  RIpclnrii. 
;  4    .MtseiK'O  on  Public  Business, 


SUFFRAGE. 

1  ?  .-..  .= 


Her  not  deemed  a  Residcn 
,lifirfttlon«  for  Office, 
Persons  Convicted  of  Crime. 


1.  Every  person  having  resided  in  this  State  one  year,  in  the 


500 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


coun'.y  01  days,  ami  in  the  election  distriet  00  days  next  prcced- 
injiany  fleetiou  tluri'iii,  who  was  an  elector  in  tliisStatc  on  the 
liivt  ilay  of  April,  in  llie  year  of  our  Lord  1S4S, or  obtained  a 
certificate  of  naturalization  liefore  any  court  of  record  in  this 
8::ito  |)rinrto  the  fii-st  day  of  January,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord 
1S70,  or  who  shall  be  a  male  citizen  of  the  United  States,  above 
the  a^'e  of  21  years,  shall  be  entitled  to  vote  at  such  election. 

i'2.  All  vot'es  shall  he  by  ballot. 

'i  3.  Electors  sliall,  in  all  cases  except  treason, felony,  or  breach 
of  tlic  peace,  be  iirivilcged  from  arrest  during  their  .attendance 
at  eVx-tions,  and  in  going  to  and  returning  from  the  same.  And 
no  elector  shall  be  obliged  to  do  military  duty  on  the  days  of 
election,  except  in  time  of  war  or  public  danger. 

?  4.  No  elector  shall  be  deemed  to  have  lost  his  residence  in 
this  State  by  reason  of  his  absence  on  business  of  the  United 
States,  or  of  this  State,  or  in  the  military  or  naval  services  of  the 
United  States. 

'4.  'k  No  soldier,  seaman  or  marine  in  the  army  or  n.ivy  of  the 
United  States  shall  be  deemed  a  resident  of  this  St.ate  in  conse- 
quence of  being  st.itioned  therein. 

J  G.  No  person  shall  be  elected  or  appointed  to  any  oiiiee  in 
this  State,  civil  or  military,  who  is  not  a  citizen  of  the  United 
States,  and  who  shall  not  have  resided  in  this  State  one  year 
next  preceding  the  election  or  .appointment. 

?  7.  The  general  assembly  shall  pass  laws  excluding  from  the 
right  of  6uffra~e  persons  convicted  of  infamous  crimes. 

ARTICLE  YIIL 


EDUC.VTIOX. 


.  Sdioors  Est.il.IislioJ. 

i  or  Grants  in  aid    of  Sctiools. 

lie  Schools  uot  to  be  tiectariau 


^  1.  The  general  assembly  shall  provide  a  thorough  and  effi- 
cient system  of  free  schools,  whereby  all  the  children  of  this 
State  may  receive  a  good  common  school  education. 

I  2.  All  lands,  moneys  or  other  properties,  donated,  granted  or 
received  for  school,  college,  semin.ary  or  university  purposes,  and 
tlie  ]iroCecds  thereof,  shall  be  faithfully  applied  to  the  objects  for 
wliicli  such  g:fts  or  grants  were  made. 

^  3.  Neither  the  general  assembly  nor  any  county,  city,  town, 
tow.iship,  school  district,  or  other  public  corporation,  shall  ever 
make  any  appropriation  or  pay  from  any  public  fund  whatever, 
anything  in  aid  of  any  church  of  sectarian  purpose,  or  to  help 
support  or  sustain  any  school,  academy,  seminary,  college,  uni- 
versity, or  other  literary  or  scientific  institution,  controlled  by 
any  church  or  sectarian  demomination  whatever  ;  nor  shall  any 
grant  or  donation  of  land,  money,  or  other  personal  property  ever 
be  made  by  the  St.ate  or  any  such  public  corporation,  to  any 
church,  or  for  any  sei-t;irian  purpose. 

§  4.  No  ti/aclicr.  Stale,  county,  township,  or  district  school  offi- 
cer shall  be  iuteiistcd  in  the  sale,  proceeds  or  profits  of  any  book, 
apparatus  or  furniture,  used  or  to  be  used,  in  any  school  in  this 
State,  with  which  such  officer  or  teacher  may  be  connected, 
under  such  penalties  as  may  be  provided  by  the  general  assembly. 

§  5.  There  may  be  a.  county  superintendent  of  schools  in  each 
county,  wdiose  qualifications,  powers,  duties,  compensation  and 
time  and  manner  of  election,  and  term  of  office,  shall  be  pre- 
scribed by  law. 

ARTICLE  IX. 


'  1.  Principles  of  Taxitioi 
!  2.  Otlier  and  further  Ta> 
i  3.  Propf  rty  E.xcmpt  froit 


m  on  Coiinlv  Ta.xes. 
nicipal  Improvements 
of   municipal  Corpora- 


I  1.  The  general  assembly  shall  provide  such  revenue  as  may  be 
;ieedful  by  levying  a  tax,  by  valuation,  so  that  every  person  "and 
carporation  shall  pay  a  ta.x  in  proportion  to  the  value  of  his,  her 
or  its  property — such  value  to  be  ascertained  by  some  person  or 
persons,  to  be  elected  or  appointed  in  such  manner  as  the  general 
assembly  shall  direct,  and  not  otherwise;  but  the  general  assem- 
bly shall  have  power  to  tax  peddlers,  auctioneers,  brokers,  hawk- 
ers, merchants,  commission  merchants,  showmen,  jugglers,  inn- 
keepers grocery  keepers  liqi' or  dealers,  toll  bridges,  ferries,  insur- 
ance, telegraph  and  express  iij.ercsts  or  business,  venders  of  pat- 
ents, and  persons  or  corporations  owning  or  using  franchises  and 
privileges,  in  such  manner  as  it  shall  from  timeto  time  direct  by 
general  law,  uniform  as  to  the  class  upon  which  it  operates. 


?  2.  The  specifications  of  the  objects  and  subjects  of  taxation 
shall  not  deprive  the  general  assembly  of  the  power  to  require 
other  subjects  or  objects  to  be  taxed  in  such  a  manner  as  may  be 
consistent  with  the  principles  of  taxation  fixed  in  this  constitu- 
tion. 

i  3.  The  properties  of  this  State,  counties  and  other  municipal 
corporations,  both  real  and  personal,  and  such  other  property  r.s 
may  be  used  exclusively  for  agricultural  and  horticultural  socie- 
ties, for  school,  religious,  cemetery  and  ebaritable  purposes,  may 
be  exempted  from  taxation  ;  but  such  exemption  shall  be  only 
by  general  law.  In  the  assessment  of  real  estate  encumbered  by 
public  easement,  any  depreciation  occasioned  by  such  easement 
may  be  ileducted  in  the  valujition  of  such  property. 

?  4.  The  general  a-^ellll■ly  shall  provide,  in  all  cases  where  it 
may  be  nccessuy  I-)  sell  real  <-tate  forthe  non-payment  of  taxes 
orspeehal  as<e>sioeiit-i  \'<>r  State,  county,  municipal  or  other  pur- 
poses, that  a  return  of  such  unpaid  taxes  or  a.ssessments  shall  be 
to  some  general  officer  of  the  county  having  authority  to  receive 
State  and  county  taxes;  and  there  shall  be  no  .sale  of  said  jjrop- 
erty  for  any  of  said  taxes  or  assessments  but  by  said  officer,  upon 
the  order  or  judgment  of  some  court  of  record. 

§  5.  The  right  of  redemi)tion  from  all  sales  of  real  estate  for 
the  non-payment  of  ta.xes  or  special  assessments  of  any  character 
whatever,  shall  exist  in  favor  of  owners  and  per.sons  interested 
in  such  real  estate,  for  a  period  of  not  less  than  two  years  from 
such  sales  thereof  And  the  general  assembly  shall  provide  by 
law  for  reasonable  notice  to  be  given  to  the  owners  or  parties  in- 
terested, by  publication  or  otherwise,  of  the  fact  of  the  sale  of 
the  property  for  such  taxes  or  assessments,  and  when  the  time  of 
redemption  shall  expire :  Provided,  that  occupants  shall  in  all 
cases  be  served  with  jiersonal  notice  before  Ihe  time  of  redemption 
expires. 

I  6.  The  general  assembly  shall  have  no  power  to  release  or 
discharge  any  county,  city,  township,  town  or  district  whatever, 
or  the  iidiabitants  thereof  or  the  property  therein,  from  their  or 
its  proportionate  share  of  ta.xes  to  be  levied  for  State  purposes, 
nor  shall  commutation  for  such  taxes  be  authorized  in  any  form 
whatever. 

I  7.  All  taxes  levied  lor  State  purposes  shall  be  paid  into  the 
State  treasury. 

?  8.  County  aiitliniilie^  shall  iiiV(  r  a-se-^-  taxes  the  aggregate 
of  which  shall  exceed  7'>  (  enu  ]>rr  sKiu  valuatidU.  except  forthe 
p.iymentof  indebteihu--;  e\i>iinL'at  the  adoptinn  of  this  constitu- 
tion, unless  authorized  by  a  vote  of  the  jicopie  of  the  couuty. 

§  9.  The  general  assembly  may  vest  the  corporate  authorities 
of  cities,  towns,  villages,  with  power  to  make  local  improvements 
by  special  assessment  or  by  sjjecial  ta.xation  of  contiguous  prop- 
erty or  otherwise.  For  all  other  corporate  purposes,  all  munici- 
pal corporations  may  be  vested  with  authority  to  assess  and  col- 
lect taxes;  but  such  taxes  shall  be  uniform  in  respect  to  persons 
and  property,  with  the  jurisdiction  of  the  body  imposing  the 
same. 

?  10.  The  general  assembly  .shall  not  impose  taxes  upon  muni- 
cip.al  eorjiorations,  or  the  inhabitants  or  property  thereof,  for  cor- 
])orate  purj)03es,  but  shall  require  that  all  the  taxable  |)roperty 
within  the  limits  of  municipal  ci>r]iorations  shall  be  taxed  lor 
the  payment  of  debts  contracted  under  authority  of  law,  such 
taxes  to  be  uniform  in  respect  lo  persons  and  property,  within  the 
jurisdiction  of  the  body  imposing  the  same.  Private  property 
shall  not  be  liable  to  betaken  or  sold  for  the  payment  of  the  cor- 
porate debts  of  amunicip.al  corporation. 

I  11.  No  person  who  is  in  default,  as  a  collector  or  custodian 
of  money  or  property  belonging  to  a  municipal  corporation,  shall 
be  eligible  to  any  oflice  in  or  under  .such  corjioration.  The  fees, 
salary  or  compcnsatioTi  of  no  municipal  officer  who  is  elected  or 
appointed  fVir  a  definite  term  of  office,  shall  be  increased  or  di- 
minisheil  during  sueh  term. 

i  12.  No  county,  city,  town.ship,  school  district,  or  other  muni- 
ci[ial  corporation,  shall  be  allowed  to  become  indebted  in  any 
manner  or  for  any  purpose,  to  <an  amount,  including  existing  in- 
debtedness, in  the  aggregate  exceeding  five  per  centum  on  the 
value  of  the  taxable  property  therein,  to  be  ascertained  by  the 
last  assessment  for  State  and  county  taxes,  previous  to  the  incur- 
ring of  such  indebtedness.  Any  county,  city,  school  district,  or 
other  municipal  corporation,  incurring  any  indebtedness,  as  afore- 
said, shall  before,  or  at  the  time  of  doing  so,  provide  for  the  col- 
lection of  a  direct  annual  tax  sufficient  to  pay  the  interest  on 
such  debt  as  it  falls  due,  and  also  to  pay  and  discharge  the  prin- 
cipal thereof  within  twenty  years  from  the  time  of  contracting  the 
same.  This  section  sjiall  not  he  construed  to  prevent  any  county, 
city,  township,  school   district,  or  other  municipal   corporation 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


501 


from   issuing  their  bonds  in  compliance  with  any  vote  of  the 
people  which  may  have  been  had  prior  to  the  adoption  of  this 
constitution  in  pursuance  of  any  law  providing  therefor. 
ARTICLE  X. 

COUNTIES. 


1  J   8.  County  OfBcer?— Terms  of  Office. 

i   '.I.  Siiliirieaand  Fues  ia  Cook  Counly. 

t  10.  tJ.iiariea  lixoil  by  County  Ho.ird. 
I  \  11.  Township  Officers— Special  Laws. 

\  12.  All  Future  Fees  Uniform. 

\  l:;.  Sworn  Reports  of  all  Fees. 


il.  Form.ition  of  New  Connlies. 
2.  Division  of  any  County. 
3.  Territory  stricken  from  a  County. 
4.  Itemmal  I'f  a  County  Seat. 
6.  MettioJ  of  County  Government. 
C.  Board   of  County  Commissioners. 
7.  County  alfairs  in" Cook  County.        I 

?  1.  No  new  countv  shall  be  formed  or  established  by  the  pen- 
cr.d  iisscmblv,  wbicli"  will  reduce  the  county  or  counties,  or  cither 
of  tliem,  from  which  it  shall  be  taken,  to  less  contents  than  400 
square  miles;  nor  sliall  any  county  bo  formed  of  less  contents; 
nor  shall  .any  line  thereof  pass  witliin  less  than  ten  miles  of  any 
county  scat  "of  the  county,  or  counties  proposed  to  be  divided. 

I  2.'  No  county  s'.iall  be  divided,  or  have  any  part  s-trickcn 
therefrom,  without  submitting  the  (jue.stion  to  a  vote  of  the  peo- 
ple of  the  county,  nor  unless  a  majority  of  all  the  legal  voters 
of  the  countv,  voting  on  the  question,  shall  vote  for  the  same. 

,  S  3.  There"  shall  be  no  tciritory  stricken  from  any  county, 
uniec-s  a  majoritv  of  the  voters  living  in  such  territory  shall  peti- 
tion for  such  division  ;  and  no  territory  shall  be  added  to  any 
county  witliout  the  consent  of  the  majcjrity  of  the  voters  of  the 
county  to  which  it  is  proposed  to  be  adilcd.  But  the  portion  so 
strick'cn  off  an<l  atlded  to  another  county,  or  forme<l  in  whole  or 
in  part  into  a  new  countv,  shall  be  holden  for,  and  obliged  to 
pay  its  proportion  of  indebtedness  of  the  county  from  which  it 
liiis  been  taken. 

COUSTY  SEATS. 

J  4.  Xo  countv  seat  shall  be  removed  until  the  point  to  which 
it  is  proposed  t)"be  removed  shall  be  fixed  in  pursuance  of  law, 
and  thrcc-fifths  of  the  voters  of  the  county,  to  be  ascertained  in 
such  manner  a  J  s'.iall  be  jirovided  bv  general  law,  shall  have 
voted  in  favor  of  its  removal  to  suih  point ;  and  no  person  shall 
vote  on  BU-h  qiie^liori  who  has  not  resided  in  the  county  six 
months,  and  in  the  election  precinct  ninety  days  next  preceding 
such  election.  The  (inestion  of  removal  of  a  county  seat  shall 
not  be  oftencr  submitted  than  once  in  ten  years,  to  a  vote  of  the 
people.  But  when  an  attempt  is  made  to  remove  the  county  scat 
to  a  point  nearer  to  the  centre  of  a  county,  then  a  majority  vote 
only  shall  be  necessary. 

COUNTY  GOVEUNJIENT. 
?  5.  The  general  a-ssembly  shall  provide,  by  general  law,  <br 
township  organization,  under  which  any  county  may  organize 
whenever  a  inajority  of  the  legal  voters  of  such  county,  voting  at 
any  general  election,  shall  so  determine,  and  whenever  any  county 
shall  adopt  t  )wn.ship  organization,  so  much  of  this  constitutitm 
as  provides  for  tlie  management  of  the  fiscal  concerns  of  the  said 
county  bv  the  board  of  county  commi.ssioners,  may  be  dispensed 
with,  and  the  all'airs  of  said  "county  maybe  transacted  in  such 
manmr  ::a  the  general  as.sembly  may  provide.  And  in  any  county 
that  shall  have  adopted  a  towii-ship  organization,  the  question  of 
continuing  the  sinie  may  be  submitted  to  a  vote  of  the  electors 
of  Buch  county,  at  a  general  election,  in  the  manner  that  now  is 
or  m.iy  be  provided  by  law;  and  if  a  majority  of  all  the  votes 
cast  upon  that  que-tion"  shall  be  against  township  organization, 
then  such  organization  shall  cease  in  said  county  ;  and  all  laws 
in  force  in  relation  to  counties  not  having  township  organizations, 
shall  immedi.itoly  take  effect  and  be  in  force  in  such  county.  No 
two  townships  shall  have  the  same  nanic.and  the  day  of  holding 
the  annual  township  meeting  shall  be  uniform  throughout  the 
State. 

i  6.  At  the  first  election  of  county  judges  under  this  constitu- 
tion, three  shall  be  elected  in  each  of  the  counties  in  this  State, 
not  under  township  organization,  three  officers,  who  .shall  be 
styled  "  The  Board  of  County  Commis.sioner.<,"  who  shall  hold 
sessions  for  the  transaction  of  county  business  as  .shall  be  provided 
by  Law.  One  of  said  commissioners  shall  hold  his  office  for  one 
vear,  one  for  two  years,  and  one  for  three  years,  to  be  determined 
bv  lot ;  and  every  year  thereafter  one  such  officer  shall  be  elected 
in  each  of  said  counties  for  the  term  of  three  years. 

I  7  The  county  affairs  of  Cook  county  shall  be  managed  by  a 
board  of  commissioners  of  fifteen  persons,  ten  of  whom  shall  be 
elected  from  the  city  of  Chicago,  and  five  from  towns  outside  cf 
said  city,  in  such  manner  as  may  be  provided  by  law. 


COUNTY  OFFICEES  AND  THEIB  COMPENSATIONS. 

I  8.  In  each  countv  there  shall  be  elected  the  following  county 
officers :  County  judge,  sheriff,  county  clerk,  clerk  of  the  cir- 
cuit court,  (who  may  be  ex-officio  recorder  of  deeds,  except  in 
counties  having  C0,000  and  more  inhabitants,  in  which  counties 
a  recorder  of  deeds  shall  be  elected  atlhe  general  election  in  the 
year  of  our  Lord  1872,)  treasurer,  surveyor,  and  coroner,  each  of 
"whom  shall  enter  upon  the  duties  of  his  office,  respectively,  on 
the  first  .Monday  of  December  after  their  election ;  and  they 
shall  h.ilJ  their  "respective  offices  for  the  term  of  four  years,  ex- 
cept the  troti-surer,  sheriff  and  coroner,  who  shall  hold  their  office 
for  tw  )  years,  and  until  their  successors  shall  be  elected  and  qual- 

ifi(-il- 

I  9.  The  clerks  of  all  the  courts  of  record,  the  treasurer,  shcrifT, 
coroner  and  recorder  of  deeds  of  Cook  county,  shall  receive  as 
tlu'ir  only  compensation  for  their  services,  salaries  to  be  fixed  by 
law,  which  shall  in  nocasebeas  much  as  tlie  lawful  compenstttion 
of  a  judge  of  the  circuit  court  of  said  county,  and  shall  be  paid 
respectively,  only  out  of  the  fees  of  the  office  actually  coUecled. 
All  fees,  p"cr(iuis"ites  and  emolument ,  (above  the  amount  of  said 
s  ilarics)  shall  be  paiil  into  the  county  treasury.  The  number  of 
the  deputies  and  assistants  of  such  officers  shall  be  determined 
by  rule  of  the  circuit  court,  to  be  entered  of  record  and  their 
compensation  shall  be  determined  by  the  county  board. 

I  10.  The  county  board,  except  as  provided  in  ?  9  of  this  arti- 
cle, shall  fix  the  "compensation  of  all  county  ofUccrs,  with  the 
amount  of  their  necessary  clerk  hire,  stationery,  fuel  and  other 
expenses,  and  in  all  cases  where  fees  are  i)rovided  for,  said  com- 
pensation shall  be  paid  only  out  of,  and  shall  in  no  instance  ex- 
ceed, the  fees  actually  collected ;  they  sliall  not  allow  either  of 
them  more  per  annum  than  $1,500,  in  counties  not  exceeding 
23,000  inh.ibitants ;  82,000  in  counties  containing  20,000  and  not 
exceeding  3'>,000  inhabitants  ;  $2,500  in  counties  containing  30,- 
000  and  not  exceeding  50,001  inhabitants;  $3,000  in  counties 
containing  5'),000  and  not  exceeding  70,000  inh.abitants;  $3,500 
in  counties  containing  70,000  and  not  exceeding  100,000  inhabi- 
tants; and  $4,000  in  lounlies  containing  over  100,000  and  not 
exceeding  250,000  inhabitants;  and  not  more  than  $1,000  addi- 
tional compensation  fir  each  additional  100,000  inhabitants : 
Provided,  that  the  compensation  of  no  officer  shall  be  increased 
or  diminished  during  his  term  of  office.  All  fees  or  allowances 
by  them  received,  in  excess  of  their  said  compensation,  shall  be 
paid  into  the  coun'v  treasury. 

?  11-  The  fi'cs  of  "township  officers,  and  of  each  class  of  county 
officers,  .shall  be  uniform  in  the  class  of  counties  to  which  they 
resiiectivcly  belong.  The  compensation  lierein  provided  forsh.-ill 
apply  only  "to  officers  hereafter  elected,  but  all  fees  est.-iblished  by 
spc-ial  laws  shall  cetise  at  the  adoption  of  tliis  constitution,  and 
siuh  officers  shall  receive  only  such  fees  as  are  provided  by  gen- 
eral law. 

S  12.  All  laws  fixing  the  fees  of  State,  county  and  township 
officers,  shall  terminate  with  the  terms,  respectively,  of  tho.se 
who  may  bo  in  office  at  the  meeting  of  the  first  general  assembly 
after  the  adoption  of  this  constitution  ;  and  the  general  assembly 
shall  by  general  law,  uniform  in  its  operation,  provide  for  and 
regulate  the  fees  of  said  officers  and  their  successors,  so  as  to  re- 
difce  the  same  to  a  reasonable  comnen.'^ation  for  services  actually 
rendered.  But  the  general  assembly  m.iy,  by  general  law,  classify 
the  counties  by  poi>ulation  into  not  more  than  three  classes,  and 
regulate  tlie  fees  according  to  class.  Tlrs  article  sliall  not  be 
construed  as  depriving  the^general  assembly  of  the  power  to  re- 
duce the  fees  of  existing  officers. 

?  13.  Every  person  who  is  elected  or  appointed  to  .any  office  in 
this  State,  who  .shall  be  paid  in  whole  or  m  part  by  fees,  shall  be 
required  by  law  to  make  a  semi-annual  report,  under  oath  to 
some  officer  to  be  designated  by  law,  of  all  his  fees  and  emolu- 
ments. 

ARTICLE  XI. 

CORPORATIONS. 


5  1  Est.iblished  only  by  Oencral  Laws. 
i  2.  ExistingChartcrs-IIovv  Forfeited. 
i.  .1.  Election  of  Directors  or  ^^anar!ers. 
i  4.  Construction  of  Street  Railroads. 
\  6.  St.ite    Banks  Forbidden— General 

Law. 
t  r..  Liability  of  Bank  Stockholder.        , 
?  7.  Suspension  of  Specie  Payment. 
I  8.  Of  a  Gcncial  Baulking  Law.  1 


]  n.  Railro.adOffice.Books  and  Records 
f  10.  Personal  Property  nf  Railroads. 
J 11.  Consolidations  Forbidden. 
S 12.  Railroads     deemed    Uighways — 

Rates  Fixed. 
J  1.1.  Stocks,  Bonds  and  Dividends. 
i  14.  Power  over  existing   Companies. 
S 15.  FrciphtaDdPasscngcrTarifFre;;u- 

lated. 


?  1.  No  corporation  shall  be  created  by  special  laws,  or  it.s  ( bar- 
ter extended  chan~cd  cr  ameaded,  except  those  for  charitable, 
9 


502 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH.    MONROE   AN'D    PERRY   COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


educational,  pen;;!  or  reformatory  purposes,  which  arc  to  be  and 
remain  under  the  patronage  and  control  of  the  State,  but  the 
general  assembly  shall  provide,  by  general  law,  for  the  organiza- 
tions of  all  cor])orations  hereafter  created. 

'i  2.  All  existing  charters  or  grants  of  special  or  exclusive 
privileges,  under  which  organization  shall  not  have  taken  place, 
or  wdiich  shall  not  have  been  in  operation  within  ten  days  from 
the  time  this  constitution  takes  effect,  shall  thereafter  have  no 
validity  or  effect  whatever. 

I  3.  The  general  assembly  shall  provide,  by  law,  that  in  all 
elections  for  directors  or  managers  of  corporated  companies, 
every  stockholder  shall  have  the  right  to  vote,  in  person  orby  proxy, 
f.)r  the  number  of  shares  of  stock  ow'ned  by  him,  for  as  many 
persons  as  there  are  directors  or  managers  to  be  elected,  or  to 
cumulate  said  shares,  and  give  one  candidate  as  many  votes  as 
the  number  of  directors  multiplied  by  the  number  of  his  shares 
of  stock,  shall  equal,  or  to  distribute  them  on  the  same  principle 
among  as  many  candidates  as  he  shall  think  fit ;  and  no  such 
directors  or  managers  shall  be  elected  in  any  other  manner. 

§  4.  No  laws  shall  be  passed  by  the  general  assembly,  granting 
the  right  to  construct  and  operate  a  street  railroad  within  any 
city,  town,  or  incorporated  village,  without  requiring  the  consent 
of  the  local  authorities  having  the  control  of  the  street  or  high- 
way proposed  to  be  occupied  by  such  street  railroad. 


5  5.  No  State  bank  shall  hereafter  be  created,  nor  sball  the 
State  own  or  be  liable  for  any  stock  in  any  corporation  or  joint 
stock  company  or  association  for  banking  purposes,  now  created, 
or  t3  bo  hereafter  created,  No  act  of  the  general  assembly  au- 
thorizing or  creating  corporations  or  associations,  with  banking 
powers,  ■whether  of  issue,  deposit  or  discount,  nor  amendments 
thereto,  shall  go  into  effect  or  in  any  manner  be  in  force  unless 
the  same  shall  be  submitted  to  a  vote  of  the  people  at  the  general 
election  next  succeeding  the  passage  of  the  same,  and  be  ap- 
proved by  a  majority  of  all  the  votes  cast  at  such  election  for  or 
against  such  law. 

I  6.  Every  stockholder  in  a  banking  corporation  or  institution 
shall  be  individually  responsible  and  liable  to  its  creditors  over 
and  above  the  amount  of  stock  by  him  or  her  held,  to  an  amount 
equal  to  his  or  her  respective  shares  so  held,  for  all  its  liabilities 
accruing  while  he  or  she  remains  such  a  stockholder. 

1  7.  The  suspension  of  specie  payments  by  bankin ;  institu- 
tions, or  their  circulation,  created  by  the  laws  of  this  State,  shall 
never  be  permitted  or  sanctioned.  Every  banking  association 
now,  or  which  may  hereafter  be,  organized  under  the  laws  of 
this  State,  shall  make  and  publish  a  full  and  accurate  quar- 
terly statement  of  its  affairs,  (which  shall  be  certified  to,  under 
oath,  by  one  or  more  of  its   officers,)  as  may  be  provided  by  law. 

§  8.  if  a  general  banking  law  shall  be  enacted,  it  shall  provide 
for  the  registry  and  countersigning,  by  an  officer  of  state,  of  all 
bills  or  paper  credit,  designed  to  circulate  as  money,  and  require 
security,  to  the  full  amount  thereof,  to  be  deposited  with  the  State 
treasurer,  in  United  States  or  Illinois  State  stocks,  to  be  rated  at 
ten  per  cent,  below  their  par  value  ;  and  in  case  of  a  deprecia- 
tion of  said  stocks  to  the  amount  of  ten  per  cent,  below  par,  the 
bank  or  banks  owning  said  stocks  shall  be  required  to  make  up 
Slid  deficiency,  by  depositing  additional  stocks.  And  said  law 
shall  also  provide  for  the  recording  of  the  names  of  all  .stock- 
holders in  such  corporations,  the  amount  of  stock  held  by  each, 
the  time  of  any  transfer  thereof,  and  to  whom  such  transfer  is 
made. 

RAILRO.\DS. 

2  9.  Every  railroad  corporation  organized  or  doing  business  in 
this  State,  under  the  laws  or  authority  thereof,  shall  have  and  main- 
tain a  public  office  or  place  in  tliis  State,  for  the  transaction  of 
its  business  where  transfers  of  stock  shall  be  made,  and  in  which 
shall  be  kept  for  public  inspection,  books,  in  which  shall  be  re- 
corded the  amount  of  capital  stock  subscribed,  and  by  whom  ;  the 
names  of  the  owners  of  stock  and  amount  by  them  respectively, 
the  amount  of  stack  paid  in  and  by  whom,  the  transfers  of  said 
stock;  the  amount  of  its  assets  and  liabilities,  aud  the  names 
and  place  of  residence  of  its  officers.  The  directors  of  every 
railroad  corporation  shall,  annually,  make  a  report,  under  oath, 
to  the  auditor 'of  public  accounts,  or  some  officer  to  be  designated 
by  law,  of  all  their  acts  and  doings,  which  report  shall  include 
such  matters  relating  to  railroads  as  may  be  prescribed  by  law. 
Aud  the  general  assembly  shall  pass  laws  enforcing  by  suitable 
penalties  the  provisions  of  this  section. 

i  10.  The  rolling  stock,  and  all  other  movable  property  belong- 


ing to  any  railroad  company  or  corporation  in  this  State,  shall  be 
considered  personal  property,  and  shall  be  liable  to  execution 
and  sale  in  the  same  manner  as  the  personal  property  of  individ- 
uals, and  the  general  assembly  shall  pass  no  law  exempting  any 
such  property  from  execution  and  sale. 

?  11.  No  railroad  corporation  shall  consolidate  its  stock,  pro- 
perty or  franchises  with  any  other  railroad  corporation  owning  a 
parallel  or  competing  line;  and  in  no  case  shall  any  consolida- 
tion take  place  except  upon  public  notice  given,  of  at  least  sixty 
days,  to  all  stockholders,  in  such  manner  as  may  be  provided  by 
law.  A  majority  of  the  directors  of  any  railroad  corporation, 
now  incorporated  or  hereafter  to  be  incorporated  by  the  laws  of  the 
State,  shall  be  citizens  and  residents  of  this  State. 

?  12.  Railways  heretofore  constructed,  or  that  may  hereafter 
be  constructed  in  this  State,  are  hereby  declared  public  high- 
ways, and  shall  be  free  to  all  persons  for  the  transportation  of 
their  persons  and  property  thereon,  under  such  regulations  as 
may  be  prescribed  by  law.  And  the  general  assembly  shall,  from 
time  to  time,  pass  laws  establishing  reasonable  maximum  rates 
of  charges  for  the  transportation  of  passengers  and  freight  on  the 
different  railroads  in  this  State. 

I  13.  No  railroad  corporation  shall  issue  any  stock  or  bonds, 
except  for  money,  labor  or  property  actually  received,  and  ap- 
plied to  the  purposes  for  which  such  corporation  was  created ; 
and  all  stock  dividends,  and  other  fictitious  increase  of  the  capi- 
tal stock  or  indebtedness  of  any  such  corporation,  shall  be  void. 
The  capital  stock  of  no  railroad  corporation  shall  be  increased 
for  any  purpose,  except  upon  giving  sixty  days'  public  notice,  ia 
such  manner  as  may  be  provided  by  law. 

§  14.  The  exercise  of  the  power,  and  the  right  of  eminent  do- 
main shall  never  be  so  construed  or  abridged  as  to  prevent  the  tak- 
ing, by  the  general  assembly,  of  the  property  and  franchises  of 
incorporated  companies  already  organized,  and  subjecting  them 
to  the  public  necessity  the  same  as  of  individuals.  The  right  of 
trial  by  jury  shall  be  held  inviolate  in  all  trials  of  claims  for 
compensation,  when,  in  the  exercise  of  said  right  of  eminent  do- 
main, any  incorporated  company  shall  be  interested  either  for  or 
against  the  exercise  of  said  right. 

§  15.  The  general  assembly  shall  pass  laws  to  correct  abuses 
and  prevent  unjust  discrimination  and  extortion  in  the  rates  of 
freight  and  passenger  tariffs  on  different  railroads  in  this  State, 
and  enforce  such  laws,  by  adequate  penalties,  to  the  extent,  if 
necessary  for  that  purpose,  of  forfeiture  of  their  property  and 
franchises. 

ARTICLE  XII. 


?  1.  Persons  composing  the  Military.    1  §  4.  Privilege  from  Arrest. 
^  :i.  Organization — Equipment — Dis-  §  5.  Records,  Banners  .-ind  Relics, 
cipline.  g  6.  Exemption  from  militia  duty, 

g  3.  Commissions  of  Officers.  ( 

?  1.  The  militia  of  the  State  of  Illinois  shall  consist  of  all  able- 
bodied  male  persons,  resident  in  the  State,  between  the  ages  of 
eighteen  and  forty-five,  except  such  persons  as  now  are,  or  here- 
after may  be,  exempted  by  the  laws  of  the  United  States,  or  of 
this  State. 

§  2.  The  general  assembly,  in  providing  for  the  organization, 
equipment  and  discipline  of  the  militia,  shall  conform  as  nearly 
as  practicable  to  the  regulations  for  the  government  of  the 
armies  of  the  United  States. 

J  3.  All  militia  officers  shall  be  commissioned  by  the  gover- 
nor, and  may  hold  their  commissions  for  such  time  as  the  general 
assembly  may  provide. 

§  4.  The  militia  shall,  in  all  cases,  except  treason,  felony  or 
breach  of  th^  peace,  be  privileged  from  arrest  during  their  at- 
tendance at  musters  and  elections,  and  in  going  to  and  returning 
from  the  same. 

§  5.  The  military  records,  banners  and  relics  of  the  State,  shall 
be  preserved  as  an  enduring  memorial  of  the  patriotism  and 
valor  of  Illinois,  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  general  assembly 
to  provide  by  law  for  the  safe  keeping  of  the  same: 

J  6.  No  person  having  conscientious  scruples  against  bearing 
arms,  shall  be  compelled  to  do  militia  duty  in  time  of  peace : 
Provided,  such  person  shall  pay  an  equivilent  for  such  exemp- 
tion. 

ARTICLE  XIIL 


WAREHOUSES. 


I  1.  What  deemed  Public  Warehouse; 
i  ±  Sworn  weeklyatatements  require 
^  :i.  Examination  of  property  stored. 
i  4.  Carriers  to  deliver  full  Weight. 

10 


I  3  5.  Delivery  of  Grain  hy  Railroadi^. 
U  r..  powornnd  Duty  of  tht*  Legislature. 
^  7.  Grain    InspectioQ— ProtectioQ    of 
1  Dealers^ 


HISTORY    OF   RANDOLFB,    MONROE    AND    PERRY   COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


503 


J  1.  All  elevators  or  storehouses  where  grain  or  other  property 
is  stored  for  a  compensation,  whether  the  property  stored  bo  kept 
separate  or  not,  are  declared  to  be  public  warehouses. 

I  2.  The  owner,  lessee  or  manajrcr  of  each  and  every  public 
warehouse  situated  in  any  town  or  city  of  not  les3  than  100,000 
inhabitants,  shall  make  weekly  statements  under  .  oatli,  before 
som.i  officer  to  be  designated  by  law,  and  keep  the  same  posted 
in  some  conspicuous  place  in  the  office  of  such  warehouse,  and 
shall  also  file  a  copy  for  public  examination  in  such  place  as 
shall  be  designated  by  law,  which  statement  shall  correctly  set 
forth  the  amount  and  grade  of  each  and  every  kind  of  grain  in 
such  warehouse,  together  with  such  other  property  as  may  be 
stored  therein,  and  what  warehouse  receipts  have  been  issued, 
and  are,  at  the  time  of  making  such  statement,  outstanding  there- 
for; and  shall,  on  the  copy  posted  in  the  warehouse,  note  daily 
such  changes  as  may  be  made  in  the  ([uantity  and  grade  of  grain 
in  such  warehouse ;"  and  the  dilTercnt  grades  of  grain  shipped  in 
separate  lots,  shall  not  be  mixed  with  inferior  or  superior  grades, 
without  the  consent  of  the  owner  or  consignee  thereof. 

J  3.  The  owners  of  property  stored  in  any  warehouse,  or  holder 
of  a  receipt  for  the  same,  shall  always  be  at  liberty  to  ex.imine 
such  property  stored,  and  all  tlie  boolis  and  records  of  the  ware- 
house in  regard  to  such  property. 

I  4.  All  railroad  companies  and  othercommon  carriers  on  rail- 
roads shall  weigh  or  measure  grain  at  point?  where  it  is  shipped, 
and  receipt  for  the  full  amount,  and  shall  bo  responsible  for  the 
delivery  of  such  amount  to  the  owner  or  consignee  thereof,  at 
th«  place  of  destination. 

\  5.  All  railroad  companies  receiving  and  transporting  grain 
in  bulk  or  otherwise,  shall  deliver  the  .«ame  to  any  consignee 
thereof,  or  any  elevator  or  public  warehouse  to  which  it  may  he 
consigned,  provided  such  consignee,  or  the  elevator  or  public 
warehouse  can  be  reached  by  any  track  owned,  leased  or  used, 
or  which  can  be  used,  by  such  railroad  companies;  and  all  rail- 
paad  companies  shall  permit  connections  to  be  made  with  their 
track,  so  that  any  such  consignee,  and  any  public  warehouse, 
coal  bank  or  coal  yard,  may  be  reached  by  the  cars  on  said  rail- 
road. 

J  6.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  general  assembly  to  pass  all 
necessary  laws  to  prevent  the  issue  of  false  and  fr.iudulent 
warehouse  receipts,  and  to  give  full  elfect  to  this  article  of  the 
constitution,  which  shall  be  liberally  construed  so  as  to  protect 
producers  and  shippers.  And  the  enumeration  of  the  remedies 
herein  named  shall  not  be  constnicd  to  deny  to  the  general  as- 
sembly the  power  to  prescribe  by  law  such  other  ard  further 
remedies  as  may  be  found  expedient,  or  to  deprive  any  person 
of  existing  common  law  remedies. 

I  7.  The  general  assembly  shall  ])ass  laws  for  the  inspection 
of  grain,  for  the  protection  of  producers,  shippers  and  receivers 
of  grain  and  produce. 

ARTICLE  Xn'. 

AMENDMENTS  TO  THE   COSSTITtJTIOX. 

i  1.  By  a  Constitutional  Convention.     |  J  2.  Proposed  by  the  Legislature. 

?  1.  'Whenever  two-thirds  of  the  members  of  each  house  of 
the  general  assembly  shall,  by  a  vote  entered  upon  the  journals 
thereof,  concur  that  a  convention  is  necessary  to  revise,  alter  or 
amend  the  constitution,  the  question  shall  be  submitted  to  the 
electors  at  the  next  general  election.  If  a  majority  voting  at 
the  election  vote  tor  a  convention,  the  general  assembly  shall,  at 
the  next  session,  provide  for  a  convention,  to  consist  of  double 
the  number  of  the  members  of  the  .senate,  to  be  elected  in  the 
same  manner,  at  the  same  places,  and  in  the  same  districts.  The 
genera!  assembly  shall,  in  the  act  calling  the  convention,  desig- 
nate the  day,  hour  and  place  of  its  meeting,  fix  the  pay  of  its 
members  and  officers,  and  provide  for  the  payment  of  the  same, 
together  with  expenses  necessarily  incurred  by  the  conventitn 
in  the  performance  of  its  duties.  Before  proceeding,  the  members 
shall  take  an  oath  to  support  the  constitution  of  the  United 
States,  and  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  and  to  faithfully  discharge 
their  duties  as  members  of  the  convention.  The  qualification  of 
members  shall  be  the  same  as  that  of  members  of  the  senate, 
and  vacancies  occurring  shall  be  filled  in  the  manner  provided 
for  filling  vacancies  in  the  general  assembly.  Said  convention 
shall  meet  within  three  months  after  such  election,  and  prepare 
such  revisions,  alterations  or  amendments  of  the  constitution  as 
shall  be  deemed  necrssarv',  which  shall  be  submitted  to  the  elec- 
tors for  their  ratification  or  rejection,  at  an  election  appointed  by 
the  convention  for  thiit  purpose,  not  less  than  or  more  than  six 
months  after  the  adjournment  thereof;  and  unless  so  submitted 


and  approved  by  a  majority  of  the  electors  voting  at  the  election, 
no  such  revisions,  alterations  or  amendments  shall  take  cticct. 

I  2.  Amendmentit)  this  constitution  may  be  proposed  in  either 
house  of  the  general  assembly,  and  if  the  same  shall  be  voted 
for  by  two-thirds  of  all  the  members  elected  to  each  of  the  two 
houses,  such  proposed  amendments,  together  with  the  yeas  and 
nays  of  each  house  thereon,  shall  be  entered  in  full  on  their  re- 
spective journals,  and  .said  amendments  shall  be  submitted  to  the 
electors  of  this  State  for  adoption  or  rejection,  at  the  next  elec- 
tion of  members  of  the  general  assembly,  in  such  manner  as  may 
be  prescribed  by  law.  The  proposed  amendments  shall  be  pub- 
lished in  full  at  least  three  months  precciliug  the  election,  and 
if  a  majoritv  of  electors  voting  at  said  election  shall  vote  for  the 
proposed  amendments,  they  shall  become  part  of  this  constitu- 
tion. But  the  general  a-sseinbly  shall  have  no  power  to  propose 
amendmen's  to  more  than  one  article  of  this  constitution  at  the 
same  session,  nor  to  the  same  article  ofteuer  than  once  in  four 
years. 

SEPARATE  SECTION'S. 

Illinois  ronl'al  n.ailron.1.  I  unir-ipal  Subscription  to  Corpor*- 

lllinois  and  Michigan  Canal.  |  tioiis. 

No  contract,  obligation  or  liability  whatever,  of  the  Illinois 
Central  Railroad  Company,  to  pay  any  money  into  the  State 
treasury,  nor  any  lien  of  the  State  upon,  or  right  to  tax  property 
of  said  companv,  in  accordance  with  the  provisionsof  thecharter 
of  said  company, approved  Feb.  10,in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1851, 
shall  ever  be  released,  suspended,  modified,  altered,  remitted,  or 
in  anv  manner  diminished  or  impaired  by  legislative  or  other 
authority  ;  and  all  moneys  derived  from  said  company,  after  the 
p.ayment  of  the  State  debt,  shall  be  appropriated  and  set  apart 
for  the  payment  of  the  ordinary  expenses  of  the  State  govern- 
ment, and  for  no  other  purposes  whatever. 

.MrSICIPAL  SUBSCEIPTIOXS  TO  UAILIiOADS  OR  PEIT  ATE  CORPORA- 
TIONS. 

Ko  countv,  city,  town,  township  or  other  municip.alify  shall  ever 
become  subscriber  to  the  capital  stock  of  any  railroad  or  private 
corporation,  or  make  donation  to,  or  loan  it.s  credit  in  aid  of  such 
corporation  :  Provided  however,  that  the  adoption  of  this  article 
shal  not  be  construed  a;  afTecting  the  right  of  any  such  munici- 
palitv  to  make  sucli  subscriptions  where  the  same  have  been  au- 
thorized, under  existing  laws,  by  a  vote  of  the  people  of  such 
municipalities  prior  to  such  adoption. 

CAN.VL. 

The  Illinois  and  Michigan  Canal  shall  never  be  sold  or  leased 
until  the  specific  proposition  for  the  sale  of  lea.se  thereof  shall 
have  first  been  submitted  to  a  vote  of  the  people  of  the  State,  at 
a  general  election,  and  have  been  approved  by  a  majority  of  all 
t'le  votes  polled  at  such  election.  The  general  assembly  shall 
never  loan  the  creilit  of  the  State,  or  make  approi)riations  from 
the  treasury  thereof,  in  aid  of  railroads  or  canals  :  Provided,  that 
any  surplus  earnings  of  any  canal  may  be  appropriated  for  its 
eniargemeut  or  extension. 

SCHEDULE. 

9,  I.  Laws  in  force  remain  valid.  ]  ?  4.  Prese 

i  2.  Fines,  Penalties,  and  Forfeitures,   i  .i.  .\ll  ex 
j  3.  Recogniianees,  Bonds.ObligationsI  g  0.  Perso 

That  no  inconvenience  may  arise  from  the  nller.i 
In  the  constitution  of  this  State  and  to  carry  the  sii 
hereby  ordained  and  declared : 

?  1.  That  all  Laws  in  force  at  the  adoption  of  this  constitution, 
not  inconsistent  therewith,  and  all  rights,  actions,  prosecutions, 
claims,  and  contracts  of  this  State,  individuals  or  bodies  corpor- 
ate, shall  continue  to  be  as  valid  as  if  this  constitution  had  not 
been  ad<ipted. 

?  2.  Th.at  all  fines,  taxes,  penalties  and  forfeitures,  due  and 
owing  to  the  State  of  Illinois  under  the  present  constitution  and 
laws,  shall  inure  to  the  use  of  the  people  of  the  State  of  Illinois 
under  this  constitution. 

?  .3.  Recognizances,  bonds,  obligations,  and  all  other  instruments 
entered  into  or  executed  before  the  adoption  of  this  constitution, 
to  the  people  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  to  any  State  or  county  officer 
or  public  bodv,  shall  remain  binding  and  valid  ;  and  rights  end 
liabilities  upon  the  same  shall  continue,  and  all  crimes  and  mis- 
demeanors shall  be  tried  and  punished  as  though  no  change  had 
been  made  in  the  constitution  of  this  State. 

5  4.  County  courts  for  the  transaction  of  county  business  in 
counties  not  having  adapted  township  organization,  shall  continue 
in  existence  and  exercise  their  present  jurisdiction  until  the 
11 


nt  cnnnty  Courts   continued' 

:)stinK  Courts  continued. 

Qs  now  in    Office  continued. 


:)i)4 


msTOh'Y    OF   RAiSDOhPir,    MOXROE    AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


lio;inl  .^|■  county  I'omniis^ioiu'r!!  lu-ovidi'd  i:i  Ihis  constitutioTi  is 
ori:.ini/iiI  in  iHir-^u:i!ut'  rt"  a;i  ;u't  i>t'  llio  ^I'lu-riil  usscnihly  ;  and 
till-  louniy  ci'Uits  1:1  nil  o:\w\-  rmintii-^  shall  liavo  the  saiiic'  power 
and  juri>di<.-tiiMi  tlu'y  Jiow  ims.-css  unlil  ntlnTwisc  imividcd  by 
ixi'iioral  law. 

I  ■"!.  All  I'xisUnLT  I'OurN  wliirh  are  not  in  this  constitution 
s;H>cially  tvuinierati'il.  shall  I'iniliiuu'  in  cxistcnco  and  exorcise 
tlu'ir  present  juri^dieliou  until  otherwise  provided  bylaw. 

'i  1!.  All  persons  now  tillinj;  any  oiiiec  or  appointment  shall 
eoutinue  in  the  exercise  of  the  duties  thereof  according  to  their 
respective  commissions  or  appointments,  unless  by  this  constitu- 
tion it  is  otherwise  directed. 


I  1"^.  All  laws  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  and  all  official  writings, 
ami  the  e-xeeutive,  le.L;islative  and  judicial  }iroccedings,  shall  be 
conducted,  preserved  and  published  in  no  other  than  the  English 
langnaire. 

I  I'.l.  The  general  assembly  shall  pass  all  laws  necessary  to 
carry  into  ctTect  the  provisions  of  this  constitution. 

I  id.  The  circuit  clerks  of  the  different  counties  having  a  pop- 
ulation over  si.xty  thousand,  shall  continue  to  be  recorders  (ex- 
offioio)  for  their  respective  counties,  under  this  constitution,  until 
the  expiration  of  their  respective  terms. 

I  21.  The  .judges  of  all  courts  of  record.5  in  Coolc  County  shall, 
in  lieu  of  any  salary  provided  for  in  this  constitution,  receive  the 
compensation  now  provided  by  law  until  the  adjournment  of  the 
first  session  of  general  assembly  after  the  adoption  of  this  con- 
Blitution. 

I  22.  The  present  judge  of  the  circuit  court  of  Cook  county 
shall  continue  to  hold  the  circuit  court  of  Ijake  county  until 
otherwise  provided  by  law. 

I  23.  When  this  constitution  shall  be  adopted,  and  take  efTect 
as  the  supreme  law  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  the  two-mill  tax  pro- 
vided to  be  annually  assessed  and  collected  upon  each  dollar's 
worth  of  taxable  property,  in  addition  to  all  other  taxes,  as  set 
forth  in  article  fifteen  of  the  now  existing  constitution,  shall  cease 
to  be  assessed  after  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  seventy. 

5  21.  Nothing  contained  in  this  constitmtion  shall  be  so  con- 
strued as  to  deprive  the  general  assembly  of  the  power  to  author- 
ize the  city  of  Quincy  to  create  any  indebtedness- for  railroad  or 
municipal  purposes,  for  which  the  people  of  said  city  shallhave 
voted,  and  to  which  they  shall  have  given,  by  such  vote,  their 
assent,  prior  to  the  thirteenth  day  of  December,  in  the  year  of 
our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty-nine:  Provided, 
that  no  such  indebtedness,  so  created,  shall  in  any  part  thereof 
be  paid  by  the  State,  or  from  any  State  revenue,  tax  or  fund,  but 
the  same  shall  be  paid,  if  at  all,  by  the  said  city  of  Quincy  alone, 
and  by  taxes  to  be  levied  upon  the  taxable  property  thereof: 
And  provided,  further,  that  the  general  assembly  shall  have  no 
pjwer  in  the  premises  that  it  could  not  exercise  under  the  pre- 
sent constitution  of  this  State. 

I  2o.  In  case  this  constitution  and  the  articles  and  sections 
submittexl  separately  be  adopted,  the  existing  constitution  shall 
cease  in  all  its  provision? ;  and  in  case  this  constitution  be  adopted, 
any  one  or  more  of  its  articles  or  sections  submitted  separately 
be  defeated,  the  provisions  of  the  existing  constitution  (if  any) 
on  the  same  subject  shall  remain  in  force. 

i  26.  The  provisions  of  this  constitution  required  to  be  exe- 
cuted prior  to  the  adoption  or  rejection  thereof  shall  take  effect 
and  be  in  force  immediately. 

Done  in  convention  at  the  capital,  in  the  city  of  Springfield, 
on  the  thirteenth  day  of  May,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thou- 
sand eight  hundred  and  seventy,  and  of  the  independence  of  the 
United  States  of  America  the  ninety-fourth. 

In  witness  whereof,  we  have  hereunto   subscribed  our   names 


CHARLES  HITCHCOCK,  President. 


William  J.  Allen, 
John  Abbott, 
James  C.  Allen, 
Elliott  Anthony, 
Wm.  R.  Archer, 
Henry  I.  Atkins, 


Robert  A.  King, 
Jas.  McCoy, 
Charles  E.  McDowell, 
William  C.  Goodue, 
Joseph  Medill, 
Clifton  H.  Moore, 


James  G.  Bayne, 
R.  M.  Benjamin, 
II.  P.  II.  Brownwell, 
0   U.  Browning, 
Wm.  O.  Botvman, 
Silas  L.  Bryon, 
II.  P.  Buxton, 
Daniel  Cameron, 
AVilliam  Cary, 
Lawrence  S.  Church, 
Hiram  H.  Cody, 
W.  F.  Coolbaugh, 
Alfred  JI.  Craig, 
Robert  J.  Cross, 
Samuel  P  Cummings, 
John  Dement, 
G.  S,  Eldridge, 
James  W.  English. 
David  Ellis, 
Ferris  Foreman, 
Jesse  C.  Fox, 
Miles  A.  Fuller, 
John  P.  Gamble, 
Addison  Goodcll, 
John  C.  Haines, 
Elijah  M.  Haines, 
John  W.  Hankins, 
E.  P.  Hanna, 
Joseph  Hart, 
Abel  Harwood, 
Milton  Hay, 

Samuel  Snowden  Hayes, 
Jesse  S.  Hildrup, 


Jonathan  Merriam, 
Joseph  Parker, 
Samuel  C.  Parks, 
Peleg  S.  Perley, 
J.  S.  Poage, 
Edward  Y.  Rice, 
James  P.  Robinson, 
Lewis  W.  Ross, 
William  P.  Pierce, 
N.  J.  Pillsbury, 
Jno.  Scholfield, 
James  M.  Sharp, 
Ilenrv  Sherrell, 
W.  li.  Snyder, 
O.  C.  Skinner, 
Westel  W.  Sedgwick, 
Charles  F.  Springer, 
John  L.  Tincher, 

C.  Truesdale, 
Henry  Tubbs, 
Thomas  J.  Turner, 
Wm.  H.  Underwooil, 
Wm.  L.  Vandeventer, 
Henry  W.  Wells, 
George  E.  Wait, 
George  W.  Wall, 

R.  B.  Sutherland, 

D.  C.  Wagner, 
Cieorge  R.  Wendling, 
Chas.  Wheaton 

L.  D.  Whiting, 
John  H.  Wilson, 
Orlando  H.  Wright. 


-John  Q.  Harmon,  Secretartj. 
Daniel  Shepard,  First  Assistant  [Secretary. 
A.  H.  Swain,  Second  Assistant  Secretary. 

Office  oj  Secretary. 

IOeohgeH.  Haklow,  Secretary  of  the  State  of  Illinni<:,  do  hereby  eertify 
that  the  foregoing  is  a  true  copy  of  the  constitution  of  the  State  of  Illinois 
adopted  in  convention  the  13th  dav  of  May,  18711,  ratified  by  a  vote  of  tlie  peo- 
ple tlie  2nd  day  of  July,  1870,  and  in  force  on  tlie  8th  day  of  August,  1870,  and 
now  on  file  in  tnis  office.  In  testimony  whereof  I  hereto  set  my  hana  and  affix 
the  Great  Seal  of  State,  at  the  city  of 'Springfield,  the  31st  day  of  March,  A.  D. 
1873. 

GEO.  H.  UABLOW,  Secrctanj  of  Stale. 


AMENDMENTS    TO    THE    CONSTITUTION. 

Amending  section  31,  artic!e  4. 
ratified  bv  a  vote  of  tlie  people  No 
Governor  November  29,  1878. 


Section  31,  Article  4. 


iOfU 


tricts,  and  vest  the  corpon 


The  General  Assembly  may  pas«  la^vs  permitting  tho  r 
struct  drains  ditche*, and  leveew  fr>rn£ricultiirai, sanitary  and  mininji  purposes 
of  others,  and  piovide  fur  the  organization  of  drainage  dis- 
rvuthorities  thereof  witli  power  to  construct  and 
ins 'and  ditcher,  and  to  keep  in  repair  all  drains,  ditches 
and  levees  heretofore  constructed  under  the  laws  of  this  State,  by  special  as- 
sessments upon  the  property  benelited  thereby. 

Amending  section  8,  article  10.  Proposed  by  the  General  Assembly,  1879, 
ratified  by  a  vote  of  the  people  IS'ovemuer  2, 1&8(),  proclaimed  adopted  by  the 
Governor  November  22, 1880 ; 


Section  8,  Ae 


!lO. 


In  each  county  (here  shnll  be  elected  the 
general  election  to  be  hi-M  mu  tht-  Tursday  at 


■ing  county  officer^,  at  the 
tirst  Monday  in  November, 
A  D.1882:  A  county  jii'l^"-.  <Miiniv  <-l.  rk,  sh.iitt,  rm-l  tr«  asurcr ;  and  at  the 
election  to  be  held  ^n  the  Tiu-sduv  al'u-r  the  first  Mundny  in  November,  A.  D. 
1884,  a  coroner  and  clerk  of  the  circuit  court,  (who  may  be  e.c-offino  recorder  of 
deeds,  except  in  counties  having  6i),000  and  more  inhabitants,  in  which  coun- 
ties a  recorder  of  deeds  shall  be  elected  at  the  general  election  in  1884).  Each 
of  said  oflReers  shall  enter  upon  the  duties  of  his  office,  respectively,  on  the 
first  Monday  of  December  after  his  election,  and  they  shall  hold  their  respec- 
tive offices  for  the  term  of  four  years,  and  until  their  successors  are  elected 
and  qualified  :  Provided,  that  no  person  having  once  been  elected  to  the  office 
of  sheriff,  or  treasurer,  shall  be  eligible  to  re-election  to  said  office  for  four 
years  after  the  expiration  of  the  term  for  which  he  shall  have  been  elected. 

12 


HISTORY    OF    RANDOLPH     ilOMlOE   AND    PEIiliV    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


505 


DECLARATION    OF    INDEPENDENCE. 


'Wlicn,  in  the  course  of  hiiinan  events,  it  becomes  necessary 
for  one  people  to  dissolve  the  political  hands  which  have  con- 
nected them  with  another,  and  to  iissume  amon^  the  powers  of 
the  earth,  the  separate  and  e(iual  station  to  which  the  laws  of 
nature  and  of  nature's  Cunl  entitle  them,  a  decent  respect  to 
opinions  of  mankind  reiinires  that  they  should  declare  the  causes 
which  impel  them  to  the  separation. 

We  hold  these  truths  to  be  self-evident,  that  all  men  are  cre- 
atcil  equal ;  that  tliey  are  endowed  by  their  Creator  with  certain 
Uiialienahle  rights;  that  annnig  these  are  life,  liberty  and  the 
pursuit  of  hapjiiness.  That  to  secure  these  rights,  governments 
are  instituted  among  men,  deriving  their  just  powers  from  the 
consent  of  the  governed ;  that,  whenever  any  I'orm  of  govern- 
ment becomes  destructive  of  these  ends,  it  is  the  right  of  the 
people  to  alter  or  to  abolish  it,  and  to  institute  a  new  govern- 
ment, laying  its  foundation  on  such  ]iriiu-i|'les.  and  organizing 
its  powers  in  such  form  xs  to  them  shall  suein  must  likely  to  ef- 
fect their  safety  and  happiness.  Prudence,  indeed,  will  dictate 
that  governments  long  established  should  not  be  changed  for 
light  and  transient  causes  ;  and,  accordingly,  all  experience  hath 
shown  that  mankind  are  more  disposed  to  suffer,  while  evils  are 
sufferable.  than  to  right  themselves  by  abolishing  the  forms  to 
which  tlu  y  are  accustomed.  But  when  a  long  train  of  abuses 
and  nsuri)ations,  pursuing  invariably  the  same  object,  evinces  a 
design  to  reduce  them  under  absolute  despotism,  it  is  their  right, 
it  is  their  duty  to  throw  off  such  government,  and  to  provide 
new  guards  for  their  future  security.  Such  li  is  been  the  patient 
sutfcrauce  of  these  colonies,  and  such  is  now  the  necessity  which 
constrains  them  to  alter  their  former  systems  of  government. 
The  history  of  the  present  King  of  (Jreat  Britain  is  a  history  of 
repeated  injuries  and  usurpations,  all  having  in  direct  oliject  the 
establishment  of  an  alisolute  tyranny  over  these  States.  To 
prove  this  let  facts  be  submitted  to  a  candid  world  : 

He  has  refused  bis  assent  to  laws  the  most  wholesome  and 
necessary  fur  the  public  good. 

lie  has  furbiddcn  his  Governors  to  passl.aws  of  immediate  and 
pressing  importance,  unless  suspended  in  their  operation  till  his 
assent  should  be  obtaineil ;  and  when  so  suspended,  he  has  utterly 
neglected  to  attend  to  them. 

He  has  refused  to  passother  laws  for  the  accommodation  of  iarge 
districts  of  people,  unless  those  people  would  reliii'iiiish  the  right 
of  representation  in  the  legislature;  a  right  incstimalile  to  them, 
and  tormi<lable  to  tyrants  only. 

lie  h:is  ciillid  together  legli.slative  bodies  at  places  unusual, 
uncomlortablc.  and  distant  from  the  depository  of  their  public 
records,  for  the  sole  purpose  of  fatiguing  them  into  compliance 
with  his  measures. 

He  has  dissolved  representative  houses  repeatedly  for  oppos- 
ing, with  manly  firmness,  his  invasions  on  the  rightsof  the  peo- 
ple. 

He  has  refused,  for  a  long  time  after  such  dissolution,  to  cause 
others  to  be  elected  ;  whcrcl)y  the  legislative  powers,  incapable 
of  annihilation,  have  returned  to  the  people  at  large  for  their 
exercise;  the  State  remaining,  in  the  meantime,  exposed  to  all 
the  danger  of  invasion  from  without,  and  convulsions  within. 

He  has  endeavored  to  prevent  the  pojjulation  of  these  States  ; 
for  that  purpose,  obstructing  the  laws  for  naturalization  of  for- 
eigners; refusing  to  pass  others  to  encourage  their  migration 
hither,  and  raising  the  conditionsof  new  appropriations  of  lands. 

He  has  obstructed  the  administration  of  justice,  by  refusing 
his  assent  to  laws  for  establishing  judiciary  powers. 

He  has  made  judges  dependent  on  his  will  alone,  for  the  ten- 
ure of  their  offices,  and  the  amount  and  paymentof  their  salaries, 

He  hiLs  erected  a  multitude  of  new  offices,  and  sent  hither 
swarms  of  officers  to  harass  our  people,  and  eat  out  their  sub- 
stance. 

He  has  kept  among  us,  in  times  of  peace,  standing  armies, 
■without  the  consent  of  our  legislature. 

He  has  afl'ected  to  render  the  military  independent  of,  and 
superior  to,  the  civil  power. 

He  has  combined,  with  others,  to  subject  us  to  a  jurisdiction 
foreign  to  our  constitution,  and  unacknowledged  by  our  laws;  giv- 
ing his  assent  to  their  acts  of  pretended  legislation. 


For  quartering  large  bodies  of  armed  troops  among  us. 

For  protecting  them,  by  a  mock  trial,  from  puiiishnient,  for 
any  murders  they  should  commit  on  the  inhabitants  of  these 
States. 

For  cutting  off  our  trade  with  all  parts  of  the  world: 

For  imposing  taxes  on  us  without  our  consent : 

For  depriving  us,  in  many  cases,  of  the  benefits  of  trial  by 
jury : 

For  transporting  us  beyond  seas  to  be  tried  for  pretended  of- 
fences : 

For  abolishing  the  free  system  of  Engli.sh  law  in  a  neighbor- 
ing province, establishing  therein  an  arbitrary  government,  and 
enlarging  its  boundaries,  so  as  to  render  it  at  once  an  example 
and  fit  instrument  for  introducing  the  same  absolute  rule  into 
these  colonies : 

For  taking  away  our  charters,  abolishing  our  most  valuable 
laws,  and  altering  fundamentally,  the  powers  of  our  govern- 
ments : 

For  suspending  our  own  legislatures,  and  declaring  themselves 
invested  witli  power  to  legishite  for  us  in  all  cases  whatsoever. 

He  has  alidieated  government  here,  by  declaring  us  out  of  his 
protection,  and  waging  war  against  us. 

He  has  plundered  our  seas,  ravaged  our  coasts,  burnt  our 
towns,  and  destroyed  the  lives  of  our  jieople. 

He  is,  at  this  time,  transporting  large  armies  of  foreign  mer- 
cenaries to  complete  the  work  of  death,  desolation  and  tyranny, 
already  begun,  witli  circumstances  of  cruelty  and  perfidy  scarcely 
paralleled  in  the  most  barbarous  ages,  and  totally  unworthy  the 
head  of  a  civilized  nation. 

He  has  constrained  our  felUnv-citizens,  taken  captive  on  the 
high  seas,  to  bear  arms  against  their  country,  to  become  the  exe- 
cutioners of  their  friends  and  brethren,  or  to  fall  themselves  by 
their  hands. 

He  has  excited  domestic  insurrections  amongst  us,  and  has  en- 
deavored to  bring  on  the  inhabitants  of  our  frontiers,  the  merci- 
less Indian  savages,  whose  known  rule  of  warfare  is  an  undis- 
tinguished destruction  of  all  ages,  sexes,  and  conditions. 

In  every  stage  of  these  oiijjressions,  we  have  petitioned  for  re- 
dress, in  "the  most  humble  terms;  our  repeated  |>ctitioiis  have 
been  answered  only  by  repeated  injury.  A  prince,  whose  charac- 
ter is  thus  marked  by  every  act  which  may  define  a  tyrant,  is 
unfit  to  be  the  ruler  of  a  free  people. 

Ncjr  have  we  been  wanting  in  our  attention  to  our  British 
brethren.  We  have  warned  them  from  time  to  time,  ot  attempts 
made  by  their  legislature  to  extend  an  unwarrantable  jurisdiction 
over  us.  We  have  reminded  them  of  the  circumstances  of  our 
emigration  and  settlement  here.  We  have  ajipealcd  to  their 
native  justice  and  magnanimity,  and  we  have  conjured  them,  by 
the  ties  of  our  common  kindred,  to  disavow  these  usurpati(ms, 
which  would  inevitably  interrujitour  connections  and  correspon- 
dence. They,  too,  have  been  deaf  to  the  voice  of  justice  and 
consanguinity.  We  must,  therefore,  acquiesce  in  the  necessity, 
which  denounces  our  separation,  and  hold  them,  as  we  hold  the 
rest  of  mankind,  enemies  in  war,  in  peace,  friends. 

We,  tlicrefore  the  reprcs,-nt;itives  of  the  UNITED  STATES 
OF  AMERICA,  in  GENERAL  CONGRESS  assembled,  appeal- 
ing to  the  Supreme  Judge  of  the  \V(.rld  tor  the  rectitude  of  our 
intentions,  do,  in  the  name,  and  by  the  authority  of  the  good 
people  of  Ihr-e  eolonicsi  .solemnlv  publish  and  declare, That  these 
United  Colonies  are,  and  of  right  ought  to  be,  FREE  AND 
INDEl'lC.NDKNT  STATES;  that  they  are  ab-olved  from  all 
allegiance  to  the  British  crown,  and  that  all  jiolitieal  connection 
between  them  and  the  State  of  Great  Britain,  is.  jiid  ought  to  be, 
totallv  dissolved  ;  and  that  .as  FREE  AND  l.NDEl'KNDENT 
ST.\tKS,  tbev  have  lull  power  to  levy  war,  conclude  peace,  con- 
tract allianecs,  establish  commerce,  and  to  do  all  other  acts  and 
things  which  INDEPENDENT  STATES  may  of  right  do. 
And,  for  the  support  of  this  declaration,  and  a  firm  reliance  on 
the  protection  of  DIVINE  PROVIDENCE,  we  mutually  pledge 
tj  each  other,  our  lives,  our  fortunes,  and  our  sacred  honor. 
JOHN  HANCOCK. 


13 


5C() 


HISTORY    OF  RAJ^DOLPH,    MONROE    AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,   ILLINOIS. 


CONSTITUTION    OF    THE    UNITED    STATES. 


We,  the  people  of  tlic  United  States,  in  order  to  form  a  more 
jiert'ect  Union,  establish  justice,  insure  domestic  tranquillity, 
provide  lin-  the  coinuKin  defence,  promote  the  general  welfare 
and  secure  i\\c  hlc-i-injri  of  liberty  to  ourselves  and  our  pos- 
terity, dii  Drd.iiii  and  e^tablisli  this  CONSTITUTION  for  the 
United  States  of  America. 

ARTICLE  I. 

Section  1.  All  loni4;itiv.'  imwers  herein  granted  shall  be 
vested  in  a  Congress  nf  the  United  States,  which  shall  consist  of 
a  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives. 

Section'  2.  The  ILiu-c  uf  Iteprcsentative^  shall  be  composed 
of  iiuiub.  IS  chosen  evcrv  second  vear  by  the  people  of  the  sev- 
er.il  S  ;ii,-s  ;ni  1  the  clc.tors  in  eaih  State  shall  have  the  qualiii- 
cnt>  ii  irqui  itc  tor  electors  of  the  most  numerous  branch  of  the 
St. I  ■  I.  ■-i-latiire. 

Xo  |.,  1.-.  ui  shall  be  a  Representative  who  shall  not  have  at- 
tained to  the  age  of  twenty-five  years,  and  been  seven  years  a 
citizen  of  the  United  States,  and  who  shall  not,  when  elected,  be 
an  inhabitant  of  that  State  in  which  he  shall  be  chosen. 

r.'lirc-ciitative^  and  direct  taxes  shall  be  a|ipiirtioned  .among 
th  ■  .eveiMl  St.it.s  whieh  iiia\  be  included  wilbin  lies  Union,  ac- 
coi-diii^'  lo  tlieiv  re.,;.eetiv.'  iuimliers,  which  shall  be  iletei'mincd 
by  acblinj;'  lo  the  whole  number  of  tree  persons  including  those 
bound  to  service  for  a  term  of  ye.ars,  and  excluding  Indians  not 
tixed,  three-fifths  of  all  other  persons.  The  actual  enumeration 
shall  be  made  within  three  years  after  the  first  meeting  of  the 
Congress  of  the  United  States,  and  within  every  subsequent  term 
of  ten  years,  in  such  manner  as  they  shall  by  law  direct.  The 
number  of  Repre-cnt  itives  shall  not  cxiTcd  one  for  evcrv  thirty 
thousand,  but  eaeh  St  iti'  >li:ill  liave  ;it  least  one  Kepre-i-iitativc  ; 
and  until  such  e'liiui  i- ;ti  .ii  .hall  be  made,  the  State  of  New 
Hampshire  shall  be  entitled  loeh<.o>,-  three,  Massachusetts  eight, 
Rhode  Island  ami  Providence  I'lantations  one,  Connecticut  five, 
New  York  six,  New  .Ii'r  ey  fair,  rcnn-ylvania  eight,  Delaware 
one,  Maryland  six,  Virginia  ten,  North  Carolina  five,  and 
Ge^rgia  three. 

When  vacancies  happen  in  the  representation  from  any  State, 
the  Executive  authority  thereof  shall  issue  writs  of  election  to 
fill  such  vacancies. 

The  House  of  Representatives  shall  choose  their  Speaker  and 
other  officers,  and  shall  have  the  sole  power  of  impeachment. 

Section  3.  The  Senate  of  the  United  States  shall  be  com- 
posed of  two  Senators  from  eaeh  State,  chosen  by  the  Legisla- 
ture thereof,  for  six  years ;  and  eaeh  Senator  shall  have  one  vote. 

Immediately  after  they  shall  be  assembled  in  consequence  of 
the  first  election,  they  shall  be  divided  as  equally  as  may  be  into 
three  classes.  The  seats  of  the  Senators  of  the  first  class  shall 
be  vacated  .at  the  expiration  of  the  second  year,  of  the  sieoiid 
class  at  the  expiration  of  the  fourth  year,  and  of  the  third  cbc-s 
at  the  expiration  of  the  sixth  year,  so  that  one-third  may  be 
chosen  every  second  year  ;  and  if  vacancies  happen  by  resigna-- 
tion,  or  otherwise,  during  the  recess  of  the  Legislature  of  any 
State,  the  Executive  thereof  may  make  temporary  appointments 
until  the  next  meeting  of  the  Legislature,  jvhich  shall  then  fill 
such  vacancies. 

No  )ierson  shall  be  a  Senator  ivho  shall  not  have  attained  to 
the  ae-e  of  thirty  years,  and  been  nine  years  a  citizen  of  the 
United  Sidles,  and  who  shall  not,  when  elected,  be  an  inhabitant 
of  that  State  for  which  he  shall  be  chosen. 

The  Vice  President  of  the  United  States sh.all  be  the  President 
of  the  Senate,  but  shall  have  no  vote  unless  they  be  equally  di- 
vided. 

The  Senate  shall  choose  their  other  officers,  and  also  a  Presi- 
dent pro  tempore,  in  the  absence  of  the  Vice  President,  or  when 
he  shall  exercise  the  office  of  President  of  the  United  States. 

The  Senate  shall  have  the  sole  power  to  try  all  impeachments. 
When  sitting  for  that  purpose  they  shall  be  on  oath  or  affirma- 
tion. When  the  President  of  the  United  States  is  tried,  the 
Chief  .Tustice  shall  preside.  And  no  person  shall  be  convicted 
without  the  eoncurrenee  of  two- thirds  of  the  members  present. 

Judgment  in  cases  of  impeachment  shall  not  extend  further 
than  to  removal  from  office,  and  disqualification  to  hold  and  en- 


joy any  office  of  honor,  trust  or  profit  under  the  United  States; 
but  the  party  convicted  shall  nevertheless  be  liable  and  subject 
to  indictaicnt,  trial,  judgment  and  punishment  according  to  law. 

Section  4.  Tlu'  limes,  j)laecs  and  manner  of  holding  elections 
fir  Senators  and  l;c|>resciilatives,  shall  be  prescribed  in  eaeh 
State  by  the  Legislature  thereof;  but  the  Congress  may  at  any 
time  by  law,  make  or  alter  such  regulations,  except  as  to  the 
places  of  choosing  Senators. 

The  Congress  shall  assemble  at  least  once  in  every  year,  and 
such  meeting  shall  be  on  the  first  Jlonday  in  December,  unless 
they  shall  by  law  appoint  a  diflerent  day. 

Section  5.  Each  house  shall  be  the  judge  of  the  election, 
returns  and  qualifications  of  its  own  members,  and  a  majority  of 
eaeh  shall  constitute  a  quorum  to  do  business;  but  a  smaller 
number  nuay  adjourn  from  day  to  day,  and  may  be  authorized  to 
coriipel  the  attendance  of  absent  members  in  such  manner,  and 
under  such  ]ienalties  as  each  house  may  provide. 

Each  hous  ■  may  determine  the  rules  of  its  proceedings,  pun- 
ish its  metnlier-  lor  disorderly  behaviour,  and,  with  the  concur- 
rence of  two-tliirds,  expel  a  member. 

Eaeh  house  shall  keep  a  journal  of  its  proceedings,  and  from 
time  to  time  publish  the  same  cxcejiling  such  parts  as  may  in 
their  judgment  require  .secrecy ;  and  the  yeas  and  nays  of  the 
members  of  either  lioiise  on  any  question  shall,  at  the  desire  of 
one-fifth  of  tlio-e  |.ie-eiit,  be  entered  on  the  journal. 

Neither  house,  during  the  .session  of  Congress,  shall,  without 
the  consent  of  the  other,  adjourn  for  more  than  three  days,  nor 
to  any  other  place  than  that  in  which  the  two  houses  shall  be 
sitting. 

Section  6.  The  Senators  and  Representatives  shall  receive  a 
compensation  for  their  services,  to  be  ascertained  by  law,  and 
paid  out  of  the  Treasury  of  the  United  States.  They  shall  in 
all  eases,  except  treason,  felony  and  breach  of  the  peace,  be 
privileged  from  arrest  during  their  attendance  at  the  session  of 
their  respective  houses,  and  in  going  to  and  returning  froni  the 
same ;  and  for  any  speech  or  debate  in  cither  house  they  shall 
not  be  questioned  in  any  other  place. 

No  Senator  or  Representative  sh.all,  during  the  time  for  which 
he  was  elected,  be  appointed  to  any  civil  office  under  the  author- 
ity of  the  Uiii  led  States,  \N Inch  shall  have  been  created,  or  the 
emoluments  whereof  shall  have  been  increased  during  such 
time ;  and  no  pei-son  holding  any  office  under  the  United  States, 
shall  be  a  member  of  either  house  during  Lis  continuance  in 
office. 

Section  7.  All  bills  for  raising  revenue  shall  originate  in  the 
House  of  Representatives  :  but  the  Senate  may  propose  or  con- 
cur with  amendments  as  on  other  bills. 

Every  bill  which  shall  have  pas.scd  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives and  the  Senate,  shall,  before  it  becomes  a  law,  be  presented 
to  the  President  of  the  United  States;  if  he  approve  he  shall 
sign  it,  but  if  not  he  shall  return  it  with  his  objections  to  that 
house  in  which  it  shall  have  originated,  who  shall  enter  the  ob- 
jections at  large  on  their  journal,  and  proceed  to  reconsider  it. 
If  after  such  reconsideration  two-thinls  of  that  House  shall 
agree  to  pass  the  bill,  it  shall  be  sent,  together  with  the  objec- 
tions, to  the  other  house,  by  which  it  shall  likewise  be  recon- 
sidered, if  approved  by  two-thirds  of  that  House,  it  shall  become 
a  law.  But  in  all  such  cases  the  votes  of  both  houses  shall  be 
determined  by  yeas  and  nays,  and  the  names  of  the  persons  vot- 
ing for  and  against  the  bill  shall  be  entered  on  the  journal  of 
each  house  respectively.  If  any  bill  shall  not  be  returned  by 
the  President  within  ten  days  (Sundays  excepted),  after  it  shall 
have  been  presented  to  him,  the  same  shall  be  a  law,  in  like  man- 
ner as  if  he  had  signed  it,  unless  the  Congress  by  their  adjourn- 
ment prevent  its  return,  in  which  case  it  shall  not  be  a  law. 

Every  order,  resolution  or  vote  to  which  the  concurrence  of 
Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  may  be  necessary  (except 
on  a  question  of  adjournment],  shall  be  presented  to  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States  ;  and  before  the  .same  shall  take  etfect, 
shall  be  approved  by  him,  or  being  disa]iproved  by  him,  shall  be 
repassed  by  two-thirds  of  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representa- 
tives, according  to  the  rules  and  limitations  prescribed  in  the 
case  of  a  bill. 
14 


HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MOXROL    AXD    PERRY    COUXTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


Se  Tiox  8.  The  Congress  shall  have  power — 

To  lay  and  collect  taxes,  duties,  imposts  and  excises,  to  pay 
th2  debts  and  provide  for  the  coininon  defense  and  general  wel- 
fare of  the  United  Slates;  but  all  duties,  imposts  and  excises 
shill  be  uniform  throughout  the  United  States; 

To  borrow  money  on  the  credit  of  the  United  States; 

To  regulate  commerce  with  foreign  nations,  and  among  the 
ssveral  States,  and  with  tlie  Indian  tribes; 

To  establish  a  uniform  rule  of  naturalization,  and  uniform 
laws  on  the  subject  of  bankruptcies  throughout  the  United 
States ; 

To  coin  money,  regulate  the  value  thereof,  and  of  foreign 
coin,  and  fix  the  standard  of  weights  and  measures  ; 

To  ])rovide  for  the  punishment  of  couuterfeiting  the  securities 
an  1  current  coin  of  the  United  .States; 

To  establish  [lost-oflices  ^md  post-roails ; 

To  promote  tlie  progres-!  of  science  and  useful  arts,  by  secur- 
ing for  limited  times  to  authors  an  i  inventors  the  exclusive  right 
to  their  respective  writings  and  discoveries; 

To  constitute  tribunals  iiiferior  to  the  Sujireme  Court ; 

To  define  and  pu  lish  piracies  and  felonies  committed  on  the 
high  seas,  and  olfences  against  the  law  of  nations  ; 

To  declare  war,  grant  letters  of  maniueand  reprisal,  and  make 
rule?  concerning  captures  on  land  and  water; 

To  raise  and  support  armies,  but  no  appropriation  of  money 
to  that  use  shall  be  for  a  longer  term  than  two  years; 

To  provide  and  maintain  a  navy  ; 

To  make  rules  for  the  government  and  regulation  of  the  land 
and  naval  forces ; 

To  provide  for  calling  forth  the  militia  to  execute  the  laws  of 
the  Union,  suppress  insurrections  and  repel  invasions; 

To  provide  for  organizing,  arming  and  disciplining  the  militia, 
and  for  governing  such  pact  of  them  as  may  be  employed  in  the 
service  of  the  United  States,  reserving  to  the  States,  respectively 
the  appointment  of  the  officers,  and  the  authority  of  training 
the  militia  according  to  the  discipline  prescribed  by  Congress. 

To  exercise  leiiislation  in  all  cases  whatsoever,  over  such  dis- 
tricts (not  exceeding  ten  miles  square),  as  may  by  the  cession  of 
particular  States  and  the  acceptance  of  Congress  become  the 
seat  of  the  g jvernment  of  the  United  States,  and  to  exercise  like 
authority  over  all  places  purchased  by  the  consent  of  the  Legisla- 
ture of  the  State  in  whicii  tlie  same  shall  be,  for  the  erection  of 
forts,  magazines,  arsenals,  dock-yards  and  other  needful  build- 
ings;— and 

To  make  all  laws  which  shall  be  necessary  and  proper  for  car- 
rying into  execution  the  foregoing  powers,  and  all  other  powers 
vested  by  this  Constitution  in  tlie  government  of  the  United 
States,  or  to  anv  department  or  officer  tlierenf 

Section  9.  The  migration  or  importation  of  such  persons  as 
any  of  the  States  ujw  existing  shall  think  proper  to  admit,  shall 
not  be  prohibited  by  the  Congress  prior  to  the  year  one  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  eight,  but  a  tax  or  duty  may  be  imposed  on 
such  importation,  not  exceeding  ten  dollars  for  each  person. 

The  privileges  of  the  writ  of  h.ibeas  corpus  shall  not  be  sus- 
pended, unless  when  in  cases  of  rebellion  or  invasion  the  public 
safety  may  require  it. 

No  billof  attainder  or  ex-post  facto  law  shall  be  passed. 

No  capitation  or  other  direct  tax  shall  be  laid  unless  in  pro- 
portion to  the  census,  or  enumeration  hereinbefore  directed  to 
be  taken. 

No  tax  or  duty  shall  be  laid  on  articles  exported  from  any 
Sute. 

No  preference  shall  be  given  by  any  regulation  of  commerce 
or  revenue  to  the  ports  of  one  State  over  those  of  another ;  nor 
shall  vessels  bound  to,  or  from  one  State,  be  obliged  to  enter, 
clear,  or  pay  duties  in  another. 

No  money  shall  be  drawn  from  the  Treasury,  but  in  con- 
sequence of  appropriations  made  by  law ;  and  a  regular  statement 
and  account  of  the  receipts  and  expenditures  of  all  public  money 
shall  be  published  from  time  to  time. 

No  title  of  nobility  shall  be  granted  by  the  United  States ; 
and  no  person  holding  any  office  of  profit  or  trust  under  them, 
shall  without  the  consent  of  Congress,  accept  of  any  present, 
emolument,  office,  or  title,  of  any  kind  whatever,  from  any  king, 
prince,  or  foreign  State. 

Section  10.  No  State  shall  enter  into  any  treaty,  alliance,  or 
confederation;  grant  letters  of  marque  or  reprisal ;  coin  money  ; 
emit  bills  of  credit;  make  anything  but  gold  and  silver  coin  a 
tender  in  payment  of  debts;  pass  any  bill  of  attainder,  ex  post 
facto  law,  or  law  impairing  the  obligation  of  contracts,  or  grant 
any  title  of  nobility. 


No  State  shall,  without  the  consent  of  the  Congress,  lay  any 
imposts  or  duties  on  imports  or  exjiorts,  except  what  may  be  ab- 
solutely necessary  for  executing  its  inspection  laws,  and  the  net 
produce  of  all  duties  and  imposts  laid  by  any  State  on  imports 
or  exports,  shall  be  for  the  use  of  the  Treasury  of  the  United 
States ;  and  all  such  laws  shall  be  subject  to  the  revision  and 
control  of  the  Congress. 

No  State  shall,  withcmt  the  consent  of  the  Congress,  lay  any 
duty  on  tonnage,  keep  troops  or  ships  of  war  in  time  of  peace, 
enter  into  any  agreement  or  compact  with  another  State,  or  with 
a  foreign  power,  or  engage  in  war,  unless  actually  invaded  or  in 
such  imminent  danger  as  will  not  admit  of  delay. 

ARTICLE  IL 

Section  1.  The  Executive  power  shall  be  vested  in  a  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States  of  America.  He  shall  hold  his  office 
during  the  term  of  four  years,  an<l,  together  with  the  Vice  Presi- 
dent chosen  for  the  same  term,  be  elected  as  f<dlows : 

Each  .State  shall  appoint,  in  such  a  manner  as  the  Legislature 
thereof  may  direct,  a  number  of  electors  equal  to  the  whole  num- 
ber of  Senators  and  llepresentatives  to  which  the  State  may  be 
entitled  in  the  Congress ;  but  no  Senator  or  Keprcsentative,  or 
person  holding  an  office  of  trust  or  profit  under  the  United 
States,  shall  be  appointed  an  elector. 

[*The  electors  shall  meet  in  their  respective  States  and  vote 
by  ballot  for  two  persons,  of  whom  one  at  least  shall  not  be  an 
inhabitant  of  the  same  State  with  themselves.  And  they  shall 
make  a  list  of  all  persons  voted  for,  and  of  the  number  of  votes 
for  each  ;  which  list  they  shall  sign  and  certify,  and  transmit, 
sealed  to  the  seat  of  the  government  of  the  United  States, 
directed  to  the  President  of  the  Senate.  The  President  of  the 
Senate  shall,  in  the  presence  of  the  Senate  and  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives, open  all  the  certificates,  and  the  votes  shall  then  be 
counted.  Tlie  person  having  the  greatest  number  of  votes  shall 
be  the  President,  if  .such  number  be  a  majority  of  the  whole 
number  of  electors  ap])ointed  ;  and  if  there  be  more  than  one 
who  have  such  majority,  and  have  an  e(iual  number  of  votes, 
then  the  House  of  Representatives  shall  immediately  choose  by 
ballot  one  of  them  for  President ;  and  if  no  person  have  a  major- 
ity, then  from  the  five  highest  on  the  list  the  said  House  shall  in 
like  manner  choose  the  President.  But  in  choosing  the  Presi- 
dent, the  vote  shall  be  taken  by  States,  the  representation  from 
each  State  having  one  vote;  li  quorum  for  this  purpose,  shall 
consist  of  a  member  or  members  from  two-thirds  of  the  States, 
and  a  majority  of  all  the  Stales  shall  be  necessary  to  a  choice. 
In  everv  case,  after  the  choice  of  the  President,  the  person 
having  the  greatest  immber  of  votes  of  the  electors  shall  be  the 
Vice  President.  But  if  there  should  remain  two  or  more  who 
have  equal  votes,  the  Senate  shall  choose  from  them  by  ballot  the 
Vice  President.] 

The  Congress  may  dctermime  the  time  of  choosing  the  elect- 
ors, and  the  day  on  "which  they  shall  give  their  votes;  which  day 
shall  be  the  same  throughout  the  United  States. 

No  person  except  a  natural  born  citizen,  or  a  citizen  of  the 
Ignited  States  at  the  time  of  the  adoption  of  this  Constitution, 
sliall  be  elisrible  to  the  office  of  IVesident;  neither  shall  any  per- 
s  m  be  eligible  to  that  office  who  shall  not  have  attained  the  age 
of  thirty-five  years,  and  been  fourteen  years  a  resident  within 
the  United  States. 

In  case  of  the  removal  of  the  President  from  office,  or  of  his 
death,  resignation,  or  inability  to  discharge  the  powers  and 
duties  of  the  saicl  office,  the  same  shall  devolve  on  the  Vice 
President  and  the  Congress  may  by  law  provide  for  the  case  of 
removal,  death,  resignation,  or  inability,  both  of  the  President 
and  Vice  President,  declaring  what  officer  shall  then  act  as 
President,  and  such  officer  shall  act  accordingly,  until  the  disa- 
bilitv  be  removed,  or  a  President  shall  be  elected. 

The  President  shall,  at  stated  times,  receive  for  his  services  a 
compensation  which  shall  neither  be  increased  nor  diminished  dur- 
ing the  period  for  which  he  shall  have  been  elected,  and  he  shall 
not  receive  within  that  period  any  other  emolument  from  the 
United  States,  or  any  of  them. 

Before  he  enter  on  the  execution  of  his  office  he  shall  take  the 
following  oath  or  atlirmation : 

"  I  do  solemnlv  swear  (or  affirm)  that  I  will  faithfully  execute 
the  office  of  President  of  the  United  St.ites,  and  will,  to  the  best 
of  my  ability,  preserve,  protect,  and  defend  the  Constitution  of 
the  United  States." 

•  This  clause  within  brackets  has  been  superseded  and  annulled  by  the 
XII  Amendment. 
15 


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HISTORY    OF   RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


Section  2.  The  President  shall  be  cominandcr-in-chief  of  the 
army  and  navy  of  the  United  States,  and  of  the  militia  of  the 
several  States,  when  called  into  the  actual  service  of  the  United 
States;  he  may  require  the  opinion,  in  writing,  of  the  principal 
officer  in  each  of  the  Executive  departments,  upon  any  subject 
relating  to  the  duties  of  their  respective  offices,  and  he  shall  have 
power  to  grant  reprieves  and  pardons  tor  otfences  against  the 
United  States,  except  in  cases  of  impeachment.  He  shall 
have  power,  by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Senate, 
to  make  treaties,  provided  two-thirds  of  the  Senators  present 
concur  ;  and  he  shall  nominate,  and  by  and  with  the  advice  of 
the  Senate,  shall  appoint  aniliassadors,  other  public  ministers, 
consuls,  judges  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and  all  other  officers  of 
the  United  States  whose  appointments  are  not  herein  otherwise 
provided  for,  and  which  shall  be  established  by  law ;  but  the 
Congress  may  by  law  vest  the  appointment  of  such  inferior 
officers  as  they  think  proper  in  the  President  alone,  in  the  courts 
of  law,  or  in  the  heads  of  departments. 

Tiie  President  shall  have  power  to  fill  up  all  vacancies  thai 
may  happen  during  the  recess  of  the  Senate,  by  granting  com- 
missions which  shall  expire  at  the  end  of  their  next  sessions. 

Section  3.  He  shall  from  time  to  time  give  to  the  Congress 
information  of  the  state  of  the  Union,  and  recommend  to  their 
consideration  such  measures  as  he  shall  judge  necessary  and  ex- 
pedient ;  he  may,  on  extraordinary  occasions,  convene  both 
Houses,  or  either  of  them,  and  in  case  of  disagreement  between 
them,  with  respect  to  the  time  of  adjournment,  he  may  adjourn 
them  to  such  time  as  he  shall  think  proper ;  he  shall  receive 
ambassadors  and  other  public  ministers  ;  he  shall  take  care  that 
the  laws  be  faithfully  executed,  and  shall  commission  all  the 
officers  of  the  United  States. 

Section  4.  The  President,  Vice  President  and  all  civil  officers 
of  the  United  States,  shall  be  removed  from  office  on  impeach- 
mentfor,  and  conviction  of,  treason,  bribery,  or  other  high  crimes 
and  misdemeanors. 

ARTICLE  III. 

Section  1.  The  judicial  power  of  the  United  States  shall  be 
vested  in  one  Supreme  Court  and  such  inferior  courts  as  the 
Congress  may  from  time  to  time  ordain  and  establish.  The 
judges,  both  of  the  Supreme  and  inferior  courts,  shall  hold  their 
offices  during  good  behaviour,  and  shall,  at  stated  times,  receive 
for  their  services  a  compensation,  which  shall  not  be  diminished 
during  their  continuance  in  office. 

Section  2.  The  judicial  power  shall  extend  to  all  cases,  in 
law  and  equity,  arising  under  tliis  Constitution,  the  laws  of  the 
United  States,  and  treaties  made,  or  which  shall  be  made,  under 
tlieir  authority  ; — to  all  cases  affecting  ambassadors,  other  public 
ministers  and  consuls  ; — ti)  all  cases  of  admiralty  and  maritime 
jurisdiction  ; — to  controversies  to  which  the  United  States  shall 
be  a  party  ; — to  controversies  between  two  or  more  States ; — 
between  a  State  and  citizens  of  another  state; — between  citizens 
of  different  States; — between  citizens  of  the  same  State  claiming 
lands  under  grants  of  different  States,  and  between  a  State,  or 
the  citizens  thereof,  and  foreign  States,  citizens  or  subjects. 

In  all  cases  affecting  ambassadors,  other  public  ministers  and 
consuls,  and  those  in  which  a  State  shall  be  a  party,  the  Supreme 
Court  shall  have  original  jurisdiction. 

In  all  the  other  cases  before  mentioned  the  Supreme  Court  shall 
have  appellate  jurisdiction  both  as  to  law  and  fact,  with  such  ex- 
ceptions, and  under  such  regulations  as  the  Congress  shall  make. 

The  trial  of  all  crimes,  except  in  cases  of  impeachment,  shall 
be  by  jury  ;  and  such  trial  shall  be  held  in  the  State  where  the 
said  crimes  shall  have  been  committed  ;  but  when  not  committed 
within  any  State  the  trial  shall  be  at  such  place  or  places,  as  the 
Congress  may  by  law  have  directed. 

Section  3.  Treason  against  the  United  States  shall  consist 
only  of  levying  war  against  them,  or  in  adhering  to  their  enemies, 
giving  them  aid  and  comfort.  No  person  shall  be  convicted  of 
treason  unless  on  the  testimony  of  two  witnesses  to  the  same 
overt  act,  or  on  confession  in  open  court. 

The  Congress  shall  have  power  to  declare  the  punishment  of 
treason,  but  no  attainder  of  treason  shall  work  corruption  of 
blood  or  forfeiture,  except  during  the  life  of  the  person  attainted. 

ARTICLE  IV. 

Section  1.  Full  faith  and  credit  shall  be  given  in  each  State 
to  the  public  acts,  records,  and  judicial  proceedings  of  every  other 
State     And  the  Congress  may  by  general  law  prescribe  the  man- 


ner in  which  such  acts,  records  and  proceedings  shall  be  proved 
and  the  effect  thereof. 

Section  2.  The  citizens  of  each  State  shall  be  entitled  to  the 
all  privileges  and  immunities  of  citizens  in  the  several  States. 

A  person  charged  in  any  State  with  treason,  felony  or  other 
crime,  who  shall  flee  from  justice  and  be  found  in  another  State, 
shall,  on  demand  of  the  Executive  authority  of  the  State  from 
which  he  fled,  be  delivered  up,  to  be  removed  to  the  State  having 
jurisdiction  of  the  crime. 

No  person  held  to  service  or  labor  in  one  State,  under  the 
laws  thereof,  escaping  into  another,  shall,  in  consequence  of  any 
law  or  regulation  therein,  be  discharged  from  such  service  or 
labor,  but  shall  be  delivered  up  on  the  claim  of  the  party  to 
whom  such  service  or  labor  may  be  due. 

Sei/tion  3.  New  States  may  be  admitted  by  the  Congress  into 
this  Union ;  but  no  new  State  shall  be  formed  or  erected  within 
the  jurisdiction  of  any  other  State  ;  nor  any  State  be  formed  by 
the  junction  of  two  or  more  States,  or  parts  of  States,  without  the 
consent  of  the  Legislatures  of  the  States  concerned,  as  well  as  of 
the  Congress. 

The  Congress  shall  have  power  to  dispose  of  and  make  all 
needful  rules  and  regulations  respecting  the  territory  or  other 
property  belonging  to  the  United  States  ;  and  nothing  in  this 
Constitution  shall  be  so  construed  as  to  prejudice  any  claims  of 
the  I'nittd  Slates,  or  of  any  particular  State. 

Section  4.  The  United  States  shall  guarantee  to  every  State 
in  this  Union  a  Republican  form  of  government  and  shall  pro- 
tect each  of  them  against  invasion,  and  on  application  of  the 
Legislature,  or  of  the  Executive  (wheu  the  Legislature  cannot  be 
convened)  against  domestic  violence. 


ARTICLE  V. 

The  Congress,  whenever  two-thirds  of  both  Houses  shall  deem 
it  necessary,  shall  propose  amendments  to  this  Co  nstitution,  or 
on  the  application  of  the  Legislatures  of  two-thirds  of  the  several 
States,  shall  call  a  convention  for  proposing  amendments,  which 
in  either  case,  shall  be  valid  to  all  intents  and  purposes,  as  a 
part  of  this  Constitution,  when  ratified  by  the  Legislatures  of 
three-fourths  of  the  several  States,  or  by  conventitms  in  three- 
fourths  thereof,  as  the  one  or  the  other  mode  of  ratification  may 
be  proposed  by  the  Congress.  Provided  that  no  amendment  which 
may  be  made  prior  to  the  year  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
eight  shall  in  any  manner  affect  the  first  and  fourth  clauses  in 
the  ninth  section  of  the  first  article  ;  and  th.at  no  State,  without 
its  consent,  shall  be  deprived  of  its  equal  suffrage  in  the  Senate. 


ARTICLE  VI. 

All  debts  contracted  and  engagements  entered  into,  before  the 
adoption  of  this  Constitution,  shall  be  as  valid  against  the 
United  States  under  this  Constitution  as  under  the  Confedera- 
tion. 

This  Constitution,  and  the  laws  of  the  United  States  which 
shall  be  made  in  pursuance  thereof,  and  all  treaties  made,  or 
which  shall  be  made,  under  the  authority  of  the  United  States, 
.shall  be  the  supreme  law  of  the  land;  and  the  judges  in  every 
State  shall  be  bound  thereby,  anything  in  the  Constitution  or 
laws  of  any  State  notwithstanding. 

The  Senators  and  Representatives  before  mentioned,  and  the 
members  of  the  several  State  Legislatures,  and  all  Executive  and 
judicial  officers,  both  of  the  United  States  and  of  the  several 
States,  shall  be  bound  by  oath  or  affirmation,  to  support  this 
Constitution  :  but  no  religious  test  shall  ever  be  Jtquired  as  a 
qualification  to  any  office  of  public  trust  under  the  United  States. 

ARTICLE  VII. 

The  r-atifieation  of  the  Convention  of  nine  States  shall  be  suffi- 
cient for  the  establishment  of  this  Constitution  between  the 
States  so  ratifying  the  same. 

Done  in  Convention  by  the  unanimous  consent  of  the  States 
present,  the  seventeenth  day  of  September, -in  the  year  of  our 
L'jrd  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty-seven,  and  of  the 
I'ldependence  of  the  United  States  of  America,  the  twelfth.  In 
Witness  Whereof,  We  have  hereunto  subscribed  our  names.  . 

GEO.  -W-VSIIINGTON, 
President  and  Deputy  from  Virginia. 
16 


HJSlOEi     OF  RAXDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


r.09 


ycte  Hxmpshirr. 

JVcw  Jersey. 

nelnwnre. 

Nnrlh  Ciroli.ui. 

JohsLaxgdon, 

■\VlL.   I.IVIN'GSTON, 

Geo.  Read, 

Wm.  Blount, 

Nicholas  Oilman-. 

W.M.  Patterson, 

JouN  Dickinson, 

Hu.  Williamson, 

David  Rrearly, 

Jacob  Hroom, 

Ricu'd  Dobbs  Spaight. 

Massachusetts. 

JONA.  Dayto.s, 

(ilNNlSG   liEDFOBD.jR. 

KiCUARl)  lUSSET. 

South  Curolino. 

Nathaniel  Goruam, 

RuFcs  King. 

Peniisylmnia. 

Virginia. 

J.  Rutledge, 
Charle,s  I'inckney, 

B.  Franklin, 

John  Blair, 

ChasCotesworth  Pinckney 

Connecticut. 

lloiiT.  .Morris, 

Ja-mes  Madiso.v,  Jr. 

Pierce  Bftler. 

A\'M.  Paml.  Johnso>?, 

TlIO.  FlTZ-SIMONS, 

James  Wilson, 
Thom.\s  Mikflin, 

}ffiry1and. 

EOGER  SUEEMAN. 

JAMF.S  M'HenrY, 

Georgia. 

(lEO.  Cly.mer, 

Panl.  Carrol, 

William  Few, 

yew   York. 

.Tared  Ingebsoll, 

Dan.  of  St.  Thos.  Jenifer. 

.\br.  Baldwin. 

.\LE.XAXDER  Ha.MILTON. 

Cioiv.  Morris. 

Attest: 

WILLIAM  JACKSOX,  Secretary. 

-*€se^3^*G3^9^^- 


AMENDMENTS  TO  THE  CONSTITUTION  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Promised  by  Conjrcss,  and  ratified  by  the  Leyislalures  nf  the  several  Stales,  purstiant  to  the  fifth  article  of  the  original  Constitution. 


ARTICLE  I. 
Congress  shall  make  no  l;iw  respecting  an  establishment  of 
religion,  or  prohibiting  the  free  e.xercise  thereof;  or  abridging 
the  frecJom  of  speech,  or  of  the  press  ;  or  the  right  of  the  people 
peacefully  to  assemble,  and  to  petition  the  government  for  a  re- 
dress of  grievances. 

ARTICLE  II. 
A  well  regulated  militia  being  necessary   tT  the  security  of  a 
free  St.ite,  tbe  right  of  the  people  to  keep  and  bear  arms  shall  not 
be  infringed. 

ARTICLE   in. 
Xo  soldier  shall   in  time  of  peace  be  quartered   in   any   house 
without  the  consent  of  the  owner,  nor  in  time  of  war,  but   in  a 
manner  to  be  prescribed  by  law. 

ARTICLE    IV. 

The  right  the  of  people  to  be  secure  in  their  persons,  houses, 
papers,  and  eTects,  against  ui)roasnnable  searches  and  seizures, 
shall  not  be  violated,  and  no  warrants  shall  issue  but  upon  prob- 
able cause,  supported  by  oath  or  afhrmation,  and  jjarticularly 
describing  t'.ie  place  to  be  searched,  and  the  person  or  things  to 
bo  seized. 

ARTICLE  V. 

No  person  shall  be  held  to  answer  for  a  capital  or  otherwise 
infamous  crime,  unless  on  a  presentment  or  indictment  by  a 
Grand  Jury,  e.Kcept  in  cases  arising  in  the  land  or  naval  forces, 
or  in  the  militia  when  in  actual  service  in  time  of  war  or  public 
danger ;  nor  shall  any  person  be  subject  for  the  same  offence  to 
be  twice  put  in  jeopartly  of  lifnor  limb;  nor  sh.all  be  compelled 
in  anv  criminal  case  to  be  a  witness  against  himself,  nor  be  de- 
prived of  life,  liberty  or  property,  without  due  process  of  Law  ; 
nor  s'.iall  private  property  be  taken  for  public  use,  without  just 
compensation. 

ARTICLE  VI. 

In  all  criminal  prosecutions,  th"  accused  shall  enjoy  the  right 
ti  a  speedy  and  public  trial,  by  an  impartial  jury  of  the  Sl.iteand 
district  wlierein  the  crime  shall  have  been  committed,  which  dis- 
trict shall  have  been  previously  ascertained  by  law,  and  to  be 
informed  of  the  nature  and  cause  of  the  accusation;  to  be  con- 
fronted with  the  witnesses  against  him ;  to  have  compulsory 
process  for  obtaining  witnesses  in  his  favor,  and  to  have  the 
assistance  of  counsel  for  his  defense. 


In  suits  : 


ARTICLE  VII. 
;  common  law  where  the  value  in  controversy  shall 


exceed  twenty  dollars,  the  right  of  trial  by  jury  shall  be  pre- 
served, and  no  fact  tried  by  a  jury  shall  be  otherwise  re-examined 
in  any  court  of  tbe  United  States,  than  according  to  the  rules  of 
the  common  haw. 

ARTICLE  VIII. 

Excessive  bails  shall  not  be  required,  nor  excessive  fines  im- 
posed, nor  cruel  and  unusual  punishment  inflicted. 

ARTICLE    IX. 

The  enumeration  in  this  Constitution,  of  certain  rights,  shall 
not  lie  construed  to  deny  or  disparage  others  retained  by  the 
people. 

ARTICLE   X. 

The  powers  not  delegated  to  the  United  States  by  the  Constitu- 
tion, nor  i)rohibited  by  it  to  the  States,  are  reserved  to  the  States 
respectively,  or  to  the  people. 

ARTICLE  XL 
The  judicial  power  of  the  United  States  shall  not  be  construed 
to  extend  to  any  suit  in  law  or  equity  commenced  or  prosecuted 
against  one  of  the  United  States  by  citizens  of  another  Slate,  or 
by  citizens  or  subjects  of  any  foreign  State. 

ARTICLE  XII. 

The  electors  shall  meet  in  their  respective  States,  and  vote  by 
ballot  for  President  and  Vice  President,  one  of  whom  at  least 
shall  not  be  an  inhabitant  of  the  same  State  with  themselves ; 
thev  shall  name  in  their  ballot  the  person  to  be  voted  for  as 
President,  and  in  distinct  ballots  the  jierson  voted  for  as  Vice 
President,  and  they  shall  make  distinct  lists  of  all  persons  voted 
for  as  President,  aiid  all  i)ers')ns  voted  for  as  Vice  President,  and 
of  the  number  of  votes  for  each,  which  list  they  shall  sign  and 
certify,  and  transmit  sealed  to  the  scat  of  government  of  the 
United  St.atcs,  directed  to  the  President  of  the  Senate.  The 
President  of  the  Senate  -shall,  in  presence  of  the  Senate  and 
House  of  Representatives,  open  all  the  certificates,  and  the  votes 
shall  then  b.^  counted.  The  person  having  the  greatest  number 
of  votes  for  President,  shall  be  the  President,  if  such  number  be 
a  m.TJoritv  of  the  whole  number  of  elector^  appointed  ;  and  if  no 
person  have  such  m.ijoritv.  then  from  the  persons  having  the 
hizhest  number  not  exceeding  three  on  the  list  of  those  voted 
for  as  President,  the  House  of  Representatives  shall  choose  im- 
mediatclv,  by  ballot,  the  President.  But  in  choosing  the  Presi- 
dent, the" vote  shall  be  taken  by  States,  the  representation  from 
each  Statp  having  one  vote;  a'quorum  for  this  purpose  shall  con- 
17 


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HISTORY    OF  RANDOLPH,    MONROE   AND    PERRY    COUNTIES,    ILLINOIS. 


sist  of  a  member  or  members  from  two-thirds  of  the  States,  and  a 
majority  of  all  the  States  shall  be  necessary  to  a  choice.  And  if 
the  Hoiise  of  Representatives  shall  not  choose  a  President  when- 
ever the  right  of  choice  shall  devolve  upon  them,  before  the 
fourth  day  of  March  next  following,  then  the  Vice  President 
shall  act  as  President,  as  in  the  case  of  the  death  or  other  Consti- 
tutional disability  of  the  President.  The  person  having  the 
greatest  number  of  votes  as  Vice  President,  shall  be  the  Vice 
President,  if  such  number  be  a  majority  of  the  whole  number  of 
electors  appointed,  and  if  no  pt'rson  have  a  majority,  then  from 
the  two  highest  numbers  on  the  list,  the  Senate  shall  choose  the 
Vice  President;  a  quorum  for  the  purpose  shall  consist  of  two- 
thirds  of  the  whole  number  of  Senators,  and  a  majority  of  the 
whole  number  shall  be  necessary  to  a  choice.  But  no  person 
constitutionally  ineligible  to  the  office  of  President  shall  be  eli- 
gible to  that  of  Vice  President  of  the  United  States. 

ARTICLE  XIII. 

Section  1.  Xcithor  slavery  nor  involuntary  servitude,  except 
as  a  punishment  lor  crime,  whereof  the  party  shall  have  been  duly 
convicted,  shall  exist  within  the  United  States,  or  any  place 
subject  to  their  jurisdictiim. 

Section  2.  Congress  shall  have  power  to  enforce  this  article 
by  appropriate  legislation. 

ARTICLE   XIV. 

Section  1.  All  persons  born  or  naturalized  in  the  I'nited 
States  and  subject  to  the  jurisdiction  thereof,  are  citizens  of  the 
United  States,  and  of  the  State  wherein  they  reside.  No  State 
shall  make  or  enforce  any  law  which  shall  abridge  the  privileges 
or  immunities  of  citizens  of  the  United  States ;  nor  shall  any 
State  deprive  any  person  of  life,  liberty  or  property  without  due 
process  of  law,  nor  deny  to  any  person  within  its  jurisdiction  the 
equal  protection  of  the  laws. 

Section  2.  Representatives  shall  be  appointed  among  the 
several  States  according  to  their  respective  numbers,  counting  the 
whole  number  of  persons  in   each  State,   excluding  Indians  not 


taxed  ;  but  when  the  right  to  vote  at  any  election  for  the  choice 
of  electors  for  President  and  Vice  President  of  the  United  States, 
Representatives  in  Congress,  the  executive  and  judicial  officers  of 
a  State  or  the  members  of  the  Legislature  thereof,  is  denied  to 
any  of  the  male  inhabitants  of  such  State,  being  twenty-one  years 
of  age  and  citizens  of  the  United  States,  or  in  any  way  abridged, 
except  for  participation  in  rebellion  or  other  crimes,  the  basis  of 
representation  therein  shall  be  reduced  in  the  pTonortion  which 
the  number  of  such  male  citizens  shall  bear  to  the  whole  number 
of  male'citizens  twenty-one  years  of  agfe  in  such  State. 

Section  3.  No  person  shall  be  a  Senator  or  Representative  in 
Congress  or  elector  of  President  and  Vice  President,  or  hold  any 
office  civil  or  military,  under  the  United  States  or  under  any 
Staie  who,  having  previously  taken  oath  as  Member  of  Congress, 
or  as  an  officer  of  the  United  States,  or  as  a  member  of  any  State 
Legislature,  or  as  an  executive  or  judicial  officer  of  any  State,  to 
support  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  shall  have  engaged 
in  insurrection  or  rebellion  against  the  same,  or  given  aid  or  com- 
fort to  the  enemies  thereof.  But  Congress  may,  by  a  vote  of 
two-thirds  of  each  House,  remove  such  disability. 

Section  4.  The  validity  of  the  public  debt  of  the  United 
States  authorized  by  law,  including  debts  incurred  for  payment 
of  pensions  and  bounties  for  suppressing  insurrection  or  rebellion, 
shall  not  be  questioned.  But  neither  the  United  States 
nor  any  State  shall  assume  or  pay  any  debt  of  obligation  in- 
curred in  the  aid  of  insurrection  or  rebellion  against  the  United 
States,  orany  loss  for  emancipation  of  any  slave,  but  such  debts, 
obligations  and  claims  shall  be  held  illegal  and  void. 

Section  5.  The  Congress  shall  have  the  power  to  enforce,  by 
appropriate  legislation,  the  provisions  of  this  article. 

ARTICLE  XV. 

Section!.  The  rights  of  citizens  of  the  L'nited  States  to  vote 
shall  not  be  denied  or  abridged  by  the  United  States  on  account  of 
race,  color,  or  previous  condition  of  servitude. 

Section  2.  Congress  shall  have  power  to  enforce  this  article  by 
appropriate  legislation. 
18 


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UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 
Q,977.39C7331974  C001 

COMBINED  HISTORY  OF  RANDOLPH,  MONROE  AND 


3  0112  025399780