LIBRARY OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
$977.37
D14C
111. Hist. Surv.
1682.
COMBINED HISTORY
EDWARDS, LAWRENCE ® WABASH
/
COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
DESCRIPTIVE OF THEIR SCENERY
ir llroramenl l^n anh
PUBLISHED BY
J. L. McDONOTJGH & CO.,
PHILADELPHIA.
CORRESPONDING OFFICE, EDWARDSVILLE, ILL.
1883.
*<
PREFACE.
\HE publishers desire to return their sin-
cere thanks to those who have aided in
making this ^vork thorough and com- \
plete. For the incidents relative to the early settle-
ment of these counties, we are indebted to a few
early pioneers, who have seen a wild frontier
country develop into a wealthy and populous com-
munity; especially are we under obligations to the
writings of George Flower and Morris Birkbeck,
whose graphic articles shed much light on the
early settlements in this section of the state. For
other facts we are under obligations to a class
of intelligent men, who, amid the ordinary pur-
suits of life, have taken pains to thoroughly in-
form themselves in regard to the past history
and resources of their county. Among those who
have specially contributed to the history of Ed-
wards county are: — Charles Churchill, Alexander
Stewart, Jesse Emmersott, John Woods, John Tribe,
Philander Gould, Ansel A. Gould, George Lapp,
Enoch Greathouse, Benjamin Ulm, Francis Great-
house, Thomas Coad, George Michcls, Elisha Chism,
and Dr. F. B. Thompson.
The gentlemen who have assisted us in Law-
rence county are :—J W. Crews, David D. Lantcr-
man, J. M, Miller, Samuel Sumner, A. I. Judy,
George Me Cleave, Dr. W. M. Garrard, Richard
King, Francis Tongas, Renick Heath and William
Laws.
In the preparation of the history of Wabash coun-
ty we have been materially assisted by Judge Robert
Bell, James M. Sharp, Judge E. B. Green, Dr. Jacob
Schneck, Joseph Compton, Dr. James Harvey, John
Dyar, E B. Keen, Thompson Blackford, Henry Lov-
ellette, Dr. A. J. Mclntosh, J. J. Smith, Win. Ulm,
Thomas A'. Armstrong, Ira Keen, John Kigg, D. L.
Tillon, A. B. Cory, J. Zimmerman, Mrs. Elizabeth
Litherland, John } \ 'ood and John Higgins.
To the county officials of the respective counties we
extend our thanks for the many courtesies extended,
during the compilation of this 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 are now living whose
fathers and grandfathers, in the humble log cabin,
which was then the only house of worship, assisted
in founding organizations which have been of the
greatest good to subsequent generations. To the
clergymen of the different denominations, and to
many of the older members of these societies, we
are indebted for much valuable information. The
editors of the several newspapers have also rendered
assistance in that prompt and cheerfid manner so
characteristic of the journalistic profession.
We have endeavored, with all diligence and care-
fulness, to make the best of the material at our
command. We have confined ourselves, as nearly
as possible, to the original data furnished. The sub-
ject matter has been carefully classified, and will be
a great help to the public as a book of reference con-
cerning the past history of the county. The facts
were gathered from many different sources, and de-
pend largely, not on exact written records, but on the
uncertain and conflicting recollections of different
individuals! We have tried to preserve the inci-
dents of pioneer history, to accurately present the
natural features and material resources of this por-
tion of the state, and to gather the facts likely
to be of most interest to our present readers, and
of greatest importance to coming generations. If
our readers will take into consideration the diffi-
culties of the task, we feel assured of a favorable
verdict on our undertaking.
THE PUBLISHERS.
206789
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE NORTH-WEST
TERRITORY.
PAGE
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 Condition of the North-
West, 24 9-25
CHAPTER II.
BRIEF HISTORICAL SKETCH OF ILLINOIS.
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 Possession 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, 38; Civil Government, 39;
Territorial and State Officers, 40 ; Mis-
cellaneous Information 25-45
CHAPTER III.
RAILROAD FACILITIES.
EDWARDS COUNTY, 46 ; LAWRENCE COUNTY,
46 ; WABASH COUNTY, 47. Railroads,
Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific, 48;
Ohio and Mississippi, 49; Louisville,
Evansville and St. Louis, 49 ; Peoria,
Decatur and Evansville, 49 ;. . . 46-50
CHAPTER IV.
UEOLOQY.
EDWARDS COUNTY, 50; WABASH COUNTY,
51 ; LAWRENCE COUNTY, 53. . . . 50-54
CHAPTER V.
FLORA.
List of Native Woody Plants, Grasses,
etc., etc 56, 56
CHAPTER VI.
FAUNA.
Treating of the Various Families of Ani-
mals and Birds that have existed in
these counties 56-58
CHAPTER VII.
PIONEERS AND EARLY SETTLERS.
HOWARDS COUNTY, First Settlers, 58 ; Early
Marriages, 66 ; The Deep Snow, 67 ;
The Sudden Freeze, 67. LAWRENCE
COUNTY, First Settlers, 68 ; WABASH
COUNTY, First Settlers, 73 ; Pioneer
Mills, 77 ; The Cannon Massacre, 78 ;
Habits and Modes of living in Pioneer
times, 78 58-80
CHAPTER VIII.
CIVIL HISTORY.
CDWARDS COUNTY, Act creating the Coun-
ty, 80 ; County Government at Pal-
myra, 81 ; Second Court, Third Court,
Justice's Court, 84 ; First and Second
Commissioner's Court, 85 ; County
Government at Albion, County Com-
missioner's Court from First to Four-
teenth, 86-88 ; County Courts, from
First to Seventh, 89, 90 ; Boards of
County Commissioners, 90, 91 ; Pub-
lic Buildings, 91 ; Taxable Property,
92 ; Circuit Courts, First Murder Trial,
93; Second Murder Case, 94; First
Naturalization, Judges of Circuit
Court, First Probate Business, The
First Will, Probate Judges, 95 ; First
Deed Recorded, Delegates to Constitu-
tional Convention, The County in the
General Assembly 96 ; County Officers 97.
LAWRENCE COUNTY, 97; County Gov-
ernment, 100; Militia Districts, 101 ;
Public Buildings, The First Court-
house, 102; Early Ferries, Early
Revenue, Fiscal Statement of De-
cember 6, 1827, 105; Election Pre-
cincts, 104-106 ; County Finance since
1827, 106-108 ; Circuit Courts, 1821 to
1848, 108-110; United States Census
1850, County Government from 1849
to 1883, Swamp Lands, 110 ; Finan-
cial Notes 1849 to 1883, 111 ; Officers
Representing and Serving Lawrence
County, 111-115.
WABASH COUNTY, Organization, etc., 115-
120 ; Public Buildings, 120-123 ; Tax-
es and Debts, 1825 to 1850, 123, 124 ;
Railroad Debts, 124 ; Officers Repre-
senting and Serving the county, 125-
127 80-127.
CHAPTER IX.
THE BENCH ASD BAR.
Circuit Judges & Non-resident lawyers, 128.
EDWARDS COUNTY, Former Resident Law-
yers, 129; Present Bar, 129. LAW-
BENCE COUNTY, Former Resident Law-
yers, 130; Present Bar, 130; WA-
BASH COUNTY, Former Resident Law-
yers, and Present Bar, 132. ; . . 127-133
CHAPTER X.
THE PRESS.
Giving the Names of all the News-
papers that have been printed in each
of the Counties 133-137.
CHAPTER XI.
PATEIOTISM.
Black Hawk War, 137-141 ; War of
the Rebellion, 141 ; A List of Names
of the volunteers from each of the
Counties, with a short historical
Sketch of the Regiments to which
they belonged 137-156
TABLE OF CONTEXTS.
CHAPTER XII.
COMMON SCHOOLS.
The School Systems of the State— their
Growth, Resources and Management
etc., 150 ; EDWARDS COUNTY, 159 ;
LAWKEXCK CorxTY, 1G1 ; WAIIASH
CDI-VTY It!0 lot) lb'3
Foster Blashel
PAGE
315
Rice Cyrus
PAGE
. . 220
. . 323
. .260
. . 309
. . 218
. . 257
. . 310
. . 256
. .245
. . 244
. . 310
. . 258
. . 222
. . 306
. . 297
. .218
. . 255
. . 309
. .307
. .324
216
Foster, William F
Fox Jeremiah
.... 224
°99
Rigg, Henry H
Rigg James W
Frazcr, Dr. Milton D
Freeman, Samuel
French, Dr. Zeba D
Friend, Dr. William
Frost, James P
.... 330
.... 324
.... 21)!!
.... 310
.... 275
.... 274
.... 225
.... 262
.... 314
.... 314
.... 300
.... 249
.... 322
.... 224
. . . .217
. ... 261
.... 253
. ... 308
. ... 267
253
Rodgers, Augustine J
Rude, David S
Samoniel Brothers
Schaefer, Dr. H. M
Schneck, Dr. J
Schrodt, John
Sears, Dr. Paul
Seibert. Charles
Scitz, Jr., William
Sentance, John
Shearer, Joseph B
Smith, Dr. James E
Smith, John
Smith, Valentine
Smith, Rozander
Stewart, Alexander
Stoltz, George
Strahan, John (deceased)
Tribe William B
CHAPTER XIII.
ECCLESIASTICAL.
EDWARDS COUSTT.— Methodist Church, 163 ;
Protestai.t Episcopal, 165; Baptist, 167;
ChurcU of Christ, 268; Cumberland
Presbyterian, 172; United Brethren,
176; Evangelical Association, 179;
LAWRENCE C o u N T Y .-Presbyterian
Church, 181 ; Christian Church, 182;
United Brethren, 200; Disciples of
Christ, 183; Methodist Protestant,
184 ; Methodist Episcopal, 185. WA-
BASH COUNTY.— Christian Church, 186;
M. E. Church, 189; Presbyterian, 192;
Evangelical, 195 ; Catholic, 198 ; Ger-
man Lutheran, 198 ; Evangelical As-
sociation of N. A., 199 ; United Breth-
ren in Christ, 200 163-202
Glaubensklee, Henry
Gordon, Robert S
Gould, Ansel A
Gould, Philander
Gray, Dr. F. S
Green, Hon. Edward B
Groff, Hon. John
Hallam, John
Harris, Gibson
Harrison, John M
Havill, Frank W
Higgins, John
Hoopes Caleb
Ulm, Captain William
Utter, Abraham (deceased)
. . 246
. .288
. . 309
. .283
. .284
Joy, Thomas L
Kamp, Louis
Keen, Hon. E. B
Keen, George W
. . . .261
. ... 263
.... 335
. ... 306
. ... 258
. ... 299
Vandermark, Simon
Vandermark, Cyr,us
Waller, Dr Fay K
Wilkinson, Thomas
Wilkinson, Hon. William R
BIOGRAPHIES.
Adams, David 300
Keniepp, Captain G. M
King, Henry (deceased) ....
Landes Hon Silas Z
Armstrong, Thomas N 298
Armstrong, Berkley (deceased) 297
Bear, James 220
Bell, Hon. Robert 247
Lescher, Dr. Jacob
Lewis, Harlie V
. ... 259
329
Woods, Thomas T."
Wood Hon William (deceased)
. .227
259
Low, Dr. Lyman W
Manley, Alfred P
Manley Frank C k
. ... 219
. ... 257
3''5
Zimmerman, Hon. Jacob
TOWNSHIPS.
Allison
H^ellmont
Bond
. . 248
. .276
. . 319
342
Belles, Philip 330
Berninger, Isaiah 307
Blood, John M. (deceased) 276
Bockhouse, William 325
Bower, George . ^ . .• 228
Brause, August 302
Briggs, Jonathan 216
Burkett, JohnT 262
Campbell, Joseph M. , 226
Churchill, Joel 215
Colyer, Walter . . • • 2°6
Manley, Dr. Paul G
Mayo, Walter L
Marx, Samuel
Marx, Philip H
McClane, Dr. C. T
McClurkin, Dr. John C
McDowell, Dr. James 0
Mclntosh, Dr. Andrew J
McJilton, Dr. Edward L
Medler, William H
Michels, George
Miller, Edward
. ... 336
. ... 221
. . . . 307
. ... 308
.... 324
225
.... 268
.... 296
.... 308
.... 225
.... 214
.... 254
Bridgeport
City and Precinct of Albion
City and Township of Lawrenceville .
b/City and Precinct of Mt Carmel
. .327
. . 203
. . 228
235
Christy
. . 264
331
Dennison
. . °>:.
°89
Compton, Van Bureu 298
Curdling, Robert W ........ 227
Dalby, Samuel Nelson 214-n
Dickson, Dr. Henry I, 224
Edwards, Eld. Caleb 227
Emmerson, Morris 226
Kw:iM, George C 323
HIM, Id-. Chesterfield 22ti
Flower, George 212
Kluwci-. Mrs. Eliza Julia -j] | v
"owe-.'. R.C 224- A
French Creek
. . 337
Morgan, Maxwell W
Murphy, Dr. Hugh A
Parkinson, Robert (deceased) . .
Parmenter, Henry
Petty, G. \V
Pixley, Asa (deceased)
Price, Isaac K
Putnam, Samuel R
.... 218
.... 267
.... 260
.... 326
. ... 208
. ... 316
. . . . 2"iii
. . . . °.V,
^Lancaster
/Lick Prairie
Lukin
Petty
Russell
Salem
Sh.'ll.y
,/Walmsh
. . 303
. . 340
. . 301
. . :;i7
. . m
. . 311
. . 272
. . 2!»1
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
vii
PORTRAITS.
ILLUSTRATIONS
I'AGK
Landes Mrs lietw
en IMS -IMH
PAGE
Mauley, Dr. P. G
Facing 332
Armstrong, Berkley
. Facing 290
Adams, David (deceased)
Facing 808
Map ot Counties
Facing ',»
Blood, John M. (dec'd) ....
Facing 270
Armstrong, Berkley
Facing 2'JO
Medler, Win. H
Facing 272
Churchill, Joel
... .216
Bear, James W
Facing 342
Miller, Edward
|-:u-i,,K 888
Flower, George
.... 212
Blood, Mrs. A
Facing 204
Parmenter, Henry
Facing 336
Flower, Mrs. Eliza Julia . . . .
. . . 214-A
Bond, L. C
Facing 226
Pixley, A., Jr
Facing 310
Flower, K.C
. . . 224-A
Buxton, Dr. W. E
Facing 204
Public Buildings, Edwards County .
Facing 84
Foster, Blashel
.... :!!,")
Churchill Bros.' Business Block . .
Facing 208
Public Buildings, Lawreuceville . .
Facing 232
Frost, James P
. . . . 276
Churchill, James, Residence . . .
Facing 20«
Rigg, H. H
Facing 280
Gill, Thomas
. . . .274
Churchill, Mrs. Joel, Residence . .
Facing 208
Kigg, J. W
Facing 256
Gould, Philander,
. Facing 314
Couit-House, Mt. Carmel . . . .
Facing 120
Sears, Dr. Paul Betw<
en 248-249
Gould, Martha L
. Facing 314
Curtis, John
Facing 268
Seibert, Charles
Facing 304
liouM, Mrs. Sarah (dec'd) . . .
. Facing 314
Dreibelbis, F. and J. Mill ....
Facing 232
Seller, Jacob
Facing 236
Gould, Ansel A
Facing 314
Ewald, George C
Facing 284
Sentance, J. and Son
Facing 226
Gould, Chloe S
. Facing 314
Foster, Blashel
Facing 326
Smith, Rozander
Facing 308
Groff, John and Wife
. Facing 322
Frost, James P
Facing 272
Smith, James N
Facing 274
Harris Gibson
.... 217
Th
Facing 284
Tribe, R. M
Facing 2bO
Lescher, Dr. Jacob
.... 269
Gill, Thomas
Facing 274
Tribe, W. B
Facing 226
Low, Dr. Lyman W
.... 219
Glaubensklee, Henry and Sanih .
Facing 220
Utter, Abraham (deceased) . . . .
Facing 247
Mayo, Walter L
.... 221
Gould, Deuel
Facing 204
Wood Joseph
Facing 216
Pixley, Asa (dec'd,)
. Facing 316
Gould, Ansel, Jr
Facing 288
Wood, Oliver II
Facing 280
Rice, Cyrus
. Facing 220
Gould, Philander Betwe
en 312-313
Wood, Thomas
Facing 342
Rude, David S. (dec'd) ....
. Facing 218
Gould, Ansel A Betwe
en 318-319
Wright, David P
Facing 256
Sears, Dr. Paul
.... 244
Groff, John Betwe
en 320-321
Stewart, Alexander
Utter, Abraham (deceased) .
. . . .223
.... 240
Kamp's Mill
Keen E B
Facing 240
Facing 298
Partial List of Patrons
Constitution of Illinois
. . . 345
. 360
Utter, Mrs. Elizabeth
.... 246
Keen, G. W
Facing 308
Declaration of Independence . .
. . . 872
Wood, Hon. William (dec'd) . .
. Facing 250
Keen, W. E
Facing 332 Constitution of the United States
. ... 373
Wood, Joseph (dec'd)
. Facing 210
King Henry (deceased)
Facing 300
Amendments to Constitution of U.
5. ... 376
LIBRARY
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HISTORY
EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILL
CHAPTER I.
A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE NORTH-WEST TERRITORY.
GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION.
,N 1784 the North Western Territory was
ceded to the United States by Virginia.
It embraced only the 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, Ohio, and
that portion of Minnesota lying on 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 North-
western Territory. But by the purchase of Louisiana in
1803, 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,
beiug 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 arc 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 wealth in the north-west has been about as three to
one in any other portion of the United States.
EARLY EXPLORATIONS.
In the year 1512, on Easter Sunday, the Spanish name
for which is Pascua 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 who drank of or bathed in its
waters. He was made governor of the region he had visited
but circumstances prevented his return thither until 1521 ;
and then he went only to meet death at the hands of" the
Indians.
In the meantime, in 1516, 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 ^f the wealth hidden in the
interior.
Ten years, however, passed before Pamphilo de Narvaei
undertook to prosecute the examination of the lands north
of the Gulf of Mexico. Narvaez was excited to action by
the late astonishing 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.
•Pascum, the old English "Pash" or Passover; " Pascua Florida"
is the " Holyday of Flowers."
10
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Among those who 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 band 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
Spiritu 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 band near the Yazoo. In April, 1541, thfc 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-
rie?, 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-
pointed warrior. His health yielded to the contests of his
miud 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-
gatic 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 as
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 the river
Paunco. Ode-half of the six hundred 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, and disheartened
* De Soto probably was at the lower Chickasaw bluffs. The Spaniards
called the Mississippi Rio Grande, Great River, which is the literal
meaning of the aboriginal name.
> t De Biedna says there landed G20 men.
such as might desire to follow up the career of discovery for
better purposes. The French nation were eager and ready
to seize upon any news from this extensive domain, and
were the first to profit by De Solo's defeat. As it was, for
more than a century after the expedition, the west remained
utterly unknown to the whites.
The French were the first Europeans to make settlements
on the St. Lawrence river and along the great lakes. Quebec
was founded by Sir Samuel Champlain in 1608,* and in 1609
when Sir Henry Hudson was exploring the noble river
which bears his name, Champlain ascended the Sorrelle
river, and discovered, embosomed between the Green moun-
tains, or " Verdmont," as the chivalrous and poetic French-
man called them, and the Adirondacks, the beautiful sheet
of water to which his name is indissolubly 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, and maintained their rights
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 tributaries.
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 1634, 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 1660, 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 crowd
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 died in the wilderness in 1642, while
enthusiastically pursuing his discoveries. The same year,
Jogues and Bressani were captured by the Indians and
tortured, and in 1648 the mission which had been founded
at St. Joseph was taken and destroyed, and Father Daniel
slain. In 1649, the missions St Louis and St. Ignatius
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASU COUM1ES, ILLINOIS.
were also destroyed, and Fathers Brebeuf and Lallemand
barbarously tortuivd by the same terrible and unrelenting
enemy. Literally did those zealous missionaries of the
Romish 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 1G54, two fur traders
accompanied a band of Ottawas on a journey of five hun-
dred leagues to the west. They were absent two years, and
on their return brought with them fifty canoes and two
hundred and fifty Indians to the French trading posts.
They related wonderful tales of the countries they had
Been, 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 tcouts and traders swarmed the frontiers and explored
the great lakes and adjacent country, and a party wintered
in IGoO-GO on the south shore of Lake Superior.
In 1GGO Father Mesnard was sent out by the Bishop of
Quebec, and visited Lake Superior in October of that year.
While crossing the Kecweenaw Point he was lost in the wilder-
ness and never afterwards heard from, though his cassock
and breviary were found long afterwards among the Sioux.
A change was made in the government of New France in
1G65. The Company of the Hundred Associates, who had
ruled it since 1632, resigned its charter. Tracy was made
Viceroy, Courcclles 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 (1GG5) Pierre Claude Allouez was sent
out by 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 Chippcwas, and established a mission.
He also made an alliance with them and the Sacs, Foxes and
Illinois,^ against the formidable Iroquois. Allouez, the next
year (1GGG) 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 "Mcssipi." From thence he
returned to Quebec.
In 1GG8 Claude Dablon and Jacques Marquctte estab-
lished the mission at the Sault called St. Marie, and during
the next five years Alloiicz, 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 Marquctte. 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, ct which the Cross was set up, and the nations of
* The duties of Intcmlent included a supervision cf t'.ic policy, justice,
taj finance of the province.
| The meaning of this word b said to be " Men."
the great North-west were taken into an alliance, with much
pomp and ceremony.
On the 13th of May, 1G73, Marquctte, Joliet, and five
voyageurs, embarked in two birch canoes at Mackinaw and
entered Lake Michigan. The first nation they visited was
the " Folles-Avoines," or nation of Wild Oats, since known
as the Menomonies, living around the " Baie 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.*
Marquctte 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 l.armony
together tribes of the Miamis, Mascoutens f tMilKika.bea.ux
or Kickapoos. Leaving this point on the 10th of June, they
made the portage to the " Ouisconsin," 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 Mississippi, 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 six hundred persons to their canoes.
These people called themselves Illinois, or Illini. 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 Pekilan"ni, 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 Ouabouskigon, or
Ohio. Marquette shows this river very small, even as com-
pared with the Illinois. 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 1 7th 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. Marquctte afterwards
returned to Illinois, and preached to the natives until L°<75.
On the 18th of May of that year, while cruising up the
eastern coast of Lake Michigan with a par!y 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 mass, and went a little apart to pruy, and being
* See hgend of the p-eat bird, the terrible " Plata," t.'iru devoured men
and was only overcome by the sacrl5ec cf a bruvi.youn ; chief. The
rocks above Alton, Ill.aois, have como rude rci>SB^gU.or. i ci" this
monster.
| Prair'c
II
* XIarquctte's journal. { The ^rand tD
12
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
gone longer than his companions deemed necessary, they j
•went in search of him, and found him dead where he had j
knelt. Thefburied him in the sand.
While this distinguished adventurer was pursuing his
labors, two other men were preparing to follow in his foot- i
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 seuiinary and
came to Canada, in 1GG7, 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 Marquette 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. On 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 Henuepin, 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 era-
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 2Cth of January, 1G79, the keel of the first vessel built
on Luke Erie was laid at the mouth of the Cayuga Creek,
on the American side, about six miles above the falls.
In the meantime La Salle had returned to Fort Frontenac
to forward supplies for his forthcoming vessel. The little
barque on Lake Ontario was wrecked by carelessness, and a
large amount of the supplies she 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 Michillimackinac (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 19ih of September to the 1st 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
Miamis, 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
winter should preventhim. 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-ki-ki, since
corrupted into Kankakee. 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 bluffs, 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 Oreve- 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 Th« site of the work is at present unknown.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
the lead of Father Hennepin, and he himself would proceed
on foot to Niagara and "Froutenac, 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 day of Febru-
ary, 16SO, and La Salle soon after, with a few attendants,
started on his perilous journey of twelve hundred miles by
the way of the Illinois River, the Miami, and Lakes Erie
ind Ontario, to Frontenac, which he finally reached in
safety. lie 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 fail, 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'a
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. JJncertain of any
assistance from La Salle, and apprehensive of a general
war with the savages, Tonli, in September, 1G80, abandoned
his position and returned to the shores of the lakes. La
Salle reached the post on the Illinois in December, 1C80, or
January, 1681. 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-Cceur, he reached the Missis-
sippi in seven days ; but his way was so obstructed by ice
that he was until the llth of April reaching the Wisconsin
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 Luth,* 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. Ilen-
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 1682.
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 they had erected a fort
» From this man undoubtedly come: the name of Eruluth.
on their downward voyage, and named it Frudhomme.
Here La Salle was taken violently sick. Unable to proceed,
he sent forward Toiiti 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 hi^h, and only accessible 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.
Upon the completion of this work La Salle again sailed
for France, which he reached on the 13th of December,
1683. 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 him to attempt the colonization of the
Mississippi country by way of the mouth of the river. Not-
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, 1684, a fleet of twenty-four vessels sailed from
Rochelle to America, four of which were destined for Lou-
isiana, and carried a body of two hundred and eighty
people, including the crews. There were soldiers, artificers,
and volunteers, and also " some youisg women." Discord
soon broke out between M. de Beaujcu and La Salle, and
grew from bad to worse. On the 20th of December they
reached the island cf St. Domingo.
Joutel* was sent out with this party, which left oa the
5ih of February, and traveled eastward three clays, when
they came to a great stream which they could not cross.
Here they made signals by building great fires, and on the
13th 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 Beaujeu, 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 his
people 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 Yachcs, 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
limits 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 toon became troublesome, and
sjoutcl, historian of the voyage, accompanied La Salle, and subse-
quently wrote h;s " Journal Historique," which was published in Paris,
1713.
u
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
on the 14th of July La Salic ordered Joutel to join him
with his whole force. They had already lost several of their
best men, and dangers threatened them on every side. It
would seem from the historian's account of the expedition
that La Salle began to erect another fort, and also that he
became 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 makiiig further discoveries, Joutel leives in doubt.
Giving his last instructions, he left the fort en the 12th day
of January, 1687, with a company of about a dozen men,
including his brother, two nephews, Father Ana&tasius, 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.
This deed occurred on the 20th of March, on a stream
called Cenis.
In 1C87, France was involved in a long and bloody war.
The League of Augsburg was formed by the Princes of the
Empire against Louis XIV., and England, Spain, Holland,
Denmark, Sweden, and Savoy took up arms, and Louis
found himself battling with nearly the whole of Europe, and
only Turkey for an ally. This war ended with the peace of
Ryswick in 1697.
No material change took place in America, but the colo-
nists were harassed and many of their people killed or car-
ried captives to the Canadas. In 1688, the French posses-
sions in 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,
tlie 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 c 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 Palissade," 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 thousand 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
Utrecht, in 1713. This also extended to the American Colo-
nits, 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 arc 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 Crevecoeur), it was by those he
led into the west 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 letttr
written by Father Gabriel Marest, dated " Aux Cascaskias,
Autrement dit de I'lmmaculee concepcion de la Saiute
Vierge, le 9 Novembre, 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.f while
Peoria arose near the remains of Fort Crevecreur J
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 1697 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 theOubaehe 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 17.30, but little is known of the settlements
in the northwest, as it was not until this time that the atten-
•The authorities m relation to La Salle are Hennepin : a narrative pub-
lished in the name of Tonti, in 1697, but disclaimed by him (Charlevoix
III, 365. Lettres Edifiantes.
t Bancroft, iii. 196.
J There was an Old Peoria on the northwest shore of the lake of that
name, a mile and a half above the outlet. From 1778 to 1796 the inhabi-
tants left this for New Peoria, (Fort Clark) at the outlet. American
State Papers, xviii. 476.
I Western Annals.
Chnrlevoix, ii. 284. Le Detroit was the whole strait from Erie to
Huron. The first grants of land at Detroit, t. «., Fort Pontchartrain,
were made in 1707.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH 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
twenty-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 tixty 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
New Orleans."
Again, in an epistle dated November 17th, 1750, Vivier
says : " For fifteen leagues above the mouth of the Missis-
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,
within 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."f
At the close of the year- 1750, the French occupied in ad-
dition to the lower Mississippi posts and those in Illinois,
one at Du Quesne, one at the Maumee, 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 j
had stations at St. Joseph's on the St. Joseph's of Lake
Michigan, at Fort Pontehartrain (Detroit), at Michilli- j
mackinac or Massillimacinac, Fox River of Green Bay, and \
at Sault Ste. Marie. The fondest dreams of La Salle were I
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.
cLetlrcs Ediffantcs (Paris, 1731), vii. 97-106.
t Western Annals.
The French, however, had another claim to this country,
namely, the
DISCOVERY OF THE 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 Mississippi 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. Sulpice 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, 1689, the party, numbering twenty-
four persons, embarked in 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
in 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 distant 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 ready
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 Dablo;:,
occupying the field. After parting with the priests, I ,-\
Salle went to the chief Iroquois village at Onondago, ivhrre
he obtained guides and passing thence to a tributary of the
Ohio south of Lake Erie, he descended the latter as far as
16
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
the falls of Louisville. Thus was the Ohio discovered by
La Salle, the persevering and successful French explorer of
the west in 1069.
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 English. 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 iu 1G73, and when the year 1750 broke in upon
the father of waters and the great north-west, 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 Vincennes
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 Vincennes came with a detachment, I think, of
Cariguan, and was killed in 1735. ''f Bancroft says a mili-
tary establishment was formed there in 1716, and in 1742 a
settlement of herdsmen took place.J In a petition of the
old inhabitants at Vincennes, 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 1663-4, had heard of the " Hohio." The
route from the lakes to the Mississippi, by the Wabash, was
explored 1676,|| 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 Maumee^f
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 Alleghenics 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.
J History XJ. S. iii. 340.
\ American State Papers, xvi. 32.
| Histoire General Des Voyages iiv., 758.
TNow 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-
plored wilderness. England had from the outset claimed
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 laud. Thij
was also a strong argument.
In the year 1684, Lord Howard, Governor of Virginia,
held a treaty with the five nations at Albany. These wero
the great Northern Confederacy, and comprised at first the
Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas, and Senecas.
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 drawn
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 successfully.
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
aftef 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 whLh 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 which 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 tho
Indian trade, which should arrive in November, 1749.
* Plain Facts, pp. 40, 120.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WAS ASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Other companies were also formed about this time in Vir-
ginia to colonize the west. On the 12th of June, 1749, a
grant of 800,000 acres from the line of Canada, on the
north and west, was made to the Loyal Company, and on
the 29th of October, 1751, another of 100,000 acres to the
Greenbriar 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 10th of May, 1744,
Vandreuil, 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, Gallisouiere, 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, an Indian commissioner, sent out by Vir-
ginia in 1752, 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 16th, 1749, and a cop^ of the inscrip-
tion, with particular account, was sent by De Witt Clinton
to the American Antiquarian Society, among whose journals
it may now be found. These measures did not, however,
deter the English from going on with their explorations.
In February, 1751, Christopher Gist was sent by the
Ohio Company to examine its lands. He went to a village
of the Twigtwees, on the Miami, about 150 miles above its
mouth. From there he went down the Ohio River nearly
to the falls, at the present city of Louisville, and in Novem-
ber he commenced a survey of the company's lands. In
17.31, General Andrew Lewis commenced some surveys in
the Greenbrier country, on behalf of the company already
mentioned. Meanwhile the French were busy in preparing
their forts for defence, and in opening roads. In 1752
having heard of the trading houses on the Miami River,
they, assisted by the Ottawas and Chippewas, 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
gays several were burned. This fort, or trading house was
called by the English writers Pickawillany. A memorial
of the king's ministers refers to it as " Pickawellanes, in the
centre of the territory between Ohio and 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 on their part to purchase a
title from the Indians of lands which they wished to occupy,
and in the spring of 1752, Messrs. Fry,f Lomax and Pat on
* Revised Statutes of Virginia.
t Afterwards Commander-in-chief
ment of the French War of 177:,.
Washington, at the commence-
were sent from Virginia to hold a conference with the
natives at Logstown, to learn what they objected to in the
treaty at Lancaster, and to settle all difficulties. On the
9th of Juno the commissioners met the red men at Logs-
town. This was a village seventeen miles below Pittsburgh,
upon the north side of the Ohio. Here 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
Montour, 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 effected, and upon the 13lh of June they
all united in signing a deed, confirming the Lancaster treaty
in its fullest extent. Mean while the powers beyond the seas
were trying to out-mano3uver 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 in contemplation. And in Sep-
tember, 1753, William Fairfax met their deputies at Win-
chester, Virginia, where he concluded a treaty. In the
month following, however, a more satisfactory inter view took
place at Carlisle, between the representatives of the Iroquois,
Delawares, Shawnees, Twigtwees, and Wyandots, and the
commissioners of Pennsylvania, Richard Peters, Isaac Norris,
and Benjamin Franklin. Soon after this, no satisfaction
being obtained from the Ohio, 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
I 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 for such
' a mission. This personage was no other than the illustrious
George Washington, who then held considerable interest in
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 left Will's Creek, where Cumberland now is, on the
15th of November, and on the 22d reached the Monongahela,
| about ten miles above the fork. From there they went to
i Logstown, where Washington had a long conference with
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, an old Indian town at the mouth of the French
Creek. Here the French had a fort called Fort Machault.
On the llth of December he reached the fort at the head of
French Creek. Here he delivered Governor Dinwiddie's
letter, received his answer, and upon the 16th set out upon
his return journey with no one but Gist, hia guide, and a few
•Sparks' Washington, Vol. ii., pp. 42S-447.
18
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLIN CJf.
Indians, who still remained true to him. They reached home
in safety on the Gth of January, 1754. From the letter of
St. Pierre, Commander of the French fort, sent by Washing-
ton to Governor Diuwiddie, it was perfectly clear that the
French would not yield the West without a struggle. Active
preparations were at once made iii 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 the 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
forty-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 fjrest with their songs. The swift river
rolled by the Allegheny 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 Monongahela. But though all was so quiet
in 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, Ward tried to evade
the act, but it would not do. Contrecceur, with a thousand
men about him, said ' Evacuate,' and the ensign 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 Monongahela." 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 " Meadow*,"
where he erected a fort called by him Fort Necessity. From
there he surprised and captured a forco of French and Indi-
ans 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 Monongahela 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 Abercrombie, 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 part of the Canadian possessions foil 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 and 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 reduc-
tion of Canada. General Wolfe was to lay siege to Quebec ;
Amherst 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, after making the memorable ascent to the
plains of Abraham, on September 13th, defeated Montcalm,
and on the 18th the city capitulated. In this engagement,
Montcalra and Wolfe both lost their lives. De Levi, Mont-
calm's successor, marched to Sillery, three miles above the
city, with the 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
in the defeat of the French, and the fall of the city of Mon-
treal. The Governor signed a capitulation by which the
whole of Canada 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 there on
HIS TORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
the (Jth of November, and summoned the place to surrender.
At first the commander of the post, Beletre, refused, but on
the 29th, hearing of the continued defeat of the French army,
surrendered. The North-west Territory was now entirely
under the English rule. In 1762, France, by a secret treaty,
ceded Louisiana to Spain, to prevent it falling 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 iu question.
Twenty 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
1765, when Captain Stirling, in the name of the Majesty in
England, established himself at Fort Chartres, 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 s.nd 1776, by
the operations of land companies and the perseverance of
individuals, several settlements were firmly established be-
tween the Alleghenies and the Ohio river, and western land
speculators were busy in Illinois and on the Wabash. At a
council held in Kaskaskia, on July 5th, 1773, an association
of English traders, calling themselves the " Illinois Land
Company," obtained from the chiefs of the Kaskaskia, Ca-
hokia, and Peoria tribes two large tracts of land lying on the
east side of the Mississippi river south of the Illinois. In
1775 a merchant from the Illinois country, named Viviat,
came to Post Vincenncs as the agent of the association called
the " Wabash Land Company." On the 8th of October he
obtained from eleven Piankeshaw chiefs a deed for 37,497,
600 acres of land. This deed was signed by the grantors,
attested by a number of the inhabitants of Vincenues, 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 companies 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.
Iu Ilutchins' Topography of Virginia, it is stated that 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
wcro made—" 300 v.hitc men capable of bearing arms, and
233 negroes." From 1775 until the expedition of Clark,
nothing is recorded and nothing known of these settlements,
save what is contained iu 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 aro
also four or five families at Fort Chartres and St. Philip's,
which is five mibs further up the river." St. L >uis had been
settled in February, 1764, and at this time contained, inclu-
ding its neighboring towns, over six hundred white and 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 Uuited States. At De'roit, there were, accord-
ing to Captain Carver, who was in the north-west from 1768
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 iu 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 iu this part of the New World, held steadily to their
purposes, and those within the commonwealth of Ken-
tucky proceeded to exercise their civrl privileges of electing
John Todd and Richard Gallaway burgesses, to represent
them 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, and 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 and south, and
annihilate the frontier fortresses. This moving, energetic
man 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 into 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 into
Clark's plans. The same plan had before been agitated in
the Colonial Assemblies ; but there was no one until Clark
came who was sufficiently acquainted with the condition of
affairs at the scene of action to be able to guide them.
Clark, having satisfied 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-
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH 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 the 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-
ing 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 the falls, where he took possession of
and fortified Corn Island, between the present sites of Louis-
ville, Kentucky, and New 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
they would, and he would protect them from any barbarity
from British or Indian foes. This had the desired effect)
and the inhabitants at once swore allegiance to the Amerr
can arms, and when Clark desired to go to Cahokia on the
6th of July, they accompanied him, and through their in-
fluence the inhabitants of the place surrendered. Thus two
important posts iu Illinois passed from the hands of the Eng-
Hsh into the possession of Virginia. During the year
(1779) the famous " Land Laws " of Virginia were passed-
The 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
» Butler's Kentucky.
t American Stati- Papers.
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 had 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 party of Canadians and Indians,
attacked St. Louis, and attempted to take possesion of it in
consequence 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 question in the Colonial Congress concerning the
western lands claimed by Virginia, New York, Massachu-
setts and Connecticut. The agitation concerning this sub-
ject finally led New York, on the 19th of February, 1780, 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 6th, when a resolution passed that body 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 December of
the same year, the plan of conquering Detroit again arose. The
conquest might easily 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 in the capture
and retention of that important post, the only uuconquered
one in the territory.
Before the close of the year, Kentucky was divided into
the counties of Lincoln, Fayette, and Jefferson, and the act
eetablishicg 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
River of American parentage occurred, being that of Mary/
* AmiT>:m State Papers.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Heckewelder, daughter of the widely known Moravian Mis-
sionary, whose baud 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 1782 in the his-
tory of the North-west. During the year 1782 a number of
battles among the Indians and frontiersmen occurred, and
between the Moravian Indians and the Wyandots. 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 chiefly 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 warfare, saved
the outposts from cruel destruction. By the close of the
year 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 ; Cornwallis had
been defeated on the 19th of October preceding, and the lib-
erty of America was assured. On the 19th 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 thai
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
Lake, thence to the Lake of the Woods ; thence to the head of
the Mississippi River ; down its center to the 31st parallel of
latitude, then on that line east to the head of the Appalach-
icola River; down its center to its junction with the Flint ;
thence straight to the head of St. Mary's River, and thencj
clown along its center to the Atlantic Ocean.
Following the cessation of hostilities with England, several
posts were still occupied by the British in the North 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 whrse lands adventur-
ous whites would settle ere the title had been acquired by the
proper treaty. 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 soldisrs, 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 chose 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 Haldi-
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 1784, 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 Mclntosh, we suppose it was not very
prepossessing in appearance. He says, " 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 Ibs. 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 Mclntosh in 1785, and through these
vast tracts of land were gained. The Wabash Indians, how-
ever, afterwards r°fused to comply 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 definite action, 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 these promises until a treaty could be concluded be-
tween the two governments. Before the close of the year,
1786, 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
hind was sold to a company, who at once took measures to
settle it. By the provisions of this grant, the company were to
pay the United States one dollar per acre, subject to a de-
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
duction of one-third for 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.
In addition to this Congress afterward granted 100,000 acres
to actual settlers, and 214,285 acres as army bounties under
the resolutions of 1789 and 1790. While Dr. Cutler, one of
the agents of the company, was pressing its claims before
Congress, that body was 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 tliis proposition the 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,
1780, 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 subjeet was taken up in Congress and changed to
favor a division into not more than five Spates, 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
Symtnes, 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 the 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-
ghenics 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 " Muskingum," but was afterwards changed
to the name, Marietta, in honor, of Marie Antoinette.
Two days after, an oration was delivered by James M. Var-
num, who with S. H. Parsons and John Armstrong had been
appointed to the judicial bench of the territory on the ICth
of October 1787. On July 9, Governor St. Clair arrivedj
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 Harmer, at the mouth of the Musk-
ingum reported four thousand five hundred persons as having
passed that post between February and June 1788, 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 26th of November 1787 Symmes
issued a pamphlet stating the terms of his contract and the
plan of sale he intend.ed to adopt. In January 1788, Mat-
thias Denman, of New Jersey, took an active interest in
Symmes' 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
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
commenced to lay out a town on the spot, which was desig-
nated as being Licking River, to the mouth of which they
proposed to have -a road cut from Lexington ; these settle-
ments prospered but suffered greatly from the flood of 1789.
On the 4th of March 1789, the Constitution of the United
States went into operation, and on April 30th, George
Washington 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 Harmer 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 1796,
General St. Clair was appointed in command, and marched
against the Indians ; but while he was encamped on a stream,
the St 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 Maumee, and gained a compkte
victory. 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 of 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
country, have had their nuclei in those rude pioneer struc-
tures, known 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 east and west of 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 ground, with a block house at each of the four angles.
Fort Washington was for some time the headquarters of both
the Civil and Military governments of the North-western
Territory. Following the consummation of the treaty vari-
ous gigantic 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
generally discovered in time to prevent the schemes from
being carried out, and from involving the settlers in war.
On October 27, 1795, the treaty between the United States
and Spain was signed, whereby the free navigation of the
Mississippi was secured. No sooner had the treaty of 1795
been ratified than settlers began to pour rapidly into the
west. The great event of the year 179G, was the occupa'ion
of that part of the North-west including Michigan, which
was this year, under the provisions of the treaty, evacuated
by the British forces. The United States owing to certain
conditions, did not feel justified in addressing the authorities
in Canada in relation to Detroit and other frontier 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 headquarters to the neighborhood of the lakes,
where a county named after him was formed, which included
the north-west of Ohio, all of Michigan, and the north-east
of Indiana. During this same year settlements were formed
at the present city of Chillicothe, along the Miami from
Middletown to Piqua, 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 Sharp-
less, erected the first manufactory of paper — the " Redstone
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 16. h of the following Sep-
tember. From those named the President selected as mem-
bers of the council, Henry Vandenburg, of Vincennes, Robert
Oliver, of Marietta, James Findley, and Jacob Burnett, of
Cincinnati, and David Vance, of Vance ville. On the 16th
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 message
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
passed related to the militia, to the administration, and to
taxation. On the 1 9th of December this protracted session
of the first Legislature in the West closed, and on the 30lh
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 NORTH- TVEST TEEEITOEY.
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 remedy this it was deemed
advisable to divide the territory for civil purposes. Coil-
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
gross, 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 provisions 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 Recovery, and thence North until it shall
intersect the territorial line between 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 815,000,-
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 additi >nal 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.
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 Michigan began to fill rapidly with 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 llth 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 llth 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 land 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 intercourse 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 Maiden. 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 McArthur 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 effected by
General Wilkinson, acting under instruction of President
Jefferson. Burr was brought to trial on a charge of treason,
and, after a prolonged trial, during which he defended him-
self with great ability, he was acquitted 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 the 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.
PRESENT CONDITION OF THE NORTH-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
* American State Papers
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
28
BRIEF HISTORICAL SKETCH OF ILLINOIS.
north-west, and we now turn to the contemplation of its
gro\vth and prosperity. Its people are among the most
intelligent and enterprising in the Union. The population
is steadily increasing, the arts and sciences are gaining a i
stronger foothold, the trade area of the region is becoming j
daily more extended, and we have been largely exempt from
the financial calamities which have nearly wrecked com
munitties 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 I
natural geographical border, save where it melts away to ;
the southward in the cattle- raising districts of the south- i
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, Nebraska, Colorado, Texas and New 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 facilities are yearly increasing beyond those of any
other region.
The principal trade and manufacturing centres of the great
north-west are Chicago, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Indianapolis,
Detroit, Cleveland 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 II.
:EGINNING the history of this great State j
we direct attention briefly to the discovery .
and exploration of the 3Iigsissippi. Hernando
.De Soto, cutting his way through the wilder-
ness from Florida, had discovered the Missis- j
sippi in the year 1542. Wasted with disease |
and privation, he only reached the stream j
to die upon its banks, and the remains of j
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 in the West, that
intelligence came of a noble river flowing south. Marquette,
who had visited the Chippewas in 1668, 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
1670, 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, Intendent of Canada, as chieftain of the explor-
ing party, and five French voyageurs, Marquette, on the
10th of June, 1673, 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, on the 17th of June, they joy-
fully entered the broad current of the Mississippi. Stopping
sis 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 came 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, e.irly 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 1682. 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 1643, 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 1666. The priests of St. Sulpice, among whom he had a
brother, were then the proprietors of Montreal, the nucleus
of which was a seminary or convent founded by that order.
The Superior granted to La Salle a large tract of land 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 1669 he visited the headquarters of the great
Iroquois Confederacy, at Ouondaga, in the heart of New
at
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
York, and obtaining guides, explored the 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 ts the North west by the Ottaway River (of Canada),
on account of the fierce hostility of the Iroquois along the
lower l^kes 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 Nipissing, carrying them across the port-
age to French River, and descending that to Lake Huron.
This being the route by which they reached the North-west,
accounts for the fact 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 communi-
cation from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to the Gulf of Mexico.
This 'truly grand and comprehensive purpose seems to
Lave animated him in all his wonderful achievements and
the matchless difficulties and hardships he surmounted.
As the first 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
the French crown and a body of troops by which he beat
hack 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
outCt for building a ship with which to sail the lakes. He
was successful in this undertaking, though his ultimate pur-
pose 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-operated with a rival order. The fur traders were also
jealous of his superior success in opening new channels of
commerce. At La Chine he had taken the trade of Lake
Ontario, which but for his presence there weuld have gone
to Quebec. While they were plodding with their bark
canoes through the 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
1082, La Salle, having completed his vessel at Pcoria,
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, EOI DE FRANCE ET DE NAVARRE REGNE ;
LE NEUVIEME AVRIL, 1G82.
Thus France, by right of discovery, lay claim to the
Mississippi Valley, the fairest portion of the globe, an
empire in' 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 in 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 the summer of 1682, a portion of the party
were left behind, who founded the village of Kaskaskia and
Cahokia, but the statement rests on 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. On 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,
1675.
La Salle, while making preparations to descend the
Mississippi, built a fort, on the Illinois River, below the
Lake of Peoria, in February, 1680, and in commemoration
of his misfortunes, bestowed upon it the name of Crevecceur,
"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. Fronj
its summit, which rises 125 feet above the waters of the
river, the 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
j3t. 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), Crevecceur (1680), and the
Fort of St. Lauia (1682), embrace, so far, all the attempts
made towards effecting 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
Mission of the Immaculate Conception is the fame.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WAS ASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
•27
FOUNDING OF KASKASKIA.
On the death of Marquctte, he was succeeded by Alloiicz,
and he by Father Gravier, who respectively had charge of
the Mission on the Illinois River Gravier 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 Mission 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 1685, though probably not earlier
than 1082.
Father Gravier was subsequently recalled to Mackinaw,
and his place was supplied by Bineteau and Pinet. Pinet
proved an eloquent and successful minister, and his chapel
was often insufficient to hold the crowds of savages who
gathered to hear his words. Bineteau met with a fate
similar to that which befell many another devoted priest in
his heroic labors for the conversion of the savages. He
accompanied the Kaskaskias on one of their annual hunts
to the upper Mississippi, that his pastoral relations might
not suffer intermission. His frame was poorly fittfd to
stand the exposure. Parched by day on the burning
prairie, chilled by heavy dews at night, now panting with
thirst and again 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 Morrest had previously arrived at Kas-
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 Bineteau and Pinet, he had sole charge
until. joined by Father Mermet shortly after the opening of
the eighteenth century.
The devotion and piety of Mermet fully equalled those of
his companion. He 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 part of the river
was then called, the Wabash. 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 and administer medicine,
and their skill as physicians did more than all the rest to I
win confidence. In the afternoon the catechism was taught
in the presence of the young and the old, when every oue, '
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 chaplet 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 every 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, and up to the time of Boisbriant 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 in 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, Michael Derouse, (called St.
Pierre), Jean Baptiste St. Gemme Bcauvais, Baptiste Mon-
treal, Boucher de Moutbrun, Charles Danie, Franc.ois
Charlesville, Antoine Bienvenu, Louis Bruyat, Alexis Doza,
Joseph Paget, Prix Pagi, Michael Antoyen, Langlois De
Lisle, La Derrou te and Nova!-
AS PAftT OF LOUISIANA.
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 founded by D'lber-
ville and Bienville, they became 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 part of France for fifteen 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 exhibited to
Cadillac as the produce of a mine in Illinois. Elated by
this prospect of wealth, the Governor hurried up the river
to find his anticipations fade away in disappointment. ''Iron
ore and the purest lead were discovered in large quantities
in Missouri, but of gold, and silver, and precious stones not
a trace was found. After Crozat had expended 42.3,000
livres, and realized only 300,000, he, in 1717, petitioned the
king for the revocation of his charter. The white popula-
tion had slowly increased ; and at the time of his departure
it was estimated that the families comprising the Illinois
settlements, now including those on tho AVabash, numbered
three hundred and twenty souls.
* Bancroft.
27
HJSTOHY OF LDWA1WS, LA WHENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
The commerce of Louisiana was next transferred to the
Mississippi Company, instituted under the auspices of the
notorious John Law. The wild excitement and visionary
schemes which agitated France during Law's connection
with the Cumpany 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 country 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
cauebrakes, among which two hundred persons had en-
camped.
Phillip Renault was created Director-General of the
mines of the ne>v 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 what 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 Osages, 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, Buisbriant was
despatched to Illinois. He began the building, of Fort
Chnrtres, 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 ot' 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., iThese.
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 servant?, 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 officers, and
three for soldiers. They are each twenty-five feet square,
and have betwixt a small passage." •
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WAS ASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
21
Such was Fort Chartres, believed at the time to be the
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 Spain, even before
the transfer of the region eastward was made to the
English.
But the glory of the old fortress soon departed! In 1756
nearly half 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 depth. In the great
freshet six years after, in 1772, in which the American Bot-
tom was inundated, the west walls and two of the bastions
were swept away in the flood. 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. InT^O the south-east angle was still remaining.
Only vestiges of the old Fortress can now be traced. Much
of the stone was carried away, and used for building pur-
poses 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.
UNDER FRENCH RULE.
During the few years immediately succeeding the comple-
tion of Fort Chartres, prosperity prevailed 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 Compte and other families, whose de-
scendants are still found in that locality. New settlements
sprang up, and the older ones increased in population. At
Kaskaskia, the Jesuits established a monastery, and founded
a college. In 1725 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 Upper
Louisiana, attracted a wealthy, and for Illinois, a fashionable
population.
After having been fourteen years under the government
of the Western Company, in April, 1732,. the king issued a
proclamation by which Louisiana was declared free to all hU
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 -1732, became commandant of Fort
! Chartres, and Governor of Upper Louisiana. Between New
i Orleans and Kaskaskia the country was yet a wilderness.
j Communication by way of the Mississippi was interrupted
by the 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
M. D'Artaguette, the commandant, lost h;s life. An officer
arrived at Fort Chartres from M. Prerrier, Governor-General
at New Orleans, in the year 1736, summoning M. D'Arta-
guette, with his French soldiers, and all the Indians whom
he could induce to join him, to unite in an expedition against
the enemy. With an army of fifty Frenchmen, and more
than one thousand 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-
i 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 slow
torments of fire.
La Buissoniere succeeded as commandant at Fort Chartres.
In 1739 a second expedition was undertaken against the
Chickasaw country. La Buissoniere joined Bienville, then
; Governor-General of Louisiana, with a force of two hundred
! Frenchmen and three hundred Indians. The whole force
I under Bienville was twelve hundred French and five hun-
j 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
for the colonies. Cotton was introduced and cultivated.
Regular cargoes of pork, flour, bacon, tallow, hides and
leather, were fl >ated down the Mississippi, and exported
thence to France. Frsnch emigrant* poured 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 was 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 capturo of
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Quebec, began with a struggle for the territory on the Upper
Ohio. Fort Chartres was the depot 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 border 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 EARLY FRENCH SETTLERS.
The early French inhabitants were well adapted by their
peculiar traits of character for intercourse with their savage
neighbors of the forest, with whom they 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 Iodg3 of the savage. In see ies 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 natural address with which Frenchmen ingra-
tiated themselves in the favor of the savages, that this happy
condition of affairs existed. 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
different. There was 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 BO
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,1762, the vast possessions
of France, 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 t) retain command until it was found pos.-ible for
the English to take possession. M. Neyon de Villicrs was
commandant of Fort Chartres, and upon his retiring in 1764,
St. Ange d'Bellerive 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. The French commandant of Fort
Chartres was besieged for arms and ammunition to be used
against the English. The French flag was still flying over
the Fort, and the fact of the territory having been ceded to
Great Britain was not generally known except to those in
authority. The commandant was visited by embassies from
the Illinois, the Delawares, Shawnees and Miamis, and
finally Pontiac himself, at the head of four hundred warriors,
entered the council hall. St. Ange d Bellerive, unable to
furnish arms, 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 Pontiac dispatched a chosen band of
warriors to New Orleans to obtain from the Governor there
the assistance St. Ange refused to grant.
Pontiac 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 1769, he suddenly made
his appearance in the neighborhood of St. Louis. Arrayed
in the French uniform given him by the Marquis Montcalm
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 crossed the
Mississippi to attend a social gathering of Indians at Cahokia.
Becoming intoxicated he started to the neighboring woods,
when an Indian of the Kaskaskia tribe, bribed by an Eng-
lish trader with a barrel of whiskey, stole up behind him 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 Mississippi, 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,
17(55, that the ensign of France on the ramparts of the Fort
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
gave place to the flag of Great Britain. Kaskaskia had now
been founded more than three-fourths of a century.
Ou 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 that on the west bank of the
Mississippi they would still find a home under the govern-
ment of France, while in truth that territory had been ceded
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
zenith of their prosperity. From that day the French in-
habitants have declined in numbers and influence. In 17C5,
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 proclamation 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 Majesty, 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. Major Frazier, from
Fort Pitt, exercised for a time an arbitrary power, and his
successor, Col. Reed, proved still worse. He 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 de Cascasquias is by far the
most considerable settlement in the country of the Illinois,
as well from its number of inhabitants as from its advan-
tageous situation.
" Mons. Paget was the first who introduced water 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 Cherokees, in the
year 1764.
" The principal buildings are the church and the Jesuits'
house, which has a small chapel adjoining it; these, as well
as some of tho other houses in the village, arc built of stone,
and, considering this part of the world, make a very good
appearance. The Jesuits' plantation consisted of 240 arpents
(an arpent is 85-100 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 tho
English, for the crown, in consequence of the suppression of
the order.
" Mons. Beauvais wa^ tiio 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 251 feeL 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 officer governs
the inhabitants under the direction of the commandant at
Fort Chartres. Here are also two companies of militia."
Of Prairie du Rocher, Pitman writes that " it is a small
village, consisting of twenty-two dwelling-houses, all of which
are inhabited by as many families. Here 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 com and every 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 parallel with the Missis-
sippi river at a league distance, for forty miles up. Here is
a company of militia, the captain of which regulates the
police of the village. "
In describing the distance from Fort Chartres, the author,
doubtless, refers to Little Village, which was a mile or more
nearer than Prairie du Rocher. The writer goes on to de-
scribe "Saint Philippe" as 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 tho
inhabitants, except the captain of the militia, deserted in
1765, 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 Mis-
sissippi.
From the same authority we learn that the soil of the
country is in general rich and luxuriant. It was favorably
adapted to the production of all kinds of European grains
which grew side by side with hops, hemp, flax, cotton and
tobacco. European fruits arrived to great perfection. Of
the wild grapes a wine was made, very inebriating, and in
color and taste much like the red wine of Provcac?. In tho
late wars, New Orleans and the lower parts of Louisiana
were supplied with flour, baef, 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 Indians ; for which are received in turn such
European commodities as arc necessary to carry on that com-
merce and the support of its inhabitants."
92
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
CONQUEST BY CLARKE.
On the breaking out of the War of the Revolution, it is
probable that the British garrison (removed in 1772 from
Fort Chartres to Fort Gage, opposite Kaskaskia,) had 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. The French inhabitants
were rather in sympathy with the Americans than the Eng-
lish, 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, 1778, and the following month 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 were
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 cross 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 j
hundred and fifty houses. The British commander last in j
charge had instilled in the minds of the people the impres- !
sion that the Virginians, otherwise the " Long Knives," were I
a ferocious band of murderers, plundering houses, slaughter- !
ing women and children, and committing acts of great atro- j
city. Clarke determined to take advantage of this, and so j
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 the 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 Kuives are here!" The panic stricken towns- j
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 hia
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 villige, called on Clarke,
and humbly requested permission to assemble in the church,
to take leave of each other and commend their future lives
to the protection of a merciful Gjd, 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 revulsion 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 faithful 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 the 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 organization 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 1632 Illinoi? became a possession of the French crown,
a dependency of Canada, and a part of Louisiana. In 17C5
the English flag was run up on old Fort Chartres, and
HISTORY OF EDWARD, LAWRENCE AND WARASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Illinois was counted among the treasures of Great Britain.
In 1779 it was taken from the 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 the 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
feel that Providence was guiding with sleepless eyes these
unborn states. The ordinance that on July 13, 1787, finally
became the incorporating act, has a most marvelous history.
Jefferson had vainly tried to secure a system of government
for the north-western territory. He was an emancipationist
of that day, and favored the exclusion of slavery from the
territory Virginia had ceded to the general government,
but the south voted him down as often as it came up. In
1787, as late as July 10, an organizing 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. Oi July 5, Rev. Dr. Manasseh Cutler, of
Massachusetts, came into New York to lobby, on the north-
western territory. Everything seemed to fall 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 one of those 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 Yale, he had studied and taken degrees in the
three learned professions, law, divinity and medicine, Har-
vard had given him his A. M., and Yale had honored herself
by adding his D. D. He had 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 the old style, a man of commanding presence,
and of inviting face. The southern 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
publio credit, and this was a good opportunity to do some-
thing. Massachusetts then owned the territory of Maine,
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 Minister invited him to dine with
some of the Southern gentlemen. He was the centre of in-
terest; the entire South rallied around him. Massachusetts
could not vote against him, because many of the constituents
of her members were interested personally in the western
speculation ; thus Cutler, making friends with the south, and
doubtless 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 Jefferson the term " Articles of Compact,"
which preceding the federal constitution, rose into the most
sacred character. He then followed very closely the constitu-
tion of Massachusetts, adopted three years before, — its most
marked points were :
1st. The exclusion of slavery from the territory forever.
2d. Provision for public schools, giving one township for
a seminary, and every section numbered 16 in each town-
ship ; that is, one thirty-sixth of all the land for public
schools.
3d. A provision prohibiting the adoption of any consti-
tution, or the enactment of any law that should nullify
pre-existing contracts.
Be it forever remembered that this compact declared
that " Religion, morality, and knowledge being necessary
to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools
and means of education shall always be encouraged." Dr.
Cutler planted himself on this platform and would not yield.
Giving his unqualified declaration that it was that or nothing
— that unless they could make the land desirable they did
not want it — he took his horse and gig and started for the
Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. On July 13,
1787, the bill was put upon its passage, and was unanimously
adopted, every Southern member voting for it, and only one
man, Mr. Yates of New York, voting against it, but as the
States voted as States, Yates lost his vote, and the compact
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 chairman. 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
i 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 baltlc field for the irrepressible conflict. In
the southern end 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 froni
1 the slave States ; and this population brought their laws,
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
customs, and institutions with them. A stream of popula-
tion from the North 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 in spite of the
deed of cession, it was determined to allow the old French
settlers to retain their slaves. 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 in sixty
days or be sold as fugitives. Servants were whipped for
offences for which white men are fined ; each lash paid forty
cents of the fine. A negro ten miles from home without a
pass was whipped. These famous laws were imported 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 in 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 1850. There were mobs and
murders in the interest of slavery. Lovejoy was added to
the list of martyrs— a sort of first fruits of that long line of
immortal heroes who saw freedom a3 the one supreme desire
of their souls, and were so enamored of her that they pre-
ferred to die 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.
Indiv :dual 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
fir.-t grant of land, which is preserved, is that made to Charles
Danie, May 10th, 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
Kocher, much of it already coven d 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 expenses 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, Cahokia, 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 greet
numbers. The French claims were partly unconfirmed,
owing to the poverty of that people, and these were forced
on the market with the others. Tne 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
j number were forged. There are fourteen names given of
persons, both English and French, who made it a regular
business to furnish sworn 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 EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
sitions iii favor of three land claimant speculators, " was
induced,'' in the language of the report, " either by compen-
sation, fear, or the impossibility of obtaining absolution on
any o<her terms, to declare on oath that the said depositions
were false, and that in giving them he had a regard for
something beyond the 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 in the Kaskaskia
district. The commissioners under this law were Michael
Jones, John Caldwcll, and Thomas Sloo. Facts damaging
to persons who occupied positions of high respectability in
the community, were disclosed. They reported that the
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 laud 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.
PHYSICAL FEATURES OF THE STATE.
In area the State has 55,410 square miles of territory. It
is about 150 miles wide and 400 miles long, stretching in
latitude from Maine to North Carolina It embraces wide
variety of climate. It is tempered on the north by the great
inland, saltless, tideless sea, which helps the thermometer
from either extreme. Being a table-land, from 690 to 1,600
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 conditions 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 have been determinative; dynasties and
destinies have been strategical battles, chiefly the question of
position ; Thermopylae has been the war-cry of freemen for
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
been found nearly all the aggressive civilizations of history.
It has sixty-five miles of frontage on the head of Lake Michi-
gan. With the Mississippi 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 Mississippi, 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 runnin<; iuto 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 Mexico. The lake thus seems to hang over the
land. This makes the dockage most serviceable ; there are
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 surface of 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 ; within 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 from the East, and
soon changed this composition. In 1880, her now native
population were from colder soils. New York had furnished
143,290: Ohio gave 172,623: Pennsylvania 108,352: the
entire South gave us only 216,734. In all her cities, and in
all her German and Scandinavian and other foreign colonies,
Illinois has only about one-fifth of her people of foreign
birth.
PROGRESS OF DEVELOPMENT.
One of the greatest davelopments in the early history
of Illinois, is the Illinois and Michigan canal, connecting the
Illinois and Mississippi rivers with, the lakes. It was of the
utmost importance to the State. It was recommended by
Governor Bond, the first governor, in his first message. Two
bright young engineers surveyed it, and estimated the cost
at $600,000 or $700,000. It finally cost $8,000,000. In
1825, a law was passed to incorporate the canal company,
but no stock was s~ld. In 1826, upon the solicitation of
Daniel P. Cook, ctmgress 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 1834-35, George Farquar made an able
report on the whole matter. This was, doubtless, the
ablest report 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 cost
! the State a large amount of money ; but it gave to the indus-
tries of the State an impetus that pushed it up into the first
j rank of greatness. It was not built as a speculation. But
it has paid into the Treasury of the State an average annual
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH 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 buyers ; 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
grandeur of its conception. They 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 $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 bauk with them. In 1840,
all hope seemed gone. A population of 480 000 were load-
ed with a debt of $14,000,000. It had only six small cities,
really only towns, namely : Chicago, Alton, Springfield,
Quincy, Galena and Nauvoo. This debt was to be cared
for when there was not a dollar in the treasury, and when
the State had borrowed itself out of all credit, and when
there was not good money enough in the hands of all the
people to pay the interest of the debt for a single year. Yet
in the presence of all these difficulties the young State
steadily refused to repudiate. Gov. Ford took hold of the
problem and solved it, bringing the State through in triumph.
Having touched lightly upon some of th$ 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 tet
perate and tropical zones ; she leads any of the other Stat
in the number of acres actually under plow. Her products
from 25,000,000 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 it in 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
other great coal deposits of the world, and its importance
becomes manifest. Great Britain, has 1 2,000 square miles
of coal; Spain 3,000; France 1,719; Belgium 578; Illi-
nois about twice as many square miles as all combined.
Virginia has 20,000 square miles; Pennsylvania, 16,000;
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. No wonder she has leisure
and luxuries. No wonder the home of the common arfisan
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 250 years. At the same
rate of consumption (which far exceeds our own) the deposit
of coal in Illinois will last 120,000 years. Lst us now turn
from this reserve power to tho
ANNUAL PRODUCTS
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 annual 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 United
States. She harvested 2,767,000 tons of hay, nearly one-
tenth of a. 1 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.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
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 is no insignificant item. Pork is a growing demand of
the old world. Illinois marked $64,000,000 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 as first 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.
Iilinoisas only second in many important matters. This
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 New 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 in value of real and personal property, in theo-
logical seminaries and colleges exclusively for women, in
milk sold, and in boots and shoes manufactured, and in 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 $210,000,000 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. More 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 Religion and Morals of the State keep step with 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 Randolph County, petitioned the Constitutional
Convention of 1818 to recognize Jesus Christ as King and
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 citizenship. 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-slavery 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 and 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 officer 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 in 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, unobserved, 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 says,
" 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."
In Education, Illinois surpasses her material resources. The
ordinance of 1787 consecrated one thirty-sixth of her soil to
common schools, and the law of 1818, 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, and that our iliteracy 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
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
soon made colleges inevitable. The first college, still flour-
ishing, was started in Lebanon in 1828, by he M. E. Church,
aud named after Bishop McKendree. Illinois college at
Jacksonville followed in 1830, supported by the Presbyterians.
In 1832 the Baptists built Shurtleff college at Alton, and
Knox college at Galesburg followed in 1838, and Jubilee
college at Peoria in 1847, and the good Catholic missionaries
long prior to this had established in various parts of the State,
colleges, seminaries and parochial schools. After these early
years colleges have rained down. A settler could hardly
encamp on the prairie but a college would spring up by his
wagon. The State now has one very well endowed and
equipped university, namely the North-western University,
at Evanston, with six colleges, ninety instructors, over one
thousand students, and $1,500,000 endowment. Rev. J. M.
Peck was the first educated Protestant minister in the State.
He 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 Gazetteer of Illinois. Soon after John Russell,
of BlufTdale, published essays and tales showing genius.
Judge James Hall published the Illinois Monthly Magazine
with great ability, and an annual called The 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 44,500,003 volumes in all the public libra-
ries of the United S:ates, she has one-thirteenth.
In 1860 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.
THE 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
GJV. Reynolds, her sons drove Blackhawk over the Missis-
sippi.
When the Mexican war came, in May, 1846, 8,370 men
offered 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 forty-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-thirteenth 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. HeT 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 history 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 ui 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 the confederacy,
Sherman took with him on Lis great march forty-five regi
ments of Illinois infantry, three companies of artillery, and
one company of calvary. He could not avoid going to the
sea. Lincoln answered all rumors of Sherman's defeat with
" It is impossible ; there is a mighty sight of fight in. 100,-
000 Western men." Illinois soldiers brought home 300
battle-flags. The first United States flag 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
aud 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 analysis of Mr.
Lincoln's character is dilHcult on account of its symmetry.
In this age we look with admiration at his uncompromising
honesty. And 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 EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
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 hi 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 still." 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 lands.
With such certainty did Mr. Lincoln follow causes to their
ultimate effects, 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 men 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, he served the
nation in the perils of unparalleled civil war. A statesman,
he justified 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 obedience to law.
A leader, he was no partizan. A commander, he was un-
tainted with blood. A ruler in desperate times, he was
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. Thua perfected,
without a model and without a peer, he was dropped into
these troubled years to adorn and embellish all that 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
Republic 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-Saxon language
shall be spoken only by the tongue of the stranger, then the
generation looking this way shall see the great President as
the supreme figure in this vortex of hist ry.
CIVIL ORGANIZATION.
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 been
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 March 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 Chartres, and by the
regulations which had subsequently been issued bv the Vir-
ginia 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 Cincinnati, in 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 1806, among other places in the West, Aaron Burr
visited Kaskaskia in an endeavor to enlist men for his
treasonable scheme against the government. In 1805,
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 was
constituted. Ninian Edwards was appointed Governor of
the newly organized Territory, and the seat of government
established at Kaskaskia. Nathaniel Pope, a relative of
Edwards, received the appointment of Secretary.
For nearly four years after the organization of the Terri-
torial Government no legislature existed in Illinois. An
election for representatives was held on the eighth, ninth,
and tenth of October, 1812. Shadrach Bond, then a resi-
dent of St. Clair County, was elected the first Delegate to
Congress from Illinois. Pierre Menard was chosen -from
Randolph County member of the Legislative Council, and
George Fisher of the House of Representatives. The Legis-
lature convened at Kaskaskia on the twenty-fifth of Novem-
ber, 1812.
In April, 1818, a bill providing for the admission of Illi-
nois into the Union as a sovereign State was passed by Con-
gress. A Convention to frame a Constitution assembled at
Kaskaskia iu the following July. The first election under
the Constitution was held in September, 1818, and Shadrach
Bond was elected Governor, and Pierre Menard, Lieutenant
Governor. Illinois was now declared by Congress admitted
to fhe Union as on an equal footing iu all respects with the
original States. The Legislature again met at Kaskaskia ia
January, 1819. This was the last session ever held at Kas-
kaskia. Vandalia, 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. Bjlow we give list of governors
and staff officers of Illinois.
Illinois was constituted a separate Territory by act of Con-
gress February 3d, 1809. The boundaries were described
as follows :
40
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
ILLINOIS TERRITORY.
FROM 1809,
TO 1882.
* " That from and after the first day of March next, all
that part of the Indiana Territory which lies west of the
Wabash river and a direct linedrawn from the said Wabash
river and Post Vincennes 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.
Under 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 Representatives
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.
Territorial Officer*.
The following is a complete roster of territorial officers
from 1809 until the organization of the State government
in 1818:
GOVERNORS.
, March 7, 1809. Declined.
April 24, 1809, to December 6, 1818.
appointment was two years. Governor Edwards
i time, as his term expired, and served through
The term of the Governor's
ros re-appointed from time t
.he entire territorial governr
SECRETARIES.
, March 7,1809,1
• is, 1816, to April, 1S1T.
1817, to August, 1817.
33,lSi;,toOetoberO,lSl£
AUDITORS OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS.
IT. II. Maxwell 1812 to 1S16,
Daniel P. Cook January IX, 1
i;iaukwell April ;',,
Elijah C. Berry August 88,1
ATTORNEYS-GENERAL.
Benjamin II. Doyle July 24 1809, to December, 1809.
John J. Critteud'eM December 30, 1809, to April, 1810.
Thomas T. Crittvnden April 7, 1»10, to October, 1810.
Beiijamin M. Piatt Ootoh, -r .".I, isiu, to June. 1S13.
William Mears Iune23, 1813, to February 17, 1818.
» From Legislative Directory, published 1881.
John Thomas
I
Shadrach Bond
Il.Mijamin stcphenson
Nathaniel Pope
Obadiah Jones, ..................
Alexander Stuart ..............
Jesse B. Thomas ...............
Thomas Tow-lea
Daniel Cook. (Wc»tern
John Wurno.'k. (Wester
John McLean. (Eastern
TREASURERS.
1812 to 1818.
ELEGATES TO CONGRESS.
December, 1812, to 18
~ itember 2
! to 1818.
JUDGES.
March 7,1809.
.V.V."'.V.V.'.'.'...V.'.'.'......Ijuly 29, lilia.
October -s, 'Sl.-i
.
El las Kent Ka
t.) February 17, 1818.
u iiii-i!M .Mear-. fl-.astern circuit. I February 17,1818.
Jeptha Hardiu. (Eastern circuit.) Mareh 3,1818.
ADJUTANTS-GENERAL.
Elias Rector
Robert Morrison
Elias Rector
Mav 3, 1809, to July 18, 1809.
lillv IS, IVM;,, to M'av2», 1810.
May W, 1*1".,,, October •_>.% 181
First Territorial Legislature— 1812.
askaskia on the 25th day of November, A. D. 1812. Adjour
'
, . .
nvened and adjourned
Convened at Ka _
the 26th day of December, 1812. Second
November 8, A. D. 1813.
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
OFFICERS.
President Pierre Menard.
Secretary John Thomas.
Doorkeeper Thomas Van Swearingen.
MEMBERS.
Randolph. Samuel Judy Madis
...(iallatin. Thomas Ferguson Johns
...St. Clair.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
OFFICERS.
Pierre Menard
IVniiU.im Tall»>tt
William Biggs
Doorkeeper
MEMBERS.
George Fisher Randolph. Josh
Alexander Wilson Gallat-n. Jaco
. Gallatin
..Johnson
.
. Greenu
Van Swe
Pt. flair
..... St. Cl.ir
Madron
Second Territorial legislature 1814.
FIRST SESSION.
;d at Kaskaskia the 14th day of November, A.
• 24, A. D., 1814.
D. 1814. Adjourned
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
OFFICERS.
President Pierre Menard.
Secretary John Thomas.
Doorkeeper Thomas Stuart.
MEMBERS.
Pierre Menard Randolph. Samuel Judy Madison.
William ISim?s «t. Clair. Thomas Ferguson Johnson.
Benjamin Talbott Gallatin.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVF.S.
OFFICERS.
Sneaker Risdon Moore.
Clerk William Mears.
Doorkeeper Thomas Stuart
MEMBERS.
Riadon Moore St. Clair. Phillip Trammel Gallatin.
William Rabh Madis,,,,. Thomas C. Browne Oaltatln.
James Lemon, Jr ft. Clair. Owe,, Kvans Johnson.
James Gilbreath* Randolph.
Second Territorial Legislature— 18 5.
SECOND SESSION
,th day of December, A. D. 1815.
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
OFFICERS.
President Pierre Mcnard.
Secretary lohn Thomas
Enrolling and Engroiiwa Clerk Wm. C. Greenup.
MEMBERS.
Pierre Menard Randolph. Willis
Samuel Judy Madison. Thorn
Benjamin Talbott Gallatin.
• Expelled.
HISTORY OF EDWARD, LAWRENCE AND WADASH COUNTIES, 1UANOIS.
B
OUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
OFFICERS.
Spcakfr
Risdon Moore.
Under t
C'crk
Vaorkccper
Daniel P. Cook.
Ezra Owen.
nor and I
Enrolling and Enjr^
syutgfJUrk
Wm. C. Greenup.
election re
l:j -'l-.n Moore
KEMBEB8.
St. Clair. John G. Lofton..
Madison.
the Speak
Phillip Trammel
Th asC. I-.rown,-".:
Jarvis Ilazelton
(iallatin. William Ual.l.....
Hallatin. Jam.-- I..-m.-ii. .
Kan.l.ilph.
Mudi-.ui.
r St. Clair.
open and j
the Gener
• .:_* u_ii
Third Territorial legislature— 181O-1T.
FIRST SESSION.
Convened at Kaskaskia the 2d day of December, A. D. 1816. Adjourned
January 11, A. D. 1817. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
President..
I'ier
iMenard.
MEMBERS.
HarmMenard Randolph. John Grammar John
Thomas C. Browne ................. Gallati
, G.Lofton Madison.
Abraham Amo.i St. Clair.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
OFFICERS.
Speaker T. Oeor^'1 i'i-h
Doorkeeper
Georco Fisher .................... Randolph.
C. R. Mathem- ....................... St. (flair.
Win II l!r:idsliv .......... St. Clair.
Nathan Davis ........................ Jackson.
. .
Ezra Owen
eph Palmer ..................... Johnson.
i.Jard .............................. Edwards.
iin.'l oinelvcny ........................ I'ope.
A. D. 1817. Adjour
..Ptoi
Third Territorial Legislature—
SECOSD SESSIOX.
rened at Kaskaskia the. 1st day of December,
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
' • winjGtort
Ezra Owen.
5IEMBERS.
Pierre Menard Randolph. John G. Lofton M
Ai.rah.iin AT.OS Monroe. Thomas C. Browne G
JolmGrimmar Johnson.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
OFFICERS.
Speaker George Fisher.
: •
Doorkeeper
MEMBERS.
George Fisher ......................... Randolph Wm. H. Bradsby
M itheny .................. St. Clair. Joseph Pal
CoOk.
[J. K. MrLuii>_rlilm.
Ezra Owen.
Wil
nport
First Constitutional Convention.
CONVENTION OF 1818.
Assembled at Kaskaskia, July — 1818. Adjourned August 26,
1818. Thirty-three delegates. One member from Washington county
ilird during the sitting of the convention ; name unknow
tion mlopted in convention without being submitted to
people. Approved by Congress, December 3, 1818.
OFFICERS.
President ............................ ........... Jesse B. Thomas.
Secretary ..................................... William C. Greenup.
DELEGATES.
St. Glair— Jesse B Tiiomas, John Mewinger, James Lemen, Jr.
(ieor-o lusher, Elias Kent Kane.
Mu'limn— Benjamin Stephenson, Joseph Borough, Abraham Pri
kett.
- - Michael Jones, Leonard White, Adolphua F. Hubbard.
•„,— Hc'7.ekiah West, Win MoKatridge.
.!• Srt.li Gard, Levi Corapton.
•/,' illi* Hargrave, Win McIIcnry.
-Caldweli Cams Enoch Moore,
-Samuel Omelveny, Hamlet Ferguson.
..-Conrad Will, James Hall, Jr.
.••./-Joseph Kitchell, Edward N. Cnllom.
#«;»/ -Thomas Kirk patrick, S;imm-l G. Morse.
William KrhokJohiiWhiteaker.
Waihingtnn— Andrew Bankson.
Franklin— I»ham Harrison, Thomas Roberts.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.
Under the constitution of 1S18 the elective officers were the Gover-
nor and Lieutenant-Governor, who held office for four years. The
re transmitted by the returning officers, directed to
the Speaker of the House of Representatives, whose duty it was to
open and publish them in the presenca of a majority of each house of
l Assembly. In case of a lie, the choice was made by a
joint ballot of both houses. The first election for Governor and
Lieutenant-Governor was held on the third Thursday of September,
A. D. 1818. Thereafter the eleclions were held every four years
on the first Monday of August.
The Secretary of State was appointed by the Governor, with the
advice and consent of the Senate.
The Auditor of Public Accounts, Treasurer and Attorney- General
were elected by the General Assembly, and held office for two years
respectively.
By the constitution of 1848, 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 Trcasn 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 Gorernor, Lieutennnt-Governor, Secretary of State,
Auditor of Public Accounts, Treasurer, Superintendent of Public In-
struction, and Attorney-General, who shall each, 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 November 5, A. D. 1872.
By a law passed in 1849 the Secretary of State was made ex-officio
State Superintendent of Public Schools. In 1854 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.
..St. Ciair.
The offices of Adjutant-General, State Geologist, and Entomolo-
'..Gallatin]
gist, are created by law, and filled by appointment of the Governor.
STATE OF ILLINOIS.
igust 20,
Coveriioro
n county
tc of the
When
From what
Nsme. ^
inaugurated.
county
Remarks.
.
Shadraeh Bond
Oct. 6, 1818
St. Clair
tiup.
1-Mwurd Coles
Dec. &, 182.!....
Madison
Ninian Kdwur.ls
Dec. 6, 1S2C...
Ma.lis.M,
John Reynolds
Dec. 9, 1830,...
St. Clair
Re-iltneil Nov. IT,' 1834."
n, Jr.
Win. T,. 1). Ewing
NOT. 17, 1834..
K-.yrtt"
Elected ll.'p. to Congress.
Vice Reynolds.
m Pric-
• M-illl
Thomas Carlin
Dee. 3, 1834
Dec. 7, 1838
iV,".^*"
;"'z;!"z:;;!r;r7'.i::::::::.
Thomas Ford
Dee. 8, 1842
Ogle '.'.'.'.'I
ibbard.
Augustus C. French
Augustus C. Frenuli
•Ian. ,s, Will
Crawford
Crawford
iie-eiected "under"con'st'ii
of 1847.
Jan., is:,.1!
Will
John Wood. '.'.".'.I..'.'.!!.
Jim. ll', ls:,T....
Mar. 21, 180(1...
4-temiw.'.".'.'.'.'.
~n.'.'<v(l«'.lto theoffice vica
Richard Yates
Jan. 14,1801...
Morgan
Bisaell
Richard .!.< fleshy
John M. Palm.-r
Richard J. Oglesby
John L. Bcverid.-e
Jan. lr., l.s.;:
Jan. 11. I8W...
Jan. 13, INT::...
Jan 23, 1873...
Ma.'.m
Maeoiipin ...
Macon!
Cook
I'le.'tc.l IT. S.S.'irrtor.
Succeeded to office, rico
Shelby M. Cullom
SU.-li.y M. Cullom
Jan 8.18T7...
Jan. 10, 1881....
Sunj-umoil.'.'!
Oglosby resigned. '
HISTORY OF EDWARD, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
When
Fr^m what
Name
inaugurated
county.
Remarks.
Pierre Menard
Adolphus, F. Hul.l.ard..
Oct. 6, 1818..
Dec. 6, 1822..
Randolph
Oallatin
rr--— -:.=.:
Zadok'casov"' J ""."
Wm.L.D. Ewing
Dec! 9^ 183(1..
Mar. 1, 1833..
Jefferson'.'.'.'.'.'
Fayette
Resigned' March "i, TssS. '"
Presidentof Senate and Act-
ing Lieut-Governor.
Alex. M. Jenkins
Dec. 5, 1834..
Jackson
Resigned
Wm. H. Davidson
Dec. 9, 1836..
White
President of Senate and Act-
ing Lieut-Governor
Stinson H. Anderson...
Dec. 7, 1838..
Jefferson....
John Moore
Dec. 8. 1842..
McLean
Joseph B. Wells
Dec. 9, 1846..
Jan. 8, 1849..
John Wood !!'.".'.'.'."'.
Jan. 1853..
Jan. 12, 1857..
ftja£[gir
-<uoeeeded to ofnV-e of (n.v
vice Bissell dec'd Mar. 21,
1860.
Thomas A. Marshall
Jan. 7, 1861.. Coles
President of Senate and Act-
ing Lieut-Governor.
Francis A. Hoffman
Jan. 14, 1861.. !Cook
William Bross
Jan. 16, 18G5..
Jan 11 186')
Cook
Tnion
••••'•" •'••
John L. Beverfd'ge
John Early
Jan. 11, 1873..
Jan. 23, 1873..
Cook
Winnebago..
Succeeded to ortiee of <iov.
vice Oglesbyelec'dU.S Sen
ft-esidentof Senate and Act-
Archibald A. Glenn Jan. 8, 1875..
Andrew Shuman IJan. 8, 1877.
John Hamilton Jan. 10, 1S81..
Cook
McLean
ing Lieut-Governor.
President of Senate and Act-
ing Lieut-Governor.
Secretaries of State.
Elias Kent Kane
Samuel L>. Lnckwood....
Oct. 6.
Do • 18,
\|.ril 2,
Oct. 15,
George Forquer Jan. 17,
Alexander P. Field '
Stephen A. Don-las
Lyman Trumbull >feo^27,
Thompson Campbell.... Mar. 4,
Horaces. CooK-v Do.; 2'i
Horaces. Cooley !jan. 8,
David L.Grcggs April 10,
Alexander Starne Ian In
Ozias M. Hatch Ian. 12
OziasM. Hatch Ian. 14
Shan.n Tvndale..
Edward Hummel
1818..,Kaskaskia..
cteb.Z
gamon...
1828..|Union
Win.. Morgan
,8H.. St. Clair
1843.. JoDaviess ...
Adams
IS If,.
Adams
Cook
Pike
Pike
•lair!:::::
Peoria
Tazi-wi'll
Resignoa Dec. 16, 1822.
U.-<ii_-ii,-,l Jan. 15, 1825.
Removed MarrTi 4. Isl'i.
of 1848. Died April 2, 1850.
Name.
When
qualified.
From what
county.
Remarks.
Elijah C. Berry Oct. D, 1818..
Fayetto
Elijah C. Berry 'April 6, 1819..
Jwnes T. B. Stapp Aug. 27, Ml..
Levi Davis 'Nov. 16, 835..
James Shields Mar. 4, 841..
Randolph'.'.'.'.'
Wm. D. L. Ewing Mar. 26, 84:1..
Thomas H. Campbell...:Mar. 26, 816..
Thomas H. Campbell... Jan. 7, 847..
Kdoiph':::
Died.
Vice Ewing, deceased.
Jcsso K. Dubois [Jan. 12, 857..
Jesse K. Dubois ! Jan. 14. 861..
Orlinll. Miner
( hailes E. Lii.pinooti.
Charles E. Lippincott.
Dec. 1 !, 864..
Jan. 11, 869..
Jan. 11. 871..
sanKamon ".: i ......... ;.v.v™.v.".v.v.".".™".;::".~ ..
Cass
Thomas B. Needles !.Jan. 8, 877..
Charles P. Swigcrt .Jan. 10, 881..
W;i8'iincton
.::..:::.:....
Ninian W. Edwards M,-h. -j|, ls:,l.. Sancm.on... \,,point,.,l by the Governor
Newton Bateman Jan'y. ,1871.
Sam'l M. Etter ,J»n'y 11, 1876.
Jawes P. Sladr Jan'y 13, 1879.
Name.
When
qualified
^cZnt^'i Remark
Thomas 1818.
R. K. McLaugnlin 'Aug. 2, 1819.
Abner Field Jan. 14,1821.
James Hall 'Feb. 12. 1827.
John Dement IFeb. 5, 1831.
ry 'Dec. 5, 1836.
side Meh. 4, 1837.
ter !Mch. 6, 1841.
lAllg. 14 1848.
John Moore Dec. 16, 1850.
James Miller Sjan. 12, 18S7.
William Ilutler jSept. 3, 18M,
William Butler Jan. 14, 1801.
Alexander Starne 'Jan. 12, 1863.
James H Beveridge jjan. 9, 1865.
George W. Smith Jan. 10, 1867.
Erastus N. Bates Jan. 11, 1869.
Erastus N. Bates jNov. 8, 1870.
Edward Kutz |jan. 13,1873.
Thos. S. Ridgeway Jan. 11, 1875.
Edward Rutz iJan. 8, 1877.
I Jan. 13, 1879,
|Jan. 10, 1881,
Bamiltoi
nted vice G'arpent/i
Attorneys-General.
Daniel Pope Cook
William Mears
Sam'l D. Lockwood
James Turney
Ninian^
" Iwards..
Jesse B. Thomas, Jr....
Walter B. Scales
Usher F. Linder
George W. Ulney
Wiekliffe Kitehell
Josiali hamborn
.lames A. Mrliounall....
David ii. Campbell
Robert G. Ingersoll . ...
Washington lluslmoll..
James K. Edsall
James K. Edsall
James McCartney
Dec. 21, 1846.. Sangamon...
Feb. 28, 1867.. Pooria
Jan'y. 11, 1873.. LaSalle
Jan'y 13, 1873.. Lee
Jan'y. 8, 1877.. " -
Jan'y. 10, 1881.. Wayne
Resigned March 5, 1
Resigned Dec'.'3,"i832.'
iiosign'ed'FebVTVis'a!""
Resigned Jan'y 8, 183G.
liesi.nned D.-c. 2ii, ls:!i;.
Resigned Juno 11, 1838.
Api>ointed'b'y''G'o'v'.'ogiesby.
D B.Walsh !June 11, lsr,7.. Itock Island
Wm. LoKarnm April 2, 187(1.. Kane
Cyrus Thomas \pril M, l«7»- Jackson '
ah C.Berrv ................ .June 11 1821..
ios W. 11,-rrv .............. I»i-e. 19,1828..
es K. Anderson ....... Dec. in, i.s:::>..
Kim™ I'., liui'knor .......... \i>ril 3, ls:.7..
Wm.c;. Kennoy ............. \<l: :>, ls:,7..
Thomas S. Math.-,. ......... not. 2S. ls:.s..
Allen C. Killlor ................. Nov. II. lsi;l.
Ishani X. Hiwni.i ........... .lan'v 1C, ISiir...
Kdwanl P. Nilos .................... .' ..... . .........
i^H Remttrk3'
dolph.....
Uesigiii'd .Nov7i'i','i839."
Uexamler...
Hubert DilKc-r Meh. 21, lxi.ii.. Sali'-am.m".'.'.
Ivlwiti I. HI--M,- .l.mV.l, 1ST:!..
Edwin L. HiRstins 'July 1,1874..
Hiram HillianL.^'Z.'^ .InlV •>', is::... c,...k
1 Inly 2, 1877.. "
Hiram Hilliard
ice Kinney, deceased.
HISTORY OF EDWARD, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
POPULATION OF
Stat-mont showing the population of the State of Illinois by Counties, according to the United States census, from the year 1800 to the year 1S80,
of organization and name o/County Seat: .
Counties. 1800. j 1810. | 1820. j 1830.
1840.
1850.
1860.
1870.
1880. | When organized.
County Seats.
Adams
Alexand, r
.........
2,186
1,390
14, 476
313
26, 508
484
41,323
4,707
56, 362
10,564
69, 1481 January 13, 1825
14,80!) March 4, 1819
Qu.injT
Bond
tfO\
060
705
183
144
19S
9,815
11, 67f
13 152
12,942
12,2(1-
14, S73 January 4, 1317 -
11,527 March 4,1837
13,044'February 1, 1839
(/roenvme!!777777
Hell-idem
Ml. Sterling
Bureau"".'"' 777..77777 777 777 777!
Calhoun
Carroll
Cass !
&fi"::.:::::::::z:::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::..
Clark
""'931
ijogb
'75.1
2,330
,007
' 475
878
453
228
718
231
586
2,13
619
203
532
,280
26,'426
6,141
11,733
11,325
14, 629
10, 492
11,987
9,336
10,941
34; 415
6, 562
16,705
11,580
32, 737
20, 363
18,719
15, 875
16 285
33,189
7,471
i^M
40, 869
28,232
21,900
16195
18,718
February 28, 1837 Princeton
January 10,182' Hardin
Febuarv22, 1839 Mt, Carroll
March 3, 1817 -, Virginia
February 20, 18'tt Urbana
February 15, 1.3:1:1 Tavlorville
March 22, 1.319 Marshall
December 23, 1324 Louisville „...
December 27. 1.3-21 carlvle
o8iw.77!.\7!7...7.!.7.777!.7.777 777 7.77
616
14, 203
25 235
27 01.1 December 2.1, 18311
Charleston
Cook
1 2'Jl
4: ' :;7
144,9.14
349966
607,719 January 11, 1J3I
Chicago
Crawford j ' 2,999
Cumberland j !
3,117
ru
11,551
8,311
13 889
12 223
16,190 December 31, 1816
Robinson
Majority Point
DeKalb !
097
247
540
002
19,086
10, 820
2:1,,-,:,
14.76S
--,i7:i March 4, 183777777! Sycamore
17 OulMarch 1,1839 CJinton
D°,F|^ ::;;:: !
535
290
7,140
14,701
15.S.17 February ri,1317 TusenU
19 is? February 9. 1*1!) Wheaton
^^577.77.7777777777777 777 "3,444
Ktfingham
t:;!!:'
221
1
10, WS
5,454
7 316
2l! 45?
7,565
1.1,05:1
2jio04 January's, 1823
1> Novem1,er23,1sl4
IM^Fobruaryll, IR31
Paris
Sam7777!77.
Favette , 2,704
J32S
075
11, !89
19,613
23,213 February 14, 1821
Vandalia
Ford
1,979
9, 103
15 101 F,.bni..,rV.17, 13.19
Kir± ::::::::::::=::..:::::..:::::::::::::::::•. .^
Gallatin ] 3155
4,083
1,841
7,40,1
iis-i
1 112
1 760
'tis'
i508
4 is
II
12, 612
33,291
11,134
16 i-.,,. January '2, 1818
41,219 January 23, 1823
12, si;-- September 14, 1312
Lewisto \vn77.7.7.777
Shawneetown
Greene
7,674
1 951 429
16,093
20,277
23,014 January 2;i, 1821
Carrollton
Hancock. !7777777777.7.77777! 777 777
'483
941
946
378
362
r.,12
887
10,379
9, 915
29 061
9 v!"
14,938
13, 014
16, 7.1.8 February 17, 1841
16,712 February 8, 1821.1
35 31 > January 18, 1825
r, o,l March'2, 1839
Morris
MeLeansboro
S±fc^!7777
Henderson ' '.... :
612
12! ,132
10,755
January 20, 1841
Oquawka
807
January n, 182.1
C mbridge
Iroquois ,
Jackson l,142j 1,828
69.1
500
472
149
862
220
12^ 325
9589
8,364
2.% 782
ass
||
I'Ybrilary 26,1833
January in, 1816
•-elirnaryll, 1831
Watseka!.
702
109
12, 965
17,864
Iar<-h!iii,]S19
Mt.WVern'on"77777.7
jersey...7777777.7777777 777 777 :
535
354
12,051
15, 054
IS) 548
February 28, 18:1!)
Jerseyville
Johnson
Mil 1.596
626
114
9, 342
11,248
13, 079
September H, 1^2
Kane
501
703
30, 062
39,091
44| 956
annarv li1., 1836
Kankakee
15. 412
2 1! 3.12
24, 901
1 1. ls.11
Kankak'e'e 'cit7-.7!!7.7.
73
13. 074
12,399
13,08l!Fehruary19,'l841_
Yorkville ".
274
(160
279
28, 663
39,122
Galesburg
654
226
18,257
21,014
21^299 March I, i> :•
Waukegan
LaSaiie777. 777777.77777. 77!!! !!!!!!'.'.'.'
348
815
48.332
60,792
70,420 January H. 1831.~~__
' Mtan.l
Livinjorton !....
777; Y"
092
035
759
121
292
552
9,214
17,651
11,637
12,533
27,171
31,471
13,663
27' 194
38,450
January 16. 1821 Xawrenceville
February 27, 183!) Dixon
February.27, 1837 Pontiae
Logan
:::!!!::: ::::7:::::!::
333
128
14, 272
23,053
25,041
February!), 183!)
,: 1.122
039
988
13, 738
26,481
30, 071
Janna-y 19, 1829
Decatur
Madisopn!..7...'.......'....!'.7.!7.'.7...!.!.7!7!!!!!!! !!! ih',"™ 6/221
.326
1 433
355
441
21,60-2
31, 351
32, 726
44 131
37,705
60.141
January 17, 1329
September 14,1812
Carlinville
E,lwardsville
&EEEEEEEEEE E = ^.
742
849
12, 739
13,437
20,622
23,091
15,030
January 24, 1823
Salem
Lacon
Mason 1
i! 921
10,931
K, 184
Havana...
1
09
6213
9581
10,' 443 j February £ 1843.777!
McHenry 7.7.77.777777.77 777 !!!!!!!!.
ITS
616
978
20,069
22, OS,,
26,509
23, 762
24^914
Ianuary25, 1828
lanuary 16,183i;
WooTtoc'k
16.1
163
28, 772
63,968
m 115
1) mher -.
Bloomington7'.!!!7.7!.7
Mena?d.777:7.7.7.!77.7.7!777 777 7"7!
431
349
9,584
11, -:;r.
13 028
February 15, 1«39
Petersburg
Mercer
Monroe
Montgomery 1
Morgan
Moultrie
.........
1*7 14
aat
,481
1 ,'547
240
1
234
15,042
12,832
13,979
22,112
6, 385
1*71*
12,932
25,314
28 463
10,3.85
li
28, 016
s$
January 13, 1825
June 1,1816. „
February 12, 1821
January 31, 1823
February! i, 1843
Aledo
Waterloo
Hillsboro „
Jacksonville
Sullivan
Ogle i 479
021
22,888
27,49?
29,946
January' 16, 1836
Oregon
Peoria
153
1.2).i; 222
547
278
47.640
13,723
16',008
Januar'y 13, 1821
January 29. 1827
pike 77777777.7.' '." 777 77.7 7.7." ii.wi 'i 728
KtoEEEE 77:77777 7;:::::: 7m.... (:!:4
Putnam mo, 13
Randolph 1,101,7,275 3.-I92I 4429 944
60C
sin
97:
264
m
071
.6I'?27
a', 943
£S
21)' 855
15,' 583
33,761
13,2,56
9,507
IS 555
25; 691
January 27, 1841 Monticello
January 31, 1821 Piltsfield
April 1, 1816 (Jolcouda
March 3, 1843 Mound City
January 13, 1825 Hennepin
April 28, 1809 .Chester
Riebland
^^!-"77777777!77!7 ::::::::! 7!7!7::77
Bpngamon
s-huyier ;;:;::..; 77;
2,95!)
'liiV
972
01?
rls's
22S
573
9,711
21,005
9, 331
32,274
14,684
12. 803
29, 733
12,714
46, 352
17,419
15, 546
38,314
15, 9»
52, 902
16,249
February 24, 1S41
February 9, 1831
February 21, 1847
January 3o, 1821
January 13, 1325
Olney
Itoek Maud
Harrisburg
Springfield
ftofoiy
2,972
21.1
669
914
807
9,069
14, 613
10, 530
25, 476
10,74.1 February 16, 1839
30,282 January 23,1827
Wincnester!.'.'!!!!!! 777.7
Shelhyville
573
71<
9,004
10, 751
ll,20!i March 2,1839
*st. ciaYr7'7777777!7.7777j"i^55y'v;o7T'5,248
7 07s
1 631
37,694
61 068
f.1,850 April 28, 1809
Belleviii'e".""".'.'.!!!"'."."."
Stephenson '
777
""4,716
3,239
m
fcii
m
25,112
21, 470
30,608
27, 903
16, 518
31, 97n March 4, 1837
M.U79 January 31, 1827
18,UKl January 2. 1818
Freeport
Pckin
Jonesboro
vermniiion'77.'.7.'.77.: .7.777.7 :;;;7:: :; ..::...
Wabash
Warren
5,336
2,710
308
!2ir
739
492
690
176
7', 313
18,336
ao*sn
8,841
23, 174
41,' 600 January IS, 1326
9, 94o|December27, 1824
22,9to January 13, 1825
Danville
Mt. Carmel
\Va»him;t,'ii
i''i'n
1,075
2,553
810
133
953
825
13.731
12,223
17, M9
19,758
21,117
21,297
January 2, 1818
Mareh'26.1819
Fairfield .7.!'.7.'.'.V.V.'7!!.'
whi,"77777 77.':.'." !!"! !7:7
.i's -
6.091
919
92T
12 403
16,846
23,089
December 9, 1815
Wniteside. .......... 7 '
will ;..! 777.7.77777 777 ..7.7 777 77.77
tt'illiam-on
Wmn, -i,a';o 1
.1 -1 361
1 167 703
457 216
61 CJ 773
18, 7S7
29,321
12,205
21 491
27,503
43, 013
17,329
29, 301
30,' 838
53, 424
19. 32f
30, 518
January 16,1836
January 12, 1ST;
February 28, 1839
18. 1836
M^ison.'.".!......
.Toilet
Rockfor'd.!'.'.'.".'.'!'.'..'.'.'.!.'.....'
Woodford
41.1
$20
18.95C
21, 630 February 27, 1841
Aggregate ' 2,318 12. ?82 55,162 157,445' 476, 183 851,470
1,711,911 2,539, S91
3,078,63,1
* St. Clair county was organized April 27th, 1790, by Arthur St. Cla r, then Governor and Commander-in-chief of " The territory of t
west of the Ohio river, ' re-organized after Illinois had been established as a Territory, April 28th, 1809.
-tales north-
MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION
Presidents.
Secretaries of State.
Secretaries of War.
Postmasters-General
NO. NAME. QUALIFIED.
NO. NAME. APPOINTED
NO. HAM*. APPOINTED.
NO. NAME. APPOINTED.
1 George Washington A (ml 30,
7vi
79!
17 John C. Calhoun Mar.
IX James Buchanan Mar.
XII
22 William L. Marcy Mar. 0, 1845
2:; George -». Crawford.. . Mnr. 8,1849
4 Gideon Granger Nov. 28
•' Mar
sill
2 John Adams .'.'.'..Mar.' 4^
7M7
19 John M. Clayton Mar.
sei
24 diaries M. Conrad Am.'. 15, IS5O
" " Mar'
3 Thomas Jellerso i Mar 4,
Mar. 4,
4 James Madisoa Mar. 4,
8(15
809
Daniel Webst-r July 2
20 Edward Everett Nov.
21 William L. Marev Mar.
I860
1X52
863
2.-, .lelterson Davis Mar. 5, 1853
20 John B.FIovd Mar. 0.1857
27 Joseph Holt Jan. 18, 1801
6 Return J. Meigs, Jr Mar! 1
1X14
817
XI
22 Lewis Cass Mar.
s:,7
28 Sim.,,1 i am.-ron Mar. 5, 1801
G John McLean '.......Iiine 2
6 James Monroe...'.:'.:::::::::^!.;: 4_;
M7
821
23 Jeremiah S. Black Dec. 1
24 William H. Si-ward Mar.
800
861
2:i K'Uun M. Staiilon Ian. 15, 802
" Mar. 4, Xi 5
7 William T. Barry'.'.'.'..'.'.'.'..Mar'. i
is
6 John Qiiinev Adams !!!! Mar! '4,
x-25
" April 15, si;:,
•• Mar.
7 Andrew Jackson....... ....Ma, 4,
April 1
25 E. B. Wa-hburne Mar.
Sill!
U.S. Grant, ad infm«i...Anir. 12, S07
L Thomas, - " ...Feb. 21, xiix
8 Amos Kendall Mav
Mar
ii
8 Martin Van Bnreri '.'.'.'.'.'.'..Marl 4'
9 Win. ll.-nrv Harii-on....Mar. 4,
X37
- II
•20 Hamilton fish Mar. 1
" Mar.
873
in John M. Sehofield Mav 2s, xox
II John A. Kawlim .Mar. 11, si!!)
9 John M. Kiles May 2
10 Francis Granger Mar.
Is 1,1
lo John Tvler April 0,
sll
27 William M. Evarts Mar. 1
12 Wm. W. I'.elkliap Oet. 25, si,9
'• " Apiil
lsl[
*l James K. Polk Mar. 4,
12 Zaeharv T.ivlor Mar. 5,
13 Millard Filimore July In,
xl'l
s-,0
2* .lamesti. Blaine Mar.
29 Frelinghuysen, F. T Dec.,
xx i
881
Mar. 4, 873
;:: MphousoTaft Mar. 8,1870
:\ .lames D. Cameron Mav 22, 1X70
llChas. A. Wieklifle Sept. 1
12 Cave Johnson Mar
13 Ja-'ob Collamer Mav.
1X11
si:,
Is 1:1
14 Franklin Piei-.-e Mar. 4,
s:/t
',:, Geo. W. McCrary Mar. 12, 1877
14 Nathan K. Hall July 23
1', James lliieiiamm Mar. 4,
857
30 Alexander Kunsev. Deo. In, 1H79
15 Sam'l T). Hubbard Aug 3
Is' 2
16 Abraham Lincoln .Mar. 4,
861
Secretaries of the Treasn
37 Robert T. Lincoln Mar. 4, 1881
10 James Campbell Ma?'
17 Aaron V Brown M-ir
17 Andrew Johnson, Auril 1%
18 Ulysses S. Grant Mar. 4,
s.';,
s'':,)
873
1 Alex. Hamilton Sept. 1
2 Oliver Wolcott...'.'.'.'.'.'..'.'.'.'..Feb.
7..!'
Secretaries of the Navy.
IX Joseph Holt Mar. 1
In Horatio Kini: Feb 1
20 Montgomery Blair Mar.
S..I
19 Rutherford R. Hayes ....Mar. 5,
20 James A. GaHield Mar. 4,
xx !
" " Mar.
Samuol Dexter Jan.
707
8ul
1 Benjamin Stoddert -May 21, 1798
* !' '..'- Mar: <
Is!'-!
21 Chester A. Arthur Sept. 20,
ss|
Albert GaHatin May 1
-el
2. RobertSmiih I'.'.'.'.'.'.'.jn'lv ir,\ ixol
22 Alex. W. Randall ".'.'.'.'.'." July' L
!m
d t( ^J;|r- \
813
3. .1. Croivnin-hiold .Mai-. 3, 1SU5
23 John A. J. Cresswell Mar.
is.,,
Geo. W. Carnpbeii'."!"!"!Feb]
si (
4 Paul llamilt m Mar. 7, Mill
Mar.
1873
Vice-Presidents.
Alexander J Dallas Get
Wm. H. Crawford Oct. 22
|s| 1
1816
817
5 Wi Ham Jones Ian. 12, 1813
" " .. Alar 4 1X13
24 Marshall Jewell Aug •>
25 James X. Tvner Julv 1
-20 David M.-K Kev Mar. 1
1x74
1x70
1 John Adams Tune 3,
7s '
0 B. W. Orowninshield Dee. 19, 181 1
" Dec. 2,
2 Thomas Jefferson Mar. 4,
3 Airon Burr Mar. 4,
793
sol
Richard Rush ...'"..'.'.'." .Mar
Samuel D. In^ham Mar.
821
823
1820
Mar. 4, 1817
7 Smith Thompson Nov. 9, 1818
Mar. 5,1X21
•27 Horace Mavnard June
28 Thomas L.' James Mar.
29 Timothy O. Howe Dec.,
ix'o
lss|
IsXl
4 Goorce Clinton Mar. 4,
1 Louis M, 'Lane Aug
8 Samuel L. Southard Sept. lo. Is2:s
" " Mar 4
5 Eldridge Gerry "'.""'.'...'.'.'Mar.' 4,
*John Gaillard Nov. 25,
SII'J
Sll
si 1
1 William J. Diiane May 2
1 Roger B. Tanoy Sept. 23
1 Lovi Woo.lbnrv Juno!
x:> ;
1833
1834
Mar. 4. 182">
9 John Branch Mar. 9,1829
in Lovi Woo.lbiiry May 23, lx:il
6 Daniel D. Tompkins Mar. 4,
xl7
" ' .' Mar.
1837
" '• Mar, 4, 1x33
Mar. 5,
XM
14 Thomas En ing Mar.
11 Malilon Diokerson lime :io, ix.il
7 John C. Calhoun Mar. 4,
s.,,
833
837
sll
IS 11
1843
is II
12 James K. Paul ding".'.".'.'. June 25,' 1838
13 Georue 10. Badger Mar. 5, 1841
«• April G, 1841
8 Martin Van Buren Mar. 4,
9 Kiehard M. Johnson Mar. 4,
10 John C. Spen. -or Mav.
7 George M. Bibb luue 1
1 Edmund Randolph Sept. 2fi
789
10 John Tyler Mar. 4,
*Samne'l L. Sou-hard Auril 0,
841
sll
x Kobert J. Walker Mar.
19 Wm. M. Meredith Mar.
1X15
1849
14 Abel P. Upshur Sept. l:;,]sll
15 David Hensliaw Inly 21, IS43
2 William Bradford....'.'.'.'.'.' Jan' 2
3 Charles Lee Dec.
7M
*Willie P. Mangum Mav 31,
-12
20 Thomas Corwin July 2
1850
10 Thomas W. (;i mer I'Vb. 15,1844
11 George M. Dalla< Mar. 4,
12 Millard Fillinonl Ma'. R,
*William H. King July 11,
13 William K.King Mar. 4,
*David R. Atohison April is,
xr,
848
893
BUS
-21 .James Gutlinc Mar.
22 llowellCobb Mar.
23 Philip F. Thomas Dec. 1
24 John A. Dix Jan. 1
2.i Salmon P. Chase Mar.
1853
1 s:,7
son
S',1
1801
17 John Y. Mason Mar. 14, 1S-U
is Geo ire Bancroft Mar. Ill, 1X45
Johu'V. .Mason Sept. !i, 1X40
19 Uiiliuii 11. Preston Mar. 8,1841)
20 William A. Graham Tilly 22,1850
4 Theophilus Parsons !".".' Feb.' 2
5 Levi I.ineoln Mar
0 Kobert Smith Mar.
7 John Breekiuridge Aug.
8 ucsar A. liodney Jan.
sn;,
*.lesse D. Bright Dee. 5,
14 John C. Breckinriilge... Mar. 4,
i:, Il.-iiinibal llamlin...'. Mar. 4,
16 Andrew Johnson Mar. 4,
*l.afave-te S. Foster April 15,
*B.-niamin F. Wade Mar. 2,
17 Sehuvl-r Col fax Mar. 4,
18 Henry Wilson Mnr. 4,
•Thomas W. Ferry Nov. 22
19 William A. Wheeler Mar. 5,
20 Chester A Arthur Mar. 4,
857
si;l
ST,
set
S09
873
877
881
20 Wm. Pin Fessenden lulv
27 Hugh MeCalloeh Mar.
April 1
2S George R. Boutwell Mav. 1
29 Wm. A liichavdson Mar 1
30 Bcnj. II. Bristow June
31 Lot M. Mori-ill luly
32 John Sherman Mar.
33 William Wi -mom Mar.
34 Chas. G. Folger Dec.,
864
805
1869
1"73
1.-7I
1870
1877
ss|
21 John P. Kenne Iv Inly 22, ls:>2
22 .lam.-s C. Dobbin Mar. 7,1853
23 Isaac Toueey Mar. o, 1857
21 Gideon Welles „ Mar. 5,1801
" Mar. 4, 1S05
'• April 15, is,;-,
25 A.lolph E. Borie Mar. 5, IHiil
2, Ceo. M. Kobeson June 25, ISi-.ll
" Mar. 4 1X73
27 b'ieh. w. Thompson Mar. 12, 1x77
M Nathan Gofl; Jr. ton. 6,1881
9 William Pinkney'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.Dec.' 1
10 Kiehard Uush '.'.'..'.."'.>"£ 1
11 WilMam Wirt.'.'.".'.'..V.'.'.'.'.'.':Nov: 1
" ....... ......Mar.'
12 John M. Jierrien Mar
13 Roger B. Taney July 2
XI N'I
s|4
-17
S17
S2I
828
Sl-l
S3]
s 'i
.21 David Davis Oct. 13, 1881
'
2:1 W. H. Hunt .Mar. 4, 1881
30 W. E. Chandler April, 1882
11 Benjamin F. Bufier!~!Ijio£ 1
883
'Acting Vice-Presidcnt and PreFident
Secretaries of War.
i- F ,r" C d " ^'I'-
s.;,
pro tern of the Senate.
Secretaries of the Interior.
ll! Henry 'D. Gifpi[V...'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.!JaZ' 1
s'io
1 Henry Knox ..Sept.
1780
1703
1 Thomas Ewing Mar. 8, 1849
April
sll
XII
Secretaries of State.
TimothyPjckerin'g'':::.'.'.'jan.'
James MeHenry Jan^, 2'
17:'-'
17:i_.
2 Alex. H. Stuart Sept. 12, 1X50
3 Robert MeClellaud Mar. 7 Is;,:;
18 JJugh S. Legare Sept.
19 John Nelson July
"u John V Mason Mar
1
1 Thomas Jefferson Sept. 20, 1789
Mar. 4, 17W
Samuel Dexter May ]:
Uoger Griswold Feb.
IS ']
5 Caleb B. Smith Mar. 5, 1X01
0 John P. Usher Jan. 8, 1803
•21 Nathan Clifford (let.
22 Isaae Toueey lime
sir,
848
2 Edmond Randolph Ian. 2 1791
3 Timothy Piekering Dor. lo, I7'.r>
4 John Marshall .'.".'.'.'.'.May 13,' 1800
B James Madison Mai-. 5, ixm
Henry Dearborn ..Mar.
William Eustis...'..".'..'....".Mar'.
John Armstrong Jan.
Mar.
ISiil
1-",
1809
Is!-:
1813
7 James Harlan .'.'.'.'.'.'.. .'.'.'..'."Mav i\ I8H
8 0. H. Browning Julv 27.lxoo
11 Jacob D. Cox..! Mar. 6, 1809
2:: Itever.lv Jonnson Mar.
John J Crittenden July
-21 Caleb Cu.hing Man
25 Jeremiah 8. Slack Mar.
20 Edwin M. Slanton Dec.
MB
s ,3
S'io
Mar. 4, 1805
G Robert Smith Mar. 6, 1809
9 James Monroe Sept.
10 Win. H. Crawford Aug.
l -1 1
Is].,
M Columbus D.-hino Nov. 1,1870
41 *• Mar. 4, 1873
27 Kdward Bates Mar.
T. J. Coffey. nd int June
.'.1
7 James Monroe April 2, 1S11
" Mar. 4, 1813
8 John Quiney Adams Mar. fi, 1817
11 George Graham nd Inter
12 John C. Calhoun Oct.
" " Mav.
1817
1- :l
11 Zachariah Chandler Oet. I:>. 1X75
I2<3arl Seburz Mar. 12,1877
13 Samuel . I. Kirkwood Mar. 4, sxl
28 James Speed Dee.
" '.'.'..'.'.'.'..'.'.'.'.'.'. April 1.
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" " •' Mar. 5] 1x21
9 Henry Clay Mar. 7, 1825
13 James Barlx.ur Mav.
14 Peter B. P.uter Mav
1 128
14 Henry M. Teller \pril, 1882
20 llenrv Stanberv lulv
3'i William M lOvarts July
s,:,;
sis
11 Martin Van Huron Mar. 0, 1X211
5 John H. Eaton Mar.
1829
31 E. lioi-kwood Iloa- .Mar.
11 Edward Livingston Mav 21, lx:ll
12 Louis Mr-Lane Mav 29 1833
13 John Forsyt.h June 27, Is:;-,
Mar. 4 is::7
14 Daniel Weh.ter Mar. 5, 1*41
0 Lewis Cass Aug.
18S1
1841
|sll
Postmasters-General.
32 Amos T. Akerman June
33 George it. Williams liee. 1
31 Edward Pi'-rropont...'.'..Aiiri'l 2t
35 Alphonso Taft Mav
870
871
B7«
876
17 Joel R Poius It Mar.
18 John Bell Mar.
" April
1 Samuel Gsgood Sept. 26, 1789
2Timolhy fiokering Ujg. 12.1791
" Mar 4, 1793
April fi, 1*11
19 John C. Spencer Oct.
IM1
3 Joseph Habersham F. b. 25, 17;i:>
30 Charles Devens Mar
m
5 Hugh S. Legare Mav 21, S!:'
•0 Abel P. Upshnv Ju:v 21. si:
20 James M. PO-UT Mar.
21 William Willdns, Feb. 1
i -i::
Mar. 4. 1797
Mar. 4. 1S01
37 Wavue Mat'Vengh Mar
!
SPEAKERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
F. A. Muhl.nberg Pennsylvania
Jonathan Trumbull | Connecticut
F. A. Milhlenberg Pennsylvania
1st C -ngress
2d Congress....
April 1, 1789, to March 4, 1791
October 24, 1791. to March 4,171)3
December 2, 1711.1, to March 4, 17D.1
17.50
1740
1801
1809
Jonathan Dayton
New Jersey
Massaehusetts'.'.!!!!'.!'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.!'.'!!!!!'.'
4th Congress
5thCon|res,
lieeetnl.er 7, 179,1 , t" .March 4, 1797
.Mav i:>, 171)7, t" March :i, 1799
December •_'. 1791), to March 4, Isol
1760
1823
Nathaniel Macon
North Carolina
sth Connress
December 7. lx"l. to March 4, L8U3
October 17, Iso:;, to -Mar.-h 1, lso.1
December 2. Iso:,, i,, .March 1. INC
17,17
1837
Joseph B. Varnum
Henry Clay '.'.'.!!!'
Langdon Cheves!! !....!
Henry Clay
Massachusetts
Kentucky ^^"VZZZ
10th Congress
IHli Congress
12tli Congress
l:!th Congress
13th Congress
11th Cotiuress
15th Congress _
1-07, t., March 4, ismi
Mav 22. 1 si in, to .March 4, isll
November 4, 1811. to March 4, 1813
May 24, isl. i, t., .human- 19.1x14
lanuaiv 19, Ixl 1, to -Mai'vh 1, ixl.1
December 4, l.sl.1, to M-rch I, 181.1
ember 1, lsl7, to March 4, 1819
1750
i'fn
1821
1852
i's'iV
Philip P. Barbo'u'r'."!.!'. '. '. !...'.'.'.'.'.'.!!.
Homy Clay
John W. Taylor
S^EEEEEE
Virginia
10th Congress
17th Coiinres*
18th Congress
lath Congress
2(lth Congress
21st Connress
2-'d Congress
November 15. I8a>, t" Mar.-h 4, 1821
December 4, 1x21. to March 4. 1823
December 1, 1x2:1, to March 4. 1825
Dec. inbi'l-5. 1x2.1, I" March 4. 1x27
December :i, 1x27, t" Mar, h 4, ]XL:'
December 7, 1x29, to March 4. lx:il
December-., lx:n. to March -li lx:;:i
1784
1783
1784
as
1857
John Bell '."".'.'.'.'.'.'.!'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'."."'.'!!!.".!!!!.
James K. Pol i
Tennessee, 2d Session
23d congress..'.'.'.'..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
_'4th Conmvss
2.1th Congress
1 i.-ce or L', ix:;:i. to June :>. IK'A
June 2, 1834, to Mar. h 4, is:!:,
December 7, 18:::,, to Maivh 4, lx:;7
September.',, 18:',-. to March 4,1X39
1797
1795
1869
1849
Robert M. T. Hunter
Virginia
December In. l.vls, to .Maivh 4, 1841
1809
John Woite
Kciilucky
Mav 31 1841, to March 4. Isl:!
1846
Jol,n\V. Jones
John \V. Davis
Virginia..
ndiana
,'Sth Congress
«)th Congress
December 4, 1x1:1, to March 4. Isl:.
December 1, 1x4.1. to March 4, 1x17
1805
1799
1848
Robert C. \Vinthro|. ft
UMsaohQBeiu
December 0, 1817. to March 1. 1x41)
1809
Howeil C.,l,l,
Linn lioyd
Georgia
Kentucky
H-t Congress
!2.l CJongress
!:id Congress
Dcc«mb,r22, 1,819. to M,.r, 1,4,1851
December 1, ls:i, to Mar.-h 4. 1 8.1:1
December 5, I8S3, to March 1, 1-55
IMS
1800
1808
1859
Nathaniel P. Hanks Massachusetts
Febril.-irv 2 Ix.lo, 10 Jla-ch 4, 1x57
1816
James L. Orr South Carolina
), mber7, lx.17, to .Maivh 4, ls.19
1873
Wra. Pennington New Jersey
Galusha A. Grow Pennsylvania
Bohuyler Colfax Indiana
)0th Congress
17th C ngress -.
i8th Congress
February 1, Ism, t» Maivh 4, 1801
illy 4, isr.l, to March 4, Is.;.!
lecetnber 7, Isi :i, to Maivh 4, Isr:,
171)6
18-23
1823
1862
Kith Congress
ilarch 4, 18(17, t., March 4, IMHI
James G. Elaine
Maine
larch 4, 18011, to March 4, 1871
1830
March -I, 1871, to Mai'.-h 1, 1x73
Michael C. Kerr
Samuel J. Ramlall
In.liana
Pennsylvania, 2d Session
44th Congress „
44th Congress
December 0, 1875, to August 20, 1870
>e,'.cmbcr4. Is7n, to March 4, 1877
Ictober 1.1. 1x77, to March 1, 1879
its
1876
46th Congress
March 18, 1879, to
POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES AT EACH CENSUS, FROM 1790 TO 188O, FROM THE OFFICIAL CENSUS.
»nd Territories. 1790. 1800. I 181O. 1820. 1830. ]
Wyomi
The Territories
Total Population
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
CHAPTER III.
GEOGRAPHY, AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES
RAILROAD FACILITIES.
EDWARDS COUNTY.
AXD
stone, as may be seen from the outcroppings along the
banks. Between two seams of sandstone shale low vein
of coal appears, and in an early day was taken out in
small quantities by the blacksmiths for their forges at
Albion.
Soil and Agriculture. — The soil on the rolling upland
is a chocolate-colored clay loam, well charged with
HE county of Edwards was erected in 1814, j humus from decomposed vegetable matter, and is very
and was the sixth county formed in what is I productive, being specially adapted to the culture of the
best quality of wheat, of oats, and the grasses. The
bottom lands along Bonpas creek are heavily timbered,
but when cleared and brought into cultivation are very
now the State of Illinois. At its organi-
zation it embraced nearly all the eastern
portion of the territory of Illinois, and a part of the
territories of Wisconsin and Michigan,
boundary extending to Upper Canada.
one of the smallest counties
ts northern I productive, and constitute the best corn lands in the
southern part of the State. At this time wheat is the
the State, and is
staple product of the county. In an early day, corn
bounded as follows : On the north by Richland, east stood at the head of the list in acreage. A little later,
by Wabash, south by White and west by Wayne \ pork became the leading product, and furnished the
county. It is about twenty-one miles from north J greater revenue to the farming community. It should
to south, and is eleven miles in width, and contains be noticed here that horticulture is among the leading
industries. Both the soil and climate are admirably
adapted to the culture of all kinds of fruit.
Hydrography —On account of most of the surface
141,280 acres of land, about five-eighths of which is
under cultivation.
Population. — The population of the county is com-
posed mainly of people of English descent, and according j being more or less undulating, the natural drainage of
to the census of 1880, numbered as follows :
Albion,
West Salem,
Shelby,.
French Creek and Dixon,
. 3,301
. 1,857
. 1,521
Albion, the capital of the county, is situated a little
south of the centre, on the Louisville, Evansville, and
St. Louis railway, and about four miles west of the line
the county is necessarily good. The main water course is
| the Bonpas, extending along the entire eastern boundary.
In an early day.it formed a means of transit for many of
the products of Edwards and Wabash counties. Flat
boats have been floated down this creek from as far
north as west Salem ; and in about 1840, as many as
twenty boats, within a year, have passed through the
Bonpas, and thence down the Wabash and other rivers
to the southern markets. The other streams of lesser
note are the little Wabash in the northwest, Big creek
of the Peoria, Decatur, and Evansville road. It is nicely j in the southwest, French creek in the south, and Bear
located on high rolling ground, and the surrounding
country is among the best in southern Illinois. At this
writing, it contains a population of about one thousand
inhabitants.
Topography. — The surface of the uplands is quite
rolling, but there are some limited areas of rather flat
timbered lands above the level of the creek bottoms,
forming what is known as terrace lands. Originally
creek in Shelby precinct. The latter discharges its
waters into the little Wabash. Sugar creek, and the
head waters of Fox river are also important factors
of the drainage system iu the northwest part of the
county. One point that the farmers of Edwards have
not fully realized the value of, is that of surface drain-
age by tiling. Experience has taught those who have
tried it, that it matters not how much nature may have
the main surface was covered with heavy timber, but [ done in the way of draining the soil, if one would reap
interspersed here and there with prairie patches, ranging ! the greatest benefits from the farm, he must have it well
iu area from one section to four or five square miles iu j underlayed with tile, which has the effect of keeping the
surface. The largest of these is the Bold nghouse Prairie, j surface porous, warm, and alive. There is but little if
situated a little south and west from Albion. A peculi- I any land in the county not susceptible of improvement,
arity of some of these prairies is, that the soil is cold and I and fine farms and farm buildings are seen on every
somewhat unproductive. The principal kind of timber j hand, forming a picture pleasant to behold,
on the uplands is the white oak, but when once cleared j
from the laud the black oak takes its place. On the low
grounds, near the streams, may be found in large
abundance the water-oak, sweet gum, ash, soft maple,
and other varieties. There is but one point in the
county where the surface rises to anything like high
LAWRENCE COUNTY
was organized in 1821, and was originally a part of
Edwards. It embraces an area of upwards of 280 square
miles, or 183,526 acres. The following is taken from
bluffs, and this is on the Little Wabash in Shelby pre- j the assessor's report for 1882. Acres of wheat, 40,413 ;
cinct. Here the banks are quite steep and rise to the I corn, 36,046 ; oats, 5,903 ; meadow, 10,596 ; other prod-
height of about sixty feet. This is underlaid with sand- I ucts, 2,443. Acres inclosed in pasture, 24,076 ; in or-
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
chard, 2,516; of woodland, 61,533, showing a total of
183,526 acres.
The county is bounded on the north by Crawford
county, on the east. by the Wabash river, south by
Wabash county, and west by Richland county. It lies
nearly equidistant from St Louis and Indianapolis, the
distance being about one hundred and twenty-five miles, j
and forms one of the eastern tier of the counties.
The Population is composed of various nationalities,
and according to the census of 1880, was numbered
13,633. The county is divided into nine townships, viz., j
Christy, Lawrence, Allison, Denison, Lukin, Bridgeport,
Petty, Bond, and Russell.
Lawreneeville, the county seat, is situated on or near the
west shore of the Embarras river, and is centrally located.
The Wabash, St. Louis, and Pacific railway extends
through its territory from north to south, and the Ohio
and Mississippi road passes about three-fourths of a mile
south of town.
Land Surface. — The greater portion of the county j
was originally covered with heavy timber, though there
are a few small prairies in the south and northwest.
The surface is generally rolling, but in no part is it
sufficiently broken to be unfit for cultivation. The ele-
vation above the water courses, is nowhere very great;
on the uplands its altitude will range from fifty to one
hundred feet. The most elevated lands are the Perkin's
hills, situated in the north part of Christy's township.
Drainage and Climate. — The principal water courses, j
besides the Wabash, are the Embarras river, traversing
the northeast with its affluents, Brushy Fork and Indian
creek, which drain the north and central portion, and
Raccoon creek and the eastern fork of the Bonpas;
which drain the south. East of Lawreneeville, and
situated between the Embarras and Wabash riversj
there is an extensive marsh from to two to four milts in
width, and about ten miles in length, called Purgatory
swamp. On the east and north of this low belt, there is
quite an area of bottom prairie ; the northern or upper
portion is known as Allison's prairie, and the lower por-
tion as Russellville prairie. The climate is healthful and
pleasant, being a happy medium between the extremes
of heat and cold, and thus well adapted to the culture of
fruits and the various kinds of cereals.
Soil and Timber.— The Wabash and Embarras rivers
are skirted with broad alluvial bottoms and level
table lands, ranging from two to four miles in extent, j
Some portions of the latter are quite sandy, and con^ti-
tute the terrace prairies between the Wabash and Pur-
gatory swamp. During the seasons of high water, this
portion of the county is more or less inundated ; the
cultivation of the land is thus impeded, and the farms
are therefore of less value in the market. The uplands
are generally rolling, and in a state of nature, were
heavily timbered, though at this time much of the land
has been brought under a good state of cultivation.
The principal products are: wheat, barley, corn, oats,
and the grasses.
Perennial Springs and artificial mounds are found in
different parts of the county. At the foot of the Perkin's
hills there are several of these springs, that furnish an
abundance of excellent water. J. C. Foster, who resides
in section 27, Petty township, utilizes them by convey-
ing the water through pipes to his house and farm, situ-
ated one-half mile away. One of these springs forms
quite a branch, and when united with the wa er that
flows from the surrounding springs, the discharge is
borne away into Paul's creek. At what was known sev-
eral years ago as the " clay-banks," east of the Embarras,
in Lawrence township, there are also numerous springs,
besides several Indian mounds, relics of a pre-historic
race ; by excavating, it is found that the earth forming
these mounds is of an entirely different composition to
that of the land surrounding them, proving beyoi.d
question that the mound-builders once inhabited this
region.
WABASH COUNTY.
Was created in 1824, having formed a part of the
great territory of Edwards county, and received its
name from the river washing its eastern boundary. In
area, number of population, and products, it closely re-
sembles the present county of Edwards, being bounded
as follows: on the north by Lawrence and Richland
counties ; on the east and south by the Wabash river ;
and west by Edwards county, Bon pas creek forming the
boundary line between the two counties. It has an area
of upwards of 140 000 acres of land, about half of which
is under cultivation. The general outline of the county
is in the form of a V ; its greatest length from north to
south is twenty-two miles, and from east to west, sixteen
miles. It embraces two full, and thirteen fractional parts
of congressional townships, and is divided for political
purposes into seven voting precincts, known as Wabash,
Frieudsville, Lancaster, Lick Prairie, Bellmout, Mt.
Carmel, and Coffee. ^
Population. — According to the census of 1880, the
population of the county numbered 9,908, composed of
persons of English, German, IrUh, French, and African
descent ; the English element largely predominating.
Mt Carmel, the county seat, situated on the Wabash
liver, is the largeSt town, having a population of 2,040
in 1880. Bellmout, next in size, numbered 350 ; Allen-
dale,- 290.
Topography. — The surface of the country is somewhat
varied, and for general description may be readily divi-
ded into the uplands and the bottoms ; the former con-
stitute about two-thirds of the area. By looking on the
map of Wabash county, it will be seen that the territory
is nearly included or surrounded by two considerable
water courses, the Wabash river and Bonpas creek ; each
of these streams are embraced by a large body of bottom
land, including nearly one-third the area of the county-
These uplands are more or less undulating, while there
are small areas of rather flat timbered land above the
level of the river bottoms, forming a second bottom or
terrace land. At Mt. Carmel there are quite prominent
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
bluffs, the city being situated about one hundred and
forty feet above the level of the river.
Hydrography. — The county is well supplied with water
courses, the whole eastern and southern boundaries being
washed by the Wabash, and the entire western portion
drained by Bonpas creek and its tributaries. Raccoon
creek empties into the Wabash from the northeast, and
the Little Bonpas discharges its waters into the Bonpas
from the northwest. Besides the foregoing, there are
several smaller branches, the principal of which are :
Coffee, Greathouse, Crawfish, and Jordan creeks.
Soil and Agriculture. — In the vicinity of the Wabash
bluffs the clayey soil peculiar to the uplands is modified
by the sandy marls of the Loess upon which it rests; yet
these soils are quick and productive, yielding large crops
of all the cereals cultiva'ed in this climate. The soil of
the uplands is of a chocolate-colored clay loam, similar
in all respects to the upland soil of Edwards county, and :
it is upon this land that the best quality of wheat is |
produced. In a state of nature it was but meagerly j
covered with timber, and was therefore not considered
valuable, but by good cultivation it has been found to |
be, fur certain agricultural purposes, the best land in ;
the county. The bottom lands along the Wabash and
Bonpas are tracts of heavy timber, the land being a deep
alluvial soil, with sandy subsoil ; when cleared and ;
placed under good cultivation, it is the most productive
land in the county, yielding most bountiful crops of
maize, oats, and gras;es.
Transportation Facilities. — The first means employed
for transportation of the surplus products of this part of I
the country were rafts and rudely-constructed flat-boats,
on the Wabash, along the eastern boundary of the then 1
Edwards county. The first steamboat that navigated the
Wabash as fjr north as Mt. Carmel was the ': Commerce,"
in about 1819. It came from Cincinnati, and was comman-
ded by Jacob Strader ; its farthest passage north w s to
Terre Haute. Only now and then did steamers navigate
the Whba&b, until 1832, when steam-boating on the river
was conducted with much regularity. Prior tot! is, one
boat during the year was about the extent of steam
navigation. From 1832 until 1856 the river traffic was
quite active, but as soon as the railroads commenced op- I
erations, the business fell off, the railroads having almost !
the entire monopoly as common carriers.
Railroads. — Railroading is comparatively a new in-
dustry ; many centuries have adrled their contributions
to science, yet during only about fifty years have rail-
roads been known. Scientists of all ages have grappled
with the various problems of government and political
economy, social life, and questions of demand and supply,
and left the records of their labors for our instruction ;
the accumulated wisdom of centuries furnishes much
material from whence we can draw such knowledge,
but railroads are institutions of to-day — this is the " Iron j
Age," wherein distance is virtually wiped out and "push" !
has become the watch-word of the nineteenth century. '*
The first railway constructed in the Mississippi valley
was in 1837, and WJS known as the Illinois and St. Louis
railroad; it was built by Governor Reynolds, Vital
Jarrot and a few others, and extended from the Missis-
sippi bluffs on the east, at the old town of Pittsburg, to
East St. Louis — a distance of about six miles. It was
constructed with a wooden rail, and the cars were moved
by horse-power. It was only used for conveying coal
from the mines at Pittsburg to the St. Louis markets.
In 1837, under the popularly so-called Internal Im-
provement scheme of Illinois, grading was commenced
from Mt. Carmel, in Wabash county/westward, 'simul-
taneously with like work from Alton, eastward, along
the proposed line of the Illinois Southern cross road,
which recognized Alton and Mt. Carmel as its termini,
by Messrs. Bonham, Shannon, and Goforth, who had
the contract from Mt. Carmel to Albion. They subse-
quently associated with themselves in this work John
Brisenden, Sr. They employed in all nearly four hundred
hands. West from Albion, and in the limits of Edwards
county, like work was done under a contract let to
Messrs. Hall and Kiuner.
The grading of near twenty miles of road was com-
p'eted in 1839, and then the work was dropped. Ou
the third of June, 1849, under act of the Legislature of
the preceding session, the roadway was sold to the high-
est bidder. General William Pickering bought it for
the insignificant sum of three hundred dollars. It was
not until 1871 that the property again attracted atten-
tion, and became the route of the present Air Line. Iii
February, 1872, } the first train crossed the Little
Wabash into Edwards county, and a few weeks after-
wards they were running into Albion, the county seat.
What wonderful progress has been made in railroad fa-
cilities and transportation since that time. In all parts
of our land may now be heard the shrill whistle of the iron
horse, but Illinois, the great Prairie State, leads the van in
the number of miles of rail in this age of improvement.
Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific, more widely and com-
monly known as "The Wabash," has a greater number
of miles of track in these counties than any other
railroad. Through a system of consolidation, unpar-
alleled in America, it has become the giant among
railroads. This consolidation, it is estimated, has added
over $50,000,000 to the value of bonds and shares of the
various companies now incorporated in the Wabash sys-
tem. The road takes its title from the river which
forms the eastern boundaries of Lawrence and Wabash
counties. The road extended through the above counties
U now a part of the great Wabash system The follow
ing is a brief history of this branch of the road. The
northern portion was first known as the Paris and Dan-
ville road, and was chartered March 23, 1869. It was
put in operation from Danville to Paris, Illinois, in Sep-
tember, 1872; from Danville to Robinson, August,
1*7.5; from Danville to the Ohio and Mississippi junc-
tion, May, 1876. It commenced running passenger
trains to Vincennes, over the O. & M. railway track in
May, 187(5 ; commenced running freight trains from the
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WAS ASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
O. & M. Junction to St. Francisville, over the St. F. & |
L. road, in April 1880, and commenced running all
trains into Danville, over the Wabash railway track, (
from Tilton Junction to Danville, August 1, 1879. In
August, 1875, a receiver was appointed, it operating un-
der said management until June, 1879. October of the
same year it passed into the hands of the Danville and
Southwestern Railroad Company. The southern portion
of this branch of the road, now in the hands of the Wa-'
bash, was originally called the Cairo and Vincennes rail-
road, and was organized under an act of the General
Assembly of Illinois, approved March 6, 1867, which
was amended by act approved February 9, 1869, grant-
ing further powers to the corporation. The main line
from Cairo to Vincennes, was opened for business De-
cember 26, 1872. It was subsequently sold— 1880. A
traffic agreement between the purchasers and the D. & S.
and St. F. & L. railways, was entered into May 1, 1880,
for operation of the St. F. & L. railroad, extending
from St. Francisville, on the C. & V. road, (o a junction
with the D. & S. railway at Lawrenceville, a distance
often miles. This was the status of these roads until
within the last eighteen months the roads have been
consolidated, and become a part of the Wabash, St.
Louis and Pacific system. In the three counties it con-
tains more than fifty miles of main track, passing through
the towns ofGrayville, Mt. Carmel, St. Francisville and
Lawrenceville, besides several smaller towns.
Ohio and Mississippi.— This roid extends from east
to west nearly on an air line through the central part of
Lawrence county, passing through Alison, Lawrence,
Bridgeport and Christy township. The principal stations
are Summer and Bridgeport.
In 1848 the Legislature, of Indiana, passed an act in-
corporating the Ohio and Mississippi railroad, empow-
ering it to locate, construct and maintain a road leading
from Lawrenceburg, on the Ohio river, to Vincenne.3, on
the Wabash, and contemplating an eastern extension to
Cincinnati, Ohio, and a western arm to East St. Louis,
as soon as the States of Ohio and Illinois would grant
the right-of-way. In 1849 the Ohio Legislature, and in
1851 the Illinois Legislature extended the contemplated
aid by acts of their respective bodies, and in 1857, the
entire length of the road was opened through for busi-
ness.
The panic of that year greatly affected the pros-
perity of the road, so that in 1858, creditors brought
suit for foreclosure of mortgages and sale of property,
pending which, a receiver was appointed, under whose
directions the road was maintained until its reorganiza-
tion was effected. Parties desiring the establishment of
the road on a firmer basis bought largely of its stock,
organized a new company, and held control until 1874,
when it again became embarrassed, and after much liti-
gation, was placed in the hands of a receiver, John
King, Jr., vice president of the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad, acting in that capacity. Under its present
management, the road has been put in excellent condi-
tion ; the credit of the company has been maintained,
and the floating debt has been materially reduced.
Louisville, Evansville and St. Louis. — This railroad ex-
tends across the counties of Edwards and Wabash, nearly
central from west to east, the principal stations being
Albion, Bro'wns, (cr) Bellmont, and Mt. Carmel. The
length of track in the counties is estimated to be, includ-
ing sidings, about twenty-five miles. It is the consoli-
dation of two divisions of road, known as the Indiana
and Illinois divisions. This was among the first con-
templated railroads in the State of Illinois, and first
bore the name of the Alton, Mt. Carmel, and New Al-
bany Railroad Company. It first presented itself in
1857, and the county of Edwards took steps toward ap-
propriating their swamp lands to aid in constructing the
road. About this time a portion of the road-bed was
made, but for the lack of funds and co-operation, on the
part of the company, the road was abandoned. It is
said that General Pickering came into possession of it at
one time for the sum of a few hundred dollars.
The Indiana division was organized under the general
laws of the State, February 4, 1869, by the name of the
New Albany and St. Louis Air Line Railroad Company,
and on the first of July, 1870, its name was changed to
the Louisville, New Albany and St. Louis Air Line
Railroad Company. The Illinois division was organized
July 14, 1869, under a special act, and known as the
St. Louis, Mt. Carmel and New Albany Railroad Com-
pany. Said two companies were consolidated July 24,
1872, under the name of the Louisville, New Albany
and St. Louis Railroad Company. Both divisions were
, subsequently sold under foreclosure. They again reor-
j gauized, the Indiana division in February, 1877, under
: the name of the Louisville, New Albany and St. Louis
Railroad Company. The Illinois division reorganized
in January, 1873, by the name of the St. Louis, Mt.
1 Carmel and New Albany Railroad Company. August
15, 1878, these companies again consolidated under the
name of the Louisville, New Albany and St. Louis Rail-
j road Company, At this writing it is called the Louis-
ville, Evansville and St. Louis Railroad Company,
which name it assumed about eighteen months ago, but
I is more fajniliarly known as the Air Line Railway.
j Peoria, Decatur and Evansville. — This road extends
j through Edwards county from north lo south, passing
j through the towns of West Salem, Browns and Grayville.
I It has a length of track in the county, including switches,
1 of about twenty-eight miles.
The history ot this road is briefly as follows : About
the year 1867, the Pekin, Lincoln and Decatur Rail road
Company was organized. A preliminary survey was at
once made, and in 1869, the line was located, and a
contract made for its construction. Work was com-
menced late in 1869, and the line from Pekin to Decatur
' completed by October, 1871, at which time the Toledo,
Waba h and Western Railway Company commenced
I to operate it under a lease. August 1, 1876, it was
taken out of the hands of the above road, on account of
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
the non payment of iaterest, and ths corporation name
chauged to Pekin, Lincoln and Decatur Railroad Com-
pany. ID September, 1879, the company made arrange-
ments to run into Peoria over the Peoria, Prkin and
Jacksonville railroad track. November 17, 1879, it
consolidated with the Decatur, M#ttoon and Southern
Railroad Company. In February, 1880, it leased the
Grayville and Mattoon road, and the July following
bought said road. Since which time the line has been
completed to Evansville, Indiana. Much of the road has
recently been supplied with new steel rail, and all the
equipments are of a character to indicate that it is in a
prosperous condition, and that the managers propose to
make and maintain it a first-class road.
CHAPTER IV.
GEOLOGY*
IN account of the similarity of the general for-
mations and characteristics of Edwards
and Wabash counties, we have seen fit to
class them together in their surface descrip-
tion and economical geology. They lie contiguous to
each other, and are among the smallest counties in the
State, their aggregate area being about four hundred
and twenty-five square miles. Both counties,' originally,
were covered with heavy timber, with small prairies
interspersed within their territory. The surface of the
uplands is generally rolling, but there are some limited
areas of flat timbered lands above the river bottoms,
which form what may be termed terrace lands.
EDWAEDS COUNTY.
The outcrops of rock in this county are few and wide-
ly separated. The prevailing rocks are the sand-tones
and shales intervening between coal strata Nos. 11 and
13. At the railroad cut near Albion, and on the small
creek that intersects the town, the following beds may
be seen :
Feet. Inches.
8hal» and shaly sandstone with pebbly bed 20 to 25
Sandstone, locally hard and concretionary 8 to 12
Streak of bituminous shale 0 3
Hard nodular limestone 2
'Shale, with bands of argillaceous iron ore 4 to 6
Hard shaly sandstone 3 to 4
The main quarry rock here is concretionary sandstone,
and it is sometimes quite hard and affords a very dura-
ble material for foundation wall purposes. Above this
there are some layers of even bedded sandstone, that
when first quarried are of a soft nature, but harden
after exposure, and thus become fair building stone.
On the west bank of Bonpas creek, about four miles
north of Grayville, the bluff rises to an elevation of
about a hundred feet. In this is found a thin vein of
* For much of the data of this chapter we are indebted to the State
Geological Export of Professor A. U. Worthou, its editdr.
coal at an elevation of about thirty-six feet above the
bed of the creek, which is underlaid by sandy shales and
sandstone. The coal is about eight inches thick, of good
quality, and is underlaid by a light-colored fire-clay
The sandstone and shale below this coal are the same as
the beds above the fossiliferous shale in the Grayville
section, and the fossil-bed of that locality would no
doubt be found here a little below the creek bed. The
| thin vein of coal found here has also been met with in
sinking wells in the upper part of the town of Grayville.
| The same beds outcrop again about a half mile above,
and on the same side of the Bonpas. At the base of the
bluff there is from ten to twelve feet of blue shales,
which passes upwards into a sandy shale and sandstone
twenty feet in thickness, with a partial outcrop of thin
coal and bituminous shale still higher up. This coal
probably corresponds to the ten-inch seam, No. 15, of
the Coffee creek section.
A coal vein was opened many years ago on Mr. Nail-
or's farm, six miles northwest of Grayville, which was
successfully worked for some time, the coal being used
to supply the local demand. This is undoubtedly the
same vein that is worked southwest of Mount Carmel.
It is said to be about thirty inches thick, and the coal
is very hard, partaking of the block character.
At the ford, on the little Wabash, northwest of Albion,
on the S. W. qr. of section 7, may be found an outcrop
of this coal associated with the following beds:
Feet. In.
Brown ferruginous clay shales ........... II
Brash coal .....................
Clay shale* ....................
Brash soil ....................
Shale with hands of iron ore ............
Gray sandy shale .................
7. Iron conglomerate .................
The shale of No. 5 of the above contains considerable
' clay iron ore of fair quality, amounting to nearly one-
; half the thickness of the bed. If the quantity of iron
in this shale should prove continuous for some distance
into the bluff, it would, perhaps, justify the establishing
I an iron furnace in the vicinity. About a mile further
up the river, at another ford, the same outcropping of
coal may be seen. This is found in connection with a
thin bed of nodular argillaceous limestone of a light
gray color, turning to a yellowish-brown when exposed
to the weather.
The following section may be found on the northwest
qr. of section 22, T. 1 S., R. 10 E , about five miles
northwest of Albion.
Sandy shale and thin-bedded
Bituminous shale
Nodular argillaceous li
Feet. In.
andstone . 10 to 12
1 to 1 6
2 to 3
Gray sandy shale with bands of ironstone ...... 3 to 4
Thin-bedded sandstone has been quarried here for
wall purposes, and it has proven to be excellent material
for such uses.
On the east side of the town of Albion, at Hartman's
mill, a boring for oil was made some years ago. The
following is a reported section :
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
The following section at Seal's mill on Blockhouse
creek, in the east part of the county, is reported by Prof.
Cox:
Drift
Gray shale with clay iron ore . .
Silicious iron ore
Blue argillaceous shale
Black bituminous shale
Impure limestone
Coal in the bed of the creek . .
All the beds represented by the foregoing sections
belong between coals Nos. 10 and 13, and do not attain
an aggregate thickness to exceed two hundred feet.
WABASH COUNTY.
The geological formations of this county belong to the
Quaternary and upper Coal Measures. The former is
more fully developed along the bluffs of the Wabash
than elsewhere, and consist of the buff and yellow
marly sands and clays of the Loess, and a moderate
thickness of the gravelly clays of the Drift formation.
In the vicinity of Grayville, and in some of the valleys
of the smaller streams, stratified clays appear at the
lowest levels known, which may belong to an older de
posit than the Drift. A heavy bed of this kind is re-
ported to have been passed through in boring southwest
of Mt. Carmel, but it was found to be overlaid with
sandstone, and as no rock of this kind is known in the
county of more recent age than the Coal Measures, the
theory is placed in the scale of doubt. It is not impro-
bable, however, that there are valleys along the Wabash,
as well as the Mississippi and Ohio, that were filled,
originally, with Tertiary or Cretaceous deposits, some of
which still remain, and are now hidden by the more
recent accumulations of Loess and Drift. For more
than two hundred miles above St. Louis, evidences may
be found to verify this theory. Indications of the exis-
tence of such beds have been found on the Ohio as far
north as Louisville, and on the Mississippi as above
stated. The reported sandstone above the clay in the
boring for coal, is most probably a Coal Measure bed,
and the clay beneath it may be a soft clay shale of the
same age.
At Mt. Carmel the loess and drift clays are about
thirty feet in thickness, being about the average depth
in the vicinity of the river bluffs, while on the uplands,
remote from the river, their average thickness is not
more than fifteen or twenty feet, and at points, much
leas. In Edwards county, the Quaternary beds present
the same general character, and are considerably thicker
in the bluffs on the lower course of the Bonpas, than in
the central and western portions of the county, where is
found from ten to twenty feet of buffer brownish gravel-
ly clays overlying the bed rock. Near the town of
Grayville, the creek banks show outcrops of five to ten
feet of stratified clays of various colors, and seemingly
derived from the decomposition of the clay shales of the
Coal Measures, and above these are found twenty to
thirty feet of loess, covering, possibly, a nucleus of
gravelly drift clay. f To the north and west the loess is
not conspicuous, and in well-digging, the bedrock is
found after passing through ten or fifteen feet of brown
drift clays.
Coal Measures— la the bluffs of the Wabash, at Mt.
Carmel, there is an outcrop of sandstone forming the
lower portion of the bluff, underlaid by a blue clay shale,
but partially exposed.
Feet.
Loess and drift clays 30
Soft, shaly, micaceous sandstone 13
Massive sandstone, partly concretionary 20
Blue clay shale, partial exposure 3to6
Springs of water issue from the base of this sandstone,
indicating the impervious character of the underlying
beds. The base of the above section is some fifteen or
twenty feet above the low water level of the river, and
the intervening beds of which are probably shales, are
not exposed. The following table of beds passed through
in boring for coal was given to the State Geologist by
Mr. J. Zimmerman. The bore was commenced just
above the low water level of the river, and about fifteen
I feet below the base of the foregoing section.
No.
ndstone .
nd sandstone .
Shale
Sandstone
Clay shale
Sandstone
Micaceous sandstone . . .
Hard, fine sandstone . . .
^Fireclay?
Coal and bituminous shale
Fire clay . .
No. 10. Argillaceous
No. 11. Blue shale* ,
No. 12. Fire clay . .
No. 13. Calc. shale i
No. 14. Calc. shale, with black str
No. 15. Blue clay shale
No. 16. Blue fire clay
No. 17. Coal
ire clay
rgillaceous limestone .
ard sandstone, pa-ting .
ard gray limestone . .
ard gray limestone . .
ry hard limestone . .
No. 24. Calcareous shale
No. 25. Band of ironstone ....
No. 26. Variegated shale ....
No. 27. Hard gray limestone . . .
No. 28. Variegated shale
No. 29. Hard gray limestone . .
No. 3». Variegated shale ....
No. 31. Hard gray limestone . . .
No. 19.
No. 21.
No. 22.
This boring was commenced near the horizon of No.
11 coal, and the beds passed thorough probably extend
nearly to No. 7. The following is the report of a well
sunk for oil, one mile and a half southwest of the court-
house, commencing in a creek valley ;
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Feet. In.
At Mr. Reed's place, on section 8, tp. 1 S., range 12,
No.
Sandstone
blue limestone at the foot of the hill, one foot thick, un-
Clay?
derlaid by a thin coal. Bluish shale and sandstone is
No.
No.
Sandstone
Bituminous shale
found in the hill, forty feet above. The well at the
No.
Sandstone
6
house passed through soil and drift ten feet, clay shale
No.
No.
x Bituminous shale
Sandstone
6
four feet, sandstone twenty-nine feet.
No.
Bituminous shale
At Little Rock, on the Wabash, sec. 19, tp. 1 N.,
No.
Sandstone
No.
Bituminous shale
range 11 VV. :
No.
No.
No.
Sandstone
Bituminous shale, showing oily soot
4
Shale and covered slope 81)
Sandstone.solid bed • 30
No.
Very hard limestone
The sandstone of this section is probably the same
No.
No.
Bituminous shale
Sandstone
strata as that found at St. Francisville, in Lawrence
No.
Coal No. 9
county.
No.
No. 2*
Limestone
The following beds, one mile and a quarter north of
No 21 Sandstone
Friendsville, are reported by the state geologist from
No. 22. Mixture of sand and limestone
No. 23. Yellow shale
memoranda furnished by Mr. J. Zimmerman :
Ft. In.
No. 24. Sandstone t
No. 25. Clay shale, with pyrite
Soil and clay 18
Impure coal-probably bituminous shale 2
No. 27. Bituminous shale
Clay shale, with iron nodules 3
No. 23. Sandy shale
Gray sandstone, in even beds, four to eight inches thick 15
No. 30. Micacious sandstone
No. 31. Coal, No. 7. ?
Sandy shales 11
Hard sandstone in two layers 2 8
Dark bituminous shale 3
No. 34. Compact limestone
Coal, said to be good 2
No. 35. Bituminous shale
The above section, is made from the sinking of Mr.
No. 40. Bituminous shale
McNair's well. Another well sunk in the same neigh-
By comparing this section, with that made for the
coal, it will be seen that there is a wide discrepancy in
the descriptions given of the strata passed through in
each. The oil well boring, was sunk to the depth of
about seven hundred feet, yet no coal was reported
below the three foot seam found at the depth of four
hundred and fifty-five feet, which probably repr.sents
coal No. 7 or 8 of the general section. The sandstone
No. 2 of the oil well boring may be the same as No. 4
in the other, but there is very little correspondence in
the lower strata, considering that the distance between
the two points is scarcely two miles.
A few miles northeast of Mt. Carmel, at Hanging-rock,
there is an outcrop of massive sandstone similar to that
at the town, which projects into the bed of the river at
low water, and rises above it to the height of 35 feet.
An abandoned coal shaft, about three miles southwest
of Mt. Carmel, on Mr. Simond's place, was reported to
have a seam of coal averaging three feet in thickness,
and located from 30 to 35 feet below the surface. The
following is the reported section :
Drift clay and soil . . . • 5 6
Argillaceous shale • 30
The following is reported by Prof. Cox :
"On sec. 5, tp. 10, range 12, there is a bed of light
blue clay, very plastic, exposed in the bank of Crawfish
creek, as the following section shows :
Soil, calcareous shale and limestone
Coal
Blue Clay
Sandstone in the bed of the creek
borhood, after reaching the same strata of coal, a boring
of nine feet below the coal was made, when a material
of milk-white substance resembling fire-clay was ob-
tained.
The following section is reported at Hamiker's old
mill on the Bonpas, a little north of west from Allen-
dale:
Feet.
Soft, thin-bedded sandstone and shales 15
Ferruginous conglomerate 3 to 4
Hard black shale 2 to 3
No coal is reported as laying beneath.
Since the last report was made by the state geologist a
shaft has beeu sunk about five miles west from Mt.
Carmel, on the Air Line railway. The depth of shaft
is forty feet, and the thickness of the vein is four feet.
Through the kindness of Mr. J. Zimmerman, who is one
of the Coal Company and a practical geologist, we are
furnished the following interesting facts relating to
the coal deposits in Wabash county. He says: "In
addition to the coal seam above mentioned, there are
others which indicate a possible great future for the
mining interests of the county whenever energy, enter-
prise and capital shall be directed to their development.
An outcrop of twenty inches of coal (one half cannel-
splint, the residue cubical), a short distance below
the Wabash railway crosing at Sugar creek, thickens up
within a half mile westward, to forty-two inches. This
seam underlies most of the county, but the dip of rocks
being in that vicinity twenty-eight feet per mile south-
westward, it will be found only at considerable depths
over most of the county. A boring for petroleum, near
Mt. Carmel, commenced geologically below both these
seams, disclosed at a depth of 420 feet, a seam of three
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
53
feet thickness, and at 569 feet a seam of coal twelve feet
in thickness. In same boring, at 325 feet, salt water was
found, and another stratum of the same, a short distance
above the twelve feet vein of coal. It has been flowing
ever since."
ECONOMICAL GEOLOGY.
Coal. — From the state geological survey we glean the
following: The upper coal seam in the Coffee creek
section was the only outcrop in either of the fore,
going counties that promised to be of value for practical
coal mining. The coal in this seam ranges from thirty
inches to three feet in thickness, and probably underlies
a considerable portion of the south part of Wabash
county and the southwestern part of Edwards. Sev-
eral shafts have been sunk about three miles south,
west of Mt. Carmel, where coal was obtained from thirty
to thirty five feet below the surface. This coal strata
affords a hard, splinty or semi-block coal of fair quality.
The roof seems to be good, and if the thickness of the
vein should prove to be uniform, there is no reason why
it might not be sucessfully mined. This is probably the
same vein worked in the southeast part of Edwards j
county several years since, for the supply of Albion and ;
adjacent region. To reach No. 7, the lower seam, a j
depth of probably from two to three hundred feet will
have to be attained. Although these counties have not
developed this vein, time will undoubtedly prove that it
can be made a paying investment.
Building Stone — As indicated in the sections hereto-
fore given, it will be sfeen that a fair quality of building
stone may be obtained from the sandstone outcropping
in various portions of these counties. The best is pro- !
bably that from the even -bedded sandstone above No. j
11 coal, that is found in the central and northern portion
of Edwards and north and northwest of Wabash. In |
the latter county, in the vicinity of Oriole, quarries have
been opened where a good, evenly-bedded rock is ob-
tained, the thin layer affording a good flag-stone, and
the thicker beds utilized for foundation walls, etc. This j
ledge probably underlies all the highlands and ridges in
the northwest part of the county. These will be de- |
veloped as the demand for building-stone increases. The
ledge in the river bed at Rochester has been but slightly
quarried, and at Walden's place quarries have been I
worked between this place and Mt. Carmel, where a fair
quality of sandstone has been obtained from a bed that,
in appearance, resembles the ledge in the Mt. Carmel
bluff.
Sandstone of a fair quality is obtained at several j
points in the vicinity of Albion, some of which is con- j
cretationary and very hard, yielding a durable stone.
No lime-stone suitable for building purposes is found !
in either county, although that obtained at Rochester
Mills, and at Mr. Reel's place, north of Mt. Carmel,
has been used to some extent in the neighborhood of the
outcrops.
Iron Ore. — Bands of Argillaceous iron ore are found
disseminated more or less throughout many of the shale
beds, in these counties, but in such limited quantities
that it can prove of but little value. Eight miles north-
west of Albion, at the ford, on the S. W. qu. of Sec. 7,
T. 1 S., R. 10 E. there is a better showing for this ore
than found elsewhere in this region. The shale bed is
four feet thick, and about one-half of this thickness is a
clay iron ore of a fair quality. At the foot of the bluff
several tons of ore may be collected from the debris,
where it has been washed out of the shale by the river
current. Twenty inches of coal of fair quality overlies
ferruginous shale.
Potter's Clay is found in the bank of Greathouse creek,
near Mt. Carmel. This is said to be of fair quality, and
could be worked with success. Good brick clay is
abundant in nearly all localities, while sand suitable for
all building purposes is found in the river bluffs and
creek valleys.
LAWRENCE COUNTY.
This county contains an area of about three hundred
and sixty-two square miles. The surface is generally
rolling, and is thus well prepared for natural drainage.
Originally it was mainly covered with heavy timbers,
interspersed here and there with small prairie belts.
The elevation above the water courses is nowhere very
great, the uplands ranging from fifty to about a hundred
feet in altitude.
Loess and Drift. — At various places along the Wabash
river may be found beds of brown clay and yellowish
marly sands, averaging from ten to twenty f>-et in thick-
ness. These probably represent the age of the Loess.
They are underlaid by gravelly clays intermingled with
small boulders, ranging in size from an inch to a foot or
more in diameter. Away from the river bluffs, on the
uplands, there may be found these gravelly clays from
fifteen to twenty feet above the bed rock ; and in sink-
ing wells, especially in the northern portions of the
county, a sufficient supply of water can only be reached
by goicg from ten to upwards of forty feet below the
Drift clays into the shales or sandstone beneath. In the
vicinity of Lawrenceville there is usually from five to
six feet of brown gravelly clay resting upon the btd
rock ; but before reaching this you pass through a strata
of brown or buff-colored clay, quite free from gravel,
and about twelve feet in thickness.
Stratified .Roc/fo.— All the formations that outcrop in
this county below the superficial deposits heretofore
mentioned, belong to the upper Coal Measure, and in-
clude a vertical thickness not to exceed two hundred
feet. At St. Francisville, on the Wabash, there appears
an Outcrop of massive gray sandstone, which is believed
to be the same as that found in Wabash county, at
Hanging-rock bluff, and is the lowest rock seen in this
county. The section here is as follows :
Feet.
Shale 8
Impure iron ore 1
Thin-bedded sandstone nnd sandy shale 16
Massive gray sandstone 20 to 25
Uneiposed to river level 10 to 13
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
On the Embarras river, just below the dam at Law-
renceville, may be found the following section :
Feet.
Brown and bluish-gray argillaceousShale 10 to 12
Bituminous and partly calcareous shale with bands of
iron ore and numerous fossils 4 to 5
Black slaty shale 3 to 5
Dark gray limestone in river bed 1
A repetition of the above section is found two miles
east of Lawrenceville, but the bluff is much higher and
a larger thickness of strata is exposed, giving the follow-
ing section :
Feef.
Mieaeious sand stone and shale 20 to 25
Bluish-gray calcareous shale, with iron bands and
fosssils 4 to 6-
Black laminated shale, with concretions of blaek lime-
stone 4 to 5
Brittle dark-gray limestone Ij^to2
Blue and brown shale, partly ar gillaceous and bitu-
Two wells were sunk on Mr. Plummer's farm, in the
S. E. qr. of Sec. 25, T. 5 N., R. 12 west. The one near
his house, passed through eighteen inches of coal at a
depth of eighteen feet. The other, located a quart* r of
a mile to the north, was sunk to the depth of forty-three
feet, rav-ingmistly through sandstone and shale. At Mr.
Porter's place, which adjoins Mr. Plummer's on the
south, a well was sunk to the depth of fifty-six feet, with
the following showing :
Feet.
Drift clay, soil, etc 18
Sandstone 11
Blue shales, bituminous at the bottom 27
The coal vein passed through in the well of Mr.
Plummer must lay above the sandstone in the Porter
well, which had probably been eroded away at that
point by water currents during the Drift-epoch. At a
well half a mile west of Mr. Plumraer s, a bed of cel-
lular iron ore occurs in the sandstone near its base, and
was passed through in this well about sixteen feet below
the surface. The iron ore was reported to be two feet
thick in the well, but at the outcrop, a quarter of a mile
away, its thickness was only about six inches. But for
its being so sandy it might be valuable for smelting pur-
poses.
In the bluffs of the Embarras river, on the N. W-
qr. of Sec. 33, T. f>, R. 12, a massive sandstone exposure |
indicates the following section :
Ft. In.
Massive sandstone • . 8 to 10
Ferruginous conglomerate . . . . Zto3
Coal (probably local) .' 0 '8
Slope covered to the river level 10 to 12
A hundred yards above where this section is visible,
the sandstone continues down the river level without
indications of coal. It is probable that the thin coal
vein, just over the line in Crawford county, on Brushby
creek, is of the same formation as the above, and as it
is there from forty to fifty feet above the creek level, it
indicates a westerly deflection of the strata equal to
about six or seven feet to the mile. On the Embarras j
fjr sDme distance above this pjint, no rocks are known •
to outcrop, and below there is not much exposure be-
tween this and the dam at Lawrenceville.
On the south side of Indian creek, three miles south
of Lawrenceville, and at several places in the neighbor-
hood, a coal vein is found and worked sufficiently to
supply the local demand for coal. The seam ranges
from twelve to eighteen inches in thickness, and is mined
by stripping along its outcrop in the banks of the small
streams.
The following sections and notes have been reported
by Prof. Cox :
At Leed's quarry, on Indian creek, one mile west of
St. Francisville road, is found the following section :
Ft, In.
Gray shale 6
Carbonaceous shale C
Shale 8
Sandstone, in even beds 3
This sandstone is suitable for good building stones,
and was utilized in the brdge abutments on Embarras
river. On the north bank of the above river, at Shaker
mill, the following section was found :
Ft.
Soil and Drift 5
Thin bedded Sandstone, 2 to 8 inches 8
Massive Sandstone 13
Section on Indian creek, three miles south of Law.
renceville :
Ft. In.
Soil and Drift 10
.Argillaceous shale, with iron bands 25
Impure coal 8
Fire-clay and grey shale 5
Bluish sandstone in bed of creek ?
The approximate section of rocks out-cropping in the
county is as follows :
Brawn and gray sandstone, the lower part in massive beds 60 10 75
Coal, No. 12 1 to 1^
Shales, with bands of argillaceous iron ore 30 to 35
Coal, No. 11 Oto 1
Sandstone, t*p thin-bedded and shaly, bottom massive . . 30 lo 3.1
ECONOMICAL GEOLOGY.
Building Stone.— In the foregoing section both the
sandstones afford building stone of fair quality for cer-
tain purposes, and large quarries have been opened in
the upper seam, in the vicinity of Summer, for the use
of the Ohio and Mississippi railroad. Small quarries
are operated in various localities in the northern and
central part of the county. Leed's quarry on Indian
creek is probably in the lower bed, and the rock obtained
there is in thin even beds, ranging from four inches to a
foot in thickness.
The limestone at Lawrenceville, and at the bridge two
miles east on the Embarras, is somewhat argillaceous,
and, therefore, is not to be depended upon where it is
subjected to the section of frost and moisture. This is
the only limestone developed in the county,', and is not
adaped f >r either the lime-kiln or building purposes.
Coal. — On account of the thinness of the seams of
coal reached in the county, it can ouly be mined by
stripping. It is a very good quality, but worked only
in a small way.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Just north of the county line in the edge of Crawford
county, at Nettle's coal mine, the vein is about 18 inches
thick, aud is overlaid by about a foot or more of hard
bituminous shale resembling canuel coal. The man-
ner of mining it is by tunnelling into the bank along the
line of outcrop, but no penuanaut entry was constructed,
and when work stopped the roof caved in and filled the
opening so that a new entry was required as often as the
work was resumed.
If the well sunk at Lawrenceville has been conducted
by experts, and an exact record kept of strata passed
through, the question would have been determined
whether any thick vein of coal exists within four hun-
dred feet of the surface, in the county. Nothing, how-
ever, has been positively determined, further than the
fact that two coal seams of uncertain thickness were
found, one at a depth of about 340 and the other at 440
feet below the surface. It is evident that deep mining
is the only means of obtaining this fuel to any great ex-
tent within the limits of this county; and if the coal de-
mand would justify reasonable expenditure in sinking
deep shafts, fair returns might reasonably be expected.
Iron Ore. — The shales intervening between coals 11
and 12 contain numerous bands of argillaceous iron ore,
but are of little practical value. At the base of the upper
sandstone a ferruginous bed is frequently met withi
sometimes appearing as a conglomerate of iron nodules
in sandstone. In a well on section 25, T. 5 N., R. 12
W., this conglomerate was reported to be two feet thick,
aud consisted partly of a very good quality of brown
hematite ore, but other portions were too much mixed
to be of value for the production of iron.
CHAPTER V.
FLORA.
|lN speaking of the flora of these counties, it is
not the purpose of this work to treat ex-
haustively on the plants of the respective
counties, but rather to give a list of the
native trees and grasses found within their limits.
" Mere catalogues of plants growing in any locality,"
says a popular writer, " might without a little reflection,
be supposed to possess but little value ;" a supposition,
however, which would be far from the truth. The care-
ful and intelligent husbandman looks at once to the
native vegetation as a sure indication of the value of
uncultivated lands. The kinds of timber growing in a
given locality will decide the qualities of soil for agri-
cultural purposes. So too, the artisan in wood, will find
•what materials are at hand the best suited for his pur-
poses. By the botanist, the state of Illinois is usually
considered under three divisions ; the heavily timbered
regions of the south, the flora which is remarkable for
its variety ; the central portion, consisting mainly of
prairie, and the northern section composed of both
prairie and timber. Below we append a list of the
native forest trees and shrubs of these counties. For
this data we are indebted to the State report, the list of
which was kindly furnished by Dr. J. Schenck of Alt.
Carmel, Wabash county :
Acer rubrum, L., red or swamp maple.
Acer dasyc.irpum, Ehrhardt, white or sugar maple.
Acer saccharinum, common sugur maple.
Acer saccharinum, var nigrum, black sugar maple.
Aesculus glabra, smooth or Ohio buckeye.
Alnus serrulata, smooth alder.
Amorpha fruticosa, false indigo.
Asimina triloba, common paw paw.
Betulalenta, cherry or sweet birch.
Betula nigra, river or red birch.
Oarpinus Americana, ironwood; hornbeam.
Carya oliva'formis, pecan nut.
Catalpa speciosa, Warder; Indian bean.
Carya alba, shellbark or shagbark hickory.
Carya microcarpa, small-fruited hickory.
Carya Sulcata, Nutt; Western shellbark, hickory.
Carya tomentosa, mockeruut; wliite-hearted hickory.
Carya procina, pignut or broom hickory.
Carya amara, bitternut or swamp hickory.
Celtis occidental!*, hickory ; sugarberry.
Cehis MisMssippiensis, Mis.-issippi hackberry.
CvpbHlanthus occidental!*, button bush.
Cercis Canadensis, red-bud ; Judas-tree.
Cornus Florida, flowering dogwood.
Cornus sericea, silky Cornell ; kmnikinnik.
Cornus paniculatn, panicled Cornell.
Corylus Americana, wild hazelnut.
Corylus rostrata, beaked hazelnut.
Crategus tomentosa, black or pear thorn.
Crategus tomentosa var., Mollis.
Cratcegus punctata, Jacq.
Cra'cegus cordata Washington thorn.
Crateegus Crus-galli, cockspur thorn.
Diospyros Virginiana, common persimmon.
Euonymus atropurpureus, burning-bush; wahoo.
Euonymus Americanus, strawberry-bush.
Fagus ferruginea, American beech.
Fraxinus Americana, white ash.
Fraxinus pubescens, red ash.
Fraxinus viridis, green ash.
Fraxintis quadrangulata, blue ash.
Gleditschia triacanthos, honey-locust.
Gleditschia monosperma, Walt; one-seeded or water locust.
Gymnorladus Canadensis, coffee tree.
Hydrangea arborescens, wild hydrangea.
Hydtangea proliBcum, shrubdy St. John's wort.
Ilex decidua, Walt.
Juglans cineren, butternut.
Juglans nigra, black walnut.
Juniperus eommunis, common juniper. •
Lindera Benjoin, spice-bush; Benjnmin-bnsh.
Liquidambar Styraciflua, sweet gum tree.
Liriodendron Tulipifera, tulip-tree; poplar.
Mortis ruba, red mulberry.
Negundo aceroides, box-elder.
Syssa multinors, Mack gum ; tupelo.
Ostrya Virginica. hop-hornbeam, leverwood.
Plalanus occidental!*, sycamore; pl«ne-tree.
Populus heterophylla, cottonwood; downy poplar.
Populus moniiifera, necklace poplar ; cottonwood.
I'oj.uliis tremtiloides, American aspen.
•jno&yerticillata, black elder; winterberry.
Prunes Americana, wild yellow or red plum.
Prunus insita. Bullace plum.
Prunus serotinn, wild black cherry.
Pyrus coronaiia, sweet-scented crab apple.
Pyrus ingu tifolia. narrow-leaved crab apple.
Ptclea trifoliata, wafer ash ; shrubby trefoil.
Quorcus alta, white oak.
Qucrcus ^tcllatii, Wans; post oak.
Qtiercusanacrocarpa, burr or overcup oak.
Quorcus macrocarpa, var. oliviformis; olive-fruitod overcup oak.
Quorous lyrata, Wait. ; lyre-leuvod uuk.
m
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUN1IES, ILLINOIS.
Quercus hicolor, var. Michmixii, Engelm ; Inrge-fruited swamp oak.
Quercus muhlenberidi, Engelm ; chestnut oak.
Qiiercua tincto. ia, blue'* or tanner's oak.
Quercus coccinea, ocarlet oak.
Quercus rubera, red oak.
Queicus falcata, Michaux ; Spanish oak.
QuercuH palu>tris, pin or water oak.
Quercus nigra, black-jack or barren oak.
Quercus phellos, willow oak.
Quercus imbricaria, laurel or shingle oak.
Rhus tophina, staghoru sumach.
Rhus glabra. smooth sumach.
Rhus copallin, dwarf sumach. . •
Salix tristis, dwarf gray willow.
Salix discolor, glaucous willow.
Salix criocephala, wooly-headed willow.
Salix petiolaris, long-stalked green osier.
Salix nigra, black willow.
Salix rigida, stiff-leaved willow.
Sambucus Canadensis, common elder.
Sassafras otflcinale, sassafras.
Spiraea opulifolia, L., nine barks.
Spiraea salicifola, L., meadow sweet.
Slaphylea trifolia, bladder nut.
Symphoricarpus occidentalis, wolf or buckberry.
Symphoricarpus vulgaris, Indian currant.
Taxodium disticlium, American bald cypress.
Tilia, American ba»s\vood . linden.
Tilia heterophylia, white basswood.
tlimus fulva, slippery elm.
Ulmus Americana, American or white elm.
Ulmus alata, winged elm.
Viburnum prnnifolium, black haw.
Viburnum iiudum, white rod.
Zanthoxylum American, prickly ash.
The plants are many and rare, some for beauty,
while others are most valuable for their medi'-inal pro-
perties. The pinkroot, the columbo, ginseng, boneset,
pennyroyal, and others are utillized as herbs for me-
dicine. Among the plants of beauty are phlox, the
lily, the asclepias, the mints, golden rod, the eyebright,
gerardia, and hundreds of other varieties which adorn
the meadows, the timber, and the brook-sides; besides
the above there are many varieties of the climbing and
twining vines, such as the bitter-sweet, trumpet-creeper,
woodbine, the clematis, the grape and others, which fill
the woods with gay festoons, and add grace and beauty
to many a decayed monarch of the forrest.
GRASSES.
In speaking of these we purposely exclude the grain
plants, and confine ourselves to those valuable grasses
which are adapted to the sustenance of the lower animals.
Timothy grass or cat's tail, naturalized.
Agrostus .ulgaris, red top or herb grass.
- Muhlenbergia diflusa, nuniUe will.
Calamgiastis Canadeusi-, blue joint.
Dactylis glomerata, orchard grass.
Poa Pratensis, Kentucky blue grass.
Poa Compressa, true blue grass.
Festuca Elator, meadow fescue.
Bromus Leculinus, cheat chess; foreign.
Phragmites Communis, the reed.
Arundinaria Macrospei ma, or cane.
Solium Perenni, perennial ray grass.
Anthoxanthum Odoratum, sweet-scented vernal grass.
Phalaris Arundinacea, reed canary grass.
Paspalum Setaceum.
Panicum Sanguinale, crab grass.
Panicum Glabrum, smooth panicum.
Panicum Capillare, witch grass.
Panicum crusgalli, barnyard grsss.
S. t:iria Glan.-a, foxtail.
Setiiria Viridis, bottle grass.
8el3t.iaIta.Hca, millet.
AuJrunogim *:oparius, brown-beard grass.
In the above lists we have given the botanical as well
as the common terms, believing such a course best to
pursue in the study of plants, and more beneficitl to the
student or general reader. Some plants may have been
omitted, yet we think the lists quite complete.
CHAPTER VI.
F the ruminating animals that were indigenous
to this territory, we had the American Elk
(Cervus Canadensis), and still have the
deer of two kinds ; the more common, the
well-known American deer (Cervus Virginianus), and
the white-tailed deer (Cervus Leucurus). And at a pe-
riod not very remote the American Buffalo (Bos Ameri-
canus), must I'ave found pastures in this portion of the
state. The heads, horns and bones of the slain animals
were still numerous in 1820. The Black Bear (Ursus
American us) were quite numerous even in the memory
of the older settlers. Bears have been seen in the counties
within the last thirty years. The Gray Wolf (Cauis
Occidentalis) and Prairie Wolf (Canis latrans) are not
unfrequently found, as is also the Gray Fox (Vulper
Virginianus), which still exists by its superior cunning.
The Panther (Felis concolor) was occasionally met with
in the earlier times, and still later and more common,
the Wild Cat (Dynx rufus). The Weasel, one or more
species ; the Mink (Putorius Vison) ; American Otter
(Latra Canadensis) ; the Skunk (Mephitis Mephitica) ;
the Badger (Taxidea Americana) ; the Raccoon (Pro-
cyon Lotor) ; the Opossum (Didelphys Virginiana). The
two latter species of animals are met with in every por-
tion of the United States and the greater part of North
America. The coon-skin, among the early settlers, was
regarded as a legal tender. Of the Squirrel family we
have the Fox, Gray, Flying, Ground and Prairie Squir-
rel (Scirus Ludovicanus, Carolinensis, Volucella, Stria-
tus and Spermaphilus). The Woodchuck (Arctomys
Monax) ; the common Musk Rat (Fiber Zibethicus). The
Bats, Shrews and Moles are common. Of the muridse
we have the introduced species of Rats and Mice, as also
the native Meadow Mouse, and the Long-tailed Jumping
Mouse (Meriones Labradorus), frequently met with in
the clearings. Of the Hare, the Lupus Sylvaticus (the
so-called Rabbit) is very plentiful. Several species of
the native animals have perished, being unable to endure '
the presence of civilization, or finding the food congenial
to their tastes appropriated by stronger races. Many of
the pleasures, dangers and excitements of the chase are
only known and enjoyed by most of us of the present day
through the talk and tradition of the past. The Buffalo
and the Elk have passed the borders of the Mississippi to
the westward, never more to return.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
57
Of Birds may be mentioned the following :*
Among the Game Birds most sought after are the
Meleagris Gallopavo (Wild Turkey), and Cupidonia
Cupido (Prairie Hen), which afford excellent sport for
the hunter and arc quite plentiful ; Pinnated Grouse
(Bonasa Umbellus) ; Ruffled Grouse (Ortyx Virgini-
anus) ; Quail (Philohela Minor) ; Woodcock (Galliuago
Wilsonii) ; English Snipe (Macrorhamphus Griseus) ;
Red-breasted Snipe (Gambetta 'Melanoleuca) ; Telltale
Snipe (Gambetta Flavipes) ; Yellow Legs (Limosa Fe-
doa) ; Marbled Godwit (Scolofax Fedoa, Wilson) ; Nu-
menius L")ngirastris (Long-billed Curlew) ; Numenius
Hudsonicus (Short-billed Curlew) ; Rallus Virginiauus
(Virginia Rail) ; Cygnus Americauus (American Swan) ;
Cygnus Buccinator (Trumpeter Swan) ; Anser Hvper-
boreus (Snow Goose) ; Bermicala Canadensis (Canada
Goose) ; Bermicala Brenta (Brant) ; Anas Boschas
(Mallard) ; Anas Obscura (Black Duck) ; Dafila Acuta
(Pintail Duck) ; Nettion Carolinensis (Green-winged
Teel) ; Querquedela discors (Blue-winged Teel) ; Spatula
Clypeata (Shoveler) ; Mareca Americana (American
Widgeon) ; Aix Sponsa (Summer, or Wood Duck) ;
Aythaya Americana (Red-head Duck) ; Aythaya Val-
lisneria (Canvass-back Duck) ; Bucephala Albeola (But-
ter Ball) ; Lophodytes Cucculatus (Hooded Merganser) ;
(Pelecanus erythrorhynchiis), Rough-billed Pelican ;
Colymbus torquatus), The Loon ; (Aegialatis vociferus);
Killdeer Plover ; Ball Head, Yellow Legged and Up-
land Plover; (Tantalus loculator), Wild Ibis, very rarely
visit this locality ; Herodus egretta), White Heron ;
(Ardea Herodus), Great Blue Heron ; (Botaurus lenti-
ginosus), Bittern ; (Grus Canadensis), Sand Hill Crane ;
(Ectopistes migratoria), Wild Pigeon ; (Zenaidura Caro-
linensis), Common Dove; (Corvua carnivorus), American
Raven ; (Corvus Araericanus), Common Crow; (Cyanu-
rus cristatus), Blue Jay; (Dolichonyx oryzivorus),
Bobo'link; (Agelaius Phoenicians), Red-winged Black
Bird ; (Sturella magna). Meadow Lark ; (Icterus Balti-
more), Golden Oriole ; (Chrysometris tristis), Yellow
Bird ; (Junco hyemalis), Snow Bird ; (Spizella Socialis),
Chipping Sparrow ; (Spizella pusilla), Field Sparrow ;
(Melospiza palustris), Swamp Sparrow; (Cyanospiza
cyanea), Indigo Bird ; (Cardiualis Virginianus), Car-
dinal Red Bird ; (Pipilo erythrophthalmus), Cheewink ;
(Sitta Carolinensis), White-bellied Nuthatch ; (Mimus
polyglottus), Mocking Bird ; (Minus Carolinmsis), Cat
Bird ; (Harphorhynchus rufus), Brown Thrush ; (Trog-
lodytes ifdon), House Wren; (Hirundo horreorum),
Barn Swallow; (Cotyle riparia), Bank Swallow; (Progne
purpurea), Blue Martin ; (Ampellis cedrorum), Cedar
Bird ; (Pyrangra rubra), Scarlet Tanager ; (Pyrangra
a.^tiva), Summer Red Bird ; (Tardus migratorius), Robin,
came less than forty years ago ; (Sialia Sialis), Blue
Bird ; (Tyrannus Carolinensis), King Bird ; (Sayornis
fuscus), Pewee; (Ceryle alcyon), Belted Kingfisher;
(AntroetomuB vociferus), Whippoorwill ; (Chordtiles
popetue), Night Hawk; (Chtetura pelasgia), Chimney
Swallow; (Trochilus colubris), Ruby-throated Humming
Bird ; (Picus villosus), Hairy Woodpecker ; (Picus pu-
bescens\ Downy Woodpecker; (Melanerpes erythroce-
phalus), Red-headed Woodpecker ; (Colaptes auratus),
Golden-winged Woodpecker; (Conurus Carolinensis),
Carolina Parrot ; ( Bubo Virginianus), Great Horned 0 wl ;
Syrnium(nebulosum),barredowl; (Nycteanivea),Snowy
Owl ; (Cathartes aura), Turkey Buzzard; (Falco colum-
barium), Pigeon Hawk ; Nauclerus furcatus), Swallow-
tailed Hawk; (IcteriaMississippiensis), Mississippi Kite;
(Buteo boroalis), Red-tailed Hawk; (Haliatus leucoce-
phalus), Bald Eagle; (Falco fulvius), Ring-tailed Eagle.
We give the following classification of birds into
three divisions, as found in the " Transactions of the
Illinois State Horticultural Society " of 1876 :
1st. Those of the greatest value to the fruit-growers in
destroying noxious insects, and which should be encour-
aged and fostered in every way.
Blue Birds, Tit-mice or Chicadees, Warblers, (small
summer birds with pleasant notes, seen in trees and
gardens), Swallows, Vuros, (small birds called green
necks). All birds known as Woodpeckers except sap,
Suckers (Picus varius). This bird is entirely injurious,
as it is not insectivorous, but feeds on the inner bark
cumbium (and the elaborated sap) of many species of
tree?, and may be known from other Woodpeckers, by
its belly being yellowish, a large black patch on its
breast, and the top of its head a dark bright red. The
male have also a patch of the same on their throats and
with the minor margins of the two central tail feathers
white. This bird should not be mistaken for the two
other most valuable birds which it nearly resembles, to
wit : The Hairy Woodpecker (Picus Villiosii et vars) ;
and the Downy Woodpecker, (Picus pubescens et vars).
These two species have the outer tail feathers white— or
barred with black — and have only a small patch of red
on the back of the head of the males. The Yellow
Hammer or Flecker (Colaptus auratus), is somewhat
covered with yellow, and should not be mistaken for the
sap-sucker. It is a much larger bird. The Red-headed
Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus), sometimes
pecks into apples and devours cherries, and should be
placed in the next division (2d). The Wren, Ground
Robin (known as Cherwick), Meadow Lark, all the fly-
catchers, the King Bird or bee-catcher, Whippoorwill,
Night Hawk or Goat Sucker, Nut-hatcher, Pewee or
Pewit. All the Blackbirds, Bobolinks, Finches (Frin-
gillidie), Quails, Song Sparrows, Scarlet Tanager, Black,
White and Brown Creepers, Maryland Warblers, Indigo
Birds, Chirping Sparrow, Black-throated .Bunting,
Thrushes, except those named in the next class, and all
domestic fowls except geese.
2d. Birds of Doubtful Utility.
Which include those which have beneficial qualities
but which have also noxious and destructive qualities in
the way of destroying fruits, and whose habits are not
fully determined. Thus the Robin, Brown Thrush and
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Cat Bird are very valuable as cut- worm eaters, but also
very obnoxious to the small fruit growers. The Jay
(Blue Jay) not only destructive to grain and fruits, but
very noxious in the way of destroying the nest eggs and
young of smaller and better birds, Robin, Brown Thrush
and Cat Bird, Shrike or Butcher Bird, Red-headed
Woodpecker, Jay Bird or Blue Jay, Crow and the small
Owls (Screech Owls), Pigeons and Mocking Bird.
3d. Birds that should be Exterminated.
Sap-sucker, or Yellow bellied Woodpecker (see above) ;
Baltimore Oriole, or Hanging Bird, Cedar Bird, or
Wax-wings (Ampelis cedrorum), Hawks and the larger
Owls.
The names, and a carefully prepared list of the animals
of a country, state, or county, are always of interest to
the inhabitants, and especially so to the scientist and
student of natural history. After inquiring into the
political and civil history of a country, we then turn
with pleasure to the investigation of its Natural History,
and of the animals which inhabited it prior to the advent
of man ; their habits and the means of their subsistence
become a study ; some were animals of prey, others were
harmless, and subsisted upon the vegetable products of
the country. The early animals of this part of the state
ranged over a wide expanse of country, the habits of
which will be fully found and set forth in all of our
zoological treatises.
CHAPTER VII.
J PIONEERS AND EARLY SETTLERS.
INCIDENTS AND ANECDOTES OF EDWARDS, LAAVRENCE
AND WABASH COUNTIES.
|0 rescue from oblivion the incidents of the past,
and to preserve the names of the hardy few,
who in fact were the real instruments of paving
the way toward making the wild forests habitable, is one
of the main objects of the historian. In a little time the
gray hairs of the pioneers, who still live as tottering
monuments of the good old times, will be gathered to
their fathers ; their children engrossed by the busy trans-
actions of life, will neglect to treasure up the doings and
recollections of the past, and posterity will search in vain
for land-marks and memorials thereof. How necessary
then that no time be lost in gathering together the frag-
ments of our infant history, which still exist, and thus
rescue it from entire forgetfuluess.
A little less than three-quarters of a century ago this
beautiful country was in a state of nature, and the only
inhabitants were the uncivilized Indians and the wild
game of the forest. The white man came, and lo! the
transition ! Beautiful fields of grain wave in the gentle
breeze, and neat villages and farm houses dot the land-
scape. In that early day the means and facilities for
tilling the soil would be considered a burlesque on farm-
ing to-day. When they turned the sod with the old
| wooden mould-board plow and gathered the harvest with
the reap-hook, the threshing was as slow and laborious
as the reaping, the process being by tramping out the
I grain by the use of cattle, or beating it from the straw
j with a flail. Presto change ; nearly seventy-five -years
have glided by, and we cast 'our eye upon the landscape
and what a transformation ! The old mould-board has
given way to the elegant sulky plow ; the reap-hook is
transformed into the wonderful mechanism known as
the self-binder, and the tramping of the cattle, and the
thud, thud of the flail have yielded to the steam engine
and the hum of the gigantic thresher. It is thus that
the results of the labors and hardships of the pioneers,
combined with the efforts and genius of their children,
are written not ouly in history, but more unmistakably
engraved upon every highway in the land. Let the
| reader stop for a moment and reflect, if he would do
justice to those who have led the way and so nobly done
their part. Do not chide or jeer them for their odd,
old-fashioned ways, but keep in mind, that it is to
them that we, " Young America," are indebted for the
surrounding comforts which our land yields to-day.
But a few years more, when we have grown gray and
i feeble, shall we be pointed out by the busy, bustling
throng of a more advanced age, as the old fogies, and
as among those who have passed their days of useful-
ness.
EDWARDS COUNTY.
FIRST SETTLEMENT AND E*ARLY SETTLERS.
Tradition relates that the first white men to penetrate
the wilds of Edwards county, were three brothers by the
name of Daston, as early as 1800. They were great
hunters, and spent most of their time in hunting and
trapping. They made little or no improvements, and
all that is known of them by the pioneers who made per-
manent settlements, is that their cabins were left stand-
ing in sections 10 and 15, in township 15, 1 north, range
14 east, when the first permanent settlers came to the
county. Prom whence they came or where they went,
tradition is silent.
The first families to make a permanent settlement in
the county were those of Jonathan Shelby, Thomas
Carney, John Bell, Lot Sams, and Isaac Greathouse ;
these all made their advent here in 1815. Shelby and
Carney came together with their families and located
near each other in township 1 north, range 10, now
Shelby precinct. They were from Tennessee, and made
the long journey to Grayville with their families over-
land, in wagons, the only method then for traveling.
They halted at Grayville, where they remained one year,
when they remov. d to the northern part of the county,
as above stated. Mr. Shelby located in the northwest
quarter of section 34, where he erected a cabin and
commenced the life of the pioneer in the wilds of
Edwards county. He was an active and energetic man,
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
and in a few years had under cultivation several acres the Southern States, and located in the edge of Big
of land, and was surrounded with the comforts of a ! creek timber, where he erected a small cabin and cleared
good home. In 1831, he moved to section 18, on the a patch of land on which he raised a meager crop of
Little Wabash, and four years later constructed a water corn sufficient for the wants of his family. His cabin
grist mill on this stream, it being the first water-mill in
Shelby precinct. He was one of the first justices of the
peace in the county, which office he Ixeld for many years.
was erected just in the margin of the timber overlooking
quite a prairie belt, which subsequently received the
name of Birk's Prairie. His family consisted of his
He died about 1838. ! wife, four sons and three daughters, and their mode of
Mr. Carney also located in section 34, and subse- I living was of the most primitive character. Their
quently b?came one of the leading farmers of the times cabin contained but one room, which served the purpose
of kitchen, eating and sleeping room. The family
remained here but,s6out three years, or until about the
time of the Errgfish colony settlement, as Mr. Birk was
of the pu*e type of the backwoodsman and could not
tolerate civilization. To use his own language as re-
lated by one of the pioneers, "He did not wish to live
where neighbors were so plenty ; that to see three neigh-
bors within a day's ride was sufficient for him."
Walter Anderson, who came about the same time,
located in section 30, township 2 souih, range ten east.
He had the confidence of the people, and in 1832, he
was elected to the county commissioners' court, which
position he held until 1838. Mr. Carney was always a
public-spirited man, and to him belongs the honor of
constructing the first mil! in his neighborhood. This
was in 1832. The mill was propelled by horse-power,
but it answered the wants of his neighbors. About 1844
he moved with his family to the State of M;ssouri, where
he died a few years ago.
John Bell was of German descent, but was born in
South Carolina. In an early day he moved to Ken- j He had the honor of planting the first orchard in the
tucky, and from thence to Tennessee. From this State county, on his little clearing, in 1817. He remained
he enlisted in the war of 1812, where he served about but a few years, when' he moved to some other portion
one year; and in 1815 he moved with his family to '•, of the State. John Hunt located in the same settlement
Illinois and settled in section 27, township 1 north, i and remained here until his death ; but one of his de-
range 10 east, where he resided until his death. He i scendants is now living in the count)', a grandson,
was a plain, unassuming man, and a good neighbor. James T., who resides about a mile from his grand-
One son, H. C. Bell, resides in section 10. j father's old home. Others who lived in this settlement
Lot Sams was a native of North Carolina, but had i were, Hugh Collins, Rollin and Joseph Lane, and Wil-
been a resident of Kentucky aid Tennessee. He came Ham Ham. They were all natives of some of the
with his family to Illinois in 1815, and located in sec- I Southern States, and remained only a few years after
tion 35, township 1 north, range 10 east. His mode of coming.
travel to this State was by pack horses ; upon these he
made the whole distance with his little family. In 1821
In the fall of 1816, quite a sensation was created
among the few settlers of this part oi^he country, caused
precinct, has the honor of bearing his name.
Isaac Greathouse came from Kentucky in 1815, and
with his family, located in this part of Illinois, where he
he located in section 25, where he died in the fall of j by the killing and mutilating of the body of one Joseph
1863. At his death he had accumulated considerable i Boltinghouse. He was a single man, the family then
property, and the little hamlet of Samsville, in Shelby | residing in White county. In the fall, Joseph drove to
the Big creek timber, quite a quantity of hogs to feed
and fatten from- the mast, then so plenty in this part of
the county. He built him a camp, a little south of the
followed the pursuit of farming for a short time ; but | creek, on what is now the Churchill land. While here
the Indian depredations drove him into one of the forts. : a band of Shawnee Indians prowling through the
Being tired of the Indian warfare on the frontier he country espied his camp, and finding that he was alone,
returned to his native State, where he remained several took him by surprise, and murdered him upon the spot.
years. Again, in 1821, he moved to Illinois and settled When found his body was lying close to his camp in a
permanently in the S. W.i of the N. W.} of section 13, j mutilated condition, and his head, which had been
Salem precinct. He was a plain farmer, never aspiring j severed from the trunk, was suspended upon a pole near
to office of public trust. He died at the old homestead, j by. Tradition relates that the murderers suffered dearly
Enoch, the eldest of the pioneer children, is a wealthy for the crime. They were captured near the Wabash
farmer residing in section 18, township 1 north, range ; river, stones were lashed to their bodies and they were
1 1 east. Francis, another son, lives in section 13. The | sunk in the river. The following spring, James and
father of Isaac was one, if not the first English settler Daniel, brothers of the above, moved to the county from
in this part of the State, west of the Wabash river, a , Gallatin, now White county, and located in section 26,
sketch of whom will be found in the chapter of Mt. township 2 south, range 10 east, a little south of Big
Carmel precinct, and pioneer history of Waba>h county, creek, in the edge of the timber, overlooking the prairie
In 18 1C a settlement was formed in the southwest part that subsequently took their name. Daniel was a man
of the county on or near Big Creek, the first of whom of family, and his brother James resided with him.
was " Captain" J eremiah Birk, who came from one of They cleared and improved a good farm, and became
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
prominent citizens of the county. In about 1837, they
all moved to the State of Arkansas.
Thomas Riley, a native of Ireland, settled near the
Boltinghouse's, the same year, 1817. Mr. Riley was then
a single man, but subsequently married Sarah Morris, a
daughter of one of the pioneers. He improved a good
farm, where he resided until his death, which occurred
about 1852. His father-in-law, Isaac Morris, came
from the south and settled in section 5, township 3 south,
range 10 east, in the same year.as the above. He had a
large family, and wasagenuine backwoodsman. Hespent
the most of his time in hunting, and was noted for his
exaggerated tales and hair-breadth escapes while in the
woods. He remained in the county until his death,
which occurred many years ago. His children are
scattered to the many points of the West, none of his
descendants being now residents of this part of the
county.
Another pioneer of 1817, was Clem Martin, who
located in section 33, township 2 south, range 14 west.
He came from the souther^ States, partaking of the
spirit of emigration to the new Eldorado, then so popular
with the poorer class of the south and southwest. Mr.
Martin was what would be termed to-day, a man of
eccentric for peculiar ways. He was outspoken and
fearless in character, somewhat rough and uncouth in
manners, and thus made enemies when he might have
had friends. For some reason the family stood in rather
bad odor in the new settlement ; this was undoubtedly
due to the wild, unpleasant ways' of his children. He
died in the county many years ago.. It is said that some
of his descendants are living in White county.
About this time, in 1817, a n.ew era dawned upon the
settlements made in what is now Edwards county.
Morris Birkbeck and George Flower, both well-to do
Englishmen, made a tour of the west in search of the
"beautiful prairies" they had heard and read about,
in the new world, with the view of establishing a colony
of their countrymen within the same, should the reports
given meet their expectations. Mr. Flower crossed the
Atlantic, landing on American shores in the spring of
1816. He spent one year in making inquiries and be-
coming acquainted with the people, country and insti-
tutions of our republic. One year later Mr. Birkbeck
and family came to the United States, and in company
with Mr. Flower, they made a tour of the west. The
country pleased them, and it was agreed between Mr.
Flower and Mr. Birkbeck that the former should return
to England and induce immigration to their chosen spot,
Edwards county, while the latter was to attend to pro-
curing the necessary lands, and otherwise to prepare for
the reception of their countrymen. Of the first emigrants
their names, time, and manner of coming, we quote from
the account as given by Mr. Flower in his history of the
English settlements in Edwards county. He says,
" Early in March, 1818, the ship Achilles sailed from
Bristol with the first party of emigrants, destined for our
settlements in Illinois. Mr. Charles Trimmer, of Yeatly,
Surrey, a young farmer, and a neighbor and acquaint-
ance of Mr. Birkbeck, with forty-four men and one
married woman, sailed in this ship. The men were
chiefly farm laborers and mechanics from Surrey. Many
of them had for years worked for Mr. Birkbeck, others
were from his neighborhood, and were personally ac-
quainted or knew him by reputation. This party was
j under the special care and leadership of Mr.
Trimmer. About an equal number, composed of
London mechanics and tradesmen from various parts of
| England, formed, another party that sailed in the same
ship. These were under the guidance and direction of
! Mr. James Lawrence, merchant tailor, of Hatton Gar-
j den, London. Mr. Lawrence being a man of property,
| a resident of the city, and well acquainted with the
usages at the docks, custom-house, shipping, etc., became
actually the head of the whole party." Another pro-
minent p irty in this ship's company was Mr. Hugh
Ranalds, from Hammersmith, near London. He was
then a single man, but subsequently married Mary C
Flower, a sister of George Flower.
According to the account given by Mr. Flower, the
emigrants landed at Philadelphia early in June, 1818.
They made'their way to Edwards county overland, some
in wagons, others on horseback over the mountains to
Pittsburg, then descended the Ohio river in flat boats to
Shawueetown, and from thence on foot, in wagons or on
horseback, to Mr. Birkbeck's cabin, situated on Bolting-
house prairie, the place being subsequently named Wan-
borough, after Mr. Birkbeck's old home in England.
He had received notice of their coming and had made
the best preparation possible for their reception. A
square of rough log houses had been erected, each cabin
being supplied with two doors with a small sash window
in each door. This hamlet was subsequently denominated
" The Barracks," and was open to all new-comers. It
was here that the first ship's company— eighty-eight in
number — were accommodated, all men, excepting three
women. Mr. Flower, in his reminiscences, says of this
novel state of affairs in the new found land, " I mu>t
leave to imagination the various feelings of its motley in-
mates, some of whom were used to the refinements of
civilized life; all to the comforts of a home however
humble ; some without money, and all for a time, with-
out occupation ; without vegetables ; corn bread and
salt pork their only diet'; whisky their sole luxury and
consolation, and some not able to get that. It was for a
time a fermenting mass. Strange and conflicting emo-
tions exhibited themselves in ludicrous succession. Some
laughed and joked, some moped and sulked, while others
cursed the fates that brought them there. All things
worked out right in time. The activity and energy of
the national character soon displayed itself, and all be-
came fairly satisfied with the condition of things."
Mr. Birkbeck had laid out the town of Wanborough
in five-acre lots, and on these were built cabins, rented
by some, and bought by others as the means of the im-
migrants would permit. In a short time an ox mill was
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
erected for grinding their corn, and the necessary black-
smith shop was added to the village. This formed the
nucleus of the neiv-founded colony.
In April, 1819, another ship-load of emigrants swelled
the numbers of the already prosperous little community.
Of this accession Mr. Flower sayp, " My own immediate
family and friends occupied the cabin, and my domestic
servants and othor emigrants going out to join us, fille.l
the steerage ; my live stock of cows, hogs and sheep
from the choicest breeds of England, took all the spare
room on deck." Among those who came in this ship
were, Mr. and Mrs. Flower, parents of George Flower .
the latter 's two bisters, his brother William, a mere lad'
his two sons, Miss Fordham and the servants of Mr.
FJower. These constituted the immediate family party
of Mr. F. Prominent among others seeking the prom-
ised land were Francis Rotch and brother, friends and
acquaintances of Mr. Birkbeck ; an elderly gentleman
of means, Mr. Filler ; Dr. C. Pugsley and family ; Adam
Corrie ; John Wood, then a single man ; John Ingle and
family ; David Bennett and Jamily ; Mr. White and
family ; a carpenter and buildf r from London, and Cap-
tain Stone and family. These, with some others, formed
an emigrant party of upwards of sixty, who were bound
fur the '' prairies " of Illinois.
On arrival upon American shores, thty divided into
parties preparatory for their long and tedious journey
to the wilds of the west. Their manner of traveling was
similar tf> those who had preceded them one year before.
Mr. Fordham, under the instructions of Mr Birkbeck,
had in the meantime been busy in preparing for the rer
ception of the new emigrants. He had made frequent
excursions into the prairies to assist in the preparatory
arrangements, as well as making more distant journeys
to Cincinnati and Louisville, for many articles needed
by the settlers, which he loader! upon flat boats and sent
down the Ohio river to be conveyed to the new settle-
ment. The emigrants, for a time, were obliged to oc-
cupy the log cabins of the hollow square of Wanborough,
until other and better arrangements could be made.
The increase of population far exceeded the privilege
of comfortably receiving them, though all was done that
could be for their comfort and convenience. It must
be rembered that this part of the country was in a state
of nature, and that buildings and improvements could
not be made with the facilities they are to-day. Mr.
Fordham had also built two cabins on the land of Mr.
Flower, and it was at one of these cabins that Mr F.
deposited his family after the long and tedious trip from
the seaboard. We here give the language of Mr Flower
relating to his arrival at his new-found home. He says,
" I entered the praii ie with my carriage at the same
spot from which we had, one year before, first seen it.
The prairie grass completely enveloped my horses, and
they lain rioiisly dragged the heavy-laden vehicle. The
ciibin built for me hove in sight, which was to be our
home in the new found land. It was well sheltered by
wood from the north and east, with an arm of the
praiiie lying south in a gently descending slope for a
quarter of a mile, and was as pretty a situation as one
could desire. The cabin, however, could boast of no
comforts. It contained a clap-board roof, held down by
weight-poles, a rough puncheon floor, and had neither
door nor windows. Two door-ways were cut out, and
\ the rough logs were scutched down inside. All the chips
and ends of logs left by the backwoods' builders lay
strewn upon the floor. We were now face to face with
, the privations and difficulties of a first settlement in the
wilderness." From Mr. Flower's statement it seems
that one of their greatest privations was the lack of good
water. A well had been sunk on his land, but it was a
quarter of a mile away. He further says that, " The
i floor of their cabin being cleared, a fire was kindled in
a hole where a hearth was to be. One of us had a half
; mile trip for water. Then for the first time we knew
the blessing of an iron tea kettle. Our first meal was
spread upon the floor from such provisions as the ' car-
I riage afforded, cheese, crackers, tea, etc. The tea we
drank alternately from one or two tin cups. Some sit-
ting, some kneeling, some stretched at length, resting on
! an elbow upon the floor ancient fashion, was the way
I we*took our first meal. But then I was in my own house,
on my own land, in a free and independent republic,
and could cast my vote into a hollow tree for coon 'or
'possum to be president of the United States if I so de-
sired." It will thus be seen what privations and
discomforts the pioneers underwent, although some of
I them at the time of their settlement were accustomed to
1 all the comforts of life that wealth could give. Mr.
, Flower and Mr. Birkbeck both were representative men
i in England, and each commanded quite a fortune when
j they landed in this county. Whether their philan-
thropic efforts have been fully appreciated, the present
genera-ion of Albion and vicinity must answer. The for-
mer lived to see the " prairies " and surrounding
1 country largely populated with prosperous farmers of his
own countrymen. The little colony which he had been
accessory in planting, had become among the most pros-
perous and independent of the great prairie State. After
seeing and enjoying the results of his patriotic efforts, he
passed the portals of this life at the city of Grayville,
January loth, 1862. For some reasons, his and Mr.
Birkbeck's relations in social or business matters were
not altogether agreeable, but that is a personal matter
and belongs to no part of history. Mr. Birkbeck dur-
ing his life time looked well and took good care of the
interests of his countrymen, who had virtually placed
themselves and families under his care and advisement.
Wanborough, for a time, grew and prospered as a town.
Albion springing up and getting the precedent as a
county seat, in 1821, was a death blow upon the little
town of Wanborough, the parent town within the pres-
ent limits of Edwards county. Mr. Birkbeck became
one of the leading men of the State, and it is said that
through his efforts, and a few others, Illinois never
has had the stain if slavery placed upon its escutcheon.
83
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
From his sound judgment and clear ideas with regard
to governmental affairs, Governor Cole saw fit to choose
him as his Secretary of State in 1824. This office he
held but a short time, when he returned to his little
colony. It was only about a year following that he met
with a sudden and tragic death, the circumstances of
which are so well and vividly portrayed in a journal of
that day, that we copy the same for the readers of this
history: " Oa June 4th, 1825, Mr. Birkbeck went to
Harmony, Indiana, taking a packet of letters for us to
Mr. Robert Owen, who being on the eve of departure to
England, had kindly promised to deliver them. On Mr.
Birkbeck's return occurred the melancholy circumstan-
ces of his death. In attempting to cross Fox river, with
his son Bradford, they found the " flat " on which
they expected to be carried over, had been taken away.
They, therefore, entered the stream with their horses
with the intention of swimming the river. Bradford's horse
plunged and threw him into the seething water. Being a
good swimmer, he, although encumbered with an over-
coat, besides being weak from a recent illness, had nearly
reached the opposite shore, when he heard his father's
voice calling for assistance; and turning himself around
he saw him struggling in the middle of the stream, and
returned to him. Upon reaching him his father
caught hold of him, and they both sank together. Upon
coming to the surface, Bradford desired his father to
take hold of his coat in another place, which he did, and
again they both sank. At this time only Bradford
arose ; he finally reached the bank in safety, but he left
his father beneath the waves. After some time his cries
brought a person to his assistance who endeavored to re-
cover the body of his father. It was all in vain, and
it was not until the following day that the body was re-
covered from the angry waters. When found his um-
brella was grasped in his right hand, the position he
held it when he went down. His body was taken to
New Harmony, and there interred with every mark of
respect that the living could give. So passed away the
soul of one who had labored, faithfully, many years of
his life, to benefit his fellow-man."
A prominent pioneer of 1817, was Alan Emmerson,
who was born in Kentucky. When a young man he
emigrated to Indiana, where he married. Oa coming to
this State he located in section 4, township 2 south,
range 10 east. His family then consisted of his wife
and four children. He built a snug little cabin on
the quarter section of land he had entered, and here
commenced the hard labors of the pioneer. In a short
time he was elected justice of the peace, being among the
first to hold that honorable position in what is now Ed-
wards county. He served several terms upon the board
of County Commissioners, and for several years was the
p'esiding Judge of the county court. He was also
elected County Treasurer and Assessor, and was otfe
term in the State Legislature. In factfor many years prior
to his death, he was almost constantly serving the peo-
ple in some public capacity. He lived to a good old age,
he and his wife both passing away in 1876, Centennial
year. But one of the family is now living, Jesse, who
resides in Albion, and is among the wealthy and influ-
ential citizens of the town.
Rev. John Depew came in the same year as Mr. Em-
merson. He was an immigrant from the South, and on
arriving in the county he located on land adjoining Mr.
Emmerson. He was a zealous Methodist divine, and
the first of that persuasion in this part of the country. It
is remarked of him that he was a good neighbor, an
! honest and conscientious man, and practiced what he
preached. Being at a neighbor's house one dav, and
asked to take dinner with the family, he refused one of the
delicacies of the early times — wild honey, — as he had
learned in the mean time that the Sabbath had been
desecrated in felling the bee-tree. He remained here
but a few years, when he moved to Marion county.
In 1818, three months after Wanborough was
established, Albion was founded. Mr. Flower, in his
reminiscences says, that the emigrants were con-
tinually flowing in, and it became necessary to furnish
them with suitable and comfortable quarters. They
would first visit Mr. Birkbeck, who had but small
accommodations, and would then call upon Mr. Flower,
who at the time, was Lss prepared to receive them than
Mr. Birkbeck. At this stage, says Mr. Flower, "we
were experiencing the many inconveniences of a popu-
lation in the wilderness, in advance of necessary food
and shelter. Do as you will, if you are the very first in
| the wilderness, there are many inconveniences, privations,
| hardships, and sufferings that cannot be avoided. My
own family, one day, were so closely run for provisions,
that a dish of tender buds and shoots of the hazle-brush
was our only resort."
Mr. Lawrence and Mr. Trimmer, who led the first
ship's company, made their settlement in Village Prairie,
so called from the Piankashaw Indians, who had for-
merly located there. Other emigrants kept coming in,
some on foot, some on horseback, and some in wagons.
Some sought employment and accepted of such labor as
I they could find. Others struck out on their own respon-
i sibility and made small beginnings for themselves, while
! others dropped back into the towns and settlement in
Indiana. At this time Mr. Flower had been unable to
~ prepare for the reception of the emigrants, his whole
i time having been occupied in making his own family
j comfortable. One evening, after he had completed his
surroundings for the comfort of his family, Messrs.
; Lawrence, Ronalds, and Fordham called at the cabin of
] Mr. Flower. The question of making suitable prepara-
tion for the incoming tide of emigration was discussed.and
measures were to be adopted for the laying out and build-
ing a town, as a center for the useful arts, and conven-
iences necessary for a prosperous agricultural district.
The subject was considered in all its various bearings,
and there in the darkness of Mr. F's. cabin (they were
then not even supplied with a candle) the village of
Albion was located, built and peopled, iu imagination.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
83
But one day was suffered to elapse between the decision
and execution of what had been purposed. The gentle-
men, before mentioned, had remained over night with Mr.
Flower, and it was decided in the morning that Messrs.
Fordham and Flower should start north from the latter 's
dwelling, while Lawrence and Ronalds were to go
south from Village Prairie, at a given hour on the fol-
lowing morning, and at their place of meeting should be
the future town. Mr. Flower says : " We met the
next day in the woods, according to appointment. The
spot seemed suitable, the woods being rather open and
the ground level." With one accord, it was decided
that ths spot upon which they then stood should be the
center of the town. They were then standing upon the
ground now enclosed in the public square. It was thus
that the town of Albion was born. The first building
was a double log cabin, utilized for a "tavern," and
was built by John Pitcher, who, with his family, consti-
tuted a portion of the first emigrants in 1818. Among
these emigrants were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob Pen-
fold, all excellent mechanics. The second buildings in
the town were a house and blacksmith shop for the fam-
ily and use of Jacob Penfold, who was the first black-
smith of Albion. These families have all passed away
long ago ; one, a daughter of Abraham Penfold, is yet
living in Albion, the wife of " Uncle Johnny Woods."
She has lost her eyesight, but is active for one of her
age.
Another of the emigrants, of 1818, was Joel Church-
hill, an intelligent and educated young man from Lon-
don. He entered quite a large tract of land about
five miles south of Albion, now Dixon precinct, built
a log house, and commenced the life of a pioneer in
the timber of Big creek. In 1824 he married Eliza
Simpkins, from which union eleven children were born.
Being of a business turn of mind, Mr. Churchill re-
moved to Albion, and engaged in the commercial busi-
ness. Here he erected a brick store-room, and built
' a stone dwelling. By good business tact he had,
in a few years, increased his mercantile affairs to consid-
erable proportions, besides establishing a large manufac-
tory for pressing and shipping castor oil. He died at
Albion in 1872, having led a busy and prosperous life.
His widow and two sons are prominent citizens of Albion.
One of his sons, Charles, has had the honor of represent-
ing the district in the State Legislature.
John Tribe came from England one year later than
Mr. Churchill. He was then a single man, and first
located at Wanborough. He subsequently married,
and reared a large family. In later years he moved to
Albion, where he carried on the business of wool-carding
until his death, which occurred in the summer of 1880.
Mr. Flower, in his memoirs, says of him : " He has
not made that accumulation of property that many men
have, that came with as little as he, but this is probably
because he has not given himself up to the one idea of
acquisition and accumulation. As he has labored
moderately through lite, he has always reserved a little
time for observation, reflection, and reading. His house
is small, his living plain and simple. He reserves a
small room for himself, where he receives any friends
who may call. On his table are placed writing materials,
| books, periodicals and newspapers. In his garden are a
i few of the choicest flowers, that would grace the
j grounds of Buckingham palace. Is not a New York
millionaire poor, compared to Mr. Tribe?" That he
was a man of more than ordinary intelligence and
reading, is fully attested by the evidences given by the
citizens of Albion of to-day. Many a time has the
writer in interviewing the old citizens of the town for in-
| formation for this volume, heard them exclaim: "How
! unfortunate that this book had not been written a little
earlier, before the death of 'Uncle Johny Tribe;' he
was a perfect walking encyclopedia, and could have told
you all about it." Mrs. Tribe is yet living in Albion,
and eight of the children are residents of the county ;
one son, William B., is the present Circuit Clerk of Ed-
wards county.
John Woods, Sr., of Surrey, England, came in the fall
of the same year as the above. He was a man of family,
having a wife and five children. He settled at Wan-
borough, where he remained for several years, when he
moved to Albion, and thence to Shawneetown, where he
died. One son, John Jr., is a merchant in Albion,
and one of the oldest surviving settlers in the county.
For nearly forty years he served as County Treasurer
and Assessor, and is yet active for one of his years.
As previously stated, Richard Flower and his wife,
father and mother, of George Flower, came from Eng-
land, with the latter in 1818. They stayed one year at
Lexington, Kentucky, and the following spring moved
to Albion. Mr. Flower was what would be called wealthy
in those days, being worth between one and two hundred
thousand dollars. He built a mansion much after
the style and architecture of the farm-houses in England.
Thirty acres of woodland were preserved in connection
wilh the house, the under-brush was cleared away and
the entire ground sowed with blue grass. This gave the
grounds an appearance of a beautiful and commodious
park. Hence, it received the name "Park House."
Mr. Flower, in speaking of it, says : " Old Park House,
near Albion, will long be remembered by old settlers
and distant visitors for its social reunions and open-
handed hospitalities. Here the family party of children
and grandchildren met at dinner on Sundays. An Eng-
lish plum pudding was a standing dish that had graced
my father's dinner table from time immemorial. Here
all friends and neighbors, that had any musical tastes
or talent, met once a fortnight for practice and social
enjoyment. Strangers and visitors to the settlement re-
ceived a hearty welcome. It may be truly said that,
• for thirty years, ' Old Park House ' was never without
its visitors from every country in Europe, and every
i State in the Union."
The following is a short sketch of some of the settlers
in Albion and Wanborough, as given by Mr. Flower:
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Brian Walker and his friend William Nichols, from
Yorkshire, came to Philadelphia in 1817, and to the
settlement, at Albion, in 1818- Mr. Walker, when he
landed at Philadelphia, had but one guinea in his pocket.
How much there was left of that guinea when he arrived
in Illinois, there is no record. He and his friend Nich-
ols settled on land side by side, situated on the skirts of
a prairie, one mile east of Albion. They worked hard,
opened land, built their houses, married, reared large
families and became possessed of abundance. They,
with most of the other early settlers, have passed away.
William Wood of Wormswold, Leicestershire, a small
farmer, with his wife and one son, Joseph, left England
for the prairies of Illinois in the spring of 1819. Ac-
companying him were two young men, John Brissenden
of Kent, and William Tewks, from Leicestershire; also
Miss Mea, — afterward Mrs. Brissenden,— and Joseph
Butler and family, from Kent. 'Ihe party kept together,
and came the usual route from Philadelphia to Pitts-
burg, and descended the Ohio in an ark. When near
their journey's end Mrs. Wood was taken ill, and on
reaching the mouth of the Wabash, died. On a point
of land at the junction of the Ohio and Wabash, on the
Illinois side, far from any settlement or habitation, her
grave was made between two trees, on which her name
and age were carved, and thus were her remains left
alone in the wilds of a new country. Who can image a
more melancholy situation for an old man, left virtually
alone, just at the end of his toilsome and weary journey,
to lose his life-long partner, just as the promised land
they had so much doted on, was heaving in sight? Mr.
Wood being a man of great vigor and good sense did not
yield to discouragement as many might have done. After
reaching his destination, Albion, he soon opened a good
farm, planted an orchard, and lived for several years
enjoying the fruits of his labors. His son Joseph, in
after years, became one of the wealthiest and most thrif-
ty farmers in the c lunty.
John Brissenden, after working for a time, and having
acquired a little money, settled on a tract of land by the
side of his old friend Wood. His was the usual way to
competency of the early settlers. He cleared his farm,
married, reared a large family, and in time built a
fine house, besides having an interest in a mercantile
house in Maysville, Clay county. He died some years
ago, leaving a good property to his heirs.
William Tewk's career was simply a repetition of Mr.
Brissenden's. For a time he was a carrier between
Albion and Evansville, Indiana. He acted in the
capacity of itinerant commission man between both
places, making the purchases which his wagon brought
home. He drove one of the wagons himself, and met
with an accident, which proved fatal, about twenty years
ago.
John Skeavington from Nottinghamshire, England,
came in the same year and located on the prairie near
Mr. Bri.*senden, and cultivated a good farm. Like his
neighbors, he commenced with but little if any means,
but before, his death, had amassed a good competency.
Several of his descendants are good and respectable
citizens of Edwards county.
William Harris, also from England, came with the
migrants of 1819. For many years he followed team-
'• ing with an ox team. Mr. Flower says of him : " William
Harris' team was a sort of institution in the county for
many years. I would charter Billy Harris' wagon for
a loiig journey across the prairie. It, was strong, large,
I well covered, and, when well fitted up with bedding
and provender, was comfortable enough. Myself and
family have taken many long and pleasant journeys in it.
It was the best conveyance for our rough county at that
I day — no hill too steep, no bog too deep for Mr. Harris'
! strong ox-team. Not railroad-like, but more indepen-
j dent, and in some respects, more comfortable." In later
| years Mr. Harris located on a farm near Albion, where
he resided in peace and plenty.
Samuel Prichard, who sailed in the Columbia in the
spring of 1819, had a family consisting of his wife, four
sons and four daughters He belonged to the society of
Friends, possessed a good property, was liberal minded,
and well educated. He was an acquaintance of
Mr. Birkbeck's in England, and on coming to the county
he located near Wanborough, on the road leading to
Albion. He contracted a fever soon after coming, and
lived but a short time. His descendants are yet living
here.
William Clark and family came about the same time
as Mr. Prichard. Mr. Clark also belonged to the society
of Friends, and was a valuable acquisition to the colony.
He settled on one of the little prairies lying between Al-
bion and the Little Wabash, and it was owing tohis capital
and enterprise that the first wind-mill was constructed
in the county. Three other parties came at the time of
Mr. Clark, David and George Kearsum, and a Mr.
Sampson, none of whom are now living — at least none
are residents of the county.
Another early settler was William Hall, from Surrey.
He had a large family, and located on the prairies west
of Wanborough, where he improved a good farm. Mr.
Hall was a well educated man, a close observer and one
of more than ordinary intelligence. He kept a record
of all important passing events, and it is to his journal
and notes that Mr. Flower acknowledges indebtedness
for many points obtained in the furtherance of his history
of the English settlements. We here insert a
letter written by Mr. Hall to a friend in England relat-
ing to the sad death of one of his boys while engaged in
hunting wild turkeys. He says : " Preserve this letter,
dear John, as a monument of the instability of all human
felicity. The very dav I wrote it, on the fatal morning
of the 24th of April, 1822, I heard the sound of my two
sons passing through the porch, into which my bed-room
opens. One of them I knew by his light step and cheer-
ful voice, to be my beloved Ned, the other was unfortu-
nate Robert. About half an hour after, I heard the
report of a rifle in the woods. I lay about a quarter of
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
an hour longer, until it was light enough to dress. When
I went out of the door it was just five o'clock. Upon
going to the back of the house, where I heard most
unearthly cries of distress, I saw po>r Robert rolling on
the ground and writhing in the utmost agony. I im-
mediately concluded he was dreadfully wounded, and it
was some time before he could speak. He exclaimed,
Oh, father, I have killed Ned, and I wish I was dead
myself! I uttered an in voluntary exclamation, and sank
down myself upon him. The noise brought out his
mother, and the scene which followed cannot be described.
Two of the neighbors, aroused by Robert's cries, assisted
me in conveying him and his mother and laying them
upon the bed. I went with them in search of the body,
which was not found for some time. At length it was
brought in, and buried in a spot which my poor boy had
selected for his garden. It seems they had sighted a
turkey, when Robert dispatched his brother one way,
and lay down himself behind a log, to endeavor to call
up the bird within gun shot, with his turkey-call. After
a little while, he heard a rustling but a few yards away,
and soon afterward saw what he concluded to be the
turkey. He took aim, fired, and leaped up, shouting for
Ned, and ran in triumph to p'ck up his game. Think
of his feelings, when he found it to be the corpse of his
brother weltering in his own blood."
Mr. Hall died many years ago, and the family have
moved to other scenes. One daughter, widow of Walter
L. Mayo, it is said is now a resident of Leavenworth,
Kansas.
The first English settlers in Village Prairie, were
John Brenchly and wife, and John Lewis and family.
In speaking of them Mr. Flower says : " Mr. Brenchly
had been a distiller in the old country ; not a man
of country habits, or possessed of much capital. Mr.
Lewis was a man of excellent educalion, but with small
pecuniary^means. These were both difficult cases for a
new settlement. In a few months they both left their
quarter sections in the prairie. For a year or two, Mr.
Brenchly lived chiefly by his labors as accountant, etc.,
and finally moved to Philadelphia. Mr. Lewis remained
longer, and for a time, rented the first brick tavern in
Albion, built by Richard Flower, Senior. The family
subsequently moved to Cincinnati.
" Speaking of the Lewis's," says Mr. Flower, " reminds
me of an accident that nearly proved fatal to one of
the family. I had dismounted from my horse, and hitched
him by the bridle to the handle of the well-windlass,
that was situated near the kitchen door at the Park
House, and had run over to my cabins about seventy
yards distant. Soon afterward a servant came running
in haste, exclaiming that Mary Lewis had fallen into
the well. The child, about twelve years of age, had
been standing on the well-top ; the horse became sud-
denly frightened and pulled the windlass and curbing
from the well, and the child had dropped in. The well
was about forty feet deep and contained ten feet of
water." Assisted by two or three parties at hand, the
little girl was rescued from her perilous situation,
though pretty well exhausted through fright and drown-
ing. This well has a further history connected with it.
It was of large diameter, the sides and bottom being of
smooth sandstone. At the sinking of it, the digger,
William Truscott, had nearly completed his work, and
was engaged in sweeping at the bottom of the well, just
preparatory to coming to the surface. Suddenly a dread-
ful hubbub was heard in its vicinity — the mingled voices
of a man and beast in agony of distress came forth and
attracted every one within hearing to the spot. The
cause was at once apparent. A large, fat hog had
strayed to the mouth of the well, and had slipped his
hind feet over, and was struggling with might and main
to recover himself. While in this position, squealing
for aid, the man below looked up in terror and loudly
roared for help. Seeing that the hog was gradually
losing his hold, he flattened himself against the stone
sides and waited the dread results. Down went the
animal to his instant death ; for a moment all was silent.
Shouts from the top were given, asking if the digger
was hurt ? A faint voice said, " Oh, yes, do haul me
up." The man was brought to the surface, nearly dead
with fright. The hog was subsequently removed from
the well, but was split open on the back from head to
tail, as if the process had been performed with a sharp
knife.
One of the great fears that the pioneers labored under at
their coming, was that the place they had chosen would
have to be abandoned on account of the inability to ob-
tain good water. Wells were sunk to considerable
depths, but no water could be obtained only as they
filled by the surface flow. We are informed that to-day,
water can be reached almost anywhere, at the depth of
ten or fifteen feet. Science and theory has thus far
failed to give any satisfactory or intelligent reason for
this phenomenon.
In 1820, Thomas Spring and his family, left Derby-
shire, England, for the beautiful prairies of Illinois.
The second son, Archibald, was left at a medical college,
in Baltimore, to finish his studies. The family proceeded
to Wheeling, Virginia, by laud, when Mr. Spring waa
taken with a fever and died before reaching his destina-
tion. His three sons, Henry, Sydney, and John came
on with their mother, and located on Birk's Prairie.
Sydney afterwards married here and reared a large
| family He subsequently removed to Graysville, White
j county. Henry, in after years, became a merchant in
j Olney. Archibald, after completing his studies, came
, to Edwards county, and for many years was a successful
i physician in Albion, where he remained until his death.
| Others who came about the same time were, James
| Carter and family, Gilbert T._PellJU Mr^Kenton, Mr.
! Coles and family, Mr. Peters, Thomas Simpkins and
family, Mr. Gillard, Henry Bowman, then a single man,
Oswald Warrington and family, James and Robert
Thread, Mr. Orange and family, Henry Birkett, Mr.
Stanhope, Francis Hanks and family, J. B. Johnson
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRflNCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
•William Hallnm, Thomas Shepherd, Henry, John and he served as Representative, from 1826 to 1828. Again
Henry Cowling, Edward Coad and family, Joseph, | in 1832, he is sent to the State Senate, served one term,
Thomas and Kelsey Crackles, John May, William Cave, and in 1838, is re-elected to the same position, where he
Thomas Swale, Moses, John and George Michels, Ellis remained until 1840. He died at the old homestead, in
Weaver, and many others.
A prominent settler of 1821, was William Pickering,
from Yorkshire. He came a single man, but subse-
quently married Martha Flower, and first made his set-
tlement at Village Prairie. He was an active and
energetic man, and in a few years rose to distinction in
the spriug of 1854. Three of his sons, born of his
second marriage, are now living at the old farm.
Benjamin Ulm was a native of Ross county, Ohio,
and came to the county in 1820, and is one of the few
survivors of the early settlers. He now resides in sec-
tion 32, township 2 north, range 14 west, and has ever
the State. Governor Washburn says of him : " Gen. been considered one of the staunch citizens of the
William Pickering was a well-known man among the
old Whig politicians of Illinois, of his day. He was
a representative man in the party, in the southeastern
part of the State. I often met him in conventions,
and kuew him well in the Legislature. He had a con-
tinuous service in the State Legislature, as the member
from Edwards county, from 1842 to 1852, a service of
exceptional length. He was a man of great intelligence
and public spirit. He had a fine presence, and was
thoroughly English in look and manner. He was an
intimate friend of Mr. Lincoln, who, on his accession
to the Presidency, appointed him Governor of Wash-
ington Territory." Mr. Pickering died at his home,
near Albion, about eight years ago. One sou is living
at the farm a little west of Albion.
James O. Wattles was another distinguished early
settler. It is said that he was a good lawyer, and when
engaged in reading his briefs or other papers, he did so
with the paper upside down. This was caused by a
peculiarity of the eyesight. He was elected Judge of I dollars — a good price in those days. I built him a
the fifth Judicial District of Illinois, by the General i forge, which he rented at first and afterwards purchased.
Assembly, and commissioned January 19, 1825, and I With the proceeds of the horse, he purchased iron and
was legislated out of office, January 12, 1827. He I went to work. This was the beginning of Alexander
moved to New Harmony, Indiana, about the time of the j Stewart, who, after several years of labor and industry,
settlement of Robert Owen, at that place. j added to his blacksmith shop a store. Business and
ccunty.
One who figured very prominently, for many years in
the civil matters of the county, was Walter L. Mayo.
He was eltcted Clerk in 1831, and served continuously
in this capacity until 1870. He was a genial, popular,
whole souled man, and had the confidence of all who
knew him. He amassed a good competency, and subse-
quent to 1870, he moved with his family to Leaven-
worth, Kansas. While returning to Olney, Illinois, to
transact some business, he was way-laid, as supposed, in
East St. Louis, and nothing has ever been heard of the
cause of. his untimely and sudden death.
Alexander Stewart, who has seen the town of Albion
grow up almost from its infancy, is among the early
prominent business men of the English settlement.
Mr. Flower in speaking of him says : " Nearly forty
years ago, (it is now nearly sixty) a young Scotchman
in his teens, rode up to my house and wished me to pur-
chase his horse, saddle and bridle, which I did for sixty
Ex-Governor, Augustus C. French, also commenced
his life in the west, at the town of Albion. He was a
graduate from one .of the eastern colleges. On his ar-
rival at Albion, he possessed but his education and wits
to make a livelihood. He first taught school at two
dollars a quarter for each pupil, and in the meantime
commenced the study of law, in which profession he
gained some reputation. Subsequently he was elected
to the Legislature, and in 1846, was elected Governor of
the State. Prior to this, however, he had removed to
another part of the State.
Henry I. Mills was a prominent settler of early times.
He was a native of Ohio, but had for several years lived
at Vineennes, Indiana, before coming to Illinois. He
first located in section 28, on the prairie that bears his
name. His family then consisted of his wife and two
capital increasing, he soon went largely into the produce
trade of the country, of which pork, corn a%d wheat,
are the staples. He is also proprietor of a large flour-
ing-mill at Graysville."
It is but a short time .since the writer saw Mr. Stewart,
who is yet living and enjoying the comforts and luxuries
of a good home, the legitimate results of ardent,
honest labor. He is now somewhat feeble, and has
withdrawn from active life, yet is a living monument 01
what frugality and industry may accomplish, as his
possessions may be counted by tens-of-thousauds.
One peculiarity of the ups and downs of the English
colony is, that those who came with an abundance, died,
after years of struggle with the various freaks of fortune,
with far less than they brought with them, while those
of little or no means have made comfortable homes, and
children. He soon became popular among the early attained a degree of wealth which is commendable to
settlers and as early as 1820, was promoted to the office j their many years of industry,
of Sheriff, which position he held until 1826. In 1838,
he was appointed School Commissioner, being the second
EARLY MARRIAGES.
The following list includes the marriage licenses grant-
officer for this position in the county. Twelve years i ed in the county ' after its organization to 1817, as
prior to this, we find him in the State Legislature, M here j appears upon the license record :
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WAEASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
(17
Name. Pate of license. By whom married. Date of mrrge.
J,vne"pholp\'u,tl January llth, 1815, William Smith, J. P. Jan. llth, 1815
Jane Bathe. Feb. llth, 1815,
James Shaw, Esq.
Feb. 14th, 1815
Ramnel Putnam to
Relief Chafee, March 15th, 1815
J. Mclntosh, J. C. C.
Mar. 16th, 1815
Joseph Robertson to
Sally Barney, May 17th, 1815,
Rev. Jm'h Ballard,
May 18th, 1815
Jam's Ford ice to
Susnn (Jar.l, June 10th, 1815,
" "
June 29th, 1815
John Barger to
Catharine Minor, July 4th, 1815,
Rev. Jno. Mclntosh
Philip Plouzh to
Sallic Arnold, July 6th, 1815,
it it if
July 7th, 1815
Thomas Trueloek to
Jemima Ramsey, July 8th, 1815,
it ii it
July 9th, 1815
Havward Putnam to
Otroltna James, July llth, 1815,
Jeremiah Ballard to
Elizabeth Barney.July 31st, 1816,
Seth Gard, J. C. C.
Aug. 2nd, 181
Jarvis D:ilo to
Francis Chafee, Dec. 2nd, 1815,
" " "
Dec. 3rd, 1815
Daniel Keen to
Mary Compton, Dec. 13th, 1815,
ii ii it
Dec. 14th, 1815
.To«eph Ballard to
Patty Putmau, Deo. 27th, 1815,
.. ..
Dec. 28th, 1815
James Mr-Daniel to
Martha Wesncr, Advertisement,
Rev. Dvd. MeGahey
, Dec. 13th, 1815
George Miller to
Elizabeth Shook,
., ..
Dee. 25th, 1815
Nancy Beaton, without license
James Shaw, J. P.,
Mar. 18th, 1816
John Walder to
Nancy Dawson, July 4th, 1816,
Robert Baird, J. P.
July 4th, 1816
William Woodland to
Mary Stepteford, July 18th, 1816,
Gerv.Hazletoi.J. P
,
John Flinn to
El eta Payne, Aug. 21st, 1816,
G. W. Smith, J. P.,
Aug. 22nd, 1816
Gervaae Hazleton to
Eliza Osgood, Aug. 22nd, 1816,
G. W. Smith, J. P.,
Aug. 22nd, 1816
Samuel Brinbery to
Mary Jones, June 16th, 1816,
Rev. Dvd. MeGahey,
June 18th, 1816
John Compton to
Jane Barney, Sept. 4th, 1816,
Rev. Jm'h Ballard,
Sept. 4th, 1816
Alpheus Peckard to
Catharine Gray, Sept. 22nd, 1816,
Rev. Dvd. MeGahey,
Sept. 22nd, 1816
Jeremiah McRinney to
Catey Westner, Sept. 29th, 1816,
it a ii
Sept. 29th, Ib16
Benjamin Imterson to
Susan Decker, Sept. 30th, 1816
G. W. Smith, J. P.,
Sept. 30th, 1816
Charles Dubois to
Sally Gollaher, Oct. 3lst, 1816,
ii it *i
Oct. 31st, 1816
Ephraim Armstrong to
Ruth Gard, Nov. 12th, 1816,
ii it ii
Nov. Hth, 1816
James Baird to
Martha Stenare Dec. 18th, 1816,
ii it ii
James Davidson to
Elizabeth Young, Dec. 30th, 1816,
ii i. ii
Dec. 30th, 1816
As early as 1815, it seems that parties who contem-
plated matrimony could be required to give a bond to
carry out in good faith, said intentions. The following
is a copy of one of the bonds given in 1815 : " Know all
men by these presents that I, John Ballard, am held and
firmly bound unto Nathaniel Claypool, clerk of Edwards
county and Territory of Illinois, in the just and full sum
of five hundred dollars, by which payment well and truly
to be made, I bind myself, my heirs and assigns for and
in the whole, sealed with my seal, and dated this 31st
day of July 1815.
The condition of the obligation is such, that whereas
the above bound John Ballard has this day made appli-
cation for license to join together in bonds of matrimony
with Miss Betsy Barney. Now if the said John Ballard
does well and truly marry the said Betsy Barney without
any fraud, partiality or illegality attending the said
marriage, then this obligation to be void, otherwise to be
and remain in full force and virtue in law."
Bondsmen, Jeremiah Ballard and Seth Gard.
THE DEEP SNOW.
The deep snow occurred in the winter of 1830-31.
At that period this part of Illinois was sparsely settled.
The roads were merely trails or bye-paths; and the
houses of the settlers were log-cabins of a rude style
of architecture, and the larder was not well supplied
with sufficient provisions to carry the settler and his
family through the winter. This being the case, much
suffering occurred. The " deep snow " is one of the
land-marks of the early settler. It is the mile-stone, so
to speak, from which he counts in dating events. He
sometimes relies upon it in recounting the date of his
coming, his marriage, and the birth of his children.
The deep snow was an important and very extraordinary
phenomenon. Nothing has equalled it in this latitude
for the last century — if the Indians' traditions are cor-
rect as to what occurred before the advent of the white
man. The Indians had a tradition that about seventy-
five years before, a snow fell which swept away the im-
mense herds of buffalo and elk that then roamed over
these prairies. This tradition was verified by the vast
quantity of buffalo and elk bones found on the prairies
in different localities when first visited by white men.
The snow began falling early in autumn, and con-
tinued at intervals, throughout the entire winter. The
snow falls would be succeeded by heavy sleet, forming
crusts of ice between the layers of snow, strong enough
in many places to bear up the deer and hunter. Fre-
quently for weeks the sun was not visible, and the cold
was so intense that not a particle of snow would melt on
the sides of the cabins facing the south. For weeks
people were blockaded or housed up, and remained so
until starvation compelled them to go forth in search of
food. Great suffering, hunger and untold hardships
were endured by the people. Game, such as deer,
prairie chickens, quails, rabbits, &c., before that time
had been abundant, but for years afterwards was very
scarce, having perished in the snow. As the snow would
thaw, deer were often caught and killed without the aid
of fire arms, being unable to get through the snow or
walk on top. Later in winter, when the mass of-snow
or ice had become compact, fences that were staked and
ridered were driven over with heavily loaded vehicles,
and, in fact, the old settlers say in places could not be
seen. The snow in many places, where not drifted, was
three to five feet deep. In the spring, when this immense
amount of snow melted, the river streams and marshes
became flooded.
^ THE " SUDDEN FREEZE."
The writer, in conversing with a lady, an old settler,
elicited from her the following facts and recollections
relative to the wonderful and extraordinary atmospheric
phenomenon, which occurred a little after noon one day
in January, 1836. The lady says, she and her family
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
had finished their noon-day meal, and were sitting
around aud in front of the old-fashioned large open fire-
place, enjoying its generous warmth, chatting and dis-
cussing the state of the weather, as during the morning
it had been snowing and raining a little : — presently the
lady in looking from the window in her cabin, noticed a
heavy black cloud lying off to the west, which seemed to
be rapidly approaching. Needing some water she took
a bucket and went to the well, at a distance of about 100
yards, lowering the bucket with a long " sweep " then
used in drawing the water, filled it, and started for the
house. Before reaching the house the wind and rain
struck her ; blew and upset a portion of the water on her
clothing; the cold air seemed to cut like a knife, and
before she reached the house, her dress and apron were
frozen stiff in a solid sheet of ice. Ponds which a mo-
ment before were free from the ice, were frozen in a
few minutes. Many persons were frozen to death who
happened to be caught away from home ; and many
others, before they could get to a place of shelter, had
their faces, ears, hands and feet frozen. Immediately
preceding the storm, the ground had been slightly cov-
ered with snow, which from rain falling in the morning
had become "elushy." Cattle, that were in the fields,
were held fast by the " slush" freezing about their feet;
and it became necessary to cut away the ice to liberate
them. Ducks and geese were imprisoned in the same
way. It was scarcely ten minutes after the cold wave
swept over the place, that the water and melting snow
was hard enough to bear up a man on horseback.
Thus have we briefly sketched a few of the incidents
that occurred in the early history of the county.
LAWRENCE COUNTY.
The French led the van in the settlement of the Illi-
nois territory. Their primary object was commerce with
the Indian tribes; and to this end they established
trading posts, and manifested to the untutored savage
initial evidences of civilization. Secondary to this,
the French missionaries, by their pious devotion, their
spotless character and their quiet, unassuming and dis-
interested lives, gained the favorable attention and re-
spect of the natives. The suavity of the manners of
the French, and the softness of their outward bearing
and presence, and moreover their compliance, to some
extent, with the Indian modes of life, gained for them
the rude respect of the aborigines and operated as a
safeguard against that savage outrage which was often
mercilessly visited upon the American and English
settlers. In the early part of the seventeenth century a
French settlement and trading post was established at
Vincennes, on the Wabash, then one of the great avenues
from the St. Lawrence to the Illinois country. From
this French colony the first settlements in Lawrence
county originated. By a French rule settlers received
allotments of land, which they located at pleasure.
Many of them chose their portions in what is now the
county of Lawrence. Little is known of them except
their names on record. They were required to be resi-
dent settlers prior to 1783. The following is a list
of these grantees, mainly French but partly Anglo-
American :
J. B. Dumais, Francois Bosseron, Roux, Paul
Gamelin, Pierre Barthe, Pierre Carnoyer, Francois
Brouillat, Joseph Durharm, Joseph Huniot, Madame
j Denoyon, Louis Denoyon, August Du Gal, J. B. Vil-
i lery, Toussaint Denoyon, Francois Bosseron, Jr., Joseph
I Tougas, Antoine Bardeleau, Luirent Bazadon, Alexis
! Ladavont, Joseph Durocher, Madame Cornoyer, Francois
i Pettier, Louis Raveilate, Philip Dejtan, Pierre'Grimayoe
| Lezate Clairmout, Widow Maria, Heirs of Dubois, Jean
Leguarde, Jean Baptist Culy, Pierre Godairie, Nic. Bal-
lenjeau Alexander Valle, Jacques Lallemoille, Ambrois
Degenet, Jacques Couteaux, Jean Sauvage, Baptiste
Bonate, Joseph Tougas, Jacques Louis, Jean B. Vaudry,
Louis Boisjean, Jean B. Racine, Jean C. Thiriot, Ga-
i briel Boulon, Pierre Levriet, Etienne St. Marie and
i Francois St. Marie; Jacob Howell, Hannah Dalton,
Solomon Small, Lawrence Slaughter, John Bailey ; Moses
Decker, Henry Speek, probably Germans ; Moses Henry,
John Culberton, G. R. Clark, heirs of Ezekiel Johnson,
Israel Ruland, Andrew Robinson, Francis Hamlin, V.
T. Dutton, Thomas Hall, Christopher Wyatt and Nicho-
las Varner.
The title to the lands occupied by parties named in
the foregoing list originated by donations made by
; French commandants of Vincennes prior to 1764, also
! by English commandants, 1764-1778, by Virginia im-
provement rights, and lastly by grants of the United
States, their so-called head of family rights and militia
rights. Winthrop Sargent, acting as governor in place
of Arthur St. Clair in 1790, granted small tracts of
land to Luke Decker, Robert Buntin, Henry Vander-
burgh and Samuel Bradley. The court at Vincennes, by
| authority delegated to it by M. Le Gras.Col. John Todd's
, lieutenant, about 1780, granted to Pierre Luerez, father
' and son, ten leagues (30 miles) " deep," of which they
i sold various tracts to other parties. Isaac Decker
| bought 2000, John Powell 5000 and Thomas Flower
20,000 acres of them. Pierrie Gamelin came in for a
large share also, which enabled him to sell 27 000 acres
to Nicholas Perrott and 41,000 acres to Thomas Flower.
What may be termed modern settlement in Lawrence
1 county dates back to the beginning of the present cen-
I tury. The immigration and settlement prior to that
time might, in most instances at least, more properly be
j called speculation. At all events they were not " ac-
i tual," in the moral sense of the term, so as to be
! permanent, though they may have answered legal re-
i quirement. But before proceeding to speak of the
; modern settlements, it may be pertinent to add some-
thing concerning the early marriages, performing as
they did indirectly an important function in the settle-
ment and development of the county. The records
| show the following marriages solemnized in the county
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
(ill
during the first years of its existence. A number of \
licenses issued at that time seem to have been wasted, |
inasmuch as there is no evidence of the proper binding j
of the nuptial knots in many instances :
Squire Thomas Anderson solemnized the marriage of
Mr. Benjamin Norton and Nancy Thorn, on the 20th of
June, 1821. It is to be hoped that their path through
life was freed from thorns, and strewn with roses
instead. Andrew Cams and Nellie Anderson joined
hands for life on the 27th of June, Squire Benjamin
McCleave officiating. Thomas Gordon and Sarah But-
ler, June 30, married by J. C. Clark, a minister of the
gospel ; Samuel Mundell and Nancy Adams, July 19, by
H. M. Gillhara, J. P. ; P. Bourdelon and Julia Aupin,
July 31, by Rev. J. C. Clark ; Jetson Gowen and Nancy
Morris, August 6, by James Westfall, J. P.; John Smith
and Elizabeih Baird, September 9, by H. M. Gillham,
J. P, ; Jonathan Phelps and Sally Gowen, by Daniel
Travis, September 26 ; John Armstrong and Susannah
Lemons, October 17, by Squire Anderson ; John Hun-
ter and Mary Robinson, December 13, by same ; Wil-
liam Martin and Syrithia Clark, December 13, by John
Martin, M. G. ; Henry Jones and Ibby Lester, Dec. 20,
by Joseph Baird, J. P. ; Aaron Wells and Catherine
Vanosdall, Dec. 25, by Squire Anderson ; James Miller
and Nancy McBeans, January 4, 1822, by 'Squire Baird ;
Samuel V. Allison and Matilda Mills, Feb. 8, by same ;
Joshua S. Johnson and Mary Gardner, April 23, by
J. C. Ruark, J. P. ; Samuel Herron and Martha
Leech, Sept. 14, by J. C. Clark, M. G. ; Robert Barney
and Casiah Pargin, July 3, by Benjamin McClean, J. P. ;
Jacob Parker and Peggy Dockery, September 2, 1822,
executed by Squire McLean ; Henry Reineyking and
Matilda Chenowith, September 21, by Squire Ander-
son ; Joshua Dudley and Barbery Clark, October 19, by
same ; Nathaniel Hysmith and Elizabeth Matthews,
Nov. 11, by J. Baird, J. P. ; Oliver W. Phelps and
Hannah Mason, January 4, 1823, by S. H. Clubb, J. P.;
Elihu Cole and Letty Morris, Jan. 22, by Squire An-
derson ; John Organ and Jane Gilbert, Feb. 4, by
same; Peter Cisco and Eliza Chandler, Feb 11, by
James Nabb, J. P. ; John Snider and Nancy Allison,
March 17, by Joseph Baird, J. P.; Benjamin Sumner
and Sally Laws, June 7, by S. H. Clubb, J. P. ;
Charles Martin and Betsey Spencer, July 18, by Rev.
Clark; Thomas Parson and Eliza Huston, July 28, by
William Kinkard, J. P. ; Andrew McClure and Betsey
Allison, September 24, by Joseph Baird, J. P. ; James
Leeds and Judy Mattox, Oct.lo, by B. McCleave, J. P. ;
Philip Lewis and Polly Craven, Nov. 12, by same;
John Summers and Emily Woodrow, Dec. 4, by Squire
Kinkade— 13 marriages during the first half-year of the
county's existence, 9 in the full year, 1822, and 13
during the year 1823.
Settlements for the purposes of permanent residence,
improvement and agriculture were made along the Wa-
bash opposite Vincennes, and principally at St. Fraucis-
ville. These were made by French immigrants from Vin-
cenes and Canada. An American settlement was formed
at Russellville prior to 1812, and another atCenterville
in 1815, called the Christian settlement, as most of that
community were members of the Christian church.
Those in the interior of the county were formed at a
later date, after the storm of war had passed entirely
away and the Indians had become reconciled to the
advance of civilization. Although less characteristic
and definite, they continued to be formed into neigh-
borhoods, as acquaintanceship, agreement in religion, or
color or eligibility of locality suggested.
The negro settlement was in the vicinity of Pinkstaff
station, and the Lackey neighborhood, some distance
east of this locality. Charlottesville, on the Embarras,
is the site of the Shaker colony formed in 1819. The
Corrie purchase, resulting in the acquisition of a large
tract of laud in Decker's prairie by John and William
Corrie, of Scotland, was made in 1818; shortly after this
date it was settled by the Corries and their connections.
Ruark's prairie, in the southeastern part of Lukiu town-
ship, was settled by a family of that name.
The French settlement of St. Francisville contained
within it the elements of permanence, both in respect of
locality and the habits of its members. The native lan-
guage is still used, interchangeably with the English, in
many households. Joseph Tugaw, properly Tougas,
was the pioneer and first permanent settler, not only of
this vicinity, but also of Lawrence county ; he came from
Vincenues, and located on the present site of St. Fran-
cisville about the year 1803 or 1804 ; his two brothers,
William and August Tougas, and John Longlois were-
with him there, but soon moved to what afterward be-
came Rochester, in Wabash county, and were the first
settlers in that vicinity. About the year 1809 or '10,
came Francis Tougas, another of the four brothers, who
assumed a leading part in the pioneer life of Lawrence
and Wabash counties. They immigrated from Vin-
cennes, and were marvels of physicial strength and stat-
ure ; Joseph was a leading spirit, and the center of in-
fluence in the settlement of which he formed a part ; in
1814 he was the only slave-owner, except John Stillwell, *
in all that vast region, then known as Edwards county.
In that year he was the only resident in said county
who owned a " mansion house." Its taxable value was
$300.00. In the year 1812 he constructed a picket or
stockade fort for the protection of himself and his
neighbors against the Indians ; it consisted of an enclo-
sure formed by placing large stakes or pickets in the
earth side by side. The enclosure was some twelve or
fourteen feet high, and was a sort of city wall ; for within
were a number of log dwellings, for the use of the fami-
lies that sought protection there ; in two of the corners
of the stockade were watch-houses, projecting beyond the
enclosure, at the sides and at some distance above the
ground, so as to command a view of the enemy that
might be approaching. At night the heavy oaken doors
were swung to and barred, the guards took their places
in the watch-houses, and the drowsy inmates lay down
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WAS ASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
to rest. Among the cabiqs within the enclosure was
the negro hut, occupied by the slaves of Joseph Tugaw.
Soon after his arrival, probably about 1805 or '06, Tu- \
gaw established a ferry on the Wabash, at St. Francis
ville; the boat with which it was operated was sufficient |
to carry two carts. The pioneer died at the home of ;
his first choice, which afterward became the site of St. I
Francisville, of which his widow, Frances, was the
original proprietor. Francis Tugaw settled about a
mile and a half north of the village. Joseph and Amab
Potvine, nicknamed and usually called Arpas, came
from Vincennes about 1804 or '05 ; the former had three
children, the latter was a bachelor; they settled a short
distance west of the village. About the year 1806 or
'08 the French settlement was augmented by the immi-
gration from Vincennes of Andrew and Charles Lacoste;
Pierre Gremore, L. Bonaut, Philip Deschaut, Andrew
Godaire and Joseph Venve ; the latter settled south of
St. Francisville, in the edge of Wabash county. At a
little later date, but prior to 1813, the families of John
Shirkey and Charles Moyes were added to the settlement.
The latter received the pseudonym of Coy, meaning
"spot." It originated from the circumstance that
Moyes, on one occasion, went under the yoke from which
Coy, his ox, had dropped dead, and assisted the other ox
in hauling the load. Nearly all the early French set-
tlers were familiarly known by some nickname, wnose
history would explain a laughable circumstance in the
simple lives of these early French pioneers.
The settlement opposite Vincennes, at Wesport, never
attained to much prominence, and was mainly accessory
to the ferry established to accommodate travel to and
from Vincennes, along the Cahokia and Kaskaskia
traces. These highways from the Wabash to the Mis- j
sissippi had been worked out by the Indians and buffa- !
Iocs long before the advent of civilization. The ferry I
was operated, about the beginning of the present cen- j
tury, by Joseph La Motte, a Frenchman and Indian
trader, whose round log cabin stood alone and solitary on
the west bank of the Wabash. On more than one occa-
sion was he obliged, single-handed, to defend it and his
family against the attacks of the Indians; one night
they climbed upon the roof, and though he was the only
male inmate, he frightened them away by directing, in
a loud voice, a number of persons to assume certain po-
sitions, and to do certain acts toward repelling the
attack. But though the assailants left without doing
material damage to the house, or bodily harm to its in-
mates, they led away its owner's horse. On another oc-
casion, in 1809 or '10, anticipating an attack by some
Indians he observed cross the river to Vincennes, he sent
his wife and children out into the wood, and stood ready,
single-handed and alone, to defend his habitation and
his life ; the looked-for onset was made, and the valor
withw hich he defended himself and his home is sufficient-
ly attested by the fact that, during the onset, he received
seven bullet wounds; at day-break the Indians gave up
the attack and left, but not without a number of injured
in their ranks. Imagine the anxiety and horror that must
have filled the souls of the wife and children as they sat in
their solitary retreat, and listened to the sharp echoes of
the rifles, as they sank to silence along the shores of the
Wabash ! La Motte was afterward killed by the Indians
on the creek and in the prairie that still bear his name,
in Crawford county. After his death his widow opera-
ted the ferry till about 1812, when it passed under the
management of her fon-iu-law, James Gibson. Across
the way from La Motte's lived a family named White.
Also in that vicinity dwelt a family of Buntons, three
of whom, the mother and two of three daughters, were, one
afternoon, massacred; the remaining daughter, whose
name was Jane, escaped and secreted herself in a corn-
field till night, when she swam the Wabash to Vincennes.
This brave girl, at the time of the massacre, was fortu-
nately wearing on her head a handkerchief, after the
manner of the French, whom the Indians were not wont
to disturb, so long as they betrayed no affiliation with
the Americans. If not suffered voluntarily to escape,
she was probably reserved for more clemency of treat-
ment, as captivity. About a mile below the ferry, at
the "Ford," lived a French family, named Senette.
Somewhere also, in this vicinity, was the home of Chas.
Boneaut. Some distance above the ferry landing, on
the bluff known as Dubois' hill, lived the family of that
name ; they had three sons, Toussaint, Lawrence, and
Killgore; the family became conspicuous in the civil
and business affairs of the county. Toussaint was
drowned while crossing Indian creek. On Dubois' hill,
in troublous Indian days, lived an old negro, called
"Billy o' the Bow," and his dusky conjugal companion,
Seeley by name ; they lived together in a house not
made with hands — a hollow sycamore tree — till their in-
dependent life together was brought to a close by a bullet
from the rifle of some lurking Indian. Going north
along the river till the vicinity of Russellville is reached,
the settlements are of a more recent date.
This vicinity was settled about the year 1809 or "10
by some Baptist families from Kentucky. Most con-
spicuous among them were the Allisons, of whom there
were four families, whose respective heads were Samuel
and his two sons, Frederick and Ezra, and his brother
Jonathan. Of these, the first possessed the element of
pioneer the most prominently. He was fond of the pursuit
of game, and frequently brought down, and dressed the
saddles of as many as fifteen deer between sun and sun.
When the redoubtable Tecumseh had impressed upon
the remnant tribes in the Wabash valley, a sense of
their supposed wrongs, and they began a career of de-
predation and pillage, the necessity of some means of
life and property became apparent. A stockade fort
was accordingly built in the spring of 1812, on Samuel
Allison's improvement, now within the northern corpor-
ate limits of Russellville, called Fort Allison. The
construction of this defensive arrangement was similar
to that at St. Francisville, above described. Besides the
Allisons, the families of Thomas Mills, William Stock-
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
71
•well, McBane, William Hogue, Daniel and Henry
Kuykendall, and the colored families of Anderson,
Morris, and Tannann were early inmates of the fort.
Stockwell and Anderson were shot by the Indians, the
former on returning from Fort La Motte, the latter
somewhere in the neighborhood of Fort Allison. The
wife of Anderson wanted a cannon mounted on Dubois
hill to deal out indiscriminate slaughter among the
Indians. During the days of " forting," 1812-1815, a
party of thirteen Rangers, one rainy day, were passing
from Fort La Motte to Fort Allison, and, when within
half a mile of the latter, were fired upon by a number of
Indians. They suffered no bodily harm or incon-
venience, save that of the strange circumstance that the
handkerchiefs they were wearing about their necks
were, in two cases, shot away. The party on leaving
Fort La Motte, discharged their guns, as a precaution
against wet priming, and, when fired upon, were unable
to return the attack. As Austin Tann was returning,
one day, from Small's Mill on the Erabarras, with a sack
of meal, he was pursued by a band of Indians on ponies.
He was riding a large horse and took refuge in the
marsh, southwest of Russellville. His pursuers were
unable to follow him with their ponies, and he escaped
with the loss only of his grist. The pious community
that settled at Russellville, established the pioneer
church of Lawrence county. It was organized in 1817,
and built a house of worship, in 1821. It was named
Little Village church, which name was also given to the
burial place that lay adjoining it. " Little Village " was
an Indian hamlet that stood on the site of Russellville.
This vicinity was an important one in the rude un-
written annals of savage life. This is shown by the ex-
istence of mounds, commonly in groups, scattered along
the river for the distance of a mile and a half from
Russellville south. Investigation shows that they were
burial places, but whether they were used for ordinary
interments or designed as monuments to the memory of
those who had distinguished themselves in council or
in battle, may be treated as a matter of conjecture.
Among the characters of note, buried in this vicinity,
was Little Turtle, the sworn enemy of the pale face, and
the father of Captain William Wills, who had been
taken captive, when a child, and who was killed in the
Chicago massacre, iu 1812. Around his neck, in life, he
wore a neatly carved figure of the -animal, whose dame
he bore, and when he died it was buried with him, and
was a few years ago exhumed. Among the tribes, rem
nants of whom, at the advent of the white man, roamed
over the territory of the county, in savage sport and
pastime, by marsh and stream, and river and timber-
skirt, were the Miamis, Pottawotamies, Delawares,
Shawnees and others. The latter through Tecuraseh,
claimed the whole of the W abash valley, and endeavored
to annul the title of government to such territory as it
had acquired from other tribes. The dramatic interview
between Ttcumseh and Gov. Harrison in this behalf, has
passed into history, and was witnessed by Austin laun,
an early colored pioneer. Communication between the
east and west shores of the Wabash, in the vicinity of
Russellville, was had at an early day by means of a
terry established and operated by a man named Lana-
fere. Though most of the early settlements were made
along the Wabash, a few found their way into the in-
terior, along the Cahokia and Kaskaskia traces, and the
Euibarras river. On the banks of this stream, about a
mile and a quarter above its mouth, in 1805 or 1806,
settled John Small. Shortly after this date, he built a
frame water mill, which became familiarly known as
I Small's mill. After Small's death his widow married
I a man named Brown, and the mill was, in laier years,
called Brown's. It was among the very earliest, if not
; the first frame building, in the territory of Lawrence
! county. The dam was built of hewed logs, supported by
j rock and earth. It was a most important economic in-
stitution in those early days, and commanded trade from
a wide extent of country. It was doubtless watched
by the lurking Indians with an eye of unrest, as he read
! in it the sad prophecy of coming events. Tradition tells
of many adventures with the natives at this point.
Tecumseh and his fifteen hundred warriors encamped in
this vicinity during the war of 1812. Some distance
I above the mill, in a little log cabin, at a locality called
l " Muscle shoals,'' lived William Harriman with his wife
| and Tour children. Seneca Amy, a young man, lived
with them. Mrs. Harriman, for two successive nights,
i dreamed that she saw her children hurribly butchered.
] She told her husband that she regarded the dreams as
prophetic of their fate, unless they sought some place of
' safety. He endeavored to quiet her fears, but became
himself apprehensive on account of a sulky disposition
manifested by the natives whom he met, and yielded to
her importunities. The family had gone to the
river edge, when young Amy started back for a gun
they had forgotten. He had not advanced far, when he
saw the cabin surrounded by Indians, and, unobserved,
dodged into the brush and escaped. They immediately
followed in pursuit of the family, and shot Harriman
seated in a pirogue, and tomahawked the mother and
children. Tradition says there were also other victims
of this massacre, which took place about the year 1812.
The girls are said to have been beautiful, and to have
had magnificent heads of long hair. Still farther up the
river, it is said, another family fell victims to savage
ferocity. One day two men left the. block-house, at the
mill, and went down to the marsh to shoot duck. They
I were attacked and one of them was shot and toma-
hawked and scalped. John and Levi Compton, of the
] timber settlement in Wabush county, and Israel Potvine
and Francis Tugaw buried him at the foot of a white oak
I tree, upon which they chopped a cross, yet to be seen.
! In 1805 or 1806, Wil.iam Spencer built a double log
i house, where the Cahokia trace crossed the Embarras.
j It was subsequently moved farther down the river to
Small's mill. Shortly after this, Nathan Rawlings settled
on Indian creek, at the crossing of the trace.
72
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABA8H COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
With the exception of these few outpost settlements, room, whfre Judge Wilson was presiding, and hallooed
the interior of Lawrence county remained unbroken ! out: " Judge Wilson, Judge Wilson, adjourn the court.
wildernes§ till 1815, when the storm of war having I A most grievous outrage has been committed ; a nigger
passed away, immigration, which for three years had i has hit a white man with a rock ! " The negro settle-
been entirely checked or confined to the fortifications j ment, in the course of time, worked its way further
along the Wabash, set rapidly in. The doors of the
forts were also thrown open, and their inmates went
forth to the avocations of peace. In this year the
" Christian neighborhood," now the vicinity of Center-
ville, was settled by people of the New Light, afterward
the Christian faith, principally from Tennessee. Among
them were the Harrises, Howards, Rigses, Ashbrooks.
Johnsons, Leneves, Turners, Andersons, Adamses,
Lemons, Berries, and others equally worthy of mention.
This was an important centre of industry, good neigh-
borhood, and education in that early day. The " Cen-
ter School-house," a double log building designed for
school and church purposes, was put up in 1816 or '17,
and in point of antiquity and importance, deserves a
place at the head of educational and church efforts in
the State of Illinois. Henry Palmer and Eli Harris,
both of whom came to the settlement in 1815, were re-
spectively the pioneer minister and teacher. The
colored inmates of Fort Allison began a settlement in
the neighborhood of Pinkstaff station, and as they were
law-abiding like their fair-complexioned fellow-citizens,
so they shared equally with them the blessings of pro-
tection and civil liberty. The soil of Illinois as a State
is free from the taint of slavery. The sentiments of her
people, with their broad liberality, and respect for the
rights of man could never tolerate an institution whose
essential features were a violation of those rights ; rights
south, and is now mainly within the northern confines
of Lawrence township.
The next important settlement was that of a colony of
Shakers, on the Embarras river, formed in 1819. The tenets
and regulations of the sect were strictly carried out by this
community. In their mode of life they were communistic,
and their affairs were managed by a board of three
trustees. The colony numbered about forty individuals,
male and female, who lived separate and apart from
each other. Their most important act was the building
of the old " Shaker mill," the particulars of whose his-
tory may be learned ffom the chapter on Bond Town-
ship. The breaking and washing away of the mill dam
about two years after their settlement, was the signal at
which they Left for other parts, principally Shakertown,
Indiana, whence they came. The four years interven-
ing between the return of peace, in 1815, and the forma-
tion of the settlement just mentioned brought many
home seekers to the shores of Lawrence county, who
penetrated into the interior. Their names will be found
in their appropriate places in the township histories.
They were a brave and hardy set of men, and nobly
triumphed over the difficulties incident to life in a new
country. Disease lingered in the marshes, the wild beasts
stood ready to pounce on the fold, and the Indian, though
nominally at peace with the pale face, was a walking
embodiment of latent hostility that made the home of
whose sacredness depends not upon the character of the I the settler a place of constant anxiety and unrest.
owner, but upon the character of the rights themselves. James Baird was shot by an Indian while working in
Most of the immigrants who brought slaves with them
to the territory of Illinois, liberated them, as though her
broad lauds and spreading prairies were a moral rebuke.
An effort was made, in 1816 or '17, by two Tennesseeans,
William and John Leach, father and son, to establish a
slave farm or plantation on an extensive fcale in the
neighborhood of Little Raccoon creek. This germ of
the dark institution was crushed by the admission of
Illinois into the Union as a free State. Not only did
she guarantee liberty to those within her own borders,
but in after years by her most gifted son, to every one
within the broad limits of .the United States. Though
a feeling of equality, regardless of race or color, was a
prevailing sentiment among the pioneers yet it is not
btrange that something of prejudice should have per-
his field south of Russellville, in 1815 or 1816. In 1819
a family of McCalls settled some distance north of Law-
renceville. At that time, or (shortly after, a party of
Delaware Indians, from a camp on Brushy Fork, came
to McCall's cabin and demanded whisky. He refused
compliance with their demand, and they murdered him.
Kill Buck, a chief, Captain Thomas and Big Panther
were convicted of the crime, but from motives of policy
were suffered to go unpunished. Some time subsequent
to 1824, the wolves one night almost entirely devoured a
cow and the calf she had just given birth to, belonging
to Renick Heath, then residing at the old Shaker mill.
Eight wolves were found gormandizing on their flesh in
the morning, and were with some difficulty driven off.
An amusing and instructive incident, bearing upon the
vaded the minds of some individuals. And in this con- | habits of the panther, is related by Mr. Heath, one of the
nection it may be pertinent to mention an incident re- few pioneers who yet remain to tell the romanticrstories
lated by Hon. O. B. Ficklih, not only as illustrating this i of early life in Illinois. One night a wolf was heard
point, but as throwing light upon the administration of I barking violently some distance off. It continued till
justice in the county's infancy. During a wrangle at | daybreak, when Mr. Heath, gun in hand, went to inves-
a drinking place in Lawrenceville, a negro hit a white j tigate. He saw the wolf at some distance jumping up
man with a rock, and severely injured him. Knowledge | and from side to side, as it kept up a constant barking.
of the affair came to the ears of one of the early resident I He continued to advance, and when within a short dis-
justices of the place, who rushed headlong into the court I tance of the wolf, was greatly surprised to observe a pan-
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
7:1
ther, which had been the object of so much ado, leap
from a limb. Both animals made good their escape.
Beneath the tree lay the fresh, partially devoured body i
of a raccoon, upon which the panther is supposed to '
have been feeding, when the wolf rudely obtruded. The
former animal, when attacked, is readily induced to j
ascend a tree, less perhaps as a refuge from, than as a j
convenient means of attacking, an adversary. Game, |
in the days of which we are writing, was abundant j
almost to an extent exceeding our belief. The wild [
fowls were so numerous, that while they were an abun- j
dant and convenient supply of food, they were a serious
drawback to early husbandry, not only as destroying
the fruits, but as discouraging the efforts of labor.
Wheat fields were frequently completely destroyed by I
them. Hunting was an important pursuit, and supplied j
directly or indirectly the luxuries as well as the neces-
saries of life. Every man was either by choice or
necessity a hunter. Conspicuous among the former
were Samuel Allison and Peter Paragin. Allison was
not only an expert hunter, but was also skillful in Indian
warfare. A day's hunt would frequently yield him fif-
teen saddles of deer. If not the first American settler
in Lawrence county, he was among the most conspicuous.
One of his daughters-in-law, an English lady, whose
maiden name was Rebecca Moody, made bullets in an |
old oven for the colonists at the battles of Bunker Hill ;
and Cowpens. Paragin was the pioneer of the north- !
western part of the county. He pushed his way into ,
the wilderness far in advance of his fellows, and by his i
triumphs over the beasts of the forest, lent two names !
to the geographical vocabulary of the county. " Paragin
slough " commemorates the killing of two bears, and
" Eagle Branch " is an epitome of the story of the cap-
ture on that stream of an eagle of extraordinary size.
Not only did the flesh of wild animils serve for the set-
tler's table, but their skins supplied the necessity of cloth- I
ing. A pioneer with buckskin breeches, a homespun i
coat, and a coonskin cap was an embodiment of these
lines of Pope :
" Happy the man whose wish and care
Content to breathe his native air
An important early industry was bee-hunting. The
destiny of the Indian is to recede before the approach of
the white man ; it is the province of the honey-bee to act
on the rever-e, and precede the advance of civilization.
The approach of the honey-bee was always a sad har-
binger to the Indians, for they knew the pale faces were
not far behind. At an early period bees were very
numerous in Illinois, in the groves and along the skirts
of timber; hence the product of the hive became a
desirable commodity in trade and commerce ; and when
the farmer wished a little " land office " money, this was
an article that would readily command it. They would
take their beeswax, deer-skins and peltries to the water-
courses, and descend in their canoes or improvised boats
10
constructed for the purpose, to New Orleans and other
markets. Bee-hunting excursions were an annual occur-
rence. In the spring, when the wild flower unfolded its
petals, the search would begin. It was not only an
avocation, but it was a science or trade, and an expert
bee-hunter could find ready employment. The principal
early agricultural industry was cotton-raising. Allison
Prairie was the cotton-field of the Wabash Valley. Its
cultivation began some time prior to 1820, and con-
tinued for several years. Cotton gins were not uncom-
mon, and the spinning-wheel was in every cabin. The
raising of cattle and hogs was likewise an important
industry. Wild grass and mast for their sustenance
were abundant. Illinois has always assumed an honor-
able part in the matter of education, so materially con-
cerning the welfare of a free people ; and as soon as an
immigration set in the school teacher was abroad in the
land.
Among those who taught in the cftunty limits from
1817 to 1819 were Mrs. Clark, Agnes Corrie, George
Godfrey, I-aiah Lewis, Larkin Ryle, John Martin, Jas.
Swainey, Borden and Fleming. The school teacher and
the minister went hand in hand, and, in many instances,
performed the same office. The same rude log structure
served alike for the school and as a house of worship.
The early resident ministers were : Revs. Blithe Mc-
Corcle, Mr. Stone, John Clark, Richard B. McCorcle,
William Ramsey, John Dollahan, Samuel Borden, Wil-
liam Kincaid, Daniel Travis, and others, among whom
was " Squealing Johnny " Parker, as he was called. He
styled himself a " Two-see Baptist." Travelling preach-
ers frequently came into the territory, and among them
were James Hughes, John Rodgers, David McDonald,
Elijah Gooden, Peter Cartwright and Lorenzo Dow.
One of the most needed and poorly supplied blessings
of pioneer life were mills. Long and hazardous journeys
were necessary to secure the grinding of a bag of meal.
Small's mill, on the Embarras, built in 1805 or 1806,
was one of the earliest in the State of Illinois ; but,
considering the difficulty of reaching it through dense
forests and swollen streams, it was scarcely a convenience
except to a few.
We have thus set forth briefly the dangers and hard-
ships of those who paved the way for whatever is
grand in morals or government or magnificent in struc-
ture in the county of Lawrence. Let the reader compare
the present with the past, and then let him reflect how
rapid has been the march of progress and how marvellous
has been the change.
•WABASH COUNTY.
The county of Wabash is an offspring of Edwards
county ; yet the first settlements made within the vast
boundaries of the latter were within the limits of what
is now Wabash county.
The first settlers were a few French families, who
located on the Wabash river, near the point known as
74 HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTJE8, ILLINOIS.
Rochester, in Coffee precinct. This was about 1800. families. In the time of the Indian troubles, at a pre-
Prominent among these was the family of Tougas, also concerted signal, the families of the settlement would
named Lavulette. This occured from Mrs. Tougas take refuge in the fort, where they would remain until
marrying a man by the name of Lavulette, and some of it was pronounced safe to leave. In about 1817, Mr.
the children of Mrs. Tougas, assumed the name of their ' Compton moved to township 2 south, range 14 west, and
step-father. There were four brothers, August, William, i settled in section 13, where he spent the remainder of
Joseph, and Francis. They were all well formed, athle-
tic men, and possessed of such material as to brave the
his days. He was a representative man, and had the
honor of being a member of the first Constitutional Con-
wilds of the frontier. The former is said to have been I vention in 1818. From 1818 to 1820, he was in the
six and one-half feet in stature. During the Indian State Senate. He died about 1844, at the advanced
troubles, they remained and trafficked with them. The I age of eighty years. One son, Joseph Compton, is a
Indians both feared and respected them. The word of i citizen of Coffee 'precinct, and U said to be the first
August among the treacherous Piankashaws was law, j white child born in the county.
and it is said that he even went so far as to inflict pun Joshua Jordan was also from Virginia, and at his
ishment upon some of the tribe for petty theft. An . coming had a family of four children. While a resident
Indian is bound to respect and admire his superior in I of that State, for a time, he was a tenant of George
strength. In this capacity, August had demonstrated j Washington, and was with the General at the memora-
to their picked warriors, that he was their superior, by . ble Braddock's defeat. On coming to Illinois, he located
friendly hand to hand, athletic sports with them. It i in section 12, near Mr. Compton. He remained here
was through this means that they stood in such awe and several years, when he removed to Barney's prairie,
fear of him. While others were massacred and pillaged, where he resided until his death.
he was never disturbed. In 1838 he sold his posses- A pioneer of 1804, was John Stillwell, a native of
sions at Rochester and moved to Mt. Carmel, where he ! Kentucky. He had a family of two sons, Samuel and
engaged in the hotel business. He continued in this ! James. Besides his family he had a negro slave by the
calling for several years, when he returned to Coffee pre- ! name of Armstead. From the records of 1822, we find
cinct, where he died in 1849. His eldest daughter, that the slave was liberated in that year. Mr. Stillwell
Mrs. Stewart, is now a resident of Texas. One daugh- j located on the southwest quarter of section 12, where
ter, wife of Captain Sharp, lives in Mt. Carmel. William [ he improved quite a farm for those days. He con-
was a man of a family when he moved from Vincennes structed a stockade during the Indian troubles, for the
to the county, locating near the mouth of Coffee creek, protection of his family and stock. It is said that he
with the rest of the family. He remained here a few I was a very eccentric man. Although one of the wealth-
years, when he moved to the banks of Raccoon creek, j iest citizens among the early settlers, he took pleasure
in Lawrence county. Two years afterward he removed j in wearing the poorest of clothes, and bearing the most
to near Vincennes. After a short stay here he re- shabby of appearances. It is related of him, that at
turned to Coffee precinct and permanently located in sec- j one time he lost his hat, and from that time forth he
tion 10, township 2 south, range 13 west. This was about | went bareheaded, until such time as he said his hat should
1816. He built and operated a horse mill, which was j have lasted. Many are the peculiarities related of him,
one of the first in the county. He died on his farm at the j by those who knew him personally or by reputation,
age of 75 years. Joseph and Francis Tougas, subse- [ Hemovidto Bellmont precinct in 1820, and perma-
quently located at St. Francisville, in Lawrence county. \ nently located in section 21.
Enoch Greathouse was a pioneer of 1804, and set-
tled on the land now occupied by the city of Mt.
Carmel. He was a native of Germany, and on coming
to the States he first stopped in Pennsylvania, sub-
The first American settlement was made in what is
now Wabash precinct, in about 1802. Those having
the honor of striking the first blow toward civilization
in this part of the county, were Levi Compton and
Joshua Jordan, brothers-in-law. The former was a j sequently moved to Kentucky, and from thence to
native of Virginia, but as early as 1791, he moved to Illinois. He had a family of a wife and four children,
Kentucky, and from thence to Illinois in the year above I also one grand-child. In 1817, he sold his property at
stated. He then had a family of a wife and six chil- j Mt. Carmel, and moved to the now extinct town of Cen-
dren. He first located on the Wabash river, in section j terville, where he died long ago, at the age of 110 years.
26, township 1 north, range 12 west, where he constructed | Several of his descendants are citizens of this and
a cabin and improved a few acres of land. Not liking | Edwards county. Mrs. Sylvester Greathouse, of Mt.
the locality, he removed to section 12. It was here, in Carmel, is a great-grand-daughter.
1814, that he built what was probably the first John Degan was one of the early French settlers of
horse-mill in the county. A fort was also built here Coffee precinct, and came a short time after the Lavu-
about 1810, which was known as Compton fort It was ; letts. He was originally from Detroit, Michigan, and
enclosed with a palisade and contained dwellings, grana- in his movement westward he first stopped at Vincennes,
ries, booths, etc., for the convenience of the inmates, and and from thence to the French settlement in Wabash
was sufficient in size to accommodate about one hundred county. He first located at Rochester, his family then
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WAS ASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
75
consisting of his wife and two sons, Henry and William,
and a step-son, Frank Burway. Two years later he
permanently settled in section 10, where he engaged in '
stock raising. He died here in 1848, leaving a family,
some of whom are yet living at or near the old home.
Joseph Burway and Joseph Pichinant were also early
French settlers. In 1815, they were both killed by the j
Indians in the Coffee bottoms. They had gone in search •
of their horses, and while tramping through the bot- \
toms, were surprised by the red-skins and massacred. ;
Only one, Burway, carried a rifle, Pichinant being mar-
ried. Three other pioneers were in the bottoms at the
time, and heard the report of Burway's rifle, followed
by a volley of several guns. They surmised the cause,
and soon roused the settlement to action. On going to
the point where the firing was heard, the dead and muti-
lated bodies of the unfortunate men were found. The
Indians were pursued, but were not overtaken. From ;
the evidences on their trail, Burway had fought desper- '
ately before he was killed, as several dead Indians were
found along the trail.
Francis Degan, brother of John before mentioned,
came with his family in about 1811, and settled on the !
bluff, a little below Rochester. He had two sons,
Augustus and Francis, Jr. The latter is yet living, and
is one of the prominent citizens of Coffee precinct.
John Wood came from Kentucky, in the spring of
1809, and erected a small cabin in section 36, township I
1 north, range 13 west, now Friendsville precinct. He j
then returned to Kentucky, and in the fall moved his
family to his new made home. He soon cultivated a
little farmland was one of the first to plant an orchard j
in the county. A year latter, he and his few neighbors
•were obliged to erect a fort to protect their families
against the marauding bands of Indians. The neigh- '
borhood was always on the sharp look-out for the red j
skins, but strange to say, this settlement was never dis-
turbed by them. John Wood Jr., is the only survivor
of the pioneer family. He resides on the farm where
his father first settled. Joseph Wood, a son of the latter,
came here in an early day prior to his father, and set-
tled in section 30, township 1 north, range 13 west,
where he remained until his death, leaving quite a
family.
William Barney located in the same settlement about
the same time as Mr. Wood. He was from Western
New York, on the banks of the Genesee. He ex- !
changed his live stock for a raft of lumber at the Alle- ;
gheny river, and upon this he and his family floated
down to the mouth of the Wabash. Here he sold his '
raft, and purchased a keel boat and poled his way to
Ramsey's rapids. The male members went overland
through the timber toselect a site for a home. A broad
stretch of prairie came to view, and it was here that they
pitched their tent, and soon afterwards threw up a cabin.
Since which time this part of the county has been :
known as Barney's prairie. HU cabin was erected near
where the Friendsville Academy now stands. Judge j
Barney became an influential man in the county, and
was always among the foremost in lending a hand to
improve and develop the county. He was one of the
three first County Commissioners, which position he held
for several years. A fort was erected near his place in
1811, which took the name of Barney's Fort. It was
large and commodious, sufficient to accommodate all the
families in the settlement. A well may yet beseen, which
was dug within the fort, a relic of ye olden time. In
1812, the fort was felt to be insecure, and all the parties
moved over into Indiana and passed the winter in a
block-house. In the spring they returned to their
homes, and although the Shawnees were plenty and still
hostile, yet the settlers of Barney's prairie were unmo-
lested. Mr. Barney died many years ago, on his farm
in section 23, a little southwest of Frieudsville.
Shortly after Mr. Barney's advent here, his three
sons-in-law moved into the settlement. They were Ran-
som Higgins, Philo Ingraham, and Wilbour Aldridge.
The former was a large athletic man, and possessed of
more than ordinary courage. He built one of the first
water-mills in this region of the country. It was sit-
uated on Barney's Prairie creek, and was constructed
as early as 1813. One of his sons was accidentally killed
by one of the rangers while target shooting at Barney's
fort. His remains were buried in the Friendsville cem-
etery, and it was the first interment made there.
Philo Ingrah'am located in section twenty, near Mr.
Barney, where he lived until 1840, when he moved to
Clay county. Mr. Aldridge settled on the northwest
quarter of section 24.
Nathaniel Claypole emigrated here in 1814, and set-
tled in section thirty-two, Friendsville precinct. He
was a prominent citizen, and very popular among his
acquaintances. He was appointed the first County and
Circuit Clerk after the organization of Edwards county,
and died while in office, in 1815. Thomas Pulliam came
in the same year as the above, and located in section
thirty-two, township two north, range 12 west. His
name appears upon the records as the assessor of Em-
barras township as early as 1817. He lived here on his
farm until his death, which occurred long ago. Near
Pulliam 's lived John and Moses Decker. Their settle-
ment was also made in 1814. The prairie upon which
they located bears their name.
One of the most prominent settlers of 1813 or '14 was
Seth Gard, who came from Ohio, and permanently
located in section twenty-eight, now Lick Prairie pre-
cinct. The locality where he settled was known as
Card's Point, and the post-office established there in an
early day, is still known by that name. Judge Gard
was a man of great force of character, and endowed with
more than ordinary ability and cool judgment He
possed a quiet vein of humor, a keen sense of the ridic-
ulous, and thorough convictions of right and justice.
He was a representative man in every sense of the word,
and his counsel was sought on every hand by the early
settlers When Edwards county was organized, he was
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
chosen to represent its people in the Territorial Legisla-
ture, which position he occupied until the admission of!
the State, in 1818. He was appointed one of the judges j
of the first County Court, and was one of the members
of the Constitutional Convention at Kaskaskia, in 1818. '
In fact, he was in public life until he became too infirm
to longer bear the responsibilities incurred thereby.
Aaron Waggoner, a nephew of Judge Gard, came with \
him and located near his premises. He was a stone- j
mason by trade, and proved a useful acquisition to the
little colony. In the same year, Jacob Claypole settled I
in section four, township one north, range thirteen west.
William Jordan, Nathaniel Osgood, Benjamin Rey- i
nolds, and Henry I. Mills settled in what is now Lan-
caster precinct in 1814. The former was from Kentuckyj
and had a family of four children. In about 1818, he
erected a large distillery on his premises. He remained
on his farm until his death. The Osgood family came
from Ohio. It consisted of a married son, Nathaniel,
and four other children. Reynolds was from Kentucky,
and had a family of three sons, John, Richard, and
Harrison, and four daughters. In 1820 he built a j
horse-mill and distillery on his farm. He lived here
until his death. Col. Henry I. Mills remained here but |
a few years, when he moved over into Edwards county, j
a sketch of whom has already been given. John Ar-
nold, son-in-law of William Jordan, came with the latter
from Kentucky, and settled near his father-in-law. He
was among the early Justices of the Peace, and in 1832,
was commissioned captain in the Black Hawk war.
He subsequently moved to Wayne county, where he died.
Tarlton Borin was a settler of 1815. He permanently
located in Lancaster precinct. In about 1828, he es-
tablished a tannery, which was a great convenience to
the settlement. One daughter, Mrs. Cunningham, re-
sides in the precinct.
John Mclntosh, an influential pioneer, was a native
of Virginia, born of Scotch parents. As early as 1785,
he emigrated from Kentucky, and from thence to Illinois,
in 1814. He then had a family of six children. He
first stopped in the Compton fort a few months, when he
moved to section 23, Wabash precinct, where he re-
mained but a short time, removing to Coffee precinct.
Not liking this section of the country, he returned to
Wabash precinct, where he made a permanent settle-
ment in section 23. He was a representative man, and
popular with the people. On the organization of Ed-
wards county, he was appointed one of the three mem-
bers of the County Court, which position he held for
several terms. In 1816, he was selected counsel for that
court in the place of Thomas C. Browne. He was a
public spirited man, and did much in aiding to organize
and regulate the affairs of the county. His death oc-
curred at his farm in 1829. Some are residing
in the county. Charles Garner, a son in-law
of Judge Mclntosh, also came from Kentucky, in
1814, and settled in section 23, Wabash precinct. Other
settlers of this precinct, in 1815, were Benjamin Hul-
bert, Henry Leek, Samuel Simcoe, John Armstrong,
Joseph Gardner, and Peter Keen. The former came
from New Jersey, having a large family of children
when he made his advent here. He located in section
13. Henry Leek was a son-in-law of Hulbert, and was
noted as a great hunter, and a skilled mechanic. He
remained but a short time, when he moved to other
parts. Armstrong came from Tennessee, and settled in
section 15. He had six sons, one of whom, Abner, was
appointed the first sheriffof Edwards county. Another
son, Thomas, represented Wabash county in the Legis-
lature one term, and was also Judge of the County
Court. Gardner settled in section 9. Peter Keen came
to the county on a prospecting tour in 1814, when he
returned to his family in Ohio. The spring following
he came to the county, and after shifting about for a
few years he permanently settled in section 14, town-
ship 1 north, range 13 west. He remained here until
his death in 1850. Two of the pioneer children
are yet living, Shulamite and Ira. The latter resides at
Friendsville, and is eighty two years of age.
William Mclntosh settled in the north part of Mt.
Carmel precinct, as early as 1814. He owned a large
tract of land known as " Mclntosh " Reserve." He
erected quite a large mansion, for those days, situated
near the Wabash, at the foot of the rapids. He was a
single man, but had colored servants to conduct his
household affairs. He died many years ago.
A prominent early settler was Henry Utter, who came
! to the county in about 1814 or '15, and located in
Friendsville precinct. He was elected a member of the
Legislature in 1818, the year of the State's admission
' into the Union. In 1824, he was again elected to fill
the same position. In 1821, he was one of the members
| of the county board. Some of his descendants are liv-
ing in the county. Gervase Hazleton was one of the
first settlers at old Palmyra. The first courts were held
at his residence. He was the third County Clerk of
what was then Ed wards county, serving from 1821 to 1823.
I A settlement was formed at Campbell's Lauding, in
Coffee precinct, as early as 1810. One of the most prom-
| nent settlers was James Campbell, of Scotch descent.
He came from Kentucky, and had quite a large family,
I besides owning thirteen slaves, whom he set at liberty
some time after coming to Illinois. It is said that eleven
of them were subsequently kidnapped and sold back into
i slavery. At one time the family was obliged to flee
across the river to save being massacred at the hands of
the Piafikashaws. Others of the settlement were, Henry
Painter, Henry Gambrel, a man by the name of Parks,
John Cannon, and his son in-law, John Starks, and John
Grayson. The latter located in section 31. He was a
man of push and enterprise, and was the first to erect a
water-mill in this part of the county. Some of his de-
i scendants are residing here. A portion of the Cannon
! family were massacred by the Indians, an account of
which will be found in this chapter.
Daniel Keen and David Wright also located in this
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
77
settlement iu about 1815. The former was a sou of
Peter Keen, heretofore mentioned. He became an" in-
fluential citizen iu the neighborhood, and was elected a
member of the county board, which office he filled for
several years. Wright came from Ohio. He was then
a widower. He afterwards married Sarah Mclntosh,
and settled in section 22, range 13 west. Robert E.
Wright, a son, now r< siding at Mt. Oarinel. Other early
settlers of Coffee precinct may be mentioned, Elijah
Compton, Walter Garner, James Lansdowu, John
Craddock, Charles P. Burns, who was one of the first
Justice of the Peace ; Daniel Groves, John McCleary,
Thomas Baird, Reuben Blackford, Henry Bignon, Jas.
Chism, Elias Jordon, the Cowlings, James and John
Gray, James Kennerly, John Nesler, and others.
In 1816, quite a little colony left Alleghany county,
New York, to make their homes upon the wild frontiers.
Among these with their families, were George W. Hig-
gins, John Higgios, Willis Higgins, Edward Brines,
Henry Utter, Lemuel Haskins, David Moss, John
Harrison, Benjamin Smith, and Levi Couch. They
secured boats at the Alleghany river and floated down
to the Ohio, and thence to Evansville. Here they pro-
cured keel-boats and came up the Wabash, landing at
Old Palmyra. Of this little band of emigrants, five
families settled in Lancaster precinct, John Higgins,
Couch, Moss, Harrison and Smith. The others located
in Friendsville. Others of an early date who located in
Lancaster precinct were, Isaac Harues, Henry Cusick,
James McMullen, George and David Pugh, George and
Andrew Knight, James Rollins, Jessie Jones, Geo. Glick>
Elias Baily, Rozander Smith, Samuel Fisher and others.
The first settlers of Bellmont precinct were John and
Jacob Arnold, Staly D. McKlure, and a man by the
name of Mpturey. This was in 1816 The latter settled
in section 24, town 1 south, range 14 west. John
Arnold came with his family from Kentucky. He was
a distinguished hunter and had no fixed abiding place-
He subsequently moved to Missouri, James, his brother,
a single man, afterwards married and settled in
section 5, township 2 south. McKlure was also from
Kentucky. He located in section 28, towiship 1, range
13 west, where he remained until his death. Other early
settlers of Btllmont precinct were, William Wilson,
George Wheeler, William Tanquary, Jonathan Gilkin-
son, William Deputy, Robert James, and Samuel Riggs,
Andrew T. Dyar, Joseph Ballard, Christ Ernsc, Samuel
Fettinger, Rodarn Kenner, William Hunter, John
Proctor, William Weir, A. W. Cory, Joseph Sloan and
John Frair.
Cornelius Vanderhoof was a settler of Wabash pre-
cinct as early as 1816. S. E. Goff settled in section 14,
of the same precinct at about the same time. Among
others who made early settlements in this precinct may
be mentioned, John W. Buchanan, William Johnson,
Mrs. Margaret Filpot, Hugh Calahan, John Andrew,
Joseph Wright, John Buchanon, John Snider, Thomas
Cisel, Isaac Smith and James Payne.
One of the prominent early settlers of Mt. Carmel
precinct, was the Rev. Thomas S. Hinde, a native of
Virginia. He came from Ohio to Illinois, in 1817, and
in connection with others, founded the city of Mt. Car-
mel. He was a man of strict moral convictions, and did
i much good in the age which he lived Hediedat Mt Car-
mel in 1846. Other early settlers of Mt. Carmel precinct
were, Rev. William Beauchaimp, Hiram Bell, Joshua
and James Beall, Isaac Ingersoll, Edward Ulm, Scoby
Stewart, Aaron Gould, Joseph Jones, James Townshend,
James Black, Abraham Russell, William Simonds,
William Stone, Beauchamp Harvey, John Tilton, Capt.
James Sharp and others. Capt. Sharp is yet living, and
is a citizen of Mt. Carmel.
John Dale settled in Friendsville precinct, in 1815, on
section 20. He was a farmer and mechanic, and was
noted for his cleverness in horse trading. In the same
year, Henry McGregor located here not far from Dale.
Among others of early times, who came to this precint
were, John Smith Jr., William and James Pool, Josiah
Higgins, Ephraim Reed, the Knapps, John Shadle,
Charles and John McNair, the Osgoods, George Lither-
land, William Brown, John White, Benjamin Taylor,
I Z. Warner, David Daily and some others.
Philip Hull settled iu Lick Prairie precinct, in 1815,
I section 28. Ephraim Armstrong from Tennessee,, locat-
ed in section 30, near Hall. Samuel Mundy, Louis
Armstrong, William Ulm, James Wiley, Jacob Gupton,
Calvin Morgan, Benjamin T. Hill, Adam Baird, Fred-
j erick Miller and John Moore were also early settlers in
! the precinct.
Pioneer Mills. — Among the first were the " band
Mills." A description of one will not prove uninterest-
ing. The plan was cheap. The horse power consisted
of a large upright shaft, some ten or twelve feet in hight
with some eight or ten long arms let into the main shaft
and extending out from it fifteen feet. Auger holes
were bored into the arms on the upper side at the end,
! into which woooden pins were driven. This was called
the '' big wheel," and was as has been seen, about twenty
feet in diameter. The raw hide belt or tug was made of
skins taken off of beef cattle, which were cut into str'ps
three inches in width ; these were twisted into a round
cord or tug, which was long enough to encircle the cir-
cumference of the big wheel. There it was held in place
by the wooden pins, then to cross and pass under a shed
to run around a drum, or what is called a "trunnel
head," which was attached to the grinding apparatus.
The horses or oxen were hitched to the arms by means
of raw hide tugs. Then walking in a circle the machin-
ery would be set in motion. To grind twelve bushels
! of corn was considered a good day's work on a band
I mill.
The most rude and primitive method of manufactur-
g meal was by the use of the Grater. A plate of tin
! is pierced with many holes, so that one side is very
rough. The tin is made oval, and then nailed to a
i board. An ear of corn was rubbed hard on this grater
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
whereby the meal was forced through the holes, and fell
down into a vessel prepared to receive it. An improve-
ment on this was the Hand mill. The slones were
smaller than those of the band mill, and were propelled
by man or woman power. A hole is made in the upper
stone, and a staff of wood is put in it, and the other end
of the staff is put through a hole in a plank above, so
that the hole is free to act. One or two persons take
hold of this staff and turn the upper stone as rapidly as
possible. An eye is made in the upper stone, through
which the corn is put into the mill, instead of a hopper.
A mortar, wherein corn was beaten into meal, is made
out of a large round log three or four feet long. One
end is cut or burnt out so as to hold a peck of corn,
more or less, according to circumstances. This mortar
is set one end on the ground, and the other up, to hold
Ihe corn. A sweep is prepared over the mortar so that
the spring of the pole raises the piston, and the hands at
it force it so hard down on the corn that after much
beating, meal is manufactured.
The trials, inconveniences, dangers and hardships of
the pioneers would fill volumes. As early as 1811, each
settlement was obliged to have its fort or block-house to
flee to at a moment's warning for protection from the
marauding bands of Indians. Several of these forts
have already been mentioned. The Greathouse fort was
situated on Greathouse creek, in section 30, township 1
south, range 13 west. From 1811 to 1815, this fort was
occupied by more or less families. Tradition relates of
an episode, that occurred at fort Ramsey in about 1812.
In the most troublesome times the women and children
were placed in the forts, while the men would work in
the fields, gun in hand, ready for any emergency. Others
were detailed to scout around and to keep a sharp look-
out for the murderous red skins. One Ramsey was too
fearless to go into the fort, declaring he could protect
himself. The rangers had been out on a scout, and on
return thought they would give him a scare, his cabin
being not far from the fort, they gave a terrific war
whoop, fired their guns, and came thundering toward
the fort. Captain Higgins, inside, cried out, " The
Indians, the Indians. Every man to his post! At this
moment the ponderous gate swung open, and an army
seemed to be entering. The women screamed, believing
that they all would soon be scalped. Cries, prayers, and
snatching of babies by women in undress continued for
some time to the amusement of the Rangers. The joke
turned out far more serious for the women than it did
for Ramsey. The only means of grinding their meal in
the forts, was by crushing it in a mortar. Families
would take turns in performing this slow and arduous
task, for it must be remembered these were times when
a small army had to be fed. Harrison Ingraham, who
died in Clay county, Illinois, a few years ago, in an ar-
ticle of the Pioneer Times, published in one of the Mt.
Carmel papers centennial year, says that he was born in
Fort Barney, and that he has heard his mother relate
that the day before he was born, she went to the fields
and plucked, wheat, rubbed it out with her hands,
crushed it in a mortar, and made a cake to set before her
friends on that occasion. This was said to be the first
wheat bread manufactured in Wabash county.
A circumstance occurred in 1815, which threw the
early settlers into a fever of fear and excitement. It
was what has passed into history as
THE CANNON MASSACRE.
The account of the sad affair as related by one of Mr.
Cannon's daughters a few years ago, is substantially as
follows : Mr. Cannon and his sons cajne across the Wabash
from the Indiana side, and constructed a cabin near
Campbell's Landing in Coffee precinct, on the ground
where the Painter grave-yard is now located. No signs
of Indians were seen while they were engaged in the
work, and they supposed they had all left. After com-
pleting the cabin, they crossed the river to bring over
the family. Late in the afternoon of the same day, they
all moved over and settled in their new home. While
building their house, they had found a bee-tree, and after
becoming fairly settled, the men went into the timber to
cut it. While thus engaged a band of Indians suddenly
j fell upon them. Mr. Cannon was instantly killed, and
the others fled for their lives. Samuel, a son, was soon
overtaken and dispatched by the murderous foe. They
cut off his head and otherwise mutilated the body, leav-
ing it where he fell. Mrs. Cannon, a daughter, and a son-
in-law by the name of Starks, were captured and carried
off by the Indians. They were, however, subsequently
ransomed. Mr. Cannon and his son were buried by two
neighbors, Samuel Mclntosh and Henry Gambrel. They
were wrapped in a horse skin and placed in one grave.
This was the first interment made in the Painter burial
ground.
HABITS AND MODES OF LIVING OF THE PIONEERS AND
FIRST SETTLERS.
The pioneers were destitute of many of the conven-
iences of life, and of some things that are now con-
sidered 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 wholesome 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 su-
perior to that we eat, and had been won by the skill of
the head of the house or of that of his vigorous sons.
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-re-
spected freeman.
The settler brought with him the keen axe, which was
indispensable, and the equally necessary rifle ; the first
his weapon of offense against the forests that skirted the
water-courses, and near which he made his home ; the
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
second that of defence from the attacks of his foe, the
cunniug child of the forest and prairie. His first labor
was to fell trees and erect his unpretentious cabin, which
was rudely made of logs, and in the raising of which he
had the cheerful aid of his neighbors. It was usually
from fourteen to sixteen feet square, and never larger
than twenty feet, and was frequently built entirely with-
out glass, nails, hinges or locks.
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 were 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 project-
ing 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 in at one end of the
house, in which fire was kindled for cooking purposes,
for the settlers generally were without stoves, and which
furnished the needed warmth in winter. The ceiling
above was sometimes covered with the pelts of the rac-
coon, opossum, and of the wolf, to add to the warmth
of the dwelling. Sometimes the soft inner bark of the
bass 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-grease 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 leg*, and were rudely made from a
puncheon. Their seats were stools having three or
four legs. The bedstead was in keeping with the restj
and was often so contrived as to permit it to be drawn
up and fastened to the wall during the day, thus afford-
ing 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. Horses were not
used very much, however, and oxen were almost exclu-
'. sively used. In some instances carts and wagons were
constructed or repaired by the self-reliant settler ; and
the woful creakings of the untarred axles could be heard
at a great distance.
The women corresponded well with the description of
the virtuous woman in the last chapter of Proverbs, for
they " sought wool and flax, and worked willingly with
i their hands." They did not, it is true, make for them-
i selves " coverings of tapestry," nor could it be said of them
that their "clothing was silk and purple;" but they
" rose while it was yet night, and gave meat to their
household," and they "girded their loins with strength
and strengthened their arms." They "looked well to the
1 ways of their household, and eat not the bread of idle-
! ness." They laid " their hands to the spindle and to the
' distaff," and " strength and honor were in their cloth-
| ing."
I In these days of furbelows and flounces, when from
| twenty to thirty yards are required by one fair damsel
i for a dress, it is refreshing to know that the ladies of
j that ancient time considered eight yards an extravagant
amount to put into one dress. The dress was usually
made plain with four widths in the skirt, and two front
ones cut gored. The waist was made very short, and
across the shoulders behind was a draw-string. The
sleeves were enormously large, and tapered from shoulder
to wrist, and the most fashionable — for fashion, like love,
rules like the " court and grove" — were padded so as to
resemble a bolster at the upper part, and were known as
" mutton-legs," or " sheep-shank sleeves." The sleeve
was kept in shape often by a heavily starched lining.
Those who could afford it used feathers, which gave the
sleeve the appearance of an inflated balloon from elbow
1 up, and were known as " pillow-sleeves."
Many bows and ribbons were worn, but scarcely any
jewelry. The tow dress was superseded by the cotton
I gown. Around the neck, instead of a lace collar or ele-
j gant ribbon, there was disposed a copperas-colored
neckerchief.
! The women manufactured nearly all the clothing worn
I by the family. In cool weather gowns made of "linsey
woolsey " were worn by the ladies. The chain was
of cotton and the filling of wool. The fabric was usually
plaid or striped, and the differing colors were blended
according to the taste and fancy of the fair maker.
Colors were blue, copperas, turkey-red, light blue, etc.
Every house contained a card-loom and spinning-wheels,
which were considered by the women as necessary for
' them as the rifle for the men. Several different kinds
of cloth were made. Cloth was woven from cotton. The
i rolls were bought and spun, on little and big wheels,
j into two kinds of thread; one the "chain," and the
other the " filling." The more experienced only spun
the chain ; the younger the filling. Two kinds of looms
: were in use. The most primitive in construction was
called the " side-loom." The frame of it consisted of
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASII COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
two pieces of scantling running obliquely from the floor
to the wall. Later, the frame loom, which was a great
improvement over the other, came into use.
The men and boys wore "jeans" and linsey-woolsey
shirts. The "jeans" were colored either light blue or
butternut. ,
Many times when the men gathered to a log-rolling or
barn-raising, the women would assemble bringing their
spinning-wheels with them. In this way sometimes as
many as ten or twelve would gather in one room, and
the pleasant voices of the fair spinners were mingled
with the low hum of the spinning-wheels. "Oh! golden
early days!"
Such articles of apparel as could not be manufactured
were brought to them from the nearest store by the mail-
carrier. These were few, however. The men and boys,
in many instances, wore pantaloons made of the dressed
skin of the deer, which then swarmed the prairies in
large herds. The young man who desired to look capti-
vating to the eye of the maiden whoni he loved, had his
" bucks " fringed, which lent to them a not unpleasing
effect. Meal-sacks were also made of buckskin. Caps
were made of the skins of the wolf, fox, wildcat and
muskrat tanned with the fur on. The tail of the fox or
wolf often hung from the top of the cap, lending the
wearer a jaunty air. Both sexes wore moccasins, which
in dry weather were an excellent substitute for shoes.
There were no shoemakers, and each family made its
own shoes.
The settlers were separated from their neighbors often
by miles. There were no church-houses or regular ser-
vices of any kind to call them together ; hence, no doubt,
the cheerfulness with which they accepted invitations to
a house-raising, or a log-rolling, or a corn-husking, or a
bee of any kind. To attend these gatherings they would
go ten and sometimes more miles.
Generally with the invitation to the men went 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.
At all the 1-g-rol lings, and house-raisings it was cus-
tomary 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 outdoor |
life, clad in fringed buckskin breeches and gaudily j
colored hunting shirts, led forth the bright-eyed buxom '
damsels, attired in neat-fitting linsey woolsey garments, !
to the dance, their cheeks glowing with health, and j
eyes speaking of enjoyment, and perhaps of a tenderer !
emotion.
The amusements of that day were more athletic and
rude than those of to-day. Among the settlers of a new
country, from the nature of the case, a higher value is
set upon physical than mental endowments. Skill in
woodcraft, superiority of muscular development, accu-
racy in shooting with the rifle, activity, swiftness of foot,
were qualifications that brought their possessors fame.
Foot racing was often practised, and often the boys and
young men engaged in friendly contests with the Indians.
Every man had a rifle, and kept always in good order ;
his flints, bullet-molds, screw driver, awl, butcher-knife
and tomahawk were fastened to the shot-pouch strap or
to the belt around the waist Target-shooting was
much practised, and shots were made by the hunters and
settlers, with flint-lock rifles, that cannot be excelled by
their descendants with the improved breech-loaders of
the present day.
At all gatherings jumping and wrestling were indulged
in, and those who excelled were thenceforth men of no-
toriety. Cards, dice, and other gambling implements
were unknown. Dancing was a favorite amusement. It
was participated in by all.
At their shooting-matches, which were usually for the
prize of a turkey, or a gallon of whisky, good feeling
always prevailed. If disputes arose, they were settled
often by a square stand-up fight, and no one thought of
using other weapons than fists.
The picture here drawn of the pioneers, their modes
of living, their customs and amusements, while lacking
entire completeness, we feel is not inaccurate and un-
truthful.
CHAPTER VIII.
CIVIL HISTORY.
EDWAKDS COUNTY.
HE formation- of Edwards county dates back
to 1814, and is the sixth county organized
within the present territory of the State of
Illinois. It embraced an immense area, in-
cluding about one-third of the State, besides a large
portion of the State of Wisconsin and a part of Michigan.
As another writer said, " In the presence of the stupend-
ous changes in this State, it is hard to imagine that
sixty nine years ago, when Edwards county was organ-
ized, neither Cook county or Chicago had any existence,
but the present Cook county was in the jurisdiction of
Edwards county, and its county seat at Palmyra at the
falls of the Big Wabash, a town which has long since
ceased to be."
The following is a copy of the original paper prepared
by the Territorial Legislature creating Edwards county .
"An act for the division of Gallatin county. Sec. 1. Be
it enacted by the Legislature, Council, and House of
Representatives of the Illinois territory, and it is here-
by enacted by the authority of the same, that all that
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AXD WAR A fill COUXTIES, ILLINOIS.
.81
tract of country within the following boundaries (to wit) :
Beginning at the north of Borapast (Boupas) creek on
the big Wabash, and running thence due west to the
Meridan line, and due north till it enters the line of j
Upper Canada to the line that separates this territory
from Indiana territory, and thence with the said dividing i
line to the beginning, shall constitute a separate county
to be called Edwards, and the seat of justice for said
county shall be at the town now called Palmyra, on the
Wabash, provided the proprietor or proprietors of said
land shall give to the said county, for the purpose of
erecting the public buildings, a quantity of land at said
place, not less than twenty acres, to be laid off into lots
and sold for the above purpose. But, if such proprietor
or proprietors refuse or neglect to make the donation
aforesaid, then in that case it shall be the duty of the
Court of Common pleas, who shall be appointed for said
county, to fix up jn some other place for the seat of j
justice as convenient as may be to the different sett e-
ments in said county.
Sec. 2. Be it further enacted that the Court of Com- j
mon Pleas shall sit in said county at the following
periods (to-wit.) The court for the civil and criminal
•business on the fourth Mondays of March, July, and
November, yearly and every year, and three other
courts shall be holden on the fourth Mondays of Jauu- ;
ary, May, and September 4 yearly and every year.
Sec. a. Be it further enacted that it shall and may be ;
lawful for the governor of this territory immediately to
constitute the militia in this county, thus laid off into
one battalion, the commanding officer of which shall
have the same power to order out the militia as is now
proposed by the Lieutenant-Colonels of the respective
regiments.
Sec. 4. And be it further enacted that the said county
of Edwards is hereby entitled to one representative in
the House of Representatives of this territory, who shall
be elected agreeably to law and be entitled to all the :
immunities, powers, and privileges prescribed by law to
the members of the House of Representatives. And
whereas the next general election for representatives to
the legislature, will not take place before the month of
September, in the year 1816, and in consequence thereof
the said county will be unrepresented in the House of
Representatives until the time for remedy thereof.
An election is hereby directed to be held in the seat of
justice for said county, on the first Thursday in March
next, and continued open three days, and to be conducted
in all other respects by the persons and in the manner
prescribed by law, at which said election the persons
entitled to vote, may elect a representative to the House
of Representatives, who shall continue in office until the
10th day of October, 1816, and shall during his con-
tinuance in office be bound to perform the same duties,
and entitled to the same privileges and immunities that
are prescribed by law to a member of the House of Re-
presentatives.
Sec. >r>. Be it further enacted that whereas the counties
11 *
of Gallatin and Edwards compose one district for the
purpose of electing a member of the Legislative Council,
the citizens of said county entitled to vote may at any
election for a member of the Legislative Council to re-
present said district, proceed to vote for such members ;
and it shall moreover be the duty of the sheriff of the
said county of Edwards, within ten days after the close
of said election, to attend at the court-house of the
county of Gallatin, with a statement of the votes given
in the said county of Edwards, to compare the polls of
the respective counties, and it shall be the duty of
the sheriff of Gallatin county to attend at such time and
place with a statement of the votes of Gallatin county,
and upon counting the votes of the respective counties,
it shall be the duty of the said sheriff of Gallatin and
Edwards counties to make out and deliver to the person
duly elected a certificate thereof. If the said sheriff, or
either of them, shall refuse or fail to perform the duty
required by this section, such delinquent shall forfeit
and pay the sum of two hundred dollars, to be recovered
by 'action of debtor indictment, one half to the use of the
territory, and the other half to the person suing the
same.
Sec. 6. Be it further enacted that the citizens of said
county of Edwards are hereby declared to be entitled,
in all respects, to the same rights and privileges in the
election of a Delegate to Congress, as well as a member
to the House of Representatives of the territory, that are
allowed by law to the other counties of this territory,
and all elections are to be conducted at the same time
and in the same manner, except as is excepted in this
law as is provided for in other counties. This act shall
commence and be in force from and after the passage
thereof.
Approved this 28th Nov., 1814.
RISDON MOORE, Speaker of the House of Representa-
tives.
BENJAMIN TALBOT, President of the Council, pro tern.
NINIAN EDWARDS.
NAT. POPE, Secretary of Illinois Territory.
It will thus be seen that the grand old county of
Edwards, which once contained many millions of acres
within its boundaries, has become one of the smallest
counties in the State. It received its name in honor of
the Hon. Ninian Edwards, first territorial governor of
Illinois territory.
COUNTY GOVERNMENT AT PALMYRA.
Palmyra, the county seat named in the act, was
accepted by the county court as the proper point for
establishing the capital of the county, upon the propri-
etors of said town offering to donate twenty acres of
ground for said purpose. The town of Palmyra was
created the 22d day of April, 1815, by the joint act of
Seth Gard, Peter Keen, Gervase Hazletou, Levi Comp-
ton, and John Waggoner, which was known as Seth
Gard & Co. It was situated at a sluggish bend on the
river within the confines of two fractional lots, numbers
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
four and five, in township 1 south of the base line, in
range 12 west of the second meridian. For some reason
the proprietors of the town withheld the deed of donation
to the county until the 7th of May, 1816.
From the county court's record of the February term,
1815, we find the following in relation to the acceptance
by the court, and the boundaries of the twenty acres
donated to the county : " Ordered that the court accept
the donation of twenty acres made by the proprietors,
lying in the following manner, viz. : Beginning at the
northwest corner of the public .square, and running north
and west, so as to include a square of twenty acres. It
is also ordered, that no person cut any timber off the
said twenty acres except it be for public use."
The subject is brought up again at the April term
following, as the action of the court was not satisfactory
to the donors of the land. The record reads, " Judge
Card, as a branch of this court objects to the manner
and form in which the donation was received by the
court from the proprietors on the 6th February last.
The objection was heard and agreed to by Judge Mcln-
tosh ; therefore, it is ordered that the former donation
made by the proprietors be made null and void, and
agreeable to the act of the legislature in that case made
and provided on the 28th day of November, 1814, it is
ordered that the donation be, and is hereby rescinded in
the following manner, viz. : Commencing at the north-
west corner of the public square and running due north j
forty-eight rods, three and a-half feet, thence west twenty-
two rods, thence south parallel with the first line, thence
at right angles east and north to the place of beginning, j
so as to include the twenty acres ; and whereas one or
more lots hath been given to Solomon Frear, etc., for
building upon, the said proprietors bind themselves to
give the court one to the same value, if the said Frear
should build and hold the said lot."
At the third meeting of the county court it was or- ;
dered that N. Claypoole be appointed agent for the county
of Edwards, to advertise and sell the lots that the court
should think proper, for the use of defraying the ex- \
penses of the public buildings, on twelve months' credit,
by taking bond and approved security, the sale to con-
tinue until all lots were sold. At a subsequent meeting
of the court an order ia made that the lots shall not be
sold for less than $15 per lot. Palmyra was only a
frontier town of the most primitive character, the build-
ings being constructed wholly of logs, and the site was
most unfortunately chosen. It was situated on low
ground, surrounded by sloughs and marshes, and was
therefore one of the most sickly portions of the West. It
was for this reason, perhaps, that lots brought such a
meager price in the market.
The First County Court.*— The following is a synopsis
of the doings of the first county court, the session being
held at the house of Gervase Hazleton, Monday, Jan. 2o,
1815: " At a county court of Edwards county, begun
and held in the town of Palmyra, the seat of justice of
•William Barney was one of the members of the county court, Kin was
not i.reH..nt:.t it- fir-t -.•s-i..,,.
said county and territory of Illinois, agreeable to an Act
of the Legislature passed at Kaskaskia November 28th,
1814— Members present:
JOHN MclNTOSH, ) T *
: N. CLAYPOOLE, Clerk. SETH GARD, j Juages.
ABNER ARMSTRONG, Sheri/."
After being duly sworn, the clerk and sheriff pro-
duced their bonds with security, which was approved
by the court, when they proceeded to business as fol-
lows: The first order of the court was for the establish-
ment of a ferry from the town of Palmyra across the
Wabash river to the opposite shore, in the name of
Hazleton & Co., the rates being fixed as follows : " Each
wheel of a cart, carriage or wagon, 18?c. ; and each
horse drawing the same, 12} cents. For every man and
horse, from the first day of December until the last day
of May inclusive, be 25 cents ; and from the first day of
June until the last day of November inclusive, be 12}
cents ; and for every footman and each head of cattle,
6} cents; and each head of sheep and hogs, 3 cents."
The second order reads : " That a road be reviewed
from Palmyra for the nearest and best route to the
county line dividing Edwards county and Gallatin; on
a direct line to Shawneetown ; and that Levi Compton,
Ransom Higgins and John Campbell be and are hereby
•appointed to review the same, and make return against
the 6th day of February next." The next order pro-
vides for a road to be reviewed from Palmyra to the
nearest and best route to Vallies' Ford on the river
Wabash. John Compton, Wm. B. Smith and Alex-
ander AVood were appointed reviewers. The foregoing
constituted the first day's business. On convening the
court the day following, Robert Baird was appointed to
" cess and take in all land and county tax in the county
of Edwards." One of the most important actions of the
court was the dividing of the great county of Edw.irds
into two townships. The order reads : " That the
county of Edwards be and is hereby divided into two
townships, by a line running with the Embarras creek,
and all that county above to be included in one town-
ship, and be called Lamot township ; and all the country
south of the said Embarras creek, to include the other
township and called Palmyra township." It will be
seen from the description of the foregoing boundaries,
that Lamot township comprised a territory of very great
dimensions, and was probably the largest township on
record in this or any other state, as it embraced all thaf
country between the eastern and western boundaries of
Edwards county, and extending from the Embarras to
Upper Canada.
At the same session, Ransom Higgins and John Still-
well were appointed supervisors of the poor for Palmyra
township ; and Thomas Kennedy and James Baird for
Lamot township. The court also ordered, " that the jail
for Edwards county be let to the lowest bidder on Mon-
day, the 6th day of February next, at 3 o'clock p. si."
Until the completion of the jail, it would seem that the
prisoners were confined under guard within certain
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND II .1 A'.l.sV/ COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
limits, as the following action of the court would verify :
" Ordered, that no person in the prison bounds go further !
than the southwest corner of Lot No. 3, in block M, and
thence wiih an alley to the southeast corner of lot No. 5 !
in block B, and thence north to the northeast corner of '
lot No. 6 in block D, thence west with an alley to the !
corner of lot No. 2 in block O, thence south to the place
of beginning."
Subsequent Proceedings. — At a special meeting of the
court, held Feb 6, 1815, the reviewers of the road from
Palmyra to the line dividing Edwards and Gallatin
counties made their report, when the court decided that
said road would be of public utility, and Joseph Wood
was appointed supervisor of so much of the road as lay
between Crawfish and Coffee Creeks, including the prai-
ries Pulliam and Banker. August Laviolette (Lavu-
lette) was appointed supervisor of that part of the road
lying between Coffee creek and Boupas ; and Thomas
Jjeavins, supervisor of that part between Bonpas and
the county line. The reviewers of the road between
Palmyra and Vallie's Ford also reported, which being
accepted, Joshua Jordan was appointed supervisor of the
same.
The first license for the sale of spirituous liquors was
granted to Robert Erwin, on payment to the county of
the sum of two dollars ; the rate fixed for the sale was
twelve and a-half cents per half pint. This was done at
a special term, April 4th, 1815. At the same session,
Francis Vallie was licensed to establish a ferry across
the Wabash river, from his house to the opposite shore,
the rates fixed as follows : For every man and horse, 25
cents ; footman, 12J cents; for each wheel of cart, car-
riage or wagon, 18J cents ; for each head of cattle, 6J
cents ; for each head of sheep or hogs, 3 cents
William B Adams was appointed constable for Pal-
myra township; Thos. C. Browne was appointed prose-
cuting attorney for EJ wards county; Robert Beard was
recommended by the court to the territorial governor
for county surveyor, and Gervase Hazleton was recom-
mended for justice of the peace.
The following are the rates of the first tax levy, as
fixed by this court : " Each ferry, $8 ; each horse, mare,
mule or ass, 50 cents ; each stud horse at the rate he
stands the season ; every bond servant, $1.00, and 10
cents for every hundred dollars worth of land."
The first case before the court came up at the August
term, 1815, and is 'thus placed of record : ' "Richard
Easton, assignee of Andrew J. Walker, vs. John Wal-
drup." The case was ordered to be continued until the
next session of court.
At the beginning of court session in February, 1816,
it would seem that this honorable body had grown in
importance and dignity, as the record reads : " Present
—The Worshipfuls John Mclutosh. Seth Card and Wil-
liam Barney." As there is nothing in the records to
show wherein this court received any emoluments for
their services, we are led to infer that the title of" Wor-
shipful " was the only compensation to which this august
body was entitled The first business transacted was
ordering an allowance of fifty dollars salary to the
sheriff, Abner Armstrong, for one year's salary.
On the petition of James Martin, he was licensed to
keep a public house in the town of Palmyra, by paying
the sum of one dollar for the use of the county. The
" tavern " rates were fixed as follows : " For half pint
of whisky, 12Jc. ; night's lodging, 12}c. ; for each diet,
25c. ; horse to hay all night, 25c. ; each horse feed, 12Jc. ;
each quart of cider, 121c. ; pint of rum, wine or brandy,
50 cents."
The same session Thomas C. Browne, prosecuting at-
torney, was allowed ten dollars attorney fees for the
county in the year 1815. Following the above is an
order that Levi Cumpton, John Tome and Gervase
Hazleton be appointed to contract for the building of a
court-house in Palmyra, and that said commissioners
take no action in the matter until further instruction.
The first business on the following morning the commis-
sioners, by an order from the court, are instructed to
contract for the building of the house upon the best
possible terms, and have the work done immediately.
Later in the day the following appears : " Ordered that
the order this day made directing the commissioners
appointed to contract for the building of the court-
house be set aside."
John Shadle was allowed twenty dollars for putting a
shingle roof on the jail, which was to be completed by
the next term of court.
" Ordered that the sum of eight dollars be allowed to
Gervase Hazleton for the use of his house for the court's
last year's session.
•'Ordered that the sum of $235 be allowed to David
Wright, as full compensation for the building of a jail
in Palmyra, and that the treasurer pay the same as soon
and as fast as money comes into his hands, this being
the senior claim against the county."
Settlement was made with the county treasurer Feb-
ruary 16, 1816, with the following showing:
Amt. received by treasurer for 1815, including claims by sheriff 8179 62}$
Amt. rec'd from Seth Gar.l for purchs
Amt rec'd from tavern license
ey of lot in Palmyra 31 00
At the May meeting of thia year Lamot township
was divided with boundaries as follows : "Beginning at
the Wabash river at the corner between townships Nos.
5 and 6, and running with said line due west to the
meridian line, thence with said line to the township line
between Nos. 2 and 3, thence with the fifth township
lines to the Wabash ; and that the same be known by
the name of Embarras township."
At the same session Abner Armstrong filed his bond
as collector of the revenue of the county of Edwards.
John Mclutire was appointed counsel for the court in
the place of Thomas C. Browne, at the August'tern, 1816.
The following appears on the record of the November
term following : On the petition of Adam Gollahart and
HISTORY OF KDWAKDS, LAWRKXCK AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
William Douglas, trustees to the Shakers, it is ordered
that a writ of ad quod damnum be issued in their name
to view a mill-seat on Erabarras river, on the southwest
quarter of sec. 28, tp. 5, range 12, and that a writ be
directed to the sheriff commanding him to summon
twelve good and lawful men — householders — to meet on
the premises Friday, the 8th day of November, 1816.
The su bscquent action of the court granted the prayer of
the peiitioners, and the mill was located on the river, in
the southwest qr. of sec. 28, tp. 5, range 12, being the first
water flouring mill authorized to be built in the county.
A reward was offered at the rate of twenty five cents
for male wolf scalps and two dollars for female scalps.
George Barney received the first reward under this
law. At the above session the record reads : " Ordered
that the sum of one dollar and fifty cents be allowed
George Barney for killing two wolves."
SECOND COURT. *
John Mclntosh, William Barney, Robert Frazer,
commissioners. At the February term, 1817, important
charges were made in the subdivision of the county
i nto townships. It was ordered that the county be di-
vided and laid off as follows:" 1, township called Coffee
township, to begin at the mouth of Bonpas creek, and
running up the Wabash river to the line between towns
one and two, and with that line to the meridian line, and
all that part of the county south of the line between
towns one and two compose township No. 1 ; and that
part of the county between the upper boundary of Coffee
township and the base line running west to the meridian
line, compose township No. 2, called Palmyra township;
and that part of the county Ijing between the upper
boundary of Palmyra township, and the line between-
towns one and two north of the base line running
due west, compose township No. 3, called Prairie town-
ship ; and that that .part of the county lying north of
Prairie townthip to the northern boundary of the coiTnty,
compose township No. 4, called Embarras township."
Robert Frazer was appointed assessor in Coffee town-
ship, Samuel Marshall in Palmyra township, ^"eth Gard
in Prairie township and Thomas Pulliam in Embarras
township.
At the same session the rates of taxation were fixed
as follows :
Each mare, horse, mule or ass- ' $60
Each stud-horse, the rates he stands the season
Each bond-servant or >lave , 1 00
Each young man not having taxable property to the amount of two
hundred .1,, liars 1 00
li.Mil..-ii .Ionian's ferry 1 00
Samuel Marshall's ferry 1 no
i alette-i terry • • 2 00
<}*rvi»se Ha/.leton's ferry 400
Francis Vallies' ferry 3 00
Joseph LavuU-It.'V iVnv 2 00
"All town lots, houses iu town, out-lots and mansion-
houses in the country above the value of two hundred
dollars and upwards, all water and wind-mills, at thirty
cents on the one hundred dollars' worth."
A peculiar feature appears in the record of this ses-
sion, trom the fact that the clerk states : " At a county
court begun and held at the court-house in Palmyra,"
etc., while there is nothing in the prior proceedings of
the court to show that any court-house had ever been
constructed, or any moneys appropriated for the same.
At a subsequent day's meeting of the same session, the
following appears : " Ordered that this court adjourn to
the house of Gervase Hazleton, and that the house be
considered the court-house for one year, and he ac-
knowledges the receipt of six and one-fourth cents a full
cousideration for the use of said house for the courts
and elections, and the clerk and sheriff are to have the
use of one room for their office in his house."
THIRD COURT.
William Barney and Samuel Marshall, 1817 to Spring
of 1818.
; • There is nothing in the records of this term of court
I to show that there were more than the above-named
; members constituting it. It must be borne in mind that
| the act of congress creating the state of Illinois was
passed in April, 1818, therefore this court only had ju-
i risdiction of public matters to that time under the "laws
of the territorial government. While the affairs of the
state stood in atatu quo from the time of the passage of
the act until the adoption of the constitution and or-
ganization of the state, the several justices of the peace
within Edwards county constituted the county court,
and transacted the affairs peculiar to that body.
At the October meeting, 1817, the following order
was made: "Ordered that the sura of fifty dollars be
allowed to Levi Comptou, late treasurer of the county,
for taking lists of land tax for the years 1815-16, and
that 4ie same be certified to the auditor of public
, accounts.
Three writs of ad quod damnum for the purpose of
reviewing mill-seats were applied for at this session.
; John Grayson desired to erect a mill on Bonpas creek,
in the northwest quarter of section 34, township No. 2,
range 14, west; Joseph Wright asked the privilege to
build a mill on the Bonpas, in section 26, township 2
south, range 14 west; Leonard White desired to con-
1 struct a mill on the Little Wabash, in section 7, town-
i ship 1, range 9.
The Court ordered that all the hands living north-
i west of the " Old Trace " and Indiana creek, who had
been fined for not working on the road leading from
Small's mill to the Beaver Holes, be exonerated from the
payment of said fines.
It was further ordered that it be certified that Wil-
liam Bodger is a man of good demeanor and moral char-
«lecte<l. S.i lo.iiras thr jud
ohapter one court, though ;
may have been re-elected.
1818.
JUSTICES COURTS
and held f°r the COUIlty °f Edwards> March 23'
Present, Gervase Hazleton, Joseph Baird, Ran-
COURT HOUSE.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
85
som Higgius, William Smith, John Gravson, Samuel
Newell, and James Martin.
At this session five parties were granted license to ]
vend domestic spirits, and the amount of twenty-eight
dollars was allowed for wolf scalps.
It was also ordered that the clerk of this court pro-
cure such weights and measures aa the law directs.
John Hunt, Robert Anderson, Daniel Keen, Robert
Bell, and John Higgins, were recommended to his Ex-
cellency, Ninian Edwards, for Justices of the Peace of
Edwards county.
Abner Armstrong, sheriff of the county, was allowed I
fifty dollars for official services for the year 1817.
At the July session the following order was made:
" Ordered, that Guy W. Smith, John D. Wolverton and
John Shadle, be agents, for this county, to contract for [
building a court-house, and selling the county lots in the \
town of Palmyra ; and that the county agents give pub- j
lie notice in one of the Vincennes papers, and the paper
published at Shawneetown, at least twenty days previous
to the day of sale." At the following day's session, an
order was passed that the county agents should not sell
any lots for less than twenty dollars. Guy W. Smith
was empowered to execute deeds to the said lots.
The commissioners appointed to contract for the build-
ing of a court-house were instructed as follows, relating
to plans and specifications of the said building: "To
be a frame, of good and sufficient timbers, 36 feet wide
by 44 feet long, and 20 feet high from the foundation to
the wall plates, and to be well weather-boarded, with
good seasoned poplar plank of a proper thickness, a
good and sufficient roof of good sound shingles, with a
balcony eight feet square and twelve feet high, and a
steeple 23 feet in height. The building to be let to the
lowest bidder, who shall be bound in a bond with such
security as the said commissioners may deem sufficient
for the just and true performance of the contract, with-
in six months from the first Monday in September next,
when the building of said court-house is to be let."
At the November session, on the application of Wm.
Beauchamp, agent for Thos. Hinde and William Mc-
Dowell, it was ordered that they be permitted to estab-
lish a ferry across the Wabash at the mouth of White
river from their land to the opposite shore.
Augustus Tougas was permitted to keep tavern and
vend spirits for one year, from the first of July, 1818,
by paying a tax of two dollars.
"Ordered, that Edward Burns be allowed the sum of
seventeen dollars extra for building a bridge across
Crawfish creek.
At a special meeting of the court in April, 1819, the
county was again sub-divided into townships having the
following names : Enabarras, Palmyra, Coffee, Bon-
pas and Prairie township.
The judges of election for the several townships, were
respectively as follows : John McClelland, Samuel New-
ell, William Denison, Seth Gdrd, William Barney,
Hezekiah Clark, Levi Compton, Elias Jordan, Philip
Plough, Robert Anderson, Hugh Stewart, Alan Em-
merson, James McMillan, Shadrach Ruark, Richard
B. McCorkle.
FIRST COUNTY COMMISSIONERS* COURT.
John Armstrong, Robert Frazer, John Higgins. 1819
—1820.
The court convened June 7, 1819, the only business
of the day being the appointment of Jesse B. Browne,
County Clerk, and William Beauchamp, County Treas-
urer. On the following day the order for the appoint-
ment of the latter was rescinded, and Scoby Stewart ap-
pointed in his stead.
Jesse B. Browne was allowed thirty dollars for ser-
vices as County Clerk for the year 1818.
Reuben T. Baker was licensed to keep a tavern, and
to vend spirits in Mt Carmel ; John Pitcher was granted
a like license in Albion.
At the September term, 1819, John Small was allowed
sixty dollars for making three seals for the county of
Edwards, under the territorial government, he promis-
ing, by his attorney, to alter the aforesaid seals to State
seals when required.
It was also ordered that the rates of toll across the
Bonpas bridge should be as follows :
Empty cart
Loaded cart
Empty wagon-two horses
Loaded wagon " "
Team of four horses— wagon empty .
Team of four horses— wagon loaded 1 00
Each neat head of cattle 6% cents
Each head of sheep or hogs 3% "
December 6, 1819, the proprietors of Albion petitioned
to establish a mill on Bonpas creek in section 30, town-
ship 1, range 14. The greater portion of the time of the
court at this session was occupied in establishing new
roads in various parts of the county.
"Ordered, that John Youngman be allowed four dol-
lars for the use of his house as a court-room, beginning
the 25th day of March, 1819, and ending the same day
and month, in 1820."
At the March term, 1820, Guy W. Smith was allowed
seventy dollars for taking the census of Edwards county,
in the year 1818. Abner Armstrong was allowed eight
dollars for furnishing four "ticket" boxes. The Clerk
of the Court was allowed thirty dollars for his services
for the year 1819.
SECOND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS* COURT.
John Higgins, Henry Utter, William Clark. 1820—
1821.
John B. Griffith was allowed ten dollars for making
fires and furnishing water for the court. At this session
appears the first allowance to any member of the court
for official services. The order reads: "Ordered, that
John Higgins, Esq., be allowed the sum of five dollars
for a part of his services as County Commissioner for
the year 1819." The first petit jury appointed by the
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LA WHENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
authority of this court, were as folltfws : George Field,
Zeba French, John Phipps, Charles Garner, Aaron
Gould, Enoch Greathouse, Daniel Greathouse, Seth
Gard, Thomas Garder, John Gray, James Gray, John
Grayson, Ransom Higgins, John Higgin?, John Han-
nison, Asa Hannison, Gervase Hazleton, Lemuel Has-
kins, Benjamin Halbert Isaac Harness, Ptlick Hull,
Havilah Green, John Graves, and Daniel Graves.
COUNTY GOVERNMENT AT ALBION.
THIRD COUNTY COMMISSIONERS* COURT.
Henry Utter, George May. 1821—1822.
For this term but two commissioners' names appear
in the records of the proceediugs of the court. It was
in this year that the county seat was located at Albion.
Mu'ch bitterness of feeling sprang out of this change, and
for a time a county war between the factions was im-
minent. It is said that several companies of militia
were raised and drilled in the eastern part of the county,
and they were about to march on Albion and take pos-
session of the records by force of arms. Before any
overt act had been committed the matter was compro-
raised.
No action of the court appears on the record book
from March 7, 1821, to December third following. This
discrepancy is explained by the fact that the court
records were spirited away and hidden for a time while
the warfare, relating to the removal of the county seat,
was in progress. There were three rival towns besides
Palmyra, that were clamoring for the seat of justice ;
Albion, Wanborough, and Centerville. The following
is the report made to the County Commissioners' Court to
permanently locate the county seat : " To the Com-
missjoners" Court of Edwards county, State of Illinois —
Pursuant to an act of the Legislature in the last session,
dated February 1, 1821, entitled an act to provide for
the removal of the Seat of Justice of Edwards county,
having met agreeable to law, and fixed on Albion as the
permanent Seat of Justice; and we also designate and
appoint the Public Library room, in said town, as a
temporary house to hold court until the public buildings
are prepared. Given under our hands and seals this
tenth day of April, 1821,
DAVID TADE,
A. G. L. WIGHT,
AARON WILLIAMS. J L. s. J
On the same day, the commissioners appointed to as- j
sess the damages to the town of Palmyra in consequence i
of the removal of the county seat, made their report, i
The judgment was one-hundred dollars damages, and
that said amount be (qually distributed among the pro- j
prietors of the town of Palmyra. (signed)
A. G. S. WIGHT,
WILSON LAGOW,
AARON WILLIAMS,
DAVID TADE.
The first session, held at Albion, was commenced the
3rd day of December, 1821, and the following is the
first action of the court :
"Ordered, that although the report of the commis-
sioners appointed to fix the county seat of this county
was never properly made, received or recognized by this
court; the report being in no particular in compliance
with the law, yet as the proceedings of this court at Pal-
myra have been decided by the judge of the Circuit Court
to be illegal and void, refusing to latify the proceediugs
thereof; therefore, to avoid the dilemma to which the
people of this county may be reduced, the future sessions
of this Court shall be held at Albion until the Legisla-
ture determine otherwise."
It was further ordered that that part of Edwards coun-
ty lying on the east side of B jnpn creak, f jrm one p irt of
election precinct to be called Palmyra, and that all elec-
tions for said precinct shall be held at the town of Pal-
myra.
Henry I. Mills, sheriff, was allowed four dollars, which
sum he had paid to four men, for guarding James Mar-
tin who had been convicted of larceny.
Henry Cusiek was allowed three dollars and seventy-
five cents for guarding James Allen to Crawford jail,
who had been commited for horse stealing,
At the June term, 1822, the following appears :
" Ordered that Thomas Pulliam be allowed seventy-
six dollars for keeping John Stratton, from the time he
was sold (probably a pauper) at the court-house, until
the first Monday in May, 1822.
FOURTH COUNTY COMMISSIONERS* COURT.
Cyrus Danforth, Samuel Munday, Ephraim Phor.
1822-1824.
It seems that at the convening of this court there existed
a contest for the county clerkship, as this order appears
upon the record. '' Whereas, Jesse B. Browne and Ger-
vase Hazelton are at this time both executing the duties
of clerk of the County Commissioners' Court of Edwards
county, and the Commissioners of said county are not in
possession of such legal evidence as that they can at this
time determine which of the said persons are entitled to
Hhe said office. It is therefore ordered by the court that
Jesse B. Browne do perform the duties of clerk of the
court until the same be legally determined."
David Tade was allowed twenty dollars for twelve days
services attending the legislature for the purpose of ob-
taining an act to permanently locate the county seat of
Edwards county.
" Ordered, that Dr. Ezra Baker be allowed 8120.00
for medical attendance on John L. Jones, a poor tran-
sient person."
At the July term in 1823, the certificate of Association
of the " Albion Library Company " was ordered to be
placed on record. The company was composed of twelve
members, Richard Flower being the chairman.
At the March term in 1824, William White was al-
lowed thirty dollars for making a coffin, and erecting a
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WAS ASH COUN1IES, ILLINOIS.
87
gallows for the execution of Shadrach Perry, who had
been accessory in the committing of a capital offence.
Perry was subsequently pardoned by the govornor.
June 7th, 1824, Henry I. Mills, sheriff, was allowed
$38.25 for grand jury rooms and candles found and pro-
vided for the Circuit Court in the years 1823-4.
At the above session Hiram Bell, County Treaesurer,
settled with the court for the year 1823, when it was
found that he had a balance of $36 86 in his hands due
the county.
FIFTH COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' COURT.
Elias Jordan, James Hunt, Moses Bedell, 1824-1825.
At the first meeting of the court, the following action
was taken relating to the county buildings :
" It appearing to the court that the building com-
menced for the court-house and gaol will be insufficient
for the purpose intended, it is ordered that the same shall
be raised two stories, with a cupola and pediment, and
that a contract to that effect be made."
September 7th, 1824, John B. Johnson was allowed
$22.87 for services as coroner in viewing the body of \
Jones Hobson.
" Ordered, that the lots remaining unsold, donated to
the county of Edwards by the proprietois for the erec- ;
tion of the public buildings, be offered for sale on the
third Monday in Obtober, 1824."
SIXTH COUNTY COMMISSIONERS* COURT.
James Hunt, Joel Churchill, Alan Emmerson, 1825-
1826.
The rate of taxation for 1825, was fixed as follows : ,
One half per cent, on all town lots, carriages for the con- '
veyance of persons, distilleries, stock in trade, horses
three years old and upwards, neat cattle three years old
and upwards, clocks, watches, sheep six mouths old and
upwards, hogs one year old and upwards, leather, small
wagons, road wagons, carts, household furniture, to wit ;
bedsteads, bed curtains and bed furniture, tables, bu-
reaus, side-boards, silver-plate ; libraries containing twen-
ty-five books or more, whiskey beer, and rifle gins.
Henry I. Mills was ordered to take the census for
1825. -
At this session John Robinson was allowed $1.60 for
repairing the market-house for the convenience of hold- i
ing the April term of -circuit court, 1825. The county '
revenue for this year was $832.92i.
" Ordered, that Henry I. Mills be allowed the sum of
$11:».62, for his services in the cases of Kennedy, Mere-
dith and Bottinghouse for murder ; and in the cases of
Joseph Toville, John Hall, William Wood, Daniel Or-
ange, George Flower, Eliza Andrews, Wm. Orange,
Campbell, et al, wherein, the people failed, and for other
services rendered as per account presented."
SEVENTH COUNTY COMMISSIONERS* COURT.
James Hunt, Alan Emmerson, Chas. Stennett, 1826- ;
1828,
At the September term, 1826, the court ordered that
the Circuit Court be next held in the building erected
for a court-house, in the town of Albion.
The 4th of December following, the coroner, Moseg
Thompson, was allowed $14 98 for holding an inquest on
the body of Richard Flower. The deceased came to his
death by the crushing of his skull, caused by the throw-
ing of a bone from the hand of one James Kennedy.
EIGHTH COUNTY COMMISSIONERS* COURT.
James Hunt, James Hean, Chas. Stennett, 1828-1830.
At the December term, 1828, James Gordan, Sheriff
of Edwards county, was allowed $91.75, for services in
the Circuit and County Commissioners' courts, and his
commission in collecting the tax for 1828. On his set-
tlement with the court for the revenue collected in the
above year, he was found indebted to the county the sum
of $428 89.
James Hunt, a justice of the peace, reported a fine
against John Crabtree for assault and battery. The fine
was paid over to the court, but the clerk fails to state
the amount of the fine in his record.
From the following it will be seen that the court-house
was utillized for boih school and church purposes. In
the March term, 1829. "Ordered that Thomas Elton be
permitted to keep a school in the court-room, he agreeing
to glaze the windows, and when the roof shall be repair-
ed to repair the plastering, and keep the same in repair
during the time ha occupies it."
'• Ordered, that public worship be permitted to be held
in the court-room on Sundays, and that Jesse B. Browne
be authorized to take charge of the key and see that no
damage is done."
In 1830, the county comprised eight road districts
with the following named persons as supervisors : First
district, George Woodham ; second district, Robert
Daugherty; third district, William Triscut ; fourth
district, George Walser ; fifth district, Thomas Caruey ;
sixth district, John Cowling; seventh district, John
Elder; eighth district, Sidney Spring.
NINTH COUNTY COMMISSIONERS* COURT.
James Hunt, Alan Emmerson, Charles Stennett in
1830-1832.
At the September term, 1830, Alexander Stewart
was allowed $1.75 for making hand-cuffs and one
night's guarding the jail. From the records of this
session it would seem from the amounts allowed for
guarding the jail, that either the jail was in a very poor
condition or an extra number of criminals were confined
therein.
At the same session Jesse B. Browne was allowed
$3 25 for shoes and socks furnished Belle Tate, a run-
away slave. James Jordan, Sheriff, was allowed $3.81
for clothing furnished to the same party.
" Ordered, that Joel Churchill be permitted to vend
goods, wares and merchandise in the town of Albion for
one year by paying fifteen dollars into the county
treasury." Gibson Harris, Hugh Ranalds, and Moses
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WAS ASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Smith were also licensed to vend goods, etc. The
commissioners appointed to adjust the finances between
Edwards and Wabash counties in pursuance of the
division of said counties in 1824, made their report to the
County Commissioners' court, June 6th, 1831, and in
substance was as follows : That the county of Wabash
pay to the county of Edwards the sum of $787.83, it
being the half of the debt existing at the time of the
division of Edwards county. Commissioners, Joel
Churchill and Abner Armstrong.
TENTH COUNTY COMMISSIONERS* COURT.
James Hunt, Charles Stennett, Thomas Carney. 1832-
38.
Thomas Hunt was allowed two dollars for candles
furnished the Circuit Court for year 1831-32.
September 2d, 1833, George Flower was authorized to
receive from the State Treasurer one hundred dollars,
amount of an appropriation granted by the General
Assembly to Edwards county for the purpose of building
a bridge across Bonpas creek on section 22, town 1 north,
range fourteen west.
At the September term in 1834, Elias -Waver was
allowed $135.00 for making, painting and hanging
window blinds to each and every window in the court,
Chouse at Albion, the same to be paid in specie.
On the 7th of December, Sidney Spring was authorized
by the court to act in conjunction with the county
surveyor of White county to establish the southern
boundary line of Edwards county, beginning at the
southwest corner of section 18, township 3, south of range
— east, and from thence east along said line to the
Wabash river as the case may be, and that said survey
be made in pursuance of the statute in such cases made
and provided.
" Ordered, that Henry Bowman be and is hereby
appointed commissioner and agent of the school lands
situated in the county of Edwards."
At the March term of court 1837, J oel Churchill was
authorized to receive from the bank of Illinois the sum
of six hundred dollars, the same being deposited there
by the commissioner of the sale of the Gallatin saline
land for the use of Edwards county agreeably to an act
of the legislature, approved January 16th, 1836.
The county treasury must have been in excellent
condition in 1837, as the treasurer was authorized to loan
several hundred dollars of the county money at the
special May term of that year.
ELEVENTH COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' COURT.
James Hunt, Leonard C. Bond, John Tribe. 1838-40.
Ed wards county not beingsupplied with a poor house, the
paupers were let to the lowest bidder. The following order
appears at the September term ; " Ordered by the court
that Ann Hickson, a pauper of the county, be let to the
lowest bidder for six months, and thereupon the coroner
proceeded to cry her ofl', and Alviu R. Kenner agrees to
feed, lodge and comfortably clothe the said Ann Ilickson
for the sum of $1.35 per week, and the court agrees to
pay the said sum quarterly in county orders."
TWELFTH COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' COURT.
Leonard C. Bond, John Tribe, J. W. Stevenson. 1840
-1842.
At the September term of 1840, the clerk of the
county court was ordered to notify the clerk of the Cir-
cuit court that grand and petit jurors be allowed seven-
ty-five cents per day for services, and that the clerk of
the Circuit court may grant his certificates of allowance
to the said jurors.
The rate of taxation for the year 1841, was fixed at
twenty cents on every hundred dollars worth of real or
personal property. Charles P. Burns was allowed
seventy dollars for assessing property for the above year.
The total amount collected was $656 89 ; the amount of
delinquent tax, $36.60.
THIRTEENTH COUNTY COMMISSIONERS* COURT.
J. W. Stevenson, John Tribe, Britain Walser. 1842-
1849.
At the special April term, 1843, the court
ordered that the respective road supervisors cause each
able-bodied male person between the ages of twenty-one
and fifty years, to perform four days road labor. In
this year the treasurer of the county was instructed to
pay the State bank of Illinois, paper which had been
collected for revenue up to that time, at the rate of fifty
cents on the dollar.
In 1847, the county constituted four precincts, Albion,
Mills, Shelby and Boltinghouse precincts. Of the former
Alan Eratnerson, Briant Walker, and Alexander West
were appointed judges for the April election. Of Mills
precinct, William A. Montgomery, John Contrecht, and
Peter Hinkle. Shelby precinct, John Bell, John War-
moth, and Niel Shelby. Boltinghouse precinct, James
Hean, Simon Johnson and Laban G. Russell.
FOURTEENTH COUNTY COMMISSIONERS* COUET.
Alan Emmerson, J. H. Stevenson, Matthew Rice.
1849-1850.
The greater portion of the time of the above
court was occupied in regulating and adjusting the road
officers of the county.
The only important action of the commissioners was
the authorizing of the Albion and Gray ville Plank-road
company the right of way through the county on the
highway commonly used in going from Albion to Gray-
ville. This right of way was to continue for thirty
years, with stipulations for toll over said road as follows :
Not to exceed for a horse and rider, a half cent per mile ;
one horse and vehicle, one cent and a half per mile ;
four houses and vehicle, three cents per mile. The
officers of the road were, President, John Brissenden ;
Directors, Alan Emmerson, S. Thompson, Alexander
Stewart, John Butler, Daniel Bulkley and John B.
Jolly.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
FIRST COUNTY COURT.*
Alan Emmerson, judge, Matthew Rice, James Hunt,
associate justices. 185'J-1853.
At the June term a notice is placed on record
wherein the clerk was ordered to post notices to
the effect, that sealed proposals would be received
until the tenth of June, 1851, for the build-
ing of a frame court-house to be thirty-six feet square,
and that for plan and specifications, parties were asked
to call at the clerk's office. At a special term of the
court held the 14th of June, 1851, the subject of build-
ing a new court house was taken into consideration,
when it was decided, that as the people had met and
expressed themselves in favor of constructing a brick
court-house, the court ordered that further action upon
the same be postponed for the present.
September 1st, 1851, the commissioners appointed to
mark, view, and locate a state road from Albion to j
Salem in Marion county, made their report, with plat of |
the same. The road was subsequently opened, it being
a distance of about fifty miles.
The following is a table of the property assessed and
the taxes charged in the county for the year 1852:
Aggregate value of lands $358,002
" " " personal property 177,461
Total value of taxable property 535,463
Amount of State tax $32»>.r,2
" County '.ax 1000.38
Total tai 4837.00
On the 5th of September, 1853, notice was given for
the sale of the old court-house. It was to be sold at
auction to the highest bidder. The purchaser, according
to the conditions of the notice, was entitled to a credit of '
six months, and was required to remove the house from j
the square within nine months from date of sale. Gen. j
William Pickering subsequently became the purchaser, !
paying the sum of one hundred and thirty dollars. At i
the special term of October following, the new court-house
was examined and accepted by the court.
Upon settlement of the county treasurer with the
rturt at the December term, 1853, it was shown that ,
the county income for six months, plus the balance in
the treasury, was $689.46 J ; and that the amount paid
out for the same time was $689 3ji, leaving 11 Jc. in the i
treasury.
SECOND COUNTY COURT.
Alan Emmerson, judge; Matthew Rice, Jonathan
Shelby, associate justices. 1853-1857.
The most important matter brought befoae the court i
in this term was the petition from 519 citizens of the
county, that the honorable body pass an order at the <
earliest day practicable to postpone the sale of all ;
swamp lands unsold for the term of two years ; alleging
in their prayer, that on account of the great scarcity of
money among the farming population, caused by the
failure of the corn crop of the preceding year, a large
portion of the actual citizens were unable to purchase
« In the fall of 1849, the name of this body having county jurisdiction,
was changed, and uniil 1873, was known as tlie County Court, having a
president judge and two assmtiuu: JLL-tu:.:s.
12
said lands, which being the case would render it easier
for foreign speculators to secure all the best swamp
lands at the lowest valuation. The petitioners further
prayed that the court would invest all said lands in the
Alton, Mt. Carmel and New Albany Railroad; and
that the annual revenue arising from said in vestment be
forever set apart for school purposes. The action of the
court upon the petition was substantially as follows :
That inasmuch as the court had not received the legal
evidence of title to the swamp lands, as provided by an
act of the legislature, the sale of said lands should be
postponed ; but, should the inhabitants of the county
desire to make such investment of the proceeds of the
land after the proper evidences of title were had, and
the expenses for surveying, draining, etc , were paid ;
then it would not be the disposition of the court to con-
travene the wishes of the people, provided sufficient
evidence be given from said railroad company of its
ability to build the road within a reasonable time; and
provided further, that interest at the rate of six per cent,
upon said investment be first secured, and that the same
be applied to the school fund, to be paid semi-aunually
in advance.
THIRD COUNTY COURT.
Alan Emmerson, judge, Jonathan Shelby, Britain
Walser, associate justices. 1857-1861.
At the September term of court, 1858, the following
petition was placed before the court, with 219 names
attached : " To the honorable court of Edwards county.
The undersigned, residents and legal voters of Albion
precinct, respectfully request your honorable body not
to grant any license in said precinct for the retail of
spirituous or vinous liquors after the present license
shall have expired, unless a majority of the legal voters
of said precinct shall petition for such license to be
granted." On considering the prayer of the petitioners,
two of the members of the court voted against granting
the prayer, and one was in favor of it.
At a meeting of the citizens of Albion and vicinity,
he'd on the llth of May 1861, a resolution was passed
in substance as follows : That Alan Emmerson, judge
of the county court, is hereby requested to convene a
special term of the county court at the earliest day prac-
ticable, for the purpose of taking into consideration the
following resolution : " Resolved, That the honorable
court of Edwards county are hereby respectfully re-
quested to pass an order of their court, to pay out of the
county treasury a sufficient sum of money to pay the
cost of a full suit of uniform for the use of the Volun-
teer Militia Company of Edwards county, now organized
and ready for marching, and waiting for the orders of
the governor of the State of Illinois.
The court, upon considering the above request, passed
an order in compliance with the resolution, one member
dissenting on the ground, as he believed, that the court
was not vested with such power. At the September
term of the same year, an order was passed by the court,
that five cents on each hundred dollars be assessed for
M
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
the purpose of creating a fund to provide for the families
of members of the miliiary companies that were then, or
should be subsequently organized and mustered into the
United States service. Jesse Emmerson, John Smith,
and James R. Jacobs were appointed by the court to
make distributions to said families, with stipulations that
they exercise careful judgment in the discharge of their
duties.
The valuation of real and personal property in the county
for the year ISO), was $1,124,393.00
State tax 7,533.45
County tax, including school tax, ete 6135.78
Acres "in cultivation, »lii.it, tyKis ; com, l:\lli ; olher field
products 9,607
FOURTH COUNTY COURT.
Samuel R. Hall, judge ; Jacob Kramer, Sanford Em-
merson, associate justices. 1861-1865.
According to the report of the county collector for
1863, the delinquent tax was but $30 70. Only nine-
teen names were reported as not paying their taxes,
fifteen of whom had left the county— three were not
found, and one was reported dead.
Nothing of an unusual character came before this
court, its time being mainly occupied in regulating road
and bridge affairs.
FIFTH COUNTY COURT.
Samuel R. Hall, judge; Andrew Huffman, Daniel
P. Hunter, associate justices. 1865-1869.
At the September term of court, 1865, the following
petition, signed by fifty-seven of the legal voters of the
county, was presented for the court's action : " The un-
der.-igned, legal voters of Edwards county, do hereby
respectfully petition your honorable body, that you will
at your next meeting on the first Monday of September,
submit to the voters of the county the question of town-
ship organization, to be voted on, for or against, at the
next general election. The court ordered that a vote
should be so taken in the several voting prtcincts at the
time specified in the petition.
On the 3d December, 1866, Saywell Perkins'gave his
bond as sheriff and ex-officio collector in the sum of forty-
two thousand nine hundred and one dollars.
At the March meeting of the court in 1868, a petition
of the legal voters of the county was presented, request-
ing that an election be called to ascertain if the citizens
of the county were in favor of taking stock in the Gray-
ville and Mattoon Railroad to the amount of $150,000.
The court ordered an election to be held on the 28th
day of March, 1868, with proper stipulations to protect
the people against any non-performance of agreement or
action on the part of the railrbad company. The vote
resulted hi favor of subscribing for the above amount of
stock.
December 10th of the same year another election was
ordered to be htld on the 16th day of January, 1869,
for the purpose of increasing the aforesaid amount to
$180,000. The court, at a special session in the same
month, rescinded the order made on the 10th inst., and
substituted an order that an election should be held on
the 23d of January, to vote for or against taking $40,-
000 stock in the road, in addition to the $150 000 al-
ready voted,— making in all $190,000 stock for said
railroad.
On account of the order made by the court at the
first election, giving only twenty-six days' notice, instead
of thirty days as the law required, said appropriation
became null and void, leaving but $40,000 stock voted
for the road. From this fact and some other causes, the
company built the road passing Albion four miles to the
eastward. For the benefit of future readt-rs of history,
we will here state that the road, at this writing, is known
as the Peoria, Decatur and Evansville railway.
SIXTH COUNTY COURT.
Samuel R. Hall, judge; Andrew Huffman, Edward
Handley, associate justices. 1869-1872.
December 7, 1869, John B. Orange, a justice of the
peace, made report that, in the absence of the coroner,
he had held an inquest on the body of James Blackford,
a non-resident of the county, who was killed at the house
of John Carbaugh on the 21st of September, 1869, and
that the deceased had no effects on his person ; therefore,
the petitioner asked that his fees might be allowed by
the court.
At the March term in 1872, the court ordered that
each owner of dogs in Edwards county be taxed for the
year, 1872, as follows: "That one dog shall be exempt
for the head of each family, and that all over and above
one dog be taxed two dollars per head'' ; and it was
further ordered that the proceeds of such tax be paid
into the county treasury.
SEVENTH COUNTY COURT.
Samuel R. Hall, judge ; Andrew Huffman and Alfred
Brown, associate judges, 1872-1873. March 4. 1873,
Jesse Emmerson was appointed agent of Edwards
county, to sell all the swamp lands remaining unsoH •
the terms of sale to be one-half cash, and the balance on
a credit of twelve months time, taking mortgage to
secure the deferred purchase money.
FIRST BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
Josiah Dawes, chairman ; Andrew Huffman, Alfred
Brown, 1873-1878.
At the special December term, in 1873, George
Michaels was appointed sheriffand ex-officio collector to fill
the vacancy caused by the death of Maxwell W. Morgan.
On the 24th of March, 1874, the court passed an order that
a reward of one hundred dollars be offered, to be paid
at the county expense, for the capture of Christopher
C. Hunt, a fugitive from justice, charged with
killing one, William C. Mading, on the morning of the
14th of March, 1874. Hunt was subsequently arrested,
tried and acquitted. At the June term following, John
Martin was allowed the sum of one hundred dollars, the
amount of the reward offered for the arrest of said
Hunt.
SECOND BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
Josiah Dawes, chairman ; Alfred Brown, Francis
Greathouse, 1878-1880.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
THIRD BOARD OP COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
Josiah Dawes, chairman ; Francis Greathouse, Corap.
ton Woodbam, 1880 1881.
On the third of March, 1881, Doctors John C.
MeClurkin and J. Cameron McClurkin entered into a
contract with the court to furnish medical attendance to
the paupers of Albion p ecinct for one year, commencing
March 7, 1881, for the sum of seventy dollars. The
same parties, on the same day, contracted to furnish
medical attendance to the paupers of Dixon preciuct;
one year for nine dollars. For the same time, etc.,
George W. Gaddy agreed to furnish said attendance for
the sum of thirty-six dollars to the paupers of Shelby
precinct. Elisha Jenner for same services, etc , con-
tracted to wait ou the paupers of Salem precinct, for the
sum of forty dollars. The contract for French creek
precinct was given to Dr. Loren Burdick for the sum
of fifty dollars.
At a special term, held in March, 1881, a compromise
was effected between the county and the Louisville, New
Albany, and St Louis railway, now Louisville, Evans-
ville, and St. Louis railway, relating to back taxes of
said road in the amount of $1951.55. The court upon
due consideration accepted the proposition of the rail-
road company, to-wit, that the company pay the State
and school taxes due, upon conditions that the board
make a rebate of the county and road taxes amounting
to, including interest and printer's fees, the sum of
$596.03, with this proviso, that the said State school tax
be paid within six months from the passage of this I
order.
FOURTH BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
Josiah Dawes, Coraptou Woodham, Charles Walser, i
1881-1882.
The following order was passed by the board at the i
June sessions, 1882 : " Ordered that the authorities of
the village of Albion be permitted to use the room in the
county jail, known as the debtor's room, for a calaboose, |
when not required for county use ; provided, that the
village of Albion pay all damages caused by prisoners
who may be confined therein. All former orders of the
c mnty board on this subject are hereby rescinded and
annulled."
of all the taxable property in the
year
14,002.77
7-24.40
4,350.66
The total val
188-', w
Total n ..... i|,t~ f.,r the same
Total county order* issued
T tal jury certificates
Amount in treasury after paying all indebtedness
The salaries of the county officers, from and after the
first Monday in December, were fixed as follow : County
Judge, $500; County Clerk, $1200; Sheriff, $1200;
County Treasurer, $500 ; County Superintendent of
schools to employ, not exceeding seventy-five days, in
the dischirge of his official duties.
FIFTH AND PRESENT BOARD OF COUNTY COMMIS- *
8IONEK9.
Compton Woodham, Charles Walser, Charles Clark,
1882.
The last action of the board now spread upon the re-
cords, made December 6, 1882, reads as follows: "Or-
dered by the board that from and after this date road
supervisors shall receive for their services, in attending
to their official duties, required by law, the sum of $1 50
for each day necessarily spent over and above the three
days' labor, personally required of each ; provided, that
the entire expenditures of such supervisors, shall iu no
instance exceed the amount certified by the county clerk
to each, unless such additional expenditure is made by
consent of one or more of the county commissioners."
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
As shown on a preceding page of this chapter, the
first courts were held at the priva'e residence of certain
citizens of Palmyra, and also that an order of the county
court had been made for the letting and contracting for
a court building, yet it all came to naught, perhaps on
account of the agitation of the question for removing the
capital of the county to some other point. Albion offered
the greatest inducements for such a change, the pro-
prietors of the town entering into a bond in the sum of
$50,000 to deed to the county twenty acres of land for
county use, besides binding themselves in the above
amount to furnish for the erection of public buildings,
70,000 bricks or perches of stone to the same amount ;
also 20,000 feet of plank ; 20,000 feet of scantlings ;
20,000 shingles ; also to furnish $500 worth of hand and
team labor, and further, to fit up the market-house con-
venient for holding court until the public buildings
should be completed. This, no doubt, was the great
incentive which induced the commissioners to locate the
county seat at Albion.
A contract was entered into July 9, 1823, between the
court in behalf of the county, and John Robinson and
William Wilson, contractors, to construct a court-house
of certain material and dimensions for the sum of
$1800. The building was to be of brick material,
26x30 feet on the ground, one story high, and
a gaol fitted up in the interior of the building.
On the 24th of August, 1824, another contract was
entered into between the court and contractors(in sub-
stance as follows : That whereas it now appears to the
commissioners that the building heretofore contemplated
will be insufficient, it is hereby agreed between the con -
raissioners and contractors that the plan be so altered as
to raise the building two stories, the brick work to be at
least twenty feet high, and the building fifty by thirty
feet in size, having a cupola enclosed with Venetian
blinds, and a pediment in front. The main room on
the first floor was to be divided by two partitions, making
two rooms and a passage-way and stair-case leading to
the second story. The two west and north rooms on the
ground floor, were to contain fire-places. The second
story was to contain a court-room thirty by forty feet,
including walls, with a fire-place, seats, boxes, etc. The
east part of the story was to be divided into a stair-case
and a prison for debtors, also to be furnished with fire-
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASB COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
place. The walls were to be plastered, and the doors
were to contain panels, the whole to be finished in a work-
manlifee manner. The huilding was to be completed
by the first of May, 1825. The contractors were to re-
ceive $1,200 additional for ihe change made in the plan,
making a total cost of $3,000. It was situated in the
southwest part of the public square, and on completion
of the present building it was sold to General Pickering
for one hundred dollors.
The contract for building the present court-house was
entered into the second of March, 1852. Elias
Weaver was the lowest bidder, offering to con-
struct the building according to the plan and
tprcificatiors fixed by the court, for the sum of
$3,600. It was to be built of brick, forty feet square,
and two stories high, with s'one foundation. The walls
of the first story were to be twelve feet high and eighteen
inches thick ; the walls of the second story ten feet high
and thirteen inches thick. The lower story was to con-
tain eight windows, one large front door, on the south
side of the building, with side lights and circular sash ;
one door at the west, entering on the stair-case leading
to the second story ; said story to contain four rooms,
with a passage-way of eight feet wide, and to be supplied
with ten windows. The sills for the doors and caps of
the windows were to be of stone ; the window frames and
side doors to be black wa'nut, the windows to be
furnished with green Venetian shutters ; the walls to be
lathed and plastered, all to be finished in workmanlike
order. A cupola was to adorn the building similar in
architecture to the cupola of the Carnai court-house.
Half of the floor of the lower story was to be laid iu
brick, the other half to be plank and raised ten inches
above the former. The judge's bench, clerk's desk, and
jury box were to be finished in similar manner to those
of the courthouse at Mt. Carmel. The whole of the
building was to be constructed of good material, and to
be completed on or before the 15th of November, 1853.
The first jail built in the county was at Palmyra, in
1815. It was constructed of hewed logs, a puncheon floor,
shingle roof, and cost the county $255. The second
jail-room was located in the old court house at Albion.
From 1853 to 1859, the county was without any build-
ing wherein to confine their prisoners, and they were
conveyed for safe-keeping to either Mt. Carmel or Carmi.
The contract for the present jail was lei to Elias
Weaver, the 30th day of April, 1859. The design was
substantially as follows: The material for the walls
was to be of brick ; the size, 42 by 24 feet and two
stories high. A hall eight feet wide to extend through
the center of the building both above and below. The
lower floor to contain two rooms fifteen by twenty-two
feet each ; second floor, four rooms eleven by fifteen feet
each ; lower story 9} feet high ; upper rooms eight feet
high. The main entrance to the hall was to be
a single door with side and transit lights. The founda-
tion was to be of blue stone, eighteen inches in the
ground, and deeper where necessary, said foundation to
extend one foot above the ground and to be eighteen
inches in thickness. Oatside and partition walls were
to be thirteen inches ; the rooms for the cells to be
floored with brick after being raised to a sufficient
height to prevent dampness ; the four windows of the
cell rooms and debtor's room to be of iron gratin.', and
all the windows of the building to be furnished with
shutters with green Venetian blinds, the door leading
into the cell room to be made sufficiently strong, of good
sound oak ; the locks of cell and debtors' rooms to be
sufficiently strong for jail purposes, and in general the
whole building to be completed in a thoroughly work-
manlike manner. For the completion of the building
the contractor received $2,600. It is situated in the
court-house square, just east of the. court-building.
SUMMARY OF TAXABLE PROPERTY IN THE COUNTY IN
1815.
Of all the vast territory comprised within the bounda-
ries of Edwards county, there were but two hundred
and thirteen citizens who were subjected to taxation.
The following is the listed personal property for the
year 1815 :
Saw Mills .......................... 1
Mansion Houses .................... . 1
Horses ........................... 324
Studs do .......................... 4
Neat cattle over three ye
Bonded Servants and Slaves ................ 2
Henry Beson owned the greatest number of horses,
seven in number. The largest number of cattle owned
by any one person was 40, August Tougas owner.
John Stillwell and Augustus Tougas owned one slave
each. The above mentioned "mansion house" was
owned by Joseph Tougas, and was listed at $300. The
saw mill was owned by John Small and William Spen-
cer, and was assessed at $800.
In 1816, there were twenty-three registered slaves in
the county. From the register of that date we copy
the following : Samuel Marshall has brought into this
Territory a negro woman, of black complexion, about
five feet three inches high, named Fanny and aged
about 17 years, who this day acknowledged before me
that she owed her said master, Samuel Marshall, fifty-
nine years' service from this date.
September 23, 1816. G. W. SMITH, Clerk.
A few years later by the papers on file, it seems that
the bonded slaves of Edwards county were given their
freedom, by the common consent of their masters. One
of these certificates placed on record reads as follows :
" Whereas Armstead, otherwise called Arm, a young
man of color, has this day produced to me a certificate
of freedom and discharge, executed by John Stillwell,
his former master and owner, and duly acknowledged
before Moses Michels, Esq., one of the Justices of the
Peace of Edwards county ; Now I do hereby certify to
all whom it may concern, that said Arm tead about
twenty-two years, of dark commplexion, about five feet,
five inches high, is actually free and is permitted to set-
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
tie in the State of Illinois pursuant to the statutes in
such case made and provided.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and
affixed the seal of Edwards county Commissioners'
Court this 6th day of November, 1822.
JESSE B. BROWNE, Clerk."
CIRCUIT COURTS.
The first Circuit Court held in Edwards county was
convened at Palmyra the llth of July, 1815, Judge
Stanley Griswold presiding. The first business of the
court was to appoint N. Claypole, clerk of the court.
Judge Griswold then produced an allotment, desiring
the same to be placed of record which was as follows :
Territory of Illinois ss. — Be it known that under an
act of Congress entitled an act regulating and defining
the duties of the United State Judges for the Territory
of Illinois ; it is allotted to Jesse B. Thomas to preside
in the first circuit ; to William Sprigg, in the second
circuit, and to Stanley G -Uwjlrt in the third. Given
under our hands and seals this 29th of May, 1815.
Thomas C. Browne presented his commission from the
Governor, as Prosecuting Attorney for the district con-
sisting of the counties of Edwards, Gallatin and John-
son. 'I he Sheriff, Abner Armstrong, presented the fol-
lowing panel of Grand Jurors: John Wood (foreman),
James Majors, William Arnold, John Neesler, Philip
Plough, William Jordan. Spencer Wood, Hervy Crooks,
Isaac Greathouse, Enoch Greathouse, Thomas Banks,
John Waggoner, Thomas Thompson, Moses Decker,
Thomas Pulliam, Reuben Blackford, George Goble and
Joseph Lavulette; "eighteen good and lawful men,
tried and sworn." The jury retired and found indict-
ments as follows: John Stillwell, assault and battery;
Samuel Stillwell, assault and battery ; Patsey and Han-
nah Still well, assault and battery; George Antis, larceny;
William Spence, using an estray.
The first case tried was the United States vg. John
Stillwell for assault and battery. The following jury
was empaneled : Henry Crooks, John Neesler, Philip
Plough, James Majors, William Arnold, John Arnold,
Phil Hull, Thomas Banks, John Shadle, John Arnold,
James Adams, and Charles Garner. The defendant's
attorney moved to exclude all testimony tending to
prove an assault committed on^any day except on the
day mentioned in the indictment. The court overruled
the motion. The jury found a verdict of guilty, whep
the court assessed a fine of two dollars and payment of
c sts of prosecution. It will be seen that the petit jury
was composed mostly of the members of the grand jury
who found the indictments.
In the case of United States tv». Patsy and Hannah
Stillwoll, after a trial by jury, the prosecuting attorney
made a motion that the pro-ecutrix be exonerated from
paying costs of suit. The Judge so ordered. The in-
dictment against Samuel Stillwell, was quashed on the
ground that the indictment should have been found for
mayhem instead of assault and battery. On motion of
the prosecuting attorney the court ordered that a capias
be issued in the cases of Armsted, Antis, and Spencer,
after which the court adjourned until court in course.
At the July term of court, 1816, the following named
applicants were admitted to practice law in this court:
Adolphus T. Hubbard, Elias K. Kane, Thos. H. Baker,
John McLean, Russell E. Heacock, and Jeptha Hardin.
FIRST MURDER TRIAL.
This case came up at the special term of court in Jan-
uary, 1824, on the presentment of the grand jury of an
indictment against Shadrach Perry for being accessory
to the wantonly killing of one Jones Hobson. On mo-
tion of the prosecuting attorney, the court ordered that
the prisoner be brought forth for trial. On being ar-
raigned to make his plea, the prisoner pleaded not guil-
I ty, whereupon the following jury was empaneled to hear
the case : John Hunt, Joseph Rodgers, William Cun-
ningham, Daniel Lynch, Roland Layne, Stephen Sim-
; mons, Thomas Hunt, William Stone, Jonathan Shelby,
Benjamin Skinner, Christopher W. Wright, and James
Stapleton. The trial occupied two days. The jury was
out but two hours, when they returned to the court-room
and pronounced a verdict of guilty.
The counsel for Perry made a motion for a new trial,
! which was overruled by the court. Perry's counsel then
1 moved for an arrest of judgment on the ground that the in-
dictment was defective; first, that it did not set forth the ve-
1 uire in a proper manner, and that the names of the grand
i jurors were not in the indictment, or the captain thereof,
etc., which after being argued was also overruled. The
! court then proceeded to pronounce sentence in the fol-
j lowing language : " The judgment of the law, and the
: court pronounces it, is that you be taken thence to the
place of your confinement and from thence, on the 24th of
' February next, to some convenient place within half a
mile of the seat of justice of this county, and there, be-
i tween the hours of eleven and three o'clock of that day,
! be hanged by the neck until you are dead, and that the
i sheriff execute this judgment." WM. WILSON, Judge.
The evidence summed up in the case was subitantial-
! ly as follows : That one Benjamin Clark engaged in an
] altercation with the deceased, Jones Hubson, in a certain
j saloon in the town of Albion, and while the two parties
were clenched in a struggle upon the floor, the former
[ gave Hobson a fatal stab with a butcher knife. Upon
! the murderer's attempt to escape, Perry stepped forward
: with his rifle in hand, saying that he would shoot any
man who attempted the arrest of Clark, the homicide
thus escaping from the hands of justice. It is said that
the knife by which Hobson lost his life is among the
rubbish in the present court-house. But it seems that
I Perry was not born to be hanged. While confined un-
der sentence of death, a " rough " by the name of Jack
I Ellis who lived in Albion, had a conference with the con-
i demned and proposed to him that for his rifle, he would
1 attempt to obtain his pardon from Governor Cole. The
bargain was made, and Ellis mounted his horse and rode
seventy-five miles to Vandalia, the capital of the state, at
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
that time. Here, by mingling with the rowdy element,
and being profuse with calling out the drinks, he suc-
ceeded in getting a long list of names to his petition for
the pardon of Perry. On presenting it to the governor,
the pardon was obtained. In justice to Governor Cole,
it should be stated that he was ignorant of where or how
the names to the petition were obtained, thinking, no
doubt, that they were all representative citizens of Ed-
wards county. It is said that a ludicrous scene occurred
during the interview of Ellis and Perry, on the former's
return with the pardon. Perry had been brought from
a neighboring jail the day before the execution, and was
chained to a beam in a house at Albion. When Ellis
exhibited the pardon to the prisoner, he made a demand
for the rifle, as per agreement. Perry flatly refused to
give it up, when Ellis remarked, " Very well, no rifle, no
pardon, here goes the paper into the fire ; " at the same
time tossing it on to the ashes near the flames. Perry
became very humble, and offered not only the lifle, but
his ax, cow, and all he possessed for the precious bit of
paper that was to save bis neck from the halter. The
exchange was made and the criminal became a free
man. A large concourse of people were present on the
day named for execution, as it was not known he had
obtained executive clemency. The gallows had been
erected, a cottin made, and the rope procurtd for the
purpose of the scene that was soon to be enacted. Af-
ter liberation, Perry claimed the coffin and rope which
the county had procured for his especial use. They
were given to him, and the former became a fixture in
his cabin as a corner-cupboard.
SECOND MURDER CASE.
This case came up at the August term of court, 1825,
and was caused by the death of Richard Flower* Jr.,
who was killed at the hands, as alleged, of three parties,
James Kennedy, William Meredith, and Dennis Bolt-
inghouse. At the inquest the coroner's jury gave the
following decision: We, the jury, empaneled, and
sworn to examine the body of Richard Flower, deceased,
do report that, in our opinion, his death was occasioned
by a blow on the right side of his head, wilfully given
by James Kennedy, William Meredith, and Dennis
Boltiughouse, as an accomplice. Albion, July 13, 1825.
J. W. Johnson, Archibald Spring, Oswald Warrington,
Gibson Harris, Wm. Woods, John Robinson, John
Dunn, William Burton, William Cooper, James Bur-
ton, J Carter. An indictment was found against Jas.
Kennedy and William Meredith for the commission of
the crime, by the grand jury, in the following terms :
State of Illinois, )
Edwards County. ) s
Be it known that at a special term of the Circuit
Court begun and holden at the court-house at Albion,
in and for the said county of Edwards, on the eighth
day of August, in the year of our Ljrd, one thousand
eight hundred and twenty-five, in pursuance of an act
of the General Assembly, of said State of Illinois,
entitled '• an act constituting and regulating the Supreme
and Circuit Courts of this State, approved the 29th of
December, A. D., 1824." The grand jurors of the people
of the said State of Illinois, upon their oath, present that
James Kennedy, late of the township of Bonpas, in the
county of Edwards, aforesaid, laborer, and William
Meredith, laborer, not having the fear of God before
their eyes, but being moved and seduced by the instiga-
tion of the devil, on the twelfth day of July, in the year
of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-
five, with force and arms, at the township aforesaid, in
the county aforesaid, in and upon one Richard Flower,
Jr., in the peace of God and of the people of the State
of Illinois, then and there, being feloniously, wilfully
and of their malice aforethought, did make an assault,
and that the said James Kennedy with a certain bone of
no value, which he the said James Kennedy, in his right
hand, then and there hid and held, in upon the right sic'e
of the head of him, the said Richard Flower, then aud
there feloniously, wilfully and of his malice aforethought
did cast and th.ow ; and that the said Richard Flower,
in and upon the right side of the head of him, the said
Richard Flower, then and there feloniously, wilfully of
his malice aforethought, did strike, fracture, bruise and
wound, giving to the said Richard Flower, by the cast-
ing and throwing of the bone aforesaid, in and upon the
right side of the head of him, the said Richard Flower,
one mortal bruise, of which said mortal bruise, he, the
said Richard Flower, from the twelfth day of July, in
the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and
twenty-five, at the township of Bonpas, aforesaid, in the
county of Edwards, aforesaid, did languish and lan-
guishing did live, on which thirteenth day of July, in
the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and
twenty-five, aforesaid, he, the said Richard Flower, at
the township aforesaid, in the county aforesaid, of the
said mortal bruise did die. And that the said William
Meredith then and there feloniously, wilfully, and of
his malice aforethought was present, aiding, helping,
abetting, and comforting, assisting and maintaining the
felony, and moreover aforesaid, in manner and form
aforesaid to do and commit; and so the juors aforesaid
upon their oath aforesaid, do say that the said James
Kennedy and William Meredith-, the said Richard Flower
then and there in macfter and form aforesaid, wilfully
and of their malice aforethought, did kill and murder,
contrary to the statute in such case made and provided
and against the peace aud dignity of the people of the
State of Illinois. Signed,
JOHN ROBINSON, Circuit Attorney.
The case was tried on the llth of August, 1825, and
was submitted to the jury, when they retired to make up
their verdict. The docket states that on the following
morning, at six o'clock, they returned into the court-
room aud pronounced a verdict of not guilty. The ex-
tenuating circumstances in the case which came out in
the evidence were, that the bone thrown by the hand of
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Kennedy, was cast at a dog, and uot with the intention of
injuring Flower.
The public whipping-post was resorted to in the early :
da}*?, as the following from the docket of the June term, '
1821, will show. One James Martin, who had been com j
victed of larceny, was sentenced to pay a fine of fifty
dollars, and to receive twenty-five lathes upon his bare
back, the sheriff being ordered to "execute the sentence
immediately."
FIRST NATURALIZATION.
The following was placed on record April 28, .819: j
" This day Morris Birkbeck personally appeared in open
court, and made declaration of his bonafide intention to
become a citizen, and it appearing to the satisfaction of
the court that the said Morris Birkbeck had taken his
residence in the United States two years and more pre- j
vious to this declaration, which is in words and figuresj
following to wit: I, Morris Birkbeck, a native of Set-
tle, in Ei'gland, of the age of fifty-three years, and now,
or lately, owing allegiance to his Majesty, the King of |
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, do j
hereby declare that it is bona fide my intention to be-
come a citizen of the United States, and to renounce !
forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince> |
potentate, State or sovereignty whatever, and particu-
larly to renounce forever all allegiance and fidelity to j
his said Majesty, King of the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland.
Sworn to in open court."
JUDGES OF THE CIRCUIT COURT.
On the organization of the county in 1814, the State
was divided into three circuits, Edwards county, forming
a portion of the third judicial circuit, of which Stanley
Griswold was judge, and presided over the first
session of the Circuit Court until 1816. During the
following year Thomas Towles presided. From 1817
to 1818, Jeptha Hardin judge. From 1818 to 1819,
Thomas C. Browne was on the bench. William Wilson
presided from 1819 to 1825. James O. Wattles from j
1825 to 1827. Thomas C. Browne again resumed the
bench in 1827, and served one year. William Wilson
served from 1828 to 1835. Justin Harlan from 1835
to 1841. William Wilson again upon the bench from
1841 to 1849. Justin Harlan from 1849 to 1851. Sam- j
uel S. Marshall upon the bench in 1851, and resigned
in 1854. Downing Baugh served one year, and resigned j
1855. Edwin Btecher from 1855 to 1865. James M.
Pollock from 1865 to 1873. The General Assembly, by i
act of March 28, 1»73, divided the State into twenty -six
judicial circuits, in each of which one judge was elected
for the term of six years. Edwards county then formed ]
a part of the 24th circuit, and Tazewell B. Turner was j
elected judge of the circuit. In 1877, by an act of the i
Legislature, the twenty-six circuits were consolidated, '
forming thirteen judicial circuits, the twenty-first and
twenty-fourth constituting the second judicial circuit un- j
der the new regime. Under this law three judges were
required to preside in each district. John H. Halley, of
Newton, was elected in 1877 to form the required num-
ber of judges in this circuit; the bench then beingJudges
Tazewell B. Tanner, James C. Allen, and John H.
Halley. Since 1879, Chancey S. Conger, Thomas S.
Casey, and William C. Jones have presided in this judi-
cial circuit.
FIRST PROBATE BUSINESS.
From the records on file it appeals that no regular
record was kept of the proceedings of the Probate Court
until 1831, when Walter L. Mayo occurs as the first
judge then presiding.all prior proceedings being simply
the recording of wills. of various parties. The first
estate regularly probated was that of David Robson, at
a special term of court, held the 19th of August, 1831.
Robert Mills was appointed administrator of the estate,
and entered into a bond of one thousand dollars for the
true and honest discharge of his duties, giving Robert
Willis and Joel C. Churchill security for the due perfor-
mance of the same.
THE FIRST WILL
Was executed the 14th of September, 1815, by Edward
Wilson. The following is a synopsis of said bequest:
That Edward Wilson, of Edwards county, Illinois Ter-
ritory, being weak in body, but of sound mind, do make
and publish my last will and testament, to wit: that I
bequeath, after my body be decently buried, to my
daughter Susanna Bathe, wife of George Bathe, five
shillings; also my daughter Mary Enlow, wife of James
Enlow ; to my son John Wilson, to ray daughter,
Elenor Enlow, wife of Jesse Enlow ; to my son Joseph
Wilson ; also my son Isaac Wilson ; also my son James
Wilson, the sum of five shillings each. I give and
bequeath unto my grandson, Edward Wilson, one cow
and three sows ; that I give and bequeath unto my
grand-daughter Chiistiana Wilson, two cows on the
following conditions: that the said John Wilson and the
said Christiana Wilson continue to live with William
Sampson or Jerry Wilson, obeying all reasonable com-
mands until they are of age. I further bequeath that
the remainder of my estate be equally divided between
my daughter, Jane Sampson, wife of William Sampson,
and my son Jeremiah Wilson. And I here nominate
and appoint Henry Enlow, of Bourbon county, Ken-
tucky, executor of my last will and testament, etc.,
hereby revoking all former wills by me made.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and
seal the fourteenth of September, A. D. 1815.
Witnesses, Smith Shaw, E. N. Cullom, Andrew Mont-
gomery.
PROBATE JUDGES.
Walter L. Mayo served as Judge of probate matters
from 1831 to 1849. After the adoption of the constitu-
tion of 1848, and the organization of the county court,
the county judge was given jurisdiction of probate
matters. Under this administration of affairs Alan
Emmerson served the county as county judge from 1849
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
to 1861. Samuel R. Hall was then elected, and filled
the office to 1873. Under an act of the Legislature of
1871, in pursuance of a provision of the new constitu-
tion, the probate court was given concurrent jurisdic-
tion with the circuit court in all law cases to a limited
amount. Judge Hall served in this capacity to the end '
of his term, 1873. In the above year, Judge J. M. j
Campbell was elected, and has ably filled the office to !
the present writing, 1883.
FIRST DEED RECORDED.
The following is a synopsis of the first deed placed on !
record in Edwards county : It is dated the 7th day of
January, 1815, the conveyors being Thomas Pulliam and
Nancy, his wife, for and in considerateon of the sum of
four hundred dollars, do convey to August Lavulette
dit Tougas, all that tract of land lying in the county of
Edwards, Illinois territory, it being the southeast quar-
ter of section 24, township one north, range twelve west !
which the said Thomas Pulliam is entitled to by patent
from the United States, bearing date the 30th day of !
July, 1812. This deed was signed and sealed in the j
presence of Robert and Joseph Baird.
DELEGATES TO CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
In the constitutional convention held at Kaskaskia in !
1818, Seth Gard and Levi Corapton represented the |
people of Edwards county. Alvin R. Kenner repre- ]
sented the counties of Edwards and Wayne in the con- •
stitutional convention of 1847. At the convention of I
18B2 R. P. Hanna represented Edwards and Wayne. |
The constitution framed by this convention was rejected
by the people. lu the framing of the present constitu-
tion in 1870, Edwards and White counties constituted
the fourteenth district, and was represented by Charles
E. McDowell, of White county.
THE COUNTY IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
On the organizing of the county in 1814, the act pro-
vided for a special election to be held at the seat of
justice in March, 1815, for the purpose of electing a rep- j
resentative for the county to the territorial legislature>
whereupon Seth Gard was duly elected, which position
he held until the admission of the state into the Union
in 1818. Guy W. Smith was the state senator in the
first General Assembly, and Henry Utter was the first
representative in the lower house. The second General
Assembly, 1820-22. Robert Frazier was in the senate,
and Alexander Campbell representative. Third Gtn-
eral Assembly, 1822-24, Robert Frazier in the senate, j
and Gilbert F. Pell representative. Fourth General
Assembly, 1824-26, Stephen Bliss, senator, Henry Utter, j
representative ; Fifth General Assembly, 1826-28, Ed- \
wards and Wabash counties formed one senatorial dis-
trict which was represented by Stephen Bliss, Henry I.
Mills, representative ; at the Sixth General Assembly,
1828-30, Edwards, Waba-h and Wayne counties consti-
tuted one senatorial district and was represented by
Enoch Beach of Wayne county, Gilbert T. Pell, repre-
sentative ; Seventh General Assembly, 1830-32, Enoch
Beach was re-elected, James Jordan representative ;
Eighth General Assembly, 1832-34, Henry I. Mills,
senator, Thomas Hunt, representative. Both of the
above were re-elected to the Ninth and Tenth General
Assemblies, 1834-35, 36-38; Eleventh General As-
sembly, 1838-50, Henry I. Mills, senator, Alan Emmer-
s«n, representative ; Twelfth General Assembly, 1840-
42, Kigdon B. Slocum, senator, Alan Emmerson, repre-
sentative ; Thirteenth General Assembly, 1842-44,
Rigdon B. Slocum re-elected senator, William Picker-
ing, representative; Fourteenth General Assembly,
1844-46, Charles H. Constable, senator, William Pick-
ering, re-elected ; Fifteenth General Assembly, 1846-48,
Charles H. Constable, senator, William Pickering, rep-
resentative. Prior to the convening of the Sixteenth
General Assembly, 1848-50, the constitution of 1848
.had been adopted which provided that the state be
divided into twenty-five senatorial districts and fifty-four
representative districts, the counties of Edwards, Effing-
ham, Jasper, Clay, Richland, Lawrence, and Wabash
forming the eighth senatorial district. Alfred H. Grass
of Lawrence county was elected state senator to repre-
sent this district; Edwards and Wabash counties formed
the eighth Representative district, William Pickering of
Edwards county, representative; Seventeenth General
Assembly, 1850-52, Alfred H Grass, senator, William
Pickering, representative; Eighteenth General Assembly,
1852-54, Mortimer 0 Kean of Jasper elected senator, Vic-
tor H. Bell of Wabash, representative ; Nineteenth Gen-
eral Assembly, 1854-56, Mortimer O'Kean, senator, C. C.
Hopkins of Edwards, representative, changed to the
tenth district ; Twentieth General Assembly, 1856-58,
Mortimer O'Kean, re-elected, Charles P. Burns of Ed-
wards, representative ; Twenty-first General Assembly,
1858-60, Mortimer O Kean, senator, R. T. Forth of
Wayne county, representative. (\Vayne county had
been placed with the tenth representative district)
Twenty-second General Assembly, 1860-62, Presley
Frunkhouser of Effingham, senator, Nathan Crews of
Wayne, representative.
In 1861, the General Assembly made a general re-
vision of the senatorial and representative districts,
Edwards, Hamilton, Wabash, Wayne, Clay, Richland,
White and Lawrence counties constituted the second
senatorial district, and Edwards and White the four-
teenth representative district. Hugh Gregg represented
the former district in the Twenty-third General Assembly
and Chauncy L. Congor of White county was in the
lower house; Twenty-fourth General Assembly, 1864-
66, John W. Wescott, senator, Jonathan Shelby, repre-
sentative; Twenty-fifth General Assembly, 1866-68,
John W. Wescott, senator, Patrick Dolan, representa-
tive; Twenty-sixth General Assembly, 1868-70, J. J.
R. Turney, senator, John Landrigan, representative.
After the adoption of the new constitution another
change was made in the districts. Twenty-seventh Gen-
eral Assembly, 1870-72, John Landrigan of Albion,
was in the senate, and Walter L. Mayo in the lower
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WAS ASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
97
house; Twenty-eighth General Assembly, 1872-74,
George W. Henry, senator, Isaac N. Jacquess, Robert
T. Forth, and David W. Barkley. The senatorial dis-
trict was numbered forty-fourth, the representative
district being the same number. Twenty-ninth General
Assembly, 1874-76, Goerge W. Henry, senator, Samuel
R. Hall, Byron J. Rotan and John Landrigan, repre-
sentatives; Thirtieth General Assembly, 1876-78,
Robert P. Hanna, senator, Hiram H. Chesslry, Wm.
R. Wilkinson and George D. Ramsey, representative.
Thirty-first General Assembly, 1878-80, Robert P.
Lanna, senator; Jacob Zimmerman, William Bower,
and Charles Churchill representatives ; Thiny-second
General Assembly, 1880-1882, John R. Tanner senator,
Nathan Crews, James Keen, E. B. Kean, representa-
tives. Present General Assembly, John R. Tanner,
senator, E. Rowland, John S. Simonds, and Henry
Studer, representatives.
COUNTY CLERKS.
Nathaniel Claypoole, 1815. (Died shortly after
appointment.) G. W. Smith, 1815-18 ; Jessie B. Brow-
ne, 1818-21: Gervase Hazleton, 1821-23; Jesse B.
Bro*ne, 1823-31 ; Walter L. Mayo, 1831-70 ; William
B. Tribe, 1870-77 ; Charles Emmerson, 1877-83, present
incumbent.
CLERKS OF THE CIRCUIT COURT.
N. Claypoole was appointed first circuit clerk in 1815.
(Died in 1815.) G. W. Smith, 1815-18; Jesse B.
Browne, 1818-31 ; Walter L. Mayo, 1831-68 ; William
B. Tribe since 1868.
51 ; Cyrus Rice, 1851-!il ; Edgar W. Brandon, 1861-
65 ; (Subsequent to this date the name of the office is
changed to county superintendent of schools.) Lothrop
T. Rude, 1865-G9; Levinus Harris, 1869 to present
time.
SURVEYORS.
The first surveyor was Robert Baird, appointed in
1815, and served for several years. It was not until
1839, that it became an elective office, from which time
the following is a roster of the county surveyors : Sidney
Spring, 1839-43; Thomas R. Birkett, 1843-59; Joseph
Phillips, 1859-61 ; Thomas R. Birkett, (re-elected) 1861
-67 ; Francis W. Eberman, 1867-69 ; Thomas R. Bir-
kett, 1869-79; Edward L. Chalcraft, 1879 to the
present, 1883.
CORONERS.
John Tome, 1820-22. John Love, 1822-2J; (Re-
signed.) Moses Thompson, 1824-26; Samuel Arthur,
1826-32 ; John Skeavington, 18:j2-34 ; Henry Bowman,
1834-36 ; James Carter, 1836-38 ; A. R. Kenner, 1838
-40; James McDonald, 1840-46; James Kenner, 1846
-48; Andrew Huffman, 1848-56; John Boyd, 1856-
60 ; William W. Brown, 1860-62 ; F. B. Thompson,
1862-64; Say well Perkins, 1864-66; H. H. Clark,
1866-68; John Brown, 1868-71; F. B. Thompson
elected in 1871, to fill vacancy, served until 1872; H.
H. Clark, 1872-78 ; Henry C. Reno, elected in 1878,
and failed to qualify; Alvin C. Low, 1879-80; J. C.
McClurkin, 1880-82; Smith D. Low, 1882, and is pres-
ent incumbent.
Abner Armstrong, 1815-20 ; Henry I. Mills, 1820-
26; James Jordan, 1826-30; Thomas Hunt, 1830-32 ;
Henry Bowman, 1832-38 ; James Carter, 1838-42 ; A.
R. Kenner, 1842-48 ; Jesse Emmerson, 1848-50 ; James
Kenner, 1850-52 ; William Woods, 1852-58 ; William
A. Montgomery. 1858-60 ; George Michels, 1860-62 ;
Jesse Emmerson, 1862-64; William W. Brown, 18iii-
66; Saywell Perkins, 1866-68; Lee Woods, 1868-70;
Maxwell W. Morgan, 1870-73 ; (Died iu office.) George
Michels was appointed to fill vacancy to 1874, when he
was elected for two successive terms. Charles Hall,
1878-80; Joseph Green, 1880-82 ; Frank Dalby, 1882;
and is present incumbent.
COUNTY TREASURERS.
Levi Campton, 1815-19; Scoby Stewart, 1819-21 .
Hiram Bell, 1821-24 ; Robert Frazier, 1824-30 ; John
Woods, 1830-32 ; Daniel Stennett, 1832-35 ; Charles P.
Burns, 1835-37 ; Alan Emmerson, 1837 ; (Resigned.)
John Woods, 1837-71 ; George Michels, 1871-73; John
Woods, 1873-75 ; George Bower, 1875 to present time
1883.
SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS AND COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS.
Henry Bowman, 1838; (Died soon after appoint-
ment) Henry I Mills, 1838-42 ; James Hcau, 1842-
LAWRENCE COUNTY.
The territory of Lawrence formed a part of the county
of Illinois until April 27th, 1790. when Arthur St.
Clair divided the vast territory into various counties.
The east boundary line of St. Clair county was the
meridian line passing through FortMassacon the Ohio ;
thus the territory along the Wabash, was detached from
the rest of Illinois and formed a component part of
Knox county. The separation of the Territory north-
west of the river Ohio into those of Ohio, May 7th, 1800,
and Indiana July 4th, 1800, left matters in statu quo.
The organization of the Territory of Illinois, February
3d, 1809, led to a new formation of counties, to wit, St.
Clair and. Randolph, April 28th, 1809. The St. Clair
county of 1760 was bounded on the east by the Fort
! Massac meridian, on the north by the Ohio, on the west
i by the Mississippi and on the north by the Illinois river.
| The county St. Clair of 1809 extended from the Wabash
• to the Mississippi, was bounded on the south by township
', lines between towns three and four south of the base Hue
extending north to the English possessions. This
territory (now comprising Lawrence) remained a part of
j St. Clair county until November 28th, 1814, when the
I county of Edwards was organized of which it formed a
: component part until it was organized into a separate
county. The northern part of Lawrence county however
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
belonged to the county of Crawford from December 31st,
1816, to January 16th, 1821.
The county of Edwards, whose center of population at
the time of its organization was in the territory of (» hat
is now Wabash and Lawrence counties) appears to have
been represented in the territorial legislature of 1816-
1817 for the first and only time, when Seth Card was a
member of the house. The Illinois legislative directory
of 1881 does not mention the name of the gentlemen,
who represented the county in 1817 and 1818. Willis
Hargrave is mentioned as a member from White.
Seth Card and Levi Compton were delegated to the
constitutional convention of 1818. In the first and
second General Assembly of Illinois, the counties were
represented by Guy W. Smith and Robert Frazier in the
Senate and by Henry Utter, Alexander Campbell and
Moses Michaels in the House.
This county, organized under a special act of the
legislature, was by the organization of Richland county,
February 24th, 1841, reduced to the following boundary,
to wit, on the East by the Wabash river, on the South
by Wabash county, on the West by Richland county,
and on the North by Crawford county. 'Its area now
comprises seven full congressional townships, four frac-
tional ones, along the Wabash, and four parts of town-
ships on the north boundary line. The county' was
named after the famous James Lawrence, captain U. S.
N., whose dying words : " Don't give up the ship! " are
alive on the lips of every true American.
The act of the General Assembly of Illinois which
called the county of Lawrence into existence, is in words
and figures as follows :
The bi'll to organize the new county, was introduced
in the house of Representatives by the Hon. Moses
Michaels, member from Edwards, the 26th of December,
18-20, and upon motion of Hon. Wickliffe Kitchell,
advanced to a second reading on the day following. On
motion of Hon. Henry Eddy, of Gallatin, the bill was
referred to a committee of the whole House and made
the order of the day for December 30th, when it was
referred to » select committee. This committee reported
progress and obtained leave to " sit " again on said bill.
On the 4th of January the committee reported, giving
the new county the name of " Perry." Blackwell of St.
Clair sought to amend the bill by substituting the word
" Dubois " in lieu of Perry, which amendment was lost,
Eddy tried the name of " Decatur ;" it was lost ; then
Blackwell suggested first " Pike " and then"Azby,"
all to no purpose, when Kitchell .succeeded to have his
amendment, to call the new county "Lawrence,"
adopted.
An Act for the formation of a new county out of the
counties of Edwards and Crawford.
Approved January 16th, 1821.
§ 1. Be it enacted by the people of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly: That all that
tract of country contained within the follow ing boundary,
to wit: Beginning on the great W abash river, seven
miles north of the base line, thence west to Wayne county
' line, thence north two miles north of town four, thence
j east to the said Wabash river, thence with said river to
the place of beginning, shall constitute a new county, to
be called the county of Lawrence; and for the purpose
of fixing a permanent seat of justice therein, the follow-
ing persons were appointed commissioners, to wit: David
Porter, Moses Thompson and William Wilson, which
said commissioners, or a majority of them, shall meet at
the house of Toussaint Dubois, on the first Monday of
May next, and after being duly sworn before some
j Justice of the Peace in this State, to faithfully take into
view the convenience of the people and the situation of
the settlements, with an eye to the future population and
the eligibility of the place, shall proceed to determine on
| the place of the permanent seat of justice, and designate
the same. Provided: The proprietor or proprietors of
the land shall give to the county, for the purpose of
erecting public buildings, a quantity of land, not less
than twenty acres, to be laid off into lots and sold for
! that purpose. But should the proprietor or proprietors
refuse or neglect to make the donation aforesaid, then
and in that case it shall be the duty of said commission-
ers to fix on some other place for the seat of justice
as convenient as may be to the inhabitants of said county,
which place, when fixed and determined upon, the said
' commissioners shall certify under their hands and seals,
i and return the same to the next commissioners' court in
the said county, which court shall cause an entry thereof
to be made on their books of record ; and until the pub-
lic building be erected, the court shall be held at the
house of Toussaint Dubois, in the said county.
§ ?. Be it' further enacted: That the commissioners
shall receive a compensation of two dollars for each day's
j attendance that may be necessary in fixing the aforesaid
j seat of justice, to be paid out of the county treasury by
an order from the commissioners' court.
! § 3. Be it further enacted: That the citizens of Law-
I rence county are hereby declared to be entitled, in all
I respects, to the same rights and privileges as are in gen-
j eral allowed other counties in the State.
§ 4. Be'it further enacted : That the county of Law-
rence shall be and compose a part of the second judicial
circuit, and the courts shall be holden therein at such
times as shall be specified by law.
j At the time of the organization of the county as such,
! a very large portion of the public lands had become the
| property of individuals, and in order to show clearly
which parts of. the county were settled, and who the
settlers were, we shall here introduce the names of the
freeholders in each congressional township, having been
i residents thereof prior to 1821. Non-resident land-
holders, of whom there were not many, will also be men-
tioned.
Town 3 North, Range 10 West.— Henry Cassady, Rob-
ert Bunting, J. B Tougas, J. B. Chartier, Heirs of Du-
rnais, Thomas Jones, Paul Gamelin, Pierre Carnoyer,
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
John Elliot, Franjois B.>sseron, John Askin, J. B.
Bassine, Joseph Laraot, Laurent Bassine, Joseph Ham-
trarnac, Hugh Hawl (Hall), Fran9ois Vigo, William
H. Harrison, Lawrence Slaughter, Daniel Sullivan,
Pierre Bonneau, Larant Hainlan and Henry Giilhara.
These twenty-three individuals owned 2,960 acres of
land, all French locations, varying in area from 34 to
201 acres. None of the government lands d scribed in
the usual manner, by sections, etc. were entered prior to
1821.
Town 4 North, Range 10 West— William Hogue, A.
F. Snapp, William Clark, James Baird, William Mcln-
tosh (speculator). Toussaint Dubois, Abner Reeves and
Andrew Robinson. These eight persons owned 2,196
acres, also French locations, and militia rights ; no gov-
ernment lands entered prior to 1821
Town 5 North, Range 10 West. — Laurent Bazadon,
Heirs of Stockwell, and Willia-n Hogue, owned 422
acres, all locations.
Town 2 North, Range 11 West.— William Mclntosh,
Louis Ravellate, Joseph Tougas, Pierre Grimmayre,
and Widow Clairmont owned 2,27- acres, French loca-
tions, improvements, and militia rights.
Town 3 North, Range 11 West : Toussaint Dubois,
Htirs of Dubois, William Morrison, John Small, W.
M. Small, and T H. Small owned 2.430 acres, all loca-
tions, improvements and militia rights.
Towns 4 & 5 North, Range II. — Samuel Harris Eli
Harris, Israel Price, Henry Price, Andrew Pinkstaff,
Michael Price, Charles Emmons) John Pinkstaff, James
Bryan, Adam Lackey, jr, John Dollaham, Edward
Mills, J. McCord, R ,bert McCord, Samuel McCord,
David McCi>rd,'Lion Morris, John Morris, Joshua An-
derson, Daniel Travis, Thomas Baggott, James Baggott
Eady Cole, John Dunlap, John Conner, Samu-1 Allison,
John McMillen, William Howard, Moses Turner, John
Hart, John M- Cleave, J. M. Cawley, John Ashbrook,
Henry Johnston, E. H. Allison, Samuel Leneve, John
Allison, Alexander Turner, Joseph Ridgeway, David
Travis, Moses Turner, Thomas Anderson, Joseph Berry,
J. R. Adams, John Berry, G. W. Kinkade, William
Huston, Thomas McCall, Samuel Gaston, Abraham
Cams (Cairns), Francis Boggs, Scott Biggs, Ben.
Matthew, Aivlrew McClure, David Ruby, Francis Cul-
lom, Peter Price, Edward Inlow and Cornelius Vaun-
ausdell had, during the years from 1814 to 1822, entered
11,500 acres of congress land.
Town 2 North, Range 12 West.— Victor Buchanan,
Adam Corrie (an English speculator, who entered over
5.000 acres of land in this township about the year 1818),
Thomas Brooks, J. B. Vale urs, J. B Chartier, William
Spencer, John Davis, August Tougas, Shadrach Ru-
ark, jr., John Gibson, James Johnson and William
Leach entered 7,676 acres prior to 1822.
Town 3 North, Range 12 West —Toussaint Dubois
possessed in this township five "locations," aggregating
764 acres, and Henry Faile, William Smith, John Beu-
uefield, Peter Lewis, William Spencer, B. McCleave,
William French, Adam Claycomb, William Jones, Con-
stant McMahan, Samuel Newell, Nathan Rawlings,
John Richardson, Elijah Atherton, Patrick Doherty,
Daniel Grove, John Richardson, Larkin Ryle, John
Buchanan, Absalom Milton, Rezin Clubb, Thos. Fish,
John Scott, Alley Miller, John Wilson, Rezin Ragen,
John Gillespie, Samuel Parr, James Ryan, Samuel S.
Chi Ids, John Andrew, Jarvis Burroughs, Benjamin
Gibbs, Win. Kinkade, John Clark, William Dennison,
John Powers, John Osburn and Joshua Butler possessed
6,472 acres of c.mgress land prior to 1822.
Towns 4 and 5 North, Range 12 West. —Thomas Kell,
A Gallaher, C. White, Robert Bennefield, Solomon
Breginaw, George Westner, Joseph P. Badollet, Corne-
lius Vanansdale, T. Roseman, James Stewart, John
Bennefield.'Thomas Tyffe, Thomas Landau, Moses Petty,
Joshua Allender, Peter Shidler, Willi-m Speucer and
William Douglas were in possession of 4,480 acres of
land in these towns prior to 1822.
Towns 2, 3, 4 and 5 North, Range 13 West —Adam
Corrie, Jacob Sch rader, Shadrach Ruark, And w. Christy,
Elijah Clubb, Moses Laws, Wm. Laws, John Laws,
Samuel H. Clubb, Wm. Martin, Benjamin Sumner,
Richard Heath, Hugh Drennon, Richard B. McCorkle,
Alexander Frazier, and P. and J. Pargin owned 6,400
acres in this the most western part of the county in its
present limits.
From the foregoing list it would appear lhat 46,828
j acres, or ab.mt one-fifth the area of the county, was in
possession of private individuals, a large and overwhelm-
ing majority of whom were actual settlers.
The population of the county at the time of its organ-
ization consisted of the families of about 250 freeholders
and of probably as large a number of " squatters,"
Crawford and Edwards counties, according to the census
of 1820, had a population of 6,443 in that year, which
increased to 11,136 during the next decade. The terri-
tory of those two counties in 1820 was, in 1830, divided
into four counties, to wit: Crawford, with a population
3117; Edwards, with 1649; Lawrence, with 3668; and
Wabash, with 2710. Allowing that the increase in
population by immigration and otherwise was uniform
in those four counties, it is safe to assume ihat the popu-
lation of Lawrence county at the time of its organization
amounted to 2250 souls.
Early Deaths. — The probate records of 1821 and 1822
mention the following estates put under administration,
to wit: John Richardson, whose personal property was
valued at $801.70; Peter Lewis, whose personal property
brought 8468.86; Joshua Gifford, value $153 37i ; Eli
Harris, whose personal property amounted to $-302 81,
whose real estate was appraised at $1950 ; Samuel
Norton, $526.50; Thomas Evans, $311.37; William
Dukes, $613 85 ; Bennet Organ, $263.87 ; Ben Matthew,
8227.50 ; and Thomas Baird, $666.75.
None of those estates would in our days be called a
large one, but each was solvent, with a small surplus;
the most remarkable feature of those early estates is,
100
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LA WRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
however, that they differ but slightly in amount. Prices
paid in those days for the various products of the land
were fair. A yoke of oxen would bring from $36 to
$40, cows $9 and $10, hogs sold for $1.50, corn was I
worth 20c. a bushel, cotton 12jc. a pound, etc.
The first will probated in the court of Lawrence was |
filed for record on the 20ih of August, 1821, a verbatim j
copy of which is here introduced :
Last Will of John Pargin.— Know all men by these
presents that I, John Pargin, of Lawrence county and
state of Illinois, being in my right mind and sences,
and a low state of health, I make and ordain my last j
will and testament. In the name of God, amen : First, '
I will that Samuel H. Clubb and Cossier Pargin be the j
executors of this my last will and testament ; secondly,
I will that all my just deabts be pade by my executors ;
thirdly, I will and bequeath unto my son, Peter Pargin,
my young sorrel mare and my rifle gun and my steel !
trap ; forthly, I will and bequeath one hundred dollars
of my money that I now have to be lade out in land at
congress price, in the county of Lawrence, in the name
of Polly, John and Jacob pargin, my three youngest chil-
dren as their part of my estate ;. sixthly, I will and be-
queath sade lande as a home for my wife during her
widerhood ; seventh, I will and bequeath to my wife,
" Cossier " pargin, all the reste of my property and
money as longe as she remains a wider, to raise the chil-
dren on and to go to them at her death if anything is
left ; eight, I will that the taxes of sade lande be pade
out of my estate until the three children comes of lawful
age. Sinde and sealed in the presents of us this eleventh
day of March in the year of our Lord 1821.
JOHN PARGIN.
This will was witnessed by Samuel Stoltz and Aaron
Vanetta and probated on the 20th of August, 1821, be-
fore H. M. Gillhain, judge of probate.
The form of this will differs from the average in the
opening sentence; the "know all men" introduction
causes the reader to presume that the author of said will
was guided by the phraseology used in writing deeds.
Looking over the list of marriages in the Pioneer chap-
ter the reader will observe that Mrs. " Cossier pargin "
did not remain in the state of " widderhood " for a great
length of time. The " widder Cossier" Pargin became
Mrs. Casiah Barney on the 3d of July, 1822.
COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
We introduce here the proceedings of the first session
of the county commissioners' court. The act creating
the county of Lawrence did not provide for a special
election of commissioners, hence it is to be inferred that
those officers were appointed by Gov. Shadrach Bond-
The Proceedings : —
STATE OF ILLINOIS,") . ., 1 . 1891
Lawrence county, j F '
This being the first meeting of the county commission-
ers'court for the county of Lawrence, there were present
John Dunlap, James Lanterman and William Martin,
who were duly sworn and qualified into office by Tlioruas
Anderson, Esq, a justice of the peace for said county.
Toussaint Dubois was then appointed clerk for the
county commissioners' court of Lawrence county, who
being duly sworn and having given bond and security
faithfully to discharge the duties of said office, pro-
ceeded immediately to fulfill the same.
Ordered, that Samuel H. Clubb be and he is hereby
appointed treasurer of the county of Lawrence, and he
having given b nd and security faithfully to discharge
the duties of said office, was duly sworn and qualified.
Ordered, that Thomas Ashbrook and Thomas Bland
be, and they are hereby appointed constables for the
county of Lawrence.
Ordered, that the following named persons be sum-
moned to serve as petit jurors for the first term of the
circuit court to be holden on the first Monday in June
next: William P. Blanchard, John Ruark, William
Leach, Aaron Vannatta, Victor Buchanuau, Jacob
Helphestine, John Mills, Samuel Lancave, John Adams,
William Ashbrook, Jeremiah Robinson, Alexander
Turner, William Spencer, Joseph Lamotte, James Ryan,
Jacob Trout, Harris McCord, Jonathan Allison, Joseph
Baird, Asa Norton, William Westrope, Hugh Kinkade
and James Gibson. Adjourned, etc.
At the second term, a special one held on Wednesday,
the 16th of May, 1821,' the report of the state commis-
misioners for locating the permanent seat cf justice for
Lawrence county was returned to the court, in words as
follows, to wit :
To the honorable the county commissioners for the
county of Lawrence, state of Illinois, for locating the
permanent seat for said county, do certify that we have
determined upon twenty acres of land, situate on the
west side of river Erabarras, about 300 yards north of
Dubois mills, on a ridge to the left of the St. Louis
road, laid off in a square, and have designated as the
centre of said twenty acres of land a white-oak stump
with a peeled stake sticking by its side, as the permanent
seat of justice for said county of Lawrence, in the state
of Illinois.
Given under our hands and seals this 9th day of
May, 1821.
M. THOMPSON,
WILLIAM WILSON.
The expenses of these commissioners amounted to
$22 00 for themselves and $8. 00 for David Porter. The
warrants issued to those parties were the first issued by
the court. John Dunlap was appointed to make a sur-
vey of the "donation land" made to the county, and
also to lay off the town of Lawrenceville into streets
and alleys. These lots were ordered to be sold on the
first Monday and Tuesday of July, 1821, and the clerk
was instructed to advertise the sale in the " Indiana
Sentinel" and " Western Sun," printed at Vincenues,
and also in the "Illinois Gazette" and the' "Illinois
Intelligencer," printed in this state.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS. 101
The sale of those county lots did not fill the treasury
of the new county as was expected. Money was scarce
and although easy terms were granted, the old settlers !
of 1820 were too cautious and reluctant to contract debts '
of any kind. The want of money was so severely felt
throughout the State, that the legislature resorted to a
scheme of creating money. It is but recently that the
people of these United States have seen a new party —
the " Greenback party " for short — spring ioto life, with
the avowed object of abolishing the use of gold and sil-
ver as measures of values and substituting tluir fiat
money for it. The older people of the county have had j
some experience in this matter, for there was a time ;
when the county authorities flooded the county with a i
paper currency, based on an empty treasury. The few j
remarks introduced here are intended for the generation j
now starting out into political life. It is presumed to ;
be know by all, that almost every person residing in !
Illinois in 1820 and 1821 was virtually a bankrupt, that I
is, he could not pay any debt, however small it was, j
despite his possessing many acres of lands, etc., simply :
because there was no money in the State. Well, it was
a glorious time for "fiat" money, and the legislature •
created it by chartering the State Bank of Illinois, with- j
out a dollar in its vaults and wholly on the credit of j
the State. It was authorized to issue notes of various j
denominations, differing from the notes of regular banks
only in being made interest bearing (2 per cent, per
annum) and payable by the state after ten years. The
bank and it* branches, officered by men appointed by
the legislature (politicians of course and not business !
men), were directed by law to lend its bills to the peo-
ple, to the amount of one hundred dollars on personal
security, and of larger amounts upon the security of
mortgages on real estate. These note were to be re- !
ceived in payment of taxes, costs, fees, salaries, etc , and
if tendered to a creditor and by him refused, the debtor
could stay the collectioa of the debt due by him for [
three years by giving personal security. The Solons at I
Vandalia (nomen et omen) actually believed that these |
notes would be worth their face in gold or silver, and I
the Secretary of the Treasury of the U. S. was requested \
by a resolution of the legislature to receive those notes j
at the various land offices in payment for public lands.
Governor Ford, in his history of Illinois, tells an amus-
ing anecdote in reference to the adoption of this reso-
lution in the State S nate : When it was put to a vote
in the senate, the old French Lieutenant Governor,
Colonel Menard, presiding over the body, did up the
business as follows :
Gentlemen of de Senate, it is moved and seconded dat i
de notes of dis bank be made land office money. All in
favor of dat motion say aye, all against it say no. It is
decided in de affirmative. And now gentlemen I bet you
one hundred dollars he never he made land office money, j
The banks went into operation in 1821, and their officers
finding it easier and more pleasant to lend than to re-
fuse, had soon scattered hundreds of thousands of their
" fiat " money throughout the state. It was taken at
first at 75 cents per dollar, but Boon came down to 25
cents. A large number of people who had " borrowed "
from the banks, thought, of course, that their transac-
tions with the banks terminated then and there. The
idea of repaying was and remained foreign to them.
The real troubles commenced four and five years later,
as appears from the dockets of all circuit courts in the
older countries. Countless lawsuits and few "returns"
were the consequences of the "financial" legislation.
But to return to the subject of county government, we
will state, that the county commissioners appointed a
large number of supervisors to take charge of the public
roads in the county, to wit : Robert Bennefield, on the
county line, and east of the Embarras river; Peter
Shidler, also on the county line road, from the range line
between 12 and 13, to the line between 13 and 14.
Thaddeus Morehouse, on the west end of railroad ; Ben-
jamin McClure, to the road leading from Yellow Banks
to Joseph Lamotte's ; James Ryan, Daniel Deniston
Benjamin Summer and Cornelius De Long on the old
Sallsburg road ; Thomas Buchanan on the Palmyra road ;
Samuel H. McCord, on the north line of the county, be-
tween ranges 10 and 11, thence west with the line of
Embarras river, thence down to Du Bois' mills and
thence to Purgatory ! (This is the first time that the
queer and ominous name is mentioned in the official
records. The wiiter has frequently heard the known
Western exclamation " There's h (ades) on the Wabash ;"
(could this phrase have originated with the above un-
heard of designation of a creek or swamp?) Joseph
Baird, Daniel, Travi?, James Gibson and Jeremiah Rob-
ertson were also appointed supervisors of roads.
The attention of the commissioners was next directed
to the organization of military districts, one for each
company. There were enough able-bodied men in the
county to form six companies. This circumstance seems
to verify the supposition express d above, in reference to
the estimated number of inhabitants in 1821.
The returns of the elections of company and regimen-
tal officers have not been preserved ; they would have
been of much interest to the reader.
We introduce here the boundary lines of the various
districts, and such other information as could be gathefed
from the records.
MILITIA DISTRICTS.
First Company. — Beginning at the Embarras river,
one mile north of the lines between towns 3 and 4, thence
west with said line till it strikes the range line between 13
and 14, thence north with that line till it strikes the
county line, thence with the county line to Embarras river
and with said river to the place of beginning.
Second Company. — Beginning at the northwest conn r
of section 10, thence south to the county line, thence
with said line to the Wabash river, thence up said river
to the mouth of the Embarras, thence up said river to
one mile south of the line between towns 3 and 4.
102
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Third Company. — Beginning northeast of section 9,
thence south to the county line, thence with said line
to the range line between 13 and 14, thence with said
line to one mile south of the line between township 3 and
4, thence with said line to the place of beginning.
Fourth Company. — All that part of the county west of
range 13 and 14.
Fifth Company — Beginning at the Embarras river
thence to the W abash river to the county line, thence
west to the line between ranges 10 and 11, thence south
with said line to the marsh on which the bridge is at
Houston's, and with said marsh to the said range Lne
leaving Eli Harris to the east and south with said line
to the Embarras river, and with said river to the place
of beginning.
Sixth Company. — Beginning on the line between ranges
10 and 11 oil the north county line, thence with the Em-
barras river, and down the river to Purgatory thence up
Purgatory to the marsh bridge, at Ashbrooks and down
said marsh to the line between sections 27 and 22, thence
east with said line past the school-house to the line
between ranges 10 and 11 an i south with said line to the
beginning.
Elections for company, battalion and regimental offi-
cers were held on the 23rd of June, 1821, at the houses of
Isaiah Lewis; Victor Buchanan ; Richard B McCorkle;
Cornelius De Long ; Peter Price and William Adams.
After having provided for proper military protection
and warlike emergencies the court directed their atten-
tion to what may be termed home comfort, by granting
license to Cornelius, Taylor, and also to Elijah Lamp-
hear, to keep taverns, without confining them to any lo-
cality. Each of these men paid an annual tax of $3.00 in
advance, thus enabling Squire Clubb to make the first
entry of moneys received into the treasury of the county
of Lawrence. The prices which guests and cm-
tomers were to be charged, were stipulated by a solemn
order, as follows : Each meal 25 cts., lodging 1"} cts.,
each horse feed 12} cts., keeping a horse for a full day
50 cts., whiskey 12} cts , French braudy 50 cts., Jamaica
spirits 50 cts., Holland gin 50 cts., domestic brandy 25
cts., wine 50 cts., peach braudy 25 cts. and domestic gin
25 cts., per one half pint. The fractional parts of cents
must have been a source of trouble in making change;
and yet the very same rates, with the half and frequently
quarter cents are met with every where during that
period of time. The fact of so many brands of foreign
and domestic liquors being kept on tap, must lead one
to suppose that those old settlers of ours were rather
inclined to indulge.
H. S. Campbell, too, was licensed to retail liquor " by
the small," and paid a tax of three dollars for the privi.
lege. His was not a tavern, but merely a tippling house.
We have thus far traced $9 in the public cash box, and
now comes Squire Anderson and pays into court an-
other $2, which he has collected from persons for " pro-
fane " swearing. Swearing, common and profane, is no
longer a source of revenue, prolific though it might
prove, while alcoholic liquors have to this day main-
tained their position as first-class sources of public
revenue, here as well as in all other civilized nations.
The government of the county was now fairly started,
with John Dunlap, James Lauterman and William
Martin as county commissioners; Toussaint Dubois as
clerk; Samuel H. Clubb, treasurer and assessor; H. M.
Gillharn, probate judge ; William Wilson, circuit judge;
Toussaint Dubois, circuit clerk ; Henry Dubois, sheriff;
J. M. Robinson, prosecuting attorney ; Robert Benne-
field, coroner ; and J. Dunlap, county surveyor.
.Thomas Armstrong, Benjamin McCleave, James West-
fall and Daniel Travis were acting justices of the peace.
The first public improvement made under the direc-
tion of the court was the building of a stray pen, con-
structed by Sheriff Dubois at an expense of $7.75. A
sale of donation lots took place on the 9th of July, 18-1,
and the proceeds, to wit, $250.12}, were paid into court
on the 3d of September. Toussa''nt Dubois, at whose
house court was held, resigned the office of county clerk
on the 3d Sep'ember, 1821, and was succeeded by James
M. McLean.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
The court next proceeded to have a jail constructed.
The same was to be 17 feet square, two stories high, to
be constructed of hewn logs, double walls, and the space
between walls to be filled with rocks ; the rooms to be 7
feet in the clear. Cornelius Taylor contracted with the
court, and was to be paid $625 for the job. It seems,
however, that Isaac Fail had to complete the work, for
a settlement with him as builder of the jail was perfected
in March, 1822.
THE FIRST COURT-HOUSE.
The court, at the special August term, 1822, entered
into an agreement with H. M. Gillham to build a suit-
able court-house of brick for and in consideration of the
sum of $1500, on the place which the commissioners ap-
pointed by the State had selected for a permanent seat
of justice. At the same time the court contracted with
Bastian Smith for 80,000 bricks, at $4.25 per thousand,
said brick to be used in building the court-house. It is
impossible to state if the bricks were paid out of the
above $1500, or by the county direct. At any rate, the
building proceeded very slowly, and in December, 1823^
two new contractors, Onates Chafie and Joshua Eaton,
were mentioned in connection with the building. The
house was finally received on the 24th of July, 1824, but
was in so poor a condition that it had to be temporarily
abandoned. The June term of 1825 was held at the
house of Richard Mieure, and the December term 1825,
at Hiram Wade's. Gabriel T. Canthorm's house shel-
tered the court during the March, June and September
! terms, 1826. Meanwhile the county had" contracted with
Joshua Bond to finish the court-house at a further ex-
penditure of $2500. Mr. Bond filed his bond on the 5th
of June, 1826, and was paid the full amount on the
same day. This court-house has certainly cost the county
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
103
the sum of $5,000, and not $1,500, as usually under-
stood.
EARLY FERRIES
The various streams coursing through the count)" were
too large to be bridged and too deep to be forded, hence i
a number of ferries were established at an early date.
James Gibson's ferry on the Wabash, opposite Vin- }
cennes, was the most important. Daniel Keykendall j
also kept a ferry boat on the Wabash. A third one was
kept by Elijah Lamphere, who was also licensed to sell [
liquor by the "small." Valentine J. Bradley and j
Caius M. Eaton established a ferry across the Embarras j
at Lawrenceville in June, 1825, at which time James
Nabb and John Fail were licensed to run a ferry across
the same stream at Yellow Banks. These ferries were >
also a source of revenue to the county, and remained so j
many years.
The number of taverns increased with the population. !
The tavern of 1820 was a different institution from
the "saloon" of our modern times. Taverns were ;
usually found in the county seats, on the stage roads, j
and at ferry landings. The tavern-keeper was, as a i
rule, a leading man in his borough. He was well
informed, for it was he, who gathered the news from the
traveling public. The judge and the lawyer, in court
time, put up at the tavern, and formed the center of
attraction for the time being. For years the taverns j
were the court houses, and the tavern-keeper stood high
in the estimation of his townsmen, and was a power in the
land. We have mentioned a few names of the early
tavern-keepers, and will here give a list of all who had
been licensed in the first five years of the county govern- i
ment: Cornelius Taylor, Elijah Lamphere, H. S. '•
Campbell, Daniel Key keudall, James Nabb, Matthew
Neely, Jonathan Marney, Jesse M. Grant, (Jesse was j
al-o justice of the peace), Edward Rathbone, John \
Bush, Samuel H. Clubb, Michael Stufflebeam, and
Delilah Matson. These thirteen taverns paid each a
small tax, none over $3.00 ; they gave bond to keep
orderly houses, and were licensed became the public good
demanded it.
EARLY REVENUE.
It is very difficult to ascertain the exact county re-
venue during the earlier period. -All the county officials
seem to have been collecting public funds, and the
treasurer, who ought to have had all public moneys j
under his control, seemed to have been used as " middle-
man," to inform people who had claims against the j
county, that there was no money in the treasury. Fines,
licenses, and proceeds from the sale of donation lots
were paiii " into court," or during vacation to the
clerk. The little pay these officers were entitled to was
taken out of this income and others, who had been
employed to do some public work, were paid direct by
the court. The tax collections made by the sheriff were
paid, for the greater part, in county orders or jurors
warrants, and again paid " into court," instead of to the
treasurer. The first tax levy was ordered on the lo'th of
May, 1821, and the treasurer instructed to. list the
following taxable property, to wit : Town lots, carriages
for the conveyance of persons, distilleries, stock-in-trade,
and horses and cattle over three years old ; all of which
property was to pay a tax of fifty cents for every one
hundred dollars' valuation. This valuation must have
been small, probably less than $80000, as subsequently
in 1824 it was reported to have amounted then to
$88,964. The total receipts of the county, including
fines, licenses, proceeds from sale of donation lots, and
direct tax amounted to $1219.17. The treasurer re-
ported that a part of this aggregate to wit, $72 14, re-
mained in the hands of the collector. The ordinary
expenditures, including the treasurer's commissions of
$22.49 amounted to $464.36, leaving a balance of
$732 32. In March, 1823, the treasurer reported an in-
come of $1694.69, but inasmuch as the tax rate was
not higher than in the previous year, and as the collector
was reported in arrears to the amount of $208.92, it is to
be inferred that the balance in treasury, as reported in
March, 1822, was a part of those $1694.69. The trea-
surer received a compensation of $80 62, to wit, $32 68,
commissions, and $48.00 for listing the property. The
regular expenditures of the county increased from
$464.36 in 1822 to $1614.09 in 1823. The report of
1824 stated the county revenue to have been as follows :
Fines, $21.00 ; estrays sold, $40.5. ) ; tavern licenses,
$16.00 ; one-half of the land tax, $264 62* ; county tax,
$444-.82; total, $786.94. The expenditures of the county
exceeded the income for the first time in 1825, and
continued to do so for several years. As early as 1827,
there were $2488.18 of unpaid county orders afloat, while
the assets of the county consisted in a deliquent tax list
of $153.50. This sad state of affairs gave cause to dis-
satisfaction and distrust; the clerk was instructed to get
up a correct statement of the financial condition of the
county, and keep a copy of it posted up in a prominent
place in his office, so that all who desired, might see it.
The statement was also published in the Viucennefa'
newspapers This statement, ordered in March, 1827,
was not recorded, and of course, cannot now be found.
The court increased the annual tax from 50 cents to
$1.00 per one hundred, and made a strong effort to cur-
tail expenses, which in 1827 amounted to $739.72.
The cause of the embarrassment lay in the cost of the old
court-house, which, as stated above, amounted to three
times the contract price. The first fiscal statement of the
county found on record, was made in December, 1827,
and is, in words and figures as follows :
FISCAL STATEMENT OF DECEMBER 6, 1827.
Inabilities of the County.
nty orders issued_ prior to December, 1826 $2,R«4.S8
Unpaid coun
County orders issued
nted to county commissioners . .
ueto Valentine hradley for making
age as county tn usurer
* Lands, which had been in possession of individuals, for five yrars or
ore. were assessed per KKJ acres, at SI. 00 if located in the "\\aua-h
iti..m,and 75 cents for all other locations; one half of said lax was paid to
c Suite, the other half to the eouuty.
104
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Payments and assets.
ount paid by Hiram W
ide
$ 50.00
All
An
ount paid to I. Bond on
ounts paid to same on c
ount of county orders ta
contract . . .
omract. . . .
tenupbysherifl
103.50
106.42
" and paid into
196.06
ount due by sheriff
439.45%
All
ount of notes due to the
county, sale of
ots 75.00 8907.27%
Present county debt $2,3,7.02%
POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY.
The earlier divisions of the county into militia districts
had nothing to do with its civil government, nor are
these districts subsequently mentioned. The road dis-
tricts increased in number as new settlements developed
In March 1824 the county was divided into three town
ships, respectively called Allison, east of Embarras,
mile and a half south of the township line of T 3 N.,
thence west to the range line between ranges 13 and 14,
thence south with said line to the beginning ; poll at house
of William Denison, with Thomas Buchanan, Thomas
Fish and William Travis as judges of election.
Lawrenceville. — Beginning at the north county line
where the range line between ranges 13 and 14, strikes
the same, thence south with said line to one mile and a
half south pf the township line of T. 3 N., thence east to
the Embarras river, thence up the Embarras to the
county line, thence west with the county line to the
beginning; poll at the court-house with David McHenry,
Colonel W. Spencer and John McCleave as judges of
election.
Allison.— Beginning at the mouth of the Embarras
Lawrenceville, west of the Embarras and east of range j river thence up the Wabash river to the mouth of Flat
line between 13 and 14, and Fox.westof said range Hue ! creek thence up Flat creek to the head of Purgatory,
thence down Purgatory to the Embarras, thence down
the Embarras river to the place of beginning ; poll at
the Centre school-house with Thomas Ashbrook, John
Mills and Joseph Adams as judges of election.
Bond. — Beginning at the mouth of Purgatory at the
Yellow Banks, thence up Purgatory to the head of Flat
Creek, thence down Flat creek to the Wabash river,
thence up the Wabash to the county line, thence west
with the county line to the Embarras to the beginning ;
poll at the house of Charles Emmons, with Edward
Mills, Samuel Drake and John Allison as judges of
election.
These six precincts comprised the area of the county
in the limits made by the act of the Legislature creating
justices ever elected in this region, were those fam< us ! the county. The townships or precincts of Mason and
five of the Vincennes court — 1779— and the experience Salt Spring were on February 24, 1841, separated from
had with them, had shaken the confidence of the govern- I Lawrence county to become a part of the county of
ment in too much popular sovereignty. | Richland. In June, 1828, a seventh precinct was
formed to be called
Wabash. — Beginning at Bellgrave, thence west to
Houston's marsh, thence down said marsh to the Em-
rence county, thence east with the county line to the j barras, thence down the Embarras to its mouth, thence
range line between ranges 13 and 14, thence north j up the Wabash to the place of beginning; the poll at
with said line to one mile and a half south of the town- I the house of James Gibson, with John Long, James
ship line of T. 3 N., thence west to the county line, White and James Gibson as judges of election,
thence south with said line to the place of beginning ; This precinct was remodeled in March, 1840, and
poll at the house of James Parker, with Hugh Calhoun, j reduced in size. It began at the Wabash at the centre
James Parker and James Cunningham as judges of | of fractional section 22, T. 4 N. R. 10 W., thence west
election. j to the range line between ranges 10 and 11, thence
S lit Spring. — Beginning at the northwest corner of i south to the centre of section 1, in town 3 N. R. 11 W.
It seems that this subdivision was made for the purpose
of creating new offices, to wit : Overseers of the poor,
Daniel Travis and Enoch Organ became the managers
of pauperism in Allison, while Samuel H. Clubb and
John Williams divided the territory of Lawrenceville
and Fox between themselves.
In 1827 all counties of Illinois, in pursuance of a state
law, providing for the election of justices of the peace,
were to be divided into election precincts. So far the
justices of the peace had held their respective offices by
appointment. The usual modus operandi was, that the
commissioners of the county courts recom mended or sug-
gested the names of suitable persons for said positions to
the governor, who then appointed them. The first
ELECTION PRECINCTS OF 1827.
Mason. — Beginning at the southwest corner of Law-
Lawrence county, thence south with the county line
to one mile and a half south of the township line of T. 3
N., thence east to the range line between ranges 13 and
14, thence north with said line to the county line, thence
west with said line to the place of beginning ; poll at the
on the east line of said section, thence west to the Law-
renceville district line, thence south with said line to the
Embarras river, thence down the said river to its mouth,
thence up the Wabash to the place of beginning ; the
poll remained at the house of James Gibson. An
house of John Bullard, and with Chip. Webster, James J eighth precinct was formed in March term, 1840, to be
Elliott and Elisha Gibbs as judges of election. { called
Johnston. — Beginning at the south county line where j Shidler. — All that part of the Lawrenceville district
the range line between ranges 13 and 14 strikes the same, that lies west of section line running due north and south,
thence east to the Wabash, thence up the Wabash to the i east of section 33 in township 4 N. R. 12 west, including
raouthof the Embarras thence up the Embarras to one ! that part of the Lawrenceville district that lies between
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS. 105
the aforesaid section line and the range line of 13 and
14; poll at the house of Peter Shidler, with W. Y.
Christy, Benjamin Conchraan and Elijah Barns as
judges of election. A ninth precinct was organized
October 2d, 1843, and named
St. Fmnclsville. — It was composed of all that portion
of Lawrence county south of Indian creek and east of
the Mt. Carmel and Liwrenceville state road ; poll at
the house of Thomas Selby, with Amos Lyon, Alfred
H. Grass and J. B. Maxwell as judges of election.
Various changes of minor importance were made in
subsequent years. Shidler was divided by a line run-
ning east and west through the centre of the precinct,
the southern half to be called Petty. A tenth precinct,
Russellville, was organized in 1852. At the time of the
adoption of township organization, the county was
divided into eleven precincts respectively, called Rus-
sellville, Allison, Wabash, Bond, Petty, Shidler, Prairie,
Bonpas, Johnson, St. Francisville and Lawrenceville.
We introduce next the official report of the commis-
sioners appointed to form the political townships, into
which the county was subdivided in December, 1856, to
wit:
To the Honorable County Court of Lawrence County at
the March Term, 1857 :
The undersigned commissioners appointed by your
honorable body at the December term, 1856, to divide
the county of Lawrence into townships in accordance
with an act entitled an act to provide for township or-
ganization, beg leave to submit the following report, to
wit:
Perry Township, now Petty.— Beginning at the N. W.
corner of the county, thence east eight miles to the
northeast corner of section 29 in township 5 N. R. 12
W., thence south seven miles to the southeast corner of
section 29, township 4 N., R. 12 W., thence west eight
miles to the county line at the S. W. corner of section
30, T. 4 N., R. 13 W., thence north to the place of
beginning.
Bond Township — Beginning at the N. W. corner of
section 28 in township 5 N. R. 12 W., thence east seven
miles to the northeast corner of section 28, T. 5 N. R.
11 W., thence south five miles to the southeast corner of
section 16, T. 4 N. R. 11 W., thence west seven miles to
the S. W. corner of section 16, T. 4 N., R. 12 W.,
thence north five miles to the place of beginning.
Russell Township. — Beginning at the N. W. corner
of sec. 27, tp. 5 N., range 11 W- ; thence south five
miles to the S. W. cor. of sec. 15, tp. 4 N., range 11 W. ;
thence east three miles to the S. E. corner of sec. 13,
tp. 4, range 11 W. ; thence south one mile to the S. W.
corner sec. 19, tp. 4 N., range 10 W. ; thence east four
miles to the Wabash river ; thence up the Wabash river
to the county line between Lawrence and Crawford
counties, thence west to the place of beginning.
Hardin Township, now Christy. — Beginning at the
northwest corner of sec. 31, tp. 4 N , range 13 W.;
14
thence south six miles to the S. W. corner of sec. 30,
tp. 3 north, range 13 W.; thence east eight miles to the
southeast corner of sec. 29, tp. 3 N., range 12 W. ;
thence north six miles to the N. E. cor. of sec. 32 in tp.
4 N., range 12 W., thence west eight miles to the place
of beginning.
Lawrence Township. — Beginning at the northwest
corner of sec. 21, tp. 4 N., range 12 W. ; thence east
seven miles to the northeast corner of sec. 21, tp. 4 N.,
range 11 W. ; thence south six miles to the southeast
corner of sec. 16, tp. 3 N., range 11 W. ; thence west
seven miles to the southwest corner of sec. 16, tp. 3 N.,
range 12 W. ; thence north six miles to the place of
beginning.
TJiompson Township, now Allison. — Beginning at the
northwest corner of sec. 22, tp. 4 N., range 11 W.
thence south nine miles to the southwest corner of sec.
34, tp. 3 N., range 11 W.; thence east to the Wabash
river, thence up said river to the line between sections
23 and 26, tp. 4 N., range 10 W. ; thence west four
miles to the southwest corner of sec 19, tp. 4 N., range
10 W. ; thence north one mile to the northwest oorner
of sec. 19, tp. 4, N., range 10 W., thence west three miles
to the place of beginning.
Marion Township, now Lukin.— Beginning at the
northwest corner of sec. 31, tp. 5 N., range 13 W. ;
thence south six miles to the southwest corner of sec.
13, tp. 2 N., range 13 W. to the county line; thence
east with the county line eight miles to the southeast
corner of sec. 29, tp. 2 N., range 12 W. ; thence north
six miles to the northeast corner of sec. 32, tp. 3 N.,
range 12 W. ; thence west eight miles to the place of
beginning.
Denison Township. — Beginning at the north west corner
of sec. 21, tp. 3 N., range 12 W. ; thence south eight
miles to the southwest corner of sec. 28, tp. 2 N., range
12 W. ; thence east to the Wabash river, thence up the
Wabash river to the township line between townships 2
and 3 N., range 11 W. ; thence west to the south-
west corner of sec. 34, tp. 3 N., range 11 W.; thence
north three miles to the northeast corner of sec. 21, tp.
3 N. range 11 W. ; thence west seven miles to the place
of beginning.
Respectfully submitted.
PETER SMITH,
W. D- ADAMS,
WALTER BUCHANAN.
Commissioners.
This report was approved on the 5th of March, 1857,
and an election ordered to be held in the various town-
ships on the first Tuesday of April, 1857, for the
election of township officers.
The territory of Christy township was divided into
two townships in September, 1872, to form a new town-
ship called
Bridgeport Township — Commencing on the north-
east corner of Christy, running west on its north
base line two and a half miles; thence due south-
106
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
through said town to the south line ; thence east along
said line to the southeast corner, thence north along
the east line to place of beginning.
COUNTY FINANCES SINCE 1827.
The financial statement of Dec. 1827, exhibited a debt
of $2237 ; that of 1828 shows a reduction of about $240.
In 1829 another small reduction is to be noted— $110.
The taxable property, exclusive of lands, had now (1829)
increased to $148,143, and a tax of 50c. per 100, promised
a direct income of some $740. The ferries across the
Wabash had now to pay an annual license of $30 each ;
the Embarras ferries were rated from $5 to $15 each.
The total revenue of 1830 amounted to $994.23 ; and
in March, 1831, the county debt was stated to have
amounted to $17(>1.08. Out of an income of less than
$1200, the commissioners (Caius M. Eaton, Charles
Eiumons and Jon. Barnes), saved nearly $700 for the
purpose of reducing the debt, which in 1832 still amount-
ed to $1088.49. A new system of licensing merchants
provided for additional revenue ; so we find that John
C. Reily paid $15 a year for the privilege of selling goods
at Lawrenceville. Clock peddlers had to pay $50 fora
three months' license! These clock peddlers were Yan-
kees. The revenue of 1833 amounted to $1275.90, and
expenditure to $506.38, all told ; the debt was reduced
to $417.69. The last dollar of this debt was paid in 1834,
and a surplus of $244 cash in the treasury, besides pro-
missory notes for donation lots amounting to $102. This
auspicious state of affairs led to negotiations in reference
to opening a state road from Vincennes to Chicago, with
an estimated cost of only $6953.90 for Lawrence county,
and to open and bridge another state road from Mt. Car-
mel to Lawrenceville, a distance of 22 miles. The county
expenditures were again on the increase, amounting to
$1741.15 in the year ending March 1,1835; however,
the greater income justified this extravagance, which
consisted principally in the painting of the old court-
house. The exchequer of the county still showed up a
snug cash balance of $481 93. An unexpected and,
comparatively speaking, a large sum of money was added
to this surplus. An act of the Legislature of January
19, 1829, provided for the distribution among the various
counties of the state of funds realized from the sale of
Saline Reserve lands in Vermillion county. Lawrence
county drew $1600 in January, 1836, $1400 of which
were loaned out to individuals, and the balance expended
on roads. The county revenue of that year amounted to
$1173.65, and exceeded the expenditures to the amount of
$642.98 ; the treasurer was instructed to loan $400 of
the surplus to responsible parties for a period of six
months. Six hundred dollars of the saline land funds
were placed in the hands of Joseph Adams and George
Lemons, for the purpose of defraying the expenses of
permanent improvements of the Vincennes and Danville
road. In the following year another appropriation,
amounting to $831.59, was made for a similar purpose.
The ordinary expenditures of 1836 and 1837 did not
wholly absorb the revenue, so that in June, 1838, a bal-
ance of $554.32 remained at the disposition of the county
commissioners. The county got into possession of large
sums of money in consequence of the inauguration by
the State of what is generally known as the grand sys-
tem of internal improvements. The impetus to the
system of internal improvements at the expense, or, more
properly speaking, on the credit of the State, was given
by George Forquer, formerly of Monroe, but then a
senator of Sangamon county, in 1834; his plans, how-
ever, failed. J. M. Strode, senator " of all the county,
including Peoria and north of it," had a bill passed in
1835, authorizing a loan of half a million of dollars on
the credit of- the State for inaugurating public improve-
ments. This loan was negotiated by Governor Duncan
in 1836, and with this money a commencement was
made on the works of the Illinois canal, 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 whole State would
become 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 internal improvements
was to be carried out on a grand scheme. The agitation
became genera), and the silence and indifference of the
busy farmer were taken for tacit consent. The legisla-
ture, in 1837, provided for the building of about 1300
miles of railroads, and voted eight millions of dollars for
that purpose; two hundred thousand dollars of these eight
millions were to be paid to counties not reached by those pro-
posed railroads as an indemnity. In order to complete
| the canal from Chicago to Peru, another loan of four
j millions of dollars was authorized. And, as a crowning
act of folly, it was provided that the work should com-
mence 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 works or the amount of
I business to be done by them. The arguments in favor
i of the system were of a character most difficult to refute,
j composed as they were partly of fact, but chiefly of
| prediction. In this way it was proved, to general satis-
! faction, by an ingenious orator in the lobby, that the
State could well afford to borrow a hun dred millions of
dollars and expend it in making improvements. None
of the proposed roads were ever completed ; detached
parcels of them were graded on every road, the excava-
tions and embankments of which have long remained a
memorial of the blighting scathe done by this Legisla-
ture. The next Legislature voted another 8800,000 for
the system, but the general failure became so apparent,
that in 1839 the system had to be repealed, as
no more loans could be obtained. Under this
system a State debt of fourteen and a quarter millions of
dollars had been created, to be paid by a population of
476,183 souls! Lawrence county, not being reached
and benefited by the construction of canals and the
building of railroads, came in for a considerable share
of the $200,000 cash distribution, for the only "improve-
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
107
meut" made in the county consisted in the extending of
the present State road from the Wabash across the
prairie. The share of Lawrence county in the cash
distribution amounted to $11,125. Abuer Greer was j
appointed fund commissioner and agent of the county j
to receive moneys due to the county under said act, \
passed and approved February 27, 1837. Greer re- \
ceived the above amount on the 19th of November, 1838, \
and deposited it, as directed by the county board, (Win.
Spencer, S- B. Lowery, and Daniel Pain) in the
Lawrenceville bank, a branch of the State bank, on the
same day. The county fared undoubtedly much better
than other counties, which were within the radius of
promised railroads, but then the transaction was by no
means a profitable one. The debt of the State was
equal to $30 per head throughout the State, con-
sequently Lawrence county with its population of 7,092
souls had to assume a permanent and interest bearing
debt of 6212,760, its proportional share of those four-
teen and a quarter millions, for and in consideration of a
few miles of a dirt road, and $11,125 current money in
hand paid. The question now arose what is to be done
with this money? The court decided to loan it out, at
eight per cent, annual interest, to citizens of the county,
in sums not exceeding two hundred dollars, and to be
secured by the signature of two sureties, etc. The re-
cords show that there was a brisk demand for money in
the county, some $8,000 of the money having been
placed within forty-eight hours of its arrival. The
matter of getting sureties was not of difficult nature.
B and C signing A's note, or A and C signing B's, and B
and A signing C's. The parties borrowing the funds
were : James P. A. Lewis, Cephas Atkinson, Aaron
Shaw, Samuel K. Miller, S. H. Clubb, Caius M. Eaton,
A. F. David, John Mieure, James M. McLean, Daniel
Pain, J. C. Reiley, A. S. Badollet, James Rawlings, E.
G. Peyan, William Wilson, Alexander Stewart, William
Spencer, A. Barker, John Baker, Elijah Mayes, J. R.
Wilson, Samuel Newell, Paul Lewis, W. G. Anderson,
Joshua Dually, J. B Colwell, Edmond Taylor, Jesse
Conway and James Lewis, each $200 ; Silas Moore, $175 ;
James Neal, D. D. Marney, D. C. Travis, James F.
Moore and Isaac Leach, each $150 ; John P. Lamb,
(the only one who gave three sureties) Nathan Raw-
lings and Jacob Young, each $125 ; Rice Mieure, Thos.
Cook, Joseph Petty, James Sawyer, James Rankin and
W. V. Murphy, each $100'; H. Hanks, $75 ; Thomas
Gardner, Lewis Sawyer and J. P. Tyffe, each $50.
The balance of the improvement fund, to wit, $3,015,
was loaned out on the third of December, 1838. The
financial condition of the county was now prosperous.
The Treasurer, Abner Greer, reported, December, 1838,
that all county orders and juror warrants were paid and
canceled, and that $1,950.41 J cash remained in treas-
ury. An appropriation of $200 was made to purchase
160 acres of land to be subsequently used as a poor
farm. Samuel Thorn, the sheriff, was appointed agent
to select and buy the land.
The county tax rate was now reduced to twenty cents
per $100 tax value. In June, 1839, the treasurer
reported a surplus of $1,146,11 in available assets. At
the same term the county commissioners bethought
themselves that their actions in reference to the disposi-
tion of the improvement funds had not been wise, and that
the moneys should be made useful to all by proper and
needed public improvements. They allotted $4.340 funds
and accrued interest to the district east of the Embarras,
to be disbursed by John Dollahan and T. C. Bailey, as
agents of the county. The district west of the Embarras
and east of range line between ranges 12 and 13, was to
have an equal amount to be put into the hands of
Victor Buchanan, Jr., and James M. McLean, agents,
for proper use ; and finally, $3340 to be awarded to the
west end — now part of Richland — and to be'managed
by James Parker and W. Y. Christy, agents. This
distribution of the improvement fund was, however, not
final. The money was " out ' and the calling in pro-
cess very slow. T he notes were renewed from year to
year with certain reductions. The board, seeing the
difficulty of collecting the loans, resorted to the means
of calling in annual instalments, thus reducing the risks
to some extent. In June, 1842, the court issued an
order to use $5000 of the improvement fund in defray-
ing the expenses of building the new court-house. But
to return to the county finances. G. W- Kinkade,
the treasurer, who succeeded Ab. Greer in 1839, re-
ported in June, 1840, that the ordinary expenses of the
current year had amounted to $835.30, and that the
cash balance in the treasury amounted to $1417.85.
The next year saw this balance reduced to $903.82 ; in
1842 this balance was wiped out completely, and a
floating debt of $5376.47 was reported June 7. The
building of the new court-house may have been the
cause of this sudden change in the financial condition of
the county. The organization of Richland county oc-
curred at that period, and as about one-fourth of the ter-
ritory of Lawrence county became a part of the new
county, the revenues of the latter were reduced in pro-
portion. The separation was an amicable one, decided
by an overwhelming majority at a special election held
on the 7th of January, 1841. The division subse-
quently caused some trouble, as the citizens of the new
county claimed $5000 as their share in the internal im-
provement fund. Suit was instituted by Richland
county for this amount, but a compromise, to settle on
the basis of an indemnity of $1000 was finally effected.
Turning from the subject of finances, a few words
will here be said in reference to the various county offi-
cials during this period.
County Officials 1821 to 1849.— The county commis-
sioners in office during that period were John Lanter-
man, J. Dunlap, William Martin, James Nabb, J. P.
Harris, Isaiah Lewis, Daniel Travis, Richard Gardner,
Samuel Harris, Benjamin McCleave, A. S. Badellot,
Caius M. Eaton, Samuel Adams, Charles Emmons, John
Barnes, William Spencer, Samuel Duulap, S. B. Low-
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
ery, Daniel Pain, G. V. Russell, Hugh Calhoun, Victor
Hucliaiiiui, C. D. Emmons, Edward Moore, Randolph
Heath, /John Mieure and William Tanquary. The
machinery of the county government worked smoothly
until 1839, the period of the improvement fund, when
resignations seem to have been in order. S. R. Lowery
withdrew from the board in 1840, William Spencer and
S. V. Russell in 1841, and then Edward Moore. The
records simply state the fact of those resignations with-
out mentioning the cause leading to them.
COUNTY CLERKS.
The position of County Clerk must have been a most
unpleasant one, for there are m ore resignations to note
than in all the other county offices combined. Toussaint
Dubois served only 5 months, and resigned September
6, 1821. James M. McLean, his successor, resigned in
the last year of his second term, March 12, 1829. H.
M. Gillham served only 9 months and resigned Decem-
ber 15, 1829. V»l. J. Bradley came within 3 months
of serving a full term, and was succeeded September 2,
1833, by J. M. McLean, reappointed, who in his turn
res'gned in the third year of his term, September, 1836.
Ebenezer Z Ryan held his own for the balance of
McLean's, and two full terms, to which he was elected
in 1839 and 1843 ; he too, had his troubles and annoy-
ances, as will appear from the following :
THE CLERK'S LETTER.
Lauirenceville, Illinois, January 25, 1842.
To the Hon. County Commissioners of Lawrence
county, Illinois.
GENTLEMEN: — Inasmuch as reports have been cir-
culated, embracing charges highly prejudicial to myself
both as an individual, and as an officer of your court, I
ask as an act of justice to myself, and as an officer always
willing that my official conduct shall be fully investi-
gated, a lull and complete investigation of all my
actings and doings as Clerk of the Cpurt of the said
county of Lawrence, either by yourselves sitting as a
court, or by a committee to be appointed by you, for
that purpose, and that they be instructed to report the
result of their investigations to the next term of your
court. Very respectfully, your most obedient servant,
£. Z. RYAN.
The court appointed Samuel Dunlap, Benjamin
Conchman and Joseph G. Bowman such committee ; no
report mentioned.
Ryan was succeeded by W. S. .Hennessy, in 1847. His
official couch was not a bed of roses, and he was forced
to resign January 19, 1853.
TREASURERS.
As a rule the Treasurers of the county have had
pleasant duties to perform, and were never exposed to
tribulations, persecutions and unfounded accusations.
Samuel H. Clubb served two terms, from 1821 to 1823.
(Treasurers were appointed by the county commission-
ers' court annually). Valentine J. Bradley served five
successive terms, 1823 to 1828. Algernon S. Badollet,
1828 to 1829; James Nabb, 1829 to 1830; Samuel
Harris, 1830 to 183] ; G. W. Kiukade, 1831 to 1833 ;
Samuel H. Clubb, again, 1833 to 1835; Edward J.
O'Neille. 1835 to 1836; Ebeuezer Z. Ryan, from March
to September 1836, when he resigned and was appointed
clerk in place of James M. McLean. Abner Greer,
i 1836 to 1839 ; G. W. Kinkade, elected August 1839,
and re-elected in 1841, for two years' terms ; D. D.
Marney, 1843 to 1847 ; did not serve the full length of
his second term aud was succeeded March 4, 1847, by
Lafayette McLean, who remained in office only 6
months. James B. Alleuder, elected 1847, served until
1849.
Circuit Clerks.— Toussaint Dubois, from April to Sept.
1821: J. M. McLean, 1821 to 1829; Valentine J.
Bradley, 1829 to 1836; E. Z. Ryan, from 1836 to
1849.
Sheriffs.— Henry Dubois, 1821 to 1825 ; Hiram Wade,
to 1834; Robert B. Barney, to 1836; Samuel Thorn,
to 1848 ; and Jacob Young, to 1850.
Coroners.— Robert Bennefield, Absalom Chenowitb, R.
M. Marney, Thomas Fyffee, and W. M. Murphy.
Circuit Attorneys.— J. M. Robinson, E. B. Webb,
Aaron Shaw, and Alfred Kitchell.
School Commissioners. — James M. McLean, from
December, 1834 to September, 1836, when he re-
signed the four offices he was then occupying, to
wit : County Clerk, Circuit Clerk, Probate Justice,
and School Commissioner. He was succeeded
by Abner Greer, 1836 to 1842; W. R. Jackman, 1842
to 1843 ; and Algernon S. Badollet, from 1843 to 1857.
Probate Justices. — H. M. Gillman, 1821 to 1823;
James M. McLean, 1823 to 1836; G. W. Ku.kade,
1836 to 1837 ; aud Caius M. Eaton, from 1837 to 1849.
County Assessors. — As a rule, the county treasurers
were also entrusted with " listing " the property of the
citizens of the county for taxation. Daniel Travis, Jr.,
commissioner of census in 1825, also made the assessment
for that year. The revenue law of 1839, provided for the
dividing of counties into assessors' districts. The com-
missioners' court then appointed Jackson B. Shaw, J. H.
Morris, and M. B. Snyder, for 1839, and again George
Lemons, J. H. Morris, and J. M. Travis, 1840. The assess-
ment of 1841 and 1842 was made by D. C. Travis, county
assessor. All subsequent assessments until 1857 were
made by the several county treasurers.
Circuit Courts, 1821 to 1849.— The first circuit court
of Lawrence county was held in the house of Toussaint
Dubois, on Monday, June 4, 1822. Hon. William
Wilson, was on the bench, with -J. M. Robinson,
as prosecuting attorney, Toussaint Dubois, clerk, and
Henry Dubois, sherifi*. James McLean, was appointed
clerk, in place of Dubois, on the 9th June. The sheriff
called upon the following gentlemen freeholders to
form the
Grand Jury.— Samuel Harris, foreman; William
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS. 109
Spencer, Larken Ryle, Daniel Grove, Benjamin
McCleave, Rezin Clubb, Benjamin Sumner, Samuel
Ramsay, Gabriel Scott, Abraham Cairns, Scott Riggs,
William Howard, Thomas Anderson, William Adams,
Eli Harris, Daniel Travis, John Berry, Ezekiel Turner,
Joseph Clayton, James Beaird, Joseph Adams, William
Bennet, and John Hinriman.
Major Daniel L. Gold, in his historical sketch of
Lawrence county, read on the 4th July, 1876, mentioned
this grand jury, and added the following : " After being
charged as to their duty, they retired to the woods, very
probably, for consideration, etc." Nor is this taking to
the woods wondered at; for those good and sterling
gentlemen freeholders were fully two generations nearer
to our progenitors (see Darwin's origin of man), than we
are now ; and all know, that those progenitors of ours
are great foresters to this day.
The grand jury presented William Ashbrook, for
assault and battery, and Michael Stufflebeam and Ben-
jamin Matthews, for selling liquor without a license.
Ashbrook was, on a plea of guilty, fined two dollars, the
others were tried and fined $12.00 and costs, each. At
the next term, Nov., 1821, General W. Johnston, was
licensed to practice law, and Jacob Call was sworn as a
lawyer, and admitted to practice W. R Baker's cases,
two indictments for passing counterfeit money, and two
larceny, were taken from docket. Judge Wilson's
place on the bench was occupied by Hon. James
Wattles.
May Term 1825. — A case of larceny, the people of
Illinois vs. W. B. terminated in a plea of guilty. The
poor culprit was sentenced to 15 stripes on his bare
back, well laid on, and the sheriff, (Hiram Wade) ordered
to execute the sentence immediately at some convenient
spot, etc. The first divorce case, Jane Hembre vs. John
Hembre, was tried before judge James Hall, November,
1825. It was made a jury case, and Jane was freed from
the hateful bands of matrimonial infelicity. Both terms
of court held in 1826 were presided over by judge James
O.Watties. In April 1827 judge William Wilson occupied
the bench in Lawrenceville again. At this term a trial for
horse stealing was had. James Langley was put on trial
for having stolen a horse, and Levi Rush, for having
received the stolen property. The parties were defended
by Moses Tabbs, and prosecuted by J. M. Robinson.
The jury, who found them both guilty as charged, were
composed of Joshua Westfall,. Alexander Stewart, Isaac
Westfall, John Barnes, Isaac Hunter, Joseph Lamotte,
Andrew Quick, Z. French, John Melton, Tilman Melton,
Philip Lewis and Jesse Jenny. Langley was sentenced to
50 stripes, to be immediately " well " laid on, etc , and to a
fine of one hundred dollars, to pay which he was to be sold
into servitude for a term not exceeding three years. Levi
got off with thirty stripes and two and a half years invol-
untary servitude, provided he failed to pay a fine of one
hundred dollars, before the 28th of the current month.
Judge Wilson remained on the bench until 1835. At
the April term, 1834, another barbarous sentence was
passed on one John Shelton for the heinous crime of
rape. He received sixty stripes and was imprisoned for
two days besides. Speaking of the morals of the
| people in those early days, Mr. Gold says : Owing to the
unsettled condition of border life, the country was infested
with marauding horse-thieves, counterfeiters etc., to such
an extent that many banded themselves together to
pursue and punish these desperadoes. These bands were
, called regulators, and although self-constituted they held
their courts, arrested, tried and generally convicted a
number of these robbers and punished them usually with
| thirty-eight lashes on the bare back. Numbers of
j citizens opposed these operations of Judge Lynch, yet the
bands had upon their rolls many of the best citizens
whom self-defense had driven to such ulterior remedies
and on the whole, the regulators served a good "purpose
j for the time, as the den of desperadoes was discovered and
destroyed, their dies captured and ground to powder in
this place (Lawrenceville) by an outraged public.
I Hon. Justin Harlan presided at the Circuit Court as the
I successor of Judge Wilson since March 1835. The
September term of 1835 however was held by Judge
Alexander Grant, and it was during this term that Hon.
Aaron Shaw was admitted to the bar.
W. K. Cunningham has the distinction of being the
first man sent to the penitentiary from Lawrence
county. His was a one year's term on being convicted
for assault with intent to kill. October term, 1839.
The only enforcement of the death penalty in the
county was that of Elizabeth Reed. She was however
j not a resident of Lawrence county, and her case was
j tried here on a change of venue from Crawford county.
She was tried at the April term, 1845, held by Hon.
| William Wilson, judge, who had again presided over
the sessions of the circuit court since April, 1841.
Elizabeth Reed had killed Leonard Reed, her husband,
on the 15th day of August, 1844, by administering
poison in his food. She was indicted by the grand
jury of Crawford county at the September terra, 1844.
This grand jury was presided over by D. Hill, foreman,
and the indictment was based upon the testimony of
James M. Logan, John Wynn, Harrison Price, Eveline
Deal, John Herriman, H. G. Burr, N. T. Steele and
Levi Shoemaker.
The prosecution was conducted by Aaron Shaw
(Attorney of State since 1842) and S. S. S. Hayes, and
the defense by Messrs. French and Linder.
The jury, before which the case was tried, was com-
posed of Henry Sheraddin, Edward Fyffe, Joshua Dud-
ley, J. M. Morris, James V. Robinson, John L. Bass,
W. R. Jackman, Elijah Gaddy, Emsley Wright, Wil-
liam Collins, James W. Corrie and Silas Moore.
The jury found the defendant guilty and the court
sentenced her to be hung on the 23d of May, 1845.
The wretched woman ended her life as sentenced,
and the painful duty of becoming her executioner
devolved on a most kind hearted man, Samuel Thorn,
the sheriff.
no
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Judge Wilson remained on the bench until the end of
this period, 1849. Before closing this period of the
civil history of the county, we should state that the
county was represented in the constitutional convention
of 1847 by Hon. John Mieure.
In order to point out the wealth and resources of the
county at the close of that period, we introduce now the
following
NOTES FROM THE U. S. CENSUS OF 1850.
The population of Lawrence county in 1850 consisted
of 30.05 white males, 2838 white females, 144 colored
males, and 134 colored females, 6121 in the aggregate.
The town of Lawrenceville had a population of 419.
216 children were born in the county in 1849, 82
couples were married and 68 persons buried. The
1057 families in the county were occupying 1057 dwel-
lings. 42 teachers, 1406 native and two foreign born
children, 306 native adults and two foreign born adults
were unable to read and write. The farms of Lawrence
county contained 34,684 acres of improved and 5u,968
acres of unimproved lands, and were worth $599,680.
Farming implements represented a value of $40,757,
live stock one of $161,322, and slaughtered animals one
of $:3,787. The productions of the county in 1849
had been : 15,582 bushels of wheat, 426,850 of corn,
50,144 of oats; 14,120 of Irish, and 2000 of sweet
potatoes; 1530 of buckwheat and 930 of rye; 7297
Ibs. of tobacco; 12,000 Ibs of wool; 90,505 Ibs. of butter;
5300 of cheese; 10,500 of flax; 2370 Ibs. of maple
sugar; 12,356 Ibs of flax, and 1926 tons of hay. Arti-
cles manufactured in the county in 1849 represented a
value of $12,274. The county had thirteen church
edifices, to wit: 1 Baptist, 4 Christian, 5 Methodist, 2
Presbyterian and 1 Roman Catholic, erected at an ex-
pense of $5760, with a capacity of seating 4300 persons.
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES ON COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
1849 TO 1883.
The county commissioners' court was now abolished,
and the county affairs were conducted by county courts
until 1857, when the people adopted the new system of
township organization.
The first connty court was composed of Hon. E. Z.
Ryan, county judge, with W. Tanguary and Randolph
Heath associate judges. The first session was held
December 30, 1849. County Clerk Hennessy resigned
his office on the 19th of January, 1853, on account of
difficulties with the court, he having been charged with
collecting illegal fees. J. C Reily, his successor,. made
settlement of his affairs on the 21st of December, 1855.
He was owing the county $24.24, which his honor, Judge
Jesse K. Dubois, assumed to pay.
Township organization was adopted in November,
1856, and the county court, to wit ; J. K. Dubois, judge,
J. M. Travis and James Irish, associates, held their last
session on June 1, 1857, and adjourned sine die.
The first board of supervisors was composed of W. D.
Adams, of Allison, chairman ; Thomas Donner, of Den-
nison, Daniel Grass, of Petty, D. L. Gold, of Lawrence,
Robert Dollohan, of Bond, Andrew Pinkstaff, of Russell,
Henry Schrader, of Christy, and Wiley Edmundsou, of
Lukin. As usual in such cases, a committee was ap-
pointed to investigate the county offices. D. L. Gold
was appointed such committee.
The clerk, I. B. Watts, ordered December 28, 1860,
to prepare a statement of the county debt, which, how-
ever, he failed to do. July 25, 1861, the clerk was
authorized to issue county orders to the families of vol-
unteers, at the rate of $3.00 per month for each family.
These orders were to be issued during vacation, at the
request of the individual supervisors of townships. The
whole amount of money spent in this direction was
$1842. This was all the appropriations of the county
in aid of the cause against the rebels. A proposition to
borrow $75,000 to pay a bounty of $300 each to volun-
teers, so as to avoid conscription, was voted down Feb-
ruary 6, 1865, by a vote of 5 to 2, to wit : J. L Flan-
ders, Aaron Clark, Daniel Feagan, J. L. Jones and
Richard Greer voting nay, while John Jackson and L.
W. Gee voted aye, D. H. Morgan in the chair.
Daniel Grass, who had been appointed superintendent
of schools in place of L. Albernathy, deceased, refused
to accept the position. July 25, 1861, J. B. Saye, the
next appointee, reported the books in confusion, and
some $1500 fine-money uncollected ; whereupon he was
instructed to file a claim of $1500 against the estate of
the dead superintendent.
County board purchased eighty acres to wit : the west
half of the north quarier of section 4 in township 3-12
for $2400, for the purpose of making it the permanent
home of the county poor. The taking care of the poor
had been a vexatious business ever since 1850. The
expenditures were not near as large as it was generally
believed, yet the thought was prevalent that the poor-
master was making a fortune out of this business. A
new township, Bridgeport, was organized Septem-
ber 6, 1872.
The financial condition of the county as well as the
swamp land trials and tribulations have been made
special subdivisions of this chapter, and are here intro-
duced.
SWAMP LANDS.
The swamp land act of congress and subsequent acts
of the legislature of Illinois had put the county of Law-
rence in possession of large tracts of overflowed lands.
The county court appointed Jacob Young swamp land
and drainage commissioner, at their September term,
1852. The county surveyors instructed to make an ex-
amination of those lands reported on the 4th of Decem-
ber, 1854, the following : 420 acres in 3-10 and 200 in
4-10 are in such a condition that they may be drained
at a moderate expense, when these lands would be worth
fully $6,230. There are about 1000 acres in 3 and 4-11
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
t
111
that could be made worth 85,000, as also 200 acres in
4 and 5-13. The balance, to wit: 15,542 acres, cannot
be drained at all, or more properly speaking, the ex-
.pense of draining them would greatly exceed their value
when drained.
The court, however, ordered a sale, which took place
on the 9th, 10th and llth of January, 1855, when
17,350 acres were sold for $20,869.10. Mr. Young
made a final settlement as drainage commissioner on
the 8th of December, 1855, from which it appears that
he handled $20,906.69, principal and interest of those
swamp lands. This report was finally disposed of on the
22d of March, 1856. The costs in adjusting matters
and of making surveys amounted to $880.60, and $522.-
66 were allowed to Mr. Young as commissions. The
actual funds on hand on the day named above amounted
to $19,388.93 in promissory notes and $417.16 in cash.
This fund was to be used in such improvements as would
benefit the overflowed districts, and soon after the settle-
ment mentioned $2000 were appropriated for the erection
of a dam across Purgatory and $1000 for a levee on
Cole's Island. In June, 1857, $4000 were appro-
priated to build a bridge across the Embarras, opposite
Lawrenceville, and D. L. Gold, G. W. Wise and 8. H.
Clubb appointed a committee to superintend the work.
D. L. Gold succeeded Jacob Young in the office of
drainage commissioner, and remained in office until
January 2, 1862. During this period the fund was
reduced to $8,470.47, and consisted in judgments and
uncollected claims. Years after, when certain irregu-
larities in the handling of those funds were discovered,
Mr. Gold petitioned the county board to have his ad-
ministration investigated. This prayer was granted,
and on the 1st of September, 1872, the committee re-
ported that the administration of Mr. Gold had been
correct, and that all funds had been properly accounted
for. W. D. Adams succeeded Gold in January, 1862,
and was in his turn succeeded by I. B. Watts, Sep-
tember, 1865. The appointment of Watts, who was
then county clerk, was a most censurable if not culpable
measure of the board. The law makes it the duty of
his office to keep an account with all other county offi-
cers, handling the public funds with a view of properly
controlling their acts. It is the clerk who is expected
to control others. By making him a fund commis-
sioner, he was put into the absurd position of reporting
to himself what amounts he had received or disbursed.
Measures of this kind prove always disastrous, and
usually most so to the unfortuate man on whom such
position is forced. During Watts' administration the
county received land scrips for 20,645 acres from the
U. S., in lieu of and compensations for swamp lands in
Lawrence county, sold by the U. S. subsequently to the
act mentioned above. I. B. Watts was authorized to
sell this scrip, then in the hands of D. L. <jold, pro-
vided he could get 50 cents per acre, and to receive
county orders, at their par value, in pay. (County
orders were then rated at 50 per cent, discount). The
commissioner, however, could not effect sales, and this
failure caused some displeasure in the board. The re-
cords do not exactly state why, but they contain the
following brief communication from Mr. Watts : " I
hereby order the board of supervisors of Lawrence
county to retain one thousand dollars out of my salary
if I do not sell the swamp land scrip of said county for
$5000 within twenty months from this day " (September
26, 1869.) The county board subsequently, on the 1st
of March, 1870, sold these 20,645 acres to James Gra-
ham for $5000, payable in ninety days, $4000 to go to
the county and the balance to Hon. J. L. D. Morrison,
of St. Clair county, who claimed an interest in the
scrip.
I. B. Watts' administration as fund commissioner was
investigated, and he was found to be indebted to the
county on that account, to the amount of $1025.83. He
resigned in March 1872, and was succeeded by T. P.
Lowery in May 1872.
FINANCIAL NOTES FROM 1849 TO 1883 :
The County Court, on entering upon the administra-
tion of county affairs, in December 1849, found the coun-
ty in a healthy financial condition. The credit of the
county was good, there was no public debt, and the tax
rate very low, 15 cents per $100.
This state of affairs was not and could not be expected
to continue, for the large amounts of money received into
the treasury from the state saline and improvement
funds had been gradually disbursed. The expenses of
opening and repairing roads, the building of bridges, the
erection of public buildings,* and the purchasing of a
poor farm, necessitated large expenditures, frequently
much larger than anticipated.
In order to keep the county in a healthy financial con-
dition, the county court raised the tax rate to 60 cents
in 1850. The tax values amounted to $745,061 in said
year. The values were rapidly increasing, caused prin-
cipally by the building of railroads, in aid of which, the
county as such, however, did not spend a dollar. A
proposition to have the county take stock in the Ohio
and Mississippi railroad, was voted down in 1856, al-
though the road traversed the county from east to west,
through its very center. This refusal may be called
economy, but it is not policy. Railroads have invaria-
bly benefited agricultural districts more than inland towns
and cities, and yet, the rural population is apt to treat
their benefactors aa public enemies. We introduce here
the first Itemized Assessment of Lawrence County :
• W» hare related heretofore that a new court-house had been erected
in 1841, 1842, and 1843. This, the present court-home, was built under the
superintendence of Abner Greer and D. D. Marney, by David Me Henry and
Thomas Bisbop. The county records give but a meagre account of this
job. John Garner had a contract for 200.000 bricks, for which he was td
be paid 81,082. The work was finished in October 1843, when McHenry
and Bishop were paid the balances, towit: (228.20 and $425.31, due to them.
The contract for building tho present jail was let to John Garner, and
Ryan, and Watts on the 5th of April, 1854. Associate Jui
superintended the work.
112
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
1853.
2833 horses
6061 cattle
810S..174
63,164
Tax Levies.
State 57 cents per 100
. . 18,478 86
126 mules
6125 sheep
5,860
7,117
State Back Tax
. . 2,975 04
. . iir,:. 112
• .... 31,588
28,391
IT
'
Goods and merchandise
Manufactured articles
Moneys and credits
34,505
3,518
43,559
Total Taxes
. . J18.541 67
Value of lands
Value of town lots
892,235
53,307
other field products.
State tax 49j£-per loo
County tax 40 "
River tax 4% "
Road tax "
School tax "
. $6,819.36
6,448.12
The board next in order to protect the county orders
against further depreciation, made them interest-
bearing, and what was still worse, allowed them to be
" split," as they termed it. Appropriations of larger
amounts, were paid for in countless orders, of 1, 2 and
3 dollars each ; thus we find, for instance, that an allow-
The reader will observe, that the state tax was by far ance of 83,062 50, made December,
the heaviest. The people of Illinois in general and the
tax payers of Lawrence in particular were now paying
off the improvement debts of 1837 and 1838. The tax
value had increased to $2,196,525 in 1857, when the ad-
ministration of the county affairs was intrusted to a board
of supervisors, superseding the unpopular counly courts.
The financial management under the new board was
no improvement, and those who expected grand results
from the new departure were disappointed. The board
caused a financial statement to be made, September 28,
1858, from which it appeared, that the county had a
floating debt of 83,792.71, oa the 12ih of September,
High, on a bridge contract, was paid for i
566, to G. F.
i one thousand
and thirteen county orders of 1, 2, 3 and 5 dollars each.
How could such work be endured and how control it?
No wonder that the people became terribly alarmed
about this financial chaos. A victim was sought and
found, as will appear on a subsequent page. The finan-
cial misery had become so great that in 1867, the board
petitioned the General Assembly for aid in constructing
the levies, etc., in which petitions they state, that the
county debt then exceeded $20,000, and that county
orders were only worth 50 cents per dollar. The board
elected in 1868, showed more financial ability ; they or-
1857, when the board took charge of affairs, that during dered to discontinue the practice of "splitting," orders
(not heeded however, and constantly violated,) and to
receive county orders at par in payment of interest due
to the county on swamp land notes. Still matters did
not improve ; and the people demanded a speedy clear-
the first year under township organization, $8,989.80
had been expended, exceeding the revenue of the
county to the amount of $3,792.71, thus more than
doubling the county debt in twelve months. Matters
continued on in this way. A cheap government had j ing of the financial muddle. A committee, James M.
been promised, and a cheap government it apparently Buchanan, James F. Jennings and John Seed, appointed
was, as will be seen from the following exhibit, for al- December, 1870, with instructions to investigate the pro-
though the tax values were greatly reduced, nearly ceedings of all boards of supervisors, .the books of
8800,000, or 34 per cent, since 1857, the tax rate of 40 treasurers and county clerks, since the adoption of town-
cents was retained. The depreciation of tax values was
caused by the civil war ; a reaction, however, was soon
after to be observed in an unheard of inflation of all
values, and of precious metals in particular.
Assessment of 1862.
ship_organization, reported in March, 1871, as follows :
County orders issued during said period of 14 years . . $114,128.59
Amount of orders and juror:
8822 Horses
8358 Cattle
250 Mules
8119,528
60,118
County Officert.— Sheriffs
Circuit Clerks
$6,499.37
2,021.79
9357 Sheep
17,293 Hogs
11,4.56
18,299
County Clerks
County Judges
19,049.63
2,504.50
1226 Carriages and Wagons
25,588
Supervisors
". 2,762.00
970 Clocks and Watches
4,125
Stationery
8,'ll9.59
Goods and Merchandise
Manufactured Articles
Moneys and Credits
175
19,931
1,619
47 002
Paupers
Elections
Soldiers' families
17,825.32
2,515.86
1,842.00
Unenumerated Property
64,567
Roads and Bridges
27,710.66
$93,922.22 *
Total p p
Railroad Property
.... • 91,756
*The committee have apparently forgotten
>r neglected to find amounts
Lands
Town Lots
944,245
71 643
expended for keeping and dieting prisoners,
repairs of public buildings'
•vhieh fact fullyexplainsthe
discrepancy between the amount of orders
issued, $114,128.59, and the
Aggregate
$1,487,420
itemized allowances, 803,922.22.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WAS ASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
113
The said report continues : Many orders have been
paid but not canceled, and the debt appeared to consist
of the following amounts, to wit :
County orders uneanceled «!0,707.77
Int.T.-t on th.' .-lime 8,:«G.2(P
Juror warrants unpaid 1,:O6.1B
Total debt $13,490.13
In concluding their report, the committee recommended j
that in future county orders, etc., should not be destroyed i
after being redeemed, but to be defaced, and then pre-
served. (This is the best part of the report.) The com-
mittee were paid $550 for their work.
May, 1872. All holders of county orders were warned j
by public notices to present their orders to the county
treasurer prior to July 1, 1872, as a number of '' bogus"
orders were supposed to be in circulation. A second
committee of investigation was appointed at the same
term. It consisted of D. L. Gold, Levi Lathrop and
J. L-' Flanders. A former order, allowing the clerk to
issue county orders in vacation, was rescinded July
term, 1872. This committee reported May term, 1872.
Their report was very exhaustive and censured the
board for Having paid so little attention to the report of
the Seed committee. Analyzing the acts in the county
clerk's office, the committee came to the conclusion that
by reissuing of orders, and by issuing orders out, pro-
perly authorized, the county had lost a vast amount of
money. They stated that these over-issues and dupli-
cated issues amounted, from 1865 to 1872, to $9260.92;
that another order, to wit, No. 5362, for $3337.87, was
still out and a debt of the county, and that $4419.15 of
those $9260.02 of fraudulent orders had been paid by
the county. The committee became a terror, and the
county judge, who tried to interfere, was also severely
criticized. The county debt, which had been reported
to have amounted to $43,490 13, was, however, stated to
amount to $23,628.00 only. The clerk was reported a j
defaulter in the amount of $15,142 37 as clerk, and of j
$3232.72 as drainage commissioner. It was also reported
that the aggregate value of taxable property in the
county was greater than officially stated, but that excess
of taxes thus collected had been properly accounted for.
Subsequent proceedings in the courts threw a milder
light on this sad business, as it was shown that the
"splitting" of orders had been the principal cause of the
confusion, inasmuch as the issuing of the small orders
mentioned above, in lieu of the larger allowances, had
given cause to the alarming rumors and reports of du-
plicating the allowances. A special tax of $1.50 was
levied to pay off the county debt in 1873, the credit of
the county was restored, orders were worth 100 cents per
dollar and have remained at par ever since.
We conclude this synopsis of the county finances by
the following statement of assessment and tax levies
for 1882 :
Pt:lt.> tuxes
n.imty "
Town "
Ho:id :in,l bridge
Nrliool ....?.
Corporation ...
All otiicr taxes. .
ilroad property.
Total . . .
15
This tax is to be paid by a population of 13,600 ;
about $4 00 per capita.
A few statistical remarks may follow here : 351 chil-
dren were born in 1882 ; 163 couples were married, and
91 persons buried. Of the improved lands of the county,
40,413 acres are in wheat, 36,046 in corn, 5.9J3 in oats,
10,596 in meadows. 2,443 in other field products, 24,076
in inclosed pastures and 2,516 in orchards; 61,533 acres
are reported as woodland. The cities and towns in the
county contain 2,037 building lots, of which 1,008 are
improved.
CONCLUSION.
The county of Lawrence was represented in the various
Constitutional Conventions as follows :
i-1847, by Hon. J. Mieure. 1862, by Hon. Harmon
Alexander. 1870, by H)a. Jamas M. Sharp.
Lawrence county as represented in the General
Assembly of Illinois :
1822 to 1824.— William Kinkead, Senator for Wayne
and Lawrence. Abraham Cain, Kepresentative from
Lawrence.
1824 to 1826. — James Bird, Senator for Wayne and
Lawrence. Asa N >rton, Representative.
1826 to 1828.— James Bird, Senator for Wayne and
Lawrence. Samuel H. Olubb, Representative.
1828 to 1830.— Wickliffe Kichell * Senator for Law-
rence and Crawford. Henry M. Gillham, Representa-
tive.
1830 to 1832.— Wickliffe Kitchell, Senator for Law-
rence and Crawford. James M. McLean, Representa-
tive.
1832 to 183i.— David McGahey, Senator for Lawrence
and Crawford. Abner Greer, Representative.
1834 to 1836.— David McGahey, Senator for Lawrence
and Crawford. Jesse K. Dubois.f Representative.
1836 to 1838.— John C. Reilly, Senator for Lawrence
Crawford and Jasper. Jesse K. Dubois and Edward J.
O'Neille, Representatives.
1838 to 1840— Abner Greer, Senator for Lawrence,
Crawford and Jasper. Jesse K. Dubois, Representative.
1840 to 1842.— John Houston, Senator for Lawrence,
Crawford and Jasper. Samuel Dunlap and James
McLean, Representatives.
1842 to 1844 —John Houston, Senator for Lawrence,
Crawford and Jasper. Wm. G. Anderson and Jesse K.
Dubois, Representatives.
1844 to 1846.— Samuel Dunlap, Senator for Lawrence,
Crawford, Jasper and Richland. Wm. G. Anderson
and J. H. Reed, Representatives.
« Wickliffo Kitchell was Attorney General of Illinois from March 5th,
1839 to Nov. 19th, 1810, when he resigned,
t Jesse K. Dtilrais was Auditor of State from 1857 to 18M.
114
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
1846 to 18 18 —Samuel Dunlap, Senator for Lawrence,
Crawford and Jasper. Michael McLean, and Jos-iah R-
Wynne, Representatives for Lawrence and Richland.
1848 to 1850.— Alfred H. Grass, Senator 8th Senato-
rial district.* Ebenezer Z. Ryan, Representative 9th
district.
1850 to 1852.— Alfred H. Grass, Senator, 8th Senato-
rial district. Aaron Shaw,f Representative.
1852 to 1854. — Mortimer O'Kean of Jasper, Senator
8th Senatorial district. William J. Christy, Represen-
tative.
1854 to 1856.— Mortimer O'Kean, of Jasper, Senator
19th district. Rudolph Heath, of Crawford, Represen-
tive 17th district.
1856 t'o 1858. — Mortimer O'Kean, of Jasper, Senator-
19th district. Isaac Wilkins, of Crawford, Representa-
tive 17th district
1858 to I860.— Mortimer O'Kean, of Jasper, Senator
19th district. H. C. McClcave, of Crawford, Represen-
tative 17th district.
1860 to 1862.— Presley Funkhouser, of Effingham,
Senator 19th district. Aaron Shaw, of Crawford, Re-
presentative 17th district.
1862 to 1864. — Hugh Gregg, Senator for 2nd Sena-
torial district. James W. Sharp, of Wabash, Represen-
tative 4th Representative district.
1»64 to 1866.— John W. Westcott, of Clay, Senator,
as above. D. H. Morgan, of Lawrence, Representative.
1866 to 1868.— John W. Westcott, of Clay, Senator as
above. James M. Sharp, of Wabash, Representative.
1868 to 1870. — J. J. R. Turney of Wayne, Senator as
above. D. H. Morgan, of Lawrence, Representative.
1870 to 1872.— John Jackson, of Lawrence and John
Landrigan, of Edwards, Senators 2nd Senatorial district.
John D. Sage, of Lawrence, Representative 21st dis-
trict.
1872 to 1874.— W. J. Crews, of Lawrence, Senator.
Representatives — J. L. Flanders, of Lawrence, Thos. J.
Golden, of Clark, Herman Alexander of Crawford.
1874 to 1876.— 0. V. Smith, of Lawrence, Senator.
Representatives — Ethelbert Callahan of Crawford, John
H. Halley, of Jasper, John W. Briscoe, of Clark.
» The Constitution of 1848 provided that the Senate should consist of
twenty-five, and the House of seveniy-five members, uctil the popula-
tion of the State amounted to one million of souls, when five members
might be added to the House, and five additional members for every 500,(iOO
inhabitants thereafter, etc., etc. The first apportionment under said Con-
stitution made Edwards, Lawrence, Wabash, Effingham, Jasper, Clay and
Richland to form the 8th Senatorial district, and Lawrence and Richland
to form the oth Representative district. The Act of February 27th, 1854,
put Lawrence county, together with Clark, Fayette, Effingham, Jasper
and Crawford into the 19th Senatorial district, and with Crawford into the
17th Representative district. By Act of January 31st, 1861, Lawrence,
Hamilton, Wabash, Edwards, Wayne, Clay, Richland and White formed
thf 2nd Senatorial, and Lawrence and Wabash the 4th Repr. sentative dis-
trict. The apportionment of 1870 left Lawrence in the same Senatorial dis-
trict, but made the county a Representative district by itself— the 21st.
The apportionment of 1872 formed the 4oth Senatorial district of the counties
of Lawrence, Clark, Crawford and Jasper, entitling the district to one Sen.
ator and three Representatives. By the reapportionmentof 1882 the coun-
ties ol Lawrence, Wabash, White and Hamilton foim the 46th Senatorial
district.
t Aaron Shaw represented the 7th Congressional district of Illinois
from 1867 t<> l.s.V.1.
1876 to 1878.— O. V. Smith, of Lawrence, Senator.
Representatives — William Lindsey, of Clark, John H.
Halley, of Jasper, Andrew J. Reavill, of Crawford.
1878 to 1880.— W. C. Wilson, of Crawford, Senator.
Representatives— Jesse R. Johnson, of West Liberty,
James W. Graham, of Clark, Andrew J. Reavill, of
Crawford.
1880 to 1882.— W. C. Wilson, Senator. Representa-
tives—Jacob C. Olwin, James C. Bryan, W. H. H.
Mieure.
1882 to 1884.— John C. Edwards, Senator 46th dis-
trict. * Representatives — F. W. Cox, Lowery Hay, W.
J. Johnson.
COUNTY OFFICERS — 1849 to 1883.
County Courts, 1849 to 1853.— E. Z. Jlyan, Judge,
resigned November, 1852, James Nabb, Judge, elected
to fill vacancy, 1852.
Associate Justices — William Tanquary, Randolph
Heath, resigned November, 1862. James Irish, elected
to fill vacancy.
1853 to 1857.— Jesse K. Dubois, Judge. Associate
Justices — J. M. Travis, James Irish.
1857 to 1861. — The county having adopted township
organization, the county Judges attended to probate'
business only.
Isaac Potts, three terms, 1857 to 1869; W. J. Crews,
1869 to 1872, when he was elected State Senator.
T. B. Hoffman, appoinied to fill vacancy, Feb. 6,
1873; Isaac Potts, two terms, 1873 to 1882; P. W.
Barnes, since 1882.
FIRST BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, 1857.
W. D. Adams, Chairman ; James Banner, Daniel
Grass, D. L. Gold, Robert Dollohan, Andrew Pinkstaff,
Henry Schrader and Wiley Edmundson. The balance
of the Supervisors will be found in the respective town-
ships.
COUNTY CLERKS SINCE 1849.
W. H Hennessy, re-elected in 1849, resigned January
19, 1853. John Seed, officiated under appointment, to
March, 1853, when Thomas F. Watts was elected
for the balance of Hennessey's term. J. C. Reily,
elected Nov. 1853, resigned December 21, 1855, and
Lunenburg Abernathy, officiated until March, 1856, as
appointed, when I. B. Watts was elected. He was re-
elected for four successive terms, but resigned April 15,
1872. Thornton E. Adams was appointed clerk on the
same day, and officiated until August 5, 1872, when
Clinton Abernathy, elected at a special election, took
charge of the office until 1877. James K. Dickerson,
from 1877 to 1882, and J. W. Calvert, since 1882.
COUNTY TREASURERS SINCE 1849.
William Neal, 1849 to April 6, 1851, when he resigned.
W. B. Buchanan, served balance of term until Novem-
* The 4Gth district is composed of the counties of Lawrence Wabash,
White, and Hamilton.
HISTORY OF HOWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASU COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
115
her, 1851; Caius M. Eaton, 1851 to 1853; Isaac Potts,
1853 to 1855; R. \V. McLean, 1855, resigned June,
1857 ; E. Z. Ryan, served during remainder of term ;
Edward Thorn, 1857 to 1863 — three full terms ; Samuel
Laird, 1863 to 1869— three full terms; J. W. McCleave,
1869 ; G. \V. Stoltz, 1873 ; W. M. Lewis, 1875 ; J. W.
Whittaker, 1877, who died before the expiration of his
2nd term, in 1881, and was succeeded by the present
Treasurer, J. W. McCleave, since May 2nd, 1881.
Circuit Clerks since 1848.— Fred. A. Thomas, 1819;
Jacob Young, 1851 ; J. C. Reiley, 1852; E. Z. Ryan,
1856; S. J. Stiles, 1857; Lafayette McLean, 1863; Ed-
ward Thorn, Jr.. 1863; G. F. Nigh, 1864; Alfred J.
Judy, 1868 ; B. L. Cunningham, 1872, two terms ; and
Lafayette Barnes, since 1880.
Circuit and County Attorneys since 1825. — J. M.
Robinson, E B. Webb, Aaron Shaw, Alfred Kitchell,
John Scholfields, F. D. Preston, E. T. Wilson, D. L.
Brewer, H. A. Briscoe, died in office 1872 ; T. B. Huff-
man, 1873, two terms ; and K. P. Snyder, since 1880.
Sho-i/g since 1819.— Jacob Young, Isaac Potts, Joel
Johnson, James Corrie, J. W. Watts, G. W. Whattaker,
G. F. Nigh, W. C. Gilbert, E. Ryan, W. C. Gilbert,
William Blackburu, 1870, two terms ; James H. Alli-
son, 1874; John P. Scott, 1876, two terms; and Edmond
Ryan, since 1880.
Coroners since 1863. — E. G. Canover, 1868 ; J. B.
Musgrave, 2870, two terms ; Gabriel Graffham, 1874,
two terms; Daniel Leach, 1880, and H. V. Lewis, since
1882.
Surveyors since 1849. — Peter Smith, 1849 ; Walter
Buchanan, 1859 ; T. P. Lowry, 1863, and Jesse B. Ben-
nefield, since 1865.
School Superintendents. — Algernon S. Badollet, from
1843 to 1857 ; L. Abernathy, from 1857 to 1861, died
during terra ; J. B. Saye, 1861 to 1865 ; T. B. Lowery,
1865 to 1869 ; O. V. Smith, 1869 to 1873; F. W. Cox,
from 1873 to 1882, two terms, and C. H. Martin, since
1882.
ROSTER OF COUNTY OFFICERS IN 1883.
Circuit Court.— Second Circuit. — Chancery S. Ganger,
Thomas S. Casey and William C. Jones. — Judges.
K. P. Snyder — Attorney.
Edmond Ryan— Sheriff.
Lafayette Barnes— Clerk. '
P. W. Barnes— County Judge.
J. W. Cal vert.— County Clerk.
J. W. McCleave -Treasurer.
Jesse B. Bennefield.— Surveyor.
C. H. Martin — School Superintendent.
H. V. Lewis — Coroner.
WABASH COUNTY.
The political history of this county, as a body politic,
commences with the county organization had in pursu-
ance of au act of the Legislature, approved December
27, 1824. The history of the territory, of which the
present county of Wabash is partly composed, is much
older, and the reader is respectfully referred to the ter-
ritorial sketch contained in this volume. '
The organization of Wabash county reduced the area
of Edwards, the mother county, to such limits that a
further sub-division of them was, and could not be,
thought of. The east part of the county of Edwards
contained the old pioneer settlements. It was here where
the sturdy emigrants, from old Virginia, the Carolinas,
Pennsylvania, etc., had joined the-French adventurers,
who had preceded them half a century and longer. It
was here where old Edwards county had had its time-
honored seat of justice at Palmyra. Unfortunately thia
Palmyra situated in, or near, the marshes oil the banks
of the great Wabash, could, in reference to health of
climate and beauties of surroundings, not be compared
to the proud and ancient city after which it was named-
Yes, lovely Palmyra, and lovely the oasis where it
stood !
In the western part of the county, beyond the waters
of the meandering river De Bon Pas, (now called Bon-
paa for short) another city, Albion, had been reared a
rival to Palmyra. Numerous immigrants from the
British Isles had sought and found homes in the old
county of Edwards. The separation of Lawrence county
from the former had given numerical strength to the
English settlements, and at an election held for that
purpose, a majority decided to locate the county seat
at the new town of Albion. (The reader is referred to
preceding pages under the head of Edwards county. )
Mt: Carrael was defeated in this election, and her
people, as well as the American settlements along the
Wabash, felt outraged that Albion, then an out-of-the-
way place, should -bear off the price. The agitation be-
came violent; men that understood the signs of the
time, could see " blood " in the moon. The militia,
four companies, were out drilling day after day, and
actually went into camp at Ball Hill Prairie, with the
avowed.purposeof taking possession of the court archives
to remove them from the town of Albion. A delegation
of Albionians, under a flag of truce, came into camp to
negotiate for terms of peace. Major Utter promised to
bring about a peacable arrangement by a division of
the county, making the Bonpas the line.
Major Utter, a member of the House of Representa-
tives from Edwards county, in the 4th General Assembly,
1824 to 1826, was as good as his promise. The division
took place. The feeling was, however, by no means, a
very friendly one, and the Legislature took the precau-
tion to entrust the selection of a county seat for the new
county to non-residents of either county.
The county debt of Edwards county was to be shared
in equal parts, and Samuel Munday, of Wabash, and
John Cove, of Edwards, were appointed commissioners
to ascertain that debt. We introduce next a copy of the
act, creating the new ccunty, to wit :
116
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WAS ASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
An Act forming a separate county out of the county
of Edwards.
Approved December 27, 1824.
Section 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 mouth of De Bon Pas creek,
thence running up the main branch of said creek to the
line of Lawrence county ; thence running east with said
line to the Wabash river, and thence down the same to
the place of beginning, shall constitute a new county, to
be called Wabash ; and for the purpose of fixing a per-
manent seat of justice in said county, William Kinkade,
John H. Morris, Cornelius De Long and Thomas Mason
of Lawrence county, and George W. Farris of Wayne
county, be and they are hereby appointed commissioners,
which said commissioners or a majority of them, being
duly sworn before some judge or justice of the peace of
their State, to faithfully take into view the convenience
of the people, and the situation of the settlements, with
an eye to future population and the eligibility of the
place, shall meet on the first Monday in May, or within
six days thereafter, at the house of Gervaise Hazleton in
said county and proceed to examine and determine upon
the place of the permanent seat of justice and designate
the same.
Provided.- — That the proprietors of the land shall
give to the county a quantity of land not less than
twenty acres for the purpose of erecting county build-
ings, to be laid out in lots and sold for that purpose ; or
should the proprietor or proprietors refuse or neglect to
make the donation aforesaid, then it shall be the duty
of said commissioners to fix upon some other place for
the seat of justice, as convenient as may be to the inhabi-
tants of said county, which place so fixed and determined
upon, the said commissioners shall certify, under their
hands and seals and return the same to the next county |
commissioners' court in said county ; which court shall j
cause an entry to be made in their books of record, !
which place, so designated, shall be the permanent seat
of justice of said county ; and until the public buildings
shall be erected, the courts shall be held at such place,
in said county as the county commissioneHt of said
county shall appoint.
Section 2. Be it further enacted — That eaid county
shall bear an even share of the debts which are now out-
standing against Edwards county, excepting all such as
have arisen from the erection of public buildings at Al-
bion ; and for the purpose of ascertaining and adjusting
the same, Samuel Munday of said county and John
Cove, junior, of Edwards county, be, and they are here-
by appointed commissioners, whose duty it shall be to
meet at the court-house in Albion on the first Monday
in June next, and to examine into the state of the
treasury, of the present Edwards county, and the debts
due from said county, and to divide the amount of debts
which shall remain unpaid, excepting such as have I
arisen from the erection of the public buildings at Albion,
between the two counties in equal proportion, and cer-
tify, under their hands and seals, to the next county
commissioners' court of each county, the amount to be
paid by each ; and for the purpose of executing their
commission, the said commissioners are hereby author-
ized to send for witnesses and examine them upon oath.
§ 3. And be it further enacted, That each of the
commissioners appointed to locate the seat of justice in
said county, shall receive a compensation of two dollars
for each and every day they may be necessarily em-
ployed in fixing the aforesaid seat of justice, to be paid
out of the county treasury, by an order from the county
commissioners ; and that the commissioners appointed
by the second section of this act, shall receive the like
sum per day, for every day necessarily employed in ex-
ecuting their commission, to be paid out of the treasuries
of their respective counties, upon the order of their re-
spective county commissioners' courts.
§ 4. Be it further enacted, That on the first Monday of
April next, an election shall be held at the house of
Henry Utter in said county for one sheriff, one coroner
and three county commissioners, which election shall be
conducted in all respects agreeably to the provisions of
the law regulating elections ; Provided, that any three
justices of the peace in said county may act as judges of
election, taking to themselves two qualified voters as
clerks, and it shall be the duty of the circuit clerk of
said county to give public notice agreeably to law, at
least ten days previous to such elections. And in case
there should be no clerk in said county, it shall be the
duty of the recorder to give such notice.
§ 5. Be it further enacted, That the citizens of said
county are hereby declared to be entitled to the same
rights and privileges as are allowed in general to other
counties in this state.
§ 6. Be it further enacted, That the said county shall
vote in conjunction with Edwards county for representa-
tives and senator of the General Assembly.
In pursuance of the provisions of section 1, of the
above act, John E. Morris, Thomas Mason and Cornelius
De Long, reported to the county commissioners that they
located the county seat at the site of the present town of
Centerville. The commissioners appointed under sec-
tion 2 of this act reported on the 4th of December 1827,
that Wabash's proportionate share of the old Edwards
county amounted to 8 748. 20*.
The election provided for in § 4, came off on the first
Monday of April, 1825, at the house of Henry Utter,
and resulted in the election of Levi Compton, Tarlton
Boren and Moses Bedell, county commissioners and of
Abner Armstrong, sheriff.
Owning to the fact, that the court-house at Mt. Carmel
and all its contents were destroyed by fire April oth
1857, this sketch, based on documentary evidence, will
be somewhat deficient in dates and names. A part of
the public records happened to be outside of the court-
house at the time of the conflagration. — They were care-
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
117
fully collected and re-recorded as will be seen from the
following entry :
" The following is a copy of the proceedings of the
county commissioners' court of Wabash county, It was
found by Hiram Bell, Esq , at his residence after the
burning of the court-house of the county, April 5th, 1857,
and after being about the county clerk's office for years,
I have been ordered to copy and preserve it as far as
possible in this record. Hiram Bell was clerk of the
county and circuit courts of Wabash county fora period
of about 32 years, and all that remains of his labor for
nearly all that period is what is copied in this book.
There is one other volume that was preserved by my
having it at my home on the night of the burning of I
said court-house. Everything else of value, in the way
of records or papers was destroyed,
(no date). J^MES S. JOHNSTON, late Co. Clerk.
From the contents of the thus preserved public records,
we have ascertained the following facts of the early
county government.
The first (?) meeting of the county commissioners, Levi
Compton, Tarlton Boren and Moses Bedell, was held at
the house of Gervaise Hazleton on the 6th day of June
1825, when the report of the commissioners on the county,
seat questions was received and approved.
Before reciting the acts of the officers, usually called
the servants of the people, we shall introduce here the
names of the bona fide land owners of the county as far
as we were able to ascertain them.
Township 1 N., R. 12 IF. — Levi Compton, Hugh
Calhoun, P. Munday, Fames Thompson, Asa Smith, F.
Ayres, Cornelius Vanderhuff, Asa Hammond, Jeremiah
Wilson, George Field, Joseph Gardener, W. Smith,
George Antis, B. S. E Goff, Joseph Wright, George
Oman, Coles Besley, E. Higgins, William Pool, Jarvis
Dale, John Stillwell, Samuel Stillwell, Stephen Gardner,
Peter Keen, Charles Garner, J. M. Armstrong, Joseph
Wood, John Mclntosh, Sarah Arnold, Samuel Marshal,
Thomas Pulliam, John Snider, David Beauchamp,
William Higgius, Enoch Greathouse, John Shadle,
Henry McGregor, Nathaniel Claypoole, and Gervaise
Hazleton ; these parties owned then 9558 acres of land.
Township 2 N., R 12 W.— John Smith, Jr., Adam
Carrie, Moses Decker, William Tougas, John Bu-
chanan, and Thomas West, owned 1590 acres.
Township 1 N., R. 13 IF.— Hezekiah Clark, Ebenezer
Couch, Jeremiah Ballard. Isaac Harness, John Higgius,
Henry Cusick, William Jordan, John Harrison. Henry
I. Mills, John Pugh, Tarlton Boren, Benjamin Reynolds, j
Richard Maxwell, A. J. Mills, William Brown, Ralph I
Little, AV. Vanwick, John White, Reuben Blackford, :
Robert McNair, Josiah Higgins, F. Winter, Ephraira I
Reed, Benjamin Taylor, Ransom Higgins, Thomas \
Pool, Jeremiah Slaughter, Beauchamp Harvey, G. M. |
Tettinger, Arthur Vandever, John Waggoner, Henry \
D. Palmer, Samuel Harris, Philip Hull, Seth Card, |
Joseph Preston, Cyrus Danforth, William Barney,
James Andrews, Guy W. Smith, Phil. Ingram, John
Cantrecht, S. Madison, Fred. Munday, James Fordyce,
Elijah Harris, J. Brown, I. C. Griffin, Stephen Jessup,
John Hart, and William Lismond, owned 12,2:30 acres.
Township 2 N., R. 13 IF.— Havilah Guun, Andrew
Knight, James McMullen, Nathaniel Osgood, Adam
Carrie, and Hezekiah Clark, owned 1440 acres.
Township 1 N., R. 14 W— James Black, I. C. Griffin,
John Moore, and F. Ayres, owned 880 acres.
Township 1 S. R. 12 IF.-Cornelius McCollum, John
Ingersole, William Simonds, Adam Carrie, Enoch
Greathouse, John Tiltron, Sr., Henry Shrader, John
Shadle, Elijah Harris, John Marshall, Thomas Hinde,
and Joshua Beall, owned 2986 acres.
Township 1 S., R. 13 IF.— Scoby Stewart, Enoch
Greathouse, James Majors, Daniel Greathouse, Henry
Alter, James English, E. Putman, Jacob Claypole, John
Stillwell, A. Smook, Manlove Beauchamp, James Dun-
lap, James Miller, Thomas McLean, William Deputy,
Charles Bigg, J ohn Collins, Joshua Beall, Samuel Bigg,
Cornelius McCullon, William Tanguary, Robert Bigg,
Andrew Dyer, William Beauchamp, John White, Jr.,
and George Bell, owned 7180 acres.
Township 2 S., R. 13 IF.— Thomas T. Hinde, A. F.
Dyer, John Nestler, A. Tougas, dit Lavialet, Daniel
Keen, Samuel Marshall, John Ruth, Elijah Compton,
Jean B. Langlois, John Marshall, William Jones, John
Stewart, Thomas Baird, John McClary, and John
Greason.
Townships 1, 2, 3, S., R. 14 W.— George Flower
Samuel Brown, J. & J. Duulap, Samuel Brown, William
Wilson, Asa Durley, Ephraim Farr, Elias Jordan
Joseph Wright, James Gray, Lanford Violet, John
Painter, Samuel Campbell, Francis Jordon, Neil Camp-
bell, and James Campbell, owned 4572 acres.
French locations were owned in Township 1 N , R. 11
W., by widow of Le Denoyon, Alexander Valle, Frai^ois
Baziuet, Jacques La Lemoille, Ambrois Degenet, Jean C.
Thiriot, Gabriel Bon Ion, Jr. and Pierre Levrie, aggre-
gating 1600 acres. Christopher Wyatt owned 400 acres,
location right in T. 1 N., R. 12 W., and Nicholas Varner,
Pierre Gamelin, Etieune St. Marie, and Francis St.
Marie, 1 1 90 acres of similar rights in Township 1 S., R.
12 W.
The area of the whole county, swamp lands included,
is stated to contain 137,486 acres. 84,834 acres were
listed as " improved " lands in 1882- The lands
by individuals at the period of the organization of
county, amounted to about one half of that quantity, to
wit : to 42,186 acres. Besides Palmyra, the county had
another and iar more important commercial centre in
the town of Mt. Carmel, founded in 1817, and incorpor-
ated in 1825.
Shortly after the organization a census was taken by
Abner Armstrong. The number of resident families is
stated to have been 351, and the total population 1930
souls, of whom 427 were subject to military duty in the
Slate militia.
In order to make the above list of names more com-
118
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
plete, the following addition is made. We are indebted
to the Aft. Carmel Register for it.
First Grand Jury appointed September 5th, 1825.— Seth
Grand, Felix Hull, John Higgins, John Arnold, Ran-
som Higgins, Moses Decker, Stephen Bliss, Stephen
Summons, Joseph Wright, John Andrew, John Arm-
strong, Lewis Armstrong, Spencer Wood, Joseph Wood,
William Higgins, Alexander Wood, Thomas Beard,
John McCleary, Daniel Groves, John Gray, David
Wright, Samuel N. Campbell and Beauchamp Harvey.
First Petit Jury.— William M. Richards, George Pugh,
John Harrison, James McMillen, John Key, Thomas
Pulliam, George W. Higgins, William Brown, William
Fullerton, John Campton, Francis Vallie, Lyman Utter,
Lyman Brines, George Claypole, John Stillwell, William
Deputy, William Arnold, John Degan, Ephraim Phar,
James Block, Joshua Beall, Stephen Simonds, Nathan
Fry and Aaron Gould.
The counties of Illinois along the Wabash were divid-
ed into military districts and thus Wabash county
formed seven military or company districts, named after
their captains. There was a Captain Arnold's, a Cap-
tain Campbell's, a Captain Andrews', a Captain Beall's,
a Captain Wardell's, a Captain Suider's and a Captain
McCleary 's district. These districts existed at the time
of the organization of the county, and this subdivision
was utilized by the first county, in calling each district
a road district also, placed under the supervision of Levi
Crouch, John Compton, James Gray, Joseph Jones, Henry
Utter, Enoch Greathouse and Coles Bertley respectively.
Political Subdivisions.— In. Juhe,r1825 the county was
divided into two townships, called Prairie, north ot the
base line and Centerville south of the base line.
Two years later in June, 1827, the county was sub-
divided into five districts for the election of justices of
the peace and constables. Heretofore the justices of the
peace were appointed by the governor of the State,
usually upon recommendations made by the county
commissioners. These justices in their turn apppointed
their own constables, who however had to be confirmed
by the county board, before they could enter upon the
duties of their offices. The five districts or precincts
were named as follows : Coffee, Mt. Carmel, Centerville,
Wabash and prairie.
Co/te.— Was bounded as follows: Beginning at the
mouth of Bonpas creek, thence up the same to the old
Boupas bridge, thence with the road leading to Mount
Carmel to Coffee creek, thence down the same to the
Wabash, thence down said river to the place of begin-
ning. Elections to be held at the house of John Comp-
ton, with Daniel Keen, Thomas Beaird and John Mc-
Cleary as judges of election.
Mount Carmel— Beginning at the Wabash where the
base line strikes the same, thence west to the range line
dividing ranges twelve aud thirteen west, thence south
with said line two miles, thence west to the Bonpas creek,
thence down said creek, to the old Boupas bridge, thence
with the road leading to Mount Carmel to Coffee creek,
thence with said creek to the Wabash river, thence up
said river to the place of beginning. Elections to be
held at the tavern of Robert Lucas in Mount Carmel,
with James Townsend, James Brown and Edward Ulm
as judges of election.
Centrevdle.— Beginning at the section corner of sec-
tions 17, 18, 19, 20 in township 1 north of range 12 west,
thence west to Bonpas creek, thence with said creek to a
point two miles south of base line, thence east to the
section corner of sections 12 and 13, on the line
between ranges twelve and thirteen, thence north two
miles to the baseline, thence east one mile, thence north
three miles to the place of beginning. Elections at the
court-house in Centreville, with Henry Utter, Seth Gard
and Zedekiah Winter as judges.
Wabaah. — Beginning at the base line at the section
corner between sections 31 and 32 in township number
one north of range 12 west, thence north to the north
line of the county, thence east to the Wabash, thence
down the same to the base line, thence west with said
line to the place of beginning. Elections to be held at
the house of John Andrew, with Abner Armstrong
Spencer Wood and John Snider as judges.
Prairie. — Beginning at the section corner of sections
17, 18, 19 and 20, in township 1 north, range 12 west,
and thence north four miles to the county line, thence
west to Bonpas creek, thence down the same to a point
four miles south of the north line of the county, thence
east to the place of beginning. Elections to be held at
the house of John Arnold, with Ransom Higgins, John
Harrison and James McMillen as judges of election.
Various unimportant changes in names and boundari s
were made in the course of time, until at this day, we
find the following. •
POLITICAL SUB-DIVISIONS OF WABASH COUNTY AS PER
ORDER OF SEPTEMBER TERM, 1881.
ELECTION PRECINCTS
Mount Carmel is bounded as follows : Commencing
on the Wabash river where the base line strikes the
same, thence west to the northwest corner of section 3,
T. 1 S., R. 13 W., thence south to the southeast corner
of section 4, T. 2 S., R. 13 W., thence east to the
Wabash river, thence up the Wabash river to the place
of beginning.
Friendsville commences at the northeast corner of the
northwest quarter of section 32, T. 2 N., 12 west, on
the north line of the county ; thence west on the north
line of the county to the northwest corner of the north-
east quarter of section 33, T. 2 N., R. 13 west, thence
south on the half section line to the southeast corner of
the southwest quarter of section 11, T. 1 N., R 13 west,
thence west to the northwest corner of section 15, T. 1
N., R. 13 west, thence south to the southwest corner of
section 34, T. 1 N., R. 13 west on the base line, thence
east on the base line to the southwest corner of the
southeast quarter of section 32, T. 1 N., R. 12 west;
thence north on the half section line to the north line of
the county and the place of beginning.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
119
Wabash commences on the Wabash river where the
north line of the county strikes said river, thence on the
north line of the county to the northwest corner of the
northeast quarter of section 32, T. 2 N, R. 12 west, ,
thence south on the half section line to the southwest
corner of the southeast quarter of section 32, T. 1 N., R. i
12 west on the base line, thence east on the base line to
the Wabash river, thence up said river to the place of
beginning.
Lancaster commences at the northeast corner of the
northwest quarter of section 33, T. 2 N., R 13 west, on j
the north line of the county to Bonpas creek, thence '
southerly along said creek to where it strikes the half
section line of section 22 running east and west T. 1 N., |
R. 14 west, thence east on the half section line to the '
southeast corner of the northeast quarter of section 21,
T. 1 N., R 13 west, thence north on the section line to j
the northwest corner of section 15, T. 1 N., R. 13 west, |
thence east to the northeast corner of the northwest
quarter of section 14, T. IN., R. 13 west, thence north
on half section line running north and south of sections
2 and 11, T. I N. R. 13 west on the half section line
running north and south of section 33, T. 2 N., R. 13
west to the place of beginning.
Lick Prairie commences at the southeast corner of the
northeast quarter of section 21, T. 1 N., R. 13 west,
thence west on the half section line to Bonpas creek, j
where said creek strikes the half section line of section 22, i
running east and west, T. 1 'N., R. 14 west, thence j
southerly along said creek to where it strikes the half
section line of section 11 (running east and west) T. 18.
R. 14 west, thence east on the half section line to the
southeast corner of section 9, T. 1 S., R 13 west, thence
north to the southeast corner of the northeast quarter
of section 21, T. 1 K, R. 13 west, the place of begin-
ning.
Bonpas commences at the southeast corner of the
northeast quarter of section 9, T. 1 S , R. 13 west, thence
west on the half section line to Bonpas creek, thence
southerly with said creek to the southwest corner of
section 3, T. 2 S., R. 14 west, thence east on the south
line of sections 1, 2 and 3, T. 2 S., R. 14 west, and the
south line of sections 4, 5 and 6, to the southeast corner
of section 4, T. 2 S., R. 13 west, thence north to the
southeast corner of the northeast' quarter of section 9,
T.'l S., R. 13, the place of beginning.
Coffee commences' at Bonpas creek, at or near the
southwest corner of section 3, T. 2 S., R. 14 west, thence
due east on the south line of sections 1, 2 and 3, T. 2 S , i
R. 14 west, on the south lines of sections 1, 2,3, 4, 5 and j
6, T. 2 8 , R. 13 west, to where the same strikes the
Wabash river, thence southerly along said river to the i
mouth of Bonpas creek, thence up said Bonpas creek to i
the southwest corner of section 3, T 2 S., R 14 west, the i
place of beginning.
Returning to the county " governors " of those early
days, it should be stated that the presiding members of
the court had represented the present county of Edwards
in the first legislature of the State, and that he as chair-
man of the committee on public buildiugs, had superin-
tended and conducted the erection of the Statehouse at
Vandalia. Hiram Bell was clerk of this court, and re-
mained in appointment and reappointment at first, and
by election and reelection next for more than 30 years.
George Bell was the first county assessor, and received a
compensation of 825.00 for his labors. Abner Arm-
strong, the sheriff, was also treasurer, and Hiram Bell,
the county clerk, was also county surveyor and clerk
of the circuit court. Beauchamp Harvey at Mount Car-
mel, and John Tilden at Centerville, were the earlier
justices of the peace, and L. W. Jordan, constable. The
poor " masters " were William Higgins and George W.
Higgins. Gervaise Hazleton, George Claypole and
Ephraim Phar, Thomas Pulliam, William Higgins and
John Compton were trustees of school-lands. There
were two organized school districts, one at Mt. Carmel
and the other at Centerville.
Abner Armstrong was appointed agent to lay off the
donation land at Centerville into town lots. There were
12 blocks of 4 lots each. These lots measured 10 by 14
poles. The streets were ordered to be two poles wide,
and the lots were to be sold at auction on the 4th of
July, 1825, on very easy terms, to wit : at a credit of
six, twelve and eighteen months, and no "earnest"
money required. The sale however proved a failure, and
the court authorized Armstrong to sell at private sale,
provided however that no lot should be sold for less than
$25.00.
To make the county seat more accessible, a road
from Centerville east, crossing the road from Jeremiah
Woods to Palmyra at Prairie creek, to Moses Bedell's
mills, was laid out on a route viewed by Enoch Great-
house, Jeremiah Woods and John Compton and another
one from August Tegan's ferry to Centerville.
The county revenue of the first year amounted to
395.30, and the ordinary expenditures to $255 40. The
support of the paupers cost the county $44.40, which
amount was paid to William Johnson, who had provided
for the wants of Daniel Hoit, a pauper, during a period
often and one-third months, at the rate of fourteen
cents per day.
Miscellaneous notes from the journal of the commis-
sioners. Tarlton Boren, Ephraim Phar and Beauchamp
Harvey formed the second county court, 1826. They
organized a new precinct and named it Coffee. Its
boundaries commenced at the old Bonpas bridge, thence
with the county road leading from Mt. Carmel to S.
Riggs, thence in a direct line to the mouth of Coffee
creek, thence with the Wabash to the mouth of Bonpas,
thence up the creek to the place of beginning, elections
to be held at the house of John Compton, with Thomas
Baird, Levi Compton and Daniel Keen as judges of
election. John Tilton, William Higgins, sr. and Thomas
Pulliam conducted the election at Centerville. The
compensation of judges was for each 75 cts. specie or its
equivalent in state paper. ($1.00 in specie was worth
120
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
$3.00 in state paper in 1825— see chapter of Lawrence
county.) Isaac Parmenter was granted license to sell
liquor by the small, for which privilege he paid 25 cts.,
December 5, 1826 ; and was elected sheriff in 1828.
John Crow kept tavern at Centerville, and Robert Lucas
at Mt. Carmel. The court fixed their rate of charges
at 25 cents per meal, 6k cents for lodging, whiskey at
12£ cents and foreign spirits or wines at 25 cents per
half pint. The annual tax for taverns was then $3.00.
George Knight succeeded Tarltou Boren, December,
1828. Levi Crouch is mentioned as coroner at the same
time. The last meeting of court at Centerville was dur-
ing March, 1829. The court then adjourned to meet at
Mt. Carmel in June, 1828. Beauchamp Harvey was
re-elected in 1830, leaving the county commissioners'
court unchanged. The county revenue of 1830
amounted to $701.10. The population of the county
was increasing rapidly, and amounted in 1830 to 2,710,
about one hundred more than the parent county Edwards
contained. O. B. Ficklin, in later years member of leg-
islature and finally representative in Congress, com-
menced his career like his friend Isaac Parmenter in
keeping tavern, 1831.
No vestige of records has remained in existence from
1831 to Sept. 1844. The August election of 1844 added
Daniel Keen to his colleagues Anthony Altintz and
William Wier. The population had meanwhile increased
to over 4,000 souls and 4 new precincts, to wit ; Pleasant
Hill, Frifndville, Lancaster and Bonpas, had been es-
tablished. George Glick succeeded Wier in Sept 1845,
and Stephen T. Gunn became the successor of Altintz in
1846.
Ralph Baird was licensed to operate a ferry-boat- on
the Wabash, with a landing in section 23, T. 2 S. R. 13
W. Daniel Darnell, a negro 23 years old, was recorded
as free born, on the affidavit of Nathan Seers, who had
raised him. Lawrence and Elizabeth Ferguson produced
documentary evidence, that HWliam Ferguson, of Louis-
iana, from motives of benevolence and humanity, had
manumitted them and their children on the 4th day of
June, 1847, and upon giving the required bond, they
were registered as free negroes and permitted to dwell
at Mt. Carmel. This is the only instance in which the
"black laws " of Illinois are mentioned in the county
records of Wabash. Daniel Keen was re-elected in 1847,
and remained a member of the commissioners' court
until 1849, when this court, by provision of the new
constitution of Illinois was abolished and the government
of the county entrusted to a county court, composed of
three members, the county judge as presiding officer,
and two county justices, his associates, to be elected Nov.
1849 for a term of four years. Abraham Utter succeed-
ed Glick in 1840. The last term of the commissioners
was held on the first Monday of December 1849, present
Daniel Keen, Stephen T..Gunn and Abraham Utter.
At the close of this period the number of paupers had in-
creased to 7, and Daniel Hoit, the first county pauper,
was still one of their number. These people were farmed
out to the lowest bidder ; some were taken at 37} cts.
per week, while others cast as much as $2.00 per week.
Statistic} taken from the U. S. Census of 1850.— The
county had then a population of 4690, among them 50
persons of color. Mt. Carmel counted 935 inhabitants,
151 children were born in 1849, 121 couple got married
and 45 persons had died during the year ; 808 dwelling-
houses sheltered 816 families; 30 teachers taught 1233
na'ive born, 32 foreign born and 2 negro children.
There were 2ij adult natives and 1 adult foreigner unable
to read and write. The farms of the county embraced
24,369 acres of improved and 39,649 acres of unimproved
land representing a cash value of 3407,000; the farming
utensils were worth $36,000 and the live stock $118,235.
The slaughtered- animals represented a value of $34,000.
The farmers had produced, in 1849, 12,438 bushels of
wheat, 320,000 of corn and 45,000 of oats, 5,000 Ibs of
tobacco, 10,230 Ibs. of wool, 2,500 bushels of beans, 10.
110 of Irish and 536 of sweet potatoes, 55,500 Ibs. of
butter and 6,000 Ibs. of cheese, 2,200 tons of hay, 4,687
Ibs. of flax, etc etc. There were two libraries in the
county, with a catalogue of about 600 volumes each.
There were 2 Lutheran, 1 Christian, 2 Methodist, 3
Presbyterian and 2 Roman Catholic churches in the
county, 11 buildings in all, erected at an expense of
$13,950 with a capacity of seating 7,400 people.
7,400 seats and only 4 6jO souls in the county!
Before entering upon the proceedings of the newly in-
troduced government of the county, we shall introduce
here a brief sketch of the
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
Firnt Court House.— Moses Bedell, the miller, con-
tracted, September 5th, 1825, for the building of a frame
court-house, 26x36 feet, two stories high ; the first story
to be eleven feet in the clear, the second eight feet. He
agreed to furnish all the materials, h'ave shutters to the
windows and shingles to the roof. The work was to be
completed by May 1st, 1826. The house was completed
and the worshipfuls — as the commissioners called them-
selves— occupied it on the 5th of June, 1826. Moses
received $715.00, the contract price, on the 19th of
March, 1827.
Second Court House.— The location of the county
seat at Centerville, was a failure, and a majority of the
people desired a relocation, selecting Mt. Carmel as the
most desirable place. The only objection to the scheme
was the question of expense, but when Scoby Stewart,
in March, 1829, offered to give bond to the amount of
$4,000, conditioned that within two years from date, he
would erect a court-house at Mt. Carrael of equal value
of the old courthouse at Centerville, free of all ex-
penses to the county, and located on a lot, selected by
the court, and to be donated to the county, the question
was decided at once. The court chose lots 217 and 477
as the most suitable site, on which the second court-
house of the county was erected.
rflt/RT Hf)
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
121
This building was occupied by the county authorities
until April 5th, 1857, when it was destroyed by fire.
Third Court House.— This building was erected in
1857, on the old site by Hiram Bell, contractor, at an
expense of $6,770. A part of the necessary funds was
borrowed from Thomas J. Shannon, who was at the same
time appointed agent to pay the contractor as the work
progressed, and upon the reports of Charles Cuqua and
Brivoyle, experts, superintending the work. Brivoyle,
for some reason, withdrew from this superintending po-
sition and was succeeded by T. C. Turner. The build-
ing was completed in autumn, 1858. A final settlement
with the contractor was had on the 6th day of December,
1858.
This building was also destined to be destroyed by
the elements. The following few lines, entered upon the
journal of the county commissioners' board will fully
explain the tragic downfall of Court-house No. 3, — to
wit:
"June 4th, 1877: The board of county commis-
sioners remained in session until about twenty minutes
to four o'clock, P. M., when said court was suddenly
adjourned without ceremony or delay, a terrible cyclone
striking and destroying the court-house and offices, the
members of the board and the other officers not standing
upon the order of their going but at once and precipi-
tately rushing to the vault, and upon emerging there-
from the order of business was entirely lost in the wreck
of matter."
The destruction of this building was indeed a calamity,
the financial condition of the county being anything
but prosperous. An appeal to the magnanimity of the
state met with a noble reply, and a special appropriation
of $15,000 enabled the county authorities to contract
and pay for the
Fourth Court House. — The question of changing the
site of the new court-house was submitted to a vote of
the people, who by 1,020 against 309 decided to retain
the old place. The original contract price agreed upon
was amended by a compromise, April 1st, 1881, by
which the contractors received an additional payment
of $1,950. This circumstance had its origin in the
great and astonishing looseness and lameness of con-
tract and specifications, drawn by James Higbee, and
adopted by the c mnty commissioners. We introduce
them here at length.
SPECIFICATIONS.
Mount Carmel, 111. June 24th, 1879.
Specifications for building a court-house in the city of
Mount Carmel, Wabash county and state of Illiuois,
said building to be brick and of size and form as
shown on plans made by James Higbee of Mt. Carmel.
Excavation.— Under the main building the dirt is to
be taken out to the depth of four feet, six inches, the
trenches for the wings to be taken out to the depth of
three feet, dirt to be removed off the ground, if not
needed for grading.
16
Brick Work. — The contractor of the brick work to
furnish good merchantable brick for the foundations up
to the surface of the ground to be all hard brick to be
laid in good lime mortar, mixed with one-third cement,
joints to be well filled with mortar, the foundations of the
outside walls to be three feet wide and drop in as shown
' on plan, all the outside walls to be 18 inches all the way
up, the cross walls 13 inches, the walls of the vaults to
I be built double with three inch space between them, as
shown on plan ; the vaults to be arched over with hard
I brick laid in cement, the arch to be 18 inches thick ; for
[ the walls above the ground good fair brick is to be se-
lected for the outside and of uniform color, walls to be
laid with binder every fifth course, straight and neatly
pointed, wall left clean, cornice on main building to be
made of brick.
Stone Work.— There will be water table of good stone,
I 6x8 inches, running round the entire building, stone
' door sills, 8x19 inches wide, stone window sills to all the
j windows, caps to windows to be of brick as shown on
! plan, steps to be added as shown on plan.
Carpenter Work.— First and second tier of joint to
be of good sound oak or yejlow poplar, free from sap,
2x12 inches, placed 16 inches apart from center, bridged
! with cross braces, all the floor joints, 10 feet long or
longer, to be bridged ; there will be rough floor laid in
the second story of good sound oak or yellow poplar.
Strips, 1x2 inches, laid over each joint filled to the top
with mortar to tleaden sound, mortar to be dry before
the floor is laid, all of the floors to be good sound ash,
; oak, or yellow pine, from 8 to 5 inches wide, nailed in the
tongue and in every joint ; the upper joint to be of good
sound oak or poplar, placed 16 inches apart from the
centers ; there will be the inside finished and doors to be
' painted three coats and grained, outside of sash painted
' red, putty black, sash grooves stained. Wainscoting,
I witness stand, judge's desk to be oil finish. It is under-
stood that all the work herein specified and not on the
plans is to be done, and also all of the work on plans
and not specified is to be done, all to be done in good,
neat and workmanlike manner, material furnished to be
\ approved by county commissioners.
The bell is to be hung on good iron hangings ; court
will furnish bell, contractor the hangings. The vault
doors to be like the one now in use in the clerk's office
I in this city, two registers to each vault, doors to be made
as shown on full size drawings, and all inside finish to be
as shown xon plan, slat seats and backs with iron frames,
as per plan shown, said building to be completed on
or before the 1st day of September, 1880, to the full
satisfaction of the board of county commissioners.
The contractor to give bondsmen with two or more
; good and sufficient sureties in the penal sum of fifteen
thousand dollars, to be approved by the board of county
commissioners, payable to the people of Wabash county,
Illinois. Plastering to be two coats, brown work and
one coat of plaster Paris, all angles to be sharp and
straight, all of said building to be plastered inside.
122
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WADASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
The board of county commissioners agree to furnish as it progresses to completion, a gentleman to inspect the
one-third of the contract price when the building is work and material used in said building,
completed to the ground or first floor, one-third when : The new court-house was occupied in March 1881. It
the building is fully enclosed, and the remainder when
the building is fully completed to the satisfaction of the
is apparently a stately building. The work seems to
have been slighted to some extent, and it is sincerely to
be wished that it be never tested as to its power to resist
board of commissioners.
There is to be a stairway in the rooms as shown on floor another cyclone,
plans, stairs to be wainscoted with pine or poplar dressed ' County Jail. — There is no such institution in existence
on both sides, steps of oak, rise of poplar, rail of poplar at this day. The records of the county show however
fitted on top of wainscoting, which is run above the that B. Harvey contracted with the county-board, on
second floor, two feet six inches, to form railing around
the landing or headway.
The towers or wings to be furnished with rough iron
railing, there is to be a trap door on top of each tower,
the contractor to furnish a ladder for each tower from
the floor on the ceiling joints to trap-door on the top, the
front tower to be finished as shown on front elevation to
be covered with slate ; cornice covered with galvanized
iron, molding around the dock's faces to be of galvanized
iron. The contractor to furnish six dozen good sub-
stantial chairs for jury purposes ; the deck of tower to
be covered with tin.
The Contract —This agreement witnesseth : That on
this 1st day of August, 1879, the board of county com-
missioners of Wabash county, Illinois, of the first part.
and A. Halterback of the second part, agree together in
manner following.
The said Halterback for the said consideration here-
inafter mentioned, doth for himself, his -heirs, executors,
and administrators covenant with the said the board of
March 8th, 1831, for the erection of a jail at Mount
Carmel, of a dimension of 16 feet by 32 feet Terms of
contract not stated.
1849 to 1883. — The constitutional convention of 1847,
in which Wabash county was represented by Charles H.^
Constable, concluded their labors on the 13th of August,
1847. The judgment law, proposed by said convention
was ratified by the people on the 6th of March, 1848.
The form of county government was changed in conse-
quence of the adoption of the new constitution ; the
commissioners of the county stepped down and out, to
make room for the county court.
Miscellaneous notes from the Journal. — The first county
court to wit, James H. Beall, judge, Anthony Albietz
and John D. Dyar, associates, took charge of the affairs
of the county on the 1st December, 1849. There was
nothing but routine before them, during their whole term
with the exception of the examination of the accounts of
S. S. Lu ken?, late sheriff who had died before he had finish-
ed his collector's report. W. T. Page represented the coun-
county commissioners of Wabash county aforesaid and ty in this examination, and reported 81542.83 due the
their successors in office, that he, the said party of the
second part, shall and will on or before the first day of
September, A D. 1880, after the date hereof, in a good
and workmanlike manner, and at his own proper charge
and expense, at a place to be designated by the party of
the first part in Mt. Carmel, in said county, well and sub-
stantially erect, build and finish a court-house according
to the specifications, draught, scheme, and explanation
hereunto annexed, with such brick, timber, and other
material as the said, the board of county commissioners
have mentioned and specified in the prefixed specifica-
tions, and as contemplated by the plan referred to in
said specification.
In consideration whereof, the said board of county
commissioners do for themselves and successors in office,
covenant with the said A. Halterback, his executors,
administrators, well and truly to pay unto the said
Halterback, his executors, administrators, the sum of
fourteen thousand and fifty dollars, lawful money, in
the following manner, viz: Oue-third of the contract
price when the building is completed according to
specifications and plan to the ground or first floor, one
third more when the building is fully inclosed, and
balance when the court-house is fully completed and
finished according to. said plans and specifications. It
is mutually stipulated that the party of the first part
county, which amount was paid over to the treasurer by
the administratrix. A vote on township organization,
the first one, was had in 1855, an indication, that there
was some dissatisfaction with the new governors.
The burning of the court-house, April 5th, 1857, is not
mentioned at all in the subsequent records, except
incidentally, as for instance,when the court ordered that
the judge and clerks should have the bricks of the
burned building cleaned and piled up to the best advan-
tage of the county, or that he, the court, should be cited
to come forward to file a new bond or vacate his office.
The building of the court-house was not the only
business, that weighed heavy on the court ; there were
the swamp land troubles and railroad subscriptions
besides. The building of the court house is mentioned
above and the swamp land business may be briefly
stated. The lands ceded to the county by and in con-
sequence the swamp land act of 1850, were ordered to be
sold December, 1853. Hiram Bell, the swamp land
commissioner, made his first report in March, 1858, when
he stated he had $4,304.36 in money and notes on hand,
the proceeds of lands sold. The report is succeeded by
an order of court, July, 1858, that the drainage commis-
sioner should again report at the September term, and
also give a full and detailed account of all his transac-
tions as swamp land commissioner and drainage master.
shall have privilege to place and keep on said building, The language of the order is terse and exhibits anger
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LA WRENCE AND WAD ASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
123
The report was filed and approved, but the office of
drainage master and swamp land commissioner was
abolished and the ex-officer peremptarily ordered to turn
over books, vouchers and notes at once. Mr. Bell was
then building the court-house and attending to the duties
of various public offices, and he had for the last twenty-
five or thirty years been burdened with an uncommon
load of public labors and responsibilities. The known
ingratitude of republics was again exemplified in him,
and he was held to pay, and had to pay a balance of
$1,840.06 found against him in his accounts as swamp
land commissioner. This office so recently abolished,
was re-organized with James P. McNair as commissioner
January 5th, 1859. On June 5th, 1861, judge Wilkin-
son reported that he had visited the General Land
Office at Springfield, to ascertain the status of the
Wabash county claim against the United States, and
that he had been assured, that the county would soon,
probably in less than three months, be reimbursed by
the United States, for moneys obtained in the sale of
some 5000 acres of Wabash county swamp lands. The
funds finally obtained were $2,715.58. The money was
used in drainage works and for other purposes.
The finances of the county, during this period, were in
a wretched condition as will be seen from the following
synopsis :
COUNTY FINANCES, ASSESSMENTS, TAXES AND DEBTS.
The financial condition of the county during the pe-
riod from 1825 to 1850 had been healthy. The expen-
ditures did not exceed the revenues, and the county re-
mained free of debt ; at any rate the records do not
show any financial troubles. An examination of the
county finances, made March 8, 1851, developed the
fact that then a small floating debt of $740.85 existed,
and that the assets of the county, to wit: $33.13 cash
in the treasury, $1102.97 of uncollected taxes, and $50
in fines not yet paid, exceeded the debt to the amount
of $445.25. The tax values of that year amounted to
$618:947, and the taxes for state, county and schools to
$6.104.81, not quite 1 per cent.,- or about $130 per
capita. In June, 1855, the funds in the treasury were
reported by the treasurer to amount to $273.73, where-
upon the court proceeded to count the funds, and found
them to consist of $158 in American gold coin, 7 twenty
fianc pieces, worth $26.81, 2 ten gulden pieces worth
$8.00, 2£ English sovereigns worth $12.12, American
silver $21.10, German thalers $11.70, and bank paper
amounting to $43.00) and worth $36.00.
The taxes were now rapidly increasing, the county
having contracted heavy debts in the aid of railroads
located in the county. The taxes of 1857, to wit : $1.60
per $100, amounted to $16,233 or $2.46 per capita, but
there was then still a cash balance. In 1859 the tax
roll amounted to $31,951 21, or more than $4.00 per
capita.
The first detailed statement of the expenditures of the
county was made in March, 1862, from which learu the
following :
Cost of roads and bridges ............ $668.49
" of providing for the poor .......... 935.13
" of dieting prisoners ............. 32587
" of drainage ................. 248.94
" of courts and salaries of officers ...... 2,087.65
" of elections ................. 67.85
Interest on court-house debt ........... 468.00
Interest on railroad debt ............. 8,000.00
Cost of making assessment ............ 622.22
Total
The county debt was stated to be :
i aid of railroad
Bonds issue
Balance of court-house
Unpaid county orders .
ebt. .
$13,424.15
$100,000.00
1,242.48
1,992.46
Total $103,234.90
The assets of the county consisted in the hope of get-
ting $3000 from the United States on account of swamp
lands sold. The assessed value of taxable property was
stated to be $945,571.
Matters grew rapidly worse, and on November 4,
1865, the court resorted to the pernicious measure of
issuing interest bearing county orders. The clerks of
the circuit and county courts were authorized to issue
$50,000 in such orders, throw them on the market and
deposit the money to be realized with T. J. Shannon,
the fiscal agent of^the county. The two clerks reported
that they could not place these orders, and so, the court
in its desperate efforts to obtain money, ordered Decem-
ber 5, 1865, that those county orders should be tax free,
and that they might be sold at a discount of from 2 to G
per cent. At the same time a special tax of $2.00 was
levied to guarantee the speedy redemption of those
orders. The tax of 1866 was simply enormous, to wit:
$3.00 for the county, and nearly $2.00 for State and
local purposes. The taxes were promptly paid, the debt
reduced, and in 1870 the constitutional limit of the tax
rate, to wit, 75 cents, not exceeded. The county courts
to whom the government of the county had been en-
trusted since 1849, were superseded by boards of county
commissioners in 1874, and these officers caused a rigid
investigation of the county affairs to be made, and in
their March term, 1874, declared that a floating debt of
$12,238.85 was still in existence. The bonded debt of
the county was refunded in pursuance of an election
held August 13, 1881, at which it was decided by a vote
of 403 against 64 to issue $100,000 in 6 per cent, regis-
tered bonds, to redeem older bonds. Messrs. George 0.
Marcy & Co., of Chicago, took the whole amount at 4i
per cent, premium, and placed the sum of $104,250 into
the hands of the State treasurer to the credit of Wabash
county August 16, 1831. To complete this sketch we
introduce a few tabulated statements, to witT:
Copy of Assessment of 1853.
Horses, 1893, at $35.00
Neat cattle, 3658 " 7.75
Mules, 40 " 64.35
Sheep, ST& " 1.00
Hogs, 14218 " 1.04
$C6,565
28,374
2..133
3,728
14,569
124
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Carriages and wagons, 654 at $30.00
Clocks and watches, 525 " 6.25
$19,716
3,280
Household and office property
. . 831,875
. . 1,170
pe y
Moneys and credits
f6,«38
Total
Bonds and stocks f . .
Unenumerated property
Total personal property
Valuation of lands
12,350
24,538
8282,195
393,052
84,834 acres improved, at 810.02
52,652 " unimproved 4.94
1,871 town lots improved 143.19
773 town lots unimproved 20.51
. . 849,798
. . 241,172
. . 267,900
. . 16,851
. Total tax value
8777,605
Total
Wheat 29,600 acres Other field products . .
. . $1,690,240
. . . 2,002
State tax at 49% -
. $3,836.18
. 3,110.42
Corn 23,357 " Pastures
. . . 14,652
972.10
Back taxes
. . 83.94
Totaltax '88,00264
From which it would appear that all taxes added to-
gether would amount to a very small fraction over one
per cent. The population of the county amounted then
to 5245 souls, and the tax to be raised was $152 per
capita. This was in 1853, and, in order to draw proper
lines of comparison, we introduce here the assessments of
$137,486
Values and Taxes of Wabath County in 1882.
Personal property of every description $311,453
Lands, improved and unimproved 1,108,069
Town and city lots 271,326
Railroad property 194,139
Total $1,884,989
Taxes.
1873 and 1882 :
Wealth of Wabash County in 1813.— The Cow
its best. ^
ity at
$175.038
63,705
28,000
. 10,635
32,164
. 12,828
670
1,130
. 68,930
7,439
. 17,110
. 6,665
. 1,405
300
10
180
. 94.635
. 66,377
. 281,441
. 149,880
$1,043,370
2,830,710
754,775
$1^628,855
g table
$61,840
34,582
13,953
6,275
8,436
3,225
495
250
20,883
2,736
6,99
2,735
2,180
. 37,305
26,481
52,052
State 36 cts. per 100 $6,673,26
State back taxes . . 2,963.69— $9,636.85
Special railroad debt— taxes 21,399.30
County tax— 75 cts $14,143.31
back taxes 5,122.58
" road and bridge tax 3,866.20— - 23,132.09
4443 cattle, 14.33%
421 mules 66.50%
7360 sheep 1,44%
13470 hogs 2.38
16 steam engines 801.75
8 safes 71.75
8 billiards 141.25
1356 wagons 43.46%
1150 watches and clocks 6.46%
353 sewing machines 48.47
19 melodeons 74.00
City taxes 1,785.99
Dog tax 845.00
Total taxes $75,923.37
This is an enormous tax— more than $4.00 per $100,
or $7.60 per capita.
• The Railroad Debts.— One of the causes of the county
indebtedness and increased taxation was the fact that
the people voted large amounts of money to aid the
construction of railroads through the territory of the
county. We append a brief synopsis of the measures
adopted for that purpose :
The first proposition in this direction, made by the
county court, to subscribe $30,000 to the Ohio and
Wabash road, was voted down on the 2ith of March,
1854, as was also the proposition to donate the proceeds
from the sale of swamp lands to Illinois Southern road
in 1857. The agitation in favor of this road continued,
however, and at the November election, 1857, a major-
ity of 171 decided in favor of subscribing $100,000
capital stock of the said road. On the 8th of December,
1858, the Court, consisting of Judges William R. Wil-
kinson, and Thomas J. Armstrong and George Glick,
Associates, made an order to issue $100,000 in 8 per
cent, interest bearing bonds to pay said subscription.
There were, however, a few restrictions in reference to
the issue ; the bonds were not to be sold for less than 85
cents per $1.00, nor was the money to be paid before a
proportionate amount of work was performed in the
road bed in the county.
Richard H. Hudson was entrusted with the examina-
tion of vouchers, and the disbursing of the funds were
discretionary, vith him. Associate Justice Armstrong
1 patent right 10.00
4 sailing vessels 45.00
Merchandise
Manufactured articles
Moneys and credits
All other personal property
63810 acres of improved lands 828.31-81,806,691
«9853 •' unimp'd " 14.66- 1,024,019-
2121 town and city lots
Total
The county was rich in 1873. The followiu
exhibits an unaccountable reduction in values :
Assessment of 1882.
2474 horses, at 825,00
4755 cattle 7.27%
4147 sheep 1.51%
531,9 hogs 1.57
15 safes 33.00
a l mr !•> oo
1314 wagons
795 sewing machines 7.55
39 pianus 70.13
Merchandise
Agricultural tool? , machines, etc
Moneys, bonds, jewelry, etc
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
125
protested against the proposed measure ; his protest was
spread upon the record. Judge Armstrong resigned his
office at once. The balance of the term was filled by
Wm. McClain. Richard Hudson withdrew from his
trust in November, 1861.
The county did not provide for the necessary funds to
meet the interest due, and surrendered a part of her
railroad stock to the company, which, in their turn,
agreed to pay the interest then due. The county bonds
were subsequently bought up by Messrs. Robert Bell
and E. B. Green, the county paying for them at the rate
of 75 cents per $1.00. The measures taken to raise the
necessary funds are mentioned elsewhere. The bulk, to
wit, $90,500, were taken up and paid for in March,
1867, and the remainder was presented by E. S. Rus-
sell, in March, 1868. His bonds amounted, principal
and interest, to $3,442.40, and he agreed to take $2 -
581.80 for it. lu the transaction it occurred that four-
teen coupons of forty dollars each, were counted for
double their face value, to wit $1,120, instead of $560.
It is an astonishing fact, that in the midst of an abso-
lute financial misery, and an enormous tax, the people
of the county voted another subscription of $15,000 in
aid of the Cairo and Vincennes railroad, January 4,
1868. The vote polled was large, to wit 1,265. Lan-
caster voted unanimously against the subscription, which
had but few endorsers in Lick Prairie, Friendsville,
Bon pas and Wabash, while Mt. Carrnel and Coffee alone
gave majorities in favor of it. The majority in favor
was 95.
The county entered into an agreement with Green B.
Iliium, the president of the proposed railroad, to issue
those bonds and surrender the stock issued to the county,
to the company, when the iron was laid through the
county, conditioned, however, that the cars should run
within eighteen months from January 22, 1868. This
latter clause saved the county from this subscription.
The cars did not run. Another railroad scheme found
favor with the citizens on the 29th of January, 1870 ;
they voted 618 against, 54CUo donate one hundred thous-
and dollars in aid of the St Louis, -Mt. Carniel and New
Albany railroad. The bonds were to run twenty-five
years, but payable at any time previous at the pleasure
of the county, and were to bear eight per cent, annual
interest. The bonds were issued August 1, 1871. Ten
years later they were taken up by substituting the new
six per cent, bonds, as stated above.
In closing this sketch, a few statistics of the census of
1880, imperfect as they are, may find a space here.
City and precinct of Mt
• Town of Allendale .
Lick Prairie and Lancaster .
Bonpas (now li'-lim-iiT
Town of Bellmont . . .
Coffee
Town of Keensburgh . .
2,74V
1,176
231 1,407
1,575
1,558
-'?'.> 1,8:17
ADDENDUM.
The county of Wabash sent Hon. Charles H. Consta- ^ —
| ble as her delegate to the Constitutional Convention of
1847. Hon. Thomas W. Stone represented the counties of /-"
Wabash and White in the Convention of 1862, and
Hon. James M. Sharp was the delegate of Wabash and
Lawrence to the Constitutional Convention of 1870.
Wabash county as represented in the General
Assembly :
1826 to 1828 — Stephen Bliss, Senator for Edwards
and \V abash. Henry Utter, Representative.
1828 to 1830— Enoch Beach, Senator for Edwards,
j Wabash and Wayne. Samuel Mundy, Representative.
1830 to 1832.— Enoch Beach, Senator as above.
j Samuel Mundy, Representative.
1832 to 1834.— Henry I. Mills, Senator as above. W.
G. Anderson, Representative.
1834 to 1836.— Henry I. Mills, Senator as above.
Orlando B. Ficklin, Representative, resigned February
• 13th, 1835. Edward Smith elected to fill vacancy.
1836 to 1838.— Henry I. Mills, Senator as above.
Edward Smith Representative.
1838 to 1840.— Henry I. Mills, Senator as above.
Edward Smith, Representative, died during term. Jc-
j seph G. Bowman, Representative, successor of Smith.
1840 to 1842.— R. B. Slocumb, Senator as above.
James Beall, Representative.
1842 to 1844.— R. B. Slocumb, Senator as above.
John Compton, Representative.
1844 to 1846.— Charles H. Constable, Senator as r
above. John F. Youngkin, Representative.
1846 to 1848.— Charles H. Consable, Senator as ^
above. Samuel S. Lukins, Representative.
1848 to 1850.— Alfred H. Grass, of Lawrence, Sena-
tor, 8th Senatorial district. William Pickering, of Ed-
wards, Representative, 8th Representative district.*
1850 to 1852.— Alfred H. Grass, Senator as above.
William Pickering, Representative as above.
1852 to 1854.— Mortimer O'Kean, of Jasper, Senator
as above. Victor B. Bell, of Wabash, Representative.
1854 to 1856. — Silas L. Bryan, of Marion, Senator,
20th Senatorial district. S. H Martin, of White, Rep-
resentative, 9th Representative district f
1856 to 1858— Silas L. Bryan, of Marion, Senator as
above. John E. Whitney, of White, Representative as
above.
1858 to I860.— Silas L. Bryan, of Marion, Senator as
i above. John G. Powell, of White, Representative.
1860 to 1862.— Zadock Casey, of Jefferson, Senator as
' above. James M. Sharp, of White, Representative.
1862 to 1864.— Hugh Gregg, of Williamson, Senator,
2nd Senatorial district. James M. Sharp, of Wabash,
Representative, 4th district.J
« Wabash, Edwards, Lawrence, RichUnd, Clay, Jasper and Effing-
ham formed the 8th Senatorial, and Wabash and Edwards the 8th Rep-
resentative district from 1848 to 1854.
t From 1834 to 1862 Wabash and Wnite formed the 9th Represen- tative
district, and Wabash, Edwards, Wayne, Jefferson, Merion, Clay and Rich-
land, the 20th Senatorial district.
\ From 1862 to 1870 Wabash, Edwards, Wayne, Clay, Rlchland
126
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
1864 to 1866.— John W. Westcott, of Xenia, Senator
as above. D. H. Morgan, of Russellville, Representa-
tive.
1866 to 1868.— John W. Westcott, of Xenia, Senator
as above. James M. Sharp, of Mt. Carmel, Represen-
tative.
1868 to 1870.— J. J. R. Turney, of Fairfield, Senator
as above. D. H. Morgan, of Russellville, Representa-
tive.
1870 to 1872. — John Jackson, of Lawrence and John
Landrigan, of Edwards, Senators, 2nd Senatorial dis-
trict. Walter L. Mayo, of Edwards, Representative.
20th district.
1872 to 1874.— George W. Henry, of Clay, Senator,
44th Senatorial district.* Isaac M. Jacquess, of Wa-
bash, Robert T. Forth, of Wayne and David W. Bark-
ley, of Wayne, Representatives.
1874 to 1876.— George W. Henry, of Clay, Senator
as above. Samuel R. Hall, of Edwards, Byron J. Ro-
taii, of Clay and John Landrigan, Representatives as
above.
1876 to 1878 — Robert P. Hanna, of Wayne, senator
as above; Hiram H. Chessley, of Clay, W. R. Wil-
kinson, of Wabash, George Ramsey, of Clay, representa-
tives.
1878 to 1880— Robert P. Hanna, of Wayne, senator
as above; Jacob Zimmerman, of Wabash, William
Bower, of Richland, Charles Churchill, of Edwards,
representatives.
1880 to 18*2— John Taaner, senator as above; Na-
than Crews, James Keen, E. B. Keen, representatives.
1882 to 1884— John C. Edwards, senator 46th Dis-
trict f ; F. W. Cox, Lowery Hay, W. H. Johnson, repre-
sentatives.
County Commissioners. — Levi Compton, 1825 to 1826 ;
Tarlton Boren, 1825 to 1828, two terms ; Moses Bedell,
1825 to 1826 ; Ephraim Phar, 1826 to 1830, two terms ;
Beauchamp Harvey, 1826 to 1830, two terms; George
Knight, 1829 to 1832, two terms; Anthony Altintz,
1840 to 1846, two terras ; William Wier, 1842 to 1845 ;
Daniel Keen, 1844 to 1849, twice elected ; George Glick,
1843 to 1848 ; Stephen S. Gunn, 1846 to 1849 ; Abra-
ham Utter, 1848 to 1849.
County Courts.— 1849 to 1853, James H. Beale, judge ;
Anthony Albietz, John G. Dyer, associate judges. 1853
to 1857, James H. Beale, co-judge ; T. J. Armstrong,
Henry Mundy, associates- 1857 to 1861, Wm.R. Wilkin-
son, resigned, co-judge ; T. J. Armstrong, 1857 to 1859,
William McClain to fill vacancy, George Glick, associates.
1861 to 1865, Thos Armstrong, co-judge; Isaac Hershey,
O. H. Keen, associates. 1865 to 1869, Thomas J. Arm-
strong, Judge (died 1869); Robert Bell, judge elect, 1869,
Rozander Smith, Collins Bredwell, associates. 1869 to
White, Lawrence and Hamilton formed the 2nd Senatorial, and Wababh
and Lawrence the 4th Representative district.
•The Act of March 1st, 1872, formed the State into 51 Senatorial dis-
tricts, each district to elect one Senator and three Representatives.
Wabash, Clay, Wayne, Richland and Edwards constituted the 44th district
t Wabash, Lawrence, White and Hamilton compose now the 46th
Senatorial District of the state.
1873, James S. Johnson, co-judge; Stephen C. Midgett,
John Graff, (resigned 1872), W. R. Mundy, filled va-
cancy 1872. 1873 to 1877, Thomas J. Shannon, judge
of probate, the county government to be attended to by
a board of commissioners. W. W. McDowell, judge,
1877, resigned April, 1879 ; Stephen C. Midgett elected
to fill vacancy in 1879 and re-elected for a full term
1882 to 1884.
Board of County Commissioners. 1873 to 1874, Je-
remiah Fox, Jacob Seiler and L. A. Miller; 1874 to
1875, Jacob Seiler, L. A. Miller and E. H. Courier ;
1875 to 1876, L. A. Miller, E. H. Courier and O. H.
Keen ; 1876 to 1877, E. H. Courier, O H. Keen and
Luke A. Miller, re-elected. 1877 to 1877, O. H Keen,
(died in office, vacancy filled by J. W. Tanquary),
Luke A. Miller and Silas Andrews. 1878 to 1879,
Luke A. Miller, Silas Andrews and J. W. Tanquary.
1878 to 1880, Silas Andrews, J. W. Tauquary and Berk-
ley Armstrong.
1880 to 1881.— J. W. Tanquary, B. Armstrong and
Roberl Ramsey.
1881 lo 1882.— B. Armstrong, died in office, vacancy
filled by R. S. Gordon, Robert Ramsay.
1882 to 1883. — Robert Ramsay, R. S. Gordon and J.
E. Heniken.
County Clerks.— Hiram Bell, 1825 to 1853; James S.
Johnson, 1853 to 1869 ; Sylvester Greathouse, 1869 lo
1873; William Birkelt, 1873 to 1877; Marquis D.
McClintock, 1877 to 1882, and Isaac F. Price, since
1882
Sheriffs.— Abner Armstrong, 1825 to 1828; Isaac
Parmenter. 1828 ; John D. Dyan, 1842 lo 1846 ; Isaac
N. Jaquess, 1846 to 1850 ; S. S. Luken, 1850, died
February, 1851, vacancy filled by I. N. Jaquess, pro tern.
William B. Beall, 1851 to 1852 ; Charles Cuqua, 1852
to 1854; D. S. Harvey, 1854 to 1856; Charles Cuqua,
1856 to 1858; Isaac N. Jaquess, 1858 to 1860; Charles
Cuqua, 1860 to 1862; William Arbuthnot, 1862 to
1864; Isaac Ogden, 1864 to 1866; W. W. McDowell,
1866 to 1868; Isaac Ogd«n, 1868 to 1870; Neill C.
Burns, 1870 to 1872; W. W. McDowell, 1872 lo 1876;
J T. Burkell, 1876 lo 1878; James S. Wilson, 1878 to
1880; Martin Walser, 1880 lo 1882, and Francis M.
Cowling since 1882.
drcuit Clerks. — Hiram Bell, 1825 lo 1826; Edward
Munday, 1826 lo 1828; Hiram Bell, to 1864; Richard
H. Hudson, 1864 to 1872 ; William E. Keen, from 1876
to 1880, and J. T. Burkett since 1880.
Treasurers and Assessors. — Abner Armslrong, 1825 ;
George Bell, 1827; J. H. Beall, 1843; G.C.Turner,
1849; David Reinhard, 1855; Paul Moyer, 1857 ;
Isaac Ogden, 1859 ; W. W. McDowell, 1861 ; George
W. Douglas, died in office, insane; Samuel Fisher filled
vacancy ; Sylvester Greathouse, two terms, 1865 ; James
B. Ramsay, two lerms, 1869 ; N. C. Burns, Iwo lerms>
1873 ; Henry J. Henning, Iwo terms, 1877, and Peter
P. Keepes since 1882.
Coroners.— Levi Crouch, 1826 ; J. G. Wirth, 1862 ;
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
127
Kichard Adam, 1864; Joel P. Thrall, 1868 ; John Kern,
1868 ; Samuel Shaw, 1870, four terrnes in office, and A.
J. Mclntosh since 1878.
School* Commissioners and Superintendents. — Gilb. C.
Turner, 1843; James Mahorn, 1849; W. M. Harmon,
1853, two terms ; James Leeds, 1861, five terms, and an
additional one year term, and A. P. Manley since 1882.
State and County Attorneys. — John M. Robinson,
1825; E. B. Webb, 1832; Aaron Shaw, 1843 ; Alfred
Kitchell, 1851; John Schofield, 1858; D. L. Brewer,
1864, and Silas Z. Landes since 1872.
COUNTY OFFICERS (SERVING IN 1883).
Stephen C. Midgett, of Mt. Carmel, Judge County I
Court.
Isaac F. Price, Mt. Carmel, Clerk County Court.
Francis M. Cowling, Mt. Carmel, Sheriff.
Peter P. Keepes, Mt. Carmel, Treasurer.
Alfred P. Manley, Mt. Carmel, Superintendent of
Schools.
A. J. Mclntosh, Allendale, Coroner.
Robert Ramsay, of Mier, Frederic Holsen, of Allen-
dale, John E. Heniken, of Cowling, Members of Board
of County Commissioners.
John T. Burkett of Mt. Carmel, Clerk of Circuit
Court.
S. Z. Landes, Mt. Carmel, States' Attorney.
Charles Buckanan, Bellmont, Surveyor.
CHAPTER IX.
BEXCH AND BAR.
JY a wise ordination of providence, law and
order govern everything in the vast and
complex system of the universe. Law is
everything. Law would still always exist,
though every one of its professors and teachers should
perish from the face of the earth. And should such a
thing occur, and a new race spring up, the first instinc-
tive desire of its best men would be to bring order out of
c^aos by the enactment and promulgation of wise and
beneficent laws. Law in the abstract is as much a com-
ponent part of our planet as are the elements earth, air,
fire, and water ; in a concrete sense, as applied to the
government of races, nations, and peoples it plays almost
an equally important part. Indeed, so grand is the sci-
ence and so noble are the objects sought to be accom-
plished through it, that it has inspired some of the best
and greatest men of ancient and modern times to an in-
vestigation and study of its principles.
Draco, among the first and greatest of the Athenian
lawgivers, was hailed as the deliverer of those people,
because of his enacting laws, and enforcing them, for the
prevention of vice and crime, and looking to the pro-
tection of the masses from oppression and lawlessness.
It is true that many of the penalties he attached to the
violation of the law were severe and even baibarous, but
this severity proceeded from an honorable nature, with
an earnest desire to improve the condition of his fellow-
men. Triptoleinus, his contemporary, proclaimed as laws,
'' Honor your your parents, worship the gods, hurt not
animals." Solon, perhaps the wisest of them all, a man
of remarkable purity of life and noble impulses, whose
moral character was so great and conviction as to the
public good so strong, that he could and did refuse su-
preme and despotic power when thrust upon him.
What is true of one race or nation in this particular
is true of all, viz., that the wisest and greatest of law-
makers and lawyers have always been pure and good
men, perhaps the most notable exceptions being Justin-
ian and Tribonianus. Their great learning and wisdom
enabled them to rear as their everlasting monument the
Pandects and Justinian Code, which, however, they sad-
ly defaced by the immoralities and excesses of their pri-
vate lives.
Among the revered of modern nations will be found,
conspicuous for their great services to their fellows, in-
numerable lawyers. To the Frenchman the mention of
the names of Trouchet, Le Brun, Portalis, Roederer, Thi-
baudeau, and others excites a thrill of pride for their
greatness and of gratitude for their goodness.
What Englishman, or American either, but that takes
just pride in the splendid reputation and character of
the long line of England's loyal, lawyer sons? The Ba-
cons, father and son, who, with Lord Burleigh, were se-
lected by England's greatest Queen to administer the af-
fairs of state, and Somers and Hardwicke, Cowper and
Dunning, Eldon, Blaokstone, Coke, Stowell, and Curran,
who, with all the boldness of a giant and eloquence of
Demosthenes, struck such vigorous blows against kingly
tyranny and oppression ; and Erskine and Mansfield and
a score of others. And in our own country have we not
names among the dead as sacred, and among the living
as dear ? In the bright pages of the history of a country,
founded for the sole benefit of the people, and all kinds
of people, who more than our lawyers are recorded as as-
sisting in its formation, preservation, and working for
its perpetuity.
On the organization of Edwards county, November
28th, 1814, the Illinois Territory comprised three judicial
circuits, of which Edwards county formed a part of the
third. From the admission of the State into the Union
in 1818, until 1835, with the exception of a little more
than two years, (1824 to 1827) the Judges of the Su-
preme Court of Illinois, performed the duties of Circuit
Judges. In that year a law was enacted establishing
the distinctive office of Circuit Judge, and dividing
the State into separate Judicial districts, which contin-
ued to February, 1841, when the old system was re-
established, and remained in force until the adoption of
the new constitution in 1848. This constitution pro-
128
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
vided for the election of one Circuit Judge in each judi-
cial district.
The counties of Edwards, Lawrence and Wabash have
been included within the same judicial district, except
from 1851 to 1873. Edwards county was erected in
1814; Lawrence in 1821, and Wabash in 1824 A ref-
erence to these dates will show a complete list of the
CIRCUIT JUDGES
doing duty in each of the counties in their respective
order.
The earliest courts within the Territory of these three
counties were held at old Palmyra, then the county seat
of Edwards. The first session was held July 11, 1815,
with Judge Stanley Griswold on the bench.
In 1816, Thomas Towles presiding. From 1817 to
1818, JepthaHardin was onthe'bench; 1818 to 1819
Thomas C. Browne; William Wilson, from 1819 to
1825; James (). Wattles from 1825 to 1827,
when Thomas C. Browne, was again on the bench
serving one year ; William Wilson again appeats, serv-
ing from 1828 to 1835 ; Justin Harlan from 1835 to
1841, when William Wilson again returns to the bench,
serving until 1849, being succeeded by his predecessor,
Justin Harlan, from 1849 to 1851 ; Samuel S. Marshall
was then elected, serving until 1854, when he resigned,
and Downing Baugh served one year ; Edwin Beecher
served from 1855 to 1861 ; Samuel S. Marshall, from
1861 to 1865, when James M. Pollock succeeded to the
bench, serving until 1873. By act of Legislature, March
28, 1873, the State was divided exclusive of Cook
county, into twenty-six judicial circuits, and at the
election, in June, 1873, one judge was elected for each
circuit, for the term of six years. Edwards and Wabash
counties formed a par t of the twenty-fourth district, j
Tazewell B. Tanner was elected judge of the circuit, and }
Lawrence county formed a part of the twenty-first
district and elected James C. Allen, in that circuit. In
18 f 7, the Legislature, in order to increase the number
of Circuit Judges, and to provide for the organization
of the Appellate Courts, consolidated the twenty-six
judicial circuits into thirteen, thereby giving each cir-
cuit two judges, and provided for the election of one
additional judge in each circuit, in August, 1877, for
two years, making three judges in each judicial circuit.
The September following the Supreme Court appointed
twelve of the Circuit Judges to appellate duty, the re-
maining judges held the Circuit Courts in their respec-
tive districts. In this change of the judiciary system the !
twenty-fifth and the twenty-fourth districts were thrown
together to be known as the Second Judicial Circuit. In !
those districts Tazewell B. Tanner and James C. Allen,
were already serving on the bench, and John H. Halley
was elected to make the requisite number. They pre-
sided, as required by the above act, until 1879, when '
Chauueey S. Conger, Thomas S. Casey and William
C. Jones, were elected, and are still on the bench.
The judges serving on the bench, in Lawrence county,
while that county was noc inelu lj 1 within tli3 same
judicial circuits, were: Justin Harlan, who served un-
til 1859, when Edwin Beecher held two terms ; Alfred
Kitchell served nearly two years ; James C. Allen, was
commissioned July 1, 1861, and resigned December 31,
1862, and was succeeded by Aaron Shaw, March 2,
1863, who continued on the bench until 1867, being
succeeded by Richard S Canby, and he by James C.
Allen.
Some of the above named judges were, during their
day very prominent and influential in shaping the af-
fairs of state.
WILLIAM WILSON, aVirginian,oneof the earliest judges
in the State, and the first to hold court in Wabash and
Lawrence counties, was for many years one of the lead-
ing jurists of the State. He served on the supreme
bench for a period of almost thirty years. As already
mentioned he was first appointed July 7, 1819, nine
months after Illinois was admitted into the Union.
January 19, 1825, he was made chief justice and occu-
pied that honorable position until December 4, 1848.
He left behind him a most excellent record, and his
memory is dear Jo his many friends and associates. He
was a man of fine personal appearance and presided over
his court with great dignity. On leaving the bench he
retired to a farm in White county, where he resided
until his death. THOMAS C. BROWNE was also on the
Supreme bench from October 9, 1818, to December 4,
1849. He was a conscientious judge.
JEPTHA HARDIN, was a native of Kentucky, and be-
longed to the celebrated Hardin family of that State.
He was a half brother of the distinguished Benjamin
Hardin, but not his equal, although an excellent judge
and a fine lawyer.
JUSTIN HAKLAN, was a man of the highest order of
talents and although his learning was not what is called
liberal, yet he was a profound, well-read and able law-
yer, and honest and impartial in the discharge of his ju-
dicial functions. He was eminently social, and gained
many friends.
SAMUEL S. MARSHALL, another able lawyer, repre-
sented his district in congress in 1855, and again re-
elected in 1857, '65, '67, '69 and 71, and is still figur-
ing prominently in state and national politics.
JAMES C. ALLEN, was one of the Appellate Judges in
the fourth district, and for several years a member of
Congress. He is an able and sound lawyer, and while on
the bench his fairness and impartiality and the correct-
ness of his decisions won him much credit. He is a
fluent and pleasing speaker and a genial, affable gentle-
man.
NON-RESIDENT LAWYERS.
These counties being in the same judicial circuit in
the early time, they were consequently visited by nearly
the same traveling attorneys. Many were the priva-
tions and hardships that surrounded the early bar of
Illinois. At that time, owing to the small amount of
litigation, attorneys, in order to gain a livelihood from
the practice of their profession, found it necessary to fol-
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS. 129
low the courts from county to county. Nevertheless,
some of the most illustrious legal lights that the State
has produced lived in those days.
Among the distinguished men that came to practice
at Edwards, Lawrence and Wabash courts in that
early day were: Edwin B. Webb, for many years in
the Illinois legislature ; Col. William H. Davidson, who
was a fair lawyer and for many years a leader in the j
State Senate ; Gen. John M. Robinson, who was prose-
cuting attorney in 1821, and afterward represented the
State for years in the U. S. Senate ; John McLean,
already mentioned, a native of Kentucky, and a good j
and popular lawyer : Henry Eddy, long the editor of |
the Shawneetoion Gazette, and a man of fine legal ability ; .
Thomas C. Browne, who was the prosecuting attorney |
at the first courts of Edwards county, and afterward ;
Judge of the circuit ; John Mclntire, the prosecutor in \
1816, and who for many years rode the circuit; U. F.
Linder, witty and eloquent, eminent as a criminal law-
yer and adroit politician; O. B. Ficklin, a profound
lawyer, and leader in the national congress, who for j
several years was a resident of Mt. Carmel ; the hand-
some and gifted Charles H. Constable ; Samuel S. Hayes,
a scholarly lawyer and preeminently a self-made man ;
Col. J. E. Whiting, George Webb, father of Edwiu B.
Webb, John Pearsons, Samuel McRoberts, Col. A. P.
Field, who ranked among the ablest members of the
bar of Illinois, and subsequently moved to Louisiana, j
and became Attorney General of that State, William
J. Gatewood, an eminent lawyer, and for many years in
the State Senate ; August C. French, twice governor of
Illinois; J. M. Krebs, John McElvain, and probably
others whose names might be mentioned, but they have
passed from the recollection of the oldest citizens.
EDWAKDS COUNTY.
FORMER RESIDENT LAWYERS.
In early times lawyers were few ia number, and resid-
ed mostly in the larger towns of the State This being
a small county, there have been but few resident
attorneys, and they mostly remaining but a short time.
At the first term of the Circuit court held in the county,
on the 12th day of July, 1815, the following gentlemen
were admitted to the practice of law : Adolphus T.
Hubbard, Elias Kent Kane, Thomas H. Blake, John
McLean, Russel E. Heacock, Jeptha Hardin, and John
Mclntire. We simply mention the fact that these
gentlemen were admitted at this term of court. They
however were not residents of the county. The above
named, afterward became prominent and conspicuous
men in Illinois. Elias Kent Kane and John McLean,
having represented the state in the United States
senate.
The first resident attorney at Albion was JAMES O.
WATTLES. He came in 1820. He resided there for a
number of years and practiced in the courts of Edwards
and adjoining counties. He was elected judge of the
17
Fifth judicial district in 1825, and served on the bench
until 1827.
AUGUST O. FRENCH, came to Albion soon after 1820,
then a young man fresh from some eastern college, and
engaged in teaching a select school of small children at
two dollars a quarter. He also employed a portion of
his time writing in the clerk's office, at the same time
reading law, and it was not long afterward that he was
seen in the saddle, riding the circuit with the lawyers.
He afterward removed to Palestine, Crawford county,
was in the legislature in 1836 and was elected Governor
of Illinois in 1846, and re-elected in 1849.
JAMES B. HINDE, who was subsequently elected cir-
cuit clerk of White county, was a very early lawyer in
Albion, and practiced his profession there for a period of
about six years. Soon after Mr. Hinde, came SAMUEL
BOOKER, a bright and talented man, who made Albion
his residence until 1849, when he emigrated to Cali-
fornia, where he afterward became a man of some pro-
minence.
WILLIAM HARROW, was a resident attorney for a
number of years. He was considered a good lawyer.
Early in the late rebellion, he enlisted in an Indiana
regiment, and became colonel, and served his country
with credit and distinction. He was killed a few years
ago by a railroad accident, while on a trip to make a
political speech.
0- S. CANBY,a single man, practiced here a few years
and died in Grayville, in 1868. It is said he was a
studious, careful lawyer and a man of ability.
AMOS B. MATHEWS, a lawyer of ability, located here
in 1867 and remained in practice until July, 1882, when
he removed to Minnesota.
R. G. BROWN, located here in 1870 remaining only a
few months, when he moved to Kaskaskia, Illinois.
PRESENT MEMBERS OF THE BAR.
JOSEPH M. CAMPBELL, a native of Illinois, is the old-
est resident member of the Edwards county bar. He
received his education in the common schools of Wayne
county, and began the study of law in the office of Wil-
liam H. Robinson, and was admitted to the bar in the
fall of 1865. In 1866 he came to Albion and opened a
law office in partnership with his preceptor, W. H.
Robinson, which relation continued until 1870. Since
that date, with the exception of a short period in part-
! nership with H. J. Strawn, Mr. Campbell has practiced
! by himself. In 1873 he was elected judge of Edwards
I county, and by re-election still continues to hold that
[ office. Mr. Campbell is a good judge of law, and a
painstaking, careful lawyer.
HALBERT J. STRAWN is a native of Pennsylvania.
He came west, and in 1870 was admitted to the bar at
Princeton, Indiana. In a short time afterward he came
to Illinois, and in September, 1872, prior to his admit-
tance to the bar in this State, he had formed a law part-
j nership with Judge J. M. Campbell, which continued
1 until 1873, when he opened an office by himself. In
130
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WAS ASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
March, 1879, he was appointed master in chancery for
a term of two years, and in 1882 he was elected prose-
cuting attorney. Mr. Strawn has confined himself to a '
general practice in which he has been very successful.
WILLIAM F. FOSTER, although a native of Indiana,
has been a resident of Edwards county since he was four
years of age. His education was acquired by hard, !
studious application to his books, having attended school
only nine months in his life. In January, 1876, he be- j
gan reading law in the office of F. A. Sampson, at Se- |
dalia, Missouri, and was admitted to the bar in that I
State May 8, 1876, having acquired the knowledge of '
law necessary for admission within the short space of
four months. He was admitted to practice in Illinois
January 22, 1879, and located at Albion, since which he
has had a good practice. In November, 1880, he was
appointed master in chancery and served in that capa-
city for a term of two years.
LAWKENCE COUNTY.
FORMER RESIDENT LAWYERS.
Many lawyers at various times have made Lawrence
county their residence, some for a very short period and
others remaining for several years. It is impossible to
gather the names of all those who resided at Lawrence-
ville in the earlier part of its history, as they have passed
from the recollection of the oldest citizens.
JUDGE AARON SHAW was the earliest resident attor- '
ney that became in any way prominent. He was ad- |
mitted to the bar at Lawrenceville in 1835, and
remained there for several years. In 1850 he was
elected to the Legislature, and in 1857 to Congress. He
subsequently moved to Olney. March 2, 1863, he was
commissioned circuit judge in the twenty-fourth circuit, I
vice James C. Allen, resigned. In 1882 he was again j
elected to Congress, and still resides in Olney.
JOSEPH G. BOWMAN located here about 1835. He is |
a fine judge of law and a successful attorney. He
moved to Viucennes and from thence to Olney, where
he now resides.
FREDERICK A. THOMAS, a young attorney, came
about 1840, was elected circuit clerk and died while in
office.
Two brothers, Louis and D. B. ABERNATHY, located
here about 1860. The former held the office of school
commissioner, and the latter was master in chancery for
several years. They were promising young lawyers, and
both died in Lawrenceville.
T. P. LOWERY became a resident practitioner about
the same time as the above named, and remained for
seven years. He held the office of county surveyor for i
two terms, and served in the capacity of school superin- j
tendent and justice of the peace. He moved to Texas.
WM. LINDSEY was here for a few years, leaving about
1864 or '65. He was politically inclined, a fair stump
speaker, and receiving an office under the government
he departed.
JOHN FIELDS, a lawyer of considerable ability, came
to the bar in 1867. He graduated in the law department
of the State University of Indiana. In 1870, he was a
partner of E. B. Green of Mt. Carmel ; was appointed
master in chancery in 1871, performing the duties of
that office until 1878. Failing health caused him to
give up his lucrative practice here and he is now a
resident of Colorado Springs, Colorado.
D. L. BREWER, a well known attorney, resided in
Lawrenceville for a number of years.
HARRY BRISCOE, with the story of whose horrible
death the citizens are so familiar, was a good young
lawyer, and was for a time prosecuting attorney of the
county.
T. A. STEWART, and I. N. FARNSWORTH were among
those of the more recent years.
PRESENT RESIDENT LAWYERS.
The oldest resident lawyer of Lawrence county is the
Hon. Wm. J. Chews. He was born in Crawford county,
Illinois, in 1824, and five years later his father moved
his family to this county, locating on Allison prairie.
Here he grew to manhood, attending the common schools
of his neighborhood, and laboring at home on the farm.
At the age of twenty-one his father gave him forty acres
of land, and he engaged in farming for himself. A few
years later he moved to Lawrenceville, and embarked in
the milling business, with which he soon became dissat-
isfied and returned to farm life. In 1843, he began
the study of law under the directions of J. G. Bowman,
being admitted to practice in 1846. It was now, for the
first time, that he had an opportunity of displaying his
powerful intellect. His knowledge was acquired almost
entirely by self-culture, and had he devoted his entire
attention to law, he would doubtless have shed lustre on
the bar of southern Illinois. He is a man possessed of
extraordinary judgment, a good speaker and a sound,
careful lawyer. In 1869 he was elected to the office of
county judge, but resigned his position in 1872, when his
fellow-citizens chose him to represent them in the State
Senate, where he served with distinction for two years.
The Judge is still living, on his farm, near where his
father settled on coming to the county.
T. B. HUFFMAN, a native of Indiana, received his
rudirrientary education in the common schools of his
native State, completing his literary education at the
Vincennes University, and at Lincoln University at
Lincoln, Illinois. Commenced the reading of law in the
office of Judge Willliam B. Jones, of Lincoln, and was
admitted to the bar in the spring of 1869. In May of
the same year he located in Lawrenceville, where he has
since continued to practice his profession. In 1873, was
appointed by the governor to the office of county judge,
to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of
William J. Crews. About the close of the term of
county judge, Harry Briscoe, the prosecuting attorney,
died, and Mr. Huffman was chosen to fill the vacancy,
and in 1875 was elected to the same for the term of
four years. In 1869, he formed a partnership with
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
131
David B. Abernathy, and, subsequently, for about two
years was in partnership with E. Callahan. In 1881,
he took into partnership, D. L. Brewer, which continued
until the death of the la ter in March, 1822. In June-
1882, S. G Gee, became a partner, and the firm of
IIu fl man & Gee still continues.
WILLIAM M. ROBINSON, is a son of Dr. J. A. Robin-
son, a Methodist minister. He received his early
education in the public schools, in the various towns in
Illinois, to which his father was sent as pastor, and sub-
sequently attended McKendree college at Lebanon,
Illinois, from which institution he graduated in 1870.
In 1871, he began reading law with William Stoker, of
Centralia, and afterward with Judge Horace Hayward,
Olney. Was admitted to the bar in January, 1875.
Immediately thereafter he began the practice of law in
Olney, associated with W. Mattoon, and in August,
1876, came to Lawrenceville and opened an office, form-
ing partner-hip with D. L. Brewer, in 1877, which
continued for a period of two years, since which time
Mr. Robinson has practiced alone. He is a man of great
talent and a lawyer of ability.
S. B. ROWLAND, is a native of Illinois. He began the
Lawrenceville. In 1880, he was elected to the office of
State's attorney for Lawrence county, for a term of four
years. Mr. Snyder is a studious, careful lawyer, and a
successful prosecutor.
T. B. FINLY, a resident attorney of Sumner, a native
of Ohio, attended Miller's Academy, and afterward
Franklin College at Athens, Ohio, from which he gradu-
ated in 1860. Read law in the office of Miller & Sherrard,
at Steubenville.Ohio, and took a course in the law school
at Cleveland, Ohio. Began practice at Sidney, Ohio,
and afterward became a partner of Judge William
Lawrence, at Bellefontaine, Ohio, Opened an office
at Sumner, in 1879, where he has since resided.
FRANK MESERVE came to Illinois from Massachu-
setts, his native state, in 1879. He is a young man of
scholarly attainments, having had advantage of the su-
perior schools of his native state, and graduating at the
Boston University in 1877. His father being a lawyer,
Mr. Meserve inherited a natural inclination and tact for
the legal profession, and shortly after leaving college he
began the study of law in his father's office. Coming
west, he resided with his uncle, at Robinson, Illinois,
and completed his legal course in the office of Callahan
study of law in the office of Wilson & Hutchison, of & Jones of that town. He was admitted to the bar in
Olney, and afterward attended the law department of j this state in June, 1880, and the following month located
the University of Michigan, graduating in March, 1871. ! in Lawrenceville, forming a law partnership with George
Was admitted to the bar in this State, in April of the
same year, and soon afterward located in the practice of
law at Lawrenceville. In 1882, he formed a partner-
ship with T. P. Lowery, and in the same year purchased
the Lawrence County Democrat, which was under his
management about four years. March 16, 1883, he
formed a partnership with his old preceptor, E. S. Wil-
son, of Olney.
GEORGE HUFFMAN, is a brother of Judge T. B. Huff-
man, also a native of Indiana. He was educated in the
schools of his native State, attending the Vincennes
University, and in 1867 entered the Lincoln University
of Illinois, from which he was graduated in 1869. Began
the study of law in 1870, in the office of W. B. Jones,
at Lincoln, and was admitted to practice in 1871. For
a few years he taught school, and was engaged in the
mercantile business, and in the spring of 1878 began
Huffman, under the style of Huffman & Meserve, which
still continues. In January, 1881, the firm purchased
the Democratic Herald, Mr. Meserve assuming editorial
charge. He is an energetic, studious lawyer, with good
prospects for an extended practice.
C. J. BORDEN is a native of Pennsylvania ; he gra-
duated from the Chester county Academy, in Pennsyl-
vania, in 1873, and in 1876 went to Kentucky and
attended the law department of the University of Louis-
ville, graduating in 1879. He located in the practice
of law at Lawrenceville in 1881.
S. J. GEE was born in St. Francisville, in this county.
He entered Shurtleff college, at Alton, Illinois, iu 1876,
graduating in 1880, and immediately afterward began
the study of law in the office of Brewer & Huffman, in
Lawrenceville, and was admitted to the bar in 1882.
Soon afterward he became the junior partner of T. B.
the practice of his profession in Lawrenceville by him- | Huffman, with whom he is still associated.
self. In 1879 he became a partner with E. S. Wilson of
Olney, which continued until August, 1880, when he
formed a partnership with Frank C. Meserve. Mr.
Huffman is a good lawyer.
K. P. SNYDER, the present efficient prosecuting
PHILIP W. BARNES, the present judge of the Law-
rence county court, is a native of Ohio, and came with
his father to this county when a lad of six years ; at-
tended the common schools of Lawrence county, and
graduated at the Olney high-school in 1879, and soon
attorney of Lawrence county, was born in Richland ! afterward entered the law department of the Illinois
county, Illinois, where he recejved his early education, [ Wesleyan University, at Bloomington, Illinois, from
subsequently attending the State Normal University, at
Normal, Illinois. Read law in the office of Fifer &
Phillips, of Bloomington, at the same time attended the
law department of the Wesleyan University, from which
hich he graduated June 15, 1881, and was admitted to
the bar January 11, 1882 On the 4th of December of
the same year he began the practice of law in Law-
renceville by himself. In 1873 Mr. Barnes received
institution he graduated in June, 1^79, and immediately | the nomination for the office of county judge, by the
thereafter was admitted to the bar at Mt. Vernon Republican party, and was elected, the duties of which
Illinois. September 1, 1879, he opened a law office in ' office he is now discharging with credit to himself and
132
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
satisfaction to the people of Lawrence. Judge Barnes
is a young man of promise.
"W ABASH COUNTY.
FORMER RESIDENT LAWYERS.
The first resident attorney of Wabash county, as near
as it is possible to ascertain, was EDWARD MUNDY.
He was a native of New Jersey, and became a resident of
Wabash county as early as 1820, locating in what is now
Friendsville precinct. He traveled the circuit and was
considered a good attorney. He was elected to represent
this district in the legislature in 1830. A few years later
he moved to Michigan, where he afterward became very
prominent in political affairs, being elected Lieutenant
Governor and holding other important offices. An
attorney, by the. name of ELKINS, is remembered as
early as 1826, having located in the county, remaining
however, only a' few years.
HON. O. B. FICKLIN, a gentleman so well known to
the citizens of the Wabash country, became a practising
lawyer at Mt. Carmel as early as 1830, au'd was elected
from Wabash county to represent that district in the
legislature in 1834. Soon after serving out his term in
the legislature he moved to Charlestown, Coles county,
this state, and from that district was elected to Congress
in 1843, being four times re-elected, and for many years
recognized as one of the leaders of that body. He is
still an honored citizen of Charlestown.
A MR. PYLE, came to Mt. Carmel about 1833, re-
maining about three years.
JAMES McDowELL, came in 1836, and practiced law
at the Wabash bar until his death in 1866. He was
for several years judge of the probate court, and was
regarded as a sound attorney. Besides his profession he
was also engaged in mercantile puisuits for several
years in Mt. Carmel.
CHARLES H. CONSTABLE, was a native of Maryland
A and located at Mt. Carmel in 1839, and remained here
until 1852, when he removed to Marshall county, Illi-
nois, where he was elected to the office of circuit judge.
He was a lawyer of ability. Died about the close of
the late war.
JOSEPH G. BOWMAN, a Virginian, became a member
of the Wabash bar in 1839. He was elected to repre-
sent the district in the legislature in 1840, and subse-
quently moved to Lawrenceville, and thence to OlneVj
where he still resides.
JOSEPH C. ORTH, native of Pennsylvania, located
here iu 1844, practicing his profession for three or four
years, whtn he engaged in farming in this county until
his death in 1857.
ROBERT W. DOUGHERTY, came here from Baltimore
about 1848, practiced law for a short time and returned
to the east.
VICTOR B. BELL, brother of Robert Bell, practiced
at the Wabash bar from 1848 to 1855, when he moved
to Chicago, and formed a partnership with Gen. T. E.
Ransom. He afterward moved to Washington, D. C.,
and from thence to New Orleans where he died in 1867.
In 1852-54, he represented Wabash and Edwards
counties in the house of Representatives.
PRESENT RESIDENT LAWYERS.
ROBERT BELL is the oldttt resident lawyer of the
Wabash county bar. He is a native of the county, and
received his education in the common and select schools
of Mt. Carmel. He began the study of law in the office
of his brother, Victor B. Bell, and subsequently attended
the law department of the Indiana State University,
from which Institution he graduated in February, 1855.
In the spring of the same year, he formed a ptrtnership
in law, with Lewis C. Keller, at Fairfield, Illinois, where
he began the practice of his profession. After a resi-
dence of two years at Fairfield, he established au office
in Mt. Carmel. In 1864, he formed a partnership with
Edward B. Green, under the style of Bell & Green,
which firm still continue, one of the strongest in south-
ern Illinois.
In 1863, Mr. Bell was elected President of the Illi-
nois Southern Railroad Company, which afterward
merged into the Cairo and Vincennes Railroad Company.
In 1869, he was appointed by the Governor, Judge of
Wabash county, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the
death of Judge T. J. Armstrong. In the same year he
was elected President of the St. Louis, Mt. Carmel &
New Albany llailroad Company, serving iu that capa-
city until the consolidation of that railroad into the
Louisville, New Albany & St. Louis, in 1872. In 1876,
he was sent as special agent of the U. S. Treasury, to
California, to investigate alleged frauds in the Interna-
tional Revenue district of that State. In the campaign
of 1878, he was the Republican candidate for Congress
in the nineteenth district, making a vigorous fight,
although the district was hopelessly Democratic. Was
a member of the Republican State Central Committee
at large, from 1878 to 1882, and was one of the U. S.
Commissioners in 1881, appointed to examine the Atlan-
tic and Pacific railroad iu New Mexico.
Besides those more important positions, Judge Bell
has held many other minor offices of trust, in all of
which he performed his duties with credit and satisfac-
tion. He is a sound successful lawjer.
EDWARD B. GREEN, who stands at the head of the
Wabash county bar, is a native of Pennsylvania, born
December 29, 1837. He obtained his early education
in the common schools of his native State, and took a
classical course in the Reimersburg Academy, after
which he was for some time Professor of Languages, in
the West Freedom Academy. Leaving that position,
he came directly to Edgar county, Illinois, in 1858, and
began the study of law in the office of Green & Eads,
at Paris. Completing his course, he was admitted to
the bar in June, 1860, and immediately afterward came
to Mt. Carmel, and established himself in the practice of
his profession. Four years later he formed a partner-
ship with Robert Bell, under the style of Bell & Green,
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
133
which still continues, and is one of the leading law firms
this part of the State.
In 1877, he was the Republican candidate for Judge
of the second judicial circuit. Two years later he be-
came a candidate against John H. Mulkey, for the
Supreme bench. In 1882, he accepted the Republican
candidacy for Congress, against Aaron Shaw, and not-
withstanding the large Democratic majority in this dis-
trict, Mr. Green made a vigorous and creditable contest.
Mr. Green is a man of fine talents, and one of the ablest
and most profound lawyers in southern Illinois. He
has a practice that extends to all adjoining counties, and
his cases in the Appellate and Supreme courts are numer-
ous.
S. Z. LANDES is a native of Virginia, and with his
parents emigrated and settled at Paris, Illinois, in 1856.
He acquired his preliminary education in the common
schools of Edgar county, and afterward attended the
Edgar County Academy. He entered upon the study
of law in the office of Robert N. Bishop, and after com-
pleting his course, was admitted to the bar in August,
1863. The next year he opened an office in Mt. Carmel,
and began the practice of his chosen profession. In
1870, he was elected City Attorney, and served in that
capacity for three consecutive terms. In 1873, he
was chosen as State's Attorney for the county of Wabash,
and by re-election has held that office ever since. Mr.
Laudes is a hard student, a sound lawyer, a vigorous
prrsecutor and excels as an advocate.
SAMUEL R. PuxMAN,was born in Wabash county. He
began the study of law in the office of Bell and Green
in the spring of 1868, and was admitted to the bar in the
sprang of 1870. Soon after being admitted he went to
Kansas, where, in Eureka, he engaged in the practice of
his profession for two years, returning to Mt. Carmel.
In 1874, he formed a partnership with A. B. Mathews,
which firm continued for one year, when Sylvester
Greathouse came in, the style of firm being Mathews,
Putman and Greathouse. Mathews retired from the
firm in June, 1879, and Putmaii and Greathouse con-
tinue still in partnership. They are engaged in a good
general practice.
SYLVESTER GREATHOUSE, is also a native of this
county. He read law in the office of Mathews and
Putman, and was admitted to the bar in 1875, and im-
mediately entered upon the practice in partnership with
the firm above named. Prior to his adopting the pro
fession of law, Mr. Greathouse served the people of the
county in the capacity of Treasurer, being eleited in
l!-65, and re-elected in '67. In 1869 he was elected to
the office of county clerk, and served one term.
M. F. HOSKINS, is a native of Indiana. He read law
wi'h Bell and Green, and was admitted to the bar in
January, 1876, and opened an office in Mt. Carmel and
began the practice by himself. In 1877 he was appoint-
ed city attorney, and in 1879 was elected to the same
office.
M. H. MUNDY, was born in Wabash county, where he
received his rudimentary education, and attendtd the
Western Central college, at Warrenton, Mo. He began
the study of law in the office of Judge F. D. Preston,
at Olney, Illinois, in the spring of 1876, and was admit-
ted to the bar in 1878. He first practiced in Olirey,
about one year, then came to Mt. Carmel, where he has
since been engaged.
WILLIAM R. LANDES, brother of S. Z Landes, student
in the office of the latter; was admitted to the bar
in 1882, and practices with his brother, but not in part-
nership.
The list of prosecuting attorneys of these counties
will be found in the chapter on civil history.
CHAPTER X.
THE PRESS.
The Pioneer, Albion Journal, Th< Bumble-bee, Egyptian Republican, American
Sentinel, Star Spangle Banner, American Banner, LawrencevUle Banner, West-
ern Qlobf, Laicrence County Globe, Lawrence County Journal, Lawrence County
Courier, Rural Republican, Lawrence County democrat, Farmers' Union, Dem-
ocrat Herald, Lawrence County Press, Sumner Press, Sumuer Democrat, Bridge'
port Times, Mt. Carmel Sentinel and Wabmh Adcoca/e, ML Carmel Register,
Wabash Republican, The Qreenbrier, The Plowbou, Wabash Democrat, Tern-
Leader, Mt. Carmel Leader, Mt. Carmel Republican.
HE pres?, the great luminary of liberty, is the
handmaid of progress. It heralds its doings
and makes known its discoveries. It is the
advance courier, whose coming is eagerly
looked for, and whose arrival is hailed with joy as it
brings tidings of its latest achievements. The press pre-
pares the way and calls mankind to witness the ap-
proach and procession of the triumphal car of progress
as it passes on down through the vale of the future.
When progress stops, the press will cease, and the intel-
lectual and moral world will go down in darkness. The
press is progress, and progress the press. So intimately
are they connected that one cannot exist without the
other. The history of this great discovery dates back
to the fifteenth century. Its discovery occurred in the
following manner : Laurentius Coster, a native of
Hserlem, Holland, while rambling in the forest contigu-
ous to his native city, carved some letters out of the bark
of a birch tree. Drowsy from the relaxation of a holi-
day, he wrapped his carvings in a piece of paper and
lay down to sleep. Dampened by the atmospheric moist-
ure, the paper wrapped about his handiwork had taken
an impression from them, and the surprised burgher
saw on the paper an inverted image of his engravings.
The phenomenon was suggestive, because it led to ex-
periments that resulttd in establishing a printing office
in the old Dutch town of Haerlem. The discovery of
Coster's wood blocks, on which the pages to be printed
were engraved, was made some time between 1440 and
1450. Peter Schoeffer's improvement, by casting the
type by means of matrices, was made about 1456.
For a long time printing was dependent upon most
134
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
clumsy apparatus. The earliest press had a contrivance
for running the forms under the point of pressure by
means of a screw. Improvements were made upon these
crude beginnings from time to time, until the hand-
presses now in use are models of simplicity, durability
and execution. In 1814, steam was first applied to cyl-
inder presses by Friedrich Konig, a Saxon genius, and
the subsequent progress of steam printing has been so
remarkable as to almost justify a belief in its absolute
perfection. •
The first newspaper of modern times was issued at
Venice, in 1536, but governmental bigotry compelled
its circulation in manuscript form. In 1663, the Public
Intelligencer, was published in London, and is credited
with being the first English paper to attempt the dis-
semination of general information. In 1639, the first prin-
ting-press in America, was set up at Cambridge, Conn.,
and Stephen Daye, the pioneer American printer, struck
off " The Freeman's Oath," and the next year the Bay
Psalm-Book. The first American newspaper was the
Boston News Letter, whose first issue was made April 24,
1704. It was edited by John Campbell, the postmaster.
The Boston Gazette made its appearance December 21,
1719, and the American Weekly, at Philadelphia, Decem-
ber 22, 1719 In 1776, there were thirty-seven news-
papers published in the colonies ; in 1828, the number
had increased to eight hundred and fifty-two, and at the
present time not less than eight thousand newspapers
are supported by our people.
For dates and facts relating to the early history of
the press of Edwards, Lawrence and Wabash counties
we are indebted to Morris Emmerson, of the Albion
Journal; Walter Colyer, of the Edwards County News ;
Frank Havill, o^ the Mount Carmel Register; Thomas
L. Joy, of the Mt. Carmel Republican; Judge Robert
Bell, Captain Sharp; Sam B Day, of the Rural Repub-
lican ; Frank C. Meserve, of the Democratic Herald ; J.
J. W. McCleave, Major Daniel L. Gold.S. B. Rowland
and several other citizens who were interviewed, to
whom we wish to return our1 thanks. Especially are we
under obligations to Will R. Carlton, of the Summer
Press, who took an active interest in gathering from the
proper sources the facts and history pertaining to the
newspaper enterprises of Sumner.
EDWARDS COUNTY.
The first journalistic venture within the borders of
Edwards county was made by R. S. Thompson, a native
of the county. In 1868 he purchased a press and
printers' material at the Cincinnati Type Foundry,
brought it here and issued
THE PIONEER.
The style of the paper was first a five- column folio, but
was afterward changed by Mr. Thompson to a five-column
quarto, patent. It was a neat, well appearing sheet. Mr.
Thompson was not a practical printer, but a man of
good business tact, and a vigorous writer. While the
paper was under his management it advocated Republi-
can principles. In about five years from the time of
the establishment of the Pioneer, Mr. Thompson sold
the material and paper to Gil R. Stormont, who changed
the name of it to the
ALBION JOURNAL,
And made it a seven-column folio, printing all
in the office. Mr. Stormont being a practical print-
er, and acquainted with journalism, soon brought
the paper up to the standard country journal,
and it continued to flourish under his control until
September 1, 1876, when he sold it to Ballentine &
Emmerson. He is now editor and publisher of the
Princeton (Indiana) Clarion. The latter firm continued
the publication until September 1, 1878, when Mr. Bal-
lentiue retired from the partnership, and Morris Emmer-
son assumed full proprietorship and still continues as
such. April 1, 1883, he added another column, making
the paper au eight-column folio. Mr. Emmerson is an
able writer and a successful journalist. His paper ad-
vocates the principles of the Republican party and has a
large circulation.
While Mr. Thompson owned the paper, he also pub-
lished a monthly magazine called
THE BUMBLE-BEE.
Besides the newspaper business he was engaged in
the drug trade, and manufactured and sold patent
medicine. The Bumble-Bee was published in the inter-
est of the trade, and by the " Bumble-Bee Manufactur-
ing Company." It was mailed to all parts of the
United States, but was short-lived, having made but a
few issues.
Mr. Thompson is now editor and publisher of the
Farmer's Advance, published at Springfield, Ohio, and is
secretary of the State Grange of Ohio.
One year prior to the establishment of the Pioneer,
William B. Tribe, then deputy circuit clerk, purchased
a small hand press and some type, and did job printing
in the office. This was the first printing done in Ed-
wards county.
THE EGYPTIAN REPUBLICAN
was the name of a newspaper published in the office of
the Albion Journal in 1878. It was a three-column
folio, edited by Chalcraft & Orange, and existed about
seven months.
In the autumn of 1880, Flo wer& Chalcraft purchased
a press, and a variety of type at the Cincinnati Type
Foundry, brought it to Albion, and from it the first
issue of the
AMERICAN SENTINEL
Appeared December 23, 1880. In about two months
Chalcraft sold his interest to Quaint Buntin, and the
firm became Flower & Buntin, which continued until
August 5, 1881, when they sold to Applegath & Colyer.
November 5, 1881, Colyer sold his interest to Applegath,
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WAS ASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
135
who in turn, February 11, 1882, sold to Walter Colyer,
who became sole owner and editor of the paper. He
goon changed its name to the
EDWARDS COUNTY NEWS,
And made it a seven-column folio. From the beginning
it has been a Republican sheet. It is typographically
neat, well edited, and is a credit to the county journal-
ism of Illinois.
LAWRENCE COUNTY
The newspaper enterprise of Lawrence county began
with the publication of the
STAR SPANGLED BANNER,
in the winter of 1847. It was owned and edited by John
F. Buntin, who deserves honorable mention as the pio-
neer printer of the county. He brought the press and
material from Vincennes. The paper was a six column
folio, independent in politics. In a year or two the words
" Star Spangled," were dropped, and American was sup-
plied to the head of the paper.
THE AMERICAN BANNER
was then moved to Olney, where it was printed and
mailed to the subscribers. In 1855, Mr. Buntin returned
the office and paper to the county, locating at Russell-
ville, where it remained until March, 1856, when it was
again removed to Lawreuceville. The name is said to
have again been changed to the Laivrenceville Banner.
In 1858, the office and paper was purchased by H. C.
Me Cleave and D. L. Brewer. They gave to it the name
of the
WESTERN GLOBE,
and it became wedded to the democratic party. The
journalistic career of McCleave and Brewer was of short
duration, for in a few months the Globe was again the
property of J. F. Buntin, and for a time Nat. Lander
was associated with him as editor. Mr. Buntin changed
the name of the paper to the
LAWRENCE COUNTY GLOBE,
and brought it back into the republican fold. He con-
tinued the publication of the paper until some time in
1868, when he moved the office to Cumberland county.
The Globe being changed to a republican paper, cre-
ated a demand for an exponent of the democratic party,
and resulted in establishing the
LAWRENCE COUNTY JOURNAL
in the spring of 1867. The editor and proprietor of
this enterprise was W. C. Luken. He brought the ma-
terial from Vincennes. The paper was a six column
folio. After a year or two, John F. Buntin returned to
Lawreuceville, and purchased the Journal and changed
the name to
THE LAWRENCE COUNTY COURIER.
Mr. Buutin continued its publication as a democratic
paper until December, 1870, when the office was totally
destroyed by fire. Soon after, by the assistance of friends,
Mr. Buntin purchased a new press and material, and
reestablished the Courier. It was, ho wever, destined to
a short life, being again entirely destroyed by fire, Au-
gust 18, 1871. Buntiu was a man not to be discouraged,
for in a very short time the Courier was being issued
from a new office in Bridgeport. It remained there
about one year and was removed to Lawrenceville, and
soon after suspended. The Republican party being with-
out an organ, in March, 1873, Maj. Daniel L. Gold pur-
chased the office, added some new material and estab-
lished the
RURAL REPUBLICAN.
1 1 was a five column folio, and ably edited. In 1874
or '75 Miss Mary Buntin, daughter of John F. Buntin,
purchased it and continued its publication until No-
vember 16, 1880, when it passed into the possession of
Sam. B. Day, the present editor and proprietor. Mr.
Day is a young man, a practical printer, and displays
considerable journalistic ability in the management of
the Republican, a newsy, first class country journal.
THE LAWRENCE COUNTY DEMOCRAT
was established in October, 1871, by W. C. Garrard,
editor and publisher. It was an eight column folio. Mr.
Garrard continued the Democrat for about two years,
when it was purchased by S. B. Bowland. The name
was then changed to
T. P. Lowery, assumed editorial charge, and the pa-
per was run in the interests of the Grange movement.
In 1874, J. W. Mehaffy accepted the editor's chair, and
brought the paper back into the Democratic ranks, giving
it the name,
DEMOCRATIC HERALD,
under which title it has since been published. Decem-
ber, 1875, Rowland sold the Herald to James K. Dick-
erson, who continued it until December, 1878, disposing
of it to Riley & Garrard. January 31, 1880, Will. M.
Garrard, became sole owner, continuing its publication
until January, 1881, when the law firm of Huffman &
Meserve, purchased it, Frank C. Meserve, assuming
editorial control of the paper. Under their manage-
ment the Herald has taken front rank in country jour-
nalism, and these gentlemen have demonstrated their
ability to run a newspaper and make it a financial suc-
cess, and at the same time furnish their constituency a
journal of which they may well be proud.
THE LAWRENCE COUNTY PRESS
was a Sumner enterprise, and the first newspaper in that
town. For mora than fifteen years Suinner had been
regarded as the best place of business in the county, and
it was not until the establishment of the Press, in 1875,
that it had a newspaper. This fact was owing to party
supremacy. The larger proportion of the strength of the
Republican party being in and around Sumner, the
people felt it their duty to support that paper at the
county seat. However, as the town grew in importance,
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
a newspaper became a necessity, and in November,
1875, James A. Ilger established the Frets. It was In-
dependent, and in form, a five column quarto, two
pages of which were printed at home. Mr. Ilger was a
practical printer, but unfortunately had no editorial
ability. In April, 1878, he sold the paper and office to
C. P. and W. E. Mock. They were both men of exper-
ience, but lacked judgment in the proper selection of
local news, engaging in petty quarrels, and in the publi-
cation of trivial matters that should not be noticed by
a newspaper. C. P. Mock retired in July, 1878, leaving
his young brother in charge, but died shortly afterward.
Some time in the administration of the Mock brothers,
the form of the paper was changed to a seven column
folio, with patent inside. In October, 1875, the Press
was purchased by Dr. Z. D. French and A. C. Clip-
pinger, both of Sumner. These gentlemen changed its
politics from Independent to Republican, and under
their management it increased in circulation, and was in
a healthy growing condition.
In December, 1879, Clippinger retired, and E. E.
Jones, also of Sumner, succeeded him as half owner.
French & Jones continued the paper until 1880, when
the former retired, and Mr. Jones became sole proprie-
tor, filling the position with credit to himself and the
community, until February, 1881. A. C. Clippiuger
then purchased the entire business, made it again an
Independent paper, conductirg it until September fol-
lowing, when W. R. Carlton, of Wabash county, the
present editor and proprietor, succeeded him. Under
Mr. Carlton's vigorous management, the paper at once
fntered upon an era of prosperity it had never before
enjoyed. It very soon became a straightout Republican
organ. He added to the office a rotary job press, and a
variety of new type. In April, 1882, another change
was necessary, the "patent inside" was abolished to
make room for increased advertising. The name was
changed to
THE SUMNER PRESS,
and the paper was made a six column folio, which still
continues, the only all-home print journal in Lawrence
county. Mr. Carlton is a practical printer, a man of
experience and journalistic ability, and is publishing a
newspaper of which the people of Lawrence county may
well feel proud, and to whose support they can most
graciously contribute.
Prior to the campaign of 1880, the democracy of the
west side of the county, began to feel that they should
have an exponent of their principles in that end of the
county, having only one democratic paper, while the
republicans had two. After counselling with the party
leaders, and business men of the place, it was determined
that Sumner should have another paper, one that should
be conducted in the interests of the democratic party.
Consequently in February, 1880, Rev. P. C. Cauble and
A. C. Clippinger established
THE SUMNER DEMOCRAT.
The paper made a good start, and was doing well,
when in April, 1880, Cauble retired and resumed his
profession. The firm changed its name two or three
times, but continued weakening, and on the 10th of
November, 1880, it yielded up the ghost.
The press and material of the Democrat office lay idle
the remainder of the year, and January 1, 1881, Joseph
M. Freese and David B. Clark, purchased them and a
few days after commenced the publication of
THE BRIDGEPORT TIMES,
at Bridgeport. It was Independent in politics, and in
form a seven column quarto. They published a respect-
able paper, but the community failed to give them a
living support, and about eight months it suspended.
The material was subsequently sold and taken to Robin-
son, and from it was issued the Anti-Monopolist.
WABASH COUNTY.
The first newspaper established in this county was
published at Mt. Carmel, 1834. It was called the
MT. CARMEL SENTINEL AND WABASH ADVOCATE.
The press and material was brought here by Horace
Roney, who after publishing it for about one year, died,
and it came into the possession of Edward Baker, who
continued it until 1836. It then passed into the hands
of Richard Beck, with 0 B. Fieklin, as editor. Joseph
G. Bowman, was also connected with the paper. In 1839,
it was discontinued and the office taken to Mt. Vernon,
Indiana.
The county was without a newspaper for only a short
time, as in the fall of the same year, 1839, the citizens
purchased a press and fitted up an office from which the
MT. CARMEL REGISTER,
was issued with J. S. Powers, as editor and publisher.
At that time there were but few papers in Southern
Illinois, and the Register had a wide circulation. It was
a five column folio, and in politics it advocated the prin-
ciples of the Whig party, and supported Gen. Harrison,
in the campaign of 1840. Powers was succeeded by
Ezra B. Meeny, a printer, who had come west with him,
only for a short time, however, as in 1841, George B.
Backus, took charge and conducted the paper for several
years. He was succeeded by Frank Fuller, and he in turn
by Fuller & Hutchinson. In 1848, W. D. Jackson
appeared as editor, and was soon succeeded by S. S.
Luken, who died soon afterward, and the Register be-
came the property of Victor B. and Robert Bell, who
increased the subscription list and published an excellent
paper. As the brothers Bell, were divided in political
views, the paper was allowed to float in an independent
channel. In 1852, they sold the paper and office to
Theodore S. Bowers, who, although a practical printer,
was not a success. During the late war, Bowers became
a colonel in the regular army, and adjutant on Gen.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
137
Grant's staff, and was killed on the railroad near West
Point, in 1866. He was succeeded in the Register by
Frank C. Manly, with Judge Green, as political editor,
who made the Register a Republican organ. Manly j
died in 1862, and George W. Douglas took the paper |
and made it a Democratic sheet, supporting McClellan ;
in the campaign of 1864. Before the close of the con- j
test Douglas died, and it was sold to Richard Beck, who j
again wheeled it into the republican ranks. Jn 1867, >
the office and paper was sold at public auction for $250 |
Judge Green being the purchaser. B^ck still continued
to publish the paper, until it was sold to J. P. M Calvo, \
the publisher of the Democrat. The press and a portion
of the type were subsequently sold and shipped to Iowa.
In 1868, Messrs. Cope and Wade, two young printers,
from Olney, brought an outfit here and re-established
the Register. They soon sold out to C. I. Wilmans, who
run the paper until 1870, when it was purchased by
T. J. Groves, who returned it to Wilmans within a few ,
weeks. The next year John H. Wilmans became a j
partner. In 1872,6. I. Wilmans, sold his interest to •
Frank W. Havill, and the firm of Wilmans & Havill,
continued to publish the paper for about three and a
half years. August 27th, 1872, the office was totally
destroyed by fire, but was immediately re-established,
only two issues of the paper being missed. It re-ap-
peared as an eight column folio. In 1875, Frank W.
Havill, became sole owner of the Register, and in 1878) i
made it an exponent of the Democratic party.
Under the management of Mr. Havill, the paper has
taken new life, and now ranksamongthe leadiugjournals !
of southern Illinois. He is a strong, forcible writer, and
an excellent newspaper manager.
The next journalistic venture after the Register, was the
WABASH REPUBLICAN,
started by W. D. Latshaw in 1840. It existed about
one year. About the same date as above, J. S. Powers,
published a small sheet called
THE GREENBRIER.
Its candle of life speedily flickered out.
In 1844, Valentine Miller, issued a little political ]
paper known as
THE PLOWBOY.
Its existence was very brief.
THE WABASH DEMOCRAT,
was established in 1844, by W. E. Latshaw, who con-
tinued its publication for about two years, when Austin
Brooks and Fiuney D. Preston purchased it. They
were inexperienced and soon failed to issue the paper
and the office was sold and moved to Shawneetown.
In 1860, a new press was purchased, the old name
revived and Jacob Zimmerman installed as editor.
Under his short administration the paper was ably
edited. He was succeeded by G. W. Besore, who w
killed in a political fight by Hiram Stan ton, in 1863.
James T. Costello, was next in the editorial chair, and
had a good paper. The Democrat existed until 1878,
and during that lime made n:auy changes, having had
at least a dozen different owners. Messrs. J. & G. W.
Hanna, who were at one time proprietors, for about
four years, brought the paper up to the standard country
journal, and made it a prosperous institution.
In 1878, it died a natural death under the management
of J. C. Hinckley, and the office was moved to Harris-
burg, Illinois.
During the " Blue Ribbon Movement" in 1878, Messrs.
Grossman & Scafer, published a monthly paper called
THE TEMPERANCE LEADER,
but the "movement," being irresponsive and not
materializing to the extent desired by its too sanguine
and mistaken supporter, soon collapsed.
The last venture for journalistic favor was the estab-
lishment of the
MT. CARMEL REPUBLICAN,
in 1878. Its founders were Richard H. Brown and his
father, who brought the press and material here. They
did not make a success and soon retired, the paper pass-
ing into the possession of J. F. Wilmans, who purchased
new material, refitted the office and continued to publish
the paper until January llth, 1883, when Thomas L-
Joy purchased it and assumed the position of editor
and publisher. Mr. Joy is an experienced newspaper
man, having been connected with some of the leading
journals in southern Illinois. The name of the paper
expressed its political tone. In April, it was made an
eight column folio, and the paper presents a neat typo-
graphical appeareme. Judging from the motto, " We
are here to stay," and the evidences of prosperity and
industry plainly observable around the office, we have no
doubt that the Republican is destined to be one of the
prominent institutions and industries of Mt. Carmel.
The history of the press of Edwards, Lawrence and
Wabash counties, has been briefly traced. They have
been fairly representative of the progress and have
kept pace with the business growth of the country. It
has numbered among its workers men of culture and
literary ability, several of whom afterward occupied
positions of high honor and trust in the states of their
adoption. The influence and character of the county
papers have grown with the material and intellectual
growth of those they have represented. No industry
can show a better record or number more patient or en-
thusiastic workers. To them more than any other class
belongs the honor of building up the reputation that
Edwards, Lawrence and Wabash counties possess and in
which they delight.
CHAPTER XI.
PATRIOTISM.
THE BLACK HAWK WAR.
[HE precursor of this conflict was the Winne-
bago war, an affray which occurred in the
summer of 1827. At this period a great
many adventures, attracted by the lead-
mines at Galena, visited the Wiunebago country and
138 HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
purposely provoked hostilities, as a pretext for taking
their lands by reprisal. The Winnebagoes, in what they
deemed their wrongs, enlisted the sympathies of the
Sioux, who were waiting an opportunity of redressing
grievances, which they claimed to have suffered at the
hands of the Americans. The principal hostile demon-
stration was an attack upon a keel-boat returning down
Rock river from a trip, carrying supplies to Fort Suell-
ing. It had touched on its way up at the Winnebago
camp, and carried away a number of squaws. Its return
was watched for, and while a desperate attack was made
upon it, it became grounded, and the crew were in im-
minent peril. The squaws escaped to their infuriated
lords, and the boat succeeded in dislodging itself and
making its way down the river. This occurrence spread
great alarm among the people, and, in pursuance of an
order from Gov. Edwards, the miners at Galena were
formed into companies and equipped for action. General
Atkinson, with six hundred regulars, and the Galena
militia under General Dodge, penetrated the enemy's
country and compelled the savages to sue for peace.
Among the captured were Red Bird, chief of the Sioux,
and Black Hawk. The former had been the friend of
the whites till incited to hostilities by the Winnebagoes.
The latter, in the war of 1812, offered his services to the
Americans, who declined them from motives of humanity.
He was born at the principal village of his tribe on Rock
river in 1767. Possessing no hereditary rank, he rose
to the dignity of a chief by the native vigor of his char-
acter and his success in war. To Gen. Gaines' inquiry
in council : " Who is Black Hawk ? Is he a chief, and
why does he sit in counc;l ?" he replied : " I will tell
you who I am. I am a Sac. My father was a Sac. I
am a warrior, and so was my father. Ask those young
braves who have followed me in battle, and they will
tell you who Black Hawk is. Provoke our people to
war and you will learn who Black Hawk is."
By the treaty of 1804 the Sacs and Foxes ceded to
the United States all land lying between the mouth of
the Illinois and of the Wisconsin rivers. By a pro-
vision of this treaty, so long as these lands remained the
property of the United States, the Indians were to enjoy
the liberty of occupying them. In the year 1829 the
government disposed of some land at the mouth of Rock
river, and thus, according to the treaty, extinguished
the Indian title. In 1830 a treaty was made, in accord-
ance with whose provisions the Indians removed from
the lands they had sold and retired across the river. At
this time Keokuk and Black Hawk were the two prin-
cipal chiefs of the Sac and Fox nations. In accordance
with the treaty stipulations, Keokuk remained across the
river. Black Hawk, however, actuated no doubt to
some extent by a genuine love of the land and village
home of his fathers, but principally by ill-will toward
the Americans, intensified by the intrigues of a Wiune-
bago chief, who assured him of the assistance of the
tribes along Rock river, recrossed the Mississippi in the
spring of 1831 with his women and children and three
hundred warriors. Depredations on the part of the Iii-
i dians were quite frequent, and the executive of the state
\ was applied to for protection. General Gaines, with six
companies of United States troops from the Jefferson
barracks, — four having been ordered from Prairie Du
! Chien, — proceeded to Fort Armstrong, and on the 7th
| of June held a council with the Indians, in which Black
Hawk asserted that they had never sold them lands, and
were determined never to abandon them. Gaines imme-
diately applied to Governor Reynolds for volunteers.
Sixteen hundred were soon in marching order, and an
j expedition was made to the mouth of Rock river. The
i Indians had fled and were encamped across the Missis-
sippi. Gaines sent an order to Black Hawk, requiring
I him and his band to return and enter into a treaty of
peace. This order, after much reluctance and delay, on
the 30ih of June the renowned warrior obeyed.
On the 6ih day of June, 1832, Black Hawk and his
band, induced by White Cloud, the prophet of the Win-
nebagoes, re-crossed the Mississippi and ascended the
Rock river to the county of that tribe, ostensibly for the
purpose of planting a crop of corn with them. His real
intentions, however, were to re-possess himself of his an-
cient patrimony, and to this end he intended to make
allies of the Winnebagoes, Potawattomies and other
! northern tribes. For in the winter of 1831-32 he had
j manifested dissatisfaction, and displayed much zeal in
' his efforts to obtain recruits. He had swelled the uum-
; ber of his warriors to five hundred, embracing the pride
I and chivalry of the nation. When it became known
j that he had re crossed the river, great alarm spread
among the settlers, and frequent petitions for protection
were received by Governor Reynolds, who determined
to call out a large body of volunteers. 1800 men ac-
cordingly met at Beardstown, the place of rendezvous'
: and were organized into brigades and placed under the
| c >mmand of Gen. Whiteside by Gov. Reynolds, who also
participated in the campaign. After organization, the
State troops marched to Rock river, and united with
i the regulars under the command of General Atkinson.
On the 9th of May the army commenced its march up
the river in pursuit of the enemy, arriving at Dixon on
the morning of the 12th. The principal event of this
campaign was the battle of Stillman's Run, May 14th,
1 in which a reconnoitring party, under Major Stillman,
j was defeated. On the night of the battle, Governor
! Reynolds, as commander-in-chief of the Illinois militia,
j made a requisition for two thousand additional troops
to rendezvous at Beardstown and Hennepin early in
I June. Dissatisfaction and demoralization appeared
| among the State troops of the army, and May 27th they
were discharged by Governor Reynolds. This ended
the second campaign, without effecting any important
j results.
i At the time these troops were mustered out, at the
: suggestion of General Atkinson, Governor Reynolds
i called for a thousand additional troops to enhance the
' previous levies, and a thousand to guard the frontier.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
139
A regiment was raised from among the disbanded troops
to guard the more exposed settlements until the new
levies could be made available. One of the companies)
under Captain Snyder, became engaged in a severe skir-
mish with a body of seventy Indians, at Kellogg's Grove.
On the 6th of June Black Hawk and one hundred and
fifty warriors made an attack upon Apple river fort, a
stockade situated near the present village of Elizabeth.
The Indians, after an unsuccessful attempt of fifteen hours
to take the fort, defended by twenty-five men, departed,
loaded with spoils taken from the village and vicinity.
Other depredations were committed before the levies
could be brought together and officered. Organization
was effected on the 16th of June at Fort Wilburn, on
the south bank of the Illinois river, the men electing
their own officers. They were received into the United
States service by General Atkinson, who acted as com-
mander-in-chief. On the 17th, Colonel Dement and his
battalion were ordered to Dixon, preceding the main
army. He took a position in Kellog's Grove at the
block house. Near this point Black Hawk and his
three hundred naked warriors drew a reconnoitering
party into an ambuscade, and pounced upon them from
a bushy ravine with yells and savage fury, killing five
men before they could make good their retreat to the
fort. The result was the battle of Kellog's Grove. The
block house fort was vigorously attacked for nearly an
hour, the force within returning the fire with such ra-
pidity and precision that the assailants retired, leaving
nine of their number dead on the field, and conveying
others away with them.
Early in July, Gen. Atkinson having heard that
Black Hawk had fortified a position in southern Wis-
consin, started thither for the purpose of bringing on a
general engagement and terminating the war. Eight
weeks were spent in marches and countermarches, result-
ing in a fruitless attempt to find the enemy. This con-
dition of things resulted largely from the perfidy of the
Winnebago guides to whom the army trusted. At the
Burnt Village, on the White Water branch of Rock
river, Gen. Atkinson ordered the army to disperse for
subsistence. A council of war, however, convened, and
it was unanimously agreed by the officers present that
it was necessary under the existing exigencies to disre-
gard the orders of Atkinson. Gen. Henry set to work
at reorganizing his brigade, and fitting it for the de-
mands of rapid marching. Having previously quelled
a mutiny among the volunteers, a circumstance making
the turning point of the entire campaign, on the loth
of July, he set out ; his brigade then numbering six
hundred men, and soon fell upon the trail of Black
Hawk and his band, which from starvation, exhaustion
and sickness, they could no longer conceal. They were
overtaken at the Wisconsin bluff, and there was achieved
the first important victory of the campaign, with a loss
of one mail killed, and eight wounded. The Indians
left one huudred and sixty-eight of their warriors dead
on the field, while a number of wounded were found in
their trail. Night came on and it was not thought pru-
dent to pursue them into the bottom, whither they had
taken refuge in the tall grass and dense forest. They
crossed the Wisconsin and made their way toward the
Mississippi, followed by the entire army under Gen.
Atkinson. On the morning of the second of August,
the army reached the bluff of the Mississippi. The In-
dians having reached the margin of the river, a little
below Bad Axe, some time before, were making prep-
arations to cross. While they were thus situated, the
steamboat Warrior, Captain Throckmorton, disregarding
the white flag raised by the Indians, a course which was
severely criticised, discharged into their midst a six
pounder, loaded with canister, followed by a severe fire of
musketry. Twenty-three of the Indians were killed and
a number wounded. Shortly after this, General
Atkinson arrived and commenced a general engagement.
By a feint the main body of the army was drawn aside
and while it was moving up the river, the Indians were
discovered by Henry's men who through the jealousy of
Atkinson had been placed in the rear, charged upon
them, completely routing and pushing them into the
river. The battle ended in a general carnage, but few
of the Indians escaping, among them their leader, the
renowned Black Hawk. This bloody scene closes the
war, in which many of the brave sons of Edwards, Law-
rence and Wabash participated and played a gallant part.
Believing that it will be of interest to our many
readers, we append a list of the names of the men who
served in the Black Hawk war from these counties.
CAPTAIN CHAMPION 8. MARDING's COMPANY.
Third Regiment Second Brigade, of Illinois Mounted
Volunteers, called into the service of the United States,
on requisition of General Atkinson, by the Governor's
proclamation, dated May 15, 1832. This Company was
organized and their officers commissioned May 5, 1832.
Mustered out August 15, 1832, by order of Brigadier
General Atkinson.
Men fr im Edwards C!ounty.
Captain— champion S. Marding.
First Lieutenant— William Curtis.
Second Lieutenant — Thomas Sanders.
Sergeants.
Hill.Starlin
James Hunt
Mitchell, William
James Edmonson
James Ellison
John Edmonsou
Mounts, Stephen
Pixley, Lewis
Russell, Kobert
Oorpnral.
Rutherford, Josiah
Shelhy, David
Samuel Edmonson, 2d.
Shelby, E.
Sames L B.
Private*.
Bogwood, David
Cooper, John
Garland, Joseph
Greathouse, David
Shores, William
Spring Henry
Sterrit, John
Waldrup,John
A detachment mustered out of service at Fort Dixon,
under command of Capt. Jordan, of the Second Regi-
ment, Second Brigade.
Men from Edwards County.
Oorpmfr,
Lav, Joshua
Will-oil. V,li'iaii,':M.
Bengaman, William, 4th.
Madding, Robert
M.-Kin,,,.,-, Alfred
Moore, Harrison
Mnvs, Matthew
.Musician.
Drury, John
SloUhV, '
Sli.'H.V, .l..llilfh:lll
Thread, B
Private*.
Thread, Jame?
Bennett, James
Underwood, Alexander
\V;m-en, William B.
140
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
No rations, otly as privates, drawn by any commis-
Johnston, Ahner
Pollard. Edwin
i;;M\linLrs Nat'-an
sioned officer in my company; only one half-bushel of
ti'k'lm"-',' w'ilHamson
ellams, Gideon
lii.-l.ards. Newton
Small, Thomas H.
corn diawn by each msn durirg the time of service;
Lawler, William
I -u'ki'v John O
Seeds, William
only one half-gallon of spirits drawn by the company ;
Lackey', Thomas
Neil James
Willi'im- John
not one pound of baggage hauled or packed for any
ivi kins, Thomas
Young, Jacob
commissioned officer in my company. This company
was ordered to rendezvous at Hennepin, June 10, and
arrived the llth, and was mustered into service the
Detachment of Capt. Barnes' company 2d Regiment,
2d Brigade of Illinois Mounted Volunteers. This com-
pany was organized in Lawrence county, Illinois, May
19th" Captain So,omon Hater's Company * «»2. Mustered OUt AugUSt 15, 1832.
Of Third Regiment Second Brigade of Illinois Mounted SS S^-Dan'ie^Mo^k
Volunteers, called into the service of the United States Sergeants.
Gaddy, James
on the requisition of Gen. Atkinson, by the Governor's Thoma; M* Doriaid, zd.
Montgomery, John
proclamation, dated May 15, 1832. This company was corporal.
Jloaler, Pev'ton
McCleave, Benjamin
organized in the county of Edwards May 5, 1832. Mus-
James Buchanan
Organ, Daniel
Lewi-- Thomas T
tered out August 15, 1832, by order of Brigadkr-Gen.
Privates.
Pollard, James W.
Richards, Joshua
Atkinson. Bass^ "Miehard
Turner, Thomas I.
Crews, James
Turner, John
Men from Edwards County.
Christy, Joseph B.
Turner, E. D. M.
Captain — Solomon Hunter.
Dnnlap, Samuel
Taylor, George W.
First Lieutenant— Wil iam Carrabaugh,
Second Lieutenant— John S. Rotrammel.
Gullaher, Bonapart waiaen, .jonn
This company was organized in Lawrence county,
Sergeant,.
Former, John
Illinois, on Monday, May 5, 1832; marched from ^iere
Thomas .Taggers
Joseph MeCreary
Hamilton William
June 2, 1832; arrived in Springfield June 9; mustered
John Hocking
John Brown-
Hen-lev. Charles
into U. S. service June 19, 1832.
Corporal,.
peoVnjamE.
Captain Jonn Barnes' Company.
William H. Harper
Zach Bottinghouse
HasSr
Captain — John Barnes.
First Lieutenant— Elijah Mays.
Hugh Mounts
James, N. Harper
Met. rose. William
Michels, Summer
Sergeants.
James McNabb
Moore, ^rfCd8'
Morris, Allies
Samuel Mundle
Mulling, John B.
Bottinghouse, Daniel
Miffln, William
William Mase
Organ, Daniel A.
Birkett, Thomas
Batson William
Moss, Moses
Rice, Matthew
Corporal,.
Pea; Salnoel
Birkett, Samuel
Kobinson, John G.
A. 8. Badollett
Pullis, John J.
Charles, Solomon
Snell, William
Arthur Chenoweth
Carl, John
Skinner, Thomas W.
Joseph F. Darr
Curtis, George
Chism, Elisha
Podd, Milton
Dorothy, Robert
Tiuscott, William
Thompson, Francis B.
Tait, John
Vincent. James
Private,.
Barnes Silas
Bush, John
Ruark, William F.
Stewart, Joseph
Strother, Pendleton
Thompson, Jamesf
Everly Nimrod Vincent, Josiah
Hunter, John T.*
Westfall, Isaac
EmmerRon, Alan Williams, Jonathan
* Promoted Quartermaster July 10, 1832.
f Wounded ; left in Hosp tal at Dixon, Aug. 2, 1832.
nois, on the 5th day of May, 1832. Marched, according
to Governor's order, for Hennepin, June 1, 1832 ; was
mustered into the service of the United States on the
19th of June, 1832. Each man of the company fur-
nii-hed tix days' rations for himself and horse. The
officers of said company drew one ration per day in
kind, and the officers and men drew one half-bushel of
corn, as forage, duiing the whole campaign.
This company was organized in Lawrence county
Illinois, May 5th, 1832; Mustered out, August 15th,
1832.
Captain John Arnold'* Company
Of the 2nd Regiment, of the 2nd Brigade of Illinois
Volunteers, called into the service of the United States,
on the requisition of Genl. Atkinson, by the Governor's
proclamation dated May 15th, 1831. Mustered out
August 15tb, 1832. This company was organized in
Captain Abner Greer'g Company,
Wabash county, May 12th, 1832.
Spy Battalion of Illinois Mounted Volunteers, called
Me1> from Wabash County.
Captain— John Arnold.
into the service of the United States on the requisition
First Lienlennnt— George Danforth.
Second Lieutenant— Samuel Fisher.*
of Gen. Atkinson, by the Governor's proclamation,
Sergeavts.
Hull, Philip
dated , 1832. Mustered out August 15, 1832.
Mitchel C. Minnis
Hiram Couch
Hovt, Jonathan S.
Hobbert, Henry
Men from Edwards County.
Mathias Leather-land*
John A. Dobbs*
Keen, Dennis
M ', Barton S.
Captain— Abner Greer.
Corporal,.
McMillen, James
Ochletrec, John
First LUuttnfint—Dnvid D. Marney.
Solomon Frear*
Parmenter, Isaac
Second Lieutenant — Aaron Wells.
Serqeant,. Baird, James
Ehenezer Z. Ryan Bajfd, P™otor B-
John Golden*
Ira Keen*
Wesley Wood*
Private,.
Rideefv, William
Reel, Henry R.
Sanford, Thomas
Sanford, Jacob
A^snd°reH. Gilmore R"<^y'oJnOi'hua
Besley, James*
Bass.Dalphin
Smith, John 0.
Turner 4bner
Corporals. Evans, William
Buchannan, John W.
Buehannan, Joseph O.*
Utter, John
Vanderhort Philip
James Gadd^ , Fv'te^i'o'ses1
Buchannan. Henry R.*
Woods, Jeremiah
Jeremmh Cawthorn j?\"}'i' lo'V™ "* *"'
Thomas J. England cm\'sp'i'eY\Villiam
™««"- Gibbons. Harvey
Andrews, Silas Jenadv, Joseph
Blizard, Thomas Jacknian, Bazel
Brines, Jeffer-on
GarnefjJnmes
Golden, William
* Absent
Wear, Thomas
Wear, Harvey
Winders. Warren
Wright, Robert
ffith leave.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
141
Detach
Regin
t of Captain Ellas Jordan'! Company, of the !
m ant, 2d Brigade. Enlisted for 90 days. Mounted Volunteers.
Crtj>fa;»-Elias Jordan.
First Lieutenant— James Kennerly.
Second Lieutenant— John K. Barnett
Sergeant.
James Grayson, 4th
Corporal.
Zach Wilson, 2d
Minn,
homas
Carlton, Robert
C:impli.-ll, Ui.biTt
Campl-ell, Patrick S.
August 2nd, 1832, when
Dixon's Ferry, Illinois.
Men from Wabash County.
Adjutant— Isaac Parmenter, Adjutant 2d Regiment, 2d Brigade.
First Lieutenant— Samuel Fisher.
South; the former holding that the Union was inviolable
and that the federal government was supreme, the latter,
that each individual state was supreme, and had a
right to withdraw, by virtue of its sovereign power, from
what they deemed a mere federal compact.
The anti-slavery principles of Mr. Lincoln and the
party that elevated him to power, were well known, al-
though he had openly declared against the right of the
government, and his own intention, of interfering with
the institution of slavery, where it already existed. His
! election to the presidency, however, was construed by the
cotton-states as a blow at that institution. Seldom in a
the command of Isaac Parmenter, Adjt. Second Regi- | nation's history has any one been placed under circum-
ment Second Brigade, from the day of its enrollment to j stances go trying as those attending Mr. Lincoln's in-
mustered out of service, at j auguration, although he fondly hoped, until the first
| shot fell on Sumter, for a settlement of difficulties with-
out resort to arms. The South had been emboldened
and encouraged in rebellion by the reticence and inac-
tivity of President Buchanan. The treasury was empty,
the forts and arsenals were in possession of the enemy,
and they had shot back at the Union, after having left
it. This condition of things and this course of conduct
inspired all patriotic hearts, and citizens of every class —
the farmer, the mechanic, the student, the professional
man, renounced all distinction of education, fortune or
birth, and walked in the common ranks of patriotism, in
defense of our insulted flag.
The first blood of the war was spilled in Baltimore,
while the Massachusetts regiment of volunteers was
passing through that city, three of its members falling
dead at the hands of the mob. The first regular battle
was that of Bull's Run, June 21st, 1861. The last en-
! gagement took place at Boro Chico, May 12th, 1865, two
days after the capture of Jefferson Davis, at Irwinsville,
j South Carolina, by General Wilson's cavalry. The first
aval battle of importance was the action between the
Sergeant,.
Matthew Leatherland
Jaquess, W.^P.
John A. Dodds
Solomon Frair
Beauchamp, Charles
Gnklns'.n', Jonathan
John Golden
Hickev, James
Ira Keen
Wesllev Wood
Private,.
Biirhatiiin, .los. O.
Wright, C. W.
Williamson, Robert
Ficklin, O. B.
Ochletree, John
Buchanan, Henry R.
Beslev, .lumen
Blgley, William
li. ..1,1s. Joseph M.
Reel, Henry R.
Smith, John O.
Turner, Abner
rtter.John
Goddy, John
Garner, J»mes
Vanrli-rhotf, Philip
Wear, Thomas
G..M"ii. William
ll.ivl. Jonathans.
MrMullen, James
Miller, Barton S.
Wear, Harvev
Hawkins, Tilford
Wheeler,
Fortney, Richard
THE AVAR FOR THE UNION.
This conflict was inaugurated April 12 1861, by the
storming and reduction of Fort Sumter, December 20th,
I860. South Carolina had passed an ordinance severing
her connection with the Union. She was followed in
her example successively by Mississippi, Florida, Ala-
bama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas, prior to the es-
Confederate batteries at Charleston, South Carolina, and
the steamboat, Star of the West, when the latter was
driven out to sea, January 9th, 1861 ; the last was that
between Porter's fleet and the batteries, at Fort Fisher,
North Carolina, January 13th, 1865. April 9th, of this
year, General Grant and Lee met at Appomattox Court-
tablishment of any form of government. February 4th, j House, Virginia, and arranged the terms of the latter's
1861, one month prior to the inauguration of Mr. Lincoln, surrender, which subsequently followed. The surrender
delegates from six of these states met in convention at j of General Johnston to General Sherman took place at
Montgomery, Alabama, and formed the "Confederate Raleigh, North Carolina, April 2:ith, 1865.
States of America," and established their place of meet- I Then closed the most sanguinary and at the same time
ing as the seat of the new government. On the 8th of the most glorious conflict that the historian has ever
the same month, Jefferson Davis was chosen president, j been called upon to record. The sentiment of patriotism
and Alexander H. Stephens vice-president. The seat of never before so strong in any people, was shared by the
government was afterward removed to Richmond, Vir- citizens of Edwards, Lawrence and Wabash counties, and
ginia, after the secession of that State. This course of readily did they leave their occupations and pleasant
conduct, on the part of these states, and those that follow- \ homes for the hardships, privations and dangers of the
ed them in the act of rebellion, was brought about by | battle field. The names of these patriotic men appear
sectional interests, of which the institution of slavery was, ! below under the heads of the commanders to which they
directly or indirectly, the cause. Two methods of inter- ] respectively belonged.
preting the constitution of the United States originated Lawrence county deserves special mention, as having
between the statesmen of the North and those of the tendired the first company in the state to Gov. Yates,
142 HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
under President Lincoln's first call for 75,000, three
months' men. This tender was made byMaj. Daniel L.
Gold, now of Washington, D. C., on Sunday, April
17th, 1861, at 10 P. M., from Vincennes, while the proc-
lamation was yet passing over the wires.
7th Infantry.
MUSTEB BOLL COMPANY E.
Kecniti— Baltzell, Henry H. (Lawrence County), vet, M. O. July 9, 1865.
Mushrush, Eli (Lawrence County), vet., M. O. July 9, 1865.
8th Infantry.— Three years' service.
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY D.
Drafted and SubttUiUe Recruit— Bains, Charles W. (Lawrence County), mus-
tered out Sept. 26, 1865.
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY I.
Drafted and Substitute Recruits.
Harmon, Andrew (Lawrence County), mustered out Oct. 6, 1865.
Ramsey, William (Lawrence County), mustered out Oct. 6, 1865.
Wolf, Henry M. (Lawrence County), mustered out Oct. 6, 1805.
Ninth Infantry. — Three years' service.
The Ninth, in which Lawrence county was represent-
ed as the accompanying Roster will show, was one of the
six regiments, organized at Springfield for three months
service. It was mustered into the United States service
for three years, July 26th, 1861, about five hundred three
months' men having re-enlisted. After a number of
expeditious, marches and small engagements, on tha 12th
day of February, 1862, eight companies entered the
fight at Fort Done'son, sustaining a loss of thirty-five,
killed and one hundred and sixty-six, wounded and six
prisoners. At Shiloh April 6th and 7th, it lost sixty-
one, killed, two hundred and eighty-seven wounded, and
two prisoners. Out of twenty-six officers, twenty-one
were killed or wounded. At Corinth October 3d and
4th, it lost nineteen -men killed, eighty-two wounded
and fifty-two prisoners. During its entire term of
service, it participated in one hundred and ten battles
and skirmishes. It was mustered out of service at
Louisville, Ky., July 9th, 1865, and arrived at Camp
Butler July 12th, for final payment and discharge
MUSTKR ROLL, COK
\NY
Mminan— Edward Stephen (Lawrence County), mustered out Aug. 20, 1864
erhals, Godfrey (Lawrence County), died Nov. 18, 1861.
Bruening, William (Lawrence County), died Oct. 1, 1861.
Erbar, George (Lawrence County), mustered out Aug. 20, 1804.
Fray, John A. (Lawrence County).
Herbig, William (Lawrence County), mustered out Aug. 20, 1804.
Hugenburg, Frederick (Lawrence Co.), died Oct. 12, '62; wounds.
Jacob, Christian (Lawrence County), mustered out Aug. 20, 1804.
Klingenburg, William (Lawrence Co.), killed at Shiloh Apr. 6, '62.
Lehr, George (Lawrence County), killed at Shiloh April 6, 1862.
Lippert, Frederick (Lawrence Co.), killed at Shiloh April 6, 1862.
Mueller, John (Lawrence County).
Mill.T, William (Lawrence County).
Nadler, Andreas (Lawrence County).
Randall, Stephen (Lawrence County), died Aug. 6, 1802.
Randall, Jacob (Lawrence County).
Richter, Henry (Lawrence County), killed at Shiloh April 6, 1862.
Roehrwiem, William (Lawrence County), M. 0. Aug. 20, 1864.
Schenck, Charles (Lawrence County), M. O. Aug. 20, 1804.
Spohule, John (Lawrence County).
Tungeman, John (Lawrence County), killed at Corinth Apr. 6, '62.
16th Regiment Infantry.
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY I.
Kecruiti— Daniels, James (Lawrence County), disch. July 2, '65 ; disability.
Ross, John (Lawrence County). ^
White, Thomas B. (Lawrence County); was prisoner; mustered
out Aug. 10, 1865, as sergeant.
White, James A. (Lawrence County); was prisoner ; mustered
out Aug. 19, 1805, as corporal.
MUSTER ROLL, COMPANY K.
Privates— Irving, Corban W. (Lawrence County), mustered out Aug. 19, 1805
Parrott, John L. (Lawrence County), disch. Aug. 7, '65; disability.
Eighteenth Infantry.— Three Years' Service.
This Regiment was organized under the Ten Regiment
Act, at Anna, Illinois, and mustered into the State
Service, for thirty days, by Captain U. S. Grant, May
16, 1861. May 28, 1861, it was mustered into the
United States Service, by Captain T. G. Pitcher. Was
engaged in the three days' battle, at Fort Donelson,
with a loss of fifty men killed and one hundred and fifty
wounded. Took part in the engagement of Shiloh,
April 6th & 7th, los'ng ten killed and sixty-five wounded.
Companies H. and C. were so reduced in numbers after
the battles, that they were consolidated with the re-
mainder of the regiment. During the Shiloh battle was
in General Oglesby's brigade. In the fall of 1862, two
new companies were raised at Carbondale. Company K
was transferred to the Mississippi Marine Brigade, per
special order, "No. 69, War Department, February 11,
1863." The regiment was mustered out, December 16,
18"5, at Little Rock, Ark. aud on the 31st received final
payment and discharge, at Camp Butler, Illinois.
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY O.
Private!— Evans, William (Edwards Co.), mur. by R. DickermanSep.30,'61.
Filkey, William H. (Wabash County).
Loten, Joseph (Edwards County), discharged Jan. 21, 1863.
Litherland, Samuel (Wabash County), vet., promoted Qjiarter-
master-sergeant on consolidation ; mustered out Dec. 16, 1865.
Pickering, George (Wabash Co.), klld. at Ft. Donelson Feb. 1 r.. Y,.'.
Stevenson, A. J. (Wabash County), sergt.-vet , M. O. Dec. 16, 1865.
Woodrup, John (Edwards County), trans, to V. R. C. Oct. 9, 1863.
Veterans— Brinn, John O. (Wabash County), mustered out Aug. 23, 1865.
Rice, Andrew J. JWabash County), mustered out Dec. 16, 1803.
Recruit— Hockey, William.(Edwards County).
18th Infantry Reorganized.— Three years' service.
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY C.
Private— Laird.'Satnuel (Wabash County), mustered out Oct. 24, 1865.
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY K.
Private*-- Biggerstaff, Wesley (Edwards County), mustered out Dec. 16, '65.
Golden, James (Edwards County).
Hawthorne James E. (Edwards County), mustered out Deo. 16, '65.
Hays, Arthur M. (Edwards County), mustered out Dec. 1«, 1865.
Harkrider, John (Edwards County), mustered out Dec. 1C, Is:.:..
Lechner, William C. (Edwards County), mustered out Dec. 16, '65.
Little, James M. (Edwards County), mustered ou Dec. Hi, Is.,:,.
Loyd, James D. (Edwards County), mustered out Dec. Hi, lsc.r,.
Land, John A. (Edwards Co.), died at Little Rock, Ark., July 29, '65.
Milspaugh, Daniel (Edwards County), mustered out June 18, 1865.
Mabcrry, Emanuel (Edwards County), mustered out Dec. 16, 1865.
19th Infantry.
Vnauigncd J!,-rniits.
Dailey, William Murphy, James Ryan, Martin Sullivan. 1'ati i.-k
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
143
20th Infantry.
MUSTER ROLL, COMPANY B.
Drafted and Subititute tfecruita-Castv, Chauncy (Wai .ash Co.), M. O. Jan. 7, '60.
Greathouso, Irvin (Wabash County).
aist Infantry.
Firm Astiitcmt-Svrgeon— Carl Muns ( Wabnsh Co.), reported dead Feb. 16, 1802.
Twenty-Sixth Infantry.— Three years' service.
This regiment in which the counties of Edwards, Law-
rence and Wabash are well represented, was mustered
into United States service with seven companies, at
Camp Butler, Illinois, August 31st, 1861, and not hav-
ing been armed, at first did guard duty at Quincy with
hickory clubs. During the fall armed with old English
Tower muskets, it was detailed to guard the Hannibal
and St. Joe railroad. Three more companies complet-
ing the organization, were raised prior to January 1st,
1862. February 19th, 1862, left Hannibal, Missouri,
for the South, stopping at Corinth, where the regiment
was assigned to Brigadier General J. B. Plummer's
Brigade, Brigadier General Hamilton's Division, Major
General Pope's Corps.
After an active service of more than two years, four
hundred and sixty-three, out of five hundred and fifteen
men present for duty, re-enlisted as veteran volunteers,
January 1st, 1864. During its four years of service,
the regiment marched six thousand nine hundred
and thirty-one miles, and fought twenty-eight hard
battles, besides many skirmishes. It was permitted by
order of the commit) ling general to place upon its
banners, "New Madrid," " Island No. 10," " Farming-
ton," Siege of Corinth," "luka," "Corinth 3d and 4th
October, 1862," " Holly Springs," " Vicksburg," " Jack-
son, Miss.," " Mission Ridge," " Resaca," '' Kenesaw,"
" Ezra Church," " Atlanta," "Jonesboro," " Griswold-
ville," '• McAlister," " Savannah," " Columbia," " Ben-
tonville." The regiment was mustered out of service,
July 20th, 1865, at Louisville, Kentucky, and finally
paid and dis charged, July 28th, at Springfield, Illinois.
NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF.
-Albert Rude, mustered out July 20, 1865.
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY O.
A. Abbott (Edwards County), M. O. July 20, 1
1 ; disch. Sept. 19, '54 ; dis,,., v
icharged Aug. 26, 1862 as 1st
sergeant ; disability.
Ctorjwrab-Ishmael Fortney (Edwards County), wounded ; discharged Oct.
Will'iam S. Taite (Edwards County!, diseh. Jan. 23 ; disability.
v,. Tuvlor (Edwards Couiitv), wounded at Corinth ;
killed at Resaca May 13, ISM.
Thomas Light (Edwards <\>.>, killed at Dallas, Ga, May 30, 1884.
-Busket, Reiner (Edwards County), vet., died at Scottsboro, Ala.,
Bones, Thomas (Edwards County), wounded
charged Oct. n, isr,l,:i- MTL'< ant : .Usabilit
]'!"'!!, Saii.iK 1 .Edward (Guilty),
nde'd ; discharged Oct.
Deg:iu. John (Edwards Co.), died at Pt. Pleasant Mar. 28, 18f
BwdetOD. Anderson (Edwards County), killed at Mission
Soov'Jrs, William ' Edwards Co.), vet., mustered out July 20
ennegan, John (Edwards County), vet., corporal, killed
Ham" Enoch (Bdwards County).
*D?( I-
Barnett, Lewis i Kdwm-ds Co.), died at Hannibal, Mo, Jan. 2s, '(12.
Glover, Kiehards iK.luanl.. County), mastered oat July 20, ixn.v
Taylor, Harrison K. .Edwards County), mustered out July 211, Iwi.V
MUSTER BOLL COMPANY H.
•mat— Philip J. Spring (Lawrence Co.), M.O.as scrg. July 1",'65.
Pii«i(f«— Bimner, Joseph M. (Lawrence (;o.), disch. Sept. (t, 1XJ12; disability.
Cantwell, Benton (Wabash County), vet, mustered out July 20, '65.
Degilltawny, Ant ,, I Wabash Co. i, vet., mustered out JulV a) 'Ci.
Hocking, Warren (Edwards Co.), vet, mustered out July 20, 18(1.5.
Hocking, William H. ( Edwards County), disch. Mar. :), '03; disab.
Hedge, William . Lawn-nee Count VI,' vet, transferred to Co (i-
mustered out July 20, 18SIC
Miner, George, S. (Edwards County), vet, corporal, died at home
Spring, Phiiip (Lawrence Co.), vet,, M. O.July 20, 1865, as 1st serg.
Recruitt— Benson, Joseph C. (Edwards County), died at Savannah, Ga.,
Dec. 20, 1864.
Blair, James (Lawrence County), killed at Colliersville, Tenn.,
Collis'on, .'lames M. i Lawrence Co.), vet, M. O. Julv 20, '65, as eorp.
•y), trans, to V. R.'C. Sept. 7, 18B2.
Hershey, John K. (Lawrence County), vet, M. O. July 20, 1865.
Hacking, Frank (Edwards County), 'mustered out July 20, 1865.
Hocking, Francis M. I Edwards County! mustered out July 20, '65.
Irwin, Samuel I. (Lawrence Co. I, diseh. Oct. 2. 1.1(12: disability.
Krcuger, Lewis i Waba-li County), mustered out July 20, 1865.
Shurtletf, Hereanus (Edwards County i, died at Si'. Louis Mo
April 2«. 18(12.
Smith, William F. (Lawrence County), wounded; discharged Oct.
2, 1862; disability.
290i Infantry-Three years' service.
Quarternuuter— Ebenezer Z. Eyan (Lawrence County), resigned Mar. 4, 1862.
30th Infantry .-Three years' service.
MUSTER KOLL COMPANY B.
PHvalM-Adwell, John (Wabash County), vet., discharged July 22, 1864, as
Fisher. John B. (Waiiash County), died at Cairo Dec. 13, 1861.
Greening, James (Wabash Co.), vet,, M. O. July 17, 1865, as sergt.
Kenny, Lorenzo (Wabash County).
Mekci'f'wiVl'inm D.((Wabash CmMi'tVl'di"cnargedOAtpril114,1i862?''
Martin, Arthur (Wabash County),, liseh. Sept.. [864; term expired.
Retherford, Martin V. (Waiiash County), vet, M. O. Julv 17, 1865.
Ray, George W. (Wabash Co.), vet, M. o. July 17, 180:,, as corporal.
Smith, George P. (Wabash County).
Tungate, William (Wabash County), discharged Oct. 14, 1862.
Taylor, George (Wabash C,,.), vet., M. (J. July 17, 1865, as corporal.
Veach, Samuel (Wabash County., vet, mustered out .lulv IT Iwla.
Veach, James F. (Wabash County).
Vermillion, Charles W. (Wabash County), vet, died at Nashville
Workman, Samuel M. (Wabash Co.). died at Cairo Feb. 10, 1862.
Wycoti; John M. (Wabash County), discharged April 14, 1862.
Recruits— Colhorn, Frftnclfl L. .Wabash Co.), trans, to V. B. C April 27. 1864.
Stratton, Joseph C. (Wab'nsli Co), disch. De
wink, H. William (Wabash Co.), died at V
Thirty-Second Infantry— Three years' service.
The thirty-second Illinois Infantry, was organized at
Camp Butler, by Col. John Logan, and was mustered
into the United States service, December 31st, 1861. It
bore a distinguished part in the battle of Shiloh, April
6th and 7th, 1862, losing forty men killed and two
hundred wounded. Was engaged in the advance on
Corinth, and in the battle, as a re-enforcement to Gen.
Rosecraus, October 4th. Next day did good service at
Matarnora, losing seven killed, and twenty -nine wounded.
On the 8th, surprised and captured over a hundred rebel
cavalry, at Lamar. From this time forward, saw no
service beyond numerous marches, till June, when it
participated in the siege of Vicksburg, July oth, march-
ed with General Sherman's army toward Jackson,
experiencing its most trying march, being tired and
worn out during the siege. Early in September, captur-
ed nine piecesof artillery at Harrisonburg, La. Novem-
ber 24th, landed at Vicksburg. December 22d, the
brigade advanced to Fayette, driving the enemy before
it. January 23, 1864, returned to Vieksburg, where
the regiment was mustered as a veteran organization,
February 3d, started on the Meridian expedition,
marching three hundred miles. In June, engaged in
the siege of Kenesaw Mountain, occupying a most exposed
position in the advance and July 5th, in the assault on
Nickajack creek, was the first to plant its colors on the
144 HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
enemy's works. July 18th, the regiment was transfered '
to the Second Brigade, Colonel Logan commanding, and j
sent to Marietta to guard the depot of supplies at that
place. September 8th, forty-one out of a foraging party
of fifty men were captured by the enemy, after a spirited
resistance. October 3d, near Kenesaw Mountain, was
attacked by the enemy in strong force, and suffered a
loss of twelve men killed. Participated in Sherman's
March to the Sea, and in the siege of Savannah, lost
Captain E. C. Lawson, and four men wounded. February
3d, 1865, waded the ice-cold waters of the Salkahatchiej
for a distance of two miles, and after a half hour's
skirmishing on the opposite bank, compelled the enemy
to evacuate their line of defense. March 21st was engag-
ed in the skirmishing line at Bentonville, N. C-, losing
heavily. September 16th, mustered out of service at
Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and ordered to Camp
Butler, Illinois, for final payment and discharge. The
regiment traveled, while in the United States service,
about eleven thousand miles.
MUSTEK ROLL, COMPANY I.
-William Ulm (Wabash County), resigned Sept 3, 1862.
Hiram K. Wolganmt i Wabasfi C,,A M. ( i. Sept. Hi, LSI;:,.
Corpora?*— David M. Cawser (Wabash County), vol., M. O. Sept. 16, 1865.
Robert II. M'.Neil (Wabash Countv).
Musician -George Biedlamau (Wabash Co.), pro. Lieut, in 6th Mias. colored.
Wa,,,,,,«-Joseph Urenon JWnbash County)
Privates— Albeit/., Ubertiua (Wabash County), died at St. Louis May 2n, '62.
Compton< Thomas (Wabash Co.). killed at Shiloh April ii, fs(a.
' i Co), disch. April 28. ls'^: .usability.
' Co.), M. O. Dee. :il, 1ST,: term 'expd.
ash Coumvl, died at Holivar, Tenu,
Oct. 11. 1802 ; wounds.
Fuller, Samuel (Wabash County), vet., mustered out May 27, 18C5.
Id, Thomas (Waha-h C.Hintv i, trans, to V. K. C. Sept. 1,1, 18ii:j.
dan, John (Wabash County).
"le prison
Crackel, James (Wabash C
Crane, An, I y \V. ^aba-
Diselms, Washington iWa
Gold, Thomas (\yabash Count>)", 'trans! to V
Krishe'r, John'( Wabash Count))', vet.,
4, 1863 ; wounds
June in, 1-W4; No. of grave, 1SUU.
letchum, Philander (Wal.asli c,..\ disch. Oct. 14,
Ic.Nair, Alfred (Wabasii Co.), M. O. Dee. HI, 1864;
'eters, Samuel L. i Wabash County), vet , mtlstere
Peakers, William (Wabash County), died Aug. 3, 1863,
race (Wabash Couut.v), 41. O. Dec. 31, 18ii4; te
, Thomas (Wabasli County), disch. April (i, 18li3;
Ketch.lt
McNair,
Peters, s,
Pool, Ho'race (Wabash Countv), 4i.'b. Dec. 3l7l8(';4; term expired.
Kulsford, Thomas (Wabash County), disch April .;, Is,:',; wounds.
Sumens, William (.Vahash Co.). .if.-, Ii. Amr. 1's, 186:i; disability.
Sanford, Daniel (Wabash County;, dfach. \pril 6, IN',:): disability.
Wood, Nelson (Wabash County), disch. Nov. 22, lsr,2 ; disability.
Recruit— Preston, Samuel (Wabash County), mustered out June 3, 1866.
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY K.
Pi-icatet— Gains, Jacob (Lawrence County), disch. June 28, 1862; disability.
Harris, James (Lawrence . ountyi, trans, to V. 1;. C. Sept. IS, V,:l.
Waggoner, John L. (Lawronoc County), vet.. M. l ). Sept. Hi, Isi;',.
Wilson, James B. (Lawrence County), v t., M. O. Sept. In, 1865.
Remits— Baehe, Arthur c Law rcncc Cottntv), 'mustered out Sept. 16, 1864.
Heath, Robert (Lawrence Coumy).
Jones, John l>. (Lawrence County) stored out Sept, 10, 1805.
Law, Chailes L>. (Lawrence Countvi, died at Washington, D. (".,
Mar. 17, 18H5.
McNeece, Gomgo W. (Lawrence Co.), mustered out Sept. 16, 1865.
Mullins, James K. I l.au idice County).
Smith, Jonathan (Lawrence County), mustered out Sept. 16, 1865.
unds Sept. 3, 1804.
_ isiuned Nov. 4, 1864.
John A. Porter, mustered out Oct. 8, 18tJ5.
Second iteufenanf-William A. Mitchell, mustered out as sergt. Oct. 8, 1835.
Sergeant-Scoti Brownlee, disch. Sept. 23, 1864, as private; term expired.
Corpora/— David B. Brownlee, private, died at R Ha, Mo., Nov. 24, 1861.
Musicians— James L. Dryden, mustered out Oct. 24, 1854; wounded.
Joseph F. Young, discharged Sept. 2:1, 1801 ; term expired.
Pruales— Allen, William S., corporal, killed at Chiekamauga Sept. 20, 1863.
led at Cassville, Mo., April la, 1862.
vet.
;, Jose
Arthurs, Will
Azdel, Williai
' nstrong.J
im T , killed at Stone Kiver pec. 31, 1802.
C., .li-'-harirod An-. 2s, l.MiJ: disability.
„ mes, discharged Aug. lu, 188S; disability.
Kailes, Charles B.. discharged Sept IB, 1864 : tern, expired.
Baird, Nathaniel T., discharged Dec,:!, is;-: difnhilitv.
Marlon, Thomas o., discharged July 31, 1862; disability.
Carson. Una-, ret., mustered out i let. 8, I866jiu corporal.
Criswell, William P., vet., mustered out Oct. 8, 1865, as corporal.
Constant, Eno», mustered out Jan. 24, 1865.
liowell, George, discharged Sept. 24, 18(14; term expired.
Donnell, George, vet., disch. June 2, 18H5. as corporal; wounded.
Jiavis, James, vet., killed at Adairswllo, Ga., May 17,1864.
Kckeison. Albert, discharged Sept. 2:1. ls.;i : 'term expired.
Klder, James, k lied at Stone River Dec. :;l, 18>i2.
Kduar, John B., discharged Aug. Ill, 18",:! : disability. ..
FUner, William, corporal, died at Nashville Sept. 1, 1863.
Godfrey, EUchard.,dled at Springfield, .'Mo., .May Hi, 1802.
Gibson, William .M .discharged \o.il 14, 1862; wounds.
Harper, Hugh W., transferred to Vet. Uesorve Corps.
Hayes, Orlando, mu.-tered out June •>, is;:,; prisoner of war.
Haitzcil, Willi no, discharged Sept. L':;, 18(4: term
Henderson. John R, died O.-t. In, 1S62: wounds.
I, ism : term expired.
m
en. Tli on .as, transt' Tred to V. R. C.
j..-,.., Henrv II., \-et., mustered out Oct. 8, 1865.
JlcCov, joiin w., must -red out (jet. u, 1864, as sergeant.
McClanahan, Frank, transferred to V. R. C.
MePherrin, James C., transferred to Marine Brigade at St. Louis
McGregor, Joseph.
McMullen, John K., discbargod Sept. 25, 1863 ; disability.
Mitchell, William A., vet., mustered out Oct. 8, 1865, as 1st sergt.
Moss, Jacob W., vet., killed at Adairsville.
Munson, Ezra E., discharged Sept 2:'., is ",4; term expired.J
Nelson.-George, died at Rienzi, Miss., June 23, 1864.
Nichols. George W., discharged Sept. •_•:!, Is u ; term expired.
Paxton, Samuel, vet., mustered "(it (let. s, is.ii, as sergeant.
Patterson. William, died at Chattanooga Jan. 5, 1864.
Ralston, James, vet., died at Louisville, Ky., Aug. 24, 1864.
Shearer, William, died at Holla, Mo. Dec. 1, 1861?
Shearer, Hugh, died at Holla, Mo., Dee. 10, 1861.
Seholts, Kzra, died Dec. I, 18ii:i ; wounds.
Stewart, Abraham, discharged Sept. 2:1, IS04; term expired.
,rt, Isaac, mustered out s ,pt. 2(1: term expired.
;pson, George V
taff, Henry, die
Wimmer,EZekiel,yt-
Wright, S. Gamble, discharged May 19, 1863; disability.
Becruite-Baird, Thomas F., discharged June 2, 1862; disability.
Kitchen, John W., mustered out Oct. 8, 1865.
Drafted aad Substitute Becruit-Evims, Robert T., sub., died at Louisville
Mar. 1, 1865.
Thirty-Eighth Infantry.— Three Years' Service.
The Thirty-Eighth was organized at Camp Butler,
Illinois, in September, 1861, by Colonel William P.
Carlin. October 21, it was engaged at Fredericktown
against the enemy under Jeff. Thompson. March 3,
1862, it became a part of the division of southeast
Missouri under General F. Steele. In ten days it com-
pleted a march of 220 miles to Cape Girardeau, Missouri,
May, 1862. It took part in the following actions and
skirmishes : Perryville, October 8, 1862, capturing an
Thirty-Sixth Infantry.— Three Years' Service.
This regiment was organized at Aurora, Illinois, in
September, 1861, by Colonel Nicholas Grensel, and j ammunition train, two caissons, and about 100 prisoners ;
mustered into the United States service by Captain A. Knob Gap capturing two guns, and losing three men
G. Brackett, U. S. A., September 23, 1861. It partici- j killed and eight wounded ; Stone River, December 30,
pated in the following engagements : Boonville, Ark., i 1862, to January 4, 1863, losing 34 killed, 109 wounded,
March 6, 1861 ; Leetown, March 7, and Pea Ridge, i and 34 missing ; Liberty Gap, June 24, 25, 26 ; Chicka-
March 8, 186 1 ; Perryville, losing seventy-five men in ! mauga, September 19, losing 180 men. February 29,
killed and wounded ; Stone River, from December 26, i 1864, re-enlisted, and was mustered March 16, 1864. It
1862, till January 2, 1863, coming out of the battle with [ participated at Pine Top, and at Kenesaw Mountain.
only 200 men; Chiekamauga, September 20 and 21,
1863 ; Gordon's Mills, September 20, 1863. The regi-
ment was mustered out of service October 8, 1865, at
New Orleans, and arrived at Camp Butler, Illinois,
October 17, for final payment and discharge.
September 1, 1864, engaged in the battle of Jonesbor
From that time forward it was engaged in various
skirmishes, marches and guard duties, till it was mustered
out of service, and ordered to Springfield, Illinois, for
final piymeut and discharge.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WAS ASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
145
CVon-V-Edwar 1 Colyer (Edwards Co.), M. <). MI T.icut. c,.|. March 20, I sun.
Quarto-muter— William Forrman (Edwards County), M. O. Sept. 15, '.14 ;
term expired.
NOS-COMMISSIONED STAFF.
Cjmmitsary Sergeant— James Scott Stone (Edwards Co.), M. O. March 20, '60.
MUSTER ROLL, COMPANY C.
Captain— John O'Meara (Edwards County), M. O. March 20, 1806.
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY I.
Captaim— Charles Churchill (Edwards Co.), term expired Sept. 15, 1865.
Lee Woods (Edwards Co.), M. < i. Mareh 211, 18
Green (Edwards County), M. O. Mareh 20
«/-«t&/v««»t-01iver 'Simpson (Edwards County), discharged No
First LUulMomt— Joseph Green i Edwards c..uii
to accept a promotion in Id U. 8. Infantry.
Sergeants— Charles Cole (Edwards County).
James Pettigrew (Edwards Co.i, diseh. Sept. i;,, 1865 as 1st sergt
John Henderson (Edwards Co.,', diseh. Mav l,;,ls,;l: wounds.8
Morris Harris ( Edwards County), M. . I. Sept. 3U, 18114.
Cbrporah— Arbuer, I-:. Hall E.lwards Co.i', di-eh. June 27. Isiti; disaliilitv.
Lu-iils Harris (Edwards Co.), 1st Sen.'!., diseh. April 7 Y.2 di's
William P. Richmond (Edwards County), died at Pilot Knob,
Andrew J. jett (Edwards Co.), died Sept. 15, 1864, as sergeant.
Wright, Bunting (Edwards C.M. died July 28, ]x.!3; wounds.
Thomas Sharon (Edwards County), died at Murfreesboro, .nine
Music
s Murry (Edwards County), killed at Chiekamauga Sept.
19, '63.
Privates— Allen, Thomas (Edwards County), vet., M. O. March 20, 1866.
Briscoe, Johu(Edwards County;, died at Pilot Knob Mo Xov
24, 1861.
H. (Edwards County), vet., disch. Jan.
Curtis, Jafvis (E.lwards County), dis
Ourtis, Nath
Jhi-m, Ricf
corporal; wounds.
Cannon, Boggs (Edwards County), M. O. Sept. 15, 1804.
Clark, John J. . Edwards Countv), vet.
, . ,
Dixon, Joseph (Edwards County), diseh. Jan. 7, I«fi4; disability.
Ewing, Aaron (Edwards Co.), Missing in a -timi at Stone Kiver."
dgar, John (Edward.- Co.], died al I'.i.-uh.mtas. Ark., Apr. 10, '62.
llis. Jose -
, , . ., .
Ellis. Joseph (Edwards <-o. I. M ( >. Sept. 21. V.j ; wounded and pris.
Franklin, William (Edwards c...), di*.-h. Apr. H. v,2 : di.-al.ilitv.
Gill, John ..Edwards County i, di.-d at Ham burg. I'.. June (I. I
Horton, Richard (Edward- c.'.'i, diseh. Au-.s, is;-; disability!
Harper, John lE.lwurds County). Mareh ,;', Is, 1:1 ; wounds.
Harper (ieori;.- (Edward* Countv), vet. M. t K Mareh 2n, 1806.
Harder! Joseph (Edwards County), trans. ,„ V. R. C. Feb. 6, 1863.
Hedge, Thomas (Edwards Co ), killed at Atlanta, Ga., Aug. 6, '64.
Hall, Charles (Edwards County), diseh. Feb. 2", I8J3.
, . . , .
y, Thomas (Edwards Co.)', died at Nashville Oee. 26, 1863.
.,
M.-Kibben, Dudley (Edwards Co.), mustered
McKibhen, P. ter S. (Edwards Co.), mustered
M.-Kibheii. Luther E.
'' *
,
Sept. 15, .
., Sept. 15, ima.
(Edwards County), diseh. Dec. 10,1861;
Y,4: prisoner
Piekford, Charles (Edwards County I, died Jan. 17, 18H3; wounds.
Powell, Cilrran (Edwards County), mustered out Sept. 15, 1864.
Smith, Thomas (Edwards County i. mu-tered out Aug. 22, 18li4.
Rudolph, Charles (Edwards County!, diseh. Nov. 21, '01 ; disab.
Smith. Charles, Sr. , Edwards Countv). vet. M. O. March 20, 1806.
Smith, Chad.-. Jr. i Edwards < 'oiinty >. vet. M. O. Mareh 20. 1H66.
Smith, George (Edwards Co.), disch. Auu. 14, 18::|; disabili
Shunk,Henry(kdwardsr ' ' '
Stanley, George i Edwanl
Stillwe'll, John (Edwards
BtJnnett, Ja.-'ob (Edwards Co.), died at Nashville Dec. 31, 1862.
Snowdall, Joseph i Edwards . ,,.>. vet., M. (I. Mareh 2u, IS'Ki.
.James 8 -ott (Edwards Co.), vet.. Pro. (J. M. Sergeant ; M.
iwards County), vet., drowned Cumberland
Co.), died at Murfreesbo., T., May 19, '(
ds Co.), died at Ironton, Mo., Feb. 24, 'I
ty), died at Andersonville; No.
Uiv.-r, April 14, IK'U.
Walker. William (Edwtuu, ^uuu.j
Young, Mieha.-l (E.lwards County) ... .... _..
RccrMtt— Aflumson, Wm.G. i Edward.- Co.), disch. Feb. -.'(I, 1862; disability.
nty).M. 0.8eptU
Adamson. Moses (Edwards
Birkett, Francis, (Edwards „.,.,, „„,=,.. „.,. <,,, ,<,,.*. „,.,,
Brown, John . Edwards County), discharged for disability,
liak.-r, William (Edwards Co.i, yet., M.O. Mar. 2(1, 'Wl, as corporal
Brown, Franklin . Edward- Countyl. vet., M. O. .Mar. 2(1, I8l»).
Pukes, H.-nry (Edwards Co.), diseh. Nov. -Jl ls.,1; disability.
Elliott, .lame- (Edward- County), vet., M. O. Mareli 2(>, I*,;.C
Fawkes, Franklin II. (Edwards C ty). M. II. Mareli 2n, 1806.
Fawkes, Thomas i Edwards Co.), di-eh. Feb. Hi, lsc,2; disability.
Green, Thomas (K,lw, '
•i Co.), vet., M.'o. March 20, 1866.
Harper, William (Edwards County i, M. O. March 20, 1866.
' "dwards County), diseh. lice. 12, 1864.
.(Edwards Co.), vet., M. O. Mar. 20, '66, as
Hederiek
Me, lie,-. Henry i Edwards Countyi, Di.-d
Aug. 3. 1S04. No. ol Grave, 4,648.
MeVoy.or MeVaughn, Nathan (Edwards Co.), died at Ooltewah,
Ten , May 12, 1864.
Posey, Samuel (Edwards County), M. O. Sept. 21 1861
Robinson, John i Edwards Counly), ab-ent -i.-k al M. O. of Reg't.
Reinus, EdL-ar (Edwards Countv), vet., M. O. March 2(1, 1806.
Keofield, William (Edwards Conn, v,. B. O. Mareh •> ,, Isr,,-,
Snidle, John , Kdwanls County), M. (I. Mar.-l, 1-2, lso4,as corporal.
Seotield, Edward (Edwards Countv), yet., M. (I. Mareh 2u, Isijii.
Shilling, G -ge , EdwantoC ity), M. U. Mareh 2.1, IKIK.
Sentence. Joseph i Edwards Co.), died in prison at Danville, Ga.,
Thompson, Willi
Thompson, William It. i Edwards Co ). died Nov. 21, 18 1; dii
Tucker, William A. 1 1. I Edwards Countv). Mil. March 2o Is
1-lley, Momeville W. , Edwards County), diseh. Oct. 2.5, '62; d
Vandevender, John (Edwards County), M. U. Jan. 2, lV"
West, Koberl i, Edward- Collntvj, diseli. Jan. 17,1802;
Drafted ami Stbrttute Xrcruin-Ha.krr, Tliomas, s '
Flaningan, 1'airi
STer^
Jan. 4, 1866.
Palmer, Jen-mi;
isabil.
disab.
isability.
lingan, Patrick, sub.
genson. Am:., sub., M. (I. Jau.28, 1SD6.
' ' rds County), M. O.
liah M., (Edwards County),
sub., M. C. Jan. 21, I860.
Savage, James (Edwards County), sub.
Winfield, Stephen (Edwards County), sub.
Fortieth Infantry.— Three Years' Service.
Was organized by Stephen G. Hicks, of Salem, Illinois,
and had in its ranks a number of representatives from
Edwards and Wabash counties. At the time of its
muster into service, August 10, 1861, it numbered seven
hundred men. It was brigated with the 23d Indiana,
8th Missouri, and the 9th Illinois, under command of
Col. W. H. L. Wallace. It fought at Pittsburg Land-
ing, April 6, 1862 ; Holly Spring, July, 1862 ; Mission-
ary Ridge, October 1863. Having completed its three
yeais term of service, it re-listed January 1, 1864. It
participated in the battles of the Atlanta campaign, and
was also with Sherman in his inarch to the sea. It was
mustered out of service at Louisville, July 24, 1865, and
on the 28th, at Springfield, received final payment and
discharge.
Surgeon*— William Graham (Wabash County), mustered out July 24, 1865.
Hrtt Asiiaant-Surgeun— William E. Turner ( Wabasll Co.), M. O.'July 24, '65.
NOJT-COMMISSIONED STAFF.
Hospital Sfcraard-William P. Harvey (Lawrence Co.), M. O. Julv 24, 1865.
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY E.
Ser»«i!tt-Samu.el T. Ulm (Wabash Co.), trans, to 1st West Tenn Inft. Jan.
Private*— McGregor, Thomas (Wabash Co.), disch. Aug., 1864, term expired
Bisley, James (Wabasi, Co.), trans, to 1st West Tenn. tufty ..Jan
28. 1864.
Stanley Thomas (Edwards County).
Stanley,' Francis (Edwards County).
Rtciuib— Baird, James (Wabash Co.), diseh.'. let. 3, 1864; term expired.
Bargh, Joseph (Wabash County.)
•r, John C. (Wabash"co!), disch
from Company i*.
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY
Sept. 4,1863; disability;
Frank, Havill (Wabash Co.), detached"; i
Pint Lieutenant— George II. Humphries (Wabash Co ), died of wounds
Watson'M. Uimtnn (Edwards Co.), resigned Mch. 10, '04.
John F. E'ldiugs (Edward- Co.i. M. < I. Julv 21, 1865.
Second Lieutaunili—llKnry Cra-kel (Wabash Co.), died.
IWM Ingenoll iWal.a-h Co.), resigned Jan. 8, 1863.
Carparalt— Samuel Wells (Wabash County).
M. Wilman (Wabash Co.). trails, to Sig. Corps October 1, 186:1.
T. D. Keen (Wabash Co.i, veteran.
Joseph King (Edwards Co.), disch. Feb. 16, 1863; disability.
J. F. Eddings (Edwards Co.), veteran.
John Dreniri (Wabash County).
R. C. Sweat (Wabash Countv).
•Bell, William li. (Wabash Countv).
Barnet.T. J.i Wabash Co.i, died January 20,18.51; wounds.
Model, li. (Wabash County).
Burrill. George ( Edwards Co.), vet, mustered out July 24, 1865.
liuekett. J. W. i Edwards Co.), disch. Mav, 18ii:i; disability.
Copeland. I!.iEdwardsCo.),disch.Aug.!'i,'04,ascorp'l;termexp.
Hale, E.M.I Edwards County).
" 'Vitt, A. C. (Wabash Co.).'diseh. Aug. 9, 18r,4 ; term expired.
~. W. (Wabash Co.), vet., died July ll, 11114; wounds.
Jtered out July 24, 1865.
Denham, B. W. (Wabash Co.i, vet., di
Evans, John T. I Wabash Co.), vet., m
Klli«. William (Wabash County).
Card, Reason (Wabash Coumvi, must. -red
'
C.. Septe
ut July 2
, .
Card, Fran.-i, , Wal.a-h County ., diseh. Feb. 16,1863; disability.
Gardner, Henry i Wal.a-h County).
Ham, Henry i Wabash Co.), yet., 'mustered out Julv 21, 1815.
In-. Martin' (Wabash Co i i.-t., mastered out Julv 24, l»(;'..
Kimball, W. T. (Wabash Co.), vet , killed at Griswoldville, Ga.,
November 22, 1804.
146
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
•Miter, Joseph (Edwards Co.), disch. Aug.
unly, Join, <Wiil ash County),
orsworthv, John (Wabash County).
>r, Patrick (Wabash Count
10,1864; term exp.
., vet., 1
"'wa'l"a'i;\l;,0, disch. At.
r^^^^j^^^^^^^.^
Voight, William (Kdwards Co.], vet., killed mar Atlanta, Ua ,
Deuliam, .Ia
Fonietl1, \\il
Gould, T
I'. (Wnba-.li County),
lliam (Vi al ash i u.i. vet', mustered c
Kdwari
it July 24, 18
i: di.-'ahility
(.anoilg, James D. (Kdwards (o.,, diseh. Aug. 19, I8B4; termexpd.
Gibson, Stephen S. (Kdwards (•,,.,. ». ( i. July 21, 1WV1, as sergeant.
Harris, William A. i Kdwards Co.), M. u. July 24, '6:., as sergeant,
lligbee, William H. (\Vaba-h CJo ", niu-t,-re,i ,,nt VUK. 3d, 1864.
SiL-t.ee; John H. iWaha-hCo.i. mustered out July 24, 1865.
itchen, Rigdon S. (Kdwards Co.), vet., mustered out July 24, '65.
Kitchen. John C.. veteran, must. 'red out July 24, 1865.
Lilt/., George (Wahash Co.), disch. Aug. I'.i. 1x61; term expired.
"••:, Samuel (Wabasl, C,..,, mustered out July - — '
P (Kdwards County).
Stone, William (Wabash County), -
Tanquery, John N. i Kdwards Co.i.
Ulm, Samuel N. (Edu ards Co.), kill
Riide, DavidV (1
Rice, Or ,.~ .
''. disc™ April 27, .=«...
illed Kenesaw Mt., June 27, '64.
Weaver, Gotleib (Edwards Conn tv).
Watkins, William (Edwards County).
MUSTER ROLL, COMPANY K.
Pr iKite-Finley, Andrew W. (Wabash Co.), vet., mustered out July 24, '05.
46th Infantry.— Three years' service.
MUSTER ROLL COMPAKY F.
Becn<i(s— Elliott, William (Wabash Co.), died at Shreveport.La., June 25, '65
Gross, Josiah (Wabash Countv i M n Jan 20 lsr,1
Hart, John W. (Wabash Co.), Vet. recruit. M. O. Jan. ax, 1865.
Messenger, Theodore (Wabash (
Sanford, William H. (Wabash C
47th Infantry.— Re-organized. Three years' service.
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY A.
Prirola-Glikinson, Alfred W. (Wabash Countv), drafted ; disch. July 20,'65.
Kenard, Robert (Wahash County), drafted ; disch. July 20. Is,,:,.
Moser, Benjamin (Wabash County), drafted ; M. O. Sept, la, '65.
48tU liifaiitrv. — Three years' seivice.
This gallant regiment had a large representation from
Wabash county. It was oganized at Camp Butler Sep-
t mber, 1861, by Isham N. Haynie. It fought at Fort
Henry, February 7, 1862 ; Fort Donelson, February 13
to 16, 1862 : Shiloh, April 6 and 7, 1862 ; siege of
Corinth, May, 1862 ; Mission Ridge, November 24 and
26, 1863 ; Kenesaw Mountain, June 10 to July 3, 1864;
Sandstown, July 6 to 12, 1864; Atlanta, July 21, 22,
28, 1864 ; siege of Atlanta, July 28 to August 26, 1864 ;
siege of Savannah, December, 1864 ; South Edisto River,
February 9, 1865; Bentonville, March 20, 1865, and in
other engagements. It was mustered out August 15,
1865.
Ut Aug. 15, 1865.
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY G.
:m.-Willi»m W. Beall, resigned March 24, 1862.
George M. Kensipp, honorably discharged Jan. 28, 1865.
Isaac E. Carlton, mustered out Aug. i:.. '186.1.
Lieutenant— Theodore S. Bowers, promoted Staff Gen'l Grant.
William H. Murray, mastered onl Aug. 15,1865.
Lieutenant— George Kank, mustered out Feb. 15, 186*.
Hepburn, Comrie, died Nov. 1,1862.
William H. Brown, mustered out \iu; 15 1865
- "-nry W. Reinsmith, disch. April 22, 186-2; disability.
i H. Ka
II, vet, mustered out An
.ingenfeltcr, mustered <
Corpora/.— Benjami
Davids.
Charles
y, vet,, mustered out Aug. 15, 1865.
troman, died at Savannah, Tenn., April '4,
Albert Compton, killed at Fort Konelson. Feb. 1.1, Lsiy.
llenrv C. Sharp, trans, to S
Robert H. Walker, vet, mustered out Aug. 15, 1865.
Georire Aiidrus, died at .Mound City, Feb. 17, 1862.
-Arnold, William, died at Keokuk, Iowa. April 26, 180,2.
liaird, Thomas R., v, t., died at -Marietta. Ga., Sept. Ill, 1
Baird, Kpl.raim p., vet., mustered out Aug. 15, 186.1, as c
Bass, Burrell G, vet, died June 1, IMil; wound,.
Bass, Ezekiel, mustered out Oct. 27, 1864.
Belim, Jacob, killed near Atlanta, (.a., July 2?, 1804.
I'.anU-. .him. •> A, ret., innM.-iod ..tit AUK. i:., is.;:., as corporal.
Brldwell, Hamon, discharged Nov.24, IMS; die biiity.
Compton, .Markns, disoliarged April 22, 1862; disability.
Clark, Charles, discharged April -j2, Is(i2: disability.
Cotton, Peter, must, -re, I out Oct. 27, 1864.
ggp" — "0"t0"-"'18M-
Kri:.r.' l';i-n";ainin, discharu.'-d'May ii,"']s> liYdisabiii
Gray, Ralph, vet, mustered out Aug. 15, 18U5.
GoroioVor Compton, Vunel G, disch. April 22, 1862; disability.
Husbrook, Paseal. oi-ciiaiKed March 28, !*••,:;; wounds.
Hill, Morris, vet, mustered out Aug. 15, 1865.
Henry,' Abram, discharged April 23, 1862 ; disability.
Hill, Oliver S, vet, mustered out Aug. 15, 1865, as corporal.
___ .,_fcered°outAJime13; 'wTto date Aug. 15,'c5.
t, mustered out Aug. 15, 1865.
Keller, Adami muster. '.lout ( let. 25, 1864.
Melcher. Joseph F, vet.. M. <>. AUK. M, 180x1, absent sick.
Mid. U, ton. Larner, discharged April 21, 1862; disability.
Miller, John. \et.. mil, t. Ted out Aug. 1.1,1865.
Montgomery, William, killed at Shiloh, April 6, 1862.
Montgomery, Leonard, died at Camp Butler, Nov. 25, 1861.
Motor, George, discharged June 11, 1862; disability.
McDonald, Robeit, vet, mustered out Aug. 15.18IS.
t, mustered out Aug. 15, 1865.
Ivy, William C, vet, muste
Ingram, Samuel, vet, must
Keen, Jordan, vet, muster.
Ogden, Joseph 1), trails, t., Signal Corps, Ml
Ollcndorff, August, mustered out Oct._27, 1864.
Martin, Alfred, vet, mustered out Aug. 15, 1815.
-- • • --,, LSI;:,, as corpl.- absent sick.
orps, .March 28, 1864.
„__„ it. 27,1864.
Olleiidorrt, John, mustered out Oct. 27, 1864.
Putnam. William II, vet., mustered out AUK. l.i. 180.1, as corporal.
Kcil, Jacob, died at c amp Butler, III, .Nov. 3, 1861.
Rigg, Henry H, vet, mustered out Aug. 1.1, 18C.1, as sergeant.
Rounding. John, died at 1'itt-t.nr- l.andiiiK. April 20, 1862.
Shenenherger, Reuben, vet, died at Atlanta, Aug. 1.1, 1864, w'nds.
Simmonds, William R, vet, killed at New Hope Church, Ga,
June ii.1864.
Steikiltz. Frederick.
Sanford, Joseph, died Pitt-bur-.' I.an.limr. April 21,1862.
Sanford. llenjamin F, vet., killed at Atlanta, La, July 21, 1864.
Shear,-. J,,h .. M. \ h-,or, Ga., Dec. 13, 18:4.
Trunks. Edward C, vet, killed nc.,r Atlanta, Ga, Aug. 11, 1864.
Turner. Daniel I-:, mastered out Oct. 27,1864.
1'tter John vet. mustered oil! AUK. 15, 1865.
- -Us, Robert C, vet. died at Marietta, Ga Sept. 10, 1864.
— "--— • -'-charged June 26, Is.-:.: disai.il,,,
1 to signal Corps, March 28, 1864.
Wolfington, Samuel, vet, mustered out Aug. 25, 1805.
Zull, Andrew, died at Cairo, Feb. 17, 1862.
J?ecrui/« — Andrews, George V, mustered out Nov. 23, 1864.
rsoii, Jacob, vet., discharired June 25,
l. \\ ilson, mustered oul Atm. 15, W5.
"
disability.
Bredwell 1
P.aird, John P. died at Nashville, Tenn,"july 4, 1864.
Bosk John, dish iraWy M. o, April 2. 1865.
Copeland. James A, mustered out Aug. 15, 1865.
Clark, Geo. W, died Atlanta, Ga, July 21, 1864; wounds.
Collins, Conway B, died Marietta, Ga, July 31, 1864.
Clark, Benjamin, died Cairo, Nov. 26, 1864.
Cout^r, James K.. died Rome, (ia, Aug. SI, 1864.
Chapman, Robert L, died Nashville. Tenn, July 7, 1864.
Dyer, Jame* II, mustered out AUK. 1.1,1865.
K.'pler, Daniel I. , mastered out May 13. 1865.
Fuller, Simpson A, mustered out Aug. 15. 1805.
Fuller. Isaac J, muster, d out Aug. 15, 1866.
Killer or Miller. John, mustered out Aug. 15,1865.
llashrook, Pascal C, mustered out Aug. 15, 1865.
Hiller, Herman, killed at Dallas, Ga, May 26, 1S64.
Johnson, James H, mustered out Aug. 15, 1865.
Keneipp, Edward B, mustered out Aug. 15,1865.
KhiKsbiirv, Hiram O, died, Chattanooga, Oct. 14, 1864.
Middleton, Jeremiah, mu.-tcicd out ioV 1.1, 1865. Abs<
Mover, David, mustered out Aug. 15, 1805.
Muney. Goo.ge W, mustered out AUK. 15,1865.
Patton, Michael S, discharged June 21, 186.1 ; disability.
Risley. James T, mustered out Ann. 15, 1865.
Rigg, Thomas T, mu.-tered out Aug. 15, 180,5.
RigK. Andrew F, mustered out AUK. 1.1, 1866.
Risley, F-dwin. dis.-luirged May 8, 180,2; disability.
Sapp, Alberts, musiered out Aug. 1.1, 1865.
Sanford, Ahram, mustered out Aug. 15, 1865.
Samomel Louis, mustered out Aug. l.i. 1865; wounded.
Shenrer. William M . mastered out AUK. 15, 1865.
Shaw, Samuel B, m .stored out AUK. LI, 1865.
Showalter, William H, mustered out Aug. 15, 1865.
Show-alter. Alfred M, mastered out AUK l.i. 1805.
Showalter, Daniel, discharged June 26. 1865; disability.
Bmilh, Joseph, discharged Feb 24, lie*; disability.,
, , . , . ; ..
Smith, Frederick, discharged June 25, 1865; wounds.
Sanford, Isaac, vet., mustered .nil Ails,'. 15, 1865.
rim. Hichard H., mastered out Aug. 15,1865.
'
Ulter, Charle- W.. died D< al Atlanta, Ga, July SO, 1864.
Wallace, Elijah A, mu.-tered out Aug. 15, 1865.
Willman, George, muster, d out Aug. 1.1. 1865.
Wooley. Feley W, died at ScottslK.ro, Ala, May 3, 1864.
Wells.'Georgi'- M, di. d at K.-saea, (ia.. June 22, 1864.
' > Bluff, »Miss.. Jdly 7, 18C3.
>ut Aug. 15, 1865, as sergeant
STER ROLL COMPANY H.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
147
Eastwood John S . mustered
Frair, .1 ilm T , died near D -ca
Fuller, John !!., died :it I! >me, Ua., .Inly 3, 1814.
(Jard, Tim ithv, died at Scott boro, Al:i.', Apiil 12, 1804.
' i?, I.'.,
June 22, ISo.
D -catur. Ga.
e, Ua., .Inly 3, 1814.
'
(iard, Frauds, mustered out Ang, 1.-., 1865.
Holdsou. Joseph 1!., mustered out Aug. 15, 1835.'
Hill, William T., must ired out Vug. I.'., IS'l.'i.
Holds,. n. Hivid, died at S lottstmro, Ala. March 2'>, 1864.
Hallo -k, Aa-on, died at Ma IHOU, Ind., Jan. 1 1, 18 ».
Jvil, James F.. n, uttered our Aug. 1.1, 1885.
KimbaU, Joseph L., died at K mi •. (ia.. Ang. in, is",!: wounds.
Moser, William, killed near Iiallas, (ia.. Mav 2S, 18-4.
M •( ; ire, John D., died ai ludianap-ilis I)..;.. 2, 1804.
Neil, An-lr >w H., died at Little |J ick, July :! I, 18J5.
Ross or Rose, Philip, mustered out Aug. 15, 18,35.
Reed, Wan-.-n, mustered out Aug. 15, 1865.
Swinck, William, nvi-tore I out .Vug 15, 1865.
Slimmerville, Henry A , died at Nashville, Teun.. June Id, 1805.
Warren, Cliri-to .her. killed near Atlanta, (ia., July 21, 1804.
Young, James W., mustered out Aug. 15, 1805.
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY K.
Recruit— Harvey, David (Lawrence Co.), died at Scottsboro, Ala., May 5, '64.
Forty-Ninth Infantry.— Tliree Years' Service.
This regiment, Illinois volunteers, was orginized at
Camp Butler, Illinois, by Col. William R. Morrison,
Dec. 31st, 1861, and on the 23d Feb. was ordered to
Cairo, Illinois. Was assigned to the Third Brigade,
McClernand's Division, at Fort Henry, the 8th ult.,
and on the llth moved to Fort Donelson. Engaged the
enemy on the 13th, losing 14 killed and 37 wounded.
Remaining at Donelson until March 4th, it moved to
Metal Landing, and two day's later embarked for Pitt?-
burg Landing, Tenn. Disembarked at Savannah, and
on the 21st completed the march.
Participated in the battle of Shiloh, losing 17 killed
and 99 wounded.
Moved from Bethel, Tenn., by rail, March 10th, 1863,
to Germantown, and on the 12th to White Station, and
was assigned to the Fourth Brigade. Nov. 10th, assisted
in the capture of Little Rock. On the 15th, moved by
rail via Duvall's Bluff, to Memphis, arriving November
21st, 1863.
January 15th, 1864, three-fourths of the regiment re-
enlisted, and were mustered as veteran volunteers.
On the 27th inst., marched to Vicksburg, and was
with Major Gen. Sherman in the Meridian campaign,
returning to Vicksburg, March 3d. Was assigned to
Red River expedition, and on March 14th, participted
in the capture of Fort De Russey, La.. ; April 9th, en-
gaged in the battle of Pleasant Hill, La., and returned
to Memphis, June 10th, 1854.
June 21th, ordered to Illinois for veteran furlough.
The detachment of non-veterans remained, commanded by
Capt. John A. Logan, engaging in the battle of Tupelo,
July 14th and 15'Ji, 1864. After the expiration of the
veteran furlough rendezvoused at Centralia, Illinois, and
proceeded via Cairo and Memphis to Holly Springs, and
rejoined the command. Participated in the Oxford ex-
pedition, and returned to Memphis, August 30th.
Arrived at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., Sept. 30th ;
moved thence to Franklin, and drove the enemy from
the place ; was with the army in pursuit of Gen. Price
through Missouri, and returned to St. Louis, Nov. 18tb,
1864. From there it moved to Nashville, Tenn., and
took part in that battle, December 15th. On the 24th,
was ordered to Paducah, Ky , to muster out non-veterans,
and thereafter the regiment did garrison duty. Was
mustered out, Sept. 9th, 1865, and arrived Camp at But-
ler, Illinois, Sept. 15th, 1865, for final payment and dis-
charge.
MUSTER ROLL, COMPANY C.
Captain — George Berz, mustered out Sept. 9, 1865.
First /.iVudwi/ifs— Simeon Spira, term expired Jan. 9, 1865.
John Linck, mustered out .Sept. 9,1865.
Sergeants — Henrv Herwejr. mustered out Jan. !l, 1st;.-), as 1st sergeant.
Valentine MoTe, discharged NOT. 21, 18M; wounds.
Corporals— Carl Schnlze, mustered out Jan. !i, LSI;:., as private. ,
John Link, veteran pro.
Jacob Lehr. discharged June 24, lsi',2: disability.
ike,-,. Nicholas, died at Cineinnat i, March 1, 18112.
Kreiieer', Henry, died at St. Louis,' May 2^18627 "wounds.
Mueller' William, vet., mustered out Sept. 9, 1865, as sen
Moellman, John, discharged Oct. :i, ISU2; disabilitv.
scharWdl
M.Miseii', Peter, discharged Oct. 8,1862; i
Pctrce, John, discharged for disability.
Peohler, .lolm, discharged Oct. 18, 18(12;
Peohlcr J ,, discharged <
Phoff, Tli lore, discharged net. :iu, 18i'i2: disabilitv.
° 'after. Valentine, discharged Oct. 2. l.s,12; disabilitv.
t^.iin, .
Selfert, Frederick, mustered out Jan. 9, 1805, a« corporal.
Stempel, Bernhard, killed by falling of a tree, Nov. 12, 1864.
Schulte, Carl, discharged' May 12, 18112; disability.
Temme, William, mustered out Jan. !i, ISii:>.
Wannemaeker, I'eter, vet.,corpl.. killed at Ph-as't Hill, April 9, '
Recruits — Brockaus. Frederick, veteran, mustered out Sept. 9, 1865.
Sept.
, 'o5.
ut .Inly 1, 18<r>.
, shiloh, April (i, 1862.
Kerkziek, Ilenrv, nmM.-ie 1 ,,ni .Inlv 1, 1865.
Loelfelman. Hermann, mustered our July 1, 1805.
Meyer, John, mustered out Julv 1, 18'i.i.
Nilhans, Frit/., mustered out F.'-b. 17, 1865.
.\ortropp, ll 'iinel,, mustered out July 1, 1885.
Nimeyer, Frederick.
Piper, Fritz, discharged March in, is !.->; disability.
Hoettgor, Frederick, veteran, mustered out September 9, 1865.
OLL COMPANY D.
54th Regiment Infantry.
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY 0.
Private— Albert, Charles K. (Lawrence Co.), died at home, Oct. 15, 1863.
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY I.
Moore, Christopher (Lawrence County).
Napier, peter , Lawn-nee Co.), diseh. Am-, in, isill: disability.
I'lnmer, Kobert ( Wahash Co.i. mnsten-,1 out Feb. 17, 18U5.
Williams, Joseph E. (Lawrence Co.), veteran,
.-••••l li Regiment Infantry.
NON-COMMISSIOUED STAFF.
Commissary Sergeant-Paul T.Halbeck, trans, to Co. H. Dec. 31, 18C4, from
Edwards County.
MUSTER BOLL COMPASY F.
Corporal— Jacob Stevens (Wabash Co.), discharged Nov. 3, 1863.
PruHtn— Gouldsburjr, Albert (Wabash Co.l, diseh. Sept. •*), '(12; disabilitv.
Lacer, John i Wabash Co.), lost <m sir. (fen. Lyon. Man-h :ii, 'ti,-,'.
Mulenax, James (Wabasb Co.), diseh. Julv 2:1! IKK): disabilitv.
Mulenax,,Ias.(Wnhash Co.l, trans, i,, MUs. Marino Hrig. Ap'l l '03.
Nichols. James \ , Waha-h Co.l, diseh. Dec. !.,, Is -,2 ; di~abditv.
—.John Finney (Wabash County).
, Uavid S. ( Wabash Co.), killed at Vicksburg. June 17, '63.
,John F. (Wabash Co.), diseh. Oct in. 1x112: 'disabilitv.
David (Wabasb Co.), killed at Vickshnris. June 17, 1863.
Goldburg, (iabriel S. (Wabash Co.), diseh.
Pulley, Haxidi Wabash ( ',,.!, diseh. Dee. 15,
Smalliouse, Albert (Wabash Co.), lost on str!
Co.), lost on str. Gen. Lyon, .March in, '6.1.
Swartz, Jacob i Wabash Co.), lost on str. (Jen. Lyon, March :il, 'til.
Smnlhonse, Alfred (Wabash Co.), lost str. (Jon.'Lvon. M,-h. :ll, Y,.v
Weil, liobert (Wabash Co ). lost on str. lien. I.vo'n March :ll 't.f,
tfwruife-Goldburtr, Gabriel S. aVabash (V.), disch._Aprii 2!., Y.2 ; disability.
Ge°nVLyon, Mar'.SL '65.
MUSTER ROLL COMPAKY H.
First Lieutenant— Pm] T. Halbeck (Edwards Co.), lost on stmr. Gen. Lyon,
March 31, 1863.
Pint Sergeant-Henry A. Fitze (Edwards Co.), diseh. Sept. 3, '(12 ; disability,
Corpuralt— Walter L. Gamer (Ed wants Co.), dis,-har.i.'od June 2.', 1865.
Kinsey, Cullison (Edwards Co.), lost on str. Gen. Lyon, March
Musician— will'Hulon (Edwards Co.), disch. Sept. 29, 1862 , disability.
P/iMfa>— Brown, Isaac , l-Mwards Co. i. logt on Mr.lo-ii. Lyon. UoTCh 91, 'B5.
Cullison. Henry , Kdwards (Vi. di-eh Sept. 2n, Is ;2 : disability.
Illott, Oeorgo (Edwards Co.), dl»ch.M»rohl
•Hntt, James (KdvvardsCo.), die,
llotr, William ILf KduardsCo.i, vet., mustered out AUK I-' IS'li
' W.lliam F. (KdwardsCo.); lost' str. Gen. Lyon, Mar. :)l,'l
Elliott, Oeorgo (Edwards Co.), dUich. March :;. "isnn: disabilitv
1 '.111. .It. .lames I Kdwards Co. i, died at Memphis, March '.I, 18Hl'
Klllott, William H.(E.lwards Co.), vet., mustered out Ami I' IS'
Gaede, William F. (Edwards Co.), lost str. Gen. Lyon, .Mar. 81 '65.
Bproall, Charles (Edwards Co.), lo»t on rtr.Q«n. Lyon, Mi' :i -n:!'
Vtooent, George L. (Edwards Co.), lost on str. Gen. Lyon, March'
VincenC'joseph (Edwards Co.), diseh. Nov. 12, 1862; disability.
148 HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
V,,iL-t. Adolph iKdwards Co I, killed .-it Corinih. Oct. 4, 1862.
West AlfXiinder iKdwards Co.), disch. Sept.:;, 1*112; ilisability.
Winkles, William (Law-re - Co.), vet., must, -red out Aug. 12, '65.
-Fowler. David (Edwards Co.), must, led ,nu Aug. 12. 18li.r>.
Stapleford. Jackson (Edwards Co.), mustered out Aug. 12, 1865.
««r«/l-Green, William K. (Edwards Oo.), mustered out Aug. 1-2, 1865.
Gilt I n fnii i i-y Regiment.
This regiment was organized at Carrollton, Illinois, by
the venerable Colonel Jacob Fry, the hero of three wars.
He was also the fat her of the celebratrd Provost-Mar-
shal, General Fry, who was so distinguished during the
late rebellion as the Provost-Marshal of the United
States. The 61st mustered February 5th, 1862, and
was ordered to the front, and became a part of the com-
mand under General Prentiss. At Pittsburg Landing
this regiment distinguished itself by holding the ground
until every other regiment in the division had given
way. The regiment was highly complimented by Gen.
Prentiss for its gallant stand. April 7th it lost 80 killed,
wounded and missing, including 3 commissioned officers.
Had an engagement with Forest. After this time the
regiment was mostly employed in skirmishing and doing
garrison duty. The command did good service during
the war, and was discharged September 12th, 1865.
Colonel— Daniel Grass (Lawrence Co.), hon. disch. as Lt. Col. May 15, 1865.
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY H.
raptnia— Elias C. Davis (Lawrence Co.), hon. disch. as 2nd Lt. May 1.1, '65.
Fmt Lieutenant-George W. Bryan (Lawrence Co.,, resigned Jan. 9, 18 5.
Pritafc*— Burgess. Charles s (Lawrence Co.), M. IP. Sept. 11, 'I;.-., as .sergeant.
Cummings, Isaac (Lawrence Co.), died at Jettcrson Barracks,
ViiMLawrence Co.), disch. June 17, 1862; disability,
is, Elias P. (Lawrence County), died.
Dutton, John C. (Lawrence Co.i, vet., mustered out Sept. 8, 1865.
Farrar, William G. (Lawrence Co.), vet,, M. O. June 28, 1865, as
Heath, Asahei (Lawrence County), died.
Judy, John C. (Lawrence Co.), trans to Co. E, pro. 2nd Lt., M. 0.
Sept. 8, ISC,:., as captain of Co. G.
Mieure, Charles (Lawrence Co.), disch. June 2, 1862; disability.
Petty, John M. (Lawrence County), died.
SchrilU, Samuel (Lawrence Co.j.diseh
Salisbury, George W. (Lawrence Co.),
Smith, Joei'B. (Lawrence County).
Shoiirs, Nelson A. (Lawrence Co.',, diseh. Feb. V.', 1K64, disability.
Smith, John J. (Lawrence Co.), sergt., died at Sumner, 111., June
24,1864.
;rlan
Walters, William W. (Lawrence Cn'), mustered out March 22, '6
.Kecruito-Baker, W. H. II. (Lawrence Co.). It O. Sepl. g, 1865, as sergeant
Dutton, Stewart (Lawrence Co.), trans, to V. R. C. May 1:., 1804.
Evans, John B. i Law-pence Co.i, n.u-tercd out Sept. 8, 1865.
Gruv, Salathicl (Lawrence Co.), M. i >. Sept. 8, 1865; pris. war.
Da
Davi
i;a.io
High
cs, Stephen <;.(Liiwp-en
,mtv>.
>.),died.
mville
e 23,1862; disability.
rry, James IL (Lawrence Co.'), trans, to V. H. C. : M. o. .luly.i.'i 5.
ss'cll, /.:.cl,arias T, (Lawrence Co.), mustered out " "
.
/,.. -lianas T, (Lawr
, Anthoiiv (Lawren ., . ,
aggonor. Philip (Lawrence Co.), died Jetterson liurracks, Mo.,
Trtickev. Ant! v (Lawrence Co.), mustered
- Lawrence C
mustered out Sept 8, 1865.
'...I, must. -red "lit Sept. S. ISli:,.
, M. II. June -_'s, IS'if,; iiris. war.
Winkles, Levi (Lawrence Co.),
Witsel, George M. (Lawrence Co.
Willet, Riinion (Lawrence Co.), 1W
Wilber, Benjamin F. (Lawrence Co.),
Trantferred from S3d Iltinoit Infantry— Hruee. Nathaniel (Lawrenc
mustered out Sept. 8, 1865.
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY K.
Second
FiritS
Licut<-n<i*t—ll<-
Sergeant— John R. Hit.- (Lawr
rrj 1 . 1
Corporals— Ja
James M. Harlan (Lawrence Co .). M. O. Sept., 1 865, as sergeant,
arcs— Baker, Kc/.in M. (Lawrence Co.). M. I). Sepi. s, 'il.-,. as corporal.
Bauer. Joseph iLawivnoe Co.), died Camp P.iitler, III., Jan. 25, '64.
;red out Sept. 8, 1865.
:en-d out Sept. 8, 1865.
er, Joseph (L
aire,fZrra (Lawrence.
rly.
Joh
Con
(Lawrence Co.), disci.. June 14. lsi',5 : disability.
1'ay, (ieorge (Lawrence Co.), mi isle red out Sept. 8, 1865.
j Co?), mustered out Sept^S, 'C5.
: Co.), musttred out Sept. 9, 1865.
Cudgel, JohnS. (Lawrence I
JIaleom, Benjamin L. (Lawr
Heath, Tobias (Lawrence Co
Jennings, Seth M. (Lawrence Co.), mustered out Sept. 9. 18
Judy, Joseph H. (Lawrence Co.i, mustered out .-ept. i), 1865
Kimmel, John (Lawrence Co.). died at Cairo. Feb. 1, 1864.
King, William A. (Lawrence Co.), diseh. May 16, 18ii4; disa
. ., . ,
red out Sept. g, 1865.
tered out Sept. 8, 1865.
Landis, William '(Law
Lathrop, Thoiiiii- K.
Laws, Lewis (Lawre
Laws, William (Law
Loas. Thonia* F. ( L .. . , .
Malone, John II. (Lawrence CVli dttch.JnDe -s, Isi;:, : disability.
Mann, Henry II. (Lawrence Co.,, mustered out Sept. 8, 1»U5.
Musgravc, William II (Lawrence County).
Musrilsh, liobeit il.awrenc,. Co.), imiste'red out Sept. 8,18^5.
Beeves, Lorenzo (Lawrence Co.), died at Camp Butler, 111., Jan.
16, 181,4.
Roderick, John 8. (Lawrence Co.), mustered out Sept. 8, 1805.
Roderick, Thoma~ L. > Law rcncc Co.). nutst,-re i ,,ut Sept. S, 'tVi.
Rush, Benjamin F. (Lawrence Co.), died at Din-all's Bluft; Aug.
i (Lawn-nee Co.), discharged (Pet. 24, ls.;4, as corpora
ram-is M. (Lawrence Co.), discharged Aug 111, 1864.
Lawrence Co.i, mustered out Sept. 8,
Co.'
t Sept. 8, 1865.
1864, as c
i Co.), discharged Aug 10,
I, mustered out Sep.. s. Is,,
Slimner. Henry (Lawrence Co.), mustered on: Sept. s. 1x6.-,.
Tevis, Lyeiirgus (Lawrence Co.), mustered out Sept. s, isi;.',,
Turner, 'Henry C. (Lawrence Co.), mustered out Sept s, LSI;.
Vooiim, Kimu're M. (Lawrence Co.i. mii-tered out Sept. 8, 1
" 11, Henry J. (Edwards Co.), mustered Out Sept. 8, 1865.
).), die
County).
Sixty-Second Infantry .--Three years aei-rice.
The Sixty-second was organized by Col. James M.
True, at Camp Dubois, 111., April 10, 1863. December
13, 1862, left Holly Springs, Tennessee, for Jackson, near
which it overtook the enemy under General Forest, and
skirmished with him for a distance of twenty miles.
August 12th, 1864, left the seat of war for Illinois, on
veteran furlough. The regiment was mustered out at
Little Rock, Arkansas, March 6, 1866.
Co.), trans, as consolidated ;
NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF.
__„ jiF.Struble(L«wrenceCo.\musteredoutMayl, '65
Quartermaster Serftnt—'Eastaee L. Park (Lawrence Co.,, disch. June 27,
1803, for piomotion -jnd West •leuu. Infantry.
/Vwcipn!.W«.;<;i<m-Simon.lol,uson , Lawrence Co.), reduced to ranks Co.
A, mustered out April 6, 1865.
MUSTER BOLL COMPANY A.
Captains— Henry C. McClave (Lawrence Co.), resigned Sept. 11, 18
Thomas J. Warner i Lawrence Co.), died Aplil 15, 1X64.
Jacob J. Applegate (Lawrence Co ), trans, as consolidat.
'(L'a'wrence'co^vet.,"tran's
S,, •„,!,( /.iciirru.ii.r— Benjamin F. Strimi-r (Laurence Co.), res. Sept. 3, 1862,
Sergeants— Benjamin F. (iosiiell (Lawrence Co.), vet., tr
sol dated ; mustered out March 6, 1866, as
Thomas J. Spain. I Lawrence C.
George W. Sadie iWaha«h Co.), vet., trans, to Co.
dated; promoted Com. Sergt, ; mustered out Mi
(Lawrence Co.),
T,die'd°a"t Anna, III?AprU 14, '62.
>. A as ,
Corporal*— Perry V. VVatson (Lawrence Co.), mus ered out May 2, 1865.
Cornelius Berkshire (Lawrence Co.,, absent sick at M.O. of re(rt.
Theophilus .Smith i. Lawrence Co.), vet., trans, to Co. A as con-
solidated; mustered out March ii. I.*.;.;, as sep-geant.
Justice Strilbk- (Lawrence c,,. . discharged March 24, 1863.
John M. Johnson i Lawr, nee Co.), vet.,' trans, to Co. A as con-
solidated; promoted 2nd Lieu..; M. (I. March 6, 1866.
Harrison, Bisley i W abash Co ), vet., trans, to Co. A. as consoli-
dated: musteVed out March 6, 1866.
John Wall;,.-,- (Lawrence Co.), vet., Irans. to Co. A -as consoli-
dated; discharged Junes, 1865; disability.
.Musicians— Joseph llrennen ( Wabash Co.), mustered out May 2,1865.
Simon John-',,, I Lawr •<• Co.), M. (1. April 12, '65, as private.
Pl-irafei- Atkins, Adna (Lawrence (o.).died Little Hock, Ark.'. March 4, '62.
Ackman, Charles i Lawrence (',,., disoh. April lo, isr:;: disability.
Buchanan, John (Wabash Co.), disch. I>ee. ;,, lxr.2: disability.
Buchanan, George, W. (Wabash Co.), vet., trans, to Co. A as
consolidated; mustered out March 6, 1866.
Bishop, William (Lawrence Co.), died K.-nlon, Tcnn., Dec. 7, '62.
Baker, George (Lpwrenee Co.), vet., trans, to C... A as consoli-
dated; mustered mi March 6, 1X66, as corporal.
Blad
Bishop,
Bishop,
(Lawrence County).
i- (Lawrence Co.), died at Padueah, Ky.. May «,•«,
Lawrence Co.i, vet., trans, to Co. A as consolidated ;
t March 6, 18.66.
Custcr, Thomas (Lawrence Co.). vet., trans, to Co. A as consoli-
dated; mustered out March tj, 1866.
Crampton, Leon (Lawrence Co.), vet., trans, to Co. A as consoli-
dated; mustered out March r,. Is,;.;, us corporal.
illiam A. (Lawrence "
sol (dated ;
Crosby. Thomas. I. (Lawrence Co.), vet,
dated ; mustered out March i;. ixii.;. as corporal.
Carn.au, Wiley (Lawrence Co.), vet., trans, to Co. A as <
dated: mustered out March r,, is.iil, as ,
Crosliv, Sylvester (Lawrence C»O, vet., trans.
dated; discharged July 7. ISC,: disability.
Cod i ran. Thomas : Law re County).
Deuen, Mansou (Lawrence Co.,, died Little Rock, Ark., Dec. 1, '63.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
149
Delonge, Noah (Lawrence Co.), died Lawrence Co., 111., July 2, '62.
Ldokiuk, Thomas (Lawn-nee Co.i, vet, trans, to Co. A as consoli-
dated: mustered cut March 6, 1806.
Evans, Zeddiek (Lawrence Co.), vet., trans, to Co. A as consoli-
li, 1866.
dated :
Gosncll, James (Law:. ..
dated; mustered out March
Gos
isiili.
Miell, \Villiiiin (Lawrence Co. I. vet., trans, til
lated : mustered (nit March 11. isiii;, as corpor
ckson. Andrew (Lawn-nee Co.), disch. .Ian. 1
ns. to Co. A. as consoli-
eorporal.
' Co. A as consoli-
, Abram S. (Lawren
t".', died at Mattoon, HI., Sept.
.lomon'jo
. (Lawrence Co.), promoted.
Lai: ra i me, Henrv ( Lawrence CM. i. \c
date,!: mustered ..nt .Inly 1:1, ISiir,.
WoCleave, John B. (Lawrence Co.). vet.,
, . .
solidated : mustered out Marc
Lake, Aaron (Lawrence Co.), vet., died at Little Rock, Ark., Aug.
Lane! J^mes (Lawrence Co.), died at La-rence, III., Ang. 7. 1863
i me, Henrv ( Lawrence CM. i. \ct, irans. to Co. A as consoli-
Co. A as consoli-
. .), vet., trans, to Co. A as con-
solidated ; mustered out. March 6, 1866.
MeCleve, Benjamin F. (Lawrence Co.), vet., trans, to Co. A as con-
solidated: mustered out March 6, 1866.
iller, Philip (Lawrence Co.t.vet..tians to Co. A as consolidated ;
.lied at Fort Uihsnn. Sept. 24, 1865.
, to Co. A as consoli-
Miller, Philip (La
died at Fort Gil
Miller, Jeremiah i Lawn-nee Co.), vet,, trans, to Co.
dated: mustered out March 0, 1866.
More, Martin I Lawrence Co l.vet., trans, to Co. Aasc
' US.-. 2. 186T,:
. .1.1 Law
mistered out
0-borne, Jacks
dated, mustered
--•*-• -
bolidated;
Co.), vet., trans, to Co. A consoli-
solidated
Sylvester (Lawrence Co.), vet , trans
1; discharged May -I. lsr,;,: disability.
Co.), Died at Padueah," Kv., Mav 21, '82.
, Willi
dated; mustered out March 6, 1866
Smith, W. H. H. (Lawrence Co.), vet.
dated; mustered out July IT>, 1865.
Struhlo, Norman (Lawrence Co.), vet., died
Sniper, George W. (Lawre
.smith. James M (Lawrence Co.),'
' i Fort Gibson. Dec. 28, 1865.
:>.), vet., trans, to Co. A
Co. A as. consoli-
trans. to Co. A as consoli-
Bluff, Ark.,
Co.), died Kenton, Tenn , Oct., '62.
, . Co.), vet., trans, to Co. A as consoli-
dated; died at Fort (Jibson.
Vanansdol, Charles H. (Lawr ., ., ,
consolidated : mustered out March li, IWifi, as corporal.
Wallace. Cyrus L.I Lawrence •(',,. ), died Columbus. K v., June 17,Y,2.
Watson, David (Lawrence Co.), mustered out May -1, 1S(V>.
Williams, James B. (Lawrence Co.), vet., trans, to Co. A as
consolidated.
Youngnmn, John (Wahash fo.\ absent sick at M. O. of regiment.
Zehner, Nathan (Lawio Co.), mustered out May 2,1865.
Recruits— Bennett, William T. (Lawrence Co.), trans, to Co. A as consoli-
dated; mu-tored on' Ang. 2, 1865.
Dicksoii. William .1., died m Tenn., (let. l,1s.;_-: mustered out
March 0,1866.
Fullilove, Jphn A. (Lawrence Co.). trans, to Co. A as consoli-
dated; mustered out March 0, 1866.
Phillip, W. II. II. t Laurence Co. I. diseh. Dec. 1,1863 ; was prisn'r.
Short, Isaac N. (Lawrence Co.). trans, to Co. A as consolidated;
mustered out March 6,1806.
Watson, Benjamin F. (Lawrence Co.), pro. com. sergeant.
Wallace, William S. (Lawrence Co.i, trans, to Co. A as consoli-
dated; mil-teredout March 8, 1866.
Zechnor, Seih d awrencc Co.). trans, to A Co. <a consolidated;
mustered out M»rch 6, 1886.
Cnp/aia— Robert J. Ford (Lawrence Countv) ; term expired April 14, 18
Ser»«"K-Cochran, Daniel, vet., ] -
Corporate— John r
•hran, Daniel, vet,, pro. 1st sergeant, then 1st lieutenant.
,l,n Urn-croft, rot., trans, to Co. C as consolid'd; pro. 1st sergt.,
then 2d lieutenant.
.
Powell, Canover, trans, to Co D as
ol'td; M. O. March r>
ShuKs, .las. H. (Lawrence c,,'. i, trans, to Co. F., M. O. March 6, '66.
—Allen. John F., corporal, died
, ., s. o. as consolidated, M. C i. Aug. 2, U85.
Richards, Elias, (Lawrence Co.), trans, t" Co. E as consolidated,
mustered out June 20, '65.
Stuart, .John, (Lawrence Countv), trans, to Co. E as consolidated,
mustered out March 6, '06.
Ml'STER ROLL, COMPANY K.
Veteran— Evans, Samuel (Lawrence Co.), trans, to Co. E as consolidated,
mustered out March 6, '60.
Host, i at Sixty-Second Infantry as re-organized.
Quartermaster— Henry F. Walters, resigned Nov. 16, 1865.
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY A.
OipMm— Benjamin F. Gnsnell. (Lawrence County), M. O. March f, 1866.
>/,(-John M. lohnson, (Lawn-nee Co.), M. O. March 6, 1866.
MTSTKI! ROLL COMPANY C.
Srcond Lieutenant— John Barcraft, (Lawrence Co.\ M. O. March 6, 1866.
Sixty-Third Infantry .-Three years' service.
This regiment was organized at Camp Dubois, Illinois',
December, 1861, by Colonel Fran cisMoro, and mustered
into service, April 10, 1862. It was assigned to the
Fourth Brigade, Seventh Division, and Seventeen h Array
Corps. It fought at Richmond Louisiana, June 16th,
1863; Mission Ridge, November 23d and 24th, 1863;
Ogeechee canal, November, 1864; in the campaign of
the Carolinas in 1865. It was mustered out of service
at Louisville, Ky., July 13th, 1865 and arrived at Camp
Butler, Illinois, July 16th, 1865 for final payment and
discharge.
MUSTER ROLL, COMPANY A.
Vcferatu— Fyffe, George W. (Lawrence Co.), mustered out July 13, 1865.
Lathrop, K/.ra (Lawrence County), mustered out July 13, 1865.
Miller, George (Lawrence County), mustered out Jul'v 13,1865.
Painter, James (Edwards Countyi, mustered out July 13, 1805.
Robinson, Joseph (Lawrence Co'.), mustered out July 13, 1-05.
Seed, Ttiomas C., (Lawrence Co.), mustered out July 13, 1865.
MUSTER ROLL, COMPANY B.
Captains— George J. Johns (Edwards County), resigned Nov. 27, 1862.
Arnot L. M,-CoV , K, I wards County', must, 'red out April fl, 1862.
F.rit Litulmant— John C. GiaTMB. (Kdwards County), resigned Oct. 13, '6i
William A. Harris, (Kdwards Co.), term exp. April 7,'05.
Second LleuteunMt -Albert L. Hunter. (Edwards Co), M. O. April 9, 1865.
b',r,t >,.,-,„-«,,/ Henry Wcvlc, ' Kdwards County.)
ierjwmto-Willinm Painter. 1 Kdwards Co.), Ml 1 1. April 9, 1865, as 1st serg't,
William P. Degan, (Edwards County.)
Samuel llaliam, ( Kdwards County ustored out April 9, 1805.
Corporals— Edward I',. llanna. \ct.. (Edwards Co.). M. (I. July 13, 1865.
James Rice, vet., (Edwards Co.i. M. 1 1. as sergeant. July 13, 1805.
Reuben Hayne, (Edwards Co.), M. o. April «i, isi;5, as corp-ral.
John Lovelett, (Edwards Co.i, M. ( i. April :i. isi,',, as private.
James M. Skaggs, I Kdwards Co.), M. (I. April 11, Is.,:., as sergt.
William Kimliall, (Edwards Co.) Btered out April <i, 1»,\
Cornelius N. 9ray i Edwards County), discharged Feb. 2:,, iw,4.
Joseph Williams. (Edwards Conniyi, mn-ter.-d out April 9, l.sii.i.
JfMic-ioiu— Wm. Crackles, (Edwards Co.), killed in S. Carolina Feb. 25, 05.
Win. Crackles. (Kdwards C
John Day, (Kdwards Count
, .
y), discharged.
.i. died Iluntsvill
oner— Barney Kilev, (Edwards Co.). died Huntsville, Ala., Feb. 16, 1864.
i(.<.<— Armstrong, Thomas N. (Kdwards County), M. o. April 9. 1805.
Arnold, Jesse, (Edwards Co.), died at Lagrange, Tenn.. Nov. 1:.,'(12.
J- " '" 'wards Co.), died at C5iro, May 3, 1862.
Co.), killed ill South Carolina, Feb. 25,T.5.
Barberj Henrv, (Kdwards Co.), died at Jackson, Tenn., Oct. 23,'62.
Kenton. Samuel R. (Kdwards County.)
Cowling, Richard (Edwards Countyi mustered out April 9,1865.
Cowling, Francis i Kdwa'ds Countyi. vet., M. 1 1. July 13, 1865.
Thomas ( Kdwards Co.), died at Anna, Iil.,"M "
iehard (Kdwards County), m
Cuncoh'no, Patri'-k (Edwards County.)
Druer, liaruev (Edwards Countyi. mustered out April 9, 18BS.
Dinnel, .lame's , Edwards County), M. o. \piil n, HI;.-,, as Seri:ea
• C«,,,dn;«ne«lChera«,s'.C.,Mareh5,lt
'illiam I Kdwards Countv), mustered out April :!:-'. IsllJ.
Samuel (Edwards County i, disch. Nov. 1st, 18ia; disali
, .lolm (Edwards County), mustered out April !l, ]si;;,.
«k, Asel (Edwards County.)
Horton, Frederick (E.lwards County), muMcrcd out April 9, 1805.
Holloman. Henry H. (Edwards Co.), diseh. Aim. -Jn, Isc,-.': disab'ty.
Hall, William i Ed wards County], disehm-g, ,1 at St. Louis, Mo.
K noose, Christian (Edw< '
Lindsay, Samuel (Kdwai
Lambert, Ellas C. (F.dwa
I ,charh-s K. (Edward
K noose, Christian (Edwards Co.), trans, to E vet., M. O. July 13,'65.
Lindsay, Samuel i Kdwards County.)
. (Edwards County), mustered out April !>, Tsor,.
Edwards County.)
Moody, John (Edwards County) 'di»ch. Nov. 7, 1862; disnlvlity.
Ceoix-c i Kdwards Coun
, hn (Edwards County),
Norton, John C (Edwards County.)
Naylor, Joseph (Edwards County], mu
' '
, . . ,
MeCombs, Ceoix-c i Kdwards County), mustered out April !l,
Merritt, John (Edwards County), diseh. July u\, Iwit; disab
ty.)
y],
ty).' disch. Jun
>Co. A Vet , M. o. July i:i,Y,r,.
ias (Kdwards Colintvi, died at Cairo. Mav In, 1802.
,c.-i Edwards Co.), di». at Ja<-ks.m. Tenn., dis'tj
in i I-Mwards Co.), diseh. Nov. 7, Isna: disability.
March 13, 1
ice, James rL (Edwards County), died at Ann^Vll.^Ma
I!ol..-rson, John (Ed
Riley Francis ( Edw
H, ley, 1, avid (Edwards Cotin
lisch. Nov. 7, 18i;2; disability
), discharged March 13, 1804.
mustered out April 9, 1865.
y), died at Anna, III., Ma
Bay.'Andrew .1. (Edwards County i. mustered out April !>,
Sullivan, Dennis (Kdwards ' ' '' ' '
,lav 9, 1SII2.
P,1865.
! Co.), "died at Anna, 111., Mav lo, LS02.
Sloan, Jefferson G. (Edwards Countv.)
Wilkerson, Wm. II. i Kdwards County), mustered out April 9,1865.
Wheeler, John (Kdwards County), mustered out April 9, 1865.
Wilkerson, John (Edwards County), died at home May 20, 1862.
MCSTER ROLL COMPANY C.
Yrterata— Carlisle, John K. (Lawrence Co.), M. O. July 13, aa 1st sergeant
commanding 1-t lieutenant.
Dirkeisim. Francis M., mustered out July 13, 1865.
Lewis, Aimer H. (Lawrence Countv). mustered out July 13, 1865.
McCausland, John (Lawrence Co.), mustered out July 13, 1885.
Nimmo, William I Lawn-nee County) mustered out July 13, isr.5.
Walker, Levi H. (Lawrence Co.), M. O July 13, Iwo. as'eorporal.
Apr
Sixty-Fourth Infantry Regiment.
The 64th, better known as the '• First Battalion of
Yates' Sharp Shooters," was organized at Camp Butler,
150
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
in the month of December, 1861, by Lieutenant Colonel, !
D. E. Williams. It consisted of four companies! the last
of which was mustered into the United States service,
December 16th, 1861. Two additional companies were
mustered into the service, December 31st, with Fred.W.
Matteson as Major. The Colonel of the 64th was John
Morrill. January 10th, 1862, the command started for
the seat of war, via Quincy. Here it was armed, moved
south, and in conjunction with Pope's army took part
in the expedition against Fort Pillow. Subsequently
became a part of the command under Rosecrans ; after-
wards under Sherman. The leading engagements in
which it took a part were siege of Corinth, luka, Dallas,
Kenesaw Mountain, and Resaca. These are a few of
the more important engagements ia which this regiment
took a part. Was paid and discharged at Chicago, 111.,
July 18th, 1865.
MUSTEK ROLL COMPANY F.
Jtecruil— Shed, John J. (Lawrence Co.), diseh. Dec. 26, 1864; term expired.
MUSTER BOLL COMPANY K.
First Sergeant— John O. Shown, (Lawrence County), discharged June 11,
1865, as private; disability.
gergtant— John Crackell, (Wabash County), M. O. July 11, 1865, as private.
Corporal-Frederick Grot', (Wabash County), M. O. July 11, 1865, as sergt.
George A. Williams, ( Lawrence Co.), M. O. July 11. l«i;5, as priv.
Thomas Smith, (Wabash County), mustered out July 11, I8(i5.
Waqoner— Amaziah Turner, (Lawrence County), mustered out July 11,1865.
P, i«,fc.-Boyce,Wm. M. (Wabash Co.), killed at Kenesaw Ml., June 27, 1864.
Black, James (Wabash County), mustered out July 11, 18 5.
Madder, Aloozo (Wabash County), mustered out Julv 11, I8'5.
Crackell, Matthew ( Wal.a-h Comity), died Allatootla, Ga, June 5,
Cluxto'n Aaron '(Wabash Co.), died at Chattanooga, May 23, 1864
W. (Lawrence County), killed near Atli '
Sidney Aberncthv (Lawrence County), discharged Ma
disability; died June, 1862.
Atlanta, Ga.,
•M
Curry, Ja
Davi^Mart8in4(Wabash Co.). died Jeffersonville, Ind., April 6,
Dean, Kpliraim (Waha-ih Co.), died at Decntur, Ala., April 1, 18i
Dunlap, Allen (Lawrence County), mustered out . Julv 11, I8li5.
Garrett, Horatio (Wahash CountVi, <lied in Georgia, June 5, 18S4.
Gray, Daniel V. (Wahash County), di-ch. Oct. ti,'lsr,4: disai.il. ty.
H»rumhouse, Charles (Wabash County), mustered July 1 1, 1865.
Knoles, James (Wahash Counn i. .M. ('). July II. isn'v ai corporal.
Kimbrell, John iWahash County), mii-tcrc'd out July 11, 18ti5.
Lambert, Wm. H. (Waba-.li County), unistcrt>d out July 11, 18H5.
Nicholson, Arch (Lawrence Co.), trans to 5 Keit. V.li.C.! I >oc. L".i,T,4.
Shafer, George (Wabash County i. mustered out July 11, 1865.
Stolt, Samuel (Lawrei Countyi, mustered out July 11, 1865.
Schick, John V. (Lawrence County), mustered out July 11, 186.1.
Turner, Hezekiah (Lawrence County) mustered out July 11, 1805
66th Infantry.— Three Years' Service.
The organization of this regiment was begun at the
Benton Barracks in September, 1861, by John W.
Busge, and the eight companies composing it were known
as "Western Sharp Shooters." The ninth company
was added December 5th, and Benjamin S. Compton
was mustered in as Colonel. The regiment was mus-
tered as the Fourteenth Missouri Infantry. November
20, 1862, the regiment was transferred to the State of
Illinois, and numbered sixty-six. It was out July 7,
1865, at Louisville. Kentucky, and arrived at Camp
Butler, Illinois, July 9, 1865, for final payment and dis-
charge.
NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF.
Quarkrmatttr Sergeant— Geo. E. Alden, (Lawrence Co.), pro. cap. and A Q.M
MUSTEK ROLL COMPANY I.
C<Tpram.-Jerry N. Hill, (Lawrence County), re igned Nov. 18, 1863, V.R.C.
John L. Hays, (Lawrence County), mustered out.
' J. Smith, (La
unty), on detached serv
ered out Julv 7,
M.O.J.-
ames O. Ackinson, (Wabash County), died
Mav 29, 18R2.
avid W. Foster, (Edwards County), died at Paducah, Ky
iharged May 18, 18C2; disabi
t of Regimi
I Lintenant— James I'. I.amott. (Lawrence Co.), ....
V. Litherland. (Wabash County), M. a .TulyJ, ««.
Davi
-Ahernethy, Elijah (Lawrence County), corporal,
lanta.l.a.. July'-. IS.I4.
corjil. killed
i, disch. Oct. 18, 18J4;
jv 2-J
James (Wa'bash Co.) corpl. killed at Corinth, Oct. 4, 1861
, Wm. P! (Wabasli Co.), dii ' '
Andr
Beesley,
Beeslev, Samuel c. i Wabash County), vet.
Blessing, Geo. w. i Wabash co.i, died at St. Louis, MO, D c. lc.,'61.
Blessing, John C. (Wabash Co.), diseh. July 11. Is.a; disability.
Barnes, Lafayette , Lawrence c,,,, vet M.'O. July 7,'lio; as sergt.
Lawrence County), vet.
~
.
Foster, Wm. F. i Edwards County), M. t >. July 7, isi;,i; detached.
Goodart, Andrew (Wabash County), vet.. M. u. Julv 7, 18H5.
Greenlev, Gco. W. (Lawrence (,,.,, vel.. .M. ( i. Julv'7, '6j : as corpl.
Hedrick",'Henderson (Edwards County), mustered out July 7, '65.
: (Lawrence County!, mustered out July 7, 1865.
Howell, i'eter
Lamott. Dani
ph (Lawrence County), discharged June 1.1, ISi
Benj. F. (Wahash Co.), disch. May 18, 1862; di
. (Wabash Co.), vet., killed nr. Atlanta, Ga, Jill
, .
Long, Joseph (Lawrence County),
Melntosh, licni. F. iWai.ash c.
Miller, Jlio. !\Val,a«li Co.l, vet.,
sabilitv.
-' '64.
NerT, Louis H. (Wabash County, .diseh. Juh ••': Is.,- disability.
Pierce, 8amu«l .Lawrence Co |, vet , M. (I. July 7 is,;;,; as private.
Pixley, Casper (Kdwards Co. i, vet, M. u. July" 7, isi;.-.; as c,,rporal.
Rice, "Marshall (Kdwards Co.i, disch. June lie,, ls.;.': disability.
Smith. Wm. J. i Lawrence Co i, vet . M. t ). Julv 7, IM;->; as corpl.
Shraeder, Samuel i Wabash County.)
Test), Eli (Wabash Countyi. vet.. M. O. July 7. 1815; as corporal.
Turner, James F. (Wabash Co.), vet, M (i. Julv 7, Isii.l; as corpl.
Thrasher, Algernon (Wabash County),vet, mustered out July 7,
18H5, as corporal ; wounded.
Whittaker, Edward P. (Lawrence County), vet. sergeant, killed
Atlanta. Ga, Julv 22, 18C4.
West, John 1!. (Lawrence Co.) diseh. Oct. 30, 1864; term expired.
Semiitt— Blood, Henrv E. (Wabash County), M. O. July 7,18M, a* corporal.
Baird, Adam F. (Lawrence Couufyl, must. Ted oiu July 7, 1865.
Bunyan, Ezekiel (Wabash Countyi. mu-tored out July 7, 1865.
Carter, George W. (Kdwards County), mustered out July 7, 1865.
childress, Tiiomas (Wabaib County), mastered ant July 7, 1865.
Crump, Geortre F. (Lawrence Countv), mustered out Julv 7, lsr.,1.
- ),M:0. July 7.1W15; wounded.
May Hi, 1864.
Gould. Invin i Edwards Coiintv1!, mustered out July 7, 18R5.
Greenlee.Wm. M. Lauren, ••• County), mustered ont Julv 7, 1865.
Hedrick, George F. (Kdwards County . mustered out July 7, 1*05.
ck, George F. (Edw
ield, Hy. D. (Lawrei
llo\ve. James K ( Law rcnoe Cou
Howe, WilliamS. (Lawrence Co,
IM'xIey,
Pixley,
Peppie,
Price, J .
Pixley, John (Lawrence Co.), killed
Pierce, Frederick (Lawrence Coumy
Pool. Chester 1). (Wabash County), d
ut July 7, 1865
d ...it July 7, 1
out July 7, 18
t July 7, 186
t .lufv 7, 186
t Julv 7, 186
out July 7, 1
lit July 7, 1
Julv 7, 1
.Ionian, Joshua (W abash County), mustered out July 7. lsi;l.
Johnson, Thos. J. (Lawrence County), mustered out July 7, 1865.
Kelsey, James E. ( Wabash County), mustered out July 7, 1865.
Kearicher, Jacob (Edwards Co.), died at Rome, (ia , July 12, 1864.
Keen, Levi C. (Waliash Countv, disoh. July n. ls..l; disability.
Litherland, Matt. I). ( Wabash County I, mustered out July 7, 18 5.
Litherland Daniel M. (Wubash County), died at Pulaski, Tenn.,
April in, 1864.
Miller. Horace S. (Wabash County), mustered out Ju
Mill.L'.an, William (Lawrence County), mustered <
Mi!N. Qflorin u. . Lawrence County), mustered out July 1
Myers, I'hilip i Edwards County), muster,-. 1 ,,ut July 7, 'l.sr,6.
Myers, Joseph Edward-, County), mustered out .lufy T, T~"
" y, Lewis (Edwards County), mustered
?is (Lawrence County), mustei
je (Lawrence County), mustered out .
Price, James c. Lawrence Countv), mustered out.
' "id at Dallas, Ga , May 30, 1864.
uy), mustered out June 2d,1805.
untv), discharged May 28, 18C.5.
Rothrock, Parmena (Edwards County), mustered out July 7, 1865.
Sloan, Jefferson (Wabash County), mustered ont July 7, 1865.
Sloan, Francis M 'Wabash Countyi, mustered out July 7, 1865.
Stewart, Luther M. (Lawrence County), mustered out July 7. 1866.
Sharei ~ "' ' •-••••"-•••- -- -
Titze.
Turne
tered out J
Walser, Gaither C. I Edwards Co.l, M. O. July 7, 1865, as corporal.
Walser, Franklin ( Kdwards Count, ), mustered out Julv 7, 1865.
' n (Lawrence Cour- • *-'
.. .. -dm. Peter (Lawre
Wood, Francis (V
Wilhelm, John L. (Lawrence County), died
Sept 26, 1864.
UHASSIGNED RECRUITS.
Akers. James J. (Lawrence County.)
Cromer, George W. i Lawrence County.)
King, Lafavette (Wabash County) died at Camp Butler, 111, April 7,1864.
MoGauhv, Daniel F. (Lawrence'county), discharged June l«, 1864.
Maddox,' K. F. C. (Lawrence County), died at Camp Butler, III, Feb 24,'64.
Whyde, Alexander (Wabash County), died at Camp Butler, 111, April 7,'64.
70Ui Tnfantry H. -
Men fn
MUSTER ROLL BOMPASY K.
Captain — George K. Brumlay, mustered out.
First L.eufeiinnl-Robert W. Musgrave, mustei
Sfcond Lieuttaani— Henry A. Club, mustered (
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
151
Pint Servant.
Henry Patterson
William M. Powers
William 11 Tamiimry
Tlmiiiiis 1). Shepcid
Peter Carver
ll'iol c'l'.'vocum
,|,.hn M.l.i. kirson
J;unes C.' Ib.ys
Elijah II. Lowe
Gvorge W. Pickerel
William H. Seed
I'rintl, «.
Appling, Georize D.
A.-hhrook, Willi,,,,,
Barker, Francis M.
Black. William
Bunu.Seely
Brnmblay, George R.«
Bank-. HaneyB
Bower , Samuel M.
Bryan-, George W.
Beach, Chambers
Bowman, Christian
Bird. 1'h., mas F.
H, rkshire, John W.
Berkshire, K
.Jatnes
Bache; Arthur
Coombs, Francis M.
Cain, William
Currell, Lorenzo D.
Crosby, Nathaniel B.
, .
Funk. Anderson E.
Fisher, Lafayette
Foster, Robert
» Promoted Captain July 25, 1862.
Frenrh, Bascomb
(o,rdon, Jackson D
Garner, George 1).
-l.-ev, Wi lia
Kissinger, William M.
Ken.-l, •!-, Aloin
Kuetl, Silas F.
Eaiiir-on, Jason L.
Mill-, William W.
.Miohads. Jacob
MeEHrosh, David
Myers, John
i i,-n
ohn H.
Parsons, Johr
Rains, James
Ralney, \Varren R.
Richards, liant'ortli
Kodcnck. John 3.
lieiter, "Arthur H
Ramsey, Samuel H.
Rogers', lohn W.
Robinson, William A.
Shiiadin, Clinton
Sphar, Johnf
Scotr, James
ir, Hezekiah
;r, Amaziah
, miteet. Ben;a:i,in E.
White. Joseph
White, Milton
We-ucr. Alexander
Boot)
,•::;.;
Cm!
Wilber, George W.
f Transferred from C8th III. Infantry.
TCth Regiment Infantry.
MUSTER ROLL, COMPANY F.
Secnit— Ostrander, Charles (Lawrence Co.), trs. to 5 III., M. O. Mar. 1, '66.
MUSTER BOLL, COMPANY H.
Corporal— Leyerance King (Lawrence County), died at Lagrange, Tenn.,
Prit<K«-Gleason',' Gershom (Lawrence County), killed at Jackson Cross
Roads, July 7, 1804.
King, John (Lawrence County), M. O. as
I July L'.',
ergeant, Lewta (Lawrence Co.), M. 0. May :ii, is.;;,; wounded,
teeter, Loren*> (Lawrence Co.), trans, to V. K. C. Nor. ", ls-;:i.
.- (Lawrence County), mustered out Julv 22, '»
Roberts, Joseph i Lawrence
Van See. pie, Stephen (Lawrence County),
infantry; absent sick at mustering out of
ty), mustered out July 22, '65.
County), mustered out July 22, 18*15.
County) mustered out July 22, 18 5.
County), transferred to .",7 111.
87th Regiment.— Three years' service.
NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF.
Principal .V^ic/cra-Columbus L. Freeman (Edwards Co.), M. O. June 16, '66.
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY B.
Corpora!.— Joseph G Coles (Edwards Co.), M. O. Jun« 16, 1865, as sergeant.
James Feaverston (Edward.- c.,untyi. mustered ,,ut .June 18, MH6.
/VirirtM— Armor, Anthony (Edwards County), mustered nut June 1C,, im;.1.
Butler. William L. (Edwards County I. mustered out Jim.- 1C, 18C5
Clark, W. H. F. (Edwards County), mustered out .Inn.' 1C, ISM
1.1!.i". .'.'»"!«' (Kd»ards County)/c(ied J
1 July 17, 1803.
:h. Dec. 8, 1
Jui
Fortney, William K."( Wabash cV,",'int'y)',"transf erred to Co.'o' 2
Ellis, William W. (Edwards Co.), disci,. Dec. s, l,x,;:, ; disability.
Elli-, John (Edwards County), mustered out June 16, 1»«
Ellis, Tholna- E. (Edward- County,, mustered out .In
Fever-ton. Henry ( Edwaid* County)
Hoovers, James F. (Edwards County
Henscly. Hiram (Edwards County)."
Hoover, George W. .Edwards Count, ,
Johnson, John ( Edward- County), mii-tercd out Jane 1C, ixo*.
Jordon. El, -by i Waba-li CountJ (, disch. Sept. 1'.,, lsC:l; ilisabili
Johnson, Will ian, (Edwards CoSn.v), mustered',,,,. June Hi, 1
), M.O.June 10, '66, as sergt.
nty), mustered out June 16, '65.
% liniyt, mustei
-Mussett, William , Edwards Co.), M. (I. June 1C, I KC ',, a., corporal
' H. ( Edwards County), mustei ' ' '
(Edwards County), musterei
W. (Edwards County), died
(Edwards County), mustered out Ji
mustered out June 1C, 1805.
Mound City, 111.,
abash County), mustered out June 1C, 1865
Satterly, Philip , Wabash County), dinch. May 12, 1865 .disability.
Thompson, Daniel W. i, Edwards County,, died at -New Orleans
STEH ROLL COMPANY II.
irds County), resign*
; Conntyi, ipjii-tered out .In
Firtt Ifeiitemdite— Willinm II. Jones ( I'.dw ards Co.). resigned Dee. 13, 18,13.
John D. Fiebcr (Ed nurds Co.), mil-tered out Juua 16, '65
Second Lie«lfnm,l -William B. Tribe, mustered out June 1C, 1865.
Fiiit Sergeants— James M. Black (W abash Co.), mustered out June 1C, 1865.
Eil ward Deems i U aUi-h Co.), mustered out June 1C. ls,i."i.
William Pnoklaad (Edwards Co ,. M.u. June 1C,, iscs.
Alfred Bas.-ett (Edwards I 'o.), mustered out June 16, 1865.
Corporals— James Brown, Jr. (Edwards County), mustered out June 1C, '85.
James T. Hum (Edwards Counn |, "mustered out June 1C,, Is,;:,.
Robert McCrcerv (Edwards Co. >', died at .Memphis Mar is l,s,i:l
James F. Hanks (Edwards Co.), nan-, to V. R. C. May i;,, isc,4.
Peter Bail.-y (Edwards County), died at .Memphis Mar. 1, 18(3.
Thoma- Cromc, Jr. (KdwardsY.onuty j, mustered out June 1(1, ',;;,.
Isaac Decme (Edwards County), mn-tcrcd out Jlav 21, 1865.
John Kuykendall (Edwards County), mustered out June 16, '65.
Uuiicians— Fieihnc'k Harrison (Edwaids County,, died at Helena, Ark.,
April H), 1WJ5 ; wounds.
Columbus I.. Freeman, promoted Principal Musician
H-ijo.er- William Dunk ,E,l«a (taXJounty) mustered out June 16,1863.
Pricuta— Ateibcriy. Jim. r .Edwards Co, inly i, muster, d out June Hi, 186B.
Bassett, George (Edwards County), mustered out June 16, I8oo.
Bunting, Sylvc-t.-r , Edward- Coumy ), mustered out June Hi, 1805.
Bell, James W. (Edwards County).
r., H, James W. (Edwards County).
Colyers, Robert {Edwards Co.), died at Carrolton, La., Sept. IS, 'C3.
Culiisoli, Thomas i Edwards County), mu.-tercd out June 10, 1865.
Tilham , Edward.- County/, mustered out June 1C,, 181*.
.ium (Eilwards County), disch. .Nov. S, l,sc,:i • disability.
Reuben C. (Edwards Co.), mustered out June Hi, 1M,5.
Cullison William (Edw
Ee, William (E,'
p-ford, Reuben
k, Thomas, Jr. i Kdwards Co.), M. O. June 16, '05; _ ,
Davis, Robert E. (Edwards County), mustered out June 10, 1805,
Estes, Timothy (Edward- County).
Elliott, Richard E. (Edwardi County), trs. to V. R. C. Sept. 1, 1862.
Elliott, Daniel (Edward's County)', died at Memphis Mar? Hi, 1803.
Elliott, William U. (Edwards Co.), died at Jlcmphis, April 1U, 18>i3.
Glover, James ( Edwards County), died at home Sept. 8, 1863.
, , .
enderson, Gcorirc ilvlwurds County), mustered out Aug 2, 1865.
udson, George W. (Edwards Conntyp, mii.-ter.-d out June Hi, 'M.
ughs, James {Edwards Countyi,
, George
, James { ,
ugo, William , Edwards County i,
, .
t Memphis May 15, 1863.
HoFtJu, James (Edwards County); mustered out June IB, !..„.
Ives, Charles (Edwards County), disch. June 1:1, ls,,:i; disability.
Long, Robert (Edwards Coimiv,, nui-tcied ,,ui June Hi, 1865.
Lowery, Isaia,, (Wabash County), died u Memphis .Mar. 1C, 1863.
Lucus, Abraham (Wabash C.miiU ), trans, to V. K. C. June 17, 1864.
Lance, Willi m H. (Wabash Coumy), mustered out June 10, 1865.
JlcKibbeii, Jlanlcv (Edwards County), -tcrcd out June Hi 1805.
McKibben, David (Edwards Co.), JI.', i. June 1C, 1805, as corporal.
' mistered out June 1C,, Is,;;,
. to V. R. C. Jan. 15, 1804.
McCreery, William P. , Edward- Co. ,, mustered out June 10, 1805.
Moore, Samuel (Edwards County), died near Tyler, Texas, while
Morris, Rufus (Edwards County), mustered out June 16, 1865.
Me Kibhcii, Zebnlon (Edward* County), died at .letleisou barracks,
Mo.. Aug. 21, 1863.
Ncal, Thomas (Edwards County), died at Memphis Mar. 11, 1863.
Orr, William (Edwards County), mastered out June 10, isir,
Oi-r, Cunningham (Edwards Co.). disch. Mar. 3, isct; disability.
Park, E. L. (Edward- Count] ,, died at .Memphis May 19, 1863.
Peter, Andrew (Kdward., County,, mustered out June 16. ISliS.
Peek, Joseph (i* abash County), mustered out June 10, isos.
Riddens, James JI. (Edwards County), mustered out June 1C, 18C5.
Snowdall, Edwaid. Jr. , Edward- Co.,, mustered cm June 10, 1865.
Sncllen, William (Edwards County), mil-tered out June Hi, 1865
Smilh, William, Jr. (Edwards Co.,". M.ti. June 16, Is,:,; was prsnr
Smith, George, Jr. (Edwards County), musiered out June 16, 1865.
Spiuell, William K. (Edward- Co.), M. IP. .lone ic, 1865; was prsnr.
Thrash, Stephen S. , Wabash Co.), JI. O. June 16, 1805, as corporal.
Tail, John (Ed»ards County), M. O. June 1C, 1865, as sergeant
Utley, Robert W. (Edwards' County , mustered out June Hi lsc.5.
Vinson. John (Edwards Co.), discharged Am.-. 8, IS,;:|; disability.
Wilkins, John (Edwards County), died at JUmphis May 14 1803
"^ •''^K'1"--JSfco:A0bJJuneV^WaaV^er-
— .. ), died at Warrenton, Miss., June 9, '6:1.
JNomto-Campbell. James (Edwards County), died at Katchez, Miss, Dec.
Harris, Bedford (Edwards County), transferred to H 18 111. inftry.
reorganized: mustered ou I Dee. 16, 1865.
Harris, James T. {Edwards County), transferred to Co. H 18 111.
infantry r.-organi/eil: absent sick ;,t must-rim: out of regimt.
II, Franklin C. (Edwards County), tran-fcrred to Co. H 1" III.
lifantry reorganized : absent sick at I
Seatfield, James (Edwards County), kill
Sept. Hi, 1864.
Hutchins, Henry J. (Edwards County), transferred (o .Co. HIS III.
infantry ; discharged Sept. Ill, 1865.
Horton, Richard (Edwards County), transferred to Co. H. 18 111
'iifantry; musiered out Dec. 16. 1865
Stanley, Charles (Edwards County), transferred to Co. H 18 111.
infantry : discharged J ,1 ly fl, 1865.
Stewart, Alexander (Edwards County,, transferred to Co. H 18
III. infantry; discharged July 9, 1865.
Tail James M. or W. (Edwards County), died at Morganzia, La.]
Tribe', William B (Edwards County), transferred to Co. H 18 111.
infantry: on detached service at mustering out of regiment.
Waters, i;eori;c , Kd wards County,, iran-lerrcd to Co. H 18 111. in-
fantry; mustered out Dee. IK, IX, M.
Weaver. Alexander , Edwards Countyi. transferred to Co H 18 III.
infantry ; on dc!a<-he,i ->-n ice at m, interim: ,,,11 of reciim lit
West, Robert X. , Edw-ards County), transferred to C... H 18 III. in-
fantry; discharged Aug. 2.',, 181.5.
152
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WAS ASH COUNTIES, 1LL1NOJN.
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY K.
, Thorn is (Edwards County), transferred to Co. D.
.Sen-Kid— Fowler, Silas 51. [Kdwards County), 1
~ ' ' nder M. (F ' ' "
Orr, Alexand
)rr, Alfrud (li
ltt.<-ruits— Alii'
aferred to Co. ]
(Kdwai-ds Coiinly), transferred to Co. II.
•ds County), transferred t i Co. H IS infaii
Samuel t Wabash County), died at Camp i
Mar. 13, 1804.
iaker, Abram (Wr.
•Try, Thomas II.
elv'ilihee. Luther K. iKd«ards County),'
died at Camp Butler, April I —
88th I maiif i-y Regime
9, 1865, as corporal
91st Infantry Reglment.-Three Years' Service.
This regiment was organized by Col. H. M. Day, at
Camp Butler, Illinois, and mustered in September 8,
1862. October 1, ordered to Louisville, Kentucky, and
was assigned to duty guarding the L & N. railroad, in
Gen. Gilbert's division, on 27th December, 1862, at
Elizabethtown, Kentucky. After an engagement the
regiment was captured by Morgan, and, after beiug
paroled, was sent to Benton Barrack, Mo-
July 14th, having been exchanged, ariivrd at Vicks-
burg, Miss., from there moved to Post Hudson and
Carrollton, La., thence to New Orleans. Here the reg-
iment was transfered to the First Brigade. Embarked
October 22d, for Brownsville ; took part in the captur-
ing of the fort and city, and driving the enemy from that
part of Texas; did garrison duty several mouths at
Brazos, Santiago, and New Orleans. The Ninety-first
took an active part in the campaign, which resulted in
the capture of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakeley, and
caused the surrender of Mobile ; had a sharp en-
gagement with the enemy at Eight Mile creek, on the
Tombigbee river ; mustered out of service July 12, 1865,
at Mobile, and on the 22d of July following at Camp But-
ler, Illinois, received final payment and discharged.
MUSTER ROLL, COMPANY F.
Captains— Elmus, Ryn,n, (Lawrence County), resigned Sept. 13, 1863.
Thomas J. Ball win, I l.awre, 'County I, resigned Feb. 5, 1864.
William W. Shepperd, (Lawrence County), M. o. Julv v_<, 1*65.
Kr«(ii«,(«,an(S-Alfred 11. < I ra-s. i Lawrence Co.), resigned .Inly &, lx,i:i.
Thomas J. Tanquary, (Lawrence Co.), 51. o. July 12, Isir..
Second Lieutenant Nathan I!. Hull1, (Lawre • Co.) resigned Sept. in, 1861.
C. M. Bosley,, Law rence c,,.,, 51. o (as seri;i ,. July !•_>, Y,:,.
lin Rogers, (Lawrence Co.), d. at New Orleans, Nov. 19, '63.
as Rich, i Lawrence County).
" Mills, (Lawrence Co.), M. o. July 12, Isi;:,, as private,
r Monroe, (Lawrence Co.), died at Carrollton, La., Sept.
Hiram, Jones, (Lawrence Co.), M. O. July 12, 1865, as sergeant.
Joseph (Joslen, (Lawrence Co.), 51. 0. July 12, 1x65, as private.
Obadiah B. Webb, (Lawrence County), M. ' i. July 12, 1865.
John StandnVId, I Lawrence Conntyi', mustered out July 12,1865.
•Acres, John, (Lawrence County., mustered our July 12,1865.
Allison, Warner, (Lavrenoc Countyi. mustered out' July 12,1865.
Brunson, Alexander. .Lawrence- Co.), 51. o. July 12, 1865, as Corp.
Barnett, Robert, t Lawrence County), muster.-, I out July 1.', 1865.
Brannan, Alexander !>., (Lawrence Countyi, 51. O. .Inly 12, lsiir>.
Barber, Elipbalet. 'Laurence Conntv), mustered out July 1'2, 1865.
Boree, A. D., (Lawrence County), transferred to Company C.
Coleman, Thomas, (Lawrence County), mustered out July 12, 1865.
untv'i
Collison, John Wl, '(Lawrence Co.), 51. o. July 12. 1865, as'corporaL
Corrie, George IL, (Lawrence County), mustered out May 10, 1865.
Dennison, John
April 28, 1864.
Delimit, Jacob, (Lawrence Co.). d. at Carrollton, La., Nov. 4, 1863.
Ill-long, .lettorson, .Lawrence Countyi, mustered O'lt July 12, 1865.
Dixun, Theodore, (Lawrence Co.). d. at New Orleans, Feb. 1:1, '65.
Dubois, Charles, (Lawrence County), died Brazos Santiago, T,
Evins/John S. (Lawrence County), sergeant, died Brazos Santiago,
Emmons,' James C., (Lawrence Co.), d. at N. Orleans, Sept. 10, 'S3.
F.mmons, Charles, (Lawrence Co.), disch. Mar. IX. Ism, disability.
Fitchey. William 11.. (Lawrence Countv), 51. O. Ji.ly 12. IS05. -
Corporals— Thom
John T. Mills,'
Alexande "
Clark, Thomas, i Lawrence County), "M. o. Julv 12, IgliS, as sergt.
Cox Edward, (Lawrence County)", 51. O.July 12. 1865, as corporal.
Cool-:. Samuel .M.. i l.au renee Countv), mustered out Julv 12 1865
Allison, John W!, (Lawrence Co.), 51. O. July 12. 1865, as'corpo,
>rrie, George II., (Lawrence County), mustered out Slav IIP, It
•aft, William. I Lawrence County.) 'mustered out Julv 12, 1HI!5
enuison, John. (Lawrence Countv), died at Brownsville Tes
Funk, (Jabriel M., (Lawren
Funk, Thomas M, (Lawrei
Faith, Thomas J., (Lawreni
Grant, Elmer. (Lawrence County), mustered out July 12,
lore, liussell. i Lawrence Co.), disch. Nov. 20, 1*12, di
~ untv,) mustered out July
....,.,.-, ^.i.cu .-,., v^,.».uuuc Bounty), mi- -J — * '••'••
IL-vill. UalUee. , Lawrence Cu.l. died wh
llensloy, Marion, (Law
, liussell, (Lawrence do.), diseh. No
. Felix, (Lawrence County,) i
H"™!?' A!fr.ed M., (Lawrence County),
Hensley, Marion, (Lawrence Co.i. mustered out .Inly 12, 18ii5.
I licks, Samuel F. 51., i Law rence Countyi. Iran.forred to Co. H.
Irwin, William II., (Lawrence County l! mustered out July 12, '65.
Iristi, Stephen A., (La* rence Co.), died at Brownsville, Texas, Apl.
Jones, Lewis, (Lawrence County), mustered out July 12, 1863.
Jett, Joseph B., , Lawrence County I. mustered out July 12, 1865.
Jones, Aimer, il.iwrcnco Countyi. mustered out July'l2. Ixii.i.
Keniepp, Win. 5L, I Lawrence County), mustered out'.May :i I, 1*65.
Laeo-t, Ualph, . La wren .-,- Conn VI, mustered out J.ilv 12 IXi;:,.
Mullins,.lohn II., (Lawrci County., 51. o July 12. as corporal.
Hosier, William D., (Lawrence Countv). died at Lawrenceville
III., Nov. 15, 1865.
Mccarty, John. (Lawrence Countyi, mustered out July 12, 1865.
MeKiniey Thomas C., I Lawrence County ), 51. o. .Inly 12, 1865.
Miller. William 1L. , Lawrence County i. 51. o. .Inly 12, 1865.
Murphy, 51ichacl A., (Lawrence Conntyi. 51. o. July 12, 1865.
Mills, Henry P.. (Lawrence County), mustered out July 12, 1865.
Martin, Edmund. (Lawrence County), transferred to Company H.
September IIP. ls,;j; disoli. 5lHrch"7, 18,1-4 ; disability.
Norton, IraC., (Lawrence Co.), 51. o. July 12. I.s,i5. as'sergeant.
Peters, William. ( Law rence County), mustered out June 19, 1865.
Peters, John, (Lawrence County), mustered out July 12, 18IJ5.
Peek. Uexander '
Ramsey, Tobias,
liich, William R.,'(Lawre
liawlins, William W., ('
Countv), mustered t
Couniyl. mustered out July 12, 1865.
(Lawrence County), died at Carroitton, La.,
Roizers, Svlve-ter, (Lawrence c,,unt\ L K. O. July 12, 1865, as Corp.
Kna-U. Hiram C..,l,,»re, c,,.,d.'.,, New ( Orleans, ( Pct! 15. lx,a
Shidler, Thos., (Lawrence Co.), disch. March 21, 1st;:!; disability.
~ d. at New Orleans. Sept. Ill, Isiii.
.), mustered out July 1-2, 1865.
), M. O. Julv 12, 1805, as corporal.
ountv), diet! at Brazos Santiago,
Smith, Oeori'e
Shrader, Wm. 51.. (Lawren
Shrefler, Daniel, (Lawrence Count
Mlg. 29, 1864.
Thomas, Joseph, (Lawrence County), mustered out July 12, 1805.
•Vallev, IVtcr I-'., i Lawrence County), .M. o. Julv I-'. IMn, as Corp.
Valley, Frank, (Lawrence County), died at Lawrenceville, 111.,
•w'insiiip, Jo's'., (Lawrence County), disch. Mar. 24, 1863; disability.
Wardell, Furman, (Lawrence County), died at New Orleans, Aug.
Ktcniils— Branson,' David, (Lawrence Co.), transferred to Co. E, 28th III.,
mustered out Mar. 15, 1866.
115th Infantry .-Col Jesse H. Moore in command.
This regiment was organized at Camp Butler, Sept.
19 1862; ordered into the field October 4th following,
and soon after became a part of the command of Gen-
A. J. Smith. On the 18th of September, 1863, engaged
the enemy upon the field at Chickamauga. The regi-
ment participated in all the engagements around Chat-
tanooga and Mission Ridge. Jt also formed a part of
Sherman's army in the Atlanta campaign. Durii'g the
latter campaign the regiment lost about one hundred
men. The 1 loth took part in the engagements, which,
in November and December, 1864, resulted in the des-
truction of Bragg's army. This regiment made a gal-
lant record during the war. June 11, 1865, mustered
out of service and received final pay and discharge
June 23, 1865, at Camp Butler, Illinois.
MUSTER ROLL, COMPANY C.
Ctytofci-David Williams (\Vabash County), mustered out June 11, 18«5.
F,r»t Liatkwiuts— F.phraiin II. Kiimcrj , Wai a-i, Co.), resigned Sept. 7, '63.
John C. K. Youngken (Wahash Co ). 51. o. June II, IdiiS.
Firxt fjciv;«iiit-.Iohn S. .Mundv I Wahash Co.), mustered out June II, 1865.
-John M. Brown iV.'al.ash Co.,, ,lisch. April 10. ISO; disability.
Hllifli H. Fry (Lawrence Co.), disoh. .May 2:1. lsi;:i; disability.
Lewis (Jeisl'er iWabash County). , lied near Knoxville, Tenn.,
\pril 2,1, 1x114, by falling from i
vge'" -
liam
Feb. x, is,;:t.
, , .
Corporate— fjeorite W. Rlm.l.-s. mu-ti-red mil June 11. isci.-,, as serge.
William Lanterman (Lawrence County), died at Danville, Ky.,
Edwin 1
,. -to T. K.-l'sey i \\abash CIP.), dis
Hamilton Hinkle (Kdwards County., died at Richmond, Ky.,
Dec. 2!>, 1862.
Fred, -rick liadde (Edwards Countv), killed at Chickamauga
Sept. 20,1
Moses Duty t Wabash Co.), died at Nashville. Tenn., Apr. 2, 1863.
Richard I'tter (Wabash County), m tutored OOl June 11, 1865.
«— Henry liard (Wabash County)", .M. o. June 11, l.sr.i: pris. of war,
Wagoner— John
Priratcs— Browi
14,:
ph Sheare
(Wabash County), mustered .
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASII COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
153
Brines, Franklin (Wabash County),
infnniry: mustered out IT,-.
Baxter, James II. I vVahn-h Co )
Harrier, Abraham i Wahash Coiintv.i,
nsferred to Co. A 21 III.
t Dec. in, is.;:,.
tvVaha-h Co ), disch. Aiisr, I, isiti; disability.
(Wahash C I1VI. mustered out June 11, 1865,
-...npbcll, Frante A. (Lawn-nee County I, discharged .
as corporal; disability.
Ciiim.lv, James M. (W»bssh County), mustered out June 11, 18
< 'lines,' William (Waha-h Coiintyj.'mustored out June 11, IsiiTi.
'KmHtmel (Kdwards County), tr
le'll" John "'• ''
Corps
Dell, John (Wabash County), diseh. Mar. 23, 1803; disability.
Freeman, Thomas J. i Wabash County,, died at Chattanooga Oct.
nf, isii:] ; wounds.
Freeman, Wallace A. (Wabash Co.), M. I). June 11, 1865, as corpl.
Koi-man, Samuel , Lauren,-,- Coumj i, mustered out June 11, '65.
• Sard, Charle- i Waba-di Co.), discipline Is, Isi;:! ; disability.
(iillespic, John (Lawrence County I, mustered out June 11, 1865.
Glick, John t Wabash Co.), died at Shell .Mound. Tenn., Dec. 5, '63.
Gould, William II. i Waba-h County), ,-n deta.-h.-d duty; mus-
tered out June 22, 1865.
Hill, Aaron (Wabash County), died in Amlersonville prison Sept,
15, MI14: No. of grave, 883.)
Hallaek, John (Wai.a-.li County), mustered out June 11,1865.
Iigu'ins,H 'go II. (Wabash Co.), M. O. June 1 1, Is,;;,, as corporal.
•ohn I Wabiish Conniyi, mustered out June 11, 1865.
, W. (Wnbash Co.i, d'isch. June Is, MII:I; disabili
Hine'lmugh, Jacob (Wabash Coiiuly), nmsiered out June if, isii,-,.
Howell, Jasper i Wabash Co.). diseh. May 7, 1863; disability.
' ' "Vahash Oo.),dtooh. April r, 1863; disability.
' mistered out June II. isiiii.
lowell, Jasper , W.-iha-h I
lammiker JohniWaba-
lill, John W. (Lawrence
Litherlami, William J. (Wabash Co.), mustered out June 11, 1865.
Lithorland, (i -ge W. (Wabash Co.l. mustered out. June 11, 1866.
l.indsev, Benjamin (Lawrence County), died at Triune, Tenn.,
June i.', ls,,l.
Miller, William S. (Wabash County), died at Danville, Ky., Jan.
Mull, Richard (Wabash Co.), died at Richmond, Ky., Jan. 4, 1863.
Miller, Moses J. (Wabash Co.), diseh. .lune IS, Mil:;'; disability.
Myers, George iWaha-h County), mustered out June 11, 1865,
Miller, James W. (Wabash County), mustered out June 11, 1865.
Markman, Christian < Wabash Couniyi, mustere I out June 11, '65.
Markman, William (Wal-a-h County), must, -red • ut June 11/65.
Nunly, Absalom (W,,bash County), mustered outJune 11, 1865.
Price, Ge< rge B. (Wabash C I'.yi, M. <>. May li, lsr.5; wounds.
~ ' tard (Wabash County), mustered out June 11, 1865.
.
ustered i
disability.
(Wabash County), mustered out June 11, 1865.
Lewis (Watiash Co.l, M. c i, June II, isii.-,, as corporal.
Mvid S. (Wabash C ' ' '— J — ' ""'
" porV804'
__ y), mustered out June 11, 1865.'
Eiber, Andrew (Lawrence Co. i, trans, to V. R. C. Sept. I, 1863.
Rose, Reuben li. (Wabash County), must, -rod out June II, 186*.
Rigg, Edwanl D. (Wabash County), mustered out June 11, 1865.
Shoarer, G. C. ( abash County), M. < ). June 11, 1865, as sergeant.
Shoaff, John (Wabash County), mustered out June 11, 1865.
Stone-, Thomas (Waba-h Cou'my), mustered out June 11, 1865.
Shepard \lbert (Wahash Coun'tv], mustered out June 11, 1865.
Shearer/Joseph (WahasJi Co.), Mil. June 11, 1865, as corporal,
er (Wabash Countyi, mustered out June 11, 1865.
), mustered out June 11, ISiv..
h. April '.'"I, lsr,;i; disability.
•), discharged June 15,1864,
M°(Wab'ash Co.), disch. April 23, 1863; disability.
Wood, Niles A. (Wabash Co.), died at Lexington. Kv., Nov. 23, '0-1.
Wabash County), mustered <.llt June 11, 1865.
corporal,
pro.
Jasper (\
.Gilbert
I. I VI, 1
I * 'olltl
Turner, Gilbert H. (Wabash County), mil!
White, Franklin L. (Wabash Co.), disch. /
Williams. John H. (Lawrence County), d
, . ., ,
.la ..... -. Wai, ,sh County), mustered out June 11, 1865.
er. H.-nj. F. - Lawrence Co.;. M. O. June 11, 1868, as corp
Youngken, John C. K. (Wabash County), pro. Com.-Scrgt. ;
1st Lieut. Co. C.
Jfeenii'to-Armstrong, Ephraim (Wabash County), died at Tunnell Hill, On,
Oct. 24, 18ii4.
Hare, Thomas (\Vabash Count}-), transferred to 21 111. ; mustered
,
Nu°nU|y,DJohnb'( Wabash
mustered out Dec. 16, 18 Jo.
h Co.), transferred to 21 111. vet.-recruits ;
124th
MUSTER ROLL, COMPANY K.
JViwifca-Morgan, Maxwell W. (Edwards County), disch. Nov. 15, 1863, as
Phillips, Edward (.Edwards Count}-), missing near Canton, Miss,
One Hundred mill Thirtieth Infantry.— Three Years' Service.
The 130th regiment, Illinois volunteers, was organized
at Camp Butler, Illinois, October, 1862, by Colonel
Nathaniel Niles, and vas mustered in on the 25th of the
game month.
The regiment moved from Camp Butler, Nov. 10th,
•20
and proceeded to Memphis, Tennessee, where it arrived
on the 18th instant.
It was mustered out of service Aug. 15th, 1865, at
New Orleans, Louisiana, and reached Camp Butler,
October 26, 1865, where it received final payment and
discharge.
Qnartennaiten— Silas J. Stiles (Lawrence County), died at Memphis, Ten"
«ee, Dec. 19, '62.
f H. Harrington (Wab,
NON-COMMISSIONED
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY H.
Sergeant.— Absalom Banks (Lawrence Co.), trans, to Co. B., 77 III,, retrnns.
to 130, as revived, muster,-,! out June 17, 'ir,. pris. war.
Corporal.— Anderson. Kenard (Wnbash Coiinlvi, died at Memphis, Tenn.,
Feb. 14, 1863.
Private*.— Austin. Stephen P. (Wabash Countv), died at Milliken's Bend
April 12, 1862.
Banks, John A. (Wnbash Co.), transferred to 77, retransferred
Brown, William H. (Wabash' Co.), transferred to 77 and retrans-
ferred to 130 as consolidated, mustered out Aug. 16, 1865,
1 to 77, retrans^
Gfick/George H. (Wabasirco.j, Transferred 't >"77,Pretrans ferred
July 20, '65.
ransferred to 77, retrans*
... .'une 17, '65, prisoner war.
iWaha-h Co.). transferred to 77, i .-transferred to
idated, mustered out .lune 17, V,;,, prisoner war.
Knowles, Cornelius (Wabash Co.), died at Memphis, Mar. 12, ,(B.
Kramer, Lewis W. (Wabash Co.), transferred to 77, retrans-
ferred to 130 as consolidated, mustered out June 17, pris. war.
Lucas, lieorge W. i Wabash Co.) discharged for disability.
Moyer, William H. (Wahash Co.).
Pierce, -Joseph C. (Laurence Co.), transferred to 77, retrans-
ferred to 120 as consolidated, mustered out Aug. 15, 1865.
Samoniel, Frank (Wabash Co.), trans, to 77, l, trails, to 130.
Slater, George W. (Lawrence Co.), diseh. Jan. 2s, '11:1, disability.
Stett'ey, Martin L. i Wabash Co.), transferred to 77, retransferred
to 13(1 as consolidated, nmsiered out June 17, '(15, prisoner war.
Stein, John (WabMh Co.). transferred to 77, retranslVrred to 130
as consolidated, mustered out Aug. 15, '85.
Thoma", William H. (Lawrence Co.l, transferred to 77, retrans-
ferred to 130 as consolidated, mii-torcd out Aug. 15, '65.
Wirth, Thomas A. (Wabash Co.).
Burton, William W. (Wabash Co.), transferred to 77,
ferred to 130 as consolidated, M. < i. June 17, '65, prison,
Glick, George II. (Wahash c,,.), transferred t) 77, retra:
to i:i(i as consolidated, mustered out July 20, '"
Harville, Thomas C. i Wabash Co.), transfer
ferred to 130 as consolidated, M. O. June 17,
J,,iie-. Thomas ("
Warr
Thomas
arren,
ferred to 13ii as consolidated, mustered out \ug. 15, 1865.
Young, Charles (Wahash Co.i, diseh. \P,il 14, 1XU3, disability.
RemiUa.— Banks, Benjamin S. (Lawrence Co.). died at Memphis May 22,
Bryan, Jones (Lawrence Co.).
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY I.
W. Watts (Lawrence Co.), transferred t
77 111., ret
Second Uente
First SergtmL
lidated, M. O. F.
-John M. C. Cordon (Lawrence Co.). discn. Mar. 15, '65, disabil'y.
James W. Turner (Lawn- ',,.1, transfer,,-,! to 77, retrans-
ferred t" i:;u. mustered out Jim 17, 1865.
Caleb Hoops (Lawrence Co.).'
.-Patrick II. Gordon (Lauren,:,- Co.), Disch. Feb. 1, '63, disability.
John Stivus (Lawrence Co.), wounded at Vieksburg .May 12, 'tis.
Samuel L. Brown (Lawrence Co.), disch. Feb. I, '65", disability.
John S. Abells , Lawn-nee Co.), oischa.god Feb. 1, V,;,, disability.
SchuylerSumner (Lawrence Co.), transferred to Co. I 77, re-
transferred to 130, mustered out Ailir. 15, 1865.
Pleasant I niphloel i Lawrence Co.l. transferred to Co. I 77, re-
transferred to 13o, mastered ,,m June 17. isr,:,. nrisonor war.
.—George W. Ramsey (Lawrence Co.), transferred to III. 77, re-
transferred to 130, mustered out Aug. 15, 1865.
Francis A. Homier (Lawrence Co.), wounded, tranferred to
R. R. 6 Jan. 23, 1864.
r. — Henry V. Bass (Lawrence Co.), transferred to 77 III., retrans-
ferred to 130, mustered out Aug. 1:., 1865, as corporal.
>.— Arnold, Jacob (Lawrence Co.), transferred to 77 III., retrans-
ferred to l:to, mustered out Juno 17, prisoner war.
Bishop, Benjrmiin F. ' Lawrence Co), transferred to 77 III., re-
iransferred to 13", inn-ier, -d ,-nt June 17, prisoner war.
Bowman Henry (Lawrence Co.), trans, to 77, M. (I. May 15, 1865.
Bellis, Philip (Lawrence Co.), transferred to 77 III., rttrans-
ferred to i::o. mustered out June 17, Isi,:,, prisoner war.
Barnes, John H. (Lawrence Co.). Iran, to V. H. C. Feb. 23, 1864.
Brown, Robert A. (Lawrence Co.).
Bourn, Ransf.rd (Laurence Co.), died at Memphis Dec. 21, 1862.
Bell, George A. (Lawrence Co.), discharged Sept. 4, 1863.
Cravens, Rilev (Lawrence Co.), transferred to 77 III., retrans-
ferred to 130, mu~t.-r.-d out June 17, Isi;:,, prisoner war.
Kdwards. John L. (Lawrence Co i. transferred to 77 III.,
1:10. must-rod out Jan.- 17. 18
atthe . .,
udy, Joseph (Lawrence Co.), tran
154
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
1 to ISO, mustered out June 17, 186:., prisol
Grimth.ThomM- (Lawrence C,.... disch. April s. Is.::!, .Usability.
Henry, Edward .1. (Law rcuee Co.), transferred to 77 III., retrans-
fcrrcd to l:;o, mustered out J 17. Is,;:., prisoner war.
H err in, Alexander (Lawrence Co N (ransferred to 77 lll.,retrans-
feirod to l.'lii, mustered "lit Aug. 17,18115.
Johnson, Milton 11. H,awr-nce Co.l.diseh. April H,lR63,disabil'y.
Judy, John F. (Lawrence Co.), transferred to 77 111., retrans-
foYrcd t" l:io, must. 'red out June 17. l«ii."., prisoner war.
Lindsey, William (Lawret Co.), transferred to 77 111., retrans-
ferred to l:io. mustered out Aug. 14,186.5.
Walone, Benj. F. (Lawrence Co.), dlKJD, Fcb 1, 18«3. disability.
•Co.). die.l at Memphis. Dec. 2o. 1
usirrove. .James r. >].-,:\\ iv
re-transter,vd t,. i:m 111., M
athewR, Jonathan W. ll.awr
., . . . .
. ll.awrcm-e Count.M. disch. Oct. 1st, 1863.
rence Comity), transferred to 77 111., re-
uster-d out AiiL'iist \-,, isti.-,.
nce Countj I, transferred to T7 111, re-trans-
ed out August 1ft, 1805.
se, Isaac .1. (Law l''1"'"1 County), transferred to 77 111., retrans-
erred to l:i". nmstci-e.l out Juno 17, lsi;-,; prisoner of war.
mner, Smiley (Lawrence Co.), disch. Kel,. 7, isii:1; disability.
aw, William H. II. (Lawrence County), trans, to 77 III.
yuc, William \ . t I.a« rence Oo.), .li-e'li. I'd,. I, Ixil.'.: disability.
s (Lawren
(Lawrenc
. (Luwren
s [Lawren
(Lawrenc
•ipcr, James \. (Lawi
transferred to 130, m
Ramsey, Aaron (Lawrence Countj I, transferred to 77 111, re-trans-
ferred to l.'Vl, mustered out August 1ft, 1865.
Rose, Isaac J. (Lawrence County), transferred to 77 III., retrans-
ferred to l:m. mustered out June- 17, 1x115 ; prisoner of war.
EC..
StiVeVs,' jVo«'s\i.liwrV.iVcV<^uiityVVransf!'rre(i to°7TilT.
Smith, Diseh. (Lawn. nee Co.). dfsch. .Ian. 18, 1X6:;; .Usability.
Sunnier. Benj. (Luwrence County) disch. Jan. I, 1S,;|; .Usability.
Seaggs, James (Lawrence Countv), discharged Sept. 17, 1863.
Seaggs, Thos. (Lawrence Co.), trans, to 77 III., dis. June 5, 1865.
Scaggs, John (Lawrence County), transferred to 77 III., re-trans-
ferred to 130, mustered out June 17,1X1'..-,: prisoner of war.
Umphleet, Jm-vis . I. (Lawrence Coiintvi.iranstencd to 77 111., re-
transferred to 130, mustered out June 17, 1865.
Hermits— Wharton, Joseph W. (Lawrence County), tiaiisferred to 77 III.,
re-transferred to 130, mustered out June 17, 1865.
135th Regtment Infantry.— One hundred days' service.
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY H.
Second Lieutenant— Peter Jones, (Lawrence Co.), mustered out Sept, 28, 1864.
Jf««rin»-William H. Seed, (Lawrence Co.), mustered out Sept. 2x, lxf,4.
Wagoner— Joseph A. J. I'.laeK. ( I .awrctice Co.), mustered out Sept. 2X. 1864.
JVil-ata—Binnier. William II. (Lawrence Co.i. mustered out Sept. 2x| 1X64.
Cochran, James (^awTence Coun-y), mustered out Sept. 28, 1864.
fisgrove, lioyal C. (Lawrence Co.), mustered out Sept. 2s. lxi'4.
an, .lau,o- (Lawrenoe County), mustered out Sept. 2s, isot.
ompson, James W. i Law fence Co.), mustered out Sept. 28, '64.
Wilbor, John (Lawrence County), mustered out Sept. 28, 1864.
MUSTER ROLL COMPA
Captain-Jumee St. Clair, (Edwards County), i
mstered out Oct. 22, 1864.
iT H.
Second Lieuleanul— Alfred Mayo, (Edwards County), M. O.Oct.
-Edward Stewart. (Edwards County), M. O. Oct. 22. 1864.
"tered out Oct. 22, 1864.
itered out Oct. 22, 1864.
il-y Woods, (Kdwards Coitntvi, mustered nut (let. 22, 1864.
Abe. Venfold. (Edwards Conmvi, absent sick at M. O. of regt.,
M. O. Dec. :i, to date Oct. 22, 1864.
mistered out Oct. 22. 1864.
Scrgeautt— .Moses Sn.llh, (Edwards County), mustered <
William Se.,tt. i Kdwards Countv), mustered
Henry W Is (Edwards County) mustered
Abe. Penfold, (Edwards County), absent sicl
M. O. Dec. :i, to date Oct. 22, 1864.
IXrporali— Charles Clark, (Edwards County), mustered out Oct. 22, IXill.
Thomas .1. Ct.lsm, (Edwards Couun !. nmstered out Oct. 22. 1,-
Joel Bunting, (Edwards Countj ). mustered out Oct. 22, 1864.
James S B. II, (Edwards County., mustered out Oet 22, 1864.
Harry Dalt,v. (Edwardfi ( onni\ ,. mustered out Oet. 22, 1864.
Lewis A. Michaels, (Edwards Com, H), mustered out Oct. 22, 1P64.
Musicians— Jiimes H. Shelby, (Edwards County.! M. Oct. 22, 1x64, as private.
(leorge Stanley, I Edwards County', M. Oct. 22. 1X64, as private.
Wagoner— William F. Koomson, (Edwards c'.imtv . M o. (I t. 22 as priiate
atson, John, (Kdwards County), 'mils
1'iiBlev, William. (Edwards Cmmiv).
liming. Phincse. [Edwards County),
usier.'d out Oct. 22, 1X64.
llstered out 'let. 22. 1X6-1.
ustered out Oct. 22, 1X64.
llaker. Simps,,,,. (Edwards Counn i. mustered out Oct. 22. 1X64.
Bowers, Willimn. (Edwards County ), absent sick nt M. o. "f regt.
Crome, James, (Edwards County ),' mustered out Oct. 22. Ism.
Crome, William, (Edwards County], untutored out Oct. 21'. 1x114.
llru-y, Bamctt, (Edwards County), mustered out o. t. 22. 1x64.
Ellis,' Charles. (Edwards Coiinti)' mustered out Oet. 22, 1864.
Franklin, George, (Edwards county,, M. O. Oct. 22, 1X64, as corpl.
Ferrieman, John C., l Edwards Coun.yi, mns ered out Oct. 22, '64.
Fewks, William. I Ed wards comity, mustered out Oet. 22, l«64.
Green, William M., (Edwards Co.'l. muster, d out Oct. 22, 1864.
Gould, Charl»s,( Edwards Co.), died :.t ColumbUB, Ky., Sept. 1, '64.
Gawthorp, Kobert. (Kdwards Counu ). mustered out Oct. 22. 1X64.
l!a, wick, Edmund I!., (Edwards County i, M. o. I let 22, 1x64.
Hoc-king, Peter. (Edwards County), mustered out Oct. 22, Islil.
. Edwards Conn
mistered out Oet. 22,
I at Columbus, Ky,.lnly:.(i, 64.
, mustered out Oct. •», 1S61.
I -'. Samuel, lEdwalds ( ouiitv ). mustered 0111 Oct. 22. 1X61.
McKibl , Ii»iL-ht. (Edwards c '., uiilyi. mustered ..ut Oct. 2", '61.
MeCullom, Iiani. l.i E.I wards County i, mustered out Oct. 22, lxr.4.
Meln.se, I iilison, (Edwards County i', must, red out Oct. 22, 1X64.
MeCullom. William. (Edwards County), mustered out Oct. 22, '04.
Over, William. iKdwar. sC,,u,iti ,. musiere.i ..ut ( let. 22, 1864.
iirr, Albert, i Edwards County), mustered out Dot. 22 1x114.
Powell, Anson. (Edwards Coiinly,. mustered out Oct. 22. lsi'4.
Eeed.G. Charles, (Edwards County), died at Columbus, Ky., Aug.
.Cyr
ards County), mustered
Shelby, William, (Edwards Countv,, mustered out Oct. 22, 1X64.
Stanley, Luther. (Edwards County), died at Columbus, Ky., July
Scott, Thomas J., (Edwards County), died at Columbus, Ky., July
Sum'merfield, Charles F., (Edwards Co ), M. O. Oet 22, 1864.
Shenpard. Th s, [Edwards Count] I, 'mustered out Oct. 22. 1x64.
Bocllng, .!.•, incs K., (Edwards County •.muttered out OcizZ, 1x64.
Watson, Silas H., (Edwards County), died at Columbus, Ky,, July
Woods, Franklin, (Edwards County), mustered out Oct. 22, 1864.
Wode, Thonwa, (Edwards Countj i. mustered out ' ict. 22, 1*64.
Williams, James, (Edwards County), mustered out Oct. 22, 1864.
One Hundred and Fifty-Second Infantry.
This regiment was organized at Camp Butler, Illinois,
by Col. F. D. Stephenson. Mustered, Feb. 18, 1865,"
for one year. Feb. 20, ordered to Tullahoma, Tenn.,
and became part of Geu. Millroy's command. The
regiment was mustered out, Sept. 11, 18u5, at Memphis.
Ordered to Camp Butler, there received pay and dis-
charge.
MUSTEK BOLL COMPAKT P.
(—Wright, Bunting (Edwards Co.\ M. O. Sept. 1 1,'65, as serg-
lob T. Johnson. (Edwards County,, absent sj.-k since July
6, 18-.6: reduced to sergeant.
ithan MeKihbeii, , Edwards Co.), mustered out Sept. 11, 1865.
uel A. Rothraek, (Edwards Co.), mustered out Sept. 11, 1865.
Samuel 1'. Walk, (Edwards Co.). .M. O. Sept. 11, ixi;:., as private.
Curporalt— Henry J. Mc-Kil.bcn, (Edwards Co.i, muster,-.! "lit Sept. 11,1X65.
George. l'i\ley. (Edwards County,, musiere.i out Sept. 11, 1865.
' Roat, (Edwards County), mustered out Sept. 11, 1 —
.d'ied'al
wiiiiiim's'choVic-i.'i.' i'i., 'iw ar.is "','!. i.'a'i,-'.. iu' si,'-u'!lt' .tfo
Wesley Bond, (Edwards Co. i. died at Nashville, Tenn., Ju,y 11,'65.
Peter Kershaw, (Edwards Coiinly ,, iiiu-tcred out Sept. 11,1x66.
William Curtis, (Edwards c Kyi, mn-toivd out Sept. 11, 1866.
Harrison Kiw, (Edwards County), nmstered out July 22, 1865.
JlfMsfciaiw— Andrew L. Hedriok, (Edwards Co.), mustered out Sept. 11, 1X65.
Peter Hammaker, (Kdwards Co.), M. o. Sept. II, 1865, as privt.
Wagoner— Peter P. Piejve. (Edwards County), mustered out Sept. 11. 186.}.
Priiutca — Byers. Fmneis W. (Edwards Coinityi. mustered out Sept. 11, '65.
Borrell or llarne
mast
Cory, Thomas
nster out of Regiment.
TY. ThonUfl \\ . < ^..l^^;,^ds Coin
March 17, 1865.
ty), died at Tullahoma, Te
Clodfe
Fields, Jo
i,",Ulen (Edward* Count] '.n'u
eph (Edwards County), miiste
Edwin (Edwards Count] i, mu
Sept, II,
tercdout Sept. 11, 1
wit Sept H, 1MB.
r. l':iijali i I'
, Henry (E
I_D. (Edwards I ,',.,,
, mustered out Se
'** - tSep,
(in (Ec
-,. (Edward- Comity i, mustered (
Glade, Henry (Edwards County), nuistered out Sept. II, 1x6.
t Sept.' II
•pt. 11, 1X1
S lover, Alfred (Edwards
Harms, Henry (Kdwards County), mustered out Sept. II, 1865.
Jlollc.mam. H'irain (E.lwards County), mustered out Sept. II, '65.
]lill. William i Edwards County), nm-teivd out Sept. 11,1866.
Huey, Jacob (E.lwards County), died at Tullahoma.
Knailee. otto ,Eduards County), mustered out Sept. 11, 1S65.
Mv-Clure, Alex. H. (E.lwards Co.!. M. c >. Sept. 11, isn;,, as 1st
McKay, Jan
vi, musi,.re<l out Sept. 11,1865.
.), mustered out Sept. 11,1X60.
County), mustered out Sept. 11, 18(
mtyl, mustered out Sept. 11, 1865.
Edwards Co.), M. o. Sept. 11, ls(i.i.
lt\'i, mustered out Sept. 11, 18<lo.
niy). mustered out Sept. II, isilo.
_ ..ding, John (Edwards Coun
Nadimr, Samuel i Edward- County), mustered out t
NadiiiL-. Jacob ! I'.dwards Comity,, sterc-d out Sept". 11, Isilo.
< i\ er. .lames H. ( Edwards County), mustered out Sept. 11, 1865.
< )rr. Nol,le (Edwards County), nuistered out Sept, 11, 1865.
Pollard. John A. iF.dwa ds County i. ab-.-nt sick at M. O. of Regt.
Powell. Alison lEdw-irds County), must. -red out Sept. 11, Ixi',:,.
Hi.-,-, William s. (Edwards County), mustered out July :u, is,;:,.
r Joseph (Edward! ( ountvi.died at Tullahoma,
-., is,,:,.
Edward- (
liice, Claylioru (Kdwa-ds Coun'tyi, musician, absents
t,er out of Reiriment.
• " " •"-• J- "r,.), mustered out Sept. II, 1865.
nster.-. I out Sept. 11, 1X65.
n, ........... ... VIJv....,...s County'), died at Nashville,
ll.v, ion-: Jolm'w.TKdwards County), m ustered out Sept 11,1866.
..... e
Qu^issg'^
Seever Elias (F.dw
Uce, ( 'lav lorn i \'A-
I. r oiit'of liegitm
Roiram. 1, Henry F. (Edwards Co.),
Rich, Elias (Edwards County, mils
Rothraek, uiilian, 11. (Edwards
y),
.,. Henry (Edwards CoOnty), niuste,',-.! out Sept. 11, IMio
llolhroek. II. m'y !•'. ' Edwards Co.i, mustered out Sept. 11, IWio.
Moan. .Morris 11.' ilOlwar.ls County), mustered out Sept. II, 1KK5.
Shelbv. .lame- I!. 1 1-:. Iwards ( •..nun' ., mastered out Sept. 11, 1865.
Sl,ell'V,W,n. 11. (Edward- C My i, al ,-en, slek al M.S. of l(ej!t.
Steele, Arthur i Edwards C..unl>), mustered out Sept. 11, Isil',.
Shaw, William . Edwards C.imiU ), inuster.'d out Sept. II, 18U5.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WAS ASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
155
Tomlinson, .lames (Edwards County}, mustered out .Inly 1", lso.1.
Taylor, Win. or James (Edwards Co.), mastered out July i\ IS.B.
Valette, \Vtn. I'. lK.luar.ls County), mustered ,,ut Miiy •.'•!. Isiwi.
We-t, Charles ci. , Kduards County >. nri-trr.-.l .,nt Sept. 1 1, 1S«.
\V-st. John s. il-Mttiir.N County), iiiustcn-d out Sept. n. isn:,.
Jas. M. i Edwards Comny), mustered out s..,,t. II, ixo:,.
, .las. C. ( Kdward» County), mustered out Sept. 1 ', 1865.
ciiry (Kd wards Coiiutyi, 'mu.-ten-d out Sept. 11. 1865.
\V
Willis, II
Wood. Charli-s | I'M
ts,.,,t, n.i
it May .M, I
s County),
154th Infantry.
This regiment was organized at Camp Butler, Illinois,
February 21, 1865, under the call of December 19, 1864
Ordered to the front and reached Louisville, Ky., Feb.
21th, thence to Nashville on the 27th, and on March
2d, moved on to Murfreesboro, where they remained
until May 15. The regiment participated in no battles,
but, occasionally, had slight skirmishes, Sept. 18, 1865.
The regiment was mustered out at Nashville, Teun , and
ordered to Springfield, Illinois, for final payment and
discharge, which took place, Sept. 29th, 1865.
MUSTER ROLL, COMPANY E.
First Lieutenant— James H. Wright (Lawrence County), M. O. Sept. 18, 1865.
.svcmi'/ Li'iitniatit— Geo. B. Danforth (Lawrence County), M. O. Sept. 18,1805-
Fir,t Sergeant-Harvey W. Wright (Lawrence County), M. O. Sept. 18, 1865.
SeriieiiU— John B. Rich (Lawrence County), mustered out Sept. 18, 1865.
OirporaU— James c. s -v.-rns (Lawrence Co.i, M. O. Sept. 18, 1865 ; as sergt.
William N. Colton iLawriMlce County), M. (I. May •», 1865.
William II. Filk.-\ (Waba-h County], M. O. Sept. 18, 1865.
John Highsmith (Lawrence County), M. o. Sept. 18, 1805.
John L.Bidgley, Lawrence County i M. o. Sept. ix, 1805.
Benjamin S.' M.'.orc (Lawrence County), M. O. Sept, 18, 1805.
Musician-John Jackman (Lawrence County), M. O. Aug. 23, 1866, as priv't
Wagmter— John R. Hazelton (Edwards County), M. O. Sept. 18, 1805, as pv\
Privates— Allen, William F. (Lawrence County), M. O. Sept. 18, 1805.
Allen, otho W. !L-iwreii-e County), 'mustered out Sept. 18, 1X65.
•" n, Oscar (Wabash Co.), M. O. Aug.
•s. James J. (Lawrence County), r
.Ihcrs, Benjamin ( Lawrence Count. ).
itliers. William (Lawrence County).
iwn, Leand-r, (Lawrence Countyi mustered out Sept. 18,1865.
Bl.mkcu^hip, Craven (Lawrence Countv).
Bicklc,.lohn (Lawrence Co.), died at Nashville, Tenn., May 29, '05.
Conover, Isaac (Lawrence Co.), d. at Murfreesboro, T., May 4, '65.
im B. (Lawn-nee County), M. O. May 22, 1805.
,, mstercd out
unty).
Heath,' Robert (Lawrence Co.), M 6. Sept. II 18>-,.->, as corporal.
Highsmith, James M. (Lawrence County). M. O. Am;. 25, 1865.
Higgins, Harvey (Lawrence Co.), died at Murfreesboro, T., April
Hawking James K. P. (Lawrence County), M. O. Sept. 18, 1805.
Huffman, John (Lawrence County), mustered out Sept. IX, lxi;5.
Jones, Samuel (L.wrenoe County,, mustered out Sept. 18, 865.
Jackmau, Aaron II. I Lawn-uec County), M. (1. Sept. 18, 1805.
Lailghlin, John (Lawrence County,, must. -red out June W, 1805.
Latl-'lilin, William (Lawrence County), M. o. Sept. 18, 1805.
Laird, George W. i Lawrence County), M. O. Sept. 18, 1805.
Lewis, Jaui'-s i Lawrence County).
ibald 1'. (Lauren, -c'Coiintyl, M. 1 1, Sept. 18, 1865.
Moore, Til ford (1. awn-nee Countv,, mustered out Sept. IX, 1X65.
Moore, Archibald (Lawrence County), mustered out Sept. 18,1805.
Mo., re, Jonathan (Lawrence County), .died at Murfreesboro, T.,
April lit, 18135.
Myers, Preston (Lawrence Countv), must. -red out Sept. 18, 1805.
Mi-Petridge^John (Lawrence County), died at Murfreesboro, T.,
McFetridge, ^William H. (Lawrence County), died at Mnrfrees-
135th Infantry Volunteer*.
Was organized and mustered in at Camp Butler, Illinois,
Feb. 28th, 1865, for one year, by Colonel Gustavus A.
Smith. On March 2d, the regiment — 964 strong-
moved, via Louisville and Nashville, to Tullahoma,
Tenn., reported to Gen Milroy, and was assigned to the
i command of General Dudley. June 17tb, the regiment
was divided into detachments of twenty or thirty men
each, and did guard duty on the Nashville and Chat-
tanooga railroad, occupying the block-houses from Nash-
ville to Duck river, a distance of fifty miles. Sept. 4th,
the regiment was mustered out of service, and moved to
Camp Butler, Illinois, w!:ere it received final pay and
discharge.
MUSTER BOLL COMPANY B.
r, John (Lawrence Co).
,
li.,ro, T,, May 7, l»i
I lani.-l K. ( I. iwn
McGi
McGixin, -loliu (Lawn-nee County), muste
1'olt-s .I..-,-pli (Lawrem-e Countyi. absent
I'ittmaii, lieruardc. (Lawrence County),
County), M. O. Sept, 18, 1865.
), mustered out Sept. 18, 18(35.
sick at M. II. of regt.
absent with leave sinc
,
Pa'tt'on', John't). (Lawrence County), mustered out July 31, 1865.
Putnam, Lafayette [Lawrence County), mustered out Sept. 2ll, '115.
Kid-ley, Harrison i}. (Lawrence County), M. o. Sept. 18 1865.
n i, mustered out Scut, 18, 1865.
Shiek, Koi.ert F. (Lawrence County ), absenl sick at M. O. ofregt
Sliulls, Samil.-l i Lawn-nee County)', mustered out Sept. 18, 1X65.
W.-stm,,rlaiiil, .l.ilin l Lawn-nee County). M. ( ). Sept. 18. 1805.
-Witters, John i Lawn-nee Countyi mustered out May ^2, 1865.
3LL COMPANY O.
nustered out (as
Lieutenant — Jacob Tucker (Lawrence
sergeant) Sept. 18, 1865.
d— Charles Kow (Lawn-nee County), m
-Hlattner, Henry i Lawrence Countyi, mu-t -red out Sept. IX, Iwr,.
llen-miah. 11,-ilrv I Lawrence Co i.'.M. o. Sept. Is, lsr.5, as corpl.
Kicnitr, Wil n ,, mii-ton-d out Sept. Ix, IM;:,.
(ist.-n,i.,rf. Henry il.awn-nee County), mustered out Sept. Ix, iso5.
OlH-rmilcller, Join, I Lawn-lie,- County ), mu-tero. 1 out Sept. |8,'05.
Row. Francis M. il.awn- County,, mii-ten-d out Sept. Ix. Ixc,:,.
Tucker, (ieorne .Laurence County), mustered ..ut Sept. Is, is..-,.
T«kke,Chrisfcpher<Lawrence County), mustered out Sept. is, '65.
.Mi -ol i, A a roll, l.awtouee Co.), must. (
'avis, William (Lawrence Co.). must, out Sept. 4, IxivV, as 8e
Jo.), died at Tullahoma, Tenn., May
t Sept, 4, 1805, as Sergt.
,' must, out Sept. 4, 18(>.i, as Sergt.
Johnson, Ja,. K (Law. " ' '
2, 18H.-I.
Lee, Francis M. (Law
Aug. 16, 1865.
Lee, Charles K. i l.awre Co.), mustered out Sept. I, ixiir,
Co), died at Murfreesboro, Tenn.,
Is,;:,.
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY C.
Privates.— Cook, Thomas ( Lawrence Co.), mustered out Sept. 4, lxo.1.
MUSTER ROLL COMPAXY E.
Privates.— Baughman, Oliver (Edwards Co.), mustered out Sept. 4, 1865.
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY A.
/Virato.— Bueklin, Sylvester (Lawrence (Co.), mustered out Sept. 20,1865.
Godrich, Charles H. (Lawrence Co.i, mustered out Sept. -.11, 1x05.
Hayworth, William (Lawrence Co.i, mustered out Sept. -'u, Ixof,.
Noble, Lewis G. (Lawrence Co.), died at Memphis Aug. 8, 1865.
MUSTKR ROLL COMPANY F.
Mtaiciam.— George C. Grimes (Lawrence Co.), M. O. Aug. 25, 1805, as Sergt.
Layhourll, Benj. (Lawrence Co.), absent sick at M. O. of Regt.
Lawnoss, Isaac C. (Lawrence Co.) mustered out Sept. 20, 1805.
Loomis, Defariet (Lawrence Co.). mustered out Sept. 20, 1865.
136th Regiment Indiana Volunteer*.
The following named parties enlisted in this regiment
from Wabash county, Illinois :
J. T. Burkett, Company H, 136th Indiana Vols.
James Parkinson, Co. H, llloth Indiana Vols.
James H. llcall, Co. II, noth Indiana Vols.
Wm. P. Habberton. Co. II, lamli Indiana Vols.
James II. Bell, Co. II, 138th Indiana Vols.
8. 1). Greer, Co. II, Moth Indiana Vols.
. , . ,
L M. Turner Co. II
M. L. Tilton, Co. C,
. Tilton,
hen Willi
, . ,
Co. II l:!''.th Indiana Vols.
Co. C, i:ii;ih Indi
. . , . , .
Stc-phen Williamson, Co. C, i:ic,th Indiana Vols.
Jno. Voll, Co. C, llllitli Indiana Vols.
Christian Walter, Co. A. l:i«th Indiana Vols.
Mack H. Moyer, Co. F, 136th Indiana Vols.
Cavalry s, . » i. , I < li Cavalry Regiment.
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY A.
Stlt Cavalry Regiment.
This regiment was organized at-Camp Butler, Nov. 8,
1861. Ordered to Jefferson barracks, Mo., February
20, 1862. March 3d, reached Pilot Knob. On the
29th of June following became a part of General Curtis'
command. Also, took part in the fight at Cotton Plant,
and the expedition to Duvall's Bluff, and engaged in
the pursuit of Marmaduke. In July was with Sher-
man's army at Jackson, Miss. Was in the expeditions
to Meridian, Canton, Grenada and the Yellow Bush.
156'
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Participated in the battles and skirmishes at Browns-
ville, Port Gibson, Natchez and Tonica Bend. In '64
was in an expedition to Arkansas and Louisiana. Sta-
tioned for a time at Hempstead, Texas. Ordered to
Springfield, Ills. Was mustered out, receiving final pay-
ment, Oct. 30, 1865.
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY F.
Veterans.— Karns, John R. (Lawrence Co.) must, out Oct. 21, '65, as Sergt.
£e«rui(B.-Hendri,-k, Geuriro Edwards Co., must, out May 11,8865.
Snider, Jolm (Lawrence Co.) mustered out Oct. 21, 1865.
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY G.
BecruiU— Edmundson, William (Lawrence Ci ).
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY H.
£«m.ite.-Ewing, Johnson (Edwards Co.), died. Camp Butler, 111., Feb. 28,
Smith, William (Lawrence Co.)
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY I.
JJecruu'i-Audrews. Jno, (Lawrence Co.), Corpl. transf.to V.R.C. May.,15,'65
Buchannan. Joseph It. ( Lawn-nee Co.), must, out Oct. 27, 1865.
(•Impel, 1'hilo X. (Lawrence Co.i, mustered out Oct. 27, 1865.
Deirermes, Louis (Lawrence Co.,, mustered out Oct. 27. is,;;,.
Drennan. Betij. . Law-renew C,,.), died at Vicksburg Aug. 31
Eaton, Al,,li/,o , Laurence Co.i, 1 Uscharged July 2.',, 1864.
Ed.unudson.Jas. E. (Lawrence i ',..,. died at Vi disburg Aug.
31, 1864.
Aug. 8, '64.
'
England,' Jefferson" (Lawrence Co.)','died at VicksburgOcClo; 'i
' r, )Lawreii,-e c,,i, must, out Oct. 27, ISto.
chester,
arrison
;elley, Thomas J. (L'awrence_Co.), mustered
lieure, C
Orr, Jesse F. (Lawrence Co.), 'mi
[>:,tt,-rs,,n, George (Wabash Co.), mustered
Stherfand, George '(Wabash Co.V'mu
'John (
as. (La
r, Jesse F. (Law
Litherland, j'oh'n^Walsh Co.). (Hod at Vicksbu
Micure, ('has. (Lawrenc
It Oct. 27, 1865.
red out May 31, 1865.
died Lawrenceville, fll.?Ma?.' I™'.
ay 111. Itii.f
t Oct. 27, 1
I'elkey, Joseph Lawrence Co.), mustered out del -7. Is,,;,.
Potviiie, Clias. (Lawrence Co.), mustered out Oct 27,1865.
Patterson, Win. i \\al.ash Co.), died at Vicksburg March 28,1864.
k. John, I
t Oct. 27, 1865.
mse'y, James E. (Wabash Co.), must, out Oct. 27/1865, as Corpl.
i-iuc, Henry (Lawrence Co.), died at Memphis March Is, Ixii4.
ither Janu-s (Wai ash Co ), died at Vicksburg Nov. 5, 1864.
gans, Felix (Lawrence Co.), mustered out May 24. 1865.
ter, Henry (Lawrence Co.). mustered out ( let. H7, T,.'i, a) Corpl.
invn, U iiliam I Wai a,h Co.), must, out Oct. 27, 1865, as Sergt.
Warren, William (Wabash
... .music
Co.), mu,
IGNED RECRUITS.
ander (Lawrence
ohn (La\vren,.-c Co).
Coffman, Leander (Lawrence Co).
I'o ail Join, i La
- n, Willi
..liarn (Lawrence Co).
Southerland, Asa i Lawrence Co).
Smitbers. Louis M. , Lawrence Co).
^<f/,.fcm<.-Sylvanus Gard (Edwards Co.), resigned Aug. 29, 1865.
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY E.
Pint Lieutenant— Jos. Frazier (Edwards Co.), mustered ont Nov. 5, 1805.
,SVr,,>i,( /.i ,,ii',i,int.— Kliiah O. Tar], ley (Lawrence Co). ,
f\rtl Sergeant.— Arthur St. C'
&>?• ennl. — Jerfersor.JBpray (
Corporals.— James
David Great house (Edwards Co).
'arrier.— Chas. E. Marks (Edwards Co ), mustered out Jan. 4, 1865.
, James (Edwards Co.), mustered out Jan. 4, 1865.
rds Co ), ., , .
! ,u;,r,s (',,.) veteran.
(Edwards Co'), vet., died at Mound City, 111..
Farrie
Wl,(
Brock William (Edwards Co).
Blakely, Thomas (Edwards Co.), died at Memphis Oct. 7. 1864.
Blakely James A. (Wabash Co.), died at Memphis May 4, 1864.
Bvford, John H. (Edwards Co).
Bradshaw, John (Edwards Co).
Bratton, James (Edwards Co).
Bond, Leonard C. (Edwards Co.), vet., must, out Nov. 5, 1865.
Homi; Martin (Edwards Co).
liiehl Daatel [Edward* Co.), mustered out Jan. 4, 1865.
Cropper, Lovel I-:. (Edwards Co.), vet., must, out Nov. 5, 1865.
Curtis, Henry (Edwards Co).
, Daniel (Edwards Co.), mustered out Nov. 6, 1865.
-, Siou (Lawrence Co.), vet.,- mustered out May 5, 1805.
e, Thomas (Lawrence Co.), mustered out Jan. 10, 1865.
-1 (Lawrence Co.,, mustered out Jan. 4,1805.
. (Lawrence Co.), vet., must, out May 5, 1865.
ac (Edwards Co.), died in Gahaba prison, Ala.
Guyot', Ad'am'(Edward8 Co.), disch. Dec. 18. 1804. Term exp.
Hill, stcrlinu- M. i Edwards Co.), mustered out Jan. 4, 1805.
Lewis. Stephens. (Mdwards Co. , mustered out Jan. 4 1865.
Mounts, Thomas (Edwards Co.) disch. 1 IX, ls.14. Term Exp.
Mounts, Ilinuu l Edwards Co.), vet., mustered out Nov. 5, 1865.
Mullmcy, Win. (Lawrence Co.), disoli Dec. 18, 1866. Term exp.
mey, Wm. ( Lawrence Co.), discli. Hoc. 18, 1805.
1'ark, Eisberry I Edwards Co.), vet., mustered out NOT
Shelby, Georg'e C. (Edwards Co).
, .
Thread, Joliu'F. (Kilwards Co).
Terry, John A. (Edwards Co.), vet.,
Thorne, James T. t Edwanl* Co).
Turner, Jesse (Wabasli Co).
6, 18C5.
mustered out NOT. 5, )
,.. \qu.lla i .,
RecruUi.— Clodlelter, George (Edwards Co.), vet.
MUSTEK ROLL COMPANY F.
Corporal-Samuel F. Drake (Wabash Co).
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY M.
SeventH Cavalry.
This regiment was organized September, 1861, with
Col. \Vm. Pitt Kellogg in command.
Captains— Jolm Etheridge, (Edwards Co.), pro. to 1st sergt. then 2d and 1st
lieut. pro. capt. May -::, ]x.i:i, mu.-ter.-d out Nov. 5, 18-6.
Corporals— Hull, r Enlow i I •:.!« I'u-ds Co.), 'disch. March 1-1, 18li:i; disability.
Joseph Noble, tWabasb County I, died Jan. 8, 1862.
Jilt/., (Edwards Co.), 'vet., M. 1 1. Nov. 4, 18Ur.,as corpl.
ITS, (Edwards Coiinn I. di-eli. Nov. r. lx(12: disability.
11, John (Edwaids County), transferred to Regimental
Hell, lor. I
Etheridg
Etheridge, Michael • Edwards Co.), M. u. i let. ir,.'i;4, as corporal.
Enlnjv, .lames \V. (Edwards Co.-. dis. (let. 27, '02, as corpl.; dis'ty.
Helke. John G. (Edwards Co.i, vet., M. d. Nov. 4', 1 SIM, as corpl.
Hta-sum, George (Edwards Co.), vet., M. O. Nov. 4,'ii5, as sergt.
L'scher, Samuel n. (Wabash County), vet., promoted Assistar,
. (Wa
. C. I.
urireon. K . .
cC ary, John (Edwards County), died J
axwefl,
. .
n (Edwards County), died Jan. 22, 1862.
rire l; (Edwards Co.i, M. ( ). Oct. l.\ 1 SI14, as sergt.
K. (Edwards Co.), vet.. M. < I. -Nov. 4,'<i5, as 1st sergt.
Maxwell, Geor
(irin. diaries J
Hull, Augustus (Edwards Co.i, killed at Memphis. Aug. 21, 1864r
Smith. Stephen (.Edwards County), mustered out (let. 15,1864.
Spencer, Henry E. (Edwards Co.), vet., M. O. Nov. 4 ,'H5, as sergt.
Taylor. Jolm (Edwards, oiiniy). vet., mu-tercd ,,iit N( '
Vo'ijjt. F A. (Edwards Co.i, vet., M. O. Nov. 4, 1865, as
Rtcrmfo— Goforth,
4 ,'H5, as s,
t NOT. 4, 18
Webber, Mat'hias (Edw»rds Co.)', M. O. Oct. 10, ISfiS^as^rgeant.
\\ icd, John , ICdwards Co.), vet . M. o. Nov. 4, '(15, as blacksmith.
( ;,,t"i -th, Wm. A. (Waba-h County), mustered out Nov. 4, 1865.
.(Wai
(Edwa
4USTER ROLL COMPANY G.
Recruit— Leathers, John M. (Wabaah County), mustered out Nov. 4, 1865.
UncuMt/neit Ittcruits— Phillips, George (Lawrence County.)
Itobinson, George (Lawrence County.)
MUSTER ROLL
Private— Hutchinson, Claiborn D. (Law:
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY H.
Ebenezer C. Litherland, (Wabash County), mustered
,bash (
ll Coll
County), died May 29, 1863.
Corpora;— Alfred II. Clark, (Wabash County.)
Akin, Joseph (WaWh County )
Fowler, Frederick (Wabash County.) .
t at Consolidation.
JW»l«-Akin, Jo
Phillip-, Absalom (Wahash County.)
liamsav James E (Wabaeh Co.), disch. Oct. 7, 1861; disability.
Thompson, William (Wabash County), died at Benton Barracks,
Ticejjoseph J. (Wabash County.)
Hill. Elkanah M. i Wabash County), sergeant, transferred to Co. I
10th Cavalry as Consolidated.
Battery M, First Artillery.
liel (La
Ralph, Joseph (L
Unassigmd Itea-uUs — Clay, Henry. Caton, Thomas.
First Army Corpa.
ENLISTED MEN OF COMPANV NO. 6.
Metzdorf, Anton (Lawrence County.)
Mitchel, Adam (Lawrence County.)
Kambeau, Lewis (Lawrence County.)
and V. S. Artillery.
RECRUIT FOR THE
Smith, John (Law
County.)
, CHAPTER XII.
COMMON SCHOOLS.
THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS. — THE SCHOOL SYS-
TEM OF THE STATE — ITS GROWTH, RESOURCES
AND MANAGEMENT.
E educational history of few even of the older
States is more instructive or full of interest
than the educational history of Illinois, and
especially that part relating to the development and
growth of her system of common schools. It haa en-
couraged and nurtured education since its admission
into the Union.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
157
The present school system really dates from January
15, 1825. Illinois was admitted as a State in 1818, and
the act of admission contains the following stipulations
imposed by Congress: "Whereas the Congress of the
United States, in the act entitled " An act to enable the
people of Illinois Territory to form a constitution and
State government, and for the admission of such State
in the Union on equal footing with the original States,
passed the ±3ih of April, 1818, have offered to this con-
vention, for the free acceptance or rejection, the follow-
ing proposition, which, if accepted by the convention,
are to be obligatory upon the United States, viz : 1.
The section numbered sixteen in every township, and
when such section has been sold, or otherwise disposed
of, other land equivalent thereto, and as contiguous as
may be, shall be granted to the State for the use of the
inhabitants of such township for the use of schools. 2.
That all salt springs within such State shall be granted
to the said State for the use of said State, and the same
to be used under such terms, and conditions and regula-
tions as the Legislature of said State shall direct: Pro-
vided, the Legislature shall never sell or lease the same
for a longer period than ten years at any one time. 3.
That five per cent, of the net proceeds of the lands lying
within such State, and which shall be sold by Congress
from and after the first day of January, 1819, after de-
ducting all expenses incident to the same, shall be re-
served for the purposes following, viz. : Two-fifths to
be disbursed under the direction of Congress, in making
roads leading to the State ; the residue to be appropri-
ated by the Legislature of the State for the encourage-
ment of learning, of which one- sixth part shall be ex-
clusively bestowed on a college or university. 4. That
thirty-six sections, or one entire township, which will be
designated by the President of the United States, to-
gether with the one heretofore reserved for that purpose,
shall be reserved for the use of a seminary, and vested
in the Legislature of the said State, to be appropriated
solely to the use of said seminary by the said Legisla-
ture.
From the foregoing it will be seen with what care and !
jealou-y the general government guarded the school 1
interests of the new formed States. These grants and
conditions were accepted by the convention which assem-
bled at Kaskaskia in July, 1818, for the purpose of i
framing a constitution for the new State. Hon. Shad- '
rach Bond, a man of marked ability was elected firat
Governor of Illinois. In his inaugrfral address to the
general assembly, he called their special attention to the I
educational interests of the State in the following forci-
ble language : "The subject of education, the means for
which have been so amply provided by the bounty of
the general government, cannot fail to engross your se-
rious attention. It would be well to provide for the ap-
pointment or election of trustees in each township, suffi-
ciently populated, and empower them to lease, for a
limited period, the section of land reserved and granted
for the use of schools within the same, requiring them
to appropriate the rents arising therefrom to such use
and in the manner to be prescribed by law. The town-
| ships of land which have been granted to the State for
the use of a seminary of learning, cannot, it is believed,
be so disposed of at present as to authorize the passage
of a law to commence the undertaking ; but at least a
part of them may be leased, and the rents arising there-
from may be laid up or vested in some productive fund
as a secure deposit to be hereafter appropriated to the
object to which the grants were made ; such a course
will render those lands productive, and when the period
shall arrive at which it may be advisable to sell them,
they will be extensively improved and of great value.
These donations, together with the three per cent, upon
the net proceeds arising from the sale of the public lands
within the State, which have been appropriated for
similar purposes, with proper arrangements, will create
a fund sufficiently large to educate the children of the
State to the remotest period of time. It is our imperious
j duty, for the faithful performance of which we are an-
swerable to God and our country, to watch over this
interesting subject. No employment can be more en-
gaging than those of husbanding those resources which
will spread through all classes of our fellow-citizens the
means of wisdom and of knowledge, which in the free-
dom of our institutions will make the child of the poor-
est parent a useful member of society and an ornament
to his country."
The first general assembly was too much engrossed
with other matters of state to give this portion of the
governor's message the attention it deserved ; but at
its second session it took cognizance of the recommenda-
! tions contained in his first message, and a bill was
passed by both houses, and approved by the governor,
March 2, 1819. It provided for the appointment by the
county commissioners in each and every county, of three
trustees in each township, who were in six months after
appointment authorized to employ a surveyor, who should
lay off section sixteen in each township into lots not con-
taining less than forty nor more than one one hundred
and sixty acres, and to lease the same for a term of ten
years, for the purpose of creating a revenue for school
purposes. As this law was general in its tenor, it was
sufficient to protect and throw around these school lauds
a proper safeguard ; and had the recommendations of
the governor and the provisions of the law been ad-
hered to until the lands became valuable, the public
fund in nearly every township in the state would be
to-day sufficient to maintain our public schools, without
special taxation. Unwise counsel prevailed somewhere,
and the most of this munificent gift of the general gov-
ernment has been largely sacrificed.
From 1819 to 1825 but few changes wereraade in the
school law. Although the changes were &w and un-
important, there was a decided growing sentiment fa-
vorable to the free-school system ; and in 1825 the
general assembly passed an act providing for the estab-
lishment and maintenance of public schools. In the
158
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WAD ASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
preamble to the act, the following patriotic sentiment
was expressed : " To enjoy our rights and liberties, we
must understand them ; their security and protection
ought to be the first object of a free people, and it is a
well-established fact that no nation has ever continued
long in the enjoyment of civil and political freedom
which was not both virtuous and enlightened ; and be-
lieving the advancement of literature always has been,
and ever will be the means of developing more fully
the rights of man, that the mind of every citizen in a
republic i* the common property of society and consti-
tutes the basis of its strength and happiness. It is,
therefore, considered the peculiar duty of a free gov-
ernment like ours to encourage and extend the improve-
ment and cultivation of the intellectual energies of the
whole."
This act is unquestionably the foundation-stone of the
grand structure of the present free-school system of the
state of Illinois. The act was mandatory, as will be
seen from the language of the statute in the following
passage: "There shall be established a common school
or schools in each of the counties of this state, which
shall be open to every class of white citizens between the
ages of five and twenty-one years." It also provided
for the election in each district of the following officers:
Three trustees, one treasurer, one clerk, one assessor
and one collector. The trustees were empowered to
perform many of the functions now allotted to the duty
of county school superintendents, such as the examina-
tion of teachers, visiting and superintending schools,
reporting to the commissioners, et •. Some of the pro-
visions of the law of 1825 were repealed by the act of
1827, creating a general law of the state relating to the
common schools ; but no material changes were made
until 1841, when the legislature made a complete revi-
sion of the school law, approved February 26th, 1841.
Among the changes by this act were the following
provisions : Each township was entitled to have as many
schools as the inhabitants of such township desired ; the
people of every organized district were required to meet
and elect from their number three trustees, and to agree
upon the plan and manner of conducting the school.
These trustees or directors were vested with power to
execute the plan adopted, and were required to visit
and superintend the schools. This law was the first that
required schedules to be kept by the teachers and re-
turned to the township treasurers. It also required a
teacher to pass an examination for a certificate to teach.
The law did not mention the branches to be taught, nor
did it specify the branches in which the teacher should
be examined, but required that the certificate, when
issued, should enumerate the branches in which the ap-
plicant was qualified to teach.
In 1845 another revision of the school law was made,
and many new features were incorporated in it. The
secretary of state became ex-officio state superintendent
of schools. Among his various duties the statute pro-
vided that he should counsel with experienced teachers
relating to the latest and most approved methods of
conducting the common schools ; he was required to
advise the school commissioners as to the best manner
of managing the schools— of constructing school-houses,
and procuring competent teachers ; to recommend the
best text-books, charts, maps etc., and to bring about a
uniformity of the same. Under thh law — whose duties
were those of secretary of state — the first state super-
intendent was the Hon. Thomas Campbell, who made a
very efficient and useful officer. Many of the sugges-
tions made by him in his report to the governor could be
used with profit to our school system of to day.
The duties of Secretary of State confined his atten-
tion almost wholly to his office as the State developed,
and the demands for a special officer to discharge the
duties of this department became a necessity. Hence, in
1854, the Legislature passed a law making "the office of
State Superintendent of Public Instruction aseparate one.
The duties to be performed were similar to those under
the act of 1845. The office was to be filled by appoint-
ment by the Governor until after the election in 1855.
The Hon. NJnian Edwards, received the appointment,
and was the first to have the honor of framing a bill for
the unification of the school system of the State.
Again in 1872, there was another general revision of
the school law, since which time there have been but
few important changes made. Of this last revision, we
should do this history great injustice without the men-
tion of the name of Hon. Newton Bateman, who has no
superior in this country, ad a an educator, or friend to
the free-school system. Oar Legislators, in the above
mentioned revision, which caused our common schools
to rank with the best in the land, gave the greatest heed
to his judgment and counsel.
From the foregoing it will be seen there have been
five marked epochs in the school history of Illinois —
1825, 1841, 1845, 1854 and 1872. In the main we have
a most excellent free-school system in our State ; but
there are changes that should be made iu the law, which
would prove wholesome to all concerned. We have
special reference to the want of clearness in the lan-
guage of the statute. The school law, above all others,
should be the plainest in all its details, and so well
arranged as to be intelligible to all who are able to
read.
The permanent school fund of the State comprises :
1st, the school fund proper, being three per cent, upon
the net proceeds of the sales of public lands in the
State, one sixth part excepted ; 2nd, the college funds,
consisting of the above one-sixth part ; 3rd, the surplus
revenue derived from the distribution in 1836, of the
surplus revenue of the United States; 4th, the seminary
fund, derived from sales of lands granted to the
State by the General Government; 5th, county funds
created by the Legislature in 1835 ; 6th, township funds,
arising from the sale of public lands granted by Con-
gress for common school purposes.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WAS ASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
159
EDWARDS COUNTY.
THE EARLY SCHOOLS.
To establish and maintain a school in a- new country,
is and has been, one of the difficult problems of the first
settlers. These inhabitants were backwoods hunters,
whose cabins are several miles apart. Their mode of
life requires no education in the scholastic meaning of
the term. Their habits are independent of literary ac-
quirements, and their children grow up without knowing
how to execute the most simple sum by the rules of
arithmetic, or write a word, or read a sentence Yet
some of these untutored men of the woods, by some
complex reasoning of their own, are capable of reach-
ing correct results with greater dispatch than those who
have mastered the books. In a town or village, even
in its infancy, a school may be established and main-
tained. If there be but a half-score of families, a
school is easily assembled, and a suitable teacher pro-
cured. This was the case in Albion, in its earliest days,
as it was here that the first school was taught, in what
is now Edwards county. The teacher was Oswald War-
rington, who had come to the county from England,
among the first emigrants. This school was established
in 1819, and was what is termed a private or subscrip-
tion school. Mr. Warrington excelled in penmanship,
and there were many of the young men of that early
day, who owed their skill in writing to their first master,
Mr. Warringtou. He subsequently removed to Cincin-
nati and went into the mercantile business. The first
regular or public school in Albion, was conducted by
John Love, in an old building then situated, on the lot
of Robert Curdling. Ex-Governor French, was also
among the early teachers of the town. The first school
building erected here, was situated on the ground now
occupied by the Presbyterian church.
The first school taught outside of the town of Albion,
was about three miles west of the village. The school-
house was the old style log building with puncheon
floor, seats and desks, and a hole cut out in one of the
sides to admit the light, which was failed a window.
The manner and means of building_it were as unique as
the structure. Four or five English farmers and two or
three New Englanders, living in what was then consid-
ered a close neighborhood, none being more than a mile
from the common center, met at an appointed time,
some with oxen and others with axes. They went to a
neighboring wood, (Congress !and) where they prepared
the logs and hauled1 them to the spot chosen for the site.
The raising was performed by the united efforts of those
interested in the school. It is said that it was at this
school-house, that Ex- Governor Augustus C. French
taught his first school. The first teacher in this school-
house was Isaac Coper, in 1820.
The first school-house built and the first school taught
in French Creek precinct, was in 1821. The school-
house was a rude log building of the primitive style,
and was situated in section 17, township 3 south, range
14 west, and within the northern limits of the city
of Graysville. The first teacher was Daniel R. Jacobs,
" and in his time was considered good."
In Salem precinct, although having territory among the
first settled in the county, the pioneers were so few and
scattered, that it was not until 1824, that a school could
be established and maintained. The first school-build-
ing was erected in the above year, and was situated on
the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section
21. The building was of round logs and other appur-
tenances to match. It is claimed, however, that this
building had a window of real glats, instead of the
usual greased paper posted over the aperture to admit
light. Prior to the building of this house, a school had
been taught a year or so before, in a deserted cabin
The first teacher's name that we are able to record in this
part of the county, was a colored ruan, by the name of
Sweat. Other early teachers w.ere, Lothrop Rude and
Daniel Abbey.
In Dixon precinct, the first school was taught in a log
cabin, situated on the Churchill land, in 1824. The
teacher was Daniel Bain, a transient person from some
part of the east. He taught but a term or two, and
afterwards migrated to some other portion of the State.
The first school in Shelby precinct was taught by a
Mr. McCowen, in 1827. The place for holding the
school was in a log cabin, located in the northwest quar-
ter of the southeast quarter of section 33, township 1
| north. The next teacher was a man by the name of
Moore. The first building erected for school purposes
was in 1856. It was a frame building, and was situated
in section 33, township 1 north.
The text-books of those times were such books as the
family might have at hand, some read in the Testament,
others in histories or biographies such as the family
library could produce. There was no uniformity of
books in the schools, and classification was not thought
of. Each pupil was trotted up to the master's side and
I read or recited according to the book he might po.-sc.-.*.
j In a few years, a partial system of text-books came into
160
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
use, and the cause of teaching received quite an impe-
tus. The first real system of text-books was not intro-
du.ced until about 1835. Among those used in the
count}' were Pike's, Smiley's and Smith's arithmetics ;
Murray's, Smith's and Kirkham's grammars; the old
English reader, and later, Goodrich's series ; Morse's,
and Mitchell's geographies ; and above and beyond all
as the text-book, was the old " blue back," Webster's
spelling book. Sometimes we hear those of this more
progressive age, condemning the " fogies," as they term
the old people, because of their advocacy and desires of
again placing the " blue back" speller in our schools.
If " Young America " could comprehend the value, in
its time, of this much reverenced, now abused book, they
would surely be prepared to exercise the charity for the
merits of an auxiliary, which, for the good it has served,
cannot be supplanted by any other text-book which is
now or shall in the future be placed in print.
The progress of the schools of the county has been of
a slow but healthy growth. The sixteenth section of
each township, granted under the stipulations of the ad-
mission of the State into the Union, have been disposed
of, and the proceeds distributed to the various town-
ships. The swamp land fund of five townships is yet in
the hands of the county superintendent, and subject to
his distribution of interest. The school, college and
seminary fund in 1841, was $1,637.05, and the amount
paid out for school purposes to that time was, $1,188.49,
leaving a balance in favor of the county, $499 46. The
following is a showing of the school affairs of the county
for 1858, acording to the biennial report of the State
Superintendent for that date:
Whole number of schocls in the county
Average number of months taught
Number of male teachers
Number of female teachers
Average salary of male teachers
Average salary of female teachers
Number of male scholars
Number of" female scholars •
Number of school-houses built in the yoar
Number of school-houses
Number of white persons under twenty-one
Number of while persons between five and twenty-one
Amount paid to leachers
For building, repairing and renting school-houses
Whole amount received for school purposes
Whole amount expended for school purposes
Number of colored persons in county under twenty-one years .
Number of colored persons in county between ages of five and
815
1,1 r.n
1,7(12
$1,447
81,454
•$4,529
$5,116
In 1867, we glean the following from the report of
the County Superintendent to the State Superintendent :
Whit» persons between the ages of six und twenty-ono 2,614
Colored persons between the ages of six and twenty-one .... 82
Number of school-houses 47
Number of school districts 39
Number of schools in the county 44
Whole number of pupils in attendance 2,046
Number of teachers in the county 64
Amount of state and county funds $2,878,21
Amount paid to teachers $7,145.04
Total expenditures for the year $14,*85.87
Highest wages paid 875.00
I.ow.'st wages paid J9..M
Again, in 1882, we glean fr. m the annual report as
follows :
Number of pupils between the ages of six and twenty-one .... 3,083
Number of school districts 43
Nunbor of schools conducted in the county «
Number of pupils in attendance 2,568
Number of teachers in the county 63
Number of school-houses 48
Highest wages paid $84.00
Lowest wages paid $ie.oo
Total amount paid teachers $11,748.77
Total expenditures of schools $15,794.66
Amount on hand due the county $3,;toii.68
Henry Bowman was appointed the first school com-
missioner in 1838. Mr. Bowman died soon after ap-
pointment, when Henry I. Mills was appointed to fill the
vacancy, which position he held until 1842. His
successor was James Hean, who served until 18ol. The
following is a roster of school commissioners and super-
intendents to the present time : Cyrus Rice in office
from 1851-61 ; Edgar W. Brandon from 1861-65.
Subsequent to this date the name of the office is changed
to "County Superintendent of schools." In 1865,
Lothrop T. Eude was elected, and served until 1869,
when Levinus Harris was elected, and has filled the
office to the present time.
The following are the names of the present school
treasurers of the county :
Township 2 south, range 10 east, E. H. Harwick.
Township 1 south, range 10 east, B. P. Reid.
Township 3 south, ranges 10 and 11 east, Thomas W.
Gibson.
Township 3 south, range 14 west, C H. Spring.
Township 2 south, range 14 west, John Marriott.
Township 1 south, range 14 west, Orion Rice.
Township 1 north, range 10 east, Robert Marshall.
Township 2 north, range 10 east, M. L. Howe.
Township 1 north, range 11 east, H. A. Tietze.
Township 1 north, range 14 west, H. A. Tietze.
Township 2 north, range 14 west, J. A. Berry.
Township 2 north, range 11 east, E. R. Harrison.
Township 1 south, range 11 east, James Stone.
Township 2 south, range 11 east, E. D. Jacobs.
The first teachers' institute in the county was held at
Albion, in the fall of 1866, and was conducted but three
days. This was under the instruction and management
of L. T. Rude, County Superintendent, and Levinus
Harris, present Superintendent. The number of teach-
ers in attendance was about fifteen. With the exception
of two years these associations have been kept up, and
have been productive of much good lo the teachers and
school interests of this county. These associations have
been mainly under the supervision of the present effi-
cient County Superintendent, Levinus Harris. In 1880
a Normal Institute, of eleven weeks' duration was con-
ducted by the County Superintendent and Charles Har-
ris, there being about seventy persons in attendance.
The year following, another Normal session was held for
a term of eight weeks, the same parties conducting it.
In the institute, all the common branches were taught.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
161
also the " sciences," book-keeping, theory, and practice
in teaching, and Latin. Among the assistants in these
institutes was the popular educator, Professor James H.
Brownlee, of Carbondale, who takes a prominent rank
among the able educators of Illinois.
Monthly teachers' associations are held in different
portions of the county, and much good is growing out
of them. The grade for obtaining license to teach is
well up with the times, and it may be truthfully be said
that the present Superintendent of Schools, is discharg-
ing his duties in an efficient and conscientious manner.
LAWHENCE COUNTY.
THE EARLY SCHOOLS.
From the best information, the first regular school
taught in Lawrence county was in 1817, by George
Godfrey. The school was conducted in one of the log
houses situated within a fort built in Dennison township,
during the time of the Indian troubles. Prior to this he
had taught in Compton fort, at Allendale, Wabash
county. A school-house was built in 1826, and situated
in section seventeen, township three, range eleven. Chas.
Martin taught the first school in it. Another early
teacher in this precinct was Jeremiah Flemming. A
school was taught in Lawrence precinct as early as 1818,
Lakin Ryle being the first teacher. The school was
kept in a deserted log cabin situated in section 34,
township 4, range 12, Mr. Ryle taught in this vicinity
for several years, when his health failed, and he was
obliged to cease his labors. The fint house built for
school purposes, was in 1822, and was located in section
3, township 3, range 12. It was constructed of sound
hickory logs, and was of the most primitive style.
A double log building, for both school and church
purposes, was erected by the New Light or Christian
denomination in Allison township, as early as 1818.
Eli Harris was one of the first teachers. The house was
named "Center " school-house, and is known as such to
the present time. It has been remodeled and repaired
from time to time, and is yet in a fair state of preserva-
tion, and used for school purposes. A school was
taught in 1819 by John Martin, in a small pole cabin
situated in section 18, township 3, range 12, Bridgeport
precinct. About two years later, a log house was built
for school use, not far from the above cabin, and was
known as "Spring Hill '' school-house. This being the
first locality settled in the west part of the county, the
children for several miles around, attended school in this
house for quite a number of years. Another early
teacher, of this portion of the county, was James
Swainey.
The first teaching done in Luken township was in
1819, by Mrs. Clark. The school was conducted at her
own house, situated in section 24, township 2, range 13.
A log house was built in 1820, and located in section
24, township 2, range 12. In the spring of .1819, Ag-
21
nes Carrie taught a select school of about fifteen pupils.
The school was conducted in an abandoned log house in
the door yard of her father, in section 30. The first
school taught in Bond township was about 1820. A
school house was built in 1822, and was situated near
what is now Pinkstaff station. About the same time,
another house was built about two miles east of the
station. These houses accommodated this entire settle-
ment. In 1828 they united and built a house in the
Dolahan neighborhood. The first teachers were, Law-
son Childers John Dolahan, and a man by the name of
White.
Samuel Borden. a native of New Jersey, taught the
first -school in Russell township, as early as 1817. The
school was conducted in a vacated cabin, situated in sec-
tion 4, township 4, range 10. The first house built for
school purposes was in 1822, and located in section 5,
township 4, range 10. Petty precinct did not afford a
school building until 1833. It was constructed of round
logs, and was situated on the southeast quarter of the
northwest quarter of section 30, township 4, range 12.
Washington Douglas was one of the first teachers.
To show the progress the schools have made within
the last two decades, we here append a synopsis of a re-
port of the condition of the common schools made in
1862, and also the statistics of similar items made in
1882.
For the year ending October 1, 1862, the following
report is given.
Whole number of schools in the county ' %
Whole number of pupils in attendance 2,922
Whole number of male teachers 62
Whole number of female touchers - - H
Whole number of districts 67
Whole number of districts having six months school or more . 45
Whole numberof school-houses 60
Amount outstanding district debts J 725
Surplus in treasury belonging to districts 620
Highest monthly wages paid teachers 40
Lowest monthly wages paid teachers 7
Principal of county fund 1,*83
Total amount received for school purposes 8,198
Total amount of expenditures 7,'180
Report for the year ending June 30, 1882 :
Whole numberof districts in the county 67
Whole number of school-houses • • 70
Total number of graded schools 8
Total number of pupils enrolled 4,070
Total number of teachers in the county 113
Highest monthly wages paid $ 75.00
Lowest monthly wages paid 12,00
Estimated value of school property • 38,700
Bonded school debt 3,891
Principal of county fund 2,339.47
Total receipts for the year 32,837.54
Total expenditures $20,909.54
The only Normal Institute held in the county was in
the summer of 1880. The session was conducted six
weeks under the efficient management of Prof. P. J.
Anderson, aided by Prof J. H. Brownlee of Carbondale,
and Prof. L. Prugh of Vincennes. Fifty-two teachers
were enrolled, and much good grew out of this brief ses-
sion. An annual Teachers' Institute of five or six days
duration, is conducted by the county superintendent.
162
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
These meetings are held in various parts of the county,
and, usually, are very well attended.
The following is a roster of the School Commissioners
and County Superintendents since the office was estab-
lished: Abner Greer was appointed Sept. 7th, 1836,
and was removed at the June term of the commissioners'
court, 1842, for failing to file his bond. William R.
Jackson served from 1842 to 1844 ; A. S. Badollet, from
1844 to 1857 ; Luenberg Abernathy, from 1857 to 1861 ;
Johii B. Saye, from 1861 to 1865 ; T. P. Lowery, from
1865 to 1869 ; O. V. Smith, from 1869 to 1873 ; F. W.
Cox, from 1873 to 1881. C. H. Martin was appointed
by the county board for the year 1882, when Mr. Mar-
tin was elected by the people for four years, and is thus
the present incumbent.
We give below a list of the names and location of the
present school treasurers :
N. H. Norton, township 3, range 10
T. J. Ford,
4, "
ID
William H. Higgins, ".
5, "
10
Wesley Potts.
2, "
H
E. Schmalhaasen,
3, "
11
Lee Warner,
4, "
11
John B. Rich,
5, "
11
A. B. Buchanan, "
2, "
ll>
Walter L. Gray,
3, "
12
Samuel Stoltz,
4, "
12
E. Rundle
5, "
12
Stephen E. Morgan, "
2, «
13
C. B. Jones,
3, "
13
C. H. Martin,
4, "
13
David A. Watts, "
5, "
13
WABASH COUNTY,
THE EARLY SCHOOLS
The privileges for an education among the pioneer
children were of the most meagre kind ; yet the first set-
lers did what was within their power and means to give
them the advantages of an education sufficient to meet
the" requirements of the times. This will be made man-
ifest, when it is known that they, even in the perilous
times of frontier life, surrounded by wild savages, did
not neglect this important duty to their children. The
first lessons were given in the forts by persons selected
who were capable of giving the needed instruction.
The first regular school taught in the county of which
we have any record, was in 1816. It was con-
ducted in a deserted log cabin near Barney's Fort, in
Friendsville precinct. The first teachers in this house
were John Griffith and Betsey Osgood. A house was
erected for school purposes in 1820, a quarter of a
mile east of Friendsville. Its structure and appurte-
nances were of the usual style of those days, being con-
structed of round logs, puncheon floor, puncheon
seats and desks, greased paper pasted over a crevice for
lighting purposes, etc., etc. The village of Friendsville
has performed a creditable part in the matter of higher
| education. For some years prior to 1866, Rev Samuel
Baldridge had instructed pupils in the classics and other
j higher branches of learning in the church. In that
' year, through the efforts of Mr. Baldridge seconded by
the friends of education, a building was erected for high
j school purposes, and till recently was occupied in that
behalf by Mr. Baldridge himself. The school has turned
out some apt and proficient scholars who have taken
their places in business, or found their way into our col-
leges or seminaries. The building is a frame, 40x60
feet, and is surmounted by a bell tower, supplied with a
bell. The public school of the village is in a prosperous
coudition. The school-house is a frame building 30x40
feet in foundation, and was erected about 1866. The
schools of the precinct are generally in a prosperous con-
dition, under the management of efficient teachers and
are supplied with comfortable buildings and proper
equipments.
The first school taught in Coffee precinct was as early
as 1818, by William Townsend. He was a single man,
and not only taught school, but conducted religious ser-
vices in the settlement. The school-house was of the
primitive style, and was situated on the southeast quar-
ter of the southeast quarter of section 10. Townseud
taught in this house, and was succeeded by Reuben
Fox. The latter became quite a fixture, and taught in
the county for several years. The pupils who attended
this first school were of the name of Arnold, Landsdown,
Baird, Lovellette, and Degan, and were about twenty in
number.
Reuben Fox taught school in Compton Fort, in Wa-
bash precinct, probably in 1814 or '15. In this school
James Stillwell received all the education he ever got.
Robert Gibson, of Warren county Kentucky, a nephew
of Levi Comptou, visited his relations in the Timber Set-
tlement, and taught school between the years 1815 and
j 1818. A log dwelling was converted into a school-house
about the year 1820. It stood in Section 13, Township
1 North, Range 12 West. The first school was taught
j by Morris Phelps, who afterward became a Mormon
preacher and emigrated to Utah. A log school-house
was built about 1824, at the center of section 14, same
town and range. Stephen Midget, now one of the judges
of the county court, who lived in the neighborhood, at
one time taught school in this building.
The first school house in Allendale was built original-
ly in old Timberville, and was moved to the former vil-
lage. The present school-house is a handsome brick,
two-story, three-room building, and was erected in 1879
at a cost, including furniture, of about $4,000.
Schools were conducted in Mt. Carrael as early as
1819. The first teachers were : Mr. Curry, Mr. Schu-
field, — and, a little later, Mrs. Joy became one of the
prominent teachers. A school-house was not built until
about 1823. It was a log building of small pretensions,
and was situated on the lot now occupied by Charles
Russell.
From this rude beginning the schools of this city have
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
163
grown to magnificent proportions. Her school-houses
are large and commodious, well furnished and well sup-
plied with the means of making study pleasant as well
as profitable. They are now under the efficient manage-
ment of Prof. J. W. Henuinger, supported by an able
corps of assistants, and are in a flourishing condition.
The first school taught in Lancaster precinct was in
1820, by a man of the name of Abbott. The cabin in
which he taught stood on the west half of the northeast
quarter of section 3. In 1822 a school building was
erected on the present site of Lancaster. The first to :
teach here was Reuben Fox. A few years later the !
house was moved a half mile west to accommodate the
settlers on Long Prairie.
A frame school building was built in the village in
1846. It served its purpose for a period of twenty years,
but was outgrown by the numerical increase of pupils,
and was superseded, in 1866, by the present frame two-
story building ertcted at a cost of $1800.
Oliver Thrall was probably the first teacher in Bell-
mont precinct. A little later— 1828— Alvin Kenner
taught a school in section 32, township 1 south, range 13
west. The first house built for school purposes was in
1837, and was located in the southwest quarter of section
18, township 1 south.
The first school-house in the village of Bellmont was
erected in 1874, and David Dean taught the first school
in that year. The present house was built in 1881. It
is a frame two-story building and cost, exclusive of fur-
niture, $1921. The school is well equipped, and is under
the efficient instruction of H. W. Van Senden.
Schools were not in vogue in Lick Prairie precinct
until 1830. There were but few settlers, and, up to this
time, they sent their children to the adjoiuing schools.
William Townsend, before mentioned, was their first
teacher. He was a Methodist preacher, and opened his
school with prayer, and was considered an excellent
teacher in his day.
School Commissioners and Superintendents — Gilbert
C Turner, elected 1833 to 1849. James Mahon, elected
1849 to 1853. W. M. Harmon, elected 1853 to 1882. |
Alfred P. Manly, elected 1882. The latter is filling the !
position of county superintendent with ability and satis-
faction, and, through his attentive and careful manage-
ment, the schools of the county have been gradually
raised to a higher grade of scholarship.
The crude, old-fashioned school-houses and their be-
longings have passed into oblivion ; %nd the neat, airy
and cheerful ones of the present age are occupying their
sites. The pupil of to-day listens with interest to the
description given by his grandsire of the puncheon seats,
greased paper for a window, and other peculiarities of
the old-time school-houses when he was a boy. The
manner of teaching has also kept pace with the age.
Improved text-books have been auxiliary in aiding the
teacher to classify his pupils and otherwise aid in the
school-room economy.
The Mt. Carmel public schools, under the efficient
management of Prof. Henniger, is a model of modern
schools. It now has enrolled over four hundred pupils
and graduates more or less every year. This year —
1883— six students will be sent forth with the honors of
having passed the examination necessary to graduate.
The following statistics will give a fair showing of the
progress of school affairs ia the last two decades. From
the report made to the State Superintendent in 1861, we
glean as follows : Pupils between the ages of five and
twenty -one, 2760. Number of school districts, 52. Aver-
age number months school taught, 5-9. Number of
persons under twenty-one years of age, 4048. Number
of male teachers employed, 29. Number of female
teachers employed, 44. Lowest monthly wages paid
male teachers, $16.33J. Lowest monthly wages paid
female teachers, $5. Highest monthly wag(s paid male
teachers, $50. Highest monthly wages paid female
teachers, $26. Total amount paid for school purposes
$6,529.69.
The following are the same items for the year 1882 :
Pupils between the ages of six and twenty-one, 3326.
Number of school districts, 52. Average number of
months school taught, 6-9. Number of persons under
twenty-one years of age, 4885. Number of male teach-
ers employed, 51. Number of female teachers employed,
31. Lowest monthly wages paid male teachers, $22.50.
Lowest monthly wages paid female teachers, $600.
Highest monthly wages paid male teachers, $100.00.
Highest monthly wages paid female teachers, $60.00.
Total amount paid for school purposes, $19 926 86.
Unfortunately, but litile has been done in the county
in the way of institutes, which is so necessary for a well-
organiz d corps of teachers and for the welfare of the
public schools. In 1881 the teachers of the county or-
ganized an institute which met monthly and was con-
tinued for over a year, but, lacking a head, it collapsed
and has not since been revived. A session of three days
was held at Mt. Carmel in September, 1882, with very
satisfactory results. Quite a large number of teachers
were in attendance, and much good grew out of this
short session. The schools of the county sadly need
proper and judicious superintending ; and, with the
present Superintendent of Schools, Prof. A. P. Manley,
it may reasonably be expected that a new era will open
for the advancement of the schools of Wabash county.
— j—a--e=«4—
CHAPTER XIII.
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
EDWARDS COUNTY.
SKETCHES OF THE M. E CHURCHES.
BY REV. L. C. ENGLISH.
N 1812 the Little Wabash Circuit was constitu-
ted, and John Smith was appointed preacher-
in-charge, and Peter Cartwright was the Pre-
siding Elder. The region now embraced in Edwards
164
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
county formed a part of this circuit, which was then in-
cluded in the Tennessee Conference. Changes in names
and bounds have been made, but the Minutes show a
regularly appointed preacher to this region from that
date to the present. The first societies were organized
in private houses, and but little record of them is to be
obtained. About 1825 a class was organized at the
house of George Michels, sr., one and a half miles south-
east of Albion, of which he was the leader; services
were continued here till about 1854, when the members
were put into other classes. The first quaiterly meeting
held in Albion was in 1831, in the old court-house.
James McKean and John Fox were the circuit preach-
ers, and George Locke was the Presiding Elder. The
first class-meeting is thought to have been held at the
house of C. Schofield, about that time. From about
1840, public services were held in a Union church until
the M. E. church now occupied was built. Before 1836,
a class was organized in the neighborhood of Old Union,
' near where Simpson chapel now stands. Among the
first members were the families of James Dewherst and
Cavy Lambert. In 1837 a class was formed at the
house of Joseph Robinson, half a mile N. E. of Pinhook.
Luther D. Morgan, from Terre Haute, Indiana, was the
leader. John Fox was the preacher in 1837, and
S. P. Burr in 1838. In 1840 Jacob E. Reed organized
a class at the house of John Brown, near Bone Gap,
consisting of the following members: John Brown and
wife, James Hocking and wife, John Hocking and wife,
Richard Hocking, Ann Gould, David S. Rude and wife.
John Brown was the first leader.
The following are the M. E. churches in the county
at this time :
Salem.— This church is in the N. E. part of the county
at Bone Gap Station, on the P. De E. R. R. A good
frame house was built in 1848, and occupied till about
1870, when a larger and more commodious house was
built, in which a large and prosperous church and Sab-
bath-school meet every Sabbath. Here are the largest
M. E. Church and S. S. in the county. This society em-
braces some of the most wealthy men in the county, who
contribute liberally to the support of the church. ,
Mt. Pleasant. — This church was built about 1856. It
is three miles west of north from Albion, mar James Mi-
cbels. His family and a few others constitute the small
society here. A small Sabbath-school is superintended
by James Michels ; the church and school are almost
wholly supported by this family. Being near other lar-
ger churehe.3, it is not likely that either will ever be nu-
merically strong, but they are doing a good work for
some who perhaps otherwise would not be provided for
these important things.
Albion. — This church was also built about 1856. It
is a small frame, and is still in good condition, and is
occupied by a small but prosperous society and Sabbath
school. Among the first members were the families of
George Michels, sr., Charles Schofield, John West,
Boothe, Robert Jacques and Joseph Wheeler ; several of
these families were from England, and the others from the
Eastern States. The present mtmbership is about sev-
enty. They are devoted to Methodist doctrine and
usages, and liberally support the church.
Anbury — This is a small brick church ; was built
about 1866. The society was organized by Henry Mani-
fold, about 1859, at the house of John Marriott, who was
the first leader. Three other persons, viz: Nancy
Marriott, Thomas Marriott and Mary Marriott made
up the class. Soon after, John Goodbourn, a brother-
in-law of the Marriotts, joined their number. This
church is in Frazier prairie, seven miles north of
Graysville. Being near other churches, (he society and
Sabbath school are both small.
Fortney — This church is four miles north of Graysville,
built about 1870. Before 1840, a class was organized at
the house of Frederick Botrammel, from 'which time
regular circuit preaching has been continued sometimes
meeting at the house of John Fortney, who was the first
leader, and sometimes at the school house until the
building of the church, which is a good frame building.
The people are largely indebted to Susanna Marriott,
an English lady who walked through the country and
solicited most of the money with which it was built.
From this humble beginning there is now a prosperous
church and Sunday-school.
Simpson Chapel. — Was built in 1871. It is about
four miles S. W., of Bone Gap. It is the result of the
increased wealth and numbers of older societies. Here
is a faithful and promising membership and a very
good Sunday-school. It is surrounded by a church-
loving and church-going people. Tho congregation is
made up largely of young people, the children of
Christian parents, some of whom have passed away.
But their mantel has fallen upon their children, and
from them the 'church has much to expect in the
future.
Browns Chapel is five miles N.W. of Gray&ville. The
original name was Mt. Pleasant. The first society was
organized by Rev. Walker, in 1836, at the house
of William Brown, who was a native of Maine. It con-
sisted of the following persons: William Brown and
wife, Archibald Melrose and wife, John Scot and wife,
Ishmael Blackford and wife, Anthony Wilkinson and
wife and Esther Harper. William Brown was the
leader and steward. From this time services were held
at his house until 1849, when the society built a log
church, which wdfc occupied until about 1878. Since that
time they have met with Mt. Zion Society until Brown's
chapel shall be completed, which is being built. It
will be a good frame church. Pastors from 1837 to
1844, were Tayl ,r R. Allen, J. E. Reed, J. H. Hill,
William Cummiugs, A. Bradshaw, J. H. Dickens and
John Shepherd.
Mt. Zion, is five miles S. W. of Albion, and in
Boltiughouse Prairie. The society was organized June
17, 1867, by William Bruner. The class consisted of
seventeen members: Charles Baxter was appointed
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LA WHENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
165
leader and James Roosevelt was steward. Since that
time regular services have been kept up at an old log
Union Church. There is a membership of about sixty-
five. A beautiful site for a church is deeded, and a
good frame church is to be built this year. A Sunday-
school is kept up through the summer. Situated in a
rich farming country with a new church, a prosperous
future may be expected for this society.
A small class was organized at Curtisville in the N.
W., corner of the county in 1879, which meets in a
school-house.
Most of this county is embraced in the Albion circuit
which was organized in 1851.
The pastors from that date have been as follows :
1851, A. Campbell; 1852, J. Shepherd ; 1853, J. N.
Haley; 1854, J. Glaze; 1855, J. Glaze ; 1856-7, A. B.
Morrison ; 1858-9, H. Manifold ; 1860-1, L. C. English ;
1862, J. Glaze ; 1863, D. Chipraan ; 1864, W. J. Grant ;
1865-6, V. D. Lingenfelter ; 1867-8, J. C. Green ; 1869-
70-71, J. B. Ravenscroft; 1872, T. A. Eaton; 1873,
J. W. Lowe; 1874,8. Brooks; 1875-6-7, W. Til roe ;
1878-9, C. W. Sabiue; 1880-1, J. B. Raveuscroft;
1882, L. C. English.
The following is a list of the official members :
C. Baxter, H. Breckner, J. Brown, E. Clark, ,1. Cope-
land, J. Curtis, J. B. Curtis, S. N. Dalby, J. Ellis, T.
Gawthorp, J. Goodbourn, A. A. Gould, D. Gould.
I. Gould, J. Harms, J. Hallam, T. Hodgson, J. S. Jack,
D. Lambert, D. B. Leach, Geo Leach, Geo. Machin,
J. Marriott, T. Marriott, Geo. Michels, E. Michels, J.
Michels, M. Michels, H. C. Porter, A. Rude, R. Rude,
Z. Shurtleff, A. Shurtleff, W. Stanley, C. Woodham.
The number of members is about six hundred.
The value of church property is about ten thousand
dollars.
PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
BY REV. B. HUTCHINS.
Services connected with the Protestant Episcopal
Church were held very early in the history of this set-
tlement in Edwards county at Albion and at Wan-
borough. George Flower, in his history of " The
English Seitlement," says "a native of the Island of
Guernsey, Mr Benjamin Grutt, read the Episcopal ser-
vice in a, room in Albion set apart for a public library.
This religious worship commenced iu Wanborough and
Albion in the early part of the year 1819," He also
says, " If I remember correctly, it was in the following
year, 1820, that the Rev. Mr. Baldwin, an Episcopal
missionary, preached several sermons in Albion and
gathered the Episcopal members together and organized
a church designated St. John's Church. Mr. Pickering
was an active promoter, and gave efficient aid to this
early Episcopal organization.
The Rev. Amos G. Baldwin, in his organization
of St. John's church, sixty years ago, was encour-
aged, it is believed, by William Pickering, Judge
Wattles, John Woods, Benjamin Grutt, Daniel Orange,
James Carter, William Funks, David Hearsum and
others.
Taken from "Two Years' Residence in English Prai-
rie, Illinois, by John Woods, 1822.
" In 1820 it was agreed to have public worship at
Wanborough, and Sunday, 25th of April, divine service
was first held in a log cabin that was built for a school,
room. Prayers from the services of the Church of
England, with a few omissions, were read by one of the
inhabitants, and a sermon by another. This meeting
was well attended, and has been continued every Sun-
day in the forenoon at 1 1 o'clock ; and those of the
Church of England and Quakers both attend it.
At Albion there is a place of worship in part of the
market-house, in which divine service is performed
every Sunday in the forenoon. Prayers and a sermon
are read by one of the inhabitants. I twice attended.
The service was from the Church of England with some
variations. I think they style themselves Unitarians." '
It may have been within two years later that Mr.
Baldwin came, say in 18'Jl or 1822, when he tarried six
weeks in the house of Mr. John Woods, Sr., who had pre-
viously read the service of the Protestant Episcopal
Church himself.
The Rev. Dr. James Craik, late Rector of Christ
Church, Loui&ville, Kentucky, in his little book enti-
tled '• Historical Sketches of Christ Church, Louisville,"
says : " One devoted minister had visited Louisville
two years before the commencement of this enterprise
(namely the beginning of the church in 1823.) The
Rev. A. G. Baldwin traveled as 'far as this point and
possibly beyond. He preached in 18.0 or thereabouts."
It may be proper just here for the writer to mention
his own connection with the church services in Albion,
and what induced him to come out here in the spring of
1838. He had read in some printed document or mis-
sionary report, that the R=v. Amos G. Baldwin, in his
missionary tour had visited Albion and had organized
St. John's church, that the church people of St. John's
church had looked in vain for a missionary to come
to them on account of the inability of the Board
of Missions to provide either man or money ; that they
had tried to get a minister or rector themselves but for
the like scarcity could not effect it, Mr. Pickering call-
ing upon the Rev. Dr. Milner, Rector of St. George's
church, New York, with a view to accomplish this de-
sired result. The writer also read that in the lapse of
time the Missionary Board became strengthened enough
I to do something for Albion, but the answer came that it
was " too late, they had all gone over to infidelity."
It was in this situation of things that the writer re-
solved to come out himself, and so in March, 1838, the
Rev. B. Hutchins and his wife came from Philadelphia
by Louisville, Ky., and New Albany, Ind., to Albion,
Illinois. This visit is substantiated by Mr. George
Flower, for he says : " In 1838 the Rev. B. Hutchins
visited Albion as a missionary prospecting in the inter-
166
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
ests of the Episcopal cause. During his short visit Mr.
H. held two or three services in the court-house, but not
being able at that time to secure a dwelling house left,
and went to Viucennes." It was at Vincennes, Ind.,
that the Rev. B. H. remained more than five months,
where his first daughter was born, yet during that per-
iod he visited both Albion and Centreville once or
oftener in each month for Sunday services. There were
two brothers from Ireland, George and Joseph Williams,
who with their families constituted the Episcopal
church at Centreville, Wabash county. The Rt. Rev.
Philander Chase, D. D., Bishop of Illinois, was written
to by these brothers to provide church ministrations for
them. On my coming out in March, 1838, a letter from
Bishop Chase came into my hands directing me to visit
and officiate in Wabash county. Accordingly I did.
Three j'ears after this I removed from Philadelphia to
Albion, bringing with me my wife and two children and
my father also. A. revival and reorganization of St.
John's church soon followed, and some who were present
when Mr. Amos G. Baldwin made his visit about
twenty years previously rallied round the church ban-
ner, and remained true to it till they died. Removals
and death had lessened the number, yet William Pick-
ering, James Carter, John Tribe, Samuel N. Dalby and
others were found still living. Benjamin Grutt, in
Church de St. Esprit, New York, was one with us in
spirit and by letter. Children and grandchildren of
the early members of the church were baptized in fami-
lies. Divine services were held in the old court house
and a Sunday-school instituted.
At a public meeting of the friends and members of
the church held 28th March, 1842, present, Rev. B.
Hutchins H. J. Hutchins, David Hearsum, F. B.
Thompson, M. D., Joel Churchill, John Brissenden(
James Carter, Sr., John Richford, Joseph and Robert
Williams, Bryan Walker, W. C. Mayo, H. Ronalds,
George Ferriman, H. J. Hutchins, Chairman, George
Ferriman, Secretary, the following resolutions were
offered and carried.
Resolved, That we organize a Protestant Episcopal
Church in this village and proceed to the election of
nine vestrymen.
Resolved, That the title of this church be St. John's
Church.
Resolved, That the charter of incorporation proposed
be adopted.
Resolved, that the following persons be elected ves-
trymen— viz. : Henry J. Hutchins, Joseph Williams,
George Ferriman, John Pichford, James Carter, Sr ,
David Hearsura, Joel Churchill, Robert Navlor and
Samuel N. Dalby.
Before proceeding further with this history it may be
right and proper to state, as was probably the case
that William Pickering, Benjamin GruHt, John Woods,
sr., Daniel Orange, Judge Wattles, with James Carter,
sr., John Tribe and Bryan Mather it may be also,
were the early friends of the church, at the time of Mr.
Baldwin's visit.
i In September, 1842, the corner-stone of a brick
; church was laid on a lot given by George Flower
' and his wife Eliza Julia, on the 10th of May, 1842. The
Rev. B. B. Kettehetty, Rector of St. James' church,
Vincennes, Ind., Rev. 1*. Halstead, Rector of St.
Stephen's church, New Harmony, Ind., and Rev. B.
Hutchins, Rector of St. John's church) Albion, were the
three officiating ministers. Within the stone a tin box
was placed containing records and papers. Rev. B. B.
; Kettehetty laid the stone with the usual words and cere-
1 mony in the name of the Holy Trinity. Two of these
ministers yet live. B. Halstead in Mississippi and B.
I Hutchins here, while a son survives his father B. B.
: K. bearing the same name and ministry.
We next come to the building of the church. This
was accomplished before June, 1843 ; and on the 24;h
! and 25th day of June was consecrated by Bishop
! Philander Chase, and on the same occasion fifteen child-
ren and adults were baptized and twenty-four persons
were confirmed. The building had a vestry room,
attached to it, and was furnished within with the chancel
fixtures of Reading Desk, Baptismal font, Pulpit and
communion table or altar. The structure was free from
debt.
Very soon after an addition was made in front
of brick also, being a tower with vestibules, gallery and
belfry, having likewise a bell and organ. It, like the
main building, was left free from debt. A Bishop's
chair was placed in the chancel. And now began with
the House of God a succession of seven ministers all in
Priest's orders continuing to this day, the first and the
last together, the one as Rector in charge, the other
| kindly considered as Rector Emeritus. The names of
the seven are, Hutchins, Brittan, Comings, Clatworthy,
Ryatt, Morratt, and Humphries and only one of these,
j Brittau, taken away from earth.
| During Rev. William Morratt's 2J years service the
j church was remodelled at the chancel end and enlarged
and beautified, and the chair brought forward and a supe-
rior organ provided and a new lecture and reading desk,
and inner railing substituted to correspond with the new
I and ornamented fraiie work. Likewise a new chaude-
| lier for the main building or nave of the church, and a
j large coal stove were bought and put up. Rev. Mr.
j Morratt's ministry was attended by these improvements.
It is too soon to make mention of the beneficial change
of the present Rector, the Rev. Henry Humphries.
The baptisms have been four hundred infants and
adults. • Confirmed one hundred and fifty person^
young and old. The Holy Communion has been
administered monthly and on the principal festivals,
while within the last three months it has been adminis-
tered weekly and on all the festivals, major and
minor.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS. 167
BAPTIST CHURCH.
BY CHARLES WARMOTII.
Long Prairie Church. — This church of regular
Baptists, now situated in Shelby Precinct, was constituted
with eight members, in the month of July, 1825. The
members then were Isaac Greithouse, George McCown,
Margaret McCown, Jonathan Shelby, Thomas Carney,
Sarah Clark, and Margaret Sams. At the December
meeting, 1825, the church elected E'der Elias Roberts
as her pastor, who served them until July, 1823.
At the September meeting of 1826, we find an act,
setting apart Friday before their communion, as a day of
fasting, and that they engage in feet washing, on Saturday
before their communion. The latter, they still practice.
On the first Wednesday in October, 1827, John
Miller was ordained to the full functions of a Gospel
minister. The first ordination of a minister in this
church. The said Elder Miller was chosen pastor of
the church, in July, 1828.
In April, 1830, Jacob T. Dunavan was excluded from
the church, at his own request, on the plea that he did
not believe he was worthy to be in the church. In
September, 1830, Lot Sams was elected treasurer of the
church.
In April, 1831, Elder Richard Gardner was elected
pastor of the church, as successor to Elder Miller. The
Doty family, whose names have been very prominent in
this church, came to this country in the year, 1831.
Up to this time, the church was very prosperous, and
held their regular meetings, and at almost every meeting
accessions were made to the church. Almost all their
actions seem to have been in the spirit of Christian love
and brotherly affjction, and they drew the line of dis-
cipline very rigidly. They did not allow their members
to say anything to wound the feeling of a brother, with-
out calling on such offender to account for it. The evil
of tattling and talebearing, which is so common, and yet
so annoying to churches and communities generally, met
with very little encouragement by this church in its
early history. They seem to have been very familiar
with the admonition of our Lord: "Let your light so
shine before men, that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Jonathan
Shelby was the first clerk of this church, and he served
until his successor, Thomas Carney, was elected, in
October, 1833. Elder Jeremiah Doty was elected pastor
in 1834.
At the January meeting, in 1835, we find an item of
business on record that reminds us of a custom, that
perhaps but few will remember. That was the heinous
practice of teachers treating their schools to whisky, or
other ardent spiri:s.
The third item of their business at the meeting above-
named reads thus ; " That the church forbids the trustees
of schools, that may be taught in the meeting-house,
allowing the teacher, or any other person to bring treats,
or any kind of spirits to be drank in the meeting house."
Felix Potter was ordained to the work of the ministry
in June, 1835.
Fetherston Doty was elected clerk of the church in
April, 1842, as successor to Thomas Carney, who, about
that time, or shortly afterwards, left this country, and
I emigrated to Missouri.
| C. S. Madding was ordained to the work of the
i ministry, in October, 1843.
| In January, 1854, W. H. Pullen was elected clerk of
the church.
I Thomas A. Rogers was elected clerk, in 1859, and in
| March, 1861, Samuel T. Doty, his successor, was elected.
I For a time, during the war, there was not much business
of importance in the church. They had no house to
! meet in, and had no regular pastor, and the result was,
when they met, it was at some school-house or some
brother's residence, and often without a preacher, so their
congregations diminished to a great extent. In 1867,
Lemuel Potter was ordained to the work of the ministry,
and arrangements were made with the Missionary
Baptists, for the use of their house to hold their meetings
in, and in a few years the church revived again, and had
quite a number of accessions, under the ministry of
j Elders Felix Potter, J. D. Jones, and Lemuel Potter.
Yet the church had no duly elected pastor, from the
time of Elder Jere. Doty's death, which was in 1861,
I until about the beginning of the year 1868, when 'Elder
j David S. Ford was elected pastor of the church.
In March, 1870, Elder Lemuel Potter was elected
' pastor of the church, and in March, 1872, Harrison C.
| Bell was elected clerk, and in May following, Elder
j Felix Potter was elected p> stor of the church.
In August, 1873, H. C. Bell was ordained tcTthe work
1 of the ministry, and in November following, he was
elected pastor, and S. T. Doty clerk of the church.
At the March meeting, 1878, Ciney Greathouse and
Lot Potter were both ordained to the full functions of
| Gospel ministers.
la July, 1882, Charles Warmoth was elected clerk
of the church, and is the present clerk, and Elder H. C.
Bell is the present pastor.
In the year, 1876, the church built the house they
now meet in.
Thus, we have given the most important events in the
history of this church, forabout 57 years, and find thatin
that time she has had eight pastors, and has ordained
seven ministers. Elder Jeremiah Doty served as pastor
! the longest of any other one man, and S. T. Doty served
[ them as clerk, first and last more than any other one
: man. In looking over the names of the most prominent
members of this church, many years ago, we find the
familial names of Lot Sams, Thomas Carney, David
Greathouse, John Bell, Henry Warmoth, Jonathan
Shelby, and many others, among whom is J. R. Mison-
heimer, who, it is said, never failed to fill his seat without
assigning the cause for such failure. In the year 1866,
the writer of this article joined this church, and it has
only been a little over 16 years ; but in that short time
168 HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
the grim monster, death bas taken all the male members
that were in the church when we joined but one. Jesse
Potter is the only male member of this church now
that greeted us with the hand of fellowship at that time.
But, where are all those dear ones, whose names are so
familiar, and yet whose faces we never see?
CHURCH OF CHRIST.
BY M. T. HOyGH.
The Church of Christ,sometiraes known in history as the
Disciples, or Christian Church, has, under the blessing of
God, grown to a position of considerable influence in the
United Slat<s and other countries. For nearly 65 years
these disciples have been pushing the claims of the Bible
and the Bible alone, and many readers of this history of
Edwards county may desire to know something of the
results of their labor, and their present condition and
prospects. Their "numerical strength in the United
States is estimated at nearly 700,000, and they have a
considerable membership in Canada, England and Aus-
tralia. They are a missionary people, and as God gives
them ability they begin to reach out toward foreign
lands more fully. They now have missions in France>
Sweden, Denmark, New Zealand, India and the Sand-
wich Islands.
Some of the Disciples of Christ have become quite
prominent as authors of religious books, and they pub-
lish weeklies and other'papers which rank among some
of the ablest religious journals of the country. Their
publications are, besides many books, about a dozen
weeklies, eight monthlies, one quarterly, and a large
circulation of Sunday-school literature for the children.
Their colleges and universities are nearly thirty in
number.
The principles of the church began to be advocated
in Edwards county as early as the year 1827, by Elder
Amos Willis, who was the first preacher of the Church
of Christ in the county. In advance of his neighbors, he
embraced the principles of the Religious Reformation of
the nineteenth century, headed by Alexander Campbell,
Walter Scott, B. W. Stone, et al. After a life of much
usefulness, Brother Willis was called to the enjoyment
of that rest which remains to the people of God, on the
5th day of January, 1840.
List of preachers now living in the county, and who
spend all or a part of their time in the ministry : J. C
T. Hall, Alfred Flower (at present pastor of the church
at Paris, Illinois), Caleb Edwards, Wm. Flower, E. C.
Stark, J. J. Ballard and the writer.
ELDER J. C. T. HALL.
This exemplary preacher of the gospel, now in his
65th year, was born in England, but came to this coun-
try in 1821. He and his co-laborer, Elder A. Flower,
have done more miois'erial work in the county than any
others. The subject of this brief sketch, though he has
lived more than three score years, is still quite vigorous,
preaching every Sunday, often riding horseback from
three to ten miles to his regular appointments. The
writer called on him a few weeks ago at his residence in
Albion, and found him preparing to mount his horse for
a three miles' ride west of the town, where he and Eld.
Edwards were holding a series of evening meetings.
The influence, and value of a mother's prayers and
Christian training are exemplified in the life of Elder
Hall. From his earliest recollection his mother taught
him to pray, and it was the influence of his mother's
prayers that lurried his mind and heart to the gospel of
the grace of God. In company with others, he went to
New Orleans on a flat boat in 1837, and during this trip
his inclination to Uuiversalism was severely shaken by
the extreme wickedness and wretched demeanor of some
of the company. He said to himself: If such vile per-
sons are to form a part of the companionship of heaven,
I don't want to go there. Then this thought flashed up
in his mind : May-be you are not fit to go to Heaven
yourself! On his return home he resolved to give him-
self to the Lord and His service, and accordingly in the
spring of 1838 he made a profession of his faith in Jesus
the Christ, and was baptized by Elder Amos Willis in
the running waters near Little Piairie church. Some
two years after this he began to preach, and has preached
continuously, on Sundays, ever t-ince. His labors, in the
main, have been confined to Edwards county, and the
influence of his work will be felt long af.er the Master
calls him to that home above for which a life of piety
and good works has so eminently fitted him, through the
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. But may it please the
divine Father to spire him for many more years of use-
fulness in this county, the field of forty-two years' labor
already.
ALFRED FLOWER.
This tall, straight, dignified Christian gentleman is of
English parents, though born in this county. He is the
father of the noble Geo. E. Flower, who has been pastor
of the church at Paducah, Kentucky, for eleven years.
It is an invaluable gift to leave the world such a
preacher. But space forbids further mention of his
name here.
Eld. Alfred Flower removed from his home near Al-
bion to Paris, Ills., a few months ago; and, therefore,
the writer can not obtain the facts of his ministry, suit-
ably condensed, for a place in this sketch. The main
field of his labor during a ministry of almost forty years,
has been Southern Illinois, and no other man has sacri-
ficed so much to establish and build up the cause of
Christ in this part of the State. His name is familiar in
almost every household. Whether laboring in town,
city or country, Bro. Flower maintains the same digni-
fied bearing. He has an analytical mind, is logical in
all his sermons, and capable of stating his positions with
great clearness. Hence, he is an excellent teacher. He
preached his first sermon in Albion many years ago ;
and, before moving to Paris, a short time ago, he de-
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
169
livered an able and appropriate sermon to the brethren
here.
CALEB EDWARDS.
Bro. Edwards was born in Brighton, England, in the
year 1832, and came to the United States when he was
about twelve years of age. He came from Cincinnati, :
Ohio, to Edwards county, Illinois, in 1848, and is now i
living on a farm 21 miles south of Albion. He con- j
fessed faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and was baptized
by Eld. Alfred Flower in 1850. Fourteen years after-
wards (1864), he made his first effort to preach, since
which time he has been preaching every Sunday, confin-
ing his labor mostly to Edwards county. His popularity
in the county was such that his friends urged him to
announce himself as a prohibition candidate for this
legislative district, in the fall election of 1882,— having
received the nomination at the Olney Prohibition Con-
vention. He was, however, defeated.
Little Prairie Church. — This church, situated three
miles west of Albion, was the first church of Christ
organized in the county. About the year 1823, a church j
of the Christian connection was organized at the house of j
Alan Emmerson, near where Little Prairie church now
stands. Alan Emmerson and Amos Willis of the Chris-
tian Connection, William Hall an Episcopalian, Joseph
Applegath a Baptist, William Clark a Quaker, James
Cooper an English Baptist, and perhaps others, united
their efforts and built the first meeting house in this
community. It was a frame, covered, ceiled and
weather-boarded with clapboards, and plastered with
" Post oak clay." It had a brick chimney and fireplace.
These men and their families worshiped together in this
mud plastered house until about 1837, when they merged
into the present Little Prairie church of Christ, mainly
through the influence of brother Amos Willis, who was
a preacher first in the old Christian Connection, but em-
braced the principles of the church of Christ in advance i
of others in his neighborhood. From the time they
organized the church of Christ in the year 1838 till the
present they have met regularly on the Lord's day to |
" break bread " in memory of their dying Lord and j
engage in other acts of worship befitting that memorial >
day, the day of Christ's resurrection. The first Elder i
of the church was Alan Emmerson, and the first Deacons j
were Joseph Applegath, Thomas Gill, and William j
Hall. Amos Willis was their first preacher. Alan
Emmerson, an Elder, often encouraged them by words •
of instruction and exhortation. Though most all the j
original members of this church " rest from their labors I
their works do follow them." The church has enjoyed
the occasional labors of J. M. Mathes, John O'Kane, ;
William Jarrott, B. K. Smith, Joseph Warren, Moses I
Goodwin and others. The following brethren have held j
successful protracted meetings for this church : Alfred j
Flower, Elijah Gocdwin, William Jarrott, John j
O'Kane, B. K. Smith, Willie Flower, and perhaps others.
The regular preachers have been, Elijah Goodwin, M.
Goodwin, A. Flower, C. Edwards and Elder J. C. T. j
22
Hall, who has preached for them almost continuously a
part of the time for the last twenty-six years. He and
brother Caleb Edwards are their present preachers.
Three or four other churches in the county have been
organized by members from this church, still it is one of
the strongest in the county.
Present membership one hundred and fifty. Elders:
James Pearcy, Charles Clark, and George Colyer.
Deacons : George Green, Wright Wills and John C.
Bunting. The chapel they now occupy is a frame, val •
ued at $600- Seating capacity 250 . Sunday-school six
months in the year, with Charles Clark as superintend-
ent. The Sunday-school closes its six months' work each
year with " the annual pic-nic," which is always a very
enjoyable occasion.
Albion Church. — The first meeting-house built in
Albion was the old brick Christian Chapel, now refitted
and occupied by Mr. Waggoner as a residence. After
the completion of this house of worship, the Albion
church of Christ was organized, August4th, 1841, under
the ministerial labor of Elder Elijah Goodwin, who was
iuvited to .preach here by Daniel Orange, a wealthy
Englishman who lived on a farm three miles south of
Albion. Mr. Orange was in Cincinnati at the famous
Campbell and Purcell Debate, and being convinced that
the position held by brother Campbell is the doctrine of
Christ, he gave himself to the Lord Jesus the Christ and
was baptized, upaii a profession of his faith in Christ,
by brother D. S. Burnett. On his return from Cincin-
nati brother Orange interested himself in establishing
the church of Christ in this section, and especially in
Albion. He was the first Elder of the church.
Charter members: Daniel Orange, Elizabeth J.
Orange, Elizabeth S. Orange (Mrs. Alfred Flower,) and
John B. Orange.
Four weeks after the church was organized, Alfred
Flower, Charles Burns, and Sarah Burns were added
to their number. The church increased in number and
financial and moral strength till it ranked among our
best churches in southern Illinois.
This church, in common with many others, has passed
through some serious troubles, all of which were healed
during a very successful meeting held by brother
George E. Flower, of Paducah, Ky., some four years ago.
There were more than fifty additions at this meeting, and
the church was again united, causing rejoicing in the
camp of spiritual Israel. The church to-day numbers
one hundred and ten members, and exerts a good influ-
ence in the town and vicinity. But it is capable of doing
a grander work still for the Master than it is now
doing.
The first preacher employed by the church was Elijah
Goodwin, at a salary of $50 for one fourth of his time,
and the last one employed is the writer at a salary of
$675 for all the time. The following is a list of
preachers in the regular order of employment with the
church : Elijah Goodwin, Alfred Flower, George Morral,
170
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Caleb Edwards and Alfred Flower, (both same year,
half the lime each,) A. R Gilchrist and M. T. Hough.
Since writing the above I have been told that Daniel
Bulkley and Fred. Applegath also were regularly em-
ployed at one time by the church.
Some of the most successful protracted meetings of the
church were held under the preaching of P. K. Dible,
William Jarrott, Benjamin F. Franklin, John O'Kane,
W. B. F. Treat, and George E. Flower.
Their present house, a frame 32 by 70 feet, situated
on the northeast-corner of the public square, was built
in 1867 and remodeled in the year 1878. Present value
of church property $2,500. Seating capacity 500.
Number of memUrs, December 29th. 1882, 110. Elders :
W. L Orange, J. C. T. Hall, Caleb Edwards, Eli
Bunting and J. Q. A. Wi lur^on, Dtaccns: Jas. T
Craig and Alfred Davis.
Sunday-school is held at 2J P- M., each Sunday in
the year. Joseph White, superintendent. Number of
scholars in the Sunday-school about. 80.
The writer will here add that he-has resigned the pas-
torate of the Albion church of Christ, and he prays that
the great Head of the church may bless them in all
present and future work and labor of love.
West Salem Church. — This church now worshipping
in the town of West Sahm, situated in the northeast
part of Edwards County, was organized Aug. 15th, 1858,
by the union of the Long Prairie congregation and the
congregation worshipping at Bro. Barney's. ' The
preaching brethren present were J. C T. Hall, Anderson
Walkeii, a speaking Elder of the Marion congregation
and D. F. Mounts. After some discussion the following
preamble was adopted :
" We whose names are hereunto annexed, being im-
mersed believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, do mutually
and voluntarily associate ourselves together in a congre-
gational capacity to be known as the congregation of the
Lord at West Salem, taking the Christian Scriptures as
our only rule of faith and practice, and taking no name
as a church name, but such as they authorize." This
was signed by the following 29 names as charter mem-
bers : Mathew Rice, Jas. F. Barney, Asa Pixley, Sr.;
Franklin Mills, Blashell Foster, Wm. Foster, Lucy Fos-
ter, David Reich, Henry Holoman, D. S. Reed, Nancy
Reed, H. G. Auldridge, W. F. Foster, Charles S. Foster,
Annie M. Foster, Jane Mills, Susan Barney, Sarah Clod-
felter, Sarah Marks, Mary A. Foster, Amanda Smith,
Catharine Easter, Coles Barney, Jacob Easter, Michael
Clodfelter, J. A. Ferry, Chas. Reich, B. F. Bristow, and
Sallie Bristow. The first elders were Wm Foster, Sr.,
Wm. Crawford and Robert Roby. The appointed dea-
cons were Blaihel Foster, Elias Reich, Mathew Rice,
and Franklin Mills.
The building in which these brethren and sisters or-
ganized themselves into a church is still stauding, and
is being used as a store and post-office. James Kinner
did much to start the work in West Salem, and Blashel
Foster rented a house to hold services in, put a stove in
t and paid the preacher's salary mainly for one year. It
takes such sacrificing spirits to inaugurate the work
of the Lord iu many places. May they be rewardtd.
First Elders.— Wm. Foster, Sr., Wm. Crawford,
Robert Roby.
First Deacons —Blashel Foster, Elias Reich, Mathew
Rice, Franklin Mills.
R. S. Crawford was the first clerk of the church. Jas.
C. T. Hall, M. Shick, G. W. Morrall, E. Lathrope, J.
W. Stone, A. Flower, J. W. Sumner, J. Mullins, and E.
C. Stark, have successively been employed as regular
preachers of the church? Brethren E. C. Stark and D.
J. Ballard are members of West Salem congregation,
and have preached there often. Jane Clodfelter, im-
mersed by Bro. Ballard, was the last person to unite
with this church. The elders of the church now are E.
C. Stark, B. F. Mills, and Blashel Foster. Deacons : Wm.
Hibbert, W. E Foster, J. D. Ballard, and Isa Pixley.
The church numbers 125 members at present. Value
of church property $800. Seating capacity 300.
Their Sunday-school is evergreen.
Curti«ville Church. — About thirty-two years ago the
gospel was preached in the Curtis neighborhood by such
Christian ministers as Moses Goodwin, Stephen Phelps,
J. C T. Hall, et al. The first meetings were held at the
residence of John Curtis on the same farm where he now
lives. The church was organized at his farm residence
about 1854. Among the charter members were the fol-
lowing : John Curtis, Mahala Curtis, Montgomery
Mountz, Sarah Mountz, Hannah Curtis, B. F. Mountz,
a young preacher living in the neighborhood, Frances
Mountz, Mary Mountz, and Elizabeth Stafford. This
congregation continued to meet at John Curtis' residence,
till their number grew to 50 or 60. They often met in
the grove, in pleasant weather, enjoying the preaching of
Stephen Phelfis, J. C. T. Hall, Wm. Curtis and Moses
Goodwin. Many were the seasons of rejoicing in this
temple of nature, in these earlier times.
A few years after this first organization at Curl's',
the congregation at West Village built a house of wor-
ship, and the Curtis congregation, having no house, con-
cluded it would be better for them to unite with West
Village. Hence they became a part of that church, re-
maining with them till the year 1878, when they again
reorganized iu the school-house near where the church
now stands, with 25 or 30 members, under the evangeli-
cal labor of J. W. Stone. The elders are Jno. Ryon,
Geo. Gumbrell and David Allen. Deacons : Frank
i Curtis and George Ely. Their present house, a frame,
30 x 36 feet, was built in 1878, at a cost of $900. Its
sittings are 250. The new organization has employed
successively the following named brethren to preach for
them : J. W. Stone, and W. T. Gillespie, Eld. Luther,
J. F. James, and they have just employed Eld. Logan,
of Wayne county, as their preacher for 1883. J. W.
Stoue and J. F. James have held successful protracted
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
171
meetings in this new church. The numerical strength of ! Ham and Benny Flower held a series of meetings iu the
the church at present is 70.
Wed Village Church.— In a note to the writer brother
Morris Colyer, Clerk of West Village church, says :
"This church was first organized at Mr. Alan Emmer-
son's farm residence and afterwards met in the school-
house, near the farm of James Bunting, Sr. The history,
so far as this congregation is concerned, is not known to
me, but can bz gathered if a little time is allowed."
In reference to the present organization, brother Col-
yer further says : " On May 29th, 1858, an organization
was effected at what is known now as the West " Village
Church." It was first called the Village Church, being
near the village creek. When the new organization was
formed on the east side of the prairie it was named the
"East Village Church;" consequently the other (the
one being sketched) gradually came to be known as
West Village Church."
It will be seen from the history of Curtisville church
given above, that it united with this church, and was a
part of it for many years, the West Village people having
built a house, previous to their organizing, in which all
could meet. This house was opened for worship about
May 29th, 1858. The names of the charter members,
as far as we can ascertain, are as follows : Jas. Bunting,
Sr , Sophia Bunting, George Bunting, Uriah Baily,
Eliza M. Baily, John Curtis, ThomasGill, Eliza Gill, Eli
Bunting, Caroline Bunting, B. P. Reid,C. S. Reid, Mary
Humphreys, Daniel Bond, Martha Bond, Hannah Cur-
tis, Mahala Curtis, Nancy Curtis, S. Shelby, Sarah A.
Shelby, Louisa Ground, Mary Edwards, Esther Mitchell,
Frances Campbell, Cordelia Edwards, Elizabeth Kenner,
W. H. Keuuer, W. H. Reid, Wm. Campbell and Jas.
Kenner. The board of officers was, Elders— George
Bunting.Uriah Baily, and Jas. Kenner; Deacoua— Em-
manuel Bunting, John Curtis and Thomas Gill.
" As to the preachers employed," fays Brother Morris
Colyer, " there is no record until 1873. Up to this
time however, there had been preaching by James
Kenner, D F. Mountz, J W. Sumner, Daniel Bulkley>
J. C. T. Hall, et al., of whom I am not informed at pre-
sent. Since 1873 the following preachers have served
the church more or less as regular preachers, occupying
one and sometimes two Sundays per month : Fred
Applegath, E. Lathrop, J. C. T. Hall, J. W. Stone and
Caleb Edwards. Brethren Hall and Edwards have
preached each once per month for the past two years,
and are both engaged for 1883.
Principal protracted meetings. April, 1864, G.
Morrall preacher; additions 26. During 1865-'6, meet-
ings were held by J. W. Sumner and D. F Mountz, re- I five coasecutivo years, and is reengaged for the year
suiting in thirty or thirty-five accessions. Records in- j 1883. The present elders of the church are Robert
complete for 1865-'6. September 1, 1871, E. Lathrop, Roby and B. T. Bristow. Under their efficient man-
preacher ; additions 20. Brother Lathrop held another ! ageraent and the preaching of Brother Hall, the church
meet'ng iu December, 1873, resulting in seven additions is harmonious, and wields a good influence in the corn-
to the church. March, 1878, J. W. Stone, held a meet- munity. Their meetings are feasts of brotherly love,
ing in which there were twenty-three conversions and May it ever bi S3. The church maintains a Sunday-
three other Christians added— twenty-six in all. Wil- school six mouths in the year. Scholars, forty.
month of November, 1879, which resulted in eleven ad-
ditions to the church, and J. F. Jamss held a meeting
October, 1831, resulting iu six additions. The clerk of
this church says, " I cannot speak with certainty of the
first two years of the church at present, but in August
and September, 1859, there was a meeting with twelve
or thirteen additions It appears from the list that
Fred Applegath and Ja*r>u Bunting were am >ng the
converts." The church numbers at present about ninety
members and twenty •' dry bones." Will these last ever
be made to live? The present elders are George Bunt-
ing, B. P. Reid, and Jason Bunting. The deacons are
Thomas Gill, George May, George Gumbrel, and Syl-
vester Bunting.
West Village Chapel is a frame house, erected in 1858 .
but not plastered until about 1865, and is valued at
$700. Seating capacity 2',0. In this audience room
the church holds Sunday-school from six to eight months
in the year. Average attendance about thirty. Inter-
est good. Superintendent, Morris Colyer. This sketch
is incomplete, but if it inspires the brethren to put their
records in a more complete and permanent shape for
the future it has not been written in vain.
Shiloh Church -Is eight miles north of Albion, in the
southwest corner of Salem Township. The first meet-
ings in this neighborhood were held in James McKin-
st-y's barn, but the church of Shiloh was organized at
the residence of William Crawford, about 1862, with
twenty charter members as follows : William Crawford,
Priscilla Crawford, Robert Roby, Mary F. Roby,
B. T Bristow, Sallie Bristow, Samuel Crawford,
Satire Crawford, Nancy Crawford, Elizabeth Crawford,
John Bridwell, Harriet A- Bridwell, James R. Roby,
Priscilla Roby, Joseph Vandever, Jane Vaudever, Sal-
lie Rogers, A. J. Byford, Julia A. Byford, and possibly
others. At the time of organization they appointed as
elders William Crawford and Robert Roby. The dea-
cons of the church appointed at the same time were B.
F. Bristow, J. R. Roby and W. F. Crawford. This
organization has gradually increased till it now numbers
125 members.
A large per cent, of the people in Shiloh community
are from the State of Kentucky, and they know how to
entertain their preacher and all others who visit them
in genuine Kentucky style. The neighborhood is some-
times called "Little Kentuck." This community and
church has enjoyed the ministerial labors of J. W. Sum-
ner, Franklin Mountz, J. W. Stone, aud J. C. T. Hall.
Elder J. C. T. Hall has preached for them for the last
172
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LA WRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Their house of worship is a frame structure built on
the old style— pulpit iu front between the two doors—
and is valued at $500. Seating capacity 300.
East Village Church.— This church, three miles north
of Albion, the county seat of Edwards county, was or-
ganized of members mostly from West Village Church.
William Woods held meetings iu the Montgomery
school-house in this neighborhood about the year 1864.
They built a meeting-house in 18 — , and after its com-
pletion a meeting lasting four weeks was held in it by
Joshua Sumner, and the church organized with fifteen
charter members.
Official Board.— Elders— Isaac Smith, J. F. Tread.
Deacons. — C. W. Smith, Jacob Mason.
The regular preachers for this congregation since the
time of its organization have been J. Sumner, Daniel
Burkley, Dr. F. Mountz, J. C. T. Hall, Elder Lathrop,
J. W. Stone and Caleb Edwards, who is just at the
close of his seventh year's work.
The East Village chapel, a frame, is 36x40. Value
of church property 8600. It will seat comfortably 250
or 300 persons. The church numbers thirty members
No Sunday school.
There are some excellent members in East Village
church, but the number is so few, and the distance from
Albion and West Village churches is so small, that it
seems to the writer that it would be better for the cause
if these brethren would all agree to unite with either the
West Village or Albion congregation.
Marion Church.— The Marion Church is in Shelby
precinct, northwest part of the county, on the west
bank of Sugar creek, and near the old town of Marion.
The work was inaugurated in this community by Moses
and Elijah Goodwin, J. Standish and Cornelius Aids.
Their first meetings were held at the residence of Quin-
ton Nicks, and it was here the church was organized,
under the labor of Moses Goodwin. The meetings were
held for some time after they organized, from house to
house, but mainly at the house of Niles A. Shelby, the
same house now occupied by his son, William Shelby.
The first elders of this congregation were William
Foster and N. A. Shelby ; and the first deacons were
Quinton Nicks and B. F. Park. The following names
were enrolled in this organization : William Foster,
Lucy Foster, Niles Shelby, Malinda Shelby, Quinton
Nicks, Susan Nicks, B. F. Park, Elmira Park, AV.
Prichet, Elizabeth Prichet, D. Nicks, Orpha Nicks, B.
Kinyon, Eliza Kinyon, and perhaps others. They or-
ganized in 1843. Hence this is one of the oldest
churches in the county. It has been privileged to enjoy
the occasional preaching of E. Goodwin, B. K. Smith,
Elder Dibble, et al. Elder George Morrall was sent out
as a preacher first by Marion church. The preachers
regularly employed by the church have been M. Good-
win, A. Walker who was a mident preacher, Stephen
Phelps, W. Courter, C. Aids, G. Morrall, A. Flower,
M. Shick, J. Sumner and William T. Gillesp e. Brother
G. Morrall was their last preacher. The resident
preachers have been Anderson Walker, and William
Woods. W. T. Gillespie, a preacher, now lives near the
church. The church now numbers 130. Elders : C. B.
Root and J. M. Walker. Deacons : Jordan Walker
and Stephen Stone. The church holds Sunday-school six
months in the year. Number of scholars is forty.
The church edifice is a frame 26x38 feet. Seating
capacity 250. Value of church property $450.
Marion church numbers some grand men and women,
and it has the ability to accomplish much toward the
salvation of men. May the great Head of -the church
bless them to the good of humanity and His own glory.
JBonpas Church. — The facts here recorded were given
to the writer by Elder J. C. T. Hall, from memory.
Hence the history of this church is necessarily very in-
complete. The church is situated on the eastern border
of the county. Elder Amos Willis did the pioneer
work in this neighborhood, and organized the church
about the year 1838. Elijah Goodwin, M. Goodwin,
A. Flower, J. C. T. Hall, and Elder Tremble have
preached considerable for them. Monthly preaching
has been the rule in this church. Membership, sixty-
five. Their Sunday-school is spasmodic. Their church
edifice is a frame, valued at $700. Sittings 300.
Olive Church. — This church, situated about half way
between Albion and Grayville, is the youngest organiza-
tion of the Church of Christ in Edwards county, being
effected under the ministerial labors of Brother C. Ed-
wards, 1879, who did the first preaching in this neigh-
borhood. But the first successful series of meetings
here were held in the mouth of February, 1879, by
Brother E. Lathrop. Brethren J. F. James and Caleb
Edwards have since that time held a very successful
protracted meeting. The church now numbers thirty
members, with F. Wick as elder, and J. Scott and J. J.
Wick as deacons. They have a neat little frame chapel,
built in 1878, at a cost of $550. Seating capacity 200.
SUMMARY.
Number of preachers living in Edwards county, seven.
Churches, ten. Value of church property, $8,310.
Total seating capacity, 2,600. Total membership of the
county, 945.
In conclusion I would say to the brethren of the
county, that I am conscious of the fact that the above
history is incomplete and perhaps will fall far short of
rendering satisfaction to all ; but the writer has taken no
little pains to collect all the above facts and statistics.
Most of the church records have been very imperfectly
kept, and if this sketch stirs up each church to put its
history in a more perfect and permanent shape, it has
not been written in vain.
CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
BY REV. ISAAC B. SELF.
Albion.— The Cumberland Presbyterian Church is a
growth of the present century. It originated in the re-
markable revival of religion which began in 1797, to
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
173
develop itself in the extensive region known as the
" Cumberland Country," embracing a considerable por-
tion of northern Tennessee and southwestern Kentucky.
The organization was effected on the 4th day of Feb-
ruary, 1810, at the house of Rev. Samuel McAdow in
Dickson County, Tennessee. The distinctive doctrinal ,
feature of this body is the middle ground between ex- j
treme Calvinism, and Arminianism. It is Presbyterian j
in its form of government. The name " Cumberland " |
is retained because that was the name of the Presbytery, {
and of the country, where the gracious revival sprang
up, in which the church was born. In 1815, three years i
before Illinois was constituted a State, Cumberland
Presbyterians had entered the Territory and carried
the glad tidings of salvation to its scattered inhabitants.
The first congregation organized in this State was
" Hopewell," now Enfield, White county, by Eev. D.
W. McLin, June 8th, 1819. Among the first ruling
elders elected was James Miller, whose daughter Sarah
was in after years one of the first members of Albion
congregation.
Shiloh congregation, in White county, was organized
not long after the one at Enfield. Here in November,
1822, the L.rd most graciously blessed the labors of
Rev. Woods M. Hamilton. Among those converted at
this meeting, was Alexander Stewart, a ruddy Scotch
lad sixteen years of age, who joined the church at
Shiloh, November 22d, 1822, and who in the Providence
of God, became the father of the church in Albion.
Attending a Cumberland Presbyterian camp-meeting
at Enfield, young Stewart saw Miss Sarah Miller, re-
ferred to above. At once- he was impressed with her
suitableness as a life companion, and sought an intro-
duction. This acquaintance continued with increasing
mutual pleasure, until January 19th, 1825, when they
were united in marriage. In 1827, this young couple
moved to Albion, Edwards county, which place they
found almost entirely destitute of any religious interests,
and in fact much avowed infidelity was found, and often-
times decided opposition was manifested towards pro-
fessing Christians and Christianity. The first sermon
by a Cumberland Presbyterian minister was delivered
by Rev. James Alexander, who visited the place on in-
vitation of Brother Stewart, in 1832. He preached in
a small school house which stood on West Main street,
on the lot now occupied by Richard Curdling's harness
shop. In the midst of this service, a number of persons
of the baser sort to show their contempt for the worship
of God, gathered outside and threw stones at a terrible
rate upon the building. This, is said to have caused
quite a commotion for a time. But the minister was
finally enabled to proceed, and finished his discourse
without further interuplion.
Either in 1835 or '3G, Brother Stewart, in connection
with Robert Brown, Wm. Hall and others, organized a
'' weekly meeting " which was held in the counting-room
of Joseph Clark, a young man, (not then religious,
but who afterward became so, and united with the
church at the organization of the Albion congregation,)
who did business for a number of years in a log build-
ing which formerly stood on the ground now occupied
by the western half of the " Craig Brick." This meet-
ing, for prayer and the study of the Scripture, was con-
tinued, with increasing interest during the week, until
in the fall of 1837 or 1838, it was thought proper to make
an appointment for Sabbath. By consent of Walter L.
Mayo, then clerk of the county court, the court-house
was obtained for the purpose. The first service was con-
ducted by Brother Stewart, who was filled with fear and
trembling at the presence of a large number of the most
intelligent and sceptical portion of the community. Lift-
ing his head in prayer to God for help, in a trembling
voice he announced the hymn :
Reading it through and then " lining it out " as was
the custom, the hymn was sung. Its cheering words
were blessed to his encouragement, and he proceeded with
the services to its close ; reading a sermon of some se-
lection, not now remembered. To the surprise of the
little band the unbelieving portion of the audience
treated the service with great respect, and seemed
pleased at the idea of having Sabbath services in the
town. On the next Sabbath, service was again held
with an increased attendance and interest on the part of
the community. Brother Stewart at this time read a
portion of "Watson's answer to Paine's Age of Reason."
At the close of this service a leading sceptic approached
him, and shaking hands, thanked him for inaugurating
this Sabbath service, saying " You know I don't believe
in Christianity, but this will have a good effect on the
community, and will cause the people to brush up and
put on clean clothes once a week any way ; '' thus bear-
ing an unwilling testimony to the power of the Gospel ;
and to the fact that godliness and cleanliness are inti
mately connected.
These Sabbath services were continued in the court-
house until 1841, conducted by members of different
j churches, who would read sermons, extracts from good
books, or comment upon the Scriptures as seemed best
at the time. As opportunity offered the services of any
minister passing through, or that could be induced to
visit the place, were secured. In 1841 or '42, it was de-
cided to build a "Union church-house," which was
done by the contributions and energetic efforts of a faith-
ful few, members of various churches. This was a brick
j building 2(5x50, standing back from the street, east of
the court-house, and the building is now occupied by H.
Wagner as a dwelling. Revs. John Porter, Woods M.
Hamilton, Wm. Finley and Joel Knight pioneer minis-
ters of the C. P. Church frequently visited Albion,
preaching in this brick church. Finally the way being
j open for an organization of a church of their choice,
\ Brother and Sister Stewart made a request to this effect.
; And on the 23d day of May, 1843, Albion congregation
174
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
of the C P. Church was regularly organized by Revs.
Woods M. Hamilton and Win. Finley, with the follow-
ing members: Alexander and Sarah Stewart, by letter
from Shiloh congregation ; Samuel E. and Jennet I
Prichard, Joseph and Jane Clark on profession. Brother
Stewart was at that time elected and ordained ruling
elder, which position he has filled ever since. Rev. I
Wm. Finley served this congregation as pastor from its I
organization until 1851. There is no mention made of
salary, and the only record as to any engagement is
that Rev. Wm. Finley was employed Nov. 25th, 1846,
one-fourth of his time for one year. For the next two
years he labored as much as he could. Mention is also
made of his conducting and assisting in meetings from j
time to time as late as 1855. Rev. James Gaston sup- j
plied the congregation for a short time before and up
to September 1st, 1851, when Rev."J. T. Borah, (now of
Mississippi) was employed one-fourth his time until
some time in 1854.
In the spring of 1854, it was decided by the members
to build a church house of their own. This was a neat
frame 50x26, with cupola and vestibule, and costs from
eight hundred to a thousand dollars. This building was
dedicated June 18th, 1854, by Rev. Wm. Finley, Rev.
J. T. Borah, then the pastor, and Rev. E. T. Senserman
assisting in the services. It stood just east of the resi-
dence of Charles S. Stewart and is now a part of his
front yard. At the erection of the new brick, the house
was sold and moved to where it now stands occupied
by Garland Biggers as a dwelling.
May 1, 1855, Rev. John W. Woods, (now of Mattoon,
Illinois,) was engaged to labor with this congregation
for one year, at a salary of $350.
At a meeting held by Rev. William Finley, at Wan-
borough, near Albion, in December, 1849, Thomas Smith
joined the C. P. church, coming from the Independent
church, Kendall, England. Some few years after he
placed himself under the care of Presbytery as a candi-
date for the ministry. In due time he was licensed and
ordained, and in April, 1857, application was made to
Presbytery for his services as pastor of this church.
Said request being granted, it was renewed from time to
time, and Brother Smith continued in charge of the church
until some time in 1864. He then enlisted in the Fed-
eral Army, and the congregation was supplied with oc-
casional preaching, by Rev. Charles Low, of the Baptist
church, and by Rev. James M. Hatnon and Henry |
Cooper, of the Moravian, until in November, 1865, Rev. \
B. H. Blackwell was employed for six months.
April 25, 1866, Rev. Thomas Smith was re-engaged
for one-half his time. He continued his labors until
September 26, 1867, when he asked to be released, and
another minister was employed. The records show sev-
eral very interesting meetings under the pastorate of
Brother Smith. His separation from the C. P. church,
and union with the Presbyterian, was regretted by this
congregation, who, however, follow him with good wishes
in his new congregation.
November 20, 1867, Rev. R. J. P. Lemen, was em-
ployed as pastor, and so continued at a salary ranging
from seven to eight hundred dollars, until the spring of
1870, when he resigned to accept an appointment from
the Board of Missions. Soon after Brother Lemen
entered upon his labors here the Lord most graciously
blessed his work, and a precious revival was enjoyed by
the church. Forty-nine persons, on a profession of faith
in Christ, united with the congregation on one day ; and
thirty more, by letter and experience, joining during his
pastorate.
In September, 1870, Rev. J. R. Lowrance was em-
ployed as pastor, at a salary of one thousand dollars,
and house rent free. He entered upon his duties No-
vember 2, 1870, and continued to serve the congregation,
very much to their satisfaction, until August, 1874,
when he resigned, and moved to Lincoln, Illinois, in
order to obtain better facilities for the education of his
children. Recently he has moved his family to Gorden
City, Kansas, where he hopes to establish a C. P. church.
September, 1874, Rev. William Wilson took charge
of the congregation, at a salary of seven hundred dol-
lars a year, and house rent free. He continued in this
position for three years, though not receiving so large
a salary after the first year, when he moved to Minne-
sota, and afterwards entered the Congregational church.
At this time, September, 1877, Rev. William A.
Hyde, of Tennessee, visited the congregation, and ac-
cepted its pastoral care, agreeing to accept the free will
oSerings of the congregation as pecuniary remuneration
for his services, which arrangement was continued dur-
ing his stay, and resulted very satisfactorily. Brother
Hyde's pastorate was a very successful one, some sixty
members being received on profession during the first
six months.
Soon after he took charge of the congregation, he
began to press the importance of a larger and better
church building, which had before been discussed by
the session. Under his energetic leadership the people
entered into the matter most heartily, and the present
handsome edifice was erected. This is a substantial
brick, 60x40 feet, with vestibule and cupola additional,
and cost completed, four thousand five hundred dollars.
It is heated by a furnace, and is well supplied with com-
fortable seats, a bell and organ. It was built by Elias
Weaver, contractor, who has perhaps built more houses
in Albion, than any other one man This, his last con-
tract, stands as a monument of his continued faithful,
honest labor, good taste, and workmanlike execution.
The following notice of the dedication of this build-
ing is from the Albion Journal November 23, 1878:
" The New Cumberland Presbyterian church was dedi-
cated to the service of God on last Sunday, November
17th, and notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather,
the seats of the capacious building were more than com-
fortably filled, while others had to be brought in from
the old church to accommodate those who were unable
to get a seat. At about half-past ten, Rev. W. J. Darby,
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W 'ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
of Evansville, Ind., Rev. J. E Jenkins of Princeton, I
Ind., and Rev. John Woods, of Mattoon, former pastor
of the church at this place, ascended the rostrum. After !
reading an appropriate chapter of Scripture, and a
prayer by Rev. Woods, Dr. Darby announced bis text
to be found in the 132ud Psalm, 8th ver»e:
''Arise, O Lord, into thy rest; thou, and the ark of
thy strength."
Probably, no more appropriate piece of holy writ
could have been chosen for theoccasion. The sermon was
delivered in a very impressive manner and was listened
to with great attention. Dr. Darby's manner^ of de- ;
livery, distinct articulation, and flow of eloquence made
a very favorable impression upon his hearers. His dig-
nified appearance in the pulpit was in keeping with his
calling and commanded the admiration of his audience."
Very much to the regret of the cougregati n Brother j
Hyde resigned the care of his church, on account of |
poor health, in the spring of 1879, and accepted a call j
to a Mission church, at Colorado Springs, Colorado, i
He has since gone to Texas, where with his wonted
earnest faithfulness he is laboring for the Master.
October 1, 1879, Rev. G- W. Eichelberger of Pilot
Grove, Missouri, was called to the pulpit of this church,
for time indefinite, and salary the contributions of 1st
and 3rd Sabbaths of each month. In addition to the usual ,
pastoral work, Brother Eichelberger succeeded in organ-
izing a Woman's Home and Foreign Missionary Society
among the ladies of the church, which is still in success-
ful operation. He also established a Children's Mission-
ary Band, which was the means of raising considerable
funds for charity at home and abroad. Under his
management arrangements were made for the purchase
of the neat brick building standing on the adjoining lot)
west of the church, as a parsonage. This was to be paid
for in ten yearly installments. One payment made and
the remainder secured by reliable subscriptions. He
continued to serve the congregation very acceptably,
until October 17, 1881, when he resigned with a view
of further prosecuting his studies in some of the Eastern
Colleges.
Just before the departure of Bro. Eichelberger, from
Albion, Uev. Isaac B. Self, who was then traveling as
Financial Agent of Lincoln University, visited this
church. Finding them about to be left without a pastor,
at their request, he agreed to supply them with preach-
ing until the next spring. This arrangement extended,
in the spring, for six months, when in September, 1882,
the relation having proved mutually agreeable, the con-
gregation extended the call indefinitely, agreeing to pay
a salary of nine hundred dollars per year, and free use
of the parsonage. This was accepted, and the Albion
Presbytery, at its fall session, was asked to ratify the
arrangement by regular installation, which was done,
and an account of which is here given, as taken from the
Albion Journal of September 22, 1882.
"Rev. I. B Self was installed last Sunday morning
as permanent pastor of the C. P. church, at this place,
in the presence of a large congregation. Mr. Self has
been in charge of the C. P. church here fur about one
year past, and his labors, both in the church and Sab-
bath-school work, have been so eminently satisfactory
to the congregation that they unanimously called upon
him to accept the permanent pastorate of the church.
After expressing his willingness to the church to do so,
the church made known its wants to Albion Presbytery
at its recent session, and Revs. E. T. Bowers, of Enfield,
and J. W. Elder, of Flora, were appointed to install
him as such. They attended to that duty last Sunday
morning, Rev. E. T. Bowers preaching the installation
sermon, from Acts 20: 24— 'But none of these things
move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so
that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry
which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the
gospel of the grace of God.' From this text he deliv-
ered an able and impressive sermon upon the call to the
ministry, after which the charge was delivered after the
authorized manner of the C. P. church by Rev. J. W.
Elder."
The records show that two hundred and ninety-seven
members have been received by letter and experience
into this congregation since its organization. Of these
nearly one-half have been lost by death and removal,
leaving one hundred and fifty members as the present
strength of the congregation.
The following are the ( fficers, with the date of their
ordination :
Elders. — Alexander Stewart, May 23, 1843; Levinus
j Harris, November 24, 1867 ; George Bower, November
j 24, 1867 ; Charles S.Stewart, July 9, 1871 ; John Wai-
i ker, June 20, 1875 ; H. P. Craig, April 10, 1881.
Deacons— Edwin Stewart, March 17, 1878 ; Lucius
Harris, March 17, 1878 ; John Batson, July 7, 1880 ;
| Wm. Curtis, April 10, 1881.
Henry Edwards and Otis T. Macomber were elected
and ordained Ruling Elders in February, 1855. The
former serving until February, 1869, when he resigned,
and the latter until his death, March 16, 1881.
Joseph S. Keadington also served the congregation
! as elder from July 9, 1871, until June 16, 1875, when
| he ceased to act at his own request; Bedford E. Harris,
! from June 20, 1875, to March 17, 1878, and James
' Davidson, from July 7, 1880, to July 26, 1881, served
' as deacons. Their removal from the State caused their
| resignation.
Trustees. — Alexander Stewart, Thomas Smith and
Henry Powell were elected trustees soon after the elec-
I tion of the first church-house, in 1854, to hold the church
property in trust for the congregation, which was deeded
to them, and their successors in office. Various changes
have been made in this board through death, removal
; and resignation, but the vacauci 's have been regularly
filled. The present trustees are, James Churchill, Robt.
Curdling, Sr., John Walker, Alfred Tribe and Henry
i P. Craig.
Sabbath-Sclwol.—The first Sabbath-school organized
176 HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
in Albion, was a " Mission School," under the auspices
of the American Sunday-School Mission, in what was
then the school building of the village ; a log house 16x
18 that stood on the lot just east of the residence of
Charles S Stewart, and on which afterwards the first
C. P. church was erected. Father Stewart was the first
superintendent, and for years in succession held that of-
fice. The "Union" Kature was continued until
1867 or 1868, when, under the direction of Rev. R. J.
P. Lemen, the school assumed a more distinctly denomi-
national form, and has since so continued, though teach-
ers and scholars from other churches find a welcome to
its sessions and have always, more or less, been found
there. A good school well supplied with books, papers,
blackboards, maps, etc., has been maintained under the
superintendency of different persons. At present Mor-
ris Emmerson, Superintendent ; John Batson, Assistant;
Edward Craig, Secretary and Treasurer, and Mrs. Ollie
M. Smith, Organist, are the efficient officers, under
whose care the school, we trust, is accomplishing much
good in sowing the good seed of the word of God in the
hearts of the children and youths, who are the hope of
the church for the future. Twenty teachers and one
hundred and fifty scholars constitute the enrolled mem-
bership, with an average attendance of more than three-
fourths of this number.
Clerk. — Father Stewart served as clerk of the session,
from the organization until February 20, 1868, when
he resigned, and Elder George Bower was elected,
which position he still fills very efficiently. To his well-
kept minutes from 1868, and scraps of history which he
had transcribed from the former record, the present
writer is greatly indebted for much of the information
as to facts and dates contained in the above.
Albion is the only congregation of this denomination
known to the writer in Edwards, Wabash or Lawrence
counties. There are members living in each, but not
sufficiently strong for an organization. There are a
number of families connected with the Albion congrega-
tion living near Bethel, and also some near Wauborough.
At the former place there has been, for years, regular
preaching once or twice a month by the pastor in Al-
bion, in the Union Brick church. The present pastor
preaches there at 3 p. M. every second and fourth Sab-
bath. A very interesting Mission Sabbath-school is also
maintained at this point, members of the C. P. church
being found active in its work both among the teachers
and scholars.
Conclusion. — With some trouble, but also with a great
deal of pleasure, has this history been gathered. Father
Stewart, though in poor health, and at a " ripe old age,"
yet has a vivid recollection of many of the scenes of the
long ago, and it has been peculiarly pleasant to gather
them from him. The writer is sure he but echoes the
sentiment of every member of the church, and of the
community as well, when he says that to Father Stewart
more than to any other person is this congregation in-
debted for its present prosperous condition, and for
whatever good it has ever been enabled to accomplish.
CONGREGATIONS OF UNITED BRETHREN.
(CO.V-VOA'Ll' CALLED MORAVIANS.)
BY KEV. G. F. OEHLEE.
To write the history of these congregations, one must
begin in the State of North Carolina.
In the year 1751, a purchase of 100,000 acres of land,
lying in the present State of North Carolina, was effected
by the Brethren's church, of the British Parliament.
The object which Parliament favored, was to establish
colonies in the wilds of that State, around which the
scattered settlers could gather, and to preach the Gospel
to the Indians.
In 1753 the first colonists started from Bethlehem,
Pa. ; soon other Pennsylvanians followed, while some
families came direct from Germany ; they settled on the
land that had been purchased, and which lay along or
near the Yadjun river, in Stokes, Davie and Forsythe
counties, called, at that time, Dobb's Parish.
The German language had not been brought by those
alone who came from Germany ; the Pennsylvanians
also spoke it; hence, this was the familiar language of
the settlers. Divine services were held in it, as one con-
gregation after another was formed, and it continued to
be used, even by those who were seized by the " West-
ward, ho ! " spirit, and sought homes in the wilds of
Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. Many of these could speak
English in only a very imperfect way.
In the year 1829 some of these seekers of new homes
found their way to Edwards county, Illinois, and by
1840 they numbered some twenty families. They were
not all Moravians, nor were they all conversant with
German ; but the Moravian ritual had become dear
above any other to them, and the German language pre-
vailed. The leading spirit among them was Joel Roth-
rock, a thorough Moravian, who presided over their re-
ligious assemblies. But this was not sufficient ; their
desire was to have a pastor. Through correspondence
between them and the authorities of the church, it was
arranged, in the year 1843, that Rev. Martin Hauser, a
North Carolinian, and well acquainted with many of the
Edwards county Brethren, should make them a visit.
Physically, Brother Hauser was a strong man, who had
been reared amidst the hardships of frontier life; spirit-
ually, he even surpassed his strength of frame, for he
was filled with divine life, and with an invincible zeal
for the spread of the Redeemer's kingdom.
On the 20th of March, of the year 1843, in company
with Mr. Francis Eberman, he left his home in Hope,
Bartholomew county, Indiana, 185 miles from West Sa-
lem. They came by water as far as Evansville, and
ihence made the journey on foot, being compelled to
traverse part of the distance through snow. In the
evening of the 25th, they arrived at Joel Rothrock's,
and the next day, at 11 A. M., Rev. Mr. Hauser
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WAR ASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
177
preached, in a little school-house, on the text, " I am not
ashamed of the Gospel of Christ." The same evening
he preached at Adam Hediick's. In the four days' stay
which he made, he preached four times, discussed church
matters, formed fifteen church members into a society,
and examined the surrounding country. This done, he
started on his return home by way of Alt Carinel,
Princeton, etc. The good work had now been com-
menced, and the biethren continued to meet regularly
for divine service.
On the 8th of May, 1844, Brother Hauser started on
his second visit to Edwards county. This time Brother
Daniel Brunuer accompanied him. The journey, made
overland, consumed nine days; some of the nights were
spent in the woods, camping out. A busy visit of eight
days followed ; during that time Bro. Hauser preached
eight times, baptized nineteen children, confirmed
twelve adults, held various church meetings, wrote out
the discipline for a congregation, and then organized a
congregation of thirty-five members. The ceremonies of
organization took place in Peter Hinkle's barn, on the
25th of May; here fifteen members subscribed to the
church rules, and thirty-five souls partook of the
L ird's Supper. On the same occasion, ' a Board
of Trustees was elected, consisting of Joel Rothrock,
Adam Hedrick, Charles Wolk, Peter Hinkle and Solo-
mon Reich.
The next important step was the building of a house
for worship. The site for it was not fixed upon without
considerable anxiety; an offer on the part of Joel Roth-
rock, at last, however, settled the point ; this was an
offer of forty acres of land at $2.00 an acre, the price
he had paid for it. The purchase money was furnished
by the Provincial Elders' Conference, at Bethlehem,
Pa., who took, in return for the same, a deed in trust
for the West Salem congregation. Aided, to the extent
of several hundred dollars by other Moravian congrega-
tions, a frame building 30 x 40 feat was commenced.
By the 14th of March, 1845, the frame-work was com-
pleted. In the following May Brother Hauser again ap-
peared on the scene ; on this occasion, the first anniver-
sary of the organization of the congregation was celebra-
ted, and all the former Trustees were re-elected.
On his return home, Brother Hauser entered eighty
acres of land for Brother Charles Kluge, in behalf of the
Executive Board of the Moravian church at Salem,
North Carolina, of which Board the latter gentleman
was president. This purchase, together with others
made by the same Board, and by the Board that resided
at Bethlehem, Pa., made a sum total of 200 acres owned
by the authorities of the church. The Kluge purchase
of 80 acres is the land on which West Salem was after-
ward commenced.
No ministerial visits were made for a year, but divine
services were, nevertheless, regularly held. When, how-
ever, early in 1846, the church building had been nearly
completed, the two reverend gentlemen, Herman I. Titze
and M. Hauser, were invited to be present and dedicate
23
it. As Brother H. I. Titze has served in these congre-
gations longer than any other minister, it is but proper
i to say that he is not only a German, but a thoroughly
educated Moravian, who had been a theological pro-
j fessor. but with a kindness and modesty of heart that
j could not be fully appreciated iu what were then the
wilds of America
[ By thete two heralds of the Cross was the little frame
j structure dedicated to the worship of the Triune God, on
' the 31st of May, 1846 ; the services were held in both
the German and English languages.
Previous to this holy act a town was surveyed on the
land belonging to the Salem Board, and lying west of
the church edifice ; the town received the name of New
I Salem. In after years, when a post-office was established
! in the place, it was discovered that there already existed
a post-office by that name, in the State ; hence this was
! changed to West Salem, and has since been so known.
I In the autumn of this year logs were made ready to
! build a parsonage, as the desire for a resident pastor now
became very strong. The following year their desire was
gratified by Bro. Martin Hauser's being appointed by
the proper authorities to serve this little flock Ou the
15th of August, 1847, he was introduced to his new
charge, and preached his first sermon from the text
found recorded in Matthew vi. 33.
Not long after his arrival Bro. Hauser began to look
up places where the Gospel was not being made known,
and many such were found on every side. At a number
of these, both within and outside the boundaries of
Edwards county, he visited at regular intervals, and
preached the good news. As other denominations came
in, however, one after another of these outposts was relin-
quished, until only one remained, namely, that at Olney,
Richland county, 111. The summer of 1849 gave a
| great impetus and new life to the congregation. Some
i fifty persons arrived direct from Germany, many of
' whom had received their religious training and educa-
tion in the Moravian congregations of Germany. The
{ new arrivals were poor but robust young people, who at
once united with the congregation. This addition was
highly beneficial to Bro. Hauser's charge, in many ways ;
the Moravian usages and ritual were more strictly ob-
1 served, and while the retired, quiet, easy going North
' Carolinians were roused and quickened, the strict ritual-
I istic Germans in turn grew more modified in their views.
I Up to this time there had been few Germans in the con-
! gregation, and the German language had been made use
of on only comparatively rare occasions ; but now it
I became very necessary to conduct a large proportion of
i the services in this language. Since 1849 Germans
I have continued to arrive direct from Europe, until, at
I the present time, more than a hundred families have
settled iu and around West Salem, giving the settlement
' a decidedly German character.
In the autumn of 1851, at his own desire, Bro. Hauser
i was relieved of his charge, Bro. Edwin T. Senseman
receiving the appointment as pastor, on December 1st
178
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
of the same year. The congregation, having a church
building, a parsonage and a town with an increasing
number of inhabitants, found it necessary to take another
step forward. On May 13th, 1854, an educational so-
ciety was formed, the aim of which was to erect a
church school building, in which the children of citi-
zens as well as those of Moravians could be educated.
To assist them in this laudable enterprise, the executive
board at Salem, N. C., made the following offer : If the
congregation would refund the cost and expenses in-
curred by it for the 160 acres of land which had been
laid out in town and other lots, and which had by this
time grown very much in value, a deed for the 160 acres
of land should be made over to the congregation. This
offer was of course gladly accepted, and it was at once
resolved upon to build a suitable school-house. But
the carrying out of the project was interfered with for
the time being, partly by the failure of the crops in the
year 1854, and paitly by the unusual amount of sick-
ness and great number of deaths of this same year.
The pastor's wife was among the latter number. A
visiting bishop was also taken with the disease that had
carried off so many others, and died on the way to
another station The pastor himself was brought low
with the prevalent sickness. Of the 84 inhabitants of
the town 42 were sick and 12 died.
At a provincial synod, held at Bethlehem, Pa., in the
beginning of September, 1855, it was decided, with
the consent of the Salem provincial synod, that the
West Salem congregation should henceforth be under
the control of the executive board, residing at Bethlehem,
Pa. At about the same time Bro. Senseman received
an appointment to fill the pulpit of the New York city
congregation, while the place left vacant by his removal
was occupied 'by the Rev. John Henry Eberman, who,
as well as Bro. Senseman, was a master of both the
English and the German languages.
November 14th, of the year 1856, saw the two story
brick school-house building, measuring 21x40 feet, and
which had been begun two years previous, so nearly
completed that school was commenced in it. The plan
of making it a boarding-school, which had been enter-
tained, was dropped. As a day school, in charge of the
two efficient teachers, Rev. John Eberman and Rev.
Herman I. Titze, the project prospered. The admission
fee for non-Moravian children was per quarter, for boys,
each five dollars; for girls, each four dollars ; Moravian
children at half these rates.
This praiseworthy work was scarcely under way when
breakers appeared in the congregation. The flock con-
sisted of members of two nationalities, who, though
belonging to the same church, had received somewhat
different religious educations. Of these, the Germans
adhered more strictly to the ritual, while the Ameri-
cans, per force of circumstances, were rather lax. The
former, who were now in the majority, insisted on hold-
ing all the services, which had become so hallowed
to them in their Fatherland, and demanded that the
German language should be more frequently used at the
services. On the other hand, the ministers, being Aint-ri-
, cans by education, naturally preferred the Engli h lan-
guage, and threw their weight in with the minority.
Under these circumstances, it was plain to all that the
• wisest course for the congregation to adopt was to sepa-
I rate into an English and a German organization. This
was done by mutual agreement, and the German division
began its separate church life on the 1st of January,
1857, with Rev. H. I. Titze as pastor. The division was
| not strictly defined, nationally, since some of the Ger-
man-born remained in the English congregation, and
I vice versa.
This separation rendered necessary a partition of the
church property. This consisted of forty acres of land
i and many town lots, the gifts of the two provincial
1 boards. On the forty acres of land was the church, the
parsonage and the grave-yard, while on one of the town
lots, facing the public square, stood the school-house.
It wa-t agreed that the German party should divide this
property into two equitable parts, and that then the
English would make their choice of one of these. The,
latter chose the southern half of the forty acres, and
with it the school house and lot on which it stood, which
1 formed one of the portions as made out by the Gtrman
element. The remaining lots, quite a large number,
i had been divided equally previous to this.
By synodical enactment, however, this property would
! not revert to the church in the event of either congre-
i gallon's ceasing to exist or leaving the Moravian church.
I At the time of separation the numerical strength of the
| two congregations was about 165 communicant mem-
bers; by the end cf the year the English congiegation
j numbered seventy-four, while the German amounted
to something near a hundred. The English body used
i the school-house for divine service, temporarily, with
: the ultimate object in view of converting it into a par-
sonage. For this and other reasons the Moravian high
school ceased to exist. The arrangement of the school-
| rooms was, however, so inconvenient for the holding of
j divine worship that the project of building a church
: received new impetus week by week. On the adjoining
lot presently a foundation was laid, upon which in due
i time was reared a neat brick structure, measuring 36x-
57 feet, and on the 13th of August, 1859, it was dedi-
cated as God's house. The cost of the building was
beyond the means of the little flock, but the Moravian
congregations at other points came generously to her
assistance. In the meantime other denominations of
marked proselyting proclivities appeared on the ground.
Of these, the Evangelical Association, commonly called
Albright's, worked so energetically that many members
of the German congregation were won over to their
church; the shock to the church they left was very
great; but in spite of it she survived and eventually
prospered. A little later a shock of a different nature
convulsed the entire nation and thrilled this little com-
munity. The firing on Fort Sumter, on the 12th of
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
179
April, 1861, aroused the inhabitants of this little village,
and called forth sentimf nts of strongest loyalty. Nor
was the loyalty shown by sentiments alone: for very
many of the able bodied promptly responded to the call
for defenders, not a few of whom sacrificed their lives
for the Union of the States. In course of time the con-
gregation became self-sustaining, that is, they paid
their ministers' salaries ; for up to this time they had
been assisted in this by the church authorities. This
entitled them to lay representation in the Moravian
synods, which convene every three years.
Another step forward was the formation of missionary
societies for both native and foreign lands, which an-
nually contribute about SI 25. But this is only a small
proportion of what is given by the two congregations ;
for in addition to the many calls for help, to which
there is always a liberal response,— help for raising
church buildings in other congregations, for distress
among sister churches, — th^re are five stated collections
for benevolent objects, which amount annually to hun-
dreds of dollars.
«* The Sunday-school work was commenced as soon as
suitable accommodations could be provided, and has
since been energetically carried on, until at the present
time the scholars of the two schools combined number
280 or more. There now remains little more to be said
on the subject in hand. Both congregations are well
organized, having resident pastors. Their numerical
strength has been slow, yet steady, since each has
almost doubled the membership with which it began its
existence, the English numbering 128 communicants,
and the German 190. Their character and their influ-
ence on the community is such as to warrant the predic-
tion, that having done well in the pa-t, they will do
better in the future; that good work for Christ's king-
dom will be done, and their number will be increased.
The names of the resident pastors are : of the English
congregation, Rev. Robert W. Herbst, and of the Ger-
man, Rev. G. F. Oehler.
EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION.
BY REV. M SPECK.
This church, the Evangelical Association of North
America, was founded by Jacob Albright in the year
1800 Through ignorance, it is by some called Albright
church ; perhaps by reason of J Albright being the founder
of it. Doctrine and church government are principally
after the method of the Method;st Episcopal church.
About thirty years ago, several families, by the name of
Nichel, Bernhart and Guyot, members of the Evangelical
Association, emigrated from Wabash into Edwards
county, and located in Shelby precinct, near the Little
Wabash. Shortly after the arrival of these families,
they were visited by the itinerant, Rev. P. Burgener,
who was at that time traveling on Olney mission. Here-
after this place was taken up as a regular appointment
for preaching, a class organized, and Mr. M. Bernhart
elected leader, at whose house, for a number of years,
religious meetings were held. Whereas, the services
were conducted exclusively in the German language,
and the German population there but small in number,
and besides that, widely scattered (consequently) the little
flock increased but slowly. This is the foundation or the
beginning of the work of the Evangelical Association
in Edwards county. In the year 1854, Rev. P.
Burgener received an invitation to come to West Salem
and preach the Gospel, to which hegladly responded. This
invitation was given by Mr. Joseph Barth, of West
Salem, formerly a member of the German Methodist
church, at St. Louis, Mo . he having a special attachment
for a like church at West Salem. In the month of August,
1854, Rev. P. Burgener delivered his first sermon in
Mr. J. Earth's cooper-shop, to a large and attentive
assembly. A few weeks after, when he preached the
second time, an organization took place, and the follow-
ing persons were received as members of the church :
Joseph Barth and wife, George and Michael Koehler.
Henceforth West Salem was taken up as a regular ap-
pointment. In the month of September, the Indiana
Conference held its annual session, at which a change
of ministers took place. Rev. B. Ruh was appointed
as successor of Rev. P. Burgener. The first protracted
meeting was held in West Salem, in the month of May,
1856, in the private dwelling of Mr. John E. Altne r.
Ministers officiating at this meeting were as follows: S.
Dickower, presiding Elder of Wabash district, W.
Boekman, of Mt. Carmel Circuit, and B. Ruh, of Olney
Mission. The meeting resulted in the conversion of a
number of souls; five persons united with the church;
a class was formed, and Mr. John E. Altner elected to
serve as their first class-leader. This being the first re-
vival meeting here caused a great deal of sensation
among the German population. In the fall, at the
annual conference session, West Salem was attached to
Mt. Carmel Circuit, Indiana Conference. This field of
labor was supplied by the ministers Joseph Fisher and
Christ. Wessling. The work still continued to prosper,
but under exisiing disadvantages of not having a suit-
able place of worship, the little church did not succeed
so well, and the increase was not as large as it would
have been otherwise. A special remarkable year, in the
history of the Evangelical Association at West Salem, was
that of 1858, when the Rev. John Fuchs.N. Batholomews
and C. Kohlmeier were traveling this circuit. These
brethren conducted a protracted meeting in the month
of July, which lasted ten days. As the attendance of
this meeting was great, the old cooper-shops and private
dwelling?, the usual plaies of worship, were too small to
accommodate the people, therefore a vacant store was
rented, then the property of Mr. David Hedrick, in
which the services were held. During this meeting, a
great revival took place ; many souls were
converted to God, and united with the church. Eye-
witnesses declare that they never saw the power of the
Holy Spirit so visibly demonstrated as during this meet-
180
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
ing. It proved to be a blessing to the church, and its
exerting moral influence a great benefit to the surround-
ing community. In the fall of the year, another pro-
tracted effort was made, resulting in much good ; quite a
number of souls were saved and added to the church.
The meeting was held in Mr. H. Busefink's furniture
shop Shortly after this meeting, the brethren received
an invitation to hold a series of meetings, four miles
northeast of West Salem, at the house of Mr. Christ.
Witte. Here too, the power from on high manifested
itself to the salvation of many souls, who were received
into the church ; after the organization of a class, a
regular appointment for preaching was established.
When the work continued to prosper, the necessity
of a proper place of worship was deeply felt. The
country then new, and money scarce, the question arose
with the members how will we proceei in the erection
of the edifice. In the spring of 1859, steps were taken
and arrangements made towards building a church, for
which purpose a lot was donated by Jacob Mark. At
a council meeting, a proposition was made by Rev. J.
Fuchs, that each male member should subscribe five
dollars, in cash, and twelve days' work to this enterprise,
which was carried by a unanimous vote. With great
cheerfulness the brethren set to work, and with their
united effort completed the building by the next fall.
In October the church was dedicated by Rev. M.
W. Steffy, then presiding elder of Wabash district,
assisted by Rev. J. M. Kronmiller, of Mt. Carmel Circuit,
and C. Wessling, from Olney. The church is a frame
building, 26x40 feet, costing about $700. Having thus
succeeded, it gave the work a new impulse, and caused
the hearts of Gad's people to rejoice. The moral and
spiritual culture of the youth were now especially con-
sidered and attended to. A Sunday school was brought
into existence, which was well attended, and proved a
blessing to all connected with it. This school has largely
added to the upbuilding of the church.
A good many of its first scholars are now the leading
members of the church, and the Sunday-school is still in
a prosperous condition, and promises well for the future-
Rev. John Hoffmann, was appointed preacher in charge(
G. G. Platz, presiding elder of Olney district. The
circuit not having a parsonage, a house was rented in
Lincaster for temporary use. In December, 1849, at a
quarterly conference, the necessity of building a parson-
age was discussed ; a committee of three was appointed
to project a plan and select a site for the same. The
committee reported as follows: The building shall be
erected at West Salem ; size of the building, 32x18 feet,
13 feet high, 1} story, with necessary outbuildings.
At the next quarterly conference, the plan of the
building was reconsidered, and it was resolved that it
should be 27x28, 1J story high. The house built of
brick and completed in 1870 ; the entire expense amount-
ing to $800. In the year 1861, a revival took place
among the young people, Rev. \Vm. Wessler having
then charge of the circuit. After the outbreak of the
great rebellion, many of, our young men, prompted by
their patriotism, responded to the call of taking up arms
in defense of their country, to help to crush the rebellion.
As they enjoyed the privilege of a number of them being
together, they kept up their religious services in the
army and retained their religion, returning as Christians.
From 1865 to 1865, Revs. H. L. Fisher and Parker
traveled on the circuit. From 1865 to 1875, the follow-
ing brethren have traveled on this work : Rev. C. Glaus,
J. Miller, J. Berger, J. Hoffman, C. Wessling, C. Heim,
and B. Uphaus. There is no great success to report,
under the administration of these brethren ; nevertheless,
the work continued to prosper. A great aid in the
Sunday-school is the good, sound and extensive litera-
ture of the Evangelical Association, comprising the
following in music, " Jubeltoene," " Hosanna," " Ever-
green," " Happy Songs," and ''Sunday-school Songs.''
The " International Lesson," the " Sunday-school Tea-
cher," the " Blackboard," with its illustrated lesson ;
"Der Klien Kinder Lehrer," " Christlicher Kinder-
freuud," " Laemmerweide," "Sunday-school Messenger,"
and " My Lesson." Besides the above Sunday-school
literature, the church publishes a good variety of other
religious periodicals, such as : " Der Christlicher Botsch-
after," '• Living Epistle," " Das Evangelische Maga-
zin," and "The Evangelical Messenger." All the
periodicals mentioned, excepting two, are published
weekly. All the Sunday-schools of our church in Ed-
wards county, have, from the beginning to the present
time, been well supplied with the needed Sunday-school
material. "Botschafter and Messenger," the main
organs of the church, are especially adapted for the
family circle. These are first-class papers, and have a
large circulation, not only among the members of our
church, but also in other denominations. Soon aft- r the
establishment of the church in the county, different
auxiliary mission societies were founded, who nobly con-
tributed to the missionary cause, both for the foreign
and home mission. In 1868, West Salem, and the other
appointments of the county, were taken from Mt. Carmel
Circuit, and the West Salem Circuit was formed, in-
cluding the following appointments : West Salem,
Wittis, Little Wabash, Lancaster, and Timber Settle-
ment.
From 1875 to 1878, Rev. C. Mattheis, formerly
a citizen of West Salem Precinct, traveled on West
Salem Circuit. At this time the work was enlarged by
adding the Grayville appointment. There being too
much labor for one man, Bro. M. was assisted by a
colleague, Wm. L. Luhring; their success was very
good, resulting in the conversion of about eighty souls.
The following three years, C. Wessling and Finkbeiner,
succeeded the above-mentioned brethren. At this time, it
was deemed necessary on some parts of the circuit, to com-
mence laboring in the English language, and this part of
[ the work was especially assigned to M. F. Finkbeiner, who
i successfully discharged his call at the different appoint-
| ments, and it was his privilege to organize and establish
HISTORY OF EDWARhS, LAWRENCE AND WABASll COUNTIES, ILLINOIS. 181
the first English classes of the Evangelical Association
in this county.
In the spring of 1879, at a meeting, a resolution was
passed to erect a church in Shelby precinct, at Little
Wabash ; to be located on the land of Mr. F. Gaedecke
Immediately after passing this resolution, steps were
taken to proceed. During the same meeting, subscrip.
tious were taken up, to which the people contributed
very liberally. The contract of the building was let to
Mr. H. Busefiuk, of West Salem ; to be a frame
structure of 24x40 feet, and 13 feet high, for the amount
of $700. During the summer the house was finished.
This church is a neat building, an ornament to that part
of the country, and speaks well for this society. It was
dedicated by II. L. Fisher, I'r. Elder, in November,
1879. The meeting was protracted, and good results
obtained ; according to their confession, about 30 souls
were converted, and 28 united with the church. A good
Sunday-school is connected with this congregation, con-
ducted in the English language. The congregation of
this appointment consisted of part German and part
English members, and, accordingly, the services are con-
ducted in both languages. The prospect for the future
is promising, as the people are energetic and zealous in
good works. In 1881, the southern Indiana annual
conference was held at West Salem. Bishop T. H.
Bowman presided during the session. There were
ministers present, about 30 in number; the conference
was good, adding to the cause. The missionary meeting,
which was held Sunday afternoon, April the 3d, met
with good success, the result being $578 10. At this
conference, Rev. M. Speck was appointed to the circuit,
who has successfully labored up to this time. This
denomination has also a church situated in Grayville,
Edwards county, Illinois. With a quiet congregation,
and a promising Sunday-school, the church is located in
Edwards county, and belongs to the Grayville circuit.
The statistics of circuit, now consisting of the two
appointments, West Salem and Little Wabash, are as
follows :
1. The membership, 143.
2. Three churches valued at $2500.
3. One parsonage at $800.
4. Three Sunday-schools.
5. Containing abuut 360 scholars.
6. Officers and teachers, 40.
7. Libraries, three.
8. Containing about 400 volumes.
LAWRENCE COUNTY.
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
BY J. SCOTT DAVIS, SUPPLY PASTOR OF 8UMNER CHURCH.
To insure accuracy, the records of each church should
be searchtd. This has been done by that Prince of
Statisticians, Rev. A. T NORTON, D. D., of Alton, by
whose labors I have liis permission to profit on this oc
casion. Besides, my five years' residence in the county
enables me to present a sketch of our Church, which
will I trust, accord with the facts.
For forty-eight years, Lawrence County has rejoiced
in the sky-blue light of Calvinism', shed by the oldest
and largest Presbyterian Church in the county. " Pis-
OAH," suggestive of ecstatic views of the Promised Land,
was organized March 15, 1835, with 32 members.
Then come seven others : Shiloh, Lawrenceville,
Union, Hopewell, Bridgeport, Gilead, and Sumner.
Pisgah, from its organization to 1851, sixteen years,
was blessed with the prayers and labors of that minister,
ISAAC BENNET, whose soul was on lire with love to his
Redeemer ; and who, like his Master, was never so hap-
j py as when seeking and saving that which was lost.
Then came ministers WALLACE, LEFFLER, SAYE,
j MACK, Ross and SMITH. The last will soon enter his ninth
year of pastoral work ; and under him, assisted by Rev.
i C. S. ARMSTRONG, SynoJical Missionary, occurred the
greatest revival known in the Church, adding about fif-
ty to the membership.
Under Rev. THOS. SMITH'S devoted labors, the church
is edified in every sense of the word.
Next comes SHILOH church ; not long-lived but filling
its destiny. It was organized in 1841, by that worker,
wise, earnest and untiring, Rev. ISAAC BENNET, with
thirteen members. Of these, two, JOHN and JAMES
WRIGHT, were chosen Elders. The school-house which
this church used for religious services, was one mile south
[ of an old village-site called Charlottesville, ten miles
| northwest of Lawrenceville, and near Crawford county.
| The church seems never to have had more than fifteen
members; and as we might expect, after the Lawrence-
ville church *was opened, the Presbytery dissolved the
Shiloh church, May 2, 1851, and added its members to
Lawrenceville.
This LAWRENCEVILLE church, at the county-seat, was
organized August 12, 1848, with twenty members. . Un-
fortunately, the records of the church were burned, be-
ing in a physician's office, when it was destroyed by fire.
By a series of providences, the church became weakened,
until at last the substantial brick building was sold, and
the organization given up. Meantime the valuable bell,
of pure bell-metal and clarion tone, was generously given
to Sumner.
Fourth on the list, comes UNION Presbyterian Church,
organized June 17, 1854, by Rev. JOHN CROZIER, with
twelve members. God has been very good to this church.
The four Elders, H. M. WAGNER, HENRY GOODMAN, J.
H. FEE, and JOHN N. B. HARDY, are stalwarts ; firm,
energetic and ready for every good work. The Dea-
cons, GEORGE WESTALL, and CASPER LEGG, are con-
scientious and efficient. The Sabbath School is a model.
The weekly prayer-meeting is well attended, and all take
part — young and old, male and female, Collections are
taken for all the Boards. Membership, seventy.
Ministers consecutively : LILLY, CROZIER, SAYE, MACK,
182 HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Ross, SMITH, and DAVIS. Our prayer .is : " Father,
through us glorify Thy Name."
HOPEWELL Church was situated three and a half or
four miles northwest of Bridgeport. It was organized i
by Revs. Jons CROZIER and JOHN B. SAVE, May 15, i
1858, with sixteen members. It had a log building for |
a place of worship. It was named HOPEWELL at the
suggestion of that embodiment of hopeful energy, Rev.
J. CROZIEE. But its name did not save it. It has most-
ly been absorbed by the Bridgeport church. In 1867
its name had disappeared from the minutes of the Gen-
eral Assembly and its roll of churches.
BRIDGEPORT, though sixth in time of organization, is
second in numbers. It was organized by Revs. JOHN
CROZIER and JOHN MACK, and Elder .Thos. BUCHANAN,
May 7 and 8, with 24 members. First minister, Rev.
JOHN MACK. Next Rev. R. G. Ross, by whose untiring
work, a house of worship was built for $2,700. In the
winter of 1881 and 1882, the Synodical Missionary, Dr.
ARMSTRONG, labored in connection with the pastor and
congregation, in a protracted meeting, resulting in 25
members added to the church, and the church itself
greatly edified.
GILEAD church, on the county line between Lawrence
and Richlaud, five miles south of Hadley, was organized
by Rev. S. C. Baldridge, February 13 and 14, 1870,
with eighteen members. It has been regularly supplied,
at various times, by each of three ministers : S. C. BAL-
DRIDGE, C. C. BOMBERGER, and J. S DAVIS. The site
of the building consists of one acre, and was bought for
fifteen dollars. The house of worship is of wood, 26x40,
finished inside with ash and walnut, and is a perfect gem
of good taste, embowered in its grove of native trees.
It cost $1,500, and was dedica ed December 4, 1870, by
Rev. S. C. BALDRIDGE, who preached the sermon.
SUMNER, the largest town in the county, was last to
have a Presbyterian church, but the ground had been
thoroughly worked by other denominations. On the
9th of June, 1878, by direction of the Presbytery, Rev.
S. C. BALDRIDGE preached, and after the sermon orga-
nized a church of nineteen members. At a subsequent
meeting, the church decided to elect their officers for a
specified term of service, not to be less than three years,
and Elders and Deacons were accordingly chosen.
Two years after, Mr. JACOB MAY offered us a lot and
one hundred dollars, if we would build a house of wor-
ship. This timely and generous offer, afterwards more
than made good, saved our little band from extinction.
By the blessing of God, the help of other Christians, in- [
eluding the Board of Church Erection, and by putting j
our own shoulder to the wheel, and our hands deep into
our pockets, with more help fro u Mr. MAY, we have a i
building, neat and commodious, costing, besides the bell
— a present from Lawrenceville — $1,725, lighted bril-
liantly by two six-burner Bailey Reflectors.
Our Elders are JOHN Me CORD J. S. BROOKIE, JOHN I
C. WAGIE and Dr. WM. B. BEDELL. Our Deacons, \
8. M. MCCLURE, WM H. ORR and SAMUEL C. CRAIG. j
Our Sabbath School numbers over a hundred member*,
and pays its own expenses. Our weekly prayer-meeting
is well attended, and all take part ; young and old, male
and female. We contribute to all the Boards. A week-
ly Children's Meeting, conducted by Mrs. DAVIS, is win-
ning and training more than two scores of the younger
ones for Christ. Our membership is thirty-eight. We
look up to the hill", fro n whence cometh our help.
CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
BY REV. J. R. WRIGHT.
The first church of this name in the United States
which we have any history of was organized in Mauakin
Town, North Carolina, on Christmas Day in 1793 ; the
members were in most part seceders from the Methodist
Church, and they called themselves Republican Metho-
dists for a short time ; but at a subsequent meeting
dropped this title and took the more general name
Christian.
Their rise in the east was in the year 1800. The
first church organized was at Lyndon, Vermont, Septem-
ber, 1800; and at Bradford, Vermont, 1802 ; at Pier-
mont, New Hampshire, iii 1803.
In the west, in Kentucky and Tennessee, great revi-
vals of religion broke out in the year 1800 and 1801,
from which a number of churches were formed. They
have some good schools and colleges. A ntioch College, of
Yellow Springs, Ohio, Union Christian College, of
Meron, Indiana, and a theological school in New York,
are the principal of their institutions of learning. At
present they number in the United States, Canada and
New Brunswick about 1500 preachers, with a member-
ship of nearly 3,00,000.
They were the first to edit a religious paper, The
Herald of Gospel Liberty, published September 8, 1808, by
Elias Smith, N. H.
Center School-House. — The early settlers of Lawrence
county were in most part a religious people. One of
the first preaching places was at Center school-house, in
Lawrence county, about the year 1817. Daniel Travis
was among their first preachers at this point. They
grew rapidly until they became a strong church. Wm.
Adams, of Russellville, was one of its oldest members.
This church had several pastors, some of whom were
men of good ability, who were fully up to their day in
intellectual power.
Spring Hill, two miles southwest of Bridgeport, was
built as early as 1820, and used as a school-house. This
house was open to other denominations. The cemetery
still marks the spot where the old veterans of the croj-s
worshipped. Their first preachers were D Travis, and
William Kinkade, the latter one of the oldest residei.t
preachers of the county. Of those who visited this
point, were Revs. James Hughes, J. Rodgers, David
McDonald and Elijah Gooden.
Law's Camp-ground — Six miles north west of Sumner,
where there was a flourishing society for several years,
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS. 183
and where the Southern Wabash Christian Conference
was held for several years. Juhn Laws, one of the
leading members of the society, fed and otherwise enter-
tained the meetings held there. He killed beeves, !
cooked large quantities of different kinds of provisions, j
set a long table out doors, hauled wagon loads of hay
and corn out, and invited all present to eat and feed.
But from removals by death and other causes, the
society is only an object of the past. This was between
1838 and 1854. Their preachers were Nathan Woods,
William Ramsey and others.
Bethlehem. — Organized in Lawrence county, seven
miles south of Sumner, at Emsley Wright's, in the year
1840, which has been and is yet an influential church.
They held their meetings at E. Wright's until after his
death in 1855, when they built a house of hewed logs,
which they used till 1868, when they built another house, |
which is a good substantial building.
Aunt Kate Wright (as she is called) was one of the
first members of the church, and she is the only one now
living of the first She says she did not hear a sermon
for three years after she moved to this State till Rev.
William Ramsay preached at their house, and soon
after effected an organization which has stood through
all the tr als, and is yet a strong society. Their pastors
were Rams-ay, Guard, Andrews N. Wood, William
Hole, J. Wood, William Wood, M. G. Collins, W. M.
Markwell and S. L. Cheek, the present pastor, 1883.
The principiil families were the Moores, Wrights, Bells,
Ridgeleys, Borekmans and others who have been leading
families in the church. They number about 130.
Guard's Point — Four miles south of Lancaster in
Wabash county, Illinois. This was a prominent society
for several years but has become extinct. Anoiher
church east of Friendsville, in Wabash county, passed
out of existence. Some of the Pools were members of
the society.
Another society near McClary's Bluff which flourished
fi-r a few years is now only in the memory of a few in
Wabash county.
Sumner. — This church was organized February 1,
1860, by Elder D. Griffin, of the Miami Christian Con-
fiTince ci Ohio. John Judy, Sr., was elected deacon,
Skilliman Judy, treasurer, and Bolivar Judy, clerk.
N. Summeibell visited the church in July of this year,
and five were added. Elder Austin Hutson, of Fort
Branch, Jnd., became pastor of the church in 1861, and
continued till his death, which occurred October 16,
1869, excepting part of the years '62 and '3. Up to
that lime ihe number of members were 208, and Sumner
(. 'hristian Church was the leading church of the vicinity.
Elder Hutsou preached his last sermon in Sumner from
" I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ," on Sunday
night the first Sunday in October, 1869, and died on the
16th. President T. Holmes, of Meron, Ind., preached
the funeral sermon of Elder Hutson in the Christian
Church in Sumner, Nov., 1869, to a large audience, who
mourned the loss of a worthy pastor. The chureh had
no regular pastor but for a short time till October 27,
1878, when M. G Collins was installed and reorganized
the church. Eldt r Collins served as pastor until Sep-
tember, 1881. J. R. Wright, of Sumner, has been pas-
tor of the church since September, 1881. Some of the
principal families are the Judys, Wohers, Bells, Burgess',
Thompsons, Basdens, Andersons and others.
The resident preachers are D. L. Moore, of Sumner,
111., James B. Wright, of Sumner, 111., J. C. Hughes, of
Chauncey, 111., J. R. Wright, of Sumner, 111. This is
the old Christian Church, called by some New Lights.
It is not Christian (or Campbellites).
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST.
BY J. L. GRIFFIN.
This religious body is generally known in Illinois, by
the name 'Christian Church." But to distinguish it
from another body in the county, called by the same
name, we have used the name applied in the east, and
in many other places.
Some of the older congregations in Lawrence county
were organized at an early day — perhaps forty years
ago, or more. Some of the pioneers of the church, have
preached in the county. We call to mind Elijah Good-
win and Maurice R. Trimble deceased ; and Joseph W.
Wolfe, and John S. Howard, who are living.
Most of the congregations are comparatively young
There are only three that can be called old churches.
There are eleven organized congregations in the county,
with a membership, in the aggregate, of over one
thousand. The value of church property, a fair esti-
mate, will reach eleven thousand dollars.
The following as nearly as we can ascertain, is the
location, membership and value of church property, of
the churches in the county.
1. KuosellMle —Situated in the village of Russellville.
The membership is about 120. The value of church
property is $1,500. The house is new and good.
2. Rising Sun. — Situated in Russellville township. It
is a country congregation of recent organization ; the
house is new ; membership, about eighty ; value of
church property, 900 dollars.
3. Pleasant Ridge. — This is a country congregation,
situated in Bond Township. Church property, new and
good ; value about 1,300 dollars ; membership, about
100.
4. Hilkboro.— Situated in Bond town-hip. This is a
new country congregation. Membership, about eighty ;
value of church property, about 1000 dollars.
5. Prairie Hall. — A country congregation in Petty
Town. Value of chuich property, about 1 000 dollars;
membership, about 100. This is also a new congrega-
tion.
6. Sumner. — This church is in the village of Sumner,
and is known there as the " East Christian Church."
Membership, from 75 to 100; value of church property,
1,200 dollars.
184
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
7. Bridgeport. — Situated in the village of Bridgeport.
Membership of the church, about seventy-five ; value of
c' urch property, 1,200 dollars.
8. Pleasant Hill. — This is a country congregation near
the village of Bridgeport. Value of church property,
1,200 dollars ; membership, about seventy-five.
9. Mount Zion. — This is a country congregation. The
house is old, and not very good. A new one is contem-
plated. Value of church property, 500 dollars ; mem-
bership, about 100 ; situated in Lukin Township.
10. Cmtreville.— Situated in Allison Township, and
near the post office of that name. The church property
is valued at 1,200 dollars ; membership, about seventy
five.
11. Lawrenceville. — This church is in the village of
Lawrenceville, the county seat of county. It has a
membership of from 150 to 175; value of church
property 1,200 dollars ; one of the oldest churches in the
county. The house will soon be put in a good state of
repair.
The following is the post-office of the officprs of the
various churches :
P. O.
1. Russellville.
2. Rising Sun,
3. Pleasant Ridge,
4. Hillsboro,
5. Prairie Hall,
6. Sumner,
7. Bridgeport,
8. Pleasant Hill,
9. Mount Zion,
10. Centerville,
11. Lawrenceville,
Russellville.
Bird's Station.
.
Sumner.
Bridgeport.
" Allison.
" Lawrenceville.
Most of these congregations maintain meetings every
Sunday in the year, and evergreen Sunday-schools.
METHODIST PROTESTAN T CHURCH.
BY D. Bl'cOBMICK.
Brief history of Chauncey circuit Methodist Protestant
church, south Illinois district.
Chauncey circuit was organized at the Munn school-
house in the year 1853, by Wm. James.
Among the first members in the first organization was,
J. B. Stout, Andrew Mushrush, Eliza Stout, Christina
Mushrush, Christian Loas, Jacob Waggoner, Isabel Loas,
Maria Waggoner, Richard Bach. Society began building
a house of worship in the village of Chauncey, in the year
1861, which building was soon completed. The second
organization in Lawrence county was effected by H.
Duckworth, and called Pleasant Hill church. This was
effected daring the fall and winter of 1866 and 1867
with sixteen members. Chauncey circuit had a member-
ship of one hundred and fifty in good standing.
The names of some of the pastors having served
Chauncey from its first organization are: William
James, J. H. Williams, H. Duckworth, A. L Reynolds,
D. B. Russell, S- A Long, Rev. Buckuer, G. E. Sander-
sou. Chauncey circuit has grjwn to be a large and
popular circuit in the church, and among its members
are some of the best men in southern Illinois.
Bird Station circuit, south Illinois district. This
congregation was organized by J. H. Williams, at the
McNee church some time in the year 1857. The
second congregetion was orgauized at the Ford school-
house, in the fall of 1859 by W. H. Farris, with about
thirty members. The following are the names of some
of them : John Bird, Louisa Fritchey, Mrs.Waggonseller,
Allen Gomel, Isaac Beetle, Robert Ford, Philip Miller,
and Mary Ann Cochran. The above two classes were
then connected with Chauncey circuit, but in the fall of
1861 they were taken from that circuit.
In the interim of 1859 and 1861 the Cochran congre-
gation was organized by W. H Farris. Then the
Bethel Ford and Cochran classes were called the Liberty
circuit. W. H Farris continued to preach for them
until the fall of 1862 In the fall of 1862 John Brai-
nard came on the work and left about the 1st of April,
1863. Then the work was left without a pastor until
the fall of 1864. These being the trying times of civil
war, the circuit became almost extinct. In the fall of
1864 W. B McCord came on the work and preached to
the people in this distracted state, with but very little
reconciling influence He left the work in the fall of
1865. W. H. Farris took charge in the fall of 1865.
With much hard labor he succeeded in reconciling
many existing difficulties. Rev. Fanis left the work in
the fall of 1866, Rev. John Anderson, succeeding him.
After much labor, Anderson succeed in re-organizing the
Ford class and other parts of the work. In the fall of
1876 he organized the Higgins class at the Higgins
school-house. Then he organized five other appoint-
ments to wit, Porterville, Dogwood, Baily, Brush creek
and Liberty, making nine in all. In the spring of 1867
the Ford class succeeded in erecting a rude log meeting-
house, called the Liberty chapel, which was never finish-
ed, and was finally sold for ten dollars, and the land
reverted to the original owners. In the spring of 1868 the
Ford congregation and the Higgins congregation were
united and called themselves the Liberty class and
secured the Otterbein U B. chapel to preach in. In the
fall of 1869 John Anderson left the work after three
years of hard labor, and was succeeded by W. H.
Farris. it being his third term. He remained until the
fall of 1871, and was succeeded by Rev. W. N. Middle-
ton, who not being satisfied with his salary, left in about
one month, which left the work without a pastor
until the spring of 1872. At which time by legal action
R. Wright began work as a supply, remaining only
until conference in the fall of 1872.
He was succeeded by S. H Chiddix. He labored on
the whole work for about one year. Durirg brother
Wright's administration St. Paul's meeting-house was
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS. 185
built, and was dedicated November 12th, 1871, by John
Anderson.
S. H. Chiddix continued on the work, but in the fall
of 1872 Porterville, Dogwood, Baily, Brush creek and
Liberty were set off and called Oblong mission. At the
same conference by request of the Quarterly conference
the name was changed to Russellville circuit. In the
fall of 1872 Sand Ridge congregation was organized by
S. H. Chiddix. During the summer of 1873 Hills-
boro congregation was organized by S. H. Chiddix,
and left the work in the fall of 1873, and was succeeded
by J. D. Farbin. In the fall of 1873 Mt Zion congrega-
tion, formerly Bethel, was detached from Russellville
circuit and added to Chauncey circuit. J. D. Farbin
left the work in the fall of 1874, without much success.
William Murray came on the work in the fall of 1874,
and left in the fall of 1875 with little success. Dur-
ing the years 1874 and 1875 Grace church was built.
I- H. Vandyke, served with great acceptability for
about six months, until the spring of 1876. Miller
Burdett served one year, with some success and
acceptability during 1877 and 1878, and was succeeded
by R. Right in the fall of 1878, who did much good and
left the work in the fall of 1879 and was succeeded by
C. H. Felts, who served with good success two years, and
was succeeded in the fall of 1881, by D.B.Turney, A.M.,
who left the work in the fall of 1882 and was succeeded
by D. McCormick, the same fall, who is the present
incumbent.
M- E. CHURCH.
BY REV. JOS. VAN CLEVE, A. M.
To write a complete and correct history of Methodism
in this county is an enormous task. From confused
traditions, indefinite recollections and insufficient docu-
ments, little that is satisfactory can be obtained. I
have therefore undertaken, merely to sketch the origin
and briefly outline the progress of the church, which I
here represent.
The M. E. Church has had its existence in the county
less than three quarters of a century. Within that time
the membership has grown to nearly two hundred times
its original number, the number of classes has increased
from one to seventeen, and such has been the advance
in the demands of the work and ability of the church, as
to require three divisions of the original circuit.
The first organic pastorate over any part of Lawrence
county, was that of Charles Slocumb, who was appointed
to the Mt. Carmel circuit in 181JX His circuit embraced
the territory now included in the six counties of Edwards,
Wabash, Lawrence, Crawford, Jasper and Richland. In
the winter of 1818-19, nearly a year before the appoint-
ment of Slocurrtb, the first Methodist society in Lawrence
county, was organized. The following named persons
were members of that society : Jacob Schrader, Cathe-
rine Schrader, John Ruark, Mary Ruark, James Raw-
lings and his wife, Nancy Keneipp and Elisabeth
Schrader. The organization was effected by two local
preachers, Stone and Wallace, from Indiana. They
held a protracted meeting at Jacob Schrader's, and
formed a second class, consisting of children. As this
was deemed an evanescent childish excitement that
would soon die away, Samuel Schrader, then about
fifteen years old, was appointed leader. But the class
survived, formed the nucleus of the future circuit and
gave cast and character to the Methodism of Lawrence
county. Near the spot where this meeting was held
stands Bethel church, and there the descendants of the
Schraders remain its earnest and faithful supporters.
In 1820, a local preacher by the name of Dollahan
settled north of the present town of Lawrenceville on
Brushy Fork creek, and began preaching in that neigh-
borhood. This was the beginning of a movement that
culminated in the organization of a society and the erec-
tion of Dollahan Chapel, which still maintains a pre-
carious existence amid manifold difficulties and tribula-
tions.
Not many years later there was a society organized at
Walnut Grove, over on that neck of land which lies be-
tween the Embarras and Wabash rivers. There was
also, in a very early day, a society at Russellville, off the
Wabash a few miles above Vincennes, but by deaths and
removals, both have faded out and left no accurate traces
of their history.
By the increase in the dimensions of the work, and the
multiplication of the number of societies, it was found
necessary, in the year 1834, to divide the charge, that
part lying from Lawrenceville north taking the name of
Palestine circuit and the southern part continuing as Mt.
Carmel circuit. They entered upon their separate ex-
istence; Mt. Carmel under the pastorate of A. McMur-
try, and Palestine under J. Chamberlain. For two
years under the care of various pastors, the work went
on in this shape The laborers are now dead, and most
of them forgotten, but " their works do follow them."
In 1844, the Lawrenceville circuit was formed from
parts of Mt. Carmel and Palestine circuits, and John
Shepard was appointed Preacher in charge. In this form
the Methodist organism began to have more definite re-
lations to Lawrence county, the present territory of the
county being about the same as that covered by the cir-
cuit. Under the Lawrenceville circuit the work gradu-
ally assumed its present formation, the societies at Bridge-
port and Sumner were formed, and many organizations
sprang up in the surrounding country ; and so nearly
was the whole territory of the county occupied, that under
this circuit Methodism may be said to have assumed its
permanent and crystallized form. The following are
well known and remembered names of pastors of Law-
renceville circuit : T. C. Lopas, J. Thatcher, Jacob E.
Reed, John T. Johnson, J. Glaze, David Williamson, J.
Holt, A. B. Morrison, J. W. Nail, R. J. Nall.C. D. Liu-
genfelter, O. H. Clark, T. N. Johnson, E. Lathrop, V.
D. Lingenfelter.
In the year 1875, the Lawrenceville circuit was divi-
186
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WAS ASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
ded and from it were formed the Sumner and Bridgeport
circuits. Since this division the Sumner circuit has
been served by the following pastors: W. B. Bruner,
C. W. Sabine, Win. Tilroe, A B. Morrison and John
Leeper. During the same period the following pastors
have served the Bridgeport circuit : J. H. Hill, Eugene
May, C. W. Sabine and J. Van Cleve.
The principal societies in Lawrence county are : Beth-
el organized 1819, Zicn organiztd 1823, Lawrtnceville
ganized 1827, Sumner organized 1859, and Bridgeport
organized 1861.
The first Methodist church in Lawrence county was
erected at Bethel, in Lukin township, in the year 1831,
the second at Lawrenceville in 1843.
This church, which began in 1819, with eight members
iu the present county limits, now has within the same
boundaries, 14 churches, a membership of 1218 and
church property valued at $19,300.00.
The Colored M. E. Church.— As the existence of this
church has been brief, so must its history be. In the
year 1881, the Rtv. E. Mason organized a society of
about a dozen members, in the town of Lawrenceville.
Rev. Mason was pastor in Evansville, so that this branch
of the church, like the other received its first impulse
from Indiana. It has been hitherto worked rather as a
missionary appendage, but is soon to be erected into a
distinct pastoral charge. In the year 1882 the colored
society in Lawrenceville purchased the property owned
by the First M. E. Church, repaired it, and are now oc-
cupying it as ahouse of worship. In the winter of 1882-
83, a second colored society was organized in the country
north of Lawrenceville. The colored M. E. church in
Lawrence county is vigorous and promising, having
within a year more than trebled its membership and ac-
quired property worth $600,00.
WABASH COUNTY.
CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
BY REV. W._ R. CROUCH.
In giving a sketch of the Christian Church in Wa-
bash county, Ills., it will be necessary to go back to the
organization of what is now known as the New Light
Church, — inasmuch as their first teachers were imbued
with the principles of the Reformation, having heard
Walter Scott in Ohio, before coming to this county. And
on this account, when the principles of the Reformation
began to be fully unfolded by Morris Trimble, the mem-
bers of the old order, almost without exception, accepted
the teaching of the new, and there was really no division
— but a continuation of the same membership, the same
organization, the same discipline,— the Bible as the rule
of faith and practice. Simply accepting the additional
doctrine as Bible truth, that with proper heart prepara-
tion, immersion is to the penitent believer for the re-
mission of past sins.
BARNEY'S PRAIRIE CHURCH.
The first Christian Church in Wabash county, Illinois,
was organized in the year 1816, on the east bank of
Crawfish creek, under the spreading branches of a white
oak tree, on what is known as the Eli Wood Tract of
Laud. The tree is still standing and vigorous to this
date. The organization was effected under the direction
of Elder James Poole and William Kinkade. This
was a central place between Barney's Prairie and Tim-
| ber Settlement.
This also was the first church of the old Christian
order in the county. There is in the possession of the
church a very complete and satisfactory record of names,
organization, church meetings, church discipline, etc,
j from the beginning to the present time. Their disci-
pline shows a great reverence for the Word of God|and a
commendable determination to square their lives by the
divine rule. The Barney's Prairie Church has been the
source of Christian Churches in Wabash county, — as, in
the organization of almost every other, they have
drawn upon her for members. Some of the charter
members are : James Pool, Angelina Pool, Peter and
Jemima Keen, and Daniel their son, of sainted memory,
Joseph Wood, Sen. (the first deacon), and Leah his wife,
j Enoch and Daniel Greathouse, Jacob Shadle and wife,
j Seth (the first elder) and Mary Gard, James (first clerk)
i and Susan Fordyce, Joseph and Abigail Preston, Jerry
Ballard and wife, Mrs. Barney, Job Rixley and wife,
Philo and William Ingraham, Mrs. Ransom Higgins,
Mrs. John Higgins, Mrs. Wm. Brown, Mrs. Levi Couch,'
George and Catharine Litherland, Charles W. and Char-
| lotte McNair, William and Cynthia Courier, Eber Put-
i nam, John and Henry Shadle, Therim Taylor, Samuel,
Leafy and Trifosa Putnam, Olive and Hannah Chaffee,
| Ira Keen and Priscilla Wood. In 1819 the record shows
a membership of 71 ; iu 1823, of 103 ; showing a steady
and healthy growth.
The principles of the Reformation were first fully
unfolded to the people of Wabash county in the year
1833,— the first sermon being preached in the brick
school-house north of Friendsville by Morris Trimble, a
very fearless and talented minister of the Gospel. From
the first, Elder James Pool and Elder William Courier
j accepted fully the issues involved ; so that by the year
1836, with the help of additional visits from Eld. Trim-
ble, almost the entire church had been carried over into
i the Reformation, peaceably and quietly in the spirit of
, the Master, for the union of the people of God upon the
1 foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ
Himself being the chief corner-stone. From this date
we read in the church record that individuals as of old
received the fellowship of the church upon the confession
of their faith in Christ, and baptism into the name of
the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
Their first house of worship was erected one-half mile
east of Friendsville, iu which also schools were taught.
For a great many years their meetings have been held
in a beautiful grove one mile east of Frieudsville, fami-
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS. 187
liarly known as the Stand, where they held their meet-
ings in the open air, in the shade of the trees in pleasant
weather, at other times in the neighboring school-houses
and dwelling-houses, until the erection of (Jjeir perma-
nent house of worship about the year 1845. In those
days, at their big meetings, when many had come from
a distance, it was the custom of George Litherland, John
Buchanan, and Ira Keen in particular, to give a general
invitation to the whole assembly to accompany them to
their homes, for food and provender for themselves and
their horses. During these times, in a two days' meet-
ing, it was common to get away with a large hog. a dol-
lar's worth of sugar and coffee each, and other things in
proportion, at Era Keen's. The women, sometimes so
anxious and hurried in the preparation of refreshment
for others, as to return to afternoon service forgetting to
eat a morsel themselves.
This has been given me as an actual occurrence in the
experience of the Widow Charlotte J. Wood, daughter
of Ira Keen, sometimes feeding fifty and sixty people.
Among the honored members of this churth, worthy
of mention, Eld. Ira Keen and Aunt Nelly will ever be
remembered by the public as big-hearted and hospitable
souls, who fed the people and went very far towards
supporting the ministry. Daniel Keen, also, intelligent,
pure-minded, liberal, capable and spiritual — one of the
best men it has ever been my privilege to know — was
not only a member of this church in its infancy, but af-
terwards, also, for many years.
Joseph Ballard, the quaint old farmer-preacher, godly
in spirit, seemingly everywhere present ready to lend a
helping hand to the cause. William Ingraham, who by
his godly walk and holy conversation — his desire that
all should be at peace among themselves — his aptness
and skill in the settlement of difficulties— won for him-
self the soubriquet of peace-maker. " Blessed are the
peace-makers, for they shall be called the children of
God."
Joseph Wood, jr., belonged to the second generation.
Capable in means and natural ability, pure in heart,
sweet-spirited in life — a pillar in our Zion — he fell early
at his post. We mourned his loss, feeling that scarcely
none could take his place. But the Lord gave us another
in the person of his brother Ira, whose soul was touched
with the melodies of a better life ; and feeling at the
same time the solemn responsibilities of the hour, he be-
came at once an efficient ruling elder and sweet singer.
For volume and melody of voice combined, as a-leader
in song among the hosts of Israel, Elder Ira Wood has
never been excelled in Southern Illinois. His active
Christian life extended through a period of about fifteen
years, which was also the period of the church's greatest
prosperity. Who can estimate the power of sanctified
song, when coupled with an earnest effort to bring the
energies of the soul into submission to the will of God?
Others might well be mentioned, but space will not
permit. The church has a neat, commodious house of
worship erected on the site of the old Stand. The
present membership of the Barney's Prairie Church
reaches two hundred. Eld. James Pool, their first pas-
tor, was a godly man and excellent teacher, — labored
extensively at home and other points at a great sacrifice,
and at the last fell asleep in the bosom of the church,
honored and loved by all.
PERSONAL MENTION OF MINISTERS WHO HAVE LABORED
FOR THE BARNEY'S PRAIRIE CHURCH. ,
William Courier, San., the earnest worker and elo-
quent preacher. Elijah Goodwin, the silver-tongued
orator and mighty in the Scriptures, — the peer of any,
perhaps equalled by none. And Moses, also, his brother.
Cornelius Ades, a most exemplary man— a good reasoner,
who did great good for the cause.
William Courier, Jun , a native of Wabash county.
Possessing a limited education, but with a soul full of
faith, he has labored unceasingly, and none has been
more serviceable to the church. His appeals as an
evangelist were all but irresistible, and thousands have
been brought into the fold through his efforts.
Eld. James McMillen, a product also of our county,
prudent, cautious and correct, — a systematic reasoner, a
true man of God, reasonably successful as an evangelist,
has left his impress upon the church for good. Elder
W. B. F. Treat, the eloquent preacher, the logical speaker
and irresistible debater, now living in Bloomington, Ind.,
has also represented his district, in the State Senate one
term. Alexander We'ls, an excellent teaching preacher.
Thomas M. Wiles, a very efficient and successful evan-
gelist and teacher, — a great worker, and a favorite with
many. Bro. Wm. C. Black has also labored with suc-
cess and is counted by all as one of our strong men.
These have all preached for the Barney's Prairie
church regularly, and for other of our churches in the
county, and are and have been good, worthy men of
God. Elder W. F. Black, the greatest living evangelist
among our people, has held protracted meetings for this
church in the past three years, resulting in 120 additions.
In the meantime he has held three other meetings in the
county at the following places, with additions as annexed :
Mt. Carme], twenty ; Allendale, twenty ; Keensburg,
eighty-six. W. R. Couch also, the writer : " By the
grace of God I am what 1 am," has labored in the
cause in this and Johnson and Marion counties, Indiana,
and my readers all know me.
Coffee Creek Church. — Daniel Keen having settled on
Coffee Creek a church was organized in his house on
Saturday before the fifth Sabbath in August in the year
1819, consisting of seven members, viz. : Thomas Thomp-
son, Nancy Thompson, Daniel Keen, Polly Keen, Wm.
Arnot, Eli Reed and Dennis Sayles. This church has
been fairly prosperous, and from its organization has
scarcely ever been without regular monthly preaching.
It may as well be mentioned here that it is the custom
of all our churches to 'meet every first day of the week
for exhortation, prayer and breaking the loaf.
This church has enjoyed the teaching of Joseph Was-
188
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
son, Elijah Goodwin, James Pool, William Courier, Jr.,
Cornelius Ades, James McMillen, James Hall, Alfred
Flower and his sons, Erastus Lathrop and W. R. Couch.
Alfred Flower is a self-made man, a fine speaker, a suc-
cessful preacher, a wonderful historian and during his
long life has given himself unreservedly to the cause of
Christ. In this church none are more esteemed than he.
Dr. Bristow also as a minister and Christian physician,
an eminent worker in the Sunday school and temperance
work, is worthy of personal mention. Elder Lathrop
also was one of God's true noblemen, and one of our best
and most deserving preachers.
Personal mention of members. — Among those who
have passed on before, James Ashford, Alexander
Compton and Joseph Ballard in connection with Daniel
Keen will ever be remembered as standing among the
pillars of the church. Among the living, Baker Keen,
large-hearted and capable, has been the strong stay of
the church, and its ruling elder for twenty-five year?,
and his house the preacher's home. Having the confi-
dence of the people, he has been called to represent his
district in the State Legislature. William Keen, now
associated with Baker in the government of the church,
generous to a fault and liberal. Through their efforts a
neat and commodious house of worship has been erected
in ihe pleasant village of Keensburg at a cost of 82000.
The Coffee church will hereafter be known as the
Keensburg church. The house was completed in the
year 1882, and dedicated by W. F. Black on the second
Sunday in August, 1882. Here also Elder Black held
one of his great meetings in which eighty- six were
added. In connection with this meeting at Rochester
Ferry on the Wabash in the presence of more than 1500
people, fifty-one of his converts were immersed in fifty
minutes by W. R. Couch. The church now numbers 160
members, and is in a very prosperous condition.
Elder James, a very excellent preacher and successful
evangelist, now located at Olney, has labored for this
church with much success.
The Lick Prairie Church. — This church was first or-
ganized in the year 1830 by Elder Joseph Wasson, of
the old Christian Order, in the house of Adam Baird.
Elijah Goodwin and Moses also did efficient service in
establ;shing the cause at this place. John W. Baird,
Adam, Samuel and Andrew Baird, Eli Moora, Thomas
and William Hill, John Steward, the Brattens, Samuel
and Eben Putnam, with their wives respectively, were
among the first members of this- church. Their first
house of worship was a log structure, erected one-half
mile north of the present site in the year 1831. They
occupied this house for fourteen years, when they en cted
another log house one mile south of the present site.
The church was very prosperous during the occupancy
of these house?, peace and harmony prevailing, and
great numbers being added. Early in their history a
Bible class was organized, out of which grew the Sunday-
school, and has continued to be a regularly organized in-
stitution to the present time. In the year 1853 their
membership had outgrown their old house, and Daniel
Keen, Eli Moore and Samuel Baird were chosen a
building committee for the erection of a new one, which
they built, 35x50 feet. This was a union house, and
occupied by the Uuiversalists one-fourth of the time.
Elements so conflicting were not peaceful, and after
twenty-eight years of confusion, the old house becoming
unfit for use, it was pulled down, and in 1881, the year
of failure in crops, a neat frame 28x40 feet, was built
by the disciples and called the Garfield Memorial
Christian Church, and dedicated by W. R. Couch.
The church now numbers seventy-five members, and
in their new house have taken on new life, and bid fair
under the leadership of Albert Sapp, Peter Fisher and
Nelson Woods to have at least a prosperous season.
Church of Christ— At Lancaster, Wabash county, and
State of Illinois. The following is a record of a body of
believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, coming together for
the purpose of forming a church to be known as the
Church of Christ, of Lancaster, State and county afore-
said, on the third Lord's day in October, 1842. By
mutual agreement the following named persons were
chosen to act in the capacity of elders and deacons :
For Elders— William Ridgeley aqd Robert Johnson.
For Deacons — Horace A. Woodward and John Hig-
gins.
Charter Members. — William Clark, Horace A. and
Sophia Woodward, Hiram R. and Polly Couch, William
S. and Ann E. Ridgeley, Joseph and Sarah Gard, John
Higgins, Andrew Knight, Ebenezer Couch, Lydia
McMillen, Martha Jones, Sarah Russel, Nancy and-
Elizabeth Lewis, Maria Courier, Sarah Bryant, Phoebe
Knight, Warren and Tamar Winders.
Elijah Goodwin was probably the first to preach the
doctrine in the vicinity, preaching in Woodward's barn
and old LTucle John Higgins' house, Moses Goodwin,
sometimes accompanying him. Morris Trimble and H.
A. Haywood, the eccentric but gifted preacher, some-
times preached among them about this time. James
Pool, present at their organization, continued to be their
regular pastor until Preacher Ades came into their
midst. The most, perhaps all of the charter members of
the church, were converted under the preaching of
Goodwin and Trimble, at the old stand, on Barney's
Prairie. In addition to ministers mentioned before in
connection with other places, this church has enjoyed
the labors of F. M. Shick, W. H. Hardman, and W. N.
Littell. Beginning with twenty-two members, located
in a village of churches in the midst of great opposition,
they now number eighty. No more honorable or true
membership can be found anywhere.
Adams' Corner Church.— We take the following state-
ments from the records of the church. At a meeting
held at Allen R. Jackman's on the fifth Saturday and
Sunday in June, 1851, it was decided, for the conven-
ience of that portion of the Barney's Prairie church, resi-
ding in that neighborhood, that a church be established
in that vicinity.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
189
Soon after this a union house was built at the Adams'
Corners, in which their regular meetings were held until
the erection of their present house of worship upon the
site of the old one, which had previously burned.
Though the. untiring eiforts of William Courier, their
ruling elder, this congregation has grown into a strong
and influential church, now numbering over 200 members
In fact this is the banner Christian Church of the
county. Elder George Morrall preached for this church
for three years with great success.
PERSONAL MENTION.
Among those who have passed over the river we may
mention Samuel Mclntosh, Allen E. Jackman, Isaac
Smith, \Vm. Smith, John Litherland, and Mrs. David
Adams. Among the living are Wm. Courier, William
Preston and wife, who seem never to grow weary in
well doing, and Ira Smith, who was for many years one of
the honored elders of this church. Among the younger
members there is a host of grand noble men and women
whose souls have been touched by the love of God, whose
names, we trust, are in the book of life.
CHDRCH OF CHRIST AT MT. CARMEL.
A record of the Church of Christ, meeting for worship
in Mt. Carmef, Wabash county, Illinois, which was or-
ganized December 14, 1862, by Elder D. D. Miller,
evangelist for the Christian Missionary Society of the
State of Illinois.
The brethren and sisters in Christ, by mutual consent,
enrolled their names as members of the church of Christ,
subject to the Scriptures as the rule of faith and practice '•
John A. Morgan, Aurelia Morgan, Lucy Dunning,
Mary Abby, Virginia Abby, Mary Ann Turner, Sarah
Ann Sturman, Phebe Sturman, Abram Utter, Elizabeth
Utter, Julia Hughs, Judith Titus, Daniel Titus, Robert
E. Wright, Remina Wright, Mary E. Redman, Susan
Wirth, William Sturman, Susan Beck, America Young,
Charles Redman, Mary L. Utter, Amy Utter, Lydia
Simouds, Kate Newman, Mary Simonds Zeuriah Titus,
Alice Wright, Elizabeth Gordon, Maria Sherrar, Mad-
ison Tuniks, A. Walter and wife.
The following officers were elected in 1862 : John A.
Morgan and Charles Redman. — Elders.
Amos Walter and Daniel Titus— Deacons.
Church trustees chosen in 1863 were, John A. Mor-
gan, R. E. Wright, A. Utter, Charles Redman, and
Daniel Titus.
The church was built in 1864, and cost, besides what
was done free, a little over three thousand dollars. Pres-
ent membership is eighty-seven, and officers are as fol-
lows : Chester F. Putnam, Charles Redman, and Jas.
S. Wilson— Elders.
R. E. Wright, F. M. Baird, and R. S. Gordon, are
the Deacons.
The church-house is all paid for, and the church out
of debt. The church building is on Cherry street -be-
tween 8th and 9th streets.
The foregoing has been furnished by the kindness of
R. S. Gordon :
CHURCH OF CHRIST AT BELLMONT,
BRO. COUCH,
Dear Sir : — Yours of February 1st, came to hand this
evening, and I will say in reply that the first sermon
ever preached here by one of the brethren, was preached
by Bro. E. Lathrop, in the latter part of the year 1875.
He was preaching at the Lower Bridge church, on the
Bonpas, and came here one night on his way home. Af-
ter that he returned a few times, until the spring of
1876, when he organized a church on the 2nd day of
May, 1876. After that he returned at irregular inter-
vals, while he lived. The little church, consisting at
first of thirty-four members, having no meeting-house,
had many ups and downs, mostly downs, and in the
course of two years ceased to meet. But the indomita-
ble spirit of progress was not dead, and in the latter part
of 1878, the members bought, the M. E. church, (the
Old Silvam meeting-house) and moved it to town and re-
erected it, and held the dedication services in September,
1879, Bro. Wm. Holt, officiating. Since that time the
church has met regularly to attend to the ordinances of
the Lord's house. During this time there has been reg-
ular preaching only about six months. Meetings have
been held by Holt, James, Black, Little, and Couch.
The present membership is eighty-six. In much haste,
Yours fraternally,
N. BRISTOW.
SHILOH CHRISTIAN CHURCH
Was organized November 2, 1870, by Erastus Lathrop,
of Olney. The following are the names of the charter
members : John Brown, Jarvis Crackle, John Hen-
derson, G. W. Bussell, Thomas Dukes, J. R Newman,
Sarah Rotramel, John Rotramel, Jermelia Garue^
Hannah Newman, Alice Newman, Maria Brown, Al-
mira Bussell. This church, after doing well for a season,
has, to a great extent, declined.
'THE CHURCH OF CHRIST
At Kitchen Bridge, is one of the old churches of our
county. It has usually had regular preaching, and still
has, but I have not been able to get any definite infor-
mation concerning it.
We formerly had a church known as the Church of
Christ, at Friend's Grove, but it declined, being situated
within a few miles of the Lick Prairie church. The
whole membership of the Christian church, in Wabash
county, Illinois, reaches nine hundred at the present
time.
M. E. CHURCH.
'in 1818 three Methodist ministers then residing in
the State of Ohio came to the then " far west " for the pur-
pose of founding a town, as described in a circular issued
shortly afterward ; " at the confluence of the Wabash,
White and Patoka rivers." Two of these, Rev. Thos.
190 HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
S. Hinde, a local preacher, and Rev. William McDow-
ell, who had served seven years as an itinerant preacher,
were the proprietors of the town site, while the third,
Rev. William Beauchamp, who had faithfully served the
church in the active ministry and as editor of a reli-
gious paper, came in the capacity of a surveyor. While
busily engaged with this new enterprise, upon which (it
would appear from the original articles of association
and town plat) they embarked with great faith and zeal.
Such men could not be forgetful of the interests of the
church, and it was, in fact, a part of the original plan
to found a place which should be distinctly marked by
its moral and religious character. Hence we find in
seeking a name for this new town in the wilderness, they
selected a Bible name, suggested not only by the natural
surface of the town site, but also by the meaning of the
very name — Mt. Carmel — signifying " the garden of the
Lord." Such if, was their ambition to make it. As evi-
dence of their activity and their devotion to the interests
of the church with which they were connected, we find
from the records that in 1819 was established Mt. Car-
mel Circuit, embracing all the country from Terre
Haute, Indiana, to the mouth of the Wabash river, and
extending into the interior of Indiana and Illinois — a
territory which now includes five districts. But " there
were giants in those days," who knew not weariness or
fatigue in the service of their Master, and though the
circuit was immense in extent, and the difficulties in
traversing this new circuit were formidable, there were
men ready to say, " Here am I ; send me." According-
ly, we find that in 1820 Charles Slocomb was the first
to enter this new field of labor, and preach salvation to
the straggling settlers wherever they could be found.
He was followed in 1821 by Robert Delap, in 1822 by
Samuel Hull, in 1823 by Wm. McReynolds, in 1824
by Thomas Davis and Samuel Basset, and in 1825 by
John W. McReynolds. Such had been the growth of
the new town, and of the membership of the Methodist
church, that in the latter year they proceeded to erect a
house of worship, and earned for themselves the honor
of erecting the first brick church in the State of Illinois.
This building, creditable to their efforts and liberality,
continued to stand as one of the old landmarks in the
community until destroyed by the cyclone of 1877 —
though it had long since ceased to be used for church
purposes. In the following year, 1826, John W.
McReynolds was returned to Mt. Carmel circuit, and
continued his faithful and efficient labors, until the fall
of 1827, when he was succeeded by Rev. Aaron Wood.
The year 1827 is noted in the local church history as
being the time when an annual Conference was first
held in Mt. Carmel. The Illinois Annual Conference,
in whose bounds Mt. Carmel circuit was then included,
convened at this place, and was presided over by Bishop
Roberts. There were assembled at this Conference
many men, mighty in faith and power, whose names are
remembered with reverence and honor in the Methodist
church. Few, however, survive to this day. Among
the survivors prominently remembered is Adam Wood,
who at this Conference received his appointment to the
Mt. Carmel circuit, and labored so faithfully and accep-
tably that in the following year he was returned to the
same field. This devoted servant of the Lord, though
ripe in years, continued to labor actively, and is now
traveling a circuit in northern Indiana. In the years
1824-1828, Rev. Chas. Holliday served in the capa-
city of Presiding Elder, of the district in which Mt.
Carmel was included, and in the latter year the General
Conference, recognizing his fitness and qualifications,
elected him to the position of book agent at Cincinnati,
Ohio. His successor in the Presiding Eldership was
Geo. R. Locke, who continued to discharge the duties
of Elder for the full terra of four years.
In 1829 Rev. Aaron Wood was succeeded in the cir-
cuit by Revs. John Miller and A. F. Thompson, who
labored together one year, when in 1830 Rev. John
Miller was returned to the circuit with Rev. John Fox
as his colleague. In 1831, John Miller, having served
the full limit of time permitted by the rules of the
church, was assigned another appointment, and Rev.
Jas. McKean with Rev. John Fox were assigned to Mt.
Carmel circuit, and continuing one year, were followed
in 1832 by Rev. James Massey, in 1833 by Rev. Wm.
S Crissey, and, in 1834 by Rev. A. McBtntry. In the
latter year Mt. Carmel was again the seat of the Annual
Conference, with Bishop Roberts as Presiding Officer.
At this session of the Conference Mt. Carmel was made
a station, and Rev. P. W. Nichols was appointed pastor-
in- charge, while Rev. Michael S. Taylor, who had suc-
ceeded Rev. Geo. Locke as Presiding Elder, was con-
tinued in that position, and remained Presiding Elder
until 1837. Rev. P. W. Nichols was succeeded as pas-
tor-in-charge of Mt. Carmel church by Rev. Jas. Hadley
in 1836, and the latter in 1837 by Rev. A. L. Risley.
In the latter year Rev. Hooper Crews was made Presi-
ding Elder of the district. It was about this period
that the growing interests of Methodism found " the
little brick church in the corner " too limited for their
needs, and the question of building a larger edifice was
actively discussed. At a meeting held for the purpose
of considering the matter, it was resolved to build a
church capable of seating fifteen hundred people. After
further deliberation, however, a committee was appoint-
ed to procure plans, etc. for the new building. This
committee, however, did not appear to regard so large a
structure as required by the needs of the church, for at
a subsequent meeting they reported that they thought
"a building 50x70 with an end gallery" would be
sufficiently large to accommodate the congregation. After
procuring subscriptions to the amount of several thous-
and dollars, and after considerable material had been
purchased, the effort to build was abandoned, as, we
suppose, the effects of the great financial panic began to
be felt and defeated their designs. In 1835 Rev.
J. M. Massey was appointed to Mt. Carmel ; in 1839
Rev. W. C. Cummings. In 1840-41 Rev. John Van
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
191
Cleve, with Geo. W. Bobbins as Presiding Elder in
1840, and Barton Handle as Presiding Elder in 1841.
In 1842 Rev. Jas. H. Dickens. In 1843 Rev. Robert
Ridgeway. In 1844-1846 Rev. 0. J. Houts, with Rev.
John Van Cleve as Presiding Elder. Some time prior
to the latter date Lebanon, Stouis, Riggs, Rochester, I
Centerville, Pleasant Ridge and Newley were regularly !
designated preaching places in Mt. Carmel circuit with-
in the bounds of Wabash county. At the first, four of
the places mentioned, Sunday-schools were organized, and ,
at several of these places there have grown up quite \
strong societies which have become established on a
permanent basis. In the Fall of 1846 Rev. E. H. Hib-
bard was sent to Mt. Carmel, and was followed in 1847
by Rev. E. G. Falcuier, and in 1848 Rev. S. Elliott re- j
ceived the appointment. During the term of the latter
there was a gracious revival, and the church was largely j
increased in numbers. Asa result of this revival and j
growth in .membership, we find the question of build-
ing a larger house of worship again agitated, and a
resolution to build was passed by the Quarterly Confer-
ence. This resolution was carried into effect, though
the active work of building was somewhat delayed, and
in the course of a couple of years a commodious brick
structure, two stories in height, was erected, and is still
used — being the main building of the present church
edifice. This structure, in honor of Rev. Wm. Beau-
champ, one of the pioneers of Methodism in this
county, was called Beauchamp chapel. In 1849 Rev.
John Birland was appointed to Mt. Carmel. In 1850
Rev. J. W. Caldwell received the appointment; at the
same time Rev. Norman Allyn was made Presiding El-
der of the district, succeeding Rev. Wm. M. Taylor, who
received the appointment of Presiding Elder in 1847.
In 1851 Rev. Wm. Cliffe was sent to Mt. Carmel as
preacher-in-charge, and was returned to the charge again
in 1852. In the following year the Southern Illinois An-
nual Conference, which had now been organized, held
its session at Mt. Carmel with the late Bishop Scott as
presiding officer. At this Conference Rev James Lea-
ton received the appointment to Mt. Carmel, and was
succeeded in 1854 by Rev. Nelson Hawley, in which year
also Rev. Wm. Cliffe, whom we have seen had served two
years as pastor-in-charge at Mt. Carmel, received the ap-
pointment of Presiding Elder of the district, which po-
sition he continued to fill until 1858, when he was suc-
ceeded by Rev. R. J. Nail. Rev. Hawley was re-ap-
pointed to the charge in 1855, and during his two years
of service did much to promote the spiritual interests of
the church. In 1856 Rev. A. B. Nisbett was appointed
to Mt. Carmel, serving one year, and was succeeded by
Rev. J. P. Davis, who served two years, when at the
Conference of 1859 Rev. A. B. Nisbett was again re-
turned. At the session of Conference held in 1860,
Rev. R. J. Nail, who was then filling the position of
Presiding Elder, received the appointment to Mt. Car-
mel, and A. B. Nisbett was assigned to the district. In
the following year Rev. G. W. Compton received the
appointment to Mt. Carmel, and was again returned in
1862, but remained only a part of the year, when he
resigned as pastor-in-charge to accept the position of
chaplain in the army. The vacancy caused by Rev.
Compton's resignation was filled by Rev. D. Chipman,
local preacher, who, by appointment from the Presiding
Elder, continued to supply the place of preacher in-
charge during the remainder of the Conference year. In
1863 the Southern Illinois Annual Conference again con-
vened at Mt. Carmel with Bishop Baker as presiding
officer. At this session of the Conference Rev. Hiram
Sears received the appointment to Mt. Carmel, and was
re-appointed in 1864, and during his two years of ser-
vice, labored with abundant success- At the Conference
of 1865, and again in 1866, Rev. A. B. Morrison was
assigned to Mt. Carmel. In the latter year the Sunday-
school connected with this charge received a donation
of 8800 from the Mt. Carmel Division, Sons of Temper-
ance, which fund has since been increased, and the inter-
est arising from it serves largely to defray the expenses
of the school. In 1868 Rev. G. W. Hughey was assigned
to Mt. Carmel, and Rev. L. S. Clifford was appointed
Presiding Elder, succeeding Rev. N. Hawley, who had
received the appointment in 1864. At the Conference
held in the fall of the following year, 1869, Rev.
I Hughey was returned to Mt. Carmel, and Rev. R. H.
' Massey was chosen Presiding Elder. During the pas-
torate of Rev. Hughey the church erected their present
brick parsonage at a cost of about $3,000. In the fall
of 1870 Rev. T. A. Eaton was assigned to Mt. Carmel,
and having been returned to the charge by the Confer-
ence of 1871, continued faithfully to discharge his duties
• until the fall of 1872, when at the annual Conference
held in that year Rev. B. R. Pierce was asisgned to Mt.
i Carmel, who was also re-appointed in 1874, at which
, time Rev. W. T. Davis was assigned to the district as
'• Presiding Elder. Under the leadership of Rev. Pierce
| the church undertook the work of enlarging and remod-
! eling their building, which they successfully accpm-
1 plished at a cost of over $7,000, notwithstanding
the fact that the financial panic which occurred shortly
after the work was commetnced exercised a very de-
! pressing influence. The success of their efforts was due
largely to the wise and prudent labors of the pastor,
who labored untiringly until success had crowned his
efforts, and in the summer of 1874 he witnessed the re-
opening of the building for worship with appropriate
services conducted by Rev. Bishop Bowman. The year
1874 was also marked by the annual Conference again
holding its session at Mt Carmel, with the venerable
Bishop Scott as presiding officer. It was at this session
I of the Conference that the late Dr. Eddy delivered his
last address save one, for only a couple of weeks later he
joined the church triumphant. At the same session of
Conference the pastor assigned to Mt. Carmel was Rev.
j W. J. Grant, who served one year, and in the fall of
1875 was succeeded by Rev. J. L. Wallar, who contin-
ued as pastor-in-chargs until the fall of 1878, when
192
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Rev. Herdman was assigned to Mt. Carmel. After two
years' service ill this charge Rev. Herdman, in accor-
dance with the usage of the Methodist church, was sent
to labor elsewhere and Rev. J. Earp was by the Confer-
ence of 1880 assigned to Mt. Carmel, and like his pre-
decessor was appointed to the same charge again
for the second year. In the fall of 1882 Rev. R.
M. Carter was appointed to Mt. Carmel, and at this date
is rendering effective and acceptable service as pastor-
in-charge.
While we have BO far followed mainly the history of
the Methodist church in Mt Carmel, we have seen that
the interests of the church in other localities were not
neglected. Whenever and wherever a few settlers are
found in new localities, there will be heard the voice of
the Methodist preacher, ministering unto their spiritual
needs. Among the earliest Methodist organizations in
the county, outside of Mt. Carmel, was the society or-
ganized in 1825 or 1826 in a hickory-pole cabin on what
is now the Alfred Rigg farm. This society was or-
ganized by Rev. John McReynolds and others. Of the
the original members of this society all are now dead
excepting one. Services were held in private dwellings
and school-houses until 1858, when the society, under
the ministry of Rev. A. B. Nisbett, erected a neat and
commodious house of worship to which was given the
appropriate name, " Bethel!" The society continued to
prosper and grow in numbers so that in 1880, realizing
the need of a larger and more convenient house of wor-
ship, and the village of Bellmont growing up in the*im-
mediate vicinity, the society determined to erect a new
house of worship in that vilage. A suitable site having
been donated by a member of the Mt. Carmel church,
the society proceeded at once to put their resolutions
into execution, and now have an elegant frame church
34 x 60, erected at a c ost of about $2,000, and a mem-
bership of about 125.
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
BY SAMUEL, C. BALDEIDGE.
The Presbyterian churches in Wabash county, in the
order of their organization are :
1. Wabash.— Organized March 5th, 1822, by Rev. D.
C. Proctor, with 5 members. Number now enrolled 78.
Ruling Elders : Henry Thompson, J. R. Corrie, Wm.
Greenhood, Charles Anderson and Wm. Hershey.
2. Mt. Carmel.— Organized May 5th, 1839, by a com-
mittee of Palestine Presbyterians consisting of, Revs.
S. Bliss and Isaac Bennet, with 11 members. Number
now on roll 43. Ruling Elders, Hon. Robert Bell and
R. T. Wilkinson, Esq.
3. Friendsville.— Organized August 29th, 1857, by a
committee of Palestine Presbyterians consisting of, Revs.
J. Crozier and S. C. Baldridge. Elders, Hon. James
McDowell and S. W. Bliss, with 28 members. Number
now on roll 82. Ruling Elders, J. P. McNair, Esq., G.
C. Kingsbury and M. D. and A. A. Gould.
4. Allendale— Organized February 26th, 1867, by a
committe of Palestine Presbyterians consisting, of Revs.
S. C. Baldridge, W. H. Smith and John Mack. Elders,
Thomas Buchanan and H. Thompson, with 9 members.
Number now on roll 15. Ruling Elder, Isaac F. Price,
Esq.
Presbyterian Pioneers. — Among the settlers who began
to come into the country at the close of the war of 1812,
was Thomas Gould, Esq., who settled in Timber settle-
ment. He reached there in the spring of 1816, with a
large family. He was from New Jersey, but had emi-
grated to Springdale, Ohio, near Cincinnati, and from
there to Illinois. They came to Evansville by a flat-
boat, sold it and came across by wagon. It may give
us an impression of the state of things then, to know that
Evansville was a group of cabins, with not one shingle
roof in it. In his house the first sermon by a Presbyte-
rian preacher was delivered. The preacher was the Rev.
Samuel Thornton Scott, pastor of the Indiana church,
Knox county, Indiana. He afterwards came frequently.
He would aim to reach Squire Gould's early in the after-
noon, and the boys would be put on horses and sent out
to invite the neighbors to meeting, and by early candle-
light the house would be full. By and by William
Crane, a sweet singer, who was chorister for many years
to the Presbyterian congregation, came and settled in
the neighborhood. He also had a large and most
interesting family, and they could everyone sing like
nightingales. Then came the McClains, Cisels and
Pitmans, etc., all of cordial Presbyterian preferences,
and most excellent citizens. But no church was organized
in this rich and fallow field until 1867. A Sabbath-
school was opened about 1824, in Squire Gould's house,
and was maintained with varying fortunes, but with
considerable usefulness for years. The school was
especially useful in teaching many to read, parents
and children often sitting together in one class.
The Bible Society gave Squire Gould the liberty of
giving Bibles and Testaments as a reward for commit-
ting Scripture to memory. The poor and the diligent
were thus supplied in a very destitute field.
The next Presbyterian pioneer to the county was
Cyrus Danforth, Esq. He came from New York state
in the summer of 1817. He started for Terre Haute, Ind.,
but God who appoints the bounds of our habitation
stopped the voyagers in their keel-boats at the Grand
Rapids, by the low waters. Afraid of sickness on the
river, he took his family out on Barney's Prairie to
await the rise of the stream. Once there on the gentle
height that swelled up from the lovely plains around, all
said, we shall never find a fairer land than this. And Mr.
Danforth stopped, and bought the great tract of land,
still in the hands of his descendants, at Friendsville. He
had four sons and two daughters. Mr. Danforth was a
man of God ; of unflinching devotion to his convictions,
and of heroic mold. His views were not borrowed, nor
would they even take hue from the sentiments prevail-
ing around him.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS. 193
Policy was never thought of apparently. Truth was j
truth, and right was right and duty was duty. In breadth j
of views and comprehension of the great questions of that
day, in church and state, he was wise beyond his genera-
tion. His speech was slow and measured, his words
weighed before uttered and spiced with more than Spar-
tan ters ness, but what he said was oracular. For years
he and his family stood alone in the community, but by j
and by the impulsive, and whole-hearted Charles W.
MeNaircame, and the Knapps and the Wardels, and in
1829, John F. Youngken, who became his son-in-law,
and Dr. C. W. Miller, and in 1837, William R. Wilkin-
son. The next Presbyterian pioneers, were two New
Eaglanders, Stephen Bliss and George May. They settled
ou Decker's prairie. They were both graduates of
MiddU-burg college, Vt., Mr. Bins in 1812 and his '
friend in 1814. They were men of judgment, candor,
industry and of pleasing manners, thorough Christian
geutl* men. What added to the interest of this new
establishment, wa*, that in 1820 Mr. Bliss walked back
to Boscawen, N. H., and married his affianced, Miss
Elisabeth Worcester, daughter of Dr. Noah Worcester,
of Brighton, Ma*s , and cousin of Jos. Emerson Worces-
ter, LL D., the lexicographer. They came to the
cabin under the five whispering oaks, in June 1821. It
was graced with no luxuries when they eet up house-
keeping, but it was bright with intelligence, thrift, taste
and sweetest piety. Wordsworth's plain living and high
thinking was realized there. God meant much for this
untamed wilderness, when he planted such a stock as
that on Decker's prairie.
The work of the Presbyterian church in this county,
may be said to have begun in earnest with the coming of
Messrs. Bliss and May, April llth, 1819. They opened
a Sabbath-school in their cabin and later a Prayer meet-
ing, the first Monday in each month — the monthly
concert of New England. But more still was in store
for them. On Friday, March 1st, 1822, a stranger
stopped at Mt. Carmel to lodge. In the night his horse
was injured in the stable, so that he could not travel the
next morning. The stranger began to look around to
see why he had been stopped. He inquired about the j
people in town and county. Heard of some Presbyterian
families settled on the prairie to the north, and set out I
at once to visit them. Some sort of a trail led him to j
some cabins, and he knocked at one of the doors. It was
Mr. Danforth's. As he caught sight of the faces, and
the air of things, he stalked right in shaking hands with
each he met, and exclaiming, I feel quite at home here;
I am on Presbyterian grounds I know. His enthusiasm
was reciprocated, as he introduced himself. It was the
Rev. David Choate Proctor of Conn, a Missionary of the
Conn. Missionary Society. What a feast was this inter-
view to these exiles, a rill from the New England hills.
The next day they took their noble guest up to Mr. j
Bliss. And there, i:i that house of prayer shrined in the j
wild, rank wilderness, that home of puritan piety and ]
simplicity, with those rare guests, the Presbyterian i
25
church in this county was born. Three of these men
were graduate?, and Mr. Danforth was peer of either in
wisdom and sterling worth.
The organization of the "First Presbyterian church
of Edwards county was effected on Tuesday, March oth,
at the Dauforth school-house, a log building standing ou
the edge of a swale a half mile east of D.'s cabin. The
members were Mr. Bliss and Mr. Dauforth and their
wives, and Mr. May. In August Mr. Bliss, who had
studied Divinity with Dr. Samuel Wood of Boscawen,
N. H., received a license to preach from the Hopkington
Congregational Association. He was abundantly quali-
fied, but of such an humble and conscientious spirit, that
he hesitated for a year to take this step. But August
3d, 1823, he preached his first sermon iu that same log
church and school-house, by the edge of the swale. The
Danforth school-house is thus strangely identified with
the origin of the Presbyterian church. Mr. and Mrs.
Gould united with the church that day.
The Presbyterian churches, out of Mt. Carmel, are
in the neighborhoods where these good men lived, Bliss,
Danforth and Gould.
Some notice of the ministers longest iu charge, will
close this sketch. Rev. Stephen Bliss was for many years
the only Presbyterian preacher in the county. He was
born at Lebanon, N.H., March 27tb, 1787. Graduated
at Middleburg College, 18 12. Studied Divinity with Dr.
Samuel Wood, of Boscawen, N. H. He taught with
great acceptance in central New York until 1818, when
he and his friend George May left with broken health,
and came to Decker's prairie, found the mild air and
cheap land they were hunting, and settled. The accom-
plished May died August, 1822. August 3d, 1823, Mr.
B. began to preach. 1824 he was nominated by the anti-
slavery party for the State Legislature. His judgment
moderation and ability turned all eyes upon him in this
crisis. In the furious campaign he took no part, but
was elected. By the election of 1824, Illinois was made
a free state. He returned from Vandalia in January. In
April, 1825, he was received by the Salem Presbytery as
a licentiate and was ordained August 4th, 1825. He la-
bored in the same field during all his ministry. He died
December 6th, 1847. He was a clear, calm, instructive
preacher, sound in the faith, a most upright, humble,
godly man. He was a leader everywhere by his weight
of character. (See life of Rev. Stephen Bliss, A. M.)
Rev. Isaac Bennet was the next to enter this field as
a settled minister. One freezing night in March, 1831,
he came to Mr. Bliss. From this time on, these two
good soldiers of Jesus Christ were indissolubly joined as
father and son in the Gospel. He took the field in Law-
rence county and labored there with great success for 17
years. He was a truly great preacher, mighty in the
Scriptures, of a logical mind, a good scholar, a close
student, a man of remarkable piety, given to the word
of God and prayer. His zeal, his unselfishness, his devo-
tion to Gospel work were remarkable, but it was all of
grace — Nobody owes as much to Christ Jesus as I do —
194
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
he often said. For a full estimate of this minister, see
" Life of Rev. Stephen Bliss and his colaborers."
Rev. Joseph Butler, A. M., appeared in this field in the
spring of 1838. In 1832, when Mr. Bliss surrendered
Lawrence county to Beimel the Evangelist, a colony
was coming into EJ wards ounty. They were from
Massachusetts. They had gone first into West Virgiu ia
and bought laud on the Cheat river, a fine, enterprising
people. Some years after, some one disputed their titles,
and their smiling farms and villages were wrested
away from them. Some bought their lands again, but
the most fled to the West and finally settled in Edwards
county, 17 miles southwest of Mr. Bliss. In 1833 they
invited him to preach for them, and in 1835 the Shiloh
Presbyterian church was organized there. They flourish-
ed under his ministry, until in 1838 they were able to
employ Mr. Butler. This gentleman was of a most
vehement temperament, of strong convictions, of utter
fearlessness, of great honesty of speech, and void of all
tact. He knew no way of opening a door, but beating
it in with a sledge. He was one of the most solemn
preachers. He could drive his hearers to despair, but he
could not persuade. He had no gifts for the pastorate.
And yet he was a very pious and able minister and la-
bored incessantly over much of southern Illinois, and
not without blessed fruit. Oh solemn, stern, single-
eyed, holy brother, thou canst never be forgotten.
Rev. Robert H. Lilly came to Mt Carmel in 1839.
He came on the call of the church. From the time the
town was made the county seat, there had been Presby-
terian families. In 1838, the State scheme of " Internal
improvement" being in operation, Mt. Carmel was made
a terminus of the railroad running across the State to
Alton. The town sprang into new life, immigrants
poured in, and among them families of Presbyterians.
In 1838, they erected a brick church edifice, the finest
one, at that time, in southern Illinois. May, 1839, Mr.
Bliss, who had supplied them for years occasionally, and
Mr. Bennet organized a church of eleven members, who
eoon called Rev. Mr. Lilly, of Kentucky, who was in-
stalled Pastor June, 1840. He was a sound theologian,
a fine sermonizer, but eccentric. He resembled the cel-
ebrated Mr. Finney of Oberlin. Mr. L. went into busi-
ness in central Illinois, and became wealthy. He gave
freely to benevolent objects.
Rev. P. W. Thompson took this combined work in
1848. The first revival in the immediate vicinity of
Wabash church was under his ministry. There had
come into that neighborhood families from New England,
England and Tennessee. This revival in 1851 did
much to fuse these elements and enlist them, and some
valuable additions were made to the church. Rev. Mr.
Butler was the preacher in these meetings, and bold,
searching and terrible were the sermons.
Rev. John L. Hawkins took charge of the Mt. Car-
• mel church in 1852, and as Wabash church was vacant,
he visited them occasionally. He was a very able
preacher, presenting the doctrines of the Bible with
great power and faithfulness. He was tall, slender,
nervous, pale, dignified, scholarly — a "gentleman of the
old school." There was a sensitiveness, a shy courtli-
ness, a constraint about him that awed a stranger. If
Lilly had been too familiar and inquisitive, and Leffler
and Thompson " too unclerical," here was one came into
their pulpit precise enough, fastidious, deliberate,
" sicklied over with the pale cast of thought," with ser-
mons of a high, antique mold, with an odor of midnight
vigils about them, but marked with a robustness of
thought and clear, close-knit speech that enthralled his
auditory. His morning sermons were impressive with his
pale visage set in whitest hair, and lit with eyes blazing
with fervor, and his whole person electrical with enthu-
siasm. A "Master in Israel" still, he has just retired
—1882— from the Pastorate of the Carbondale church,
at the age of 82 years.
Rev. Jefferson C. Thornton had charge of Mt. Carmel
congregation in 1860 to 1863. Besides these no minis-
ter retained that pulpit more than a year, although
among the " supplies " have been gentlemen of unusal
worth of talents, such as Charles L. Spinning, 1858, the
faithful and gifted Wm. S. Heindel, 1875, and Thomas
C. Winn, now a missionary in Japan, who spent a vaca-
tion there in 1876. In 1877, June 4th, the church
edifice was dtstroyed by a cyclone which devastated the
city.
Thomas E. Green, Licentiate, took charge of the con-
gregation in 1879. Plans were soon on foot for build-
ing a church. The current of sympathy was • very
strong in town and country, for the popular pastor and
struggling people. Liberal subscriptions were received,
and the enterprise started finely. No congregation ever
had a fairer path open before them in which to walk
with God right on to success. In an evil hour those
having the business in hand planned too ambitiously, and
the old story was repeated — debt, di sension, discourage-
ment, and at last the fine property with the thousands
of dollars expended on it was given to the Episcopalians
on conditions that they would pay the debt and finish
the building. Whether this sad outcome will disorgan-
ize the church, for the time, remains to be seen.
We return now to " Wabash church/' which em-
braced all the Presbyterians in the county outside of
Mt. Carmel. In May, 1853, by invitation of the ses-
sion, Samuel C. Baldridge, a Licentiate of Madison
Presbytery, and just graduated at the New Albany
Theological Seminary, visited the congregation. The
church engaged him to supply them for one year, at a
salary of $400. The communicants were reported to
the General Assembly that year as numbering 60,
but practically there were 35. But the congregations
were large, and God gave the church great favor among
the people. In 1865 a revival of much power at
Friendsville brought in so much strength, that in Aug.
29, 1857, the Presbyterian church was organized with
27 members. This church has been very useful. In
the 26 years since it was organized about 200 members
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS. 195
have been added, almost all of them by " profession of
faith." It has been conspicuous for its enterprise, and
liberality. Its members have been prominent in Sab-
bath-school, temperance and educational work in the
county.
The gap made at Wabash, by the dismission of the
27 members to form Friendsville church, was soon filled
up by revivals. In 1862, the undersigned received a
commission as Chaplain of the llth Regiment Missouri
Volunteers, through the nomination of the staff officers,
and entered the Federal army. 1863, the Wabash and
Friendsville churches made out a call to the pastoral
office, while he was still in the field, and 'forwarded to
him. He resigned, came home and was installed pastor
iu April. In 1866, he resigned Wabash church, but re-
tained the pastorate at Friendsville until July, 1882,
when he accepted a call from the Cobden Presbyterian
church, Cubden, Illinois. So closed a ministry in
Wabash county, of more than 29 arduous, but happy
years. In this long period more than 300 members
were added to churchts under his charge. He
preached more than 4,500 sermons, assisted at the or-
ganization of the churches of Olney, Allendale, Sumner
and Gilead, and did much missionary and evangelistic
work in southern Illinois.
In reviewing the history of the ministers of the Pres-
byterian church in Wabash county for now 60 years, it
seems strange that two pastorates — Bliss and Bald-
ridge's, should have covered 53 years. They have been
periods of peace and growth. Neither of these pastors
ever had dissension in his session, or had a ruling
elder to resign because of divisions. The first " true
yoke-fellows " were the last. (See table of ministers.) i
It is to the immortal honor of Wabash church that I
the first Sabbath school in the State of Illinois, was or- 1
ganized in Mr. Bliss' cabin, April 11, 1819. This |
school has been full of the spirit of Sabbath-school mis-
sions. It has been blessed with leaders of unusual gifts |
and zeal. For years they went out to start and keep j
Sabbath school in the neighborhoods around, when there |
was none else to thus care for souls. It will be enough
to mention the names and self-denying labor of John j
A. Dods, Samuel Woods, Bliss and Thompson, at
Wabash ; Father Danforth, John F. Younken, J. P.
McNair, &c., at Frieudsville, and Father Gould, at
Timberville, with their fellow laborers. These schools
were earnest Bible schools, so far as they could make
them so. For years these were the only Sabbath-schools
in the county, and were carried forward in the midst of
neglect, prejudice, and in many cases of opposition and
ridicule by religious people, but now the tide has turned,
and their heroic work is honored, and their names are
precious.
Friendsville Male and Female Seminary, opened in ;
the brick church September, 1860, and maintained with i
more or less success ever since, is the far-reaching work
of the Wabash and Friendsville churches. The semi-
nary now has a property that has cost about 84,500, and
a paitial endowment of 81,400, and has educated, in
whole or in part, some 1,400 students. It was started
in the interests of higher education, and Christianity.
It has been successful. It has trained multitudes of
teachers for the public schools and Christian workers in
the various denominations. The seminary is well rep-
resented in the eldership of the Presbyterian churches
of southern Illinois. One student is now pastor of the
church in Boulder city, Colorad >, another graduates in
the Theological Seminary of the N. W, this spring, two
others are candidates for the ministry, others are en-
gaged in the various pursuits of life, and in offices of
honor and trust, and one was a professor in the Illinois
State Normal University, Normal, Illinois, at his death
in 1878, and one is a member of the Legislature of In-
diana. In no other way could these humble churches
have helped and blessed the country so efficiently. (See
table of teachers.)
WABASH, 1823.
MT. CAR.IEI., 1839.
Minuter,.
Ministers.
8. Bliss, 1823-1845.
Isaac Bennet, 1831, occasional.
S. Bliss, occasional.
R. H. Lilly. 18I9-18U.
Jam s Stafford, 1816.
Jos. Butler, 1839, \i of time.
Leffler, 1817, U liis time.
B. Leffler, 1847, y, of time
P. W. Thompson, 1850-1852, ^ of
Tnoinnsrm, IKis-lsno.
.I.L. Hawkins, 1852-1856.
C. Spilling, 18.i».
.1. <:. Tlim-nton, 1863-1863.
S. C. Baldridge, 1853-1857.
W. S. Heindel. 1875.
S.C. Baldridge, 1837-1866, 14 of time.
T.GWinn, 1*7.,.
W. H. Smith, ISGO-ISTO.
S.C. lUMri.lsp, Iseo-18T8,Woftlme.
FRIEXDSTIILI, 185
J. S. Davis, 1878-1881, '4 of time.
S. C. Baldridjre, 1S81-1882, "^ of time.
R. Rutherford 188i
Minutert.
S. C. Baldridge, 1857-1882.
TEACHERS OF FRIENDSVILLE SEMINARY.
Frisndsville seminary was opened September, 1860,
in the Presbyterian church, Friendsville :
Principal, Wm. S. Coulton, A. B.; Miss Mollie Gil-
pin. Broken up by war, 1862.
1863, Principal, Thomas W. McClain.
1864, Principal, A. S. Seward, 1st term; Rev. S.
C. Baldridge, 21 and3J; Misc Kate Finley, assistant,
3d term.
1865 to 1870, Principal, Lieut. John C. K. Young-
ken ; assistant, Miss K. Finley.
1870 to 1874, Principal, Rev. Wm. H. Smith ; asaist-
ant, Miss K. Finley.
1875, Principal, Rev. Wm. H. Smith ; Prof. S. re-
signed in March, 1875, and the seminary was closed.
1876 to 1877, Principal, Rev. S. C. Baldridge; assist-
ant, Miss K. Finley.
1878 to 1880, Principal, Rev- S. C. Baldridge; assist-
ant, Mrs. Sarah A. Irw'in.
1881 to 1882, Principal, Prof. W. Beaty Davis; as-
sistant, Miss Hattie Davis.
The seminary building was erected 1866-1868. The
" Endowment Fund " was secured in 1870.
EVANGELICAL CHURCH.
BY REV. G. H. ALBRIGHT.
In writing this short sketch it may be necessary to
say a word, as to the particular part of the Lutheran
Church to which these congregations belong.
196
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND Vf ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
The Lutheran Church in this country is represented
by the following General Bodies.
The General Synod, The General Council, The
General Synod, South, The Synodical Conference, and
Synods Independent.
These different representative bodies, all Lutheran,
and holding to the great fundamental doctrines of the
Reformation, differ somewhat as to general church
government and dicipliue.
The congregations, of which this sketch will speak,
belong to the General Synod. This is generally re-
garded the progressive branch of the Lutheran Church.
It accepts and holds the Aug.-burg Confession as a cor-
rect exhibition of the fundamental doctrines of the
Divine Word.
There are but three congregations in this county, and
these three in their early history, composed one charge,
and were generally served by the same pastors.
The earliest date in the history of these congregations
that can be given is 1836. It was during ibis year that
Rev. C. F. Heyer, a missionary in the Lutheran Church
and afterwards the founder of our mission in India, I
first came to |this county, and preached within the
bounds of these congregations. Considerable Lutheran
material was at different times scattered about the
county, and many were glad to hear of' the arrival of a
Lutheran minister, who might soon begin work among
them. His work, however, was but to investigate the
state of affair?, and he soon left, and was followed in
the same year by Rev. H. Haverstick.
Under the direction of Rev. Haverstick, the Jordan
creek congregation was organized and entered upon the
work of erecting a church building. It was a work of
earnest toil. There was not much wealth among them,
but a will to work. By their own toil and industry they
bought the brick and did most of the work on the build-
ing. This took time, and it was several years before the
church was dedicated to God's service. The Jordan
creek church was northwest from Mt. Carmel about j
twelve miles, and quite a number of Lutherans had
settled there, coming, mostly from the state of Penn-
sylvania. Here Rev. Haverstick also instructed a class
of catechumens, and on the return of missionary Heyer,
these were confirmed. This was the first confirmation in
the Lutheran Church of this county. Very soon after
this both Revs. Heyer and Haverstick left this part of
the country. Not long after this, Rev. Henry Grow, a
German Reformed minister, came to this county and
preached in the Jordan creek congregation, and also in
the town of Mt. Carmel. During his endeavor to or-
gauize a German Reformed congregation out of nearly |
all Lutheran material, there came to the county Rev. |
Daniel Kohler, a missionary of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church sent by the Synod of East Pennsylvania. He
visited Jordan creek and Mt. Carmel. During his stay
the Jordan creek church was dedicated, and on the llth
of March, 1838, he preached in Mt. Carmel ; German
in the morning and English at night.
On the 27th of March, 1838, according to previous
announcement, all cotctrned met in the courthouse at
Mt. Carmel, to organize a congregation. The object was
to organize a union society composed of Evangelical
Lutheran, and German Reformed members. The build-
ing of a union church at Mt. Carmel was also considered,
but as no union could be effected between the members
of different names, a constitution was presented by Rev.
Kohler, which with little alteration was adopted.
In the first article of this constitution the name
" Ziou's congregation " was incorporated, and that the
congregation shall belong to the Evangelical Lutheran
Church.
The following trustees and officers of the church were
elected : Trustees — Dr. Jacob Lescher, Messrs. Samuel
Fisher and Adam Schafer. Elders — Adam Schafer and
Frederic Seiler. Deacons — Samuel Fisher and Thomas
Glick.
On Saturday, March 31st, 1838, Rev. Kohler held pre-
paratory services, and on Sunday, Apiil 1st, distributed
the elements of the Lord's Supper to twenty communi-
cants. Very soon after this he traveled further west,
and Rev. Grow again went on with operations, but soon
he also removed from this county. Rev. Barthol next
came to this county and took charge of these congre-
gations. Under his influence the Mt. Carmel congrega-
tion laid aside their constitution, accepted a new one
and dissolved the connection with any general syn-
odical body. This new constitution was subscribed by
fifteen male members. During the ministry of Rev.
Barthol, the lot upon which the Lutheran Church at
Mt. Carmel now stands, was purchased, and with it an
old brick blacksmith shop, and a frame house. This
blacksmith shop was repaired and used for church ser-
vices, but a fire having broken out in another house
right by it, t*ie little church was torn down in part and
the ruins were afterward sold. About the close of the
year 1839, Rev. Barthol removed to a place near
Peoria, Illinois.
Rev. Sauer, from near Evansville, Indiana, now
visited the congregations, and also baptized some chil-
dren among the members of the Mt. Carmel congrega-
tion.
Rev. Heunig, next settled here, but only for a short
time. He was not acquainted with the German lan-
guage, and as there were many Germans among our
people, he could but partly supply the wants of the con-
gregation. It was during his stay that many of the
German members dissatisfied, without German preaching
and influenced by others of greater zeal than knowledge,
withdrew from the Lutheran Church, and became a
nucleus for the present existing Albright (Evangelical
Association) Church of this county.
Thus far the congregation was very unsettled, and we
may add, driven to and fro by various winds of doctrines.
A better state of affairs was inaugurated in 1844, when
Rev. Daniel Scherer, took charge of these congregations
as their regular pastor, September 29th, 1844.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
197
The previous forms of government were laid aside
and new ones adopted. The finances of the congregation
now began to trouble them. There was now, resting
upon the Mt. Garmel congregation, a debt of $1,111.46,
small as was her membership In order to raise this
money Rev. Daiiiel Scherer made two collecting tours,
one to the south and east, and the other the west. He
returned in the latter part of the year 1846, and by as-
sistance from the congregation and people of Mt. Car-
mel, the debt was raised. Of Mr. Joshua Beall it is
praiseworthy to say, that he relinquished part of his
claims at time of payment, $3b'2.22.
These collections from abroad, having been made en-
tirely from Lutheran congregations, a promise was given
to erect a new church, and that it should be Lutheran.
The church, however, when erected was consecrated a
union church, 1850, and Rev. Scherer served both Mt.
Carmel and Jordan creek congregations and at the same
time preached at several other points also.
About the close of 1850, Rev. Scherer moved upon
the church grounds of the Jordan creek congregation,
but continued to serve both congregations until April
the 4th, 1852, on which day he preaclud his last sermon
in the Jordan creek church, and died that night, in the
62d year of his age. He was buried in the cemetery at
Mt. Carinel.
In the same month of Rev. Scherer's death, Rev. G.
Wolf, of the " Olive Branch Synod," took charge tem-
porarily. About the same time the congregations were
also directed by Rev. C. Kuhl, then a missionary in the
service of the Illinois Synod.
In July, 1852, the council of Mt. Carmel congregation
made application to the Illinois Synod, then in session
at Hillsboro, Illinois, for a pastor. This request was
granted, and on September 4, 1852, Rev C. Kuhl took
charge of both Jordan creek and Mt. Carmel congrega-
tions. His labors were successful. He also did much
for these congregations by presenting a new constitution
and writing a historic sketch of the churches of this
county. Rev. Kuhl remained pastor for three years,
and was followed in 1856 by Rev. I. C. Hiller, who
remained a few years, and was followed by Rev. J.
Krack, who was pastor from 1858 to 1861.
Rev. J .Harkey took charge in 1861, and served about
seven years. During his stay many came into the church,
and the organization prospered. But unfortunately,
about the close of his pastorship, a general division oc-
curred in the Lutheran Church, and the General Coun-
cil, referred to at the beginning of this sketch, was
formed. The pastor, Rev. Harkey, went with the Gen j
eral Council, and most of the members of these congre-
gatious were General Synod in their views. The work |
he was doing among these people was thus in a measure '
checked. He left in 1868, and was followed by Rev. G, |
H. Schur, who remained but about a year, and was !
again followed by Rev. C. M. Lingle, who in 1871 took i
charge of Jordan creek and Mt. Carmel congregations,
and remained pastor for about three years.
Rev. McDaniel then served the charge as pastor from
1875 to 1876, and, soon after he left, was followed by
Rev. H. C. Grossman, who took charge 1876, and
remained until 1879 During his stay the church was
much revived and quite a number added. The Jordan
creek congregation, being quite large and somewhat
scattered, was divided, forming two congregations. The
one now called the St. Paul's built a beautiful church in
the little village called Lancaster (Post-office Mier), at a
cost of $5,000, and owns a fine lot in connection with
it.
The people labored harmoniously, and on the 12th of
May, 1878, the church was dedicated to the service of
God, — one of the finest churches in the county. The
other congregation formed by this division is called St.
Peter's. They have not yet built a church, but are
hoping ere long to have a house of worship also. They
now hold their church services in the school-house of
that district.
In 1879 Rev Grossman took his departure, and was
followed by Rev. M. L. Heisler in 1879. He served the
congregations, St. Paul's, St. Peter's and Zion's at Mt.
Carmel, but was the last pastor who served these three
as one charge. His stay was short. Having been
elected president of Burkittsville Female Seminary,
Md., he accepted, and left Mt. Carmel, after a stay of
only five months.
Rev. Heisler was succeeded on the 18th of July, 1880,
by the Rev G. H. Albright, a graduate of Gettysburg
Theological Seminary. His call to become pastor was
first intended to include the three congregations above
named, but a division having been made, because they
needed two pastors, the call was given by Zion's congre-
gation of Mt. Carmel, where he began his labors on the
18th of July, 1880. On the same day, at the first meet-
ing of the congregation, it was decided to rebuild their
church, and on the following morning the work was
begun, Mr. Adam Stein having been chosen as overseer
of the building. The building is newly furnished, and
the debt all paid. The church was dedicated on the
6th of September, 1880. Rev. F. Springer, D. D.,
then president of Central Illinois Synod, assisted the pas-
tor at its dedication.
The present membership of Zion's congregation ia 112,
and the present pastor is Rev. G. H. Albright.
The membership of St. Paul's at Lancaster is 100, and
of St. Peter's, near Lancaster, is 30. These two congre-
gations last named compose a separate charge since 1880,
and are served as pastor by Rev. I. W. Bobst. who came
to them from Harper's Ferry, W. Va, having been called
as- the first pastor of this charge since their separation
from Mt. Carmel. He began his labors at Lancaster in
Dec., 1880, and his charge, composed of St. Paul's and
St. Peter's, comprised the Jordan creek congregation of
early times, spoken of so frequently in this sketch.
198
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WAS ASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
CATHOLIC CHURCH.*
It was in the year 1837 when the first Roman Catholic
came to Mt. Carmel. His name was Mr. Henry Fuehs.
He was by birth an Alsatian ; has been the first emigrant
of that part of Germany, who came to Mt. Carmel. Soon
after the time that Mr. Fuchs arrived, Mr. John Kaiser,
also a native of Alsatia, became an inhabitant of the
city of Mt. Carmel. From 1837 to 1839, a few other
emigrants arrived at Mt. Carmel. They were Mr-
Michael Peter with his family, his brother Nicholas and
family, also Mr. J. Keepas and Mr. George Wirth. The
four last named persons were natives of Bavaria They
were poor, and had to work hard for their daily bread.
All the above named persons lived at Mt. Carmel, ex-
cept Mr. Michael Peter, who purchased a farm of forty
acres, seven miles west of Mt. Carmel. From 1839 42,
Mr. Silbertus Kolb, Mr. J. Breivogel, George Fridrich,
also George Weissenberger, with families, left the old
country, Bavaria, and emigrated to Mt. Carmtl, to try to
make their fortune in America. The first services were
held at Mt. Carmel, by the Rev. K. Muller, on the 20th
August, 1840. At the same time several children were
baptized. The first child that was baptized was Frances
Michael, daughter of Francis Michael, et Regina Roth.
At that time there was no church, no priesthouse and no
resident priest at Mt. Carmel. From time to time a
priest came to keep services for the Catholics of Mt.
Carmel. It was not all the time the same priest who
took care of the parish. Different priests of divers parts
of the country came from 18401851 to Mt. Carmel, to
celebrate mass and to perform the other priestly functions.
So the church book gives the names of Rev. K. Muller.
Rev. James Flyn, Rev. G. A. Hamilton, Rev. Fr.
Fisher, and Rev. R. Weinzapfley, of St. Wendell, in
Indiana. For a time the Catholics had no church, the
services were held in private houses, and sometimes in
the public school-house of Mt. Carmel. During the year,
1851, several other emigrants of Bavaria had. come
to Mt. Carmel or to the neighborhood of it. The best,
known of them are : Simon Keer, Nicholas Goet,
Larenz Keppel, Michael Berberich, Lareuz Kander,
Joseph Fuchs, George Brust, Michael Beyer, Andreas
Doell, Robert Leefmann, John Krug, John Scherf,
Charles Fleming, Fred Schupp, and several others. So
it happened, that about 28 or 30 Catholic familes lived in
and around Mt. Carmel, in the year, 1850. These fam-
ilies came to the conclusion, that it would be best, to build
a church and to get a resident priest. But from where
should they get. the means, to do it, because nearly all
of them were poor. But they did not despair, and com-
menced at once. At first they asked the Rt. Rev. Bishop
of Chicago for a resident priest, and in 1851, Rev. V.
Burgos, a Spaniard, was sent by the Rt. Rev.
Bishop, to take charge of the Catholics of Mt.
Carmel. Rev. V. Burgos arrived at Mt. Carmel in
the month of November, and remained there about three
years. In these years a church was built, with hard work
From data furnished by Father G. Jansen, Rectnr of St. Mary's church.
and great difficulties. They were not able to get an
architect. All the members of the congregation had to
help. Some of them were carpenters, and they provided
for the carpenter work, others did the brick work. So
the church was finished under the direction of Rev. V.
Burgos. But not only did he lead the work ; he also
worked— performed as much labor as one of the working
men. Mr. G. Wirth, Mr. Fr. Fuchs, and Mr. J.
Breivogel took the greatest interest in the affairs of the
church. When the church was finished, it was dedicated
to God, and it received as patron the blessed Virgin
Mary, under the title of St. Mary of Mt. Carmel. Also
a dwelling-house was erected only a short time after the
church had been finished. Rev. V. Burgos worked
hard for the congregation, and remained there till Oct.
1854. When he left Mt. Carmel, the congregation
had no resident priest for about four years. During this
time the congregation had been attended by different
priests, who came at certain times, to give services. In
Aug., 1858, R. W. Repis came as pastor. He remained
about six months, and after him, Rev. P. R. Kolopp
was appointed as pastor. Since which time the church
has had a resident priest, but many changes took place
in regard to the persons who attended the church. The
church at Mt. Carmel is a brick building, and is 63x30.
In the year, 1886, an addition was made to the priest-
house under the direction of Rev. Louis Ruitter.
In 1870, a frame church was erected seven miles west
from Mt. Carmel, 73x60 feet, was finished in 1871, and
at the dedication, as patron, was chosen St. Sebastian, and
the congregation was called St. Sebastian congregation.
This church is in Bellmont Precinct, formerly called
Bonpas Precinct. The Catholic families of this con-
gregation are forty.
The congregation of Mt. Carmel purchased, in 1880,
on the first of June, a nice building of M. S. Landes.
It is a large frame building, and is now used for school and
sister-house. It cost $2000. At the present time about
50 to 55 Catholic families belong to St. Mary's congre-
gation of Mt. Carmel. The sisters of the Precious Blood
teach school. About thirty-five or forty children attend
the school.
ST. JOHN'S GERMAN EVANGELICAL
LUTHERAN CONGREGATION.
BY GEO. V. KIRSCH.
In the year of our Lord 1870, the Messrs G. V. Kirsch
and William Bossecker, both members of the German
Evangelical Lutheran Zion's Congregation of Preble
Township, Adams Co., Ind , where Rev. Gerhard Jaeb-
ker preached, emigrated with their families to Illinois
to buy land, and settled near Cowling Station, Wabash
Co., 111. The next year the Messrs John Graesch, Sr.,
John Graesch, Jr., J. Henry Graesch, John Bossecker,
Sr., Louis Bossecker, Peter and Adam Kirsch followed
from the same congregation. These nine gentlemen or-
ganized the German Evangelical Lutheran St. John's
congregation of Wabash Co., 111. Services were now
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
held by Rev. F. R. Tranom, of Vincennes, Ind. and Rev.
G. Mohr until August llth, 1872. On this da>y the new
built church was dedicated to the service of God, and
the first pastor Rev. Christian Maeurer was ordained and
introduced by Rev. F. R. Tramra and Rev. G. Mohr.
In this same service, the introduced pastor baptized G.
V. Kirsch, the son of G. V. Kirsch, Sr. and this was his
first pastoral ainistration. Charles Kirsch, Jacob Frei-
berger, Ida Bossecker and Sophia Schaich were the first
children who were confirmed in the church. The first
marriage service was held for Rev. G. Mohr and Miss
Louise Bossecker, daughter of John Bossecker, Sr. The
first funeral sermon was held in church beside the re-
mains of Peter Kirsch's daughter.
In the year 1874, the cougregation joined the Missouri
Synod. Year by year the congregation increased in num-
ber by members coming from congregations near Evans-
ville, Ind. and from Holland, Ind. At this day, Feb.
13th, 1883, the parish register shows 28 members and in
all 142 individuals. The church and the parsonage
are situated two miles north of Cowling, twelve miles
southwest of Mt. Carmel, four miles northeast of Bell-
niont and six miles northeast of Grayville, 111.
Our present pastor, Rev. Philip M. Fritze, was born
in Baltimore, Md., Dec. 29, 1853. He received his clas-
sical education at the Concordia College in Ft. Wayne,
Ind., and, having completed his course there, entered
the Concordia Seminary in St Louis, Mo. in 1875 to stu-
dy theology. August 18th, 1878, he was ordained as
pastor oif the German Evangelical Lutheran Trinity
Congregation of Hobart, Ind. On the 24th day of Sep-
tember he married Miss Emilie Chr. Grosse, daughter of
the late teacher Grosse in St. Louis, Mo. Having re-
ceived a call from our congregation in January, 1882, he
accepted the call and, on the 17th day of February, was
introduced as our pastor by Rev. G. Mohr.
HISTORICAL SKETCH RESPECTING THE MISSIONARY WORK
OF " THE EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION OF NORTH
AMERICA."
BY REV. WILLIAM L. LTJEHRING-
It was in the year 1842, A. D., when the Ohio Con-
ference of the Evangelical Association held its annual
session in Pickaway county, Ohio, that the first mis-
sionary of said denomination was sent to Wabash county,
111. This new field of labor was designated as the Mt.
Carmel mission of the Ohio Conference, and was sup-
plied by Rev. C. Augenstein, who is at present (1883)
in the decline of life, still serving one of our congrega-
tions in Chicago. The above named mission might
have been termed as practically almost unlimited ; for
the faithful missionary traveled over about six counties
in Illinois and Indiana, and preached the gospel wherever
he found occasion so to do, although Wabash county
constituted the centre, and thus received his first and
chief attention. The work of the above missionary did
not consist in organizing such as had been heretofore
identified with the church ; but it consisted, as it were,
in plowing the fallow ground of the then somewhat
morally neglected German inhabitants of Wabash
county.
The arduous but also efficient labor of the first mis-
sionary was crowned with success, so that at the next
session of conference he was able to report about 100
accessions to the church. The aggressive missionary,
aided by one local preacher and one exhorter, also held
a camp meeting on the land of P. Dundor, a former
member of the Evangelical Association in Berks county,
Pa. Rev. C. Augenstein thus has the honor of being
the first German Protestant missionary in Wabash
county, (although other so-called missionaries had vis-
ited the county before, but proved to be " hirelings,"
and were rejected by the people.) The following year
(1843) Rev. C. Lintner and Rev. A. Nikolai, both
young and full of religious enthusiasm, traveled and
preached the "word " on this extensive mission territory ;
and the third year Rev. A. Nikolai again and Rev. G.
G. Platz ; under the administration of the latter two
missionaries the mission greatly thrived — the seed of
the " word " germinated in many hearts and finally
brought forth fruit. Numerically and financially the
mission so prospered, that at Conference (1845) the
Indiana appointments were detached from the Mt Car-
mel mission, and called the Dubois mission ; and the
Mt. Carmel mission was converted into Mt. Carmel
circuit. It may be of interest to some to give the names
| of the Evangelical preachers who in Wabash county
| preached the gospel : Augenstein, Lintner, Nikolai,
I Platz, Bretsch, Tobias, Mueller, Withaub, Trometer,
Dickover, Messner, Fisher, Bockman,Fuchs,Kohlmeyer,
Hoffman, Kronmiller, Kleiber, Glauss, Gomer, Berger,
Fisher, Mode and others.
The following were some of the first members in Mt.
Carmel and vicinity : H. Kraemer, William Proetzler,
j N. Lutz, P. Moyer, R. Beutelman, Steven Moyer, C.
j Seitz and L. Mueller. The above names represent the
" heads " of the first " Evangelical " families.
In the year 1847 a little brick church was erected on
4th near Cherry street ; for a number of years this little
"Evangelical" society was noted for its spirituality.
On quarterly or special meetings the " Evangelicals " of
Wabash and adjoining counties would meet in this lit-
tle church to have a " good time " together ; many souls
were brought from darkness to light, and from the power
of Satan to God.
In the year 1873 a new brick church was built on the
corner of 4th and Cherry streets, under the administra-
tion of Rev. Joseph Meyer. The congregation at pre-
sent (1883) numbers not quite 100 members — and has
to battle with language difficulties — some of the young
people (being more English than German) ought to have
some English preaching, to which some of the old mem-
i bers object — this makes it exceedingly difficult for the
200
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
preacher. A change for the better is needed — may it
speedily come !
The following were some of the first members in Lan-
caster and vicinity : M. Bernhard, J. Foruhofi', M. Marx,
Gierd Schaun and others.
For many years Lancaster had but one church (union)
in which the different denominations, represented here,
held their public services; but in the year 1865 the
" Evangelicals " built a church. The Lancaster society
numbers about ninety-five members, and is in a some-
what flourishing condition — nevertheless there is much
room for improvement. During the last year a com-
fortable parsonage was bought and paid for. May the
members of the "Evangelical Association" in Wabash
county be a power for good, and an honor to their
church.
UNITED BRETHREN IN CHRIST.
BY ALEXANDER LITHERLAND.
In the year, 1862, through the continued labors
of Wm. Hovis, the first class of the church of the United
Brethren in Christ, in Wabash county, was organized at
a small school house, one mile acd a half west of
Friendsville. This class consisted of thirteen members,
whose names are, Wm. Litherland, Susan Litherland,
G. W. Litherland, Nancy Litherland, Joseph Litherland,
Amy Litherland, David Bixon, Mary J. Dixon, Louisa
Dixon, Wm. Deisher, Clementine Deisher, E G. Mundy,
Catharine Canady.
The pastors of this class, while it remained here, were,
Wm. Hovis, H. Severn, R Clark, C. H. Jones, M. Hale,
S. Stark. While under the care of S. Stark, the class,
in 1866, was removed to what is known as old Cabbage
Corners.
While here the preachers that had charge of the class
were, I. W. Williams, J. Bedwell, J. L. Catdwell, R.
Ratcliff, J. Peachy, G. W. Burtner. In 1874, while
under the pastoral care of G. W. Burtner, the class
was dissolved, and one organized at Stoltz school-house,
called Stoltz class, three miles west of Friendsville.
Surroundings were very favorable here, and the class
was strengthened continually, so that in 1879, a board
of trustees was appointed to build a house to worship in.
Wm. Litherland was elected president of the board,
and he went to work spending both his time and money
in the work, and by his unceasing labors and the liberal
help of others, a church, bearing the name of Nye chapel,
was erected in 1880, at Card's Point graveyard
one mile and three-quarters southwest of the original
place of organization where the class is now established,
and has a membership of fifty-five. The preachers that
have had charge of Stoltz class are, R. L. Brengle, S.
Zeller, Wm. McGinnis, S. Bussard, S. Keagy.
ADAMS' CORNER CLASS.
In 1869, J. Bedwell, the U. B preacher, was
invited to hold a series of meetings at Adams' Corners,
which he.did and organized a small class, called Adams'
Corners' class. This class increased, and continued to
grow until they became so strong that they purchased
the church belonging to the Lutheran and EvangelicaJ
Association organizations, and now they have a house to
worship in.
PLEASANT HILL CLASS.
In December, 1882, a series of meetings were held by
Rev. S. Keagy at a school-house one mile and a half
southeast of Lancaster, which resulted in the organiza-
tion of a class called Pleasant Hill class, of the United
Brethren in Christ, consisting of twenty-seven members.
PLEASANT GROVE CLASS.
In January, 1883, Rev. S. Keagy organized a class
called Pleasant Grove class at a school-house four
miles southwest of Lancaster, consisting of eleven mem-
bers. All four of these classes are now in good condition.
LAWRENCE COUNTY..
UNITED BRETHREN IN CHRIST.
BY REV. T. D. SPYKER.
The history of this denomination, in Lawrence county,
dates back to the year 1852, w.hen George Stoltz emi-
grated to this county from Perry county, Ohio, at which
time he could hear of no organization south of Cumber-
land county.
In the next year, 1853, Daniel Stoltz, a brother of
George, also came west, and settled near his brother.
Daniel was a preacher of this church, and not only de-
voted his attention to his temporal interest, but at once
set to work in the " Master's vineyard." It is said of
some men : " They do very well where they are not
known." But not so with this man ; he was loved most
where best known ; he was a man of energy, and influ-
ence, and spent much of his time and means in church
work, and much of the success of this church, in south-
ern Illinois, is owing to his spirit of self-sacrifice, and ear-
nest devotion to the cause.
A class was soon organized, consisting of the families
of Daniel Stoltz, George Stoltz, and George Martin, with
others amounting to about twelve members. This class
was attached first to Hebron circuit, and its first pastor
was Rev. J. G. Shuey, of Westfield, 111.
In 1854, a new mission was organized, embracing
nearly all of Illinois, south of the Enibarras river, five
or six circuits having since been organized on the
ground that was actually occupied in this mission.
About the year 1870, the class mentioned, in connec-
tion with the Methodist church, built a comfortable
house of worship, giving it the name of Pleasant Hill
chapel. It is located about seven miles northeast of
Sumner, and in accordance with its name stands upon
a beautiful hill. This class grew slowly, until the year
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWREXCE AKD WABASII COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
201
1881, when, under the labors of Rev. S. Bussard, there
was an extensive revival and a large ingathering to the
church. It has, at present, a membership numbering
one hundred and three. Several active and pious men
have gone to rest from this organization, but have not
left it without many young members that promise equal
actively and piety. Among these men who have thus
gone home are, Bros. Vannatta and dingier.
Prairie Class. — About the year 1854, two brothers,
Harrison and Joel Petty, with their brother-in-law, Mr
Stine, came, with their families, to this county, and lo-
cated about five miles from where Pleasant Hill chapel
now stands.
These having been connected with this church in
Perry county, Ohio, and desiring a home in it still, or-
ganized under the labors of Bro. Stark, a class of seven
members, consisting of the families of these three men.
In the year 1874, they built a neat and comfortable
chapel, known as Prairie chapel.
Bros. Stine and Harrison Petty have been dead for
several years, but some of the members of their families
are still connected with this class.
Joel Petty still lives near the church, and is still an
active, energetic member. Several good families have,
from time to time, been added to this class, and the
number of its membership is, at present, about sixty.
The chapel is located about three and a half miles north-
west of Sumner.
Union Class. — Among the places occupied by Danl.
Stoltz, was Peppel's School-house, located about 3 miles
from Pleasant Hill. Here his labors were very accept-
able to young and old. At one. time a young man out-
side of the house, called a prominent member to him and
gave him a respectable sum of money from the young
men, as a tribute of respect to Bro. Stoltz. About the
year 1856 or 1857, there was a meeting held at this
place, by Bro. Stoltz, in connection with Rev. H. Elwell,
that awakened a good deal of interest. Bro. Elwell was
then a young man full of energy, and zeal, for the cause
of Christ, and his labors are still spoken of by many in
this county.
A class was soon organized at this place, and several
of the prominent members of Sumner Circuit refer to this
organization, and the meetings held at this place, in
connection with their conversion. This class gradually
grew in numbers and influence, until they built a church
upon the state-road, about 3J miles northeast of Sumner.
This occurred about 1865 or 1866. They worshiped in
this house until the year 1872, when an incident occurred
that cast a gloom upon the whole community, and es-
pecially upon those who were members of this class. At
this time, Rev. S. H. Ross, the pastor, was holding a
series of meetings at this place in connection with a
quarterly meeting. His father, D. Ross, was presiding
Elder of this district, and was assisting in the meet-
ings.
On Monday afternoon, after the people had returned
home, from the forenoon service, Mr. Geo. Claycomb
looking toward the church, saw that the house was on
j fire. The alarm was given, and the friends of the imme-
diate vicinity, came together, to find that, under the cir-
cumstances the fire was uncontrollable. Though the
fire had made but little progress, there being no water
I near, they were compelled to stand by and see the fruit
of their labor, and sacrifice reduced to ashes. Though
the news of the disaster spread rapidly, many wended
their way hopefully to that spot, that night, expecting
to hear the word of the Lord expounded, and to worship
him in the usual place, only to find their beloved resort
io ruins.
Many a community would have sat down in despair,
and simply have mourned over their loss. Many a pas-
tor would have yielded to circumstances and given up
the situation, but these two men, father and son, were
equal to the emergency, and this community were ready
to rally at their bidding. A meeting was called almost
before the smoke had died away, and almost as if by
magic, there arose another house on the old site. This
was a hard struggle, and required much self denial, but
it is over, and many who engaged in it have gone home.
Among these are the preachers that were present at the
disaster, while many still live to speak of it as one of
the sad hours of their lives. The organization of two
new classes has drawn largely from this class, yet it
has a membership of about 64. There are a number of
men of influence, and some young men of promise.
Sand Barrens Cla«s. — This class was organized under
the labors of Rev. H. Elwell, about 1856. Among the
first members was father Ghear, who has done much for
this church in the way of labor and means. He still
j lives near the church that was built largely by his en-
ergy, but his age interferes much with his activity.
la the year 1871, Rev. J. Peachee came to the vi-
cinity, and gave them valuable services. He now lives
in Sumner, and is somewhat broken in health. Being
a carpenter, he did much toward erecting a house of
worship, which was done in the year 1874. This class,
which was formerly a part of Lawrence Circuit, now
belongs to Allendale Mission Church, located ten miles
I south of Lawrenceville.
Broad Hollow Class.— This class was organized A.
D. 1881, by Rev. S. Bussard, who has spent three years
of active service in this county. It has recently received*
quite a number of accessions under the labors of Rev. S.
Keagy. Arrangements are now being made for the
building of a house of worship, which will probably be
done during the approaching summer. Rev. Pinner
resides in the community and renders efficient help.
This location is about five miles south of Lawrenceville.
Fairview Class. — This class holds its meetings at a
school-house about three miles northeast of Bridgeport.
It was organized in the fall of A. •D.1882, by Rev. S.
Bjssard, with twenty mambers. It has now twenty-
seven members and gives some promise of success. A
few of its members were transferred from Union Class.
Sumner Class. — This class holds its meetings, in the
202
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Western Christian Church, in suraner. It also was or-
ganized in 1862, by Rev. S. Bussard. It was organized
first with nine members. It has now thirteen.
Otterbein Class — The church occupied by this class is
located in the northeast part of the county. It was or-
ganizsd A. D. 1856, by Rev. S- Bussard, then a quar-
terly conference sermon preached in the absence of the
pastor, Rev. Jackson.
Brother Whitsou was elected leader and Brother Hen-
dricks steward. The class then consisted of five mem-
bers. Brother Hendricks died some years ago. Brother
Whitson still lives, and though old, is still very active
in church work. Their house of worship was built A.
D. 1864. It has a membership of fifty. It stands con-
nected with Hebron Circuit.
Centenary Class. — This class was organized, A. D.
1862, by Rev. Hovis, with about fifteen members.
Built a house of worship in the edge of Richland
county, A. D. 1872. It is a part of Olney Circuit.
General Remarks.— About 1860, these appointments
with others in Richland and Wabash counties were
made to constitute Lawrence Circuit. Various changes
were made from time to time, and at the Conference
held at Parkersburg, Illinois, September, 1882, Pleasant
Hill Prairie, Union, Fairview and Summer classes were
made to constitute Summer Circuit, and the writer of
this sketch appointed to it as pastor.
A parsonage was built A. D. 1866, by Lawrence Cir-
cuit, which is now used by Summer Circuit. Many of
; the men who gave their energies to the work of this church
in Lawrence county, have ceased from their labors.
Among these are Revs. Stark, Stotts, Clark, Brock, S.
; H. Ross, and William McGinnis. The last two named
i died very recently. They were all men of energy and
usefulness, and died triumphantly at their post.
Revs. Elwell and Butner, have been transferred to
j other conferences. Revs. Brengle, Bussard, Zeller and
Jones, are still doing good work in Lower Wabash
Conference, in the bounds of which Summer Circuit is
I located. The work of this church in this county, has
been attended with much privation and toil, but the men
named have been equal to the task. This church has in
this county a membership numbering about 375.
CITY AND PRECINCT OF ALBION.
EDWARDS COUNTY.*
JHE history of the early settlement and subse-
queut progress and development of the town
and precinctof Albion is attended with more
than ordinary interest to the reader of the
history of the now great commonwealth of Illinois. That
the efforts of the founders were successful, the beautiful
landscape of well-cultivated farms, dotted here and there
with richly constructed farm buildings, amply attest on
every hand.
Albion precinct is centrally situated in the county,
from north to south, and extends itself entirely across
the county, from east to west, comprising nearly one-
third of its entire territory. The precinct is bounded
on the north by the base line and Shelby precinct, on
the east by Bonpas creek, on the south by French creek
and Dixon precincts, and west by Wayne county and
Shelby precinct, and comprises a part of townships 1 and
2 S. and ranges 10 and 11 east. Originally it was divided
between prairie and timber land, the former interspersing
the latter in a picturesque manner. The surface of the
uplands is quite rolling, aud the soil is a. chocolate-colored
clay loam, and is very productive. The bottom land
along Bonpas creek is heavily timbered, the land being
a deep alluvial soil, and especailly adapted to the culti-
vation of maize, gra ses, etc. The principal streams are
the Bonpas and Big creeks. The former constitutes the
entire eastern boundary, and the latter is situated in the
southwest, and discharges its waters into the Little
Wabash. Two lines of railroad extend through the
precinct, the Peoria, Decatur and Evansville passing
frost north to south, and the Louisville, Evansville and
St. Louis road extending east and west, forming a
junction with the former at the town of Browns.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
Really the first white men to locate here were emi-
grants from the South, about 1816 ; and as it is due to
them that the first blow was struck toward civilization
in this once wild region, we have given them a place in
the history of this precinct; but as their stay was but
transitory, the larger portion of the early settlement
narration will be devoted to the English settlers, as it
was they who mostly developed this part of the county,
and have made it one of the richest communities in the
state.
: indebted to the notes prepared by Ueorge Fl,,wer, ]
Of the former class we find the names of Jeremiah
Birk, Walter Anderson, Hugh Collins, John Hunt,
Rollin and Joseph Lane and William Ham. These
were located in a settlement in the west part of the
precinct, a little north of Big creek.
From the best information at this date. Mr. Birk, or
Captain Birk, as he was sometimes denominated, was
the first to locate in the wilds of Albion precinct ; and
we here take the liberty of quoting from Mr. George
Flower's account as given by him on his first approach
of Birk's cabin : " In my wanderings, the thought struck
me of finding out Captain Birk, mentioned to me by my
old friend Sloo, of Cincinnati, as being hereabouts, the
oldest settkr in these parts. Going in the direction in
which I thought he lived, I espied a trail, made by the
dragging of a log. Following this, I suddenly came to a
! worm fence inclosing a small field of fine corn, but could
| see no dwelling. I wished to see Birk, but felt a little
I diffidence in appearing before the captain in my desha-
bille; for after several days' travel and two nights'
I camping out, my toilette was considerably compromised.
| Looking closely, I observed between two rows of corn
a narrow path ; this I followed until I came suddenly
in sight of a small cabin, within twenty steps of me, a
little lower than the surrounding coi*n. Looking in the
direction of a voice, calling back a savage dog that had
rushed out to attack me, I saw a naked man, quietly
fanning himself with a branch of a tree.
My first surprise over, finding his name was Birk, I
told him who I was and my errand, at which he- did not
seem well pleased. What surprised me was the calm
self-pos-session of the man. No surprise, no flutter, no
hasty movements. He quietly said that he had just
come from mill at Princeton, thirty miles distant, and
was cooling himself a bit. His cabin, 14x12 feet, and
7 feet high, with earth for a floor, contained a four-post
bedstead ; said posts driven into the ground, were sprout-
ing with buds, branches and leaves. The rim of an old
wire sieve, furnished with a piece of deer-skin punctured
with holes, for sifting meal, a skillet and a coffee-pot
were all the culinary apparatus for a family of seven.
A small three-legged stool and a rickety clap board
table was the only furniture. An ox lay at the door
and a rifle stood against the wall. Himself and boys,
when clothed, wore buckskin ; his wife and three daugh-
ters were dressed in flimsy calico, sufficiently soiled, and
not without rents." Such is part of the description as
given by Mr. Flower of the first pioneer of the precinct.
2H
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASII COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Mr. Birk moved to the "Sangamo" country about 1819.
He was a genuine hunter and backwoodsman, and could
not bear the onward progress of civilization. To use
his own language, he "did not want to live where
neighbors were so plenty ; that to see three neighbors
within a day's ride was sufficient for him."
The prairie, near this little improvement, is yet known
as Birk's Prairie.
Walter Anderson, before mentioned, cultivated a
small patch of ground in section 30, and it is said that
he planted on his place the first orchard in the county.
This was about 1817. He, like Birk, remained but
a short time, when he removed to a less civilized part of
the country. Hugh Collins settled in section 20, and in
a year or two sold his improvement to John Woods;
Senior. John Hunt, of the same settlement, died here in
1820, leaving quite a family of children. But one
of his descendants, a grandson, James T. Hunt, is now
living; he resides about one mile northwest from the old ;
farm of his grandfather. Rollin and Joseph Lane, and
William Ham moved away long ago, none living now to
tell where or whence they went.
In 1817, a new era opened to this part of the west. ,
Morris Birkbeck and George Flower, both well-to-do j
Englishmen, came to this country, the latter in 1816, and j
the former one year later. They had known each other
in England, and on meeting in this country, they mutu-
ally agreed to explore the western country together, and
if possible find the new Eldorado that was then agitating
the minds of the people of the south and east. They had
heard of the beautiful prairies of the Illinois territory,
and so infatuated were they with the glowing accounts
given, that they determined to see for themselves ; and
if it came up to their expectation, it was their intention
to plant a colony of their own countr3rmen within the
•western wilds. They left Richmond, Virginia, in the
springof!817, party being composed of Mr. Birkbeck and j
family, and Mr. Flower. Mr. B. was a widower, but had
four children with him, two sons and two daughters,
named respectively, Bradford, Charles, Eliza, and Prud- '
ence. There were also four others in the party, a servant
boy of Mr. Birkbeck's named James Gillard, Miss Eliza J.
Andrews, Elias P. Fordham, and Elizabeth Garton, an j
orphan girl adopted by Mr. Birkbeck. Miss Andrews
was well acquainted with the Birkbeck family in Eng-
land, and desired to share the adventures with them in j
the new world. She afterwards became the second ;
•wife of Mr. Flower.
The journey was a long and tedious one, the distance
being made by stage and horseback. At Princeton a
halt was made, and suitable quarters obtained for the
parties except those who proposed to press forward and
find the goal of their ambition. This trio was composed
of Mr. Birkbeck, and his son Bradford, and Mr. Flower.
After several days' travel they came in sight of Bolting-
house Prairie, and the emotions it brought forth when it
first met their gaze, I will give in Mr. Flower's own Ian- J
guage. He says, "Bruised by the brush wood and exhausted
by the extreme heat, we almost despaired, when a small
cabin and a low fence greeted our eyes. A few steps
more, and a beautiful prairie suddenly opened to our
view. At first, we only received the impressions of its
general beauty. With longer gaze, all its distinctive
features were revealed, lying in profound repose under
the warm light of fln afternoon's summer sun. Its in-
dented and irregular outline of wood, its varied surface
interspersed with clumps of oaks of centuries growth, its
tall grass with seed stalks from six to ten feet high, like
tall and slender reeds waving in a gentle breeze, the
whole presenting a magnificence of park scenery, com-
plete from the hand of nature, and unrivalled by the
same sort of scenery of European art. For once, the
reality came up to the picture of imagination. Our
station was in the wood, on rising ground ; from it, a
descent of about a hundred yards to the valley of the
prairie, about a quarter of a mile wide, extending to the
base of a majestic slope, rising upward for a full half
mile, crowned by groves of noble oaks. A little to the
left, the eye wandered up a long stretch of prairie for
three miles, into which projected hills and slopes, covered
with rich grass and decorated with compact clumps of
full-grown trees, from four to eight in each clump. From
beneath the broken shade of the wood, with our arms
raised above our brows, we gazed long and steadily,
drinking in the beauties of the scene which had so long
been the object of our search."
Their ideal of the vast rolling prairies of the west
was fully realized and verified, and now came their plans
for action. After long and deliberate consultation, it
was decided that they should jointly put together all the
means that they could then command, and Mr. Birkbeck
was to proceed at once to Shawneetown, the general
land-office, and enter as much land as possible with his
means at hand, while Mr. Flower was to hasten to Eng-
land for more money, and also to superintend and ex-
pedite the scheme of forwarding emigrants to form the
new colony. Mr. Birkbeck, it was understood, should
return to their lately bought possession, to prepare and
receive the emigrants. Both fulfilled the part they had to
perform, and the English colony became a reality. Too
much cannot be said of the indomitable energy and
perseverance of these two pioneers ; nay, more should be
said ; they were among the foremost philanthropists of
their age. They left a home of plenty, surrounded with
the comforts of life that wealth can give, and took upon
themselves the hardships, sufferings and dangers of the
pioneer. Through their efforts, many of their country-
men were provided with comfortable homes, not having
means sufficient, in their own country, to supply
them. They risked their all in this mammoth
enterprise, and virtually speaking, lost all, both of them
dying comparatively poor in worldly means. Both were
strong anti-slavery men, and did much to prevent the
slave system beiug planted in the State of Illinois.
Mr. Birkbeck, until his death, had a large influenca
in matters of State of the new formed commonwealth,
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
having the honor of receiving the appointment of Secre-
tary of State under the administration of Governor Coles
in 1824. He was drowned in Fox river, near New
Harmony, Indiana, in 1825. His remains were found
and buried at the same place. It is but a short time
since that a friend of the family received a letter from
the Hon. E. B. Washburn, stating that he would be re-
sponsible for a donation of five hundred dollars toward
erecting a suitable monument to Mr. Birkbeck's memory,
providing his remains could be brought to the State of
his adoption, and place of his noble efforts. It is to be
hoped that the future historian may be able to record
the epitaph inscribed upon the proposed monument.
After Mr. Birkbeck's death his children scattered to the
four corners of the earth, all of whom are dead, except
Eliza, wife of Gilbert T. Pell, who, at last accounts, was
residing in Australia.
Mr. Flower lived some years after Mr. Birkbeck, and
aided, as well as his crippled means would permit, to
build up the little colony, being one of the founders of
the neat little city of Albion. He died atGrayville the
15th day of January, 1862. We insert the following
closing words of tribute, paid to Mr. Flower by Dr.
Barry, then librarian of the Chicago Historical Society,
and which appeared in the Chicago Tribune of March
22, 1862: "On the morning of the 15th of January last,
there lay, under the loving and sad watch of dear friends;
at Grayville, the sinking form of the aged man, whose
worth we have poorly attempted to set forth, and the
partner of his long and chequered life. But a week
before they had expressed the hope, often repeated, that,
happily united in life, they might not be divided in their
death. While the rays of the morning sun were gilding
the room of the fond wife, she expired ; and soon after
the going down of the same day's sun, followed, to his
last and welcome rest, the spirit of George Flower."
Only three of Mr. Flower's family are living ; Camillas
resides a little south of Albion ; Alfred lives in Paris,
Edgar county, and a daughter resides at Grayville, Illi-
nois.
Another pioneer of 1817, was Alan Emmerson, a na-
tive of Kentucky, who, in an early day, emigrated to the
Territory of Indiana. He was then a single man, but
subsequently, in 1810, he married Nancy Mounce, and
in the summer of 1817, he moved with his family to
Edwards county, and located in section 4, township 2
south, range 10 east. There were four pioneer children,
Martha, Jesse, Sanford, and Indiana. The latter died
soon after their coming, and is sa'd to be the first death
in the precinct. Mr Emmerson entered a quarter sec-
tion of laud, erected a log cabin, and commenced the
life of a pioneer. After many privations and hard
struggles, he improved a good farm and enjoyed the
fruits of his labors. Having the confidence of the people
and extended acquaintance, he was elected, several
times, to fill offices of trust by their suffrages. He was
elected County Judge for a succession of terms, filled
the office of County Treasurer and Assessor, and served
205
<wi*. terrain the State Legislature. He and his wife both
died in 1876, Centennial year. They were widely known,
and their loss to the community was mourned by a
large circle of friends. Only one of the pioneer children
is now living, Jesse, who resides in Albion, and is one
among three of the oldest pioneers in the county.
Rev John Depew emigrated from the South in 1817,
and located joining farms with Mr. Emmerson. He was
the first Methodist preacher in this part of the country,
and so fastidious with regard to his religious views, that
upon one occasion, when invited to eat honey that was
taken from a bee tree on Sunday, he utterly refused the
sweet morsel, although very fond of it. He remained
here but a few years, moving to Marion county in 1820.
j One of the oldest settlers of this part of the state was
James Chism, a native of Virginia, who came to Il-
linois Territory — now Wabash county— in 1813. He
located at Bald Hill Prairie, near the center of the coun-
ty. His family consisted of his wife Sarah, and three
children, Ellen, Elisha and Permelia. The father and
, mother died more than half a century ago. Elisha is
the only one of the family living. He resides in Albion,
; and is one of the oldest surviving pioneers, in either E>1-
1 wards or Wabash counties.
William and John Woodland were from South Caro-
lina, and came to the precinct in 1817, and located about
four miles west of Albion. They both went off with the
! Mormons.
The heavy tide of immigration commenced in 1818.
It was in this year that Mr. Flower sent from England
the first ship load of immigrants, and this was but the
precursor of what followed in the way of immigration
until 1820, and perhaps later. Among those who came
' at that early date, and who have descendants yet resi-
ding in the county, are the following: Joel Churchill, John
1 Wood?, Sr, John Tribe, Brian Walker, William Nich-
ols, Hugh Ronalds, John Brissenden, William Wood,
William Fewkes, George Woodham, William Harm,
John Skeaviugton, Elias Weaver, Henry Sydney, and
John Spring, Henry Birkett, James O. Wattles, and
several others It would be impossible in this chapter
to give space to all the numerous newcomers of the years
1818, 19, 20,
Mr. Churchill, above mentioned, was one of the im-
migrants of 1818. At his coming, he was a single man.
He entered quite a large tract of land southeast of Al-
bion, where he located and remained until 1823, when
he moved to Albion. In 1824", he married Eliza Simp-
kins by which union eleven children were born, nine of
whom are living. Mr. Churchill led a busy and active life.
He died in the spring of 1872 ,in the city of Albion. Mrs.
Churchill is yet living, and is active for one of her age.
Charles and James Churchill are prominent business
men in Albion. John Tribe came to the precinct in 1819,
and located at Wanborough. He was then a single
man, and a carpenter by trade. Some time after coming
he married Jane Stanley. A large family were reared
by them, eight of whom are now residents of the coun-
20(!
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
ty. William B. Tribe, a son, is the present efficient
Circuit Clerk of Edwards county. Mr. Tribe was noted
for his intelligence and goodness of heart. He died at
Albiou in August, 1880, his wife surviving him.
John Woods, Sr., came to Edwards county in the fall j
of 1819, and located in Wanborough. His family j
then consisted of his wife and five children, William,
John, Jr., George, Ann, and Elizabeth. One son was
born in the county, Thomas T. Mr. Woods subsequent-
ly moved to Albion, and thence to Shawaeetown, where
he died. Two of the pioneer children are living, John,
Jr., and George. The former is a merchant in Albion,
now upwards of eighty years of age. In 1829, he mar-
ried Elizabeth Penfold, daughter of Abraham Penfold,
another pioneer, who located in Wanborough, in 1819.
John, Jr. held the office of County Treasurer for about
forty years. George Woods is residing in Wisconsin,
and Thomas T. is a prominent farmer in Albion precinct.
Other settlers of about the same date, were three bro-
thers, Moses, John, and George Michels, who were na-
tives rf the state of Maine. The former was elected to
the State Legislature for the term of 1820-22. George,
Jr., a son of the pioneer George, is a resident of Albion.
A prominent accession to the colony in 1821, was
Gen. William Pickering, a native of Yorkshire, Eng-
land. He made his first settlement in the Village Prai-
rie, but subsequently moved to Albion. He was the
first to introduce blooded stock from England to the new
colony. In 1824, he married Martha Flower, sister of
George Flower. Mr. Pickering took a lively, interest
in all matters of State, and became a leading Whig poli-
tician. He .represented his constituency in the State
Legislature from 18J2 to 1852. He was an intimate
friend of Abraham Lincoln ; on the latter's election to the
presidency, he appointed him governor of Washington
Territory. He died at his son's residence, near Albion, in
1875. Only one of the family is now living in the county,
Richard, who resides in section 2, a little west of Albion.
A prominent settler of 1827, was Alexander Stewart,
who was born in Scotland, and a descendant of one of
the old Scotch fa-nilies. He landed in New York City,
in the fall of 1818. On Christmas of the same year he
reached Illinois and located in Carmi, White county.
His family then with him consisted of five sons, and his
wife Mary, nee McLaughlin. Four daughters were left
in Scotland; who afterwards came to America in 1824.
One of the sons, Alexander, Jr., came to Edwards coun-
ty in 1827, and located in Albion, his family then being
his wife and one daughter. He commenced the business
of blacksmithing, which occupation he followed for sev-
eral years. Subsequently he engaged in the mercantile I
and pork-packing business, etc. He was very success-
ful in all his transactions, and retired from active life
in 1876, with a good competency. He is yet residing in :
Albion with a host of friends, who feel that their com- |
munity has been largely bettered by the industry and
example of Mr. Stewart. Two sons, Charles and Ed- I
win, are extensive merchants in Albion.
George Bower, Sen., was another early settler, and
came from Germany to the United States in 1827, and
in 1831 he moved to Albion. He had a family of three
children, Adam, John and Margaret. Two children
were born to the family after coming — George, jr., and
Henry. Mr. Bower was a potter by occupation, and was
one of the first to establish the business in Edwards
county. He was a useful citizen in his day ; both he
and his wife died some years ago. Only three of the
family are now living — Adam, John and George, junr.,
all of whom reside in Albion. Among other early resi-
dents of the precinct are: F. W. Johnson, Joseph Skeav-
ington, John Walker, Joseph Mitchels, Mary A. Mor-
gan, Charles Nichols, Mrs. Sarah J. Daver, nee Wells,
George, Francis, and Lucius Harris, Dr. F. B. Thomp-
son, Dr. H. L Dixon, John Smith, S. N. Dalby and his
wife (Sarah H., nee Skeavington), George Gillard,
George Bunting, William Bowman, and others.
Believing that the lands first entered in the several
townships of the precinct will prove of interest to the
present and future readers of history, we here present
them :
The following are those for the years 1816, '17, '18,
within twp. 1 south, range 10 east of 3d P. M. : Oct.
1st, 1816, Henry Houston entered the southwest quarter
of section 29. January 27th, 1817, Alexander West
entered the east half of the northeast quarter of section
31. Sept. 12th, 1817, John Embree entered the south-
east quarter of section 27. Sept. 26th, 1817, Benjamin
Clark entered the east half of the northeast quarter of
section 19. Oct. 3d, 1817, Gorum A. Worth entered the
northeast quarter of section 20. Oct. 13th, 1817, Wm.
Embree entered the southwest quarter of section 27.
Same day, Edward Mitchell entered the southwest quar-
ter of section 38. Jan. 13, 1818, James Emmerson en-
tered the northeast quarter of section 28. April 14,
1818, Henry Houston entered the east half of the south-
east quarter of section 19. May 4, 1818, John Houston
entered the west half of the northwest quarter of section
20. July 6, 1818, Morris Birkbeck entered all of sec-
tion 24. September 17, 1818, Kobert Leslie entered the
northwest quarter of section 20. Same day, William
Baston entered the southwest quarter of section 32.
August 16, 1818, Hugh Reynolds entered the east half
of the southeast quarter of section 29. November 12,
1818, James Green entered the northwest quarter of
section 36. Sept. 17, 1818, J. and J. Dunlap entered
all of section 30 in twp. No. 1 south, range 11 east.
The following entries are in twp. No. 2 south, range
11 east: Nov. 2, 1814, J. G. Pattson and G. Loftis
entered all of section 18. May 15, 1818, Wm. Nichols
entered all of section 6. June 13, 1818, George Nichols
entered all of section 7. The following entries are in
twp. 1 south, range 14 west of the 2d P. M. : Morris
Birkbeck entered all of sections 4 and 5. Dec. 8, 1818,
Richard Flower entered the southwest quarter of section
33. The following entries are in twp. No. 2 south, range
14 west of the 2d P. M. : May 15, 1818, J. Woods and
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASU COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
207
others entered the east half of the northeast quarter of
section 6. July 25, 1818, J. Sherrington and T. Brown
entered the west half of the northwest quarter of section
7. Same day, John Brissenden entered the southwest
quarter of section 7. The following are the earliest en-
tries made in twp. 2 south, range 10 east : September
14, 1816, Walter Anderson entered the northwest quar-
ter of section 7. September 28, 1816, Robert Anderson
entered the southwest quarter of section 7. October 7,
1816, Hugh Collins entered the southeast quarter of
section 19. October 14, 1816, Sidney Spring entered
the northeast quarter of section 18. Same day, Samuel
Anderson entered the northwest quarter of section 18.
October 23, Rollin Lane entered the southeast quarter
of section 18. October 24, 1816, Joseph Lane entered
the northeast quarter of section 19. October 30, 1816.
John Hunt entered the southwest quarter of section 17.
November 1st, 1816, Daniel Grove entered the east half
of the northeast quarter of section 24. May 22d, 1816,
Jeremiah Birk entered the northwest quarter of section
29. October 12, 1816, Win. Ham entered the south-
west quarter of section 30. January 19, 1817, Uriel
Emmerson entered the east half of the southeast quarter
of section 5. Feb. 18, 1817, John Woodland, senior,
entered the northeast quarter of section 8. May 12th,
1817, Alan Emmerson entered the northwest quarter of
section 4.
Several other tracts were entered in 1817-'18, but are
too numerous to record.
One of the customs of those early days was the re-
quirement of every one of lawful age to meet at some
designated point and muster once a year, or be fined for
non-attendance. The first muster was held at Bolting-
house prairie in the spring of 1820. The rank and file
not being supplied with arms, corn-stalks and hoe-han-
dles were substituted. To get a vivid account of these
trainings, and the consequent amusements accruing
therefrom, it is absolutely necessary to receive a descrip-
tion of the same, first-handed, from the pioneer.
That the present generation may have some idea of
the prices of general merchandise, as compared with the
price of produce, we here give a table of the leading
articles :
Sugar per pound 37^c.
Coffee do 62^
sli.Tting per yard 50
Prints do 37H
Nails per pound 25
Tea-cups and saucers per Jset
HMM do
All kind of produce was very low, as the following
will show :
Corn per bushel 10
Pork per 100 Ibs $1.25
It is yet told of Benjamin Skinner trading 1800 Ibs. of
dressed pork for a saddle. It will be seen from the
above quotations what the first settlers were obliged to
undergo in order to supply a living competency for their
families.
A DEPARTED GLORY.
The first town laid out in this precinct was by Morris
Birkbeck in the month of August, 1818, and situated in
township two south, range eleven east, and about two
miles due west of Albion. The latter town came into
existence a few months later, and they thus bjcims
rival villages. For a time Wanborough was in the
ascendency, having a population of about 153 inhabi-
tants, while Albion had but thirty. Indeed, Wan-
borough had become a place of considerable pioneer im-
portance, having at the height of its glory, a stocking
factory, one store, a flouring mill with two run of stones
(Hine and Knight proprietors), besides other shops and
industries above the average frontier town. It was laid
out in five-acre lots, Mr. Birkbeck believing that every
town family should have sufficient ground to raise all
necessary vegetables, etc., and that it was conducive to
the morals of the community that the children of neigh-
bors should not be brought into too close contact with
one another. After the county seat was established at
Albion, Wanborough began to wane, and it was but a
few years when all the business had been removed to
Albion, so that to-day, Wanb>rough is only a thing of
the past ; nothing left to mark the spot, that this was
once the site of a town named after the beloved home of
Mr. Birkbeck back in old England.
ALBIOK.
This town was laid out by George Flower & Co., in
October, 1818, and as already stated, only about three
months after Wanborough was platted. For the details
of its birth we are indebted to the notes of Mr. Flower.
He says : " As yet I had done nothing in erecting
buildings for the public in general, as there had been
no time. One evening, Mr. Lawrence, Mr. Ronalds,
and I think, Mr. Fordham, called at my cabin, when
we discussed the measures that should be taken to form
some village or town, as a centre for those useful arts
necessary to agriculture. Every person wanted the
services of a carpenter and blacksmith. But every
farmer could not build workshops at his own door.
Daylight ceased, darkness followed. We had no can-
dles, nor any means of making artificial light. On a
pallet, mattress, or blanket, each one took to his couch,
and carried on the discussion. After much talk, we
decided that what we did do should be dene in order,
and with a view to the future settlement, as well as our
own present conveniences. The tract of forest lying be-
tween Mr. Lawrence's settlement in the Village Prairie,
on its southern border, and mine at the north of the
Boltinghouse Prairie, was about three and a-half miles
through. Somewhere in the centre of this tract of
woodland seemed to be the place. To the right of this
spot, eastward, lay, about a mile distant, several prairies
running north and south for many miles, and others
running east and west to Bonpas creek, from three to
five miles distant. Xortheast from Mr. Lawrence's
cabin, prairies of every form and size continued on in-
20S HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
definitely. About two miles west, and beyond Wan-
borough, were numerous small and fertile prairies, ex-
tending to the Little Wabash, from six to ten miles dis-
tant. On the south was my own beautiful prairie. Thus
the spot for our town, in a central situation, was
selected. Now for a name. We were long at a loss.
At last we did what almost all emigrants do, pitched on
a name that had its association with the land of our
birth. Albion was then and there located, built, and
peopled in imagination. We dropped off, one by one, to
sleep, to confirm in dreams the wanderings of our waking
fancies." It was agreed the next morning, before
separating, that they should meet on the following day
as follows : Messrs. Flower and Fordham were to leave
home at a given hour the morning following, and travel
due north from Mr. Flower's dwelling, and at the same
hour in the morning, Mr. Lawrence and Mr. Ronalds
were to travel south from their homes in the Village
Prairie, and that the place of meeting should be the
place of the imaginary town. The programme was
carried out, and the place of meeting was in rather an
open space of woodland, and the ground level. They
said, " Here shall be the centre of the town." The spot
of their meeting is now the public square of Albion.
This selected ground is situated in the northeast portion
of township two south, and range eleven east of the
third principal meridian. The surveying and platting
of the town was entrusted to Mr. Fordham. One of the
company went to Shawneetown and entered one section,
which was all laid ofT in town lots, with a large and
commodious square in the centre. The blocks imme-
diately around, and on the main streets, were divided
into quarter-acre lots. The blocks outside were divided
into half acres. As the distance increased from the
centre, the lots increased in size, until the outer belt of
allotments comprised five and seven acres. No addi-
tions have been made since the laying off the town. It
still remains one mile square. What is somewhat pe-
culiar about the platting, is that not a street in the town
was given a name. By common consent of the citizens
the street north of the square is called Church street ;
that on the east, Park street ; on the south, Main
street ; and the one in the west, Depot street. No other
streets have ever received adopted names.
The first house built in the town was a double log
cabin, and situated on Main street, southeast of the
square, and was constructed for a tavern. John Pitcher
was the landlord. Both have passed away long ago.
The next building was a double and single log cabin,
occupied for both a dwelling and blacksmith shop.
John Peufold was the smith. In the language of Mr.
Flower, " There stood Albion, no longer a myth, but a i
reality, a fixed fact. A log tavern and a blacksmith
shop."
Among the first business houses was the old market-
house, situated in the square, a little south of the court- j
house. It was seventy-five feet long, standing on a
stone foundation, and covered with a shingle roof. One
division of it was fitted up for the reception of books,
that were donated by the friends in England for the
purpose of a nucleous to establish a library. The room
was also used for public meetings and public worship.
When Albion became the capital of the county in 1821,
the first courts were held in the market-house. The
first goods were sold by George Flower, and the store-
house was situated on the hillside, back of George Fer-
riman's old store. Elias P. Fordham bought Mr.
Flower's little stock of goods, and after conducting the
business for a short time he sold out to James Oliver,
who conducted the business for several years. The first
postmaster was a man by the name of La Serre, and the
mail was kept in a log building just west of Frank
Harris' present dwelling. The first school was taught
by Oswald Warrington, near Edgar Brandon's residence.
The first regular school was conducted by John Love, in
an old building which stood in the northeast corner of
Robert Curdling'? lot. The first school-house was
erected by four citizens of Albion, on the lot where the
Cumberland Presbyterian church building now stands.
The first church-house erected was in 1840. It was
built by the Christian denomination ; it was constructed
of brick, and is yet in a good state of preservation. The
first mill was built in 1821, and located on the lot
where James Churchill's present residence stands. It
was a tread mill run by four oxen and with no great
capacity.
The growth of the town was very slow until the
county seat was established here, when it took a new
impetus, and built up quite rapidly. Its present popu-
lation is about one thousand inhabitants. The precinct,
according to census of 1880, contained 3 156 inhabitants.
Incorporation — The town was organized under a
general act of the State Legislature, and the first meet-
ing of the Town Board was held December 3d, 1860,
the following named persons being the officers elect of
said board : Dr. F. B. Thompson, George Harris,
George Bowman, Edgar W. Brandon and Edwin Dick-
son. Dr. Thompson was chosen president of the board
and George Bower w»s appointed clerk pro tern. At a
subsequent meeting held December 6th, Joseph Wil-
liams Sr., was appointed village clerk, John Bower,
treasurer, and K. A. Bowman, town constable.
Re-organization: — At a meeting of the Town Council
held November 2d, 1875, a petition was presented,
signed by thirty-three legal voters of the town, asking
that the question be submitted to the legal voters of
the town of Albion, as to whether such town shall or-
ganize as a village under the act providing for the incor-
poration of cities and villages, approved April 10, 1872.
The proposition was carried, and the fourth Tuesday
of November, 1872, was named as the day for holding
said election. The result of the vote was as follows :
For village organization, 66 votes; against organization,
29 votes. Whereupon it was decided at their next
regular session, that the town of Albion from henceforth
should be duly incorporated as a village under said act
BUSINESS BLOCK OF CHURCHILL BRO'S. ALBION, ILLINOIS.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS. 209
The present officers are, William Curtis, president.
Other members of the board, John Eastham, George
Baker, John Wilson, William Runcie, Lucius Harris,
and Edward Craig, clerk.
Street commissioners, John W. Brown; treasurer-
Edgar W. Brandon ; city marshal, Joseph Ibbotson ;
city attorney, J. M. Campbell.
PRESENT BUSINESS.
Anchor Milk, Steel & Harris, proprietors. This in-
dustry was established in 1874, by Smith Bunting and
Walker, and took the present firm name in December,
1881. They are situated on the east side of Depot
street, near the Air Line depot. The building is a
frame, three stories high, and a basement. The main
building is 40x50 feet in size ; the engine-room is a
brick one story, 30x40 feet; a warehouse detached
is 30x60 feet. The estimated value of capital invested
is $12,000- It contains four run of stone, with a
capacity of manufacturing 125 barrels daily, and gives
employment to seven men. It does both merchant and
custom work, and ships mainly to New York, Phila-
delphia and New Orleans. The principal brands are,
" Level Best," " Gilt Edge," " Rosette," and " Southern
Belle." The mill is driven by a fifty horse-power
engine.
Albion Flouring Mills, owned and operated by Hodg-
son Brothers, and located in the east part of the town, on
out-lot No. 36. This mill was built in the summer of
1857, by John Hodgson, and was the first steam flouring
mill erected in Albion. The present firm have been the
proprietors since August, 1863. It is a three story
frame building, and 40x53 feet on the ground. The
capital invested is about $9,000. It contains three run
of burrs, with a capacity .of grinding forty barrels of
flour per day, and furnishes employment to three men.
It does both merchant and custom work, and ships
mainly to the south. The annual value of manufactured,
product is about $40,000. Power of engine, thirty
horse.
Packing House of C. S. Stewart & Co. This industry
was established by Alexander Stewart in 1843. He
continued the business until 1875, when it passed wholly
into the hands of his sons. The pork house is sit-
uated in the southwestern part of town, and is 38x100
feet in siz°, and two stories high, the basement story being
brick. It has the capacity of packing 3,000 hogs in the
season, and when in full operation it employs ten men.
The product is shipped mainly to Cincinnati. Other
packing houses have been in operation at Albion, but
have recently gone out of business.
Wagon and Plow Factory. — This establishment is
conducted by Painter & Frankland, and is situated on
Church street, north of the public square. The busi-
ness was commenced in 1868. The shops comprise the
wood-working portion of the buildings, 25x38 feet, brick,
one and one-half stories ; blacksmith shop 20x80, one
story, frame paint shop 20x70, two stories besides two
lumber sheds, each 60 feet in length. The annual
manufacture of wagons and plows will average about
seventy of the former and six hundred of the latter,
with a value ranging from $12,000 to $15,000. Ten
men are given employment. The plow manufactured is
a patent belonging to the company, and is known as the
" Stump Plow." It is sold both east and west.
Wagon and Carriage Factory, George Bower, pro-
prietor. It is situated on the south side of Main street,
one block east of the square, and the business was estab-
| lished in 1860, by the firm of Tribe & Bower. It con-
I tains two frame buildings, the wood-shop being one and
i one-half stories high and 22x60 feet in size ; the black-
j smith shop is about 40x50 feet. This factory turns out,
annually, about twelve buggies and twenty wagons,
giving employment to four men. Furnishes home de-
mand and neighboring counties with carriages and
wagons.
Cooper Shop of A. Bassett is situated on the west
side of Depot street, near the Anchor Mills. The busi-
ness was established by Mr. Bassett in about 1876. The
building is a frame, one story, 22x56 feet, with store
room 18x50 feet. Both loose and tight work are manu-
factured. Four men are employed. Value of manu-
factured product per year, about $5,000.
Cigar Manufactory was established in 1875, by Frank
Dalby, and came into the hands of the present pro-
prietor, J. C. Ferriman in November, 1882. It is located
in the Craig Block, southwest from the square. Three
men are employed, and a product of about $3,000 manu-
factured per annum.
Brick Yard of Bassett & Sons commenced operations
as early as 1850. It is located in the south part of town,
just across from the Air Line railway. When in opera-
tion it gives employment to twelve hands, and burns
about 400,000 bricks each season. Ships largely to the
southern parts of the state.
Carding Mill, owned by Mrs. John Tribe. This mill
was established by John Tribe, at Wanborough as early
as 1827. In 1836, it was moved to Albion, where it was
conducted by Mr. Tribe until his death. It is yet in
running order and located on out-lot number 88, in the
west part of the town. In an early day it did all the
carding for the citizens for many miles around.
Albion Marble Works, B. F. Thrall proprietor, are
situated on the south side of Main street, two and a-half
blocks west of public square. These works were estab-
lished in the spring of 18^0, by Mr. Thrall. Two men
are employed, and a product of about $1,800 is turned
out annually.
Besides the above the town contains a good library ;
a well drilled cornet band with nineteen instruments,
j the members all uniformed ; an excellent school build-
i ing; four good church buildings, Presbyterian, Metho-
j dist, Episcopal, and Christian ; also two Hotels. The
side walks are well kept, and numerous shade trees
abound in every part of the city.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
BUSINESS HOUSES, TRADES, ETC.
General Stores.— Churchill Bros., Harris Bros , C. S.
S. Stewart & Co., John Woods, Frank M. Martin and
K. A. Bowman.
Groceries, Queensware, etc. — Frank Dalby, George
Baker, Edward Craig, John Hands, Jacob Michels.
Hardware and Stoves. — Charles H. Mann, John
Skeavington.
Stoves and Tinware. — George Weaver, Harry Dalt>y.
Druggists a»d Pharmacists. — B. F. Michels, John C.
Ferriman, H. F. Low.
Dry Goods.— H. Wagoner.
Clothing, Hats,Caps, etc.— 13. Gross & Co.
Merchant Tailor.— S. N. Dalby.
Harness, Saddlery and Hardware. — James T. Craig &
Son.
Harness and Saddlery.— H. P. Craig, Richard Curd-
ling.
Furniture and Undertaking. — Craig Bros.
Furniture Store. — K. A. Bowman.
Undertaker. — John Bower.
Lumber Merchants.— W. H. Brown, John Smith, Eli
Bunting.
Agricultural Implements. — John Skeavington, Painter
& Frankland, Eli Bunting.
Blacksmiths. — Robert Hall, W. H. Johns, T. J.
Chism.
Bakeries and Restaurants. — Frank Dalby, George
Baker.
Boot and Shoe Stores.— R. Curdling and Son, John
Batson.
Books and Stationery. — William Runcil.
Florists.— S. N. Dalby, Mrs. J. R. Jacobs.
Jeweler .— John W. Leonard.
Physicians.— F. B. Thompson, L. W. Low, H. L
Dixon, A. Low, H Walters, J. C. McClurkin, S. D.
Low.
Grain Dealers and Shippers — Harris Bros., C. S
Stewart & Co., John Eastham.
Meat Market— E. Chism, L. C. Bond.
Milliner.— Misses Williams.
Milliners and Dressmakers — Misses Smith and West.
-Dressmakers. — Miss Miller, Miss S. Simpkins.
Livery Stables.— John Sentance, T. J. Killough.
Barber. — Samuel Payne.
Contractors and Builders. — Elias Weaver, J. C.
Weaver, Hall & Tribe, John Bower.
Masons, Bricklayers and Plasters. — William Borrell,
George Hortou, George Bassett.
Stone Mason. — Hugh Denoon.
Painter and Glazier. — E. W. Brandon.
Photographers.— F. B. McConnell, J. W. Belts.
Postmaster.— J. Churchill.
Hotels. — Woods House, E. and L. Woods, proprietors ;
Bowman House, William Bowman, proprietor.
Newspapers. — Albion Journal, Morris Emmerson,
editor ; Albion News, Walter Colyer, editor.
SOCIETIES. *
Hermitage Lodge, A. F. and A. M., No 356, was
chartered the 3d of October, 1860, with eight charter
members. The present membership is 56. The whole
number of names enrolled on the lodge books is 98. The
lodge meets in its hall over Churchill Bros, dry goods
store. Financially it is in good standing
Albion Lodge, No. 181, A. O. W. W., was organized
and chartered April 7th, 1881, with 38 charter mem-
bers ; it now numbers 41. The whole number enrolled
is 48. The lodge meets in Temperance Hall the first
and third Tuesday of each month. Its finances are in
excellent condition.
Albion Division, No. 157, S. of T. was chartered
November 27th, 1848, with 11 charter members, eight
of whom are yet living, and four of the same are still
members of the lodge. Present membership, 85 ; whole
number enrolled, 840. The lodge meets at Division Hall
every Monday evening. It is out of debt, and sufficient
means in treasury to conduct the lodge. Tradition says
that there was an organization of Masons and Odd
Fellows in Albion as early as 1819.
TOWN OF FRAZIER (BROWNS).
This town was laid off and planted by John Hender-
son, December 26th, 1880, and placed of record, Decem-
ber 28th, of the same year, and described as follows :
Commencing at a stone corner in the N. E. corn§r of the
N. W. J of sec. 4, Tp. 2 S., R. 14 W. of the 2d P. M.
The town takes its name from the prairie in which it is
situated — Frazier's prairie.
BUSINESS OF THE TOWN.
Tile Factory, Boren & Beloat, proprietors. It is
situated two blocks east of the depot, on the south side
of the Air Line railway, and was established in the sum-
mer of 1882. The shed of the works is 18 by 250 feet
in size ; the tile mill is Penfield's patent, and has the
capacity of manufacturing 8,000 feet of tile per month.
The works give employment to five men. The size of
tile made is from 3 to 8 inches, and the estimated value
of manufactured product per year is $4,000. Three
hundred cords of wood are consumed during the season.
St. Charles Hotel.— Milton Westfall, proprietor.
Physician.— J. H. Harris.
Physician, Druggist, and Pharmacist. — A. W. Messick.
Groceries, Notions, and Hardware. — K. Marriott.
General Stores. — Stephens & Malone, Jennings &
Mussett.
Groceries, Queensware, etc. — E. Craig.
Wagon and Repair Shop. — W. Biggers.
Grain Dealer. — K. Marriott.
Shoe Shop. — Nelson Jones.
General Blacksmith.— Charles A. Schwartz.
Dressmaker and Milliner. — Miss Mills.
Postmaster. — K. Marriott.
• in,i,-in,-.l tc. thu Secretaries oft
- k.Uges fn
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
211
A coal shaft is being sunk near the town, and at this
writing, a depth of 100 feet has been reached. A shallow i
vein of coal has already been passed through, and the
present indications are that a paying bed of coal is not |
far beneath.
EDWARDS COUNTY AGRICULTURAL BOARD.
This society was organized in April, 1857, under the I
title of the " Edwards County Agricultural and In- |
dustrial Society." Pursuant to the call for organization,
William Fewkes was called to the chair, and M. W. \
Uttley was appointed secretary, and F. W. Johnson
appointed treasurer pro tern. The following named
persons were appointed a committee to draft resolutions
for the formation of the society : John Brissenden, Wm.
Fewkes, George May, F. B. Thompson, and Joseph
Skeavington. As per resolutions adopted, in order to [
become a member of the society, one dollar matriculation
fee was required, besides the annual payment of the same
amount. The following are the names of the first mem-
berg : Brian Walker, Sen., F. W. Johnson, F. B.
Thompson, Samuel Thompson, S. N. Dalby, Isaac Smith,
Edward Colyer, Sen., Joseph Skeavington, Wm. Fewkes,
Wm. Woods, John Brissenden, George May, Brian
Walker, Jun., M. W. Uttley, Thomas Gill, Sr., John
Collyer, Thomas Marriott, Gaspard Trasset, John
Skeavington. Joseph Wood, Samuel Skinner, and John
Pearce- The first officers elect were : President, John
Brissenden ; Vice-President, Joseph Skeavington ; Se-
cretary, Dr. Samuel Thompson ; Treasurer, Gaspard
Trasset.
The first exhibition was commenced Oct. 22d, 1857,
and was held in block Z, in the southeast part of the
town. The fair was a success, as the records sho iv that
after all liabilities had been paid, there was $103.73 re-
maining in the treasury.
A special meeting of the board was called August 24,
1872, to take into consideration a re-organization of the
society, under an act of the State Legislature, passed
April 17, 1871. At this meeting it was decided to or-
ganize under said act, and the foregoing name was
accepted by the society.
The present fair ground was located in the spring of
1859, and situated in the north part of town— lots 63
and 68. The society at first purchased only six acres,
but subsequently have added 81 acres, making a com-
modious ground of 14 J acres, and which contains an ex-
cellent one-third mile track. The grounds are also
furnished with an amphitheatre, judges and band stand,
floral hall, agricultural hall, eating house, about forty
horse stalls, thirty-five cattle sheds, feed stable, and
upwards of forty sheep and hog pens. An excellent
grove adorns the ground for the comfort of visitors,
while the privileges for water are everything that could
be desired. The society can boast of paying all premi-
ums in full, from its first organization to the present
time
The present officers are : President, Joseph Skeaving-
ton; Vice-President, Thomas J. Smith ; Treasurer, Geo.
Weaver ; Secretary, Morris Emmerson ; General Supt.,
John Landrigan ; Marshal, John Eastham ; Directors,
W. W. Willis, H. B. Riggs, John J. Wick, L. C. Bond,
Joseph Dixon, and Thomas Curtis.
This subject would be incomplete without the mention
of an Agricultural Society being established at Albion,
by Morris Birkbeck, George Flower, and a few others,
in 1825. It is said to be the first fair held in the State.
The premiums were paid with medals and silver ware.
BIOGRAPHIES.
THE story of the life's labors of no man adds such lus-
tre to the pages of Edwards county history as does that
of George Flower. An Englishman by birth ; an Ameri-
can by choice. Well calculated by natural gifts, richly
set with studied graces, to lend dignity to an English
mansion, he loved rather the air of liberty and indepen-
dence, breathed forth by American institutions, and
became a child of her adoption . The charms of England,
overhung as they were by the darksome wing of monarch-
ical form of government were freely exchanged by him,
for the toils and privations incident to pioneer life in the
free air of republican America. No sordid ends were to
be subserved in seeking a home in the then " far west."
Wealth he already possessed ; position and power the
family had already acquired. The stirring, bold utter-
ances of American Independence had thrilled him, and
the broad statesmanship exhibited in our national con-
stitution had riveted his attention and gave being to a
hope of becoming an American citizen. The ide'a of a
land where all were sovereigns engaged his profoundest
sympathies and American representatives to the courts
212
of Europe, such as Jefferson and Franklin, Adams and
King, accepted by him as representatives of the talent
and integrity of Americans, precipitated a realization of
that hope. As he declares in his published history of
the English colony of Edwards county.it never occurred
to him that the principles of liberty and man's political
equality could be set forth, a perfect theory upon paper,
and be but imperfectly rendered in practice. Possessed
of large wealth he transplanted on our prairies the art
and improvements of the old mother country.
He was born in Hertfordshire, England, in the year
1787. His father, Richard Flower, resided for many
years in Hertford, the county town, twenty miles north -
eastof London, where he carried on an extensive brewery.
Having acquired a competence he retired from business,
and lived upon a beautiful estate, called Marden, which
he purchased, and which was situated three miles from
Hertford. George Flower, in company with Morris
Birkbeck made the tour of continental Europe, adopting
a plan peculiarly their own and quite at variance with
that of ordinary sight seers. They studied peasant life
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
213
in all its rustic simplicity, and graphically did Birkbeck
present to the world an account of their experiences in
a work entitled " Notes of a journey through France." j
Soon after their return to England, they were introduced
to Mr. Edward Coles, who was on his return from a
diplomatic mission to Russia,— an introduction which was
succeeded by Mr. Coles' visiting Birkbeck at his home in
Wanborough. An intimacy and friendship sprang up
between them which doubtless had much to do in deter-
mining the location of an English colony in Illinois.
George Flower was the first to come to America, on a
tour of observation. Although disabused of many of
his preconceived ideas lie still recognized the fact that
here were opportunities for the accomplishment of vast
good. He sailed from Liverpool in April, 1816, in the i
ship Robert Burns, under command of Captain Parsons
of New York. Fifty days after starting he arrived hi
New York. From here he wrote a letter to Ex-Presi-
dent Jefferson, to whome he had a letter of in reduction,
from his old friend General La Fayette, which resulted
in a kind invitation to go and enjoy the shades of Monti-
cello. At the time Mr. Flower could not comply. He
visited Philadelphia, where he met with Le Seur, the j
French naturalist, (who afterwards lived in Harmony,
Indiana;) Dr. Wistar, John Vaughan, a philanthropist,
and others. Gradually was there being outlined, through
contact with such characters, the idea of the establish-
ment of a colony in the west. On horseback he made
the circuit of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky and Vir- j
ginia, which in concise language, he recounts in his pub-
lished history, — a history that at times is thrilling, again
romantic and always instructive. In the autumn time
he reached the home of Jefferson, with whom he passed
much of the winter, returning to Philadelphia in the
latter part of that season. Here he learned of the arrival
of Mr. Birkbeck and family at Richmond. To meet and
greet his old friend he hastened, and added another to
the party of nine adventurers, — for such they truly were.
The party consisted of Mr. Bir beck, aged fifty-four ;
his second son, Bradford, a youth of sixteen ; his third
son, Charles, a lad of fourteen ; a little servant boy,
Gillard, thirteen years old ; Elias Pym Fordham, (a
cousin of Flower's;) Miss Eliza Birkbeck, aged nineteen ;
Miss Prudence Birkbeck, aged sixteen ; Miss Eliza Julia
Andrews, twenty-five; Elizabeth Garton, a ward of
Birkbeck's and himself. After consultation they deci-
ded to go westward ; exactly where, was uncertain. To
Pittsburg they went in an old-fashioned lumbering stage-
coach, which breaking down, necessitated the party to |
walk twelve miles, into the city. Determined to see the
country they fitted themselves out with horses, blankets;
saddles etc., and wended their way to Cincinnati, Ohio,
where they were joined by Mr. Sloo, the register of the
newly opened laud office at Shawneetown, in the terri-
tory of Illinois. He piloted them the first day to the
residence of General Harrison, thence across Indiana ;
Mr. Sloo taking a southwesterly, and they a direct west-
erly course, from a point of separation, when about two-
thirds of the way across the territory. From here they
went to Vincennes, where a halt was called. For some
weeks the party remained, and here at the house of
Colonel La Salle, George Flower was united in marriage
with Miss Andrews, Elihu Stout, a justice of the peace,
and editor of the only paper there ' published, being the
officiating magistrate.
Miss Andrews was the second daughter of the Rev.
Modecas Andrews of Eigeshall, in the county of Essex,
England. In his history Mr. Flower speaks of her as
being a woman of rare intelligence and excellent edu-
cation, to which she united an energetic character and a
courageous spirit ; an affectionate wife, a devoted mother,
a kind friend and a good neighbor, she proved herself in
all the relations of life a true and noble woman. When
misfortunes and poverty came to her family in the later
years, she met the changed circumstances with a cheerful
spirit and unsubdued courage. She was of the best type
of an English countrywoman and preserved to the end
of her days, the characteristics of her nationality. With
her high shell comb and her tasteful turban, no weary
guest will ever forget her cheery welcome, or the satis-
factory and kindly manner in which he was entertained.
All the old settlers of Edwar Is county, who now survive
and who shared her hospitality call her memory blessed.
It was determined on leaving the family at Princeton,
to enable Flower and Birkbeck to reconnoitre.
They started out in search of prairies, and in Edwards
county found them in all their luxuriant growth of grass,
and enticing beauty. In August 1818, Wanborough
was laid off and in October following Albion. Soon
after the parents and immediate family of Flower, located
on Albion, where the "old Park house" was upreared
and whence their hospitality was dispensed. The mas-
ter spirit of the colony ; the directing genius was George
Flower. He it was who introduced improved methods
of husbandry, imported fine cattle and sheep from the
best herds of England, and when in 1823 it was attempt-
ed to legalize African slavery in Illinois, no one enlisted
with a truer heroism than he. So nearly balanced were
the contending parties of the state, that the note of the
English colony, ever true to the instincts of freedom,
turned the scale, a handful of sturdy Britons being the
forlorn hope to stay the triumph of wrong and oppress
ion, whose success might have sealed forever the doom
of republican and constitutional liberty in America.
When the pro-slavery advocates found themselves
beaten, before the might of right and justice they sought
to harass and render miserable the life of free blacks,
and this it was that caused George Flower to come forth
the champion, as he was the originator of the idea of col-
onization of free negroes, in Hayti. His arguments ar-
rested the attention and gained the co-operation of many
leaders of thought and molders of public opinion through-
out the north. Although the plan met with but partial
success, its conception and management reflect great
credit upon the originator, and' place him high among
the ranks of human benefactors.
214
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Mr. Flower's clear, philosophic bent of mind made
him the peer of leading statesmen, who sought his coun-
sel, and exchanged with him views on public polity that
present a running commentary on the formative history of
republicanism. Among his correspondents he numbered
Jefferson, La Fayette, Cobbett, of England, Madame
O'Connor, of Ireland and the Counte de Lasteyni, of
France.
He met with reverses which seem the inevitable lot of
all colonizers. Financial embarrassments surrounded
him, and compelled his retirement from life's activities.
Here he lived again in memory his eventful career, and
gave to literature a resume of the hardships he had en-
dured, the trials he had encountered, the triumphs he
had experienced, in the volume entitled " A history of
the English settlement in Edwards county."
He was a clear, simple writer. His narrations are
straightforward and highly interesting. The account of
long, wearisome, horseback journeys, encountering friends
and foes, of the primitive dismalness of Cincinnati ; of
the period placed on immigration by the waters of the
Wabash ; of the floods and unbridged rivers ; of the re-
treating Indians, painted as he found them at Vincennes,
as if ready for war, when their hearts were cowed before
the white man's might; of the back-woodsman who
equally dreaded the advance of true civilization ; of the
town of Albion pre-arranged by two men, germinating
in a log inn, a smithy, followed by a store, a meeting-
house, court-house, jail and newspaper, are presented
with a perspicacity at once forcible and inviting.
Of his ancestors George Flower wrote in the evening
of his life. " They were men of strong and impulsive
feeling. One of them, William Flower, is recorded in
print in Fox's Book of Martyrs," where he is represent-
ed as tied to the stake, the fagots piled about him,
refusing to recant ; but offering his hand, which the ex-
ecutioner has lopped off, and is holding on a pike, as an
atonement for an act which he acknowledged to be wrong :
striking a priest with a wood-knife whilst officiating at
an altar. His mother was a Fordham. a family that
made their name famous under Cromwell.
A brother, Edward Fordham Flower, after a sojourn
in Illinois of five years, returned to England, where he
became Mayor of Stratford upon Avon. To him the
world is indebted for the recovery of the Stratford of
Shakspeare. He preserved relics of the great poet ; put
his house in perfect order ; erected a theatre ; opened a
Shakspearean library and museum. Here he entertained
Emmerson Fields, " George Eliot," (Miss Evans), and
others who loved associations clustering around the mem-
ory of the Bard of Avon.
A cousin of George Flower, Sarah Flower, by mai-
den-name, afterwards Adams, wrote the world-wide
words of "Nearer my God to thee," and a sister
Eliza set the words to music. The members of the im-
mediate family of George Flower are scattered. A son,
Alfred, is a very acceptable and popular preacher in the
Christian church, Paris, Illinois ; a grandson, Richard,
is a leading physician and scientist of Boston ; another,
George E , is an able proclaimer of the truth in the
Christian church in Paducah, Ky., as well as a'writer of
power, beauty and pathos.
Mr. Flower died ou the 15th of January, 1862, under
the loving and sad watch of friends at Grayville, White
county, Illinois, where death had claimed his companion
but a few hours before. They had often expressed a
hope that united in life they should not be divided by
death. The hope was gratified, and together their
spirits winged their flight from their clayey tenements.
GEORGE MICHELS
WAS born in Gallatin county, Illinois, May 18, 1818.
His father, for whom he was named, was a native of the
State of Maine, as was also his mother, whose maiden
name was Mary Getchell. George Michels, Sr. and
family, in company with Moses Michels and wife, John
Michels, widow of James Michels, Permelia Michels,
(now Shepherd and the only survivor of the company
among the grown people), and a sister of the wife of
(Jeorge Michels, left their homes in Maine for the West
by wagons, in 1817. In this primitive manner they
arrived at Cincinnati, Ohio, where they took a flat boat
the following spring, which bore them on to Shawnee-
town. At Cincinnati they made a halt, where the men
improved the time by gathering corn, receiving for their
labor one half the crop. This generosity (?) upon the
part of their employers was due to the fact that an unusu-
ally severe cold spell was upon them, and corn was needed
for stock. Proprietors thought it too cold to engage in
such labor, but these hardy sons of Maine thought differ-
ently, and were glad of the opportunity afforded of re-
plenishing their stores. To George Michels, Sr. and
wife, were born ten children ; Nancy Melrose, Lucy
Naylor (dead), George, Mary Naylor, William, Cyrene,
Lambert, Christopher, Ezra, Reuben and Sarah Melrose.
In the fall of 1818. the family came to Edwards county.
Here George, in common with his brothers and sisters,
obtained a fair common school education. He was mar-
ried to Margaret Spencer, daughter of John Spencer, a
native of England, by whom he had seven children,
namely: Emily, Louis A., Frederick G., Jacob 11.,
Isaac G. (dec'd\ Joseph (dec'd), and Benjamin.
Mr. Michels is a leading republican, who early espoused
the cause in the advocacy of which the party was institut-
ed. His first presidential vote was cast for Gen. William
H. Harrison. In the year 1860, he was elected Sheriff of
Edwards county, and upon the occasion of the death of
Mr. Morgan, who was then Sheriff, he was appointed in
1873. In 1874, and again in 1876, he was elected
to the same position. Prior to his term as Sheriff, he
had been elected Treasurer in 1872, and Coroner in
1856. The many official positions he has held attest
his worth as a man and citizen.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WAS ASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
ELIZA JULIA FLOWER.
MRS. ELIZA JULIA FLOWER, relict of the late
Flower. Among the pioneers of Edwards county, no
one is held in dearer esteem, because of excellent quali-
ties of head and heart, than Mrs. George Flower. In
connection with her husband's sketch on the preceding
pages, is a brief presentation of her leading charac-
teristics. Her maiden name was Eliza Julia Andrews.
She was the second daughter of the Rev. Mordecai
Andrews, of Eigeshall, Essex county, England. There
existed a strong friendship between Miss Andrews and
the family of Birkbeck, and she being on a visit to
Wanborough when Mr. Birkbeck decided on coming to
America, concluded to accompany them, and under
their protection share the adventures of the New World.
They arrived from England, and landed in Richmond,
Virginia, in 1817, she being at the time twenty-five
years of age. The long horseback journey from thence
to Vincennes, Indiana, was made by her in company
214-A
| with others. When others grew despondent she was
cheerful. Ever buoyant in her disposition, the discour-
[ agemente incident to such journeys never affected her.
After reaching Vincennes she became the wife of George
Flower, to whom she was married at the residence of
Colonel La Salle in 1818. The same year found her
residing in Edwards county, where she lived for forty-one
years. Although all her surroundings were so different
from those to which she had been in earlier life accus-
tomed, she maintained her light-heartedness, and to her,
more than to any other, is due the reputation acquired
by Park Hall for its hospitality. In 1844 the family
moved to New Harmony, Indiana, and in 1860 to Mt.
Vernon, same State. In 1862 she and her husband were
visiting a daughter, Mrs. Agniel, of Grayville, when
on the 15th of January they both died. She upon the
dawning of the morning, and he in twilight's hour. (See
sketch of George Flower.)
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
SAMUEL NELSON DALBY
WAS born in Leeds, Yorkshire, England, April 30, 1817
His father, Robert Dalby, was a surveyor and school
teacher. In 1834, father and son came to America on a
visit, promising the wife and mother a speedy return.
They landed in New York, and, in company with a
brother-in-law of the subject of this sketch, came on, in
1835, to Edwards county. Once here they determined
on making it their home, and under the shade of a tree,
standing out in a prairie, about nine miles north of Al-
bion cast lots as to which of the three should return to
meet mother and family on their way hither. The lot
fell to Mr. Brooks. It was further agreed that he should
purchase a stock of goods with which to commence mer-
chandising in Albion, so all their funds were given to
his keeping. With light heart he started on his journey.
No positive tidings were ever heard of him, although it is
quite certain that in a steamboat disaster between Louis-
ville and Cincinnati, he was lost. Some time after word
came that Mrs. Dalby and children had arrived in New
York, after enduring great hardships, entailing loss of
money, furniture and other household effects. At sea
the ship Scotland, on which they were aboard, was ship-
wrecked and their lives alone were preserved. Samuel
and his father were unable to aid them in their extremity.
After stating the facts a Mr. Clark, a Quaker, told them
2H-B
they were welcome to what money he had in New York,
and a draft was sent to Mrs. Dalby. Too late it reached
its destination. Mrs. Dalby. worn out with care and
anxiety, had sickened and died. The draft was returned,
and again sent on its mission of mercy, made payab'e to
. any of the surviving children. A gentleman named
Swales, saw the children to Pittsburg, another to Louis-
ville, thence to Mt. Vernon, Ind., and here. The three
children are, David, now of Kansas; Sugden.of Liver-
pool, England, and Sarah Thompson, of Newport, Ky.
During all this time Robert was engaged teaching a
school, and Samuel, the only child who had learned a
trade, was engaged in tailoring. Samuel's grandfather
was killed at the age of ninety-seven by a fall on a side-
walk, and what is remarkable, his father was killed in
! about the same manner, nine miles north of Albion.
I Samuel N. married Elizabeth Brisenden, in 1836, by
whom he had three children, Mrs. Agnes Weaver, John
and Leroy (dead). She died in 1843. He was again
married to Sarah C. Skeavington, by whom he has had
seven children. Among bis relations he is more proud
of John Nelson, the celebrated divine from whom he
was named, his mother's uncle, than any other.
Mr. Dalby is a merchant tailor. As a citizen he is a
model man. In the enjoyment of universal respect, hb
is passing the evening of life.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
215
FOR many years the merchant prince not only of !
Edwards, but of adjoining counties— Joel Churchill— is
worthy of mention. He was born in Exeter, England,
December 16, 1792. His father, Samuel Churchill, was
a manufacturer of cloth, and a ship owner. A brother
was at one time the largest ship-owner in Great Britain.
Joel was ever active in reaching out for trade. He
visited Asia, the British possessions in Southern Africa,
and traveled through Continental Europe. In 1820 he
came to Edwards county, where he determined on farm-
ing, but it proved too inactive for him, or, rather, was so
different to the life he had always lived, that he soon
forsook it, in 1823, to enter upon that career of merchan-
dising that made him well known throughout Southern
Illinois. It is said that for years he was the only mer-
chant who paid cash for articles of home production
brought to his establishment, — the plan being that of
exchange, made so largely through the scarcity of money-
He married Eliza Simpkins, daughter of William Simp
kins, a miller by trade, in December, 1825. By her he
had eleven children, nine of whom are living. He had
been raised a Quaker, although he never embraced the
faith. It is related that whenever he visited Philadelphia,
he adopted the speech peculiar to those people, and for
several days subsequent to his return it was "thee" and
" thou " to everyone — so much so, that a citizen meeting
him and hearing him in conversation would say, Churchill
has just returned from Philadelphia. For many years
he was post-master. He transacted much business for
others — his remittances by draft and otherwise reaching
as high as sixty or seventy thousand dollars per annum,
a large sum for the early days. One method of sending
money is worthy of remark. He would take a bank
note, cut it in halves, and send the parts separately, often-
times by different mails, to insure their safe transit. He
was an Old Line Whig of the most emphatic class, and
right royally did he stand up for the party's principles.
Just before the war, he went to Washington and Phila-
delphia to protect his interests, owning as he did Georgia
bonds, and then was a most prominent Union man. A
son, Charles, who together with another, James, succeed
him in business, went out as a Captain. He died March
16th, 1872. His benefactions to young men struggling
for a start in life are treasured in the memory of many
who are now among the wealthiest citizens of Edwards
county.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
JOSEPH WOOD.
AMONG the dead of Edwards county whose memory
ineii delight to honor, none stood higher in their good-
will th^an Joseph Wood. He was born in Wymeswol.l,
Leicestershire, England, Nov. 5, 1807. At the age of
eleven yeans, in 1819, he was brought to Edwards
county by William Wood, where the family yet live, a
few miles southeast of Albion. Here, engaged in farm-
ing, he spent his days. On the 2d of May, 1833, he was
united in marriage to Elizabeth Hill Shepherd, daugh-
ter of Thomas Shepherd, who came here as a foreman
for George Flower. He had occupied a like position
with Mr. Flower in England. To Mr. and Mrs. Wood
were born eleven children, six of Whom are now living:
Thomas, Rebecca Rude, Henry, Martha Tribe, Joseph
Albert and Rosamond Owen. Mr. Wood was an affec-
tionate husband, a loving father, and a citizen of whom all
were proud He was ever active in all things calculated
to promote his country's welfare, and was recognized as a
representative, influential farmer. He died January 6,
1881. His widow, a noble woman, lives on the old
homestead, a view of which can be found elsewhere in
this work.
WILLIAM B. TRIBE.
THE present popular circuit clerk was born in Wan-
borough, two miles west of Albion, July 22, 1829. His
parents were John Tribe and Jane Statey. John was
born in Surrey, England, May 16, 1796, and came to
America in 1818. Jane Statey who became Mrs.
Tribe in 1821, came by the same vessel, an orphan girl,
the ward of a family named Pritchard. They landed
in New Orleans, thence came to Shawneetown, and
here. John Tribe was a carpenter and joiner by occu-
pation, and in the new colony found plenty to do. lie
was a hard working and most excellent man. He had
the reputation of possessing one of the most accurate
memories of any man within the county. When an old
man he would rivet the closest attention of listening
crowds with his stories of backwoods life. When any
dates were desired he was appealed to ; when disputes
arose with reference to facts or dates he was the arbiter.
He received universal recognition as a walking cyclo-
pedia of information. He died, much lamented, August
25,1880. His widow, now eighty years old, survives him.
To them wereboru James, Mary Bowman, Emma, (dead) !
Owen (dead), William B., Alfred, Emily Pickering, I
Harry (dead), Thomas H, and George. The survivors, i
with the exception of John, Jr., all reside in Edwards
county. John lives in the adjoining county of Wayne.
William B. received a common school education.
Much of his earlier youth was passed aiding in opera-
ting a carding machine which his father bought in
1631, and which was owned by the family until 1883.
At the age of eighteen he learned the trade of wheel-
wright, which business he pursued until twenty-eight
years of age. On the 3d of February, 1856, he was i
united in marriage to Miss Jane A. Spangler, a native
of York, Pennsylvania, whose earlier years were passed
in Philadelphia, and who came in company with her
mother and sisters to Edwards county in 1844 To Mr.
and Mrs. Tribe was bom one daughter, Annie E., now
the wife of Horace J. Craig. For four or five years,
William B , in connection with his brother John, car-
ried on the livery business in Albion. In 1864 he en-
tered the service of the United States in Company H.,
87th Regiment 111. Vol., in which he was commissioned
as Lie utenant. In 1866 he was mustered out of service,
and soon after entered the office of the county clerk, W.
L. Mayo, as deputy. In 1868 he was chosen circuit
clerk of the county, a position he has held continuously
since. In this capacity he has few, if any superiors
throughout the State. Politically he is an ardent, ear-
nest Republican ; religiously an active member of the
Episcopal church. The temperance cause finds in him a
fearless advocate. A true, patriot, an excellent citizen,
a tried official, he has hosts of friends.
JONATHAN BRIGGS.
As furnishing an apt illustration of what may be ac-
complished by persistent, persevering effort with a pur-
pose in life — that purpose being the acquisition of a
home surrounded with life's comforts, Jonathan Briggs
may be cited. He commenced a poor boy, the son of a
widow, and steadily has he pursued a straightforward
course, whose efforts have compelled success. He was
born in Edwards county, April 27, 1834. His father,
Jonathan Brings, when a jouth in England, put to sea
as a sailor — a calling in which five of his brothers were
engaged — but losing his hearing, he was compelled to
abandon his first love and seek other pursuits. He
soon after came to America, and for a short time fol-
lowed gardening near Cincinnati, Ohio. He married
Eliza Naylor, also of England, in 1833. At the time
they both lived in Edwards county, he having come
here in 1831 and she the following year. In September,
1833, he died at Terre Haute, Indiana, and the
subject of this sketch was born the following April.
Jonathan Briggs had like opportunities afforded youth
forty or fifty years ago, which consisted of a short term
of school each winter and much hard work — largely
clearing — at all other times. Habits of economy and
industry were thus fixed upon him. The old homestead
selected by his parents fifty years ago is now his ; noth-
ing has ever tempted him to leave it. His widowed
mother married and raised a family of children, whose
interests in the home place he acquired by purchase.
He was married to Sarah Ann Curtis October 1, 1857.
By her he has six living children, George, Eliza, Ann,
Nathan, Lee and William, and two dead — both died in
infancy. Mr. Briggs is a Republican politically ; a
member of the Methodist Episcopal church religiously.
As a farmer he is progressive, and was one of the first
in this section of the country to adopt a system of tile
draining.
JOSEPH WOOD DEC'D.
OF THE
LIBRAS*
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS. 217
WAS born in Litchfield county, Connecticut, March 7,
1791. His parents were Ebenezer and Abigail Harris.
(Maiden name Burnham). Ebeuezer was a farmer.
Gibson came west in 1818 or '19, stopping at Vincennes,
Indiana, where he engaged in making plats and maps of
the surrounding country. Being a practical surveyor
he found plenty to do in his vocation. He aided in lay-
ing off the town of Terre Haute. After a few months'
sojourn in Vincennes, he came to Albion, where he en-
tered the employ of Francis Dickson as clerk. In this
capacity he continued until the time of his purchase of
the stock of goods. In the mercantile trade he continued
until the time of his death, December 5, 1847. From
a humble beginning he established, by prudence, energy
and the exercise of an excellent judgment, a large and
lucrative business. In an early day he took strong
grounds in favor of temperance, nor was it in word-*
28
alone, but in action as well. It was the custom of the
times to have liquor on sale in such establishments. This
he would not do. Years afterwards this was imputed to
him as a virtue, though at the time his customers thought
it a hardship. He was united in marriage with Eliza-
beth Woods, daughter of John Woods, one of the hardy
English pioneers of Edwards county, in 1826. By her
he had nine sons, Gibson W., now of Cincinnati;
George, Chester, Francis, John, Levinus, Lucius, Morris
and Bedford E. Of these, all are living, save Chester,
who died February 7, 1870, and John, who died Febru-
ary 10, 1850. Mrs. Harris survived her husband several
years, during which time she carried on, aided by her
sons, the business he had established until the time of
her death, which occurred September 9, 1864. Gibson
Harris was one of nature's noblemen, a true friend, a
wise counselor, a man of irreproachable character.
218
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
DAVID S. RUDE.
DAVID S. RUDE was born in Worthington, Massa-
chusetts, December 11, 1812. His parents, Alpheus
and Hannah Rude (nee Taylor), were of the good
old Puritanig stock who have contributed so much to
make all New England revered for steadfastness and
morality. The family sought for and found a new home
iu Lewis county, Virginia, in 1819. Here the subject
of this sketch was reared. In 1835 he left his home to
try his fortunes in Illinois, and for two years worked for
wages, receiving for his labor seven and eight dollars
per mouth. During the winter he got out cord-wood,
receiving twenty-five cents per cord for cutting. He
husbanded his resources and entered land. In 1837 he
returned to Virginia to marry the girl of bis choice,
Purtania Brake, which he did October 20, same year.
His bridal tour was a tedious journey back to Illinois,
to the broad acres he had predetermined should become
his home. Two years after he identified himself with
the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he was -ever
after a most zealous, faithful member. For nearly forty
years he was the circuit steward, and .for much of the
time he was a class-leader and Sunday-school superin-
tendent. To him were born three sons, Edwin L.;
Albert and Handle, all living, and one daughter, who
died in infancy. Mr. Rude did well in life, being one
of the best farmers of his neighborhood. He died
January 28, 1879. His widow lives on the old home-
>tead. She was a native of Virginia, where she was
born November 8, 1821. Her parents were John B.
and Rachel Drake.
Mr. Rude was an active man of business, a devoted
husband, a fond father and a model citizen.
MAXWELL W. MORGAN
WAS a native of what is now West Virginia, where he
was born in Lewis county, the son of Theodore and
Lydia Morgan. His father was a native of Connecticut.
Mr. Morgan first came to Edwards county in 1848.
The same year, November 16, he was married to Mary
Ann Shurtleff, daughter of Oliver Shurtleff. Oliver
Shurtleff died where he lived, in Virginia. He had
married Sarah Kingsley, a native of New England.
His daughter, who became Mrs. Morgan, came to Ed-
wards county in 1831 with the family of Ansel Philips.
Immediately after marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Morgan re-
turned to Virginia, where they resided five years, re-
turning again to Edwards county. There were born to
them eight children, four of whom are living, Olive
Poppele, now in Mr. Pulaski, Illinois, Jennie Ford,
George Cliff, a druggist in the village of Bone Gap, and
Elmer Grant. Mr. Morgan was a farmer and a justice
of the peace. He entered the army in September, 1802,
in Company K, 124th Regiment, 111. Vol. In the charge
made upon Vicksburg the following year he was severely
wounded, necessitating his return home in November
following. In 1870 he was by a handsome vote elected
Sheriff of the county, a position he filled with marked
ability, and to which he was re-elected in 187 2 During
his second term of service he died, December 21, 1873.
By his faithful discharge of every duty devolving upon
him, and by his recognized ability, he had endeared
himself to his fellow citizens, so that his death was uni-
versally lamented. Politically, he was an active, out-
spoken Republican, a leader in his party. He was an
earnest advocate for temperance, being for years a
member of the order of Sons of Temperance. Reli-
giously his faith was deep and abiding. In the faith of
the M. E. Church he lived and died triumphantly.
JOHN SMITH
Is one of the influential progressive men of Albion,
where it stands a synonym for honesty and integrity.
Mr. Smith was born in Albion September 9, 1825. His
father, Moses Smith, wasanativeof Dorsetshire, England,
where he was born September 23, 1795. He came to
this country accompanied by a brother David in 1820 ; a
third brother also started, but died in New York on the
way hither. David returned to England after enduring
a siege of chills so common in early days, In 1854 he
again came to America and died here the same year, on
the 19th of August. Moses Smith was for a brief time
in the British army in 1812. He ran away from home
to enlist. His mother appealed to have him discharged,
and her third appeal was successful, through her calling
the surgeon's attention to the fact that he had an imper-
fection in an eye. She had promised her son a watch
in the event of success crowning her efforts in securing
his release. This, with his name neatly engraved in the
case was given him, and is now owned by the subject of
this sketch. Moses was married to Ann Scudmore —
maiden name Drinkwater — of Lincolnshire. She came
to this country in company with Mr. Flower. They
had nine children ; names and dates of birth as follows :
Thomas Scudmore, December 4, 1820 ; Harriet, October
2, 1823; John, September 9, 1825; Catharine, Septem-
ber 16, 1827 ; Mary Catharine, September 9, 1829 ;
Mary A., August 1, 1832; Clara, July 16, 1837;
Moses, December 21, 1839 ; Eliza Julia, November 20,
1842. Of these Harriet, Emma and Moses died respec-
tively January 12, 1851, August 31, 1853, and Febru-
ary 9, 1874. Moses Smith, Sr., was a butcher, mer-
chant and farmer. He flat-boated to New Orleans with
produce. He died August 21, 1854, followed by his
wife December 6, 1859. John Smith remained with his
father as a clerk until about twenty-three years of age,
when he bought out the business and followed it ten or
twelve years. During the war he engaged in the lum-
ber trade, which he has since followed with success.
He married Mary Brown October 28, 1847, by whom
he had five children, only one of whom, Harry, a miller
of Ashley, now lives. Mary B. Smith died January 16,
1862. Mr. Smith was married to his present wife,
Susan Brown, June 4, 1863. He is a man possessed of
fine business qualifications, is ever foremost in efforts to
advance the interests of Albion. Politically he is a
Republican.
DAVID S. RUDE DEC'D.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WAR ASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
219
Is one of the leading physicians not only of Edwards i
county, but of southern Illinois ; he was born in Shore-
ham, Addison county, Vermont, October 4, 1822. His
father, Henry S. Low, was a farmer, belonging to that
class of intelligent, energetic husbandmen for which New
England is noted. His mother, whose maiden name
was Rachel Baldwin, was a native of New Jersey. Ly-
man W. was the last son in a family of seven children,
five sons and two daughters ; he obtained a good common
school education, then entered the Academy in his native
village, where the foundations of future usefulness were
laid broad and deep, and where, too, his desire for schol-
arly attainments constantly increased until he deter-
mined upon a University course. To this end he
entered the Connecticut Literary Institute at Suffield.
During his two years' attendance here, the study of
medicine was commenced ; a love of it led him to continue
its pursuit, which he did under direction of an older :
brother, Dr. S. B. Low, an Allopathic physician in
Suffield. In 1848 he went to Ohio, when he engaged
in teaching — that stepping-stone to other professional
life, and in which he continued two years. Here he
marrried Fai.nie E. Bryant, May 1st, 1851. One son,
now a druggist in Albion, was born to them. His wife
died April 2d, 1858. Immediately after his first mar-
riage he went to Clayton, Iowa, where he engaged ac-
tively in the practice of medicine. From there he went
to Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin. In 1854 he attended
lectures in Cincinnati, Ohio, graduating from the Ameri-
can Medical College in 1855. On January 1st, 1856, he
located in Albion, where he has since successfully prac-
ticed his profession. He was married to his present wife,
Mary A. Smith, July 27th, 1859. By her he has two
sons — Smith D., a physician, and Lyman P., a student
of law. The doctor is a pronounced Republican. For
many years he was Medical Examiner for pensioners
220
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
CYRUS RICE.
CYRUS RICE was a lineal descendant from Edmund
Rice, who came from Barkhamstead, Hertfordshire,
England, and settled in Sudbury, Massachusetts, in 1638.
From records it appears that he was a selectman in
1644, and made a deacon in the church in 1648. Of
his wife, Tamazine, nothing is known save the fact of
her death, in Sudbury, June 13, 1654. He was a man
of some means for those early days of colonial history,
an inventory of his property, made out at the time of
his death showing £566 personal, and £170 real pro-
perty. A son, Edward, was the father of John, who was
the father of Moses, who was killed by the Indians, at
the age of sixty-one years, when engaged in plowing
corn. A nephew, Asa, eight years of age, who accom-
panied him, was taken by the Indians to Canada. His
son, Sylvanus, was a Revolutionary soldier, who died in
March, 1819, in the ninety-first year of his age, and was
the father of Sylvanus, who was the first to leave the
old Massachusetts home, which he did in 1819, finding
, one in Virginia whence he came to Illinois in 1832.
Here he died May '29, 1847. The subject of this sketch,
Cyrus, his son, was born February 28, 1798. He was
married to Martha Gould, a lineal descendant of John
Alden, who came to this country in the May Flower in
1620, January 27, 1824. By her he had thirteen chil-
dren, five of whom are now living. Cyrus Rice was an
excellent citizen. He was an active member of the
Presbyterian church. For ten years, from 1851 to
1861, he was a school commissioner for Edwards county,
and for more than forty years he was township treasurer.
He died October 11, 1882.
JAMES BEAR
Is a native of Ohio, having been born in Monroe
county, in the southeastern part of that State, January
12, 1842. His father, Jacob Bear, was a Pennsylva-
nian of German extraction. His mother's maiden name
was Isabelle Heep. In the year 1850, the family con-
sisting of nine children, of whom James was the sixth in
order of birth, moved to Richland county, to a farm
near Olney. After four years they again moved to a
place near Parkersburg, the old gentleman assigning as
a reason that Olney was a poor place, near which to
rear a family of boys. On this farm Jacob Bear died
September 30, 1881, from a stroke of paralysis. James
Bear married Mary Whitaker, daughter of Jacob Whit-
aker, a native of Indiana, December 24, 1868. By her
he had four children. She died September 9, 1878.
He married his present wife, Martha Hallam, widow of
Joseph Hallam. She was a native of West Virginia,
having been born in Wheeling of that State. Her
parents were Alfred and Mary Day. They came to
Parkersburg, Illinois, in 1853, and yet live on the place
where they originally located. In August, 1879, Mr.
Bear came to Edwards county. He has always followed
farming and trading in cattle. He was a soldier during
the late war, having enlisted in Co. A, 63rd Illinois Regi-
ment Volunteers, in 1861, being in the service four
and a half years. Was with Logan and Sherman
to the sea. Veteranized at Huntsville, Alabama.
Mrs. Bear came to the place where they now live as the
wife of Joseph Hallam, November 26, 1872. Joseph
Hallam died December 20, 1877. James Bear is a
thorough-going Republican, an active member of the
United Brethren church, and has been for years a local
preacher of that faith. He is a man of sound judgment,
pleasing manners and strictest integrity.
DR. CHESTERFIELD FILES.
TAKING high rank among physicians of Edwards
county, is he whose name appears above. Dr. Files was
born in White county, July 24th, 1841, as was also his
father, John, who was born August 12, 1818. His
mother, whose maiden name was Jane Maracle, was a
native of Virginia where she was born February 22d,
1822. Her parents were German people. The grand-
father of the doctor, William E. Files, was a native of
South Carolina, whence he came in an early day to Ken-
tucky, thence to White county, Illinois in 1816. His
father ill turn was from England. Dr. Files obtained a
good common school education, taught school alter-
nating it with attendance in the Wesleyan University at
Bloomington. Upon the breaking out of the war for
the Union he enlisted as a private in Company D, 40th
Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, August 3d, 1861.
He remained with his command eight months when he
was discharged on account of disability ; while at home
he received an appointment from Gov. Richard Yates
as Lieutenant of a company of home militia. In 1863,
he again entered the service as a recruit in the 87th
Regiment Illinois Volunteers, upon the disbandment
of this regiment he was transferred to the 18th. Belong-
ing as he did to the mounted militia he did much ser-
vice scouting. In 1870, he entered the office of Dr. R. J.
Puckett to engage in the study of medicine, a study he
had entered upon during the interim in his terms of ser-
vice. He next attended lectures in the Physio-Medical
College of Cincinnati, Ohio, whence he was graduated
February llth, 1873. He had already been engaged
in practice six months in his old home, but upon gradu-
ating he selected Bone Gap as a place of residence, and
here in the enjoyment of a lucrative practice he has
since remained. He was united in marriage to Emeline
Wilson, daughter of Newton Wilson, of Wayne county,
Illinois, March 9th, 1867. By her he has five children
living and three dead. He is a Republican. On his
mother's side the family was noted for longevity. His
grandfather died aged a hundred years. His parents
yet live in the old home in White county. As a prac-
titioner the doctor is held in high esteem ; as a citizen he
is loyal, progressive and ever awake to the best interests
of his fellows.
fc!
Of THE
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
221
PERHAPS none of the prominent citizens of Edwards
county has contributed more towards placing her in the
rank she to-day holds among her sister counties than
Walter S. Mayo. Through his decided executive abili-
ty, his systematic efforts in her behalf, his untiring
energy, coupled with his long service as an official,
Edwards county possesses a record second to none in
the administration of her finance or in the completeness
of her past civil history. Mr. Mayo was born in Albe-
marle county, Virginia, March 7th, 1810. His father,
Lewis, was a teacher as well as planter. To be a planter
in the Old Dominion carried with it the idea of being a
slave-holder as well— and so he was. A brother of his,
Joseph, was the father of Joseph Mayo, mayor of the
city of Richmond, just before the late civil war. The
father of Lewis was also named Lewis, and was one of
three brothers who came from England and settled, one
in Richmond, Virginia, one in Albemarle county, same
state, and the third, after a short sojourn there, in Ken-
tucky. It is thought that they were of the same family
with Rev. John Mayo, who emigrated from England to
this country about 1639, and who was one of the
original settlers of the town of Barnstable, Cape Cod,
Massachusetts. He was the first pastor of the second
church erected in the city of Boston, a position he filled
from 1655 to 1673. He died at Yarmouth, Cape Cod,
in 1676.
To Lewis Mayo and wife were born Newson, Walter
L., Samuel Winston, three sons, and Carey Ann (who
married Hiram Reach) and Catharine Shepherd,
daughters. Walter L. was a young man of ambition,
great determination and self-reliance. Having acquired
a fair education he started out to become the architect
of his own fortune ; crossing the Alleghenies he made a
brief stop with his uncle Harry in Tateville, Kentucky,
and thence came on to Edwards county, Illinois, in
1828. A stranger among strangers, penniless in pocket
but fertile in resources, he soon obtained employment as
teacher, a few miles southwest of Albion, where he
boarded in the family of Jones, one of the commissioners
of the county court. His adeptness in figures soon
commanded attention, and he supplemented his meagre
income as a teacher by making calculations in behalf
of the county, and in making out papers for his host.
This it was which afterwards led to his selection as
clerk of the county court. Upon the breaking out of
the Black Hawk war, in 1831, he was among the first
to offer his services in response to the call of the Ranger
Governor, which were promptly accepted. Being so
, well fitted by nature for such a position he was made
222
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
quartermaster for the battalion from Edwards and ad-
joining counties. Just prior to this he had been ap-
pointed to fill a vacancy as county clerk. The records
were found by him to be in a chaotic state. With a
will he set to work and brought system out of disorder.
So well did he accomplish his ends that for thirty-seven
years he was maintained at his post of duty, nor did the
respect for his commanding talents rest here; in addition
to the duties of county clerk he was called upon to act as
circuit clerk, probate judge, and treasurer as well.
Pioneers declared that as long as they had Mayo they
needed no other official. Into his official relations with
the people he brought that frankness and generosity so
characteristic of the Virginians, and which he possessed
in so remarkable a degree that he won the confidence,
esteem and friendship of all. During all his long term
of public service he was constantly sought as an arbi-
trator between fellow-citizens in matters of dispute, and
certain it is he adjusted more difficulties during that
time than did the courts. Through his skill in this field
of usefulness many heart-burnings and bitter feelings
between neighbors were assuaged. Of a warm, genial
and jovial nature, his voice and manner evinced a sin-
cerity of conviction and an earnestness of good purposes,
when giving advice or counselling harmonious adjust-
ments between disputants, that he seldom failed in his
efforts in this direction. No one hesitated to seek his
advice, and very few ever had cause to regret its adop-
tion. During the years of his.official career he amassed
considerable property. Not a citizen of Edwards
county says aught else than that it was well earned.
Mr. Mayo was warm and steadfast in his friendships,
and confiding in his nature, yet he could not overlook a
betrayal, even in semblance, and while he would go to
almost any length for a friend — tried and true — he held
but little intercourse with those who had incurred his
disaproval.
Mr. Mayo was united in marriage to Elizabeth Hall,
a native of England, March 3d, 1834. By her he had
six children. Lewis Mayo, now a prominent citizen of
Leavenworth, Kansas. Florence the wife of Henry
Hopkins. Alfred, who died in Indian Territory, Sept.
30, 1868. Rosamond, Ella C., and Alice E , all living
together with their widowed mother in Leavenworth,
Kansas. The family of Mrs. Mayo came from England
to Edwards county early in 1821. In the year 1871
Mr. Mayo's family went to Leavenworth, where they
have since resided. At the time Mr. Mayo was a mem-
ber of the State Legislature, and although he joined his
family, he always considered Edwards county his home,
and here he exercised all his rights of citizenship. He
had, during the last few years of his life, large banking
interests in Olney, Richland county, to look after, and
doubtless, but for his untimely end, would, with the
family have returned to the old home to have spent
life's evening. His sudden disappearance from the
active duties of a busy life, and the manner of it, are
matters of conjecture. He was last seen by acquaint-
ances boarding a train of cars on the Ohio and Missis-
sippi Railroad at the Union Depot, in St. Louis on the
evening of the 18th of January, 1878. Among reso-
lutions adopted by his fellow-citizens in mass meeting
assembled consequent upon his demise, as indicating
their love of him we copy:
Resolved, That in this sudden bereavement our entire
community feels deeply the severe loss we have sus-
tained in the removal from sight and knowledge of one
with whom we have so long and so intimately associated
as one of our early settlers.
Resolved, That in Mr. Mayo we recognize one, who,
through a long and active life, was highly esteemed as
a true citizen, a just and high minded official, a kind
neighbor, a warm-hearted and faithful friend, and in
his late years an active and earnest Christian worker.
Resolved, That in this mysterious bereavement we
realize the loss of one of our number whose place among
us will be so long and so sadly vacant in our communi-
ty and county, and while we wish to yield to the deal-
ings of Providence we find it one of the severest strokes
we have been called to suffer.
Resolved, That we realize that the peaceful and the
financially prosperous character now so highly enjoyed
by Edwards county, is due in a great degree to the in-
fluence of Walter L. Mayo in his official and his social
relations, and in his long and earnest active life.
JOHN SENTENCE,
THE popular proprietor of the Albion livery stable, a
view of which may be found elsewhere in this work, is a
man of enterprise and energy. In common with many
of his fellow citizens he is a native of merry England,
having been born in Lincolnshire June 25, 1827. So
many citizens of Edwards county hail from the beautiful
island of the name, as to give to her the appellation of
" little Britain." He was the son of Joseph Sentence, a
farm laborer. His mother's maiden name was Mary
Dennis. In a family of five children he was the eldest.
Desiring to better his condition in life, he took sail on
the vessel Excelsior, and after a tedious passage of five
weeks and two days he landed in New York harbor
July 2d, 1850. He brought with him as a bride Jane
Lane, to whom he was married in May of the same
year. By her he has two children living, Joseph and
Eliza J. Bower. She died May 3, 1856. For thirteen
years after reaching this country, Mr. Sentence carried
on farming operations. In 1869 he opened a livery sta-
ble, in which business he has since been engaged, asso-
ciating with it blacksmithing and carriage building.
He was married to Ann Brewster September 19, 1861,
by whom he has two children living, and two dead.
He is proud of the fact that his first Presidential ballot
cast in the country was for the martyr President, Abra-
ham Lincoln. He has always been an unswerving, un-
compromising Republican. As a business man he is
noted for square, fair dealing. Socially he is held in
esteem by a large circle of friends.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
PROMINENT among the pioneer business men of Albion
who are yet living, is Alexander Stewart, who was born
December 7th, 1805, in Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland.
His father, also Alexander by name, was a physician.
His mother's maiden name was Mary McLaughlin.
They came to America in 1818, reaching Carmi, White '
county, Christmas day of that year. They first located
in Burnt Prairie. In the family were nine children —
David, James, Henry, John and Alexander, being the
sons; and Jesse, Christina, Martha and Mary, the daugh-
ters. To them was born William in this country. Part
of the family remained in Scotland with their grandfather
until 1824, when they too came thither. The family took
up their residence in Albion in 1827, where Alexander
Stewart, sr., died May 5th, 1865, aged 87 years. During
the last eight years of his life he was blind. The subject
of this sketch, whose portrait is shown above, followed
farming until he reached his majority, when he com-
menced blacksmithing, which he prosecuted vigorously
for sixteen years, when, his health giving way, he entered
upon his career as a merchant. In this vocation he, by
energy and straightforwardness, compelled success. He
was married to Sarah Miller, daughter of James Miller,
a farmer of White county, January 19th, 1825. She died
April 20th, 1853. He was married to his present
wife, Emma A. Senseman, April 23, 1856. She is the
daughter of John H. and Elizabeth Senseman, natives of
North Carolina, whence they came here, via New York.
Mr. Stewart has led an active, busy life. He ie a man
of superior business qualifications, of unquestioned integ-
rity of character, and has won the esteem of all asso-
ciates.
224
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
WILLIAM F. FOSTER,
A PROMINENT 'member of the bar of Edwards county,
was born in Clark county, Indiana, May 3, 1840. His
father, William Foster, was a native of Yorkshire, Eng-
land. He was educated at Ackworth in an institution
under the auspices of the Quakers, or Friends. He
came to America in 1821, located in Indiana, where he
was married to Lucy Shirley, of the Kentucky family
of that name. Her father was Charles and her grand-
father Michael Shirley. Michael came from Virginia
to Kentucky with Daniel Boone, on his second trip to
the then western wilds, and was scalped by the Indians
near the site of Harrodsburg. To William and Susan
Foster were born six sons, Charles, Blashel, John and
Wm. F. are living. The daughters are all dead. Wil-
liam followed the avocations of teacher and farmer. He
died August 19, 1868. His wife survives him. The
subject of this sketch received a common school educa-
tion, nine months' attendance all told. In 1861 he en-
tered the army, enlisting in Company I, 66th Illinois
Volunteers, generally known as " Burge's Western Sharp
Shooters." With this command he was at Forts Donel-
son, Shiloh, Corinth, Chickamauga and Resaca. When
General Dodge was wounded he left Foster in charge of
two darkies and four horses — his rank was never deter-
mined nor commission ever made out. At the end of
three years' service he was discharged. On the 20th of
June, 1865, he was united in marriage to Lucy Y.
Denny, of Charleston, Indiana, by whom he has six
children. In 1876, he commenced the study of law,
having determined on it as a profession. His first read-
ing was Walken's American Law. Soon after he read
regularly in the office of F. A. Sampson, Sedalia, Mis-
souri, where he was admitted to practice. In 1878, he
opened an office in Albion, and in the following year he
was admitted to practice in the Illinois courts. He is a
member of the Masonic order, also of the Christian
church. In the furtherance of church matters he takes
a deep and abiding interest. As a soldier Mr. Foster
did his duty, and served his country faithfully ; as a
lawyer he is possessed of great forensic power and excel-
lent knowledge ; as a citizen he is respected. Whatever
he has to do he does with enthusiasm and earnestness.
JOHN HALLAM,
A FARMER, earnest in the calling and quite successful in
its prosecution, was born in Brassington, Derbyshire,
England, October 2, 1835. His father, Thomas Hallam,
was also a farmer, who, desiring to better his condition
in life, came to the United States, in 1836, landing in
Philadelphia, where he remained three mouths, thence
to a brother's, who had preceded him in White county,
and from thence to the English settlement, as that in Ed-
wards county, was popularly termed. Here he became
one of the most successful farmers on Boltinghouse
prairie. At first he hired his services to the noted Geo.
Flower, with whom he lived three years, engaged in
tending sheep. His flock numbered about one thousand
head. Of Flower, he rented land with privilege of pur-
chasing at a stipulated price, and so economical and
successful was he that at the expiration of two years
from time of making such contract he was the owner of
a fine tract of land, which is yet in the family's hands.
He was married to Elizabeth Handley, by whom he had
seven children, of whom two died in England ; three
crossed the sea with him, and two were added after ar-
rival in this country. He died September 6, 1878. His
son, John Hallam, obtained a fair common school educa-
tion. He was united in wedlock to Bertha Rosevelt,
daughter of James H. and Elizabeth Rosevelt, October
28, 1869. By her he had one child. She died October
28, 1874. He was married to his present wife, Sarah
Vallette, daughter of William Vallette, April 12, 1877,
by whom he has one child. In the fall of 1876, he vis-
ited England, and returned better satisfied than ever
with his father's choice of a home. He is an ardent Re-
publican politically, and an active devout member of
the Methodist Episcopal church religiously.
DR. HENRY L. DICKSON
WAS born in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
His father was William Dickson, a merchant of that
city. His mother's maiden name was Rebecca Cullo-
den. They were both natives of Ireland, and both died
when Henry L., was a small child. Together with a
brother Francis, now a book-keeper in Louisville, Ky.,
he was raised by his grandfather and an uncle. In
1820 he was brought to Mt. Carmel, thence taken to
Vincennes, then again to Mt. Carmel about 1830.
From there he came to Wanborough in this county.
He received a good common school education in the
schools of Park county, Indiana. His grandfather was
the first merchant to do business in Albion, having
opened a store here while yet living in Indiana. The
doctor commenced the study of medicine with Dr. A. S.
Haskell, of Hillsboro, Illinois, in 1846, and attended
lectures in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1848-' 9, graduating
from the institution in 1849. He at once thereafter
commenced the practice of his profession in Montgomery
county, where he, for convenience of self and neighbors
had established a post-office named Fillmore, and where
he was the first postmaster. He was married to Mrs.
PhrebeC. Rugg in Fillmore, May 1, 1850. She was a
native of Orange county, New York. Her maiden name
was Doty. She died February 5, 1881. The doctor is
a member, of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, in
whose success he takes deep interest. He is an active,
earnest Republican in politics, a faith from which he has
never swerved since casting his first ballot, which was
for General William H. Harrison. As a physician he
is painstaking, well read and earnest.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
The gentleman, whose portrait appears above, is the
second son of Alfred and Elizabeth Flower, and grand-
son of George Flower. He was born near Albion, in j
Edwards county, Illinois, December 16th, 1849. His I
father, Alfred Flower, was a minister, and, like many j
ministers in early times, witnessed the inconveniences of I
limited circumstances. He made, however, an extraordi-
nary effort to give his children, in their early years, an ed-
ucation. By great efforts and sacrifices on the part of his
parents the best teachers of that day were employed and
boarded in the house that they might devote their entire
time to the education and improvement of their children.
At the age of thirteen, R. C. Flower, a frail and delicate
boy, desirous of obtaining a more thorough education,
left his prairie home and went to Indianapolis, Indiana. '
His trials and struggles for years in search of knowledge
were numerous, bitter and long— indeed the events of
this period of his life would make a long and interesting j
history in itself— two hundred miles from home, an en-
tire stranger in the city, he entered college with three
dollars and seven cents in his pocket, which was his !
224-A
entire capital. Every cent he spent he had, by .his own
efforts, to first earn. Fortunately he had settled in his
own mind the precept " that the man must make the
circumstances, rather than the circumstances the man."
In his college course he studied theology, law, and medi-
cine, and, being early admitted to the bar, he had before
him a most promising future. Owing to early influences
and the advice of his associates he was induced to abandon
the profession of his choice and enter the ministry.
He belonged to the Disciple or Christian church, a de-
nomination of great strength in the west. He always
had one of the most desirable churches in the denomina-
tion for his charge, and preached extensively in Indiana,
Illinois and Kentucky. Within four years he held
fourteen public discussions, and, in many instances, with
the leading and champion debaters of other denomina-
tions. Mr. Flower's oratorical parry and thrust style of
argumentation rendered him a formidable antagonist to
meet in debate. Shrewd, smart, quick and of astonish-
ing self-possession, he never became excited yet never
failed to excite his opponent. By masterly eloquence
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS,
and irresistible magnetism he would carry his foes as
well as his friends, and in the excitement of the moment
compel his opponents to cheer his arguments against
their own belief. In wit he had few equals ; in pathos
and sarcasm, none.
During all this time R. C. Flower continued his
studies in medicine, purely because of his love for the
science. In December, 1875, he went to Alliance,
Ohio, to take charge of a large and wealthy church. As
usual, the crowds to hear him became very great, so
that no house in the city could hold his vast audiences.
It was soon whispered round that the eloquent preacher
was not sound in the faith— that he was not sound OQ
the questions of baptism, hell, personal devil, hereditary
depravity and many other church doctrines. This cre-
ated an intense excitement in the denomination. Con-
vention after convention was held to try the young
preacher for heresy. But no trial was ever held ; the
eloquent tongue, shrewd and fertile brain, defeated the
plans of his opponents, and, under all circumstances,
would he carry the conventions as he would a public
audience. This done, R. C. Flower publicly withdrew
from the denomination, and carried with him his entire
church, with a few unimportant exceptions. He or-
ganized an Independent church upon a broad and liberal
basis — a church he claimed " should be free from all
priestcraft, popecraft, bookcraft, and all superstitious
and illiberal doctrines, and that it should be as broad as
the wants of man, as deep as his fall, and as high as his
aspirations."
He built a large and magnificent house of worship
upon the highest point in the center of the city ; and to-
day this Independent church stands forth (a monument
of his success) as one of the largest, wealthiest and most
influential societies in all the State.
About this time, Dr. R C. Flower went actively into
the practice of medicine. In less than four months (on
account of his almost miraculous success), his practice
became so great, he was compelled to employ assistant
physicians as well as establish a large health institute.
His success in the practice of medicine more than out-
rivaled all his preceding achievements.
His practice drifted largely eastward, and the Doctor
finally determined to move to the great cities of the
east where he could more successfully operate his al-
most supernatural healing powers. In accordance with
these feeling?, he sold out his Institute in February,
1880, and transferred his practice to Philadelphia, and
New York. From this on, his practice became very great.
His cures were so numerous, and so phenomenal, that he
became a wonder in the east, Always anxious to live in
Boston, and many attractions drawing him to the hub,
he gave up his beautiful residence on Fifth Avenue, New
York, and transferred his practice in May, 1882, to the
Athens of America. In Boston he has built up a prac-
tice which is said by many to be the largest in the world.
His offices are some distance from his residence, and
under no circumstances will he mingle business with the
224-B
pleasures of his home. A phenomenal feature in his
practice is his method of diagnosing disease. He never
asks a patient his trouble, but the instant he takes the
hand of a sick person, he tells most accurately the disease
in all its ramifications. This phenomenal phase of his
practice, has brought to him thousands upon thousands
of patients, and it is claimed that out of upwards of one
hundred thousand examinations he has never made a
mistake. In the business world Dr. R. C. Flower is as
great a wonder as he is in the practice of medicine. It
is said by his most intimate friends, that in all his many
business enterprises he has never lost a dollar. His in-
tuitional powers in detecting the actual condition of the
markets seem almost infallible. If he buys stocks they
go up, if he sells, they go down. He has made fortunes
for many of his friends, and saved many from ruin, by
advising them when to buy, and when to sell. He is
largely interested in some of the largest manufacturing
companies in New England, also some of the largest and
richest mining companies in the world.
He is a man of great individuality, a man of methods,
and a man, who from all appearances, does the work of
a hundred men.
He never went into any thing which did not succeed,
and some of his friends, prominent and leading minds in
the business world, unhesitatingly declare (as superstitious
as the statement may seem to some) that over his every
movement is a star of destiny which enables him to evolve
success out of any enterprise.
Within the last few years Dr. Flower has made some
large fortunes, and fortunes has he given to his friends
and the needy around him. He gave away last year to
his needy patients, over fifty-nine thousand dollars. No
patient was ever turned away because he was too poor
to pay, and no beggar ever left his door hungry and
empty in pocket. Regarding his religious views, we
have been permitted to quote the following extract from
a letter written by Dr. R. C. Flower, in December,
1882, to an old friend in Philadelphia, in answer to these
three questions.
i " First. What value has money to you 1 2d. What is your re-
ligion? 3d. What are your ideas of good and evil?" "In
answer to your questions, I would say. First. Money has no value
to me except for the pleasure it gives to others; according to the
pleasure you get out of a dollar, is the dollar valuable; and a
dollar which never makes a human being happy, is a valueless,
useless coin.
" Second. I do not hold to any special church creed. I have
long since given up the sham of shadow and form. To me, re-
ligion is to do as you would be done by, to enjoy your.-elf, and to
; give to others all possible pleasure. To do something worthy of
a healthy brain, worthy of an existence, worthy of an infinite soul,
and to leave the world better for having lived. I believe in the ulti-
mate and just punishment of all sin and in the final happiness of
all men. I believe that the more lovely, pure, gentle and beautiful
you make this life, you will begin in correspondingly beautiful
conditions in the life to come. I hold that every man has a
right to express his honest thoughts ; thought is like a river,
rather than a stationary pool, it grows deeper and broader with
the birth of every second. Thought in the loco-power which never
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH 'COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
exhausts, tires nor wanes, and moves the ship of life to-day
through brighter seas, and beneath fairer skies than those of the
past; makes the new a possibility, and generates every day a bud
for to-morrow's blossom. Thought is the sun of the harvest, the
star in darkness, the dew drop of all foliage. For me to honestly
and constantly think is right ; hence it cannot be wrong for me
to express my honest thoughts. I believe in the immortality of
man, and that no clouds, mists, or barriers exist, or can exist,
between the spirit world and the intuitional spiritual minded
person.
"Third.— Good is pleasure— evil is sorrow. All sorrow is evil,
all pleasure is good. To cause sorrow, to allow it to exist when
you can prevent it is to do evil. To create pleasure, to perpetu-
ate it, is to create and perpetuate the germ essence of goodness.
The' following verses, as they come to me, still better express
ray idea of good."
GOOD.
There is no good outside of that which helps a human soul ;
There is no creed of all the creeds that's worth a pence,
Except the creed of pure good deeds richly given to those in need
And ever from the soul of love flowing hence.
Good is a deed or word ever so small or feebly spoken,
Designed to lift a burden, to cheer the weary heart of struggling
life.
Rest to the trudging form and hope to blighted prospects crushed
and riven,
The feeblest effort to light the lip with smiles in lieu of shadows
from disappointments' night.
Doing because it is sweet to do something to help another,
Conscious that the lowest human life is my sister or my brother,
Defending the abused and down-trodden, uplifting the fallen and
weak,
Not ashamed to help the lowest, nor too proud to see the poorest,
nor afraid to the vilest to speak.
Dissolve my life into such a creation, that from every step and
from every pulsation
Burst a ray of light to guide some eye, a mountain spring some
soul to revive
A breast of hope in which some broken life may trust and rest in
peace,
A life which will cast in the human form, a face that can never
shed aught but a smile.
Inspires the eye to pileously see the homes of want, though
palaces are unobserved.
The ear and heart to hear and heed the muffled cry from the vilest
Boul, sin stained and crushed,
Though cursed by the world for plucking from the field of thorns
This bruised and sin stained bud of heaven.
Good is to do to my neighbor's child as I would have my neigh-
bor do to mine.
224-C
Never a pit so deep, so dark, so wild and vile,
Into which if my dear child should fall,
I would not move the earth and heaven to pluck him from the
burning.
Thus should every child be loved and sought and saved,
And doing good is doing that which does all this,
And nothing less is doing good as he would do who said to others do
As you would have to yourself others do.
This is my creed and such shall be my life,
Nothing less can I accept — nothing more can I conceive,
Thus will I make the world better for having therein lived,
And better will I be for having lived therein."
Dr. R. C Flower's palatial residence on Common-
wealth avenue is one of the finest in the city ; the situa-
tion is the choicest on what is claimed by Bostonians to
be the grandest and most superb of all American streets.
Here the hand of art and design has played a great
part — the cost has never been considered in giving com-
fort, elegance, and beauty to this model home, and
within these radiant rooms and granite walls live the
happiest hearts of earth. The Doctor takes great in-
terest in his home, and in every little thing about the
place. He might be considered a domestic man, for
when not actually engaged in his business he is at home,
or with his family at some place of amusement, or rid-
ing with them behind his prancing span.
He has been twice married. First in December, 1870,
to Miss Ella Nicholson, of Jefiersonville, Indiana, a
most beautiful, elegant, and highly accomplished woman ;
she died in 18V6 of quick consumption. In this mar-
riage four sons were born, two of whom preceded their
mother to the spirit world, the other two are living.
In the summer of 1877 Dr. Flower was married to
Miss Mayde M. Manfull, of Alliance, Ohio. This young,
loveable and gifted woman possessing rare attainments,
was a great favorite with all who knew her, and was
well fitted for the position her marriage called her to
fill. The Doctor has been remarkably fortunate in his
marriages, and this he appreciates, for his devotion to
his home and family is almost idolatry. By his second
marriage he has one child, a daughter.
We close this biographical sketch of one of the most
remarkable of men. A man who is a thorough success
in every thing, who has made for himself and others a
heaven on earth, and has settled beyond doubt that by
study, industry and integrity you can attain eminence,
and realize and enjoy most fully your own triumphs.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
225
WILLIAM H. MEDLER
Is one of the most industrious and successful farmers
in his neighborhood ; in fact he is spoken of as being a
model farmer. He was born in Aylsham, Norfolk, Eng-
land, May 19, 1832. His father, William Medler, was
his parents to Preble County, Ohio, to live where they
resided ten years, from whence they moved to Gib-
son County, Indiana, where his father died January 12,
1872, aged 71 years, and where his mother still lives.
In October 1861, he of <v' rr\ we write enlisted as a
by trade a shoemaker, his part of the work being that | private soldier in Co. F. >d Reg. Indiana Volunteers,
of overseer or foreman. He was also a dancing master j He was with Sharman " to thtf'fc. ' nd took part in all
and musician. His mother, whose maiden name was Mary I the battles of that memorable'ca.upaign. On the 5th
Potter, was the daughter of a Veterinary Surgeon, who of March, 1863, he was taken prisoner after being wound-
had a business worth a thousand pounds per annum.
When but nineteen years of age the subject of this
sketch, accompanied by his mother and step-father came
ed in the battle of Columbia, Tennessee, and was sent to
Libby prison, at Richmond. Just two months after his
imprisonment he was exchanged among the last lot of
to this country. They were six weeks and four days on ; unfortunate inmates of that dread pen. He joined his
the ocean aboard the sailing vessel Savannah. After i command at Tullahoma in the following autumn, after
reaching New York city they got out of funds, and were
compelled to remain there until supplied by Mr. E.
Djball, of Madison county, New York. For seven years
William H. remained in Madison county, New York,
when he came to this county. His mother and family
followed two years thereafter. While living in New
York, he attended three terms of school of three months
each, thus obtaining a fair education. He was married
to Mary A. Rolands, a native of Oxfordshire, England,
having spent several months in the hospitals. His term
of service extended over three years and eleven months.
Upon being discharged from the service, he entered the
State University of Indiana, at Blooraington, which he
attended three years. He next entered the office of Dr?.
Mumford and West, at Princeton, Ind., as a student of
medicine. From there he went to Bellevue Medical
College, New York, to further prosecute his studies, and
from this institution he graduated, March 2nd, 1871.
March 15, 1856. By her he had five children, three He at once in seeking a location came to Albion, where
sons and two daughters. Of these the sons are all living, he has since resided, engaging with great success in his
but both daughters are dead. Mary A. Medler died profession. He is a member of the Illinois Medical So-
Septeraber 29, 1866. On the 10th of October, 1867, ! ciety, and of the A. O. U. W. also of the Episcopal
Mr. Medler was married to Martha Ann Kitchens, his Church. Politically, he is an active Republican. Re-
present wife. She was the daughter of Joab Kitchens. I cently he was" elected a member of the Albion Board of
Both of her parents died when she was a small child, so j Education, as a mark of the esteem in which his interest
that she was reared by her grandmother. By her he has iQ educational matters is held by his fellow citizens. He
had four children, two of whom Alonzo and Lily are j was married to Ellen Churchill, daughter of Joel
living, and two, Alfred Charles and Ralph are dead. J Churchill, December 2nd, 1873. Three children, two
Mr. Medler has been a hard worker. His first purchase ; boysand one girl, bless the union,
of land was only five acres, which he sold, buying '
where he now lives, a small tract to which he has been
steadily adding until it is now a farm of one hundred
and sixty acres. At times he has labored as a farm hand,
again at brick making or as a mechanic. Anything
his hand found to do that would earn for him an honest
penny was his motto. Now that he is quite independent
he blesses the day he turned his back on old England,
HENRY GLAUBENSKLEE.
GERMANY has contributed largely -to the ranks of
American citizenship. Her sons are a loyal, freedom-
loving class of men. 'Many of them come to this country
for the enjoyment of a larger measure of liberty than is
vouchsafed under the institutions of the " faderland."
which by the way he was only enabled to do through of the number were the Glaubensklees. They were
the aid of George Barber, and found a home in America.
natives of Kersha, East Prussia. Theodore, a famous
When yet in New York, he earned 825 by chopping a | educator, at one time candidate for State Superintend-
hundred and fifty cords of wood, which money he sent
to England to defray the passage of a brother hither.
He is a staunch Republican and a member of the M.
E. church. He is determined that his children shall
have better chances than were his lot, and to that end is
giving them good facilities for gaining knowledge.
DR JOHN C. McCLURKIN
ent of P"blic Instruction in the State of New York, was
the first to break the ties of home, cross the Atlantic
and cast his lot with Americans. He became a profes-
sor in the Free Academy in New York city, and accu-
mulated property. To his duties as a professor he added
banking operations which have made him independent.
Henry Glaubensklee, our distinguished subject, was born
in Prussia, May 17th, 1821. In 1850, he made a visit
to his brother, Theodore, in New York, and from theiice
Was born in Union County, Indiana, August 28th, 18 JO. started off on a hunting tour throughout the West.
His father, Joseph McClurkiu, a farmer, was a South | After reaching Edwards county he was persuaded to
Carolinian by birth, whilst his mother, Nancy Cook, was
an Ohioan. At the age of three years he was taken by
29
purchase the farm where he yet lives. This was quite
foreign to his purpose, but attractions were not alone of
U26
UISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASB COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
farming, as on the 26th of March, 1851, he was united
in marriage with Sarah Hallam, daughter of Thomas
and Elizabeth Hallam, natives of Derbyshire, England. '
To Henry Glaubensklee and wife there have been born
eleven children, seven of whom are living and four
dead. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal j
church. Politically he is a straightforward, earnest
Republican. He obtained a fine education in one of |
the oldest institution's of learning in Prussia. He is a
man of urbane manners, happy disposition, and is a
good citizen.
MORRIS EMMERSON.
THE able editor of that sterling paper, the Albion
Journal, was born in Wanborough, Edwards county, Illi-
nois, June 7th, 1853. He comes of one of the pioneer
families of the county, being the son of Jesse and Sa-
niantha Erumerson. His father was a native of Indiana,
while his mother, whose maiden name was Sperry, was
born in Connecticut. His father has held the position
as county clerk and sheriff with great acceptance. To
the office of sheriff he was three times elected. Morris
obtained his education chiefly in the common schools of
the county and the high school of Albion. This was sup-
plemented by a commercial course in Bryant & Strat-
um's Commercial College of St. Louis, from which insti-
tution he graduated in the summer of 1869. Upon his
return home he was installed as book-keeper for Church-
ill & Dalby, dealers in pork, grain and general mer-
chandise, with whom he remained about six years. In
September, 1875, he went to Red Oak, Iowa, where he
was engaged in a similar capacity, and for a time in the
Valley National Bank. In 1876, he returned to Fair-
field, Wayne county, as clerk for Thomas W. Scott, a
merchant of that place. In connection with Ballentine
he bought the Journal during the same year, and in
1878, became sole proprietor He was married to Ida
Harris, daughter of George Harris, April 10, 1878. By
this union there have been born two bright children, a
boy and a girl. Mr. Emmerson is an active member of
the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of the A. O. U.
W. and of the Sons of Temperance. In the manage-
ment of his paper he is earnest in his advocacy of Re-
publican principles, fearless in upholding his ideas of
temperance, and careful in making his a reliable family
paper.
JOSEPH M. CAMPBELL,
THE present popular and efficient judge of (he county
court of Edwards county, was born in the neighboring
county of Wayne, February 20th, 1837. His father,
Alexander Campbell, was a native of Kentucky, whilst
his grandfather, also Alexander by name, came from
county Tyrone, Ireland. His mother, whose maiden
name was Amelia Bird, was also of Kentucky nativity.
In a family of nine children Joseph M. was the fourth j
in order of birth. Of the number six are yet living, five !
of whom are settled around the parental home in Wayne
county, where his people first located in 1817. The
subject of this biography obtained a fair common school
education, and when twenty years of age entered the
school-room as teacher. During the war for the Union
he enlisted in Company G 18th Regiment Illinois Vol-
unteers, of which he was made Orderly Sergeant, and in
the fall of 1861, was promoted to Lieutenant, after a
year's service he resigned and returned home. In 1864,
he entered the law office of W. H. Robinson, of Fair-
field, as a student of law and in 186-3, was admitted to
practice. The following year in the month of Novem-
ber he came to Albion to prosecute his profession.
Here he soon acquired a fine practice, and what was of
greater value, the esteem of his fellow-citizens as being
a man of unquestioned integrity of character. Although,
politically a Democrat, in a county recognized as one of
the Republican strongholds he was because of his re-
cognized fitness for discharging the duties of the office
elected judge of the county court in 1873, a position he
has since held. In the discharge of his official duties
his work is marked by judicial ability and fairness in
all dealings. He is a member of the Masonic frater-
nity, in the workings of which order he takes great in-
terest. On the 17th of December, 1878, he was united
in marriage to Annabelle Thompson, daughter of Dr.
Francis Burdette Thompson, one of the pioneer physi-
cians of the county.
WALTER COLYER,
THE editor of the News, is a young man of
unexceptionable habits, of good business qualifications .
and determination that knows no failure. He is a
native of this county, having been born in Village
Prairie, July 19. 1856. He came of good old English
stock. John Colyer and Ann Withall, of Surrey, Eng-
land, were married in the year 1775. They raised a
large family, and of the number, four sons found their
way to America; first James and Edward, who came to
Illinois in 1818, followed by their brothers, John and
William, who came across the ocean, a few years after,
John locating in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and William
in Louisiana where he was murdered. Edward Colyer
and Jane Thread traveled fourteen miles from their
homes, on Village Prairie, to the nearest squire, two
miles south of Grayville, and were married in September,
1818. Their union was blessed by a family of twelve
children, namely : Eliza, John, William, James, Ann,
Jane, Elizabeth, Edward, Mary, George, Henry, and
Robert ; all but James and Elizabeth reached man and
womanhood's estate. John died in August, 1858, and
Robert died in the service of his country in 1863. Ed-
ward served in the army, during the Rebelion, as lieu-
tenant-colonel of the 87th Illinois Volunteers, and after
the close of the war moved to Kansas, whither Henry,
who had lived a few years in Minnesota, followed him.
The others, with the exception of Mary, now in Marshall
OF THE
mSTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS. 227
county Illinois, are all in this county. William Colyer
and Sarah Hunton Hardy, daughter of Jonas Hard/,
and native of Pennsylvania, were married May 10, 1849.
To them were born two sons, Morris and Walter. Mor-
ris is a thrifty farmer. On the 27th of December, 1876,
he was married to Etta Peters. Jonas Hardy was a na-
tive of Yorkshire, England; came to America in 1819,
and to Edwards county in 1838, locating in Frazier
prairie, near the site of the present village of Browns.
He died in Albion in August, 1871. The Colyer family
were generally industrious, saving and prosperous farm-
ers. Most of their numbsr were, and are, members of
the Christian or Disciples church.
ELD. CALEB EDWARDS,
WAS born in Brighton, England, February 25th, 1832.
His father, Henry Edwards, was an architect and
builder. His mother's maiden name was Elizabeth
Hollingham. In the year 1840, the family came to the
United States, locating at first in Dearborn county, In-
diana, whence they moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1842.
Here Caleb, who was the eighth in order of birth, together
with his brothers and sister, obtained a common school
education. Here, too, he served an apprenticeship as a
carpenter. In 1848, the family found a home among
people of like nationality with themselves in Edwards
county, locating on Boltinghouse prairie, where they
engaged in farming. On the 21st February, 1855,
Caleb Edwards was united in marriage with Mary
Hannah Orange, daughter of Eld. Daniel Orange, one
of the pioneer settlers in the county, and one of the active
members of the Christian faith. By this union there
have been born six children : Caleb Henry (died in
November, 1864), Elizabeth (now the wife of—
Hodson) Orange, Thomas Albert (died April 17th,
1881), Mollie and Naomi. Mr. Edwards has pursued
the vocation of farming ever since coming to this county.
With this he has combined preaching since 1868, A most
faithful and zealous Christian ; a constant student of the
word of God, he accomplished much in behalf of primi-
tive Christianity. True to his professions, his daily
walk and conversation made him a teacher by example
as well as precept. He is a representative temperance
advocate, whose boast it is, that he never tasted ardent
spirits. As a Prohibitionist, he was the party's standard
bearer for legislative honors in 1882. Of pleasing
address, cheerful disposition, earnest in his enthusiasm,
he has made hosts of friends.
ROBERT W. CURDLING.
AMONG the enterprising tradesmen of Albion is Robert
W- Curdling, who was born in Bridport, Dorsetshire,
England, April 16th, 1854. His father, Robert by name,
was born in the same village July 25th, 1835. Here he
was early apprenticed to a shoemaker, and followed the
trade, first at home, then for ten years in London and
again in Bridport, and since 1857 in Albion. His father
in turn was Richard Curdling, a baker by trade. The
mother of Robert W. Curdling was Harriet White. A
i brother of hers had located in Albion several years prior
to the coming of Mr. Curdling, and in fact his letters,
directed Robert Curdling's attention particularly to
Albion and determined him upon coming here. la 1857
he bid adieu to his native land, crossed the ocean, land-
ing in New Y»rk city, July 3d of that year. Early the
next morning, it being the natal day of American Inde-
pendence, his vision was greeted with tri-colored bunt-
ing and flags in great profusion every where. He
sought work in the city and promptly obtained it. On
Saturday night after the end of his first week's employ-
ment he was astonished to find a fellow workman chat-
ting pleasantly and smoking with his employer. This
was new to him who had bein accustomed to recognizing
a wide breach between master and laborer — but, he
reflected— this is America, the land of liberty. In the
fall of 1857«he was in Albion and opened the shop which
has since been in his hands, until transferred to his son,
Robert W. In the family were five children, all living.
Robert W., Richard G , Martha W.now the wife of Mr.
Johnson, William H. and Mary H.
Robert W. Curdling, who inherits the characteristic
stiek-to-itive-ness of his father learned his father's trade
early in life, and with commendable energy pursues it.
He was united in marriage with Madelina R., daughter
of James Tribe (of one of the leading families of Edwards
county) Oct. 31st, 1880. One child, a daughter, Leeta V.
by name, blessed the union. Mr. Curdling is a pronounced
Republican politically. He is a member of the A. O.
U. W. in which order he is an officer, and in the work-
ings of which he takes great interest. He is a member
of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. As a business
man he is energetic, thoroughly honest in his dealings
and has established a fine trade.
THOMAS T. WOODS,
ONE of the most successful farmers in Edwards
county, was born April 16th, 1822. His parents, John
and Elizabeth, were both English by birth. His father
located in Edwards county in 1819, hence was among
the old pioneer settlers. Here he kept hotel, or as it
was termed public house, several years. In 1827, he
moved to Shawneetowu where he died in 1829. His
widow returned with the family to Albion, and again
took charge of the hotel, which she kept aided by her
family until 1858. Thomas T. Woods remained with
his mother until 1845. He was united in marriage with
Georgiana W. Spangler, daughter of Emanuel and Jane
Spangler, September 8th, 1843. The Spanglers were
from York, Pennsylvania, and were of Irish and Ger-
man descent. To Mr. and Mrs. Woods have been born
ten children, eight of whom Maurice, Charles, Alfred,
Harry, Edgar, Spangler, Elmer and. Katie are living,
and Mary Jane and Lewis are dead. All the children
228
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
are residents of the county, and all are agriculturists
save Edgar, a shoemaker by trade. Mr. Woods' first
venture in his own behalf was the purchase of a tract
of one hundred and sixty acres in 1845, on which he
yet lives, and to which he has added over forty acres.
The original cost of the tract was $600. Year by year
by constant toil he has made it one of the best farms in
the county. He takes an active interest in everything
calculated to enhance the prosperity of his county. He
is a member of the Episcopal Church. An excellent
citizen, an obliging neighbor, a man of fine judgment, he
possesses the esteem and love of a large circle of friends
and acquaintances.
GEORGE BOWER.
THE present popular treasurer of Edwards county
was born in Albion, January 22d, 1832. His father,
George Bower, was a native of Germany, where he was
born January 30th, 1788, a potter by trade. He worked
some time at his trade in the city of Pafis, France,
where he located August, 1818, hence acquired the
French language, which was spoken in the family.
After coming to America on board the Louis from
Havre de Grace en route thirty-one days in October,
1826, he located first in New York, thence to Vevay,
Switzerland county, Indiana, and from there he was led,
through the solicitations of George Flower, to come to
Albion, where he prosecuted his trade a number of
years. He died, or rather was killed by a fall from a
wagon, breaking his neck, September 20th, 1848. His
wife, whose maiden name was Catharine Kophfel, was
born in Germany July 9th, 1794. To them were born
five children in Europe, two of whom died there, and
three in this country, eight in all. Mrs. Bower died
April 12th, 1858. Mr. George Bower obtained a very
fair common-school education. In 1848, then sixteen
years of age he went south to work with an older
brother, Adam Bower, as gin-wright. Two years after
he returned and followed the avocation of carpenter
three years, when he associated himself with William B.
Tribe in wagon-making, combining therewith the work
of blacksmithing and wheelwright. In 1854, he be-
came sole proprietor of the establishment, remaining so
until 1867, when he formed a co-partnership with Messrs.
Painter and Frankland, which arrangement continued
until 1871, since which time he has continued business
alone as before. He was married to Mary Frankland,
daughter of Robert Frankland, of English birth, No-
vember 19th, 1856, by whom he has ten children, six
boys and four girls. Mr. Bower is a working member
of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He is a
Republican in politics, and has for many years held po-
sitions of profit and trust. His first public office was
that of police magistrate, which was followed by his
election as county treasurer in 1875, an office he has
since continuously held. He takes great interest in
educational affairs, which received recognition at the
hands of his fellow citizens by his being maintained as
member of the board of education. Mr. Bower is a
man of enterprise, industry and high social qualties.
LAWRENCE.
LAWRENCE COUNTY.
HIS township deserves favorable mention
from the fact that it contains the capital of
the county, and is among the first-settled
precincts of Lawrence county, and bears the
same name. It is centrally situated, and includes the
fractional part of four congressional townships, to wit ;
townships three and four, ranges eleven and twelve. It
has an area of forty-two sections, or about 26 880 acres
of -land, nearly three-fourths of which is under cultiva-
tion. It is bounded on the north by Bond township, east
by Allison, south by Dennison, and west by Bridgeport
and Petty townships. The surface is generally undula-
ting, and in places along theEmbarras river quite prom-
inent bluffs appear. In the south and west the surface
is mainly level, and the soil is a dark loam and specially !
adapted to the raising of corn. The land in this part of j
the township is considered the most valuable from the >
act of its extreme productiveness. In the east the soil is
sandy and not so productive. Along the state road)
leading west, there are many fine farms, the soil being a
chocolate- colored clay, and is the best wheat-producing
soil in the county. On either side of the Embarras river
there are quite extensive bottoms, especially on the north-
east. These are mainly covered with heavy timber, and
are subject to overflow.
The natural drainage is good, but tiling would pay an
hundredfold. The Embarras enters the township in sec-
22, township 4, range 12, and flows in a southeasterly
course, diagonally through the precinct, and passes out in
section 17, township 3, range 11. Brushy Fork and
Muddy creed constitute its northwestern tributaries, and
Indian creek is its west and southern tributary. The
Ohio and Mississippi railroad extends from east to west
through its entire territory, entering from the east in sec-
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
229
tion 4, township 3, range 11, and crosses the boundary
line into Bridgeport in section 9, same township and
range. The Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific railway crosses
the precinct from north to south, entering from the
north between sections 19 and 20, township 4, range 11,
and passes out at the corner of sections 17 and 18, same
township and range.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
One of the first to brave the wilds of the western fron-
tier was John Me Cleave, a native of Maryland, born in
1778. When a mere boy his parents moved to the state
of Ohio, where he grew to manhood. In 1801, he mar-
ried Mary Benefiel, and remained in Ohio until 1814,
when he moved to Illinois (then Territory) and first
stopped in the north part of Allison's Prairie, not far
from the present site of Centerville. The Indians then
being on the war-path, he was obliged to move his fami-
ly into the fort (Fort Allison) for protection, where they
remained until the spring of 1814. After the conclusion
of the treaty with England relating to the war of 1812,
the Indians became peaceable, and the people left the fort.
Mr. Me Cleave located across the river from Vincennes,
where he remained until the following spring, when he
moved over the river and stayed one year. In the spring
of 1817, he again came to the Illinois side and perma-
nently located in section 3, township 3, range 11 west,
then Edwards county. At this time his family consist-
ed of his wife and five children, William, John, Rebec-
ca, George and Lucinda. He threw up a small camp,
made of puncheons, and commenced the life of a pioneer.
He entered quite a tract of land, which he subsequently
improved. Mr. McCleave was an unassuming man, a
good citizen and a kind neighbor. He died at the old
home in 1846. Mrs. McCleave survived him until 1860.
Two children were born to them after their settlement,
Robert B., and Mary. Only three of the family are now
living, George, Robert and Lucinda. The former resides
on the old farm, and has filled the office of justice of the
peace for twenty-two years, and is still acting in that ca-
pacity. A son, J. W. is the present county treasurer.
George is also living at the old farm. Lucinda, now
widow of Thomas Dickerson, resides in section 33, town-
ship 4, range 12
The first permanent English immigration and settle-
ments were made in 1816-'17 after the Indian troubles
had ceased, at which time there was quite an active in-
flux of emigrants, who were mainly families from some
portion of the South. Among these was Geo. W. Kin-
kaid who came with his family from Kentucky in the
above year and settled in section 28, township 4, range
11. He had one son, Albert, and three daughters. Mr.
K. resided on his farm for some years, when his wife died,
and he moved into Lawrenceville. He was one of the
early postmasters of the town. He remained here until
his death, which occurred in 1848. Albert, his son, is a
citizen of Richland county.
A prominent pioneer was Col. Willam Spencer, who
permanently located in section 2, township 3, range 12.
He had been here several years prior to this settlement
He improved a good farm, and was very popular with
his neighbors. In early times all male citizens of certain
ages, were required to -muster, and devote a portion of
time each year to train as militiamen. Mr. Spencer was
elected a colonel of a regiment, hence his title, and he
was ever afterward known, by his acquaintances, as Col-
onel Spencer. He was also elected County Commision-
er for some years. He died nearly half a century ago.
At his coming there were three pioneer childre^i, Jane,
Fannie, and William, all of whom are dead. One son,
George, who was born in the precinct, is now living in
Macoupin county.
David Grove came from Pennsylvania, in 1816, and lo-
cated in section 10, township 3, range 12. He had a
family of three children, Michael, John, and Eliza. He
was of German descent, and thus a very industrious and
thrifty farmer, cultivating a good farm, on which he lived
until his death, which occurred in 1842. His remains
were interred on his own land. His widow survived him
but a few years. Washington Grove, residing in Petty
township, is one of his sons, and the only one of the fam-
ily now living.
Another pioneer of 1816, was Isaiah Lewis, who migra-
ted from Kentucky with a large family. He settled in
section 3, township 3, range 12, where he cleared and im-
proved a good farm. He resided here until about 1830,
when he moved to some point north in the state. He
was school teacher, and in the pioneer times was one of
the first teachers in this part of the country. But one
of the family is living in the county, Jacob, who is a
resident of Petty township.
Larkin Ryle came to the state as early as 1813 or '14,
entered land and returned to Kentucky from whence he
came. He owned several slaves- in that state, and when
the emigration excitement for Illinois, commenced he sold
them and came to the land he had entered, it being the
south half of section 11, township 3, range 12. He was
then quite an old man and feeble in constitution. He
brought no family with him, having left them in KeiJ
tucky. He taught school for several years, and lived
around among the settlers. It is said that he was the
first teacher in this precinct, having taught the children
of the pioneers as early as 1817 or '18. He continued
teaching as long as his health would permit, and finally
died with lingering consumption at the house of one of
the early settlers. This was more than half a century
ago.
John Buchanan was also from the South, and as early
as 1816 he came to the State and settled in section 12,
township 3, range 12. He was a man of family, several
of his children being old enough to aid him in his pio-
neer efforts. He improved a farm, where he resided until
his children had grown up and married. He then moved
to Lawrenceville, where he resided until his death,
which occurred long ago. Some of his descendants are
yet living in the county.
The Rawlings family were from Kentucky, and located
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
in the county in 1816. The old gentleman was very
aged when he made his advent here, and lived but a few
years. His sons, James, Nathan, Scott, and Michael,
were 'citizens of the county for many years, all of whom
have passed away. N. D. Rawlings, who resides a mile
east of Lawrenceville, is a son of James. N. D. is the
present supervisor of the precinct, and has represented
it as such since 1879. Several other descendants of the
family are citizens of the county.
Thongs Fyffd and family came from Kentucky in
1814, and, upon their arrival in the territory, they were
obliged to take refuge in Fort Allison. With the rest,
after peace was declared, he left the Fort and located
temporarily in the eastern part of the county. In 1817,
he entered land in section 34, township 4, range 12,
where he made a permanent settlement. This was his
home until his death, which occurred about 1830. But
one of the family is now living (Albert), who is residing
at the old homestead. It is said that Edward P., a de-
ceased son, was the first child born of English parents in
Lawrence county.
Another pioneer of 1817 was John Brigman, a native
of South Carolina. On coming to Illinois, he first stopped
upon the site where Lawrenceville now stands. His
family consisted of his wife, two children and two brothers.
The names of the latter were, Solomon and Isaac. He
built him a small house, or rather hut, but remained
here only a short time, moving to what is known as
Brigman's Island. He located in section 22, township
4, range 12, on the farm now owned and occupied by
Joseph Griggs. This was a sickly locality, and nearly
all the family soon died. Mr. B. also died here, and was
buried on his own land.
Robert Benefiel came from Ohio in 1818, and settled
in section 34, township 4, range 12. He had a family,
consisting of his wife and one daughter, Ruhama. His
first domicil was a covered rail-pen. It was in this pen
that one of the first children war born in this precinct,
the event occurring in 1818, not long after Mr. Bene-
fiel's advent to the State. He remained here improving
a little farm until 1830, when his wife died. He, with
his family, then moved to the State of Indiana.
Joseph Lamott was of French descent, and came over
from Vincennes in 1818, and located in section 9, twp. 3,
range 12. It is said of him that he was a most excellent
citizen and an obliging neighbor. He died at his farm
about fifteen years ago. His second wife survives him,
and is residing at the old homestead. One son and two
daughters are residents of the county— James, Caroline,
and Angeline. The latter is the wife of James Dunlap.
Another settler of 1818 was Benjamin McCleave, who
was born in Maryland, and was a brother of James Mc-
Cleave, before mentioned. He emigrated from Ohio
with his family to this State, and settled in section 3,
township 3, range 12, on land that he had entered two
years before. Prior to his coming he had been twice
married, and the family consisted of four of his own
children and five step-children. The names of the for-
mer were — Polly, Sally, Betsy and Benjamin ; those of
the latter were— Polly, Helen, Martha, Betsy and Mar-
garet. He died about 1845. But one of the family is a
resident of the county (John), who is a native born.
John Gillespie came from Virginia, near Wheeling,
in 1820, with a family of children, viz: Jane, Robert,
William, Mary Ann, Elizabeth, Walter, Ellen and Sa-
i muel, and settled on the southeast quarter of section 15,
I township 3, range 12, where he resided permanently,
and died about 1846, at the age of sixty-eight years.
Elizabeth and Samuel are yet living, — the latter on the
! old place.
A prominent settler of 1821 was James McLean. He,
with his brother John, came from Kentucky in 1817,
and located at Shawneetown, Illinois. The latter subse-
quently became United States Senator. James came to
Lawrence county in 1821, and on the organization of
the county he was appointed the first circuit clerk by
Judge Wilson. This office he held until the breaking
out of the Black Hawk war, when he resigned his office
and volunteered for that campaign. While in service,
his successor died, upon which the people of the county
signed a petition to have Mr. McLean re-appointed,
which was speedily done. This was in 1832. He held
| the office until 1836. In 1838 he was elected clerk of
| the council of revision. In 1840 he was in the legisla-
i ture and drew up the bill for the organization of Rich-
land county. In 1842 he was appointed registrar of the
land office at Palestine, which position he filled until
1854. He then returned to Lawrence county and be-
came county judge, which office he held until his death,
in 1859.
A family by the name of McCall settled two miles
north of Lawreuceville about 1817 or '18. McCall was
killed by a Delaware Indian in 1820. A band of the
Delawares was encamped at the time on Brushy Fork.
Several of them went over to McCall's cabin and de-
manded whisky. He refused them, and a conflict was
brought on, and in the fracas McCall was killed by their
leader, Killbuck. The family subsequently moved to
some other point.
About 1819, Toussaint and Loire Dubois located on
the claim made by their father, Toussaint Dubois, Sen.
This tract comprised 1020 acrts, and included nearly all
of section 1, township 3, range 11. They built a water-
mill on the Embarras, which was situated where the pres-
ent mill now stands. They were also active in building
up the town of Lawrenceville, having at one time an
interest in a large distillery, besides conducting quite an
extensive mercantile business. Toussaint died in Law-
renceville a half century ago. Loire returned to Vin-
cennes, where he remained until his death.
Among other pioneers were Cornelius Taylor, Abra-
ham Carnes, Scott Riggs, Moses Petty, Henry Gillham,
Daniel Robinson, Joshua Alexander, William M. Small,
Jonathan Leach and others. The former kept a ferry
across the Embarras, just above the bridge at Lawrence-
ville, as early as 1816.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Among those who have been prominent of a later
date is Daniel L. Gold, a native of Virginia. He came
to Lawrenceville in 1844, and engaged as a clerk in a
mercantile house. Four years later he became a partner.
In the early part of the rebellion he was appointed by j
Governor Yates Assistant Adjutant-General of the State. I
As a citizen of the county, he was always among the J
foremost in the advocacy of public improvements, and |
that which would enure for the public good. At this
writing he is in Washington city, an appointee of the
Government in the pension department.
Other old citizens who are yet living in the precinct
may be mentioned as follows: William Richardson
was born in Hardy county, Virginia, and came to the j
county in 1828. He resides in section 29, township 3,
range 11. James A. Crews came from Crawford
county, Illinois, in 1829. His residence is near Law-
renceville, in section 6, township 3, range 11. W. S.
Kennessey was born in Baltimore, and came to the
couuty in 1839 ; resides in section 1, township 3, range 12.
James N. Musgrave came from Ohio to the county in
1839 He is the proprietor of the Junction Hotel at the
O. & M. Junction. William Musgrave is also from
Ohio, came in 1840, and is the station agent at the junc-
tion. Lafayette Barnes, Circuit Clerk, is a native of
the county, born in 1840. Nancy A. Smith, nee Wright,
came from Ohio to the county in 1840: George W.
Green was born in the county in 1841. He resides in
section 6, township 3, range 11. W. H. H. Mieure is
also a native of the county, born in 1841, and resides in
section 19, township 3, range 11. His father was among
the early settlers. John G. Fritchy came from Penn-
sylvania in 1841, and is located in section 5, township
3, range 11. Capt. Henry A. Clubb, Deputy County
Clerk, was born in the county in 1843. He is a descen-
dant of one of the pioneers of the county. An early
settler, yet living, is William Tanquary, who resides
about two miles west of Lawrenceville. He was one
.of the first blacksmiths in the town. He subsequently
moved to the county, and is among the prosperous farm-
ers of the precinct. A little northeast of Lawrence-
ville is a settlement known as Robinson's Row. It re-
ceives its name from several families settling there by
the name of Robinson. This settlement was made from
about 1824 to 18-8.
LAND ENTRIES.
Believing that the first land entries will prove of
interest to the readers of this history, we here append
them as shown by the record : January 24, 1816, John
McCleave entered the S. W. } of sec. 20. George W.
Kiukaid entered October i, 1816, the N. E. i of sec.
28. William Huston entered on the same day, the N.
W. \ of same sec. Samuel Gaston entered July 21,
1815, the N. E. i of sec 32. On the same day, Abra-
ham Carnes entered the S E. i of same section. Scott
Riggs entered, January 26, 1816, the S. W. i of sec.
33. The above are all in township 4, range 11. The
following are in township 3, range 12 : William Smith
entered, November 6, 1816, the south J of sec. 1. Wil-
liam Spencer entered, October 29, 1816, the S. W. t of
sec. 2. John Benefiel entered, Oct. 3, 1816, the N E. i
of sec. 3. Peter Lewis entered, May 6, 1816, the N.
W. 1 of the same section. Benjamin McCleave entered,
September 30, 1816, the 8. W. i of same section. John
Richardson entered , October 2, 1816, the N. E. J of sec.
9. Elijah Athertou entered, September 30, 1816, the
E. J of the N. W. i of the same section. Daniel Grove
entered, October 29, 1816, the N. E. i of sec. 10. Lar-
kin Ryle entered, September 9, 1813, the S. J of sec. 11.
John Buchanan entered, November 6, 1816, the S J of
sec. 12.
The following entries are in township 4, range 12:
George Weston entered, May 19, 1817, the E. J of the
S E. 1 of sec. 24. Thomas Landon entered, December
3, 1816, the S. W. 1 of sec. 34. John JBeuefiel entered,
September 30, 1816, the N. E i of sec. 33. Joseph P.
Badollett entered, March 25, 1817, the S. E. 1 of sec.
27. Robert Benefiel entered, March 9, 1817, the N. E.
I of sec. 28. C. White and D. Cummings entered,
November 9, 1817, the N. W. i of the same section.
Thomas Fyffe entered, October 14, 1817, the N. W. \ of
sec. 34.
From best authority, Col. William Spencer was the
.first white man to locate in this precinct. He had built
a double log cabin on the Embarras, at a point where
the " old trace " crossed the river. This was about
1806. With the exception of one or two cabins further
west, there was no other habitation between Vincennes
and the old French town of Cahokia. In 1816, we find
Mr. Spencer located in section 2, township 3, range 12,
a brief sketch of whom is given in this chapter.
So far as can be ascertained, the first couple married
in the township, was William McCleave and Nancy
Benefiel, in the spring of 1820. The ceremony was
performed at Vincennes, by the Reverend Elihu Stout.
Appropos of the foregoing it might not be out of place
to relate a rather ludicrous as well as, perhaps, painful
affair to the parties most interested, that occurred in
1819. Our informant says that, " I was then a mere
boy, but it smacked so much of the ridiculous that I
have always remembered it." It seems that a couple
from Indiana had determined to marry, and the parents
of the girl were very much oppossed to the match.
They clandestinely fled to this side of the river with the
intention of procuring license for the marital bonds.
j The young man left his intended bride at the cabin of
one of the settlers, when he went post haste to Palmyra
(then the county seat of Edwards county) to obtain the
necessary papers. In his absence the friends of the
girl, who had been following them, appeared upon the
scene, made a raid on the cabin, and took the girl by
force, carrying her back to her home. Imagine if you
can, the young man's feelings, when he returned but a
short time afterwards, and found that his dear one had
been spirited away. Our informant says, that he sat
down upon the ground and blubbered like a school-boy.
232
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
The first public place of interment is situated in sec-
tion 3, township 3, range 12, and the first person buried
here was a child of Jonathan Leach, in 1820. It has
been abandoned as a place of burial for more than
twenty years.
Larkin Ryle taught the first school, in 1818. The
school was taught in a log cabin situated in section 34,
township 4, range 12. It was built by John Bray for a
dwelling, but his wife dying soon after his advent here,
he returned to Indiana, leaving the cabin vacant. It is
said that Mr. Ryle was not much addicted to the use of
the rod, but did all his lashing with his tongue. He
was very particular about keeping the sexes apart, and
would throw up long rows of brush to separate their
play grounds. The first house built for school purposes
was iu 1822, and was situated in section 3, township 3,
range 12 It wa3 constructed of round hickory logs,
and roofed with rived clapboards, which were held to
their places by weight poles. It contained a fire-place,
stick chimney, puncheon floor, puncheon seats and pun-
cheon desks. Two logs were scutched down at a con-
venient distance from the floor to form a window, and
over this crevice was pasted greased paper through
which the light could penetrate. Let the .young readers
of this history compare then with now.
The first to conduct religious services among the
pioneers, were Eldeis B McCorckle and William Kin-
kaid, both belonging to the New Light persuasion, now
commonly known as Campbellites or Christians, The
services were held in the groves or the houses of the
settlers.
The first house built for public worship was about
1840. It was constructed by the Methodist Episcopal
denomination, and is situated in Lawrenceville.
It is now used by the M. E colored church society.
The first magistrates were Henry Gillham, Benjamin
McCleave and John McCleave. For the first medical
attendance I he pioneers were obliged to send over to
Vincennes. The first resident physicans were Gabriel
Cochran, Dr. Barton and William Anderson. They
res-ided at Lawrenceville.
No post-office was established until about 1821 or
1822, when Lawrenceville was located. Prior to this,
mail was obtained at Viucennes. At this time it re-
quired twenty-five cents to get a letter from distant
friends. Valentine J. Bradley was one of the first post-
masters at Lawrenceville.
Mr. Galbreth was the first smith to shoe the horses
and mend the linchpins of the early settlers. His shop
was situated a little south of where the court-house now
stands. This ground was then a wilderness of sugar
maple, extending from his shop north to the river. It
is needless to say that both shop and smith have passed j
away long ago.
The early milling was had at Vincennes. In 1817
or '18, John Brigman attempted to construct a water
mill on the Embarras, near where the present water mill
stands, but his efforts proved abortive. A little later,
Cornelius Taylor also made the attempt, but failed. In
1819 or 1820, Toussaint and Loire Dubois, with the aid
of the settlers, succeeded in constructing a dam, and a
mill was soon erected. One of the pioneers, now dead,
writing to a friend says : " We succeeded in constructing
a feeble affair, which was familiarly known as a ' corn-
cracker,' but poor as it was, we were proud of it. It
would grind nothing but corn, but corn was all we had,
] and little of that." Subsequently a saw mill was at-
i tached, and they did good service for the settlers for
several years, when they went to decay. It is said
that after the mill was abandoned, the boys would go
j down, hoist the gate, and grind pebbles in it for a pas-
! time.
The first blooded stock introduced in the precinct was
I in 1830, by James Nabb, it being a celebrated breed of
horses which were imported from the State of Kentucky.
About 1845, a serious malady prevailed here, known
as the " black tongue " — it proved very fatal, and many
were swept away by this much-dreaded disease. With
this exception, the township has been one of the most
healthy and prosperous in the county. The roads and
bridges are kept in fair condition, and good farms and
farm improvements are to be seen throughout its ter-
ritory.
Supervisors. — The following is a list of the names of
those who have represented the precinct in the county
board since township organization : W. M. Edmondson
was elected in 1857, and served one term. Daniel L.
Gold was elected in 1858, and served one term. George
M. Whittaker was elected in 1859, served two terms.
John Seed was elected in 1861, served one term, and was
chairman of the board. Daniel Feagans was elected in
1862, and served until 1867. George M. Whittaker was
re-elected in 1867, and served until 1870, and was chair-
man of the board for the year 1868. Perry Lewis was
elected in 1870, and served two terms. George M. Whit-
taker was re-elected in 1872, served one term. H. C.
McCleave was elected iu 1873, served one term. Thomas
Kirkwood was elected in 1874, and served until 1879,
being chairman of the board for the year 1877. N. D.
Rawlings was elected in 1879, and served till 1883, when
William N. Tanquary, the present incumbent, was
chosen.
LAWRENCEVILLE.
At the special May meeting of the county commis-
sioners' court, after the county was organized in 1821, a
committee of two was appointed to select a site for a
county seat. Thtse committee men were Moses Thomp-
son and William Wilson. The following is their report,
made the 16th day of May, 1821 : "The location is
selected on the twenty acres on the west side ot the Em-
barras river, three hundred yards south of the Dubois"
mills, on a ridge to the left of the St. Louis trail, laid
off in a square and designated as the centre of said tract
by a white oak stump with a peeled stake sticking by its
side, as the seat of justice."
This ground is situated on the old French claim of
WK
IBLIG BUILDINGS, /.AL/RENCEV/LLE, LAURENCE CO-,!LL
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WAS ASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
233
Toussaint Dubois, sen., a tract containing 1020 acres.
The site for the capital of the county was selected'nearly
central within the claim, being a part of the northwest
quarter of northwest quarter of section 6, township 3,
range 11 west of the second principal, meridian. It was
surveyed and platted by John Dunlap, the 27th and
28th days of June, 1821, and placed on record April 24,
1823. The deed for the twenty acres was executed Sep-
tember 15th, 1821, by Jane Dubois, executrix, widow of
Toussaint Dubois, sen., and Toussaint, jr. and H. Dubois,
executors, in and for the sum of $300. It was executed
to John Dunlap, James Lanterman and William Mar-
tin, county commissioners of Lawrence county. The
town was laid off three blocks square, with the block for
the county buildings arranged in the center. The streets
were 82 feet wide, and named as follows : Those extend -
ing north and south were called Main and Market ;
those east and west, Jones and Sugar streets. It is the
oldest town in the county. Several additions have been
made since its formation. Bradley's addition was made
in 1826 ; Badollet and Eaton's in 1828 ; Clubb's in 1829 ;
Baker's in 1839, and Jones' in 1853.
The first house built within the present village limits
was the house or hut of John Brigman, about 1816. It
was situated at the bluff, not far from the Hydraulic
mills. The first merchandise was sold by the Dubois
Brothers in 1821. The storehouse was a small frame
building situated north of the court-house square. The
lumber for its construction was hauled from Vincennes.
The mill before mentioned had then been in operation
for nearly two years, and a few houses were scattered
about the timber. Large maple trees then covered the
present site of the town ; in short, it was but a little
hamlet within a sugar camp. About 1827 the Dubois
Brothers erected quite an extensive distillery. It was
located a little east of Price's steam flouring mill, up
against the bluff, and extended across what is now Can-
thorn street. It subsequently passed into the hands of
Riley Brothers, who enlarged the building and the capa-
city of the works. For a time this industry furnished a
market for all the corn for many miles around. The
product was shipped to New Orleans in flat-boats via the
Embarras, Wabash, Ohio and Mississippi rivers. This
establishment was in running order until about 1843,
when it was abandoned and went to decay. The writer
was upon the ground only a short time since, but nothing
is left to show that all was life and activity here
" some forty years ago." A carding and fulling mill
were also a part of the business of the town at thai
time. Quite an extensive slaughtering and packing
house was then under the supervision of Henry Shep-
herd, which furnished a good market for the pork raisec
in this region of the State. Indeed, the town of Law-
renceville was a lively, busy point until about 1848, it
having a large trade with the South by means of flat-
boats. Its backward tendency is, no doubt, owing to the
building of the Ohio and Mississippi railroad, leaving
the town about a mile to the north of this great thorough:
fare, since which time it has rather gone backward than
otherwise.
Incorporation — The act incorporating the town of
Lawrenceville was approved Feb. 12th, 1835. The fol-
lowing are the boundaries of the same, as provided by
he charter : " One square mile, laid out by lines run-
ning due north and south, east and west, and the center
of the public square to be the center of said square
mile." The corporate powers and duties were vested in
D trustees, who were authorized to appoint their
presiding officer and all other officers of the board. The
charter also provided that the trustees should have the
prerogative to divide the town into two wards or more.
All east of Main street to compose one ward, and all
west of said street to compose another. If more were
made, the trustees were required to make record of the
same.
Unfortunately, the records of the first action of the
board have been lost, and we are unable to give a synop-
sis of its doings or the names of the first officers elect.
Since first incorporation by an Act of the Legislature,
the limits of the town have been considerably extended.
Village Organization- — A vote was had by the citi-
zens of the town, March 12th, 1879, to determine if the
people desired to organize under a general provision of
the statute relating to villages, etc. Upon canvassing
the vote, it was found that there were fifty-one votes for
village organization and none against it. An election
was held on the 19th of April following to elect officers
under the new regime, when the following officers were
elected : C. Cole, Clinton Abernathy, Silas Hall, Robert
W. Musgrave, T. A. Curry and John H. Roberts were
elected as trustees. Daniel L. Gold was elected village
clerk, and William Robinson magistrate. The present
village officers are : Trustees— C. Cole, T. W. Roberts,
J. K. Dickerson, A. L. Irwin, F. W. Weyl and E. B.
Price ; clerk — Frank C. Meserve ; treasurer — E. Schmal-
hausen ; magistrate — William Robinson ; street commis-
sioner— J. A. Organ; constable — Lafayette. Currie.
Treasurer, street commissioner and constable are ap-
pointive offices.
PRESENT BUSINESS, ETC.
Hydraulic Mills, Cyrenus Cole, proprietor.— This mill
is situated on or near the site of the old Dubois mill
which went to decay more than half a century ago, it
being on the Embarras river just north of the town.
The present mill was built by Daniel Payne about 1833.
When first constructed it contained two run of burrs,
and subsequently was attached a carding mill and a saw
mill. These latter attachments were destroyed by fire in
1855. Later, it was owned by the firm of Ryan & Mc-
Lean, who conducted the business for a time, when it
went down, and for some years remained silent. Mr.
Cole took possession of it in the fall of 1880. Its power
was what is known as the re-active system, but at this
time it has the turban wheel with nine feet head of wa-
ter. The building is a frame, three stories high, and
50x60 feet on the ground. It contains two run of stone,
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
with a capacity of 65 barrels of flour daily, and when in
operation gives employment to two men.
Price Steam Flouring Mills. — This industry was estab-
lished by W. C. Price in the fall of 1880, and is situated
on the west side of Canthorn street, in the north part of
town near the river. The building is a frame 38x40 ft.,
with stone basement, and three stories high, and cost,
including machinery, about $6,000. It contains three
run of burrs, with a capacity of grinding daily 65 bbls.
of flour and 250 bushels of meal, and gives employment
to three men. The annual value of manufactured pro-
duct is estimated at 840,000. The machinery is driven
by a 40-horse power engine. The mill is now owned by
W. C. Price & Sons.
School Building. — This is situated on the west side of
Market street, one block south of the court-house square.
A granite slab in the front gable bears the inscription,
" Lawreuceville Public School, 1874." It is constructed
of brick, two stories high, and is 60x41 feet on the
ground, and cost about $5000. The building is adorned
with a cupola containing a bell, and each window is
supplied with Venitian shutters. It is arranged into
four rooms, two above and two below, and is seated with
the latest improved desks, and contains other furniture
to match. Two teachers and an assistant are employed,
Prof. P. J. Anderson, principal. The maximum at-
tendance is about 160 pupils. The school grounds are
enclosed by a good fence, and excellently shaded with
forest trees.
Hotels. — Union House, Lawrence Roby, Pi oprietor ;
Watts House, Mrs. E. Watts, Proprietor.
Newspapers. — Democratic Herald, F. C. Meserve, Ed-
itor ; Rural Republican, S. B. Day, Editor.
Physicians.— W. M. Garrard, C. M. Carter, Silas Ha'l,
E Robinson.
General Merchandise— T. W. Roberts, Robertson
Brothers.
Groceries, Hardware, Queensware, etc. — Ed. Tracy, F.
R. Watts, Cole & Barnhouse, John H. Roberts, G. W.
Carr.
Druggist and Pharmacist.— Edward Schmalhausen.
Grain and Lumber Merchant. — S. P. Barton.
Lumber, Grain and Agricultural Implements. — Hard-
acre & Musgrove.
Furniture Dealer and Undertaker. — B. H. Popes and
Son.
Milliner and Dressmaker.— Mrs. J. Aydelotte.
Dressmaker. — Mrs. Jas K. Dickirsoii.
Meat Market.— John B. Evans.
Real Estate Agent aud Abstractor.— A.. I. Judy.
Insurance' Agent. — Charles Teschmacher.
Blacksmiths.— W. C. Gilbert, Fred Pierce.
Wagon and Repair Shop. — Joseph White.
Barber. — Logan Harmon.
Gun, and Locksmith.— John Tromley.
Carpenters and Builders.— I,. Selby, James Stru- j
ble, J. B. Hiskey, John Johnson, Daniel Swinehart &
Son.
Stone Mason, Cutter and Layer. — Michael O'Rourk.
Plasterers — George Clark, John Simms.
Shoe Makers —William Walton, Isaac Hall.
Tailor.— Philip Shafer.
Painter and Glazier.— Osmon & Son.
Postmaster. — John H. Roberts.
Thereare three church buildings in the town, the Chris-
tian, Methodist Episcopal, and the M. E. Colored-church.
SOCIETIES.*
Edward Doling Lodge, No. 164, A. F. and A. M. was
organized under the name of Lawrenceville Lodge, No-
vember 3rd, 1864, but subsequently changed its name to
the above in honor of its first master, Edward Dobins.
The first meeting was held, under dispensation, Decem-
ber llth, 1854. The charter was granted October 3rd,
1855. There were seven charter members, Edward Dob.
ins, Jesse K. Dubois, George P. Sherwood, G. C. Cros-
seu, Joseph Gibson, Henry I. Walters, and William M.
Mills. It now has a membership of forty, is out of debt,
owns its own hall and real estate to the value of $1,000.
The lodge meets every second and fourth Saturday nights
in each month.
Lam-enceville Lodge, No. 2536, K. of H.
This lodge was chartered August 17th, 1881, with twen-
ty charter members. The present membership is forty-
eight, and the whole number enrolled since organization,
is fifty-two. The lodge meets in its hall every Wednes-
day night. With the exception of the indebtedness in-
curred in constructing their new hall, the lodge is out of
debt, and is in good working order.
At this writing, the town contains about five hundred
inhabitants. The streets are well kept, and there is a
fair sprinkling of shade trees. In the summer of 1830,
the town was visited with a severe wind-storm or cyclone,
which was known for many years afterward as " Dow's
storm." It received this cognomen from the fact that
Lorenzo Dow, the cosmopolite, preached to the people
of Lawrenceville on that day. There was a large con-
course of people present, some of whom came the
distance of forty miles to hear the famous preacher. The
platform on which he stood was arranged at the old
court-house door. The greater portion of his sermon
was delivered while he was sitting in a chair. At times,
for dramatic effect, he would get down and grope about
upon the platform. He had only fairly finished his ser-
mon, when the storm broke forth. Houses and trees
were blown down, crops were destroyed, and fences were
scattered to the four winds. It is said that a French
cart was blown across the Wabash to the Indiana side of
the river.
A sad calamity occurred in the town in the summer
of 1870, which threw the whole community in mourn-
ing, while but a few moments before there were loud hur-
rahs of jollification and rejoicing. It was at the time of
the prospective building of the railroad which now passes
through the town. A railroad meeting was being con-
*For this data we are indebted to the secretaries of the societies.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS. 235
ducted in the village, speakers were at hand, and the
crowd became very enthusiastic. As is usual on such
occasions, powder had to be burned in order to give due
eclat to the same. An old iron gudgeon, with a hole
drilled in it, was used as a substitute for a cannon.
Through some unknown cause, while loading it, it burst
into hundreds of pieces, dealing death to one, and badly
maiming two others. The sudden joy turned to sadness,
and every heart bled for the poor sufferers and the friends
of the deceased.
Oriswold is a small town of about fifty inhabitants, sit-
uated at the O. & M. junction, one mile south of Law-
renceville, on the N. E. } of section 12, township 3,
range 12. It was laid out August 21st, 1866, by Jesse
K. Dubois, and received its name in honor of William
D. Griswold, then general superintendent of the Ohio
and Mississippi railway. The only business is one hotel,
kept by James N. Musgrave.
Bridgeport lies partly in Lawrence precinct, but as the
larger and business portion is in Bridgeport township,
the history of it will be found in that chapter.
LAWRENCE COUNTY AGRICULTURAL BOARD
Was organized in 1858. The society purchased five acres
of ground, located about one-half mile southwest of town,
for which they gave $200. Subsequently they added about
four acr33 m)r3 to it, miking nearly nine acres in all.
A fine third-mile track was prepared, besides good com-
i fortable buildings were built for the convenience of ex-
! hibiting the wares of its patrons. For a time, the enter-
prise was prosperous, proving beneficial to the public
and paying to the society. A few years ago the town of
i Bridgeport became ambitious, and it also organized a
I society and opened a fair ground. The result was, that
with a season or two of rainy weather and too much
fair in the county, both societies became swamped for
funds, which subsequently proved their overthrow. The
members of the societies at Lawrenceville, in order to
keep faith with their patrons, borrowed a sufficient sum
of money to pay their premiums in full. To obtain this
they mortgaged their ground as security for the amount
of the loan. They struggled along for a time with this
load upon them, but the income from the exhibitions
was insufficient to cancel any part of the debt. Becoming
discouraged about ever being able to discharge the debt,
they concluded to sell the ground for what it would
bring, and go down into their individual pockets for the
remainder. This was done, and thus passed away one of
the finest little fair grounds in southern Illinois. The
last exhibition was held in the fall of 1878, but the so-
ciety did not become defunct until the winter of 1882.
The enclosure and buildings may yet be seen a little
southwest of Lawrenceville.
Prior to this organization, in 1855, the first fair was
somewhat impromptu, and was held in the court-room.
These impromptu exhibitions were kept up until the or-
ganizing of the foregoing society.
CITY AND PRECINCT OF MOUNT CARMEL
WABASH COUNTY.
[HE early history of Mt. Carmel Precinct
dates back nearly three-fourths of a century.
The first settlers were mainly hardy pioneers
from the State of Ohio, and it is owing to their
indomitable energy and perseverance that the present
generation are now enjoying the fruits of a cultivated
society and a land of plenty. It was they who cleared
the forest, faced the wild Indian, and prepared the way
for the incoming tide of immigration and civilization
that now marks our border, extending to the Pacific
coast. We say, blessings on their noble efforts, for they
will surely reap a rich reward in the unknown beyond-
Mt. Carmel precinct has the honor of containing the
capital of the county, and receives its name from the fine
little city of Mt. Carmel. The precinct extends along
the west side of the Wabash river, and is bounded on the
north by the Base Line, east by the Wabash, south by
Coffee precinct, and west by Bellmont and Lick Prairie
precincts. The surface is mainly level, and was origi-
nally covered with heavy timbers of walnut, oak, syca-
more, elm, hickory, poplar, and many other varieties
which may be found mentioned in the chapter on Flora.
Two small prairies are located in the north of the pre-
cinct, Bald Hill prairie and English prairie. The soil
is mainly the dark alluvial loam of the Wabash bottom,
and the terrace lands are what are familiarly known as
second bottom land. The latter is lighter in color, and
not so deep as the former, but is better adapted to the
cultivation of wheat ; while the soil of the first bottom is
unexcelled for the culture of maize and the grasses. The
transportation facilities are excellent, the Wabash, St.
Louis and Pacific railway extending northeast and south-
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LA WRENCE AND WABA8H COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
west through the precinct ; while the Louisville, Evans- , linois. They reached the wilds of the Prairie State in
ville and St. Louis road passes from-east to west through 1817, and Beauchamp was detailed to survey and plat
its territory, forming a junction with the former road at , the town. Several emigrants came with them, and the
the county seat, Mt. Carmel. Besides the railroads, it | nucleus for a settlement was founded. Messrs. Hinde and
has the advantage of the river facilities, which at certain [ Beauchamp located with the other settlers in their new-
seasons of the year are of no small importance. found home. Subsequently the former returned to Ohio,
I where he remained until the decease of his wife, when
EARLY SETTLERS. j he marrje(j again and returne(] to jnt. Carmel. He did
The first to make a home in Mt. Carmel precinct was j much good for h'is fellow-man in his time, and died re-
Enoch Greathouse, a native of Germany, who emigrated gretted, Feb. — , 1846. His remains repose by the side
to the United States in a very early day and first located of his second wife in the city cemetery of Mt. Carmel.
in Pennsylvania. He subsequently removed to Ken- | Mr. Beauchamp, for many years, followed his chosen
tucky, and in 1803 or '4 came to Illinois, and located
•ft lure the city of Mt. Cam el now slaiids. His family
counted if his wife, four children and one grandchild.
The children were — Enoch, jr. ; Rachel, nee Beatton ;
Leah, nee Woods ; and Isaac. The grandson was Elias
yGreathouse, father of Sylvester Greathouse, who now
lives in the city. Mr. G. sold his possessions to Messrs.
Hinde & McDowell, and located at the now extinct town
of Centerville, where he died many years ago at the ad-
vanced age of 110. years. Several of his descendants are
living in this and Edwards county. Mrs. Sylvester Great-
house is a great-grand-daughter.
One of the early settlers to locate in this precinct was
William Mclntosh, about 1814. He had come into
possession of a large tract of land in the Illinois terri-
ion, that of the ministry, and died suddenly in the
State of Indiana, wlyle conducting a camp-meeting.
He was a noted Methodist preacher, and a writer of more
than local repu'.ation.
Hiram Bell was born in Virginia, and, when a young
man, migrated to Illinois in the fall of 1817. He first
located in Friendsville precinct. In 1824, he married
Elizabeth Buchanan, by which union several children
were born. When the county of Wabash was organized
in 1824, he was elected circuit clerk, which office he
filled for twenty-six years. The county seat was first
established at Centerville. When it was removed to Mt.
Carmel, in 1829, he moved thither, where he remained
until his death, which occurred in 1867. Having the
confidence of the people, his life was spent mainly in
tory, which was known in an early day as the " Mcln- their service. He filled the office of county clerk twenty-
tosh Reserve." His house, which was quite pretentious j five years, besides being elected probate judge for a time.
for that day, was situated near the Wabash, at the foot
of the Grand Rapids, about two miles north of the
present city of Mt Carmel. He was a single man, but
tradition says that his serving- woman (colored) bore him
several children. But all have passed away, and none
are left to bear the name or to give a history of the pro-
prietor of Mclntosh manor. Jarvis Deal and Seth Gard
were here about as early as Mclutosh. The former was
among the first to locate in the now extinct town of Pal-
myra, and the latter, with Gard and a few others, were
the projectors of the town.
Gervase Hazleton was one of the first settlers of old
Palmyra, having come here as early as 1814. The first
courts were held at his house. He was appointed clerk
of the county in 1821 and served until 1823.
A prominent settler of 1817, and one of the founders
of Mt. Carmel, was the Rev. Thomas S. Hinde, a native
of Virginia. His father was the well-known Dr. Hiude
of Virginia, who, during the French and Indian War,
was a surgeon in the British navy, and was present when
the gallant Gen. Wolf fell storming the Heights of Abra-
ham. He subsequently located in Kentucky, and it was
here that Thomas S. grew to manhood. When Ohio was
organized as a State, Thomas was among the first pio-
neers. He had the honor, for several years, to be a
member of the legislature in the new-formed State. In
1817 he associated himself with the Rev. William Beau-
champ and Dr. William McDowell of Chillicothe, Ohio,
to form a settlement or colony on ^the Wabash river, II-
Mrs. Bell is yet living, and is a resident of Mt Carmel.
Four of the children are living, two of whom reside in
the city: Judge Robert Bell is a prominent attorney,
and James H. is a book-keeper for a firm in the town.
Joshua and James Beall, brothers, were born in Ma-
ryland, but subsequently moved to Ohio; and in 1818
came with other emigrants to the new- formed colony.
They were both single men, and blacksmiths by trade.
Iu 1819, Joshua married Judith Russell, and a few years
later, abandoned blacksmithing, and embarked in the
mercantile business, which occupation he followed until
1840, when he retired from active life. He died
in Mt. Carmel in 1865. The only one of the family now
living is Mrs. Wilson, widow of William Wilson, who
resides in the above named city. James married a sister
of Joshua's first wife, and reared a family. He also re-
tired from blacksmithing, and subsequently held various
county offices, besides serving one term in the State
Legislature. He was twice married, his second wife
being Caroline Cook. He died in Mt. Carmel in 1862, ,
his wife surviving him; she is now a resident of Indian-
apolis. None of the children are living in the county.
Others who were among the first emigrants from Ohio,
were: Isaac Ingersoll, Edward Ulni, Joseph Jones,
James Townsend, William Simonds, Aaron Gould^
Abraham Russell, Scoby Stewart, James Black, and
several others, of whom, at this late date, it is impossible
to get any record.
The former, Mr. Ingersoll, came when he was a mere
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
237
boy. He died in Mt Carmel but a few months ago,
being at his death the oldest pioneer in the precinct. A
daughter of Mr. Ulm, wife of William Stone, is a resi-
dent of this precinct. Mr. Stone is also one of the early
settlers. John D., a son of Andrew Dyar, is a resident
of the precinct, and has had the honor of being twice
elected to the office of shei iff of the county. Two of the
family of the pioneer, Joseph Jones, live in Mt. Carmel,
Frank and Caroline,— the latter is the widow of Hiram
Bedell. Two of James Townshend's children are yet
living : John, who is in Mt. Carmel, and a daughter who
resides in Indiana. Aaron Gould remained here for
some years, when he removed to another part of
the State ; several of his representatives are residents of
the county. Scoby Stewart was one of the first merchants
and justices of the peace in the city. He died many
years ago.
William Simonds came from Ohio, and located about
one and a-half miles northwest of Mt. Camel, and was
one of the first to cultivate a farm in the precinct. He
had a family of five children: Stephen, Elijah, William,
junr., David, and Lydia (now the »idow of George Le- |
gier). The latter re.-ides in Mt. Carmel, and David lives
at the old homestead. Mr. Simonds and wife died some
vears ago.
A pioneer of 1819 was Beauchamp Harvey, a native of
Maryland, who in an early day went to Ohio. It
was here that he enlisted in the service of the war of
1812, and was with General Hull's troops at the memo-
rable surrender of Detroit. At the close of the war he
returned to Ohio, where he married Esther Saylor, in
1816. In 1819 he migrated to Illinois, and located in
Mt. Carmel. At this time the family consisted of two
daughters, Jane and Sally. Five other children were
born to the family : James, Mary, Judith, William P.,
and David, four of whom are living — James, and Judith I
(wife of Daniel Titus) reside in Mt. Carmel ; David is in !
Coffee precinct ; and Mary (wife of Thomas J. Ray) re- ,
sides in Lawrence county. Mr. Harvey died at the old
homestead in 1859 ; his wife survived him until 1873.
John Tilton was another emigrant of 1819, and was
from New Jersey. He first located at Bald Hill prairie,
in Friendsville precinct, but soon afterward moved to
Mt. Carmel. He was one of the first hotel keepers of
the town, and subsequently engaged in the mercantile
business. He died here long ago. Several of his de-
scendants are residents of Mt. Carmel and vicinity.
Samuel and Robert Rigg (brothers) came from Ohio
in the same year as Mr. Tilton. Both of them had fami-
lies. F. M. Rigg, a son of Samuel, resides at the home-
stead of his father, about three miles west of Mt. Carmel ;
and James, another son, lives near him. Dr. Rigg, of
Mt. Carmel, is a descendant of the Rigg pioneers. The
county is largely sprinkled with those springing from
these old families.
One of the oldest living settlers in the precinct is Cap-
tain James M. Sharp, a citizen of Mt. Carmel. He was
born in Kentucky, and with his parents, moved to Indi-
ana in 1814. He came to Mt. Carmel a eingle man, in
1825. He learned the trade of blacksmithing with
Joshua Beall, with whom he remained until 1830. In
1836, he married Rebecca Tongas, from which union
four children were born. Mrs. S. died in 1849. He sub-
sequently married a sister (Julia) of his first wife. Only
one of the children is living, Thomas P , who resides in
Mt. Carmel. In 1832, Mr. Sharp engaged as engineer
on the river, which occupation he followed until 1844.
He subsequently became a river pilot on the Wabash
and Ohio rivers, and continued in this service until 1856,
when he retired from the business and engaged in farm-
ing. • He was elected to the State Legislature three
terms, 1861, 1863, and 1867, and was a member of the
Constitutional Convention in 18"0. He has now retired
from active life, and is enjoying his old age with his
wife in peace and plenty.
Isaac Hoskinson also came in 1825. He was a native
of Virginia. His family then consisted of his wife and
four children. He established the first foundry in
the town, which was one of the first in the West-
He died in 1828. Two of his sons reside in Mt. Carmel,
F. A., and Isaac, Jr. O. B. Ficklin, now of Charleston,
Coles county, 111., was a settler of 1830, and was once
editor of the Mt. Carmel Register. He is now practicing
law, and is among the oldest practitioners in the stale.
We glean the following from a speech made by him at
an old settler's meeting a few years ago, in_ the city of
Olney. In speaking of the traffic of those early times,
he says: " The ' possum' and the coon were important
factors in the stock and trade. The meat was used for
food and the furs for commerce. Deer skins, beeswax,
and wild honey were a medium of traffic for the flat
boats between Mt. Carmel and New Orleans, and in re-
turn they brought sugar, molasses, and other products
of the South Bees were so numerous that they were
hunted by saint and sinner." He relates of one of the
pioneer preachers, when giving out his appointment du-
ring the bee-hunting season, as saying, '' That he would
preach at church on the next Sunday if it was
not a good bee day." This smacks of ye olden time, and
conveys to the reader a glimpse of the customs of the
pioneers.
Isaac N. Jaquess was born in Kentucky, and when a
mere boy migrated with his mother to Missouri. He
came to Mt. Carmel a single man, in 1831. Three years
later he married Jane Tilton. She died in 1863, and in
1867, he married Katherine McClintock. Ten children
have been born to him, four of whom are yet living ; I.
W., James H., Laura J., wife of Dr. Rigg, and Ellen S.,
wife of Richard Weaver ; all of whom reside in Mt. Car-
mel and vicinity. Mr Jaquess is one of the BlackHawk
soldiers, aud served as Chaplain in the War of the Re-
bellion. He has filled the office of Justice of the Peace
for many years, and has had the honor of representing
the people in the State Legislature one term, 1872-3.
He is now 72 years of age, and hale and hearty for one
of his years. Is engaged in the lumber trade in Mt.
238
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Carmel, besides he owns considerable real estate both in
Illinois and Indiana.
Other early settlers were Elijah Harris, Robert Lucas,
Curtis Ivy, Jacob Tombs, A. L. Hobbs, P H. Bagwell
and others who have probably passed out of mind of those
now living.
The first medical practitioner in this part of the county
was Dr. Reuben Baker, who located in Mt. Carmel sev-
eral years before the county was formed. Other early
physicians were, Drs. Allison, Fithian, Trail, Anderson,
Harvey and Rigg. Dr. Fithian left Mt. Carmel in the
spring of 18:33. Dr. James Harvey has retired from
practice. Drs. T. J. Rigg and Paul Sears are yet prac-
ticing in the city.
First Land Entries.— Believing that the early land en-
tries will be of interest to the reader, we here record the
first made in the precinct. The following are in Tp. 1
S., R. 12 W.: October 24th, 1814, John Marshall en-
tered the N. W. J of fractional sec. 28. Nov. 1st, 1814,
Enoch Greathouse entered all of fractional sec. No. 20
that lies within the limits of the state. April 25th, 1817,
Thos. S. Hinde entered 480 acres of the east part of sec.
29. The following entries are in Tp. 1 S., R. 13 W.:
June 12th, 1816, James Majors entered the S. W. } of
sec. 1. April 12th, 1817, Enoch Greathouse entered
the N. W. } of same section. Jan. 7th, 1817, Henry At-
ter entered the S. E. k of sec. 3. June 16th, 1817, A.
Vauderveer & Smook entered the N. E. i of sec. 11.
Maudove Beauchamp entered, Aug. 5th, 1817, all of sec
14, except 58 acres in the northeast. James English,
Apr. 25th, 1817, entered all of sec. 24. The same date,
John Collins entered the N. t of sec. 25. Same date,
Joshua Beall entered the E. J of the S. E. i of sec. 25.
Same date, Cornelius McCallen entered the S. W. t of
sec. 26. Jan. 22nd, 1818, David Beauchamp entered
the S. E. t of sec 26 March 18th, 1818, John Russell
entered the W. i of the S. W. } of sec. 12. June 15th,
1818, Henry Christy entered the W. i of the N. E. i of
sec. 12 Juni 10th, 1818, Win. Beauchamp entered the
E. J of the S. W. i of sec. 23. Sept. 17th, 1818, J. &
J. Dunlop entered the S. W. i of sec. 15. June 26th,
1818, Scoby Stewart entered the N. E. i of sec. 1. The
following entries are in Tp. 2 S., R. 13 W : Dec.
13th, 1815, A. Lavulette entered the S. E. i of sec. 3.
Jan. 3rd, 1817, John Nestler entered the S. W. i of sec.
March 20th, 1817, Thos. S. Hinde entered the S. i of
sec. 2.
EARLY NAVIGATION OF THE WABASH.
The first navigation of the Wabash river was by means
of rudely constructed flat and keel boats, which were
propelled by poles or sweeps. So unwieldy were they,
that after propelling them to the markets below, they
were left, and the navigators usually walked back to
their homes. Ye of the Iron Age, where steam power
has virtually wiped out distance, imagine, if you can, a
tramp on foot from New Orleans to Mt Carmel, and with
the small amount of money obtained by traffic safely
stowed in a side pocket.
The first steamboat that came up the Wabash as far
as Mt. Carmel was the Commerce, commanded by Jacob
Strades, in 1819. It came from Cincinnati, and
passed up the river as far as Terre Haute. It was not
until about 1832, that steam-boating on the Wabash
commenced with much regularity. Prior to this, one
boat within the year was about the extent of steam nav-
igation. From 1832 to 1856, the business was quite
active, but soon afterward the railroads came into vogue,
and the steamboat traffic became almost a dead letter,
so that to-day there is scarcely a boat on the river. Now
and then a tug-boat makes its appearance, but this is
only at long intervals.
OLD PALMYRA.
This extinct town was the first county seat of Edwards
county when said county embraced about one-third of
the present state of Illinois, and quite a portion of the
states of Michigan and Wisconsin, its northern bound-
ary extending north to Upper Canada. The town was
laid off by Seth Gard & Company, April 22nd, 1815, and
is described as follows : Lying on the Wabash river on
part of the two fractional lots or sections, numbers 4 and
5, in township one south of Base Line, and range twelve
west of the second principal meridian. In its palmiest
days it was a town of considerable pretensions, contain-
ing several stores, hotels, banks, etc., beside the county
buildings. The buildings were constructed mainly of
hewed logs, many of them being double in proportions
It seems that it was a great oversight by the County
Commissioners in selecting this point for the capital of
the county, as it is at a sluggish bend in the river, on
a sand ridge, and was nearly surroundedjwith low marshes
and sloughs. The Indians warned the people by saying,
" Indian die here, squaw die here, pappoose die here, and
white man die here." It proved too true, for the town
became noted as one of the most sickly localities in the
West. The inhabitants died by the hundreds and were
buried in the sand ridge below the town. Nothing but
a cornfield now marks the spot of either the town or
cemetery ; not even a head-stone exists to inform the
passer-by that hundreds of Palmyra's dead lie here.
It would be needless to add that in a few years a vote
was submitted to the people to re-locate the county seat.
Albion and Mt. Carmel were rival towns for said honor,
the former town being the choice of the people-
This was in 1821, only a few years after the close of the
war of 1812. Albion being an English settled town, the
people east of Bonpas creek felt very much aggrieved
over the county business passing into the hands of the
British, as they somewhat jealously termed the citizens
of Albion and vicinity. Four companies of militia-men
were enrolled and drilled in and about Mt. Carmel, and
made ready, at a moment's notice, to march upon Albion
and secure the records. The crisis arrived, and the
companies of militia met at Bald Hill Prairie, where
they encamped for the night, preparatory to marching
on to Albion early the next morning. Before reaching
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
the town they were met by a committee, sent from Al-
bion to make terms of peace. A compromise was effected
and the militia disbanded. Three years 1 ater, Wabash
became a county, and had the privilege of managing its
own domestic affairs.
CITY OF MT. CAKMEL.
This fine little city is situated on a prominent bluff
overlooking the Wabash, nearly a half mile distant to
the southward. Intervening is a large common belong-
ing to the city, and by its side the river silently wends
its way to mingle its waters with the Ohio. It is the
capital of Wabash county, and geographically, is located
in the central eastern part of the precinct, township one,
range twelve west of the second principal meridian, and
now comprises about three square miles. The founders,
Rev. Thos. S. Hinde and William McDowell, in 1817,
conceived the idea of establishing and populating a town
on the Wabash — then the Western frontier— that should
have a civil and moral code peculiar to their views of
right and justice. Some time in 1818 the site was se-
lected, surveyed and platted. The town was laid out on
a large scale — and, to induce immigration, lots were do'
nated to those who would improve the same within a
given time. Articles of association were drafted for the
government of the town and placed of record, Sept. 21,
1818. These articles made liberal provision for the
building of a seminary, and instituting a bank, all of
which should be under the joint control of the law-
abiding citizens of the town. Article 18 of the associa-
tion has, in later years, been denominated " blue laws,"
on account of their Puritanic significance. We will
here give a synopsis of the aforesaid Articles : " No
theatre or playhouse shall ever be built within the
bounds of the city. No person shall be guilty of drun-
kenness, profane swearing or cursing, Sabbath-breaking,
or who shall keep a disorderly house, shall gamble, or
suffer gambling in his house, or raise a riot in the city,
or be guilty of any other crime of greater magnitude,
etc., he shall be subject to trial by the court or mayor."
On conviction, the culprit was disqualified from holding'
any office in the city, or the bank, and was also disquali-
fied to vote for any bank or city officers. This ostracism
was to continue for three years after the commission of
the so-called crime.
One of the first houses in the town was constructed by
Francis Dixon in 1818, and was situated in what is now
an alley between Third and Fourth streets. It was a
double log-cabin, and Mr. Dixon resided in one part of
it, and sold goods in the other. This was the first store
in the town. The first frame house was built by Scoby
Stewart, and located on Fifth street between Main and
Chestnut streets. The two next were the old Townshend
property and the Judge Shannon place. The former is
yet standing, and is now the residence of Mrs. Stillwdl,
on Second street ; the latter is on Main street. A foun
dry was established in 1823 by Joseph L.Wilson, and lo-
cated on the lot now occupied by G. C. Turner. The first
tavern was built about 1819, and situated on Mulberry
street. It was long known as " The Old Red Tavern,""
and was kept in an early day by Reuben Baker. It ia
yet standing, and is now utilized for a dwelling.
Russell & Stewart constructed the first flouring mill.
This was in about 1822. It was built on the old tread-
wheel power of action, and situated on the premises now
owned by A. C. Edgar, on Second street. Opposite this
mill, John Buntiu established the first tan-yard. He
was a colored man, and subsequently removed to Libe-
ria, Africa. The first ferry was conducted by R. Bal-
lentine in 1817 or '18. The crossing was made at the
same point on the river as the present ferry. The means
of crossing was a flat-boat, operated by poles or sweeps.
The first steam flouring-mill was built in 1833 by J. L.
Wilson, and located on the lot now occupied by Mrs.
Parkinson. The first justices of the peace were Scoby
Stewart, Beauchamp Harvey and Joseph Jones. The
first school-house was built about 1823, and was situated
on the lot now occupied by Charles Russell. It was a
log building of no great pretensions. The first person
to teach in it was a man by the name of Curry. He was
succeeded by Mr. Schofield, and later Mrs. Joy became
the teacher. The early town market was conducted
under a locust tree where the school-house now stands.
This was in 1836, and at that time there were not more
than a dozen houses in that part of the town east of
Mulberry street, and they were nearly all log buildings.
The business then was wholly confined to Main street,
between First and Second streets.
The first brick church built in the state of Illinois
was constructed in Mt. Carmel by the Methodist Epis-
copal Society in 1824. It was situated on the corner of
Fourth and Mulberry streets. At the time of its build-
ing church bells had not been introduced in this part of
the West, and the congregation was notified of the time
for church services by hideous resounding blasts from a
cow's horn sent forth from the church door. For many
years the walls of this sacred building only echoed to
the divine Word, and the songs of praise and thanksgiv-
ing ; but a change came, the house was gold, and the
sacrilegious John Baumgartner transformed its conse-
crated walls into a brewery. Subsequently it was used
for a dwelling, and was finally destroyed by the cyclone
of 1877.
The first to conduct church services in the town and
for quite a distance around, was the Rev. Charles Slo-
cumb. His circuit embraced all that part of Illinois
and ludiana lying on the Wabash river, between its
mouth and Terre Haute, extending some distance into
the interior of either state. Among other early divines
were, I. Stewart, Robert Delop, Samuel Hull, William
McReynolds, and others.
Incorporation. — Mt. Carmel was incorporated as a
village under an act passed by the state legislature,
and approved January 10, 1825. The first trustees
were, Nathan Fry, Scoby Stewart, Joshua Beall,
Abraham Russell, James Townshend, William Si-
240
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
monds, and Edward Ulra. Mt. Carmel was incor-
porated as a city under a special act of the legislature,
approved February loth, 1865, and the first election
for officers was" held May 1, following. The officers
elect were, Mayor, James M. Sharp ; Alderman, 1st
ward, 4. Schmalhausen and George Bedell ; 2d ward,
P. Rosignol, and J. S. Johnston ; 3d ward, Richard H.
Hudson and James Higbee. Clerk, Chas. E. McClin-
tock. The appointed officers were, Marshal, Michael I
Willman ; Street Commissioner, Richard Adams ; Sur- I
veyor, William Koser; Treasurer and Assessor, William
McDowell; Police Magistrate, David Martin. The
following are the present city officers : Mayor, John
Sites ; Aldermen, 1st ward, Louis Rees and Louis Kamp ;
2d ward, Sebastian Seller and John Olendorf ; 3d ward,
Henry J. Henning and Anthony Spaeth. Clerk, S. R.
Putnam ; Treasurer, M F. Reinsmith ; Marshall, Heury
Utter; City Attorney, S. Greathouse; Police Magis-
trate, I. H. Brees ; City Printer, F. W. Havill ; City
Jailor, John Peterson.
The city of Mt. Carmel has had more than its share
of reverses coupled with its history of rise and progress.
Indeed, a less plucky and energetic people might have
abandoned it to the fates long ago. Twice has the city
been scourged with flames, in each instance aggregating
in losses hundreds of thousands of dollars. The great
floods of 1875 and 1876 created immense losses to both
city and country; but the most serious calamity that has
befallen it was the great cyclone of June 4, 1877, which
not only demolished a large portion of the city, but
fourteen persons lost their lives, seventy-five were
wounded, and five hundred people rendered houseless
and homeless. At least one hundred houses were de-
molished* and it required weeks to clear the streets
from the debris.
The storm came from a little south of west, its line of
destruction embracing all of Fourth street and a large
portion of the terrritory lying between Third and. Fifth
streets. The duration of the storm did not exceed
two minutes, the velocity of the tornado being estimated
at 150 miles an hour. The atmosphere was filled with
flying timber, boards, shingles and other objects, which
were carried to the distance of a mile or more. One
paper, a note of hand for $47, was picked up in a field
near Petersburg, Indiana, about thirty miles from Mt.
Carmel.
In much less time than it takes to write it, the city
was a ruin. The groans of the wounded, and the shrieks
of the women and children mingled with the roaring of
the storm. Pen cannot depict or describe the wild con-
fusion of that fearful calamity. A fire broke out in the
meantime, which added further horrors to the already
unprecedented disaster. Relief committees were ap-
pointed, and the people of the state responded liberally
to the wants of the sufferers. The city has been rebuilt,
so that at this writing the stranger would not recognize
by the surroundings that such a demon of destruction
had ever visited it.
LEADING BUSINESS INTERESTS, ETC., OF 1882.
Kamp's Steam Flouring Mills, Louis Kamp, Proprie-
tor. This industry was established by the firm of
Mauk Bros, about 1856, and came into the possession
of the present proprietor in the summer of 1879. The
mills are situated on the east side near the foot of Mar-
ket street. The building is a frame, four stories and
basement, and 48 x 52 feet on the ground. The engine
i and boiler room is a one story briek and 36 x 48 feet in
| size. It contains four runs of stone and a double set of
rolls, with a capacity of manufacturing 120 barrels of
flour daily. It does both merchant and custom work,
and ships its product to New Orleans, Baltimore, Phila-
delphia and other leading cities of the South and East.
! Its favorite brands are "Snow Flake" and "Pride of
| the West." Six men are given employment, and the
estimated annual value of product is $50,000. The
machinery is driven by a sixty horse-power engine.
Planing Mill. — This Mill is owned and operated by
Edward Miller. It was constructed by him in the
spring of 1875, and is located on the south side of
Third Street, between Walnut and Chestnut streets.
.The building is a frame, two stories, and 42 x 70 feet in
size. The capital invested is estimated to be about
$5,000. It is engaged in the manufacture of doors, sash,
blinds, and every other article peculiar for building
purposes, and keeps in employment eight hands. The
annual value of manufactured product is about $4,000.
The machinery is run by a thirty horse-power engine.
The Wabash Valley Mills were established in the sum-
mer of 1860, by the firm of Gould & Young, and in
1868, the firm changed to Randolph & Young. In 1881,
Mr. Young bought the entire interest and is the present
owner. The mill is situated on the southwest corner of
Ninth and Cherry streets. It is a frame, two stories,
with attic, and 40 x 60 feet in dimensions. Estimated
capital invested, $5,000. It contains two runs of stone,
and a capacity of manufacturing sixty barrels of flour
per day, and requires the employment of three men. It
is purely a custom mill and furnishes the trade with
most of the flour for the city. The value of the yearly
product is estimated at $25,000. Thespecial brand is the
" Wabash Valley Flour." Engine power, forty-horse.
Steam Saw Mill owned by Jaquess & Chipman. This
mill is located on the Wabash river, south of the city,
on the common adjoining the town. plat. The present
mill was built in 1882, at a cost of about $4,000. It has
a capacity of turning out 15,000 feet of lumber daily,
and gives employment to fifteen men The saw is cir-
cular, sixty inch diameter, with top saw, besides the mill
contains an edging and lath saw. Estimated value of
yearly product, $25,000. The machinery is run by a
forty horse power engine.
Foundry and Repair Works. — This industry was es-
tablished by John Hartman, and is located on Fourth
street, between Market and Mulberry streets* In the
spring of 1859, the works were purchased by Philip
Reel, who is the present proprietor. The building is a
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WAS ASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
241
frame, one story, and 30 x 113 feet in size. It was
nearly demolished by the cyclone, in 1877, but has been
rebuilt. The capital invested is about $5,000. Work
in brass and iron castings, and all repairs of machinery
is made a specialty. Three operators are employed in
the works.
Furniture Factory, A. M. Stein, Proprietor. This
factory was established in 1880, and is situated on Fourth
street between Mulberry and Cherry streets. The me-
dium class of furniture is manufactured, employing
three workmen. The estimated annual value of product
is $2 000. Mr. Stein contemplates, in a few months,
constructing a large factory to be run by steam power,
and will require the employment of fifteen or twenty
hands.
Steam Saw Mill owned and operated by W. H. Brown.
It is situated on the river bank south of the city, on what
is known as the " Six-pole Reserve. It was built in
1867. The saw is a sixty-inch circular saw, also
top-saw, with a capacity of cutting 5,000 feet of lumber
daily. When in full running order about fifteen men
are employed. It is driven by a twenty-five horse pow-
er engine.
Stave Factory of R. W. Weaver. This factory was
built by the present owner in 1872, and situated on the
river a little west of the railroad bridge. It has the
capacity of turning out 15,000 per day, and employs ten
men. The product is shipped to various points of the
country. The capital invested is about $2,500, and the
value of yearly product is $15,000.
Furniture Factory. — This business is conducted by
Walter & Son. Was establiahed in 1869, and is located
on the west side of Main street, corner of Sixth and Main.
The building is a frame, two stories, containing two
rooms, work and sales-rooms. Three jnen are employed,
and about $5000 worth of work is turned out annually.
Mt. Carmel Marble Works.— This business was estab-
lished by the present proprietor, Henry Burrucker, in
February, 1867. It is situated on the north side of
Third street, between Market and Chestnut streets. The
building is a one-story frame, and 16x42 feet on the
ground. The capital invested is about $800, and the
annual sales will reach $3000. From four to six men
are employed. Mr. B. puts up all his own work, and
is a practical workman in all branches of the business.
Carriage Factory. — F. J. Kuhn, proprietor. The
business was commenced in 1871, and located on the
east side of Market street, between Fifth and Sixth
streets. The factory includes two building?, repository
and paint shop. Manufactures all kinds of carriages
and spring wagons. Three men are given employment,
and about $4,000 worth of stock is turned out annually.
Capital invested, $2.500
Furniture Factory of Grave and Walter. — This estab-
lishment is situated on the west side of Market street,
between Fourth and Fifth streets. The firm commenced
business in 1871. Three men are employed, and the
value of product sold is estimated at 82000.
31
Steam Saw Mill.— This mill is owned by the firm of
Morgan & Armstrong, and is located on the river bank
a little above the railroad bridge. It has the capacity
of sawing about 5000 feet of lumber daily, and employs
from ten to twelve men.
I Bannister and Table-leg Factory. — This industry was
recently established— 1882— with a capital invested of
$1200. Five men are employed, and it has the capacity
of turning out 1000 feet of material daily. It is situ-
ated on the river just east of the Air Line railroad
bridge, — F. A. Hoskinson proprietor. A little east of
this factory and also near the river, is another factory of
the same kind, and about the same capacity. It is
owned by Mr. Baker.
Furniture Factory, owned and operated by Noller &
Co., and situated on Market street, between Fifth and
Sixth streets. This is one of the oldest establishments
of the kind in the city, having been established in 1853
by Mr. Noller, and at one time having in his employ as
many as twenty hands. Only two men are now engaged
in the work. The firm is also engaged in the manufac-
ture of cider and vinegar.
! Bank owned by E. F. Beall.— It was established in
1871 under the firm name of Shannon & Beall, but
since 1880, it has been wholly under the control of Mr.
Beall. It is located on the east side of Market street,
street, between third and Fourth streets. The capital of
I the bank is fully adequate to do a safe banking business.
It is furnished with Hall's fire and burglar proof safe,
with time lock, and located in a fine, two-story brick
building, owned by Mr. Beall.
Mt. Carmel Coal Company. — This company was estab-
lished in the fall of 1882. The mine is situated on the
Air Line railway about five miles west from Mt. Car-
1 mel. The depth of the shaft is forty feet, and the thick-
ness of the coal vein is four feet. The quality of coal is
considered good, being known as the " Splint" coal.
I About 12 men are given employment by this industry,
and a car load of coal is raised daily. John Felker
operates the mine.
j Brick Works of George B. Blood are situated just
north of the city limits. It contains one kiln of large
dimensions. In the season for work about ten hands
are employed.
School Buildings. — The city contains three district
school buildings, the larger of which is situated in the
southeast part of town, on a high rolling plat of ground.
This building contains four rooms, is constructed of
brick, and is two stories high, and was built at a cost of
$10,000. The other school-houses have two rooms each,
and in all, eight teachers are employed, with an atten-
dance of about 400 pupils. The schools are well
graded, it requiring three years to take the high school
course. Besides the public schools, the city affords two
parochial schools.
Cornet Band. — This was organized in the summer of
1876, with ten members, having eight wind instruments
I and two drums. The present membership is eighteen,
242
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
having feurteen horns and two drums, besides a drum
major. The cost of outfit is about $450.
The Ferry. — For the convenience of those desiring to
cross the river, a ferry is established just above the Air
Line railroad bridge. It is conducted by means of
horse power ; Thomas Deputy, ferryman.
Physicians- — James Harvey, Jacob Schneck, Paul
Sears, Thomas J. Rigg, E. S. Biddle, William B. Ridg-
way.
BU8INKS8 HOUSES, TRADE, ETC.
General Merchandise.— Charles R. Russell, Wilkinson
& Stein, Philip Stfin, Seitz Bros., Stanfield Bros., Par-
kinson Bros.
Groceries, Queensware, etc. — William Nelgin, William
C. Greer, S. Greathouse, Thomas Watkins, Burns Bros.
John Oberhillman, William Scitz, Jr., Solomon Keueipp,
Adam Stein, John Hartman.
Hardware. — Harper & Rigg.
Druggists and Pharmacists. — Robert S. Gordon, W.
C. Hadley, William C. Ridgway.
Harness and Saddlery.— J. B. Bertlesman, M. F.
Reinsmith.
Bo-ks and Stationery.— R. K. Stees, W. C. Hadley.
Bakers and Confectioners. — Joseph Heberhold, Gus
Meyer.
Restaurant and Confectionery. — Teatro & Fearhiley.
Jeweler. -J.C. Wood.
Notions, Watches, Clocks, etc. — Samonial Bros.
Merchant Tailors.— Charles Redman, Anthony Spaeth.
Milliners and Dressmakers. — Barret & Dick, Mrs. J.
Ridgway, Mrs. Frost.
Dressmakers. — Mrs. Reinsmith, Miss E. Manley, Miss
A. Handle, Mrs. M. Randolph, Mrs. Rohan, Mrs Wier.
Millinery Stores— Mrs. Baker, Mrs. A. Hunt.
Shoemakers. — Charles Henning, Geo. H. Reinhard,
Martin Fisher, Gf orge Unbehauen.
Lumber Merchants. — Jaquess & Chipman, William H.
Brown, F. A. Hoskinson, Morgan & Armstrong.
Livery and Feed Stables. — John Bedel, George T.
Landers, Watkins & Arbuthnot.
Dentist. — J. H. Harrison.
Grain Dealers. — Smith & Foster.
Meat Markets— Thos. J. Deputy, Sutton & Cardiff.
Tinware and Stoves.— Louis Rees.
• Gunsmith — Gotleib Krug.
Florist.— Jacob Knell.
Undertakers.— E. Miller, Walter & Son, Graves &
Walter.
Photographer.— E. G. North.
Barbers and Hairdressers. — William Lynn, Root &
Rigiby, W. P. Orth.
Blacksmiths.— Samuel Shaw, S. B. Shaw, James I.
Shaw, Charles Snyder, John Smith, William Schafer,
Louis Schafer.
Blacksmith and Wayonmaker. — M. Heitzman.
Wagonmakers.— C. F. Putnam, Louis Zellar,
Sleekier.
Implement Dealers. — James I. Shaw, William Schafer,
Samuel B. Shaw, Louis Schafer, Harper & Rigg, Wilkin-
son & Stein, W. H. Besley.
Sewing Machine Agent.— M. S. Metzger.
Carpenters and Builders. — Higby, Martin & C'line
Michael Maser, Murray Bros., Peter P. Worth.
Masons, Bricklayers and Plasterers. — William E. Har-
ris & Sons, Julius McClintock, Fiank Strickand, G< orge
Boess, I. C, Tilton, Peter Helfman.
Painters and Glaziers. — Reinhard Bros.
Retail Liquor Dealers, etc. — Valentine Smith, S. P.
Teatro, George T. Bedel, Peter Oldendorf.
Cooper. — Jacob Stein & Son.
Justices of the Peace.— I. H. Brees, G. C. Turner, N.
C. Burns, I. N. Jaquess.
Constables.— M. S. Metzger, William Peters, William
Bredwell.
Hotels.— Grand Central, J. B. Wiley, Propr.; Comraer-
cial House, Bayles Grigsby, Propr. ; Stillwell House, E.
Titus, Propr.; St. Charles House, Adam Sleekier Propr.;
Mansion House, Mrs. Roberts, Propr.; City Hotel, N. C.
Burns, Propr.
Postmaster— Robert T. Wilkinson.
Newspapers. — Mt. Carmel Register, Frank W. Havill,
Ed.; Mt. Carmel Republican, Thomas L. Joy, Ed.
Churches — Methodist Episcopal, Lutheran, Episcopal,
Albright, Christian, and Catholic, all of which are con-
structed of brick. For a complete history of the news-
papers and churches see special chapters on the Press,
and Ecclesiastical History.
SOCIETIES.*
Mt. Carmel Lodge, No. 239, A. F. and A. M., was
chartered October 7th, 1857, with seven charter mem-
bers. The present membership is 41. Total number
initiated is 150. The Lodge meets on the first and third
Tuesday nights of each month. It is in excellent stand-
ing financially, having $1,000 in the treasury.
Mt. Carmel Chapter, No. 159, R. A. M., was institu-
led February 7th, 1873, with 9 charter members. The
present membership is 31. Total number enrolled, 48.
The Chapter meets on the first and third Friday nights
in each month. One of the charter members, S. Shan-
non, is the present Most Excellent G. H. P. of the Grand
Chapter of the State of Illinois.
Wabtuh Lodge, No. 35, I. O. O. F., chartered July
28th, 1848, as will be seen by its number, was among
the first Lodges established in the State. The number of
charter members, 5 ; present membership, 92. Total
number enrolled, 296. The Lodge meets every Saturday
night, and is said to be the best working Lodge in the
State. It is entirely out of debt, and has a surplus fund
of $2,000 in the treasury. Since its organization it has
paid out $7,500 for charity.
Sinon Encampment, No. 11, I. O. O. F. received its
charter Oclober, lOlh, 1855, having 7 charter members.
Its present membership is 32, and the lolal number en-
rolled is 110. The Encampment meets on the first and
third Monday of each monlh.
| *For this data we are indebted to the Secretaries of the Tarious Sooie-
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
243
Aft. Carmel Rebekah Degree, No. 80, I. O -O. F. was
chartered January llth, 1876, with 15 members. Total
number of members, 32. It meets on the second and
fourth Mondays in each month at 7 o'clock, p. M.
Ml. Carmel Lodge, No. 178, A. O. U. W. was insti-
tuted March 28th, 1881, with 23 charter members, with
a membership at this writing of 28. Total number en-
rolled, 32. The Lodge meets on the second and fourth
nights of each month.
T. S. Bower's Post, No. 125, G. A. R. Instituted
April 6th, 1882, with 29 charter members. Its present
membership is 53.
Mt. Carmel Lodge, No. 159, I. O. G. T. was chartered
December 15th, 1880, with a charter membership of 54.
Present number of members in good standing, 52. Whole
number enrolled, 104. The Lodge meets every Tuesday
evening in Good Templars' Hall, on west corner of
Third and Main streets. The financial condition of the
Lodge is good and the membership is rapidly increasing.
The city contains a population of about 2,200. The
walks and streets are kept in good condition, aud orna-
mental and forest trees adorn various portions of the
town. The new court-house is centrally situated, on
the east side of Market street, and is an ornament to the
city.
Two other towns, Powhatan and Selma, were laid off
a little north and east of Mt. Carmal, but they only
exist on paper, no buildings or improvements having
been made thereon.
Centerville, the first country seat of Wabash, after its
separation from Edwards, in 1824, was laid out south of
the base line, in Mt. Carmel precinct. The court house,
now doing duty as a barn, was a frame two-story build-
, ing. It was in use as the place of holding the courts of
the county till they were removed to Mt. Carmel. Dr.
Baker built a store in the town, about the time it was
, laid out, 1824, and did a considerable amount of business.
He supplied, at this point, a market for castor beans,
which he made into oil. A carding machine was set up
by Asel Brines, soon after the town was laid off. It
continued in operation a number of years. The site of
the town is now a body of farming land, and nothing
remains to mark what was once a center of business
activity.
BIOGRAPHIES.
THE Sears family, on the paternal side, are of English I
ancestry. Richard Sears, who was the first of the family
to come to America, was born in Colchester, England,
and came with the Pilgrims in the Mayflower, landing
on Plymouth Rock in 1620. He died in Yarmouth in
1676. He married Doratha Thacker, who died in 1678
His son, Paul, the great great-grandfather of the pre-
sent family was born in 1636. He married Deborah
Williams and died in 1707. His son, also named Paul,
died in 1740. He had a son named Daniel, who was
the grandfather of Paul Sears, the subject of this sketch.
He died in 1797. One of his offspring was Nathan
Sears, the father, who was born in Massachusets and
graduated in medicine in Boston. He studied medicine
in the office of Dr. Bryant, the father of the poet, William
Cullen Bryant, who was then studying law. The Sears
family are well known in the annals of the Old Bay
State. Many of them became famous and prominent in
their day. Nathan Sears, after his graduation in medi-
244
cine, came west to Ohio and settled in Zanesville, and
there practiced his profession. In 1834 he removed to
Wayne county, Michigan, and remained there until the
fall of 1839, when he came to Mt Carrael, in Wabash
county, Illinois, and continued a resident of this place
until his death, which occurred February 1st, 1848.
Married Mrs. Grace Newkirk, nee Loper, who was of a
'• distinguished and noted family of New Jersey. She
survived her husband and died in Mt. Carmel, Nov.
24, 1863. She had three children by her latter
marriage. Clarissa, the only daughter, is the wife of E.
B. Bishop, now of San Francisco, California. Nathan
Henry Sears, the youngestson, died Nov. 20, 1862. Paul,
the eldest son whose portrait heads this page, was born
near Zanesville, Muskingum county, Ohio, June 5th,
1820. He received a good English education in the
Granville and Elyria high school and college. He went
with his father to Michigan in 1834, and remained there
until the spriug of 1840, when he came to Mt. Carmel and
lllSTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS. 245
joined his father, who had preceded him here the year
before. He determined to follow in the footsteps of his
father and adopt medicine as a profession. He accord-
ingly commenced the study under the direction of his
father and assisted the letter in his office. He con-
tinued his studies at home until 1843, when he entered
the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, and attended
lectures. He received his diploma in 1845, and then
commenced the practice in Mt. Carmel. His practice
soon grew large and lucrative, and his professional
services extended over a wide scope of territory. Not
infrequently he would ride sixty miles in twenty-four
hours, making calls upon and attending his patients. In
short, Dr. Sears was personally known in almost every
household in Wabash and surrounding counties. In
connection with his practice he opened a drug store, and
for many years was engaged in that business. He also
engaged in other enterprises at different times, but all
were such as did not interfere seriously with his profes-
sion. Few physicians in the state have been so long in
the practice as Dr. Sears. In the long years passed by
he has achieved much success, both professionally anrl
financially. His busy life has brought its just reward?
in securing to him a competency and independence in
his declining years.
On the 5th of May, 1841, he was united in marriage to
Miss Eliza J. Gibson, of Cincinnati, Ohio. She is the
daughter of Alexander and Martha (Sturges) Gibson.
By the union of Paul and Eliza J. Sears, there have been
three children — two sons and one daughter. Alfred
Alexander, the eldest son, studied medicine, and was a
graduate of Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia.
He died Dec. 13, 1867. Charles Nathan, the .youngest
son, also read medicine, and had taken one course at the
same medical college. He died Aug. 18, 1864. Both
were bright young men, and gave evidence of future use-
fulness and adornment to the profession. Clara A , the
only daughter, is the wife of Hon. S. Z. Landis. Both
the doctor and his wife are members of the M. E.
Church. Politically he has uniformly acted and voted
with the Democratic party. Among the people with
whom Dr. Sears has passed the greater part of his life,
and who know him best, all accord him the reputation
of being an honorable, public-spirited citizen, and honest
man, and a kind-hearted, obliging neighbor.
JOHN SCHRODT.
ONE of the most successful farmers of Wabash countv
is the subject of this sketch. He was born in Rhine
Hesse, Germany, May 4th, 1830 John Schrodt, hi.-
father, was also a native of that country. In 1838 he
emigrated to America, landing at New Orleans. He
came up the river to Illinois, where he was met by Mr.
Seiler, who brought him and his family to Wabash
county. Here he bought ninety acres of laud in section
36, T. 1 S., 13 W. It was not improved. They lived
in a school-house until such time as they could build
their house, which they moved into the July following.
Here Mr. Schrodt lived, made a fine farm, and remained
until he retired from active life. He died January 2d,
1866. His wife survived him, and died in 1878.
There were six children, four of whom were born in
Germany, and two here in Wabash county. All of them
are living except Catherine, who was the wife of Michael
Broedel. She died April 21st, 1883. John, the subject
of this sketch, is the eldest son. He was in his boyhood
when his parents came to Illinois. Here he grew to man-
hood, and was reared to habits of industry and economy.
He received a fair knowledge of the rudimentary
branches of education in the subscription schools of an
early day. He remained at home, assisting his father,
until he was twenty-one years of age. He then made a
start for himself. His father gave him eighty acres of
land, twenty-four of which were cleared ; it is the same
tract upon which his residence now stands. He first,
however, started upon thirty acres of land which he had
rented.
Soon after he married and built a house which still
stands near his present residence. Upon that place he
has lived, working hard, living economically, and man-
aging his business well — so that the original eighty acres
have grown to fifteen hundred. Eight hundred acres
are cleared up and under cultivation. It will be seen
that Mr. Schrodt possesses more than ordinary good
business judgment, united with industry and energy. To
accumulate that body of land unaided, the fruits of his
own toil, is conclusive evidence that his life has been a
busy as well as a successful one.
On the 8th of July, 1851, he was united in marriage
to Miss Ann Maria Broedel, who was born in Bavaria,
Germany. She came to America with her parents in
1849. She died Feb. 19th, 1882. There were twelve
children by that marriage, six of whom are living. Their
namesare: Mary E., George W., Philip, BenjaminF.,
Laura E. and Michael D. All those that are deceased,
died in infancy, except Catherine, who was the wife of
H. F. Goeke, who was killed in the cyclone that visited
Mt. Carmel, June 5tb, 1877. She left no children. Mr.
Schrodt, after the death of his wife, married Catherine
Sterl. Both are members of the Lutheran Church. Po-
litically, Mr. Schrodt was originally a democrat, and
voted for Franklin Pierce in 1852. He was opposed to
slavery, which naturally carried him into the republican
party, and he has acted with that organization till the
present. In 1867, Mr. Schrodt visited the land of his
birth, where he went to seek rest and recruit his health.
He remained abroad one year, and returned well pleased
with his trip, and much improved in health.
It should be mentioned that his father was a lock-
smith, and afterwards carried on blacksmithing. He
did not not do much work on the farm ; therefore, the
lead, to some extent, depended on John, the eldest son.
246 HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WAS ASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
ABRAHAM JJTTER.
ELIZABETH UTTER.
ABRAHAM UTTER (DECEASED).
THE Utter family is of German ancestry. Henry
Utter, the grandfather of the present family, was born
jn Allegheny county, New York. He there married
his first wife. She died, leaving four children. He
subsequently married Rachael Hendricks, whose father
was a revolutionary soldier. Henry Utter was a soldier
of the war of 1812, and rose to the position of major,
and was ever after known as " Major Utter." In 1817
he came west to the territory of Illinois and settled in
the old town of Palmyra, the first county seat of Wa-
bash, then a part of Edwards county. The next spring
he went out to Bald Eagle prairie, and there bought
land, improved it, and remained there until his death.
He was a millwright by trade. Abraham Utter was
the second son of Henry and Rachael (Hendricks)
Utter. He was born in Allegheny county, New York,
March 11, 1812, and was in his fifth year when the
family came west. His eldest brother, John, was a
soldier in the Black Hawk war. Abraham remained at
home until he was twenty-one years of age, when he
went to SchuylQr county, Illinois, where his brother was
living, and there peddled fanning mills. Four or five
years later he returned to his home in Wabash county,
and in 1836 purchased the interest of the other heirs in
the homestead, and soon after purchased a place near
Centreville, improved it and remained there fifteen
years, then bought the place where his widow now lives,
near Mt. Carmel, and there remained until his death,
which occurred Sept. 15, 1872.
In his life Mr. Utter was of an industrious and ener-
getic nature. He was possessed of much good business
judgment and foresight, and succeeded in accumulating
a large amount of property. He was of a quiet dispo-
sition, of reserved manners, speaking little but quick to
decide for or against any business proposition. He
\ loved his home and was domestic in his habits and
' tastes, and kind and indulgent to his family. He was a
member of the Christian church from 1862 until his
death. On the 28th of March, 1839, he married Miss
Elizabeth Penston. She was born in Atlantic county,
New Jersey, May 22, 1820. Her parents, John and
Sarah (Lake) Penston, were natives of the same state-
They came to Wabash county, Illinois, in 1823, and
settled in Mt. Carmel, but soon after moved to Bald
Eagle prairie. Mrs. Utter still survives her husband.
There are nine children, the offspring of the union of
Abraham and Elizabeth Utter, whose names in the
a
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
247
order of tbeir birth are: Mary, who is the wife of R. S.
Gordon, born May 18th, 1840. They have three child-
ren living, named Amy Ellen, Robert Abraham and
Walter Spafford. Josiah, the eldest son, died in his
second year. Henry, born June 7th, 1845. He was a
soldier during the late war, and was a member of Co.
I, 5th regiment His. cavalry. He married Miss Harriet
Lanterman, and they have three children, whose names
are Effie, Edward Everett and Minnie C. Edwifi.born
Nov. 21st, 1850, and died in 1856. Lewis, died in early
childhood. Robert Carrol, died in infancy. John
Charles, born Dec. 14th, 1859. He was educated and
graduated from Eureka College in Woodford county,
Illinois, studied medicine and graduated from the
Miami Medical College, Cincinnati, Ohio, and is a resi-
dent and practising physician in South Pueblo, Colora-
do. Elizabeth, the youngest of the family, was born
Sept. 15, 1862, and was united in marriage March 7th,
1883, to Samuel Bearaon. Mrs. Utter is a member of '
the Christian church.
HON. ROBERT BELL.
THE Bell iamily, of which the subject of this sketch
is a member, were among the pioneers and early settlers
of Illinois. On the paternal side they are of Scotch-
Irish ancestry. Members of the family emigrated from
the north of Ireland to America some time prior to the
Revolutionary war. They settled in Rockbridge
county, Virginia, and from them have sprung a numer-
ous progeny. The grandfather, Robert Bell, was a
soldier of the Revolution. He entered the army under
Washington while yet in his sixteenth year, and re-
mained in the service during the entire term of the war,
and was present when the war closed with the surrender
of Cornwallis' forces at Yorktown. After the war he
married a Miss Mary Caldwell, who was of Scotch
descent. She died in Virginia. Robert Bell remained
a resident of his native State until 1818, when he came
west to Illinois, which State had just been admitted to
the Union, and settled in what is now known as Wabash
county, then a part of Edwards, at a point now known
as Friendsville Precinct. He was a farmer, and followed
that avocation until his death, which occurred in 1837.
The offspring of his marriage with Miss Mary Caldwell
were three children named George, Jane, who was the
wife of E. S. Wallace, and Hiram Bell. The latter was
the father of Robert Bell. He was born in Rockbridge
county, Virginia, March 3, 1798, and was yet in his
early manhood when the family came to Illinois He
received a good education and adopted surveying as a
business. After the family settled in Illinois his time
was much occupied in his profession, and he did most of
the surveying in this and surrounding counties. In
1824, when the county was organized, he was appointed
circuit clerk by Judge Wilson, who subsequently was
Chief Justice of the State. Mr. Bell held the office of
circuit clerk continuously from 1824 to 1860. He also
held the office of county clerk until December, 1853,
and was county judge several years ; in fact held all the
offices up to such time as the increasing business of the
county demanded a division of the labor. He was
familiarly known as General Bell, having held the posi-
tion of Brigadier General in the militia forces of the
State. He died July 11, 1867. He married Miss Eliz-
abeth, daughter of Victor and Rebecca (Tucker)
Buchanan, a native of Gallatin county, Kentucky.
Her parents removed to Illinois in 1819, and settled in
Lawrence county, then a part of Edwards. Mrs. Bell
was born August 24, 1802. She still survives her hus-
band, and at present is a resident of Mt. Carmel.
There were eight children by the union of Hiram and
Elizabeth Bell — four of whom are still living— Robert,
Rebecca Jane, wife of Robert Cravath, a civil engineer
living at Green Bay, Wisconsin ; James Hiram and
Clara Virginia, wife of N. M. Pilsbury, a hardware mer-
chant, living at Fremont, Nebraska. Among those who
died was Victor B. Bell, the eldest child, a member of
the Illinois Legislature in 1852-'54, and a prominent
lawyer, who practiced his profession in Mt. Carmel, and
afterwards in Chicago and Washington City, and died
in New Orleans, September 15, 1867, having never mar-
ried.
Hon. Robert Bell, was born in Lawrence county
in 1829. He received his primary education in
subscription and select schools of Mt Carmel, and
his literary training in the Indiana State University.
He studied law under the direction and in the office
of his brother, Victor B. Bell, and commenced the
practice of his profession in Fairfield, Wayne county,
Illinois, in 1855. In 1857 he returned to Mt. Carmel
and continued the practice. In 1864 he formed a law
partnership with Hon. E. B. Green, which still continues.
The law firm of Bell and Green is well known through-
out southern Illinois. They have a large practice in this
and surrounding counties, and in the Appellate and
Superior courts of the State, and in the Circuit and Dis-
trict courts of the United States. In 1869 Mr. Bell was
appointed County Judge by the Governor, to fill the
vacancy caused by the death of Judge Thomas J. Arm-
strong.
Judge Bell belongs to the progressive order of men.
Enterprises, having for their object the increase of the
material wealth of the town or county, find in him an
active and enthusiastic supporter. He was President of
the Illinois Southern Railroad Company, which was
merged into the Cairo and Vincennes in 1867, and
assisted materially in having the latter road built. He
was also President of the St. Louis, Mt. Carmel and
New Albany, now the Louisville, Evansville and St.
Louis Railway, and while president of the former organ-
ization, succeeded in having built and equipped that
section of the road between Princeton, Indiana, and
Albion, Illinois. The flourishing town of Bellmont, on
this road, midway between Mt. Carmel and Albion, was
named after Judge Bell ; and the station and post-office
248 HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
at the works of the Mt. Carmel coal company, on this
railway, were named Maud, after a young daughter of
Judge Bell who died in the spring of 1880.
Politically Judge Bell was originally a Democrat, his
first vote for President being cast for Pierce in 1852.
In 1860 he was a Douglas Democrat. During the
war of the Rebellion he was a warm Union man, and
made many speeches in aid of the recruiting soldiers,
and supported all measures that had for their object the
suppression of the Rebellion. His strong Union senti-
ments naturally led him into the Republican party, and
during and since the civil war he has affiliated and
acted with the latter political organization, and has
been recognized as one of the Republican leaders of the
State. From 1868 to 1872 he was a member of the
Republican State Central Committee for the State at
large. In 1878, he was the Republican candidate for
Congress in the 19th District. In 1879 he was sent to i
California by the United States Treasury Department
as a special revenue agent to investigate alleged frauds
in the revenue districts of the Pacific coast. In 1881 he
was appointed by President Garfield as a commissioner
to examine a section of the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad
;n New Mexico. Judge Bell is an honored member of
the ancient and honorable order of A. F. and A. M.,
also of Royal Arch and Knight Templar masonry.
On the 17th of November, 1858, at Madison, Connec-
ticut, he was married to Miss Sarah Elizabeth, daughter
of Rev. Samuel N. and Martha (Brace) Shepard. Mrs
Bell's father was a Congregational minister, and was
pastor for thirty-one years of one of the largest churches
in Connecticut. Mrs. Bell was born at Madison in that
State, and was educated at New Haven, Hartford, and
at Maplewood Seminary, Pittsfield, Mass.
There have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Bell
nine children, five of whom are living, and the names
of those who survive are : Emily Rosa, Collins Shepard,
Edward Green, Catherine Elizabeth and Bertine.
Judge Bell has a high reputation as an orator, and
many of his speeches and addresses have been published.
He has also written several short poems, that have been
printed in some of the leading newspapers in the United
States.
HON. JACOB ZIMMERMAN
Is a native of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania,
born September 27th, 1831. He is the son of Henry
and Elizabeth (Steelsmith) Zimmerman. The family,
on the paternal side, were "originally from Germany,
— on the maternal, of Welsh extraction. His parents
emigrated to Ohio in 1840, and settled in Stark county.
Four years later they removed to Wyandotte county, in
the same State, and there the father died. His wife and
the mother of Jacob Z. still survives him, and is a resident
of the latter county. Jacob Zimmerman received a good
English education in the public and select schools of
Upper Sandusky. At the age of eighteen he resolved to
adopt the printer's trade as the business of his life, and
with that idea in view, entered the office of the Wyan-
dotte Pioneer, in Upper Sandusky, and in that office was
" printer's devil," worked at the case, sub-editor and
general utility man. He remained there about one year,
and then went to Tiffin, Ohio, and worked at the case.
Six months later he came west to Illinois, and stopped in
the town of Marshall, in Clark county. There he found
work in the office of the Illinois State Democrat, then
owned and edited by Nathan Willard. He continued
with the Democrat eight months ; then, in connection
with a Mr. Summers, purchased that paper and the
Marshall Telegraph, and consolidated them, and pub-
lished a neutral independent paper na^oed the Telegraph.
lu 1852 James C. Robinson, a distinguished lawyer and
prominent politician of Illinois, then a resident of Mar-
shall, but at present a citizen of Springfield, purchased
Mr. Summers' interest in the paper, and became a part-
ner of Mr. Zimmerman's. They changed the name to
the Eastern lllinoisan, and converted it into a strong de-
mocratic newspaper. The latter partnership continued
four years, when Mr. Z. sold his interest to his partner,
and from Marshall went to Urbana, the county seat of
Champaign county, and there, in connection with Mr.
George N. Richard (with Mr. Z. as editor), published
the Constitution, an able and influential democratic
newspaper.
While connected with the lllinoisan in 1855. he estab- '
lished a paper at Greenup— the first democratic sheet
published in Cumberland county — and conducted it in
conjunction with the former paper. The democratic
party of Clark county was in a disorganized condition
when he assumed editorial control of the lllinoisan, ow-
ing to dissatisfaction with the delegate convention sys-
tem of making nominations. To heal the dissensions,
Mr. Z. drew up a plan of making nominations by primary
elections, submitted it to a mass meeting, and secured
its adoption. This was the origination of the primary
election system of making county nominations in Illinois
at least, if not in the county at large, and so satisfactory
did it prove in that county, that it has since been adopted
throughout nearly the entire State, and largely through-
out the whole county.
In 1860 he sold out the paper at Urbana and came to
Mt. Carmel, in this county, and here took editorial
charge of the Democrat, and conducted it as a Douglas
paper through the presidential campaign of 1860. His
labors as editor and publisher of newspapers practically
ceased in November, I860. Since that time he has, oc-
casionally, temporarily assumed editorship of the local
journals. As a newspaper and political writer, Mr. Zim-
merman was far above the average. He wielded a sharp
and vigorous pen, and many times proved to his political
and newspaper contemporaries that he was a formidable
antagonist to encounter in a pen-and-paper controversy.
Articles from his pen were clear, concise and to the point,
and showed a thorough knowledge of the subject kin
I hand. After his retirement from the newspaper busi-
RES. AND OFFICE OF DR. P. S EARS MTCARMELtILLINUIS
WESTOVER FARM. CONTAINING OVER 300 ACRES. THE PROPERTY
RES. BUILT BY A.GIBSON NOW THE PROPERTY OF MRS. DC S EA R S
rj «e'e CLARISSA A. SEARS 340FA MILE WEST OF MT CARME L,ILL.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
249
ness, he engaged in farming and improving his property
in this county, aud that has been his chief occupation to
the present.
On the 25th of December, 1856, he married Miss Be-
linda B., daughter of Thomas S. aud Snrah D. (Cavalier)
Hinde. She was born in Wabash county. Her father
was one of the pioneers of Illinois, and the original pro-
prietor of the town of Mt. Carmel. Mrs. Zimmerman, at
the time of her marriage, was a resident of Marshall,
Clark county Illinois, where she lived with her sister,
who was the wife of Judge Charles H. Constable. She
died in May, 1865, leaving two children, one of whom is
yet living, named Frederick Hinde Zimmerman.
Ou the 13th of April, 1874, Mr. Z. married his present
wife. Her maiden name was Emma Harris. She is the
daughter of John and Mary (Brooks) Harris. The Harris
family were also old settlers of Wabaih county. By the
latter marriage there are two children, whose names, in
the order of their birth, are: Herbert aud John H. Mr.
Zimmerman is an honored member of the Order of Free-
masonry, aud belongs to the Blue Lodge, Chapter and
Knights Templar orders.
Politically, he has been a life-long and thorough paced
democrat. He is most soundly indoctrinated in the
tenets and principles of that political organization, and
believes that on the ultimate success of its principles rest
the future hopes, prosperity and perpetuity of a repub-
lican form of government in the United States. In 1878
his zeal in the cause of his party, aud worth as a man
and citizen, received honorable recognition by being
elected to represent his district in the Third General As-
sembly of the State. While a member of that body he
secured the passage of a bill appropriating fifteen thous-
and dollars for the erection of a court-house in Mt.
Carmel.
Mr. Zimmerman is a live, energetic, progressive busi-
ness man. He was oue of the organizers of the Coal
Mine Co. west of Mt. Carmel, aud the present and pros-
pective development of the coal interests of Wabash
county is in a great measure due to his energy and in-
vestigations.
HON. EDWARD B. GREEN
Is a native of Blair county, Pennsylvania, born Dec. 29,
1837. His father, Thomas Green, was born and reared
in Fairfax county, Virginia. He was of English ances-
try, and the family were amomg the early settlers of
the Old Dominion. During the war of 1812 he enlisted
and served as a soldier in the army operating in Canada
and on the northern frontier. At the close of the war
he settled in what is now known as Blair county, Penn-
sylvania, then a part of Huntingdon, and there followed
farming until his death, which occurred in 1875. He
married Miss Martha Galbraith, who was descended from
Scotch-Irish stock. Her ancestors were among the early j
settlers of Pennsylvania. She was born and raised in ;
Blair county, where she lived at the time of her mar- j
riage. She still survives her husband, and at the present !
32
time is a resident of Clarion county, in her native State.
By the aarriage of Thomas and Martha Green there
were twelve children, ten of whom are still living. Ed-
ward B. is the youngest of the family. He received his
primary education iu the public schools of his native
county. Being of a studious nature and possessing ear-
nest application, he soon fitted himself for the profession
of teaching, in which he engaged while yet in his seven-
teenth year. The profession gave him enlarged oppor-
tunities for study and self culture, and he soon becaite
proficient, particularly in languages. During the last
year and a half of his residence iu Pennsylvania he oc-
cupied the Chair of Professor of Languages in the Aca-
demy at West Freedom, in Clarion county. In October,
1858, he came west to Illinois, and settled in Paris, in
Edgar county. He had determined to adopt the profes-
sion of law as the business of his life, and with that idea
in view, entered the law office of liis brother, Amos
Green aud James A. Eads, prominent attorneys of Paris,
Illinois, aud commenced the study. He read the stand-
ard text-books aud prosecuted his studies diligently until
June, 1860, when he repaired to Carlyle, in Clinton
county, then the residence of the late Sidney Breese, one
of the justices of the supreme court, and was by him
examined, aud upon his recommendation was admitted
to the bar. Ou the 20th of the same mouth he came to
Mt. Carmel, opened a law office, and commenced the
practice, aud continued alone until 1864, when he formed
a law partnership with Hon. Robert Bell. That part-
nership still continues, aud has existed for a period
of almost twenty years. The law firm of Bell & Green
is widely known throughout Southern Illinois. They
have a large and lucrative practice in this and turrouud-
ing counties, and in the circuit, appellate aud supreme
courts. Mr. Green has confined himself strictly to the
legitimate practice of the law. Upon the very thresh-
old of his professional experience he recognized the
fact that the law was a jealous mistress, who required of
her subjects their undivided attention, severe and con-
tinuous application, — careful, patient investigation, if
they would succeed and become eminent in the profes-
sion. Being impressed, and acting upon those well-
known facts, he has found no time to engage in other
than the legitimate practice, nor has he given any branch
or department special attention, but has coufined him-
self to the general practice.
In 1877 Judge Green's ability as a sound and thorough
lawyer, and his worth as a man, received suitable and
honorable recognition, by being nominated for the office
of Circuit Judge of the Second Judicial Circuit. In 1879
he was further honored by the nomination for a position
upon the Supreme Bench of this State, but in both in-
stances was defeated, owing to the fact that the canvass
took a partisan turn, and the party who nominated him
were iu a hopeless minority in the districts. His defeat
was much regretted, as he would have brought to the
bench ripe scholarship and a profound knowledge of the
law, acquired by long years of practice and studious
250
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
habits ; and, with his naturally clear, logical mind, he j
would have added honor to that distinguished body.
Politically, Judge Green is a republican. He cast his
first vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1862, and in all sub-
sequent elections has voted and remained a staunch and
active supporter of the principles and tenets of that po-
litical organization. In 1882 he was selected by his
party as the standard-bearer in the Sixteenth Congres-
sional District, and made the campaign for congress
against Judge Aaron Shaw, the present incumbent, but
was defeated by a small majority. He, however, demon-
strati d that he was a s'mng and popular man, and made
a vigorous canvass and succeeded in reducing the demo-
cratic majority of 1476 in the district in 1880, to 628, —
and this, too, in the face of the fact that the great tidal
wave of democracy swept other portions of the State,
and threatened seriously to engulf the ruling and domi-
nant party of the county.
On the 23d of October, 1861, Mr. Green was united in
marriage to Miss Emma E. Lutes of York county, Pa.
That union has been blessed with three children, whose
names in the order of their birth are : Daisy, Pearl, and
Paul Green. Mr. Green is an honored member of the
1. O. O.F., and A. F. and A. M. orders, and holds mem-
bership with the Lodges of Mt. Carmel. In his habits
he is temperate, and an advocate of the cause of tem-
perance. He, however, believes that temperance is a
great moral question, and should be so treated, and taken
out of politics, where it is too often made the stock in
trade of the demagogue and political charlatan. He
also takes an active interest in the cause of education,
and by his zeal and energy lias succeeded, in connection
with other members of the Board of Education, in build-
ing up the present excellent graded schools of Mt.
Carrael.
HON. WILLIAM WOOD, (Deceased).
THE subject of the following memoir, was one of the
pioneers and early settlers-of Wabash county. He was
also at that time the leading representative merchant of
this section of the State. It is emiuently proper that
a sketch of his life should be written arid published in a
history of this county, so that the present generation
may know something of the men who came here in an
early day and braved the hardships and exposures of
frontier life, that their posterity might enjoy iu perfect
fulness the benefits arising therefrom. All honor to
those brave men, who by their energy subdued the forests
and wilds of thU country, and made it a habitable
abode for the present generation. The first that is
known of the Wo<xl's family is the will written in the
year 1537, and passed down through the succeeding
generations. It was an entailed estate and passed to his
uncle's family. We attach the will verbatim:'
1537, November 22nd.
In the name of God amen I Michael Wood of Tenker
Hey North Dean in the Vicarage of Hallifax & County
of York Yeoman, Being in health yet Weak iu Body,
but of Sound mind memory and understanding, do
make Publish this my Last Will & Testament in manner
& form Following to wit first of all y* all my ju-t Debts
and funeral Expenses after my Decease be Discharged
& paid out of my personal Efee By my Executors herein
after named w' all Convinent Speed 2dly I Give & Be-
queath to my well beloved Son Jos1'- Wood y' place
called ye moorend Situate Lying & being in Norland in
sd Vicarage & County w' all ye"Land & Appurtenances
thearunto belonging no* in ye tenner & occupation of
Jonas Bates, for & during my sd Sous natural, But
after his Decease I Give yp same to his Son my Grand-
s in Rob*- to hold to him & his Lawful issue If any
Surviving after him for ever. But in Default of Such
! Issue I Give it to his Son, Joseph my Grandson & his
i Children after him for ever Lawfully begotton or to be
begotton of his Body, and in Default of Such Issue to
ye next Heirs Decendant by Law : Also I Give to
' my 8d son Josh Wood Cottages w» 3 Crofts or Meadows
thereunto adjoining or belonging Lying & being in sd
north Dean w* thear appurtenances to hold to him &
his Heirs & Assigns for ever he paying such Legacies
thearout as I hearof appoint Which piirni.-ses are now
| in ye Tenner & occupation of Joseph Hey Joseph Glead-
| hil &Mary Leach. Also I Give& bequeath y° Remain-
I der & Interest of my Leashold Estate for a term of
I years yet to come, togath w* ye Indenture of Lease
! Whearby I hold ye same ye t,d Tinker Hey in sd Dean
to have & to hold to him his Executors Administrators
j & assigns According to yc tenner thearcf from & Im-
mediately after my Dea Also, I give & bequeath to ye
sd Jos1' Wood Children namely Mary Robt. Hannah
Sarah Caroline Rebacco Judith & Joseph, to each Child
Guinea to be paid to each as he or she shall come to age
out of Real Est Called Moorend, from ye first martin-
mas & next ensuing Rents after my Decease Whearas
during ye minority of such as are not yet at age to
Receive ye Executors to Improve ye same to there Dis-
cretion for ye of Such Child or Children then Surviving
till ye Seaverl Days of payment as they become due.
Also I Give & bequeath to ray beloved Daughters Mary
Wilkinson <V Dorothy Simpson to each one Crown
Sterling for & During each of thear natural Lives 10 be
paid out of ye other part of my Laud Estate Lying in
north Dean before mentioned from ye Issuing Rents
thence arising as they become Due ye first payment to
be made to each Daughters out of sd Rent first Due after
my Decease & so ma yearly after every year. Also my
i personal Estate I Give to sd Jos1' Wood Mary Wilkin-
son & Dorothy Simpson to be Equally Divided among
them after funeral Expences payments of Debtes &
! ye following Legacies are* paid & Discharged out of ye
i same, to Wit to William Banaclongh my Servant I Give
and bequeath £5.0,0 Sterling to be paid him at ye age
j of 23 years Which Legacy I will be Improved for
[ & to his use from one month after ray decease. Till
he come of age to Rpc.l. if then Surviving to to Elizi-
I beth Brooksbank my Servant I give & bequeath one
: Guinea to be paid her in one month alter my Decease
i & Lastly I give to my son Joseph my 15,'st Coat & Wast-
! coat on Condition he Gives to bd Win. Banaclough a
Decent Good Wastcoat otherwise I Give & bequeatii
these together w* all y° Rest of my Wearing apparril
Liniien & Woolling &c to sd Bauaclough, it I hertby
nominate & appoint Mr. John Taylor of ye Halla John
fisher in s,'1 North Dean & John Staneliffe of Greenhead
in Norland sd Vicarage Executors of this my Last Will
& Testament hearby revoking all former Will & Wills
heartofore made as Witness my hand, & Seal this 1-
Day of January 1550 MICHAEL WOOD
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AWD W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
251
Signed Seal'd publish & Declared by ye Within named
Michael Wood as & for his Last Will & testament in
ye presences of us Who have hearunto Subscribed our
names as Witness at ye Request in ye presence of ye Sd
Testator & in ye presence of each other after ye Words,
1 of S'1 first Due were interlined in y° 35 Line,
JOHN STAJTCLIFFE, ELIZABETH BROOKSBANK
WM
WM STOXCLIFF WM STONCLIFFE.
Joseph Wood, the great-grandfather of William
Wood, was a cloth manufacturer of Halifax, England.
His son Robert, the grandfather of the subject of this
sketch, was a man of great energy. He purchased a
grant of land in America and set on foot a movement
to raise a colony and settle in this country. He had ;
large carved oak chests made and filled with clothing,
and preparations were nearly completed for sailing, when
the war for the independence of the colonies broke out
and thwarted his plans. Robert Wood married Eliza,
beth Ingham, one of three sisters of Crowstone Hall,
(one of these sisters lived to be one hundred and four-
teen years of age.) By that union there were seven
children, whose names were Aaron, Moses, John, Robert,
Bathsheba, Mary and Hannah. Bathsheba died in Balti-
more, Maryland. His property was entailed and left to
his eldest son. Moses, the second son, was the father of
William Wood. He was born in Halifax, England, in
1765, and married Jane Beilby, daughter of John and
Esther Beilby, of Wetwang. He remained in his native
country until 181,9, when he with his family left the land
of his nativity and settled in America. His family
consisted of his wife, eight children and two servants. He
also brought with him a tailor, shoemaker and blacksmith.
The same oaken chests made by his father years before,
were brought over. They sailed in the ship Mary Ann
Isabella, from Burlington Quay. The owner of the
vessel, Mr. George Baker, was a personal friend of the
Wood family. After a tedious voyage of nine weeks
and four days, they landed in Philadelphia, and from
there proceeded to Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, where
they settled. There Mr. Wood purchased three hundred
acres of land, nearly one- third of which has been occu
pied as a part of the city. The remainder developed
into valuable coal lands. When Moses Wood landed
in Philadelphia he had several thousand dollars in gold,
which he deposited in a Philadelphia bank for safe keep-
ing. While prospecting in the valley of the Wyoming j
for land, the bank broke, and he lost his deposits. He
was therefore compelled to depend on home resources to
complete his purchases in Wilkesbarre. In the settle-
ment of the affairs of the bank, he, however, realized a
part of his money by taking land located in Bradford
county. The tract given in part payment was in extent
two thousand acres.
Moses Wood resided upon his farm at Wilkesbarre,
for many years after his settlement there, and educated
and reared his sons in habits of industry and economy,
and also gave them much practical knowledge of farm-
ing. He spent the latter part of his life in the city and
there died in 1853, at the advanced age of eighty-eight
years. His wife died in 1852, aged seventy-two years.
In 1823, he commenced mining coal and shipped it
down the Susquf hanna river in keel boats or arks as
they were called. He was among the first miners of
coal in Wilkesbarre. At that early day the business was
unprofitable. His sons became successful merchants
and business men of Wilkesbarre. The children, the
offspring of his marriage with Jane Beilby, are Sarah
deceased, John B. born in 1803, was a wealthy merchant
and banker and died at the age of seventy-five years.
Moses deceased, William deceased, Abraham died in
Trenton, New Jersey ; Mary, wife of Sanford E. Par-
sons, of Wilkesbarre, deceased. Isaac, a merchant, set-
tled in Trenton, New Jersey, in 1868. Matthew died in
Wilkesbarre ; AnnaM. became the wife of James Jones,
cashier of the Wyoming National Bank of Wilkesbarre,
deceased, and Esther E. residing in Trenton, New Jersey.
William Wood, of whom we write, was the third
son of Moses and Jane Wood. He was born at Pain-
slack, Yorkshire, England, in 1807, and was in his
twelfth year when he came with his father to America,
in 1819. He received a fair education and a thorough
business training in his youth. At the age of nineteen
he was united in marriage to Jane, daughter of Edward
Parkinson, a- native of Kendal, England. Her father
came to America in 1824, and settled in Luzerne county,
Pennsylvania. After his marriage Mr. Wood purchased
eight acres of land adjoining the city of Wilkesbarre,
and laid it out in lots and streets, thereby found-
ing the village of Woodville, which was christened
by that name at a public meeting of the citizens, called
for that purpose by Mr. Miner, brother of the great
historian, Charles Miner. Subsequently Mr. Wood en-
gaged in the mercantile business in partnership with
Benjamin Drake, at Wilkesbarre.
In 1836, (in his own private carriage) in company
with his wife, he made the journey to Illinois, which
was then considered the " Far West." The journey
was a hard one, occupying six weeks of tedious travel,
partially through an unbroken wilderness with here and
there a log cabin, where travelers from many parts
would meet to relate their various hairbreadth escapes,
and to be fed upon the never varying corn dodger and
bacon, and where the one room would often accommo-
date twenty persons for the night. A part of the jour-
ney was made over the great National Road, which was
then the great thoroughfare between the East and West.
A portion of it was macadamized then, and it was
already filled with traveling vehicles moving westward
with the seat of empire. Many of them came to grief
in being unacquainted with the mud and swamps after
leaving the finished part of the road. Mr. Wood spent
the winter in Mt. Carmel, in Wabash county. The kind-
ness and sociability of the people pleased him. He
purchased a lot on Main street, near where the Mansion
House now stands, and afterward erected a house on it.
In the Spring of 1837, he returned east and spent the
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
cummer, settled up his business there, and in the fall of
the same year, came back to Mt. Carmel. He gave a
glowing account of this country, and was instrumental
in bringing many others here. The west then wanted
sturdy settlers to subdue her forests and bring into culti-
vation her rich lands. That winter Mr. Wood entered
ij to partnership with his brother and Mr. Miller, and
opened a general store in Mt. Carmel.
In 1838, he opened a store at Friendsville, in this
county, and had a post-office established there. He placed
Ilobert Parkinson and William R. Wilkinson, two young
men, in charge of it. In 1841, his brother, having re-
turned east, and Mr. Miller dying, Mr. Wood made ar-
rangements with Parkinson and Wilkinson to conduct
the business, he furnishing the stock as against their
labor. The firm of Wood & Parkinson took charge of
the store in Mt. Carmel, and Wood & Wilkinson, of the
stock at Friendsville. Mr. Wood then spent much of
his time east, where he bought the goods and shipped
them west, and took charge of the produce, grain and
pork that was consigned to him by his western partners.
The partnerships thus formed continued for seven years,
and were a source of profit to all parties concerned.
When Mr. Wood first came to Mt. Carmel it was a small,
active, bustling frontier village ; emigrants were com-
ing iu from all parts of the east; houses were scarce, and
he was compelled, temporarily, to occupy a two-roomed
house on Main street, below the hill. It was not lathed
nor plastered, no floor over head, no partition except a
curtain which was used in separating the rooms. There
he lived until a better house could be secured. In 183r,
he purchased a cannon stove in Pittsburg, Pa., brought
it to Mt. Carmel, placed it in his store, and was the first
to burn bituminous coal in southern Illinois. He re-
turned to Wilkesbarre, after leaving here, and continued
there his mercantile operations until 1857. During that
time he laid out six acres more into lots and streets, a
part of the homestead property which forms a part of
the city of Wilkesbarre. He was closely identified with
the commercial and banking interests of Wilkesbarre,
and was one of the founders of the old Wyoming bank,
a director of the same for many years. Both h« and his
father were among the original subscribers of the stock.
He was one of the founders of the Wilkesbarre Water
Company ; a director until 1866, and retained his con-
nection through life.
Mr. Wood settled in Mt. Holly, N. Jersey, in 1866, but,
being restless under inactivity after an energetic busi-
ness life, settled in Trenton, New Jersey, the same year,
where he gave a part of his time to real estate business,
and operated in it quite extensively, and caused the
erection of some of the most substantial buildings in the
city. In 1876, he built a cottage at Ocean Grove, New
Jersey, where he, with his family, during the remaining
years of his life, spent the summer months, returning in
the autumn to his residence in Trenton, N. J.
In early manhood Mr. Wood was interested in mili-
tary organizations, and for sixteen years was a member
of the State militia, of Pennsylvania; rising through the
various grades to the rank of major. He was a man of
correct habits, quick perception in matters of business,
and was ever known as a man of strict integrity in all
his business relations. The ancestors of the Wood fam-
ily were Episcopalian in their religious belief, but his
father and his own family have been identified with the
Methodist Episcopal church. In early life he became a
professed follower of Christ ; was a licensed local preacher
and an ordained deacon. His discourses were clear and
forcible. He was a member of the Local Preachers'
Association from the organization of that body, and
took great pleasure in attending its conventions, and in
1871, was its president. Among his last contributions
to the church was that of $1,100 to the new chapel of
State Street M. E. church, one of the most beautiful and
complete Sunday-school rooms in the city of Trenton.
- His last request was,thattheremainingdebtonthechapel,
amounting to nearly $800, be paid. This has already
been done.
His first wife was a devoted Christian woman. She
died, leaving the following children : Mary J., George,
who died at the age of eighteen ; Esther and Sarah.
Mr. Wood was twice married, his second wife being
Eliza, daughter of Capt. Thomas Coward, of Baltimore,
Md., who followed a sea-faring life for twenty-five years.
Mrs. Wood still survives her husband, and is a resident
of Trenton, N. J. Mr. Wood was an affable and digni-
fied gentleman; a man of strong onvictions, sound
judgment, and strict integrity. The church has lost a wise
counselor, and the community an upright and honorable
citizen.
He died March 1, 1883, after a lingering illness, in
great peace in the seventy-sixth year of his age.
HON. SILAS Z. LANDES,
Eldest son of John and Dellah (Skelton) Landes. His
parents were natives of Augusta county, Virginia. They
came west to Illinois in 1856, settling in Edgar county.
Subsequently removed to Henry county, Missouri, and
in 1872 came to Wabash county, Illinois, where John
Landes at present resides. His wife died April 28,
1864, in Edgar county. Silas Z. was born in Augusta
county, Virginia, May 15th, 1842. He came west with
his father's family in the year above-mentioned. He
received his education in the subscription schools of his
native State and in the Academy at Paris, Illinois. In
1861, he commenced the study of law in the office, and
under the direction of Amos Green, of Paris, Illinois.
During that time he supported himself by teaching
school. He pursued his studies diligently, ard in 1863,
at the August term of the Supreme Court, held at
Springfield, Illinois, he was upon examination admitted
to the bar. Iu May, 1864, he came to Mt. Carmel,
opened an office, commenced the practice, and here has
remained to the present Mr. Landes succeeded to a
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
253
large and lucrative practice, which have been the direct
result of close application, studious habits, and unflagging
zeal and industry in the cause of his clients. In 1872, he
was nominated and elected States attorney for the
county of Wabash. Ke-elected in 1876, and again
elected in 1880, and in that capacity has earned the re-
putation of being an able and vigilant prosecutor. In
April, 1878, he was appointed Master in Chancery, and
held that office until 1883. Politically, Mr. Landes is
a thorough Democrat in all that the word implies. In
1S82, his zeal and fidelity to his party made him con-
spicuous as a suitable candidate for Congressional honors
in this district. In the convention, which met at Olney
to nominate a candidate for congress, he was placed in
nomination, and led all competitors for about three
hundred and fifty ballots at the close of the last ballot.
Although being the strongest man in the convention, he
withdrew from the race in the interest of harmony and
good feeling. His withdrawal resulted in the nomina-
tion and subsequent election of Judge Shaw, as Con-
gressman from the 18th district. In 1876, Mr. Landes
was a member of the Democratic State Central Com-
mittee.
Mr. Landes came to Mt. Carmel in 1864 an entire
stranger to the people. He had no strong influential
friends to back him, but unaided and alone has made
his own way. Whatever success he has attained, both
in the law or in the accumulation of property, is owing
entirely to his own industry and energy.
On the 31st of October, 1865, he was united in
marriage to Miss Clara, daughter of Dr. Paul and Eliza
J. (Gibson) Stars. Mrs. Landes was born in Mt. Car-
mel, Illinois. By that union there are three children.
FRANK W. HAVILL.
FRANK WALDEN HAVILL was born in Roscoe, Ohio,
September 15, 1842. His mother was a native of that
state, and his father was from Maryland. He was
educated in the common schools of Ohio, up to the age of
14, when he came to Illinois in 1857 ; from that time to
1861 he worked as a day laborer. He enlisted as a
private in Co. I. 40th Illinois Infantry Volunteers, at
the age of 18, in 1861. He carried a rifle in the ranks
over two years, and was then promoted to First Lieut.,
Adjutant, and Captain respectively. He was mustered
out as Captain and Assistant Inspector General First
Division Fifteenth Army Corps. He was twice wounded,
being shot through the right leg at Pittsburg Laudiiig;
Tennessee, and in the left shoulder in the charge on
Kennesaw Mountains, Ga. During a portion of his
term of service he was assigned to duty in Provost
Marshal's and Secret Service Departments, and served
for a time as Adjutant of Harrison's Tennessee Cavalry.
During his term of service he was in the following
battles and skirmishes: Pittsburg Landing, Russell
House, No. 7, Siege of Corinth, Coldwater, Como, Lex-
ington, Collierville, Altoona, New Hope, Black Jack
Knob, Kennesaw, Nickajack Creek, Chattahoochie,
Peach Tree Creek, Ezra Chapel, Atlanta, Rough and
Ready, Jonesboro, Turkey Creek, Griswoldville, Sa-
vannah, Cumbahee, Broad River, Columbia, Bentouville,
Falling Creek, and Raleigh. He served a little over
four years, having been in all the important campaigns
of the west, and with Sherman in his memorable march
to the sea.
Since 1872, he has been publisher and editor of the
Mt. Carmel Register, a paper, which undsr his manage-
ment, has taken a front rank in the country journals
of the State. He is a member of numerous secret bene-
volent societies, and is especially well-known in Masonic,
Workingmen and Odd-fellow circles. He was married to
Miss Lizzie Willman in Friendsville, Illinois, in 1867.
HON. ISAAC N. JAQUESS.
THE Jaquess family are of French origin. Jonathan
Jaquess, from whom the family was descended, died
previous to the American Revolution. He had four
sons, Jonathan, Isaac, William and John, and five
daughters, Polly, Ruth, Susan, Massy and Letty. His
eldest son was named Jonathan. He was born April
28, 1875. He went to sea when twelve years of age, and
followed a sailor's life, at intervals, until twenty-seven
years of age. He served in the war of the Revolution
four or five years, both by land and sea. At the close
of the war he married Miss Sally Jaquess, a third cousin,
daughter of Samuel and Abigail Jaquess. His wife lived
only thirteen months. He then married Mrs. Esther E.
Koy, and moved from his home in Essex county, New
Jersey, to Kentucky, in 1789, and settled near where
Cynthiana now stands. His wife Esther died, leaving
children whose names were Sarah Christina, and Isaac.
The latter was the father of the subject of this sketch.
He was born in New Jersey, Feb. 1st, 1786, and died
June 5, 1812. He married Betsey Johnson, who died
in Marion county, Missouri, February 16th, 1841. Her
father, John Johnson, was a native of North Carolina,
a noted Indian fighter in his day. Jonathan Jaquess,
the grandfather of Isaac N., emigrated from Kentucky
to Indiana in 1816, and settled in Harrison county,
and from there removed to Posey county, where he died.
Isaac N. was the only offspring of Isaac and Elizabeth
(Johnson) Jaquess. He was born in Harrison county,
Ky., Feb. 10, 1811. He learned the cabinet-making
trade in his youth. He went with his mother in 1828
to Marion county, Mo., and in the fall of 1831, came
to Posey county, Indiana, on a visit to her friends, and
while there came over to Mt. Carmel, Illinois, to see his
uncle, W. F. Jaquess. Liking the town and people, he
concluded to stay here and make it his future home.
He commenced working at his trkde and continued in it
for a number of years. He was elected constable and
served for a time, and in 1844, was elected sheriff
of the county, and continued to be elected for a number
of years. He subsequently engaged in different business,
merchandising principally, until about four years age,
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LA WHENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
when he engaged in the lumber and saw milling business
in connection with his son in-law, Mr. Chipman. In
1831, during the Black Hawk war he enlisted in
Captain Jordan's company, served throughout, and
was discharged at the close. During the late war he
was chaplain of the 73d Regiment Illinois Volunteers,
and served from February, 1864, until the close of the
war. On the 20th of March, 1834, he married Miss
Jane, daughter of John Tilton. She died July 1st,
1863. fehe was born in New Jersey, but came with her j
parents to Illinois, while young. There were ten children
by that uniou, four of whom are living. The others j
died in infancy except Sarah, who was the wife of \Vm. i
F. Chipman. She left one son named Paul. The names !
of the children living are, Laura, wife of Dr. T. J.
Rigg, who have two children ; Ellen 8., wife of Richard '
Weaver. They have two children ; Isaac W., married I
Mary Long, and have two children ; James Henry mar-
ried Miss Dora Beachem. On the 13th of October,
1867, Mr. Jaquess married his present wife. She was
Mrs. Catherine McClintock nee McGregor, and a native
of Wabash county, Illinois. She had one child by her
former marriage, named William T. McClintock, who
married Miss Mildred Poole. Both Mr. and Mrs.
Jaquess are members of the M. E. church. The
former joined the church in his seventeenth year.
Politically he was originally a Whig of the Emancipa-
tion school, and always anti-slavery. In 1856, he was
one of the few voters in the Wabash county, who cast
their ballots for John C. Fremont. In 1860, he voted
for Lincoln, and from that time voted the Republican
ticket. In 1874, he was elected to represent this dis-
trict in the General Assembly of the State, and in that
capacity served his constituents well and honorably. He
is an avowed outspoken advocate of the temperance
cause. He joined the first temperance organization
formed west of the Mississippi, and from that time to the
present has not swerved from its principles and teach-
EDWARD MILLER.
AMONG the old settlers and enterprising business men of
Mt. Carmel is the subject of the following sketch. He
is of German parentage. His father, Louis Miller, is a
native of the province of Loraine, then a French prov-
ince, now a part of Germany. He was born January [
16, 1803. His father, Frederick Miller, was a native of
the same county. Louis learned the carpenter trade in j
his youth and worked at it until twenty-one years of age, '
when under the laws of the French government, he was j
compelled to serve four years in the army doing military
service. He performed that duty and then enlisted and
served four years longer. After his discharge from the
army he worked one year at his trade for his father-in-
law, Daniel Wise, and then emigrated to America, ar-
riving at New York in the early summer of 1833. He
took up his residence at Allentown in Pennsylvania, and j
remained there until the fall of 1834, when he came west
to Illinois and settled in Mt Carmel. He was attracted
to this place by his brother in-law, Daniel Wise, who
had preceded him here a few years. Here he followed
the carpenter trade and remained a resident until 1847,
when he removed to Gibson county, Indiana, and a few
years later moved to Stewartsville in Posey county,
where he at present resides. Although over four-score
years, he is still vigorous and gives evidence that there
are a number of years of life and usefulness yet in
store for him. On the 6th of September, 1832, while yet
a resident of Loraine, he married Margaret, daughter of
Daniel Wise, who was born in that province in April.
1813. She is also still living. There were nine chil-
dren, the result of that marriage; four sons and one
daughter are living. The daughter, Eliza, is the wife of
Cyrus Worth, and a resident of Mt. Carmel. Henry,
the third son, was a soldier during the late war. E<1-
ward, the subject of this sketch, is the eldest son. He
was born in Allentown, Lehigh county, Penn., August
26.th, 1832, and was yet in his infancy when his parents
moved west. Here in Mt. Carmel he grew to manhood,
went to school and assisted his father as he grew older.
After the family removed to Gibson county, Indiana, he
worked on a farm until he was twenty-one years of age,
then learned the carpenter trade and soon aft°r married
and removed to Evansville, and there followed his trade
until he embarked in the manufacturing of sash, doors,
etc. His business ventures in Evansville to some extent
proving a failure, he left there in 1875, and came back
to Mt. Carmel, and here engaged in the manufacturing
of sash, doors, blinds, and the general undertaking
business, which he has by energy and a good man-
agement, worked up to its present standard. On
the 24th of June, 1857, he was united in marriage to
Miss Caroline, daughter of Michael and Catherine Bur-
rucker. She was born in Baltimore, Md., September
6th, 1837. Her parents were of German nativity, but
were old settlers in the west. There have been born
to Edward and Caroline Miller nine children, six of
whom are living — five sons and one daughter. Their
names in the order of their birth, are George, Edward,
Eli, Clara, Jacob, and Jesse, all of whom are yet beneath
the parental roof. Both Mr. and Mrs. Miller are mem-
bers of the Evangelical church. Politically, Mr. Miller
was originally a Democrat. In 1860, he voted for A.
Lincoln, and since that time in all general elections he
has voted the Republican ticket. He, however, is not
partisan in his views, but conservative, and takes no fur-
ther interest than to express his sentiments and choice
through the right of ballot. Mr. Miller in life has been
reasonably successful. He started in life poor, and
what he has, has been the accumulation of his own toil
(and the assistance of his wife) and the practice of rigid
economy. He has raised and supported a large family,
and at the sam* time maintained himself and added a
little to his store while so doing. Mr. Miller may be
regarded as one of the old settlers of Mt. Carmel. Fifty
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
255
years has flid since he came here. .The place was then
a small struggling frontier village. The changes and
growth have all been made since he first became a resi-
dent here, then in his infancy, now in his mature age.
In all these years, and among these people who knew
him as boy and man, he has borne the name and charac-
ter of an upright, honest man, and one who is of agenerous
just disposition, seeking to follow the golden rule of do.
ing unto others as he would have others do unto him.
SAMUEL R. PUTNAM
Is a descendent of one of the pioneer families of Illinois
and Wabash county. The family were originally from
Massachusetts. Howard Putnam, the great-grandfather
of Samuel R., was born in Worcester, that state, Febru-
ary llth, 1762. He was a young man when the war of
the Revolution broke out, and too young to enter the
service at that time. He, however, espoused the cause
of the patriots, and was for two years a soldier under
Washington at the latter end of the war. Hannah Put-
nam, his wife, was born in the sa -e state, Aug. 16, 1763.
Howard moved to New Brighton in Columbia county,
New York, and there his sou, Samuel Putnam, the grand-
fatht-r of the present family was born, — the date of which
was Sept.llth, 1787. He married Relief Chaffey, who
was of Puritan stock, born in Westminster, Vermont,
Dec. llth, 1796. She died in Wabash county, Illinois,
Feb. 14th, 1859, having survived her husband thirteen
years. Samuel Putnam emigrated to Indiana in 1817,
about the time that state was admitted into the union.
There his eldest daughter, Tryphosia, was born, Septem-
ber 2nd, 1817. The next year he came across the river
into Illinois. His eldest son, Sylvester Putnam, was
born in Wabash, then a part of Edwards county, Feb.
14th, 1819. Here Samuel Putnam remained until his
death, which occurred March 10th, 1846. By the mar-
riage of Samuel and Relief Putnam, there were five chil-
dren, among whom was Chesterfield Putnam, the father of
Samuel R. He was born in Wabash county, Illinois,
Sept. 23rd, 1825 He in early life learned the trade of
wagonmaker, which he followed for a number of years,
then engaged in farming and substquently returned to
his trade again, and at present is engaged in that busi-
ness, in Mt. Carmel. He lived for a few years in
Lawrence county, but with that exception, his life has
been passed in Wabash county. He married Miss Eliz-
abeth Baird, a native of Wabash co., who was born Mar.
8, 1826, and married Sept. 3rd, 1843. Her parents, John
W. and Rebecca (Stewart) Baird, were natives of Ken-
tucky, and were also among the early settlers of Wabash
county. The offspring of the marriage of Chesterfield
and Elizabeth Putnam, were Gilbert La Fayette, who
was a soldier during the late war, and a member of the
1 15th Rtgt. 111. Vol. Infty. He contracted a disease
while in the line of his duty during the war, and died,
April 12th, 1868. Julia, the only daughter, is the wife
of Seth Gard, aud a resident of Wabash county. Edgar
Newton, youngest son, married Ellen Ayres. She died
January 5tb, 1882, having one son named Noble
Putnam. Samuel R., the subject of this sketch, is the
third in the family. He was born in Wabash county,
Illinois, Oct. 19th, 1849. He was reared upon the farm,
and received his education in the common schools of Wa-
bash and Lawrence counties, and in the High School of
Mt. Caruiel. In the Spring of 1868 he commenced the
study of law in the office, and under the directions of
Bell & Green, prominent attorneys of the Wabash bar.
He read the standard text books, and pursued his studies
diligently until the Spring of 1870, when he was exam-
ined as to his proficiency by a committee, upon whose
recommendation the Supreme Court granted him a li-
cense to practice law. Soon after his admission he went
to Eureka, Kansas, opened an office and commenced the
practice. He remained there two years, then returned
to Mt Carmel and continued alone in the practice for
one year, then formed a law partnership with Mathews
& Greathouse, under the firm uame of Mathews, Putnam
& Greathouse, which continued five years. Upon its
dissolution, the present firm of Putnam & Greathouse
was formed. Mr. Putnam, while in the general practice,
makes the probate business a specialty, aud in the line
of the practice has been more than ordinarily successful.
He is a young man, possessing studious and good habits,
industrious disposition and an earnest desire to excel in
his chosen profession. Politically, he comes from an old
line Whig and Republican stock, and since 1872, when
he cast his first presidential vote, has uniformly voted
the Republican ticket. On the 21st of April, 1878, he
was united in marriage to Miss Agatha E. Wienbach, a
native of Wabash county, Illinois. One child, a son
named Karl, has been born to them.
VALENTINE SMITH
Is of German birth, born in Bavaria November 15,
1824. His parents, Adam and Ann (Full) Smith, were
natives of the same place. The family emigrated to
America in 1830, and settled near Strasburg, in Frank-
lin county, Pennsylvania, and there lived until 1834,
when they came west to Vanderberg county, in Indiana,
and bought Congress land near Evansville. He pur-
chased eighty acres and improved it, cleared it up, and
there lived until 1844, when he removed to Vincennes,
and died in August of the same year. His wife still
survives her husband, and at present is a resident of
Vincenues. There were eight children in the family,
four sons and the same number of daughters. Of those
three are yet living. Valentine Smith, the subject of
this sketch, learned the trade of saddler and harness maker
in Vincennes. In 1846 he moved over to Illinois, and
settled in Grayville, in White county, and there opened
a shop, and carried on the business, and continued in it
until the war broke out. He then enlisted for three
years under the first call of President Lincoln for
256
HISTORY OF ED WARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
300,000 troops. He became a member of Company E
of the 7th Regt., Ills. Cavalry. He was detailed as
regimental saddler, and veteranized with his regiment,
and remained in the service until the close of the war,
having been in the service for four years and three
months. He entered September 17, 1861, and was
mustered out and discharged in December, 1865. He
returned home to Gray ville, and on the 16th of January,
1866, came to Mt. Carmel and opened a saddlery
and harness shop, continuing in the business for fif-
teen months, when he sold out, and in connection with
Augustus Oldendorp, went into the saloon business. In
that business Mr. Smith has continued to the present.
Five years ago he added drugs and notions to his busi-
ness. In 1846 he was united in marriage to Miss Eva-
line, daughter of Robert Coulter. She was born in
Grayville, and there died in 1853. By that marriage
there were three children— two sons and one daughter.
The latter died during the war. The sons are William
Edward, who at present is a resident of Texas, and
Charles, who is at Lonu assisting his father. In 1868
he married -Miss Vina Hartmann, daughter of John and
Mary Hartmanu. She died October 18, 1868. There
was one child by that marriage, named Laura Vina
Smith.
Mr. Smith is an honored member of the ancient and
honorable order of Free Masonry, and is a member of
Mt. Carmel Lodge. Politically he votes the Demo-
cratic ticket on State and National occasions. He
however is not a partisan, but votes in local elections
for the best men and best measures.
J. SCHNECK, M. D.
THE Schneck family are of German parentage, and
date their ancestry back to the sixteenth century. Th.ey
originally lived in Westphalia, Germany, but were
driven out by wars and persecutions, and took up their
residence at Stuttgart. Many of the family in after years
became learned men and able writers, particularly upon
theological subjects. John F., the father of Dr. Schneck,
was born in Germany, August 23d, 1812. In 1839 he emi-
grated to America, and settled in Lancaster, Pennsylvan-
ia, and there remained until 1843, when he removed west
to Indiana, and settled at New Harmony, in Posey county,
to which place he was attracted by relatives of his wife.
He there followed the trade of carpenter for a number
of years, but subsequently engaged in farming, in which
he continued until his death in 1857. He married Miss
Elizabeth Burkhart, of Lancaster, Pa, January 26,
1843. She was a native of Alsace, a province of
France, born in 1823, but was only seven years of age
when her parents emigrated to America, and settled near
Millerstown in the above named county and State. She
survived her husband many years, and died at New
Harmony, Ind., in September, 1879. Jacob, the sub-
ject of this sketch, is the eldest of the family of John F.
and Elizabeth Schneck. He was born near New Har-
mony, Posey county, Indiana, December 11, 1843.
He was reared upon the farm, and received a fair
English education in the schools of his native county.
He remained at home until soon after the breaking out
of the late war, when on the 13th of November, 1861, he
enlisted as a private in Company E of the 60th Regt., Ind.
Vol. Infantry. He was captured while on the skirmish
line at the battle of Jackson, which occurred a few
days after the fall of Vicksburg. He was piroled and
sent north. Owing to some irregularity in the exchange,
he failed to be exchanged regularly, therefore did not
rejoin his command, but re-enlisted, entering the naval
service at Brooklyn, New York. The date of the latter
enlistment was May 18, 1864. He was assigned to duty
on a vessel that had a roving commission, and whose
chief duty it was to watch and capture blockade runners.
He was subsequently assigned to duty on theMetacomet,
and took part in the naval campaign oif Mobile and at
Fort Morgan and Spanish Fort. He was mustered out
and discharged from the service at Philadelphia, May
31st, 1865. He returned home, and feeling the necessity
of having a better education, went t< school and spent
some time in the academy at Owenville fitting himself
for the profession of teaching. In 1867 he went to Olney
in Richland county, 111 , and taught school, and while
there concluded to enter the profession of Medicine.
He commenced the study under the direction of Dr Gos-
lin, of Olney. The next year he came to Mt. Carmel,
taught school and coniinued his studies under Dr. Wm.
Graham . In the winter of 1868-69, he took a course in
the Chicago Medical College. His money being exhaust-
ed, he was compelled to go back to teaching, by which
means he secured sufficient funds to enable him to enter
the Medical College for the second course. He gradua-
ted in March, 1871, with the degree of M. D. He com-
menced the practice in Mt. Carmel, which by close at-
tention and uniform success, soon grew extensive and
lucrative. Dr. Schneck belongs to the progressive order
of physicians, and keeps fully posted in all the new meth-
ods and latest discoveries in the science of medicine. He
is president of the Wabash Medical Society, and a mem-
ber of the State Medical and Natural History Societies.
He is a member of A. F. and A. M., belongs to Mt. Car-
mel Lodge No. 239, and Mt. Carmel Chapter No. 159.
On the 28th of November, 1872, he was united in mar-
riage to Miss Mary, daughter of John and Mary Hart-
raann. One child, a son, has been born to them, named
Sereno Schueck. Both Mr. and Mrs. Schneck are mem-
bers of the M. E. Church. He is Republican in poli-
tics, and an advocate of the Temperance cause.
ISAAC F. PRICE.
THE Price family is of Scotch-Irish ancestry. John
j C. Price, the grandfather of Isauc F., was a native of
Delaware. He emigrated to Ohio as early as 1812 and
settled in Muskiugum county, near Zauesville, and there
JLwJ
^ % j*-
FARM RESIDENCE OF J.W. Rl GG, Sf C.26, T.I, R.I3, Mr CARMEL.PRECINCT, WABASH CO. ILL.
R£SIDeNC£,STOCK & GRAIN FARM OF DAVID P. W RIGHT, SCC.27, TJ,R. I3(MT CAffM£L PRECINCT) WABASH CO.ILL,
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
257
lived until 1837, when he came to Wabash county, Illi-
nois, and here died in the summer of 1838. William
Price, his son, and father of the present family, came to
Illinois, Oct. 29th, 1839. He was born in Delaware,
February 15th, 1805. He settled in Wabash county
and engaged in farming. He, however, was a shoemaker
by trade. In 1863 he removed to Lawrence county, 111.
and there continued his trade. He died Nov. 29th, 1880.
In 1828 he married Elizabeth Walker. She died in
June 1839. In 1841 he married Mrs. Sarah Hall nee
Walker. She died in the fall of 1853, leaving four
children, three of whom are yet living. Isaac Fletcher
Price is the third in the family of the latter marriage.
He was born in the northern part of Wabash county,
Illinois, June 27th, 1848. He was reared upon his
father's farm, and received a common school education
in the public and subscription schools of his neighbor-
hood, and remained at home until he reached his twenty-
second year. During that time he learned the trade of
shoemaking in his father's shop, and worked at it for
three years. He then commenced clerking in a general
store in Allendale, in this county, and continued in the
business for eleven years, with the exception of a short
time that he was compelled to abandon it on" account of
failing health. In 1882 he received the nomination for
the office of County Clerk, at the hands of the Demo-
cratic party in convention assembled, and in November
following was elected. He then moved to Mt. Carmel
and entered upon his duties as Clerk of the County, and
at present is still acting in that capacity. His term will
expire in 1886. Politically, Mr. Price is a member of the
Democratic party, and a staunch and true adherent to
the principles of that political organization, and uniformly
votes that ticket. He is a member of the order of Free
ind Accepted Masons and holds membership with
Allendale Lodge, No. 752.
On the 26th of February, 1874, he was united in
marriage to Miss Emma, daughter of William and
Margaret (Crosin) McClane. Mrs. Price was born in
Wabash county Illinois. Her parents are natives of
Ohio. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs.
Price. Their names are William Guy, and Floy Isabel
Price. Mr. Price as a county official so far gives evi-
dence of being very popular. He is possessed of good
business qualifications, and an obliging disposition. He
is industrious and active in acquiring a thorough know-
ledge of the routine work and duties appertaining to his
office, and meets all who come in contact with him,
whether in his official capacity or otherwise, in an
affable and pleasant manner.
ALFRED P. MANLEY.
THE present county superintendent of Schools is a na-
tive of Wabash county, born May 3rd, 1853. His grand-
father, Benjamin Mauley, was a native of New Jersey,
and at an early date emigrated to Ohio, and settled in
Muskingum county, and there married Julia Ford, who
34
was also a native of New Jersey. In 1842, the Manley
family came to Wabash county, Illinois, and here Mrs.
Manley died. Mr. Manley soon after moved to Logan
county, Illinois, and there died a few years later. Of
the offspring of Benjamin and Julia Manley was Fran-
cis Perry, the father of Alfred P. Manley. He was born
in Muskingum county, Ohio. He came with the fami-
ly to Illinois, and here studied medicine and practiced
his profession, until his death, which occurred in 1862.
He married Miss Maria Wiley, daughter of James Wi-
ley, who was an old settler of Wabash county, and a
veteran of the war of 1812. Mrs. Manley was born in
this county, By the latter union there were seven chil-
dren, four of whom have survived the father. Alfred
P. is the third in the family now living. He received
his primary education in the public schools of the coun-
ty. Determining to adopt teaching as the business of
his life, he commenced fitting himself for the profession
by entering the National Normal School, at Lebonon,
Ohio. Subsequently he attended the Normal School at
Carmi, White county, Illinois, and at Mitchell, Indiana.
At those schools he obtained special instruction and train-
ing for the profession. He taught his first school in
1875, and from that time to the present has been en-
gaged in teaching. For the last two years, he has had
charge, as Principal, of the grammar department in the
High School of Mt. Carmel. In 1882, his zeal in the"
cause of education, his worth as a man and citizen, re-
ceived suitable and honorable recognition, by being elect-
ed Superintendent of the Public Schools of Wabash coun-
ty. His elevation to t!iat office was the more flatter--
ing when it is remembered that he was elected as a Re-
publican in a county that usually gives 200 majority for
the Democratic ticket. His election may therefore be
taken as an evidence of his efficiency and popularity.
Mr. Manley is progressive in his ideas, and has already
introduced wholesome and radical reforms in the school
system of the county. Under his vigorous management,
we hope soon to see the public schools of the county,
second to none in the state. Politically he is a Repub-
lican. He is an honored member of the A. F. & A. M.
and holds membership with Mt. Carmel Lodge 239. He
is a member of the Christian Church, temperate in his
habits and an advocate of the cause.
SAMONIEL BROTHERS.
EDWARD and William Samoniel, the leading jewelers
of Wabash county, were born in Louisville, Kentucky,
but came to Mt. Carmel in 1857, and were here raised
to habits of industry and business. They learned the
jeweler's trade and worked at the business in different
places. In 1876 they came back to Mt. Carmel, and
opened a large stock of jewelry, musical instruments
and fancy goods. In 1883 they commenced giving their
entire time to the sale of all Ihe different manufactures
of watches and clocks, of the Seth Thomas, Elgin, Wal-
tham, Springfield and others, and also put in a large
stock of musical instruments. They are good business
258
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
men, and the public have learned to know that their
warranty upon their goods means all that the word im-
plies. They, with few exceptions, conduct the largest
business of the kind in Southern Illinois.
CAPTAIN G. M. KENIEPP.
CHRISTIAN KENIEPP, the founder of the family, living
in Wabash and Lawrence counties, Illinois, was a Hessian
soldier captured at Trenton. He joined the colonial
army, and after the war married and located in Geauga
county, Ohio. He had four sons and several daughters,
the eldest being the first white female child born in that
section in Ohio. Of these sons was Charles, the grand-
father of G. M. Keniepp. He married Miss L. Clark,
and had a family of three sons and one daughter. Of
these sons was Silas Keniepp, born July 29th, 1811, on
his father's farm on Johnny Cake ridge, near Winchester.
Geauga county. Ohio. He came with his uncle's family
to Mt. Carrael in 1827, and here learned the blacksmith
trade, in the shop of Jas. H. Beall, afterwards buying
the shop and following the business for a quarter of a
century. He moved to his farm near the city in 1859,
and there died, April 18th, 1883. He married Jane,
eldest daughter of Btauchamp Harvey, deceased, Dec.
8th, 1836, by whom he had a family of five sons and
three daughters. His wife died Nov. 19th, 1874. He
subsequently married Elizabeth Sharp, Dec. 25th, 1876;
who still survives.
Captain Geo. M. Keniepp was born March 18th, 1838.
He learned the blacksmith trade in his father's shop,
move'd to the farm with his father and followed farming
until, and since the rebellion. On the 17th of February,
18 4, he married Miss Rosalind Murray, by whom he
has a family of three sons and two daughters. Mr.
Keniepp enlisted Sept. 1st, 1861, as private in Co. " G,"
48th Regt. Illinois Vol. Inft'y. Promoted 1st Sergeant
March 1st, 1862 Promoted 1st Lieutenant (vice T. S.
Bowers, transferred), Nov. 17th, 1862. Promoted Cap-
tain March 24, 1864, in Veteran service, same Regiment.
Was discharged under Special Order No. 45, Jan. 28th,
1865. Accepted April 2, 1865, at Goldsboro, N. G! '
Was wounded by shell on the thigh and calf of left leg, |
April 5th, 1862, at Shiloh. Again by gun-shot in left
hip, at Jonesboro, Ga., Sept. 1st, 1864, while Captain in
charge of an advancing skirmish line. Came home on
wounded leave. While en route for his Regiment, was
detailed on special service under Special Orders of
General Sherman, No. 274, Nov. 10th, 1864, in Subsis-
tence and Q. M. Dep't, with Captain Shaw, at Louis-
ville, Ky., on request was released and ordered to report
to command, Jan. 8th, 1865; reached his Regiment at
Beaufort, S. C., Jan. 21st, 1865.
Received special mention and thanks in reports of
actions of the Regiment by his superior officers.
He was in all actions of his Regiment except those j
between Sept. 1st, 1864 and Jan. 21st, 1865, after which
time he was second in command of his Regiment, occa-
sionally having entire command, at one time closing up ;
action at Duck Branch, S. C.
Left the Regiment for home April 2d, 1865 ; after
I the urgent request of his Col. Maj. and Adj. and line
officers of the Regiment, joined by General Oliver, com-
manding Division, to remain and oflering the Lieut. Col-
' onelcy of the Regiment. But after three years and eight
} months' hard service believing the war over, having
an honorable discharge, preferred home aiid its comforts
to promotion after the fighting was done, (the Regiment
was never in action afterwards), believing he had done
j his duty faithfully to the best of his ability, gaining the
lasting regard of the officers and men with whom he
served,
He was always connected with the Army of the Ten-
nessee, 15th and 16th Corps.
He now resides on his farm, one and a half miles
southwest of Mt. Carmel, Illinois, — is a member of the
following secret Societies: Eureka Grange, P. of H.,
No. 784 ; Wabash Lodge, No. 35, I. O. O. F.; T. S.
Bowers Post, No. 125, G. A. R.
WILLIAM SEITZ, JR.
THE Seitz family are old settlers of Wabash county.
Christian Seitz, the father of William, was born in
Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, January 20th, 1806. He
emigrated to America, landing at Baltimore, Md., July
19, 1831. He settled at Pittsburg, where he remained
until the spring of 1834, when . he came west to Evant-
ville, in Indiana, and two months later came to Mt.
Carmel. in Wabash county, and here he engaged in dif-
ferent callings, merchandising, etc., until a few years ago,
when he retired from business. . On the 25th of Oct.,
1832, he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth,
daughter of Elizabeth Shafer, by which union there
were ten children — seven yet living. William Seitz is
the only son living. He was born in Mt. Carmel,..
December 13, 1837. Here he grew up, and in 1853
commenced the trade of carriage making and continued
at it until 1858, when he engaged in trading,
butchering and other enterprises until 1867, whtn he
formed a partnership with his father, in the bakery
and grocery busines. In 1871 he purchased his father s
interest, and from that time has continued alone. Mr.
Seitz is a live, active business man, and has been very
successful. On the 5th of January, 1860, he married
Miss Henrietta Sanders, and by that union there are
five children, whose names are, Elijah William, John
Alexander, Alfred F., Ada Elizabeth and Mary Ellen.
Both he and his wife are members of the Evangelical
Church. He is a member of the I. O. 0. F.
As before stated, Mr. Seitz belongs to the progressive
order of men. He never allows his business to push him,
but is in the lead and always ready for any enterprise
that may appear, or in which there is a reasonable
chance to improve his condition financially. He is
prompt and honorable in all matter where his obligation
is given, and in his intercourse with men he is affable,
pleasant, and agreeable, and in consequence has a host
of friends.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
259
DR. JACOB LESCHER.
DR. CHARLES JAMES MILLER (DECEASED.)
ONE of the promineDt and able physicians of the past iu
Mt. Carmel was Dr. Charles J. Miller. He was born
in Dumbarton, Windham county, Vermont. The date
of his birth was January 25, 1816. He entered Yale
College with the intention of studying for the ministry.
Soon after his graduation he went west to Ohio, and
in the fall of 1840 came to Mt. Carmel, where he was
employed for three years as teacher in the High School.
He then commenced the study of medicine in the office
and under the direction of Dr. Jacob Lescher, of Mt.
Carmel. He commenced the practice, and soon after
removed to and located in Friendsville, and there lived
and practiced medicine for a number of years. He re-
turned to Mt. Carmel and 'formed a partnership with
John J. Lescher, M. D., son of his preceptor, and together
they continued the practice until the death of Dr. Miller,
the date of which was May 9th, 1859. His faithfulness
to his patients, and fidelity to his profession, was the
cause of his early demise. Dr Miller was a member
of the Presbyterian church, and presiding elder
at the time of his death. On the 6th of January, i
1848, he was united in marriage to MissElvina Lescher. |
She was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, July 16,
1817. By that union there were seven children, four of
whom died in infancy. Jacob Marshal, in his early
childhood ; Samuel Charles, another son in his 15th year ;
Mary Alice, in her 12th year. Mrs. Miller is a resident
of Mt. Carmel, and a member of the Lutheran church. .
DR. JACOB LESCHER,
THE father of Mrs. Charles J. Miller, was born in Lan-
caster county, Pennsylvania, and adopted the profession
of medicine, in which he became learned and eminent
in after years. He came west from his native State to
Ohio, in 1832, and the year following came to Mt. Car-
mel, and here remained until his death, which took
place' August 31st, 1854. He was the father of ten
children, five sons and five daughters — four sons and one
daughter yet living. Dr. Lescher in his day read much,
and had absorbed a vast amount of information upon
almost every subject. His library at the time of his
death was extensive, and embraced standard and mis-
cellaneous works upon every popular theory, and fact of
the day. He was the most generous and kind-hearted
of men. His sympathies were always enlisted for the
poor, and his donations and labors in that direction for
their aid and benefit were frequent and generous, and
none ever called in vain, or went away empty-handed.
He was not a member of any church, neither subscribed
to any of the formulated creeds or dogmas, but acted upon
the golden rule of doing unto others as you would have
others do unto you, and believed that in so doing he was
fulfilling a large part of the requirements of the Divine
law.
260
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
ROBERT PARKINSON (DECEASED).
OXE of the leading business and represeatative men
of Mt. Carmel in pa4 years was Robert Parkinson.
He was a native of England, born in Westmoreland
county, near the Yorkshire line, October 19, 1816.
His parents, Edward and Mary Parkinson, with the
family, emigrated to America in 1824, and settled in New-
port township, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, where
they farmed, and Mr. Parkinson followed his trade of
stone-mason. A few years later he sold out and re-
moved north to Susquehanna county, near the village
of FriendsviUe, and remained there until 1836, when
Mr. Parkinson came west to Illinois, and stopped in
White county, and worked upon the stone bridge at
Carmi. He died in White county a few years later.
Robert was one of five children, the offspring of Edward
and Mary (Beilby) Parkinson. During the residence
of the family in Pennsylvania, William Wood, an Eng-
lishman by birth, married his sister Jane. Mr. Wood
was a capitalist and one of the leading men of Wilkes-
barre, the county seat of Luzerne. He took Robert
into the store with him, and learned him merchandizing
and trained him to business. In 1836 Mr. Wood and
his brother came west to Wabash county, Illinois, and
established a general store in Mt. Carmel, and bought
and shipped the produce of this section of the country.
Mr. Wood brought Robert with him in the spring of
1837, when he came west the second time, to assist him
in the store as clerk. He entered upon his duties and
remained in Mt. Carmel for one year, then Mr. Wood
established a store at what is now known as Friends-
viUe, and placed Robert in charge. At that time there
were few houses there, and the country was sparsely
settled. To give the village more prominence and at-
tract the trade of the surrounding country, a post-office
was established, and Mr. Parkinson named it Friends-
ville, in honor and recollection of the village of 'that
name in Pennsylvania where he had passed his youth.
He was appointed the first postmaster and held the
office until 1841. In the fall of 1841 Mr. Wood con-
cluded to remove back to Pennsylvania, which step was
taken on account of the continued ill health of his wife.
He made a proposition to Mr. Parkinson and Wm. R-
Wilkinson, his two clerks, to enter into partnership with
him and continue the business. An invoice of stock on
hand was taken in both stores, and found to aggregate
nearly eleven thousand dollars, about equally divided be-
tween the two stores. Mr. Parkinson was selected to go to
Mt.Carmel, and Mr. Wilkinson to stay at FriendsviUe.
Mr. Wood gave them three thousand dollars in stock,
as an offset for services and time. The partnership thus
entered into under the firm name of Wood & Parkinson,
continued seven years. When the stock was run down
and sold, Mr. Parkinson continued the business alone.
During the life of the firm of Wood & Parkinson
they were the leading merchants and produce shippers
in Southern Illinois. They shipped large quantities of
grain and pork, which was consigned to the eastern
partner, and he would purchase gooJs in return and
ship them west _ The management of the business
mainly depended on Mr. Parkinson, who was then
comparatively a young man ; but he was untiring, in-
dustrious, bold and aggressive, and possessed a quick,
business mind. The business grew and prospered
under his management. He thus laid solidly the foun-
dations of his future business life. After the retire-
ment of Mr. Wocd he continued the business alone
for the greater part of his life. He occasionally had
partners, but only for a short time. In 1852 he built
the flouring and saw-mill at Gran I Rapids. He suffered
severe losses at different times, but never gave up — the
greater his losses, the higher his courage seemed to rise.
He did not pine or fret, but went to work, and with his
indomitable energy and perseverance, would wrench
success from what others would abandon in despair. In
June, 1877, he was one of the heaviest sufferers from
the terrible cyclone that visited Mt. Carmel. His losses
aggregated $35,000, and he was buried for three hours
in the ruins of his building, which took fire, and it was
only by the most herculean efforts on the part of the
citizens that he was rescued from a horrible death.
After a few days he was again at work and from the
wreck gathered up his remaining resources, and soon was
under way again. His credit, which he was always ex-
tremely careful of, was about all he had left, but it
stood him good service now and enabled him to get
started once more. His sons then went into partnership
with him, and continued until his death, which took
place April 8th, 1878. In his intercourse with men he
was affable and agreeable, and made many strong
friends, who were held to him as with hooks of steel.
On the 22d of November, 1842, he was united in mar-
riage to Miss Frances J., daughter of Abraham and
Hannah (Stewart) Russell. She was born in Wabash
county, 111., August 9, 1824. Her parents were natives
of Nantucket, Mass. Mrs. Parkinson died March 22,
1877. There were ten children by that union, six of
whom are living : Abraham R. died January 23, 1880, in
his twenty-fourth year ; James R., Ellen L., Mary E ,
Robert Edward, S. Frank B. are the names of the living.
James R. and Robert Parkinson, under the firm name
of Parkinson Bros., do a very large business in general
merchandising, and also are extensive grain dealers.
They have preserved the standing and credit that their
father gave the house and name in his life.
JAMES W. RIGG.
SAMUEL RIGG, the father of James, was born in
North Carolina, August 14, 1791. His father, Charles,
was a soldier of the Revolution. He (Samuel) moved to
Greenup county, on the Big Sandy, Ky., and there on
the 27th of January, 1814, married Ruchael Beauchamp,
who was born in Pennsylvania, November 27, 1794.
Samuel Rigg moved to Illinois, landing in Mt. Carmel
December 25, 1817. There were then five in the family.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
261
father, mother, Charles, George and Mrs. Beauchamp,
the mother of Mrs. Rigg. Mr Rigg settled where James
W. now lives, and there died April 1, 1858. His wife
died July 3, 1874. They were both devoted Christians, ;
and joined the church while quite young. There were ;
eight children, seven sous and one daughter : James W.,
the subject of this sketch, was boru on the place where
he now lives, October 23, 1829. He was reared upon
the farm, and remained at home uutil attaining his ma-
jority. In 1852 he married, then commenced farm, i-
ing for himself, and still continues on the farm, a view
of which can be seen on another page. He made a pro-
fession of religion in 1844, and joined the M. E. church, •
and was licensed to exhort in 1853. On the 26th of
January, 1867, he was licensed a local preacher by the
Conference, in the Olney district. On the 16th of Feb-
ruary, 1853, he was married to Justina, daughter of ]
Peter and Justina (.loachims) Ravenstein. Her parents ]
emigrated to America in 1851, and settled in Wabash
county. There have been five children born to Mr. and j
Mrs. Rigg. Their names are Elizabeth, Rachael, wife
of John G. Seller, who have four children, named Ru-
dolph Jacob, ( Elmira, dead), Justina Matilda and
Bertha Menetta ; Mitina Justina is the w ife of James
Tanquary, Mary Bertha wife of George E. Gilkerson ;
Peter Samuel married Matt Douglass, and have one
son, named Earl Raoul ; Lincoln James is a student at
the Southern Normal, at Carbondale, 111. Politically, Mr-
Rigg is a Republican-Independent. In 1876 he was
a charter member of the first Grange, and was appointed
Gen. Deputy of Southern Illinois by the Master Grange.
JOHN M. HARRISON
WAS born in Vincennes, Knox county, Ind., Nov.
1st, 1844. The family on the paternal side is
of English ancestry. The grandfather of John H., |
came from England to America, when quite young, I
and settled in Baltimore, and there married. By
that union was John H., the father of the present
subject, born 1806. When he grew to manhood he
adopted the ministry, and was ordained as such in the
Christian Church. He came west on a mission to preach,
and settled in Vincennes, and while traveling upon the !
circuit, he was drowned in attempting to ford White '
river, in Green county. The date of his death was Oct.
23, 1845. He married Sarah P. Wheeler, a native of j
Vincennes. She was the daughter of Henry D. and i
Esther (Polk) Wheeler, old settlers of Indiana. There j
were five children born to John H. and Sarah P. Har- !
rison. John H. is the youngest son. He received his
primary education in the public schools and in the i
University at Vincennes. He was brought up to habits '
of business and industry. He was in the woolen busi- :
ness until twenty years of age, then began studying
medicine with a view of adopting it as the profession of
his life. He spent two years in the drug business in St j
Louis. In 1874 he commenced the study of dentistry
in Vincennes, and commenced business in connection
with his preceptor in Colorado, traveling over the south-
western part of the state. He located for a while on
Texas creek, and subsequently went to Texas, and in
March, 1879, came to Mt. Carmel, Ills., and here located
permanently. On the 15th of May, 1878, he was united
in marriage to Miss Lotta, daughter of John P. and
Elizabeth Young, of Knox county, Indiana. Two
children were born to them, whose names are, Harry
Young and Eleanor. He is a member of the A. F.
and A. M., and also a member of the Chapter of Royal
Arch Masons. He is master workman in the beneficiary
order of A. O. U. W., and treasurer of the Lodge of
I. O. G T. Both he and his wife are members of the
Christian church. Politically he is a Republican. Mr.
Harrison, by close attention to business and superior
workmanship in the dental line, has built up a large
and lucrative practice.
THOMAS L. JOY,
THE present editor and publisher of the Republican,
Mt. Carmel, was born at Equality, 111., Sept. 5th,
1850. He is the son of Ephraim and Ellen M. (Seed)
Joy. His father is a native of Wabash county, and
his mother is of Irish parentage, from the north of Ire-
land. She was a resident of Lawrence county, Ills., at
the time of her marriage. Mr. Joy entered the ministry
of the M. E. church at an early age. By his marriage
with Ellen M. Seed there were four children, two of
whom are living — Thos. L., and Andrew F., at present
connected with the Carmi Times, as editor and publisher-
Thomas L. commenced the printer's trade at the age of
fifteen, in the offioe of the New Era, Carbondale, Ills t
and remained there six months. The next vacation he
worked for four months in the office of the Alton Daily
Telegraph. He next found employment on the Advo-
cate, Belleville, Ills., where he served as an apprentice
for one year, at the end of which time he entered the
job office of Woodward & Tiernan, St. Louis, Mo., and
served an apprenticeship of three years. From the
latter place he went to Lebanon, St. Clair county, Ills.,
and for three months had charge of the mechanical de.
partment of the Journal. He then went to Bridgeport,
Lawrence county, in charge of the Courier. In 1872(
in connection with his father and brother, under the firm
name of E. Joy & Sons, he established the Carmi Times.
Fifteen months later E. Joy retired, and the firm of Joy
Bros, was formed, which continued until January }
1883. In August, 1880, Mr. Joy, on the part of the'
Joy Bros , went to Cairo, and there established the
Daily and Weekly News. This paper was issued as
a daily for five months, then for six mouths it was
issued as a semi-weekly, when the office was closed
and the paper discontinued.
On the 15th of January, 1883, he came to Mt. Car-
mel and took charge of the Republican, and at present
conducts it as editor and proprietor.
262
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
ROBERT S. GORDON.
THE Gordon family is of Scotch-Irish ancestry.
John Gordon, the grandfather, was born in Wheeling,
Va., in 1763. He married Mary McKinnon, of Wash-
ington county, Pennsylvania. Soon after moved to
Hamilton, Ohio, from there to Cincinnati, then to Evaas-
ville, Indiana, and in 1819 to Lawrence county, Illinois.
There were six sons and two daughters in the family.
Robert M., the father of Robert S., was the name of one
of the sons. He was born in Washington county, Penn.
He came west with his father in an early day, and to
Wabash county, Illinois, in 1829, and settled in Mt
Carmel. Here he followed merchandising and various
other businesses, chief among which was hotel-keeping,
brick-making, stock-trading, and subsequently studied
law. Commenced the practice and drifted into politics,
and became a local political leader. On several occasions
he was a candidate for county office, and once for the
legislature. In politics he was a Democrat of the
Jackson school. He died Sept. 27, 1841. In 1823, at
New Albany, Indiana, he married Elizabeth Collins,
who was a native of Ohio ; born March llth, 1810. She
died March 15, 1871. By the latter union there were
two sons and four daughters. The eldest son died in in-
fancy. Robert Squire Gordon, of whom we write,
is the fifth in the family. He was born in Mt. Carmel,
Wabash county, Illinois, August 26, 1838. His edu-
cation in schools practically ended with his thirteenth
year. He then became self-supporting. At the age of
fifteen he commenced work on a farm. Soon after he
went to his relatives in Charleston, Illinois, and there
apprenticed himself to learn the carpenter trade. He
served eighteen months when the war of the rebellion
broke out. He then enlisted as a private, for the term
of three years, in Co. B. 21st Regt. Ills. Vols. Infantry,
Col. U. S. Grant, commanding. The Hate of his en-
listment was May 9, 1861. He participated with his
regiment in all the battles and skirmishes in which it
was engaged up to Sept. 24, 1864, when he was detailed
on secret service duty, and served in that capacity until
the end of the war. He veteranized with his regiment;
February 26, 1864. After the close of the war, Sept!
21st, 1865, he was detailed the second time by Major Gen.
Stanley, and ordered on duty at Victoria, Texas, and
finally mustered out and discharged Dec. 16, 1865,
having been in active service four years and seven months.
After Mr. Gordon's discharge from the service he re-
mained in San Aatonia, Texas, and engaged in mercan-
tile pursuits. From the latter place he went to Plea-
santon, in Atascosa county, and there engaged in the
grocery trade. In May, 1868, he returned to Mt. Car-
mel, and here soon after engaged in farming. In Sept.
1871, in connection with Henry Utter, engaged in the
dry goods business in Mt. Carmel, in which they con-
tinued until March, 1873. He remained out of business
until Nov. 1875, then opened a drug store, and has
continued in the drug trade until the present.
Politically he was originally a Douglas Democrat.
He cast his first vote for Stephen A- Douglas, and was a
great admirer of the "Little Giant" of the west, whom
he knew personally. At the breaking out of the war,
he was a loyal and staunch union man, and gave evi-
dence of the faith that was in him by shouldering his
musket and going to the front, and served with a regiment
that became one of the historic organizations of the war.
In 1868, he voted for U. S. Grant, his old colonel and
commander, for president, and from that time to the
present has voted the Republican ticket. In 1876, Mr.
Gordon was elected Mayor of Mt. Carmel, and re-elected
in 1877, and served until 1879. During 1877, when the
city was visited by the terrible cyclone he, with the aid
of the committee, distributed $14,000, which was donated
to relieve the sufferers. In 1881, he was elected one of
the county commissioners, and is credited with being one
of the first Republicans elected to that position on a
straight ticket. He was also, for three years, a member
of the Board of Education.
In July, 1868, Mr. Gordon was happily united in
marriage to Miss Mary L., eldest daughter of Abraham
and Elizabeth (Penstone) Utter. She was born in
Wabash county, Illinois, May 18, 1836. Her father
was born in New Jersey, and came with his father
Major Henry Utter, to Illinois in 1818. Her mother is
a native of the same State, and came here in 1823. There
have been six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Gordon,
three of whom are living — two died in infancy and one
in early childhood. The names of those living are Amy
Ellen, Robert Abraham, and Walter Spaffoi-d. Mr.
Gordon and wife are members of the Christian church.
Mr. Gordon attached himself to that religious organiza-
tion in 1865, when at home from the army on veteran
furlough. He takes an active interest in the church
government, and has filled the office of elder deacon, and
has been one of its trustees for a number of years.
He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and be-
longs to the Mt. Carmel Lodge, A. F. & A. M., No. 239,
and was W. M. for three years of Mt. Carmel Chapter,
R. A. M., No. 159, and was its H. P. for three years.
He was created a Knight Templar, by Gorin Command-
ery K. T., at Olney, Illinois. He was the first com-
mander of T. S. Bowers Post G. A. R., No. 125, and at
present is special mustering officer of the district.
JOHN T. BURKETT.
THE Burkett family is of German ancestry. The
great-grandfather emigrated from Germany to America,
bringing with him an only son named John. They set-
tled in York county, Pennsylvania, where he resided
until his death, which was occasioned by the explosion
of a powder-mill, about the year 1814. John, the grand-
father of the subject of this sketch, moved to Circleville,
Ohio, and, a short time after, came down the river with
his family, and located at New Harmony, Indiana. He
there became a member of what was then known as the
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS. 263
" kew Harmony Community." He continued his resi-
dence in Po-ey county until his death. He was a regu-
larly ordained minister of the Methodist Episcopal
Church.
While a resident of Pennsylvania he married a Miss
Byarts. There were several children by that union
among whom was John, the father of John T. Burkett.
He was born in York county, Pennsylvania, in the year
1809. He came West with his father's family, and re
sided in Posey county, lud., until he became of age,
when he came to Mt. Carmel, and here married Miss
Julia A. Sharp, daughter of Luke Sharp, who emigrated
from Shelby ville, Ky., to Gibson county, Ind., and from
there came to Mt. Carmel. Mr. Burkett and his wife
removed to Gibson county, Ind., and lived in that and
Posey counties the remainder of their lives. There were
four children born to them John T., our subject, is the
youngest and only survivor of the family. He was born
in Gibson county, Ind , Sept. 5, 1840, was raised on the
farm, and received a good common-school education.
At the age of twelve years he commenced clerking for
the firm of Martin & Sharp in McLeansboro, Illinois,
and subsequently engaged in the same business in Mt.
Carmel. In 1864 he enlisted in Co. H, 136th Regiment
Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and remained with the re
giment until his term of enlistment expired, when he
returned to, his home, and soon after went to New Har-
mony, Ind., and engaged in sawing and shipping walnut
lumber. Three years later he returned to Mt. Carmel,
and opened a clothing store, which business he followed
for three years. In December, 1872, he received the
appointment of deputy sheriff, and served until 1876,
when he received the nomination by the democratic
party of sheriff, and was elected ; served two years; then
s< rved as deputy county clerk, and in 1880 was elected
circuit clerk. At the present time he is in that official
position.
He has also been twice elected alderman of the city
of Mt. Carmel. He is a member of the order G. A. R
On the 6th of June, 1869, he was united in marriage to
Miss Miry G., daughter ofGeo. W.and Mary (Walker)
Wheeler, of New Harmony, Ind. Mrs. Burkett is a
native of Posey county, Ind. By that union there were
two children. Harry, the only son, is still living ; Bertie
L., the daughter, died in early childhood. Mrs. Burkett
is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
LOUIS KAMP
in West Prussia, near Justrow, Sept. llth,
1828. He is the son of Lud wig and Reneta (Schroader)
Kamp. He received a good education in the excellent
schools of his native country. In March, 1848, he left
Prussia and emigrated to the United States. He landed
in New York and from there went to Philadelphia,
where he worked at the trade of cabinet making. He
stayed in the latter place eleven months, then came west
to Cincinnati, then to St. Louis, and traveled over the
west, visiting the different places. In 1851 he returned
to Philadelphia and remained there nearly one year, at
which time his parents came over from Germany. In
September, 1852, he came west the second time, and
with the family stopped in Evansville, Indiana. His
father bought a farm in Vanderberg county, and Louis
stayed with him four years, then went west again,
working at milling and millwrighting. Returning to
Vanderberg county, in 1857, he worked at different oc-
cupations until 1860, when he bought a farm and built
a shop, and followed the business of machinist. His
shop was located on the banks of the Ohio river. He
remained in this business until 1879, when b e came to
Mt. Carmel and purchased the Mock Flouring Mill,
and here he has carried on the milling business to the
present. A view of the mill may be seen by reference
to another page of this work.
Both of Mr. Kamp's parents died in Vauderberg
county. There were six sons and one daughter in the
family, all of whom are yet living, except Robert, who
was a soldier in the late war and was a member of Co.
K of the 32d regiment Indiana volunteers. He was
wounded in one of the battles, from which he never
fully recovered, and died in London, Tenn., in 1863.
Berthold, another brother, was also a member of the
same company and regiment, and remained in the service
three years. During the war, Mr. Kamp, the subject of
this sketch, was a member of the Indiana legion, which
was organized for border defence. He was second lieu-
tenant in the company.
CHRISTY
LAWRENCE CO.
jjHRISTY TOWNSHIP is in the eastern part
of the county, and is bounded on the north by
Petty, on the east by Bridgeport, on the south
by Lukin, and on the west by Richland county. The
surface is divided between timber and prairie land, and
is drained by the tributaries of Little Muddy, Little
Raccoon, Indian, and Bonpas creeks.
The first permanent settler in the township was Ben-
jamin Sumner, a native of North Carolina, who came in
1817, and on the 25th day of October of that year, en-
tered the N. E. quarter of section 14, where he erected a
small round log cabin. He had a wife and two children,
Seley who died young, and Famuel who was born in
Georgia, in 1815, and is still living on section 10, near
Sumner. He was three times married. Simpson and
Sullivan Sumner, of the town of Sumner, and Mrs.
William Musgrove, children by the second marriage, are
still living, and are among the old residents. Seven
children of the third wife are yet living. About 1827,
Mr. Sumner built an incline ox grist and flax mill on
his premises. This was the first mill built in the town-
ship. He* afterward kept a small general store on his
place. He was a careful, industrious farmer, never
spending any time in hunting or sporting of any kind.
His industry was rewarded by large acquisitions of land
which before his death, occurring on Christmas day, 1878,
he divided among his children. At one time, when Mr.
Sumner was away from home, his wife Elizabeth, who
was an expert in the use of the rifle, shot a deer, and
had it dressed and put away, on his return.
Moses Laws, a North Carolinian, came from that
state in 1818. He was a widower with seven children,
William, John, James, Lewis, Sarah, Elizabeth and
Annie. All married in the county, and reared families.
William married a sister of Benjamin Sumner, and set-
tled on the site of Hadley ; John on the state road north
of that village and kept a stage stand, as early as 1838;
James also on the state road in what is now Richland
county ; Lewis married Silva Basdin, and settled two
and a half miles northeast of Sumner, where he reared a
family The Laws now in the county, are descendants
of William and Lewis. William Laws of Sumner is a
son of Lewis. William Blanchard, a Kentuckian, in
1818 settled on section 13, where he resided for about
ten or twelve years. Joseph Williams, came from Ohio,
in 1819, and settled in the same section, just south of
Benjamin Surauer, where he lived until his death, about
twenty-five years ago. None of his family lived in the
264
county. Samuel Stultz, a brother-in-law of Williams,
came with him, and settled in the same neighborhood.
Peter Shidler arrived in the Spring of 1818, with a
family of three or four girls and two boys. He located
in section 10, and lived in a tent on the farm where
Samuel Sumner now resides. He was a native of Ohio,
and was the Nimrod of this part of the county. He was
moreover, a lover of sport, and at his cabin the young-
sters often gathered and joined in the merry dance.
Jake and Tom Shidler, and Prov. Rawlings were the
fiddlers. Shidler, a few years later, moved a mile north-
east of Sumner, on the state road, and kept a tavern and
stage stand. He built a double log-house, and subse-
quently, a frame. It is said he kept the best of corn •
juice, at a " fippenny-bit " a drink, and on his table
could always be found choice meats of deer and wild
turkey, the fruits of his unerring rifle. He afterward
moved over on the Embarras river, where he died. In
1821, Isaac Higgins, purchased Shidler's improvement
in section 10, and lived there five years and returned to
Ohio. Robert Higgins, his brother, also lived in the
neighborhood, a short time. In 1820 John Gorden
settled in section 11.' Jacob Severey, an old resident of
the county, is living in the township. In 1824, Eli Clubb,
a native of Kentucky, came with a young wife and set-
tled on section 11, where he reared a family. In 1824,
Andrew Christy came from Ohio and settled north of
Sumner, where he entered land. He had a large family,
but none of its members remained in the county but
William Y., who was born in Ohio, in 1806. He be-
came one of the most prominent and influential men in
this part of the county. He spent his life as a farmer,
but, at the same time, possessing the confidence of the
citizens, he did a great amount of public business, such
as administering estates, etc., and also represented the
county in the legislature for two terms. He died in
January, 1869. The township and the prairie in which
he settled are known by his name. J. S. Christy, in the
drug business at Sumner, is his son. The first school in
the township was taught by James Swain ey, in 1823, in
a log house that stood in section 11. Uncle Samuel
Sumner relates that the boys turned the teacher out, be-
cause he would not treat. He finally yielded, and bought
a bucket of whiskey and honey, on which they all got
drunk. Prior to this school the children of the settle-
ment attended the Spring Hill school, now in Bridgeport
township. Early land entries : May 2d, 1818, Reziu
Clubb entered the S. W. quarter of section 12 ; October
FARM RESIDENCE Or M&X.A. BLOOD, S.'6 T.I, Af
^^. ' >»iiHiHiiiiiiiiiiiiiiH'MiiiiIk<il
tim ^ IKIIHI HHlHiillllH
RESIDENCE AND OTFICl OT DR. W.E.BUXTON, SAMSVILLE, EDWARDS CO. ILL.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
265
25th, 1817, Benjamin Surnner, the N. E. quarter of sec-
tion 14; November 10th, 1818, Richard Heart the E,
half of the S. W. quarter of section ' 5 ; September
8th, 1818, Henry Johnson, the N. E. quarter of section
26. The above are in T. 3, R. 13. Following are the
names of those who have been members of the board of
supervisors: Henry Sherraden, 1857, 1858; James
French, 1859 ; Elijah Clark, 1860 ; Samuel Thorn, 1861 ;
A. J. Warner, 1862 ; T. L Jones, 1863, 1864; William
Gray, 1865 ; B. F. Warner, 1866 ; William Gray, 1867 ;
Thomas L. Jones, 1868; M. E. Burnes, 1869; Caleb
Hoopes, chairman, 1870; Henry Sherraden, 1871; Joshua
Judy, 1872; Jesse P. Jones, 1873, 1874, chairman in
1875; George W. Petty, 1876; T. M. Stephens, 1877,
1878, chairman in 1879 ; George W. Petty, 1880; T. M.
Stevens, chairman, 1881 ; E. R. Applegate, 1882, 1883.
This thrifty and business-doing place sprung into
existence with the -building of the O. and M. R. R.
through its site in 1854 and 1855. It was laid out
in the spring of the former year, by Jacob May,
a native of Pennsylvania, who settled in Richland
county, in 1834. The original site of the town was on
the N. W. \ of the N. E. i, and the N. E. i of the
N. W. i of section 9, and the S W. i of the N. E. i of
•S. E. i of section 4, T. 3, R. 13, and was surveyed and
platted by Peter Smith, county surveyor, Jan. 27, 1854.
Since that time there have been several additions laid
out. The first sale of lots occurred February 9, 1854.
They brought from $10 to $167, according to location.
The land whereon the town was laid'out was entered by
Benjamin Sumner. Richard King, recently deceased,
built a log cabin on its site a year or two before it was
laid out. William Laws erected a small one-story frame
house near the R. R. in the east part of the town, but
it was not occupied till about 1856, when a saloon was
kept in it by Benjamin Sumner. The first building in
the town was a small one-story frame store-house, which
can still be seen where it was erected, on lot 15, block
!), fronting the railroad on the north. It was built by
Thomas L. Jones, and Jacob May placed in it a stock
of goods in the spring of 1855. He was the first village
merchant ; and after his retirement from business, it
was resumed, and has since been carried on by his sons,
who have enlarged their building, and increased their
stock, according to the demands of the'r growing trade.
The next building that did duty as a store-house was a
small one-story structure in the northern part of the
town, erected by J. P. TyfFe, for a residence, and oc-
cupied with a stock of goods by Nicholas Shown, who
operated the store for Mr. May. Following this, was a
frame two-story dwelling, built by Jesse Landis, and
completed in 1856. A. poriion of it was arranged into
a store and used by Mr. May. This building is now
known as the Landis house, and is occupied by the
same, who built it. In the fall of 1855 Simpson Sum-
ner erected a frame one-story dwelling and store-house,
34
on the north side of Railroad street, and moved his
family into it. In. the winter of this year Sumner and
; Chauncey French opened a general stock of goods
j under the firm name of Sumner & French. The first
; hotel was built in the winter of 1855 or 1856 by J. C.
: W. Applegate, who moved into it in that year. It was
! called the Mansion House, and stands on the corner of
Walnut and South avenue, and is the private residence
of Mrs. John Walker. In 1856 James K. Spencer put
up a blacksmithshop, and began the business of smith-
ing. The town was incorporated in the winter of 1858-
1859, under a special act of the legislature. The records
were lost about 1870, and it is impossible to give a com-
plete list of the first officers ; but J. C. W. Applegate,
Chauncey French, and Albert Sherraden, were on the
board, and Joseph Hardecker was clerk. In 1873 it
was incorporated under the general act as a village.
The present officers are C. Hoopes, president; William
Laws, William Dumpley, J. C. Casey, John Brian,
H. Combs, C. H. Gordon ; clerk, P. May and Joshua
Judy; constable, E C. Davis.
The first resident physicians of the town were Drs.
H. Smith, J. M. Bosart (still a resident), G. A. Wil-
liams, living in the vicinity, and Sutton. The
following are the names of some who have been inti-
mately associated with the life and growth of the town :
J. L and J. P. Jones ; J. C. W. Applegate, who was a
carpenter and builder; Chauncy French, who was for
five years a merchant; Alfred Sherraden, also a mer-
chant for a number of years ; S. J. Elegood ; T. R.
Hazzard ; Hoopes & Corrie, who for twelve years were
prominent merchants ; N. Barnes ; William Laws ; War-
ren May, who was identified with the progress of the
town since its infancy; A. N. Lent, dealer in grain for
several years, and an active business man ; S. J. Ecken-
sode, for ten years a merchant; S. K. Knox, who erected
a distillery and engaged in other business. Thomas L.
Jones, a native of Pennsylvania, came from Ohio, and
in 1839 settled ten miles south of Sumner, in the vici-
nity of which he afterward moved. In 1861 he came
into the town and began the business of a general mer-
chant ; in 1862 he formed a partnership with his brother,
J. P. Jones, which continued till 1863, when they were
burned out. He then engaged in the hardware business
with his, son C. B. Jones, which still continues.
Prior to 1858 the children attended school about a mile
west of town. In the fall of that year, the first school-
house, a small frame building, was constructed. In 1867
a two-story brick school building, with foundations 32x48
feet, was erected, and two teachers were employed. Some
years later, a partition was put in the lower robm, and a
third teacher was added. In 1882 the building was par-
tially torn down, remodeled and an addition 22x34 feet
made. The whole was put under one roof, with a bel-
fry in the centre. It is now a two-story building, con-
taining six rooms, a principal's office, halls, cloak-rooms,
etc. It is supplied with the most approved kind of
school furniture. The property is worth about §10,000.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
The school employs six teachers, and has a daily average Phijginans. — J. M. Bosart, A. Q. Baird, W. B. Be-
attendance of about two hundred and eighty pupils. dell, Z. D. French, David Burget.
The post-office was established in 1858, and was first
kept by Nicholas Shown. It has since been under the
incumbency of David Leighty and Caleb Hoopes.
General Stores. — Merion May, Eckenrode & Hoopes.
Drugs.— W. W. Shepherd, John Burget, J. S. Christy.
Groceries.— F..A. Baird, W. F. Guess, Westall &
In 1859, a citizens' committee purchased of Samuel ; Saxton, Brian & Huston, Clippinger & Bro.
Sumner one half acre of land, for burial purposes, a half- j Hardware, Stoves, etc. — T. L. Jones & Son.
mile east of town, and deeded it to the village trustees,
who by additions have increased it to an area of three
acres. It is set with shade and ornamental trees and
traversed by walks. It is yet under the control of the
village board.
The New Light, now Christian denomination, built the
first church in town, in 1864. It is a frame building,
60x63 feet, and was erected at a cost of about 82000.
The dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. Maples,
of Ohio. The Methodist Episcopal church was erected
in 1868-9, at a cost of 86000. It stands on a founda-
tion 70x36 feet, in the south part of the town,
and is a neat building, with a steeple. It was dedi-
cated by Bishop Bowman in May, 1874. The Christian hausen.
Restaurant and Confectionery. — Gregg Bartram.
Bakery. — John Achley.
Books and Stationery.— Miss Emma Turner, W. S.
Hoopes.
Agricultural Implements. — T. L. Jones & Son, E. R.
Applegate.
Jewelry. — B. F. Lent, W. D. ,Gelpin.
Milliner.— Mrs. W. H.Corrie, Mrs. A. Milligan, Mrs.
Milton Turner.
Dressmaker. — Mrs. E. R. Donahey.
Furnishing Goods and Millinery. — C. H. Garden.
Harness. — William Schuder, Lewis Bowman.
Shoe Shops.— J. Turner Newman, William Schmal-
Lumber Dealers. — Combs Bros.
Blacksmiths.— D. A. Westall and Sons, G. W. Morgan
(Campbellite) church was erected 1873 to 1875. It is
a frame building, 70x40 feet, and cost about $1800.
The Presbyterian church, a frame building, with a belfry, ; and Son, Clay Smith.
was erected in the southwestern part of the town, in | Carpenters and Architects. — Neely, Maggy & Co.
1881, at a cost of about $1400.
PRESENT
Sumner Flouring Mills were built in 1877, by Milligan,
Brian & Co., and operated by them till 1882, when the
Butchers. — Perry Musgrove, E. Henry, William Mor-
stell.
Furniture. — T. M. Stephens.
Hotels— Empire House, Mrs. Mary Freese; Farmers'
firm was changed, and the building was remodeled House, Jesse Landis; Central House, J. N. Reel.
and reconstructed. It is now a three-story brick, and
is equipped with twenty-five set of rolls, and has a
capacity of four hundred barrels.
Globe Mills were built by Sexton, Milligan & Co., in
1882. The building is a frame, three and a half j
stories high, with sheet-iron lining. It contains four
sets of burrs and a double set of rolls, and has a capa- j
city of one hundred barrels a day. It is at present
merely a custom mill.
A building was put up by Knox, Burget & Clements,
in 1868, for a distillery, but the business did not prove
a success. In 1870 Gregg & Shepparcl put into it two
sets of burrs and milling machinery. In 1878 J. AV.
Witters purchased the property and has since operated
Livery Stables.— E. C. Davis, Charles Kitchen.
Photography. — R. H. Gosslee.
Marble Yard—H. M. Wagner.
Tailor. — J. Latham.
Dentists.— Fross and Stoltz, J. T. Dollahan.
Wagon and Carriage Maker. — Jacob Kronemiller.
Barbers.— Salisbury & Barrett.
Stock Dealers— S. R. Robinson, William Laws.
Insurance Agents. — C. B. Jones, W. B. Smith.
Sewing Machines and Organs. — John Milburn.
Jttxt/ces of the Peace. — Joshua Judy, Jacob Hustin.
Post-master. — Caleb Hoopes.
SOCIETIES.
Harmony Chapter, No. 35, E. A. M., ws
first or-
the mill.
Woolen Mill was built about 1866, and is known as a j ganized at Lawrenceville, Oct 3rd, 1856, and removed
one-set mill. Its capacity is 100 to 150 yards of fabric j under special dispensation of John M. Pierson, G. H. P.,
a day. For about ten years it did a good business, but ! to Sumner, August 10, 1870. First officers appointed
since then it has been confined to custom work, for two j were, N. B. Huff, H. P. ; C. Hoopes, King; C.B. Jones,
or three months in the season. J Scribe ; W. D. Gelpin, P. S. ; T. M. Stevens, C. .H. ;
Planing Mill— Was established by Combs Brothers J. R. Jones, R. A. C. ; S. G. Ellegood, M., 3d V. ; T.
in 1876, in the eastern part of the town. In 1882, a new R- Hazzard, M., 2d V. ; J. C. Judy, M , 1st V. ; A.
mill was built in the central part. It does planing, i Washburn, Tyler. The present membership is 47, and
dressing, matching, scroll-sawing, and all kinds of the financial condition good,
turning. j Joppa Lodge, No. 334, A. F. and A. M., was or-
Jirifk Yard.— Henry Bowman, prop'r. Capacity of ganized under dispensation, February 1st, 1860, with
kiln, 200,000 bricks. Guess & Scaggs — capacity 200,- William F. Hite, M. Master ; Bozwell W. Hill, Sr.,
000. Warden ; Joseph Evans, Jr. Warden ; John W. Watts,
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
267
Jr. Deacon ; H. Bopp, Tyler ; Isaac Evans, Scc'y. The
Lodge worked in this manner till October 2, I860, when
it was chartered with officers as above, and fifteen mem-
bers The present membership is eighty-six. The chap-
ter owns a three-story brick building, valued at $5,000,
with furniture worth §500. The lodge is in good finan-
cial working condition.
Sumwr L»d</e, No. 2821, K. of H., was organized
August 30, 1882, with fourteen charter members. Char-
ter officers were — Z. D. French, D. ; J. S. Christy, A.
D. ; H. A. Murphy, V. D.; B. F. Kilgore, P.D. ; Wm.
H. Westell, R. ; Lewis Kite, F. R.
Sunmer Council, No. 5(5, was organized under dispen-
sation, Jan. 23d, 1872. The first officers were— T. R.
Hazzard, T. I. G. M. ; A. H. Lewis, -D. G. M. ; J. P.
Jones, P. Con of W. ; N. B. Huff, Treasurer ; C. B.
Jones, Recorder. It has a present membership of forty-
six.
Sumner Lodge, No. 249, 1. 0. 0. F., was instituted
and chartered October 15, 1858, at Hadley, whence it [
was subsequently moved to Sumner. The charter mem-
bers and officers were— William E. Robinson, E. La-
throp, Aaron Dailey, Philo Bell, and B. F. Haynes.
The present membership numbers thirty-five, and the
financial condition of the lodge is excellent.
This village was laid out on the southwest corner of
section 6, township 3, range 13, by William and Lind-
say Laws, under the name of Fertile City. It. was sur-
veyed and platted Sept. 16, 1853, by Peter Smith, county
surveyor ; and the plat was recorded October 4th, 1853.
On the site of the town stood a horse-mill, built by Wil-
liam Laws as early as 1835. At one time a considerable
amount of business was done at this point. Among the
early business men were William E. Robinson, Logan
and Dailey, Yocum and Miller, James French, D. L.
Wilson, 8. R. Robinson and T. Green. A steam saw
and flour-mill, built by Lindsay Laws, was in operation
here some years ago. The town has now gone out of
existence. Black Jack Post-office, which was located at
a point two miles northwest of Sumner, was moved to
Hadley about 1856. William E. Robinson was the first
post- master.
BIOGRAPHIES.
CALEB HOOPES,
THE efficient postmaster at Sumner, was born in Dela-
ware county, Pennsylvania, June llth 1827- His
father, Eber Hoopes, was a native of Chester county,
same State. His grandfather was a Quaker of English
birth. His mother's maiden name was Hannah Yerkes,
who being a Methodist in religious faith, caused the ex-
communication of his father from the Friends' Society
through the matrimonial alliance. Of a family of eight
children, Caleb was the sixth in order of birth. Eber
Hoopes was by profession a civil engineer and merchant.
He died in November, 1835. After the war of 1812, he
merchandised in Nashville, Tennessee. Caleb located
in Crawfordsville, Indiana, in 1834. For a number of
years he engaged his services as clerk in dry goods
establishments in Wabash township. In 1850, he went to
Vinceunes where he continued in the same business, and in
1851 he came to Lawrence county. He enlisted in the
month of September, 1802, in Co. I. 130th Regt. Ills.
Vol., in which service he was made 2d sergeant. He
participated in the battles of Port Gibson, Champion Hill,
Black River Bridge, Vicksburg and Jackson, Mississippi.
He was in the service one year. Mr. Hoopes had seen
service before, having been an equal length of time in
Co D. 1st Indiana Regiment, under Colonel James B.
Drake. He came to Sumner in 1864, when for twelve
years he engaged in the business of general merchan-
dising. In May, 1867, he was appointed postmaster of
Sumner, a place he has since successively held." He was
married to Margaret C. Deuisou, daughter of William
and Elizabeth Denison, December 2d, 1852. By this
union there are six living children, Sarah E., Mary E.,
Thomas F., Margaret M., Martha J., and William S.,
and two dead, Ida and Robert D. Politically, Mr.
Hoopes is a pronounced and influential Republican. He
is a most genial gentleman ; a true friend and honest
official.
DR. HUGH A. MURPHY.
THE medical fraternity of Lawrence county, numbers in
its ranks no more 'successful practitioner than Dr. Hugh
A. Murphy. He was born in Walash county, Indiana,
June 29th, 1845. His father, James Murphy, was a
farmer, a native of Virginia, whence he came to Indiana
about the year 1836. In the family were twelve children,
eight of whom are living. Of these the five sons were
William M., a commercial traveler in Missouri ; David,
a farmer in Iowa ; Wicks, an editor and publisher in
Kansas ; Nathan, a commercial traveler in Iowa,
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
and the subject of this sketch. In common with his
brothers Hugh obtained a fair common school education.
Upon the breaking out of the war his patriotism led him
to enlist in his country's service, which he did Sept. 26th,
1861, in Co. B. 47th Regt. Indiana Vol. Inf. In the
service he remained until Dec "l3, 1865. Much of the
time he was engaged in hospital duties, as an assistant.
Here he acquired a love for the study of medicine, which
in 1873. He had, before this, practiced with Dr. Bates,
with whom he formed a co-partnership which continued
during five years. After graduation he came to Sumner,
where he has since resided. For four years he followed
the drug business, and in 1881 he took possession of the
Christy farm, where he now resides. Although he farms
largely, his old time patrons will not permit his absolute
retirement from his profession. He married Clara J.
— j j —
he vigorously prosecuted under the tuition, first of Dr. I Foster, daughter of Charles Foster, October 6th, 1874.
Perry, then of Dr. M. D. Frazer, of Bridgeport, Law- j By her he has five children, one son and four daughter?,
rence county, Illinois. In September, 1867, he went to j Jessie May, Charles Melvin, Carrie Ethel, Mamie Elsie
Cincinnati, when he entered the Ohio Medical College. I and Vida Ann, by name. He is an uncompromising
After attending a course of instruction there he com- | Democrat. He comes of patriotic stock, numbering
menced practice in chancery, Lawrence county, Illinois, j among his ancestors soldiers of both the Revolutionary
where he has most successfully followed it for fifteen war and war of 1812, in which last his grandfather was
years. In April, 1883, he, in connection with J. M.
Bosart, bought the drug store of W. W. Shepherd, in
Sumner, to which place he moved and now lives. He was
married to Emma Kingsbury, daughter of Harlie and
Mary Kingsbury, natives of Ohio, of Puritan stock,
March loth, 1871. By this union there have been born
four children — Carrie Laura, Hugh K., Milton F., and
Mary G., by name. The Doctor is a Democrat, politi-
cally ; a member of the Masonic, and of the Knights of
Honor Orders.
DR. JAMES o MCDOWELL
WAS born in Lawrence county, New York. Nov. 18th,
1843. His father, Harvey Theodore McDowell, was, in
early life, engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods,
but exchanged this occupation for that of carpentering,
which he has constantly followed since. In New York
he married Mary E. Howe, and by her had two son?,
William Edward and James O. Mrs. McDowell
died in 1846. William E. in 1856. In the year
1859 father and son came West, making a tour of
the state of Illinois, occupying six or seven months, and
finally locating in Olney, Richland county, where they
remained two years, and where his father was united in
marriage with Sarah Nelson. Harvey T. and wife soon
after located in Franconia, Richland county, where they
have since continued to reside. James O. McDowell,
•wishing to see more of the world, traveled north through
Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota, returning after two
years' wandering. Having acquired a fair common
school education, and being by nature fitted for profes-
sional life, he entered upon the work of teaching imme-
diately upon his return to his home, in what is known as
a drum-major. Genial, courteous, generous, and emi-
nently social, the doctor has many warm friends.
G. W. PETTY
WAS born in Perry Co., Ohio, May 18th, 1834.
His
the Curtis District, in Edwards county. After a six
months' term he returned to carpentering, which he had
followed in connection with his father, only again to
parents, who were natives of the state of New Jersey,
were early settlers in Ohio, whence they came to Law-
rence county, Illinois, in the year 1838. His father's
name was Joseph Petty, whilst the maiden name of his
mother was Elizabeth Clover. Joseph Petty's ancestors
were French and his wife's German. In the family
were seven sons and four daughters. Of these, the sub-
ject of this sketch was the fourth in order of birth. Of
the eleven children, two, the oldest and youngest, Peter
and Perry, by name, are dead. The others are all living
in the neighborhood where the parents first located in
Lawrence county. By name they are Mary Ann, Bal-
sor, George W , William, Moses, Jacob, Lavinia, Nancy
E. and Hannah. Joseph Petty was among tKe substan-
tial, energetic farmers of his vicinity. Upon coming
west his first move was to pay $500 for a tract of eighty
acres of land, although it was surrounded by the finest
prairie, open to entry from the Government, at $1.25
per acre. His reason for making the investment was,
that a log cabin was ready for occupancy. In life, he
was quite successful, owning at one time as much as
eight hundred acres about the old homestead. He died
in April, 1864 ; his widow still lives. G. W. Petty had like
opportunities afforded the youth of his section of country
for acquiring an education. He was married to Sarah
Jane Burget, on the 8th of November, 1859, by whom
he has six children. The marriage ceremony was per-
formed by Isaac Potts, at that time Judge of the county
court. The names of the children of G. W. and Sarah
J. Petty are : Annie Laurie, Belle E., Rosa C., Nellie,
George and William. Mr. Petty is a Democrat, as he
yield up the plane and saw for school-room work, upon expresses it, he was rocked in a Democratic% cradle,
the recurrence of the winter months, this time in the j reared in the Democratic faith, from which he has never
departed. He held the position of Road Commissioner
three terms, the last of which he served as President.
He is a member of the Masonic order, in which he takes
Sugar Creek district, same county. In 1867 he entered
the office of Dr. Clark, at Franconia, as a student of
medicine. He next attended lectures in the Cincinnati
Medical Institute, from which institution he graduated great interest.
He was representative from the Blue
Of
UNIVERSITY
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WAS ASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
269
Lodge in 1876, and of the Chapter, in the Conclave of
the Grand Comnmndery in Chicago, in 1880. He is, as
he has always been, a farmer, although for two and a half
yearj he was the proprietor of a drug store in Sumner.
DR. ZEBA D. FRENCH.
IN few professions do men endear themselves so much
to their patrons as in the practice of medicine, and he
whose name appears above is no exception to the quite
universal rule. Dr. French was born in Dubuque, Iowa,
June 24th, 1837. His father, Chauncey French, was by
chance a native of Indiana, having been born in that
state when his father's family were on their way west
from Massachusetts. By avocation he was a farmer and
stock dealer, which he varied by two years' experience
in mining, prosecuted in Iowa and Wisconsin, and
merchandising which he followed about six years in
Sumner, Lawrence county. The later years of his life
he passed upon his farm in the vicinity of the same vil-
lage, where he died in October, 1869. His wife, whose
maiden name was Jane Travis, died in 1859. To
them were born ten children, five of whom are now liv-
ing ; William W., a railroad employee in Kansas ; Mar-
tha, now in California; Jennie Sumner, of Sumner;
Henry Clay, a railroad conductor in Kansas, and the
subject of this sketch. The family came to Lawrence
county when the doctor was but two years Old, in 1839.
Zeba D. French obtained a fair common school edu-
cation, which was supplemented by a year's attendance
in the High School at Evansville, Indiana, in 1856-57.
He early became infatuated with the study of medicine,
and entered the office of Dr. Panebaker of Sunnier as a
student. This he followed up with study under Dr. H.
Smith a year, then with Dr. \V. W. Hilt, of Vincennes,
Indiana, and attendance upon lectures in the Chicago
Medical College in 1 859-60. Late in 1860 he began the
practice of his profession in Charlotteville, Illinois. In
1861, when the call was made for soldiers in behalf of
the cause of the Union, he enlisted in the first company
that went out from Lawrence county, Co. I. 8th Regi-
ment Illinois, three months' men. In November follow-
ing he re-enlisted in the llth Missouri, where he was
promptly placed in the hospital department as Hospi-
tal Steward. He was with his command in this capaci-
ty until August, 1864. The duties of his position he
discharged with credit. After his term of service, he
entered the Iowa Medical College, at Keokuk, Iowa(
whence he graduated, in 1865. The same year, April
23rd, he was united in marriage with Mary Frances
Crawford, daughter of- John B. and Elizabeth Crawford,
natives of New York. By her he has two children, Nel-
lie Z., born July 4th, 1867, and Earl Chauncey, born
Nov. 27th, 1876. His wife died in Ripley county, Mis-
souri, where the doctor was engaged in practice about
three years, Feb. 27th, 1877. He was married to his
present wife, Elizabeth Cowden, daughter of J. P.
Cowden.Oct. llth, 1882. The doctor is a very pronounced
Republican ; a member of the Masonic, Odd Fellows and
Knights of Honor orders, and of the -Centennial Medi-
cal Society. He is faithful in the discharge of all duties ;
firm in his friendships and skilled in his profession.
RUSSELL,
LAWRENCE CO.
USSELL township is bounded on the north
by Crawford county, on the east by the
Wabash, on the south by Allison, and on
the west by Lawrence and Bond. The
northern and western portions were originally, and are
still, to some extent, heavily timbered. A part of Purga-
tory Swamp is embraced by the township, in the south-
west. Most of congressional township 4 north, range 10
west, is an elevated sandy plain. Sugar creek flowing
into Purgatory Swamp, and Flat creek emptying into
the Wabash at Russellville, are the principal sources of
drainage.
The first settlements in the township were made at
Russellville, the site of an Indian village, about the year
1809 or '10. Among those who, at this time, made homes
I here were Samuel and Jonathan Allison, whose name is
| borne by the prairie lying principally south and west.
They came from Kentucky with families. Samuel's
| children were Daniel, John, Isaac, Richard, Samuel, Jr.,
I Nancy, Lydia, and Phebe. Jonathan had three sons,
I*aac, David, and Joseph, and two daughters, Phebe and
I Nancy. Frederick and Ezra Allison were married sons
of Samuel, having families when the Allisons came to
] prairie. The fort was built in the spring of 1812, as a
protection against the Indians, and stood in what
| is now the northern part of Russellville It was
| projected and built by Samuel Allison. About this
time, 1809 or 10, or shortly after, came Thomas
Mills, William Stockwell, William Hogue, Daniel and
Henry Kuykendall, and a man named McBane, all of
270
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
whom became inmates of the fort, and probably assisted
in its construction. Mills was from Kentucky and had
eight children, viz., Edward, John, Thomas, Jr., Mary,
Lydia, Amy, Rebecca, and Matilda. He had prior to
entering the fort made an improvement about two hundred
yards north of its site, to which in the spring of 1815,
he returned, and which was his permanent home. Stock-
well was likewise a Teunesseean. Hischilden were Wm.,
Jesse, Henry, Thompson, Michael, Rachel, and Eliza.
The brothers Kuykendall came from Ohio. Henry
was married and lived on the present site of Russellville.
Hogue immigrated from Kentucky, and had one son,
Jeremiah. He settled on the N. W. } of section 28,
township 5, range 10, and subsequently moved to a point
opposite Terre Haute, and there died. McBane had
one son and two daughters, Mary and Ellen. He located
about three-fourths of a mile north of Russellville. The
Ind'an hostilities checked immigration till 1815. Then
came Peter Price from Ohio, with nine children, Henry,
Peter, Jr , Michael, David, George, John, William,
Mary, and Sarah, and settled on the N E. i of the S.
W. \ of section 15, township 4, range 10. In 1818 he
moved to the E. i of S. E. } of section 33, township 5,
range 11. With Price came his cousin Jeremiah Price,
also a married man. One Garner, from Ohio, about
this time, 1815, settled on the S. W. J of section 10,
township 4, range 10. In the same neighborhood lived
a family of Manns, who came from Ohio. Joseph and
James Baird, probably as early as 1814, settled on the N.
W. \ of section 18. James was shot by an Indian while
plowing. William Miller, in 1816, brought from Ohio,
a family of nine children, viz , Robert, John, Jane,
Thomas A., Samuel, Elizabeth, Rachel, and Belinda,
and settled on the N. W. i of section 28, township 5,
range 10. Israel Price came with Miller, and settled
in the township. Samuel and Eli Harris, came from
Tennessee, with families, in 1815, and settled on section
13, in what was known as the Christian settlement.
Samuel had two sons, John and Perzas, and two daugh-
ters. Eli was one of the earliest teachers in Centre
school-house, and also taught singing school there.
Chas. Emmons, formerly from Virgiuia, came to the town-
ship from Kentucky, in 1818, and settled permanently on
the W. i of section 3. He brought with him nine
children, William, Wesley, Charles, Sinclair, Thornton,
Wyley, Martha, Elizabeth, and Fannie. In this year,
came the Pinkstaff families, from Kentucky. Andrew
Pinkstaff settled on the S. \ of the N. W. i of section 2,
where he made his permanent home, and died at the age
of about ninety-nine years. He had served as a soldier in
the war of the revolution. His son, John, brought five
children, Andrew, John, Owen, Nancy, and Cynthia,
and settled on the~N. E. } of the S. E. 1 of section 3,
township 4, range 11, where he died at the age of about
seventy-five years. The Pinkstaff family is a quite j
numerous one in the northern part of the county. John j
Felton, came from Pennsylvania, a single man, in 1818. j
Married Huldah Harrimau, and settled on the S. E. } I
of section 29, township 5, range 11. The Harriman
family came from New York. The children were John,
Luke, Stephen, and Huldah, just mentioned, and
Clarissa. John was a mechanic. Samuel Haskins, also
I from New York, in 1818, had a family of five children,
Robert, Hiram, Samuel, Abigail, and Maria. He settled
about a mile southeast of Russellville, and kept a hotel.
| One Lamfere, with a family, was among the earliest
j arrivals. About 1818, he established a ferry a short
1 distance below the present site of Russellville. It con-
tinned in operation about ten or twelve years. The boat
was sufficient to carry a team and wagon. Austin Tann,
a negro, who had been an inmate of the fort, and was
afterward a member of the Shaker community, about
1820, settled on the N. W. i of section 10, township 4,
range 11. He was quite intelligent, and was influential
among those of his own race. The central portion of so
much of Allison prairie, as lies in the township, was but
little settled until about 1829 or '30. At this time
Adam Lackey, John Ashbrook, and John Organ, all
settled in section 8. Peyton Moler settled on the S. \ of
section 5 ; James Vance, on the N. W. 1 of section 9 ; Jas.
Fisher, on the N. W. \ of section 17 ; Abijah Emmons,
on section 18 ; and James Mickey, on the S. W. t of
that section. The latter was from Pennsylvania with a
family of seven children.
The first white child of American parents, born in
^Lawrence county, was E. P. Tyffe, in Russellville, July
17, 1812. He died March 12, 1878.
In 1817 a school was taught in an old cabin that stood
on the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter of sec-
tion 4, township 4, range 10. A round log school-house
was built about 1822 on ihe southwest quarter of section
5. Samuel Borden, a young man from New Jersey,
taught the first school. The first school in the western
part of the township was taught by Borden in a log
school-house about 1821. Little Village Cemetery was
laid out by John Mills m 1818, just north of Russell-
ville. Old Mr. McBane was the first person buried
here ; the next was Samuel Allison, and the third, Daniel
Kuykendall.
About the year 1809 or 10, several families of Baptists
from Kentucky settled north of the site of Russellville,
in Lawrence and Crawford counties. Elder Thomas
Kennedy and Daniel Parker preached for this commu-
nity ; and in 1817 a church was organized at the house
of Thomas Mills. In 1821 the society built a log house
of worship on the site of the cemetery, now owned by
Mr. Tewalt, above the village. The house, after years
of use, rotted and went to decay, but the venerable so-
ciety that met within its rude walls still exists under the
name of Canaan Church, whose house of worship now
occupies the site about four miles north of Russellville,
in Crawford county; to which the primitive Little Vil-
lage church was removed. Among the pious families
who were active and instrumental in the affairs of this
ancient society were the brothers Samuel and Jonathan
Allison, Frederick and Ezra Allison, sons of Samuel and
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS. 271
Richard Allison, and Richard Highsmith, leaders of the
flock, and the Mills.
Following will be found the first land entries : Aug.
10, 1814, William Howard entered the southwest quar-
ter of section 14, township 4, range 11. January '24th,
1815, John Duulap entered the northeast quarter of sec-
tion 13. May 13, 1815, Samuel Allison entered the
southeast quarter of section 13. August 13, 1814, Sa-
muel Harris entered the southwest quarter of section 13.
August 8, 1815, Moses Turner entered the northeast
quarter of section 15, township 4, range 11.
The following is a list of supervisors, with their terms
of office : Andrew Pinkstaff, 1857 ; A. C. Baird, 1858-
1859 ; Capt. John Tilton, 1860, 1861 ; James N. Alli-
son, 1862, 1863 ; D. H. Morgan, 1864 ; J. N. Allison,
1865-1867 ; Josiah Tewalt, 1868 ; Francis M. Pinkstaff,
1869 : Josiah Tewalt, 1870-1872; H. B. Broyles, lt<73;
T. E. Adams, 1874 ; Charles Piukstaff, 1875 : Joel Har-
mon, 1876; Adam Lackey, 1877; Thomas G. Cecil,
1878, 1879 (chairman in 1880, resigned, and John P.
Price chosen to the vacancy) ; J. P. Price, 1881, 1882,
1883.
RUSSELLVILLE
occupies the site of an Indian town called Little Village.
A number of small mounds were in existence, and were
burial-places. The grave of Little Turtle is still pointed
out. From it, a few years since, was exhumed the figure
of a turtle, which the implacable enemy of the pale-face
had worn with a chain about his neck. The town was
laid out by David Price on location 5, township 4, range
10, and was surveyed and platted by S. Dunlap, county
surveyor, October 26, 27, 28, 1835. It was named in
honor of August, Andrew and Clement Russell, three
brothers, from Kentucky, who, in 1835, built a saw-mill
and manufactured the lumber for the first buildings in
the town. Since that time the village has had eight
I saw and grist-mills. The present frame two-story, two-
run flouring mill, erected by George W. Toreman in
1881, is a rebuilding of that put up by T. J. Kyle in
1855, which was burned in 1880. Ferdinand Vande-
burg sold the first goods in a small frame store-house
built in 1834 or '35. A. R. Slosson, now of Vincennes,
built the first blacksmith shop in 1837. About this
j time David Price established a ferry and built a boat
sufficient to carry a team. The first (frame) school-
. house was built soon after the town was laid out, and
served its purpose till the present frame two room house
was built at a cost of about $1600 in the fall of 1861.
The post-office was established in 1835. A frame church
was built by the Christian Denomination about 1845.
In 1873 it was rebuilt at a cost of $500 or $600. The
town was first incorporated in 1872. In 1875 it was a
second time incorporated under the general law of
Illinois.
PRESENT BUSINESS.
Physician.— T. J. Ford, J. J. McKibbon.
Druggists. — Anderson Brothers.
General Stores —W. E. Fitch, J. Leonard & Co.
Grocer.— W. H. Thomas.
Blacksmith and Cabinet Maker. — W. A. Boring.
Carpenter and Wagon Maker. — Henry Dugan.
&koemaker.—T. A Hall.
Post-master.— J. B. Regan.
Hotel.— Mrs. Diana Falls.
For a distance of one and a-half miles along the "Wa-
! bash, south of Russellville, including its site, existed
many small mounds of earth. They were usually about
fifty feet in circumference, and were commonly found in
small groups. Some of them have been explored in the
! interest of science, and specimens of pottery, implements
of war, a toy, a copper kettle, etc., have been removed.
A quantity of bones were also exhumed, showing that
these mounds were burial-places.
SHELBY
EDWARDS CO.
| HIS political division of Edwards county occu-
pies the northwestern part, and is bounded on
the north by Richland county, on the east
by Salem and Albion precincts, on the south by Albion
and on the west by Wayne county, from which its terri-
tory extends east, excluding one tier of sections from
range 10. North and south it embraces all between
the northern limit of the southern tier of sections of
town. 2, north, and the southern line of the third tier,
from the north of town. 1, south. The surface is gener-
ally level, but slightly undulating localities occur. It
was originally timbered, except that Long Prairie in
the east, Village Prairie in the southeast and Sugar
Creek Prairie were open areas. Timber, much of which
is of recent growth, is quite abundant, and is an import-
ant source of wealth. The varieties of hard wood are
•well represented. Corn, oats and wheat are the princi-
pal products, the last being the staple. Apples are
quite abundant. The principal streams are the Little
Wabash, Fox river and Sugar creek. The latter enters
the precinct at section 35, town. 2, north, and flows south-
west, into the Little Wabash at section 17, town. 1,
north, draining the northern part of the precinct.
The earliest permanent settlements were made by
Jonathan Shelby, after whom the preciuct was named,
Thomas Carney, John Bell and Lot Sams, a short ac-
count of whose life will be found in the chapter devoted
to Salem precinct. These pioneers fixed their homes in
the wilderness, far in advance of civilization. In the
year 1815, Shelby and Carney, with their families, came
in company from Tennessee, having stopped a year in
Grayville. i The former settled on the northwest quar-
ter of section 34, township 1 north, range 10. His
children were Nile, Jonathan, Jr., William, Jennings,
Jackson, Nancy, Oripy, Jency, Seley and Patsey, two
or three of whom came to Illinois, as a part of their
father's family. He was an active and energetic man,
and held the office of justice of the peace for many
years. In 1831 he moved to the northeast quarter of
the northeast quarter of section 18, township 1 north,
and there, on the Little Wabash, in 1835, built the first
water-mill in the .precinct. It w<s of a rude and primi-
tive character, but proved a substantial benefit to the
community. His death occurred at the mill property
about the year 1838. The Shelby family is one of the
most numerous in the preciuct. Carney settled on the
southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of seotion
34, township 1, north. Two or three of a family of
272
eight grown children he brought to the precinct with
him, and was a leading farmer and highly respected
citizen. This gentleman held the office of county com-
missioner for a number of years. To him belongs the
honor of erecting the first mill in the preciuct in the
year 1832. It was a horse-power-mill, and rude in con-
struction, but a valuable aid in those early times.
About 1844, Carney moved to Missouri and there died
twelve or fifteen years ago. John Bell was a native of
South Carolina, of German descent. He moved with
his parents to Kentucky, where he married, and subse-
quently went to Tennessee, where he married again, his
first wife having died in Kentucky. He enlisted in
the army of 1812, and served his country about one
year. In 1815 he moved to Illinois with his family,
consisting of his wife, Elizabeth Carney, sister of Thomas,
already mentioned, and five or six children, and settled
on the southwest quarter of section 27, where he resided
all his life. He was a plain, unassuming farmer, and
was noted for his peaceable disposition and good, neigh-
borly qualities. Harrison C. Bell, his third child, now
resides on the southwest quarter of the southwest quar-
ter of section 10, township 1, south, and is a farmer and
Baptist minister.
An interruption, accidental or otherwise, occurs at
this point, in the course of immigration, and the next
permanent settler is met with in the year 1826. Then
came Stephen Mounts with his family, which consisted
of his wife, whose maiden name was May Stinnett and
several children, from Indiana. Three of his children
are yet living. Mr. Mounts was a plain, unassuming
farmer, an industrious man and good citizen. This
gentleman, moreover, was a patriot and served in the
Black Hawk war, in Captain C. S. Maddiug's company.
Henry Warmouth, a Tennesseean, with his wife and
children, Mary, Luciuda, Judy, John, Isaac and Philip,
(twins) and Margaret, arrived in 1827 or 1828, and
settled on the southeast quarter of the southwest quar-
ter of section 23, which was his permanent home.
Henry Curtis came from Tenneslee in the year 1828.
He had a wife and six children, viz. : William, John,
Isaac, Mary, Ann and Jincy. This gentleman was of
an unsettled disposition, changing his home frequently.
Field sports, such as hunting, occupied much of his time
and attention, but he worked at various odd jobs, in-
cluding carpentry. Mr. Curtis died about the year
1848. William, his son, was four times married, and
raised quite a numerous family of children. The
FARM RES/D£NC£ Of Wf H MEDLER, SIC. 34, T.I, S.R. IO £.. ALB/ ON PRECINCT; EDWARDS CO. ILL.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
273
Curtises are among the wealthiest and most prominent
citizens of Shelby precinct. In the same year and from
the same state came Rese Shelby, with his wife and
eight children, viz : David, Evans, Garrison, Semple,
Moses, Lotta, Betsy aud Holdeu. He settled on the
southwest quarter of section 84, township 1 N. He was j
a plain farmer and good citizen. His death took place
more than twenty years ago. His widow died in 1880,
at an advanced age. To the year 1828 belongs also the
immigration of Champion S. Madding. He was a
native of Virginia, and when seven or eight years of
age, left that state and moved, with his father's family,
to Tennessee, where he married and followed farming
till he set out for Illinois, with his wife and five children,
William C., Isabel, L. B., Sallie and J. M. After a
short sojourn in Richland county, he settled on section
11, township 1 N. He had, at different times, three
wives, and reared eight children. Mr. Madding was a
soldier in the Florida, and a captain in the Black Hawk
wars, commanding a company on the banks of the Mis-
sissippi, in the battle resulting in the surrender of Black
Hawk. He was a large, powerful man, weighing 225
pounds. He was one of the early regular Baptist min-
isters aud the frequent companion, in preaching, of Rev.
Jere Doty. The oldest living settler of Shelby precinct
is Starling Hill. He was born in Washington county,
Kentucky, in the year 1803. Limited as were his early
educational advantages, he has, by indomitable persever-
ance and steady effort, made himself thoroughly well
informed. While in his native state he followed farm-
ing and shoemaking. At the age of twenty-five, with his
wife and three children, Clarissa, Mary M. and Sidney,
in a four horse wagon, he came to Illinois, and first settled
near the site of the village of West Salem, where he
built a log house and cleared some land. In 1829 he
moved to the northwest quarter of section 11, township
1 south, range 10 east, entered land and began improve-
ment. Mr. Hill's occupation has been that of a farmer
and stock-raiser. He is now retired and resides with
his. son, on the old homestead, at the age of eighty years.
His wife was Elizabeth Bassett, by whom he had sixteen
children, and in addition to these he also reared twelve
orphans. For a period of three months he served in
the Black Hawk war in Captain Madding's company.
Marcus Johnson and family came to the precinct among
the early settlers, and lived in the northeastern part of
section 35. Thomas Gill, who lives on section 15, town-
ship 1 south, was born in Albion precinct in 1826.
His father, Thomas Gill, was a native of England and
came to Edwards county in the year 1818. A large
encampment of Indian hunters roamed over the terri-
tory of Shelby precincc about the year 1820. It is re-
ported that during one season they killed five hundred
does, which they decoyed from their feeding-places by
imitating the cry of a fawn. For a number of years
after most of the deer shot by the settlers were males.
The first church society was of the regular Baptist
denomination, and was organized in 1825. It held its
35
first meeting in a building, used for school purposes, on
the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section
34, township 1 north. At this place, about 1836, the
congregation built a log house of worship, 48x24 feet.
The first minister was Rev. Jere Doty. He was what
was then denominated a " cornfield " (farmer) preacher,
and was much respected. He was fond of relating the
story of his conversion, which he told so often in his
sermons that the boys of the settlement learned it by
heart, and frequently repeated it in merriment. One
McCowen taught a school in a long cabin on the north-
west quarter of the southeast quarter of section 33, town-
ship 1 north, as early as 1827. A gentleman by the name
of Moore taught here in 1828. The first building put
up for school purposes was a frame, erected in 1856, on
the southeast of the northeast of section 33, township 1
north. Edgar Brandon was its first occupant. The
precinct was represented in the Black Hawk war by
Captain C. S. Madding, James Ball, Josiah Lay, William
Curtis, David Shelby, Thomas Sanders, I. Shelby,
Robert Russel, Jonathan Shelby, Jr., Matthew Mays,
Harrison Moore, Joseph Mounts, Hugh Mounts, Robert
Doherty, John Stinnett, Benjamin Wilson, J. Wilson,
Samuel, John aud James Edmanson, James Ellison, and
James Jennings. The following are the first land
entries: September 6, 1817, L. White and L. May
entered the west half of the northeast quarter of sec-
tion 7. September 15, 1817, Charles Stinnett, the
northeast quarter of section 9. September 27, 1817,
Henry Ayers, the southwest quarter of section 10.
January 19, 1818, Mathias Mounts the southwest quar-
ter of section 17. September 17, 1818, J. and J. Dun-
lap the southeast quarter of section 3. The above are
in township 1 S. The following are in township 1 north.
May 12, 1820, Isam Roger the west half of the south-
west t sec. 33. Feb. 8, 1822, Thomas Carney the west half
of the southeast quarter of section 34. March 9, 1822,
Matthew Doherty, the west half of the southwest quarter
of section 32, township 2 north.
Bennington, of which nothing but the name remains,
had its origin in Shelby's mill already spoken of. Here
Dr. Baker, the proprietor of Bennington, built a frame
water-mill about 1 842. James Jones and Henry Walser,
in 1865, erected a frame mill, two and a half story, 30
by 40, which was of considerable importance. It burned
in 1870 as the property of Ulsehouse and Potter. A
short distance above its site now stands Philander
Gould's saw mill. Bennington was laid out in 1841 or
1842 by Dr. Baker, and two or three town lots were
disposed of. Centreville, on section 33, township 1 north,
consists of a store-house, a blacksmith-shop and two or
three dwellings. Maple Grove post-office was established
about 1850, and Robert Marshall, of section 2, township
1 north, the present incumbent was the first post-master.
The population of tl~e precinct consists of Tennesseeaus,
Kentuckians, English and Germans and their descend-
ants. The evidences of industry and economy are
everywhere apparent.
BIOGRAPHIES.
WAS born in Edwards county, January 3, 1826. His
parents, Thomas and Mary Gill, whose maiden name
was May, were both natives of England, and were
among the pioneers of this county, having located
here in 1818. The family consisted of eight children,
equally divided as to sex. Thomas Gill was the second
of the sons in the order of birth. Farmers' sons in the
early days of Edwards county had but little opportunity
for acquiring an education ; this was the lot of Thomas.
However, he being possessed of natural ability of a high
order, made the best of his chances, and obtained a fair
knowledge of books. He has always pursued farming
274
as a vocation. He was united in marriage to Eliza Gil-
lard, May 16, 1849. By her he had eight children,
namely : Madaline, died November 3, 1876 ; Bradford
J., died September 21, 1876; Hannah, now the wife of
Albert Stafford; Franklin, Mary E., Jethro and two
that died in infancy. Mrs. Gill died October 1, 1874.
He was married to his present wife, Hannah M., daughter
of William and Hannah Stanhope, from Linconshire,
England, February 6, 1876. The Stanhopes came to
this county in 1833. Mr. Gill is a member of the Grange,
of the Masonic order and of the Christian church.
:^.~ ....... -.-•--
' ~& RESIDENCE Or JAMES N. SMITH, SEC. -4, T, I , R. IO, SHELBY PR1C/NCT , EDWARDS CO. ILL.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
27-r>
IN the northern part of Shelby precinct are so many
from Kentucky as to give to the section the appel-
lation of "Little Kentucky." Among them none are
more respected than James P. Frost, who was" born in
Allen county, that state, February 17, 1842. His father,
William B. Frost, was also a native of Kentucky, a
farmer. He died in the old home July 3, 1850. His j
mother, whose maiden name was Sarah Holloway, moved
with her family of six children, of whom the subject of i
this sketch was second in order of birth, to Franklin
county, Illinois, in 1854, where she died, December 9,
1882, aged ssventy-one years. James P. came to Ed- '
wards county in 1860. Here he was married to Julia
Shelby, daughter of Jonathan Shelby, one of Edwards
county's most honored citizens, March 28, 1864. By this
union there have been born eight children, two of
whom, Franklin and Alia, died quite young, and six
Laura, Sarah, Luella, Amy, Mollie and Mayo are living.
Mr. Frost is one of the pushing, wide-awake progressive
farmers of his section. He is a prominent Democrat
politically; a man of pleasing address, high social
qualities and excellent judgment, he has made for him-
self a host of friends.
276
hiSTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
JOHN M. BLOOD (DECEASED)
WAS one of the most respected citizens of Edwards
county. He was born in New York, August 6, 1820,
and came to this county in 1838. By trade he was a
miller. When a young man he went as a hand on a
flat-boat laden with hoop-poles, corn, meat, etc., down
the Little Wabash from near Bennington, Wabash,
Ohio and Mississippi rivers, to New Orleans. He
started in life with a very small capital, but by honest
industry and economy accumulated considerable pro-
perty. For a number of years he kept a store at
Bennington, of which office he was postmaster until
the time of his death, He was married to Sarah A.
Vyce, a native of Stowe, Norfolk, England, March 8,
1848, by whom he had six children, two of whom died
young, and four, James H., Mary C. Ridgeley, Frank L.
and George C. are living. Mrs. Blood was brought to
this country when a child, first to New York, then
Ohio, and then here. Two of their children are mar-
ried, James H. to Permelia A. Holthausen, October 14,
1877, and Mary C. to W. S. Ridgeley, December 27,
1877.
During the last few years of his life Mr. Blood
was in failing health, and thinking to improve it, took a
trip to Minnesota, remaining some time, in 1866. All
efforts were useless, and lamented by a large circle of
friends and acquaintances, he passed away, April 30,
1876.
ALLISON.
LAWRENCE CO.
.LISON TOWNSHIP was first organized
under the name of Thompson, but sub-
sequently received its present name, derived
from the prairie of whicli its surface is
almost entirely composed. It is bounded on the north by
Russell township, on the east by Indiana, and on the south
by Dennison township, which with Lawrence forms its
western boundary. The surface is that of a level prairie,
largely subject to overflow when not properly protected
by levees. The soil consists of sand, with an admixture
of black loam. Timber is not abundant, and is confined
to the southern part and to a narrow belt along the
Wabash.
The first settlement in the township was opposite the
city of Vincennes, on the west bank of the Wabash river.
It never attained to much prominence, and is mainly of
interest on account of its antiquity. It lacked the es-
sential feature of an advantageous locality for husbandry,
and was largely an incident of the ferry that accommo-
dated travel along the Cahokia and Kaskaskia traces.
The ferry was established as early as the beginning of
the present century. At that time, it was operated by
Joseph La Motte, a Frenchman and Indian trader,
whose round log cabin, that stood at the entrance of the
ferry, was probably the first house built by a white
man, in the territory of Lawrenoe county. He had
several adventures with the natives, an account of which
will be found in the pioneer chapter. At their hands
he met his death, on the banks of the creek that bears
his name, in Crawford county, some time prior to 1812.
After his death, his widow conducted the ferry, till
1812, when it passed under the management of her
son-in-law, James Gibson, who was its proprietor for
some time. It was also, at one time, operated by John
Small. Just across the way from La Motte's, lived a
family named White. In this vicinity also dwelt the ill-
fated Buntons, something about whom will be found in
the pioneer chapter. One Senette, a Frenchman, lived
about a mile below the ferry, at the "ford." Charles
Bonaute was also an early settler, west of the Wabash,
south of Vincennes. The most conspicuous early settle-
ment was that of the Dubois family, about a mile north
of the present railroad bridge, on the bluff known as
Dubois' hill. Here was planted the first orchard, set
out in the township. The Dubois brothers, Toussaint,
Lawrence and Killgore, especially, the first, acted an
important part in the business and civil affairs of the
county. His residence occupied the hill, and was a
center of note and influence in its time. Something ad-
ditional concerning the Dubois family may be found by
consulting the chapter on Lawrence township. An
early resident on Dubois hill was "Billy o' the Bow," a
colored man, who, with his wife Seeley, had their apart-
ments in a hollow sycamore tree. Here they dwelt to-
gether in conjugal bliss, till the latter was cruelly shot
by an Indian. At the north foot of the hill, was the
home of Archibald George, who, with a family of four
or five children, settled there about 1820. Near this
date, John Richardson, of Butler county, Ohio, came
and settled opposite Vincennes, on the bluff. His family
consisted of his wife and four children, Luciuda, Jane,
John and Harriet.
The most important early settlements were formed in-
to a neighborhood, iu the vicinity of Centerville, by a
number of families, mainly from Tennessee. The
neighborhood was called the " Christian settlement,"
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
277
from the circumstance that most of its members were
Christians, and was formed in 1815. In this year Scott
Riggs settled on the N. W. quarter of section 26, T. 4 j
E. 11. He brought to the settlement a family of four !
children, viz : Sally, Polly, Cynthia, and Harriet. He j
was a blacksmith by trade, and a minister of the gospel '•
He subsequently moved to Scott county, where he died
Henry Palmer, also a minister, settled on section 23
William Howard was a native of North Carolina. He
moved to Tennessee, and thence to Kentucky, and from
that state to Illinois, in 1814 or 15, with five children,
John, Eli, Abigail, Prudence Jane and Martha, and set-
tled in section 23, T. 4, R. 11 W. He had a natural
gift of mechanical skill, and manufactured his own
agricultural implements. He planted the first orchard,
and laid out the first graveyard in the settlement. His j
death took place, about 1832. His son, John, became a
minister and moved to Kansas in 1881. His son-in-law,
William Childress, came from North Carolina, about
the same time, and after his marriage to Prudence, also
settled on section 23. After a residence of short dura-
tion here, he moved to section 5, T. 4, R. 11, and there,
after improving a good farm, died, in 1838. W. B.
Childress of Lawrenceville, is his son. Three other
children are yet living. Daniel Travis from Tennessee,
in 1815, settled on the N. E. quarter of the N. W. quar-
ter of section 23. He moved to the western part of the
state prior to 1828. Henry Johnson, who came with a
family, in 1815, settled on the N. W. quarter of section
23, where he remained till some time prior to 1828, when
he moved to Vermillion county. Samuel Leneve,
with four children, Obadiah, John, Sarah, and Nancy)
settled on the N. W quarter of section 25, where he died
at an advanced age. Moses, Ezekiel, Robert, and Alex-
ander Turner came to the settlement from Tennessee, in
1815 or '16. They all had families and were all mem-
bers of the Christian church. After a residence of some
years they moved away. Thomas Anderson, with a
family, in 1815, settled on the N. W. quarter of section
26. His son Richard located near him. They moved
to Morgan county about 1825. Richard B. McCorcle,
who came from Tennessee with a family in 1815, moved
to Bloomington, Indiana, about 1825. John and Joseph
Berry, brothers, and brothers-in-law of Mrs. Scott Riggs,
alsu from Tennessee, in 1815 likewise moved to Bloom-
ington, Indiana. John had settled on the N. E. quarter
of section 27. John R. Adams came from Tennessee
with a family in 1815, and«settled on the N. E. quarter
of section 27, where he resided permanently and reared
a family of twelve children, though sickness, originating
from purgatory swamps, had driven many from the set-
tlement. Mr. Adams was a colonel of the militia and
frequently mustered them for drill. John Dunlap set-
tled on the N. E. quarter of section 22, where was his
permanent home and where, at an early day, he planted
an orchard, the last trees of which were recently (1883)
cut down. On the S. E. quarter of this section, settled
John Ashbrook, who came from Kentucky, with a fam-
ily of four children, John, Levi, Thomas, and Margaret,
in 1815. Levi and Thomas married and settled in the
vicinity of Centerville. John having married Ellen
Robinson, located a mile and a half south of Russellville.
All became permanent residents. David Ruby came to
the settlement in 1816, and located permanently on the
N. W. quarter of section 27. In this year a family of
Clevingers, from Tennessee, settled in the Christian
neighborhood.
William Huston, a Kentuckiau, in 1816, settled on
the S. E. i of sec. 36. His children were Chambers,
William and Desmal. Samuel Lemon, with four chil-
dren, George, Thomas, Polly and Susan, came from North
Carolina, about 1818, and settled on the N. E. i of sec.
26. He was a farmer and shoemaker, and resided per-
manently where he first settled. The family were mem-
bers of the Christian Church. Charles Thompson was
an immigrant from Ross county, Ohio. In 1820, he set-
tled on the N. W. i of section 25, where he lived till his
death. Three children, James, Matthew and William,
accompanied him to the county. James and William
settled in the vicinity of Centerville ; the latter (hav-
ing married Jane Richardson), located on the S. W. t of
sec 26, where he still resides at the age of eighty years.
Enoch Organ, a Virginian, came to the county, about
1820, from Tennessee, where he had for some time so-
journed, and settled on sec. 36. Chaney, John, Enos,
Cornelius, Daniel, Jesse and Betsey Organ were his chil-
dren. He was a blacksmith by trade, and soon after his
coming, constructed the first cotton gin in the county,
and operated it on his farm for a number of years. He
died in 1845, of a disease called the Black Tongue, an
epidemic, of which many died on the prairie. The fam-
ily married, most of them prior to 1830, and settled
down. The widow of Cornelius lives on the S. E. i of
section 23, where she has resided since her marriage, in
1828, and where her husband died, in 1847, at the age
of forty-one years. Her place was first improved by
Nathaniel Jones. Lewis Goings made his permanent
home in the township, in 1820. He reared a con-
siderable family of children. David Phelps, in 1821
or '22, settled on the S. E. i of section 25, where he re-
sided permanently, and died. About forty years ago
he planted a walnut grove which yields quite abundant-
ly-
In the vicinity of section 27, T. 4, R 10, a neighbor-
hood of permanent settlers was formed in 1820. In this
neighborhood settled Jesse Slawsou, who came from Can-
ada with a family of four children, viz., William, Polly,
Eliza, and Abner, who afterward married and settled in
i he county. James Tims, a Virginian, with one son,
Littleton, settled on land adjoining Slawson's, and lived
there permanently. David Wilbur settled about a mile
from the river, in the same vicinity. At a little later
date, about 1828, Benjamin Caughran came into the
neighborhood, from Indiana, with a family of six chil-
dren. Also, about this time, arrived Joseph Tims, with
a family, from the same state. Families named Kimsey,
278
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Long and Cunningham also settled in this vicinity.
George Cunningham lived in section 28, and William,
in section 33, T. 4, R. 10. John Long was the most ac-
tive business man in his part of the county. As early
as 1825, he did an extensive flat-boating trade on the
Wabash. Thomas Eads, the brothers, John and Silas
Andrews, and Jesse Perdu were also early settlers. W.
J. Crews, one of the oldest living settlers, came to Law-
rence from Crawford county, Illinois, with his father, in
1829. The latter purchased some land of Samuel Har-
ris in the vicinity of Center school-house, and settled
upon it. Mr. Crews is a lawyer by profession, having
been admitted to practice in the Supreme Court, in 1846,
but his principal occupation has been that of farming,
in which he has been very successful. In 1869, he was
elected judge of the county court, but resigned in 1872,
to take the place to which he had been elected in the
State Senate.
Some account of Small's mill is contained in the pio-
neer chapter, where it may be found by the reader. In
the vicinity of where afterward stood this early object
of interest, occurred the capture of Col. Francis Vigo
by the Indians, in 1778. Vigo, with his servant, as the
messenger of Gen. Clark was proceeding on his way from
Kaskaskia to Vincennes, when he was seized, stripped
of everything he possessed and carried a captive before
Gen. Hamilton. The result is a matter of general his-
tory.
The following are the earliest land entries in the town-
ship-all in T. 4,R. 11 : August 10, 1814, Samuel Har-
ris entered the N. E. 1- of sec. 22 ; July 1, 1815, Daniel
Travis, the S. W. 1 of sec. 23 ; July 5, 1815, Ezra Alli-
son, the N. E. J of sec. 24; July 8, 1815, Moses Turner,
the N. E. i of sec. 26; February 3, 1815, Henry John-
son, the N. W. \ of section 23. The following are the
names of those who have represented the township in the
board of supervisors : William D. Adams, chairman,
1857, 1858 ; J. M. D. Chenoweth, 1859 to 1861 ; J. M.
Caughran, 1862, 1863; John Jackson, 1864 ; J. W.
Caughran, 1865 ; William D. Adams, 1866 ; J. M. D.
Chenoweth, 1867 ; D. M. Bishop, 1868 to 1871 ; J. P.
Scott, 1872 to 1876 ; Henry Riley died in office ; G. A.
North to fill the vacancy, 1877 ; G. A. North, 1878; W.
A. Organ, 1879, 1880 ; G. A. Norton, 1881, 1882; Wil-
liam A. Organ, 1883.
Centerville is a little hamlet at the adjoining corners
of sections 23, 24, 25 and 26, T. 4, R. 11. Allison post-
office was established here, about ten years ago. A half
mile west of the village is the site of the old Center
school-house described in the pioneer chapter. The vot-
ing place of the township is at Westport opposite Vin-
FRIENDSVILLE.
WABASH COUNTY.
SRIENDSVILLE PRECINCT is bounded on
the north by Richland county, on the east by
Wabash, on the south by Mt. Carmel, and
on the west by Lick prairie and Lancaster.
Its boundary line is described as follows : Beginning at
the northeast corner of the east half of section 32, twp.
2 north, range 12 W., and extending west along the sec-
tion line to the northwest corner of the east half of sec-
tion 35, range 13 W.; thence south along the half-section
line to the southwest corner of the east half of section 11,
twp. 1 north/range 13 west; thence west to the north-
west corner of section 15, same town and range; thence
south along the section line to the southwest corner of
section 34, same town and range ; thence west to the
southeast corner of section 32 ; thence north to the
place of beginning.
The surface is generally level, and is diversified by
prairie and timber. Near the center is the beautiful
and fertile area of Barney's prairie, about three miles
long from north to south, and two miles wide. Like [
the sirens that sang by the seashore, its smiling, sun-lit j
surface and its song-filled borders lulled to forgetfulness
of home and fireside the sturdy pioneer of three-quarters
of a century ago. A portion of Decker's prairie lies in
the north, and Bald Hill in the west. The balance —
especially the more elevated portions — was originally
quite heavily timbered ; and parts that were at first
treeless, are now covered with forests. On the old Van
Wike place, the northwest quarter of section 13, where
there was once a corn-field, there is a wood, with trees
from eighteen to twenty inches in diameter. There is
quite an area of waste land called Crawfish prairie — it is
a sloughy area lying in the eastern part of the precinct,
about three miles long northwest and southeast, and
three-fourths of a mile wide. With its outlet, Crawfish
creek, it is the principal source of drainage. The first
settlers found game very abundant. Elk and buffalo
had roamed in large numbers over the prairies, and left
their bones as witnesses of their former existence.
" Licks " were quite numerous. On the McNair place,
three-fourths of a mile northeast of Friendsville, there
was a buffalo lick comprising an area of about one and
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WAS ASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
279
a-half acres. Occasionally, a buffalo might be seen
passing through the settlement, but the elk had entirely
disappeared. Bears and wolves were a source of much
annoyance to farmers. Not infrequently the unmusical
voice of a pig would break the stillness of the midnight i
hour, as in the arms of bruin he was carried with appa-
rent fondness and care towards the neighboring wood.
One night, in Barney's prairie, a wolf stole quietly up
behind Jere Wood, and, leaping upon him, caught him
by the coat, near the shoulders, tearing it and nearly
pulling him down. He turned suddenly and struck the
animal with his gun, which was so injured by the act
that it missed fire. The negro Dennis was also attacked
by one, but succeeded in frightening it off. His cries
were heard by a number of settlers. In the year 1836,
the wolves assembled in large flocks and left the settle-
ment. Their preparation and departure were heralded
by a great ado, and what might seem sad lamentation at
the fate to which civilization had brought them. The
last black wolf in the county was killed by William
Higgius, a half-mile west of Friendsville, in 1839. Hez-
ekiah Clark killed the last panther, some three miles
north of the town, about 1838 ; it was supposed to have
been one that had straggled beyond its latitude. It
seems at first thought singular that rabbits were less
numerous prior to 1840 than they are to-day. The fact
is due to the ravages made upon rabbit-life by the foxes.
An interesting locality called "Indian Arrow Point," is
to be found two and a half miles east of Friendsville, on
Crawfish creek. " Arrow-heads of jasper," and great
quantities of chips and pieces of flint, seem to show that
at this place the Indians made and repaired their
arrows.
The honor of making the first permanent settlement
in what is now Friendsville precinct belongs to John
Wood, who iii the spring of 1809 came from Barren
county, Kentucky, and put up a small hickory round-
log cabin on the northeast quarter of section 36, township
1 north, range 13 west. His cabin completed, he re-
turned to Kentucky, and in the fall brought his family,
consisting of his wife and seven children : Alexander,
Jeremiah, Eli, John, Mary, Betsey and Martha. This
same fall he planted an apple orchard, having brought
the young trees with him. From it originated the
«' Wood" apple, a choice variety. In the year 1810 he
and his neighbors constructed Fort Wood, as a protec-
tion against the Indians. It was the first thing of its
kind in that vicinity, and was occupied by the Barneys,
Higgins, Ingrams and others. It consisted of an iu-
closure about eight or ten feet high, formed by setting
halves of small hickory logs side by side in the ground.
The specific inducement to the building of this as well
as of Forts Barney and Higgins, was the Herriman mas-
sacre in Lawrence county about the year 1809. None
of these defenses were ever attacked, the inmates sleep-
ing securely while two of their number stood guard by
night. On one occasion the sentries, Jeremiah Wood
and William Barney, deserted their posts, and took the
dogs that had been put out to watch, and went coon-
hunting. John Wood, the only survivor of the pioneer
family, lives on a part of the old place where his father,
John Wood, sr , settled. Joseph Wood, a grown son of
the latter, preceded his father to the county, but settled
a little later on the southwest quarter of section 30, twp.
1 north, range 13 west, and there, after raising a family
of children, died.
In the spring of 1808 William Barney, who lived in
western New York, on the banks of the Genesee, sold
his small possessions for live stock, which he drove to
the Alleghany river and exchanged for a raft of lum-
ber, upon which he and his family floated down to the
mouth of the Wabash. He there disposed of the raft,
purchased a keel boat and pushed up the stream to
Ramsey's rapids, afterward the site of Bedell's mill
The male members of the family struck through the
heavy forest to explore and select a spot for erecting a
cabin. They reached a beautiful stretch of land, cov-
ered with grass, ten feet high, and afterward known as
Barney's prairie. The Barney cabin was built shortly
after the Woods, near where the Friendsville academy
now stands. The family consisted of the father and
mother and nine children, viz. : George, William, Rich-
ard, James, Betsey, Jane, Sarah, Clara and Ann. With
Mr. Barney, or shortly after his arrival, came his three
sons in-law, Ransom Higgins, Philo Ingram and Wil-
bour Aldridge. In the spring of 1811 it was thought
necessary to build Fort Barney. It was a large in-
closure, protected by trees split and set in the ground,
with the bark out, the pointed tops being about twelve
feet high. It stretched from a point north of the semi-
nary to a considerable distance south of it, and was
sufficient to accommodate several hundred inmates. In
one corner of the inclosure was a log house, eight feet
higher than the palisades, with port-holes ; a well now
marks its site. In 1812 the fort was felt to be insuffi-
cient, and all parties removed to Indiana and passed the
winter in a block-heuse in the " Neck." In the spring
of 1813 they returned, and although the Shawnees, who
claimed nearly the whole of the Wabash valley, and
had their towns and camps all along the river, were yet
hostile, the settlers of Barney's prairie and vicinity were
unharassed. William Barney was a representative man
and did much by his influence and example to develop
that portion of the county in which he settled. His
permanent home was in the S. W. quarter of section
23, a little southwest of Friendsville, where he died.
Ransom Higgius also built a fort, which bore his name.
He was a man of large stature and much physical
courage : he figured quite conspicuously as a miller in
early times, and built a water-mill on what is popularly
known as Barney's prairie creek, about the year 1813.
His oldest child, Willis, was shot by one of the rangers
stationed at Barney's fort, while practicing rifle-shooting.
The ranger put spurs to his horse and sped away to
Vincennes for a physician, but though the horse was
killed by the ride, medical aid came too late. The boy
280
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WAS ASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
was buried about the year 1813 or 1814, in what is NOW
the Friendsville graveyard, the oldest iu the precinct.
Joseph Preston, who died in Barney's fort, was the
second person buried in this yard. The Preston home-
stead was on the W. half of the N. E. quarter of
section 23. Philo Ingram on his arrival had two sons,
William and Daniel. He settled on the N. E. quarter
of section 20, where he lived till 1840, when he moved to
Clay county, I'linois. He was a plain, industrious
farmer and good citizen. Wilbour Aid ridge had one or
two children, and settled on the N. W. quarter of sec. 24.
Nathaniel Claypole, in 1814, settled on the W. half
of section 32. He was a prominent citizen, and in 1815
was acting as clerk of Edwards county. In the same
year came Thomas Pulliam ; he settled on the N. W.
quarter of section 32, tp. 2 N., range 12 W. This was
his permanent home. Near Pulliam lived John and
Moses Decker, who settled here about 1814. Decker's
prairie bears their name. William Higgius, an early
justice of the peace, and his brothers E. and A. Higgius,
came from Pennsylvania in 1815 ; he settled on the S.
E. quarter of section 24, where he lived a few years and
then moved about two miles south of Friendsville, and
there died. E. and A. settled on the S. E. quarter of
section 18, but did not remain long in the country.
Jarvis Dale came in 1815, and settled on the S. W.
quarter of section 20. He married Patience Chaffee,
whose family were early settlers. Dale was a farmer
and mechanic, and had a fondness for horse trading.
Henry McGregor, 1815, settled on the W. half of the
S. W. quarter of section 31, tp. 1 N. ; he was a plain
farmer and died on the old place. A number of his
descendants live in the precinct. John Smith, Jr., from
Ohio, in 1815, settled on the N. E. quarter of section
31, tp. 2 N. He was familiarly known as " Tinner " Smith,
from the trade he exercised. He was somewhat dissi-
pated, and something of a joker ; he used to say, that
when he went home intoxicated, he would throw his hat
in at the door, and if his wife did not kick it, he could
safely venture in. One day she told him to go and get
some wood ; he took his hat, went out, and at the end of
two years appeared with a small armful of wood, which
he laid down upon the floor and said, " There, Beck's
your wood." William and James Pool, brothers, were
from Hamilton county, Ohio. They settled on the S.
E. quarter of section 14, in 1815. The former had been
to the country before, and had entered land in 1814.
He remained only five or six years, and returned to
Ohio. James settled permanently. He was one of the
earliest ministers in the county, and the first in the
precinct. Josiah Higgins, in 1815, settled on the S. W.
quarter of section 13. Ephraim Keed, 1815, settled on
the W. half of the S. W. quarter of section 13. The
Knapps were from the state of New York. James
Knapp was county surveyor for a number of years.
John Shadle, a German, from Pennsylvania, in 1815,
settled on the N. W. quarter of section 31, tp. 1 N.
,He brought two children, Henry and John ; he was a
carpenter, a good farmer, and was sai I to be the only
man who could raise wheat. The brothers Charles and
John McNair came from New York about 1815. The
latter did not remain long. Charles was a prosperous
farmer, and also followed the tanning and currying
business for a number of years. The McNair family is
one of the most prominent in the precinct. Gervase
Hazelton, about 1815, settled on the S. E. quarter of
section 32, tp. 2 N. He was a large land-owner and
prominent man in his day. His possessions were not
confined to Wabash county, but extended to the present
site of Hazelton, Indiana. He was a member of the
legislature and an auctioneer, and as early as 1816 a
justice of the peace; he also operated a horse-mill on
liis place. On the county records at Albion appears
the marriage of Gervais Hamilton to Eliza Osgood, by
•Squire G. W. Smith, in 1816. The Osgood family
were prominent among the early settlers.
Willis Higgins came from Alleghany county, N. Y.
in 1816, and settled on the S. half of N. E. quarter of
section 14. He was fond of the chase, and not only
repaired his own gun, but those of his neighbors also, at
his shop. He taught school about 1821 or 1822 in an
old cabin on his own farm. Coles Besley was a large
and powerful man, and with a family of children, —
James, William, Catharine and Susan, — settled on theN.
VV. quarter of section 18. George Letherland came
in 1816, bringing with him three children, William,
Matthew and Mary. He settled on tiie §. E. quarter of
section 24, and was a good farmer. William Brown,
from New York, in 1816, settled on the N. E. quarter
of section 11, where he made" his permanent home, and
reared a family of children. He was a powerful man
physically, and he had been blind some years before his
death. John White, also from New York, in 1816,
settled on the N. W. quarter of section 12. Here,
having been three times married, he reared a large
family of children, some of whom he brought to the
country with him. The S. W- quarter of this section
was settled by Reuben Blackford, in 1815. Benjamin
Taylor, from Ohio, in 1816, settled on the E. half of
the S. W. quarter of section 13. He brought to the
precinct a son, Theoron, and one or two daughters. He
possessed some knowledge and skill in medicine, which
to some extent he put in practice in the settlement; he
was also the proprietor of a cotton gin, which he had in
operation. Edward Brines, Lemuel Haskins and Henry
Utter came in company with seven or eight other fami-
lies, from Alleghany county, New York, in 1816. They
all settled in the vicinity of Bald Hill, and became
prosperous and useful citizens. Their descendants,
who are quite numerous in the county, are following
in the footsteps of their illustrious ancestors. Utter was
an influential man and a member of the legislature.
He was one of the leaders in the movement that re-
sulted in the separation of Wabash from Edwards
county, and was a member of the first court. Z.
Warner came from New York, in 1816, and with a
Of
UNIVERSITY
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS. 281
family, settled on the W. half of section 20. David
Daily settled on the W. half of the N. W. quarter of
section 20, about the year 1816. Henry Chrisman,
from Indiana, settled on the S. W. quarter of section
20. He was a carpenter and millwright, and helped
build the Bedfell mill, on the Wabash ; he had great
physical strength, and was pronounced the stoutest man
present at the raising of that building. William Cour-
ter, a Christian minister and the progenitor of the
Courter family in the county, came from Indiana, and
settled about two miles east of Friendsville. Joseph
E. Thompson, son of a Tennesseean, came to the county in
1830, settled some distance north of Friendsville. His
children were Polly, Henry, Carrol, Francis M. and
Louisa J. James Thompson, who was a deputy county ,
surveyor and a justice of the peace for a number of j
years, was an early settler who lived on the W. half of
section 32, tp. 2 N., range 12 W. William H. Ridgely
was an early settler in the precinct and raised a good-
sized family. J. Fordice came from Indiana, and settled
on the N. VV. quarter of section 34. It appears from
the records at Albion that James Fordice was married
to Susan Gard, by Rev. Jere. Ballard, June 28, 1815.
Colonel Simmonds, with a family 'of four children,
Stephen, Medad, and two daughters, settled on the W. *
of the N. W. k of section 1, and then about 1820 laid off
the old town, Mt. Pleasant. The locality is now known
as darks' corners. Here Simmonds built a horse-mill
of some importance. Dr. Dake located here shortly
after the year 1820, and a man named Hunt kept a store.
The town also contained u blacksmith shop, but was
short-lived and went to decay. One Tuttle, a hatter,
came from Conn., in 1817, with a family of five children.
Horace, who was blind, John, Betsey, Sarah Ann, and
Nancy, and settled on the E. J of section 1. Betsey
married Capt. Clark, who settled near his father-in-
law, on the edge of old Mt. Pleasant. He died over
fifty years ago. His body was exhumed and subjected
to an autopsy, which showed that death had resulted
from poison. A family of Melsons, about 1816 or '17
settled on the S. i of section 8. One Fields, also an
early settler, lived on the N. J of this section.
Robert Bell, a revolutionary soldier, came from Rock-
bridge, Va., in 1818, with a family of three children,
George, Hiram, and Jane, and settled on the S. E. I of
N. W. k of section 22, where he died in 1837. Hiram
became the first recorder, circuit clerk, and first county
clerk, and county surveyor of the county of Wabash,
and retained the first office till 1860, and the second till
1853. Under the old militia law he was Brigadier-
General of the Second Brigade and Second Division of
the Illinois militia. He died in Mt. Carrael, in 1867.
Samuel Putman, came from Knox county, Indiana, and
lived first in the " Timber Settlement," and then moved j
to the S. E. i of section 19. John Harmon, a teache^ j
was among the early citizens of the precinct. Asa Smith,
in 1818, settled on the W. i of the S. W. t of section 5.
George Omen, came from New York, in 1818, with a
family of nine children, John, George, Mary, Priscilla,
Anna, Minerva, Jacob, Eliza and Henry, and settled
on the N. W. t of section 18, where he died about 1840.
Henry shot and killed Ezra Wanser, as was supposed
from motives of jealousy. The Wanser family came
from New York, about 1817. Asa Hammond, in 1818,
settled on the E. } of the S. E. t of section 7, where he
lived a number of years, and then moved away. Jere-
miah Wilson settled on the E. J of the N. E. t of section
7, in 1818. He was a boat builder and carpenter.
Cyrus Danforth, with his family in 1818, came from N.
Y. in a keel boat. His destination was Terre Haute,
but being unable to pass farther up the Wabash he landed
at the Grand Rapids, intending to pursue his way as
soon as a rise in the river would permit. Fearing sick-
ness on the river he brought his family out into Barney's
prairie, and, pleased with the appearance, there made
his home. About 1818, Adam Corrie, Jr., came from Eng-
land and purchased a large tract of land in Decker's
Prairie, Wabash county. In 1822, the Corries,
five brothers and several sisters, and the Milli.
gans, came from Scotland and settled upon it. Samuel
and William Schrader married into the Corrie family,
and also settled upon this tract. Dr. Ezra Baker, Jr ,
came from Philadelphia, with a family of two children,
Edwin and Dorsey, about 1820, and located on a farm
near Gird's Point. He was wealthy, of fine appearance,
sociable and pleasing in his manners and address. He
was the leading spirit of old Centerville, the founder of
Rochester, that at one time surpassed Mt. Caruiel in
business importance, and the proprietor of Bennington
in Edwards county. His life may serve as an example
and a warning to the young of Wabash county : First,
prosperity, and over-reaching in business speculations,
then domestic infelicity, and finally the cup to excess,
and poverty and pauperism in Philadelphia. Harry
Ingram, from N. Y., about 1820, settled on the W. * of
the N. W. J of section 19. Edward Mundy, came from
N. Y., in 1820, bringing a wife and one son, Phiueas.
He was an attorney, and practiced his profession a num-
ber of years, and then went to Michigan where he be-
came circuit judge and lieutenant governor of the state.
John Pension, came from N. J., in 1823, and settled
first in Mt. Carmel, remained there about two years,
and then moved to the precinct. His family consisted
of Risley, Rebecca, Daniel, Richard, step-children named
Tilton and Diana, Elizabeth and Sarah. Guy Smith
about 1823 or '24, moved to the farm one mile south of
Friendsville, for which he had traded his store-house
in old Palmyra. The frame of this building is in Ira
Keen's dwelling in Friendsville. Dr. Norton, who had
practiced in Palmyra, moved to Barney's prairie, and
there died about the year 1822. Nicholas Hazelton,
came from New York, in 1830. He had a family of nine
children, Sally, Samuel, William, Joseph, Anna, Abbie,
Lois, Arena,,and Mary. He settled in the W. I of the
N. W. i of section 6, township 1, range 12.
The first water-mill in the precinct was built by Je:e-
282
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
miah Wood about 1817 or '18. It stood on Crawfish
creek, about three-fourths of a mile above the wagon
road leading from Friendsville to Fatten. The Osburn
horse-mill and distillery were built about 1825 by Jo-
seph Otburn, who came from Ohio. They stood about
three miles north of Fiiendsville, The first school was
taught in a log cabin near Barney's Fort in 1815 or '16.
The first teachers were John Griffith and Betsey
Osgood. About 1820 a school was taught a quarter of a
mile east of Friendsville, in a building put up for school
purposes. The Black Hawk soldiers of Friendsville
precinct were Ira Keen, James Besley, both living,
William Besley, William Ridgeley, George Danforth,
William and John Gaddy, Matthew Litherland and
Hiram Couch. The following are the land entries for
the year 1814: May 10, Philo Ingram, the N. E. t of
section 26; May 14, William Pool, the S W. t of sec-
tion 19 ; May 16, Seth Card, the N. E. t of section 22,
and Peter Keen, the N. E. \ of section 34 ; June 22,
Ransom Higgins, the N. E. }• of section 14; September
2, John Hart, the S. E. } of section 35 ; September 9,
Thomas Pulliam, the N. W. 1 of section 32, T. 2 N.
The following entries were made in 1815 : May 23?
William and Thomas Pool, theS. } of section 14; June
10, Ephraim Reed, the W. J of the S. W. 1 of section
13; June 29, William Barney, the S. W. 1 of section
24; July 29, John Shadle, the N. W. J of section 31 ;
July 31, Henry McGregor, the W. J of the S. W. i of
the same section ; July 25, Reuben Blackford, the S.
W. \ of section 12 ; August 29, William Higgins, the S.
W. i of section 24.
FRIENDSVILLE.
The first house that occupied the present site of the
town was the log dwelling of Job Pixley, built about 1818-
He came from the vicinity of Cincinnati, Ohio, with his
wife and two sons, William and Asa, and a daughter,
Abigail. The latter married James Andrews, who
built the second house. Robert Parkinson, of the firm
Wood and Parkinson, sold the first goods in a part of
John F. Youngken's house about 1835. In 1838,
Parkinson built the first store, a one-story frame build
ing, on the corner of Main and Cyrus streets. The first
drug store was established by William R. Wilkinson, on
the S. E. corner of Main and Cyrus streets. The post-
office was established in 1839, and Robert Parkinson
•was the first post-master. The town derived its name
from Friendsville, Susquehanna county, Pa. It was
laid out on the S. E. J of section 23, T. 1 N. R. 13 W.,
and surveyed and platted by Robert Buchanan in 1854.
The original proprietors were William R. Wilkinson,
John F. Youngken and Cyrus Danforth. In 1816 the
town was re-surveyed and platted by Buchanan, and the
plat filed for record in the office of the circuit clerk
April 10th of that year. The Presbyterian church, a
brick structure, was built in 1849 at a cost of $1200.
The Wyoming Flouring Mills, so named, from the
Wyoming Valley in Pennsylvania, were built by Wil-
liam R. Wilkinson in 1860-'61 at a cost of $1100. The
building is a four story frame, with a foundation 40x60
feet. It has two run of burrs, and is equipped with
elevators, screens, cleaners, etc. Its capacity is one
hundred barrels of flour a day. It is now under the
management of R. F. and George Wilkinson. The
school-house, a frame building, 49x30 feet, was put up
about 1866 The Academy, a frame building, 40x60
feet, surmounted by a tower and bell, was erected for
high school purposes in 1866. Prior to this a high
school had been taught in the church by Rev. Samuel
Baldridge. The Friendsville Library Association was
established by charter in 1840. During the twenty
years of its active existence it collected a library of over
three hundred volumes of books. Among the charter
members of this association it is fitting to mention the
name of Dr. David R. Allison, from Pennsylvania, who
settled in section 15 in 1834. He was a gentleman of
education and of scholarly tastes and habits, which had
been developed and improved by several years travel in
different European countries.
PRESENT BUSINESS.
Physicians. — James Leeds, George E. Kingsbury, M.
E.Warner.
General Stores.— Baggis Bros., A. C. Kelsey, George
Wilkinson.
Drug Store. — James A Leeds, Jr.
Wagonmakers. — John Shoaff, Joseph Price, William
Curreu.
Carpenter. — Franklin M. Crosson.
Shoemaker. — John Pool.
Blacksmiths.— John C. Gilkinson, George W. Shoaf.
Dressmakers — Mahala Snyder, Agnes Crum.
Hotel-keeper. — Thomas Wilkinson.
Justice.— J. P. McNair.
Postmaster.— William R. Wilkinson.
Machinery Agents — M. J. Foster, Matthew Birkett.
Orio, formerly called Corrieville, is a pleasant little
hamlet on the W. I of section 32, T. 2 N. The name
of the post-office is Lynn. The tile factory of W. P.
Beasley does quite a large business in its line. There
are two general stores kept respectively by Schrader &
Beasley and Henry Thompson. The post-office was
established in 1879, and is kept by W. P. Beasley.
Albert Shepard has a broom factory, and Germane
Shepard a molasses factory. There is also a wagon and
a blacksmith shop kept respectively by S. J. Underwood
and Martin Pheil. Dr. McMurray is the village physi-
cian. The church belongs to the Presbyterian denom-
ination, and was built about 1839. The locality of
Orio was the scene of the labors of Rev. Stephen Bliss,
a sketch of whom appears in the chapter on the
churches. He preached and taught in a log school-
house that stood near the site of Henry Thompson's
well in his door-yard. Adams Shepard, from New
England, settled at this point about 1830. He was an
educated man, and a classmate of Daniel Webster.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Adams' Corners, so named after Daniel Adams, is
situated in the southeast corner of section 18. It con-
tains two churches, a Christian and a United Brethren,
a frame school-house, a store kept by Franklin Seiberts,
and eight or nine dwellings.
Friendship precinct had the first " Free Soil " organi-
sation in southern Illinois. It was established in 1848
with six members, Cyrus Danforth, William R. Wilkin-
son, Charles W. McNair, James and David Ballard and
John F. Youngken. These six cast six, and the only
votes in Wabash county for Martin Van Buren. The
youngest soldier in the Union array of the late war, in
Illinois, and with one exception, in the United States,
was furnished by Frieudsville precinct, in the person of
George W. Shoaff, at the age of about eleven and a half
years. It has supplied one member of the constitutional
convention of 1818; two judges of the probate court;
one judge of the county court; two clerks of said court ;
one county surveyor, and three members of the General
Assembly.
BIOGRAPHIES.
'THOMAS WILKINSON.
THE native country of the Wilkinson family is York-
shire, England, town of Sedgeborough. The family
have generally followed the peaceful avocation of
farmers. The family farm was HolexHouse, Howgill.
The record of the Wilkinson family in the old Episcopal
church, to which they all belonged for many generations,
is as follows: Robert Wilkinson, the grandfather, was
born at Hole House. He spent most of his time fishing
for trout and salmon, when not occupied by his duties
on the farm. He married Miss Mary Wilson, who was
of a Quaker family, and was a most modest and admir-
able Christian woman, wife and mother whose memory
was revered and cherished by her offspring. Robert
Wilkinson's politics were "Free Trade," "Bread for
All." Lord Brown, the standard-bearer for the West
Riding of Yorkshire ; his three sons, Thomas, Anthony
and William, were of the same political cast.
The second son, Anthony, became very rich in the East
Indies. He left England in 1788, and remained abroad
twenty-two years, and bought several estates. He mar-
ried Miss Jane Sedgwick, daughter of an Episcopalian
minister. They had ten sons and daughters. He died
at Hole House in 1842, at the age of about seventy
years. Their ancestors, being large people, combined
with healthy climate and good constitutions, gave to
those three brothers (Thomas, Anthony and William)
more than ordinary size and stature. Thomas was five
feet eleven inches high, and weighed 294 Ibs. Anthony
was six feet in height, and weighed 322 Ibs. William
was six feet two inches, and weighed 266 Ibs. William,
the youngest, entered the service of his country under
Sir Arthur Wellesley, who was afterwards elevated to
Viscount Wellington. After leaving the service of his
country, he came to America, and entered a school at
Baltimore, Md., preparatory to going to his brother
Anthony, who resided at East End of Water Lane,
Kingston, Jamaica, a British island. The latter 's plan-
tation was some sixty miles from Kingston. The labor
on the plantation was all accomplished by slaves. An-
thony, finding himself failing in health, the result of a
too energetic character and tropical climate, left the
island for his home in England, and never returned except
for a short time. William remained on the island until
1815, when he returned home and died at Sedgeborough
in 1837, at the age of sixty-two years. In England he
was a farmer. The main products of the farm were
oats, grass, potatoes, barley and turnips, — sheep and
cattle the principal stock. Thomas Wilkinson's father
married Miss Mary Wilson, about the year 1790. They
had one son, Robert, who went to Jamaica in 1820 and
died there ; and two girls, An n and Mary. The latter
married James Mattison, aud had four children. Ann,
the eldest daughter, died without issue. Thomas Wil-
kinson, sr.'s second marriage way with Miss Ann Rah, a
Scotchwoman. She was born in 1784, — was a woman of
wonderful energy and perseverance, and possessed those
marked characteristics of the hardy Scotch people. She
was a member of the Episcopal church, a model woman
and farmer's wife, with strong attachments for her chil-
dren, and kind and benevolent to all, especially to those
in distress. She would say : " Poor things, they are
somebody's bairns " (children). She had by her mar-
riage with Thomas Wilkinson fifteen children — all lived
to maturity except the youngest, who died in infancy.
The names of the children were : Anthony, Margaret,
Betty, Nanny, Rose, Jane, Sophia, Hannah, William
•R., Isabella, Ellen, Sarah, Thomas and John F. An-
thony emigrated in 1828, and Mr. Wilkinson, wife, and
nine children came to America in 1830. They left home
in May, and were eight weeks on sea. They reached
Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, where they first settled in
| July of the same year. Arriving at Mrs. Metcalf 's, an
! old acquaintance in England who had preceded them
[ here, the family remained there until money was saved
sufficient to bring them west. They left Wyoming
Valley, Penn., in May, 1837, going by canal to the Al-
legheny mountains, over the inclined railway, and then
284
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
to Pittsburg by canal, and from there down the river to
Shawneetown on steamboat. Teams hauled them to
Edwards county. Mr. Wilkinson bought forty acres of
laud in White county, Ills., where he lived the balance
of his life. Some of his children settled near him, and
others in Edwards county — all buying land and making
homes as fast as circumstances would admit. Most of
the land still remains in the family. Subsequently, the
family became separated ; some went up north to
Friendsville, Wabash county, where the subject of this
sketch and several others reside.
Thomas Wilkinson, sr., was born Nov. 30, 1768, and
died Aug. 15, 1840, and, at his own request, was buried
on his land. His wife then removed to Friendsville,
and there died in 1852. After the death of his mother,
Thomas Wilkinson, the subject of this sketch, went to
school at what was known as the Ridge school-house,
which was erected in 1841 or 1842, on section 14, twp.
3, 5, in Edwards county. The house was erected by
the neighbors, who contributed their work. Mr. John
Spencerand Mr. Wilkinson built the chimney, which was
of stone. It was, in fact, a pioneer school house, with
split logs for benches, plauk floors, and everything cheap
to suit the circumstances. That house was also used as
a place of divine worship for a number of years. From
that school-house Mr. Wilkinson graduated under Mr.
John Correy, a Scotchman, who took a great interest in
him, and towards whom Mr. Wilkinson has always en-
tertained the greatest respect and esteem.
The forty acres lying south of the school-house was
entered by Robert Willis, and donated for church and
cemetery purposes, and named Bethsaida. In 1844, Mr.
Wilkinson was united in marriage to Mrs. Eliza Chap-
man, daughter of Rev. John Scott. She had one son by
her former marriage, whose name was Thomas S. Chap-
man. Her parents were natives of Leeds, England, and
came to America in 1841, and settled and bought land
in Edwards county, where Mr. Scott died October 9lh,
1845. His wife, Sarah, died November 29th, 1851, and
their daughter Elizabeth died December 10th, 1847.
After Mr. Wilkinson's marriage, both he and his wife
set industriously to work to make a home, determining
not to fall behind others who were starting about the
same time. They plodded along, making and adding to
their store, little by little. Money was scarce and hard
to get. The country was new, and had not recovered
from the effects of the financial troubles of a few years
before. Two children were born to Mr. Wilkinson ,-*•
John and Sarah. Both died young. His wife died Dec.
20th, 1851, and was buried in the Bethsaida burying
ground. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. The Scott family residence in the new world
was brief — all died except one grand-daughter, Sarah
Ann, wife of Thomas St. Leger.
Thomas S. Chapman enlisted in the late war in Co. A
of the llth Mo. Infantry, and died in the service. His
remains lie by the side of his mother. In the winter of
1847 Mr. Wilkinson went toPinhook, in Edwards coun-
ty, and packed pork for Messrs. Parkinson and Wilkin-
son. In the summer of 1 848 he assisted in erecting a
carding machine and building, and learned to card
wool under the instructions of Major David Ingraham,
the oldest carder in Edwards county. Daring the win-
ter he, in connection with his brother William, bought
and packed pork, and also corn, oats and produce. In
1850 Mr. Wilkinson and his brother entered regularly
into partnership. They sold goods, bought produce,
built boats, loaded them, run them out on the Bonpas
to the Wabash and Mississippi rivers. They established
a branch store at Timberville, on the Wabash, which
proved unsuccessful to Mr. Wilkinson. He moved to
and settled in Friendsville, Dec. 15, 1857. In 1862 he
formed a partnership with James Foster, which was dis-
astrous. During that time Mr. Wilkinson was postmas-
ter of Friendsville. On the 21st of November, 1852, he
married Rebecca, widow of H. B. Roney, and daughter
of Ira and Eleanor Keen. She was born one mile east
of Friendsville, Wabash county, Ills. There have been
nine children, the result of that marriage. Their names
in the order of their birth are : Mary Ellen, born Oct.
17, 1853 ; died Oct. 24, '54. Sarah Jane, born Dec.,10,
'55 ; Alice, born Feb. 12, '58, died Oct.4, '59 ; Ira A., born
Mar. 15, '60 ; died July 11, '61. Sam'l B Elsworth,born
Oct. 5, 1862; died July 13, 1876. Thomas Lincoln, born
Feb. 9, 1865. William Finley, born Dec. 20; died Sepf
26, 1867. Jordan Keen, born Feb. 13, 1876. Elizabeth,
the oldest living daughter, married Captain James E.
Kelsey, March 26th, 1868, and gave birth to four sons,
whose names are : William Thomas, Harry Albert,
George and James Garfield. They live in Lawrence
county. Sarah Isabella is the wife of George S. Taylor ;
married April 29, 1880 ; have one child (Carrie), born
May 3, 1881. Mr. Ira Keen and wife, parents of Mrs.
W., came to Wabash county, — father in 1816, and the
mother iu 1803. Mrs. Keen's maiden name is Jourdan,
related by blood to the Comptons, who were originally
from Virginia, thence to Kentucky, and finally to Wa-
bash county, Illinois, in 1801. They are credited with
being the first settlers in this section of the country.
Mr. Wilkinson, politically, was an old line Whig. His
first vote was cast for W. H. Harrison in 1840. He
remained a Whig until 1856, when he voted for John C.
Fremont, and for all subsequent Republican candidates.
A. Wilkinson married Ruth Edgerton, who had fivesons
and three daughters, and fourteen grandchildren. Wm.
R. married Sarah Williams and had two sons and four
daughters. Thomas Wilkinson married Eliza Chapman,
had one son, two daughters and four grandsons. Subse-
quently Mr. W. married Rebecca Rouey ; had six sons,
three daughters and two grand-daughters. John F. W.
married Mary E. Albetz; had two sons, three daughters
and five grandchildren. John F. subsequently married
Maria Albetz, and had one son.
Hox. WILLIAM R. WILKINSON
WAS born Jan. 19th, 1816, in the county of York, Eng-
STOCK FARM 274- ACRES OF THOS. GAM THORPE, SfC.34, T. /,/?./, SHELB Y PffECINCT, EDWARDS CO. ILL
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
285
land. He is the son of Thomas and Nancy Rah) Wil-
kinson, and the ninth in a family of fourteen children.
His father had been twice married, and was the father
of nineteen children. The family emigrated to America
in 1830, and settled in Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania. In
the spring of 1837 he came west to Illinois, and settled
five miles west of Grayville, in White county, where he
bought forty acres of land, and there lived until his
death in 1840. His wife then came to Friendsville, and |
made her home with the subject of this sketch until
1858, when she died. After the family came to Amer-
ica, William R. worked for William Wood of Wilkes-
barre, and received iu pay four dollars per month. He
remained with him four years. Then his father rented
a piece of land, and William returned and assisted him
for several years. In April, 1837, he engaged with
Judge Geo. W. Woodward, of Wilkesbarre, and went to
school, doing the chores of the house in pay for his
board. The following fall he came west to White
county, where his father had moved. He remained
with him, and helped to cl.ear up ten acres of ground,
and fenced it in. In June, 1838, he came to Mt. Carmel,
and worked at the tanning business. In Feb., 1889,
at the solicitation of William Wood, he went to
Friendsville and clerked for him in the store, and in
1841 formed a partnership with Mr. Wood. This part-
nership continued for seven years, after which he con-
tinued the business, and is still at the old stand. In
1855 he and his brother Thomas engaged in mercantile
business in Pinhook, in Edwards county, Illinois, and at
old Timberville on the Wabash river.
In 1850 he put up a warehouse, and shipped a large
amount of produce down the river. In 1859 he built
the flouring mill iu Friendsville. In 1841 he was ap-
pointed postmaster of Friendsville, and still holds that
position. He is without doubt the oldest post-master in |
the State. Mr. Wilkinson was for many years the lead-
ing merchant of his town and a prominent man in the j
county. On the 6th of September, 1849, he was com- ,
missioned by Gov. French a justice of the peace. Aug.
18, 1856, he was commissioned by Joel A. Mattison
notary public ; and on the 30th of November 1£57, was
commissioned county judge of Wabash county. In 1876
he was elected to represent his senatorial district in the
General Assembly of the State. He was appointed on
the commission to examine the overflowed lands along
the rivers, where the State had built dams or locks.
Originally, Judge Wilkinson was a Whig. In 1848 he
was one of six who formed the Free Soil party in Wa-
bash county. He joined the Young Republican party
1856, and voted for John C. Fremont, and in all subse-
quent elections has uniformly voted that ticket.
On the 9th of December, 1841, he married Sarah
Williams, who was born in Ireland. Her father came
to America when she was but a year old. She was
reared in New Brunswick. There have been eight chil-
dren, the offspring of that union, five of whom are liv-
ing. Their names are : Alice A., who is the wife of W.
H. Besley ; Mary, wife of John H. Allison ; Robert T. ;
Sarah, wife of Thomas H. Penn, and George.
Robert T. Wilkinson, the eldest son, was born in
Friendsville, Feb. 23, 1850. He received his education
in the public schools and in the seminary of his native
town. He read law in the office of Green & Bell, and
was admitted to the bar at Mt. Vernon, Illinois, at the
July term of the Supreme Court, 1879. The same fall
he removed to Mt. Carmel, and engaged in mercantile
business in connection with W. H. Besley, which con-
tinued for two and a-half years, when he formed a part-
nership with J. Fred. Stein, which still continues. On
the 6th of February, 1882, he was appointed postmaster
of Mt. Carmel, and re-appointed April 3d, 1873.
On the 22d of Oct., 1874, he was united in marriage
to Miss Julia E., daughter of Dr. James and Ellen (La-
vellette) Harvey. By that union there are three chil-
dren, whose names are Mabel, Robert Clyde, and James
W. Wilkinson. The family are members of the Pres-
byterian Church.
DENNISON.
LAWRENCE COUNTY.
|HIS TOWNSHIP is bounded on the north by
Lawrence, on the east by Allison and the
Wabath river, on the south by the county of
Wabash, and ou the west by Lukiu and Bridgeport
townships. The surface was originally almost wholly
covered with timber and is, in places, somewhat broken,
West of the central part is an area called " Wolf-
! prairie." The soil is best adapted to the growth of wheat.
! Drainage is derived principally from the Embarras river
and Little Raccoon creek. The Wabash, St Louis, and
j Pacific railroad extends through the township, north
' and south, and supplies good facilities for the shipment of
produce.
I The earliest settlements were made by the French, at
286
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WAR ASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
St. Francisville. Joseph Tugaw, properly spelled Tou-
gas, originally came from Vincennes, and settled on the
site of the village in 1804 or 1805. His brothers, Au-
Mary Josette De Lisle, three of whom are yet living.
Charles Greraore married and settled on a part of 1m
brother's place. Charles Moyes first came to the town-
gust and William, and John Lauglois were also there ! ship prior to 1812. He moved back to Vincenn
about that time, but moved to Rochester, in Wabash returned after the Indian difficulties were over and
county, He was a married man and had two children, settled on the S E. quarter of section 12. He received
Joseph, jr. and Alexander. Soon after he settled he j the pseudonym of Coy, from a circum-tance which may
established and operated a ferry on the Wabash. In j be found related in detail in the pioneer chapter. His
1812 he built a picket fort, as a protection for himself
and his neighbors against tha Indians. In 1815, his was
the only residence in Edwards county assessed as a
children were Charles, Peter, Joseph, Francis and Mar-
tha. Except Peter, they all married and settled in the
county. John Shirkey, with three children, John, Mary
" mansion house." It was rated at 8300. He was, i and Theresa, came to the county about 1815. He
moreover, one of the only two who owned slaves in that settled on the N. W. quarter of section 13. Charles
year. He was a giant in stature, and possessed those ; Donaute and Frank Potvine settled in the same neigh-
characteristics of courage and daring which were the j borhood. Some account of the Harriman family, and
birthright of the Tougas family. He met his death at I of the cruel fate that overtook them, will be found in
the hands of Tecumseh and three or four of his band, at ! those pages of this book devoted to the early pioneers-
Logansport, by accepting, at their hands, a poisoned
James Johnson came from Indiana in 1815 or '16, and
morsel, as an alternative to death by violence. He ,was settled on the S. W. quarter of section 21, where he
set at liberty, and put spurs to his horse and succeeded made his permanent home and died. He was a mechanic
in reaching a cabin, but before medical aid could be had, | and as early as 1825 had in operation a cotton-gin. His
the morsel had done its work. Joseph and Amab Pot- j two sons, Abner and George, and two daughters were a
vine, commonly called Arpas, came likewise from Vin- part of the immigrant family. William Ramsey, a New
cennes, about the same time. The former had two Light minister, came from Franklin county, Ohio, in
children, Peter and Jane, and settled on the E. half of j 1818. He brought a family of five children, Louis,
section 17, making there his permanent home. He was John, Joseph, Russell, and Hannah, and settled on the
a man of enterprise, and built a horse-mill at an early
day. His daughter Jane, about 1827 or '28, married
Mason Jones, who settled on the old place. Amab, who
N. E. quarter of section 33, T. 3, R. 12. William
Dennisou, whose name is perpetuated in that of the
township within whose borders he settled, immigrated
was a bachelor, made his home on the same half-section, from Fayette county, Kentucky, in 18i8, with a family
Philip Deschaut came from Montreal, Canada, and of eight children, viz: Daniel, John, Madison, Alexan-
married in Vincennes. In 1806, with a family of three der, William, Elizabeth, Catharine and Mary, and made
children, Peter, Clara and Julia, he moved to Dennison his home on the S. W. quarter of section 33, T. 3, R. 12.
township, and settled in section 17. Andrew and Charles He had served in the Kentucky militia, under Gen. St.
Lacoste, from Vincennes, settled on the S. W. quarter of Clair. He was one of the early justices of the peace,
section 8, about the year 1807. Near this time came L.
Bonaut, with two children, Charles and Lambert, and
located on the S. W. quarter of section 28, where he
lived about ten years. He then moved to Cahokia, and
there died.
In 1809 or '10, Francis Tougas, brother of Joseph,
above referred to, and like him, a living Apollo, moved
from Vincennes and settled north of St. Francisville, on
the S. W. quarter of section 17. He had three children,
Francis, Susan and Nellie. He died many years ago. I subsequently moved to section 19, T. 3, R. 11, and began
Francis, jr., who now resides in section 8, was born in ] farming, which was afterwards his only occupation.
Vincennes, in 1803. Louis Lacoste moved to the town- I Lawson was also from Kentucky and had three children
and died on his farm, about forty-five years ago. His
newly married son Robert, came at the same time, and
settled on the S. J quarter of section 33, T. 3, R. 12.
Alexander, William and Madison married in the county
where they are represented by a number of descendants.
In this year, 1818, also came John Mieure, Thomas
Lawson, John Powers and Charles Lacoste, jr. The first
came from Kentucky and married Mary Ann Gillespie,
and began life as a merchant, in Lawrenceville. He
ship from Vincennes. and settled on the N. W. quarter
of section 8, about 1810. At the same time and in the
near vicinity, Michael Dubois and one Boutia settled,
lived and died. The Gremore family moved from Kas-
kaskia to Vincennes. In 1810, Peter Gremore and his
brother Charles, the former with five children, viz;
Peter, jr., Jane, Joseph, Francis and Modiste, came to
the vicinity of St. Francisville and settled on the S.
W. quarter of section 21, where the former resided per-
manently and died at the age of one hundred and two
years. He reared twenty-three children by one mother,
John, Sarah and Napoleon. He made his permanent
home in the N. W. quarter of section 36. Powers was
likewise a Kentuckian and settled on the N. E. quarter
of this section. His children, whom he brought with
him, were Lemuel and Hamau, some of whose descend-
ants live in the township. Charles Lacoste, jr., from
Vinceunes, settled on the N. W. quarter of section 17.
Benjamin Gibbs, with two children, Mary and Rhoda —
now Mrs. Louis Ramsey— came in 1819, and settled on
the S. W. quarter of sec: ion 23, T. 3, R. 12. His son
Daniel was born in 1820, on the old homestead, where
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
287
he now resides. His brother-in-law, John Clark, who
•came from the state of New York, was a Baptist minister,
with.a family. He sold his property to William Ram-ey
and moved to the Illinois river. In 1819, four brothers,
Thomas, Walter, Victor and James Buchanan, came to-
gether in a keelboat from Kentucky. The first, who
had two children, Eliza and Robert A., settled on the
S. W. quarter of section 1, T. 2, R. 12, where he resided
permanently, and died. Walter became a mathematician
and surveyor of note. The family are one of the most
numerous and best-to-do in the southern part of the
county. James Ryan came from Virginia in 1820, and
settled on the N E., quarter of section 23, T. 3, R. 12,
where he resided permanently. He had a family of seven
children, by name, Thomas, Rachel E. Z., Betsey,
Alexander, Martin, Sarah and Joel. The land upon
which Mr Ryan settled, had been improved by a man
named Parr. Jeremiah Fleming, an Irish school-
teacher, about 1819, settled on the N. W. quarter of
section 26, T. 3, R. 12 This place was afterward en-
tered by William Buchanan, who came from Ohio, about
3827 or '28, with three children, John, William, jr. and
Cynthia, the first of whom now occupies the old place.
Fleming's father-in-law, Stufflebeam, lived near him.
Josiah Selby, son-in-law of James Johnson, came from
Kentucky about 1820, with three children, Johnson,
Thomas and Leonard, and settled where John Price
now lives.
Hugh Seed, some time prior to 1828, settled on the
8. E. i of section 24, township 3, range 12, where he
reared a considerable family of children. Samuel Seed
improved the A. B. Ryan place — the N. E. i of section
23. Dr. Thomas Collins, originally from Maryland,
some time before 1828, settled on the N. W. i of section
24, where he lived permanently and died. John Rich-
ardson, with a family of five children, John, Nancy,
William, Jefferson, and Eliza, came from Virginia, in
1828, and lived at various points in the county till his
death. His son, William, who resides in section 29,
township 3, range 11, is among the prosperous farmers
of the county. Richard Jackman, came to what is now
Wabash county, in 1,819. In 1824, he moved to the
township, and settled on the N. W. J of section 26,
township 2, range 12. After a residence here of two
years, he bought land in the S. W. k of section 23, same
town and range, and there lived till his death, in 1849,
at seventy-four years of age. He arrived in the town-
ship with a family of six children, Edward, Elizabeth,
William, Basil, John, and Richard. Mr. Jackman was,
by trade, a wheelwright. His son, John, is among the
prominent citizens of the township. Gen. John H.
Morris moved with his family from Kentucky, in 1822
Three sons and eight daughters were the members of his
family. Soon after the opening of the war of 1812, he
organized, and helped to equip, a company, of which he
became captain. He continued in the service till the
close of the war, and rose to the rank of general. He
was born in Herkimer county, Virginia, in 1780, and
died in Lawrenceville, in 1851. Among the later im-
migrants to the township was Benjamin Price, who
moved from Delaware to Ohio, and thence to Lawrence
county, in 1837, and settled on the W. i of the S. W-
i of section 21, township 2, range 12, where he resided
till his death. He reared a family 'of nine children,
seven of whom were immigrants. The township was re-
presented in the Black Hawk War by William and
Basil Jackman, Joseph Selby, Abner Johnson, James
H. Buchanan, Mason Jones, Jacob Young, and Franklin
Genereux. The following are the first land entries, all
in township 2, range 12. Oct. 10, 1811, August Tougas
entered|the N. E. I of section 14 ; October 2, 1816, Alex.
Banks, the W. J of the S. W. t of section 28 ; November
25, 1816, Andre Des Bines, the N. E. J of section 12 ;
July 27, 1816, John B. Valcour, the S. E. J of section
12 ; December 1, 1817, William Leach, the S. W. i of
section 23 ; December 8, 1817, John Leach, the N. W.
i of section 26. The Leachs were from Tennessee, and
were slave owners, who came for the purpose of establish-
ing a plantation. The admission of Illinois as a free state
frustrated their plans. The following are the names of
those who have been members of the board of supervisors :
James Bonner, 1857 ; Victor Buchanan, Sr., 1858-1859;
A. H. Grass, 1860-1861 ; resigned' in 1862, and Victor
Buchanan, to fill vacany ; L. W. Gee, 1863 to 1<^65 ;
Victor Buchanan, chairman, 1866 ; Alfred H. Grass,
1867 ; Philip Snyder, 1868-1869 ; Jacob Potts, 1870-
1871 ; William T. Buchanan, 1872 ; chairman in 1873,
1874, and 1875, chairman in 1876 1877, chairman in
1878 ; Jacob Potts, 1879 to 1881 ; John Jackman, 1882 ;
Francis Tougas, 1883.
ST. FRANCESVILLE.
This village is situated on th'e Wabash river, in
location 1, township 2, range 11. It was laid out in
1835 or 1836, by Frances, widow of Joseph Tougas, and
the plot was filed of record in 1837. Francis Tougas
sold the first goods about the time the town was laid out.
Mason Jones built the first blacksmith shop shortly
after, on a lot of laud, donated by the proprietor for that
purpose. Jackman's saw and grist mill, stood near the
present site of the depot, and was built about 1837.
There it was also that the post-office was established.
About 1840. Decudra, a catholic priest, built a frame
school house, in which a free school was taught by two
nuns. He subsequently sold it, and a public school
building was put up, which served its puipcse till 1873,
when the present one was erected. A Catholic church
house was built about 1835. It was displaced by the
present frame church edifice, about 1850. The town
was first incorporated, in 1869, and the first election of
officers was held, February 27th of that year. In Janu-
ary, 1873, the town was incorporated as a village, under
statutory provisions relating to cities and towns.
PRESENT BUSINESS.
Physicians. — Charles Frazer, Thomas Grayson.
General Store. Reinbold.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Drug and Notion Store andPost Office.— Jesse Tralor.
Hotels.— L. W. Gee, Benjamin Umfleet.
Jtlnrkxinilh. — John A. Quick.
Barber. — James Lacost.
The Good Templars have an organization, which was
formed December 12, 1880. It has a membership of
forty-two persons, and is in a very good condition finan-
cially.
BIOGRAPHIES.
SIMON VANDERMARK.
AMONG the energetic, pushing farmers of Lawrence
county, Simon Vandermark takes rank. He was born
in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, February 27th, 1829,
in the home of his forefathers for the last three genera- j
tions, his great-grandfather, a native of Germany, who j
came to Pennsylvania and served faithfully as a captain !
in the Revolutionary war, having located there. His
father, James Vandermark, was a farmer. His mother,
whose maiden name was Susannah B. Kethline, was of
German lineage. In his father's family were eight ^
children, five being boys and three girls. In the year i
1841 the family came to Lawrence county, and located |
about two niiles east from where Simon now lives. Four j
years prior to this time his father had made a prospect-
ing trip, going down the Mississippi river and finally
locating a thousand acres of land around the old Van-
dermark homestead. In Pennsylvania he was not a
landed proprietor, but had made much of his opportuni-
ties and was enabled, by the exercise of economy, to make
this purchase of government lauds. Simon Vander-
mark was married to Frances West, daughter of John
West, of Gibson county, Indiana, Dec. 25, 1857. Mrs.
Vandermark's mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth
Brown, once belonged to the Unity, of New Harmony,
in which cause her people had enlisted under Robert
Dale Owen. To Mr. and Mrs. Vandermark have been
born five sons and three daughters, by name, Lyman,
died Sept. 9, 1881 ; Ezra, Howard, John, Lawrence,
Ella Passmore, Elizabeth Ryan and Maude, who died in
infancy. Politically, Mr. Vandermark is a pronounced
Republican. Religiously an adherent of the Methodist
faith. He is a man of fine social qualities, a kind
neighbor and most excellent citizen.
CYRUS VANDERMARK.
THE biographical sketch of Simon, brother of
Cyrus Vandermark, briefly sets forth the lineage of these
two brothers. Cyrus Vandermark was born in Luzerne
county, Pennsylvania, February 26, 1832. As a youth
he had like advantages with those offered thirty or
forty years ago throughout Luzerne county, for acquir-
ing an education, his father having moved here in
1841. He was married on the 29th of April, 1857, to
Elmira Collins, daughter of William Collins, of Vir-
ginia. William CoLins was among the pioneers of this
part of the state, having located here in 1833. By this
wife Mr. Vandermark had ten children, two of whom
died in infancy, and four are now living, James William,
Mary Jane, John Hardin, and George Logan. The
three others, now dead were Malinda Augusta, Idumea
Emeline and Charles Alfred. Of the daughters, Mary
Jane married George Swift, Dec. 25, 1878. Mrs. Van-
dermark died February 7th, 1869. Mr. Vandermark
was married to Lucy Elmore, his present wife, Aug. 29,
1871. She was the daughter of Mrs. Maria J. Sumner,
nee Gresham, of the eminent Indiana family of that
name, being the daughter of Dudley Gresham and wife,
whose maiden name was Sarah Stevens. The fruits of
this marriage are four children : Cyrus Hayden, Mar-
tha Ellen, Annie May; and Omer Garfield. Mr. Van-
dermark is a Republican of the strictest school. His
first presidential vote was east for Gen. Winfield S.
Scott, and never since has he departed from that faith.
He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in
which he has been active for the past twenty-five years.
His hospitality receives universal recognition, and his
kindness and sociability have gained for him hosts of
friends.
Of THE
'
DIXON.
EDWARDS COUNTY.
JHIS precinct is situated in the extreme south-
west part of the county, is nearly rectangu-
lar in form, and bounded as follows : On
the north by Big creek and Albion pre-
cinct, east by French creek, south by White county, and
on the west by Wayne county. It receives its name in
honor of John Dixon, who was a prominent settler of
1841, and includes a part of two townships — numbers
two and three — range ten east. Originally it was tim-
bered land, interspered with small glades which were
covered with fine grasses. Large belts of timber yet
exist within its boundaries, sufficient to supply the iu-
habitants with all needed lumber, fuel, and fencing for
years to come. The surface is undulating and well
formed for surface drainage. The principal streams are
the Little Wabash, and Big creek. The former extends
through the southwest, and the latter constitutes the
northwest boundary. The soil is a chocolate-colored
clay subsoil, and well adapted to the raising of an ex-
cellent quality of wheat. Corn is cultivated sufficiently
to supply home consumption. Oats, grasses, potatoes,
and fruit are among the products. In an early day
corn constituted the principal product, but for many
years wheat and pork have furnished the main revenue
for this part of the county. But little, if any, lands lie
in the~ precinct that are not susceptible of improvement
the drainage being such that even the low lauds can be
cultivated.
FIRST SETTLEMENTS.
The first white man to venture into the wilds of this
precinct was Joseph Boltiughouse, in the fall of 1816.
He was a single man, and came from what is now White
county, with a drove of hogs to let them forage on the
mast of Big creek timber. A little south of the creek
on what is now the Churchill lands, he established his
camp and became monarch of the woods ; but his reign
was a short and eventful one. The particulars of his
death cannot be recorded, but enough is known to assert
that he was massacred by a band of Shawnee Indians.
When found his head was severed from the body and
stuck upon a pole by his camp, the body lying
near in a mangled condition. The remains were buried
near where the body lay. Tradition says that the
Rangers pursued the Indians, finding them encamped
near the Wabash. They captured them, tied stones to
their bodies, and sunk them in the river.
The first to make a permanent 'location here were
37
Daniel and James Boltinghouse, brothers of the above
This was early in 1817. They were formerly from
Kentucky, but on coming to Illinois, they settled with
their father in White county. Daniel was a man of a
family, and his brother James lived with him. They
located in section 26, township number two south, range
ten east, a little south and east of Big creek, in the edge
of the timber. The prairie stretching northward toward
Albion receives its name from these early setters. They
remained here until about 1837, when they moved to the
State of Arkansas.
Thomas Riley, a native of Ireland, settled in the pre-
cinct the same year as the Boltiughouses. He was then
a single man, and in 1822, married Sarah Morris, a
daughter of one of the pioneers. Mr. Riley located in
section 17, township 3 south, range 10 east. He im-
proved a good farm, upon which he resided until his
death, which occurred about 1852, his widow surviving
him but a few years. None of his descendants are
now living in the precinct. Another pioneer of 1817,
was Isaac Morris, who was an emigrant from the south.
He had a large family, and was a pure type of the back-
woodsman and hunter. He located in section 5, town-
ship 3 south, range 10 east, where he built a rude log
cabin, containing one room, which supplied the entire
purpose of kitchen, dining, and sleeping apartment for
his numerous family. He, like all the old hunters, was
noted for relating exaggerated accounts of his hunting
expeditions, one of which we will place before our readers-
One morning, before breakfast, he concluded to go out
and bring in a deer or two, as the family had been
without fresh meat for a few days. He had been in the
timber but a short time when he brought down a fine
buck. Throwing him across his shoulder, he had pro.
ceeded but a short distance, when a large black bear
jumped up before him, and with the crack of his rifle
bruin bit the dust. He placed the huge carcass on the
other shoulder and proceeded homeward. Breakfast
was waiting, and he dumped the bear upon the floor and
sat down to the table with the family. His wife asked
him if he proposed to eat his meal with that dter upon his
back. He apologized by saying, that he felt so light
after dropping the bear, that he had entirely forgotten
about the incumbrance on the other shoulder. The ob-
ject of relating the above is to more fully portray the
character of the man ; and the pith of the whole story is,
it was related by him as being an absolute fact. He and
289
290
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
his -wife died, at the old home long ago, and the children
have all removed to other parts of the country.
There was quite an influx of immigration in 1818,
among whom was William Brown, a native of the state
of Maine. When twelve years of age his father pre-
pared to emigrate to Ohio, but died on the way. Wil-
liam fell in with emigrants coming to Illinois, and in
1818, reached the new formed state. Here he remained,
and in 1828, entered a quarter section of land in section
10, township 3 south, range 10 east. Subsequently he
married Mary Harper, from which reunion nine children
were born, six of whom are now residing in the county.
Mr. Brown improved an excellent farm, on which he
lived to a good old age, enjoying the fruits of his labor.
He died in 1877. His widow is yet residing at the old
farm, now 72 years of age, and is the oldest pioneer citizen
of the precinct. Alfred, a son, is living on a portion of
the original homestead, and is one of the staunch and
public-spirited men of the county. Thomas Harper was
born in North Carolina, and emigrated to Kentucky in
an early day. He removed to Indiana, and in 1818,
came to Illinois and located in White county. In 1822,
he moved into this precinct and settled in section 3,
township 3, range 10 east. At his coming he had a
family of five childen, James, William, Thomas, John,
and Mary. The latter is the only one of the family now
living, being the widow of William Brown, above men-
tioned. Mr. Harper was a representative citizen, having
served as the first magistrate of the precinct for several
years. He died in 1829. Mrs. Harper lived to a ripe
old age, passing away in 1875.
Robert Willis was born in England, and emigrated
to the States in 1817. Soon afterward he located in
Dixon precinct, section 14, township 3 south, range 10
east. His family consisted of his wife and three children,
Sarah, Hannah and E izabeth. He improved a good
farm, and was considered one of the most kind and chari-
table citizens of the settlement. He died about 1863,
mourned by many warm friends. Mrs. Willis survived
him but a few years. One daughter, Hannah, widow
of Edward Kershaw — another early settler — is residing
at Gray ville. The family of Threads came from England
in the same year as the above, and located in the north
part of the precinct. The old folks died long ago ;
several of their descendants are now residing north of
Albion. Hester, a daughter, was the wife of Elias
Chism, now a citizen of Albion. William Everly,
Charles Birks, James Kenedy, Thomas Sloan and
James Jordan all came in 1818. Mr. Everly and Mr.
Sloan remained here until their decease, which occurred
in an early day. Mr. Jordan was elected to the State
Legislature for one term, but subsequently moved to In-
diana. Mr. Birks also moved to Indiana. Mr. Kenedy
remained for some time, when he located in the northern
part of the State. None of their descendants are living
in the county. John Burton was a pioneer of 1819.
He came from England with his family and settled in
section 14, township three south, range ten east, where
he remained until about 1830, when he moved to New
Harmony, Indiana, where he resided until his death.
His children went with him, so that none of his descen-
dants are now in this part of the country. Joel
Churchill was a settler of 1819, a brief sketch of whom
will be found in Albion chapter. Other old residents of
the precinct who are now living are Charles Baxter,
John Hallam, Thomas Frankland, Charles Potter and
others.
First Land Entries.— The first land entered in Dixon
precinct was June 6, ^816, by George Morris, and de-
scribed as follows : The N. W. i of section 5, Tp. 3 S ,
range 10 E. The following are also in the same town-
ship and range: September 26,1818, William Adams
entered the N. W. } of section 4; November 2, 1818,
Robert Willis entered the E. J of the S. E. t of section
15 ; April 21, 1819, Jonathan Williams entered the S.
E. J of section 3; same date, John Burton entered the
E. J of the S. E. 1 of section 14. The following entries
are in Tp. 2 S., R. 10 E. : August 30, 1817, James
Boltinghouse entered the N. E. t of section 26 ; Sep-
tember 20, 1817, James Meredith entered the S. W. i
of section 27; September 4, 1817, Isaac Ellison entered
the N. W. \ of section 33; May 4, 1819, Joel Churchill
entered the S. W. \ of section 34.
The first settlers were far more sociable and hospita-
ble than the people of this age of gain and greed. A
man was a neighbor if he lived ten miles away, and it
was no uncommon thing for them to go that distance to
aid one another in raising their cabins. At the house
raisings and log rollings, it was customary to have a
large supply of whisky on hand, and the jug was passed
around at least every half hour, so that by afternoon
many of them would be more or less hilarious. Then
would commence the boasting and bantering by those
who considered themselves the " best men." A wrest-
ling match or a " rough and tumble" would soon follow,
and sometimes the curtain would drop with bunged
eyes and bloody noses behind the scenes. .. Bee-
trees and wild honey was so common in those days that
it was not unusual for the hunters to find a half dozen
trees in as many hours, and thus honey and beeswax be-
came staple articles for barter. Mills for grinding their
corn were few and far between. The first mill built in
this precinct was about 1840, by John Elder, and
was located on his farm in section 4, township three
south, range ten east. It was a horse mill capable of
grinding about twenty bushels of meal daily. The first
blacksmith was John Smith. His shop was established
about 1847, and was situated in section 10 township
three south, range ten east. He died here several years
ago. The first goods were sold by Joseph Shaw in 1846.
His store was located in section 3, same township and
range as the above. Mr. Shaw died in a few years and
j the business ceased.
The first school was taught in a log cabin situated on
! the Churchill land. This was in 1824, and the teacher
was Daniel Bain, who was considered a good instructor
HISTOEY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
in those days. The first to administer to the spiritual
wants of the people here was the Rev. Roberts, of the
Baptist persuasion, in 1823. The services were held in
the private residences of the settlers. Reverends Rob-
ert Delap and James Jagers were also early preachers.
The first church building was erected in 1849 by the
Methodist denomination. It is a log building — and
is situated in the northwest corner of section 10, town-
ship three south, range ten east. The first burial ground
was established on the farm of Daniel Boltinghouse in
the north part of the precinct. The first interment was
a child of Mr. Boltinghouse. This cemetery has beeu
neglected, and but few if any interments have been
made here for several years. The first to attend to the
sick was Dr. Archibald Spring, of Albion, who died in
that town several years ago. The first justice of the
peace was Thomas Harper, and John Elder was his
successor. But few of the pioneers now remain of this
settlement to give the history of the olden time.
WABASH.
WABASH CO.
bounded on the north by Lawrence coun- !
ty, on the east and southeast by Indiana,
and the Wabash, on the south by Mt. Car- j
mel, and on the west by Friendsville pre- I
cinct Its territory stretches west from the Wabash to |
a line one mile and a half east of the thirteenth rnerid- :
ian, and north from the base line to the north tier of i
sections, inclusive of T. 2 N. The surface generally I
is broken. There were originally a few patches of open
prairie, and northwest of an irregular line bounding
the timber belt about three miles wide, along the Wa- ;
bash, was an area called the "Barrens," covered with j
brush and saplings, interspersed with scattering post-
oaks and hickories. The soil of this area was clayey
and contained less loam than the timbered parts. Drain- •
age isderivid mainly from Crawfish creek and Rac ;
coon creek whose name is self-explanatory. The
earliest occupation of the people, aside from hunting, I
was the raising of corn, cattle and hogs. The progress
of agriculture was very slow, as the inducement offered
by convenient markets was absent. The people lived
within themselves, merely aiming to supply their own
immediate demands. The difficulties they had to over-
come, with this limited end in view, were not small.
For a period of four or five years, they were obliged to
guard their wives and children against the hostile Shaw-
nees. The younger Tecumseh began to excite the Indi-
ans to a feeling of hostility against the whites, about the
year 1810 or '11, and fort-building and armed defense
began. Rattlesnakes were very numerous, and destruc-
tive of horses and cattle. There was a den of them on
the old Fox farm, one on the Me Intosh farm, one on the
Spencer Wood farm and one on the bluff near the old
Buchanan mill. Samuel Me Intosh killed thirteen of
this species of snakes, one morning " before breakfast."
This fact is noted down to show the present and coming
generations how numerous these reptiles were. But
they have perished by the plowshare. They have gone
with the wolf, the bear, the panther, the deer, the ludi-
an and the forest, and their haunts and lurking places
are now productive fields. The chief industry of the
people is agriculture, and wheat is the staple product.
The pioneers of Wabash precinct, and the first two
American settlers of Wabash county were Levi Comp-
ton and Joshua Jordan. They were brothers-in-law and
came about the same time, and probably together about
the year 1802. Compton, a married man with one child,
in 1791, went from Virginia to Kentucky, and engaged
in farming and stock-raising. Here he remained till he
came to Illinois. To this state he brought his wife and
six children, John, Eli, Mary, Betsey, James and Levi.
He settled first on the Wabash in section 26, T. 1 N. R.
12 W., built a cabin and cleared a few acres of land.
After a residence here of four or five years, he removed
to the N. W. } of section 12, sojourning there about
eight years. At this time, or shortly after, he built
probably the first horse-mill in the county, on Coco
creek, about 200 yards from the passing of the wagon
road. Compton's Fort, which was a protective arrange-
ment of considerable magnitude, sufficient to accommo-
date a hundred families, was built about the year 1810.
It consisted of an enclosure of pickets, with the usual
arrangement at the corners for protecting its sides.
Within it were dwellings, booths, granaries, etc., for the
accommodation of the inmates. About the year 1817,
Compton moved to T. 2 S. R. 14 W., and settled in sec-
tion 13, Coffee precinct, and there spent the balance of
his days. He was truly a representative man. He was
a member of the first constitutional convention of Illi-
nois, in 1818, and iu 1818-"20, he was a member of the
State Senate. He died in 1844, at the age of eighty
years His son, Samuel, inherited his characteristics of
leadership, influence and bravery. He was one of the
nine brave men who pursued the Indians that massacred
Canons, in Ahe Coffee bottom, and assisted in the burial
of the dead. He also assisted in the interment of the
man who was shot by the Indians in the " marsh " in
Lawrence county. On one occasion, he, Captain Glover,
292 HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
and a few others, left the fort to hunt in the territory
lying between Bonpas and Little Bonpas creeks, now in
Lancaster precinct. They hoppled their horses, and set
out in quest of game. Compton having become separat-
ed from his companions, discharged his gun at a bear.
Just then one of two Indians within easy range attempt-
ed to shoot him, but his gun missed fire. Compton re-
treated and failing to attract his companions to his as-
sistance, crossed Little Bonpas in search of more favor-
able quarters. He had not gone far when he saw three
Indians in pursuit of a deer.. He concealed himself and
they passed on in pursuit of their game. The party
having missed their companion, returned to Compton's
Fort, and Captain Glover, though a stout-hearted man,
trembled with excitement as he related the news of the
supposed massacre. Some men from the Fort went in
search of the missing hunter, and in pursuit of the Indi-
ans, but the former was unharmed, and the latter es-
caped, or were not found. Compton was hospitable,
brave, shrewd and reckless. Apropos, of the latter char-
acteristic, it is related of him that he swam the Wabash
banks full, with a plow on his back. This bit of biog-
raphy appeared in the Vincennes Plowboy, and was de-
signed, by the party opposed to him, as political capital.
But notwithstanding this, and the popularity of his op-
ponent, James Beall, he was elected by a good majdrity
and served in the House, in 1842-'44. Elijah Comptoh,
his brother, was a respectable citizen of Coffee precinct.
Joseph Compton, also a brother, residing there, is said
to have been the first white child born in Wabash coun-
ty.
Joshua Jordan came from Virginia, about the year
1802, with a family of three or four children, among
whom were Elizabeth and Caleb. He had been a ten-
ant under George Washington, aud was with his land-
lord in Braddock's defeat. Rumor has it, as a mere sup-
position, that the British general fell a victim to a bul-
let designed to avenge an insult offered a respected su-
perior. Jordan settled on the S. W. i of section 12,
where at the time of the Indian disturbances, he built a
block -huuse. He subsequently removed to Barney's prai-
rie, and there died. To show the friendly disposition of
the natives, prior to the efforts of Tecumseh to excite a
feeling of hostility among them, we relate that they
were suffered to take little Caleb with them quite fre
quently, and keep him for a whole day. They frequent-
ly returned him with some little present, as a few beads
around his neck. About the year 1804, came John
Stillwell, a nbtive of New Jersey, from Kentucky, with
a family of two sons, Samutl and James. He settled on
the S. W. } of section 12, where he cleared and im-
proved about one hundred acres of land, He built a
stockade or picket-fort, similar to, but much smaller than
that above described. He was very odd in his ways,
and went very shabbily dressed, presenting the appear-
ance rather of a beggar than that of the well-to-do man
he was. Once, as ill-fortune would have it, he lost his
hat and thereafter went bareheaded for a period of time
equal to that he supposed his hat would have lasted
The English settlers of Albion were frequently the sub
jects of his cruel jokes.
He was sought for one time by George Flower, who
desired to purchase some cattle of him, and meeting him
on the way asked the supposed personification where
Stillwell the cattle man might be found. He gave the
dignified Englishman the desired information, and then
successfully plied him for a " quarter, " the supposed
price of services rendered. Playing the itinerant or
tramp in quest of work among the Johnnies was a
favorite sport. About 1820 he moved to Bellmont pre-
cinct, and settled on the S. E. i of section 21. Jere-
miah Selby, of Bourbon county, Ky., arrived Sii 1807,
and moved into Jordan's cabin on the Wabash, the
Castle Garden for the northeastern part of the county.
He had a family of five children, Lingard, Samuel,
Thomas, Betsy, and Brasilia. After a short residence
in the Jordan cabin, he settled on the S. E. i of section
23. Lingard was the first Methodist to hold meetings
and preach in this part of the country. In the year
1811 came William B. Smith and Spencer Wood, the
former from Hamilton county, Ohio. In 1816 he mar"
ried Elizabeth Jordan, and settled on the N. E. 1 of sec-
tion 14, where he resided till his death, in 1863, at the
age of seventy-six. He officiated as justice of the peace
at the marriage of Jeremiah Wood and Jane Philpott,
in January, 1815. He had a family of ten children,
four of whom are yet living. Wood settled on the S. E-
i of section 1. He had three sons, Wesley, Washing-
ton, and Ira, and three daughters. On his farm was a
large apple orchard and a distillery for making apple
brandy. His sons married and settled in the precinct,
but subsequently moved away. The Banks's were set-
tlers about this time, 1810 or '11. Thomas, Alexander,
and James, were three brothers of this family. The
three Pollard brothers, Elijah, Dudley, and Absalom,
who lived in the vicinity of the " Timber settlement,"
may also receive mention in this place. A man named
Cross settled about two miles due north of Allendale,
and there had a horse-mill, that had rotted and gone to
decay, in 1820. Francis Valley, of French descent,
from the neighborhood of St. Francisville, had a ferry
on Location No. 2, Range 11. In 1815 it was taxed
three dollars, and had probably been in operation as
early as 1810. The boat was sufficient to carry two
teams each trip, and was operated by means of oars and
poles At low water the river was forded at this point.
Valley remained the owner of the ferry till his death,
about 1840. His three sons, Charles, Russell, and
Alexander, married and settled in Lawrence county.
Philip Plough and Thomas Trulock were early settlers
near the site of old Timberville.
John O. Mclntosh, of Scotch descent, was a native of
Virginia. His wife, Sarah Bennet, was the daughter of
a ship carpenter In 1784 or 1785 he went to Kentucky,
where he remained till 1814, when he came to Wabash
county with a family of six children, Samuel, Daniel,
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
293
William, Lavinia, Lucinda and Sarah, and moved into
Comptmi's Fort. Afte* four mouths' stay he settled on
the west half of the southeast quarter of section 23, and
lived there about one year. He then moved to the
southeast quarter of section 35, township 2 south, range
14 west, Coffee precinct, where he remained about three
years, and then returned to Wabash and settled perma-
nently on the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter
of section 23. He was naturally a leader, and took an
active interest in the movement that resulted in the
creation of Edwards county, having been selected for
the arduous and dangerous task of bearing the citizens'
petition to Gov. Ninian Edwards at Kaskaskia. The
county formed, he became the judge of its court and
busied himself in the matter of organization and the es-
tablishnv nt of police regulations. He was a minister of
the Baptist denomination, and preached at private houses
in the neighborhood where he resided. He died on the
old Mclntosh place in 1829, and was buried in the Comp-
ton graveyard, near the tite of the fort, but his remains
were subsequently removed to Mt. Carmel. Samuel, in
1821, married Eleanor Mathews, and bought sixty acres
of the Charles Gardner entry, the northeast quarter of
section 23, and made this his permanent place of resi-
dence. He reared a family of eight children, three of
whom are yet living. Dr. A. J. in Allendale. He was
the last survivor of those who pursued the Indian mas-
sacres of the Canons, and died 1879, at the age of eighty-
seven years. Daniel is living in Crawford county, Ind.
William, because of an identity in names attracted the
attention of William Mclntosh, the English trader and
speculator in land, who, though not his kinsman, edu-
cated him at Vincennes at his own expense. The elder
William built a fine frame house in Wabash county at
the Grand Rapids. He figured conspicuously at one
time as an opponent of Gov. Harrison's peace policy
toward the Indians, and for his insubordination was
condemned to pay a heavy fine. Charles Garner, son-
in-law of John O Mclntosh, came from Kentucky
in 1814, and settled on the northeast of section 23,
which he made his permanent hone. He brought with
him a son John, who married and settled near Lawrence-
ville. The family, which was quite a large one, married
and scattered to other parts. Benjamin Hulbert was
from New York, arriving in 1815, with a family of three
sons, William, Henry and Benjamin, and several
daughters. He settled on section 13, and became a per-
manent resident of the precinct. Henry was one of the
early teachers, and was noted for the severity of his dis-
cipline. One of his pupils, now a well known citizen,
carried a bowie-knife in self-protection. The sons all
moved away. With Hulbert came his son-in-law, Henry
Leek, who was a great hunter, and a skillful and in-
genious mechanic. After a sojourn of about ten years
he moved away. Samuel Simcoe came to what is now
Wabash precinct about 1815. He had a family of six
sons, John, David, Robert, Joseph, Thomas and Joab,
and a daughter, Nancy. John Armstrong, who came from
Tennessee in 1815, had six children, Abner, Levi, Louis,
Thomas J , and James. He settled on the southwest of
the northeast quarter of section 15. and there lived and
died. Abner was the first sheriff of Edwards county,
and held the office for a number of years. Thomas J.
was a member of the legislature, and was also a judge of
the county court. Joseph Gardner settled on the west
half of the northwest quaiter of section 9, in 1815 or
1816, and there made his permanent home. Peter
Keen came to the county for the purpose of prospecting in
1814. In the spring of 1815 he brought his family from
Hamilton county, Ohio, which consisted of a wife and
j eight children, namely, Angeline, Daniel, Hannah,
i Dennis, Ira, Shulamite, Edwin and Asenath. They
came in a keel, boat and had great difficulty in ascend-
i ing the swollen Wabash. They were met at its mouth
by a number of settlers, who knew of their coming to
I act as a guard against Indian outrage. They debarked
j at McBride's landing, following the example of the first
j settler, Levi Compton, and moved into the little cabin
that stood by the river side, and there remained about
one year. Keen then settled on the northwest quarter
of section 26. This place had first been settled by
William H. Ramsey, whose improvement Keen pur-
| chased. He remained here a number of years and then
j moved to the northeast of the southeast of section 14,
township 1 north, range 13 west, where he and his wife
died, the former about 1844, aged eighty-four years; the
latter six years later, at the age of eighty-six. He
helped build the first cabin put up on the site of Cincin-
nati, and he and his wife Jemima Gard, sister of Seth,
were the first pair narried between the two Miamies.
Their daughter Augeline was the first child born within
I those limits. Two meixbers of that pioneer family,
i Shulamite and Ira, are yet living, the latter in Friends-
I ville, hale and well preserved at the age of eighty-two.
He has been a very active man, and in his earlier days,
boated the year's products of his farn) down the Wabash
every spring, and then disposed of boat and cargo. In
1822 he made his return trip from New Orleans to
Evansville in a little stern-wheel steamboat. The time
required between the two points was about twenty days.
Daniel Keen married and settled in Coffee precinct,
and Dennis located in Wabash. McBride's Landing
was on the southeast part of southwest quarter of section
27. John McBride and Anna, his wife, were of Irish
descent, and were early settlers. John and Henry
McGregor, brothers of Mrs. McBride, were also early
settlers.
Cornelius Vanderhoof, in 1816 or '17 brought into
the precinct a family of five children, viz.: Cornelius,
Jr., Louis, Harvey, Anna and Caroline, and after a
residence of some years, died within its limits. B. S E.
Goff settled on the S W. } of section 14 in 1816.
About this time, John W. Buchanan, a single man,
came from Kentucky. He married and settled on the
E. J of section 23. Some of his descendants are living
in the county. William Johnson brought three sons,
294
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASIf COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Jacob, John and Thomas, from Indiana, in 1816 or '17
and settled two miles north of Allendale. The family J
are all dead. Johnson's sister, Mrs Margaret Philpott, ;
and her daughter, now Mrs. Leek, of Allendale, came j
about the same time. The former became the wife of
John Anthis. Thomas Gould came to the county in
1816, and settled in Wabash precinct. In 1823 he be-
came a member of the church that was organized in the
Dan forth school-house, Friendsville . precinct. Hugh j
Calhoun, in 1817, settled on the W. J of the S. E. J of
section 5. John Andrew was a native of Virginia,
whence he went to Ohio, and entered the army of 1812.
In 1817, he came and settled on the N. E. J of section
11. He was a very respectable man, and always lived
in the precinct. His brother-in-law, Joseph Wright,
came with him and settled on the S. E. i of section 14.
He was chief carpenter in Buchanan's mill on Raccoon
creek. John Buchanan came from Ohio in 1817. He
brought a family of five children, John, Joseph, Jane, ,
Rohamey and Anna, and settled on the N. W. } of
section 36, T. 2 N., R 12 W. He was quite well off
and built the water mill referred to shortly after his
coming. John Snider arrived in 1817 with a family of
three sons, Peter, James and Daniel, and two daughters.
He settled on the N. E. \ of section 25, and there fol-
lowed the occupation of a farmer, and accumulated a
considerable amount of property. Thomas Cisel came
from Ohio in 1820, bringing three sons, Richard,
Thomas, Jr., and William. He settled on the N. W. J
of section 12, where he lived until his death in 1832.
Richard and Thomas married and settled in the vicinity
of Allendale. The latter is now living on Location No.
1, T. 1 W., R. 11 W. William settled in Knox county,
Ohio. With Cisel came his son-in-law, Isaac Smith,
with a wife and three children, Priscilla, James and
another, and settled on the same place. He was justice
of the pence for several terms. William Crane, also
from Ohio in 1820, settled on the S. E 1 of section 12.
He was an influential roan on matters of religion and
possessed a fine voice. James Payne came from Ten-
nessee in 1823 and Wrought to the precinct five children,
Ruth, Henry, Thomas, Rachel and Campbell. His
brother John came about the same time, married and
settled on the S E. J of section 23, at old Tiraberville.
The following are the earliest land entries of the pre-
cinct in T. 1 N., R. 12 W.: January 12, 1814, John
Wood entered the N. E. 1 of sectio'n 32 ; May 14,
1814, Peter Keen the S. E. t of section 28; June 20,
1814, the same, the S. W. t of section 22 ; May 8, 1814,
Levi Compton, section 13; November 12, 1814, John
O. Mclntosh, the S. E. J of section 23; January 17, |
1815, Joseph Wright, the S. E. t of section 14 ; March '
16, 1815, James M. Armstrong, the N. W. 1 of section
23; March 5, 1816, Charles Garner the N. E. one-quar-
ter of section 23 ; March 26, 1816, William Smith, the
N. E. one quarter, and George Anthis, the N. W. one-
quarter of section 14; June 6, 1816, G. Hazelton, the S.
E. one-quarter of ^section 32; Septemb<r 30, 1816, Jo-
seph Gardner, the W. one-half of the N. W. one-quarter
of section 9; December 13, 18I&, B. S. E. Goff, the S.
E. one-quarter of section 14; April 3, 1817, Samuel
Stillwell, the S. E. one quarter of section 21 ; June 2,
1817, Toussaint Dubois, the N one-half of section 12;
June 4, 1817, Sarah Arnold, the N. E. one-quarter of
section 24; September 27, 1817, Hugh Calhoun, the W.
one-half of the N. E. one-quarter, and Cornelius Vander-
hoof, the W. one-half of the S. E. one-quarter of section
5; October 18, 1817, John Snider, the N. E. one quarter
of section 25 ; June 7, 1818, Spencer Wood, the S E.
one-quarter of section 1; October 2, 1818, William
Prole, the E. one-half of the S. W. one-quarter of sec-
tion 1 ; February 15, 1817, John Buchanan entered the
S. W. one-quarter of section 36, T. 2 N., R. 12 W.
There are three four-hundred-acre improvement claims
in the precinct, and each in favor of Arabrois Degenet
and Jean C Thiriot in T. 1 N., R 11 W., and one in
favor of Christian Wyatt in T. 1 N., R. 12 W. These
claims were allowed in behalf of heads of families who
actually s tiled and improved them prior to 1783.
Degenet, Thiriot and Wyatt must therefore be regarded
as the first settlers of Wabash precinct and probably of
the county. Gabriel Boulon, Jr., and Pierre Levrie each
located militia rights in T. 1 N , R 11 W., under an
act of Congress, approved March 3, 1791. Those whose
names appear below represented the precinct in the
Black Hawk war: James Garner, Henry Hulbert,
Philip and Cornelius Vanderhoof, John W. and Joseph
O. Buchanan, Wesley Wood, Dennis Keen, Solomon
Freer, Abner Besley and Robert E. Wright. Here are
some of the early burial places: The Fox grave yard,
on section 26, no longer kept up, contains the ashes of
Jarvis Dale, who built the first hou^e in old Palmyra.
The Armstrong yard is on the N. E. one-quarter of sec-
tion 13. Here lie Joseph Haniford, an early teacher,
and Abner Armstrong, first sheriff of Edwards county.
The Jordan yard holds the remains of Dr. Joseph Fudge,
and of Jonathan O. Haver, who was shot by Milton
Bergstresser. The Adams yard is on the S. E one-
quarter of section 16. William Johnson, said to have
been the first white child born in Vincennes, lies buried
here. The Compton yard is near the site of the old
fort. The first burial was that of Levi Compton, Jr.,
in 1823. The remains of Joshua Jordan are buried
here.
Bedell's Mill, on the Wabash, was built in 1829
by Moses Bedell on the N. W. one-quarter of section 30.
It was a log structure, containing two run of burrs, and
in its day was the principal mill in its range of country.
It continued in operation about sixteen years. Bedell
and his nephew, Moses Biddle, Jr , of Mt Carmel, did
quite an extensive business in merchandising at this
point.
Mr. Reuben Fox taught a school in the Compton
Fort about 1815. Robert Gibson, of Warren county,
Kentucky, taught school in the precinct between 1815
and 1818.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
295
TIMBERVILLK.
THIS town was located on the N. E. quarter of the
N. E. quarter of section 23, township 1 north, range
12 west. It was surveyed and platted by Robert
Buchanan, county surveyor, for the proprietors, William
Higgins and Joseph Alburtz. The plat was recorded
March 17, 1866. The first building was a dwelling
moved from Bedell's mill by Anthony Alburtz, in one
part of which he began selling goods about 1853. Two
stores and a blacksmith and wagon shop were afterward
built, and a considerable amount of business done. The
Methodist church of Allendale was built here in 1865(
at a cost of about 81,500. Here also once stood the
school-house used in that village till the present one was
built. When the Railroad was projected through, the
principal buildings of the town were moved to
ALLENDALE.
So named in honor of Col. C. M. Allen, the contractor
for building the railroad from Vincennes to Carmi. It
is pleasantly located on the S. E. quarter of section 11,
and is a station of some importance. Its population
census of 1880 numbered 274 individuals. The pro-
prietors were W. W. McDowell, J. W. Price, Hiram Fox,
E. Fox, by his conservator, Hiram Fox and Theodore
McClain. It was' surveyed and platted by Robert
Buchanan, county surveyor, and the plat was filed
for record, May 17, 1869. The first building
was a little frame dwelling with vertical siding.
The first store building was moved from Timberville, by
J. W. Price in 1871. Allendale Flouring Mills were
built in 1874-5 by H. Hines and Theodore McClain, at
a cost of about $8,000. The building is a frame, three-
story, with two runs of burrs, purifier, elevators, etc., and
a capacity of fifty barrels a day It is owned and op-
erated by F. H. and Harmon Holsen. The chyrch was
moved from Timberville in 1876. The Allendale Steam
Saw Mill was built by H. Naylor in 1877. It operates
five saws, and does general merchant sawing. The
school house, a brick, two-story, three-room building
was put up in 1879, at a cost, including furniture, of
about $4,000. J. S. Lewis' Steam Saw Mill, which
operates three circular saws, was built in 1881. The
Post Office, at first called the Armstrong Post Office,
was established as early as 1824 and was first kept by
Abner Armstrong. At this time there were but three
other post-offices in the county, the Mt. Carmel, the
Centerville, and the " Cofieeton." The name and lo-
cation of the office were changed to Allendale eleven
years ago. The following directory will show the
PRESENT BUSINESS.
Physicians.— A. J. Mclntosh, Harry Leeds, J. E.
| Smith-
| Druggists. — A. J. Mclntosh, J. E. Smith.
General Merchants.— J '. W. Price, D. G. Price, F. M.
Leek.
Grocer.— Franklin De Witt.
Postmaster.— G. W. Crane.
Grain Dealers — J. W. Price, D. G. Price.
Hotel- keepers. — James Payne, John J. Williamson.
Blacksmith. — A. J. Shaw.
Carpenter. — Samuel Smith.
Painter.— A. R. Cusick.
Wagon Maker.— J. N. Williams, John E. Hensley.
Undertaker. — John E. Hensley.
Shoemaker.- — Jacob Copeland.
Milliners.— Mrs. Ella Hines, Mrs. John Capoot.
Justice and Notary.— Franklin De Witt.
Sorghum Mill— John Rosenberg & B. B. Hill.
Teacher.— 0. H. P. Grunden.
PATTON
Is situated on the N. W. quarter of section 33, and
was surveyed and platted by Robert Buchanan for
Albert B. Keen. The plat was recorded in the office of
the circuit Clerk, Feb. 5, 1877. It was named after
Dr. Patton, of Vincennes. The first building was a
warehouse put up by Joshua Buchanan in 1872-3. It
was sold to William R. Wilkinson, through whose in-
fluence largely, Patton became a station. The post
office was established in 1874, and first kept by Joshua
Buchanan, the present incumbent. The first goods
were [sold by George Collins, in the fall of 1877. In
this year Joseph Kepley opened a shoemaker's shop and
is still keeping it. A log school-hou^e was built in 1876,
Clara Moyer taught the first school. Parkinson Bros.,
built a grain house in the spring of 1882. The town
numbers about thirty-five inhabitants.
BIOGRAPHIES.
DR. ANDREW J. McINTOSH
THE Mclntosh family, of Wabash county, are de-
scended from pioneer stock. John Og Mclntosh, the
grandfather of Andrew J., was born near the old castle
of Inverness, in Invernesshire, Scotland, March 6th,
17.53. He was the son of John and Margaret (Og)
Mclntosh. His maternal uncle, John Og, was a physi-
cian and surgeon in the army of King George the III,
and John Og Mclntosh was named for him. The
Mclntosh family were small farmers and shepherds.
The uncle of John Og Mclntosh placed him in school,
and subsequently sent him to the University in Edin-
burg, and he was there pursuing his studies when the
war of the revolution broke out. It was the will of his
uncle that he should accompany him to America, where
he had been ordered with the King's troops, in the
capacity of assistant surgeon, though without pay or
commission. He came, assisted his uncle, and remained
with him until the battle of Germantown. where Dr Og
was killed. Young Mclntosh was then left to shift for
himself. Soon after his fine appearance and physique
attracted the attention of Tarleton, a famous cavalry
leader, and one of Cornwallis's trusted lieutenants. He
joined that command and participated with it until
the battle of the Cowpens, where he was taken prisoner
by General Morgan. The general made him his per-
sonal prisoner. He refused to accept the exchange, and
remained with General Morgan, and after the war be-
came an inmate of his family, at Winchester, Virginia.
After the war he dropped the profession of medicine and
took up the trade 'of wheelwright. He remained in
Virginia until 1784, when he removed with several
families to Kentucky. They passed over the same road
that Braddock's army traveled when on the disastrous
campaign against Fort Duquesne, thirty years before.
From Pittsburg they went down the river to Limestone
Landing, Kentucky, where Maysville now stands, and
from there to Kenton's Point. At the latter place Mr.
Mclntosh remained several years, then went to Bourbon
county and settled on the present site of Paris. He
subsequently removed to Montgomery county, then to
Warren, from thereto Logan county, where he remained
until 1814, when he came to the territory of Illinois via
Red Bank, through Indiana, to what is now Wabash
county. When he came here he lived in Compton's Fort,
then purchased laud in the timber settlement, and lived
there some time, then went out on the Bonpas creek, in
Edwards county, and lived there for some time, then ex-
296
changed and came to his former farm, and there died in
1829.
When he came here this part of Illinois was a part
of Gallatin county. The distance to Shawneetown,
the county seat, was too great, and therefore a move was
made to erect another county further north. A petition
was drawn up and signed by the requisite number of
citizens, and Mr. Mclntosh was the bearer of it to Gov.
Edwards, at Kaskaskia. He traveled the entire distance
on horseback aud met the governor, whom he had per-
sonally known in Kentucky, presented him the petition,
and the prayer of the people of this section was granted.
The county was formed and named Edwards, in honor
of the governor. The new county then included all the
territory on the east side of the state, and north to Fort
Dearborn, now Chicago. The governor appointed Mr.
Mclutosh county judge, a position he held until the
territory was admitted as a state. Mr. Mclntosh had
been, while a resident of Kentucky, ordained a minister
in the Baptist church, and was among the first, if not
the first minister of that religious denomination in
Wabash county. In 1782 he married Sarah Benne t,
whose acquaintance he made during the time the British
army was stationed at Germantown. She was born iu
New Jersey, January 17th, 1758. Her father was a
ship carpenter, and in one of his voyages was lost at sea.
Mrs. Mclutosh died in Wabash county, Illinois, August
5, 1831. By that union there were ten children. Samuel,
the father of Andrew J., was the fifth in the family. He
was born at Paris, Bourbon county, Kentucky, December
25th, 1791. He grew to manhood in his native state,
and obtained a limited education, which was mainly re-
ceived from such books as fell in his way. He learned
the trade of wheelwright with his father, and followed
the trade until the increasing factories drove out in.
dividual business. In 1813 he, and his brother John
Mclutosh, at the call of Gov. Shelby, enlisted in the
Northwestern army, and was in the division under Gen.
Lewis Cass, and in the detachment that invaded Canada.
He was aboard the American and British ship the
morning after the battle known as Perry's victory.
While on one of the Three Sister Islands, he witnessed the
execution of Daniel Literal, who was condemned by court
martial for treason and shot by a squad of twelve men.
After his discharge he returned to Kentucky, and in
1814 came to Wabash county, Illinois, and with others
went into Compton's Fort, which stood near where Allen-
dale now stands. He was the last survivor of the party
HNWERS
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
297
of nine, who went from this place in pursuit of the In-
dians that massacred the Cannon family at the old
Painter Grave-yard, near Rosedale. He remained a
citizen of Wabash county from 1814 until his death,
which occurred June 16th, 1879, in his eighty-eighth
year. He married Eleanor Mathews, who was born in
Tennessee. She was the daughter of Samuel Mathews,
and was living in Crawford county, Illinois, at the time
of her marriage. She died Dec. 28th, 1876. There were
eight children by that union. Three of them have sur-
vived the parents. Benjamin Franklin, the youngest
son, was a eoldier during the late war. He is now a
resident of Texas. Sophia is the only daughter living,
and is a resident of Mt. Carmel. Andrew Jackson
Mclntosh was born near Allendile, Wabash county,
Illinois, June 12th, 1834. He was reared on the farm,
and received a limited education in schools. The schools
in his youth were few, and the methods of instruction
crude and imperfect as compared with the present. His
education is therefore more of self-culture, and know-
ledge obtained from books later in life, for he has been
an extensive reader upon a variety of subjects. He
commenced teaching school in his twentieth year, and
taught four terms. In 1857, he determined to study
medicine. He purchased books and pursued the study,
a part of the time in the office of E. V. Mitchell, of
Grayville, Illinois. In 1860 he commenced the practice
in Allendale, and there he has continued to the present.
In the fall of 1868, he entered the College of Medicine
and Surgery at Cincinnati, and graduated from that in-
stitution in the spring of 1869, with the degree of M. D.
The doctor bel mgs to the progressive order of men. He
is a member of the Wabash Medical Society, which has
for its object the discussion of the latest methods and
discoveries in Materia Medica, and the mutual advance-
ment of its members. He is also a member of the State
Pharmaceutical Association. On the 6th of March, 1862,
he married Miss Sarah, daughter of Napoleon and
Sophia (McFarland) Grayson, a native of Wabash
county, Illinois. She died July 7th, 1876, leaving two
daughters, named Jennie and Sarah, Mclntosh. On the
14th August, 1880, he was united in wedlock to Mrs.
Jane Fox nee McFarland, also a native of Wabash
county. By the latter union there is one child, named
John Jerome Mclntosh. Mrs. Mclntosh has one child
living by the former marriage, named Hiram Fox. Both
the doctor and his amiable wife are members of the
Christian church. Politically he comes from Democratic
stock, and he uniformly votes that ticket.
DR. JAMES E. SMITH
Is a native of Campbell county, Kentucky, born De-
cember llth, 1838. His ancestors were originally from
the east, and settled in Kentucky at an early day.
George W. Smith, the grandfather, was born in the
above named state, February 22d, 1812, and remained
there until June, 1840, when he came to Illinois and
38
settled near OIney, in Richland county, and there died
in 1868. He married Rhoda Jenner, who was born in
the same county and state. She died in March, -1865.
By that union there were ten children, seven of whom
have survived their parents. James E. is the eldest
living. He worked on the farm, and attended the
schools of his neighborhood. He was at home on the
breaking out of the late war. He enlisted in the first
call for troops and became a member of Co. A. of the
8th Regt. Ills. Vols. There being too many men he
was one of those who were rejected. He then enlisted
in the llth Regt. Mo. Vols., but an accident befalling
his father at that time, he was compelled to return home,
where he remained until August 13th, 1862, when
he enlisted in Co. B. of the 98th Ills. Regt., which waa
organized at Ceutralia. then proceeded to the front and
joined Buell's forces at Louisville, Ky. In September of
the same year he was taken sick and sent to the hospital
at Frankfort, then to Bowling Green. After his recovery
he was placed on duty and detailed as hospital steward, in
which capacity he remained until the battle of Stone
River. He there joined his command, and remained
with it until June, 1863, when he was put on duty at the
brigade hospital, and remained on that duty the greater
part of the remainder of his term in service. He was
mustered out and honorably discharged, July 5th, 1865;
at Springfield, Illinois. He returned to Richland county
and engaged in school teaching in the winter mentis
and farming in the summer. In 1870, he commenced,
reading medicine with Dr. D. Bates, of Calhoun. In
1873, he attended a course of lectures in the Eclectic
Medical Institute of Cincinnati, and then commenced
the practice in St. Francesville, Lawrence county, Ills.
In October, 1875, he came to the town of Allendale, in
Wabash county, and there he has continued the practice
to the present. In the fall of 1877, he again entered the
Eclectic Medical Institu.e at Cincinnati, and graduated
from that institution in the spring of 1878, with the
degree of M. D. On the 7th of April, 1867, he marritd
Miss Nancy, daughter of Daniel and Eliza (Axton)
Howey, by which union there are five children living,
whose names in the order of their birth areZillah, Edwin
Freeman, Elmer, Mattie, and Morris. Both Dr. Smith
and wife are members of the M. E. church. Politically
he cast bis first vote for Abraham Lincoln, and in all
subsequent elections has voted the Republican ticket.
BERKLEY ARMSTRONG (DECEASED.)
THE Armstrong family, living in the northern part
of Wabash county, were originally of Irish ancestry.
They settled in North Carolina, from there rem oved to
Kentucky, then to Tennessee, and in 1815 John Arm-
strong, the grandfather, came to Illinois and settled in
the northern part of what is now Wabash county.
Berkley Armstrong was the sou of Thomas J. and
Martha G. (Crane) Armstrong. He was born on the
farm, April 18th, 1835, where he lived and died. He
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
departed this life April 19th, 1881. He married Re-
bec ca A., daughter of Btnjamiu and Sarah (Wolf) Price,
March llth, 1857. Mrs. Armstrong was born January
14th, 1840. There are five children living, the offspring
of Berkley and Rebecca A. Armstrong. Their names
in the order of their birth are Martha J., Sarah I.,
Clara B., Thomas J., and Bertie M. Mr. Armstrong,
during life followed farming. At the time of his death
he was one of the commissioners of the county. He was
a kind and indulgent father, an affectionate husband,
a good neighbor, and died respected by all who knew
him.
VAN BUREN COMPTON.
LEVI COMPTON, the grandfather of the subject of this
sketch, was the son of John and Elizabeth Compton,
born February 1, 1766, in Fairfax county, Virginia
He was the grandson of John Compton, born in Charles
county, Maryland, and Mary, his wife, born in Eng-
land. Levi Compton married Rosanna, daughter of
Stephen and Nancy Therwesse, who was born in St.
Mary's County, Maryland, February 15, 1770. Levi
Compton was undoubtedly the first permanent settler of
what is now known as Wabash county. He moved from
Virginia to Kentucky in 1792, and remained there until
1801, when he came to the northwestern territory. He
brought with him from Kentucky a slave, named Dennis
Sales, who was probably the first slave brought to the
territory. He wls a large slave-owner in Kentucky,
but like a great many more men in his day who were
of broad and liberal minds, disliked slavery. He set them
free before leaving Kentucky, — all but old Dennis, —
and gave him his freedom soon after coming to Illinois.
Levi Comptou settled on the Wabash, on a tract known
as " Compton 's Grant." In 1804 he moved to a point
about sixty rods from the northern boundary of Allen-
dale, in Wabash precinct, and there he and his neigh-
bors built a fort, which was known as "Compton Fort."
It was one fourth of a mile from Jourdan's block-house.
Both were built as a protection against the Indians,
who then roamed at will through Illinois. In 1816 he
settled in what ia still known as " Compton 's prairie,"
in 1843. He was a conspicuous man in -the pioneer
days of Illinois? In 1818 he was a member of the con-
stitutional convention that assembled in Kaskaskia and
framed the state government. John Compton, the
lather of Van .Buren, was the eldest son of Levi Comp
ton ; he was born in Berkley county, Virginia, Feb-
ruary 21, 1791 ; he died in Wabash county, Illinois, in
1851. He mairied Jane, daughter of William Barney ;
she died in the spring of 1831. There were seven
children by that union, none of whom are living. In
1836 he married Drusilla, daughter of Jeremiah and
Nancy Sebby, born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, in
1801; she died in 1876. There were four children by
the latter marriage ; Van Buren is the eldest. He was
born on the place where stood the old fort, March
23, 1837. His younger brother, John, was a soldier
during the late war, a member of the 32d Regiment 111.
Vols., and was killed at the battle of Shiloh. There
were four children of the first marriage of John Comp-
ton that left families. Van Buren Compton married
Miss Sarah, daughter of John and Mary Faha. She
was born in county Gal way, Ireland. They came to
Illinois in 1856.. and the marriage was in 1865. There
are three children living by the latter union. The
Comptons from the time when the memory of man
runneth not to the contrary were Democrats, and they
still hold allegiance to that political organization.
For a more full and elaborate history of the old
pioneer, Levi Compton, see the Pioneer chapter of this
work.
THOMAS N. ARMSTRONG.
THE Armstrong family is of Irish ancestry. John
Armstrong, the grandfather, was of Irish parentage.
His father was killed at the siege of Derry. The grand-
father emigrated from North Carolina to Kentucky,
and from thence removed to Smith's Fork, in Wil-
son county, Tennessee, and in September, 1815, came
to the territory of Illinois, and settled on section 13,
township 1 N. range 12 W. of what is now Wabash
county, then a part of Gallatin. He bought two hundred
acres of land from Levi Compton. It was partially im-
proved, and had on it a small cabin. He there lived
until his death, which occurred April 30, 1836 He
married Elizabeth Martin. She died at the same place,
August 10, 1830, in the seventieth year of her age. There
wer.e eight children, the offspring of John and and Eliza-
beth Armstrong, all of whom are dead ; all had fami-
lies. One of them was Lewis, the father of Thomas
Newton Armstrong; he was born in Kentucky, August
15, 1799, and came with the family to Illinois on the
date above mentioned. Here he grew to manhood,
and married Martha Wood, daughter of John Wood.
She died May 19, 1866, in the sixty-sixth year of her
age. Her husband, Lewis Armstrong, died September
2, 1869. He followed the peaceful avocation of a farmer
during his life. By that union there were nine children,
seven of whom are still living. Among the latter
is Thomas Newton Armstrong, the subject of this sketch.
He was born on the place where he now lives, May 29,
1829, and was the fifth child in the family. He grew
up on the farmland early in life adopted the trade of
wagon-maker, which he followed for twenty years, though
he also farmed during that time. On the 10th of May,
1866, he was united in marriage to Miss Emily, daughter
of Jonathan and Rebecca Clarke, bhe was born in Wa-
bash county, and died September 5, 1869, leaving two
children, whose names are Martha and Emily Jane.
On the 27th of February, 1871, Mr. A. married his
present wife, Mrs. Sarah Jane Richards, nee Smith.
FARM RESIDENCE Or E. B . H £ EN, ONE MILE NORTH Of
FARM RESIDENCE OF THE LATE.
NG ONE MILE SOUTH EAST OF ALLEN DA LE.WABASH CO.IU '.
o* ^r
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
299
She had one son by her former marriage, named Wil-
liam H. Richards. She was born in Richland county,
Illinois, October 22d, 1840. There have been two
children by the latter marriage, one of whom is living,
named Edgar Armstrong. James W. is dead. Mrs.
Armstrong is a member of the M. E. church. Mr.
Armstrong is an honored member of the order of Free'
masonry, and holds membership with Allendale lodge
No. 752. Politically, the family are of Democratic
stock Mr. A. cast his first presidential vote for Frank-
lin Pierce, in 1852, and from that time to the present
has uniformly voted the ticket of his first Choice.
As will be seen from the foregoing, the Armstrong
family have been the pioneers of three states, viz. : Ken-
tucky, Tennessee and Illinois. They came here three
years before the territory was erected into a state.
Abner Armstrong, the son of John, was the first sheriff
of Edwards county ; John Armstrong was county
judge of Wabash county, and Thomas J. was also asso-
ciate judge for a term. Other members of the family
held various offices at different times, and in every official
position earned the character and reputation of being
honest, efficient and capable public servants.
JEREMIAH FOX.
THE Fox family, on the paternal side, is of German
ancestry. Jacob Fox, the grandfather, was a native of
Germany, emigrated to America, and settled in Reading,
Pennsylvania. He raised a family of sons, one of whom
was Jacob ; he was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania,
September 2, 1792. He there grew to manhood and
married. He came west with his family, and landed in
Mt. Carmel, Wabash county, Illinois, May 13, 1837.
After prospecting for a short time, he purchased one
hundred and thirty-five acres of land in Wabash pre-
cinct, improved it, and there remained until his death,
which took place November 9, 1857. He married Jane
Herrington, April 14, 1816, in Lebanon county, Pa.
She died in Wabash county, III, May 23, 1865 ; she was
born in Lebanon county, Pa., April 18, 1796, and was
of Irish extraction. There were eight children by that
union, two of whom are living, Jeremiah and Elmira, wife
of John A. Greathouse. Four of them died, leaving fami-
lies. Their names were Mary Ann, wife of David Adams ;
Hardin Fox, who was twice married, first to Susan Mar-
tin, who died, leaving one child. His second wife was
Jane McFarlaud, now Mrs. Dr. A. J. Mclntosh ; and one
child living, Susannah, wife of Jeremiah Compton ; she
died March 12, 1860, leaving one child. Elijah mar-
ried Frances E. Beedle, and left two sons and one
daughter. Jeremiah Fox, the subject of this sketch,
is the second son ; he was born in Lebanon county, Pa ,
January 14, 1819; he was in his nineteenth year when
the family came west. He remained at home until 1848,
when he married. In 1846 he bought one hundred and
eighty acres of land, where he now lives. There was a
small log house on it, and a portion of it was slightly
improved. All the improvements, with a slight excep-
tion, have been made by him. His house was destroyed
by fire April 12, 1875, and since that time he has
erected the large and elegant building that now adorns
the farm and gives shelter and comfort to his family
and guests. On the 31st of August, 1848, he was united
in marriage to Miss Sophronia Compton, daughter of
John and grand-daughter of Levi Compton, the first
settler of Wabash county. Mrs. Fox was born in Wa-
bash county, and died March 16, 1855, in the thirtieth
year of her age. There were two children born of that
marriage, Emma Ann and William J. Fox. The latter
is one of the substantial farmers of Wabash precinct.
He married Miss Sarah ;Jane Jackman, and has thre e
children, whose names are Nora, Pearl and Josiah.
On the llth of March, 1858, Mr. Fox married Miss
Caroline, daughter of John and Sarah (Bowers) Spidle,
who was born in Wayne county, Indiana. There are
five children living by the latter union. Their names in
the order of their birth are : Sarah Jane, wife of Simon
S. Couch ; Lenora, Mary Ida, Fanny E. and Jeremiah
Clyde Fox Both Mr. and Mrs. Fox are members of
the Lutheran church. Politically, he is a Democrat.
He has held several offices of a local character, and
served a term as one of the commissioners of the county.
In addition to farming Mr. Fox has given" considerable
attention to the raising of fine cattle, sheep and swine,
and in the latter business is well known throughout the
county as a successful breeder.
HENRY KING (DECEASED).
THE subject of this sketch was among the reliable and
substantial farmers of Wabash county. His father,
Joseph King, was born in North Carolina, September
24, 1794. He remained in the South until 1837, when
he came North and settled in Lawrence county.JJlinois,
and there remained until his death. He married Lucy
Harrison, who was closely related to William Henry
Harrison, President of the United States in 1840. By
that union there were ten children, three of whom are
living, viz : Nancy, wife of Robert Maguire ; John, and
Mary Ann, wife of William Huffletell.
Henry King, the subject of this sketch, was the second
son. He was born in Rockingham county, North Caro-
lina, Aug. 27, 1817. He came to Illinois in 1835, two
years before his father. He worked at the cooper and
carpenter trades, and also in a mill. He was of an in-
dustrious disposition, economical iu his habits, and soon
laid by some money which he invested in a farm of
ninety-nine acres, located in Lawrence county, which he
improved until January, 1870, when he moved to section
33, in township 2 north, range 12 west, where he bought
and improved land, whereon he erected a fine commo-
dious farm-house, a view of which can be seen on another
page of this work. There he lived until his death, which
took place April 2, 1882. He was a member of the
Christian church, a good man, devoted husband, kind
and indulgent father, and esteemed by all who knew
him.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WAS ASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Onjthe 24th of June, 1841, he was united in marriage
to Miss Susannah Ramsey, daughter of Aaron and Eli- j
zabeth Ramsey. She died April 1st, 1856, leaving five j
children, two of whom are yet living. Their names are j
Joel B., and Caroline, wife of Eli Fries.
On the 5th of May, 1857, he married Miss Ann Jack- I
man, who was born in Franklin county, Indiana, Sept. j
29, 1825. Her father, Allen R. Jackman, was born in j
Knox county, Indiana, and her mother, whose maiden |
name was Sarah Barber, was born in Virginia. By the
marriage of Henry and Ann King there were six chil-
dren. Sarah, the only daughter and child, died in her
second year. There are five sons living. Their names
in the order of their birth are : Allen J., born April 15,
1860; George A., born Nov. 11, 1862; Martin, born
Aug. 2, 1864; Charles M., born Dec. 2, 1866 ; and James,
born June 13th, 1868. Mrs. King is a member of the
Christian Church. She lives on the place and has taken
charge of it since the death of her husband.
F. S. GRAY, M. D.
WAS born iu Brown county, Ohio, January 20th, 1855.
He is the son of Martin P. and Eliza ( Waterfield) Gray,
old settlers of Ohio. He received his primary educa-
tion in the common schools and his literary training in
the Union Christian College at Merom, Sullivan county, j
Ind. He entered at fifteen years of age, and remained
there five years, then engaged in teaching, and taught '
six years. He came to Illinois in 1878 and^to Wabash ;
county in the fall of 1879, and located in Allendale, I
where he engaged as Principal of the Public Schools, j
and taught two years. During that time he commenced ;
reading medicine in the office and under the direction j
of Dr. A. J. Mclntosh, a prominent physician of Allen- J
dale. He read medicine two years, and then entered
the Medical College at Cincinnati in the fall of 1881,
and there took two full courses, and graduated from
that institution on the 8th of March, 1883, with the j
degree of M. D. He commenced the practice in Allen- I
dale in connection with his preceptor, and at present j
continues there. Dr. Gray is just entering the profes-
sion, but he brings to it a mind trained to study in
schools and in the profession of teaching, and we pre-
dict for him success in the healing art.
On the 24th of March, 1883, he was united in mar-
riage to Miss Belle, youngest daughter of Alexander
and Rachael McFarland. Both the doctor and his wife
are members of the Chr stian Church — he of the New
Light branch of that Christian organization. In poli-
tics he is a Republican.
DAVID ADAMS.
THE Adams family, living in the northern part of
Waba&h county, is of English descent. Samuel Adams, j
the grandfather of David, was a resident of Brook
county, West Virginia, of the Pan-handle district, and :
there married a Preston, who was of an old and distin-
guished family of Virginia. Samuel Adams died in
Virginia, and his wife in Morgan county, Ohio, on
the Muskingum river. Among the offspring of that union
was a son, also named Samuel, father of David. He
was born in Brook county, West Virginia, in September,
1797. He moved to Morgan county, Ohio, in 1833, and
there died in 1876. He married Nancy Irwin, born in
West Virginia. She died in 1827, leaving four chil-
dren. Mr. Adams subsequently married Eliza Green,
and had seven children by that marriage. David
Adams, the subject of this sketch, is the oldest son by
the first marriage. He was born in Brook county, W.
Va., August 14, 1818 At the age of eighteen years he
engaged with a firm that was manufacturing and selling
wheat fans. He afterwards superintended a shop for
the manufacture of machines, for four or five years. In
1840 he came to Wabash county, Illinois, and put up a
shop on the old Fox place, and there manufactured fan-
ning mills. Prior to that time, however, he spent a year
each in Clark and Edgar counties, Ills. ; then about the
same length of time in Carlisle, Sullivan county, Ind.,
in the same business. In 1843 he purchased one hun-
dred and twenty acres of land in sections 16 and 21,
township I, range 12 W. He worked at the fanning
mill business for two or three years longer, and then
abandoned it and gave his attention to farming. When
he purchased the land it was unimproved, and all the
buildings which ornament and beautify the place have
been erected by him. A view of the premises can be
seen on another page. In 1857 he commenced planting
and raising nursery stock, and in 1859 commenced the
sale. He supplied much of the stock for many of the
fine orchards now bearing fruit in southern Illinois. He
continued the business to the present ye«r, when he
made arrangements to abandon it.
On the 21st of January, 1841, he married Miss Mary,
daughter of Jacob and Jane (Herrington) Fox. She
died in January, 1879. By that marriage there were
ten children, six of whom are living, whose names are :
Sarah Jane, wife of Absalom Nunaly ; Louisiana, wife
of Henry E. Blood ; Laura F , wife of Lewis Wood ;
Joan, Mary and Elisha Kent Adams.
From 1843 to 1857 Mr. Adams worked at carpenter-
ing, millwrighting, cabinet making and in wood work
generally. He also carried on the farm at the same
time. After the latter date his time was busily em-
ployed looking after his nursery. Politically, Mr.
Adams was originally an Old Line Whig, and from that
organization naturally drifted into the Republican
ranks. In matters pertaining to religion, he does not
subscribe to any formulated creed, but is partial to the
teachings of Alexander Campbell, whom he knew inti-
mately in his younger days, and for whose purity of
character, correct life, broad and enlightened views, he
always entertained the highest respect and regard. The
village known as " Adams' Corner" was started by and
named in honor of Mr. Adams, who gave the ground
and encouraged the town in various ways.
RESIDENCE: &FKRM or DAVID ADAMS.SEC.ZI.J.I^.IZ^ABASH PRECINCT ^ABASH CO.ILL,
802 HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
their families in 1831. The former settled on the south-
east quarter of the southwest quarter of section 9, town-
ship 2, range 13, and the latter ou the southwest quar-
ter of the southeast quarter of section 15, same location.
Alexander Turner, Elijah Gaddy, John McGuire,
William Ridgeley, Joel Lukin, and Thomas Beasley
settled in the township at a comparatively early day.
Lukin's name is perpetuated in that of the prairie and
the township in which he lived. In 1819 Mrs. Clark
taught a school in her own house, in the southeast quar-
ter of section 24, township 2, range 13. In the spring
of this year Agnes Corrie began a day-school in a log-
cabin that stood in the d or yard of her father's house,
in the southwest quarter of section 30, township 2, range 12
About this time Rev. Mr. Stone, an itinerant Methodist
minister, preached at the house of William Schrader.
The first land entries are as follows : September 26,
1816, Shadrach Ruark entered the south half of section
24; November 7, 1817, Jacob Schrader, the northeast
quarter of section 25, and at the same time Jonathan
Warner the east half of the southwest quarter of section
12; May 19, 1818, Thomas Buffington, the east half of
the northeast quarter of section 12, and in township 2,
range 13. The following have been members of the
board of supervisors: W. M. Edmondson, 1357, 1858 ;'
J. L. Flanders, 1856 to 1865, chairman from 1862;
George Gould, 1866 ; J. L. Flanders, chairman 1867 ;
! George Gould, 1867; M. 0. Donnell, 1879 to 1872; J.
L. Flanders, 1872 ; Julius Storckman, 1873 ; Prestou
; Passraore, 1874; Julius Storekroan, 1875, 1876 ; J. L.
1 Flanders, 1877, 1878; Elijah George, 1879 to 1881;
! W. H. Corrie, 1882,1883.
I Lukiu township has some excellent land and well
I improved farms. It lies about equidistant from the
Ohio, Mississippi and the Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific
railroads, over which its shipments are effected.
BIOGRAPHY.
AUGUST BRAUSE,
A NATIVE of the Kingdom of Hanover, Germany, where
he was born September 29th, 1824, was one of the lead-
ing citizens of Lukin township. He was the oldest son
of Frederick and Wilhelmina Brause. Frederick was
an industrious, honest carpenter. During the revolu-
tionary troubles which awaked all Germany, in 1848-9,
August, in common with many others, sought refuge
from a soldier's lot by coming to America. He came
by the vessel " Kepler," and after a voyage of two
months, less ten days, landed iii New Orleans. From
there he came up the Mississippi, then the Ohio, to
Evansville, thence to Mt. Carmel, which point he
reached in 1849. For three years he labored as a farm
hand where economy characterized his labors and en- |
abled him soon to purchase laud and engage in farming !
in his own behalf. On the same vessel with him, when j
on his way to this country, were Frederick Holsen and
family, with the exception of two sons, who rather than '
serve the king of Germany had found homes in Wabash
County, with their grandfather, two years before. A i
member of this family, Sophia Holsen, became the wife |
of August Brause November 14th, 1852. By this union
; there were born twelve children, eight of whom are now
j living. Five of the children are married, but all live
i in the immediate vicinity of the old homestead. Mrs.
Brause was a native of the same place with her hus-
band, where she was born May 21st, 1835. August
i Brause died April 21st, 1880. He was a man who, by
his straightforward dealing and well-known integrity of
character, had won hosts of friends. For a number of
years he was a Justice of the Peace, a position for which his
excellent judgment and unyielding firmness well fitted
him. At the time of his death he was one of the High-
way Commissioners. In the accumulation of property
he had been eminently successful. From a poor bjy,
earning his monthly hire as a farm-hand, he bearae one
of the largest land-owners in Lukin township. His life
furnishes an excellent example of what may be accom-
plished by industry, economy and stout-heartedness.
Success having crowned his efforts in life his family bless
the day that he decided to make his home in free
America. Politically Mr. Brause was a consistent and
earnest Democrat. The family are members of the Al-
bright church. In its faith they trust, and in its behalf
they are most zealous.
LANCASTER
WABASH COUNTY.
JANCASTER precinct is bounded on the North
by Richland and Lawrence counties, on the
East by Friendsville, on the South by the same
and Lick Prairie precincts, and on the West by Ed-
wards county, Bonpas Creek forming the boundary line.
Territorially, it embraces the area lying within the fol-
lowing limits: The northern tier of sections of T. 2 N.,
and the northern half tier of sections 22, 23, 24, 19, 20,
and 21, of T. 1 N. iuclosure; and Bonpas creek and the
western half tier of sections 35, 2, 11, 14, and 28, of R.
13 W., except section 15, and one half each of sections
14 and 12, and one fourth of section 23, T. 1 N. R. 13
W. It derived its name from the town of Lancaster,
•within its limits. The surface, aside from the prairies, is
somewhat broken. Round prairie, on which Lancaster
is situated, is about a mile and a half in diameter.
West of Lancaster is Round prairie, so called on account
of its shape, being about three miles long northeast and
southwest, and some two miles wide. The balance of
the surface was originally quite heavily timbered, with
white oak and hickory, especially in belts along Jor-
dan's and Bonpas creeks. Bordering on the prairies
there was a considerable amount of post "work. Most of
the timber has been cleared away in the interest of agri-
culture, except along the streams The soil on the Bon-
pas contains but little sand, is light-colored, and not
fertile. That on the upland is a light clay and yields
corn, wheat and clover, abundantly. The resources of
the precinct are such, principally, as spring from the soil.
There is a considerable quantity of sandstone rock, visi-
ble along the streams, suitable for building purposes.
Drainage is supplied by Jordan's, Little Bonpas and
Boiipas creeks. A large proportion of the population
derive their descent from the Pennsylvania Germans,
and display much of the industry and thrift peculiar to
that people. The principal early industries were hunt-
ing, stock-raising and farming. The progress of the
latter, however, was much impeded by low prices and
the difficulties of transportation. The price of corn from
1817 to 1825, did not exceed ten cents a bushel.
The earliest permanent settlements were made in 1814.
In that year came William Jordan, -Nathaniel Osgood,
Benjamin Reynolds, and Henry Mills. Jordan was
from Kentucky, and had a family of four children, viz:
Elizabeth, Louis, Jane and Sallie. He settled on the
S. E. quarter of section 4 and, as early as 1818, put up
; a distillery and made corn whisky. He died at his
I residence on the place of his first settlement. The Os-
good family came from Ohio. It consisted of Nathaniel,
! a married son, Almariue, Almira, Lydia, (wife of James
| McMullen, and Lefie. They settled on the S. half of
section 14, T. 2. N., Nathaniel living in a separate house
on the estate. Benjamin Reynolds was from Kentucky.
He had a family of three sons, John, Richard and Har-
rison, and four daughters. He settled on the N. W.
quarter of section 8, and there, as early as 1820, had a
horse-mill and distillery. His death took place on his
farm. Col. Henry Mills was also from Kentucky, and
settled on section 8. He brought with him a negress
while Reynolds brought a negro named Ned Mills, and
after a sojourn of two or three years, moved to Edwards
county. John Arnold, son-in-law of William Jordan,
came with the latter from Kentucky and settled in sec-
tion 4. He was a man of character and influence and
I an early justice of the peace, as such, performing the
| marriage ceremony of John Higgins and Judah Ker-
[ acher, fifty years ago. He served his state and country
j in the Black Hawk war, in the capacity of cap'ain of
one of the two companies from Wabash county. He
I subsequently moved to Wayne county, where he died.
I Tarlton Borin came to the precinct in 1815, and settled
I permanently on the N. W. quarter of section 7. He
j was a man of industry and economy, and accumulated a
considerable amount of property. As early as 1828, he
hnd a tannery which proved quite a convenience to the
j settlement. One of his daughters, Mrs. Cunningham, is
a resident of the precinct.
In the year 1816, some ten or twelve families left Al-
leghany county, New York, for the wild and uncultiva-
ted shores of the Wabash. Among them was George
W. Higgins, John Higgins, Willis Higgins, Edward
Brines, Henry Utter, Lemuel \Haskins, David Moss,
John Harrison, Benjamin Smith, Levi Couch, and
their families. They left their native State in " family
boats," on the Alleghany river, and floated down its
! mountain lined course to the Ohio, and there to the site
of Evansville, whence, having exchanged their boats for
a keel boat, they proceeded up the Wabash, landing at
Palmyra. Good fortune, with a single exception, smiled
on the little fleet, as it noiselessly made its way down
303
304
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
the Ohio : as it neared the falls at Louisville, precau-
tion suggested the employment of a pilot, who was ac-
quainted with the river at that dangerous point. The
pilot-boat, however, which was John Higgins', lodged
iu a shoal and dipped water at the stern, spoiling some
goods. The women and children who were carried
ashore, joined the boat sorae distance below. A mir-th-
provokiug little occurrence worthy of note happened on
the way : A spirit of friendly rivalry took possession of
John Higgins and Levi Couch, and each contended for
the lead. Couch'was in the act of using his boat-pole
to impede the progress of Higgins' boat, when the latter
seized the pole and pulled the former into the water.
Couch sank from view, but soon came to the surface, and
sha king the water from his head and face, exclaimed
he, he, hurrah for our boat! Of this little band o! im-
migrants, Harrison, Couch, Moss, Smith, and John Hig-
gins settled in what is now Lancaster precinct ; Brines,
TJtter, Haskins and George and Willis Higgins in
Friendsville. John Higgins' family consisted of his wife,
and six children, viz: William, George, John, Delia,
Betsey and Sophia. He settled on the N. W. quarter of
section 4., where the town of Lancaster, of which he was
one ot the proprietors, now stands. Long prairie was an
inviting and eligible spot, and in itself a natural pre-
diction of the graceful little town now within its bor-
ders. Higgins was a representative man. Though he
was not a regular disciple of Gaelen and made no pre-
tensions to skill in the healing art ; his house was the
resort of those with broken and dislocated bones, and
also for the entire neighborhood at the annual vernal
bleeding, a thing esteemed of the highest importance to
the proper performance of the functions of life. He
was a justice of the peace, and for two or three terms a
member of the board of county commissioners. His
death took place in 1852. Two of the six pioneer chil-
dren are yet living, George in Richland county, and
John in Lancaster. Harrison was married, but had no
children when he arrived. He subsequently had a
family of ten, one of whom, George, the only survivor,
is living on the old homestead, the N. E. t of section
5, where his father died, about 1840 Couch had a
family of nine children, by name Ebenezer, Hiram,
Levi, Laura, Cynthia, Dianthia, Sally, Samantha, and
Betsy. He settled about two miles southeast of Lan-
caster. Mr. Couch was a plain, industrious farmer, and
accumulated some property. He lived where he first
settled for a period of twelve or fifteen years, and then
moved to the neighborhood of old Timberville, where
he died. Moss had three children, Daniel, Harriet, and
Hannah. He settled on section 4, where he lived about
ten years, and then moved to Cincinnati. Smith, who
settled on the S. E. k of section 4, had two sons, Rensse-
laer and John. He and his wife were quite advanced
in years when they arrived. They and their two sons
are now dead. Isaac Harness was a Virginian, but had
lived some years in Indiana. He came to what is now
Lancaster precinct in 1816, bringing a wife and three
children, Thomas, Isaac, and Sarah, who married Hiram
Cusick. The Cusicks came from the State of New York,
and in 1817 Henry, the original representative of the
I family, settled on the S. W. i of section 4. There are
now many descendants of both these families living in
the county. James McMullen came from Ohio in 1816.
He married a daughter of Nathaniel Ojgood, and set-
tled on the S. E. i of section 33 T. 2 N. He was a
high-strung, though veracious and honest man. Two
brothers, George and David Pugh, came to the precinct
in 1816, and located on the S. E. t of section 7. George
made the first truck-wagons in the settlement.
The brothers, George and Andrew Knight, arrived
about 1817 or '18 from Kentucky. The former was a
single man, but married and settled on section 31, T. 2
N., R. 12. Andrew was married and settled on the ad-
joining section 22. James Rollins came about 1819,
bringing with him a family of four children, Rachel,
Rebecca, Shadrach and Loyd. Other children were
born subsequently. Rollins died many years ago.
Jesse Jones, the first weaver in the precinct came from
Kentucky in 1820. He brought three children and
settled in theS. W. one-quarter of section 4. This same
year came George Glick, from Pennsylvania, with a
i wife and one child, Louis, now living on the old place,
the N. W. one -quarter of section 7. After a residence of
some years, he moved to Mt. Carmel precinct and there
died. Elias Bailey and his wife arrived from Maryland
in 1821 or '22, and settled on the S. W. one-quarter of
section 4. He was twice married and reared quite a
number of children. He held the office of justice of the
peace, and was the first cabinet maker in the precinct.
Rozander Smith, a farmer and stock raiser, who now
resides on section 12, came from the State of New York
in 1822. About this time, Samuel Fisher, a single man,
from Berks county, Pa., married and settled on section
7. He was a house carpenter and farmer, and served as
a soldier in the Black Hawk war. He and his brother-
in-law, George Glick, opened the way for quite an exten-
sive immigration from their native county.
The precinct was represented in the Black Hawk
war by John Arnold, captain ; James McMillan, Thomas
Louis, Henry Beil, Abuer Turner and James A. Dodds.
The first school was taught by one Abbott in 1810 on
the west one half of the N. E. one-quarter of section 3,
in an old cabin. A building for school purposes was
raised on the site of Lancaster about 1822. The Cu-
sicks, Higgins', Mosses, Cunninghams, Borins, Rey-
nolds', McMullens, Harrisons, Harness' and Pughs
attended this school. It was taught by Schoolmaster
' Fox, who came to the county with the Comptons at an
! early day. About 1825 the school-house was moved a
half mile west of the village lo accommodate the Long
Prairie settlers, and Willis Higgins taught the school.
The New Light doctrine was the first preached in the
precinct by Rev. ' Rote, from Pennsylvania ; and a
church was organized about 1820. One of the earliest
marriages was that of a man named Bush, about sixty
BUSINESS PROPERTY or CHARLES SEIBERT, LANCASTER, WABASHL
or CHARLES SEIBERT, REBUILT 1881. LANCASTER, WABASH Co., IL
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AVD WABASIt COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
305
years of age, to the widow, Demarie, by 'Squire John
Arnold, on a rainy night, at the cross roads in Lancas-
ter, about 1820. They were married at this place be-
cause of the reputed law exempting a husband from the
previous debts of his wife, when the marriage was cele-
brated in the " public street " As the bridal pair were
approaching the appointed place, through the darkness,
Henry Cusick called out " Who comes there ? " Bush
replied : " The multipliers of the generation works. "
The first mill (horse-power) was built by John Arnold
on the S. E one-quarter of section 4, as early as 1825.
Prior to this, the settlers had their milling done at Vin-
cennes, or after 1820, at Col. Simmonds' horse-mill in
Friendship preciuct. Andrew Knight built a log
water-mill on the west bank of little Bonpas creek in
section 6, about 1831. It had one set of burrs and a
hand flour bolt. The following are the earliest land
entries all in T. 1 N., R. 13 W. : May 6, 1814, John
Waggoner entered the N. E. one-quarter of section 21 ;
December 23, 1814, William Jordan, the S. E. one-
quarter of section 4 ; December 30, 1814, Benjamin
Reynolds, the N. E.i of section 8; January 15, 1815,
Tarlton Borin, the N. W. one-quarter of section 7 ;
May 9, 1815, Jeremiah Ballard, the W. one-half of the
N. E. one-quarter of section 3; June 1, 1815, Jeremiah
Slaughter, the S. E. one-quarter of section 17 ; June 11,
181G, John Pugh, the N. E. one-quarter of section 7,
and Richard Maxwell, the S. W. one-quarter of section
8 ; November 14, 1816, Isaac Harness, the N. W. one-
quarter of section 3 ; January 15, 1817, John Harrison,
the N. E. one-quarter of section 5, and John Huggins,
the N. W. one quarter of section 4. The following are
in T. 2 N., R. 13 W.: May 25, 1816 James M. Mullen,
the S. E one-quarter of section 33; June 1, 1815, Na-
thaniel Osgood, the W. one-half of the S E. one-quarter
of section 34. On the S. E. one-quarter of this section
Mr. Isaac Harness preserves and points out the grave of
a little boy, the last victim of the Cannon massacre.
The Indians had encamped near the spot and built their
camp fire deep down in a ravine so that its light might
not attract the notice of their pursuers. Sentinels sta-
tioned upon the bluffs are supposed to have seen the
flames of the avenger's camp fire near where Lancaster
now stands, on the old Indian trail, and, the savages,
preparatory to decampment, to have murdered the boy,
who was to them probably a burden or a source of an-
noyance.
LANCASTER,
With about two hundred and fifty inhabitants, ia
pleasantly situated near the centre of Round Prairie,
and contains a number of handsome fiame residences.
The business is supplied mainly by the rich and populous
farming community that surrounds it. Its name was
derived from Lancaster, the county seat of Lancaster
county, Pennsylvania, from which locility many emi-
grated to this vicinity. It was surveyed and platted
by James Knapp, county surveyor, about the year 1846.
The proprietors were John Higgins, sr., John Ktracher,
39
j Solomon Seibert, Elias Baily and Horace Woodward,
The first house, where the town now stands, was a log
j dwelling, built by John Higgins in 1817. The second,
now standing as a slaughter-house, was built by him in
1820. In this year he also put up a blacksmith-shopj
and himself worked at the forge. The first mercantile
i house was built by H. Gunn, about 1846, and by him
| occupied with a general stock of goods, for some eight
! or ten years. He was followed in this place by Wilford
j Proctor, who kept a grocery store. About 1850 Horace
Woodward built a frame store-house, where I. Hershey's
general store now stands, and kept a general stock of
i goods. About 1851, a number of farmers united and
! bought a general stock of goods and sold them by their
I clerk, Bowdoin Baily. They continued business some
I eighteen months. About this time I. Hershey bought
Woodward's store property and goods, and began
business. Some time after this, Charles Seibert built
his present store-house and began the sale of general
merchandise. About 1858 or '9, Lev! Couch and Rus-
sell Harrison built a frame store and kept a general
stock of goods. They subsequently sold to Robert
Ridgely, who continued business for seven or eight years.
The building is no* occupied by Dr. McJiltou, who came
to Lancaster about fifteen years ago. Dr. Reed, a
botanic physician, located in the town as early as 1845,
and remained about four or five years. In 1848, Dr.
j Cleve began practice, but continued only a short time.
i Two brothers, Drs. Philbrick, came to Lancaster in a
patent-medicine wagon, in 1850. They remained about
two years and were succeeded by Dr. William Friend,
who still continues in possession of a lucrative practice.
i Shortly after Dr. Friend came Dr. Flanders, who, after
a sojourn of two years, removed to Lawrence county.
I The first school-house (frame) was built in 1846. The
j present one, a frame two-story building, was erected in
j 1866 at a cost of $1800. The Christian Church was
built in 1857 as a " Union Church," and was so called.
It cost about 82000. The Albright was erected in 1866,
I at a cost of about $1000. The Lutheran Evangelical,
I built in 1877, is a handsome brick structure, erected at
] a cost of about $3500. The Methodist Episcopal was
| built in 1880, for about 82100. Lancaster Flouring
Mill was built by Penrose Beihl and William Rowland,
about 1858. Some of the machinery and one run of
j burrs fiom Beihl's old mill on Little Bonpas, was
j utilized in this. It is a frame two-story building, with
'•• two runs of burrs, and a capacity of from 25 to 30 barrels
: of flour a day. After quite a number of changes of
[ ownership, the property is now in the hands of Joel and
! F. J. Dreibelbis, in equal shares, and is operated by the
latter. The saw-mill was put up the winter of 1881) by
, John Leightly and Solomon Grismore. who moved it
j from Bonpas creek, Edwards county.
GENERAL BUSINESS.
I Physicians.— William Friend, F. Waller, Edward
McJilton.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Drill/gist. — A. Corrie.
General Merchants. — J. Hershey, Charles Seibert.
Shoemaker. — T. Deiber.
Harness Maker. — Peter Scherer.
Milliner.— Miss Minnie Malotte.
Blacksmiths— Henry Reiber, William Raybuck.
Justice. — Isaiah Berninger.
Carpenters.— William Giuther, M. & J. Sugar, Rosa
McMillan, James Seibert.
Painter. — Joel Berninger.
Wagon Makers. — Isaiah & Amos Berninger.
Butcher.— David Spitler.
Cattle Dealer.— Simeon Mull.
Tinware and Stoves. — John Leighty.
BIOGRAPHIES.
JOSEPH B. SHEARER,
THE popular and efficient Justice of the Peace, Post-
master and farmer at Card's point, was born in Ben-
nington county, Vt., September 4th, 1842. His father
and family came to Wabath county in 1851. The
family comprised four children, two of either sex. Mr.
Shearer enlisted as a soldier during the rebellion, in Co.
C 115th Regiment Illinois Volunteers, and was with his
command in all its marches, skirmishes, etc. As a
soldier, he was brave and true. He was married to
Mary Hallock, March 22, 1869. She was at the time a \
country school teacher, the daughter of Aaron B. Hal- j
lock, a native of New York city, who located in Mt. j
Caimel in 1839. The Hallocks trace their family back I
to the time of the landing of thirteen Pilgrim Fathers,
one of whom was Peter Hallock, at New Haven, Conn., j
in 1640. Peter Hallock was the first of the band to
step on shore among the Indians in Southold, at a place
still called Hallock's Neck, in honor of the event From
the Indians he purchased the Oyster Ponds in the near
vicinity, and returned to England, where he was mar- I
ried. In his absence the Indians resold the tract to
other parties, so that, upon his return, he had to seek I
another location. His only son, William, died Sept. 28, j
1684, leaving a will, which cut off a son, John, from all !
participation in his property, because he apostatized j
from the faith of his fathers, embracing as he did the
Quaker or Friends' belief, in which cause he was most I
earnest and faithful. He became the first of a line of j
six preachers of the same name. His death is recorded !
in Brookham, 1737, where the record says: " both very j
ancient and in unity with Friends." The neat dwellings
of himself and his son John yet remain in Setauket,
preserved by the Friends. John, the second, died in
1757. The sixth of the name John was the father of
James C,, of New York ; Allen C., of Evansville; Rich-
ard B., of Princeton ; Aaron B., of Mt. Carmel, already |
referred to as being the father of Mrs. Shearer.
Mr. Shearer is a prominent outspoken Republican. In
his religious convictions he is liberal. He is a man I
highly respected for his real worth, and because of his |
talents.
GEORGE W. KEEN,
WHOSE parents were among the early settlers of Wabash
county, was born September 2, 1827. His father, Dennis
Keen, was a native of Ohio, a farmer by occupation.
When but a small boy, George was set to plowing, a
vocation he has all through a busy life kept up. His
schooling was quite limited, extending over less than
five months altogether. This was in the Little Rock
district, near the present site of Allendale. Arrived
at the age of twenty-one, his father gave him an eighty
acre tract of land, all heavily wooded. AVith a will, he
went to work clearing out a farm. For five years he
" kept bach," as it is termed, in a cabin, while day by
day he was engaged in felling trees, burning brush, and
plowing the ever enlarging tract of farming land. At
the end of that time he had some fifty acres in fair cul-
tivable condition, and to the attractions of his home he
added a wife, being married to Jane Campbell on the
17th day of February, 1853. The marriage ceremony
was performed by Thomas Armstrong, at the time judge
of the county court, a gentleman who had often twitted
George on his bachelor way of living, and who had re-
peatedly asked for the chance of " marrying him without
charge, ' he always added. At the time of the marriage,
Mrs. Keen had a cow, a horse, some bed-clothing, and a
hundred and twenty-five dollars cash given her by her
father. Mr. Keen had fifty acres of cleared land, and
six, head of horses. During the first few years he was
peculiarly unfortunate in horses, losiug no less than nine
head, three of which were accidentally killed. Such
discouragements he bore patiently, and only toiled the
harder to make amends for the loss. Mrs. Keen was
the daughter of James, of Wilson county, Tenn. ; aud
Mary Campbell, of Virginia. They came to Illinois in
1851. The long and tedious journey was made by Mr.
and Mrs. Campbell, an aunt, an uncle, a hired hand
and four children — one son (James) and three daugh-
ters. The trip was made by wagon, on foot and on
horseback.
An incident in the early lives of Mr. and Mrs. Camp-
bell is worthy of mention. Mrs. Campbell, whose
maiden name was Pritchett, was the sole dependence of
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS. 307
her widowed mother. She had the plowing to do, the
wood to chop ; in short, tho various farm work that usu-
allv falls to the lot of boys was hers to do. Hence, her
mother forbade the match with Mr. Campbell ; but, as
was the custom, the neighboring boys aided James by
stealing the girl from her mother's house and aiding a
runaway match. Starting as they did, penniless, they
had a hard time of it. He split rails at twenty-five cents
per hundred, to get money with which to defray doctors'
bills. James Campbell died March 1st, 1879, and his
wife Mary P. Campbell, on March 17th, 1876. Both lie
buried iu Gard's Point grave-yard, a few miles south of
Lancaster.
On the old place cleared out by Mr. Keen they lived
till 1866, when he moved to his present home, where he
had bought four hundred acres of land. To himself and
wife were born ten children, nine of whom are living :
Sylvanus, Mary Elizabeth (dec'd), Margaret Jane,
Effie Isadora, Rosanna, Isabella, Sarah, James, Dennis
and Louisa. Of these, Sylvanus was married to Harriet
Susan Bryant, daughter of Samuel Bryant, Lawrence
county, Sept. 3, 1879 ; Margaret was married to Russell
Ridgeley, of Richland county, May 4, 1876 ; and Isadora
was married to Constantine Shiek, a Christian minister,
now of Richland county, May 4, 1882.
Mr. Keen is a Democrat of the old school, his voting
having commenced with a ballot cast for Lewis Cass.
He and his wife are faithful, earnest members of the
Christian Church. A good citizen, a kind neighbor, he
has hosts of friends.
SAMUEL MARX,
A FARMER living about two miles south of Lancaster,
was born in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, August
13, 183J. As the name indicates, he was of German
extraction. Both of his parents came to America fronJGer-
many in the year 1828. Michael Marx, his father, had mar-
ried Margaret Bisch, by whom he had one child, now
Barbara Deischer, before coming to America. To them
were born nine children in this country. The family came
to Wabash county in 1836, where they located in the woods
and with strong and willing arm?, Michael hewed out a
farm. He died December 11, 1878. His wife had only a
month before been carried to her last resting place, having
died November 4 of the same year. Of the family two
brothers and as many sisters yet survive. Samuel
Marx married Fannie Schlauker, daughter of Gideon
Schlauker, February 2, 1853. By her he has had ten
children: George Linder (deceased), Lizzie Clara
(deceased), Samuel S., Amanda, Mary, Gideon, Jennie,
Belle, Isaac and Charles H. When Samuel commenced
life for himself he had a horse and about forty dollars in
money. He worked earnestly, and as soon as possible
became a land owner. Steadily he has added to his
earnings, until now he is the happy possessor of one of
the finest farms in his vicinity. He is a sterling Demo-
crat politically. Religiously he is a member of the
Lutheran church, while his wife is an Albright. He
is industrious in his habits, earnest in everything he
undertakes to do, and eminently social.
ISAIAH BERNINGER
WAS born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, December
21, 1835. His father, Aaron, also a native of Berks
county, was a carpenter and mill-wright by trade. His
grandfather was one of the soldiers in the war of 1812,
and as such was, the last few years of his life, on the
pension rolls of his country. The maiden name of his
mother was Hannah Rhodes. He was the second in a
family of four boys. In his youth he was apprenticed
to the trade of wagon making. In the year 1856 he
came to Lancaster, Wabash county, where he engaged
I as a clerk in the mercantile business for Judge Hershy,
in whose employment he remained eight years, when he
J prosecuted wagon making and farming He was mar-
j ried to Sarah Ann Higgins, daughter of John Higgins,
March 17, 1859. By her he has had eleven children,
seven of whom are living and four dead. He is a pro-
nounced and representative Democrat. As a man of
sound judgment he has the confidence of his fellow citizens
who have kept him in office as justice of the peace since
1873. He takes great interest in school and church,
and has time and again been elected director in his school'
district- He is an active, working member of the
Christian church. His parents both died in the year
1876. Aaron, his father, in the month of January, and
Hannah a month afterwards. Mr. Berninger is an
excellent citizen, an honest man, a good neighbor, and
a man beloved by all who knows him.
GEORGE STOLTZ
! WAS born in Alsace, now tributary to Germany, then to
France, February 18, 1817. His father, Adam Stoltz,
was a shepherd in his native land ; a farmer here. To
himself and Eve his wife were born eight children, of
whom George was the third. The family crossed the
ocean en route to America in 1828, and were fifty-one
I days on the sea. Arriving in New York, they made
their way to Northumberland county, Pennsylvania,
! where they resided until 1834. In the spring time of
that year, two of the sons, Adam and George came to
j Wabash county whence their father and family followed
I them in the fall. George worked at the carpenter's
' trade, a vocation he followed fifteen years, and which
i even yet, although farming is his main reliance, he pur-
sues. His first venture towards becoming a landed
| proprietor was in 1850, when he entered an eighty acre
1 tract of the government. He was married to Margaret
Hinkle, daughter of Peter' Hinkle, March 14, 1841,
who located in Wabash county in 1830. Mrs. Stoltz
: was born February 1, 1821, in Davidson county, North
Carolina. Her parents were seven weeks, less two days
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
in coming by team from North Carolina here. To Mr.
and Mrs. Stoltz have been born the following children :
Henry, born December 1C, 1M1; Andrew, May 24,
1843; Peter, September 10, 1844; George, May 23,
1846; Mary Ann, December 6,1846, (died); Susan
Maria, Match 22, 1849; Saiah Elizabeth, November
30, 1850; Franklin, May 14, 1852; Jacob, May 19,
1854 ; John Hamilton, June 6, 1856 : Margaret, May 17,
1858; Lora, May 2, 1860; Clara Ellen, December 11,
1862. Mr. Stoltz is an aident Democrat and a member
of the Lutheran church.
PHILIP H. MAEX.
GERMANY has furnished many of the most industrious,
earnest, and law-abiding citizens, that go to make up
the cosmopolitan population of the United States.
Their children tenaciously adhere to those habits of in-
dustry and frugality that characterized their ancestors.
Every c< mmunity furnishes examples of the thrift inci-
dent to such training as they receive. Mr. Philip H.
Marx is an example of this class. His father, Michael
Marx, was born in Germany, and came to this country,
locating first in Pennsylvania in 1828, thence to Wabash
county in 1836. He was born in Northampton county,
Pennsylvania, April 21, 1832. Steadily and with
marked success he has pursued his chosen vocation of
farming. Starting out in life with but little means he
is now the possessor of a well cultivated farm of near
four hundred acres. He was united in marriage to
Margaret Stephens, daughter of George and Margaret
Stephens, March 5, 1857. The parents of Mrs. Marx,
in common with his own, were of German extraction.
They lived a number of years in Ohio, where Mrs.
Marx was born, thence to Indiana, and from there came
to Wabash county a few years prior to the date of the
above marriage. To them have been born five children :
Samuel C., William M., John H., Catharine and Mary.
Mr. Marx is an outspoken Democrat. His devotion
to the party's cause has remained unshaken since cast-
ing his first Presidential ballot, which was for James
Buchanan in 1856. He and his family are faithful,
zealous members of the Lutheran church. His beauti-
ful home place consists of three hundred and seventy-
four acres of land in a high state of cultivation.
JOHN HIGGINS,
OR "Uncle John," as he is familiarly called, was born
in Allegheny county, New York, January 14th, 1813.
His father, John Higgius also by name, was a ship-car-
penter, originally from Connecticut. Uis grandfather
•was a revolutionary soldier. The family were among
the pioneers of Wabash county, having come hither in
1816. In those early days, subsistence was scanty.
His father paid as high as twenty-five cents per pound
for bacon. Upon being questioned as to why he would
do so when the woods were full of game, he replied that
he " wanted something greasy." In the family were
three sons, one of whom, William, is dead, and George
is living in Riehland county. John Higgins was mar-
ried to Julia Keracher, a native of Berks county, Penn-
sylvania, where she was born, December 29lh, 1816 —
on the 31st of January, 1833. To them were born
twelve children, Delia, Jan. 9th, 1834; Mary C., March
12th, 1836; Betsey, Dec. 31st, 1837, died Jan. 14th,
1839; Daniel, Sept. 23d, 1839, died May 14th, 1857 ;
Sarah A., March 9th, 1842; Susannah, Feb. 17th, 1844 ;
Judah, April 7th, 1846, died Dec. 13th, 1870; George
! W., April 5th, 1849, died Aug. 12th, 1850; Maria,
April 5th, Nancy, Sept. 9th, 1837, and Ellen. Upon
the breaking out of the Black Hawk War, Mr. Higgins
was anxious to go, but his father needed his services, be-
ing engaged at the time in the erection of the first brick
building, perhaps erected in the county. During the
late war he was almost alone in his avowal of Republican
principles in his immediate vicinity, a faith to which he
has constantly adhered. He is a most devoted member
of the Christian Church, in the success of which he
takes great interest.
DR. EDWARD L. McJILTON.
A PHYSICIAN in the enjoyment of a fine and lucrative
! practice, was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, July
2d, 1842. His parents, Daniel an d Amelia McJilun
' were both natives of Maryland, as were also the grand -
; father and great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch
| To avoid the wrath of the British crown, the last referred
I to crossed the sea in company with Thomas Addis Em-
I mett, brother of the martyred Robert Emrnett, and thus
i iii America, the asylum for the oppressed, found refuge
' from an an ailing death. The maiden name of the doc-
• tor's mother was Tyson. The Tysons were originally
: French Huguenots, then Quakers or Friends, after
drifting from France to England and America. Pass-
I more, a name familiar to history, was the name of his
' grandfather on his mother's side. The doctor's father
died when he was but one and a half years of age, so
that he was reared by a widowed mother. In the family
were four sons and two daughters. Two of the sons,
i James, a teacher, and John, a carpenter by trade, are
living in Ohio. Thomas, a lawyer of large practice and
fine reputation, lives in Newark, New Jersey. The
1 sisters are Mrs. Prof. Locke, of Lockeland, Ohio, and
! MJS. Lobaugh, also of Ohio. Edward J. was educated
in Ohio. For some years he alternated teaching and
study. In 1857, he entered the Ohio Medical College,
; from which institution he graduated in ]870. He rame
\ to Lancaster in 1868. In 1869 he was married to Judith
i Higgins, who died within a year. In 1871 he married
Maria H iggins, a sister of his first wire, and daughter of
I John Higgins, by whom he has one child, Essie Josephine.
Since first coming to Lancaster, the doctor practiced
his profession a year in Evansville, Ind. Ae did valiant
service in behalf of the cause of the Union, during the
F/l/tM RESIDENCE OF RO'ZANDER SMITH, SEC.ISJ.I^.I+flANCASTfK PRECINCT) WABA SH CO. ILL.
Of THE
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
309
war, having enlisted in Co. "I," 110th Ohio Reg. Vol.,
under Col. Keifer, in August, 1862. He participated in
every battle with his Regiment from Gettysburg until
the close of the war. He was mustered out in June,
1865. He is an earnest, ardent Republican, proud of
the opportunity which was his, of casting his first ballot
for Abraham Lincoln, the martyred President.
ROZANDER SMITH
WAS born in Uiica, New York, April 9th, 1817. His
father, Ramsler E. Smith, was a carpenter and farmer,
a native of New York, as were his parents of England.
His mother's maiden name was Mary Osgood. In a
family of four children, Rozander was the only son.
They were pioneers in the vicinity of Lancaster, having
located there in 1820, or rather near old Palmyra.
For years Ramsler E. followed his vocation of carpenter,
working at his trade in Albion, Edwards ccunty, Pal-
myra, Lancaster and Evansville,Indiana,where he died,
in 1841. Mary Smith, the mother of the subject of this
sketch, died in 1822, and was among the first whose
bodies were consigned to the tombs in the Lancaster
grave-yard. Rozauder attended the first school ever
taught in Lancaster, in a log cabin, whose windows were
made of greased paper. He married Rebecca Hubbard,
daughter of Sidney Hubbard, of Richland county, Dec.
27th, 1846. She died August 26th, 1860. Of eight
children born to them, all are dead save one, Benjamin
Franklin by name. Mr. Smith was married to his
present wife, Cinthia Ann Suider, daughter of Peter
Snider, April 14th, 1869. By her he has three children
living, William, Levitt and Edgar Rozander. Rozander
Smith has occupied his present homestead since 1847.
His farm consists of four hundred and twenty acres, a
quarter section of which he entered of the Government.
He commenced life without a dollar, worked for wages,
which he systematically saved, and laid out in land. His
purchases were at first small. He has been a Justice of
the Peace for sixteen consecutive years, and for four
years was Associate Justice of the County Court. He
is a Democrat as he himself expresses it, "straight out."
His religious convictions are in common with the Uui-
versalists. His grandfather, Benjamin Smith, was for
many years a Revolutionary pensioner, having served
his country in 1776. He died in Edwards county, in
1841.
DK FAY K. WALLER.
PROMINENT among the rising young physicians ofWa-
bash county may very appropriately be mentioned Dr.
Fay K. Waller, of Lancaster. He was born in Zanes-
ville, Muskingum county, Ohio, Oct. 2nd, 1848. His
father, J. L. Waller, was for a number of years a mar-
ble cutter. After his coming to Illinois, which he did
in 1864, he commenced preaching, for which nature had
BO well fitted him. He is now the Presiding Elder in
the Mt. Carmel District. He was ordained by Bishop
Simpson. His father, also an M. E. preacher, was or-
dained by Bishop Asbury, and his grandfather by John
Wesley. This last one referred to among the doctor's
ancestors, lived to the great age of one hundred and ten
years, when he died in Coshocton county, Ohio. The
maiden name of the doctor's mother was Frances E.
Gammon. Dr. Waller enlisted in Co. A. 2nd Virginia
Regiment, Col Albia Tomlinson commanding, in 1861,
although but thirteen years of age at the tin e He was
part of the time bugler and part orderly to the colonel.
The boy of the regiment, as he was denominated, kept
with them until the close of the war, being mustered out
in July, 1865. In September of the same year he came
to Illinois, where for two years he engaged in farming
in Richland county. In 1867 he commenced reading
medicine with Doctors West and Spahling, of Ingraham
with whom he continued three years, when he entered
Miami Medical College, .in Cincinnati, Ohio, from
whence he was graduated Ftb. 26th, 1878. During
the eight years intervening between the time of his first
attendance upon lectures in Miami College and gradu-
ation from that institution, he was engaged in the
practice of his chosen profession in Crawford county.
He came to Lancaster in October, 1878, where he
formed a co-partnership with Dr. Friend. He was united
in marriage with Catherine S. McClure, d .ughter of
Richard and Mary McClure, May 15th, 1877. She
died August 22d, 1878. The doctor was married to his
present wife, Martha A. Leeper, daughter of John and
Catharine Leeper, October 1st, 1879. Mr. Leeper is
a minister in the M. E. church. By this union have
been born two children, Glen Leeper and Orla L., both
bright and intelligent. The doctor k a most pronounced
and outspoken Republican. He is a member of the
Masonic Order and of the Knights of Honor. As a
physician he is attentive, and is a constant and close
student. His ancestry can be traced back to Sir
William Wallace, 1630.
AUGUSTINE J. RODGERS
WAS born on the farm he now occupies, iJec. 5, 1842.
His father, Patrick Rodgers, a native of Ireland, came
to America about the year 1830, and soon thereafter
made his way to Wabash county. In common with
many of his nationality he was a railroader. When
the O. and M. R. R. was being built he became a con-
tractor, and the very day he had completed a contract
for grading two miles near Clement, June 4th, 1854, he
died. Malinda Gupton, the maiden name of the
mother of Mr. Rodgers, was a native of North Carolina
She lived some years in East Tenn, then came here in
1825. She died Dec. 28, 1863. Augustine J. never
had the opportunity of attending a school where seats
had backs, nor indeed of attending any kind long. He
was married to Julia M. Gard, daughter of Justus Gard,
Feb 19,1868 The Cards were among the pioneers of Wa-
bash county. Atone time they were a large and influential
310
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
family, whilenow only a few representatives of the name
remain. To Mr. and Mrs. Rodgers were born seven
children with their names and dates of birth as follows:
Lillie, Dec. 27, 1868, died Nov. 13, 1870. Sidney
Clarence, Aug. 3, 1870- Alonzo Marcellus, Jan. 21,
1873. Maggie May, Sept. 24, 1874. Charles Delbert,
Oct. 1, 1877. Effie and Ida (twins) Sept. 4, 1879.
Effie died June 21, 1880. Mr. Rodgers is an uncom-
promising democrat in his political views. Religiously
he is a member of the United Brethren church. He
had one brother, James, who died Oct. 26, 1879, and
two sisters, one the wife of N. G. Cunningham, the other
of Belmont Tapley.
DR. WILLIAM FRIEND
WAS born in Elizabeth county, Kentucky, December 2,
1 828. His father, Ephraim Friend, was a farmer, and
a native of Kentucky. His mother, whose maiden
name was Rachel Murphy, was a North Carolinian, and
was taken by her parents to both Virginia and Tennes-
see before locating in Kentucky. The family moved to
Wayne county, Illinois, in 1829. In all there were nine
children, of whom Doctor Friend was the third, in
the order of their birth. Ephraim Friend died Jan. 24, j
1880. It is supposed that the family sprang from one of j
two brothers who came from England to Pennsylvania j
about the year 1600. They were a family of pioneers,
and its representatives are found much scattered. I
William Friend lived in Wayne county until 1850, j
when he moved to Jefferson county. In his earlier ;
manhood he taught school. His first reading of medi- j
cine was with Dr. H. T. Edwards. He was engaged
nearly two years in a drug store as clerk, first in La
Salle, then in Fairfield. In the spring of 1834 he
located in Lancaster, where he has since resided. He
was married to Evelena Bailey, daughter of Elias Bai-
ley, a prominent citizen, formerly of Maryland, where
he had been a ship' carpenter, March 13th, 1855. By
her he has two children living, Kate and William
Marshall. The doctor is an earnest democrat, and as
such has been recognized as a leader among his fellow-
citizens. He served as a member of the state board of
equalization from 1868 to 1872. As a practitioner he
has been eminently successful. In surgery he has j
performed many operations requiring great skill. Per-
haps he is of tener consul ted than any other physician of j
his county. He is noted as being cool in any emergency, |
and is possessed of excellent judgment. He was twice I
elected president of the Wabash medical society, in
whose affairs he takes deep interest. He has acquired a
reputation of being the young physicians' friend, aiding :
and befriending them, whenever occasion offered. The I
doctor is a member of the Masonic fraternity, being a j
knight templar in Gorin commaudery, Olney.
CHARLES SEIBERT.
THE Seiberts are of Dutch extraction. The ancestors I
came from Holland and settled in America .prior to the ,
revolutionary war, and took part in that memorable
struggle. Solomon Seibert. the grandfather, was born
in Berks county, Pa., in 1778, and was a tanner by
trade, but he also followed farming. He came to Illi-
nois in 1834 and settled one half mile east of the village
of Lancaster, where he bought one hundred and sixty
acres of land, forty of which were improved, and there
lived until his death, which took place July 27, 1852.
He married Mary Scheirer March 25, 1800. She died
July 27, 1835. There were nine children by that union,
three of whom are living, viz. : Reuben, Elizabeth, wife
of Daniel Genther and Catherine, wife of William Wise.
Jacob, the father of Charles, was born in Berks county,
Pennsylvania, Nov. 30, 1811. He grew to manhood in
his native state, and came to Illinois in 1832, where
he followed farming, but subsequently took up the trade
of carpenter. He remained in the neighborhood of
Lancaster until his death, which took place Dec. 13,
1862. He married Miss Catherine Fritz, of Lehigh
county, Pennsylvania, March 26, 1834. She was born
Sept. 11, 1811, and was the daughter of Henry Fritz.
She died Nov. 11, 1880. There were seven sons and
two daughters born to Jacob and Catherine Seibert, the
youngest of whom died in infancy. Charles Seibert is
the eldest of the family. He was born one mile west of
the town of Lancaster, Wabash county, Ills , Nov. 10,
1834. He received a fair knowledge of the elementary
branches in the subscription schools of his neighborhood.
He commenced working at the carpenter trade with his
father when twelve years of age, and continued at it for
six years, then the next two years worked at millwright-
ing, and then resumed his first trade. Subsequently he
became a builder and contractor and erected many
buildings throughout the northern part of the county.
He continued in that trade until 1870, when he engaged
in general merchandising, in which he still continues.
On the 12th of August, 1858, he was united in marriage
to Miss Elizabeth Giuther, who was born Nov. 19, 1836,
in Berks county; Pennsylvania. She is the daughter
of Daniel and Elizabeth Ginther. There have been
twelve children born to Mr. and Mrs. Seibert, eight of
whom are living. The names of these latter, in the
order of their birth, are : Mary Abigail, Jacob O.,
Daniel F., Ida S , Webster, Lyman L., Flory I. and
Cora Belle. Both he and his wife, two eldest sons and
two eldest daughters are members of the Lutheran
church.
Mr. Seibert takes an active interest in church affairs,
and has been treasurer of the church for twenty years.
He is also conspicuous as a Sunday-school worker, and
has been connected with the Sunday-school for forty
years as a scholar and superintendent. Politically, he
has been a Democrat since 1856, when he cast his first
vote for James Buchanan. Mr. Seibert is recognized as
the leading business man of Lancaster, possessing that
combination of push and energy which has made him
a man in whom the confidence of a community may
be safely reposed.
STORE OF A.PIXLLY JUN* ESTABLISHED 1862, WEST SA LLM , EDWARDS CO. ILLINOIS
SALEM.
EDWARDS COUNTY.
ALEM PRECINCT derived its name from Sa-
lem, an old Moravian town in NorthCarolina
It occupies the northeastern partof Edwards,
and is bounded on the north by Richland,
on the east by Wabash county and Bonpas creek, on the
south by Albion, and on the west by Shelby precinct.
Territorially it extends west from Bonpas creek, and
includes the eastern tier of sections of Range 10 East,
and north from the southern boundary of Town 1, and
embraces the southern tier of sections of Town 2 North.
The surface is generally level, and was originally divi-
ded about equally between timber and prairie. In the
northern part were the " barrens," as they were called,
covered with a low growth of brush, over which deer
could be conveniently brought down by the hunter.
Mills Prairie in the eastern, Buck Prairie in the south-
eastern, and Long Prairie in the western part, are fer-
tile areas, and centres of considerable wealth. Timber
is quite abundant, and much of it of recent growth.
The hard varieties of wood are well represented. The
soil is fertile aud well adapted to the growth of wheat,
which is the staple product. The other cereals receive
a share of attention, and fruit, especially apples, is
largely raised. The production of honey was among
the important early industries of the people, which
necessarily gave way before the march of agriculture.
Corn was the chief product, but much attention was
paid to the production of pork. Castor beans, at a little
later date, claimed a share of attention, and tobacco was
extensively cultivated for a number of years preceding
the close of the late war. Water supply and drainage
are derived from Bonpas and Walser creeks. The
latter enters the precinct at section 24, T. 1 N., R. 10
E , and flows southeasterly, entering into Bonpas at
section 34 Most of the original settlers were from
North Carolina, but there is at present a large German
element.
Permanent settlements began to be effected about the
year 1820. Prior to this date a few frontiersmen had
pushed their way into the wilderness many miles and
many years in advance of civilization. Among these,
tradition informs us of three brothers, Daston, whose
rifles broke the stillness of the primeval forest as early
as the year 1800. Their cabins occupied respectively
the W. half of the S. E. quarter, and the E half of the
S. E. quarter of section 10, and N. half of the N. W.
quarter of section 15, T. 1 N., R. 14 E. Ransom Hig-
gins, who claimed to have made the first wagon tracks
west of the Wabash river, arrived in the precinct as
early as 1820 or '21, and was one of the most useful as
well as one of the earliest pioneers. He was a man of
activity, energy and enterprise. He settled on Bonpas
creek, and there/on the S. E. quarter of the S.W quar-
ter of section 3, about 1821 or '22, he erected a water-
mill, the first thing of the kind in the precinct. He
was a representative man, and the earliest justice of the
peace, holding the office before the year 1833. Isaac
Greathouse was a Kentuckian by birth. In his native
State he married Sarah Russel, and began farming,
which he followed about ten years, and then about 1814
or '15, with his faonly, came to Illinois. The Indian
hostilities drove him along with others into the fort at
Mt. Carmel. After a period of six or eight years, he
returned to his native State, but left it again in 1821,
with his family, and came to Illinois, settling perma-
nently on the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter
of section 13. His children were David Preston, Enoch,
George, Dorothy and Eliza. He was a plain, industrious
farmer, and never aspired to office or position of public
trust. Francis, his son by his second wife, is now a
prominent and influential farmer, living on section 13.
David and Preston, now dead, married, settled down
and always lived in the precinct. Enoch, the oldest of
the pioneer children, is a wealthy farmer residing in
section 18, T. 1 N., R. 11 E. The Greathouse family is
one of the oldest and most numerous in the county.
Lot Sams was a native of North Carolina, but had lived
iu Tennessee and Kentucky. From the latter State he
came to Illinois about the year 1815, with his family, on
pack-horses. He first settled in what is now Shelby
precinct, on the S. W. quarter of section 35, T. 1 N., R.
10 E., where he remained five or six years, and then
moved to the S. W. quarter of section 25, where he died
October 24, 1863. By thrift and energy he accumulated
a considerable amount of property. Samsville, a little
hamlet of six or seven families, bears his name. A
post-office was established here in 1864.
Two other important arrivals occurred in 1821:
George Walser and Lampton McKinney were from
Bartholomew county, Indiana. Walser had been in
311
312
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASII COUN1IES, ILLINOIS.
the ranging service in Illinois, and had seen something
of the country. His family on his arrival, consisted of
his wife, whose maiden name was Rachel McKinney,
and his daughters, Sarah and Eliza. He settled first on
the east half of the northwest quarter of section 28,
where he lived for a few years, and then located per-
manently on the northeast quarter of section 20, where
he died October 25, 1854. McKinney brought a family
of five sons, Thomas, Joseph, Lampton, Alfred and
Charles. All except Alfred, who had served in the |
Black Hawk war, and who was killed by the falling of
a tree, returned to Indiana.
The settlement received two accessions in the year
1822— William Lock and Thomas Mason. The former
was a native of Louisiana, and participated in the battle
of New Orleans. He brought with him quite a large
family of children, and settled on the E. half of the N.
E. quarter of section 20, and lived there till 1829, when
the place was purchased by George Walser. He then
moved to the west half of the northeast quarter of section
17, and began improvements, which he sold to Ptter
Hinkle in 1831, and then moved to Sangamon county.
He subsequently, after having returned to Edwards
county, moved to Missouri and became wealthy. He
had a genius for the mechanic trades, and was at the
same time cooper, blacksmith and shoemaker. As the
latter, he was something of a prodigy, being able to
make five pair of shoes in a day and night. He never
wore a coat, vest or stock ings even in the coldest weather.
His hunting shirt was always open and his breast ex-
posed. He was a powerful man, six feet and six inches
in height, and weighed without surplus flesh, 220 to 240
pounds. Thomas Mason with his family came from Penn-
sylvania, and settled on the northwest quarter of section j
36, T. 2 N., R. 10 E. Joseph Robinson was a native of !
Tennessee, and went from that State to Indiana, whence j
in 1823, he came to Illinois, bringing his wife and ;
children, Andrew Anna, John, Aaron and Cerena. He
settled on.the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter. |
of section 22, ending his days there in January, 1855.
Andrew married and settled on the northeast quarter
of the northeast quarter of section 21, where his widow
now resides. Sarah Aldridge, a widow, her son, G. H.
McClure, and two daughters, Jane and Sarah, about
the year 1823, settled on the southeast quarter of the
southwest quarter of section 21. Mrs. Aldridge moved
to Wabash county and there died. McClure married
and settled on the old homestead, after having spent
some time in Kansas and California. His death occurred
in 1872. The next important arrival was Henry I.
Mills. He was originally from Marietta, Ohio, but
had lived for several years in Vincennes, Indiana,
whence with his family, consisting of his wife and
children, John and Sarah, he came to Illinois, and set-
tled on the N. E. quarter of section 28, in the prairie
that bears his name. His children, Henry and Benja-
min Franklin, born of his second wife, are living on the
old homestead. Mills was a Colonel in the war of 1812,
and commanded a regiment in the battle of Tippecanoe.
He was a prominent man in the community of which he
formed a part, and enjoyed the confidence of all who
knew him. He built on his farm in 1830, the first
brick building erected in the precinct. His death took
place in May 1854 at the place of his original settlement.
Joseph Carpenter, with his mother, a widow, a half-
brother, and two half-sisters, came to Edwards from
Washington county in 1825, and settled on the W. J of
the N. E. t of section 15. He was originally from Vir-
ginia, and moved to Washington county in 1808 or '10.
He was a genius in the mechanic trade, and the first
wagon maker in the precinct. He died in October,
1833. Adam Hedrick came from North Carolina in
1829, and settled on the S. E. i of section 17, which he
entered. His family consisted of his wife, five children,
David, Joseph, Catharine, Matthias, an i Elizabeth, his
sister and his step-daughter. He was a prominent and
useful citizen, being master of most of the mechanic
trades. He held the office of township treasurer, and
was post master at Mills Prairie post office. Two of the
pioneer children, David and Matthias, are living, the
former in West Salem, the latter in Kansas. Banjamin
Ulm is a native of Ross county, Ohio. He came to
Edwards in the year 1820. He is one of the few sur-
vivors of the original settlers of the county, and now
resides in section 32, T. 2 N., R. 14 W. Lovicia Kneip,
his first wife, died in 1848 ; his second, Harriet L. Gray,
in 1876. They were both natives of Ohio. His pres-
ent wife, Sarah Campbell, is a native of Tennessee.
George Lopp was born in North Carolina in the year
1791, and came to Illinois in 1830. In his native state
he married Mary Hedrick, whom, with six children
Elizabeth, George, Magdalen, Barbara, Mary, and
Catharine he brought with him. He settled half a mile
southwest of West Salem, where he purchased a small
improvement of John Brown, which had been previously
occupied by one Galloway. Here he died in 1835.
George is now a druggist and prominent citizen of West
Salem. The fall of 1830 witnessed quite an accession
of immigrants from Davidson county, North Carolina.
Among the number were George Hedrick, Solomon
Hedrick, Thomas Walser, Briton Walser, John Lopp,
already spoken of, Peter Hiukle and Peter Suyder.
Solomon Hedrick and Peter Snyder were single men.
The others had families. Hinkle was a widower, and
came to the country in a two-horse wagon, with ten
dollars in his pocket. He was the earliest blacksmith
in the precinct. The occurrence of the Black Hawk
war and the Indian troubles checked immigration for a
number of years. In 1838 six or eight families arrived
from Davidson county, North Carolina, among whom
were the Cladfelters. The Germans began coming in
the year 1849. Then four single men, P. T. Hallbeck,
Albert Knoll, Christopher Israel, and one Gelser ar-
rived, having left Germany with West Salem as their
destination. Some time afterward, in the same year,
fifty-four Germans from Saxony, most of them of the
Of THE
RESIDENCE^STOCK AUO GRAIN FARM or PHILANDER GOULD
r. 32, T i. R 14 W. (SALEM PRECINCT) EDWARDS Co., IL
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
313
Moravian faith, arrived at the village. To these acces-
sions of the Germans the origin of West Salem is due.
Prominent among the families of the precinct are the
Goulds. Philander, a wealthy retired farmer of section
32, T. 1 N., came to the county from West Virginia in
1835. His first wife, Sarah Knowlton, was born at
Amherst, Massachusetts, and came to the county in 1829
Thomas Hocking, a farmer and stock-raiser, of section
14, T. 1 S., R. 10 E., was born in Edwards county in
1833. His wife, Cynthia A. Potter, is a native of Wash-
ington county, Ohio. The precinct was represented in
the Black Hawk war by David Greathouse, Alfred Me
Kenney, Lewis Pixley, Gordon Coplea and Matthew
Rice, who is yet living in the precinct.
The first school-house in the precinct was built of
round logs, on the N. E. quarter of the S. E. quarter of
section 21, as early as 1824 or '25. Its equipments were
of the most primitive character, consisting of puncheon
seats and a puncheon writing desk, occupying one side
of the building, directly over which a log had been
sawed out to afford light, the space being filled with
genuine window-glass, instead of the usual greased paper.
The chimney was made of clay and sticks, and rested
upon a sort of trestle work. Prior to the building of
this house, school was taught in deserted cabins. One
Sweat, a colored man, taught in the school-house, as j
early as 1829 or '30. Other early teachers were
Lathrop Rude and Daniel Abbey, an Eastern man.
A log school-house was built on the southeast I
quarter of section 17, about the year 1836. Rev.
Massey, a Methodist, preached at Joseph Robinson's as '
early as 1830. Rev. Maginnis was also an early
preacher. The earliest permanent burial place is on the
Joseph Robinson farm, and was used for interment prior
to 1835. Higgins' water-mill, on Bonpas creek, has al-
ready been referred to as the first in the precinct.
Kellen and Cladfelter put up a one-burr log-mill on the
S. W. quarter of the S E. quarter of section 8, in the
winter of 1840. The first permanent resident physician
js Dr. Schafer, of West Salem, who began practice in
1849. Drs. David and Samuel Philbrick, and Samuel
Lesher practiced at an earlier date. The following are
.the first land-entries : the E. half of the N. W. quarter
of section 28 was entered by Henry J. Mills, Sept. 14th,
1822; the W. half of S. W. quarter section 21, by T. !
McKiiiney, July 5th, 1825 ; the E. half ofN.E. quarter
20, by George Walser, May 14th, 1829 : the E. half of j
S. E. quarter section 21, George McClure, Sept. 3, 1829, '
Enoch Preston and David Greathouse, April 12th, 1830,
entered respectively the W. half of N. E. quarter, the
E. half N. W. quarter and the W. half of S. E. quarter j
of section 19, T. 1 N., R. 11 E., August 21st, 1821.
Isaac Greathouse entered the N. ^ . quarter of section
13, March .,1st, 1827. Lot Sams entered the E. half of
S. E. quarter of section 25.
WEST SAI.KM.
This prosperous little village of about three hundred
40
and fifty inhabitants, occupies a central position in the
precinct, and is located on the S. E. quarter of the N.
E. quarter of section 18, T 1 N , R. 14 W. It is a
station on the Peoria, Decaturand Evansville Railroad,
which extends north and south through the precinct.
The village is supported by a prosperous and thickly
settled farming community. It had its origin in the
little band of German immigrants, already referred to.
Of their number, P. T. Hallbeck put up the first building
within the present village limits, July 14th, 1849. It is
a double frame structure, and was used as a storehouse,
by Mr. Hallbeck, and as a dwelling, by him and a num-
ber of other Germans. Here were sold the first gooHs in
the precinct, consisting of linens and broad-cloth. The
next building was a frame storehouse and dwelling, built
by Stephen S. Gunn, who kept general merchandise.
Mr. Gunn had been running flat-boats on the Bonpas,
and continued the business some time after his arrival in
West Salem, till the year 1853, supplying a market for
the produce of the country, at Vicksburg, Memphis and
New Orleans. He was a valuable citizen, and did much
to build up the village, which he left in 1861, and moved
to Olney, where he yet resides. The first, school- house,
a frame building, about 20x22 feet, was put up in the
winter of 1850 and 51. Rev- Martin Houser was the
first teacher there, as well as the first njiiiister in the
village. He was a Moravian, and entered the land for
the village, in the name of Charles F. Klugha, Presi-
dent of the Synod of the Southern Provincial Conference
of the Moravian Church of North America. It was first
called New Salem, but on the establishment of a post-
office there, in 1854, the nams was changed to West
Salem. It was surveyed and platted by Thomas R.
Bicfcet, August 3d, 1849. April 2-'d, 1867, it was in-
corporated under the general law. Its first Board of
Trustees were William Foster, sr , (President), J. H.
McDowell, J. B. Michel, E. G. Altner and George Pix-
ley, Clerk, A. L. Harnmaker, Treasurer, J. B. Michel.
Its growth, though not rapid, has been steady and sub-
stantial. It has a two-story, four-room, brick school-
house, built in 1880, at a cost of about $4000. Five
churches bear testimony to the religious inclinations of
iU citizens, viz: the German Moravian, the oldest
church ii»the precinct, a frame structure, built in 1845 ;
the English Moravian, 40x60 feet, built of brick, in
1858, at a cost of *oOOO; the Evangelical, a frame, 26x
46 feet, built about 1860 for $1000; the Christian, a
frame, 26x36 feet, erected in 1860, at a cost of about
$600, and the Seventh Day Adventists, also a frame,
26x40 feet, built in 1879 and '80.
PRESENT BUSINESS.
Salem Flouring Mill. — a three-story frame building
was put up by Frederick Luther, in 1878. It is operated
by steam, and has one wheat and one corn burr. It is
confined to custom work. Its cost was $5000. In con-
nection with it is a circular saw-mill.
Phyxieuim.— Herman Schafer, John T. Plimell, Eli-
sha Jenner, John A. Houser.
314
HIS'lORy OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Druggists. — George Lopp, F. M. Bussard.
General Merchants. — Asa Pixley, jr., Joseph H. Me
Dowel, C. Feldmann & Co , A. Fricke.
Grocers.— Paul O. Hallbeck, John Meisenheimer,
Heury Harms.
General Hardware.— G. H. Voight.
Post Master. — George Lopp.
Spoke Factory and Wagon Shop.— William Voigt,
Francis Pixley.
Blacksmiths. — George Biggs, L. C. Modrow.
Dressmakers and Milliners.— Emma, Hallbeck and
Anna Hunter.
Livery Stable. — Samuel A. Rothrock.
Hotel— Eliza, Biehl, Samuel A. Rothrock.
Marble Yard— H. T. Dwyer & Co.
Carpenters.— J. P. Miller, Daniel Miller, Ptrmaue
Rothrock, Edwiu Rothrock.
Painters. — Moratz Neuman, ,1. B. Siewers.
£arber.—W. R. Robinsou.
Butcher.— C. S. Foster.
Fruit Nursery.— C. F. Winter.
Furniture.— G. Feldmann, H. W. Busefink.
Lumber Dealer. — William H. Rotrammel.
Grain Dealers.— Pixley & Foster, G. C. Walser.
Saddler and Harness Maker. — Jeremiah Dixon.
Shoemakers — Henry Harms, Frederick Steffens, Fred-
erick Grass, Andrew Elikofer.
Bakery — John Meisenheimer.
Justice— G. C. Walser.
Constable.— Samuel A. Rothrock.
SOCIETIES.
West Salem Lodge, K. of H., No. 2833, was organized
September 19th, 1882. Its charter membership num-
bered seventeen ; its present memb Tship numbers twenty
five. It is free from debt and has $100 in its treasury.
The town of Rockford was laid out on the S. E. quar-
ter of the S. W. quarter of section 3, the site of Higgins'
water-mill. It never prospered and had no existence
beyond the paper upon which it was platted. At the
mill was established the first post-office in the precinct,
as early a* 1836. It is now kept at the hamlet of Pin-
hook.
BIOGRAPHIES.
ANSEL A GOULD.
A ROSTER of the prominent farmers of Edwards county
would be incomplete without containing the name of
ANSEL A. GOULD, who is one of the most successful of
their number. He was born (one of twins) in Lewis
county, Virginia (now Upshur county, West Virginia),
February 13th, 1817. His parents, Ebenezer and Eli-
zabeth Gould, when Ansel was a youth, went from
Virginia to New York, whence they preceded him here,
coming in 1835,— he following in 1836.
Mr. Gould was united in marriage, Nov. llth, 1838,
with Chloe, daughter of Roswell Knowlton, who came
to Illinois from Virginia in 1830, and died in 1834.
By her he has had nine children. Soon after coming
to Illinois, he hired out his services at eleven dollars
per month. In the fall following his arrival he went to
Arkansas, where he had $36 per month as a teamster.
The first money he was enabled to save from his wages
went to pay for land he had bought of George Flower.
His first venture in a speculative way was to build a
flat-boat, and load it with provisions to take to New
Orleans. On the way, both boat and cargo were lost by
sinking. The loss was a severe one, as he was paying
12 per cent, interest on money he had borrowed with
which to fit out the boat. Shipment of produce follow-
ed which subsequently proved profitless, but his farming
operations were eminently successful, so that he acquired
considerable property, and has by energy and labor
succeeded beyond most men. A fine view of his home-
place is shown elsewhere in this work. He is an ardent
Republican, and an earnest, faithful member of the M.
E. Church. His benefactions in behalf of his fellow-
men, and in behalf of the cause of religion, have been
large. The names of his children and dates of birth,
etc , are as follows: Deuel, born April 27, 1840 ; Mary
A., February 13, 1843; Edson, January 14, 1846;
Emily E , August 15, 1849 ; Harriet M., April 14, 1851 ;
Olive M., Dec. 28, 1854; Aaron A., August 19, 1857 ;
Alice C., Aug. 14, 1860; Elmina S., October 18, 1863.
Of these, Edson died Sept 5, 1848.
PHILANDER GOULD.
FURNISHING an apt illustration of what may be
accomplished by earnest effort and a will that knows
no failure, Philander Gould affords an excellent ex-
ample. He was born in Lewis county, Virginia (now
Upshur county, West Virginia), one of twins, Ansel A.
being the other, February 13, 1817. His father, Ebene-
zer, was a native of Massachusetts. His mother, whose
maiden name was Elizabeth Meeks, was also a New-
Englander. They lived a few years in Virginia, thence
went to New York In 1835, in company with his
father, Philander came to Edwards county, a penniless
boy. He wanted to work, but in a manner that would
accomplish the most good for himself. His plan was to
buy wild laud and improve it. Joel Churchill, at the
time a merchant in Albion, assisted him, by fur-
nishing money with which he bought forty acres of
I
:" ,,:^.:-^> v;
•/v
u
•
;
' .
; |
-"' nrtrtj1
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LA WRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS. 315
land. On this tract he went to work, and steadily, year
by year, has he improved his financial condition, until
now he is one of the largest tax-payers of Edward*
county. Failures he has met with a stout heart, and
overcome; reverses and monetary losses he has sustained,
but they have left no impress upon him. He was mar-
ried to Sarah Knowlton, a native of Amherst, Mass. ,
Oct. 30, 1836. By her he had ten children, all of whom
are living. She died January 10, 1876. He was again
married to Martha L. Courtrecht, daughter of John
Courtrecht, a native of New York, Sept. 10, 1876. By
her he has two bright, intelligent children. He is a
firm, uncompromising Republican in political faith.
AMONG prominent farmers in Edwards county, who
combine with farming operations business requiring
sound judgment and tact, may be mentioned Blashel
Foster. To farming he successfully adds grain dealing
on an extensive scale, and likewise is a stock shipper-
He was born in Clark county, Indiana, Nov. 18, 1826.
The son of William and Lucy (Shirley) Foster. The
family came to Edwards county in 1844. Mr. Foster's
wife, to whom he was married in May, '55, was a daughter
of Martin Houser, a Moravian preacher at Hope, Bartho-
lomew county, Indiana, and latterly of West Salem,
which village he laid out in 1845, after the style of the
town of Niesky, Prussia. Her name was Emeline C.
Houser. By her there were bom to Mr. Foster eight
children, three of whom died in infancy, and five,
William E., Lucy S., Dr. Martin D. (a physician
practicing in Olney), Caroline M., and George D., are
living. Blashel Foster is a member of the A. F. and
A. M. Society, in whose workings he manifests great
interest ; is also a member of the Christian church, in
which cause he is earnest and enthusiastic. In 1872, his
fellow citizens of the Liberal Republican faith, as a
compliment to his recognized fitness for the position, ran
him as a candidate for the State Senate, giving him a
flattering vote. Politically he might properly be classed
as an Independent Republican. He is a gentleman
possessed of social qualities of a high order. A view of
his home is shown on another page of this work.
310 HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWREXCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
ASA PIXLEY (DKCKASEIO
AMONG the pioneers of Wabash »nd Edwards counties
were the Barneys, McClures, Ingrahams, and Pixleys.
who were all natives of Alleghany county. New York,
and who came together first to Wabash county, about
1*09. Asa Pixley, the subject of this sketch, one of
this number, was born iu Alleghany county, N. Y., in
1805. His father, Job, was a farmer, a man strongly
imbued with the old time pioneer spirit of adventure.
In the family was William, Asa, Lewis, and Isaac. Of
these, William died in Friendsville, where he was an
honored citizen all his life, in 1880. Asa was noted for
his love for, and excellence in, all manner of athlete
sports. When in attendance, in early manhood, upon
the annual battalion musters, he found few equals in
running, jumping, and other sports. For many years
he lived iu Barney Prairie, where his father first located,
and in 1829 came to Edwards county. He married
Amanda Ingraham, by whom he had Osman, Harrison,
Nancy Ann, Eliza, Asa, Jr , Pathenia, and Caspar. His
sons and daughters are all doing well. Asa was an
earnest, faithful Christian man ; a most excellent neigh-
bor, an active participant in all things calculated to ad-
vance t' e interests of his vicinity. A kind husband, an
indulgent father, he enjoyed universal respect. He
died at a good old age, February 9th, 1883.
Dr. HERMANN M SCHAEFER.
DURING the prevalence of the wars of 1848-9 in Ger-
many, many of her citizens, and not a few of her soldier-,
sought homes across the sea in America. Among the
latter -Dr. H. M. Schaefer, at the time company surgeon
at home, on furlough, slipped away, taking passage on
the boat Helena, in the Bremen trade, and came hither.
As the vessel set sail from the harbor of Bremen, she
was twice intercepted and chased back, a third attempt
proved successful, a favoring wind lending aid to her
flight, and she on a northwestward course soon left
pursuing Danish sails far in her wake. Fearing to
encounter the enemy they pursued their way far to the
north, passing between the Shetland and Orkney Islands.
When cU-ar of such fear they raised the flag of tlieir
country, and reached the port of New York after a
voyage of seven weeks, less one day, on the ocean. Be-
fore leaving Bremen the captain of the vessel thought
of raising the Russian flag for safety, but finally con-
cluded, without colors, to make to sea.
Dr. H. M. Schaefer was born in Niesky, in lower
Silesia, Prussia, April 14th, 1821. His father, John
Gottlieb Schaefer, was a potter by occupation. His
mother's maiden name was Christina Koch. He had a
brother and two sisters. One of the sisters, Marie Louisa
Voekel, died, the wife of a missionary of the Moravian
faith to the West Indies, on the island of St Croix, in
1854. She had been at her post of duty since 1848.
The doctor landed in New York city, July 3d, 1849, so
that almost the first pleasing sight to greet his vision
were flags and bunting in great profusion displaying our
national colors on the natal day of American Independ-
ence. July 22d, of the same year, found him in West
Salem, his objective point upon bidding adieu to his
native land. At the age of fourteen years he had com-
menced the study of his chosen profession, that of
medicine, which he was quietly pursuing when called
into the Prussian service, in which he remained about
three years. His attention had been directed to the
northeastern part of Edwards county, by Rev. Mr.
Houser, Moravian divine, and founder of West Salem.
On the 30th of March, 1850, he was united in marriage
to Elizabeth Hedrick, daughter of George Hedrick, one
of the old settlers here. By this union they have had
thirteen children, seven of whom are living. He is a
firm, outspoken Republican iu politics, and during the
war was an officer in the Union League. In politics he
has taken a somewhat prominent part. In the Moravian
church he is active, and has held many positions of
honor. His faith is deep and abiding. In 1878, his
house was destroyed by fire, but a new structure of
beautiful proportions was built by him as a permanent
home. As a physician he takes high rank among his
brethren of the profession. He comes of a long-lived
family, his mother having attained the age of 84, and
grandfather 86 years.
ASA PIXLEY,DEC?
Of THE
UNIVERS
PETTY.
LAWRENCE COUNTY.
HETTY Township is bounded on the north by
Crawford county, on the east by Bond and
Lawrence, and on the south by Bridgeport,
Christy township, and on the west by Rich
land county. The surface generally is level, and em-
braces a considerable amount of fine prairie land.
Christy String township, and Bogard prairies occupy,
respecdvely, the southwestern, the northwestern and
the northeastern parts of the township " String town-
ship " is a sportive appellation, suggested by the form j
of a hunting settlement that skirted the western bordei
of the prairie. The principal streams are the Embarras ]
river, Little Muddy creek, and Paragin slough, a slug- '
gish stream that flows through an extensively wooded
bottom, and at various points widens into ponds. The
name is a compliment to the memory of Peter Paragin,
the pioneer hunter of -hat region, and was suggested by
the circumstance that he slew the only bears, two in |
number, ever killed along that stream. The soil is
clayey, with a considerable amount of black loam in j
the low lands. Timber of a good quality is quite j
abundant. The improvements of the township are
good, and some attention is paid to improvement of
breed in farm stock. David Watts introduced the
Poland China hogs about ten years ago. He is the
principal breeder, in his line, in the county.
Petty township is the most recently settled portion of
the county. In 1818 there was but one cabin north of the i
state road and west of the Embarras river. This cabin j
was the home of Peter Paragin, and stood on the west
half of the southeast of section 9. Paragin was newly
married and came from Ohio. He was an excellent
type of the pioneer, being six feet tall, heavy-boned,
muscular, with retreating forehead and advancing fea-
tures. Hunting occupied a large share of his attention,
and to triumph over the beasts of the forest was his
principal delight. He reared, to manhood and woman-
hood, twelve of his thirteen children, one of whom,
Joshua, is a. well known citizen of Bond township. The
next settler was Aaron Vanatta, who came from Ohio,
with a family, in 1820, and improved the northwest
quarter of the northwest quarter of section 10. About !
1830, he sold his improvement to Thomas Harail- '
ton and moved to Jasper county. Thomas Bowen came
from Tennessee to Lawrence county in 1816. About
the year 1822 he married Sarah King and settled on
the southwest quarter of section 7, township 4, range 12.
He reared a large family of children, some of whom |
live in the township. His dea h occurred in 1858 in
the fifty-eighth year of his age. The oldest living settler
of the township is Jacob Lewis, who was born in South
Carolina, and moved to Kentucky, with his parents,
when a child. In 1820 the Lewis family moved to
Lawrence county. In 1824 Jacob married and settled
on the northwest quarter of section 25, township 4, range
13, where he lived to rear a family of eight sons and
three daughters, all of whom married and settled in
Lawrence and Richland counties. Mr. Lewis is now
eighty two years of age. hale and well preserved. In
1827 he planted an apple orchard, of which several trees
yet remain. In 1823 James Elliott settled on the west
half of the northwest quarter of section 17, township 4,
range 13. At an early day he planted an apple orchard;
a portion of which is yet in bearing. John Lewis mar-
ried in the county in 1826, and settled on the west half of
the northwest quarter of section 25, township 4, range 13,
where, after rearing quite a family, he died. About this
time Joseph Cummings settled on the southwest quarter
of the northwest quarter of section 14, where he reared
a family of children He was something of a hunter,
and about 1840 built the first distillery in the township.
About the year 1828 came Elijah King, James Vermil-
jion, William James and George C. King. The first
was married in the county and settled in the southeast
quarter of the northwest quarter of section 18, township
4, range 12, where was his permanent home and the
place of his death. He reared a family of three sons
and one daughter, who married and settled in the same
county. Vermillion was from .Kentucky, and was
well-to-do when he came. He settled on the northwest
quarter of the northwest quarter of section 20, township
4, range 13. a portion of the " Island," an area lying
between the Embarras river and Little Muddy creek,
where he reared a family of two children. He was an
industrious, thorough going man. His death resulted
from " King's Evil," in Indiana, after returning from a
trip for medical treatment. William James came from
Indiana, married in the county, and made several im-
provements, selling them when completed. George C.
King, brother of Elijah, settled on the north west quarter
of the northwest quarter of section 11, and was a farmer
and teamster. Henry Vanmeter, iu 1829, settled on the
west half of the southeast quarter of section 32, township
5, range 13. Washington Douglas, about the year 1830,
came into the township, from Kentucky, with a family of
three children, Charles, Nancy and Horace, and settled
317
318
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
on east half of the northwest quarter of section 19,
township 4, range west, where he improved a good farm.
John Laws, from one of the Carolinas, about 1830, set-
tled on the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of
section 17. Just north of his place, on section 8, was a
New Light camp-meeting ground, where, at his own
expense, he fed the assembled multitudes, at a table
one hundred yards in length, and provided sleep
ing accommodations at his house and barn. The horses
of those in attendance were likewise provided for-
Laws was a determined a? well as skillful hunter, and
would pursue a wolf for two or three days with as many
fresh horses, rather than give up the pursuit.
John Brigman and William Murphy settled in the
township prior to 1838. The latter gentleman made an
improvement in section 18, township 4, range 12. Sarah
James, a widow, with a daughter, came from Indiana
in 1834 In 1838 she was married to Edward Fyffe,
who settled on the southwest quarter of section 28,
township 4, range 13, where he died. The Petty family,
from whom the township received its name, arrived in
1838, or '39. Josiah Petty, familiarly known as " old
Uncle Jeff," settled in the west half of the southwest
quarter of section 11. Joseph Petty, from Perry county,
Ohio, with five children, Peter, Mary Ann, Balser,
George and William, settled on the northeast quarter of
the northeast quarter of section 15, where he resided
permanently. In 1838, John Decker, from Indiana,
settled on the southwest quarter of the northwest quar-
ter of section 28, township 4, range 13, where he re-
mained permanently, and reared a family of eight chil-
dren. Samuel James, about 1840, settled and improved
a farm on the east half of the southeast quarter of sec
tion 30, township 4, range 13. The principal improve-
ments of the township, especially north of Paragin
slough, have been made since 1850. At that time
Richard Grier, Nathan Fitz, Ferdinand Kyger, William
Munn, Nancy Watts, Christian Loss and the Jackson
family were living in that region. The west half of the
southwest quarter of section 33, township 5, range 13,
occupied, at present, by David Watte, is one of the
earliest settlements in its neighborhood. There was
also an early improvement on the east half of section 32,
township 5, range 13. A well marks the site of a
former improvement in David Brown's field east of
Chauncey. Christopher Dollahan once lived there.
The following are the first land entries in T. 4 N. R
13 W.: August 21, 1821, P. and J. Paragin entered the
E. J of the S. E J of sec. 8; Jan. 7, 1824, Jacob Lewis,
the JN. W. \ of sec. 25 ; 8ept. 17, 1825, John Lewis, the
W. J of the S. W. 1 of sec. 25 ; Feb. 11, 1823, James
Elliot, the W. i of the 8. W. i of sec 17. The W. J of
the S. E. 3 of sec. 32, T. 2 N. R. 13 W. was entered by
Henry Vanmeter, Oct. 22,1829 The gentlemen, whose
names appear below, have represented the township in
the board of supervisors: Daniel Grass, in 1857, 1858 ;
Peter Smith, chairman, in 1859, 1860; R. L Judy, in
1861 ; Randolph Heath in 1862 ; Richard Greer, in 1863,
1864; Daniel Stoltz, in 1865, 1866, 1867; Levi Lathrop,
in 1868 ; S. F. Baker, in 1869 ; Levi Lathrop, 1H70,
1871 (chairman), 1872; Daniel Stoltz, 1873, 1874,'
Moses Petty, 1875, 1876, 1877 ; H. M. Wagner, 1878,
1879; David Smith, 1880, 1881, 1882; C. H. Martin,'
1883.
CHAUNCEY
Was so named by Peter Smith, for the second son of
Wna. H. Brown. It contains about seventy inhabitants,
and is situated on the adjacent corners of sections 28,
29, 32 and 33 T. 5, R. 13. John Bach built the first
house, a log dwelling, in 1856. He immediately put up
a blacksmith shop and began work. Luther Watts sold
the first goods in the Daniel Grass building, moved from
a point three miles southeast of Chauncey, in the fall of
1860. Daniels and Waggoner opened the first grocery
store, in 1866. A wagon shop was put up in 1867, and
wagon making was carried on some two years. Daniel
Patton established a drug store in 1879.
PRESENT BUSINESS.
Physicians.— H. P. Smith, H. A. Murphy.
Druggist.— D.iniel Patton
General Merchants. — Henry Berkshire, George Rod-
erick, W. R. Newman.
Cabinet Maker.— J. C. Hughes.
Blacksmiths.— C. F. Correll, John Roderick.
^Dressmakers— Mrs. H. P. Smith, Mrs. M. R. New-
man.
Post Master.— H. P. Smith.
The post office was established in 1873, and George
D. Barnes was the first post-master. The first school-
house (frame) was built in 1856. John Wilgus taught
the first school. The present two story, two-room, frame
school building was put up in 1872 or '73. The Meth-
odist Episcopal Church (frame) was built in 1858, at a
cost of 8850. The Protestant Methodist (frame) Church
was erected at a cost of about $1,000, in 1860.
8?
RESIDENCE STOCK AND GRAIN FARM or ANSEL A. GOULD NOW
••a***-* ''•'"•^fe*'>^*^^«wv^-^^
AARON A.GOULD SEC. 32, T /, /? /4, (SALEM PRECIHCT) EOW*ROS Co., It
IWR,
Of THE
BELLMONT.
WABASH COUNTY.
| HIS political division of the county is in the
west-central part, and is bounded on the
north by Lick Prairie, east by Mt. Carrael,
south by Coffee precinct, and west by Ed-
wards county and Bonpas creek. It extends east from
this creek to the central line of Town 1 south, Range
13 west, and north from the southern line of the north-
ern tier of sections of Town 2 south, to the half section
line of the second tier of sections from the north, of
Town 1 south. It was formerly called Bonpas, the
name having been changed to Bellmont in September,
1881. "Bonpas" is composed of the French, " bon,"
good, and " pas," bay or inlet, and means, literally,
good bay. The creek that bears this name was so called
by French boatmen, whose keel-boats, as they plied the
waters of the Wabash in the early spring, found safety
from the floating ice in the inlet or bay at Its mouth
The surface is generally level, and principally elevated
Crackles, formerly called Wilson's and Sloan's prairie?,
are low areas of land, and subject to overflow from
Bonpas creek. They were formerly wet and marshy,
but have been improved, aud rendered quite arable ami
productive by drainage. Fordyce creek flows through
the northern part of the precinct, and with the Boupas,
into which it flows, is the principal source of drainage.
Timber is abundant, and is constantly being cleared
away to make room for the plow The soil is adapted
to the growth of the different cereals, and when cleared
of timber is easily cultivated. The Evansville, Louit-
ville, and St. Louis railroad extends through the prt-
cinct, affording facilities for transportation.
The territory of Bellmout precinct was the latest set-
tled portion of the county. Its earliest settlers were
one Moturey, Jacob and John Arnold, Staley D.
McClure, and Eli Reed, all arriving in the year 1816
Moturey, with his family, settled on the S. E. J of sec
tion 24, in Range 14 west. Nothing of importance i.-
remembered concerning him, but his name has a placr
among the honored few who were brave and hardy
enough to become pioneers. Jacob Arnold, a single
man, came from Kentucky to the county prior to 1812.
In 1818 he married Rebecca Thompson, and settled in
section 5, Town 2 south. He was an inveterate hunter,
brought down many deer, and captured many a bruin.
He is represented in the county by quite a number of
descendants. John Arnold, his brother, also came from
Kentucky, and brought a family, wife, and three chil-
dren, Isaac, James, and Lucinda. He, too, like his
brother, was a hunter, and changed his place of abode
as advantages for hunting dictated. He moved to Mis-
souri, and there died. McClure was also from Ken-
tucky, and came to the county prior to the war of 1812.
In 1816 he settled in the precinct, on section 28, T. 1
S. R 13 W. He had a large family of children, none
of whom live in the county. He was a man of some
intelligence, and was at one time justice of the peace.
His death closed a long career of life, most of which
was spent in the precinct.
The year 1818 adds six to the list of immigrants.
Among their number was William Wilson, who brought
a family, and settled on the S. E. i of section 3, T. 2
S. R 14 W. Here he built his cabin, improved land,
and lived to a good old age, dying many years ago. He
was a farmer, and also exercised the trade of a tanner.
The prairie on which he settled, now called Crackles,
formerly bore his name. It was originally owned by
Uo Englishmen, J. and J. Dunlap. George Wheeler
came with Wilson and his family, aud settled on the
same section. He also was a tanner. He raised a large
family, and died on the place of his first settlement. In
the same year came William Tanquary, also a Vir-
ginian, with his wife and children, Delila, Reuben,
Fielden, Mary, Lydia, William, Alfred, and Amelia,
aud settled on the N. J of section 30, T. 1 S. The
family had previously lived for some time .in Ohio.
Mr. Tanquary was a good farmer, and died on the place
of his first settlement, at the advanced age of eighty
years. Of the children who constituted a part of the
pioneer family, William, Alfred, and Rebecca are still
liviug. James, who is a native of the precinct, lives on
the old homestead. He has been Associate Judge of
the county court for one full, and for one unexpired
term. With Tanquary came Jonathan Gilkinson, his
son-in-law. He was a farmer and a carpenter, and
among the earliest representatives of that trade in the
precinct. He had quite a numerous family of children-
William Deputy was among the more prosperous far-
mers of the precinct to which, with his family, he came
in 1818. He settled on the S. E. t of section 21, T. 1
S. R. 13 W. He was a man of influence in his com-
munity, aud held the office of Justice. He had quite a
large family of children, and died on his farm at an
advanced age.
The Riggs were originally from Virginia, but a part
319
320
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
of the family had moved to Kentucky. Robert and
Samuel came from the former state in the fall of 1817.
Robert settled on the N. W. i of section 32, T. 1 S R.
13 W., where he lived all his life, and had a large
family. Charles, cousin of the former, came from Vir
ginia in the spring of 1818, with a family of four sons,
Townly, John, Arthur, and Charles, Jr., and settled in
Mt. Carmel precinct. John is living in Bellmont, at
the age of seventy-seven years. Townley married Phebe
Corry, and settled on the S. W. i of section 20, T. 1 S.,
where he resided till 1871, when he moved to Kansas.
He was among the earliest mechanics, and was the main
dependence for repairs in wood. George and James,
brothers of Robert and Samuel, arrived from Kentucky
about 1819; the former with a family of four sons,
Robert, Jefferson, Alfred, and Harvey, and one daugh-
ter, and settled about a mile east of Bellmont, where
was his permanent home. James brought three sons,
Daniel, Harvey, and Stephen, and settled permanently
three miles northeast of the town. Andrew F. Dyar
came from Wood county, Va.,-in 1820, with a family of
five children, Susanna F., Sally R., John D., Elizabeth
and Andrew, and settled on the W. i of the S. E. i of
section 3, R. 13 W., where he made improvements and
lived till 1828. He then moved to N. W. i of section
2, T. 2 S. R. 13 W., where he lived permanently, and
died in 1854. John D., the only survivor of the immi-
grant family, lives on a part of the homestead place.
In 1822, Joseph Ballard, with a family of three chil-
dren, Iri, Asiel, and Jeremiah, now of Bellmont, settled
on the S. E. i of the S. E. ! of section 32, T. 1 S. R.
13, W. Mr. Ballard was a minister of the New Light
persuasion. He died on his farm at the age of sixty-
six. A German came to the precinct about 1821 or '22,
and settled on section 29. Being a hunter, he fre-
quently changed his home. He came in company with
Samuel Fettinger, a weaver by trade, and a Methodist
exhorter.
Rodam Kenner was a Kentuckian. He came to the
county as early as 1824, and to the precinct in 1826.
He brought a family of five children, Alvin, George,
James, William and Bryon. William Hunter came
from Kentucky in 1827, brought a wife and four chil-
dren, Eliza, Caroline, William and Nancy Jane, and set-
tled on the S. E. } of section 24. He was quite ad-
vanced in life when he arrived, and died in Wayne
county, at the age of 91 years, John Proctor was from
Kentucky. He came about the year 1829, and with his
wife and children, John, Fanny, Luciuda and Thomas,
settled on the E. i of the S. E. i of section 33. He was
a mechanic of somedivereity of talents, as well as a farm-
er. He lived to a great old age and died on the place
of his first settlement. William Weir, a Virginian,
came to the county in 1818. In 1829, he came to what
is now Bellmont precinct, and settled in section 17. His i
children, James, Harvey, Mary and Thomas, were
brought along. He was a farmer by occupation, but de-
voted much time to hunting. He was a man of influ-
ence, and held the office of county commissioner. He died
in 1848. Prominent among the older settlers is A. W. Co-
ry, of Bellmont village. He is a native of New York, and
at the age of five years came from that state with his moth-
er and step-father, in 1816, and landed at old Palmyra.
His arrival in the precinct dates back to 1829. He is a
blacksmith by trade, and in his younger days his shop
was sought by the farmers for many miles around. He
enjoys the confidence of the people of the county, and
in 1841 and '42, he was collector of taxes. He was
assessor in 1843, and took the state census for the coun-
ty in 1845. He also held the office of justice of the
i peace for a number of years. Sloan's prairie took its
name from Joseph Sloan, who lived and died within its
limits. He came to the precinct, from Kentucky, in
1829, having a family of five children, James, Ephraim,
Louisa, John and William. The family are now all
dead. John Frair was among the early arrivals in the
county, coming some time prior to 1812. In 1829 or '30,
with a family of several children, most of whom are dead,
he settled on the S. i of the S. E. i of section 13, T. 1, R.
14 W. He was a tanner, and at one time had a tan-
yard in Mt. Carmel.
The first school teacher was probably Oliver Thrall.
In 1828, a school was taught by Alvira Kenner, in sec.
32, T. 1 S. R. 13 W. The first house built for school
purposes stood on the S. W. i of sec. 18,T. 1 S., and was
put up in the year 1837. The earliest justice, whose ju.
risdiction embraced the territory of the precinct, was
William Tanquary.
The earliest marriage was probably that of Jacob Ar-
nold and Rebecca Thompson, which dates back to 1818.
Townley Rigg and Miss Phoebe Cory were married in
1820. The religious doctrine first propagated among
the people was the New Light. The earliest preachers
Revs. Joseph Ballard, William Kinkead, Elijah Good-
win and Rev. Walsoa. Rev. Moses Trimble was of the
Campbellite or Christian faith. The precinct was rep-
resented in the Black Hawk War by Wm. Tanquary, Jr.,
William Eastwood, Thomas Wier, Harvey Wier and Dr.
Thrall. James Strahan was in the Mexican War. Friend's
Grove post office on the N. E. i of the N. W. i of sec. 21
is the oldest one in the precinct, and was established
about twenty-five years ago. William Deputy, the first
post-master, was superseded eighteen years ago by the
present incumbent, Collins Bredwell. The post-office at
Maud, on the N. E. \ of sec. 28, R. 13 W., was founded
in 1882, Christian Ameter being the first post-master.
In this year he began selling goods at this point
The following are the first land entries: Mar. 5, 1816,
the S. E. i of sec. 4, R. 13 W., by James Stillwell ; Out.
25, 1816, the N. E. i of sec. 20, by James Miller ; Aug.
1, 1817, the S. E. i of sec. 4, R. 13 W., by Geo. Flowers ;
Dec, 8, 1818, the S. E. i of sec. 33, R. 14 W., by George
Flowers.
BELLMONT.
This thrifty and growing town, named in honor of
Judge Robert Bell, of Mt. Carmel, was laid out on land
RESIDENCE, STOCK AND GRAIN FARMS (ABOUT 800 ACRES) OF
OH N GROFF 2? MILES NORTH or BELLMONT, WABASH Co., ILL.
LIBRARY
Of THE
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AVD W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
of Gett Joachim's in section 31, and oil that of Elisha
Brokaw in section 36, the fourteenth meridian extend-
ing through the principal street north and south. It
was surveyed and platted by Robert Buchanan, county
surveyor, and the plat filed for record in the office of
the circuit clerk, August 22, 1872. In 1880 it had 213
inhabitants. The first lot was purchased by Mary
Crackles and her son Oliver, and Thomas Arnold sold
the first goods in a little temporary building in 1872
Shortly after this Harper and Son opened a general
store. In the same year the firm of Joachims Bros, be-
gan business as general merchants ; Joseph Bare built a
blacksmith shop, and Jeremiah Ballard a shop for gen-
eral repairs. Ballard also kept the first hotel in 1-874.
The Bellmont Flouring Mills were built in this year by
M. & F. H. See, the present proprietors and operators.
The building is a two-and-a-half story, 25x40 feet struc-
ture, with shed 23x50 feet, for the engine and cornsheller.
It has two run of burrs, and is valued at $4,000. The
first school-house, a frame one-room building, 24x36
feet, was put up in 1874, and David Dean was the first
teacher, in the same year. The present school-house, a
frame two-story six-room structure, was built in the. fall
of 1881, at a cost of $1,921, exclusive of equipments.
H. H Rigg was the contractor and builder, and H. L.
Arnold taught the first school. The Congregational
church, the oldest in the village, was moved from a
point about two miles south, and put up in 1875. The
Christian church, built partly of the materials of ano-
ther such building thatstood about two and a half miles
northeast of the village, was erected in 1879 at a cost of
about $800- The Methodist Episcopal, a neat frame,
34x60 feet, was built in 1880, at a cost of $1853.
PRESENT BUSINESS.
Physicians.— N. Bristow, C. T. McClain, J. D. Trego.
General Stores. — Peter Kirch, E. Joachims, Mann &
Lines.
Grocers— J A. Ingram, Elliott Bros.
Dmgr/ists.—^. J. Newsum, J. D. Trego, N. Bristow.
Farming Implements and Pust-Office. — F. C. Manley.
Lawyer — Joseph Bare.
Justice. — L. B. Baird.
Contstalle.—P. D. French.
Shoemaker.— William Bockhouse.
Blacksmiths. — Samuel Sawyer, Joseph Bare.
Hotel. — Benjamin Weisenberger.
Meat Markets— 'L. Middleton, W. H. Root. '
Grain Dealer.— J. I. Tanquary.
Gunsmith. — T. Grealhouse.
Carpenter and Cabinet maker. — H. H. Rigg.
Furniture — W. M. Young.
War/on Maker. — P. D. French.
Fruit, Nursery.— K. C. Rassman.
Machinery Agent.— W. H. Knowles.
BIOGRAPHIES.
CAPTAIN WILLIAM ULM.
THE Ulm family take their name from the following
circumstance. There was in the seventeenth century a
poor German boy who lived in the city of Ulm. He :
was placed on board a vessel shipping from one of the j
German ports. His real name was unknown. The
sailors and captain called him Ulm, from the fact that
he was from the city of that name. He adopted the ;
name, and in course of time came to America and set-
tled in Virginia, on the south branch of the Potomac.
He there married and reared a family of seven sons and
one daughter. Six of the sons became soldiers in the
revolutionary war, and fought through the entire strug-
gle. The sister married Sergt. Champ, who, as history
records, was selected by Washington to undertake the
perilous adventure of capturing Arnold after he had
betrayed the patriot cause and gone over to the British.
He made the attempt, penetrated the enemy's lines, and
was only prevented from carrying out the orders of
Washington and seizing the traitor, by the removal of
the latter on the night when his capture was to be at-
42
tempted. Of the sons of Mr. Ulm was Matthias, who
was the seventh, and grandfather of the subject of this
sketch. He was born, reared, and died in Virginia. His
son Edward, father of Captain Ulm, was born on the
south branch of the Potomac, Va., in 1784. He removed
to Ohio with the Rennix family, "who, in their day, were
largely engaged in the cattle trade. Edward Ulm set-
tled in Ross county, and there remained until 1820,
when he came west to Illinois, and settled in Mt- Car-
mel. Five years later, he moved to what is known as
the Chapman place, in the vicinity of Mt. Carmel. In
1862 he went to Wayne county, and lived with his son
Daniel, and there died in 1874, in the ninetieth year of
his age. He married Katie Nathan, who was the daugh-
ter of Nicholas Nathan. He was a German by birth,
and a soldier in the army of Cornwallis. At the sur-
render of the British forces at Yorktown, he refused to
accept the exchange, but declared his intention to be-
come an American citizen. He settled in Virginia,
where he married, and moved to Ohio ; and his daugh-
ter Katie was born in Ross county in 1879. She died in
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Wabash county, Illinois, in 1859. There were nine
children who grew to maturity, the offspring of the union
of Edward and Katie Ulrn. William, the subject of
this sketch, is the fifth in the family. He was born in
Ross county, Ohio, Oct. 21, 1814, and was but six years
old when the family came to Illinois. He grew up on
his father's farm, and remained at home until he mar-
ried. He then engaged in farming and milling, and
remained in Mt. Carmel and vicinity until 1872, when
he came to Lick prairie and settled on section 36,
where he still resides. On the 29th December, 1836, he
was married to Miss Hester M., daughter of Neil and
Hester Campbell. They were natives of Kentucky and
of Scotch descent. Mrs. Ulm died in 1844, leaving five
children, four of whom reached maturity. Harriet was
the wife of Victor Wood. She died leaving four chil-
dren. Sarah Ann married Nelson Wood and left seven
children. William Edward was a soldier in the late war.
He was a member of Co. I of the 40th Regt. Illinois
Volunteers, and was killed at the battle of Mission
Ridge. Samuel Neil was also a member of the same
company and regiment, and was killed in the charge at
Kenesaw Mountains. After the death of his first wife,
Mr. Ulm married Elizabeth Payne. She died ill the
spring of 1854. On the 27th of July, 1854, he married
Miss Sarah, daughter of James and Mary Glenn
(Pritchet) Campbell. Her father was a native of Ten-
nessee, and her mother from Virginia. Mrs. Ulm was
born in Wilson county, Tenn., Oct. 11, 1837. By her
marriage with Mr. Ulm, there have been ten children,
seven of whom are living. Their names in the order of
their birth are : Benjamin C., who married Ida Root ;
they have two children; Mary E., wife of' Nelson Wood;
Hester M., wife of William Tiffany, who has one child ;
George VV., Matthew S., Frances Rose and Daniel Ulra.
Mr. and Mrs Ulm are members of the M. E. church. Mr
Ulm was regularly ordaintd a minister of that religious
organization in 1860 by Bp. Simpson at Bunker hill, Ills.
Mr. Ulm, as shown above, comes of revolutionary and
patriotic stock. The love of country, and veneration
and respect for the institutions of the best government
the world ever saw, is as strong in him as ever thrilled
the heart of an American citizen. He gave his two
sons — his eldest born — to be sacrificed upon the altar of
patriotism. They died at the head of the column,
charging the enemy, and fell with their faces to the foe.
Nor did he only send his sons to the front when the
Union was threatened, but with characteristic prompt-
nets, before the reverberatiots of the first gun fired at
Sumter— and whose echoes awakened the slumbering
patriotism of the North — had died away, he shouldered
his musket and enrolled as a private in Co. I of the 32d
Regt. Illinois Volunteers. At the organization of the
company he was elected Second Lieutenant. He re-
mained in active service up to and including the battle
of Shiloh. In that desperate engagement his command
occupied the center. The Union forces were shattered
and driven back. His company lost heavily. While
falling back before superior numbers, he was wounded,
being struck by no less than seven balls. He fell, and
the enemy, flushed with apparent victory, passed over
him. He lay upon the battle-field from two o'clock, P.M.
until seven o'clock next morning. Twice more the
enemy passed over him and his wounded comrades. He
determined to get off the battle-field. Several of the
bullets had entered his hips and back, and when he at-
tempted to rise, he learned, for the first time, that his
lower limbs were paralyzed ; but, nothing daunted, he
crawled along, dragging his limbs for some distance.
This process of locomotion was slow, and, fearing that
his strength would fail before aid could be reached, he
improvised a pair of crutches. He found a stout stick,
about the proper length that would do for one, — and, in
looking around, found another, but, unfortunately, it
was too long. How to reduce it to the proper length
was the query. It was too stout to break, and he had
no knife ; but, happily, he recollected that he had good
sound teeth. He set to work gnawing it, and in the
course of an hour had it in a condition to break. Prop-
ping himself agavust a tree, he mounted the crutches, —
his limbs barely supporting his weight when standing
erect, — and by their aid succeeded in reaching the Union
lines. He informed the soldiers of the condition of his
comrades, whom he had left, and they were immediately
succored and rescued from a slow, torturing death on the
battle-field. Lieut. Ulm was sent to the hospital, and
on the 3d of Sept., 1862, was honorably discharged. He
still bears in his body two bullets as souvenirs of the
enemy's regard. After his return home, and during the
last years of the war, he was commissioned by Governor
Yates as Captain in the Home Guards. Politically,
Captain Ulm is a sound Republican.
HON. JOHN GROFF.
ONE of the leading and representative men of Wabash
county is the subject of the following sketch. He was
born in Germany/Hesse Casel on the Rhine, Oct. llth,
1826. His parents, John Frederick and Anna Mary
(Baum) Groff, emigrated to America in 1841. They
came direct to Wabash county, Illinois, and purchased
two hundred acres of land in section 18, township 1 S.,
range 13 west, for which Mr Groff paid eight hundred
francs, or seven hundred and sixty dollars in United
States currency. There was a small log house on the
place, and about forty acres of the land was cleared.
There he lived and continued the improvement of the
farm until his death, which occurred June 3d, 1849.
His wife survived him and died in March, 1858. Th. ra
were ten children by that union. John, the subject of
this sketch, is the third in the family. His father being
in feeble health after his arrival in this country, and
John being the oldest son at home, the work of running
the farm devolved upon him, — consequently, he had
little opportunities for receiving an English education.
But his natural good sense has, perhaps, been
of more real value to him than any information he could
JOHN GROFF
MRS- HARRIET GROFF
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
323
have obtained from books la 1849 Mr. Groff com-
menced life for himself. He purchased eighty acres of
land in section 19 in same town, for which he paid $200.
He built thereon a small log house, and lived there until
1860, when he purchased the homestead where he now
lives, and in 1866 erected the large and commodious
brick farm-house, a view of which can be seen on another
page, and there he still resides. Mr. Groff is one of the
most successful farmers in Wabash county, and has a
large body of fine land (nearly 800 acres), all well im-
proved and in a good state of cultivation. The accumu-
lation of this property has been effected through the
exercise of patient industry and rigid economy on the
part of Mr. Groff, assisted and aided by his excellent
and amiable wife.
On the 30th. of September, 1849, he married Miss
Harriet, daughter of Benjamin F. and Mary (Bratten)
Gard. She was born in Bonpas precinct, Wabash
county. Illinois, March 14, 1829. Seth Gard, her pater-
nal grandfather, was one of the first settlers in Wabash
county, and a prominent man in his day. He was a
member of the Territorial Legislature in 1817, and a
member of the First Constitutional Convention that as-
sembled at Kaskaskia in 1818. There have been born
to Mr. and Mrs. Groff eleven children. Their names in
the order of their birth are : Benjamin F., born August
29th, 1850; he married Miss Harriet Ellen Ingram;
they, have had five children whose names are : Benja-
min P., John F. (dead), Minnie M-, Lewis L., Eddie
E. and Lula Medora. John Frederick Groff, born Jan.
29th, 1853, married Margaret L Brines; they have had
five children, whose names are: Harriet Maria, Rosa
B., John L. (dead), William L., Carrie M. (dead).
Mary Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Groff,
is the wife of John T. Davis; they have four children,
whose names are : Harriet A., William P., John L. and
Nora Belle Davis. Anna Margaret was born Sept. 3d,
1856, and married George H. Rigg ; they have three
children, named Harriet E., Laura B. and Lewis Sher-
man Rigg. Frances Elraira, born August 23d, 1858, is
the wife of H. M. Cowling ; they have two children,
named William L. and Caroline. Perry Allen, born
Feb. 25, 1860. Alfred died in infancy. Harriet Me-
dora, born Feb. 17, 1863 ; William Albert, born Dec.
23d, 1864; Lewis E., born June 9th, 1867 ; and Flora
Viola, born March 4, 1872. Politically, Mr. Groff is a
Democrat. He served one term on the Board of Com-
missioners of the county, and while in that position gave
excellent satisfaction to his constituents.
Such, in brief, is an outline sketch of the life of Judge
Groff. He came here a stranger in a strange land, with
DO influential friends to back him ; but by his energy,
tact, and strong common sense, has risen, in a few short
years, to be one of the leading agriculturalists of southern
Illinois.
The strong characteristics of the sturdy German
people, which are economy, industry and honesty, are
marked in him. In the neighborhood, and among the
people who know him best, it is said of him that he is a
good, honorable citizen, a kind neighbor and friend, and
a man whose word is as good as his bond.
HENRY H. RIGG
WAS born May 27th, 1842. His grandfather, Charles
Rigg, was a native of West Virginia. He came to Illi-
nois in 1818, and settled in Wabash county, where he
died in the year 1842. His son John, father of Henry,
was born in West Virginia, March 3d, 1805, and was in
his thirteenth year when the family came west. He has
remained a citizen of Wabash county from that time to
the present, except for a short time in 1854, when he was
in Wisconsin. John Rigg married Mary Hunter, a na-
tive of Kentucky. She was a resident of Wabash county
at the time of her marriage. She died March 4, 1864.
Mr. Rigg subsequently married Mrs. Middleton, and,
after her death, married his third and present wife, who
was the Widow Baird. By the first marriage there were
eight children, four of whom are living. Henry H., the
subject of this sketch, is next to the youngest. He was
raised on the farm, and was thus engaged when the war
broke out. He enlisted for three years in Co. G, of the
48th Regiment Illinois Volunteers. His enlistment
dates from October, 1861. He remained in the service
and veteranized with his regiment, was mustered out
and honorably discharged in August, 1865. He entered
as a private, and was mustered out as second sergeant.
The 48th Illinois was a part of the 16th Army Corps,
and subsequently became a part of the 15th. He par-
ticipated with his regiment in the battles of Forts Don-
elson and Henry, Shiloh, the Vicksburg and Atlanta
campaigns, and was with Sherman in his march to the
sea. He was wounded on the 22d of July at the fciege
of Atlanta. He rejoined the army at Beaufort, S. C.
He returned home and engaged in farming, in which he
continued until April, 1871, when he came to Bellmont
and commenced the business of builder, and erected
the second house in the village. In 1879, he added un-
dertaking to the business of builder. On the 29th Sep-
tember, 1864, when at home on leave of absence, on ac-
count of wounds, he married Miss Rachel J. Risley,
daughter of Jeremiah and Jane Risley. She died April
7, 1877. Subsequently he married Mary E. Davis, who
died Oct. 3d, 1879, leaving one child. His present wife
was Miss Jennie A. Hill, born in Licking county, Ohio.
The child of the second marriage is named Guy C. Rigg.
Mr. Rigg and wife are members of the M. E. Church.
Politically, he is a Republican. .
GEORGE C. EWALD.
JOHN EWALD, the father of George C. Ewald, was
born in Germany, April 30th, 1816. On the 1st of
January, 1849, he married Anna Catherine Mergle.
She was the daughter of Conrad Mergle, who was a
forester. Mr. Ewald left Germany in 1860 and emi-
grated to America, landing in New Orleans in May of the
same year. He came up the river to Wabash county,
324
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASII COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
and bought one hundred and eighty acres of land in
section 32, of Bellraont township, and here he has lived
until the present. There are two sons born to Mr. and
Mrs. Ewald. George C. was born February 22d, 1857,
and John William in 1850, and one daughter named
Paulina, who is the wife of Thomas Newsaud, of Bell-
mont. George C. was a mere lad when his parents came
to America. He grew up on the farm, and attended the
public schools in the winter months, and therein received
a fair English education. On the 19th of August, 1880,
he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Jane, daughter
of Jacob Seylar. She was born in Mt. Carmel towuship,
Wabash county, Illinois. There are two children, the
fruits of that union, whose names are John Jacob and
Ida Ewald. Politically the family are Democrats. Mr.
Ewald is a member of Eureka Grange. He belongs to
the progressive race of men, and is liberal, and a patron
of every enterprise that has for its object the prosperity
or good of his locality or county.
and locality. On the 3d of September, 1863, he was
united in marriage to Miss Mary C , daughter of Lee
Allen and Elizabeth (Wells) Kitchen. Mrs. MeClane
I was born in New Hope, Edwards county, of which
j county her parents were old and prominent settlers.
Her paternal grandfather was a native of South Caro-
[ Una. There have been six children born to Mr. and
Mrs. MeClane, five of whom are living. Their names
in the order of their birth are Eldridge, Logan, Norma
Otto, Roy Dale, Jean and infant not yet named. Both
] the Doctor and his estimable wife are members of the
; Christian church. Politically Dr. MeClane votes the
Democratic ticket. In the spring of 1878 he was elected
one of the school directors of Bellmont, and through his
! labors and energy, the present system of graded schools
was established in the village of Bellmont. He is a
: wide-awake, active and enterprising citizen, and gives
1 encouragement to any and all enterprises that have
for their object the increase of the material wealth or
prosperity of the town or county.
DR. C. T. McCLANE
Was born in what was formerly known as Bonpas pre- j
cinct, Wabash county, July 23, 1845. Thomas MeClane !
his grandfather, was born in the north of Ireland. He
emigrated to America, and in 1812 settled in Kentucky,
and in 1818 came to Illinois and settled at Rochester
Mills on the Wab^sh river, in Wabash county, and there |
died in 1850. He had a son named Charles, father of j
Dr. MeClane, who was born in Maryland, iii 1806. He
came with his father to Illinois in 1818. He here mar-
ried and located on Bald Hill Prairie, and from there
moved to a place known as Kitchen's Bridge in Bell-
mont precinct, and there lived and carried on farming
until he came to the village of Bellmont, where he died j
in February, 1883. He married Louisa, daughter of \
Joseph and Mary (Hamilton) Sloan, a native of Ken- j
tucky. She died in 1856. He subsequently married j
Mrs. Anna McClain. There was no offspring of the j
latter marriage. By the first there were nine children,
four of whom are living. Dr. C. T. is the eighth in the
family. He spent his youth upon the farm, working in
the summer months and attending the'public schools of
his neighborhood in the winter. He remained at home |
until he reached his twentieth year, then married and !
farmed. He had determined to adopt the profession of j
medicine as the business of his life, and therefore pur-
chased the standard medical works and commenced the
study. He also pursued his studies under the direction j
of Dr. Strahan, of New Hope, and commenced the prac- !
tice in Lick Prairie. In 1877 he entered the Eclectic
Medical Institute at Cincinnati, and graduated therefrom !
in the spring of 1878, with the degree ofM. D. He contin- '.
ued his practice in Lick Prairie for four years. In 1876
he removed to the village of Bellmont, and there he has
continued to the present. His practice has grown large
and lucrative. As a practitioner he has had much suc-
cess in the treatment of diseases incident to this climate
SAMUEL FREEMAN
Is a native 6f Butler county, Ohio, where he was
born October 6, 1809. John Freeman, his father, was
born July 4th, 1776, near Monmouth, iu New Jersey.
He removed to Ohio, in December, 1797. The trip
was made through Pennsylvania over the mountains in
wagons. They stopped at the mouth of the Big Sandy
and built a boat, and in it floated down the river. His
wife and himself with one child named Johanna, who
was born on the boat as they came down the Ohio river,
landed at the frontier village of Cincinnati. They
wintered on Mill Creek, eight miles north of Cincinnati,
at a point known as White Station. The following
ispring they moved to Sims' Purchase, which land Jay
between the Miami rivers, and there located. His
maternal grandfather had purchased 800 acres of the
above named tract, and divided it among his children.
Mr. Freeman's part of the land lay at the head waters
of Mill creek. There the old pioneer lived in Hamilton,
Butler county, until his death, which occurred in the
eighty-fourth year of his age. He was a soldier in the
Indian wars from 1812 until their close. He married
Elizabeth Seward, daughter of Samuel Seward, of New
Jersey. They were closely related to the Seward family
of New York, of which William H. was a conspicuous
member. She died in 1828, leaving five children.
Samuel, the subject of this sketch, is the only survivor
of that family. He was born in the pioneer era of the
west, and received but a limited education, which at
best was confined to the subscription schools of that
period, presided over and taught by muscular Irishmen,
whose chief recommendation for the place was their
ability to wield the birch. Therein he learned to read,
write and cipher, which accomplishment made the sum
total of his early education. At the age of nineteen he
left home and went to work in a brick yard in Cincin-
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
32'>
nati, and remained there two seasons, then teamed for
a while, and then went to work on the public works of
the State. In 1851 he came to Illinois, and secured the
contract to build the earth work, tie and lay the track of
the air line railroad from Louisville, New Albany, Mt.
Carmel and Alton, Illinois. The failure of the con-
tractors threw Mr. Freeman out and he lost heavily in
the- enterprise. He then engaged in farming on the
Deputy farm in Coffee township, and rented land in
that vicinity, and continued there until the 1st of Janu-
ary, 1864, where he purchased 146 acres in section 6, T.
1 S., 13 west, and there he has lived and added to his
original purchase until he has now 390 acres of fine
tillable laud, all of which is DOW under cultivation. In
1838 he was united in marriage to Matilda Bolander, of
Warren county, Ohio. She died in March, 1860, leav-
ing six children. The names of the children in the
order of their birth are Wallace A., who was a member
of Co. I of the 115th Regiment, 111. Vols., during the
late war. He married Ella E. Stevenson, of Xenia,
Ohio. Elizabeth, yet at home. Thomas, the second
son, was also a member of the same company and regi-
ment as Wallace A., and was killed at the battle of
Chickamauga. Samuel D. married Emma Mayne, of
Springfield, Ohio. Sarah J. is the wife of .Robert
Fenton, of Burnt Prairie, in White county, Illinois.
Benjamin A. married Hattie Greathouse. Charlotte is
yet under the parental roof. In November, 1862, Mr.
Freeman married Mrs. Sarah Rotrammel, nee Johnson,
of Sullivan county, Indiana. Both Mr. and Mrs.
Freeman are members of the M E. Church. Politi-
cally Mr. Freeman was originally a Democrat, and
sustained that political organization until 1864, when
being a strong Union man, and in favor of the speedy
suppression of the rebellion, he joined the Republican
party, and from that time to the present has uniformly
voted that ticket. He helped to organize, and was one of
the charter members and first Worshipful Master of the
Mt. Carmel Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted
Masons, and still holds his membership with that lodge.
Mr. Freeman during the last thirty years has followed
the quiet and peacful life of a farmer and stock raiser.
In the latter business he has devoted considerable time
and pa;d considerable attention to the breeding of stock,
particularly the Poland china breed of swine, and in it
has been quite successful.
WILLIAM BOCKHOUSE
WAS born in Hanover, Germany, April 19, 1836.
His parents, Henry and Elizabeth (Dick) B >ckhouse,
emigrated to America in 1843, and settled in Auglaize
count}-, Ohio, and there engaged in the wholesale
grocery business. He died January 3d, 1875. His
wife still survives, and is a resident of the above named
county. William, is the third in a family of six
children, all of whom are livirg. He learned the
trade of shoemaking, and worked at the trade in
Wisconsin, Chicago and other places. In 1856 he
went to Murphysboro, in Jackson county, Illinois,
and took the management of a shoe shop, and continued
there until the late war broke out, when on the 2d of
September, 1861, he enlisted in Co. G of the 2d Ills.
Cavalry. The regiment rendezvoused at Golconda, from
there went to Paducah, Ky., then to Cairo, Ills., and
then on a scout as far as Columbus, Ky. The regiment
was employed scouting up to the battle of Holly Springs,
and from there went to Memphis, and in the spring was
with Grant in the siege and capture of Vicksburg, and
soon after went to New Orleans, where he was discharged
on account of sickness. He came up the river and soon
after went back to Ohio, where for two years he re-
mained before he was able to work. In the fall of 1865,
he came to West Salem, in Edwards county, 111., and
stayed there until 1871, then moved to his farm in
Wabash county, and six years later came to Bellmont,
opened a shoemaker shop, and has continued there until
the present. On the 18th of September, 1867, he was
united in marriage to Miss Susan M. Bearrier, a native
of North Carolina, daughter of Solomon and Elizabeth
(Sink) Bearrier. There is one child living named Altha
Bockhouse. His wife is a member of the Congregation-
alist Church. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity,
and belongs to Lodge No. 500, of Parkersburg, Rich-
laud county. He is a Republican in politics.
FRANK C. MANLEY,
WAS born in what is now known as Bellmout precinct>
Wabash county, Illinois, July 29th, 1844. The family
on the paternal side were natives of Vermont, and from
there emigrated to Muskingum county, Ohio, and settled
near Zanesville. There Benjamin F. Manley lived until
1842, when he came to Illinois and took up his residence
in Wabash county. His wife dying in 1854, he went
north to Logan county, in this state, and there died tome
years later. He married Julia Ford, a native of New
Jersey. The Fords removed to Ohio, and there married
Mr. Manley. By that marriage there were three sonsi
one of whom was Francis Perry Mauley, the father of
the subject of this sketch. He was born in Muskingum
county, Ohio, and came with his father to Illinois in the
year above mentioned. Here he followed farming for a
few years, and in 1854 read medicine with Dr. Paul
Sears, of Mt. Carmel, and followed the practice of medi-
cine until his death, which took place Dec. 18th, 1862.
He married Maria, daughter of James Wiley. He was
a soldier of the war of 1812, and came to Wabash county,
Illinois?, with Dr. Baker, for whom he worked one year
after his arrival in Illinois, in order to pay him back
expenses incurred bringing him from New Jersey. Mrs.
Manley was born near Card's Point, in this county. She
died in April, 1862, leaving fuur children, whose names
are Laura, wife of William Hamilton, the subject of
this sketch ; Alfred P. and Dr. Paul G. Manley.
Frank C. had but slight opportunities for receiving
326
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WAS ASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
such an education as usually falls to the lot of most boys.
Being the eldest of the sons, the labor of providing for
the support of the young ones, after the death of his
parents, devolved upon him. He taught school for a
short time, then engaged in farming, in which he con-
tinued six or seven years, also teaching in the winter
months. In 1875, he moved to the town of Bellrnont,
and for ten months clerked in a store. In 1877, he pur-
chased a grocery store, and continued in that business
until Nov., 1879, then sold out, and in the spring of
1880 formed a partnership with W. H. Knowles, in the
agricultural implement business, which continued until
July 26th, 1882, since which time he has continued the
business alone. In 1878 he was appointed post-master.
He served several years and then resigned. On the 5th of
January, 1883, he was re appointed. On the 22d of
August, 1868, he married Miss Louisa M., daughter of
Alanson VV. and Louisa (Hunter) Cory. Mrs. Manley
was born in this precinct, in 1843. Five children have
been born to them, four of whom are living. Their
names are Addis, Nora Olive, Lenard, and Bertha.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Manley are members of the M. E.
church. Politically he has uniformly voted the Re-
publican ticket.
He was elected justice of the peace, but resigned one
year after his election. It may be stated that Mr. Man-
ley worked two years in the printing business. In 1863
he was in the office of E. L. Merritt, of Salem, Illinois.
Not liking the business he abandoned it after two years
trial.
HERNY PARMENTER,
WAS born in Ceuterville, Wabash county, Illinois, Oct.
5th, 1828. Isaac Parmenter, his father, was a native of
New York, and came west when a young man, soon
after the state was admitted to the union. He was a
soldier of the war of" 1812, and held the position of
colonel, and was wounded in one of the battles. He was
also a soldier in the Black Hawk war, and was an officer.
While on duty placing the guard, he was accidentally shot
through the leg by a soldier. He was for many years a
leading and prominent man in this locality. He was
sheriff of Edwards county before Wabash was erected,
and also of Wabash county after it was formed. He
owned a farm, and his sons operated it while he was in
his official position. He was by trade a carpenter and
builder, and also a millwright, and built mills through-
out this section of the state. When he came to Illinois
lie settled in Centerville, which was the county seat of
Wabash. He died in 1869. He-married Sar:
daughter of Major Henry Utter, who was born in New
Jersey, and came with her parents to Illinois in I817i
and settled at Bald Hill prairie. She died in 1845,
leaving three sons and three daughters, all living, except
Adin, the eldest son. He was a soldier in the late war,
and a member of the 80th Regt. Ind. Vols., and was
killed at the battle of Perry ville. After the death of his
wife, Mr. Parmenter married Mrs. Doretha H. Bi»au-
champ, by which union there were four children. Mrs.
Parmenter is yet living. Henry Parmenter is the third
in the family by the first marriage. He was three
years old when his parents removed to Bald Hill prairie,
and there grew up on the farm. In the winter months
he attended the subscription schools of his neighborhood.
He remained at home until his twenty-second year, when
he engaged in farming in the same neighborhood. He
purchased one hundred acres which he kept four years;
then sold it, and in 1858 bought one hundred and fifty-
two acres in section 5, township 2, range 13 west. It
was only slightly improved, with no buildings on it ex.
cept a email log cabin, and a few acres cleared. There
he has lived, cleared the farm, erected the fine build-
ings, which ornament the place, and improved it, and
there he_ still continues to reside.
On the 4th of August, 1854, he was united in marriage
to Miss N. J. Putman, daugh'ter of Eber and Tryphosia
Putman, old settlers of Illinois and Wabash county.
Her family were originally from Massachusetts, and
from there removed to Ohio, then to Indiana, and in
1818 came to Illinois. Mrs. Parmenter was born in
Wabash county, March 18th, 1830. There have been
seven children born to Mrs. Parmenter, six of whom are
living. Lester, one of the sons, was accidentally killed at
the age of fourteen years. The names of the children in
the order of their birth are Adin T., who married Miss
Mary Alice Bristow, and have two children ; Lettie A.,
Sarah, Merriam, Henry, and William Franklin Par-
menter. Mrs. Parmenter and two eldest daughters are
members of the Christian church. Politically the family
were originally old line Whigs, then Republicans. Mr.
Parmenter votes the Republican ticket on all National
and State occasions.
Mr. Parmenter is one of the substantial farmers of
Wabash county. He is an old settler, born and bred in
Wabash county. Here where he has lived among these
people who know him best, he is regarded as a straight-
forward wide awake energetic and honorable business
man, conducting his business on correct principles. He
has also lately been interested in constructing ditches
for the purpose of draining the low lands in the county.
DIVERSITY Of "ILLINOIS
BRIDGEPORT
LAWRENCE CO.
|HIS township is bounded on the north by
Petty, east by Lawrence and Denniscn, south
by Lukin, ard west by Christy township, and
comprises an area of about fifteen sections. It was or-
ganized as a voting precinct, in 1872, by taking two and
a half sections from the east side of Christy. It was
first settled by Kentuckians, and the first to locate here
•were Samuel H. and his brother, Rezin Clubb ; they
came and settled on the Old Indian trace, in 1817, on
the southeast quarter of section 12, township o — 13,
where Samuel H. erected a cabin for his family. Sam-
uel H. was born in the year 1788, and came here with
his wife at the date above mentioned. Soon after, con-
siderable immigration began, and Mr. Clubb enlarged
his cabin and opeued an inn, and entertained travelers
for several years, and his house became quite a noted
place. Among other pioneers, soon after the laying out
out of the county seat, he moved there and became
county treasurer, and subsequently laid out Clubb's
addition to the town. He also represented the county
in the legislature of the state. Mr. Clubb was three
times married and left four children. Henry A. Clubb,
Deputy County Clerk, is the only son living. Mr. Clubb
died March 28th, 1863. Rezin Clubb lived but a short
time in this county, moving farther west and settling on
land afterward included in Richland county, where he
reared a family, some of whom are yet living. On the
18th of April, 1818, James Lanterman, a Kentuckian,
arrived ; he settled with his family on section 17, (T. 3
— 12). He made the trip here in an old Virginian wagon
drawn by six horses. His father-in-law, Hugh Drennen;
had come to the oounty the year prior, and entered 160
acres of land for each of his children. When Mr. Lant-
erraan came, he found an old Indian with his squaw and
three children, who had an elm-bark camp on this tract,
which they were occupying. He soon made a trade
with the Indian, and for a quart of whisky and a half
side of bacon, the camp was purchased, and the Indian
with his little family, left never to return again. The
camp was moved a short distance, to a small elevation of
ground, and a canvas tent placed near it ; the old bark
tent was used for a kitchen and the tent and large cov-
ered wagon for sleeping apartments. It was here they
made their residence, until after their crop had been
planted, and a log-cabin was completed, into which the
family moved on the 3d of July. Mr. Lanterman's
family consisted of himself and wife, whose name was
Jane, and their children, Lettie, David D. and Margaret,
who were then quite small ; besides, there was Robert
Drennen, Richard McCann, and another young man.
James Lanterman was a good and useful citizen, he died
in the year 1861, in the village of Bridgeport. Of those
of his family who came with him, his son, David D., is
the only one now living. He is still a resident of Bridge,
port, hale and hearty, and delights in relating incidents
and anecdotes of the olden times. In the year 1817,
Nathan Rawlings settled on section 8. He was a Ken-
tuckian, and a man of large family. His sons were
Provence, Nathan, James and Scott. They all subse-
quently married and continued to reside in the county.
They are now all deceased, but some of their descendants
still survive. The elder Rawlings was a noted hunter
in his day, and was quite a champion in all athletic sports.
Henry Bennett, an Ohioan, came here in the fall of
1817, and settled on the N. E. quarter of section 17,
almost within the present limits of the town of Bridge-
port. He reared a small family and died about the year
1828, soon after which his wife and family returned to
Ohio. William Martin, a Yankee, as the early settlers
termed him, also came in the year 1817. He located
with his family on section 18, where he erected a cabin,
tilled some ground- and lived for about ten years, and
then left the county. His father, John Martin, resided
with him until his death, which occurred a few years
after he came. Thomas Fish, a native of the state of
Vermont, settled on the southwest quarter of section 18,
in the year 1818— the same year that Illinois was ad-
mitted into the Union as a State. His family consisted
of himself, wife, and three children, Sally, Josiah and
John. The latter is still living on the old homestead,
and is among the oldest residents of the county. Samuel
Newell, a Virginian by birth, came to the county as
early as 1816 ; first stopped on Allison's prairie for
a year or two, where he made a farm ; he then
removed to section 8, T. 3 — 12, where he erected a cabin
and made other improvements, and lived until his death,
which occurred about the year 1854. He had a large
family of children, only three of whom are now living in
the county, viz : Mrs. William Cooper, Mrs. T. A. Martin
and Samuel. Another son, John A. lives in Kansas
and is over seventy years of age. Samuel resides on the
old home place. James Stewart, a Tennesseean, was also
another early settler, arriving in 1817.
Early Schools and Churches.— The first school was
327
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
taught by John Martin, on section 18, in a little log-
cabin, in the year 1819. Among the scholars were
David D. Lantermin, Lettie Lanterman, the Miller
children and the Fish children. In a year or two, 1820-
21, a log school-house, with greased paper windows, was
built on the southwest corner of section 17, T. 3—12,
near which was built a hewed log church by the •' New
Lights," (Christians) about the same time, which were
known as the Spring Hill church and school-house, so
named on account of there being a perennial spring near
by.
William Kinkaid was the earliest resident preacher
in the neighborhood. Among the traveling preachers
were, Rev. James Hughes, John Rogers, David Me
Donald and Elijah Gooden.
A burial ground was started here, and the first person
interred therein was James Flanigan.
Mrs. Ealsa Miller, a widow with eight children, (she
was a daughter of Samuel Kinkaid), came with her
father and brothers, Hugh and William, in the spring
of 1819. She settled on the N. E. quarter of section 20
(T. 3—12), where she reared her family. Josephus M.
Miller, her son, born in Kentucky in 1809, has always
live 011 the old homestead, and is well-known as among
the older residents of the county. It is related that
when Mrs. Miller came, during a part of the y«ars
1819-20, a band of about five hundred Shawnee Indians
were camped on the Indian creek, in this township.
They were on a hunting expedition and did not molest
the few and scattered settlements. The Indians were
accompanied by their squaws and children. The settlers
would frequently congregate at the camp of the Indians
for purposes of barter, and to witness the antics and
various other amusements of the papooses.
John Scott, a Kentuckian and a Christian preacher,
settled on section 19, in 1817, he continued to reside there
about five years, with his family — then they removed to
one of the centre counties bordering on the Illinois river.
Barney McMann came in 1817 and settled west of
Bridgeport ; he was soon after taken sick, and died.
After this date, settlers came in quite rapidly and the
county became more thickly populated.
Land entries: On the 30th of July, 1816, Samuel
Newell entered the N. half of section 8, (T. 3—12), and
August 12th, 1816, Nathan Rawlings entered the E.
half of S. W quarter of section 8, (T. 3—12.) June 10th,
1817, Cormlius Vanarsdale entered N. E. quarter sec-
tion 32, (T. 4—12) ; Aug. 13th, 1817, W. French and
T. Roseman, S. W. quarter section 32, (T. 4—12) ;
Oct. 30th, 1817, James Stewart, S. E. quarter section 12,
(T. 4—12) ; Samuel Clubb entered the S. E. quarter
section 12, (T. 3—13) on the 12th of May, 1818, and
the same day and year, May 12th, 1818, William Martin
entered the N. E. quarter of section 13, (T. 3 — 13).
Frequently the settlers would "Squat" on the land and
make an improvement, and live on it for a time before
entering the tract.
The following gentlemen have represented this town-
ship in the board of supervisors. The township was
organized at the September term, 1872, and the first
supervisor was M. E. Barnes, 1873, David D. Lanterman,
1874, by re-election held the office until 1879. G.
A. Abernathy, 1879, and by re election held the office
four terms, until 1883; Hyatt W. Bunn, elected in 1883,
is the present incumbent.
Stiver's Mineral Springs, located about one and a half
miles southwest from Bridgeport, are gaining some pop-
ularity. The waters are strongly impregnated with
valuable medical properties, to the curative effect of
which many can testify. They are situated in a beautiful
grove of natural trees, and the surrounding scenery is
pleasant and interesting. A hotel and bath-houses have
been erected, and other conveniences made for the en-
tertainment and comfort of the guests. Moses Stivers
is the proprietor.
TOWN OP BRIDGEPORT
Is located on parts of sections 8-9, (T. 3 — 12), on the
line of the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad. The original
proprietors were David D. Lanterman and Aaron Shaw.
They had the town laid out and platted by Walter Bu-
chanan, County Surveyor, in the summer of 1854.
During the building of the O. & M. R. R., the company
erected five or six shanties on the north side of the road,
(which have since been torn down), and John Burk, one
of the foremen, named it Bridgeport, from the bridge
crossing Indian creek at this point, and a year later,
when the town was laid out, the name was continued.
Samuel Thorn erected a frame one-story store building,
just north of the railroad, which is still standing on
what is now the west side of Main street. He put in a
general stock of goods. In 1854, G. W. Cooper, jr. built
a small frame store-house on the lot where now stands
the Centennial Hotel. It was the first business house
erected after the town was platted. In the spring of
1854, George Schreck erected a small log-house on 2d
street, between Main and Jefferson, which was the first
residence in the town. About the time of the completion
of the above, several parties began the erection of resi-
dences and stores, and during the remainder of the year
ten or a dozen were completed. Among the parties who
erected buildings, were George W. Cooper, sr., George
W. Cooper, jr., Philip Guiues, Henry Guines, James
Lanterman, John and Jerre Hill. Jackson Lamott
built the first hotel, in 1858. The town kept on growing
until the fall of 1861, when a fire broke out in the centre
of the business block, on the we-t side of Main street and
destroyed the whole block. Within a year or two the
buildings were replaced, only to be again destroyed by
fire about twelve years later. The block was again re-
placed with larger and more durable buildings, this
time with substantial brick structures.
The first resident physician was Dr. Samuel Hayes.
He is still practicing here. Samuel L. Spencer was the
first blacksmith.
About the year 1870 the town reached its most pros-
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
329
perors condition. It then had a pork packing establish-
ment and other enterprises and industries flourished here,
which attracted the citizens from several miles of the
surrounding country, and the place became quite a
business centre for trade with the farmers. It was a
rival of Lawrenceville for the county seat, for which a
vote of the people of the county was taken, the majority
vote, however, was in favor of retaining the county seat
at Lawrenceville.
Corporation. Bridgeport was incorporated by sper ial
act of the Legislature, Feb. 16th, 1865, by the name and
style of "The Town of Bridgeport." The government
being vested in five trustees, to be elected by the voters
of the town, on the .first Monday in April, of each year;
also to elect one Police Magistrate, and town Constable.
The corporate trustees were M. D. Frazier, Gideon
Schleuker, Lyman Utter, G. W. Cooper, jr., and William
Lockwood. The present board at this writing, (March,
1883), are John A. Baird, president of the board, Theo.
Smith, Martin Eshelmau, B F. Watson and Adolph
Schmalhausen. Carl Busse, Clerk and Police Magis-
trate. William Gray, Constable.
Early Churches. — The first house of worship erected in
the town, was by the Christian denomination, about
the year 1858. At the present writing, there are a
Christian, Methodist. Presbyterian, and Catholic, all
substantial buildings.
Early Schools. — The first school-house was a frame
building, erected in the northwest part of the town, in
1860. It was used until the present commodious brick struc-
ture was erected, in 1881, at a cost of upward of $4000.
Bridgeport City Milk, was built by J. L. Coleman,
about twenty-five years ago. The present proprietors
are J. D. Sage & Son. They purchased the mill in 1873.
It is a three-story building, operated by steam, and con-
tains three run of burrs, one set of rolls and two purifiers,
and is both a custom and merchant mill. "Sages Pride"
and several other brands find a ready market in Cincin-
nati, besides many local points. Capacity, 100 barrels
per twenty four hours.
Lodge. — A Masonic lodge was organized here a short
time since, and is in a flourishing condition.
PRESENT BUSINESS.
General Stores.— Casper Pixley, and Warner Bros.
Druggists. — L. R. Schmalhausen, F. Frazier, and
G- W. Cooper.
Groceries.— Schmalhausen & Co., Jacob Schleuker, G.
C. Schleuker, C. Busse.
Hardware and Groceries.— W. C. Fyffe.
Stoves and Tinware. — H. Schmalhausen.
Agricultural Implement Dealer. — F. W. Cox.
Millinery.— Mrs. Ellen Cooper, Mrs. A. M. Piper and
Miss Annie Cappass.
Photographer.— H. W. Bunn.
Furniture. — B. F. Bunn.
Blacksmiths.— W. H. Black, H. Milbern, Wade Bros.
Shoemakers. — C. Busse, Daniel McBride.
Barber.— A. B. Wolf.
Paint Shop.—~B. F. Watson.
Livery Stable— Gillespie & McBride.
Hotel.— Paul Sheridan.
Grain Dealer.— W. L. Gray.
Insurance Agents. — J. M. Rosenborough, Charles
Vannausdel.
Postmaster — H. K. Lanterman.
Butchers. — Lanterman & O Donell.
Physicians.— M. D. Frazer, A. M. Maxwell, H. V.
Lewis.
Dentist.— Samuel Hayes.
Harness Maker.— William Williamson.
Sewing Machine and Organs. — J. T. McJunsey.
BIOGRAPHIES.
HARLIE V. LEWIS.
THE Lewis family trace their ancestry back through ,
several generations to David Lewis, a Scotch-Irishman,
who came to America in the latter part of the last century,
He was a tall, athletic man, the father of Isaiah, who
came to Lawrence county in 1820, and settled on a farm
known since as the Bear farm, where he lived a number
of years, then moved to Terre Haute, Indiana. He ,
taught the first school, in several different neighbor-
hoods. Prior to coming to Illinois there was born to
him a son, Philip, who remained in Lawrence county, !
Philip, a wheelwright and farmer, was for some years a
preacher of the Universalist faith. During the latter
42
part of his life he was equally zealous as a member of
the Christian church. He died Feb. 4, 1873. His
family consisted of sixteen children. One of these,
William M., was born in 1828. William M. Lewis was
an active business man. When a young man he followed
the trade of a carpenter. When Bridgeport was first
laid off he erected the depot, and soon after commenced
dealing in grain. In this business he continued until
the time of his death, which occurred February 3d,
1882. During the last five years he combined with his
other interests that of dealer in hardware. As a busi-
ness man he possessed marked ability. Although he
had never attended school longer than six months, but
330
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
he was a natural mathematician, and as such was often
appealed to for arbitration in cases where settlements
Chicago Law Schools. Politically, the Doctor is an ar-
dent, earnest Republican, although he affiliated with the
democracy from the time of casting his first ballot, which
was for James K. Polk, until the organization of the
Republican party, in 1856. He is a member of the
between parties were difficult. He was married to
Catharine Eaton, daughter of Caius Eaton, a native of
Vermont, who survives him. Caius Eaton was among
the first teachers as well as first justices in Lawrence- j M, E. Church, also of the Masonic order, being M
ville. Mrs. Lewis is an evangelist in the strictest sense ter of the Bridgeport Lodge No. 383, at the present
of the term, as she proclaims her faith in every house-
hold. Few more zealous or active Christian wo-
men can be found than she. To William M. and wife
were born six children, Henry H. and Mollie M., now
dead. Harlie V.. Siegel D., and Marion are living.
Dr. Harlie V. Lewis obtained a good common school
education, then attended the medical institute of Cin-
cinnati, whence he graduated March 2d, 1880. He
was married to Hettie Ray, daughter of Dr. Thomas
Ray, Oct. 5, 1881. In 1882 he was elected coroner of
Lawrence county. He is a pronounced democrat po-
litically, an active member of the Christian church,
religiously. As a physician he is acquiring a fine prac-
tice.
DR. MILTON D. FRAZER.
THIS leading physician was born in Richmond, Wayne
county Indiana, April 26th, 1824. His father, Daniel
Frazer, was a native of Randolph county, North Carolina,
as was also his mother, whose maiden name was Sarah
Hays. About the year 1814, they moved from their
Carolinian home to Indiana. Their ancestral line runs
back on the father's side to English birth, and on the
mothers, to Scotch. To David and wife were born a fam-
ily of thirteen children, two of whom died in infancy. The
members of this family are much scattered, some in Kan-
sas, Missouri and here. David Frazer died in 1845.
Milton D Frazer obtained a fair common school educa-
tion in New Castle, where his parents located, in 1833,
which was supplemented by attendance at the County
Seminary. In 1844, he commenced the study of his
chosen profession, that of medicine, with Dr. James
Home, of Middletown, Indiana, with whom he remained
three years, when he commenced practice in Yorktown.
He continued in the practice hereabout five years: then
in Xenia, Miami county, Ohio, until 1861, when he came
to Bridgeport. He was graduated from the Cincinnati
College of Medicine and Surgery, in 1863. In his
time. Social in his demeanor, skilled in his profession,
earnest in his study, he is recognized as among the best
physicians of this part of the state.
PHILIP BELLES.
THE subject of the folio wing sketch was born in Lu-
zerne county, Pa., in 1843. He was the fourth son of
Philip Belles, Sr., who married Jane Keichliue. He
emigrated with his parents to Lawrence county in 1854,
and settled on section 29, range 3, 12 west. He resided
with his parents until 1862, when, on the 14th day of
August of that year he enlisted in company I, 130th
regiment Illinois infantry. He took part in the follow-
ing engagements: Port Hudson, Champions Hill, Big
Black river, Siege of Vicksburg and Jackson, Miss.
After these engagements he was transferred to the Gulf
department, and during Banks' unfortunate expedition
up Red river he was taken prisoner at Sabine Cross
Roads. He was immediately taken to Camp Ford, near
Tyler, Texas, where he was confined as a prisoner of-
war from April 6th, 1864, until paroled May 25, 1865.
The prisoners who were confined there were put in a
stockade eight feet high in which was a dead-line fifteen
feet from the stockade, and any prisoner passing that
line, either accidentally or otherwise, incurred the penalty
of death, at the option of the guard. It is also his candid
opinion, from circumstances which came under his own
personal observation, that guards were promoted and
given furloughs for shooting down a prisoner when found
over the dead-line. To illustrate it more distinctly, he
remembers a case in which a prisoner from an Ohio regi-
ment was persuaded across the dead line by a sentinel,
with promises that he should not be molested, as he
simply wanted to talk to him. When the prisoner was
within five or six feet of the stockade thesentinel warned
the man that he would shoot him, and as the prisoner
turned to run the sentinel shot him in the back. That
0. __ 0 „, sentinel was not seen again for thirty days, and when
practice^e has had marked success. He is a member ! next seen was sergeant in command of a squad of Con-
of the Grant county (Indiana) Medical Society, and of federate soldiers. During their confinement three difler-
the Lawrence co., Society of which he is president. He ent attempts were made to tunnel out of the prison,
was united in marriage with Eliza Haupt, daughter of [ Owing to the treachery of some of the prisoners these
Abraham and Eliza Haupt, of Wabash county, June were not very successful, and even when successful, the
28, 1845. To them have been born six children, two of chances of escape to the Union lines were very meager,
•whom died in infancy, and four are living, namely : Car- j as there was a corral of blood-hounds kept at the stock-
oline Beau champ, of Tipton, Indiana; Charles Frazer, ade for the purpose of capturing escaped prisoners
a practicing physician, at St. Francesville, Wabash coun- ; Some of the hounds would strikea trail forty-eight hours
ty, Illinois ; Fremont, a cleik in a drug store, and Edwin | old and overtake the prisoner. At one time he was an
H., Deputy cleik, Lawrenceville, and attorney at law. ! eye-witness where six blood-hounds caught a prisoner
Edwin H. was educated in Vincennes, Bloomington and and mangled him so that he died within five days. Atone
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS. 331
time their rations for five days were a pint and a half of
shelled corn. The above are some of the hardships
endured by Mr. Belles and his comrades in a rebel
prison. To enumerate all of them would require a
volume. He was mustered out of service on the 17th
day of June, 1865, and immediately returned to his
father's home, where he has since followed the occupa-
tion of a farmer. He was married Dec. 20,h, 1866, to
Miss Lizzie Ramsey, daughter of Joseph and Mary \
Ramsey, nee Wiuship, who now reside in Richland
county, 111. From this union there are no offspring.
He united with the Presbyterian church in 1881, of
which he is still a consistent member. He became a life-
member of the Union Ex-Prisoners of War Association
Jan. 12, 1882. Since he became a voter he has always
been a staunch Republican, being the only one of his
family who incline to that belief. He is a representa-
tive man of his party, having been several times dele-
gate to county conventions, and also strongly solicited
to serve as supervisor of his township, which honor
he has studiously declined. He is an honest, upright,
industrious citizen, respected by his neighbors and loved
by his friends.
COFFEE.
WABASH COUNTY.
jjOFFEE precinct derives its name from the
circumstance, that a quantity of coffee was
lost from a keel boat, in her passage up
the Wabash, near the island which also
received the name of Coffee island. It is irregularly
triangular in shape, and embraces all that portion of
the county lying between Bunpas creek and the Wa-
bash, and south of the northern tier of sections of
township 2 south. It is bounded on the north by Bell-
mont and Mt. Carmel precincts, on the east and south
by Indiana, from which it is separated by the Wabash,
and on the west by El wards' county, from which it is
separated by Bonpas creek. The surface is mainly
level. A range of bluffs extends along the Wabash,
and gradually terminates towards the Bonpas bottom.
The soil both of the upland and the bottom is sandy. |
It is fertile, and yields corn and wheat abundantly, j
South and west of Keensburg is Compton's prairie,
about two miles long and a mile and a half in width.
There are heavy belts of timber along the Bonpas and .
Wabash. The country around Keensburg, some of
which now supports a heavy growth of timber, was '
originally covered by "blackjacks." There was once a j
large quantity of cane in the bottom, now displaced by j
timber. Coffee and Village creeks supply drainage for
the interior.
The first important settlement in the county was made
in this precinct, on the Wabash river, at Rochester, by
a few families of French descent, in the early part of
the present century. The pioneers in this settlement
and the leaders among the colonists were the brothers j
Augustus and William Tougas or Lavulette, or, as the '
family name now is, Lovelette. Mrs. Tougas, mother
of Augustus and William, and two other brothers,
Joseph and Francis, married a man named Lavulette
or Lovelette, and this became the family name. Joseph
and Francis, however, who settled at St. Francesville,
Lawrence county, adhered to their ancestral name of
Tougas. These four brothers were men of large stature,
and of great physical power and courage. This wa«
especially true of Augustus. He was six feet and six
inches in height, and to his great physical powers were
added shrewdness and foresight. He and his brother
remained in the midst of the hostile and treacherous
Piankishaws, trading with them, while others fled at the
news of the Cannon, and the Burway and Pichinaut
massacres. Their families were at different times, as
occasion demanded, sent to Vincennes for safety. The
word of Augustus among the tribe was law, not because
they loved, but because they feared him. He even went
so far as to punish them for their misdeeds. On one oc.
casion an Indian stole a rifle, which Lovelette had re-
cently purchased at Vincennes. The Indian at first de-
nied the taking, but after having been "strung up"
three successive times, much after the fashion of the
late occurrence at Taylorsville, he confessed his guilt,
and told where the gun might be found. After the
manner of his day, he would sometimes, as occasion de-
manded, indulge in a "rough-and-tumble." The hard-
est fight of his life was with an Indian, many of whose
comrades stood by and witnessed the contest, never
offering to interfere, showing something of honor where
there was so much of treachery and cruelty. Augustus
not only traded with the Indians, but purchased pro-
duce from the white settlers, and boated it to New
Orleans, sometimes walking all the way back. At one
time, on his return, he and some companions met a man
who invited them to go with him to his cabin and
spend the approaching night. Though a brave man,
Lovelette felt some misgivings, but yielded to the de-
332
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
sire of the rest of the company, who, less shrewd than
he, saw no danger. Their suspicions, however, became
^xcited, as one by one, strangers, each armed with a
Rochester, remaining there about two years, and then
moving to the N. J of section 10, where he followed
farming and stock raising. Here he died in 184->, leav.
gun, came into the cabin. They set their guns near the ing children, yet living in the precinct. Joseph Bur-
cabiu door as they entered, and spent much of their j way and Joseph Pichinaut also belonged to the French
time without. Lovelette and his companions lay down j settlement. The former married Theresa Gaudier, and
to rest, apparently, but really to watch, having arranged j had one child, a little boy, when he arrived. The latter
for a signal, at which, in case of any hostility shown by had a wife, whose maiden name was Barbara Bierjaut,
their hosts, they were to leap to the door and seize the and two little boys.
guns. The cabin floor was at a considerable distance In 1815, shortly after the Cannon massacre, they were
killed by the Indians in the Coffee bottoms. They had
gone in quest of their horses to go to mill at Vincennes.
Pichinaut was unarmed, but Burway was carrying a
heavy rifle that made a peculiar report when dis-
charged. William Arnold, John Compton, and Samuel
Simcoe, the latter on horseback, were in the bottom at
the time referred to. They heard the report of a gun,
which they recognized as Burway's, followed by a volley,
and guessing the meaning and result, without further
investigation spread the alarm, and Samuel Mclntosh,
John Compton, John Decker, Thomas Pirlliam, Henry
from the ground, and the puncheons were not fastened
down. During the night one of them was raised up
and a hand appeared. The preconcerted signal was
given, the guns were seized, the strangers disarmed and
held under guard till morning, when the arms were
broken and cast into a pond. The Lovelettes came to
the county from Vincennes, and first settled a little
above Rochester, at the mouth of Coffee creek. Subse-
quently Augustus moved to the present site of Roches-
ter, and there built a heavy log-house, and also a block-
house, continuing there till about 1838, when he sold
out to Dr. Ezra Baker, and moved to Mt. Carmel, there Gambrel, Russell Aldridge, Jarvis Hazleton, William
keeping a hotel. He continued this business a number j Arnold, and George Barney went in pursuit. They
of years, and then returned to the precinct where, in found the bodies of the men at the head of Baird's
1849, he died- His wife's maiden name was Eleanore pond, stripped, scalped, and mutilated. The body of
Desloriers. His first child, Eleanore, now Mrs. Stewart, ! Burway had been pierced by many bullets, and the
of Texas, was, according to the best recollection, born in character of his wounds, together with several reports
Vincennes in 1803. Five children lived to rear families, of his rifle, showed that he had died game. Pichinaut
one of whom is Mrs. Sharp, of Mt. Carmel. It is re- was of a timid, peace-loving disposition, had been
lated of William Lovelette, who it is claimed by some ! tomahawked, not shot. His hands were split open from
traded with the Indians at Rochester before his brother,
that on one occasion he thrust a burning candle into a
keg of powder, to the great terror of a number of In-
dians who were present, demanding, with hostile de-
between the fingers, indicating that he had raised them
before his blood-thirsty pursuers in protection of his
head. The Indians' trail was pursued for some distance
without important practical results. Calumny, that
monst rations, a gun which had been pawned for mer- ever stands ready to tarnish the reputation of the brave,
chandise by one of their number. When he first arrived
at the mouth of Coffee creek he had a family of two
children, William and Jane. After a residence of six
says that the party were about to come up with the In-
dians, and, through cowardice, abandoned the pursuit.
It is supposed that Burway killed five of his assailants.
or seven years at this point he moved to the banks of I A newly made grave, and the body of an Indian that
Raccoon creek in Lawrence county, and thence, after a
couple of years, to the neighborhood of Viucennes.
After a short stay at this point he returned to the pre-
cinct, and settled on the S. E. 1 of section 10, T. 2 S.
R. 13 W. As early as 1816 or '17 he built and oper-
ated a horse-mill. In 1815 he was assessed for a " man-
sion house." This was the only assessment for that
species of property at that time in Edwards county.
He died on his farm at the age of seventy-five years.
Some of the members of his numerous family of chil-
dren are yet in the precinct. Shortly after William
first arrived came his mother and her daughter, Bar-
bara, about ten or twelve years of age. He built for
her a separate cabin near his own.
John Degan, a member of the French settlement,
came from Detroit to Vincennes, and thence to the pre-
cinct, shortly after the Lovelettes. His family con-
had been concealed in a hollow low log, were found by
the pursuing party. Some time afterward, three or
four other bodies that appeared to have been hastily
covered with leaves and brush were discovered. At
the time of the massacre, John Stillwell was attending
his cattle in the bottom, and the Indians had encamped
the previous night within half a mile of his head-
quarteis. He was seized with alarm, and left his cattle
to take care of themselves, observing that the Indians
"might want old John's scalp." Francis Degan,
brother of John, came about 1811 or '12 with a family
of two children, Augustus and Francis, Jr., and settled
on the bluff, a short distance below Rochester. Francis
is now one of the influential farmers of the precinct.
One Gail, known in his day as old Grandfather Gail,
was an early settler, with a large family. The Indian de-
predations brought alarm to the settlement, and its mem-
sisted of his wife, his sons, Henry and William, and his I hers fled for safety to Vincennes. This circumstance en-
step son, Frank Burway. He settled first on the site of tailed a weakness upon it, from which it never recovered.
RESIDENCE AND DRUG STORE or DFt.R G.MANLEY, KEENSBURGH.WABASH Co., ILL
RESIDENCE or W. E. KEEN,
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASII COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
As early as 1810, a settlement was formed at Camp-
bell's Landing, sec. 11, T. 2 S. R. 14 W., the central fig-
brel. The captives were with the Indians about six
months, and were ransomed with ponies by Governor
ure of which was the family of that name. James , Harrison. The year of this massacre, 1815, was that of
Campbell, of Scotch descent, came from Kentucky, with ' the arrival in the precinct of Daniel Keen and David
a family of seven children, viz., Samuel, John, Dougal, Wright. .The former at the age of eighteen years came
James, Mary, Hester and Sally. He also had thirteen I as a part of his father's family from Ohio, to what is now
slaves whom he set at liberty, in Illinois. Eleven of j Wabash precinct, about the year 1814, and there in the
them were afterward kidnapped and sold back again in- • following year married Mary Compton, moved to Coffee
to slavery. The family were not wholly unmolested by i precinct, and settled on the N. E. i of sec. 9, the place
the hostile Piaukishaws, whose village was' a short dis- j of his permanent residence. He was an influential man
tance above the Landing, but were, at one time, obliged in his neighborhood and served acceptably as county
to flee across the river for safety. The Landing was i commissioner for a number of years,
the receiving point for the produce in that vicinity that | He was a heavy-set, powerful man, and withal a good
sought a market over the waters of the Wabash. Here j specimen of the pioneer. His cabin home was the
was Campbell's Ferry, over which the ill-starred Cannon ) settlers' church, where the gospel was first heard and the
family crossed to their cruel fate. Henry Painter, a "jerks" first witnessed. Here also, in 1819, the first church
German, not far from this time, 1810, with a family of ' society (of the New Light Persuasion) was organized,
three sons, Jacob, Philip and Joseph, and a daughter, Three of Mr. Keen's children are yet living, E. B. on the
Chaney, settled on the present site of Cowling. Here ! old home place, where his father died, in 1874, at the
was the old Painter grave-yard, over which extended the I age of 82 years. David Wright was originally from
wagon-road. One Parks and Henry Gambrel lived j Ohio, and came to the precinct, a widower, having left
somewhere in this vicinity. John Grayson, with a fam- : his little son, now Robert E. Wiight, of Mt. Carmel, in
ily of six children, viz., Jackson, Susan, William, Na- j Indiana. About 1820 he married Sarah Mclntosh,
poleon, Elijah and Robert, arrived from Indiana in 1814, j sister of Samuel, and settled on the S. E. }, section 22,
and entered the S. W. 1 of sec. 31. He was a man of range 13 west, and his son then becoming a member of
character and enterprise, and built the first water-mill , the new family. He was a wide-awake business man,
in the precinct, on the Bonpas, a short distance above ' and traded in cattle and real estate. His death, which
the railroad. A writ of quod damnum was issued to ] resulted from a stab, received at the hands of his nephew,
view a site for the mill, in 1817, and it was probably ! took place in 1830.
built in that year. It was at one time rebuilt, and it | Elijah Compton, brought with him a family of three
subsequently washed partly away and was abandoned, children, William, John, and Emanuel, and scitled on
Grayson and most of his family died from disease con- the N. E. J of section 8, township 2 S. He reared
traded in the malarial bottom. Some of the descen- a family of eight children, and died about 1840. Walter
dants, however, are living in the precinct. John Cannon, i Garner came from Virginia, in 1816 or '17, and settled
his three sons and his son-in-law, John Starks, came j on theS. W. i of section 24. He reared quite a family
across the river, from Indiana, in 1815, and built a house j of children, amd after a residence in the precinct of
on or near the site of the old Painter grave-yard. The about twenty-jears, moved away. James Landsdown was
building was completed for the rest of the family, and a hunter, and never located anywhere permanently. He
they came and took possession of their new home, late i was rather trifling in disposition and fond of fighting
in the afternoon. Two of the sons were to return to In- j He reared a considerable family of children. John
diana the next day, and went that afternoon as far as | Cradock settled in section 24. He had three sons,
Samuel Campbell s. The father, mother, their little I Joseph, Benjamin, and Michael, and two or three
daughter, their son Samuel, the son-in-law and an aged daughters. Charles P. Burns moved from North Caro-
lady remained and spent the approaching night at their lina to Kentucky, and came thence to Illinois, in 1817.
new home. Next morning they went out to cut a bee- He married a daughter of James Campbell, and settled
tree they had discovered a few days before, and were at- on section 11, township 3 south, at Campbell's lauding.
He lived here till 1831, and then moved to Albion,
where he died. He was one of the earliest justices in the
made captives. The later ran so fast that his pursuers ' precinct. He reared a family of four children, two of
had some difficulty in overtaking him. He leaped from 1 whom, Nancy and N. C. are yet living, the latter, well-
a rock or b'uff clear across the Bonpas, and landing in known, in Mt. Carmel. D.iniel Groves belongs to this
the soft mud sank into it nearly to his knees. His body i period, and was an excellent citizen. He lived in Jor-
was found headless and bereft of the collar bones, and , dan's, now Crackle's prairie. John McCleary and his
of the lower portions of the limbs, which were left stick- | wife were natives of Pennsylvania, and moved to Ohio,
ing in the mud. The bodies were wrapped in a horse- j They carne thence in 1815 to the vicinity of Vincennes,
skin, and buried without a coffin, in the first grave dug where they remained till 1817, when they moved to
in the Painter grave-yard. Among those who officiated fractional section 31, township 2 south, range 13 west, a
at this sad rite were Samuel Mclutosh and Henry Gam- ' locality known as the McCluarly's Bluff. They brought
tacked by the Indians. Cannon was murdered on the
spot, and the rest of the family, except Samuel, were
334
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
six children, James, John, Elizabeth, Peggy, Sarah, and
Juli&nna. Mr. McCltary died iu 1837, at the age of
seventy years, and was buried on the bluff. His wife
died in 1844, aged sixty-nine years, and was buried by
her husband. Their sons, James and John, became
well-known citizens of the precinct.
About the year 1818 came William Arnold, Thomas
Baird, Reuben Blackford. Henry Bignon, Elias Jordan,
and one Violette. Arnold lived on the N. W. t of sec"
tion 10, township 2 south, range 13 west. He had a
family of three boys, Thomas, Jesse, and William, Jr.
He was a daring hunter, and on one occasion when he
and a neighbor were hunting in the bottom, and the dogs
had brought a bear to bay, he approached, and placing
the muzzle of his gun close to the animal's side shot it.
Baird came fropi Ky. with a family of two sons,
Ralph and James, and settled in the precinct.
The sons married and settled on portions of the old
place. The Bairds were good farmers and excellent
citizens. Blackford brought to the precinct a family of
five children, Easter, Thompson, James, John, and
Betsey, and settled on section 13. Jordan settled about
four miles west of Keensburg, in the prairie, now
Crackle's, that then bore his name He was a man of
influence, force of Character and bravery, and served as
captain in the Black Hawk war. He had four sons,
Ji. ho, William, Logan, and Charles. Bignon, and one
Violette, were also settlers of 1818, the latter living a little
north of Cowling. Two brothers, James and John Gray,
brought families from Kentucky, and also settled near
this village.
At first Indian hostility and outrage, especially during
the war of 1812, and later the noxious miasma of the
low lands checked the progress of immigration, and in
1819 or '20 there was a smaller number of arrivals than
in 1817 or '18. In 1820 Mathew Heniken settled about
two miles south of Keensburg. James Keunerly also
arrived in this year, as likewise John Nesler. Kennerly
settled near Campbell's landing. He was twice married,
and by his second wife had one child, Charles. He is
reputed to have been a good man, and he represented
the county in the State Legislature. He also held the
office of justice of the peace. Nesler was a short, thick-
set man from Kentucky. He married Susan Garner,
and settled on the N. E. J- of section 10. He died in the
precinct at an advanced age, leaving children who still
survive him. Mo.'es P. New&um was a native of Mass., and
came to Illinois in 1820. He settled on fractional sec-
tion 36, township 2 south, range 14 west. lie had one
son when he arrived in the country. He was by pro- j
fession a minister of the gospel. Henry Rotrammel, a !
Pennsylvania German, came from Indiana with a large I
family iu 1824. He was a bell-maker, and established
a forge at Campbell s landing. Bell-making was at this
time an important trade. Ephraim Phar came to the
precinct with three children, Eliphalet, Melinda, ami
Mary, in 1825. He was a man of some education for !
his day, and a new light minister. He also held the office i
of county commissioner. Jeremiah Ruth, in 1825, settled
opposite Gray ville. On the west half of section 13, there
was an Indian village and a burial-ground. Seven graves
could be distinctly seen. The spot is now under cultiva-
tion. There was also one of these villages at " Village
Bend," on the Wabash, in section 5 or 7. Piankishaw
Bend, so named from the Piankishaw Indians, occurs at
sec. 36, township 2 south. Bonpas Ferry, just south of the
Wabash, St. Louis, and Pacific railroad bridge, was es-
stablished as early as 1835, and continued in operation
till 1872. The boat was sufficient to carry a four-horse
team and wagon. The first school was taught by William
Townsend, a bachelor and Methodist minister, in the
year 1818, in a log school-house, on the S. E. J of the S.
E. J of section 10. The Arnolds, Landsdowns, Bairds,
Lovelettes, and De Gans, to the number of about twenty
attended the school. Townsend taught about six months>
and was succeeded by Reuben Fox, also a bachelor.
Fox was something of a " permanent " in the county ;
and taught at different points. Early land entries in
township 2 south, range 13 west: October 3, 1814, Wra.
Jones entered all of section 11 ; October 12, 1814, John
Grayson, of all section 31 ; December 2, 1814, A. Tougas
Lovelette, fractional section 14; December 12, 1814,
John Marshall, the S. E. i of section 10 ; July 2, 1815,
Levi Compton, the N. E. J of seciion 9 ; January 20,
1816, J B. Langlois, N. Mr. J of section 10: Oct. 7, 1816,
Joan McClary, fractional section 29; July 14, 1817,
John Ruth, the S. E. 1 of section 7.
ROCHESTER,
Formerly called Coffee Island, is situated on the. north-
east quarter of section 14, township 2, south range 13
west. Its history has been a very eventfuLone. It has
twice risen to prominence and importance, and as often
sunk into decay and obscurity. It was the scene of one
of the two first settlements made in Wabash county, and
the place of the first negotiations in trade between the
white man and the Indian. An eye-witness, now living>
saw as many as three hundred "children of the forest"
gathered at a time in idle contentment about the rude
trading-place of her father. The town was laid out in
1839 by Dr. Ezra Baker, Jr., and surveyed and platted
by James Knapp, county surveyor. In that year the
building of the Rochester grist mill was begun. When
completed it was one of the best mills in its range of coun-
try. It supplied Mt. Carruel, Albion, Grayville, Prince-
ton and Olney with flour, leaker's store was built in
1840 or '41. It was at that time the best store in Wabash
county. In connection with the store the proprietor
did a large business in pork-packing and grain buying,
pressing into his service a steamboat expressly for the
advancement of these different depanments. About
1839 he prft up a saw-mill with two sets of saws,
water and steam-power, shipping lumber to New Orleans
and other points in flat boats built in Rochester. Baker
put up a carding machine about 1845, the smithing and
forging for which were done by Samuel Shaw, of Mt.
Carmel. In 1847 Shaw built a shop and made the first
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
335
Diamond plows manufactured in the county. A chair
factory was also in operation here. The grist mill,
about 1850, came into the possession of George Legier,
who moved it back from the river. But "the noise of the
busy," the hum of machinery and the clank of the anvil
are no more. Disease settled like a pall over the town,
and what were once life and activity are in the last
stages of decay. About this year Baker laid out Ro-
chester, and adjoining it on the north, by Thomas S.
Hinde, was laid out Pocahontas, which was always re-
garded as its rival. It was surveyed and platted by
James Knapp, county surveyor, but was never im-
proved.
KEENSBURG,
On the southwest quarter of section 8, township 2 south,
range 13 west, was surveyed and platted by county
surveyor, Robert Buchanan, for Ornamiel H. Keen, and
the plat was recorded in the office of the circuit clerk,
April 18, 1874. The town enjoys the advantages of a
good location on the Wabash railroad, and by the
census of 1880 had sixty-eight inhabitants. The first
building was a store put up by Keen, the proprietor,
and the first goods sold were disposed of by the firm of
Keen and Mitchell (William C. Keen and B. M.
Mitchell) in the spring of 1873. In March 20, 1874,
the post-office was moved to this place from Rochester,
William C. Keen being the first post-master. In this
year Dr. John Truscott located in the town. The
Keensburg Flouring Mill was moved from Rochester to
its present site in 1874. It is Dr. Baker's old three-
story frame mill, and has two run of burrs. In 1879 it
became the property of William E. Keen, its present
owner. The Christian (frame) church was built in
1881 at a cost of about $1200.
PRESENT BUSINESS.
Physician, Druggist and Post-master. — Paul G. Man-
ley.
General Merchants. — D. S. Harvey & Son.
Grocer.— B. M. Mitchell.
Grain Dealer— J. R. Carl ton.
Blacksmith— Elijah C. Compton.
Was surveyed and platted by Robert Buchanan for
Francis M. Cowling on the southeast quarter of section
26, and Joseph Snyder on the southeast quarter of the
northeast quarter of said section, township 2, south range
14 west. The plat was filed for record June 26, 1875. The
town contains a store kept by Joseph H. Compton, a
blacksmith shop and seven or eight dwellings. The
post-office was moved to this place from
LOGAN,
formerly called Logansburg. situated on the southeast
i quarter of section 18, township 2 south, range 13 west.
It was surveyed and platted by Robert Buchanan, for
| William Cowling, but the plat was never filed for re-
j cord. The town had a post-office, two general stores,
j kept by William Cowling and James Langford, respect-
ively, a drug store, of which Dr. Walker was proprietor,
I and a saloon kept by William Buttrick. The toVn had
| an existence of about two or three years. Cowling and
i Walker died, and with them it sank into decay.
BIOGRAPHIES.
HON. E. B. KEEN.
THE subject of the following sketch is of pioneer
stock. His family were the pioneers of three states.
They were originally from New Jersey. Peter Keen,
the grandfather, was a native of that state. Soon after
the Revolutionary War he moved to Ohio, which was
then a part of the North West Territory. He settled at
a point eight miles north of Cincinnati, which was then
a small struggling frontier village, and there entered a
lot of land, and lived until 1814, when he sold out and
came west to the territory of Illinois, and settled in what
is now known as Wabash county, then part of Edwards.
He bought a tract of land now known as the Fox farm,
two miles south of the present town of Allendale.
While a resident there he was one of the original pro-
prietors of the town of Palmyra, which was subsequently
the first county seat of Wabash county. He afterward
! removed to a place north and close to Friendsville in
this county, and there died in 1840. He married Jemi-
ma Card, sister of Seth Gard, who was also one of the
pioneers of Illinois and a prominent roan in his day.
He was a member of the territorial Legislature in 1817,
and a member of the Legislative body after the State
was admitted to the Union. Mrs. Keen survived her
husband, and died some years later. There were three
sons and two daughters, the offspring of that union.
Of those was Daoiel Keen, the father of the present
I family. He was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, in
1794, and was a young man when the family emigrated
to Illinois. He married in 1815, and immediately there-
j after moved to the southern part of the county, in what
i is now known as Coffee precinct, and settled on section
' nine, town two, range thirteen. It was wild land, uuim-
j proved. There he opened up a farm, improved it, and
336
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
remained until 1852, when he removed to the northern
part of the county, but returned to the old place, and
there died August 13, 1875. lu 1815 he married Mary
Compton, daughter of Levi and Rosanna Compton.
They were natives of Virginia, but came to Illinois in
1802, and are credited with being the first settlers in
this part of the State. Their son Joseph was the first
male child born in what is now known as Wabash
county. *Levi Compton in his day was also one of the
prominent men in Illinois. He was a member of the
first constitutional convention held in Kaskaskia in
1818, the same year the State was admitted to the Union.
His wife was a Phinesy, and was born iu Kentucky.
Mrs. Daniel Keen died in 1831. By the union of
Daniel and Mary Keen there were five sons and two
daughters. Two of these yet survive. Marshall Keen,
who is a resident of Hamilton county, Ohio, and the
subject of this sketch. After the death of his first wife,
Daniel Keen married Julydia, -daughter of Thomas
McClain, by which marriage there are two children
living.
Ezra Baker Keen was born on the old homestead,
the place where he now lives, December 1st, 1821. He
is the third son of the union of Daniel and Mary
(Compton) Keen. He was raised on the farm and re-
ceived a limited education in the subscription schools of
the pioneer days of Illinois. In those schools, held in
the log school-houses, he learned to read, write and
cipher, and for a short time enjoyed the special privi-
lege of obtaining some knowledge of grammar under the
tuition of a " Yankee " by the name of Reuben Fox,
who was well educated and added English grammar to
the studies. At least his opportunities were meagre,
and his education is more the result of reading and close
observation of men and things acquirad in after life,
than of knowledge obtained in schools. During his
early manhood Mr. Keen employed his time in various
ways, teaching school, working on the farm, and boating
on the river. He made many trips on the Mississippi
to New Orleans, which in those 'days was the market
for all kinds of surplus produce of this section of the
country, In 18-56 he commenced farming, married and
purchased the old homestead, and there he has lived as
a farmer until the present. On the 6th of March, 1856,
he was united in marriage to Miss Lucinda, daughter
of Ephraim and Cynthia (Kimball) Knowles. She was
born in Gibson county, Indiana, January 6th, 1830.
Her family were originally from Delaware, but her
father was a native of Georgia, and emigrated to Indi-
ana in 1811. Jesse Kimball, her maternal grandfather,
was a soldier of the revolutionary war. He died in
1858, at the advanced age of ninety-seven years. He
•was born iu Connecticut, was of English ancestry, and
moved to Kentucky about the close of the last century,
and soon after moved to Indiana, settled in Gibson !
county, and there died. By the union of E. B and !
Lucinda Keen, there have been six children, five of whom
are living. Ferdinand died in his fourteenth year. ;
The names of those living in the order of their birth are
Peter, now a student at school at Mitchell, Ind., Mary
C., Daniel E , Ezra B. and Marshall G.
Politically, Mr. Keen was originally a member of the
Old Whig party. He cast his first presidential vote for
Henry Clay in 1844. He remained a member of that
party until its disbandment, and in 1860 voted for
Abraham Lincoln, and in all subsequent elections has
uniformly voted the Republican ticket. In 1880 he
was elected by his party to represent this district in the
32d General Assembly of the State. He served on the
committees of Insurance, Labor and Manufactures.
While a member of that body his course was marked
throughout by an earnest desire to legislate in the inter-
est of the whole people, and in the direction of economy
and reform. As a legislator he received the commenda-
tion of his constituents, who publicly said, " Well done
good and faithful servant."
The*" family are members of the Christian Church. His
father was one of the charter members of that religious
organization, and helped to form the church in 1819 in
Wabash county.
This in brief is an outline history of Mr. E. B. Keen.
As intimated before he comes from pioneer stock. The
family were among the pioneers of Kentucky, Ohio,
Indiana and Illinois. He retains many of the charac-
teristics of the old pioneers, chief of which is simplicity
of manners and unpretentious style, plain and honest.
That is the character he bears among these people
where he has lived through youth, manhood and mature
age.
PAUL G. MANLEY, M. D.
THE Manley family on the maternal side are from New
Jersey, and on the patefnal side, from Vermont. Ben-
jamin F., the paternal grandfather, emigrated from the
latter state, and settled near Zinesville, in Muskingum
co., Ohio, and from there came to Illinois and stopped
in Bonpas precinct, Wabash county, Illinois. His wife
dying, in 1854, he removed north to Logan county, and
there died some few years later. He married Julia Ford
in Muskingum county, Ohio, by which union there were
three sons, one of whom was named Francis Perry Man-
ley, the father of the present Manley family, in Wabash
county. He was born in the county above named, in
Ohio, and came here with his father. For some time
he farmed, and, in 1854, commenced the study of medi-
cine in the office of Dr. Paul Sears, of Mt. Carmel. He
commenced the practice and continued in it until his
death, Dec. 15, 1862. He married Miss Maria Wiley,
daughter of James Wiley. She was born near Gard's
Point, in Wabash county, Illinois, and died in April
1862, leaving four children, whose names are Laura,
wife of William Hamilton, Frank C., Alfred P., and
Paul G. Manley. The latter, the subject of this sketch,
was born on Bald Hill Prairie, Wabash county, Janua-
ry 14, 1855. His opportunities for obtaining an educa-
ET,M I LLER S
PL A N I N G M -I.L -L
RESIDENCE & PLANING MILL PROPERTY OF COWARD MIL L£ R MT CAFfM E i. I L L .
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
337
tion in schools were limited, but, even slight as they were,
he made the most of them. He studied hard and eager-
ly, and read all books lhat fell in his way. While yet
in childhood, his parents died and left the family with-
out means. He was compelled to become self-support-
ing at an early age. At the age of seventeen years he
had made sufficient progress in obtaining an education,
that he was found worthy and competent to take charge
of a school. After he had taught five terms, he deter-
mined to adopt the profession of medicine as the busi-
ness of his life, and with that idea in view, read the stan-
dard medical works, and also pursued his studies a por-
tion of the time in the office of Dr. Lemen, of Olney,
Illinois, now president of the Board of Health of Colo-
rado, and Dean of Denver Medical College. Subse-
quently Mr. Manley studied medicine with Dr. Paul
Sears, of Mt. Carmel, Illinois. In the winter of 1876-
'77, he entered the Miami Medical College at Cincinnati,
and graduated from the institution in March, 1879, with
the degree of M. D. His graduation was very creditable
as he received the highest percentage upon examination
in a large graduating class. During the last year of
his stay in the College, he was physician to the Free
Dispensary of Miami. In the spring of 1879, he com-
menced the practice in Keensburg, Wabash co., where
he still continues, and where he has met with great suc-
cess. On the 6th of April, 1876, he was united in mar-
riage to Miss Mary E., daughter of Cipt Richard, and
Mary J. (Earls) McClure. Mrs. Manley was born in
Lawrence county, Illinois. They have had three chil-
dren, two of whom are living. Both he and his wife are
members of the M. E. Church.
FRENCH CREEK
EDWARDS COUNTY.
| HIS precinct deserves honorable mention from
the fact of being among the first portions of
territory settled in the county. Indeed, the
first land entry in Edwards, was made in
this precinct, October 26th, 1814. It lies in the extreme
southeast, and is bounded on the north by Albion pre-
cinct, on the east by Bonpas creek, on the south by
White county, and west by Dixon precinct. It receives
its name from the creek passing through it from north
to south — French creek, and its territory embraces a
portion of four townships, as follows : T. 2 S., R. 14 W.
2d P. M., T. 3 S., R. 14 W. 2d P. M., T. 4 S., R. 11 E.
and T. 2 S., R. 10 E.
The precinct is principally timbered land, having a
prairie belt extending from north to south through the
centre of its territory, with a small arm ranging north-
west from the main body. It is known as French Creek
prairie and extends from the head of French creek to
the southern boundary of the county. The soil of the
timber land is a chocolate-colored clay subsoil, and is
specially adapted to the culture of wheat, which is the
staple product. The prairies are composed of two dis-
tinct soils, a dark rich loam, and what is known in this
section of country as white craw-fish land. The former
is very productive for maize and the grasses, while the
latter is thin, cold, and unproductive. The natural
drainage is fair, having the Bonpas creek on the east,
and French creek, with its small tributaries, in the
centre. The Peoria, Decatur and Evansville Railroad
passes centrally through the precinct from north to south |
43
affording good transportation facilities. The Wabash,
St. Louis and Pacific road also extends across the south-
east corner of the precinct, including about four sections
of its territory.
FIRST SETTLEMENTS.
Probably the first white man to locate and form a
home in this precinct, was an emigrant from the south,
in 1817. His name was Clem Martin, and he located
in section 33, township 2 south, range 14 west, on the
farm now owned by Mrs. White. He was a man with a
family, none of whom are now living in the precinct.
He died many years ago ; several of his grandsons are
residing in White county. Edward Coad came from
England in 1812, and with several other emigrants
pushed into the interior of the state, and located in
Clinton county, now Carlyle. Mr. Charles Slade, after-
wards member of Congress, was the leader of the party.
Mr. Coad, not liking the location came to Edwards
county, and for a time rented land of George Flowerj
south of Albion. In 1821 he purchased a farm in the
north part of this precinct, where he removed until his
death, some years ago. " Old Neddy Coad," as he was
familiarly known, was one- of the staunch yeomen of
his times, and his decease was mourned by many warm
friends. Mrs. C. had died several years before him.
Four of the children are yet living , Thomas, Mrs. A.
Cowles, widow of Dr. Cowles, Mrs. Jane White, widow
of Benjamin White, and James. The latter resides at
the old homestead. Thomas and Mrs. White are residents
of this precinct, and Mrs. Cowles of Dixon precinct.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LA WRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Another early settler was George Woodham, also a
native of England. He came to this county in 1818,
then a poor man, and first located at Wanborough, near
the present town of Albion. In 1830 he moved
to this precinct, and located in the west part, where he
improved an excellent farm, and amassed a good compe-
tency for his old age. His wife's maiden name was
Huston. He died several years ago. His widow yet
survives him, and is living with one of her sons, Cornp-
ton, at the old home. John Cowling came from Eng-
land, a single man, the same year as the above. He
subsequently married Mary Coad, and located in the
north of the precinct, where he resided until his death,
which occurred about twenty years ago. A large family
of children were born to them, several of whom are
living. Charles resides in section 8, township 3, range
14 west, and Addison lives on the old place. Another
settler in the county at the same date was James Green,
Sr., also from England. At his coming he settled in
Albion precinct, where he remained until his death,
which occurred several years ago. He married here and
reared a family. A son, James, Jr., resides in this pre-
cinct, section 19, township 2, range 11 east. One of the
oldest citizen of the county is Thomas Shepherd, Jr.,
•who came with his father, Thomas, Sr., in 1818. He
was then but a few years old. The family located in
the English settlement, near Albion. Thomas Jr., sub-
sequently married Mrs. Millie Brown. In about 1870
they moved to Grayville (this precinct), where they yet
reside.
Among others who came in 1818 were David Thomp-
son, Caleb Dickinson and John Massey. The former
was a native of Scotland, and on hia arrival he located
in section 21, township 2, range 14 west. He died here
about thirty years ago. None of his descendants are in
the county. Caleb Dickinson entered land in section
17, township 3 south, range 14 west, where he settled
with his family. He died in 1820, and none of the de-
scendants are left to give his history. It is only known
to the early settlers that he came from the south. Massey
came from England and located in section 9, township
3 south, range 14 west. His wife died here at an early
day, and soon afterward he sold out and moved to Ga-
lena.
The following were settlers in 1819: Isaac Butler
came from England in the fall of the above year and
settled in section 7, township 3 south, range 14 west.
His family then consisted of his wife, Elizabeth, nee
Owen, and two sons, Joseph and Caleb. His first house
was a small log cabin with puncheon floor, and other
belongings peculiar to the pioneer times. He entered a
quarter section of land, but subsequently relinquished
one half of it in accordance with a certain act of Con-
gress. It was here that he made his home until his
death, which occurred in 1842. His widow survived
hinTbut eight years. Joseph died the same year as his
father. Caleb resides in section 17, township 3 south,
range 14 west, and is the oldest surviving settler of this
precinct. He is a representative citizen, having served
as justice of the peace for twenty-years, and overseer of
the poor of his precinct for the same length of time.
William Wood was also from England, and at his com-
ing was a widower (Mrs. Wood died on the way) with
two sons, John and Joseph. He located in Albion, and
subsequently was twice married. All the family are
now dead. Thomas Wood, who resides in the north of
the precinct, is a son of Joseph, and grandson of William.
John Mather came from England about the same time
as the above, and located in section 31, township 2,
range 14 west. He moved to New Harmony, Indiana,
where he died. None of his descendants are in the pre-
cinct. John Hat field located in the precinct in 1820.
He was a native of England, but afterward moved to
New Harmony, Ind. James Hean came from England
and located in section 19, township 2 south, range 14
west. He was then a single man. He afterwards mar-
ried and reared a family of two sons and two daughters.
None of the family are now living in the county. An-
drew Hunter was born in South Carolina, and at an
early day moved to Kentucky, where he remained until
his advent in this state, in the spring of 1827. The
most of the distance was made by means of a flat-boat,
and it required nearly two months to make the trip.
His family consisted of his wife, Sarah, nee Carr, and
six children, David P., Jam^s, Solomon, Laviria, Jef-
ferson and Sarah. He located in section 20, township 2
south, range 14 west, where he resided until his death,
which occurred in the spring of 1857. Mrs. H. died in,
1847, ten years before her husband. Only one of the
pioneer children is a citizen of the state, David P., who
is a prominent farmer residing in section 29, township 2
south, range 14 west. Mrs. Eliza Cora, a younger
member of the family, lives in Coffee precinct, Wabash
county. All the others now living are in the state of
•Missouri. Edward D. Jacobs and Adam Wick are
also old settlers of the precinct.
First Land Entries. — The following entries are all
made.— Township No. 2 S., R. 14 W. of the 2d P. M. :
Oct. 26, 1814, John Grayson entered the N. E. i of sec-
tion 34. April 25, 1818, Joseph Wright entered the S.
E. i of the same section. June 10, 1818, Thomas Tav-
ner entered the W. J of section 21. September 17, 1818,
Robert Leslie entered the N. W. i of section 34. Sept.
28, 1818, John Martip entered the E. } of the N. E. 1 of
section 33. Sept. 30th, 1818, Clem. Martin entered the
S. W. 1 of section 34. Dec. 8th, 1818, James Hean en-
tered the N. E. 1 of section 19. February 9, 1819, John
j Mather entered the N. E. i of section 31. April 7th,
1819, David Thompson entered the E. i of the N. E. J
j of section 21. April 8, 1819, John Cowling entered the
W. * of the N. W. J of section 20.
The following entries were made in township 3 S., R.
14 W. of 2d P. M. : May 18, 1815, Clem. Martin en-
tered the S. W. \ of section 9. Feb. 18th, 1817, Caleb
! Dickinson entered the E. J of the S. E. J of section 17.
I May 11, 1818, Moses Thompson entered the N. \V. } of
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WAS ASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
339
section 8. Aug. 1, 1818, Isaac Butler entered the W. *
of the N. E. i of section 7. Same date, Morris Bick- !
berk entered the S. W. t of section 8. April 28, 1819, j
John Massey entered the N. W. 1 of section 9. The
following entries were made in township 3 S, R. 11 E. :
July 28th, 1831, Peter Kershaw entered the N. E. J- of
section 7. Sept. 14th, 1832, Asa Turner entered the N. ;
E. t of section 18. The following entries are in town-
ship 2 S., R. 10 E. : Oct. 31, 1817, James Parker en-
tered the N. W. i of section 25. July 26th, 1817,
Hugh Stewart entered the E. i of the S. W. i of sec-
tion 24.
The privations, hardships and inconveniences of the
first settlers cannot be fully comprehended by the present
generation. There were no mills to grind their corn, and
they were obliged to improvise methods to prepare the
meal for cooking purposes. The mortar, with an iron
wedge for a pestle, constituted the machinery for a grist
mill. The first mill constructed in the precinct was in
1830. This was what was known as a horse-mill, built ;
by James Higginson, and was situated on his premises !
in the northern part of the precinct. About the same :
time a water mill was put in operation by John Gray-
son, located on Bonpas creek, in section 34. It contained
one run of stone, and for all practical purposes was a
godsend to the people. It continued to operate about
ten years, when Mr. Grayson died and the mill went to ,
decay. The first smithing done was by John Rotrammel
1825. His shop was situated on the east side of the pre-
cinct, near the Bonpas creek. The smith and shop have
passed away long ago. The first to attend to the wants
of the sick was Dr. Archibald Spring, of Albion. The
first resident physician was Harrison Simms. He moved
away several years ago.
The first school-house was built in 1831, and situated
in section 17, township 3 south, range 14 west, and
within the northern limits of the present town of Gray-
ville. It was the usual pioneer style of school-house,
built of unhewn logs, puncheon floor, puncheon seats
and desks, and other belongings peculiar to these times.
The first teacher was Daniel R. Jacobs, who in his day
•was considered an excellent teacher. The first to j
preach the gospel to the few pioneers was Rev. Charles j
Slocumb, a Methodist " circuit rider." His circuit i
embraced a large territory, including a portion of the
States of Illinois and Indiana. While in this section he ;
preached at the private house of Caleb Dickinson. It j
must be remembered that at that time there were but j
very few church houses in the country, and services were (
held at the cabins of the settlers.
The first Baptist preacher was Rev. Elias Roberts,
and the first church building erected was by his denomi- j
nation in 1838. It is situated in the northern limits of
Grayville, and is in a good state of preservation. It is
a frame, 50x60 feet in size, and is adorned with a spire
and supplied with a bell.
The first place of burial is situated near the north
boundary of the city of Grayville. The first interment
was made in 1818, the deceased being Mrs. John Taylor,
from White county. No head-stone marks the spot,
neither is it known where the grave was made. It is
said that the sexton, in sinking a grave, often strikes the
remains of those who have been long forgotten, there
being no head-stones to guide his labors. The first 'ma-
gistrates in the precinct were David Thompson, Daniel
R. Jacobs and Caleb Butler.
A great sensation was created in this section of the
county in 1824, caused by the missing of a little boy
three years old, a son of Samuel Dransfield. About
ten o'clock in the forenoon he was missed, and, after a
short search, the family became convinced that he had
strayed away into the timber or tall prairie grass, where
he would be devoured by the wolves unless prompt
action was taken. The alarm was given in the neigh-
borhood, which, in a few hours, was spread for miles
around. The settlers came pouring in from every point,
and the excitement became intense to the hunters, and
heart-rending to the parents of the little one. The day
passed without tidings. Fires were kept burning in the
timber all night, to prevent the wolves from venturing
near the limits of the settler's cabin. Another day
came, and still the people flocked in as the word spread
abroad. The day passed, — night closed in again with
unfruitful efforts on the part of the searchers. Fires
were again kindled, anxious watchers keeping them well
supplied with fuel. Morning dawned, and hundreds
were then gathered to prosecute the search. About ten
o'clock of the second day a joyful shout of " Found ! "
resounded through forest and prairie. He was found
wandering around in the tall prairie grass, about three-
fourths of a mile from his home. He appeared very
much scared and weary ; yet, with all his tramp and
times of sleep, he had not even lost his hat. .
At this writing, the precinct is well populated, and
many fine farms are within its boundaries. About one-
fourth of the population of the city of
GRAYVILLE
is in this precinct. The only business on this side of the
boundary line is the firm of W.G. Wheatcroft&Co.and
Robert Glover. The formsr are engaged in the manu-
facture of tile and brick on Main street. Ten men are
employed, and it is estimated that 6,000 rods of tiling
and 400,000 bricks are turned out annually. The latter
industry is the stave factory and cooper shops, owned by
Mr. Glover. This is an extensive business, giving em-
ployment to upwards of forty hands.
LICK PRAIRIE
WABASH COUNTY.
HIS precinct is bounded on the north by Lan-
caster, on the east of Friendsville and Mt.
Carmel, on the south by Bellmont, and on
the west by Edwards county. Its territory
extends two miles and a half north, and a mile and a
half south of the base line, and from Bonpas creek to a
line three miles east of the fourteenth meridian. Most
of the surface is level, but some of it is slightly rolling.
Lick prairie in the northwest is of this character. It
is about two miles wide, and is so named from the deer
lick within its limits. Bald Hill prairie is a semi-circu-
lar area lying partly within the precinct on the east. It
derived its name from the circumstance that one Bald-
win settled on its highest part, or more probably from
its barren appearance. In section 19 there was a small
circular prairie, called Brush prairie, from the low
growth of brush surrounding it. Griffin's prairie, in
sections 25 and 26, comprised about one hundred and
sixty acres of land. Mud prairie, so named from its
natural condition, lies along Bonpas creek, one and a
half mile long and three-fuurths of a mile wide. The
soil is rich and black, and is from five to six feet in
depth. It is subject to overflow from the creek, and was
originally too wet for cultivation, but has been reclaimed.
The first to settle in it was Franklin Card. The
principal water courses are Bonpas and Little Bonpas
creeks.
The earliest and most prominent settler of Lick prai-
rie was Seth Gard, who came from Hamilton county,
Ohio, and established a permanent home on the south-
east quarter of section 28, about 1814. This locality
•was called Gard's Point, and the post-office, originally
established iu that vicinity, is still called by that name.
Gard was a man of much force of character, of
good judgment and of strong and lasting convictions.
Through his mental make-up there ran a vein of humor
tending, generally, to point some moral precept. This
shows itself in the Christian names, Reason and Justice,
given to his twin sons. He brought to the county a
family of seven children, the two just named, Susan,
Ruth, Amelia, Franklin, Hiram and Joseph. Reason
and Justice resembled each other so closely that to most
people a wart on one's nose was the only distinguishing
mark. On one occasion, in a spirit of fun, one called to
see the other's girl. She failed to observe the little
index, and the counterfeit passed as current coin. Gard
was an influential and representative man. He was the
second representative of the county in the state legisla-
ture, and the first judge of the county court. He was
also a New Light minister, and very enthusiastic in his
profession, often preaching from his chair when, through
infirmity of age, he was unable to stand. With Gard
came his nephew, Aaron Waggoner, who had quite a
family of children. He was a stone mason, and in 1816
or 1817 built the chimney, still standing, for Peter
Keen's house on the old Fox place, in Wabash precinct.
In 1814 Jacob Claypole settled on the northeast quarter
of section 4. Philip Hull, in 1815, settled on the north-
east quarter of section 28. One Ocheltree, in the same
year, located on the southeast quarter of section 21.
Ichabod C. Griffin, in 1818, settled on the southeast
quarter of section 24, in the little prairie that bore his
name. In the same year James Black settled on the
southwest quarter of section 25. Ephraim Armstrong,
in the year 1819, came from Tennessee and settled on
the northwest quarter of section 30. He came to the
county in 1816 or '17, and first settled in the vicinity of
old Timberville. From his native state he entered the
army in the war of 1812. He held the office of consta-
ble for a number of years. His death took place &(, the
old homestead about the year 1875. Thomas Arm-
strong, a well-to-do farmer of the precinct, is his son.
Samuel Mundy and his wife and their two sons, Griffith
and William, came from the state of New York in 1819.
They came as far as Cincinnati, with a horse and wagon,
which they there exchanged for a boat with which they
made the rest of the journey. They first settled on the
northwest quarter of section 24, and after a few years
moved to the south half of section 19, which became
their homestead. Mr. Mundy was at one time a mem-
ber of the legislature, while Vandalia was yet the seat
of government. He was elected to the office of circuit
clerk, which he filled for several years. He died in
Mt. Carmel in 1872. Lewis Armstrong, brother of
Ephraim, settled on the southwest quarter of section 19,
but did not remain krg in the precinct. William Ulm,
a farmer and minis ter, residing in section 36, came to
Wabash from Ross county, Ohio, in 1820. James Wi'ey
came to the precinct from New York in 1820 or '21.
He was a plain farmer, and reared a family of 'five or
six children. Jacob Gupton, with a family of three
children, came from North Carolina in 1825, and became
a permanent resident of the precinct. With him came
s son-in-law, Calvin Morgan, whose possessions con-
sisted of a little pony and fifty cents in money. By the
diligent employment of his time in winter at shoemak-
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS. 341
ing, and in summer at farming, he accumulated a good
deal of property. Two sons survive him, George in
Lancaster and Hiram in Lick prairie. Benjamin F.
Hill and family of a wife and two sons, William and
Thomas, came from Virginia about 1824 or '25, and
settled on the northwest quarter of section 30. He left
home to drive to Mt- Carmel, about twenty five years
ago, and was found dead by the wayside. His sons
Thomas and William married and settled in the pre-
cinct. The family of Adam Baird deserve mention
among the early settlers. He came from Virginia,
bringing with him a family of five children, John,
Samuel, Andrew, William (deaf and dumb) and Silas
The first three were ministers of the New Light, and
afterward of the Christian persuasion. Silas was a
teacher and William a chair and barrel-maker. All
are now dead. Frederick Miller was an early set-
tler from Indiana. He located in section 31. He
was a plain farmer and died at his home many years
ago. John Steward, from Virginia, settled on the
east half of section 31. He was crippled with rheuma-
tism and worked at shoemaking. One Gumming was
also an early settler near the locality of Gard's Point.
He went with his face tied up, having sustained a frac-
ture of the jaw in the operation of extracting a tooth.
John Moore, a New Light minister came from Vir-
ginia about 1825, with a family and settled on section
36. On one occasion, when he was crossing the Bonpas,
on his return from a tour of preaching, he saw Joseph
Preston and Harrison lugram skating bare-foot, with
chips of wood strapped to their feet," having walked
without shoes a distance of five miles to reach the ice.
Samuel Moore, brother of John, moved from Virginia to
Indiana, and thence to the southwest quarter of section
25, the old James Black place. After two or three
years he moved to the southwest quarter of section 24,
where he made the first improvements, and settled per-
manently. He was a New Light exhorter, and he died
many years ago. William Brattou came to the precinct
about 1827. He settled on the east half of section 36,
or the west half of section 31, township 1 north, and
reared a family of three or four children. He was a
farmer and mechanic, a sociable and good-hearted man,
and he accumulated a considerable aaount of property.
William 8. Hill, a farmer and stock -raiser of section
32, ctme west to Wabash county from North Carolina
iu 1829. P. G. Greathouse, a farmer, gunsmith and
blacksmith of section 1, was born in the county ia 1827.
A. W. Gilkison, section 25, farmer and stock-raiser, was
born in the county in 1832. Adam Stoltz came to
Pennsylvania, from Alsace, Germany, with a family, in
1828. In 1834 he moved to Illinois and settled on
the southwest quarter of section 21, but ia now
in Lick precinct. The family married and settled down
in the neighborhood of their father's home, and are the
oldest German family in the precinct. One of the
daughters, Vieve, married Fred Marx, from whom the
family of that name are descended. P. P. Keepes, of
section 20, a farmer and county treasurer, came from
Germany in 1828. The first colored settler was Charles
Goings. He located on the south half of section 19 in
1835. An Indian from Tennessee, also named Goings,
settled with Charles at the same time. Gard's Point
post-office was first kept by Dr. Ezra Baker. About
1842 it was kept by Reason Gard, who retained it about
ten years. It changed possession two or three times,
and finally came to the hands of Joseph Shearer, the
present incumbent. The first school in the precinct was
taught by William Townsend in a log school-house on
the northwest quarter of section 30, in the year 1830.
Townsend was a Methodist minister, and opened and
closed his school with prayer, and was regarded as a good
teacher. The school-house was of the old time type,
with puncheon floor, seats and desks. On the southeast
quarter of section 25, about 1833, was built a log build-
ing, designed for a church and school-house, and used
for these purposes for a number of years. At this
point is an old grave-yard, still kept in preservation.
In the locality of Cabbage Corners, so called from
Justice Gard's cabbage patch that was near it, or, as
some say, from the circumstance that one young man
"cabbaged "another's girl, stood a log school house at
an early day. The Gard's Point burial grounds, south-
east quarter, section 28, is the oldest in the precinct.
The first land entry was made by James Claypole,
in the southwest quarter of section 4, August 5, 1814.
December 30, of that year, S. M. Kussell and C. Dana
entered four hundred and eighty acres in section 33.
June 10, 1815, Philip Hull entered the southeast quar-
ter of section 21. April 20, 1816, James O. Chetrod,
the northeast quarter of section 28. May 9, 1818, Icha-
bod C. Griffin, the southeast quarter of section 24.
August 29, same year, T. Ayeres and P. Mundy the
southeast quarter of section 36, and Oct. 22, also same
year, James Black the southwest quarter of section 25.
Lick Prairie is the smallest precinct in the county,
but it contains some excellent land and well-improved
farms.
BIOGRAPHY.
JOHN STRAHAN (deceased,)
WAS born in Lawrence county, Kentucky, in 1825.
William Strahan, his father, was a native of North
Carolina, and from there moved to Kentucky, where he
gretted by all who knew him. He was a man' of kind
and generous impulses, though firm. He never made a
contract or an obligation that he was not ready and
Billing to meet. That trait was eminently characteristic
died. John Strahan came to Illinois in 1861, and set- ; of him. He married Olivia Ann Newman, of Wayne
tied in Bonpas township, Wabash county. He followed county, West Virginia. She died in 1873. He sub-
the peaceful avocation of a farmer. He lived near the j sequently married Mrs. Ann Boyer. She still survives
present village of Bellmont until 1870, when he
bought 130 acres of land in section 14 in Lick Prairie,
and there made his home until his death, which took
her husband. By the first marriage there were eight
children, two are living, whose names are William H.
and Rosaline Strahan. William H. was born February
place February 4, 18S3. He was a member of the i Is), 1854. He is yet at home carrying on the farm.
Christian church, and lived a Christian life. He was a I He like his father before him votes the Republican
kind husband and an affectionate father, and died re- ' ticket.
BOND.
LAWRENCE CO.
HIS township is bounded on the north by
Crawford county, on the east by Russ'ell,
south by Lawrence, %nd west by Petty
townships, and comprises portions of Con- ;
gressioual townships 4-11, 4-12, and 5-11, 5-12. The j
surface in the northwest is somewhat elevated and
broken, and was at the time of the first settlements
covered with scattering trees, and occasional patches of
timber. On both sides of Brushy Fork, near the centre
of the township, lies Lackey's Prairie. On the west,
along the Embarras river, there is a considerable amount
of bottom land heavily covered with timber. Brushy
Fork and the Embarras are the main sources of drain-
age.
The earliest settlement in the township was made in j
the neighborhood of Pinkstaff station, about the year |
1815, by Tennesseans. Adam Lackey, Sr., a Revolu-
tionary soldier, came to Lawrence county in 1813, and
•went into Fort Allison. He had three children, Adam,
Jr., Elizabeth and John, an infant of two years. At the
return of peace and the cessation of Indian hostilities,
he moved to the N. E. i of the S. E J of section 5, T.
4, R. 11, and there settled permanently and died. His j
sons, Adam, Jr., and John, married and settled in the
vicinity, and have a number of representatives in the
county. About this time, three brothers, William,
342
John and David McCord, with families sought homes
in the same vicinity. They first settled on the N. E.
quarter of the N. W. quarter of section 5, T. 4, R. 11.
John and David located at what is now Pinkstaff sta-
tion. A negro settlement was begun in the township,
sections 8 and 9, T. 4, R. 11, in the year 1815 or '16.
Lion and John Morris settled respectively on the N. E.
quarter and the S. E. quarter of section 8, which they
entered in 1816. In 1817 Joshua Anderson settled on
the If. E. quarter of section 9. Elihu Cole, Obed Go-
ings, John Porter and Matthew Steward lived in the
same settlement. The Morris' and the three brothers
Anderson were in Fort Allison, and used to go scouting
with the other occupants. The mother of the Morris',
whose husband was killed by the Indians, expressed the
revengeful and mirth-provoking desire, that a cannon be
placed on Dubois Hill to exterminate the race who were
the authors of her wrongs. The negro settlement has
been pushed southward, and now lies mainly in Law-
rence township. About the year 1819 a community of
the sect known as Shakers, numbering about forty in all,
was formed on the Embarras river, at what is now
Charlotlesville, by immigrants from Shakertown, Knox
county, Indiana, which, now extinct, was quite a village
in 1821. The Shakers held their property in common,
and transacted all business and financial matters through
•BBM^^^B
"FARM RESIDENCE or JAMES w. BEAK, SEC. 26 r. 2. /?. 10, DIXON PRECINCT, EDWARDS co. ILL.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUN1IES, ILLINOIS.
343
a board of trustees composed of three individuals. Dan-
iel Rankin and A. Gallaher were members of the first
board. William Douglas, George Legier and William
Davis also occupied the position of trustees. On their
arrival, in 1819, they built two houses, one for the men
and another for the women, as the sexes lived apart
from each other. The " Shaker Mill " soon followed,
and was put in operation in the spring of 1820. It was
a frame water-mill with one set of burrs, and was built
on the west bank .of the river. The Shakers had oper-
ated it about two years, when the breaking of the mill-
dam cast discouragement about them, and having leased \
the property to a man named Beecher, they abandoned
their plan of founding a permanent settlement on the
Embarras, and emigrated to Shakertown and other
points.
The lessee operated the mill about two years, when,
in 1824, it was purchased by Asahel Heath and his son
Renick, who moved it across the river to the present
site of Charlottesville, rebuilt it, added a set of burrs, |
and operated it fifteen or eighteen years. It enjoyed an !
active existence till about ten years ago when it was
abandoned. Some three or four years since it was
washed away. At one time it was an important centre,
and attracted custom from points fifty miles distant.
Asahel Heath, formerly from Ohio, had lived two years
in Indiana, prior to his arrival in the township in 1824.'
He had a family of eight children, viz. : Renick, Ran-
dolph, Asahel, Jr., Felix, John, Catharine, Charlotte
and Osborn. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and
held the commission of Major. He died in Crawford
county. In 1827 Renick married Melinda Baker, with
•whom he is still living in Russellville. She came to
Indiana as a part of her father's family two days after
the battle of Tippecauoe, and to Illinois in 1817. Mr.
Heath was .a soldier in the Black Hawk war from
Crawford county. One night while living at Shaker
mill his slumbers were disturbed by ^he barking of a
wolf which continued till day-break, when he took his
gun and started on a tour of investigation. The wolf
•wad jumping about and barking violently, and seemed
not to notice a pursuer. Just then a panther leaped to
the ground from a limb, and both animals made good
their escape in opposite directions. Beneath the tree
from which the panther leaped, was found the half de-
voured body of a coon, which was the probable " bone of |
contention."
About the year 1818, William Childress from Tennes- |
see, married Jane Howard, and settled in the N. E. |
quarter of the N. W. quarter of section 5, T. 4, R. 11,
where he settled permanently and died at the age of
about seventy-five years. In this year Edward Mills
married Prudence Howard and settled on the N. W.
quarter of section 6, T. 4, R. 11. Near this time, John
Dollahan, a Wesleyan Methodist minister, with a family |
of some size, from Ohio, located permanently 011 the N.
E. quarter of section 5, T. 4, R 11, where he planted an
orchard and founded the earliest grave-yard in the |
township. James Bryant, a Tennesseean, about 1819
or '20, married Mrs. Anderson, whose first husband's
father was one of the earliest settlers in Allison Prairie,
made his home in section 5, T. 4, R. 11. William Ran-
kin, a carpenter, who first located near Lawrenceville,
moved, with his wife and three children, David, James
and Susan, and settled half a mile south of Charlottes-
ville, about 1835. In 1826, Levi and John Lee, from
Ohio, the former with two children, Sobrina and Abner,
settled respectively on the N. W. quarter and the S. E.
quarter of section 33, T. 5, R. 11. After a residence of
five years the former moved to Jasper county. Samuel
Pollard, in 1825, brought from Tennessee a family of
children, Edward, William, Madison, Jackson and
Susan, and settled on the Dollahan place. Madison was
drowned on the Embarras at the Shaker mill. The
other children married and settled in the county. In
this year Aaron Bt ck, brother-in-law of John Dollahan,
came from Ohio with a family of five or six children
and settled on the N. E. quarter of section 25, T. 5, R.
11, where after a number of years he died. John
Helvenstein settled in the Pinkstaff neighborhood, about
1825. He came from Kentucky with a family of two
sons, Washington and Andrew, and several daughters.
Wilson Price, a soldier of 1812, born in North Carolina,
came to Bond township from Tennessee in 1827, and
with his wife and four children, W. C , James A., Har-
riet A., and Mary J., settled on the S. E. quarter of sec-
tion 2, T. 4, R. 12, where he resided permanently. He
died in Lawrenceville in 1874 at the age of about ninety-
two years. The sons married and became permanent
residents of the township and county. Silas Reed, with
one daughter, Sarah, from Tennessee, in 1827, settled on
theN. W. quarter of section 1, T. 4, R. 12. William
Norris operated a cotton gin for some time from the
year 1826 on the S. W. quarter of the S. W. quarter of
section 4, tp. 4, range 11, to w):ich locality he had
moved it from Allison prairie. Samuel Drake, an early
settler with a family, made his home on the S. W. quar-
ter of section 28, T. 5, R. 11. In 1828 came Edith
Hunt, Allen G. McNece and Thomas Cook, from Ten-
nessee. Mrs. Hunt had five children, Nancy, Sally,
Perlina, George and Pollard. Her husband was shot
for desertion in the war of 1812, and Wilson Price was
one of the soldiers detailed for the execution. McNece
and Cook were brothers-in-law and had families.
William Mullen, also from Tennessee, with a family of
six or seven children, settled in the township in 1830.
The Mullens, Prices, Cooks and McNeces and Hunts
were related, and formed a neighborhood in section 2,
T. 4, R. 12 and section 35, T. 5, R. 12. In this neigh-
borhood settled Edward and Jeremiah Taylor, young
married men from Kentucky. Among the early settlers
of the township were families named Prickey, Randolph
and Nay.
The first house for school purposes was built of logs
near the present Pinkstaff station about 1825, and re-
mained in use some six years. Rev. John Dollahau
344
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WAS ASH COUN1IES, ILLINOIS.
•was the first resident minister, and Asahel Heath the
first justice of the paacs. The earliest land entries are
as follows : February 5, 1816, Lion Morris entered the
N. E. quarter of section 8, T. 1-11 ; February 22, 1816,
John Morris the S. E. quarter of the same section ;
September 30, 1816, A. Gallaher, the S. W. quarter of
section 28, T. 5-11; October 31, 1818, Peter Price, the
E. half of the S. E. quarter of section 33, T. 5-11 ; April
17, 1819, Robert A. Miller, the E. half of the If. W.
quarter of section 28, township -5-11 ; June 10, 1819,
Cornelius Vannarsdell, the southwest quarter of section
36, T. 5-11. The following is a list of supervisors with
their terms of office: Robert Dollahan, 1857 ; Benjamin
Rogers, resigned, and L. S. Highsmith for unexpired
term, 18u8; Benjamin Rogers, Jr., 1858,1859; Wil-
liam M. Carlyle, 1861 ; Asahel Heath, resigned, and
Robert Dollahan for unexpired term, 1862, 1863; j
Aaron Clark, 1864 ; Asahel Heath, 1865 ; Aaron Clark, !
1866, 1867 ; Robert J. Ford, 1868 to 1876 ; H. A. Waters,
resigned, and W. H. Fritchey, for unexpired term, 1877,
1878 ; W. H. Miles, 1879; Robert J. Ford, 1880 ; Wil-
liam H. Miles, 1881 ; Robert J. Ford, chairman, 1882 ;
John Bancroft, 1883.
The oldest town is
CHARLOTTESVILLE
Situated on the Embarras river. It was laid out by
Asahel Heath, March 22, 1837, on the S. W. quarter
of section 28, T. 5, R. 12 W., and surveyed and platted
by Samuel Dunlap, county surveyor. Twenty-five
years ago it contained two dry goods and two grocery
stores, a blacksmith and a wagon shop, and a grist mill;
which clothed it with the evidences of life and prosperity,
while at present it is a mere waste.
BIRD'S STATION
Is a thrifty and thoroughly live town on the Wabash,
St. Louis and Pacific Railroad, which extends north and
south through the township. It was laid out on the N.
W. quarter of the N. W. quarter of section 22, T. 5, R.
81, by John Bird, and on the southwest quarter of the j store and commenced selling groceries.
southwest quarter of section 29, same town and range
by Felix Wampler, and surveyed and platted by J. B.
Banefiel, county surveyor, and the plat was filed for
record September 10, 1878. In this year Isaac W.
Baldridge built the first house, a frame dwelling, at
which he kept the post-office. W. H. Cochrane built a
frame storehouse and sold the first goods in 1879.
In 1881 Lindsay and Bristow put up a frame store and
occupied it with a stock of drugs. The railroad com-
pany built a depot in 1882.
PRESENT BUSINESS.
Physician— N. F. Lindsay.
General Merchants— J. H. Klinger, F. M. Pinkstaff,
Josephus Henry, Nuttall & Ford, Tromley & Catlett.
Drugs and Groceries. — Lindsay & B ristow.
Blacksmiths. — Charles Howard, Isaac Shields.
Shoe shop. — Perry Perrine.
Grain Dealer. — John Wampler.
Postmaster— F. M. Pinkstaff.
Photographer. — F. Glass
About two and three-quarter miles south of Bird's on
the same railroad is
PINKSTAFF STATION.
It was laid out by Owen Pinkstaff on the southwest
quarter of section 8, T. 4, R. 11, and surveyed and plat-
ted by B. Benefiel, county surveyor February 23, 1877.
T. J. Pinkstaff built a combined dwelling and store, and
sold the first goods in 1878. He still continues in bus-
iness, and is post-master. The post-office was established
in 1877, and Alonzo Eaton was its first keeper.
Was laid out by George W. White on the S. W. quarter
of section 8, T. 4, R. 11, in the spring of 1882. In that
year Fernando Johnson built a combined dwelling and
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feS
CONSTITUTION OF ILLINOIS.
ADOPTED IN CONVENTION AT SPRINGFIELD, MAT 13, A. D. 1870; RATIFIED BY THE PEOPLE JULY 2, 1870; IN
FORCE, AUGUST 8, 1870 ; AND AMENDMENTS THERETO, WITH THE DATES OF RATIFICATION.
PREAMBLE.
\Ve, the people of the State of Illinois— grateful to Almighty
God for the 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 tranquillity, provide
for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure
the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity ; do ordain
and establish this constitution for the State of Illinois.
ARTICLE I.
BOUNDARIES.
The boundaries and jurisdiction of the State shall be as fol-
lows, to wit: Beginning at the mouth of the Wabash river;
thence up the same, and with the line of Indiana, to the north-
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
exercise such jurisdiction upon the Ohio river as she is now
entitled to, or such as may nereafter be agreed upon by this
State and the State of Kentucky.
ARTICLE II.
BILL OF EIGHTS.
\ 1. All men are by nature free and independent, and have
certain inherent and inalienable rights — among these are life,
libertv, and the pursuit of happiness. To secure these rights
and the protection of property, governments arc 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 due process of law.
\ 3. The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession
and worship, 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, excuse 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 shall 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 abuse of that liberty; and in
nil 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.
1. Inherent and Inalienable Rights.
2. Due Process of Law.
3. Libertv of Con^eit-nc'C Guaranteed.
•1. Freedom of tlio Press-Libel.
5. Right of Trial bv Jury.
0. Unreasonable Searches and Seiz-
§ 7. Baiiea'lowed— Writ of Habeas Cor-
pus.
| 8. Indictment required— Grand Jury
Abolished.
\ 9. Rights of Persons Accused of
10. Self-Crimination-Former Trial.
11. Penalties proportionate— Corrup-
tion— Forfeiture.
12. Imprisonment for Debt,
13. Compensation for Property taken.
14. Ex post facto laws-Irrevocable
15. Military Power Subordinate.
10. Quartering of Soldiers.
17. flight of Assembly nnd Petition.
is. I-:k., ti .us t.i !><• Five :mcl Equal.
10. What Laws ought to bo.
20. Fundamental Principles.
| 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.
§ 6. The right of the people to be secure in their persons,
h»uses, papers and effects, against unreasonable searches and
seizures, shall not be violated ; and no warrant shall issue with-
out probable cause, supported by affidavit, particularly describ-
ing the place to be searched, and the person or things to be
seized.
\ 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 shall
not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion
the public safety may require it.
| 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
penitentiary, in cases of impeachment, andrin cases arising in the
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.
§ 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 the 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 offense 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 proportioned to the nature of the
offense ; and no conviction shall work corruption of blood of for-
feiture of estate ; nor shall any person be transported out or the
State for any offense committed within the same.
\ 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 presumption of fraud.
\ 13. Private property shall not betaken 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 tracks, with-
out consent of the owners thereof, shall remain in such owners,
subject to the use for which it is taken. »
fi 14. No ex post facio law, or law impairing the obligation of
contracts, or making any irrevocable grant of special privileges or
immunities, shall be passed.
\ 15. The military shall be in strict subordination to the civil
power.
fl 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.
§ 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 equal.
| 19. Every 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.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WAS ASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
361
| 23. A frequent occurrence to the fundamental principles of
civil government is absolutely necessary to preserve the blessings
of liberty.
ARTICLE III.
DISTRIBUTION OF POWERS.
The powers of the Government of this State arc 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
1. Gc-neral Assembly elective.
2. Time of Election— Vacancies.
3. Who arc Uimblo.
1. Disqualification by Crime.
5. O.ith t.iken by members.
0. Senatorial Apportionments.
7. 4 8. Minoritv Representation.
9. Time of me eting-General Rule.
10. Si crctnry- Adjournment— Journ-
als, Protests.
11. Stvle of Laws.
1.'. Orizin and passage of Bills.
I.T. R. a~dinS-Prmtmg-Title-Amend-
1 1. I'm -il 's;es of members.
1 >. lii -al.iliii -sof members.
in. Hills making Appropriations.
17. Payment of money —Statement
of Expenses.
DEPARTMENT.
5 IS. Ordinary Expenses— Casual Defi-
cits-Appropriations limited.
19. Extra Compensation or Allowance.
211. Public Credit not loaned.
JL I'm- itml mil' :rjr.> of member*.
->-J. Sp.'-oial LegittMion prohibited.
[•:! A-ainst Iteleax.- from Liability.
•/4. ProceedlngB on Impeachment.
ix Fuol, St:itiom-rv, and Printing.
•2fi. State not to be sued.
27. Lottery and Gift Enterprises.
28. Terms of Office not Extended.
21. Protection of ojMTutiv miners.
30. Concerning Roads— public and pri-
31. Drai'ni'ng and Ditching.
:)2. Homestead and Exemption Laws.
33. Completion of the State House.
$ 1. The legislative power shall he vested in a General As-
sembly, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives, both to be elected by the people.
ELECTION.
{ 2. An election for members of the General Assembly shall
be held on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November,
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy,
and every two years thereafter, in each county, at such places
therein as may be provided by law. When vacancies occur in
cither house, the governor, or person exercising the powers of
governor, shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies.
ELIGIBILITY AND OATH.
J 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
h elected. No judje or clerk of any court, secretary of state,
attorney general, state's attoruev, recorder, sheriff, or collector of
publis revenue, member of cither house of congress, or person
holdinj any lucrative office under tho 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 pnbiii and justice of the peace, shall not be con-
sidered lucrative. Nor shall any person, holding any office of
honor or profit under any foreign government, or under the gov-
ernment of the United States, (except postmasters whose annual
compensation does not exceed the sum of $300,) hold any office
of hon~r or profit undor the authority of th's State.
2 4. No person who has been, or hereafter shall be, convicted
of bribery, perjury or other infamous crime, nor any person who
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, or to any office of profit or tru«t in this State.
? 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
United States, and the ••onstitni '
the 'I'ltics of senatoi
•bltlty; un.l that 1 have not, k
'thing, or made any promii
or°»'in"i"acee.
y. any money or other valuable thin;r, from any corporation, i
son, lor nny vote or influence I may give or withhold on a:
appropriat ion, or lor any other official act,'1
2
will support the constitution of the
State of Il'iuois. and will faithfully
) according to iho best of my
tionally, paid or contribntc<l
bribe, to direotly
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.
A PPORTIONMENT — SENATORIAL.
J 6. The general assembly shall apportion the State every ten
years, beginning with the year 1871, by dividing the population
of the State, as ascertained by the federal census, by tne 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 which 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, shall 'be filled by the election of senators 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-fifths 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.
MINORITY REPRESENTATION.
?! 7 and 8. The house of representatives shall consist of three
times the number of the members of the senate, and the term of
office shall 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 parts 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.
§ 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 year next ensuing 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
alifieations of its members; shall choose its own officers; and
(I'll!
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
E reside over it until a temporary presiding officer thereof shall
ave 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 s-hall
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.
2 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 other
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 in 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
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WAR ASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
members of cither house shall have liberty to dissent from and
protest, in respectful language, against any actor resolution which
they think injurious to the public or to any individual, and have
the reasons of their dissent entered upon the journals.
STYLE OF LAWS AND PASSAGE OF BILLS.
? 11. The style of the laws of this State shall be : He it en-
acted by the People of the State nf Illinois, represented in the Gen-
eral Assembly.
$ 12. Bills may originate in either house, but may be altered,
amended or rejected by the other; and on the final passage of all
bills, the vote shall be by yeas and nays, upon each bill sepa-
rately, and shall 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 house.
1 13. Every bill shall be read at large on three different days,
in ea:h house ; and the bill and all amendments thereto shall be
Erinted before the vote h taken on its final passage ; and every
ill, having passed both houses, shall be signed by the speakers
thereof. No act hereafter passed shall embrace more than one
subject, and that shall be expressed in the title. But if any sub-
ject shall 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 expressed ; and no law shall be revived or amended
by reference to its title only, but the law revived, or the section
amended, shall be inserted at length in the new act. And no act
of the general assembly shall take effect until the first day of
July next after its passage, unless, in case of emergency, (which
emergency shall be expressed in the preamble or bocly of the act),
the general assembly shall, by a vote of two-thirds of all the
members elected to each house, otherwise direct.
PRIVILEGES AND DISABILITIES.
\ 11. Senators and representatives shall, in all cases, except
trcassn, felony or breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest
during the session of the 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 assembly be interested, either directly or indirectly,
in any contract with t'.ie state, or any county thereof, authorized
by any law passed during the term for which he shall have been
elected, or within one year after the expiration thereof.
PUBLIC MONEYS AND APPROPRIATIONS.
2 IS. The general assembly shall make no appropriation of
money out of the treasury in any private law. Bills making ap-
propriations for the pay of members and officers of the general
assembly, and for the salaries of the officers of the government,
shall contain no provisions on any other subject.
1j 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 warrant 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.
2 18. Each general assembly shall provide for all appropriations
necessary for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the govern-
ment until the expiration of the first fiscal quarteraftcrthe adjourn-
ment of the next regular session, the aggregate amount of which
shall not be increased 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, requiring money to be paid out of the State
Treasury, from funds belon-ring to the State, shall end with such
fiscal quarter : Provided, 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 applied 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 laith of
the State shall be pledged), shall be contracted, unless the law
authorizing the same shall, at a general election, have been sub-
mitted to the people, and have ^received a majority of the votes
cast for members of the general assembly at 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 matle, nt the time,
for the payment of the interest annually, as it shall accrue, by a
tax levied for the purpose, or from other sources cf revenue;
which law, providing tor the payment cf such interest by such
tax, shall be irrepealable until such debt be paid: And provided
further, that the law levying the tax shall be submitted to the
'people with the law authorizing the debt to be ccntractcd.
g 19. The general assembly shall never grant cr authorize extra
compensation, fee or allowance to any public officer, agent, ser-
vant or contractor, after service has been rendered cr a contract
made, nor authorize the payment of any claim, or pert thereof,
hereafter created against the State under any agreement cr con-
tract made without express authority of law: and all tuth un-
authorized agreements or contracts shall be null end voiel : Pro-
vided, the general assembly may make appropriations for expendi-
tures incurred in suppressing insurrection or repelling invasion.
| 20. The State shall never pay, assume or become responsible
for the debts or liabilities of, or in any manner give, loan cr ex-
tend its credit to, or in aid of any public or other corporation,
association or individual.
PAY OF MEMBERS.
2 21. The members of the general assembly 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 public accounts ; and thereafter
such compensation as shall be prescribed by law, and no other
allowance or emolument, directly or indirectly, for any purpose
whatever ; except C50 per session to each member, which shall
be in full for postage, stationery, newspapers, and all other inci-
dental expenses and perquisites; but no change fhall be made
in the compensation of members of the general assembly durin
ich they may have been elected. The pay and
mileage allowed to each member of the general assembly shr.ll
the term
be certified by the speaker of their respective houses, and entered
on the journals and published at the close of each session.
SPECIAL LEGISLATION PROHIBITED.
3 22. The general assembly shall not pass local or specir.1 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 wcrlring rocds or highways ;
Vacating roads, town plats, streets, alleys and public grounds ;
Locating or changing courty seats ;
Regulating county and township affairs ;
Regulating the practice in courts of justice ;
Regulating the jurisdiction and duties of justices cf the peace,
police magistrates, and constables ;
Providing for change of venue in civil and criminal cases.
Incorporating cities, towns, or villages, or changing cr amend-
ing the charter of any town, city or village ;
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 fcrthc management of common schools;
Regulating the rate of interest en money ;
The opening and conducting of any election, cr designating
the place of voting ;
The sale or mortgage of real estate belonging to miners 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;
Granting to any corporation, association cr individual the right
to lay down railroad tracks, or amending existing charters for
such purpose ;
3
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
3G3
the copying, printing, binding and distributing the laws and
journals, and all other printing ordered by the general assembly,
" ">e let by contract to the lowest responsible bidder; but the
Granting to any 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 ;
g 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.
IMPEACHMENT.
\ 24. The house of representatives shall have the. sole power of
Impeachment ; but a majority of all the members elected must
concur therein. All impeachments shall be tried by the senate ;
and when sitting for that purpose, the senators shall be upon
oath, or affirmation, to do justice 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 office, and disqualifi-
cation to hold any office of honor profit or trust under the gov-
ernment of this State. The party, whether convicted or acquit-
ted, shall nevertheless, be liable to prosecution, trial, judgment
and punishment according to law.
MISCELLANEOUS.
§ 25. The general assembly shall provide, by law, that the fuel,
stationery and printing-paper furnished for the use of the State ;
' "ng, bindii ' "
icr printiii
shall be let by contract to the~lowest responsible bidder; but tli
general assembly shall fix a maximum price; and no member
thereof or other officer of the State, shall be interested, directly
or indirectly, i a 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 bo prescribed by law. c
fi 2J. Tiio State of Illinois shall never be made defendant la
any court or law of equity.
\ 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.
§ 23. No law shall be passed which shall operate to extend the
term of any public officer after his election or appointment.
\ 29. It shall be the duty of the general assembly to pass such
law* 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.
2 30. The general assembly may provide for establishing and
opening roads and cart-ways, connected with a public road, for
private and public use.
1 31. The general assembly may pass laws permitting the own-
ers and occupants of lands to construct drains and ditches, for
agricultural and sanitary purposes, across the lands of others.
§ 32. The general assembly shall pass liberal and homestead
and exemption laws.
5 33. The general assembly shall not appropriate out of the
State treasury, or expend on account of the new capitol grounds,
and construction, completion and furnishing of the State-house, a
sum exceeding in the aggregate, :?:!.;"IOII,<M>(>, 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.
AETICLE V.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.
1. Officer* of (his Department.
2. Of the State Trea-mn-r.
:i. Titiv of ICI-M-ii,,- >tat.> Officers.
6. G.irernor— Power and Diltv.
7. His Messa'ji and Stntem-nt.
8. fonvnin',' fio O-neral AssemMv.
n. Pror.<K'ii'v;t'i<> c: Tii-ml As«embly.
10. NominiUi >n< \'V th-- Governor.
11. Vacancies mav be filled.
12. Removals l>v the Governor.
13. Reprieves, Commutations, Pardons
14. Governor as Pommander-in-Chlef.
!.">. Impeachment for Misdemeanor.
!<;. Veto of the Governor.
17. Lieiltenant-Goyenioras Governor.
18. Aa President r.f the Senate.
Ml. V.-icnncv in Governor's Office.
-.11. Vaoan.-y in oth.-r State Offices.
21. Reports of State Officers.
22 Great Senl of State.
23. Fees and Salaries
; -Jl. l)rtiniti.,ii of 'Office."
I ffl. Oath of Civil Officers.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.
2 1. The executive department shall consist of a Governor,
Lieutenant-Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor of Public Ac-
counts, Treasurer, Superintendent of Public Instruction, and At-
torney-General, who shall each with the exception of the Treas-
urer, hold his office for 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 alter 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 default of so
doing his office shall be deemed vacant.
\ 3. An election for 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 year 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 years thereafter; and for Treasurer on the day last abcye
mentioned, and every two years thereafter, at such plates and in
such manner as may be prescribed by law.
| 4. The returns of every election for the above named officers
shall be sealed up and transmitted, by the returning (fficers, 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 faid < ffices 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
election^ 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.
2 5. No person shall be eligible to the office of governor, or
lieutenant-governor, who shall not have attained the age of 80
years, and been, for five years 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.
\ 6. The supreme executive power shall be vested in the gov-
ernor, who shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed.
| 7. The governor shall, at the commencement of each session,
and at the close of his term of office, give to the general assembly
information, by message, of the condition of the State, and fhafl
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 l>y taxation for all pur-
poses.
$ 8. The governor may, on extraordinary occasions,, convene
the general assembly, by proclamation, stating thciein 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.
$ 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 beyond the first day of the next regular session.
2 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 ofikers whose offices
4
364
niSTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
are established by this constitution, or which may be created by
law, and whose appointment or election is not otherwise provided
for ; and no such officer shall be appointed or elected by the gen-
eral assembly.
J 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
he 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 yeas and nays), shall hold his
office during the remainder of the time, and until his successor
shall be appointed and qualified. No person, after being rejected
by the senate, shall be again nominated for the same office at the
same session, unless at tho request of the senate, or be appointed
to the same office during the recess of the general assembly.
g 12. The governor shall have power to remove any officer
whom he may appoint, in case of incompetency. neglect of duty,
or malfeasance in offbe ; and he may declare his office vacant,
and fill the same as is herein provided in other cases of vacancy.
g 13 The governor shall have power to grant reprieves, com-
mutations and pardons, after conviction, for all offences, subject
to such regulations as may be provided by law relative to the
manner of applying 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 United States) ; and may call out
the same to execute the laws, suppress insurrection, and repel
invasion.
§ 15. The governor, and all civil officers of this State, shall be
liable to impeachment for any misdemeanor in office.
\ 16. Every bill passed by the general assembly shall, before it
become > 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 thd house
ia which it shall have originated, which house shall enter the
objections at large upon ita'jourual, and proceed to reconsider the
bill. If, then, two-thirds of the members elected agree to pass
the same, it shall be sent, together with the objections, to the
other hou ;e, by which it shall 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-
termined by yeas and 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 assembly shall, by their adjournment, prevent its re-
turn; in which case it shall be filed, with his objections, in the
office of the secretary of State, within ten days after such adjourn-
ment, or become a law.
ble of performing the duties of governor, the same shall devolve
upon the speaker of the house of representatives.
01 HER STATE OFFICERS.
? 20. If the oOce of ic'Jitor of public accounts, treasurer, sec-
retary of State, attorney general, or superintendent of public in-
struction shall be vacated 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 office until his successor shall
be elected acd qualified in such manner as may be provided by
law. An account shall be kept by the officers of the executive
department, and of all the public institutions of the State, of all
moneys received or disbursed by them, several ly,from all sources,
and for every service performed, and a semi-annual report thereof
be made to the governor, under oath ; and any officer who makes
a false reportshall be guilty of perjury, and punished accordingly.
2 21. The officers or the executive department, and of all the
public institutions of the State, shall, at least ten days i receding
each regular session of the general assembly, severally report to
the governor, who shall transmit such reports to the general as-
sembly, together with the reports of the judges of the supreme
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 department, and all officers and
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 by him, officially as directed by
law.
FEES AND SALARIES.
2 23. 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 official 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 office, or other compensation. And all fees
that may hereafter be payable by law for any service performed
by any officer provided for in this article of the constitution,
shall be paid in advance into the State treasury.
DEFINITION AND OATH OF OFFICE.
2 24. An office 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
employment is an agency, for a temporary purpose, which ceases
when that purpose is accomplished.
? 25. All civil officers, except 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 solemnly swear (or affirm, as the ease may be) that I will support the
constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of the State nf Illinois,
and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of according
to the best of my ability.
And no other oath, declaration or test shall be required as a
qualification.
ARTICLE VI.
JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT.
LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR.
? 17. In case of death, conviction or impeachment, failure to
qualiiV, 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 disability shall be re-
moved, shall devolve upon the lieutenant-governor.
$ 18. The lieutenant-governor shall be president of the senate,
and shall vote only when the senate is equally divided. The
senate 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 19. If there be no lieutenant-governor, or if the lieutenant-
governor shall, for any of the causes specified in \ 17 of this
article, become incapable of performing the duties of the office,
the president of the senatcshall act as governor until the vacancy
is filled or the disability removed; and if the president of the
senate, for anv of the above named causes, shall become incapa-
3 1. Judicial Powers of Courts,
g 2. Seven Supreme Judges— Four
Decide,
f 3. Qualifications of aSupreme Judge
\ 4. Terms of the Supreme Court.
\ 5. Three Grand Div.sions— Seven
Districts.
\ 6. F.lection nf Supreme Judges.
1 -. Salaries of th« Supreme Judges.
\ 8. Appeals an 1 Writ* of Error.
\ 0. Appointment of Reporter.
\ 10. Clerk- nf the Supreme Court.
\ 11. Appellate Coin-Is Authorized.
? 12 Jurisdiction of Circuit Courts.
•( I:; Foiinatinn nf ludh'ial Circuit'.
I 14. Timc.f holding Circuit Courts.
M.->. circuit* containing Pour Judges.
\ 1-;. S.l:i- es nfthu ( in'ilit Judges.
'(, 17. qualifications of Judges or Com-
\ 1. The judicial powers, excel
provided, shall be vested in on
fAiintv rnnrte iiiflfrires of the n
18. County Judges— County Clerks,
la. Appeals from County Courts.
20- Probate Courts Authorized. '
21. Justices of the Pi-ace and Consta-
bles.
22. State's Attorney in each County.
23. Cook Count v Courts of Record.
24. Chief Justice— Power of Judges.
•-.I. Salaries nf the Judges.
20. Crimim 1 Court of Co. k County.
27. Clerks of Cook County Court.
28. Justices in Chicago.
2:>. Uniformity in the Courts.
:; i. Urinoval nf any Judre.
:n. Judges to make Written Reports.
32. Terms of Office-Filling Vacan-
pies.
3 .13. Pneess— Prosecutions— P o p u 1 a-
tion.
)t as in this article is otherwise
3 supreme court, circuit courts,
>.ice. police magistrates, and in
such courts as may be created by law in and for cities and incor-
porated towns.
SUPREME COURT.
2 2. The supreme court shall consist of seven judges, and shall
have original jurisdiction in cases relating to the revenue, in
mandamus, and habeas cnrpiis, and appellate jurisdiction in til
other cases. 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
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
365
? 3. No person shall be eligible to the office of judge of the
supreme court unless be shall be at least thirty years of age, and a
citizen of the United States, n->r unless he shall have resided in
the State five years next preceding his election, and be a resi-
dent of the district in which he shall be elected.
3 4. Terms of the supreme court shall continue to be held in
the present grand divisions at the several places now provided
for holding the same; and until otherwise 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 may appoint, 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 bs altered, increased or diminished in number, and the times
and places of holding said court may be changed by law.
| 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,
they shall be as follows :
First District.— The counties of St. Clair, Clinton, Washing-
ton, Jcffbrson, Wayne, Edwards, Wabash, White, Hamilton,
Franklin, Perry, Randolph, Monroe, Jackson, Williamson, Saline,
Gallatin, Ilardin, Pope, Union, Johnson, Alexander, Pulaski and
Maasac.
Second 'District.— The counties of Madison, Bond, Marion, Clay,
Richlan;!, Lawrence, Crawford, Jasper, Effingham, Fayette, Mont-
gomery, Macou-iin, Shelby, Cumberland, Clark, Greene, Jersey,
Calhoim and Christian.
Third District — The counties of Sangamon, Macon, Logan, DC
Witt, Piatt, Douglas, Champaign, Vermilion, McLean, Living-
ston, Ford, Iroquois, Coles, Edgar, Moultrie and Tazewcll.
Fourth District.— The counties of Fulton, McDonough, Han-
cock, Schuyler, Brown, Adams, Pike, Mason, Menard, Morgan,
Cass and Scott.
fifth District.— The counties of Knox, Warren, Henderson,
Mercer, Henry, Stark, Pcoria, Marshall, Putnam, Bureau, Lasalle,
Grundv and Woodford.
Sixth District.— The counties of Whitesidc, Carroll, Jo Daviess,
Stcphenson, Winncbago, Boone, McHenry, Kane, Kendall, Do
Kalb, Lee, O.^lc and Rock Island.
Seventh District.— The counties of Lake, Cook, Will, Kankakee
and Du Page.
The boundaries of the districts may be changed at the session
of the 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
population, as nearly as county boundaries will allow, and the
districts will be composed of contiguous counties, in as nearly
compact form as circumstances will permit. The alteration of
the districts shall not affect the tenure of an office 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 tbe electors
thereof, in each of said districts numbered two, three, six and
seven, who 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
the judges in office at the adoption of this constitution, or of the
judre then elected, shall expire, and every nine years thereafter,
thero 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 thi cy.piration of the term for which he was elected, after
whii'h thj judges shall choose one of their number as chief jus-
$ 7. Fran an-1 after the adoption of this constitution, the
j-i Ijei of the supreme court shall each receive a salary of $4,000
por annum, pava'jle quarterly, until otherwise provided by law.
And after said salaries shall be fixed by law, the salaries of
the i;'lg2< in office shnll not be increased or diminished during
tha tenris for which said judges have been elected.
§ 8. Anpcals 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 0. The sunremc court shall appoint one reporter of its deci-
sions who shall hold his office 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 ofiice
shall be six years from said election, but who shall not enter upon
the duties of his ofiice until the expiration of the term cf his
predecessor, and every six years thereafter, one clerk of said
court for each division shall be elected.
APPELLATE COURTS.
I 11. Afterthe year of our Lord 1874, inferior appellate courts
of uniform organization and jurisdiction, may be created in dis-
tricts formed 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 tho supremo court, in all criminal cases, end
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, r.nd in
such manner, as may be provided ly 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.
CIRCUIT COURTS.
? 12. The circuit courts shall have original jurisdiction of all
causes in law and equity, 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.
\ 13. The State, exclusive of the county of Cook and ether
counties having a population of 1CO.COO, shall be divided into
judicial circuits, prior to the expiration of terms of ofiice 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 will permit, having due regard to busi-
ness, 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 eath 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-
vided, that the circuits may be equalized or changed at the first
session of the general assembly, after the adoption of this con-
stitution. The creation, alteration or change of any circuit shall
not affect 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 population exceeding 50,COO, shall oc-
cupy nine months of the year, the general assembly may make
of such county, or counties, a separate circuit. Whenever rddi-
tional circuits are created, the foregoing limitations shall be ob-
S3rved.
ji 14. The general assembly shall provide for the times cf hold-
ing courts in each county ; which 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 Fhall
be held on the first Monday of June, in the year of our Lord
1873, and every six years thereafter.
? 15. The general assembly may divide the State into judicial
circuits of greater population and territory, in lieu of (he 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.
§ 16. 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 juelpes 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, perquisitcor benefit, in any form whatso-
ever, nor perform any other than judicial duties to which may
belong any emolument'.
| 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 commissioners," 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.
366
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
COUNTY COURTS.
? 18. There shall be elected in and for each county, one judge
and one clerk of the county court, whose terms of office shall be
four years. But the general assembly may create districts of two
or more contiguous counties, in each of which shall be elected
one judge, who shall take the 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 estates of deceased
persons ; appointment of guardians and conservators, and settle-
ments of their accounts; in all matters relating to apprentices ;
and in proceedings for the collection of taxes and assessments,
and such other jurisdiction as may be provided for by general
I 19. Appeals and writs of error shall be allowed from final
determination of county courts, as may be provided by law.
PROBATE COURTS.
? 20. The general assembly may 'provide for the establishment
of a probate court in each county having a population of over
50,000, and for the election of a judge thereof, whose term of
office shall be the same as that of the county judge, and who
shall be elected at the same time and in the same manner. Said
courts, when established, shall have original jurisdiction of all
probate matters, the settlement of estates of deceased persons,
the appointment of guardians and conservators, and settlement
of their accounts ; in all matters relating to apprentices, and in
cases of tho 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 and 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 ATTORNEY*.
\ 22. At the election for members of the general assembly in
the year of our Lord 1872, and every four years thereafter, there
shall be elected a State's attorney in and for each county, in lieu
of the State's attorney now provided by law, whose term of office
shall be four years.
COURTS OF COOK COUNTY.
(!23. The county of Cook shall be 'one judicial circuit. The
circuit court of Cook county shall consist of five judges, until
their number shall be increased, as herein provided. The present
judge of the recorder's court of the city of Chicago, and the pres-
ent judge of the circuit court of Cook county, shall be two of
said judges, and shall remain in office for the terms for which
they were respectively elected, and until their successors shall
be elected and qualified. The superior court of Chicago shall be
continued, and called the superior court of Cook county. The
general assembly may increase the number of said judges by ad-
ding one to either of said courts for every additional 50,000 in-
habitants in said county, over and above a population of 400,000.
The terms of office of the judges of said courts hereafter elected,
shall be six years.
| 24. The judge having the shortest unexpired term shall be
chief justice of the court of which he is judge. In case 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,
"i of them
the
Siate's attorney, iu 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 judges and State's attorneys of the State,
and such further compensation, to be paid by the county of Cook,
as is or may be provided by law ; such compensation shall not
be changed during their continuance in office.
| 26. The recorder's court of the city of Chicago shall be con-
tinued, and shall be called the " criminal court of Cook county."
It sha'l have the jurisdiction of a circuit court, in all cases'of
criminal and quasi criminal nature, arising in the county of Cook,
or that may be brought before said court pursuant to law ; and
all recognizances and appeals taken in said county, in criminal and
quasi criminal cases shall be returnable and taken to said court.
It shall have no jurisdiction in civil cases, 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
and may hold the court of which he is a member. Each c
may hold a different branch thereof at the same time.
? 2 >. The judges of the superior and circuit courts, ar
of said criminal court of Cook county shall be held 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-
offieio judges of said court.
\ 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 he was elected. The present clerks of
the superior court of Chicago, and the present clerk of the circuit
court of Cook county, shall continue in office during the terms
for which they were respectively elected ; and thereafter there
shall be but one clerk of the superior court, to be elected by the
qualified electors of said county, who shall hold his office for the
term of four years, and until his successor is elected and qualified.
| 28. All justices of the peace in the city of Chicago shall be
appointed by the governor, by and with the advice and consent
of the senate, (but only upon the recommendation of a majority
of the judges of the circuit, superior and county courts,) and for
such districts as are now or shall hereafter be provided by law.
They shall hold their offices for four years, and until their suc-
cesssors have been commissioned and qualified, but they may be
removed by summary proceedings in the circuit or superior court,
for extortion or other malfeasance. Existing justices of the peace
and police magistrates may hold their offices until the expiration
of their respective terms.
GENERAL PROVISIONS.
\ 29. All judicial officers shall be commissioned by the gover-
nor. All laws relating to courts shall be general, and of uniform
operation ; and the 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 effect of the process, judg-
ments and decrees of such courts, severally shall be uniform.
\ 30. The general assembly may, for cause entered on the
journals, upon due notice and opportunity of defense, remove
from office any judge, upon concurrence of three-fourths of all
the members elected, of each house. All other officers in this
article mentioned, shall be removed from office on prosecution
and final conviction, for misdemeanor in office.
\ 31. All judges 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 supreme court, such defects
and omissions in the laws as their experience may suggest ; and
the judges of the supreme court shall, on or before the first day
of January of each year, report in writing to the governor such
defects and omissions in the constitution and laws as they may
find to exist, together with appropriate forms of bills to cure such
defects and omissions in the laws. And the judges of the several
circuit courts shall report to the next general assembly the num-
ber of days they have held court in the several counties compos-
iu|r their respective circuits, the preceding two vears.
I 32. All officers provided for in this article shall hold their
offices until their successors shall be qualified, and they shall, re-
spectively, reside in the division, circuit, 'county or district for
which they may be elected or appointed. The terms of office of
all such officers, where not otherwise prescribed in this article,
shall be four years. All officers, where not otherwise provided
for in this article, shall perform such duties and 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
filled by appointment, as follows: Of judges, by the governor;
of clerks of courts, by the court to which the office appertains, or
by the judge or judges thereof; and of all such other officers, by
the board of supervisors or board of county commissioners in
the county where the vacancy occurs.
I 33. All process shall run : In the name of the People of the
State of Illinois: and all prosecutions shall' be carried on: In
the name and by the authority of the People of the State tif Illinois,-
and conclude- A<i<iin*t tlr i>i<,i,>i- <m<l diniiiti/ of the same. "Pop-
ulation," wherever used in this article, shall be determined by the
next preceding census of this State or of the United States.
ARTICLE VII.
SUFFRAGE.
! R. Soldi.
•2. All Voting to bel>v°Bi
:t. )'!-ivjlce..s of Kl.-rtnr
4. Absence on Public Bi:
t deemed n Resident.
.ins f.r Offlne.
nvicted of Crime.
\ 1. Every person having resided in this State one year, in the
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
367
county 93 days, and in the election district SO days next preced-
ing any election therein, who was an elector in this State on the
fir.it day of April, in the year of our Lord 1848, or obtained a
certificate of naturalization before any court of record in this
State prior to the first day of January, in the year of our Lord
1870, or who shall be a, male citizen of the United States, above
the age of 21 years, shall be entitled to vote at such election.
§ 2. All votes shall be by ballot.
<j 3. Electors shall, in all cases except treason, felony, or breach
of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance
at elections, 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 i:i 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.
\ 5. No soldier, seaman or marine in the army or navy of the
United States shall be deemed a resident of this State in conse-
quence of being stationed therein.
J6. No person shall be elected or appointed to any office in
i State, civil or military, who ia 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 suffrage persons convicted of infamous crimes.
ARTICLE VIII.
I 3. Public Schools not to be Sectaria
I 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.
| 2. All lands, moneys or other properties, donated, granted or
received for school, college, seminary or university purposes, and
the proceeds thereof, shall be faithfully applied to the objects for
which such gifts 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 denomination whatever ; nor shall any
nt or donation of land, money, or other personal property ever
made by the State or any such public corporation, to any
church, or for any sectarian purpose.
| 4. No teacher, State, county, township, or district school offi-
cer shall be interested 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, whose qualifications, powers, duties, compensation and
time and manner of election, and term of office, shall be pre-
scribed by law.
ARTICLE IX.
REVENUE.
gr
be
2. Other and further Ta:
:l. I'r'.p.-rtv Kx-'inpt I'mm T:i\;t
\. Sale of Ural I'n.prrtv l'"r ' "
:, Ut::ht of Krdomption "
• from ™
!>. Local Mimioipnl 1
in. T:ix:it|.m of Mil
\ 1. The general assembly shall provide such revenue as may be
needful by levying a tax, by valuation, so that every person and
corporation shall pay a tax 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 kcepersliquor dealers, toll bridges, ferries, insur-
ance, telerraph and express interests or business, venders of pat-
ents, and persons or corporations owning or using franchises and
privileges, in such manner as it shall from timetotime 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 muy be
consistent with the principles of taxation fixed in this constitu-
tion.
? 3. The properties of this State, counties and other municipal
corporations, both real and personal, and such other property as
may be used exclusively for agricultural and horticultural socie-
ties, for school, religious, cemetery and charitable 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 deducted in the valuation of such property.
\ 4. The general assembly shall provide, in all cases where it
may be necessary to sell real estate for the non-payment of taxes
or special assessments for State, county, municipal or other pur-
poses, that a return of such unpaid taxes or assessments shall be
to some general officer of the county having authority to receive
State and county taxes; and there shall be no sale of sr.id prop-
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 redemption from all sales of real estate for
the non-payment of taxes or special assessments of any character
whatever, shall exist in favor of owners and persons 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 personal notice before the time of redemption
expires.
| 6. The general assembly shall have no power to reler.se or
discharge any county, city, township, town or district whr.tcvcr,
or the inhabitants thereof or the properly therein, from their or
its proportionate share of taxes to be levied for State purposes,
nor shall commutation for such taxes be authorized in any form
whatever.
§ 7. All taxes levied for State purposes shall be paid into the
State treasury.
§ 8. County authorities shall never assess taxes the aggregate
of which shall exceed 75 cents per $100 valuation, except for the
payment of indebtedness existing at the adoption of this constitu-
tion, unless authorized by a vote of the people of the county.
? 9. The general assembly may vest the corporate authorities
of cities, towns, villages, with power to make local improvements
by special assessment or by special taxation 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-
cipal corporations, or the inhabitants or property thereof, for cor-
porate purposes, but shall require that all the taxable property
within the limits of municipal corporations shall be taxed for
the payment of debts contracted under authority of law, such
taxes to be uniform in respect to 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 a municipal corporation.
\ 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 office in or under such .corporation. The fees,
salary or compensation of no municipal officer who is elected or
appointed for a definite term of office, shall be increased or di-
minished during suth term.
\ 12. No county, city, township, school district, or other muni-
cipal 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 shall not he construed to prevent any county,
city, township, school district, or other municipal corporation
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
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.
1. Formation of New Counties.
2. Division of any County.
3. Territory stricken from a Coun
•I. Rcmma'l "f a County Scat. •
6. Method of County Government.
G. Board of County Commissione
7. County affairs la Cook County.
by County Board.'
11. To$n&hip OfflcerR— Special J.a\\-
12. AM Future Fees Uniform.
13. Sworn Reports of all Fees.
\ 1. No new county shall be formed or established by the gen-
eral assembly, which will reduce the county or counties, or either
of them, from which" it shall be taken, to less contents than 400
square miles; nor shall any county be formed of less contents ;
nor shall any lino thereof pass within less than ten miles of any
county scat of the county, or counties proposed to be divided.
2 2. No county shall be divided, or have any part stricken
therefrom, without submitting the question to a vote of the peo-
ple of the county, nor unless a majority of all the legal voters
of the county, voting on the question, shall vote for the same.
§ 3. There shall be no territory stricken from any county,
unless a majority of the voters living in such territory shall peti-
tion for such division ; and no territory shall be added to any
county without the consent of the majority of the voters of the
county to which it is proposed to be added. But the portion so
stricken off and added to another county, or formed in whole or
in part into a new county, shall be holden for, and obliged to
pay ita proportion of indebtedness of the county from which it
has been taken.
COUNTY SEATS.
? 4. No county seat shall be removed until the point to which
it is proposed t3 be removed shall be fixed in pursuance of law,
and three-fifths of the voters of the county, to be ascertained in
such manner as shall be provided by general law, shall have
voted in favor of its removal to such point ; and no person shall
vote on such question who has not resided in the county six
months, and in the election precinct ninety days next preceding
such election. The question of removal of a county seat shall
not be oftener submitted than once in ten years, to a vote of the
people. But when" an attempt is made to remove the county seat
to a point nearer to the centre of a county, then a majority vote
only shall be necessary.
COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
? 5. The general assembly shall provide, by general law, for
township organization, under which any county may organize
•whenever a majority of the legal voters of such county, voting at
any general election, shall so determine, and whenever any county
shall adopt township organization, so much of this constitution
as provides for the management of the fiscal concerns of the said
county by the board of county commissioners, may be dispensed
with, and the affairs of said county may be transacted in such
manner r.s the general assembly may provide. And in any county
that shall have adopted a township organization, the question of
continuing the same may be submitted to a vote of the electors
of such county, at a general election, in the manner that now is
or may be provided by law; and if a majority of all the votes
cast upon that question 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 immediately take effect and be in force in such county. No
two townships shall have the same name, and the day of holding
the annual township meeting shall be uniform throughout the
State. ,
| C. 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 Commissioners," 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
year, one for two years, and one for three years, to be determined
by lot ; and every year thereafter one such officer shall be elected
in each of said counties for the term of three years.
f! 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 of
said city, in such manner as may be provided by law.
COUNTY OFFICERS AND THEIR COMPENSATIONS.
\ 8. In each county 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 60,000 and more inhabitants, in which counties
a recorder of deeds shall be elected at the 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 hold their respective offices for the term of four years, ex-
cept the treasurer, sheriff and coroner, who shall hold their office
for two years, and until their successors shall be elected and qual-
ified.
? 9. The clerks of all the courts of record, the treasurer, sheriff,
coroner and recorder of deeds of Cook county, shall receive as
their only compensation for their services, salaries to be fixed by
law, which shall in no case be as much as the lawful compensation
of a judge of the circuit court of said county, and shall be paid
respectively, only out of the fees of the office actually collected.
All fees, perquisites and emoluments (above the amount of said
salaries) shall be paid 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.
| 10. The county board, except as provided in I 9 of this arti-
cle, shall fix the compensation of all county officers, with the
amount of their necessary clerk hire, stationery, fuel and other
expenses, and in all cases where fees are provided for, said com-
pensation shall be paid only out of, and shall in no instance ex-
ceed, the fees actually collected ; they shall not allow either of
them more per annum than $1,500, in counties not exceeding
23,000 inhabitants ; §2,000 in counties containing 20,000 and not
exceeding 30,000 inhabitants ; $2,500 in counties containing 30,-
000 and not exceeding 50,000 inhabitants; £3,000 in counties
containing 50,000 and not exceeding 70,000 inhabitants ; $3,500
in counties containing 70,000 and not exceeding 100,000 inhabi-
tants; and $4,000 in rountics containing over 100,000 and not
exceeding 250,000 inhabitants ; and not more than $1,000 addi-
tional compensation for 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 county treasury.
? 11. The fees of township officers, and of each class of county
officers, shall be uniform in the class of counties to which they
respectively belong. The compensation herein provided for shall
apply only to officers hereafter elected, but all fees established by
special laws shall cease at the adoption of this constitution, and
such officers shall receive only such fees as are provided by gen-
eral law.
2 12. All laws fixing the fees of State, county and township
officers, shall terminate with the terms, respectively, of those
who may be 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-
duce the same to a reasonable compensation for services actually
rendered. But the general assembly may, by general law, classify
the counties by population into not more than three classes, and
regulate the fees according to class. Th's article shall not be
depriving
i of existin
;ing officers.
2 13. Every person who is elected or appointed to any office in
this State, who shall be paid in whole or in part by fees, shall bo
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.
I 3. Election of Directors or M
| 4. Constrm-ti.m "f Sn-.'cr R
I 5. State Banks Forbidden— General
Law.
? >••. I.i.il'ility of ivnil; Stockholder. -
•; 7. Suspension of Spoci? Payment.
\ 8. Of a General Banking Law. I latea.
2 1. No corporation shall be created by special laws, or its char-
ter extended, changed or amended, except those for charitable,
9
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
educational, penal or reformatory purposes, which are to be and
remain under tlie patronage and control of the State, but the
general assembly shall provide, by general law, for the organiza-
tions of all corporations hereafter created.
g 2. All existing charters or grants of special or exclusive
privileges, under which organization shall not have taken place,
or which shall not have been in operation within ten days from
the time this constitution takes effect, shall thereafter have no
validity or effect whatever.
\ 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,
for the number of shares of stock owned 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.
BANET.
I 5. No State bank shall hereafter be created, nor shall the
State own or be liable for any stock in any corporation or joint
stock company or association for banking purposes, now created,
or to be 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.
$ 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.
$ 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 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
said 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.
RAILROADS.
\ 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 this 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 stock paid in and by whom, the transfers of said
stock; the amount of its assets and liabilities, and 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, <>r 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.
And the general assembly shall pass laws enforcing by suitable
penalties the provisions of this section.
1 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 110 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. Hallways 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.
\ 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 stack 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, in
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.
MILITIA.
f 1. Persons composing the Military.
I 2. Organization-Equipment-Dis-
cipline.
g 3. Commissions of Officers.
4. Privilege from Arrest.
.'.. Records, limners mid Relics.
6. Exemption from militia duty.
§ 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
aii practicable to the regulations for the government of the
armies of the United States.
g 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 the 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.
\ 6. No person having conscientious scruples against bearing
arms, shall be compelled to do militia duty in time of peace :
Provided, such parson shall pay an equivile'nt for such exemp-
tion.
ARTICLE XIII.
! 1. What deemed Public Warehouses. I
! 2. Sworn weekly statements required 3 o. Power nnd Duty of the Legislature.
1 3. Examination of property Stored | 7. Grain Inspection— Protection of
! 4. Carriers to deliver full Weight. 1 I>ealera.
10
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
? 1. All elevators or storehouses where grain or other property
is sttircd for a compensation, whether the property stored be kept
separate or not, are declared to be public warehouses.
g 2. The owner, lessee or manager of each and every public
•warehouse situated in any town or city of not less than 100,000
inhabitants, shall make weekly statements under oath, before
somo officer to be designated by law, and keep the same posted
in some conspicuous place in tlie 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 quantity and grade of grain
in such warehouse; and the different 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.
8 3. The owners of property stored in any warehouse, or holder
of a receipt for the same, shall always be at liberty to examine
such property stored, and all the books and records of the ware-
house in regard to such property.
2 4. All railroad companies and other common carriers on rail-
roads shall weigh or measure grain at points where it is shipped,
and receipt for the full amount, and shall be responsible for the
delivery of such amount to the owner or consignee thereof, at
the place of destination.
| 5. All railroad companies receiving and transporting grain
in hulk or otherwise, shall deliver the same to any consignee
thereof, or any elevator •or public warehouse to which it may be
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-
road 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.
? 6. It shall be the duty of the general assembly to pass all
necessary laws to prevent the issue of false and fraudulent
warehouse receipts, and to give full effect 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 construed to deny to the general as-
sembly the power to prescribe by law such other ar.d further
remedies as may be found expedient, or to deprive any person
of existing common law remedies.
2 7. The general assembly shall pass laws for the inspection
of grain, for the protection of producers, shippers and receivers
of grain and produce.
AETICLE XIV.
AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION.
I 1. By a Constitutional Convention. | g 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 genefal election. If a majority voting at
the election vote for 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
general 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 convention
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 necessary, which shall be submitted to the elec-
tors for their ratification or rejection, at an election appointed by
the convention for that 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 amendment shall take effect.
I 2. Amendments to this constitution may be proposed in cither
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 preceding the election, and
if a majority of electors voting at said election shall vote for the
proposed amendment', they shall become part of this constitu-
tion. But the general assembly shall have no power to propose
amendments to more than one article of this constitution at the
same session, nor to the same article oftener than once in four
years.
SEPARATE SECTIONS.
I
No contract, obligation or liability whatever, of the Illinois
Central Kailroad Company, to pay any money into the State
treasury, nor any lien of the State upon, or right to tax property
of said company, in accordance with the provisions of the charter
of said company, approved Feb. 10,in the year of our Lord 1851,
shall ever be released, suspended, modified, altered, remitted, or
in any manner diminished or impaired by legislative or other
authority ; and all moneys derived from said company, after the
payment 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.
MUNICIPAL SUBSCRIPTIONS TO RAILROADS OB PRIVATE CORPORA-
No county, city, town, township or other municipality shall ever
become subscriber to the capital stock of any railroad or private
corporation, or make donation to, or loan its credit in aid of such
corporation : Provided however, that the adoption of this article
shal not be construed as affecting the right of any such munici-
pality to make sucli subscriptions where the same have been au-
thorized, Tinder existing laws, by a vote of the people of such
municipalities prior to such adoption.
CANAL.
The Illinois and Michigan Canal shall never he sold or leased
until the specific proposition for the sale of lease 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'.ie votes polled at such election. The general assembly shall
never loan the credit of the State, or make appropriations from
the treasury thereof, in aid of railroads or canals : Provided, that
any surplus earnings of any canal may be appropriated for its
enlargement or extension.
SCHEDULE.
? 1 Laws in force remain valid. 1 } 4. Present county Courts continued'
I 2. Fines, P-names, and Forfeiture.. I S. All existing Courts continued,
jj 3. Recognizances, Bonds,Obligations' \ G. Persons now in Office continued.
That no inconvenience may arise from the alterations and amendment^ made
in the constitution of this Slate and to carry the same into complete effect, it is
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 adopted.
| 2. That all fines, taxes, penalties and forfeitures, cine and
owing to the State of Illinois tinder 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 body, shall remain binding and" valid; and rights r.nd
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.
| 4. County conns for the transaction of county business in
counues not having adopted township organization, shall continue
in existence and exercise their present jurisdiction until the
11
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUM1ES, ILLINOIS.
371
board of county commissioners provided in this constitution is
organized in pursuance of an act of the general assembly; and
the county courts in all other counties shall have the same power
and jurisdiction they now possess until otherwise provided by
general law.
1 5. All existing courts which are not in this constitution
specially enumerated, shall continue in existence and exercise
their present jurisdiction until otherwise provided by law.
? 6. All persons now filling any office or appointment shall
continue in the exercise of the duties thereof according to their
respective commissions or appointments, unless by this constitu-
tion it is otherwise directed.
3 18. All laws of the State of Illinois, and all official writings,
and the executive, legislative and judicial proceedings, shall He
conducted, preserved and published in no other than the English
language.
? 19. The general assembly shall pass all laws necessary to
carry into effect the provisions of this constitution.
| 20. The circuit clerks of the different counties having a pop-
ulation over sixty thousand, shall continue to be recorders (cx-
officio) for their respective counties, under this constitution, until
the expiration of their respective terms.
| 21. The judges of all courts of records in Cook 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 ssssion of general assembly after the adoption of this con-
2 22. The present judge of the circuit court of Cook county
shall continue to hold the circuit court of Lake county until
otherwise provided by law.
? 23. When this constitution shall be adopted, and take effect
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 cense
to be assessed after the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hu-rlred and seventy.
§21. Nothing contained in this constitmtion shall be so con-
strusd as to deprive the general assembly ot the power to authcr-
ize the city of Quincy to creata any indebtedness for railroad or
municipal purposes, fir which the people of said city shall have
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
p;jwer in the premises that it could not exercise under the pre-
sent constitution of this State.
§ 25. In case this constitution and the articles and sections
submitted separately be adopted, the existing constitution shall
cease in all its provisions ; and in case thisconstitution 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.
? 26. The provisions of this constitution required to be exe-
cuted prior to the adoption or rejection thereof shall take effect
and be in farce immediately.
Done in convention at the capital, in the city of Springfield,
on the thirteenth uay 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 cur names
CHARLES HITCHCOCK, President.
William J. Allen,
John Abbott,
J'imw C. Allen,
Elliott Anthony,
Wm. II. Archer,
Henry I. Atkins,
Robert A. King,
Jas. McCoy,
Charles E. McDowell,
William C. Goodue,
Joseph Medill,
Clifton H. Moore,
James G. Bayne,
II. M. Benjamin,
II. P. II. lirownwell,
O.H. Browning,
Win. G. Bowman,
Silas L. Bryon,
II. P. Buxton,
Daniel Cameron,
William Cary,
Lawrence S. Church,
Hiram H. Cody,
W. F. Coolbaugh,
Alfred M. Craig,
Robert J. Cross,
Samuel P. Cummiugs,
John Dement,
G. S. Eldridge,
James W. English.
David Ellis,
Jesse C. Fox,
Miles A. Fuller,
John P. Gamble,
Addison Goodcll,
John C. Haines,
Elijah M. Haines,
John W. Hankins,
RP.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. Poagc,
Edward Y. Rice,
James P. Robinson,
Lewis W. Ross,
William P. Pierce,
N. J. Pillsbury,
Jno. Scholficld,
James M. Sharp,
Henry Sherrell,
W. H. Snyder,
O. C. Skinner,
Westel W. Sedgwick,
Charles F. Springer,
John L. Tincher,
C. Trucsdale,
Henry Tubbs,
Thomas J. Turner,
Wm. H. Underwood,
Wm. L. Vandeventcr,
Henry W. Wells,
George E. Wait,
George W. Wall,
E. B. Sutherland,
D. C. Wagner,
George R. Wendling,
Chas. Wheaton
L- D. Whiting,
John H. Wilson,
Orlando H. Wright.
ATTEST :— John Q. Harmon, Secretary.
Daniel Shepard, First Assistant Secretary.
A. H. Swain, Second Assistant Secretary.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, I n~ , ^efr.i.,n.
STATE OF ILLINOIS. | 8S- Office of Secretary.
I GEORGE H. HARLOW, Secretary of the State of Illinois, do hereby certify
that the foregoing is a true eopv'of the e.uistitution of the State ef Illinois
--•• • -" — i, ratified by a v
ud<.ptr<l in eonvciitirm the 13th <
pie the 2nd day of July, 1870, an
and in force on the 8th day of August 1870, and
inionyu-here.it' I h'-retn M'| niv hanu and affix
ty of "Springfield, the 31st day of March, A. D.
GEO. H. IIAIJLOW, Secretary of State.
AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION.
Amending section 31, article 4. Proposed by the General Assembly, 1877,
ratified liy a vote of the people Novemtier 5, 1878, proclaimed adopted by tli»
Governor November 29, 1878.
The General Assembly m.iv pas" '^vs permitting the owners of lands to con-
truct drain-., ditches, and levees for agricultural, sanitary and minini: purposes
TOSS Mm l.mds of other-, and provide for tli,- nrpmiwilion of drainage dis-
triets, a-id vest tii ...... rpora e
maintain levee*, drains and ditrln-s and to keep in
and levoc-s heretofore constructed under the laws of
sessments upon the property benefited thereby.
rainage
power to construct
epair nil drains, ditches
this State, by special as-
Amending section 8, article 10. Proposed by the General Assembly, 1879,
atified liv a vote of tlie people November 2, 1»8U, proclaimed adopted by the
overnor' November 22, 1880 :
In each county there shall he elected the following county officers, i
general election to be held on the Tuesday aUer the tir-t Monday in
LD. 1882: A<
iday of December after his election, and they Khali hold their 'rcspec-
live , Miee, t.pr the term < .f !'n 1 1 r years, an d lint il their Mieecssors are elected
and qualified: PrmHded, that no per-or, having onee heen eleeted to the office
of sheriff, or treasurer, shall be eligible to re-eleetiou to said office for tour
yeara after the expiration of the term for which he shall have been elected.
372
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary
for one people to dissolve the political bands which have con-
nected them with another, and to assume among the powers of
the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of
nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to
opinions of mankind requires 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-
ated equal ; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain
unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness That to secure these rights, governments
are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the
consent of the governed ; that, whenever any form of govern-
ment becomes destructive of theje 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 principles, and organizing
its powers in such form as to them shall seem most 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
sufTerable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to
which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses
and usurpations, 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 has been the patient
sufferance 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 Great Britain is a history of
repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the
establishment of an absolute tyranny over these States. To
prove this let facts be submitted to a candid world :
He has refused his assent to laws the most wholesome and
necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass laws of immediate and
pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his
assent should be obtained ; and when so suspended, he has utterly
neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other laws for the accommodation of large
districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right
of representation in the legislature ; a right inestimable to them,
and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together leglislative bodies at places unusual,
uncomfortable, and distant from, the depository of their public
records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance
wi'h his measures.
He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly for oppos-
ing, with manly firmness, his invasions on the rights of the peo-
ple.
He has refused, for a long time after such dissolution, to cause
others to be elected ; whereby 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
tha danger of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavored to prevent the population of these States ;
for that purpose, obstructing the laws far naturalization of for-
eigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migration
hither, and raising the conditions of 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 paymcntof their salaries,
He has 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 affected 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 punishment, 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 English 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 with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated 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 people.
He is, at this time, transporting large armies of foreign mer-
cenaries to complete the work of death, desolation and tyranny,
already begun, with 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 fellow-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 oppressions, we have petitioned for re-
dress, in the most humble terms ; our repeated petitions 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.
Nor 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 appealed to their
native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them, by
the ties of our common kindred, to disavow these usurpations,
which would inevitably interrupt our 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, therefore the representatives of the UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA, in GENERAL CONGRESS assembled, appeal-
ing to the Supreme Judge of the Worhl_fc r the rectitude of our
intentions, do, in the name, and by the authority of the good
people of these colonies, solemi Iv publish and declare, That these
United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, FREE AND
INDEPENDENT STATES ; that they are absolved from all
allegiance to the British crown, and that all political connection
between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be,
totally dissolved ; and that as FREE AND INDEPENDENT
STATES, they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, con-
tract alliances, 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
to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.
JOHN HANCOCK
13
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WAEASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
373
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
WE, the people of the United States, in order to form a more
perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity,
provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare
and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our pos-
terity, do ordain and establish this CONSTITUTION for the
United States of America.
ARTICLE I.
SECTION 1. All legislative powers herein granted shall be
vested in«a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of
a Senate an3 House of Representatives.
SECTION 2. The House of Representatives shall be composed
of members chosen every second year by the people of the sev-
eral States, and the electors in each State shall have the qualifi-"
cations requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the
State Legislature.
No person 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.
Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among
the several States which may be included within this Union, ac-
cording to their respective numbers, which shall be determined
by adding to the whole number of free persons including those
bound to service for a term of years, and excluding Indians not
taxed, 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 suah manner as they shall by law direct. The
number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty
thousand, but each State shall have at least one Representative ;
and until such enumeration shall be made, the State of New
. Hampshire shall be entitled to choose three, Massachusetts eight,
Rhode Island and Providence Plantations one, Connecticut five,
New York six, New Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, Delaware
one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolina five, and
Georgia 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 each State, chosen by the Legisla-
ture thereof, for six years ; and each 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 clashes. The seats of the Senators of the first class shall
be vacated at the expiration of the second year, of the second
class at the expiration of the fourth year, and of the third class
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, which shall then fill
such vacancies.
No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to
the age of thirty years, and been nine years a citizen of the
United States, 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 shall 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 Justice shall preside. And no person shall be convicted
without the concurrence of two- thirds of the members present.
Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend further
tiia 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 indictment, trial, judgment and punishment according to law.
SECTION 4. The times, places and manner of holding elections
for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each
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 Monday in December, unless
they shall by law appoint a difl'erent day.
SECTION 5. Each house shall be the judge of the election,
returns and qualifications of its own member*, and a majority of
each shall constitute a quorum to do business ; but a smaller
number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to
compel the attendance of absent members in such manner, and
under such penalties as each house may provide.
Each house may determine the rules of its proceedings, pun-
ish its members for disorderly behaviour, and, with the concur-
rence of two-thirds, expel a member.
Each house shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and from
time to time publish the same excepting such parts as may in
their judgment require secrecy ; and the yeas and nays of the
members of either house on any question shall, at the desire of
one-fifth of those present, 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 cases, 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 from tho
same ; and for any speech or debate in either house they shall
not be questioned in any other place.
No Senator or Representative shall, during the time for which
he was elected, be appointed to any civil office under the author-
ity of the Uuited States, which shall have been created, or the
emoluments whereof shall have been increased during such
time ; and no person holding any office under the United States,
shall be a member of either house during his 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 passed 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-thirds 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 eficct,
shall be approved by him, or being disapproved by him, shall be
repasscd 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
374
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
SF. TION 8. The Congress shall have power —
To lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and
th^ debts and provide for the common defense and gene
fire of the United Slates; but all duties, imposts and excises
shall 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
ssvcral States, and with the 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 provide for the punishment of counterfeiting the securities
and current coin of the United States ;
To establish post-offices and post-roads ;
To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by secur-
ing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right
to their respective writings and discoveries;
To constitute tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court ;
To define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the
high ssas, and offences against the law of nations ;
To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make
rules concerning captures on land and water;
To raise and support armies, but no appropriation of money
to that uss shall be for a longer term than two years ;
To provide and maintain a navy ;
To mike 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 part of them as may be employed in the
S3rvice 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 legislation 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 government of the United States, and to exercise like
authority over all places purchased by the consent of the Legisla-
ture of the State in which the 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 the government of the United
States, or to any department or officer thereof.
SECTION 9. The migration or importation of such persons as
any of the States now 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 habeas corpus shall not be sus-
pended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public
safety may require it.
No bill of 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 du^y shall be laid on articles exported from any
State.
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.
,
a foreign power, or engage in war, unless actually invaded or in
such imminent danger as will not admit of delay.
ARTICLE II.
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, and, together with the Vice Presi-
dent chosen for the same term, be elected as follows* *
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 Representatives to which the State may be
entitled in the Congress ; but no Senator or Representative, 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. The person having the greatest number of votes shall
be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole
number of electors appointed ; and if there be more than one
who have such majority, and have an equal 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 ; a quorum for this purpose, shall
consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the States,
and a majority of all the States shall be necessary to a choice.
In every case, after the choice of the President, the person
having the greatest number 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 determime 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
United States at the time of the adoption of this Constitution,
shall be eligible to the office of President; neither shall any per-
sin 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 said 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-
bility 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-
ng 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 affirmation :
" I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute
the office of President of the United States, and will, to' the best
)f 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
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
SECTION 2. The President shall be commander-in-chicf 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 for offences against the
United States, except in cases of impeachment. He shall
have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate,
to mike treaties, provided two-thirds of the Senators present
concur ; and he shall nominate, and by and with the advice of
the Senate, shall appoint ambassadors, other public ministers,
consuls, judge* of the Supreme Court, and all other officers of
the United States whine 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 that
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 this Constitution, the laws of the
United States, and treaties made, or which shall be made, under
their authority ; — to all cases affecting ambassadors, other public
ministers and "consuls ; — to 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 ; — -
betwean 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 genera] 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.
SECTION 3. New States may be admitted by the Congress into
this Union ; but no new State shall be formed or erected wilhin
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 United States, 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 (when 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'conventions 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 that 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 required as a
qualification to any office of public trust under the United States.
ARTICLE VII.
The ratification 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
Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven, and of the
Independence of "the United States of America, the twelfth. IN
WITNESS WIIEKEOF, We have hereunto subscribed our names. .
GEO. WASHINGTON,
President and Deputy from Virginia.
376
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND W ABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
New Hampshire.
New Jersey.
Delaware.
Nnrth Caroli;ia.
JOHN LANGDON,
WIL. LIVINGSTON,
GEO. READ,
WM. BLOUNT,
NICHOLAS OILMAN.
WM. PATTERSON,
JOHN DICKINSON,
Hu. WILLIAMSON,
DAVID BREARLY,
JACOB BROOM,
RICH'D DOBBS SPAIGHT.
Sfassachutctts.
JONA. DAYTON,
GUNNING BEDFORD, JR.
NATHANIEL GORHAM,
RICHARD BASSET.
South Carolina.
BUFUS KING.
Pennsylvania.
Virginia.
3. RDTLEDGE,
Connecticut.
B. FRANKLIN,
ROBT. MORRIS,
JOHN BLAIR,
JAMES MADISON, JE.
CHARLES PINCKNEY,
CHAS.COTESWORTH PINCKNEY
PIERCE BUTLER.
WM. SAML. JOHNSON,
TlIO. FlTZSIMONS,
Maryland.
ROGER SHERMAN.
JAMES WILSON,
THOMAS MIFFLIN,
JAMES M'HENRY,
Georgia.
New York.
GEO. CLYMER,
JARED INGERSOLL,
DANL. CARROL,
DAN. OF ST. THOS. JENIFER.
WILLIAM FEW,
ABR. BALDWIN.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON.
Gouv. MORRIS.
Attest: WILLIAM JACKSON, Secretary.
AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
Proposed by Congress, and ratified by the Legislatures of the several States, pursuant to the fifth article of the original Constitution.
ARTICLE I.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of
religion, or prohibiting the frse exercise thereof; or abridging
the freedom of speech, or of the press ; or the right of the people
Seacefully to assemble, and to petition the government for a re-
ress of grievances.
ARTICLE II.
A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a
free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not
be infringed.
ARTICLE III.
No 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 effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures,
shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue but upon prob-
able cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly
describing the place to be searched, and the person or things to
be 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, except 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 jeopardy of Iif3 or limb ; nor shall be compelled
in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be de-
prived of life, liberty or property, without due process of law ;
nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just
compensation.
ARTICLE VI.
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right
to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and
district wherein 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, «nd to have the
assistance of counsel for his defense.
ARTICLE VII.
In suits at common law where the value
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 the United States, than according to the rules of
the common law.
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 be 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 prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States
respectively, or to the people.
ARTICLE XI.
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 State, or
by citizen
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 ;
they shall name in their ballot the person to be voted for as
President, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice
President, and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted
for as President, aiid all persons 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 seat of government of the
United States, 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 be counted. The person having the greatest number
of votes for President, shall be the President, if such number be
a majority of the whole number of electors appointed ; and if no
person have such majority, then from the persons having the
highest number not exceeding three on the list of those voted
for as President, the House of Representatives shall choose im-
mediately, by ballot, the President. But in choosing the Presi-
dent, the vote shall be taken by States, the representation from
each State having one vote ; a quorum for this purpose shall con-
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
377
sist of a member or members from two-thirds of the States, and a
majority of all the Stairs shall be necessary to a choice. And if
the House 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 wtes as Vice President, shall be the Vice
President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of
electors appointed, and if no person 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 inelisrible to the office of President shall be eli-
gible to that of Vice'President of the United States.
ARTICLE XIII.
SECTION 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except
as a punishment for crime, whereof the party shall have been duly
convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place
subject to their jurisdiction.
SECTION 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article
by appropriate legislation.
ARTICLE XIV.
SECTION 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United
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 themale 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 proportion which
the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number
of male citizens twenty-one years of age 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
State 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, remave 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,
But neither the Unit
shall- not be questioned.
ited 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, or any 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 1. The rights of citizens of the United 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.
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